A tale of two cities

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Cl a ssi c Li t e r a t u r e

A Tale of Two Cit ies

By Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

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A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

Book t he Fir st —Recalled t o Life I The Per iod I t w as t he best of t im es, it w as t he w or st of t im es, it w as t he age of w isdom , it w as t he age of foolishness, it w as t he epoch of belief, it w as t he epoch of incr edulit y , it w as t he season of Light , it w as t he season of Dar k ness, it w as t he spr ing of hope, it w as t he w int er of despair , w e had ev er y t hing befor e us, w e had not hing befor e us, w e w er e all going dir ect t o Heav en, w e w er e all going dir ect t he ot her w ay—in shor t , t he per iod w as so far lik e t he pr esent per iod, t h at som e of it s n oisiest au t h or it ies in sist ed on it s bein g r eceiv ed, for good or for ev il, in t he super lat iv e degr ee of com parison only. Ther e w er e a k ing w it h a lar ge j aw and a queen w it h a plain face, on t he t hr one of England; t her e w er e a k ing w it h a lar ge j aw and a queen w it h a fair face, on t he t hr one of Fr ance. I n bot h count r ies it w as clear er t han cr y st al t o t he lor ds of t he St at e pr eser v es of loav es and fishes, t hat t hings in gener al w er e set t led for ev er . I t w as t he year of Our Lor d one t housand seven hundr ed and sev ent y- five. Spi r it ual r ev elat ions w er e conceded t o England at t hat fav our ed per iod, as at t his. Mr s. Sout hcot t had r ecent ly at t ained her fiv e - and- t w ent iet h blessed birt hday, of w hom a pr ophet ic pr iv at e in t he Life Guar ds had her alded t he sublim e appear ance by announcing t hat ar r angem ent s w er e m ade for t he sw allow ing up of London and West m inst er . 3

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

Even t he Cock- lane ghost had been laid only a r ound dozen of y ear s, aft er r apping out it s m essages, as t he spir it s of t his v er y y ear last past ( super nat ur ally deficient in or igina lit y ) r apped out t heir s. Mer e m essages in t he ear t hly or der of ev ent s had lat ely com e t o t he English Cr ow n and People, fr om a congr ess of Br it ish subj ect s in Am er ica: w hich, st r ange t o relat e, have proved m ore im port ant t o t he hum an race t han any com m unicat ions yet r eceived t hr ough any of t he chickens of t he Cock- lane br ood. Fr ance, less fav our ed on t he w hole as t o m at t er s spir it ual t han her sist er of t he shield and t r ident , r olled w it h ex ceeding sm oot hness dow n hill, m ak ing paper m oney and spending it . Under t he guidance of her Chr ist ian past or s, she ent er t ained her self, besides, w it h such hum ane achiev em ent s as sent encing a y out h t o hav e his hands cut off, his t ongue t or n out w it h pincer s, and his body bur ned aliv e, because he had not k neeled dow n in t he rain t o do honour t o a dirt y pr ocession of m onk s w hich passed w it hin his v iew , at a dist ance of som e fift y or six t y y ar ds. I t is lik ely enough t hat , root ed in t he w oods of France and Norw ay, t here w ere gr ow ing t r ees, w hen t hat suffer er w as put t o deat h, already m ar ked by t he Woodm an, Fat e, t o com e dow n and be saw n int o boar ds, t o m ake a cer t ain m ovable fr am ew or k w it h a sack and a k nife in it , t er r ible in hist or y . I t is lik ely enough t hat in t he r ough out houses of som e t iller s of t he heav y lands adj acent t o Par is, t her e w er e shelt er ed fr om t he w eat her t hat ver y day, r ude car t s, bespat t er ed w it h r ust ic m ir e, snuffed about by pigs, and roost ed in by poult ry, w hich t he Farm er, Deat h, had alr eady set apar t t o be his t um br ils of t he 4

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

Rev olut ion. But t hat Woodm an and t hat Farm er, t hough t hey w or k unceasingly, w or k silent ly, and no one hear d t hem as t hey w ent about w it h m uffled t r ead: t he r at her , for asm uch as t o ent er t ain any suspicion t hat t hey w er e aw ak e, w as t o be at heist ical and t r ait or ous. I n England, t her e w as scarcely an am ount of order and pr ot ect ion t o j ust ify m uch nat ional boast ing. Dar ing bur glar ies by arm ed m en, and highw ay robberies, t ook place in t he capit al it self ev er y night ; fam ilies w er e publicly caut ioned not t o go out of t ow n w it hout r em ov ing t he ir furnit ure t o upholst er er s’ w ar ehouses for secur it y; t he highw aym an in t he dar k w as a Cit y t r adesm an in t he light , and, being r ecognised and challenged by his fellow - t r adesm an w hom he st opped in his char act er of “ t he Capt ain,” gallant ly shot him t hr ough t he head and r ode aw ay; t he m all w as w aylaid by seven r obber s, and t he guar d shot t hr ee dead, and t hen got shot dead him self by t he ot her four , “ in consequence of t he failur e of his am m unit ion: ” aft er w hich t he m all w as r obbed in peace; t hat m agnificent pot ent at e, t he Lor d May or of London, w as m ade t o st and and deliver on Turnham Green, by one highwaym an, w ho despoiled t he illust r ious cr eat ur e in sight of all his r et inue; pr isoner s in London gaols fought bat t les w it h t heir t ur nk ey s, and t he m aj est y of t he law fir ed blunder busses in am ong t hem , loaded w it h r ounds of shot and ball; t hiev es snipped off diam ond cr osses fr om t he neck s of noble lor ds at Court drawing- r oom s; m usk et eer s w ent int o St . Giles's, t o sear ch for cont r aband goods, and t he m ob fir ed on t he m usk et eer s, and t he m usk et eer s fir ed on t he m ob, and nobody t hought any of t hese occurrences m uch out of t he 5

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

com m on w ay. I n t he m idst of t hem , t he hangm an, ever busy and ev er w or se t han useless, w as in const ant r equisit ion; now , st r inging up long r ow s of miscellaneous cr im inals; now , hanging a housebreaker on Sat urday who had been t aken on Tuesday ; now , bur ning people in t he hand at New gat e by t he dozen, and now bur ning pam phlet s at t he door of West m inst er Hall; t o- day , t ak ing t he life of an at r ocious m urderer, and t o- m orrow of a wret ched pilferer who had robbed a farm er's boy of sixpence. All t hese t hings, and a t housand lik e t hem , cam e t o pass in and close upon t he dear old y ear one t housand sev en hundr ed and sevent y- five. Envir oned by t hem , w hile t he W oodm an and t he Far m er w or ked unheeded, t hose t w o of t he lar ge j aw s, and t hose ot her t w o of t he plain and t he fair faces, t r od w it h st ir enough, and car r ied t heir div ine r ight s w it h a high hand. Thus did t he y ear one t housand sev en hundr ed and sevent y- fiv e conduct t heir Gr eat nesses, and m yr iads of sm all cr eat ur es—t he cr eat ur es of t his chr onicle am ong t he r est —along t he r oads t hat lay befor e t hem .

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A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

II The Mail I t w as t he Dov er r oad t hat lay , on a Fr iday night lat e in Nov em ber , befor e t he fir st of t he per sons w it h w hom t his hist or y has business. The Dov er r oad lay , as t o him , bey ond t he Dov er m ail, as it lum ber ed up Shoot er 's Hill. He w alk ed up hill in t he m ir e by t he side of t he m ail, as t he r est of t he passenger s did; not because t hey had t he least r elish for w alk ing ex er cise, under t he cir cum st ances, but because t he hill, and t he har ness, and t he m ud, and t he m ail, w er e all so heav y , t hat t he hor ses had t hr ee t im es alr eady com e t o a st op, besides once dr aw ing t he coach acr oss t he r oad, w it h t he m ut inous int ent of t ak ing it back t o Black heat h. Reins and whip and coachm an and guard, however, in com binat ion, had r ead t hat ar t icle of w ar w hich for bade a pur pose ot her w ise st r ongly in fav our of t he ar gum ent , t hat som e br ut e anim als ar e endued w it h Reason; and t he t eam had capit ulat ed and ret urned t o t heir dut y. Wit h dr ooping heads and t r em ulous t ails, t hey m ashed t heir w ay t hrough t he t hick m ud, floundering and st um bling bet w een w hiles, as if t hey w er e falling t o pieces at t he lar ger j oin t s. As oft en as t h e driver rest ed t hem and brought t hem t o a st and, w it h a w ar y “ Wo- ho! so- ho- t hen! ” t he near leader v iolent ly shook his head and ev er y t hing upon it —lik e an unusually em phat ic hor se, deny ing t hat t he coach could be got up t he hill. Whenev er t he leader m ade t hi s r at t le, t he passenger st ar t ed, as a ner v ous passenger m ight , and w as dist ur bed in m ind. 7

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

Ther e w as a st eam ing m ist in all t he hollow s, and it had r oam ed in it s for lor nness up t he hill, lik e an ev il spir it , seeking r est and finding none. A clam m y and int ensely cold m ist , it m ade it s slow w ay t hr ough t he air in r ipples t hat v isibly follow ed and ov er spr ead one anot her , as t he w av es of an unw holesom e sea m ight do. I t w as dense enough t o shut out ev er y t hing fr om t he light of t he coach- lam ps but t hese it s own w or kings, and a few yar ds of r oad; and t he r eek of t he labour ing hor ses st eam ed int o it , as if t hey had m ade it all. Tw o ot her passenger s, besides t he one, w er e plodding up t he hill by t he side of t he m ail. All t hr ee w er e w r apped t o t he cheek bones and over t he ears, and w ore j ack- boot s. Not one of t he t hr ee could hav e said, fr om any t hing he saw , w hat eit her of t he ot her t w o w as lik e; and each w as hidden under alm ost as m any w r apper s fr om t he eyes of t he m ind, as fr om t he ey es of t he body , of his t w o com panions. I n t hose day s, t r av eller s w er e v er y shy of being confident ial on a shor t not ice, for anybody on t he road m ight be a robber or in league w it h r obber s. As t o t he lat t er , w hen ev er y post inghouse and ale- house could pr oduce som ebody in “ t he Capt ain's” pay , r anging fr om t he landlor d t o t he low est st able non- descr ipt , it w as t he lik eliest t hing upon t he car ds. So t he guar d of t he Dov er m ail t hought t o him self, t hat Fr iday night in Novem ber , one t housand seven hundr ed and sevent y- fiv e, lum bering up Shoot er's Hill, as he st ood on his ow n par t icular per ch behind t he m ail, beat ing his feet , and k eeping an ey e and a hand on t he arm - chest befor e him , w her e a loaded blunder buss lay at t he t op of six or eight loaded hor se- pist ols, deposit ed on a subst r at um of cut lass. 8

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

The Dov er m ail w as in it s usual genial posit ion t hat t he guar d suspect ed t he passenger s, t he passenger s suspect ed one anot her and t he guar d, t hey all suspect ed ev er y body else, and t he coachm an w as sur e of not hing but t he hor ses; as t o w hich cat t le h e could w it h a clear conscience hav e t ak en his oat h on t he t w o Test am ent s t hat t hey w er e not fit for t he j ourney. “ Wo- ho! ” said t he coachm an. “ So, t hen! One m ore pull and you'r e at t he t op and be dam ned t o you, for I have had t r ouble enough t o get y ou t o it !—Joe! ” “ Halloa! ” t he guar d r eplied. “ What o'clock do you m ake it , Joe?” “ Ten m inut es, good, past elev en.” “ My blood! ” ej aculat ed t he vexed coachm an, “ and not at op of Shoot er 's yet ! Tst ! Yah! Get on w it h you! ” The em phat ic hor se, cut shor t by t he w hip in a m ost decided negat iv e, m ade a decided scr am ble for it , and t he t hr ee ot her hor ses follow ed suit . Once m or e, t he Dov er m ail st r uggled on, w it h t he j ack - boot s of it s passenger s squashing along by it s side. They had st opped w hen t he coach st opped, and t hey k ept close com pany w it h it . I f any one of t he t hr ee had had t he har dihood t o pr opose t o anot her t o w alk on a lit t le ahead int o t he m ist and dar k ness, he w ould hav e put him self in a fair w ay of get t ing shot inst ant ly as a highwaym an. The last bur st car r ied t he m ail t o t he sum m it of t he hill. The hor ses st opped t o br eat he again, and t he guar d got dow n t o sk id t he w heel for t he descent , and open t he coach- door t o let t he passenger s in. 9

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

“ Tst ! Joe! ” cried t he coachm an in a warning voice, look ing down from his box. “ What do you say, Tom ?” They bot h list ened. “ I say a hor se at a cant er com ing up, Joe.” “ I say a hor se at a gallop, Tom ,” r et ur ned t he guar d, leav ing his hold of t he door , and m ount ing nim bly t o his place. “ Gent lem en! I n t he k ings nam e, all of y ou! ” Wit h t his hur r ied adj ur at ion, he cock ed his blunder buss, and st ood on t he offensiv e. The passenger book ed by t his hist or y , w as on t he coachst ep, get t ing in; t he t w o ot her passenger s w er e close behind him , and about t o follow . He r em ained on t he st ep, half in t he coach and half out of; t hey re - m ained in t he r oad below him . They all looked from t he coachm an t o t he guard, and from t he guar d t o t he coachm an, and list ened. The coachm an looked back and t he guard looked back, and ev en t he em phat ic leader pr ick ed up his ear s and look ed back , w it hout cont r adict ing. The st illness consequent on t he cessat ion of t he r um bling and labour ing of t he coach, added t o t he st illness of t he night , m ade it v er y quiet indeed. The pant ing of t he hor ses com m unicat ed a t r em ulous m ot ion t o t he coach, as if it w er e in a st at e of agit at ion. The hear t s of t he passenger s beat loud enough per haps t o be hear d; but at any r at e, t he quiet pause w as audibly ex pr essiv e of people out of br eat h, and holding t he br eat h, and hav ing t he pulses quick ened by ex pect at ion. The sound of a hor se at a gallop cam e fast and fur iously up t he hill. 10

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

“So- ho! ” t he guar d sang out , as loud as he could r oar . “ Yo t her e! St and! I shall fir e! ” The pace w as suddenly checked, and, w it h m uch splashing and flounder ing, a m an's v oice called fr om t he m ist , “ I s t hat t he Dover m ail?” “ Never you m ind w hat it is! ” t he guar d r et or t ed. “ What ar e you?” “ I S t hat t he Dover m ail?” “ Why do you w ant t o know ?” “ I w ant a passenger , if it is. ” “ What passenger ?” “ Mr. Jarvis Lorry.” Our book ed passenger show ed in a m om ent t hat it w as his nam e. The guar d, t he coachm an, and t he t w o ot her passenger s ey ed him dist r ust fully . “ Keep w her e y ou ar e,” t he guar d called t o t he v oice in t he m ist , “ because, if I should m ak e a m ist ak e, it could nev er be set r ight in y our lifet im e. Gent lem an of t he nam e of Lor r y answ er st r aight .” “ What is t he m at t er ?” ask ed t he passenger , t hen, w it h m ildly quaver ing speech. “ Who w ant s m e? I s it Jer r y?” ( " I don't like Jerry's voice, if it is Jerry,” growled t he guard t o him self. “ He's hoar ser t han suit s m e, is Jer r y ." ) “ Yes, Mr. Lorry.” “ What is t he m at t er ?” “ A despat ch sent aft er you from over yonder. T. and Co.” “ I know t his m essenger, guard,” said Mr. Lorry, get t ing dow n int o t he r oad—assist ed fr om behind m or e sw ift ly t han polit ely by t he ot her t w o passenger s, w ho im m ediat ely 11

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

scr am bled int o t he coach, shut t he door , and pulled up t he w indow . “ He m ay com e close; t here's not hing w rong.” “ I hope t her e ain't , but I can't m ak e so ‘Nat ion sur e of t hat ,” said t he guar d, in gr uff soliloquy . “ Hallo y ou! ” “ Well! And hallo you! ” said Jerry, m ore hoarsely t han befor e. “ Com e on at a foot pace! d'ye m ind m e? And if you've got h olst er s t o t h at saddle o’ yourn, don't let m e see your hand go nigh ‘em . For I 'm a devil at a quick m ist ake, and w hen I m ak e one it t ak es t he for m of Lead. So now let 's look at y ou.” The figur es of a hor se and r ider cam e slow ly t hr ough t he eddy ing m ist , and cam e t o t he side of t he m ail, w her e t he passenger st ood. The r ider st ooped, and, cast ing up his ey es at t he guar d, handed t he passenger a sm all folded paper . The rider's horse w as blow n, and bot h horse and rider w ere cov er ed w it h m ud, fr om t he hoofs of t he hor se t o t he hat of t he m an. “ Guar d! ” said t he passenger , in a t one of quiet business confidence. The w at chful guar d, w it h his r ight hand at t he st ock of his r aised blunder buss, his left at t he bar r el, and his ey e on t he horsem an, answered curt ly, “ Sir.” “ Ther e is not hi ng t o appr ehend. I belong t o Tellson's Bank . You m ust k now Tellson's Bank in London. I am going t o Par is on business. A cr ow n t o dr ink. I m ay r ead t his?” “ I f so be as you're quick, sir.” He opened it in t he light of t he coach- lam p on t hat side, and read—fir st t o him self and t hen aloud: “ ‘Wait at Dov er for 12

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

Mam 'selle.’ I t 's not long, you see, guar d. Jer r y, say t hat m y answer was, RECALLED TO LI FE.” Jer r y st ar t ed in his saddle. “ That 's a Blazing st r ange answ er , t oo, ” said he, at his hoar sest . “ Take t ha t m essage back , and t hey w ill k now t hat I r eceiv ed t his, as w ell as if I w r ot e. Mak e t he best of y our w ay . Good night .” Wit h t hose w or ds t he passenger opened t he coach- door and got in; not at all assist ed by his fellow - passenger s, w ho had ex pedit iously secr et ed t heir w at ches and pur ses in t heir boot s, and w er e now m ak ing a gener al pr et ence of being asleep. Wit h no m or e definit e pur pose t han t o escape t he hazar d of or iginat ing any ot her k ind of act ion. The coach lum ber ed on again, w it h heavier w r eat hs of m ist closing r ound it as it began t he descent . The guar d soon r eplaced his blunder buss in his ar m - chest , and, hav ing look ed t o t he r est of it s cont ent s, and hav ing look ed t o t he supplem ent ar y pist ols t hat he w or e in his belt , look ed t o a sm aller chest beneat h his seat , in w hich t her e w er e a few sm it h's t ools, a couple of t or ches, and a t inder- box. For he w as fur nished w it h t hat com plet eness t hat if t he coach- lam ps had been blow n and st or m ed out , w hich did occasionally happen, he had only t o shut him self up inside, k eep t he flint and st eel spar k s w ell off t he st r aw , and get a light w it h t oler able safet y and ease ( if he w er e luck y ) in fiv e m inut es. “ Tom ! ” soft ly over t he coach roof. “ Hallo, Joe.” “ Did you hear t he m essage?” “ I did, Joe.” 13

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

“ What did you m ake of it , Tom ?” “ Not hing at all, Joe.” “ That 's a coincidence, t oo,” t he guar d m used, “ for I m ade t he sam e of it m y self. ” Jer r y , left alone in t he m ist and dar k ness, dism ount ed m eanw hile, not only t o ease his spent hor se, but t o w ipe t he m ud from his face, and shak e t he w et out of his hat - brim , w hich m ight be capable of holding about half a gallon. Aft er st anding w it h t he br idle ov er his heav ily- splashed ar m , unt il t he w heels of t he m ail w er e no longer w it hin hear ing and t he n igh t w as qu it e st ill again, he t ur ned t o w alk dow n t he hill. “ Aft er t hat t her e gallop fr om Tem ple Bar , old lady , I w on't t rust your fore- legs t ill I get y ou on t he lev el, ” said t his hoar se m essenger , glancing at his m ar e. “ ‘Recalled t o life.’ That 's a Blazing st r ange m essage. Much of t hat w ouldn't do for you, Jerry! I say, Jerry! You'd be in a Blazing bad way, if r ecalling t o life w as t o com e int o fashion, Jer r y ! ”

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A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

III The Night Shadow s A w onder ful fact t o r eflect upon, t hat ever y hum an cr eat ur e is const it ut ed t o be t hat profound secret and m yst ery t o ev er y ot her . A solem n consider at ion, w hen I ent er a gr eat cit y by night , t hat ev er y one of t hose dar k ly clust er ed houses encloses it s ow n secr et ; t hat ev er y r oom in ev er y one of t hem encloses it s ow n secr et ; t hat ev er y beat ing hear t in t he hundr eds of t housands of br east s t her e, is, in som e of it s im aginings, a secr et t o t he hear t near est it ! Som et hing of t he aw fulness, ev en of Deat h it self, is r efer able t o t his. No m or e can I t ur n t he leav es of t his dear book t hat I lov ed, and vainly hope in t im e t o r ead it all. No m or e can I look int o t he dept hs of t his unfat hom able w at er , w her ein, as m om ent ar y light s glanced int o it , I hav e had glim pses of bur ied t r easur e and ot her t hings subm er ged. I t w as appoint ed t hat t he book should shut w it h a spring, for ever and for ever, w hen I had r ead but a page. I t w as appoint ed t hat t he w at er should be lock ed in an et er nal fr ost , w hen t he light w as play ing on it s sur face, and I st ood in ignor ance on t he shor e. My fr iend is dead, m y neighbour is dead, m y lov e, t he dar ling of m y soul, is dead; it is t he inex or able consolidat ion and per pet uat ion of t he secr et t hat w as alw ay s in t hat indiv idualit y , and w hich I shall car r y in m ine t o m y life's end. I n any of t he bur ial- places of t his cit y t hr ough w hich I pass, is t her e a sleeper m or e inscr ut able t han it s busy inhabit ant s ar e, in t heir inner m ost per sonalit y , t o m e, or t han I am t o t hem ? 15

A Tale of Two Cit ies by Char l es Di ckens

As t o t his, his nat ur al and not t o be alienat ed inher it ance, t he m essenger on hor seback had ex act ly t he sam e possessions as t he King, t he fir st Minist er of St at e, or t he r ichest m er chant in London. So w it h t he t hr ee passenger s shut up in t he nar r ow com pass of one lum ber ing old m ail coach; t hey w er e m y st er ies t o one anot her , as com plet e as if each had been in his ow n coach and six, or his ow n coach and six t y , w it h t he br eadt h of a count y bet w een him and t he nex t . The m essenger r ode back at an easy t r ot , st opping pr et t y of t en at ale- houses by t he w ay t o dr ink, but evincing a t endency t o k eep his ow n counsel, and t o k eep his hat cock ed ov er his ey es. He had ey es t hat assor t ed v er y w ell w it h t hat decor at ion, being of a sur face black , w it h no dept h in t he colour or form , and m uch t oo near t oget her—as if t hey w er e afr aid of being found out in som et hing, singly , if t hey k ept too far apar t . They had a sinist er ex pr ession, under an old cocked- hat lik e a t hr ee- cor ner ed spit t oon, and over a gr eat m uffler for t he chin and t hr oat , w hich descended near ly t o t he w ear er 's k nees. When he st opped for dr ink , he m ov ed t his m uffler w it h hi s left hand, only w hile he pour ed his liquor in w it h his r ight ; as soon as t hat w as done, he m uffled again. “ No, Jerry, no! ” said t he m essenger, harping on one t hem e as he rode. “ I t wouldn't do for you, Jerry. Jerry, you honest t r adesm an, it w ouldn't sui t YOUR line of business! Recalled—! Bust m e if I don't t hink he'd been a dr inking! ” His m essage per plex ed his m ind t o t hat degr ee t hat he w as fain, sev er al t im es, t o t ak e off his hat t o scr at ch his head. Except on t he crow n, w hich w as raggedly bald, he had st iff, black hair , st anding j aggedly all ov er it , and gr ow ing 16

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dow n hill alm ost t o his br oad, blunt nose. I t w as so lik e Sm it h's w or k, so m uch m or e like t he t op of a st r ongly spiked w all t han a head of hair , t hat t he best of play er s at leap- frog m ight hav e declined him , as t he m ost danger ous m an in t he w orld t o go over. While he t r ot t ed back w it h t he m essage he w as t o deliv er t o t he night w at chm an in his box at t he door of Tellson's Bank , by Tem ple Bar , w ho w as t o deliv er it t o gr eat er aut hor it ies w it hin, t he shadow s of t he night t ook such shapes t o him as ar ose out of t he m essage, and t ook such shapes t o t he m ar e as ar ose out of HER pr iv at e t opics of uneasiness. They seem ed t o be num er ous, for she shied at ev er y shadow on t he r oad. What t im e, t he m ail- coach lum ber ed, j olt ed, r at t led, and bum ped upon it s t edious w ay , w it h it s t hr ee fellow inscr ut ables inside. To w hom , lik ew ise, t he shadow s of t he night r ev ealed t hem selv es, in t he for m s t heir dozing ey es and w ander ing t hought s suggest ed. Tellson's Bank had a r un upon it in t he m ail. As t he bank passenger—wit h an arm drawn t hrough t he leat her n st r ap, w hich did w hat lay in it t o k eep him fr om pounding against t he next passenger, and driving him int o his corner, w henever t he coach got a special j olt —nodded in his place, w it h halfshut ey es, t he lit t le coach- w indow s, and t he coach- lam p dim ly gleam ing t hr ough t hem , and t he bulky bundle of opposit e passenger , becam e t he bank , and did a gr eat st r ok e of business. The r at t le of t he har ness w as t he chink of m oney , and m or e dr aft s w er e honour ed in five m inut es t han even Tellson's, w it h all it s for eign and hom e connect ion, ever paid 17

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in t hr ice t he t im e. Then t he st r ong- room s underground, at Tellson's, w it h such of t heir v aluable st or es and secr et s as w er e k now n t o t he passenger ( and it w as not a lit t le t hat he knew about t hem ) , opened before him , and h e w ent in am ong t hem w it h t he gr eat k ey s and t he feebly- burning candle, and found t hem safe, and st r ong, and sound, and st ill, j ust as he had last seen t hem . But , t hough t he bank w as alm ost alw ay s w it h him , and t hough t he coach ( in a confused w ay , lik e t he pr esence of pain under an opiat e) w as alw ay s w it h him , t her e w as anot her cur r ent of im pr ession t hat nev er ceased t o r un, all t hr ough t he night . He w as on his w ay t o dig som e one out of a grave. Now , w hich of t he m ult it ude of faces t hat show ed t hem selves befor e him w as t he t r ue face of t he bur ied per son, t he shadow s of t he night did not indicat e; but t hey w er e all t he faces of a m an of fiv e - and- fort y by years, and t hey differ ed pr incipally in t he passions t hey ex pr essed, and in t he ghast liness of t heir w or n and w ast ed st at e. Pr ide, cont em pt , defiance, st ubbor nness, subm ission, lam ent at ion, succeeded one anot her ; so did v ar iet ies of sunk en cheek , cadav er ous colour , em aciat ed hands and figur es. But t he face w as in t he m ain one face, and ever y head w as pr emat ur ely w hit e. A hundr ed t im es t he dozing passenger inquir ed of t his spect r e: “ Buried how long?” The answ er w as alw ay s t he sam e: “ Alm ost eight een years.” “ You had abandoned all hope of being dug out ?” “ Long ago.” 18

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“ You k now t hat y ou ar e r ecalled t o life?” “ They t ell m e so.” “ I hope you car e t o live?” “ I can't say.” “ Shall I show her t o y ou? Will y ou com e and see her ?” The answ er s t o t his quest ion w er e v ar ious and cont r adict or y. Som et im es t he br oken r eply w as, “ Wait ! I t w ould k ill m e if I saw her t oo soon.” Som et im es, it w as giv en in a t ender r ain of t ear s, and t hen it w as, “ Tak e m e t o her .” Som et im es it w as st ar ing and bew ilder ed, and t hen it w as, “ I don't know her. I don't underst and.” Aft er such im aginar y discour se, t he passenger in hi s fancy w ould dig, and dig, dig—now w it h a spade, now w it h a gr eat key, now w it h his hands—t o dig t his w r et ched cr eat ur e out . Got out at last , w it h ear t h hanging about his face and hair , he w ould suddenly fan aw ay t o dust . The passenger w ould t hen st ar t t o him self, and low er t he w indow , t o get t he r ealit y of m ist and r ain on his cheek . Yet ev en w hen his ey es w er e opened on t he m ist and r ain, on t he m ov ing pat ch of light fr om t he lam ps, and t he hedge at t he r oadside r et r eat ing by j er k s, t he night shadow s o ut side t he coach w ould fall int o t he t r ain of t he night shadow s w it hin. The r eal Bank ing- house by Tem ple Bar , t he r eal business of t he past day , t he r eal st r ong r oom s, t he r eal ex pr ess sent aft er him , and t he r eal m essage r et ur ned, w ould all be t her e. Out of t he m idst of t hem , t he ghost ly face w ould r ise, and he w ould accost it again. “ Buried how long?” “ Alm ost eight een y ear s.” 19

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“ I hope you car e t o live?” “ I can't say.” Dig—d ig—d ig—unt il an im pat ient m ov em ent fr om one of t he t w o passenger s w ould adm onish him t o pull up t he w indow , draw his arm securely t hrough t he leat hern st rap, and speculat e upon t he t w o slum ber ing for m s, unt il his m ind lost it s hold of t hem , and t hey again slid aw ay int o t he bank and t he grave. “ Buried how long?” “ Alm ost eight een y ear s.” “ You had abandoned all hope of being dug out ?” “ Long ago.” The w or ds w er e st ill in his hear ing as j ust spok en— dist inct ly in his hear ing as ev er spok en w or ds had been in his lif e—w hen t he w ear y passenger st ar t ed t o t he consciousness of day light , and found t hat t he shadow s of t he night w er e gone. He low er ed t he w indow , and look ed out at t he r ising sun. Ther e w as a r idge of ploughed land, w it h a plough upon it w her e it had been left last night w hen t he hor ses w er e unyoked; beyond, a quiet coppice - wood, in which m any leav es of bur ning r ed and golden y ellow st ill r em ained upon t he t r ees. Though t he ear t h w as cold and w et , t he sk y w as clear , and t he sun r ose br ight , placid, and beaut iful. “ Eight een y ear s! ” said t he passenger , look ing at t he sun. “ Gr acious Cr eat or of day! To be bur ied alive for eight een years! ”

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IV The Pr epar at ion When t he m ail got successfully t o Dov er , in t he cour se of t he for enoon, t he head dr aw er at t he Royal Geor ge Hot el opened t he coach- door as his cust om w as. He did it w it h som e flourish of cerem ony, for a m ail j ourney from London in w int er w as an achiev em ent t o congr at ulat e an adv ent ur ous t r aveller upon. By t hat t im e, t her e w as only one adv ent ur ous t r a v eller left be congr at ulat ed: for t he t w o ot her s had been set dow n at t heir r espect iv e r oadside dest inat ions. The m ildew y inside of t he coach, w it h it s dam p and dir t y st r aw , it s disageeable sm ell, and it s obscur it y , w as r at her lik e a lar ger dog- k ennel. Mr. Lor r y , t he passenger , shak ing him self out of it in chains of st r aw , a t angle of shaggy w r apper , flapping hat , and m uddy legs, w as r at her lik e a lar ger sor t of dog. “ Ther e w ill be a packet t o Calais, t om or r ow , dr aw er ?” “ Yes, sir , if t he w eat her holds and t he w ind set s t oler able fair . The t ide w ill ser v e pr et t y nicely at about t w o in t he aft er noon, sir . Bed, sir ?” “ I shall not go t o bed t ill night ; but I w ant a bedr oom , and a barber.” “ And t hen br eak fast , sir ? Yes, sir . That w ay , sir , if y ou please. Show Concor d! Gent lem an's valise and hot w at er t o Concor d. Pull off gent lem an's boot s in Concor d. ( You w ill find a fin e sea- coal fire, sir.) Fet ch barber t o Concord. St ir about t here, now, for Concord! ” 21

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The Concord bed- cham ber being alw ay s assigned t o a passenger by t he m ail, and passenger s by t he m ail being alw ays heavily w r apped up fr om head t o foot , t he r oom had t he odd int er est for t he est ablishm ent of t he Roy al Geor ge, t hat alt hough but one k ind of m an w as seen t o go int o it , all k inds and v ar iet ies of m en cam e out of it . Consequent ly , anot her dr aw er , and t w o por t er s, and sever al m aids and t he landlady , w er e all loit er ing by accident at v ar ious point s of t he r oad bet w een t he Concor d and t he coffee- room , when a gent lem an of six t y , for m ally dr essed in a br ow n suit of clot hes, pr et t y w ell w or n, but v er y w ell k ept , w it h lar ge squar e cuffs and lar ge flaps t o t he pock et s, passed along on his w ay t o his br eak fast . The coffee- room had no ot her occupant , t hat forenoon, t han t he gent lem an in br ow n. His br eak fast - t able w as dr aw n befor e t he fir e, and as he sat , w it h it s light shining on him , w ait ing for t he m eal, he sat so st ill, t hat he m ight hav e been sit t ing for his por t r ait . Ver y or der ly and m et hodical he looked, w it h a hand on each knee, and a loud w at ch t icking a sonorous serm on under his flapped w aist - coat , as t hough it pit t ed it s gr av it y and longev it y against t he lev it y and ev anescence of t he br isk fir e. He had a good leg, and w as a lit t le v ain of it , for his br ow n st ock ings fit t ed sleek and close, and w er e of a fine t ex t ur e; his shoes and buck les, t oo, t hough plain, w er e t r im . He w or e an odd lit t le sleek cr isp flax en w ig, set t ing v er y close t o his head: w hich w ig, it is t o be pr esum ed, w as m ade of hair , but w hich looked far m or e as t hough it w er e spun from filam ent s of silk or glass. His linen, t hough not of a fineness in 22

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accor dance w it h his st ock ings, w as as w hit e as t he t ops of t he w aves t hat br oke upon t he neighbour ing beach, or t he specks of sail t hat glint ed in t he sunlight far at sea. A face habit ua lly suppr essed and quiet ed, w as st ill light ed up under t he quaint w ig by a pair of m oist br ight ey es t hat it m ust hav e cost t heir ow ner , in y ear s gone by , som e pains t o dr ill t o t he com posed and r eser v ed ex pr ession of Tellson's Bank . He had a healt hy colour in his cheek s, and his face, t hough lined, bor e few t r aces of anx iet y . But , per haps t he confident ial bachelor cler k s in Tellson's Bank w er e pr incipally occupied w it h t he car es of ot her people; and per haps second- hand car es, lik e second- hand clot hes, com e easily off and on. Com plet ing his r esem blance t o a m an w ho w as sit t ing for his por t r ait , Mr . Lor r y dr opped off t o sleep. The ar r ival of his br eak fast r oused him , and he said t o t he dr aw er , as he m ov ed his chair t o it : “ I w ish accom m odat ion prepared for a young lady who m ay com e her e at any t im e t o- day. She m ay ask for Mr. Jarvis Lorry, or she m ay only ask for a gent lem an from Tellson's Bank . Please t o let m e k now . ” “ Yes, sir . Tellson's Bank in London, sir ?” “ Yes. ” “ Yes, sir . We hav e oft ent im es t he honour t o ent ert ain your gent lem en in t heir t r av elling back w ar ds and for w ar ds bet w ix t London and Par is, sir . A v ast deal of t r av elling, sir , in Tellson and Com pany's House.” “ Yes. We ar e quit e a Fr ench House, as w ell as an English one.” 23

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“ Yes, sir . Not m uch in t he habit of such t r av elling y our self, I t hink, sir ?” “ Not of lat e y ear s. I t is fift een y ear s since w e —since I — cam e last from France.” “ I ndeed, sir ? That w as befor e m y t im e her e, sir . Befor e our people's t im e her e, sir . The Geor ge w as in ot he r hands at t hat t im e, sir .” “ I believ e so.” “ But I w ould hold a pr et t y w ager , sir , t hat a House lik e Tellson and Com pany w as flour ishing, a m at t er of fift y , not t o speak of fift een y ear s ago?” “ You m ight t r eble t hat , and say a hundr ed and fift y , y et not be far from t he t rut h.” “ I ndeed, sir! ” Rounding his m out h and bot h his ey es, as he st epped back w ar d fr om t he t able, t he w ait er shift ed his napk in fr om his r ight ar m t o his left , dr opped int o a com for t able at t it ude, and st ood sur v ey ing t he guest w hile he at e and dr ank , as from an observat ory or w at cht ow er . Accor ding t o t he im m em or ial usage of w ait er s in all ages. When Mr . Lor r y had finished his br eak fast , he w ent out for a st r oll on t he beach. The lit t le nar r ow , cr ook ed t ow n of Dov er hid it self aw ay fr om t he beach, and r an it s head int o t he cha lk cliffs, lik e a m ar ine ost r ich. The beach w as a deser t of heaps of sea and st ones t um bling w ildly about , and t he sea did w hat it lik ed, and w hat it lik ed w as dest r uct ion. I t t hunder ed at t he t ow n, and t hunder ed at t he cliffs, and br ought t he coast down, m adly . The air am ong t he houses w as of so st r ong a piscat or y flav our t hat one m ight hav e supposed sick fish w ent 24

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up t o be dipped in it , as sick people w ent dow n t o be dipped in t he sea. A lit t le fishing w as done in t he por t , and a quant it y of st r olling about by night , and looking seaw ar d: par t icular ly at t hose t im es w hen t he t ide m ade, and w as near flood. Sm all t r adesm en, w ho did no business w hat ev er , som et im es unaccount ably r ealised lar ge for t unes, and it w as r em ar k able t hat nobody in t he neighbour hood could endur e a lam plight er . As t he day declined int o t he aft er noon, and t he air , w hich had been at int er v als clear enough t o allow t he Fr ench coast t o be seen, becam e again char ged w it h m ist and vapour , Mr . Lor r y 's t hought s seem ed t o cloud t oo. When it w as dark, and he sat befor e t he coffee- r oom fir e, aw ait ing his dinner as he had aw ait ed his br eak fast , his m ind w as busily digging, digging, digging, in t he liv e r ed coals. A bot t le of good clar et aft er dinner does a digger in t he r ed coals no har m , ot her w ise t han as it has a t endency t o t hr ow him out of w ork. Mr. Lorry had been idle a long t im e, and had j ust pour ed out his last glassful of w ine w it h as com plet e an appear ance of sat isfact ion as is ev er t o be found in an elder ly gent lem an of a fr esh com plex ion w ho has got t o t he end of a bot t le, w hen a r at t ling of w heels cam e up t he nar r ow st r eet , and r um bled int o t he inn- yard. He set dow n his glass unt ouched. “ This is Mam 'selle! ” said he. I n a v er y few m inut es t he w ait er cam e in t o announce t hat Miss Manet t e had arrived from London, and would be happy t o see t he gent lem an fr om Tellson's. “ So soon?” 25

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Miss Manet t e had t ak en som e r efr eshm ent on t he r oad, and r equir ed none t hen, and w as ex t r em ely anx ious t o see t he gent lem an fr om Tellson's im m ediat ely , if it su it ed h is pleasur e and convenience. The gent lem an fr om Tellson's had not hing left for it but t o em pt y his glass w it h an air of st olid desper at ion, set t le his odd lit t le flax en w ig at t he ear s, and follow t he w ait er t o Miss Manet t e's apar t m ent . I t w as a large, dark room , furnished in a funer eal m anner w it h black hor sehair , and loaded w it h heav y dar k t ables. These had been oiled and oiled, unt il t he t w o t all candles on t he t able in t he m iddle of t he r oom w er e gloom ily r eflect ed on ev er y leaf; as if THEY w ere buried, in deep gr av es of black m ahogany , and no light t o speak of could be expect ed fr om t hem unt il t hey w er e dug out . The obscur it y w as so difficult t o penet r at e t hat Mr . Lor r y , pick ing his w ay ov er t he w ell- worn Turkey carpet , supposed Miss Mane t t e t o be, for t he m om ent , in som e adj acent r oom , unt il, hav ing got past t he t w o t all candles, he saw st anding t o r eceiv e him by t he t able bet w een t hem and t he fir e, a y oung lady of not m or e t han sev ent een, in a r idingcloak , and st ill holding her st r aw t rav elling- hat by it s ribbon in her hand. As his ey es r est ed on a shor t , slight , pr et t y figur e, a quant it y of golden hair , a pair of blue ey es t hat m et his ow n w it h an inquir ing look , and a for ehead w it h a singular capacit y ( rem em bering how young and sm oot h it w as) , of r ift ing and k nit t ing it self int o an ex pr ession t hat w as not quit e one of perplexit y, or wonder, or alarm , or m erely of a bright fixed at t ent ion, t hough it included all t he four ex pr essions- as h is ey es r est ed on t hese t hings, a sudden v iv id lik e n ess passed 26

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befor e him , of a child w hom he had held in his ar m s on t he passage acr oss t hat v er y Channel, one cold t im e, w hen t he hail dr ift ed heav ily and t he sea r an high. The lik eness passed aw ay , lik e a br eat h along t he sur face of t he gaunt pier- glass behind her , on t he fr am e of w hich, a hospit al pr ocession of negr o cupids, sev er al headless and all cr ipples, w er e offer ing black bask et s of Dead Sea fr uit t o black div init ies of t he fem inine gender- and he m ade his for m al bow t o Miss Manet t e. “ Pr ay t ake a seat , sir .” I n a ver y clear and pleasant young v oice; a lit t le for eign in it s accent , but a v er y lit t le indeed. “ I kiss your hand, m iss,” said Mr. Lorry, wit h t he m anners of an ear lier dat e, as he m ade his for m al bow again, and t ook h is seat . “ I received a let t er fr om t he Bank , sir , y est er day , infor m ing m e t hat som e int elligence —or discovery—” “ The w or d is not m at er ial, m iss; eit her w or d w ill do.” “ —respect ing t he sm all propert y of m y poor fat her, w hom I never saw—so long dead—” Mr. Lorry m oved in his chair , and cast a t r oubled look t ow ar ds t he hospit al pr ocession of negr o cupids. As if THEY had any help for anybody in t heir absur d basket s! “ —r ender ed it necessar y t hat I should go t o Par is, t her e t o com m unicat e w it h a gent lem an of t he Bank , so good as t o be despat ched t o Par is for t he pur pose.” “ Myself.” “ As I w as pr epar ed t o hear , sir .” She cur t sey ed t o him ( y oung ladies m ade cur t sey s in t hose day s) , w it h a pr et t y desir e t o conv ey t o him t hat she felt how 27

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m uch older and w iser he w as t han she . He m ade her anot her bow . “ I r eplied t o t he Bank , sir , t hat as it w as consider ed necessar y , by t hose w ho k now , and w ho ar e so k ind as t o adv ise m e, t hat I should go t o Fr ance, and t hat as I am an or phan and have no fr iend w ho could go w it h m e, I should est eem it highly if I m ight be per m it t ed t o place m y self, during t he j ourney, under t hat w ort hy gent lem an's prot ect ion. The gent lem an had left London, but I t hink a m essenger w as sent aft er him t o beg t he fav our of his w ait ing for m e her e.” “ I was happy, ” said Mr . Lor r y, “ t o be ent r ust ed w it h t he char ge. I shall be m or e happy t o ex ecut e it .” “ Sir, I t hank you indeed. I t hank you very grat efully. I t w as t old m e by t he Bank t hat t he gent lem an w ould ex plain t o m e t he det ails of t he business, and t hat I m us t prepare m yself t o find t hem of a sur pr ising nat ur e. I have done m y best t o pr epar e m y self, and I nat ur ally hav e a st r ong and eager int er est t o k now w hat t hey ar e.” “ Nat urally,” said Mr. Lorry. “ Yes—I —” Aft er a pause, he added, again set t ling t he cr isp flaxen wig at t he ear s, “ I t is v er y difficult t o begin.” He did not begin, but , in his indecision, m et her glance. The y oung for ehead lift ed it self int o t hat singular ex pr ession— but it w as pr et t y and char act er ist ic, besides being singular— and she r aised her hand, as if w it h an inv olunt ar y act ion she caught at , or st ay ed som e passing shadow . “ Ar e you quit e a st r anger t o m e, sir ?” “ Am I not ?” Mr. Lorry opened his hands, and ext ended t hem out w ar ds w it h an ar gum ent at iv e sm ile. 28

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Bet w een t he ey ebr ow s and j ust ov er t he lit t le fem inine nose, t he line of w hich w as as delicat e and fine as it w as possible t o be, t he ex pr ession deepened it self as she t ook her seat t hought fully in t he chair by w hich she had hit her t o r em ained st anding. He w at ched her as she m used, and t he m om ent she r aised her ey es again, w ent on: “ I n your adopt ed count ry, I presum e, I cannot do bet t er t han addr ess y ou as a y oung English lady , Miss Manet t e?” “ I f y ou please, sir .” “ Miss Manet t e, I am a m an of business. I hav e a business char ge t o acquit m y self of. I n y our r ecept ion of it , don't heed m e any m ore t han if I w as a speaking m achine - t ruly, I am not m uch else. I w ill, w it h y our leav e, r elat e t o y ou, m iss, t he st ory of one of our cust om ers.” “ Story!” He seem ed w ilfully t o m ist ak e t he w or d she had r epeat ed, w hen he added, in a hur r y, “ Yes, cust om er s; in t he banking business w e usually call our connect ion our cust om er s. He w as a Fr ench gent lem an; a scient ific gent lem an; a m an of gr eat acquir em ent s—a Doct or.” “ Not of Beauv ais?” “ Why , y es, of Beauv ais. Lik e Monsieur Manet t e, y our fat her , t he gent lem an w as of Beauv ais. Lik e Monsieur Manet t e, y our fat her , t he gent lem an w as of r eput e in Par is. I had t he honour of know ing him t her e. Our r elat ions w er e business r e lat ions, but confident ial. I w as at t hat t im e in our Fr ench House, and had been—oh! t w ent y years.” “ At t hat t im e —I m ay ask , at w hat t im e, sir ?” 29

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“ I speak , m iss, of t w ent y y ear s ago. He m ar r ied—an English lady—and I w as one of t he t r ust ees. His affair s, lik e t he affairs of m any ot her French gent lem en and French fam ilies, w er e ent ir ely in Tellson's hands. I n a sim ilar w ay I am , or I have been, t r ust ee of one kind or ot her for scor es of our cust om er s. These ar e m er e business r elat ions, m iss; t her e is no fr i endship in t hem , no par t icular int er est , not hing lik e sent im ent . I hav e passed fr om one t o anot her , in t he cour se of m y business life, j ust as I pass fr om one of our cust om er s t o anot her in t he cour se of m y business day ; in shor t , I hav e no feelings; I am a m ere m achine. To go on—” “ But t his is m y fat her 's st or y , sir ; and I begin t o t hink " — t he cur iously r oughened for ehead w as ver y int ent upon him— " t hat w hen I w as left an orphan t hrough m y m ot her's surviving m y fat her only t wo years, it was you who brought m e t o England. I am alm ost sur e it w as y ou.” Mr . Lor r y t ook t he hesit at ing lit t le hand t hat confidingly adv anced t o t ak e his, and he put it w it h som e cer em ony t o his lips. He t hen conduct ed t he y oung lady st r aight w ay t o her chair again, and, holding t he chair- back w it h his left hand, and using his r ight by t ur ns t o r ub his chin, pull his w ig at t he ear s, or point w hat he said, st ood look ing dow n int o her face w hile she sat look ing up int o his. “ Miss Manet t e, it WAS I . And y ou w ill see how t r uly I spok e of m y self j ust now , in say ing I had no feelings, and t hat all t he r elat ions I hold w it h m y fellow - creat ures are m ere business r elat ions, w hen y ou r eflect t hat I hav e nev er seen y ou since. No; y ou hav e been t he w ar d of Tellson's House since, and I hav e been busy w it h t he ot her business of 30

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Tellson's House since. Feelings! I hav e no t im e for t hem , no chance of t hem . I pass m y w hole life, m iss, in t ur ning an im m ense pecuniary Mangle.” Aft er t his odd descr ipt ion of his daily r out ine of em ploym ent , Mr. Lorry flat t ened his flax en w ig upon his head w it h bot h hands ( w hich w as m ost unnecessar y , for not hing could be flat t er t han it s shining sur face w as befor e) , and r esum ed his for m er at t it ude. “ So far , m iss ( as you have r em ar ked) , t his is t he st or y of your regret t ed fat her . Now com es t he differ ence. I f your fat her had not died w hen he did—Don't be fr ight ened! How you st art ! ” She did, indeed, st ar t . And she caught his w r ist w it h bot h her hands. “ Pr ay,” said Mr . Lor r y, in a soot hing t one, br inging his left hand fr om t he back of t he chair t o lay it on t he supplicat or y finger s t hat clasped him in so v iolent a t r em ble: “ pr ay cont r ol y our agit at ion—a m at t er of business. As I w as say ing—” Her look so discom posed him t hat he st opped, w ander ed, and began anew : “ As I w as say ing; if Monsieur Manet t e had not died; if he had suddenly and silent ly disappear ed; if he had been spir it ed aw ay ; if it had not been difficult t o guess t o w hat dr eadful place, t hough no ar t could t r ace him ; if he had an enem y in som e com pat r iot w ho could ex er cise a pr iv ilege t hat I in m y ow n t im e hav e k now n t he boldest people afr aid t o speak of in a w hisper , acr oss t he w at er t her e; for inst ance, t he pr iv ilege of filling up blank for m s for t he consignm ent of any one t o t he obliv ion of a pr ison for any lengt h of t im e; if his w ife had 31

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im plor ed t he king, t he queen, t he cour t , t he cler gy, for any t idings of him , and all quit e in v ain; —t hen t he hist or y of your fat her w ould hav e been t he hist or y of t his unfor t unat e gent lem an, t he Doct or of Beauv ais.” “ I ent r eat y ou t o t ell m e m or e, sir .” “ I w ill. I am going t o. You can bear it ?” “ I can bear anyt hing but t he uncer t aint y you leave m e in at t his m om ent .” “ You speak collect edly , and y ou—ARE collect ed. That 's good! ” ( Though his m anner w as less sat isfied t han his words.) “ A m at t er of business. Regar d it as a m at t er of businessbusiness t hat m ust be done. Now if t his doct or 's w ife, t hough a lady of gr eat cour age and spir it , had suffer ed so int ensely fr om t his cause befor e her lit t le child w as bor n —” “ The lit t le child w as a daught er , sir .” “ A daught er. A- a- m at t er of business—don't be dist r essed. Miss, if t he poor lady had suffer ed so int ensely befor e her lit t le child w as bor n, t hat she cam e t o t he det er m inat ion of spar ing t he poor child t he inher it ance of a ny part of t he agony she had k now n t he pains of, by r ear ing her in t he belief t hat her fat her w as dead—No, don't kneel! I n Heaven's nam e w hy should you kneel t o m e! ” “ For t he t r ut h. O dear , good, com passionat e sir , for t he t rut h! ” “ A- a m at t er of business. You confuse m e, and how can I t r ansact business if I am confused? Let us be clear- headed. I f y ou could k indly m ent ion now , for inst ance, w hat nine t im es ninepence ar e, or how m any shillings in t w ent y guineas, it 32

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w ould be so encour aging. I should be so m uch m ore at m y ease about y our st at e of m ind.” Wit hout dir ect ly answ er ing t o t his appeal, she sat so st ill w hen he had ver y gent ly r aised her , and t he hands t hat had not ceased t o clasp his w r ist s w er e so m uch m or e st eady t han t hey had been, t hat she com m unicat ed som e r eassur ance t o Mr. Jarvis Lorry. “ That 's r ight , t hat 's r ight . Cour age! Business! You hav e business befor e y ou; useful business. Miss Manet t e, y our m ot her t ook t his cour se w it h y ou. And w hen she died—I believ e br ok en- hear t ed—having never slackened her unav ailing sear ch for y our fat her , she left y ou, at t w o y ear s old, t o gr ow t o be bloom ing, beaut iful, and happy , w it hout t he dark cloud upon you of living in uncert aint y whet her your fat her soon w or e his hear t out in pr ison, or w ast ed t her e t hrough m any lingering years.” As he said t he w or ds he look ed dow n, w it h an adm ir ing pit y , on t he flow ing golden hair ; as if he pict ur ed t o him self t hat it m ight hav e been alr eady t inged w it h gr ey . “ You know t hat your parent s had no g r eat possession, and t hat w hat t hey had w as secur ed t o your m ot her and t o you. There has been no new discovery, of m oney, or of any ot her propert y; but —” He felt his w r ist held closer , and he st opped. The ex pr ession in t he for ehead, w hich had so par t icul arly at t r act ed his not ice, and w hich w as now im m ov able, had deepened int o one of pain and hor r or . “ But he has been—been found. He is aliv e. Gr eat ly changed, it is t oo pr obable; alm ost a w r eck , it is possible; 33

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t hough w e w ill hope t he best . St ill, aliv e. Your fat her has been t ak en t o t he house of an old ser v ant in Par is, and w e ar e going t her e: I , t o ident ify him if I can: y ou, t o r est or e him t o life, lov e, dut y , r est , com for t .” A shiver ran t hrough her fram e, and from it t hrough his. She said, in a low , dist inct , aw e - st r ick en v oice, as if she w er e say ing it in a dr eam , “ I am going t o see his Ghost ! I t w ill be his Ghost —not him ! ” Mr . Lor r y quiet ly chafed t he hands t hat held his ar m . “ Ther e, t her e, t her e! See now , see now ! The best and t he worst are know n t o y ou, now . You ar e w ell on y our w ay t o t he poor w r onged gent lem an, and, w it h a fair sea v oy age, and a fair land j our ney , y ou w ill be soon at his dear side.” She r epeat ed in t he sam e t one, sunk t o a w hisper , “ I hav e been fr ee, I hav e been happy , y et his Ghost has nev er haunt ed m e! ” “ Only one t hing m ore,” said Mr. Lorry, laying st ress upon it as a w holesom e m eans of enfor cing her at t ent ion: “ he has been found under anot her nam e; his ow n, long for got t en or long concealed. I t w ould be w or se t han useless now t o inquire w hich; w or se t han useless t o seek t o k now w het her he has been for y ear s ov er look ed, or alw ay s designedly held pr isoner . I t w ould be w or se t han useless now t o m ak e any inquir ies, because it w ould be danger ous. Bet t er not t o m ent ion t he subj ect , anywhere or in any way, and t o rem ove him—for a w hile at all ev ent s—out of Fr ance. Ev en I , safe as an Englishm an, and ev en Tellson's, im por t ant as t hey ar e t o French credit , avoid all nam ing of t he m at t er. I carry about 34

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m e, not a scr ap of w r it ing openly r efer r ing t o it . This is a secr et ser v ice alt oget her . My cr edent ials, ent r ies, and m em or anda, ar e all com pr ehended in t he one line, ‘Recalled t o Life; ’ w hich m ay m ean any t hing. But w hat is t he m at t er ! She doesn't not ice a w or d! Miss Manet t e! ” Per fect ly st ill and silent , and not ev en fallen back in her chair , she sat under his hand, ut t er ly insensible; w it h her ey es open and fix ed upon him , and w it h t hat last ex pr ession looking as if it w er e car ved or br anded int o her for ehead. So close w as her hold upon his ar m , t hat he fear ed t o det ach him self lest he should hur t her ; t her efor e he called out loudly for assist ance w it hout m ov ing. A w ild- look ing w om an, w hom ev en in his agit at ion, Mr . Lorry observed t o be all of a red colour, and t o have red hair, and t o be dr essed in som e ext r aor dinar y t ight - fit t ing fashion, and t o hav e on her head a m ost w onder ful bonnet lik e a Grenadier w ooden m easure, and good m easure t oo, or a gr eat St ilt on cheese, cam e r unning int o t he r oom in advance of t he inn ser v ant s, and soon set t led t h e qu est ion of h is det achm ent from t he poor young lady, by laying a brawny hand upon his chest , and sending him fly ing back against t he near est w all. ( " I really t hink t his m ust be a m an! ” was Mr. Lorry's br eat hless r eflect ion, sim ult aneously w it h his com ing against t he w all. ) “ Why , look at y ou all! ” baw led t his figur e, addr essing t he inn ser v ant s. “ Why don't y ou go and fet ch t hings, inst ead of st anding t her e st ar ing at m e? I am not so m uch t o look at , am I ? Why don't y ou go and fet ch t hings? I 'll let y ou k now , if 35

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you don't br ing sm elling- salt s, cold w at er , and v inegar , quick , I w ill. ” Ther e w as an im m ediat e disper sal for t hese r est or at iv es, and she soft ly laid t he pat ient on a sofa, and t ended her w it h gr eat sk ill and gent leness: calling her “ m y precious! ” and “ m y bird! ” and spreading her golden hair aside over her shoulders w it h gr eat pr ide and car e. “ And you in brow n! ” she said, indignant ly t urning t o Mr. Lor r y; “ couldn't you t ell her w hat you had t o t ell her , w it hout fr ight ening her t o deat h? Look at her , w it h her pr et t y pale face and her cold hands. Do you call THAT being a Banker?” Mr . Lor r y w as so exceedingly disconcer t ed by a quest ion so har d t o answ er , t hat he could only look on, at a dist ance, w it h m uch feebler sym pat hy and hum ilit y, w hile t he st r ong w om an, hav ing banished t he inn ser v ant s under t he m y st er ious penalt y of “ let t ing t hem k now ” som et hing not m ent ioned if t hey st ayed t her e, st ar ing, r ecover ed her char ge by a r egular ser ies of gr adat ions, and coaxed her t o lay her drooping head upon her shoulder. “ I hope she w ill do w ell now ,” said Mr . Lor r y. “ No t hanks t o you in br ow n, if she does. My dar ling pret t y! ” “ I hope,” said Mr . Lor r y, aft er anot her pause of feeble sy m pat hy and hum ilit y , “ t hat y ou accom pany Miss Manet t e t o France?” “ A lik ely t hing, t oo! ” r eplied t he st r ong w om an. “ I f it w as ev er int ended t hat I should go acr oss salt w at er , do y ou suppose Pr ov idence w ould hav e cast m y lot in an island?” 36

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This being anot her quest ion har d t o answ er , Mr . Jar vis Lorry wit hdrew t o consider it .

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V The Wine - shop A lar ge cask of w ine had been dr opped and br oken, in t he st r eet . The accident had happened in get t ing it out of a car t ; t he cask had t um bled out w it h a r un, t he hoops had bur st , and it lay on t he st ones j ust out side t he door of t he w ine shop, shat t er ed lik e a w alnut - sh ell. All t he people w it hin r each had suspended t heir business, or t heir idleness, t o r un t o t he spot and dr ink t he w ine. The rough, irregular st ones of t he st r eet , point ing ev er y w ay , and designed, one m ight have t hought , expr essly t o lam e all living cr eat ur es t hat appr oached t hem , had dam m ed it int o lit t le pools; t hese w er e sur r ounded, each by it s ow n j ost ling gr oup or cr ow d, accor ding t o it s size. Som e m en kneeled down, m ade scoops of t heir t w o hands j oined, and sipped, or t r ied t o help w om en, w ho bent ov er t heir shoulder s, t o sip, befor e t he w ine had all r un out bet w een t heir finger s. Ot her s, m en and w om en, dipped in t he puddles w it h lit t le m ugs of m ut ilat ed eart henware, or even wit h handkerchiefs from wom en's heads, w hich w er e squeezed dr y int o infant s’ m out hs; ot her s m ade sm all m ud- em bank m ent s, t o st em t he w ine as it r an; ot hers, direct ed by lookers- on up at high w indow s, dar t ed her e and t her e, t o cut off lit t le st r eam s of w ine t hat st ar t ed aw ay in new dir ect ions; ot her s dev ot ed t hem selv es t o t he sodden and lee- dy ed pieces of t he cask , lick ing, and ev en cham ping t he m oist er w ine - r ot t ed fr agm ent s w it h eager r elish. Ther e w as no dr ainage t o car r y off t he w ine, and not only did it all get t ak en up, but so m uch m ud got t ak en up 38

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along w it h it , t hat t her e m ight hav e been a scav enger in t he st r eet , if any body acquaint ed w it h it could hav e believ ed in such a m iraculous presence. A shr ill sound of laught er and of am used voices—v oices of m en, w om en, and children—r esounded in t he st r eet w hile t his w ine gam e last ed. Ther e w as lit t le r oughness in t he spor t , and m uch play fulness. Ther e w as a special com panionship in it , an obser v able inclinat ion on t he par t of ev er y one t o j oin som e ot her one, w hich led, especially am ong t he luck ier or light er- hear t ed, t o fr olicsom e em br aces, dr ink ing of healt hs, shak ing of hands, and ev en j oining of hands and dancing, a dozen t oget her . When t he w ine w as gone, and t he places wher e it had been m ost abundant w er e r aked int o a gr idir onpat t er n by finger s, t hese dem onst r at ions ceased, as suddenly as t hey had br ok en out . The m an w ho had left his saw st ick ing in t he fir ew ood he w as cut t ing, set it in m ot ion again; t he w om en w ho had left on a door- st ep t h e lit t le pot of h ot ashes, at w hich she had been t r y ing t o soft en t he pain in her ow n st ar v ed finger s and t oes, or in t hose of her child, r et ur ned t o it ; m en w it h bar e ar m s, m at t ed locks, and cadaver ous faces, w ho had em er ged int o t he w i nt er light fr om cellar s, m ov ed aw ay , t o descend again; and a gloom gat her ed on t he scene t hat appear ed m or e nat ur al t o it t han sunshine. The w ine w as r ed w ine, and had st ained t he gr ound of t he nar r ow st r eet in t he subur b of Saint Ant oine, in Par is, w here it w as spilled. I t had st ained m any hands, t oo, and m any faces, and m any nak ed feet , and m any w ooden shoes. The hands of t he m an w ho saw ed t he w ood, left r ed m ar k s on t he billet s; and t he for ehead of t he w om an w ho nur sed her baby, w as 39

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st ain ed w it h t h e st ain of t he old r ag she w ound about her head again. Those w ho had been gr eedy w it h t he st av es of t he cask , had acquir ed a t iger ish sm ear about t he m out h; and one t all j ok er so besm ir ched, his head m or e out of a long squalid bag of a night cap t han in it , scr aw led upon a w all w it h his finger dipped in m uddy w ine - lees—BLOOD. The t im e w as t o com e, w hen t hat w ine t oo w ould be spilled on t he st r eet - st ones, and w hen t he st ain of it w ould be r ed upon m any t here. And now t hat t he cloud set t led on Saint Ant oine, w hich a m om ent ary gleam had driven from his sacred count enance, t he dar k ness of it w as heav y - cold, dir t , sick ness, ignor ance, and w ant , w er e t he lor ds in w ait ing on t he saint ly pr esence nobles of gr eat pow er all of t hem ; but , m ost especially t he last . Sam pl es of a people t hat had under gone a t er r ible gr inding and r egr inding in t he m ill, and cer t ainly not in t he fabulous m ill w hich gr ound old people y oung, shiv er ed at every corner, passed in and out at every doorw ay, looked from every window, flut t ered in eve r y vest ige of a gar m ent t hat t he w ind shook . The m ill w hich had w or k ed t hem dow n, w as t he m ill t hat gr inds y oung people old; t he childr en had ancient faces and gr av e v oices; and upon t hem , and upon t he grow n faces, and ploughed int o every furrow of age and com ing up afr esh, w as t he sigh, Hunger . I t w as pr ev alent ev er y w her e. Hunger w as pushed out of t he t all houses, in t he w r et ched clot hing t hat hung upon poles and lines; Hunger w as pat ched int o t hem w it h st r aw and r ag and w ood and paper; Hunger w as repeat ed in ev er y fr agm ent of t he sm all m odicum of fir ew ood t hat t he m an saw ed off; Hunger st ar ed 40

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dow n fr om t he sm okeless chim neys, and st ar t ed up fr om t he filt hy st r eet t hat had no offal, am ong it s r efuse, of any t hing t o eat . Hunger w as t he inscr ipt ion on t he baker 's shelv es, w r it t en in ev er y sm all loaf of his scant y st ock of bad br ead; at t he sausage- shop, in ever y dead- dog pr epar at ion t hat w as offer ed for sale. Hunger r at t led it s dr y bones am ong t he r oast ing chest nut s in t he t ur ned cylinder ; Hunger w as shr ed int o at om ics in every fart hing porringer of husky chips of pot at o, fr ied w it h som e r eluct ant dr ops of oil. I t s abiding place w as in all t hings fit t ed t o it . A nar r ow w inding st r eet , full of offence and st ench, w it h ot her nar r ow w inding st r eet s div er ging, all peopled by r ags and night caps, and all sm elling of r ags and night caps, and all v isible t hings w it h a br ooding look upon t hem t hat look ed ill. I n t he hunt ed air of t he people t her e w as y et som e w ild- beast t hought of t he possibilit y of t ur ning at bay . Depressed and slink ing t hough t hey w er e, eyes of fir e w er e not w ant ing am ong t hem ; nor com pr essed lips, w hit e w it h w hat t hey suppr essed; nor for eheads k nit t ed int o t he lik eness of t he gallow s - rope t hey m used about endur ing, or inflict ing. The t r ade signs ( and t hey w er e alm ost as m any as t he shops) w er e, all, gr im illust r at ions of Want . The but cher and t he por k m an paint ed up, only t he leanest scr ags of m eat ; t he bak er , t he coar sest of m eagr e loav es. The people r udely pict ur ed as dr ink ing in t he w ine - shops, cr oaked ov er t heir scant y m easur es of t hin w ine and beer , and w er e glow er ingly confident ial t oget her . Not hing w as r epr esent ed in a flour ishing condit ion, sav e t ools and w eapons; but , t he cut ler 's k niv es and ax es w er e shar p and bright , t he sm it h's ham m ers w ere heavy, and t he 41

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gunm aker 's st ock w as m ur der ous. The cr ippling st ones of t he pav em ent , w it h t heir m any lit t le r eser v oir s of m ud and w at er , had no foot w ay s, but br ok e off abr upt ly at t he door s. The k ennel, t o m ak e am ends, r an dow n t he m iddle of t he st r eet — w hen it r an at all: w hich w as only aft er heav y r ains, and t hen it r an, by m any eccent r ic fit s, int o t he houses. Acr oss t he st r eet s, at w ide int er v als, one clum sy lam p w as slung by a r ope and pulley ; at night , w hen t he lam plight er had let t hese dow n, and light ed, and hoist ed t hem again, a feeble gr ov e of dim w icks sw ung in a sickly m anner overhead, as if t hey w ere at sea. I ndeed t hey w er e at sea, and t he ship and cr ew w er e in per il of t em pest . For , t he t im e w as t o com e, w hen t he gaunt scar ecr ow s of t hat r egion should hav e w at ched t he lam plight er , in t heir idleness and hunger , so long, as t o conceiv e t he idea of im pr oving on his m et hod, and hauling up m en by t hose r opes and pulley s, t o flar e upon t he dar k ness of t heir condit ion. But , t he t im e w as not com e y et ; and every w ind t hat blew over Fr ance shook t he r ags of t he scar ecr ow s in vain, for t he bir ds, fine of song and feat her , t ook no w ar ning. The wine - shop w as a cor ner shop, bet t er t han m ost ot her s in it s appear ance and degr ee, and t he m ast er of t he w ine shop had st ood out side it , in a y ellow w aist coat and gr een br eeches, look ing on at t he st r uggle for t he lost w ine. “ I t 's not m y affair ,” said he, w it h a final shr ug of t he shoulder s. “ The people fr om t he m ar k et did it . Let t hem br ing anot her .” There, his eye s happening t o cat ch t he t all j ok er w r it ing up his j ok e, he called t o him acr oss t he w ay : “ Say, t hen, m y Gaspard, what do you do t here?” 42

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The fellow point ed t o his j ok e w it h im m ense significance, as is oft en t he w ay w it h his t r ibe. I t m issed it s m ar k , and com plet ely failed, as is oft en t he w ay w it h his t r ibe t oo. “ What now ? Ar e y ou a subj ect for t he m ad hospit al?” said t he w ine - shop k eeper , cr ossing t he r oad, and oblit er at ing t he j est w it h a handful of m ud, pick ed up for t he pur pose, and sm eared over it . “ Why do y ou w r it e in t he public st r eet s? I s t here—t ell m e t hou—is t her e no ot her place t o w r it e such words in?” I n his ex post ulat ion he dr opped his cleaner hand ( per haps accident ally, per haps not ) upon t he j oker 's hear t . The j oker r apped it w it h his ow n, t ook a nim ble spring upw ard, and cam e dow n in a fant ast ic dancing at t it ude, w it h one of his st ained shoes j er k ed off his foot int o his hand, and held out . A j ok er of an ex t r em ely , not t o say w olfishly pr act ical char act er , he looked, under t hose circum st ances. “ Put it on, put it on,” said t he ot her . “ Call w ine, w ine; and finish t her e. ” Wit h t hat adv ice, he w iped his soiled hand upon t he j ok er 's dr ess, such as it w as—quit e deliberat ely, as having dir t ied t he hand on his account ; and t hen r ecr ossed t he road and ent er ed t he w ine - shop. This w ine - shop k eeper w as a bull- necked, m ar t ial- look ing m an of t hir t y , and he should hav e been of a hot t em per am ent , for , alt hough it w as a bit t er day , he w or e no coat , but car r ied one slung over his shoulder . His shir t sleeves w er e r olled up, t oo, and his br ow n ar m s w er e bar e t o t he elbow s. Neit her did he w ear any t hing m or e on his head t han his ow n cr isply- curling short dark hair. He was a dark m an alt oget her , w it h good ey es and a good bold br eadt h 43

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bet w een t hem . Good- hum our ed look ing on t he w hole, but im placable- look ing, t oo; ev ident ly a m an of a st r ong r esolut ion and a set pur pose; a m an not desir able t o be m et , r ushing dow n a nar r ow pass w it h a gulf on eit her side, for not hing w ould t ur n t he m an. Madam e Defar ge, his w ife, sat in t he shop behind t he count er as he cam e in. Madam e Defar ge w as a st out w om an of about his ow n age, w it h a w at chful ey e t hat seldom seem ed t o look at any t hing, a lar ge hand heav ily r inged, a st eady face, st r ong feat ur es, and gr eat com posur e of m anner. There was a charact er about Madam e Defarge, from which one m ight hav e pr edicat ed t hat she did not oft en m ak e m ist ak es against her self in any of t he r eck onings ov er w hich she pr esided. Madam e Defar ge being sensit iv e t o cold, w as wrapped in fur, and had a quant it y of br ight shaw l t w ined about her head, t hough not t o t he concealm ent of her lar ge ear r ings. Her k nit t ing w as befor e her , but she had laid it dow n t o pick her t eet h w it h a t oot hpick . Thus engaged, w it h her r ight elbow suppor t ed by her left hand, Madam e Defar ge said not hing w hen her lor d cam e in, but coughed j ust one gr ain of cough. This, in com binat ion w it h t he lift ing of her dar k ly defined ey ebr ow s ov er her t oot hpick by t he br eadt h of a line, suggest ed t o her husband t hat he w ould do w ell t o look round t he shop am ong t he cust om ers, for any new cust om er w ho had dr opped in w hile he st epped ov er t he w ay . The wine - shop k eeper accor dingly r olled his ey es about , unt il t hey r est ed upon an elder ly gent lem an and a y oung lady, w ho w ere seat ed in a corner. Ot her com pany were t her e: t w o play ing car ds, t w o play ing dom inoes, t hr ee 44

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st anding by t he count er lengt hening out a shor t supply of w ine. As he passed behind t he count er , he t ook not ice t hat t he elder ly gent lem an said in a look t o t he y oung lady , “ This is our m an.” “ What t he dev il do YOU do in t hat galley t her e?” said Monsieur Defarge t o him self; “ I don't know you.” But , he feigned not t o not ice t he t w o st r anger s, and fell int o discour se w it h t he t r ium v ir at e of cust om er s w ho w er e dr ink ing at t he count er. “ How goes it , Jacques?” said one of t hese t hr ee t o Monsieur Defar ge. “ I s all t he spilt w ine sw allow ed?” “ Every drop, Jacques,” answered Monsieur Defarge. When t his int er change of Chr ist ian nam e w as effect ed, Madam e Defar ge, picking her t eet h w it h her t oot hpick, coughed anot her grain of cough, and raised her eyebrows by t he br eadt h of anot her line. “ I t is not oft en, ” said t he second of t he t hr ee, addr essing Monsieur Defar ge, “ t hat m any of t hese m iser able beast s know t he t ast e of w ine, or of any t hing but black br ead and deat h. I s it not so, Jacques?” “ I t is so, Jacques,” Monsieur Defar ge r et ur ned. At t his second int er change of t he Chr ist ian nam e, Madam e Defar ge, st ill using her t oot hpick w it h pr ofound com posur e, coughed anot her gr ain of cough, and raised her eyebrows by t he br eadt h of anot her line. The last of t he t hr ee now said his say , as he put dow n his em pt y dr ink ing v essel and sm ack ed his lips.

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“ Ah! So m uch t he w or se! A bit t er t ast e it is t hat such poor cat t le alw ay s hav e in t heir m out hs, and har d liv es t hey liv e, Jacques. Am I right , Jacques?” “ You ar e r ight , Jacques,” w as t he r esponse of Monsieur Defarge. This t hir d int er change of t he Chr ist ian nam e w as com plet ed at t he m om ent w hen Madam e Defar ge put her t oot hpick by, kept her eyebr ow s up, and slight ly r ust led in her seat . “ Hold t hen! True! ” m ut t ered her husband. “ Gent lem en— m y wife! ” The t hr ee cust om er s pulled off t heir hat s t o Madam e Defarge, w it h t hr ee flour ishes. She ack now ledged t heir hom age by bending her head, and giving t hem a quick look. Then she glanced in a casual m anner r ound t he w ine - shop, t ook up her k nit t ing w it h gr eat appar ent calm ness and r epose of spir it , and becam e absor bed in it . “ Gent lem en,” said her husband, w ho had kept his br ight eye observant ly upon her, “ good day. The cham ber, furnished bachelor- fashion, t hat y ou w ished t o see, and w er e inquir ing for w hen I st epped out , is on t he fift h floor . The door w ay of t he st air case giv es on t he lit t le cour t y ar d close t o t he left her e,” point ing w it h his hand, “ near t o t he w indow of m y est ablishm ent . But , now t hat I r em em ber , one of y ou has alr eady been t her e, and can show t he w ay . Gent lem en, adieu! ” They paid for t heir w ine, and left t he place. The ey es of Monsieur Defar ge w er e st udy ing his w ife at her k nit t ing w hen 46

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t he elderly gent lem an advanced from his corner, and begged t he favour of a w ord. “ Willingly , sir ,” said Monsieur Defar ge, and quiet ly st epped w it h him t o t he door . Their conference w as very short , but very decided. Alm ost at t he fir st w or d, Monsieur Defar ge st ar t ed and becam e deeply at t ent iv e. I t had not last ed a m inut e, w hen he nodded and w ent out . The gent lem an t hen beck oned t o t he y oung lady , and t hey , t oo, w ent out . Madam e Defar ge k nit t ed w it h nim ble finger s and st eady ey ebr ow s, and saw not hing. Mr. Jarvis Lorry and Miss Manet t e, em erging from t he wine - shop t hus, j oined Monsieur Defar ge in t he door w ay t o w hich he had dir ect ed his ow n com pany j ust befor e. I t opened fr om a st ink ing lit t le black cour t y ar d, and w as t he gener al public ent r ance t o a gr eat pile of houses, inhabit ed by a gr eat num ber of people. I n t he gloom y t ile- paved ent ry t o t he gloom y t ile- pav ed st air case, Monsieur Defar ge bent dow n on one k nee t o t he child of his old m ast er , and put her hand t o his lips. I t w as a gent le act ion, but not at all gent ly done; a very rem arkable t ransform at ion had com e over him in a few seconds. He had no good- hum our in his face, nor any openness of aspect left , but had becom e a secret , angry, dangerous m an. “ I t is v er y high; it is a lit t le difficult . Bet t er t o begin slow ly.” Thus, Monsieur Defar ge, in a st er n voice, t o Mr . Lor r y , as t hey began ascending t he st air s. “ I s he alone?” t he lat t er w hisper ed. “ Alone! God help him , w ho should be w it h him ! ” said t he ot her , in t he sam e low v oice. 47

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“ I s he alw ay s alone, t hen?” “ Yes. ” “ Of his ow n desir e?” “ Of his ow n necessit y . As he w as, w hen I fir st saw him aft er t hey found m e and dem anded t o k now if I w ould t ak e him , and, at m y per il be discr eet —as he w as t hen, so he is now.” “ He is gr eat ly changed?” “ Changed! ” The keeper of t he w ine - shop st opped t o st r ik e t he w all w it h his hand, and m ut t er a t r em endous cur se. No dir ect answ er could have been half so forcible. Mr. Lorry's spirit s gr ew heav ier and heav ier , as he and his t w o com panions ascended higher and higher. Such a st air case, w it h it s accessor ies, in t he older and m ore crow ded part s of Paris, w ould be bad enough now ; but , at t hat t im e, it w as v ile indeed t o unaccust om ed and unhar dened senses. Ev er y lit t le habit at ion w it hin t he gr eat foul nest of one high building—t hat is t o say , t he r oom or r oom s w it hin ever y door t hat opened on t he gener al st air case—left it s ow n heap of r efuse on it s ow n landing, besides flin ging ot her r efuse fr om it s ow n w indow s. The uncont r ollable and hopeless m ass of decom posit ion so engender ed, w ould hav e pollut ed t he air , ev en if pov er t y and depr iv at ion had not loaded it w it h t heir int angible im pur it ies; t he t w o bad sour ces com bined m ade it alm ost insuppor t able. Thr ough such an at m ospher e, by a st eep dar k shaft of dir t and poison, t he w ay lay . Yielding t o his ow n dist ur bance of m ind, and t o his y oung com panion's agit at ion, w hich becam e 48

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great er every inst ant , Mr. Jarvis Lorry t w ice st opped t o r est . Each of t hese st oppages w as m ade at a doleful gr at ing, by w hich any languishing good air s t hat w er e left uncor r upt ed, seem ed t o escape, and all spoilt and sick ly v apour s seem ed t o cr aw l in. Thr ough t he r ust ed bar s, t ast es, r at her t han glim pses, w ere caught of t he j um bled neighbour hood; and not hing w it hin r ange, near er or low er t han t he sum m it s of t he t w o gr eat t ow er s of Not r e - Dam e, had any pr om ise on it of healt hy life or w holesom e aspir at ions. At last , t he t op of t he st air case w as gained, and t he y st opped for t he t hir d t im e. Ther e w as y et an upper st air case, of a st eeper inclinat ion and of cont r act ed dim ensions, t o be ascended, befor e t he gar r et st or y w as r eached. The keeper of t he w ine - shop, alw ay s going a lit t le in adv ance, and alw ay s going on t he side w hich Mr. Lorry t ook, as t hough he dreaded t o be ask ed any quest ion by t he y oung lady , t ur ned him self about her e, and, car efully feeling in t he pock et s of t he coat he carried over his shoulder, t ook out a key. “ The door is locked t hen, m y friend?” said Mr. Lorry, surprised. “ Ay. Yes,” w as t he gr im r eply of Monsieur Defar ge. “ You t hink it necessar y t o k eep t he unfor t unat e gent lem an so r et ir ed?” “ I t hink it necessar y t o t ur n t he key.” Monsieur Defar ge w hisper ed it closer in his ear , and fr ow ne d heav ily . “ Why?” “ Why ! Because he has liv ed so long, lock ed up, t hat he w ould be fr ight ened- rave- t ear him self t o pieces- die- com e t o I know not what harm —if his door w as left open. ” 49

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“ I s it possible! ” exclaim ed Mr. Lorry. “ I s it possible! ” r epeat ed Defar ge, bit t er ly . “ Yes. And a beaut iful w or ld w e liv e in, w hen it I S possible, and w hen m any ot her such t hings ar e possible, and not only possible, but done —done, see y ou! —under t hat sky t here, every day. Long liv e t he Dev il. Let us go on.” This dialogue had been held in so v er y low a w hisper , t hat not a w or d of it had r eached t he young lady's ear s. But , by t his t im e she t r em bled under such st r ong em ot ion, and her face ex pr essed such deep anx iet y , and, abov e all, such dr ead and t error, t hat Mr. Lor r y felt it incum bent on him t o speak a word or t wo of reassurance. “ Cour age, dear m iss! Cour age! Business! The w or st w ill be ov er in a m om ent ; it is but passing t he r oom- door , and t he w or st is ov er . Then, all t he good y ou br ing t o him , all t he r elief, all t he happiness y ou br ing t o him , begin. Let our good fr iend her e, assist y ou on t hat side. That 's w ell, fr iend Defar ge. Com e, now . Business, business! ” They w ent up slow ly and soft ly . The st air case w as shor t , and t hey w er e soon at t he t op. Ther e, as it had an abr upt t ur n in it , t hey cam e all at once in sight of t hr ee m en, w hose heads w er e bent dow n close t oget her at t he side of a door , and w ho w er e int ent ly look ing int o t he r oom t o w hich t he door belonged, t hr ough som e chink s or holes in t he w all. On hear ing foot st eps close at hand, t hese t hr ee t ur ned, and r ose, and show ed t hem selv es t o be t he t hr ee of one nam e w ho had been drinking in t he w ine - shop.

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“ I for got t hem in t he sur pr ise of y our v isit ,” ex plained Monsieur Defar ge. “ Leave us, good boys; w e hav e business here.” The t hr ee glided by , and w ent silent ly dow n. Ther e appear ing t o be no ot her door on t hat floor , and t he keeper of t he w ine - shop going st r aight t o t his one w hen t hey w er e left alone, Mr . Lor r y ask ed him in a w hisper , w it h a lit t le anger: “ Do you m ake a show of Monsieur Manet t e?” “ I show him , in t he w ay y ou hav e seen, t o a chosen few .” “ I s t hat w ell?” “ I t hink it is w ell. ” “ Who ar e t he few ? How do y ou choose t hem ?” “ I choose t hem as real m en, of m y nam e —Jacques is m y nam e—t o w hom t he sight is lik ely t o do good. Enough; y ou ar e English; t hat is anot her t hing. St ay t her e, if y ou please, a lit t le m om ent . ” Wit h an adm onit or y gest ur e t o k eep t hem back , he st ooped, and look ed in t hr ough t he cr ev ice in t he w all. Soon r aising his head again, he st r uck t w ice or t hr ice upon t he door—ev ident ly w it h no ot her obj ect t han t o m ak e a noise t her e. Wit h t he sam e int ent ion, he dr ew t he k ey acr oss it , t hr ee or four t im es, befor e he put it clum sily int o t he lock , and t ur ned it as heav ily as he could. The door slow ly opened inw ar d under his hand, and he look ed int o t he r oom and said som et hing. A faint v oice answ er ed som et hing. Lit t le m or e t han a single sy llable could hav e been spok en on eit her side. 51

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He looked back over his shoulder, and beckoned t hem t o ent er. Mr. Lorry got his arm securely round t he daught er's w aist , and held her ; for he felt t hat she w as sink ing. “ A- a- a- business, business! ” he ur ged, w it h a m oist ur e t hat w as not of business shining on his cheek . “ Com e in, com e in! ” “ I am afr aid of it ,” she answ er ed, shudder ing. “ Of it ? What ?” “ I m ean of him . Of m y fat her.” Render ed in a m anner desper at e, by her st at e and by t he beckoning of t heir conduct or, he drew over his neck t he arm t hat shook upon his shoulder , lift ed her a lit t le, and hur r ied her int o t he r oom . He sat her dow n j ust w it hin t he door , and held her , clinging t o him . Defar ge dr ew out t he k ey , closed t he door , lock ed it on t he inside, t ook out t he k ey again, and held it in his hand. All t his he did, m et hodically , and w it h as loud and har sh an accom panim ent of noise as he could m ak e. Finally , he w alk ed acr oss t he r oom w it h a m easur ed t r ead t o w her e t he w indow w as. He st opped t her e, and faced r ound. The gar r et , built t o be a deposit or y for fir ew ood and t he lik e, w as dim and dark: for, t he w indow of dorm er shape, w as in t r ut h a door in t he r oof, w it h a lit t le cr ane ov er it for t he hoist ing up of st or es fr om t he st r eet : unglazed, and closing up t he m iddle in t w o pieces, lik e any ot her door of Fr ench const r uct ion. To ex clude t he cold, one half of t his door w as fast closed, and t he ot her w as opened but a v er y lit t le w ay . Such a scant y por t ion of light w as adm it t ed t hr ough t hese m eans, t hat it w as difficult , on fir st com ing in, t o see any t hing; and long habit alone could have slow ly for m ed in 52

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any one, t he abilit y t o do any w or k r equir ing nicet y in such obscur it y . Yet , w or k of t hat k ind w as being done in t he gar r et ; for , w it h his back t ow ar ds t he door , and his face t ow ar ds t he w indow w her e t he k eeper of t he w ine - shop st ood look ing at him , a w hit e- hair ed m an sat on a low bench, st ooping forw ard and very busy, m aking shoes.

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VI The Shoem aker “ Good day! ” said Monsieur Defar ge, looking dow n at t he w hit e head t hat bent low ov er t he shoem ak ing. I t w as r aised for a m om ent , and a v er y faint v oice r esponded t o t he salut at ion, as if it w er e at a dist ance: “ Good day! ” “ You ar e st ill har d at w or k , I see?” Aft er a long silence, t he head w as lift ed for anot her m om ent , and t he v oice r eplied, “ Yes—I am working.” This t im e, a pair of haggar d ey es had look ed at t he quest ioner , befor e t he face had dr opped again. The faint ness of t he v oice w as pit iable and dr eadful. I t w as not t he faint ness of phy sical w eak ness, t hough confinem ent and hard fare no doubt had t heir par t in it . I t s deplor able peculiar it y w as, t hat it w as t he faint ness of solit ude and disuse. I t w as lik e t he last feeble echo of a sound m ade long and long ago. So ent ir ely had it lost t he life and r esonance of t he hum an v oice, t hat it affect ed t he senses lik e a once beaut iful colour faded aw ay int o a poor w eak st ain. So sunk en and suppr essed it w as, t hat it w as lik e a v oice under gr ound. So ex pr essiv e it w as, of a hopeless and lost cr eat ur e, t hat a fam ished t r av eller , w ear ied out by lonely w andering in a w ilder ness, w ould have r em em ber ed hom e and fr iends in such a t one befor e ly ing dow n t o die. Som e m inut es of silent w or k had passed: and t he haggar d ey es had look ed up again: not w it h any int er est or cur iosit y , but w it h a dull m echanical per cept ion, befor ehand, t hat t he 54

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spot w her e t he only v isit or t hey w er e aw ar e of had st ood, w as not y et em pt y . “ I w ant ,” said Defar ge, w ho had not r em ov ed his gaze fr om t he shoem ak er , “ t o let in a lit t le m or e light her e. You can bear a lit t le m or e?” The shoem a ker st opped his w or k; looked w it h a vacant air of list ening, at t he floor on one side of him ; t hen sim ilar ly , at t he floor on t he ot her side of him ; t hen, upw ar d at t he speaker . “ What did y ou say ?” “ You can bear a lit t le m or e light ?” “ I m ust bear it , if y ou let it in. ” ( Lay ing t he palest shadow of a st r ess upon t he second w or d.) The opened half- door w as opened a lit t le fur t her , and secur ed at t hat angle for t he t im e. A br oad r ay of light fell int o t he gar r et , and show ed t he w or k m an w it h an unfinishe d shoe upon his lap, pausing in his labour . His few com m on t ools and v ar ious scr aps of leat her w er e at his feet and on his bench. He had a w hit e bear d, r aggedly cut , but not ver y long, a hollow face, and ex ceedingly br ight ey es. The hollow ness and t hinness of his face w ould hav e caused t hem t o look lar ge, under his yet dar k eyebr ow s and his confused w hit e hair , t hough t hey had been r eally ot her w ise; but , t hey w er e nat ur ally lar ge, and look ed unnat ur ally so. His y ellow r ags of shir t lay open at t he t hr oat , and show ed his body t o be w it her ed and w or n. He, and his old canvas fr ock, and his loose st ock ings, and all his poor t at t er s of clot hes, had, in a long seclusion fr om dir ect light and air , faded dow n t o such a 55

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dull uniform it y of parchm ent - y ellow , t hat it w ould hav e been hard t o say w hich w as w hich. He had put up a hand bet w een his ey es and t he light , and t he v er y bones of it seem ed t r anspar ent . So he sat , w it h a st eadfast ly v acant gaze, pausing in his w or k . He nev er look ed at t he figur e befor e him , w it hout fir st look ing dow n on t his side of him self, t hen on t hat , as if he had lost t he habit of associat ing place w it h sound; he nev er spok e, w it hout fir st w ander ing in t his m anner , and for get t ing t o speak . “ Ar e y ou going t o finish t hat pair of shoes t o- day?” ask ed Defarge, m ot ioning t o Mr. Lorry t o com e forward. “ What did y ou say ?” “ Do y ou m ean t o finish t hat pair of shoes t o- day?” “ I can't say t hat I m ean t o. I suppose so. I don't k now .” But , t he quest ion r em inded him of his w or k , and he bent over it again. Mr. Lorry cam e silent ly forward, leaving t he daught er by t he door . When he had st ood, for a m inut e or t w o, by t he side of Defar ge, t he shoem ak er look ed up. He show ed no sur pr ise at seeing anot her figur e, but t he unst eady finger s of one of his hands st r ay ed t o his lips as he look ed at it ( his lips and his nails w er e of t he sam e pale lead- colour ) , and t hen t he hand dr opped t o his w or k, and he once m or e bent over t he shoe. The look and t he act ion had occupied but an inst ant . “ You hav e a v isit or , y ou see,” said Monsieur Defar ge. “ What did y ou say ?” “ Her e is a v isit or .” The shoem aker looked up as befor e, but w it hout r em oving a hand from his work. 56

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“ Com e! ” said Defarge. “ Here is m onsieur, w ho know s a w ell- m ade shoe w hen he sees one. Show him t hat shoe y ou ar e w or king at . Take it , m onsieur .” Mr. Lorry t ook it in his hand. “ Tell m onsieur w hat k ind of shoe it is, and t he m ak er 's nam e.” Ther e w as a longer pause t han usual, befor e t he shoem aker replied: “ I for get w hat it w as y ou ask ed m e. What did y ou say ?” “ I said, couldn't y ou descr ibe t he k ind of shoe, for m onsieur 's infor m at ion?” “ I t is a lady 's shoe. I t is a y oung lady 's w alk ing- sh oe. I t is in t he pr esent m ode. I nev er saw t he m ode. I hav e had a pat t er n in m y hand. ” He glanced at t he shoe w it h som e lit t le passing t ouch of pr ide. “ And t he m aker's nam e?” said Defarge. Now t hat he had no w or k t o hold, he laid t he k nuck les of t he r ight hand in t he hollow of t he left , and t hen t he k nuck les of t h e left hand in t he hollow of t he r ight , and t hen passed a hand acr oss his bear ded chin, and so on in r egular changes, w it hout a m om ent 's int er m ission. The t ask of r ecalling him from t he vagrancy int o w hich he alw ays sank w hen he had spok en, w as lik e r ecalling som e very weak person from a sw oon, or endeav our ing, in t he hope of som e disclosur e, t o st ay t he spir it of a fast - dying m an. “ Did you ask m e for m y nam e?” “ Assuredly I did.” “ One Hundred and Five, Nort h Tower.” “ I s t hat all?” 57

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“ One Hundred and Five, Nort h Tower.” Wit h a w ear y sound t hat w as not a sigh, nor a gr oan, he bent t o w or k again, unt il t he silence w as again br ok en. “ You are not a shoem aker by t rade?” said Mr. Lorry, look ing st eadfast ly at him . His haggar d ey es t ur ned t o Defar ge as if he w ould have t r ansfer r ed t he quest ion t o him : but as no help cam e fr om t hat quar t er , t hey t ur ned back on t he quest ioner w hen t hey had sought t he gr ound. “ I am not a shoem ak er by t r ade? No, I w as not a shoem aker by t rade. I - I lear nt it her e. I t aught m y self. I ask ed leav e t o—” He lapsed aw ay , ev en for m inut es, r inging t hose m easur ed changes on his hands t he w hole t im e. His ey es cam e slow ly back , at last , t o t he face fr om w hich t hey had w ander ed; w hen t hey r est ed on it , he st ar t ed, and r esum ed, in t he m anner of a sleeper t hat m om ent aw ak e, r ev er t ing t o a subj ect of last night . “ I ask ed leav e t o t each m y self, and I got it w it h m uch difficult y aft er a long w hile, and I hav e m ade shoes ev er since.” As he held out his hand for t he shoe t hat had been t ak en fr om him , Mr . Lor r y said, st ill look ing st eadfast ly in his face: “ Monsieur Manet t e, do you rem em ber not hing of m e?” The shoe dr opped t o t he gr ound, and he sat look ing fix edly at t he quest ioner . “ Monsieur Manet t e" ; Mr. Lorry laid his hand upon Defarg e's arm ; “ do you rem em ber not hing of t his m an? Look at him . 58

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Look at m e. I s t her e no old bank er , no old business, no old ser vant , no old t im e, r ising in your m ind, Monsieur Manet t e?” As t he capt iv e of m any y ear s sat look ing fix edly , by t ur ns, at Mr. Lorry and at Defar ge, som e long oblit er at ed m ar k s of an act iv ely int ent int elligence in t he m iddle of t he for ehead, gr adually for ced t hem selv es t hr ough t he black m ist t hat had fallen on him . They w er e over clouded again, t hey w er e faint er , t hey w er e gone; but t hey had been t her e. And so ex act ly w as t he ex pr ession r epeat ed on t he fair y oung face of her w ho had cr ept along t he w all t o a point w her e she could see him , and w her e she now st ood look ing at him , w it h hands w hich at fir st had been only r aised in fr ight ene d com passion, if not ev en t o k eep him off and shut out t he sight of him , but w hich w er e now ext ending t ow ar ds him , t r em bling w it h eager ness t o lay t he spect r al face upon her w ar m young br east , and lov e it back t o life and hope—so ex act ly w as t he ex pr ession repeat ed ( t hough in st ronger charact ers) on her fair y oung face, t hat it look ed as t hough it had passed lik e a m oving light , from him t o her. Dar k ness had fallen on him in it s place. He look ed at t he t w o, less and less at t ent iv ely , and his ey es in gloomy abst r act ion sought t he gr ound and look ed about him in t he old w ay . Finally , w it h a deep long sigh, he t ook t he shoe up, and resum ed his work. “ Have you recognised him , m onsieur?” asked Defarge in a w hisper . “ Yes; for a m om ent . At fir st I t hought it q uit e hopeless, but I hav e unquest ionably seen, for a single m om ent , t he face 59

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t hat I once knew so w ell. Hush! Let us dr aw fur t her back. Hush! ” She had m oved from t he wall of t he garret , very near t o t he bench on w hich he sat . Ther e w as som et hing aw ful in h is unconsciousness of t he figur e t hat could hav e put out it s hand and t ouched him as he st ooped ov er his labour . Not a w or d w as spok en, not a sound w as m ade. She st ood, lik e a spir it , beside him , and he bent ov er his w or k . I t happened, at lengt h, t hat he had occasion t o change t he inst r um ent in his hand, for his shoem ak er 's k nife. I t lay on t hat side of him w hich w as not t he side on w hich she st ood. He had t ak en it up, and w as st ooping t o w or k again, w hen his ey es caught t he sk ir t of her dr ess. He r aised t hem , and saw her face. The t w o spect at or s st ar t ed for w ar d, but she st ay ed t hem w it h a m ot ion of her hand. She had no fear of his st r ik ing at her w it h t he k nife, t hough t hey had. He st ar ed at her w it h a fear ful look , and aft er a w hile his lips began t o for m som e w or ds, t hough no sound pr oceeded fr om t hem . By degr ees, in t he pauses of his quick and labour ed br eat hing, he w as hear d t o say : “ Wh at is t h is?” Wit h t he t ear s st r eam ing dow n her face, she put her t w o hands t o her lips, and k issed t hem t o him ; t hen clasped t hem on her br east , as if she laid his r uined head t her e. “ You ar e not t he gaoler 's daught er ?” She sighed “ No.” “ Who are you?” Not y et t r ust ing t he t ones of her v oice, she sat dow n on t he bench beside him. He r ecoiled, but she laid her hand upon 60

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his ar m . A st r ange t hr ill st r uck him w hen she did so, and v isibly passed ov er his fr am e; he laid t he k nife dow n’ soft ly , as he sat st ar ing at her . Her golden hair , w hich she w or e in long cur ls, had been hurriedly pushed aside, and fell dow n over her neck. Adv ancing his hand by lit t le and lit t le, he t ook it up and look ed at it . I n t he m idst of t he act ion he w ent ast r ay , and, w it h anot her deep sigh, fell t o w or k at his shoem ak ing. But not for long. Releasing his a rm , she laid her hand upon his shoulder . Aft er look ing doubt fully at it , t w o or t hr ee t im es, as if t o be sur e t hat it w as r eally t her e, he laid dow n his w or k , put his hand t o his neck , and t ook off a black ened st r ing w it h a scr ap of folded r ag at t ached t o it . He opened t his, car efully , on his k nee, and it cont ained a v er y lit t le quant it y of hair : not m or e t han one or t w o long golden hair s, w hich he had, in som e old day , w ound off upon his finger . He t ook her hair int o his hand again, and look ed closely at it . “ I t is t he sam e. How can it be! When w as it ! How w as it ! ” As t he concent r at ed ex pr ession r et ur ned t o his for ehead, he seem ed t o becom e conscious t hat it w as in her s t oo. He t ur ned her full t o t he light , and look ed at her . “ She had laid her head upon m y shoulder , t hat night w hen I w as sum m oned out —she had a fear of m y going, t hough I had none —and w hen I w as br ought t o t he Nor t h Tow er t hey found t hese upon m y sleev e. ‘You w ill leav e m e t hem ? They can never help m e t o escape in t he body, t hough t hey m ay in t he spir it .’ Those w er e t he w or ds I said. I r em em ber t hem very well.” 61

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He for m ed t his speech w it h his lips m any t im es befor e he could ut t er it . But w hen he did find spok en w or ds for it , t hey cam e t o him coher ent ly, t hough slow ly. “ How w as t his?—W AS I T YOU?” Once m or e, t he t w o spect at or s st ar t ed, as he t ur ned upon her w it h a fr ight ful suddenness. But she sat per fect ly st ill in his gr asp, and only said, in a low v oice, “ I ent r eat y ou, good gent lem en, do not com e near us, do not speak , do not m ove! ” “ Har k ! ” he ex claim ed. “ Whose v oice w as t hat ?” His hands r eleased her as he ut t er ed t his cr y , and w ent up t o his w hit e hair , w hich t hey t or e in a fr enzy . I t died out , as ev er y t hing but his shoem ak ing did die out of him , and he r efolded his lit t le pack e t and t r ied t o secur e it in his br east ; but he st ill look ed at her , and gloom ily shook his head. “ No, no, no; you ar e t oo young, t oo bloom ing. I t can't be. See w hat t he pr isoner is. These ar e not t he hands she k new , t his is not t he face she k new , t his is not a v oice she ev er heard. No, no. She w as—and He w as—befor e t he slow y ear s of t he Nor t h Tow er—ages ago. What is y our nam e, m y gent le angel?” Hailing his soft ened t one and m anner , his daught er fell upon her knees befor e him , w it h her appealing hands upon his br east . “ O, sir , at anot her t im e you shall know m y nam e, and w ho m y m ot her was, and who m y fat her, and how I never knew t heir har d, har d hist or y . But I cannot t ell y ou at t his t im e, and I cannot t ell y ou her e. All t hat I m ay t ell y ou, her e and now , 62

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is, t hat I pr ay t o y ou t o t ouch m e and t o bless m e. Kiss m e, kiss m e! O m y dear, m y dear! ” His cold w hit e head m ingled w it h her r adiant hair , w hich w ar m ed and light ed it as t hough it w er e t he light of Fr eedom shining on him . “ I f you hear in m y voice—I don't k now t hat it is so, but I h ope it is—if you hear in m y voice any resem blance t o a voice t hat once w as sw eet m usic in y our ear s, w eep for it , w eep for it ! I f y ou t ouch, in t ouching m y hair , any t hing t hat r ecalls a belov ed head t hat lay on y our br east when you were young and fr ee, w eep for it , w eep for it ! I f, w hen I hint t o y ou of a Hom e t hat is befor e us, w her e I w ill be t r ue t o y ou w it h all m y dut y and w it h all m y fait hful ser v ice, I br ing back t he r em em br ance of a Hom e long desolat e, w hile your poor heart pined aw ay , w eep for it , w eep for it ! ” She held him closer round t he neck, and rocked him on her br east lik e a child. “ I f, w hen I t ell y ou, dear est dear , t hat y our agony is ov er , and t hat I hav e com e her e t o t ak e y ou fr om it , and t hat w e go t o England t o be at peace and at r est , I cause y ou t o t hink of y our useful life laid w ast e, and of our nat iv e Fr ance so w ick ed t o y ou, w eep for it , w eep for it ! And if, w hen I shall t ell y ou of m y nam e, and of m y fat her w ho is liv ing, and of m y m ot her who is dead, y ou lear n t hat I hav e t o k neel t o m y honoured fat her, and im plore his pardon for having never for his sak e st r iv en all day and lain aw ak e and w ept all night , because t he love of m y poor m ot her hid his t ort ure from m e, w eep for it , w eep for it ! Weep for her, t hen, and for m e! Good gent lem en, t hank God! I feel his sacr ed t ear s upon m y face, 63

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and his sobs st r ik e against m y hear t . O, see! Thank God for us, t hank God! ” He had sunk in her arm s, and his face dropped on her br east : a sight so t ouching, y et so t er r ible in t he t r em endous w r ong and suffer ing w hich had gone befor e it , t hat t he t w o beholder s cov er ed t heir faces. When t he quiet of t he gar r et had been long undist ur bed, and his heav ing br east and shak en for m had long y ielded t o t he calm t hat m ust follow all st or m s—em blem t o hum anit y, of t he r est and silence int o w hich t he st or m called Life m ust h u sh at last —t hey cam e for w ar d t o r aise t he fat her and daught er from t he ground. He had gradually dropped t o t he floor , and lay t her e in a let har gy, w or n out . She had nest led dow n w it h him , t hat his head m ight lie upon her ar m ; and her hair drooping over him curt ained him from t he light . “ I f, w it hout dist ur bing him ,” she said, r aising her hand t o Mr . Lor r y as he st ooped over t hem , aft er r epeat ed blow ings of his nose, “ all could be ar r anged for our leav ing Par is at once, so t hat , fr om t he, ver y door , he could be t aken aw ay—” “ But , consider . I s he fit for t he j our ney?” asked Mr. Lorry. “ Mor e fit for t hat , I t hink , t han t o r em ain in t his cit y , so dr eadful t o him .” “ I t is t r ue,” said Defar ge, w ho w as k neeling t o look on and hear . “ Mor e t han t hat ; Monsieur Manet t e is, for all r easons, best out of Fr ance. Say , shall I hir e a car r iage and post hor ses?” “ That 's business,” said Mr . Lor r y , r esum ing on t he shor t est not ice his m et hodical m anner s; “ and if business is t o be done, I had bet t er do it .” 64

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“ Then be so k ind,” ur ged Miss Manet t e, “ as t o leav e us her e. You see how com posed he has becom e, and you cannot be afr aid t o leav e him w it h m e now . Why should y ou be? I f you w ill lock t he door t o secur e us fr om int er r upt ion, I do not doubt t hat y ou w ill find him , w hen y ou com e back , as quiet as y ou leav e him . I n any case, I w ill t ak e car e of him unt il you r et ur n, and t hen w e w ill r em ove him st r aight .” Bot h Mr. Lorry and Defarge w ere rat her disinclined t o t his cour se, and in favour of one of t hem r em aining. But , as t her e w er e not only car r iage and hor ses t o be seen t o, but t ravelling paper s; and as t im e pr essed, for t he day w as dr aw ing t o an end, it cam e at last t o t heir hast ily div iding t he business t hat w as necessar y t o be done, and hur r y ing aw ay t o do it . Then, as t he dar k ness closed in, t he daught er laid her head dow n on t he har d gr ound close at t he fat her 's side, and w at ched him . The dar k ness deepened and deepened, and t hey bot h lay quiet , unt il a light gleam ed t hr ough t he chink s in t he w all. Mr. Lorry and Monsieur Defarge had m ade all ready for t he j ourney, and had brought w it h t hem , besides t r av elling cloak s and w r apper s, br ead and m eat , w ine, and hot coffee. Monsieur Defar ge put t his pr ovender , and t he lam p he car r ied, on t he shoem ak er 's bench ( t her e w as not hing else in t he garret but a pallet bed) , and he and Mr. Lorry r oused t he capt iv e, and assist ed him t o his feet . No hum an int elligence could hav e r ead t he m y st er ies of his m ind, in t he scar ed blank w onder of his face. Whet her he k new w hat had happened, w het her he r ecollect ed w hat t hey 65

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had said t o him , w het her he k new t hat he w as fr ee, w er e quest ions w hich no sagacit y could hav e solv ed. They t r ied speak ing t o him ; but , he w as so confused, and so v er y slow t o answ er , t hat t hey t ook fr ight at his bew ilder m ent , and agr eed for t he t im e t o t am per w it h him no m or e. He had a w ild, lost m anner of occasionally clasping his head in his hands, t hat had not been seen in him befor e; y et , he had som e pleasur e in t he m er e sound of his daught er 's v oice, and inv ar iably t ur ned t o it w hen she spok e. I n t he subm issiv e w ay of one long accust om ed t o obey under coer cion, he at e and dr ank w hat t hey gave him t o eat and dr ink, and put on t he cloak and ot her w r appings, t hat t hey gav e him t o w ear . He r eadily r esponded t o his daught er's drawing her arm t hrough his, and t ook—and kept —her hand in bot h his ow n. They began t o descend; Monsieur Defar ge going fir st w it h t he lam p, Mr . Lor r y closing t he lit t le pr ocession. They had not t r av er sed m any st eps of t he long m ain st air case w hen he st opped, and st ar ed at t he r oof and r ound at t he w ails. “ You rem em ber t he place, m y fat her? You rem em ber com ing up here?” “ What did y ou say ?” But , befor e she could r epeat t he quest ion, he m ur m ur ed an answ er as if she had r epeat ed it . “ Rem em ber? No, I don't rem em ber. I t was so very long ago.” That he had no recollect ion w hat ev er of his hav ing been br ought fr om his pr ison t o t hat house, w as appar ent t o t hem . They heard him m ut t er, “ One Hundred and Five, Nort h 66

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Tow er ; ” and w hen he look ed about him , it ev ident ly w as for t he st r ong for t r ess- w alls w hich had long encom passed him . On t heir r eaching t he cour t y ar d he inst inct iv ely alt er ed his t r ead, as being in ex pect at ion of a dr aw br idge; and w hen t her e w as no dr aw br idge, and he saw t he car r iage w ait ing in t he open st r eet , he dr opped his daught er 's hand and clasped h is head again. No cr ow d w as about t he door ; no people w er e discer nible at any of t he m any w indow s; not ev en a chance passer by w as in t he st r eet . An unnat ur al silence and deser t ion r eigned t her e. Only one soul w as t o be seen, and t hat w as Madam e Defarge—who leaned against t he door- post , knit t ing, and saw not hing. The pr isoner had got int o a coach, and his daught er had follow ed him , w hen Mr . Lor r y's feet w er e ar r est ed on t he st ep by his ask ing, m iser ably , for his shoem ak ing t ools and t he unfinished shoes. Ma dam e Defar ge im m ediat ely called t o her husband t hat she w ould get t hem , and w ent , k nit t ing, out of t he lam plight , t hrough t he court yard. She quickly brought t hem dow n and handed t hem in; —and im m ediat ely aft er w ar ds leaned against t he door- post , k nit t ing, and saw not hing. Defar ge got upon t he box, and gave t he w or d “ To t he Bar r ier ! ” The post ilion cr acked his w hip, and t hey clat t er ed aw ay under t he feeble ov er- sw inging lam ps. Under t he over- sw inging lam ps—sw inging ever bright er in t he bet t er st r eet s, and ever dim m er in t he worse—and by light ed shops, gay cr ow ds, illum inat ed coffee- houses, and t heat r e - door s, t o one of t he cit y gat es. Soldier s w it h lant er ns, 67

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at t he guard - house t here. “ Your papers, t ravellers! ” “ See here t hen, Monsieur t he Officer ,” said Defarge, get t ing dow n, and t aking him gr avely apar t , “ t hese ar e t he paper s of m onsieur inside, w it h t he w hit e head. They w er e consigned t o m e, w it h him , at t he —” He dr opped his v oice, t her e w as a flut t er am ong t he m ilit ar y lant er ns, and one of t hem being handed int o t he coach by an ar m in unifor m , t he eyes connect ed w it h t he arm looked, not an every day or an every night look, at m onsieur w it h t he w hit e head. “ I t is w ell. For w ar d! ” fr om t he uniform . “ Adieu! ” from Defarge. And so, under a short grove of feebler and feebler ov er- sw inging lam ps, out under t he gr eat gr ov e of st ar s. Beneat h t hat ar ch of unm ov ed and et er nal light s; som e, so r em ot e fr om t his lit t le ear t h t hat t he lear ned t ell us it is doubt ful w het her t heir r ay s hav e ev en y et discov er ed it , as a point in space w her e any t hing is suffer ed or done: t he shadow s of t he night w er e br oad and black . All t hr ough t he cold and r est less int er v al, unt il daw n, t hey once m or e whispered in t he ears of Mr. Jarvis Lorry—sit t in g opposit e t h e buried m an who had been dug out , and w onder ing w hat subt le pow er s w er e for ev er lost t o him , and w hat w er e capable of r est or at ion—t he old inquir y: “ I hope y ou car e t o be r ecalled t o life?” And t he old answ er : “ I can't say.” The end of t he fir st book .

