Moments later, Javert, Jean Valjean, and the young girl-Javert could not recall her name-were seated in three dainty, wrought iron chairs outside of the Café Vérité. Three ancient elm threes grew nearby, their myriad leaves all at the height of autumn colour, and their long branches created a canopy under which the strange threesome sat. A few isolated birds flew overhead, no doubt getting a late start to their yearly migration. It is really a lovely place, Javert mused. More the setting for some romantic tryst than a police interrogation. But such is life.
Presently, a waiter came over, bearing a few bottles of red wine and a small writing tablet. "Good afternoon!" he greeted effulgently, as he deftly lit the solitary candle that sat on the table with his free hand. "Wine?" he offered, holding out a small bottle of cabernet.
"Thank you," Javert replied. "I would be happy to accept." He then turned to Jean Valjean and the girl. "For you, sir?" he asked, placing a particular emphasis on the word 'sir.' "Or for you, young miss?"
Neither Jean Valjean nor the girl said anything. Javert was not surprised by this, and paid the waiter with a few sous.
"Why, thank you, sir!" the waiter exclaimed. He placed the bottle of wine on the table, and then produced a tall wineglass from behind his back. While he uncorked the bottle, he inquired, "May I please take your orders?" He turned to the young girl first. "What would you like, pretty miss?"
The girl hung her head, and remained silent.
"Cosette," Jean Valjean whispered to her. "That man is speaking to you. Please be polite and answer him."
Cosette meekly looked up and said, "I'm not very hungry, thank you."
The waiter looked surprised, but instead asked Jean Valjean the same question. He answered in the same manner as Cosette. The waiter turned to Javert. "For you, sir?"
Javert smirked at Jean Valjean, and then ordered. "Yes, I will have a cup of your onion soup with a small order of roast mutton. I'd like a baguette to be brought out with my meal, and don't skimp on the butter."
"Is that all, sir?"
"Why don't you bring out a bit of brie with the bread, as well?"
"Yes, sir. Your food will be out shortly." The waiter turned around with a small flourish and left. Javert watched him go.
When the waiter was out of earshot, Javert looked at Jean Valjean and Cosette with a wolfish grin. "Now, let's start the interrogation, shall we?"