第77章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(60)

第77章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(60)

instantlymadamedefarge'sknifewasinhergirdle；thedrumwasbeatinginthestreets，asifitandadrummerhadflowntogetherbymagic；andthevengeance，utteringterrificshrieks，andflingingherarmsaboutherheadlikeallthefortyfuriesatonce，wastearingfromhousetohouse，rousingthewomen.

themenwereterrible，inthebloody-mindedangerwithwhichtheylookedfromwindows，caughtupwhatarmstheyhad，andcamepouringdownintothestreets；but，thewomenwereasighttochilltheboldest.fromsuchhouseholdoccupationsastheirbarepovertyyielded，fromtheirchildren，fromtheiragedandtheirsickcrouchingonthebaregroundfamishedandnaked，theyranoutwithstreaminghair，urgingoneanother，andthemselves，tomadnesswiththewildestcriesandactions.villainfoulontaken，mysister！oldfoulontaken，mymother！miscreantfoulontaken，mydaughter！then，ascoreofothersranintothemidstofthese，beatingtheirbreasts，tearingtheirhair，andscreaming，foulonalive！foulonwhotoldthestarvingpeopletheymighteatgrass！foulonwhotoldmyoldfatherthathemighteatgrass，whenihadnobreadtogivehim！foulonwhotoldmybabyitmightsuckgrass，whenthesebreastsweredrywithwant！omotherofgod，thisfoulon！oheaven，oursuffering！hearme，mydeadbabyandmywitheredfather：iswearonmyknees，onthesestonestoavengeyouonfoulon！husbands，andbrothers，andyoungmen，giveusthebloodoffoulon，giveustheheadoffoulon，giveustheheartoffoulon，giveusthebodyandsouloffoulon，rendfoulontopieces，anddighimintotheground，thatgrassmaygrowfromhim！withthesecries，numbersofthewomen，lashedintoblindfrenzy，whirledabout，strikingandtearingattheirownfriendsuntiltheydroppedintoapassionateswoon，andwereonlysavedbythemenbelongingtothemfrombeingtrampledunderfoot.

nevertheless，notamomentwaslost；notamoment！thisfoulonwasatthehoteldeville，andmightbeloosed.never，ifsaintantoineknewhisownsufferings，insults，andwrongs！armedmenandwomenflockedoutofthequartersofast，anddreweventheselastdregsafterthemwithsuchaforceofsuction，thatwithinaquarterofanhourtherewasnotahumancreatureinsaintantoine'sbosombutafewoldcronesandthewailingchildren.

no.theywereallbythattimechokingthehallofexaminationwherethisoldman，uglyandwicked，was，andoverflowingintotheadjacentopenspaceandstreets.thedefarges，husbandandwife，thevengeance，andjacquesthree，wereinthefirstpress，andatnogreatdistancefromhiminthehall.

'see！'criedmadame，pointingwithherknife.'seetheoldvillainboundwithropes.thatwaswelldonetotieabunchofgrassuponhisback.ha，ha！thatwaswelldone.lethimeatitnow！'madameputherknifeunderherarm，andclappedherhandsasataplay.

thepeopleimmediatelybehindmadamedefarge，explainingthecauseofhersatisfactiontothosebehindthem，andthoseagainexplainingtoothers，andthosetoothers，theneighbouringstreetsresoundedwiththeclappingofhands.similarly，duringtwoorthreehoursofdrawl，andthewinnowingofmanybushelsofwords，madamedefarge'sfrequentexpressionsofimpatienceweretakenup，withmarvellousquickness，atadistance：themorereadily，becausecertainmenwhohadbysomewonderfulexerciseofagilityclimbeduptheexternalarchitecturetolookinfromthewindows，knewmadamedefargewell，andactedasatelegraphbetweenherandthecrowdoutsidethebuilding.

atlengththesunrosesohighthatitstruckakindlyrayasofhopeorprotection，directlydownupontheoldprisoner'shead.thefavourwastoomuchtobear；inaninstantthebarrierofdustandchaffthathadstoodsurprisinglylong，wenttothewinds，andsaintantoinehadgothim！itwasknowndirectly，tothefurthestconfinesofthecrowd.defargehadbutsprungoverarailingandatable，andfoldedthemiserablewretchinadeadlyembrace—madamedefargehadbutfollowedandturnedherhandinoneoftheropeswithwhichhewastied—thevengeanceandjacquesthreewerenotyetupwiththem，andthemenatthewindowshadnotyetswoopedintothehall，likebirdsofpreyfromtheirhighperches—whenthecryseemedtogoup，alloverthecity，'bringhimout！bringhimtothelamp！'

down，andup，andheadforemostonthestepsofthebuilding；now，onhisknees；now，onhisfeet；now，onhisback；edandstruckat，andstifledbythebunchesofgrassandstrawthatwerethrustintohisfacebyhundredsofhands；torn，bruised，panting，bleeding，yetalwaysentreatingandbeseechingformercy；nowfullofvehementagonyofaction，withasmallclearspaceabouthimasthepeopledrewoneanotherbackthattheymightsee；now，alogofdeadwooddrawnthroughaforestoflegs；hewashauledtotheneareststreetcornerwhereoneofthefatallampsswung，andtheremadamedefargelethimgo—asacatmighthavedonetoamouse—andsilentlyandcomposedlylookedathimwhiletheymadeready，andwhilehebesoughther：thewomenpassionatelyscreechingathimallthetime，andthemensternlycallingouttohavehimkilledwithgrassinhismouth.once，hewentaloft，andtheropebroke，andtheycaughthimshrieking；twice，hewentaloft，andtheropebroke，andtheycaughthimshrieking；then，theropewasmerciful，andheldhim，andhisheadwassoonuponapike，withgrassenoughinthemouthforallsaintantoinetodanceatthesightof.