Pagina 393 di 896

"Listen then, Jacques," Number One of that name sternly

interposed. "Know that a petition was presented to the King and

Queen. All here, yourself excepted, saw the King take it, in his

carriage in the street, sitting beside the Queen. It is Defarge

whom you see here, who, at the hazard of his life, darted out

before the horses, with the petition in his hand."

"And once again listen, Jacques!" said the kneeling Number Three:

his fingers ever wandering over and over those fine nerves, with

a strikingly greedy air, as if he hungered for something--that

was neither food nor drink; "the guard, horse and foot,

surrounded the petitioner, and struck him blows. You hear?"

"I hear, messieurs."

"Go on then," said Defarge.