Pagina 379 di 896

This had been the third morning in succession, on which there had

been early drinking at the wine-shop of Monsieur Defarge. It had

begun on Monday, and here was Wednesday come. There had been more

of early brooding than drinking; for, many men had listened and

whispered and slunk about there from the time of the opening of

the door, who could not have laid a piece of money on the counter

to save their souls. These were to the full as interested in the

place, however, as if they could have commanded whole barrels of

wine; and they glided from seat to seat, and from corner to

corner, swallowing talk in lieu of drink, with greedy looks.