I thought you were not coming back this evening.

Have you at least dined ?" "No, not yet." "Well, fortunately I have kept your dinner warm.

You can sit down to it at once." Old Tabaret took his place at the table, and helped himself to soup, but mounting his hobby-horse again, he forgot to eat, and remained, his spoon in the air, as though suddenly struck by an idea.
"He is certainly touched in the head," thought Manette, the housekeeper.
"Look at that stupid expression.

Who in his senses would lead the life he does ?" She touched him on the shoulder, and bawled in his ear, as if he were deaf,--"You do not eat.

Are you not hungry ?" "Yes, yes," muttered he, trying mechanically to escape the voice that sounded in his ears, "I am very hungry, for since the morning I have been obliged--" He interrupted himself, remaining with his mouth open, his eyes fixed on vacancy.
"You were obliged-- ?" repeated Manette.
"Thunder!" cried he, raising his clenched fists towards the ceiling,--"heaven's thunder! I have it!" His movement was so violent and sudden that the housekeeper was a little alarmed, and retired to the further end of the dining-room, near the door.
"Yes," continued he, "it is certain there is a child!" Manette approached him quickly.