The most unlikely hiding place was the most secure!
We’re back with Valjean, Cosette, and Fauchelevent. Cosette is sleeping on the bed while Valjean and Fauchelevent are laying awake on the hay. Fauchelevent struggles to make sense of the situation. Here is “Pere Madeleine” seemingly dropped out of heaven, on the grounds of the convent. He has no idea how he got here, or why he is here, and no idea who this little girl is. He knows only that they must not be seen, and that he will save Madeleine whatever the cost. For Fauchelevent, this goes back to when Valjean / Madeleine saved him from under the cart. This is an opportunity to repay his debt.
When both men realize they are awake it’s Fauchelevent who poses the most salient question:
Well, here you are, but how are we going to arrange for you to be here?
This becomes the driving question of the next few chapters. Cosette can be smuggled out in a basket, but how will they get Valjean outside the gates and then back in with a justification for it?