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and the place where the old spy was in the habit of crouching every evening； whining orisons through his nose； and playing the spy under cover of prayer。
〃The suspected individual〃 did indeed approach Javert thus disguised； and bestow alms on him。
At that moment Javert raised his head； and the shock which Jean Valjean received on recognizing Javert was equal to the one received by Javert when he thought he recognized Jean Valjean。
However； the darkness might have misled him； Jean Valjean's death was official； Javert cherished very grave doubts； and when in doubt； Javert； the man of scruples； never laid a finger on any one's collar。
He followed his man to the Gorbeau house； and got 〃the old woman〃 to talking； which was no difficult matter。
The old woman confirmed the fact regarding the coat lined with millions； and narrated to him the episode of the thousand…franc bill。
She had seen it！ She had handled it！
Javert hired a room； that evening he installed himself in it。
He came and listened at the mysterious lodger's door； hoping to catch the sound of his voice； but Jean Valjean saw his candle through the key…hole； and foiled the spy by keeping silent。
On the following day Jean Valjean decamped； but the noise made by the fall of the five…franc piece was noticed by the old woman； who； hearing the rattling of coin； suspected that he might be intending to leave； and made haste to warn Javert。
At night； when Jean Valjean came out； Javert was waiting for him behind the trees of the boulevard with two men。
Javert had demanded assistance at the Prefecture； but he had not mentioned the name of the individual whom he hoped to seize； that was his secret； and he had kept it for three reasons： in the first place； because the slightest indiscretion might put Jean Valjean on the alert； next； because； to lay hands on an ex…convict who had made his escape and was reputed dead； on a criminal whom justice had formerly classed forever as among malefactors of the most dangerous sort； was a magnificent success which the old members of the Parisian police would assuredly not leave to a new…er like Javert； and he was afraid of being deprived of his convict； and lastly； because Javert； being an artist； had a taste for the unforeseen。
He hated those well…heralded successes which are talked of long in advance and have had the bloom brushed off。 He preferred to elaborate his masterpieces in the dark and to unveil them suddenly at the last。
Javert had followed Jean Valjean from tree to tree； then from corner to corner of the street； and had not lost sight of him for a single instant； even at the moments when Jean Valjean believed himself to be the most secure Javert's eye had been on him。 Why had not Javert arrested Jean Valjean？
Because he was still in doubt。
It must be remembered that at that epoch the police was not precisely at its ease； the free press embarrassed it； several arbitrary arrests denounced by the newspapers； had echoed even as far as the Chambers； and had rendered the Prefecture timid。
Interference with individual liberty was a grave matter。
The police agents were afraid of making a mistake； the prefect laid the blame on them； a mistake meant dismissal。 The reader can imagine the effect which this brief paragraph； reproduced by twenty newspapers； would have caused in Paris： 〃Yesterday； an aged grandfather； with white hair； a respectable and well…to…do gentleman； who was walking with his grandchild； aged eight； was arrested and conducted to the agency of the Prefecture as an escaped convict！〃
Let us repeat in addition that Javert had scruples of his own； injunctions of his conscience were added to the injunctions of the prefect。
He was really in doubt。
Jean Valjean turned his back on him and walked in the dark。
Sadness； uneasiness； anxiety； depression； this fresh misfortune of being forced to flee by night； to seek a chance refuge in Paris for Cosette and himself； the necessity of regulating his pace to the pace of the childall this； without his being aware of it； had altered Jean Valjean's walk； and impressed on his bearing such senility； that the police themselves； incarnate in the person of Javert； might； and did in fact； make a mistake。
The impossibility of approaching too close； his costume of an emigre preceptor； the declaration of Thenardier which made a grandfather of him； and； finally； the belief in his death in prison； added still further to the uncertainty which gathered thick in Javert's mind。
For an instant it occurred to him to make an abrupt demand for his papers； but if the man was not Jean Valjean； and if this man was not a good； honest old fellow living on his ine； he was probably some merry blade deeply and cunningly implicated in the obscure web of Parisian misdeeds； some chief of a dangerous band； who gave alms to conceal his other talents； which was an old dodge。 He had trusty fellows； acplices' retreats in case of emergencies； in which he would； no doubt； take refuge。
All these turns which he was making through the streets seemed to indicate that he was not a simple and honest man。
To arrest him too hastily would be 〃to kill the hen that laid the golden eggs。〃
Where was the inconvenience in waiting？
Javert was very sure that he would not escape。
Thus he proceeded in a tolerably perplexed state of mind； putting to himself a hundred questions about this enigmatical personage。
It was only quite late in the Rue de Pontoise； that； thanks to the brilliant light thrown from a dram…shop； he decidedly recognized Jean Valjean。
There are in this world two beings who give a profound start； the mother who recovers her child and the tiger who recovers his prey。 Javert gave that profound start。
As soon as he had positively recognized Jean Valjean； the formidable convict； he perceived that there were only three of them； and he asked for reinforcements at the police station of the Rue de Pontoise。 One puts on gloves before grasping a thorn cudgel。
This delay and the halt at the Carrefour Rollin to consult with his agents came near causing him to lose the trail。 He speedily divin