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During the whole of this scene, which lasted some three hours, he

had plenty of shouting and weeping and sentimental company, and

throughout Defarge held him by the collar, as if to restrain him

from flying at the objects of his brief devotion and tearing them

to pieces.

"Bravo!" said Defarge, clapping him on the back when it was over,

like a patron; "you are a good boy!"

The mender of roads was now coming to himself, and was

mistrustful of having made a mistake in his late demonstrations;

but no.

"You are the fellow we want," said Defarge, in his ear; "you make

these fools believe that it will last for ever. Then, they are

the more insolent, and it is the nearer ended."

"Hey!" cried the mender of roads, reflectively; "that's true."