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Book t he Second—The Golden Thr ead I Fiv e Year s Lat er Tellson's Bank by Tem ple Bar w as an old- fashioned place, ev en in t he y ear one t housand sev en hundr ed and eight y . I t was very sm all, very dark, very ugly, very incom m odious. I t w as an old- fashioned place, m or eov er , in t he m or al at t r ibut e t hat t he par t ner s in t he House w er e pr oud of it s sm allness, pr oud of it s dar k ness, pr oud of it s ugliness, pr oud of it s incom m odiousness. They w er e ev en boast ful of it s em inence in t hose par t icular s, and w er e fir ed by an ex pr ess conv ict ion t hat , if it w er e less obj ect ionable, it w ould be less respectable. This w as no passiv e belief, but an act iv e w eapon w hich t hey flashed at m or e conv enient places of business. Tellson's ( t hey said) w ant ed no elbow - r oom , Tellson's w ant ed no light , Tellson's w ant ed no em bellishm ent . Noak es and Co.'s m ight , or Snooks Brot hers’ m ight ; but Tellson's, t hank Heaven! — Any one of t hese par t ner s w ould hav e disinher it ed his son on t he quest ion of r ebuilding Tellson's. I n t his r espect t he House was m uch on a par wit h t he Count ry; which did very oft en disinher it it s sons for suggest ing im pr ov em ent s in law s and cust om s t hat had long been highly obj ect ionable, but w er e only t he m or e r espect able. Thus it had com e t o pass, t hat Tellson's w as t he t r ium phant per fect ion of inconv enience. Aft er bur st ing open a door of idi ot ic obst inacy w it h a w eak r at t le in it s t hr oat , y ou fell int o Tellson's dow n t w o st eps, and cam e t o y our senses in 69

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a m iser able lit t le shop, w it h t w o lit t le count er s, w her e t he oldest of m en m ade y our cheque shak e as if t he w ind r ust led it , w hile t hey ex amined t he signat ur e by t he dingiest of w indow s, w hich w er e alw ays under a show er- bat h of m ud fr om Fleet - st r eet , and w hich w er e m ade t he dingier by t heir ow n iron bars proper, and t he heavy shadow of Tem ple Bar. I f y our business necessit at ed y our seeing “ t he House,” you were put int o a species of Condem ned Hold at t he back , w her e y ou m edit at ed on a m isspent life, unt il t he House cam e w it h it s hands in it s pock et s, and y ou could har dly blink at it in t he dism al t w ilight . Your m oney cam e out of, or w ent int o, w orm y old w ooden dr aw er s, par t icles of w hich flew up your nose and dow n your t hroat w hen t hey w ere opened and shut . Your bank- not es had a m ust y odour , as if t hey w er e fast decom posing int o r ags again. Your plat e w as st ow ed aw ay am ong t he neighbour ing cesspools, and ev il com m unicat ions cor r upt ed it s good polish in a day or t w o. Your deeds got int o ex t em por ised st r ong- r oom s m ade of k it chens and sculler ies, and fr et t ed all t he fat out of t heir par chm ent s int o t he banking- house air . Your light er box es of fam ily paper s w ent up- st air s int o a Bar m ecide r oom , t hat alw ay s had a gr eat dining- t able in it and nev er had a dinner , and w her e, ev en in t he y ear one t housand sev en hundr ed and eight y , t he fir st let t er s w r it t en t o y ou by y our old lov e, or by y our lit t le childr en, w ere but new ly released from t he horror of being ogled t hr ough t he w indow s, by t he heads ex posed on Tem ple Bar w it h an insensat e br ut alit y and fer ocit y w or t hy of Aby ssinia or Ashant ee. 70

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But indeed, at t hat t im e, put t ing t o deat h w as a r ecipe m uch in vogue w it h all t r ades and pr ofessions, and not least of all w it h Tellson's. Deat h is Nat ur e's r em edy for all t hings, and w hy not Legislat ion's? Accor dingly , t he for ger w as put t o Deat h; t he ut t er er of a bad not e w as put t o Deat h; t he unlaw ful opener of a let t er w as put t o Deat h; t he pur loiner of for t y shillings and six pence w as put t o Deat h; t he holder of a hor se at Tellson's door , w ho m ade off w it h it , w as put t o Deat h; t he coiner of a bad shilling w as put t o Deat h; t he sounder s of t hr ee- four t hs of t he not es in t he w hole gam ut of Cr im e, w er e put t o Deat h. Not t hat it did t he least good in t he w ay of pr event ion—it m ight alm ost hav e been w or t h r em ar k ing t hat t he fact w as ex act ly t he r ev er se—but , it clear ed off ( as t o t his w or ld) t he t r ouble of each par t icular case, and left not hing else connect ed w it h it t o be look ed aft er . Thus, Tellson's, in it s day , lik e gr eat er places of business, it s cont em por ar ies, had t ak en so m any liv es, t hat , if t he heads laid low befor e it had been r anged on Tem ple Bar inst ead of being pr iv at ely disposed of, t hey w ould pr obably hav e ex cluded w hat lit t le light t he gr ound floor had, in a r at her significant m anner . Cr am ped in all kinds of dun cupboar ds and hut ches at Tellson's, t he oldest of m en car r ied on t he business gr av ely . When t hey t ook a y oung m an int o Tellson's London house, t hey hid him som ew her e t ill he w as old. They k ept him in a dar k place, lik e a cheese, unt il he had t he full Tellson flav our and blue - m ould upon him . Then only w as he per m it t ed t o be seen, spect acular ly por ing ov er lar ge book s, and cast ing his 71

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br eeches and gait er s int o t he gener al w eight of t he est ablishm ent . Out side Tellson's —nev er by any m eans in it , unless called in—w as an odd- j ob- m an, an occasional por t er and m essenger , w ho ser v ed as t he liv e sign of t he house. He w as never absent dur ing business hour s, unless upon an er r and, and t hen he w as r epr esent ed by his son: a gr isly ur chin of t w elv e, w ho w as his ex pr ess im age. People under st ood t hat Tellson's, in a st at ely w ay , t oler at ed t he odd- j ob- m an. The house ha d alw ay s t oler at ed som e per son in t hat capacit y , and t im e and t ide had dr ift ed t his per son t o t he post . His sur nam e w as Cruncher, and on t he yout hful occasion of his renouncing by proxy t he works of darkness, in t he east erly parish church of Hounsdit ch, he had r eceived t he added appellat ion of Jer r y. The scene w as Mr. Cruncher's privat e lodging in Hangingsword - alley , Whit efr iar s: t he t im e, half- past sev en of t he clock on a windy March m orning, Anno Dom ini sevent een hundred and eight y. ( Mr. Cruncher him self alw ay s spok e of t he year of our Lord as Anna Dom inoes: apparent ly under t he im pr ession t hat t he Chr ist ian er a dat ed fr om t he inv ent ion of a popular gam e, by a lady w ho had best ow ed her nam e upon it . ) Mr. Cruncher's apart m ent s were not in a savoury neighbour hood, and w er e but t w o in num ber , even if a closet w it h a single pane of glass in it m ight be count ed as one. But t hey w er e ver y decent ly kept . Ear ly as it w as, on t he w indy March m orning, t he room in which he lay abed was already scrubbed t hroughout ; and bet w een t he cups and saucer s 72

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ar r anged for br eakfast , and t he lum ber ing deal t able, a ver y clean w hit e clot h w as spr ead. Mr. Cruncher reposed under a pat chwork count erpane, like a Har lequin at hom e. At fast , he slept heav ily , but , by degr ees, began t o r oll and sur ge in bed, unt il he r ose abov e t he sur face, w it h his spik y hair look ing as if it m ust t ear t he sheet s t o r ibbons. At w hich j unct ur e, he ex claim ed, in a v oice of dir e ex asper at ion: “ Bust m e, if she ain't at it agin! ” A w om an of orderly and indust r ious appear ance r ose fr om her k nees in a cor ner , w it h sufficient hast e and t r epidat ion t o show t hat she w as t he per son r efer r ed t o. “ What ! ” said Mr . Cr uncher , looking out of bed for a boot . “ You'r e at it agin, ar e y ou?” Aft er hailing t he m om w it h t his second salut at ion, he t hr ew a boot at t he w om an as a t hir d. I t w as a v er y m uddy boot , and m ay int roduce t he odd circum st ance connect ed wit h Mr. Cruncher's dom est ic econom y, t hat , w hereas he oft en cam e hom e aft er bank ing hour s w it h clean boot s, he oft en got up nex t m or ning t o find t he sam e boot s cov er ed w it h clay . “ What ,” said Mr. Cruncher, varying his apost rophe aft er m issing his m ar k—" what are you up t o, Aggerawayt er?” “ I was only saying m y prayers.” “ Saying your prayers! You're a nice wom an! What do y ou m ean by flopping yourself dow n and praying agin m e?” “ I w as not praying against you; I w as praying for you.” “ You w er en't . And if y ou w er e, I w on't be t ook t he liber t y wit h. Here! your m ot her's a nice wom an, young Jerry, going a praying agin y our fat her 's pr osper it y . You'v e got a dut iful 73

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m ot her, you have, m y son. You've got a religious m ot her, you have, m y boy: going and flopping herself dow n, and praying t hat t he br ead- and- but t er m ay be snat ched out of t he m out h of her only child.” Mast er Cruncher ( w ho w as in his shirt ) t ook t his very ill, and, t urning t o his m ot her, st rongly deprecat ed any praying aw ay of his per sonal boar d. “ And w hat do y ou suppose, y ou conceit ed fem ale,” said Mr. Cruncher, w it h unconscious inconsist ency, “ t hat t he w ort h of YOUR pr ay er s m ay be? Nam e t he pr ice t hat y ou put YOUR prayers at ! ” “ They only com e from t he heart , Jerry. They are wort h no m or e t han t hat .” “ Wort h no m ore t han t hat ,” repeat ed Mr. Cruncher. “ They ain't w ort h m uch, t hen. Whet her or no, I w on't be prayed agin, I t ell y ou. I can't affor d it . I 'm not a going t o be m ade unlucky by YOUR sneaking. I f you m ust go flopping your self dow n, flop in favour of your husband and child, and not in opposit ion t o ‘em . I f I had had any but a unnat 'r al w ife, and t his poor boy had had any but a unnat 'ral m ot her, I m ight hav e m ade som e m oney last w eek inst ead of being count erprayed and count erm ined and religiously circum w ent ed int o t he w or st of luck . B- u- u- ust m e! ” said Mr. Cruncher, who all t his t im e had been put t ing on his clot hes, “ if I ain't , w hat w it h piet y and one blow ed t hing and anot her , been choused t his last w eek int o as bad luck as ev er a poor dev il of a honest t radesm an m et wit h! Young Jerry, dress yourself, m y boy, and w hile I clean m y boot s k eep a ey e upon your m ot her now and t hen, and if y ou see any signs of m or e flopping, giv e m e 74

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a call. For , I t ell y ou,” her e he addr essed his w ife once m or e, “ I w on't be gone agin, in t his m anner . I am as r ick et y as a hackney- coach, I 'm as sleepy as laudanum , m y lines is st r ained t o t hat degr ee t hat I shouldn't k now , if it w asn't for t he pain in ‘em , w hich w as m e and w hich som ebody else, y et I 'm none t he bet t er for it in pock et ; and it 's m y suspicion t hat you've been at it from m orning t o night t o prevent m e from being t he bet t er for it in pock et , and I w on't put up w it h it , Aggerawayt er, and what do you say now! ” Gr ow ling, in addit ion, such phr ases as “Ah! yes! You're r eligious, t oo. You w ouldn't put y our self in opposit ion t o t he int er est s of your husband and child, w ould you? Not you! ” and t hr ow ing off ot her sar cast ic spar ks fr om t he w hir ling gr indst one of his indignat ion, Mr . Cr uncher bet ook him self t o his boot - cleaning and his gener al pr epar at ion for business. I n t he m eant im e, his son, w hose head w as gar nished w it h t ender er spik es, and w hose y oung ey es st ood close by one anot her , as his fat her 's did, k ept t he r equir ed w at ch upon his m ot her. He great ly dist ur bed t hat poor w om an at int er v als, by dar t ing out of his sleeping closet , w her e he m ade his t oilet , w it h a suppr essed cr y of “ You ar e going t o flop, m ot her. —Halloa, fat her ! ” and, aft er r aising t his fict it ious alar m , dar t ing in again w it h an undut iful grin. Mr. Cruncher's t em per was not at all im proved when he cam e t o his br eakfast . He r esent ed Mr s. Cr uncher 's saying gr ace w it h par t icular anim osit y. “ Now , Agger aw ay t er ! What ar e y ou up t o? At it again?” His w ife ex plained t hat she had m er ely “ ask ed a blessing. ” 75

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“ Don't do it ! ” said Mr . Cr unches looking about , as if he r at her ex pect ed t o see t he loaf disappear under t he efficacy of his w ife's pet it ions. “ I ain't a going t o be blest out of house and hom e. I w on't hav e m y w it t les blest off m y t able. Keep st ill! ” Exceedingly red- ey ed and gr im , as if he had been up all night at a par t y w hich had t ak en any t hing but a conv iv ial t urn, Jerry Cruncher worried his breakfast rat her t han at e it , gr ow ling over it like any four- foot ed inm at e of a m enager ie. Tow ar ds nine o'clock he sm oot hed his r uffled aspect , and, pr esent ing as r espect able and business- lik e an ex t er ior as he could ov er lay his nat ur al self w it h, issued for t h t o t he occupat ion of t he day . I t could scar cely be called a t r ade, in spit e of his fav our it e descr ipt ion of him self as “ a honest t r adesm an.” His st ock consist ed of a w ooden st ool, m ade out of a br ok en- backed chair cut dow n, w hich st ool, young Jerry, w alking at his fat her 's side, car r ied ever y m or ning t o beneat h t he bankinghouse w indow t hat w as near est Tem ple Bar : w her e, w it h t he addit ion of t he fir st handful of st r aw t hat could be gleaned fr om any passing v ehicle t o k eep t he cold and w et fr om t he odd- j ob- m an's feet , it for m ed t he encam pm ent for t he day . On t his post of his, Mr . Cr uncher w as as w ell k now n t o Fleet st r eet and t he Tem ple, as t he Bar it self, —and w as alm ost as in- look ing. Encam ped at a quar t er befor e nine, in good t im e t o t ouch his t hr ee- cor ner ed hat t o t he oldest of m en as t hey passed in t o Tellson's, Jer r y t ook up his st at ion on t his windy March m orning, wit h young Jerry st anding by him , when not 76

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engaged in m ak ing for ay s t hr ough t he Bar , t o inflict bodily and m ent al inj ur ies of an acut e descr ipt ion on passing boy s w ho w er e sm all enough for his am iable pur pose. Fat her and son, ext r em ely lik e each ot her , look ing silent ly on at t he m or ning t r affic in Fleet - st r eet , w it h t heir t w o heads as near t o one anot her as t he t w o ey es of each w er e, bor e a consider able r esem blance t o a pair of m onk ey s. The r esem blance w as not lessened by t he acciden t al cir cum st ance, t hat t he m at ur e Jer r y bit and spat out st r aw , w hile t he t w ink ling ey es of t he y out hful Jer r y w er e as r est lessly w at chful of him as of ev er y t hing else in Fleet -street. The head of one of t he r egular indoor m essenger s at t ached t o Tellson's est ablishm ent w as put t hr ough t he door , and t he word was given: “ Port er want ed! ” “ Hoor ay, fat her ! Her e's an ear ly j ob t o begin w it h! ” Having t hus given his parent God speed, young Jerry seat ed him self on t he st ool, ent er ed on his r ev er sionar y int er est in t he st r aw his fat her had been chew ing, and cogit at ed. “ Al - w ay s r ust y ! His finger s is al- ways rust y! ” m ut t ered young Jer r y. “ Wher e does m y fat her get all t hat ir on r ust from ? He don't get no iron rust here! ”

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II A Sight “ You k now t he Old Bailey , w ell, no doubt ?” said one of t he oldest of cler k s t o Jer r y t he m essenger . “ Ye- es, sir,” ret urned Jerry, in som et hing of a dogged m anner. “ I DO know t he Bailey.” “ Just so. And you know Mr. Lorry.” “ I know Mr. Lorry, sir, m uch bet t er t han I know t he Bailey . Much bet t er ,” said Jer r y , not unlik e a r eluct ant w it ness at t he est ablishm ent in quest ion, “ t han I , as a honest t r adesm an, w ish t o k now t he Bailey .” “ Ver y w ell. Find t he door w her e t he w it nesses go in, and show t he door- k eeper t his not e for Mr. Lorry. He w ill t hen let you in.” “ I nt o t he cour t , sir ?” “ I nt o t he court .” Mr . Cr uncher 's ey es seem ed t o get a lit t le closer t o one anot her , and t o int er change t he inquir y , “ What do y ou t hink of t his?” “ Am I t o w ait in t he cour t , sir ?” he asked, as t he r esult of t hat confer ence. “ I am going t o t ell y ou. The door- k eeper w ill pass t he not e t o Mr. Lorry, and do you m ake any gest ure t hat w ill at t ract Mr. Lorry's at t ent ion, and show him w here you st and. Then w hat y ou hav e t o do, is, t o r em ain t he r e unt il he w ant s y ou.” “ I s t hat all, sir ?” “ That 's all. He w ishes t o hav e a m essenger at hand. This is t o t ell him y ou ar e t her e.” 78

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As t he ancient cler k deliber at ely folded and super scr ibed t he not e, Mr. Cruncher, aft er surveying him in silence unt il he cam e t o t he blot t ing- paper st age, rem arked: “ I suppose t hey'll be t r ying For ger ies t his m or ning?” “ Treason! ” “ That 's quart ering,” said Jerry. “ Barbarous! ” “ I t is t he law ,” r em ar ked t he ancient cler k, t ur ning his sur pr ised spect acles upon him . “ I t is t he law .” “ I t 's har d in t he law t o spile a m an, I t hink . I fs har d enough t o k ill him , but it 's w er y har d t o spile him , sir .” “ Not at all,” r et ained t he ancient cler k . “ Speak w ell of t he law . Take care of your chest and voice, m y good friend, and leav e t he law t o t ak e car e of it self. I giv e y ou t hat adv ice. ” “ I t 's t he dam p, sir , w hat set t les on m y chest and v oice,” said Jerry. “ I leav e y ou t o j udge w hat a dam p w ay of ear ning a liv ing m ine is.” “ Well, w ell,” said t he old cler k ; “ w e all hav e our v ar ious w ay s of gaining a liv elihood. Som e of us hav e dam p w ay s, and som e of us hav e dr y w ay s. Her e is t he let t er . Go along.” Jerry t ook t he let t er , and, r em ar k ing t o him self w it h less int er nal defer ence t han he m ade an out w ar d show of, “ You ar e a lean old one, t oo,” m ade his bow , infor m ed his son, in passing, of his dest inat ion, and w ent his w ay . They hanged at Ty bur n, in t hose day s, so t he st r eet out side New gat e had not obt ained one infam ous not or iet y t hat has since at t ached t o it . But , t he gaol w as a v ile place, in w hich m ost kinds of debaucher y and villainy w er e pr act ised, and w her e dir e diseases w er e br ed, t hat cam e int o cour t w it h t he pr isoner s, and som et im es r ushed st r aight fr om t he dock 79

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at m y Lor d Chief Just ice him self, and pulled him off t he bench. I t had m or e t han once happened, t hat t he Judge in t he black cap pr onounced his ow n doom as cer t ainly as t he pr isoner 's, and even died befor e him . For t he r est , t he Old Bailey w as fam ous as a k ind of deadly inn- yard, from which pale t r av eller s set out cont inually , in car t s and coaches, on a v iolent passage int o t he ot her w or ld: t r av er sing som e t w o m iles and a half of public st r eet and r oad, and sham ing few good cit izens, if any . So pow er ful is use, and so desir able t o be good use in t he beginning. I t w as fam ous, t oo, for t he pillor y , a w ise old inst it ut ion, t hat inflict ed a punishm ent of w hich no one could for esee t he ex t ent ; also, for t he w hippingpost , anot her dear old inst it ut ion, v er y hum anising and soft ening t o behold in act ion; also, for ex t ensiv e t r ansact ions in blood- m oney, anot her fr agm ent of ancest r al w isdom , sy st em at ically leading t o t he m ost fr ight ful m er cenar y cr im es t hat could be com m it t ed under Heav en. Alt oget her , t he Old Bailey , at t hat dat e, w as a choice illust r at ion of t he pr ecept , t hat “ What ev er is is r ight ; ” an aphor ism t hat w ould be as final as it is lazy , did it not include t he t r oublesom e consequence, t hat not hing t hat ever w as, w as w rong. Making his w ay t hr ough t he t aint ed cr ow d, disper sed up and dow n t his hideous scene of act ion, w it h t he sk ill of a m an accust om ed t o m ak e his w ay quiet ly , t he m essenger found out t he door he sought , and handed in his let t er t hr ough a t r ap in it . For , people t hen paid t o see t he play at t he Old Bailey , j ust as t hey paid t o see t he play in Bedlam—only t he for m er ent er t ainm ent w as m uch t he dear er . Ther efor e, all t he Old Bailey door s w er e w ell guar ded—ex cept , indeed, t he 80

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social door s by w hich t he cr im inals got t her e, and t hose w er e alw ay s left w ide open. Aft er som e delay and dem ur, t he door grudgingly t urned on it s hinges a very lit t le w ay, and allow ed Mr. Jerry Cruncher t o squeeze him self int o cour t . “ What 's on?” he ask ed, in a w hisper, of t he m an he found him self nex t t o. “ Not hing yet .” “ What 's com ing on?” “ The Tr eason case.” “ The quart ering one, eh?” “ Ah! ” ret urned t he m an, w it h a relish; “ he'll be draw n on a hur dle t o be half hanged, and t hen he'll be t ak en dow n and sliced befor e his ow n face, and t hen his inside w ill be t ak en out and bur nt w hile he look s on, and t hen his head w ill be chopped off, and he'll be cut int o quar t er s. That 's t he sent ence.” “ I f he's found Guilt y, you m ean t o say?” Jerry added, by w ay of proviso. “ Oh! t hey 'll find him guilt y ,” said t he ot her . “ Don't y ou be afr aid of t hat .” Mr . Cr uncher 's at t ent ion w as her e diver t ed t o t he doorkeeper, whom he saw m aking his way t o Mr. Lorry, wit h t he not e in his hand. Mr . Lor r y sat at a t able, am ong t he gent lem en in w igs: not far fr om a w igged gent lem an, t he pr isoner 's counsel, w ho had a gr eat bundle of paper s befor e him : and near ly opposit e anot her w igged gent lem an w it h his hands in his pock et s, w hose w hole at t ent ion, w hen Mr . Cruncher looked at him t hen or aft er w ar ds, seem ed t o be 81

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concent r at ed on t he ceiling of t he cour t . Aft er som e gr uff coughing and r ubbing of his chin and signing w it h his hand, Jerry at t ract ed t he not ice of Mr. Lorry, w ho had st ood up t o look for him , and w ho quiet ly nodded and sat dow n again. “ What 's HE got t o do w it h t he case?” ask ed t he m an he had spok en w it h. “ Blest if I know ,” said Jer r y. “ What hav e YOU got t o do w it h it , t hen, if a per son m ay inquire?” “ Blest if I k now t hat eit her ,” said Jer r y . The ent r ance of t he Judge, and a consequent gr eat st ir and set t ling dow n in t he cour t , st opped t he dialogue. Pr esent ly , t he dock becam e t he cent r al point of int er est . Tw o gaoler s, w ho had been st anding t her e, w ont out , and t he pr isoner w as br ought in, and put t o t he bar . Ever ybody pr esent , except t he one w igged gent lem an w ho look ed at t he ceiling, st ar ed at him . All t he hum an br eat h in t he place, r olled at him , lik e a sea, or a w ind, or a fir e. Eager faces st r ained r ound pillar s and cor ner s, t o get a sight of him ; spect at or s in back r ow s st ood up, not t o m iss a hair of him ; people on t he floor of t he cour t , laid t heir hands on t he shoulder s of t he people befor e t hem , t o help t hem selv es, at any body 's cost , t o a v iew of him—st ood a- t ipt oe, got upon ledges, st ood upon nex t t o not hing, t o see ev er y inch of him . Conspicuous am ong t hese lat t er , lik e an anim at ed bit of t he spik ed w all of New gat e, Jer r y st ood: aim ing at t he pr isoner t he beer y br eat h of a w het he had t ak en as he cam e along, and dischar ging it t o m ingle w it h t he w av es of ot her beer, and gin, and t ea, and coffee, and w hat not , t hat flow ed at him , 82

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and alr eady br oke upon t he gr eat w indow s behind him in an im pure m ist and rain. The obj ect of all t his st ar ing and blar ing, w as a y oung m an of about fiv e - and- t w ent y , w ell- grow n and w ell- look ing, w it h a sunbur nt cheek and a dar k ey e. His condit ion w as t hat of a young gent lem an. He w as plainly dr essed in black, or ver y dark grey, and his hair, which was long and dark, was gat her ed in a r ibbon at t he back of his neck; m or e t o be out of his w ay t han for or nam ent . As an em ot ion of t he m ind w ill ex pr ess it self t hr ough any cov er ing of t he body , so t he paleness w hich his sit uat ion engender ed cam e t hr ough t he br ow n upon his cheek , show ing t he soul t o be st r onger t han t he sun. He w as ot her w ise quit e self- possessed, bow ed t o t he Judge, and st ood quiet . The sor t of int er est w it h w hich t his m an w as st ar ed and br eat hed at , w as not a sor t t hat elev at ed hum anit y . Had he st ood in per il of a less hor r ible sent ence —had t her e been a chance of any one of it s sav age det ails being spar ed—by j ust so m uch w ould he hav e lost in his fascinat ion. The for m t hat w as t o be doom ed t o be so sham efully m angled, w as t he sight ; t he im m or t al cr eat ur e t hat w as t o be so but cher ed and t or n asunder , y ielded t he sensat ion. What ev er gloss t he v ar ious spect at or s put upon t he int er est , accor ding t o t heir sev er al ar t s and pow er s of self- deceit , t he int er est w as, at t he r oot of it , Ogr eish. Silence in t he cour t ! Char les Dar nay had yest er day pleaded Not Guilt y t o an indict ment denouncing him ( w it h infinit e j ingle and j angle) for t hat he w as a false t r ait or t o our ser ene, illust r ious, ex cellent , and so for t h, pr ince, our Lor d t he King, 83

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by r eason of his having, on diver s occasions, and by diver s m eans and w ay s, assist ed Lew is, t he Fr ench King, in his w ar s against our said ser ene, illust r ious, ex cellent , and so for t h; t hat w as t o say , by com ing and going, bet w een t he dom inions of our said ser ene, illust r ious, ex cellent , and so for t h, and t hose of t he said Fr ench Lew is, and w ick e dly , falsely , t r ait or ously , and ot her w ise ev il- adv er biously , r ev ealing t o t he said Fr ench Lew is w hat for ces our said ser ene, illust r ious, ex cellent , and so for t h, had in pr epar at ion t o send t o Canada and Nort h Am erica. This m uch, Jerry, wit h his head becoming m or e and m or e spik y as t he law t er m s br ist led it , m ade out w it h huge sat isfact ion, and so ar r iv ed cir cuit ously at t he under st anding t hat t he afor esaid, and ov er and ov er again afor esaid, Char les Dar nay , st ood t her e befor e him upon his t r ial; t hat t he j ury w ere sw earing in; and t hat Mr. At t orneyGener al w as m aking r eady t o speak. The accused, w ho w as ( and w ho knew he w as) being m ent ally hanged, beheaded, and quart ered, by everybody t her e, neit her flinched fr om t he sit uat ion, nor assum ed any t heat r ical air in it . He w as quiet and at t ent iv e; w at ched t he opening pr oceedings w it h a gr av e int er est ; and st ood w it h his hands r est ing on t he slab of w ood befor e him , so com posedly , t hat t hey had not displaced a leaf of t he her bs w it h w hich it w as st r ew n. The court w as all best r ew n w it h her bs and spr ink led w it h v inegar , as a pr ecaut ion against gaol air and gaol fev er . Over t he prisoner's head t here w as a m irror, t o t hrow t he light dow n upon him . Cr ow ds of t he w icked and t he w r et ched had been r eflect ed in it , and had passed fr om it s sur face and 84

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t his ear t h's t oget her . Haunt ed in a m ost ghast ly m anner t hat abom inable place w ould hav e been, if t he glass could ev er hav e r ender ed back it s r eflect ions, as t he ocean is one day t o giv e up it s dead. Som e passing t hought of t he infam y and disgrace for w hich it had been reserved, m ay have st ruck t he pr isoner 's m ind. Be t hat as it m ay , a change in his posit ion m ak ing him conscious of a bar of light acr oss his face, he look ed up; and w hen he saw t he glass his face flushed, and his r ight hand pushed t he her bs aw ay . I t happened, t hat t he act ion t ur ned his face t o t hat side of t he cour t w hich w as on his left . About on a lev el w it h his ey es, t her e sat , in t hat cor ner of t he Judge's bench, t w o per sons upon w hom his look im m ediat ely r est ed; so im m ediat ely , and so m uch t o t he changing of his aspect , t hat all t he ey es t hat w er e t am ed upon him , t ur ned t o t hem . The spect at or s saw in t he t w o figur es, a y oung lady of lit t le m or e t han t w ent y , and a gent lem an w ho w as ev ident ly her fat her ; a m an of a very rem arkable appearance in respect of t he absolut e w hit eness of his hair , and a cer t ain indescr ibable int ensit y of face: not of an act iv e k ind, but ponder ing and self - com m uning. When t his ex pr ession w as upon him , he look ed as if he w er e old; but w hen it w as st ir r ed and br oken up—as it w as now , in a m om ent , on his speak ing t o his daught er—he becam e a handsom e m an, not past t he pr im e of lif e. His daught er had one of her hands draw n t hrough his arm , as she sat by him , and t he ot her pr essed upon it . She had dr aw n close t o him , in her dr ead of t he scene, and in her pit y for t he pr isoner . Her for ehead had been st r ikingly expr essive 85

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of an engr ossing t er r or and com passion t hat saw not hing but t he per il of t he accused. This had been so v er y not iceable, so ver y pow er fully and nat ur ally show n, t hat st ar er s w ho had had no pit y for him were t ouched by her; and t he whisper w ent about , “ Who ar e t hey ?” Jerry, t he m essenger, w ho had m ade his ow n obser vat ions, in his ow n m anner , and w ho had been sucking t he ru st off his finger s in his absor pt ion, st r et ched his neck t o hear w ho t hey w ere. The crow d about him had pressed and passed t he inquir y on t o t he near est at t endant , and fr om him it had been m or e slow ly pr essed and passed back ; at last it got t o Jerry: “ Wit n esses. ” “ For which side?” “ Against .” “ Against w hat side?” “ The prisoner's.” The Judge, w hose ey es had gone in t he gener al dir ect ion, r ecalled t hem , leaned back in his seat , and look ed st eadily at t he m an w hose life w as in his hand, as Mr . At t orney- General r ose t o spin t he r ope, gr ind t he ax e, and ham m er t he nails int o t he scaffold.

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III A Disappoint m ent Mr. At t orney- Gener al had t o infor m t he j ur y , t hat t he pr isoner befor e t hem , t hough young in year s, w as old in t he t r easonable pr act ices w hich claim ed t he for feit of his life. That t his cor r espondence w it h t he public enem y w as not a cor r espondence of t o- day , or of y est er day , or ev en of last y ear , or of t he y ear befor e. That , it w as cer t ain t he pr isoner had, for longer t han t hat , been in t he habit of passing and r epassing bet w een Fr ance and England, on secr et business of w hich he could giv e no honest account . That , if it w er e in t he nat ur e of t r ait or ous w ays t o t hr ive ( w hich happily it never w as) , t he r eal w ick edness and guilt of his business m ight have rem ained undiscovered. That Providence, how ever, had put it int o t he hear t of a per son w ho w as bey ond fear and beyond r epr oach, t o fer r et out t he nat ur e of t he pr isoner 's schem es, and, st r uck w it h hor r or , t o disclose t hem t o his Maj est y 's Chief Secret ary of St at e and m ost honourable Privy Council. That , t his pat r iot w ould be pr oduced befor e t hem . That , his posit ion and at t it ude w er e, on t he w hole, sublim e. That , he had been t he pr isoner 's fr iend, but , at once in an auspicious and an ev il hour det ect ing his infam y, had resolved t o im m olat e t he t r ait or he could no longer cher ish in his bosom , on t he sacr ed alt ar of his count r y . That , if st at ues w er e decr eed in Br it ain, as in ancient Gr eece and Rom e, t o public benefact or s, t his shining cit izen w ould assur edly have had one. That , as t hey w er e not so decr eed, he pr obably w ould not hav e one. That , Vir t ue, as had been obser v ed by 87

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t he poet s ( in m any passages w hich he w ell k new t he j ur y w ould hav e, w or d for w or d, at t he t ips of t heir t ongues; w her eat t he j ur y 's count enances display ed a guilt y consciousness t hat t hey k new not hing about t he passages) , w as in a m anner cont agious; m or e especially t he br ight v ir t ue k now n as pat r iot ism , or lov e of count r y . That , t he loft y ex am ple of t his im m aculat e and unim peacha ble w it ness for t he Crown, t o refer t o whom however unwort hily was an honour , had com m unicat ed it self t o t he pr isoner 's ser v ant , and had engender ed in him a holy det er m inat ion t o ex am ine his m ast er 's t able- dr aw er s and pock et s, and secr et e his paper s. That , he ( Mr. At t orney- General) w as prepared t o hear som e dispar agem ent at t em pt ed of t his adm ir able ser vant ; but t hat , in a gener al w ay, he pr efer r ed him t o his ( Mr . At t or neyGeneral's) brot hers and sist ers, and honoured him m ore t han his ( Mr . At t or ney- Gener al's) fat her and m ot her . That , he called w it h confidence on t he j ur y t o com e and do lik ew ise. That , t he ev idence of t hese t w o w it nesses, coupled w it h t he docum ent s of t heir discover ing t hat w ould be pr oduced, w ould show t he pr isoner t o hav e been fur nished w it h list s of h is Maj est y 's for ces, and of t heir disposit ion and pr epar at ion, bot h by sea and land, and w ould leav e no doubt t hat he had habit ually conveyed such inform at ion t o a host ile pow er. That , t hese list s could not be pr ov ed t o be in t he pr isoner 's h andw r it ing; but t hat it w as all t he sam e; t hat , indeed, it w as r at her t he bet t er for t he pr osecut ion, as show ing t he pr isoner t o be ar t ful in his pr ecaut ions. That , t he pr oof w ould go back fiv e y ear s, and w ould show t he pr isoner alr eady engaged in t hese pern icious m issions, w it hin a few w eek s befor e t he dat e 88

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of t he v er y fir st act ion fought bet w een t he Br it ish t r oops and t he Am er icans. That , for t hese r easons, t he j ur y , being a loy al j ur y ( as he knew t hey w er e) , and being a r esponsible j ur y ( as THEY knew t hey w er e) , m ust posit iv ely find t he pr isoner Guilt y , and m ak e an end of him , w het her t hey lik ed it or not . That , t hey nev er could lay t heir heads upon t heir pillow s; t hat , t hey nev er could t oler at e t he idea of t heir w iv es lay ing t heir heads upon t heir pillow s; t hat , t hey never could endure t he not ion of t heir childr en lay ing t heir heads upon t heir pillow s; in shor t , t hat t her e never m or e could be, for t hem or t heir s, any lay ing of heads upon pillow s at all, unless t he pr isoner 's head w as t ak en off. That head Mr . At t or neyGener al concluded by dem anding of t hem , in t he nam e of ever yt hing he could t hink of w it h a r ound t ur n in it , and on t he fait h of his solem n assev er at ion t hat he alr eady consider ed t he pr isoner as good as dead and gone. When t he At t or ney- General ceased, a buzz ar ose in t he cour t as if a cloud of gr eat blue - flies w er e sw ar m ing about t he pr isoner , in ant icipat ion of w hat he w as soon t o becom e. When t oned dow n again, t he unim peachable pat r iot appear ed in t he w it ness- box. Mr. Solicit or- General t he n, follow ing his leader 's lead, exam ined t he pat r iot : John Bar sad, gent lem an, by nam e. The st or y of his pur e soul w as ex act ly w hat Mr . At t or ney- General had descr ibed it t o be—per haps, if it had a fault , a lit t le t oo ex act ly . Hav ing r eleased his noble bosom of it s bur den, he w ould hav e m odest ly w it hdr aw n him self, but t hat t he w igged gent lem an w it h t he paper s befor e him , sit t ing not far fr om Mr . Lor r y, begged t o ask him a few quest ions. The w igged 89

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gent lem an sit t ing opposit e, st ill look ing at t he ceiling of t he court . Had he ev er been a spy him self? No, he scor ned t he base insinuat ion. What did he liv e upon? His pr oper t y . Wher e w as his propert y? He didn't precisely rem em ber w here it w as. What w as it ? No business of any body 's. Had he inher it ed it ? Yes, he had. Fr om w hom ? Dist ant r elat ion. Ver y dist ant ? Rat her . Ever been in pr ison? Cer t ainly not . Never in a debt or s’ pr ison? Didn't see w hat t hat had t o do w it h it . Nev er in a debt or s’ pr ison?—Com e, once again. Never ? Yes. How m any t im es? Tw o or t hr ee t im es. Not fiv e or six ? Per haps. Of w hat pr ofession? Gent lem an. Ever been kicked? Might have been. Frequent ly? No. Ever kicked dow nst airs? Decidedly not ; once r eceiv ed a k ick on t he t op of a st air case, and fell dow nst air s of his ow n accor d. Kicked on t hat occasion for cheat ing at dice? Som et hing t o t hat effect w as said by t he int ox icat ed liar w ho com m it t ed t he assault , but it w as not t r ue. Sw ear it w as not t r ue? Posit iv ely . Ev er liv e by cheat ing at play ? Nev er . Ever live by play? Not m ore t han ot her gent lem en do. Ever bor r ow m oney of t he pr isoner ? Yes. Ever pay him ? No. Was not t his int im acy w it h t he pr isoner , in r ealit y a v er y slight one, for ced upon t he pr isoner in coaches, inns, and pack et s? No. Sur e he saw t he pr isoner w it h t hese list s? Cer t ain. Knew no m or e about t he list s? No. Had not pr ocur ed t hem him self, for inst ance? No. Ex pect t o get any t hing by t his ev idence? No. Not in r egular gover nm ent pay and em ploym ent , t o lay t r aps? Oh dear no. Or t o do anyt hing? Oh dear no. Sw ear t hat ? Over and ov er again. No m ot iv es but m ot iv es of sheer pat r iot ism ? None w hat ever . 90

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The virt uous servant , Roger Cly, sw ore his w ay t hrough t he case at a gr eat r at e. He had t ak en ser v ice w it h t he pr isoner , in good fait h and sim plicit y , four y ear s ago. He had ask ed t he pr isoner , aboar d t he Calais pack et , if he w ant ed a handy fellow , and t he pr isoner had engaged him . He had not ask ed t he pr isoner t o t ak e t he handy fellow as an act of char it y—nev er t hought of such a t hing. He began t o hav e suspicions of t he pr isoner , and t o k eep an ey e upon him , soon aft er w ar ds. I n ar r anging his clot hes, w hile t r av elling, he had seen sim ilar list s t o t hese in t he pr isoner 's pock et s, ov er and ov er again. He had t ak en t hese list s fr om t he dr aw er of t he pr isoner 's desk . He had not put t hem t her e fir st . He had seen t he pr isoner show t hese ident ical list s t o Fr ench gent lem en at Calais, and sim ilar list s t o Fr ench gent lem en, bot h at Calais and Boulogne. He lov ed his count r y , and couldn't bear it , and had giv en infor m at ion. He had nev er been suspect ed of st ealin g a silv er t ea- pot ; he had been m aligned r espect ing a m ust ard - pot , but it t ur ned out t o be only a plat ed one. He had k now n t he last w it ness sev en or eight y ear s; t hat w as m er ely a coincidence. He didn't call it a par t icular ly cur ious coincidence; m ost coincidences w er e cur ious. Neit her did he call it a cur ious coincidence t hat t r ue pat r iot ism w as HI S only m ot iv e t oo. He w as a t r ue Br it on, and hoped t her e w er e m any lik e him . The blue - flies buzzed again, and Mr . At t or ney- General called Mr. Jarvis Lorry. “ Mr. Jarvis Lorry, are you a clerk in Tellson's bank?” “ I am .” 91

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“ On a cert ain Friday night in Novem ber one t housand seven hundr ed and sevent y- fiv e, did business occasion y ou t o t r avel bet w een London and Dover by t he m ail?” “ I t did.” “ Wer e t her e any ot her passenger s in t he m ail?” “ Two.” “ Did t hey alight on t he r oad in t he cour se of t he night ?” “ They did.” “ Mr . Lor r y, look upon t he pr isoner . Was he one of t hose t w o passenger s?” “ I cannot under t ak e t o say t hat he w as.” “ Does he r esem ble eit her of t hese t w o passenger s?” “ Bot h w er e so w r apped up, and t he night w as so dar k, and w e w er e all so r eser v ed, t hat I cannot under t ak e t o say ev en t hat . ” “ Mr. Lorry, look again upon t he prisoner. Supposing him w r apped up as t hose t w o passenger s w er e, is t her e any t hing in his bulk and st at ur e t o r ender it unlik ely t hat he w as one of t hem ?” “ No.” “ You w ill not sw ear , Mr . Lor r y , t hat he w as not one of t hem ?” “ No.” “ So at least y ou say he m ay hav e been one of t hem ?” “ Yes. Ex cept t ha t I r em em ber t hem bot h t o hav e been— lik e m y self—t im or ous of highw aym en, and t he pr isoner has not a t im or ous air .” “ Did you ever see a count erfeit of t im idit y, Mr. Lorry?” “ I cer t ainly hav e seen t hat .” 92

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“ Mr. Lorry, look once m ore upon t he prisoner. Have you seen him , t o your cer t ain know ledge, befor e?” “ I have.” “ When?” “ I was ret urning from France a few days aft erwards, and, at Calais, t he pr isoner cam e on boar d t he pack et - ship in w hich I ret urned, and m ade t he voyage w it h m e.” “ At what hour di d he com e on board?” “ At a lit t le aft er m idnight . ” “ I n t he dead of t he night . Was he t he only passenger w ho cam e on board at t hat unt im ely hour?” “ He happened t o be t he only one.” “ Never m ind about ‘happening,’ Mr. Lorry. He was t he only passenger w ho cam e on boar d in t he dead of t he night ?” “ He w as.” “ Were you t ravelling alone, Mr. Lorry, or wit h any com panion?” “ Wit h t w o com panions. A gent lem an and lady . They ar e here.” “ They are here. Had you any conversat ion w it h t he prisoner?” “ Har dly any . The w eat her w as st or m y , and t he passage long and r ough, and I lay on a sofa, alm ost fr om shor e t o shore.” “ Miss Manet t e! ” The y oung lady , t o w hom all ey es had been t ur ned befor e, and w er e now t ur ned again, st ood up w her e she had sat . Her fat her rose wit h her, and kept her hand drawn t hrough his arm . 93

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“ Miss Manet t e, look upon t he pr isoner .” To be confr ont ed w it h such pit y , and such ear nest y out h and beaut y , w as far m or e t r y ing t o t he accused t han t o be confr ont ed w it h all t he cr ow d. St andi ng, as it w er e, apar t w it h her on t he edge of his gr av e, not all t he st ar ing cur iosit y t hat looked on, could, for t he m om ent , ner ve him t o r em ain quit e st ill. His hur r ied r ight hand par celled out t he her bs befor e him int o im aginar y beds of flow er s in a garden; and his effor t s t o cont r ol and st eady his br eat hing shook t he lips fr om w hich t he colour r ushed t o his hear t . The buzz of t he gr eat flies w as loud again. “ Miss Manet t e, hav e y ou seen t he pr isoner befor e?” “ Yes, sir . ” “ Where?” “ On boar d of t he pack et - ship j ust now r efer r ed t o, sir , and on t he sam e occasion.” “ You ar e t he young lady j ust now r efer r ed t o?” “ O! m ost unhappily, I am ! ” The plaint iv e t one of her com passion m er ged int o t he less m usical v oice of t he Judge, as he said som et hing fiercely: “ Answ er t he quest ions put t o you, and m ake no rem ark upon t hem .” “ Miss Manet t e, had y ou any conv er sat ion w it h t he pr isoner on t hat passage acr oss t he Channel?” “ Yes, sir . ” “ Recall it .” I n t he m idst of a pr ofound st illness, she faint ly began: “ When t he gent lem an cam e on boar d —” 94

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“ Do you m ean t he pr isoner ?” inquir ed t he Judge, knit t ing his br ow s. “ Yes, m y Lord.” “ Then say t he prisoner.” “ When t he pr isoner cam e on boar d, he not iced t hat m y fat her ,” t ur ning her ey es lov ingly t o him as he st ood beside her , “ w as m uch fat igued and in a v er y w eak st at e of healt h. My fat her w as so r educed t hat I w as afr aid t o t ak e him out of t he air , and I had m ade a bed for him on t he deck near t he cabin st eps, and I sat on t he deck at his side t o t ak e car e of him . Ther e w er e no ot her passenger s t hat night , but w e four . The pr isoner w as so good as t o beg per m ission t o adv ise m e how I could shelt er m y fat her fr om t he w ind and w eat her , bet t er t han I had done. I had not k now n how t o do it w ell, not under st anding how t he w ind w ould set w hen w e w er e out of t he har bour . He did it for m e. He ex pr essed gr eat gent leness and k indness for m y fat her 's st at e, and I am sur e he felt it . That w as t he m anner of our beginning t o speak t oget her .” “ Let m e int errupt you for a m om ent . Had he com e on boar d alone?” “ No.” “ How m any were wit h him ?” “ Two French gent lem en.” “ Had t hey conferred t oget her?” “ They had confer r ed t oget her unt il t he last m om ent , w hen it w as necessar y for t he Fr ench gent lem en t o be landed in t heir boat . ” “ Had any paper s been handed about am ong t hem , sim ilar t o t h ese list s?” 95

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“ Som e paper s had been handed about am ong t hem , but I don't know w hat papers.” “ Lik e t hese in shape and size?” “ Possibly , but indeed I don't k now , alt hough t hey st ood w hisper ing v er y near t o m e: because t hey st ood at t he t op of t he cabin st eps t o hav e t he light of t he lam p t hat w as hanging t her e; it w as a dull lam p, and t hey spok e v er y low , and I did not hear w hat t hey said, and saw only t hat t hey look ed at papers.” “ Now , t o t he pr isoner 's conv er sat ion, Miss Manet t e.” “ The pr isoner w as as open in his confidence w it h m e — w hich ar ose out of m y helpless sit uat ion—as he was kind, and good, and useful t o m y fat her . I hope,” bur st ing int o t ear s, “ I m ay not repay him by doing him harm t o- day.” Buzzing fr om t he blue - f lies. “ Miss Manet t e, if t he pr isoner does not per fect ly under st and t hat y ou giv e t he ev idence w hich it is y our dut y t o give—which you m ust give —and w hich you cannot escape from giving—w it h gr eat unw illingness, he is t he only person pr esent in t hat condit ion. Please t o go on. ” “ He t old m e t hat he w as t r av elling on business of a delicat e and difficult nat ur e, w hich m ight get people int o t r ouble, and t hat he w as t her efor e t r av elling under an assum ed nam e. He said t hat t hi s business had, w it hin a few day s, t ak en him t o Fr ance, and m ight , at int er v als, t ak e him backwards and forwards bet ween France and England for a long t im e t o com e.” “ Did he say any t hing about Am er ica, Miss Manet t e? Be part icular.” 96

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“ He t r ied t o ex plain t o m e how t hat quar r el had ar isen, and he said t hat , so far as he could j udge, it w as a w r ong and foolish one on England's par t . He added, in a j est ing w ay , t hat per haps Geor ge Washingt on m ight gain alm ost as gr eat a nam e in hist or y as Geor ge t he Thir d. But t here w as no harm in his w ay of say ing t his: it w as said laughingly , and t o beguile t he t im e. ” Any st r ongly m ar ked expr ession of face on t he par t of a chief act or in a scene of gr eat int er est t o w hom m any ey es ar e dir ect ed, w ill be unconsciously im it at ed by t he spect at or s. Her for ehead w as painfully anx ious and int ent as she gav e t his ev idence, and, in t he pauses w hen she st opped for t he Judge t o w r it e it dow n, w at ched it s effect upon t he counsel for and against . Am ong t he look er s- on t her e w as t he sam e ex pr ession in all quar t er s of t he cour t ; insom uch, t hat a gr eat m aj or it y of t he for eheads t her e, m ight have been m ir r or s r eflect ing t he w it ness, w hen t he Judge look ed up fr om his not es t o glar e at t hat t r em endous her esy about Geor ge Washingt on. Mr. At t orney- Gener al now signified t o m y Lor d, t hat he deem ed it necessar y , as a m at t er of pr ecaut ion and for m , t o call t he y oung lady 's fat her , Doct or Manet t e. Who w as called accordingly. “ Doct or Manet t e, look upon t he prisoner. Have you ever seen him befor e?” “ Once. When he caged at m y lodgings in London. Som e t hr ee year s, or t hr ee year s and a half ago.” “ Can you ident ify him as your fellow - passenger on boar d t he packet , or speak t o his conver sat ion w it h your daught er ?” 97

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“ Sir, I can do neit her.” “ I s t here any par t icular and special r eason for your being unable t o do eit her ?” He answ er ed, in a low v oice, “ Ther e is.” “ Has it been y our m isfor t une t o under go a long im pr isonm ent , w it hout t r ial, or ev en accusat ion, in y our nat ive count ry, Doct or Manet t e?” He answ er ed, in a t one t hat w ent t o ev er y hear t , “ A long im prisonm ent .” “ Wer e y ou new ly r eleased on t he occasion in quest ion?” “ They t ell m e so.” “ Have you no rem em brance of t he occasion?” “ None. My m ind is a blank, from som e t im e —I cannot even say w hat t im e —w hen I em ployed m yself, in m y capt ivit y, in m ak ing shoes, t o t he t im e w hen I found m y self liv ing in London wit h m y dear daught er here. She had becom e fam iliar t o m e, w hen a gr acious God r est or ed m y facult ies; but , I am quit e unable ev en t o say how she had becom e fam iliar . I have no rem em brance of t he process.” Mr. At t orney- Gener al sat dow n, and t he fat her and daught er sat dow n t oget her . A singular cir cum st ance t hen ar ose in t he case. The obj ect in hand being t o show t hat t he pr isoner w ent dow n, w it h som e fellow - plot t er unt r ack ed, in t he Dov er m ail on t hat Fr iday night in Nov em ber fiv e y ear s ago, and got out of t he m ail in t he night , as a blind, at a place w her e he did not r em ain, but fr om w hich he t r avelled back som e dozen m iles or m ore, t o a garrison and dockyard, and t here collect ed infor m at ion; a w it ness w as called t o ident ify him as hav ing 98

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been at t he pr ecise t im e r equir ed, in t he coffee- room of an hot el in t hat gar r ison- and- dockyard t ow n, w ait ing for anot her per son. The pr isoner 's counsel w as cr oss- ex am ining t his w it ness w it h no r esult , ex cept t hat he had nev er seen t he pr isoner on any ot her occasion, w hen t he w igged gent lem an who had all t his t im e been look ing at t he ceiling of t he cour t , w r ot e a w or d or t w o on a lit t le piece of paper , scr ew ed it up, and t ossed it t o him . Opening t his piece of paper in t he nex t pause, t he counsel look ed w it h gr eat at t ent ion and cur iosit y at t he pr isone r. “ You say again y ou ar e quit e sur e t hat it w as t he prisoner?” The w it ness w as quit e sur e. “ Did you ever see anybody very like t he prisoner?” Not so lik e ( t he w it ness said) as t hat he could be m ist ak en. “ Look w ell upon t hat gent lem an, m y lear ned friend t here,” point ing t o him w ho had t ossed t he paper ov er , “ and t hen look w ell upon t he pr isoner . How say you? Ar e t hey ver y like each ot her?” Allow ing for m y lear ned fr iend's appear ance being car eless and slov enly if not debauched, t hey w er e suffici ent ly like each ot her t o sur pr ise, not only t he w it ness, but ev er y body present , w hen t hey w ere t hus brought int o com parison. My Lor d being pr ay ed t o bid m y lear ned fr iend lay aside his w ig, and giv ing no v er y gr acious consent , t he lik eness becam e m uch m ore rem arkable. My Lord inquired of Mr. St ryver ( t he prisoner's counsel) , whet her t hey were next t o t ry Mr. Cart on ( nam e of m y learned friend) for t reason? But , Mr. St ryver r eplied t o m y Lor d, no; but he w ould ask t he w it ness t o t ell 99

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him w het her w hat happened once, m ight happen t w ice; w het her he w ould hav e been so confident if he had seen t his illust r at ion of his r ashness sooner , w het her he w ould be so confident , hav ing seen it ; and m or e. The upshot of w hich, w as, t o sm ash t his w it ness lik e a cr ock er y v essel, and shiver his par t of t he case t o useless lum ber . Mr. Cruncher had by t his t im e t aken quit e a lunch of rust off his finger s in his follow ing of t he ev idence. He had now t o at t end w hile Mr . St r yver fit t ed t he pr isoner 's case on t he j ur y, lik e a com pact suit of clot hes; show ing t hem how t he pat r iot , Bar sad, w as a hir ed spy and t r ait or , an unblushing t r afficker in blood, and one of t he gr eat est scoundr els upon ear t h since accursed Judas—w hich he cer t ainly did look r at her like. How t he virt uous servant , Cly, w as his fr iend and par t ner , and w as w or t hy t o be; how t he w at chful ey es of t hose for ger s and false sw ear er s had r est ed on t he pr isoner as a v ict im , because som e fam ily affair s in Fr ance, he being of Fr ench ex t r act ion, did r equir e his m ak ing t hose passages acr oss t he Channel—t hough w hat t hose affair s w er e, a consider at ion for ot hers w ho w ere near and dear t o him , forbade him , even for his life, t o disclose. How t he ev idence t hat had been w ar ped and w r est ed fr om t he y oung lady , w hose anguish in giv ing it t he y had w it nessed, cam e t o not hing, inv olv ing t he m er e lit t le innocent gallant r ies and polit enesses lik ely t o pass bet w een any young gent lem an and young lady so t hrown t oget her; — w it h t he ex cept ion of t hat r efer ence t o Geor ge Washingt on, w hich w as alt oget her t oo ex t r av agant and im possible t o be r egar ded in any ot her light t han as a m onst r ous j ok e. How it w ould be a w eak ness in t he gov er nm ent t o br eak dow n in t his 100

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at t em pt t o pr act ise for popular it y on t he low est nat ional ant ipat hies and fear s, and t her efor e Mr . At t or ney- General had m ade t he m ost of it ; how , nev er t heless, it r est ed upon not hing, sav e t hat v ile and infam ous char act er of ev idence t oo oft en disfigur ing such cases, and of w hich t he St at e Tr ials of t his count r y w er e full. But , t her e m y Lor d int er posed ( w it h as gr av e a face as if it had not been t r ue) , say ing t hat he could not sit upon t hat Bench and suffer t hose allusions. Mr . St r yver t hen called his few w it nesses, and Mr . Cr uncher had next t o at t end w hile Mr . At t or ney- General t ur ned t he w hole suit of clot hes Mr . St r yver had fit t ed on t he j ur y, inside out ; show ing how Bar sad and Cly w er e even a hundr ed t im es bet t er t han he had t hought t hem , and t he prisoner a hundred t im es w orse. Last ly, cam e m y Lord him self, t ur ning t he suit of clot hes, now inside out , now out side in, but on t he w hole decidedly t r im m ing and shaping t hem int o grave - clot hes for t he pr isoner . And now , t he j ur y t ur ned t o consider , and t he gr eat flies sw ar m ed again. Mr . Car t on, w ho had so long sat look ing at t he ceiling of t he cour t , changed neit her his place nor his at t it ude, ev en in t his ex cit em ent . While his t eam ed fr iend, Mr . St r y v er , m assing his paper s befor e him , w hisper ed w it h t hose w ho sat near , and fr om t im e t o t im e glanced anx iously at t he j ur y ; w hile all t he spect at or s m ov ed m ore or less, and grouped t hem selv es anew ; w hile ev en m y Lor d him self ar ose fr om his seat , and slow ly paced up and dow n his plat for m , not unat t ended by a suspicion in t he m inds of t he audience t hat his st at e w as fev er ish; t his one m an sat leaning back , w ith his 101

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t or n gow n half off him , his unt idy w ig put on j ust as it had happened t o fight on his head aft er it s r em ov al, his hands in his pock et s, and his ey es on t he ceiling as t hey had been all day. Som et hing especially r eckless in his dem eanour , not only gave him a disr eput able look , but so dim inished t he st r ong r esem blance he undoubt edly bor e t o t he pr isoner ( w hich his m om ent ar y ear nest ness, w hen t hey w er e com par ed t oget her , had st r engt hened) , t hat m any of t he look er s- on, t ak ing not e of him now , said t o one anot her t hey w ould hardly have t hought t he t w o w ere so alike. Mr. Cruncher m ade t he obser v at ion t o his nex t neighbour , and added, “ I 'd hold half a guinea t hat HE don't get no law - w or k t o do. Don't look like t he sor t of one t o get any , do he?” Yet , t h is Mr . Car t on t ook in m or e of t he det ails of t he scene t han he appear ed t o t ak e in; for now , w hen Miss Manet t e's head dr opped upon her fat her 's br east , he w as t he fir st t o see it , and t o say audibly : “ Officer ! look t o t hat y oung lady . Help t he gent lem an t o t ake her out . Don't y ou see she w ill fall! ” Ther e w as m uch com m iser at ion for her as she w as rem oved, and m uch sym pat hy wit h her fat her. I t had ev ident ly been a gr eat dist r ess t o him , t o hav e t he day s of his im pr isonm ent r ecalled. He had show n st r ong int er na l agit at ion w hen he w as quest ioned, and t hat ponder ing or br ooding look w hich m ade him old, had been upon him , like a heav y cloud, ev er since. As he passed out , t he j ur y , w ho had t urned back and paused a m om ent , spoke, t hrough t heir forem an. 102

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They were not agr eed, and w ished t o r et ir e. My Lor d ( per haps w it h Geor ge Washingt on on his m ind) show ed som e sur pr ise t hat t hey w er e not agr eed, but signified his pleasur e t hat t hey should r et ir e under w at ch and w ar d, and r et ir ed him self. The t r ial had last ed all day , and t he lam ps in t he cour t w er e now being light ed. I t began t o be r um our ed t hat t he j ur y w ould be out a long w hile. The spect at or s dr opped off t o get r efr eshm ent , and t he pr isoner w it hdr ew t o t he back of t he dock , and sat dow n. Mr. Lorry, who had gone out w hen t he young lady and her fat her w ent out , now reappeared, and beckoned t o Jerry: w ho, in t he slack ened int er est , could easily get near him . “ Jer r y , if y ou w ish t o t ak e som et hing t o eat , y ou can. But , k eep in t he w ay . You w ill be sur e t o hear w hen t he j ury com e in. Don't be a m om ent behind t hem , for I w ant y ou t o t ak e t he v er dict back t o t he bank . You ar e t he quick est m essenger I k now , and w ill get t o Tem ple Bar long befor e I can.” Jerry had j ust enough forehead t o knuckle, and he k nuck led it in ack now edgm ent of t his com m unicat ion and a shilling. Mr. Cart on cam e up at t he m om ent , and t ouched Mr. Lorry on t he arm . “ How is t he young lady?” “ She is gr eat ly dist r essed; but her fat her is com for t ing her , and she feels t he bet t er for being out of cour t .” “ I 'll t ell t he pr isoner so. I t w on't do for a r espect able bank gent lem an lik e y ou, t o be seen speak ing t o him publicly , y ou know.” Mr. Lorry reddened as if he were conscious of having debat ed t he point in his m ind, and Mr . Car t on m ade his w ay 103

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t o t he out side of t he bar . The w ay out of cour t lay in t hat dir ect ion, and Jer r y follow ed him , all ey es, ear s, and spik es. “ Mr. Darnay!” The prisoner cam e forward direct ly. “ You w ill nat ur ally be anx ious t o hear of t he w it ness, Miss Manet t e. She w ill do v e r y w ell. You hav e seen t he w or st of her agit at ion.” “ I am deeply sor r y t o hav e been t he cause of it . Could y ou t ell her so for m e, w it h m y fer vent acknow ledgm ent s?” “ Yes, I could. I w ill, if y ou ask it . ” Mr . Car t on's m anner w as so car eless as t o be alm ost insolent . He st ood, half t ur ned fr om t he pr isoner , lounging w it h his elbow against t he bar . “ I do ask it . Accept m y cor dial t hanks.” “ What ,” said Car t on, st ill only half t ur ned t ow ar ds him , “ do y ou expect , Mr. Darnay?” “ The worst .” “ I t 's t he w isest t hing t o ex pect , and t he lik eliest . But I t hink t heir w it hdraw ing is in your favour.” Loit er ing on t he w ay out of cour t not being allow ed, Jer r y hear d no m or e: but left t hem—so lik e each ot her in feat ure, so unlik e each ot her in m anner—st anding side by side, bot h r eflect ed in t he glass abov e t hem . An hour and a half lim ped heav ily aw ay in t he t hief- andr ascal cr ow ded passages below , ev en t hough assist ed off w it h m ut t on pies and ale. The hoar se m essenger, uncom fort ably seat ed on a for m aft er t ak ing t hat r efect ion, had dr opped int o a doze, w hen a loud m ur m ur and a r apid t ide of people 104

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set t ing up t he st air s t hat led t o t he cour t , car r ied him along w it h t hem . “ Jerry! Jerry! ” Mr. Lorry was already calling at t he door w hen he got t her e. “ Her e, sir ! I t 's a fight t o get back again. Her e I am , sir ! ” Mr. Lorry handed him a paper t hrough t he t hrong. “ Quick! Hav e y ou got it ?” “ Yes, sir . ” Hast ily w r it t en on t he paper w as t he w or d “ AQUI TTED.” “ I f you had sent t he m essage, ‘Recalled t o Life, ’ again, ” m ut t ered Jerry, as he t urned, “ I should have known what you m eant , t his t im e. ” He had no oppor t unit y of saying, or so m uch as t hinking, any t hing else, unt il he w as clear of t he Old Bailey ; for , t he crowd cam e pour ing out w it h a v ehem ence t hat near ly t ook him off his legs, and a loud buzz sw ept int o t he st r eet as if t he baffled blue - flies w er e disper sing in sear ch of ot her carrion.

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IV Congrat ulat ory From t he dim ly- light ed passages of t he cour t , t he last sedim ent of t he hum an st ew t hat had been boiling t her e all day , w as st r aining off, w hen Doct or Manet t e, Lucie Manet t e, his daught er , Mr . Lor r y , t he solicit or for t he defence, and it s counsel, Mr. St ryver, st ood gat hered round Mr. Charles Darnay—j ust r eleased—congrat ulat ing him on his escape from deat h. I t w ould hav e been difficult by a far br ight er light , t o r ecognise in Doct or Manet t e, int ellect ual of face and upr ight of bear ing, t he shoem ak er of t he gar r et in Par is. Yet , no one could hav e look ed at hi m t w ice, w it hout look ing again: ev en t hough t he oppor t unit y of obser v at ion had not ex t ended t o t he m our nful cadence of his low gr av e v oice, and t o t he abst r act ion t hat ov er clouded him fit fully , w it hout any appar ent r eason. While one ex t er nal cause, and t ha t a r efer ence t o his long linger ing agony , w ould alw ay s—as on t he t r ial—ev ok e t his condit ion fr om t he dept hs of his soul, it w as also in it s nat ur e t o ar ise of it self, and t o dr aw a gloom ov er him , as incom pr ehensible t o t hose unacquaint ed w it h his st or y as if t hey had seen t he shadow of t he act ual Bast ille t hrow n upon him by a sum m er sun, w hen t he subst ance w as t hr ee hundr ed m iles aw ay. Only his daught er had t he pow er of char m ing t his black br ooding fr om his m ind. She w as t he golden t hr ead t hat unit ed hi m t o a Past bey ond his m iser y , and t o a Pr esent bey ond his m iser y : and t he sound of her v oice, t he light of 106

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her face, t he t ouch of her hand, had a st r ong beneficial influence w it h him alm ost alw ay s. Not absolut ely alw ay s, for she could r ecall som e occasions on which her power had failed; but t hey w er e few and slight , and she believ ed t hem over. Mr. Darnay had kissed her hand fervent ly and grat efully, and had t urned t o Mr. St ryver, whom he warm ly t hanked. Mr. St r yver , a m an of lit t le m or e t han t hir t y, but look ing t w ent y y ear s older t han he w as, st out , loud, r ed, bluff, and fr ee fr om any draw back of delicacy, had a pushing w ay of shouldering him self ( m or ally and phy sically ) int o com panies and conv er sat ions, t hat ar gued w ell for his shoulder ing his w ay up in lif e. He st ill had his w ig and gow n on, and he said, squar ing him self at his lat e client t o t hat degr ee t hat he squeezed t he innocent Mr. Lorry clean out of t he group: “ I am glad t o have brought you off wit h honour, Mr. Darnay. I t was an infam ous prosecut ion, gr ossly infam ous; but not t he less lik ely t o succeed on t hat account .” “ You hav e laid m e under an obligat ion t o y ou for life—in t w o senses, ” said his lat e client , t ak ing his hand. “ I have done m y best for you, Mr. Darnay; and m y best is as good as anot her m an's, I believ e.” I t clear ly being incum bent on som e one t o say, “ Much bet t er ,” Mr . Lor r y said it ; per haps not quit e disint er est edly , but w it h t he int er est ed obj ect of squeezing him self back again.

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“ You t hink so?” said Mr. St ryver. “ Well! yo u have been pr esent all day , and y ou ought t o k now . You ar e a m an of business, t oo. ” “ And as such,” quot h Mr. Lorry, whom t he counsel learned in t he law had now shoulder ed back int o t he gr oup, j ust as he had pr ev iously shoulder ed him out of it —" as such I w ill appeal t o Doct or Manet t e, t o br eak up t his confer ence and or der us all t o our hom es. Miss Lucie look s ill, Mr . Dar nay has had a t errible day, w e are worn out .” “ Speak for yourself, Mr. Lorry,” said St ryver; “ I have a night 's w ork t o do yet . Speak for yourself.” “ I speak for m yself,” answered Mr. Lorry, “ and for Mr. Darnay, and for Miss Lucie, and—Miss Lucie, do y ou not t hink I m ay speak for us all?” He ask ed her t he quest ion point edly , and w it h a glance at her fat her . His face had becom e fr ozen, as it w er e, in a v er y cur ious look at Dar nay : an int ent look , deepening int o a fr ow n of dislik e and dist r ust , not ev en unm ix ed w it h fear . Wit h t his st r ange ex pr ession on him his t hought s had w ander ed aw ay . “ My fat her,” said Lucie, soft ly lay ing her hand on his. He slow ly shook t he shadow off, and t ur ned t o her . “ Shall we go hom e, m y fat her?” Wit h a long br eat h, he answ er ed “ Yes. ” The fr iends of t he acquit t ed pr isoner had disper sed, under t he im pr ession—w hich he him self had or iginat ed—t hat he w ould not be r eleased t hat night . The light s w er e near ly all ex t inguished in t he passages, t he ir on gat es w er e being closed w it h a j ar and a r at t le, and t he dism al place w as deser t ed unt il t o- m or r ow m or ning's int er est of gallow s, 108

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pillory, whipping- post , and br anding- ir on, should r epeople it . Walking bet w een her fat her and Mr . Dar nay, Lucie Manet t e passed int o t he open air . A hack ney- coach w as called, and t he fat her and daught er depar t ed in it . Mr. St ryver had left t hem in t he passages, t o shoulder his w ay back t o t he robing- room . Anot her person, who had not j oined t he gr oup, or int er changed a w or d w it h any one of t hem , but w ho had been leaning against t he w all w her e it s shadow w as dar k est , had silent ly st r olled out aft er t he r est , and had looked on unt il t he coach dr ove aw ay. He now st epped up t o where Mr. Lorry and Mr. Darnay st ood upon t he pavem ent . “ So, Mr. Lorry! Men of business m ay speak t o Mr. Darnay now?” Nobody had m ade any acknowledgm ent of Mr. Cart on's par t in t he day 's pr oceedings; nobody had know n of it . He w as unr obed, and w as none t he bet t er for it in appear ance. “ I f y ou k new w hat a conflict goes on in t he business m ind, w hen t he business m ind is div ided bet w een good- nat ured im pulse and business appear ances, y ou w ould be am used, Mr. Darnay.” Mr. Lorry reddened, and said, warm ly, “ You have m ent ioned t hat befor e, sir . We m en of business, w ho ser v e a House, ar e not our ow n m ast er s. We hav e t o t hink of t he House m or e t han our selves.” “ I know, I know,” rej oined Mr. Ca r t on, car elessly. “ Don't be net t led, Mr . Lor r y . You ar e as good as anot her , I hav e no doubt : bet t er , I dar e say .” 109

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“ And indeed, sir,” pursued Mr. Lorry, not m inding him , “ I r eally don't k now w hat y ou hav e t o do w it h t he m at t er . I f you'll excuse m e, as very m uch your elder, for saying so, I r eally don't k now t hat it is y our business.” “ Business! Bless y ou, I hav e no business,” said Mr . Car t on. “ I t is a pit y y ou hav e not , sir .” “ I t hink so, t oo.” “ I f you had,” pursued Mr. Lorry, “ perhaps you would at t end t o it . ” “ Lord love you, no!—I shouldn't ,” said Mr . Car t on. “ Well, sir! ” cried Mr. Lorry, t horoughly heat ed by his indiffer ence, “ business is a v er y good t hing, and a v er y r espect able t hing. And, sir , if business im poses it s r est r aint s an d it s silences and im pedim ent s, Mr. Darnay as a young gent lem an of gener osit y k now s how t o m ak e allow ance for t hat circum st ance. Mr. Darnay, good night , God bless you, sir! I hope you have been t his day preserved for a prosperous and happy life.—Chair t here! ” Perh aps a lit t le angr y w it h him self, as w ell as w it h t he barrist er, Mr. Lorry bust led int o t he chair, and w as carried off t o Tellson's. Car t on, w ho sm elt of por t w ine, and did not appear t o be quit e sober , laughed t hen, and t ur ned t o Darnay: “ This is a st r ange chance t hat t hr ow s you and m e t oget her . This m ust be a st r ange night t o y ou, st anding alone her e w it h y our count er par t on t hese st r eet st ones?” “ I hardly seem yet ,” ret urned Charles Darnay, “ t o belong t o t his w or ld again.” 110

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“ I don't w onder at it ; it 's not so long since y ou w er e pr et t y far advanced on your w ay t o anot her . You speak faint ly.” “ I begin t o t hink I AM faint .” “ Then w hy t he dev il don't y ou dine? I dined, m y self, w hile t hose num sk ulls w er e deliber at ing w hich w or ld y ou should belong t o—t his, or som e ot her . Let m e show y ou t he near est t av er n t o dine w ell at . ” Drawing his arm t hrough his own, he t ook him down Ludgat e- h ill t o Fleet - st r eet , and so, up a cov er ed w ay , int o a t av er n. Her e, t hey w er e show n int o a lit t le r oom , w her e Charles Darna y w as soon r ecr uit ing his st r engt h w it h a good plain dinner and good w ine: w hile Car t on sat opposit e t o him at t he sam e t able, w it h his separ at e bot t le of por t befor e him , and his fully half- insolent m anner upon him . “ Do y ou feel, y et , t hat y ou belong t o t his t er r est r ial schem e again, Mr. Darnay?” “ I am fr ight fully confused r egar ding t im e and place; but I am so far m ended as t o feel t hat . ” “ I t m ust be an im m ense sat isfact ion! ” He said it bit t er ly , and filled up hi s glass again: w hich w as a lar ge one. “ As t o m e, t he gr eat est desir e I hav e, is t o for get t hat I belong t o it . I t has no good in it for m e —ex cept w ine lik e t h is—nor I for it . So w e ar e not m uch alike in t hat par t icular . I ndeed, I begin t o t hink w e ar e not m uch alike in any part icular, you and I .” Confused by t he em ot ion of t he day , and feeling his being t her e w it h t his Double of coar se depor t m ent , t o be lik e a 111

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dr eam , Char les Dar nay w as at a loss how t o answ er ; finally , answ er ed not at all. “ Now your dinner is done,” Car t on pr esent ly said, “ w hy don't you call a healt h, Mr. Darnay; why don't you give your t oast ?” “ Wh at h ealt h ? Wh at t oast ?” “ Why , it 's on t he t ip of y our t ongue. I t ought t o be, it m ust be, I 'll sw ear it 's t her e.” “ Miss Manet t e, t hen! ” “ Miss Manet t e, t hen! ” Look ing his com panion full in t he face w hile he dr ank t he t oast , Car t on flung his glass ov er his shoulder against t he w all, w her e it shiv er ed t o pieces; t hen, r ang t he bell, and ordered in anot her. “ That 's a fair y oung lady t o hand t o a coach in t he dar k, Mr. Darnay! ” he said, ruing his new goblet . A slight fr ow n and a laconic “ Yes,” w er e t he answ er . “ That 's a fair y oung lady t o be pit ied by and w ept for by ! How does it feel? I s it w or t h being t r ied for one's life, t o be t he obj ect of such sym pat hy and com passion, Mr. Darnay?” Again Darnay answered not a word. “ She w as m ight ily pleased t o hav e y our m essage, w hen I gav e it her . Not t hat she show ed she w as pleased, but I suppose she w as. ” The allusion ser v ed as a t im ely rem inder t o Darnay t hat t his disagr eeable com panion had, of his ow n fr ee w ill, assist ed him in t he st r ait of t he day . He t ur ned t he dialogue t o t hat point , and t hank ed him for it . 112

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“ I neit her w ant any t hanks, nor m er it any,” w as t he careless rej oinder. “ I t w as not hing t o do, in t he fir st place; and I don't know w hy I did it , in t he second. Mr . Dar nay, let m e ask y ou a quest ion.” “ Willingly , and a sm all r et ur n for y our good offices.” “ Do you t hink I part icularly like you?” “ Really, Mr. Cart on,” ret urn ed t he ot her , oddly disconcer t ed, “ I hav e not ask ed m y self t he quest ion.” “ But ask y our self t he quest ion now .” “ You hav e act ed as if y ou do; but I don't t hink y ou do.” “ I don't t hink I do,” said Car t on. “ I begin t o have a ver y good opinion of your under st anding.” “ Nev er t heless,” pur sued Dar nay , r ising t o r ing t he bell, “ t her e is not hing in t hat , I hope, t o pr ev ent m y calling t he r eckoning, and our par t ing w it hout ill- blood on eit her side. ” Cart on rej oining, “ Not hing in life! ” Darnay rang. “ Do you call t he w hole r eck oning?” said Car t on. On his answ er ing in t he affir m at iv e, “ Then br ing m e anot her pint of t his sam e w ine, draw er, and com e and w ake m e at t en.” The bill being paid, Char les Dar nay r ose and w ished him good night . Wit hout r et ur ning t he w ish, Car t on r ose t oo, w it h som et hing of a t hr eat of defiance in his m anner , and said, “ A last word, Mr. Darnay: you t hink I am drunk?” “ I t hink you have been drinking, Mr. Cart on.” “ Think? You know I ha ve been drinking.” “ Since I m ust say so, I know it .” “ Then y ou shall lik ew ise k now w hy . I am a disappoint ed drudge, sir. I care for no m an on eart h, and no m an on eart h cares for m e.” 113

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“ Much t o be r egr et t ed. You m ight hav e used y our t alent s bet t er .” “ May be so, Mr. Darnay; m ay be not . Don't let your sober face elat e you, how ever; you don't know w hat it m ay com e t o. Good night ! ” When he w as left alone, t his st r ange being t ook up a candle, w ent t o a glass t hat hung against t he w all, and surveyed him self m inut ely in it . “ Do you par t icular ly like t he m an?” he m ut t er ed, at his own im age; “ why should you part icularly like a m an who r esem bles y ou? Ther e is not hing in y ou t o lik e; y ou k now t hat . Ah, confound you! What a change you have m ade in yourself! A good r eason for t ak ing t o a m an, t hat he show s you w hat you have fallen aw ay from , and w hat you m ight have been! Change places w it h him , and w ould you have been look ed at by t hose blue ey es as he w as, and com m iser at ed by t hat agit at ed face as he w as? Com e on, and hav e it out in plain w or ds! You hat e t he fellow . ” He r esor t ed t o his pint of w ine for consolat ion, dr ank it all in a few m inut es, and fell asleep on his ar m s, w it h his hair st r aggling ov er t he t able, and a long w inding- sheet in t he candle drippi ng down upon him .

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V The Jackal Those were drinking days, and m ost m en drank hard. So ver y gr eat is t he im pr ovem ent Tim e has br ought about in such habit s, t hat a m oder at e st at em ent of t he quant it y of w ine and punch w hich one m an w ould sw allow in t he course of a night , w it hout any det r im ent t o his r eput at ion as a per fect gent lem an, w ould seem , in t hese day s, a r idiculous ex agger at ion. The lear ned pr ofession of t he law w as cer t ainly not behind any ot her lear ned pr ofession in it s Bacchanalian pr opensit ies; neit her w as Mr. St ryver, already fast shoulder ing his w ay t o a lar ge and lucr at iv e pr act ice, behind his com peer s in t his par t icular , any m or e t han in t he dr ier par t s of t he legal r ace. A fav our it e at t he Old Bailey , and ek e at t he Sessions, Mr . Stryv er had begun caut iously t o hew aw ay t he low er st av es of t he ladder on w hich he m ount ed. Sessions and Old Bailey had now t o sum m on t heir fav our it e, specially , t o t heir longing ar m s; and shoulder ing it self t ow ar ds t he v isage of t he Lor d Chief Just ice in t he Cour t of King's Bench, t he flor id count enance of Mr. St ryver m ight be daily seen, burst ing out of t he bed of w igs, lik e a gr eat sunflow er pushing it s w ay at t he sun from am ong a rank garden- full of flar ing com panions. I t had once been not ed at t he Bar , t hat while Mr. St ryver w as a glib m an, and an unscr upulous, and a r eady, and a bold, he had not t hat facult y of ex t r act ing t he essence fr om a heap of st at em ent s, w hich is am ong t he m ost st r ik ing and necessar y of t he adv ocat e's accom plishm ent s. But , a 115

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rem arkable im pr ovem ent cam e upon him as t o t his. The m or e business he got , t he gr eat er his pow er seem ed t o gr ow of get t ing at it s pit h and m ar r ow ; and how ev er lat e at night he sat car ousing w it h Sy dney Car t on, he alw ay s had his point s at his finger s’ ends in t he m orning. Sydney Car t on, idlest and m ost unpr om ising of m en, w as St r y v er 's gr eat ally . What t he t w o dr ank t oget her , bet w een Hilar y Ter m and Michaelm as, m ight have float ed a king's ship. St ryver never had a case in hand, anywhere, but Cart on was t her e, w it h his hands in his pock et s, st ar ing at t he ceiling of t he cour t ; t hey w ent t he sam e Cir cuit , and ev en t her e t hey pr olonged t heir usual or gies lat e int o t he night , and Car t on w as r um our ed t o be seen at br oad day , going hom e st ealt hily and unst eadily t o hi s lodgings, lik e a dissipat ed cat . At last , it began t o get about , am ong such as w er e int er est ed in t he m at t er , t hat alt hough Sydney Car t on w ould never be a lion, he w as an am azingly good j ack al, and t hat he r ender ed suit and service t o St ryver in t hat hum ble capacit y . “ Ten o'clock, sir ,” said t he m an at t he t aver n, w hom he had char ged t o w ake him—" t en o'clock, sir.” “ WHAT'S t he m at t er?” “ Ten o'clock, sir.” “ What do y ou m ean? Ten o'clock at night ?” “ Yes, sir . Your honour t old m e t o call y ou.” “Oh! I rem em ber. Very well, very well.” Aft er a few dull effor t s t o get t o sleep again, w hich t he m an dext er ously com bat ed by st ir r ing t he fir e cont inuously for fiv e m inut es, he got up, t ossed his hat on, and w alk ed out . He t ur ned int o t he Tem ple, and, having r ev iv ed him self 116

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by t w ice pacing t he pav em ent s of King's Bench- w alk and Paper- buildings, t urned int o t he St ryver cham bers. The St r yver cler k, w ho never assist ed at t hese conferences, had gone hom e, and t he St ryver principal opened t he door . He had his slipper s on, and a loose bedgow n, and his t hr oat w as bar e for his gr eat er ease. He had t hat r at her w ild, st r ained, sear ed m ar k ing about t he ey es, w hich m ay be obser v ed in all fr ee liv er s of his class, fr om t he por t r ait of Jeffr ies dow nw ar d, and w hich can be t raced, under v ar ious disguises of Ar t , t hr ough t he por t r ait s of ev er y Drinking Age. “ You ar e a lit t le lat e, Mem or y ,” said St r y v er . “ About t he usual t im e; it m ay be a quar t er of an hour lat er .” They w ent int o a dingy r oom lined w it h book s and lit t er ed w it h paper s, w her e t her e w as a blazing fir e. A k et t le st eam ed upon t he hob, and in t he m idst of t he w r eck of paper s a t able shone, w it h plent y of w ine upon it , and br andy, and r um , and sugar , and lem ons. “ You have had your bot t le, I perceive, Sydney.” “ Tw o t o- night , I t hink . I hav e been dining w it h t he day 's client ; or seeing him dine —it 's all one! ” “ That w as a rare point , Sydney, t hat you brought t o bear upon t he ident ificat ion. How did y ou com e by it ? Wh en did it st rike you?” “ I t hought he w as r at her a handsom e fellow , and I t hought I should hav e been m uch t he sam e sor t of fellow , if I had had any luck.” Mr. St ryver laughed t ill he shook his precocious paunch. 117

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“ You and your luck, Sydney! Get t o work, get t o work.” Sullenly enough, t he j ack al loosened his dr ess, w ent int o an adj oining r oom , and cam e back w it h a lar ge j ug of cold w at er , a basin, and a t ow el or t w o. St eeping t he t ow els in t he w at er , and par t ially w r inging t hem out , he folded t hem o n his head in a m anner hideous t o behold, sat dow n at t he t able, and said, “ Now I am ready! ” “ Not m uch boiling dow n t o be done t o- night , Mem ory,” said Mr. St ryver, gaily, as he looked am ong his papers. “ How m uch?” “ Only t w o set s of t hem .” “ Give m e t he w or st fir st .” “ There t hey are, Sydney. Fire away! ” The lion t hen com posed him self on his back on a sofa on one side of t he dr ink ing- t able, w hile t he j ack al sat at his ow n paper- best r ew n t able pr oper , on t he ot her side of it , w it h t he bot t les and gl asses r eady t o his hand. Bot h r esor t ed t o t he drinking- t able w it hout st int , but each in a differ ent w ay ; t he lion for t he m ost par t r eclining w it h his hands in his w aist band, look ing at t he fir e, or occasionally flir t ing w it h som e light er docum ent ; t he j ack al, w it h k nit t ed br ow s and int ent face, so deep in his t ask , t hat his ey es did not ev en follow t he hand he st r et ched out for his glass—w hich oft en gr oped about , for a m inut e or m or e, befor e it found t he glass for his lips. Tw o or t hr ee t im es, t he m at t er i n hand becam e so k not t y , t hat t he j ack al found it im per at iv e on him t o get up, and st eep his t ow els anew . Fr om t hese pilgr im ages t o t he j ug and basin, he r et ur ned w it h such eccent r icit ies of dam p 118

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headgear as no w ords can describe; w hich w ere m ade t he m ore ludicr ous by his anxious gr avit y. At lengt h t he j ack al had got t oget her a com pact r epast for t he lion, and pr oceeded t o offer it t o him . The lion t ook it w it h car e and caut ion, m ade his select ions fr om it , and his r em ar k s upon it , and t he j ack al assist ed bot h. When t he r epast w as fully discussed, t he lion put his hands in his w aist band again, and lay dow n t o m ediat e. The j ack al t hen inv igor at ed him self w it h a bum for his t hr ot t le, and a fr esh applicat ion t o his head, and applied him self t o t he collect ion of a second m eal; t his w as adm inist er ed t o t he lion in t he sam e m anner , and w as not disposed of unt il t he clock s st r uck t hree in t he m orning. “ And now we have done, Sydney, fill a bum per of punch,” said Mr. St ryver. The j ackal r em oved t he t ow els fr om his head, w hich had been st eam ing again, shook him self, y aw ned, shiv er ed, and com plied. “ You w er e ver y sound, Sydney, in t he m at t er of t hose cr ow n w it nesses t o- day. Ever y quest ion t old.” “ I alw ays am sound; am I not ?” “ I don't gainsay it . What has r oughened your t em per? Put som e punch t o it and sm oot h it again.” Wit h a depr ecat or y gr unt , t he j ack al again com plied. “ The old Sydney Cart on of old Shrewsbury School,” said St ryver, nodding his head over him as he review ed him in t he pr esent and t he past , “ t he old seesaw Sy dney . Up one m inut e and dow n t he next ; now in spir it s and now in despondency! ” 119

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“ Ah! ” ret urned t he ot her, sighing: “ yes! The sam e Sydney, w it h t he sam e luck . Ev en t hen, I did ex er cises for ot her boy s, and seldom did m y ow n. “ And why not ?” “ God know s. I t w as m y w ay, I suppose.” He sat , w it h his hands in his pock et s and his legs st r et ched out befor e him , look ing at t he fir e. “ Car t on,” said his fr iend, squar ing him self at him w it h a bully ing air , as if t he fir e - gr at e had been t he f urnace in which sust ained endeav our w as for ged, and t he one delicat e t hing t o be done for t he old Sydney Cart on of old Shrewsbury School w as t o shoulder him int o it , “ y our w ay is, and alw ay s w as, a lam e w ay. You sum m on no energy and purpose. Look at m e.” “ Oh, bot herat ion! ” ret urned Sydney, w it h a light er and m ore good- hum oured laugh, “ don't YOU be m oral! ” “ How have I done what I have done?” said St ryver; “ how do I do w hat I do?” “ Part ly t hrough paying m e t o help y ou, I suppose. But it 's not w or t h y our w hile t o apost r ophise m e, or t he air , about it ; w hat y ou w ant t o do, y ou do. You w er e alw ay s in t he fr ont r ank, and I w as alw ays behind.” “ I had t o get int o t he fr ont r ank ; I w as not bor n t her e, w as I ?” “ I was not pr esent at t he cer em ony ; but m y opinion is y ou w er e,” said Car t on. At t his, he laughed again, and t hey bot h laughed. “ Before Shrewsbury, and at Shrewsbury, and ever since Shrewsbury,” pursued Cart on, “ you have fallen int o your 120

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rank, and I have fallen int o m ine. Ev en w hen w e w er e fellow st udent s in t he St udent - Quart er of Paris, picking up French, and French law, and ot her French crum bs t hat we didn't get m uch good of, you w er e alw ays som ew her e, and I w as alw ays nowhere.” “ And w hose fault w as t hat ?” “ Upon m y soul, I am not sur e t hat it w as not y our s. You w er e alw ays dr iving and r iving and shoulder ing and passing, t o t hat r est less degr ee t hat I had no chance for m y life but in r ust and r epose. I t 's a gloom y t hing, how ev er , t o t alk about one's own p ast , w it h t he day br eaking. Tur n m e in som e ot her dir ect ion befor e I go.” “ Well t hen! Pledge m e t o t he pr et t y w it ness,” said St r y v er , holding up his glass. “ Ar e y ou t ur ned in a pleasant dir ect ion?” Appar ent ly not , for he becam e gloom y again. “ Pret t y w it ness, ” he m ut t er ed, look ing dow n int o his glass. “ I hav e had enough of w it nesses t o- day and t o- night ; w ho's your pr et t y w it ness?” “ The pict ur esque doct or 's daught er , Miss Manet t e.” “ SHE pret t y?” “ I s she not ?” “ No.” “ Why , m an aliv e, she w as t he adm ir at ion of t he w hole Court ! ” “ Rot t he adm ir at ion of t he w hole Cour t ! Who m ade t he Old Bailey a j udge of beaut y ? She w as a golden- hair ed doll! ” “ Do you know, Sydney,” said Mr. St ryver, looking at him w it h shar p ey es, and slow ly dr aw ing a hand acr oss his flor id face: “ do y ou k now , I r at her t hought , at t he t im e, t hat y ou 121

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sy m pat hised w it h t he golden- hair ed doll, and w er e quick t o see w hat happened t o t he golden- hair ed doll?” “ Quick t o see w hat happened! I f a gir l, doll or no doll, sw oons w it hin a yar d or t w o of a m an's nose, he can see it w it hout a per spect iv e - glass. I pledge y ou, but I deny t he beaut y. And now I 'll have no m or e dr ink; I 'll get t o bed.” When his host follow ed him out on t he st air case w it h a candle, t o light him dow n t he st air s, t he day w as coldly look ing in t hr ough it s gr im y w indow s. When he got out of t he house, t he air w as cold and sad, t he dull sk y ov er cast , t he r iv er dar k and dim , t he w hole scene lik e a lifeless deser t . And w r eat hs of dust w er e spinning r ound and r ound befor e t he m or ning blast , as if t he deser t - sand had r isen far aw ay, and t he fir st spr ay of it in it s adv ance had begun t o ov er w helm t he cit y . Wast e for ces w it hin him , and a deser t all ar ound, t his m an st ood st ill on his w ay acr oss a silent t er r ace, and saw for a m om ent , ly ing in t he w ilder ness befor e him , a m ir age of honour able am bit ion, self- denial, and per sev er ance. I n t he fair cit y of t his v ision, t her e w er e air y galler ies fr om w hich t he lov es and gr aces look ed upon him , gar dens in w hich t he fr uit s of life hung ripening, w at er s of Hope t hat spar k led in his sight . A m om ent , and it w as gone. Clim bing t o a high cham ber in a w ell of houses, he t hr ew him self dow n in his clot hes on a neglect ed bed, and it s pillow w as w et w it h w ast ed t ear s. Sadly , sadly , t he sun r ose; it r ose upon no sadder sight t han t he m an of good abilit ies and good em ot ions, incapable of t heir dir ect ed ex er cise, incapable of his ow n help and his 122

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ow n happiness, sensible of t he blight on him , and r esigning him self t o let it eat him aw ay .

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VI Hundr eds of People The quiet lodgings of Doct or Manet t e w er e in a quiet st r eet - corner not far from Soho- squar e. On t he aft er noon of a cer t ain fine Sunday w hen t he w aves of four m ont hs had r oiled ov er t he t r ial for t r eason, and car r ied it , as t o t he public int erest and m em ory, far out t o sea, Mr. Jarvis Lorry walked along t he sunny st r eet s fr om Cler k enw ell w her e he liv ed, on his w ay t o dine w it h t he Doct or . Aft er sev er al r elapses int o business- absorpt ion, Mr. Lorry had becom e t he Doct or's fr iend, and t he quiet st r eet - cor ner w as t he sunny par t of his lif e. On t his cert ain fine Sunday, Mr. Lorry walked t owards Soho, ear ly in t he aft er noon, for t hr ee r easons of habit . Fir st ly , because, on fine Sunday s, he oft en w alk ed out , befor e dinner, w it h t he Doct or and Lucie; secondly , because, on unfavour able Sundays, he w as accust om ed t o be w it h t hem as t he fam ily fr iend, t alk ing, r eading, look ing out of w indow , and gener ally get t ing t hr ough t he day ; t hir dly , because he happened t o hav e his ow n lit t le shr ew d doubt s t o solve, and k new how t he w ay s of t he Doct or 's household point ed t o t hat t im e as a lik ely t im e for solv ing t hem . A quaint er corner t han t he corner where t he Doct or lived, w as not t o be found in London. Ther e w as no w ay t hr ough it , and t he fr ont w indow s of t he Doct or's lodgings com m anded a pleasant lit t le v ist a of st r eet t hat had a congenial air of r et ir em ent on it . Ther e w er e few buildings t hen, nor t h of t he Oxford - r oad, and for est - t r ees flour ished, and w ild flow er s 124

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gr ew , and t he haw t hor n blossom ed, in t he now v anished fields. As a consequence, count r y air s cir culat ed in Soho w it h v igor ous fr eedom , inst ead of languishing int o t he par ish lik e st r ay pauper s w it hout a set t lem ent ; and t her e w as m any a good sout h w all, not far off, on w hich t he peaches r ipened in t heir season. The sum m er light st r uck int o t he cor ner br illiant ly in t he ear lier par t of t he day ; but , w hen t he st r eet s gr ew hot , t he cor ner w as in shadow , t hough not in shadow so r em ot e but t hat y ou could see bey ond it int o a glar e of br ight ness. I t w as a cool spot , st aid but cheer ful, a w onder ful place for echoes, and a very harbour from t he raging st reet s. Ther e ought t o have been a t r anquil bar k in such an anchor age, and t her e w as. The Doct or occupied t w o floor s of a lar ge st iff house, w her e sev er al callings pur por t ed t o be pur sued by day , but w her eof lit t le w as audible any day , and w hich w as shunned by all of t hem at night . I n a building at t he back, at t ainable by a cour t yar d w her e a plane - t r ee r ust led it s gr een leaves, chur ch- or gans claim ed t o be m ade, and silv er t o be chased, and lik ew ise gold t o be beat en by som e m y st er ious giant w ho had a golden ar m st ar t ing out of t he w all of t he fr ont hall—as if he had beat en him self pr ecious, and m enaced a sim ilar conv er sion of all v isit or s. Ver y lit t le of t hese t r ades, or of a lonely lodger r um our ed t o liv e up- st air s, or of a dim coach- t rim m ing m aker assert ed t o have a count ing- house below , w as ev er hear d or seen. Occasionally , a st r ay w or k m an put t ing his coat on, t r av er sed t he hall, or a st r anger peer ed about t her e, or a dist ant clink w as hear d across t he court yard, or a t hum p from t he golden giant . 125

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These, how ever , w er e only t he except ions r equir ed t o pr ove t he r ule t hat t he spar r ow s in t he plane - t r ee behind t he house, and t he echoes in t he cor ner befor e it , had t heir ow n w ay from Sunday m orning unt o Sat urday night . Doct or Manet t e r eceiv ed such pat ient s her e as his old r eput at ion, and it s r evival in t he float ing w hisper s of his st or y, br ought him . His scient ific k now ledge, and his v igilance and sk ill in conduct ing ingenious ex per im ent s, br ought him ot her w ise int o m oder at e r equest , and he ear ned as m uch as he w ant ed. These t hings w ere w it hin Mr. Jarvis Lorry's know ledge, t hought s, and not ice, w hen he r ang t he door- bell of t h e t r anquil house in t he cor ner , on t he fine Sunday aft er noon. “ Doct or Manet t e at hom e?” Expect ed hom e. “ Miss Lucie at hom e?” Expect ed home. “ Miss Pr oss at hom e?” Possibly at hom e, but of a cer t aint y im possible for handm aid t o ant icipat e int ent ions of Miss Pr oss, as t o adm ission or denial of t he fact . “ As I am at hom e m yself,” said Mr. Lorry, “ I 'll go upst airs.” Alt hough t he Doct or's daught er had know n not hing of t he count r y of her bir t h, she appear ed t o have innat ely der ived fr om it t hat abilit y t o m ak e m uch of lit t le m eans, w hich is one of it s m ost useful and m ost agr eeable char act er ist ics. Sim ple as t he fur nit ur e w as, it w as set off by so m any lit t le ador nm ent s, of no v alue but for t heir t ast e and fancy , t hat it s effect w as delight ful. The disposit ion of ev er y t hing in t he 126

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r oom s, fr om t he lar gest obj ect t o t he least ; t he ar r angem ent of colour s, t he elegant v ar iet y and cont r ast obt ained by t hr ift in t r ifles, by delicat e hands, clear ey es, and good sense; w er e at once so pleasant in t hem selv es, and so ex pr essiv e of t heir or iginat or , t hat , as Mr . Lor r y st ood look ing about him , t he v er y chair s and t ables seem ed t o ask him , w it h som et hing of t hat peculiar ex pr ession w hich he k new so w ell by t his t im e, whet her he approved? There w ere t hree room s on a floor, and, t he doors by w hich t hey com m unicat ed being put open t hat t he air m ight pass freely t hrough t hem all, Mr. Lorry, sm ilingly observa nt of t hat fanciful r esem blance w hich he det ect ed all ar ound him , w alk ed fr om one t o anot her . The fir st w as t he best r oom , and in it w er e Lucie's bir ds, and flow er s, and book s, and desk , and work- t able, and box of w at er- colour s; t he second w as t he Doct or's consult ing- r oom , used also as t he dining- room ; t he t hir d, changingly speck led by t he r ust le of t he plane - t r ee in t he yard, was t he Doct or's bedroom , and t here, in a corner, st ood t he disused shoem ak er 's bench and t r ay of t ools, m uch as it had st ood on t he fift h floor of t he dism al house by t he wine - shop, in t he subur b of Saint Ant oine in Par is. “ I w onder,” said Mr. Lorry, pausing in his looking about , “ t hat he k eeps t hat r em inder of his suffer ings about him ! ” “ And w hy w onder at t hat ?” w as t he abr upt inquiry t hat m ade him st ar t . I t pr oceeded fr om Miss Pr oss, t he w ild r ed w om an, st r ong of hand, w hose acquaint ance he had fir st m ade at t he Roy al Geor ge Hot el at Dover , and had since im pr oved. “ I should have t hought —” Mr. Lorry began. 127

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“ Pooh! You'd have t hought ! ” said Miss Pross; and Mr. Lorry lef t of f . “ How do y ou do?” inquir ed t hat lady t hen—sharply, and y et as if t o ex pr ess t hat she bor e him no m alice. “ I am pret t y well, I t hank you,” answered Mr. Lorry, wit h m eekness; “ how are you?” “ Not hing t o boast of, ” said Miss Pr oss. “ I ndeed?” “ Ah! indeed! ” said Miss Pross. “ I am very m uch put out about m y Ladybird.” “ I ndeed?” “ For gr acious sak e say som et hing else besides ‘indeed,’ or y ou'll fidget m e t o deat h,” said Miss Pr oss: w hose char act er ( dissociat ed fr om st at ur e) w as shor t ness. “ Really, t hen?” said Mr. Lorry, as an am endm ent . “ Really , is bad enough,” r et ur ned Miss Pr oss, “ but bet t er . Yes, I am very m uch put out .” “ May I ask t he cause?” “ I don't w ant dozens of people w ho ar e not at all w or t hy of Lady bir d, t o com e her e look ing aft er her ,” said Miss Pr oss. “ DO dozens com e for t hat pur pose?” “ Hundr eds,” said Miss Pr oss. I t w as char act er ist ic of t his lady ( as of som e ot her people befor e her t im e and since) t hat w henever her or iginal pr oposit ion w as quest ioned, she ex agger at ed it . “ Dear m e! ” said Mr. Lorry, as t he safest rem ark he could t hink of. “ I hav e liv ed w it h t he dar ling—or t he dar ling has liv ed w it h m e, and paid m e for it ; w hich she cer t ainly should never have 128

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done, y ou m ay t ak e y our affidav it , if I could hav e affor ded t o keep eit her m yself or her for not hing—since she w as t en y ear s old. And it 's r eally v er y har d,” said Miss Pr oss. Not seeing w it h pr ecision w hat w as v er y har d, Mr. Lorry shook his head; using t hat im por t ant par t of him self as a sor t of fair y cloak t hat w ould fit any t hing. “ All sor t s of people w ho ar e not in t he least degr ee w or t hy of t he pet , ar e alw ay s t ur ning up,” said Miss Pr oss. “ When y ou began it —” “ I began it , Miss Pr oss?” “ Didn't y ou? Who br ought her fat her t o life?” “ Oh! I f THAT w as beginning it —” said Mr. Lorry. “ I t w asn't ending it , I suppose? I say , w hen y ou began it , it w as har d enough; not t hat I hav e any fault t o find w it h Doct or Manet t e, ex cept t hat he is not w or t hy of such a daught er , w hich is no im put at ion on him , for it w as not t o be expect ed t hat anybody should be, under any cir cum st ances. But it r eally is doubly and t r ebly har d t o have cr ow ds and m ult it udes of people t ur ning up aft er him ( I could have for given him ) , t o t ake Ladybir d's affect ions aw ay fr om m e.” Mr . Lor r y knew Miss Pr oss t o be ver y j ealous, but he also k new her by t his t im e t o be, beneat h t he ser v ice of her eccent r icit y , one of t hose unselfish cr eat ur es—found only am ong w om en—w ho w ill, for pur e lov e and adm ir at ion, bind t hem selv es w illing slav es, t o y out h w hen t hey hav e lost it , t o beaut y t hat t hey nev er had, t o accom plishm ent s t hat t hey w er e nev er for t unat e enough t o gain, t o br ight hopes t hat never shone upon t heir ow n som br e liv es. He k new enough of t he w or ld t o k now t hat t her e is not hing in it bet t er t han t he 129

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fait hful ser v ice of t he hear t ; so r ender ed and so fr ee fr om any m er cenar y t aint , he had such an ex alt ed r espect for it , t hat in t he r et r ibut ive ar r angem ent s m ade by his own m ind—w e all m ake such arrangem ent s, m ore or less—he st at ioned Miss Pr oss m uch near er t o t he low er Angels t han m any ladies im m easur ably bet t er got up bot h by Nat ur e and Ar t , w ho had balances at Tellson's. “ There never w as, nor w ill be, but one m an wort hy of Ladybir d,” said Miss Pr oss; “ and t hat w as m y br ot her Solom on, if he hadn't m ade a m ist ak e in life.” Her e again: Mr . Lor r y's inquir ies int o Miss Pr oss's per sonal hist or y had est ablished t he fact t hat her br ot her Solom on w as a hear t less scoundr el w ho had st r ipped her of ever yt hing she possessed, as a st ak e t o speculat e w it h, and had abandoned her in her povert y for everm ore, wit h no t ouch of com punct ion. Miss Pr oss's fidelit y of belief in Solom on ( deduct ing a m er e t r ifle for t his slight m ist ak e) w as quit e a ser ious m at t er w it h Mr . Lor r y , and had it s w eight in his good opinion of her . “ As w e happen t o be alone for t he m om ent , and ar e bot h people of business, ” he said, w hen t hey had got back t o t he drawing- r oom and had sat dow n t her e in fr iendly r elat ions, “ let m e ask y ou—does t he Doct or , in t alk ing w it h Lucie, nev er r efer t o t he shoem ak ing t im e, y et ?” “ Never.” “ And y et k eeps t hat bench and t hose t ools beside him ?” “ Ah! ” ret urned Miss Pross, shaking her head. “ But I don't say he don't r efer t o it w it hin him self. ” “ Do y ou believ e t hat he t hink s of it m uch?” 130

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“ I do, ” said Miss Pr oss. “ Do you im agine —” Mr. Lorry had begun, when Miss Pross t ook him up shor t w it h: “ Nev er im agine any t hing. Hav e no im aginat ion at all.” “ I st and correct ed; do y ou suppose—y ou go so far as t o suppose, som et im es?” “ Now and t hen,” said Miss Pr oss. “ Do you suppose,” Mr. Lorry went on, wit h a laughing t w ink le in his br ight ey e, as it look ed k indly at her , “ t hat Doct or Manet t e has any t heor y of his ow n, pr eserved t hrough all t hose y ear s, r elat iv e t o t he cause of his being so oppr essed; per haps, ev en t o t he nam e of his oppr essor ?” “ I don't suppose any t hing about it but w hat Lady bir d t ells m e.” “ And t hat is—?” “ That she t hink s he has.” “ Now don't be angr y at m y ask ing all t hese quest ions; because I am a m er e dull m an of business, and y ou ar e a w om an of business.” “ Dull?” Miss Pr oss inquir ed, w it h placidit y . Rat her w ishing his m odest adj ect ive aw ay, Mr . Lor r y replied, “ No, no, no. Sure ly not . To r et ur n t o business: —I s it not r em ar k able t hat Doct or Manet t e, unquest ionably innocent of any cr im e as w e ar e all w ell assur ed he is, should nev er t ouch upon t hat quest ion? I w ill not say w it h m e, t hough he had business r elat ions w it h m e m any y ear s ago, and w e ar e now int im at e; I w ill say w it h t he fair daught er t o w hom he is so dev ot edly at t ached, and w ho is so dev ot edly at t ached t o 131

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him ? Believ e m e, Miss Pr oss, I don't appr oach t he t opic w it h y ou, out of cur iosit y , but out of zealous int er est . ” “ Well! To t he best of m y under st anding, and bad's t he best , y ou'll t ell m e, ” said Miss Pr oss, soft ened by t he t one of t he apology , “ he is afr aid of t he w hole subj ect .” “ Afraid?” “ I t 's plain enough, I should t hink , w hy he m ay be. I t 's a dreadful rem em brance. Besides t hat , his loss of him self gr ew out of it . Not k now ing how he lost him self, or how he r ecov er ed him self, he m ay nev er feel cer t ain of not losing him self again. That alone w ouldn't m ak e t he subj ect pleasant , I should t hink .” I t w as a pr ofounder rem ark t han Mr. Lorry had looked for. “ Tr ue,” said he, “ and fear ful t o r eflect upon. Yet , a doubt lur ks in m y m ind, Miss Pr oss, w het her it is good for Doct or Manet t e t o hav e t hat suppr ession alw ay s shut up w it hin him . I ndeed, it is t his doubt and t he uneasiness it som et im es causes m e t hat has led m e t o our pr esent confidence.” “ Can't be helped,” said Miss Pr oss, shak ing her head. “ Touch t hat st r ing, and he inst ant ly changes for t he w or se. Bet t er leav e it alone. I n shor t , m ust leav e it alone, lik e or no lik e. Som et im es, he get s up in t he dead of t he night , and w ill be heard, by us overhead t here, w alking up and dow n, w alking up and dow n, in his r oom . Ladybir d has lear nt t o k now t hen t hat his m ind is w alk ing up and dow n, w alk ing up and dow n, in his old prison. She hur r ies t o him , and t hey go on t oget her , w alking up and dow n, w alking up and dow n, unt il he is com posed. But he nev er say s a w or d of t he t r ue r eason of his r est lessness, t o her , and she finds it best not t o 132

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hint at it t o him . I n silence t hey go w alking up and dow n t oget her , w alk ing up and dow n t oget her , t ill her lov e and com pany have brought him t o him self.” Not w it hst anding Miss Pr oss's denial of her ow n im aginat ion, t her e w as a per cept ion of t he pain of being m onot onously haunt ed by one sad idea, in her r epet it ion of t he phr ase, w alk ing up and dow n, w hich t est ified t o her possessing such a t hing. The corner has been m ent ioned as a w onderful corner for echoes; it had begun t o echo so r esoundingly t o t he t r ead of com ing feet , t hat it seem ed as t hough t he very m ent ion of t hat w ear y pacing t o and fr o had set it going. “ Her e t hey ar e! ” said Miss Pr oss, r ising t o br eak up t he confer ence; “ and now w e shall have hundr eds of people pret t y soon! ” I t w as such a curious corner in it s acoust ical propert ies, such a peculiar Ear of a place, t hat as Mr . Lor r y st ood at t he open w indow , look ing for t he fat her and daught er w hose st eps he hear d, he fancied t hey w ould nev er appr oach. Not only w ould t he echoes die aw ay , as t hough t he st eps had gone; but , echoes of ot her st eps t hat nev er cam e w ould be hear d in t heir st ead, and w ould die aw ay for good w hen t hey seem ed close at hand. How ev er , fat her and daught er did at last appear , and Miss Pr oss w as r eady at t he st r eet door t o receive t hem . Miss Pr oss w as a pleasant sight , albeit w ild, and r ed, and gr im , t aking off her dar ling's bonnet w hen she cam e upst air s, and t ouching it up w it h t he ends of her handk er chief, and blow ing t he dust off it , and folding her m ant le r eady for 133

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laying by, and sm oot hing her rich hair wi t h as m uch pr ide as she could possibly hav e t ak en in her ow n hair if she had been t he v ainest and handsom est of w om en. Her dar ling w as a pleasant sight t oo, em br acing her and t hank ing her , and pr ot est ing against her t ak ing so m uch t r ouble for her—which last she only dar ed t o do play fully , or Miss Pr oss, sor ely hur t , would have ret ired t o her own cham ber and cried. The Doct or w as a pleasant sight t oo, look ing on at t hem , and t elling Miss Pr oss how she spoilt Lucie, in accent s and w it h ey es t hat had as m uch spoiling in t hem as Miss Pr oss had, and w ould hav e had m or e if it w er e possible. Mr . Lor r y w as a pleasant sight t oo, beam ing at all t his in his lit t le w ig, and t hank ing his bachelor st ar s for hav ing light ed him in his declining y ear s t o a Hom e. But , no Hundr eds of people cam e t o see t he sight s, and Mr . Lor r y look ed in v ain for t he fulfilm ent of Miss Pr oss's pr edict ion. Dinner- t im e, and st ill no Hundr eds of people. I n t he ar r angem ent s of t he lit t le household, Miss Pr oss t ook char ge of t he low er r egions, and alw ay s acquit t ed her self m ar vellously. Her dinner s, of a ver y m odest qualit y, w er e so w ell cook ed and so w ell ser v ed, and so neat in t heir cont r iv ances, half English and half Fr ench, t hat not hing could be bet t er . Miss Pr oss's fr iendship being of t he t hor o ughly pr act ical kind, she had r avaged Soho and t he adj acent provinces, in search of im poverished French, w ho, t em pt ed by shillings and half- crow ns, w ould im part culinary m yst eries t o her . Fr om t hese decay ed sons and daught er s of Gaul, she had acquired such w onder ful ar t s, t hat t he w om an and gir l w ho for m ed t he st aff of dom est ics r egar ded her as quit e a 134

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Sorceress, or Cinderella's Godm ot her: w ho w ould send out for a fow l, a r abbit , a v eget able or t w o fr om t he gar den, and change t hem int o any t hing she pleased. On Sunday s, Miss Pr oss dined at t he Doct or 's t able, but on ot her day s per sist ed in t ak ing her m eals at unk now n per iods, eit her in t he low er r egions, or in her ow n r oom on t he second floor—a blue cham ber, t o which no one but her Ladybird ever gained adm i t t ance. On t his occasion, Miss Pr oss, r esponding t o Lady bir d's pleasant face and pleasant effor t s t o please her , unbent ex ceedingly ; so t he dinner w as v er y pleasant , t oo. I t w as an oppr essiv e day , and, aft er dinner , Lucie pr oposed t hat t he w ine should be carried out under t he plane t r ee, and t hey should sit t her e in t he air . As ev er y t hing t urned upon her, and revolved about her, t hey w ent out under t he plane - t r ee, and she car r ied t he w ine dow n for t he special benefit of Mr . Lor r y . She had inst alled her self, som e t im e before, as Mr. Lorry's cup- bear er ; and w hile t hey sat under t he plane - t r ee, t alk ing, she k ept his glass r eplenished. My st er ious back s and ends of houses peeped at t hem as t hey t alk ed, and t he plane - t r ee w hisper ed t o t hem in it s ow n w ay abov e t heir heads. St ill, t he Hundr eds of people did not pr esent t hem selv es. Mr . Dar nay pr esent ed him self w hile t hey w er e sit t ing under t he plane - t r ee, but he w as only One. Doct or Manet t e r eceived him kindly, and so did Lucie. But , Miss Pr oss suddenly becam e afflict ed w it h a t w it ching in t he head and body , and r et ir ed int o t he house. She w as not unfr equent ly t he v ict im of t his disor der , and she called it , in fam iliar conv er sat ion, “ a fit of t he j er k s.” 135

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The Doct or w as in his best condit ion, and look ed specially young. The resem blance bet w een him and Lucie w as very st r ong at such t im es, and as t hey sat side by side, she leaning on his shoulder , and he r est ing his ar m on t he back of her chair , it w as v er y agr eeable t o t r ace t he lik eness. He had been t alk ing all day , on m any subj ect s, and w it h unusual vivacit y. “ Pray, Doct or Manet t e,” said Mr. Darnay, as t hey sat under t he plane - t r ee—and he said it in t he nat ur al pur suit of t he t opic in hand, w hich happened t o be t he old buildings of London—" have you seen m uch of t he Tow er ?” “ Lucie and I hav e been t her e; but only casually . We hav e seen enough of it , t o k now t hat it t eem s w it h int er est ; lit t le m ore.” “ I have been t here, as you rem em ber,” said Darnay, w it h a sm ile, t hough r eddening a lit t le angr ily , “ in anot her charact er, and not in a char act er t hat giv es facilit ies for seeing m uch of it . They t old m e a cur ious t hing w hen I w as t her e.” “ What w as t hat ?” Lucie ask ed. “ I n m aking som e alt er at ions, t he w or km en cam e upon an old dungeon, which had been, for m any ye ar s, built up and for got t en. Ev er y st one of it s inner w all w as cov er ed by inscript ions which had been carved by prisoners—dat es, nam es, com plaint s, and pr ayer s. Upon a cor ner st one in an angle of t he w all, one pr isoner , w ho seem ed t o hav e gone t o ex ecut ion, had cut as his last w or k , t hr ee let t er s. They w er e done w it h som e very poor inst rum ent , and hurriedly, w it h an unst eady hand. At fir st , t hey w er e r ead as D. I . C.; but , on being m or e car efully ex am ined, t he last let t er w as found t o be G. There w as no recor d or legend of any pr isoner w it h t hose 136

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init ials, and m any fr uit less guesses w er e m ade w hat t he nam e could hav e been. At lengt h, it w as suggest ed t hat t he let t er s w er e not init ials, but t he com plet e w or d, DiG. The floor was exam ined very carefully under t he inscr ipt ion, and, in t he ear t h beneat h a st one, or t ile, or som e fr agm ent of pav ing, w er e found t he ashes of a paper , m ingled w it h t he ashes of a sm all leat her n case or bag. What t he unk now n pr isoner had w r it t en w ill nev er be r ead, but he had w r it t en som et hing, and hidden it aw ay t o k eep it fr om t he gaoler .” “ My fat her,” exclaim ed Lucie, “ you are ill! ” He had suddenly st ar t ed up, w it h his hand t o his head. His m anner and his look quit e t er r ified t hem all. “ No, m y dear , not ill. Ther e ar e lar ge dr ops of r ain falling, and t hey m ade m e st ar t . We had bet t er go in.” He r ecov er ed him self alm ost inst ant ly . Rain w as r eally falling in lar ge dr ops, and he show ed t he back of his hand w it h r ain- dr ops on it . But , he said not a single w or d in r efer ence t o t he discov er y t hat had been t old of, and, as t hey w ent int o t he house, t he business ey e of Mr . Lor r y eit her det ect ed, or fancied it det ect ed, on his face, as it t ur ned t ow ar ds Char les Dar nay , t he sam e singular look t hat had been upon it w hen it t ur ned t ow ar ds him in t he passages of t he Cour t House. He recovered him self so quickly, however, t hat Mr. Lorry had doubt s of his business ey e. The ar m of t he golden giant in t he hall w as not m or e st eady t han he w as, w hen he st opped under it t o r em ar k t o t hem t hat he w as not y et pr oof against slight sur pr ises ( if he ev er w ould be) , and t hat t he r ain had st ar t led him . 137

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Tea- t im e, and Miss Pr oss m ak ing t ea, w it h anot her fit of t he j erks upon her, and yet no Hundreds of people. Mr. Car t on had lounged in, but he m ade only Tw o. The night w as so v er y sult r y , t hat alt hough t hey sat w it h doors and w indow s open, t hey w ere overpow ered by heat . Wh en t h e t ea- t able w as done w it h, t hey all m ov ed t o one of t he w indow s, and look ed out int o t he heavy t w ilight . Lucie sat by her fat her ; Dar nay sat beside her ; Car t on leaned against a w indow . The cur t ains w er e long and w hit e, and som e of t he t hunder- gust s t hat w hir led int o t he cor ner , caught t hem up t o t he ceiling, and w av ed t hem lik e spect r al w ings. “ The r ain- dr ops ar e st ill falling, lar ge, heav y , and few ,” said Doct or Manet t e. “ I t com es slow ly .” “ I t com es sur ely,” said Car t on. They spok e low , as people w at ching and w ait ing m ost ly do; as people in a dar k r oom , w at ching and w ait ing for Light ning, alw ay s do. Ther e w as a gr eat hur r y in t he st r eet s of people speeding aw ay t o get shelt er befor e t he st or m br ok e; t he w onder ful cor ner for echoes r esounded w it h t he echoes of foot st eps com ing and going, y et not a foot st ep w as t her e. “ A m ult it ude of people, and y et a solit ude! ” said Dar nay , w hen t hey had list ened for a w hile. “ I s it not im pr essive, Mr . Dar nay?” asked Lucie. “ Som et im es, I hav e sat her e of an ev ening, unt il I hav e fancied—but ev en t he shade of a foolish fancy m ak es m e shudder t o- night , w hen all is so black and solem n—” “ Let us shudder t oo. We m ay k now w hat it is.” 138

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“ I t w ill seem not hing t o you. Such w him s ar e only im pr essiv e as w e or iginat e t hem , I t hink ; t hey ar e not t o be com m unicat ed. I hav e som et im es sat alone her e of an evening, list ening, unt il I hav e m ade t he echoes out t o be t he echoes of all t he foot st eps t hat ar e com ing by- and- by e int o our lives.” “ Ther e is a gr eat cr ow d com ing one day int o our lives, if t hat be so,” Sydney Cart on st ruck in, in his m oody w ay. The foot st eps w er e incessant , and t he hur r y of t hem becam e m ore and m ore rapid. The corner echoed and re echoed w it h t he t r ead of feet ; som e, as it seem ed, under t he w indow s; som e, as it seem ed, in t he r oom ; som e com ing, som e going, som e br eak ing off, som e st opping alt oget her ; all in t he dist ant st r eet s, and not one w it hin sight . “ Ar e all t hese foot st eps dest ined t o com e t o all of us, Miss Manet t e, or ar e w e t o div ide t hem am ong us?” “ I don't know , Mr . Dar nay; I t old you it w as a foolish fancy, but you asked for it . When I hav e y ielded m y self t o it , I hav e been alone, and t hen I hav e im agined t hem t he foot st eps of t he people w ho ar e t o com e int o m y life, and m y fat her 's.” “ I t ak e t hem int o m ine! ” said Car t on. “ I ask no quest ions and m ak e no st ipulat ions. Ther e is a great crowd bearing dow n upon us, Miss Manet t e, and I see t hem—by t he Light ning.” He added t he last w or ds, aft er t her e had been a v iv id flash w hich had show n him lounging in t he w indow . “ And I hear t hem ! ” he added again, aft er a peal of t hunder. “ Here t hey com e, fast , fier ce, and fur ious! ” 139

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I t w as t he r ush and r oar of r ain t hat he t y pified, and it st opped him , for no voice could be hear d in it . A m em or able st or m of t hunder and light ning br ok e w it h t hat sw eep of w at er , and t her e w as not a m om ent 's int erval in crash, and fir e, and r ain, unt il aft er t he m oon r ose at m idnight . The gr eat bell of Saint Paul's w as st r ik ing one in t he cleared air, when Mr. Lorry, escort ed by Jerry, high- boot ed and bear ing a lant er n, set for t h on his r et ur n - passage t o Clerkenwell. Ther e w er e solit ar y pat ches of r oad on t he w ay bet ween Soho and Clerkenwell, and Mr. Lorry, m indful of foot - pads, alw ay s r et ained Jer r y for t his ser v ice: t hough it w as usually per for m ed a good t w o hour s ear lier . “ What a night it has been! Alm ost a night , Jerry,” said Mr. Lorry, “ t o bring t he dead out of t heir graves.” “ I nev er see t he night m y self, m ast er—nor yet I don't ex pect t o—w hat w ould do t hat ,” answ ered Jerry. “ Good night , Mr . Car t on,” said t he m an of business. “ Good night , Mr. Darnay. Shall w e ev er see such a night again, t oget her ! ” Per haps. Per haps, see t he gr eat cr ow d of people w it h it s rush and roar, bearing down upon t hem , t oo.

