Page 2196 - les-miserables

must never be allowed to slip. Thenardier, by putting Jean
Valjean outside in his stead, provided a prey for the police,
forced them to relinquish his scent, made them forget him
in a bigger adventure, repaid Javert for his waiting, which
always flatters a spy, earned thirty francs, and counted with
certainty, so far as he himself was concerned, on escaping
with the aid of this diversion.
Jean Valjean had fallen from one danger upon another.
These two encounters, this falling one after the other,
from Thenardier upon Javert, was a rude shock.
Javert did not recognize Jean Valjean, who, as we have
stated, no longer looked like himself. He did not unfold his
arms, he made sure of his bludgeon in his fist, by an imper-
ceptible movement, and said in a curt, calm voice:
‘Who are you?’
‘I.’
‘Who is ‘I’?’
‘Jean Valjean.’
Javert thrust his bludgeon between his teeth, bent his
knees, inclined his body, laid his two powerful hands on the
shoulders of Jean Valjean, which were clamped within them
as in a couple of vices, scrutinized him, and recognized him.
Their faces almost touched. Javert’s look was terrible.
Jean Valjean remained inert beneath Javert’s grasp, like a
lion submitting to the claws of a lynx.
‘Inspector Javert,’ said he, ‘you have me in your pow-
er. Moreover, I have regarded myself as your prisoner ever
since this morning. I did not give you my address with any
intention of escaping from you. Take me. Only grant me

2196 Les Miserables