(Please forgive the late response, I wanted to make sure I understood what I was talking about as much as I thought I did!)
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I’m glad you asked.
I have no clue how it crossed my mind in the first place, quite honestly, but the more I think about it, the more it could make sense in canon. Do I think it’s what Hugo was trying to imply? Absolutely not, for we’ve seen several times just how subtle he is when hiding a character’s identity (100% sarcasm- Hugo describes ValJean in excruciating detail, all but his name, and thinks he’s so clever. We already knew, Hugo.)
Here are some traits and details about each character; I’ll leave it up to you to make connections between the two.
(Absolutely necessary disclaimer: I might accidentally make a statement that’s incorrect, please feel free to correct me!)
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•Babet was a criminal, and like Claquesous, would have more than enough reason to take on one or more false names and identities.
•He seemed to make lighthearted jokes when he was with his wife, at least once at her expense.
•Later, when he leaves her, there is a very heavy implication that he never contacts her again.
•Babet is described as follows: “He was a man of purpose, a fine talker, who underlined his smiles and accentuated his gestures.” (Implies that he had a way with words, as did Tholomyes, though they might have been differently talented- this one is a bit of a stretch, but there’s hardly any information provided for Babet, so one has to make do)
•Babet worked in the medical field as a dentist.
•Repeatedly described as being transparent in appearance, not a very healthy physique
•In the final chapter centered on Patron Minette, there is a strong implication that Babet is not his actual name, but rather a facade he is (over the span of time covered in the chapters) living under
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•Tholomyes does not, to the best of the reader’s knowledge, have a strained relationship with the law. Yet seemingly out of the blue, towards the end of his ramblings, he exclaims, “It is true that my name is Felix Tholomyes; I speak well.” (Which seems, as far as I’m able to tell, completely unprompted).
•Yet later, he addresses Fantine, saying, “O Fantine, know this: I, Tholomyes, I am all illusion; but she does not even hear me.” Perhaps these words were just some products of his seemingly aimless rambling, but there’s no reason provided for doubting them, aside from Tholomyes’ overall characterization.
•Here is yet another quote from him, interpret it as you will: “It has been said, error is human; I say, error is love.” (I concur: This isn’t included so much to support the argument as it is because I find it interesting!)
•Over the duration of one of Tholomyes’ ramblings, he seems to convince himself quite thoroughly that women serve to cause more issues and distract one from one’s goals- that it is better to leave women in order to achieve one’s goals.
•His appearance isn’t an extremely healthy one, though it doesn’t seem to affect him poorly
•Has a tendency to make lighthearted jokes, occasionally at Fantine’s expense
•When describing Tholomyes and similar types of people, Hugo likened him to someone who would have a different name every time you saw him
•Has a notably large amount of wealth that’s never given much context
•Never contacts Fantine after leaving her
•Tholomyes worked (perhaps just aspired to, I couldn’t tell) in the medical field as a doctor
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Additional note:
•Tholomyes is described as toothless, whereas Babet is not. However, Babet runs a shady dentistry where he’d have a more than generous supply of teeth… just a thought.
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@pilferingapples I hope you don’t mind me tagging you in this, but I trust your vast knowledge of canon material, and I’m curious to see what you’d have to say on this topic.
We shall have no further occasion to speak of M. Felix Tholomyes. Let us confine ourselves to saying, that, twenty years later, under King Louis Philippe, he was a great provincial lawyer, wealthy and influential, a wise elector, and a very severe juryman; and always a man of pleasure.
¯_( ಠ_ಠ)_/¯ 