Page "Jean Valjean" Paragraph 33

Valjean does his part in the insurrection and proves to be an excellent shot.

Enjolras, the barricade's leader, wishes to thank Valjean and offers him anything he wants.

Valjean asks that he be allowed to kill Javert, who had been captured as a spy.

The request is granted and Valjean takes Javert " out back ".

Instead of executing him, Valjean sets Javert free.

Javert warns Valjean that that should Valjean allow him to go free instead of killing him, that he will still be bound to arrest Valjean.

Valjean agrees and gives Javert his address.

Sometime after Valjean releases Javert, the fighters on the barricades are all killed with the exception of Marius, whom Valjean carries to safety through miles of Parisian sewers and quicksand.

Valjean finds the sewer exit to the Grand-Caillou, but it's locked.

M. Thénardier is there and has the key.

He offers to give the key to Valjean in return for " halves ", believing that Valjean had killed Marius for his money.

Valjean gives the few sous he has to M. Thénardier and unlocks the sewer gate only to run into Javert, who'd gone back on duty after his release and had been chasing M. Thénardier.

Valjean requests that Javert help him carry Marius to safety and Javert summons his carriage to carry them back.

Valjean then asks that he be allowed to return home to say goodbye to Cosette and Javert agrees, saying that he will wait out front.

As he walks up the stairs, Valjean looks out the window and notices that Javert is gone.

Faced with the choice of turning in a man who'd done only good acts for years and had saved Javert's life, or of letting a known criminal go free, Javert ended up " requesting of God " that he, as he'd asked M. Madeleine so many years before, be " dismissed in disgrace " -- he committed suicide.