"I would remind the district-attorney," said the President, "that Police-Inspector Javert, recalled by his duties to the capital of a neighboring arrondissement, left the court-room and the town as soon as he had made his deposition; we have accorded him permission, with the consent of the district-attorney and of the counsel for the prisoner."
"That is true, Mr. President," responded the district-attorney. "In the absence of sieur Javert, I think it my duty to remind the gentlemen of the jury of what he said here a few hours ago. Javert is an estimable man, who does honor by his rigorous and strict probity to inferior but important functions.
These are the terms of his deposition:
`I do not even stand in need of circumstantial proofs and moral presumptions to give the lie to the prisoner''s denial. I recognize him perfectly.
The name of this man is not Champmathieu; he is an ex-convict named Jean Valjean, and is very vicious and much to be feared.
It is only with extreme regret that he was released at the expiration of his term.
He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft.
He made five or six attempts to escape. Besides the theft from Little Gervais, and from the Pierron orchard, I suspect him of a theft committed in the house of His Grace the late Bishop of D---- I often saw him at the time when I was adjutant of the galley-guard at the prison in Toulon.