Bahorel makes a noncommittal noise in acknowledgement; not in disagreement, exactly. But such a reason-- he can hear that, he can read it, but the mechanics of shame are always going to be a somewhat academic concept for Bahorel. And still--

"That might be; he's spent enough time with people trying to teach it to him , no doubt. But as far as I can tell-- and that's farther than anyone should have to bother about-- he owes no one anything except you and your daughter. So if you both excuse him, what else is there?"

Bahorel doesn't really expect Fantine to have an answer; he's just comfortable thinking out loud. But after all, she's likelier than anyone to have some insight into the whole mess; it happened in her life, not his.