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an。
And he would have done it with that sort of inward satisfaction which is conferred by virtue。
And； withal； a life of privation； isolation； abnegation； chastity； with never a diversion。
It was implacable duty； the police understood； as the Spartans understood Sparta； a pitiless lying in wait； a ferocious honesty； a marble informer； Brutus in Vidocq。
Javert's whole person was expressive of the man who spies and who withdraws himself from observation。
The mystical school of Joseph de Maistre； which at that epoch seasoned with lofty cosmogony those things which were called the ultra newspapers； would not have failed to declare that Javert was a symbol。 His brow was not visible； it disappeared beneath his hat： his eyes were not visible； since they were lost under his eyebrows： his chin was not visible； for it was plunged in his cravat： his hands were not visible； they were drawn up in his sleeves： and his cane was not visible； he carried it under his coat。 But when the occasion presented itself； there was suddenly seen to emerge from all this shadow； as from an ambuscade； a narrow and angular forehead； a baleful glance； a threatening chin； enormous hands； and a monstrous cudgel。
In his leisure moments； which were far from frequent； he read； although he hated books； this caused him to be not wholly illiterate。 This could be recognized by some emphasis in his speech。
As we have said； he had no vices。
When he was pleased with himself； he permitted himself a pinch of snuff。
Therein lay his connection with humanity。
The reader will have no difficulty in understanding that Javert was the terror of that whole class which the annual statistics of the Ministry of Justice designates under the rubric； Vagrants。 The name of Javert routed them by its mere utterance； the face of Javert petrified them at sight。
Such was this formidable man。
Javert was like an eye constantly fixed on M。 Madeleine。
An eye full of suspicion and conjecture。
M。 Madeleine had finally perceived the fact； but it seemed to be of no importance to him。
He did not even put a question to Javert； he neither sought nor avoided him； he bore that embarrassing and almost oppressive gaze without appearing to notice it。
He treated Javert with ease and courtesy； as he did all the rest of the world。
It was divined； from some words which escaped Javert； that he had secretly investigated； with that curiosity which belongs to the race； and into which there enters as much instinct as will； all the anterior traces which Father Madeleine might have left elsewhere。 He seemed to know； and he sometimes said in covert words； that some one had gleaned certain information in a certain district about a family which had disappeared。
Once he chanced to say； as he was talking to himself； 〃I think I have him！〃 Then he remained pensive for three days； and uttered not a word。 It seemed that the thread which he thought he held had broken。
Moreover； and this furnishes the necessary corrective for the too absolute sense which certain words might present； there can be nothing really infallible in a human creature； and the peculiarity of instinct is that it can bee confused； thrown off the track； and defeated。
Otherwise； it would be superior to intelligence； and the beast would be found to be provided with a better light than man。
Javert was evidently somewhat disconcerted by the perfect naturalness and tranquillity of M。 Madeleine。
One day； nevertheless； his strange manner appeared to produce an impression on M。 Madeleine。
It was on the following occasion。
BOOK FIFTH。THE DESCENT
CHAPTER VI
FATHER FAUCHELEVENT
One morning M。 Madeleine was passing through an unpaved alley of M。 sur M。； he heard a noise； and saw a group some distance away。 He approached。
An old man named Father Fauchelevent had just fallen beneath his cart； his horse having tumbled down。
This Fauchelevent was one of the few enemies whom M。 Madeleine had at that time。
When Madeleine arrived in the neighborhood； Fauchelevent； an ex…notary and a peasant who was almost educated； had a business which was beginning to be in a bad way。
Fauchelevent had seen this simple workman grow rich； while he； a lawyer； was being ruined。 This had filled him with jealousy； and he had done all he could； on every occasion； to injure Madeleine。
Then bankruptcy had e； and as the old man had nothing left but a cart and a horse； and neither family nor children； he had turned carter。
The horse had two broken legs and could not rise。
The old man was caught in the wheels。
The fall had been so unlucky that the whole weight of the vehicle rested on his breast。
The cart was quite heavily laden。
Father Fauchelevent was rattling in the throat in the most lamentable manner。
They had tried； but in vain； to drag him out。
An unmethodical effort； aid awkwardly given； a wrong shake； might kill him。
It was impossible to disengage him otherwise than by lifting the vehicle off of him。
Javert； who had e up at the moment of the accident； had sent for a jack…screw。
M。 Madeleine arrived。
People stood aside respectfully。
〃Help！〃 cried old Fauchelevent。
〃Who will be good and save the old man？〃
M。Madeleine turned towards those present：
〃Is there a jack…screw to be had？〃
〃One has been sent for；〃 answered the peasant。
〃How long will it take to get it？〃
〃They have gone for the nearest； to Flachot's place； where there is a farrier； but it makes no difference； it will take a good quarter of an hour。〃
〃A quarter of an hour！〃 exclaimed Madeleine。
It had rained on the preceding night； the soil was soaked。
The cart was sinking deeper into the earth every moment； and crushing the old carter's breast more and more。 It was evident that his ribs would be broken in five minutes more。
〃It is impossible to wait another quarter of an hour；〃 said Madeleine to the peasants； who were staring at him。
〃We must！〃
〃But it will be too late then！
Don't you see that the cart is sinking？〃
〃Well！〃
〃Listen；〃 resumed Madeleine； 〃the