The Honest Mayor's Guests
"What would I give not to come here again," Fantine mused as she inspected her bandaged foot as best as she could. As she tried to sit up in the infirmary bed, she caught sight of a passing nun giving her a stern look.
"You'd best lie down, or you might get worse, Madame," Sister Simplice said gently as she went to Fantine's bedside. "The doctor wants you to stay here a night, just to make sure that blow on your head did not do you too much harm."
Fantine winced. "What about the old man who drove the cart?"
"M. Fauchelevent? He broke his knee and he's going to have to mend for a very long time in the next room. Poor man—his horse died and his cart could not be saved," Sister Simplice said, crossing herself. "But thank the Lord, you and him did not fare worse than this."
Fantine sighed resignedly as she sank back down onto the pillow. "Sister, it's already afternoon. Has someone gone to fetch my daughter? Can I see her?"
Sister Simplice leaned in conspiratorially. "The Mayor himself."
"What!" Fantine gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "Doesn't he have other important things to do as well?"
"He won't mind much. He's a kind sort of person—everyone knows that," Sister Simplice said. "He goes out with his pockets full of coins, then comes back with none. They say he gives them to children or to the poor who haven't a fire in the garret."
Fantine nodded mechanically. "Do you know why he does it?"
"That's what everyone hopes to find out," Sister Simplice shrugged.
A knock sounded on the infirmary door. "Inspector Javert is here, Sister!" a porteress called.
Sister Simplice wrung her hands as she left the infirmary. Fantine strained to hear the buzz of conversation right outside the door, but only succeeded in catching the words "misdemeanor", "trouble," and the one phrase, "What would the mayor think?"
A few minutes later, Sister Simplice bustled back into the infirmary. "What on earth was he talking about? Some sort of trouble I hear," she said, shaking her head.
"Sister, where?" Fantine asked.
"In the workshop."
"Oh God!"
Sister Simplice almost frowned with disapproval, but her face softened. "You work there, Madame?"
"Yes, yes, Sister." Fantine replied quickly.
"I'm sure it's something a girl like you need not be worried about," the nun said reassuringly.
Fantine forced herself to smile and take in Sister Simplice's words. "I hope so," she murmured as the infirmary door opened again.
The porteress slipped in with a confused look. "Another visitor, Sister, looking for the mayor!" she said breathlessly.
"Oh, who?" Fantine asked.
"Madame Victurnien, from the factory," the old woman replied.
Fantine started. "Why, what about?"
"From what I gathered from her and the Inspector, something has gone missing in the workshop," the porteress said in a whisper.
Fantine felt something twist in her gut. "When?"
"Today, two days, she didn't say. She said the information was for the mayor alone, and the police," the porteress said.
Just then, voices sounded in the outside passage. "The Mayor is here!" Sister Simplice said.
Fantine bolted up in bed. "Has he brought Cosette here?"
"We'll see, Madame," the porteress said, hurrying to the door. Fantine quickly combed out her hair with her fingers while Sister Simplice straightened up the place.
"Maman!" a child's voice shouted over the hubbub outside. Fantine had little time to prepare before Cosette clambered onto the bed. "What happened?"
"I have had a little accident, darling," Fantine said, dusting off Cosette's dress. "But don't worry, I'm fine."
M. Madeleine appeared in the doorway and nodded to Fantine. "I told Gilles Feuilly that he should come here after his day's work. Are you doing better?"
"Oh yes, very much so," Fantine replied with a smile.
"What is she doing here? That little thief!" Madame Victurnien said from behind M. Madeleine.
"Thief? What do you mean?" M. Madeleine asked, turning to the crone.
Madame Victurnien pointed to Fantine. "That woman there is the thief I have come to speak to you about, Monsieur."
All eyes turned to Fantine, whose face had gone pale. "I do not know what you are talking about," she said.
"You lie! We found the coins in your worktable this morning!" Madame Victurnien said loudly.
"Madame, I haven't done anything! I swear!" Fantine cried.
"Inspector Javert has returned!" the porteress said from outside.
"Come to arrest her no doubt," Madame Victurnien said triumphantly.
"Monsieur Madeleine, I didn't do any wrong. I haven't coins to keep anyhow---oh you all know this, even you Madame Victurnien! I hardly have anything for myself, everything goes to the children!" Fantine said frantically.
"We shall see about that, Madame," Inspector Javert said from the doorway.
M. Madeleine faced him sternly. "Inspector, I believe this is a very inopportune circumstance."
"I am just here to make an inquiry, that is all," the Inspector said in a tone that was meant to be amiable. "For now, you all have nothing to fear."