雨果 悲惨世界 英文版1-第51部分

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　　〃e！〃　said　Javert；　〃I　have　heard　you　out。
　　Have　you　entirely　finished？　You　will　get　six　months。
　　Now　march！
　　The　Eternal　Father　in　person　could　do　nothing　more。〃
　　At　these　solemn　words；　〃the　Eternal　Father　in　person　could　do　nothing　more；〃　she　understood　that　her　fate　was　sealed。　She　sank　down；　murmuring；　〃Mercy！〃
　　Javert　turned　his　back。
　　The　soldiers　seized　her　by　the　arms。
　　A　few　moments　earlier　a　man　had　entered；　but　no　one　had　paid　any　heed　to　him。
　　He　shut　the　door；　leaned　his　back　against　it；　and　listened　to　Fantine's　despairing　supplications。
　　At　the　instant　when　the　soldiers　laid　their　hands　upon　the　unfortunate　woman；　who　would　not　rise；　he　emerged　from　the　shadow；　and　said：
　　〃One　moment；　if　you　please。〃
　　Javert　raised　his　eyes　and　recognized　M。　Madeleine。
　　He　removed　his　hat；　and；　saluting　him　with　a　sort　of　aggrieved　awkwardness：
　　〃Excuse　me；　Mr。　Mayor〃
　　The　words　〃Mr。　Mayor〃　produced　a　curious　effect　upon　Fantine。　She　rose　to　her　feet　with　one　bound；　like　a　spectre　springing　from　the　earth；　thrust　aside　the　soldiers　with　both　arms；　walked　straight　up　to　M。　Madeleine　before　any　one　could　prevent　her；　and　gazing　intently　at　him；　with　a　bewildered　air；　she　cried：
　　〃Ah！　so　it　is　you　who　are　M。　le　Maire！〃
　　Then　she　burst　into　a　laugh；　and　spit　in　his　face。
　　M。　Madeleine　wiped　his　face；　and　said：
　　〃Inspector　Javert；　set　this　woman　at　liberty。〃
　　Javert　felt　that　he　was　on　the　verge　of　going　mad。
　　He　experienced　at　that　moment；　blow　upon　blow　and　almost　simultaneously；　the　most　violent　emotions　which　he　had　ever　undergone　in　all　his　life。　To　see　a　woman　of　the　town　spit　in　the　mayor's　face　was　a　thing　so　monstrous　that；　in　his　most　daring　flights　of　fancy；　he　would　have　regarded　it　as　a　sacrilege　to　believe　it　possible。　On　the　other　hand；　at　the　very　bottom　of　his　thought；　he　made　a　hideous　parison　as　to　what　this　woman　was；　and　as　to　what　this　mayor　might　be；　and　then　he；　with　horror；　caught　a　glimpse　of　I　know　not　what　simple　explanation　of　this　prodigious　attack。　But　when　he　beheld　that　mayor；　that　magistrate；　calmly　wipe　his　face　and　say；　〃Set　this　woman　at　liberty；〃　he　underwent　a　sort　of　intoxication　of　amazement；　thought　and　word　failed　him　equally；　the　sum　total　of　possible　astonishment　had　been　exceeded　in　his　case。　He　remained　mute。
　　The　words　had　produced　no　less　strange　an　effect　on　Fantine。　She　raised　her　bare　arm；　and　clung　to　the　damper　of　the　stove；　like　a　person　who　is　reeling。
　　Nevertheless；　she　glanced　about　her；　and　began　to　speak　in　a　low　voice；　as　though　talking　to　herself：
　　〃At　liberty！
　　I　am　to　be　allowed　to　go！
　　I　am　not　to　go　to　prison　for　six　months！
　　Who　said　that？
　　It　is　not　possible　that　any　one　could　have　said　that。
　　I　did　not　hear　aright。
　　It　cannot　have　been　that　monster　of　a　mayor！
　　Was　it　you；　my　good　Monsieur　Javert；　who　said　that　I　was　to　be　set　free？
　　Oh；　see　here！
　　I　will　tell　you　about　it；　and　you　will　let　me　go。
　　That　monster　of　a　mayor；　that　old　blackguard　of　a　mayor；　is　the　cause　of　all。
