Book 2, Chapter 8 Summary

The Marquis Evremonde travels to his village, which has only one street with horrible poverty infesting the people and their businesses. He demands that a man explain why he was so focused on his carriage. The man says that he saw a man attached to his carriage. The man then dove into the river. The Marquis then tells his servant to take care of the matter. A woman petitions the Marquis for a gravestone for her husband. He drives off without answering. Arriving home, he asks if his nephew, Charles, has come.

Book 2, Chapter 8 Analysis

The Marquis Evremonde is consumed with selfishness, content to live among his own people, who are literally dying of want. He treats everyone, including a witness to a possible intruder, with total contempt, assigning any unpleasantries to his servant, Gabelle. Even worse, he ignores the peasant...