Page 336 - les-miserables

stove, and it has made it smoke.’
M. Madeleine listened to her with profound attention.
While she was speaking, he fumbled in his waistcoat, drew
out his purse and opened it. It was empty. He put it back in
his pocket. He said to Fantine, ‘How much did you say that
you owed?’
Fantine, who was looking at Javert only, turned towards
him:—
‘Was I speaking to you?’
Then, addressing the soldiers:—
‘Say, you fellows, did you see how I spit in his face? Ah!
you old wretch of a mayor, you came here to frighten me,
but I’m not afraid of you. I am afraid of Monsieur Javert. I
am afraid of my good Monsieur Javert!’
So saying, she turned to the inspector again:—
‘And yet, you see, Mr. Inspector, it is necessary to be just.
I understand that you are just, Mr. Inspector; in fact, it is
perfectly simple: a man amuses himself by putting snow
down a woman’s back, and that makes the officers laugh;
one must divert themselves in some way; and we—well, we
are here for them to amuse themselves with, of course! And
then, you, you come; you are certainly obliged to preserve
order, you lead off the woman who is in the wrong; but on
reflection, since you are a good man, you say that I am to
be set at liberty; it is for the sake of the little one, for six
months in prison would prevent my supporting my child.
‘Only, don’t do it again, you hussy!’ Oh! I won’t do it again,
Monsieur Javert! They may do whatever they please to me
now; I will not stir. But to-day, you see, I cried because it

336 Les Miserables