The third of twelve episodes of Patrick Riddell's adaptation of Victor Hugo's famous novel
With music specially composed by Robert Chignell

'Fantine' in which Henry Ainley plays the part of Valjean
Baliol Holloway as Javert and the Story-Teller is Leo Genn
(by permission of Godfrey Tearle)
Play produced by John Cheatle

In the two previous instalments of the serial you have heard how Jean Valjean, liberated from the galleys after serving an unjust sentence of nineteen years, vowed vengeance on humanity and was spiritually redeemed by the saintly old Bishop of Dauphine, from whom Valjean attempted to steal a pair of silver candlesticks. Deciding to start life afresh, Valjean changes his name and becomes a benevolent employer and kindly mayor of the town of Conthil, in Lorraine. Here, to his dismay, he again meets the brutal Javert, his one-time slavemaster of the galleys, who has been appointed Conthil's Inspector of Police.

In tonight's instalment you will hear how Javert condemns to imprisonment Fantine, a girl befriended by Valjean, and how Javert's investigations into Valjean's identity take a strange turn.