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They asked themselves whether he had indeed uttered that cry； they could not believe that that tranquil man had been the one to give that terrible outcry。
This indecision only lasted a few seconds。
Even before the President and the district…attorney could utter a word； before the ushers and the gendarmes could make a gesture； the man whom all still called； at that moment； M。 Madeleine； had advanced towards the witnesses Cochepaille； Brevet； and Chenildieu。
〃Do you not recognize me？〃 said he。
All three remained speechless； and indicated by a sign of the head that they did not know him。
Cochepaille； who was intimidated； made a military salute。
M。 Madeleine turned towards the jury and the court； and said in a gentle voice：
〃Gentlemen of the jury； order the prisoner to be released！ Mr。 President； have me arrested。
He is not the man whom you are in search of； it is I： I am Jean Valjean。〃
Not a mouth breathed； the first motion of astonishment had been followed by a silence like that of the grave； those within the hall experienced that sort of religious terror which seizes the masses when something grand has been done。
In the meantime； the face of the President was stamped with sympathy and sadness； he had exchanged a rapid sign with the district…attorney and a few low…toned words with the assistant judges； he addressed the public； and asked in accents which all understood：
〃Is there a physician present？〃
The district…attorney took the word：
〃Gentlemen of the jury； the very strange and unexpected incident which disturbs the audience inspires us； like yourselves； only with a sentiment which it is unnecessary for us to express。 You all know； by reputation at least； the honorable M。 Madeleine； mayor of M。 sur M。； if there is a physician in the audience； we join the President in requesting him to attend to M。 Madeleine； and to conduct him to his home。〃
M。Madeleine did not allow the district…attorney to finish； he interrupted him in accents full of suavity and authority。 These are the words which he uttered； here they are literally； as they were written down； immediately after the trial by one of the witnesses to this scene； and as they now ring in the ears of those who heard them nearly forty years ago：
〃I thank you； Mr。 District…Attorney； but I am not mad； you shall see； you were on the point of mitting a great error； release this man！ I am fulfilling a duty； I am that miserable criminal。
I am the only one here who sees the matter clearly； and I am telling you the truth。
God； who is on high； looks down on what I am doing at this moment； and that suffices。
You can take me； for here I am： but I have done my best； I concealed myself under another name； I have bee rich； I have bee a mayor； I have tried to re…enter the ranks of the honest。
It seems that that is not to be done。 In short； there are many things which I cannot tell。
I will not narrate the story of my life to you； you will hear it one of these days。 I robbed Monseigneur the Bishop； it is true； it is true that I robbed Little Gervais； they were right in telling you that Jean Valjean was a very vicious wretch。
Perhaps it was not altogether his fault。
Listen； honorable judges！ a man who has been so greatly humbled as I have has neither any remonstrances to make to Providence； nor any advice to give to society； but； you see； the infamy from which I have tried to escape is an injurious thing； the galleys make the convict what he is； reflect upon that； if you please。 Before going to the galleys； I was a poor peasant； with very little intelligence； a sort of idiot； the galleys wrought a change in me。
I was stupid； I became vicious：
I was a block of wood； I became a firebrand。
Later on； indulgence and kindness saved me； as severity had ruined me。
But； pardon me； you cannot understand what I am saying。
You will find at my house； among the ashes in the fireplace； the forty…sou piece which I stole； seven years ago； from little Gervais。
I have nothing farther to add； take me。 Good God！ the district…attorney shakes his head； you say； 'M。 Madeleine has gone mad！' you do not believe me！ that is distressing。
Do not； at least； condemn this man！
What！ these men do not recognize me！ I wish Javert were here； he would recognize me。〃
Nothing can reproduce the sombre and kindly melancholy of tone which acpanied these words。
He turned to the three convicts； and said：
〃Well； I recognize you； do you remember； Brevet？〃
He paused； hesitated for an instant； and said：
〃Do you remember the knitted suspenders with a checked pattern which you wore in the galleys？〃
Brevet gave a start of surprise； and surveyed him from head to foot with a frightened air。
He continued：
〃Chenildieu； you who conferred on yourself the name of ‘Jenie…Dieu；' your whole right shoulder bears a deep burn； because you one day laid your shoulder against the chafing…dish full of coals； in order to efface the three letters T。 F。 P。； which are still visible； nevertheless； answer； is this true？〃
〃It is true；〃 said Chenildieu。
He addressed himself to Cochepaille：
〃Cochepaille； you have； near the bend in your left arm； a date stamped in blue letters with burnt powder； the date is that of the landing of the Emperor at Cannes； March 1； 1815； pull up your sleeve！〃
Cochepaille pushed up his sleeve； all eyes were focused on him and on his bare arm。
A gendarme held a light close to it； there was the date。
The unhappy man turned to the spectators and the judges with a smile which still rends the hearts of all who saw it whenever they think of it。
It was a smile of triumph； it was also a smile of despair。
〃You see plainly；〃 he said； 〃that I am Jean Valjean。〃
In that chamber there were no longer either judges； accusers； nor gendarmes； there was nothing but staring eyes and sympathizing hearts。
No one recalled any longer the part that each might be called upon to play； the district…attorney forgot he was there for the purpose of prosecuting； the President that he was there to preside； the counsel for the defence that