“That is exactly like one of your ideas!” retorted Cosette.

On the following day there was a fire. But the two armchairs were arranged at the other end of the room near the door. “⁠—What is the meaning of this?” thought Jean Valjean.

He went for the armchairs and restored them to their ordinary place near the hearth.

This fire lighted once more encouraged him, however. He prolonged the conversation even beyond its customary limits. As he rose to take his leave, Cosette said to him:

“My husband said a queer thing to me yesterday.”

“What was it?”