Pagina 383 di 896

"Have you finished your repast, friend?" he asked, in due season.

"Yes, thank you."

"Come, then! You shall see the apartment that I told you you

could occupy. It will suit you to a marvel."

Out of the wine-shop into the street, out of the street into a

courtyard, out of the courtyard up a steep staircase, out of the

staircase into a garret--formerly the garret where a white-haired

man sat on a low bench, stooping forward and very busy, making

shoes.

No white-haired man was there now; but, the three men were there

who had gone out of the wine-shop singly. And between them and

the white-haired man afar off, was the one small link, that they

had once looked in at him through the chinks in the wall.

Defarge closed the door carefully, and spoke in a subdued voice:

"Jacques One, Jacques Two, Jacques Three! This is the witness

encountered by appointment, by me, Jacques Four. He will tell you

all. Speak, Jacques Five!"