Chapter 3 The prostitute.
By searching, Javert eventually found what he was looking for. Late in the night, a black and large silhouette was going down into the streets, going along the walls and walking in a military way to the soho of Montreuil.
In Montreuil, at night, some areas were poorly lit, others not at all, and it was in that darkness that perversion arose and grew. Despite all the mayor's efforts to light up the streets, and the police's hard work to increase patrols, vile and twisted activities did not diminish. On the contrary, as the toughest bacteria, they evolved by adapting each time. When the police came, they hid, as parasites do when the predators emerge. But tonight, Javert was not the police inspector. He
wore his brown jacket with holes and matching trouser. It was freezing outside, but taking his coat with him would have been too showy.
He finally arrived in an alley. There was a tavern that was still open and was used as an inn for sailors and as a shelter for the wretched. He did not have to look for a long time, for against the building, a young woman was standing in the cold. Her shoulders were covered with a brown veil and a bonnet covered her head and let out some black locks of hair. She saw Javert first, but did not seem to recognize him. She smiled at him and with a nod of her head, she beckoned him to approach.
"Tell me, darling, what are you looking for, if you're cold, I can quickly fix it" Javert was
struck by the rough voice that came out of that woman. She smothered a quiver of cough in her shawl and smiles at Javert again.
"I'm looking for someone," Javert said, trying to look as relaxed and detached as he could. "A woman, like you, with blue eyes and..." He did not finish his sentence, actually Javert had forgotten the face of the Fantine except her eyes. Her blue eyes that had begged him. Those, he did not forget.
"Ah, sir has his preferences… I can't help you in this case." Visibly offended, the
Black-haired prostitute went a little further.
"I'll pay," said Javert to the young woman, who turned her face at once, "if you tell me what
I want to know."
"And what does darling want to know, exactly? »
"I told you: I'm looking for a woman with blue eyes."
"Honey, I don't know how many women here have blue eyes but it might take a long time
to find the one you are looking for"
Javert agreed, forced to admit that he would have nothing like that. "A prostitute was
arrested exactly four days ago, you know what I'm talking about? »
"Ah! Yes, little Fantine with the funny guy who attacked her. The poor little pussy. She's in.
prison I think, because of that naughty inspect... Oh, wait!" The young woman had just recognized him, Javert grabbed her abruptly and put his hand on her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
"I won't hurt you if you cooperate, I'm not here for you. Come on, talk fast, I don't have time. What do you know about her? »
"You want information? That's it! She's not in prison already? What more do you need,
Huh? »
"Only her address."
"You must see the old Marguerite" the prostitute shrugged her shoulders and showed a teasing smile. "Shall I take you there? »
"Marguerite? »
"Yes, she's an old woman who lives not far from here, she sews laundry to earn a living."
"Ah. Well, you'll take me there in the morning. Let's meet here at seven. All right? »
The prostitute raised her hand and held it out to Javert. She wanted money, Javert started to laugh quietly and nodded, "Of course," he said scornfully, "I will give you your money tomorrow. »
The next day, at seven o'clock, Javert was already waiting for the black-haired prostitute he had seen the night before. It was raining and Javert had finally decided to put on his black coat,symbol of the police, and his top hat. He had opened a black umbrella that he was holding in his big gloved hand. Javert, looked from a distance, like a sinister status. He plunged his other hand into the
pocket of his coat and took out a small pocket watch. A quarter of an hour had passed and the prostitute had not shown yet. He put the watch away and began to take some steps when one
hand slipped under his arm and grabbed him. It was the prostitute, her dark hair was wet
and shone under her little cap, she raised to him, a pale muzzle, yet smiling despite her small lips bluish by the cold.
"I almost forgot you, Inspector! » the strident voice of the young woman came to contrast with the monotony of the day. "It's hot under this umbrella, you don't say! » and she squeezed even more tight against the inspector's arm. "Well, you're going in the right direction, Marguerite lives down the street. You see the cart over there."
The prostitute's hand too was gloved with a small hollow silk glove, she was pointing at a small cart at the bottom of the street whose wheels had been removed. Next to it stood a small two-storey house. The walls were dilapidated and covered in posters.
They quickly reached the bottom of the street, the prostitute finally let go of her arm and
walked up to the door, leaving the inspector in the middle of the road. He watched her for a moment. He could see under the crudely patched apron, the apparent and torn skirt of the young woman. She was barefoot in that rain and mud, but it had stopped bothering her a long time ago.
She turned to Javert, displaying a triumphant smile. "That's it! she exclaimed. "Are you coming? Yes or no? I have work to do. Money won't make itself. Oh, speaking of the devil… »
Javert came up and took out a small purse of money from his pocket, which he handed to the prostitute. She gladly seized it, and hastened to open it to verify that the sum given were enough. Apparently, she was satisfied. She put the purse in one of the pockets of her apron and raised her little nose up to the inspector. "A pleasure doing business with you, Inspector...? »
"Javert," he said, and he himself was surprised to get caught up in the game. She raised her hand and again reached out to the inspector
"Come on, squeeze it. »
Javert shook his head. "Go home now. The prostitute, vexed, puffed her nose and spat on the ground. Then she adjusted her corset and walked up the street towards the tavern. "What a man!" she pouted, loud enough that, despite the rain, Javert hears it.