Pagina 502 di 896

As a whirlpool of boiling waters has a centre point, so, all this

raging circled round Defarge's wine-shop, and every human drop in

the caldron had a tendency to be sucked towards the vortex where

Defarge himself, already begrimed with gunpowder and sweat,

issued orders, issued arms, thrust this man back, dragged this

man forward, disarmed one to arm another, laboured and strove in

the thickest of the uproar.

"Keep near to me, Jacques Three," cried Defarge; "and do you,

Jacques One and Two, separate and put yourselves at the head of

as many of these patriots as you can. Where is my wife?"

"Eh, well! Here you see me!" said madame, composed as ever, but

not knitting to-day. Madame's resolute right hand was occupied

with an axe, in place of the usual softer implements, and in her

girdle were a pistol and a cruel knife.

"Where do you go, my wife?"

"I go," said madame, "with you at present. You shall see me at

the head of women, by-and-bye."