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VI I Monseigneur in Tow n Monseigneur , one of t he gr eat lor ds in pow er at t he Cour t , held his for t night ly r ecept ion in his gr and hot el in Par is. Monseigneur w as in his inner r oom , his sanct uar y of sanct uar ies, t he Holiest of Holiest s t o t he cr ow d of w or shipper s in t he suit e of r ooms w it hout . Monseigneur w as about t o t ak e his chocolat e. Monseigneur could sw allow a gr eat m any t hings w it h ease, and w as by som e few sullen m inds supposed t o be r at her r apidly sw allow ing Fr ance; but , his m or ning's chocolat e could not so m uch as get int o t he t hr oat of Monseigneur , w it hout t he aid of four st r ong m en besides t he Cook . Yes. I t t ook four m en, all four ablaze w it h gor geous decor at ion, and t he Chief of t hem unable t o ex ist w it h few er t han t w o gold w at ches in his pock et , em ulat iv e of t he noble and chast e fashion set by Monseigneur , t o conduct t he happy chocolat e t o Monseigneur 's lips. One lacquey car r ied t he chocolat e- pot int o t he sacr ed pr esence; a second, m illed and fr ot hed t he chocolat e w it h t he lit t le inst r um ent he bor e for t hat funct ion; a t hir d, pr esent ed t he favour ed napkin; a four t h ( he of t he t w o gold w at ches) , pour ed t he chocolat e out . I t w as im possible for Monseigneur t o dispense w it h one of t hese at t endant s on t he chocolat e and hold his high place under t he adm ir ing Heavens. Deep w ould hav e been t he blot upon his escut cheon if his chocolat e had been ignobly w ait ed on by only t hr ee m en; he m ust have died of t w o. 141

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Monseigneur had been out at a lit t le supper last night , where t he Com edy and t he Grand Opera were charm ingly represent ed. Monseigneur w as out at a lit t le supper m ost night s, w it h fascinat ing com pany. So polit e and so im pr essible w as Monseigneur , t hat t he Com edy and t he Gr and Oper a had far m or e influence w it h him in t he t ir esom e ar t icles of st at e affair s and st at e secr et s, t han t he needs of all Fr ance. A happy cir cum st ance for Fr ance, as t he lik e alw ay s is for all count r ies sim ilar ly favour ed! —alw ays w as for England ( by w ay of exam ple) , in t he regret t ed days of t he m erry St uart w ho sold it . Monseigneur had one t r uly noble idea of gener al public business, w hich w as, t o let ev er y t hing go on in it s ow n w ay ; of par t icular public business, Monseigneur had t he ot her t r uly noble idea t hat it m ust all go his w ay—t end t o his ow n pow er and pock et . Of his pleasur es, gener al and par t icular , Monseigneur had t he ot her t r uly noble idea, t hat t he w or ld w as m ade for t hem . The t ex t of his or der ( alt er ed fr om t he original by only a pronoun, which is not m uch) ran: “ The ear t h and t he fulness t her eof ar e m ine, sait h Monseigneur .” Yet , Monseigneur had slow ly found t hat v ulgar em bar r assm ent s cr ept int o his affair s, bot h pr iv at e and public; and he had, as t o bot h classes of affair s, allied him self perforce wit h a Farm er- Gener al. As t o finances public, because Monseigneur could not m ak e any t hing at all of t hem , and m ust consequent ly let t hem out t o som ebody w ho could; as t o finances pr iv at e, because Far m er- Generals were rich, and Monseigneur , aft er gener at ions of gr eat luxur y and expense, w as gr ow ing poor . Hence Monseigneur had t aken his 142

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sist er from a convent , w hile t her e w as y et t im e t o w ar d off t he im pending v eil, t he cheapest gar m ent she could w ear , and had best ow ed her as a prize upon a very rich Farm erGeneral, poor in fam ily. Which Farm er- General, carrying an appr opr iat e cane w it h a golden apple on t he t op of it , w as now am ong t he com pany in t he out er room s, m uch prost rat ed before by m ankind—alw ay s ex cept ing super ior m ank ind of t he blood of Monseigneur , w ho, his ow n w ife included, look ed dow n upon him w it h t he loft iest cont em pt . A sum pt uous m an w as t he Farm er- General. Thirt y horses st ood in h is st ables, t w en t y- four m ale dom est ics sat in his halls, six body- w om en w ait ed on his w ife. As one w ho pr et ended t o do not hing but plunder and for age w her e he could, t he Farm er- General—how soev er his m at r im onial relat ions conduced t o social m or alit y—w as at least t h e gr eat est r ealit y am ong t he per sonages w ho at t ended at t he hot el of Monseigneur t hat day . For , t he r oom s, t hough a beaut iful scene t o look at , and ador ned w it h ev er y dev ice of decor at ion t hat t he t ast e and sk ill of t he t im e could achiev e, w er e, in t r ut h, not a sound business; consider ed w it h any r efer ence t o t he scar ecr ow s in t he r ags and night caps elsew her e ( and not so far off, eit her , but t hat t he w at ching t ow er s of Not r e Dam e, alm ost equidist ant fr om t he t w o ex t r em es, could see t hem bot h) , t hey w ould have been an exceedingly uncom for t able business—if t hat could hav e been any body 's business, at t he house of Monseigneur . Milit ar y officer s dest it ut e of m ilit ar y k now ledge; nav al officer s w it h no idea of a ship; civ il officer s w it hout a not ion of affair s; br azen ecclesiast ics, of t he w or st 143

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w or ld w or ldly , w it h sensual ey es, loose t ongues, and looser liv es; all t ot ally unfit for t heir sev er al callings, all ly ing hor r ibly in pr et ending t o belong t o t hem , but all nearly or r em ot ely of t he or der of Monseigneur , and t her efor e foist ed on all public em ploym ent s fr om w hich anyt hing w as t o be got ; t hese w er e t o be t old off by t he scor e and t he scor e. People not im m ediat ely connect ed w it h Monseigneur or t he St at e, y et equally unconnect ed w it h any t hing t hat w as r eal, or w it h liv es passed in t r av elling by any st r aight r oad t o any t r ue ear t hly end, w er e no less abundant . Doct or s w ho m ade gr eat for t unes out of daint y r em edies for im aginar y disor der s t hat nev er ex ist ed, sm iled upon t heir cour t ly pat ient s in t he ant echam bers of Monseigneur. Proj ect ors w ho had discovered ev er y k ind of r em edy for t he lit t le ev ils w it h w hich t he St at e w as t ouched, ex cept t he r em edy of set t ing t o w or k in ear nest t o r oot out a single sin, pour ed t heir dist r act ing babble int o any ear s t hey could lay hold of, at t he r ecept ion of Monseigneur . Unbeliev ing Philosopher s w ho w er e r em odelling t he world wit h words, and m aking card - t ow er s of Babel t o scale t he sk ies w it h, t alk ed w it h Unbeliev ing Chem ist s w ho had an ey e on t he t r ansm ut at ion of m et als, at t his w onder ful gat her ing accum ulat ed by Monseigneur . Ex quisit e gent lem en of t he finest br eeding, w hich w as at t hat r em ar k able t im e — and has been since —t o be k now n by it s fr uit s of indiffer ence t o ever y nat ur al subj ect of hum an int er est , w er e in t he m ost ex em plar y st at e of ex haust ion, at t he hot el of Monseigneur . Such hom es had t hese v ar ious not abilit ies left behind t hem in t he fine w or ld of Par is, t hat t he spies am ong t he assem bled dev ot ees of Monseigneur—form ing a goodly half of t he polit e 144

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com pany—w ould have found it har d t o discover am ong t he angels of t hat spher e one solit ar y w ife, w ho, in her m anner s and appear ance, ow ned t o being a Mot her . I ndeed, ex cept for t he m er e act of br inging a t r oublesom e cr eat ur e int o t h is w or ld—w hich does not go far t ow ar ds t he r ealisat ion of t he nam e of m ot her—t her e w as no such t hing k now n t o t he fashion. Peasant w om en k ept t he unfashionable babies close, and brought t hem up, and charm ing grandm am m as of sixt y dr essed and supped as at t w ent y . The leprosy of unrealit y disfigured every hum an creat ure in at t endance upon Monseigneur . I n t he out er m ost r oom w er e half a dozen ex cept ional people w ho had had, for a few y ear s, som e v ague m isgiv ing in t hem t hat t hings in gener al w er e going r at her w r ong. As a pr om ising w ay of set t ing t hem r ight , half of t he half- dozen had becom e m em ber s of a fant ast ic sect of Conv ulsionist s, and w er e ev en t hen consider ing w it hin t hem selves w het her t hey should foam , r age, r oar , and t ur n cat alept ic on t he spot —t he r eby set t ing up a highly int elligible finger- post t o t he Fut ur e, for Monseigneur 's guidance. Besides t hese Der v ishes, w er e ot her t hr ee w ho had r ushed int o anot her sect , w hich m ended m at t er s w it h a j ar gon about “ t he Cent r e of Tr ut h: ” holding t hat Man had got out of t he Cent r e of Tr ut h—w hich did not need m uch dem onst r at ion—but had not got out of t he Cir cum fer ence, and t hat he w as t o be k ept fr om flying out of t he Cir cum fer ence, and w as even t o be shov ed back int o t he Cent r e, by fast ing and seeing of spir it s. Am ong t hese, accor dingly , m uch discour sing w it h spir it s w ent on—and it did a w or ld of good w hich nev er becam e m anifest . 145

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But , t he com for t w as, t hat all t he com pany at t he gr and hot el of Monseigneur w er e per fect ly dr essed. I f t he Day of Judgm ent had only been ascer t ained t o be a dr ess day , everybody t here would have been et ernally correct . Such fr izzling and pow der ing and st ick ing up of hair , such delicat e com plex ions ar t ificially pr eser v ed and m ended, such gallant sw or ds t o look at , and such delicat e honour t o t he sense of sm ell, w ould sur ely keep anyt hing going, for ever and ever . The ex quisit e gent lem en of t he finest br eeding w or e lit t le pendent t r ink et s t hat chink ed as t hey languidly m ov ed; t hese golden fet t er s r ang lik e pr ecious lit t le bells; and w hat w it h t hat r inging, and w it h t he r ust le of silk and br ocade and fine linen, t her e w as a flut t er in t he air t hat fanned Saint Ant oine and his devouring hunger far away. Dr ess w as t he one unfailing t alism an and char m used for k eeping all t hings in t heir places. Everybody w as dressed for a Fancy Ball t hat w as nev er t o leav e off. Fr om t he Palace of t he Tuiler ies, t hr ough Monseigneur and t he w hole Cour t , t hr ough t he Cham ber s, t he Tr ibunals of Just ice, and all societ y ( except t he scar ecr ow s) , t he Fancy Ball desce nded t o t he Com m on Execut ioner: who, in pursuance of t he charm , w as r equir ed t o officiat e “ fr izzled, pow der ed, in a gold- laced coat , pum ps, and w hit e silk st ock ings.” At t he gallow s and t he w heel—t he ax e w as a r ar it y—Monsieur Par is, as it w as t he episcopal m ode am ong his br ot her Pr ofessor s of t he pr ov inces, Monsieur Or leans, and t he r est , t o call him , pr esided in t his daint y dr ess. And w ho am ong t he com pany at Monseigneur 's r ecept ion in t hat sev ent een hundr ed and eight iet h y ear of our Lor d, could possibly doubt , t hat a 146

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sy st em r oot ed in a fr izzled hangm an, pow der ed, gold- laced, pum ped, and w hit e- silk st ock inged, w ould see t he v er y st ar s out ! Monseigneur having eased his four m en of t heir bur dens and t ak en his chocolat e, caused t he door s of t he Holiest of Holiest s t o be t hr ow n open, and issued for t h. Then, w hat subm ission, w hat cr inging and faw ning, w hat ser v ilit y , w hat abj ect hum iliat ion! As t o bow ing dow n in body and spir it , not hing in t hat w ay w as left for Heav en—which m ay have been one am ong ot her r easons w hy t he w or shipper s of Monseigneur never t r oubled it . Best ow ing a w or d of pr om ise her e and a sm ile t her e, a w hisper on one happy slav e and a w av e of t he hand on anot her , Monseigneur affably passed t hr ough his r oom s t o t he rem ot e region of t he Circum fere nce of Trut h. There, Monseigneur t ur ned, and cam e back again, and so in due cour se of t im e got him self shut up in his sanct uar y by t he chocolat e spr it es, and w as seen no m or e. The show being ov er , t he flut t er in t he air becam e quit e a lit t le st or m , and t he pr ecious lit t le bells w ent r inging dow nst air s. Ther e w as soon but one per son left of all t he cr ow d, and he, w it h his hat under his ar m and his snuff- box in his hand, slow ly passed am ong t he m ir r or s on his w ay out . “ I dev ot e y ou,” said t his per son, st opping at t he last door on his w ay , and t ur ning in t he dir ect ion of t he sanct uar y , “ t o t he Devil! ” Wit h t hat , he shook t he snuff fr om his finger s as if he had shak en t he dust fr om his feet , and quiet ly w alk ed dow nst air s. 147

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He w as a m an of about six t y , handsom ely dr essed, haught y in m anner , and w it h a face lik e a fine m ask . A face of a t r anspar ent paleness; ev er y feat ur e in it clear ly defined; one set ex pr ession on it . The nose, beaut ifully for m ed ot her w ise, w as v er y slight ly pinched at t he t op of each nost ril. I n t hose t w o com pr essions, or dint s, t he only lit t le change t hat t he face ev er show ed, r esided. They per sist ed in changing colour som et im es, and t hey w ould be occasionally dilat ed and cont r act ed by som et hing lik e a faint pulsat ion; t hen, t hey gav e a look of t r eacher y, and cr uelt y, t o t he w hole count enance. Ex am ined w it h at t ent ion, it s capacit y of helping such a look w as t o be found in t he line of t he m out h, and t he lines of t he or bit s of t he ey es, being m uch t oo hor izont al and t h in ; st ill, in t h e effect of t he face m ade, it w as a handsom e face, and a rem arkable one. I t s ow ner w ent dow nst air s int o t he cour t y ar d, got int o his car r iage, and dr ove aw ay. Not m any people had t alked w it h him at t he r ecept ion; he had st ood in a lit t le space apar t , and Monseigneur m ight have been warm er in his m anner. I t appear ed, under t he cir cum st ances, r at her agr eeable t o him t o see t he com m on people disper sed befor e his hor ses, and oft en barely escaping from being run dow n. His m an drove as if he were charging an enem y, and t he fur ious r eck lessness of t he m an br ought no check int o t he face, or t o t he lips, of t he m ast er . The com plaint had som et im es m ade it self audible, ev en in t hat deaf cit y and dum b age, t hat , in t he nar r ow st r eet s w it hout foot w ay s, t he fier ce pat r ician cust om of hard driving endangered and m aim ed t he m ere vulgar in a barbarous m anner. But , few cared enough for t hat t o t hink of 148

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it a second t im e, and, in t his m at t er , as in all ot her s, t he com m on w r et ches w er e left t o get out of t heir difficult ies as t hey coul d. Wit h a w ild r at t le and clat t er , and an inhum an abandonm ent of consider at ion not easy t o be under st ood in t hese day s, t he car r iage dashed t hr ough st r eet s and sw ept round corners, wit h wom en scream ing before it , and m en clut ching each ot her and clut ching childr en out of it s w ay . At last , sw ooping at a st r eet cor ner by a fount ain, one of it s w heels cam e t o a sick ening lit t le j olt , and t her e w as a loud cry from a num ber of voices, and t he horses reared and plunged. But for t he lat t er inconv enience, t he carriage probably w ould not have st opped; car r iages w er e oft en know n t o dr ive on, and leav e t heir w ounded behind, and w hy not ? But t he fright ened valet had got dow n in a hurry, and t here w ere t w ent y hands at t he hor ses’ br idles. “ What has gone w r ong?” said Monsieur, calm ly looking out . A t all m an in a night cap had caught up a bundle fr om am ong t he feet of t he hor ses, and had laid it on t he basem ent of t he fount ain, and w as dow n in t he m ud and w et , how ling ov er it lik e a w ild anim al. “ Pardon, Monsieur t he Mar quis! ” said a r agged and subm issiv e m an, “ it is a child.” “ Why does he m ak e t hat abom inable noise? I s it his child?” “ Excuse m e, Monsieur t he Marquis—it is a p it y—yes.” The fount ain w as a lit t le r em ov ed; for t he st r eet opened, w her e it w as, int o a space som e t en or t w elv e y ar ds squar e. As t he t all m an suddenly got up fr om t he gr ound, and cam e 149

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r unning at t he car r iage, Monsieur t he Mar quis clapped his hand for an inst ant on his sw or d - h ilt . “ Killed! ” shr iek ed t he m an, in w ild desper at ion, ex t endi ng bot h ar m s at t heir lengt h abov e his head, and st ar ing at him . “ Dead! ” The people closed r ound, and look ed at Monsieur t he Mar quis. Ther e w as not hing r ev ealed by t he m any ey es t hat look ed at him but w at chfulness and eager ness; t her e w as no v isible m enacing or anger . Neit her did t he people say any t hing; aft er t he fir st cr y , t hey had been silent , and t hey r em ained so. The v oice of t he subm issiv e m an w ho had spok en, w as flat and t am e in it s ex t r em e subm ission. Monsieur t he Mar quis r an his ey es ov er t hem all, as if t hey had been m er e r at s com e out of t heir holes. He t ook out his purse. “ I t is ex t r aor dinar y t o m e,” said he, “ t hat y ou people cannot t ake care of yourselves and your children. One or t he ot her of you is for ever in t he, w ay. How do I know w hat inj ury you have done m y horses. See! Give him t hat .” He t hr ew out a gold coin for t he v alet t o pick up, and all t he heads cr aned for w ar d t hat all t he ey es m ight look dow n at it as it fell. The t all m an called out again w it h a m ost uneart hly cry, “ Dead! ” He w as arrest ed by t he quick arrival of anot her m an, for w hom t he r est m ade w ay . On seeing him , t he m iser able cr eat ur e fell upon his shoulder , sobbing and cr ying, and point ing t o t he fount ain, w her e som e w om en w er e st ooping ov er t he m ot ionless bundle, and m ov ing gent ly about it . They w er e as silent , how ev er , as t he m en. 150

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“ I k now all, I k now all,” said t he last com er . “ Be a br av e m an, m y Gaspar d! I t is bet t er for t he poor lit t le play t hing t o die so, t han t o liv e. I t has died in a m om ent w it hout pain. Could it hav e liv ed an hour as happily ?” “ You ar e a philosopher , y ou t her e,” said t he, Mar quis, sm iling. “ How do t hey call y ou?” “ They call m e Defarge.” “ Of w hat t r ade?” “ Monsieur t he Marquis, vendor of w ine.” “ Pick up t hat , philosopher and v endor of w ine,” said t he Mar quis, t hr ow ing him anot her gold coin, “ and spend it a s you w ill. The hor ses t her e; ar e t hey r ight ?” Wit hout deigning t o look at t he assem blage a second t im e, Monsieur t he Mar quis leaned back in his seat , and w as j ust being dr iv en aw ay w it h t he air of a gent lem an w ho had accident ally broke som e com m on t hing, and had paid for it , and could affor d t o pay for it ; w hen his ease w as suddenly dist ur bed by a coin fly ing int o his car r iage, and r inging on it s floor . “ Hold! ” said Monsieur t he Mar quis. “ Hold t he hor ses! Who t hr ew t hat ?” He look ed t o t he spot w her e Defar ge t he vendor of w ine had st ood, a m om ent befor e; but t he w r et ched fat her w as gr ov elling on his face on t he pav em ent in t hat spot , and t he figur e t hat st ood beside him w as t he figur e of a dar k st out w om an, k nit t ing. “ You dogs! ” said t he Mar quis, but sm oot hly , and w it h an unchanged fr ont , ex cept as t o t he spot s on his nose: “ I w ould ride over any of you very willingly, and ext erm inat e you from 151

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t he ear t h. I f I k new w hich r ascal t hr ew at t he car r iage, and if t hat br igand w er e sufficient ly near it , he should be crushed under t he w heels.” So cow ed w as t heir condit ion, and so long and har d t heir ex per ience of w hat such a m an could do t o t hem , w it hin t he law and bey ond it , t hat not a v oice, or a hand, or ev en an ey e w as r aised. Am ong t he m en, not one. But t he w om an w ho st ood k nit t ing look ed up st eadily , and look ed t he Mar quis in t he face. I t w as not for his dignit y t o not ice it ; his cont em pt uous ey es passed ov er her , and ov er all t he ot her r at s; and he leaned back in his seat again, and gav e t he w or d “ Go on!” He w as driven on, and ot her carriages cam e w hirling by in quick succession; t he Minist er , t he St at e- Pr oj ect or , t he Farm er- Gener al, t he Doct or , t he Law y er , t he Ecclesiast ic, t he Gr and Oper a, t he Com edy, t he w hole Fancy Ball in a br ight cont inuous flow , cam e w hir ling by. The r at s had cr ept out of t heir holes t o look on, and t hey r em ained look ing on for hour s; soldier s and police oft en passing bet w een t hem and t he spect acle, and m aking a bar r ier behind w hich t hey slunk, and t hrough w hich t hey peeped. The fat her had long ago t ak en up his bundle and bidden him self aw ay w it h it , w hen t he w om en w ho had t ended t he bundle w hile it lay on t he base of t he fount ain, sat t her e w at ching t he r unning of t he w at er and t he r olling of t he Fancy Ball—w hen t he one w om an who had st ood conspicuous, k nit t ing, st ill k nit t ed on w it h t he st eadfast ness of Fat e. The w at er of t he fount ain r an, t he sw ift r iver r an, t he day r an int o evening, so m uch life in t he cit y r an int o deat h accor ding t o r ule, t im e and t ide w ait ed for no 152

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m an, t he r at s w er e sleeping close t oget her in t heir dar k holes again, t he Fancy Ball w as light ed up at supper , all t hings r an t heir course.

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VI I I Monseigneur in t he Count ry A beaut iful landscape, w it h t he cor n br ight in it , but not abundant . Pat ches of poor rye where corn should have been, pat ches of poor peas and beans, pat ches of m ost coar se v eget able subst it ut es for w heat . On inanim at e nat ur e, as on t he m en and w om en w ho cult iv at ed it , a pr ev alent t endency t ow ar ds an appear ance of v eget at ing unw illingly—a dej ect ed disposit ion t o giv e up, and w it her aw ay . Monsieur t he Mar quis in his t r avelling car r iage ( w hich m ight have been light er ) , conduct ed by four post - hor ses and t w o post ilions, fagged up a st eep hill. A blush on t he count enance of Monsieur t he Marq uis w as no im peachm ent of his high br eeding; it w as not fr om w it hin; it w as occasioned by an ext ernal circum st ance beyond his cont rol—t h e set t in g sun. The sunset st r uck so br illiant ly int o t he t r av elling car r iage w hen it gained t he hill- t op, t hat it s occupant w as st eeped in cr im son. “ I t w ill die out ,” said Monsieur t he Mar quis, glancing at his hands, “ dir ect ly .” I n effect , t he sun w as so low t hat it dipped at t he m om ent . When t he heav y dr ag had been adj ust ed t o t he w heel, and t he car r iage slid dow n hill, w it h a cinder ous sm ell, in a cloud of dust , t he r ed glow depar t ed quick ly ; t he sun and t he Mar quis going dow n t oget her , t her e w as no glow left w hen t he dr ag w as t ak en off. But , t here rem ained a broken count ry, bold and open, a lit t le v illage at t h e bot t om of t he hill, a br oad sw eep and r ise 154

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beyond it , a church- t ow er , a w indm ill, a for est for t he chase, and a cr ag w it h a for t r ess on it used as a pr ison. Round upon all t hese dar k ening obj ect s as t he night dr ew on, t he Mar quis look ed, w it h t he air of one w ho was com ing near hom e. The v illage had it s one poor st r eet , w it h it s poor br ew er y , poor t annery, poor t avern, poor st able- yar d for r elays of post hor ses, poor fount ain, all usual poor appoint m ent s. I t had it s poor people t oo. All it s people w er e poor , and m any of t hem w er e sit t ing at t heir door s, shr edding spar e onions and t he lik e for supper , w hile m any w er e at t he fount ain, w ashing leav es, and gr asses, and any such sm all y ieldings of t he ear t h t hat could be eat en. Ex pr essiv e sips of w hat m ade t hem poor, w er e not w ant ing; t he t ax for t he st at e, t he t ax for t he chur ch, t he t ax for t he lor d, t ax local and t ax gener al, w er e t o be paid her e and t o be paid t her e, accor ding t o solem n inscr ipt ion in t he lit t le v illage, unt il t he w onder w as, t hat t her e w as any v illage left unsw allow ed. Few childr en w er e t o be seen, and no dogs. As t o t he m en and w om en, t heir choice on ear t h w as st at ed in t he prospect —Life on t he low est t er m s t hat could sust ain it , dow n in t he lit t le v illage under t he m ill; or capt iv it y and Deat h in t he dom inant pr ison on t he cr ag. Heralded by a courier in advance, and by t he cracking of his post ilions’ w hips, w hich t w ined snak e - lik e about t heir heads in t he ev ening air , as if he cam e at t ended by t he Fur ies, Monsieur t he Mar quis dr ew up in his t r avelling car r iage at t he post ing- house gat e. I t w as har d by t he fount ain, and t he peasant s suspended t heir oper at ions t o look at him . He look ed at t hem , and saw in t hem , w it hout k now ing it , t he 155

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slow sur e filing dow n of m iser y - w or n face and figur e, t hat was t o m ake t he m eagr eness of Fr enchm en an English super st it ion w hich should sur v iv e t he t r ut h t hr ough t he best part of a hundred years. Monsieur t he Mar quis cast his ey es ov er t he subm issiv e faces t hat dr ooped befor e him , as t he lik e of him self had drooped before Monseigneur of t he Court —only t he differ ence w as, t hat t hese faces dr ooped m er ely t o suffer and not t o pr opit iat e—w hen a gr izzled m ender of t he r oads j oined t he group. “ Br ing m e hit her t hat fellow ! ” said t he Mar quis t o t he courier. The fellow w as br ought , cap in hand, and t he ot her fellow s closed r ound t o look and list en, in t he m anner of t he people at t he Par is fount ain. “ I passed y ou on t he r oad?” “ Monseigneur , it is t r ue. I had t he honour of being passed on t he road.” “ Com ing up t he hill, and at t he t op of t he hill, bot h?” “ Monseigneur , it is t r ue.” “ What did y ou look at , so fix edly ?” “ Monseigneur , I look ed at t he m an.” He st ooped a lit t le, and w it h his t at t er ed blue cap point ed under t he car r iage. All his fellow s st ooped t o look under t he carriage. “ What m an, pig? And w hy look t her e?” “ Pardon, Monseigneur; he sw ung by t he chain of t he shoe—t he drag.” “ Who?” dem anded t he t r aveller . 156

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“ Monseigneur, t he m an.” “ May t he Devil car r y aw ay t hese idiot s! How do you call t he m an? You k now all t he m en of t his par t of t he count r y . Who w as he?” “ Your clem ency , Monseigneur ! He w as not of t his par t of t he count ry. Of all t he day s of m y life, I nev er saw him .” “ Sw inging by t he chain? To be suffocat ed?” “ Wit h y our gr acious per m ission, t hat w as t he w onder of it , Monseigneur . His head hanging ov er—lik e t his! ” He t ur ned him self sidew ay s t o t he car r iage, and leaned back , w it h his face t hr ow n up t o t he sk y , and his head hanging dow n; t hen r ecover ed him self, fum bled w it h his cap, and m ade a bow . “ What w as he lik e?” “ Monseigneur , he w as w hit er t han t he m iller . All cov er ed w it h dust , w hit e as a spect r e, t all as a spect re! ” The pict ur e pr oduced an im m ense sensat ion in t he lit t le cr ow d; but all ey es, w it hout com par ing not es w it h ot her ey es, look ed at Monsieur t he Mar quis. Per haps, t o obser v e w het her he had any spect r e on his conscience. “ Tr uly , y ou did w ell,” said t he Mar quis, felicit ously sensible t hat such v er m in w er e not t o r uffle him , “ t o see a t hief accom panying m y carriage, and not open t hat great m out h of your s. Bah! Put him aside, Monsieur Gabelle! ” Monsieur Gabelle w as t he Post m ast er , and som e ot her t ax ing funct ionar y unit ed; he had com e out w it h gr eat obsequiousness t o assist at t his ex am inat ion, and had held t he exam ined by t he dr aper y of his ar m in an official m anner . “ Bah! Go aside! ” said Monsieur Gabelle. 157

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“ Lay hands on t his st r anger if he seek s t o lodge in your v illage t o- night , and be sur e t hat his business is honest , Gabelle.” “ Monseigneur , I am flat t er ed t o dev ot e m y self t o y our orders.” “ Did he r un aw ay, fellow ?—w her e is t hat Accur sed?” The accursed w as already under t he carriage w it h som e half- dozen par t icular fr iends, point ing out t he chain w it h his blue cap. Som e half- dozen ot her part icular friends prom pt ly hauled him out , and pr esent ed him br eat hless t o Monsieur t he Marquis. “ Did t he m an r un aw ay, Dolt , w hen w e st opped for t he drag?” “ Monseigneur , he pr ecipit at ed him self ov er t he hill- side, head fir st , as a per son plunges int o t he r iv er .” “ See t o it , Gabelle. Go on! ” The half- dozen w ho w er e peer ing at t he chain w er e st ill am ong t he w heels, lik e sheep; t he w heels t ur ned so suddenly t hat t hey w er e luck y t o sav e t heir sk ins and bones; t hey had v er y lit t le else t o sav e, or t hey m ight not hav e been so for t unat e. The bur st w it h w hich t he car r iage st ar t ed out of t he v illage and up t he r ise bey ond, w as soon check ed by t he st eepness of t he hill. Gr adually , it subsided t o a foot pace, sw inging and lum ber ing upw ar d am ong t he m any sw eet scent s of a sum m er night . The post ilions, w it h a t housand gossam er gnat s cir cling about t hem in lieu of t he Furies, quiet ly m ended t he point s t o t he lashes of t heir w hips; t he v alet w alk ed by 158

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t he hor ses; t he cour ier w as audible, t r ot t ing on ahead int o t he dun dist ance. At t he st eepest point of t he hill t her e w as a lit t le bur ialground, w it h a Cross and a new large figure of Our Saviour on it ; it w as a poor figur e in w ood, done by som e inex per ienced r ust ic car v er , but he had st udied t he figur e fr om t he life—h is ow n life, m ay be—for it w as dr eadfully spar e and t hin. To t his dist r essful em blem of a gr eat dist ress t hat had long been gr ow ing w or se, and w as not at it s w or st , a w om an w as kneeling. She t urned her head as t he carriage cam e up t o her , r ose quickly, and pr esent ed her self at t he car r iage- door. “ I t is y ou, Monseigneur ! Monseigneur , a pet it ion.” Wi t h an ex clam at ion of im pat ience, but w it h his unchangeable face, Monseigneur look ed out . “ How , t hen! What is it ? Alw ay s pet it ions! ” “ Monseigneur. For t he love of t he great God! My husband, t he for est er .” “ What of y our husband, t he for est er ? Alw ay s t he sam e w it h y ou people. He cannot pay som et hing?” “ He has paid all, Monseigneur . He is dead.” “ Well! He is quiet . Can I r est or e him t o y ou?” “ Alas, no, Monseigneur ! But he lies y onder , under a lit t le heap of poor gr ass.” “ Well?” “ Monseigneur, t here ar e so m any lit t le heaps of poor gr ass?” “ Again, w ell?” She looked an old wom an, but was young. Her m anner w as one of passionat e gr ief; by t ur ns she clasped her v einous 159

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and k not t ed hands t oget her w it h w ild ener gy , and laid one of t hem on t he carriage- door—t ender ly , car essingly , as if it had been a hum an br east , and could be ex pect ed t o feel t he appealing t ouch. “ Monseigneur, hear m e! Monseigneur, hear m y pet it ion! My husband died of w ant ; so m any die of w ant ; so m any m or e w ill die of w ant .” “ Again, w ell? Can I feed t hem ?” “ Monseigneur , t he good God know s; but I don't ask it . My pet it ion is, t hat a m or sel of st one or w ood, w it h m y husband's nam e, m ay be placed over him t o show w her e he lies. Ot her w ise, t he place w ill be quick ly for got t en, it w ill n ever be found w hen I am dead of t he sam e m alady , I shall be laid under som e ot her heap of poor grass. Monseigneur, t hey are so m any , t hey incr ease so fast , t her e is so m uch w ant . Monseigneur! Monseigneur! ” The valet had put her aw ay from t he door, t he ca rriage had br ok en int o a br isk t r ot , t he post ilions had quick ened t he pace, she w as left far behind, and Monseigneur , again escor t ed by t he Fur ies, w as r apidly dim inishing t he league or t w o of dist ance t hat r em ained bet w een him and his chat eau. The sw eet scent s of t he sum m er night r ose all ar ound him , and r ose, as t he r ain falls, im par t ially , on t he dust y , r agged, and t oil- w or n gr oup at t he fount ain not far aw ay; t o w hom t he m ender of r oads, w it h t he aid of t he blue cap w it hout w hich he w as not hing, st ill enlar ged upon his m an lik e a spect r e, as long as t hey could bear it . By degr ees, as t hey could bear no m or e, t hey dr opped off one by one, and light s t w ink led in lit t le casem ent s; w hich light s, as t he casem ent s 160

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dar k ened, and m or e st ar s cam e out , seem ed t o hav e shot up int o t he sk y inst ead of hav ing been ex t inguished. The shadow of a lar ge high- r oofed house, and of m any over- hanging t r ees, w as upon Monsieur t he Mar quis by t hat t im e; and t he shadow w as ex changed for t he light of a flam beau, as his car r iage st opped, and t he gr eat door of his chat eau w as opened t o him . “ Monsieur Charles, whom I expect ; is he arrived from England?” “ Monseigneur , not yet .”

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IX The Gorgon's Head I t w as a heav y m ass of building, t hat chat eau of Monsieur t he Mar quis, w it h a lar ge st one cour t y ar d befor e it , and t w o st one sw eeps of st air case m eet ing in a st one t er r ace befor e t he pr incipal door . A st ony business alt oget her , w it h heav y st one balust r ades, and st one ur ns, and st one flow er s, and st one faces of m en, and st one heads of lions, in all dir ect ions. As if t he Gor gon's head had sur v ey ed it , w hen it w as finished, t w o cent ur ies ago. Up t he br oad flight of shallow st eps, Monsieur t he Mar quis, flam beau pr eceded, w ent fr om his car r iage, sufficient ly dist ur bing t he dar k ness t o elicit loud r em onst r ance fr om an ow l in t he r oof of t he gr eat pile of st able building aw ay am ong t he t r ees. All else w as so quiet , t hat t he flam beau car r ied up t he st eps, and t he ot her flam beau held at t he gr eat door , bur nt as if t hey w er e in a close r oom of st at e, inst ead of being in t he open night - air . Ot her sound t han t he ow l's v oice t her e w as none, sav e t he failing of a fount ain int o it s st one basin; for , it w as one of t hose dar k night s t hat hold t heir br eat h by t he hour t oget her , and t hen heav e a long low sigh, and hold t heir br eat h again. The gr eat door clanged behind him , and Monsieur t he Mar quis cr ossed a hall gr im w it h cer t ain old boar- spear s, sw or ds, and k niv es of t he chase; grim m er wit h cert ain heavy riding- rods and riding- w hips, of w hich m any a peasant , gone t o his benefact or Deat h, had felt t he w eight w hen his lor d w as angry. 162

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Avoiding t he larger room s, w hich w ere dark and m ade fast for t he night , Monsieur t he Mar quis, w it h his flam beau- bearer going on befor e, w ent up t he st air case t o a door in a cor r idor . This t hr ow n open, adm it t ed him t o his ow n pr iv at e apar t m ent of t hr ee r oom s: his bed- cham ber and t w o ot hers. High v ault ed r oom s w it h cool uncar pet ed floor s, gr eat dogs upon t he hear t hs for t he bur ning of w ood in w int er t im e, and all lux ur ies befit t ing t he st at e of a m ar quis in a lux ur ious age and count r y . The fashion of t he last Louis but one, of t he line t hat w as nev er t o br eak—t he four t eent h Louis—w as conspicuous in t heir r ich fur nit ur e; but , it w as div er sified by m any obj ect s t hat w er e illust r at ions of old pages in t he hist or y of Fr ance. A supper- t able w as laid for t w o, in t he t hir d of t he r oom s; a r ound r oom , in one of t he chat eau's four ex t inguishert opped t ow er s. A sm all loft y r oom , w it h it s w indow w ide open, and t he w ooden j alousie- blinds closed, so t hat t he dar k night only show ed in slight hor izont al lines of black, alt er nat ing w it h t heir br oad lines of st one colour . “ My nephew ,” said t he Mar quis, glancing at t he supper pr epar at ion; “ t hey said he w as not ar r ived.” Nor w as he; but , he had been ex pect ed w it h Monseigneur . “ Ah! I t is not pr obable he w ill ar r iv e t o- night ; nevert heless, leav e t he t able as it is. I shall be r eady in a quar t er of an hour.” I n a quart er of an hour Monseigneur w as ready, and sat dow n alone t o his sum pt uous and choice supper . His chair w as opposit e t o t he w indow , and he had t ak en his soup, and w as r aising his glass of Bor deaux t o his lips, w hen he put it down. 163

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“ What is t hat ?” he calm ly ask ed, look ing w it h at t ent ion at t he hor izont al lines of black and st one colour . “ Monseigneur? That ?” “ Out side t he blinds. Open t he blinds. ” I t w as done. “ Well?” “ Monseigneur , it is not hing. The t r ees and t he night ar e all t hat ar e her e.” The ser v ant w ho spok e, had t hr ow n t he blinds w ide, had look ed out int o t he v acant dar k ness, and st ood w it h t hat blank behind him , looking r ound for inst r uct ions. “ Good,” said t he im per t ur bable m ast er . “ Close t hem again.” That w as done t oo, and t he Marquis w ent on w it h his supper . He w as half w ay t hr ough it , w hen he again st opped w it h his glass in his hand, hear ing t he sound of w heels. I t cam e on br isk ly , and cam e up t o t he fr ont of t he chat eau. “ Ask who is arrived.” I t w as t he nephew of Monseigneur. He had been som e few leagues behind Monseigneur , ear ly in t he aft er noon. He had dim inished t he dist ance r apidly , but not so r apidly as t o com e up w it h Monseigneur on t he r oad. He had hear d of Monseigneur , at t he post ing- houses, as being befor e him . He w as t o be t old ( said Monseigneur ) t hat supper aw ait ed him t hen and t her e, and t hat he w as pr ay ed t o com e t o it . I n a lit t le w hile he cam e. He had been k now n in England as Charles Darnay. Monseigneur received him in a court ly m anner, but t hey did not shake hands. 164

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“ You left Par is y est er day , sir ?” he said t o Monseigneur , as h e t ook h is seat at t able. “ Yest er day. And you?” “ I com e direct .” “ From London?” “ Yes. ” “ You hav e been a long t im e com ing,” said t he Mar quis, w it h a sm ile. “ On t he cont rary; I com e direct .” “ Par don m e! I m ean, not a long t im e on t he j our ney; a long t im e int ending t he j our ney .” “ I hav e been det ained by " —t he nephew st opped a m om ent in his answ er—" v ar ious business.” “ Wit hout doubt , ” said t he polished uncle. So long as a ser v ant w as pr esent , no ot her w or ds passed bet w een t hem . When coffee had been ser v ed and t hey w er e alone t oget her , t he nephew , look ing at t he uncle and m eet ing t he ey es of t he face t hat w as lik e a fine m ask , opened a conv er sat ion. “ I have com e back , sir , as y ou ant icipat e, pur suing t he obj ect t hat t ook m e aw ay . I t car r ied m e int o gr eat and unex pect ed per il; but it is a sacr ed obj ect , and if it had car r ied m e t o deat h I hope it w ould hav e sust ained m e.” “ Not t o deat h, ” said t he uncle; “ it is not necessar y t o say , t o deat h. ” “ I doubt , sir ,” r et ur ned t he nephew , “ w het her , if it had car r ied m e t o t he ut m ost br ink of deat h, you w ould have car ed t o st op m e t her e.” 165

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The deepened m ar k s in t he nose, and t he lengt hening of t he fine st r aight line s in t he cr uel face, look ed om inous as t o t hat ; t he uncle m ade a gr aceful gest ur e of pr ot est , w hich w as so clear ly a slight for m of good br eeding t hat it w as not r eassur ing. “ I ndeed, sir,” pursued t he nephew , “ for anyt hing I know , you m ay have expressly w or k ed t o giv e a m or e suspicious appear ance t o t he suspicious cir cum st ances t hat sur r ounded m e.” “ No, no, no,” said t he uncle, pleasant ly . “ But , how ever t hat m ay be,” resum ed t he nephew , glancing at him w it h deep dist r ust , “ I k now t hat y our diplom acy would st op m e by any m eans, and w ould know no scr uple as t o m eans.” “ My fr iend, I t old y ou so,” said t he uncle, w it h a fine pulsat ion in t he t w o m ar k s. “ Do m e t he fav our t o r ecall t hat I t old y ou so, long ago.” “ I r ecall it .” “ Thank you,” said t he Marquise—v er y sw eet ly indeed. His t one linger ed in t he air , alm ost lik e t he t one of a m usical inst r um ent . “ I n effect , sir ,” pur sued t he nephew , “ I believ e it t o be at once your bad for t une, and m y good for t une, t hat has kept m e out of a prison in France here.” “ I do not quit e under st and,” r et ur ned t he uncle, sipping his coffee. “ Dar e I ask y ou t o ex plain?” “ I believ e t hat if y ou w er e not in disgr ace w it h t he Cour t , and had not been ov er shadow ed by t hat cloud for y ear s past , 166

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a let t er de cachet w ould have sent m e t o som e for t r ess indefinit ely . ” “ I t is possible,” said t he uncle, w it h gr eat calm ness. “ For t he honour of t he fam ily , I could ev en r esolv e t o incom m ode you t o t hat ext ent . Pr ay excuse m e! ” “ I per ceiv e t hat , happily for m e, t he Recept ion of t he day befor e y est er day w as, as usual, a cold one,” obser v ed t he nephew . “ I w ould not say happily, m y friend,” ret urned t he uncle, w it h r efined polit eness; “ I w ould not be sur e of t hat . A good oppor t unit y for consider at ion, sur r ounded by t he advant ages of solit ude, m ight influence y our dest iny t o far gr eat er adv ant age t han y ou influence it for y our self. But it is useless t o discuss t he quest ion. I am , as y ou say , at a disadv ant age. These lit t le inst r um ent s of cor r ect ion, t hese gent le aids t o t he power and honour of fam ilies, t hese slight fav our s t hat m ight so incom m ode y ou, ar e only t o be obt ained now by int er est and im port unit y. They are sought by so m any, and t hey are gr ant ed ( com par at iv ely ) t o so few ! I t used not t o be so, but Fr ance in all such t hings is changed for t he w or se. Our not r em ot e ancest or s held t he r ight of life and deat h ov er t he surrounding vulgar. From t his room , m any such dogs have been t aken out t o be hanged; in t he next r oom ( m y bedr oom ) , one fellow , t o our k now ledge, w as poniar ded on t he spot for pr ofessing som e insolent delicacy r espect ing his daught er—HI S daught er ? We hav e lost m any pr iv ileges; a new philosophy has becom e t he m ode; and t he asser t ion of our st at ion, in t hese day s, m ight ( I do not go so far as t o say 167

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w ould, but m ight ) cause us r eal inconv enience. All v er y bad, very bad! ” The Mar quis t ook a gent le lit t le pinch of snuff, and shook his head; as elegant ly despondent as he could becom ingly be of a count r y st ill cont aining him self, t hat gr eat m eans of r egener at ion. “ We hav e so asser t ed our st at ion, bot h in t he old t im e and in t he m oder n t im e also,” said t he nephew , gloom ily , “ t hat I believ e our nam e t o be m or e det est ed t han any nam e in France.” “ Let us hope so,” said t he uncle. “ Det est at ion of t he high is t he inv olunt ar y hom age of t he low .” “ Ther e is not ,” pur sued t he nephew , in his for m er t one, “ a face I can look at , in all t his count r y r ound about us, w hich look s at m e w it h any defer ence on it but t he dar k defer ence of fear and slavery.” “ A com plim ent ,” said t he Mar quis, “ t o t he gr andeur of t he fam ily, m er it ed by t he m anner in w hich t he fam ily has sust ained it s gr andeur . Hah! ” And he t ook anot her gent le lit t le pinch of snuff, and light ly cr ossed his legs. But , w hen his nephew , leaning an elbow on t he t able, cov er ed his ey es t hought fully and dej ect edly w it h his hand, t he fine m ask look ed at him sidew ay s w it h a st r onger concent r at ion of k eenness, closeness, and dislik e, t han w as com por t able w it h it s w ear er 's assum pt ion of indiffer ence. “ Repr ession is t he only last ing philosophy . The dar k deference of fear and slavery, m y friend,” observed t he Mar quis, “ w ill k eep t he dogs obedient t o t he w hip, as long as t his r oof,” look ing up t o it , “ shut s out t he sk y .” 168

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That m ight not be so long as t he Mar quis supposed. I f a pict ur e of t he chat eau as it w as t o be a v er y few y ear s hence, and of fift y lik e it as t hey t oo w er e t o be a v er y few y ear s hence, could hav e been show n t o him t hat night , he m ight hav e been at a loss t o claim his ow n fr om t he ghast ly , fir e charred, plunder- w recked rains. As for t he roof he vaunt ed, he m ight hav e found THAT shut t ing out t he sk y in a new w ay—t o w it , for ev er , fr om t he ey es of t he bodies int o w hich it s lead w as fir ed, out of t he bar r els of a hundr ed t housand m usk et s. “ Meanw hile,” said t he Ma rquis, “ I w ill preserve t he honour and r epose of t he fam ily , if y ou w ill not . But y ou m ust be fat igued. Shall w e t er m inat e our confer ence for t he night ?” “ A m om ent m ore.” “ An hour , if you please.” “ Sir,” said t he nephew, “ we have done wrong, and are r eaping t he fr uit s of w r ong.” “ WE have done w r ong?” r epeat ed t he Mar quis, w it h an inquir ing sm ile, and delicat ely point ing, fir st t o his nephew , t hen t o him self. “ Our fam ily; our honourable fam ily, w hose honour is of so m uch account t o bot h of us, in such differ ent w ays. Even in m y fat her's t im e, we did a world of wrong, inj uring every hum an creat ure w ho cam e bet w een us and our pleasure, w hat ev er it w as. Why need I speak of m y fat her 's t im e, w hen it is equally y our s? Can I separ at e m y fat her 's t w in- brot her, j oint inher it or , and nex t successor , fr om him self?” “ Deat h has done t hat ! ” said t he Mar quis. 169

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“ And has left m e,” answ er ed t he nephew , “ bound t o a sy st em t hat is fr ight ful t o m e, r esponsible for it , but pow er less in it ; seek ing t o ex ecut e t he last request of m y dear m ot her 's lips, and obey t he last look of m y dear m ot her's eyes, which im plored m e t o have m ercy and t o r edr ess; and t or t ur ed by seek ing assist ance and pow er in vain.” “ Seeking t hem from m e, m y nephew,” said t he Marquis, t ouching him on t he br east w it h his for efinger—t hey w ere now st anding by t he hear t h—" you w ill for ever seek t hem in v ain, be assur ed.” Ev er y fine st r aight line in t he clear w hit eness of his face, w as cr uelly , cr aft ily , and closely com pr essed, w hile he st ood look ing quiet ly at his nephew , w it h his snuff- box in his hand. Once again he t ouched him on t he br east , as t hough his finger w er e t he fine point of a sm all sw or d, w it h w hich, in delicat e finesse, he r an him t hr ough t he body , and said, “ My fr iend, I w ill die, per pet uat ing t he sy st em under w hich I hav e liv ed.” When he had said it , he t ook a culm inat ing pinch of snuff, and put his box in his pock et . “ Bet t er t o be a r at ional cr eat ur e,” he added t hen, aft er r inging a sm all bell on t he t able, “ and accept y our nat ur al dest iny . But y ou ar e lost , Monsieur Char les, I see.” “ This pr oper t y and Fr ance ar e lost t o m e,” said t he nephew, sadly; “ I renounce t hem .” “ Are t hey bot h yours t o renounce? France m ay be, but is t he pr oper t y ? I t is scar cely w or t h m ent ioning; but , is it yet ?” 170

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“ I had no int ent ion, in t he w or ds I used, t o claim it y et . I f it passed t o m e fr om y ou, t o- m orrow—” “ Which I hav e t he v anit y t o hope is not pr obable.” “ —or t went y years hence —” “ You do m e t oo m uch honour ,” said t he Mar quis; “ st ill, I prefer t hat supposit ion. ” “ —I w ould abandon it , and liv e ot her w ise and elsew her e. I t is lit t le t o r elinquish. What is it but a w ilder ness of m iser y and ruin! ” “ Hah! ” said t he Marquis, glancing round t he luxurious room . “ To t he ey e it is fair enough, her e; but seen in it s int egr it y , under t he sk y , and by t he day light , it is a cr um bling t ow er of w ast e, m ism anagem ent , ex t or t ion, debt , m or t gage, oppr ession, hunger , nak edness, and suffer ing.” “ Hah! ” said t he Mar quis again, in a w ell- sat isfied m anner . “ I f it ev er becom es m ine, it shall be put int o som e hands bet t er qualified t o fr ee it slow ly ( if such a t hing is possible) fr om t he w eight t hat dr ags it dow n, so t hat t he m iser able people w ho cannot leav e it and w ho hav e been l ong wrung t o t he last point of endur ance, m ay , in anot her gener at ion, suffer less; but it is not for m e. Ther e is a cur se on it , and on all t his land. ” “ And you?” said t he uncle. “ Forgive m y curiosit y; do you, under your new philosophy, graciously int end t o liv e?” “ I m ust do, t o live, w hat ot her s of m y count r ym en, even w it h nobilit y at t heir back s, m ay hav e t o do som e day- work.” “ I n England, for exam ple?” 171

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“ Yes. The fam ily honour , sir , is safe fr om m e in t his count ry. The fam ily nam e can suffer from m e in no ot her, for I bear it in no ot her .” The r inging of t he bell had caused t he adj oining bedcham ber t o be light ed. I t now shone br ight ly , t hr ough t he door of com m unicat ion. The Mar quis looked t hat w ay, and list ened for t he r et r eat ing st ep of his v alet . “ England is v er y at t r act iv e t o y ou, seeing how indiffer ent ly you have prospered t here,” he observed t hen, t urning his calm face t o his nephew w it h a sm ile. “ I have already said, t hat for m y prospering t here, I am sensible I m ay be indebt ed t o y ou, sir . For t he r est , it is m y Refuge.” “ They say , t hose boast ful English, t hat it is t he Refuge of m any. You know a com pat r iot w ho has found a Refuge t her e? A Doct or?” “ Yes. ” “ Wit h a daught er ?” “ Yes. ” “ Yes,” said t he Mar quis. “ You ar e fat igued. Good night ! ” As he bent his head in his m ost cour t ly m anner , t her e w as a secr ecy in his sm iling face, and he conv ey ed an air of m y st er y t o t hose w or ds, w hich st r uck t he ey es and ear s of his nephew for cibly . At t he sam e t im e, t he t hin st r aight lines of t h e set t ing of t he ey es, and t he t hin st r aight lips, and t he m ar k ings in t he nose, cur v ed w it h a sar casm t hat look ed handsom ely diabolic.

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“ Yes,” r epeat ed t he Mar quis. “ A Doct or w it h a daught er . Yes. So com m ences t he new philosophy ! You ar e fat igued. Good night ! ” I t w ould hav e been of as m uch av ail t o int er r ogat e any st one face out side t he chat eau as t o int er r ogat e t hat face of his. The nephew look ed at him , in v ain, in passing on t o t he door. “ Good night ! ” said t he uncle. “ I look t o t he pleasur e of seeing you again in t he m or ning. Good r epose! Light Monsieur m y nephew t o his cham ber t here!—And burn Monsieur m y nephew in his bed, if y ou w ill,” he added t o him self, befor e he r ang his lit t le bell again, and sum m oned his v alet t o his ow n bedroom . The valet co m e and gone, Monsieur t he Mar quis w alk ed t o and fr o in his loose cham ber- r obe, t o pr epar e him self gent ly for sleep, t hat hot st ill night . Rust ling about t he r oom , his sof t ly- slipper ed feet m ak ing no noise on t he floor , he m ov ed lik e a r efined t iger : —look ed lik e som e enchant ed m ar quis of t he im penit ent ly w ick ed sor t , in st or y , w hose per iodical change int o t iger for m w as eit her j ust going off, or j ust com ing on. He m oved fr om end t o end of his volupt uous bedr oom , look ing again at t he scr aps of t he day 's j ourney t hat cam e unbidden int o his m ind; t he slow t oil up t he hill at sunset , t he set t ing sun, t he descent , t he m ill, t he pr ison on t he cr ag, t he lit t le v illage in t he hollow , t he peasant s at t he fount ain, and t he m ender of r oads w it h his blue cap point ing out t he chain under t he car r iage. That fount ain suggest ed t he Par is fount ain, t he lit t le bundle ly ing on t he st ep, t he w om en 173

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bending ov er it , and t he t all m an w it h his ar m s up, cr y ing, “ Dead! ” “ I am cool now ,” said Monsieur t he Marquis, “ and m ay go t o bed.” So, leaving only one light bur ning on t he lar ge hear t h, he let his t hin gauze cur t ains fall ar ound him , and hear d t he night br eak it s silence w it h a long sigh as he com posed him self t o sleep. The st one faces on t he out er w alls st ar ed blindly at t he black night for t hree heavy hours; for t hree heavy hours, t he hor ses in t he st ables r at t led at t heir r ack s, t he dogs bar k ed, and t he ow l m ade a noise w it h v er y lit t le r esem blance in it t o t he noise conv ent ionally assigned t o t he ow l by m en- poet s. Bu t it is t he obst inat e cust om of such cr eat ur es har dly ev er t o say w hat is set dow n for t hem . For t hr ee heav y hour s, t he st one faces of t he chat eau, lion and hum an, st ar ed blindly at t he night . Dead dar k ness lay on all t he landscape, dead dar k ness added it s ow n hush t o t he hushing dust on all t he r oads. The bur ial- place had got t o t he pass t hat it s lit t le heaps of poor gr ass w er e undist inguishable from one anot her; t he figure on t he Cross m ight have com e dow n, for any t hing t hat could be seen of it . I n t he v illage, t ax er s and t ax ed w er e fast asleep. Dr eam ing, per haps, of banquet s, as t he st ar v ed usually do, and of ease and r est , as t he dr iv en slav e and t he y ok ed ox m ay , it s lean inhabit ant s slept soundly , and w er e fed and fr eed. The fount ain in t he v illage flow ed unseen and unhear d, and t he fount ain at t he chat eau dr opped unseen and unheard —bot h m elt ing aw ay , lik e t he m inut es t hat w er e 174

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falling fr om t he spr ing of Tim e —t hrough t hree dark hours. Then, t he gr ey w at er of bot h began t o be ghost ly in t he light , and t he ey es of t he st one faces of t he chat eau w er e opened. Light er and light er , unt il at last t he sun t ouched t he t ops of t he st ill t r ees, and pour ed it s r adiance ov er t he hill. I n t he glow , t he w at er of t he chat eau fount ain seem ed t o t ur n t o blood, and t he st one faces cr im soned. The car ol of t he bir ds w as loud and high, and, on t he w eat her- beat en sill of t h e gr eat w indow of t he bed- cham ber of Monsieur t he Marquis, one lit t le bir d sang it s sw eet est song w it h all it s m ight . At t hi s, t he near est st one face seem ed t o st ar e am azed, and, w it h open m out h and dropped under- j aw , look ed aw e st ricken. Now , t he sun w as full up, and m ov em ent began in t he v illage. Casem ent w indow s opened, cr azy door s w er e unbar r ed, and people cam e for t h shivering—chilled, as y et , by t he new sw eet air . Then began t he r ar ely light ened t oil of t he day am ong t he v illage populat ion. Som e, t o t he fount ain; som e, t o t he fields; m en and w om en her e, t o dig and delv e; m en and w om en t her e, t o see t o t he poor liv e st ock , and lead t he bony cow s out , t o such past ur e as could be found by t he r oadside. I n t he chur ch and at t he Cr oss, a kneeling figur e or t w o; at t endant on t he lat t er pr ay er s, t he led cow , t r y ing for a br eak fast am ong t he w eeds at it s foot . The chat eau aw ok e lat er , as becam e it s qualit y , but aw ok e gr adually and sur ely . Fir st , t he lonely boar- spear s and k niv es of t he chase had been r eddened as of old; t hen, had gleam ed t r enchant in t he m or ning sunshine; now , door s and w indow s w er e t hr ow n open, hor ses in t heir st ables look ed r ound ov er 175

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t heir shoulder s at t he light and fr eshness pour ing in at door w ay s, leav es spar k led and r ust led at ir on- gr at ed w indow s, dogs pulled har d at t heir chains, and r ear ed im pat ient t o be loosed. All t hese t r iv ial incident s belonged t o t he r out ine of life, and t he ret urn of m orning. Surely, not so t he ringing of t he gr eat bell of t he chat eau, nor t he r unning up and dow n t he st air s; nor t he hur r ied figur es on t he t er r ace; nor t he boot ing and t ram ping here and t here and everywhere, nor t he quick saddling of hor ses and r iding aw ay ? What w inds conv ey ed t his hur r y t o t he gr izzled m ender of r oads, alr eady at w or k on t he hill- t op bey ond t he v illage, w it h his day's dinner ( not m uch t o car r y) lying in a bundle t hat it w as w or t h no cr ow 's w hile t o peck at , on a heap of st ones? Had t he bir ds, car r y ing som e gr ains of it t o a dist ance, dr opped one ov er him as t hey sow chance seeds? Whet her or no, t he m ender of roads ran, on t he sult ry m orning, as if for his life, dow n t he hill, k nee- high in dust , and nev er st opped t ill he got t o t he fount ain. All t he people of t he v illage w er e at t he fount ain, st anding about in t heir depr essed m anner , and w hisper ing low , but show ing no ot her em ot ions t han gr im cur iosit y and sur pr ise. The led cow s, hast ily br ought in and t et her ed t o any t hing t hat w ould hold t hem , w er e look ing st upidly on, or ly ing dow n chew ing t he cud of not hing par t icular ly r epaying t heir t r ouble, w hich t hey had picked up in t heir int errupt ed saunt er. Som e of t he people of t he chat eau, and som e of t hose of t h e post ing- house, and all t he t ax ing aut hor it ies, w er e ar m ed m or e or less, and w er e cr ow ded on t he ot her side of t he lit t le 176

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st r eet in a pur poseless w ay , t hat w as highly fr aught w it h not hing. Alr eady , t he m ender of r oads had penet r at ed int o t he m idst of a gr oup of fift y par t icular fr iends, and w as sm it ing him self in t he br east w it h his blue cap. What did all t his por t end, and w hat por t ended t he sw ift hoist ing- up of Monsieur Gabelle behind a ser v ant on hor seback , and t he conv ey ing aw ay of t he said Gabelle ( double- laden t hough t he hor se w as) , at a gallop, lik e a new v er sion of t he Ger m an ballad of Leonor a? I t por t ended t hat t her e w as one st one face t oo m any , up at t he chat eau. The Gor gon had sur v ey ed t he building again in t he night , and had added t he one st one face w ant ing; t he st one face for w hich it had w ait ed t hr ough about t w o hundr ed year s. I t lay back on t he pillow of Monsieur t he Mar quis. I t w as lik e a fine m ask , suddenly st ar t led, m ade angr y , and pet r ified. Dr iv en hom e int o t he hear t of t he st one figur e at t ached t o it , w as a k nife. Round it s hilt w as a fr ill of paper , on w hich w as scraw led: “ Dr iv e him fast t o his t om b. This, fr om Jacques.”

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X Tw o Pr om ises Mor e m ont hs, t o t he num ber of t w elve, had com e and gone, and Mr. Charles Darnay w as est ablished in England as a higher t eacher of t he French language w ho w as conversant w it h Fr ench lit er at ur e. I n t his age, he w ould hav e been a Pr ofessor ; in t hat age, he w as a Tut or . He r ead w it h y oung m en w ho could find any leisur e and int er est for t he st udy of a liv ing t ongue spok en all ov er t he w or ld, and he cult iv at ed a t ast e for it s st or es of k now ledge and fancy . He could w r it e of t hem , besides, in sound English, and r ender t hem int o sound English. Such m ast er s w er e not at t hat t im e easily found; Pr inces t hat had been, and Kings t hat w er e t o be, w er e not y et of t he Teacher class, and no r uined nobilit y had dr opped out of Tellson's ledger s, t o t ur n cook s and car pent er s. As a t ut or , w hose at t ainm ent s m ade t he st udent 's w ay unusually pleasant and pr ofit able, and as an elegant t r anslat or w ho br ought som et hing t o his w or k besides m er e dict ionar y knowledge, young Mr. Darnay soon becam e known and encour aged. He w as w ell acquaint ed, m or e - ov er , w it h t he cir cum st ances of his count r y, and t hose w er e of ever- grow ing int er est . So, w it h gr eat per sever ance and unt ir ing indust r y, he prospered. I n London, he had ex pect ed neit her t o w alk on pav em ent s of gold, nor t o lie on beds of r oses; if he had had any such ex alt ed ex pect at ion, he w ould not hav e pr osper ed. He had ex pect ed labour , and he found it , and did it and m ade t he best of it . I n t his, his pr osper it y consist ed. 178

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A cer t ain por t ion of his t im e w as passed at Cam br idge, w her e he r ead w it h under gr aduat es as a sor t of t oler at ed sm uggler who drove a cont raband t rade in European languages, inst ead of conv ey ing Gr eek and Lat in t hr ough t he Cust om- house. The r est of his t im e he passed in London. Now , fr om t he days w hen it w as alw ays sum m er in Eden, t o t hese day s w hen it is m ost ly w int er in fallen lat it udes, t he world of a m an has inv ar iably gone one w ay—Char les Darnay's way—t he w ay of t he lov e of a w om an. He had lov ed Lucie Manet t e fr om t he hour of his danger . He had nev er hear d a sound so sw eet and dear as t he sound of her com passionat e v oice; he had nev er seen a face so t ender ly beaut iful, as her s w hen it w as confr ont ed w it h his ow n on t he edge of t he gr av e t hat had been dug for him . But , he had not y et spok en t o her on t he subj ect ; t he assassinat ion at t he deser t ed chat eau far aw ay bey ond t he heav ing w at er and t he long, t ong, dust y r oads—t h e solid st one chat eau w hich had it self becom e t he m er e m ist of a dream—had been done a year , and he had never yet , by so m uch as a single spok en w or d, disclosed t o her t he st at e of his hear t . That he had his r easons for t his, he k new full w ell. I t w as again a sum m er day w hen, lat ely arrived in London from his college occupat ion, he t ur ned int o t he quiet cor ner in Soho, bent on seek ing an oppor t unit y of opening his m ind t o Doct or Manet t e. I t w as t he close of t he sum m er day , and he knew Lucie t o be out w it h Miss Pr oss. He found t he Doct or reading in his arm - chair at a w indow . The energy w hich had at once support ed him under his old 179

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suffer ings and aggr av at ed t heir shar pness, had been gradually rest ored t o him . He w as now a very ene rget ic m an indeed, w it h gr eat fir m ness of pur pose, st r engt h of r esolut ion, and vigour of act ion. I n his recovered energy he w as som et im es a lit t le fit ful and sudden, as he had at fir st been in t he ex er cise of his ot her r ecov er ed facult ies; but , t his had never been frequent ly observable, and had grown m ore and m ore rare. He st udied m uch, slept lit t le, sust ained a gr eat deal of fat igue w it h ease, and w as equably cheer ful. To him , now ent er ed Char les Dar nay , at sight of w hom he laid aside his book and held out his hand. “ Char les Dar nay ! I r ej oice t o see y ou. We hav e been count ing on your ret urn t hese t hree or four days past . Mr. St ryver and Sydney Cart on were bot h here yest erday, and bot h m ade you out t o be m or e t han due.” “ I am obliged t o t hem for t heir int er est in t he m at t er , ” he answ er ed, a lit t le coldly as t o t hem , t hough v er y w ar m ly as t o t he Doct or . “ Miss Manet t e—” “ I s w ell,” said t he Doct or , as he st opped shor t , “ and y our r et ur n w ill delight us all. She has gone out on som e household m at t er s, but w ill soon be hom e.” “ Doct or Manet t e, I knew she w as fr om hom e. I t ook t he oppor t unit y of her being fr om hom e, t o beg t o speak t o you.” Ther e w as a blank silence. “ Yes?” said t he Doct or , w it h evident const r aint . “ Br ing your chair here, and speak on.” He com plied as t o t he chair , but appear ed t o find t he speak ing on less easy . 180

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“ I hav e had t he happiness, Doct or Manet t e, of being so int im at e her e, ” so he at lengt h began, “for som e year and a half, t hat I hope t he t opic on w hich I am about t o t ouch m ay not —” He w as st ay ed by t he Doct or 's put t ing out his hand t o st op him . When he had k ept it so a lit t le w hile, he said, dr aw ing it back: “ I s Lucie t he t opic?” “ She is.” “ I t is har d for m e t o speak of her at any t im e. I t is v er y har d for m e t o hear her spoken of in t hat t one of your s, Charles Darnay.” “ I t is a t one of fer v ent adm ir at ion, t r ue hom age, and deep lov e, Doct or Manet t e! ” he said defer ent ially . Ther e w as anot her blank silence befor e her fat her r ej oined: “ I believ e it . I do y ou j ust ice; I believ e it . ” His const r aint w as so m anifest , and it w as so m anifest , t oo, t hat it or iginat ed in an unw illingness t o appr oach t he subj ect , t hat Char les Dar nay hesit at ed. “ Shall I go on, sir?” Anot her blank. “ Yes, go on.” “ You ant icipat e w hat I w ould say , t hough y ou cannot k now how ear nest ly I say it , how ear nest ly I feel it , w it hout know ing m y secr et hear t , and t he hopes and fear s and anx iet ies w it h w hich it has long been laden. Dear Doct or Manet t e, I lov e y our daught er fondly , dear ly , disint er est edly , 181

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devot edly. I f ever t her e w er e love in t he w or ld, I love her . You have loved your self; let your old love speak for m e! ” The Doct or sat w it h his face t ur ned aw ay , and his ey es bent on t he gr ound. At t he last w or ds, he st r et ched out his hand again, hurriedly, and cried: “ Not t hat , sir ! Let t hat be! I adj ur e y ou, do not r ecall t hat ! ” His cr y w as so lik e a cr y of act ual pain, t hat it r ang in Charles Darnay's ears long aft er he had ceased. He m ot ioned w it h t he hand he had ex t ended, and it seem ed t o be an appeal t o Dar nay t o pause. The lat t er so r eceiv ed it , and r em ained silent . “ I ask your par don,” said t he Doct or , in a subdued t one, aft er som e m om ent s. “ I do not doubt your loving Lucie; you m ay be sat isfied of it . ” He t ur ned t ow ar ds him in his chair , but did not look at him , or r aise his ey es. His chin dr opped upon his hand, and his w hit e hair ov er shadow ed his face: “ Have you spoken t o Lucie?” “ No.” “ Nor w r it t en?” “ Never.” “ I t w ould be ungener ous t o affect not t o k now t hat y our self - denial is t o be r efer r ed t o y our consider at ion for her fat her . Her fat her t hanks you. He offer ed his hand; but his ey es did not go w it h it . “ I know ,” said Dar nay, r espect fully, “ how can I fail t o know , Doct or Manet t e, I w ho have seen you t oget her fr om day t o day , t hat bet w een y ou and Miss Manet t e t her e is an affect ion so unusual, so t ouching, so belonging t o t he 182

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cir cum st ances in w hich it has been nur t ur ed, t hat it can hav e few par allels, ev en in t he t ender ness bet w een a fat her and child. I know , Doct or Manet t e—how can I fail t o k now —t hat , m ingled w it h t he affect ion and dut y of a daught er w ho has becom e a w om an, t her e is, in her hear t , t ow ar ds y ou, all t he lov e and r eliance of infancy it self. I k now t hat , as in her childhood she had no par ent , so she is now dev ot ed t o y ou w it h all t he const ancy and fer vour of her pr esent year s and char act er , unit ed t o t he t r ust fulness and at t achm ent of t he early days in w hich you w ere lost t o her. I k now per fect ly w ell t hat if you had been r est or ed t o her fr om t he w or ld beyond t his life, y ou could har dly be inv est ed, in her sight , w it h a m ore sacred charact er t han t hat in w hich you are alw ays w it h her . I k now t hat w hen she is clinging t o y ou, t he hands of baby, girl, and wom an, all in one, are round your neck. I k now t hat in lov ing y ou she sees and lov es her m ot her at her ow n age, sees and lov es y ou at m y age, lov es her m ot her broken- hear t ed, loves you t hr ough your dr eadful t r ial and in y our blessed r est or at ion. I hav e k now n t his, night and day , since I have known you in your hom e.” Her fat her sat silent , w it h his face bent dow n. His br eat hing w as a lit t le quick ened; but he r epr essed all ot her sign s of agit at ion . “ Dear Doct or Manet t e, alw ay s k now ing t his, alw ay s seeing her and y ou w it h t his hallow ed light about y ou, I hav e for bor ne, and for bor ne, as long as it w as in t he nat ur e of m an t o do it . I hav e felt , and do ev en now feel, t hat t o br ing m y love —even m ine —bet w e en you, is t o t ouch your hist or y w it h 183

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som et hing not quit e so good as it self. But I lov e her . Heav en is m y w it ness t hat I lov e her ! ” “ I believe it ,” answ er ed her fat her , m our nfully. “ I have t hought so befor e now . I believ e it .” “ But , do not believ e,” said Darnay, upon w hose ear t he m ournful voice st ruck wit h a reproachful sound, “ t hat if m y for t une w er e so cast as t hat , being one day so happy as t o m ak e her m y w ife, I m ust at any t im e put any separ at ion bet w een her and you, I could or w ould br eat he a w ord of w hat I now say . Besides t hat I should k now it t o be hopeless, I should k now it t o be a baseness. I f I had any such possibilit y , ev en at a r em ot e dist ance of y ear s, har bour ed in m y t hought s, and hidden in m y heart —if it ev er had been t here—if it ev er could be t here —I could not now t ouch t his honoured hand.” He laid his ow n upon it as he spok e. “ No, dear Doct or Manet t e. Like you, a volunt ary exile from Fr ance; like you, dr iven fr om it by it s dist r act ions, oppr essions, and m iser ies; lik e y ou, st r iv ing t o live away from it by m y ow n exer t ions, and t r ust ing in a happier fut ur e; I look only t o shar ing your for t unes, shar ing your life and hom e, and being fait hful t o y ou t o t he deat h. Not t o div ide w it h Lucie her pr ivilege as your child, com panion, and fr iend; but t o com e in aid of it , and bind her closer t o y ou, if such a t hing can be.” His t ouch st ill linger ed on her fat her 's hand. Answ er ing t he t ouch for a m om ent , but not coldly , her fat her r est ed his hands upon t he ar m s of his chair , and looked up for t he fir st t im e since t he beginning of t he confer ence. A st r uggle w as 184

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ev ident ly in his face; a st r uggle w it h t hat occasional look w hich had a t endency in it t o dar k doubt and dr ead. “ You speak so feelingly and so m anfully , Char les Dar nay , t hat I t hank y ou w it h all m y hear t , and w ill open all m y heart —or near ly so. Hav e y ou any r eason t o believ e t hat Lucie loves you?” “ None. As y et , none.” “ I s it t he im m ediat e obj ect of t his confidence, t hat y ou m ay at once ascer t ain t hat , w it h m y k now ledge?” “ Not eve n so. I m ight not hav e t he hopefulness t o do it for w eek s; I m ight ( m ist ak en or not m ist ak en) hav e t hat hopefulness t o- m orrow.” “ Do you seek any guidance from m e?” “ I ask none, sir . But I hav e t hought it possible t hat y ou m ight have it in your pow er, if y ou should deem it r ight , t o give m e som e.” “ Do you seek any prom ise from m e?” “ I do seek t hat .” “ Wh at is it ?” “ I w ell under st and t hat , w it hout y ou, I could hav e no hope. I w ell under st and t hat , ev en if Miss Manet t e held m e at t his m om ent in her innocent heart - do not t hink I hav e t he pr esum pt ion t o assum e so m uch—I could r et ain no place in it against her love for her fat her .” “ I f t hat be so, do y ou see w hat , on t he ot her hand, is inv olv ed in it ?” “ I under st and equally w ell, t hat a w or d fr om he r fat her in any suit or 's fav our , w ould out w eigh her self and all t he w or ld. 185

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For w hich r eason, Doct or Manet t e,” said Dar nay, m odest ly but fir m ly , “ I w ould not ask t hat w or d, t o sav e m y life.” “ I am sur e of it . Char les Dar nay , m y st er ies ar ise out of close lov e, as w ell as out of w ide div ision; in t he for m er case, t hey ar e subt le and delicat e, and difficult t o penet r at e. My daught er Lucie is, in t his one r espect , such a m y st er y t o m e; I can m ak e no guess at t he st at e of her hear t .” “ May I ask, sir , if you t hink she is—” As he hesit at ed, her fat her supplied t he r est . “ I s sought by any ot her suit or ?” “ I t is w hat I m eant t o say . ” Her fat her consider ed a lit t le befor e he answ er ed: “ You have seen Mr. Cart on here, yourself. Mr. St ryver is her e t oo, occasionally . I f it be at all, it can only be by one of t hese. ” “ Or bot h,” said Darnay. “ I had not t hought of bot h; I should not t hink eit her , lik ely . You w ant a pr om ise fr om m e. Tell m e w hat it is.” “ I t is, t hat if Miss Manet t e should br ing t o y ou at any t im e, on her ow n par t , such a confidence as I have vent ur ed t o lay befor e y ou, y ou w ill bear t est im ony t o w hat I hav e said, and t o y our belief in it . I hope y ou m ay be able t o t hink so w ell of m e, as t o ur ge no influence against m e. I say not hing m or e of m y st ak e in t his; t his is w hat I ask . The condit ion on w hich I ask it , and w hich you have an undoubt ed r ight t o r equir e, I w ill obser v e im m ediat ely .” “ I giv e t he pr om ise,” said t he Doct or , “w it hout any condit ion. I believ e y our obj ect t o be, pur ely and t r ut hfully , as y ou hav e st at ed it . I believ e y our int ent ion is t o per pet uat e, 186

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and not t o w eak en, t he t ies bet w een m e and m y ot her and far dear er self. I f she should ev er t ell m e t hat y ou ar e essen t ial t o her per fect happiness, I w ill giv e her t o y ou. I f t her e were—Charles Darnay, if t here were —” The young m an had t aken his hand gr at efully; t heir hands w er e j oined as t he Doct or spok e: “ —any fancies, any r easons, any appr ehensions, any t hing what soev er , new or old, against t he m an she r eally lov ed— t he dir ect r esponsibilit y t her eof not ly ing on his head—t hey should all be oblit er at ed for her sak e. She is ev er y t hing t o m e; m ore t o m e t han suffering, m ore t o m e t han w rong, m ore t o m e—Well! Th is is idle t alk . ” So st r ange w as t he w ay in w hich he faded int o silence, and so st r ange his fix ed look w hen he had ceased t o speak , t hat Dar nay felt his ow n hand t ur n cold in t he hand t hat slow ly r eleased and dr opped it . “ You said som et hing t o m e,” said Doct or Manet t e, breaking int o a sm ile. “ What w as it y ou said t o m e?” He w as at a loss how t o answ er , unt il he r em em ber ed hav ing spok en of a condit ion. Reliev ed as his m ind r ev er t ed t o t hat , he answ er ed: “ Your confidence in m e ought t o be r et ur ned w it h full confidence on m y par t . My pr esent nam e, t hough but slight ly changed from m y m ot her's, is not , as you will rem em ber, m y ow n. I w ish t o t ell y ou w hat t hat is, and w hy I am in England.” “ St op! ” said t he Doct or of Beauv ais. “ I w ish it , t hat I m ay t he bet t er deserve your confidence, and have no secret from you.” 187

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“ St op! ” For an inst ant , t he Doct or ev en had his t w o hands at his ear s; for anot her inst ant , ev en had his t w o hands laid on Dar nay's lips. “ Tell m e w hen I ask y ou, not now . I f y our suit should pr osper , if Lucie should lov e y ou, y ou shall t ell m e on y our m arriage m orning. Do you prom ise?” “ Willingly . “ Give m e your hand. She w ill be hom e dir ect ly, and it is bet t er she should not see us t oget her t o- night . Go! God bless you! ” I t w as dark w hen Char les Dar nay left him , and it w as an hour lat er and darker when Lucie cam e hom e; she hurried int o t he r oom alone —for Miss Pr oss had gone st r aight upst air s—and w as sur pr ised t o find his r eading- chair em pt y. “ My fat her! ” she called t o him . “ Fat her dear! ” Not hing w as said in answ er , but she hear d a low ham m er ing sound in his bedr oom . Passing light ly acr oss t he int er m ediat e r oom , she look ed in at his door and cam e r unning back fr ight ened, cr ying t o her self, w it h her blood all chilled, “ What shall I do! W hat shall I do! ” Her uncert aint y last ed but a m om ent ; she hurried back, and t apped at his door , and soft ly called t o him . The noise ceased at t he sound of her v oice, and he pr esent ly cam e out t o her , and t hey w alked up and dow n t oget her for a long t im e. She cam e dow n fr om her bed, t o look at him in his sleep t hat night . He slept heav ily , and his t r ay of shoem ak ing t ools, and his old unfinished w or k , w er e all as usual. 188

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XI A Com panion Pict ure “ Sydney,” said Mr. St ryver, on t hat self- sam e night , or m orning, t o his j ackal; “ m ix anot her bow l of punch; I have som et hing t o say t o y ou.” Sy dney had been w or k ing double t ides t hat night , and t he night befor e, and t he night befor e t hat , and a good m any night s in succession, m aking a gr and clear ance am ong Mr. St r y v er 's paper s befor e t he set t ing in of t he long v acat ion. The clear ance w as effect ed at last ; t he St r yver ar r ear s w er e handsom ely fet ched up; ev er y t hing w as got r id of unt il Nov em ber should com e w it h it s fogs at m ospher ic, and fogs legal, and br ing gr ist t o t he m ill again. Sy dney w as none t he liv elier and none t he sober er for so m uch applicat ion. I t had t ak en a deal of ex t r a w et - t ow elling t o pull him t hr ough t he night ; a cor r espondingly ext r a quant it y of w ine had pr eceded t he t ow elling; and he w as i n a v er y dam aged condit ion, as he now pulled his t ur ban off and t hr ew it int o t he basin in w hich he had st eeped it at int er v als for t he last six hour s. “ Are you m ixing t hat ot her bowl of punch?” said St ryver t he por t ly , w it h his hands in his w aist band, glancing round fr om t he sofa w her e he lay on his back. “ I am .” “ Now , look her e! I am going t o t ell y ou som et hing t hat w ill rat her surprise you, and t hat perhaps w ill m ake you t hink m e not quit e as shr ew d as y ou usually do t hink m e. I int end t o m arry.” 189

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“ DO you?” “ Yes. And not for m oney . What do y ou say now ?” “ I don't feel disposed t o say m uch. Who is she?” “ Guess.” “ Do I know her?” “ Guess.” “ I am not going t o guess, at fiv e o'clock in t he m or ning, w it h m y brains frying and sput t ering in m y head. if you w ant m e t o guess, y ou m ust ask m e t o dinner .” “ Well t hen, I 'll t ell y ou,” said St r y v er , com ing slow ly int o a sit t ing post ur e. “ Sy dney , I r at her despair of m aking m yself int elligible t o y ou, because y ou ar e such an insensible dog. ” “ And you,” ret urned Sydney, busy concoct ing t he punch, “ ar e such a sensit iv e and poet ical spir it —” “ Com e! ” rej oined St ryver, laughing boast fully, “ t hough I don't pr efer any claim t o being t he soul of Rom ance ( for I hope I k now bet t er ) , st ill I am a t ender er sor t of fellow t han YOU. ” “ You ar e a luckier , if you m ean t hat .” “ I don't m ean t hat . I m ean I am a m an of m ore —m ore—” “ Say gallant ry, w hile you are about it ,” suggest ed Car t on. “ Well! I 'll say gallant r y . My m eaning is t hat I am a m an,” said St r y v er , inflat ing him self at his fr iend as he m ade t he punch, “ w ho cares m ore t o be agreeable, w ho t akes m ore pains t o be agr eeable, w ho k now s bet t er how t o be agr eeable, in a w om an's societ y , t han y ou do.” “ Go on,” said Sydney Cart on. “ No; but before I go on,” said St ryver, shaking his head in his bully ing w ay , I 'll hav e t his out w it h y ou. You'v e been at 190

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Doct or Manet t e's house as m uch as I have, or m or e t han I have. Why , I hav e been asham ed of y our m or oseness t her e! Your m anner s hav e been of t hat silent and sullen and hangdog k ind, t hat , upon m y life and soul, I hav e been asham ed of you, Sydney! ” “ I t should be v er y beneficial t o a m an in y our pr act ice at t he bar, t o be asham ed of anyt hing,” ret urned Sydney; “ you ought t o be m uch obliged t o m e.” “ You shall not get off in t hat w ay ,” r ej oined St r y v er , shouldering t he rej oinder at him ; “ no, Sydney, it 's m y dut y t o t ell y ou—and I t ell y ou t o y our face t o do y ou good—t hat y ou ar e a dev ilish ill- condit ioned fellow in t hat sor t of societ y . You ar e a disagr eeable fellow . ” Sydney drank a bum per of t he punch he had m ade, and laughed. “ Look at m e! ” said St ryver, squaring him self; “ I have less need t o m ak e m y self agr eeabl e t han you have, being m ore independent in cir cum st ances. Why do I do it ?” “ I never saw you do it yet ,” m ut t ered Cart on. “ I do it because it 's polit ic; I do it on pr inciple. And look at m e! I get on.” “ You don't get on wit h your account of your m at ri m onial int ent ions,” answ er ed Car t on, w it h a car eless air ; “ I w ish y ou w ould k eep t o t hat . As t o m e —w ill y ou nev er under st and t hat I am incorrigible?” He ask ed t he quest ion w it h som e appear ance of scor n. “ You hav e no business t o be incor r igible,” w as hi s fr iend's answ er , deliv er ed in no v er y soot hing t one. 191

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“ I hav e no business t o be, at all, t hat I k now of, ” said Sydney Car t on. “ Who is t he lady?” “ Now , don't let m y announcem ent of t he nam e m ake you uncom fort able, Sydney,” said Mr. St ryver, preparing him w it h ost ent at ious fr iendliness for t he disclosur e he w as about t o m ake, “ because I know you don't m ean half you say; and if y ou m eant it all, it w ould be of no im por t ance. I m ak e t his lit t le pr eface, because y ou once m ent ioned t he y oung lady t o m e in slight ing t er m s.” “ I did?” “ Cer t ainly; and in t hese cham ber s.” Sydney Car t on looked at his punch and looked at his com placent fr iend; dr ank his punch and looked at his com placent fr iend. “ You m ade m ent ion of t he y oung lady as a golden- haired doll. The y oung lady is Miss Manet t e. I f y ou had been a fellow of any sensit iv eness or delicacy of feeling in t hat k ind of w ay , Sy dney , I m ight hav e been a lit t le r esent ful of y our em ploy ing such a designat ion; but y ou ar e not . You w ant t hat sense alt oget her ; t her efor e I am no m or e annoyed w hen I t hink of t he ex pr ession, t han I should be annoy ed by a m an's opinion of a pict ur e of m ine, w ho had no eye for pict ur es: or of a piece of m usic of m ine, w ho had no ear for m usic.” Sydney Cart on drank t he punch at a great rat e; drank it by bum per s, look ing at his fr iend. “ Now you know all about it , Syd,” said Mr. St ryver. “ I don't care about fort une: she is a charm ing creat ure, and I have m ade up m y m ind t o please m y self: on t he w hole, I t hink I can affor d t o please m y self. She w ill hav e in m e a m an 192

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alr eady pr et t y w ell off, and a r apidly r ising m an, and a m an of som e dist inct ion: it is a piece of good for t une for her , but she is w ort hy of good fort une. Are you ast onished?” Car t on, st ill dr ink ing t he punch, r ej oined, “ Why should I be ast onished?” “ You approve?” Car t on, st ill dr ink ing t he punch, r ej oined, “ Why should I not approve?” “ Well! ” said his fr iend St r y v er , “ y ou t ak e it m or e easily t han I fancied yo u would, and are less m ercenary on m y behalf t han I t hought y ou w ould be; t hough, t o be sur e, y ou k now w ell enough by t his t im e t hat y our ancient chum is a m an of a pr et t y st r ong w ill. Yes, Sy dney , I hav e had enough of t his st y le of life, w it h no ot her as a change fr om it ; I feel t hat it is a pleasant t hing for a m an t o hav e a hom e w hen he feels inclined t o go t o it ( w hen he doesn't , he can st ay aw ay ) , and I feel t hat Miss Manet t e w ill t ell w ell in any st at ion, and w ill alw ay s do m e cr edit . So I hav e m ade up m y m ind. And now , Sy dney , old boy , I w ant t o say a w or d t o YOU about YOUR pr ospect s. You ar e in a bad w ay, you know ; you r eally ar e in a bad w ay. You don't know t he value of m oney, you liv e har d, y ou'll k nock up one of t hese day s, and be ill and poor; you r eally ought t o t hink about a nur se.” The pr osper ous pat r onage w it h w hich he said it , m ade him look t w ice as big as he w as, and four t im es as offensiv e. “ Now, let m e recom m end you,” pursued St ryver, “ t o look it in t he face. I hav e look ed it in t he face, in m y different w ay; look it in t he face, you, in your different w ay. Marry. Provide som ebody t o t ake care of you. Never m ind your having no 193

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enj oy m ent of w om en's societ y , nor under st anding of it , nor t act for it . Find out som ebody . Find out som e r espect able w om an w it h a lit t le pr oper t y—som ebody in t he landlady w ay , or lodging- let t in g w ay—and m arry her, against a rainy day. That 's t he k ind of t hing for YOU. Now t hink of it , Sy dney .” “ I 'll t hink of it ,” said Sy dney .

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XI I The Fellow of Delicacy Mr. St ryver having m ade up his m ind t o t hat m agnanim ous best ow al of good for t une on t he Doct or 's daught er , r esolv ed t o m ak e her happiness k now n t o her befor e he left t ow n for t he Long Vacat ion. Aft er som e m ent al debat ing of t he point , he cam e t o t he conclusion t h at it w ou ld be as w ell t o get all t he pr elim inar ies done w it h, and t hey could t hen ar r ange at t heir leisur e w het her he should giv e her his hand a w eek or t w o befor e Michaelm as Ter m , or in t he lit t le Chr ist m as v acat ion bet w een it and Hilar y . As t o t he st r engt h of his case, he had not a doubt about it , but clear ly saw his w ay t o t he ver dict . Ar gued w it h t he j ur y on subst ant ial w or ldly gr ounds—t he only grounds ever wort h t aking int o account —it w as a plain case, and had not a w eak spot in it . He called him self for t he plaint iff, t her e w as no get t ing over his evidence, t he counsel for t he defendant t hr ew up his br ief, and t he j ur y did not even t ur n t o consider . Aft er t r y ing it , St r y v er , C. J., w as sat isfied t hat no plainer case could be. Accordingly, Mr. St ryver inaugurat ed t he Long Vacat ion w it h a for m al pr oposal t o t ak e Miss Manet t e t o Vaux hall Gar dens; t hat failing, t o Ranelagh; t hat unaccount ably failing t oo, it behov ed him t o pr esent him self in Soho, and t her e declar e his noble m ind. Towards Soho, t herefore, Mr. St ryver shouldered his way fr om t he Tem ple, w hile t he bloom of t he Long Vacat ion's infancy w as st ill upon it . Any body w ho had seen him 195

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pr oj ect ing him self int o Soho w hile he w as y et on Saint Dunst an's side of Tem ple Bar , bur st ing in his full- blow n w ay along t he pav em ent , t o t he j ost lem ent of all w eak er people, m ight hav e seen how safe and st r ong he w as. His w ay t ak ing him past Tellson's, and he bot h bank ing at Tellson's and k now ing Mr . Lor r y as t he int im at e fr iend of t he Manet t es, it ent er e d Mr. St ryver's m ind t o ent er t he bank, and reveal t o Mr. Lorry t he bright ness of t he Soho horizon. So, he pushed open t he door w it h t he w eak r at t le in it s t hr oat , st um bled dow n t he t w o st eps, got past t he t w o ancient cashier s, and shoulder ed him self int o t he m ust y back closet w her e Mr . Lor r y sat at gr eat books r uled for figur es, w it h per pendicular ir on bar s t o his w indow as if t hat w er e r uled for figur es t oo, and ever yt hing under t he clouds w er e a sum . “ Halloa! ” said Mr. St ryver. “ How do you do? I hope you are w ell! ” I t w as St r yver 's gr and peculiar it y t hat he alw ays seem ed t oo big for any place, or space. He w as so m uch t oo big for Tellson's, t hat old cler k s in dist ant cor ner s look ed up w it h look s of r em onst r ance, as t hough he squeezed t hem against t he w all. The House it self, m agnificent ly r eading t he paper quit e in t he far- off per spect iv e, low er ed displeased, as if t he St r y v er head had been but t ed int o it s r esponsible w aist coat . The discr eet Mr . Lor r y said, in a sam ple t one of t he v oice he w ould recomm end under t he circum st ances, “ How do you do, Mr. St ryver? How do you do, sir?” and shook hands. There w as a peculiar it y in his m anner of shak ing hands, alw ay s t o be seen in any cler k at Tellson's w ho shook hands w it h a 196

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cust om er w hen t he House pervaded t he air . He shook in a self - abnegat ing w ay , as one w ho shook for Tellson and Co. “ Can I do anyt hing for you, Mr. St ryver?” asked Mr. Lorry, in his business char act er . “ Why , no, t hank y ou; t his is a pr iv at e v isit t o y our self, Mr . Lorry; I have com e for a privat e word.” “ Oh indeed! ” said Mr. Lorry, bending dow n his ear, w hile his ey e st r ay ed t o t he House afar off. “ I am going,” said Mr. St ryver, leaning his arm s confident ially on t he desk : w her eupon, alt hough it w as a lar ge double one, t her e appear ed t o be not half desk enough for him : “ I am going t o m ake an offer of m yself in m arriage t o y our agr eeable lit t le fr iend, Miss Manet t e, Mr . Lor r y .” “ Oh dear m e! ” cried Mr. Lorry, rubbing his chin, and look ing at his v isit or dubiously . “ Oh dear m e, sir?” repeat ed St ryver, drawing back. “ Oh dear you, sir? What m ay your m eaning be, Mr. Lorry?” “ My m eaning,” answ er ed t he m an of business, “ is, of cour se, fr iendly and appr eciat iv e, and t hat it does y ou t he gr eat est cr edit , and—in shor t , m y m eaning is ever yt hing you could desir e. But —really, you know, Mr. St ryver—” Mr. Lorry paused, and shook his head at him in t he oddest m anner , as if he w er e com pelled against his w ill t o add, int er nally , “ y ou know t here really is so m uch t oo m uch of you! ” “ Well! ” said St r y v er , slapping t he desk w it h his cont ent ious hand, opening his ey es w ider , and t ak ing a long br eat h, “ if I underst and you, Mr. Lorry, I 'll be hanged! ” Mr . Lor r y adj ust ed his lit t le w ig at bot h ear s as a m eans t ow ar ds t hat end, and bit t he feat her of a pen. 197

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“ D—n it all, sir ! ” said St r yver , st ar ing at him , “ am I not eligible?” “ Oh dear yes! Yes. Oh yes, you're eligible! ” said Mr. Lorry. “ I f y ou say eligible, y ou ar e eligible.” “ Am I not prosperous?” asked St ryver. “ Oh! if you com e t o prosperous, you ar e pr osper ous,” said Mr. Lorry. “ And advancing?” “ I f you com e t o advancing you know,” said Mr. Lorry, delight ed t o be able t o m ak e anot her adm ission, “ nobody can doubt t hat .” “ Then what on eart h is your m eaning, Mr. Lorry?” dem anded St ryver, percept ibly cr est fallen. “ Well! I —Were you going t here now?” asked Mr. Lorry. “ St r aight ! ” said St r yver , w it h a plum p of his fist on t he desk . “ Then I t hink I w ouldn't , if I w as you.” “ Why?” said St ryver. “ Now, I 'll put you in a corner,” for ensically shak i ng a for efinger at him . “ You ar e a m an of business and bound t o hav e a r eason. St at e y our r eason. Why wouldn't you go?” “ Because,” said Mr. Lorry, “ I w ouldn't go on such an obj ect w it hout hav ing som e cause t o believ e t hat I should succeed.” “ D—n ME! ” cried St ryver, “ but t his beat s everyt hing.” Mr . Lor r y glanced at t he dist ant House, and glanced at t he angry St ryver. “ Her e's a m an of business—a m an of years—a m an of experience —I N a Bank,” said St ryver; “ and having sum m ed up t hr ee leading r easons for com plet e success, he say s 198

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t here's no reason at all! Says it w it h his head on! ” Mr. St ryver r em ar k ed upon t he peculiar it y as if it w ould hav e been infinit ely less r em ar k able if he had said it w it h his head off. “ When I speak of success, I speak of success w it h t he y oung lady ; and w hen I speak of causes and r easons t o m ak e success pr obable, I speak of causes and r easons t hat w ill t ell as such w it h t he young lady. The young lady, m y good sir,” said Mr. Lorry, m ildly t apping t he St ryver arm , “ t he young lady . The y oung lady goes befor e all.” “ Then you m ean t o t ell m e, Mr. Lorry,” said St ryver, squar ing his elbow s, “ t hat it is y our deliber at e opinion t hat t he y oung lady at pr esent in quest ion is a m incing Fool?” “ Not exact ly so. I m ean t o t ell you, Mr. St ryver,” said Mr. Lor r y, r eddening, “ t hat I w ill hear no disr espect ful w or d of t hat y oung lady fr om any lips; and t hat if I k new any m an— w hich I hope I do not —w hose t ast e w as so coar se, and w hose t em per w as so ov er bear ing, t hat he could not r est r ain him self from speak ing disr espect fully of t hat y oung lady at t his desk , not ev en Tellson's should pr ev ent m y giv ing him a piece of m y m ind.” The necessit y of being angr y in a suppr essed t one had put Mr. St ryver's blood- v essels int o a danger ous st at e w hen it w as his t urn t o be angry; Mr. Lorry's veins, m et hodical as t heir cour ses could usually be, w er e in no bet t er st at e now it w as his t ur n. “ That is w hat I m ean t o t ell you, sir ,” said Mr . Lor r y. “ Pr ay let t her e be no m ist ak e about it . ” Mr. St ryver sucked t he end of a r uler for a lit t le w hile, and t hen st ood hit t ing a t une out of his t eet h w it h it , w hich 199

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probably gave him t he t oot hache. He broke t he aw kw ard silence by say ing: “ This is som et hing new t o m e, Mr . Lor r y . You deliber at ely adv ise m e not t o go up t o Soho and offer m y self—MYself , St ryver of t he King's Bench bar?” “ Do you ask m e for m y advice, Mr. St ryver?” “ Yes, I do. ” “ Ver y good. Then I giv e it , and y ou hav e r epeat ed it correct ly.” “ And all I can say of it is, ” laughed St ryver wit h a vexed laugh, “ t hat t his—ha, ha!—beat s ev er y t hing past , pr esent , and t o com e.” “ Now underst and m e,” pursued Mr. Lorry. “ As a m an of business, I am not j ust ified in say ing any t hing about t his m at t er , for , as a m an of business, I k now not hing of it . But , as an old fellow , w ho has car r ied Miss Manet t e in his ar m s, w ho is t he t r ust ed fr iend of Miss Manet t e and of her fat her t oo, and w ho has a gr eat affect ion for t hem bot h, I hav e spok en. The confidence is not of m y seek ing, r ecollect . Now , you t hink I m ay not be right ?” “ Not I ! ” said St r yver , w hist ling. “ I can't under t ake t o find t hir d par t ies in com m on sense; I can only find it for m y self. I suppose sense in cer t ain quar t er s; y ou suppose m incing bread- and- but t er nonsense. I t 's new t o m e, but you are right , I dare say.” “ What I suppose, Mr. St ryver, I claim t o charact erise for m y self—And underst and m e, sir,” said Mr. Lorry, quickly flushing again, “ I w ill not —not ev en at Tellson's—hav e it char act er ised for m e by any gent lem an br eat hing.” 200

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“ There! I beg your pardon! ” said St ryver. “ Grant ed. Thank you. Well, Mr. St ryver, I was about t o say: —it m ight be painful t o y ou t o find y our self m ist ak en, it m ight be painful t o Doct or Manet t e t o hav e t he t ask of being ex plicit w it h y ou, it m ight be v er y painful t o Miss Manet t e t o hav e t he t ask of being ex plicit w it h y ou. You k now t he t er m s upon w hich I hav e t he honour and happiness t o st and w it h t he fam ily . I f y ou please, com m it t ing y ou in no w ay , r epr esent ing you in no w ay, I w ill under t ake t o co rrect m y adv ice by t he ex er cise of a lit t le new obser v at ion and j udgm ent ex pr essly br ought t o bear upon it . I f y ou should t hen be dissat isfied w it h it , y ou can but t est it s soundness for y our self; if, on t he ot her hand, y ou should be sat isfied w it h it , and it should be w hat it now is, it m ay spar e all sides w hat is best spar ed. What do y ou say ?” “ How long w ould you keep m e in t ow n?” “ Oh! I t is only a quest ion of a few hour s. I could go t o Soho in t he evening, and com e t o your cham bers aft erwards.” “ Then I say yes,” said St ryver: “ I won't go up t here now, I am not so hot upon it as t hat com es t o; I say y es, and I shall ex pect y ou t o look in t o- night . Good m orning.” Then Mr. St ryver t urned and burst out of t he Bank, causing such a concussion of air on his passage t hr ough, t hat t o st and up against it bow ing behind t he t w o count er s, r equir ed t he ut m ost r em aining st r engt h of t he t w o ancient cler k s. Those v ener able and feeble per sons w er e alw ay s seen by t he public in t he act of bow ing, and w er e popular ly believ ed, w hen t hey had bow ed a cust om er out , st ill t o k eep on bow ing in t he em pt y office unt il t hey bow ed anot her cust om er in. 201

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The bar r ist er w as k een enough t o div ine t hat t he bank er w ould not hav e gone so far in his ex pr ession of opinion on an y less solid ground t han m oral cert aint y. Unprepared as he w as for t he lar ge pill he had t o sw allow , he got it dow n. “ And now ,” said Mr. St ryver, shaking his forensic forefinger at t he Tem ple in gener al, w hen it w as dow n, “ m y w ay out of t his, is, t o put y ou all in t he wrong.” I t w as a bit of t he ar t of an Old Bailey t act ician, in w hich he found gr eat r elief. “ You shall not put m e in t he w r ong, young lady,” said Mr. St ryver; “ I 'll do t hat for you.” Accor dingly , w hen Mr . Lor r y called t hat night as lat e as t en o'clock, Mr. St ryver, am ong a quant it y of books and papers lit t er ed out for t he pur pose, seem ed t o hav e not hing less on his m ind t han t he subj ect of t he m or ning. He ev en show ed surprise w hen he saw Mr. Lorry, and w as alt oget her in an absent and pr eoccupied st at e. “ Well! ” said t hat good- nat ur ed em issar y , aft er a full halfhour of boot less at t em pt s t o br ing him r ound t o t he quest ion. “ I have been t o Soho.” “ To Soho?” repeat ed Mr. St ryver, coldly. “ Oh, t o be sure! What am I t hink ing of! ” “ And I have no doubt ,” said Mr. Lorry, “ t hat I w as right in t he conv er sat ion w e had. My opinion is confir m ed, and I reit erat e m y advice.” “ I assure you,” ret urned Mr. St ryver, in t he friendliest way, “ t hat I am sorry for it on your account , and sorry for it on t he poor fat her's account . I k now t his m ust alw ay s be a sor e subj ect w it h t he fam ily ; let us say no m or e about it .” “ I don't underst and you,” said Mr. Lorry. 202

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“ I dare say not ,” rej oined St ryver, nodding his head in a sm oot hing and final w ay; “ no m at t er , no m at t er .” “ But it does m at t er,” Mr. Lorry urged. “ No it doesn't ; I assur e y ou it doesn't . Hav ing supposed t hat t her e w as sense w her e t her e is no sense, and a laudable am bit ion w her e t her e is not a laudable am bit ion, I am w ell out of m y m ist ake, and no harm is done . Young w om en have com m it t ed sim ilar follies oft en befor e, and hav e r epent ed t hem in pov er t y and obscur it y oft en befor e. I n an unselfish aspect , I am sor r y t hat t he t hing is dr opped, because it w ould hav e been a bad t hing for m e in a w or ldly point of v iew ; in a selfish aspect , I am glad t hat t he t hing has dr opped, because it w ould hav e been a bad t hing for m e in a w or ldly point of v iew—it is har dly necessar y t o say I could hav e gained not hing by it . Ther e is no har m at all done. I hav e not pr oposed t o t he young lady , and, bet w een our selv es, I am by no m eans cer t ain, on r eflect ion, t hat I ev er should hav e com m it t ed m yself t o t hat ext ent . Mr . Lor r y, you cannot cont r ol t he m incing v anit ies and giddinesses of em pt y- headed gir ls; y ou m ust not ex pect t o do it , or y ou w ill alw ay s be disappoint ed. Now , pr ay say no m or e about it . I t ell y ou, I r egr et it on account of ot her s, but I am sat isfied on m y ow n account . And I am really very m uch obliged t o you for allow ing m e t o sound you, and for giving m e your advice; you know t he young lady bet t er t han I do; you w er e r ight , it never would have done.” Mr . Lor r y w as so t ak en aback , t hat he look ed quit e st upidly at Mr. St ryver shouldering him t owards t he door, wit h an appear ance of show er ing gener osit y, for bear ance, and 203

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goodw ill, on his er r ing head. “ Mak e t he best of it , m y dear sir,” said St ryver; “ say no m ore about it ; t hank you again for allow ing m e t o sound y ou; good night ! ” Mr. Lorry was out in t he night , before he knew where he was. Mr. St ryver was lying back on his sofa, w ink ing at his ceiling.

