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verify the infractions of police regulations which have been reported to me in the Rue Guibourg; at Widow Doris's; and Rue du Garraud…Blanc; at Madame Renee le Bosse's; and you will prepare documents。
But I am giving you a great deal of work。 Are you not to be absent?
Did you not tell me that you were going to Arras on that matter in a week or ten days?〃
〃Sooner than that; Mr。 Mayor。〃
〃On what day; then?〃
〃Why; I thought that I had said to Monsieur le Maire that the case was to be tried to…morrow; and that I am to set out by diligence to…night。〃
M。 Madeleine made an imperceptible movement。
〃And how long will the case last?〃
〃One day; at the most。
The judgment will be pronounced to…morrow evening at latest。
But I shall not wait for the sentence; which is certain; I shall return here as soon as my deposition has been taken。〃
〃That is well;〃 said M。 Madeleine。
And he dismissed Javert with a wave of the hand。
Javert did not withdraw。
〃Excuse me; Mr。 Mayor;〃 said he。
〃What is it now?〃 demanded M。 Madeleine。
〃Mr。 Mayor; there is still something of which I must remind you。〃
〃What is it?〃
〃That I must be dismissed。〃
M。 Madeleine rose。
〃Javert; you are a man of honor; and I esteem you。
You exaggerate your fault。
Moreover; this is an offence which concerns me。 Javert; you deserve promotion instead of degradation。
I wish you to retain your post。〃
Javert gazed at M。 Madeleine with his candid eyes; in whose depths his not very enlightened but pure and rigid conscience seemed visible; and said in a tranquil voice:
〃Mr。 Mayor; I cannot grant you that。〃
〃I repeat;〃 replied M。 Madeleine; 〃that the matter concerns me。〃
But Javert; heeding his own thought only; continued:
〃So far as exaggeration is concerned; I am not exaggerating。
This is the way I reason:
I have suspected you unjustly。
That is nothing。 It is our right to cherish suspicion; although suspicion directed above ourselves is an abuse。
But without proofs; in a fit of rage; with the object of wreaking my vengeance; I have denounced you as a convict; you; a respectable man; a mayor; a magistrate! That is serious; very serious。
I have insulted authority in your person; I; an agent of the authorities!
If one of my subordinates had done what I have done; I should have declared him unworthy of the service; and have expelled him。
Well?
Stop; Mr。 Mayor; one word more。 I have often been severe in the course of my life towards others。 That is just。
I have done well。
Now; if I were not severe towards myself; all the justice that I have done would bee injustice。 Ought I to spare myself more than others?
No!
What!
I should be good for nothing but to chastise others; and not myself!
Why; I should be a blackguard!
Those who say; ‘That blackguard of a Javert!' would be in the right。
Mr。 Mayor; I do not desire that you should treat me kindly; your kindness roused sufficient bad blood in me when it was directed to others。
I want none of it for myself。 The kindness which consists in upholding a woman of the town against a citizen; the police agent against the mayor; the man who is down against the man who is up in the world; is what I call false kindness。 That is the sort of kindness which disorganizes society。
Good God! it is very easy to be kind; the difficulty lies in being just。 e! if you had been what I thought you; I should not have been kind to you; not I!
You would have seen!
Mr。 Mayor; I must treat myself as I would treat any other man。
When I have subdued malefactors; when I have proceeded with vigor against rascals; I have often said to myself; ‘If you flinch; if I ever catch you in fault; you may rest at your ease!'
I have flinched; I have caught myself in a fault。 So much the worse!
e; discharged; cashiered; expelled!
That is well。 I have arms。
I will till the soil; it makes no difference to me。 Mr。 Mayor; the good of the service demands an example。
I simply require the discharge of Inspector Javert。〃
All this was uttered in a proud; humble; despairing; yet convinced tone; which lent indescribable grandeur to this singular; honest man。
〃We shall see;〃 said M。 Madeleine。
And he offered him his hand。
Javert recoiled; and said in a wild voice:
〃Excuse me; Mr。 Mayor; but this must not be。
A mayor does not offer his hand to a police spy。〃
He added between his teeth:
〃A police spy; yes; from the moment when I have misused the police。 I am no more than a police spy。〃
Then he bowed profoundly; and directed his steps towards the door。
There he wheeled round; and with eyes still downcast:
〃Mr。 Mayor;〃 he said; 〃I shall continue to serve until I am superseded。〃
He withdrew。
M。 Madeleine remained thoughtfully listening to the firm; sure step; which died away on the pavement of the corridor。
BOOK SEVENTH。THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER I
SISTER SIMPLICE
The incidents the reader is about to peruse were not all known at M。 sur M。 But the small portion of them which became known left such a memory in that town that a serious gap would exist in this book if we did not narrate them in their most minute details。 Among these details the reader will encounter two or three improbable circumstances; which we preserve out of respect for the truth。
On the afternoon following the visit of Javert; M。 Madeleine went to see Fantine according to his wont。
Before entering Fantine's room; he had Sister Simplice summoned。
The two nuns who performed the services of nurse in the infirmary; Lazariste ladies; like all sisters of charity; bore the names of Sister Perpetue and Sister Simplice。
Sister Perpetue was an ordinary villager; a sister of charity in a coarse style; who had entered the service of God as one enters any other service。
She was a nun as other women are cooks。 This type is not so very rare。
The monastic orders gladly accept this heavy peasant earthenware; which is easily fashioned into a Capuchin or an Ursuline。
These rustics ar