2202 Les Miserables
surveillance, and each contingency had its own compart-
ment; all possible facts were arranged in drawers, as it were,
whence they emerged on occasion, in variable quantities; in
the street, uproar, revolt, carnival, and funeral.
The porter contented himself with waking Basque. Basque
woke Nicolette; Nicolette roused great-aunt Gillenormand.
As for the grandfather, they let him sleep on, thinking
that he would hear about the matter early enough in any
case.
Marius was carried up to the first floor, without any one
in the other parts of the house being aware of the fact, and
deposited on an old sofa in M. Gillenormand’s antechamber;
and while Basque went in search of a physician, and while
Nicolette opened the linen-presses, Jean Valjean felt Javert
touch him on the shoulder. He understood and descended
the stairs, having behind him the step of Javert who was fol-
lowing him.
The porter watched them take their departure as he had
watched their arrival, in terrified somnolence.
They entered the carriage once more, and the coachman
mounted his box.
‘Inspector Javert,’ said Jean, ‘grant me yet another favor.’
‘What is it?’ demanded Javert roughly.
‘Let me go home for one instant. Then you shall do what-
ever you like with me.’
Javert remained silent for a few moments, with his chin
drawn back into the collar of his great-coat, then he lowered
the glass and front:
‘Driver,’ said he, ‘Rue de l’Homme Arme, No. 7.’