Les Misérables, v. 5/5: Jean Valjean

  CHAPTER X.

  RETURN OF THE SON PRODIGAL OF HIS LIFE.

  At each jolt over the pavement a drop of blood fell from Marius's hair.It was quite night when the hackney coach reached No. 6, Rue des Fillesdu Calvaire. Javert got out first, examined at a glance the numberover the gateway, and raising the heavy knocker of hammered steel,embellished in the old style with a goat and a satyr contending, gave aviolent knock. The folding-door opened slightly, and Javert pushed itopen. The porter half showed himself, yawning, and scarce awake, candlein hand. All were asleep in the house, for people go to bed early atthe Marais, especially on days of rioting. This good old district,terrified by the revolution, takes refuge in sleep, like children who,when they hear "old Bogey coming," quickly hide their heads under thecounterpane. In the mean while Jean Valjean and the driver removedMarius from the hackney coach, Valjean holding him under the armpitsand the coachman under the knees. While carrying Marius in this wayJean Valjean passed his hands under his clothes, which were terriblytorn, felt his chest, and assured himself that his heart still beat. Iteven beat a little less feebly, as if the motion of the vehicle hadproduced a certain renewal of vitality. Javert addressed the porter inthe tone which becomes the government in the presence of the porter ofa factionist.

  "Any one live here of the name of Gillenormand?"

  "It is here. What do you want with him?"

  "We bring him his son."

  "His son?" the porter asked in amazement.

  "He is dead."

  Jean Valjean, who came up ragged and filthy behind Javert, and whomthe porter regarded with some horror, made him a sign that it was notso. The porter seemed neither to understand Javert's remark nor JeanValjean's sign. Javert continued,--

  "He has been to the barricade, and here he is."

  "To the barricade!" the porter exclaimed.

  "He has been killed. Go and wake his father."

  The porter did not stir.

  "Be off!" Javert continued; and added, "There will be a funeral hereto-morrow."

  For Javert, the ordinary incidents of the streets were classifiedcategorically, which is the commencement of foresight and surveillance,and each eventuality had its compartment; the possible facts wereto some extent kept in drawers, whence they issued on occasions, invariable quantities; there were in the streets, disturbance, riot,carnival, and interments.

  The porter limited himself to awaking Basque; Basque awoke Nicolette;Nicolette awoke Aunt Gillenormand. As for the grandfather, he was leftto sleep, as it was thought that he would know the affair quite soonenough as it was. Marius was carried to the first-floor, no one beingacquainted with the fact in the rest of the house, and he was laid onan old sofa in M. Gillenormand's ante-room, and while Basque went tofetch a physician and Nicolette opened the linen-presses, Jean Valjeanfelt Javert touch his shoulder. He understood, and went down, Javertfollowing close at his heels. The porter saw them depart, as he hadseen them arrive, with a startled sleepiness. They got into the hackneycoach, and the driver on his box.

  "Inspector Javert," Jean Valjean said, "grant me one thing more."

  "What is it?" Javert answered roughly.

  "Let me go home for a moment, and you can then do with me what youplease."

  Javert remained silent for a few moments with his chin thrust into thecollar of his great-coat, and then let down the front window.

  "Driver," he said, "No. 7, Rue de l'Homme Armé."