zed with a fit of trembling.
"My child!" she cried, "to go and fetch my child!
She is not here, then!
Answer me, sister; where is Cosette?
I want my child! Monsieur Madeleine!
Monsieur le Maire!"
Javert stamped his foot.
"And now there''s the other one!
Will you hold your tongue, you hussy? It''s a pretty sort of a place where convicts are magistrates, and where women of the town are cared for like countesses!
Ah!
But we are going to change all that; it is high time!"
He stared intently at Fantine, and added, once more taking into his grasp Jean Valjean''s cravat, shirt and collar:--
"I tell you that there is no Monsieur Madeleine and that there is no Monsieur le Maire.
There is a thief, a brigand, a convict named Jean Valjean!
And I have him in my grasp!
That''s what there is!"
Fantine raised herself in bed with a bound, supporting herself on her stiffened arms and on both hands:
she gazed at Jean Valjean, she gazed at Javert, she gazed at the nun, she opened her mouth as though to speak; a rattle proceeded from the depths of her throat, her teeth chattered; she stretched out her arms in her agony, opening her hands convulsively, and fumbling about her like a drowning person; then suddenly fell back on her pillow.
Her head struck the head-board of the bed and fell forwards on her breast, with gaping mouth and staring, sightless eyes.