Summary of chapters 3.8.10-3.8.16:

Marius barely paid attention to the whole scene of Leblanc and Ursula in the Jondrettes’ garret, so when he decides to follow them, he doesn’t know where to go, and also doesn’t know of Leblanc’s plan to return to the house with money in a few hours. Marius tries to hire a cab but doesn’t have enough money. He sees Jondrette speaking with Panchaud, a known criminal. When he is back at the Gorbeau House, Marius runs into the older Jondrette girl, who says she could help him find Ursula and her father’s address, and he agrees to give her anything she wants if she accomplishes this. He looks back into the Jondrettes’ room and hears M. Jondrette saying he is certain the philanthropist is a man he knows from 8 years prior and that the girl is one he knew then also. His wife is not so sure, but Jondrette tells her it is true and that the man did not recognize him because of his beard. Jondrette says this man will “be his own executor” and goes to buy something at a tool-store. Marius decides he must do something to try to stop the plan and sets out. On his way, Marius hears two men talking about some plan, mentioning Patron-Minette (criminal gang). Believing this discussion to be related to Jondrette’s affair, Marius locates a police commissary. Upon arriving, he learns the commissary is not present but speaks to another officer. This inspector is tall, has a gray beard and fearsome eyes, and is both alarming and reassuring. Marius tells him what he knows, and the inspector is especially interested to hear of Patron-Minette’s potential involvement. He gives Marius two guns, asks for Marius’ key to the Gorbeau House, then tells him their plan: Marius is to return home, hide, let Jondrette think he is gone, then watch them through the hole in the wall, let the others arrive and start their affair, and when he thinks it has gone on long enough, he is to fire a shot into the air, alerting the inspector to enter—this man is Inspector Javert. As Marius leaves the police station, Courfeyrac and Bossuet see him, but do not speak to him. They follow him as Marius follows Jondrette, who he has seen stop at a hardware store and purchase a large chisel, then disappear behind the wall where Marius had previously seen the two men speaking. When Marius returns home, he thinks he sees four men waiting in one of the unoccupied rooms of the house. Marius goes to his room, takes off his shoes, then quietly goes to look through the hole into the Jondrettes’ garret. He sees M. Jondrette come back in, saying the plan is ready. Jondrette asks his older daughter to make sure Marius is really gone from his room, and she goes into his room while Marius hides under his bed. She says she is looking around the room, while she really sings to herself and preens in front of the mirror. Jondrette sends his daughters outside in the snow to stand as lookouts.

Questions for 3.8.16:

1. Do you think Marius and Javert will succeed in their plan together? What do you think Jondrette's plan entails?
2. Did you have a favorite line or passage from this chapter? If so, what made it stand out to you?
3. Were there any instances of figurative language you thought added to the narrative of this chapter?
4. Do you have any other comments or questions about this chapter?

Final line:

There were now in the house only [...] the door of the un-tenanted garret.

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