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XI I I The Fellow of No Delicacy I f Sydney Cart on ever shone anywhere, he cert ainly never shone in t he house of Doct or Manet t e. He had been t her e oft en, dur ing a w hole y ear , and had alw ay s been t he sam e m oody and m or ose lounger t her e. When he car ed t o t alk, he t alk ed w ell; but , t he cloud of caring for not hing, w hich over shadow ed him w it h such a fat al dar kness, w as ver y r ar ely pier ced by t he light w it hin him . And y et he did car e som et hing for t he st r eet s t hat env ir oned t hat house, and for t he senseless st ones t hat m ade t heir pavem ent s. Ma ny a night he vaguely and unhappily w andered t here, w hen w ine had brought no t ransit ory gladness t o him ; m any a dreary daybreak revealed his solit ar y figur e linger ing t her e, and st ill linger ing t her e w hen t he fir st beam s of t he sun br ought int o st r ong r elief, rem oved beaut ies of ar chit ect ur e in spir es of chur ches and loft y buildings, as per haps t he quiet t im e br ought som e sense of bet t er t hings, else for got t en and unat t ainable, int o his m ind. Of lat e, t he neglect ed bed in t he Tem ple Cour t had k now n him m ore scant ily t han ever ; and oft en w hen he had t hr ow n him self upon it no longer t han a few m inut es, he had got up again, and haunt ed t hat neighbour hood. On a day in August , when Mr. St ryver ( aft er not ifying t o his j ack al t hat “ he had t hought bet t er of t hat marrying m at t er" ) had carried his delicacy int o Devonshire, and w hen t he sight and scent of flow er s in t he Cit y st r eet s had som e w aifs of goodness in t hem for t he w or st , of healt h for t he 205

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sick liest , and of y out h for t he oldest , Sy dney 's feet st ill t r od t h ose st ones. Fr om being ir r esolut e and pur poseless, his feet becam e anim at ed by an int ent ion, and, in t he w or k ing out of t hat int ent ion, t hey t ook him t o t he Doct or 's door . He w as show n up- st air s, and found Lucie at her w or k, alone. She had nev er been quit e at her ease w it h him , and r eceiv ed him w it h som e lit t le em bar r assm ent as he seat ed him self near her t able. But , look ing up at his face in t he int er change of t he fir st few com m on- places, she obser v ed a change in it . “ I fear you are not well, Mr. Cart on! ” “ No. But t he life I lead, Miss Manet t e, is not conduciv e t o healt h. What is t o be ex pect ed of, or by , such pr ofligat es?” “ I s it not —for give m e; I have begun t he quest ion on m y lips—a pit y t o liv e no bet t er life?” “ God k now s it is a sham e! ” “ Then why not change it ?” Look ing gent ly at him again, she w as sur pr ised and saddened t o see t hat t her e w er e t ear s in his ey es. Ther e w er e t ear s in his v oice t oo, as he answ er ed: “ I t is t oo lat e for t hat . I shall nev er be bet t er t han I am . I shall sink low er , and be w orse.” He leaned an elbow on her t able, and cov er ed his ey es w it h his hand. The t able t r em bled in t he silence t hat follow ed. She had never seen him soft ened, and w as m uch dist r essed. He k new her t o be so, w it hout look ing at her , and said: “Pr ay for give m e, Miss Manet t e. I br eak dow n befor e t he k now ledge of w hat I w ant t o say t o y ou. Will y ou hear m e?” 206

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“ I f it w ill do y ou any good, Mr . Car t on, if it w ould m ak e you happier, it would m ake m e very glad! ” “ God bless y ou for y our sw eet com passion!” He unshaded his face aft er a lit t le w hile, and spok e st eadily . “ Don't be afraid t o hear m e. Don't shrink from anyt hing I say . I am lik e one w ho died y oung. All m y life m ight hav e been.” “ No, Mr . Car t on. I am sur e t hat t he best par t of it m ight st ill be; I am sure t hat you m ight be m uch, m uch w ort hier of yourself.” “ Say of y ou, Miss Manet t e, and alt hough I k now bet t er— alt hough in t he m yst ery of m y ow n w ret ched heart I know bet t er—I shall nev er for get it ! ” She w as pale and t r em bling. He cam e t o her r elief w it h a fix ed despair of him self w hich m ade t he int er v iew unlik e any ot her t hat could hav e been holden. “ I f it had been possible, Miss Manet t e, t hat y ou could hav e r et ur ned t he lov e of t he m an y ou see befor e y our self—flung aw ay , w ast ed, dr unk en, poor creat ure of m isuse as you know him t o be—he w ould hav e been conscious t his day and hour , in spit e of his happiness, t hat he w ould br ing y ou t o m iser y , bring you t o sorrow and repent ance, blight you, disgrace you, pull you down wit h him . I know very w ell t hat y ou can hav e no t ender ness for m e; I ask for none; I am even t hankful t hat it cannot be.” “ Wit hout it , can I not sav e y ou, Mr . Car t on? Can I not recall you—forgive m e again! —t o a bet t er cour se? Can I in no way repay your confidence? I know t his is a confidence,” she 207

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m odest ly said, aft er a lit t le hesit at ion, and in ear nest t ear s, “ I k now y ou w ould say t his t o no one else. Can I t ur n it t o no good account for yourself, Mr. Cart on?” He shook his head. “ To none. No, Miss Manet t e, t o none. I f y ou w ill hear m e t hr ough a ver y lit t le m or e, all you can ever do for m e is done. I w ish y ou t o k now t hat y ou hav e been t he last dr eam of m y soul. I n m y degr adat ion I hav e not been so degr aded but t hat t he sight of y ou w it h y our fat her , and of t his hom e m ade such a hom e by y ou, has st ir r ed old shadow s t hat I t hought had died out of m e. Since I knew you, I have been t r oubled by a rem orse t hat I t hought w ould never reproach m e again, and have hear d w hisper s fr om old voices im pelling m e upw ar d, t hat I t hought w er e silent for ever . I have had unfor m ed ideas of st r iv ing afr esh, beginning anew , shak ing off slot h and sensualit y , and fight ing out t he abandoned fight . A dr eam , all a dr eam , t hat ends in not hing, and leav es t he sleeper w her e he lay dow n, but I w ish y ou t o k now t hat y ou inspir ed it .” “ Will not hing of it r em ain? O Mr . Car t on, t hink again! Tr y again! ” “ No, Miss Manet t e; all t hr ough it , I hav e k now n m y self t o be quit e undeser v ing. And y et I hav e had t he w eak ness, and hav e st ill t he w eak ness, t o w ish y ou t o k now w it h w hat a sudden m ast er y y ou k indled m e, heap of ashes t hat I am , int o fir e —a fir e, how ev er , insepar able in it s nat ure from m yself, quickening not hing, light ing not hing, doing no service, idly burning away.” “ Since it is m y m isfort une, Mr. Cart on, t o have m ade you m ore unhappy t han you were before you knew m e —” 208

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“ Don't say t hat , Miss Manet t e, for y ou w ould hav e r eclaim ed m e, if any t hing could. You w ill not be t he cause of m y becom ing worse.” “ Since t he st at e of y our m ind t hat y ou descr ibe, is, at all ev ent s, at t r ibut able t o som e influence of m ine —t h is is w h at I m ean, if I can m ak e it plain—can I use no influence t o ser v e you? Have I no pow er for good, w it h you, at all?” “ The ut m ost good t hat I am capable of now , Miss Manet t e, I have com e her e t o r ealise. Let m e car r y t hr ough t he r est of m y m isdir ect ed life, t he r em em br ance t hat I opened m y hear t t o y ou, last of all t he w or ld; and t hat t her e w as som et hing left in m e at t his t im e w hich y ou could deplor e and pit y .” “ Which I ent r eat ed y ou t o believ e, again and again, m ost fer v ent ly , w it h all m y hear t , w as capable of bet t er t hings, Mr . Cart on! ” “ Ent r eat m e t o believ e it no m or e, Miss Manet t e. I hav e pr ov ed m y self, and I k now bet t er . I dist r ess y ou; I dr aw fast t o an end. Will y ou let m e believ e, w hen I r ecall t his day , t hat t he last confidence of m y life w as r eposed in y our pur e and innocent br east , and t hat it lies t her e alone, and w ill be shared by no one?” “ I f t hat w ill be a consolat ion t o y ou, y es. ” “ Not even by t he dear est one ever t o be know n t o you?” “ Mr . Car t on,” she answ er ed, aft er an agit at ed pause, “ t he secr et is y our s, not m ine; and I pr om ise t o r espect it .” “ Thank you. And again, God bless you.” He put her hand t o his lips, and m ov ed t ow ar ds t he door . “ Be under no appr ehension, Miss Manet t e, of m y ever r esum ing t his conv er sat ion by so m uch as a passing w or d. I 209

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w ill nev er r efer t o it again. I f I w er e dead, t hat could not be sur er t han it is hencefor t h. I n t he hour of m y deat h, I shall hold sacred t he one good rem em brance —and shall t hank and bless y ou for it —t hat m y last av ow al of m y self w as m ade t o y ou, and t hat m y nam e, and fault s, and m iser ies w er e gent ly carried in your heart . May it ot herw ise be light and happy! ” He w as so unlik e w hat he had ev er show n him self t o be, and it w as so sad t o t hink how m uch he had t hr ow n aw ay , and how m uch he every day kept down and pervert ed, t hat Lucie Manet t e w ept m our nfully for him as he st ood look ing back at her. “ Be com for t ed! ” he said, “ I am not w or t h such feeling, Miss Manet t e. An hour or t w o hence, and t he low com panions and low habit s t hat I scor n but y ield t o, w ill r ender m e less w or t h such t ears as t hose, t han any w r et ch w ho cr eeps along t he st r eet s. Be com for t ed! But , w it hin m y self, I shall alw ay s be, t ow ar ds y ou, w hat I am now , t hough out w ar dly I shall be w hat y ou hav e her et ofor e seen m e. The last supplicat ion but one I m ak e t o y ou, is, t hat y o u w ill believ e t his of m e. ” “ I will, Mr. Cart on.” “ My last supplicat ion of all, is t his; and w it h it , I w ill r eliev e y ou of a v isit or w it h w hom I w ell k now y ou hav e not hing in unison, and bet w een w hom and y ou t her e is an im passable space. I t is u seless t o say it , I k now , but it r ises out of m y soul. For you, and for any dear t o you, I w ould do anyt hing. I f m y car eer w er e of t hat bet t er kind t hat t her e w as any oppor t unit y or capacit y of sacr ifice in it , I w ould em br ace any sacr ifice for you and for t hose dear t o you. Try t o hold m e in y our m ind, at som e quiet t im es, as ar dent and sincer e in t his 210

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one t hing. The t im e w ill com e, t he t im e w ill not be long in com ing, w hen new t ies w ill be for m ed about y ou—t ies t h at w ill bind you yet m or e t ender ly and st r ongly t o t he hom e y ou so adorn —t he dear est t ies t hat w ill ev er gr ace and gladden y ou. O Miss Manet t e, w hen t he lit t le pict ur e of a happy fat her's face looks up in yours, w hen you see your ow n bright beaut y spr inging up anew at y our feet , t hink now and t hen t h at t her e is a m an w ho w ould giv e his life, t o k eep a life y ou lov e beside y ou! ” He said, “ Far ew ell! ” said a last “ God bless y ou! ” and left her.

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XI V The Honest Tr adesm an To t he ey es of Mr . Jer em iah Cr uncher , sit t ing on his st ool in Fleet - st r eet w it h his gr isly ur chin beside him , a v ast num ber and variet y of obj ect s in m ovem ent were every day pr esent ed. Who could sit upon any t hing in Fleet - st r eet dur ing t he busy hour s of t he day , and not be dazed and deafened by t w o im m ense pr ocessions, one ev er t endi ng w est w ar d w it h t he sun, t he ot her ev er t ending east w ar d fr om t he sun, bot h ev er t ending t o t he plains bey ond t he r ange of r ed and pur ple w her e t he sun goes dow n! Wit h his st r aw in his m out h, Mr . Cr uncher sat w at ching t he t w o st r eam s, lik e t he heat hen rust ic w ho has for sev er al cent ur ies been on dut y w at ching one st r eam—sav ing t hat Jerry had no expect at ion of t heir ever running dry. Nor would it hav e been an ex pect at ion of a hopeful k ind, since a sm all par t of his incom e w as der iv ed fr om t he pilot age of t im id w om en ( m ost ly of a full habit and past t he m iddle t er m of life) fr om Tellson's side of t he t ides t o t he opposit e shor e. Br ief as such com panionship w as in ev er y separ at e inst ance, Mr . Cr uncher never failed t o becom e so int er est ed in t he lady as t o expr ess a st r ong desir e t o hav e t he honour of dr ink ing her v er y good healt h. And it w as fr om t he gift s best ow ed upon him t ow ar ds t he ex ecut ion of t his benev olent pur pose, t hat he r ecr uit ed his finances, as j ust now obser v ed. Tim e w as, w hen a poet sat upon a st ool in a public place, and m used in t he sight of m en. Mr . Cr uncher , sit t ing on a 212

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st ool in a public place, but not being a poet , m used as lit t le as possible, and look ed about him . I t fell out t hat he w as t hus engaged in a season w hen crowds were few, and belat ed w om en few , and w hen his affair s in gener al w er e so unpr osper ous as t o aw aken a st r ong suspicion in his br east t hat Mr s. Cr uncher m ust hav e been “ flopping” in som e point ed m anner , w hen an unusual concourse pouring dow n Fleet - st r eet w est w ar d, at t r act ed his at t ent ion. Looking t hat w ay, Mr . Cr uncher m ade out t hat som e k ind of funer al w as com ing along, and t hat t her e w as popular obj ect ion t o t his funer al, w hich engender ed upr oar . “ Young Jerry,” said Mr. Cruncher, t urning t o his offspring, “ it 's a buryin'.” “ Hooroar, fat her! ” cried Young Jerry. The y oung gent lem an ut t er ed t his ex ult ant sound w it h m y st er ious significance. The elder gent lem an t ook t he cr y so ill, t hat he w at ched his oppor t unit y , and sm ot e t he y oung gent lem an on t he ear . “ What d'y e m ean? What ar e y ou hoor oar ing at ? What do you w ant t o conw ey t o your ow n fat her, you young Rip? This boy is a get t ing t oo m any for ME! ” said Mr. Cruncher, surveying him . “ Him and his hooroars! Don't let m e hear no m or e of y ou, or y ou shall feel som e m ore of m e. D'ye hear?” “ I warn't doing no harm ,” Young Jerry prot est ed, rubbing his cheek . “ Drop it t hen,” said Mr. Cruncher; “ I won't have none of YOUR no har m s. Get a t op of t hat t her e seat , and look at t he crowd.” 213

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His son obey ed, and t he cr ow d approached; t hey were baw ling and hissing round a dingy hearse and dingy m ourning coach, in which m ourning coach t here was only one m ourner, dr essed in t he dingy t r appings t hat w er e consider ed essent ial t o t he dignit y of t he posit ion. The posit ion appeared by no m eans t o please him , how ev er , w it h an incr easing r abble surrounding t he coach, deriding him , m aking grim aces at him , and incessant ly gr oaning and calling out : “ Yah! Spies! Tst ! Yaha! Spies! ” w it h m any com plim ent s t oo num er ous and for cible t o r epeat . Funer als had at all t im es a r em ar k able at t r act ion for Mr . Cruncher; he alw ays pricked up his senses, and becam e ex cit ed, w hen a funer al passed Tellson's. Nat ur ally , t her efor e, a funer al w it h t his uncom m on at t endance ex cit ed him gr eat ly , and he ask ed of t he fir st m an w ho r an against him : “ What is it , br ot her ? What 's it about ?” “ I don't know ,” said t he m an. “ Spies! Yaha! Tst ! Spies! ” He ask ed anot her m an. “ Who is it ?” “ I don't know ,” r et ur ned t he m an, clapping his hands t o his m out h nev er t heless, and v ocifer at ing in a sur pr ising heat and w it h t he gr eat est ar dour , “ Spies! Yaha! Tst , t st ! Spi —ies! ” At lengt h, a per son bet t er infor m ed on t he m er it s of t he case, t um bled against him , and fr om t his per son he lear ned t hat t he funer al w as t he funer al of one Roger Cly. “ Was He a spy?” asked Mr. Cruncher. “ Old Bailey spy ,” r et ur ned his infor m ant . “ Yaha! Tst ! Yah! Old Bailey Spi —i—ies! ” “ Why, t o be sur e! ” exclaim ed Jer r y, r ecalling t he Tr ial at w hich he had assist ed. “ I 'v e seen him . Dead, is he?” 214

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“ Dead as m ut t on,” r et ur ned t he ot her , “ and can't be t oo dead. Have ‘em out , t her e! Spies! Pull ‘em out , t her e! Spies! ” The idea w as so accept able in t he pr ev alent absence of any idea, t hat t he cr ow d caught it up w it h eager ness, and loudly r epeat ing t he suggest ion t o hav e ‘em out , and t o pull ‘em out , m obbed t he t w o v ehicles so closely t hat t hey cam e t o a st op. On t he cr ow d's opening t he coach door s, t he one m our ner scuffled out of him self and w as in t heir hands for a m om ent ; but he w as so aler t , and m ade such good use of his t im e, t hat in anot her m om ent he w as scour ing aw ay up a bye- st r eet , aft er shedding his cloak , hat , long hat band, w hit e pocket - handker chief, and ot her sym bolical t ear s. These, t he people t or e t o pieces and scat t er ed far and w ide w it h gre at enj oy m ent , w hile t he t r adesm en hur r iedly shut up t heir shops; for a cr ow d in t hose t im es st opped at not hing, and w as a m onst er m uch dreaded. They had already got t he lengt h of opening t he hear se t o t ak e t he coffin out , w hen som e br ight er genius pr oposed in st ead, it s bein g escor t ed t o it s dest inat ion am idst gener al r ej oicing. Pr act ical suggest ions being m uch needed, t his suggest ion, t oo, w as r eceiv ed w it h acclam at ion, and t he coach w as im m ediat ely filled w it h eight inside and a dozen out , w hile as m any people got on t he r oof of t he hear se as could by any ex er cise of ingenuit y st ick upon it . Am ong t he fir st of t hese v olunt eer s w as Jerry Cruncher him self, w ho m odest ly concealed his spiky head fr om t he obser vat ion of Tellson's, in t he fur t her cor ner of t he m o urning coach. The officiat ing under t ak er s m ade som e pr ot est against t hese changes in t he cer em onies; but , t he r iv er being 215

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alarm ingly near, and several voices rem arking on t he efficacy of cold im m ersion in bringing refract ory m em bers of t he pr ofession t o r eason, t he pr ot est w as faint and br ief. The r em odelled pr ocession st ar t ed, w it h a chim ney- sw eep dr iving t he hear se—advised by t he regular driver, who was perched beside him , under close inspect ion, for t he pur pose—and w it h a piem an, also at t ended by his cabinet m inist er , dr iv ing t he m ourning coach. A bear- leader , a popular st r eet char act er of t he t im e, w as im pr essed as an addit ional or nam ent , befor e t he cavalcade had gone far dow n t he St r and; and his bear , who was black and very m angy, gave quit e an Undert aking air t o t hat par t of t he pr ocession in w hich he w alk ed. Thus, w it h beer- drinking, pipe- sm oking, song- roaring, and infinit e car icat ur ing of w oe, t he disor der ly pr ocession w ent it s w ay , r ecr uit ing at ev er y st ep, and all t he shops shut t ing up befor e it . I t s dest inat ion w as t he old chur ch of Saint Pancr as, far off in t he fields. I t got t her e in cour se of t im e; insist ed on pour ing int o t he bur ial- gr ound; finally , accom plished t he int er m ent of t he deceased Roger Cly in it s ow n w ay , and highly t o it s ow n sat isfact ion. The dead m an disposed of, and t he cr ow d being under t he necessit y of pr ov iding som e ot her ent er t ainm ent for it self, anot her br ight er genius ( or per haps t he sam e) conceived t he hum our of im peaching casual passers- by , as Old Bailey spies, and wr eak ing v engeance on t hem . Chase w as giv en t o som e scor es of inoffensiv e per sons w ho had nev er been near t he Old Bailey in t heir liv es, in t he r ealisat ion of t his fancy , and t hey w er e r oughly hust led and m alt r eat ed. The t r ansit ion t o t he spor t of w indow - break ing, and t hence t o t he plunder ing of 216

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public- houses, w as easy and nat ur al. At last , aft er sev er al hours, when sundry sum m er- houses had been pulled dow n, and som e ar ea- r ailings had been t or n up, t o ar m t he m or e belliger ent spir it s, a r um our got about t hat t he Guards were com ing. Before t his rum our, t he crow d gradually m elt ed aw ay, and perhaps t he Guards cam e, and perhaps t hey never cam e, and t his w as t he usual pr ogr ess of a m ob. Mr . Cr uncher did not assist at t he closing spor t s, but had r em ained behind in t he churchyard, t o confer and condole w it h t he under t ak er s. The place had a soot hing influence on him . He procured a pipe from a neighbouring public- house, and sm ok ed it , look ing in at t he r ailings and m at ur ely consider ing t he spot . “ Jerry,” said Mr. Cr uncher , apost r ophising him self in his usual w ay , “ y ou see t hat t her e Cly t hat day , and y ou see w it h your ow n eyes t hat he w as a young ‘un and a st r aight m ade ‘un.” Hav ing sm ok ed his pipe out , and r um inat ed a lit t le longer , he t ur ned him self about , t hat he m ight appear , befor e t he hour of closing, on his st at ion at Tellson's. Whet her his m edit at ions on m or t alit y had t ouched his liv er , or w het her his gener al healt h had been pr ev iously at all am iss, or w het her he desir ed t o show a lit t le at t ent ion t o an em i nent m an, is not so m uch t o t he pur pose, as t hat he m ade a shor t call upon his m edical adv iser—a dist inguished sur geon—on his w ay back. Young Jer r y r eliev ed his fat her w it h dut iful int er est , and r epor t ed No j ob in his absence. The bank closed, t he ancient clerks cam e out , t he usual w at ch w as set , and Mr. Cruncher and his son w ent hom e t o t ea. 217

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“ Now , I t ell y ou w her e it is! ” said Mr . Cr uncher t o his w ife, on ent er ing. “ I f, as a honest t r adesm an, m y w ent ur s goes wrong t o- night , I shall m ak e sur e t hat y ou'v e been praying again m e, and I shall w or k y ou for it j ust t he sam e as if I seen y ou do it .” The dej ect ed Mrs. Cruncher shook her head. “ Why, you're at it afore m y face! ” said Mr. Cruncher, wit h signs of angr y appr ehension. “ I am saying not hing.” “ Well, t hen; don't m edit at e not hing. You m ight as w ell flop as m edit at e. You m ay as w ell go again m e one w ay as anot her . Dr op it alt oget her .” “ Yes, Jerry.” “ Yes, Jerry,” repeat ed Mr. Cruncher sit t ing dow n t o t ea. “ Ah! I t I S yes, Jerry. That 's about it . You m ay say yes, Jerry.” Mr. Cruncher had no part icular m eaning in t hese sulky cor r obor at ions, but m ade use of t hem , as people not unfr equent ly do, t o ex pr ess gener al ir onical dissat isfact ion. “ You and your yes, Jerry,” said Mr. Cruncher, t aking a bit e out of his br ead- and- but t er , and seem ing t o help it dow n w it h a lar ge inv isible oy st er out of his saucer . “ Ah! I t hink so. I believ e y ou.” “ You ar e going out t o- night ?” ask ed his decent w ife, w hen he t ook anot her bit e. “ Yes, I am .” “ May I go wit h yo u, fat her ?” ask ed his son, br isk ly . “ No, you m ayn't . I 'm a going—as your m ot her knows—a fishing. That 's w her e I 'm going t o. Going a fishing.” “ Your fishing- rod get s rayt her rust y; don't it , fat her?” 218

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“ Never you m ind.” “ Shall you bring any fish hom e, fat her ?” “ I f I don't , you'll have shor t com m ons, t o- m orrow,” r et ur ned t hat gent lem an, shak ing his head; “ t hat 's quest ions enough for y ou; I ain't a going out , t ill y ou'v e been long abed.” He dev ot ed him self dur ing t he r em ainder of t he ev ening t o keepi ng a m ost vigilant w at ch on Mr s. Cr uncher , and sullenly holding her in conv er sat ion t hat she m ight be pr ev ent ed fr om m edit at ing any pet it ions t o his disadv ant age. Wit h t his v iew , he ur ged his son t o hold her in conv er sat ion also, and led t he unfor t unat e w om an a har d life by dw elling on any causes of com plaint he could br ing against her , r at her t han he w ould leav e her for a m om ent t o her ow n r eflect ions. The dev out est person could have rendered no great er hom age t o t he efficacy of an honest pr ayer t han he di d in t his dist r ust of his w ife. I t w as as if a pr ofessed unbeliev er in ghost s should be fr ight ened by a ghost st or y . “ And m ind you! ” said Mr. Cruncher. “ No gam es t o- m orrow! I f I , as a honest t r adesm an, succeed in pr ov iding a j int e of m eat or t w o, none of y our not t ouching of it , and st ick ing t o br ead. I f I , as a honest t r adesm an, am able t o pr ov ide a lit t le beer , none of your declar ing on w at er . When you go t o Rom e, do as Rom e does. Rom e w ill be a ugly cust om er t o y ou, if y ou don't . I 'm your Rom e, you know.” Then he began grum bling again: “ Wit h y our fly ing int o t he face of y our ow n w it t les and drink! I don't know how scarce you m ayn't m ake t he w it t les and drink here, by your flopping t ricks and your unfeeling 219

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conduct . Look at your boy: he I S your'n, ain't he? He's as t hin as a lat h. Do y ou call y our self a m ot her , and not k now t hat a m ot her 's fir st dut y is t o blow her boy out ?” This t ouched Young Jerry on a t ender place; w ho adj ured his m ot her t o per for m her fir st dut y , and, w hat ev er else she did or neglect ed, abov e all t hings t o lay especial st r ess on t he dischar ge of t hat m at er nal funct ion so affect ingly and delicat ely indicat ed by his ot her par ent . Thus t he evening w ore aw ay w it h t he Cruncher fam ily, unt il Young Jerry w as ordered t o bed, and his m o t her , laid under sim ilar inj unct ions, obeyed t hem . Mr. Cruncher beguiled t he ear lier w at ches of t he night w it h solit ar y pipes, and did not st ar t upon his ex cur sion unt il near ly one o'clock . Tow ar ds t hat sm all and ghost ly hour , he r ose up fr om his chair , t ook a key out of his pocket , opened a locked cupboar d, and br ought for t h a sack, a cr ow bar of convenient size, a r ope and chain, and ot her fishing t ack le of t hat nat ur e. Disposing t hese ar t icles about him in sk ilful m anner , he best ow ed a par t ing defiance on Mr s. Cr uncher , ext inguished t he light , and w ent out . Young Jer r y, w ho had only m ade a feint of undr essing w hen he w ent t o bed, w as not long aft er his fat her . Under cov er of t he dar k ness he follow ed out of t he r oom , follow ed dow n t he st air s, follow ed dow n t he cour t , follow ed out int o t he st r eet s. He w as in no uneasiness concer ning his get t ing int o t he house again, for it w as full of lodger s, and t he door st ood aj ar all night . I m pelled by a laudable am bit ion t o st udy t he ar t and m yst ery of his fat her's h onest calling, Young Jer r y , k eeping as 220

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close t o house fr ont s, w alls, and door w ay s, as his ey es w er e close t o one anot her , held his honour ed par ent in v iew . The honoured parent st eering Nort hw ard, had not gone far, w hen he w as j oined by anot her disciple of I zaak Walt on, and t he t w o t r udged on t oget her . Wit hin half an hour fr om t he fir st st ar t ing, t hey w er e beyond t he w inking lam ps, and t he m or e t han w inking w at chm en, and w ere out upon a lonely road. Anot her fisherm an was picked up here —an d t h at so silen t ly, t h at if Young Jer r y had been super st it ious, he m ight hav e supposed t he second follow er of t he gent le cr aft t o hav e, all of a sudden, split him self int o t w o. The t hr ee w ent on, and Young Jer r y w ent on, unt il t he t hr ee st opped under a bank over hanging t he r oad. Upon t he t op of t he bank w as a low br ick w all, sur m ount ed by an ir on r ailing. I n t he shadow of bank and w all t he t hr ee t ur ned out of t he r oad, and up a blind lane, of w hich t he w all—t her e, r isen t o som e eight or t en feet high—for m ed one side. Crouching dow n in a cor ner , peeping up t he lane, t he nex t obj ect t hat Young Jer r y saw , w as t he for m of his honour ed par ent , pr et t y w ell defined against a w at er y and clouded m oon, nim bly scaling an ir on gat e. He w as soon ov er , and t hen t he second fisher m an got over, and t hen t he t hird. They all dr opped soft ly on t he gr ound w it hin t he gat e, and lay t her e a lit t le—list ening per haps. Then, t hey m ov ed aw ay on t heir hands and k nees. I t w as now Young Jerry's t urn t o approach t he gat e: w hich he did, holding his br eat h. Crouching down again in a corner t her e, and look ing in, he m ade out t he t hr ee fisher m en 221

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cr eeping t hr ough som e r ank gr ass! and all t he gr avest ones in t he churchyard —it w as a lar ge chur chyar d t hat t hey w er e in— look ing on lik e ghost s in w hit e, w hile t he chur ch t ow er it self look ed on lik e t he ghost of a m onst r ous giant . They did not cr eep far , befor e t hey st opped and st ood upr ight . And t hen t hey began t o fish. They fished w it h a spade, at fir st . Pr esent ly t he honour ed par ent appear ed t o be adj ust ing som e inst r um ent lik e a gr eat corkscrew . What ever t ools t hey w orked w it h, t hey w orked har d, unt il t he aw ful st r ik ing of t he chur ch clock so t er r ified Young Jer r y , t hat he m ade off, w it h his hair as st iff as his fat her 's. But , his long- cherished desire t o know m o r e about t hese m at t er s, not only st opped him in his r unning aw ay , but lur ed him back again. They w er e st ill fishing per sever ingly, w hen he peeped in at t he gat e for t he second t im e; but , now t hey seem ed t o hav e got a bit e. Ther e w as a scr ew ing and com plaining sound dow n below , and t heir bent figur es w er e st r ained, as if by a w eight . By slow degr ees t he w eight br ok e aw ay t he ear t h upon it , and cam e t o t he sur face. Young Jer r y v er y w ell k new w hat it w ould be; but , w hen he saw it , and saw his honour ed par ent about t o w r ench it open, he w as so fr ight ened, being new t o t he sight , t hat he m ade off again, and never st opped unt il he had run a m ile or m ore. He w ould not hav e st opped t hen, for any t hing less necessar y t han br eat h, it being a spect r al sor t of r ace t ha t he r an, and one highly desir able t o get t o t he end of. He had a st r ong idea t hat t he coffin he had seen w as r unning aft er him ; and, pict ur ed as hopping on behind him , bolt upr ight , upon it s 222

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nar r ow end, alw ays on t he point of over t aking him and hopping on at h is side—per haps t aking his ar m —it w as a pur suer t o shun. I t w as an inconsist ent and ubiquit ous fiend t oo, for , w hile it w as m ak ing t he w hole night behind him dr eadful, he dar t ed out int o t he r oadw ay t o av oid dar k alley s, fear ful of it s com ing hopping out of t hem lik e a dr opsical boy's- Kit e w it hout t ail and w ings. I t hid in door w ay s t oo, r ubbing it s hor r ible shoulder s against door s, and dr aw ing t hem up t o it s ear s, as if it w er e laughing. I t got int o shadow s on t he r oad, and lay cunningly on it s back t o t r ip him up. All t his t im e it w as incessant ly hopping on behind and gaining on him , so t hat w hen t he boy got t o his ow n door he had r eason for being half dead. And ev en t hen it w ould not leav e him , but follow ed him upst air s w it h a bum p on ev er y st air , scr am bled int o bed w it h him , and bum ped dow n, dead and heav y , on his br east w hen he fell asleep. Fr om his oppr essed slum ber, Young Jer r y in his closet w as aw akened aft er daybr eak and befor e sunr ise, by t he pr esence of his fat her in t he fam ily r oom . Som et hing had gone w r ong w it h him ; at least , so Young Jer r y infer r ed, fr om t he circum st ance of his holding Mrs. Cruncher by t he ears, and k nock ing t he back of her head against t he head- boar d of t he bed. “ I t old you I would,” said Mr. Cruncher, “ and I did.” “ Jerry, Jerry, Jerry! ” his wife im plored. “ You oppose y our self t o t he pr ofit of t he business, ” said Jerry, “ and m e and m y par t ner s suffer . You w as t o honour and obey; w hy t he devil don't you?” 223

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“ I t r y t o be a good w ife, Jer r y,” t he poor w om an prot est ed, w it h t ear s. “ I s it being a good w ife t o oppose y our husband's business? I s it honour ing y our husband t o dishonour his business? I s it obey ing y our husband t o disobey him on t he w it al subj ect of his business?” “ You hadn't t ak en t o t he dr eadful business t hen, Jer r y .” “ I t 's enough for you,” ret ort ed Mr. Cruncher, “ t o be t he w ife of a honest t r adesm an, and not t o occupy y our fem ale m ind w it h calculat ions w hen he t ook t o his t r ade or w hen he didn't . A honour ing and obey ing w ife w ould let his t r ade alone alt oget her . Call y our self a r eligious w om an? I f y ou'r e a r eligious w om an, giv e m e a ir r eligious one! You hav e no m or e nat 'r al sense of dut y t han t he bed of t his her e Tham es r iv er has of a pile, and sim ilar ly it m ust be k nock ed int o y ou.” The alt er cat ion w as conduct ed in a low t one of v oice, and t er m inat ed in t he honest t r adesm an's k ick ing off his claysoiled boot s, and ly ing dow n at his lengt h on t he floor . Aft er t ak ing a t im id peep at him ly ing on his back , w it h his r ust y hands under his head for a pillow , his son lay dow n t oo, and fell asleep again . Ther e w as no fish for br eakfast , and not m uch of anyt hing else. Mr. Cruncher w as out of spir it s, and out of t em per , and k ept an ir on pot - lid by him as a pr oj ect ile for t he cor r ect ion of Mrs. Cruncher, in case he should observe any sym pt om s of her say ing Gr ace. He w as br ushed and w ashed at t he usual hour , and set off w it h his son t o pur sue his ost ensible calling. Young Jer r y , w alk ing w it h t he st ool under his ar m at his fat her 's side along sunny and cr ow ded Fleet - st r eet , w as a 224

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very different Young Jerry from him of t he previous night , running hom e t hrough darkness and solit ude from his grim pur suer . His cunning w as fr esh w it h t he day , and his qualm s w er e gone w it h t he night —in w hich par t icular s it is not im pr obable t hat he had com peer s in Fleet - st r eet and t he Cit y of London, t hat fine m or ning. “ Fat her,” said Young Jerry, as t hey w alk ed along: t ak ing car e t o k eep at ar m 's lengt h and t o hav e t he st ool w ell bet w een t hem : “ w hat 's a Resur r ect ion- Man?” Mr. Cruncher cam e t o a st op on t he pavem ent before he answ ered, “ How should I know ?” “ I t hought you know ed everyt hing, fat her,” said t h e ar t less boy. “ Hem ! Well,” ret urned Mr. Cruncher, going on again, and lift ing off his hat t o giv e his spik es fr ee play , “ he's a t radesm an.” “ What 's his goods, fat her ?” ask ed t he br isk Young Jer r y . “ His goods,” said Mr. Cruncher, aft er t urning it over in his m ind, “ is a br anch of Scient ific goods.” “ Per sons’ bodies, ain't it , fat her ?” ask ed t he liv ely boy . “ I believ e it is som et hing of t hat sor t ,” said Mr . Cr uncher . “ Oh, fat her , I should so lik e t o be a Resur r ect ion- Man when I 'm quit e growed up! ” Mr . Cr uncher w as soot hed, but shook his head in a dubious and m oral w ay. “ I t depends upon how you dew elop your t alent s. Be car eful t o dew elop y our t alent s, and nev er t o say no m or e t han y ou can help t o nobody , and t her e's no t elling at t he pr esent t im e w hat you m ay not com e t o be fit for .” As Young Jerry, t hus encouraged, w ent on a few yards in 225

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adv ance, t o plant t he st ool in t he shadow of t he Bar , Mr . Cruncher added t o him self: “ Jerry, you honest t radesm an, t her e's hopes w ot t hat boy w ill y et be a blessing t o you, and a recom pense t o you for his m ot her! ”

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XV Knit t ing Ther e had been ear lier dr inking t han usual in t he w ine shop of Monsieur Defar ge. As ear ly as six o'clock in t he m or ning, sallow faces peeping t hr ough it s bar r ed w indow s had descr ied ot her faces w it hin, bending ov er m easur es of w ine. Monsieur Defar ge sold a v er y t hin w ine at t he best of t im es, but it w ould seem t o hav e been an unusually t hin w ine t hat he sold at t his t im e. A sour w ine, m or eov er , or a sour ing, for it s influence on t he m ood of t hose w ho dr ank it w as t o m ak e t hem gloom y . No v iv acious Bacchanalian flam e leaped out of t he pr essed gr ape of Monsieur Defar ge: but , a sm oulder ing fir e t hat bur nt in t he dar k , lay hidden in t he dr egs of it . This had been t he t hir d m or ning in succession, on w hich t her e had been ear ly dr inking at t he w ine - shop of Monsieur Defar ge. I t had begun on Monday , and her e w as Wednesday com e. There had been m ore of early brooding t han drinking; for , m any m en had list ened and w hisper ed and slunk about t her e fr om t he t im e of t he opening of t he door , w ho could not hav e laid a piece of m oney on t he count er t o sav e t heir souls. These w er e t o t he full as int er est ed in t he place, how ev er , as if t hey could have com m anded w hole bar r els of w ine; and t hey glided fr om seat t o seat , and from corner t o corner, sw allow ing t alk in lieu of dr ink , w it h gr eedy look s. Not w it hst anding an unusual flow of com pany , t he m ast er of t he w ine - shop w as not v isible. He w as not m issed; for , nobody w ho crossed t he t hreshold looked for him , nobody 227

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asked for him , nobody w onder ed t o see only Madam e Defar ge in her seat , pr esiding ov er t he dist r ibut ion of w ine, w it h a bow l of bat t er ed sm all coins befor e her , as m uch defaced and beat en out of t heir or iginal im pr ess as t he sm all coinage of hum anit y from w hose ragged pocket s t hey had com e. A suspended int er est and a pr ev alent absence of m ind, w er e per haps obser v ed by t he spies w ho look ed in at t he wine - shop, as t hey look ed in at ev er y place, high and low , fr om t he k ings palace t o t he cr im inal's gaol. Gam es at car ds languished, play er s at dom inoes m usingly built t ow er s w it h t hem , dr ink er s dr ew figur es on t he t ables w it h spilt dr ops of w ine, Madam e Defar ge her self pick ed out t he pat t er n on her sleev e w it h her t oot hpick , and saw and hear d som et hing inaudible and inv isible a long w ay off. Thus, Saint Ant oine in t his v inous feat ur e of his, unt il m idday . I t w as high noont ide, w hen t w o dust y m en passed t hr ough his st r eet s and under his sw inging lam ps: of w hom , one w as Monsieur Defar ge: t he ot her a m ender of r oads in a blue cap. All adust and at hir st , t he t w o ent er ed t he w ine shop. Their ar r iv al had light ed a k ind of fir e in t he br east of Saint Ant oine, fast spr eading as t hey cam e along, w hich st ir r ed and flick er ed in flam es of faces at m ost door s and w indow s. Yet , no one had follow ed t hem , and no m an spoke w hen t hey ent er ed t he w ine - shop, t hough t he ey es of ev er y m an t here were t urned upon t hem . “ Good day, gent lem en! ” said Monsieur Defar ge. I t m ay hav e been a signal for loosening t he gener al t ongue. I t elicit ed an answ er ing chor us of “ Good day! ” 228

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“ I t is bad w eat her , gent lem en,” said Defar ge, shak ing his head. Upon w hich, ever y m an looked at his neighbour , and t hen all cast dow n t heir ey es and sat silent . Ex cept one m an, w ho got up and w ent out . “ My w ife,” said Defar ge aloud, addr essing Madam e Defar ge: “ I hav e t r av elled cer t ain leagues w it h t his good m ender of r oads, called Jacques. I m et him—by accident —a day and half's j our ney out of Par is. He is a good child, t his m ender of roads, called Jacques. Give him t o drink, m y w ife! ” A second m an got up and w ent out . Madam e Defar ge set w ine befor e t he m ender of r oads called Jacques, w ho doffed his blue cap t o t he com pany , and dr ank . I n t he br east of his blouse he car r ied som e coar se dar k br ead; he at e of t his bet w een w hiles, and sat m unching and drinking near Madam e Defar ge's count er . A t hir d m an got up and w ent out . Defar ge r efr eshed him self w it h a dr aught of w ine —but , he t ook less t han w as giv en t o t he st r anger , as being him self a m an t o w hom it w as no r ar it y—and st ood w ait ing unt il t he count r y m an had m ade his br eak fast . He look ed at no one pr esent , and no one now look ed at him ; not ev en Madam e Defar ge, w ho had t aken up her knit t ing, and w as at w or k. “ Have you finished your r epast , fr iend?” he asked, in due season. “ Yes, t hank y ou.” “ Com e, t hen! You shall see t he apar t m ent t hat I t old y ou you could occupy. I t w ill suit you t o a m ar vel.” Out of t he w ine - shop int o t he st r eet , out of t he st r eet int o a cour t y ar d, out of t he cour t y ar d up a st eep st air case, out of 229

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t he st air case int o a gar r et ,—form erly t he garret where a w hit e- hair ed m an sat on a low bench, st ooping for w ar d and very busy, m aking shoes. No w hit e- hair ed m an w as t her e now ; but , t he t hr ee m en w er e t her e w ho had gone out of t he w ine - shop singly . And bet w een t hem and t he w hit e- haired m an afar off, w as t he one sm all link , t hat t hey had once look ed in at him t hr ough t he chink s in t he w all. Defar ge closed t he door car efully , and spok e in a subdued voice: “ Jacques One, Jacques Tw o, Jacques Thr ee! This is t he w it ness encount er ed by appoint m ent , by m e, Jacques Four. He w ill t ell y ou all. Speak , Jacques Fiv e! ” The m ender of r oads, blue cap in hand, w iped his sw ar t hy for ehead w it h it , and said, “ Wher e shall I com m ence, m onsieur?” “ Com m ence,” w as Monsieur Defarge's not unreasonable reply, “ at t he com m encem ent .” “ I saw him t hen, m essieur s,” began t he m ender of r oads, “ a year ago t his running sum m er, underneat h t he carriage of t he Mar quis, hanging by t he chain. Behold t he m anner of it . I leaving m y w or k on t he r oad, t he sun going t o bed, t he car r iage of t he Mar quis slow ly ascending t he hill, he hanging by t he chain—lik e t his. ” Again t he m ender of r oads w ent t hr ough t he w hole perform ance; in w hich he ought t o have been perfect by t hat t im e, seeing t hat it had been t he infallible r esource and indispensable ent er t ainm ent of his v illage dur ing a w hole year. 230

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Jacques One st r uck in, and ask ed if he had ev er seen t he m an before? “ Never,” answered t he m ender of roads, recovering his perpendicular. Jacques Three dem anded how he aft erw ards r ecognised him t hen? “ By his t all figur e,” said t he m ender of r oads, soft ly , and w it h his finger at his nose. “ When Monsieur t he Mar quis dem ands t hat ev ening, ‘Say , w hat is he lik e?’ I m ake r esponse, ‘Tall as a spect r e.'” “ You should hav e said, shor t as a dw arf,” ret urned Jacques Tw o. “ But w hat did I k now ? The deed w as not t hen accom plished, neit her did he confide in m e. Obser ve! Under t hose cir cum st ances ev en, I do not offer m y t est im ony . Monsieur t he Mar quis indicat es m e w it h his finger , st anding near our lit t le fount ain, and say s, ‘To m e! Br ing t hat r ascal! ’ My fait h, m essieur s, I offer not hing.” “ He is right t here, Jacques,” m urm ured Defarge, t o him who had int errupt ed. “ Go on! ” “ Good! ” said t he m ender of r oads, w it h an air of m yst er y. “ The t all m an is lost , and he is sought —how m any m ont hs? Nine, t en, elev en?” “ No m at t er , t he num ber ,” said Defar ge. “ He is w ell hidden, but at last he is unluck ily found. Go on! ” “ I am again at w or k upon t he hill- side, and t he sun is again about t o go t o bed. I am collect ing m y t ools t o descend t o m y cot t age dow n in t he v illage below , w her e it is alr eady dar k, w hen I r aise m y eyes, and see com ing over t he hill six 231

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soldier s. I n t he midst of t hem is a t all m an w it h his ar m s bound—t ied t o h is sides—lik e t his! ” Wit h t he aid of his indispensable cap, he r epr esent ed a m an w it h his elbow s bound fast at his hips, w it h cor ds t hat w er e knot t ed behind him . “ I st and aside, m essieur s, by m y heap of st on es, t o see t he soldier s and t heir pr isoner pass ( for it is a solit ar y r oad, t hat , w her e any spect acle is w ell w or t h look ing at ) , and at fir st , as t hey appr oach, I see no m or e t han t hat t hey ar e six soldier s w it h a t all m an bound, and t hat t hey a re alm ost black t o m y sight —ex cept on t he side of t he sun going t o bed, w her e t hey hav e a r ed edge, m essieur s. Also, I see t hat t heir long shadow s ar e on t he hollow r idge on t he opposit e side of t he r oad, and ar e on t he hill abov e it , and ar e lik e t he shadow s of giant s. Also, I see t hat t hey ar e cov er ed w it h dust , and t hat t he dust m ov es w it h t hem as t hey com e, t ram p, t ram p! But w hen t hey advance quit e near t o m e, I r ecognise t he t all m an, and he r ecognises m e. Ah, but he w ould be w ell cont ent t o pr ecipit at e him self ov er t he hill- side once again, as on t he ev ening w hen he and I fir st encount er ed, close t o t he sam e spot ! ” He descr ibed it as if he w er e t her e, and it w as ev ident t hat he saw it v iv idly ; per haps he had not seen m uch in his life. “ I do not show t he soldier s t hat I r ecognise t he t all m an; he does not show t he soldier s t hat he r ecognises m e; w e do it , and w e k now it , w it h our ey es. ‘Com e on! ’ say s t he chief of t hat com pany , point ing t o t he v illage, ‘br ing him fast t o his t om b! ’ and t hey bring him fast er . I follow . His ar m s ar e sw elled because of being bound so t ight , his w ooden shoes 232

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ar e lar ge and clum sy , and he is lam e. Because he is lam e, and consequent ly slow , t hey dr ive him w it h t heir guns—lik e t his! ” He im it at ed t he act ion of a m an's being im pelled for w ar d by t he but t - ends of m usk et s. “ As t hey descend t he hill like m adm en r unning a r ace, he falls. They laugh and pick him up again. His face is bleeding and cov er ed w it h dust , but he cannot t ouch it ; t her eupon t hey laugh again. They br ing him int o t he v illage; all t he v illage r uns t o look ; t hey t ak e him past t he m ill, and up t o t he pr ison; all t he v illage sees t he pr ison gat e open in t he dar k ness of t he night , and sw allow him—lik e t his! ” He opened his m out h as w ide as he could, and shut it w it h a sounding snap of his t eet h. Obser v ant of his unw illingness t o m ar t he effect by opening it again, Defar ge said, “ Go on, Jacques.” “ All t he v illage,” pur sued t he m ender of r oads, on t ipt oe and in a low v oice, “ w it hdr aw s; all t he v illage w hisper s by t he fount ain; all t he v illage sleeps; all t he v illage dr eam s of t hat unhappy one, w it hin t he lock s and bar s of t he pr ison on t he cr ag, and nev er t o com e out of it , ex cept t o per ish. I n t he m orning, w it h m y t ools upon m y shoulder, eat ing m y m orsel of black bread as I go, I m ake a circuit by t he prison, on m y w ay t o m y w ork. There I see him , high up, behind t he bars of a loft y ir on cage, bloody and dust y as last night , look ing t hr ough. He has no hand fr ee, t o w av e t o m e; I dar e not call t o him ; he regards m e lik e a dead m an.” Defar ge and t he t hr ee glanced dar kly at one anot her . The look s of all of t hem w er e dar k , r epr essed, and r ev engeful, as 233

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t hey list ened t o t he count r y m an's st or y ; t he m anner of all of t hem , w hile it w as secr et , w as aut hor it at iv e t oo. They had the air of a r ough t r ibunal; Jacques One and Tw o sit t ing on t he old pallet - bed, each w it h his chin r est ing on his hand, and his ey es int ent on t he r oad- m ender; Jacques Three, equally int ent , on one k nee behind t hem , w it h his agit at ed hand alw ay s gliding ov er t he net w or k of fine ner v es about his m out h and nose; Defar ge st anding bet w een t hem and t he nar r at or , w hom he had st at ioned in t he light of t he w indow , by t urns looking from him t o t hem , and from t hem t o him . “ Go on, Jacques,” said Defar ge. “ He rem ains up t her e in his ir on cage som e day s. The v illage look s at him by st ealt h, for it is afr aid. But it alw ay s look s up, fr om a dist ance, at t he pr ison on t he cr ag; and in t he ev ening, w hen t he w or k of t he day is achiev ed and it assem bles t o gossip at t he fount ain, all faces ar e t ur ned t ow ards t he prison. Form erly, t hey w ere t urned t ow ards t he post ing- house; now , t hey are t urned t ow ards t he prison. They w hisper at t he fount ain, t hat alt hough condem ned t o deat h he w ill not be ex ecut ed; t hey say t hat pet it ions hav e been pr esent ed in Par is, show ing t hat he w as enr aged and m ade m ad by t he deat h of his child; t hey say t hat a pet it ion has been pr esent ed t o t he King him self. What do I k now ? I t is possible. Per haps y es, per haps no.” “ List en t hen, Jacques,” Num ber One of t hat nam e st er nly int er posed. “ Know t hat a pet it ion w as pr esent ed t o t he King and Queen. All her e, y our self ex cept ed, saw t he King t ak e it , in his car r iage in t he st r eet , sit t ing beside t he Queen. I t is 234

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Defar ge w hom y ou see her e, w ho, at t he hazard of h is life, dar t ed out befor e t he hor ses, w it h t he pet it ion in his hand. ” “ And once again list en, Jacques! ” said t he k neeling Num ber Three: his fingers ever wandering over and over t hose fine ner v es, w it h a st r ik ingly gr eedy air , as if he hungered for som et hing—t hat w as neit her food nor dr ink; “ t he guar d, hor se and foot , sur r ounded t he pet it ioner , and st r uck him blow s. You hear ?” “ I hear , m essieur s.” “ Go on t hen,” said Defar ge. “ Again; on t he ot her hand, t hey w hisper at t he fount ain,” resum ed t he count rym an, “ t hat he is brought dow n int o our count r y t o be ex ecut ed on t he spot , and t hat he w ill v er y cer t ainly be execut ed. They even w hisper t hat because he has slain Monseigneur , and because Monseigneur w as t he fat her of h is t en an t s—ser fs—what you wi ll—he w ill be ex ecut ed as a par r icide. One old m an say s at t he fount ain, t hat his r ight hand, ar m ed w it h t he k nife, w ill be bur nt off befor e his face; t hat , int o w ounds w hich w ill be m ade in his ar m s, his br east , and his legs, t her e w ill be pour ed boiling oil, m elt ed lead, hot r esin, w ax , and sulphur ; finally , t hat he w ill be t or n lim b fr om lim b by four st r ong hor ses. That old m an say s, all t his w as act ually done t o a pr isoner w ho m ade an at t em pt on t he life of t he lat e King, Louis Fift een. But how do I k now if h e lies? I am not a scholar .” “ List en once again t hen, Jacques! ” said t he m an w it h t he r est less hand and t he cr av ing air . “ The nam e of t hat pr isoner w as Dam iens, and it w as all done in open day , in t he open st r eet s of t his cit y of Par is; and not hing w as m or e not iced in 235

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t he v ast concour se t hat saw it done, t han t he cr ow d of ladies of qualit y and fashion, w ho w er e full of eager at t ent ion t o t he last —t o t he last , Jacques, pr olonged unt il night fall, w hen he had lost t w o legs and an ar m , and st ill br eat he d! And it w as done—why, how old are you?” “ Thir t y- fiv e,” said t he m ender of r oads, w ho look ed six t y . “ I t w as done w hen you w ere m ore t han t en years old; you m ight hav e seen it .” “ Enough! ” said Defar ge, w it h gr im im pat ience. “ Long live t he Dev il! Go on.” “ Well! Som e w hisper t his, som e w hisper t hat ; t hey speak of not hing else; ev en t he fount ain appear s t o fall t o t hat t une. At lengt h, on Sunday night w hen all t he v illage is asleep, com e soldier s, w inding dow n fr om t he pr ison, and t heir guns r ing on t he st ones of t he lit t le st r eet . Wor k m en dig, w or k m en ham m er , soldier s laugh and sing; in t he m or ning, by t he fount ain, t her e is r aised a gallow s for t y feet high, poisoning t he w at er .” The m ender of r oads looked THROUGH r at her t han AT t he low ceiling, and point ed as if he saw t he gallow s som ew her e in t he sk y . “ All w or k is st opped, all assem ble t her e, nobody leads t he cow s out , t he cow s ar e t her e w it h t he r est . At m idday , t he r oll of dr um s. Soldier s have m ar ched int o t he pr ison in t he night , and he is in t he m idst of m any soldier s. He is bound as befor e, and in his m out h t her e is a gag—t ied so, w it h a t igh t st r ing, m ak ing him look alm ost as if he laughed.” He suggest ed it , by cr easing his face w it h his t w o t hum bs, fr om t he cor ner s of his m out h t o his ear s. “ On t he t op of t he 236

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gallow s is fix ed t he k nife, blade upw ar ds, w it h it s point in t he air . He is hanged t her e for t y feet high—and is left hanging, poisoning t he w at er .” They look ed at one anot her , as he used his blue cap t o w ipe his face, on w hich t he per spir at ion had st ar t ed afr esh w hile he r ecalled t he spect acle. “ I t is fr ight ful, m essieur s. How can t he w om en and t he childr en dr aw w at er ! Who can gossip of an evening, under t hat shadow ! Under it , hav e I said? When I left t he v illage, Monday ev ening as t he sun w as going t o bed, and look ed back from t he hill, t he shadow st ruck across t he church, acr oss t he m ill, acr oss t he pr ison—seem ed t o st r ik e acr oss t he ear t h, m essieur s, t o w her e t he sk y r est s upon it ! ” The hungr y m an gnaw ed one of his finger s as he look ed at t he ot her t hr ee, and his finger quiv er ed w it h t he cr av ing t hat w as on him . “ That 's all, m essieur s. I left at sunset ( as I had been w ar ned t o do) , and I w alk ed on, t hat night and half nex t day , unt il I m et ( as I w as w ar ned I should) t his com r ade. Wit h him , I cam e on, now riding and now w alking, t hrough t he rest of yest er day and t hr ough last night . And her e you see m e! ” Aft er a gloom y silence, t he fir st Jacques said, “ Good! You have act ed and recount ed fait hfully . Will y ou w ait for us a lit t le, out side t he door ?” “ Ver y w illingly,” said t he m ender of r oads. Whom Defar ge escor t ed t o t he t op of t he st air s, and, leav ing seat ed t her e, ret urned. The t hr ee had r isen, and t heir heads w er e t oget her w hen he cam e back t o t he gar r et . 237

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“ How say you, Jacques?” dem anded Num ber One. “ To be r egist er ed?” “ To be r egist er ed, as doom ed t o dest r uct ion,” r et ur ned Defarge. “ Magnificent ! ” croaked t he m an w it h t he craving. “ The chat eau, and all t he r ace?” inquir ed t he fir st . “ The chat eau and all t he r ace,” r et ur ned Defar ge. “ Ext erm inat ion.” The hungry m an repeat ed, in a rapt urous croak, “ Magnificent ! ” and began gnaw ing anot her finger . “ Are you sure,” asked Jacques Tw o, of Defarge, “ t hat no em barrassm ent can ari se from our m anner of keeping t he r egist er ? Wit hout doubt it is safe, for no one bey ond our selv es can decipher it ; but shall w e alw ay s be able t o decipher it —or , I ought t o say , w ill she?” “ Jacques,” ret urned Defarge, draw ing him self up, “ if m adam e m y wi fe under t ook t o k eep t he r egist er in her m em or y alone, she w ould not lose a w or d of it —not a sy llable of it . Knit t ed, in her ow n st it ches and her ow n sy m bols, it w ill alw ay s be as plain t o her as t he sun. Confide in Madam e Defar ge. I t w ould be easier for t he w eak est polt r oon t hat liv es, t o er ase him self fr om ex ist ence, t han t o er ase one let t er of his nam e or cr im es fr om t he knit t ed r egist er of Madam e Defarge.” There was a m urm ur of confidence and approval, and t hen t he m an who hungered, asked: “ I s t his ru st ic t o be sent back soon? I hope so. He is v er y sim ple; is he not a lit t le dangerous?” 238

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“ He k now s not hing,” said Defar ge; “ at least not hing m or e t han w ould easily elev at e him self t o a gallow s of t he sam e height . I char ge m yself w it h him ; let him r em ain w it h m e; I w ill t ak e car e of him , and set him on his r oad. He w ishes t o see t he fine w or ld—t he King, t he Queen, and Cour t ; let him see t hem on Sunday.” “ What ?” ex claim ed t he hungr y m an, st ar ing. “ I s it a good sign, t hat he w ishes t o see Roy alt y and Nobilit y?” “ Jacques,” said Defar ge; “ j udiciously show a cat m ilk , if y ou w ish her t o t hir st for it . Judiciously show a dog his nat ur al prey, if you w ish him t o bring it dow n one day.” Not hing m or e w as said, and t he m ender of r oads, being found alr eady dozing on t he t opm ost st air , w as adv ised t o lay him self dow n on t he pallet - bed and t ak e som e r est . He needed no per suasion, and w as soon asleep. Wor se quar t er s t han Defar ge's w ine - shop, could easily hav e been found in Par is for a pr ov incial slav e of t hat degr e e. Saving for a m yst erious dread of m adam e by which he was const ant ly haunt ed, his life w as v er y new and agr eeable. But , m adam e sat all day at her count er , so ex pr essly unconscious of him , and so par t icular ly det er m ined not t o per ceiv e t hat his being t here had any connect ion w it h any t hing below t he sur face, t hat he shook in his w ooden shoes w henev er his ey e light ed on her . For , he cont ended w it h him self t hat it w as im possible t o for esee w hat t hat lady m ight pr et end nex t ; and he felt assur ed t hat if she should t ak e it int o her br ight ly or nam ent ed head t o pr et end t hat she had seen him do a m ur der and aft er w ar ds flay t he v ict im , she w ould infallibly go t hr ough w it h it unt il t he play w as play ed out . 239

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Therefore, when Sunday cam e, t he m ender of roads was not enchant ed ( t hough he said he w as) t o find t hat m adam e w as t o accom pany m onsieur and him self t o Ver sailles. I t w as addit ionally disconcer t ing t o hav e m adam e k nit t ing all t he w ay t her e, in a public conv ey ance; it w as addit ionally disconcer t ing y et , t o hav e m adame in t he cr ow d in t he aft er noon, st ill w it h her k nit t ing in her hands as t he cr ow d w ait ed t o see t he car r iage of t he King and Queen. “ You work hard, m adam e,” said a m an near her. “ Yes,” answ er ed Madam e Defar ge; “ I hav e a good deal t o do.” “ What do yo u m ake, m adam e?” “ Many t hings.” “ For inst ance —” “ For inst ance,” ret urned Madam e Defarge, com posedly, “ shrouds.” The m an m ov ed a lit t le fur t her aw ay , as soon as he could, and t he m ender of r oads fanned him self w it h his blue cap: feeling it m ight ily close and oppr essiv e. I f he needed a King and Queen t o r est or e him , he w as for t unat e in hav ing his r em edy at hand; for , soon t he lar ge- faced King and t he fairfaced Queen cam e in t heir golden coach, at t ended by t he shining Bull's Ey e of t heir Cour t , a glit t er ing m ult it ude of laughing ladies and fine lor ds; and in j ew els and silk s and pow der and splendour and elegant ly spur ning figur es and handsom ely disdainful faces of bot h sex es, t he m ender of r oads bat hed him self, so m uch t o his t em por ar y int ox icat ion, t hat he cr ied Long liv e t he King, Long liv e t he Queen, Long live everybody and everyt hing! as if he had never heard of 240

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ubiquit ous Jacques in his t im e. Then, t her e w er e gar dens, court yards, t erraces, fount ains, green banks, m ore King and Queen, m ore Bull's Eye,m or e lor ds and ladies, m or e Long liv e t hey all! unt il he absolut ely w ept w it h sent im ent . Dur ing t he w hole of t his scene, w hich last ed som e t hr ee hour s, he had plent y of shout ing and w eeping and sent im ent al com pany , and t hroughout Defarge held him by t he collar , as if t o r est r ain him fr om fly ing at t he obj ect s of his br ief dev ot ion and t ear ing t hem t o pieces. “ Bravo! ” said Defarge, clapping him on t he back w hen it was over, like a pat ron; “ you are a good boy! ” The m ender of r oads w as now com ing t o him self, and w as m ist r ust ful of hav ing m ade a m ist ak e in his lat e dem onst r at ions; but no. “ You ar e t he fellow w e w ant ,” said Defar ge, in his ear ; “ y ou m ak e t hese fools believ e t hat it w ill last for ev er . Then, t hey ar e t he m or e insolent , and it is t he near er ended.” “ Hey! ” cried t he m ender of roads, reflect ively; “ t hat 's t rue.” “ These fools k now not hing. While t hey despise y our br eat h, and w ould st op it for ever and ever , in you or in a hundred like you rat her t ha n in one of t heir ow n hor ses or dogs, t hey only k now w hat y our br eat h t ells t hem . Let it deceiv e t hem , t hen, a lit t le longer ; it cannot deceiv e t hem t oo m uch.” Madam e Defar ge look ed super ciliously at t he client , and nodded in confir m at ion.

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“ As t o y ou,” said she, “ y ou w ould shout and shed t ear s for any t hing, if it m ade a show and a noise. Say ! Would y ou not ?” “ Truly, m adam e, I t hink so. For t he m om ent .” “ I f y ou w er e show n a gr eat heap of dolls, and w er e set upon t hem t o pluck t hem t o pieces and despoil t hem for your ow n adv ant age, y ou w ould pick out t he r ichest and gay est . Say! Would you not ?” “ Truly yes, m adam e.” “ Yes. And if y ou w er e show n a flock of bir ds, unable t o fly , and w er e set upon t hem t o st r ip t hem of t heir feat her s for your own advant age, y ou w ould set upon t he bir ds of t he finest feat her s; w ould y ou not ?” “ I t is t r ue, m adam e.” “ You hav e seen bot h dolls and bir ds t o- day,” said Madam e Defar ge, w it h a w av e of her hand t ow ar ds t he place w her e t hey had last been appar ent ; “ now , go hom e !”

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XVI St ill Knit t ing Madam e Defarge and m onsieur her husband ret urned am icably t o t he bosom of Saint Ant oine, w hile a speck in a blue cap t oiled t hr ough t he dar k ness, and t hr ough t he dust , and dow n t he w ear y m iles of av enue by t he w ay side, slow ly t ending t ow ar ds t hat point of t he com pass w her e t he chat eau of Monsieur t he Mar quis, now in his gr av e, list ened t o t he w hisper ing t r ees. Such am ple leisur e had t he st one faces, now , for list ening t o t he t r ees and t o t he fount ain, t hat t he few v illage scarecr ow s w ho, in t heir quest for her bs t o eat and fr agm ent s of dead st ick t o bur n, st r ay ed w it hin sight of t he gr eat st one cour t y ar d and t er r ace st air case, had it bor ne in upon t heir st ar v ed fancy t hat t he ex pr ession of t he faces w as alt er ed. A r um our j ust liv ed in t he v illage—had a faint and bar e ex ist ence t her e, as it s people had—t hat w hen t he k nife st r uck hom e, t he faces changed, fr om faces of pr ide t o faces of anger and pain; also, t hat w hen t hat dangling figur e w as hauled up for t y feet abov e t he fount ain, t hey changed again, and bor e a cr uel look of being avenged, w hich t hey w ould hencefor t h bear for ever . I n t he st one face over t he gr eat w indow of t he bed- cham ber where t he m urder was done, t wo fine dint s w er e point ed out in t he sculpt ur ed nose, w hich everybody recognised, and w hich nobody had seen of old; and on t he scar ce occasions w hen t w o or t hr ee r agged peasant s em er ged fr om t he cr ow d t o t ak e a hur r ied peep at Monsieur t he Mar quis pet r ified, a sk inny finger w ould not hav e point ed t o it for a m inut e, befor e t hey all st ar t ed aw ay 243

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am ong t he m oss and leav es, lik e t he m or e for t unat e har es w ho could find a liv ing t her e. Chat eau and hut , st one face and dangling figur e, t he r ed st ain on t he st one floor , and t he pur e w at er in t he v illage w ell—t housands of acr es of land—a w hole pr ovince of France—all Fr ance it self—lay under t he night sky, concent r at ed int o a faint hair- br eadt h line. So does a w hole w or ld, w it h all it s gr eat nesses and lit t lenesses, lie in a t w ink ling st ar . And as m er e hum an k now ledge can split a ray of light and analy se t he m anner of it s com posit ion, so, sublim er int elligences m ay r ead in t he feeble shining of t his eart h of ours, every t hought and act , every vice and virt ue, of ever y r esponsible cr eat ur e on it . The Defar ges, husband and w ife, cam e lum bering under t he st ar light , in t heir public v ehicle, t o t hat gat e of Par is w her eunt o t heir j our ney nat ur ally t ended. Ther e w as t he usual st oppage at t he bar r ier guar dhouse, and t he usual lant er ns cam e glancing for t h for t he usual ex am inat ion and inquir y. Monsieur Defar ge alight ed; know ing one or t w o of t he soldier y t her e, and one of t he police. The lat t er he w as int im at e w it h, and affect ionat ely em br aced. When Saint Ant oine had again enfolded t he Defar ges in his dusk y w ings, and t hey , hav ing finally alight ed near t he Saint 's boundar ies, w er e picking t heir w ay on foot t hr ough t he black m ud and offal of his st r eet s, Madam e Defar ge spok e t o her husband: “ Say t hen, m y fr iend; w hat did Jacques of t he police t ell t hee?” 244

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“ Ver y lit t le t o- night , but all he know s. Ther e is anot her spy com m issioned for our quart er. There m ay be m any m ore, for all t hat he can say , but he k now s of one.” “ Eh w ell! ” said Madam e Defar ge, r aising her eyebr ow s w it h a cool business air . “ I t is necessar y t o r egist er him . How do t hey call t hat m an?” “ He is English.” “ So m uch t he bet t er. His nam e?” “ Barsad,” said Defarge, m aking it French by pronunciat ion. But , he had been so car eful t o get it accur at ely , t hat he t hen spelt it w it h per fect cor r ect ness. “ Bar sad,” r epeat ed m adam e. “ Good. Christ ian nam e?” “ John.” “ John Barsad,” repeat ed m adam e, aft er m urm uring it once t o her self. “ Good. His appear ance; is it k now n?” “ Age, about for t y y ear s; height , about fiv e feet nine; black hair; com plexion dark; generally, rat her handsom e visage; ey es dar k , face t hin, long, and sallow ; nose aquiline, but not st r aight , hav ing a peculiar inclinat ion t ow ar ds t he left cheek ; ex pr ession, t her efor e, sinist er .” “ Eh m y fait h. I t is a por t r ait ! ” said m adam e, laughing. “ He shall be r egist er ed t o- m orrow.” They t ur ned int o t he w ine - shop, w hich w as closed ( for it w as m idnight ) , and w her e Madam e Defar ge im m ediat ely t ook her post at her desk , count ed t he sm all m oney s t hat had been t ak en dur ing her absence, ex am ined t he st ock , w ent t hr ough t he ent r ies in t he book , m ade ot her ent r ies of her ow n, checked t he serving m an in every possible w ay, and finally dism issed him t o bed. Then she t ur ned out t he 245

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cont ent s of t he bow l of m oney for t he second t im e, and began k not t ing t hem up in her handk er chief, in a chain of separ at e k not s, for safe k eeping t hr ough t he night . All t his w hile, Defar ge, w it h his pipe in his m out h, w alk ed up and dow n, com placent ly admiring, but never int erfering; in which condit ion, indeed, as t o t he business and his dom est ic affair s, he w alked up and dow n t hr ough life. The night w as hot , and t he shop, close shut and sur r ounded by so foul a neighbour hood, w as ill- sm elling. Monsieur Defar ge's olfact or y sense w as by no m eans delicat e, but t he st ock of w ine sm elt m uch st r onger t han it ev er t ast ed, and so did t he st ock of r um and br andy and aniseed. He w hiffed t he com pound of scent s aw ay , as he put dow n his sm oked- out pipe. “ You ar e fat igued,” said m adam e, r aising her glance as she knot t ed t he m oney. “ Ther e ar e only t he usual odour s.” “ I am a lit t le t ir ed,” her husband ack now ledged. “ You ar e a lit t le depr essed, t oo, ” said m adam e, w hose quick ey es had nev er been so int ent on t he account s, but t hey had had a ray or t wo for him . “ Oh, t he m en, t he m en! ” “ But m y dear! ” began Defarge. “ But m y dear! ” repeat ed m adam e, nodding firm ly; “ but m y dear ! You ar e faint of hear t t o- night , m y dear! ” “ Well, t hen, ” said Defar ge, as if a t hought w ere wrung out of his br east , “ it I S a long t im e.” “ I t is a long t im e, ” r epeat ed his w ife; “ and w hen is it not a long t im e? Vengeance and r et r ibut ion r equir e a long t im e; it is t he r ule.” 246

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“ I t does not t ak e a long t im e t o st r ik e a m an w it h Light ning, ” said Defarge. “ How long,” dem anded m adam e, com posedly, “ does it t ak e t o m ak e and st or e t he light ning? Tell m e.” Defar ge r aised his head t hought fully , as if t her e w er e som et hing in t hat t oo. “ I t does not t ak e a long t im e,” said m adam e, “ for an eart hquake t o sw allow a t ow n. Eh w ell! Tell m e how long it t ak es t o pr epar e t he ear t hquak e?” “ A long t im e, I suppose,” said Defar ge. “ But w hen it is r eady , it t ak es place, and gr inds t o pieces ev er y t hing befor e it . I n t he m eant im e, it is alw ay s pr epar ing, t hough it is not seen or hear d. That is y our consolat ion. Keep it . ” She t ied a k not w it h flashing ey es, as if it t hr ot t led a foe. “ I t ell t hee,” said m adam e, ex t ending her r ight hand, for em phasis, “ t hat alt hough it is a long t im e on t he r oad, it is on t he ro ad and com ing. I t ell t hee it nev er r et r eat s, and nev er st ops. I t ell t hee it is alw ay s adv ancing. Look ar ound and consider t he liv es of all t he w or ld t hat w e k now , consider t he faces of all t he w or ld t hat w e k now , consider t he r age and discont ent t o w hich t he Jacquer ie addr esses it self w it h m or e and m ore of cert aint y every hour. Can such t hings last ? Bah! I m ock you.” “ My brave wife,” ret urned Defarge, st anding before her w it h his head a lit t le bent , and his hands clasped at his back , lik e a docile and a t t ent iv e pupil befor e his cat echist , “ I do not quest ion all t his. But it has last ed a long t im e, and it is 247

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possible—y ou k now w ell, m y w ife, it is possible—t hat it m ay not com e, during our lives.” “ Eh w ell! How t hen?” dem anded m adam e, t ying anot her knot , as if t her e w er e anot her enem y st r angled. “ Well! ” said Defar ge, w it h a half com plaining and half apologet ic shr ug. “ We shall not see t he t r ium ph.” “ We shall hav e helped it ,” r et ur ned m adam e, w it h her ex t ended hand in st r ong act ion. “ Not hing t hat w e do, is done in v ain. I believ e, w it h all m y soul, t hat w e shall see t he t r ium ph. But ev en if not , ev en if I k new cer t ainly not , show m e t he neck of an ar ist ocr at and t y r ant , and st ill I w ould—” Then m adam e, w it h her t eet h set , t ied a v er y t er r ible k not indeed. “ Hold! ” cr ied Defar ge, r eddening a lit t le as if he felt char ged w it h cow ar dice; “ I t oo, m y dear , w ill st op at not hing.” “ Yes! But it is y our w eak ness t hat y ou som et im es need t o see your vict im and your oppor t unit y, t o sust ain you. Sust ain your self w it hout t hat . When t he t im e com es, let loose a t iger and a dev il; but w ait for t he t im e w it h t he t iger and t he dev il chained—not show n—yet alw ays r eady.” Madam e enfor ced t he conclusion of t his piece of adv ice by st r ik ing her lit t le count er w it h her chain of m oney as if she k nock ed it s br ains out , and t hen gat her ing t he heav y handkerchief under her arm in a serene m anner, and obser v ing t hat it w as t im e t o go t o bed. Nex t noont ide saw t he adm ir able w om an in her usual place in t he w ine - shop, k nit t ing aw ay assiduously . A r ose lay beside her , and if she now and t hen glanced at t he flow er , it w as 248

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w it h no infr act ion of her usual pr eoccupied air . Ther e w er e a few cust om er s, dr inking or not dr inking, st anding or seat ed, spr ink led about . The day w as v er y hot , and heaps of flies, w ho w er e ex t ending t heir inquisit iv e and adv ent ur ous per quisit ions int o all t he glut inous lit t le glasses near m adam e, fell dead at t h e bot t om . Their decease m ade no im pression on t he ot her flies out pr om enading, w ho look ed at t hem in t he coolest m anner ( as if t hey t hem selv es w er e elephant s, or som et hing as far r em ov ed) , unt il t hey m et t he sam e fat e. Cur ious t o consider how heedless flies ar e!—per haps t hey t hought as m uch at Court t hat sunny sum m er day. A figur e ent er ing at t he door t hr ew a shadow on Madam e Defar ge w hich she felt t o be a new one. She laid dow n her k nit t ing, and began t o pin her r ose in her head- dr ess, befor e she look ed at t he figur e. I t w as cur ious. The m om ent Madam e Defar ge t ook up t he r ose, t he cust om er s ceased t alk ing, and began gr adually t o dr op out of t he w ine - shop. “ Good day , m adam e,” said t he new- com er. “ Good day, m onsieur.” She said it aloud, but added t o her self, as she resum ed her k nit t ing: “ Hah! Good day , age about for t y , height about fiv e feet nine, black hair , gener ally r at her handsom e v isage, com plex ion dar k , ey es dar k , t hin, long and sallow face, aquiline nose but not st r aight , hav ing a peculiar inclinat ion t ow ar ds t he left cheek w hich im par t s a sinist er ex pr ession! Good day, one and all! ” “ Hav e t he goodness t o giv e m e a lit t le glass of old cognac, and a m out hful of cool fr esh w at er , m adam e.” 249

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Madam e com plied w it h a polit e air . “ Mar vellous cognac t his, m adam e! ” I t w as t he fir st t im e it had ev er been so com plem ent ed, and Madam e Defar ge knew enough of it s ant ecedent s t o know bet t er . She said, how ev er , t hat t he cognac w as flat t er ed, and t ook up her k nit t ing. The v isit or w at ched her finger s for a few m om ent s, and t ook t he oppor t unit y of obser v ing t he place in gener al. “ You k nit w it h gr eat sk ill, m adam e.” “ I am accust om ed t o it .” “ A pr et t y pat t er n t oo! ” “ YOU t hink so?” said m adam e, look ing at him w it h a sm ile. “ Decidedly . May one ask w hat it is for?” “ Past im e, ” said m adam e, st ill look ing at him w it h a sm ile w hile her fingers m oved nim bly. “ Not for use?” “ That depends. I m ay find a use for it one day . I f I do— Well,” said m adam e, dr aw ing a br eat h and nodding her head w it h a st er n k ind of coquet ry, “ I 'll use it ! ” I t w as r em ar k able; but , t he t ast e of Saint Ant oine seem ed t o be decidedly opposed t o a r ose on t he head- dr ess of Madam e Defar ge. Tw o m en had ent er ed separ at ely, and had been about t o or der dr ink , w hen, cat ching sight of t hat nov elt y , t hey falt er ed, m ade a pr et ence of look ing about as if for som e fr iend w ho w as not t her e, and w ent aw ay. Nor , of t hose w ho had been t her e w hen t his v isit or ent er ed, w as t her e one left . They had all dr opped off. The spy had k ept his ey es open, but had been able t o det ect no sign. They had 250

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lounged aw ay in a pov er t y- st r ick en, pur poseless, accident al m anner , quit e nat ur al and unim peachable. “ JOHN,” t hought m adam e, checking off her work as her finger s k nit t ed, and her ey es look ed at t he st r anger . “ St ay long enough, and I shall knit ‘BARSAD’ before you go.” “ You have a husband, m adam e?” “ I have.” “ Children?” “ No children.” “ Business seem s bad?” “ Business is v er y bad; t he people ar e so poor .” “ Ah, t he unfor t unat e, m iser able people! So oppr essed, t oo—as you say.” “ As YOU say,” m adam e r et or t ed, cor r ect ing him , and deft ly k nit t ing an ex t r a som et hing int o his nam e t hat boded him no good. “ Par don m e; cer t ainly it w as I w ho said so, but y ou nat ur ally t hink so. Of cour se.” “ I t hink?” ret urned m adam e, in a high voice. “ I and m y husband hav e enough t o do t o k eep t his w ine - shop open, w it hout t hink ing. All w e t hink , her e, is how t o liv e. That is t he subj ect WE t hink of, and it giv es us, fr om m or ning t o night , enough t o t hink about , w it hout em bar r assing our heads concerning ot hers. I t hink for ot hers? No, no.” The spy, w ho w as t here t o pick up any crum bs he could find or m ak e, did not allow his baffled st at e t o ex pr ess it self in his sinist er face; but , st ood w it h an air of gossiping gallant r y , leaning his elbow on Madam e Defar ge's lit t le count er , and occasionally sipping his cognac. 251

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“ A bad business t his, m adam e, of Gaspar d's ex ecut ion. Ah! t he poor Gaspar d! ” Wit h a sigh of gr eat com passion. “ My fait h! ” r et ur ned m adam e, coolly and light ly, “ if people use knives for such pur poses, t hey have t o pay for it . He knew befor ehand w hat t he pr ice of his luxur y w as; he has paid t he pr ice.” “ I believ e, ” said t he spy , dr opping his soft v oice t o a t one t hat inv it ed confidence, and ex pr essing an inj ur ed revolut ionary suscept ibilit y in ev er y m uscle of his w ick ed face: “ I believ e t her e is m uch com passion and anger in t his neighbour hood, t ouching t he poor fellow ? Bet w een our selv es.” “ I s t her e?” asked m adam e, vacant ly. “ I s t her e not ?” “ —Her e is m y husband! ” said Madam e Defarge. As t he k eeper of t he w ine - shop ent er ed at t he door , t he spy salut ed him by t ouching his hat , and say ing, w it h an engaging sm ile, “ Good day , Jacques! ” Defar ge st opped shor t , and st ar ed at him . “ Good day, Jacques! ” t he spy r epeat ed; w it h not qu it e so m uch confidence, or quit e so easy a sm ile under t he st ar e. “ You deceive your self, m onsieur ,” r et ur ned t he keeper of t he w ine - shop. “ You m ist ak e m e for anot her . That is not m y nam e. I am Ernest Defarge.” “ I t is all t he sam e, ” said t he spy , air i ly , but discom fit ed t oo: “ good day! ” “ Good day! ” answered Defarge, drily. “ I w as say ing t o m adam e, w it h w hom I had t he pleasur e of chat t ing w hen y ou ent er ed, t hat t hey t ell m e t her e is—and no 252

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wonder! —m uch sym pat hy and anger in Saint Ant oine, t ouching t he unhappy fat e of poor Gaspard.” “ No one has t old m e so,” said Defar ge, shak ing his head. “ I k now not hing of it .” Hav ing said it , he passed behind t he lit t le count er , and st ood w it h his hand on t he back of his w ife's chair , look ing over t hat barrier at t he per son t o w hom t hey w er e bot h opposed, and w hom eit her of t hem w ould hav e shot w it h t he gr eat est sat isfact ion. The spy , w ell used t o his business, did not change his unconscious at t it ude, but dr ained his lit t le glass of cognac, t ook a sip of fr esh w at er , and ask ed for anot her glass of cognac. Madam e Defarge poured it out for him , t ook t o her k nit t ing again, and hum m ed a lit t le song ov er it . “ You seem t o k now t his quar t er w ell; t hat is t o say , bet t er t han I do?” obser ved Defar ge. “ Not at all, but I hope t o k now it bet t er . I am so pr ofoundly int er est ed in it s m iser able inhabit ant s. ” “ Hah! ” m ut t ered Defarge. “ The pleasur e of conver sing w it h you, Monsieur Defar ge, r ecalls t o m e,” pur sued t he spy , “ t hat I hav e t he honour of cher ishing som e int er est ing associat ions w it h y our nam e.” “ I ndeed! ” said Defar ge, w it h m uch indiffer ence. “ Yes, indeed. When Doct or Manet t e w as r eleased, y ou, his old dom est ic, had t he char ge of him , I k now . He w as deliv er ed t o y ou. You see I am infor m ed of t he circum st ances?” “ Such is t he fact , cer t ainly ,” said Defar ge. He had had it conv ey ed t o him , in an accident al t ouch of his w ife's elbow as 253

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she k nit t ed and w ar bled, t hat he w ould do best t o answ er , but alw ay s w it h br ev it y . “ I t w as t o y ou,” said t he spy , “ t hat his daught er cam e; and it w as fr om your car e t hat his daught er t ook him , accom panied by a neat br ow n m onsieur ; how is he called?—in a lit t le w ig—Lorry—of t he bank of Tellson and Com pany —over t o England.” “ Such is t he fact ,” r epeat ed Defar ge. “ Very int er est ing r em em br ances! ” said t he spy. “ I have know n Doct or Manet t e and his daught er , in England.” “ Yes?” said Defar ge. “ You don't hear m uch about t hem now ?” said t he spy. “ No,” said Defar ge. “ I n effect ,” m adam e st ruck in, looking up from her work and her lit t le song, “ w e nev er hear about t hem . We r eceiv ed t he new s of t heir safe ar r iv al, and per haps anot her let t er , or per haps t w o; but , since t hen, t hey hav e gr adually t ak en t heir r oad in life—we, ours—and w e have held no correspondence.” “ Per fect ly so, m adam e,” r eplied t he spy . “ She is going t o be m arried.” “ Going?” echoed m adam e. “ She w as pret t y enough t o have been m ar r ied long ago. You English ar e cold, it seem s t o m e.” “ Oh! You know I am English.” “ I perceive your t ongue is,” ret urned m a dam e; “ and w hat t he t ongue is, I suppose t he m an is. ” He did not t ak e t he ident ificat ion as a com plim ent ; but he m ade t he best of it , and t ur ned it off w it h a laugh. Aft er sipping his cognac t o t he end, he added: 254

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“ Yes, Miss Manet t e is going t o be m ar r i ed. But not t o an Englishm an; t o one w ho, like her self, is Fr ench by bir t h. And speaking of Gaspard ( ah, poor Gaspard! I t w as cruel, cruel! ) , it is a cur ious t hing t hat she is going t o m ar r y t he nephew of Monsieur t he Mar quis, for w hom Gaspar d w as exalt ed t o t h at height of so m any feet ; in ot her w or ds, t he pr esent Mar quis. But he liv es unk now n in England, he is no Mar quis t her e; he is Mr . Char les Dar nay. D'Aulnais is t he nam e of his m ot her 's fam ily.” Madam e Defar ge k nit t ed st eadily , but t he int elligence h ad a palpable effect upon her husband. Do w hat he w ould, behind t he lit t le count er , as t o t he st r ik ing of a light and t he light ing of his pipe, he w as t r oubled, and his hand w as not t r ust w or t hy . The spy w ould hav e been no spy if he had failed t o see it , or t o r ecor d it in his m ind. Hav ing m ade, at least , t his one hit , w hat ev er it m ight pr ove t o be w or t h, and no cust om er s com ing in t o help him t o any ot her, Mr. Barsad paid for what he had drunk, and t ook his leav e: t ak ing occasion t o say , in a gent eel m anner, before he depar t ed, t hat he look ed for w ar d t o t he pleasur e of seeing Monsieur and Madam e Defar ge again. For som e m inut es aft er he had em er ged int o t he out er pr esence of Saint Ant oine, t he husband and w ife r em ained ex act ly as he had left t hem , lest he should com e back. “ Can it be t r ue,” said Defar ge, in a low v oice, look ing dow n at his w ife as he st ood sm ok ing w it h his hand on t he back of her chair : “ w hat he has said of Ma'am selle Manet t e?” “ As he has said it ,” r et ur ned m adam e, lift ing her ey ebr ow s a lit t le, “ it is pr obably false. But it m ay be t r ue. ” 255

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“ I f it is—” Defar ge began, and st opped. “ I f it is?” r epeat ed his w ife. “ —And if it does com e, w hile w e liv e t o see it t r ium ph—I hope, for her sak e, Dest iny w ill k eep her husband out of France.” “ Her husband's dest iny,” said Madam e Defar ge, w it h her usual com posur e, “ w ill t ak e him w her e he is t o go, and w ill lead him t o t he end t hat is t o end him . That is all I k now . ” “ But it is v er y st r ange—now , at least , is it not v er y st r ange"—said Defarge, ra t her pleading w it h his w ife t o induce her t o adm it it , “ t hat , aft er all our sy m pat hy for Monsieur her fat her , and her self, her husband's nam e should be pr oscr ibed under your hand at t his m om ent , by t he side of t hat infer nal dog's w ho has j ust left us?” “ St r anger t hings t han t hat w ill happen w hen it does com e,” answ er ed m adam e. “ I have t hem bot h her e, of a cer t aint y; and t hey ar e bot h her e for t heir m er it s; t hat is enough.” She r oiled up her k nit t ing w hen she had said t hose w or ds, and pr esent ly t ook t he r ose out of t he handk er chief t hat w as w ound about her head. Eit her Saint Ant oine had an inst inct iv e sense t hat t he obj ect ionable decor at ion w as gone, or Saint Ant oine w as on t he w at ch for it s disappear ance; how beit , t he Saint t ook cour age t o lounge in, v ery short ly aft erw ards, and t he w ine - shop r ecov er ed it s habit ual aspect . I n t he ev ening, at w hich season of all ot her s Saint Ant oine t ur ned him self inside out , and sat on door- st eps and w indow ledges, and cam e t o t he cor ner s of v ile st r eet s and cour t s, for a breat h of air, Madam e Defarge wit h her work in her hand w as accust om ed t o pass fr om place t o place and fr om gr oup 256

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t o group: a Missionary—t here w ere m any like her—such as t he w or ld w ill do w ell nev er t o br eed again. All t he w om en k nit t ed. They k nit t ed w or t hless t hings; but , t he m echanical w or k w as a m echanical subst it ut e for eat ing and dr ink ing; t he hands m ov ed for t he j aw s and t he digest iv e appar at us: if t he bony finger s had been st ill, t he st om achs w ould hav e been m ore fam ine- pinched. But , as t he finger s w ent , t he ey es w ent , and t he t hought s. And as Madam e Defarge m oved on from group t o group, all t hr ee w ent quicker and fier cer am ong ever y lit t le knot of w om en t hat she had spok en w it h, and left behind. Her husband sm oked at his door , looking aft er he r wit h adm ir at ion. “ A gr eat w om an,” said he, “ a st r ong w om an, a grand wom an, a fright fully grand wom an! ” Dar kness closed ar ound, and t hen cam e t he r inging of chur ch bells and t he dist ant beat ing of t he m ilit ar y dr um s in t he Palace Cour t y ar d, as t he w om en sat k nit t ing, k nit t ing. Dar k ness encom passed t hem . Anot her dar k ness w as closing in as sur ely, w hen t he chur ch bells, t hen r inging pleasant ly in m any an air y st eeple ov er Fr ance, should be m elt ed int o t hundering cannon; w hen t he m ilit ary drum s should be beat ing t o dr ow n a w r et ched v oice, t hat night all pot ent as t he v oice of Pow er and Plent y , Fr eedom and Life. So m uch w as closing in about t he w om en w ho sat k nit t ing, k nit t ing, t hat t hey t heir ver y selves w er e closing in ar ound a st r uct ur e y et unbuilt , w her e t hey w er e t o sit k nit t ing, k nit t ing, count ing dr opping heads.

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XVI I One Night Nev er did t he sun go dow n w it h a bright er glory on t he quiet corner in Soho, t han one m em orable evening w hen t he Doct or and his daught er sat under t he plane - t r ee t oget her . Never did t he m oon r ise w it h a m ilder r adiance over gr eat London, t han on t hat night w hen it found t hem st ill seat ed under t he t r ee, and shone upon t heir faces t hr ough it s leav es. Lucie w as t o be m ar r ied t o- m orrow. She had reserved t his last ev ening for her fat her , and t hey sat alone under t he plane - t r ee. “ You are happy, m y dear fat her?” “ Quit e, m y child.” They had said lit t le, t hough t hey had been t her e a long t im e. When it w as y et light enough t o w or k and r ead, she had neit her engaged her self in her usual w or k, nor had she r ead t o him . She had em ploy ed her self in bot h w ay s, at his side under t he t r ee, m any and m any a t im e; but , t his t im e w as not quit e lik e any ot her , and not hing could m ak e it so. “ And I am very happy t o- night , dear fat her . I am deeply happy in t he lov e t hat Heav en has so blessed—m y love for Char les, and Char les's lov e for m e. But , if m y life w er e not t o be st ill consecr at ed t o y ou, or if m y m ar r iage w er e so ar r anged as t hat it w ould par t us, ev en by t he lengt h of a few of t hese st r eet s, I should be m or e unhappy and selfr epr oachful now t han I can t ell y ou. Ev en as it is—” Ev en as it w as, she could not com m and her voice. 258

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I n t he sad m oonlight , she clasped him by t he neck , and laid her face upon his br east . I n t he m oonlight w hich is alw ay s sad, as t h e ligh t of t h e su n it self is—as t he light called hum an life is—at it s com ing and it s going. “ Dear est dear ! Can y ou t ell m e, t his last t im e, t hat y ou feel quit e, quit e sur e, no new affect ions of m ine, and no new dut ies of m ine, w ill ev er int er pose bet w een us? I k now it w ell, but do you know it ? I n your ow n hear t , do you feel quit e cer t ain?” Her fat her answ er ed, w it h a cheer ful fir m ness of conv ict ion he could scarcely have assum ed, “ Quit e sure, m y darling! Mor e t han t hat ,” he added, as he t ender ly kissed her : “ m y fut ure is far bright er, Lucie, seen t hrough your m arriage, t han it could have been—nay , t han it ev er w as—w it hout it . ” “ I f I could hope THAT, m y fat her! —” “ Believ e it , lov e! I ndeed it is so. Consider how nat ur al and how plain it is, m y dear , t hat it should be so. You, dev ot ed and y oung, cannot fully appr eciat e t he anx iet y I have felt t hat y our life should not be w ast ed—” She m ov ed her hand t ow ar ds his lips, but he t ook it in his, and r epeat ed t he w or d. “ —w ast ed, m y child—should not be w ast ed, st r uck aside from t he nat ural order of t hings—for m y sake. Your unselfishness cannot ent irely com prehend how m uch m y m ind has gone on t his; but , only ask your self, how could m y happiness be per fect , w hile y our s w as incom plet e?” “ I f I had never seen Char les, m y fat her , I should have been quit e happy w it h y ou.” 259

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He sm iled at her unconscious adm ission t hat she w ould have been unhappy w it hout Char les, having seen him ; and r eplied: “ My child, y ou did see him , and it is Char les. I f it had not been Char les, it w ould hav e been anot her . Or , if it had been no ot her , I should hav e been t he cause, and t hen t he dar k par t of m y life w ould hav e cast it s shadow bey ond m y self, and w ould hav e fallen on y ou.” I t w as t he fir st t im e, ex cept at t he t r ial, of her ev er hear ing him r efer t o t he per iod of his suffer ing. I t gav e her a st r ange and new sensat ion w hile his w or ds w er e in her ear s; and she r em em ber ed it long aft er w ar ds. “ See! ” said t he Doct or of Beauv ais, r aising his hand t ow ards t he m oon. “ I have looked at her from m y prisonw indow , w hen I could not bear her light . I hav e look ed at her w hen it has been such t or t ur e t o m e t o t hink of her shining upon w hat I had lost , t hat I hav e beat en m y head against m y pr ison- w alls. I hav e look ed at her , in a st at e so dun and let har gic, t hat I hav e t hought of not hing but t he num ber of hor izont al lines I could draw acr oss her at t he full, and t he num ber of per pendicular lines w it h w hich I could int er sect t hem .” He added in his inw ar d and ponder ing m anner , as he look ed at t he m oon, “ I t w as t w ent y eit her w ay , I r em em ber , and t he t w ent iet h w as difficult t o squeeze in.” The st r ange t hr ill w it h w hich she hear d him go back t o t hat t im e, deepened as he dw elt upon it ; but , t her e w as not hing t o shock her in t he m anner of his r efer ence. He only seem ed t o cont r ast his pr esent cheer fulness and felicit y w it h t he dir e endurance t hat w as ov er . 260

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“ I hav e look ed at her , speculat ing t housands of t im es upon t he unbor n child fr om w hom I had been r ent . Whet her it w as aliv e. Whet her it had been bor n aliv e, or t he poor m ot her 's shock had k illed it . Whet her it w as a son w ho w ould som e day av enge his fat her . ( Ther e w as a t im e in m y im pr isonm ent , w hen m y desir e for v engeance w as unbear able.) Whet her it w as a son w ho w ould never know his fat her 's st or y; w ho m ight ev en liv e t o w eigh t he possibilit y of his fat her 's hav ing disappear ed of his ow n w ill and act . Whet her it w as a daught er w ho w ould grow t o be a w om an.” She dr ew closer t o him , and k issed his cheek and his hand. “ I have pict ur ed m y daught er , t o m yself, as per fect ly for get ful of m e —r at her , alt oget her ignor ant of m e, and unconscious of m e. I have cast up t he year s of her age, year aft er year. I have seen her m arried t o a m an who knew not hing of m y fat e. I hav e alt oget her per ished fr om t he r em em br ance of t he living, and in t he next gener at ion m y place w as a blank .” “ My fat her! Even t o hear t hat y ou had such t hought s of a daught er w ho nev er ex ist ed, st r ik es t o m y hear t as if I had been t hat child.” “ You, Lucie? I t is out of t he Consolat ion and r est or at ion you have br ought t o m e, t hat t hese r em em br ances ar ise, and pass bet w een us and t he m oon on t his last night .—What did I say j ust now ?” “ She knew not hing of you. She cared not hing for you.” “ So! But on ot her m oonlight night s, w hen t he sadness and t he silence hav e t ouched m e in a differ ent w ay—have affect ed m e w it h som et hing as lik e a sor r ow ful sense of peace, as any 261

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em ot ion t hat had pain for it s foundat ions could—I have im agined her as com ing t o m e in m y cell, and leading m e out int o t he fr eedom bey ond t he for t r ess. I hav e seen her im age in t he m oonlight oft en, as I now see y ou; ex cept t hat I nev er held her in m y ar m s; it st ood bet w een t he lit t le gr at ed w indow and t he door . But , y ou under st and t hat t hat w as not t he child I am speak ing of?” “ The figur e w as not ; t he —t he —im age; t he fancy?” “ No. That w as anot her t hing. I t st ood befor e m y dist ur bed sense of sight , but it nev er m ov ed. The phant om t hat m y m ind pur sued, w as anot her and m or e r eal child. Of her out w ar d appear ance I k now no m or e t han t hat she w as lik e her m ot her . The ot her had t hat lik eness t oo—as you have — but w as not t he sam e. Can y ou follow m e, Lucie? Har dly , I t hink ? I doubt y ou m ust hav e been a solit ar y pr isoner t o under st and t hese per plex ed dist inct ions. ” His collect ed and calm m anner could not pr event her blood fr om r unning cold, as he t hus t r ied t o anat om ise his old condit ion. “ I n t hat m or e peaceful st at e, I hav e im agined her , in t he m oonlight , com ing t o m e and t ak ing m e out t o show m e t hat t he hom e of her m ar r ied life w as full of her lov ing rem em brance of her lost fat her. My pict ure was in her room , and I w as in her pr ay er s. Her life w as act iv e, cheer ful, useful; but m y poor hist or y per vaded it all.” “ I w as t hat child, m y fat her , I w as not half so good, but in m y lov e t hat w as I .” “ And she show ed m e her childr en,” said t he Doct or of Beauv ais, “ and t hey had hear d of m e, and had been t aught t o 262

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pit y m e. When t hey passed a pr ison of t he St at e, t hey k ept far fr om it s fr ow ning w alls, and look ed up at it s bar s, and spoke in w hisper s. She could never deliver m e; I im agined t hat she alw ay s br ought m e back aft er show ing m e such t hings. But t hen, blessed w it h t he r elief of t ear s, I fell upon m y knees, and blessed her .” “ I am t hat child, I hope, m y fat her. O m y dear, m y dear, w ill y ou bless m e as fer v ent ly t o- m orrow?” “ Lucie, I r ecall t hese old t r oubles in t he r eason t hat I hav e t o- night for lov ing y ou bet t er t han w or ds can t ell, and t hanking God for m y gr eat happiness. My t hought s, w hen t hey w er e w ildest , nev er r ose near t he happiness t hat I hav e know n w it h you, and t hat w e have befor e us.” He em braced her, solem nly com m ended her t o Heaven, and hum bly t hanked Heaven for having best ow ed her on him . By- and- by e, t hey w ent int o t he house. There was no one bidden t o t he m arriage but Mr. Lorry; t her e w as ev en t o be no br idesm aid but t he gaunt Miss Pr oss. The m ar r iage w as t o m ak e no change in t heir place of r esidence; t hey had been able t o ex t end it , by t ak ing t o t hem selv es t he upper r oom s form er ly belonging t o t he apocr y phal inv isible lodger , and t hey desir ed not hing m or e. Doct or Manet t e w as v er y cheer ful at t he lit t le supper . They w er e only t hr ee at t able, and Miss Pr oss m ade t he t hir d. He r egr et t ed t hat Char les w as not t her e; w as m or e t han half disposed t o obj ect t o t he lov ing lit t le plot t hat k ept him aw ay ; and dr ank t o him affect ionat ely . So, t he t im e cam e for him t o bid Lucie good night , and t hey separ at ed. But , in t he st illness of t he t hir d hour of t he 263

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m or ning, Lucie cam e dow nst air s again, and st ole int o his room ; not free from unshaped fears, beforehand. All t hings, how ev er , w er e in t heir places; all w as quiet ; and he lay asleep, his w hit e hair pict ur esque on t he unt r oubled pillow , and his hands ly ing quiet on t he cov er let . She put her needless candle in t he shadow at a dist ance, cr ept up t o his bed, and put her lips t o his; t hen, leaned ov er him , and look ed at him . I nt o his handsom e face, t he bit t er w at er s of capt iv it y had w orn; but , he covered up t heir t racks w it h a det erm inat ion so st r ong, t hat he held t he m ast er y of t hem ev en in his sleep. A m or e r em ar k able face in it s quiet , r esolut e, and guar ded st r uggle w it h an unseen assailant , w as not t o be beheld in all t he w ide dom inions of sleep, t hat night . She t im idly laid her hand on his dear br east , and put up a pr ay er t hat she m ight ev er be as t r ue t o him as her lov e aspir ed t o be, and as his sor r ow s deser v ed. Then, she w it hdr ew her hand, and k issed his lips once m or e, and w ent aw ay . So, t he sunr ise cam e, and t he shadow s of t he leav es of t he plane - t r ee m ov ed upon his face, as soft ly as her lips had m oved in praying for him .

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XVI I I Nine Day s The m arriage- day w as shining br ight ly, and t hey w er e r eady out side t he closed door of t he Doct or 's r oom , w her e he w as speak ing w it h Charles Dar nay. They w er e r eady t o go t o church; t he beaut iful bride, Mr. Lorry, and Miss Pross—t o w hom t he event , t hr ough a gr adual pr ocess of r econcilem ent t o t he inev it able, w ould hav e been one of absolut e bliss, but for t he y et linger ing consider at ion t hat her brot her Solom on should have been t he br idegr oom . “ And so,” said Mr. Lorry, w ho could not sufficient ly adm ire t he bride, and w ho had been m oving round her t o t ake in ev er y point of her quiet , pr et t y dr ess; “ and so it w as for t his, m y sw eet Lucie, t ha t I br ought you acr oss t he Channel, such a baby ’ Lor d bless m e’ How lit t le I t hought w hat I w as doing! How light ly I v alued t he obligat ion I w as confer r ing on m y friend Mr. Charles! ” “ You didn't m ean it ,” r em ar k ed t he m at t er- of- fact Miss Pr oss, “ and t herefor e how could you know it ? Nonsense! ” “ Really? Well; but don't cr y,” said t he gent le Mr . Lor r y. “ I am not cr ying,” said Miss Pr oss; “ YOU ar e.” “ I , m y Pross?” ( By t his t im e, Mr. Lorry dared t o be pleasant w it h her , on occasion.) “ You w er e, j ust now ; I saw you do it , and I don't w onder at it . Such a pr esent of plat e as y ou hav e m ade ‘em , is enough t o br ing t ear s int o anybody's eyes. Ther e's not a for k or a spoon in t he collect ion,” said Miss Pr oss, “ t hat I didn't cr y ov er , last night aft er t he box cam e, t ill I couldn't see it . ” 265

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“ I am highly grat ified,” said Mr. Lorry, “ t hough, upon m y honour , I had no int ent ion of r ender ing t hose t r ifling ar t icles of rem em brance invi sible t o any one. Dear m e! This is an occasion t hat m ak es a m an speculat e on all he has lost . Dear , dear, dear! To t hink t hat t here m ight have been a Mrs. Lorry, any t im e t hese fift y y ear s alm ost ! ” “ Not at all! ” Fr om Miss Pr oss. “ You t hink t here never m ight have been a Mrs. Lorry?” ask ed t he gent lem an of t hat nam e. “ Pooh! ” rej oined Miss Pross; “ you w ere a bachelor in your cradle.” “ Well! ” obser v ed Mr . Lor r y , beam ingly adj ust ing his lit t le w ig, “ t hat seem s pr obable, t oo.” “ And you were cut out for a bachelor ,” pur sued Miss Pr oss, “ before you were put in your cradle.” “ Then, I t hink,” said Mr. Lorry, “ t hat I was very unhandsom ely dealt w it h, and t hat I ought t o hav e had a voice in t he select ion of m y pat t er n. Enough! Now , m y dear Lucie,” drawing hi s arm soot hingly round her w aist , “ I hear t hem m ov ing in t he nex t r oom , and Miss Pr oss and I , as t w o for m al folk s of business, ar e anx ious not t o lose t he final oppor t unit y of say ing som et hing t o y ou t hat y ou w ish t o hear . You leave your good fat her , m y dear , in hands as ear nest and as lov ing as y our ow n; he shall be t ak en ev er y conceiv able car e of; dur ing t he next for t night , w hile you ar e in War w ick shir e and t her eabout s, ev en Tellson's shall go t o t he w all ( com par at ively speaking) befor e him . And w hen, at t he for t night 's end, he com es t o j oin y ou and y our belov ed husband, on y our ot her for t night 's t r ip in Wales, y ou shall say 266

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t hat w e hav e sent him t o y ou in t he best healt h and in t he happiest fr am e. Now , I hear Som ebody 's st ep com ing t o t he door . Let m e k iss m y dear gir l w it h an old- fashioned bachelor blessing, befor e Som ebody com es t o claim his ow n.” For a m om ent , he held t he fair face fr om him t o look at t he w ell- r em em ber ed ex pr ession on t he for ehead, and t hen laid t he br ight golden hair against his lit t le br ow n w ig, w it h a genuine t ender ness and delicacy w hich, if such t hings be oldfashioned, w er e as old as Adam . The door of t he Doct or's room opened, and he cam e out w it h Char les Dar nay . He w as so deadly pale—w hich had not been t he case w hen t hey w ent in t oget her—t hat no v est ige of colour w as t o be seen in his face. But , in t he com posur e of his m anner he w as unalt er ed, ex cept t hat t o t he shr ew d glance of Mr . Lor r y it disclosed som e shadow y indicat ion t hat t he old air of av oidance and dr ead had lat ely passed over him , like a cold w ind. He gave his ar m t o his daught er , and t ook her dow n- st air s t o t he chariot which Mr. Lorry had hired in honour of t he day. The r est follow ed in anot her car r iage, and soon, in a neighbouring church, w here no st range eyes looked on, Charles Darnay and Lucie Manet t e w ere happily m arried. Besides t he glancing t ear s t hat shone am ong t he sm iles of t he lit t le gr oup w hen it w as done, som e diam onds, v er y br ight and spar kling, glanced on t he br ide's hand, w hich w er e new ly r eleased from t he dark obscurit y of one of Mr. Lorry's pock et s. They r et ur ned hom e t o br eak fast , and all w ent w ell, and in due cour se t he golden hair t hat had m ingled w it h t he poor shoem aker 's w hit e locks in t he Par is gar r et , w er e 267

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m ingled w it h t hem again in t he m or n ing sunlight , on t he t hr eshold of t he door at par t ing. I t w as a har d par t ing, t hough it w as not for long. But her fat her cheer ed her , and said at last , gent ly disengaging him self from her enfolding arm s, “ Take her, Charles! She is yours! ” And her agit at ed hand w av ed t o t hem fr om a chaise w indow , and she w as gone. The cor ner being out of t he w ay of t he idle and cur ious, and t he pr epar at ions hav ing been v er y sim ple and few , t he Doct or , Mr . Lor r y , and Miss Pr oss, w er e left quit e alone. I t w as w hen t hey t ur ned int o t he w elcom e shade of t he cool old hall, t hat Mr. Lorry observed a great change t o have com e ov er t he Doct or ; as if t he golden ar m uplift ed t her e, had st r uck him a poisoned blow . He had nat ur ally r epr essed m uch, and som e r evulsion m ight have been ex pect ed in him w hen t he occasion for r epr ession w as gone. But , it w as t he old scar ed lost look t hat t roubled Mr. Lorry; and t hrough his absent m anner of clasping his head and dr ear ily w ander ing aw ay int o his ow n room when t hey got up- st airs, Mr. Lorry w as r em inded of Defar ge t he w ine - shop k eeper , and t he st ar light r ide. “ I t hink ,” he w hisper ed t o Miss Pr oss, aft er anx ious consider at ion, “ I t hink w e had best not speak t o him j ust now , or at all dist ur b him . I m ust look in at Tellson's; so I w ill go t he r e at once and com e back pr esent ly . Then, w e w ill t ak e him a r ide int o t he count r y , and dine t her e, and all w ill be w ell. ” 268

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I t w as easier for Mr . Lor r y t o look in at Tellson's, t han t o look out of Tellson's. He w as det ained t w o hour s. When he cam e back, h e ascended t he old st air case alone, hav ing ask ed no quest ion of t he ser v ant ; going t hus int o t he Doct or 's r oom s, he w as st opped by a low sound of k nock ing. “ Good God! ” he said, w it h a st ar t . “ What 's t hat ?” Miss Pr oss, w it h a t er r ified face, w as at his ear. “ O m e, O m e! All is lost ! ” cr ied she, w r inging her hands. “ What is t o be t old t o Lady bir d? He doesn't k now m e, and is m ak ing shoes! ” Mr. Lorry said w hat he could t o calm her, and w ent him self int o t he Doct or 's r oom . The bench w as t ur ned t ow ar ds t he light , as it had been w hen he had seen t he shoem ak er at his w or k befor e, and his head w as bent dow n, and he w as ver y busy. “ Doct or Manet t e. My dear friend, Doct or Manet t e! ” The Doct or looked at him for a m om ent —half inquir ingly , half as if he w er e angry at being spok en t o—and bent ov er his work again. He had laid aside his coat and w aist coat ; his shir t w as open at t he t hr oat , as it used t o be w hen he did t hat w or k ; and ev en t he old haggar d, faded sur face of face had com e back t o him . He worked hard —im pat ien t ly—as if in som e sense of hav ing been int er r upt ed. Mr. Lorry glanced at t he work in his hand, and observed t hat it w as a shoe of t he old size and shape. He t ook up anot her t hat w as ly ing by him , and ask ed w hat it w as. “ A young lady's w alking shoe,” he m ut t er ed, w it hout look ing up. “ I t ought t o hav e been finished long ago. Let it be.” 269

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“ But , Doct or Manet t e. Look at m e! ” He obey ed, in t he old m echanically subm issiv e m anner , w it hout pausing in his w or k . “ You k now m e, m y dear fr iend? Think again. This is not your proper occupat ion. Think, dear friend! ” Not hing w ould induce him t o speak m or e. He look ed up, for an inst ant at a t im e, w hen he w as r equest ed t o do so; but , no persuasion w ould ext ract a w ord fro m him . He w or ked, and w or ked, and w or ked, in silence, and w or ds fell on him as t hey w ould hav e fallen on an echoless w all, or on t he air. The only ray of hope t hat Mr. Lorry could discover, w as, t hat he som et im es fur t iv ely look ed up w it hout being ask ed. I n t hat , t her e seem ed a faint ex pr ession of cur iosit y or per plex it y—as t hough he w er e t r y ing t o r econcile som e doubt s in his m ind. Tw o t hings at once im pr essed t hem selv es on Mr . Lor r y , as im por t ant abov e all ot her s; t he fir st , t hat t his m ust be k ept secr et fr om Lucie; t he second, t hat it m ust be k ept secr et fr om all w ho k new him . I n conj unct ion w it h Miss Pr oss, he t ook im m ediat e st eps t ow ar ds t he lat t er pr ecaut ion, by giv ing out t hat t he Doct or w as not w ell, and r equir ed a few day s of com plet e r est . I n aid of t he k ind decept ion t o be pr act ised on his daught er , Miss Pr oss w as t o w r it e, descr ibing his hav ing been called aw ay pr ofessionally, and r efer r ing t o an im aginar y let t er of t w o or t hr ee hur r ied lines in his ow n hand, r epr esent ed t o hav e been addr essed t o her by t he sam e post . These m easur es, adv isable t o be t ak en in any case, Mr . Lor r y t ook in t he hope of his com ing t o him self. I f t hat should happen soon, he kept anot her cour se in r eser ve; w hich w as, 270

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t o hav e a cer t ain opinion t hat he t hought t he best , on t he Doct or 's case. I n t he hope of his r ecov er y , and of r esor t t o t his t hir d course being t hereby rendered pract icable, Mr. Lorry resolved t o w at ch him at t ent iv ely , w it h as lit t le appear ance as possible of doing so. He t her efor e m ade ar r angem ent s t o absent him self fr om Tellson's for t he fir st t im e in his life, and t ook his post by t he w indow in t he sam e r oom . He w as not long in discov er ing t hat it w as w or se t han useless t o speak t o him , since, on being pr essed, he becam e w or r ied. He abandoned t hat at t em pt on t he fir st day , and r esolv ed m er ely t o k eep him self alw ay s befor e him , as a silent pr ot est against t he delusion int o w hich he had fallen, or w as falling. He r em ained, t her efor e, in his seat near t he w indow , r eading and w r it ing, and ex pr essing in as many pleasant and nat ur al w ay s as he could t hink of, t hat it w as a fr ee place. Doct or Manet t e t ook w hat w as giv en him t o eat and dr ink , and w or k ed on, t hat fir st day , unt il it w as t oo dar k t o see— worked on, half an hour aft er Mr. Lorry could not have seen, for his life, t o r ead or w r it e. When he put his t ools aside as useless, unt il m or ning, Mr . Lor r y r ose and said t o him : “ Will y ou go out ?” He look ed dow n at t he floor on eit her side of him in t he old m anner, looked up in t he old m anner, and repeat ed i n t he old low voice: “ Out ?” “ Yes; for a w alk w it h m e. Why not ?” 271

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He m ade no effor t t o say w hy not , and said not a w or d m ore. But , Mr. Lorry t hought he saw, as he leaned forward on his bench in t he dusk , w it h his elbow s on his k nees and his head in his hands, t hat he w as in som e m ist y w ay ask ing him self, “ Why not ?” The sagacit y of t he m an of business per ceiv ed an adv ant age her e, and det er m ined t o hold it . Miss Pr oss and he div ided t he night int o t w o w at ches, and obser v ed him at int er v als fr om t he adj oining room . He paced up and dow n for a long t im e befor e he lay dow n; but , w hen he did finally lay him self dow n, he fell asleep. I n t he m or ning, he w as up bet im es, and w ent st r aight t o his bench and t o work. On t his second day, Mr. Lorry salut ed him cheerfully by his nam e, and spok e t o him on t opics t hat had been of lat e fam iliar t o t hem . He r et ur ned no r eply , but it w as ev ident t hat he hear d w hat w as said, and t hat he t hought about it , however confusedly. This encouraged Mr. Lorry t o have Miss Pr oss in w i t h her w or k , sev er al t im es dur ing t he day ; at t hose t im es, t hey quiet ly spok e of Lucie, and of her fat her t hen pr esent , pr ecisely in t he usual m anner , and as if t her e w er e not hing am iss. This w as done w it hout any dem onst r at iv e accom panim ent , not long enough, or oft en enough t o har ass him ; and it light ened Mr . Lor r y 's fr iendly hear t t o believ e t hat he look ed up oft ener , and t hat he appear ed t o be st ir r ed by som e per cept ion of inconsist encies sur r ounding him . When it fell dar k again, Mr . Lor r y asked him as before: “ Dear Doct or, w ill you go out ?” As befor e, he r epeat ed, “ Out ?” “ Yes; for a w alk w it h m e. Why not ?” 272

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This t im e, Mr . Lor r y feigned t o go out w hen he could ext ract no answ er from him , and, aft er rem aining absent for an hour, ret urned. I n t he m e anw hile, t he Doct or had rem oved t o t he seat in t he w indow , and had sat t her e look ing dow n at t he plane - t ree; but , on Mr. Lorry's ret urn, be slipped away t o his bench. The t im e went very slowly on, and Mr. Lorry's hope dar kened, and his hear t gr ew heavier again, and gr ew yet heavier and heavier every day. The t hird day cam e and went , t he four t h, t he fift h. Fiv e day s, six day s, sev en day s, eight day s, nine day s. Wit h a hope ev er dar k ening, and w it h a hear t alw ay s growing heavier and heavier, Mr. Lorry passed t hr ough t his anx ious t im e. The secr et w as w ell k ept , and Lucie w as unconscious and happy ; but he could not fail t o obser v e t hat t he shoem ak er , w hose hand had been a lit t le out at fir st , w as gr ow ing dr eadfully sk ilful, and t hat he had nev er been so in t ent on his w or k , and t hat his hands had nev er been so nim ble and ex per t , as in t he dusk of t he nint h ev ening.

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XI X An Opinion Wor n out by anx ious w at ching, Mr . Lor r y fell asleep at his post . On t he t ent h m or ning of his suspense, he w as st ar t led by t he shining of t he sun int o t he r oom w her e a heav y slum ber had overt aken him w hen it w as dark night . He r ubbed his ey es and r oused him self; but he doubt ed, w hen he had done so, w het her he w as not st ill asleep. For , going t o t he door of t he Doct or 's r oom and look ing in, he per ceiv ed t hat t he shoem ak er 's bench and t ools w er e put aside again, and t hat t he Doct or him self sat r eading at t he w indow . He w as in his usual m or ning dr ess, and his face ( w hich Mr . Lor r y could dist inct ly see) , t hough st ill ver y pale, w as calm ly st udious and at t ent iv e. Ev en w hen he had sat isfied him self t hat he w as aw ak e, Mr . Lor r y felt giddily uncer t ain for som e few m om ent s w het her t he lat e shoem ak ing m ight not be a dist ur bed dr eam of his ow n; for , did not his ey es show him his fr iend befor e him in his accust om ed clot hing and aspect , and em ploy ed as usual; and w as t her e any sign w it hin t heir r ange, t hat t he change of w hich he had so st r ong an im pr ession had act ually happened? I t w as but t he inquir y of his fir st confusion and ast onishm ent , t he answ er being obv ious. I f t he im pr ession w er e not pr oduced by a r eal cor r esponding and sufficient cause, how cam e he, Jarvis Lorry, t here? How cam e he t o hav e fallen asleep, in his clot hes, on t he sofa in Doct or Manet t e's consult ing- room , and t o be debat ing t hese point s out side t he Doct or 's bedr oom door in t he early m orning? 274

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Wit hin a few m inut es, Miss Pr oss st ood w hisper ing at his side. I f he had had any par t icle of doubt left , her t alk w ould of n ecessit y hav e r esolv ed it ; but he w as by t hat t im e clearheaded, and had none. He adv ised t hat t hey should let t he t im e go by unt il t he r egular br eak fast - hour , and should t hen m eet t he Doct or as if not hing unusual had occur r ed. I f he appear ed t o be in his cust om ary st at e of m ind, Mr. Lorry w ould t hen caut iously pr oceed t o seek dir ect ion and guidance fr om t he opinion he had been, in his anx iet y , so anx ious t o obt ain. Miss Pr oss, subm it t ing her self t o his j udgm ent , t he schem e w as w orked out w it h care. Having abundance of t im e for his usual m et hodical t oilet t e, Mr . Lor r y pr esent ed him self at t he br eak fast - hour in his usual w hit e linen, and w it h his usual neat leg. The Doct or w as sum m oned in t he usual w ay , and cam e t o br eak fast . So far as it w as possible t o com pr ehe nd him w it hout ov er st epping t hose delicat e and gr adual appr oaches w hich Mr . Lor r y felt t o be t he only safe adv ance, he at fir st supposed t hat his daught er 's m ar r iage had t ak en place yest er day. An incident al allusion, pur posely t hr ow n out , t o t he day of t he w eek , and t he day of t he m ont h, set him t hink ing and count ing, and ev ident ly m ade him uneasy . I n all ot her r espect s, how ev er , he w as so com posedly him self, t hat Mr . Lor r y det er m ined t o hav e t he aid he sought . And t hat aid w as his ow n. Ther efor e, w hen t he br eak fast w as done and clear ed aw ay , and he and t he Doct or w er e left t oget her , Mr . Lor r y said, feelingly : 275

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“ My dear Manet t e, I am anxious t o have your opinion, in confidence, on a very curious case in w hich I am deeply in t er est ed; t h at is t o say , it is very curious t o m e; perhaps, t o y our bet t er infor m at ion it m ay be less so.” Glancing at his hands, w hich w er e discolour ed by his lat e w or k , t he Doct or look ed t r oubled, and list ened at t ent iv ely . He had alr eady glanced at his hands m or e t han once. “ Doct or Manet t e,” said Mr. Lorry, t ouching him affect ionat ely on t he ar m , “ t he case is t he case of a part icularly dear friend of m ine. Pray give your m ind t o it , and adv ise m e w ell for his sak e —and abov e all, for his daught er's—his daught er 's, m y dear Manet t e.” “ I f I under st and,” said t he Doct or , in a subdued t one, “ som e m ent al shock—?” “ Yes! ” “ Be ex plicit ,” said t he Doct or . “ Spar e no det ail.” Mr. Lorry saw t hat t hey underst ood one anot her, and proceeded. “ My dear Manet t e, it is t he case of an old and a prolonged shock , of gr eat acut eness and sev er it y t o t he affect ions, t he feelings, t he —t he —as y ou ex pr ess it —t he m ind. The m ind. I t is t he case of a shock under w hich t he suffer er w as bor ne dow n, one cannot say for how long, because I believ e he cannot calculat e t he t im e him self, and t her e ar e no ot her m eans of get t ing at it . I t is t he case of a shock fr om w hich t he suffer er r ecover ed, by a pr ocess t hat he cannot t r ace him self—as I once hear d him publicly r elat e in a st r ik ing m anner . I t is t he case of a shock from which he has r ecov er ed, so com plet ely , as t o be a highly int elligent m an, 276

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capable of close applicat ion of m ind, and gr eat ex er t ion of body , and of const ant ly m ak ing fr esh addit ions t o his st ock of know ledge, w hich w as already very large. But , unfort unat ely , t her e has been,” he paused and t ook a deep br eat h—" a slight r elapse.” The Doct or , in a low v oice, ask ed, “ Of how long dur at ion?” “ Nine day s and night s.” “ How did it show it self? I infer , ” glancing at his hands again, “ in t he r esum pt ion of som e old pur suit connect ed w it h t he shock?” “ That is t he fact . ” “ Now , did y ou ev er see him ,” ask ed t he Doct or , dist inct ly and collect edly , t hough in t he sam e low v oice, “ engaged in t hat pur suit or iginally ?” “ Once.” “ And w hen t he r elapse fell on him , w as he in m ost r espect s—or in all r espect s—as he w as t hen?” “ I t hink in all r espect s.” “ You spok e of his daught er . Does his daught er k now of t he r elapse?” “ No. I t has been k ept fr om her , and I hope w ill alw ay s be kept fr om her . I t is know n only t o my self, and t o one ot her w ho m ay be t rust ed.” The Doct or grasped his hand, and m urm ured, “ That was very kind. That was very t hought ful! ” Mr. Lorry grasped his hand in r et ur n, and neit her of t he t w o spok e for a lit t le w hile. “ Now , m y dear Manet t e,” said Mr. Lorry, at lengt h, in his m ost consider at e and m ost affect ionat e w ay , “ I am a m er e m an of business, and unfit t o cope w it h such int r icat e and 277

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difficult m at t er s. I do not possess t he k ind of infor m at ion necessar y ; I do not possess t he k ind of int elligence; I w ant guiding. Ther e is no m an in t his w or ld on w hom I could so r ely for r ight guidance, as on y ou. Tell m e, how does t his r elapse com e about ? I s t her e danger of anot her ? Could a r epet it ion of it be pr ev ent ed? How should a r epet it ion of it be t r eat ed? How does it com e about at all? What can I do for m y fr iend? No m an ever can have been m or e desir ous in his hear t t o ser v e a fr iend, t han I am t o ser v e m ine, if I k new how . But I don't k now how t o or iginat e, in such a case. I f y our sagacit y , k now ledge, and exper ience, could put m e on t he r ight t r ack , I m ight be able t o do so m uch; unenlight ened and undir ect ed, I can do so lit t le. Pr ay discuss it w it h m e; pr ay enable m e t o see it a lit t le m or e clear ly , and t each m e how t o be a lit t le m or e useful. ” Doct or Manet t e sat m edit at ing aft er t hese ear nest w or ds were spoken, and Mr. Lorry did not press him . “ I t hink it pr obable,” said t he Doct or , br eak ing silence w it h an effor t , “ t hat t he r elapse y ou hav e descr ibed, m y dear fr iend, w as not quit e unfor eseen by it s subj ect .” “ Was it dreaded by him ?” Mr. Lorry vent ured t o ask. “ Very m uch.” He said it w it h an involunt ary shudder. “ You hav e no idea how such an appr ehension w eighs on t he suffer er 's m ind, and how difficult —how alm ost im possible—it is, for him t o for ce him self t o ut t er a w or d upon t he t opic t hat oppr esses him . ” “ Would he,” asked Mr . Lor r y, “ be sensibly r elieved if he could pr ev ail upon him self t o im par t t hat secr et br ooding t o any one, w hen it is on him ?” 278

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“ I t hink so. But it i s, as I hav e t old y ou, nex t t o im possible. I ev en believ e it —in som e cases—t o be quit e im possible. ” “ Now ,” said Mr. Lorry, gent ly laying his hand on t he Doct or 's ar m again, aft er a shor t silence on bot h sides, “ t o w hat w ould y ou r efer t his at t ack ?” “ I believ e,” r et ur ned Doct or Manet t e, “ t hat t her e had been a st r ong and ext r aor dinar y r evival of t he t r ain of t hought and r em em br ance t hat w as t he fir st cause of t he m alady . Som e int ense associat ions of a m ost dist r essing nat ur e w er e v iv idly r ecalled, I t hink . I t is pr obable t hat t her e had long been a dr ead lur k ing in his m ind, t hat t hose associat ions w ould be r ecalled—say, under cert ain circum st ances—say , on a par t icular occasion. He t r ied t o pr epar e him self in v ain; per haps t he effor t t o pr epar e him self m ade h im less able t o bear it .” “ Would he r em em ber w hat t ook place in t he r elapse?” ask ed Mr . Lor r y , w it h nat ur al hesit at ion. The Doct or look ed desolat ely r ound t he r oom , shook his head, and answ er ed, in a low v oice, “ Not at all.” “ Now , as t o t he fut ur e,” hint ed Mr. Lorry. “ As t o t he fut ur e,” said t he Doct or , r ecover ing fir m ness, “ I should hav e gr eat hope. As it pleased Heav en in it s m er cy t o r est or e him so soon, I should hav e gr eat hope. He, y ielding under t he pr essur e of a com plicat ed som et hing, long dreaded and long v aguely for eseen and cont ended against , and r ecov er ing aft er t he cloud had bur st and passed, I should hope t hat t he w or st w as ov er .” “ Well, w ell! That 's good com for t . I am t hank ful! ” said Mr . Lorry. 279

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“ I am t hankful! ” r epeat ed t he Doct or, bending his head wit h reverence. “ There are t wo ot her point s,” said Mr. Lorry, “ on which I am anx ious t o be inst r uct ed. I m ay go on?” “ You cannot do your friend a bet t er service.” The Doct or gave him his hand. “ To t he fir st , t hen. He is of a st udious habit , and unusually ener get ic; he applies him self w it h gr eat ar dour t o t he acquisit ion of pr ofessional k now ledge, t o t he conduct ing of ex per im ent s, t o m any t hings. Now , does he do t oo m uch?” “ I t hink not . I t m ay be t he char act er of his m ind, t o be alw ay s in singular need of occupat ion. That m ay be, in par t , nat ur al t o it ; in par t , t he r esult of afflict ion. The less it w as occupied w it h healt hy t hings, t he m or e it w ould be in danger of t ur ning in t he unhealt hy dir ect ion. He m ay have obser ved him self, and m ade t he discovery.” “ You ar e sur e t hat he is not under t oo gr eat a st r ain?” “ I t hink I am quit e sur e of it .” “ My dear Manet t e, if he were overworked now—” “ My dear Lor r y, I doubt if t hat could easily be. Ther e has been a v iolent st r ess in one dir ect ion, and it needs a count er w eight .” “ Ex cuse m e, as a per sist ent m an of business. Assum ing for a m om ent , t hat he WAS ov er w or k ed; it w ould show it self in som e r enew al of t his disor der ?” “ I do not t hink so. I do not t hink ,” said Doct or Manet t e w it h t he fir m ness of self- conv ict ion, “ t hat any t hing but t he one t r ain of associat ion w ould r enew it . I t hink t hat , hencefor t h, not hing but som e ext r aor dinar y j ar r ing of t hat 280

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chor d could r enew it . Aft er w hat has happened, and aft er his r ecov er y , I find it difficult t o im agine any such v iolent sounding of t hat st r ing again. I t r ust , and I alm ost believ e, t hat t he cir cum st ances lik ely t o r enew it ar e ex haust ed.” He spok e w it h t he diffidence of a m an w ho k new how slight a t hing w ould ov er set t he delicat e or ganisat ion of t he m ind, and y et w it h t he confidence of a m an w ho had slow ly w on his assur ance out of per sonal endur ance and dist r ess. I t w as not for his fr iend t o abat e t hat confidence. He pr ofessed him self m or e r elieved and encour aged t han he r eally w as, and appr oached his second and last point . He felt it t o be t he m ost difficult of all; but , r em em ber ing his old Sunday m or ning conver sat ion w it h Miss Pr oss, and r em em ber ing w hat he had seen in t he last nine day s, he k new t hat he m ust face it . “ The occupat ion r esum ed under t he influence of t his passing afflict ion so happily recovered from ,” said Mr. Lorry, clear ing his t hr oat , “ w e w ill call—Blacksm it h's work, Black sm it h's w or k . We w ill say , t o put a case and for t he sak e of illust r at ion, t hat he had been used, in his bad t im e, t o work at a lit t le for ge. We w ill say t hat he w as unex pect edly found at his for ge again. I s it not a pit y t hat he should k eep it by him ?” The Doct or shaded his for ehead w it h his hand, and beat his foot ner vously on t he gr ound. “ He has always kept it by him ,” said Mr. Lorry, wit h an anx ious look at his fr iend. “ Now , w ould it not be bet t er t hat he should let it go?” 281

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St ill, t he Doct or , w it h shaded for ehead, beat his foot nervously on t he ground. “ You do not find it easy t o adv ise m e?” said Mr. Lorry. “ I quit e under st and it t o be a nice quest ion. And y et I t hink —” And t her e he shook his head, and st opped. “ You see,” said Doct or Manet t e, t ur ning t o him aft er an uneasy pause, “ it is v er y har d t o ex plain, consist ent ly , t he innerm ost workings of t his poor m an's m ind. He once year ned so fr ight fully for t hat occupat ion, and it w as so w elcom e w hen it cam e; no doubt it r eliev ed his pain so m uch, by subst it ut ing t he per plex it y of t he finger s for t he per plex it y of t he br ain, and by subst it ut ing, as he becam e m or e pr act ised, t he ingenuit y of t he hands, for t he ingenuit y of t he m ent al t or t ur e; t hat he has nev er been able t o bear t he t hought of put t ing it quit e out of his r each. Ev en now , w hen I believ e he is m or e hopeful of him self t han he has ev er been, and ev en speak s of him self w it h a k ind of confidence, t he idea t hat he m ight need t hat old em ploy m ent , and not find it , giv es him a sudden sense of t er r or , lik e t hat w hich one m ay fancy st r ik es t o t he hear t of a lost child. ” He look ed lik e his illust r at ion, as he r aised his ey es t o Mr . Lorry's face. “ But m ay not —m ind! I ask for infor m at ion, as a plodding m an of business w ho only deals w it h such m at er ial obj ect s as guineas, shillings, and bank - n ot es—m ay not t he r et ent ion of t he t hing inv olv e t he ret ent ion of t he idea? I f t he t hing w er e gone, m y dear Manet t e, m ight not t he fear go w it h it ? I n shor t , is it not a concession t o t he m isgiv ing, t o k eep t he forge?” 282

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Ther e w as anot her silence. “ You see, t oo, ” said t he Doct or , t r em ulously , “ it is such an old com panion.” “ I w ould not keep it ,” said Mr. Lorry, shaking his head; for he gained in fir m ness as he saw t he Doct or disquiet ed. “ I w ould recom m end him t o sacrifice it . I only w ant your aut horit y. I am sure it does no good. Com e! Give m e your aut hori t y, like a dear good m an. For his daught er's sake, m y dear Manet t e! ” Ver y st r ange t o see w hat a st r uggle t her e w as w it hin him ! “ I n her nam e, t hen, let it be done; I sanct ion it . But , I w ould not t ak e it aw ay w hile he w as pr esent . Let it be rem oved when he is not t her e; let him m iss his old com panion aft er an absence.” Mr. Lorry readily engaged for t hat , and t he conference w as ended. They passed t he day in t he count r y , and t he Doct or w as quit e r est or ed. On t he t hr ee follow ing day s he r em ained per fect ly w ell, and on t he four t eent h day he w ent aw ay t o j oin Lucie and her husband. The pr ecaut ion t hat had been t aken t o account for his silence, Mr. Lorry had previously ex plained t o him , and he had w r it t en t o Lucie in accor dance w it h it , and she had no suspici ons. On t he night of t he day on w hich he left t he house, Mr . Lor r y w ent int o his r oom w it h a chopper , saw , chisel, and ham m er , at t ended by Miss Pr oss car r ying a light . Ther e, w it h closed door s, and in a m yst er ious and guilt y m anner , Mr . Lorry hacked t he shoem ak er 's bench t o pieces, w hile Miss Pr oss held t he candle as if she w er e assist ing at a m ur der—for w hich, indeed, in her gr im ness, she w as no unsuit able figur e. 283

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The bur ning of t he body ( pr eviously r educed t o pieces convenient for t he purpose) was com m e nced w it hout delay in t he k it chen fir e; and t he t ools, shoes, and leat her , w er e buried in t he garden. So w icked do dest ruct ion and secrecy appear t o honest m inds, t hat Mr . Lor r y and Miss Pr oss, w hile engaged in t he com m ission of t heir deed and in t he r em oval of it s t r aces, alm ost felt , and alm ost look ed, lik e accom plices in a horrible crim e.

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XX A Plea When t he new ly- m arried pair cam e hom e, t he first person w ho appear ed, t o offer his congr at ulat ions, w as Sy dney Cart on. They had not been at hom e m any hours, when he pr esent ed him self. He w as not im pr ov ed in habit s, or in look s, or in m anner ; but t her e w as a cer t ain r ugged air of fidelit y about him , w hich w as new t o t he obser v at ion of Char les Darnay. He w at ched his oppor t unit y of t ak ing Dar nay aside int o a w indow , and of speaking t o him w hen no one over hear d. “ Mr. Darnay,” said Cart on, “ I wish we m ight be friends.” “ We ar e alr eady fr iends, I hope.” “ You ar e good enough t o say so, as a fashion of speech; but , I don't m ean any fashion of speech. I ndeed, w hen I say I w ish w e m ight be fr iends, I scar cely m ean quit e t hat , eit her .” Charles Darnay—as w as nat ur al—ask ed him , in all goodhum our and good- fellow ship, w hat he did m ean? “ Upon m y life,” said Car t on, sm iling, “ I find t hat easier t o com prehend in m y own m ind, t han t o convey t o yours. How ever, let m e t ry. You rem em ber a cert ain fam ous occasion w hen I w as m ore drunk t han—t han usual?” “ I rem em ber a cert ain fam ous occasion when you forced m e t o confess t hat y ou had been dr ink ing.” “ I rem em ber it t oo. The cur se of t hose occasions is heav y upon m e, for I alw ays rem em ber t hem . I hope it m ay be t ak en int o account one day , w hen all day s ar e at an end for m e! Don't be alarm ed; I am not going t o preach.” 285

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“ I am not at all alar m ed. Ear nest ness in y ou, is any t hing but alar m ing t o m e.” “ Ah! ” said Car t on, w it h a car eless w av e of his hand, as if he w av ed t hat aw ay . “ On t he dr unk en occasion in quest ion ( one of a lar ge num ber , as you know ) , I w as insuffer able about lik ing y ou, and not lik ing y ou. I w ish y ou w ould for get it . ” “ I for got it long ago.” “ Fashion of speech again! But , Mr . Dar nay , obliv ion is not so easy t o m e, as y ou r epr esent it t o be t o y ou. I hav e by no m eans for got t en it , and a light answ er does not help m e t o for get it .” “ I f it w as a light answ er,” ret urned Darnay, “ I beg your for giv eness for it . I had no ot her obj ect t han t o t ur n a slight t hing, w hich, t o m y sur pr ise, seem s t o t r ouble you t oo m uch, aside. I declar e t o y ou, on t he fait h of a gent lem an, t hat I hav e long dismissed it fr om m y m ind. Good Heaven, w hat w as t her e t o dism iss! Hav e I had not hing m or e im por t ant t o rem em ber, in t he great service you rendered m e t hat day?” “ As t o t he gr eat ser v ice,” said Car t on, “ I am bound t o av ow t o y ou, w hen y ou speak of it in t hat w ay , t hat it w as m er e pr ofessional clapt r ap, I don't k now t hat I car ed w hat becam e of you, w hen I r ender ed it .—Mind! I say w hen I r ender ed it ; I am speak ing of t he past .” “ You m ak e light of t he obligat ion,” r et ur ned Dar nay , “ but I w ill not quar r el w it h YOUR light answ er . ” “ Genuine t rut h, Mr. Darnay, t rust m e! I have gone aside from m y purpose; I w as speaking about our being friends. Now , you know m e; you know I am incapable of all t he higher 286

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and bet t er flight s of m en. I f y ou doubt it , ask St r y v er , and he'll t ell y ou so. ” “ I pr efer t o for m m y ow n opinion, w it hout t he aid of his.” “ Well! At any r at e y ou k now m e as a dissolut e dog, w ho has never done any good, and never w ill.” “ I don't know t hat you ‘never will.'” “ But I do, and you m ust t ake m y w or d for it . Well! I f y ou could endur e t o hav e such a w or t hless fellow , and a fellow of such indiffer ent r eput at ion, com ing and going at odd t im es, I should ask t hat I m ight be per m it t ed t o com e and go as a pr iv ileged per son her e; t hat I m ight be r egar ded as an useless ( and I w ould add, if it w er e not for t he r esem blance I det ect ed bet w een y ou and m e, an unor nam ent al) piece of fur nit ur e, t oler at ed for it s old ser v ice, and t ak en no not ice of. I doubt if I should abuse t he per m ission. I t is a hundr ed t o one if I should av ail m y self of it four t im es in a y ear . I t w ould sat isfy m e, I dar e say , t o k now t hat I had it .” “ Will y ou t r y ?” “ That is anot her w ay of say ing t hat I am placed on t he foot ing I hav e indicat ed. I t hank y ou, Dar nay . I m ay use t hat fr eedom w it h your nam e?” “ I t hink so, Car t on, by t his t im e.” They shook hands upon it , and Sydney t urned away. Wit hin a m inut e aft er w ar ds, he w as, t o all out w ar d appear ance, as unsubst ant ial as ev er . When he w as gone, and in t he cour se of an ev ening passed w it h Miss Pross, t he Doct or, and Mr. Lorry, Charles Dar nay m ade som e m ent ion of t his conv er sat ion in gener al t erm s, and spoke of Sydney Cart on as a problem of 287

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car elessness and r eck lessness. He spok e of him , in shor t , not bit t erly or m eaning t o bear hard upon hi m , but as anybody m ight w ho saw him as he show ed him self. He had no idea t hat t his could dw ell in t he t hought s of his fair young w ife; but , w hen he aft er w ar ds j oined her in t heir ow n r oom s, he found her w ait ing for him w it h t he old pr et t y lift in g of t h e forehead st rongly m arked. “ We ar e t hought ful t o- night ! ” said Darnay, drawing his arm about her . “ Yes, dear est Char les,” w it h her hands on his br east , and t he inquir ing and at t ent iv e ex pr ession fix ed upon him ; “ w e ar e r at her t hought ful t o- night , for w e have som et hing on our m ind t o- night .” “ What is it , m y Lucie?” “ Will y ou pr om ise not t o pr ess one quest ion on m e, if I beg y ou not t o ask it ?” “ Will I pr om ise? What w ill I not pr om ise t o m y Lov e?” What , indeed, w it h his hand put t ing aside t he golden hair fr om t he cheek , and his ot her hand against t he hear t t hat beat for him ! “ I t hink, Charles, poor Mr. Cart on deserves m ore consider at ion and r espect t han y ou ex pr essed for him t onight .” “ I ndeed, m y ow n? Why so?” “ That is w hat y ou ar e not t o ask m e. But I t hink—I know— he does.” “ I f y ou k now it , it is enough. What w ould y ou hav e m e do, m y Life?” 288

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“ I w ould ask you, dear est , t o be ver y gener ous w it h him alw ay s, and v er y lenient on his fault s w hen he is not by . I w ould ask y ou t o believ e t hat he ha s a heart he very, very seldom r ev eals, and t hat t her e ar e deep w ounds in it . My dear , I hav e seen it bleeding.” “ I t is a painful r eflect ion t o m e,” said Char les Dar nay , quit e ast ounded, “ t hat I should have done him any w r ong. I never t hought t his of him.” “ My husband, it is so. I fear he is not t o be r eclaim ed; t her e is scar cely a hope t hat any t hing in his char act er or for t unes is r epar able now . But , I am sur e t hat he is capable of good t hings, gent le t hings, ev en m agnanim ous t hings.” She look ed so beaut iful in t he pur it y of her fait h in t his lost m an, t hat her husband could hav e look ed at her as she w as for hours. “ And, O m y dearest Love! ” she urged, clinging nearer t o him , lay ing her head upon his br east , and r aising her ey es t o h is, “ rem em ber how st rong we are in our happiness, and how w eak he is in his m iser y ! ” The supplicat ion t ouched him hom e. “ I w ill alw ay s r em em ber it , dear Hear t ! I w ill r em em ber it as long as I liv e.” He bent ov er t he golden head, and put t he r osy lips t o his, and folded her in his ar m s. I f one for lor n w ander er t hen pacing t he dar k st r eet s, could have hear d her innocent disclosur e, and could hav e seen t he dr ops of pit y k issed aw ay by her husband fr om t he soft blue ey es so lov ing of t hat husband, he m ight ha ve cr ied t o t he night —and t he w or ds w ould not hav e par t ed fr om his lips for t he fir st t im e — “ God bless her for her sw eet com passion! ” 289

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XXI Echoing Foot st eps A w onderful corner for echoes, it has been rem arked, t hat corner where t he Doct or lived. Ev er busily w inding t he golden t hread w hich bound her husband, and her fat her, and herself, and her old dir ect r ess and com panion, in a life of quiet bliss, Lucie sat in t he st ill house in t he t r anquilly r esounding cor ner , list ening t o t he echoing foot st eps of y ear s. At fir st , t her e w er e t im es, t hough she w as a per fect ly happy young wife, when her work would slowly fall from her hands, and her eyes w ould be dim m ed. For , t her e w as som et hing com ing in t he echoes, som et hing light , afar off, and scar cely audible y et , t hat st ir r ed her hear t t oo m uch. Flut t er ing hopes and doubt s—hopes, of a love as yet unknown t o her : doubt s, of her r em aining upon ear t h, t o enj oy t hat new delight —div ided her br east . Am ong t he echoes t hen, t her e w ould ar ise t he sound of foot st eps at her own early gr av e; and t hought s of t he husband w ho w ould be left so desolat e, and w ho w ould m our n for her so m uch, sw elled t o her eyes, and br oke like w aves. That t im e passed, and her lit t le Lucie lay on her bosom . Then, am ong t he advancing echoes, t her e w as t he t r ead of her t iny feet and t he sound of her pr at t ling w or ds. Let gr eat er echoes r esound as t hey w ould, t he y oung m ot her at t he cr adle side could alw ay s hear t hose com ing. They cam e, and t he shady house w as sunny w it h a child's laugh, and t he Divine fr iend of childr en, t o w hom in her t r ouble she had 290

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confided her s, seem ed t o t ak e her child in his ar m s, as He t ook t he child of old, and m ade it a sacr ed j oy t o her . Ev er busily w inding t he golden t hr ead t hat bound t hem all t oget her , w eav ing t he service of her happy influence t hrough t he t issue of all t heir liv es, and m ak ing it pr edom inat e now her e, Lucie hear d in t he echoes of year s none but fr iendly and soot hing sounds. Her husband's st ep w as st r ong and prosperous am ong t hem ; her fat her's firm and equal. Lo, Miss Pr oss, in har ness of st r ing, aw ak ening t he echoes, as an unruly charger, whip- cor r ect ed, snor t ing and paw ing t he eart h under t he plane - t r ee in t he gar den! Even w hen t her e w er e sounds of sor r ow am ong t he r est , t hey were not harsh nor cruel. Ev en w hen golden hair , lik e her ow n, lay in a halo on a pillow r ound t he w or n face of a lit t le boy , and he said, w it h a r adiant sm ile, “ Dear papa and m am m a, I am very sorry t o leave you bot h, and t o leave m y pr et t y sist er ; but I am called, and I m ust go! ” t hose w er e not t ear s all of agony t hat w et t ed his y oung m ot her 's cheek , as t he spir it depar t ed fr om her em br ace t hat had been ent r ust ed t o it . Suffer t hem and for bid t hem not . They see m y Fat her 's face. O Fat her , blessed w or ds! Thus, t he r ust ling of a n Angel's w ings got blended w it h t he ot her echoes, and t hey w er e not w holly of ear t h, but had in t hem t hat br eat h of Heav en. Sighs of t he w inds t hat blew ov er a lit t le gar den- t om b w er e m ingled w it h t hem also, and bot h w er e audible t o Lucie, in a hushed m urm ur—lik e t he br eat hing of a sum m er sea asleep upon a sandy shor e —as t he lit t le Lucie, com ically st udious at t he t ask of t he m or ning, 291

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or dr essing a doll at her m ot her 's foot st ool, chat t er ed in t he t ongues of t he Tw o Cit ies t hat w er e blended in her life. The Echoes r ar ely answ er ed t o t he act ual t r ead of Sydney Cart on. Som e half- dozen t im es a y ear , at m ost , he claim ed his pr iv ilege of com ing in uninv it ed, and w ould sit am ong t hem t hr ough t he ev ening, as he had once done oft en. He nev er cam e t her e heat ed w it h w ine. And one ot her t hing r egar ding him w as w hisper ed in t he echoes, w hich has been w hisper ed by all t r ue echoes for ages and ages. No m an ever really loved a w om an, lost her, and knew her w it h a blam eless t hough an unchanged m ind, w hen she w as a w ife and a m ot her, but her children had a st range sym pat hy w it h him—an inst inct iv e delicacy of pit y for him . What fine hidden sensibilit ies ar e t ouched in such a case, no echoes t ell; but it is so, and it w as so her e. Car t on w as t he fir st st r anger t o w hom lit t le Lucie held out her chubby arm s, and he kept his place w it h her as she gr ew . The lit t le boy had spok en of him , alm ost at t he last . “ Poor Car t on! Kiss him for m e! ” Mr. St ryver shouldered his way t hrough t he law, like som e gr eat engine for cing it self t hr ough t urbid w at er, and dragged his useful fr iend in his w ak e, lik e a boat t ow ed ast er n. As t he boat so fav our ed is usually in a r ough plight , and m ost ly under w at er , so, Sy dney had a sw am ped life of it . But , easy and st r ong cust om , unhappily so m uch easier and st ronger in him t han any st im ulat ing sense of deser t or disgr ace, m ade it t he life he w as t o lead; and he no m or e t hought of em er ging fr om his st at e of lion's j ack al, t han any r eal j ack al m ay be supposed t o t hink of r ising t o be a lion. St r y v er w as r ich; had m arried a florid w idow w it h propert y and t hree boys, w ho had 292

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not hing par t icular ly shining about t hem but t he st r aight hair of t heir dum pling heads. These t hree young gent lem en, Mr. St ryver, exuding pat r onage of t he m ost offensiv e qualit y fr om ev er y pore, had w alk ed befor e him lik e t hr ee sheep t o t he quiet cor ner in Soho, and had offer ed as pupils t o Lucie's husband: delicat ely saying “ Halloa! her e ar e t hr ee lum ps of br ead- and- cheese t ow ar ds your m at r im onial picnic, Dar nay! ” The polit e r ej ect ion of t he t hr ee lum ps of br ead- and- cheese had quit e bloat ed Mr . St ryver w it h indignat ion, w hich he aft erw ards t urned t o account in t he t r aining of t he y oung gent lem en, by dir ect ing t hem t o bew ar e of t he pr ide of Beggar s, lik e t hat t ut or- fellow . He w as also in t he habit of declaim ing t o Mrs. St ryver, over h is fu ll- bodied w ine, on t he ar t s Mr s. Dar nay had once put in pr act ice t o “ cat ch” him , and on t he diam ond- cut - diam ond ar t s in him self, m adam , w hich had r ender ed him “ not t o be caught .” Som e of his King's Bench familiar s, w ho w er e occasionally par t ies t o t he full- bodied w ine and t he lie, ex cused him for t he lat t er by say ing t hat he had t old it so oft en, t hat he believ ed it him self—w hich is sur ely such an incor r igible aggr av at ion of an or iginally bad offence, as t o j ust ify any such offender 's being car r ied off t o som e suit ably r et ir ed spot , and t her e hanged out of t he w ay . These w er e am ong t he echoes t o w hich Lucie, som et im es pensiv e, som et im es am used and laughing, list ened in t he echoing cor ner , unt il her lit t le daught er w as six y ear s old. How near t o her hear t t he echoes of her child's t r ead cam e, and t hose of her ow n dear fat her 's, alw ay s act iv e and selfpossessed, and t hose of her dear husband's, need not be t old. 293

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Nor , how t he light est echo of t heir unit ed hom e, direct ed by her self w it h such a w ise and elegant t hr ift t hat it w as m or e abundant t han any w ast e, w as m usic t o her . Nor , how t her e w er e echoes all about her , sw eet in her ear s, of t he m any t im es her fat her had t old her t hat he found her m or e dev ot ed t o h im m ar r ied ( if t hat could be) t han single, and of t he m any t im es her husband had said t o her t hat no car es and dut ies seem ed t o divide her love for him or her help t o him , and asked her “ What is t he m agic secr et , m y dar ling, of your being ev er y t hing t o all of us, as if t her e w er e only one of us, yet never seem ing t o be hur r ied, or t o have t oo m uch t o do?” But , t her e w er e ot her echoes, fr om a dist ance, t hat r um bled m enacingly in t he cor ner all t hr ough t his space of t im e. And it w as now , about lit t le Lucie's six t h bir t hday , t hat t hey began t o hav e an aw ful sound, as of a gr eat st or m in Fr ance w it h a dr eadful sea r ising. On a night in m id- July, one t housand seven hundred and eigh t y- nine, Mr . Lor r y cam e in lat e, fr om Tellson's, and sat him self dow n by Lucie and her husband in t he dark w indow . I t w as a hot , w ild night , and t hey w er e all t hr ee r em inded of t he old Sunday night w hen t hey had look ed at t he light ning fr om t he sam e place. “ I began t o t hink,” said Mr. Lorry, pushing his brow n w ig back , “ t hat I should hav e t o pass t he night at Tellson's. We hav e been so full of business all day , t hat w e hav e not k now n w hat t o do fir st , or w hich w ay t o t ur n. Ther e is such an uneasiness in Par is, t hat w e hav e act ually a r un of confidence upon us! Our cust om ers over t here , seem not t o be able t o 294

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confide t heir pr oper t y t o us fast enough. Ther e is posit iv ely a m ania am ong som e of t hem for sending it t o England.” “ That has a bad look ,” said Dar nay— “ A bad look, you say, m y dear Darnay? Yes, but w e don't k now w hat r eason t her e is in it . People ar e so unr easonable! Som e of us at Tellson's ar e get t ing old, and w e r eally can't be t r oubled out of t he or dinar y cour se w it hout due occasion.” “ St ill,” said Darnay, “ you know how gloom y and t hr eat ening t he sk y is.” “ I know t hat , t o be sure,” assent ed Mr. Lorry, t rying t o per suade him self t hat his sw eet t em per w as sour ed, and t hat he gr um bled, “ but I am det er m ined t o be peevish aft er m y long day 's bot her at ion. Wher e is Manet t e?” “ Here he is,” said t he Doct or, ent ering t he dark ro om at t he m om ent . “ I am quit e glad you ar e at hom e; for t hese hur r ies and for ebodings by w hich I have been sur r ounded all day long, hav e m ade m e ner v ous w it hout r eason. You ar e not going out , I hope?” “ No; I am going t o play backgam m on w it h you, if you lik e,” said t he Doct or . “ I don't t hink I do like, if I m ay speak m y m ind. I am not fit t o be pit t ed against y ou t o- night . I s t he t eaboar d st ill t her e, Lucie? I can't see.” “ Of cour se, it has been k ept for you.” “ Thank ye, m y dear . The pr ecious child is safe in bed?” “ And sleeping soundly .” “ That 's r ight ; all safe and w ell! I don't k now w hy any t hing should be ot her w ise t han safe and w ell her e, t hank God; but I 295

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hav e been so put out all day , and I am not as y oung as I w as! My t ea, m y dear! Thank ye. Now, com e and t ake your place in t he cir cle, and let us sit quiet , and hear t he echoes about which you have your t heory.” “ Not a t heor y; it w as a fancy.” “ A fancy, t hen, m y wise pet ,” said Mr. Lorry, pat t ing her hand. “ They are very num erous and very loud, t hough, are t hey not ? Only hear t hem ! ” Headlong, m ad, and danger ous foot st eps t o for ce t heir w ay int o any body 's life, foot st eps not easily m ade clean again if once st ained r ed, t he foot st eps r aging in Saint Ant oine afar off, as t he lit t le cir cle sat in t he dar k London w indow . Saint Ant oine had been, t hat m or ning, a v ast dusk y m ass of scar ecr ow s heav ing t o and fr o, w it h fr equent gleam s of light abov e t he billow y heads, w her e st eel blades and bay onet s shone in t he sun. A t r em endous r oar ar ose fr om t he t hr oat of Saint Ant oine, and a for est of nak ed ar m s st r uggled in t he air lik e shr iv elled br anches of t r ees in a w int er w ind: all t he finger s convulsively clut ching at ever y w eapon or sem blance of a w eapon t hat w as t hr ow n up fr om t he dept hs below , no m at t er how far off. Who gav e t hem out , w hence t hey last cam e, w her e t hey began, t hrough what agency t hey crookedly quivered and j er k ed, scor es at a t im e, ov er t he heads of t he cr ow d, lik e a k ind of light ning, no ey e in t he t hr ong could hav e t old; but , m usk et s w er e being dist r ibut ed—so w ere cart ridges, pow der, and ball, bar s of ir on and w ood, k niv es, ax es, pik es, ev er y w eapon t hat dist r act ed ingenuit y could discov er or dev ise. People w ho could lay hold of not hing else, set t hem selv es 296

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w it h bleeding hands t o for ce st ones and br ick s out of t heir places in w alls. Ev er y pulse and hear t in Saint Ant oine w as on high- fev er st r ain and at high- fever heat . Every living creat ure t her e held life as of no account , and w as dem ent ed w it h a passionat e r eadiness t o sacr ifice it . As a w hir lpool of boiling w at er s has a cent r e point , so, all t his raging circled round Defarge's wine - shop, and every hum an drop in t he caldron had a t endency t o be sucked t ow ar ds t he vor t ex w her e Defarge him self, alr eady begr im ed w it h gunpow der and sw eat , issued or der s, issued ar m s, t hr ust t his m an back, dr agged t his m an for w ar d, disar m ed one t o ar m anot her , labour ed and st r ov e in t he t hick est of t he uproar. “ Keep near t o m e, Jacques Three,” cried Defarge; “ and do y ou, Jacques One and Tw o, separ at e and put y our selv es at t he head of as m any of t hese pat r iot s as y ou can. Wher e is m y wife?” “ Eh, w ell! Her e you see m e! ” said m adam e, com posed as ev er , but not k nit t ing t o- day. Madam e's r esolut e r ight hand w as occupied w it h an ax e, in place of t he usual soft er im plem ent s, and in her gir dle w er e a pist ol and a cr uel k nife. “ Where do you go, m y w ife?” “ I go,” said m adam e, “ w it h y ou at pr esent . You shall see m e at t he head of w om en, by- and- bye.” “ Com e, t hen! ” cried Defarge, in a resounding voice. “ Pat r iot s and fr iends, w e ar e r eady ! The Bast ille! ” Wit h a r oar t hat sounded as if all t he br eat h in Fr ance had been shaped int o t he det est ed w or d, t he liv ing sea r ose, w av e on w av e, dept h on dept h, and ov er flow ed t he cit y t o t hat 297

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point . Alar m - bells r inging, dr um s beat ing, t he sea r aging and t hunder ing on it s new beach, t he at t ack began. Deep dit ches, double dr aw br idge, m assiv e st one w alls, eight gr eat t ow er s, cannon, m usk et s, fir e and sm ok e. Through t he fire and t hrough t he sm oke —in t he fir e and in t he sm ok e, for t he sea cast him up against a cannon, and on t he inst ant he becam e a cannonier—Defar ge of t he w ine - shop w or ked like a m anful soldier , Tw o fier ce hour s. Deep dit ch, single dr aw br idge, m assiv e st one w alls, eigh t gr eat t ow er s, cannon, m usk et s, fir e and sm ok e. One drawbridge down! “ Work, com rades all, work! Work, Jacques One, Jacques Tw o, Jacques One Thousand, Jacques Tw o Thousand, Jacques Five - and- Tw ent y Thousand; in t he nam e of all t he Angels or t he Devils—which you prefer—work! ” Thus Defar ge of t he w ine - shop, st ill at his gun, w hich had long grown hot . “ To m e, w om en! ” cr ied m adam e his w ife. “ What ! We can k ill as w ell as t he m en w hen t he place is t ak en! ” And t o her , w it h a shr ill t hir st y cr y, t r ooping wom en variously arm ed, but all arm ed alike in hunger and revenge. Cannon, m usk et s, fir e and sm ok e; but , st ill t he deep dit ch, t he single dr aw br idge, t he m assiv e st one w alls, and t he eight gr eat t ow er s. Slight displacem ent s of t he r aging sea, m ade by t he falling w ounded. Flashing w eapons, blazing t or ches, sm ok ing w aggonloads of w et st r aw , har d w or k at neighbour ing bar r icades in all dir ect ions, shr iek s, v olley s, ex ecr at ions, br av er y w it hout st int , boom sm ash and r at t le, and t he fur ious sounding of t he liv ing sea; but , st ill t he deep dit ch, and t he single dr aw br idge, and t he m assiv e st one 298

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w alls, and t he eight gr eat t ow er s, and st ill Defar ge of t he wine - shop at his gun, gr ow n doubly hot by t he ser vice of Four fierce hours. A w hit e flag fr om w it hin t he for t r e ss, and a par ley—t h is dim ly per cept ible t hr ough t he r aging st or m , not hing audible in it —suddenly t he sea r ose im m easur ably w ider and higher , and sw ept Defar ge of t he w ine - shop over t he low er ed dr aw br idge, past t he m assiv e st one out er w alls, in am ong t he eight great t owers surrendered! So r esist less w as t he for ce of t he ocean bear ing him on, t hat ev en t o dr aw his br eat h or t ur n his head w as as im pr act icable as if he had been st r uggling in t he sur f at t he Sout h Sea, unt il he w as landed in t he out er cour t y ard of t he Bast ille. Ther e, against an angle of a w all, he m ade a st r uggle t o look about him . Jacques Thr ee w as near ly at his side; Madam e Defar ge, st ill heading som e of her w om en, w as v isible in t he inner dist ance, and her k nife w as in her hand. Everywhere w as t um ult , ex ult at ion, deafening and m aniacal bew ilder m ent , ast ounding noise, y et fur ious dum b - show . “ The Prisoners! ” “ The Records! ” “ The secr et cells! ” “ The inst r um ent s of t or t ur e! ” “ The Prisoners! ” Of all t hese cr ies, and t en t housand incoher ences, “ The Pr isoner s! ” w as t he cr y m ost t ak en up by t he sea t hat r ushed in, as if t her e w er e an et er nit y of people, as w ell as of t im e and space. When t he for em ost billow s r olled past , bear ing t he pr ison officers w it h t hem , and t hr eat ening t hem all w it h 299

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inst ant deat h if any secr et nook r em ained undisclosed, Defar ge laid his st r ong hand on t he br east of one of t hese m en—a m an w it h a gr ey head, w ho had a light ed t or ch in his hand—separ at ed him fr om t he r est , and got him bet w een him self and t he w all. “ Show m e t he Nort h Tower! ” said Defarge. “ Quick! ” “ I w ill fait hfully ,” r eplied t he m an, “ if y ou w ill com e w it h m e. But t her e is no one t her e.” “ What is t he m eaning of One Hundr ed and Fiv e, Nor t h Tow er ?” asked Defarge. “ Quick! ” “ The m eaning, m onsieur?” “ Does it m ean a capt iv e, or a place of capt iv it y ? Or do y ou m ean t hat I shall st r ik e y ou dead?” “ Kill him ! ” croaked Jacques Three, w ho had com e close up. “ Monsieur , it is a cell.” “ Show it m e! ” “ Pass t his w ay, t hen.” Jacques Thr ee, w it h his usual cr aving on him , and ev ident ly disappoint ed by t he dialogue t ak ing a t ur n t hat did not seem t o pr om ise bloodshed, held by Defar ge's ar m as he held by t he t ur nk ey 's. Their t hr ee heads had been close t oget her during t his br ief discour se, and it had been as m uch as t hey could do t o hear one anot her , ev en t hen: so t r em endous w as t he noise of t he liv ing ocean, in it s ir r upt ion int o t he For t r ess, and it s inundat ion of t he cour t s and passages and st air cases. All ar ound out side, t oo, it beat t h e w alls w it h a deep, hoar se r oar , fr om w hich, occasionally , som e par t ial shout s of t um ult br ok e and leaped int o t he air like spr ay. 300

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Thr ough gloom y vault s w her e t he light of day had never shone, past hideous door s of dar k dens and cages, dow n cav er nous flight s of st eps, and again up st eep r ugged ascent s of st one and br ick , m or e lik e dr y w at er falls t han st air cases, Defarge, t he t urnkey, and Jacques Three, linked hand and ar m , w ent w it h all t he speed t hey could m ak e. Her e and t her e, especially at fir st , t he inundat ion st ar t ed on t hem and sw ept by; but w hen t hey had done descending, and w er e w inding and clim bing up a t ow er , t hey w er e alone. Hem m ed in her e by t he m assiv e t hick ness of w alls and ar ches, t he st or m w it hin t he for t r ess and w it hout w as only audible t o t hem in a dull, subdued w ay , as if t he noise out of w hich t hey had com e had alm ost dest r oy ed t heir sense of hear ing. The t ur nk ey st opped at a low door , put a k ey in a clashing lock , sw ung t he door slow ly open, and said, as t hey all bent t heir heads and passed in: “ One hundred and five, Nort h Tower! ” Ther e w as a sm all, heav ily- gr at ed, unglazed w indow high in t he w all, w it h a st one scr een befor e it , so t hat t he sk y could be only seen by st ooping low and look ing up. Ther e w as a sm a ll chim ney , heav ily bar r ed acr oss, a few feet w it hin. Ther e w as a heap of old feat her y w ood- ashes on t he hear t h. Ther e w as a st ool, and t able, and a st r aw bed. Ther e w er e t he four black ened w alls, and a r ust ed ir on r ing in one of t hem . “ Pass t hat t or ch slow ly along t hese w alls, t hat I m ay see t hem ,” said Defar ge t o t he t ur nk ey . The m an obey ed, and Defar ge follow ed t he light closely w it h his ey es. “ St op! —Look here, Jacques! ” 301

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“ A. M.! ” croaked Jacques Three, as he read greedily. “ Alexandr e Manet t e,” said Defar ge in his ear , follow ing t he let t er s w it h his sw ar t for efinger , deeply engr ained w it h gunpow der. “ And here he w rot e ‘a poor physician.’ And it w as he, w it hout doubt , w ho scr at ched a calendar on t his st one. What is t hat in your hand? A crow bar? Gi ve it m e! ” He had st ill t he linst ock of his gun in his ow n hand. He m ade a sudden ex change of t he t w o inst r um ent s, and t ur ning on t he worm - eat en st ool and t able, beat t hem t o pieces in a few blow s. “ Hold t he light higher ! ” he said, w r at hfully , t o t he t urnkey. “ Look am ong t hose fr agm ent s w it h car e, Jacques. And see! Her e is m y knife,” t hr ow ing it t o him ; “ r ip open t hat bed, and sear ch t he st r aw . Hold t he light higher , y ou! ” Wit h a m enacing look at t he t ur nk ey he cr aw led upon t he heart h, and, peering up t he chim ney , st r uck and pr ised at it s sides w it h t he cr ow bar , and w or k ed at t he ir on gr at ing acr oss it . I n a few m inut es, som e m or t ar and dust cam e dr opping dow n, w hich he av er t ed his face t o av oid; and in it , and in t he old w ood- ashes, and in a cr ev ice in t he chim ney int o w hich his w eapon had slipped or w r ought it self, he gr oped w it h a caut ious t ouch. “ Not hing in t he w ood, and not hing in t he st r aw , Jacques?” “ Not hing.” “ Let us collect t hem t oget her , in t he m iddle of t he cell. So! Light t hem , you! ” The t ur nk ey fir ed t he lit t le pile, w hich blazed high and hot . St ooping again t o com e out at t he low - ar ched door , t hey left it burning, and ret raced t heir w ay t o t he court yard; seem ing 302

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t o r ecov er t heir sense of hear ing as t hey cam e dow n, unt il t hey w er e in t he r aging flood once m or e. They found it sur ging and t ossing, in quest of Defar ge him self. Saint Ant oine w as clam or ous t o hav e it s w ine - shop keeper forem ost in t he guard upon t he governor who had defended t he Bast ille and shot t he people. Ot her w ise, t he gov er nor w ould not be m ar ched t o t he Hot el de Ville for j udgm ent . Ot her w ise, t he gov er nor w ould escape, and t he people's blood ( suddenly of som e v alue, aft er m any y ear s of w or t hlessness) be unav enged. I n t he how ling univ er se of passion and cont ent ion t hat seem ed t o encom pass t his gr im old officer conspicuous in his gr ey coat and r ed decor at ion, t her e w as but one quit e st eady figur e, and t hat w as a w om an's. “ See, t her e is m y husband! ” she cr ied, point ing him out . “ See Defar ge! ” She st ood im m ov able close t o t he gr im old officer , and r em ained im m ov able close t o him ; r em ained im m ov able close t o him t hr ough t he st r eet s, as Defar ge and t he r est bor e him along; r em ained im m ov able close t o him w hen he w as got near his dest inat ion, and began t o be st r uck at fr om behind; rem ained im m ov able close t o him w hen t he long- gat her ing r ain of st abs and blow s fell heav y ; w as so close t o him w hen he dr opped dead under it , t hat , suddenly anim at ed, she put her foot upon his neck, and w it h her cruel knife—long r eady—hew ed off hi s head. The hour w as com e, w hen Saint Ant oine w as t o ex ecut e his hor r ible idea of hoist ing up m en for lam ps t o show w hat he could be and do. Saint Ant oine's blood w as up, and t he blood of t yr anny and dom inat ion by t he ir on hand w as dow n— 303

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dow n on t he st eps of t he Hot el de Ville w her e t he gov er nor 's body lay—dow n on t he sole of t he shoe of Madam e Defar ge w her e she had t r odden on t he body t o st eady it for m ut ilat ion. “ Low er t he lam p yonder ! ” cr ied Saint Ant oine, aft er glar ing r ound for a new m eans of deat h; “her e is one of his soldier s t o be left on guar d! ” The sw inging sent inel w as post ed, and t he sea r ushed on. The sea of black and t hr eat ening w at er s, and of dest r uct iv e upheav ing of w av e against w av e, w hose dept hs w er e yet unfat hom ed and w hose for ces w er e yet unknown. The r em or seless sea of t ur bulent ly sw ay ing shapes, v oices of v engeance, and faces har dened in t he fur naces of suffer ing unt il t he t ouch of pit y could m ake no m ar k on t hem . But , in t he ocean of faces w her e ev er y fier ce and fur ious ex pr ession w as in v iv id life, t her e w er e t w o gr oups of faces— each seven in num ber—so fix edly cont r ast ing w it h t he r est , t hat never did sea roll which bore m ore m em orable wrecks w it h it . Sev en faces of pr isoner s, suddenly r eleased by t he st or m t hat had bur st t heir t omb, were carried high overhead: all scar ed, all lost , all w onder ing and am azed, as if t he Last Day w ere com e, and t hose w ho rej oiced around t hem w ere lost spir it s. Ot her sev en faces t her e w er e, car r ied higher , sev en dead faces, w hose dr ooping ey elids and ha lf - seen ey es aw ait ed t he Last Day . I m passiv e faces, y et w it h a suspended—not an abolished—ex pr ession on t hem ; faces, r at her , in a fear ful pause, as hav ing y et t o r aise t he dr opped lids of t he ey es, and bear w it ness w it h t he bloodless lips, “ THOU DI DST I T! ” 304

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Sev en pr isoner s r eleased, sev en gor y heads on pik es, t he k ey s of t he accur sed for t r ess of t he eight st r ong t ow er s, som e discov er ed let t er s and ot her m em or ials of pr isoner s of old t im e, long dead of br ok en hear t s,—such, and such—lik e, t he loudly echoing foot st eps of Saint Ant oine escor t t hr ough t he Par is st r eet s in m id- July, one t housand seven hundred and eigh t y- nine. Now , Heav en defeat t he fancy of Lucie Dar nay , and k eep t hese feet far out of her life! For , t hey ar e headlong, m ad, and danger ous; and in t he y ear s so long aft er t he br eaking of t he cask at Defar ge's w ine - shop door, t hey are not easily pur ified w hen once st ained r ed.

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XXI I The Sea St ill Rises Haggar d Saint Ant oine had had only one ex ult ant w eek , in w hich t o soft en his m odicum of har d and bit t er br ead t o such ex t ent as he could, w it h t he r elish of fr at er nal em br aces and congr at ulat ions, w hen Madam e Defar ge sat at her count er , as usual, pr esiding over t he cust om er s. Madam e Defar ge w or e no rose in her head, for t he great brot herhood of Sp ies had becom e, even in one short w eek, ext rem ely chary of t rust ing t hem selv es t o t he saint 's m er cies. The lam ps acr oss his st r eet s had a por t ent ously elast ic sw ing w it h t hem . Madam e Defar ge, w it h her ar m s folded, sat in t he m or ning light and heat , cont em plat ing t he w ine - shop and t he st r eet . I n bot h, t her e w er e sev er al k not s of lounger s, squalid and m iser able, but now w it h a m anifest sense of pow er ent hr oned on t heir dist r ess. The r aggedest night cap, aw r y on t he w r et chedest head, had t his cr ook ed significance in it : “ I know how har d it has gr ow n for m e, t he w ear er of t his, t o suppor t life in m yself; but do you know how easy it has gr ow n for m e, t he w ear er of t his, t o dest r oy life in y ou?” Ev er y lean bar e ar m , t hat had been w it hout w or k befor e, had t his w ork alw ay s r eady for it now , t hat it could st r ik e. The finger s of t he k nit t ing w om en w er e v icious, w it h t he ex per ience t hat t hey could t ear . Ther e w as a change in t he appear ance of Saint Ant oine; t he im age had been ham m er ing int o t his for hundreds of years, and t he last finishing blow s had t old m ight ily on t he ex pr ession. 306

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Madam e Defar ge sat obser v ing it , w it h such suppr essed appr ov al as w as t o be desir ed in t he leader of t he Saint Ant oine w om en. One of her sist er hood k nit t ed beside her . The short , rat her pl um p w ife of a st arved grocer, and t he m ot her of t w o childr en w it hal, t his lieut enant had alr eady ear ned t he com plim ent ary nam e of The Vengeance. “ Har k ! ” said The Vengeance. “ List en, t hen! Who com es?” As if a t r ain of pow der laid fr om t he out er m ost bound of Saint Ant oine Quar t er t o t he w ine - shop door , had been suddenly fir ed, a fast - spreading m urm ur cam e rushing along. “ I t is Defar ge,” said m adam e. “ Silence, pat r iot s! ” Defar ge cam e in br eat hless, pulled off a r ed cap he w or e, and looked around him ! “List en, ever yw here! ” said m adam e again. “ List en t o him ! ” Defar ge st ood, pant ing, against a backgr ound of eager eyes and open m out hs, for m ed out side t he door ; all t hose w it hin t he w ine - shop had spr ung t o t heir f eet . “ Say t hen, m y husband. What is it ?” “ News from t he ot her world! ” “ How , t hen?” cried m adam e, cont em pt uously. “ The ot her world?” “ Does ever ybody her e r ecall old Foulon, w ho t old t he fam ished people t hat t hey m ight eat gr ass, and w ho died, and w ent t o Hell?” “ Everybody! ” from all t hroat s. “ The new s is of him . He is am ong us! ” “ Am ong us! ” from t he universal t hroat again. “ And dead?” “ Not dead! He fear ed us so m uch—and w it h r eason—t h at he caused him self t o be r epr esent ed as dead, and had a 307

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grand m ock- funer al. But t hey hav e found him aliv e, hiding in t he count ry, and have brought him in. I have seen him but now , on his w ay t o t he Hot el de Ville, a pr isoner . I hav e said t hat he had r eason t o fear us. Say all! HAD he r eason?” Wr et ched old sinner of m or e t han t hr eescor e year s and t en, if he had never know n it yet , he w ould have know n it in his hear t of hear t s if he could have hear d t he answ er ing cr y. A m om ent of pr ofound silence follow ed. Defar ge and his w ife look ed st eadfast ly at one anot her . The Vengeance st ooped, and t he j ar of a dr um w as hear d as she m ov ed it at her feet behind t he count er . “ Pat r iot s! ” said Defar ge, in a det er m ined v oice, “ ar e w e ready?” I nst ant ly Madam e Defar ge's k nife w as in her gir dle; t he dr um w as beat ing in t he st r eet s, as if it and a dr um m er had flow n t oget her by m agic; and The Vengeance, ut t er ing t er r ific shr iek s, and flinging her ar m s about her head lik e all t he for t y Fur ies at once, w as t ear ing fr om house t o house, r ousing t he wom en. The m en w er e t er r ible, in t he bloody- m inded anger w it h w hich t hey looked from w indow s, caught up w hat arm s t hey had, and cam e pour ing dow n int o t he st r eet s; but , t he w om en w er e a sight t o chill t he boldest . Fr om such household occupat ions as t heir bar e pover t y yielded, fr om t heir childr en, from t heir aged and t heir sick crouching on t he bare ground fam ished and naked, t hey r an out w it h st r eam ing hair , ur ging one anot her , and t hem selv es, t o m adness w it h t he w ildest cr ies and act ions. Villain Foulon t ak en, m y sist er ! Old Foulon t aken, m y m ot her! Miscreant Foulon t aken, m y daught er! 308

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Then, a scor e of ot her s r an int o t he m idst of t hese, beat ing t heir br east s, t ear ing t heir hair , and scr eam ing, Foulon aliv e! Foulon w ho t old t he st ar v ing people t hey m ight eat gr ass! Foulon w ho t old m y old fat her t hat he m ight eat gr ass, w hen I had no br ead t o give him ! Foulon w ho t old m y baby it m ight suck gr ass, w hen t hese br east s w her e dr y w it h w ant ! O m ot her of God, t his Foulon! O Heaven our suffering! Hear m e, m y dead baby and m y wit hered fat her: I swear on m y knees, on t hese st ones, t o av enge y ou on Foulon! Husbands, and br ot her s, and young m en, Give us t he blood of Foulon, Give us t he head of Foulon, Giv e us t he hear t of Foulon, Give us t he body and soul of Foulon, Rend Foulon t o pieces, and dig him int o t he gr ound, t hat gr ass m ay gr ow fr om him ! Wit h t hese cr ies, num ber s of t he w om en, lashed int o blind fr enzy , w hir led about , st r ik ing and t ear ing at t heir ow n fr iends unt il t hey dr opped int o a passionat e sw oon, and w er e only sav ed by t he m en belonging t o t hem from being t ram pled under foot . Nev er t heless, not a m om ent w as lost ; not a m om ent ! This Foulon w as at t he Hot el de Ville, and m ight be loosed. Nev er , if Saint Ant oine k new his ow n suffer ings, insult s, and w r ongs! Ar m ed m en and w om en flock ed out of t he Quar t er so fast , and dr ew ev en t hese last dr egs aft er t hem w it h such a for ce of suct ion, t hat w it hin a quar t er of an hour t her e w as not a hum an creat ure in Saint Ant oine's bosom but a few old cr ones and t he w ailing childr en. No. They w er e all by t hat t im e chok ing t he Hall of Ex am inat ion w her e t his old m an, ugly and w ick ed, w as, and ov er flow ing int o t he adj acent open space and st r eet s. The 309

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Defar ges, husband and w ife, The Vengeance, and Jacques Thr ee, w er e in t he fir st pr ess, and at no gr eat dist ance fr om him in t he Hall. “ See! ” cried m adam e, point ing w it h her knife. “ See t he old v illain bound w it h r opes. That w as w ell done t o t ie a bunch of gr ass upon his back. Ha, ha! That w as w ell done. Let him eat it now! ” Madam e put her knife under her arm , and clapped her hands as at a play . The people im m ediat ely behind Madam e Defar ge, ex plaining t he cause of her sat isfact ion t o t hose behind t hem , and t hose again ex plaining t o ot he r s, and t hose t o ot her s, t he neighbour ing st r eet s r esounded w it h t he clapping of hands. Sim ilarly, during t w o or t hree hours of draw l, and t he w innow ing of m any bushels of w or ds, Madam e Defar ge's fr equent ex pr essions of im pat ience w er e t ak en up, w it h m arvellous quick ness, at a dist ance: t he m or e r eadily , because cer t ain m en w ho had by som e w onder ful exer cise of agilit y clim bed up t he ex t er nal ar chit ect ur e t o look in fr om t he w indow s, k new Madam e Defar ge w ell, and act ed as a t elegraph bet w een her and t he cro w d out side t he building. At lengt h t he sun r ose so high t hat it st r uck a k indly r ay as of hope or pr ot ect ion, dir ect ly dow n upon t he old pr isoner 's head. The fav our w as t oo m uch t o bear ; in an inst ant t he bar r ier of dust and chaff t hat had st ood sur pr isingly long, w ent t o t he w inds, and Saint Ant oine had got him ! I t w as k now n dir ect ly , t o t he fur t hest confines of t he crow d. Defarge had but sprung over a railing and a t able, and folded t he m iser able w r et ch in a deadly em br ace —Madam e Defar ge had but follow ed and t ur ned her hand in one of t he 310

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r opes w it h w hich he w as t ied—The Vengeance and Jacques Thr ee w er e not y et up w it h t hem , and t he m en at t he w indow s had not y et sw ooped int o t he Hall, lik e bir ds of pr ey from t heir high perches—w hen t he cr y seem ed t o go up, all over t he cit y, “ Bring him out ! Bring him t o t he lam p! ” Dow n, and up, and head for em ost on t he st eps of t he building; now , on his k nees; now , on his feet ; now , on his back; dr agged, and st r uck at , and st ifled by t he bunches of gr ass and st r aw t ha t w er e t hr ust int o his face by hundr eds of hands; t or n, br uised, pant ing, bleeding, y et alw ay s ent r eat ing and beseeching for m ercy; now full of vehem ent agony of act ion, w it h a sm all clear space about him as t he people dr ew one anot her back t hat t hey m ight see; now , a log of dead w ood dr aw n t hr ough a for est of legs; he w as hauled t o t he near est st r eet cor ner w her e one of t he fat al lam ps sw ung, and t her e Madam e Defar ge let him go—as a cat m ight hav e done t o a m ouse—and silent ly and com posedly look ed at him while t hey m ade r eady , and w hile he besought her : t he w om en passionat ely scr eeching at him all t he t im e, and t he m en st er nly calling out t o hav e him k illed w it h gr ass in his m out h. Once, he w ent aloft , and t he r ope br ok e, and t hey caught him shr ieking; t w ice, he w ent aloft , and t he r ope br oke, and t hey caught him shr ieking; t hen, t he r ope w as m er ciful, and held him , and his head w as soon upon a pik e, w it h gr ass enough in t he m out h for all Saint Ant oine t o dance at t h e sigh t of. Nor w as t his t he end of t he day's bad work, for Saint Ant oine so shout ed and danced his angr y blood up, t hat it boiled again, on hear ing w hen t he day closed in t hat t he son311

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in- law of t he despat ched, anot her of t he people's enem ies and insult er s, w as com ing int o Par is under a guar d five hundr ed st r ong, in cavalr y alone. Saint Ant oine w r ot e his cr im es on flar ing sheet s of paper , seized him—w ould have t or n him out of t he br east of an ar m y t o bear Foulon com pany—set his head and hear t on pik es, and car r ied t he t hr ee spoils of t he day , in Wolf - pr ocession t hr ough t he st r eet s. Not before dark night did t he m en and w om en com e back t o t he childr en, w ailing and br eadless. Then, t he m iser able bak er s’ shops w er e beset by long files of t hem , pat ient ly w ait ing t o buy bad br ead; and w hile t hey w ait ed w it h st om achs faint and em pt y , t hey beguiled t he t im e by em br acing one anot her on t he t r ium phs of t he day, and achiev ing t hem again in gossip. Gr adually , t hese st r ings of r agged people shor t ened and fr ayed aw ay; and t hen poor light s began t o shine in hi gh w indow s, and slender fir es w er e m ade in t he st r eet s, at w hich neighbour s cook ed in com m on, aft er w ar ds supping at t heir door s. Scant y and insufficient supper s t hose, and innocent of m eat , as of m ost ot her sauce t o w r et ched br ead. Yet , hum an fellow ship infused som e nour ishm ent int o t he flint y v iands, and st r uck som e spar k s of cheer fulness out of t hem . Fat her s and m ot her s w ho had had t heir full shar e in t he w or st of t he day, played gent ly w it h t heir m eagr e childr en; and lover s, w it h such a w or ld ar ound t hem and befor e t hem , loved and hoped.

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I t w as alm ost m or ning, w hen Defar ge's w ine - shop par t ed w it h it s last k not of cust om er s, and Monsieur Defar ge said t o m adam e his w ife, in husk y t ones, w hile fast ening t he door : “ At last it is com e, m y dear ! ” “ Eh well! ” ret urned m adam e. “ Alm ost .” Saint Ant oine slept , t he Defar ges slept : ev en The Vengeance slept w it h her st ar ved gr ocer , and t he dr um w as at r est . The dr um 's w as t he only v oice in Saint Ant oine t hat blood and hurry had not changed. The Vengeance, as cust odian of t he dr um , could have w akened him up and had t he sam e speech out of him as befor e t he Bast ille fell, or old Foulon w as seized; not so w it h t he hoar se t ones of t he m en and w om en in Saint Ant oine's bosom .

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XXI I I Fir e Rises There w as a change on t he v illage w her e t he fount ain fell, and w here t he m ender of roads w ent fort h daily t o ham m er out of t he st ones on t he highw ay such m or sels of br ead as m ight ser v e for pat ches t o hold his poor ignor ant soul and his poor reduced body t oget her. The prison on t he cr ag w as not so dom inant as of y or e; t her e w er e soldier s t o guar d it , but not m any ; t her e w er e officer s t o guar d t he soldier s, but not one of t hem k new w hat his m en w ould do—bey ond t his: t hat it w ould pr obably not be w hat he w as or der ed. Far and w ide lay a r uined count r y, yielding not hing but desolat ion. Ev er y gr een leaf, ev er y blade of gr ass and blade of gr ain, w as as shr iv elled and poor as t he m iser able people. Ev er y t hing w as bow ed dow n, dej ect ed, oppr essed, and br ok en. Habit at ions, fences, dom est icat ed anim als, m en, w om en, childr en, and t he soil t hat bor e t hem—all w or n out . Monseigneur ( oft en a m ost w or t hy indiv idual gent lem an) w as a nat ional blessing, gav e a chiv alr ous t one t o t hings, w as a polit e ex am ple of lux ur ious and shining fife, and a gr eat deal m or e t o equal pur pose; nev er t heless, Monseigneur as a class had, som ehow or ot her , br ought t hings t o t his. St r ange t hat Cr eat ion, designed ex pr essly for Monseigneur , should be so soon w r ung dr y and squeezed out ! Ther e m ust be som et hing short - sight ed in t he et er nal ar r angem ent s, sur ely ! Thus it w as, how ev er ; and t he last dr op of blood hav ing been ex t r act ed fr om t he flint s, and t he last scr ew of t he r ack hav ing been t ur ned so oft en t hat it s pur chase cr um bled, and 314

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it now t ur ned and t ur ned w it h not hing t o bit e, Monseigneur began t o run aw ay from a phenom enon so low and unaccount able. But , t his w as not t he change on t he v illage, and on m any a v illage lik e it . For scor es of y ear s gone by , Monseigneur had squeezed it and w r ung it , and had seldom gr aced it w it h h is pr esence ex cept for t he pleasur es of t he chase—now, found in hunt ing t he people; now , found in hunt ing t he beast s, for w hose pr eser v at ion Monseigneur m ade edify ing spaces of bar bar ous and bar r en w ilder ness. No. The change consist ed in t he appear ance of st r ange faces of low cast e, r at her t han in t he disappear ance of t he high cast e, chiselled, and ot her w ise beaut ified and beaut ify ing feat ur es of Monseigneur . For , in t hese t im es, as t he m ender of r oads w or k ed, solit ar y , in t he dust , not oft en t r oubling him self t o r eflect t hat dust he w as and t o dust he m ust r et ur n, being for t he m ost par t t oo m uch occupied in t hink ing how lit t le he had for supper and how m uch m or e he w ould eat if he had it —in t hese t im es, as he r aised his ey es fr om his lonely l abour, and v iew ed t he pr ospect , he w ould see som e r ough figur e appr oaching on foot , t he lik e of w hich w as once a r ar it y in t hose par t s, but w as now a fr equent pr esence. As it advanced, t he m ender of r oads w ould discer n w it hout sur pr ise, t hat it w as a shaggy- hair ed m an, of alm ost bar bar ian aspect , t all, in w ooden shoes t hat w er e clum sy even t o t he eyes of a m ender of r oads, gr im , r ough, sw ar t , st eeped in t he m ud and dust of m any highw ay s, dank w it h t he m ar shy m oist ur e of m any low gr ounds, spr inkled w it h t he t hor ns and leaves and m oss of m any byw ays t hr ough w oods. 315

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Such a m an cam e upon him , like a ghost , at noon in t he July w eat her , as he sat on his heap of st ones under a bank , t ak ing such shelt er as he could get fr om a show er of hail. The m an look ed at him, look ed at t he v illage in t he hollow , at t he m ill, and at t he pr ison on t he cr ag. When he had ident ified t hese obj ect s in w hat benight ed m ind he had, he said, in a dialect t h at w as j u st in t elligible: “ How goes it , Jacques?” “ All w ell, Jacques.” “ Touch t hen! ” They j oined hands, and t he m an sat dow n on t he heap of st on es. “ No dinner?” “ Not hing but supper now ,” said t he m ender of r oads, w it h a hungry face. “ I t is t he fashion,” gr ow led t he m an. “ I m eet no dinner anywhere.” He t ook out a black ened pipe, filled it , light ed it w it h flint and st eel, pulled at it unt il it w as in a br ight glow : t hen, suddenly held it fr om him and dr opped som et hing int o it fr om bet w een his finger and t hum b, t hat blazed and w ent out in a puff of sm ok e. “ Touch t hen.” I t w as t he t ur n of t he m ender of r oads t o say it t his t im e, aft er obser v ing t hese oper at ions. They again j oined hands. “ To- night ?” said t he m ender of r oads. “ To- night ,” said t he m an, put t ing t he pipe in his m out h. “ Where?” “ Here.” 316

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He and t he m e nder of r oads sat on t he heap of st ones look ing silent ly at one anot her , w it h t he hail dr iv ing in bet w een t hem lik e a pigm y char ge of bay onet s, unt il t he sk y began t o clear ov er t he v illage. “ Show m e! ” said t he t r aveller t hen, m oving t o t he br ow of t he hill. “ See! ” ret urned t he m ender of roads, w it h ext ended finger. “ You go dow n her e, and st r aight t hr ough t he st r eet , and past t he fount ain—” “ To t he Dev il w it h all t hat ! ” int er r upt ed t he ot her , r olling his ey e ov er t he landscape. “ I go t hr ough no st r eet s and past no fount ains. Well?” “ Well! About t w o leagues bey ond t he sum m it of t hat hill abov e t he v illage. ” “ Good. When do you cease t o w or k?” “ At sunset . ” “ Will y ou w ak e m e, befor e depar t ing? I hav e w alk ed t w o night s w it hout r est ing. Let m e finish m y pipe, and I shall sleep lik e a child. Will y ou w ak e m e?” “ Surely.” The w ay far er sm ok ed his pipe out , put it in his br east , slipped off his gr eat w ooden shoes, and lay dow n on his back on t he heap of st ones. He w as fast asleep dir ect ly . As t he r oad- m ender plied his dust y labour , and t he hailclouds, r olling aw ay , r ev ealed br ight bar s and st r eak s of sk y w hich w er e r esponded t o by silv er gleam s upon t he landscape, t he lit t le m an ( w ho w or e a r ed cap now , in place of his blue one) seem ed fascinat ed by t he figur e on t he heap of st ones. His ey es w er e so oft en t ur ned t ow ar ds it , t hat he used 317

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his t ools m echanically, and, one w ould have said, t o ver y poor account . The br onze face, t he shaggy black hair and bear d, t he coar se w oollen r ed cap, t he r ough m edley dress of hom e spun st uff and hair y sk ins of beast s, t he pow er ful fr am e at t enuat ed by spar e liv ing, and t he sullen and desper at e com pr ession of t he lips in sleep, inspir ed t he m ender of r oads w it h aw e. The t r av eller had t r av elled far , and his feet w er e foot sor e, and his ank les chafed and bleeding; his gr eat shoes, st uffed w it h leav es and gr ass, had been heav y t o dr ag ov er t he m any long leagues, and his clot hes w er e chafed int o holes, as he him self w as int o sor es. St ooping dow n beside him , t he road- m ender t ri ed t o get a peep at secr et w eapons in his br east or w her e not ; but , in v ain, for he slept w it h his ar m s cr ossed upon him , and set as r esolut ely as his lips. For t ified t ow ns w it h t heir st ock ades, guar d - houses, gat es, t r enches, and dr aw br idges, seem ed t o t he m ender of roads, t o be so m uch air as against t his figur e. And w hen he lift ed his ey es fr om it t o t he hor izon and look ed ar ound, he saw in his sm all fancy sim ilar figur es, st opped by no obst acle, t ending t o cent r es all ov er Fr ance. The m an slept on, indiffer ent t o show er s of hail and int er v als of br ight ness, t o sunshine on his face and shadow , t o t he palt er ing lum ps of dull ice on his body and t he diam onds int o w hich t he sun changed t hem , unt il t he sun w as low in t he w est , and t he sk y w as glow ing. Then, t he m ender of r oads hav ing got his t ools t oget her and all t hings r eady t o go dow n int o t he v illage, r oused him . “ Good! ” said t he sleeper , r ising on his elbow . “ Tw o leagues bey ond t he sum m it of t he hill?” 318

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“ About .” “ About . Good! ” The m ender of r oads w ent hom e, w it h t he dust going on befor e him accor ding t o t he set of t he w ind, and w as soon at t he fount ain, squeezing him self in am ong t he lean k ine br ought t her e t o dr ink, and appear ing even t o w hisper t o t hem in his w hisper ing t o all t he v illage. When t he v illage had t ak en it s poor supper , it did not cr eep t o bed, as it usually did, but cam e out of door s again, and r em ained t her e. A cur ious cont agion of w hisper ing w as upon it , and also, w hen it gat her ed t oget her at t he fount ain in t he dark, anot her curious cont agion of look ing ex pect ant ly at t he sk y in one dir ect ion only. Monsieur Gabelle, chief funct ionar y of t he place, becam e uneasy ; w ent out on his house- t op alone, and look ed in t hat dir ect ion t oo; glanced dow n fr om behind his chim ney s at t he dar k ening faces by t he fount ain below , and sent w or d t o t he sacr ist an w ho k ept t he k ey s of t he chur ch, t hat t her e m ight be need t o r ing t he t ocsin by- and- bye. The night deepened. The t r ees env ir oning t he old chat eau, k eeping it s solit ar y st at e apar t , m ov ed in a r ising w ind, as t hough t hey t hr eat ened t he pile of building m assiv e and dar k in t he gloom . Up t he t w o t er r ace flight s of st eps t he r ain r an w ildly , and beat at t he gr eat door , lik e a sw ift m essenger r ousing t hose w it hin; uneasy r ushes of w ind w ent t hr ough t he hall, am ong t he old spear s and k niv es, and passed lam ent ing up t he st air s, and shook t he cur t ains of t he bed w her e t he last Mar quis had slept . East , West , Nor t h, and Sout h, t hr ough t he w oods, four heavy- t reading, unkem pt figures crushed t he high gr ass and cr ack ed t he br anches, st r iding on caut iously t o 319

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com e t oget her in t he court yard. Four light s broke out t here, and m ov ed aw ay in differ ent dir ect ions, and all w as black again. But , not for long. Pr esent ly , t he chat eau began t o m ak e it self st r angely v isible by som e light of it s ow n, as t hough it w er e gr ow ing lum inous. Then, a flicker ing st r eak played behind t he ar chit ect ur e of t he fr ont , pick ing out t r anspar ent places, and show ing w her e balust r ades, ar ches, and w indow s w er e. Then it soared higher, and grew broader and bright er. Soon, fr om a scor e of t he gr eat w indow s, flam es bur st for t h, and t he st one faces aw ak ened, st ar ed out of fir e. A faint m ur m ur ar ose about t he house fr om t he few people w ho w er e left t her e, and t her e w as a saddl ing of a hor se and r iding aw ay. Ther e w as spur r ing and splashing t hr ough t he dar k ness, and br idle w as dr aw n in t he space by t he v illage fount ain, and t he hor se in a foam st ood at Monsieur Gabelle's door . “ Help, Gabelle! Help, ever y one! ” The t ocsin r ang im pat ient ly , but ot her help ( if t hat w er e any ) t her e w as none. The m ender of roads, and t w o hundred and fift y part icular fr iends, st ood w it h folded ar m s at t he fount ain, look ing at t he pillar of fir e in t he sk y . “ I t m ust be for t y feet high,” said t hey , grim l y; and never m oved. The r ider fr om t he chat eau, and t he hor se in a foam , clat t er ed aw ay t hr ough t he v illage, and galloped up t he st ony st eep, t o t he pr ison on t he cr ag. At t he gat e, a gr oup of officers w ere looking at t he fire; rem oved from t hem , a group of soldier s. “ Help, gent lem en—officers! The chat eau is on fire; v aluable obj ect s m ay be sav ed fr om t he flam es by t im ely aid! Help, help! ” The officer s look ed t ow ar ds t he soldier s w ho 320

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look ed at t he fir e; gav e no or der s; and answ er ed, w it h shr ugs and bit ing of lips, “ I t m ust bur n.” As t he r ider r at t led dow n t he hill again and t hr ough t he st r eet , t he v illage w as illum inat ing. The m ender of r oads, and t he t w o hundr ed and fift y par t icular fr iends, inspir ed as one m an and w om an by t he idea of light ing up, had dar t ed int o t heir houses, and w er e put t ing candles in ev er y dull lit t le pane of glass. The gener al scar cit y of ev er y t hing, occasioned candles t o be borrowed in a rat her perem pt ory m anner of Monsieur Gabelle; and in a m om ent of r eluct ance and hesit at ion on t hat funct ionar y's par t , t he m ender of r oads, once so subm issiv e t o aut hor it y , had r em ar k ed t hat car r iages w er e good t o m ak e bonfir es w it h, and t hat post - hor ses w ould r oast . The chat eau w as left t o it self t o flam e and bur n. I n t he roaring and raging of t he conflagr at ion, a r ed- hot w ind, dr iv ing st r aight fr om t he infer nal r egions, seem ed t o be blow ing t he edifice aw ay . Wit h t he r ising and falling of t he blaze, t he st one faces show ed as if t hey w er e in t or m ent . When gr eat m asses of st one and t im ber fell, t he face wit h t he t w o dint s in t he nose becam e obscur ed: anon st r uggled out of t he sm ok e again, as if it w er e t he face of t he cr uel Mar quis, bur ning at t he st ak e and cont ending w it h t he fir e. The chat eau bur ned; t he near est t r ees, laid hold of by t he fir e, scor ched and shr iv elled; t r ees at a dist ance, fir ed by t he four fier ce figur es, begir t t he blazing edifice w it h a new for est of sm ok e. Molt en lead and ir on boiled in t he m ar ble basin of t he fount ain; t he w at er r an dr y ; t he ex t inguisher t ops of t he t ow er s v anished lik e ice befor e t he heat , and t r ick led dow n 321

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int o four r ugged w ells of flam e. Gr eat r ent s and split s br anched out in t he solid w alls, lik e cr y st allisat ion; st upefied bir ds w heeled about and dr opped int o t he fur nace; four fier ce figur es t r udged aw ay, East , West , Nor t h, and Sout h, along t he night - enshr ouded r oads, guided by t he beacon t hey had light ed, t ow ar ds t heir nex t dest inat ion. The illum inat ed v illage had seized hold of t he t ocsin, and, abolishing t he law ful ringer, rang for j oy. Not only t hat ; but t he v illage, light - headed w it h fam ine, fir e, and bell- r inging, and bet hink ing it self t hat Monsieur Gabelle had t o do w it h t he collect ion of r ent and t ax es— t hough it w as but a sm all inst alm ent of t ax es, and no r ent at all, t hat Gabelle had got in t hose lat t er day s—becam e im pat ient for an int er v iew w it h him , and, sur r ounding his house, sum m oned him t o com e fort h for personal conference. Wher eupon, Monsieur Gabelle did heav ily bar his door , and r et ir e t o hold counsel w it h him self. The r esult of t hat confer ence w as, t hat Gabelle again w it hdr ew him self t o his houset op behind his st ack of chim ney s; t his t im e r esolv ed, if his door w ere broken in ( he w as a sm all Sout hern m an of r et aliat iv e t em per am ent ) , t o pit ch him self head for em ost ov er t he parapet , and crush a m an or t w o below . Pr obably , Monsieur Gabelle passed a long night up t her e, w it h t he dist ant chat eau for fir e and candle, and t he beat ing at his door , com bined w it h t he j oy- ringing, for m usic; not t o m ent ion his hav ing an ill- om ened lam p slung acr oss t he r oad befor e his post ing- house gat e, w hich t he v illage show ed a liv ely inclinat ion t o displace in his fav our . A t r y ing suspense, t o be passing a w hole sum m er night on t he br ink of t he black 322

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ocean, r eady t o t ak e t hat plunge int o it upon w hich Monsieur Gabelle had r esolv ed! But , t he fr iendly daw n appear ing at last , and t he r ush- candles of t he v illage gut t er ing out , t he people happily disper sed, and Monsieur Gabelle cam e dow n br inging his life w it h him for t hat w hile. Wit hin a hundr ed m iles, and in t he light of ot her fir es, t her e w er e ot her funct ionar ies less for t unat e, t hat night and ot her night s, w hom t he r ising sun found hanging acr oss once peaceful st r eet s, w her e t hey had been bor n and br ed; also, t her e w er e ot her v illager s and t ow nspeople less for t una t e t han t he m ender of r oads and his fellow s, upon w hom t he funct ionar ies and soldier y t ur ned w it h success, and w hom t hey st r ung up in t heir t ur n. But , t he fier ce figur es w er e st eadily w ending East , West , Nor t h, and Sout h, be t hat as it w ould; and w hosoev er hung, fir e bur ned. The alt it ude of t he gallow s t hat w ould t ur n t o w at er and quench it , no funct ionar y , by any st r et ch of m at hem at ics, w as able t o calculat e successfully .

