"You have a visitor, Inspector," a young sergeant told him when he arrived at the police station.
Javert stopped in the middle of the room. Who could it be? He immediately stiffened, adjusted the already smooth folds of his uniform, and get back to his steady run to his office. What if his calvary was finally over? Could it be that the police officer had come all this way to see him and confirm the identity of the prisoner? Monsieur Madeleine would be the prisoner 24601. The equation was solved. Would he be congratulated? The police officer, or a representative, no matter who, the honor would be the same. If the day had begun in gloom, it took on an exciting turn for Javert. He knocked on the door of his own office before entering, inflating his lungs...
"Mr. Mayor? »
"Ah hello Javert! The mayor greeted him, he was standing near the window.
"What a surprise," Javert said between his teeth.
"It's a surprise for me too. I had not planned to come here this morning, but I had to tell you about these letters, you know, the one the Thénardiers sent to Fantine. »
Obviously, such a surprise called for another of the same kind. Why did the mayor feel compelled to bring him into this? Was he taking any ill pleasure in it?
"I'm listening, Mr. Mayor," Javert took off his coat and went to sit behind his desk.
"Well, I don't know why, but something about these people doesn't inspire me. You're a police inspector, you must have a good flair, haven't you? You read and even kept these letters, it must be for a good reason, right? »
"I just wanted to study them more. »
"So what? »
The mayor sat down on a chair in front of Javert and leaned at the desk, focusing his attention on the inspector. Realizing that the mayor would not leave him alone until he got what he wanted, and even though Javert had no desire to continue a conversation, he played along.
"The handwriting is the same," Javert threw the pile of letters he kept in his drawer on the desk. "Slightly different each time, but the same. »
"What do you mean? »
Javert laid out several letters in front of the mayor, "Look here at Thénardier's letter, look at the shape of the 's' and the 'a' for example. Then, look here at the attached doctor's note, again, see the 's' and the 'a'."
The Mayor's face lit up. He grasped the two letters and carefully compared them. "Yes! »
"And look here," Javert continued, grabbing two more letters. Here, the Thénardier's. And here is the note with a receipt for medication. »
"Well, that's it! Inspector, you amaze me! »
"Different signatures, but the same person," concluded Javert, a bit of pride in his eye. "If you want to know, I think we're dealing with a crook. »
"And poor Fantine... she knew nothing. »
"It's from lack of precaution that one gets fooled..." said Javert with a grin.
"I'd love to see you in her shoes". The two men paused for a moment. The inspector's piercing gaze destabilized the mayor. It was indeed the first time he had bowed under the inspector's gaze since he had been mayor. Something in the inspector's dark eyes had made him tremble in the depths of his soul, something that made him lower his eyes and almost blush with shame. In those eyes, in those two mirrors, it was his past that he saw. Something in the inspector's eyes frightened him.
"Well, that doesn't help me, Javert," said Madeleine, clearing his voice. "Two days ago I asked Thenardier to bring Cosette here in Montreuil. The mayor took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Javert. "He tells me now that she's too sick to take the road, so we'll have to wait. »
"That's very thoughtful of them," Javert replied in a flat voice.
"Hum," the mayor's gaze was lost on the street outside. "We'll see how things go. In the meantime, Fantine must gather strength. Have a nice day, Javert. The two men greeted each other.
"Good day, Monsieur Mayor. »