Lyric Javert s Intervention

[Javert and constables break up the fight. Valjean picks himself up and looks for Cosette, who is with Marius.]

Javert
Another brawl in the square
Another stink in the air!
Was there a witness to this?
Well, let him speak to Javert!
M sieur, the streets are not safe,
But let these vermin beware
We ll see that justice is done!

Look upon this fine collection
Crawled from underneath a stone
This swarm of worms and maggots
Could have picked you to the bone!
I know this man over here
I know his name and his trade
And on your witness, M sieur,
We ll see him suitably paid.

[Valjean and Cosette have disappeared.]

But where s the gentleman gone?
And why on earth did he run?

Thenardier
You will have a job to catch him
He s the one you should arrest
No more bourgeois when you scratch him
Than that brand upon his chest!

[The constables search for Valjean.]

Javert
Could it be he s some old jailbird
That the tide now washes in
Heard my name and started running
Had the brand upon his skin
And the girl who stood beside him
When I turned they both had gone
Could he be the man I ve hunted?
Could it be he s Jean Valjean?

Thenardier
In the absence of a victim,
Dear Inspector, may I go?
And remember when you ve nicked him,
It was me who told you so!

Javert
Let the old man keep on running
I will run him off his feet!

Everyone about your business
Clear this garbage off the street!