"It is impossible to wait another quarter of an hour," said Madeleine to the peasants, who were staring at him.
"We must!"
"But it will be too late then!
Don't you see that the cart is sinking?"
"Well!"
"Listen," resumed Madeleine; "there is still room enough under the cart to allow a man to crawl beneath it and raise it with his back. Only half a minute, and the poor man can be taken out.
Is there any one here who has stout loins and heart?
There are five louis d'or to be earned!"
Not a man in the group stirred.
"Ten louis," said Madeleine.
The persons present dropped their eyes.
One of them muttered: "A man would need to be devilish strong.
And then he runs the risk of getting crushed!"
"Come," began Madeleine again, "twenty louis."
The same silence.
"It is not the will which is lacking," said a voice.
M. Madeleine turned round, and recognized Javert.
He had not noticed him on his arrival.
Javert went on:--
"It is strength.