effort

But when the Wolf, day after day, kept in the company of the sheep and did not make the slightest effort to seize them, the Shepherd began to look upon him as a guardian of his flock rather than as a plotter of evil against it; and when occasion called him one day into the city, he left the sheep entirely in his charge.

The call must have been very pressing, since he left his girl standing in the fog and made no effort to communicate with her.

When the Ass persisted in his effort, the man let him go and said, “Conquer, but conquer to your cost.”

“In heaven’s name!” cried the unhappy young man, “if you doubt me, question me; I will answer you.” Villefort made a violent effort, and in a tone he strove to render firm: