# I: The Sobriquet: Mode of Formation of Family Names explained — Les Misérables > Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. ## What happens This chapter describes Marius Pontmercy as a handsome but shy young man, and introduces his habit of strolling in the Luxembourg Gardens where he regularly observes an elderly man and a young girl—nicknamed 'Monsieur Leblanc' and 'Mademoiselle Lanoire' by Courfeyrac—without ever interacting with them. ## Character check-ins ### Marius Pontmercy Described as a handsome, reserved young man who avoids women and spends his time reading and strolling in the Luxembourg Gardens. ### Courfeyrac Marius's friend who teases him about his shyness and gives the sobriquet 'Monsieur Leblanc' to the old man and 'Mademoiselle Lanoire' to the girl. ### M. Leblanc An elderly man, seemingly a retired officer, who sits daily on a bench in the Luxembourg Gardens with a young girl; Marius observes him but never speaks to him. ### Cosette The young girl accompanying M. Leblanc, described as thin, homely, and awkward, with a possible promise of handsome eyes; she chatters merrily with the old man. ## Key lines > Marius was, at this epoch, a handsome young man, of medium stature, with thick and intensely black hair, a lofty and intelligent brow, well-opened and passionate nostrils, an air of calmness and sincerity, and with something indescribably proud, thoughtful, and innocent over his whole countenance. At this time, Marius was a good-looking young man of average height, with thick black hair, a high forehead, and an expression that combined calmness, sincerity, pride, thoughtfulness, and innocence. _Physical and character description of Marius at this stage in the story._ > Courfeyrac also said to him: 'Do not aspire to be venerable' ... 'Let me give you a piece of advice, my dear fellow. Don't read so many books, and look a little more at the lasses. The jades have some good points about them, O Marius! By dint of fleeing and blushing, you will become brutalized.' Courfeyrac teased Marius, advising him to stop reading so much and pay more attention to women, warning that his shyness would make him dull. _Courfeyrac's playful criticism of Marius's reclusive and bookish habits._ > Impressed solely with the child's gown and the old man's hair, he had dubbed the daughter Mademoiselle Lanoire, and the father, Monsieur Leblanc, so that as no one knew them under any other title, this nickname became a law in the default of any other name. Because of the girl's black dress and the old man's white hair, Courfeyrac nicknamed them Mademoiselle Lanoire and Monsieur Leblanc, and since no one knew their real names, these nicknames stuck. _Explanation of how the nicknames for the mysterious pair originated._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/i-the-sobriquet-mode-of-formation-of-family-names - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters