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Title  A Tale of Two Cities
       A story of the French Revolution

Author  Charles Dickens

Release Date  September 25  2004  EBook  98 

Language  English

Character set encoding  ISO 8859 1

    START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A TALE OF TWO CITIES    




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The Project Gutenberg Etext of A Tale of Two Cities

by Charles Dickens   The rest of Dickens is forthcoming 




CONTENTS



Book the First  Recalled to Life

Chapter I      The Period
Chapter II     The Mail
Chapter III    The Night Shadows
Chapter IV     The Preparation
Chapter V      The Wine shop
Chapter VI     The Shoemaker


Book the Second  the Golden Thread

Chapter I      Five Years Later
Chapter II     A Sight
Chapter III    A Disappointment
Chapter IV     Congratulatory
Chapter V      The Jackal
Chapter VI     Hundreds of People
Chapter VII    Monseigneur in Town
Chapter VIII   Monseigneur in the Country
Chapter IX     The Gorgon s Head
Chapter X      Two Promises
Chapter XI     A Companion Picture
Chapter XII    The Fellow of Delicacy
Chapter XIII   The Fellow of no Delicacy
Chapter XIV    The Honest Tradesman
Chapter XV     Knitting
Chapter XVI    Still Knitting
Chapter XVII   One Night
Chapter XVIII  Nine Days
Chapter XIX    An Opinion
Chapter XX     A Plea
Chapter XXI    Echoing Footsteps
Chapter XXII   The Sea Still Rises
Chapter XXIII  Fire Rises
Chapter XXIV   Drawn to the Loadstone Rock


Book the Third  the Track of a Storm

Chapter I      In Secret
Chapter II     The Grindstone
Chapter III    The Shadow
Chapter IV     Calm in Storm
Chapter V      The Wood sawyer
Chapter VI     Triumph
Chapter VII    A Knock at the Door
Chapter VIII   A Hand at Cards
Chapter IX     The Game Made
Chapter X      The Substance of the Shadow
Chapter XI     Dusk
Chapter XII    Darkness
Chapter XIII   Fifty two
Chapter XIV    The Knitting Done
Chapter XV     The Footsteps Die Out For Ever





Book the First  Recalled to Life




I

The Period


It was the best of times  it was the worst of times 
it was the age of wisdom  it was the age of foolishness 
it was the epoch of belief  it was the epoch of incredulity 
it was the season of Light  it was the season of Darkness 
it was the spring of hope  it was the winter of despair 
we had everything before us  we had nothing before us 
we were all going direct to Heaven  we were all going direct
the other way  in short  the period was so far like the present
period  that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its
being received  for good or for evil  in the superlative degree
of comparison only 

There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face 
on the throne of England  there were a king with a large jaw and
a queen with a fair face  on the throne of France   In both
countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State
preserves of loaves and fishes  that things in general were
settled for ever 

It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
seventy five   Spiritual revelations were conceded to England at
that favoured period  as at this   Mrs  Southcott had recently
attained her five and twentieth blessed birthday  of whom a
prophetic private in the Life Guards had heralded the sublime
appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the
swallowing up of London and Westminster   Even the Cock lane
ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years  after rapping
out its messages  as the spirits of this very year last past
 supernaturally deficient in originality  rapped out theirs 
Mere messages in the earthly order of events had lately come to
the English Crown and People  from a congress of British subjects
in America   which  strange to relate  have proved more important
to the human race than any communications yet received through
any of the chickens of the Cock lane brood 

France  less favoured on the whole as to matters spiritual than
her sister of the shield and trident  rolled with exceeding
smoothness down hill  making paper money and spending it 
Under the guidance of her Christian pastors  she entertained
herself  besides  with such humane achievements as sentencing
a youth to have his hands cut off  his tongue torn out with
pincers  and his body burned alive  because he had not kneeled
down in the rain to do honour to a dirty procession of monks
which passed within his view  at a distance of some fifty or
sixty yards   It is likely enough that  rooted in the woods of
France and Norway  there were growing trees  when that sufferer
was put to death  already marked by the Woodman  Fate  to come
down and be sawn into boards  to make a certain movable framework
with a sack and a knife in it  terrible in history   It is likely
enough that in the rough outhouses of some tillers of the heavy
lands adjacent to Paris  there were sheltered from the weather
that very day  rude carts  bespattered with rustic mire  snuffed
about by pigs  and roosted in by poultry  which the Farmer  Death 
had already set apart to be his tumbrils of the Revolution 
But that Woodman and that Farmer  though they work unceasingly 
work silently  and no one heard them as they went about with
muffled tread   the rather  forasmuch as to entertain any suspicion
that they were awake  was to be atheistical and traitorous 

In England  there was scarcely an amount of order and protection
to justify much national boasting   Daring burglaries by armed
men  and highway robberies  took place in the capital itself
every night  families were publicly cautioned not to go out of
town without removing their furniture to upholsterers  warehouses
for security  the highwayman in the dark was a City tradesman in
the light  and  being recognised and challenged by his fellow 
tradesman whom he stopped in his character of  the Captain  
gallantly shot him through the head and rode away  the mail was
waylaid by seven robbers  and the guard shot three dead  and then
got shot dead himself by the other four   in consequence of the
failure of his ammunition   after which the mail was robbed in
peace  that magnificent potentate  the Lord Mayor of London  was
made to stand and deliver on Turnham Green  by one highwayman 
who despoiled the illustrious creature in sight of all his
retinue  prisoners in London gaols fought battles with their
turnkeys  and the majesty of the law fired blunderbusses in among
them  loaded with rounds of shot and ball  thieves snipped off
diamond crosses from the necks of noble lords at Court
drawing rooms  musketeers went into St  Giles s  to search for
contraband goods  and the mob fired on the musketeers  and the
musketeers fired on the mob  and nobody thought any of these
occurrences much out of the common way   In the midst of them 
the hangman  ever busy and ever worse than useless  was in
constant requisition  now  stringing up long rows of miscellaneous
criminals  now  hanging a housebreaker on Saturday who had been
taken on Tuesday  now  burning people in the hand at Newgate by
the dozen  and now burning pamphlets at the door of Westminster Hall 
to day  taking the life of an atrocious murderer  and to morrow of a
wretched pilferer who had robbed a farmer s boy of sixpence 

All these things  and a thousand like them  came to pass in
and close upon the dear old year one thousand seven hundred
and seventy five   Environed by them  while the Woodman and the
Farmer worked unheeded  those two of the large jaws  and those
other two of the plain and the fair faces  trod with stir enough 
and carried their divine rights with a high hand   Thus did the
year one thousand seven hundred and seventy five conduct their
Greatnesses  and myriads of small creatures  the creatures of this
chronicle among the rest  along the roads that lay before them 



II

The Mail


It was the Dover road that lay  on a Friday night late in November 
before the first of the persons with whom this history has business 
The Dover road lay  as to him  beyond the Dover mail  as it lumbered
up Shooter s Hill   He walked up hill in the mire by the side of the
mail  as the rest of the passengers did  not because they had the
least relish for walking exercise  under the circumstances  but
because the hill  and the harness  and the mud  and the mail  were
all so heavy  that the horses had three times already come to a stop 
besides once drawing the coach across the road  with the mutinous
intent of taking it back to Blackheath   Reins and whip and coachman
and guard  however  in combination  had read that article of war
which forbade a purpose otherwise strongly in favour of the argument 
that some brute animals are endued with Reason  and the team had
capitulated and returned to their duty 

With drooping heads and tremulous tails  they mashed their way
through the thick mud  floundering and stumbling between whiles 
as if they were falling to pieces at the larger joints   As often
as the driver rested them and brought them to a stand  with a
wary  Wo ho  so ho then   the near leader violently shook his
head and everything upon it  like an unusually emphatic horse 
denying that the coach could be got up the hill   Whenever the
leader made this rattle  the passenger started  as a nervous
passenger might  and was disturbed in mind 

There was a steaming mist in all the hollows  and it had roamed
in its forlornness up the hill  like an evil spirit  seeking rest
and finding none   A clammy and intensely cold mist  it made its
slow way through the air in ripples that visibly followed and
overspread one another  as the waves of an unwholesome sea might
do   It was dense enough to shut out everything from the light of
the coach lamps but these its own workings  and a few yards of
road  and the reek of the labouring horses steamed into it  as if
they had made it all 

Two other passengers  besides the one  were plodding up the hill
by the side of the mail   All three were wrapped to the cheekbones
and over the ears  and wore jack boots   Not one of the three
could have said  from anything he saw  what either of the other
two was like  and each was hidden under almost as many wrappers
from the eyes of the mind  as from the eyes of the body  of his
two companions   In those days  travellers were very shy of being
confidential on a short notice  for anybody on the road might be
a robber or in league with robbers   As to the latter  when every
posting house and ale house could produce somebody in  the Captain s 
pay  ranging from the landlord to the lowest stable non descript 
it was the likeliest thing upon the cards   So the guard of the
Dover mail thought to himself  that Friday night in November  one
thousand seven hundred and seventy five  lumbering up Shooter s
Hill  as he stood on his own particular perch behind the mail 
beating his feet  and keeping an eye and a hand on the arm chest
before him  where a loaded blunderbuss lay at the top of six or
eight loaded horse pistols  deposited on a substratum of cutlass 

The Dover mail was in its usual genial position that the guard
suspected the passengers  the passengers suspected one another
and the guard  they all suspected everybody else  and the coachman
was sure of nothing but the horses  as to which cattle he could
with a clear conscience have taken his oath on the two Testaments
that they were not fit for the journey 

 Wo ho   said the coachman    So  then   One more pull and you re
at the top and be damned to you  for I have had trouble enough to
get you to it   Joe  

 Halloa   the guard replied 

 What o clock do you make it  Joe  

 Ten minutes  good  past eleven  

 My blood   ejaculated the vexed coachman   and not atop of
Shooter s yet   Tst   Yah   Get on with you  

The emphatic horse  cut short by the whip in a most decided
negative  made a decided scramble for it  and the three other
horses followed suit   Once more  the Dover mail struggled on 
with the jack boots of its passengers squashing along by its
side   They had stopped when the coach stopped  and they kept
close company with it   If any one of the three had had the
hardihood to propose to another to walk on a little ahead into
the mist and darkness  he would have put himself in a fair way
of getting shot instantly as a highwayman 

The last burst carried the mail to the summit of the hill 
The horses stopped to breathe again  and the guard got down to
skid the wheel for the descent  and open the coach door to let
the passengers in 

 Tst   Joe   cried the coachman in a warning voice  looking down
from his box 

 What do you say  Tom  

They both listened 

 I say a horse at a canter coming up  Joe  

  I  say a horse at a gallop  Tom   returned the guard  leaving
his hold of the door  and mounting nimbly to his place 
 Gentlemen   In the king s name  all of you  

With this hurried adjuration  he cocked his blunderbuss  and
stood on the offensive 

The passenger booked by this history  was on the coach step 
getting in  the two other passengers were close behind him  and
about to follow   He remained on the step  half in the coach and
half out of  they remained in the road below him   They all
looked from the coachman to the guard  and from the guard to the
coachman  and listened   The coachman looked back and the guard
looked back  and even the emphatic leader pricked up his ears and
looked back  without contradicting 

The stillness consequent on the cessation of the rumbling and
labouring of the coach  added to the stillness of the night  made
it very quiet indeed   The panting of the horses communicated a
tremulous motion to the coach  as if it were in a state of
agitation   The hearts of the passengers beat loud enough perhaps
to be heard  but at any rate  the quiet pause was audibly
expressive of people out of breath  and holding the breath  and
having the pulses quickened by expectation 

The sound of a horse at a gallop came fast and furiously up the hill 

 So ho   the guard sang out  as loud as he could roar    Yo there 
Stand   I shall fire  

The pace was suddenly checked  and  with much splashing and floundering 
a man s voice called from the mist   Is that the Dover mail  

 Never you mind what it is   the guard retorted    What are you  

  Is  that the Dover mail  

 Why do you want to know  

 I want a passenger  if it is  

 What passenger  

 Mr  Jarvis Lorry  

Our booked passenger showed in a moment that it was his name 
The guard  the coachman  and the two other passengers eyed him
distrustfully 

 Keep where you are   the guard called to the voice in the mist 
 because  if I should make a mistake  it could never be set right
in your lifetime   Gentleman of the name of Lorry answer straight  

 What is the matter   asked the passenger  then  with mildly
quavering speech    Who wants me   Is it Jerry  

  I don t like Jerry s voice  if it is Jerry   growled the guard
to himself    He s hoarser than suits me  is Jerry   

 Yes  Mr  Lorry  

 What is the matter  

 A despatch sent after you from over yonder   T  and Co  

 I know this messenger  guard   said Mr  Lorry  getting down into
the road  assisted from behind more swiftly than politely by the
other two passengers  who immediately scrambled into the coach 
shut the door  and pulled up the window    He may come close 
there s nothing wrong  

 I hope there ain t  but I can t make so  Nation sure of that  
said the guard  in gruff soliloquy    Hallo you  

 Well   And hallo you   said Jerry  more hoarsely than before 

 Come on at a footpace  d ye mind me   And if you ve got holsters
to that saddle o  yourn  don t let me see your hand go nigh  em 
For I m a devil at a quick mistake  and when I make one it takes
the form of Lead   So now let s look at you  

The figures of a horse and rider came slowly through the eddying
mist  and came to the side of the mail  where the passenger stood 
The rider stooped  and  casting up his eyes at the guard  handed
the passenger a small folded paper   The rider s horse was blown 
and both horse and rider were covered with mud  from the hoofs of
the horse to the hat of the man 

 Guard   said the passenger  in a tone of quiet business confidence 

The watchful guard  with his right hand at the stock of his raised
blunderbuss  his left at the barrel  and his eye on the horseman 
answered curtly   Sir  

 There is nothing to apprehend   I belong to Tellson s Bank 
You must know Tellson s Bank in London   I am going to Paris
on business   A crown to drink   I may read this  

 If so be as you re quick  sir  

He opened it in the light of the coach lamp on that side 
and read  first to himself and then aloud     Wait at Dover for
Mam selle   It s not long  you see  guard   Jerry  say that my
answer was  RECALLED TO LIFE  

Jerry started in his saddle    That s a Blazing strange answer  too  
said he  at his hoarsest 

 Take that message back  and they will know that I received this 
as well as if I wrote   Make the best of your way   Good night  

With those words the passenger opened the coach door and got in 
not at all assisted by his fellow passengers  who had
expeditiously secreted their watches and purses in their boots 
and were now making a general pretence of being asleep   With no
more definite purpose than to escape the hazard of originating
any other kind of action 

The coach lumbered on again  with heavier wreaths of mist closing
round it as it began the descent   The guard soon replaced his
blunderbuss in his arm chest  and  having looked to the rest of its
contents  and having looked to the supplementary pistols that he wore
in his belt  looked to a smaller chest beneath his seat  in which
there were a few smith s tools  a couple of torches  and a tinder box 
For he was furnished with that completeness that if the coach lamps
had been blown and stormed out  which did occasionally happen  he had
only to shut himself up inside  keep the flint and steel sparks well
off the straw  and get a light with tolerable safety and ease  if he
were lucky  in five minutes 

 Tom   softly over the coach roof 

 Hallo  Joe  

 Did you hear the message  

 I did  Joe  

 What did you make of it  Tom  

 Nothing at all  Joe  

 That s a coincidence  too   the guard mused   for I made the
same of it myself  

Jerry  left alone in the mist and darkness  dismounted meanwhile 
not only to ease his spent horse  but to wipe the mud from his
face  and shake the wet out of his hat brim  which might be
capable of holding about half a gallon   After standing with the
bridle over his heavily splashed arm  until the wheels of the
mail were no longer within hearing and the night was quite still
again  he turned to walk down the hill 

 After that there gallop from Temple Bar  old lady  I won t trust
your fore legs till I get you on the level   said this hoarse
messenger  glancing at his mare     Recalled to life    That s a
Blazing strange message   Much of that wouldn t do for you  Jerry 
I say  Jerry   You d be in a Blazing bad way  if recalling to life
was to come into fashion  Jerry  



III

The Night Shadows


A wonderful fact to reflect upon  that every human creature is
constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other 
A solemn consideration  when I enter a great city by night  that
every one of those darkly clustered houses encloses its own secret 
that every room in every one of them encloses its own secret  that
every beating heart in the hundreds of thousands of breasts there 
is  in some of its imaginings  a secret to the heart nearest it 
Something of the awfulness  even of Death itself  is referable to
this   No more can I turn the leaves of this dear book that I loved 
and vainly hope in time to read it all   No more can I look into the
depths of this unfathomable water  wherein  as momentary lights
glanced into it  I have had glimpses of buried treasure and other
things submerged   It was appointed that the book should shut with
a spring  for ever and for ever  when I had read but a page   It was
appointed that the water should be locked in an eternal frost  when
the light was playing on its surface  and I stood in ignorance on the
shore   My friend is dead  my neighbour is dead  my love  the darling
of my soul  is dead  it is the inexorable consolidation and
perpetuation of the secret that was always in that individuality 
and which I shall carry in mine to my life s end   In any of the
burial places of this city through which I pass  is there a sleeper
more inscrutable than its busy inhabitants are  in their innermost
personality  to me  or than I am to them 

As to this  his natural and not to be alienated inheritance 
the messenger on horseback had exactly the same possessions as
the King  the first Minister of State  or the richest merchant
in London   So with the three passengers shut up in the narrow
compass of one lumbering old mail coach  they were mysteries to
one another  as complete as if each had been in his own coach and
six  or his own coach and sixty  with the breadth of a county
between him and the next 

The messenger rode back at an easy trot  stopping pretty often at
ale houses by the way to drink  but evincing a tendency to keep his
own counsel  and to keep his hat cocked over his eyes   He had eyes
that assorted very well with that decoration  being of a surface
black  with no depth in the colour or form  and much too near
together  as if they were afraid of being found out in something 
singly  if they kept too far apart   They had a sinister expression 
under an old cocked hat like a three cornered spittoon  and over a
great muffler for the chin and throat  which descended nearly to the
wearer s knees   When he stopped for drink  he moved this muffler
with his left hand  only while he poured his liquor in with his
right  as soon as that was done  he muffled again 

 No  Jerry  no   said the messenger  harping on one theme as he rode 
 It wouldn t do for you  Jerry   Jerry  you honest tradesman  it
wouldn t suit  your  line of business   Recalled     Bust me if I
don t think he d been a drinking  

His message perplexed his mind to that degree that he was fain 
several times  to take off his hat to scratch his head   Except on
the crown  which was raggedly bald  he had stiff  black hair 
standing jaggedly all over it  and growing down hill almost to his
broad  blunt nose   It was so like Smith s work  so much more like
the top of a strongly spiked wall than a head of hair  that the best
of players at leap frog might have declined him  as the most
dangerous man in the world to go over 

While he trotted back with the message he was to deliver to the night
watchman in his box at the door of Tellson s Bank  by Temple Bar  who
was to deliver it to greater authorities within  the shadows of the
night took such shapes to him as arose out of the message  and took
such shapes to the mare as arose out of  her  private topics of
uneasiness   They seemed to be numerous  for she shied at every
shadow on the road 

What time  the mail coach lumbered  jolted  rattled  and bumped upon
its tedious way  with its three fellow inscrutables inside   To whom 
likewise  the shadows of the night revealed themselves  in the forms
their dozing eyes and wandering thoughts suggested 

Tellson s Bank had a run upon it in the mail   As the bank passenger  
with an arm drawn through the leathern strap  which did what lay in
it to keep him from pounding against the next passenger  and driving
him into his corner  whenever the coach got a special jolt  nodded in
his place  with half shut eyes  the little coach windows  and the
coach lamp dimly gleaming through them  and the bulky bundle of
opposite passenger  became the bank  and did a great stroke of business 
The rattle of the harness was the chink of money  and more drafts
were honoured in five minutes than even Tellson s  with all its
foreign and home connection  ever paid in thrice the time   Then the
strong rooms underground  at Tellson s  with such of their valuable
stores and secrets as were known to the passenger  and it was not a
little that he knew about them   opened before him  and he went in
among them with the great keys and the feebly burning candle  and
found them safe  and strong  and sound  and still  just as he had
last seen them 

But  though the bank was almost always with him  and though the coach
 in a confused way  like the presence of pain under an opiate  was
always with him  there was another current of impression that never
ceased to run  all through the night   He was on his way to dig some
one out of a grave 

Now  which of the multitude of faces that showed themselves before
him was the true face of the buried person  the shadows of the night
did not indicate  but they were all the faces of a man of five and 
forty by years  and they differed principally in the passions they
expressed  and in the ghastliness of their worn and wasted state 
Pride  contempt  defiance  stubbornness  submission  lamentation 
succeeded one another  so did varieties of sunken cheek  cadaverous
colour  emaciated hands and figures   But the face was in the main
one face  and every head was prematurely white   A hundred times the
dozing passenger inquired of this spectre 

 Buried how long  

The answer was always the same    Almost eighteen years  

 You had abandoned all hope of being dug out  

 Long ago  

 You know that you are recalled to life  

 They tell me so  

 I hope you care to live  

 I can t say  

 Shall I show her to you   Will you come and see her  

The answers to this question were various and contradictory 
Sometimes the broken reply was   Wait   It would kill me if I saw
her too soon    Sometimes  it was given in a tender rain of tears 
and then it was   Take me to her    Sometimes it was staring and
bewildered  and then it was   I don t know her   I don t understand  

After such imaginary discourse  the passenger in his fancy would dig 
and dig  dig  now with a spade  now with a great key  now with his
hands  to dig this wretched creature out   Got out at last  with
earth hanging about his face and hair  he would suddenly fan away to
dust   The passenger would then start to himself  and lower the
window  to get the reality of mist and rain on his cheek 

Yet even when his eyes were opened on the mist and rain  on the
moving patch of light from the lamps  and the hedge at the roadside
retreating by jerks  the night shadows outside the coach would fall
into the train of the night shadows within   The real Banking house
by Temple Bar  the real business of the past day  the real strong
rooms  the real express sent after him  and the real message returned 
would all be there   Out of the midst of them  the ghostly face would
rise  and he would accost it again 

 Buried how long  

 Almost eighteen years  

 I hope you care to live  

 I can t say  

Dig  dig  dig  until an impatient movement from one of the two
passengers would admonish him to pull up the window  draw his arm
securely through the leathern strap  and speculate upon the two
slumbering forms  until his mind lost its hold of them  and they
again slid away into the bank and the grave 

 Buried how long  

 Almost eighteen years  

 You had abandoned all hope of being dug out  

 Long ago  

The words were still in his hearing as just spoken  distinctly in his
hearing as ever spoken words had been in his life  when the weary
passenger started to the consciousness of daylight  and found that
the shadows of the night were gone 

He lowered the window  and looked out at the rising sun   There was a
ridge of ploughed land  with a plough upon it where it had been left
last night when the horses were unyoked  beyond  a quiet coppice wood 
in which many leaves of burning red and golden yellow still remained
upon the trees   Though the earth was cold and wet  the sky was
clear  and the sun rose bright  placid  and beautiful 

 Eighteen years   said the passenger  looking at the sun 
 Gracious Creator of day   To be buried alive for eighteen years  



IV

The Preparation


When the mail got successfully to Dover  in the course of the
forenoon  the head drawer at the Royal George Hotel opened the
coach door as his custom was   He did it with some flourish of
ceremony  for a mail journey from London in winter was an achievement
to congratulate an adventurous traveller upon 

By that time  there was only one adventurous traveller left be
congratulated   for the two others had been set down at their
respective roadside destinations   The mildewy inside of the coach 
with its damp and dirty straw  its disagreeable smell  and its
obscurity  was rather like a larger dog kennel   Mr  Lorry  the
passenger  shaking himself out of it in chains of straw  a tangle of
shaggy wrapper  flapping hat  and muddy legs  was rather like a
larger sort of dog 

 There will be a packet to Calais  tomorrow  drawer  

 Yes  sir  if the weather holds and the wind sets tolerable fair 
The tide will serve pretty nicely at about two in the afternoon 
sir   Bed  sir  

 I shall not go to bed till night  but I want a bedroom  and a barber  

 And then breakfast  sir   Yes  sir   That way  sir  if you please 
Show Concord   Gentleman s valise and hot water to Concord   Pull off
gentleman s boots in Concord    You will find a fine sea coal fire 
sir    Fetch barber to Concord   Stir about there  now  for Concord  

The Concord bed chamber being always assigned to a passenger by the
mail  and passengers by the mail being always heavily wrapped up from
head to foot  the room had the odd interest for the establishment of
the Royal George  that although but one kind of man was seen to go
into it  all kinds and varieties of men came out of it   Consequently 
another drawer  and two porters  and several maids and the landlady 
were all loitering by accident at various points of the road between
the Concord and the coffee room  when a gentleman of sixty  formally
dressed in a brown suit of clothes  pretty well worn  but very well
kept  with large square cuffs and large flaps to the pockets  passed
along on his way to his breakfast 

The coffee room had no other occupant  that forenoon  than the
gentleman in brown   His breakfast table was drawn before the fire 
and as he sat  with its light shining on him  waiting for the meal 
he sat so still  that he might have been sitting for his portrait 

Very orderly and methodical he looked  with a hand on each knee  and
a loud watch ticking a sonorous sermon under his flapped waist coat 
as though it pitted its gravity and longevity against the levity and
evanescence of the brisk fire   He had a good leg  and was a little
vain of it  for his brown stockings fitted sleek and close  and were
of a fine texture  his shoes and buckles  too  though plain  were
trim   He wore an odd little sleek crisp flaxen wig  setting very
close to his head   which wig  it is to be presumed  was made of hair 
but which looked far more as though it were spun from filaments of
silk or glass   His linen  though not of a fineness in accordance
with his stockings  was as white as the tops of the waves that broke
upon the neighbouring beach  or the specks of sail that glinted in
the sunlight far at sea   A face habitually suppressed and quieted 
was still lighted up under the quaint wig by a pair of moist bright
eyes that it must have cost their owner  in years gone by  some pains
to drill to the composed and reserved expression of Tellson s Bank 
He had a healthy colour in his cheeks  and his face  though lined 
bore few traces of anxiety   But  perhaps the confidential bachelor
clerks in Tellson s Bank were principally occupied with the cares of
other people  and perhaps second hand cares  like second hand
clothes  come easily off and on 

Completing his resemblance to a man who was sitting for his portrait 
Mr  Lorry dropped off to sleep   The arrival of his breakfast roused
him  and he said to the drawer  as he moved his chair to it 

 I wish accommodation prepared for a young lady who may come here at
any time to day   She may ask for Mr  Jarvis Lorry  or she may only
ask for a gentleman from Tellson s Bank   Please to let me know  

 Yes  sir   Tellson s Bank in London  sir  

 Yes  

 Yes  sir   We have oftentimes the honour to entertain your gentlemen
in their travelling backwards and forwards betwixt London and Paris 
sir   A vast deal of travelling  sir  in Tellson and Company s House  

 Yes   We are quite a French House  as well as an English one  

 Yes  sir   Not much in the habit of such travelling yourself 
I think  sir  

 Not of late years   It is fifteen years since we  since I  came
last from France  

 Indeed  sir   That was before my time here  sir   Before our people s
time here  sir   The George was in other hands at that time  sir  

 I believe so  

 But I would hold a pretty wager  sir  that a House like Tellson and
Company was flourishing  a matter of fifty  not to speak of fifteen
years ago  

 You might treble that  and say a hundred and fifty  yet not be far
from the truth  

 Indeed  sir  

Rounding his mouth and both his eyes  as he stepped backward from the
table  the waiter shifted his napkin from his right arm to his left 
dropped into a comfortable attitude  and stood surveying the guest
while he ate and drank  as from an observatory or watchtower 
According to the immemorial usage of waiters in all ages 

When Mr  Lorry had finished his breakfast  he went out for a stroll
on the beach   The little narrow  crooked town of Dover hid itself
away from the beach  and ran its head into the chalk cliffs  like a
marine ostrich   The beach was a desert of heaps of sea and stones
tumbling wildly about  and the sea did what it liked  and what it
liked was destruction   It thundered at the town  and thundered at
the cliffs  and brought the coast down  madly   The air among the
houses was of so strong a piscatory flavour that one might have
supposed sick fish went up to be dipped in it  as sick people went
down to be dipped in the sea   A little fishing was done in the port 
and a quantity of strolling about by night  and looking seaward 
particularly at those times when the tide made  and was near flood 
Small tradesmen  who did no business whatever  sometimes unaccountably
realised large fortunes  and it was remarkable that nobody in the
neighbourhood could endure a lamplighter 

As the day declined into the afternoon  and the air  which had been
at intervals clear enough to allow the French coast to be seen 
became again charged with mist and vapour  Mr  Lorry s thoughts
seemed to cloud too   When it was dark  and he sat before the
coffee room fire  awaiting his dinner as he had awaited his breakfast 
his mind was busily digging  digging  digging  in the live red coals 

A bottle of good claret after dinner does a digger in the red coals
no harm  otherwise than as it has a tendency to throw him out of
work   Mr  Lorry had been idle a long time  and had just poured out
his last glassful of wine with as complete an appearance of
satisfaction as is ever to be found in an elderly gentleman of a
fresh complexion who has got to the end of a bottle  when a rattling
of wheels came up the narrow street  and rumbled into the inn yard 

He set down his glass untouched    This is Mam selle   said he 

In a very few minutes the waiter came in to announce that Miss
Manette had arrived from London  and would be happy to see the
gentleman from Tellson s 

 So soon  

Miss Manette had taken some refreshment on the road  and required
none then  and was extremely anxious to see the gentleman from
Tellson s immediately  if it suited his pleasure and convenience 

The gentleman from Tellson s had nothing left for it but to empty his
glass with an air of stolid desperation  settle his odd little flaxen
wig at the ears  and follow the waiter to Miss Manette s apartment 
It was a large  dark room  furnished in a funereal manner with black
horsehair  and loaded with heavy dark tables   These had been oiled
and oiled  until the two tall candles on the table in the middle of
the room were gloomily reflected on every leaf  as if  they  were
buried  in deep graves of black mahogany  and no light to speak of
could be expected from them until they were dug out 

The obscurity was so difficult to penetrate that Mr  Lorry 
picking his way over the well worn Turkey carpet  supposed
Miss Manette to be  for the moment  in some adjacent room  until 
having got past the two tall candles  he saw standing to receive him
by the table between them and the fire  a young lady of not more than
seventeen  in a riding cloak  and still holding her straw travelling 
hat by its ribbon in her hand   As his eyes rested on a short  slight 
pretty figure  a quantity of golden hair  a pair of blue eyes that
met his own with an inquiring look  and a forehead with a singular
capacity  remembering how young and smooth it was   of rifting and
knitting itself into an expression that was not quite one of perplexity 
or wonder  or alarm  or merely of a bright fixed attention  though it
included all the four expressions  as his eyes rested on these things 
a sudden vivid likeness passed before him  of a child whom he had
held in his arms on the passage across that very Channel  one cold
time  when the hail drifted heavily and the sea ran high   The
likeness passed away  like a breath along the surface of the gaunt
pier glass behind her  on the frame of which  a hospital procession
of negro cupids  several headless and all cripples  were offering
black baskets of Dead Sea fruit to black divinities of the feminine
gender  and he made his formal bow to Miss Manette 

 Pray take a seat  sir    In a very clear and pleasant young voice 
a little foreign in its accent  but a very little indeed 

 I kiss your hand  miss   said Mr  Lorry  with the manners of an
earlier date  as he made his formal bow again  and took his seat 

 I received a letter from the Bank  sir  yesterday  informing me that
some intelligence  or discovery   

 The word is not material  miss  either word will do  

   respecting the small property of my poor father  whom I never
saw  so long dead   

Mr  Lorry moved in his chair  and cast a troubled look towards the
hospital procession of negro cupids   As if  they  had any help for
anybody in their absurd baskets 

   rendered it necessary that I should go to Paris  there to
communicate with a gentleman of the Bank  so good as to be despatched
to Paris for the purpose  

 Myself  

 As I was prepared to hear  sir  

She curtseyed to him  young ladies made curtseys in those days   with
a pretty desire to convey to him that she felt how much older and
wiser he was than she   He made her another bow 

 I replied to the Bank  sir  that as it was considered necessary  by
those who know  and who are so kind as to advise me  that I should go
to France  and that as I am an orphan and have no friend who could go
with me  I should esteem it highly if I might be permitted to place
myself  during the journey  under that worthy gentleman s protection 
The gentleman had left London  but I think a messenger was sent after
him to beg the favour of his waiting for me here  

 I was happy   said Mr  Lorry   to be entrusted with the charge 
I shall be more happy to execute it  

 Sir  I thank you indeed   I thank you very gratefully   It was told
me by the Bank that the gentleman would explain to me the details of
the business  and that I must prepare myself to find them of a
surprising nature   I have done my best to prepare myself  and I
naturally have a strong and eager interest to know what they are  

 Naturally   said Mr  Lorry    Yes  I   

After a pause  he added  again settling the crisp flaxen wig at the ears 
 It is very difficult to begin  

He did not begin  but  in his indecision  met her glance   The young
forehead lifted itself into that singular expression  but it was
pretty and characteristic  besides being singular  and she raised
her hand  as if with an involuntary action she caught at  or stayed
some passing shadow 

 Are you quite a stranger to me  sir  

 Am I not    Mr  Lorry opened his hands  and extended them outwards
with an argumentative smile 

Between the eyebrows and just over the little feminine nose  the line
of which was as delicate and fine as it was possible to be  the
expression deepened itself as she took her seat thoughtfully in the
chair by which she had hitherto remained standing   He watched her as
she mused  and the moment she raised her eyes again  went on 

 In your adopted country  I presume  I cannot do better than address
you as a young English lady  Miss Manette  

 If you please  sir  

 Miss Manette  I am a man of business   I have a business charge to
acquit myself of   In your reception of it  don t heed me any more
than if I was a speaking machine  truly  I am not much else   I will 
with your leave  relate to you  miss  the story of one of our
customers  

 Story  

He seemed wilfully to mistake the word she had repeated  when he
added  in a hurry   Yes  customers  in the banking business we
usually call our connection our customers   He was a French
gentleman  a scientific gentleman  a man of great acquirements  a
Doctor  

 Not of Beauvais  

 Why  yes  of Beauvais   Like Monsieur Manette  your father 
the gentleman was of Beauvais   Like Monsieur Manette  your father 
the gentleman was of repute in Paris   I had the honour of knowing
him there   Our relations were business relations  but confidential 
I was at that time in our French House  and had been  oh  twenty years  

 At that time  I may ask  at what time  sir  

 I speak  miss  of twenty years ago   He married  an English
lady  and I was one of the trustees   His affairs  like the affairs
of many other French gentlemen and French families  were entirely in
Tellson s hands   In a similar way I am  or I have been  trustee of
one kind or other for scores of our customers   These are mere business
relations  miss  there is no friendship in them  no particular
interest  nothing like sentiment   I have passed from one to another 
in the course of my business life  just as I pass from one of our
customers to another in the course of my business day  in short  I
have no feelings  I am a mere machine   To go on   

 But this is my father s story  sir  and I begin to think 
  the curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon him   that
when I was left an orphan through my mother s surviving my father
only two years  it was you who brought me to England   I am almost
sure it was you  

Mr  Lorry took the hesitating little hand that confidingly advanced
to take his  and he put it with some ceremony to his lips   He then
conducted the young lady straightway to her chair again  and  holding
the chair back with his left hand  and using his right by turns to
rub his chin  pull his wig at the ears  or point what he said  stood
looking down into her face while she sat looking up into his 

 Miss Manette  it  was  I   And you will see how truly I spoke of
myself just now  in saying I had no feelings  and that all the
relations I hold with my fellow creatures are mere business
relations  when you reflect that I have never seen you since 
No  you have been the ward of Tellson s House since  and I have been
busy with the other business of Tellson s House since   Feelings 
I have no time for them  no chance of them   I pass my whole life 
miss  in turning an immense pecuniary Mangle  

After this odd description of his daily routine of employment  Mr 
Lorry flattened his flaxen wig upon his head with both hands  which
was most unnecessary  for nothing could be flatter than its shining
surface was before   and resumed his former attitude 

 So far  miss  as you have remarked   this is the story of your
regretted father   Now comes the difference   If your father had not
died when he did  Don t be frightened   How you start  

She did  indeed  start   And she caught his wrist with both her hands 

 Pray   said Mr  Lorry  in a soothing tone  bringing his left hand
from the back of the chair to lay it on the supplicatory fingers that
clasped him in so violent a tremble    pray control your agitation  a
matter of business   As I was saying   

Her look so discomposed him that he stopped  wandered  and began anew 

 As I was saying  if Monsieur Manette had not died  if he had
suddenly and silently disappeared  if he had been spirited away 
if it had not been difficult to guess to what dreadful place  though
no art could trace him  if he had an enemy in some compatriot who
could exercise a privilege that I in my own time have known the boldest
people afraid to speak of in a whisper  across the water there  for
instance  the privilege of filling up blank forms for the consignment
of any one to the oblivion of a prison for any length of time  if his
wife had implored the king  the queen  the court  the clergy  for any
tidings of him  and all quite in vain   then the history of your father
would have been the history of this unfortunate gentleman  the Doctor
of Beauvais  

 I entreat you to tell me more  sir  

 I will   I am going to   You can bear it  

 I can bear anything but the uncertainty you leave me in at this moment  

 You speak collectedly  and you   are  collected   That s good  
 Though his manner was less satisfied than his words    A matter of
business   Regard it as a matter of business  business that must be
done   Now if this doctor s wife  though a lady of great courage and
spirit  had suffered so intensely from this cause before her little
child was born   

 The little child was a daughter  sir  

 A daughter   A a matter of business  don t be distressed   Miss 
if the poor lady had suffered so intensely before her little child
was born  that she came to the determination of sparing the poor
child the inheritance of any part of the agony she had known the
pains of  by rearing her in the belief that her father was dead  
No  don t kneel   In Heaven s name why should you kneel to me  

 For the truth   O dear  good  compassionate sir  for the truth  

 A  a matter of business   You confuse me  and how can I transact
business if I am confused   Let us be clear headed   If you could
kindly mention now  for instance  what nine times ninepence are 
or how many shillings in twenty guineas  it would be so encouraging 
I should be so much more at my ease about your state of mind  

Without directly answering to this appeal  she sat so still when
he had very gently raised her  and the hands that had not ceased
to clasp his wrists were so much more steady than they had been 
that she communicated some reassurance to Mr  Jarvis Lorry 

 That s right  that s right   Courage   Business   You have business
before you  useful business   Miss Manette  your mother took this
course with you   And when she died  I believe broken hearted  
having never slackened her unavailing search for your father 
she left you  at two years old  to grow to be blooming  beautiful 
and happy  without the dark cloud upon you of living in uncertainty
whether your father soon wore his heart out in prison  or wasted
there through many lingering years  

As he said the words he looked down  with an admiring pity  on the
flowing golden hair  as if he pictured to himself that it might have
been already tinged with grey 

 You know that your parents had no great possession  and that what
they had was secured to your mother and to you   There has been no
new discovery  of money  or of any other property  but   

He felt his wrist held closer  and he stopped   The expression in the
forehead  which had so particularly attracted his notice  and which
was now immovable  had deepened into one of pain and horror 

 But he has been  been found   He is alive   Greatly changed  it is
too probable  almost a wreck  it is possible  though we will hope the
best   Still  alive   Your father has been taken to the house of an
old servant in Paris  and we are going there   I  to identify him if
I can   you  to restore him to life  love  duty  rest  comfort  

A shiver ran through her frame  and from it through his   She said 
in a low  distinct  awe stricken voice  as if she were saying it in a
dream 

 I am going to see his Ghost   It will be his Ghost  not him  

Mr  Lorry quietly chafed the hands that held his arm    There  there 
there   See now  see now   The best and the worst are known to you  now 
You are well on your way to the poor wronged gentleman  and  with a fair
sea voyage  and a fair land journey  you will be soon at his dear side  

She repeated in the same tone  sunk to a whisper   I have been free 
I have been happy  yet his Ghost has never haunted me  

 Only one thing more   said Mr  Lorry  laying stress upon it as a
wholesome means of enforcing her attention    he has been found under
another name  his own  long forgotten or long concealed   It would be
worse than useless now to inquire which  worse than useless to seek
to know whether he has been for years overlooked  or always designedly
held prisoner   It would be worse than useless now to make any inquiries 
because it would be dangerous   Better not to mention the subject 
anywhere or in any way  and to remove him  for a while at all events  
out of France   Even I  safe as an Englishman  and even Tellson s 
important as they are to French credit  avoid all naming of the
matter   I carry about me  not a scrap of writing openly referring to
it   This is a secret service altogether   My credentials  entries 
and memoranda  are all comprehended in the one line   Recalled to
Life   which may mean anything   But what is the matter   She doesn t
notice a word   Miss Manette  

Perfectly still and silent  and not even fallen back in her chair 
she sat under his hand  utterly insensible  with her eyes open and
fixed upon him  and with that last expression looking as if it were
carved or branded into her forehead   So close was her hold upon his
arm  that he feared to detach himself lest he should hurt her 
therefore he called out loudly for assistance without moving 

A wild looking woman  whom even in his agitation  Mr  Lorry observed
to be all of a red colour  and to have red hair  and to be dressed in
some extraordinary tight fitting fashion  and to have on her head a
most wonderful bonnet like a Grenadier wooden measure  and good
measure too  or a great Stilton cheese  came running into the room in
advance of the inn servants  and soon settled the question of his
detachment from the poor young lady  by laying a brawny hand upon his
chest  and sending him flying back against the nearest wall 

  I really think this must be a man   was Mr  Lorry s breathless
reflection  simultaneously with his coming against the wall  

 Why  look at you all   bawled this figure  addressing the inn
servants    Why don t you go and fetch things  instead of standing
there staring at me   I am not so much to look at  am I   Why don t
you go and fetch things   I ll let you know  if you don t bring
smelling salts  cold water  and vinegar  quick  I will  

There was an immediate dispersal for these restoratives  and she
softly laid the patient on a sofa  and tended her with great skill
and gentleness   calling her  my precious   and  my bird   and spreading
her golden hair aside over her shoulders with great pride and care 

 And you in brown   she said  indignantly turning to Mr  Lorry 
 couldn t you tell her what you had to tell her  without frightening
her to death   Look at her  with her pretty pale face and her cold
hands   Do you call  that  being a Banker  

Mr  Lorry was so exceedingly disconcerted by a question so hard to
answer  that he could only look on  at a distance  with much feebler
sympathy and humility  while the strong woman  having banished the
inn servants under the mysterious penalty of  letting them know 
something not mentioned if they stayed there  staring  recovered her
charge by a regular series of gradations  and coaxed her to lay her
drooping head upon her shoulder 

 I hope she will do well now   said Mr  Lorry 

 No thanks to you in brown  if she does   My darling pretty  

 I hope   said Mr  Lorry  after another pause of feeble sympathy and
humility   that you accompany Miss Manette to France  

 A likely thing  too   replied the strong woman    If it was ever
intended that I should go across salt water  do you suppose
Providence would have cast my lot in an island  

This being another question hard to answer  Mr  Jarvis Lorry withdrew
to consider it 



V

The Wine shop


A large cask of wine had been dropped and broken  in the street 
The accident had happened in getting it out of a cart  the cask had
tumbled out with a run  the hoops had burst  and it lay on the stones
just outside the door of the wine shop  shattered like a
walnut shell 

All the people within reach had suspended their business  or their
idleness  to run to the spot and drink the wine   The rough 
irregular stones of the street  pointing every way  and designed 
one might have thought  expressly to lame all living creatures that
approached them  had dammed it into little pools  these were surrounded 
each by its own jostling group or crowd  according to its size 
Some men kneeled down  made scoops of their two hands joined  and
sipped  or tried to help women  who bent over their shoulders  to
sip  before the wine had all run out between their fingers   Others 
men and women  dipped in the puddles with little mugs of mutilated
earthenware  or even with handkerchiefs from women s heads  which
were squeezed dry into infants  mouths  others made small mud 
embankments  to stem the wine as it ran  others  directed by
lookers on up at high windows  darted here and there  to cut off
little streams of wine that started away in new directions  others
devoted themselves to the sodden and lee dyed pieces of the cask 
licking  and even champing the moister wine rotted fragments with
eager relish   There was no drainage to carry off the wine  and not
only did it all get taken up  but so much mud got taken up along with
it  that there might have been a scavenger in the street  if anybody
acquainted with it could have believed in such a miraculous presence 

A shrill sound of laughter and of amused voices  voices of men 
women  and children  resounded in the street while this wine game
lasted   There was little roughness in the sport  and much playfulness 
There was a special companionship in it  an observable inclination on
the part of every one to join some other one  which led  especially
among the luckier or lighter hearted  to frolicsome embraces 
drinking of healths  shaking of hands  and even joining of hands and
dancing  a dozen together   When the wine was gone  and the places
where it had been most abundant were raked into a gridiron pattern by
fingers  these demonstrations ceased  as suddenly as they had broken
out   The man who had left his saw sticking in the firewood he was
cutting  set it in motion again  the women who had left on a door step
the little pot of hot ashes  at which she had been trying to soften
the pain in her own starved fingers and toes  or in those of her
child  returned to it  men with bare arms  matted locks  and cadaverous
faces  who had emerged into the winter light from cellars  moved
away  to descend again  and a gloom gathered on the scene that
appeared more natural to it than sunshine 

The wine was red wine  and had stained the ground of the narrow
street in the suburb of Saint Antoine  in Paris  where it was
spilled   It had stained many hands  too  and many faces  and many
naked feet  and many wooden shoes   The hands of the man who sawed
the wood  left red marks on the billets  and the forehead of the
woman who nursed her baby  was stained with the stain of the old rag
she wound about her head again   Those who had been greedy with the
staves of the cask  had acquired a tigerish smear about the mouth 
and one tall joker so besmirched  his head more out of a long squalid
bag of a nightcap than in it  scrawled upon a wall with his finger
dipped in muddy wine lees  BLOOD 

The time was to come  when that wine too would be spilled on the
street stones  and when the stain of it would be red upon many there 

And now that the cloud settled on Saint Antoine  which a momentary
gleam had driven from his sacred countenance  the darkness of it was
heavy  cold  dirt  sickness  ignorance  and want  were the lords in
waiting on the saintly presence  nobles of great power all of them 
but  most especially the last   Samples of a people that had
undergone a terrible grinding and regrinding in the mill  and
certainly not in the fabulous mill which ground old people young 
shivered at every corner  passed in and out at every doorway  looked
from every window  fluttered in every vestige of a garment that the
wind shook   The mill which had worked them down  was the mill that
grinds young people old  the children had ancient faces and grave
voices  and upon them  and upon the grown faces  and ploughed into
every furrow of age and coming up afresh  was the sigh  Hunger   It
was prevalent everywhere   Hunger was pushed out of the tall houses 
in the wretched clothing that hung upon poles and lines  Hunger was
patched into them with straw and rag and wood and paper  Hunger was
repeated in every fragment of the small modicum of firewood that the
man sawed off  Hunger stared down from the smokeless chimneys  and
started up from the filthy street that had no offal  among its refuse 
of anything to eat   Hunger was the inscription on the baker s
shelves  written in every small loaf of his scanty stock of bad
bread  at the sausage shop  in every dead dog preparation that was
offered for sale   Hunger rattled its dry bones among the roasting
chestnuts in the turned cylinder  Hunger was shred into atomics in
every farthing porringer of husky chips of potato  fried with some
reluctant drops of oil 

Its abiding place was in all things fitted to it   A narrow winding
street  full of offence and stench  with other narrow winding streets
diverging  all peopled by rags and nightcaps  and all smelling of
rags and nightcaps  and all visible things with a brooding look upon
them that looked ill   In the hunted air of the people there was yet
some wild beast thought of the possibility of turning at bay   Depressed
and slinking though they were  eyes of fire were not wanting among
them  nor compressed lips  white with what they suppressed  nor
foreheads knitted into the likeness of the gallows rope they mused
about enduring  or inflicting   The trade signs  and they were almost
as many as the shops  were  all  grim illustrations of Want   The
butcher and the porkman painted up  only the leanest scrags of meat 
the baker  the coarsest of meagre loaves   The people rudely pictured
as drinking in the wine shops  croaked over their scanty measures of
thin wine and beer  and were gloweringly confidential together 
Nothing was represented in a flourishing condition  save tools and
weapons  but  the cutler s knives and axes were sharp and bright  the
smith s hammers were heavy  and the gunmaker s stock was murderous 
The crippling stones of the pavement  with their many little
reservoirs of mud and water  had no footways  but broke off abruptly
at the doors   The kennel  to make amends  ran down the middle of the
street  when it ran at all   which was only after heavy rains  and
then it ran  by many eccentric fits  into the houses   Across the
streets  at wide intervals  one clumsy lamp was slung by a rope and
pulley  at night  when the lamplighter had let these down  and lighted 
and hoisted them again  a feeble grove of dim wicks swung in a sickly
manner overhead  as if they were at sea   Indeed they were at sea 
and the ship and crew were in peril of tempest 

For  the time was to come  when the gaunt scarecrows of that region
should have watched the lamplighter  in their idleness and hunger 
so long  as to conceive the idea of improving on his method  and
hauling up men by those ropes and pulleys  to flare upon the
darkness of their condition   But  the time was not come yet  and
every wind that blew over France shook the rags of the scarecrows
in vain  for the birds  fine of song and feather  took no warning 

The wine shop was a corner shop  better than most others in its
appearance and degree  and the master of the wine shop had stood
outside it  in a yellow waistcoat and green breeches  looking on at
the struggle for the lost wine    It s not my affair   said he 
with a final shrug of the shoulders    The people from the market
did it   Let them bring another  

There  his eyes happening to catch the tall joker writing up his
joke  he called to him across the way 

 Say  then  my Gaspard  what do you do there  

The fellow pointed to his joke with immense significance  as is often
the way with his tribe   It missed its mark  and completely failed 
as is often the way with his tribe too 

 What now   Are you a subject for the mad hospital   said the
wine shop keeper  crossing the road  and obliterating the jest with
a handful of mud  picked up for the purpose  and smeared over it 
 Why do you write in the public streets   Is there  tell me thou  is
there no other place to write such words in  

In his expostulation he dropped his cleaner hand  perhaps accidentally 
perhaps not  upon the joker s heart   The joker rapped it with his
own  took a nimble spring upward  and came down in a fantastic
dancing attitude  with one of his stained shoes jerked off his foot
into his hand  and held out   A joker of an extremely  not to say
wolfishly practical character  he looked  under those circumstances 

 Put it on  put it on   said the other    Call wine  wine  and finish
there    With that advice  he wiped his soiled hand upon the joker s
dress  such as it was  quite deliberately  as having dirtied the hand
on his account  and then recrossed the road and entered the wine shop 

This wine shop keeper was a bull necked  martial looking man of
thirty  and he should have been of a hot temperament  for  although
it was a bitter day  he wore no coat  but carried one slung over his
shoulder   His shirt sleeves were rolled up  too  and his brown arms
were bare to the elbows   Neither did he wear anything more on his
head than his own crisply curling short dark hair   He was a dark man
altogether  with good eyes and a good bold breadth between them 
Good humoured looking on the whole  but implacable looking  too 
evidently a man of a strong resolution and a set purpose  a man not
desirable to be met  rushing down a narrow pass with a gulf on either
side  for nothing would turn the man 

Madame Defarge  his wife  sat in the shop behind the counter as he
came in   Madame Defarge was a stout woman of about his own age  with
a watchful eye that seldom seemed to look at anything  a large hand
heavily ringed  a steady face  strong features  and great composure
of manner   There was a character about Madame Defarge  from which
one might have predicated that she did not often make mistakes against
herself in any of the reckonings over which she presided   Madame
Defarge being sensitive to cold  was wrapped in fur  and had a
quantity of bright shawl twined about her head  though not to the
concealment of her large earrings   Her knitting was before her  but
she had laid it down to pick her teeth with a toothpick   Thus
engaged  with her right elbow supported by her left hand  Madame
Defarge said nothing when her lord came in  but coughed just one
grain of cough   This  in combination with the lifting of her darkly
defined eyebrows over her toothpick by the breadth of a line  suggested
to her husband that he would do well to look round the shop among the
customers  for any new customer who had dropped in while he stepped
over the way 

The wine shop keeper accordingly rolled his eyes about  until they
rested upon an elderly gentleman and a young lady  who were seated in
a corner   Other company were there   two playing cards  two playing
dominoes  three standing by the counter lengthening out a short
supply of wine   As he passed behind the counter  he took notice that
the elderly gentleman said in a look to the young lady   This is our
man  

 What the devil do  you  do in that galley there   said Monsieur
Defarge to himself   I don t know you  

But  he feigned not to notice the two strangers  and fell into
discourse with the triumvirate of customers who were drinking at the
counter 

 How goes it  Jacques   said one of these three to Monsieur Defarge 
 Is all the spilt wine swallowed  

 Every drop  Jacques   answered Monsieur Defarge 

When this interchange of Christian name was effected  Madame Defarge 
picking her teeth with her toothpick  coughed another grain of cough 
and raised her eyebrows by the breadth of another line 

 It is not often   said the second of the three  addressing Monsieur
Defarge   that many of these miserable beasts know the taste of wine 
or of anything but black bread and death   Is it not so  Jacques  

 It is so  Jacques   Monsieur Defarge returned 

At this second interchange of the Christian name  Madame Defarge 
still using her toothpick with profound composure  coughed another
grain of cough  and raised her eyebrows by the breadth of another line 

The last of the three now said his say  as he put down his empty
drinking vessel and smacked his lips 

 Ah   So much the worse   A bitter taste it is that such poor cattle
always have in their mouths  and hard lives they live  Jacques 
Am I right  Jacques  

 You are right  Jacques   was the response of Monsieur Defarge 

This third interchange of the Christian name was completed at the
moment when Madame Defarge put her toothpick by  kept her eyebrows
up  and slightly rustled in her seat 

 Hold then   True   muttered her husband    Gentlemen  my wife  

The three customers pulled off their hats to Madame Defarge  with
three flourishes   She acknowledged their homage by bending her head 
and giving them a quick look   Then she glanced in a casual manner
round the wine shop  took up her knitting with great apparent
calmness and repose of spirit  and became absorbed in it 

 Gentlemen   said her husband  who had kept his bright eye
observantly upon her   good day   The chamber  furnished bachelor 
fashion  that you wished to see  and were inquiring for when I
stepped out  is on the fifth floor   The doorway of the staircase
gives on the little courtyard close to the left here   pointing with
his hand   near to the window of my establishment   But  now that I
remember  one of you has already been there  and can show the way 
Gentlemen  adieu  

They paid for their wine  and left the place   The eyes of Monsieur
Defarge were studying his wife at her knitting when the elderly
gentleman advanced from his corner  and begged the favour of a word 

 Willingly  sir   said Monsieur Defarge  and quietly stepped with him
to the door 

Their conference was very short  but very decided   Almost at the
first word  Monsieur Defarge started and became deeply attentive 
It had not lasted a minute  when he nodded and went out   The
gentleman then beckoned to the young lady  and they  too  went out 
Madame Defarge knitted with nimble fingers and steady eyebrows  and
saw nothing 

Mr  Jarvis Lorry and Miss Manette  emerging from the wine shop thus 
joined Monsieur Defarge in the doorway to which he had directed his
own company just before   It opened from a stinking little black
courtyard  and was the general public entrance to a great pile of
houses  inhabited by a great number of people   In the gloomy tile 
paved entry to the gloomy tile paved staircase  Monsieur Defarge bent
down on one knee to the child of his old master  and put her hand to
his lips   It was a gentle action  but not at all gently done  a very
remarkable transformation had come over him in a few seconds   He had
no good humour in his face  nor any openness of aspect left  but had
become a secret  angry  dangerous man 

 It is very high  it is a little difficult   Better to begin slowly  
Thus  Monsieur Defarge  in a stern voice  to Mr  Lorry  as they began
ascending the stairs 

 Is he alone   the latter whispered 

 Alone   God help him  who should be with him   said the other  in the
same low voice 

 Is he always alone  then  

 Yes  

 Of his own desire  

 Of his own necessity   As he was  when I first saw him after they
found me and demanded to know if I would take him  and  at my peril
be discreet  as he was then  so he is now  

 He is greatly changed  

 Changed  

The keeper of the wine shop stopped to strike the wall with his hand 
and mutter a tremendous curse   No direct answer could have been half
so forcible   Mr  Lorry s spirits grew heavier and heavier  as he and
his two companions ascended higher and higher 

Such a staircase  with its accessories  in the older and more crowded
parts of Paris  would be bad enough now  but  at that time  it was
vile indeed to unaccustomed and unhardened senses   Every little
habitation within the great foul nest of one high building  that is
to say  the room or rooms within every door that opened on the
general staircase  left its own heap of refuse on its own landing 
besides flinging other refuse from its own windows   The uncontrollable
and hopeless mass of decomposition so engendered  would have polluted
the air  even if poverty and deprivation had not loaded it with their
intangible impurities  the two bad sources combined made it almost
insupportable   Through such an atmosphere  by a steep dark shaft of
dirt and poison  the way lay   Yielding to his own disturbance of
mind  and to his young companion s agitation  which became greater
every instant  Mr  Jarvis Lorry twice stopped to rest   Each of these
stoppages was made at a doleful grating  by which any languishing
good airs that were left uncorrupted  seemed to escape  and all
spoilt and sickly vapours seemed to crawl in   Through the rusted
bars  tastes  rather than glimpses  were caught of the jumbled
neighbourhood  and nothing within range  nearer or lower than the
summits of the two great towers of Notre Dame  had any promise on it
of healthy life or wholesome aspirations 

At last  the top of the staircase was gained  and they stopped for
the third time   There was yet an upper staircase  of a steeper
inclination and of contracted dimensions  to be ascended  before the
garret story was reached   The keeper of the wine shop  always going
a little in advance  and always going on the side which Mr  Lorry
took  as though he dreaded to be asked any question by the young
lady  turned himself about here  and  carefully feeling in the
pockets of the coat he carried over his shoulder  took out a key 

 The door is locked then  my friend   said Mr  Lorry  surprised 

 Ay   Yes   was the grim reply of Monsieur Defarge 

 You think it necessary to keep the unfortunate gentleman so retired  

 I think it necessary to turn the key    Monsieur Defarge whispered it
closer in his ear  and frowned heavily 

 Why  

 Why   Because he has lived so long  locked up  that he would be
frightened  rave  tear himself to pieces  die  come to I know not what
harm  if his door was left open  

 Is it possible   exclaimed Mr  Lorry 

 Is it possible   repeated Defarge  bitterly    Yes   And a beautiful
world we live in  when it  is  possible  and when many other such
things are possible  and not only possible  but done  done  see
you   under that sky there  every day   Long live the Devil   Let us
go on  

This dialogue had been held in so very low a whisper  that not a word
of it had reached the young lady s ears   But  by this time she
trembled under such strong emotion  and her face expressed such deep
anxiety  and  above all  such dread and terror  that Mr  Lorry felt
it incumbent on him to speak a word or two of reassurance 

 Courage  dear miss   Courage   Business   The worst will be over
in a moment  it is but passing the room door  and the worst is over 
Then  all the good you bring to him  all the relief  all the
happiness you bring to him  begin   Let our good friend here 
assist you on that side   That s well  friend Defarge   Come  now 
Business  business  

They went up slowly and softly   The staircase was short  and they
were soon at the top   There  as it had an abrupt turn in it  they
came all at once in sight of three men  whose heads were bent down
close together at the side of a door  and who were intently looking
into the room to which the door belonged  through some chinks or
holes in the wall   On hearing footsteps close at hand  these three
turned  and rose  and showed themselves to be the three of one name
who had been drinking in the wine shop 

 I forgot them in the surprise of your visit   explained Monsieur
Defarge    Leave us  good boys  we have business here  

The three glided by  and went silently down 

There appearing to be no other door on that floor  and the keeper of
the wine shop going straight to this one when they were left alone 
Mr  Lorry asked him in a whisper  with a little anger 

 Do you make a show of Monsieur Manette  

 I show him  in the way you have seen  to a chosen few  

 Is that well  

  I  think it is well  

 Who are the few   How do you choose them  

 I choose them as real men  of my name  Jacques is my name  to whom
the sight is likely to do good   Enough  you are English  that is
another thing   Stay there  if you please  a little moment  

With an admonitory gesture to keep them back  he stooped  and looked
in through the crevice in the wall   Soon raising his head again  he
struck twice or thrice upon the door  evidently with no other object
than to make a noise there   With the same intention  he drew the key
across it  three or four times  before he put it clumsily into the
lock  and turned it as heavily as he could 

The door slowly opened inward under his hand  and he looked into the
room and said something   A faint voice answered something   Little
more than a single syllable could have been spoken on either side 

He looked back over his shoulder  and beckoned them to enter 
Mr  Lorry got his arm securely round the daughter s waist  and held
her  for he felt that she was sinking 

 A a a business  business   he urged  with a moisture that was not of
business shining on his cheek    Come in  come in  

 I am afraid of it   she answered  shuddering 

 Of it   What  

 I mean of him   Of my father  

Rendered in a manner desperate  by her state and by the beckoning of
their conductor  he drew over his neck the arm that shook upon his
shoulder  lifted her a little  and hurried her into the room   He sat
her down just within the door  and held her  clinging to him 

Defarge drew out the key  closed the door  locked it on the inside 
took out the key again  and held it in his hand   All this he did 
methodically  and with as loud and harsh an accompaniment of noise as
he could make   Finally  he walked across the room with a measured
tread to where the window was   He stopped there  and faced round 

The garret  built to be a depository for firewood and the like  was
dim and dark   for  the window of dormer shape  was in truth a door in
the roof  with a little crane over it for the hoisting up of stores
from the street   unglazed  and closing up the middle in two pieces 
like any other door of French construction   To exclude the cold  one
half of this door was fast closed  and the other was opened but a
very little way   Such a scanty portion of light was admitted through
these means  that it was difficult  on first coming in  to see
anything  and long habit alone could have slowly formed in any one 
the ability to do any work requiring nicety in such obscurity   Yet 
work of that kind was being done in the garret  for  with his back
towards the door  and his face towards the window where the keeper of
the wine shop stood looking at him  a white haired man sat on a low
bench  stooping forward and very busy  making shoes 



VI

The Shoemaker


 Good day   said Monsieur Defarge  looking down at the white head
that bent low over the shoemaking 

It was raised for a moment  and a very faint voice responded to the
salutation  as if it were at a distance 

 Good day  

 You are still hard at work  I see  

After a long silence  the head was lifted for another moment  and the
voice replied   Yes  I am working    This time  a pair of haggard eyes
had looked at the questioner  before the face had dropped again 

The faintness of the voice was pitiable and dreadful   It was not the
faintness of physical weakness  though confinement and hard fare no
doubt had their part in it   Its deplorable peculiarity was  that it
was the faintness of solitude and disuse   It was like the last
feeble echo of a sound made long and long ago   So entirely had it
lost the life and resonance of the human voice  that it affected the
senses like a once beautiful colour faded away into a poor weak
stain   So sunken and suppressed it was  that it was like a voice
underground   So expressive it was  of a hopeless and lost creature 
that a famished traveller  wearied out by lonely wandering in a
wilderness  would have remembered home and friends in such a tone
before lying down to die 

Some minutes of silent work had passed   and the haggard eyes had
looked up again   not with any interest or curiosity  but with a dull
mechanical perception  beforehand  that the spot where the only
visitor they were aware of had stood  was not yet empty 

 I want   said Defarge  who had not removed his gaze from the
shoemaker   to let in a little more light here   You can bear a
little more  

The shoemaker stopped his work  looked with a vacant air of listening 
at the floor on one side of him  then similarly  at the floor on the
other side of him  then  upward at the speaker 

 What did you say  

 You can bear a little more light  

 I must bear it  if you let it in     Laying the palest shadow of a
stress upon the second word  

The opened half door was opened a little further  and secured at that
angle for the time   A broad ray of light fell into the garret  and
showed the workman with an unfinished shoe upon his lap  pausing in
his labour   His few common tools and various scraps of leather were
at his feet and on his bench   He had a white beard  raggedly cut 
but not very long  a hollow face  and exceedingly bright eyes   The
hollowness and thinness of his face would have caused them to look
large  under his yet dark eyebrows and his confused white hair 
though they had been really otherwise  but  they were naturally
large  and looked unnaturally so   His yellow rags of shirt lay open
at the throat  and showed his body to be withered and worn   He  and
his old canvas frock  and his loose stockings  and all his poor
tatters of clothes  had  in a long seclusion from direct light and
air  faded down to such a dull uniformity of parchment yellow  that
it would have been hard to say which was which 

He had put up a hand between his eyes and the light  and the very
bones of it seemed transparent   So he sat  with a steadfastly vacant
gaze  pausing in his work   He never looked at the figure before him 
without first looking down on this side of himself  then on that  as
if he had lost the habit of associating place with sound  he never
spoke  without first wandering in this manner  and forgetting to speak 

 Are you going to finish that pair of shoes to day   asked Defarge 
motioning to Mr  Lorry to come forward 

 What did you say  

 Do you mean to finish that pair of shoes to day  

 I can t say that I mean to   I suppose so   I don t know  

But  the question reminded him of his work  and he bent over it again 

Mr  Lorry came silently forward  leaving the daughter by the door 
When he had stood  for a minute or two  by the side of Defarge  the
shoemaker looked up   He showed no surprise at seeing another figure 
but the unsteady fingers of one of his hands strayed to his lips as
he looked at it  his lips and his nails were of the same pale lead 
colour   and then the hand dropped to his work  and he once more bent
over the shoe   The look and the action had occupied but an instant 

 You have a visitor  you see   said Monsieur Defarge 

 What did you say  

 Here is a visitor  

The shoemaker looked up as before  but without removing a hand from
his work 

 Come   said Defarge    Here is monsieur  who knows a well made shoe
when he sees one   Show him that shoe you are working at   Take it 
monsieur  

Mr  Lorry took it in his hand 

 Tell monsieur what kind of shoe it is  and the maker s name  

There was a longer pause than usual  before the shoemaker replied 

 I forget what it was you asked me   What did you say  

 I said  couldn t you describe the kind of shoe  for monsieur s
information  

 It is a lady s shoe   It is a young lady s walking shoe   It is in the
present mode   I never saw the mode   I have had a pattern in my hand  
He glanced at the shoe with some little passing touch of pride 

 And the maker s name   said Defarge 

Now that he had no work to hold  he laid the knuckles of the right hand
in the hollow of the left  and then the knuckles of the left hand in the
hollow of the right  and then passed a hand across his bearded chin 
and so on in regular changes  without a moment s intermission 
The task of recalling him from the vagrancy into which he always
sank when he had spoken  was like recalling some very weak person
from a swoon  or endeavouring  in the hope of some disclosure 
to stay the spirit of a fast dying man 

 Did you ask me for my name  

 Assuredly I did  

 One Hundred and Five  North Tower  

 Is that all  

 One Hundred and Five  North Tower  

With a weary sound that was not a sigh  nor a groan  he bent to work
again  until the silence was again broken 

 You are not a shoemaker by trade   said Mr  Lorry  looking steadfastly
at him 

His haggard eyes turned to Defarge as if he would have transferred
the question to him   but as no help came from that quarter  they
turned back on the questioner when they had sought the ground 

 I am not a shoemaker by trade   No  I was not a shoemaker by trade 
I I learnt it here   I taught myself   I asked leave to   

He lapsed away  even for minutes  ringing those measured changes on
his hands the whole time   His eyes came slowly back  at last  to the
face from which they had wandered  when they rested on it  he started 
and resumed  in the manner of a sleeper that moment awake 
reverting to a subject of last night 

 I asked leave to teach myself  and I got it with much difficulty
after a long while  and I have made shoes ever since  

As he held out his hand for the shoe that had been taken from him 
Mr  Lorry said  still looking steadfastly in his face 

 Monsieur Manette  do you remember nothing of me  

The shoe dropped to the ground  and he sat looking fixedly at the
questioner 

 Monsieur Manette   Mr  Lorry laid his hand upon Defarge s arm 
 do you remember nothing of this man   Look at him   Look at me 
Is there no old banker  no old business  no old servant  no old time 
rising in your mind  Monsieur Manette  

As the captive of many years sat looking fixedly  by turns  at
Mr  Lorry and at Defarge  some long obliterated marks of an actively
intent intelligence in the middle of the forehead  gradually forced
themselves through the black mist that had fallen on him   They were
overclouded again  they were fainter  they were gone  but they had
been there   And so exactly was the expression repeated on the fair
young face of her who had crept along the wall to a point where she
could see him  and where she now stood looking at him  with hands
which at first had been only raised in frightened compassion  if not
even to keep him off and shut out the sight of him  but which were
now extending towards him  trembling with eagerness to lay the
spectral face upon her warm young breast  and love it back to life
and hope  so exactly was the expression repeated  though in stronger
characters  on her fair young face  that it looked as though it had
passed like a moving light  from him to her 

Darkness had fallen on him in its place   He looked at the two  less
and less attentively  and his eyes in gloomy abstraction sought the
ground and looked about him in the old way   Finally  with a deep
long sigh  he took the shoe up  and resumed his work 

 Have you recognised him  monsieur   asked Defarge in a whisper 

 Yes  for a moment   At first I thought it quite hopeless  but I have
unquestionably seen  for a single moment  the face that I once knew
so well   Hush   Let us draw further back   Hush  

She had moved from the wall of the garret  very near to the bench on
which he sat   There was something awful in his unconsciousness of
the figure that could have put out its hand and touched him as he
stooped over his labour 

Not a word was spoken  not a sound was made   She stood  like a
spirit  beside him  and he bent over his work 

It happened  at length  that he had occasion to change the instrument
in his hand  for his shoemaker s knife   It lay on that side of him
which was not the side on which she stood   He had taken it up  and
was stooping to work again  when his eyes caught the skirt of her
dress   He raised them  and saw her face   The two spectators started
forward  but she stayed them with a motion of her hand   She had no
fear of his striking at her with the knife  though they had 

He stared at her with a fearful look  and after a while his lips
began to form some words  though no sound proceeded from them   By
degrees  in the pauses of his quick and laboured breathing  he was
heard to say 

 What is this  

With the tears streaming down her face  she put her two hands to her
lips  and kissed them to him  then clasped them on her breast  as if
she laid his ruined head there 

 You are not the gaoler s daughter  

She sighed  No  

 Who are you  

Not yet trusting the tones of her voice  she sat down on the bench
beside him   He recoiled  but she laid her hand upon his arm   A
strange thrill struck him when she did so  and visibly passed over
his frame  he laid the knife down softly  as he sat staring at her 

Her golden hair  which she wore in long curls  had been hurriedly
pushed aside  and fell down over her neck   Advancing his hand by
little and little  he took it up and looked at it   In the midst of
the action he went astray  and  with another deep sigh  fell to work
at his shoemaking 

But not for long   Releasing his arm  she laid her hand upon his
shoulder   After looking doubtfully at it  two or three times  as if
to be sure that it was really there  he laid down his work  put his
hand to his neck  and took off a blackened string with a scrap of
folded rag attached to it   He opened this  carefully  on his knee 
and it contained a very little quantity of hair   not more than one or
two long golden hairs  which he had  in some old day  wound off upon
his finger 

He took her hair into his hand again  and looked closely at it    It
is the same   How can it be   When was it   How was it  

As the concentrated expression returned to his forehead  he seemed to
become conscious that it was in hers too   He turned her full to the
light  and looked at her 

 She had laid her head upon my shoulder  that night when I was
summoned out  she had a fear of my going  though I had none  and when
I was brought to the North Tower they found these upon my sleeve 
 You will leave me them   They can never help me to escape in the
body  though they may in the spirit   Those were the words I said 
I remember them very well  

He formed this speech with his lips many times before he could utter
it   But when he did find spoken words for it  they came to him
coherently  though slowly 

 How was this    Was it you   

Once more  the two spectators started  as he turned upon her with a
frightful suddenness   But she sat perfectly still in his grasp  and
only said  in a low voice   I entreat you  good gentlemen  do not
come near us  do not speak  do not move  

 Hark   he exclaimed    Whose voice was that  

His hands released her as he uttered this cry  and went up to his
white hair  which they tore in a frenzy   It died out  as everything
but his shoemaking did die out of him  and he refolded his little
packet and tried to secure it in his breast  but he still looked at
her  and gloomily shook his head 

 No  no  no  you are too young  too blooming   It can t be   See what
the prisoner is   These are not the hands she knew  this is not the
face she knew  this is not a voice she ever heard   No  no   She
was  and He was  before the slow years of the North Tower  ages ago 
What is your name  my gentle angel  

Hailing his softened tone and manner  his daughter fell upon her
knees before him  with her appealing hands upon his breast 

 O  sir  at another time you shall know my name  and who my mother
was  and who my father  and how I never knew their hard  hard
history   But I cannot tell you at this time  and I cannot tell you
here   All that I may tell you  here and now  is  that I pray to you
to touch me and to bless me   Kiss me  kiss me   O my dear  my dear  

His cold white head mingled with her radiant hair  which warmed and
lighted it as though it were the light of Freedom shining on him 

 If you hear in my voice  I don t know that it is so  but I hope it
is  if you hear in my voice any resemblance to a voice that once was
sweet music in your ears  weep for it  weep for it   If you touch 
in touching my hair  anything that recalls a beloved head that lay on
your breast when you were young and free  weep for it  weep for it 
If  when I hint to you of a Home that is before us  where I will be
true to you with all my duty and with all my faithful service  I
bring back the remembrance of a Home long desolate  while your poor
heart pined away  weep for it  weep for it  

She held him closer round the neck  and rocked him on her breast
like a child 

 If  when I tell you  dearest dear  that your agony is over  and that
I have come here to take you from it  and that we go to England to be
at peace and at rest  I cause you to think of your useful life laid
waste  and of our native France so wicked to you  weep for it  weep
for it   And if  when I shall tell you of my name  and of my father
who is living  and of my mother who is dead  you learn that I have to
kneel to my honoured father  and implore his pardon for having never
for his sake striven all day and lain awake and wept all night 
because the love of my poor mother hid his torture from me  weep for
it  weep for it   Weep for her  then  and for me   Good gentlemen 
thank God   I feel his sacred tears upon my face  and his sobs strike
against my heart   O  see   Thank God for us  thank God  

He had sunk in her arms  and his face dropped on her breast   a sight
so touching  yet so terrible in the tremendous wrong and suffering
which had gone before it  that the two beholders covered their faces 

When the quiet of the garret had been long undisturbed  and his
heaving breast and shaken form had long yielded to the calm that must
follow all storms  emblem to humanity  of the rest and silence into
which the storm called Life must hush at last  they came forward to
raise the father and daughter from the ground   He had gradually
dropped to the floor  and lay there in a lethargy  worn out   She had
nestled down with him  that his head might lie upon her arm  and her
hair drooping over him curtained him from the light 

 If  without disturbing him   she said  raising her hand to Mr  Lorry
as he stooped over them  after repeated blowings of his nose   all
could be arranged for our leaving Paris at once  so that  from the
very door  he could be taken away   

 But  consider   Is he fit for the journey   asked Mr  Lorry 

 More fit for that  I think  than to remain in this city  so dreadful to him  

 It is true   said Defarge  who was kneeling to look on and hear 
 More than that  Monsieur Manette is  for all reasons  best out of
France   Say  shall I hire a carriage and post horses  

 That s business   said Mr  Lorry  resuming on the shortest notice
his methodical manners   and if business is to be done  I had better do it  

 Then be so kind   urged Miss Manette   as to leave us here   You see
how composed he has become  and you cannot be afraid to leave him
with me now   Why should you be   If you will lock the door to secure
us from interruption  I do not doubt that you will find him  when you
come back  as quiet as you leave him   In any case  I will take care
of him until you return  and then we will remove him straight  

Both Mr  Lorry and Defarge were rather disinclined to this course 
and in favour of one of them remaining   But  as there were not only
carriage and horses to be seen to  but travelling papers  and as time
pressed  for the day was drawing to an end  it came at last to their
hastily dividing the business that was necessary to be done  and
hurrying away to do it 

Then  as the darkness closed in  the daughter laid her head down on
the hard ground close at the father s side  and watched him   The
darkness deepened and deepened  and they both lay quiet  until a
light gleamed through the chinks in the wall 

Mr  Lorry and Monsieur Defarge had made all ready for the journey 
and had brought with them  besides travelling cloaks and wrappers 
bread and meat  wine  and hot coffee   Monsieur Defarge put this
provender  and the lamp he carried  on the shoemaker s bench  there
was nothing else in the garret but a pallet bed   and he and
Mr  Lorry roused the captive  and assisted him to his feet 

No human intelligence could have read the mysteries of his mind  in
the scared blank wonder of his face   Whether he knew what had
happened  whether he recollected what they had said to him  whether
he knew that he was free  were questions which no sagacity could have
solved   They tried speaking to him  but  he was so confused  and so
very slow to answer  that they took fright at his bewilderment  and
agreed for the time to tamper with him no more   He had a wild  lost
manner of occasionally clasping his head in his hands  that had not
been seen in him before  yet  he had some pleasure in the mere sound
of his daughter s voice  and invariably turned to it when she spoke 

In the submissive way of one long accustomed to obey under coercion 
he ate and drank what they gave him to eat and drink  and put on the
cloak and other wrappings  that they gave him to wear   He readily
responded to his daughter s drawing her arm through his  and
took  and kept  her hand in both his own 

They began to descend  Monsieur Defarge going first with the lamp 
Mr  Lorry closing the little procession   They had not traversed many
steps of the long main staircase when he stopped  and stared at the
roof and round at the wails 

 You remember the place  my father   You remember coming up here  

 What did you say  

But  before she could repeat the question  he murmured an answer as
if she had repeated it 

 Remember   No  I don t remember   It was so very long ago  

That he had no recollection whatever of his having been brought from
his prison to that house  was apparent to them   They heard him mutter 
 One Hundred and Five  North Tower   and when he looked about him  it
evidently was for the strong fortress walls which had long encompassed him 
On their reaching the courtyard he instinctively altered his tread 
as being in expectation of a drawbridge  and when there was no
drawbridge  and he saw the carriage waiting in the open street  he
dropped his daughter s hand and clasped his head again 

No crowd was about the door  no people were discernible at any of the
many windows  not even a chance passerby was in the street   An unnatural
silence and desertion reigned there   Only one soul was to be seen 
and that was Madame Defarge  who leaned against the door post 
knitting  and saw nothing 

The prisoner had got into a coach  and his daughter had followed him 
when Mr  Lorry s feet were arrested on the step by his asking 
miserably  for his shoemaking tools and the unfinished shoes   Madame
Defarge immediately called to her husband that she would get them 
and went  knitting  out of the lamplight  through the courtyard   She
quickly brought them down and handed them in   and immediately
afterwards leaned against the door post  knitting  and saw nothing 

Defarge got upon the box  and gave the word  To the Barrier  
The postilion cracked his whip  and they clattered away under
the feeble over swinging lamps 

Under the over swinging lamps  swinging ever brighter in the better
streets  and ever dimmer in the worse  and by lighted shops  gay
crowds  illuminated coffee houses  and theatre doors  to one of the
city gates   Soldiers with lanterns  at the guard house there 
 Your papers  travellers     See here then  Monsieur the Officer  
said Defarge  getting down  and taking him gravely apart   these are
the papers of monsieur inside  with the white head   They were
consigned to me  with him  at the    He dropped his voice  there was
a flutter among the military lanterns  and one of them being handed
into the coach by an arm in uniform  the eyes connected with the arm
looked  not an every day or an every night look  at monsieur with the
white head    It is well   Forward   from the uniform    Adieu   from
Defarge   And so  under a short grove of feebler and feebler
over swinging lamps  out under the great grove of stars 

Beneath that arch of unmoved and eternal lights  some  so remote from
this little earth that the learned tell us it is doubtful whether
their rays have even yet discovered it  as a point in space where
anything is suffered or done   the shadows of the night were broad and
black   All through the cold and restless interval  until dawn  they
once more whispered in the ears of Mr  Jarvis Lorry  sitting opposite
the buried man who had been dug out  and wondering what subtle powers
were for ever lost to him  and what were capable of restoration  the
old inquiry 

 I hope you care to be recalled to life  

And the old answer 

 I can t say  




The end of the first book 





Book the Second  the Golden Thread




I

Five Years Later


Tellson s Bank by Temple Bar was an old fashioned place  even in the
year one thousand seven hundred and eighty   It was very small  very
dark  very ugly  very incommodious   It was an old fashioned place 
moreover  in the moral attribute that the partners in the House were
proud of its smallness  proud of its darkness  proud of its ugliness 
proud of its incommodiousness   They were even boastful of its
eminence in those particulars  and were fired by an express conviction
that  if it were less objectionable  it would be less respectable 
This was no passive belief  but an active weapon which they flashed
at more convenient places of business   Tellson s  they said  wanted
no elbow room  Tellson s wanted no light  Tellson s wanted no
embellishment   Noakes and Co  s might  or Snooks Brothers  might 
but Tellson s  thank Heaven   

Any one of these partners would have disinherited his son on the
question of rebuilding Tellson s   In this respect the House was much
on a par with the Country  which did very often disinherit its sons
for suggesting improvements in laws and customs that had long been
highly objectionable  but were only the more respectable 

Thus it had come to pass  that Tellson s was the triumphant
perfection of inconvenience   After bursting open a door of idiotic
obstinacy with a weak rattle in its throat  you fell into Tellson s
down two steps  and came to your senses in a miserable little shop 
with two little counters  where the oldest of men made your cheque
shake as if the wind rustled it  while they examined the signature by
the dingiest of windows  which were always under a shower bath of mud
from Fleet street  and which were made the dingier by their own iron
bars proper  and the heavy shadow of Temple Bar   If your business
necessitated your seeing  the House   you were put into a species of
Condemned Hold at the back  where you meditated on a misspent life 
until the House came with its hands in its pockets  and you could
hardly blink at it in the dismal twilight   Your money came out of 
or went into  wormy old wooden drawers  particles of which flew up
your nose and down your throat when they were opened and shut   Your
bank notes had a musty odour  as if they were fast decomposing into
rags again   Your plate was stowed away among the neighbouring
cesspools  and evil communications corrupted its good polish in a day
or two   Your deeds got into extemporised strong rooms made of
kitchens and sculleries  and fretted all the fat out of their
parchments into the banking house air   Your lighter boxes of family
papers went up stairs into a Barmecide room  that always had a great
dining table in it and never had a dinner  and where  even in the
year one thousand seven hundred and eighty  the first letters written
to you by your old love  or by your little children  were but newly
released from the horror of being ogled through the windows  by the
heads exposed on Temple Bar with an insensate brutality and ferocity
worthy of Abyssinia or Ashantee 

But indeed  at that time  putting to death was a recipe much in vogue
with all trades and professions  and not least of all with Tellson s 
Death is Nature s remedy for all things  and why not Legislation s 
Accordingly  the forger was put to Death  the utterer of a bad note
was put to Death  the unlawful opener of a letter was put to Death 
the purloiner of forty shillings and sixpence was put to Death  the
holder of a horse at Tellson s door  who made off with it  was put to
Death  the coiner of a bad shilling was put to Death  the sounders of
three fourths of the notes in the whole gamut of Crime  were put to
Death   Not that it did the least good in the way of prevention  it
might almost have been worth remarking that the fact was exactly the
reverse  but  it cleared off  as to this world  the trouble of each
particular case  and left nothing else connected with it to be looked
after   Thus  Tellson s  in its day  like greater places of business 
its contemporaries  had taken so many lives  that  if the heads laid
low before it had been ranged on Temple Bar instead of being
privately disposed of  they would probably have excluded what little
light the ground floor had  in a rather significant manner 

Cramped in all kinds of dun cupboards and hutches at Tellson s  the
oldest of men carried on the business gravely   When they took a
young man into Tellson s London house  they hid him somewhere till he
was old   They kept him in a dark place  like a cheese  until he had
the full Tellson flavour and blue mould upon him   Then only was he
permitted to be seen  spectacularly poring over large books  and
casting his breeches and gaiters into the general weight of the
establishment 

Outside Tellson s  never by any means in it  unless called in  was an
odd job man  an occasional porter and messenger  who served as the
live sign of the house   He was never absent during business hours 
unless upon an errand  and then he was represented by his son   a
grisly urchin of twelve  who was his express image   People
understood that Tellson s  in a stately way  tolerated the
odd job man   The house had always tolerated some person in that
capacity  and time and tide had drifted this person to the post   His
surname was Cruncher  and on the youthful occasion of his renouncing
by proxy the works of darkness  in the easterly parish church of
Hounsditch  he had received the added appellation of Jerry 

The scene was Mr  Cruncher s private lodging in Hanging sword alley 
Whitefriars   the time  half past seven of the clock on a windy March
morning  Anno Domini seventeen hundred and eighty    Mr  Cruncher
himself always spoke of the year of our Lord as Anna Dominoes 
apparently under the impression that the Christian era dated from the
invention of a popular game  by a lady who had bestowed her name upon it  

Mr  Cruncher s apartments were not in a savoury neighbourhood  and
were but two in number  even if a closet with a single pane of glass
in it might be counted as one   But they were very decently kept 
Early as it was  on the windy March morning  the room in which he lay
abed was already scrubbed throughout  and between the cups and
saucers arranged for breakfast  and the lumbering deal table  a very
clean white cloth was spread 

Mr  Cruncher reposed under a patchwork counterpane  like a Harlequin
at home   At first  he slept heavily  but  by degrees  began to roll
and surge in bed  until he rose above the surface  with his spiky
hair looking as if it must tear the sheets to ribbons   At which
juncture  he exclaimed  in a voice of dire exasperation 

 Bust me  if she ain t at it agin  

A woman of orderly and industrious appearance rose from her knees in
a corner  with sufficient haste and trepidation to show that she was
the person referred to 

 What   said Mr  Cruncher  looking out of bed for a boot    You re at
it agin  are you  

After hailing the mom with this second salutation  he threw a boot at
the woman as a third   It was a very muddy boot  and may introduce
the odd circumstance connected with Mr  Cruncher s domestic economy 
that  whereas he often came home after banking hours with clean
boots  he often got up next morning to find the same boots
covered with clay 

 What   said Mr  Cruncher  varying his apostrophe after missing
his mark   what are you up to  Aggerawayter  

 I was only saying my prayers  

 Saying your prayers   You re a nice woman   What do you mean by
flopping yourself down and praying agin me  

 I was not praying against you  I was praying for you  

 You weren t   And if you were  I won t be took the liberty with 
Here  your mother s a nice woman  young Jerry  going a praying agin
your father s prosperity   You ve got a dutiful mother  you have  my
son   You ve got a religious mother  you have  my boy   going and
flopping herself down  and praying that the bread and butter may be
snatched out of the mouth of her only child  

Master Cruncher  who was in his shirt  took this very ill  and 
turning to his mother  strongly deprecated any praying away of his
personal board 

 And what do you suppose  you conceited female   said Mr  Cruncher 
with unconscious inconsistency   that the worth of  your  prayers may be 
Name the price that you put  your  prayers at  

 They only come from the heart  Jerry   They are worth no more than that  

 Worth no more than that   repeated Mr  Cruncher   They ain t worth
much  then   Whether or no  I won t be prayed agin  I tell you 
I can t afford it  I m not a going to be made unlucky by  your 
sneaking  If you must go flopping yourself down  flop in favour
of your husband and child  and not in opposition to  em   If I
had had any but a unnat ral wife  and this poor boy had had any but
a unnat ral mother  I might have made some money last week instead
of being counter prayed and countermined and religiously circumwented
into the worst of luck   B u u ust me   said Mr  Cruncher  who all
this time had been putting on his clothes   if I ain t  what with
piety and one blowed thing and another  been choused this last week
into as bad luck as ever a poor devil of a honest tradesman met with 
Young Jerry  dress yourself  my boy  and while I clean my boots keep
a eye upon your mother now and then  and if you see any signs of more
flopping  give me a call   For  I tell you   here he addressed his
wife once more   I won t be gone agin  in this manner   I am as
rickety as a hackney coach  I m as sleepy as laudanum  my lines is
strained to that degree that I shouldn t know  if it wasn t for the
pain in  em  which was me and which somebody else  yet I m none the
better for it in pocket  and it s my suspicion that you ve been at it
from morning to night to prevent me from being the better for it in pocket 
and I won t put up with it  Aggerawayter  and what do you say now  

Growling  in addition  such phrases as  Ah  yes   You re religious  too 
You wouldn t put yourself in opposition to the interests of your husband
and child  would you   Not you   and throwing off other sarcastic sparks
from the whirling grindstone of his indignation  Mr  Cruncher betook
himself to his boot cleaning and his general preparation for business 
In the meantime  his son  whose head was garnished with tenderer spikes 
and whose young eyes stood close by one another  as his father s did 
kept the required watch upon his mother   He greatly disturbed that
poor woman at intervals  by darting out of his sleeping closet 
where he made his toilet  with a suppressed cry of  You are going to flop 
mother     Halloa  father   and  after raising this fictitious alarm 
darting in again with an undutiful grin 

Mr  Cruncher s temper was not at all improved when he came to his
breakfast   He resented Mrs  Cruncher s saying grace with particular
animosity 

 Now  Aggerawayter   What are you up to   At it again  

His wife explained that she had merely  asked a blessing  

 Don t do it   said Mr  Crunches looking about  as if he rather
expected to see the loaf disappear under the efficacy of his wife s
petitions    I ain t a going to be blest out of house and home 
I won t have my wittles blest off my table   Keep still  

Exceedingly red eyed and grim  as if he had been up all night at a
party which had taken anything but a convivial turn  Jerry Cruncher
worried his breakfast rather than ate it  growling over it like any
four footed inmate of a menagerie   Towards nine o clock he smoothed
his ruffled aspect  and  presenting as respectable and business like
an exterior as he could overlay his natural self with  issued forth
to the occupation of the day 

It could scarcely be called a trade  in spite of his favourite
description of himself as  a honest tradesman    His stock consisted
of a wooden stool  made out of a broken backed chair cut down  which
stool  young Jerry  walking at his father s side  carried every
morning to beneath the banking house window that was nearest Temple
Bar   where  with the addition of the first handful of straw that
could be gleaned from any passing vehicle to keep the cold and wet
from the odd job man s feet  it formed the encampment for the day 
On this post of his  Mr  Cruncher was as well known to Fleet street
and the Temple  as the Bar itself   and was almost as in looking 

Encamped at a quarter before nine  in good time to touch his three 
cornered hat to the oldest of men as they passed in to Tellson s 
Jerry took up his station on this windy March morning  with young
Jerry standing by him  when not engaged in making forays through the
Bar  to inflict bodily and mental injuries of an acute description on
passing boys who were small enough for his amiable purpose   Father
and son  extremely like each other  looking silently on at the
morning traffic in Fleet street  with their two heads as near to one
another as the two eyes of each were  bore a considerable resemblance
to a pair of monkeys   The resemblance was not lessened by the
accidental circumstance  that the mature Jerry bit and spat out
straw  while the twinkling eyes of the youthful Jerry were as
restlessly watchful of him as of everything else in Fleet street 

The head of one of the regular indoor messengers attached to
Tellson s establishment was put through the door  and the word was
given 

 Porter wanted  

 Hooray  father   Here s an early job to begin with  

Having thus given his parent God speed  young Jerry seated himself on
the stool  entered on his reversionary interest in the straw his
father had been chewing  and cogitated 

 Al ways rusty   His fingers is al ways rusty   muttered young Jerry 
 Where does my father get all that iron rust from   He don t get no
iron rust here  



II

A Sight


 You know the Old Bailey  well  no doubt   said one of the oldest of
clerks to Jerry the messenger 

 Ye es  sir   returned Jerry  in something of a dogged manner    I
 do  know the Bailey  

 Just so   And you know Mr  Lorry  

 I know Mr  Lorry  sir  much better than I know the Bailey   Much
better   said Jerry  not unlike a reluctant witness at the
establishment in question   than I  as a honest tradesman  wish to
know the Bailey  

 Very well   Find the door where the witnesses go in  and show the
door keeper this note for Mr  Lorry   He will then let you in  

 Into the court  sir  

 Into the court  

Mr  Cruncher s eyes seemed to get a little closer to one another  and
to interchange the inquiry   What do you think of this  

 Am I to wait in the court  sir   he asked  as the result of that
conference 

 I am going to tell you   The door keeper will pass the note to Mr 
Lorry  and do you make any gesture that will attract Mr  Lorry s
attention  and show him where you stand   Then what you have to do 
is  to remain there until he wants you  

 Is that all  sir  

 That s all   He wishes to have a messenger at hand   This is to tell
him you are there  

As the ancient clerk deliberately folded and superscribed the note 
Mr  Cruncher  after surveying him in silence until he came to the
blotting paper stage  remarked 

 I suppose they ll be trying Forgeries this morning  

 Treason  

 That s quartering   said Jerry    Barbarous  

 It is the law   remarked the ancient clerk  turning his surprised
spectacles upon him    It is the law  

 It s hard in the law to spile a man  I think   Ifs hard enough to
kill him  but it s wery hard to spile him  sir  

 Not at all   retained the ancient clerk    Speak well of the law 
Take care of your chest and voice  my good friend  and leave the law
to take care of itself   I give you that advice  

 It s the damp  sir  what settles on my chest and voice   said Jerry 
 I leave you to judge what a damp way of earning a living mine is  

 Well  well   said the old clerk   we all have our various ways of
gaining a livelihood   Some of us have damp ways  and some of us have
dry ways   Here is the letter   Go along  

Jerry took the letter  and  remarking to himself with less internal
deference than he made an outward show of   You are a lean old one 
too   made his bow  informed his son  in passing  of his destination 
and went his way 

They hanged at Tyburn  in those days  so the street outside Newgate
had not obtained one infamous notoriety that has since attached to
it   But  the gaol was a vile place  in which most kinds of
debauchery and villainy were practised  and where dire diseases were
bred  that came into court with the prisoners  and sometimes rushed
straight from the dock at my Lord Chief Justice himself  and pulled
him off the bench   It had more than once happened  that the Judge in
the black cap pronounced his own doom as certainly as the prisoner s 
and even died before him   For the rest  the Old Bailey was famous as
a kind of deadly inn yard  from which pale travellers set out
continually  in carts and coaches  on a violent passage into the
other world   traversing some two miles and a half of public street
and road  and shaming few good citizens  if any   So powerful is use 
and so desirable to be good use in the beginning   It was famous 
too  for the pillory  a wise old institution  that inflicted a
punishment of which no one could foresee the extent  also  for the
whipping post  another dear old institution  very humanising and
softening to behold in action  also  for extensive transactions in
blood money  another fragment of ancestral wisdom  systematically
leading to the most frightful mercenary crimes that could be
committed under Heaven   Altogether  the Old Bailey  at that date 
was a choice illustration of the precept  that  Whatever is is right  
an aphorism that would be as final as it is lazy  did it not include
the troublesome consequence  that nothing that ever was  was wrong 

Making his way through the tainted crowd  dispersed up and down this
hideous scene of action  with the skill of a man accustomed to make
his way quietly  the messenger found out the door he sought  and
handed in his letter through a trap in it   For  people then paid to
see the play at the Old Bailey  just as they paid to see the play in
Bedlam  only the former entertainment was much the dearer   Therefore 
all the Old Bailey doors were well guarded  except  indeed  the
social doors by which the criminals got there  and those were always
left wide open 

After some delay and demur  the door grudgingly turned on its hinges
a very little way  and allowed Mr  Jerry Cruncher to squeeze himself
into court 

 What s on   he asked  in a whisper  of the man he found himself next to 

 Nothing yet  

 What s coming on  

 The Treason case  

 The quartering one  eh  

 Ah   returned the man  with a relish   he ll be drawn on a hurdle
to be half hanged  and then he ll be taken down and sliced before
his own face  and then his inside will be taken out and burnt while
he looks on  and then his head will be chopped off  and he ll be
cut into quarters   That s the sentence  

 If he s found Guilty  you mean to say   Jerry added  by way of proviso 

 Oh  they ll find him guilty   said the other    Don t you be afraid of that  

Mr  Cruncher s attention was here diverted to the door keeper  whom
he saw making his way to Mr  Lorry  with the note in his hand   Mr 
Lorry sat at a table  among the gentlemen in wigs   not far from a
wigged gentleman  the prisoner s counsel  who had a great bundle of
papers before him   and nearly opposite another wigged gentleman with
his hands in his pockets  whose whole attention  when Mr  Cruncher
looked at him then or afterwards  seemed to be concentrated on the
ceiling of the court   After some gruff coughing and rubbing of his
chin and signing with his hand  Jerry attracted the notice of
Mr  Lorry  who had stood up to look for him  and who quietly nodded
and sat down again 

 What s  he  got to do with the case   asked the man he had spoken with 

 Blest if I know   said Jerry 

 What have  you  got to do with it  then  if a person may inquire  

 Blest if I know that either   said Jerry 

The entrance of the Judge  and a consequent great stir and settling
down in the court  stopped the dialogue   Presently  the dock became
the central point of interest   Two gaolers  who had been standing
there  went out  and the prisoner was brought in  and put to the bar 

Everybody present  except the one wigged gentleman who looked at the
ceiling  stared at him   All the human breath in the place  rolled at
him  like a sea  or a wind  or a fire   Eager faces strained round
pillars and corners  to get a sight of him  spectators in back rows
stood up  not to miss a hair of him  people on the floor of the
court  laid their hands on the shoulders of the people before them 
to help themselves  at anybody s cost  to a view of him  stood
a tiptoe  got upon ledges  stood upon next to nothing  to see every
inch of him   Conspicuous among these latter  like an animated bit of
the spiked wall of Newgate  Jerry stood   aiming at the prisoner the
beery breath of a whet he had taken as he came along  and discharging
it to mingle with the waves of other beer  and gin  and tea  and
coffee  and what not  that flowed at him  and already broke upon the
great windows behind him in an impure mist and rain 

The object of all this staring and blaring  was a young man of about
five and twenty  well grown and well looking  with a sunburnt cheek
and a dark eye   His condition was that of a young gentleman   He was
plainly dressed in black  or very dark grey  and his hair  which was
long and dark  was gathered in a ribbon at the back of his neck  more
to be out of his way than for ornament   As an emotion of the mind
will express itself through any covering of the body  so the paleness
which his situation engendered came through the brown upon his cheek 
showing the soul to be stronger than the sun   He was otherwise quite
self possessed  bowed to the Judge  and stood quiet 

The sort of interest with which this man was stared and breathed at 
was not a sort that elevated humanity   Had he stood in peril of a
less horrible sentence  had there been a chance of any one of its
savage details being spared  by just so much would he have lost in
his fascination   The form that was to be doomed to be so shamefully
mangled  was the sight  the immortal creature that was to be so
butchered and torn asunder  yielded the sensation   Whatever gloss
the various spectators put upon the interest  according to their
several arts and powers of self deceit  the interest was  at the
root of it  Ogreish 

Silence in the court   Charles Darnay had yesterday pleaded Not Guilty
to an indictment denouncing him  with infinite jingle and jangle  for
that he was a false traitor to our serene  illustrious  excellent 
and so forth  prince  our Lord the King  by reason of his having  on
divers occasions  and by divers means and ways  assisted Lewis  the
French King  in his wars against our said serene  illustrious 
excellent  and so forth  that was to say  by coming and going 
between the dominions of our said serene  illustrious  excellent  and
so forth  and those of the said French Lewis  and wickedly  falsely 
traitorously  and otherwise evil adverbiously  revealing to the said
French Lewis what forces our said serene  illustrious  excellent  and
so forth  had in preparation to send to Canada and North America 
This much  Jerry  with his head becoming more and more spiky as the
law terms bristled it  made out with huge satisfaction  and so
arrived circuitously at the understanding that the aforesaid  and
over and over again aforesaid  Charles Darnay  stood there before him
upon his trial  that the jury were swearing in  and that
Mr  Attorney General was making ready to speak 

The accused  who was  and who knew he was  being mentally hanged 
beheaded  and quartered  by everybody there  neither flinched from
the situation  nor assumed any theatrical air in it   He was quiet
and attentive  watched the opening proceedings with a grave interest 
and stood with his hands resting on the slab of wood before him  so
composedly  that they had not displaced a leaf of the herbs with
which it was strewn   The court was all bestrewn with herbs and
sprinkled with vinegar  as a precaution against gaol air and gaol
fever 

Over the prisoner s head there was a mirror  to throw the light down
upon him   Crowds of the wicked and the wretched had been reflected
in it  and had passed from its surface and this earth s together 
Haunted in a most ghastly manner that abominable place would have
been  if the glass could ever have rendered back its reflections  as
the ocean is one day to give up its dead   Some passing thought of
the infamy and disgrace for which it had been reserved  may have
struck the prisoner s mind   Be that as it may  a change in his
position making him conscious of a bar of light across his face  he
looked up  and when he saw the glass his face flushed  and his right
hand pushed the herbs away 

It happened  that the action turned his face to that side of the court
which was on his left   About on a level with his eyes  there sat  in
that corner of the Judge s bench  two persons upon whom his look
immediately rested  so immediately  and so much to the changing of his
aspect  that all the eyes that were turned upon him  turned to them 

The spectators saw in the two figures  a young lady of little more
than twenty  and a gentleman who was evidently her father  a man of
a very remarkable appearance in respect of the absolute whiteness
of his hair  and a certain indescribable intensity of face   not of
an active kind  but pondering and self communing   When this expression
was upon him  he looked as if he were old  but when it was stirred
and broken up  as it was now  in a moment  on his speaking to his
daughter  he became a handsome man  not past the prime of life 

His daughter had one of her hands drawn through his arm  as she sat
by him  and the other pressed upon it   She had drawn close to him 
in her dread of the scene  and in her pity for the prisoner   Her
forehead had been strikingly expressive of an engrossing terror and
compassion that saw nothing but the peril of the accused   This had
been so very noticeable  so very powerfully and naturally shown  that
starers who had had no pity for him were touched by her  and the
whisper went about   Who are they  

Jerry  the messenger  who had made his own observations  in his own
manner  and who had been sucking the rust off his fingers in his
absorption  stretched his neck to hear who they were   The crowd
about him had pressed and passed the inquiry on to the nearest
attendant  and from him it had been more slowly pressed and passed
back  at last it got to Jerry 

 Witnesses  

 For which side  

 Against  

 Against what side  

 The prisoner s  

The Judge  whose eyes had gone in the general direction  recalled
them  leaned back in his seat  and looked steadily at the man whose
life was in his hand  as Mr  Attorney General rose to spin the rope 
grind the axe  and hammer the nails into the scaffold 



III

A Disappointment


Mr  Attorney General had to inform the jury  that the prisoner before
them  though young in years  was old in the treasonable practices
which claimed the forfeit of his life   That this correspondence with
the public enemy was not a correspondence of to day  or of yesterday 
or even of last year  or of the year before   That  it was certain
the prisoner had  for longer than that  been in the habit of passing
and repassing between France and England  on secret business of which
he could give no honest account   That  if it were in the nature of
traitorous ways to thrive  which happily it never was   the real
wickedness and guilt of his business might have remained undiscovered 
That Providence  however  had put it into the heart of a person who
was beyond fear and beyond reproach  to ferret out the nature of the
prisoner s schemes  and  struck with horror  to disclose them to his
Majesty s Chief Secretary of State and most honourable Privy Council 
That  this patriot would be produced before them   That  his position
and attitude were  on the whole  sublime   That  he had been the
prisoner s friend  but  at once in an auspicious and an evil hour
detecting his infamy  had resolved to immolate the traitor he could
no longer cherish in his bosom  on the sacred altar of his country 
That  if statues were decreed in Britain  as in ancient Greece and
Rome  to public benefactors  this shining citizen would assuredly
have had one   That  as they were not so decreed  he probably would
not have one   That  Virtue  as had been observed by the poets  in
many passages which he well knew the jury would have  word for word 
at the tips of their tongues  whereat the jury s countenances
displayed a guilty consciousness that they knew nothing about the
passages   was in a manner contagious  more especially the bright
virtue known as patriotism  or love of country   That  the lofty
example of this immaculate and unimpeachable witness for the Crown 
to refer to whom however unworthily was an honour  had communicated
itself to the prisoner s servant  and had engendered in him a holy
determination to examine his master s table drawers and pockets  and
secrete his papers   That  he  Mr  Attorney General  was prepared to
hear some disparagement attempted of this admirable servant  but that 
in a general way  he preferred him to his  Mr  Attorney General s 
brothers and sisters  and honoured him more than his
 Mr  Attorney General s  father and mother   That  he called with
confidence on the jury to come and do likewise   That  the evidence
of these two witnesses  coupled with the documents of their
discovering that would be produced  would show the prisoner to have
been furnished with lists of his Majesty s forces  and of their
disposition and preparation  both by sea and land  and would leave no
doubt that he had habitually conveyed such information to a hostile
power   That  these lists could not be proved to be in the prisoner s
handwriting  but that it was all the same  that  indeed  it was
rather the better for the prosecution  as showing the prisoner to be
artful in his precautions   That  the proof would go back five years 
and would show the prisoner already engaged in these pernicious
missions  within a few weeks before the date of the very first action
fought between the British troops and the Americans   That  for these
reasons  the jury  being a loyal jury  as he knew they were   and
being a responsible jury  as  they  knew they were   must positively
find the prisoner Guilty  and make an end of him  whether they liked
it or not   That  they never could lay their heads upon their pillows 
that  they never could tolerate the idea of their wives laying their
heads upon their pillows  that  they never could endure the notion of
their children laying their heads upon their pillows  in short  that
there never more could be  for them or theirs  any laying of heads
upon pillows at all  unless the prisoner s head was taken off   That
head Mr  Attorney General concluded by demanding of them  in the name
of everything he could think of with a round turn in it  and on the
faith of his solemn asseveration that he already considered the
prisoner as good as dead and gone 

When the Attorney General ceased  a buzz arose in the court as if
a cloud of great blue flies were swarming about the prisoner  in
anticipation of what he was soon to become   When toned down again 
the unimpeachable patriot appeared in the witness box 

Mr  Solicitor General then  following his leader s lead  examined
the patriot   John Barsad  gentleman  by name   The story of his pure
soul was exactly what Mr  Attorney General had described it to be  
perhaps  if it had a fault  a little too exactly   Having released
his noble bosom of its burden  he would have modestly withdrawn
himself  but that the wigged gentleman with the papers before him 
sitting not far from Mr  Lorry  begged to ask him a few questions 
The wigged gentleman sitting opposite  still looking at the ceiling
of the court 

Had he ever been a spy himself   No  he scorned the base insinuation 
What did he live upon   His property   Where was his property 
He didn t precisely remember where it was   What was it   No business
of anybody s   Had he inherited it   Yes  he had   From whom   Distant
relation   Very distant   Rather   Ever been in prison   Certainly not 
Never in a debtors  prison   Didn t see what that had to do with it 
Never in a debtors  prison   Come  once again   Never   Yes   How many
times   Two or three times   Not five or six   Perhaps   Of what
profession   Gentleman   Ever been kicked   Might have been   Frequently 
No  Ever kicked downstairs   Decidedly not  once received a kick on the
top of a staircase  and fell downstairs of his own accord   Kicked on
that occasion for cheating at dice   Something to that effect was said
by the intoxicated liar who committed the assault  but it was not
true   Swear it was not true   Positively   Ever live by cheating at
play   Never   Ever live by play   Not more than other gentlemen do 
Ever borrow money of the prisoner   Yes   Ever pay him   No   Was not
this intimacy with the prisoner  in reality a very slight one  forced
upon the prisoner in coaches  inns  and packets   No   Sure he saw
the prisoner with these lists   Certain   Knew no more about the lists 
No   Had not procured them himself  for instance   No   Expect to get
anything by this evidence   No   Not in regular government pay and
employment  to lay traps   Oh dear no   Or to do anything   Oh dear no 
Swear that   Over and over again   No motives but motives of sheer
patriotism  None whatever 

The virtuous servant  Roger Cly  swore his way through the case at a
great rate   He had taken service with the prisoner  in good faith
and simplicity  four years ago   He had asked the prisoner  aboard
the Calais packet  if he wanted a handy fellow  and the prisoner had
engaged him   He had not asked the prisoner to take the handy fellow
as an act of charity  never thought of such a thing   He began to
have suspicions of the prisoner  and to keep an eye upon him  soon
afterwards   In arranging his clothes  while travelling  he had seen
similar lists to these in the prisoner s pockets  over and over again 
He had taken these lists from the drawer of the prisoner s desk 
He had not put them there first   He had seen the prisoner show these
identical lists to French gentlemen at Calais  and similar lists to
French gentlemen  both at Calais and Boulogne   He loved his country 
and couldn t bear it  and had given information   He had never been
suspected of stealing a silver tea pot  he had been maligned respecting
a mustard pot  but it turned out to be only a plated one   He had
known the last witness seven or eight years  that was merely a
coincidence   He didn t call it a particularly curious coincidence 
most coincidences were curious   Neither did he call it a curious
coincidence that true patriotism was  his  only motive too   He was a
true Briton  and hoped there were many like him 

The blue flies buzzed again  and Mr  Attorney General called Mr  Jarvis Lorry 

 Mr  Jarvis Lorry  are you a clerk in Tellson s bank  

 I am  

 On a certain Friday night in November one thousand seven hundred and
seventy five  did business occasion you to travel between London and
Dover by the mail  

 It did  

 Were there any other passengers in the mail  

 Two  

 Did they alight on the road in the course of the night  

 They did  

 Mr  Lorry  look upon the prisoner   Was he one of those two passengers  

 I cannot undertake to say that he was  

 Does he resemble either of these two passengers  

 Both were so wrapped up  and the night was so dark  and we were all
so reserved  that I cannot undertake to say even that  

 Mr  Lorry  look again upon the prisoner   Supposing him wrapped up
as those two passengers were  is there anything in his bulk and
stature to render it unlikely that he was one of them  

 No  

 You will not swear  Mr  Lorry  that he was not one of them  

 No  

 So at least you say he may have been one of them  

 Yes   Except that I remember them both to have been  like myself  
timorous of highwaymen  and the prisoner has not a timorous air  

 Did you ever see a counterfeit of timidity  Mr  Lorry  

 I certainly have seen that  

 Mr  Lorry  look once more upon the prisoner   Have you seen him 
to your certain knowledge  before  

 I have  

 When  

 I was returning from France a few days afterwards  and  at Calais 
the prisoner came on board the packet ship in which I returned  and
made the voyage with me  

 At what hour did he come on board  

 At a little after midnight  

 In the dead of the night   Was he the only passenger who came on
board at that untimely hour  

 He happened to be the only one  

 Never mind about  happening   Mr  Lorry   He was the only passenger
who came on board in the dead of the night  

 He was  

 Were you travelling alone  Mr  Lorry  or with any companion  

 With two companions   A gentleman and lady   They are here  

 They are here   Had you any conversation with the prisoner  

 Hardly any   The weather was stormy  and the passage long and rough 
and I lay on a sofa  almost from shore to shore  

 Miss Manette  

The young lady  to whom all eyes had been turned before  and were now
turned again  stood up where she had sat   Her father rose with her 
and kept her hand drawn through his arm 

 Miss Manette  look upon the prisoner  

To be confronted with such pity  and such earnest youth and beauty 
was far more trying to the accused than to be confronted with all the
crowd   Standing  as it were  apart with her on the edge of his grave 
not all the staring curiosity that looked on  could  for the moment 
nerve him to remain quite still   His hurried right hand parcelled
out the herbs before him into imaginary beds of flowers in a garden 
and his efforts to control and steady his breathing shook the lips
from which the colour rushed to his heart   The buzz of the great
flies was loud again 

 Miss Manette  have you seen the prisoner before  

 Yes  sir  

 Where  

 On board of the packet ship just now referred to  sir  and on the
same occasion  

 You are the young lady just now referred to  

 O  most unhappily  I am  

The plaintive tone of her compassion merged into the less musical
voice of the Judge  as he said something fiercely   Answer the
questions put to you  and make no remark upon them  

 Miss Manette  had you any conversation with the prisoner on that
passage across the Channel  

 Yes  sir  

 Recall it  

In the midst of a profound stillness  she faintly began    When the
gentleman came on board   

