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any one could have said that. I did not hear aright. It can-
not 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 become whatever one can. As for me, I had
my little Cosette, and I was actually forced to become 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
deliberately—truly, Monsieur Javert; and everywhere I be-
hold women who are far more wicked than I, and who are
much happier. O Monsieur Javert! it was you who gave or-
ders 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