Perhaps he should not have asked. He is no more ready to answer questions now than he ever was, and will avoid them if at all possible. He is not about to encourage more, especially since it is not lost on him that he and Fantine...well, it would surely be hard for anyone to believe they had ever been intimate, let alone Cosette, who must surely have wondered on their relationship at some point. Must surely be wondering on it now, unless it has not occurred to her with everything that has happened.

So all he does is pat her hand vaguely, and say, 'I am very glad you are happy, my child.'