Pagina 416 de 896

"Well!" said Defarge, with a half complaining and half apologetic

shrug. "We shall not see the triumph."

"We shall have helped it," returned madame, with her extended

hand in strong action. "Nothing that we do, is done in vain. I

believe, with all my soul, that we shall see the triumph. But

even if not, even if I knew certainly not, show me the neck of an

aristocrat and tyrant, and still I would--"

Then madame, with her teeth set, tied a very terrible knot

indeed.

"Hold!" cried Defarge, reddening a little as if he felt charged

with cowardice; "I too, my dear, will stop at nothing."

"Yes! But it is your weakness that you sometimes need to see your

victim and your opportunity, to sustain you. Sustain yourself

without that. When the time comes, let loose a tiger and a devil;

but wait for the time with the tiger and the devil chained--not

shown--yet always ready."