Les Miserables Page #3

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By Christmas our girls will be in fur.

Take it from me.

Just wait for winter.

Wait for the first cold spell.

What's this, Cosette!

Letting the fire die?

It's freezing in here!

That's enough!

Run your errands

before the shops close.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm on my way.

There you are!

Were you cold? Go warm up.

Cosette,

let the poor dears get warm.

Get going.

The little darlings

are shivering.

I hope they don't get sick again.

They can't last

the winter in those dresses.

- What about our furs, Papa?

- That's right.

The furs we were expecting

by the first cold spell

with the money

from that slut in Montreuil.

Well, the money's not rolling in,

and winter's here.

But it's not gone yet.

A round loaf.

Here you are.

- Can you carry all that?

- Yes, ma'am. I'm used to it.

Poor little darling.

Imagine letting a child

go out in rags like that.

Sure, but it's hard

on the Thnardiers too.

They've sacrificed to raise

Cosette with their children.

Know who the mother is?

A Parisian girl who abandoned her

to live it up in Montreuil.

She can't even pay regularly.

- No!

Anybody around?

How about some service?

Coming, sir.

- What would you like?

- Where's your mother?

Why do you ask that, sir?

Cosette, are you back?

Serve the soup.

We'll be right down.

She's not your mother?

Then who are you?

Me, sir? I'm the maid.

Say...

if it isn't the Montreuil monkey!

Hello there, monkey.

How's business?

Don't go.

Let me admire your smile.

Let me go, mister!

What's that, princess?

I'm a gentleman, my lovely.

Let me by, mister.

Got a cough?

So even monkeys catch cold.

And what have you done

with your fur?

You forgot your ermine, princess.

Let me offer you

another coat.

Brute! Coward!

Treating a woman like this!

Who does this whore

think she is?

Whore?

Ruffian!

The streets aren't safe

anymore at night.

You villain!

- It's Fantine!

- She's giving the dandy hell!

- Tear his ear off!

- Bite him!

Can't a person

even joke around now?

- If you'll come with us -

- Of course.

- Clear out!

- I didn't do anything.

You'll pay for this, you slut!

Who'll pay for my window?

You can't do this, sir.

You can't put me in prison.

I didn't do anything.

I don't know that gentleman.

He stuffed snow down my back.

I'm sick.

It gave me a shock.

I wasn't bothering him.

I didn't talk to him.

I ask you, sir...

does he have a right

to treat us that way?

Here's the mayor.

I heard it all.

I was in the caf.

- I was outside.

- I'll see about this.

It was like this:

The girl did nothing wrong, really.

You can't send me to prison,

my dear Mr. Javert.

You only earn

seven sous a day there.

How can I pay

for my little girl's board?

If I don't pay, they'll abandon her.

She'll die.

I have a little girl

in Montfermeil.

She costs me a lot.

I owe 100 francs

to the Thnardiers,

the innkeepers

who look after her.

It's true.

I should have told you.

You couldn't have known.

You thought I was just

a loose woman.

But now,

my good Mr. Javert,

you understand.

You do understand?

If you want,

I'll apologize to the gentleman.

But I beg you,

don't send me to prison!

Let me earn enough

to save my dear Cosette.

Have pity, Mr. Javert.

That's enough.

I heard you out.

Is that all?

Get up.

You'll get three months.

Take her to the cells.

Mr. Mayor, you're here?

So you're the mayor?

Inspector Javert,

release this woman.

Release me?

Who said that?

Surely not you!

It's all his fault.

He had me fired from his factory

because some hussies

told stories about me.

That's why

I've become what I am now!

Else I could've paid the Thnardiers

and got my little girl back.

I did all this for her.

I have to feed my child.

So I can go?

Honest?

You're letting me go?

Thank you, sir.

Arrest her!

Who gives the orders here?

I do.

Mr. Mayor,

you can't do this.

- What?

- This girl insulted a gentleman.

I made inquiries,

as you didn't.

It's the gentleman

you should have arrested.

She insulted you.

She has to serve three months.

She won't serve

so much as a day.

I regret to contradict you,

but this is a police matter.

This woman is under arrest.

I order you

to release this woman.

- Mr. Mayor, forgive me -

- Not another word!

- But -

- Get out.

I didn't know

about any of this.

Why didn't you come see me?

Calm down.

No one will hurt you ever again.

I'll send for your child.

If you need help,

have no fear:

I won't abandon you.

Thank you!

Take her to the hospital.

For me?

No, sir.

For the inspector.

"From the Prefect of Police:

Pursuant to your letter,

our inquiries reveal

that the convict Jean Valjean

was apprehended during

a new robbery attempt

and has been incarcerated

at the prison in Arras."

Thank you, Sister.

How kind

everyone is to me now.

How things change.

Both lungs.

What now?

Sister, when will I see

my dear Cosette again?

Once you're cured.

But I am cured.

If she were here,

I'm sure I could work right away.

Tell Mr. Madeleine before he goes.

Don't worry, Fantine.

Mother Superior

will speak to the mayor.

Rest now.

My darling little Cosette.

Come here, Cosette.

Come on.

Don't be afraid.

Come take a look.

My dear child.

Go ahead and feel it.

- Can we wear them every day?

- That's all we need!

Your father slaves to clothe you,

and you want to dress up

on weekdays?

- What if it's cold?

- Then we'll see.

Why are you

standing there gaping?

Go finish sweeping!

And you two, run upstairs

and lock your nice fur coats

away in the closet.

What'd I tell you?

Three hundred francs at one go.

Fantine must've found

some fool with deep pockets.

We can't let go of that kid.

Thnardier,

you're such a genius.

What are you

daydreaming about?

You left half the dust

under the benches.

Leave her alone.

The kid's startin'

to grow on me.

I may be away

two or three days.

Poor Fantine isn't doing well.

I'll personally go

for her daughter in Montfermeil.

I'll leave in the morning.

Wait.

Have Fantine sign this note,

and bring it to me at home.

Mr. Javert

is still waiting to see you.

He says it's urgent.

Show him in.

Well, what is it, Javert?

Handing in my resignation

wouldn't be enough.

I must be relieved of my duties.

I don't understand.

Two weeks ago,

after the incident with Fantine,

I was furious

and I denounced you.

- Denounced me?

- To the Paris police.

For encroaching

on police matters?

As a former convict.

I thought it was you.

There was a resemblance.

Then there was

the business with the cart.

Your limp.

Little things like that.

I took you for an ex-convict

named Jean Valjean.

Who?

A convict at the penal colony in Toulon.

I was a warder there.

After his release,

he burgled a bishop's home

and robbed a young Savoyard.

We've been looking for him

for the past seven years.

I thought it was you.

I informed the prefecture.

- And what did they say?

- That I was mistaken.

Why?

Because they found Jean Valjean.

A fellow who calls himself

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