But why would he ask him to recount it? Javert worked in the office for months, he has read every report in the place. He is only aware of one situation where one Security member took up a case over the head of another; it is not the convention here, and more, there is no justification for it.
It is this last that reminds him to speak: there is no justification for it, and this man is on Security and some powerful being in addition to that; no, there is no reason not to do as asked.
'Very well,' he says, neatly.
'I had been out exercising the horse I have in my care. I do not own him, but am responsible for him. We had been for a long gallop, and I put him back in the stable with his food. On my way back to the bar I was overtaken by Sir Harry, who had taken him without permission and was trotting him out.'
He ignores the stab of anger at the memory. The way the man had grinned, insolent as a child.
'He and I had had strong words just recently, and he made no bones about the fact he was trying to rile me. I had refused his challenge you see, and it insulted him. Well! Of course I told him to get off the stallion. Five times I said it! Five times, he refused, and took a hold of the horse's mane to ensure he would not be removed. I told him quite clearly I would take him off; as I said, the horse does not belong to me and he was fatigued besides. I was concerned for him, and knew quite plainly that the man was trying to goad me to fight, as he had before. He is friendly with some people here, you see, people from my world who do not like me, and whom I do not like.'
There is nothing particular to mark this last as an understatement, save perhaps a small curl of his lip.
'He called me names, insulted me, much of a nothing. I pulled him off, as promised. Acajou was left running free - it took a full two hours to find him afterwards, and get him settled again. When Sir Harry was grounded, I untangled the saddle from him - something he did not make easy - and then ignored him as I set it to rights, at which point he pushed me onto the ground, and ranted more. According to him I have no spine; such is his view of honour, if one refuses to brawl like a drunkard in the street. He challenged again, I refused quite strongly. He became further enraged at my lack of violence, and at that point backhanded me across the face.'
He says all this quite clearly, with good recall and an easy manner. There are moments when anger at the encounter shows through, but he is collected throughout.
'As he had now assaulted me for the second time, if you count in the push, I informed him he had broken the rules and would alert Security. Further challenges, further insults, I need not explain each one from his mouth. His time and country dictate matters be settled with duels, I believe; where I am from such things are illegal, and considered the base indulgence of primitive urges, of course I was not going to agree. There are rules in place to deal with such things; I used them. I told him I would find Teja and he would be arrested, at which point he said he did not trust me, and accused me of going behind his back, even though I had just stated my intention clearly. Thrice I had asked him if he was finished, having the intention to leave - thrice! That was before he hit me, but he would continue the dispute. In any case, he elected to come with me to find Teja, we came across him in the office, I recounted this to him and Sir Harry was arrested. That is all.'
no subject
It is this last that reminds him to speak: there is no justification for it, and this man is on Security and some powerful being in addition to that; no, there is no reason not to do as asked.
'Very well,' he says, neatly.
'I had been out exercising the horse I have in my care. I do not own him, but am responsible for him. We had been for a long gallop, and I put him back in the stable with his food. On my way back to the bar I was overtaken by Sir Harry, who had taken him without permission and was trotting him out.'
He ignores the stab of anger at the memory. The way the man had grinned, insolent as a child.
'He and I had had strong words just recently, and he made no bones about the fact he was trying to rile me. I had refused his challenge you see, and it insulted him. Well! Of course I told him to get off the stallion. Five times I said it! Five times, he refused, and took a hold of the horse's mane to ensure he would not be removed. I told him quite clearly I would take him off; as I said, the horse does not belong to me and he was fatigued besides. I was concerned for him, and knew quite plainly that the man was trying to goad me to fight, as he had before. He is friendly with some people here, you see, people from my world who do not like me, and whom I do not like.'
There is nothing particular to mark this last as an understatement, save perhaps a small curl of his lip.
'He called me names, insulted me, much of a nothing. I pulled him off, as promised. Acajou was left running free - it took a full two hours to find him afterwards, and get him settled again. When Sir Harry was grounded, I untangled the saddle from him - something he did not make easy - and then ignored him as I set it to rights, at which point he pushed me onto the ground, and ranted more. According to him I have no spine; such is his view of honour, if one refuses to brawl like a drunkard in the street. He challenged again, I refused quite strongly. He became further enraged at my lack of violence, and at that point backhanded me across the face.'
He says all this quite clearly, with good recall and an easy manner. There are moments when anger at the encounter shows through, but he is collected throughout.
'As he had now assaulted me for the second time, if you count in the push, I informed him he had broken the rules and would alert Security. Further challenges, further insults, I need not explain each one from his mouth. His time and country dictate matters be settled with duels, I believe; where I am from such things are illegal, and considered the base indulgence of primitive urges, of course I was not going to agree. There are rules in place to deal with such things; I used them. I told him I would find Teja and he would be arrested, at which point he said he did not trust me, and accused me of going behind his back, even though I had just stated my intention clearly. Thrice I had asked him if he was finished, having the intention to leave - thrice! That was before he hit me, but he would continue the dispute. In any case, he elected to come with me to find Teja, we came across him in the office, I recounted this to him and Sir Harry was arrested. That is all.'