"I'll tell you, if the book's right, then he's even less of a scoundrel than it seems he's presenting himself to be. As for the book, I can think of a few reasons behind it. As for why--" Enjolras may not expect answers; but Bahorel has considered them.
"Perhaps this is not truly Monsieur Fauchelevent's story at all, or at least not entirely. Hugo may merely have heard his name, and combined it with other similar tales to create a sort of composite. Unkind to the man, perhaps worse still to the daughter, especially given other aspects of the story. But Hugo may have acted in partial ignorance there." Bahorel doesn't really believe it, and doesn't try to hide the fact. But it's a possibility.
"Then again, this won't be published until 1862. In that time, there will have been several governments; and then of course people have their own changes of heart. Perhaps somewhere in those decades, Monsieur Fauchelevent feels safe enough, or outraged enough, to share his story. With Pontmercy, if not with Hugo. Perhaps Fauchelevent even dies in the decades between our time and the book; indeed, it is likely, he is not a young man. Then it would be to his heirs to share the story, and there are many reasons they might want to do so."
"Or." He holds up a hand for a moment. "I do not expect you to accept this entirely, I would not suggest it at all except for where we find ourselves. But the Hugo who wrote this may not have been precisely the Hugo of our world. Perhaps the Hugo who wrote this novel knew M. Fauchelevent by a different name, or even not at all; there might have been many differences between that world and ours." Bahorel doesn't chase that idea further, much as it fascinates him. It's not Enjolras' sort of theory, and anyway it's not to the point at hand.
"Whatever the reasons it happens, Fauchelevent's story will be told. -- But it shouldn't happen for decades, and yet here he is to have it affect him now."
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"Perhaps this is not truly Monsieur Fauchelevent's story at all, or at least not entirely. Hugo may merely have heard his name, and combined it with other similar tales to create a sort of composite. Unkind to the man, perhaps worse still to the daughter, especially given other aspects of the story. But Hugo may have acted in partial ignorance there." Bahorel doesn't really believe it, and doesn't try to hide the fact. But it's a possibility.
"Then again, this won't be published until 1862. In that time, there will have been several governments; and then of course people have their own changes of heart. Perhaps somewhere in those decades, Monsieur Fauchelevent feels safe enough, or outraged enough, to share his story. With Pontmercy, if not with Hugo. Perhaps Fauchelevent even dies in the decades between our time and the book; indeed, it is likely, he is not a young man. Then it would be to his heirs to share the story, and there are many reasons they might want to do so."
"Or." He holds up a hand for a moment. "I do not expect you to accept this entirely, I would not suggest it at all except for where we find ourselves. But the Hugo who wrote this may not have been precisely the Hugo of our world. Perhaps the Hugo who wrote this novel knew M. Fauchelevent by a different name, or even not at all; there might have been many differences between that world and ours." Bahorel doesn't chase that idea further, much as it fascinates him. It's not Enjolras' sort of theory, and anyway it's not to the point at hand.
"Whatever the reasons it happens, Fauchelevent's story will be told. -- But it shouldn't happen for decades, and yet here he is to have it affect him now."