Les Misérables, Chapter 9 summary
Chapter 9 of 365 · Book 1: A Just Man · 6 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 9, Mademoiselle Baptistine writes to Madame the Vicomtess de Boischevron about household discoveries, her brother’s charity, and the dangers he accepts without fear. Her account and the narrator’s closing remarks show how she and Madame Magloire restrain their anxiety, stop opposing his actions, and trust God to protect him.
What happens
- The narrator introduces Baptistine’s letter as evidence of how the two women understand and accommodate the Bishop.
- Baptistine describes paintings and furniture Madame Magloire discovers, while preferring charity to spending money on decoration.
- She describes her brother’s unlocked door, difficult journeys, and return with cathedral jewels given to him by thieves.
- She explains how both women learn to pray instead of resisting the risks he takes.
- The letter supplies family history, sends affectionate messages, and describes two children before the narrator emphasizes the women’s trust.
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What to notice
Baptistine presents their understanding as deeper than spoken explanation. The narrator reinforces this by describing how both women hold back their fears.
Quick check
What does the Bishop bring home from the region of robbers?
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