All the same, however, it's very exciting to see a man's life staked on a yes or a no." Meantime Pierre, finding Guillaume still more feverish and grieved, had once again taken hold of his hand.

Neither of them spoke, so great was the distress that they experienced for many reasons which they themselves could not have precisely defined.

It seemed to them, however, that all human misery--inclusive of their own, the affections, the hopes, the griefs which brought them suffering--was sobbing and quivering in that buzzing hall.

Twilight had gradually fallen there, but as the end was now so near it had doubtless been thought unnecessary to light the chandeliers.

And thus large vague shadows, dimming and shrouding the serried throng, now hovered about in the last gleams of the day.