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What does he offer in opposition to this overwhelming unanimity？
His denial。 What obduracy！
You will do justice； gentlemen of the jury； etc。； etc。 While the district…attorney was speaking； the accused listened to him open…mouthed； with a sort of amazement in which some admiration was assuredly blended。
He was evidently surprised that a man could talk like that。
From time to time； at those 〃energetic〃 moments of the prosecutor's speech； when eloquence which cannot contain itself overflows in a flood of withering epithets and envelops the accused like a storm； he moved his head slowly from right to left and from left to right in the sort of mute and melancholy protest with which he had contented himself since the beginning of the argument。 Two or three times the spectators who were nearest to him heard him say in a low voice； 〃That is what es of not having asked M。 Baloup。〃 The district…attorney directed the attention of the jury to this stupid attitude； evidently deliberate； which denoted not imbecility； but craft； skill； a habit of deceiving justice； and which set forth in all its nakedness the 〃profound perversity〃 of this man。 He ended by making his reserves on the affair of Little Gervais and demanding a severe sentence。
At that time； as the reader will remember； it was penal servitude for life。
The counsel for the defence rose； began by plimenting Monsieur l'Avocat…General on his 〃admirable speech；〃 then replied as best he could； but he weakened； the ground was evidently slipping away from under his feet。
BOOK SEVENTH。THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER X
THE SYSTEM OF DENIALS
The moment for closing the debate had arrived。
The President had the accused stand up； and addressed to him the customary question； 〃Have you anything to add to your defence？〃
The man did not appear to understand； as he stood there； twisting in his hands a terrible cap which he had。
The President repeated the question。
This time the man heard it。
He seemed to understand。
He made a motion like a man who is just waking up； cast his eyes about him； stared at the audience； the gendarmes； his counsel； the jury； the court； laid his monstrous fist on the rim of woodwork in front of his bench； took another look； and all at once； fixing his glance upon the district…attorney； he began to speak。
It was like an eruption。 It seemed； from the manner in which the words escaped from his mouth； incoherent； impetuous； pell…mell； tumbling over each other； as though they were all pressing forward to issue forth at once。 He said：
〃This is what I have to say。
That I have been a wheelwright in Paris； and that it was with Monsieur Baloup。
It is a hard trade。 In the wheelwright's trade one works always in the open air； in courtyards； under sheds when the masters are good； never in closed workshops； because space is required； you see。
In winter one gets so cold that one beats one's arms together to warm one's self； but the masters don't like it； they say it wastes time。 Handling iron when there is ice between the paving…stones is hard work。 That wears a man out quickly One is old while he is still quite young in that trade。
At forty a man is done for。
I was fifty…three。 I was in a bad state。
And then； workmen are so mean！
When a man is no longer young； they call him nothing but an old bird； old beast！ I was not earning more than thirty sous a day。
They paid me as little as possible。
The masters took advantage of my age and then I had my daughter； who was a laundress at the river。 She earned a little also。
It sufficed for us two。
She had trouble； also； all day long up to her waist in a tub； in rain； in snow。 When the wind cuts your face； when it freezes； it is all the same； you must still wash。
There are people who have not much linen； and wait until late； if you do not wash； you lose your custom。 The planks are badly joined； and water drops on you from everywhere； you have your petticoats all damp above and below。
That penetrates。 She has also worked at the laundry of the Enfants…Rouges； where the water es through faucets。
You are not in the tub there； you wash at the faucet in front of you； and rinse in a basin behind you。
As it is enclosed； you are not so cold； but there is that hot steam； which is terrible； and which ruins your eyes。 She came home at seven o'clock in the evening； and went to bed at once； she was so tired。
Her husband beat her。
She is dead。 We have not been very happy。
She was a good girl； who did not go to the ball； and who was very peaceable。
I remember one Shrove…Tuesday when she went to bed at eight o'clock。 There； I am telling the truth； you have only to ask。
Ah； yes！ how stupid I am！
Paris is a gulf。 Who knows Father Champmathieu there？
But M。 Baloup does； I tell you。 Go see at M。 Baloup's； and after all； I don't know what is wanted of me。〃
The man ceased speaking； and remained standing。
He had said these things in a loud； rapid； hoarse voice； with a sort of irritated and savage ingenuousness。
Once he paused to salute some one in the crowd。 The sort of affirmations which he seemed to fling out before him at random came like hiccoughs； and to each he added the gesture of a wood…cutter who is splitting wood。
When he had finished； the audience burst into a laugh。
He stared at the public； and； perceiving that they were laughing； and not understanding why； he began to laugh himself。
It was inauspicious。
The President； an attentive and benevolent man； raised his voice。
He reminded 〃the gentlemen of the jury〃 that 〃the sieur Baloup； formerly a master…wheelwright； with whom the accused stated that he had served； had been summoned in vain。
He had bee bankrupt； and was not to be found。〃
Then turning to the accused； he enjoined him to listen to what he was about to say； and added：
〃You are in a position where reflection is necessary。
The gravest presumptions rest upon you； and may induce vital results。
Prisoner； in your own interests； I summon you for the last time to explain yourself clearly on two points。
In the first place； did you or did you not climb the wall of the Pierron orchard； break the branch； and steal the apples； that is to say； mit the crime of breaking in and theft？ In the second place； are you the discharged convict； Jean Valjean yes or no？〃
The prisoner shook his head with a capable air； like a man who has thoroughly understood； and who knows what answer he is going to make。 He opened his mouth； turned towards the President； and said：
