Страница 859 из 896

"Take you my knitting," said Madame Defarge, placing it in her

lieutenant's hands, "and have it ready for me in my usual seat.

Keep me my usual chair. Go you there, straight, for there will

probably be a greater concourse than usual, to-day."

"I willingly obey the orders of my Chief," said The Vengeance

with alacrity, and kissing her cheek. "You will not be late?"

"I shall be there before the commencement."

"And before the tumbrils arrive. Be sure you are there, my soul,"

said The Vengeance, calling after her, for she had already turned

into the street, "before the tumbrils arrive!"

Madame Defarge slightly waved her hand, to imply that she heard,

and might be relied upon to arrive in good time, and so went

through the mud, and round the corner of the prison wall. The

Vengeance and the Juryman, looking after her as she walked away,

were highly appreciative of her fine figure, and her superb moral

endowments.