It takes another moment before he can force words out, so taken aback is he by one of her comments.

'Abandon her? No, mademoiselle. Never.'

Never that. Never.

'I have done all I can for her, you must see that. She has a husband now, she has a good name, she has her whole life ahead of her. She does not need me shackled around her ankle, but I would never abandon her in my life, you must believe that.'

It is a distressing notion that she might. Even worse that Cosette might think it, though she is so happy with Marius it surely cannot be.