Pagina 381 de 896

Thus, Saint Antoine in this vinous feature of his, until midday.

It was high noontide, when two dusty men passed through his

streets and under his swinging lamps: of whom, one was Monsieur

Defarge: the other a mender of roads in a blue cap. All adust and

athirst, the two entered the wine-shop. Their arrival had lighted

a kind of fire in the breast of Saint Antoine, fast spreading as

they came along, which stirred and flickered in flames of faces

at most doors and windows. Yet, no one had followed them, and no

man spoke when they entered the wine-shop, though the eyes of

every man there were turned upon them.

"Good day, gentlemen!" said Monsieur Defarge.

It may have been a signal for loosening the general tongue. It

elicited an answering chorus of "Good day!"

"It is bad weather, gentlemen," said Defarge, shaking his head.

Upon which, every man looked at his neighbour, and then all cast

down their eyes and sat silent. Except one man, who got up and

went out.