# Quadrifrons explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

Marius finds a packet of four letters written in the same hand but signed by different names, all begging for money. He dismisses them as a mystification, but the next morning a young girl knocks at his door.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Injustice and Poverty

The letters reveal desperate pleas for charity, highlighting the extreme poverty and social inequality of the era.

## Character check-ins

### Marius Pontmercy

Marius discovers the packet of letters and later receives a visit from a young girl.

### Ma'am Bougon

Marius's landlady, mentioned as having previously commented on his lack of possessions.

## Key lines

> Marius was too melancholy to take even a chance pleasantry well, and to lend himself to a game which the pavement of the street seemed desirous of playing with him.

Marius was too sad to find amusement in what seemed like a trick played by the street.

_Marius's mood prevents him from seeing the letters as anything but a mockery._

> It was a dull, broken, hoarse, strangled voice, the voice of an old man, roughened with brandy and liquor. Marius turned round hastily, and beheld a young girl.

The voice sounded like that of an old man ruined by drink, but when Marius turned, he saw a young girl.

_The contrast between the voice and the appearance of the visitor underscores the girl's suffering._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iii-quadrifrons
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters