Untitled

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 13, 4 October 1935, Page III

It is shortly after that Jean actually buys little Cosette, daughter of Fantine Lesrolles, employed in- his factory, from the proprietor of the Sergeant of Waterloo Inn and his grasping wife, to look after until her mother is well and able to take care of herself. Jean and Cosette are playing checkers on the floor. Cosette suddenly dives her hand on the board and makes an obvious move. Jean. laughs: "You win!" The two are the picture of contentment. ~ Javert Again. Toussaint, the old housekeeper, comes into the scene. ‘ "M. Javert is. here: "Javert?"’ "He wants to speak to you privately. I asked him if I could take a message, but he said it concerned. you only. de "spoke in such a peculiar way 7 Javert is not the calm, stoical, "austere person one would expect. He is apparently under stress of emotion. He wipes the sweat from his forehead; his hand is trembling. He hears the noise of the latch and the two men come face to face. Javert speaks in a husky undertone : "T am sorry to disturb you at this hour, ‘but I have a duty-an urgent duty to perform," "Go on.’ ' -"As soon as I Was sure-I ,had to act at once.’ " "Veg?" 3 "M. Madeleine, a: ‘criminal act has been committed." Jean nods to hing to go ons "An agent of the eovernment has com-. mitted q erime-a ‘crime against a magistrate." Jean is surprised*and puzzled. "Agent? Who is: this agent ?". "Tt is I." "And who-is the: : magistrate? ’ "You. "? To. Jean’s surprise, Javert takes out: hig official police passport and puts it on the table,. continuing: "You must prefer charges against me. You have a right." As Jean protests, Javert continues, his words tumbling over one another, brokenly, breathlessly. "Yes, yes, yes, I tell you, you must prefer charges. I, who demand justice of others, must demand it for myself. You see, I denounced you to the prefect of police." "As what?" "A former convict." " "Well?" "After: that incident with the woman. Fantine, when you so oddly distinguished between the Jaw and justice and refused to prosecute, IL. began to ferret out your past, I resented your interference with my carrying out my duty, I questioned

your authority, so I went to work. Secretly I traced you. By studying the records of escaped criminals and. those who had. failed to report for parole and by an exhaustive process. of elimination, I finally became convinced tHat'you were a cony ict named Jean. Valjean. a "What was that: name?" "Jean Valjean." "Oh. And what was his crime?’ , "As, an’ ex-convict he was ordered to report to: the police at Pontarlier. He has never reposted. He has been missing five years. I traced him to the Bishop Bienvenu,.. He stole silver, but the bishop would not charge.’ The trail endéd there, and’ although I had no positive proof, I was so sure-IJI denounced you." ‘Real’ Valjean Found. ’ "And-what-what answer ‘did you get?" "That I was mad. I must have been mad to make such a mistake-worse, I was a fool, for the real Valjean has beenfound.’ Jean looks at Javert in amazement. " "Yes, they arrested. him last week at Arras. He goes by another name, Champmathieu, but he was caught for theft. The dates of his disappearances are identical with Valjean’s. record-witnesses wili swear to him-a fellow-criminal recognised him. Undoubtedly they have the man. Valjean." "Well?" . "I made the mietake, I allowed a personal grievance to interfere with my duty. I must be dismissed." Jean now takes a different "tone and — says: "You did your duty-it is war place to suspect." Now for the first time we learn something of. Javert’s creed. His confession is in a husky whisper,.a man deeply and sincerely ashamed and broken by his failure. , "No. There is more to it than that. I,-. too. have my creed, M. Madeleine. They call me hard and brutal, but I am not-I am. just. But I’ve always said to myself, ‘Yes, you’re hard, you’re ruthless when you are in the right, but look out-one day you yourself will trip. Then will you-be just?? I swore I would. ‘That time has arrived, M. Madeleine. I have caught myself. I have committed a crime. I have been unjust from anger, resentment, jealousy-what you will. I stand for justice-I have failed." Seeing Jean is‘about to protest, Javert goes on: "What .I have always demanded for others-the Inw, good or bad, ‘but the’ law to the letter-I now demand for myself." ’ Jean looks closely at Javert, and now it is Javert who is tormented and Jean who is almost consoling him. "T make no charge against you." "You must. If you don’t then:I must." "You have your creed, Javert; I have mine. , As mayor. I refuse to accept your resignation. I order you to think it over." Javyert bows to authority. "You are too lenient, M. Madeleine, but I will do as you say." Jean moves to the door with him and stops. "When and where is this Jean Valjean to be tried?" "Arras, Monday." "To-morrow? There is no doubt about the case?" "None, Everything is clear--he will he convicted. Good-night, sir." To be Continued,