1When Jean Valjean was left alone with Javert, he untied the rope which fastened the prisoner across the middle of the body, and the knot of which was under the table. After this he made him a sign to rise.

2Javert obeyed with that indefinable smile in which the supremacy of enchained authority is condensed.

3Jean Valjean took Javert by the martingale, as one would take a beast of burden by the breast-band, and, dragging the latter after him, emerged from the wine-shop slowly, because Javert, with his impeded limbs, could take only very short steps.

4Jean Valjean had the pistol in his hand.

5In this manner they crossed the inner trapezium of the barricade. The insurgents, all intent on the attack, which was imminent, had their backs turned to these two.

6Marius alone, stationed on one side, at the extreme left of the barricade, saw them pass. This group of victim and executioner was illuminated by the sepulchral light which he bore in his own soul.

7Jean Valjean with some difficulty, but without relaxing his hold for a single instant, made Javert, pinioned as he was, scale the little entrenchment in the Mondétour lane.

8When they had crossed this barrier, they found themselves alone in the lane. No one saw them. Among the heap they could distinguish a livid face, streaming hair, a pierced hand and the half nude breast of a woman. It was Éponine. The corner of the houses hid them from the insurgents. The corpses carried away from the barricade formed a terrible pile a few paces distant.

9Javert gazed askance at this body, and, profoundly calm, said in a low tone:

10“It strikes me that I know that girl.”

11Then he turned to Jean Valjean.

12Jean Valjean thrust the pistol under his arm and fixed on Javert a look which it required no words to interpret: “Javert, it is I.”

13Javert replied:

14“Take your revenge.”

15Jean Valjean drew from his pocket a knife, and opened it.

16“A clasp-knife!” exclaimed Javert, “you are right. That suits you better.”

17Jean Valjean cut the martingale which Javert had about his neck, then he cut the cords on his wrists, then, stooping down, he cut the cord on his feet; and, straightening himself up, he said to him:

18“You are free.”

19Javert was not easily astonished. Still, master of himself though he was, he could not repress a start. He remained open-mouthed and motionless.

20Jean Valjean continued:

21“I do not think that I shall escape from this place. But if, by chance, I do, I live, under the name of Fauchelevent, in the Rue de l’Homme Armé, No. 7.”

22Javert snarled like a tiger, which made him half open one corner of his mouth, and he muttered between his teeth:

23“Have a care.”

24“Go,” said Jean Valjean.

25Javert began again:

26“Thou saidst Fauchelevent, Rue de l’Homme Armé?”

27“Number 7.”

28Javert repeated in a low voice:—“Number 7.”

29He buttoned up his coat once more, resumed the military stiffness between his shoulders, made a half turn, folded his arms and, supporting his chin on one of his hands, he set out in the direction of the Halles. Jean Valjean followed him with his eyes:

30A few minutes later, Javert turned round and shouted to Jean Valjean:

31“You annoy me. Kill me, rather.”

32Javert himself did not notice that he no longer addressed Jean Valjean as “thou.”

33“Be off with you,” said Jean Valjean.

34Javert retreated slowly. A moment later he turned the corner of the Rue des Prêcheurs.

35When Javert had disappeared, Jean Valjean fired his pistol in the air.

36Then he returned to the barricade and said:

37“It is done.”

38In the meanwhile, this is what had taken place.

39Marius, more intent on the outside than on the interior, had not, up to that time, taken a good look at the pinioned spy in the dark background of the tap-room.

40When he beheld him in broad daylight, striding over the barricade in order to proceed to his death, he recognized him. Something suddenly recurred to his mind. He recalled the inspector of the Rue de Pontoise, and the two pistols which the latter had handed to him and which he, Marius, had used in this very barricade, and not only did he recall his face, but his name as well.

41This recollection was misty and troubled, however, like all his ideas.

42It was not an affirmation that he made, but a question which he put to himself:

43“Is not that the inspector of police who told me that his name was Javert?”

44Perhaps there was still time to intervene in behalf of that man. But, in the first place, he must know whether this was Javert.

45Marius called to Enjolras, who had just stationed himself at the other extremity of the barricade:

46“Enjolras!”

47“What?”

48“What is the name of yonder man?”

49“What man?”

50“The police agent. Do you know his name?”

51“Of course. He told us.”

52“What is it?”

53“Javert.”

54Marius sprang to his feet.

55At that moment, they heard the report of the pistol.

56Jean Valjean reappeared and cried: “It is done.”

57A gloomy chill traversed Marius’ heart.