On Christmas morning, more than two hours before daybreak, Thénardier sat at a candle writing out the bill for the guest in the yellow coat. It came to 23 francs: 3 for supper, 10 for the room, 5 for candles, 4 for the fire and 1 for service. His wife stood beside him, silently watching his hand.
Twenty-three francs, she said, impressed and then uneasy. He owed that much, no doubt, but it was too much and he would not pay. Thénardier gave his cold laugh and said he would. Then he sat down by the hearth and added, as if to himself, that he had fifteen hundred francs to find.
His wife said again that she was putting Cosette out that day. Thénardier only told her to hand the man the bill herself, and went out. He was barely through the door when the guest came into the room with his bundle and his stick.