Valjean took a deep breath, staring still at their hands and began.
"When I was younger, I... I was arrested. In France. I served my time, with additional sentences for..." He had a hard time with this admission, "Poor behavior. I was heading down a dark path. If it was not for the prison chaplain, I doubt I would have ever found the right road. That is why I left France. The shame of being a convict, of being a thief..."
He shook his head.
"Your mother needed help. She was my true friend after prison, but she could not afford to give you the life she wanted you to have. I swore to her you would want for nothing. But every attempt to find her I have made ended in..."
Finally, defeated by admission, he looked at Cosette.
"I will find her. For your sake, my darling daughter. I will fine Fantine. And please forgive me for hiding my past."