What was supposed to be a six hour trip becomes a complicated fourteen hour ordeal. Multiple times along the way Madeleine had considered turning back but he persisted. As he arrives here in town there is indicator after indicator that he’s too late, but eventually he finds himself at the “courthouse” and the case is still being tried. After being refused entry he realizes that there are a couple of seats reserved for public officials and so using his privilege as the Mayor of Montreil-sur-mer he appeals to the judge for access.
These are he events covered in this chapter. But they aren’t really what the chapter is “about”. As they unfold, Hugo does a remarkable job of ratcheting up the pressure and tension around this looming confrontation between the law, Madeliene, Champmathieu, and the contested identity of Jean Valjean. This is first and foremost tension and pressure being directly experienced by Madeleine as he continues to move toward this life altering moment. However, it is intentionally presented in a way that brings the leader into the tension.
The questions arise naturally. What will happen? What will the outcome be for everyone involved? What would you do in this situation? Wha is the right thing to do? What is the smart thing to do? What is the faithful thing to do? It’s a complicated situation, but the answers Hugo has been driving us to are clear: this confrontation mst take place. Madeleine can have no peace if he avoids it.