He rifled his respectable chests of drawers in Coromandel lacquer, with swelling fronts, which had not been opened for years.⁠—“Let us hear the confession of these dowagers,” he said, “let us see what they have in their paunches.” He noisily violated the potbellied drawers of all his wives, of all his mistresses and of all his grandmothers. Pekins, damasks, lampas, painted moires, robes of shot gros de Tours, India kerchiefs embroidered in gold that could be washed, dauphines without a right or wrong side, in the piece, Genoa and Alençon point lace, parures in antique goldsmith’s work, ivory bonbon boxes ornamented with microscopic battles, gewgaws and ribbons⁠—he lavished everything on Cosette. Cosette, amazed, desperately in love with Marius, and wild with gratitude towards M. Gillenormand, dreamed of a happiness without limit clothed in satin and velvet. Her wedding basket seemed to her to be upheld by seraphim. Her soul flew out into the azure depths, with wings of Mechlin lace.