 Do you mean the prisoner   inquired the Judge  knitting his brows 

 Yes  my Lord  

 Then say the prisoner  

 When the prisoner came on board  he noticed that my father   turning
her eyes lovingly to him as he stood beside her   was much fatigued
and in a very weak state of health   My father was so reduced that I
was afraid to take him out of the air  and I had made a bed for him
on the deck near the cabin steps  and I sat on the deck at his side
to take care of him   There were no other passengers that night  but
we four   The prisoner was so good as to beg permission to advise me
how I could shelter my father from the wind and weather  better than
I had done   I had not known how to do it well  not understanding how
the wind would set when we were out of the harbour   He did it for me 
He expressed great gentleness and kindness for my father s state  and
I am sure he felt it   That was the manner of our beginning to speak
together  

 Let me interrupt you for a moment   Had he come on board alone  

 No  

 How many were with him  

 Two French gentlemen  

 Had they conferred together  

 They had conferred together until the last moment  when it was
necessary for the French gentlemen to be landed in their boat  

 Had any papers been handed about among them  similar to these lists  

 Some papers had been handed about among them  but I don t know what
papers  

 Like these in shape and size  

 Possibly  but indeed I don t know  although they stood whispering
very near to me   because they stood at the top of the cabin steps to
have the light of the lamp that was hanging there  it was a dull lamp 
and they spoke very low  and I did not hear what they said  and saw
only that they looked at papers  

 Now  to the prisoner s conversation  Miss Manette  

 The prisoner was as open in his confidence with me  which arose out
of my helpless situation  as he was kind  and good  and useful to my
father   I hope   bursting into tears   I may not repay him by doing
him harm to day  

Buzzing from the blue flies 

 Miss Manette  if the prisoner does not perfectly understand that you
give the evidence which it is your duty to give  which you must give  
and which you cannot escape from giving  with great unwillingness 
he is the only person present in that condition   Please to go on  

 He told me that he was travelling on business of a delicate and
difficult nature  which might get people into trouble  and that he
was therefore travelling under an assumed name   He said that this
business had  within a few days  taken him to France  and might 
at intervals  take him backwards and forwards between France and
England for a long time to come  

 Did he say anything about America  Miss Manette   Be particular  

 He tried to explain to me how that quarrel had arisen  and he said that 
so far as he could judge  it was a wrong and foolish one on England s
part   He added  in a jesting way  that perhaps George Washington
might gain almost as great a name in history as George the Third 
But there was no harm in his way of saying this   it was said laughingly 
and to beguile the time  

Any strongly marked expression of face on the part of a chief actor
in a scene of great interest to whom many eyes are directed  will be
unconsciously imitated by the spectators   Her forehead was painfully
anxious and intent as she gave this evidence  and  in the pauses when
she stopped for the Judge to write it down  watched its effect upon
the counsel for and against   Among the lookers on there was the same
expression in all quarters of the court  insomuch  that a great
majority of the foreheads there  might have been mirrors reflecting
the witness  when the Judge looked up from his notes to glare at that
tremendous heresy about George Washington 

Mr  Attorney General now signified to my Lord  that he deemed it
necessary  as a matter of precaution and form  to call the young
lady s father  Doctor Manette   Who was called accordingly 

 Doctor Manette  look upon the prisoner   Have you ever seen him before  

 Once   When he called at my lodgings in London   Some three years  or
three years and a half ago  

 Can you identify him as your fellow passenger on board the packet 
or speak to his conversation with your daughter  

 Sir  I can do neither  

 Is there any particular and special reason for your being unable to
do either  

He answered  in a low voice   There is  

 Has it been your misfortune to undergo a long imprisonment  without
trial  or even accusation  in your native country  Doctor Manette  

He answered  in a tone that went to every heart   A long imprisonment  

 Were you newly released on the occasion in question  

 They tell me so  

 Have you no remembrance of the occasion  

 None   My mind is a blank  from some time  I cannot even say what time  
when I employed myself  in my captivity  in making shoes 
to the time when I found myself living in London with my dear
daughter here   She had become familiar to me  when a gracious God
restored my faculties  but  I am quite unable even to say how she
had become familiar   I have no remembrance of the process  

Mr  Attorney General sat down  and the father and daughter sat down
together 

A singular circumstance then arose in the case   The object in hand
being to show that the prisoner went down  with some fellow plotter
untracked  in the Dover mail on that Friday night in November five
years ago  and got out of the mail in the night  as a blind  at a
place where he did not remain  but from which he travelled back some
dozen miles or more  to a garrison and dockyard  and there collected
information  a witness was called to identify him as having been at
the precise time required  in the coffee room of an hotel in that
garrison and dockyard town  waiting for another person   The prisoner s
counsel was cross examining this witness with no result  except that
he had never seen the prisoner on any other occasion  when the wigged
gentleman who had all this time been looking at the ceiling of the
court  wrote a word or two on a little piece of paper  screwed it up 
and tossed it to him   Opening this piece of paper in the next pause 
the counsel looked with great attention and curiosity at the prisoner 

 You say again you are quite sure that it was the prisoner  

The witness was quite sure 

 Did you ever see anybody very like the prisoner  

Not so like  the witness said  as that he could be mistaken 

 Look well upon that gentleman  my learned friend there   pointing to
him who had tossed the paper over   and then look well upon the prisoner 
How say you   Are they very like each other  

Allowing for my learned friend s appearance being careless and
slovenly if not debauched  they were sufficiently like each other to
surprise  not only the witness  but everybody present  when they were
thus brought into comparison   My Lord being prayed to bid my learned
friend lay aside his wig  and giving no very gracious consent  the
likeness became much more remarkable   My Lord inquired of Mr  Stryver
 the prisoner s counsel   whether they were next to try Mr  Carton
 name of my learned friend  for treason   But  Mr  Stryver replied to
my Lord  no  but he would ask the witness to tell him whether what
happened once  might happen twice  whether he would have been so
confident if he had seen this illustration of his rashness sooner 
whether he would be so confident  having seen it  and more 
The upshot of which  was  to smash this witness like a crockery vessel 
and shiver his part of the case to useless lumber 

Mr  Cruncher had by this time taken quite a lunch of rust off his
fingers in his following of the evidence   He had now to attend while
Mr  Stryver fitted the prisoner s case on the jury  like a compact
suit of clothes  showing them how the patriot  Barsad  was a hired spy
and traitor  an unblushing trafficker in blood  and one of the greatest
scoundrels upon earth since accursed Judas  which he certainly did
look rather like   How the virtuous servant  Cly  was his friend and
partner  and was worthy to be  how the watchful eyes of those forgers
and false swearers had rested on the prisoner as a victim  because
some family affairs in France  he being of French extraction  did
require his making those passages across the Channel  though what
those affairs were  a consideration for others who were near and dear
to him  forbade him  even for his life  to disclose   How the evidence
that had been warped and wrested from the young lady  whose anguish in
giving it they had witnessed  came to nothing  involving the mere
little innocent gallantries and politenesses likely to pass between
any young gentleman and young lady so thrown together   with the
exception of that reference to George Washington  which was altogether
too extravagant and impossible to be regarded in any other light than
as a monstrous joke   How it would be a weakness in the government to
break down in this attempt to practise for popularity on the lowest
national antipathies and fears  and therefore Mr  Attorney General had
made the most of it  how  nevertheless  it rested upon nothing  save
that vile and infamous character of evidence too often disfiguring
such cases  and of which the State Trials of this country were full 
But  there my Lord interposed  with as grave a face as if it had not
been true   saying that he could not sit upon that Bench and suffer
those allusions 

Mr  Stryver then called his few witnesses  and Mr  Cruncher had next
to attend while Mr  Attorney General turned the whole suit of clothes
Mr  Stryver had fitted on the jury  inside out  showing how Barsad and
Cly were even a hundred times better than he had thought them  and the
prisoner a hundred times worse   Lastly  came my Lord himself  turning
the suit of clothes  now inside out  now outside in  but on the whole
decidedly trimming and shaping them into grave clothes for the
prisoner 

And now  the jury turned to consider  and the great flies swarmed again 

Mr  Carton  who had so long sat looking at the ceiling of the court 
changed neither his place nor his attitude  even in this excitement 
While his teamed friend  Mr  Stryver  massing his papers before him 
whispered with those who sat near  and from time to time glanced
anxiously at the jury  while all the spectators moved more or less 
and grouped themselves anew  while even my Lord himself arose from his
seat  and slowly paced up and down his platform  not unattended by a
suspicion in the minds of the audience that his state was feverish 
this one man sat leaning back  with his torn gown half off him  his
untidy wig put on just as it had happened to fight on his head after
its removal  his hands in his pockets  and his eyes on the ceiling as
they had been all day   Something especially reckless in his demeanour 
not only gave him a disreputable look  but so diminished the strong
resemblance he undoubtedly bore to the prisoner  which his momentary
earnestness  when they were compared together  had strengthened  
that many of the lookers on  taking note of him now  said to one
another they would hardly have thought the two were so alike 
Mr  Cruncher made the observation to his next neighbour  and added 
 I d hold half a guinea that  he  don t get no law work to do 
Don t look like the sort of one to get any  do he  

Yet  this Mr  Carton took in more of the details of the scene than he
appeared to take in  for now  when Miss Manette s head dropped upon
her father s breast  he was the first to see it  and to say audibly 
 Officer  look to that young lady   Help the gentleman to take her out 
Don t you see she will fall  

There was much commiseration for her as she was removed  and much
sympathy with her father   It had evidently been a great distress to
him  to have the days of his imprisonment recalled   He had shown
strong internal agitation when he was questioned  and that pondering
or brooding look which made him old  had been upon him  like a heavy
cloud  ever since   As he passed out  the jury  who had turned back
and paused a moment  spoke  through their foreman 

They were not agreed  and wished to retire   My Lord  perhaps with
George Washington on his mind  showed some surprise that they were not
agreed  but signified his pleasure that they should retire under watch
and ward  and retired himself   The trial had lasted all day  and the
lamps in the court were now being lighted   It began to be rumoured
that the jury would be out a long while   The spectators dropped off
to get refreshment  and the prisoner withdrew to the back of the dock 
and sat down 

Mr  Lorry  who had gone out when the young lady and her father went out 
now reappeared  and beckoned to Jerry   who  in the slackened interest 
could easily get near him 

 Jerry  if you wish to take something to eat  you can   But  keep in
the way   You will be sure to hear when the jury come in   Don t be a
moment behind them  for I want you to take the verdict back to the bank 
You are the quickest messenger I know  and will get to Temple Bar long
before I can  

Jerry had just enough forehead to knuckle  and he knuckled it in
acknowledgment of this communication and a shilling   Mr  Carton came
up at the moment  and touched Mr  Lorry on the arm 

 How is the young lady  

 She is greatly distressed  but her father is comforting her  and she
feels the better for being out of court  

 I ll tell the prisoner so   It won t do for a respectable bank
gentleman like you  to be seen speaking to him publicly  you know  

Mr  Lorry reddened as if he were conscious of having debated the point
in his mind  and Mr  Carton made his way to the outside of the bar 
The way out of court lay in that direction  and Jerry followed him 
all eyes  ears  and spikes 

 Mr  Darnay  

The prisoner came forward directly 

 You will naturally be anxious to hear of the witness  Miss Manette 
She will do very well   You have seen the worst of her agitation  

 I am deeply sorry to have been the cause of it   Could you tell her
so for me  with my fervent acknowledgments  

 Yes  I could   I will  if you ask it  

Mr  Carton s manner was so careless as to be almost insolent   He stood 
half turned from the prisoner  lounging with his elbow against the bar 

 I do ask it   Accept my cordial thanks  

 What   said Carton  still only half turned towards him   do you
expect  Mr  Darnay  

 The worst  

 It s the wisest thing to expect  and the likeliest   But I think
their withdrawing is in your favour  

Loitering on the way out of court not being allowed  Jerry heard no
more   but left them  so like each other in feature  so unlike each
other in manner  standing side by side  both reflected in the glass
above them 

An hour and a half limped heavily away in the thief and rascal crowded
passages below  even though assisted off with mutton pies and ale 
The hoarse messenger  uncomfortably seated on a form after taking that
refection  had dropped into a doze  when a loud murmur and a rapid
tide of people setting up the stairs that led to the court  carried
him along with them 

 Jerry   Jerry    Mr  Lorry was already calling at the door when
he got there 

 Here  sir   It s a fight to get back again   Here I am  sir  

Mr  Lorry handed him a paper through the throng 
 Quick   Have you got it  

 Yes  sir  

Hastily written on the paper was the word  AQUITTED  

 If you had sent the message   Recalled to Life   again   muttered
Jerry  as he turned   I should have known what you meant  this time  

He had no opportunity of saying  or so much as thinking  anything
else  until he was clear of the Old Bailey  for  the crowd came
pouring out with a vehemence that nearly took him off his legs  and a
loud buzz swept into the street as if the baffled blue flies were
dispersing in search of other carrion 



IV

Congratulatory


From the dimly lighted passages of the court  the last sediment of the
human stew that had been boiling there all day  was straining off 
when Doctor Manette  Lucie Manette  his daughter  Mr  Lorry  the
solicitor for the defence  and its counsel  Mr  Stryver  stood
gathered round Mr  Charles Darnay  just released  congratulating him
on his escape from death 

It would have been difficult by a far brighter light  to recognise in
Doctor Manette  intellectual of face and upright of bearing  the
shoemaker of the garret in Paris   Yet  no one could have looked at
him twice  without looking again   even though the opportunity of
observation had not extended to the mournful cadence of his low grave
voice  and to the abstraction that overclouded him fitfully  without
any apparent reason   While one external cause  and that a reference
to his long lingering agony  would always  as on the trial  evoke this
condition from the depths of his soul  it was also in its nature to
arise of itself  and to draw a gloom over him  as incomprehensible to
those unacquainted with his story as if they had seen the shadow of
the actual Bastille thrown upon him by a summer sun  when the
substance was three hundred miles away 

Only his daughter had the power of charming this black brooding from
his mind   She was the golden thread that united him to a Past beyond
his misery  and to a Present beyond his misery   and the sound of her
voice  the light of her face  the touch of her hand  had a strong
beneficial influence with him almost always   Not absolutely always 
for she could recall some occasions on which her power had failed 
but they were few and slight  and she believed them over 

Mr  Darnay had kissed her hand fervently and gratefully  and had
turned to Mr  Stryver  whom he warmly thanked   Mr  Stryver  a man of
little more than thirty  but looking twenty years older than he was 
stout  loud  red  bluff  and free from any drawback of delicacy 
had a pushing way of shouldering himself  morally and physically 
into companies and conversations  that argued well for his shouldering
his way up in life 

He still had his wig and gown on  and he said  squaring himself at his
late client to that degree that he squeezed the innocent Mr  Lorry
clean out of the group    I am glad to have brought you off with honour 
Mr  Darnay   It was an infamous prosecution  grossly infamous 
but not the less likely to succeed on that account  

 You have laid me under an obligation to you for life  in two senses  
said his late client  taking his hand 

 I have done my best for you  Mr  Darnay  and my best is as good as
another man s  I believe  

It clearly being incumbent on some one to say   Much better   Mr  Lorry
said it  perhaps not quite disinterestedly  but with the interested
object of squeezing himself back again 

 You think so   said Mr  Stryver    Well  you have been present all day 
and you ought to know   You are a man of business  too  

 And as such   quoth Mr  Lorry  whom the counsel learned in the law
had now shouldered back into the group  just as he had previously
shouldered him out of it   as such I will appeal to Doctor Manette 
to break up this conference and order us all to our homes 
Miss Lucie looks ill  Mr  Darnay has had a terrible day  we are worn out  

 Speak for yourself  Mr  Lorry   said Stryver   I have a night s work
to do yet   Speak for yourself  

 I speak for myself   answered Mr  Lorry   and for Mr  Darnay  and for
Miss Lucie  and  Miss Lucie  do you not think I may speak for us all  
He asked her the question pointedly  and with a glance at her father 

His face had become frozen  as it were  in a very curious look at
Darnay   an intent look  deepening into a frown of dislike and distrust 
not even unmixed with fear   With this strange expression on him his
thoughts had wandered away 

 My father   said Lucie  softly laying her hand on his 

He slowly shook the shadow off  and turned to her 

 Shall we go home  my father  

With a long breath  he answered  Yes  

The friends of the acquitted prisoner had dispersed  under the
impression  which he himself had originated  that he would not be
released that night   The lights were nearly all extinguished in the
passages  the iron gates were being closed with a jar and a rattle 
and the dismal place was deserted until to morrow morning s interest
of gallows  pillory  whipping post  and branding iron  should repeople
it   Walking between her father and Mr  Darnay  Lucie Manette passed
into the open air   A hackney coach was called  and the father and
daughter departed in it 

Mr  Stryver had left them in the passages  to shoulder his way back
to the robing room   Another person  who had not joined the group 
or interchanged a word with any one of them  but who had been leaning
against the wall where its shadow was darkest  had silently strolled
out after the rest  and had looked on until the coach drove away 
He now stepped up to where Mr  Lorry and Mr  Darnay stood upon the
pavement 

 So  Mr  Lorry   Men of business may speak to Mr  Darnay now  

Nobody had made any acknowledgment of Mr  Carton s part in the day s
proceedings  nobody had known of it   He was unrobed  and was none
the better for it in appearance 

 If you knew what a conflict goes on in the business mind  when the
business mind is divided between good natured impulse and business
appearances  you would be amused  Mr  Darnay  

Mr  Lorry reddened  and said  warmly   You have mentioned that before 
sir   We men of business  who serve a House  are not our own masters 
We have to think of the House more than ourselves  

  I  know   I  know   rejoined Mr  Carton  carelessly    Don t be
nettled  Mr  Lorry   You are as good as another  I have no doubt 
better  I dare say  

 And indeed  sir   pursued Mr  Lorry  not minding him   I really
don t know what you have to do with the matter   If you ll excuse me 
as very much your elder  for saying so  I really don t know that it is
your business  

 Business   Bless you   I  have no business   said Mr  Carton 

 It is a pity you have not  sir  

 I think so  too  

 If you had   pursued Mr  Lorry   perhaps you would attend to it  

 Lord love you  no   I shouldn t   said Mr  Carton 

 Well  sir   cried Mr  Lorry  thoroughly heated by his indifference 
 business is a very good thing  and a very respectable thing   And  sir 
if business imposes its restraints and its silences and impediments 
Mr  Darnay as a young gentleman of generosity knows how to make allowance
for that circumstance   Mr  Darnay  good night  God bless you  sir 
I hope you have been this day preserved for a prosperous and happy
life   Chair there  

Perhaps a little angry with himself  as well as with the barrister 
Mr  Lorry bustled into the chair  and was carried off to Tellson s 
Carton  who smelt of port wine  and did not appear to be quite sober 
laughed then  and turned to Darnay 

 This is a strange chance that throws you and me together   This must
be a strange night to you  standing alone here with your counterpart
on these street stones  

 I hardly seem yet   returned Charles Darnay   to belong to this world
again  

 I don t wonder at it  it s not so long since you were pretty far
advanced on your way to another   You speak faintly  

 I begin to think I  am  faint  

 Then why the devil don t you dine   I dined  myself  while those
numskulls were deliberating which world you should belong to  this 
or some other   Let me show you the nearest tavern to dine well at  

Drawing his arm through his own  he took him down Ludgate hill to
Fleet street  and so  up a covered way  into a tavern   Here  they
were shown into a little room  where Charles Darnay was soon recruiting
his strength with a good plain dinner and good wine   while Carton sat
opposite to him at the same table  with his separate bottle of port
before him  and his fully half insolent manner upon him 

 Do you feel  yet  that you belong to this terrestrial scheme again 
Mr  Darnay  

 I am frightfully confused regarding time and place  but I am so far
mended as to feel that  

 It must be an immense satisfaction  

He said it bitterly  and filled up his glass again   which was a large one 

 As to me  the greatest desire I have  is to forget that I belong to
it   It has no good in it for me  except wine like this  nor I for it 
So we are not much alike in that particular   Indeed  I begin to think
we are not much alike in any particular  you and I  

Confused by the emotion of the day  and feeling his being there with
this Double of coarse deportment  to be like a dream  Charles Darnay
was at a loss how to answer  finally  answered not at all 

 Now your dinner is done   Carton presently said   why don t you call
a health  Mr  Darnay  why don t you give your toast  

 What health   What toast  

 Why  it s on the tip of your tongue   It ought to be  it must be 
I ll swear it s there  

 Miss Manette  then  

 Miss Manette  then  

Looking his companion full in the face while he drank the toast 
Carton flung his glass over his shoulder against the wall  where it
shivered to pieces  then  rang the bell  and ordered in another 

 That s a fair young lady to hand to a coach in the dark  Mr  Darnay  
he said  ruing his new goblet 

A slight frown and a laconic  Yes   were the answer 

 That s a fair young lady to be pitied by and wept for by   How does it
feel   Is it worth being tried for one s life  to be the object of such
sympathy and compassion  Mr  Darnay  

Again Darnay answered not a word 

 She was mightily pleased to have your message  when I gave it her 
Not that she showed she was pleased  but I suppose she was  

The allusion served as a timely reminder to Darnay that this
disagreeable companion had  of his own free will  assisted him in the
strait of the day   He turned the dialogue to that point  and thanked
him for it 

 I neither want any thanks  nor merit any   was the careless rejoinder 
 It was nothing to do  in the first place  and I don t know why I did it 
in the second   Mr  Darnay  let me ask you a question  

 Willingly  and a small return for your good offices  

 Do you think I particularly like you  

 Really  Mr  Carton   returned the other  oddly disconcerted   I have
not asked myself the question  

 But ask yourself the question now  

 You have acted as if you do  but I don t think you do  

  I  don t think I do   said Carton    I begin to have a very good
opinion of your understanding  

 Nevertheless   pursued Darnay  rising to ring the bell   there is
nothing in that  I hope  to prevent my calling the reckoning  and our
parting without ill blood on either side  

Carton rejoining   Nothing in life   Darnay rang    Do you call the
whole reckoning   said Carton   On his answering in the affirmative 
 Then bring me another pint of this same wine  drawer  and come and
wake me at ten  

The bill being paid  Charles Darnay rose and wished him good night 
Without returning the wish  Carton rose too  with something of a
threat of defiance in his manner  and said   A last word  Mr  Darnay 
you think I am drunk  

 I think you have been drinking  Mr  Carton  

 Think   You know I have been drinking  

 Since I must say so  I know it  

 Then you shall likewise know why   I am a disappointed drudge  sir 
I care for no man on earth  and no man on earth cares for me  

 Much to be regretted   You might have used your talents better  

 May be so  Mr  Darnay  may be not   Don t let your sober face elate you 
however  you don t know what it may come to   Good night  

When he was left alone  this strange being took up a candle  went to a
glass that hung against the wall  and surveyed himself minutely in it 

 Do you particularly like the man   he muttered  at his own image 
 why should you particularly like a man who resembles you   There is
nothing in you to like  you know that   Ah  confound you   What a
change you have made in yourself   A good reason for taking to a man 
that he shows you what you have fallen away from  and what you might
have been   Change places with him  and would you have been looked at
by those blue eyes as he was  and commiserated by that agitated face
as he was   Come on  and have it out in plain words   You hate the fellow  

He resorted to his pint of wine for consolation  drank it all in a
few minutes  and fell asleep on his arms  with his hair straggling
over the table  and a long winding sheet in the candle dripping down
upon him 



V

The Jackal


Those were drinking days  and most men drank hard   So very great is
the improvement Time has brought about in such habits  that a moderate
statement of the quantity of wine and punch which one man would swallow
in the course of a night  without any detriment to his reputation as a
perfect gentleman  would seem  in these days  a ridiculous exaggeration 
The learned profession of the law was certainly not behind any other
learned profession in its Bacchanalian propensities  neither was
Mr  Stryver  already fast shouldering his way to a large and lucrative
practice  behind his compeers in this particular  any more than in the
drier parts of the legal race 

A favourite at the Old Bailey  and eke at the Sessions  Mr  Stryver
had begun cautiously to hew away the lower staves of the ladder on
which he mounted   Sessions and Old Bailey had now to summon their
favourite  specially  to their longing arms  and shouldering itself
towards the visage of the Lord Chief Justice in the Court of King s
Bench  the florid countenance of Mr  Stryver might be daily seen 
bursting out of the bed of wigs  like a great sunflower pushing its
way at the sun from among a rank garden full of flaring companions 

It had once been noted at the Bar  that while Mr  Stryver was a glib
man  and an unscrupulous  and a ready  and a bold  he had not that
faculty of extracting the essence from a heap of statements  which is
among the most striking and necessary of the advocate s accomplishments 
But  a remarkable improvement came upon him as to this   The more
business he got  the greater his power seemed to grow of getting at
its pith and marrow  and however late at night he sat carousing with
Sydney Carton  he always had his points at his fingers  ends in the
morning 

Sydney Carton  idlest and most unpromising of men  was Stryver s great
ally   What the two drank together  between Hilary Term and Michaelmas 
might have floated a king s ship   Stryver never had a case in hand 
anywhere  but Carton was there  with his hands in his pockets  staring
at the ceiling of the court  they went the same Circuit  and even there
they prolonged their usual orgies late into the night  and Carton was
rumoured to be seen at broad day  going home stealthily and unsteadily
to his lodgings  like a dissipated cat   At last  it began to get about 
among such as were interested in the matter  that although Sydney Carton
would never be a lion  he was an amazingly good jackal  and that he
rendered suit and service to Stryver in that humble capacity 

 Ten o clock  sir   said the man at the tavern  whom he had charged to
wake him   ten o clock  sir  

  What s  the matter  

 Ten o clock  sir  

 What do you mean   Ten o clock at night  

 Yes  sir   Your honour told me to call you  

 Oh   I remember   Very well  very well  

After a few dull efforts to get to sleep again  which the man dexterously
combated by stirring the fire continuously for five minutes  he got up 
tossed his hat on  and walked out   He turned into the Temple  and 
having revived himself by twice pacing the pavements of King s Bench walk
and Paper buildings  turned into the Stryver chambers 

The Stryver clerk  who never assisted at these conferences  had gone home 
and the Stryver principal opened the door   He had his slippers on 
and a loose bed gown  and his throat was bare for his greater ease 
He had that rather wild  strained  seared marking about the eyes 
which may be observed in all free livers of his class  from the portrait
of Jeffries downward  and which can be traced  under various disguises
of Art  through the portraits of every Drinking Age 

 You are a little late  Memory   said Stryver 

 About the usual time  it may be a quarter of an hour later  

They went into a dingy room lined with books and littered with papers 
where there was a blazing fire   A kettle steamed upon the hob  and in
the midst of the wreck of papers a table shone  with plenty of wine
upon it  and brandy  and rum  and sugar  and lemons 

 You have had your bottle  I perceive  Sydney  

 Two to night  I think   I have been dining with the day s client 
or seeing him dine  it s all one  

 That was a rare point  Sydney  that you brought to bear upon the
identification   How did you come by it   When did it strike you  

 I thought he was rather a handsome fellow  and I thought I should
have been much the same sort of fellow  if I had had any luck  

Mr  Stryver laughed till he shook his precocious paunch 

 You and your luck  Sydney   Get to work  get to work  

Sullenly enough  the jackal loosened his dress  went into an adjoining
room  and came back with a large jug of cold water  a basin  and a towel
or two   Steeping the towels in the water  and partially wringing them
out  he folded them on his head in a manner hideous to behold  sat down
at the table  and said   Now I am ready  

 Not much boiling down to be done to night  Memory   said Mr  Stryver 
gaily  as he looked among his papers 

 How much  

 Only two sets of them  

 Give me the worst first  

 There they are  Sydney   Fire away  

The lion then composed himself on his back on a sofa on one side of
the drinking table  while the jackal sat at his own paper bestrewn
table proper  on the other side of it  with the bottles and glasses
ready to his hand   Both resorted to the drinking table without
stint  but each in a different way  the lion for the most part
reclining with his hands in his waistband  looking at the fire  or
occasionally flirting with some lighter document  the jackal  with
knitted brows and intent face  so deep in his task  that his eyes did
not even follow the hand he stretched out for his glass  which often
groped about  for a minute or more  before it found the glass for his
lips   Two or three times  the matter in hand became so knotty  that
the jackal found it imperative on him to get up  and steep his towels
anew   From these pilgrimages to the jug and basin  he returned with
such eccentricities of damp headgear as no words can describe  which
were made the more ludicrous by his anxious gravity 

At length the jackal had got together a compact repast for the lion 
and proceeded to offer it to him   The lion took it with care and
caution  made his selections from it  and his remarks upon it 
and the jackal assisted both   When the repast was fully discussed 
the lion put his hands in his waistband again  and lay down to mediate 
The jackal then invigorated himself with a bum for his throttle 
and a fresh application to his head  and applied himself to the
collection of a second meal  this was administered to the lion in the
same manner  and was not disposed of until the clocks struck three in
the morning 

 And now we have done  Sydney  fill a bumper of punch   said Mr  Stryver 

The jackal removed the towels from his head  which had been steaming
again  shook himself  yawned  shivered  and complied 

 You were very sound  Sydney  in the matter of those crown witnesses
to day   Every question told  

 I always am sound  am I not  

 I don t gainsay it   What has roughened your temper 
Put some punch to it and smooth it again  

With a deprecatory grunt  the jackal again complied 

 The old Sydney Carton of old Shrewsbury School   said Stryver 
nodding his head over him as he reviewed him in the present and the
past   the old seesaw Sydney   Up one minute and down the next  now
in spirits and now in despondency  

 Ah   returned the other  sighing    yes   The same Sydney  with the
same luck   Even then  I did exercises for other boys  and seldom did
my own  

 And why not  

 God knows   It was my way  I suppose  

He sat  with his hands in his pockets and his legs stretched out
before him  looking at the fire 

 Carton   said his friend  squaring himself at him with a bullying
air  as if the fire grate had been the furnace in which sustained
endeavour was forged  and the one delicate thing to be done for the
old Sydney Carton of old Shrewsbury School was to shoulder him into it 
 your way is  and always was  a lame way   You summon no energy and
purpose   Look at me  

 Oh  botheration   returned Sydney  with a lighter and more good 
humoured laugh   don t  you  be moral  

 How have I done what I have done   said Stryver   how do I do what I do  

 Partly through paying me to help you  I suppose   But it s not worth
your while to apostrophise me  or the air  about it  what you want to
do  you do   You were always in the front rank  and I was always behind  

 I had to get into the front rank  I was not born there  was I  

 I was not present at the ceremony  but my opinion is you were   said
Carton   At this  he laughed again  and they both laughed 

 Before Shrewsbury  and at Shrewsbury  and ever since Shrewsbury  
pursued Carton   you have fallen into your rank  and I have fallen
into mine   Even when we were fellow students in the Student Quarter
of Paris  picking up French  and French law  and other French crumbs
that we didn t get much good of  you were always somewhere  and I was
always nowhere  

 And whose fault was that  

 Upon my soul  I am not sure that it was not yours   You were always
driving and riving and shouldering and passing  to that restless
degree that I had no chance for my life but in rust and repose   It s
a gloomy thing  however  to talk about one s own past  with the day
breaking   Turn me in some other direction before I go  

 Well then   Pledge me to the pretty witness   said Stryver  holding
up his glass    Are you turned in a pleasant direction  

Apparently not  for he became gloomy again 

 Pretty witness   he muttered  looking down into his glass    I have
had enough of witnesses to day and to night  who s your pretty
witness  

 The picturesque doctor s daughter  Miss Manette  

  She  pretty  

 Is she not  

 No  

 Why  man alive  she was the admiration of the whole Court  

 Rot the admiration of the whole Court   Who made the Old Bailey a
judge of beauty   She was a golden haired doll  

 Do you know  Sydney   said Mr  Stryver  looking at him with sharp
eyes  and slowly drawing a hand across his florid face    do you know 
I rather thought  at the time  that you sympathised with the
golden haired doll  and were quick to see what happened to the
golden haired doll  

 Quick to see what happened   If a girl  doll or no doll  swoons
within a yard or two of a man s nose  he can see it without a
perspective glass   I pledge you  but I deny the beauty 
And now I ll have no more drink  I ll get to bed  

When his host followed him out on the staircase with a candle 
to light him down the stairs  the day was coldly looking in through
its grimy windows   When he got out of the house  the air was cold
and sad  the dull sky overcast  the river dark and dim  the whole
scene like a lifeless desert   And wreaths of dust were spinning
round and round before the morning blast  as if the desert sand had
risen far away  and the first spray of it in its advance had begun to
overwhelm the city 

Waste forces within him  and a desert all around  this man stood
still on his way across a silent terrace  and saw for a moment 
lying in the wilderness before him  a mirage of honourable ambition 
self denial  and perseverance   In the fair city of this vision 
there were airy galleries from which the loves and graces looked upon
him  gardens in which the fruits of life hung ripening  waters of Hope
that sparkled in his sight   A moment  and it was gone   Climbing to
a high chamber in a well of houses  he threw himself down in his
clothes on a neglected bed  and its pillow was wet with wasted tears 

Sadly  sadly  the sun rose  it rose upon no sadder sight than the man
of good abilities and good emotions  incapable of their directed
exercise  incapable of his own help and his own happiness  sensible
of the blight on him  and resigning himself to let it eat him away 



VI

Hundreds of People


The quiet lodgings of Doctor Manette were in a quiet street corner
not far from Soho square   On the afternoon of a certain fine Sunday
when the waves of four months had roiled over the trial for treason 
and carried it  as to the public interest and memory  far out to sea 
Mr  Jarvis Lorry walked along the sunny streets from Clerkenwell
where he lived  on his way to dine with the Doctor   After several
relapses into business absorption  Mr  Lorry had become the Doctor s
friend  and the quiet street corner was the sunny part of his life 

On this certain fine Sunday  Mr  Lorry walked towards Soho  early in
the afternoon  for three reasons of habit   Firstly  because  on fine
Sundays  he often walked out  before dinner  with the Doctor and Lucie 
secondly  because  on unfavourable Sundays  he was accustomed to be
with them as the family friend  talking  reading  looking out of window 
and generally getting through the day  thirdly  because he happened
to have his own little shrewd doubts to solve  and knew how the ways
of the Doctor s household pointed to that time as a likely time for
solving them 

A quainter corner than the corner where the Doctor lived  was not to
be found in London   There was no way through it  and the front windows
of the Doctor s lodgings commanded a pleasant little vista of street
that had a congenial air of retirement on it   There were few buildings
then  north of the Oxford road  and forest trees flourished  and wild
flowers grew  and the hawthorn blossomed  in the now vanished fields 
As a consequence  country airs circulated in Soho with vigorous freedom 
instead of languishing into the parish like stray paupers without a
settlement  and there was many a good south wall  not far off  on which
the peaches ripened in their season 

The summer light struck into the corner brilliantly in the earlier
part of the day  but  when the streets grew hot  the corner was in
shadow  though not in shadow so remote but that you could see beyond
it into a glare of brightness   It was a cool spot  staid but cheerful 
a wonderful place for echoes  and a very harbour from the raging streets 

There ought to have been a tranquil bark in such an anchorage  and
there was   The Doctor occupied two floors of a large stiff house 
where several callings purported to be pursued by day  but whereof
little was audible any day  and which was shunned by all of them at
night   In a building at the back  attainable by a courtyard where a
plane tree rustled its green leaves  church organs claimed to be
made  and silver to be chased  and likewise gold to be beaten by some
mysterious giant who had a golden arm starting out of the wall of the
front hall  as if he had beaten himself precious  and menaced a similar
conversion of all visitors   Very little of these trades  or of a
lonely lodger rumoured to live up stairs  or of a dim coach trimming
maker asserted to have a counting house below  was ever heard or seen 
Occasionally  a stray workman putting his coat on  traversed the
hall  or a stranger peered about there  or a distant clink was heard
across the courtyard  or a thump from the golden giant   These 
however  were only the exceptions required to prove the rule that the
sparrows in the plane tree behind the house  and the echoes in the
corner before it  had their own way from Sunday morning unto Saturday
night 

Doctor Manette received such patients here as his old reputation 
and its revival in the floating whispers of his story  brought him 
His scientific knowledge  and his vigilance and skill in conducting
ingenious experiments  brought him otherwise into moderate request 
and he earned as much as he wanted 

These things were within Mr  Jarvis Lorry s knowledge  thoughts  and
notice  when he rang the door bell of the tranquil house in the corner 
on the fine Sunday afternoon 

 Doctor Manette at home  

Expected home 

 Miss Lucie at home  

Expected home 

 Miss Pross at home  

Possibly at home  but of a certainty impossible for handmaid to anticipate
intentions of Miss Pross  as to admission or denial of the fact 

 As I am at home myself   said Mr  Lorry   I ll go upstairs  

Although the Doctor s daughter had known nothing of the country of
her birth  she appeared to have innately derived from it that ability
to make much of little means  which is one of its most useful and
most agreeable characteristics   Simple as the furniture was  it was
set off by so many little adornments  of no value but for their taste
and fancy  that its effect was delightful   The disposition of
everything in the rooms  from the largest object to the least  the
arrangement of colours  the elegant variety and contrast obtained by
thrift in trifles  by delicate hands  clear eyes  and good sense 
were at once so pleasant in themselves  and so expressive of their
originator  that  as Mr  Lorry stood looking about him  the very
chairs and tables seemed to ask him  with something of that peculiar
expression which he knew so well by this time  whether he approved 

There were three rooms on a floor  and  the doors by which they
communicated being put open that the air might pass freely through
them all  Mr  Lorry  smilingly observant of that fanciful resemblance
which he detected all around him  walked from one to another 
The first was the best room  and in it were Lucie s birds  and flowers 
and books  and desk  and work table  and box of water colours 
the second was the Doctor s consulting room  used also as the
dining room  the third  changingly speckled by the rustle of the
plane tree in the yard  was the Doctor s bedroom  and there  in a
corner  stood the disused shoemaker s bench and tray of tools 
much as it had stood on the fifth floor of the dismal house by the
wine shop  in the suburb of Saint Antoine in Paris 

 I wonder   said Mr  Lorry  pausing in his looking about   that he
keeps that reminder of his sufferings about him  

 And why wonder at that   was the abrupt inquiry that made him start 

It proceeded from Miss Pross  the wild red woman  strong of hand 
whose acquaintance he had first made at the Royal George Hotel at Dover 
and had since improved 

 I should have thought    Mr  Lorry began 

 Pooh   You d have thought   said Miss Pross  and Mr  Lorry left off 

 How do you do   inquired that lady then  sharply  and yet as if to
express that she bore him no malice 

 I am pretty well  I thank you   answered Mr  Lorry  with meekness 
 how are you  

 Nothing to boast of   said Miss Pross 

 Indeed  

 Ah  indeed   said Miss Pross    I am very much put out about my Ladybird  

 Indeed  

 For gracious sake say something else besides  indeed   or you ll
fidget me to death   said Miss Pross   whose character  dissociated
from stature  was shortness 

 Really  then   said Mr  Lorry  as an amendment 

 Really  is bad enough   returned Miss Pross   but better   Yes  I am
very much put out  

 May I ask the cause  

 I don t want dozens of people who are not at all worthy of Ladybird 
to come here looking after her   said Miss Pross 

  Do  dozens come for that purpose  

 Hundreds   said Miss Pross 

It was characteristic of this lady  as of some other people before her
time and since  that whenever her original proposition was questioned 
she exaggerated it 

 Dear me   said Mr  Lorry  as the safest remark he could think of 

 I have lived with the darling  or the darling has lived with me 
and paid me for it  which she certainly should never have done 
you may take your affidavit  if I could have afforded to keep either
myself or her for nothing  since she was ten years old   And it s
really very hard   said Miss Pross 

Not seeing with precision what was very hard  Mr  Lorry shook his head 
using that important part of himself as a sort of fairy cloak that
would fit anything 

 All sorts of people who are not in the least degree worthy of the pet 
are always turning up   said Miss Pross    When you began it   

  I  began it  Miss Pross  

 Didn t you   Who brought her father to life  

 Oh   If  that  was beginning it    said Mr  Lorry 

 It wasn t ending it  I suppose   I say  when you began it  it was hard
enough  not that I have any fault to find with Doctor Manette  except
that he is not worthy of such a daughter  which is no imputation on
him  for it was not to be expected that anybody should be  under any
circumstances   But it really is doubly and trebly hard to have crowds
and multitudes of people turning up after him  I could have forgiven him  
to take Ladybird s affections away from me  

Mr  Lorry knew Miss Pross to be very jealous  but he also knew her by
this time to be  beneath the service of her eccentricity  one of those
unselfish creatures  found only among women  who will  for pure love
and admiration  bind themselves willing slaves  to youth when they
have lost it  to beauty that they never had  to accomplishments that
they were never fortunate enough to gain  to bright hopes that never
shone upon their own sombre lives   He knew enough of the world to
know that there is nothing in it better than the faithful service of
the heart  so rendered and so free from any mercenary taint  he had
such an exalted respect for it  that in the retributive arrangements
made by his own mind  we all make such arrangements  more or less  
he stationed Miss Pross much nearer to the lower Angels than many
ladies immeasurably better got up both by Nature and Art  who had
balances at Tellson s 

 There never was  nor will be  but one man worthy of Ladybird   said
Miss Pross   and that was my brother Solomon  if he hadn t made a
mistake in life  

Here again   Mr  Lorry s inquiries into Miss Pross s personal history
had established the fact that her brother Solomon was a heartless
scoundrel who had stripped her of everything she possessed  as a
stake to speculate with  and had abandoned her in her poverty for
evermore  with no touch of compunction   Miss Pross s fidelity of
belief in Solomon  deducting a mere trifle for this slight mistake 
was quite a serious matter with Mr  Lorry  and had its weight in his
good opinion of her 

 As we happen to be alone for the moment  and are both people of
business   he said  when they had got back to the drawing room and
had sat down there in friendly relations   let me ask you  does the
Doctor  in talking with Lucie  never refer to the shoemaking time  yet  

 Never  

 And yet keeps that bench and those tools beside him  

 Ah   returned Miss Pross  shaking her head    But I don t say he
don t refer to it within himself  

 Do you believe that he thinks of it much  

 I do   said Miss Pross 

 Do you imagine    Mr  Lorry had begun  when Miss Pross took him up
short with 

 Never imagine anything   Have no imagination at all  

 I stand corrected  do you suppose  you go so far as to suppose 
sometimes  

 Now and then   said Miss Pross 

 Do you suppose   Mr  Lorry went on  with a laughing twinkle in his
bright eye  as it looked kindly at her   that Doctor Manette has any
theory of his own  preserved through all those years  relative to the
cause of his being so oppressed  perhaps  even to the name of his
oppressor  

 I don t suppose anything about it but what Ladybird tells me  

 And that is    

 That she thinks he has  

 Now don t be angry at my asking all these questions  because I am a
mere dull man of business  and you are a woman of business  

 Dull   Miss Pross inquired  with placidity 

Rather wishing his modest adjective away  Mr  Lorry replied   No  no 
no   Surely not   To return to business   Is it not remarkable that
Doctor Manette  unquestionably innocent of any crime as we are all
well assured he is  should never touch upon that question   I will not
say with me  though he had business relations with me many years ago 
and we are now intimate  I will say with the fair daughter to whom he
is so devotedly attached  and who is so devotedly attached to him 
Believe me  Miss Pross  I don t approach the topic with you  out of
curiosity  but out of zealous interest  

 Well   To the best of my understanding  and bad s the best 
you ll tell me   said Miss Pross  softened by the tone of the apology 
 he is afraid of the whole subject  

 Afraid  

 It s plain enough  I should think  why he may be   It s a dreadful
remembrance   Besides that  his loss of himself grew out of it 
Not knowing how he lost himself  or how he recovered himself  he may
never feel certain of not losing himself again   That alone wouldn t
make the subject pleasant  I should think  

It was a profounder remark than Mr  Lorry had looked for    True  
said he   and fearful to reflect upon   Yet  a doubt lurks in my mind 
Miss Pross  whether it is good for Doctor Manette to have that
suppression always shut up within him   Indeed  it is this doubt and
the uneasiness it sometimes causes me that has led me to our present
confidence  

 Can t be helped   said Miss Pross  shaking her head    Touch that
string  and he instantly changes for the worse   Better leave it
alone   In short  must leave it alone  like or no like   Sometimes 
he gets up in the dead of the night  and will be heard  by us
overhead there  walking up and down  walking up and down  in his room 
Ladybird has learnt to know then that his mind is walking up and
down  walking up and down  in his old prison   She hurries to him 
and they go on together  walking up and down  walking up and down 
until he is composed   But he never says a word of the true reason of
his restlessness  to her  and she finds it best not to hint at it to him 
In silence they go walking up and down together  walking up and down
together  till her love and company have brought him to himself  

Notwithstanding Miss Pross s denial of her own imagination  there was
a perception of the pain of being monotonously haunted by one sad idea 
in her repetition of the phrase  walking up and down  which testified
to her possessing such a thing 

The corner has been mentioned as a wonderful corner for echoes 
it had begun to echo so resoundingly to the tread of coming feet 
that it seemed as though the very mention of that weary pacing to and
fro had set it going 

 Here they are   said Miss Pross  rising to break up the conference 
 and now we shall have hundreds of people pretty soon  

It was such a curious corner in its acoustical properties  such a
peculiar Ear of a place  that as Mr  Lorry stood at the open window 
looking for the father and daughter whose steps he heard  he fancied
they would never approach   Not only would the echoes die away 
as though the steps had gone  but  echoes of other steps that never
came would be heard in their stead  and would die away for good when
they seemed close at hand   However  father and daughter did at last
appear  and Miss Pross was ready at the street door to receive them 

Miss Pross was a pleasant sight  albeit wild  and red  and grim  taking
off her darling s bonnet when she came up stairs  and touching it up
with the ends of her handkerchief  and blowing the dust off it  and
folding her mantle ready for laying by  and smoothing her rich hair
with as much pride as she could possibly have taken in her own hair
if she had been the vainest and handsomest of women   Her darling was
a pleasant sight too  embracing her and thanking her  and protesting
against her taking so much trouble for her  which last she only dared
to do playfully  or Miss Pross  sorely hurt  would have retired to
her own chamber and cried   The Doctor was a pleasant sight too 
looking on at them  and telling Miss Pross how she spoilt Lucie  in
accents and with eyes that had as much spoiling in them as Miss Pross
had  and would have had more if it were possible   Mr  Lorry was a
pleasant sight too  beaming at all this in his little wig  and thanking
his bachelor stars for having lighted him in his declining years to a
Home   But  no Hundreds of people came to see the sights  and Mr  Lorry
looked in vain for the fulfilment of Miss Pross s prediction 

Dinner time  and still no Hundreds of people   In the arrangements of
the little household  Miss Pross took charge of the lower regions 
and always acquitted herself marvellously   Her dinners  of a very
modest quality  were so well cooked and so well served  and so neat
in their contrivances  half English and half French  that nothing
could be better   Miss Pross s friendship being of the thoroughly
practical kind  she had ravaged Soho and the adjacent provinces  in
search of impoverished French  who  tempted by shillings and half 
crowns  would impart culinary mysteries to her   From these decayed
sons and daughters of Gaul  she had acquired such wonderful arts 
that the woman and girl who formed the staff of domestics regarded
her as quite a Sorceress  or Cinderella s Godmother   who would send
out for a fowl  a rabbit  a vegetable or two from the garden  and
change them into anything she pleased 

On Sundays  Miss Pross dined at the Doctor s table  but on other days
persisted in taking her meals at unknown periods  either in the lower
regions  or in her own room on the second floor  a blue chamber 
to which no one but her Ladybird ever gained admittance   On this
occasion  Miss Pross  responding to Ladybird s pleasant face and
pleasant efforts to please her  unbent exceedingly  so the dinner was
very pleasant  too 

It was an oppressive day  and  after dinner  Lucie proposed that the
wine should be carried out under the plane tree  and they should sit
there in the air   As everything turned upon her  and revolved about
her  they went out under the plane tree  and she carried the wine
down for the special benefit of Mr  Lorry   She had installed herself 
some time before  as Mr  Lorry s cup bearer  and while they sat under
the plane tree  talking  she kept his glass replenished   Mysterious
backs and ends of houses peeped at them as they talked  and the
plane tree whispered to them in its own way above their heads 

Still  the Hundreds of people did not present themselves   Mr  Darnay
presented himself while they were sitting under the plane tree 
but he was only One 

Doctor Manette received him kindly  and so did Lucie   But  Miss
Pross suddenly became afflicted with a twitching in the head and
body  and retired into the house   She was not unfrequently the
victim of this disorder  and she called it  in familiar conversation 
 a fit of the jerks  

The Doctor was in his best condition  and looked specially young 
The resemblance between him and Lucie was very strong at such times 
and as they sat side by side  she leaning on his shoulder  and he
resting his arm on the back of her chair  it was very agreeable to
trace the likeness 

He had been talking all day  on many subjects  and with unusual vivacity 
 Pray  Doctor Manette   said Mr  Darnay  as they sat under the
plane tree  and he said it in the natural pursuit of the topic in
hand  which happened to be the old buildings of London   have you
seen much of the Tower  

 Lucie and I have been there  but only casually   We have seen enough
of it  to know that it teems with interest  little more  

  I  have been there  as you remember   said Darnay  with a smile 
though reddening a little angrily   in another character  and not in
a character that gives facilities for seeing much of it   They told
me a curious thing when I was there  

 What was that   Lucie asked 

 In making some alterations  the workmen came upon an old dungeon 
which had been  for many years  built up and forgotten   Every stone
of its inner wall was covered by inscriptions which had been carved
by prisoners  dates  names  complaints  and prayers   Upon a corner
stone in an angle of the wall  one prisoner  who seemed to have gone
to execution  had cut as his last work  three letters   They were
done with some very poor instrument  and hurriedly  with an unsteady
hand   At first  they were read as D   I   C   but  on being more
carefully examined  the last letter was found to be G   There was no
record or legend of any prisoner with those initials  and many
fruitless guesses were made what the name could have been 
At length  it was suggested that the letters were not initials  but
the complete word  DIG   The floor was examined very carefully under
the inscription  and  in the earth beneath a stone  or tile  or some
fragment of paving  were found the ashes of a paper  mingled with the
ashes of a small leathern case or bag   What the unknown prisoner had
written will never be read  but he had written something  and hidden
it away to keep it from the gaoler  

 My father   exclaimed Lucie   you are ill  

He had suddenly started up  with his hand to his head   His manner
and his look quite terrified them all 

 No  my dear  not ill   There are large drops of rain falling 
and they made me start   We had better go in  

He recovered himself almost instantly   Rain was really falling in
large drops  and he showed the back of his hand with rain drops on it 
But  he said not a single word in reference to the discovery that had
been told of  and  as they went into the house  the business eye of
Mr  Lorry either detected  or fancied it detected  on his face  as it
turned towards Charles Darnay  the same singular look that had been
upon it when it turned towards him in the passages of the Court House 

He recovered himself so quickly  however  that Mr  Lorry had doubts
of his business eye   The arm of the golden giant in the hall was not
more steady than he was  when he stopped under it to remark to them
that he was not yet proof against slight surprises  if he ever would
be   and that the rain had startled him 

Tea time  and Miss Pross making tea  with another fit of the jerks
upon her  and yet no Hundreds of people   Mr  Carton had lounged in 
but he made only Two 

The night was so very sultry  that although they sat with doors and
windows open  they were overpowered by heat   When the tea table was
done with  they all moved to one of the windows  and looked out into
the heavy twilight   Lucie sat by her father  Darnay sat beside her 
Carton leaned against a window   The curtains were long and white 
and some of the thunder gusts that whirled into the corner  caught
them up to the ceiling  and waved them like spectral wings 

 The rain drops are still falling  large  heavy  and few   said
Doctor Manette    It comes slowly  

 It comes surely   said Carton 

They spoke low  as people watching and waiting mostly do  as people
in a dark room  watching and waiting for Lightning  always do 

There was a great hurry in the streets of people speeding away to get
shelter before the storm broke  the wonderful corner for echoes
resounded with the echoes of footsteps coming and going  yet not a
footstep was there 

 A multitude of people  and yet a solitude   said Darnay  when they
had listened for a while 

 Is it not impressive  Mr  Darnay   asked Lucie    Sometimes  I have
sat here of an evening  until I have fancied  but even the shade of a
foolish fancy makes me shudder to night  when all is so black and
solemn   

 Let us shudder too   We may know what it is  

 It will seem nothing to you   Such whims are only impressive as we
originate them  I think  they are not to be communicated   I have
sometimes sat alone here of an evening  listening  until I have made
the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming
by and bye into our lives  

 There is a great crowd coming one day into our lives  if that be so  
Sydney Carton struck in  in his moody way 

The footsteps were incessant  and the hurry of them became more and
more rapid   The corner echoed and re echoed with the tread of feet 
some  as it seemed  under the windows  some  as it seemed  in the room 
some coming  some going  some breaking off  some stopping altogether 
all in the distant streets  and not one within sight 

 Are all these footsteps destined to come to all of us  Miss Manette 
or are we to divide them among us  

 I don t know  Mr  Darnay  I told you it was a foolish fancy  but you
asked for it   When I have yielded myself to it  I have been alone 
and then I have imagined them the footsteps of the people who are to
come into my life  and my father s  

 I take them into mine   said Carton     I  ask no questions and make
no stipulations   There is a great crowd bearing down upon us  Miss
Manette  and I see them  by the Lightning    He added the last words 
after there had been a vivid flash which had shown him lounging in
the window 

 And I hear them   he added again  after a peal of thunder 
 Here they come  fast  fierce  and furious  

It was the rush and roar of rain that he typified  and it stopped him 
for no voice could be heard in it   A memorable storm of thunder and
lightning broke with that sweep of water  and there was not a moment s
interval in crash  and fire  and rain  until after the moon rose at
midnight 

The great bell of Saint Paul s was striking one in the cleared air 
when Mr  Lorry  escorted by Jerry  high booted and bearing a lantern 
set forth on his return passage to Clerkenwell   There were solitary
patches of road on the way between Soho and Clerkenwell  and Mr  Lorry 
mindful of foot pads  always retained Jerry for this service   though
it was usually performed a good two hours earlier 

 What a night it has been   Almost a night  Jerry   said Mr  Lorry 
 to bring the dead out of their graves  

 I never see the night myself  master  nor yet I don t expect
to  what would do that   answered Jerry 

 Good night  Mr  Carton   said the man of business    Good night 
Mr  Darnay   Shall we ever see such a night again  together  

Perhaps   Perhaps  see the great crowd of people with its rush and
roar  bearing down upon them  too 



VII

Monseigneur in Town


Monseigneur  one of the great lords in power at the Court  held his
fortnightly reception in his grand hotel in Paris   Monseigneur was
in his inner room  his sanctuary of sanctuaries  the Holiest of
Holiests to the crowd of worshippers in the suite of rooms without 
Monseigneur was about to take his chocolate   Monseigneur could
swallow a great many things with ease  and was by some few sullen
minds supposed to be rather rapidly swallowing France  but  his
morning s chocolate could not so much as get into the throat of
Monseigneur  without the aid of four strong men besides the Cook 

Yes   It took four men  all four ablaze with gorgeous decoration 
and the Chief of them unable to exist with fewer than two gold
watches in his pocket  emulative of the noble and chaste fashion set
by Monseigneur  to conduct the happy chocolate to Monseigneur s lips 
One lacquey carried the chocolate pot into the sacred presence 
a second  milled and frothed the chocolate with the little instrument
he bore for that function  a third  presented the favoured napkin 
a fourth  he of the two gold watches   poured the chocolate out 
It was impossible for Monseigneur to dispense with one of these
attendants on the chocolate and hold his high place under the
admiring Heavens   Deep would have been the blot upon his escutcheon
if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three men  he
must have died of two 

Monseigneur had been out at a little supper last night  where the
Comedy and the Grand Opera were charmingly represented   Monseigneur
was out at a little supper most nights  with fascinating company 
So polite and so impressible was Monseigneur  that the Comedy and
the Grand Opera had far more influence with him in the tiresome
articles of state affairs and state secrets  than the needs of all
France   A happy circumstance for France  as the like always is for
all countries similarly favoured   always was for England  by way of
example   in the regretted days of the merry Stuart who sold it 

Monseigneur had one truly noble idea of general public business 
which was  to let everything go on in its own way  of particular
public business  Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that it
must all go his way  tend to his own power and pocket   Of his
pleasures  general and particular  Monseigneur had the other truly
noble idea  that the world was made for them   The text of his order
 altered from the original by only a pronoun  which is not much  ran 
 The earth and the fulness thereof are mine  saith Monseigneur  

Yet  Monseigneur had slowly found that vulgar embarrassments crept
into his affairs  both private and public  and he had  as to both
classes of affairs  allied himself perforce with a Farmer General 
As to finances public  because Monseigneur could not make anything
at all of them  and must consequently let them out to somebody who
could  as to finances private  because Farmer Generals were rich  and
Monseigneur  after generations of great luxury and expense  was
growing poor   Hence Monseigneur had taken his sister from a convent 
while there was yet time to ward off the impending veil  the cheapest
garment she could wear  and had bestowed her as a prize upon a very
rich Farmer General  poor in family   Which Farmer General  carrying
an appropriate cane with a golden apple on the top of it  was now
among the company in the outer rooms  much prostrated before by
mankind  always excepting superior mankind of the blood of Monseigneur 
who  his own wife included  looked down upon him with the loftiest
contempt 

A sumptuous man was the Farmer General   Thirty horses stood in his
stables  twenty four male domestics sat in his halls  six body women
waited on his wife   As one who pretended to do nothing but plunder
and forage where he could  the Farmer General  howsoever his
matrimonial relations conduced to social morality  was at least the
greatest reality among the personages who attended at the hotel of
Monseigneur that day 

For  the rooms  though a beautiful scene to look at  and adorned with
every device of decoration that the taste and skill of the time could
achieve  were  in truth  not a sound business  considered with any
reference to the scarecrows in the rags and nightcaps elsewhere
 and not so far off  either  but that the watching towers of Notre
Dame  almost equidistant from the two extremes  could see them both  
they would have been an exceedingly uncomfortable business  if that
could have been anybody s business  at the house of Monseigneur 
Military officers destitute of military knowledge  naval officers
with no idea of a ship  civil officers without a notion of affairs 
brazen ecclesiastics  of the worst world worldly  with sensual eyes 
loose tongues  and looser lives  all totally unfit for their several
callings  all lying horribly in pretending to belong to them  but all
nearly or remotely of the order of Monseigneur  and therefore foisted
on all public employments from which anything was to be got  these were
to be told off by the score and the score   People not immediately
connected with Monseigneur or the State  yet equally unconnected with
anything that was real  or with lives passed in travelling by any
straight road to any true earthly end  were no less abundant 
Doctors who made great fortunes out of dainty remedies for imaginary
disorders that never existed  smiled upon their courtly patients in
the ante chambers of Monseigneur   Projectors who had discovered
every kind of remedy for the little evils with which the State was
touched  except the remedy of setting to work in earnest to root out
a single sin  poured their distracting babble into any ears they
could lay hold of  at the reception of Monseigneur   Unbelieving
Philosophers who were remodelling the world with words  and making
card towers of Babel to scale the skies with  talked with Unbelieving
Chemists who had an eye on the transmutation of metals  at this
wonderful gathering accumulated by Monseigneur   Exquisite gentlemen
of the finest breeding  which was at that remarkable time  and has
been since  to be known by its fruits of indifference to every
natural subject of human interest  were in the most exemplary state
of exhaustion  at the hotel of Monseigneur   Such homes had these
various notabilities left behind them in the fine world of Paris 
that the spies among the assembled devotees of Monseigneur  forming a
goodly half of the polite company  would have found it hard to
discover among the angels of that sphere one solitary wife  who  in
her manners and appearance  owned to being a Mother   Indeed  except
for the mere act of bringing a troublesome creature into this world  
which does not go far towards the realisation of the name of mother  
there was no such thing known to the fashion   Peasant women kept the
unfashionable babies close  and brought them up  and charming grandmammas
of sixty dressed and supped as at twenty 

The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance
upon Monseigneur   In the outermost room were half a dozen exceptional
people who had had  for a few years  some vague misgiving in them
that things in general were going rather wrong   As a promising way
of setting them right  half of the half dozen had become members of a
fantastic sect of Convulsionists  and were even then considering within
themselves whether they should foam  rage  roar  and turn cataleptic
on the spot  thereby setting up a highly intelligible finger post to
the Future  for Monseigneur s guidance   Besides these Dervishes 
were other three who had rushed into another sect  which mended
matters with a jargon about  the Centre of Truth   holding that Man
had got out of the Centre of Truth  which did not need much
demonstration  but had not got out of the Circumference  and that he
was to be kept from flying out of the Circumference  and was even to
be shoved back into the Centre  by fasting and seeing of spirits 
Among these  accordingly  much discoursing with spirits went on  and
it did a world of good which never became manifest 

But  the comfort was  that all the company at the grand hotel of
Monseigneur were perfectly dressed   If the Day of Judgment had only
been ascertained to be a dress day  everybody there would have been
eternally correct   Such frizzling and powdering and sticking up of
hair  such delicate complexions artificially preserved and mended 
such gallant swords to look at  and such delicate honour to the sense
of smell  would surely keep anything going  for ever and ever 
The exquisite gentlemen of the finest breeding wore little pendent
trinkets that chinked as they languidly moved  these golden fetters
rang like precious little bells  and what with that ringing  and with
the rustle of silk and brocade and fine linen  there was a flutter in
the air that fanned Saint Antoine and his devouring hunger far away 

Dress was the one unfailing talisman and charm used for keeping all
things in their places   Everybody was dressed for a Fancy Ball that
was never to leave off   From the Palace of the Tuileries  through
Monseigneur and the whole Court  through the Chambers  the Tribunals
of Justice  and all society  except the scarecrows   the Fancy Ball
descended to the Common Executioner   who  in pursuance of the charm 
was required to officiate  frizzled  powdered  in a gold laced coat 
pumps  and white silk stockings    At the gallows and the wheel  the
axe was a rarity  Monsieur Paris  as it was the episcopal mode among
his brother Professors of the provinces  Monsieur Orleans  and the
rest  to call him  presided in this dainty dress   And who among the
company at Monseigneur s reception in that seventeen hundred and
eightieth year of our Lord  could possibly doubt  that a system
rooted in a frizzled hangman  powdered  gold laced  pumped  and
white silk stockinged  would see the very stars out 

Monseigneur having eased his four men of their burdens and taken his
chocolate  caused the doors of the Holiest of Holiests to be thrown
open  and issued forth   Then  what submission  what cringing and
fawning  what servility  what abject humiliation   As to bowing down
in body and spirit  nothing in that way was left for Heaven  which
may have been one among other reasons why the worshippers of
Monseigneur never troubled it 

Bestowing a word of promise here and a smile there  a whisper on one
happy slave and a wave of the hand on another  Monseigneur affably
passed through his rooms to the remote region of the Circumference of
Truth   There  Monseigneur turned  and came back again  and so in due
course of time got himself shut up in his sanctuary by the chocolate
sprites  and was seen no more 

The show being over  the flutter in the air became quite a little
storm  and the precious little bells went ringing downstairs 
There was soon but one person left of all the crowd  and he  with his
hat under his arm and his snuff box in his hand  slowly passed among
the mirrors on his way out 

 I devote you   said this person  stopping at the last door on his
way  and turning in the direction of the sanctuary   to the Devil  

With that  he shook the snuff from his fingers as if he had shaken
the dust from his feet  and quietly walked downstairs 

He was a man of about sixty  handsomely dressed  haughty in manner 
and with a face like a fine mask   A face of a transparent paleness 
every feature in it clearly defined  one set expression on it 
The nose  beautifully formed otherwise  was very slightly pinched at
the top of each nostril   In those two compressions  or dints  the
only little change that the face ever showed  resided   They persisted
in changing colour sometimes  and they would be occasionally dilated
and contracted by something like a faint pulsation  then  they gave a
look of treachery  and cruelty  to the whole countenance   Examined
with attention  its capacity of helping such a look was to be found
in the line of the mouth  and the lines of the orbits of the eyes 
being much too horizontal and thin  still  in the effect of the face
made  it was a handsome face  and a remarkable one 

Its owner went downstairs into the courtyard  got into his carriage 
and drove away   Not many people had talked with him at the reception 
he had stood in a little space apart  and Monseigneur might have been
warmer in his manner   It appeared  under the circumstances  rather
agreeable to him to see the common people dispersed before his horses 
and often barely escaping from being run down   His man drove as if
he were charging an enemy  and the furious recklessness of the man
brought no check into the face  or to the lips  of the master   The
complaint had sometimes made itself audible  even in that deaf city
and dumb age  that  in the narrow streets without footways  the fierce
patrician custom of hard driving endangered and maimed the mere vulgar
in a barbarous manner   But  few cared enough for that to think of it
a second time  and  in this matter  as in all others  the common
wretches were left to get out of their difficulties as they could 

With a wild rattle and clatter  and an inhuman abandonment of
consideration not easy to be understood in these days  the carriage
dashed through streets and swept round corners  with women screaming
before it  and men clutching each other and clutching children out of
its way   At last  swooping at a street corner by a fountain  one of
its wheels came to a sickening little jolt  and there was a loud cry
from a number of voices  and the horses reared and plunged 

But for the latter inconvenience  the carriage probably would not
have stopped  carriages were often known to drive on  and leave their
wounded behind  and why not   But the frightened valet had got down in
a hurry  and there were twenty hands at the horses  bridles 

 What has gone wrong   said Monsieur  calmly looking out 

A tall man in a nightcap had caught up a bundle from among the feet
of the horses  and had laid it on the basement of the fountain 
and was down in the mud and wet  howling over it like a wild animal 

 Pardon  Monsieur the Marquis   said a ragged and submissive man 
 it is a child  

 Why does he make that abominable noise   Is it his child  

 Excuse me  Monsieur the Marquis  it is a pity  yes  

The fountain was a little removed  for the street opened  where it
was  into a space some ten or twelve yards square   As the tall man
suddenly got up from the ground  and came running at the carriage 
Monsieur the Marquis clapped his hand for an instant on his sword hilt 

 Killed   shrieked the man  in wild desperation  extending both arms
at their length above his head  and staring at him    Dead  

The people closed round  and looked at Monsieur the Marquis 
There was nothing revealed by the many eyes that looked at him but
watchfulness and eagerness  there was no visible menacing or anger 
Neither did the people say anything  after the first cry  they had
been silent  and they remained so   The voice of the submissive man
who had spoken  was flat and tame in its extreme submission 
Monsieur the Marquis ran his eyes over them all  as if they had been
mere rats come out of their holes 

He took out his purse 

 It is extraordinary to me   said he   that you people cannot take
care of yourselves and your children   One or the other of you is for
ever in the way   How do I know what injury you have done my horses 
See   Give him that  

He threw out a gold coin for the valet to pick up  and all the heads
craned forward that all the eyes might look down at it as it fell 
The tall man called out again with a most unearthly cry   Dead  

He was arrested by the quick arrival of another man  for whom the
rest made way   On seeing him  the miserable creature fell upon his
shoulder  sobbing and crying  and pointing to the fountain  where
some women were stooping over the motionless bundle  and moving
gently about it   They were as silent  however  as the men 

 I know all  I know all   said the last comer    Be a brave man  my
Gaspard   It is better for the poor little plaything to die so  than
to live   It has died in a moment without pain   Could it have lived
an hour as happily  

 You are a philosopher  you there   said the Marquis  smiling 
 How do they call you  

 They call me Defarge  

 Of what trade  

 Monsieur the Marquis  vendor of wine  

 Pick up that  philosopher and vendor of wine   said the Marquis 
throwing him another gold coin   and spend it as you will 
The horses there  are they right  

Without deigning to look at the assemblage a second time  Monsieur
the Marquis leaned back in his seat  and was just being driven away
with the air of a gentleman who had accidentally broke some common
thing  and had paid for it  and could afford to pay for it  when his
ease was suddenly disturbed by a coin flying into his carriage 
and ringing on its floor 

 Hold   said Monsieur the Marquis    Hold the horses   Who threw that  

He looked to the spot where Defarge the vendor of wine had stood 
a moment before  but the wretched father was grovelling on his face
on the pavement in that spot  and the figure that stood beside him
was the figure of a dark stout woman  knitting 

 You dogs   said the Marquis  but smoothly  and with an unchanged front 
except as to the spots on his nose    I would ride over any of you
very willingly  and exterminate you from the earth   If I knew which
rascal threw at the carriage  and if that brigand were sufficiently
near it  he should be crushed under the wheels  

So cowed was their condition  and so long and hard their experience
of what such a man could do to them  within the law and beyond it 
that not a voice  or a hand  or even an eye was raised   Among the
men  not one   But the woman who stood knitting looked up steadily 
and looked the Marquis in the face   It was not for his dignity to
notice it  his contemptuous eyes passed over her  and over all the
other rats  and he leaned back in his seat again  and gave the word
 Go on  

He was driven on  and other carriages came whirling by in quick
succession  the Minister  the State Projector  the Farmer General 
the Doctor  the Lawyer  the Ecclesiastic  the Grand Opera  the
Comedy  the whole Fancy Ball in a bright continuous flow  came
whirling by   The rats had crept out of their holes to look on 
and they remained looking on for hours  soldiers and police often
passing between them and the spectacle  and making a barrier behind
which they slunk  and through which they peeped   The father had long
ago taken up his bundle and bidden himself away with it  when the
women who had tended the bundle while it lay on the base of the
fountain  sat there watching the running of the water and the rolling
of the Fancy Ball  when the one woman who had stood conspicuous 
knitting  still knitted on with the steadfastness of Fate   The water
of the fountain ran  the swift river ran  the day ran into evening 
so much life in the city ran into death according to rule  time and
tide waited for no man  the rats were sleeping close together in
their dark holes again  the Fancy Ball was lighted up at supper 
all things ran their course 



VIII

Monseigneur in the Country


A beautiful landscape  with the corn bright in it  but not abundant 
Patches of poor rye where corn should have been  patches of poor peas
and beans  patches of most coarse vegetable substitutes for wheat 
On inanimate nature  as on the men and women who cultivated it 
a prevalent tendency towards an appearance of vegetating
unwillingly  a dejected disposition to give up  and wither away 

Monsieur the Marquis in his travelling carriage  which might have
been lighter   conducted by four post horses and two postilions 
fagged up a steep hill   A blush on the countenance of Monsieur the
Marquis was no impeachment of his high breeding  it was not from
within  it was occasioned by an external circumstance beyond his
control  the setting sun 

The sunset struck so brilliantly into the travelling carriage when it
gained the hill top  that its occupant was steeped in crimson 
 It will die out   said Monsieur the Marquis  glancing at his hands 
 directly  

In effect  the sun was so low that it dipped at the moment   When the
heavy drag had been adjusted to the wheel  and the carriage slid down
hill  with a cinderous smell  in a cloud of dust  the red glow departed
quickly  the sun and the Marquis going down together  there was no
glow left when the drag was taken off 

But  there remained a broken country  bold and open  a little village
at the bottom of the hill  a broad sweep and rise beyond it  a church 
tower  a windmill  a forest for the chase  and a crag with a fortress
on it used as a prison   Round upon all these darkening objects as
the night drew on  the Marquis looked  with the air of one who was
coming near home 

The village had its one poor street  with its poor brewery  poor
tannery  poor tavern  poor stable yard for relays of post horses 
poor fountain  all usual poor appointments   It had its poor people
too   All its people were poor  and many of them were sitting at
their doors  shredding spare onions and the like for supper  while
many were at the fountain  washing leaves  and grasses  and any such
small yieldings of the earth that could be eaten   Expressive sips of
what made them poor  were not wanting  the tax for the state  the tax
for the church  the tax for the lord  tax local and tax general  were
to be paid here and to be paid there  according to solemn inscription
in the little village  until the wonder was  that there was any
village left unswallowed 

Few children were to be seen  and no dogs   As to the men and women 
their choice on earth was stated in the prospect  Life on the lowest
terms that could sustain it  down in the little village under the
mill  or captivity and Death in the dominant prison on the crag 

Heralded by a courier in advance  and by the cracking of his
postilions  whips  which twined snake like about their heads in the
evening air  as if he came attended by the Furies  Monsieur the
Marquis drew up in his travelling carriage at the posting house gate 
It was hard by the fountain  and the peasants suspended their
operations to look at him   He looked at them  and saw in them 
without knowing it  the slow sure filing down of misery worn face and
figure  that was to make the meagreness of Frenchmen an English
superstition which should survive the truth through the best part of
a hundred years 

Monsieur the Marquis cast his eyes over the submissive faces that
drooped before him  as the like of himself had drooped before
Monseigneur of the Court  only the difference was  that these faces
drooped merely to suffer and not to propitiate  when a grizzled
mender of the roads joined the group 

 Bring me hither that fellow   said the Marquis to the courier 

The fellow was brought  cap in hand  and the other fellows closed
round to look and listen  in the manner of the people at the Paris
fountain 

 I passed you on the road  

 Monseigneur  it is true   I had the honour of being passed on the road  

 Coming up the hill  and at the top of the hill  both  

 Monseigneur  it is true  

 What did you look at  so fixedly  

 Monseigneur  I looked at the man  

He stooped a little  and with his tattered blue cap pointed under the
carriage   All his fellows stooped to look under the carriage 

 What man  pig   And why look there  

 Pardon  Monseigneur  he swung by the chain of the shoe  the drag  

 Who   demanded the traveller 

 Monseigneur  the man  

 May the Devil carry away these idiots   How do you call the man 
You know all the men of this part of the country   Who was he  

 Your clemency  Monseigneur   He was not of this part of the country 
Of all the days of my life  I never saw him  

 Swinging by the chain   To be suffocated  

 With your gracious permission  that was the wonder of it 
Monseigneur   His head hanging over  like this  

He turned himself sideways to the carriage  and leaned back  with his
face thrown up to the sky  and his head hanging down  then recovered
himself  fumbled with his cap  and made a bow 

 What was he like  

 Monseigneur  he was whiter than the miller   All covered with dust 
white as a spectre  tall as a spectre  

The picture produced an immense sensation in the little crowd 
but all eyes  without comparing notes with other eyes  looked at
Monsieur the Marquis   Perhaps  to observe whether he had any spectre
on his conscience 

 Truly  you did well   said the Marquis  felicitously sensible that
such vermin were not to ruffle him   to see a thief accompanying my
carriage  and not open that great mouth of yours   Bah   Put him aside 
Monsieur Gabelle  

Monsieur Gabelle was the Postmaster  and some other taxing functionary
united  he had come out with great obsequiousness to assist at this
examination  and had held the examined by the drapery of his arm in
an official manner 

 Bah   Go aside   said Monsieur Gabelle 

 Lay hands on this stranger if he seeks to lodge in your village
to night  and be sure that his business is honest  Gabelle  

 Monseigneur  I am flattered to devote myself to your orders  

 Did he run away  fellow   where is that Accursed  

The accursed was already under the carriage with some half dozen
particular friends  pointing out the chain with his blue cap 
Some half dozen other particular friends promptly hauled him out 
and presented him breathless to Monsieur the Marquis 

 Did the man run away  Dolt  when we stopped for the drag  

 Monseigneur  he precipitated himself over the hill side  head first 
as a person plunges into the river  

 See to it  Gabelle   Go on  

The half dozen who were peering at the chain were still among the
wheels  like sheep  the wheels turned so suddenly that they were
lucky to save their skins and bones  they had very little else to
save  or they might not have been so fortunate 

The burst with which the carriage started out of the village and up
the rise beyond  was soon checked by the steepness of the hill 
Gradually  it subsided to a foot pace  swinging and lumbering upward
among the many sweet scents of a summer night   The postilions  with
a thousand gossamer gnats circling about them in lieu of the Furies 
quietly mended the points to the lashes of their whips  the valet
walked by the horses  the courier was audible  trotting on ahead into
the dun distance 

At the steepest point of the hill there was a little burial ground 
with a Cross and a new large figure of Our Saviour on it  it was a
poor figure in wood  done by some inexperienced rustic carver  but he
had studied the figure from the life  his own life  maybe  for it was
dreadfully spare and thin 

To this distressful emblem of a great distress that had long been
growing worse  and was not at its worst  a woman was kneeling 
She turned her head as the carriage came up to her  rose quickly 
and presented herself at the carriage door 

 It is you  Monseigneur   Monseigneur  a petition  

With an exclamation of impatience  but with his unchangeable face 
Monseigneur looked out 

 How  then   What is it   Always petitions  

 Monseigneur   For the love of the great God   My husband  the forester  

 What of your husband  the forester   Always the same with you people 
He cannot pay something  

 He has paid all  Monseigneur   He is dead  

 Well   He is quiet   Can I restore him to you  

 Alas  no  Monseigneur   But he lies yonder  under a little heap of
poor grass  

 Well  

 Monseigneur  there are so many little heaps of poor grass  

 Again  well  

She looked an old woman  but was young   Her manner was one of
passionate grief  by turns she clasped her veinous and knotted hands
together with wild energy  and laid one of them on the carriage door
  tenderly  caressingly  as if it had been a human breast  and could
be expected to feel the appealing touch 

 Monseigneur  hear me   Monseigneur  hear my petition   My husband
died of want  so many die of want  so many more will die of want  

 Again  well   Can I feed them  

 Monseigneur  the good God knows  but I don t ask it   My petition is 
that a morsel of stone or wood  with my husband s name  may be placed
over him to show where he lies   Otherwise  the place will be quickly
forgotten  it will never be found when I am dead of the same malady 
I shall be laid under some other heap of poor grass   Monseigneur 
they are so many  they increase so fast  there is so much want 
Monseigneur   Monseigneur  

The valet had put her away from the door  the carriage had broken
into a brisk trot  the postilions had quickened the pace  she was
left far behind  and Monseigneur  again escorted by the Furies  was
rapidly diminishing the league or two of distance that remained
between him and his chateau 

The sweet scents of the summer night rose all around him  and rose 
as the rain falls  impartially  on the dusty  ragged  and toil worn
group at the fountain not far away  to whom the mender of roads  with
the aid of the blue cap without which he was nothing  still enlarged
upon his man like a spectre  as long as they could bear it 
By degrees  as they could bear no more  they dropped off one by one 
and lights twinkled in little casements  which lights  as the
casements darkened  and more stars came out  seemed to have shot up
into the sky instead of having been extinguished 

The shadow of a large high roofed house  and of many over hanging
trees  was upon Monsieur the Marquis by that time  and the shadow was
exchanged for the light of a flambeau  as his carriage stopped 
and the great door of his chateau was opened to him 

 Monsieur Charles  whom I expect  is he arrived from England  

 Monseigneur  not yet  



IX

The Gorgon s Head


It was a heavy mass of building  that chateau of Monsieur the Marquis 
with a large stone courtyard before it  and two stone sweeps of
staircase meeting in a stone terrace before the principal door 
A stony business altogether  with heavy stone balustrades  and stone
urns  and stone flowers  and stone faces of men  and stone heads of
lions  in all directions   As if the Gorgon s head had surveyed it 
when it was finished  two centuries ago 

Up the broad flight of shallow steps  Monsieur the Marquis  flambeau
preceded  went from his carriage  sufficiently disturbing the darkness
to elicit loud remonstrance from an owl in the roof of the great pile
of stable building away among the trees   All else was so quiet  that
the flambeau carried up the steps  and the other flambeau held at the
great door  burnt as if they were in a close room of state  instead
of being in the open night air   Other sound than the owl s voice
there was none  save the failing of a fountain into its stone basin 
for  it was one of those dark nights that hold their breath by the hour
together  and then heave a long low sigh  and hold their breath again 

The great door clanged behind him  and Monsieur the Marquis crossed
a hall grim with certain old boar spears  swords  and knives of the
chase  grimmer with certain heavy riding rods and riding whips  of
which many a peasant  gone to his benefactor Death  had felt the
weight when his lord was angry 

Avoiding the larger rooms  which were dark and made fast for the
night  Monsieur the Marquis  with his flambeau bearer going on before 
went up the staircase to a door in a corridor   This thrown open 
admitted him to his own private apartment of three rooms 
his bed chamber and two others   High vaulted rooms with cool
uncarpeted floors  great dogs upon the hearths for the burning
of wood in winter time  and all luxuries befitting the state
of a marquis in a luxurious age and country   The fashion
of the last Louis but one  of the line that was never to break
  the fourteenth Louis  was conspicuous in their rich furniture 
but  it was diversified by many objects that were illustrations
of old pages in the history of France 

A supper table was laid for two  in the third of the rooms  a round
room  in one of the chateau s four extinguisher topped towers 
A small lofty room  with its window wide open  and the wooden
jalousie blinds closed  so that the dark night only showed in slight
horizontal lines of black  alternating with their broad lines of
stone colour 

 My nephew   said the Marquis  glancing at the supper preparation 
 they said he was not arrived  

Nor was he  but  he had been expected with Monseigneur 

 Ah   It is not probable he will arrive to night  nevertheless  leave
the table as it is   I shall be ready in a quarter of an hour  

In a quarter of an hour Monseigneur was ready  and sat down alone
to his sumptuous and choice supper   His chair was opposite to the
window  and he had taken his soup  and was raising his glass of
Bordeaux to his lips  when he put it down 

 What is that   he calmly asked  looking with attention at the
horizontal lines of black and stone colour 

 Monseigneur   That  

 Outside the blinds   Open the blinds  

It was done 

 Well  

 Monseigneur  it is nothing   The trees and the night are all that
are here  

The servant who spoke  had thrown the blinds wide  had looked out
into the vacant darkness  and stood with that blank behind him 
looking round for instructions 

 Good   said the imperturbable master    Close them again  

That was done too  and the Marquis went on with his supper   He was
half way through it  when he again stopped with his glass in his
hand  hearing the sound of wheels   It came on briskly  and came up
to the front of the chateau 

 Ask who is arrived  

It was the nephew of Monseigneur   He had been some few leagues
behind Monseigneur  early in the afternoon   He had diminished the
distance rapidly  but not so rapidly as to come up with Monseigneur
on the road   He had heard of Monseigneur  at the posting houses 
as being before him 

He was to be told  said Monseigneur  that supper awaited him then and
there  and that he was prayed to come to it   In a little while he came 
He had been known in England as Charles Darnay 

Monseigneur received him in a courtly manner  but they did not shake hands 

 You left Paris yesterday  sir   he said to Monseigneur  as he took
his seat at table 

 Yesterday   And you  

 I come direct  

 From London  

 Yes  

 You have been a long time coming   said the Marquis  with a smile 

 On the contrary  I come direct  

 Pardon me   I mean  not a long time on the journey  a long time
intending the journey  

 I have been detained by   the nephew stopped a moment in his
answer   various business  

 Without doubt   said the polished uncle 

So long as a servant was present  no other words passed between them 
When coffee had been served and they were alone together  the nephew 
looking at the uncle and meeting the eyes of the face that was like a
fine mask  opened a conversation 

 I have come back  sir  as you anticipate  pursuing the object that
took me away   It carried me into great and unexpected peril  but it
is a sacred object  and if it had carried me to death I hope it would
have sustained me  

 Not to death   said the uncle   it is not necessary to say  to death  

 I doubt  sir   returned the nephew   whether  if it had carried me
to the utmost brink of death  you would have cared to stop me there  

The deepened marks in the nose  and the lengthening of the fine
straight lines in the cruel face  looked ominous as to that  the
uncle made a graceful gesture of protest  which was so clearly a
slight form of good breeding that it was not reassuring 

 Indeed  sir   pursued the nephew   for anything I know  you may
have expressly worked to give a more suspicious appearance to the
suspicious circumstances that surrounded me  

 No  no  no   said the uncle  pleasantly 

 But  however that may be   resumed the nephew  glancing at him with
deep distrust   I know that your diplomacy would stop me by any
means  and would know no scruple as to means  

 My friend  I told you so   said the uncle  with a fine pulsation in
the two marks    Do me the favour to recall that I told you so  long ago  

 I recall it  

 Thank you   said the Marquise  very sweetly indeed 

His tone lingered in the air  almost like the tone of a musical
instrument 

 In effect  sir   pursued the nephew   I believe it to be at once
your bad fortune  and my good fortune  that has kept me out of a
prison in France here  

 I do not quite understand   returned the uncle  sipping his coffee 
 Dare I ask you to explain  

 I believe that if you were not in disgrace with the Court 
and had not been overshadowed by that cloud for years past  a letter
de cachet would have sent me to some fortress indefinitely  

 It is possible   said the uncle  with great calmness    For the
honour of the family  I could even resolve to incommode you to that
extent   Pray excuse me  

 I perceive that  happily for me  the Reception of the day before
yesterday was  as usual  a cold one   observed the nephew 

 I would not say happily  my friend   returned the uncle  with
refined politeness   I would not be sure of that   A good opportunity
for consideration  surrounded by the advantages of solitude  might
influence your destiny to far greater advantage than you influence it
for yourself   But it is useless to discuss the question   I am  as
you say  at a disadvantage   These little instruments of correction 
these gentle aids to the power and honour of families  these slight
favours that might so incommode you  are only to be obtained now by
interest and importunity   They are sought by so many  and they are
granted  comparatively  to so few   It used not to be so  but France
in all such things is changed for the worse   Our not remote
ancestors held the right of life and death over the surrounding
vulgar   From this room  many such dogs have been taken out to be
hanged  in the next room  my bedroom   one fellow  to our knowledge 
was poniarded on the spot for professing some insolent delicacy
respecting his daughter   his  daughter   We have lost many privileges 
a new philosophy has become the mode  and the assertion of our
station  in these days  might  I do not go so far as to say would 
but might  cause us real inconvenience   All very bad  very bad  

The Marquis took a gentle little pinch of snuff  and shook his head 
as elegantly despondent as he could becomingly be of a country still
containing himself  that great means of regeneration 

 We have so asserted our station  both in the old time and in the
modern time also   said the nephew  gloomily   that I believe our
name to be more detested than any name in France  

 Let us hope so   said the uncle    Detestation of the high is the
involuntary homage of the low  

 There is not   pursued the nephew  in his former tone   a face I can
look at  in all this country round about us  which looks at me with
any deference on it but the dark deference of fear and slavery  

 A compliment   said the Marquis   to the grandeur of the family 
merited by the manner in which the family has sustained its grandeur 
Hah    And he took another gentle little pinch of snuff  and lightly
crossed his legs 

But  when his nephew  leaning an elbow on the table  covered his eyes
thoughtfully and dejectedly with his hand  the fine mask looked at him
sideways with a stronger concentration of keenness  closeness  and dislike 
than was comportable with its wearer s assumption of indifference 

 Repression is the only lasting philosophy   The dark deference of
fear and slavery  my friend   observed the Marquis   will keep the
dogs obedient to the whip  as long as this roof   looking up to it 
 shuts out the sky  

That might not be so long as the Marquis supposed   If a picture of
the chateau as it was to be a very few years hence  and of fifty like
it as they too were to be a very few years hence  could have been
shown to him that night  he might have been at a loss to claim his
own from the ghastly  fire charred  plunder wrecked rains   As for
the roof he vaunted  he might have found  that  shutting out the sky
in a new way  to wit  for ever  from the eyes of the bodies into which
its lead was fired  out of the barrels of a hundred thousand muskets 

 Meanwhile   said the Marquis   I will preserve the honour and repose
of the family  if you will not   But you must be fatigued   Shall we
terminate our conference for the night  

 A moment more  

 An hour  if you please  

 Sir   said the nephew   we have done wrong  and are reaping the
fruits of wrong  

  We  have done wrong   repeated the Marquis  with an inquiring
smile  and delicately pointing  first to his nephew  then to himself 

 Our family  our honourable family  whose honour is of so much
account to both of us  in such different ways   Even in my father s
time  we did a world of wrong  injuring every human creature who came
between us and our pleasure  whatever it was   Why need I speak of my
father s time  when it is equally yours   Can I separate my father s
twin brother  joint inheritor  and next successor  from himself  

 Death has done that   said the Marquis 

 And has left me   answered the nephew   bound to a system that is
frightful to me  responsible for it  but powerless in it  seeking to
execute the last request of my dear mother s lips  and obey the last
look of my dear mother s eyes  which implored me to have mercy and to
redress  and tortured by seeking assistance and power in vain  

 Seeking them from me  my nephew   said the Marquis  touching him on
the breast with his forefinger  they were now standing by the
hearth   you will for ever seek them in vain  be assured  

Every fine straight line in the clear whiteness of his face  was
cruelly  craftily  and closely compressed  while he stood looking
quietly at his nephew  with his snuff box in his hand   Once again he
touched him on the breast  as though his finger were the fine point
of a small sword  with which  in delicate finesse  he ran him through
the body  and said 

 My friend  I will die  perpetuating the system under which I have lived  

When he had said it  he took a culminating pinch of snuff  and put
his box in his pocket 

 Better to be a rational creature   he added then  after ringing a
small bell on the table   and accept your natural destiny   But you
are lost  Monsieur Charles  I see  

 This property and France are lost to me   said the nephew  sadly 
 I renounce them  

 Are they both yours to renounce   France may be  but is the property 
It is scarcely worth mentioning  but  is it yet  

 I had no intention  in the words I used  to claim it yet   If it
passed to me from you  to morrow   

 Which I have the vanity to hope is not probable  

   or twenty years hence   

 You do me too much honour   said the Marquis   still  I prefer that
supposition  

   I would abandon it  and live otherwise and elsewhere   It is
little to relinquish   What is it but a wilderness of misery and ruin  

 Hah   said the Marquis  glancing round the luxurious room 

 To the eye it is fair enough  here  but seen in its integrity  under
the sky  and by the daylight  it is a crumbling tower of waste 
mismanagement  extortion  debt  mortgage  oppression  hunger 
nakedness  and suffering  

 Hah   said the Marquis again  in a well satisfied manner 

 If it ever becomes mine  it shall be put into some hands better
qualified to free it slowly  if such a thing is possible  from the
weight that drags it down  so that the miserable people who cannot
leave it and who have been long wrung to the last point of endurance 
may  in another generation  suffer less  but it is not for me 
There is a curse on it  and on all this land  

 And you   said the uncle    Forgive my curiosity  do you  under your
new philosophy  graciously intend to live  

 I must do  to live  what others of my countrymen  even with nobility
at their backs  may have to do some day work  

 In England  for example  

 Yes   The family honour  sir  is safe from me in this country   The
family name can suffer from me in no other  for I bear it in no other  

The ringing of the bell had caused the adjoining bed chamber to be
lighted   It now shone brightly  through the door of communication 
The Marquis looked that way  and listened for the retreating step of
his valet 

 England is very attractive to you  seeing how indifferently you have
prospered there   he observed then  turning his calm face to his
nephew with a smile 

 I have already said  that for my prospering there  I am sensible I
may be indebted to you  sir   For the rest  it is my Refuge  

 They say  those boastful English  that it is the Refuge of many 
You know a compatriot who has found a Refuge there   A Doctor  

 Yes  

 With a daughter  

 Yes  

 Yes   said the Marquis    You are fatigued   Good night  

As he bent his head in his most courtly manner  there was a secrecy
in his smiling face  and he conveyed an air of mystery to those
words  which struck the eyes and ears of his nephew forcibly   At the
same time  the thin straight lines of the setting of the eyes  and
the thin straight lips  and the markings in the nose  curved with a
sarcasm that looked handsomely diabolic 

 Yes   repeated the Marquis    A Doctor with a daughter   Yes 
So commences the new philosophy   You are fatigued   Good night  

It would have been of as much avail to interrogate any stone face
outside the chateau as to interrogate that face of his   The nephew
looked at him  in vain  in passing on to the door 

 Good night   said the uncle    I look to the pleasure of seeing you
again in the morning   Good repose   Light Monsieur my nephew to his
chamber there   And burn Monsieur my nephew in his bed  if you will  
he added to himself  before he rang his little bell again  and summoned
his valet to his own bedroom 

The valet come and gone  Monsieur the Marquis walked to and fro in
his loose chamber robe  to prepare himself gently for sleep  that hot
still night   Rustling about the room  his softly slippered feet
making no noise on the floor  he moved like a refined tiger   looked
like some enchanted marquis of the impenitently wicked sort  in story 
whose periodical change into tiger form was either just going off  or
just coming on 

He moved from end to end of his voluptuous bedroom  looking again at
the scraps of the day s journey that came unbidden into his mind  the
slow toil up the hill at sunset  the setting sun  the descent  the
mill  the prison on the crag  the little village in the hollow  the
peasants at the fountain  and the mender of roads with his blue cap
pointing out the chain under the carriage   That fountain suggested
the Paris fountain  the little bundle lying on the step  the women
bending over it  and the tall man with his arms up  crying   Dead  

 I am cool now   said Monsieur the Marquis   and may go to bed  

So  leaving only one light burning on the large hearth  he let his
thin gauze curtains fall around him  and heard the night break its
silence with a long sigh as he composed himself to sleep 

The stone faces on the outer walls stared blindly at the black night
for three heavy hours  for three heavy hours  the horses in the
stables rattled at their racks  the dogs barked  and the owl made a
noise with very little resemblance in it to the noise conventionally
assigned to the owl by men poets   But it is the obstinate custom of
such creatures hardly ever to say what is set down for them 

For three heavy hours  the stone faces of the chateau  lion and
human  stared blindly at the night   Dead darkness lay on all the
landscape  dead darkness added its own hush to the hushing dust on
all the roads   The burial place had got to the pass that its little
heaps of poor grass were undistinguishable from one another  the
figure on the Cross might have come down  for anything that could be
seen of it   In the village  taxers and taxed were fast asleep 
Dreaming  perhaps  of banquets  as the starved usually do  and of
ease and rest  as the driven slave and the yoked ox may  its lean
inhabitants slept soundly  and were fed and freed 

The fountain in the village flowed unseen and unheard  and the
fountain at the chateau dropped unseen and unheard  both melting
away  like the minutes that were falling from the spring of Time  
through three dark hours   Then  the grey water of both began to be
ghostly in the light  and the eyes of the stone faces of the chateau
were opened 

Lighter and lighter  until at last the sun touched the tops of the
still trees  and poured its radiance over the hill   In the glow 
the water of the chateau fountain seemed to turn to blood  and the
stone faces crimsoned   The carol of the birds was loud and high 
and  on the weather beaten sill of the great window of the bed 
chamber of Monsieur the Marquis  one little bird sang its sweetest
song with all its might   At this  the nearest stone face seemed
to stare amazed  and  with open mouth and dropped under jaw  looked
awe stricken 

Now  the sun was full up  and movement began in the village 
Casement windows opened  crazy doors were unbarred  and people came
forth shivering  chilled  as yet  by the new sweet air   Then began
the rarely lightened toil of the day among the village population 
Some  to the fountain  some  to the fields  men and women here  to
dig and delve  men and women there  to see to the poor live stock 
and lead the bony cows out  to such pasture as could be found by the
roadside   In the church and at the Cross  a kneeling figure or two 
attendant on the latter prayers  the led cow  trying for a breakfast
among the weeds at its foot 

The chateau awoke later  as became its quality  but awoke gradually
and surely   First  the lonely boar spears and knives of the chase
had been reddened as of old  then  had gleamed trenchant in the
morning sunshine  now  doors and windows were thrown open  horses
in their stables looked round over their shoulders at the light and
freshness pouring in at doorways  leaves sparkled and rustled at
iron grated windows  dogs pulled hard at their chains  and reared
impatient to be loosed 

All these trivial incidents belonged to the routine of life  and the
return of morning   Surely  not so the ringing of the great bell of
the chateau  nor the running up and down the stairs  nor the hurried
figures on the terrace  nor the booting and tramping here and there
and everywhere  nor the quick saddling of horses and riding away 

What winds conveyed this hurry to the grizzled mender of roads 
already at work on the hill top beyond the village  with his day s
dinner  not much to carry  lying in a bundle that it was worth no
crow s while to peck at  on a heap of stones   Had the birds  carrying
some grains of it to a distance  dropped one over him as they sow
chance seeds   Whether or no  the mender of roads ran  on the sultry
morning  as if for his life  down the hill  knee high in dust  and
never stopped till he got to the fountain 

All the people of the village were at the fountain  standing about in
their depressed manner  and whispering low  but showing no other
emotions than grim curiosity and surprise   The led cows  hastily
brought in and tethered to anything that would hold them  were looking
stupidly on  or lying down chewing the cud of nothing particularly
repaying their trouble  which they had picked up in their interrupted
saunter   Some of the people of the chateau  and some of those of the
posting house  and all the taxing authorities  were armed more or less 
and were crowded on the other side of the little street in a
purposeless way  that was highly fraught with nothing   Already 
the mender of roads had penetrated into the midst of a group of fifty
particular friends  and was smiting himself in the breast with his
blue cap   What did all this portend  and what portended the swift
hoisting up of Monsieur Gabelle behind a servant on horseback  and
the conveying away of the said Gabelle  double laden though the horse
was   at a gallop  like a new version of the German ballad of Leonora 

It portended that there was one stone face too many  up at the chateau 

The Gorgon had surveyed the building again in the night  and had
added the one stone face wanting  the stone face for which it had
waited through about two hundred years 

It lay back on the pillow of Monsieur the Marquis   It was like a
fine mask  suddenly startled  made angry  and petrified   Driven home
into the heart of the stone figure attached to it  was a knife 
Round its hilt was a frill of paper  on which was scrawled 

 Drive him fast to his tomb   This  from Jacques  



X

Two Promises


More months  to the number of twelve  had come and gone  and Mr 
Charles Darnay was established in England as a higher teacher of the
French language who was conversant with French literature   In this
age  he would have been a Professor  in that age  he was a Tutor 
He read with young men who could find any leisure and interest for
the study of a living tongue spoken all over the world  and he
cultivated a taste for its stores of knowledge and fancy   He could
write of them  besides  in sound English  and render them into sound
English   Such masters were not at that time easily found  Princes
that had been  and Kings that were to be  were not yet of the Teacher
class  and no ruined nobility had dropped out of Tellson s ledgers 
to turn cooks and carpenters   As a tutor  whose attainments made the
student s way unusually pleasant and profitable  and as an elegant
translator who brought something to his work besides mere dictionary
knowledge  young Mr  Darnay soon became known and encouraged   He was
well acquainted  more over  with the circumstances of his country 
and those were of ever growing interest   So  with great perseverance
and untiring industry  he prospered 

In London  he had expected neither to walk on pavements of gold  nor
to lie on beds of roses  if he had had any such exalted expectation 
he would not have prospered   He had expected labour  and he found it 
and did it and made the best of it   In this  his prosperity consisted 

A certain portion of his time was passed at Cambridge  where he read
with undergraduates as a sort of tolerated smuggler who drove a
contraband trade in European languages  instead of conveying Greek
and Latin through the Custom house   The rest of his time he passed
in London 

Now  from the days when it was always summer in Eden  to these days
when it is mostly winter in fallen latitudes  the world of a man has
invariably gone one way  Charles Darnay s way  the way of the love of
a woman 

He had loved Lucie Manette from the hour of his danger   He had never
heard a sound so sweet and dear as the sound of her compassionate
voice  he had never seen a face so tenderly beautiful  as hers when
it was confronted with his own on the edge of the grave that had been
dug for him   But  he had not yet spoken to her on the subject 
the assassination at the deserted chateau far away beyond the heaving
water and the long  long  dusty roads  the solid stone chateau which
had itself become the mere mist of a dream  had been done a year 
and he had never yet  by so much as a single spoken word  disclosed
to her the state of his heart 

That he had his reasons for this  he knew full well   It was again a
summer day when  lately arrived in London from his college occupation 
he turned into the quiet corner in Soho  bent on seeking an opportunity
of opening his mind to Doctor Manette   It was the close of the
summer day  and he knew Lucie to be out with Miss Pross 

He found the Doctor reading in his arm chair at a window   The energy
which had at once supported him under his old sufferings and aggravated
their sharpness  had been gradually restored to him   He was now a
very energetic man indeed  with great firmness of purpose  strength
of resolution  and vigour of action   In his recovered energy he was
sometimes a little fitful and sudden  as he had at first been in the
exercise of his other recovered faculties  but  this had never been
frequently observable  and had grown more and more rare 

He studied much  slept little  sustained a great deal of fatigue with
ease  and was equably cheerful   To him  now entered Charles Darnay 
at sight of whom he laid aside his book and held out his hand 

 Charles Darnay   I rejoice to see you   We have been counting on your
return these three or four days past   Mr  Stryver and Sydney Carton
were both here yesterday  and both made you out to be more than due  

 I am obliged to them for their interest in the matter   he answered 
a little coldly as to them  though very warmly as to the Doctor 
 Miss Manette   

 Is well   said the Doctor  as he stopped short   and your return
will delight us all   She has gone out on some household matters 
but will soon be home  

 Doctor Manette  I knew she was from home   I took the opportunity of
her being from home  to beg to speak to you  

There was a blank silence 

 Yes   said the Doctor  with evident constraint    Bring your chair here 
and speak on  

He complied as to the chair  but appeared to find the speaking on
less easy 

 I have had the happiness  Doctor Manette  of being so intimate
here   so he at length began   for some year and a half  that I hope
the topic on which I am about to touch may not   

He was stayed by the Doctor s putting out his hand to stop him 
When he had kept it so a little while  he said  drawing it back 

 Is Lucie the topic  

 She is  

 It is hard for me to speak of her at any time   It is very hard for
me to hear her spoken of in that tone of yours  Charles Darnay  

 It is a tone of fervent admiration  true homage  and deep love 
Doctor Manette   he said deferentially 

There was another blank silence before her father rejoined 

 I believe it   I do you justice  I believe it  

His constraint was so manifest  and it was so manifest  too  that it
originated in an unwillingness to approach the subject  that Charles
Darnay hesitated 

 Shall I go on  sir  

Another blank 

 Yes  go on  

 You anticipate what I would say  though you cannot know how earnestly
I say it  how earnestly I feel it  without knowing my secret heart 
and the hopes and fears and anxieties with which it has long been
laden   Dear Doctor Manette  I love your daughter fondly  dearly 
disinterestedly  devotedly   If ever there were love in the world 
I love her   You have loved yourself  let your old love speak for me  

The Doctor sat with his face turned away  and his eyes bent on the
ground   At the last words  he stretched out his hand again  hurriedly 
and cried 

 Not that  sir   Let that be   I adjure you  do not recall that  

His cry was so like a cry of actual pain  that it rang in Charles
Darnay s ears long after he had ceased   He motioned with the hand he
had extended  and it seemed to be an appeal to Darnay to pause 
The latter so received it  and remained silent 

 I ask your pardon   said the Doctor  in a subdued tone  after some
moments    I do not doubt your loving Lucie  you may be satisfied of it  

He turned towards him in his chair  but did not look at him  or raise
his eyes   His chin dropped upon his hand  and his white hair
overshadowed his face 

 Have you spoken to Lucie  

 No  

 Nor written  

 Never  

 It would be ungenerous to affect not to know that your self denial
is to be referred to your consideration for her father   Her father
thanks you  

He offered his hand  but his eyes did not go with it 

 I know   said Darnay  respectfully   how can I fail to know 
Doctor Manette  I who have seen you together from day to day 
that between you and Miss Manette there is an affection so unusual 
so touching  so belonging to the circumstances in which it has been
nurtured  that it can have few parallels  even in the tenderness
between a father and child   I know  Doctor Manette  how can I fail
to know  that  mingled with the affection and duty of a daughter who
has become a woman  there is  in her heart  towards you  all the love
and reliance of infancy itself   I know that  as in her childhood she
had no parent  so she is now devoted to you with all the constancy
and fervour of her present years and character  united to the
trustfulness and attachment of the early days in which you were lost
to her   I know perfectly well that if you had been restored to her
from the world beyond this life  you could hardly be invested  in her
sight  with a more sacred character than that in which you are always
with her   I know that when she is clinging to you  the hands of baby 
girl  and woman  all in one  are round your neck   I know that in
loving you she sees and loves her mother at her own age  sees and
loves you at my age  loves her mother broken hearted  loves you
through your dreadful trial and in your blessed restoration   I have
known this  night and day  since I have known you in your home  

Her father sat silent  with his face bent down   His breathing was a
little quickened  but he repressed all other signs of agitation 

 Dear Doctor Manette  always knowing this  always seeing her and you
with this hallowed light about you  I have forborne  and forborne 
as long as it was in the nature of man to do it   I have felt  and do
even now feel  that to bring my love  even mine  between you  is to
touch your history with something not quite so good as itself 
But I love her   Heaven is my witness that I love her  

 I believe it   answered her father  mournfully    I have thought so
before now   I believe it  

 But  do not believe   said Darnay  upon whose ear the mournful voice
struck with a reproachful sound   that if my fortune were so cast as
that  being one day so happy as to make her my wife  I must at any
time put any separation between her and you  I could or would breathe
a word of what I now say   Besides that I should know it to be
hopeless  I should know it to be a baseness   If I had any such
possibility  even at a remote distance of years  harboured in my
thoughts  and hidden in my heart  if it ever had been there  if it
ever could be there  I could not now touch this honoured hand  

He laid his own upon it as he spoke 

 No  dear Doctor Manette   Like you  a voluntary exile from France 
like you  driven from it by its distractions  oppressions  and
miseries  like you  striving to live away from it by my own exertions 
and trusting in a happier future  I look only to sharing your fortunes 
sharing your life and home  and being faithful to you to the death 
Not to divide with Lucie her privilege as your child  companion  and
friend  but to come in aid of it  and bind her closer to you  if such
a thing can be  

His touch still lingered on her father s hand   Answering the touch
for a moment  but not coldly  her father rested his hands upon the
arms of his chair  and looked up for the first time since the
beginning of the conference   A struggle was evidently in his face 
a struggle with that occasional look which had a tendency in it to
dark doubt and dread 

 You speak so feelingly and so manfully  Charles Darnay  that I thank
you with all my heart  and will open all my heart  or nearly so 
Have you any reason to believe that Lucie loves you  

 None   As yet  none  

 Is it the immediate object of this confidence  that you may at once
ascertain that  with my knowledge  

 Not even so   I might not have the hopefulness to do it for weeks 
I might  mistaken or not mistaken  have that hopefulness to morrow  

 Do you seek any guidance from me  

 I ask none  sir   But I have thought it possible that you might have
it in your power  if you should deem it right  to give me some  

 Do you seek any promise from me  

 I do seek that  

 What is it  

 I well understand that  without you  I could have no hope   I well
understand that  even if Miss Manette held me at this moment in her
innocent heart  do not think I have the presumption to assume so much  
I could retain no place in it against her love for her father  

 If that be so  do you see what  on the other hand  is involved in it  

 I understand equally well  that a word from her father in any suitor s
favour  would outweigh herself and all the world   For which reason 
Doctor Manette   said Darnay  modestly but firmly   I would not ask
that word  to save my life  

 I am sure of it   Charles Darnay  mysteries arise out of close love 
as well as out of wide division  in the former case  they are subtle
and delicate  and difficult to penetrate   My daughter Lucie is  in
this one respect  such a mystery to me  I can make no guess at the
state of her heart  

 May I ask  sir  if you think she is    As he hesitated  her father
supplied the rest 

 Is sought by any other suitor  

 It is what I meant to say  

Her father considered a little before he answered 

 You have seen Mr  Carton here  yourself   Mr  Stryver is here too 
occasionally   If it be at all  it can only be by one of these  

 Or both   said Darnay 

 I had not thought of both  I should not think either  likely 
You want a promise from me   Tell me what it is  

 It is  that if Miss Manette should bring to you at any time  on her
own part  such a confidence as I have ventured to lay before you 
you will bear testimony to what I have said  and to your belief in it 
I hope you may be able to think so well of me  as to urge no influence
against me   I say nothing more of my stake in this  this is what I ask 
The condition on which I ask it  and which you have an undoubted right
to require  I will observe immediately  

 I give the promise   said the Doctor   without any condition 
I believe your object to be  purely and truthfully  as you have
stated it   I believe your intention is to perpetuate  and not to
weaken  the ties between me and my other and far dearer self   If she
should ever tell me that you are essential to her perfect happiness 
I will give her to you   If there were  Charles Darnay  if there were   

The young man had taken his hand gratefully  their hands were joined
as the Doctor spoke 

   any fancies  any reasons  any apprehensions  anything whatsoever 
new or old  against the man she really loved  the direct responsibility
thereof not lying on his head  they should all be obliterated for her
sake   She is everything to me  more to me than suffering  more to me
than wrong  more to me  Well   This is idle talk  

So strange was the way in which he faded into silence  and so strange
his fixed look when he had ceased to speak  that Darnay felt his own
hand turn cold in the hand that slowly released and dropped it 

 You said something to me   said Doctor Manette  breaking into a smile 
 What was it you said to me  

He was at a loss how to answer  until he remembered having spoken of
a condition   Relieved as his mind reverted to that  he answered 

 Your confidence in me ought to be returned with full confidence on
my part   My present name  though but slightly changed from my
mother s  is not  as you will remember  my own   I wish to tell you
what that is  and why I am in England  

 Stop   said the Doctor of Beauvais 

 I wish it  that I may the better deserve your confidence  and have
no secret from you  

 Stop  

For an instant  the Doctor even had his two hands at his ears  for
another instant  even had his two hands laid on Darnay s lips 

 Tell me when I ask you  not now   If your suit should prosper  if
Lucie should love you  you shall tell me on your marriage morning 
Do you promise  

 Willingly 

 Give me your hand   She will be home directly  and it is better she
should not see us together to night   Go   God bless you  

It was dark when Charles Darnay left him  and it was an hour later
and darker when Lucie came home  she hurried into the room alone  
for Miss Pross had gone straight up stairs  and was surprised to find
his reading chair empty 

 My father   she called to him    Father dear  

Nothing was said in answer  but she heard a low hammering sound in
his bedroom   Passing lightly across the intermediate room  she
looked in at his door and came running back frightened  crying to
herself  with her blood all chilled   What shall I do   What shall I do  

Her uncertainty lasted but a moment  she hurried back  and tapped at
his door  and softly called to him   The noise ceased at the sound of
her voice  and he presently came out to her  and they walked up and
down together for a long time 

She came down from her bed  to look at him in his sleep that night 
He slept heavily  and his tray of shoemaking tools  and his old
unfinished work  were all as usual 



XI

A Companion Picture


 Sydney   said Mr  Stryver  on that self same night  or morning  to his
jackal   mix another bowl of punch  I have something to say to you  

Sydney had been working double tides that night  and the night before 
and the night before that  and a good many nights in succession  making
a grand clearance among Mr  Stryver s papers before the setting in of
the long vacation   The clearance was effected at last  the Stryver
arrears were handsomely fetched up  everything was got rid of until
November should come with its fogs atmospheric  and fogs legal  and
bring grist to the mill again 

Sydney was none the livelier and none the soberer for so much application 
It had taken a deal of extra wet towelling to pull him through the night 
a correspondingly extra quantity of wine had preceded the towelling 
and he was in a very damaged condition  as he now pulled his turban
off and threw it into the basin in which he had steeped it at intervals
for the last six hours 

 Are you mixing that other bowl of punch   said Stryver the portly 
with his hands in his waistband  glancing round from the sofa where
he lay on his back 

 I am  

 Now  look here   I am going to tell you something that will rather
surprise you  and that perhaps will make you think me not quite as
shrewd as you usually do think me   I intend to marry  

  Do  you  

 Yes   And not for money   What do you say now  

 I don t feel disposed to say much   Who is she  

 Guess  

 Do I know her  

 Guess  

 I am not going to guess  at five o clock in the morning  with my
brains frying and sputtering in my head  If you want me to guess  you
must ask me to dinner  

 Well then  I ll tell you   said Stryver  coming slowly into a sitting
posture    Sydney  I rather despair of making myself intelligible to you 
because you are such an insensible dog  

 And you   returned Sydney  busy concocting the punch   are such a
sensitive and poetical spirit   

 Come   rejoined Stryver  laughing boastfully   though I don t prefer
any claim to being the soul of Romance  for I hope I know better  
still I am a tenderer sort of fellow than  you   

 You are a luckier  if you mean that  

 I don t mean that   I mean I am a man of more  more   

 Say gallantry  while you are about it   suggested Carton 

 Well   I ll say gallantry   My meaning is that I am a man   said
Stryver  inflating himself at his friend as he made the punch 
 who cares more to be agreeable  who takes more pains to be agreeable 
who knows better how to be agreeable  in a woman s society  than you do  

 Go on   said Sydney Carton 

 No  but before I go on   said Stryver  shaking his head in his bullying
way   I ll have this out with you   You ve been at Doctor Manette s
house as much as I have  or more than I have   Why  I have been ashamed
of your moroseness there   Your manners have been of that silent and
sullen and hangdog kind  that  upon my life and soul  I have been
ashamed of you  Sydney  

 It should be very beneficial to a man in your practice at the bar 
to be ashamed of anything   returned Sydney   you ought to be much
obliged to me  

 You shall not get off in that way   rejoined Stryver  shouldering the
rejoinder at him   no  Sydney  it s my duty to tell you  and I tell you
to your face to do you good  that you are a devilish ill conditioned
fellow in that sort of society   You are a disagreeable fellow  

Sydney drank a bumper of the punch he had made  and laughed 

 Look at me   said Stryver  squaring himself   I have less need to
make myself agreeable than you have  being more independent in
circumstances   Why do I do it  

 I never saw you do it yet   muttered Carton 

 I do it because it s politic  I do it on principle   And look at me 
I get on  

 You don t get on with your account of your matrimonial intentions  
answered Carton  with a careless air   I wish you would keep to that 
As to me  will you never understand that I am incorrigible  

He asked the question with some appearance of scorn 

 You have no business to be incorrigible   was his friend s answer 
delivered in no very soothing tone 

 I have no business to be  at all  that I know of   said Sydney Carton 
 Who is the lady  

 Now  don t let my announcement of the name make you uncomfortable 
Sydney   said Mr  Stryver  preparing him with ostentatious
friendliness for the disclosure he was about to make   because I know
you don t mean half you say  and if you meant it all  it would be of
no importance   I make this little preface  because you once mentioned
the young lady to me in slighting terms  

 I did  

 Certainly  and in these chambers  

Sydney Carton looked at his punch and looked at his complacent friend 
drank his punch and looked at his complacent friend 

 You made mention of the young lady as a golden haired doll   The young
lady is Miss Manette   If you had been a fellow of any sensitiveness or
delicacy of feeling in that kind of way  Sydney  I might have been a
little resentful of your employing such a designation  but you are not 
You want that sense altogether  therefore I am no more annoyed when I
think of the expression  than I should be annoyed by a man s opinion of
a picture of mine  who had no eye for pictures   or of a piece of music
of mine  who had no ear for music  

Sydney Carton drank the punch at a great rate  drank it by bumpers 
looking at his friend 

 Now you know all about it  Syd   said Mr  Stryver    I don t care
about fortune   she is a charming creature  and I have made up my mind
to please myself   on the whole  I think I can afford to please myself 
She will have in me a man already pretty well off  and a rapidly
rising man  and a man of some distinction   it is a piece of good fortune
for her  but she is worthy of good fortune   Are you astonished  

Carton  still drinking the punch  rejoined   Why should I be astonished  

 You approve  

Carton  still drinking the punch  rejoined   Why should I not approve  

 Well   said his friend Stryver   you take it more easily than I
fancied you would  and are less mercenary on my behalf than I thought
you would be  though  to be sure  you know well enough by this time
that your ancient chum is a man of a pretty strong will   Yes  Sydney 
I have had enough of this style of life  with no other as a change
from it  I feel that it is a pleasant thing for a man to have a home
when he feels inclined to go to it  when he doesn t  he can stay away  
and I feel that Miss Manette will tell well in any station  and will
always do me credit   So I have made up my mind   And now  Sydney 
old boy  I want to say a word to  you  about  your  prospects   You are
in a bad way  you know  you really are in a bad way   You don t know
the value of money  you live hard  you ll knock up one of these days 
and be ill and poor  you really ought to think about a nurse  

The prosperous patronage with which he said it  made him look twice
as big as he was  and four times as offensive 

 Now  let me recommend you   pursued Stryver   to look it in the face 
I have looked it in the face  in my different way  look it in the face 
you  in your different way   Marry   Provide somebody to take care of you 
Never mind your having no enjoyment of women s society  nor understanding
of it  nor tact for it   Find out somebody   Find out some respectable
woman with a little property  somebody in the landlady way  or
lodging letting way  and marry her  against a rainy day   That s the
kind of thing for  you    Now think of it  Sydney  

 I ll think of it   said Sydney 



XII

The Fellow of Delicacy


Mr  Stryver having made up his mind to that magnanimous bestowal of
good fortune on the Doctor s daughter  resolved to make her happiness
known to her before he left town for the Long Vacation   After some
mental debating of the point  he came to the conclusion that it would
be as well to get all the preliminaries done with  and they could
then arrange at their leisure whether he should give her his hand a
week or two before Michaelmas Term  or in the little Christmas vacation
between it and Hilary 

As to the strength of his case  he had not a doubt about it  but
clearly saw his way to the verdict   Argued with the jury on substantial
worldly grounds  the only grounds ever worth taking into account  
it was a plain case  and had not a weak spot in it   He called himself
for the plaintiff  there was no getting over his evidence  the counsel
for the defendant threw up his brief  and the jury did not even turn
to consider   After trying it  Stryver  C   J   was satisfied that no
plainer case could be 

Accordingly  Mr  Stryver inaugurated the Long Vacation with a
formal proposal to take Miss Manette to Vauxhall Gardens  that failing 
to Ranelagh  that unaccountably failing too  it behoved him to present
himself in Soho  and there declare his noble mind 

Towards Soho  therefore  Mr  Stryver shouldered his way from the
Temple  while the bloom of the Long Vacation s infancy was still upon
it   Anybody who had seen him projecting himself into Soho while he
was yet on Saint Dunstan s side of Temple Bar  bursting in his
full blown way along the pavement  to the jostlement of all weaker
people  might have seen how safe and strong he was 

His way taking him past Tellson s  and he both banking at Tellson s
and knowing Mr  Lorry as the intimate friend of the Manettes  it
entered Mr  Stryver s mind to enter the bank  and reveal to Mr  Lorry
the brightness of the Soho horizon   So  he pushed open the door with
the weak rattle in its throat  stumbled down the two steps  got past
the two ancient cashiers  and shouldered himself into the musty back
closet where Mr  Lorry sat at great books ruled for figures  with
perpendicular iron bars to his window as if that were ruled for
figures too  and everything under the clouds were a sum 

 Halloa   said Mr  Stryver    How do you do   I hope you are well  

It was Stryver s grand peculiarity that he always seemed too big for
any place  or space   He was so much too big for Tellson s  that
old clerks in distant corners looked up with looks of remonstrance 
as though he squeezed them against the wall   The House itself 
magnificently reading the paper quite in the far off perspective 
lowered displeased  as if the Stryver head had been butted into its
responsible waistcoat 

The discreet Mr  Lorry said  in a sample tone of the voice he would
recommend under the circumstances   How do you do  Mr  Stryver 
How do you do  sir   and shook hands   There was a peculiarity in his
manner of shaking hands  always to be seen in any clerk at Tellson s
who shook hands with a customer when the House pervaded the air 
He shook in a self abnegating way  as one who shook for Tellson and Co 

 Can I do anything for you  Mr  Stryver   asked Mr  Lorry  in his
business character 

 Why  no  thank you  this is a private visit to yourself  Mr  Lorry 
I have come for a private word  

 Oh indeed   said Mr  Lorry  bending down his ear  while his eye
strayed to the House afar off 

 I am going   said Mr  Stryver  leaning his arms confidentially on the
desk   whereupon  although it was a large double one  there appeared to
be not half desk enough for him    I am going to make an offer of myself
in marriage to your agreeable little friend  Miss Manette  Mr  Lorry  

 Oh dear me   cried Mr  Lorry  rubbing his chin  and looking at his
visitor dubiously 

 Oh dear me  sir   repeated Stryver  drawing back    Oh dear you  sir 
What may your meaning be  Mr  Lorry  

 My meaning   answered the man of business   is  of course  friendly
and appreciative  and that it does you the greatest credit  and  
in short  my meaning is everything you could desire   But  really  you
know  Mr  Stryver    Mr  Lorry paused  and shook his head at him in
the oddest manner  as if he were compelled against his will to add 
internally   you know there really is so much too much of you  

 Well   said Stryver  slapping the desk with his contentious hand 
opening his eyes wider  and taking a long breath   if I understand
you  Mr  Lorry  I ll be hanged  

Mr  Lorry adjusted his little wig at both ears as a means towards
that end  and bit the feather of a pen 

 D  n it all  sir   said Stryver  staring at him   am I not eligible  

 Oh dear yes   Yes   Oh yes  you re eligible   said Mr  Lorry    If you
say eligible  you are eligible  

 Am I not prosperous   asked Stryver 

 Oh  if you come to prosperous  you are prosperous   said Mr  Lorry 

 And advancing  

 If you come to advancing you know   said Mr  Lorry  delighted to be
able to make another admission   nobody can doubt that  

 Then what on earth is your meaning  Mr  Lorry   demanded Stryver 
perceptibly crestfallen 

 Well   I  Were you going there now   asked Mr  Lorry 

 Straight   said Stryver  with a plump of his fist on the desk 

 Then I think I wouldn t  if I was you  

 Why   said Stryver    Now  I ll put you in a corner   forensically
shaking a forefinger at him    You are a man of business and bound
to have a reason   State your reason   Why wouldn t you go  

 Because   said Mr  Lorry   I wouldn t go on such an object without
having some cause to believe that I should succeed  

 D  n  me    cried Stryver   but this beats everything  

Mr  Lorry glanced at the distant House  and glanced at the angry Stryver 

 Here s a man of business  a man of years  a man of experience  
 in  a Bank   said Stryver   and having summed up three leading reasons
for complete success  he says there s no reason at all   Says it with
his head on    Mr  Stryver remarked upon the peculiarity as if it would
have been infinitely less remarkable if he had said it with his head off 

 When I speak of success  I speak of success with the young lady  and
when I speak of causes and reasons to make success probable  I speak
of causes and reasons that will tell as such with the young lady 
The young lady  my good sir   said Mr  Lorry  mildly tapping the
Stryver arm   the young lady   The young lady goes before all  

 Then you mean to tell me  Mr  Lorry   said Stryver  squaring his
elbows   that it is your deliberate opinion that the young lady at
present in question is a mincing Fool  

 Not exactly so   I mean to tell you  Mr  Stryver   said Mr  Lorry 
reddening   that I will hear no disrespectful word of that young lady
from any lips  and that if I knew any man  which I hope I do not  
whose taste was so coarse  and whose temper was so overbearing 
that he could not restrain himself from speaking disrespectfully of
that young lady at this desk  not even Tellson s should prevent my
giving him a piece of my mind  

The necessity of being angry in a suppressed tone had put Mr  Stryver s
blood vessels into a dangerous state when it was his turn to be angry 
Mr  Lorry s veins  methodical as their courses could usually be 
were in no better state now it was his turn 

 That is what I mean to tell you  sir   said Mr  Lorry 
 Pray let there be no mistake about it  

Mr  Stryver sucked the end of a ruler for a little while  and then
stood hitting a tune out of his teeth with it  which probably gave
him the toothache   He broke the awkward silence by saying 

 This is something new to me  Mr  Lorry   You deliberately advise
me not to go up to Soho and offer myself   my self  Stryver of
the King s Bench bar  

 Do you ask me for my advice  Mr  Stryver  

 Yes  I do  

 Very good   Then I give it  and you have repeated it correctly  

 And all I can say of it is   laughed Stryver with a vexed laugh 
 that this  ha  ha   beats everything past  present  and to come  

 Now understand me   pursued Mr  Lorry    As a man of business  I
am not justified in saying anything about this matter  for  as a man
of business  I know nothing of it   But  as an old fellow  who has
carried Miss Manette in his arms  who is the trusted friend of
Miss Manette and of her father too  and who has a great affection for
them both  I have spoken   The confidence is not of my seeking 
recollect   Now  you think I may not be right  

 Not I   said Stryver  whistling    I can t undertake to find third
parties in common sense  I can only find it for myself   I suppose
sense in certain quarters  you suppose mincing bread and butter
nonsense   It s new to me  but you are right  I dare say  

 What I suppose  Mr  Stryver  I claim to characterise for myself  And
understand me  sir   said Mr  Lorry  quickly flushing again 
 I will not  not even at Tellson s  have it characterised for me by any
gentleman breathing  

 There   I beg your pardon   said Stryver 

 Granted   Thank you   Well  Mr  Stryver  I was about to say   it
might be painful to you to find yourself mistaken  it might be painful
to Doctor Manette to have the task of being explicit with you  it
might be very painful to Miss Manette to have the task of being
explicit with you   You know the terms upon which I have the honour
and happiness to stand with the family   If you please  committing you
in no way  representing you in no way  I will undertake to correct my
advice by the exercise of a little new observation and judgment expressly
brought to bear upon it   If you should then be dissatisfied with it 
you can but test its soundness for yourself  if  on the other hand 
you should be satisfied with it  and it should be what it now is 
it may spare all sides what is best spared   What do you say  

 How long would you keep me in town  

 Oh   It is only a question of a few hours   I could go to Soho in the
evening  and come to your chambers afterwards  

 Then I say yes   said Stryver    I won t go up there now  I am not
so hot upon it as that comes to  I say yes  and I shall expect you
to look in to night   Good morning  

Then Mr  Stryver turned and burst out of the Bank  causing such a
concussion of air on his passage through  that to stand up against it
bowing behind the two counters  required the utmost remaining strength
of the two ancient clerks   Those venerable and feeble persons were
always seen by the public in the act of bowing  and were popularly
believed  when they had bowed a customer out  still to keep on bowing
in the empty office until they bowed another customer in 

The barrister was keen enough to divine that the banker would not
have gone so far in his expression of opinion on any less solid
ground than moral certainty   Unprepared as he was for the large pill
he had to swallow  he got it down    And now   said Mr  Stryver 
shaking his forensic forefinger at the Temple in general  when it
was down   my way out of this  is  to put you all in the wrong  

It was a bit of the art of an Old Bailey tactician  in which he
found great relief    You shall not put me in the wrong  young lady  
said Mr  Stryver   I ll do that for you  

Accordingly  when Mr  Lorry called that night as late as ten o clock 
Mr  Stryver  among a quantity of books and papers littered out for
the purpose  seemed to have nothing less on his mind than the subject
of the morning   He even showed surprise when he saw Mr  Lorry  and
was altogether in an absent and preoccupied state 

 Well   said that good natured emissary  after a full half hour of
bootless attempts to bring him round to the question    I have
been to Soho  

 To Soho   repeated Mr  Stryver  coldly    Oh  to be sure 
What am I thinking of  

 And I have no doubt   said Mr  Lorry   that I was right in the
conversation we had   My opinion is confirmed  and I reiterate my advice  

 I assure you   returned Mr  Stryver  in the friendliest way   that I
am sorry for it on your account  and sorry for it on the poor father s
account   I know this must always be a sore subject with the family 
let us say no more about it  

 I don t understand you   said Mr  Lorry 

 I dare say not   rejoined Stryver  nodding his head in a smoothing
and final way   no matter  no matter  

 But it does matter   Mr  Lorry urged 

 No it doesn t  I assure you it doesn t   Having supposed that there
was sense where there is no sense  and a laudable ambition where there
is not a laudable ambition  I am well out of my mistake  and no harm
is done   Young women have committed similar follies often before 
and have repented them in poverty and obscurity often before   In an
unselfish aspect  I am sorry that the thing is dropped  because it
would have been a bad thing for me in a worldly point of view 
in a selfish aspect  I am glad that the thing has dropped  because it
would have been a bad thing for me in a worldly point of view  
it is hardly necessary to say I could have gained nothing by it 
There is no harm at all done   I have not proposed to the young lady 
and  between ourselves  I am by no means certain  on reflection 
that I ever should have committed myself to that extent   Mr  Lorry 
you cannot control the mincing vanities and giddinesses of
empty headed girls  you must not expect to do it  or you will always
be disappointed   Now  pray say no more about it   I tell you 
I regret it on account of others  but I am satisfied on my own account 
And I am really very much obliged to you for allowing me to sound you 
and for giving me your advice  you know the young lady better
than I do  you were right  it never would have done  

Mr  Lorry was so taken aback  that he looked quite stupidly at
Mr  Stryver shouldering him towards the door  with an appearance of
showering generosity  forbearance  and goodwill  on his erring head 
 Make the best of it  my dear sir   said Stryver   say no more
about it  thank you again for allowing me to sound you  good night  

Mr  Lorry was out in the night  before he knew where he was 
Mr  Stryver was lying back on his sofa  winking at his ceiling 



XIII

The Fellow of No Delicacy


If Sydney Carton ever shone anywhere  he certainly never shone in the
house of Doctor Manette   He had been there often  during a whole year 
and had always been the same moody and morose lounger there   When he
cared to talk  he talked well  but  the cloud of caring for nothing 
which overshadowed him with such a fatal darkness  was very rarely
pierced by the light within him 

And yet he did care something for the streets that environed that house 
and for the senseless stones that made their pavements   Many a night
he vaguely and unhappily wandered there  when wine had brought
no transitory gladness to him  many a dreary daybreak revealed his
solitary figure lingering there  and still lingering there when the first
beams of the sun brought into strong relief  removed beauties of
architecture in spires of churches and lofty buildings  as perhaps
the quiet time brought some sense of better things  else forgotten
and unattainable  into his mind   Of late  the neglected bed in the
Temple Court had known him more scantily than ever  and often when he
had thrown himself upon it no longer than a few minutes  he had got up
again  and haunted that neighbourhood 

On a day in August  when Mr  Stryver  after notifying to his jackal
that  he had thought better of that marrying matter   had carried his
delicacy into Devonshire  and when the sight and scent of flowers in
the City streets had some waifs of goodness in them for the worst 
of health for the sickliest  and of youth for the oldest  Sydney s feet
still trod those stones   From being irresolute and purposeless 
his feet became animated by an intention  and  in the working out of
that intention  they took him to the Doctor s door 

He was shown up stairs  and found Lucie at her work  alone   She had
never been quite at her ease with him  and received him with some
little embarrassment as he seated himself near her table   But 
looking up at his face in the interchange of the first few
common places  she observed a change in it 

 I fear you are not well  Mr  Carton  

 No   But the life I lead  Miss Manette  is not conducive to health 
What is to be expected of  or by  such profligates  

 Is it not  forgive me  I have begun the question on my lips  a pity
to live no better life  

 God knows it is a shame  

 Then why not change it  

Looking gently at him again  she was surprised and saddened to see
that there were tears in his eyes   There were tears in his voice too 
as he answered 

 It is too late for that   I shall never be better than I am 
I shall sink lower  and be worse  

He leaned an elbow on her table  and covered his eyes with his hand 
The table trembled in the silence that followed 

She had never seen him softened  and was much distressed   He knew
her to be so  without looking at her  and said 

 Pray forgive me  Miss Manette   I break down before the knowledge
of what I want to say to you   Will you hear me  

 If it will do you any good  Mr  Carton  if it would make you happier 
it would make me very glad  

 God bless you for your sweet compassion  

He unshaded his face after a little while  and spoke steadily 

 Don t be afraid to hear me   Don t shrink from anything I say 
I am like one who died young   All my life might have been  

 No  Mr  Carton   I am sure that the best part of it might still be 
I am sure that you might be much  much worthier of yourself  

 Say of you  Miss Manette  and although I know better  although
in the mystery of my own wretched heart I know better  I shall
never forget it  

She was pale and trembling   He came to her relief with a fixed
despair of himself which made the interview unlike any other
that could have been holden 

 If it had been possible  Miss Manette  that you could have returned
the love of the man you see before yourself  flung away  wasted 
drunken  poor creature of misuse as you know him to be  he would have
been conscious this day and hour  in spite of his happiness  that he
would bring you to misery  bring you to sorrow and repentance  blight
you  disgrace you  pull you down with him   I know very well that you
can have no tenderness for me  I ask for none  I am even thankful
that it cannot be  

 Without it  can I not save you  Mr  Carton   Can I not recall you  
forgive me again   to a better course   Can I in no way repay your
confidence   I know this is a confidence   she modestly said  after a
little hesitation  and in earnest tears   I know you would say this to
no one else   Can I turn it to no good account for yourself  Mr  Carton  

He shook his head 

 To none   No  Miss Manette  to none   If you will hear me through a
very little more  all you can ever do for me is done   I wish you to
know that you have been the last dream of my soul   In my degradation
I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father 
and of this home made such a home by you  has stirred old shadows that
I thought had died out of me   Since I knew you  I have been troubled
by a remorse that I thought would never reproach me again  and have
heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward  that I thought were
silent for ever   I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh  beginning
anew  shaking off sloth and sensuality  and fighting out the abandoned
fight   A dream  all a dream  that ends in nothing  and leaves the
sleeper where he lay down  but I wish you to know that you inspired it  

 Will nothing of it remain   O Mr  Carton  think again   Try again  

 No  Miss Manette  all through it  I have known myself to be quite
undeserving   And yet I have had the weakness  and have still the
weakness  to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me 
heap of ashes that I am  into fire  a fire  however  inseparable
in its nature from myself  quickening nothing  lighting nothing 
doing no service  idly burning away  

 Since it is my misfortune  Mr  Carton  to have made you more unhappy
than you were before you knew me   

 Don t say that  Miss Manette  for you would have reclaimed me 
if anything could   You will not be the cause of my becoming worse  

 Since the state of your mind that you describe  is  at all events 
attributable to some influence of mine  this is what I mean 
if I can make it plain  can I use no influence to serve you 
Have I no power for good  with you  at all  

 The utmost good that I am capable of now  Miss Manette  I have come
here to realise   Let me carry through the rest of my misdirected life 
the remembrance that I opened my heart to you  last of all the world 
and that there was something left in me at this time which you could
deplore and pity  

 Which I entreated you to believe  again and again  most fervently 
with all my heart  was capable of better things  Mr  Carton  

 Entreat me to believe it no more  Miss Manette   I have proved myself 
and I know better   I distress you  I draw fast to an end   Will you let
me believe  when I recall this day  that the last confidence of my life
was reposed in your pure and innocent breast  and that it lies there
alone  and will be shared by no one  

 If that will be a consolation to you  yes  

 Not even by the dearest one ever to be known to you  

 Mr  Carton   she answered  after an agitated pause   the secret is
yours  not mine  and I promise to respect it  

 Thank you   And again  God bless you  

He put her hand to his lips  and moved towards the door 

 Be under no apprehension  Miss Manette  of my ever resuming this
conversation by so much as a passing word   I will never refer to it
again   If I were dead  that could not be surer than it is henceforth 
In the hour of my death  I shall hold sacred the one good remembrance  
and shall thank and bless you for it  that my last avowal of myself was
made to you  and that my name  and faults  and miseries were gently
carried in your heart   May it otherwise be light and happy  

He was so unlike what he had ever shown himself to be  and it was
so sad to think how much he had thrown away  and how much he every
day kept down and perverted  that Lucie Manette wept mournfully for
him as he stood looking back at her 

 Be comforted   he said   I am not worth such feeling  Miss Manette 
An hour or two hence  and the low companions and low habits that I scorn
but yield to  will render me less worth such tears as those  than any
wretch who creeps along the streets   Be comforted   But  within myself 
I shall always be  towards you  what I am now  though outwardly I shall
be what you have heretofore seen me   The last supplication but one
I make to you  is  that you will believe this of me  

 I will  Mr  Carton  

 My last supplication of all  is this  and with it  I will relieve
you of a visitor with whom I well know you have nothing in unison 
and between whom and you there is an impassable space   It is useless
to say it  I know  but it rises out of my soul   For you  and for any
dear to you  I would do anything   If my career were of that better
kind that there was any opportunity or capacity of sacrifice in it 
I would embrace any sacrifice for you and for those dear to you 
Try to hold me in your mind  at some quiet times  as ardent and sincere
in this one thing   The time will come  the time will not be long
in coming  when new ties will be formed about you  ties that will bind
you yet more tenderly and strongly to the home you so adorn  the dearest
ties that will ever grace and gladden you   O Miss Manette  when the
little picture of a happy father s face looks up in yours  when you
see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet  think
now and then that there is a man who would give his life  to keep
a life you love beside you  

He said   Farewell   said a last  God bless you   and left her 



XIV

The Honest Tradesman


To the eyes of Mr  Jeremiah Cruncher  sitting on his stool in
Fleet street with his grisly urchin beside him  a vast number and
variety of objects in movement were every day presented   Who could
sit upon anything in Fleet street during the busy hours of the day 
and not be dazed and deafened by two immense processions  one ever
tending westward with the sun  the other ever tending eastward
from the sun  both ever tending to the plains beyond the range of red
and purple where the sun goes down 

With his straw in his mouth  Mr  Cruncher sat watching the two streams 
like the heathen rustic who has for several centuries been on duty
watching one stream  saving that Jerry had no expectation of their
ever running dry   Nor would it have been an expectation of a hopeful
kind  since a small part of his income was derived from the pilotage
of timid women  mostly of a full habit and past the middle term of life 
from Tellson s side of the tides to the opposite shore   Brief as such
companionship was in every separate instance  Mr  Cruncher never
failed to become so interested in the lady as to express a strong desire
to have the honour of drinking her very good health   And it was from
the gifts bestowed upon him towards the execution of this benevolent
purpose  that he recruited his finances  as just now observed 

Time was  when a poet sat upon a stool in a public place  and mused
in the sight of men   Mr  Cruncher  sitting on a stool in a public place 
but not being a poet  mused as little as possible  and looked about him 

It fell out that he was thus engaged in a season when crowds were few 
and belated women few  and when his affairs in general were so
unprosperous as to awaken a strong suspicion in his breast that
Mrs  Cruncher must have been  flopping  in some pointed manner  when
an unusual concourse pouring down Fleet street westward  attracted his
attention   Looking that way  Mr  Cruncher made out that some kind of
funeral was coming along  and that there was popular objection to this
funeral  which engendered uproar 

 Young Jerry   said Mr  Cruncher  turning to his offspring 
 it s a buryin   

 Hooroar  father   cried Young Jerry 

The young gentleman uttered this exultant sound with mysterious
significance   The elder gentleman took the cry so ill  that he
watched his opportunity  and smote the young gentleman on the ear 

 What d ye mean   What are you hooroaring at   What do you want to
conwey to your own father  you young Rip   This boy is a getting
too many for  me    said Mr  Cruncher  surveying him    Him and
his hooroars   Don t let me hear no more of you  or you shall feel
some more of me   D ye hear  

 I warn t doing no harm   Young Jerry protested  rubbing his cheek 

 Drop it then   said Mr  Cruncher   I won t have none of  your 
no harms   Get a top of that there seat  and look at the crowd  

His son obeyed  and the crowd approached  they were bawling and hissing
round a dingy hearse and dingy mourning coach  in which mourning coach
there was only one mourner  dressed in the dingy trappings that were
considered essential to the dignity of the position   The position
appeared by no means to please him  however  with an increasing rabble
surrounding the coach  deriding him  making grimaces at him 
and incessantly groaning and calling out    Yah   Spies   Tst   Yaha 
Spies   with many compliments too numerous and forcible to repeat 

Funerals had at all times a remarkable attraction for Mr  Cruncher 
he always pricked up his senses  and became excited  when a funeral
passed Tellson s   Naturally  therefore  a funeral with this uncommon
attendance excited him greatly  and he asked of the first man who ran
against him 

 What is it  brother   What s it about  

  I  don t know   said the man    Spies   Yaha   Tst   Spies  

He asked another man    Who is it  

  I  don t know   returned the man  clapping his hands to his mouth
nevertheless  and vociferating in a surprising heat and with the
greatest ardour   Spies   Yaha   Tst  tst   Spi  ies  

At length  a person better informed on the merits of the case 
tumbled against him  and from this person he learned that the funeral
was the funeral of one Roger Cly 

 Was He a spy   asked Mr  Cruncher 

 Old Bailey spy   returned his informant    Yaha   Tst   Yah 
Old Bailey Spi  i  ies  

 Why  to be sure   exclaimed Jerry  recalling the Trial at which he
had assisted    I ve seen him   Dead  is he  

 Dead as mutton   returned the other   and can t be too dead 
Have  em out  there   Spies   Pull  em out  there   Spies  

The idea was so acceptable in the prevalent absence of any idea 
that the crowd caught it up with eagerness  and loudly repeating the
suggestion to have  em out  and to pull  em out  mobbed the two vehicles
so closely that they came to a stop   On the crowd s opening the coach
doors  the one mourner scuffled out of himself and was in their hands
for a moment  but he was so alert  and made such good use of his time 
that in another moment he was scouring away up a bye street  after
shedding his cloak  hat  long hatband  white pocket handkerchief 
and other symbolical tears 

These  the people tore to pieces and scattered far and wide with
great enjoyment  while the tradesmen hurriedly shut up their shops 
for a crowd in those times stopped at nothing  and was a monster
much dreaded   They had already got the length of opening the hearse
to take the coffin out  when some brighter genius proposed instead 
its being escorted to its destination amidst general rejoicing 
Practical suggestions being much needed  this suggestion  too  was
received with acclamation  and the coach was immediately filled with
eight inside and a dozen out  while as many people got on the roof of
the hearse as could by any exercise of ingenuity stick upon it 
Among the first of these volunteers was Jerry Cruncher himself  who
modestly concealed his spiky head from the observation of Tellson s 
in the further corner of the mourning coach 

The officiating undertakers made some protest against these changes
in the ceremonies  but  the river being alarmingly near  and several
voices remarking on the efficacy of cold immersion in bringing
refractory members of the profession to reason  the protest was faint
and brief   The remodelled procession started  with a chimney sweep
driving the hearse  advised by the regular driver  who was perched
beside him  under close inspection  for the purpose  and with a pieman 
also attended by his cabinet minister  driving the mourning coach 
A bear leader  a popular street character of the time  was impressed
as an additional ornament  before the cavalcade had gone far down
the Strand  and his bear  who was black and very mangy  gave quite
an Undertaking air to that part of the procession in which he walked 

Thus  with beer drinking  pipe smoking  song roaring  and infinite
caricaturing of woe  the disorderly procession went its way  recruiting
at every step  and all the shops shutting up before it   Its destination
was the old church of Saint Pancras  far off in the fields   It got
there in course of time  insisted on pouring into the burial ground 
finally  accomplished the interment of the deceased Roger Cly in
its own way  and highly to its own satisfaction 

The dead man disposed of  and the crowd being under the necessity of
providing some other entertainment for itself  another brighter genius
 or perhaps the same  conceived the humour of impeaching casual
passers by  as Old Bailey spies  and wreaking vengeance on them 
Chase was given to some scores of inoffensive persons who had never
been near the Old Bailey in their lives  in the realisation of this
fancy  and they were roughly hustled and maltreated   The transition
to the sport of window breaking  and thence to the plundering of
public houses  was easy and natural   At last  after several hours 
when sundry summer houses had been pulled down  and some area railings
had been torn up  to arm the more belligerent spirits  a rumour got
about that the Guards were coming   Before this rumour  the crowd
gradually melted away  and perhaps the Guards came  and perhaps they
never came  and this was the usual progress of a mob 

Mr  Cruncher did not assist at the closing sports  but had remained
behind in the churchyard  to confer and condole with the undertakers 
The place had a soothing influence on him   He procured a pipe from a
neighbouring public house  and smoked it  looking in at the railings
and maturely considering the spot 

 Jerry   said Mr  Cruncher  apostrophising himself in his usual way 
 you see that there Cly that day  and you see with your own eyes that
he was a young  un and a straight made  un  

Having smoked his pipe out  and ruminated a little longer  he turned
himself about  that he might appear  before the hour of closing  on his
station at Tellson s   Whether his meditations on mortality had touched
his liver  or whether his general health had been previously at all
amiss  or whether he desired to show a little attention to an eminent
man  is not so much to the purpose  as that he made a short call upon
his medical adviser  a distinguished surgeon  on his way back 

Young Jerry relieved his father with dutiful interest  and reported No
job in his absence   The bank closed  the ancient clerks came out  the
usual watch was set  and Mr  Cruncher and his son went home to tea 

 Now  I tell you where it is   said Mr  Cruncher to his wife  on
entering    If  as a honest tradesman  my wenturs goes wrong to night 
I shall make sure that you ve been praying again me  and I shall work
you for it just the same as if I seen you do it  

The dejected Mrs  Cruncher shook her head 

 Why  you re at it afore my face   said Mr  Cruncher  with signs of
angry apprehension 

 I am saying nothing  

 Well  then  don t meditate nothing   You might as well flop as
meditate   You may as well go again me one way as another 
Drop it altogether  

 Yes  Jerry  

 Yes  Jerry   repeated Mr  Cruncher sitting down to tea    Ah 
It  is  yes  Jerry   That s about it   You may say yes  Jerry  

Mr  Cruncher had no particular meaning in these sulky corroborations 
but made use of them  as people not unfrequently do  to express
general ironical dissatisfaction 

 You and your yes  Jerry   said Mr  Cruncher  taking a bite out of his
bread and butter  and seeming to help it down with a large invisible
oyster out of his saucer    Ah   I think so   I believe you  

 You are going out to night   asked his decent wife  when he took
another bite 

 Yes  I am  

 May I go with you  father   asked his son  briskly 

 No  you mayn t   I m a going  as your mother knows  a fishing 
That s where I m going to   Going a fishing  

 Your fishing rod gets rayther rusty  don t it  father  

 Never you mind  

 Shall you bring any fish home  father  

 If I don t  you ll have short commons  to morrow   returned that
gentleman  shaking his head   that s questions enough for you  I
ain t a going out  till you ve been long abed  

He devoted himself during the remainder of the evening to keeping
a most vigilant watch on Mrs  Cruncher  and sullenly holding her in
conversation that she might be prevented from meditating any petitions
to his disadvantage   With this view  he urged his son to hold her in
conversation also  and led the unfortunate woman a hard life by dwelling
on any causes of complaint he could bring against her  rather than he
would leave her for a moment to her own reflections   The devoutest
person could have rendered no greater homage to the efficacy of an honest
prayer than he did in this distrust of his wife   It was as if a
professed unbeliever in ghosts should be frightened by a ghost story 

 And mind you   said Mr  Cruncher    No games to morrow   If I 
as a honest tradesman  succeed in providing a jinte of meat or two 
none of your not touching of it  and sticking to bread   If I 
as a honest tradesman  am able to provide a little beer  none of your
declaring on water   When you go to Rome  do as Rome does   Rome will
be a ugly customer to you  if you don t    I  m your Rome  you know  

Then he began grumbling again 

 With your flying into the face of your own wittles and drink   I don t
know how scarce you mayn t make the wittles and drink here  by your
flopping tricks and your unfeeling conduct   Look at your boy   he  is 
your n  ain t he   He s as thin as a lath   Do you call yourself a
mother  and not know that a mother s first duty is to blow her boy out  

This touched Young Jerry on a tender place  who adjured his mother to
perform her first duty  and  whatever else she did or neglected  above
all things to lay especial stress on the discharge of that maternal
function so affectingly and delicately indicated by his other parent 

Thus the evening wore away with the Cruncher family  until Young Jerry
was ordered to bed  and his mother  laid under similar injunctions 
obeyed them   Mr  Cruncher beguiled the earlier watches of the night
with solitary pipes  and did not start upon his excursion until nearly
one o clock   Towards that small and ghostly hour  he rose up from his
chair  took a key out of his pocket  opened a locked cupboard  and
brought forth a sack  a crowbar of convenient size  a rope and chain 
and other fishing tackle of that nature   Disposing these articles about
him in skilful manner  he bestowed a parting defiance on Mrs  Cruncher 
extinguished the light  and went out 

Young Jerry  who had only made a feint of undressing when he went to bed 
was not long after his father   Under cover of the darkness he followed
out of the room  followed down the stairs  followed down the court 
followed out into the streets   He was in no uneasiness concerning
his getting into the house again  for it was full of lodgers  and the
door stood ajar all night 

Impelled by a laudable ambition to study the art and mystery of his
father s honest calling  Young Jerry  keeping as close to house fronts 
walls  and doorways  as his eyes were close to one another  held his
honoured parent in view   The honoured parent steering Northward 
had not gone far  when he was joined by another disciple of
Izaak Walton  and the two trudged on together 

Within half an hour from the first starting  they were beyond the
winking lamps  and the more than winking watchmen  and were out upon
a lonely road   Another fisherman was picked up here  and that so
silently  that if Young Jerry had been superstitious  he might have
supposed the second follower of the gentle craft to have  all of a
sudden  split himself into two 

The three went on  and Young Jerry went on  until the three stopped
under a bank overhanging the road   Upon the top of the bank was a
low brick wall  surmounted by an iron railing   In the shadow of bank
and wall the three turned out of the road  and up a blind lane  of which
the wall  there  risen to some eight or ten feet high  formed one side 
Crouching down in a corner  peeping up the lane  the next object that
Young Jerry saw  was the form of his honoured parent  pretty well
defined against a watery and clouded moon  nimbly scaling an iron
gate   He was soon over  and then the second fisherman got over  and
then the third   They all dropped softly on the ground within the gate 
and lay there a little  listening perhaps   Then  they moved away on
their hands and knees 

It was now Young Jerry s turn to approach the gate   which he did 
holding his breath   Crouching down again in a corner there  and looking
in  he made out the three fishermen creeping through some rank grass 
and all the gravestones in the churchyard  it was a large churchyard
that they were in  looking on like ghosts in white  while the church
tower itself looked on like the ghost of a monstrous giant   They did
not creep far  before they stopped and stood upright   And then they
began to fish 

They fished with a spade  at first   Presently the honoured parent
appeared to be adjusting some instrument like a great corkscrew 
Whatever tools they worked with  they worked hard  until the awful
striking of the church clock so terrified Young Jerry  that he made off 
with his hair as stiff as his father s 

But  his long cherished desire to know more about these matters  not
only stopped him in his running away  but lured him back again   They
were still fishing perseveringly  when he peeped in at the gate for
the second time  but  now they seemed to have got a bite   There was a
screwing and complaining sound down below  and their bent figures were
strained  as if by a weight   By slow degrees the weight broke away the
earth upon it  and came to the surface   Young Jerry very well knew what
it would be  but  when he saw it  and saw his honoured parent about to
wrench it open  he was so frightened  being new to the sight  that he
made off again  and never stopped until he had run a mile or more 

He would not have stopped then  for anything less necessary than
breath  it being a spectral sort of race that he ran  and one highly
desirable to get to the end of   He had a strong idea that the coffin
he had seen was running after him  and  pictured as hopping on behind
him  bolt upright  upon its narrow end  always on the point of
overtaking him and hopping on at his side  perhaps taking his arm  it
was a pursuer to shun   It was an inconsistent and ubiquitous fiend
too  for  while it was making the whole night behind him dreadful 
he darted out into the roadway to avoid dark alleys  fearful of its
coming hopping out of them like a dropsical boy s Kite without tail
and wings   It hid in doorways too  rubbing its horrible shoulders
against doors  and drawing them up to its ears  as if it were laughing 
It got into shadows on the road  and lay cunningly on its back to
trip him up   All this time it was incessantly hopping on behind and
gaining on him  so that when the boy got to his own door he had reason
for being half dead   And even then it would not leave him  but followed
him upstairs with a bump on every stair  scrambled into bed with him 
and bumped down  dead and heavy  on his breast when he fell asleep 

From his oppressed slumber  Young Jerry in his closet was awakened
after daybreak and before sunrise  by the presence of his father in
the family room   Something had gone wrong with him  at least  so
Young Jerry inferred  from the circumstance of his holding
Mrs  Cruncher by the ears  and knocking the back of her head against
the head board of the bed 

 I told you I would   said Mr  Cruncher   and I did  

 Jerry  Jerry  Jerry   his wife implored 

 You oppose yourself to the profit of the business   said Jerry 
 and me and my partners suffer   You was to honour and obey 
why the devil don t you  

 I try to be a good wife  Jerry   the poor woman protested  with tears 

 Is it being a good wife to oppose your husband s business   Is it
honouring your husband to dishonour his business   Is it obeying your
husband to disobey him on the wital subject of his business  

 You hadn t taken to the dreadful business then  Jerry  

 It s enough for you   retorted Mr  Cruncher   to be the wife of a
honest tradesman  and not to occupy your female mind with calculations
when he took to his trade or when he didn t   A honouring and obeying
wife would let his trade alone altogether   Call yourself a religious
woman   If you re a religious woman  give me a irreligious one 
You have no more nat ral sense of duty than the bed of this here Thames
river has of a pile  and similarly it must be knocked into you  

The altercation was conducted in a low tone of voice  and terminated
in the honest tradesman s kicking off his clay soiled boots  and lying
down at his length on the floor   After taking a timid peep at him
lying on his back  with his rusty hands under his head for a pillow 
his son lay down too  and fell asleep again 

There was no fish for breakfast  and not much of anything else 
Mr  Cruncher was out of spirits  and out of temper  and kept an iron
pot lid by him as a projectile for the correction of Mrs  Cruncher 
in case he should observe any symptoms of her saying Grace   He was
brushed and washed at the usual hour  and set off with his son to
pursue his ostensible calling 

Young Jerry  walking with the stool under his arm at his father s
side along sunny and crowded Fleet street  was a very different
Young Jerry from him of the previous night  running home through
darkness and solitude from his grim pursuer   His cunning was fresh
with the day  and his qualms were gone with the night  in which
particulars it is not improbable that he had compeers in Fleet street
and the City of London  that fine morning 

 Father   said Young Jerry  as they walked along   taking care to
keep at arm s length and to have the stool well between them 
 what s a Resurrection Man  

Mr  Cruncher came to a stop on the pavement before he answered 
 How should I know  

 I thought you knowed everything  father   said the artless boy 

 Hem   Well   returned Mr  Cruncher  going on again  and lifting off
his hat to give his spikes free play   he s a tradesman  

 What s his goods  father   asked the brisk Young Jerry 

 His goods   said Mr  Cruncher  after turning it over in his mind 
 is a branch of Scientific goods  

 Persons  bodies  ain t it  father   asked the lively boy 

 I believe it is something of that sort   said Mr  Cruncher 

 Oh  father  I should so like to be a Resurrection Man when I m
quite growed up  

Mr  Cruncher was soothed  but shook his head in a dubious and moral
way    It depends upon how you dewelop your talents   Be careful
to dewelop your talents  and never to say no more than you can help
to nobody  and there s no telling at the present time what you may
not come to be fit for    As Young Jerry  thus encouraged  went on
a few yards in advance  to plant the stool in the shadow of the Bar 
Mr  Cruncher added to himself    Jerry  you honest tradesman  there s
hopes wot that boy will yet be a blessing to you  and a recompense
to you for his mother  



XV

Knitting


There had been earlier drinking than usual in the wine shop of
Monsieur Defarge   As early as six o clock in the morning  sallow
faces peeping through its barred windows had descried other faces within 
bending over measures of wine   Monsieur Defarge sold a very thin wine
at the best of times  but it would seem to have been an unusually thin
wine that he sold at this time   A sour wine  moreover  or a souring 
for its influence on the mood of those who drank it was to make them
gloomy   No vivacious Bacchanalian flame leaped out of the pressed grape
of Monsieur Defarge   but  a smouldering fire that burnt in the dark 
lay hidden in the dregs of it 

This had been the third morning in succession  on which there had been
early drinking at the wine shop of Monsieur Defarge   It had begun
on Monday  and here was Wednesday come   There had been more of early
brooding than drinking  for  many men had listened and whispered and
slunk about there from the time of the opening of the door  who could
not have laid a piece of money on the counter to save their souls 
These were to the full as interested in the place  however  as if
they could have commanded whole barrels of wine  and they glided from
seat to seat  and from corner to corner  swallowing talk in lieu
of drink  with greedy looks 

Notwithstanding an unusual flow of company  the master of the wine shop
was not visible   He was not missed  for  nobody who crossed the
threshold looked for him  nobody asked for him  nobody wondered to
see only Madame Defarge in her seat  presiding over the distribution
of wine  with a bowl of battered small coins before her  as much defaced
and beaten out of their original impress as the small coinage of humanity
from whose ragged pockets they had come 

A suspended interest and a prevalent absence of mind  were perhaps
observed by the spies who looked in at the wine shop  as they looked in
at every place  high and low  from the kings palace to the criminal s
gaol   Games at cards languished  players at dominoes musingly built
towers with them  drinkers drew figures on the tables with spilt drops
of wine  Madame Defarge herself picked out the pattern on her sleeve
with her toothpick  and saw and heard something inaudible and invisible
a long way off 

Thus  Saint Antoine in this vinous feature of his  until midday   It
was high noontide  when two dusty men passed through his streets and
under his swinging lamps   of whom  one was Monsieur Defarge   the other
a mender of roads in a blue cap   All adust and athirst  the two entered
the wine shop   Their arrival had lighted a kind of fire in the breast
of Saint Antoine  fast spreading as they came along  which stirred and
flickered in flames of faces at most doors and windows   Yet  no one
had followed them  and no man spoke when they entered the wine shop 
though the eyes of every man there were turned upon them 

 Good day  gentlemen   said Monsieur Defarge 

It may have been a signal for loosening the general tongue 
It elicited an answering chorus of  Good day  

 It is bad weather  gentlemen   said Defarge  shaking his head 

Upon which  every man looked at his neighbour  and then all cast down
their eyes and sat silent   Except one man  who got up and went out 

 My wife   said Defarge aloud  addressing Madame Defarge    I have
travelled certain leagues with this good mender of roads  called
Jacques   I met him  by accident  a day and half s journey out of
Paris   He is a good child  this mender of roads  called Jacques 
Give him to drink  my wife  

A second man got up and went out   Madame Defarge set wine before the
mender of roads called Jacques  who doffed his blue cap to the company 
and drank   In the breast of his blouse he carried some coarse dark
bread  he ate of this between whiles  and sat munching and drinking
near Madame Defarge s counter   A third man got up and went out 

Defarge refreshed himself with a draught of wine  but  he took less
than was given to the stranger  as being himself a man to whom it was
no rarity  and stood waiting until the countryman had made his breakfast 
He looked at no one present  and no one now looked at him  not even
Madame Defarge  who had taken up her knitting  and was at work 

 Have you finished your repast  friend   he asked  in due season 

 Yes  thank you  

 Come  then   You shall see the apartment that I told you you could
occupy   It will suit you to a marvel  

Out of the wine shop into the street  out of the street into a
courtyard  out of the courtyard up a steep staircase  out of the
staircase into a garret   formerly the garret where a white haired
man sat on a low bench  stooping forward and very busy  making shoes 

No white haired man was there now  but  the three men were there
who had gone out of the wine shop singly   And between them and the
white haired man afar off  was the one small link  that they had once
looked in at him through the chinks in the wall 

Defarge closed the door carefully  and spoke in a subdued voice 

 Jacques One  Jacques Two  Jacques Three   This is the witness
encountered by appointment  by me  Jacques Four   He will tell you all 
Speak  Jacques Five  

The mender of roads  blue cap in hand  wiped his swarthy forehead with
it  and said   Where shall I commence  monsieur  

 Commence   was Monsieur Defarge s not unreasonable reply   at the
commencement  

 I saw him then  messieurs   began the mender of roads   a year ago
this running summer  underneath the carriage of the Marquis  hanging by
the chain   Behold the manner of it   I leaving my work on the road 
the sun going to bed  the carriage of the Marquis slowly ascending
the hill  he hanging by the chain  like this  

Again the mender of roads went through the whole performance  in which
he ought to have been perfect by that time  seeing that it had been
the infallible resource and indispensable entertainment of his village
during a whole year 

Jacques One struck in  and asked if he had ever seen the man before 

 Never   answered the mender of roads  recovering his perpendicular 

Jacques Three demanded how he afterwards recognised him then 

 By his tall figure   said the mender of roads  softly  and with his
finger at his nose    When Monsieur the Marquis demands that evening 
 Say  what is he like   I make response   Tall as a spectre   

 You should have said  short as a dwarf   returned Jacques Two 

 But what did I know   The deed was not then accomplished  neither did
he confide in me   Observe   Under those circumstances even  I do not
offer my testimony   Monsieur the Marquis indicates me with his finger 
standing near our little fountain  and says   To me   Bring that rascal  
My faith  messieurs  I offer nothing  

 He is right there  Jacques   murmured Defarge  to him who had
interrupted    Go on  

 Good   said the mender of roads  with an air of mystery    The tall
man is lost  and he is sought  how many months   Nine  ten  eleven  

 No matter  the number   said Defarge    He is well hidden  but at last
he is unluckily found   Go on  

 I am again at work upon the hill side  and the sun is again about to
go to bed   I am collecting my tools to descend to my cottage down in
the village below  where it is already dark  when I raise my eyes 
and see coming over the hill six soldiers   In the midst of them
is a tall man with his arms bound  tied to his sides  like this  

With the aid of his indispensable cap  he represented a man with his
elbows bound fast at his hips  with cords that were knotted behind him 

 I stand aside  messieurs  by my heap of stones  to see the soldiers
and their prisoner pass  for it is a solitary road  that  where any
spectacle is well worth looking at   and at first  as they approach 
I see no more than that they are six soldiers with a tall man bound 
and that they are almost black to my sight  except on the side of the
sun going to bed  where they have a red edge  messieurs   Also  I see
that their long shadows are on the hollow ridge on the opposite side
of the road  and are on the hill above it  and are like the shadows of
giants   Also  I see that they are covered with dust  and that the dust
moves with them as they come  tramp  tramp   But when they advance
quite near to me  I recognise the tall man  and he recognises me 
Ah  but he would be well content to precipitate himself over the
hill side once again  as on the evening when he and I first encountered 
close to the same spot  

He described it as if he were there  and it was evident that he saw
it vividly  perhaps he had not seen much in his life 

 I do not show the soldiers that I recognise the tall man  he does
not show the soldiers that he recognises me  we do it  and we know it 
with our eyes    Come on   says the chief of that company  pointing to
the village   bring him fast to his tomb   and they bring him faster 
I follow   His arms are swelled because of being bound so tight  his
wooden shoes are large and clumsy  and he is lame   Because he is lame 
and consequently slow  they drive him with their guns  like this  

He imitated the action of a man s being impelled forward by the
butt ends of muskets 

 As they descend the hill like madmen running a race  he falls 
They laugh and pick him up again   His face is bleeding and covered with
dust  but he cannot touch it  thereupon they laugh again   They bring
him into the village  all the village runs to look  they take him past
the mill  and up to the prison  all the village sees the prison gate
open in the darkness of the night  and swallow him  like this  

He opened his mouth as wide as he could  and shut it with a sounding
snap of his teeth   Observant of his unwillingness to mar the effect
by opening it again  Defarge said   Go on  Jacques  

 All the village   pursued the mender of roads  on tiptoe and in a
low voice   withdraws  all the village whispers by the fountain 
all the village sleeps  all the village dreams of that unhappy one 
within the locks and bars of the prison on the crag  and never to come
out of it  except to perish   In the morning  with my tools upon my
shoulder  eating my morsel of black bread as I go  I make a circuit
by the prison  on my way to my work   There I see him  high up 
behind the bars of a lofty iron cage  bloody and dusty as last night 
looking through   He has no hand free  to wave to me  I dare not call
to him  he regards me like a dead man  

Defarge and the three glanced darkly at one another   The looks of
all of them were dark  repressed  and revengeful  as they listened to
the countryman s story  the manner of all of them  while it was secret 
was authoritative too   They had the air of a rough tribunal  Jacques
One and Two sitting on the old pallet bed  each with his chin resting
on his hand  and his eyes intent on the road mender  Jacques Three 
equally intent  on one knee behind them  with his agitated hand always
gliding over the network of fine nerves about his mouth and nose 
Defarge standing between them and the narrator  whom he had stationed
in the light of the window  by turns looking from him to them  and
from them to him 

 Go on  Jacques   said Defarge 

 He remains up there in his iron cage some days   The village looks
at him by stealth  for it is afraid   But it always looks up  from
a distance  at the prison on the crag  and in the evening  when the
work of the day is achieved and it assembles to gossip at the fountain 
all faces are turned towards the prison   Formerly  they were turned
towards the posting house  now  they are turned towards the prison 
They whisper at the fountain  that although condemned to death he will
not be executed  they say that petitions have been presented in Paris 
showing that he was enraged and made mad by the death of his child 
they say that a petition has been presented to the King himself 
What do I know   It is possible   Perhaps yes  perhaps no  

 Listen then  Jacques   Number One of that name sternly interposed 
 Know that a petition was presented to the King and Queen   All here 
yourself excepted  saw the King take it  in his carriage in the street 
sitting beside the Queen   It is Defarge whom you see here  who 
at the hazard of his life  darted out before the horses  with the
petition in his hand  

 And once again listen  Jacques   said the kneeling Number Three 
his fingers ever wandering over and over those fine nerves  with a
strikingly greedy air  as if he hungered for something  that was
neither food nor drink   the guard  horse and foot  surrounded
the petitioner  and struck him blows   You hear  

 I hear  messieurs  

 Go on then   said Defarge 

 Again  on the other hand  they whisper at the fountain   resumed the
countryman   that he is brought down into our country to be executed
on the spot  and that he will very certainly be executed   They even
whisper that because he has slain Monseigneur  and because Monseigneur
was the father of his tenants  serfs  what you will  he will be
executed as a parricide   One old man says at the fountain  that his
right hand  armed with the knife  will be burnt off before his face 
that  into wounds which will be made in his arms  his breast 
and his legs  there will be poured boiling oil  melted lead  hot resin 
wax  and sulphur  finally  that he will be torn limb from limb by four
strong horses   That old man says  all this was actually done to a
prisoner who made an attempt on the life of the late King 
Louis Fifteen   But how do I know if he lies   I am not a scholar  

 Listen once again then  Jacques   said the man with the restless hand
and the craving air    The name of that prisoner was Damiens  and it
was all done in open day  in the open streets of this city of Paris 
and nothing was more noticed in the vast concourse that saw it done 
than the crowd of ladies of quality and fashion  who were full of eager
attention to the last  to the last  Jacques  prolonged until nightfall 
when he had lost two legs and an arm  and still breathed   And it
was done  why  how old are you  

 Thirty five   said the mender of roads  who looked sixty 

 It was done when you were more than ten years old  you might
have seen it  

 Enough   said Defarge  with grim impatience    Long live the Devil 
Go on  

 Well   Some whisper this  some whisper that  they speak of nothing else 
even the fountain appears to fall to that tune   At length  on Sunday
night when all the village is asleep  come soldiers  winding down from
the prison  and their guns ring on the stones of the little street 
Workmen dig  workmen hammer  soldiers laugh and sing  in the morning 
by the fountain  there is raised a gallows forty feet high  poisoning
the water  

The mender of roads looked  through  rather than  at  the low ceiling 
and pointed as if he saw the gallows somewhere in the sky 

 All work is stopped  all assemble there  nobody leads the cows out 
the cows are there with the rest   At midday  the roll of drums 
Soldiers have marched into the prison in the night  and he is in the
midst of many soldiers   He is bound as before  and in his mouth there
is a gag  tied so  with a tight string  making him look almost as if he
laughed    He suggested it  by creasing his face with his two thumbs 
from the corners of his mouth to his ears    On the top of the gallows
is fixed the knife  blade upwards  with its point in the air   He is
hanged there forty feet high  and is left hanging  poisoning the water  

They looked at one another  as he used his blue cap to wipe his face 
on which the perspiration had started afresh while he recalled the
spectacle 

 It is frightful  messieurs   How can the women and the children draw
water   Who can gossip of an evening  under that shadow   Under it 
have I said   When I left the village  Monday evening as the sun was
going to bed  and looked back from the hill  the shadow struck across
the church  across the mill  across the prison  seemed to strike across
the earth  messieurs  to where the sky rests upon it  

The hungry man gnawed one of his fingers as he looked at the other
three  and his finger quivered with the craving that was on him 

 That s all  messieurs   I left at sunset  as I had been warned to do  
and I walked on  that night and half next day  until I met  as I was
warned I should  this comrade   With him  I came on  now riding and
now walking  through the rest of yesterday and through last night 
And here you see me  

After a gloomy silence  the first Jacques said   Good   You have
acted and recounted faithfully   Will you wait for us a little 
outside the door  

 Very willingly   said the mender of roads   Whom Defarge escorted
to the top of the stairs  and  leaving seated there  returned 

The three had risen  and their heads were together when he came
back to the garret 

 How say you  Jacques   demanded Number One    To be registered  

 To be registered  as doomed to destruction   returned Defarge 

 Magnificent   croaked the man with the craving 

 The chateau  and all the race   inquired the first 

 The chateau and all the race   returned Defarge    Extermination  

The hungry man repeated  in a rapturous croak   Magnificent   and began
gnawing another finger 

 Are you sure   asked Jacques Two  of Defarge   that no embarrassment
can arise from our manner of keeping the register   Without doubt it
is safe  for no one beyond ourselves can decipher it  but shall we
always be able to decipher it  or  I ought to say  will she  

 Jacques   returned Defarge  drawing himself up   if madame my wife
undertook to keep the register in her memory alone  she would not
lose a word of it  not a syllable of it   Knitted  in her own stitches
and her own symbols  it will always be as plain to her as the sun 
Confide in Madame Defarge   It would be easier for the weakest poltroon
that lives  to erase himself from existence  than to erase one letter
of his name or crimes from the knitted register of Madame Defarge  

There was a murmur of confidence and approval  and then the man who
hungered  asked    Is this rustic to be sent back soon   I hope so 
He is very simple  is he not a little dangerous  

 He knows nothing   said Defarge   at least nothing more than would
easily elevate himself to a gallows of the same height   I charge myself
with him  let him remain with me  I will take care of him  and set him
on his road   He wishes to see the fine world  the King  the Queen  and
Court  let him see them on Sunday  

 What   exclaimed the hungry man  staring    Is it a good sign  that
he wishes to see Royalty and Nobility  

 Jacques   said Defarge   judiciously show a cat milk  if you wish
her to thirst for it   Judiciously show a dog his natural prey 
if you wish him to bring it down one day  

Nothing more was said  and the mender of roads  being found already
dozing on the topmost stair  was advised to lay himself down on the
pallet bed and take some rest   He needed no persuasion 
and was soon asleep 

Worse quarters than Defarge s wine shop  could easily have been found
in Paris for a provincial slave of that degree   Saving for a mysterious
dread of madame by which he was constantly haunted  his life was very
new and agreeable   But  madame sat all day at her counter  so expressly
unconscious of him  and so particularly determined not to perceive that
his being there had any connection with anything below the surface 
that he shook in his wooden shoes whenever his eye lighted on her 
For  he contended with himself that it was impossible to foresee what
that lady might pretend next  and he felt assured that if she should
take it into her brightly ornamented head to pretend that she had seen
him do a murder and afterwards flay the victim  she would infallibly
go through with it until the play was played out 

Therefore  when Sunday came  the mender of roads was not enchanted
 though he said he was  to find that madame was to accompany monsieur
and himself to Versailles   It was additionally disconcerting to have
madame knitting all the way there  in a public conveyance  it was
additionally disconcerting yet  to have madame in the crowd in the
afternoon  still with her knitting in her hands as the crowd waited
to see the carriage of the King and Queen 

 You work hard  madame   said a man near her 

 Yes   answered Madame Defarge   I have a good deal to do  

 What do you make  madame  

 Many things  

 For instance   

 For instance   returned Madame Defarge  composedly   shrouds  

The man moved a little further away  as soon as he could  and the
mender of roads fanned himself with his blue cap   feeling it mightily
close and oppressive   If he needed a King and Queen to restore him 
he was fortunate in having his remedy at hand  for  soon the large faced
King and the fair faced Queen came in their golden coach  attended by
the shining Bull s Eye of their Court  a glittering multitude of
laughing ladies and fine lords  and in jewels and silks and powder and
splendour and elegantly spurning figures and handsomely disdainful faces
of both sexes  the mender of roads bathed himself  so much to his
temporary intoxication  that he cried Long live the King  Long live
the Queen  Long live everybody and everything  as if he had never
heard of ubiquitous Jacques in his time   Then  there were gardens 
courtyards  terraces  fountains  green banks  more King and Queen 
more Bull s Eye  more lords and ladies  more Long live they all  until
he absolutely wept with sentiment   During the whole of this scene 
which lasted some three hours  he had plenty of shouting and weeping
and sentimental company  and throughout Defarge held him by the collar 
as if to restrain him from flying at the objects of his brief devotion
and tearing them to pieces 

 Bravo   said Defarge  clapping him on the back when it was over 
like a patron   you are a good boy  

The mender of roads was now coming to himself  and was mistrustful of
having made a mistake in his late demonstrations  but no 

 You are the fellow we want   said Defarge  in his ear   you make these
fools believe that it will last for ever   Then  they are the more
insolent  and it is the nearer ended  

 Hey   cried the mender of roads  reflectively   that s true  

 These fools know nothing   While they despise your breath  and would
stop it for ever and ever  in you or in a hundred like you rather than
in one of their own horses or dogs  they only know what your breath
tells them   Let it deceive them  then  a little longer  it cannot
deceive them too much  

Madame Defarge looked superciliously at the client  and nodded in
confirmation 

 As to you   said she   you would shout and shed tears for anything 
if it made a show and a noise   Say   Would you not  

 Truly  madame  I think so   For the moment  

 If you were shown a great heap of dolls  and were set upon them to
pluck them to pieces and despoil them for your own advantage  you
would pick out the richest and gayest   Say   Would you not  

 Truly yes  madame  

 Yes   And if you were shown a flock of birds  unable to fly  and were
set upon them to strip them of their feathers for your own advantage 
you would set upon the birds of the finest feathers  would you not  

 It is true  madame  

 You have seen both dolls and birds to day   said Madame Defarge 
with a wave of her hand towards the place where they had last been
apparent   now  go home  



XVI

Still Knitting


Madame Defarge and monsieur her husband returned amicably to the bosom
of Saint Antoine  while a speck in a blue cap toiled through the
darkness  and through the dust  and down the weary miles of avenue by
the wayside  slowly tending towards that point of the compass where the
chateau of Monsieur the Marquis  now in his grave  listened to the
whispering trees   Such ample leisure had the stone faces  now  for
listening to the trees and to the fountain  that the few village
scarecrows who  in their quest for herbs to eat and fragments of dead
stick to burn  strayed within sight of the great stone courtyard and
terrace staircase  had it borne in upon their starved fancy that the
expression of the faces was altered   A rumour just lived in the
village  had a faint and bare existence there  as its people had  that
when the knife struck home  the faces changed  from faces of pride to
faces of anger and pain  also  that when that dangling figure was
hauled up forty feet above the fountain  they changed again  and bore
a cruel look of being avenged  which they would henceforth bear
for ever   In the stone face over the great window of the bed chamber
where the murder was done  two fine dints were pointed out in the
sculptured nose  which everybody recognised  and which nobody had
seen of old  and on the scarce occasions when two or three ragged
peasants emerged from the crowd to take a hurried peep at Monsieur
the Marquis petrified  a skinny finger would not have pointed to it
for a minute  before they all started away among the moss and leaves 
like the more fortunate hares who could find a living there 

Chateau and hut  stone face and dangling figure  the red stain on the
stone floor  and the pure water in the village well  thousands of acres
of land  a whole province of France  all France itself  lay under the
night sky  concentrated into a faint hair breadth line   So does a
whole world  with all its greatnesses and littlenesses  lie in a
twinkling star   And as mere human knowledge can split a ray of light
and analyse the manner of its composition  so  sublimer intelligences
may read in the feeble shining of this earth of ours  every thought
and act  every vice and virtue  of every responsible creature on it 

The Defarges  husband and wife  came lumbering under the starlight 
in their public vehicle  to that gate of Paris whereunto their journey
naturally tended   There was the usual stoppage at the barrier
guardhouse  and the usual lanterns came glancing forth for the usual
examination and inquiry   Monsieur Defarge alighted  knowing one or
two of the soldiery there  and one of the police   The latter he was
intimate with  and affectionately embraced 

When Saint Antoine had again enfolded the Defarges in his dusky wings 
and they  having finally alighted near the Saint s boundaries  were
picking their way on foot through the black mud and offal of his streets 
Madame Defarge spoke to her husband 

 Say then  my friend  what did Jacques of the police tell thee  

 Very little to night  but all he knows   There is another spy
commissioned for our quarter   There may be many more  for all that
he can say  but he knows of one  

 Eh well   said Madame Defarge  raising her eyebrows with a cool
business air    It is necessary to register him   How do they
call that man  

 He is English  

 So much the better   His name  

 Barsad   said Defarge  making it French by pronunciation   But 
he had been so careful to get it accurately  that he then spelt
it with perfect correctness 

 Barsad   repeated madame    Good   Christian name  

 John  

 John Barsad   repeated madame  after murmuring it once to herself 
 Good   His appearance  is it known  

 Age  about forty years  height  about five feet nine  black hair 
complexion dark  generally  rather handsome visage  eyes dark  face thin 
long  and sallow  nose aquiline  but not straight  having a peculiar
inclination towards the left cheek  expression  therefore  sinister  

 Eh my faith   It is a portrait   said madame  laughing    He shall
be registered to morrow  

They turned into the wine shop  which was closed  for it was midnight  
and where Madame Defarge immediately took her post at her desk 
counted the small moneys that had been taken during her absence 
examined the stock  went through the entries in the book  made other
entries of her own  checked the serving man in every possible way 
and finally dismissed him to bed   Then she turned out the contents
of the bowl of money for the second time  and began knotting them up
in her handkerchief  in a chain of separate knots  for safe keeping
through the night   All this while  Defarge  with his pipe in his mouth 
walked up and down  complacently admiring  but never interfering 
in which condition  indeed  as to the business and his domestic affairs 
he walked up and down through life 

The night was hot  and the shop  close shut and surrounded by so foul
a neighbourhood  was ill smelling   Monsieur Defarge s olfactory
sense was by no means delicate  but the stock of wine smelt much
stronger than it ever tasted  and so did the stock of rum and brandy
and aniseed   He whiffed the compound of scents away  as he put down
his smoked out pipe 

 You are fatigued   said madame  raising her glance as she knotted
the money    There are only the usual odours  

 I am a little tired   her husband acknowledged 

 You are a little depressed  too   said madame  whose quick eyes had
never been so intent on the accounts  but they had had a ray or two
for him    Oh  the men  the men  

 But my dear   began Defarge 

 But my dear   repeated madame  nodding firmly   but my dear 
You are faint of heart to night  my dear  

 Well  then   said Defarge  as if a thought were wrung out of his breast 
 it  is  a long time  

 It is a long time   repeated his wife   and when is it not a long time 
Vengeance and retribution require a long time  it is the rule  

 It does not take a long time to strike a man with Lightning  
said Defarge 

 How long   demanded madame  composedly   does it take to make and
store the lightning   Tell me  

Defarge raised his head thoughtfully  as if there were something
in that too 

 It does not take a long time   said madame   for an earthquake to swallow
a town   Eh well   Tell me how long it takes to prepare the earthquake  

 A long time  I suppose   said Defarge 

 But when it is ready  it takes place  and grinds to pieces everything
before it   In the meantime  it is always preparing  though it is not
seen or heard   That is your consolation   Keep it  

She tied a knot with flashing eyes  as if it throttled a foe 

 I tell thee   said madame  extending her right hand  for emphasis 
 that although it is a long time on the road  it is on the road and
coming   I tell thee it never retreats  and never stops   I tell thee
it is always advancing   Look around and consider the lives of all the
world that we know  consider the faces of all the world that we know 
consider the rage and discontent to which the Jacquerie addresses itself
with more and more of certainty every hour   Can such things last 
Bah   I mock you  

 My brave wife   returned Defarge  standing before her with his head
a little bent  and his hands clasped at his back  like a docile and
attentive pupil before his catechist   I do not question all this 
But it has lasted a long time  and it is possible  you know well 
my wife  it is possible  that it may not come  during our lives  

 Eh well   How then   demanded madame  tying another knot  as if
there were another enemy strangled 

 Well   said Defarge  with a half complaining and half apologetic shrug 
 We shall not see the triumph  

 We shall have helped it   returned madame  with her extended hand in
strong action    Nothing that we do  is done in vain   I believe  with
all my soul  that we shall see the triumph   But even if not  even if
I knew certainly not  show me the neck of an aristocrat and tyrant 
and still I would   

Then madame  with her teeth set  tied a very terrible knot indeed 

 Hold   cried Defarge  reddening a little as if he felt charged with
cowardice   I too  my dear  will stop at nothing  

 Yes   But it is your weakness that you sometimes need to see your
victim and your opportunity  to sustain you   Sustain yourself without
that   When the time comes  let loose a tiger and a devil  but wait
for the time with the tiger and the devil chained  not shown  yet
always ready  

Madame enforced the conclusion of this piece of advice by striking
her little counter with her chain of money as if she knocked its brains
out  and then gathering the heavy handkerchief under her arm in a
serene manner  and observing that it was time to go to bed 

Next noontide saw the admirable woman in her usual place in the
wine shop  knitting away assiduously   A rose lay beside her  and
if she now and then glanced at the flower  it was with no infraction
of her usual preoccupied air   There were a few customers  drinking
or not drinking  standing or seated  sprinkled about   The day was
very hot  and heaps of flies  who were extending their inquisitive
and adventurous perquisitions into all the glutinous little glasses
near madame  fell dead at the bottom   Their decease made no impression
on the other flies out promenading  who looked at them in the coolest
manner  as if they themselves were elephants  or something as far
removed   until they met the same fate   Curious to consider how heedless
flies are   perhaps they thought as much at Court that sunny summer day 

A figure entering at the door threw a shadow on Madame Defarge which
she felt to be a new one   She laid down her knitting  and began to
pin her rose in her head dress  before she looked at the figure 

It was curious   The moment Madame Defarge took up the rose  the
customers ceased talking  and began gradually to drop out of the
wine shop 

 Good day  madame   said the new comer 

 Good day  monsieur  

She said it aloud  but added to herself  as she resumed her knitting 
 Hah   Good day  age about forty  height about five feet nine  black
hair  generally rather handsome visage  complexion dark  eyes dark 
thin  long and sallow face  aquiline nose but not straight  having a
peculiar inclination towards the left cheek which imparts a sinister
expression   Good day  one and all  

 Have the goodness to give me a little glass of old cognac  and a
mouthful of cool fresh water  madame  

Madame complied with a polite air 

 Marvellous cognac this  madame  

It was the first time it had ever been so complemented  and Madame
Defarge knew enough of its antecedents to know better   She said 
however  that the cognac was flattered  and took up her knitting 
The visitor watched her fingers for a few moments  and took the
opportunity of observing the place in general 

 You knit with great skill  madame  

 I am accustomed to it  

 A pretty pattern too  

  You  think so   said madame  looking at him with a smile 

 Decidedly   May one ask what it is for  

 Pastime   said madame  still looking at him with a smile while her
fingers moved nimbly 

 Not for use  

 That depends   I may find a use for it one day   If I do  Well  
said madame  drawing a breath and nodding her head with a stern kind
of coquetry   I ll use it  

It was remarkable  but  the taste of Saint Antoine seemed to be
decidedly opposed to a rose on the head dress of Madame Defarge 
Two men had entered separately  and had been about to order drink  when 
catching sight of that novelty  they faltered  made a pretence of
looking about as if for some friend who was not there  and went away 
Nor  of those who had been there when this visitor entered  was there one
left   They had all dropped off   The spy had kept his eyes open  but had
been able to detect no sign   They had lounged away in a poverty stricken 
purposeless  accidental manner  quite natural and unimpeachable 

  John    thought madame  checking off her work as her fingers knitted 
and her eyes looked at the stranger    Stay long enough  and I shall
knit  BARSAD  before you go  

 You have a husband  madame  

 I have  

 Children  

 No children  

 Business seems bad  

 Business is very bad  the people are so poor  

 Ah  the unfortunate  miserable people   So oppressed  too  as you say  

 As  you  say   madame retorted  correcting him  and deftly knitting
an extra something into his name that boded him no good 

 Pardon me  certainly it was I who said so  but you naturally think so 
Of course  

  I  think   returned madame  in a high voice    I and my husband
have enough to do to keep this wine shop open  without thinking   All
we think  here  is how to live   That is the subject  we  think of 
and it gives us  from morning to night  enough to think about  without
embarrassing our heads concerning others    I  think for others   No  no  

The spy  who was there to pick up any crumbs he could find or make  did
not allow his baffled state to express itself in his sinister face  but 
stood with an air of gossiping gallantry  leaning his elbow on Madame
Defarge s little counter  and occasionally sipping his cognac 

 A bad business this  madame  of Gaspard s execution   Ah  the poor
Gaspard    With a sigh of great compassion 

 My faith   returned madame  coolly and lightly   if people use knives
for such purposes  they have to pay for it   He knew beforehand what
the price of his luxury was  he has paid the price  

 I believe   said the spy  dropping his soft voice to a tone that
invited confidence  and expressing an injured revolutionary
susceptibility in every muscle of his wicked face    I believe there
is much compassion and anger in this neighbourhood  touching the
poor fellow   Between ourselves  

 Is there   asked madame  vacantly 

 Is there not  

   Here is my husband   said Madame Defarge 

As the keeper of the wine shop entered at the door  the spy saluted
him by touching his hat  and saying  with an engaging smile   Good
day  Jacques    Defarge stopped short  and stared at him 

 Good day  Jacques   the spy repeated  with not quite so much
confidence  or quite so easy a smile under the stare 

 You deceive yourself  monsieur   returned the keeper of the
wine shop    You mistake me for another   That is not my name 
I am Ernest Defarge  

 It is all the same   said the spy  airily  but discomfited too 
 good day  

 Good day   answered Defarge  drily 

 I was saying to madame  with whom I had the pleasure of chatting when
you entered  that they tell me there is  and no wonder   much sympathy
and anger in Saint Antoine  touching the unhappy fate of poor Gaspard  

 No one has told me so   said Defarge  shaking his head    I know
nothing of it  

Having said it  he passed behind the little counter  and stood with
his hand on the back of his wife s chair  looking over that barrier
at the person to whom they were both opposed  and whom either of them
would have shot with the greatest satisfaction 

The spy  well used to his business  did not change his unconscious
attitude  but drained his little glass of cognac  took a sip of fresh
water  and asked for another glass of cognac   Madame Defarge poured it
out for him  took to her knitting again  and hummed a little song over it 

 You seem to know this quarter well  that is to say  better than I do  
observed Defarge 

 Not at all  but I hope to know it better   I am so profoundly interested
in its miserable inhabitants  

 Hah   muttered Defarge 

 The pleasure of conversing with you  Monsieur Defarge  recalls to me  
pursued the spy   that I have the honour of cherishing some interesting
associations with your name  

 Indeed   said Defarge  with much indifference 

 Yes  indeed   When Doctor Manette was released  you  his old domestic 
had the charge of him  I know   He was delivered to you   You see I am
informed of the circumstances  

 Such is the fact  certainly   said Defarge   He had had it conveyed
to him  in an accidental touch of his wife s elbow as she knitted and
warbled  that he would do best to answer  but always with brevity 

 It was to you   said the spy   that his daughter came  and it was
from your care that his daughter took him  accompanied by a neat brown
monsieur  how is he called   in a little wig  Lorry  of the bank of
Tellson and Company  over to England  

 Such is the fact   repeated Defarge 

 Very interesting remembrances   said the spy    I have known Doctor
Manette and his daughter  in England  

 Yes   said Defarge 

 You don t hear much about them now   said the spy 

 No   said Defarge 

 In effect   madame struck in  looking up from her work and her little
song   we never hear about them   We received the news of their safe
arrival  and perhaps another letter  or perhaps two  but  since then 
they have gradually taken their road in life  we  ours  and we have
held no correspondence  

 Perfectly so  madame   replied the spy    She is going to be married  

 Going   echoed madame    She was pretty enough to have been married
long ago   You English are cold  it seems to me  

 Oh   You know I am English  

 I perceive your tongue is   returned madame   and what the tongue is 
I suppose the man is  

He did not take the identification as a compliment  but he made the
best of it  and turned it off with a laugh   After sipping his
cognac to the end  he added 

 Yes  Miss Manette is going to be married   But not to an Englishman 
to one who  like herself  is French by birth   And speaking of Gaspard
 ah  poor Gaspard   It was cruel  cruel    it is a curious thing that
she is going to marry the nephew of Monsieur the Marquis  for whom
Gaspard was exalted to that height of so many feet  in other words 
the present Marquis   But he lives unknown in England  he is no
Marquis there  he is Mr  Charles Darnay   D Aulnais is the name
of his mother s family  

Madame Defarge knitted steadily  but the intelligence had a palpable
effect upon her husband   Do what he would  behind the little counter 
as to the striking of a light and the lighting of his pipe  he was
troubled  and his hand was not trustworthy   The spy would have been
no spy if he had failed to see it  or to record it in his mind 

Having made  at least  this one hit  whatever it might prove to be worth 
and no customers coming in to help him to any other  Mr  Barsad paid
for what he had drunk  and took his leave   taking occasion to say  in a
genteel manner  before he departed  that he looked forward to the pleasure
of seeing Monsieur and Madame Defarge again   For some minutes after he
had emerged into the outer presence of Saint Antoine  the husband and
wife remained exactly as he had left them  lest he should come back 

 Can it be true   said Defarge  in a low voice  looking down at his
wife as he stood smoking with his hand on the back of her chair    what
he has said of Ma amselle Manette  

 As he has said it   returned madame  lifting her eyebrows a little 
 it is probably false   But it may be true  

 If it is    Defarge began  and stopped 

 If it is   repeated his wife 

   And if it does come  while we live to see it triumph  I hope  for
her sake  Destiny will keep her husband out of France  

 Her husband s destiny   said Madame Defarge  with her usual composure 
 will take him where he is to go  and will lead him to the end that is
to end him   That is all I know  

 But it is very strange  now  at least  is it not very strange   said
Defarge  rather pleading with his wife to induce her to admit it 
 that  after all our sympathy for Monsieur her father  and herself 
her husband s name should be proscribed under your hand at this moment 
by the side of that infernal dog s who has just left us  

 Stranger things than that will happen when it does come   answered
madame    I have them both here  of a certainty  and they are both
here for their merits  that is enough  

She rolled up her knitting when she had said those words  and presently
took the rose out of the handkerchief that was wound about her head 
Either Saint Antoine had an instinctive sense that the objectionable
decoration was gone  or Saint Antoine was on the watch for its
disappearance  howbeit  the Saint took courage to lounge in  very
shortly afterwards  and the wine shop recovered its habitual aspect 

In the evening  at which season of all others Saint Antoine turned
himself inside out  and sat on door steps and window ledges  and
came to the corners of vile streets and courts  for a breath of air 
Madame Defarge with her work in her hand was accustomed to pass from
place to place and from group to group   a Missionary  there were
many like her  such as the world will do well never to breed again 
All the women knitted   They knitted worthless things  but  the
mechanical work was a mechanical substitute for eating and drinking 
the hands moved for the jaws and the digestive apparatus   if the bony
fingers had been still  the stomachs would have been more famine pinched 

But  as the fingers went  the eyes went  and the thoughts   And as
Madame Defarge moved on from group to group  all three went quicker
and fiercer among every little knot of women that she had spoken with 
and left behind 

Her husband smoked at his door  looking after her with admiration 
 A great woman   said he   a strong woman  a grand woman  a frightfully
grand woman  

Darkness closed around  and then came the ringing of church bells and
the distant beating of the military drums in the Palace Courtyard  as
the women sat knitting  knitting   Darkness encompassed them   Another
darkness was closing in as surely  when the church bells  then ringing
pleasantly in many an airy steeple over France  should be melted into
thundering cannon  when the military drums should be beating to drown
a wretched voice  that night all potent as the voice of Power and
Plenty  Freedom and Life   So much was closing in about the women
who sat knitting  knitting  that they their very selves were closing
in around a structure yet unbuilt  where they were to sit knitting 
knitting  counting dropping heads 



XVII

One Night


Never did the sun go down with a brighter glory on the quiet corner
in Soho  than one memorable evening when the Doctor and his daughter
sat under the plane tree together   Never did the moon rise with a
milder radiance over great London  than on that night when it found
them still seated under the tree  and shone upon their faces
through its leaves 

Lucie was to be married to morrow   She had reserved this last
evening for her father  and they sat alone under the plane tree 

 You are happy  my dear father  

 Quite  my child  

They had said little  though they had been there a long time   When
it was yet light enough to work and read  she had neither engaged
herself in her usual work  nor had she read to him   She had employed
herself in both ways  at his side under the tree  many and many a time 
but  this time was not quite like any other  and nothing could make it so 

 And I am very happy to night  dear father   I am deeply happy in the
love that Heaven has so blessed  my love for Charles  and Charles s
love for me   But  if my life were not to be still consecrated to you 
or if my marriage were so arranged as that it would part us  even by
the length of a few of these streets  I should be more unhappy and
self reproachful now than I can tell you   Even as it is   

Even as it was  she could not command her voice 

In the sad moonlight  she clasped him by the neck  and laid her face
upon his breast   In the moonlight which is always sad  as the light
of the sun itself is  as the light called human life is  at its
coming and its going 

 Dearest dear   Can you tell me  this last time  that you feel quite 
quite sure  no new affections of mine  and no new duties of mine 
will ever interpose between us    I  know it well  but do you know it 
In your own heart  do you feel quite certain  

Her father answered  with a cheerful firmness of conviction he could
scarcely have assumed   Quite sure  my darling   More than that  
he added  as he tenderly kissed her    my future is far brighter 
Lucie  seen through your marriage  than it could have been  nay 
than it ever was  without it  

 If I could hope  that   my father    

 Believe it  love   Indeed it is so   Consider how natural and how
plain it is  my dear  that it should be so   You  devoted and young 
cannot fully appreciate the anxiety I have felt that your life
should not be wasted   

She moved her hand towards his lips  but he took it in his 
and repeated the word 

   wasted  my child  should not be wasted  struck aside from the
natural order of things  for my sake   Your unselfishness cannot
entirely comprehend how much my mind has gone on this  but  only ask
yourself  how could my happiness be perfect  while yours was incomplete  

 If I had never seen Charles  my father  I should have been quite
happy with you  

He smiled at her unconscious admission that she would have been unhappy
without Charles  having seen him  and replied 

 My child  you did see him  and it is Charles   If it had not been
Charles  it would have been another   Or  if it had been no other 
I should have been the cause  and then the dark part of my life would
have cast its shadow beyond myself  and would have fallen on you  

It was the first time  except at the trial  of her ever hearing him refer
to the period of his suffering   It gave her a strange and new sensation
while his words were in her ears  and she remembered it long afterwards 

 See   said the Doctor of Beauvais  raising his hand towards the moon 
 I have looked at her from my prison window  when I could not bear
her light   I have looked at her when it has been such torture to me
to think of her shining upon what I had lost  that I have beaten my
head against my prison walls   I have looked at her  in a state so
dun and lethargic  that I have thought of nothing but the number of
horizontal lines I could draw across her at the full  and the number of
perpendicular lines with which I could intersect them    He added in his
inward and pondering manner  as he looked at the moon   It was twenty
either way  I remember  and the twentieth was difficult to squeeze in  

The strange thrill with which she heard him go back to that time 
deepened as he dwelt upon it  but  there was nothing to shock her in
the manner of his reference   He only seemed to contrast his present
cheerfulness and felicity with the dire endurance that was over 

 I have looked at her  speculating thousands of times upon the unborn
child from whom I had been rent   Whether it was alive   Whether it had
been born alive  or the poor mother s shock had killed it   Whether it
was a son who would some day avenge his father    There was a time in my
imprisonment  when my desire for vengeance was unbearable    Whether it
was a son who would never know his father s story  who might even live
to weigh the possibility of his father s having disappeared of his own
will and act   Whether it was a daughter who would grow to be a woman  

She drew closer to him  and kissed his cheek and his hand 

 I have pictured my daughter  to myself  as perfectly forgetful of me
  rather  altogether ignorant of me  and unconscious of me   I have
cast up the years of her age  year after year   I have seen her married
to a man who knew nothing of my fate   I have altogether perished from
the remembrance of the living  and in the next generation my place
was a blank  

 My father   Even to hear that you had such thoughts of a daughter
who never existed  strikes to my heart as if I had been that child  

 You  Lucie   It is out of the Consolation and restoration you have
brought to me  that these remembrances arise  and pass between us and
the moon on this last night   What did I say just now  

 She knew nothing of you   She cared nothing for you  

 So   But on other moonlight nights  when the sadness and the silence
have touched me in a different way  have affected me with something as
like a sorrowful sense of peace  as any emotion that had pain for its
foundations could  I have imagined her as coming to me in my cell  and
leading me out into the freedom beyond the fortress   I have seen her
image in the moonlight often  as I now see you  except that I never held
her in my arms  it stood between the little grated window and the door 
But  you understand that that was not the child I am speaking of  

 The figure was not  the  the  image  the fancy  

 No   That was another thing   It stood before my disturbed sense of
sight  but it never moved   The phantom that my mind pursued  was
another and more real child   Of her outward appearance I know no more
than that she was like her mother   The other had that likeness too
  as you have  but was not the same   Can you follow me  Lucie 
Hardly  I think   I doubt you must have been a solitary prisoner to
understand these perplexed distinctions  

His collected and calm manner could not prevent her blood from running
cold  as he thus tried to anatomise his old condition 

 In that more peaceful state  I have imagined her  in the moonlight 
coming to me and taking me out to show me that the home of her married
life was full of her loving remembrance of her lost father   My picture
was in her room  and I was in her prayers   Her life was active 
cheerful  useful  but my poor history pervaded it all  

 I was that child  my father  I was not half so good  but in my love
that was I  

 And she showed me her children   said the Doctor of Beauvais   and
they had heard of me  and had been taught to pity me   When they
passed a prison of the State  they kept far from its frowning walls 
and looked up at its bars  and spoke in whispers   She could never
deliver me  I imagined that she always brought me back after showing
me such things   But then  blessed with the relief of tears 
I fell upon my knees  and blessed her  

 I am that child  I hope  my father   O my dear  my dear  will you
bless me as fervently to morrow  

 Lucie  I recall these old troubles in the reason that I have to night
for loving you better than words can tell  and thanking God for my
great happiness   My thoughts  when they were wildest  never rose near
the happiness that I have known with you  and that we have before us  

He embraced her  solemnly commended her to Heaven  and humbly thanked
Heaven for having bestowed her on him   By and bye  they went
into the house 

There was no one bidden to the marriage but Mr  Lorry  there was even
to be no bridesmaid but the gaunt Miss Pross   The marriage was to
make no change in their place of residence  they had been able to
extend it  by taking to themselves the upper rooms formerly belonging
to the apocryphal invisible lodger  and they desired nothing more 

Doctor Manette was very cheerful at the little supper   They were
only three at table  and Miss Pross made the third   He regretted that
Charles was not there  was more than half disposed to object to the
loving little plot that kept him away  and drank to him affectionately 

So  the time came for him to bid Lucie good night  and they separated 
But  in the stillness of the third hour of the morning  Lucie came
downstairs again  and stole into his room  not free from unshaped fears 
beforehand 

All things  however  were in their places  all was quiet  and he lay
asleep  his white hair picturesque on the untroubled pillow  and his
hands lying quiet on the coverlet   She put her needless candle in the
shadow at a distance  crept up to his bed  and put her lips to his 
then  leaned over him  and looked at him 

Into his handsome face  the bitter waters of captivity had worn  but 
he covered up their tracks with a determination so strong  that he held
the mastery of them even in his sleep   A more remarkable face in its
quiet  resolute  and guarded struggle with an unseen assailant  was
not to be beheld in all the wide dominions of sleep  that night 

She timidly laid her hand on his dear breast  and put up a prayer that
she might ever be as true to him as her love aspired to be  and as his
sorrows deserved   Then  she withdrew her hand  and kissed his lips
once more  and went away   So  the sunrise came  and the shadows of
the leaves of the plane tree moved upon his face  as softly as her
lips had moved in praying for him 



XVIII

Nine Days


The marriage day was shining brightly  and they were ready outside
the closed door of the Doctor s room  where he was speaking with
Charles Darnay   They were ready to go to church  the beautiful bride 
Mr  Lorry  and Miss Pross  to whom the event  through a gradual process
of reconcilement to the inevitable  would have been one of absolute
bliss  but for the yet lingering consideration that her brother
Solomon should have been the bridegroom 

 And so   said Mr  Lorry  who could not sufficiently admire the bride 
and who had been moving round her to take in every point of her quiet 
pretty dress   and so it was for this  my sweet Lucie  that I brought
you across the Channel  such a baby   Lord bless me   How little I
thought what I was doing   How lightly I valued the obligation I was
conferring on my friend Mr  Charles  

 You didn t mean it   remarked the matter of fact Miss Pross   and
therefore how could you know it   Nonsense  

 Really   Well  but don t cry   said the gentle Mr  Lorry 

 I am not crying   said Miss Pross    you  are  

 I  my Pross    By this time  Mr  Lorry dared to be pleasant with
her  on occasion  

 You were  just now  I saw you do it  and I don t wonder at it   Such
a present of plate as you have made  em  is enough to bring tears into
anybody s eyes   There s not a fork or a spoon in the collection  
said Miss Pross   that I didn t cry over  last night after the box came 
till I couldn t see it  

 I am highly gratified   said Mr  Lorry   though  upon my honour  I
had no intention of rendering those trifling articles of remembrance
invisible to any one   Dear me   This is an occasion that makes a man
speculate on all he has lost   Dear  dear  dear   To think that there
might have been a Mrs  Lorry  any time these fifty years almost  

 Not at all    From Miss Pross 

 You think there never might have been a Mrs  Lorry   asked the
gentleman of that name 

 Pooh   rejoined Miss Pross   you were a bachelor in your cradle  

 Well   observed Mr  Lorry  beamingly adjusting his little wig 
 that seems probable  too  

 And you were cut out for a bachelor   pursued Miss Pross   before
you were put in your cradle  

 Then  I think   said Mr  Lorry   that I was very unhandsomely dealt
with  and that I ought to have had a voice in the selection of my
pattern   Enough   Now  my dear Lucie   drawing his arm soothingly
round her waist   I hear them moving in the next room  and Miss Pross
and I  as two formal folks of business  are anxious not to lose the
final opportunity of saying something to you that you wish to hear 
You leave your good father  my dear  in hands as earnest and as
loving as your own  he shall be taken every conceivable care of 
during the next fortnight  while you are in Warwickshire and thereabouts 
even Tellson s shall go to the wall  comparatively speaking  before him 
And when  at the fortnight s end  he comes to join you and your beloved
husband  on your other fortnight s trip in Wales  you shall say that
we have sent him to you in the best health and in the happiest frame 
Now  I hear Somebody s step coming to the door   Let me kiss my dear
girl with an old fashioned bachelor blessing  before Somebody comes
to claim his own  

For a moment  he held the fair face from him to look at the
well remembered expression on the forehead  and then laid the bright
golden hair against his little brown wig  with a genuine tenderness and
delicacy which  if such things be old fashioned  were as old as Adam 

The door of the Doctor s room opened  and he came out with Charles
Darnay   He was so deadly pale  which had not been the case when they
went in together  that no vestige of colour was to be seen in his face 
But  in the composure of his manner he was unaltered  except that to
the shrewd glance of Mr  Lorry it disclosed some shadowy indication
that the old air of avoidance and dread had lately passed over him 
like a cold wind 

He gave his arm to his daughter  and took her down stairs to the chariot
which Mr  Lorry had hired in honour of the day   The rest followed in
another carriage  and soon  in a neighbouring church  where no strange
eyes looked on  Charles Darnay and Lucie Manette were happily married 

Besides the glancing tears that shone among the smiles of the little
group when it was done  some diamonds  very bright and sparkling 
glanced on the bride s hand  which were newly released from the dark
obscurity of one of Mr  Lorry s pockets   They returned home to
breakfast  and all went well  and in due course the golden hair that
had mingled with the poor shoemaker s white locks in the Paris garret 
were mingled with them again in the morning sunlight  on the threshold
of the door at parting 

It was a hard parting  though it was not for long   But her father
cheered her  and said at last  gently disengaging himself from her
enfolding arms   Take her  Charles   She is yours  

And her agitated hand waved to them from a chaise window  and
she was gone 

The corner being out of the way of the idle and curious  and the
preparations having been very simple and few  the Doctor  Mr  Lorry 
and Miss Pross  were left quite alone   It was when they turned into
the welcome shade of the cool old hall  that Mr  Lorry observed a
great change to have come over the Doctor  as if the golden arm
uplifted there  had struck him a poisoned blow 

He had naturally repressed much  and some revulsion might have been
expected in him when the occasion for repression was gone   But  it
was the old scared lost look that troubled Mr  Lorry  and through
his absent manner of clasping his head and drearily wandering away
into his own room when they got up stairs  Mr  Lorry was reminded of
Defarge the wine shop keeper  and the starlight ride 

 I think   he whispered to Miss Pross  after anxious consideration 
 I think we had best not speak to him just now  or at all disturb him 
I must look in at Tellson s  so I will go there at once and come back
presently   Then  we will take him a ride into the country  and dine
there  and all will be well  

It was easier for Mr  Lorry to look in at Tellson s  than to look
out of Tellson s   He was detained two hours   When he came back 
he ascended the old staircase alone  having asked no question of
the servant  going thus into the Doctor s rooms  he was stopped by
a low sound of knocking 

 Good God   he said  with a start    What s that  

Miss Pross  with a terrified face  was at his ear    O me  O me 
All is lost   cried she  wringing her hands    What is to be told
to Ladybird   He doesn t know me  and is making shoes  

Mr  Lorry said what he could to calm her  and went himself into the
Doctor s room   The bench was turned towards the light  as it had
been when he had seen the shoemaker at his work before  and his head
was bent down  and he was very busy 

 Doctor Manette   My dear friend  Doctor Manette  

The Doctor looked at him for a moment  half inquiringly  half as if
he were angry at being spoken to  and bent over his work again 

He had laid aside his coat and waistcoat  his shirt was open at the
throat  as it used to be when he did that work  and even the old
haggard  faded surface of face had come back to him   He worked hard  
impatiently  as if in some sense of having been interrupted 

Mr  Lorry glanced at the work in his hand  and observed that it was
a shoe of the old size and shape   He took up another that was lying
by him  and asked what it was 

 A young lady s walking shoe   he muttered  without looking up 
 It ought to have been finished long ago   Let it be  

 But  Doctor Manette   Look at me  

He obeyed  in the old mechanically submissive manner  without
pausing in his work 

 You know me  my dear friend   Think again   This is not your proper
occupation   Think  dear friend  

Nothing would induce him to speak more   He looked up  for an instant
at a time  when he was requested to do so  but  no persuasion would
extract a word from him   He worked  and worked  and worked  in silence 
and words fell on him as they would have fallen on an echoless wall 
or on the air   The only ray of hope that Mr  Lorry could discover 
was  that he sometimes furtively looked up without being asked   In that 
there seemed a faint expression of curiosity or perplexity  as though
he were trying to reconcile some doubts in his mind 

Two things at once impressed themselves on Mr  Lorry  as important
above all others  the first  that this must be kept secret from Lucie 
the second  that it must be kept secret from all who knew him   In
conjunction with Miss Pross  he took immediate steps towards the
latter precaution  by giving out that the Doctor was not well  and
required a few days of complete rest   In aid of the kind deception
to be practised on his daughter  Miss Pross was to write  describing
his having been called away professionally  and referring to an
imaginary letter of two or three hurried lines in his own hand 
represented to have been addressed to her by the same post 

These measures  advisable to be taken in any case  Mr  Lorry took in
the hope of his coming to himself   If that should happen soon  he kept
another course in reserve  which was  to have a certain opinion that he
thought the best  on the Doctor s case 

In the hope of his recovery  and of resort to this third course being
thereby rendered practicable  Mr  Lorry resolved to watch him
attentively  with as little appearance as possible of doing so 
He therefore made arrangements to absent himself from Tellson s for the
first time in his life  and took his post by the window in the same room 

He was not long in discovering that it was worse than useless to speak
to him  since  on being pressed  he became worried   He abandoned that
attempt on the first day  and resolved merely to keep himself always
before him  as a silent protest against the delusion into which he had
fallen  or was falling   He remained  therefore  in his seat near the
window  reading and writing  and expressing in as many pleasant and
natural ways as he could think of  that it was a free place 

Doctor Manette took what was given him to eat and drink  and worked on 
that first day  until it was too dark to see  worked on  half an hour
after Mr  Lorry could not have seen  for his life  to read or write 
When he put his tools aside as useless  until morning  Mr  Lorry rose
and said to him 

 Will you go out  

He looked down at the floor on either side of him in the old manner 
looked up in the old manner  and repeated in the old low voice 

 Out  

 Yes  for a walk with me   Why not  

He made no effort to say why not  and said not a word more   But 
Mr  Lorry thought he saw  as he leaned forward on his bench in the
dusk  with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands  that he
was in some misty way asking himself   Why not    The sagacity of the
man of business perceived an advantage here  and determined to hold it 

Miss Pross and he divided the night into two watches  and observed him
at intervals from the adjoining room   He paced up and down for a long
time before he lay down  but  when he did finally lay himself down 
he fell asleep   In the morning  he was up betimes  and went straight
to his bench and to work 

On this second day  Mr  Lorry saluted him cheerfully by his name  and
spoke to him on topics that had been of late familiar to them   He
returned no reply  but it was evident that he heard what was said 
and that he thought about it  however confusedly   This encouraged
Mr  Lorry to have Miss Pross in with her work  several times during the
day  at those times  they quietly spoke of Lucie  and of her father then
present  precisely in the usual manner  and as if there were nothing
amiss   This was done without any demonstrative accompaniment  not long
enough  or often enough to harass him  and it lightened Mr  Lorry s
friendly heart to believe that he looked up oftener  and that he appeared
to be stirred by some perception of inconsistencies surrounding him 

When it fell dark again  Mr  Lorry asked him as before 

 Dear Doctor  will you go out  

As before  he repeated   Out  

 Yes  for a walk with me   Why not  

This time  Mr  Lorry feigned to go out when he could extract no answer
from him  and  after remaining absent for an hour  returned   In the
meanwhile  the Doctor had removed to the seat in the window  and had
sat there looking down at the plane tree  but  on Mr  Lorry s return 
he slipped away to his bench 

The time went very slowly on  and Mr  Lorry s hope darkened  and his
heart grew heavier again  and grew yet heavier and heavier every day 
The third day came and went  the fourth  the fifth   Five days  six
days  seven days  eight days  nine days 

With a hope ever darkening  and with a heart always growing heavier
and heavier  Mr  Lorry passed through this anxious time   The secret
was well kept  and Lucie was unconscious and happy  but he could not
fail to observe that the shoemaker  whose hand had been a little out
at first  was growing dreadfully skilful  and that he had never been
so intent on his work  and that his hands had never been so nimble and
expert  as in the dusk of the ninth evening 



XIX

An Opinion


Worn out by anxious watching  Mr  Lorry fell asleep at his post   On
the tenth morning of his suspense  he was startled by the shining of
the sun into the room where a heavy slumber had overtaken him when it
was dark night 

He rubbed his eyes and roused himself  but he doubted  when he had
done so  whether he was not still asleep   For  going to the door of
the Doctor s room and looking in  he perceived that the shoemaker s
bench and tools were put aside again  and that the Doctor himself sat
reading at the window   He was in his usual morning dress  and his face
 which Mr  Lorry could distinctly see   though still very pale  was
calmly studious and attentive 

Even when he had satisfied himself that he was awake  Mr  Lorry felt
giddily uncertain for some few moments whether the late shoemaking
might not be a disturbed dream of his own  for  did not his eyes show
him his friend before him in his accustomed clothing and aspect  and
employed as usual  and was there any sign within their range  that the
change of which he had so strong an impression had actually happened 

It was but the inquiry of his first confusion and astonishment  the
answer being obvious   If the impression were not produced by a real
corresponding and sufficient cause  how came he  Jarvis Lorry  there 
How came he to have fallen asleep  in his clothes  on the sofa in
Doctor Manette s consulting room  and to be debating these points
outside the Doctor s bedroom door in the early morning 

Within a few minutes  Miss Pross stood whispering at his side   If he
had had any particle of doubt left  her talk would of necessity have
resolved it  but he was by that time clear headed  and had none   He
advised that they should let the time go by until the regular
breakfast hour  and should then meet the Doctor as if nothing unusual
had occurred   If he appeared to be in his customary state of mind 
Mr  Lorry would then cautiously proceed to seek direction and guidance
from the opinion he had been  in his anxiety  so anxious to obtain 

Miss Pross  submitting herself to his judgment  the scheme was worked
out with care   Having abundance of time for his usual methodical
toilette  Mr  Lorry presented himself at the breakfast hour in his
usual white linen  and with his usual neat leg   The Doctor was
summoned in the usual way  and came to breakfast 

So far as it was possible to comprehend him without overstepping
those delicate and gradual approaches which Mr  Lorry felt to be the
only safe advance  he at first supposed that his daughter s marriage
had taken place yesterday   An incidental allusion  purposely thrown
out  to the day of the week  and the day of the month  set him thinking
and counting  and evidently made him uneasy   In all other respects 
however  he was so composedly himself  that Mr  Lorry determined to
have the aid he sought   And that aid was his own 

Therefore  when the breakfast was done and cleared away  and he and
the Doctor were left together  Mr  Lorry said  feelingly 

 My dear Manette  I am anxious to have your opinion  in confidence 
on a very curious case in which I am deeply interested  that is to say 
it is very curious to me  perhaps  to your better information it may
be less so  

Glancing at his hands  which were discoloured by his late work  the
Doctor looked troubled  and listened attentively   He had already
glanced at his hands more than once 

 Doctor Manette   said Mr  Lorry  touching him affectionately on the
arm   the case is the case of a particularly dear friend of mine 
Pray give your mind to it  and advise me well for his sake  and
above all  for his daughter s  his daughter s  my dear Manette  

 If I understand   said the Doctor  in a subdued tone   some mental
shock    

 Yes  

 Be explicit   said the Doctor    Spare no detail  

Mr  Lorry saw that they understood one another  and proceeded 

 My dear Manette  it is the case of an old and a prolonged shock  of
great acuteness and severity to the affections  the feelings 
the  the  as you express it  the mind   The mind   It is the case of
a shock under which the sufferer was borne down  one cannot say for
how long  because I believe he cannot calculate the time himself  and
there are no other means of getting at it   It is the case of a shock
from which the sufferer recovered  by a process that he cannot trace
himself  as I once heard him publicly relate in a striking manner 
It is the case of a shock from which he has recovered  so completely 
as to be a highly intelligent man  capable of close application of mind 
and great exertion of body  and of constantly making fresh additions to
his stock of knowledge  which was already very large   But  unfortunately 
there has been   he paused and took a deep breath   a slight relapse  

The Doctor  in a low voice  asked   Of how long duration  

 Nine days and nights  

 How did it show itself   I infer   glancing at his hands again 
 in the resumption of some old pursuit connected with the shock  

 That is the fact  

 Now  did you ever see him   asked the Doctor  distinctly and
collectedly  though in the same low voice   engaged in that
pursuit originally  

 Once  

 And when the relapse fell on him  was he in most respects  or in
all respects  as he was then  

 I think in all respects  

 You spoke of his daughter   Does his daughter know of the relapse  

 No   It has been kept from her  and I hope will always be kept from
her   It is known only to myself  and to one other who may be trusted  

The Doctor grasped his hand  and murmured   That was very kind 
That was very thoughtful    Mr  Lorry grasped his hand in return 
and neither of the two spoke for a little while 

 Now  my dear Manette   said Mr  Lorry  at length  in his most
considerate and most affectionate way   I am a mere man of business 
and unfit to cope with such intricate and difficult matters   I do
not possess the kind of information necessary  I do not possess the
kind of intelligence  I want guiding   There is no man in this world
on whom I could so rely for right guidance  as on you   Tell me  how
does this relapse come about   Is there danger of another   Could a
repetition of it be prevented   How should a repetition of it be
treated   How does it come about at all   What can I do for my friend 
No man ever can have been more desirous in his heart to serve a friend 
than I am to serve mine  if I knew how 

 But I don t know how to originate  in such a case   If your sagacity 
knowledge  and experience  could put me on the right track  I might be
able to do so much  unenlightened and undirected  I can do so little 
Pray discuss it with me  pray enable me to see it a little more clearly 
and teach me how to be a little more useful  

Doctor Manette sat meditating after these earnest words were spoken 
and Mr  Lorry did not press him 

 I think it probable   said the Doctor  breaking silence with an
effort   that the relapse you have described  my dear friend  was
not quite unforeseen by its subject  

 Was it dreaded by him   Mr  Lorry ventured to ask 

 Very much    He said it with an involuntary shudder 

 You have no idea how such an apprehension weighs on the sufferer s
mind  and how difficult  how almost impossible  it is  for him to force
himself to utter a word upon the topic that oppresses him  

 Would he   asked Mr  Lorry   be sensibly relieved if he could
prevail upon himself to impart that secret brooding to any one 
when it is on him  

 I think so   But it is  as I have told you  next to impossible 
I even believe it  in some cases  to be quite impossible  

 Now   said Mr  Lorry  gently laying his hand on the Doctor s arm
again  after a short silence on both sides   to what would you refer
this attack  

 I believe   returned Doctor Manette   that there had been a strong
and extraordinary revival of the train of thought and remembrance that
was the first cause of the malady   Some intense associations of a
most distressing nature were vividly recalled  I think   It is probable
that there had long been a dread lurking in his mind  that those
associations would be recalled  say  under certain circumstances  say 
on a particular occasion   He tried to prepare himself in vain  perhaps
the effort to prepare himself made him less able to bear it  

 Would he remember what took place in the relapse   asked Mr  Lorry 
with natural hesitation 

The Doctor looked desolately round the room  shook his head  and
answered  in a low voice   Not at all  

 Now  as to the future   hinted Mr  Lorry 

 As to the future   said the Doctor  recovering firmness   I should
have great hope   As it pleased Heaven in its mercy to restore him so
soon  I should have great hope   He  yielding under the pressure of a
complicated something  long dreaded and long vaguely foreseen and
contended against  and recovering after the cloud had burst and passed 
I should hope that the worst was over  

 Well  well   That s good comfort   I am thankful   said Mr  Lorry 

 I am thankful   repeated the Doctor  bending his head with reverence 

 There are two other points   said Mr  Lorry   on which I am anxious
to be instructed   I may go on  

 You cannot do your friend a better service    The Doctor gave him
his hand 

 To the first  then   He is of a studious habit  and unusually
energetic  he applies himself with great ardour to the acquisition
of professional knowledge  to the conducting of experiments  to
many things   Now  does he do too much  

 I think not   It may be the character of his mind  to be always in
singular need of occupation   That may be  in part  natural to it  in
part  the result of affliction   The less it was occupied with healthy
things  the more it would be in danger of turning in the unhealthy
direction   He may have observed himself  and made the discovery  

 You are sure that he is not under too great a strain  

 I think I am quite sure of it  

 My dear Manette  if he were overworked now   

 My dear Lorry  I doubt if that could easily be   There has been a
violent stress in one direction  and it needs a counterweight  

 Excuse me  as a persistent man of business   Assuming for a moment 
that he  was  overworked  it would show itself in some renewal of
this disorder  

 I do not think so   I do not think   said Doctor Manette with the
firmness of self conviction   that anything but the one train of
association would renew it   I think that  henceforth  nothing but
some extraordinary jarring of that chord could renew it   After what
has happened  and after his recovery  I find it difficult to imagine
any such violent sounding of that string again   I trust  and I almost
believe  that the circumstances likely to renew it are exhausted  

He spoke with the diffidence of a man who knew how slight a thing
would overset the delicate organisation of the mind  and yet with the
confidence of a man who had slowly won his assurance out of personal
endurance and distress   It was not for his friend to abate that
confidence   He professed himself more relieved and encouraged than he
really was  and approached his second and last point   He felt it to
be the most difficult of all  but  remembering his old Sunday morning
conversation with Miss Pross  and remembering what he had seen in the
last nine days  he knew that he must face it 

 The occupation resumed under the influence of this passing affliction
so happily recovered from   said Mr  Lorry  clearing his throat   we will
call  Blacksmith s work  Blacksmith s work   We will say  to put a case
and for the sake of illustration  that he had been used  in his bad time 
to work at a little forge   We will say that he was unexpectedly found
at his forge again   Is it not a pity that he should keep it by him  

The Doctor shaded his forehead with his hand  and beat his foot nervously
on the ground 

 He has always kept it by him   said Mr  Lorry  with an anxious look
at his friend    Now  would it not be better that he should let it go  

Still  the Doctor  with shaded forehead  beat his foot nervously on
the ground 

 You do not find it easy to advise me   said Mr  Lorry    I quite
understand it to be a nice question   And yet I think    And there he
shook his head  and stopped 

 You see   said Doctor Manette  turning to him after an uneasy pause 
 it is very hard to explain  consistently  the innermost workings of
this poor man s mind   He once yearned so frightfully for that
occupation  and it was so welcome when it came  no doubt it relieved
his pain so much  by substituting the perplexity of the fingers for
the perplexity of the brain  and by substituting  as he became more
practised  the ingenuity of the hands  for the ingenuity of the
mental torture  that he has never been able to bear the thought of
putting it quite out of his reach   Even now  when I believe he is
more hopeful of himself than he has ever been  and even speaks of
himself with a kind of confidence  the idea that he might need that
old employment  and not find it  gives him a sudden sense of terror 
like that which one may fancy strikes to the heart of a lost child  

He looked like his illustration  as he raised his eyes to
Mr  Lorry s face 

 But may not  mind   I ask for information  as a plodding man of
business who only deals with such material objects as guineas 
shillings  and bank notes  may not the retention of the thing involve
the retention of the idea   If the thing were gone  my dear Manette 
might not the fear go with it   In short  is it not a concession to
the misgiving  to keep the forge  

There was another silence 

 You see  too   said the Doctor  tremulously   it is such an
old companion  

 I would not keep it   said Mr  Lorry  shaking his head  for he gained
in firmness as he saw the Doctor disquieted    I would recommend him
to sacrifice it   I only want your authority   I am sure it does no
good   Come   Give me your authority  like a dear good man   For his
daughter s sake  my dear Manette  

Very strange to see what a struggle there was within him 

 In her name  then  let it be done  I sanction it   But  I would not
take it away while he was present   Let it be removed when he is not
there  let him miss his old companion after an absence  

Mr  Lorry readily engaged for that  and the conference was ended 
They passed the day in the country  and the Doctor was quite restored 
On the three following days he remained perfectly well  and on the
fourteenth day he went away to join Lucie and her husband   The
precaution that had been taken to account for his silence  Mr  Lorry
had previously explained to him  and he had written to Lucie in
accordance with it  and she had no suspicions 

On the night of the day on which he left the house  Mr  Lorry went
into his room with a chopper  saw  chisel  and hammer  attended by
Miss Pross carrying a light   There  with closed doors  and in a
mysterious and guilty manner  Mr  Lorry hacked the shoemaker s bench
to pieces  while Miss Pross held the candle as if she were assisting
at a murder  for which  indeed  in her grimness  she was no unsuitable
figure   The burning of the body  previously reduced to pieces
convenient for the purpose  was commenced without delay in the kitchen
fire  and the tools  shoes  and leather  were buried in the garden 
So wicked do destruction and secrecy appear to honest minds  that
Mr  Lorry and Miss Pross  while engaged in the commission of their
deed and in the removal of its traces  almost felt  and almost looked 
like accomplices in a horrible crime 



XX

A Plea


When the newly married pair came home  the first person who appeared 
to offer his congratulations  was Sydney Carton   They had not been
at home many hours  when he presented himself   He was not improved in
habits  or in looks  or in manner  but there was a certain rugged air of
fidelity about him  which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay 

He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window  and
of speaking to him when no one overheard 

 Mr  Darnay   said Carton   I wish we might be friends  

 We are already friends  I hope  

 You are good enough to say so  as a fashion of speech  but  I don t
mean any fashion of speech   Indeed  when I say I wish we might be friends 
I scarcely mean quite that  either  

Charles Darnay  as was natural  asked him  in all good humour and
good fellowship  what he did mean 

 Upon my life   said Carton  smiling   I find that easier to comprehend
in my own mind  than to convey to yours   However  let me try   You
remember a certain famous occasion when I was more drunk than  than
usual  

 I remember a certain famous occasion when you forced me to confess
that you had been drinking  

