He said:--
"Javert--"
Javert interrupted him:
"Call me Mr. Inspector."
"Monsieur," said Jean Valjean, "I should like to say a word to you in private."
"Aloud!
Say it aloud!" replied Javert; "people are in the habit of talking aloud to me."
Jean Valjean went on in a lower tone:--
"I have a request to make of you--"
"I tell you to speak loud."
"But you alone should hear it--"
"What difference does that make to me?
I shall not listen."
Jean Valjean turned towards him and said very rapidly and in a very low voice:--
"Grant me three days' grace! three days in which to go and fetch the child of this unhappy woman.
I will pay whatever is necessary. You shall accompany me if you choose."
"You are making sport of me!" cried Javert.
"Come now, I did not think you such a fool!
You ask me to give you three days in which to run away!
You say that it is for the purpose of fetching that creature's child!