Pagina 857 van 896

The question was addressed to the wood-sawyer, who hurriedly

replied in the affirmative: seizing the occasion to add that he

was the most ardent of Republicans, and that he would be in

effect the most desolate of Republicans, if anything prevented

him from enjoying the pleasure of smoking his afternoon pipe in

the contemplation of the droll national barber. He was so very

demonstrative herein, that he might have been suspected (perhaps

was, by the dark eyes that looked contemptuously at him out of

Madame Defarge's head) of having his small individual fears for

his own personal safety, every hour in the day.

"I," said madame, "am equally engaged at the same place. After it

is over--say at eight to-night--come you to me, in Saint Antoine,

and we will give information against these people at my Section."