 I remember it too   The curse of those occasions is heavy upon me 
for I always remember them   I hope it may be taken into account one
day  when all days are at an end for me   Don t be alarmed 
I am not going to preach  

 I am not at all alarmed   Earnestness in you  is anything but
alarming to me  

 Ah   said Carton  with a careless wave of his hand  as if he waved
that away    On the drunken occasion in question  one of a large number 
as you know   I was insufferable about liking you  and not liking you 
I wish you would forget it  

 I forgot it long ago  

 Fashion of speech again   But  Mr  Darnay  oblivion is not so easy to
me  as you represent it to be to you   I have by no means forgotten it 
and a light answer does not help me to forget it  

 If it was a light answer   returned Darnay   I beg your forgiveness
for it   I had no other object than to turn a slight thing  which 
to my surprise  seems to trouble you too much  aside   I declare to you 
on the faith of a gentleman  that I have long dismissed it from my mind 
Good Heaven  what was there to dismiss   Have I had nothing more
important to remember  in the great service you rendered me that day  

 As to the great service   said Carton   I am bound to avow to you 
when you speak of it in that way  that it was mere professional
claptrap  I don t know that I cared what became of you  when I
rendered it   Mind   I say when I rendered it  I am speaking of the past  

 You make light of the obligation   returned Darnay   but I will not
quarrel with  your  light answer  

 Genuine truth  Mr  Darnay  trust me   I have gone aside from my
purpose  I was speaking about our being friends   Now  you know me 
you know I am incapable of all the higher and better flights of men 
If you doubt it  ask Stryver  and he ll tell you so  

 I prefer to form my own opinion  without the aid of his  

 Well   At any rate you know me as a dissolute dog  who has never
done any good  and never will  

 I don t know that you  never will   

 But I do  and you must take my word for it   Well   If you could
endure to have such a worthless fellow  and a fellow of such indifferent
reputation  coming and going at odd times  I should ask that I might be
permitted to come and go as a privileged person here  that I might be
regarded as an useless  and I would add  if it were not for the
resemblance I detected between you and me  an unornamental  piece of
furniture  tolerated for its old service  and taken no notice of 
I doubt if I should abuse the permission   It is a hundred to one
if I should avail myself of it four times in a year   It would satisfy me 
I dare say  to know that I had it  

 Will you try  

 That is another way of saying that I am placed on the footing I have
indicated   I thank you  Darnay   I may use that freedom with your name  

 I think so  Carton  by this time  

They shook hands upon it  and Sydney turned away   Within a minute
afterwards  he was  to all outward appearance  as unsubstantial as ever 

When he was gone  and in the course of an evening passed with Miss Pross 
the Doctor  and Mr  Lorry  Charles Darnay made some mention of this
conversation in general terms  and spoke of Sydney Carton as a problem
of carelessness and recklessness   He spoke of him  in short  not
bitterly or meaning to bear hard upon him  but as anybody might who
saw him as he showed himself 

He had no idea that this could dwell in the thoughts of his fair young
wife  but  when he afterwards joined her in their own rooms  he found
her waiting for him with the old pretty lifting of the forehead
strongly marked 

 We are thoughtful to night   said Darnay  drawing his arm about her 

 Yes  dearest Charles   with her hands on his breast  and the
inquiring and attentive expression fixed upon him   we are rather
thoughtful to night  for we have something on our mind to night  

 What is it  my Lucie  

 Will you promise not to press one question on me  if I beg you
not to ask it  

 Will I promise   What will I not promise to my Love  

What  indeed  with his hand putting aside the golden hair from the
cheek  and his other hand against the heart that beat for him 

 I think  Charles  poor Mr  Carton deserves more consideration and
respect than you expressed for him to night  

 Indeed  my own   Why so  

 That is what you are not to ask me   But I think  I know  he does  

 If you know it  it is enough   What would you have me do  my Life  

 I would ask you  dearest  to be very generous with him always  and
very lenient on his faults when he is not by   I would ask you to
believe that he has a heart he very  very seldom reveals  and that there
are deep wounds in it   My dear  I have seen it bleeding  

 It is a painful reflection to me   said Charles Darnay  quite astounded 
 that I should have done him any wrong   I never thought this of him  

 My husband  it is so   I fear he is not to be reclaimed  there is
scarcely a hope that anything in his character or fortunes is reparable
now   But  I am sure that he is capable of good things  gentle things 
even magnanimous things  

She looked so beautiful in the purity of her faith in this lost man 
that her husband could have looked at her as she was for hours 

 And  O my dearest Love   she urged  clinging nearer to him  laying
her head upon his breast  and raising her eyes to his   remember how
strong we are in our happiness  and how weak he is in his misery  

The supplication touched him home    I will always remember it  dear
Heart   I will remember it as long as I live  

He bent over the golden head  and put the rosy lips to his  and folded
her in his arms   If one forlorn wanderer then pacing the dark streets 
could have heard her innocent disclosure  and could have seen the drops
of pity kissed away by her husband from the soft blue eyes so loving of
that husband  he might have cried to the night  and the words would not
have parted from his lips for the first time  

 God bless her for her sweet compassion  



XXI

Echoing Footsteps


A wonderful corner for echoes  it has been remarked  that corner where
the Doctor lived   Ever busily winding the golden thread which bound
her husband  and her father  and herself  and her old directress and
companion  in a life of quiet bliss  Lucie sat in the still house in the
tranquilly resounding corner  listening to the echoing footsteps of years 

At first  there were times  though she was a perfectly happy young
wife  when her work would slowly fall from her hands  and her eyes
would be dimmed   For  there was something coming in the echoes 
something light  afar off  and scarcely audible yet  that stirred
her heart too much   Fluttering hopes and doubts  hopes  of a love as
yet unknown to her   doubts  of her remaining upon earth  to enjoy that
new delight  divided her breast   Among the echoes then  there would
arise the sound of footsteps at her own early grave  and thoughts of
the husband who would be left so desolate  and who would mourn for
her so much  swelled to her eyes  and broke like waves 

That time passed  and her little Lucie lay on her bosom   Then 
among the advancing echoes  there was the tread of her tiny feet and
the sound of her prattling words   Let greater echoes resound as they
would  the young mother at the cradle side could always hear those
coming   They came  and the shady house was sunny with a child s laugh 
and the Divine friend of children  to whom in her trouble she had
confided hers  seemed to take her child in his arms  as He took the
child of old  and made it a sacred joy to her 

Ever busily winding the golden thread that bound them all together 
weaving the service of her happy influence through the tissue of all
their lives  and making it predominate nowhere  Lucie heard in the
echoes of years none but friendly and soothing sounds   Her husband s
step was strong and prosperous among them  her father s firm and equal 
Lo  Miss Pross  in harness of string  awakening the echoes  as an
unruly charger  whip corrected  snorting and pawing the earth under
the plane tree in the garden 

Even when there were sounds of sorrow among the rest  they were not
harsh nor cruel   Even when golden hair  like her own  lay in a halo
on a pillow round the worn face of a little boy  and he said  with a
radiant smile   Dear papa and mamma  I am very sorry to leave you both 
and to leave my pretty sister  but I am called  and I must go  
those were not tears all of agony that wetted his young mother s cheek 
as the spirit departed from her embrace that had been entrusted to it 
Suffer them and forbid them not   They see my Father s face 
O Father  blessed words 

Thus  the rustling of an Angel s wings got blended with the other
echoes  and they were not wholly of earth  but had in them that breath
of Heaven   Sighs of the winds that blew over a little garden tomb were
mingled with them also  and both were audible to Lucie  in a hushed
murmur  like the breathing of a summer sea asleep upon a sandy shore
  as the little Lucie  comically studious at the task of the morning 
or dressing a doll at her mother s footstool  chattered in the
tongues of the Two Cities that were blended in her life 

The Echoes rarely answered to the actual tread of Sydney Carton 
Some half dozen times a year  at most  he claimed his privilege of coming
in uninvited  and would sit among them through the evening  as he had
once done often   He never came there heated with wine   And one other
thing regarding him was whispered in the echoes  which has been
whispered by all true echoes for ages and ages 

No man ever really loved a woman  lost her  and knew her with a
blameless though an unchanged mind  when she was a wife and a mother 
but her children had a strange sympathy with him  an instinctive
delicacy of pity for him   What fine hidden sensibilities are touched
in such a case  no echoes tell  but it is so  and it was so here 
Carton was the first stranger to whom little Lucie held out her chubby
arms  and he kept his place with her as she grew   The little boy had
spoken of him  almost at the last    Poor Carton   Kiss him for me  

Mr  Stryver shouldered his way through the law  like some great engine
forcing itself through turbid water  and dragged his useful friend in
his wake  like a boat towed astern   As the boat so favoured is usually
in a rough plight  and mostly under water  so  Sydney had a swamped life
of it   But  easy and strong custom  unhappily so much easier and
stronger in him than any stimulating sense of desert or disgrace  made
it the life he was to lead  and he no more thought of emerging from his
state of lion s jackal  than any real jackal may be supposed to think
of rising to be a lion   Stryver was rich  had married a florid widow
with property and three boys  who had nothing particularly shining about
them but the straight hair of their dumpling heads 

These three young gentlemen  Mr  Stryver  exuding patronage of the most
offensive quality from every pore  had walked before him like three
sheep to the quiet corner in Soho  and had offered as pupils to Lucie s
husband   delicately saying  Halloa  here are three lumps of bread and 
cheese towards your matrimonial picnic  Darnay    The polite rejection
of the three lumps of bread and cheese had quite bloated Mr  Stryver
with indignation  which he afterwards turned to account in the training
of the young gentlemen  by directing them to beware of the pride of
Beggars  like that tutor fellow   He was also in the habit of declaiming
to Mrs  Stryver  over his full bodied wine  on the arts Mrs  Darnay had
once put in practice to  catch  him  and on the diamond cut diamond
arts in himself  madam  which had rendered him  not to be caught  
Some of his King s Bench familiars  who were occasionally parties
to the full bodied wine and the lie  excused him for the latter by saying
that he had told it so often  that he believed it himself  which is
surely such an incorrigible aggravation of an originally bad offence 
as to justify any such offender s being carried off to some suitably
retired spot  and there hanged out of the way 

These were among the echoes to which Lucie  sometimes pensive 
sometimes amused and laughing  listened in the echoing corner  until
her little daughter was six years old   How near to her heart the echoes
of her child s tread came  and those of her own dear father s  always
active and self possessed  and those of her dear husband s  need not
be told   Nor  how the lightest echo of their united home  directed
by herself with such a wise and elegant thrift that it was more
abundant than any waste  was music to her   Nor  how there were echoes
all about her  sweet in her ears  of the many times her father had
told her that he found her more devoted to him married  if that could be 
than single  and of the many times her husband had said to her that no
cares and duties seemed to divide her love for him or her help to him 
and asked her  What is the magic secret  my darling  of your being
everything to all of us  as if there were only one of us 
yet never seeming to be hurried  or to have too much to do  

But  there were other echoes  from a distance  that rumbled menacingly
in the corner all through this space of time   And it was now  about
little Lucie s sixth birthday  that they began to have an awful sound 
as of a great storm in France with a dreadful sea rising 

On a night in mid July  one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine 
Mr  Lorry came in late  from Tellson s  and sat himself down by Lucie
and her husband in the dark window   It was a hot  wild night  and
they were all three reminded of the old Sunday night when they had
looked at the lightning from the same place 

 I began to think   said Mr  Lorry  pushing his brown wig back   that
I should have to pass the night at Tellson s   We have been so full of
business all day  that we have not known what to do first  or which
way to turn   There is such an uneasiness in Paris  that we have
actually a run of confidence upon us   Our customers over there  seem
not to be able to confide their property to us fast enough   There is
positively a mania among some of them for sending it to England  

 That has a bad look   said Darnay  

 A bad look  you say  my dear Darnay   Yes  but we don t know what
reason there is in it   People are so unreasonable   Some of us at
Tellson s are getting old  and we really can t be troubled out of
the ordinary course without due occasion  

 Still   said Darnay   you know how gloomy and threatening the sky is  

 I know that  to be sure   assented Mr  Lorry  trying to persuade
himself that his sweet temper was soured  and that he grumbled 
 but I am determined to be peevish after my long day s botheration 
Where is Manette  

 Here he is   said the Doctor  entering the dark room at the moment 

 I am quite glad you are at home  for these hurries and forebodings by
which I have been surrounded all day long  have made me nervous
without reason   You are not going out  I hope  

 No  I am going to play backgammon with you  if you like  
said the Doctor 

 I don t think I do like  if I may speak my mind   I am not fit to
be pitted against you to night   Is the teaboard still there  Lucie 
I can t see  

 Of course  it has been kept for you  

 Thank ye  my dear   The precious child is safe in bed  

 And sleeping soundly  

 That s right  all safe and well   I don t know why anything should
be otherwise than safe and well here  thank God  but I have been so
put out all day  and I am not as young as I was   My tea  my dear 
Thank ye   Now  come and take your place in the circle  and let us
sit quiet  and hear the echoes about which you have your theory  

 Not a theory  it was a fancy  

 A fancy  then  my wise pet   said Mr  Lorry  patting her hand    They
are very numerous and very loud  though  are they not   Only hear them  

Headlong  mad  and dangerous footsteps to force their way into anybody s
life  footsteps not easily made clean again if once stained red  the
footsteps raging in Saint Antoine afar off  as the little circle sat
in the dark London window 

Saint Antoine had been  that morning  a vast dusky mass of scarecrows
heaving to and fro  with frequent gleams of light above the billowy
heads  where steel blades and bayonets shone in the sun   A tremendous
roar arose from the throat of Saint Antoine  and a forest of naked arms
struggled in the air like shrivelled branches of trees in a winter wind 
all the fingers convulsively clutching at every weapon or semblance of
a weapon that was thrown up from the depths below  no matter how far off 

Who gave them out  whence they last came  where they began  through
what agency they crookedly quivered and jerked  scores at a time  over
the heads of the crowd  like a kind of lightning  no eye in the throng
could have told  but  muskets were being distributed  so were
cartridges  powder  and ball  bars of iron and wood  knives  axes 
pikes  every weapon that distracted ingenuity could discover or devise 
People who could lay hold of nothing else  set themselves with bleeding
hands to force stones and bricks out of their places in walls   Every
pulse and heart in Saint Antoine was on high fever strain and at
high fever heat   Every living creature there held life as of no account 
and was demented with a passionate readiness to sacrifice it 

As a whirlpool of boiling waters has a centre point  so  all this raging
circled round Defarge s wine shop  and every human drop in the caldron
had a tendency to be sucked towards the vortex where Defarge himself 
already begrimed with gunpowder and sweat  issued orders  issued arms 
thrust this man back  dragged this man forward  disarmed one to arm
another  laboured and strove in the thickest of the uproar 

 Keep near to me  Jacques Three   cried Defarge   and do you 
Jacques One and Two  separate and put yourselves at the head of
as many of these patriots as you can   Where is my wife  

 Eh  well   Here you see me   said madame  composed as ever  but not
knitting to day   Madame s resolute right hand was occupied with an axe 
in place of the usual softer implements  and in her girdle were a pistol
and a cruel knife 

 Where do you go  my wife  

 I go   said madame   with you at present   You shall see me at the
head of women  by and bye  

 Come  then   cried Defarge  in a resounding voice    Patriots and
friends  we are ready   The Bastille  

With a roar that sounded as if all the breath in France had been
shaped into the detested word  the living sea rose  wave on wave 
depth on depth  and overflowed the city to that point   Alarm bells
ringing  drums beating  the sea raging and thundering on its new beach 
the attack began 

Deep ditches  double drawbridge  massive stone walls  eight great
towers  cannon  muskets  fire and smoke   Through the fire and through
the smoke  in the fire and in the smoke  for the sea cast him up against
a cannon  and on the instant he became a cannonier  Defarge of the
wine shop worked like a manful soldier  Two fierce hours 

Deep ditch  single drawbridge  massive stone walls  eight great towers 
cannon  muskets  fire and smoke   One drawbridge down    Work  comrades
all  work   Work  Jacques One  Jacques Two  Jacques One Thousand 
Jacques Two Thousand  Jacques Five and Twenty Thousand  in the name of
all the Angels or the Devils  which you prefer  work    Thus Defarge
of the wine shop  still at his gun  which had long grown hot 

 To me  women   cried madame his wife    What   We can kill as well as
the men when the place is taken    And to her  with a shrill thirsty cry 
trooping women variously armed  but all armed alike in hunger and revenge 

Cannon  muskets  fire and smoke  but  still the deep ditch  the single
drawbridge  the massive stone walls  and the eight great towers   Slight
displacements of the raging sea  made by the falling wounded   Flashing
weapons  blazing torches  smoking waggonloads of wet straw  hard work
at neighbouring barricades in all directions  shrieks  volleys 
execrations  bravery without stint  boom smash and rattle  and the
furious sounding of the living sea  but  still the deep ditch  and the
single drawbridge  and the massive stone walls  and the eight great
towers  and still Defarge of the wine shop at his gun  grown doubly
hot by the service of Four fierce hours 

A white flag from within the fortress  and a parley  this dimly
perceptible through the raging storm  nothing audible in it  suddenly
the sea rose immeasurably wider and higher  and swept Defarge of the
wine shop over the lowered drawbridge  past the massive stone outer
walls  in among the eight great towers surrendered 

So resistless was the force of the ocean bearing him on  that even
to draw his breath or turn his head was as impracticable as if he had
been struggling in the surf at the South Sea  until he was landed in
the outer courtyard of the Bastille   There  against an angle of a
wall  he made a struggle to look about him   Jacques Three was nearly
at his side  Madame Defarge  still heading some of her women  was
visible in the inner distance  and her knife was in her hand   Everywhere
was tumult  exultation  deafening and maniacal bewilderment  astounding
noise  yet furious dumb show 

 The Prisoners  

 The Records  

 The secret cells  

 The instruments of torture  

 The Prisoners  

Of all these cries  and ten thousand incoherences   The Prisoners  
was the cry most taken up by the sea that rushed in  as if there were
an eternity of people  as well as of time and space   When the foremost
billows rolled past  bearing the prison officers with them  and
threatening them all with instant death if any secret nook remained
undisclosed  Defarge laid his strong hand on the breast of one of
these men  a man with a grey head  who had a lighted torch in his hand  
separated him from the rest  and got him between himself and the wall 

 Show me the North Tower   said Defarge    Quick  

 I will faithfully   replied the man   if you will come with me   But
there is no one there  

 What is the meaning of One Hundred and Five  North Tower  
asked Defarge    Quick  

 The meaning  monsieur  

 Does it mean a captive  or a place of captivity   Or do you mean that
I shall strike you dead  

 Kill him   croaked Jacques Three  who had come close up 

 Monsieur  it is a cell  

 Show it me  

 Pass this way  then  

Jacques Three  with his usual craving on him  and evidently
disappointed by the dialogue taking a turn that did not seem to promise
bloodshed  held by Defarge s arm as he held by the turnkey s   Their
three heads had been close together during this brief discourse  and
it had been as much as they could do to hear one another  even then 
so tremendous was the noise of the living ocean  in its irruption into
the Fortress  and its inundation of the courts and passages and
staircases   All around outside  too  it beat the walls with a deep 
hoarse roar  from which  occasionally  some partial shouts of tumult
broke and leaped into the air like spray 

Through gloomy vaults where the light of day had never shone  past
hideous doors of dark dens and cages  down cavernous flights of steps 
and again up steep rugged ascents of stone and brick  more like dry
waterfalls than staircases  Defarge  the turnkey  and Jacques Three 
linked hand and arm  went with all the speed they could make   Here
and there  especially at first  the inundation started on them and
swept by  but when they had done descending  and were winding and
climbing up a tower  they were alone   Hemmed in here by the massive
thickness of walls and arches  the storm within the fortress and without
was only audible to them in a dull  subdued way  as if the noise out of
which they had come had almost destroyed their sense of hearing 

The turnkey stopped at a low door  put a key in a clashing lock 
swung the door slowly open  and said  as they all bent their heads
and passed in 

 One hundred and five  North Tower  

There was a small  heavily grated  unglazed window high in the wall 
with a stone screen before it  so that the sky could be only seen by
stooping low and looking up   There was a small chimney  heavily barred
across  a few feet within   There was a heap of old feathery wood ashes
on the hearth   There was a stool  and table  and a straw bed   There
were the four blackened walls  and a rusted iron ring in one of them 

 Pass that torch slowly along these walls  that I may see them  
said Defarge to the turnkey 

The man obeyed  and Defarge followed the light closely with his eyes 

 Stop   Look here  Jacques  

 A  M    croaked Jacques Three  as he read greedily 

 Alexandre Manette   said Defarge in his ear  following the letters
with his swart forefinger  deeply engrained with gunpowder    And here
he wrote  a poor physician    And it was he  without doubt  who scratched
a calendar on this stone   What is that in your hand   A crowbar 
Give it me  

He had still the linstock of his gun in his own hand   He made a
sudden exchange of the two instruments  and turning on the worm eaten
stool and table  beat them to pieces in a few blows 

 Hold the light higher   he said  wrathfully  to the turnkey   Look
among those fragments with care  Jacques   And see   Here is my knife  
throwing it to him   rip open that bed  and search the straw  Hold the
light higher  you  

With a menacing look at the turnkey he crawled upon the hearth 
and  peering up the chimney  struck and prised at its sides with the
crowbar  and worked at the iron grating across it   In a few minutes 
some mortar and dust came dropping down  which he averted his face to
avoid  and in it  and in the old wood ashes  and in a crevice in the
chimney into which his weapon had slipped or wrought itself  he groped
with a cautious touch 

 Nothing in the wood  and nothing in the straw  Jacques  

 Nothing  

 Let us collect them together  in the middle of the cell   So 
Light them  you  

The turnkey fired the little pile  which blazed high and hot   Stooping
again to come out at the low arched door  they left it burning  and
retraced their way to the courtyard  seeming to recover their sense of
hearing as they came down  until they were in the raging flood once more 

They found it surging and tossing  in quest of Defarge himself 
Saint Antoine was clamorous to have its wine shop keeper foremost in
the guard upon the governor who had defended the Bastille and shot the
people   Otherwise  the governor would not be marched to the Hotel de
Ville for judgment   Otherwise  the governor would escape  and the
people s blood  suddenly of some value  after many years of
worthlessness  be unavenged 

In the howling universe of passion and contention that seemed to
encompass this grim old officer conspicuous in his grey coat and red
decoration  there was but one quite steady figure  and that was a
woman s    See  there is my husband   she cried  pointing him out 
 See Defarge    She stood immovable close to the grim old officer 
and remained immovable close to him  remained immovable close to him
through the streets  as Defarge and the rest bore him along  remained
immovable close to him when he was got near his destination  and began
to be struck at from behind  remained immovable close to him when the
long gathering rain of stabs and blows fell heavy  was so close to him
when he dropped dead under it  that  suddenly animated  she put her foot
upon his neck  and with her cruel knife  long ready  hewed off his head 

The hour was come  when Saint Antoine was to execute his horrible idea
of hoisting up men for lamps to show what he could be and do   Saint
Antoine s blood was up  and the blood of tyranny and domination by
the iron hand was down  down on the steps of the Hotel de Ville where
the governor s body lay  down on the sole of the shoe of Madame Defarge
where she had trodden on the body to steady it for mutilation 
 Lower the lamp yonder   cried Saint Antoine  after glaring round for a
new means of death   here is one of his soldiers to be left on guard  
The swinging sentinel was posted  and the sea rushed on 

The sea of black and threatening waters  and of destructive upheaving
of wave against wave  whose depths were yet unfathomed and whose
forces were yet unknown   The remorseless sea of turbulently swaying
shapes  voices of vengeance  and faces hardened in the furnaces of
suffering until the touch of pity could make no mark on them 

But  in the ocean of faces where every fierce and furious expression
was in vivid life  there were two groups of faces  each seven in number
  so fixedly contrasting with the rest  that never did sea roll which
bore more memorable wrecks with it   Seven faces of prisoners  suddenly
released by the storm that had burst their tomb  were carried high
overhead   all scared  all lost  all wondering and amazed  as if the
Last Day were come  and those who rejoiced around them were lost spirits 
Other seven faces there were  carried higher  seven dead faces  whose
drooping eyelids and half seen eyes awaited the Last Day   Impassive
faces  yet with a suspended  not an abolished  expression on them  faces 
rather  in a fearful pause  as having yet to raise the dropped lids of
the eyes  and bear witness with the bloodless lips   THOU DIDST IT  

Seven prisoners released  seven gory heads on pikes  the keys of the
accursed fortress of the eight strong towers  some discovered letters
and other memorials of prisoners of old time  long dead of broken
hearts   such  and such  like  the loudly echoing footsteps of Saint
Antoine escort through the Paris streets in mid July  one thousand seven
hundred and eighty nine   Now  Heaven defeat the fancy of Lucie Darnay 
and keep these feet far out of her life   For  they are headlong  mad 
and dangerous  and in the years so long after the breaking of the cask
at Defarge s wine shop door  they are not easily purified when once
stained red 



XXII

The Sea Still Rises


Haggard Saint Antoine had had only one exultant week  in which to
soften his modicum of hard and bitter bread to such extent as he
could  with the relish of fraternal embraces and congratulations 
when Madame Defarge sat at her counter  as usual  presiding over the
customers   Madame Defarge wore no rose in her head  for the great
brotherhood of Spies had become  even in one short week  extremely
chary of trusting themselves to the saint s mercies   The lamps across
his streets had a portentously elastic swing with them 

Madame Defarge  with her arms folded  sat in the morning light and heat 
contemplating the wine shop and the street   In both  there were several
knots of loungers  squalid and miserable  but now with a manifest sense
of power enthroned on their distress   The raggedest nightcap  awry on
the wretchedest head  had this crooked significance in it    I know how
hard it has grown for me  the wearer of this  to support life in myself 
but do you know how easy it has grown for me  the wearer of this  to
destroy life in you    Every lean bare arm  that had been without work
before  had this work always ready for it now  that it could strike 
The fingers of the knitting women were vicious  with the experience that
they could tear   There was a change in the appearance of Saint Antoine 
the image had been hammering into this for hundreds of years  and the
last finishing blows had told mightily on the expression 

Madame Defarge sat observing it  with such suppressed approval as was
to be desired in the leader of the Saint Antoine women   One of her
sisterhood knitted beside her   The short  rather plump wife of a
starved grocer  and the mother of two children withal  this lieutenant
had already earned the complimentary name of The Vengeance 

 Hark   said The Vengeance    Listen  then   Who comes  

As if a train of powder laid from the outermost bound of Saint Antoine
Quarter to the wine shop door  had been suddenly fired  a fast spreading
murmur came rushing along 

 It is Defarge   said madame    Silence  patriots  

Defarge came in breathless  pulled off a red cap he wore  and looked
around him    Listen  everywhere   said madame again    Listen to him  
Defarge stood  panting  against a background of eager eyes and open
mouths  formed outside the door  all those within the wine shop had
sprung to their feet 

 Say then  my husband   What is it  

 News from the other world  

 How  then   cried madame  contemptuously    The other world  

 Does everybody here recall old Foulon  who told the famished people
that they might eat grass  and who died  and went to Hell  

 Everybody   from all throats 

 The news is of him   He is among us  

 Among us   from the universal throat again    And dead  

 Not dead   He feared us so much  and with reason  that he caused
himself to be represented as dead  and had a grand mock funeral   But
they have found him alive  hiding in the country  and have brought him
in   I have seen him but now  on his way to the Hotel de Ville  a
prisoner   I have said that he had reason to fear us   Say all 
 Had  he reason  

Wretched old sinner of more than threescore years and ten  if he had
never known it yet  he would have known it in his heart of hearts if
he could have heard the answering cry 

A moment of profound silence followed   Defarge and his wife looked
steadfastly at one another   The Vengeance stooped  and the jar of
a drum was heard as she moved it at her feet behind the counter 

 Patriots   said Defarge  in a determined voice   are we ready  

Instantly Madame Defarge s knife was in her girdle  the drum was beating
in the streets  as if it and a drummer had flown together by magic  and
The Vengeance  uttering terrific shrieks  and flinging her arms about
her head like all the forty Furies at once  was tearing from house to
house  rousing the women 

The men were terrible  in the bloody minded anger with which they looked
from windows  caught up what arms they had  and came pouring down into
the streets  but  the women were a sight to chill the boldest   From
such household occupations as their bare poverty yielded  from their
children  from their aged and their sick crouching on the bare ground
famished and naked  they ran out with streaming hair  urging one
another  and themselves  to madness with the wildest cries and actions 
Villain Foulon taken  my sister   Old Foulon taken  my mother 
Miscreant Foulon taken  my daughter   Then  a score of others ran into
the midst of these  beating their breasts  tearing their hair  and
screaming  Foulon alive   Foulon who told the starving people they
might eat grass   Foulon who told my old father that he might eat
grass  when I had no bread to give him   Foulon who told my baby it
might suck grass  when these breasts where dry with want   O mother
of God  this Foulon   O Heaven our suffering   Hear me  my dead baby
and my withered father   I swear on my knees  on these stones  to avenge
you on Foulon   Husbands  and brothers  and young men  Give us the blood
of Foulon  Give us the head of Foulon  Give us the heart of Foulon 
Give us the body and soul of Foulon  Rend Foulon to pieces  and dig
him into the ground  that grass may grow from him   With these cries 
numbers of the women  lashed into blind frenzy  whirled about  striking
and tearing at their own friends until they dropped into a passionate
swoon  and were only saved by the men belonging to them from being
trampled under foot 

Nevertheless  not a moment was lost  not a moment   This Foulon was
at the Hotel de Ville  and might be loosed   Never  if Saint Antoine
knew his own sufferings  insults  and wrongs   Armed men and women
flocked out of the Quarter so fast  and drew even these last dregs
after them with such a force of suction  that within a quarter of an
hour there was not a human creature in Saint Antoine s bosom but a
few old crones and the wailing children 

No   They were all by that time choking the Hall of Examination where
this old man  ugly and wicked  was  and overflowing into the adjacent
open space and streets   The Defarges  husband and wife  The Vengeance 
and Jacques Three  were in the first press  and at no great distance
from him in the Hall 

 See   cried madame  pointing with her knife    See the old villain
bound with ropes   That was well done to tie a bunch of grass upon
his back   Ha  ha   That was well done   Let him eat it now    Madame
put her knife under her arm  and clapped her hands as at a play 

The people immediately behind Madame Defarge  explaining the cause of
her satisfaction to those behind them  and those again explaining
to others  and those to others  the neighbouring streets resounded with
the clapping of hands   Similarly  during two or three hours of drawl 
and the winnowing of many bushels of words  Madame Defarge s frequent
expressions of impatience were taken up  with marvellous quickness 
at a distance   the more readily  because certain men who had by some
wonderful exercise of agility climbed up the external architecture to
look in from the windows  knew Madame Defarge well  and acted as a
telegraph between her and the crowd outside the building 

At length the sun rose so high that it struck a kindly ray as of hope
or protection  directly down upon the old prisoner s head   The favour
was too much to bear  in an instant the barrier of dust and chaff that
had stood surprisingly long  went to the winds  and Saint Antoine had
got him 

It was known directly  to the furthest confines of the crowd   Defarge
had but sprung over a railing and a table  and folded the miserable
wretch in a deadly embrace  Madame Defarge had but followed and turned
her hand in one of the ropes with which he was tied  The Vengeance
and Jacques Three were not yet up with them  and the men at the windows
had not yet swooped into the Hall  like birds of prey from their high
perches  when the cry seemed to go up  all over the city   Bring him
out   Bring him to the lamp  

Down  and up  and head foremost on the steps of the building  now  on
his knees  now  on his feet  now  on his back  dragged  and struck at 
and stifled by the bunches of grass and straw that were thrust into his
face by hundreds of hands  torn  bruised  panting  bleeding  yet always
entreating and beseeching for mercy  now full of vehement agony of
action  with a small clear space about him as the people drew one
another back that they might see  now  a log of dead wood drawn through
a forest of legs  he was hauled to the nearest street corner where one
of the fatal lamps swung  and there Madame Defarge let him go  as a
cat might have done to a mouse  and silently and composedly looked
at him while they made ready  and while he besought her   the women
passionately screeching at him all the time  and the men sternly
calling out to have him killed with grass in his mouth   Once  he went
aloft  and the rope broke  and they caught him shrieking  twice  he went
aloft  and the rope broke  and they caught him shrieking  then  the rope
was merciful  and held him  and his head was soon upon a pike  with
grass enough in the mouth for all Saint Antoine to dance at the sight of 

Nor was this the end of the day s bad work  for Saint Antoine so
shouted and danced his angry blood up  that it boiled again  on
hearing when the day closed in that the son in law of the despatched 
another of the people s enemies and insulters  was coming into Paris
under a guard five hundred strong  in cavalry alone   Saint Antoine
wrote his crimes on flaring sheets of paper  seized him  would have
torn him out of the breast of an army to bear Foulon company  set
his head and heart on pikes  and carried the three spoils of the day 
in Wolf procession through the streets 

Not before dark night did the men and women come back to the children 
wailing and breadless   Then  the miserable bakers  shops were beset
by long files of them  patiently waiting to buy bad bread  and while
they waited with stomachs faint and empty  they beguiled the time by
embracing one another on the triumphs of the day  and achieving them
again in gossip   Gradually  these strings of ragged people shortened
and frayed away  and then poor lights began to shine in high windows 
and slender fires were made in the streets  at which neighbours cooked
in common  afterwards supping at their doors 

Scanty and insufficient suppers those  and innocent of meat  as of
most other sauce to wretched bread   Yet  human fellowship infused
some nourishment into the flinty viands  and struck some sparks of
cheerfulness out of them   Fathers and mothers who had had their full
share in the worst of the day  played gently with their meagre
children  and lovers  with such a world around them and before them 
loved and hoped 

It was almost morning  when Defarge s wine shop parted with its last
knot of customers  and Monsieur Defarge said to madame his wife  in
husky tones  while fastening the door 

 At last it is come  my dear  

 Eh well   returned madame    Almost  

Saint Antoine slept  the Defarges slept   even The Vengeance slept with
her starved grocer  and the drum was at rest   The drum s was the only
voice in Saint Antoine that blood and hurry had not changed   The
Vengeance  as custodian of the drum  could have wakened him up and had
the same speech out of him as before the Bastille fell  or old Foulon
was seized  not so with the hoarse tones of the men and women in Saint
Antoine s bosom 



XXIII

Fire Rises


There was a change on the village where the fountain fell  and where
the mender of roads went forth daily to hammer out of the stones on
the highway such morsels of bread as might serve for patches to hold
his poor ignorant soul and his poor reduced body together   The prison
on the crag was not so dominant as of yore  there were soldiers to guard
it  but not many  there were officers to guard the soldiers  but not
one of them knew what his men would do  beyond this   that it would
probably not be what he was ordered 

Far and wide lay a ruined country  yielding nothing but desolation 
Every green leaf  every blade of grass and blade of grain  was as
shrivelled and poor as the miserable people   Everything was bowed
down  dejected  oppressed  and broken   Habitations  fences 
domesticated animals  men  women  children  and the soil that bore
them  all worn out 

Monseigneur  often a most worthy individual gentleman  was a national
blessing  gave a chivalrous tone to things  was a polite example of
luxurious and shining fife  and a great deal more to equal purpose 
nevertheless  Monseigneur as a class had  somehow or other  brought
things to this   Strange that Creation  designed expressly for
Monseigneur  should be so soon wrung dry and squeezed out   There must
be something short sighted in the eternal arrangements  surely   Thus
it was  however  and the last drop of blood having been extracted from
the flints  and the last screw of the rack having been turned so often
that its purchase crumbled  and it now turned and turned with nothing
to bite  Monseigneur began to run away from a phenomenon so low
and unaccountable 

But  this was not the change on the village  and on many a village
like it   For scores of years gone by  Monseigneur had squeezed it
and wrung it  and had seldom graced it with his presence except for
the pleasures of the chase  now  found in hunting the people  now 
found in hunting the beasts  for whose preservation Monseigneur made
edifying spaces of barbarous and barren wilderness   No   The change
consisted in the appearance of strange faces of low caste  rather than
in the disappearance of the high caste  chiselled  and otherwise
beautified and beautifying features of Monseigneur 

For  in these times  as the mender of roads worked  solitary  in the
dust  not often troubling himself to reflect that dust he was and to
dust he must return  being for the most part too much occupied in
thinking how little he had for supper and how much more he would eat
if he had it  in these times  as he raised his eyes from his lonely
labour  and viewed the prospect  he would see some rough figure
approaching on foot  the like of which was once a rarity in those
parts  but was now a frequent presence   As it advanced  the mender
of roads would discern without surprise  that it was a shaggy haired
man  of almost barbarian aspect  tall  in wooden shoes that were
clumsy even to the eyes of a mender of roads  grim  rough  swart 
steeped in the mud and dust of many highways  dank with the marshy
moisture of many low grounds  sprinkled with the thorns and leaves
and moss of many byways through woods 

Such a man came upon him  like a ghost  at noon in the July weather 
as he sat on his heap of stones under a bank  taking such shelter as
he could get from a shower of hail 

The man looked at him  looked at the village in the hollow  at the
mill  and at the prison on the crag   When he had identified these
objects in what benighted mind he had  he said  in a dialect that
was just intelligible 

 How goes it  Jacques  

 All well  Jacques  

 Touch then  

They joined hands  and the man sat down on the heap of stones 

 No dinner  

 Nothing but supper now   said the mender of roads  with a hungry face 

 It is the fashion   growled the man    I meet no dinner anywhere  

He took out a blackened pipe  filled it  lighted it with flint and
steel  pulled at it until it was in a bright glow   then  suddenly held
it from him and dropped something into it from between his finger and
thumb  that blazed and went out in a puff of smoke 

 Touch then    It was the turn of the mender of roads to say it this
time  after observing these operations   They again joined hands 

 To night   said the mender of roads 

 To night   said the man  putting the pipe in his mouth 

 Where  

 Here  

He and the mender of roads sat on the heap of stones looking silently
at one another  with the hail driving in between them like a pigmy
charge of bayonets  until the sky began to clear over the village 

 Show me   said the traveller then  moving to the brow of the hill 

 See   returned the mender of roads  with extended finger    You go
down here  and straight through the street  and past the fountain   

 To the Devil with all that   interrupted the other  rolling his eye
over the landscape     I  go through no streets and past no fountains 
Well  

 Well   About two leagues beyond the summit of that hill above
the village  

 Good   When do you cease to work  

 At sunset  

 Will you wake me  before departing   I have walked two nights without
resting   Let me finish my pipe  and I shall sleep like a child   Will
you wake me  

 Surely  

The wayfarer smoked his pipe out  put it in his breast  slipped off
his great wooden shoes  and lay down on his back on the heap of stones 
He was fast asleep directly 

As the road mender plied his dusty labour  and the hail clouds  rolling
away  revealed bright bars and streaks of sky which were responded to
by silver gleams upon the landscape  the little man  who wore a red cap
now  in place of his blue one  seemed fascinated by the figure on the
heap of stones   His eyes were so often turned towards it  that he
used his tools mechanically  and  one would have said  to very poor
account   The bronze face  the shaggy black hair and beard  the coarse
woollen red cap  the rough medley dress of home spun stuff and hairy
skins of beasts  the powerful frame attenuated by spare living  and
the sullen and desperate compression of the lips in sleep  inspired
the mender of roads with awe   The traveller had travelled far  and
his feet were footsore  and his ankles chafed and bleeding  his great
shoes  stuffed with leaves and grass  had been heavy to drag over the
many long leagues  and his clothes were chafed into holes  as he himself
was into sores   Stooping down beside him  the road mender tried to
get a peep at secret weapons in his breast or where not  but  in vain 
for he slept with his arms crossed upon him  and set as resolutely as
his lips   Fortified towns with their stockades  guard houses  gates 
trenches  and drawbridges  seemed to the mender of roads  to be so much
air as against this figure   And when he lifted his eyes from it to
the horizon and looked around  he saw in his small fancy similar figures 
stopped by no obstacle  tending to centres all over France 

The man slept on  indifferent to showers of hail and intervals of
brightness  to sunshine on his face and shadow  to the paltering lumps
of dull ice on his body and the diamonds into which the sun changed
them  until the sun was low in the west  and the sky was glowing 
Then  the mender of roads having got his tools together and all things
ready to go down into the village  roused him 

 Good   said the sleeper  rising on his elbow    Two leagues beyond
the summit of the hill  

 About  

 About   Good  

The mender of roads went home  with the dust going on before him
according to the set of the wind  and was soon at the fountain 
squeezing himself in among the lean kine brought there to drink  and
appearing even to whisper to them in his whispering to all the village 
When the village had taken its poor supper  it did not creep to bed 
as it usually did  but came out of doors again  and remained there 
A curious contagion of whispering was upon it  and also  when it
gathered together at the fountain in the dark  another curious contagion
of looking expectantly at the sky in one direction only   Monsieur
Gabelle  chief functionary of the place  became uneasy  went out on
his house top alone  and looked in that direction too  glanced down
from behind his chimneys at the darkening faces by the fountain below 
and sent word to the sacristan who kept the keys of the church  that
there might be need to ring the tocsin by and bye 

The night deepened   The trees environing the old chateau  keeping
its solitary state apart  moved in a rising wind  as though they
threatened the pile of building massive and dark in the gloom   Up
the two terrace flights of steps the rain ran wildly  and beat at
the great door  like a swift messenger rousing those within  uneasy
rushes of wind went through the hall  among the old spears and knives 
and passed lamenting up the stairs  and shook the curtains of the bed
where the last Marquis had slept   East  West  North  and South  through
the woods  four heavy treading  unkempt figures crushed the high grass
and cracked the branches  striding on cautiously to come together in
the courtyard   Four lights broke out there  and moved away in different
directions  and all was black again 

But  not for long   Presently  the chateau began to make itself
strangely visible by some light of its own  as though it were growing
luminous   Then  a flickering streak played behind the architecture
of the front  picking out transparent places  and showing where
balustrades  arches  and windows were   Then it soared higher  and
grew broader and brighter   Soon  from a score of the great windows 
flames burst forth  and the stone faces awakened  stared out of fire 

A faint murmur arose about the house from the few people who were left
there  and there was a saddling of a horse and riding away   There was
spurring and splashing through the darkness  and bridle was drawn in
the space by the village fountain  and the horse in a foam stood at
Monsieur Gabelle s door    Help  Gabelle   Help  every one    The
tocsin rang impatiently  but other help  if that were any  there was
none   The mender of roads  and two hundred and fifty particular
friends  stood with folded arms at the fountain  looking at the pillar
of fire in the sky    It must be forty feet high   said they  grimly 
and never moved 

The rider from the chateau  and the horse in a foam  clattered away
through the village  and galloped up the stony steep  to the prison
on the crag   At the gate  a group of officers were looking at the
fire  removed from them  a group of soldiers    Help  gentlemen  
officers   The chateau is on fire  valuable objects may be saved from
the flames by timely aid   Help  help    The officers looked towards
the soldiers who looked at the fire  gave no orders  and answered 
with shrugs and biting of lips   It must burn  

As the rider rattled down the hill again and through the street  the
village was illuminating   The mender of roads  and the two hundred
and fifty particular friends  inspired as one man and woman by the
idea of lighting up  had darted into their houses  and were putting
candles in every dull little pane of glass   The general scarcity of
everything  occasioned candles to be borrowed in a rather peremptory
manner of Monsieur Gabelle  and in a moment of reluctance and hesitation
on that functionary s part  the mender of roads  once so submissive
to authority  had remarked that carriages were good to make bonfires
with  and that post horses would roast 

The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn   In the roaring and
raging of the conflagration  a red hot wind  driving straight from
the infernal regions  seemed to be blowing the edifice away   With the
rising and falling of the blaze  the stone faces showed as if they were
in torment   When great masses of stone and timber fell  the face with
the two dints in the nose became obscured   anon struggled out of the
smoke again  as if it were the face of the cruel Marquis  burning at
the stake and contending with the fire 

The chateau burned  the nearest trees  laid hold of by the fire 
scorched and shrivelled  trees at a distance  fired by the four fierce
figures  begirt the blazing edifice with a new forest of smoke   Molten
lead and iron boiled in the marble basin of the fountain  the water
ran dry  the extinguisher tops of the towers vanished like ice before
the heat  and trickled down into four rugged wells of flame   Great
rents and splits branched out in the solid walls  like crystallisation 
stupefied birds wheeled about and dropped into the furnace  four fierce
figures trudged away  East  West  North  and South  along the night 
enshrouded roads  guided by the beacon they had lighted  towards their
next destination   The illuminated village had seized hold of the
tocsin  and  abolishing the lawful ringer  rang for joy 

Not only that  but the village  light headed with famine  fire  and
bell ringing  and bethinking itself that Monsieur Gabelle had to do
with the collection of rent and taxes  though it was but a small
instalment of taxes  and no rent at all  that Gabelle had got in those
latter days  became impatient for an interview with him  and 
surrounding his house  summoned him to come forth for personal conference 
Whereupon  Monsieur Gabelle did heavily bar his door  and retire to
hold counsel with himself   The result of that conference was  that
Gabelle again withdrew himself to his housetop behind his stack of
chimneys  this time resolved  if his door were broken in  he was a
small Southern man of retaliative temperament   to pitch himself head
foremost over the parapet  and crush a man or two below 

Probably  Monsieur Gabelle passed a long night up there  with the
distant chateau for fire and candle  and the beating at his door 
combined with the joy ringing  for music  not to mention his having
an ill omened lamp slung across the road before his posting house gate 
which the village showed a lively inclination to displace in his favour 
A trying suspense  to be passing a whole summer night on the brink of
the black ocean  ready to take that plunge into it upon which Monsieur
Gabelle had resolved   But  the friendly dawn appearing at last  and
the rush candles of the village guttering out  the people happily
dispersed  and Monsieur Gabelle came down bringing his life with him
for that while 

Within a hundred miles  and in the light of other fires  there were
other functionaries less fortunate  that night and other nights  whom
the rising sun found hanging across once peaceful streets  where they
had been born and bred  also  there were other villagers and townspeople
less fortunate than the mender of roads and his fellows  upon whom
the functionaries and soldiery turned with success  and whom they
strung up in their turn   But  the fierce figures were steadily wending
East  West  North  and South  be that as it would  and whosoever hung 
fire burned   The altitude of the gallows that would turn to water
and quench it  no functionary  by any stretch of mathematics  was
able to calculate successfully 



XXIV

Drawn to the Loadstone Rock


In such risings of fire and risings of sea  the firm earth shaken by
the rushes of an angry ocean which had now no ebb  but was always on
the flow  higher and higher  to the terror and wonder of the beholders
on the shore  three years of tempest were consumed   Three more
birthdays of little Lucie had been woven by the golden thread into
the peaceful tissue of the life of her home 

Many a night and many a day had its inmates listened to the echoes in
the corner  with hearts that failed them when they heard the thronging
feet   For  the footsteps had become to their minds as the footsteps
of a people  tumultuous under a red flag and with their country declared
in danger  changed into wild beasts  by terrible enchantment long
persisted in 

Monseigneur  as a class  had dissociated himself from the phenomenon
of his not being appreciated   of his being so little wanted in France 
as to incur considerable danger of receiving his dismissal from it 
and this life together   Like the fabled rustic who raised the Devil
with infinite pains  and was so terrified at the sight of him that he
could ask the Enemy no question  but immediately fled  so  Monseigneur 
after boldly reading the Lord s Prayer backwards for a great number of
years  and performing many other potent spells for compelling the Evil
One  no sooner beheld him in his terrors than he took to his noble heels 

The shining Bull s Eye of the Court was gone  or it would have been
the mark for a hurricane of national bullets   It had never been a
good eye to see with  had long had the mote in it of Lucifer s pride 
Sardanapalus s luxury  and a mole s blindness  but it had dropped
out and was gone   The Court  from that exclusive inner circle to its
outermost rotten ring of intrigue  corruption  and dissimulation  was
all gone together   Royalty was gone  had been besieged in its Palace
and  suspended   when the last tidings came over 

The August of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety two was
come  and Monseigneur was by this time scattered far and wide 

As was natural  the head quarters and great gathering place of
Monseigneur  in London  was Tellson s Bank   Spirits are supposed to
haunt the places where their bodies most resorted  and Monseigneur
without a guinea haunted the spot where his guineas used to be 
Moreover  it was the spot to which such French intelligence as was
most to be relied upon  came quickest   Again   Tellson s was a
munificent house  and extended great liberality to old customers who
had fallen from their high estate   Again   those nobles who had seen
the coming storm in time  and anticipating plunder or confiscation 
had made provident remittances to Tellson s  were always to be heard
of there by their needy brethren   To which it must be added that every
new comer from France reported himself and his tidings at Tellson s 
almost as a matter of course   For such variety of reasons  Tellson s
was at that time  as to French intelligence  a kind of High Exchange 
and this was so well known to the public  and the inquiries made there
were in consequence so numerous  that Tellson s sometimes wrote the
latest news out in a line or so and posted it in the Bank windows 
for all who ran through Temple Bar to read 

On a steaming  misty afternoon  Mr  Lorry sat at his desk  and Charles
Darnay stood leaning on it  talking with him in a low voice   The
penitential den once set apart for interviews with the House  was now
the news Exchange  and was filled to overflowing   It was within half
an hour or so of the time of closing 

 But  although you are the youngest man that ever lived   said Charles
Darnay  rather hesitating   I must still suggest to you   

 I understand   That I am too old   said Mr  Lorry 

 Unsettled weather  a long journey  uncertain means of travelling  a
disorganised country  a city that may not be even safe for you  

 My dear Charles   said Mr  Lorry  with cheerful confidence   you
touch some of the reasons for my going   not for my staying away 
It is safe enough for me  nobody will care to interfere with an old
fellow of hard upon fourscore when there are so many people there
much better worth interfering with   As to its being a disorganised
city  if it were not a disorganised city there would be no occasion
to send somebody from our House here to our House there  who knows
the city and the business  of old  and is in Tellson s confidence 
As to the uncertain travelling  the long journey  and the winter
weather  if I were not prepared to submit myself to a few inconveniences
for the sake of Tellson s  after all these years  who ought to be  

 I wish I were going myself   said Charles Darnay  somewhat restlessly 
and like one thinking aloud 

 Indeed   You are a pretty fellow to object and advise   exclaimed
Mr  Lorry    You wish you were going yourself   And you a Frenchman
born   You are a wise counsellor  

 My dear Mr  Lorry  it is because I am a Frenchman born  that the
thought  which I did not mean to utter here  however  has passed
through my mind often   One cannot help thinking  having had some
sympathy for the miserable people  and having abandoned something to
them   he spoke here in his former thoughtful manner   that one might
be listened to  and might have the power to persuade to some restraint 
Only last night  after you had left us  when I was talking to Lucie   

 When you were talking to Lucie   Mr  Lorry repeated    Yes   I wonder
you are not ashamed to mention the name of Lucie   Wishing you were
going to France at this time of day  

 However  I am not going   said Charles Darnay  with a smile    It is
more to the purpose that you say you are  

 And I am  in plain reality   The truth is  my dear Charles   Mr  Lorry
glanced at the distant House  and lowered his voice   you can have no
conception of the difficulty with which our business is transacted 
and of the peril in which our books and papers over yonder are involved 
The Lord above knows what the compromising consequences would be to
numbers of people  if some of our documents were seized or destroyed 
and they might be  at any time  you know  for who can say that Paris
is not set afire to day  or sacked to morrow   Now  a judicious selection
from these with the least possible delay  and the burying of them 
or otherwise getting of them out of harm s way  is within the power
 without loss of precious time  of scarcely any one but myself 
if any one   And shall I hang back  when Tellson s knows this and says
this  Tellson s  whose bread I have eaten these sixty years  because
I am a little stiff about the joints   Why  I am a boy  sir  to half
a dozen old codgers here  

 How I admire the gallantry of your youthful spirit  Mr  Lorry  

 Tut   Nonsense  sir   And  my dear Charles   said Mr  Lorry  glancing
at the House again   you are to remember  that getting things out of
Paris at this present time  no matter what things  is next to an
impossibility   Papers and precious matters were this very day brought
to us here  I speak in strict confidence  it is not business like to
whisper it  even to you   by the strangest bearers you can imagine 
every one of whom had his head hanging on by a single hair as he
passed the Barriers   At another time  our parcels would come and go 
as easily as in business like Old England  but now  everything
is stopped  

 And do you really go to night  

 I really go to night  for the case has become too pressing to
admit of delay  

 And do you take no one with you  

 All sorts of people have been proposed to me  but I will have
nothing to say to any of them   I intend to take Jerry   Jerry has
been my bodyguard on Sunday nights for a long time past and I am used
to him   Nobody will suspect Jerry of being anything but an English
bull dog  or of having any design in his head but to fly at anybody
who touches his master  

 I must say again that I heartily admire your gallantry and
youthfulness  

 I must say again  nonsense  nonsense   When I have executed this
little commission  I shall  perhaps  accept Tellson s proposal to retire
and live at my ease   Time enough  then  to think about growing old  

This dialogue had taken place at Mr  Lorry s usual desk  with Monseigneur
swarming within a yard or two of it  boastful of what he would do to
avenge himself on the rascal people before long   It was too much the
way of Monseigneur under his reverses as a refugee  and it was much
too much the way of native British orthodoxy  to talk of this terrible
Revolution as if it were the only harvest ever known under the skies
that had not been sown  as if nothing had ever been done  or omitted
to be done  that had led to it  as if observers of the wretched
millions in France  and of the misused and perverted resources that
should have made them prosperous  had not seen it inevitably coming 
years before  and had not in plain words recorded what they saw   Such
vapouring  combined with the extravagant plots of Monseigneur for the
restoration of a state of things that had utterly exhausted itself 
and worn out Heaven and earth as well as itself  was hard to be endured
without some remonstrance by any sane man who knew the truth   And it
was such vapouring all about his ears  like a troublesome confusion of
blood in his own head  added to a latent uneasiness in his mind  which
had already made Charles Darnay restless  and which still kept him so 

Among the talkers  was Stryver  of the King s Bench Bar  far on his
way to state promotion  and  therefore  loud on the theme   broaching
to Monseigneur  his devices for blowing the people up and
exterminating them from the face of the earth  and doing without them 
and for accomplishing many similar objects akin in their nature to
the abolition of eagles by sprinkling salt on the tails of the race 
Him  Darnay heard with a particular feeling of objection  and Darnay
stood divided between going away that he might hear no more  and
remaining to interpose his word  when the thing that was to be  went
on to shape itself out 

The House approached Mr  Lorry  and laying a soiled and unopened
letter before him  asked if he had yet discovered any traces of the
person to whom it was addressed   The House laid the letter down so
close to Darnay that he saw the direction  the more quickly because
it was his own right name   The address  turned into English  ran 

 Very pressing   To Monsieur heretofore the Marquis St  Evremonde 
of France   Confided to the cares of Messrs  Tellson and Co   Bankers 
London  England  

On the marriage morning  Doctor Manette had made it his one urgent
and express request to Charles Darnay  that the secret of this name
should be  unless he  the Doctor  dissolved the obligation  kept
inviolate between them   Nobody else knew it to be his name  his own
wife had no suspicion of the fact  Mr  Lorry could have none 

 No   said Mr  Lorry  in reply to the House   I have referred it 
I think  to everybody now here  and no one can tell me where this
gentleman is to be found  

The hands of the clock verging upon the hour of closing the Bank 
there was a general set of the current of talkers past Mr  Lorry s
desk   He held the letter out inquiringly  and Monseigneur looked at
it  in the person of this plotting and indignant refugee  and
Monseigneur looked at it in the person of that plotting and indignant
refugee  and This  That  and The Other  all had something disparaging
to say  in French or in English  concerning the Marquis who was not
to be found 

 Nephew  I believe  but in any case degenerate successor  of the
polished Marquis who was murdered   said one    Happy to say  I never
knew him  

 A craven who abandoned his post   said another  this Monseigneur
had been got out of Paris  legs uppermost and half suffocated  in a
load of hay   some years ago  

 Infected with the new doctrines   said a third  eyeing the direction
through his glass in passing   set himself in opposition to the last
Marquis  abandoned the estates when he inherited them  and left them
to the ruffian herd   They will recompense him now  I hope 
as he deserves  

