Chapter 24 Promenade
A few days later Fantine received an invitation from Mathilde Liegeois for a walk in the Luxembourg Gardens. Javert himself accompanied Fantine and Cosette to the garden. He was not reassured, especially since the evening before the invitation, Fantine had had a cough which had kept her and him awake. But she had insisted on joining Mathilde. When she read the letter she rejoiced and even forgot the illness. She had dressed and styled her hair in front of the inspector's contemplative and concerned eyes. Well, after all, Fantine seemed better, the atmosphere of Paris was good for her, and the shadow of death had cleared up.
"Cosette, come and see what I have for you!"
They sat on a bench in the middle of the garden. Cosette, who was enjoying herself, ran when Mathilde called her and stood breathless before the two women. Mathilde took a piece of white cloth out of the basket which she had put on her lap and unfolded it before Cosette's astonished eyes.
"It's an apple pie," said Mathilde. "You ate some last time, so I asked Paul to make some more for us. Sit down and don't stain your dress."
Cosette listened religiously to the old woman. She sat between Fantine and Mathilde and took the pie in her hand.
"What do we say, Cosette?" Fantine stopped her.
"Thank you, Mrs Mathilde."
"You can call me Ma, Cosette. It's faster," she said to Fantine to justify herself. "And that's also what my kids used to call me when they were little."
Fantine nodded, as if to give Mathilde her blessing. Cosette blushed, nodded also and without any further delay, she devoured the pie. The afternoon went quietly, and while Cosette was playing around them, the two women were talking. Actually, most of the time, Mathilde was talking and Fantine was listening. From time to time, old Ma would put her hand on Fantine's forearm and laugh at her own memories. She told her how she and the commissioner Liegeois had met and she also told her the melancholy she sometimes felt when she thought of her country.
"I didn't grow up in the city," confided Fantine, "but in the country, in a small village."
"I spent much of my childhood in the country. My mother's parents had a lovely little cottage in the county. I used to like playing in the fields. You feel free."
"That's strange," whispered Fantine. "I don't remember much... dances maybe, Sunday afternoons and walks. It was a long time ago."
Fantine's gaze had faded, and she remained still for a moment. Mathilde said nothing and took Fantine's hand. "You see, my dear, the human mind is incredible; it keeps only what it wants and annihilates what it does not want. That's a good thing sometimes. I am old, I live in the past, but you, my lovely young lady, are young, still too young to care about the past. Ah! I hope your memory doesn't erase old Ma and that Cosette remembers her apple pie and that afternoon."
"Cosette will not forget it, Mathilde. Thank you very much."
It was four o'clock and Javert was waiting for them at the entrance of the park. He saw from afar walking to him. Fantine's cheeks had turned pink from the heat and her emerald-green dress adorned with yellow threads floated slightly in the breeze and reflected the golden rays of the sun. She was exquisite.
"I ate pie!" Cosette exclaimed as she ran toward him.
Javert, who was not accustomed to being greeted so enthusiastically, nodded and pretended to be impressed. Cosette slipped her hand into his hand and led him to the two women.
"I hope the three of you have had a good afternoon," he said. "Madame Liegeois, allow me to escort you home."
"Come on, Inspector, where do you want to take me? I know Paris better than you, so don't worry about me. I'll take a coach."
Javert noticed Mathilde's mischievous smile on her face and agreed. It was four o'clock and they did not live far away but he still insisted on escorting her back to the coach.
"Madame Liegeois," Javert started as he helped the old woman get into the cab. "Fantine is sick. I'm afraid these walks will exhaust her. Knowing her, she wouldn't say no, and I am grateful for your kindness. But I'm worried about Fantine's health, I'm sorry, she.. ยป
"You apologize for taking care of your wife, Inspector. You are wrong. Well, I didn't know she was sick, she didn't tell me."
"I thought the commissioner would tell you."
"He doesn't tell me everything. But you're right. I saw that Fantine was sometimes out of breath, we took regular breaks for that. Is she taking her medication?"
Javert shook his head.
"Madam, there's nothing medicine can do. According to the doctors, Fantine should have died by now. By some mystery, she's still here."
"Oh... it's a gift from God, sir. Cherish that woman. I'll visit you myself from now on, if you don't mind."
"Fantine will appreciate."