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XXI V Dr aw n t o t he Loadst one Rock I n such r isings of fir e and r isings of sea—t he fir m ear t h shaken by t he rushes of an angry ocean w hich had now no ebb, but w as alw ay s on t he flow , higher and higher , t o t he t error and w onder of t he beholders on t he shore —t hree years of t em pest w er e consum ed. Thr ee m or e bir t hday s of lit t le Lucie had been w ov en by t he golden t hr ead int o t he peaceful t issue of t he life of her hom e. Many a night and m any a day had it s inm at es list ened t o t he echoes in t he cor ner , w it h hear t s t hat failed t hem w hen t hey hear d t he t hr onging feet . For , t he foot st eps had b ecom e t o t heir m inds as t he foot st eps of a people, t um ult uous under a red flag and w it h t heir count ry declared in danger, changed int o w ild beast s, by t er r ible enchant m ent long per sist ed in. Monseigneur , as a class, had dissociat ed him self fr om t he phenom enon of his not being appr eciat ed: of his being so lit t le w ant ed in Fr ance, as t o incur consider able danger of r eceiv ing his dism issal fr om it , and t his life t oget her . Lik e t he fabled r ust ic w ho r aised t he Dev il w it h infinit e pains, and w as so t er r ified a t t he sight of him t hat he could ask t he Enem y no quest ion, but im m ediat ely fled; so, Monseigneur , aft er boldly reading t he Lord's Prayer backwards for a great num ber of year s, and per for m ing m any ot her pot ent spells for com pelling t he Ev il One, no sooner beheld him in his t er r or s t han he t ook t o his noble heels. The shining Bull's Ey e of t he Cour t w as gone, or it w ould hav e been t he m ar k for a hur r icane of nat ional bullet s. I t had 324

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nev er been a good ey e t o see w it h—had long had t he m ot e in it of Lucifer 's pride, Sardana —palus's luxur y, and a m ole's blindness—but it had dr opped out and w as gone. The Cour t , fr om t hat ex clusiv e inner cir cle t o it s out er m ost r ot t en r ing of int r igue, cor r upt ion, and dissim ulat ion, w as all gone t oget her . Roy alt y w as gone; had been besieged in it s Palace and “ suspended,” w hen t he last t idings cam e ov er . The August of t he y ear one t housand sev en hundr ed and ninet y- t w o w as com e, and Monseigneur w as by t his t im e scat t er ed far and w ide. As w as nat ur al, t he head- quart ers and great gat her ingplace of Monseigneur , in London, w as Tellson's Bank . Spir it s ar e supposed t o haunt t he places w her e t heir bodies m ost r esor t ed, and Monseigneur w it hout a guinea haunt ed t he spot w her e his guineas used t o be. Mor eov er , it w as t he spot t o which such Fr ench int elligence as w as m ost t o be r elied upon, cam e quick est . Again: Tellson's w as a m unificent house, and ext ended gr eat liber alit y t o old cust om er s w ho had fallen fr om t heir high est at e. Again: t hose nobles w ho had seen t he com ing st or m in t im e, and ant icipat ing plunder or confiscat ion, had m ade pr ov ident r em it t ances t o Tellson's, w er e alw ays t o be hear d of t her e by t heir needy br et hr en. To w hich it m ust be added t hat ev er y new- com er from France r epor t ed him self and his t idings at Tellson's, alm ost as a m at t er of cour se. For such v ar iet y of r easons, Tellson's w as at t hat t im e, as t o Fr ench int elligence, a k ind of High Ex change; and t his w as so w ell k now n t o t he public, and t he inquir ies m ade t her e w er e in consequence so num er ous, t hat Tellson's som et im es w r ot e t he lat est new s out in a line or so and 325

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post ed it in t he Bank w indow s, for all w ho r an t hr ough Tem ple Bar t o read. On a st eam ing, m ist y aft er noon, Mr . Lor r y sat at his desk , and Char les Dar nay st ood leaning on it , t alk ing w it h him in a low v oice. The penit ent ial den once set apar t for int er v iew s w it h t he House, w as now t he new s- Ex change, and w as filled t o ov er flow ing. I t w as w it hin half an hour or so of t he t im e of closing. “ But , alt hough y ou ar e t he y oungest m an t hat ev er liv ed,” said Char les Dar nay , r at her hesit at ing, “ I m ust st ill suggest t o you—” “ I underst and. That I am t oo old?” said Mr. Lorry. “ Unset t led w eat her , a long j our ney , uncer t ain m eans of t r avelling, a disor ganised count r y, a cit y t hat m ay not be even safe for you.” “ My dear Charles,” said Mr. Lorry, wit h cheerful confidence, “ you t ouch som e of t he r easons for m y going: not for m y st ay ing aw ay . I t is safe enough for m e; nobody w ill car e t o int er fer e w it h an old fellow of har d upon four scor e w hen t her e ar e so m any people t here m uch bet t er wort h int er fer ing w it h. As t o it s being a disor ganised cit y , if it w er e not a disor ganised cit y t her e w ould be no occasion t o send som ebody from our House here t o our House t here, w ho k now s t he cit y and t he business, of old, and is in Tellson's confidence. As t o t he uncer t ain t r av elling, t he long j our ney , and t he w int er w eat her , if I w er e not pr epar ed t o subm it m y self t o a few inconv eniences for t he sak e of Tellson's, aft er all t hese y ear s, w ho ought t o be?” 326

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“ I w ish I w er e going m y self,” said Charles Darnay, som ew hat r est lessly , and lik e one t hink ing aloud. “ I ndeed! You ar e a pr et t y fellow t o obj ect and adv ise! ” exclaim ed Mr. Lorry. “ You wish you were going yourself? And you a Frenchm an born? You are a w ise counsellor.” “ My dear Mr. Lorry, it is because I am a Frenchm an born, t hat t he t hought ( w hich I did not m ean t o ut t er her e, how ever ) has passed t hr ough m y m ind oft en. One cannot help t hink ing, hav ing had som e sy m pat hy for t he m iser able people, and hav ing abandoned som et hing t o t hem ,” he spok e her e in his for m er t hought ful m anner , “ t hat one m ight be list ened t o, and m ight hav e t he pow er t o per suade t o som e r est r aint . Only last night , aft er y ou had left us, w hen I w as t alk ing t o Lucie—” “ When y ou w er e t alk ing t o Lucie,” Mr. Lorry repeat ed. “ Yes. I w onder y ou ar e not asham ed t o m ent ion t he nam e of Lucie! Wishing y ou w er e going t o Fr ance at t his t im e of day ! ” “ How ever , I am not going,” said Char les Dar nay, w it h a sm ile. “ I t is m or e t o t he pur pose t hat y ou say y ou ar e.” “ And I am , in plain r ealit y. The t r ut h is, m y dear Char les,” Mr . Lor r y glanced at t he dist ant House, and low er ed his v oice, “ you can have no concept ion of t he difficult y w it h w hich our business is t r ansact ed, and of t he per il in w hich our book s and papers over yonder are involved. The Lord above knows w hat t he com pr om ising consequences w ould be t o num ber s of people, if som e of our docum ent s w er e seized or dest r oy ed; and t hey m ight be, at any t im e, you know , for w ho can say t hat Par is is not set afir e t o- day, or sacked t o- m orrow! Now, a j udicious select ion fr om t hese w it h t he least possible delay , 327

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and t he bur y ing of t hem , or ot her w ise get t ing of t hem out of har m 's w ay , is w it hin t he pow er ( w it hout loss of pr ecious t im e) of scar cely any one but m y self, if any one. And shall I hang back , w hen Tellson's k now s t his and say s t his— Tellson's, w hose br ead I hav e eat en t hese six t y y ear s— because I am a lit t le st iff about t he j oint s? Why , I am a boy , sir , t o half a dozen old codger s her e! ” “ How I adm ir e t he gallant r y of your yout hful spirit , Mr. Lorry.” “ Tut ! Nonsense, sir! —And, m y dear Charles,” said Mr. Lorry, glancing at t he House again, “ you are t o rem em ber, t hat get t ing t hings out of Par is at t his pr esent t im e, no m at t er w hat t hings, is nex t t o an im possibilit y . Paper s and pr ecious m at t er s w er e t his ver y day br ought t o us her e ( I speak in st r ict confidence; it is not business- lik e t o w hisper it , ev en t o you) , by t he st r angest bear er s you can im agine, ever y one of w hom had his head hanging on by a single hair as he passed t he Bar r ier s. At anot her t im e, our par cels w ould com e and go, as easily as in bu sin ess- like Old England; but now, everyt hing is st opped. ” “ And do you really go t o- night ?” “ I r eally go t o- night , for t he case has becom e t oo pr essing t o adm it of delay.” “ And do you t ake no one w it h you?” “ All sor t s of people hav e been pr oposed t o m e, but I w ill hav e not hing t o say t o any of t hem . I int end t o t ak e Jer r y . Jerry has been m y bodyguard on Sunday night s for a long t im e past and I am used t o him . Nobody w ill suspect Jer r y of being any t hing but an English bull- dog, or of having any 328

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design in his head but t o fly at any body w ho t ouches his m ast er.” “ I m ust say again t hat I hear t ily adm ir e your gallant r y and y out hfulness.” “ I m ust say again, nonsense, nonsense! When I hav e ex ecut ed t his lit t le com m ission, I shall, per haps, accept Tellson's pr oposal t o r et ir e and liv e at m y ease. Tim e enough, t hen, t o t hink about gr ow ing old.” This dialogue had t ak en place at Mr . Lor r y 's usual desk , w it h Monseigneur sw ar m ing w it hin a yar d or t w o of it , boast ful of w hat he w ould do t o av enge him self on t he r ascalpeople befor e long. I t w as t oo m uch t he w ay of Monseigneur under his r ever ses as a r efugee, and it w as m uch t oo m uch t he w ay of nat iv e Br it ish or t hodox y , t o t alk of t his t er r ible Revolut ion as if it w er e t he only har vest ever know n under t he sk ies t hat had not been sow n—as if not hing had ev er been done, or om it t ed t o be done, t hat had led t o it —as if obser v er s of t he w r et ched m illions in Fr ance, and of t he m isused and per ver t ed r esour ces t hat should have m ade t hem pr osper ous, had not seen it inev it ably com ing, y ear s befor e, and had not in plain w or ds r ecor ded w hat t hey saw . Such vapour ing, com bined w it h t he ext r avagant plot s of Monseigneur for t he r est or at ion of a st at e of t hings t hat had ut t er ly ex haust ed it self, and w or n out Heav en and ear t h as w ell as it self, w as har d t o be endur ed w it hout som e rem onst rance by any sane m an w ho knew t he t rut h. And it w as such v apour ing all about his ear s, lik e a t r oublesom e confusion of blood in his ow n head, added t o a lat ent 329

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uneasiness in his m ind, w hich had alr eady m ade Char les Dar nay r est less, and w hich st ill k ept him so. Am ong t he t alkers, w as St ryver, of t he King's Bench Bar, far on his w ay t o st at e pr om ot ion, and, t her efor e, loud on t he t hem e: br oaching t o Monseigneur , his dev ices for blow ing t he people up and ex t er m inat ing t hem fr om t he face of t he ear t h, and doing w it hout t hem : and for accom plishing m any sim ilar obj ect s ak in in t heir nat ur e t o t he abolit ion of eagles by spr ink ling salt on t he t ails of t he r ace. Him , Dar nay hear d w it h a par t icular feeling of obj ect ion; and Dar nay st ood div ided bet w een going aw ay t hat he m ight hear no m or e, and r em aining t o int er pose his w or d, w hen t he t hing t hat w as t o be, w ent on t o shape it self ou t . The House approached Mr. Lorry, and laying a soiled and unopened let t er befor e him , ask ed if he had y et discov er ed any t r aces of t he per son t o w hom it w as addr essed? The House laid t he let t er dow n so close t o Dar nay t hat he saw t he dir ect ion—t he m or e quick ly because it w as his ow n r ight nam e. The addr ess, t ur ned int o English, r an: “ Very pressing. To Monsieur heret ofore t he Marquis St . Evr em onde, of Fr ance. Confided t o t he car es of Messr s. Tellson and Co., Banker s, London, England.” On t he m ar r iage m or ning, Doct or Manet t e had m ade it his one ur gent and ex pr ess r equest t o Char les Dar nay , t hat t he secr et of t his nam e should be—unless he, t he Doct or , dissolv ed t he obligat ion—k ept inv iolat e bet w een t hem . Nobody else k new it t o be his nam e; his ow n w ife had no suspicion of t he fact ; Mr. Lorry could have none. 330

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“ No,” said Mr. Lorry, in reply t o t he House; “ I have referred it , I t hink, t o everybody now here, and no one can t ell m e w her e t his gent lem an is t o be found. ” The hands of t he clock v erging upon t he hour of closing t he Bank , t her e w as a gener al set of t he cur r ent of t alk er s past Mr . Lor r y's desk. He held t he let t er out inquir ingly; and Monseigneur look ed at it , in t he per son of t his plot t ing and indignant r efugee; and Monseigneur look ed at it in t he per son of t hat plot t ing and indignant r efugee; and This, That , and The Ot her , all had som et hing dispar aging t o say , in Fr ench or in English, concer ning t he Mar quis w ho w as not t o be found. “ Nephew , I believ e —but in any case degener at e successor—of t he polished Mar quis w ho w as m ur der ed,” said one. “ Happy t o say, I never knew him .” “ A cr av en w ho abandoned his post ,” said anot her—t h is Monseigneur had been got out of Par is, legs upper m ost and half suffocat ed, in a load of hay—" som e years ago.” “ I nfect ed w it h t he new doct r ines,” said a t hir d, ey eing t he dir ect ion t hr ough his glass in passing; “ set him self in opposit ion t o t he last Mar quis, abandoned t he est at es w hen he inher it ed t hem , and left t hem t o t he r uffian her d. They w ill recom pense him now , I hope, as he deser v es.” “ Hey?” cr ied t he blat ant St r yver . “ Did he t hough? I s t hat t he sor t of fellow ? Let us look at his infam ous nam e. D—n t he fellow ! ” Darnay, unable t o rest rain him self any longer, t ouched Mr. St ryver on t he shoulder, and said: “ I k now t he fellow .” “ Do you, by Jupit er?” said St ryver. “ I am sorry for it .” 331

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“ Why?” “ Why, Mr. Darnay? D'ye hear what he did? Don't ask, why, in t hese t im es. ” “ But I do ask why?” “ Then I t ell you again, Mr. Darnay, I am sorry for it . I am sorry t o hear you put t ing any such ext raordinary quest ions. Her e is a fellow , w ho, infect ed by t he m ost pest ilent and blasphem ous code of devilr y t hat ever w as know n, abandoned his pr oper t y t o t he v ilest scum of t he ear t h t hat ev er did m urder by w holesale, and you ask m e why I am sorry t hat a m an w ho inst r uct s y out h k now s him ? Well, but I 'll answ er y ou. I am sor r y because I believ e t her e is cont am inat ion in such a scoundrel. That 's w hy.” Mindful of t he secr et , Dar nay w it h gr eat difficult y check ed him self, and said: “ You m ay not under st and t he gent lem an.” “ I underst and how t o put YOU in a corner, Mr. Darnay,” said Bully St r y v er , “ and I 'll do it . I f t his fellow is a gent lem an, I DON'T under st and him . You m ay t ell him so, w it h m y com plim ent s. You m ay also t ell him , fr om m e, t hat aft er abandoning his w or ldly goods and posit ion t o t his but cher ly m ob, I w onder he is not at t he head of t hem . But , no, gent lem en,” said St r yver , looking all r ound, and snapping his finger s, “ I know som et hing of hum an nat ur e, and I t ell y ou t hat y ou'll nev er find a fellow lik e t his fellow , t r ust ing him self t o t he m er cies of such pr ecious PROTEGES. No, gent lem en; he'll alw ay s show ‘em a clean pair of heels v er y ear ly in t he scuffle, and sneak aw ay .” Wit h t hose w or ds, and a final snap of his finger s, Mr . St r y v er shoulder ed him self int o Fleet - st r eet , am idst t he 332

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general approbat ion of his hearers. Mr. Lorry and Charles Dar nay w er e left alone at t he desk , in t he gener al depar t ur e from t he Bank. “ Will y ou t ak e char ge of t he let t er ?” said Mr. Lorry. “ You know w her e t o deliver it ?” “ I do.” “ Will y ou under t ak e t o ex plain, t hat w e suppose it t o hav e been addr essed her e, on t he chance of our know ing w her e t o for w ar d it , and t hat it has been her e som e t im e?” “ I w ill do so. Do y ou st ar t for Paris from here?” “ From here, at eight .” “ I w ill com e back , t o see y ou off.” Ver y ill at ease w it h him self, and w it h St r y v er and m ost ot her m en, Dar nay m ade t he best of his w ay int o t he quiet of t he Tem ple, opened t he let t er , and r ead it . These w er e it s cont ent s: “ Pr ison of t he Abbay e, Par is. “ June 21, 1792. “ MONSI EUR HERETOFORE THE MARQUI S. “ Aft er hav ing long been in danger of m y life at t he hands of t he v illage, I hav e been seized, w it h gr eat v iolence and indignit y , and br ought a long j our ney on foot t o Par is. On t he r oad I hav e suffer ed a gr eat deal. Nor is t hat all; m y house has been dest r oy ed—r azed t o t he gr ound. “ The crim e for which I am im prisoned, Monsieur heret ofore t he Mar quis, and for w hich I shall be sum m oned befor e t he t r ibunal, and shall lose m y life ( w it hout y our so gener ous help) , is, t hey t ell m e, t r eason against t he m aj est y of t he people, in t hat I hav e act ed against t hem for an em igr ant . I t is in v ain I r epr esent t hat I hav e act ed for t hem , and not 333

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against , accor ding t o your com m ands. I t is in v ain I r epr esent t hat , befor e t he sequest r at ion of em igr ant pr oper t y , I had r em it t ed t he im post s t hey had ceased t o pay ; t hat I had collect ed no r ent ; t hat I had had r ecour se t o no pr ocess. The only r esponse is, t hat I hav e act ed for an em igrant , and w her e is t hat em igr ant ? “ Ah! m ost gracious Monsieur heret ofore t he Marquis, w her e is t hat em igr ant ? I cr y in m y sleep w her e is he? I dem and of Heav en, w ill he not com e t o deliv er m e? No answ er. Ah Monsieur heret ofore t he Marquis, I send m y desolat e cr y acr oss t he sea, hoping it m ay per haps r each your ear s t hr ough t he gr eat bank of Tilson k now n at Par is! “ For t he lov e of Heav en, of j ust ice, of gener osit y , of t he honour of your noble nam e, I supplicat e you, Monsieur her et ofor e t he Mar quis, t o succour and r elease m e. My fault is, t hat I hav e been t r ue t o y ou. Oh Monsieur her et ofor e t he Marquis, I pray you be you t rue t o m e! “ From t his prison here of horror, whence I every hour t end nearer and nearer t o dest ruct ion, I send you, Monsieur her et ofor e t he Mar quis, t he assur ance of m y dolor ous and unhappy service. “ Your afflict ed, “ Gabelle.” The lat ent uneasiness in Dar nay 's m ind w as r oused t o v igour ous life by t his let t er . The per il of an old ser v ant and a good one, w hose only cr im e w as fidelit y t o him self and his fam ily , st ar ed him so r epr oachfully in t he face, t hat , as he w alk ed t o and fr o in t he Tem ple consider ing w hat t o do, he alm ost hid his face fr om t he passer sby . 334

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He knew ver y w ell, t hat in his hor r or of t he deed w hich had culm inat ed t he bad deeds and bad r eput at ion of t he old fam ily house, in his r esent ful suspicions of his uncle, and in t he aversion w it h w hich his conscience regarded t he crum bling fabr ic t hat he w as supposed t o uphold, he had act ed im per fect ly. He knew ver y w ell, t hat in his lov e for Lucie, his r enunciat ion of his social place, t hough by no m eans new t o his ow n m ind, had been hur r ied and incom plet e. He knew t hat he ought t o hav e sy st em at ically w or k ed it out and super v ised it , and t hat he had m eant t o do it , and t hat it had never been done. The happiness of his ow n chosen English hom e, t he necessit y of being alw ay s act iv ely em ploy ed, t he sw ift changes and t r oubles of t he t im e w hich had follow ed on one anot her so fast , t hat t he ev ent s of t his w eek annihilat ed t he im m at ur e plans of last w eek , and t he ev ent s of t he w eek follow ing m ade all new again; he k new v er y w ell, t hat t o t he for ce of t hese cir cum st ances he had y ielded: —not w it hout disquiet , but st ill w it hout cont inuous and accum ulat ing r esist ance. That he had w at che d t he t im es for a t im e of act ion, and t hat t hey had shift ed and st r uggled unt il t he t im e had gone by, and t he nobilit y w ere t rooping from France by every highway and byway, and t heir propert y was in course of confiscat ion and dest r uct ion, and t heir ver y na m es w ere blot t ing out , w as as w ell k now n t o him self as it could be t o any new aut hor it y in Fr ance t hat m ight im peach him for it . But , he had oppr essed no m an, he had im pr isoned no m an; he w as so far from having harshly exact ed paym ent of his dues, t hat he had r elinquished t hem of his ow n w ill, 335

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t hr ow n him self on a w or ld w it h no fav our in it , w on his ow n pr ivat e place t her e, and ear ned his ow n br ead. Monsieur Gabelle had held t he im pov er ished and inv olv ed est at e on w r it t en inst r uct ions, t o spar e t he people, t o giv e t hem w hat lit t le t her e w as t o giv e —such fuel as t he heav y cr edit or s w ould let t hem hav e in t he w int er , and such pr oduce as could be saved fr om t he sam e gr ip in t he sum m er—and no doubt he had put t he fact in plea and pr oof, for his ow n safet y , so t hat it could not but appear now . This fav our ed t he desper at e r esolut ion Char les Dar nay had begun t o m ak e, t hat he w ould go t o Par is. Yes. Lik e t he m ar iner in t he old st or y , t he w inds and st r eam s had dr iv en him w it hin t he influence of t he Loadst one Rock, and it w as dr aw ing him t o it self, and he m ust go. Ev er y t hing t hat ar ose befor e his m ind dr ift ed him on, fast er and fast er , m or e and m or e st eadily , t o t he t er r ible at t r act ion. His lat ent uneasiness had been, t hat bad aim s w er e being w or ked out in his ow n unhappy land by bad inst r um ent s, and t hat he w ho could not fail t o k now t hat he w as bet t er t han t hey , w as not t her e, t r y ing t o do som et hing t o st ay bloodshed, and asser t t he claim s of m er cy and hum anit y . Wit h t his uneasiness half st ifled, and half r epr oaching him , he had been br ought t o t he point ed com par ison of him self w it h t he br av e old gent lem an in w hom dut y w as so st r ong; upon t hat com par ison ( inj ur ious t o him self) had inst ant ly follow ed t he sneer s of Monseigneur , w hich had st ung him bit t er ly , and t h ose of St ryver, w hich above all w ere coarse and galling, for old r easons. Upon t hose, had follow ed Gabelle's let t er : t he 336

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appeal of an innocent pr isoner , in danger of deat h, t o his j ust ice, honour , and good nam e. His r esolut ion w as m ade. He m ust go t o Par is. Yes. The Loadst one Rock w as dr aw ing him , and he m ust sail on, unt il he st r uck. He knew of no r ock; he saw har dly any danger . The int ent ion w it h w hich he had done w hat he had done, ev en alt hough he had left it incom plet e, pr esent ed it befor e him in an aspect t hat w ould be gr at efully ack now ledged in Fr ance on his pr esent ing him self t o asser t it . Then, t hat glor ious v ision of doing good, w hich is so oft en t he sanguine m ir age of so m any good m inds, ar ose befor e hi m , and he ev en saw him self in t he illusion w it h som e influence t o guide t his r aging Rev olut ion t hat w as r unning so fear fully w ild. As he w alk ed t o and fr o w it h his r esolut ion m ade, he consider ed t hat neit her Lucie nor her fat her m ust k now of it unt il he w as gone. Lucie should be spar ed t he pain of separ at ion; and her fat her , alw ay s r eluct ant t o t ur n his t hought s t ow ar ds t he danger ous gr ound of old, should com e t o t he k now ledge of t he st ep, as a st ep t ak en, and not in t he balance of suspense and doubt . How m uch of t he incom plet eness of his sit uat ion w as r efer able t o her fat her , t hr ough t he painful anx iet y t o av oid r ev iv ing old associat ions of Fr ance in his m ind, he did not discuss w it h him self. But , t hat cir cum st ance t oo, had had it s influence in his cour se. He w alk ed t o and fr o, w it h t hought s v er y busy , unt il it w as t im e t o r et ur n t o Tellson's and t ak e leav e of Mr . Lor r y . As soon as he ar r iv ed in Par is he w ould pr esent him self t o t his old fr iend, but he m ust say not hing of his int ent ion now . 337

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A carriage w it h post - hor ses w as r eady at t he Bank door , and Jer r y w as boot ed and equipped. “ I hav e deliv er ed t hat let t er ,” said Char les Dar nay t o Mr . Lorry. “ I would not consent t o your being charged wit h any w r it t en answ er , but per haps y ou w ill t ak e a v er bal one?” “ That I w ill, and r eadily ,” said Mr . Lor r y , “ if it is not dangerous.” “ Not at all. Though it is t o a pr isoner in t he Abbay e.” “ What is his nam e?” said Mr . Lor r y , w it h his open pock et book in his hand. “ Gabelle.” “ Gabelle. And w hat is t he m essage t o t he unfor t unat e Gabelle in pr ison?” “ Sim ply , ‘t hat he has r eceiv ed t he let t er , and w ill com e.'” “ Any t im e m ent ioned?” “ He w ill st ar t upon his j our ney t o- m orrow night .” “ Any person m ent ioned?” “ No.” He helped Mr. Lorry t o w rap him self in a num ber of coat s and cloaks, and w ent out w it h him fr om t he w ar m at m ospher e of t he old Bank , int o t he m ist y air of Fleet - st r eet . “ My lov e t o Lucie, and t o lit t le Lucie,” said Mr . Lor r y at par t ing, “ and t ake pr ecious car e of t hem t ill I com e back.” Charles Da r nay shook his head and doubt fully sm iled, as t he carriage rolled aw ay. That night —it w as t he four t eent h of August —he sat up lat e, and w r ot e t w o fer v ent let t er s; one w as t o Lucie, ex plaining t he st r ong obligat ion he w as under t o go t o Par is, and show ing her , at lengt h, t he r easons t hat he had, for 338

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feeling confident t hat he could becom e inv olv ed in no per sonal danger t her e; t he ot her w as t o t he Doct or , confiding Lucie and t heir dear child t o his car e, and dw elling on t he sam e t opics w it h t he st r ongest assur ances. To bot h, he w r ot e t hat he w ould despat ch let t er s in pr oof of his safet y , im m ediat ely aft er his ar r iv al. I t w as a har d day , t hat day of being am ong t hem , w it h t he fir st r eser v at ion of t heir j oint liv es on his m ind. I t w as a har d m at t er t o preserve t he innocent deceit of w hich t hey w er e pr ofoundly unsuspicious. But , an affect ionat e glance at his w ife, so happy and busy , m ade him r esolut e not t o t ell her w hat im pended ( he had been half m ov ed t o do it , so st r ange it w as t o him t o act in any t hing w it hout her quiet aid) , and t he day passed quickly. Ear ly in t he evening he em br aced her , and her scar cely less dear nam esak e, pr et ending t hat he would ret urn by- and- bye ( an im aginary engagem ent t ook him out , and he had secr et ed a v alise of clot hes r eady ) , and so he em er ged int o t he heav y m ist of t he heav y st r eet s, w it h a heavier hear t . The unseen for ce w as dr aw ing him fast t o it self, now , and all t he t ides and w inds w er e set t ing st r aight and st r ong t ow ar ds it . He left his t w o let t er s w it h a t r ust y por t er , t o be deliver ed half an hour befor e m idnight , and no sooner ; t ook horse for Dover; and began his j ourney. “ For t he love of Heav en, of j ust ice, of gener osit y , of t he honour of y our noble nam e! ” was t he poor prisoner's cry wit h which he st r engt hened his sink ing hear t , as he left all t hat w as dear on ear t h behind him , and float ed aw ay for t he Loadst one Rock . The end of t he second book . 339

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Book t he Third —The Track of a St orm I I n Secret The t r av eller far ed slow ly on his w ay , w ho far ed t ow ar ds Par is fr om England in t he aut um n of t he y ear one t housand seven hundr ed and ninet y- t w o. Mor e t han enough of bad r oads, bad equipages, and bad hor ses, he w ould hav e encount er ed t o delay him , t hough t he fallen and unfor t unat e King of Fr ance had been upon his t hr one in all his glor y ; but , t he changed t im es w er e fr aught w it h ot her obst acles t han t hese. Ever y t ow n- gat e and v illage t ax ing- house had it s band of cit izen- pat r iot s, w it h t heir nat ional m usk et s in a m ost ex plosiv e st at e of r eadiness, w ho st opped all com er s and goer s, cr oss- quest ioned t hem , inspect ed t heir paper s, look ed for t heir nam es in list s of t heir ow n, t ur ned t hem back , or sent t hem on, or st opped t hem and laid t hem in hold, as t heir caprici ous j udgm ent or fancy deem ed best for t he daw ning Republic One and I ndiv isible, of Liber t y , Equalit y , Fr at er nit y , or Deat h. A very few French leagues of his j ourney were accom plished, w hen Char les Dar nay began t o per ceive t hat for him along t hese count ry r oads t her e w as no hope of r et ur n unt il he should hav e been declar ed a good cit izen at Par is. What ev er m ight befall now , he m ust on t o his j our ney 's end. Not a m ean v illage closed upon him , not a com m on barrier dropped across t he road behind him , but he knew it t o be anot her ir on door in t he ser ies t hat w as bar r ed bet w een 340

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him and England. The univer sal w at chfulness so encom passed him , t hat if he had been t ak en in a net , or w er e being for w ar ded t o his dest inat ion in a cage, he could not hav e felt his fr eedom m ore com plet ely gone. This univ er sal w at chfulness not only st opped him on t he highw ay t w ent y t im es in a st age, but r et ar ded his pr ogr ess t w ent y t im es in a day , by r iding aft er him and t ak ing him back , r iding befor e him and st opping him by ant icipat ion, r iding w it h him and keeping him in char ge. He had been days upon his j our ney in Fr ance alone, w hen he w ent t o bed t ir ed out , in a lit t le t ow n on t he high r oad, st ill a long w ay fr om Par is. Not hing but t he pr oduct ion of t he afflict ed Gabelle's let t er from his pr ison of t he Abbay e w ould hav e got him on so far . His difficult y at t he guar d - house in t his sm all place had been such, t hat he felt his j our ney t o hav e com e t o a cr isis. And he w as, t her efor e, as lit t le sur pr ised as a m an could be, t o find him self aw ak ened at t he sm all inn t o w hich he had been r em it t ed unt il m or ning, in t he m iddle of t he night . Aw akened by a t im id local funct ionar y and t hr ee ar m ed pat r iot s in r ough r ed caps and w it h pipes in t heir m out hs, w ho sat dow n on t he bed. “ Em igr ant ,” said t he funct ionar y, “ I am going t o send you on t o Par is, under an escor t .” “ Cit izen, I desir e not hing m or e t han t o get t o Par is, t hough I could dispense w it h t he escor t .” “ Silence! ” growled a red- cap, st r ik ing at t he cov er let w it h t he but t - end of his m usk et . “ Peace, ar ist ocr at ! ” 341

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“ I t is as t he good pat r iot say s, ” obser v ed t he t im id funct ionar y. “ You ar e an ar ist ocr at , and m ust have an escort —and m ust pay for it .” “ I have no choice,” said Charles Darnay. “ Choice! List en t o him ! ” cr ied t he sam e scow ling red- cap. “ As if it w as not a fav our t o be pr ot ect ed fr om t he lam p - iron! ” “ I t is alw ay s as t he good pat r iot say s, ” obser v ed t he funct ionar y. “ Rise and dr ess your self, em igr ant .” Darnay com plied, and w as t aken back t o t he guard - house, where ot her pat ri ot s in rough red caps w ere sm oking, dr inking, and sleeping, by a w at ch- fir e. Her e he paid a heavy pr ice for his escor t , and hence he st ar t ed w it h it on t he w et , w et r oads at t hr ee o'clock in t he m or ning. The escor t w er e t w o m ount ed pat r iot s in r ed caps and t ri colour ed cock ades, ar m ed w it h nat ional m usk et s and sabr es, w ho r ode one on eit her side of him . The escor t ed gov er ned his ow n hor se, but a loose line w as at t ached t o his br idle, t he end of w hich one of t he pat r iot s k ept gir ded r ound his w r ist . I n t his st at e t hey set for t h w it h t he shar p r ain dr iv ing in t heir faces: clat t er ing at a heav y dragoon t rot over t he uneven t ow n pavem ent , and out upon t he m ire- deep r oads. I n t his st at e t hey t r av er sed w it hout change, ex cept of hor ses and pace, all t he m ir e - deep leagues t hat lay bet w een t hem and t he capit al. They t r av elled in t he night , halt ing an hour or t w o aft er day br eak , and ly ing by unt il t he t w ilight fell. The escor t w er e so w r et chedly clot hed, t hat t hey t w ist ed st r aw r ound t heir bar e legs, and t hat ched t heir r agged shoulder s t o k eep t he w et off. Apar t fr om t he per sonal discom for t of being so 342

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at t ended, and apar t fr om such consider at ions of pr esent danger as ar ose fr om one of t he pat r iot s being chr onically drunk, and carrying his m usket very recklessly, Char les Dar nay did not allow t he r est r aint t hat w as laid upon him t o aw ak en any ser ious fear s in his br east ; for , he r easoned w it h him self t hat it could hav e no r efer ence t o t he m er it s of an indiv idual case t hat w as not y et st at ed, and of r epr esent at ions, confir m able by t he pr isoner in t he Abbaye, t hat w er e not y et m ade. But w hen t hey cam e t o t he t ow n of Beauv ais—which t hey did at ev ent ide, w hen t he st r eet s w er e filled w it h people—he could not conceal fr om him self t hat t he aspect of affair s w as very alarm i ng. An om inous cr ow d gat her ed t o see him dism ount of t he post ing- yar d, and m any voices called out loudly, “ Dow n w it h t he em igrant ! ” He st opped in t he act of sw inging him self out of his saddle, and, r esum ing it as his safest place, said: “ Em igrant , m y friends! Do you not see m e here, in France, of m y ow n w ill?” “ You are a cursed em igrant ,” cried a farrier, m aking at him in a furious m anner t hrough t he press, ham m er in hand; “ and you are a cursed arist ocrat ! ” The post m ast er int er posed him self bet w een t his m an and t he r ider 's br idle ( at w hich he w as evident ly m aking) , and soot hingly said, “ Let him be; let him be! He w ill be j udged at Par is.” “ Judged! ” repeat ed t he farrier, swinging his ham m er. “ Ay! and condem ned as a t r ait or .” At t his t he cr ow d r oar ed approval. 343

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Check ing t he post m ast er , w ho w as for t ur ning his hor se's head t o t he y ar d ( t he dr unk en pat r iot sat com posedly in his saddle look ing on, w it h t he line r ound his w r ist ) , Dar nay said, as soon as he could m ak e his v oice hear d: “ Friends, you dece ive yourselves, or you are deceived. I am not a t r ait or .” “ He lies! ” cr ied t he sm it h. “ He is a t r ait or since t he decr ee. His life is for feit t o t he people. His cur sed life is not his ow n! ” At t he inst ant w hen Dar nay saw a r ush in t he ey es of t he crowd, w hich anot her inst ant w ould have br ought upon him , t he post m ast er t ur ned his hor se int o t he y ar d, t he escor t r ode in close upon his hor se's flank s, and t he post m ast er shut and barred t he crazy double gat es. The farrier st ruck a blow upon t hem w it h his hamm er, and t he crowd groaned; but , no m ore w as done. “ What is t his decr ee t hat t he sm it h spok e of?” Dar nay ask ed t he post m ast er , w hen he had t hank ed him , and st ood beside him in t he y ar d. “ Tr uly, a decr ee for selling t he pr oper t y of em igr ant s.” “ When passed?” “ On t he four t eent h.” “ The day I left England! ” “ Ev er y body say s it is but one of sev er al, and t hat t her e w ill be ot hers—if t her e ar e not alr eady- banishing all em igr ant s, and condem ning all t o deat h w ho r et ur n. That is w hat he m eant w hen he said your life w as not your ow n.” “ But t here are no such decrees yet ?”

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“ What do I k now ! ” said t he post m ast er , shr ugging his shoulder s; “ t her e m ay be, or t her e w ill be. I t is all t he sam e. What w ould y ou hav e?” They r est ed on som e st r aw in a loft u nt il t he m iddle of t he night , and t hen r ode for w ar d again w hen all t he t ow n w as asleep. Am ong t he m any w ild changes obser v able on fam iliar t hings w hich m ade t his w ild r ide unr eal, not t he least w as t he seem ing r ar it y of sleep. Aft er long and lonely spur r ing over dr ear y r oads, t hey w ould com e t o a clust er of poor cot t ages, not st eeped in dar k ness, but all glit t er ing w it h light s, and w ould find t he people, in a ghost ly m anner in t he dead of t he night , cir cling hand in hand r ound a shr ivelled t r ee of Liber t y, or all dr aw n up t oget her singing a Liber t y song. Happily , how ev er , t her e w as sleep in Beauv ais t hat night t o help t hem out of it and t hey passed on once m or e int o solit ude and loneliness: j ingling t hr ough t he unt im ely cold and w et , am ong im pov er ished fields t hat had y ielded no fr uit s of t he ear t h t hat y ear , div er sified by t he black ened r em ains of bur nt houses, and by t he sudden em ergence from am buscade, and sharp r eining up acr oss t heir w ay , of pat r iot pat r ols on t he w at ch on all t he r oads. Day light at last found t hem befor e t he w all of Par is. The barrier w as closed and st rongly guarded w hen t hey rode up t o it . “ Wher e ar e t he paper s of t his pr isoner ?” dem anded a r esolut e- looking m an in aut hor it y, w ho w as sum m oned out by t he guard. Nat urally st ruck by t he disagr eeable w or d, Char les Dar nay r equest ed t he speak er t o t ak e not ice t hat he w as a fr ee 345

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t r aveller and Fr ench cit izen, in char ge of an escor t w hich t he dist ur bed st at e of t he count r y had im posed upon him , and w hich he had paid for. “ Wher e,” r epeat ed t he sam e per sonage, w it hout t ak ing any heed of him w hat ever , “ ar e t he paper s of t his pr isoner ?” The drunken pat riot had t hem in his cap, and produced t hem . Cast ing his ey es ov er Gabelle's let t er , t he sam e per sonage in aut hor it y show ed som e disor der and surprise, and look ed at Dar nay w it h a close at t ent ion. He left escor t and escor t ed w it hout say ing a w or d, how ever, and w ent int o t he guard - r oom ; m eanw hile, t hey sat upon t heir hor ses out side t he gat e. Look ing about him w hile in t his st at e of suspense, Cha r les Dar nay obser v ed t hat t he gat e w as held by a m ix ed guar d of soldier s and pat r iot s, t he lat t er far out num ber ing t he for m er ; and t hat w hile ingr ess int o t he cit y for peasant s’ car t s br inging in supplies, and for sim ilar t r affic and t r affick er s, w as easy enough, egr ess, ev en for t he hom eliest people, w as v er y difficult . A num er ous m edley of m en and w om en, not t o m ent ion beast s and v ehicles of v ar ious sor t s, w as w ait ing t o issue for t h; but , t he pr ev ious ident ificat ion w as so st r ict , t hat t hey filt er ed t hr ough t he barrier very slow ly. Som e of t hese people knew t heir t urn for ex am inat ion t o be so far off, t hat t hey lay dow n on t he gr ound t o sleep or sm ok e, w hile ot her s t alk ed t oget her , or loit er ed about . The r ed cap and t r i - colour cockade were univ er sal, bot h am ong m en and wom en. When he had sat in his saddle som e half- hour , t aking not e of t hese t hings, Dar nay found him self confr ont ed by t he sam e m an in aut hor it y, w ho dir ect ed t he guar d t o open t he bar r ier . 346

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Then he deliver ed t o t he escor t , dr unk and sober , a r eceipt for t he escor t ed, and r equest ed him t o dism ount . He did so, and t he t w o pat r iot s, leading his t ir ed hor se, t ur ned and r ode aw ay w it hout ent er ing t he cit y . He accom panied his conduct or int o a guard - r oom , sm elling of com m on w ine and t obacco, w here cer t ain soldier s and pat r iot s, asleep and aw ak e, dr unk and sober , and in v ar ious neut r al st at es bet w een sleeping and w aking, dr unkenness and sobr iet y , w er e st anding and ly ing about . The light in t he guard - house, half der iv ed fr om t he w aning oil- lam ps of t he night , and half fr om t he ov er cast day , w as in a correspondingly uncert ain condit ion. Som e regist ers w ere ly ing open on a desk , and an officer of a coar se, dar k aspect , pr esided ov er t hese. “ Cit izen Defar ge,” said he t o Dar nay 's conduct or , as he t ook a slip of paper t o w r it e on. “ I s t his t he em igr ant Evrem onde?” “ This is t he m an.” “ Your age, Evrem onde?” “ Thir t y- seven.” “ Married, Evrem onde?” “ Yes. ” “ Where m arried?” “ I n England.” “ Wit hout doubt . Wher e is y our w ife, Ev r em onde?” “ I n England.” “ Wit hout doubt . You ar e consigned, Ev r em onde, t o t he prison of La Force.” 347

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“ Just Heaven! ” exclaim ed Darnay. “ Under what law, and for w hat offence?” The officer look ed up fr om his slip of paper for a m om ent . “ We hav e new law s, Ev r em onde, and new offences, since y ou w er e her e.” He said it w it h a har d sm ile, and w ent on w r it ing. “ I ent r eat y ou t o obser v e t hat I hav e com e her e v olunt ar ily , in r esponse t o t hat w r it t en appeal of a fellow count r ym an w hich lies before you. I dem and no m ore t han t he oppor t unit y t o do so w it hout delay . I s not t hat m y r ight ?” “ Em igr ant s hav e no r ight s, Ev r em onde,” w as t he st olid r eply . The officer w r ot e unt il he had finished, r ead ov er t o him self w hat he had w r it t en, sanded it , and ha nded it t o Defar ge, w it h t he w or ds “ I n secr et .” Defar ge m ot ioned w it h t he paper t o t he pr isoner t hat he m ust accom pany him . The prisoner obeyed, and a guard of t w o ar m ed pat r iot s at t ended t hem . “ I s it y ou,” said Defar ge, in a low v oice, as t hey w ent down t he guar dhouse st eps and t ur ned int o Par is, “ w ho m ar r ied t he daught er of Doct or Manet t e, once a pr isoner in t he Bast ille t hat is no m or e?” “ Yes,” r eplied Dar nay , look ing at him w it h sur pr ise. “ My nam e is Defarge, and I keep a w ine - shop in t he Quar t er Saint Ant oine. Possibly you have hear d of m e.” “ My w ife cam e t o your house t o r eclaim her fat her ? Yes! ” The w or d “ w ife” seem ed t o ser ve as a gloom y r em inder t o Defar ge, t o say w it h sudden im pat ience, “ I n t he nam e of t hat shar p fem ale new ly- born, and called La Guillot ine, w hy did you com e t o France?” 348

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“ You hear d m e say w hy , a m inut e ago. Do y ou not believ e it is t he t r ut h?” “ A bad t r ut h for y ou,” said Defar ge, speak ing w it h k nit t ed br ow s, and look ing st r aight befor e him . “ I ndeed I am lost her e. Al l her e is so unpr ecedent ed, so changed, so sudden and unfair , t hat I am absolut ely lost . Will y ou r ender m e a lit t le help?” “ None.” Defar ge spoke, alw ays looking st r aight befor e him . “ Will y ou answ er m e a single quest ion?” “ Per haps. Accor ding t o it s nat ur e. You can say w hat it is.” “ I n t his pr ison t hat I am going t o so unj ust ly , shall I hav e som e fr ee com m unicat ion w it h t he w or ld out side?” “ You w ill see. ” “ I am not t o be bur ied t her e, pr ej udged, and w it hout any m eans of pr esent ing m y case?” “You w ill see. But , w hat t hen? Ot her people hav e been sim ilar ly bur ied in w or se pr isons, befor e now .” “ But never by m e, Cit izen Defarge.” Defarge glanced darkly at him for answ er, and w alked on in a st eady and set silence. The deeper he sank int o t his silence, t he faint er hope t her e w as—or so Darnay t hought —of his soft ening in any slight degr ee. He, t her efor e, m ade hast e t o say : “ I t is of t he ut m ost im por t ance t o m e ( y ou k now , Cit izen, ev en bet t er t han I , of how m uch im por t ance) , t hat I should be able t o com m unicat e t o Mr. Lorry of Tellson's Bank, an English gent lem an w ho is now in Par is, t he sim ple fact , w it hout com m ent , t hat I hav e been t hr ow n int o t he pr ison of La For ce. Will y ou cause t hat t o be done for m e?” 349

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“ I w ill do,” Defar ge doggedly r ej oined, “ not hing for you. My dut y is t o m y count r y and t he People. I am t he sw or n ser vant of bot h, against y ou. I w ill do not hing for y ou.” Char les Dar nay felt it hopeless t o ent r eat him fur t her , and his pr ide w as t ouched besides. As t hey w alk ed on in silence, he could not but see how used t he people w er e t o t he spect acle of pr isoner s passing along t he st r eet s. The v er y childr en scar cely not iced him . A few passer s t ur ned t heir heads, and a few shook t heir finger s at him as an ar ist ocr at ; ot her w ise, t hat a m an in good clot hes should be going t o prison, w as no m ore rem arkable t han t hat a labourer in w orking clot hes should be going t o w ork. I n one narrow , dark, and dir t y st r eet t hr ough w hich t hey passed, an ex cit ed or at or , m ount ed on a st ool, w as addr essing an ex cit ed audience on t he cr im es against t he people, of t he k ing and t he r oy al fam ily . The few w or ds t hat he caught fr om t his m an's lips, fir st m ade it k now n t o Char les Dar nay t hat t he k ing w as in pr ison, and t hat t he for eign am bassador s had one and all left Pari s. On t he r oad ( ex cept at Beauv ais) he had hear d absolut ely not hing. The escor t and t he univ er sal w at chfulness had com plet ely isolat ed him . That he had fallen am ong far gr eat er danger s t han t hose w hich had dev eloped t hem selv es w hen he left England, he of cour se k new now . That per ils had t hick ened about him fast , and m ight t hick en fast er and fast er y et , he of cour se k new now . He could not but adm it t o him self t hat he m ight not hav e m ade t his j our ney , if he could hav e for eseen t he ev ent s of a few day s. And y et his m isgiv ings w er e not so dar k as, im agined by t he light of t his lat er t im e, t hey w ould appear . 350

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Tr oubled as t he fut ur e w as, it w as t he unk now n fut ur e, and in it s obscur it y t her e w as ignor ant hope. The hor r ible m assacr e, days and night s long, w hich, w i t hin a few r ounds of t he clock , w as t o set a gr eat m ar k of blood upon t he blessed gar ner ing t im e of har v est , w as as far out of his k now ledge as if it had been a hundr ed t housand year s aw ay. The “ shar p fem ale new ly- bor n, and called La Guillot ine,” w as har dl y known t o him , or t o t he gener alit y of people, by nam e. The fr ight ful deeds t hat w er e t o be soon done, w er e pr obably unim agined at t hat t im e in t he br ains of t he doer s. How could t hey hav e a place in t he shadow y concept ions of a gent le m ind? Of unj ust t r eat m ent in det ent ion and har dship, and in cr uel separ at ion fr om his w ife and child, he for eshadow ed t he lik elihood, or t he cer t aint y ; but , bey ond t his, he dr eaded not hing dist inct ly . Wit h t his on his m ind, w hich w as enough t o carry int o a dreary prison court yard, he arrived at t he prison of La Force. A m an w it h a bloat ed face opened t he st r ong w ick et , t o whom Defarge present ed “ The Em igrant Evrem onde.” “ What t he Devil! How m any m or e of t hem ! ” exclaim ed t he m an w it h t he bloat ed face. Defarg e t ook his r eceipt w it hout not icing t he ex clam at ion, and w it hdr ew , w it h his t w o fellow - pat r iot s. “ What t he Dev il, I say again! ” ex claim ed t he gaoler , left wit h his wife. “ How m any m ore! ” The gaoler 's w ife, being pr ov ided w it h no answ er t o t he quest ion, m erely replied, “ One m ust have pat ience, m y dear! ” Thr ee t ur nk ey s w ho ent er ed r esponsiv e t o a bell she r ang, echoed t he sent im ent , and one added, “ For t he lov e of 351

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Liber t y ; ” w hich sounded in t hat place lik e an inappr opr iat e conclusion. The pr ison of La Force was a gloom y prison, dark and filt hy , and w it h a hor r ible sm ell of foul sleep in it . Ext raordinary how soon t he noisom e flavour of im prisoned sleep, becom es m anifest in all such places t hat ar e ill car ed for! “ I n secr et , t oo,” gr um bled t he gaoler , look ing at t he w r it t en paper . “ As if I w as not alr eady full t o bur st ing! ” He st uck t he paper on a file, in an ill- hum our, and Charles Darnay aw ait ed his furt her pleasure for half an hour: som et im es, pacing t o and fr o in t he st r ong ar ched r oom : som et im es, r est ing on a st one seat : in eit her case det ained t o be im pr int ed on t he m em or y of t he chief and his subor dinat es. “ Com e! ” said t he chief, at lengt h t ak ing up his k ey s, “ com e w it h m e, em igr ant .” Thr ough t he dism al pr ison t w ilight , his new char ge accom panied him by corridor and st aircase, m any doors clanging and lock ing behind t hem , unt il t hey cam e int o a lar ge, low , vault ed cham ber , cr ow ded w it h pr isoner s of bot h sex es. The w om en w er e seat ed at a long t able, r eading and w r it ing, k nit t ing, sew ing, and em b roidering; t he m en were for t he m ost par t st anding behind t heir chair s, or linger ing up and down t he room . I n t he inst inct iv e associat ion of pr isoner s w it h sham eful cr im e and disgr ace, t he new- com er recoiled from t his com pany. But t he crowning unrealit y of his long unr eal r ide, w as, t heir all at once r ising t o r eceiv e him , w it h ev er y 352

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r efinem ent of m anner k now n t o t he t im e, and w it h all t he engaging gr aces and cour t esies of life. So st r angely clouded w er e t hese r efinem ent s by t he pr ison m anner s and gloom, so spect r al did t hey becom e in t he inappropriat e squalor and m isery t hrough w hich t hey w ere seen, t hat Char les Dar nay seem ed t o st and in a com pany of t he dead. Ghost s all! The ghost of beaut y , t he ghost of st at eliness, t he ghost of elegance, t he ghost of pr ide, t he ghost of fr iv olit y , t he ghost of w it , t he ghost of y out h, t he ghost of age, all w ait ing t heir dism issal fr om t he desolat e shor e, all t ur ning on him ey es t hat w er e changed by t he deat h t hey had died in com ing t her e. I t st r uck him m ot ionless. The gaoler st anding at his side, and t he ot her gaoler s m ov ing about , w ho w ould hav e been w ell enough as t o appear ance in t he or dinar y ex er cise of t heir funct ions, look ed so ex t r av agant ly coar se cont r ast ed w it h sorrow ing m ot hers and bloom ing daught ers w ho w e re t here— w it h t he appar it ions of t he coquet t e, t he y oung beaut y , and t he m at ur e w om an delicat ely br ed—t hat t he inv er sion of all ex per ience and lik elihood w hich t he scene of shadow s pr esent ed, w as height ened t o it s ut m ost . Sur ely , ghost s all. Surely, t he long unr eal r ide som e pr ogr ess of disease t hat had br ought him t o t hese gloom y shades! “ I n t he nam e of t he assem bled com panions in m isfor t une,” said a gent lem an of cour t ly appear ance and addr ess, com ing forw ard, “ I have t he honour of giving you w elcom e t o La For ce, and of condoling w it h y ou on t he calam it y t hat has br ought you am ong us. May it soon t er m inat e happily! I t 353

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w ould be an im per t inence elsew her e, but it is not so her e, t o ask your nam e and condit ion?” Char les Dar nay r oused him self, and gave t he required infor m at ion, in w or ds as suit able as he could find. “ But I hope,” said t he gent lem an, follow ing t he chief gaoler w it h his ey es, w ho m ov ed acr oss t he r oom , “ t hat y ou ar e not in secr et ?” “ I do not under st and t he m eaning of t he t er m , but I hav e hear d t hem say so.” “ Ah, w hat a pit y! We so m uch r egr et it ! But t ake cour age; sev er al m em ber s of our societ y hav e been in secr et , at fir st , and it has last ed but a shor t t im e.” Then he added, r aising his v oice, “ I gr iev e t o infor m t he societ y—in secr et .” There was a m urm ur of com m iserat ion as Charles Darnay cr ossed t he r oom t o a gr at ed door w her e t he gaoler aw ait ed him , and m any voices—am ong w hich, t he soft and com passionat e v oices of w om en w er e conspicuous—gave him good w ishes and encour agem ent . He t ur ne d at t he gr at ed door , t o r ender t he t hank s of his hear t ; it closed under t he gaoler 's hand; and t he appar it ions v anished fr om his sight forever. The w ick et opened on a st one st air case, leading upw ar d. When t hey bad ascended for t y st eps ( t he pr isoner of half an hour alr eady count ed t hem ) , t he gaoler opened a low black door , and t hey passed int o a solit ar y cell. I t st r uck cold and dam p, but w as not dark. “ Your s,” said t he gaoler . “ Why am I confined alone?” “ How do I know! ” 354

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“ I can buy pen, ink, and paper?” “ Such ar e not m y or der s. You w ill be visit ed, and can ask t hen. At present , you m ay buy your food, and not hing m ore.” Ther e w er e in t he cell, a chair , a t able, and a st r aw m at t r ess. As t he gaoler m ade a gener al inspect ion of t hese obj ect s, and of t he four w alls, befor e going out , a w ander ing fancy w ander ed t hr ough t he m ind of t he pr isoner leaning against t he w all opposit e t o him , t hat t his gaoler w as so unw holesom ely bloat ed, bot h in face and per son, as t o look like a m an w ho had been drow ned and filled w it h w at er . When t he gaoler w as gone, he t hought in t he sam e w ander ing w ay , “ Now am I left , as if I w er e dead.” St opping t hen, t o look dow n at t he m at t r ess, he t ur ned fr om it w it h a sick feeling, and t hought , “ And her e in t hese cr aw ling cr eat ur es i s t he fir st condit ion of t he body aft er deat h.” “ Five paces by four and a half, five paces by four and a half, fiv e paces by four and a half.” The pr isoner w alk ed t o and fr o in his cell, count ing it s m easur em ent , and t he r oar of t he cit y ar ose lik e m uffled dr um s w it h a w ild sw ell of v oices added t o t hem . “ He m ade shoes, he m ade shoes, he m ade shoes.” The pr isoner count ed t he m easur em ent again, and paced fast er , t o dr aw his m ind w it h him fr om t hat lat t er r epet it ion. “ The ghost s t hat v anished w hen t he w ick et closed. Ther e w as one am ong t hem , t he appear ance of a lady dr essed in black , w ho w as leaning in t he em br asur e of a w indow , and she had a light shining upon her golden hair , and she look ed lik e * * * * Let us r ide on again, for God's sak e, t hr ough t he illum inat ed v illages w it h t he people all aw ak e! * * * * He m ade shoes, he m ade shoes, he m ade 355

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shoes. * * * * Fiv e paces by four and a half.” Wit h such scr aps t ossing and r olling upw ar d fr om t he dept hs of his m ind, t he pr isoner w alk ed fast er and fast er , obst inat ely count ing and count ing; and t he r oar of t he cit y changed t o t his ex t ent —t hat it st ill r olled in lik e m uffled dr um s, but w it h t he w ail of v o ices t hat he k new , in t he sw ell t hat r ose abov e t hem .

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II The Gr indst one Tellson's Bank , est ablished in t he Saint Ger m ain Quar t er of Par is, w as in a w ing of a lar ge house, appr oached by a cour t y ar d and shut off fr om t he st r eet by a high w all and a st r ong gat e. The house belonged t o a gr eat noblem an w ho had liv ed in it unt il he m ade a flight fr om t he t r oubles, in his ow n cook 's dr ess, and got acr oss t he bor der s. A m er e beast of t he chase fly ing fr om hunt er s, he w as st ill in his m et em psy chosis no ot he r t han t he sam e Monseigneur , t he pr epar at ion of w hose chocolat e for w hose lips had once occupied t hr ee st r ong m en besides t he cook in quest ion. Monseigneur gone, and t he t hr ee st r ong m en absolv ing t hem selv es fr om t he sin of hav ing dr aw n his high w ages, by being m or e t han r eady and w illing t o cut his t hr oat on t he alt ar of t he daw ning Republic one and indiv isible of Liber t y , Equalit y, Fr at er nit y, or Deat h, Monseigneur 's house had been fir st sequest r at ed, and t hen confiscat ed. For , all t hings m oved so f ast , and decr ee follow ed decr ee w it h t hat fier ce pr ecipit at ion, t hat now upon t he t hir d night of t he aut um n m ont h of Sept em ber , pat r iot em issar ies of t he law w er e in possession of Monseigneur 's house, and had m ar k ed it w it h t he t ri - colour, and were drinking bran dy in it s st at e apar t m ent s. A place of business in London lik e Tellson's place of business in Par is, w ould soon hav e dr iv en t he House out of it s m ind and int o t he Gazet t e. For , w hat w ould st aid Br it ish r esponsibilit y and r espect abilit y hav e said t o or a nge- t r ees in 357

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boxes in a Bank court yard, and even t o a Cupid over t he count er ? Yet such t hings w er e. Tellson's had w hit ew ashed t he Cupid, but he w as st ill t o be seen on t he ceiling, in t he coolest linen, aim ing ( as he very oft en does) at m oney from m orning t o night . Bankr upt cy m ust inevit ably have com e of t his young Pagan, in Lom bard - st r eet , London, and also of a cur t ained alcov e in t he r ear of t he im m or t al boy , and also of a look ingglass let int o t he w all, and also of cler k s not at all old, w ho danced in public on t he slight est pr ov ocat ion. Yet , a Fr ench Tellson's could get on w it h t hese t hings ex ceedingly w ell, and, as long as t he t im es held t oget her , no m an had t ak en fr ight at t hem , and dr aw n out his m oney. What m oney w ould be dr aw n out of Tellson's hencefort h, and w hat w ould lie t her e, lost and for got t en; w hat plat e and j ew els w ould t ar nish in Tellson's hiding- places, w hile t he deposit or s r ust ed in pr isons, and w hen t hey should hav e v iolent ly per ished; how m any account s w it h Tellson's nev er t o be balanced in t his w or ld, m ust be car r ied ov er int o t he nex t ; no m an could have said, t hat night , any m ore t han Mr. Jarvis Lor r y could, t hough he t hought heav ily of t hese quest ions. He sat by a new ly- light ed w ood fir e ( t he blight ed and unfr uit ful year was prem at urely cold) , and on his honest and cour ageous face t her e w as a deeper shade t han t he pendent lam p could t hr ow , or any obj ect in t he r oom dist or t edly reflect —a shade of horror. He occupied r oom s in t he Bank , in his fidelit y t o t he House of which he had grown t o be a par t , lie st r ong r oot - iv y . it chanced t hat t hey der ived a kind of secur it y fr om t he pat r iot ic occupat ion of t he m ain building, but t he t r ue - hear t ed old 358

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gent lem an nev er calculat ed about t hat . All such cir cum st ances w er e indiffer ent t o him , so t hat he did his dut y. On t he opposit e side of t he cour t yar d, under a colonnade, w as ex t ensiv e st anding—for carriages—w her e, indeed, som e car r iages of Monseigneur y et st ood. Against t w o of t he pillar s w er e fast ened t w o gr eat flar ing flam beaux , and in t he light of t hese, st anding out in t he open air , w as a lar ge gr indst one: a roughly m ount ed t hing which appeared t o have hurriedly been brought t here from som e neighbouring sm it hy, or ot her w or kshop. Rising and looking out of w indow at t hese har m less obj ect s, Mr . Lor r y shiv er ed, and r et ir ed t o his seat by t he fir e. He had opened, not only t he glass w indow , but t he lat t ice blind out side it , and he had closed bot h again, and he shivered t hrough his fram e. Fr om t he st r eet s bey ond t he high w all and t he st r ong gat e, t he r e cam e t he usual night hum of t he cit y , w it h now and t hen an indescr ibable r ing in it , w eir d and unear t hly , as if som e unw ont ed sounds of a t er r ible nat ur e w er e going up t o Heaven. “ Thank God,” said Mr. Lorry, clasping his hands, “ t hat no one near and d ear t o m e is in t his dr eadful t ow n t o- night . May He have m ercy on all who are in danger! ” Soon aft er w ar ds, t he bell at t he gr eat gat e sounded, and he t hought , “ They hav e com e back ! ” and sat list ening. But , t her e w as no loud ir r upt ion int o t he cour t yar d, as he had ex pect ed, and he hear d t he gat e clash again, and all w as quiet . The ner vousness and dr ead t hat w er e upon him inspir ed t hat v ague uneasiness r espect ing t he Bank , w hich a gr eat 359

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change w ould nat ur ally aw ak en, w it h such feelings r oused. I t w as w ell guar ded, and he got up t o go am ong t he t r ust y people w ho w er e w at ching it , w hen his door suddenly opened, and t w o figur es r ushed in, at sight of w hich he fell back in am azem ent . Lucie and her fat her ! Lucie w it h her ar m s st r et ched out t o him , and w it h t hat old look of ear nest ness so concent r at ed and int ensified, t hat it seem ed as t hough it had been st am ped upon her face ex pr essly t o giv e for ce and pow er t o it in t his one passage of her life. “ What is t his?” cr ied Mr . Lor r y , br eat hless and confused. “ Wha t is t he m at t er ? Lucie! Manet t e! What has happened? What has br ought y ou her e? What is it ?” Wit h t he look fix ed upon him , in her paleness and w ildness, she pant ed out in his ar m s, im plor ingly , “ O m y dear friend! My husband! ” “ Your husband, Lucie?” “ Char les.” “ What of Char les?” “ Here. “ Her e, in Par is?” “ Has been her e som e days—t hree or four—I don't know how m any—I can't collect m y t hought s. An er r and of gener osit y br ought him her e unknow n t o us; he w as st opped at t he bar r ier , and sent t o pr ison.” The old m an ut t er ed an ir r epr essible cr y . Alm ost at t he sam e m om ent , t he beg of t he gr eat gat e r ang again, and a loud noise of feet and v oices cam e pour ing int o t he cour t y ar d. 360

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“ What is t hat noise?” said t he Doct or , t ur ning t ow ar ds t he w indow . “ Don't look! ” cried Mr. Lorry. “ Don't look out ! Manet t e, for your life, don't t ouch t he blind! ” The Doct or t ur ned, w it h his hand upon t he fast ening of t he w indow , and said, w it h a cool, bold sm ile: “ My dear fr iend, I have a char m ed life in t his cit y. I have been a Bast ille pr isoner . Ther e is no pat r iot in Par is—in Par is? I n France—w ho, know ing m e t o have been a pr isoner in t he Bast ille, w ould t ouch m e, ex cept t o ov er w helm m e w it h em braces, or carry m e in t rium ph. My old pain has given m e a pow er t hat has brought us t hrough t he barrier, and gained us new s of Char les t her e, and br ought us her e. I k new it w ould be so; I k new I could help Char les out of all danger ; I t old Lucie so. —What is t hat noise?” His hand w as again upon t he w indow . “ Don't look! ” cried Mr. Lor r y , absolut ely desper at e. “ No, Lucie, m y dear, nor you! ” He got his arm round her, and held her . “ Don't be so t er r ified, m y love. I solem nly sw ear t o you t hat I k now of no har m hav ing happened t o Char les; t hat I had no suspicion ev en of his being in t h is fat al place. Wh at pr ison is he in?” “ La Force! ” “ La Force! Lucie, m y child, if ever you were brave and ser v iceable in y our life—and y ou w er e alw ay s bot h—y ou w ill com pose your self now , t o do exact ly as I bid you; for m or e depends upon it t han you can t hink, or I can say. Ther e is no help for you in any act ion on your part t o- night ; you cannot possibly st ir out . I say t his, because w hat I m ust bid y ou t o 361

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do for Char les's sak e, is t he har dest t hing t o do of all. You m ust inst ant ly be obedient , st ill, and quiet . You m ust let m e put you in a r oom at t he back her e. You m ust leave your fat her and m e alone for t w o m inut es, and as t her e ar e Life and Deat h in t he w orld y ou m ust not delay .” “ I w ill be subm issiv e t o y ou. I see in y our face t hat y ou know I can do not hing else t han t his. I know you ar e t r ue.” The old m an kissed her, and hurried her int o his room , and t urned t he key; t hen, cam e hurrying back t o t he Doct or, and opened t he w indow and par t ly opened t he blind, and put his hand upon t he Doct or 's ar m , and look ed out w it h him int o t he court yard. Looked out upon a t hrong of m en and w om en: not enough in num ber, or near enough, t o fill t he court yard: not m ore t han for t y or fift y in all. The people in possession of t he house had let t hem in at t he gat e, and t hey had r ushed in t o w or k at t he gr indst one; it had ev ident ly been set up t her e for t heir pur pose, as in a conv enient and r et ir ed spot . But , such aw ful w orkers, and such awful work! The gr indst one had a double handle, and, t ur ning at it m adly w er e t w o m en, w hose faces, as t heir long hair Rapped back w hen t he w hir lings of t he gr indst one br ought t heir faces up, w er e m or e hor r ible and cr uel t han t he visages of t he w ildest sav ages in t heir m ost bar bar ous disguise. False ey ebr ow s and false m oust aches w er e st uck upon t hem , and t heir hideous count enances w er e all bloody and sw eat y , and all aw r y w it h how ling, and all st ar ing and glar ing w it h beast ly ex cit em ent and w ant of sleep. As t hese r uffians t ur ned and t ur ned, t heir m at t ed locks now flung for w ar d over t heir eyes, 362

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now flung backw ard over t heir necks, som e w om en held w ine t o t heir m out hs t hat t hey m ight dr ink ; and w hat w it h dr opping blood, and w hat w it h dr opping w ine, and w hat w it h t he st r eam of spar k s st r uck out of t he st one, all t heir w ick ed at m ospher e seem ed gor e and fir e. The ey e could not det ect one cr eat ur e in t he gr oup fr ee fr om t he sm ear of blood. Shoulder ing one anot her t o get nex t at t he shar pening- st one , w er e m en st r ipped t o t he w aist , w it h t he st ain all ov er t heir lim bs and bodies; m en in all sor t s of r ags, w it h t he st ain upon t hose r ags; m en dev ilishly set off w it h spoils of w om en's lace and silk and r ibbon, w it h t he st ain dyeing t hose t r ifles t hr ough and t hr ough. Hat chet s, k niv es, bay onet s, sw or ds, all br ought t o be shar pened, w er e all r ed w it h it . Som e of t he hack ed sw or ds w er e t ied t o t he w r ist s of t hose w ho car r ied t hem , w it h st r ips of linen and fr agm ent s of dr ess: ligat ur es v ar ious in k ind, but all deep of t he one colour . And as t he fr ant ic w ielder s of t hese w eapons snat ched t hem fr om t he st r eam of spar k s and t or e aw ay int o t he st r eet s, t he sam e r ed hue w as r ed in t heir fr enzied ey es; —ey es w hich any unbr ut alised beholder w ould hav e giv en t w ent y y ears of life, t o pet r ify w it h a w ell- direct ed gun. All t his w as seen in a m om ent , as t he v ision of a dr ow ning m an, or of any hum an creat ure at any very great pass, could see a w or ld if it w er e t her e. They dr ew back fr om t he w indow , and t he Doct or look ed for ex planat ion in his fr iend's ashy face. “ They are,” Mr. Lorry whispered t he words, glancing fearfully round at t he locked room , “ m urdering t he prisoners. I f you ar e sur e of w hat you say; if you r eally have t he pow er 363

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you t hink you have—as I believ e y ou ha ve—m ake yourself k now n t o t hese dev ils, and get t ak en t o La For ce. I t m ay be t oo lat e, I don't k now , but let it not be a m inut e lat er ! ” Doct or Manet t e pr essed his hand, hast ened bar eheaded out of t he room , and was in t he court yard when Mr. Lorry r egained t he blind. His st r eam ing w hit e hair , his r em ar k able face, and t he im pet uous confidence of his m anner , as he put t he w eapons aside lik e w at er , car r ied him in an inst ant t o t he hear t of t he concour se at t he st one. For a few m om ent s t her e w as a pause, and a hurry, and a m urm ur, and t he unint elligible sound of his voice; and t hen Mr. Lorry saw him , surrounded by all, and in t he m idst of a line of t w ent y m en long, all link ed shoulder t o shoulder , and hand t o shoulder , hur r ied out w it h cr ies of—" Liv e t he Bast ille pr isoner ! Help for t he Bast ille pr isoner 's kindr ed in La For ce! Room for t he Bast ille pr isoner in front t here! Save t he prisoner Evrem onde at La Force! ” and a t housand answ er ing shout s. He closed t he lat t ice again w it h a flut t er ing hear t , closed t he w indow and t he cur t ain, hast ened t o Lucie, and t old her t hat her fat her w as assist ed by t he people, and gone in sear ch of her husband. He found her child and Miss Pr oss w it h her; but , it never occurred t o him t o be surprised by t heir appear ance unt il a long t im e aft er w ar ds, w hen he sat w at ching t hem in such quiet as t he night k new . Lucie had, by t hat t im e, fallen int o a st upor on t he floor at his feet , clinging t o his hand. Miss Pr oss had laid t he child dow n on his ow n bed, and her head had gr adually fallen on t he pillow beside her pr et t y char ge. O t he long, long night , 364

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w it h t he m oans of t he poor w ife! And O t he long, long night , w it h no r et ur n of her fat her and no t idings! Tw ice m or e in t he dar k ness t he bell at t he gr eat gat e sounded, and t he ir r upt ion w as r epeat ed, and t he gr indst one w hir led and splut t er ed. “ What is it ?” cr ied Lucie, affr ight ed. “ Hush! The soldier s’ sw or ds ar e shar pened t her e,” said Mr . Lor r y. “ The place is nat ional pr oper t y now , and used as a kind of arm oury, m y love.” Twice m ore in all; but , t he last spell of w or k w as feeble and fit ful. Soon aft er w ar ds t he day began t o daw n, and he soft ly det ached him self fr om t he clasping hand, and caut iously look ed out again. A m an, so besm ear ed t hat he m ight hav e been a sor ely w ounded soldier cr eeping back t o consciousness on a field of slain, w as r ising fr om t he pav em ent by t he side of t he gr indst one, and look ing about him wit h a vacant air. Short ly, t his worn - out m urderer descr ied in t he im per fect light one of t he car r iages of Monseigneur , and, st agger ing t o t hat gor geous v ehicle, clim bed in at t he door , and shut him self up t o t ak e his r est on it s daint y cushions. The great grindst one, Eart h, had t urned when Mr. Lorry look ed out again, and t he sun w as r ed on t he cour t y ar d. But , t he lesser gr indst one st ood alone t her e in t he calm m or ning air , w it h a r ed upon it t hat t he sun had nev er giv en, and w ould never t ake aw ay.

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III The Shadow One of t he fir st consider at ions w hich ar ose in t he business m ind of Mr. Lorry when business hours cam e round, w as t h is: —t hat he had no r ight t o im per il Tellson's by shelt er ing t he w ife of an em igr ant pr isoner under t he Bank r oof, His ow n possessions, safet y , life, he w ould hav e hazar ded for Lucie and her child, w it hout a m om ent 's dem ur ; but t he gr eat t r ust he held w as not his ow n, and as t o t hat business char ge he w as a st r ict m an of business. At fir st , his m ind r ev er t ed t o Defar ge, and he t hought of finding out t he w ine - shop again and t ak ing counsel w it h it s m ast er in r efer ence t o t he safest dw elling- place in t he dist r act ed st at e of t he cit y . But , t he sam e consider at ion t hat suggest ed him , r epudiat ed him ; he liv ed in t he m ost v iolent Quar t er , and doubt less w as influent ial t her e, and deep in it s dangerous workings. Noon com ing, and t he Doct or not r et ur ning, and every m inut e's delay t ending t o com pr om ise Tellson's, Mr . Lor r y adv ised w it h Lucie. She said t hat her fat her had spok en of hir ing a lodging for a shor t t er m , in t hat Quar t er , near t he Banking- house. As t her e w as no business obj ect ion t o t his, and as he for esaw t hat ev en if it w er e all w ell w it h Char les, and he w er e t o be r eleased, he could not hope t o leav e t he cit y, Mr . Lor r y w ent out in quest of such a lodging, and found a suit able one, high up in a r em ov ed by- st r eet w her e t he closed blinds in all t he ot her w indow s of a high m elancholy squar e of buildings m ar k ed deser t ed hom es. 366

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To t his lodging he at once r em ov ed Lucie and her child, and Miss Pross: giving t hem w hat com fort he could, and m uch m or e t han he had him self. He left Jer r y w it h t hem , as a figure t o fill a door w ay t hat w ould bear consider able k nock ing on t he head, and r et ained t o his ow n occupat ions. A dist ur bed and doleful m ind he br ought t o bear upon t hem , and slow ly and heav ily t he day lagged on w it h him . I t w or e it self out , and w or e him out w it h it , unt il t he Bank closed. He w as again alone in his r oom of t he pr ev ious night , consider ing w hat t o do nex t , w hen he hear d a foot upon t he st air . I n a few m om ent s, a m an st ood in his pr esence, w ho, w it h a k eenly obser v ant look at him , addr essed him by his nam e. “ Your servant ,” said Mr. Lorry. “ Do you know m e?” He was a st rongly m ade m an wit h dark curling hair, from for t y- fiv e t o fift y y ear s of age. For answ er he r epeat ed, w it hout any change of em phasis, t he w or ds: “ Do you know m e?” “ I hav e seen you som ewhere.” “ Perhaps at m y wine - shop?” Much int er est ed and agit at ed, Mr . Lor r y said: “ You com e from Doct or Manet t e?” “ Yes. I com e fr om Doct or Manet t e.” “ And w hat say s he? What does he send m e?” Defar ge gav e int o his anx ious hand, an open scr ap of paper . I t bor e t he w or ds in t he Doct or 's w r it ing: “ Char les is safe, but I cannot safely leav e t his place y et . 367

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I hav e obt ained t he fav our t hat t he bear er has a shor t not e fr om Char les t o his w ife. Let t he bear er see his w ife. " I t w as dat ed fr om La For ce, w it hin an hour . “ Will you accom pany m e,” said Mr. Lorry, j oyfully relieved aft er r eading t his not e aloud, “ t o w her e his w ife r esides?” “ Yes,” r et ur ned Defar ge. Scar cely not icing as yet , in w hat a curiously reserved and m echanical way Defarge spoke, Mr. Lorry put on his hat and t hey w ent dow n int o t he cour t yar d. Ther e, t hey found t w o w om en; one, k nit t ing. “ Madam e Defarge, surely! ” said Mr. Lorry, who had left her in ex act ly t he sam e at t it ude som e sev ent een y ear s ago. “ I t is she,” obser v ed her husband. “ Does Madam e go w it h us?” inquired Mr. Lorry, seeing t hat she m oved as t hey m oved. “ Yes. That she m ay be able t o r ecognise t he faces and k now t he per sons. I t is for t heir safet y .” Beginning t o be st ruck by Defarge's m anner, Mr. Lorry look ed dubiously at him , and led t he w ay . Bot h t he w om en follow ed; t he second w om an being The Vengeance. They passed t hr ough t he int er v ening st r eet s as quick ly as t hey m ight , ascended t he st air case of t he n ew dom icile, w er e adm it t ed by Jer r y, and found Lucie w eeping, alone. She w as t hrow n int o a t ransport by t he t idings Mr. Lorry gave her of her husband, and clasped t he hand t hat deliv er ed his not e— 368

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lit t le t hink ing w hat it had been doing near him in t he night , and m ight , but for a chance, have done t o him . “ DEAREST,—Take courage. I am well, and your fat her has influence ar ound m e. You cannot answ er t his. Kiss our child for m e." That w as all t he w r it ing. I t w as so m uch, how ev er , t o her w ho r eceiv ed it , t hat she t ur ned fr om Defar ge t o his w ife, and k issed one of t he hands t hat k nit t ed. I t w as a passionat e, lov ing, t hank ful, w om anly act ion, but t he hand m ade no r esponse—dr opped cold and heav y , and t ook t o it s k nit t ing again. Ther e w as som et hing in it s t ouch t hat gave Lucie a check. She st opped in t he act of put t ing t he not e in her bosom , and, w it h her hands y et at her neck , look ed t er r ified at Madam e Defar ge. Madam e Defar ge m et t he lift ed ey ebr ow s and for ehead w it h a cold, im passiv e st ar e. “ My dear,” said Mr. Lorry, st riking in t o explain; “ t here are fr equent r isings in t he st r eet s; and, alt hough it is not lik ely t hey w ill ev er t r ouble y ou, Madam e Defar ge w ishes t o see t hose w hom she has t he pow er t o pr ot ect at such t im es, t o t he end t hat she m ay k now t hem—t hat she m ay ident ify t hem . I believe,” said Mr . Lor r y, r at her halt ing in his r eassur ing w or ds, as t he st ony m anner of all t he t hr ee im pr essed it self upon him m or e and m or e, “ I st at e t he case, Cit izen Defar ge?” 369

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Defar ge look ed gloom ily at his w ife, and gave no ot her answ er t han a gr uff sound of acquiescence. “ You had bet t er , Lucie,” said Mr . Lor r y, doing all he could t o pr opit iat e, by t one and m anner , “have t he dear child her e, and our good Pr oss. Our good Pr oss, Defar ge, is an English lady, and knows no French.” The lady in quest ion, w hose r oot ed conv ict ion t hat she w as m ore t han a m at ch for any foreigner, w as not t o be shaken by dist r ess and, danger , appear ed w it h folded ar m s, and obser v ed in English t o The Vengeance, w hom her ey es fir st encount er ed, “ Well, I am sur e, Boldface! I hope YOU ar e pr et t y w ell! ” She also best ow ed a Br it ish cough on Madam e Defar ge; but , neit her of t he t w o t ook m uch heed of her. “ I s t hat his child?” said Madam e Defar ge, st opping in her w or k for t he fir st t im e, and point ing her k nit t ing- n eedle at lit t le Lucie as if it w er e t he finger of Fat e. “ Yes, m adam e,” answered Mr. Lorry; “ t his is our poor prisoner's darling daught er, and only child.” The shadow at t endant on Madam e Defar ge and her par t y seem ed t o fall so t hr eat ening and dar k on t he child, t hat her m ot her inst inct iv ely k neeled on t he gr ound beside her , and held her t o her br east . The shadow at t endant on Madam e Defarge and her par t y seem ed t hen t o fall, t hr eat ening and dar k, on bot h t he m ot her and t he child. “ I t is enough, m y husband,” said Madam e Defar ge. “ I have seen t hem . We m ay go.” But , t he suppr essed m anner had enough of m enace in it — not v isible and pr esent ed, but indist inct and w it hheld—t o 370

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alar m Lucie int o say ing, as she laid her appealing hand on Madam e Defarge's dress: “ You w ill be good t o m y poor husband. You w ill do him no har m . You w ill help m e t o see him if y ou can?” “ Your husband is not m y business h ere,” ret urned Madam e Defar ge, look ing dow n at her w it h per fect com posur e. “ I t is t he daught er of your fat her w ho is m y business her e.” “ For m y sake, t hen, be m erciful t o m y husband. For m y child's sake! She w ill put her hands t oget her and pr ay you t o be m er ciful. We ar e m or e afr aid of y ou t han of t hese ot her s.” Madam e Defar ge r eceiv ed it as a com plim ent , and look ed at her husband. Defar ge, w ho had been uneasily bit ing his t hum b - nail and look ing at her , collect ed his face int o a st er ner ex pr ession. “W hat is it t hat y our husband say s in t hat lit t le let t er ?” ask ed Madam e Defar ge, w it h a low er ing sm ile. “ I nfluence; he say s som et hing t ouching influence?” “ That m y fat her ,” said Lucie, hur r iedly t aking t he paper from her breast , but w it h her alarm ed eyes on her quest ioner and not on it , “ has m uch influence around him .” “ Sur ely it w ill r elease him ! ” said Madam e Defar ge. “ Let it do so.” “ As a w ife and m ot her ,” cr ied Lucie, m ost ear nest ly , “ I im plor e you t o have pit y on m e and not t o exer cise any pow er t ha t y ou possess, against m y innocent husband, but t o use it in h is beh alf. O sist er- w om an, t hink of m e. As a w ife and m ot her! ” Madam e Defar ge look ed, coldly as ev er , at t he suppliant , and said, t ur ning t o her fr iend The Vengeance: 371

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“ The w ives and m ot her s w e hav e been used t o see, since w e w er e as lit t le as t his child, and m uch less, hav e not been gr eat ly consider ed? We have know n THEI R husbands and fat her s laid in pr ison and k ept fr om t hem , oft en enough? All our liv es, w e hav e seen our sist er- wom en suffer, in t hem selves and in t heir childr en, pover t y, nakedness, hunger , t hir st , sick ness, m iser y , oppr ession and neglect of all k inds?” “ We hav e seen not hing else,” r et ur ned The Vengeance. “ We hav e bor ne t his a long t im e,” said Madam e Defar ge, t urning her eyes again upon Lucie. “ Judge y ou! I s it lik ely t hat t he t r ouble of one w ife and m ot her w ould be m uch t o us now?” She r esum ed her knit t ing and w ent out . The Vengeance follow ed. Defar ge w ent last , and closed t he door . “ Courage, m y dear Lucie,” said Mr. Lorry, as he raised her. “ Cour age, cour age! So far all goes w ell w it h us—m uch, m uch bet t er t han it has of lat e gone w it h m any poor souls. Cheer up, and have a t hankful hear t .” “ I am not t hank less, I hope, but t hat dr eadful w om an seem s t o t hr ow a shadow on m e and on all m y hopes.” “ Tut , t ut ! ” said Mr . Lor r y; “ w hat is t his despondency in t he br av e lit t le br east ? A shadow indeed! No subst ance in it , Lucie.” But t he shadow of t he m anner of t hese Defar ges w as dar k upon him self, for all t hat , and in his secr e t m ind it t r oubled him great ly.

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IV Calm in St orm Doct or Manet t e did not r et ur n unt il t he m or ning of t he four t h day of his absence. So m uch of w hat had happened in t hat dr eadful t im e as could be k ept fr om t he k now ledge of Lucie w as so w ell concealed fr om her , t hat not unt il long aft er w ar ds, w hen Fr ance and she w er e far apar t , did she know t hat eleven hundr ed defenceless pr isoner s of bot h sexes and all ages had been k illed by t he populace; t hat four day s and night s had been dar k ened by t his deed of horror; and t hat t he air ar ound her had been t aint ed by t he slain. She only k new t hat t her e had been an at t ack upon t he pr isons, t hat all polit ical pr isoner s had been in danger , and t hat som e had been dragged out by t he crowd and m urdered. To Mr. Lorry, t he Doct or com m unicat ed under an inj unct ion of secr ecy on w hich he had no need t o dw ell, t hat t he cr ow d had t aken him t hr ough a scene of car nage t o t he pr ison of La For ce. That , in t he pr ison he had found a selfappoint ed Tr ibunal sit t ing, before w hich t he prisoners w ere brought singly, and by w hich t hey w ere rapidly ordered t o be put for t h t o be m assacr ed, or t o be r eleased, or ( in a few cases) t o be sent back t o t heir cells. That , pr esent ed by his conduct or s t o t his Tr ibunal, he had announce d him self by nam e and pr ofession as hav ing been for eight een y ear s a secr et and unaccused pr isoner in t he Bast ille; t hat , one of t he body so sit t ing in j udgm ent had r isen and ident ified him , and t hat t his m an w as Defar ge. 373

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That , her eupon he had ascer t aine d, t hr ough t he r egist er s on t he t able, t hat his son- in- law w as am ong t he liv ing pr isoner s, and had pleaded har d t o t he Tr ibunal—of whom som e m em ber s w er e asleep and som e aw ak e, som e dir t y w it h m ur der and som e clean, som e sober and som e not —for his life and liber t y . That , in t he fir st fr ant ic gr eet ings lav ished on him self as a not able suffer er under t he ov er t hr ow n sy st em , it had been accorded t o him t o have Charles Darnay brought befor e t he law less Cour t , and ex am ined. That , he seem ed on t he point of being at once r eleased, w hen t he t ide in his fav our m et w it h som e unex plained check ( not int elligible t o t he Doct or ) , w hich led t o a few w or ds of secr et confer ence. That , t he m an sit t ing as Pr esident had t hen infor m ed Doct or Manet t e t hat t he pr isoner m ust r em ain in cust ody, but should, for his sak e, be held inv iolat e in safe cust ody . That , im m ediat ely , on a signal, t he pr isoner w as r em ov ed t o t he int er ior of t he pr ison again; but , t hat he, t he Doct or , had t hen so st r ongly pleaded for per m ission t o r em ain and assure him self t hat his son- in- law w as, t hr ough no m alice or m ischance, deliver ed t o t he concour se w hose m ur der ous yells out side t he gat e had oft en dr ow ned t he pr oceedings, t hat he had obt ained t he per m ission, and had r em ained in t hat Hall of Blood unt il t he danger was over. The sight s he had seen t her e, w it h br ief snat ches of food and sleep by int er v als, shall r em ain unt old. The m ad j oy ov er t he pr isoner s w ho w er e saved, had ast ounded him scar cely less t han t he m ad fer ocit y against t hose w ho w er e cut t o piece s. One pr isoner t her e w as, he said, w ho had been dischar ged int o t he st r eet fr ee, but at w hom a m ist ak en 374

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sav age had t hr ust a pik e as he passed out . Being besought t o go t o him and dr ess t he w ound, t he Doct or had passed out at t he sam e gat e, and had found him in t he arm s of a com pany of Sam ar it ans, w ho w er e seat ed on t he bodies of t heir v ict im s. Wit h an inconsist ency as m onst r ous as any t hing in t his aw ful night m ar e, t hey had helped t he healer , and t ended t he w ounded m an w it h t he gent lest solicit ude—had m ade a lit t er for him and escor t ed him car efully fr om t he spot —had t hen caught up t heir w eapons and plunged anew int o a but cher y so dr eadful, t hat t he Doct or had cover ed his eyes w it h his hands, and sw ooned aw ay in t he m idst of it . As Mr. Lorry received t hese confidences, and as he w at ched t he face of his fr iend now six t y- t w o y ear s of age, a m isgiv ing ar ose w it hin him t hat such dr ead ex per iences w ould r evive t he old danger . But , he had nev er seen his fr iend in his pr esent aspect : he had never at all know n hi m in his present charact er. For t he fir st t im e t he Doct or felt , now , t hat his suffer ing w as st r engt h and pow er . For t he fir st t im e he felt t hat in t hat shar p fir e, he had slow ly forged t he iron w hich could break t he prison door of his daught er 's husband, a nd deliv er him . “ I t all t ended t o a good end, m y fr iend; it w as not m er e w ast e and r uin. As m y belov ed child w as helpful in r est or ing m e t o m y self, I w ill be helpful now in r est or ing t he dear est par t of her self t o her ; by t he aid of Heav en I w ill do it ! ” Thus, Doct or Manet t e. And w hen Jar v is Lor r y saw t he k indled ey es, t he r esolut e face, t he calm st r ong look and bear ing of t he m an w hose life alw ay s seem ed t o him t o hav e been st opped, lik e a clock , for so m any y ear s, and t hen set going again w it h an ener gy w hich 375

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had lain dor m ant dur ing t he cessat ion of it s usefulness, he believ ed. Gr eat er t hings t han t he Doct or had at t hat t im e t o cont end w it h, w ould hav e y ielded befor e his per sev er ing pur pose. While he k ept him self in his place, as a phy sician, w hose bu siness w as w it h all degr ees of m ank ind, bond and fr ee, r ich and poor , bad and good, he used his per sonal influence so w isely , t hat he w as soon t he inspect ing phy sician of t hr ee pr isons, and am ong t hem of La For ce. He could now assur e Lucie t hat her husband w as no longer confined alone, but w as m ixed w it h t he gener al body of pr isoner s; he saw her husband w eekly, and br ought sw eet m essages t o her , st r aight fr om his lips; som et im es her husband him self sent a let t er t o her ( t hough never by t he Doct or's hand) , but she w as not per m it t ed t o w r it e t o him : for , am ong t he m any w ild suspicions of plot s in t he pr isons, t he w ildest of all point ed at em igrant s w ho w ere know n t o have m ade friends or per m anent connect ions abr oad. This new life of t he Doct or 's w as an anx ious life, no doubt ; st ill, t he sagacious Mr . Lor r y saw t hat t her e w as a new sust aining pr ide in it . Not hing unbecom ing t inged t he pr ide; it w as a nat ur al and w or t hy one; but he obser v ed it as a cur iosit y . The Doct or k new , t hat up t o t hat t im e, his im prisonm ent had been associat ed in t he m inds of his daught er and his fr iend, w it h his per sonal afflict ion, depr iv at ion, and w eak ness. Now t hat t his w as changed, and he k new him self t o be inv est ed t hr ough t hat old t r ial w it h for ces t o w hich t hey bot h looked for Char les's ult im at e safet y and deliv er ance, he becam e so far ex alt ed by t he change, 376

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t hat he t ook t he lead and dir ect ion, and r equir ed t hem as t he w eak , t o t r ust t o him as t he st r ong. The pr eceding r elat iv e posit ions of him self and Lucie w er e r ev er sed, y et only as t he liv eliest gr at it ude and affect ion could r ev er se t hem , for he could have had no pride but in rendering som e service t o her w ho had r ender ed so m uch t o him . “ All cur ious t o see,” t hought Mr. Lorry, in his am iably shrew d w ay, “ but all nat ural and right ; so, t ak e t he lead, m y dear fr iend, and k eep it ; it couldn't be in bet t er hands.” But , t hough t he Doct or t r ied har d, and never ceased t r y ing, t o get Char les Dar nay set at liber t y , or at least t o get him br ought t o t r ial, t he public cur r ent of t he t im e set t oo st r ong and fast for him . The new er a began; t he k ing w as t r ied, doom ed, and beheaded; t he Republic of Liber t y , Equalit y, Frat ernit y, or Deat h, declared for vict ory or deat h against t he w or ld in ar m s; t he black flag w av ed night and day fr om t he gr eat t owers of Not re Dam e; t hree hundred t housand m en, sum m oned t o r ise against t he t y r ant s of t he ear t h, r ose fr om all t he v ar y ing soils of Fr ance, as if t he dr agon's t eet h had been sow n br oadcast , and had y ielded fr uit equally on hill and plain, on r ock , in grav el, and alluv ial m ud, under t he bright sky of t he Sout h and under t he clouds of t he Nor t h, in fell and for est , in t he v iney ar ds and t he oliv e gr ounds and am ong t he cr opped gr ass and t he st ubble of t he cor n, along t he fr uit ful banks of t he br oad r iver s, and in t he sand of t he sea- shor e. What pr ivat e solicit ude could r ear it self against t he deluge of t he Year One of Liber t y—t he deluge r ising fr om below , not falling fr om abov e, and w it h t he w indow s of Heav en shut , not opened! 377

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Ther e w as no pause, no pit y , no peace, no int er v al of r elent ing r est , no m easur em ent of t im e. Though day s and night s cir cled as r egular ly as w hen t im e w as y oung, and t he evening and m or ning w er e t he fir st day, ot her count of t im e t her e w as none. Hold of it w as lost in t he r aging fev er of a nat ion, as it is in t he fev er of one pat ient . Now , br eak ing t he unnat ur al silence of a w hole cit y , t he ex ecut ioner show ed t he people t he head of t he k ing—and now , it seem ed alm ost in t he sam e br eat h, t he head of his fair w ife w hich had had eight weary m ont hs of im pr isoned w idow hood and m iser y , t o t ur n it grey. And y et , obser v ing t he st r ange law of cont r adict ion w hich obt ains in all such cases, t he t im e w as long, w hile it flam ed by so fast . A r ev olut ionar y t r ibunal in t he capit al, and for t y or fift y t housand r ev olut ionar y com m it t ees all ov er t he land; a law of t he Suspect ed, w hich st r uck aw ay all secur it y for liber t y or life, and deliver ed over any good and innocent per son t o any bad and guilt y one; pr isons gor ged w it h people w ho had com m it t ed no offence, and could obt ain no hear ing; t hese t hings becam e t he est ablished or der and nat ur e of appoint ed t hings, and seem ed t o be ancient usage befor e t hey w er e m any w eek s old. Abov e all, one hideous figur e gr ew as fam iliar as if it had been befor e t he gener al gaze fr om t he foundat ions of t he w or ld—t he figur e of t he shar p fem ale called La Guillot ine. I t w as t he popular t hem e for j est s; it w as t he best cur e for headache, it infallibly pr ev ent ed t he hair fr om t ur ning gr ey , it im par t ed a peculiar delicacy t o t he com plex ion, it w as t he Nat ional Razor w hich shav ed close: w ho k issed La Guillot ine, 378

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look ed t hr ough t he lit t le w indow and sneezed int o t he sack . I t w as t he sign of t he r egener at ion of t he hum an r ace. I t super seded t he Cr oss. Models of it w er e w or n on br east s from w hich t he Cr oss w as discar ded, and it w as bow ed dow n t o and believ ed in w her e t he Cr oss w as denied. I t shear ed off heads so m any , t hat it , and t he gr ound it m ost pollut ed, w er e a r ot t en r ed. I t w as t ak en t o pieces, lik e a t oy- puzzle for a y oung Devil, and w as put t oget her again w hen t he occasion w ant ed it . I t hushed t he eloquent , st r uck dow n t he pow er ful, abolished t he beaut iful and good. Tw ent yt w o fr iends of high public m ar k , t w ent y- one liv ing and one dead, it had lopped t he heads off, in one m or n ing, in as m any m inut es. The nam e of t he st r ong m an of Old Scr ipt ur e had descended t o t he chief funct ionar y w ho w or k ed it ; but , so ar m ed, he w as st r onger t han his nam esake, and blinder , and t or e aw ay t he gat es of God's ow n Tem ple ev er y day . Am ong t hese t er r or s, and t he br ood belonging t o t hem , t he Doct or w alk ed w it h a st eady head: confident in his pow er , caut iously per sist ent in his end, nev er doubt ing t hat he w ould sav e Lucie's husband at last . Yet t he cur r ent of t he t im e sw ept by , so st r ong and deep, and car r ied t he t im e aw ay so fier cely , t hat Char les had lain in pr ison one y ear and t hr ee m ont hs w hen t he Doct or w as t hus st eady and confident . So m uch m ore w icked and dist ract ed had t he Revolut ion grow n in t hat Decem ber m ont h, t hat t he r iver s of t he Sout h w ere encum ber ed w it h t he bodies of t he v iolent ly dr ow ned by night , and pr isoner s w er e shot in lines and squar es under t he sout her n w int r y sun. St ill, t he Doct or w alked am ong t he t er r or s w it h a st eady head. No m an bet t er k now n t han he, in 379

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Par is at t hat day ; no m an in a st r anger sit uat ion. Silent , hum ane, indispensable in hospit al and pr ison, using his ar t equally am ong assassins and v ict im s, he w as a m an apar t . I n t he ex er cise of his sk ill, t he appear ance and t he st or y of t he Bast ille Capt iv e r em ov ed him fr om all ot her m en. He w as not suspect ed or br ought in quest ion, any m or e t han if he had indeed been r ecalled t o life som e eight een y ear s befor e, or were a Spirit m oving am ong m ort als.

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V The Wood- Sawyer One y ear and t hr ee m ont hs. Dur ing all t hat t im e Lucie w as never sur e, fr om hour t o hour , but t hat t he Guillot ine w ould st rike off her husband's head next day. Every day, t hrough t he st ony st r eet s, t he t um br ils now j olt ed heav ily , filled w it h Condem ned. Lovely girls; bright wom en, brown- haired, blackhaired, and grey; yout hs; st alw art m en and old; gent le born and peasant bor n; all r ed w ine for La Guillot ine, all daily br ought int o light fr om t he dar k cellar s of t he loat hsom e pr isons, and car r ied t o her t hr ough t he st r eet s t o slak e her devouring t hirst . Li ber t y, equalit y, fr at er nit y, or deat h; —t he last , m uch t he easiest t o best ow , O Guillot ine! I f t he suddenness of her calam it y , and t he w hir ling w heels of t he t im e, had st unned t he Doct or 's daught er int o aw ait ing t he r esult in idle despair , it w ould but ha ve been wit h her as it w as w it h m any. But , fr om t he hour w hen she had t aken t he w hit e head t o her fr esh y oung bosom in t he gar r et of Saint Ant oine, she had been t r ue t o her dut ies. She w as t r uest t o t hem in t he season of t r ial, as all t he quiet ly loy al and good w ill alw ay s be. As soon as t hey w er e est ablished in t heir new r esidence, and her fat her had ent er ed on t he r out ine of his av ocat ions, she ar r anged t he lit t le household as ex act ly as if her husband had been t her e. Ev er y t hing had it s appoint ed place an d it s appoint ed t im e. Lit t le Lucie she t aught , as r egular ly , as if t hey had all been unit ed in t heir English hom e. The slight dev ices w it h w hich she cheat ed her self int o t he show of a belief t hat 381

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t hey w ould soon be r eunit ed—t he lit t le pr epar at ions for hi s speedy r et ur n, t he set t ing aside of his chair and his book s— t hese, and t he solem n pr ay er at night for one dear pr isoner especially , am ong t he m any unhappy souls in pr ison and t he shadow of deat h—w er e alm ost t he only out spok en r eliefs of her heavy m ind. She did not gr eat ly alt er in appear ance. The plain dar k dr esses, ak in t o m our ning dr esses, w hich she and her child w or e, w er e as neat and as w ell at t ended t o as t he br ight er clot hes of happy day s. She lost her colour , and t he old and int ent ex pr ession w as a const ant , not an occasional, t hing; ot herw ise, she rem ained very pret t y and com ely. Som et im es, at night on k issing her fat her , she w ould bur st int o t he gr ief she had r epr essed all day , and w ould say t hat her sole r eliance, under Heaven, w as on him . He alw ay s r esolut ely answ er ed: “ Not hing can happen t o him w it hout m y know ledge, and I know t hat I can save him , Lucie.” They had not m ade t he r ound of t heir changed life m any w eeks, w hen her fat her said t o her , on com ing hom e one evening: “ My dear, t here is an upper w indow in t he pr ison, t o w hich Char les can som et im es gain access at t hr ee in t he aft er noon. When he can get t o it —w hich depends on m any uncer t aint ies and incident s—he m ight see y ou in t he st r eet , he t hink s, if y ou st ood in a cer t ain place t hat I can show you. But you w ill not be able t o see him , m y poor child, and ev en if y ou could, it w ould be unsafe for y ou t o m ak e a sign of r ecognit ion.” “ O show m e t he place, m y fat her , and I w ill go t her e ever y day.” 382

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Fr om t hat t im e, in all w eat her s, she w ait ed t her e t w o hour s. As t he clock st r uck t w o, she w as t her e, and at four she t ur ned r esignedly aw ay . When it w as not t oo w et or inclem ent for her child t o be w it h her , t hey w ent t oget her ; at ot her t im es she w as alone; but , she nev er m issed a single day . I t w as t he dar k and dir t y cor ner of a sm all w inding st r eet . The hov el of a cut t er of w ood int o lengt hs for bur ning, w as t he only house at t hat end; all else w as w all. On t he t hir d day of her being t her e, he not iced her . “ Good day , cit izeness.” “ Good day , cit izen.” This m ode of addr ess w as now pr escr ibed by decr ee. I t had been est ablished v olunt ar ily som e t im e ago, am ong t he m ore t horough pat riot s; but , w as now law for everybody. “ Walk ing her e again, cit izeness?” “ You see m e, cit izen! ” The w ood- saw y er , w ho w as a lit t le m an w it h a r edundancy of gest ur e ( he had once been a m ender of r oads) , cast a glance at t he pr ison, point ed at t he pr ison, and put t ing his t en finger s befor e his face t o r epr esent bar s, peeped t hr ough t hem j ocosely . “ But it 's not m y business,” said he. And w ent on saw ing his w ood. Nex t day he w as look ing out for her , and accost ed her t he m om ent she appear ed. “ What ? Walk ing her e again, cit izeness?” “ Yes, cit izen. ” “ Ah! A child t oo! Your m ot her , is it not , m y lit t le cit izeness?” 383

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“ Do I say y es, m am m a?” w hisper ed lit t le Lucie, dr aw ing close t o her . “ Yes, dear est . ” “ Yes, cit izen. ” “ Ah! But it 's not m y business. My w or k is m y business. See m y saw ! I call it m y Lit t le Guillot ine. La, la, la; La, la, la! And off hi s head com es! ” The billet fell as he spok e, and he t hr ew it int o a bask et . “ I call m y self t he Sam son of t he fir ew ood guillot ine. See her e again! Loo, loo, loo; Loo, loo, loo! And off HER head com es! Now , a child. Tick le, t ick le; Pick le, pick le! And off I TS head com es. All t he fam ily ! ” Lucie shudder ed as he t hr ew t w o m or e billet s int o his bask et , but it w as im possible t o be t her e w hile t he w oodsaw y er w as at w or k , and not be in his sight . Thencefor t h, t o secur e his good w ill, she alw ay s spok e t o him fir st , and oft en gave him drink- m oney, which he readily received. He w as an inquisit iv e fellow , and som et im es w hen she had quit e for got t en him in gazing at t he pr ison r oof and gr at es, and in lift ing her hear t up t o her husband, she w ould com e t o her self t o find him look ing at her , w it h his k nee on his bench and his saw st opped in it s w or k . “ But it 's not m y business! ” he w ould gener ally say at t hose t im es, and w ould br isk ly fall t o his saw ing again. I n all w eat her s, in t he snow and fr ost of w int er , in t he bit t er w inds of spr ing, in t he hot sunshine of sum m er , in t he r ains of aut um n, and again in t he snow and fr ost of w int er , Lucie passed t w o hour s of ev er y day at t his place; and ev er y day on leav ing it , she k issed t he pr ison w all. Her husband saw 384

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her ( so she lear ned fr om her fat her ) it m ight be once in five or six t im es: it m ight be t w ice or t hr ice r unning: it m ight be, not for a w eek or a for t night t oget her . I t w as enough t hat he could and did see her w hen t he chances ser v ed, and on t hat possibilit y she w ould hav e w ait ed out t he day , sev en day s a w eek. These occupat ions brought her round t o t he Decem ber m ont h, w herein her fat her w alked am ong t he t errors w it h a st eady head. On a light ly- snow ing aft er noon she ar r iv ed at t he usual cor ner . I t w as a day of som e w ild r ej oicing, and a fest iv al. She had seen t he houses, as she cam e along, decor at ed w it h lit t le pik es, and w it h lit t le r ed caps st uck upon t hem ; also, w it h t r icolour ed r ibbons; also, w it h t he st andar d inscr ipt ion ( t r icolour ed let t er s w er e t he fav our it e), Republic One and I ndiv isible. Liber t y , Equalit y , Fr at er nit y , or Deat h! The m iser able shop of t he w ood- saw y er w as so sm all, t hat it s w hole sur face fur nished v er y indiffer ent space for t his legend. He had got som ebody t o scr aw l it up for him , however, who had squeezed Deat h in w it h m ost inappr opr iat e difficult y . On his house- t op, he display ed pik e and cap, as a good cit izen m ust , and in a w indow he had st at ioned his saw inscr ibed as his “ Lit t le Saint e Guillot ine"—for t he gr eat shar p fem ale w as by t hat t ime popular ly canonised. His shop w as shut and he w as not t her e, w hich w as a r elief t o Lucie, and left her quit e alone. But , he w as not far off, for pr esent ly she hear d a t r oubled m ov em ent and a shout ing com ing along, w hich filled her w it h fear. A m om ent aft er w ar ds, and a t hr ong of people cam e pour ing r ound t he cor ner by t he pr ison w all, in t he m idst of 385

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w hom w as t he w ood- saw yer hand in hand w it h The Vengeance. Ther e could not be few er t han five hundr ed people, and t hey w er e dancing lik e fiv e t housand dem ons. Ther e w as no ot her m usic t han t heir ow n singing. They danced t o t he popular Rev olut ion song, k eeping a fer ocious t im e t hat w as lik e a gnashing of t eet h in unison. Men and w om en danced t oget her , w om en danced t oget her , m en danced t oget her , as hazar d had brought t hem t oget her . At fir st , t hey w er e a m er e st or m of coar se r ed caps and coar se w oollen r ags; but , as t hey filled t he place, and st opped t o dance about Lucie, som e ghast ly appar it ion of a dance - figure gone raving m ad arose am ong t hem . They advanced, ret r eat ed, st r uck at one anot her 's hands, clut ched at one anot her 's heads, spun r ound alone, caught one anot her and spun r ound in pair s, unt il m any of t hem dr opped. While t hose w er e dow n, t he r est linked hand in hand, and all spun r ound t oget her : t hen t he r i ng br ok e, and in separ at e r ings of t w o and four t hey t ur ned and t ur ned unt il t hey all st opped at once, began again, st r uck, clut ched, and t or e, and t hen reversed t he spin, and all spun round anot her w ay. Suddenly t hey st opped again, paused, st r uck out t he t im e afr esh, for m ed int o lines t he w idt h of t he public w ay , and, w it h t heir heads low dow n and t heir hands high up, sw ooped scr eam ing off. No fight could hav e been half so t er r ible as t his dance. I t w as so em phat ically a fallen spor t —a som et hing, once innocent , deliv er ed ov er t o all dev ilr y —a healt hy past im e changed int o a m eans of anger ing t he blood, bew ilder ing t he senses, and st eeling t he hear t . Such gr ace as w as v isible in it , m ade it t he uglier , show ing how w ar ped and per v er t ed all 386

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t hings good by nat ure w er e becom e. The m aidenly bosom bar ed t o t his, t he pr et t y alm ost - child's head t hus dist r act ed, t he delicat e foot m incing in t his slough of blood and dir t , w er e t y pes of t he disj oint ed t im e. This w as t he Car m agnole. As it passed, leav ing Lucie fright ene d and bew ilder ed in t he door w ay of t he w oodsaw y er 's house, t he feat her y snow fell as quiet ly and lay as w hit e and soft , as if it had nev er been. “ O m y fat her ! ” for he st ood befor e her w hen she lift ed up t he ey es she had m om ent ar ily dar k ened w it h her hand; “ such a cr uel, bad sight .” “ I know , m y dear, I know . I have seen it m any t im es. Don't be fright ened! Not one of t hem w ould harm you.” “ I am not fr ight ened for m yself, m y fat her . But w hen I t hink of m y husband, and t he m er cies of t hese people—” “ We w ill set him abov e t heir m er cies v er y soon. I left him clim bing t o t he w indow , and I cam e t o t ell y ou. Ther e is no one her e t o see. You m ay k iss y our hand t ow ar ds t hat highest shelving r oof.” “ I do so, fat her , and I send him m y Soul w it h it ! ” “ You cannot see him , m y poor dear?” “ No, fat her ,” said Lucie, y ear ning and w eeping as she kissed her hand, “ no.” A foot st ep in t he snow . Madam e Defar ge. “ I salut e y ou, cit izeness,” fr om t he Doct or . “ I salut e y ou, cit izen.” This in passing. Not hing m or e. Madam e Defar ge gone, lik e a shadow over t he w hit e r oad. “ Give m e your arm , m y love. Pass from here wit h an air of cheer fulness and cour age, for his sak e. That w as w ell done; ” 387

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t hey had left t he spot ; “ it shall not be in v ain. Char les is sum m oned for t o- m orrow.” “ For t o- m orrow!” “ Ther e is no t im e t o lose. I am w ell pr epar ed, but t her e ar e pr ecaut ions t o be t ak en, t hat could not be t ak en unt il he w as act ually sum m oned befor e t he Tr ibunal. He has not r eceiv ed t he not ice y et , but I k now t hat he w ill pr esent ly be sum m oned for t o- m orrow, and rem oved t o t he Conciergerie; I hav e t im ely infor m at ion. You ar e not afr aid?” She could scarcely answer, “ I t rust in you.” “ Do so, im plicit ly . Your suspense is near ly ended, m y darling; he shall be r est or ed t o y ou w it hin a few hour s; I hav e encom passed him w it h every prot ect ion. I m ust see Lorry.” He st opped. Ther e w as a heav y lum ber ing of w heels w it hin hear ing. They bot h k new t oo w ell w hat it m eant . One. Tw o. Three. Three t um brils fari ng aw ay w it h t heir dr ead loads over t he hushing snow . “ I m ust see Lorry,” t he Doct or repeat ed, t urning her anot her w ay. The st aunch old gent lem an w as st ill in his t r ust ; had nev er left it . He and his book s w er e in fr equent r equisit ion as t o propert y co nfiscat ed and m ade nat ional. What he could sav e for t he ow ner s, he sav ed. No bet t er m an liv ing t o hold fast by w hat Tellson's had in k eeping, and t o hold his peace. A m urky red and yellow sky, and a rising m ist from t he Seine, denot ed t he appr oach of dark ness. I t w as alm ost dar k w hen t hey ar r iv ed at t he Bank . The st at ely r esidence of Monseigneur w as alt oget her blight ed and deser t ed. Abov e a heap of dust and ashes in t he cour t , r an t he let t er s: Nat ional 388

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Pr oper t y. Republic One and I ndivisible. Liber t y, Equa lit y , Frat ernit y, or Deat h! Who could t hat be w it h Mr. Lorry—t he ow ner of t he r idingcoat upon t he chair—w ho m ust not be seen? From w hom new ly ar r iv ed, did he com e out , agit at ed and sur pr ised, t o t ak e his fav our it e in his ar m s? To w hom did he appear t o repeat her falt er ing w or ds, w hen, r aising his voice and t ur ning his head t ow ar ds t he door of t he r oom fr om w hich he had issued, he said: “ Rem ov ed t o t he Concier ger ie, and sum m oned for t o- m orrow?”

