Javert was silent for a few minutes. For a moment it looked as if he didn't plan on saying anything else, but at last he muttered, "How overly sentimental. As if I'd have waited to swear an oath to get him when he was already in the damned room."

A pause. "Then again, I didn't expect much more with opera."

His voice still held that slight hysterical edge, but at least the normal note of dryness had returned to it. "So," he said almost briskly, looking up. "Tell me more about this 'musical.'"