〃In the first place〃
Then he stared at his cap； stared at the ceiling； and held his peace。
〃Prisoner；〃 said the district…attorney； in a severe voice； 〃pay attention。
You are not answering anything that has been asked of you。
Your embarrassment condemns you。
It is evident that your name is not Champmathieu； that you are the convict； Jean Valjean； concealed first under the name of Jean Mathieu； which was the name of his mother； that you went to Auvergne； that you were born at Faverolles； where you were a pruner of trees。 It is evident that you have been guilty of entering； and of the theft of ripe apples from the Pierron orchard。
The gentlemen of the jury will form their own opinion。〃
The prisoner had finally resumed his seat； he arose abruptly when the district…attorney had finished； and exclaimed：
〃You are very wicked； that you are！
This what I wanted to say； I could not find words for it at first。
I have stolen nothing。 I am a man who does not have something to eat every day。 I was ing from Ailly； I was walking through the country after a shower； which had made the whole country yellow：
even the ponds were overflowed； and nothing sprang from the sand any more but the little blades of grass at the wayside。
I found a broken branch with apples on the ground； I picked up the branch without knowing that it would get me into trouble。
I have been in prison； and they have been dragging me about for the last three months； more than that I cannot say； people talk against me； they tell me； ‘Answer！' The gendarme； who is a good fellow； nudges my elbow； and says to me in a low voice； ‘e； answer！'
I don't know how to explain； I have no education； I am a poor man； that is where they wrong me； because they do not see this。
I have not stolen； I picked up from the ground things that were lying there。 You say； Jean Valjean； Jean Mathieu！
I don't know those persons； they are villagers。
I worked for M。 Baloup； Boulevard de l'Hopital； my name is Champmathieu。
You are very clever to tell me where I was born； I don't know myself：
it's not everybody who has a house in which to e into the world； that would be too convenient。 I think that my father and mother were people who strolled along the highways； I know nothing different。
When I was a child； they called me young fellow； now they call me old fellow； those are my baptismal names； take that as you like。
I have been in Auvergne； I have been at Faverolles。
Pardi。
Well！ can't a man have been in Auvergne； or at Faverolles； without having been in the galleys？ I tell you that I have not stolen； and that I am Father Champmathieu； I have been with M。 Baloup； I have had a settled residence。 You worry me with your nonsense； there！
Why is everybody pursuing me so furiously？〃
The district…attorney had remained standing； he addressed the President：
〃Monsieur le President； in view of the confused but exceedingly clever denials of the prisoner； who would like to pass himself off as an idiot； but who will not succeed in so doing； we shall attend to that；we demand that it shall please you and that it shall please the court to summon once more into this place the convicts Brevet； Cochepaille； and Chenildieu； and Police…Inspector Javert； and question them for the last time as to the identity of the prisoner with the convict Jean Valjean。〃
〃I would remind the district…attorney；〃 said the President； 〃that Police…Inspector Javert； recalled by his duties to the capital of a neighboring arrondissement； left the court…room and the town as soon as he had made his deposition； we have accorded him permission； with the consent of the district…attorney and of the counsel for the prisoner。〃
〃That is true； Mr。 President；〃 responded the district…attorney。 〃In the absence of sieur Javert； I think it my duty to remind the gentlemen of the jury of what he said here a few hours ago。 Javert is an estimable man； who does honor by his rigorous and strict probity to inferior but important functions。
These are the terms of his deposition：
‘I do not even stand in need of circumstantial proofs and moral presumptions to give the lie to the prisoner's denial。 I recognize him perfectly。
The name of this man is not Champmathieu； he is an ex…convict named Jean Valjean； and is very vicious and much to be feared。
It is only with extreme regret that he was released at the expiration of his term。
He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft。
He made five or six attempts to escape。 Besides the theft from Little Gervais； and from the Pierron orchard； I suspect him of a theft mitted in the house of His Grace the late Bishop of D I often saw him at the time when I was adjutant of the galley…guard at the prison in Toulon。
I repeat that I recognize him perfectly。'〃
This extremely precise statement appeared to produce a vivid impression on the public and on the jury。
The district…attorney concluded by insisting； that in default of Javert； the three witnesses Brevet； Chenildieu； and Cochepaille should be heard once more and solemnly interrogated。
The President transmitted the order to an usher； and； a moment later； the door of the witnesses' room opened。
The usher； acpanied by a gendarme ready to lend him armed assistance； introduced the convict Brevet。
The audience was in suspense； and all breasts heaved as though they had contained but one soul。
The ex…convict Brevet wore the black and gray waistcoat of the central prisons。
Brevet was a person sixty years of age； who had a sort of business man's face； and the air of a rascal。 The two sometimes go together。
In prison； whither fresh misdeeds had led him； he had bee something in the nature of a turnkey。 He was a man of whom his superiors said； 〃He tries to make himself of use。〃
The chaplains bore good testimony as to his religious habits。 It must not be forgotten that this passed under the Restoration。
〃Brevet；〃 said the President； 〃you have undergone an ignominious sentence； and you cannot take an oath。〃
Brevet dropped his eyes。
〃Nevertheless；〃 continued the President； 〃even in the man whom the law has degraded； there may remain； when the divine mercy permits it； a sentiment of honor and of equity。
It is to this sentiment that I appeal at this decisive hour。
If it still exists in you；and I hope it does；reflect before replying to me： consider on the one hand； this man； whom a word from you may ruin； on the other hand； justice； which a word from you may enlighten。 The instant is solemn； there is still