Les Miserables: Volume 2, Book 8 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 1 Valjean had “fallen from the sky” into this convent. Failing to sleep, he thinks about his next steps: he cannot return to Paris at large. Meanwhile, Fauchelevent doesn’t sleep either, asking himself how Valjean scaled the walls, and who the child is. He’d heard nothing about Madeleine’s later fate, and he assumes he’s become bankrupt. He asks himself if he would still save him if Valjean was an assassin, and he decides he would.

Fauchelevent stays up all night thinking about how he’ll keep Madeleine in the convent. In the morning, he says the two must not leave the room. One of the nuns is dying, he says, so the community is in confusion. As he speaks, a bell tolls and Fauchelevent says that the nun is dead. He cautions Valjean that the girls in the school must not see him, or they’ll shriek at the presence of a man. In order to return here safely, he says, Valjean and Cosette must first leave—the nuns will not accepting him “falling from the sky.” Fauchelevent can easily go out with Cosette in his basket, who can stay with his friend for the night. Valjean’s case will be more complicated.

Fauchelevent says that part of his duty is to nail up the coffin once a nun has died, before the undertakers fetch the coffin and bring it to the cemetery. A few peals of the bell mean that the prioress is calling for Fauchelevent, and he hurries out.

Chapter 2 Fauchelevent, trembling, asks to make a request to the prioress. In his two years, he had learned much about the daily workings of the convent, but had largely kept quiet and didn’t abuse his knowledge. He begins to talk about his age and infirmities, finally saying that he has a brother, who might be permitted to come live with and help him, while his daughter might be able to attend school and become a nun someday. The prioress leaves him to speak with the other mothers.

Chapter 3 The prioress returns, and begins telling Fauchelevent about the holiness of the nun, Mother Crucifixion, who has just died. Her last wish was to be buried in the vault under the altar. This is a forbidden task, but the prioress says that it’s forbidden by men, not God, and she cites a number of cases in which this kind of burial was allowed. Finally, Fauchelevent, who has been uneasy at this speech, says he will obey. He must do it in absolute secrecy that night. The prioress asks what is to be done with the coffin, since the undertakers must not know that there is no one in it. He says he will pile earth into it. The prioress says she is pleased with him, and asks him to fetch his brother and his daughter the next day.

Chapter 4 As Fauchelevent enters his room, Valjean is explaining to Cosette how to hide and be silent in the basket. Fauchelevent frets about how to get Valjean out, and then, sitting down, mutters to himself about his other task: how putting earth in the coffin won’t do, since it will move around. He explains his task to Valjean, and Valjean says he should put another body in the coffin—his own. Fauchelevent springs up from his chair, stunned at the idea. Valjean asks for a few details about the coffin, determining how he could sneak into the “dead-room” that night until the hearse comes for the coffin tomorrow.

Valjean is far more used to escapes like this than Fauchelevent. He’s only troubled by what will happen at the cemetery. But Fauchelevent says the grave-digger, Father Mestienne, is a drunkard. He’ll suggest Father Mestienne go drink, and Fauchelevent will dig Valjean out. All will go well, says Valjean. If it doesn’t, says Fauchelevent, it would be terrible.

Chapter 5 The next day a hearse travels down the Boulevard de Maine to the Vaugirard cemetery, which has a corner staked out for the nuns. At sundown, the gates swing shut; the only way to get out is through the grave-digger’s card, which he drops in the porter’s box (or else calls out his name, but pays a fine). After 1830, the Mont-Parnasse cemetery would replace this cemetery. At this point, it’s falling into disuse.

The burial of Mother Crucifixion, Cosette’s exit, and Valjean’s introduction into the dead-room have all gone off with no problem. At the cemetery, Fauchelevent watches a stranger arrive behind the hearse, who says he’s the grave-digger. Father Mestienne is dead, he says. Fauchelevent stammers feebly that it isn’t possible, but the man simply introduces himself as Gribier. Fauchelevent suggests they get a drink, but Gribier says he never drinks, since he must support his children. As Fauchelevent follows Gribier, he doesn’t think of offering to pay for the drink—Mestienne always did so.

Chapter 6 Meanwhile, Valjean is following along silently in the coffin, until he feels hands seize it and lower it down into the hole. A voice pronounces Latin words above him, and then he hears something like retreating footsteps. Suddenly, he begins to hear shovelfuls of earth begin to fall. He passes out.

Chapter 7 As Fauchelevent had seen the gravedigger grasp the shovel, he had finally offered to pay for a drink. The gravedigger cursed at him and began to shovel earth onto the coffin. Fauchelevent grabbed his arm and continued to beg him. Gribier finally said he’d do so but only after he finished. Suddenly, Fauchelevent caught a glimpse of the grave-digger’s card in Gribier’s pocket. He stealthily seized it without Gribier noticing, and then asked if Gribier had his card, as the sun was setting. Realizing he didn’t, Gribier turned green, especially as Fauchelevent noted there was a 15-franc fine. Fauchelevent suggested he rush home and get his card, then bury the corpse. Gribier had raced away.

Now Fauchelevent quietly calls to Madeleine, but hears nothing. He seizes his handle and pries open the lid of the coffin, seeing Valjean’s pallid face. Believing him dead, Fauchelevent begins to sob, asking Madeleine to forgive him. He bends over the coffin: Valjean’s eyes open and look at him. Fauchelevent grows pale with fear and stares back, but then realizes he’s alive, and had merely fainted.

The two hurry out of the cemetery. Fauchelevent stops at Gribier’s home, a small, wretched garret, to give back his shovel, pick, and card. Gribier thanks him and says next time he’ll pay for the drinks.

Chapter 8 Valjean and Cosette arrive at No. 62 Rue Petit-Picpus that night. Cosette, who had been hidden with Fauchelevent’s friend, had been terrified all day, but upon seeing Valjean again she grows calm. The prioress waits for them, and Fauchelevent introduces the two as his brother, Ultime, and niece. The prioress says to another nun that Cosette will grow up ugly. She welcomes them inside: plain girls are more likely to want to stay in a convent. The convent is grateful to Fauchelevent, who is known even among the archbishops as an excellent gardener and holy man.

Chapter 9 Cosette begins to settle in happily. The nuns don’t notice how only the elder Fauchelevent ever goes outside on errands—not his supposed brother. Valjean lives and works in the old hut at the end of the garden. Cosette may pass one hour with him every day. She begins to laugh and smile for the first time. The convent prevents Valjean from descending back into darkness. It is another place of captivity, but this is imposed while the other voluntarily embraced. In prison, people are bound by chains and in the convent they are chained by faith. Valjean comes to ask himself what sins they are paying for, and concludes that it’s the sins of others.

Thinking on the voluntary sequestration of the cloister, Valjean’s pride vanishes, and he grows grateful for the opportunity to again try to be good and kind. In this way many years pass.