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VI Trium ph The dr ead t r ibunal of fiv e Judges, Public Prosecut or, and det erm ined Jury, sat every day. Their list s w ent fort h every ev ening, and w er e r ead out by t he gaoler s of t he v ar ious pr isons t o t heir pr isoner s. The st andar d gaoler- j ok e w as, “ Com e out and list en t o t he Ev ening Paper , y ou inside t her e! ” “ Charles Evrem onde, called Darnay! ” So at last began t he Ev ening Paper at La For ce. When a nam e w as called, it s ow ner st epped apar t int o a spot r eser v ed for t hose w ho w er e announced as being t hus fat ally recorded. Charles Evrem onde, called Darnay, had r eason t o k now t he usage; he had seen hundr eds pass aw ay so. His bloat ed gaoler , w ho w or e spect acles t o r ead w it h, glanced ov er t hem t o assur e him self t hat he had t ak en his place, and w ent t hr ough t he list , m ak ing a sim ilar shor t pause at each nam e. The r e w er e t w ent y- t hr ee nam es, but only t w ent y w er e r esponded t o; for one of t he pr isoner s so sum m oned had died in gaol and been for got t en, and t w o had alr eady been guillot ined and for got t en. The list w as r ead, in t he vault ed cham ber where Darnay had seen t he associat ed pr isoner s on t he night of his ar r iv al. Ev er y one of t hose had perished in t he m assacre; every hum an creat ure he had since car ed for and par t ed w it h, had died on t he scaffold. Ther e w er e hur r ied w or ds of far ew ell and kindness, but t he par t ing w as soon ov er . I t w as t he incident of ev er y day , and t he societ y of La For ce w er e engaged in t he pr epar at ion of 390

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som e gam es of for feit s and a lit t le concer t , for t hat ev ening. They cr ow ded t o t he gr at es and shed t ear s t her e; but , t w ent y places in t he pr oj ect ed ent er t ainm ent s had t o be r efilled, and t he t im e w as, at best , shor t t o t he lock - up hour, when t he com m on room s and corridors would be delivered over t o t he gr eat dogs w ho k ept w at ch t her e t hr ough t he night . The pr isoner s w er e far fr om insensible or unfeeling; t heir w ay s ar ose out of t he condit ion of t he t im e. Sim ilar ly , t hough w it h a subt le differ ence, a species of fer v our or int ox icat ion, k now n, w it hout doubt , t o hav e led som e per sons t o br av e t he guillot ine unnecessar ily , and t o die by it , w as not m ere boast fulness, but a w ild infect ion of t he w ildly shak en public m ind. I n seasons of pest ilence, som e of us w ill hav e a secr et at t r act ion t o t he disease—a t er r ible passing inclinat ion t o die of it . And all of us hav e lik e w onder s hidden in our br east s, onl y needing cir cum st ances t o evoke t hem . The passage t o t he Concier ger ie w as shor t and dar k ; t he night in it s v er m in- haunt ed cells w as long and cold. Nex t day , fift een pr isoner s w er e put t o t he bar befor e Char les Dar nay 's nam e w as called. All t he fift een w ere condem ned, and t he t r ials of t he w hole occupied an hour and a half. “ Char les Evr em onde, called Dar nay,” w as at lengt h arraigned. His j udges sat upon t he Bench in feat her ed hat s; but t he rough red cap and t ricoloured cockade w as t he head- dr ess ot herw ise pr ev ailing. Look ing at t he Jur y and t he t ur bulent audience, he m ight hav e t hought t hat t he usual or der of t hings w as r ev er sed, and t hat t he felons w er e t r y ing t he honest m en. The low est , cr uelest , and w or st populace of a 391

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cit y , nev er w it hout it s quant it y of low , cr uel, and bad, w er e t he dir ect ing spir it s of t he scene: noisily com m ent ing, applauding, disappr ov ing, ant icipat ing, and pr ecipit at ing t he r esult , w it hout a check . Of t he m en, t he gr eat er par t w er e arm ed in various w ays; of t he w om en, som e w ore knives, som e dagger s, som e at e and dr ank as t hey looked on, m any k nit t ed. Am ong t hese last , w as one, w it h a spar e piece of knit t ing under her arm as she worked. She was in a front row, by t he side of a m an w hom he had nev er seen since his ar r iv al at t he Barrier, but whom he direct ly rem em bered as Defar ge. He not iced t hat she once or t w ice w hisper ed in his ear , and t hat she seem ed t o be his w ife; but , w hat he m ost not iced in t he t w o figur es w as, t hat alt hough t hey w er e post ed as close t o him self as t hey coul d be, t hey never looked t ow ar ds him . They seem ed t o be w ait ing for som et hing w it h a dogged det er m inat ion, and t hey look ed at t he Jur y , but at not hing else. Under t he Pr esident sat Doct or Manet t e, in his usual quiet dr ess. As w ell as t he pr isoner could see, he and Mr. Lorry were t he only m en t here, unconnect ed wit h t he Tr ibunal, w ho w or e t heir usual clot hes, and had not assum ed t he coar se gar b of t he Car m agnole. Charles Evrem onde, called Darnay, w as accused by t he public pr osecut or as an em igr ant , w hose life w as for feit t o t he Republic, under t he decr ee w hich banished all em igr ant s on pain of Deat h. I t w as not hing t hat t he decr ee bor e dat e since his r et ur n t o Fr ance. Ther e he w as, and t her e w as t he decr ee; he had been t ak en in Fr ance, and his head w as dem anded. “ Tak e off his head! ” cr ied t he audience. “ An enem y t o t he Republic! ” 392

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The Pr esident r ang his bell t o silence t hose cr ies, and ask ed t he pr isoner w het her it w as not t r ue t hat he had liv ed m any years in England? Undoubt edly it w as. Was he not an em igr ant t hen? What did he call him self? Not an em igr ant , he hoped, w it hin t he sense and spir it of t he law . Why not ? t he Pr esident desir ed t o k now . Because he had v olunt ar ily r elinquished a t it le t hat w as dist ast efu l t o h im , an d a st at ion t hat w as dist ast eful t o him , and had left his count r y —he subm it t ed befor e t he w or d em igr ant in t he pr esent accept at ion by t he Tr ibunal w as in use—t o live by his ow n indust r y in England, r at her t han on t he indust r y of t he ov er laden people of Fr ance. W hat pr oof had he of t his? He handed in t he nam es of t w o w it nesses; Theophile Gabelle, and Alex andr e Manet t e. But he had m ar r ied in England? t he Pr esident r em inded him . Tr ue, but not an English w om an. A cit izeness of Fr ance? Yes. By bir t h. Her nam e and fam ily? “ Lucie Manet t e, only daught er of Doct or Manet t e, t he good phy sician w ho sit s t her e.” This answ er had a happy effect upon t he audience. Cr ies in ex alt at ion of t he w ell- know n good physician r ent t he hall. So capr iciously w er e t he people m o v ed, t hat t ear s im m ediat ely r olled dow n sev er al fer ocious count enances w hich had been 393

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glar ing at t he pr isoner a m om ent befor e, as if w it h im pat ience t o pluck him out int o t he st r eet s and k ill him . On t hese few st eps of his danger ous w ay , Char les Dar nay had set his foot accor ding t o Doct or Manet t e's r eit er at ed inst r uct ions. The sam e caut ious counsel dir ect ed ev er y st ep t hat lay before him , and had prepared every inch of his road. The President asked, w hy had he ret urned t o France w hen he did, and not sooner? He had not r et ur ned sooner , he r eplied, sim ply because he had no m eans of liv ing in Fr ance, sav e t hose he had r esigned; w her eas, in England, he liv ed by giv ing inst r uct ion in t he French language and lit erat ure. He had ret urned w hen he did, on t he pressing and w r it t en ent r eat y of a Fr ench cit izen, w ho r epr esent ed t hat his life w as endanger ed by his absence. He had com e back , t o sav e a cit izen's life, and t o bear his t est im ony , at w hat ev er per sonal hazar d, t o t he t r ut h. Was t hat cr im inal in t he ey es of t he Republic? The populace cr ied ent husiast ically , “ No! ” and t he Pr esident r ang his bell t o quiet t hem . Which it did not , for t hey cont inued t o cr y “ No! ” unt il t hey left off, of t heir ow n w ill. The Pr esident r equir ed t he nam e of t hat cit izen. The accused ex plained t hat t he cit izen w as his fir st w it ness. He also r efer r ed w it h confidence t o t he cit izen's let t er , w hich had been t aken fr om him at t he Bar r ier , but w hich he did not doubt w ould be found am ong t he paper s t hen befor e t he Pr esident . The Doct or had t ak en car e t hat it should be t her e —had assur ed him t hat it w ould be t her e —an d at t h is st age of t h e 394

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pr oceedings it w as pr oduced and r ead. Cit izen Gabelle w as called t o confir m it , and did so. Cit izen Gabelle hint ed, w it h infinit e delicacy and polit eness, t hat in t he pr essur e of business im posed on t he Tr ibunal by t he m ult it ude of enem ies of t he Republic w it h w hich it had t o deal, he had been slight ly ov er look ed in his pr ison of t he Abbay e —in fact , had r at her passed out of t he Tr ibunal's pat r iot ic r em em b rance—unt il t hr ee day s ago; w hen he had been sum m oned befor e it , and had been set at liber t y on t he Jur y 's declar ing t hem selv es sat isfied t hat t he accusat ion against him w as answ er ed, as t o him self, by t he sur r ender of t he cit izen Ev r em onde, called Darnay. Doct or Manet t e w as nex t quest ioned. His high per sonal popular it y , and t he clear ness of his answ er s, m ade a gr eat im pr ession; but , as he pr oceeded, as he show ed t hat t he Accused w as his fir st fr iend on his r elease fr om his long im pr isonm ent ; t hat , t he accused had r em ained in England, alw ay s fait hful and dev ot ed t o his daught er and him self in t heir ex ile; t hat , so far fr om being in fav our w it h t he Ar ist ocr at gover nm ent t her e, he had act ually been t r ied for his life by it , as t he foe of England and fr iend of t he Unit ed St at es—as he br ought t hese cir cum st ances int o view , w it h t he gr eat est discr et ion and w it h t he st r aight for w ar d for ce of t r ut h and ear nest ness, t he Jur y and t he populace becam e one. At last , w hen he appealed by nam e t o Monsieur Lor r y , an English gent lem an t hen and t her e pr esent , w ho, lik e him self, had been a w it ness on t hat English t r ial and could cor r obor at e his account of it , t he Jur y declar ed t hat t hey had hear d enough, 395

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and t hat t hey w er e r eady w it h t heir v ot es if t he Pr esident w er e cont ent t o receive t hem . At every vot e ( t he Jurym en vot ed aloud and individually) , t he populace set up a shout of applause. All t he v oices w er e in t he pr isoner 's fav our , and t he Pr esident declar ed him fr ee. Then, began one of t hose ex t r aor dinar y scenes w it h w hich t he populace som et im es gr at ified t heir fick leness, or t heir bet t er im pulses t ow ar ds gener osit y and m er cy, or w hich t hey r egar ded as som e set - off against t heir sw ollen account of cr uel r age. No m an can decide now t o w hich of t hese m ot iv es such ext raordina r y scenes w er e r efer able; it is pr obable, t o a blending of all t he t hr ee, w it h t he second pr edom inat ing. No sooner w as t he acquit t al pr onounced, t han t ear s w er e shed as fr eely as blood at anot her t im e, and such fr at er nal em br aces w er e best ow ed upon t he pr i soner by as m any of bot h sex es as could r ush at him , t hat aft er his long and unw holesom e confinem ent he w as in danger of faint ing fr om ex haust ion; none t he less because he k new v er y w ell, t hat t he v er y sam e people, carried by anot her current , would have ru shed at him w it h t he v er y sam e int ensit y , t o r end him t o pieces and st r ew him ov er t he st r eet s. His rem oval, t o m ake w ay for ot her accused persons w ho w er e t o be t r ied, r escued him fr om t hese car esses for t he m om ent . Fiv e w er e t o be t r ied t oget her , nex t , as enem ies of t he Republic, for asm uch as t hey had not assist ed it by w or d or deed. So quick w as t he Tr ibunal t o com pensat e it self and t he nat ion for a chance lost , t hat t hese fiv e cam e dow n t o him befor e he left t he place, condem ned t o die w it hin t w ent y- four hour s. The fir st of t hem t old him so, w it h t he cust om ar y 396

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pr ison sign of Deat h—a r aised finger—and t hey all added in w or ds, “ Long live t he Republic! ” The fiv e had had, it is t r ue, no audience t o lengt hen t heir proceedings, for w hen he and Doct or Manet t e em erged from t he gat e, t her e w as a gr eat cr ow d about it , in w hich t her e seem ed t o be ever y face he had seen in Cour t —ex cept t w o, for w hich he looked in vain. On his com ing out , t he concour se m ade at him anew , w eeping, em br acing, and shout ing, all by t urns and all t oget her , unt il t he v er y t ide of t he r iv er on t he bank of w hich t he m ad scene w as act ed, seem ed t o r un m ad, lik e t he people on t he shor e. They put him int o a gr eat chair t hey had am ong t hem , and w hich t hey had t ak en eit her out of t he Cour t it self, or one of it s r oom s or passages. Over t he chair t hey had t hr ow n a r ed flag, and t o t he back of it t hey had bound a pik e w it h a r ed cap on it s t op. I n t his car of t r ium ph, not ev en t he Doct or 's ent r eat ies could pr ev ent his being car r ied t o his hom e on m en's shoulder s, w it h a confused sea of r ed caps heav ing about him , and cast ing up t o sight fr om t he st or m y deep such w r eck s of faces, t hat he m or e t han once m isdoubt ed his m ind being in confusion, and t hat he w as in t he t um br il on his w ay t o t h e Gu illot ine. I n w ild dream like procession, em bracing w hom t hey m et and point ing him out , t hey car r ied him on. Reddening t he snow y st r eet s w it h t he pr ev ailing Republican colour , in w inding and t ram ping t hrough t hem , as t hey had reddened t hem below t he snow w it h a deeper dye, t hey carried him t hus int o t he cour t y ar d of t he building w her e he liv ed. Her fat her had gone on before, t o prepare her, and w hen her 397

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husband st ood upon his feet , she dr opped insensible in his arm s. As he held her t o his hear t and t ur ned her beaut iful head bet w een his face and t he br aw ling cr ow d, so t hat his t ear s and her lips m ight com e t oget her unseen, a few of t he people fell t o dancing. I nst ant ly , all t he r est fell t o dancing, and t he court yard overflow ed w it h t he Carm agnole. Then, t hey elevat ed int o t he vacant chair a young w om an from t he crow d t o be car r ied as t he Goddess of Liber t y , and t hen sw elling and ov er flow ing out int o t he adj acent st r eet s, and along t he river's bank, and over t he bridge, t he Carm agnole absorbed t hem every one and whir led t hem aw ay. Aft er gr asping t he Doct or 's hand, as he st ood v ict or ious and proud before him ; aft er grasping t he hand of Mr. Lorry, w ho cam e pant ing in br eat hless fr om his st r uggle against t he w at er spout of t he Car m agnole; aft er k issing lit t le Lucie, w ho w as lift ed up t o clasp her arm s round his neck; and aft er em br acing t he ev er zealous and fait hful Pr oss w ho lift ed her ; he t ook his w ife in his ar m s, and car r ied her up t o t heir room s. “ Lucie! My own! I am safe.” “ O dear est Char les, let m e t hank God for t his on m y kne es as I have pr ayed t o Him .” They all r ev er ent ly bow ed t heir heads and hear t s. When she w as again in his ar m s, he said t o her : “ And now speak t o your fat her , dear est . No ot her m an in all t his Fr ance could hav e done w hat he has done for m e.” She laid her head upon her fat her 's br east , as she had laid his poor head on her ow n br east , long, long ago. He w as 398

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happy in t he ret urn he had m ade her, he w as recom pensed for his suffer ing, he w as pr oud of his st r engt h. “ You m ust not be weak, m y darling,” he rem onst r at ed; “ don't t r em ble so. I have saved him .”

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VI I A Knock at t he Door “ I hav e sav ed him .” I t w as not anot her of t he dr eam s in w hich he had oft en com e back; he w as really here. And yet his w ife t r em bled, and a vague but heavy fear w as upon her . All t he air r ound w as so t hick and dar k , t he people w er e so passionat ely r ev engeful and fit ful, t he innocent w er e so const ant ly put t o deat h on v ague suspicion and black m alice, it w as so im possible t o for get t hat m any as blam eless as her husband and as dear t o ot her s as he w as t o her , ever y day shar ed t he fat e fr om w hich he had been clut ched, t hat her hear t could not be as light ened of it s load as she felt it ought t o be. The shadow s of t he w int r y aft er noon w er e beginning t o fall, and ev en now t he dr eadful car t s w er e r olling t hr ough t he st r eet s. Her m ind pur sued t hem , looking for him am ong t he Condem ned; and t hen she clung closer t o his r eal pr esence and t rem bled m ore. Her fat her , cheer ing her , show ed a com passionat e super ior it y t o t his w om an's w eak ness, which was wonderful t o see. No gar r et , no shoem aking, no One Hundr ed and Five, Nor t h Tow er , now ! He had accom plished t he t ask he had set him self, his pr om ise w as r edeem ed, he had sav ed Char les. Let t hem all lean upon him . Their housekeeping w as of a ver y frugal kind: not only because t hat w as t he safest w ay of life, inv olv ing t he least offence t o t he people, but because t hey w er e not r ich, and Char les, t hr oughout his im pr isonm ent , had had t o pay heav ily for his bad food, and for his guar d, and t ow ar ds t he liv ing of 400

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t he poor er pr isoner s. Par t ly on t his account , and par t ly t o av oid a dom est ic spy , t hey k ept no ser v ant ; t he cit izen and cit izeness w ho act ed as por t er s at t he cour t y ar d gat e, rendered t hem occasional service; and Jerry ( alm ost w holly t ransferred t o t hem by Mr. Lorry) had becom e t heir daily r et ainer , and had his bed t her e ever y night . I t w as an or dinance of t he Republic One and I ndiv isible of Liber t y, Equalit y, Fr at er nit y, or Deat h, t hat on t he door or door post of ever y house, t he nam e of ever y inm at e m ust be legibly inscr ibed in let t er s of a cer t ain size, at a cer t ain convenient height from t he ground. Mr. Jerry Cruncher's nam e, t her efor e, duly em bellished t he door post dow n below ; and, as t he aft er noon shadow s deepened, t he ow ner of t hat nam e hi m self appeared, from overlooking a paint er w hom Doct or Manet t e had em ploy ed t o add t o t he list t he nam e of Charles Evrem onde, called Darnay. I n t he univ er sal fear and dist r ust t hat dar k ened t he t im e, all t he usual har m less w ay s of life w er e changed. I n t he Doct or 's lit t le household, as in v er y m any ot her s, t he ar t icles of daily consum pt ion t hat w er e w ant ed w er e pur chased ever y ev ening, in sm all quant it ies and at v ar ious sm all shops. To av oid at t r act ing not ice, and t o giv e as lit t le occasion as possible for t alk and env y , w as t he gener al desir e. For som e m ont hs past , Miss Pross and Mr. Cruncher had discharged t he office of purveyors; t he form er carrying t he m oney ; t he lat t er , t he bask et . Ev er y aft er noon at about t he t im e w hen t he public lam ps w er e light ed, t hey far ed for t h on t his dut y, and m ade and br ought hom e such pur chases as w er e needful. Alt hough Miss Pr oss, t hr ough her long 401

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associat ion w it h a Fr ench fam ily, m ight have know n as m uch of t heir language as of her ow n, if she had had a m ind, she had no mind in t hat dir ect ion; consequent ly she k new no m or e of t hat “ nonsense” ( as she w as pleased t o call it ) t han Mr. Cruncher did. So her m anner of m arket ing was t o plum p a noun- subst ant iv e at t he head of a shopk eeper w it hout any int r oduct ion in t he nat ur e of an ar t icle, and, if it happened not t o be t he nam e of t he t hing she w ant ed, t o look r ound for t hat t hing, lay hold of it , and hold on by it unt il t he bar gain w as concluded. She alw ays m ade a bar gain for it , by holding up, as a st at em ent of it s j ust pr ice, one finger less t han t he m erchant held up, what ever his num ber m ight be. “ Now , Mr. Cruncher,” said Miss Pross, w hose eyes w ere red w it h felicit y; “ if you ar e r eady, I am .” Jer r y hoar sely pr ofessed him self at Miss Pr oss's ser vice. He had worn all his ru st off long ago, but not hing w ould file his spiky head dow n. “ Ther e's all m anner of t hings w ant ed,” said Miss Pr oss, “ and w e shall hav e a pr ecious t im e of it . We w ant w ine, am ong t he r est . Nice t oast s t hese Redheads w ill be dr ink ing, wherever we buy it .” “ I t w ill be m uch t he sam e t o y our k now ledge, m iss, I should t hink,” ret ort ed Jerry, “ whet her t hey drink your healt h or t he Old Un's.” “ Who's he?” said Miss Pr oss. Mr . Cr uncher , w it h som e diffidence, ex plained him self as m eaning “ Old Nick's.”

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“ Ha! ” said Miss Pr oss, “ it doesn't need an int er pr et er t o ex plain t he m eaning of t hese cr eat ur es. They hav e but one, and it 's Midnight Mur der , and Mischief.” “ Hush, dear! Pray, pray, be caut ious! ” cried Lucie. “ Yes, y es, y es, I 'll be caut ious, ” said Miss Pross; “ but I m ay say am ong our selv es, t hat I do hope t her e w ill be no oniony and t obaccoey sm ot her ings in t he for m of em br acings all r ound, going on in t he st r eet s. Now , Ladybir d, never you st ir fr om t hat fir e t ill I com e back ! Tak e car e of t he dear husband you have recovered, and don't m ove your pret t y head fr om his shoulder as y ou hav e it now , t ill y ou see m e again! May I ask a quest ion, Doct or Manet t e, befor e I go?” “ I t hink you m ay t ake t hat liber t y,” t he Doct or answ er ed, sm iling. “ For gracious sake, don't t alk about Liber t y ; w e hav e quit e enough of t hat , ” said Miss Pr oss. “ Hush, dear! Again?” Lucie rem onst rat ed. “ Well, m y sw eet ,” said Miss Pr oss, nodding her head em phat ically , “t he shor t and t he long of it is, t hat I am a subj ect of His Most Gr acious Maj est y King Geor ge t he Thir d; ” Miss Pr oss cur t seyed at t he nam e; “ and as such, m y m axim is, Confound t heir polit ics, Fr ust r at e t heir k nav ish t r ick s, On him our hopes w e fix , God save t he King! ” Mr. Cruncher, in an access of loyalt y, grow lingly repeat ed t he w or ds aft er Miss Pr oss, lik e som ebody at chur ch. “ I am glad you have so m uch of t he Englishm an in you, t hough I w ish you had never t aken t hat cold in your voice,” said Miss Pr o ss, appr ov ingly . “ But t he quest ion, Doct or Manet t e. I s t her e"—it w as t he good cr eat ur e's w ay t o affect t o 403

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m ak e light of any t hing t hat w as a gr eat anx iet y w it h t hem all, and t o com e at it in t his chance m anner—" is t her e any pr ospect y et , of our get t ing out of t his place?” “ I fear not y et . I t w ould be danger ous for Char les y et .” “ Heigh- ho- hum ! ” said Miss Pr oss, cheer fully r epr essing a sigh as she glanced at her dar ling's golden hair in t he light of t he fir e, “ t hen w e m ust hav e pat ience and w ait : t hat 's all. We m ust hold up our heads and fight low , as m y brot her Solom on used t o say. Now, Mr. Cruncher! —Don't you m ove, Ladybird! ” They w ent out , leaving Lucie, and her husband, her fat her , and t he child, by a bright fire. Mr. Lorry was expect ed back pr esent ly fr om t he Bank ing House. Miss Pr oss had light ed t he lam p, but had put it aside in a cor ner , t hat t hey m ight enj oy t he fire - light undist ur bed. Lit t le Lucie sat by her gr andfat her w it h her hands clasped t hr ough his ar m : and he, in a t one not rising m uch above a w hisper , began t o t ell her a st or y of a great and pow erful Fairy w ho had opened a prison- w all and let out a capt iv e w ho had once done t he Fair y a ser v ice. All w as subdued and quiet , and Lucie w as m or e at ease t han she had been. “ What is t hat ?” she cr ied, all at once. “ My dear ! ” said her fat her , st opping in his st or y, and laying his hand on her s, “ com m and your self. What a disor der ed st at e y ou ar e in! The least t hing—not hing—st ar t les y ou! YOU, your fat her's daught er! ” “ I t hought , m y fat her ,” said Lucie, ex cusing her self, w it h a pale face and in a falt er ing v oice, “ t hat I hear d st r ange feet upon t he st air s.” “ My lov e, t he st air case is as st ill as Deat h. ” 404

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As he said t he w or d, a blow w as st r uck upon t he door . “ Oh fat her , fat her . What can t his be! Hide Char les. Save him ! ” “ My child,” said t he Doct or , r ising, and laying his hand upon her shoulder , “ I HAVE sav ed him . What w eak ness is t his, m y dear ! Let m e go t o t he door .” He t ook t he lam p in his hand, cr ossed t he t w o int er v ening out er room s, and opened it . A r ude clat t er ing of feet ov er t he floor, and four rough m en in red caps, arm ed w it h sabres and pist ols, ent er ed t he r oom . “ The Cit izen Ev r em onde, called Dar nay ,” said t he fir st . “ Who seeks him ?” answ ered Darnay. “ I seek him . We seek him . I know you, Evrem onde; I saw y ou befor e t he Tr ibunal t o- day . You ar e again t he pr isoner of t he Republic.” The four sur r ounded him , w her e he st ood w it h his w ife and child clinging t o him . “ Tell m e how and w hy am I again a prisoner?” “ I t is enough t hat you r et ur n st r aight t o t he Concier ger ie, and w ill k now t o- m orrow. You are sum m oned for t o- m orrow.” Doct or Manet t e, w hom t his v isit at ion had so t ur ned int o st one, t hat be st ood w it h t he lam p in his hand, as if be w oe a st at ue m ade t o hold it , m ov ed aft er t hese words were spoken, put t he lam p dow n, and confr ont ing t he speak er , and t ak ing him , not ungent ly , by t he loose fr ont of his r ed w oollen shir t , said: “ You know him , you have said. Do you know m e?” “ Yes, I k now y ou, Cit izen Doct or .” “ We all k now you, Cit izen Doct or ,” said t he ot her t hr ee. 405

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He look ed abst r act edly fr om one t o anot her , and said, in a low er v oice, aft er a pause: “ Will y ou answ er his quest ion t o m e t hen? How does t his happen?” “ Cit izen Doct or ,” said t he fir st , r eluct ant ly , “ he has been denounced t o t he Sect ion of Saint Ant oine. This cit izen,” point ing out t he second w ho had ent er ed, “ is fr om Saint Ant oine.” The cit izen her e indicat ed nodded his head, and added: “ He is accused by Saint Ant oine.” “ Of w hat ?” ask ed t he Doct or . “ Cit izen Doct or ,” said t he fir st , w it h his for m er r eluct ance, “ ask no m or e. I f t he Republic dem ands sacr ifices fr om you, w it hout doubt y ou as a good pat r iot w ill be happy t o m ak e t hem . The Republic goes befor e all. The People is supr em e. Evrem onde, we are pr essed.” “ One w or d,” t he Doct or ent r eat ed. “ Will y ou t ell m e w ho denounced him ?” “ I t is against r ule,” answ er ed t he fir st ; “ but y ou can ask Him of Saint Ant oine her e.” The Doct or t ur ned his eyes upon t hat m an. Who m oved uneasily on his feet , r ubbed his bear d a lit t le, and at lengt h said: “ Well! Tr uly it is against r ule. But he is denounced—and gr avely—by t he Cit izen and Cit izeness Defar ge. And by one ot her.” “ What ot her ?” “ Do YOU ask , Cit izen Doct or ?” “ Yes. ” 406

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“ Then,” said he of Saint Ant oine, w it h a st r ange look , “ y ou w ill be answ er ed t o- m orrow. Now, I am dum b! ”

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VI I I A Hand at Car ds Happily unconscious of t he new calam it y at hom e, Miss Pr oss t hr eaded her w ay along t he nar r ow st r eet s and cr ossed t he r iver by t he br idge of t he Pont - Neuf, reckoning in her m ind t he num ber of indispensable pur chases she had t o m ake. Mr. Cruncher, w it h t he basket , w alked at her side. They bot h look ed t o t he r ight and t o t he left int o m ost of t he shops t hey passed, had a w ar y ey e for all gr egar ious assem blages of people, and t ur ned out of t heir r oad t o av oid any ver y excit ed gr oup of t alker s. I t w as a r aw evening, and t he m ist y r iv er , blur r ed t o t he ey e w it h blazing light s and t o t he ear w it h har sh noises, show ed w her e t he bar ges w er e st at ioned in w hich t he smit hs w orked, m aking guns for t he Ar m y of t he Republic. Woe t o t he m an w ho play ed t r ick s w it h THAT Arm y, or got undeserved prom ot ion in it ! Bet t er for him t hat his bear d had nev er gr ow n, for t he Nat ional Razor shav ed him close. Having pur chased a few sm all ar t icles of gr ocer y, and a m easur e of oil for t he lam p, Miss Pr oss bet hought her self of t he w ine t hey w ant ed. Aft er peeping int o sev er al w ine - shops, she st opped at t he sign of t he Good Republican Br ut us of Ant iquit y , not far fr om t he Nat ional Palace, once ( and t w ice) t he Tuiler ies, w her e t he aspect of t hings r at her t ook her fancy . I t had a quiet er look t han any ot her place of t he sam e descr ipt ion t hey had passed, and, t hough r ed w it h pat r iot ic caps, w as not so red as t he rest . Sounding Mr. Cruncher, and 408

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finding him of her opinion, Miss Pr oss r esor t ed t o t he Good Republican Br ut us of Ant iquit y , at t ended by her cav alier . Slight ly obser v ant of t he sm ok y light s; of t he people, pipe in m out h, playing w it h lim p car ds and yellow dom inoes; of t he one bare- br east ed, bare - ar m ed, soot - begrim ed workm an r eading a j our nal aloud, and of t he ot her s list ening t o him ; of t he w eapons w or n, or laid aside t o be r esum ed; of t he t w o or t hr ee cust om er s fallen for w ar d asleep, w ho in t he popular high- shouldered shaggy black spence r look ed, in t hat at t it ude, lik e slum ber ing bear s or dogs; t he t w o out landish cust om er s appr oached t he count er , and show ed w hat t hey w ant ed. As t heir w ine w as m easur ing out , a m an par t ed fr om anot her m an in a corner, and rose t o depart . I n going, he had t o face Miss Pr oss. No sooner did he face her , t han Miss Pr oss ut t er ed a scr eam , and clapped her hands. I n a m om ent , t he w hole com pany w er e on t heir feet . That som ebody w as assassinat ed by som ebody v indicat ing a differ ence of opinion w as t he lik eliest occurrence. Everybody look ed t o see som ebody fall, but only saw a m an and a w om an st anding st ar ing at each ot her ; t he m an w it h all t he out w ard aspect of a Frenchm an and a t horough Republican; t he w om an, ev ident ly English. Wh at w as said in t h is disappoin t ing ant i- clim ax, by t he disciples of t he Good Republican Br ut us of Ant iquit y , ex cept t hat it w as som et hing v er y v oluble and loud, w ould hav e been as so m uch Hebr ew or Chaldean t o Miss Pr oss and her pr ot ect or , t hough t hey had been all ear s. But , t hey had no ears for anyt hing in t heir surprise. For, it m ust be recorded, 409

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t hat not only w as Miss Pr oss lost in am azem ent and agit at ion, but , Mr. Cruncher—t hough it seem ed on his ow n separ at e and individual account —w as in a st at e of t he gr eat est w onder . “ Wh at is t h e m at t er ?” said t he m an w ho had caused Miss Pr oss t o scr eam ; speaking in a vexed, abr upt voice ( t hough in a low t one) , and in English. “ Oh, Solom on, dear Solom on! ” cried Miss Pross, clapping her hands again. “ Aft er not set t ing ey es upon y ou or hear ing of you for so long a t im e, do I find you her e! ” “ Don't call m e Solom on. Do y ou w ant t o be t he deat h of m e?” asked t he m an, in a fur t ive, fr ight ened w ay. “ Br ot her , br ot her ! ” cr ied Miss Pr oss, bur st ing int o t ear s. “ Have I ever been so har d w it h you t hat you ask m e such a cr uel quest ion?” “ Then hold your m eddlesom e t ongue,” said Solom on, “ and com e out , if you w ant t o speak t o m e. Pay for your w ine, and com e out . Who's t his m an?” Miss Pr oss, shak ing her lov ing and dej ect ed head at her by no m eans affect iona t e brot her, said t hrough her t ears, “ Mr. Cruncher.” “ Let him com e out t oo,” said Solom on. “ Does he t hink m e a ghost ?” Apparent ly, Mr. Cruncher did, t o j udge from his looks. He said not a w or d, how ev er , and Miss Pr oss, ex plor ing t he dept hs of her r et icule t hr ough her t ear s w it h gr eat difficult y paid for her w ine. As she did so, Solom on t ur ned t o t he follow er s of t he Good Republican Br ut us of Ant iquit y , and offer ed a few w or ds of ex planat ion in t he Fr ench language, 410

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w hich caused t hem all t o r elapse int o t heir for m er places and pur suit s. “ Now ,” said Solom on, st opping at t he dar k st r eet cor ner , “ w hat do you w ant ?” “ How dreadfully unkind in a brot her not hing has ever t urned m y love away from ! ” cried Miss Pross, “ t o give m e such a gr eet ing, and show m e no affect ion.” “ There. Confound it ! There,” said Solom on, m aking a dab at Miss Pr oss's lips w it h his ow n. “ Now ar e y ou cont ent ?” Miss Pr oss only shook her head and w ept in silence. “ I f you expect m e t o be surprised,” said her brot her Solom on, “ I am not surprised; I knew you were here; I know of m ost people w ho ar e her e. I f y ou r eally don't w ant t o endanger m y exist ence —w hich I half believ e y ou do—go your w ay s as soon as possible, and let m e go m ine. I am busy . I am an official.” “ My English brot her Solom on,” m ourned Miss Pross, cast ing up her t ear- fr aught ey es, “ t hat had t he m ak ings in him of one of t he best and gr eat est of m en in his nat iv e count r y, an official am ong for eigner s, and such for eigner s! I w ould alm ost sooner hav e seen t he dear boy ly ing in his—” “ I said so! ” cr ied her br ot her , int er r upt ing. “ I knew it . You w ant t o be t he deat h of m e. I shall be r ender ed Suspect ed, by m y ow n sist er . Just as I am get t ing on! ” “ The gracious and m erciful Heavens forbid! ” cried Miss Pross. “ Far rat her w ould I never see you again, dear Solom on, t hough I have ever loved you t ruly, and ever shall. Say but one affect ionat e w or d t o me, and t ell m e t her e is 411

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not hing angr y or est r anged bet w een us, and I w ill det ain y ou no longer.” Good Miss Pr oss! As if t he est r angem ent bet w een t hem had com e of any culpabilit y of hers. As if Mr. Lorry had not k now n it for a fact , y ear s ago, in t he quiet corner in Soho, t hat t his pr ecious br ot her had spent her m oney and left her ! He w as say ing t he affect ionat e w or d, how ev er , w it h a far m or e gr udging condescension and pat r onage t han he could hav e show n if t heir r elat iv e m er it s and posit ions had been rever sed ( w hich is inv ar iably t he case, all t he w or ld ov er ) , when Mr. Cruncher, t ouching him on t he shoulder, hoarsely and unex pect edly int er posed w it h t he follow ing singular quest ion: “ I say! Might I ask t he favour ? As t o w het her your nam e is John Solom on, or Solom on John?” The official t ur ned t ow ar ds him w it h sudden dist r ust . He had not pr eviously ut t er ed a w or d. “ Com e! ” said Mr. Cruncher. “ Speak out , you know.” ( Which, by t he w ay , w as m or e t han he could do him self.) “ John Solom on, or Solom on John? She calls you Solom on, and she m ust know , being your sist er. And I know you're John, y ou k now . Which of t he t w o goes fir st ? And r egar ding t hat nam e of Pr oss, lik ew ise. That w ar n't y our nam e ov er t he w at er.” “ What do you m ean?” “ Well, I don't k now all I m e an, for I can't call t o m ind w hat your nam e was, over t he wat er.” “ No?” “ No. But I 'll sw ear it w as a nam e of t w o sy llables. ” 412

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“ I ndeed?” “ Yes. T'ot her one's w as one sy llable. I k now y ou. You w as a spy—w it ness at t he Bailey . What , in t he nam e of t he Fat her of Lies, ow n fat her t o y our self, w as y ou called at t hat t im e?” “ Bar sad,” said anot her v oice, st r ik ing in. “ That 's t he nam e for a t housand pound! ” cried Jerry. The speaker w ho st ruck in, w as Sydney Cart on. He had his hands behind him under t he sk ir t s of his r iding- coat , and he st ood at Mr . Cr uncher 's elbow as negligent ly as he m ight hav e st ood at t h e Old Bailey it self. “ Don't be alarm ed, m y dear Miss Pross. I arrived at Mr. Lor r y's, t o his sur pr ise, yest er day evening; w e agr eed t hat I w ould not pr esent m y self elsew her e unt il all w as w ell, or unless I could be useful; I pr esent m y self her e, t o beg a lit t le t alk w it h your br ot her . I w ish you had a bet t er em ployed brot her t han Mr. Barsad. I wish for your sake Mr. Barsad was not a Sheep of t he Pr isons.” Sheep w as a cant w or d of t he t im e for a spy, under t he gaoler s. The spy , w ho w as pale, t ur ned paler , and ask ed him how he dared— “ I 'll t ell you,” said Sydney. “ I light ed on you, Mr . Bar sad, com ing out of t he pr ison of t he Concier ger ie w hile I w as cont em plat ing t he w alls, an hour or m or e ago. You hav e a face t o be r em em ber ed, and I r em em ber faces w ell. Made cur ious by seeing y ou in t hat connect ion, and hav ing a r eason, t o w hich y ou ar e no st r anger , for associat ing y ou w it h t he m isfor t unes of a fr iend now very unfort unat e, I w alked in your dir ect ion. I w alked int o t he w ine - shop her e, close aft er you, and sat near you. I had no difficult y in deducing fr om 413

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your unreserved conversat ion, and t he rum our openly going about am ong your adm irers, t he nat ure of your calling. And gr adually , w hat I had done at r andom , seem ed t o shape it self int o a purpose, Mr. Barsad.” “ What pur pose?” t he spy ask ed. “ I t w ould be t r oublesom e, and m ight be danger ous, t o explain in t he st r eet . Could you favour m e, in confidence, w it h som e m inut es of your com pany—at t he office of Tellson's Bank, for inst ance?” “ Under a t hreat ?” “ Oh! Did I say t hat ?” “ Then, w hy should I go t her e?” “ Really, Mr. Barsad, I can't say, if you can't .” “ Do you m ean t hat you w on't say, sir ?” t he spy ir r esolut ely ask ed. “ You apprehend m e very clearly, Mr. Barsad. I won't .” Cart on's negligent recklessness of m anner cam e pow erfully in aid of his quick ness and sk ill, in such a business as he had in his secr et m ind, and w it h such a m an as he had t o do w it h. His pr act ised ey e saw it , and m ade t he m ost of it . “ Now , I t old y ou so,” said t he spy , cast ing a r epr oachful look at his sist er ; “ if any t r ouble com es of t his, it 's y our doing.” “ Com e, com e, Mr. Barsad! ” exclaim ed Sydney. “ Don't be ungrat eful. But for m y great respect for your sist er, I m ight not hav e led up so pleasant ly t o a lit t le pr oposal t hat I w ish t o m ak e for our m ut ual sat isfact ion. Do y ou go w it h m e t o t he Bank?” “ I 'll hear w hat y ou hav e got t o say . Yes, I 'll go w it h y ou.” 414

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“ I pr opose t hat w e fir st conduct y our sist er safely t o t he corner of her ow n st reet . Let m e t ake your arm , Miss Pross. This is not a good cit y , at t his t im e, for y ou t o be out in, unprot ect ed; and as your escort know s Mr. Barsad, I w ill invit e him t o Mr. Lorry's wit h us. Are we ready? Com e t hen! ” Miss Pr oss r ecalled soon aft er w ar ds, and t o t he end of her life r em em ber ed, t hat as she pr essed her hands on Sydney's ar m and looked up in his face, im plor ing him t o do no hur t t o Solom on, t here w as a braced purpose in t he arm and a kind of inspir at ion in t he ey es, w hich not only cont r adict ed his light m anner, but changed and raised t he m an. She w as t oo m uch occupied t hen w it h fear s for t he br ot her w ho so lit t le deser v ed her affect ion, and w it h Sydney's fr iendly r eassur ances, adequat ely t o heed w hat she obser v ed. They left her at t he cor ner of t he st r eet , and Car t on led t he way t o Mr. Lorry's, which was wit hin a few m inut es’ w alk . John Bar sad, or Solom on Pr oss, w alk ed at his side. Mr . Lor r y had j ust finished his dinner , and w as sit t ing befor e a cheer y lit t le log or t w o of fir e —per haps look ing int o t heir blaze for t he pict ur e of t hat y ounger elder ly gent lem an from Tellson's, w ho had look ed int o t he r ed coals at t he Roy al George at Dover, now a good m any years ago. He t urned his head as t hey ent er ed, and show ed t he sur pr ise w it h w hich he saw a st r anger . “ Miss Pross's brot her, sir,” said Sydney. “ Mr. Barsad.” “ Bar sad?” r epeat ed t he old gent lem an, “ Bar sad? I hav e an associat ion w it h t he nam e —and w it h t he face.” “ I t old you you had a rem arkable face, Mr. Barsad,” observed Cart on, coolly. “ Pray sit dow n.” 415

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As he t ook a chair him self, he supplied t he link t hat Mr . Lor r y w ant ed, by say ing t o him w it h a fr ow n, “ Wit ness at t hat t rial.” Mr. Lorry im m ediat ely rem em bered, and regarded his new v isit or w it h an undisguised look of abhor r ence. “ Mr . Bar sad has been r ecognised by Miss Pr oss as t he affect ionat e br ot her y ou have heard of,” said Sydney, “ and has ack now ledged t he r elat ionship. I pass t o w or se new s. Dar nay has been ar r est ed again.” St r uck w it h const er nat ion, t he old gent lem an ex claim ed, “ What do y ou t ell m e! I left him safe and fr ee w it hin t hese t w o hour s, and am about t o ret urn t o him ! ” “ Ar r est ed for all t hat . When w as it done, Mr . Bar sad?” “ Just now , if at all. ” “ Mr . Bar sad is t he best aut hor it y possible, sir ,” said Sydney, “ and I have it from Mr. Barsad's com m unicat ion t o a friend and brot her Sheep over a bot t le of w ine, t hat t he ar r est has t ak en place. He left t he m essenger s at t he gat e, and saw t hem adm it t ed by t he por t er . Ther e is no ear t hly doubt t hat he is r et ak en.” Mr . Lor r y 's business ey e r ead in t he speak er 's face t hat it w as loss of t im e t o dw ell upon t he point . Confused, but sensible t hat som et hing m ight depend on his pr esence of m ind, he com m anded him self, and w as silent ly at t ent iv e. “ Now , I t r ust ,” said Sydney t o him , “ t hat t he nam e and influence of Doct or Manet t e m ay st and him in as good st ead t o- m orrow—y ou said he w ould be befor e t he Tr ibunal again t o- m orrow, Mr. Barsad?—” “ Yes; I believ e so. ” 416

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“ —I n as good st ead t o- m orrow as t o- day . But it m ay not be so. I own t o you, I am shaken, Mr. Lorry, by Doct or Manet t e's not hav ing had t he pow er t o pr ev ent t his ar r est .” “ He m ay not have known of it beforehand,” said Mr. Lorry. “ But t hat very circum st ance w ould be alar m ing, w hen w e r em em ber how ident ified he is w it h his son- in- law .” “ That 's t rue,” Mr. Lorry acknowledged, wit h his t roubled hand at his chin, and his t r oubled ey es on Car t on. “ I n shor t ,” said Sy dney , “ t his is a desper at e t im e, w hen desperat e gam es ar e play ed for desper at e st ak es. Let t he Doct or play t he w inning gam e; I w ill play t he losing one. No m an's life here is wort h purchase. Any one carried hom e by t he people t o- day, m ay be condem ned t om orrow. Now, t he st ak e I hav e r esolv ed t o play for , in case of t he w or st , is a fr iend in t he Concier ger ie. And t he fr iend I pur pose t o m y self t o w in, is Mr . Bar sad.” “ You need hav e good car ds, sir ,” said t he spy . “ I 'll r un t hem ov er . I 'll see w hat I hold,—Mr. Lorry, you know what a brut e I am ; I wi sh y ou'd giv e m e a lit t le brandy.” I t w as put befor e him , and he dr ank off a glassful —drank off anot her glassful —pushed t he bot t le t hought fully aw ay . “ Mr . Bar sad,” he w ent on, in t he t one of one w ho r eally w as looking over a hand at car ds: “ Sheep of t he pr isons, em issar y of Republican com m it t ees, now t ur nkey, now prisoner, alw ays spy and secret inform er, so m uch t he m ore v aluable her e for being English t hat an Englishm an is less open t o suspicion of subor nat ion in t hose char act er s t han a Frenchm an, represent s him self t o his em ploy er s under a false 417

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nam e. That 's a very good card. Mr. Barsad, now in t he em ploy of t he republican French governm ent , was form erly in t he em ploy of t he ar ist ocr at ic English gov er nm ent , t he enem y of Fr ance and fr eedom . That 's an excellent car d. I nfer ence clear as day in t his r egion of suspicion, t hat Mr . Bar sad, st ill in t he pay of t he ar ist ocr at ic English gov er nm ent , is t he spy of Pit t , t he t r eacher ous foe of t he Republic cr ouching in it s bosom , t he English t r ait or and agent of all m ischief so m uch spok en of and so difficult t o find. That 's a car d not t o be beat en. Have you follow ed m y hand, Mr. Barsad?” “ Not t o underst and your play,” ret urned t he spy, som ew hat uneasily . “ I play m y Ace, Denunciat ion of Mr . Bar sad t o t he near est Sect ion Com m it t ee. Look over your hand, Mr. Barsad, and see what you have. Don't hurry.” He dr ew t he bot t le near , pour ed out anot her glassful of br andy , and dr ank it off. He saw t hat t he spy w as fear ful of his dr ink ing him self int o a fit st at e for t he imm ediat e denunciat ion of him . Seeing it , he pour ed out and dr ank anot her glassful. “ Look over your hand carefully, Mr. Barsad. Take t im e.” I t w as a poor er hand t han he suspect ed. Mr . Bar sad saw losing cards in it t hat Sydney Cart on knew not hing of. Thro wn out of his honour able em ploy m ent in England, t hr ough t oo m uch unsuccessful hard swearing t here —not because he w as not w ant ed t her e; our English r easons for vaunt ing our super ior it y t o secr ecy and spies ar e of ver y m oder n dat e—he k new t hat he had cr ossed t he Channel, and accept ed ser v ice in Fr ance: fir st , as a t em pt er and an eavesdr opper am ong his 418

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ow n count rym en t here: gradually, as a t em pt er and an eav esdr opper am ong t he nat iv es. He k new t hat under t he overt hrown governm ent he had been a spy upon Saint Ant oine and Defar ge's w ine - shop; had received from t he w at chful police such heads of infor m at ion concer ning Doct or Manet t e's im pr isonm ent , r elease, and hist or y, as should ser ve him for an int r oduct ion t o fam iliar conv er sat ion w it h t he Defar ges; and t r ied t hem on Madam e Defarge, and had br oken dow n w it h t hem signally. He alw ays r em em ber ed w it h fear and t r em bling, t hat t hat t er r ible w om an had k nit t ed w hen he t alk ed w it h her , and had look ed om inously at him as her fingers m oved. He had since seen her, in t he Se ct ion of Saint Ant oine, over and over again produce her knit t ed r egist er s, and denounce people w hose lives t he guillot ine t hen sur ely sw allow ed up. He k new , as ev er y one em ploy ed as he w as did, t hat he w as nev er safe; t hat flight w as im possible; t hat he w as t ied fast under t he shadow of t he ax e; and t hat in spit e of his ut m ost t er giver sat ion and t r eacher y in fur t her ance of t he reigning t error, a w ord m ight bring it dow n upon him . Once denounced, and on such grave grounds as had j ust now been suggest ed t o hi s m ind, he for esaw t hat t he dr eadful w om an of w hose unrelent ing charact er he had seen m any pr oofs, w ould pr oduce against him t hat fat al r egist er , and w ould quash his last chance of life. Besides t hat all secr et m en are m en soon t errified, here w ere surely cards enough of one black suit , t o j ust ify t he holder in gr ow ing r at her liv id as he t urned t hem over. “ You scar cely seem t o like your hand,” said Sydney, w it h t he gr eat est com posur e. “ Do you play?” 419

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“ I t hink , sir ,” said t he spy , in t he m eanest m anner , as he t urned t o Mr. Lorry, “ I m ay appeal t o a gent lem an of your y ear s and benev olence, t o put it t o t his ot her gent lem an, so m uch your j unior, whet her he can under any circum st ances r econcile it t o his st at ion t o play t hat Ace of w hich he has spoken. I adm i t t hat I am a spy , and t hat it is consider ed a discr edit able st at ion—t hough it m ust be filled by som ebody ; but t his gent lem an is no spy , and w hy should he so dem ean him self as t o m ak e him self one?” “ I play m y Ace, Mr. Barsad,” said Cart on, t aking t he answ er on him self, and look ing at his w at ch, “ w it hout any scruple, in a very few m inut es.” “ I should hav e hoped, gent lem en bot h,” said t he spy , alw ay s st r iv ing t o hook Mr . Lor r y int o t he discussion, “ t hat your respect for m y sist er—” “ I could not bet t er t est ify m y r espect for y our sist er t han by finally relieving her of her brot her,” said Sydney Cart on. “ You t hink not , sir ?” “ I have t horoughly m ade up m y m ind about it .” The sm oot h m anner of t he spy , cur iously in dissonance w it h his ost ent at iously r ough dr ess, and pr obably w it h his usual dem eanour, received such a check from t he inscr ut abilit y of Car t on,—w ho w as a m yst er y t o w iser and honest er m en t han he,—t hat it falt er ed her e and failed him . While he w as at a loss, Car t on said, r esum ing his for m er air of cont em plat ing car ds: “ And indeed, now I t hink again, I hav e a st r ong im pr ession t hat I hav e anot her good car d her e, not y et enum er at ed. That 420

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fr iend and fellow - Sheep, w ho spok e of him self as past ur ing in t he count ry prisons; w ho w as he?” “ French. You don't know him ,” said t he spy, quickly. “ French, eh?” repeat ed Cart on, m using, and not appearing t o not ice him at all, t hough he echoed his w or d. “ Well; he m ay be.” “ I s, I assur e y ou,” said t he spy ; “ t hough it 's not im port ant .” “ Though it 's not impor t ant ,” r epeat ed Car t on, in t he sam e m echanical w ay—" t hough it 's not im por t ant —No, it 's not im por t ant . No. Yet I k now t he face.” “ I t hink not . I am sur e not . I t can't be,” said t he spy . “ I t - can't - be, ” m ut t ered Sydney Cart on, ret rospect ively, and idling his glass ( w hich for t unat ely w as a sm all one) again. “ Can't - be. Spoke good Fr ench. Yet like a for eigner , I t hought ?” “ Pr ov incial,” said t he spy . “ No. Foreign! ” cried Cart on, st riking his open hand on t he t able, as a light br ok e clear ly on his m ind. “ Cly ! Disguised, but t he sam e m an. We had t hat m an befor e us at t he Old Bailey .” “ Now , t her e y ou ar e hast y , sir ,” said Bar sad, w it h a sm ile t hat gav e his aquiline nose an ex t r a inclinat ion t o one side; “ t here you really give m e an advant age over you. Cly ( who I w ill unr eser v edly adm it , at t his dist ance of t im e, w as a par t ner of m ine) has been dead sev er al y ear s. I at t ended him in his last illness. He w as bur ied in London, at t he chur ch of Saint Pancras- in- t he - Fields. His unpopular it y w it h t he 421

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black guar d m ult it ude at t he m om ent pr ev ent ed m y follow ing his r em ains, but I helped t o lay him in his coffin.” Here, Mr. Lorry becam e aware, from where he sat , of a m ost r em ar k able goblin shadow on t he w all. Tr acing it t o it s sour ce, he discov er ed it t o be caused by a sudden ext r aor dinar y r ising and st iffening of all t he r isen and st iff hair on Mr. Cruncher's head. “ Let us be r easonable,” said t he spy , “ and let us be fair . To show you how m ist aken you ar e, and w hat an unfounded assum pt ion y our s is, I w ill lay befor e y ou a cer t ificat e of Cly 's burial, w hich I happened t o have carried in m y pocket - book,” w it h a hurried hand he produced and opened it , “ ever since. Ther e it is. Oh, look at it , look at it ! You m ay t ak e it in your hand; it 's no forgery.” Her e, Mr . Lor r y per ceived t he r eflect ion on t he w all t o elongat e, and Mr. Cruncher rose and st epped forw ard. His hair could not hav e been m or e v iolent ly on end, if it had been t hat m om ent dressed by t he Cow w it h t he crum p led horn in t he house t hat Jack built . Unseen by t he spy , Mr . Cr uncher st ood at his side, and t ouched him on t he shoulder lik e a ghost ly bailiff. “ That t here Roger Cly, m ast er,” said Mr. Cruncher, wit h a t acit urn and iron- bound v isage. “ So YOU put him in his coffin?” “ I did.” “ Who t ook him out of it ?” Bar sad leaned back in his chair , and st am m er ed, “ What do you m ean?” 422

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“ I m ean,” said Mr. Cruncher, “ t hat he warn't never in it . No! Not he! I 'll hav e m y head t ook off, if he w as ev er in it .” Th e spy look ed r ound at t he t w o gent lem en; t hey bot h look ed in unspeak able ast onishm ent at Jer r y . “ I t ell you,” said Jerry, “ t hat you buried paving- st ones and ear t h in t hat t her e coffin. Don't go and t ell m e t hat y ou bur ied Cly . I t w as a t ak e in. Me and t w o m o re know s it .” “ How do you know it ?” “ What 's t hat t o you? Ecod! ” growled Mr. Cruncher, “ it 's you I hav e got a old gr udge again, is it , w it h y our sham eful im posit ions upon t r adesm en! I 'd cat ch hold of y our t hr oat and choke you for half a guinea.” Sydney Cart on, who, wit h Mr. Lorry, had been lost in am azem ent at t his t ur n of t he business, her e r equest ed Mr . Cr uncher t o m oder at e and explain him self. “ At anot her t im e, sir ,” he r et ur ned, ev asiv ely , “ t he pr esent t im e is ill- conw enient for ex plainin'. What I st an d t o, is, t h at he k now s w ell w ot t hat t her e Cly w as nev er in t hat t her e coffin. Let him say he w as, in so m uch as a w or d of one sy llable, and I 'll eit her cat ch hold of his t hr oat and chok e him for half a guinea; ” Mr . Cr uncher dw elt upon t his as quit e a liber al offer ; “ or I 'll out and announce him .” “ Hum ph! I see one t hing,” said Car t on. “ I hold anot her car d, Mr . Bar sad. I m possible, her e in r aging Par is, w it h Suspicion filling t he air , for y ou t o out liv e denunciat ion, w hen you are in com m unicat ion wi t h anot her ar ist ocr at ic spy of t he sam e ant ecedent s as y our self, w ho, m or eov er , has t he m y st er y about him of hav ing feigned deat h and com e t o life again! A plot in t he pr isons, of t he for eigner against t he 423

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Republic. A st rong card —a cer t ain Guillot ine car d! Do you play?” “ No! ” r et ur ned t he spy. “ I t hr ow up. I confess t hat w e w er e so unpopular w it h t he out r ageous m ob, t hat I only got aw ay fr om England at t he r isk of being duck ed t o deat h, and t hat Cly w as so fer r et ed up and dow n, t hat he nev er w ould have got aw ay at all but for t hat sham . Though how t his m an k now s it w as a sham , is a w onder of w onder s t o m e.” “ Never you t rouble your head about t his m an,” ret ort ed t he cont ent ious Mr. Cruncher; “ you'll have t rouble enough w it h giv ing y our at t ent ion t o t hat gent lem an. And look her e! Once m ore! "—Mr. Cruncher could not be rest rained from m ak ing r at her an ost ent at ious par ade of his liber alit y—"I 'd cat ch hold of your t hroat and choke you for half a guinea.” The Sheep of t he prisons t urned from him t o Sydney Cart on, and said, w it h m or e decision, “ I t has com e t o a point . I go on dut y soon, and can't ov er st ay m y t im e. You t old m e y ou had a pr oposal; w hat is it ? Now , it is of no use ask ing t oo m uch of m e. Ask m e t o do anyt hing in m y office, put t ing m y head in gr eat ex t r a danger , and I had bet t er t r ust m y life t o t he chances of a r efusal t han t he chances of consent . I n shor t , I should m ak e t hat choice. You t alk of desper at ion. We are all desperat e here. Rem em ber! I m ay denounce you if I t hink proper, and I can swear m y w ay t hr ough st one w alls, and so can ot her s. Now , w hat do y ou w ant w it h m e?” “ Not very m uch. You are a t urnkey at t he Conciergerie?” “ I t ell y ou once for all, t her e is no such t hing as an escape possible,” said t he spy , fir m ly . 424

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“ Why need y ou t ell m e w hat I hav e not ask ed? You ar e a t urnkey at t he Conciergerie?” “ I am som et im es.” “ You can be w hen you choose?” “ I can pass in and out w hen I choose.” Sydney Car t on filled anot her glass w it h br andy, pour ed it slow ly out upon t he hear t h, and w at ched it as it dr opped. I t being all spent , he said, r ising: “ So far , w e hav e spok en befor e t hese t w o, because it w as as w ell t hat t he m er it s of t he car ds should not r est solely bet w een you and m e. Com e int o t he dar k r oom her e, and let us hav e one final w or d alone.”

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IX The Gam e Made While Sy dney Car t on and t he Sheep of t he pr isons w er e in t he adj oining dar k r oom , speak ing so low t hat not a sound w as hear d, Mr. Lorry looked at Jerry in considerable doubt and m ist r ust . That honest t r adesm an's m anner of r eceiv ing t he look , did not inspir e confidence; he changed t he leg on w hich he r est ed, as oft en as if he had fift y of t hose lim bs, and were t rying t hem all; he ex am ined his finger- nails w it h a v er y quest ionable closeness of at t ent ion; and w henever Mr . Lor r y's ey e caught his, he w as t ak en w it h t hat peculiar k ind of shor t cough r equir ing t he hollow of a hand befor e it , w hich is seldom , if ev er , k now n t o be an infir m it y at t endant on per fect openness of char act er . “ Jerry,” said Mr. Lorry. “ Com e here.” Mr. Cruncher cam e forward sideways, wit h one of his shoulder s in adv ance of him . “ What hav e y ou been, besides a m essenger ?” Aft er som e cogit at ion, accom panied w it h an int ent look at his pat ron, Mr. Cruncher conceived t he lum inous idea of replying, “ Agicult ooral charact er.” “ My m ind m isgives m e m uch,” said Mr. Lorry, angrily shak ing a for efinger at him , “ t hat y ou hav e used t he r espect able and gr eat house of Tellson's as a blind, and t hat y ou hav e had an unlaw ful occupat ion of an infam ous descr ipt ion. I f you have, don't expect m e t o befr iend you w hen you get back t o England. I f you have, don't expect m e t o k eep y our secr et . Tellson's shall not be im posed upon.” 426

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“ I hope, sir ,” pleaded t he abashed Mr . Cr uncher , “ t hat a gent lem an lik e y our self w ot I 'v e had t he honour of odd j obbing t ill I 'm gr ey at it , w ould t hink t w ice about har m ing of m e, ev en if it w os so—I don't say it is, but ev en if it w os. And w hich it is t o be t ook int o account t hat if it w os, it w ouldn't , ev en t hen, be all o’ one side. Ther e'd be t w o sides t o it . Ther e m ight be m edical doct or s at t he pr esent hour , a pick ing up t heir guineas w her e a honest t r adesm an don't pick up his fardens—fardens! no, nor y et his half far dens—half far dens! no, nor yet his quar t er—a bank ing aw ay lik e sm ok e at Tellson's, and a cock ing t heir m edical ey es at t hat t r adesm an on t he sly , a going in and going out t o t heir ow n car r iages— ah! equally lik e sm ok e, if not m or e so. Well, t hat ‘ud be im posing, t oo, on Tellson's. For y ou cannot sar se t he goose and not t he gander. And here's Mrs. Cruncher, or least ways w os in t he Old England t im es, and w ould be t o- m orrow, if cause giv en, a floppin’ again t he business t o t hat degr ee as is r uinat ing—st ar k r uinat ing! Wher eas t hem m edical doct or s’ w iv es don't flop—cat ch ‘em at it ! Or , if t hey flop, t heir t oppings goes in fav our of m or e pat ient s, and how can y ou r ight ly hav e one w it hout t 'ot her ? Then, w ot w it h under t ak er s, and w ot w it h par ish cler ks, and w ot w it h sex t ons, and w ot w it h pr iv at e w at chm en ( all aw ar icious and all in it ) , a m an w ouldn't get m uch by it , ev en if it w os so. And w ot lit t le a m an did get , would never prosper wit h him , Mr. Lorry. He'd nev er hav e no good of it ; he'd w ant all along t o be out of t he line, if he, could see his w ay out , being once in—even if it wos so.” 427

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“ Ugh! ” cried Mr. Lorry, rat her relent ing, nevert heless, “ I am shock ed at t he sight of y ou.” “ Now, what I would hum bly offer t o you, sir,” pursued Mr. Cruncher, “ ev en if it w os so, w hich I don't say it is—” “ Don't prevaricat e,” said Mr. Lorry. “ No, I w ill NOT, sir,” ret urned Mr. Crunches as if not hing were furt her from his t hought s or pract ice —" w hich I don't say it is—w ot I w ould hum bly offer t o you, sir , w ould be t his. Upon t hat t her e st ool, at t hat t her e Bar , set s t hat t her e boy of m ine, brought up and grow ed up t o be a m an, w ot w ill errand y ou, m essage y ou, gener al- light - j ob y ou, t ill y our heels is w her e y our head is, if such should be y our w ishes. I f it w os so, w hich I st ill don't say it is ( for I w ill not pr ew ar icat e t o y ou, sir ) , let t hat t her e boy k eep his fat her 's place, and t ak e car e of his m ot her ; don't blow upon t hat boy 's fat her—do not do it , sir—and let t hat fat her go int o t he line of t he r eg'lar diggin', and m ake am ends for w hat he w ould have undug—if it w os so- by diggin’ of ‘em in w it h a w ill, and w it h conw ict ions respect in’ t he fut ur’ keepin’ of ‘em safe. That , Mr. Lorry,” said Mr. Cruncher, w iping his forehead w it h his arm , as an announcem ent t hat he had ar r iv ed at t he per or at ion of his discour se, “ is w ot I w ould r espect fully offer t o y ou, sir . A m an don't see all t his her e a goin’ on dr eadful r ound him , in t he w ay of Subj ect s w it hout heads, dear m e, plent iful enough fur t o br ing t he pr ice dow n t o por t er age and har dly t hat , w it hout hav in’ his ser ious t hought s of t hings. And t hese her e w ould be m ine, if it w os so, ent r eat in’ of y ou fur t o bear in m ind t hat w ot I said j ust now , I up and said in t he good cause w hen I m ight have kep’ it back.” 428

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“ That at least is t rue,” said Mr. Lorry. “ Say no m ore now. I t m ay be t hat I shall y et st and y our fr iend, if y ou deser v e it , and r epent in act ion—not in w ords. I w ant no m ore w ords.” Mr. Cruncher knuckled his forehead, as Sydney Cart on and t he spy ret urned from t he dark room . “ Adieu, Mr. Barsad,” said t he form er; “ our arrangem ent t hus m ade, you have not hing t o fear from m e.” He sat dow n in a chair on t he hear t h, ov er against Mr . Lorry. When t hey were alone, Mr. Lorry asked him what he had done? “ Not m uch. I f it should go ill w it h t he pr isoner , I hav e ensur ed access t o him , once.” Mr. Lorry's count enance fell. “ I t is all I could do,” said Car t on. “ To pr opose t oo m uch, w ould be t o put t his m an's head under t he ax e, and, as he him self said, not hing w or se could happen t o him if he w er e denounced. I t w as obv iously t he w eak ness of t he posit ion. Ther e is no help for it .” “ But access t o him ,” said Mr . Lor r y , “ if it should go ill befor e t he Tr ibunal, w ill not sav e him .” “ I nev er said it w ould.” Mr. Lorry's eyes gr adually sought t he fir e; his sy m pat hy w it h his dar ling, and t he heav y disappoint m ent of his second ar r est , gr adually w eakened t hem ; he w as an old m an now , ov er bor ne w it h anx iet y of lat e, and his t ear s fell. “ You ar e a good m an and a t r ue fr iend,” said Car t on, in an alt er ed v oice. “ For giv e m e if I not ice t hat y ou ar e affect ed. I could not see m y fat her w eep, and sit by , car eless. And I 429

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could not respect your sorrow m ore, if you were m y fat her. You ar e fr ee fr om t hat m isfor t une, how ever .” Though he said t he last w or ds, w it h a slip int o his usual m anner , t her e w as a t r ue feeling and r espect bot h in his t one and in his t ouch, t hat Mr. Lorry, w ho had never seen t he bet t er side of him , w as w holly unpr epar ed for . He gave him his hand, and Car t on gent ly pr essed it . “ To ret urn t o poor Darnay,” said Cart on. “ Don't t ell Her of t his int er v iew , or t his ar r angem ent . I t w ould not enable Her t o go t o see him . She m ight t hink it w as cont r iv ed, in case of t he w or se, t o conv ey t o him t he m eans of ant icipat ing t he sent ence.” Mr . Lor r y had not t hought of t hat , and he looked quickly at Car t on t o see if it w er e in his m ind. I t seem ed t o be; he r et ur ned t he look , and ev ident ly under st ood it . “ She m ight t hink a t housand t hings,” Car t on said, “ and any of t hem w ould only add t o her t r ouble. Don't speak of m e t o her . As I said t o y ou w hen I fir st cam e, I had bet t er not see her . I can put m y hand out , t o do any lit t le helpful w or k for her t hat m y hand can find t o do, w it hout t hat . You ar e going t o her , I hope? She m ust be v er y desolat e t o- night .” “ I am going now, direct ly.” “ I am glad of t hat . She has such a st r ong at t achm ent t o you and r eliance on you. How does she look?” “ Anxious and unhappy, but very beaut iful.” “ Ah! ” I t w as a long, gr iev ing sound, lik e a sigh—alm ost lik e a sob. I t at t r act ed Mr . Lor r y's eyes t o Car t on's face, w hich w as t ur ned t o t he fir e. A light , or a shade ( t he old gent lem an 430

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could not hav e said w hich) , passed fr om it as sw ift ly as a change w ill sw eep ov er a hill- side on a w ild br ight day , and he lift ed his foot t o put back one of t he lit t le flam ing logs, w hich w as t um bling for w ar d. He w or e t he w hit e r iding- coat and t opboot s, t hen in v ogue, and t he light of t he fir e t ouching t heir light sur faces m ade him look v er y pale, w it h his long br ow n hair , all unt r im m ed, hanging loose about him . His indiffer ence t o fir e w as sufficient ly r em ar k able t o elicit a w or d of rem onst r ance fr om Mr . Lorr y; his boot w as st ill upon t he hot em ber s of t he flam ing log, w hen it had br ok en under t he w eight of his foot . “ I for got it , ” he said. Mr . Lor r y's eyes w er e again at t r act ed t o his face. Taking not e of t he w ast ed air w hich clouded t he nat ur ally handsom e feat ur es, and hav ing t he ex pr ession of pr isoner s’ faces fr esh in his m ind, he w as st r ongly r em inded of t hat expr e ssion . “ And your dut ies her e have dr aw n t o an end, sir ?” said Cart on, t urning t o him . “ Yes. As I w as t elling y ou last night w hen Lucie cam e in so unex pect edly , I hav e at lengt h done all t hat I can do her e. I hoped t o hav e left t hem in per fect safet y , and t hen t o hav e quit t ed Par is. I hav e m y Leav e t o Pass. I w as r eady t o go.” They w er e bot h silent . “ Your s is a long life t o look back upon, sir ?” said Car t on, w ist fully . “ I am in m y sevent y- eight h year.” “ You hav e been useful all y our life; st eadily and const ant ly occupied; t r ust ed, r espect ed, and look ed up t o?” 431

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“ I hav e been a m an of business, ev er since I hav e been a m an. indeed, I m ay say t hat I w as a m an of business w hen a boy.” “ See w hat a place y ou fill at sev ent y- eight . How m any people w ill m iss y ou w hen y ou leav e it em pt y ! ” “ A solit ary old bachelor,” answ ered Mr. Lorry, shaking his head. “ Ther e is nobody t o w eep for m e.” “ How can you say t hat ? Wouldn't She w eep for you? Wouldn't her child?” “ Yes, y es, t hank God. I didn't quit e m ean w hat I said. ” “ I t I S a t hing t o t hank God for ; is it not ?” “ Surely, surely.” “ I f you could say, w it h t r ut h, t o your ow n solit ar y hear t , t o- night , ‘I hav e secur ed t o m y self t he lov e and at t achm ent , t he grat it ude or respect , of no hum an creat ure; I have won m yself a t ender place in no r egar d; I have done not hing good or serviceable t o be rem em bered by! ’ your sevent y- eight y ear s w ould be sev ent y- eight heavy cur ses; w ould t hey not ?” “ You say t ruly, Mr. Cart on; I t hink t hey w ould be.” Sy dney t ur ned his ey es again upon t he fir e, and, aft er a silence of a few m om ent s, said: “ I should lik e t o ask y ou: —Does your childhood seem far off? Do t he day s w hen y ou sat at y our m ot her 's k nee, seem days of very long ago?” Responding t o his soft ene d m anner, Mr. Lorry answered: “ Tw ent y y ear s back , y es; at t his t im e of m y life, no. For , as I dr aw closer and closer t o t he end, I t r av el in t he cir cle, near er and near er t o t he beginning. I t seem s t o be one of t he k ind sm oot hings and pr epar ings of t he w ay. My heart is 432

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t ouched now , by m any rem em brances t hat had long fallen asleep, of m y pret t y young m ot her ( and I so old! ) , and by m any associat ions of t he day s w hen w hat w e call t he Wor ld w as not so r eal w it h m e, and m y fault s w er e not confir m ed in m e.” “ I under st and t he feeling! ” ex claim ed Car t on, w it h a br ight flush. “ And y ou ar e t he bet t er for it ?” “ I hope so.” Car t on t er m inat ed t he conv er sat ion her e, by r ising t o help him on wit h his out er coat ; “ But you,” said Mr. Lorry, r ever t ing t o t he t hem e, “ you are young.” “ Yes,” said Car t on. “ I am not old, but m y young w ay w as never t he w ay t o age. Enough of m e.” “ And of m e, I am sure,” said Mr. Lorry. “ Are you going out ?” “ I 'll w alk w it h you t o her gat e. You know m y vagabond and r est less h abit s. I f I should pr ow l about t he st r eet s a long t im e, don't be uneasy ; I shall r eappear in t he m or ning. You go t o t he Cour t t o- m orrow?” “ Yes, unhappily .” “ I shall be t her e, but only as one of t he cr ow d. My Spy w ill find a place for m e. Take m y arm , sir.” Mr. Lorry did so, and t hey w ent dow n- st air s and out in t he st r eet s. A few m inut es br ought t hem t o Mr . Lor r y's dest inat ion. Car t on left him t her e; but linger ed at a lit t le dist ance, and t ur ned back t o t he gat e again w hen it w as shut , and t ouched it . He had hear d of her going t o t he pr ison ever y day. “ She cam e out her e,” he said, looking about him , 433

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“ t ur ned t his w ay , m ust hav e t r od on t hese st ones oft en. Let m e follow in her st eps.” I t w as t en o'clock at night w hen he st ood befor e t he pr ison of La Force, where she had st ood hundr eds of t im es. A lit t le w ood- saw y er , hav ing closed his shop, w as sm ok ing his pipe at his shop- door. “ Good night , cit izen,” said Sy dney Car t on, pausing in going by; for , t he m an eyed him inquisit ively. “ Good night , cit izen.” “ How goes t he Republic?” “ You m ean t he Guillot ine. Not ill. Six t y- t hr ee t o- day . We shall m ount t o a hundr ed soon. Sam son and his m en com plain som et im es, of being ex haust ed. Ha, ha, ha! He is so droll, t hat Sam son. Such a Barber! ” “ Do y ou oft en go t o see him—” “ Shave? Alw ays. Every day. What a barber! You have seen him at work?” “ Never.” “ Go and see him w hen he has a good bat ch. Figur e t his t o y our self, cit izen; he shav ed t he six t y- t hr ee t o- day , in less t han t w o pipes! Less t han t w o pipes. Wor d of honour ! ” As t he gr inning lit t le m an held out t he pipe he w as sm ok ing, t o ex plain how he t im ed t he ex ecut ioner , Car t on w as so sensible of a r ising desir e t o st r ik e t he life out of him , t hat he t ur ned aw ay . “ But y ou ar e not English,” said t he w ood- sawyer, “ t hough you w ear English dr ess?” “ Yes,” said Car t on, pausing again, and answ er ing ov er his shoulder . 434

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“ You speak like a Frenchm an.” “ I am an old st udent her e.” “ Aha, a perfect Frenchm an! Good night , Englishm an.” “ Good night , cit izen.” “ But go and see t hat dr oll dog, ” t he lit t le m an per sist ed, calling aft er him . “ And t ak e a pipe w it h y ou! ” Sy dney had not gone far out of sight , w hen he st opped in t he m iddle of t he st r eet under a glim m er ing lam p, and w r ot e w it h his pencil on a scr ap of paper . Then, t r aver sing w it h t he decided st ep of one w ho r em em ber ed t he w ay w ell, sev er al dar k and dir t y st r eet s—m uch dir t ier t han usual, for t he best public t hor oughfar es r em ained uncleansed in t hose t im es of t error—he st opped at a chem ist 's shop, w hich t he ow ner w as closing w it h his ow n hands. A sm all, dim , cr ook ed shop, k ept in a t or t uous, up- hill t hor oughfar e, by a sm all, dim , cr ooked m an. Giv ing t his cit izen, t oo, good night , as he confr ont ed him at his count er , he laid t he scr ap of paper befor e him . “ Whew ! ” t he chem ist w hist led soft ly , as he r ead it . “ Hi! hi! hi! ” Sydney Car t on t ook no heed, and t he chem ist said: “ For you, cit izen?” “ For m e.” “ You w ill be car eful t o k eep t hem separ at e, cit izen? You know t he consequences of m ixing t hem ?” “ Perf ect ly.” Cer t ain sm all pack et s w er e m ade and giv en t o him . He put t hem , one by one, in t he br east of his inner coat , count ed out t he m oney for t hem , and deliber at ely left t he shop. “ Ther e is 435

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not hing m or e t o do,” said he, glancing upw ar d at t he m oon, “ unt il t o- m orrow. I can't sleep.” I t w as not a r eck less m anner , t he m anner in w hich he said t hese w or ds aloud under t he fast - sailing clouds, nor w as it m or e ex pr essiv e of negligence t han defiance. I t w as t he set t led m anner of a t ir ed m an, w ho had w ander ed and st r uggled and got lost , but w ho at lengt h st r uck int o his r oad and saw it s end. Long ago, w hen he had been fam ous am ong his ear liest com pet it or s as a y out h of gr eat pr om ise, he had follow ed his fat her t o t he gr ave. His m ot her had died, year s befor e. The se solem n w or ds, w hich had been r ead at his fat her 's gr ave, ar ose in his m ind as he w ent dow n t he dar k st r eet s, am ong t he heav y shadow s, w it h t he m oon and t he clouds sailing on high abov e him . “ I am t he r esur r ect ion and t he life, sait h t he Lor d: he t hat believ et h in m e, t hough he w er e dead, y et shall he liv e: and w hosoev er liv et h and believ et h in m e, shall nev er die.” I n a cit y dom inat ed by t he ax e, alone at night , w it h nat ur al sor r ow r ising in him for t he six t y- t hr ee w ho had been t hat day put t o deat h, and for t o- m or r ow 's vict im s t hen aw ait ing t heir doom in t he pr isons, and st ill of t o- m orrow's and t o- m orrow's, t he chain of associat ion t hat br ought t he w or ds hom e, lik e a r ust y old ship's anchor fr om t he deep, m ight hav e been easily found. He did not seek it , but r epeat ed t hem and w ent on. Wit h a solem n int er est in t he light ed w indow s w her e t he people w er e going t o r est , for get ful t hr ough a few calm hour s of t he hor r or s sur r ounding t hem ; in t he t ow er s of t he churches, where no prayers were said, for t he popular 436

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r ev ulsion had ev en t r av elled t hat lengt h of self- dest r uct ion fr om y ear s of pr iest ly im post or s, plunder er s, and pr ofligat es; in t he dist ant bur ial- places, r eser v ed, as t hey w r ot e upon t he gat es, for Et er nal Sleep; in t he abounding gaols; and in t he st r eet s along w hich t he six t ies r olled t o a deat h w hich had becom e so com m on and m at er ial, t hat no sor r ow ful st or y of a haunt ing Spir it ev er ar ose am ong t he people out of all t he w or k ing of t he Guillot ine; w it h a solem n int er est in t he w hole life and deat h of t he cit y set t ling dow n t o it s shor t night ly pause in fury; Sydney Cart on crossed t he Seine again for t he light er st r eet s. Few coaches w er e abr oad, for r ider s in coaches w er e liable t o be suspect ed, and gent ilit y hid it s head in r ed night caps, and put on heav y shoes, and t r udged. But , t he t heat r es w er e all w ell filled, and t he people pour ed cheer fully out as he passed, and w ent chat t ing hom e. At one of t he t heat r e door s, t her e w as a lit t le gir l w it h a m ot her , look ing for a w ay acr oss t he st r eet t hr ough t he m ud. He carried t he child over, and befor e, t he t im id ar m w as loosed fr om his neck asked her for a k iss. “ I am t he r esur r ect ion and t he life, sait h t he Lor d: he t hat believ et h in m e, t hough he w er e dead, y et shall he liv e: and w hosoev er liv et h and believ et h in m e, shall nev er die.” Now , t hat t he st r eet s w er e quiet , and t he night w or e on, t he w or ds w er e in t he echoes of his feet , and w er e in t he air . Per fect ly calm and st eady , he som et im es r epeat ed t hem t o him self as he w alk ed; but , he hear d t hem alway s. The night w or e out , and, as he st ood upon t he br idge list ening t o t he w at er as it splashed t he r iv er- w alls of t h e 437

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I sland of Par is, w her e t he pict ur esque confusion of houses and cat hedr al shone br ight in t he light of t he m oon, t he day cam e coldly , look ing lik e a dead face out of t he sk y . Then, t he night , w it h t he m oon and t he st ar s, t ur ned pale and died, and for a lit t le w hile it seem ed as if Cr eat ion w er e deliv er ed ov er t o Deat h's dom inion. But , t he glor ious sun, r ising, seem ed t o st r ik e t hose w or d s, t hat bur den of t he night , st r aight and w ar m t o his hear t in it s long br ight r ays. And looking along t hem , w it h r ever ent ly shaded ey es, a br idge of light appear ed t o span t he air bet w een him and t he sun, w hile t he r iv er spar k led under it . The st r ong t ide, so sw ift , so deep, and cer t ain, w as lik e a congenial fr iend, in t he m or ning st illness. He w alk ed by t he st r eam , far fr om t he houses, and in t he light and w ar m t h of t he sun fell asleep on t he bank . When he aw ok e and w as afoot again, he linger ed t her e y e t a lit t le longer , w at ching an eddy t hat t ur ned and t ur ned pur poseless, unt il t he st r eam absor bed it , and car r ied it on t o t he sea.—" Like m e.” A t r ading- boat , w it h a sail of t he soft ened colour of a dead leaf, t hen glided int o his v iew , float ed by him , a nd died aw ay . As it s silent t r ack in t he w at er disappear ed, t he pr ay er t hat had br oken up out of his hear t for a m er ciful consider at ion of all his poor blindnesses and er r or s, ended in t he w or ds, “ I am t he r esur r ect ion and t he life.” Mr. Lorry was already out w hen he got back , and it w as easy t o sur m ise w her e t he good old m an w as gone. Sydney Car t on dr ank not hing but a lit t le coffee, at e som e br ead, and, hav ing w ashed and changed t o r efr esh him self, w ent out t o t he place of t r ial. 438

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The cour t w as all ast ir and a- buzz, w hen t he black sheep— whom m any fell away from in dread—pr essed him int o an obscure corner am ong t he crowd. Mr. Lorry was t here, and Doct or Manet t e w as t her e. She w as t her e, sit t ing beside her fat her . When her husband w as br ought in, she t urned a look upon him , so sust aining, so encour aging, so full of adm ir ing lov e and pit y ing t ender ness, y et so cour ageous for his sak e, t hat it called t he healt hy blood int o his face, br ight ened his glance, and anim at ed his hear t . I f t her e had been any ey es t o not ice t he influence of her look, on Sydney Car t on, it w ould have been seen t o be t he sam e influence ex act ly . Befor e t hat unj ust Tr ibunal, t her e w as lit t le or no or der of procedure, ensuring t o any accused person any reasonable hearing. There could have been no such Rev olut ion, if all law s, for m s, and cer em onies, had not fir st been so m onst r ously abused, t hat t he suicidal v engeance of t he Rev olut ion w as t o scat t er t hem all t o t he w inds. Every eye w as t urned t o t he j ury. The sam e det erm ined pat r iot s and good r epublicans as y est er day and t he day befor e, and t o- m orrow and t he day aft er. Eager and pr om inent am ong t hem , one m an w it h a cr aving face, and his finger s per pet ually hov er ing about his lips, w hose appear ance gav e gr eat sat isfact ion t o t he spect at ors. A lif e- t hir st ing, cannibal- look ing, bloody- m inded j urym an, t he Jacques Three of St . Ant oine. The w hole j ur y , as a j ur y of dogs em pannelled t o t r y t he deer . Ev er y ey e t hen t ur ned t o t he fiv e j udges and t he public pr osecut or . No fav our able leaning in t hat quar t er t o- day. A 439

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fell, uncom pr om ising, m ur der ous business- m eaning t her e. Every eye t hen sought som e ot her eye in t he crow d, and gleam ed at it appr ov ingly ; and heads nodded at one anot her , befor e bending for w ar d w it h a st r ained at t ent ion. Char les Evr em onde, called Dar nay. Released yest er day. Reaccused and r et ak en y est er day . I ndict m ent deliv er ed t o him last night . Suspect ed and Denounced enem y of t he Republic, Ar ist ocr at , one of a fam ily of t y r ant s, one of a r ace pr oscr ibed, for t hat t hey had used t heir abolished pr ivileges t o t he infam ous oppr ession of t he people. Char les Ev r em onde, called Dar nay, in r ight of such pr oscr ipt ion, absolut ely Dead in Law . To t hi s effect , in as few or few er w or ds, t he Public Prosecut or. The Pr esident ask ed, w as t he Accused openly denounced or secret ly? “ Openly , Pr esident .” “ By whom ?” “ Three voices. Ernest Defarge, w ine - vendor of St . Ant oine.” “ Good.” “ Ther ese Defar ge, his w ife. ” “ Good.” “ Alexandr e Manet t e, physician.” A gr eat upr oar t ook place in t he cour t , and in t he m idst of it , Doct or Manet t e w as seen, pale and t r em bling, st anding w her e he had been seat ed. “ Pr esident , I indignant ly pr ot est t o y ou t hat t his is a for ger y and a fr aud. You know t he accused t o be t he husband 440

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of m y daught er. My daught er, and t hose dear t o her, are far dear er t o m e t han m y life. Who and w her e is t he false conspir at or w ho say s t hat I denounce t he husband of m y child! ” “ Cit izen Manet t e, be t r anquil. To fail in subm ission t o t he aut hor it y of t he Tr ibunal w ould be t o put y our self out of Law . As t o w hat is dear er t o y ou t han life, not hing can be so dear t o a good cit izen as t he Republic. ” Loud acclam at ions hailed t his r ebuk e. The Pr esident rang his bell, and w it h w ar m t h r esum ed. “ I f t he Republic should dem and of y ou t he sacr ifice of y our child her self, y ou w ould hav e no dut y but t o sacr ifice her . List en t o w hat is t o follow . I n t he m eanw hile, be silent ! ” Fr ant ic acclam at ions w er e again r aised. Doct or Manet t e sat dow n, w it h his ey es look ing ar ound, and his lips t r em bling; his daught er drew closer t o him . The craving m an on t he j ury r ubbed his hands t oget her , and r est or ed t he usual hand t o his m out h. Defarge was produced, when t he co ur t w as quiet enough t o adm it of his being hear d, and r apidly ex pounded t he st or y of t he im pr isonm ent , and of his hav ing been a m er e boy in t he Doct or 's ser v ice, and of t he r elease, and of t he st at e of t he pr isoner w hen r eleased and deliv er ed t o him . This shor t ex am inat ion follow ed, for t he cour t w as quick w it h it s w or k . “ You did good ser v ice at t he t ak ing of t he Bast ille, cit izen?” “ I believ e so.” Here, an excit ed wom an screeched from t he crowd: “ You w er e one of t he best pat r iot s t her e. Why not say so? You w ere a cannoneer t hat day t here, and you w ere am ong t he 441

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fir st t o ent er t he accur sed for t r ess w hen it fell. Pat r iot s, I speak t he t r ut h! ” I t w as The Vengeance w ho, am idst t he w ar m com m endat ions of t he audience, t hus assist ed t he pr oceedings. The President r ang his bell; but , The Vengeance, w ar m ing w it h encour agem ent , shr ieked, “ I defy t hat bell! ” w her ein she w as likew ise m uch com m ended. “ I nfor m t he Tr ibunal of w hat y ou did t hat day w it hin t he Bast ille, cit izen. ” “ I knew ,” said Defar ge, looking dow n at his w ife, w ho st ood at t he bot t om of t he st eps on w hich he w as r aised, look ing st eadily up at him ; “ I k new t hat t his pr isoner , of w hom I speak , had been confined in a cell k now n as One Hundred and Five, Nort h Tow er. I knew it from him self. He knew him self by no ot her nam e t han One Hundr ed and Five, Nort h Tower, when he m ade shoes under m y care. As I serve m y gun t hat day , I r esolv e, w hen t he place shall fall, t o ex am ine t hat cell. I t falls. I m ount t o t he cell, w it h a fellow cit izen w ho is one of t he Jury, direct ed by a gaoler. I exam ine it , v er y closely . I n a hole in t he chim ney , w her e a st one has been w or k ed out and r eplaced, I find a w r it t en paper . This is t hat w r it t en paper . I hav e m ade it m y business t o ex am ine som e specim ens of t he w r it ing of Do ct or Manet t e. This is t he w r it ing of Doct or Manet t e. I confide t his paper , in t he w r it ing of Doct or Manet t e, t o t he hands of t he Pr esident .” “ Let it be r ead.” I n a dead silence and st illness—t he pr isoner under t r ial look ing lov ingly at his w ife, his w i fe only looking fr om him t o look w it h solicit ude at her fat her , Doct or Manet t e k eeping his 442

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eyes fixed on t he r eader , Madam e Defar ge never t aking her s fr om t he pr isoner , Defar ge never t aking his fr om his feast ing w ife, and all t he ot her ey es t her e int ent upon t he Doct or, w ho saw none of t hem—t he paper w as r ead, as follow s.

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X The Subst ance of t he Shadow “ I , Alex andr e Manet t e, unfor t unat e phy sician, nat iv e of Beauv ais, and aft er w ar ds r esident in Par is, w r it e t his m elancholy paper in m y doleful cell in t he Bast ille, dur ing t he last m ont h of t he y ear , 1767. I w r it e it at st olen int er v als, under every difficul t y . I design t o secr et e it in t he w all of t he chim ney , w her e I hav e slow ly and labor iously m ade a place of concealm ent for it . Som e pit ying hand m ay find it t her e, w hen I and m y sorrows are dust . “ These w or ds ar e for m ed by t he r ust y ir on point w it h which I w r it e w it h difficult y in scr apings of soot and char coal fr om t he chim ney , m ix ed w it h blood, in t he last m ont h of t he t ent h year of m y capt ivit y. Hope has quit e depar t ed fr om m y br east . I know fr om t er r ible w ar nings I have not ed in m yself t hat m y r eason w ill not long r em ain unim pair ed, but I solem nly declar e t hat I am at t his t im e in t he possession of m y right m ind—t hat m y m em or y is exact and cir cum st ant ial— and t hat I w r it e t he t r ut h as I shall answ er for t hese m y last recorded words, whet her t hey be ever read by m en or not , at t he Et ernal Judgm ent - seat . “ One cloudy m oonlight night , in t he t hir d w eek of Decem ber ( I t hink t he t w ent y- second of t he m ont h) in t he year 1757, I w as w alking on a r et ir ed par t of t he quay by t he Seine for t he r efr eshm ent of t he frost y air, at an hour's dist ance fr om m y place of r esidence in t he St r eet of t he School of Medicine, w hen a carriage cam e along behind m e, dr iv en v er y fast . As I st ood aside t o let t hat car r iage pass, 444

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appr ehensiv e t hat it m ight ot her w ise r un m e dow n, a head w as put out at t he w indow , and a v oice called t o t he dr iv er t o st op. “ The car r iage st opped as soon as t he dr iv er could r ein in his hor ses, and t he sam e v oice called t o m e by m y nam e. I answ er ed. The car r iage w as t hen so far in adv ance of m e t hat t w o gent lem en had t im e t o open t he door and alight befor e I cam e up w it h it . I obser v ed t hat t hey w er e bot h w r apped in cloak s, and appear ed t o conceal t hem selv es. As t hey st ood side by side near t he car r iage door , I also obser v ed t hat t hey bot h look ed of about m y own age, or rat her younger, and t hat t hey were gr eat ly alik e, in st at ur e, m anner , v oice, and ( as far as I could see) face t oo. “ ‘You ar e Doct or Manet t e?’ said one. “ I am .” “ ‘Doct or Manet t e, for m er ly of Beauvais,’ said t he ot her ; ‘t he young physician, or iginally an ex per t sur geon, w ho w it hin t he last y ear or t w o has m ade a r ising r eput at ion in Par is?’ “ ‘Gent lem en,’ I r et ur ned, ‘I am t hat Doct or Manet t e of w hom you speak so graciously.’ “ ‘We hav e been t o y our r esidence,’ said t he fir st , ‘and not being so for t unat e as t o find y ou t her e, and being infor m ed t hat y ou w er e pr obably w alk ing in t his dir ect ion, w e follow ed, in t he hope of ov er t ak ing y ou. Will y ou please t o ent er t he carriage?’ “ The m anner of bot h w as im per ious, and t hey bot h m oved, as t hese w or ds w er e spok en, so as t o place m e bet w een 445

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t hem selves and t he car r iage door . They w er e ar m ed. I w as not . “ ‘Gent lem en,’ said I , ‘par don m e; but I usually inquir e w ho does m e t he honour t o seek m y assist ance, and w hat is t he nat ur e of t he case t o w hich I am sum m oned.’ “ The r eply t o t his w as m ade by him w ho had spoken second. ‘Doct or , your client s ar e people of condit ion. As t o t he nat ur e of t he case, our confidence in y our sk ill assur es us t hat y ou w ill ascer t ain it for y our self bet t er t han w e can descr ibe it . Enough. Will y ou please t o ent er t he car r iage?’ “ I could do not hing but com ply , and I ent er ed it in silence. They bot h ent ered aft er m e —t he last spr inging in, aft er put t ing up t he st eps. The car r iage t ur ned about , and dr ov e on at it s for m er speed. “ I r epeat t his conv er sat ion ex act ly as it occur r ed. I hav e no doubt t hat it is, w or d for w or d, t he sam e. I descr ibe ev er y t hing ex act ly as it t ook place, const r aining m y m ind not t o w ander from t he t ask. Where I m ake t he broken m arks t hat follow her e, I leav e off for t he t im e, and put m y paper in it s hiding- place. * * * * “ The car r iage left t he st r eet s behind, passed t he Nor t h Barrier, and em erged upon t he count ry road. At t wo- t hir ds of a league fr om t he Bar r ier—I did not est im at e t he dist ance at t hat t im e, but aft er w ar ds w hen I t r av er sed it —it st r uck out of t he m ain av enue, and pr esent ly st opped at a solit ar y house, We all t hr ee alight ed, and w alk ed, by a dam p soft foot pat h in a gar den w her e a neglect ed fount ain had ov er flow ed, t o t he door of t he house. I t w as not opened im m ediat ely , in answ er 446

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t o t he r inging of t he bell, and one of m y t w o conduct or s st r uck t he m an w ho opened it , w it h his heav y r iding glov e, acr oss t he face. “ Ther e w as not hing in t his act ion t o at t r act m y par t icular at t en t ion , for I had seen com m on people st ruck m ore com m only t han dogs. But , t he ot her of t he t w o, being angr y lik ew ise, st r uck t he m an in lik e m anner w it h his ar m ; t he look and bear ing of t he br ot her s w er e t hen so ex act ly alik e, t hat I t hen fir st per ceiv ed t hem t o be t w in br ot her s. “ Fr om t he t im e of our alight ing at t he out er gat e ( w hich w e found lock ed, and w hich one of t he br ot her s had opened t o adm it us, and had relocked) , I had heard cries proceeding from an upper cham ber. I was conduct ed t o t his cham ber st r aight , t he cr ies gr ow ing louder as w e ascended t he st air s, and I found a pat ient in a high fev er of t he br ain, ly ing on a bed. “ The pat ient w as a w om an of gr eat beaut y , and y oung; assur edly not m uch past t w ent y. Her hair w as t or n and ragged, and her arm s were bound t o her sides w it h sashes and handk er chiefs. I not iced t hat t hese bonds w er e all por t ions of a gent lem an's dr ess. On one of t hem , w hich w as a fringed scarf for a dress of cerem ony, I saw t he arm orial bear ings of a Noble, and t he let t er E. “ I saw t his, w it hin t he fir st m inut e of m y cont em plat ion of t he pat ient ; for , in her r est less st r iv ings she had t ur ned ov er on her face on t he edge of t he bed, had dr aw n t he end of t he scar f int o her m out h, and w as in danger of suffocat ion. My fir st act w as t o put out m y hand t o relieve her breat hing; and 447

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in m oving t he scarf aside, t he em broidery in t he corner caught m y sight . “ I t urned her gent ly over, placed m y hands upon her br east t o calm her and keep her dow n, and looked int o her face. Her ey es w er e dilat ed and w ild, and she const ant ly ut t er ed pier cing shr ieks, and r epeat ed t he w or ds, ‘My husband, m y fat her, and m y brot her! ’ and t hen count ed up t o t w elv e, and said, ‘Hush! ’ For an inst ant , and no m or e, she w ould pause t o list en, and t hen t he pier cing shr iek s w ould begin again, and she w ould repeat t he cry, ‘My husband, m y fat her, and m y brot her! ’ and w ould count up t o t w elve, and say, ‘Hush! ’ There w as no variat ion in t he order, or t he m anner . Ther e w as no cessat ion, but t he r egular m om ent 's pause, in t he ut t er a nce of t hese sounds. “ ‘How long,’ I ask ed, ‘has t his last ed?’ “ To dist inguish t he br ot her s, I w ill call t hem t he elder and t he younger; by t he elder, I m ean him w ho exercised t he m ost aut hor it y . I t w as t he elder w ho r eplied, ‘Since about t his hour last night .’ “ ‘She has a husband, a fat her, and a brot her?’ “ ‘A brot her.’ “ ‘I do not address her brot her?’ “ He answ er ed w it h gr eat cont em pt , ‘No.’ “ ‘She has som e r ecent associat ion w it h t he num ber t w elv e?’ “ The y ounger br ot her im pat ient ly r ej oined, ‘Wit h t w elv e o'clock?’ “ ‘See, gent lem en,’ said I , st ill k eeping m y hands upon her br east , ‘how useless I am , as y ou hav e br ought m e! I f I had 448

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k now n w hat I w as com ing t o see, I could hav e com e pr ov ided. As it is, t im e m ust be lost . Ther e ar e no m edicines t o be obt ained in t his lonely place. ’ “ The elder br ot her looked t o t he younger , w ho said haught ily , ‘Ther e is a case of m edicines her e; ’ and br ought it fr om a closet , and put it on t he t able. * * * * “ I opened som e of t he bot t les, sm elt t hem , and put t he st opper s t o m y lips. I f I had w ant ed t o use any t hing sav e nar cot ic m edicines t hat w er e poisons in t hem selv es, I w ould not hav e adm inist er ed any of t hose. “ ‘Do you doubt t hem ?’ asked t he younger brot her. “ ‘You see, m onsieur , I am going t o use t hem ,’ I r eplied, and said no m or e. “ I m ade t he pat ient sw allow , w it h gr eat difficult y , and aft er m any effor t s, t he dose t hat I desir ed t o giv e. As I int ended t o r epeat it aft er a w hile, and as it w as necessar y t o w at ch it s influence, I t hen sat dow n by t he side of t he bed. Ther e w as a t im id and suppr essed w om an in at t endance ( w ife of t he m an down- st air s) , w ho had r et r eat ed int o a cor ner . The house w as dam p and decayed, indiffer ent ly fur nished—ev ident ly , recent ly occupied and t em porarily used. Som e t hick old hangings had been nailed up befor e t he w indow s, t o deaden t he sound of t he shr iek s. They cont inued t o be ut t er ed in t heir regular succession, wit h t he cry, ‘My husband, m y fat her, and m y brot her! ’ t he count ing up t o t w elve, and ‘Hush! ’ The fr enzy w as so v iolent , t hat I had not unfast ened t he bandages r est r aining t he ar m s; but , I had look ed t o t hem , t o see t hat t hey w er e not painful. The only spar k of encour agem ent in 449

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t he case, w as, t hat m y hand upon t he suffer er 's br east had t his m uch soot hing influence, t hat for m inut es at a t im e it t r anquillised t he figur e. I t had no effect upon t he cr ies; no pendulum could be m ore regular. “ For t he r eason t hat m y hand had t his effect ( I assum e) , I had sat by t he side of t he bed for half an hour , w it h t he t w o br ot her s look ing on, befor e t he elder said: “ ‘Ther e is anot her pat ient .’ “ I w as st ar t led, and ask ed, ‘I s it a pr essing case?’ “ ‘You had bet t er see,’ he car elessly answ er ed; and t ook up a light . * * * * “ The ot her pat ient lay in a back room across a second st air case, w hich w as a species of loft ov er a st able. Ther e w as a low plast er ed ceiling t o a par t of it ; t he r est w as open, t o t he r idge of t he t iled r oof, and t her e w er e beam s acr oss. Hay and st r aw w er e st or ed in t hat por t ion of t he place, fagot s for fir ing, and a heap of apples in sand. I had t o pass t hr ough t hat par t , t o get at t he ot her . My m em or y is cir cum st ant ial and unshak en. I t r y it w it h t hese det ails, and I see t hem all, in t his m y cell in t he Bast ille, near t he close of t he t ent h y ear of m y capt iv it y , as I saw t hem all t hat night . “ On som e hay on t he ground, wit h a cushion t hrown under his head, lay a handsom e peasant boy—a boy of not m ore t han sev ent een at t he m ost . He lay on his back , w it h his t eet h set , h is r ight hand clenched on his br east , and his glar ing ey es look ing st r aight upw ar d. I could not see w her e his w ound w as, as I kneeled on one knee over him ; but , I could see t hat he w as dy ing of a w ound fr om a shar p point . 450

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“ ‘I am a doct or, m y poor fellow,’ said I . ‘Let m e ex am ine it . ’ “ ‘I do not w ant it ex am ined,’ he answ er ed; ‘let it be.’ “ I t w as under his hand, and I soot hed him t o let m e m ov e his hand aw ay. The w ound w as a sw ord - t hrust , received from t w ent y t o t w ent y- four hours before, but no skill co uld have sav ed him if it had been look ed t o w it hout delay . He w as t hen dy ing fast . As I t ur ned m y ey es t o t he elder br ot her , I saw him look ing dow n at t his handsom e boy w hose life w as ebbing out , as if he w er e a w ounded bir d, or har e, or r abbit ; not at all as if he w er e a fellow - creat ure. “ ‘How has t his been done, m onsieur ?’ said I . “ ‘A crazed young com m on dog! A serf! Forced m y brot her t o draw upon him , and has fallen by m y brot her's sword —lik e a gent lem an.’ “ There was no t ouch of pit y, sorrow, or kindred hum anit y, in t his answ er . The speak er seem ed t o ack now ledge t hat it w as inconv enient t o hav e t hat differ ent or der of cr eat ur e dy ing t her e, and t hat it w ould hav e been bet t er if he had died in t he usual obscur e r out ine of his v er m in k ind. He w as quit e incapable of any com passionat e feeling about t he boy , or about his fat e. “ The boy 's ey es had slow ly m ov ed t o him as he had spok en, and t hey now slow ly m ov ed t o m e. “ ‘Doct or, t hey are very proud, t hese Nobles; but w e com m on dogs ar e pr oud t oo, som et im es. They plunder us, out r age us, beat us, k ill us; but w e hav e a lit t le pr ide left , som et im es. She —have you seen her, Doct or?’ 451

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“ The shr iek s and t he cr ies w er e audible t her e, t hough subdued by t he dist ance. He r eferr ed t o t hem , as if she w er e lying in our presence. “ I said, ‘I hav e seen her .’ “ ‘She is m y sist er, Doct or. They have had t heir sham eful r ight s, t hese Nobles, in t he m odest y and v ir t ue of our sist er s, m any years, but w e have had good girls am ong us. I know it , and have heard m y fat her say so. She w as a good girl. She w as bet r ot hed t o a good y oung m an, t oo: a t enant of his. We w er e all t enant s of his—t hat m an's w ho st ands t her e. The ot her is his br ot her , t he w or st of a bad r ace.’ “ I t w as w it h t he gr eat est difficult y t hat t he boy gat her ed bodily for ce t o speak ; but , his spir it spok e w it h a dr eadful em phasis. “ ‘We w er e so r obbed by t hat m an w ho st ands t her e, as all w e com m on dogs are by t hose superior Beings—t axed by him w it hout m er cy, obliged t o w or k for him w it hout pay , obliged t o gr ind our cor n at his m ill, obliged t o feed scor es of his t am e birds on our w ret ched crops, and forbidden for our lives t o k eep a single t am e bir d of our ow n, pillaged and plunder ed t o t hat degr ee t hat w hen w e chanced t o hav e a bit of m eat , w e at e it in fear , w it h t he door bar r ed and t he shut t er s closed, t hat his people should not see it and t ak e it fr om us—I say, w e w er e so r obbed, and hunt ed, and w er e m ade so poor , t hat our fat her t old us it w as a dr eadful t hing t o br ing a child int o t he w or ld, and t hat w hat w e should m ost pr ay for , w as, t hat our w om en m ight be barren and our m iserable race die out ! ’ 452

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“ I had nev er befor e seen t he sense of being oppr essed, bur st ing for t h lik e a fir e. I had supposed t hat it m ust be lat ent in t he people som ew her e; but , I had nev er seen it br eak out , unt il I saw it in t he dy ing boy . “ ‘Nev er t heless, Doct or , m y sist er m ar r ied. He w as ailing at t hat t im e, poor fellow , and she m ar r ied her lov er , t hat she m ight t end and com for t him in our cot t age—our dog- hut , as t hat m an w ould call it . She had not been m ar r ied m any w eeks, w hen t hat m an's brot her saw her and adm ired her, and ask ed t hat m an t o lend her t o him—for w hat are husbands am ong us! He w as w illing enough, but m y sist er w as good and v ir t uous, and hat ed his br ot her w it h a hat r ed as st r ong as m ine. What did t he t w o t hen, t o per suade her husband t o use his influence w it h her , t o m ak e her w illing?’ “ The boy 's ey es, w hich had been fix ed on m ine, slow ly t ur ned t o t he look er- on, and I saw in t he t w o faces t hat all he said w as t r ue. The t w o opposing k inds of pr ide confr ont ing one anot her , I can see, ev en in t his Bast ille; t he gent lem an's, all negligent indiffer ence; t he peasant s, all t r odden- down sent im ent , and passionat e r ev enge. “ ‘You know, Doct or, t hat it is am ong t he Right s of t hese Nobles t o har ness us com m on dogs t o car t s, and dr iv e us. They so har nessed him and dr ov e him . You k now t hat it is am ong t heir Right s t o k eep us in t heir gr ounds all night , quiet ing t he fr ogs, in or der t hat t heir noble sleep m ay not be dist ur bed. They k ept him out in t he unw holesom e m ist s at night , and or der ed him back int o his har ness in t he day . But he w as not per suaded. No! Tak en out of har ness one day at 453

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noon, t o feed—if he could find food—he sobbed t w elv e t im es, once for ever y st r oke of t he bell, and died on her bosom .’ “ Not hing hum an could hav e held life in t he boy but his det er m inat ion t o t ell all his w r ong. He for ced back t he gat her ing shadow s of deat h, as he for ced his clenched r ight hand t o rem ain clenched, and t o cover his w ound. “ ‘Then, w it h t hat m an's per m ission and ev en w it h his aid, his br ot her t ook her aw ay ; in spit e of w hat I k now she m ust hav e t old his br ot her—and w hat t hat is, w ill not be long unknow n t o you, Doct or , if it is now —his brot her t ook her aw ay—for his pleasur e and div er sion, for a lit t le w hile. I saw her pass m e on t he r oad. When I t ook t he t idings hom e, our fat her 's hear t bur st ; he nev er spok e one of t he w or ds t hat filled it . I t ook m y y oung sist er ( for I hav e anot her ) t o a place beyond t he r each of t his m an, and w her e, at least , she w ill never be HI S vassal. Then, I t racked t he brot her here, and last night clim bed in—a com m on dog, but sword in hand.— Wher e is t he loft w indow ? I t w as som ew her e her e?’ “ The r oom w as dar k ening t o his sight ; t he w or ld w as nar r ow ing ar ound him . I glanced about m e, and saw t hat t he hay and st r aw w er e t r am pled over t he floor , as if t her e had been a st r uggle. “ ‘She heard m e, and ran in. I t old her not t o com e near us t ill he w as dead. He cam e in and fir st t ossed m e som e pieces of m oney; t hen st r uck at m e w it h a w hip. But I , t hough a com m on dog, so st ruck at him as t o m ake him draw . Let him br eak int o as m any pieces as he w ill, t he sw or d t hat he st ained w it h m y com m on blood; he dr ew t o defend him self— t hr ust at m e w i t h all his sk ill for his life. ’ 454

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“ My glance had fallen, but a few m om ent s befor e, on t he fr agm ent s of a br oken sw or d, lying am ong t he hay. That w eapon w as a gent lem an's. I n anot her place, lay an old sw or d t hat seem ed t o hav e been a soldier 's. “ ‘Now , lift m e up, Doct or ; lift m e up. Wher e is he?’ “ ‘He is not her e,’ I said, suppor t ing t he boy , and t hink ing t hat he r efer r ed t o t he br ot her . “ ‘He! Pr oud as t hese nobles ar e, he is afr aid t o see m e. Wher e is t he m an w ho w as her e? t ur n m y face t o him .’ “ I did so, r aising t he boy 's head against m y k nee. But , invest ed for t he m om ent w it h ext r aor dinar y pow er , he r aised him self com plet ely : obliging m e t o r ise t oo, or I could not hav e st ill suppor t ed him . “ ‘Mar quis,’ said t he boy , t ur ned t o him w it h his ey es opened w ide, and his r ight hand r aised, ‘in t he day s w hen all t hese t hings ar e t o be answ er ed for , I sum m on y ou and y our s, t o t he last of y our bad r ace, t o answ er for t hem . I m ar k t his cr oss of blood upon y ou, as a sign t hat I do it . I n t he day s w hen all t he se t hings ar e t o be answ er ed for , I sum m on your brot her, t he w orst of t he bad race, t o answ er for t hem separ at ely . I m ar k t his cr oss of blood upon him , as a sign t hat I do it . ’ “ Tw ice, he put his hand t o t he w ound in his br east , and w it h his for efinger dr ew a cr oss in t he air . He st ood for an inst ant w it h t he finger y et r aised, and as it dr opped, he dr opped w it h it , and I laid him dow n dead. * * * * “ When I r et ur ned t o t he bedside of t he y oung w om an, I found her raving in precisely t he sam e order of cont inuit y . I 455

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k new t hat t his m ight last for m any hour s, and t hat it w ould pr obably end in t he silence of t he gr av e. “ I r epeat ed t he m edicines I had giv en her , and I sat at t he side of t he bed unt il t he night w as far adv anced. She never abat ed t he pier cing qualit y of her shr iek s, nev er st um bled in t he dist inct ness or t he or der of her w or ds. They w er e alw ay s ‘My husband, m y fat her, and m y brot her! One, t wo, t hree, four , fiv e, six , sev en, eight , nine, t en, elev en, t w elv e. Hush!’ “ This last ed t w ent y- six hour s fr om t he t im e w hen I fir st saw her . I had com e and gone t w ice, and w as again sit t ing by her , w hen she began t o falt er . I did w hat lit t le could be done t o assist t hat oppor t unit y , and by- and- by e she sank int o a let har gy , and lay lik e t he dead. “ I t w as as if t he w ind and r ain had lulled at last , aft er a long and fear ful st or m . I r eleased her ar m s, and called t he w om an t o assist m e t o com pose her figur e and t he dr ess she had t o. I t w as t hen t hat I k new her condit ion t o be t hat of one in w hom t he fir st ex pect at ions of being a m ot her hav e ar isen; and it w as t hen t hat I lost t he lit t le hope I had had of her . “ ‘I s she dead?’ ask ed t he Mar quis, w hom I w ill st ill descr ibe as t he elder br ot her , com ing boot ed int o t he r oom from hi s hor se. “ ‘Not dead,’ said I ; ‘but lik e t o die.’ “ ‘What st r engt h t her e is in t hese com m on bodies! ’ he said, look ing dow n at her w it h som e cur iosit y . “ ‘There is prodigious st rengt h,’ I answ ered him , ‘in sorrow and despair .’

