"Come," Madeleine began again, "twenty louis." The same silence.
"It is not the good-will they are deficient in," a voice cried.
M. Madeleine turned and recognized Javert: he had noticed him when he came up. Javert continued,—
"It is the strength. A man would have to be tremendously strong to lift a cart like that with his back."
Then, looking fixedly at M. Madeleine, he continued, laying a marked stress on every word he uttered,—
"Monsieur Madeleine, I never knew but one man capable of doing what you ask."
Madeleine started, but Javert continued carelessly, though without taking his eyes off Madeleine,—
"He was a galley-slave."
"Indeed!" said Madeleine.
"At the Toulon Bagne."