Page 339 - les-miserables

him, with downcast eyes but a firm voice:—
‘Mr. Mayor, that cannot be.’
‘Why not?’ said M. Madeleine.
‘This miserable woman has insulted a citizen.’
‘Inspector Javert,’ replied the mayor, in a calm and con-
ciliating tone, ‘listen. You are an honest man, and I feel no
hesitation in explaining matters to you. Here is the true
state of the case: I was passing through the square just as
you were leading this woman away; there were still groups
of people standing about, and I made inquiries and learned
everything; it was the townsman who was in the wrong and
who should have been arrested by properly conducted po-
lice.’
Javert retorted:—
‘This wretch has just insulted Monsieur le Maire.’
‘That concerns me,’ said M. Madeleine. ‘My own insult
belongs to me, I think. I can do what I please about it.’
‘I beg Monsieur le Maire’s pardon. The insult is not to
him but to the law.’
‘Inspector Javert,’ replied M. Madeleine, ‘the highest law
is conscience. I have heard this woman; I know what I am
doing.’
‘And I, Mr. Mayor, do not know what I see.’
‘Then content yourself with obeying.’
‘I am obeying my duty. My duty demands that this wom-
an shall serve six months in prison.’
M. Madeleine replied gently:—
‘Heed this well; she will not serve a single day.’
At this decisive word, Javert ventured to fix a searching

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