"We didn't know, sir!" he insists, feeling himself about to cry but not wanting to burst into tears in front of Cosette's father.
"We didn't know how bad it was going to get. How could we? We only thought it was a touch of the flu, and had no idea they would quarantine the hospitals. None of us really knew how serious it was until the lock down.
I'm so sorry, sir. I truly am. I care so much for Cosette and I would never have let her visit if I'd known there would be danger."