Fantine nods vigorously. "If I want him to see Cosette, and Cosette loves him, what problem could there be? I'm her mother! But he would not hear me." She scowls. "I would much rather Cosette heard the news from you than Javert, though of course you must not blame yourself. How did you know about it? I can't imagine M. Madeleine telling you, he keeps all his secrets so close!"

Suddenly she remembers their first conversation. "Was it--that book?"