Les Misérables, Book 8: The Wicked Poor Man, Chapter 1 summary

What happens

1. As the seasons pass, neither M. Leblanc nor the girl returns to the Luxembourg Garden, and Marius loses interest in work and ordinary pleasures.
2. Marius blames himself for following the girl, while Courfeyrac notices his misery and suggests an outing.
3. Courfeyrac, Bossuet, and Grantaire take Marius to a ball at Sceaux, but he finds no trace of the girl and walks home alone.
4. Near the Boulevard des Invalides, Marius notices a white-haired man in laborer’s clothes whose appearance resembles M. Leblanc.
5. The stranger disappears before Marius follows him; after three days of reflection, Marius dismisses the encounter as a possible resemblance.

In this chapter

What to notice

Marius settles on doubt after losing the stranger. The possible clue remains unresolved rather than becoming a confirmed discovery.

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