Jean Valjean had not a word to say. Cosette probably expected some explanation from him, but he listened to her in a sullen silence. He went back to the Rue de l'Homme Armé, and was so profoundly abstracted that, instead of entering his own house, he went into the next one. It was not till he had gone up nearly two flights of stairs that he noticed his mistake, and came down again. His mind was crammed with conjectures: it was evident that Marius entertained doubts as to the origin of the six hundred thousand francs, that he feared some impure source; he might even--who knew?--have discovered that this money came from him, Jean Valjean; that he hesitated to touch this suspicious fortune, and was repugnant to use it as his own, preferring that Cosette and he should remain poor rather than be rich with dubious wealth. Moreover, Jean Valjean was beginning to feel himself shown to the door. On the following day he had a species of shock on entering the basement room; the fauteuils had disappeared, and there was not even a seat of any sort. "Dear me, no chairs!" Cosette exclaimed on entering; "where are they?" "They are no longer here," Jean Valjean replied. "That is rather too much." Jean Valjean stammered,-- "I told Basque to remove them." "For what reason?" "I shall only remain a few minutes to-day." "Few or many, that is no reason for standing." "I believe that Basque required the chairs for the drawing-room." "Why?" "You have probably company this evening." "Not a soul." Jean Valjean had not another word to say, and Cosette shrugged her shoulders. "Have the chairs removed! The other day you ordered the fire to be left off! How singular you are!" "Good-by," Jean Valjean murmured. He did not say "Good-by, Cosette," and he had not the strength to say "Good-by, Madame." He went away crushed, for this time he had comprehended. The next day he did not come, and Cosette did not remark this till the evening. "Dear me," she said, "Monsieur Jean did not come to-day." She felt a slight pang at the heart, but she scarce noticed it, as she was at once distracted by a kiss from Marius. The next day he did not come either. Cosette paid no attention to this, spent the evening, and slept at night as usual, and only thought of it when she woke; she was so happy! She very soon sent Nicolette to Monsieur Jean's to see whether he were ill, and why he had not come to see her on the previous day, and Nicolette brought back Monsieur Jean's answer. "He was not ill, but was busy, and would come soon,--as soon as he could. But he was going to make a little journey, and Madame would remember that he was accustomed to do so every now and then. She need not feel at all alarmed or trouble herself about him." Nicolette, on entering Monsieur Jean's room, had repeated to him her mistress's exact words,--"That Madame sent to know 'why Monsieur Jean had not called on the previous day?'"