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“ He fir st laughed at m y w or ds, and t hen fr ow ned at t hem . He m ov ed a chair w it h his foot near t o m ine, or der ed t he w om an aw ay , and said in a subdued v oice, “ ‘Doct or , finding m y br ot her in t his difficult y w it h t hese hinds, I r ecom m ended t hat y our aid should be inv it ed. Your r eput at ion is high, and, as a y oung m an w it h y our for t une t o m ake, you ar e pr obably m indful of your int er est . The t hings t hat y ou see her e, ar e t hings t o be seen, and not spok en of.’ “ I list ened t o t he pat ient 's br eat hing, and av oided answ er ing. “ ‘Do you honour m e w it h your at t ent ion, Doct or?’ “ ‘Monsieur ,’ said I , ‘in m y pr ofession, t he com m unicat ions of pat ient s ar e alw ay s r eceiv ed in confidence.’ I w as guar ded in m y answ er, for I w as t roubled in m y m ind w it h w hat I had hear d and seen. “ Her breat hing w as so difficult t o t r ace, t hat I car efully t r ied t he pulse and t he hear t . Ther e w as life, and no m or e. Looking r ound as I r esum ed m y seat , I found bot h t he br ot her s int ent upon m e. * * * * “ I w r it e w it h so m uch difficult y , t he cold is so sev er e, I am so f ear ful of being det ect ed and consigned t o an under gr ound cell and t ot al dar k ness, t hat I m ust abr idge t his nar r at iv e. There is no confusion or failure in m y m em ory; it can recall, and could det ail, ev er y w or d t hat w as ev er spok en bet w een m e and t hose br ot he rs. “ She linger ed for a w eek . Tow ar ds t he last , I could under st and som e few sy llables t hat she said t o m e, by placing m y ear close t o her lips. She ask ed m e w her e she w as, and I 457

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t old her ; w ho I w as, and I t old her . I t w as in v ain t hat I ask ed her for her fam ily nam e. She faint ly shook her head upon t he pillow , and k ept her secr et , as t he boy had done. “ I had no oppor t unit y of ask ing her any quest ion, unt il I had t old t he br ot her s she w as sink ing fast , and could not liv e anot her day. Unt il t hen, t hough n o one w as ev er pr esent ed t o her consciousness sav e t he w om an and m y self, one or ot her of t hem had alw ay s j ealously sat behind t he cur t ain at t he head of t he bed w hen I w as t her e. But w hen it cam e t o t hat , t hey seem ed car eless w hat com m unicat ion I m ight hold w it h her ; as if—t he t hought passed t hr ough m y m ind—I were dy ing t oo. “ I alw ay s obser v ed t hat t heir pr ide bit t er ly r esent ed t he younger brot her's ( as I call him ) having crossed sw ords w it h a peasant , and t hat peasant a boy . The only consider at ion t h at appear ed t o affect t he m ind of eit her of t hem w as t he consider at ion t hat t his w as highly degr ading t o t he fam ily , and w as r idiculous. As oft en as I caught t he y ounger br ot her 's ey es, t heir ex pr ession r em inded m e t hat he dislik ed m e deeply, for know ing w hat I knew from t he boy. He w as sm oot her and m or e polit e t o m e t han t he elder ; but I saw t his. I also saw t hat I w as an incum br ance in t he m ind of t he elder , t oo. “ My pat ient died, t w o hour s befor e m idnight —at a t im e, by m y w at ch, answ er ing alm ost t o t he m inut e w hen I had fir st seen her. I w as alone w it h her, w hen her forlorn young head dr ooped gent ly on one side, and all her ear t hly w r ongs and sorrow s ended. 458

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“ The brot hers w ere w ait ing in a room dow n- st air s, im pat ient t o r ide aw ay . I had hear d t hem , alone at t h e bedside, st r ik ing t heir boot s w it h t heir r iding- w hips, and loit er ing up and dow n. “ ‘At last she is dead?’ said t he elder , w hen I w ent in. “ ‘She is dead,’ said I . “ ‘I congrat ulat e you, m y brot her,’ were his words as he t urned round. “ He had befor e offer ed m e m oney, w hich I had post poned t ak ing. He now gav e m e a r ouleau of gold. I t ook it fr om his hand, but laid it on t he t able. I had consider ed t he quest ion, and had r esolv ed t o accept not hing. “ ‘Pray excuse m e,’ said I . ‘Under t he circum st ances, no.’ “ They ex changed look s, but bent t heir heads t o m e as I bent m ine t o t hem , and w e par t ed w it hout anot her w or d on eit her side. * * * * “ I am weary, weary, weary- worn down by m isery. I cannot r ead w hat I hav e w r it t en w it h t his gaunt hand. “ Ear ly in t he m or ning, t he r ouleau of gold w as left at m y door in a lit t le box , w it h m y nam e on t he out side. Fr om t he fir st , I had anx iously consider ed w hat I ought t o do. I decided, t hat day , t o w r it e pr iv at ely t o t he Minist er , st at ing t he nat ur e of t he t wo cases t o w hich I had been sum m oned, and t he place t o w hich I had gone: in effect , st at ing all t he cir cum st ances. I knew w hat Cour t influence w as, and w hat t he im m unit ies of t he Nobles w er e, and I ex pect ed t hat t he m at t er w ould never be heard of; but , I w ished t o r eliev e m y ow n m ind. I had kept t he m at t er a pr ofound secr et , even 459

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fr om m y w ife; and t his, t oo, I r esolv ed t o st at e in m y let t er . I had no apprehension w hat ever of m y real danger; but I w as conscious t hat t her e m ight be danger for ot her s, if ot hers w er e com pr om ised by possessing t he k now ledge t hat I possessed. “ I w as m uch engaged t hat day, and could not com plet e m y let t er t hat night . I r ose long befor e m y usual t im e nex t m or ning t o finish it . I t w as t he last day of t he y ear . The let t er w as ly ing befor e m e j ust com plet ed, w hen I w as t old t hat a lady w ait ed, w ho w ished t o see m e. * * * * “ I am grow ing m ore and m ore unequal t o t he t ask I have set m y self. I t is so cold, so dar k , m y senses ar e so benum bed, and t he gloom upon m e is so dr eadful. “ The lady w as y oung, engaging, and handsom e, but not m ar k ed for long life. She w as in gr eat agit at ion. She pr esent ed her self t o m e as t he w ife of t he Mar quis St . Evr em onde. I connect ed t he t it le by w hich t he boy had addr essed t he elder br ot her , w it h t he init ial let t er em br oider ed on t he scar f, and had no difficult y in ar r iving at t he conclusion t hat I had seen t hat noblem an v er y lat ely . “ My m em or y is st ill accur at e, but I cannot w r it e t he w or ds of our conv er sat ion. I suspect t hat I am w at ched m or e closely t ha n I w as, and I k now not at w hat t im es I m ay be w at ched. She had in par t suspect ed, and in par t discov er ed, t he m ain fact s of t he cr uel st or y , of her husband's shar e in it , and m y being r esor t ed t o. She did not k now t hat t he gir l w as dead. Her hope had been, she said in gr eat dist r ess, t o show her , in secr et , a w om an's sym pat hy. Her hope had been t o aver t t he 460

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w r at h of Heav en fr om a House t hat had long been hat eful t o t he suffer ing m any. “ She had r easons for believ ing t hat t her e w as a y oung sist er liv ing, a nd her gr eat est desir e w as, t o help t hat sist er . I could t ell her not hing but t hat t her e w as such a sist er ; beyond t hat , I knew not hing. Her inducem ent t o com e t o m e, r ely ing on m y confidence, had been t he hope t hat I could t ell her t he nam e and place of abode. Wher eas, t o t his w r et ched hour I am ignorant of bot h. * * * * “ These scr aps of paper fail m e. One w as t ak en fr om m e, w it h a w ar ning, yest er day. I m ust finish m y r ecor d t o- day. “ She w as a good, com passionat e lady , and not happy in her m arriage. How could she be! The br ot her dist r ust ed and dislik ed her , and his influence w as all opposed t o her ; she st ood in dr ead of him , and in dr ead of her husband t oo. When I handed her dow n t o t he door , t her e w as a child, a pr et t y boy fr om t w o t o t hr ee year s old, in her carriage. “ ‘For his sak e, Doct or ,’ she said, point ing t o him in t ear s, ‘I w ould do all I can t o m ak e w hat poor am ends I can. He w ill nev er pr osper in his inher it ance ot her w ise. I hav e a pr esent im ent t hat if no ot her innocent at onem ent is m ade for t his, it w ill one day be r equir ed of him . What I hav e left t o call m y own—it is lit t le bey ond t he w or t h of a few j ew els—I w ill m ak e it t he fir st char ge of his life t o best ow , w it h t he com passion and lam ent ing of his dead m ot her , on t his inj ur ed fam ily , if t he sist er can be discov er ed.’ “ She k issed t he boy , and said, car essing him , ‘I t is for t hine ow n dear sak e. Thou w ilt be fait hful, lit t le Char les?’ The 461

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child answ er ed her br avely, ‘Yes! ’ I kissed her hand, and she t ook him in her arm s, and w ent aw ay caressing him . I nev er saw her m ore. “ As she had m ent ioned her husband's nam e in t he fait h t hat I k new it , I added no m ent ion of it t o m y let t er . I sealed m y let t er , and, not t r ust ing it out of m y ow n hands, deliv er ed it m y self t hat day . “ That night , t he last night of t he y ear , t ow ar ds nine o'clock, a m an in a black dr ess r ang at m y gat e, dem anded t o see m e, and soft ly follow ed m y ser v ant , Er nest Defar ge, a yout h, up- st air s. When m y ser vant cam e int o t he r oom w her e I sat w it h m y w ife—O m y w ife, belov ed of m y heart ! My fair y oung English w ife!—w e saw t he m an, w ho w as supposed t o be at t he gat e, st anding silent behind him . “ An ur gent case in t he Rue St . Honor e, he said. I t w ould not det ain m e, he had a coach in w ait ing. “ I t brought m e here, it brought m e t o m y grave. When I w as clear of t he house, a black m uffler w as dr aw n t ight ly ov er m y m out h from behind, and m y arm s were pinioned. The t wo brot hers crossed t he road from a dark corner, and ident ified m e w it h a single gest ur e. The Mar quis t ook fr om his pock et t he let t er I had w r it t en, show ed it m e, bur nt it in t he light of a lant er n t hat w as held, and ex t inguished t he ashes w it h his foot . Not a w or d w as spok en. I w as br ought her e, I w as brought t o m y living grave. “ I f it had pleased GOD t o put it in t he har d hear t of eit her of t he br ot her s, in all t hese fr ight ful y ear s, t o gr ant m e any t idings of m y dear est w ife—so m uch as t o let m e k now by a w ord w het her alive or dead—I m ight hav e t hought t hat He 462

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had not quit e abandoned t hem . But , now I believ e t hat t he m ar k of t he r ed cr oss is fat al t o t hem , and t hat t hey hav e no par t in His m er cies. And t hem and t heir descendant s, t o t he last of t heir r ace, I , Alex andr e Manet t e, unhappy pr isoner , do t his last night of t he y ear 1767, in m y unbear able agony , denounce t o t he t im es w hen all t hese t hings shall be answ er ed for . I denounce t hem t o Heaven and t o ear t h.” A t er r ible sound ar ose w hen t he r eading of t his docum ent w as done. A sound of cr av ing and eager ness t hat had not hing ar t iculat e in it but blood. The nar r at iv e called up t he m ost r ev engeful passions of t he t im e, and t her e w as not a head in t he nat ion but m ust hav e dr opped befor e it . Lit t le need, in pr esence of t hat t r ibunal and t hat audit or y , t o show how t he Defar ges had not m ade t he paper public, w it h t he ot her capt ur ed Bast ille m em or ials bor ne in pr ocession, and had k ept it , biding t heir t im e. Lit t le need t o show t hat t his det est ed fam ily nam e had long been anat hem at ised by Saint Ant oine, and w as w r ought int o t he fat al r egist er . The m an never t r od gr ound w hose v ir t ues and ser v ices w ould hav e sust ained him in t hat place t hat day , against such denunciat ion. And all t he w or se for t he doom ed m an, t hat t he denouncer w as a w ell- k now n cit izen, his ow n at t ached fr iend, t he fat her of his w ife. One of t he fr enzied aspirat ions of t he populace w as, for im it at ions of t he quest ionable public v ir t ues of ant iquit y , and for sacr ifices and self- im m olat ions on t he people's alt ar . Ther efor e w hen t he Pr esident said ( else had his ow n head quiv er ed on his shoulder s) , t hat t he good phy sician of t he Republic w ould deser v e bet t er st ill of t he Republic by 463

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r oot ing out an obnox ious fam ily of Ar ist ocr at s, and w ould doubt less feel a sacr ed glow and j oy in m ak ing his daught er a w idow and her child an or phan, t her e w as w ild ex cit em ent , pat r iot ic fervour, not a t ouch of hum an sym pat hy. “ Much influence around him , has t hat Doct or?” m urm ured Madam e Defar ge, sm iling t o The Vengeance. “ Save him now , m y Doct or, save him ! ” At every j urym an's vot e, t here was a roar. Anot her and anot her. Roar and roar. Unanim ously v ot ed. At hear t and by descent an Ar ist ocr at , an enem y of t he Republic, a not or ious oppr essor of t he People. Back t o t he Concier ger ie, and Deat h w it hin four- andt went y hours!

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XI Dusk The w r et ched w ife of t he innocent m an t hus doom ed t o die, fell under t he sent ence, as if she had been m or t ally st r ick en. But , she ut t er ed no sound; and so st r ong w as t he v oice w it hin her , r epr esent ing t hat it w as she of all t he w or ld w ho m ust uphold him in his m iser y and not augm ent it , t hat it quickly raised her, even from t hat shock. The Judges hav ing t o t ak e par t in a public dem onst r at ion out of door s, t he Tr ibunal adj our ned. The quick noise and m ov em ent of t he cour t 's em pt y ing it self by m any passages had not ceased, w hen Lucie st ood st r et ching out her ar m s t ow ar ds her husband, w it h not hing in her face but lov e and consolat ion. “ I f I m ight t ouch him ! I f I m ight em brace him once! O, good cit izens, if y ou w ould hav e so m uch com passion for us! ” There w as but a gaoler left , along w it h t w o of t he four m en w ho had t ak en him last night , and Bar sad. The people had all pour ed out t o t he show in t he st r eet s. Bar sad pr oposed t o t he r est , “ Let her em br ace him t hen; it is but a m om ent .” I t w as silent ly acquiesced in, and t hey passed her ov er t he seat s in t he hall t o a r aised place, w her e he, by leaning ov er t he dock , could fold her in his ar m s. “ Far ew ell, dear dar ling of m y soul. My par t ing blessing on m y lov e. We shall m eet again, w her e t he w ear y ar e at r est ! ” They w er e her husband's w or ds, as he held her t o his bosom . 465

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“ I can bear it , dear Charles. I am support ed from above: don't suffer for m e. A par t ing blessing for our child.” “ I send it t o her by y ou. I k iss her by y ou. I say far ew ell t o her by you.” “ My husband. No! A m om ent ! ” He w as t earing him self apar t fr om her . “ We shall not be separ at ed long. I feel t hat t his w ill br eak m y hear t by- and- bye; but I w ill do m y dut y w hile I can, and w hen I leav e her , God w ill r aise up fr iends for her , as He did for m e.” Her fat her had follow ed her , and w ould hav e fallen on his k nees t o bot h of t hem , but t hat Dar nay put out a hand and seized him , crying: “ No, no! What hav e y ou done, w hat hav e y ou done, t hat y ou should k neel t o us! We k now now , w hat a st r uggle y ou m ade of old. We know , now w hat you under w ent w hen you suspect ed m y descent , and w hen y ou k new it . We k now now , t he nat ur al ant ipat hy y ou st r ov e against , and conquer ed, for her dear sak e. We t hank y ou w it h all our hear t s, and all our love and dut y. Heaven be wit h you! ” Her fat her 's only answ er w as t o dr aw his hands t hr ough his w hit e hair , and w r ing t hem w it h a shr iek of anguish. “ I t could not be ot her w ise,” said t he pr isoner . “ All t hings hav e w or k ed t oget her as t hey hav e fallen out . it w as t he alw ays- v ain endeavour t o discharge m y poor m ot her's t rust t hat fir st br ought m y fat al pr esence near you. Good could nev er com e of such ev il, a happier end w as not in nat ur e t o so unhappy a beginning. Be com for t ed, and for give m e. Heav en bless y ou! ” 466

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As he w as dr aw n aw ay , his w ife r eleased him , and st ood look ing aft er him w it h her hands t ouching one anot her in t he at t it ude of pr ay er , and w it h a r adiant look upon her face, in w hich t her e w as ev en a com for t ing sm ile. As he w ent out at t he pr isoner s’ door , she t ur ned, laid her head lovingly on her fat her 's br east , t r ied t o speak t o him , and fell at his feet . Then, issuing from t he obscure corner from which he had never m oved, Sydney Cart on cam e and t ook her up. Only her fat her and Mr. Lorry were wit h her. His arm t rem b led as it r aised her , and suppor t ed her head. Yet , t her e w as an air about him t hat w as not all of pit y—t hat had a flush of pr ide in it . “ Shall I t ak e her t o a coach? I shall nev er feel her w eight .” He car r ied her light ly t o t he door , and laid her t enderly dow n in a coach. Her fat her and t heir old fr iend got int o it , and he t ook his seat beside t he dr iv er . When t hey ar r iv ed at t he gat ew ay w her e he had paused in t he dar k not m any hour s befor e, t o pict ur e t o him self on w hich of t he r ough st ones of t he st r eet her feet had t r odden, he lift ed her again, and car r ied her up t he st air case t o t heir room s. There, he laid her down on a couch, where her child and Miss Pr oss w ept ov er her . “ Don't r ecall her t o her self,” he said, soft ly , t o t he lat t er , “ sh e is bet t er so. Don't r ev iv e her t o consciousness, w hile she only faint s. ” “ Oh, Car t on, Car t on, dear Car t on! ” cr ied lit t le Lucie, springing up and t hrow ing her arm s passionat ely round him , in a bur st of gr ief. “ Now t hat y ou hav e com e, I t hink y ou w ill do som et hing t o help m am m a, som et hing t o sav e papa! O, 467

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look at her , dear Car t on! Can y ou, of all t he people w ho lov e her , bear t o see her so?” He bent ov er t he child, and laid her bloom ing cheek against his face. He put her gent ly fr om him , and look ed at her unconscious m ot her . “ Befor e I go,” he said, and paused—" I m ay kiss her?” I t w as r em em ber ed aft er w ar ds t hat w hen he bent dow n and t ouched her face w it h his lips, he m ur m ur ed som e w or ds. The child, w ho w as near est t o him , t old t hem aft er w ar ds, and t old her gra ndchildr en w hen she w as a handsom e old lady , t hat she hear d him say , “ A life y ou lov e.” When he had gone out int o t he nex t r oom , he t ur ned suddenly on Mr. Lorry and her fat her, who were following, and said t o t he lat t er : “ You had gr eat influence but y est er day , Doct or Manet t e; let it at least be t r ied. These j udges, and all t he m en in power, are very friendly t o you, and very recognisant of your ser vices; ar e t hey not ?” “ Not hing connect ed w it h Char les w as concealed fr om m e . I had t he st r ongest assur ances t hat I should sav e him ; and I did.” He ret urned t he answ er in great t rouble, and very slow ly . “ Tr y t hem again. The hour s bet w een t his and t o- m orrow aft er noon ar e few and shor t , but t r y.” “ I int end t o t r y . I w ill not r est a m om ent .” “ That 's w ell. I have know n such energy as yours do great t hings befor e now —t hough nev er ,” he added, w it h a sm ile and a sigh t oget her , “ such gr eat t hings as t his. But t r y ! Of 468

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lit t le w or t h as life is w hen w e m isuse it , it is w or t h t hat effor t . I t w ould cost not hing t o lay dow n if it w er e not .” “ I w ill go,” said Doct or Manet t e, “ t o t he Pr osecut or and t he Pr esident st r aight , and I w ill go t o ot her s w hom it is bet t er not t o nam e. I w ill w r it e t oo, and—But st ay ! Ther e is a Celebr at ion in t he st r e et s, and no one w ill be accessible unt il dark.” “ That 's t r ue. Well! I t is a for lor n hope at t he best , and not m uch t he for lor ner for being delay ed t ill dar k . I should lik e t o know how you speed; t hough, m ind! I expect not hing! When are you likely t o have seen t hese dr ead pow er s, Doct or Manet t e?” “ I m m ediat ely aft er dar k , I should hope. Wit hin an hour or t w o fr om t his.” “ I t w ill be dar k soon aft er four . Let us st r et ch t he hour or t w o. I f I go t o Mr . Lor r y's at nine, shall I hear w hat you have don e, eit her from our friend or from yourself?” “ Yes. ” “ May you prosper! ” Mr. Lorry followed Sydney t o t he out er door, and, t ouching him on t he shoulder as he w as going aw ay , caused him t o t urn. “ I have no hope,” said Mr. Lorry, in a low and sorrowful w hisper. “ Nor have I .” “ I f any one of t hese m en, or all of t hese m en, w er e disposed t o spar e him—w hich is a lar ge supposit ion; for w hat is his life, or any m an's t o t hem ! —I doubt if t hey dur st spar e him aft er t he dem onst r at ion in t he cour t .” 469

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“ And so do I . I hear d t he fall of t he ax e in t hat sound. ” Mr. Lorry leaned his arm upon t he door- post , and bow ed his face upon it . “ Don't despond,” said Cart on, very gent ly; “ don't grieve. I encour aged Doct or Manet t e in t his idea, because I felt t hat it m ight one day be consolat or y t o her . Ot her w ise, she m ight t hink ‘his life w as w ant only t hr ow n aw ay or w ast ed,’ and t hat m ight t rouble her.” “ Yes, yes, yes,” ret urned Mr. Lorry, drying his eyes, “ you ar e r ight . But he w ill per ish; t her e is no r eal hope.” “ Yes. He w ill per ish: t her e is no r eal hope,” echoed Car t on. And w alk ed w it h a set t led st ep, dow n- st air s.

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XI I Darkness Sy dney Car t on paused in t he st r eet , not quit e decided w her e t o go. “ At Tellson's bank ing- house at nine, ” he said, w it h a m using face. “Shall I do w ell, in t he m ean t im e, t o show m y self? I t hink so. I t is best t hat t hese people should k now t her e is such a m an as I her e; it is a sound pr ecaut ion, and m ay be a necessary preparat ion. But care, care, care! Let m e t hink it out ! ” Checking his st eps w hich had begun t o t end t ow ar ds an obj ect , he t ook a t ur n or t w o in t he alr eady dar k ening st r eet , and t r aced t he t hought in his m ind t o it s possible consequences. His fir st im pr ession w as confir m ed. “ I t is best ,” he said, finally r esolv ed, “ t hat t hese people should know t here is such a m an as I her e.” And he t ur ned his face t ow ar ds Saint Ant oine. Defar ge had descr ibed him self, t hat day , as t he k eeper of a wine - shop in t he Saint Ant oine subur b. I t w as not difficult for one w ho k new t he cit y w ell, t o find his house w it hout ask ing any quest ion. Hav ing ascer t ained it s sit uat ion, Car t on cam e out of t hose closer st r eet s again, and dined at a place of r efr eshm ent and fell sound asleep aft er dinner . For t he fir st t im e in m any years, he had no st rong drink. Since last night he had t ak en not hing but a lit t le light t hin w ine, and last night he had dropped t he brandy slowly down on Mr. Lorry's heart h lik e a m an w ho had done w it h it . I t w as as lat e as sev en o'clock w hen he aw ok e r efr eshed, and w ent out int o t he st r eet s again. As he passed along 471

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t ow ar ds Saint Ant oine, he st opped at a shop- window where t her e w as a m ir r or , and slight ly alt er ed t he disor der ed ar r angem ent of his loose cr av at , and his coat - collar , and his w ild hair . This done, he w ent on dir ect t o Defar ge's, and w ent in. Ther e happened t o be no cust om er in t he shop but Jacques Thr ee, of t he r est less finger s and t he cr oak ing v oice. This m an, w hom he had seen upon t he Jur y, st ood dr inking at t he lit t le count er , in conv er sat ion w it h t he Defar ges, m an and w ife. The Vengeance assist ed in t he conv er sat ion, lik e a r egular m em ber of t he est ablishm ent . As Car t on w alk ed in, t ook his seat and asked ( in very indiffer ent Fr ench) for a sm all m easur e of w ine, Madam e Defar ge cast a car eless glance at him , and t hen a k eener , and t hen a k eener , and t hen adv anced t o him her self, and ask ed him w hat it w as he had or der ed. He r epeat ed w hat he had already said. “ English?” ask ed Madam e Defar ge, inquisit iv ely r aising her dark eyebrows. Aft er look ing at her , as if t he sound of ev en a single Fr ench w or d w er e slow t o ex pr ess it self t o him , he answ er ed, in his for m er st r ong for eign accent . “ Yes, m adam e, y es. I am English! ” Madam e Defar ge r et ur ned t o her count er t o get t he w ine, and, as he t ook up a Jacobin j our nal and feigned t o por e ov er it puzzling out it s m eaning, he hear d her say , “ I sw ear t o y ou, like Evrem onde! ” Defar ge br ought him t he w ine, and gave him Good Evening. 472

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“ How?” “ Good evening.” “ Oh! Good ev ening, cit izen,” filling his glass. “ Ah! and good w ine. I dr ink t o t he Republic.” Defar ge w ent back t o t he count er , and said, “ Cer t ainly , a lit t le lik e.” Madam e st er nly r et or t ed, “ I t ell y o u a good deal like.” Jacques Thr ee pacifically r em ar ked, “ He is so m uch in your m ind, see you, m adam e.” The am iable Vengeance added, w it h a laugh, “ Yes, m y fait h! And y ou ar e look ing for w ar d w it h so m uch pleasur e t o seeing him once m or e t om orrow!” Cart on follow ed t he lines and w or ds of his paper , w it h a slow for efinger , and w it h a st udious and absor bed face. They w er e all leaning t heir ar m s on t he count er close t oget her , speak ing low . Aft er a silence of a few m om ent s, dur ing w hich t hey all look ed t ow ar ds him w it hout dist ur bing his out w ar d at t ent ion fr om t he Jacobin edit or , t hey r esum ed t heir conv er sat ion. “ I t is t r ue w hat m adam e say s,” obser ved Jacques Thr ee. “ Why st op? Ther e is gr eat for ce in t hat . Why st op?” “ Well, w ell,” r easoned Defar ge, “ but one m ust st op som ew her e. Aft er all, t he quest ion is st ill w her e?” “ At ex t er m inat ion,” said m adam e. “ Magnificent ! ” croaked Jacques Three. The Vengeance, also, highly appr ov ed. “ Ex t er m inat ion is good doct r ine, m y w ife,” said Defar ge, rat her t roubled; “ in gener al, I say not hing against it . But t his Doct or has suffered m uch; you have seen him t o- day; you have obser ved his face w hen t he paper w as r ead.” 473

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“ I have obser ved his face! ” r epeat ed m adam e, cont em pt uously and angr ily . “ Yes. I hav e obser v ed his face. I hav e obser v ed his face t o be not t he face of a t r ue fr iend of t he Republic. Let him t ak e car e of his face! ” “ And you have observed, m y w ife,” said Defarge, in a deprecat ory m anner, “ t he anguish of his daught er, w hich m ust be a dr eadful anguish t o him ! ” “ I have obser ved his daught er ,” r epeat ed m adam e; “ yes, I hav e obser v ed his daught er , m or e t im es t han one. I hav e observed her t o- day, and I have observed her ot her days. I have observed her in t he court , and I have observed her in t he st r eet by t he pr ison. Let m e but lift m y finger—! ” She seem ed t o r aise it ( t he list ener 's ey es w er e alw ay s on his paper ) , and t o let it fall w it h a r at t le on t he ledge befor e her , as if t he ax e had dr opped. “ The cit izeness is superb! ” cr oaked t he Jurym an. “ She is an Angel! ” said The Vengeance, and em braced her. “ As t o t hee,” pur sued m adam e, im placably, addr essing her husband, “ if it depended on t hee—w hich, happily , it does not —t hou w ouldst r escue t his m an ev en now .” “ No! ” pr ot est ed Defar ge. “ Not if t o lift t his glass w ould do it ! But I w ould leav e t he m at t er t her e. I say , st op t her e.” “ See you t hen, Jacques,” said Madam e Defarge, w r at hfully ; “ and see y ou, t oo, m y lit t le Vengeance; see y ou bot h! List en! For ot her cr im es as t y r ant s and oppr essor s, I hav e t his r ace a long t im e on m y r egist er , doom ed t o dest r uct ion and ex t er m inat ion. Ask m y husband, is t hat so.” “ I t is so, ” assent ed Defar ge, w it hout being ask ed. 474

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“ I n t he beginning of t he gr eat day s, w hen t he Bast ille falls, he finds t his paper of t o- day, and he brings it hom e, and in t he m iddle of t he night w hen t his place is clear and shut , w e r ead it , her e on t his spot , by t he light of t his lam p. Ask him , is t h at so. ” “ I t is so, ” assent ed Defar ge. “ That night , I t ell him , w hen t he paper is r ead t hr ough, and t he lam p is bur nt out , and t he day is gleam ing in abov e t hose shut t er s and bet w een t hose ir on bar s, t hat I hav e now a secr et t o com m unicat e. Ask him , is t hat so.” “ I t is so, ” assent ed Defar ge again. “ I com m unicat e t o him t hat secr et . I sm it e t his bosom w it h t hese t w o hands as I sm it e it now , and I t ell him , ‘Defar ge, I w as br ought up am ong t he fisher m en of t he sea- shor e, and t hat peasant fam ily so inj ur ed by t he t w o Ev r em onde br ot her s, as t hat Bast ille paper descr ibes, is m y fam ily . Defar ge, t hat sist er of t he m or t ally w ounded boy upon t he gr ound w as m y sist er , t hat husband w as m y sist er 's husband, t hat unbor n child w as t heir child, t hat br ot her w as m y br ot her , t hat fat her w as m y fat her , t hose dead are m y dead, and t hat sum m ons t o answ er for t hose t hings descends t o m e! ’ Ask him , is t hat so.” “ I t is so,” assent ed Defar ge once m or e. “ Then t ell Wind and Fir e w her e t o st op,” r et ur ned m adam e; “ but don't t ell m e.” Bot h her hearers derived a horrible enj oy m ent fr om t he deadly nat ur e of her w r at h—t he list ener could feel how w hit e she w as, w it hout seeing her—and bot h highly com m ended it . Defar ge, a w eak m inor it y , int er posed a few w or ds for t he 475

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m em or y of t he com passionat e w ife of t he Mar quis; but onl y elicit ed fr om his ow n w ife a r epet it ion of her last r eply . “ Tell t he Wind and t he Fir e w her e t o st op; not m e! ” Cust om ers ent ered, and t he group w as broken up. The English cust om er paid for w hat he had had, per plexedly count ed his change, and ask ed, as a st r anger , t o be dir ect ed t ow ar ds t he Nat ional Palace. Madam e Defar ge t ook him t o t he door , and put her ar m on his, in point ing out t he r oad. The English cust om er w as not w it hout his r eflect ions t hen, t hat it m ight be a good deed t o seize t hat ar m , lift it , and st r ik e under it shar p and deep. But , he w ent his w ay , and w as soon sw allow ed up in t he shadow of t he pr ison w all. At t he appoint ed hour , he em er ged from it t o present him self in Mr. Lorry's room again, w here he found t he old gent lem an w alk ing t o and fr o in r est less anx iet y . He said he had been w it h Lucie unt il j ust now , and had only left her for a few m inut es, t o com e and k eep his appoint m ent . Her fat her had not been seen, since he quit t ed t he bank ing- house t ow ar ds four o'clock. She had som e faint hopes t hat his m ediat ion m ight sav e Char les, but t hey w er e very slight . He had been m ore t han five hours gone: w here could he be? Mr . Lor r y w ait ed unt il t en; but , Doct or Manet t e not r et ur ning, and he being unw illing t o leav e Lucie any longer , it was arranged t hat he should go back t o her , and com e t o t he banking- house again at m idnight . I n t he m eanw hile, Car t on w ould w ait alone by t he fir e for t he Doct or . He w ait ed and w ait ed, and t he clock st r uck t w elv e; but Doct or Manet t e did not com e back. Mr. Lorry ret urned, and 476

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found no t idings of him , and br ought none. Wher e could he be? They w er e discussing t his quest ion, and w er e alm ost building up som e w eak st r uct ur e of hope on his pr olonged absence, w hen t hey hear d him on t he st air s. The inst ant he ent er ed t he r oom , it w as plain t hat all w as lost . Whet her he had r eally been t o any one, or w het her he had been all t hat t im e t r av er sing t he st r eet s, w as nev er k now n. As he st ood st ar ing at t hem , t hey ask ed him no quest ion, for his face t old t hem ev er y t hing. “ I cannot find it , ” said he, “ and I m ust hav e it . Wher e is it ?” His head and t hr oat w er e bar e, and, as he spok e w it h a helpless look st r ay ing all ar ound, he t ook his coat off, and let it dr op on t he floor . “ Where is m y bench? I have been looking everyw here for m y bench, and I can't find it . What hav e t hey done w it h m y w or k ? Tim e pr esses: I m ust finish t hose shoes.” They look ed at one anot her , and t heir hear t s died w it hin t hem . “ Com e, com e! ” said he, in a w him pering m iserable w ay; “ let m e get t o w or k . Give m e m y work.” Receiv ing no answ er , he t or e his hair , and beat his feet upon t he gr ound, lik e a dist r act ed child. “ Don't t ort ure a poor forlorn wret ch,” he im plored t hem , w it h a dreadful cry; “ but give m e m y w ork! What is t o becom e of us, if t hose shoes ar e not done t o- night ?” Lost , ut t er ly lost ! 477

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I t w as so clear ly bey ond hope t o r eason w it h him , or t r y t o r est or e him , t hat —as if by agr eem ent —t hey each put a hand upon his shoulder , and soot hed him t o sit dow n befor e t he fir e, w it h a pr om ise t hat he should have his w or k pr esent ly. He sank int o t he chair , and br ooded over t he em ber s, and shed t ear s. As if all t hat had happened since t he gar r et t im e were a m om ent ary fancy, or a dream , Mr. Lorry saw him shr ink int o t he ex act figur e t hat Defar ge had had in k eeping. Affect ed, and im pr essed w it h t er r or as t hey bot h w er e, by t his spect acle of r uin, it w as not a t im e t o y ield t o such em ot ions. His lonely daught er , ber eft of her final hope and r eliance, appealed t o t hem bot h t oo st r ongly . Again, as if by agreem ent , t hey look ed at one anot her w it h one m eaning in t heir faces. Car t on w as t he fir st t o speak : “ The last chance is gone: it w as not m uch. Yes; he had bet t er be t ak en t o her . But , befor e y ou go, w ill y ou, for a m om ent , st eadily at t end t o m e? Don't ask m e why I m ake t he st ipulat ions I am going t o m ak e, and ex act t he pr om ise I am going t o ex act ; I hav e a r eason—a good one.” “ I do not doubt it ,” answered Mr. Lorry. “ Say on.” The figur e in t he chair bet w een t hem , w as all t he t im e m onot onously rocking it self t o and fr o, and m oaning. They spok e in such a t one as t hey w ould hav e used if t hey had been w at ching by a sick- bed in t he night . Car t on st ooped t o pick up t he coat , w hich lay alm ost ent angling his feet . As he did so, a sm all case in w hich t he Doct or w as accust om ed t o car r y t he list s of his day 's dut ies, fell light ly on t he floor . Car t on t ook it up, and t her e w as a folded paper in it . “ We should look at t his! ” he said. Mr . Lor r y 478

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nodded his consent . He opened it , and ex claim ed, “ Thank GOD! ” “ What is it ?” asked Mr . Lor r y, eager ly. “ A m om ent ! Let m e speak of it in it s place. Fir st ,” he put his hand in his coat , and t ook anot her paper fr om it , “ t hat is t he cer t ificat e w hich enables m e t o pass out of t his cit y . Look at it . You see—Sydney Cart on, an Englishm an?” Mr . Lor r y held it open in his hand, gazing in his ear nest face. “ Keep it for m e unt il t o- m or r ow . I shall see him t o- m orrow, y ou r em em ber , and I had bet t er not t ak e it int o t he pr ison.” “ Why not ?” “ I don't know ; I prefer not t o do so. Now , t ak e t his paper t hat Doct or Manet t e has car r ied about him . I t is a sim ilar cer t ificat e, enabling him and his daught er and her child, at any t im e, t o pass t he bar r ier and t he fr ont ier ! You see?” “ Yes! ” “ Per haps he obt ained it as his last and ut most pr ecaut ion against ev il, y est er day . When is it dat ed? But no m at t er ; don't st ay t o look ; put it up car efully w it h m ine and y our ow n. Now , obser v e! I nev er doubt ed unt il w it hin t his hour or t w o, t hat he had, or could hav e such a paper . I t is good, unt il r ecalled. But it m ay be soon r ecalled, and, I hav e r eason t o t hink , w ill be.” “ They are not in danger?” “ They are in great danger. They are in danger of denunciat ion by Madam e Defarge. I know it from her own lips. I have over hear d w or ds of t hat w om an's, t o- night , w hich have pr esent ed t heir danger t o m e in st r ong colour s. I have 479

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lost no t im e, and since t hen, I hav e seen t he spy . He confir m s m e. He k now s t hat a w ood- saw y er , liv ing by t he pr ison w all, is under t he cont r ol of t he Defar ges, and has been r ehear sed by Madam e Defar ge as t o his having seen Her " —he never m ent ioned Lucie's nam e —" m ak ing signs and signals t o pr isoner s. I t is easy t o for esee t hat t he pr et ence w ill be t he com m on one, a pr ison plot , and t hat it w ill inv olv e her life— and perhaps her chi ld's—and perhaps her fat her's—for bot h hav e been seen w it h her at t hat place. Don't look so hor r ified. You w ill sav e t hem all. ” “ Heaven grant I m ay, Cart on! But how?” “ I am going t o t ell y ou how . I t w ill depend on y ou, and it could depend on no bet t er m an. This new denunciat ion w ill cer t ainly not t ak e place unt il aft er t o- m orrow; probably not unt il t w o or t hree days aft erw ards; m ore probably a w eek aft er w ar ds. You k now it is a capit al cr im e, t o m our n for , or sy m pat hise w it h, a v ict im of t he Guillot ine. She and her fat her w ould unquest ionably be guilt y of t his cr im e, and t his w om an ( t he inv et er acy of w hose pur suit cannot be descr ibed) w ould w ait t o add t hat st r engt h t o her case, and m ak e her self doubly sur e. You follow m e?” “ So at t ent iv ely , and w it h so m uch confidence in what you say , t hat for t he m om ent I lose sight ,” t ouching t he back of t he Doct or 's chair , ev en of t his dist r ess.” “ You hav e m oney , and can buy t he m eans of t r av elling t o t he seacoast as quick ly as t he j our ney can be m ade. Your preparat ions hav e been com plet ed for som e day s, t o r et ur n t o England. Ear ly t o- m orrow have your horses ready, so t hat t hey m ay be in st ar t ing t r im at t w o o'clock in t he aft er noon.” 480

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“ I t shall be done! ” His m anner w as so fervent and inspiring, t hat Mr. Lorry caught t he flam e, and w as as quick as y out h. “ You ar e a noble hear t . Did I say w e could depend upon no bet t er m an? Tell her , t o- night , what you know of her danger as inv olv ing her child and her fat her . Dw ell upon t hat , for she w ould lay her ow n fair head beside her husband's cheer fully.” He falt er ed for an inst ant ; t hen w ent on as befor e. “ For t he sak e of her child and her fat her , pr ess upon her t he necessit y of leav ing Par is, w it h t hem and y ou, at t hat hour . Tell her t hat it w as her husband's last ar r angem e nt . Tell her t hat m or e depends upon it t han she dar e believ e, or hope. You t hink t hat her fat her , ev en in t his sad st at e, w ill subm it him self t o her; do you not ?” “ I am sur e of it .” “ I t hought so. Quiet ly and st eadily hav e all t hese arrangem ent s m ade in t he cour t yar d her e, even t o t he t aking of your ow n seat in t he car r iage. The m om ent I com e t o you, t ake m e in, and drive aw ay.” “ I under st and t hat I w ait for you under all cir cum st ances?” “ You have m y cer t ificat e in your hand w it h t he r est , you know, and w ill r eser v e m y place. Wait for not hing but t o hav e m y place occupied, and t hen for England! ” “ Why, t hen,” said Mr. Lorry, grasping his eager but so firm and st eady hand, “ it does not all depend on one old m an, but I shall have a young and ardent m a n at m y side.” “ By t he help of Heav en y ou shall! Pr om ise m e solem nly t hat not hing w ill influence y ou t o alt er t he cour se on w hich w e now st and pledged t o one anot her .” 481

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“ Not hing, Cart on.” “ Rem em ber t hese w or ds t o- m orrow: change t he course, or delay in it —for any reason—and no life can possibly be sav ed, and m any liv es m ust inev it ably be sacr ificed.” “ I w ill r em em ber t hem . I hope t o do m y par t fait hfully.” “ And I hope t o do m ine. Now , good bye! ” Though he said it w it h a gr av e sm ile of ear nest ness, and t hough he ev en put t he old m an's hand t o his lips, he did not par t fr om him t hen. He helped him so far t o ar ouse t he r ocking figur e befor e t he dying em ber s, as t o get a cloak and hat put upon it , and t o t em pt it for t h t o find w her e t he bench and w or k w er e hidden t hat it st ill m oaningly besought t o hav e. He w alk ed on t he ot her side of it and pr ot ect ed it t o t he cour t yar d of t he house w her e t he afflict ed hear t —so happy in t he m em or able t im e w hen he had r ev ealed his ow n desolat e hear t t o it —out w at ched t he aw ful night . He ent er ed t he court yard and rem ained t here for a few m om ent s alone, look ing up at t he light in t he w indow of her r oom . Befor e he w ent aw ay , he br eat hed a blessing t ow ar ds it , and a Far ew ell.

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XI I I Fift y- t w o I n t he black pr ison of t he Concier ger ie, t he doom ed of t he day aw ait ed t heir fat e. They w er e in num ber as t he w eek s of t he y ear . Fift y- t w o w er e t o r oll t hat aft er noon on t he life- t ide of t he cit y t o t he boundless ev er last ing sea. Befor e t heir cells w er e quit of t hem , new occupant s w er e appoint ed; befor e t heir blood r an int o t he blood spilled y est er day , t he blood t hat w as t o m ingle w it h t heir s t o- m or r ow w as alr eady set apar t . Tw o scor e and t w elve w er e t old off. Fr om t he far m ergener al of sev ent y , w hose r iches could not buy his life, t o t he seam st r ess of t w ent y , w hose pov er t y and obscur it y could not sav e her . Phy sical diseases, engender ed in t he v ices and neglect s of m en, w ill seize on v ict im s of all degr ees; and t he fr ight ful m or al disor der , bor n of unspeakable suffer ing, int oler able oppr ession, and hear t less indiffer ence, sm ot e equally w it hout dist inct ion. Char les Dar nay , alone in a cell, had sust ained him self w it h no flat t er ing delusion since he cam e t o it fr om t he Tr ibunal. I n ever y line of t he nar r at ive he had hear d, he had hear d his condem nat ion. He had fully com pr ehended t hat no per sonal influence could possibly sav e him , t hat he w as v ir t ually sent enced by t he m illions, and t hat unit s could av ail him not hing. Nev er t heless, it w as not easy , w it h t he face of his belov ed w ife fr esh befor e him , t o com pose his m ind t o w hat it m ust bear . His hold on life w as st r ong, and it w as ver y, ver y har d, t o loosen; by gr adual effor t s and degr ees unclosed a lit t le 483

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her e, it clenched t he t ight er t here; and when he brought his st r engt h t o bear on t hat hand and it y ielded, t his w as closed again. Ther e w as a hur r y , t oo, in all his t hought s, a t ur bulent and heat ed w or k ing of his hear t , t hat cont ended against r esignat ion. I f, for a m om ent , he did feel r esigned, t hen his w ife and child w ho had t o liv e aft er him , seem ed t o pr ot est and t o m ak e it a selfish t hing. But , all t his w as at fir st . Befor e long, t he consider at ion t hat t her e w as no disgr ace in t he fat e he m ust m eet , and t hat num ber s w ent t he same road w rongfully, and t rod it firm ly ev er y day , spr ang up t o st im ulat e him . Nex t follow ed t he t hought t hat m uch of t he fut ur e peace of m ind enj oy able by t he dear ones, depended on his quiet for t it ude. So, by degr ees he calm ed int o t he bet t er st at e, w hen h e could r aise his t hought s m uch higher, and draw com fort down. Befor e it had set in dar k on t he night of his condem nat ion, he had t r av elled t hus far on his last w ay . Being allow ed t o pur chase t he m eans of w r it ing, and a light , he sat dow n t o w r it e unt il such t im e as t he pr ison lam ps should be ex t inguished. He w r ot e a long let t er t o Lucie, show ing her t hat he had know n not hing of her fat her 's im pr isonm ent , unt il he had hear d of it fr om her self, and t hat he had been as ignor ant as she of his fat her 's and uncle's r esponsibilit y for t hat m iser y , unt il t he paper had been r ead. He had alr eady ex plained t o her t hat his concealm ent fr om her self of t he nam e he had r elinquished, w as t he one condit ion—fully int elligible now — t hat her fat her had at t ached t o t heir bet r ot hal, and w as t he one pr om ise he had st ill ex act ed on t he m or ning of t heir 484

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m arriage. He ent reat ed her, for her fat her's sake, never t o seek t o k now w het her her fat her had becom e obliv ious of t he ex ist ence of t he paper , or had had it r ecalled t o him ( for t he m om ent , or for good) , by t he st or y of t he Tow er , on t hat old Sunday under t he dear old plane - t r ee in t he gar den. I f he had pr eser ved any definit e r em em br ance of it , t her e could be no doubt t hat he had supposed it dest r oy ed w it h t he Bast ille, when he ha d found no m ent ion of it am ong t he r elics of pr isoner s w hich t he populace had discover ed t her e, and w hich had been descr ibed t o all t he w or ld. He besought her—t hough he added t hat he k new it w as needless—t o console her fat her, by im pressing him t hrough eve ry t ender m eans she could t hink of, w it h t he t r ut h t hat he had done not hing for w hich he could j ust ly r epr oach him self, but had unifor m ly for got t en him self for t heir j oint sak es. Nex t t o her pr eser v at ion of his ow n last gr at eful lov e and blessing, and her overcom ing of her sor r ow , t o dev ot e her self t o t heir dear child, he adj ur ed her , as t hey w ould m eet in Heaven, t o com for t her fat her . To her fat her him self, he w r ot e in t he sam e st r ain; but , he t old her fat her t hat he ex pr essly confided his w ife and child t o his car e. And he t old him t his, v er y st r ongly , w it h t he hope of rousing him from any despondency or dangerous ret rospect t ow ar ds w hich he for esaw he m ight be t ending. To Mr. Lorry, he com m ended t hem all, and explained his w or ldly affair s. That done, w it h m any added sent ences of gr at eful fr iendship and w ar m at t achm ent , all w as done. He nev er t hought of Car t on. His m ind w as so full of t he ot her s, t hat he nev er once t hought of him . 485

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He had t im e t o finish t hese let t er s befor e t he light s w er e pu t ou t . When he lay dow n on his st r aw bed, he t hought he had done w it h t his w or ld. But , it beck oned him back in his sleep, and show ed it self in shining for m s. Fr ee and happy, back in t he old house in Soho ( t hough it had not hing in it lik e t he r eal house) , unaccount ably r eleased and light of hear t , he w as w it h Lucie again, and she t old him it w as all a dr eam , and he had nev er gone aw ay . A pause of for get fulness, and t hen he had ev en suffer ed, and had com e back t o her , dead and at peace, and y et t her e w as no differ ence in him . Anot her pause of obliv ion, and he aw oke in t he som bre m orning, unconscious w here he w as or w hat had happened, unt il it flashed upon his m ind, “ t his is t he day of m y deat h! ” Thus, had he com e t hr ough t he hour s, t o t he day w hen t he f if t y- t w o heads w er e t o fall. And now , w hile he w as com posed, and hoped t hat he could m eet t he end w it h quiet her oism , a new act ion began in his w ak ing t hought s, w hich w as v er y difficult t o m ast er . He had nev er seen t he inst r um ent t hat w as t o t er m inat e his life. How high it w as fr om t he gr ound, how m any st eps it had, w her e he w ould be st ood, how he w ould be t ouched, w het her t he t ouching hands w ould be dyed r ed, w hich w ay his face w ould be t ur ned, w het her he w ould be t he fir st , or m ight be t he last : t hese and m any sim i lar quest ions, in now ise dir ect ed by his w ill, obt r uded t hem selves over and over again, count less t im es. Neit her w er e t hey connect ed w it h fear : he w as conscious of no fear . Rat her , t hey or iginat ed in a st r ange beset t ing desir e t o k now w hat t o do w hen t he t im e cam e; a 486

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desir e gigant ically dispr opor t ionat e t o t he few sw ift m om ent s t o w hich it r efer r ed; a w onder ing t hat w as m or e lik e t he w onder ing of som e ot her spir it w it hin his, t han his ow n. The hour s w ent on as he w alk ed t o and fr o, and t he clock s st ruck t he num bers he w ould never hear again. Nine gone for ever, t en gone for ever, eleven gone for ever, t w elve com ing on t o pass aw ay . Aft er a har d cont est w it h t hat eccent r ic act ion of t hought w hich had last per plex ed him , he had got t he bet t er of it . He w alk e d up and dow n, soft ly r epeat ing t heir nam es t o him self. The w or st of t he st r ife w as ov er . He could w alk up and dow n, free from dist ract ing fancies, praying for him self and for t hem . Tw elve gone for ever. He had been appr ised t hat t he final hour w as Three, and he knew he w ould be sum m oned som e t im e ear lier , inasm uch as t he t um br ils j olt ed heav ily and slow ly t hr ough t he st r eet s. Ther efor e, he r esolv ed t o k eep Tw o befor e his m ind, as t he hour , and so t o st r engt hen him self in t he int er v al t hat he m ight be able, aft er t hat t im e, t o st r engt hen ot her s. Walk ing r egular ly t o and fr o w it h his ar m s folded on his breast , a very different m an from t he prisoner, w ho had w alked t o and fro at La Force, he heard One st ruck aw ay from him , w it hout surprise. The hour had m easur ed lik e m ost ot her hour s. Devout ly t hankful t o Heaven for his r ecover ed selfpossession, he t hought , “ Ther e is but anot her now ,” and t ur ned t o w alk again. Foot st eps in t he st one passage out side t he door . He st opped. 487

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The k ey w as put in t he lock , and t urned. Before t he door w as opened, or as it opened, a m an said in a low v oice, in English: “ He has nev er seen m e her e; I hav e k ept out of his w ay . Go y ou in alone; I w ait near . Lose no t im e! ” The door w as quick ly opened and closed, and t her e st ood befor e him face t o face, quiet , int ent upon him , w it h t he light of a sm ile on his feat ur es, and a caut ionar y finger on his lip, Sydney Cart on. Ther e w as som et hing so br ight and r em ar k able in his look , t hat , for t he fir st m om ent , t he pr isoner m isdoubt ed him t o be an appar it ion of his ow n im agining. But , he spok e, and it w as his v oice; he t ook t he pr isoner 's hand, and it w as his r eal grasp. “ Of all t he people upon ear t h, y ou least ex pect ed t o see m e?” he said. “ I could not believ e it t o be y ou. I can scarcely believ e it now . You ar e not "—t he appr ehension cam e suddenly int o his m ind—" a prisoner?” “ No. I am accident ally possessed of a pow er ov er one of t he k eeper s her e, and in v ir t ue of it I st and befor e y ou. I com e from her—your wife, dear Darnay.” The prisoner wrung his hand. “ I bring you a request from her.” “ Wh at is it ?” “ A m ost ear nest , pr essing, and em phat ic ent r eat y , addr essed t o y ou in t he m ost pat het ic t ones of t he v oice so dear t o you, t hat you w ell rem em ber.” The pr isoner t ur ned his face par t ly aside. 488

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“ You hav e no t im e t o ask m e w hy I br ing it , or w hat it m eans; I hav e no t im e t o t ell y ou. You m ust com ply w it h it — t ak e off t hose boot s y ou w ear , and dr aw on t hese of m ine.” Ther e w as a chair against t he w all of t he cell, behind t he pr isoner . Car t on, pr essing for w ar d, had alr eady, w it h t he speed of light ning, got him dow n int o it , and st ood ov er him , bar efoot . “ Dr aw on t hese boot s of m ine. Put y our hands t o t hem ; put your w ill t o t hem . Quick! ” “ Car t on, t her e is no escaping fr om t his place; it nev er can be done. You w ill only die w it h m e. I t is m adness. ” “ I t w ould be m adness if I ask ed y ou t o escape; but do I ? When I ask y ou t o pass out at t hat door , t ell m e it is m adness and r em ain her e. Change t hat cr av at for t his of m ine, t hat coat for t his of m ine. While y ou do it , let m e t ak e t his r ibbon from your hair, and shake out your hair like t his of m ine! ” Wit h w onder ful quick ness, and w it h a st r engt h bot h of w ill and act ion, t hat appear ed quit e super nat ur al, he for ced all t hese changes upon him . The pr isoner w as lik e a y oung child in his hands. “ Car t on! Dear Car t on! I t is m adness. I t cannot be accom plished, it nev er can be done, it has been at t em pt ed, and has alw ay s failed. I im plor e y ou not t o add y our deat h t o t he bit t er ness of m i ne.” “ Do I ask you, m y dear Darnay, t o pass t he door? When I ask t hat , r efuse. Ther e ar e pen and ink and paper on t his t able. I s y our hand st eady enough t o w r it e?” “ I t w as w hen you cam e in.” 489

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“ St eady it again, and w r it e w hat I shall dict at e. Quick , friend, quick! ” Pr essing his hand t o his bew ilder ed head, Dar nay sat dow n at t he t able. Car t on, w it h his r ight hand in his br east , st ood close beside him . “ Wr it e ex act ly as I speak .” “ To w hom do I addr ess it ?” “ To no one.” Car t on st ill had his hand in his br east . “ Do I dat e it ?” “ No.” The pr isoner look ed up, at each quest ion. Car t on, st anding ov er him w it h his hand in his br east , look ed dow n. “ ‘I f you rem em ber,'” said Cart on, dict at ing, “ ‘t he w ords t hat passed bet w een us, long ago, y ou w ill r e adily com pr ehend t his w hen you see it . You do r em em ber t hem , I know . I t is not in your nat ur e t o for get t hem .'” He w as dr aw ing his hand fr om his br east ; t he pr isoner chancing t o look up in his hur r ied w onder as he w r ot e, t he hand st opped, closing upon som et hing. “ Have you w rit t en ‘forget t hem '?” Cart on asked. “ I have. I s t hat a w eapon in your hand?” “ No; I am not arm ed.” “ What is it in y our hand?” “ You shall k now dir ect ly . Wr it e on; t her e ar e but a few w or ds m or e.” He dict at ed again. “ ‘I am t hank ful t hat t he t im e has com e, w hen I can pr ov e t hem . That I do so is no subj ect for r egr et or gr ief.'” As he said t hese w or ds w it h his ey es fix ed on t he w r it er , his hand slow ly and soft ly m ov ed dow n close t o t he w r it er 's face. 490

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The pen dropped fro m Dar nay's finger s on t he t able, and he look ed about him v acant ly . “ What v apour is t hat ?” he ask ed. “ Vapour?” “ Som et hing t hat cr ossed m e?” “ I am conscious of not hing; t her e can be not hing her e. Take up t he pen and finish. Hurry, hurry! ” As if h is m em or y w er e im pair ed, or his facult ies disor der ed, t he pr isoner m ade an effor t t o r ally his at t ent ion. As he look ed at Car t on w it h clouded ey es and w it h an alt er ed m anner of breat hing, Cart on—his hand again in his br east — look ed st eadily at him . “ Hurry, hurry!” The prisoner bent over t he paper, once m ore. “ ‘I f it had been ot her w ise; '” Car t on's hand w as again w at chfully and soft ly st ealing dow n; “ ‘I nev er should hav e used t he longer oppor t unit y . I f it had been ot her w ise; '” t he hand w as at t he pr isoner ' s face; “ ‘I should but hav e had so m uch t he m or e t o answ er for . I f it had been ot her w ise—'” Car t on look ed at t he pen and saw it w as t r ailing off int o unint elligible signs. Cart on's hand m oved back t o his breast no m ore. The prisoner sprang up w it h a reproachful look, but Car t on's hand w as close and fir m at his nost r ils, and Car t on's left ar m caught him r ound t he w aist . For a few seconds he faint ly st r uggled w it h t he m an w ho had com e t o lay dow n his life for him ; but , w it hin a m inut e or so, he w as st r et che d insensible on t he ground. 491

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Quick ly , but w it h hands as t r ue t o t he pur pose as his hear t w as, Car t on dr essed him self in t he clot hes t he pr isoner had laid aside, com bed back his hair , and t ied it w it h t he r ibbon t he pr isoner had w or n. Then, he soft ly called, “ Ent er t here! Com e in! ” and t he Spy pr esent ed him self. “ You see?” said Car t on, look ing up, as he k neeled on one k nee beside t he insensible figur e, put t ing t he paper in t he breast : “ is your hazard very great ?” “ Mr. Cart on,” t he Spy answered, wit h a t im id snap of his finger s, “ m y hazar d is not THAT, in t he t hick of business her e, if you ar e t r ue t o t he w hole of your bar gain.” “ Don't fear m e. I w ill be t r ue t o t he deat h.” “ You m ust be, Mr . Car t on, if t he t ale of fift y- t w o is t o be r ight . Being m ade r ight by y ou in t hat dr ess, I shall hav e no fear.” “ Hav e no fear ! I shall soon be out of t he w ay of har m ing y ou, and t he r est w ill soon be far fr om her e, please God! Now , get assist ance and t ak e m e t o t he coach. ” “ You?” said t he Spy nervously. “ Him , m an, w it h w hom I hav e ex changed. You go out at t he gat e by w hich you brought m e in?” “ Of course.” “ I w as w eak and faint w hen you br ought m e in, and I am faint er now y ou t ak e m e out . The par t ing int er v iew has overpowered m e. Such a t hing has happened he r e, oft en, and t oo oft en. Your life is in y our ow n hands. Quick ! Call assist ance! ” “ You sw ear not t o bet r ay m e?” said t he t r em bling Spy , as he paused for a last m om ent . 492

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“ Man, m an! ” ret urned Cart on, st am ping his foot ; “ have I sworn by no solem n vow alre ady , t o go t hr ough w it h t his, t hat y ou w ast e t he pr ecious m om ent s now ? Tak e him y our self t o t he cour t yar d you know of, place him your self in t he carriage, show him yourself t o Mr. Lorry, t ell him yourself t o give him no r est or at ive but air , and t o r em em ber m y words of last night , and his pr om ise of last night , and dr iv e aw ay ! ” The Spy w it hdr ew , and Car t on seat ed him self at t he t able, r est ing his for ehead on his hands. The Spy r et ur ned im m ediat ely , w it h t w o m en. “ How , t hen?” said one of t hem , cont em plat ing t he fallen figur e. “ So afflict ed t o find t hat his fr iend has dr aw n a pr ize in t he lot t er y of Saint e Guillot ine?” “ A good pat r iot ,” said t he ot her , “ could har dly hav e been m or e afflict ed if t he Ar ist ocr at had dr aw n a blank .” They r aised t he unconscious figur e, placed it on a lit t er t hey had br ought t o t he door , and bent t o car r y it aw ay. “ The t im e is shor t , Evr em onde,” said t he Spy, in a w ar ning voice. “ I know it w ell,” answ ered Cart on. “ Be careful of m y friend, I ent r eat you, and leave m e.” “ Com e, t hen, m y children,” said Barsad. “ Lift him , and com e away! ” The door closed, and Car t on w as left alone. St r aining his pow er s of list ening t o t he ut m ost , he list ened for any sound t hat m ight denot e suspicion or alar m . Ther e w as none. Key s t ur ned, door s clashed, foot st eps passed along dist ant passages: no cr y w as r aised, or hur r y m ade, t hat seem ed 493

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unusual. Br eat hing m or e fr eely in a lit t le w hile, he sat dow n at t he t able, and list ened again unt il t he clock st r uck Tw o. Sounds t hat he w as not afr aid of, for he div ined t heir m eaning, t hen began t o be audible. Sev er al door s w er e opened in succession, and finally his ow n. A gaoler , w it h a list in his hand, look ed in, m er ely say ing, “ Follow m e, Evrem onde! ” and he follow ed int o a larg e dark room , at a dist ance. I t w as a dar k w int er day , and w hat w it h t he shadow s w it hin, and w hat w it h t he shadow s w it hout , he could but dim ly discer n t he ot her s w ho w er e br ought t her e t o have t heir ar m s bound. Som e w er e st anding; som e seat ed. Som e w er e lament ing, and in r est less m ot ion; but , t hese w er e few . The gr eat m aj or it y w er e silent and st ill, look ing fix edly at t he ground. As he st ood by t he w all in a dim cor ner , w hile som e of t he f if t y- t w o w er e br ought in aft er him , one m an st opped in passing, t o em br ace him , as having a know ledge of him . I t t hr illed him w it h a gr eat dr ead of discover y; but t he m an w ent on. A ver y few m om ent s aft er t hat , a young w om an, w it h a slight gir lish for m , a sw eet spar e face in w hich t her e w as no v est ige of colour , and lar ge w idely opened pat ient ey es, r ose fr om t he seat w her e he had obser v ed her sit t ing, and cam e t o speak t o him . “ Cit izen Evr em onde,” she said, t ouching him w it h her cold hand. “ I am a poor lit t le seam st r ess, w ho w as w it h y ou in La Force.” He m urm ured for answer: “ True. I forget what you were accused of?” 494

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“ Plot s. Though t he j ust Heav en k now s t hat I am innocent of any . I s it lik ely ? Who w ould t hink of plot t ing w it h a poor lit t le w eak cr eat ur e lik e m e?” The for lor n sm ile w it h w hich she said it , so t ouched him , t hat t ear s st ar t ed fr om his ey es. “ I am not afr aid t o die, Cit izen Ev r em onde, but I hav e done not hing. I am not unw illing t o die, if t he Republic w hich is t o do so m uch good t o us poor , w ill pr ofit by m y deat h; but I do not k now how t hat can be, Cit izen Evrem onde. Such a poor w eak lit t le cr eat ur e! ” As t he last t hing on ear t h t hat his hear t w as t o w ar m and soft en t o, it w ar m ed and soft ened t o t his pit iable gir l. “ I hear d y ou w er e r eleased, Cit izen Ev r em onde. I hoped it w as t r ue?” “ I t w as. But , I w as again t aken and condem ned.” “ I f I m ay r ide w it h y ou, Cit izen Ev r em onde, w ill y ou let m e hold y our hand? I am not afr aid, but I am lit t le and w eak , and it w ill give m e m or e cour age.” As t he pat ient ey es w er e lift ed t o his face, he saw a sudden doubt in t hem , and t hen ast onishm ent . He pr essed t he work- worn, hunger- w orn young fingers, and t ouched his lips. “ Are you dying for him ?” she whispered. “ And his w ife and child. Hush! Yes.” “ O you w ill let m e hold your brave hand, st ranger?” “ Hush! Yes, m y poor sist er ; t o t he last .” The sam e shadow s t hat ar e falling on t he pr ison, ar e falling, in t hat sam e hour of t he ear ly aft er noon, on t he 495

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Bar r ier w it h t he cr ow d about it , w hen a coach going out of Par is dr iv es up t o be ex am ined. “ Who goes her e? Whom have w e w it hin? Paper s! ” The paper s ar e handed out , and r ead. “ Alex andr e Manet t e. Phy sician. Fr ench. Which is he?” This is he; t his helpless, inar t iculat ely m ur m ur ing, w ander ing old m an point ed out . “ Appar ent ly t he Cit izen- Doct or is not in his r ight m ind? The Rev olut ion- fever w ill have been t oo m uch for him ?” Great ly t oo m uch for him . “ Hah! Many suffer w it h it . Lucie. His daught er. French. Which is she?” Th is is sh e. “ Appar ent ly it m ust be. Lucie, t he w ife of Ev r em onde; is it not ?” I t is. “ Hah! Ev r em onde has an assignat ion elsew her e. Lucie, her child. English. This is she?” She and no ot her. “ Kiss m e, child of Ev r em onde. Now , t hou hast k issed a good Republican; som et hing new in t hy fam ily; r em em ber it ! Sydney Cart on. Advocat e. English. Which is he?” He lies her e, in t his cor ner of t he car r iage. He, t oo, is point ed out . “ Appar ent ly t he English adv ocat e is in a sw oon?” I t is hoped he w ill r ecov er in t he fr esher air . I t is r epr esent ed t hat he is not in st r ong healt h, and has separated sadly fr om a fr iend w ho is under t he displeasur e of t he Republic. 496

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“ I s t hat all? I t is not a gr eat deal, t hat ! Many ar e under t he displeasur e of t he Republic, and m ust look out at t he lit t le w indow . Jarvis Lorry. Banker. English. Which is he?” “ I am he. Necessar ily , being t he last .” I t is Jar v is Lor r y w ho has r eplied t o all t he pr ev ious quest ions. I t is Jar v is Lor r y w ho has alight ed and st ands w it h his hand on t he coach door , r eply ing t o a gr oup of officials. They leisur ely w alk r ound t he carr iage and leisur ely m ount t he box , t o look at w hat lit t le luggage it car r ies on t he r oof; t he count ry- people hanging about , pr ess near er t o t he coach door s and gr eedily st ar e in; a lit t le child, car r ied by it s m ot her , has it s shor t ar m held out for it , t ha t it m ay t ouch t he w ife of an ar ist ocr at w ho has gone t o t he Guillot ine. “ Behold your papers, Jarvis Lorry, count ersigned.” “ One can depar t , cit izen?” “ One can depart . Forward, m y post ilions! A good j ourney! ” “ I salut e y ou, cit izens. —And t he fir st danger passed! ” These ar e again t he w or ds of Jar v is Lor r y , as he clasps his hands, and looks upw ard. There is t error in t he carriage, t her e is w eeping, t her e is t he heav y br eat hing of t he insensible t r av eller . “ Ar e w e not going t oo slow ly ? Can t hey not be induced t o go fast er ?” ask s Lucie, clinging t o t he old m an. “ I t w ould seem lik e flight , m y dar ling. I m ust not ur ge t hem t oo m uch; it w ould r ouse suspicion.” “ Look back, look back, and see if w e are pursued! ” “ The road is clear, m y dearest . So far, we are not pursued.” 497

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Houses in t w os and t hr ees pass by us, solit ar y far m s, ruinous buildings, dye - w or k s, t anner ies, and t he lik e, open count r y , av enues of leafless t r ees. The har d unev en pav em ent is under us, t he soft deep m ud is on eit her side. Som et im es, w e st r ik e int o t he sk ir t ing m ud, t o av oid t he st ones t hat clat t er us and shak e us; som et im es, w e st ick in r ut s and sloughs t her e. The agony of our im pat ience is t hen so gr eat , t hat in our w ild alar m and hur r y w e ar e for get t ing out and running—hiding—doing any t hing but st opping. Out of t he open count r y , in again am ong r uinous buildings, solit ary farm s, dye - w or k s, t anner ies, and t he lik e, cot t ages in t w os and t hr ees, av enues of leafless t r ees. Hav e t hese m en deceived us, and t aken us back by anot her r oad? I s not t his t he sam e place t w ice ov er ? Thank Heav en, no. A v illage. Look back, look back, and see if w e ar e pur sued! Hush! t he post ing- house. Leisur ely , our four hor ses ar e t ak en out ; leisur ely , t he coach st ands in t he lit t le st r eet , ber eft of hor ses, and w it h no lik elihood upon it of ev er m ov ing again; leisur ely , t he new hor ses com e int o v isible ex ist ence, one by one; leisur ely , t he new post ilions follow , suck ing and plait ing t he lashes of t heir w hips; leisur ely , t he old post ilions count t heir m one y, m ake w r ong addit ions, and ar r iv e at dissat isfied r esult s. All t he t im e, our ov er fr aught hear t s ar e beat ing at a r at e t hat w ould far out st r ip t he fast est gallop of t he fast est hor ses ev er foaled. At lengt h t he new post ilions ar e in t heir saddles, and t he old ar e left behind. We ar e t hr ough t he v illage, up t he hill, and dow n t he hill, and on t he low w at er y gr ounds. Suddenly, 498

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t he post ilions ex change speech w it h anim at ed gest iculat ion, and t he hor ses ar e pulled up, alm ost on t heir haunches. We are pursued? “ Ho! Wit hin t he car r iage t her e. Speak t hen! ” “ What is it ?” ask s Mr . Lor r y , look ing out at w indow . “ How m any did t hey say?” “ I do not underst and you.” “ —At t he last post . How m any t o t he Guillot ine t o- day?” “ Fift y- t w o.” “ I said so! A brave num ber! My fellow - cit izen her e w ould hav e it for t y- t w o; t en m or e heads ar e w or t h having. The Guillot ine goes handsom ely . I lov e it . Hi for w ar d. Whoop! ” The night com es on dar k. He m oves m or e; he is beginning t o r ev iv e, and t o speak int elligibly ; he t hink s t hey ar e st ill t oget her ; he ask s him , by his nam e, w hat he has in his hand. O pit y us, k ind Heav en, and help us! Look out , look out , and see if w e ar e pur sued. The w ind is r ushing aft er us, and t he clouds ar e fly ing aft er us, and t he m oon is plunging aft er us, and t he w hole w ild night is in pur suit of us; but , so far , w e ar e pur sued by not hing else.

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XI V The Knit t ing Done I n t hat sam e j unct ur e of t im e w hen t he Fift y- Tw o aw ait ed t heir fat e Madam e Defar ge held dar kly om inous council w it h The Vengeance and Jacques Three of t he Revolut ionary Jury. Not in t he w ine - shop did Madam e Defar ge confer w it h t hese m inist er s, but in t he shed of t he w ood- sawyer, erst a m ender of r oads. The saw y er him self did not par t icipat e in t he conference, but abided at a lit t le dist ance, lik e an out er sat ellit e w ho w as not t o speak unt il r equir ed, or t o offer an opinion unt il inv it ed. “ But our Defar ge,” said Jacques Thr ee, “ is undoubt edly a good Republican? Eh?” “ Ther e is no bet t er ,” t he v oluble Vengeance pr ot est ed in her shr ill not es, “ in Fr ance.” “ Peace, lit t le Vengeance,” said Madam e Defar ge, laying her hand w it h a slight fr ow n on her lieut enant 's lips, “ hear m e speak . My husband, fellow - cit izen, is a good Republican and a bold m an; he has deser ved w ell of t he Republic, and possesses it s confidence. But m y husband has his w eak nesses, and he is so w eak as t o r elent t ow ar ds t his Doct or.” “ I t is a gr eat pit y,” cr oaked Jacques Thr ee, dubiously shaking his head, w it h his cr uel finger s at his hungr y m out h; “ it is not quit e lik e a good cit izen; it is a t hing t o r egr et . ” “ See you,” said m adam e, “ I care not hing for t his Doct or, I . He m ay w ear his head or lose it , for any int er est I hav e in him ; it is all one t o m e. But , t he Ev r em onde people ar e t o be 500

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ex t erm inat ed, and t he w ife and child m ust follow t he husband and fat her .” “ She has a fine head for it ,” croaked Jacques Three. “ I hav e seen blue ey es and golden hair t her e, and t hey look ed charm ing w hen Sam son held t hem up.” Ogre t hat he w as, he spok e lik e an epicure. Madam e Defar ge cast dow n her ey es, and r eflect ed a lit t le. “ The child also,” obser v ed Jacques Thr ee, w it h a m edit at iv e enj oy m ent of his w or ds, “ has golden hair and blue ey es. And w e seldom hav e a child t her e. I t is a pr et t y sight ! ” “ I n a word,” said Madam e Defarge, com ing out of her short abst r act ion, “ I cannot t r ust m y husband in t his m at t er . Not only do I feel, since last night , t hat I dar e not confide t o him t he det ails of m y pr oj ect s; but also I feel t hat if I delay , t her e is danger of his giv ing w ar ning, and t hen t hey m ight escape.” “ That m ust never be,” croaked Jacques Three; “ no one m ust escape. We hav e not half enough as it is. We ought t o have six score a day.” “ I n a word,” Madam e Defarge went on, “ m y husband has not m y r eason for pur suing t his fam ily t o annihilat ion, and I have not his r eason for r egar ding t his Doct or w it h any sensibilit y. I m ust act for m yself, t her efor e. Com e hit her , lit t le cit izen. ” The w ood- saw y er , w ho held her in t he r espect , and him self in t he subm ission, of m or t al fear , adv anced w it h his hand t o his r ed cap. “ Touching t hose signals, lit t le cit izen, ” said Madam e Defar ge, st er nly , “ t hat she m ade t o t he pr isoner s; y ou ar e r eady t o bear w it ness t o t hem t his v er y day ?” 501

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“ Ay, ay, why not ! ” cried t he sawyer. “ Every day, in all w eat her s, fr om t w o t o four , alw ay s signalling, som et im es w it h t he lit t le one, som et im es w it hout . I k now w hat I k now . I hav e seen w it h m y ey es.” He m ade all m anner of gest ur es w hile he spok e, as if in incident al im it at ion of som e few of t he gr eat div er sit y of signals t hat he had nev er seen. “ Clear ly plot s,” said Jacques Thr ee. “ Tr anspar ent ly! ” “ There is no doubt of t he Jury?” inquired Madam e Defarge, let t ing her ey es t ur n t o him w it h a gloom y sm ile. “ Rely upon t he pat r iot ic Jur y , dear cit izeness. I answ er for m y fellow - Jurym en.” “ Now , let m e see,” said Madam e Defar ge, ponder ing again. “ Yet once m or e! Can I spar e t his Doct or t o m y husband? I hav e no feeling eit her w ay . Can I spar e him ?” “ He would co unt as one head,” obser v ed Jacques Thr ee, in a low v oice. “ We r eally hav e not heads enough; it w ould be a pit y , I t hink .” “ He w as signalling w it h her w hen I saw her ,” ar gued Madam e Defar ge; “ I cannot speak of one w it hout t he ot her ; and I m ust not be silent , and t r ust t he case w holly t o him , t his lit t le cit izen her e. For , I am not a bad w it ness. ” The Vengeance and Jacques Thr ee v ied w it h each ot her in t heir fer v ent pr ot est at ions t hat she w as t he m ost adm ir able and m ar v ellous of w it nesses. The lit t le cit izen, not t o be out done, declar ed her t o be a celest ial w it ness. “ He m ust t ak e his chance,” said Madam e Defar ge. “ No, I cannot spare him ! You are engaged at t hree o'clock; you are going t o see t he bat ch of t o- day execut ed.—You?” 502

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The quest ion w as addr essed t o t he w ood- sawyer, who hur r iedly r eplied in t he affir m at iv e: seizing t he occasion t o add t hat he w as t he m ost ar dent of Republicans, and t hat he w ould be in effect t he m ost desolat e of Republicans, if anyt hing pr event ed him fr om enj oying t he pleasur e of sm ok ing his aft er noon pipe in t he cont em plat ion of t he dr oll nat ional bar ber . He w as so ver y dem onst r at ive her ein, t hat he m ight hav e been suspect ed ( per haps w as, by t he dar k ey es t hat look ed cont em pt uously at him out of Madam e Defar ge's head) of having his sm all indiv idual fear s for his ow n per sonal safet y, every hour in t he day. “ I ,” said m adam e, “ am equally engaged at t he sam e place. Aft er it is ov er- say at eight t o- night —com e you t o m e, in Saint Ant oine, and w e w ill giv e infor m at ion against t hese people at m y Sect ion.” The w ood- saw y er said he w ould be pr oud and flat t er ed t o at t end t he cit izeness. The cit izeness look ing at him , he becam e em bar r assed, ev aded her glance as a sm all dog w ould hav e done, r et r eat ed am ong his w ood, and hid his confusion over t he handle of his saw . Madam e Defarge beckoned t he Jurym an and The Vengeance a lit t le near er t o t he door , and t her e ex pounded her fur t her view s t o t hem t hus: “ She w ill now be at hom e, aw ait ing t he m om ent of his deat h. She w ill be m ourning and grievi ng. She w ill be in a st at e of m ind t o im peach t he j ust ice of t he Republic. She w ill be full of sy m pat hy w it h it s enem ies. I w ill go t o her . ”

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“ What an adm ir able w om an; w hat an ador able w om an! ” exclaim ed Jacques Three, rapt urously. “ Ah, m y cherished! ” cried The Vengeance; and em braced her. “ Take you m y knit t ing,” said Madam e Defar ge, placing it in her lieut enant 's hands, “ and have it r eady for m e in m y usual seat . Keep m e m y usual chair . Go you t her e, st r aight , for t her e w ill pr obably be a gr eat er concourse t han usual, t oday.” “ I w illingly obey t he or der s of m y Chief,” said The Vengeance w it h alacr it y , and k issing her cheek . “ You w ill not be lat e?” “ I shall be t her e befor e t he com m encem ent .” “ And before t he t um brils arrive. Be sure you are t here, m y soul,” said The Vengeance, calling aft er her , for she had alr eady t ur ned int o t he st r eet , “ befor e t he t um br ils ar r ive! ” Madam e Defar ge slight ly w av ed her hand, t o im ply t hat she hear d, and m ight be r elied upon t o ar r iv e in good t im e, and so w ent t hr ough t he m ud, and round t he corner of t he pr ison w all. The Vengeance and t he Jur ym an, looking aft er her as she w alk ed aw ay , w er e highly appr eciat iv e of her fine figure, and her superb m oral endow m ent s. Ther e w er e m any w om en at t hat t im e, upon w hom t he t im e l aid a dr eadfully disfigur ing hand; but , t her e w as not one am ong t hem m or e t o be dr eaded t han t his r ut hless w om an, now t ak ing her w ay along t he st r eet s. Of a st r ong and fear less char act er , of shr ew d sense and r eadiness, of gr eat det er m inat ion, of t hat k ind of beaut y w hich not only seem s t o im par t t o it s possessor fir m ness and anim osit y , but t o st r ik e int o ot her s an inst inct iv e r ecognit ion of t hose qualit ies; t he 504

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t roubled t im e w ould have heaved her up, under any circum st ances. But , im bued from her childhood wit h a br ooding sense of w r ong, and an inv et er at e hat r ed of a class, oppor t unit y had dev eloped her int o a t igr ess. She w as absolut ely w it hout pit y . I f she had ev er had t he v ir t ue in her , it had quit e gone out of her . I t w as not hing t o her , t hat an innocent m an w as t o die for t he sins of his for efat her s; she saw , not him , but t hem . I t w as not hing t o her , t hat his w ife w as t o be m ade a w idow and his daught er an or phan; t hat w as insufficient punishm ent , because t hey w ere her nat ural enem ies and her prey, and as such had no r ight t o liv e. To appeal t o her , w as m ade hopeless by her hav ing no sense of pit y , ev en for her self. I f she had been laid low in t he st r eet s, in any of t he m any encount er s in w hich she had been engaged, she w ould not hav e pit ied her self; nor, if she had been or der ed t o t he ax e t o- m or r ow , w ould she hav e gone t o it w it h any soft er feeling t han a fier ce desir e t o change places w it h t he m an w ho sent here t here. Such a heart Madam e Defarge carried under her rough r obe. Car elessly w or n, it w as a becom ing robe enough, in a cert ain weird way, and her dark hair looked rich under her coar se r ed cap. Lying hidden in her bosom , w as a loaded pist ol. Ly ing hidden at her w aist , w as a shar pened dagger . Thus accout r ed, and w alk ing w it h t he confident t r ead of such a char act er , and w it h t he supple fr eedom of a w om an w ho had habit ually w alked in her gir lhood, bar e - foot and bare legged, on t he br ow n sea- sand, Madam e Defarge t ook her w ay along t he st r eet s. 505

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Now , w hen t he j our ney of t he t r av elling coach, at t hat v ery m om ent w ait ing for t he com plet ion of it s load, had been planned out last night , t he difficult y of t ak ing Miss Pr oss in it had m uch engaged Mr. Lorry's at t ent ion. I t w as not m erely desir able t o av oid ov er loading t he coach, but it w as of t he highest im por t ance t hat t he t im e occupied in exam ining it and it s passenger s, should be r educed t o t he ut m ost ; since t heir escape m ight depend on t he sav ing of only a few seconds her e and t her e. Finally , he had pr oposed, aft er anx ious consider at ion, t hat Miss Pr oss and Jerry, who were at libert y t o leav e t he cit y , should leav e it at t hr ee o'clock in t he ligh t est - w heeled conveyance know n t o t hat per iod. Unencum ber ed w it h luggage, t hey w ould soon ov er t ak e t he coach, and, passing it and pr eceding it on t he r oad, w ould order it s hor ses in adv ance, and gr eat ly facilit at e it s pr ogr ess dur ing t he pr ecious hour s of t he night , w hen delay w as t he m ost t o be dr eaded. Seeing in t his ar r angem ent t he hope of r ender ing r eal ser v ice in t hat pr essing em er gency , Miss Pr oss hailed it w i t h j oy. She and Jerry had beheld t he coach st art , had known w ho it w as t hat Solom on br ought , had passed som e t en m inut es in t or t ur es of suspense, and w er e now concluding t heir ar r angem ent s t o follow t he coach, ev en as Madam e Defarge, t aking her way t hrough t he st r eet s, now dr ew near er and near er t o t he else- deser t ed lodging in w hich t hey held t heir consult at ion. “ Now what do you t hink, Mr. Cruncher,” said Miss Pross, w hose agit at ion w as so gr eat t hat she could har dly speak , or st and, or m ove, or live: “ what do y ou t hink of our not st ar t ing 506

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from t his court yard? Anot her carriage having already gone from here t o- day , it m ight aw ak en suspicion.” “ My opinion, m iss,” ret urned Mr. Cruncher, “ is as you're r ight . Likew ise w ot I 'll st and by you, r ight or w r ong.” “ I am so dist r act ed w it h fear and hope for our pr ecious cr eat ur es,” said Miss Pr oss, w ildly cr ying, “ t hat I am incapable of form ing any plan. Are YOU capable of form ing any plan, m y dear good Mr. Cruncher?” “ Respect in’ a fut ur e spear o’ life, m iss,” ret urned Mr. Cr uncher , “ I hope so. Respect in’ any pr esent use o’ t his her e blessed old head o’ m ind, I t hink not . Would y ou do m e t he fav our , m iss, t o t ak e not ice o’ t w o pr om ises and w ow s w ot it is m y w ishes fur t o r ecor d in t his her e cr isis?” “ Oh, for gr acious sak e! ” cr ied Miss Pr oss, st ill w ildly cr y ing, “ r ecor d t hem at once, and get t hem out of t he w ay , lik e an ex cellent m an.” “ First ,” said Mr. Cruncher, w ho w as all in a t rem ble, and w ho spok e w it h an ashy and solem n v isage, “ t hem poor t hings w ell out o’ t his, nev er no m or e w ill I do it , nev er no m ore! ” “ I am quit e sure, Mr. Cruncher,” ret urned Miss Pross, “ t hat y ou nev er w ill do it again, w hat ev er it is, and I beg y ou not t o t hink it necessar y t o m ent ion m or e par t icular ly w hat it is.” “ No, m iss,” ret urned Jerry, “ it shall not be nam ed t o you. Second: t hem poor t hings w ell out o’ t his, and never no m or e will I int erfere wit h Mrs. Cruncher's flopping, never no m ore! ” “ What ev er housek eeping ar r angem ent t hat m ay be,” said Miss Pr oss, st r iv ing t o dry her eyes and com pose her self, “ I hav e no doubt it is best t hat Mr s. Cr uncher should hav e it 507

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ent irely under her ow n superint endence.—O m y poor darlings! ” “ I go so far as t o say, m iss, m oreover,” proceeded Mr. Cruncher, w it h a m ost alarm ing t endency t o hold for t h as fr om a pulpit —" and let m y w or ds be t ook dow n and t ook t o Mrs. Cruncher t hrough yourself—t hat w ot m y opinions r espect in’ flopping has under gone a change, and t hat w ot I only hope wit h all m y heart as Mrs. Cruncher m ay be a flopping at t he pr esent t im e.” “ There, t here, t here! I hope she is, m y dear m an,” cried t he dist r act ed Miss Pr oss, “ and I hope she finds it answ er ing her ex pect at ions.” “ Forbid it ,” proceeded Mr. Cruncher, wit h addit ional solem nit y , addit ional slow ness, and addit ional t endency t o hold for t h and hold out , “ as any t hing w ot I hav e ev er said or done should be w isit ed on m y ear nest w ishes for t hem poor cr eet ur s now ! For bid it as w e shouldn't all flop ( if it w as any w ay s conw enient ) t o get ‘em out o’ t his her e dism al r isk ! Forbid it , m iss! Wot I say , for- BI D it ! ” This was Mr. Cruncher's conclusion aft er a pr ot r act ed but v ain endeav our t o find a bet t er one. And st ill Madam e Defar ge, pur suing her w ay along t he st reet s, cam e nearer and nearer. “ I f w e ev er get back t o our nat iv e land, ” said Miss Pr oss, “ you m ay rely upon m y t elling Mrs. Cruncher as m uch as I m ay be able t o rem em ber and underst and of w hat you have so im pr essiv ely said; and at all ev ent s y ou m ay be sur e t hat I shall bear w it ness t o y our being t hor oughly in ear nest at t h is 508

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dr eadful t im e. Now , pr ay let us t hink! My est eem ed Mr . Cruncher, let us t hink! ” St ill, Madam e Defar ge, pur suing her w ay along t he st r eet s, cam e nearer and nearer. “ I f y ou w er e t o go befor e,” said Miss Pr oss, “ and st op t he vehicle and hor ses fr om com ing her e, and w er e t o w ait som ew her e for m e; w ouldn't t hat be best ?” Mr. Cruncher t hought it m ight be best . “ Wher e could y ou w ait for m e?” ask ed Miss Pr oss. Mr. Cruncher w as so bew ildered t hat he could t hink of no localit y but Tem ple Bar . Alas! Temple Bar w as hundr eds of m iles away, and Madam e Defarge was drawing very near indeed. “ By t he cat hedr al door ,” said Miss Pr oss. “ Would it be m uch out of t he w ay , t o t ak e m e in, near t he gr eat cat hedr al door bet w een t he t w o t ow er s?” “ No, m iss,” answ er ed Mr. Cruncher. “ Then, lik e t he best of m en, ” said Miss Pr oss, “ go t o t he post ing- house st r aight , and m ak e t hat change.” “ I am doubt ful,” said Mr . Cr uncher , hesit at ing and shaking his head, “ about leav ing of y ou, y ou see. We don't k now w hat m ay happen.” “ Heaven know s w e don't ,” ret urned Miss Pross, “ but have no fear for m e. Take m e in at t he cat hedr al, at Thr ee o'Clock, or as near it as y ou can, and I am sur e it w ill be bet t er t han our going fr om her e. I feel cer t ain of it . Ther e! Bless you, Mr . Cruncher! Think- not of m e, but of t he liv es t hat m ay depend on bot h of us! ” 509

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This ex or dium , and Miss Pr oss's t w o hands in quit e agonised ent r eat y clasping his, decided Mr . Cr uncher . Wit h an encour aging nod or t w o, he im m ediat ely w ent out t o alt er t he arrangem ent s, and left her by her self t o follow as she had pr oposed. The hav ing or iginat ed a pr ecaut ion w hich w as alr eady in cour se of ex ecut ion, w as a gr eat r elief t o Miss Pr oss. The necessit y of com posing her appear ance so t hat it should at t r act no special not ice in t he st reet s, was anot her relief. She look ed at her w at ch, and it w as t w ent y m inut es past t w o. She had no t im e t o lose, but m ust get r eady at once. Afr aid, in her ex t r em e per t ur bat ion, of t he loneliness of t he deser t ed r oom s, and of half- im agined face s peeping fr om behind ev er y open door in t hem , Miss Pr oss got a basin of cold w at er and began lav ing her ey es, w hich w er e sw ollen and r ed. Haunt ed by her fever ish appr ehensions, she could not bear t o hav e her sight obscur ed for a m inut e at a t im e by t he dripping w at er , but const ant ly paused and look ed r ound t o see t hat t her e w as no one w at ching her . I n one of t hose pauses she r ecoiled and cr ied out , for she saw a figur e st anding in t he r oom . The basin fell t o t he gr ound br ok en, and t he w at er flow ed t o t he feet of Madam e Defar ge. By st r ange st er n w ay s, and t hr ough m uch st aining blood, t hose feet had com e t o m eet t hat w at er . Madam e Defar ge look ed coldly at her , and said, “ The w ife of Evrem onde; w here is she?” I t flashed upon Miss Pr oss's m ind t hat t he door s w er e all st anding open, and w ould suggest t he flight . Her fir st act w as 510

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t o shut t hem . Ther e w er e four in t he r oom , and she shut t hem all. She t hen placed her self befor e t he door of t he cham ber which Lucie had occupied. Madam e Defar ge's dar k eyes follow ed her t hr ough t his r apid m ov em ent , and r est ed on her w hen it w as finished. Miss Pr oss had not hing beaut iful about her ; y ear s had not t am ed t he w ildness, or soft ened t he gr im ness, of her appear ance; but , she t oo w as a det erm ined w om an in her different w ay, and she m easured Madam e Defarge w it h her eyes, every inch. “ You m ight , from your appearance, be t he w ife of Lucifer,” said Miss Pr oss, in her br eat hing. “ Nev er t heless, y ou shall not get t he bet t er of m e. I am an Englishw om an.” Madam e Defar ge look ed at her scor nfully , but st ill w it h som et hing of Miss Pr oss's ow n per cept ion t hat t hey t w o w er e at bay. She saw a t ight , hard, w iry w om an before her, as Mr. Lor r y had seen in t he sam e figur e a w om an w it h a st r ong hand, in t he year s gone by . She k new full w ell t hat Miss Pr oss w as t he fam ily 's dev ot ed fr iend; Miss Pr oss k new full w ell t hat Madam e Defar ge w as t he fam ily 's m alev olent enem y . “ On m y w ay yonder ,” said Madam e Defar ge, w it h a slight m ov em ent of her hand t ow ar ds t he fat al spot , “ w her e t hey reserve m y chair and m y knit t ing for m e, I am com e t o m ake m y com plim ent s t o her in passing. I w ish t o see her .” “ I k now t hat y our int ent ions ar e ev il,” said Miss Pr oss, “ and you m ay depend upon it , I 'll hold m y ow n against t hem .” Each spoke in her ow n language; neit her under st ood t he ot her 's w or ds; bot h w er e ver y w at chful, and int ent t o deduce fr om look and m anner , w hat t he unint elligible w or ds m eant . 511

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“ I t w ill do her no good t o k eep her self concealed fr om m e at t his m om ent , ” said Madam e Defar ge. “ Good pat r iot s w ill k now w hat t hat m eans. Let m e see her . Go t ell her t hat I w ish t o see her. Do you hear?” “ I f t hose ey es of y our s w er e bed- w inches,” r et ur ned Miss Pr oss, “ and I w as an English four- post er , t hey shouldn't loose a splin t er of m e. No, you wicked foreign wom an; I am your m at ch.” Madam e Defar ge w as not lik ely t o follow t hese idiom at ic r em ar k s in det ail; but , she so far under st ood t hem as t o per ceiv e t hat she w as set at naught . “ Wom an im becile and pig- like! ” said Madam e De far ge, frow ning. “ I t ake no answ er from you. I dem and t o see her. Eit her t ell her t hat I dem and t o see her , or st and out of t he w ay of t he door and let m e go t o her ! ” This, w it h an angr y explanat ory wave of her right arm . “ I lit t le t hought , ” said Miss Pross, “ t hat I should ev er w ant t o under st and y our nonsensical language; but I w ould giv e all I hav e, ex cept t he clot hes I w ear , t o k now w het her y ou suspect t he t r ut h, or any par t of it .” Neit her of t hem for a single m om ent r eleased t he ot her 's ey es. Madame Defar ge had not m oved fr om t he spot w her e she st ood w hen Miss Pr oss fir st becam e aw ar e of her ; but , she now adv anced one st ep. “ I am a Br it on,” said Miss Pr oss, “ I am desper at e. I don't car e an English Tw opence for m y self. I k now t hat t he longer I keep you here, t he great er hope t here is for m y Ladybird. I 'll not leave a handful of t hat dar k hair upon your head, if you lay a finger on m e! ” 512

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Thus Miss Pr oss, w it h a shak e of her head and a flash of her eyes bet w een every rapid sent ence, and every rapid sent ence a w hole br eat h. Thus Miss Pr oss, w ho had nev er st r uck a blow in her life. But , her cour age w as of t hat em ot ional nat ur e t hat it br ought t he ir r epr essible t ear s int o her ey es. This w as a cour age t hat Madam e Defar ge so lit t le com pr ehended as t o m ist ake for w eakness. “ Ha, ha! ” she laughed, “ you poor w r et ch! What ar e you w or t h! I addr ess m yself t o t hat Doct or .” Then she r aised her v oice and called out , “ Cit izen Doct or ! Wife of Evr em onde! Child of Evr em onde! Any per son but t his m iser able fool, answ er t he Cit izeness Defar ge! ” Per haps t he follow ing silence, per haps som e lat ent disclosur e in t he ex pr ession of Miss Pr oss's face, per haps a sudden m isgiv ing apar t fr om eit her suggest ion, w hisper ed t o Madam e Defar ge t hat t hey w er e gone. Thr ee of t he door s she opened sw ift ly , and look ed in. “ Those r oom s ar e all in disor der , t her e has been hur r ied packing, t her e ar e odds and ends upon t he gr ound. Ther e is no one in t hat r oom behind you! Let m e look.” “ Nev er ! ” said Miss Pr oss, w ho under st ood t he r equest as per fect ly as Madam e Defar ge under st ood t he answ er . “ I f t hey ar e not in t hat r oom , t hey ar e gone, and can be pur sued and br ought back,” said Madam e Defar ge t o her self. “ As long as you don't know w het her t hey ar e in t hat r oom or not , you are uncert ain w hat t o do, ” said Miss Pr oss t o her self; “ and you shall not know t hat , if I can pr event your k now ing it ; and k now t hat , or not k now t hat , y ou shall not leave her e w hile I can hold you.” 513

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“ I hav e been in t he st r eet s fr om t he fir st , not hing has st opped m e, I w i ll t ear y ou t o pieces, but I w ill hav e y ou fr om t hat door ,” said Madam e Defar ge. “ We ar e alone at t he t op of a high house in a solit ar y court yard, w e are not likely t o be heard, and I pray for bodily st rengt h t o keep you here, w hile every m inut e you are her e is w or t h a hundr ed t housand guineas t o m y dar ling,” said Miss Pr oss. Madam e Defar ge m ade at t he door . Miss Pr oss, on t he inst inct of t he m om ent , seized her r ound t he w aist in bot h her ar m s, and held her t ight . I t w as in vain for Madam e Defar ge t o st r uggle and t o st r ik e; Miss Pr oss, w it h t he v igor ous t enacit y of lov e, alw ay s so m uch st r onger t han hat e, clasped her t ight , and ev en lift ed her fr om t he floor in t he st r uggle t hat t hey had. The t w o hands of Madam e Defar ge buffet ed and t or e her face; but , Miss Pr oss, w it h her head dow n, held her r ound t he w aist , and clung t o her w it h m or e t han t he hold of a drowning wom an. Soon, Madam e Defar ge's hands ceased t o st r ik e, and felt at her encir cled w aist . “ I t is under m y ar m ,” said Miss Pr oss, in sm ot her ed t ones, “ y ou shall not dr aw it . I am st r onger t han y ou, I bless Heav en for it . I hold y ou t ill one or ot her of us faint s or dies! ” Madam e Defar ge's hands w er e at her bosom . Miss Pr oss look ed up, saw w hat it w as, st r uck at it , st r uck out a flash and a crash, and st ood alone —blinded w it h sm ok e. All t his w as in a second. As t he sm ok e clear ed, leav ing an aw ful st illness, it passed out on t he air , lik e t he soul of t he fur ious w om an w hose body lay lifeless on t he gr ound. 514

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I n t he fir st fr ight and hor r or of her sit uat ion, Miss Pr oss passed t he body as far fr om it as she could, and r an dow n t he st air s t o call for fr uit less help. Happily , she bet hought her self of t he consequences of w hat she did, in t im e t o check her self and go back . I t w as dr eadful t o go in at t he door again; but , she did go in, and ev en w ent near it , t o get t he bonnet and ot her t hings t hat she m ust w ear . These she put on, out on t he st air case, fir st shut t ing and lock ing t he door and t ak ing aw ay t he k ey . She t hen sat dow n on t he st air s a few m om ent s t o breat he and t o cry, and t hen got up and hurried aw ay. By good for t une she had a veil on her bonnet , or she could har dly hav e gone along t he st r eet s w it hout being st opped. By good for t une, t oo, she w as nat ur ally so peculiar in appear ance as not t o show disfigur em ent lik e any ot her w om an. She needed bot h advant ages, for t he m ar ks of gripping fingers w ere deep in her face, and her hair w as t orn, and her dr ess ( hast ily com posed w it h unst eady hands) w as clut ched and dragged a hundre d w ays. I n cr ossing t he br idge, she dr opped t he door key in t he r iver . Ar r iving at t he cat hedr al som e few m inut es befor e her escor t , and w ait ing t her e, she t hought , w hat if t he k ey w er e alr eady t ak en in a net , w hat if it w er e ident ified, w hat if t he door w er e opened and t he r em ains discov er ed, w hat if she w er e st opped at t he gat e, sent t o pr ison, and char ged w it h m ur der ! I n t he m idst of t hese flut t er ing t hought s, t he escor t appeared, t ook her in, and t ook her aw ay. “ I s t her e any noise in t he st r eet s?” she ask ed him . 515

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“ The usual noises,” Mr. Cruncher replied; and looked sur pr ised by t he quest ion and by her aspect . “ I don't hear y ou,” said Miss Pr oss. “ What do y ou say ?” I t w as in vain for Mr . Cr uncher t o repeat w hat he said; Miss Pr oss could not hear him . “ So I 'll nod m y head,” t hought Mr . Cr uncher , am azed, “ at all ev ent s she'll see t hat .” And she did. “ I s t her e any noise in t he st r eet s now ?” ask ed Miss Pr oss again, pr esent ly . Again Mr. Cruncher nodded his head. “ I don't hear it .” “ Gone deaf in an hour?” said Mr. Cruncher, rum inat ing, w it h his m ind m uch dist urbed; “ w ot 's com e t o her?” “ I feel,” said Miss Pr oss, “ as if t her e had been a flash and a cr ash, and t hat cr ash w as t he last t hing I should ev er hear in t h is life. ” “ Blest if she ain' t in a queer condit ion! ” said Mr. Cruncher, m or e and m or e dist ur bed. “ Wot can she have been a t akin', t o keep her courage up? Hark! There's t he roll of t hem dr eadful car t s! You can hear t hat , m iss?” “ I can hear , ” said Miss Pr oss, seeing t hat he spok e t o her, “ not hing. O, m y good m an, t her e w as fir st a gr eat cr ash, and t hen a gr eat st illness, and t hat st illness seem s t o be fix ed and unchangeable, never t o be broken any m ore as long as m y lif e last s. ” “ I f she don't hear t he r oll of t hose dr eadful car t s, now very nigh t heir j ourney's end,” said Mr. Cruncher, glancing over his shoulder , “ it 's m y opinion t hat indeed she nev er w ill hear any t hing else in t his w or ld.” 516

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And indeed she nev er did.

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XV The Foot st eps Die Out For Ev er Along t he Par is st r eet s, t he deat h- cart s rum ble, hollow and har sh. Six t um br ils car r y t he day 's w ine t o La Guillot ine. All t he dev our ing and insat iat e Monst er s im agined since im aginat ion could r ecor d it self, ar e fused in t he one r ealisat ion, Guillot ine. And y et t her e is not in Fr ance, w it h it s r ich v ar iet y of soil and clim at e, a blade, a leaf, a r oot , a spr ig, a peppercorn, w hich w ill grow t o m at urit y under condit ions m ore cert ain t han t hose t hat have produced t his horror. Crush hum anit y out of shape once m ore, under sim ilar ham m ers, and it w ill t w ist it self int o t he sam e t or t ur ed for m s. Sow t he sam e seed of r apacious license and oppr ession ov er again, and it w ill sur ely y ield t he sam e fr uit accor ding t o it s kind. Six t um br ils r oll along t he st r eet s. Change t hese back again t o w hat t hey w er e, t hou pow er ful enchant er , Tim e, and t hey shall be seen t o be t he car r iages of absolut e m onar chs, t he equipages of feudal nobles, t he t oilet t es of flar ing Jezebels, t he chur ches t hat ar e not m y fat her 's house but dens of t hiev es, t he hut s of m illions of st ar v ing peasant s! No; t he gr eat m agician w ho m aj est ically w or k s out t he appoint ed or der of t he Cr eat or , never r ever ses his t r ansfor m at ions. “ I f t hou be changed int o t his shape by t he w ill of God,” say t he seer s t o t he enchant ed, in t he w ise Ar abian st or ies, “ t hen r em ain so! But , if t hou w ear t his for m t hr ough m er e passing conj ur at ion, t hen r esum e t hy for m er aspect ! ” Changeless and hopeless, t he t um br ils r oll along. 518

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As t he som br e w heels of t he six car t s go r ound, t hey seem t o plough up a long cr ooked furrow am ong t he populace in t he st r eet s. Ridges of faces ar e t hr ow n t o t his side and t o t hat , and t he ploughs go st eadily onw ar d. So used ar e t he r egular inhabit ant s of t he houses t o t he spect acle, t hat in m any w indow s t her e ar e no people, and in som e t he occupat ion of t he hands is not so m uch as suspended, w hile t he ey es sur v ey t he faces in t he t um br ils. Her e and t her e, t he inm at e has v isit or s t o see t he sight ; t hen he point s his finger , w it h som et hing of t he com placency of a cur at or or aut hor ised exponent , t o t his car t and t o t his, and seem s t o t ell w ho sat her e yest er day, and w ho t her e t he day befor e. Of t he r ider s in t he t um br ils, som e obser v e t hese t hings, and all t hings on t heir last r oadside, w it h an im passiv e st ar e; ot her s, w it h a linger ing int er est in t he w ay s of life and m en. Som e, seat ed w it h dr ooping heads, ar e sunk in silent despair ; again, t her e ar e som e so heedful of t heir look s t hat t hey cast upon t he m ult it ude such glances as t hey hav e seen in t heat r es, and in pict ur es. Sev er al close t heir ey es, and t hink , or t r y t o get t heir st r ay ing t hought s t oget her . Only one, and he a m iser able cr eat ur e, of a cr azed aspect , is so shat t er ed and m ade drunk by horror, t hat he sings, and t ries t o dance. Not one of t he w hole num ber appeals by look or gest ur e, t o t he pit y of t he people. Ther e is a guar d of sundr y hor sem en r iding abr east of t he t um br ils, and faces ar e oft en t ur ned up t o som e of t hem , and t hey ar e ask ed som e quest ion. I t w ould seem t o be alw ay s t he sam e quest ion, for , it is alw ay s follow ed by a pr ess of people t ow ar ds t he t hir d car t . The hor sem en abr east of t hat 519

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car t , fr equent ly point out one m an in it w it h t heir sw or ds. The leading cur iosit y is, t o k now w hich is he; he st ands at t he back of t he t um br il w it h his head bent dow n, t o conv er se w it h a m er e gir l w ho sit s on t he side of t he car t , and holds his hand. He has no cur iosit y or car e for t he scene about him , and alw ay s speak s t o t he gir l. Her e and t her e in t he long st r eet of St . Honor e, cr ies ar e r aised against him . I f t hey m ov e him at all, it is only t o a quiet sm ile, as he shak es his hair a lit t le m or e loosely about his face. He cannot easily t ouch his face, his ar m s being bound. On t he st eps of a chur ch, aw ait ing t he com ing- up of t he t um br ils, st ands t he Spy and pr ison- sheep. He look s int o t he fir st of t hem : not t her e. He look s int o t he second: not t her e. He alr eady ask s him self, “ Has he sacr ificed m e?” w hen his face clear s, as he look s int o t he t hir d. “ Which is Evrem onde?” says a m an behind him . “ That . At t he back t her e.” “ Wit h his hand in t he gir l's?” “ Yes. ” The m an cr ies, “ Dow n, Evr em onde! To t he Guillot ine all arist ocrat s! Down, Evrem onde! ” “ Hush, hush! ” t he Spy ent r eat s him , t im idly. “ And w hy not , cit izen?” “ He is going t o pay t he for feit : it w ill be paid in fiv e m inut es m or e. Let him be at peace.” But t he m an cont inuing t o exclaim , “ Down, Evrem onde! ” t he face of Evr em onde is for a m om ent t ur ned t ow ar ds him . Ev r em onde t hen sees t he Spy , and look s at t ent iv ely at him , and goes his w ay . 520

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The clocks ar e on t he st r oke of t hr ee, and t he fur r ow ploughed am ong t he populace is t ur ning r ound, t o com e on int o t he place of ex ecut ion, and end. The r idges t hr ow n t o t his side and t o t hat , now cr um ble in and close behind t he last plough as it passes on, for all ar e follow ing t o t he Guillot ine. I n fr ont of it , seat ed in chair s, as in a gar den of public div er sion, ar e a num ber of w om en, busily k nit t ing. On one of t he fore - m ost chair s, st ands The Vengeance, look ing about for her friend. “ Ther ese! ” she cr ies, in her shr ill t ones. “ Who has seen her? Therese Defarge! ” “ She never m issed befor e,” says a knit t ing- w om an of t he sist er hood. “ No; nor w ill she m iss now ,” cr ies The Vengeance, pet ulant ly . “ Ther ese.” “ Louder,” t he w oman recom m ends. Ay ! Louder , Vengeance, m uch louder , and st ill she w ill scar cely hear t hee. Louder y et , Vengeance, w it h a lit t le oat h or so added, and yet it w ill har dly br ing her . Send ot her w om en up and dow n t o seek her, lingering som ew here; and y et , alt hough t he m essenger s hav e done dr ead deeds, it is quest ionable w het her of t heir ow n w ills t hey w ill go far enough t o find her! “ Bad For t une! ” cr ies The Vengeance, st am ping her foot in t he chair, “ and here are t he t um brils! And Evrem onde w ill be despat che d in a w ink, and she not her e! See her knit t ing in m y hand, and her em pt y chair ready for her. I cry wit h v ex at ion and disappoint m ent ! ” 521

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As The Vengeance descends fr om her elev at ion t o do it , t he t um br ils begin t o dischar ge t heir loads. The m inist er s of Saint e Guillot ine ar e r obed and r eady . Cr ash! —A head is held up, and t he k nit t ing- w om en w ho scar cely lift ed t heir ey es t o look at it a m om ent ago w hen it could t hink and speak , count One. The second t um br il em pt ies and m ov es on; t he t hir d com es up. Crash! —And t he k nit t ing- wom en, never falt ering or pausing in t heir Wor k , count Tw o. The supposed Ev r em onde descends, and t he seam st r ess is lift ed out nex t aft er him . He has not r elinquished her pat ient hand in get t ing out , but st ill holds it as he pr om ised. He gent ly places her w it h her back t o t he cr ashing engine t hat const ant ly w hir r s up and falls, and she look s int o his face and t hanks him . “ But for you, dear st r anger , I should not be so com posed, for I am nat ur ally a poor lit t le t hing, faint of hear t ; nor should I hav e been able t o r aise m y t hought s t o Him w ho w as put t o deat h, t hat w e m ight hav e hope and com for t her e t o- day. I t hink you w er e sent t o m e by Heaven.” “ Or you t o m e,” says Sydney Cart on. “ Keep your eyes upon m e, dear child, and m ind no ot her obj ect .” “ I m ind not hing w hile I hold your hand. I shall m ind not hing w hen I let it go, if t hey ar e r apid.” “ They w ill be rapid. Fear not ! ” The t w o st and in t he fast - t hinning t hr ong of v ict im s, but t hey speak as if t hey w er e alone. Ey e t o ey e, v oice t o v oice, hand t o hand, hear t t o hear t , t hese t w o childr en of t he Univ er sal Mot her , else so w ide apar t and differ ing, hav e com e 522

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t oget her on t he dar k highw ay, t o r epair hom e t oget her , and t o r est in her bosom . “ Br ave and gener ous fr iend, w ill you let m e ask you one last quest ion? I am v er y ignor ant , and it t r oubles m e —j u st a lit t le. ” “ Tell m e w hat it is. ” “ I hav e a cousin, an only r elat iv e and an or phan, lik e m yself, whom I love very dearly. She is five years younger t han I , and she lives in a far m er ' s house in t he sout h count r y . Pov er t y par t ed us, and she k now s not hing of m y fat e—for I cannot w r it e—and if I could, how should I t ell her ! I t is bet t er as it is. ” “ Yes, y es: bet t er as it is. ” “ What I hav e been t hink ing as w e cam e along, and w hat I am st ill t hink ing now , as I look int o y our k ind st r ong face w hich giv es m e so m uch suppor t , is t his: —I f t he Republic r eally does good t o t he poor , and t hey com e t o be less hungr y , and in all w ay s t o suffer less, she m ay liv e a long t im e: she m ay ev en liv e t o be old.” “ What t hen, m y gent le sist er ?” “ Do you t hink: ” t he uncom plaining eyes in w hich t her e is so m uch endur ance, fill w it h t ear s, and t he lips par t a lit t le m or e and t r em ble: “ t hat it w ill seem long t o m e, w hile I w ait for her in t he bet t er land w he r e I t r ust bot h y ou and I w ill be m er cifully shelt er ed?” “ I t cannot be, m y child; t her e is no Tim e t her e, and no t r ouble t her e.” “ You com for t m e so m uch! I am so ignor ant . Am I t o kiss you now ? I s t he m om ent com e?” 523

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“ Yes. ” She k isses his lips; he k isses her s; t hey solem nly bless each ot her . The spar e hand does not t r em ble as he r eleases it ; not hing w or se t han a sw eet , br ight const ancy is in t he pat ient face. She goes nex t befor e him—is gone; t he k nit t ingw om en count Tw ent y- Tw o. “ I am t he Resur r ect ion and t he Life, sait h t he Lor d: he t hat believ et h in m e, t hough he w er e dead, y et shall he liv e: and w hosoev er liv et h and believ et h in m e shall nev er die.” The m urm uring of m any voices, t he upt urning of m any faces, t he pr essing on of m any foot st eps in t he out sk ir t s of t he cr ow d, so t hat it sw ells for w ar d in a m ass, lik e one gr eat heav e of w at er , all flashes aw ay . Tw ent y- Three. They said of him , about t he cit y t hat night , t hat it w as t he peacefullest m an's face ev er beheld t here. Many added t hat he look ed sublim e and pr ophet ic. One of t he m ost r em ar kable suffer er s by t he sam e axe —a w om an—had ask ed at t he foot of t he sam e scaffold, not long befor e, t o be allow ed t o w r it e dow n t he t hought s t hat w er e inspiring her. I f he had give n any ut t er ance t o his, and t hey w er e pr ophet ic, t hey w ould hav e been t hese: “ I see Bar sad, and Cly , Defar ge, The Vengeance, t he Jurym an, t he Judge, long ranks of t he new oppressors w ho hav e r isen on t he dest r uct ion of t he old, per ishing by t his ret ribut iv e inst r um ent , befor e it shall cease out of it s pr esent use. I see a beaut iful cit y and a br illiant people r ising fr om t his aby ss, and, in t heir st r uggles t o be t r uly fr ee, in t heir t r ium phs and defeat s, t hr ough long y ear s t o com e, I see t he ev il of t h is t im e and of t he pr ev ious t im e of w hich t his is t he 524

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nat ur al bir t h, gr adually m ak ing ex piat ion for it self and w ear ing out . “ I see t he liv es for w hich I lay dow n m y life, peaceful, useful, pr osper ous and happy , in t hat England w hich I shall see no m or e. I see Her w it h a child upon her bosom , w ho bear s m y nam e. I see her fat her , aged and bent , but ot her w ise r est or ed, and fait hful t o all m en in his healing office, and at peace. I see t he good old m an, so long t heir fr iend, in t en y ear s’ t im e enr iching t hem w it h all he has, and passing t r anquilly t o his r ew ar d. “ I see t hat I hold a sanct uar y in t heir hear t s, and in t he hear t s of t heir descendant s, gener at ions hence. I see her , an old w om an, w eeping for m e on t he anniver sar y of t his day. I see her and her husband, t heir cour se done, ly ing side by side in t heir last ear t hly bed, and I k now t hat each w as not m or e honour ed and held sacr ed in t he ot her 's soul, t han I w as in t he souls of bot h. “ I see t hat child w ho lay upon her bosom and w ho bore m y nam e, a m an w inning his w ay up in t hat pat h of life w hich once w as m ine. I see him w inning it so w ell, t hat m y nam e is m ade illust r ious t her e by t he light of his. I see t he blot s I t hr ew upon it , faded aw ay . I see him , for e - m ost of j ust j udges and honoured m en, bringing a boy of m y nam e, w it h a for ehead t hat I k now and golden hair , t o t his place —t hen fair t o look upon, w it h not a t r ace of t his day 's disfigur em ent — and I hear him t ell t he child m y st or y , w it h a t ender and a falt er ing v oice.

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“ I t is a far , far bet t er t hing t hat I do, t han I hav e ev er done; it is a far , far bet t er r est t hat I go t o t han I hav e ev er known.”

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