　　Just　imagine；　Monsieur　Javert；　he　turned　me　out！　all　because　of　a　pack　of　rascally　women；　who　gossip　in　the　workroom。
　　If　that　is　not　a　horror；　what　is？
　　To　dismiss　a　poor　girl　who　is　doing　her　work　honestly！　Then　I　could　no　longer　earn　enough；　and　all　this　misery　followed。　In　the　first　place；　there　is　one　improvement　which　these　gentlemen　of　the　police　ought　to　make；　and　that　is；　to　prevent　prison　contractors　from　wronging　poor　people。
　　I　will　explain　it　to　you；　you　see：
　　you　are　earning　twelve　sous　at　shirt…making；　the　price　falls　to　nine　sous；　and　it　is　not　enough　to　live　on。　Then　one　has　to　bee　whatever　one　can。
　　As　for　me；　I　had　my　little　Cosette；　and　I　was　actually　forced　to　bee　a　bad　woman。　Now　you　understand　how　it　is　that　that　blackguard　of　a　mayor　caused　all　the　mischief。
　　After　that　I　stamped　on　that　gentleman's　hat　in　front　of　the　officers'　cafe；　but　he　had　spoiled　my　whole　dress　with　snow。
　　We　women　have　but　one　silk　dress　for　evening　wear。　You　see　that　I　did　not　do　wrong　deliberatelytruly；　Monsieur　Javert；　and　everywhere　I　behold　women　who　are　far　more　wicked　than　I；　and　who　are　much　happier。
　　O　Monsieur　Javert！　it　was　you　who　gave　orders　that　I　am　to　be　set　free；　was　it　not？
　　Make　inquiries；　speak　to　my　landlord；　I　am　paying　my　rent　now；　they　will　tell　you　that　I　am　perfectly　honest。
　　Ah！　my　God！
　　I　beg　your　pardon；　I　have　unintentionally　touched　the　damper　of　the　stove；　and　it　has　made　it　smoke。〃
　　M。　Madeleine　listened　to　her　with　profound　attention。
　　While　she　was　speaking；　he　fumbled　in　his　waistcoat；　drew　out　his　purse　and　opened　it。
　　It　was　empty。
　　He　put　it　back　in　his　pocket。　He　said　to　Fantine；　〃How　much　did　you　say　that　you　owed？〃
　　Fantine；　who　was　looking　at　Javert　only；　turned　towards　him：
　　〃Was　I　speaking　to　you？〃
　　Then；　addressing　the　soldiers：
　　〃Say；　you　fellows；　did　you　see　how　I　spit　in　his　face？　Ah！　you　old　wretch　of　a　mayor；　you　came　here　to　frighten　me；　but　I'm　not　afraid　of　you。
　　I　am　afraid　of　Monsieur　Javert。　I　am　afraid　of　my　good　Monsieur　Javert！〃
　　So　saying；　she　turned　to　the　inspector　again：
　　〃And　yet；　you　see；　Mr。　Inspector；　it　is　necessary　to　be　just。　I　understand　that　you　are　just；　Mr。　Inspector；　in　fact；　it　is　perfectly　simple：
　　a　man　amuses　himself　by　putting　snow　down　a　woman's　back；　and　that　makes　the　officers　laugh；　one　must　divert　themselves　in　some　way；　and　wewell；　we　are　here　for　them　to　amuse　themselves　with；　of　course！
　　And　then；　you；　you　e；　you　are　certainly　obliged　to　preserve　order；　you　lead　off　the　woman　who　is　in　the　wrong；　but　on　reflection；　since　you　are　a　good　man；　you　say　that　I　am　to　be　set　at　liberty；　it　is　for　the　sake　of　the　little　one；　for　six　months　in　prison　would　prevent　my　supporting　my　child。　‘Only；　don't　do　it　again；　you　hussy！'
　　Oh！
　　I　won't　do　it　again；　Monsieur　Javert！
　　They　may　do　whatever　they　please　to　me　now；　I　will　not　stir。
　　But　to…day；　you　see；　I　cried　because　it　hurt　me。　I　was　not　expecting　that　snow　from　the　gentleman　at　all；　and　then　as　I　told　you；　I　am　not　well；　I　have　a　cough；　I　seem　to　have　a　burning　ball　in　my　stomach；　and　the　doctor　tells　me；　‘Take　care　of　yourself。'
