Chapter 8 : first contact.
On the evening of the same day Javert went again to knock on the door of the infirmary where Fantine was. It must have been late enough not to risk running into the mayor, but early enough for the sisters to let him in. Moreover, it seemed that the mayor had not heard of his late visit the last time he came; either the sisters had kept it secret, or the mayor himself had chosen not to mention it to the inspector. In any case, it suited him well. He had no desire to justify himself. Moreover, he himself did not know what had prompted him to retrace his steps as he returned home and to visit the prostitute. On the way, he had time to find an excuse: he was on a mission for the mayor. He had to learn more about Fantine.
This time, it was Sister Perpetue who opened the door. She greeted him with a skeptical look, but she let him in.
"But I must remind you, Inspector, that you must be gentle with the poor young woman. She's very fragile. And please, do not mention her baby, it makes her melancholic in the evening, she cries and asks to see her often. This is her room." They had just crossed a small hallway, she pointed to a door and withdrew.
He waited until she had left the hallway before knocking two small knocks on the door. A faint voice invited him in. He put his hand on the cold steel of the handle, his pulse had accelerated and his heart beat in his temples, deafening him. He could turn around, nothing prevented him from leaving here. Yet he was unable to move. The voice had just repeated the invitation, he did not even hear it. Its limbs had frozen in place and it took a superhuman effort to turn the handle and push the door.
The room, not very large, was bathed in the dim light of a few candles. In the centre, under a window, there was a bed and beside it was a small stool.
There, lying on that bed, two wide eyes stared at him with horror.
"I'm not here to arrest you," Javert said. "I'm Inspector Javert. I am..."
"I know who you are". Fantine's voice silenced him. He stood as if facing the chief of police himself. Fear had left the young woman's face as soon as he announced that he was not coming for her, and instead gave way to curiosity. The man who had wanted to arrest her and throw her in prison was now at her bedside for a reason she did not know. She invited him to sit on the stool next to the bed, and he complied immediately.
"You're better," Javert said.
"It depends on the days. It is my Cosette that gives me strength. The Mayor said she will come soon. How exciting, isn't it? »
Javert nodded vaguely. "You know these Thenardiers? »
" Who told you about them ? Is that Monsieur Mayor? »
"I have been instructed to investigate your case. »
The sketch of a smile appeared on Fantine's lips. "It's the first time I've been given so much attention," she says sadly. "I would have been really happy if it wasn't under such circumstances. I wish my daughter was here. Yes, yes, I would really be happy if I could hold her against me tonight. »
The painting was pathetic. She was now talking about Cosette as if Javert was not here. Fantine had become delirious because of the fever. She had only one idea: to find her daughter. Javert got up, there was no point in staying here.
"I haven't always been like that," Fantine's hand held the tail of his coat. Javert turned around, both indignant and surprised. She had come back to herself and she smiled at him sadly. "I would never have become a bad girl, you don't choose those things, monsieur. But it was for Cosette that I did this. Love makes you do crazy things. Have you ever done something crazy? And I also believed crazy things out of love. Yes, I was very foolish. You see me that way, but before I was pretty, at least I think so." The young woman's cheeks had turned red as she became aware of her appearance. She adjusted the cap on her head and clenched her lips to hide the gaping hole between her teeth. Since she had arrived to the infirmary, her face had regained some colours, at least enough to chase away the shadow of death that had darken her features. Her hair, which began to grow back, formed thick blond curls on her head and covered her forehead. After all, yes, thought Javert, she had little to do with the alley cat he had found on the street the night of the arrest. Now she looked like an angel. Her innocence was obvious for Javert. In his heart, a feeling similar to shame was born, he had failed in his duty. He could have sent an innocent woman to prison. Innocent... Javert contemplated that word, what did it mean? This did not in any way remove the sin of this woman who had become a public woman. He tried to imagine how she looked before; he often saw young women strolling the streets of Montreuil, all with headscarves and hats. Fantine must have been like them. Her blond hair in the wind, smiling to however would cross her gaze... Javert put an end to these daydreams before they took him to a place he had never been before.
"If I had had a choice," whispered Fantine. "I would have gone far from here to live in a castle. And if life had not made me poor, I would have been a duchess. What about you , Inspector? »
Javert opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted by Sister Perpetue, "Forgive me, Inspector, but it is late and Fantine must rest. »
Javert nodded, "Good evening, mesdames," he said, greeting them.
Saved by the gong. Javert breathed the fresh air of the street. In the end, he did not get anything out of that interview. At least, that was what he thought.