One night the Inn had more guests than usual, and the Thenadiers ran out of water. Late at night they sent Cosette on the fifteen minute walk to the well. Cosette set off in the cold night on the trail she had become to know so well. After filling her bucket up with water, she prepared for the journey home, but had severe difficulty carrying the weight. Struggling with freezing hands, Cosette made no protest when a mysterious man appeared beside her and took the bucket. He proceeded to walk beside her. Eventually they got to talking, and Cosette told the man that she lived at the Inn, and he told her he just happened to be looking for a place to sleep. Cosette brought him back to the Thenardier Inn, and presented him to Mme Thenardier. Upon severly exaggerating the cost of a room, the man was allowed to spend the night. He didn't talk much, and spent most of the night watching Cosette. The Thenardiers dismissed this behaviour with the knowledge that traveller's in those parts never exactly acted normal.

The next morning, the strange man presented the Thenardiers with a note like this :

Monsieur Thenardier,

You will hand Cosette over to the bearer. Everything owing will be paid.
I send you my regards,
Fantine.

Who else would have a note from Fantine to Thenardier, asking to hand over Cosette? Only the man who saved her mother from going to jail, and offered her a large sum of money while taking care of her prior to her death. Only Jean Valjean.

After a few more words between the two men, Cosette was told to gather her things and leave with the man who helped her carry the bucket. Having nothing to gather , Cosette stood at his side waiting to leave with no protest.

It appeared as though things were starting to look up for this perpetually sad little girl.