　　Here；　feel；　give　me　your　hand；　don't　be　afraid　it　is　here。〃
　　She　no　longer　wept；　her　voice　was　caressing；　she　placed　Javert's　coarse　hand　on　her　delicate；　white　throat　and　looked　smilingly　at　him。
　　All　at　once　she　rapidly　adjusted　her　disordered　garments；　dropped　the　folds　of　her　skirt；　which　had　been　pushed　up　as　she　dragged　herself　along；　almost　to　the　height　of　her　knee；　and　stepped　towards　the　door；　saying　to　the　soldiers　in　a　low　voice；　and　with　a　friendly　nod：
　　〃Children；　Monsieur　l'Inspecteur　has　said　that　I　am　to　be　released；　and　I　am　going。〃
　　She　laid　her　hand　on　the　latch　of　the　door。
　　One　step　more　and　she　would　be　in　the　street。
　　Javert　up　to　that　moment　had　remained　erect；　motionless；　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　cast　athwart　this　scene　like　some　displaced　statue；　which　is　waiting　to　be　put　away　somewhere。
　　The　sound　of　the　latch　roused　him。
　　He　raised　his　head　with　an　expression　of　sovereign　authority；　an　expression　all　the　more　alarming　in　proportion　as　the　authority　rests　on　a　low　level；　ferocious　in　the　wild　beast；　atrocious　in　the　man　of　no　estate。
　　〃Sergeant！〃　he　cried；　〃don't　you　see　that　that　jade　is　walking　off！　Who　bade　you　let　her　go？〃
　　〃I；〃　said　Madeleine。
　　Fantine　trembled　at　the　sound　of　Javert's　voice；　and　let　go　of　the　latch　as　a　thief　relinquishes　the　article　which　he　has　stolen。　At　the　sound　of　Madeleine's　voice　she　turned　around；　and　from　that　moment　forth　she　uttered　no　word；　nor　dared　so　much　as　to　breathe　freely；　but　her　glance　strayed　from　Madeleine　to　Javert；　and　from　Javert　to　Madeleine　in　turn；　according　to　which　was　speaking。
　　It　was　evident　that　Javert　must　have　been　exasperated　beyond　measure　before　he　would　permit　himself　to　apostrophize　the　sergeant　as　he　had　done；　after　the　mayor's　suggestion　that　Fantine　should　be　set　at　liberty。
　　Had　he　reached　the　point　of　forgetting　the　mayor's　presence？
　　Had　he　finally　declared　to　himself　that　it　was　impossible　that　any　〃authority〃　should　have　given　such　an　order；　and　that　the　mayor　must　certainly　have　said　one　thing　by　mistake　for　another；　without　intending　it？
　　Or；　in　view　of　the　enormities　of　which　he　had　been　a　witness　for　the　past　two　hours；　did　he　say　to　himself；　that　it　was　necessary　to　recur　to　supreme　resolutions；　that　it　was　indispensable　that　the　small　should　be　made　great；　that　the　police　spy　should　transform　himself　into　a　magistrate；　that　the　policeman　should　bee　a　dispenser　of　justice；　and　that；　in　this　prodigious　extremity；　order；　law；　morality；　government；　society　in　its　entirety；　was　personified　in　him；　Javert？
　　However　that　may　be；　when　M。　Madeleine　uttered　that　word；　_I_；　as　we　have　just　heard；　Police　Inspector　Javert　was　seen　to　turn　toward　the　mayor；　pale；　cold；　with　blue　lips；　and　a　look　of　despair；　his　whole　body　agitated　by　an　imperceptible　quiver　and　an　unprecedented　occurrence；　and　say　to　him；　with　downcast　eyes　but　a　firm　vo