 Hey   cried the blatant Stryver    Did he though   Is that the sort
of fellow   Let us look at his infamous name   D  n the fellow  

Darnay  unable to restrain himself any longer  touched Mr  Stryver on
the shoulder  and said 

 I know the fellow  

 Do you  by Jupiter   said Stryver    I am sorry for it  

 Why  

 Why  Mr  Darnay   D ye hear what he did   Don t ask  why 
in these times  

 But I do ask why  

 Then I tell you again  Mr  Darnay  I am sorry for it   I am sorry to
hear you putting any such extraordinary questions   Here is a fellow 
who  infected by the most pestilent and blasphemous code of devilry
that ever was known  abandoned his property to the vilest scum of the
earth that ever did murder by wholesale  and you ask me why I am
sorry that a man who instructs youth knows him   Well  but I ll
answer you   I am sorry because I believe there is contamination in
such a scoundrel   That s why  

Mindful of the secret  Darnay with great difficulty checked himself 
and said    You may not understand the gentleman  

 I understand how to put  you  in a corner  Mr  Darnay   said Bully
Stryver   and I ll do it   If this fellow is a gentleman  I  don t 
understand him   You may tell him so  with my compliments   You may
also tell him  from me  that after abandoning his worldly goods and
position to this butcherly mob  I wonder he is not at the head of them 
But  no  gentlemen   said Stryver  looking all round  and snapping his
fingers   I know something of human nature  and I tell you that you ll
never find a fellow like this fellow  trusting himself to the mercies
of such precious  protgs    No  gentlemen  he ll always show  em
a clean pair of heels very early in the scuffle  and sneak away  

With those words  and a final snap of his fingers  Mr  Stryver
shouldered himself into Fleet street  amidst the general approbation
of his hearers   Mr  Lorry and Charles Darnay were left alone at the
desk  in the general departure from the Bank 

 Will you take charge of the letter   said Mr  Lorry    You know
where to deliver it  

 I do  

 Will you undertake to explain  that we suppose it to have been
addressed here  on the chance of our knowing where to forward it 
and that it has been here some time  

 I will do so   Do you start for Paris from here  

 From here  at eight  

 I will come back  to see you off  

Very ill at ease with himself  and with Stryver and most other men 
Darnay made the best of his way into the quiet of the Temple 
opened the letter  and read it   These were its contents 


 Prison of the Abbaye  Paris 

 June 21  1792 
 MONSIEUR HERETOFORE THE MARQUIS 

 After having long been in danger of my life at the hands of the
village  I have been seized  with great violence and indignity  and
brought a long journey on foot to Paris   On the road I have suffered
a great deal   Nor is that all  my house has been destroyed  razed
to the ground 

 The crime for which I am imprisoned  Monsieur heretofore the
Marquis  and for which I shall be summoned before the tribunal  and
shall lose my life  without your so generous help   is  they tell me 
treason against the majesty of the people  in that I have acted
against them for an emigrant   It is in vain I represent that I have
acted for them  and not against  according to your commands   It is
in vain I represent that  before the sequestration of emigrant
property  I had remitted the imposts they had ceased to pay  that I
had collected no rent  that I had had recourse to no process   The
only response is  that I have acted for an emigrant  and where is
that emigrant 

 Ah  most gracious Monsieur heretofore the Marquis  where is that
emigrant   I cry in my sleep where is he   I demand of Heaven  will
he not come to deliver me   No answer   Ah Monsieur heretofore the
Marquis  I send my desolate cry across the sea  hoping it may perhaps
reach your ears through the great bank of Tilson known at Paris 

 For the love of Heaven  of justice  of generosity  of the honour of
your noble name  I supplicate you  Monsieur heretofore the Marquis 
to succour and release me   My fault is  that I have been true to you 
Oh Monsieur heretofore the Marquis  I pray you be you true to me 

 From this prison here of horror  whence I every hour tend nearer
and nearer to destruction  I send you  Monsieur heretofore the Marquis 
the assurance of my dolorous and unhappy service 

 Your afflicted 

 Gabelle  


The latent uneasiness in Darnay s mind was roused to vigourous life
by this letter   The peril of an old servant and a good one  whose
only crime was fidelity to himself and his family  stared him so
reproachfully in the face  that  as he walked to and fro in the Temple
considering what to do  he almost hid his face from the passersby 

He knew very well  that in his horror of the deed which had culminated
the bad deeds and bad reputation of the old family house  in his
resentful suspicions of his uncle  and in the aversion with which his
conscience regarded the crumbling fabric that he was supposed to
uphold  he had acted imperfectly   He knew very well  that in his love
for Lucie  his renunciation of his social place  though by no means
new to his own mind  had been hurried and incomplete   He knew that
he ought to have systematically worked it out and supervised it  and
that he had meant to do it  and that it had never been done 

The happiness of his own chosen English home  the necessity of being
always actively employed  the swift changes and troubles of the time
which had followed on one another so fast  that the events of this
week annihilated the immature plans of last week  and the events of
the week following made all new again  he knew very well  that to the
force of these circumstances he had yielded   not without disquiet 
but still without continuous and accumulating resistance   That he
had watched the times for a time of action  and that they had shifted
and struggled until the time had gone by  and the nobility were
trooping from France by every highway and byway  and their property
was in course of confiscation and destruction  and their very names
were blotting out  was as well known to himself as it could be to any
new authority in France that might impeach him for it 

But  he had oppressed no man  he had imprisoned no man  he was so far
from having harshly exacted payment of his dues  that he had
relinquished them of his own will  thrown himself on a world with no
favour in it  won his own private place there  and earned his own
bread   Monsieur Gabelle had held the impoverished and involved estate
on written instructions  to spare the people  to give them what little
there was to give  such fuel as the heavy creditors would let them
have in the winter  and such produce as could be saved from the same
grip in the summer  and no doubt he had put the fact in plea and proof 
for his own safety  so that it could not but appear now 

This favoured the desperate resolution Charles Darnay had begun to make 
that he would go to Paris 

Yes   Like the mariner in the old story  the winds and streams had
driven him within the influence of the Loadstone Rock  and it was
drawing him to itself  and he must go   Everything that arose before
his mind drifted him on  faster and faster  more and more steadily 
to the terrible attraction   His latent uneasiness had been  that bad
aims were being worked out in his own unhappy land by bad instruments 
and that he who could not fail to know that he was better than they 
was not there  trying to do something to stay bloodshed  and assert
the claims of mercy and humanity   With this uneasiness half stifled 
and half reproaching him  he had been brought to the pointed comparison
of himself with the brave old gentleman in whom duty was so strong 
upon that comparison  injurious to himself  had instantly followed
the sneers of Monseigneur  which had stung him bitterly  and those of
Stryver  which above all were coarse and galling  for old reasons 
Upon those  had followed Gabelle s letter   the appeal of an innocent
prisoner  in danger of death  to his justice  honour  and good name 

His resolution was made   He must go to Paris 

Yes   The Loadstone Rock was drawing him  and he must sail on  until
he struck   He knew of no rock  he saw hardly any danger   The
intention with which he had done what he had done  even although he
had left it incomplete  presented it before him in an aspect that
would be gratefully acknowledged in France on his presenting himself
to assert it   Then  that glorious vision of doing good  which is so
often the sanguine mirage of so many good minds  arose before him 
and he even saw himself in the illusion with some influence to guide
this raging Revolution that was running so fearfully wild 

As he walked to and fro with his resolution made  he considered that
neither Lucie nor her father must know of it until he was gone 
Lucie should be spared the pain of separation  and her father  always
reluctant to turn his thoughts towards the dangerous ground of old 
should come to the knowledge of the step  as a step taken  and not in
the balance of suspense and doubt   How much of the incompleteness of
his situation was referable to her father  through the painful
anxiety to avoid reviving old associations of France in his mind  he
did not discuss with himself   But  that circumstance too 
had had its influence in his course 

He walked to and fro  with thoughts very busy  until it was time to
return to Tellson s and take leave of Mr  Lorry   As soon as he
arrived in Paris he would present himself to this old friend  but he
must say nothing of his intention now 

A carriage with post horses was ready at the Bank door  and Jerry
was booted and equipped 

 I have delivered that letter   said Charles Darnay to Mr  Lorry 
 I would not consent to your being charged with any written answer 
but perhaps you will take a verbal one  

 That I will  and readily   said Mr  Lorry   if it is not dangerous  

 Not at all   Though it is to a prisoner in the Abbaye  

 What is his name   said Mr  Lorry  with his open pocket book in his hand 

 Gabelle  

 Gabelle   And what is the message to the unfortunate Gabelle in prison  

 Simply   that he has received the letter  and will come   

 Any time mentioned  

 He will start upon his journey to morrow night  

 Any person mentioned  

 No  

He helped Mr  Lorry to wrap himself in a number of coats and cloaks 
and went out with him from the warm atmosphere of the old Bank  into
the misty air of Fleet street    My love to Lucie  and to little
Lucie   said Mr  Lorry at parting   and take precious care of them
till I come back    Charles Darnay shook his head and doubtfully smiled 
as the carriage rolled away 

That night  it was the fourteenth of August  he sat up late  and
wrote two fervent letters  one was to Lucie  explaining the strong
obligation he was under to go to Paris  and showing her  at length 
the reasons that he had  for feeling confident that he could become
involved in no personal danger there  the other was to the Doctor 
confiding Lucie and their dear child to his care  and dwelling on
the same topics with the strongest assurances   To both  he wrote
that he would despatch letters in proof of his safety  immediately
after his arrival 

It was a hard day  that day of being among them  with the first
reservation of their joint lives on his mind   It was a hard matter
to preserve the innocent deceit of which they were profoundly
unsuspicious   But  an affectionate glance at his wife  so happy and
busy  made him resolute not to tell her what impended  he had been
half moved to do it  so strange it was to him to act in anything
without her quiet aid   and the day passed quickly   Early in the
evening he embraced her  and her scarcely less dear namesake  pretending
that he would return by and bye  an imaginary engagement took him out 
and he had secreted a valise of clothes ready   and so he emerged
into the heavy mist of the heavy streets  with a heavier heart 

The unseen force was drawing him fast to itself  now  and all the
tides and winds were setting straight and strong towards it   He left
his two letters with a trusty porter  to be delivered half an hour
before midnight  and no sooner  took horse for Dover  and began his
journey    For the love of Heaven  of justice  of generosity  of the
honour of your noble name   was the poor prisoner s cry with which
he strengthened his sinking heart  as he left all that was dear on
earth behind him  and floated away for the Loadstone Rock 



The end of the second book 





Book the Third  the Track of a Storm




I

In Secret


The traveller fared slowly on his way  who fared towards Paris from
England in the autumn of the year one thousand seven hundred and
ninety two   More than enough of bad roads  bad equipages  and bad
horses  he would have encountered to delay him  though the fallen and
unfortunate King of France had been upon his throne in all his glory 
but  the changed times were fraught with other obstacles than these 
Every town gate and village taxing house had its band of citizen 
patriots  with their national muskets in a most explosive state of
readiness  who stopped all comers and goers  cross questioned them 
inspected their papers  looked for their names in lists of their own 
turned them back  or sent them on  or stopped them and laid them in
hold  as their capricious judgment or fancy deemed best for the
dawning Republic One and Indivisible  of Liberty  Equality 
Fraternity  or Death 

A very few French leagues of his journey were accomplished  when
Charles Darnay began to perceive that for him along these country
roads there was no hope of return until he should have been declared
a good citizen at Paris   Whatever might befall now  he must on to
his journey s end   Not a mean village closed upon him  not a common
barrier dropped across the road behind him  but he knew it to be
another iron door in the series that was barred between him and
England   The universal watchfulness so encompassed him  that if he
had been taken in a net  or were being forwarded to his destination
in a cage  he could not have felt his freedom more completely gone 

This universal watchfulness not only stopped him on the highway
twenty times in a stage  but retarded his progress twenty times in a
day  by riding after him and taking him back  riding before him and
stopping him by anticipation  riding with him and keeping him in
charge   He had been days upon his journey in France alone  when he
went to bed tired out  in a little town on the high road  still a
long way from Paris 

Nothing but the production of the afflicted Gabelle s letter from his
prison of the Abbaye would have got him on so far   His difficulty at
the guard house in this small place had been such  that he felt his
journey to have come to a crisis   And he was  therefore  as little
surprised as a man could be  to find himself awakened at the small
inn to which he had been remitted until morning  in the middle of the
night 

Awakened by a timid local functionary and three armed patriots in
rough red caps and with pipes in their mouths  who sat down on the bed 

 Emigrant   said the functionary   I am going to send you on to Paris 
under an escort  

 Citizen  I desire nothing more than to get to Paris  though I could
dispense with the escort  

 Silence   growled a red cap  striking at the coverlet with the
butt end of his musket    Peace  aristocrat  

 It is as the good patriot says   observed the timid functionary 
 You are an aristocrat  and must have an escort  and must pay for it  

 I have no choice   said Charles Darnay 

 Choice   Listen to him   cried the same scowling red cap    As if it
was not a favour to be protected from the lamp iron  

 It is always as the good patriot says   observed the functionary 
 Rise and dress yourself  emigrant  

Darnay complied  and was taken back to the guard house  where other
patriots in rough red caps were smoking  drinking  and sleeping  by a
watch fire   Here he paid a heavy price for his escort  and hence he
started with it on the wet  wet roads at three o clock in the morning 

The escort were two mounted patriots in red caps and tri coloured
cockades  armed with national muskets and sabres  who rode one on
either side of him 

The escorted governed his own horse  but a loose line was attached to
his bridle  the end of which one of the patriots kept girded round
his wrist   In this state they set forth with the sharp rain driving
in their faces   clattering at a heavy dragoon trot over the uneven
town pavement  and out upon the mire deep roads   In this state they
traversed without change  except of horses and pace  all the mire 
deep leagues that lay between them and the capital 

They travelled in the night  halting an hour or two after daybreak 
and lying by until the twilight fell   The escort were so wretchedly
clothed  that they twisted straw round their bare legs  and thatched
their ragged shoulders to keep the wet off   Apart from the personal
discomfort of being so attended  and apart from such considerations
of present danger as arose from one of the patriots being chronically
drunk  and carrying his musket very recklessly  Charles Darnay did
not allow the restraint that was laid upon him to awaken any serious
fears in his breast  for  he reasoned with himself that it could have
no reference to the merits of an individual case that was not yet
stated  and of representations  confirmable by the prisoner in the
Abbaye  that were not yet made 

But when they came to the town of Beauvais  which they did at
eventide  when the streets were filled with people  he could not
conceal from himself that the aspect of affairs was very alarming 
An ominous crowd gathered to see him dismount of the posting yard 
and many voices called out loudly   Down with the emigrant  

He stopped in the act of swinging himself out of his saddle  and 
resuming it as his safest place  said 

 Emigrant  my friends   Do you not see me here  in France  of my
own will  

 You are a cursed emigrant   cried a farrier  making at him in a
furious manner through the press  hammer in hand   and you are a
cursed aristocrat  

The postmaster interposed himself between this man and the rider s
bridle  at which he was evidently making   and soothingly said 
 Let him be  let him be   He will be judged at Paris  

 Judged   repeated the farrier  swinging his hammer 
 Ay  and condemned as a traitor    At this the crowd roared approval 

Checking the postmaster  who was for turning his horse s head to the
yard  the drunken patriot sat composedly in his saddle looking on 
with the line round his wrist   Darnay said  as soon as he could make
his voice heard 

 Friends  you deceive yourselves  or you are deceived   I am not
a traitor  

 He lies   cried the smith   He is a traitor since the decree 
His life is forfeit to the people   His cursed life is not his own  

At the instant when Darnay saw a rush in the eyes of the crowd 
which another instant would have brought upon him  the postmaster
turned his horse into the yard  the escort rode in close upon his
horse s flanks  and the postmaster shut and barred the crazy double
gates   The farrier struck a blow upon them with his hammer  and the
crowd groaned  but  no more was done 

 What is this decree that the smith spoke of   Darnay asked the
postmaster  when he had thanked him  and stood beside him in the yard 

 Truly  a decree for selling the property of emigrants  

 When passed  

 On the fourteenth  

 The day I left England  

 Everybody says it is but one of several  and that there will be
others  if there are not already  banishing all emigrants  and
condemning all to death who return   That is what he meant when he
said your life was not your own  

 But there are no such decrees yet  

 What do I know   said the postmaster  shrugging his shoulders 
 there may be  or there will be   It is all the same   What would
you have  

They rested on some straw in a loft until the middle of the night 
and then rode forward again when all the town was asleep   Among the
many wild changes observable on familiar things which made this wild
ride unreal  not the least was the seeming rarity of sleep 
After long and lonely spurring over dreary roads  they would come to
a cluster of poor cottages  not steeped in darkness  but all
glittering with lights  and would find the people  in a ghostly
manner in the dead of the night  circling hand in hand round a
shrivelled tree of Liberty  or all drawn up together singing a
Liberty song   Happily  however  there was sleep in Beauvais that
night to help them out of it and they passed on once more into
solitude and loneliness   jingling through the untimely cold and wet 
among impoverished fields that had yielded no fruits of the earth
that year  diversified by the blackened remains of burnt houses  and
by the sudden emergence from ambuscade  and sharp reining up across
their way  of patriot patrols on the watch on all the roads 

Daylight at last found them before the wall of Paris   The barrier
was closed and strongly guarded when they rode up to it 

 Where are the papers of this prisoner   demanded a resolute looking
man in authority  who was summoned out by the guard 

Naturally struck by the disagreeable word  Charles Darnay requested
the speaker to take notice that he was a free traveller and French
citizen  in charge of an escort which the disturbed state of the
country had imposed upon him  and which he had paid for 

 Where   repeated the same personage  without taking any heed of him
whatever   are the papers of this prisoner  

The drunken patriot had them in his cap  and produced them   Casting his
eyes over Gabelle s letter  the same personage in authority showed
some disorder and surprise  and looked at Darnay with a close attention 

He left escort and escorted without saying a word  however  and went
into the guard room  meanwhile  they sat upon their horses outside
the gate   Looking about him while in this state of suspense  Charles
Darnay observed that the gate was held by a mixed guard of soldiers
and patriots  the latter far outnumbering the former  and that while
ingress into the city for peasants  carts bringing in supplies  and
for similar traffic and traffickers  was easy enough  egress  even
for the homeliest people  was very difficult   A numerous medley of
men and women  not to mention beasts and vehicles of various sorts 
was waiting to issue forth  but  the previous identification was so
strict  that they filtered through the barrier very slowly   Some of
these people knew their turn for examination to be so far off  that
they lay down on the ground to sleep or smoke  while others talked
together  or loitered about   The red cap and tri colour cockade were
universal  both among men and women 

When he had sat in his saddle some half hour  taking note of these
things  Darnay found himself confronted by the same man in authority 
who directed the guard to open the barrier   Then he delivered to the
escort  drunk and sober  a receipt for the escorted  and requested him
to dismount   He did so  and the two patriots  leading his tired horse 
turned and rode away without entering the city 

He accompanied his conductor into a guard room  smelling of common
wine and tobacco  where certain soldiers and patriots  asleep and
awake  drunk and sober  and in various neutral states between
sleeping and waking  drunkenness and sobriety  were standing and
lying about   The light in the guard house  half derived from the
waning oil lamps of the night  and half from the overcast day  was in
a correspondingly uncertain condition   Some registers were lying
open on a desk  and an officer of a coarse  dark aspect  presided
over these 

 Citizen Defarge   said he to Darnay s conductor  as he took a slip
of paper to write on    Is this the emigrant Evremonde  

 This is the man  

 Your age  Evremonde  

 Thirty seven  

 Married  Evremonde  

 Yes  

 Where married  

 In England  

 Without doubt   Where is your wife  Evremonde  

 In England  

 Without doubt   You are consigned  Evremonde  to the prison of La Force  

 Just Heaven   exclaimed Darnay    Under what law  and for what offence  

The officer looked up from his slip of paper for a moment 

 We have new laws  Evremonde  and new offences  since you were here  
He said it with a hard smile  and went on writing 

 I entreat you to observe that I have come here voluntarily  in response
to that written appeal of a fellow countryman which lies before you 
I demand no more than the opportunity to do so without delay 
Is not that my right  

 Emigrants have no rights  Evremonde   was the stolid reply 
The officer wrote until he had finished  read over to himself what he
had written  sanded it  and handed it to Defarge  with the words
 In secret  

Defarge motioned with the paper to the prisoner that he must
accompany him   The prisoner obeyed  and a guard of two armed
patriots attended them 

 Is it you   said Defarge  in a low voice  as they went down the
guardhouse steps and turned into Paris   who married the daughter of
Doctor Manette  once a prisoner in the Bastille that is no more  

 Yes   replied Darnay  looking at him with surprise 

 My name is Defarge  and I keep a wine shop in the Quarter Saint
Antoine   Possibly you have heard of me  

 My wife came to your house to reclaim her father   Yes  

The word  wife  seemed to serve as a gloomy reminder to Defarge 
to say with sudden impatience   In the name of that sharp female
newly born  and called La Guillotine  why did you come to France  

 You heard me say why  a minute ago   Do you not believe it is the
truth  

 A bad truth for you   said Defarge  speaking with knitted brows 
and looking straight before him 

 Indeed I am lost here   All here is so unprecedented  so changed 
so sudden and unfair  that I am absolutely lost   Will you render me
a little help  

 None    Defarge spoke  always looking straight before him 

 Will you answer me a single question  

 Perhaps   According to its nature   You can say what it is  

 In this prison that I am going to so unjustly  shall I have some
free communication with the world outside  

 You will see  

 I am not to be buried there  prejudged  and without any means of
presenting my case  

 You will see   But  what then   Other people have been similarly
buried in worse prisons  before now  

 But never by me  Citizen Defarge  

Defarge glanced darkly at him for answer  and walked on in a steady
and set silence   The deeper he sank into this silence  the fainter
hope there was  or so Darnay thought  of his softening in any slight
degree   He  therefore  made haste to say 

 It is of the utmost importance to me  you know  Citizen  even better
than I  of how much importance   that I should be able to communicate
to Mr  Lorry of Tellson s Bank  an English gentleman who is now in
Paris  the simple fact  without comment  that I have been thrown into
the prison of La Force   Will you cause that to be done for me  

 I will do   Defarge doggedly rejoined   nothing for you   My duty is
to my country and the People   I am the sworn servant of both 
against you   I will do nothing for you  

Charles Darnay felt it hopeless to entreat him further  and his pride
was touched besides   As they walked on in silence  he could not but
see how used the people were to the spectacle of prisoners passing
along the streets   The very children scarcely noticed him   A few
passers turned their heads  and a few shook their fingers at him as
an aristocrat  otherwise  that a man in good clothes should be going
to prison  was no more remarkable than that a labourer in working
clothes should be going to work   In one narrow  dark  and dirty
street through which they passed  an excited orator  mounted on a stool 
was addressing an excited audience on the crimes against the people 
of the king and the royal family   The few words that he caught from
this man s lips  first made it known to Charles Darnay that the king
was in prison  and that the foreign ambassadors had one and all left
Paris   On the road  except at Beauvais  he had heard absolutely nothing 
The escort and the universal watchfulness had completely isolated him 

That he had fallen among far greater dangers than those which had
developed themselves when he left England  he of course knew now 
That perils had thickened about him fast  and might thicken faster
and faster yet  he of course knew now   He could not but admit to
himself that he might not have made this journey  if he could have
foreseen the events of a few days   And yet his misgivings were not
so dark as  imagined by the light of this later time  they would appear 
Troubled as the future was  it was the unknown future  and in its
obscurity there was ignorant hope   The horrible massacre  days and
nights long  which  within a few rounds of the clock  was to set a
great mark of blood upon the blessed garnering time of harvest  was
as far out of his knowledge as if it had been a hundred thousand
years away   The  sharp female newly born  and called La Guillotine  
was hardly known to him  or to the generality of people  by name 
The frightful deeds that were to be soon done  were probably
unimagined at that time in the brains of the doers   How could they
have a place in the shadowy conceptions of a gentle mind 

Of unjust treatment in detention and hardship  and in cruel
separation from his wife and child  he foreshadowed the likelihood 
or the certainty  but  beyond this  he dreaded nothing distinctly 
With this on his mind  which was enough to carry into a dreary prison
courtyard  he arrived at the prison of La Force 

A man with a bloated face opened the strong wicket  to whom Defarge
presented  The Emigrant Evremonde  

 What the Devil   How many more of them   exclaimed the man with
the bloated face 

Defarge took his receipt without noticing the exclamation 
and withdrew  with his two fellow patriots 

 What the Devil  I say again   exclaimed the gaoler  left with his wife 
 How many more  

The gaoler s wife  being provided with no answer to the question 
merely replied   One must have patience  my dear    Three turnkeys who
entered responsive to a bell she rang  echoed the sentiment  and one
added   For the love of Liberty   which sounded in that place like an
inappropriate conclusion 

The prison of La Force was a gloomy prison  dark and filthy  and with
a horrible smell of foul sleep in it   Extraordinary how soon the
noisome flavour of imprisoned sleep  becomes manifest in all such
places that are ill cared for 

 In secret  too   grumbled the gaoler  looking at the written paper 
 As if I was not already full to bursting  

He stuck the paper on a file  in an ill humour  and Charles Darnay
awaited his further pleasure for half an hour   sometimes  pacing to
and fro in the strong arched room   sometimes  resting on a stone seat 
in either case detained to be imprinted on the memory of the chief
and his subordinates 

 Come   said the chief  at length taking up his keys   come with me 
emigrant  

Through the dismal prison twilight  his new charge accompanied him by
corridor and staircase  many doors clanging and locking behind them 
until they came into a large  low  vaulted chamber  crowded with
prisoners of both sexes   The women were seated at a long table 
reading and writing  knitting  sewing  and embroidering  the men were
for the most part standing behind their chairs  or lingering up and
down the room 

In the instinctive association of prisoners with shameful crime and
disgrace  the new comer recoiled from this company   But the crowning
unreality of his long unreal ride  was  their all at once rising to
receive him  with every refinement of manner known to the time  and
with all the engaging graces and courtesies of life 

So strangely clouded were these refinements by the prison manners and
gloom  so spectral did they become in the inappropriate squalor and
misery through which they were seen  that Charles Darnay seemed to
stand in a company of the dead   Ghosts all   The ghost of beauty 
the ghost of stateliness  the ghost of elegance  the ghost of pride 
the ghost of frivolity  the ghost of wit  the ghost of youth  the
ghost of age  all waiting their dismissal from the desolate shore 
all turning on him eyes that were changed by the death they had died
in coming there 

It struck him motionless   The gaoler standing at his side  and the
other gaolers moving about  who would have been well enough as to
appearance in the ordinary exercise of their functions  looked so
extravagantly coarse contrasted with sorrowing mothers and blooming
daughters who were there  with the apparitions of the coquette 
the young beauty  and the mature woman delicately bred  that the
inversion of all experience and likelihood which the scene of shadows
presented  was heightened to its utmost   Surely  ghosts all 
Surely  the long unreal ride some progress of disease that had
brought him to these gloomy shades 

 In the name of the assembled companions in misfortune   said a
gentleman of courtly appearance and address  coming forward 
 I have the honour of giving you welcome to La Force  and of
condoling with you on the calamity that has brought you among us 
May it soon terminate happily   It would be an impertinence elsewhere 
but it is not so here  to ask your name and condition  

Charles Darnay roused himself  and gave the required information 
in words as suitable as he could find 

 But I hope   said the gentleman  following the chief gaoler with his
eyes  who moved across the room   that you are not in secret  

 I do not understand the meaning of the term  but I have heard them
say so  

 Ah  what a pity   We so much regret it   But take courage  several
members of our society have been in secret  at first  and it has
lasted but a short time    Then he added  raising his voice 
 I grieve to inform the society  in secret  

There was a murmur of commiseration as Charles Darnay crossed the
room to a grated door where the gaoler awaited him  and many
voices  among which  the soft and compassionate voices of women were
conspicuous  gave him good wishes and encouragement   He turned at
the grated door  to render the thanks of his heart  it closed under
the gaoler s hand  and the apparitions vanished from his sight forever 

The wicket opened on a stone staircase  leading upward   When they
had ascended forty steps  the prisoner of half an hour already
counted them   the gaoler opened a low black door  and they passed
into a solitary cell   It struck cold and damp  but was not dark 

 Yours   said the gaoler 

 Why am I confined alone  

 How do I know  

 I can buy pen  ink  and paper  

 Such are not my orders   You will be visited  and can ask then 
At present  you may buy your food  and nothing more  

There were in the cell  a chair  a table  and a straw mattress 
As the gaoler made a general inspection of these objects  and of the
four walls  before going out  a wandering fancy wandered through the
mind of the prisoner leaning against the wall opposite to him  that
this gaoler was so unwholesomely bloated  both in face and person 
as to look like a man who had been drowned and filled with water 
When the gaoler was gone  he thought in the same wandering way 
 Now am I left  as if I were dead    Stopping then  to look down at
the mattress  he turned from it with a sick feeling  and thought 
 And here in these crawling creatures is the first condition of the
body after death  

 Five paces by four and a half  five paces by four and a half  five
paces by four and a half    The prisoner walked to and fro in his
cell  counting its measurement  and the roar of the city arose like
muffled drums with a wild swell of voices added to them    He made
shoes  he made shoes  he made shoes    The prisoner counted the
measurement again  and paced faster  to draw his mind with him from
that latter repetition    The ghosts that vanished when the wicket
closed   There was one among them  the appearance of a lady dressed
in black  who was leaning in the embrasure of a window  and she had a
light shining upon her golden hair  and she looked like         Let
us ride on again  for God s sake  through the illuminated villages
with the people all awake          He made shoes  he made shoes 
he made shoes          Five paces by four and a half    With such scraps
tossing and rolling upward from the depths of his mind  the prisoner
walked faster and faster  obstinately counting and counting  and the
roar of the city changed to this extent  that it still rolled in like
muffled drums  but with the wail of voices that he knew  in the swell
that rose above them 



II

The Grindstone


Tellson s Bank  established in the Saint Germain Quarter of Paris 
was in a wing of a large house  approached by a courtyard and shut
off from the street by a high wall and a strong gate   The house
belonged to a great nobleman who had lived in it until he made a
flight from the troubles  in his own cook s dress  and got across the
borders   A mere beast of the chase flying from hunters  he was still
in his metempsychosis no other than the same Monseigneur  the
preparation of whose chocolate for whose lips had once occupied three
strong men besides the cook in question 

Monseigneur gone  and the three strong men absolving themselves from
the sin of having drawn his high wages  by being more than ready and
willing to cut his throat on the altar of the dawning Republic one and
indivisible of Liberty  Equality  Fraternity  or Death  Monseigneur s
house had been first sequestrated  and then confiscated   For  all
things moved so fast  and decree followed decree with that fierce
precipitation  that now upon the third night of the autumn month of
September  patriot emissaries of the law were in possession of
Monseigneur s house  and had marked it with the tri colour  and were
drinking brandy in its state apartments 

A place of business in London like Tellson s place of business in
Paris  would soon have driven the House out of its mind and into the
Gazette   For  what would staid British responsibility and
respectability have said to orange trees in boxes in a Bank courtyard 
and even to a Cupid over the counter   Yet such things were 
Tellson s had whitewashed the Cupid  but he was still to be seen on
the ceiling  in the coolest linen  aiming  as he very often does  at
money from morning to night   Bankruptcy must inevitably have come of
this young Pagan  in Lombard street  London  and also of a curtained
alcove in the rear of the immortal boy  and also of a looking glass
let into the wall  and also of clerks not at all old  who danced in
public on the slightest provocation   Yet  a French Tellson s could
get on with these things exceedingly well  and  as long as the times
held together  no man had taken fright at them  and drawn out his money 

What money would be drawn out of Tellson s henceforth  and what would
lie there  lost and forgotten  what plate and jewels would tarnish in
Tellson s hiding places  while the depositors rusted in prisons  and
when they should have violently perished  how many accounts with
Tellson s never to be balanced in this world  must be carried over
into the next  no man could have said  that night  any more than
Mr  Jarvis Lorry could  though he thought heavily of these questions 
He sat by a newly lighted wood fire  the blighted and unfruitful year
was prematurely cold   and on his honest and courageous face there
was a deeper shade than the pendent lamp could throw  or any object
in the room distortedly reflect  a shade of horror 

He occupied rooms in the Bank  in his fidelity to the House of which
he had grown to be a part  like strong root ivy   It chanced that they
derived a kind of security from the patriotic occupation of the main
building  but the true hearted old gentleman never calculated about
that   All such circumstances were indifferent to him  so that he did
his duty   On the opposite side of the courtyard  under a colonnade 
was extensive standing  for carriages  where  indeed  some carriages
of Monseigneur yet stood   Against two of the pillars were fastened
two great flaring flambeaux  and in the light of these  standing out
in the open air  was a large grindstone   a roughly mounted thing
which appeared to have hurriedly been brought there from some
neighbouring smithy  or other workshop   Rising and looking out of
window at these harmless objects  Mr  Lorry shivered  and retired to
his seat by the fire   He had opened  not only the glass window  but
the lattice blind outside it  and he had closed both again  and he
shivered through his frame 

From the streets beyond the high wall and the strong gate  there came
the usual night hum of the city  with now and then an indescribable
ring in it  weird and unearthly  as if some unwonted sounds of a
terrible nature were going up to Heaven 

 Thank God   said Mr  Lorry  clasping his hands   that no one near
and dear to me is in this dreadful town to night   May He have mercy
on all who are in danger  

Soon afterwards  the bell at the great gate sounded  and he thought 
 They have come back   and sat listening   But  there was no loud
irruption into the courtyard  as he had expected  and he heard the
gate clash again  and all was quiet 

The nervousness and dread that were upon him inspired that vague
uneasiness respecting the Bank  which a great change would naturally
awaken  with such feelings roused   It was well guarded  and he got
up to go among the trusty people who were watching it  when his door
suddenly opened  and two figures rushed in  at sight of which he fell
back in amazement 

Lucie and her father   Lucie with her arms stretched out to him  and
with that old look of earnestness so concentrated and intensified 
that it seemed as though it had been stamped upon her face expressly
to give force and power to it in this one passage of her life 

 What is this   cried Mr  Lorry  breathless and confused 
 What is the matter   Lucie   Manette   What has happened   What has
brought you here   What is it  

With the look fixed upon him  in her paleness and wildness 
she panted out in his arms  imploringly   O my dear friend 
My husband  

 Your husband  Lucie  

 Charles  

 What of Charles  

 Here 

 Here  in Paris  

 Has been here some days  three or four  I don t know how many  
I can t collect my thoughts   An errand of generosity brought him
here unknown to us  he was stopped at the barrier  and sent to prison  

The old man uttered an irrepressible cry   Almost at the same moment 
the beg of the great gate rang again  and a loud noise of feet and
voices came pouring into the courtyard 

 What is that noise   said the Doctor  turning towards the window 

 Don t look   cried Mr  Lorry    Don t look out   Manette 
for your life  don t touch the blind  

The Doctor turned  with his hand upon the fastening of the window 
and said  with a cool  bold smile 

 My dear friend  I have a charmed life in this city   I have been a
Bastille prisoner   There is no patriot in Paris  in Paris   In
France  who  knowing me to have been a prisoner in the Bastille 
would touch me  except to overwhelm me with embraces  or carry me in
triumph   My old pain has given me a power that has brought us
through the barrier  and gained us news of Charles there  and brought
us here   I knew it would be so  I knew I could help Charles out of
all danger  I told Lucie so   What is that noise    His hand was again
upon the window 

 Don t look   cried Mr  Lorry  absolutely desperate    No  Lucie  my
dear  nor you    He got his arm round her  and held her    Don t be so
terrified  my love   I solemnly swear to you that I know of no harm
having happened to Charles  that I had no suspicion even of his being
in this fatal place   What prison is he in  

 La Force  

 La Force   Lucie  my child  if ever you were brave and serviceable in
your life  and you were always both  you will compose yourself now 
to do exactly as I bid you  for more depends upon it than you can think 
or I can say   There is no help for you in any action on your part
to night  you cannot possibly stir out   I say this  because what I
must bid you to do for Charles s sake  is the hardest thing to do of all 
You must instantly be obedient  still  and quiet   You must let me
put you in a room at the back here   You must leave your father and
me alone for two minutes  and as there are Life and Death in the
world you must not delay  

 I will be submissive to you   I see in your face that you know I can
do nothing else than this   I know you are true  

The old man kissed her  and hurried her into his room  and turned the
key  then  came hurrying back to the Doctor  and opened the window
and partly opened the blind  and put his hand upon the Doctor s arm 
and looked out with him into the courtyard 

Looked out upon a throng of men and women   not enough in number  or
near enough  to fill the courtyard   not more than forty or fifty in
all   The people in possession of the house had let them in at the
gate  and they had rushed in to work at the grindstone  it had
evidently been set up there for their purpose  as in a convenient and
retired spot 

But  such awful workers  and such awful work 

The grindstone had a double handle  and  turning at it madly were two
men  whose faces  as their long hair flapped back when the whirlings
of the grindstone brought their faces up  were more horrible and
cruel than the visages of the wildest savages in their most barbarous
disguise   False eyebrows and false moustaches were stuck upon them 
and their hideous countenances were all bloody and sweaty  and all
awry with howling  and all staring and glaring with beastly
excitement and want of sleep   As these ruffians turned and turned 
their matted locks now flung forward over their eyes  now flung
backward over their necks  some women held wine to their mouths that
they might drink  and what with dropping blood  and what with
dropping wine  and what with the stream of sparks struck out of the
stone  all their wicked atmosphere seemed gore and fire   The eye
could not detect one creature in the group free from the smear of blood 
Shouldering one another to get next at the sharpening stone  were men
stripped to the waist  with the stain all over their limbs and
bodies  men in all sorts of rags  with the stain upon those rags  men
devilishly set off with spoils of women s lace and silk and ribbon 
with the stain dyeing those trifles through and through   Hatchets 
knives  bayonets  swords  all brought to be sharpened  were all red
with it   Some of the hacked swords were tied to the wrists of those
who carried them  with strips of linen and fragments of dress 
ligatures various in kind  but all deep of the one colour   And as
the frantic wielders of these weapons snatched them from the stream
of sparks and tore away into the streets  the same red hue was red in
their frenzied eyes   eyes which any unbrutalised beholder would have
given twenty years of life  to petrify with a well directed gun 

All this was seen in a moment  as the vision of a drowning man  or of
any human creature at any very great pass  could see a world if it
were there   They drew back from the window  and the Doctor looked
for explanation in his friend s ashy face 

 They are   Mr  Lorry whispered the words  glancing fearfully round
at the locked room   murdering the prisoners   If you are sure of
what you say  if you really have the power you think you have  as I
believe you have  make yourself known to these devils  and get taken
to La Force   It may be too late  I don t know  but let it not be a
minute later  

Doctor Manette pressed his hand  hastened bareheaded out of the room 
and was in the courtyard when Mr  Lorry regained the blind 

His streaming white hair  his remarkable face  and the impetuous
confidence of his manner  as he put the weapons aside like water 
carried him in an instant to the heart of the concourse at the stone 
For a few moments there was a pause  and a hurry  and a murmur  and
the unintelligible sound of his voice  and then Mr  Lorry saw him 
surrounded by all  and in the midst of a line of twenty men long  all
linked shoulder to shoulder  and hand to shoulder  hurried out with
cries of   Live the Bastille prisoner   Help for the Bastille
prisoner s kindred in La Force   Room for the Bastille prisoner in
front there   Save the prisoner Evremonde at La Force   and a thousand
answering shouts 

He closed the lattice again with a fluttering heart  closed the
window and the curtain  hastened to Lucie  and told her that her
father was assisted by the people  and gone in search of her husband 
He found her child and Miss Pross with her  but  it never occurred to
him to be surprised by their appearance until a long time afterwards 
when he sat watching them in such quiet as the night knew 

Lucie had  by that time  fallen into a stupor on the floor at his feet 
clinging to his hand   Miss Pross had laid the child down on his own bed 
and her head had gradually fallen on the pillow beside her pretty charge 
O the long  long night  with the moans of the poor wife   And O the long 
long night  with no return of her father and no tidings 

Twice more in the darkness the bell at the great gate sounded 
and the irruption was repeated  and the grindstone whirled and
spluttered    What is it   cried Lucie  affrighted    Hush   The
soldiers  swords are sharpened there   said Mr  Lorry    The place
is national property now  and used as a kind of armoury  my love  

Twice more in all  but  the last spell of work was feeble and fitful 
Soon afterwards the day began to dawn  and he softly detached himself
from the clasping hand  and cautiously looked out again   A man  so
besmeared that he might have been a sorely wounded soldier creeping
back to consciousness on a field of slain  was rising from the
pavement by the side of the grindstone  and looking about him with a
vacant air   Shortly  this worn out murderer descried in the imperfect
light one of the carriages of Monseigneur  and  staggering to that
gorgeous vehicle  climbed in at the door  and shut himself up to take
his rest on its dainty cushions 

The great grindstone  Earth  had turned when Mr  Lorry looked out again 
and the sun was red on the courtyard   But  the lesser grindstone
stood alone there in the calm morning air  with a red upon it that
the sun had never given  and would never take away 



III

The Shadow


One of the first considerations which arose in the business mind of
Mr  Lorry when business hours came round  was this   that he had no
right to imperil Tellson s by sheltering the wife of an emigrant
prisoner under the Bank roof   His own possessions  safety  life 
he would have hazarded for Lucie and her child  without a moment s
demur  but the great trust he held was not his own  and as to that
business charge he was a strict man of business 

At first  his mind reverted to Defarge  and he thought of finding out
the wine shop again and taking counsel with its master in reference
to the safest dwelling place in the distracted state of the city 
But  the same consideration that suggested him  repudiated him  he
lived in the most violent Quarter  and doubtless was influential
there  and deep in its dangerous workings 

Noon coming  and the Doctor not returning  and every minute s delay
tending to compromise Tellson s  Mr  Lorry advised with Lucie 
She said that her father had spoken of hiring a lodging for a short
term  in that Quarter  near the Banking house   As there was no
business objection to this  and as he foresaw that even if it were
all well with Charles  and he were to be released  he could not hope
to leave the city  Mr  Lorry went out in quest of such a lodging  and
found a suitable one  high up in a removed by street where the closed
blinds in all the other windows of a high melancholy square of buildings
marked deserted homes 

To this lodging he at once removed Lucie and her child  and Miss
Pross   giving them what comfort he could  and much more than he had
himself   He left Jerry with them  as a figure to fill a doorway that
would bear considerable knocking on the head  and retained to his own
occupations   A disturbed and doleful mind he brought to bear upon them 
and slowly and heavily the day lagged on with him 

It wore itself out  and wore him out with it  until the Bank closed 
He was again alone in his room of the previous night  considering
what to do next  when he heard a foot upon the stair   In a few
moments  a man stood in his presence  who  with a keenly observant
look at him  addressed him by his name 

 Your servant   said Mr  Lorry    Do you know me  

He was a strongly made man with dark curling hair  from forty five to
fifty years of age   For answer he repeated  without any change of
emphasis  the words 

 Do you know me  

 I have seen you somewhere  

 Perhaps at my wine shop  

Much interested and agitated  Mr  Lorry said    You come from Doctor
Manette  

 Yes   I come from Doctor Manette  

 And what says he   What does he send me  

Defarge gave into his anxious hand  an open scrap of paper   It bore
the words in the Doctor s writing 

     Charles is safe  but I cannot safely leave this place yet 
     I have obtained the favour that the bearer has a short note
     from Charles to his wife   Let the bearer see his wife  

It was dated from La Force  within an hour 

 Will you accompany me   said Mr  Lorry  joyfully relieved after
reading this note aloud   to where his wife resides  

 Yes   returned Defarge 

Scarcely noticing as yet  in what a curiously reserved and mechanical
way Defarge spoke  Mr  Lorry put on his hat and they went down into
the courtyard   There  they found two women  one  knitting 

 Madame Defarge  surely   said Mr  Lorry  who had left her in exactly
the same attitude some seventeen years ago 

 It is she   observed her husband 

 Does Madame go with us   inquired Mr  Lorry  seeing that she moved
as they moved 

 Yes   That she may be able to recognise the faces and know the persons 
It is for their safety  

Beginning to be struck by Defarge s manner  Mr  Lorry looked
dubiously at him  and led the way   Both the women followed  the
second woman being The Vengeance 

They passed through the intervening streets as quickly as they might 
ascended the staircase of the new domicile  were admitted by Jerry 
and found Lucie weeping  alone   She was thrown into a transport by
the tidings Mr  Lorry gave her of her husband  and clasped the hand
that delivered his note  little thinking what it had been doing near
him in the night  and might  but for a chance  have done to him 

      DEAREST   Take courage   I am well  and your father has
      influence around me   You cannot answer this 
      Kiss our child for me  

That was all the writing   It was so much  however  to her who
received it  that she turned from Defarge to his wife  and kissed one
of the hands that knitted   It was a passionate  loving  thankful 
womanly action  but the hand made no response  dropped cold and
heavy  and took to its knitting again 

There was something in its touch that gave Lucie a check 
She stopped in the act of putting the note in her bosom  and 
with her hands yet at her neck  looked terrified at Madame Defarge 
Madame Defarge met the lifted eyebrows and forehead with a cold 
impassive stare 

 My dear   said Mr  Lorry  striking in to explain   there are
frequent risings in the streets  and  although it is not likely they
will ever trouble you  Madame Defarge wishes to see those whom she
has the power to protect at such times  to the end that she may know
them  that she may identify them   I believe   said Mr  Lorry 
rather halting in his reassuring words  as the stony manner of all
the three impressed itself upon him more and more   I state the case 
Citizen Defarge  

Defarge looked gloomily at his wife  and gave no other answer than a
gruff sound of acquiescence 

 You had better  Lucie   said Mr  Lorry  doing all he could to
propitiate  by tone and manner   have the dear child here  and our
good Pross   Our good Pross  Defarge  is an English lady  and knows
no French  

The lady in question  whose rooted conviction that she was more than
a match for any foreigner  was not to be shaken by distress and 
danger  appeared with folded arms  and observed in English to The
Vengeance  whom her eyes first encountered   Well  I am sure  Boldface 
I hope  you  are pretty well    She also bestowed a British cough on
Madame Defarge  but  neither of the two took much heed of her 

 Is that his child   said Madame Defarge  stopping in her work for
the first time  and pointing her knitting needle at little Lucie as
if it were the finger of Fate 

 Yes  madame   answered Mr  Lorry   this is our poor prisoner s
darling daughter  and only child  

The shadow attendant on Madame Defarge and her party seemed to fall
so threatening and dark on the child  that her mother instinctively
kneeled on the ground beside her  and held her to her breast   The
shadow attendant on Madame Defarge and her party seemed then to fall 
threatening and dark  on both the mother and the child 

 It is enough  my husband   said Madame Defarge    I have seen them 
We may go  

But  the suppressed manner had enough of menace in it  not visible
and presented  but indistinct and withheld  to alarm Lucie into
saying  as she laid her appealing hand on Madame Defarge s dress 

 You will be good to my poor husband   You will do him no harm 
You will help me to see him if you can  

 Your husband is not my business here   returned Madame Defarge 
looking down at her with perfect composure    It is the daughter of
your father who is my business here  

 For my sake  then  be merciful to my husband   For my child s sake 
She will put her hands together and pray you to be merciful   We are
more afraid of you than of these others  

Madame Defarge received it as a compliment  and looked at her
husband   Defarge  who had been uneasily biting his thumb nail and
looking at her  collected his face into a sterner expression 

 What is it that your husband says in that little letter    asked
Madame Defarge  with a lowering smile    Influence  he says something
touching influence  

 That my father   said Lucie  hurriedly taking the paper from her
breast  but with her alarmed eyes on her questioner and not on it 
 has much influence around him  

 Surely it will release him   said Madame Defarge    Let it do so  

 As a wife and mother   cried Lucie  most earnestly   I implore you
to have pity on me and not to exercise any power that you possess 
against my innocent husband  but to use it in his behalf 
O sister woman  think of me   As a wife and mother  

Madame Defarge looked  coldly as ever  at the suppliant  and said 
turning to her friend The Vengeance 

 The wives and mothers we have been used to see  since we were as
little as this child  and much less  have not been greatly
considered   We have known  their  husbands and fathers laid in prison
and kept from them  often enough   All our lives  we have seen our
sister women suffer  in themselves and in their children  poverty 
nakedness  hunger  thirst  sickness  misery  oppression and neglect
of all kinds  

 We have seen nothing else   returned The Vengeance 

 We have borne this a long time   said Madame Defarge  turning her
eyes again upon Lucie    Judge you   Is it likely that the trouble of
one wife and mother would be much to us now  

She resumed her knitting and went out   The Vengeance followed 
Defarge went last  and closed the door 

 Courage  my dear Lucie   said Mr  Lorry  as he raised her 
 Courage  courage   So far all goes well with us  much  much better
than it has of late gone with many poor souls   Cheer up  and have a
thankful heart  

 I am not thankless  I hope  but that dreadful woman seems to throw a
shadow on me and on all my hopes  

 Tut  tut   said Mr  Lorry   what is this despondency in the brave
little breast   A shadow indeed   No substance in it  Lucie  

But the shadow of the manner of these Defarges was dark upon himself 
for all that  and in his secret mind it troubled him greatly 



IV

Calm in Storm


Doctor Manette did not return until the morning of the fourth day of
his absence   So much of what had happened in that dreadful time as
could be kept from the knowledge of Lucie was so well concealed from
her  that not until long afterwards  when France and she were far apart 
did she know that eleven hundred defenceless prisoners of both sexes
and all ages had been killed by the populace  that four days and
nights had been darkened by this deed of horror  and that the air
around her had been tainted by the slain   She only knew that there
had been an attack upon the prisons  that all political prisoners had
been in danger  and that some had been dragged out by the crowd and
murdered 

To Mr  Lorry  the Doctor communicated under an injunction of secrecy
on which he had no need to dwell  that the crowd had taken him
through a scene of carnage to the prison of La Force   That  in the
prison he had found a self appointed Tribunal sitting  before which
the prisoners were brought singly  and by which they were rapidly
ordered to be put forth to be massacred  or to be released  or  in a
few cases  to be sent back to their cells   That  presented by his
conductors to this Tribunal  he had announced himself by name and
profession as having been for eighteen years a secret and unaccused
prisoner in the Bastille  that  one of the body so sitting in
judgment had risen and identified him  and that this man was Defarge 

That  hereupon he had ascertained  through the registers on the table 
that his son in law was among the living prisoners  and had pleaded
hard to the Tribunal  of whom some members were asleep and some awake 
some dirty with murder and some clean  some sober and some not  for
his life and liberty   That  in the first frantic greetings lavished
on himself as a notable sufferer under the overthrown system  it had
been accorded to him to have Charles Darnay brought before the lawless
Court  and examined   That  he seemed on the point of being at once
released  when the tide in his favour met with some unexplained check
 not intelligible to the Doctor   which led to a few words of secret
conference   That  the man sitting as President had then informed
Doctor Manette that the prisoner must remain in custody  but should 
for his sake  be held inviolate in safe custody   That  immediately 
on a signal  the prisoner was removed to the interior of the prison
again  but  that he  the Doctor  had then so strongly pleaded for
permission to remain and assure himself that his son in law was 
through no malice or mischance  delivered to the concourse whose
murderous yells outside the gate had often drowned the proceedings 
that he had obtained the permission  and had remained in that Hall of
Blood until the danger was over 

The sights he had seen there  with brief snatches of food and sleep
by intervals  shall remain untold   The mad joy over the prisoners
who were saved  had astounded him scarcely less than the mad ferocity
against those who were cut to pieces   One prisoner there was  he
said  who had been discharged into the street free  but at whom a
mistaken savage had thrust a pike as he passed out   Being besought
to go to him and dress the wound  the Doctor had passed out at the
same gate  and had found him in the arms of a company of Samaritans 
who were seated on the bodies of their victims   With an inconsistency
as monstrous as anything in this awful nightmare  they had helped the
healer  and tended the wounded man with the gentlest solicitude  
had made a litter for him and escorted him carefully from the spot  
had then caught up their weapons and plunged anew into a butchery so
dreadful  that the Doctor had covered his eyes with his hands  and
swooned away in the midst of it 

As Mr  Lorry received these confidences  and as he watched the face
of his friend now sixty two years of age  a misgiving arose within
him that such dread experiences would revive the old danger 

But  he had never seen his friend in his present aspect   he had never
at all known him in his present character   For the first time the
Doctor felt  now  that his suffering was strength and power   For the
first time he felt that in that sharp fire  he had slowly forged the
iron which could break the prison door of his daughter s husband  and
deliver him    It all tended to a good end  my friend  it was not
mere waste and ruin   As my beloved child was helpful in restoring me
to myself  I will be helpful now in restoring the dearest part of
herself to her  by the aid of Heaven I will do it    Thus  Doctor
Manette   And when Jarvis Lorry saw the kindled eyes  the resolute
face  the calm strong look and bearing of the man whose life always
seemed to him to have been stopped  like a clock  for so many years 
and then set going again with an energy which had lain dormant during
the cessation of its usefulness  he believed 

Greater things than the Doctor had at that time to contend with 
would have yielded before his persevering purpose   While he kept
himself in his place  as a physician  whose business was with all
degrees of mankind  bond and free  rich and poor  bad and good  he
used his personal influence so wisely  that he was soon the inspecting
physician of three prisons  and among them of La Force   He could now
assure Lucie that her husband was no longer confined alone  but was
mixed with the general body of prisoners  he saw her husband weekly 
and brought sweet messages to her  straight from his lips  sometimes
her husband himself sent a letter to her  though never by the Doctor s
hand   but she was not permitted to write to him   for  among the many
wild suspicions of plots in the prisons  the wildest of all pointed
at emigrants who were known to have made friends or permanent
connections abroad 

This new life of the Doctor s was an anxious life  no doubt  still 
the sagacious Mr  Lorry saw that there was a new sustaining pride in it 
Nothing unbecoming tinged the pride  it was a natural and worthy one 
but he observed it as a curiosity   The Doctor knew  that up to that
time  his imprisonment had been associated in the minds of his
daughter and his friend  with his personal affliction  deprivation 
and weakness   Now that this was changed  and he knew himself to be
invested through that old trial with forces to which they both looked
for Charles s ultimate safety and deliverance  he became so far exalted
by the change  that he took the lead and direction  and required them
as the weak  to trust to him as the strong   The preceding relative
positions of himself and Lucie were reversed  yet only as the
liveliest gratitude and affection could reverse them  for he could
have had no pride but in rendering some service to her who had
rendered so much to him    All curious to see   thought Mr  Lorry 
in his amiably shrewd way   but all natural and right  so  take the
lead  my dear friend  and keep it  it couldn t be in better hands  

But  though the Doctor tried hard  and never ceased trying  to get
Charles Darnay set at liberty  or at least to get him brought to trial 
the public current of the time set too strong and fast for him 
The new era began  the king was tried  doomed  and beheaded  the
Republic of Liberty  Equality  Fraternity  or Death  declared for
victory or death against the world in arms  the black flag waved
night and day from the great towers of Notre Dame  three hundred
thousand men  summoned to rise against the tyrants of the earth  rose
from all the varying soils of France  as if the dragon s teeth had
been sown broadcast  and had yielded fruit equally on hill and plain 
on rock  in gravel  and alluvial mud  under the bright sky of the
South and under the clouds of the North  in fell and forest  in the
vineyards and the olive grounds and among the cropped grass and the
stubble of the corn  along the fruitful banks of the broad rivers 
and in the sand of the sea shore   What private solicitude could rear
itself against the deluge of the Year One of Liberty  the deluge
rising from below  not falling from above  and with the windows of
Heaven shut  not opened 

There was no pause  no pity  no peace  no interval of relenting rest 
no measurement of time   Though days and nights circled as regularly
as when time was young  and the evening and morning were the first
day  other count of time there was none   Hold of it was lost in the
raging fever of a nation  as it is in the fever of one patient 
Now  breaking the unnatural silence of a whole city  the executioner
showed the people the head of the king  and now  it seemed almost in
the same breath  the head of his fair wife which had had eight weary
months of imprisoned widowhood and misery  to turn it grey 

And yet  observing the strange law of contradiction which obtains in
all such cases  the time was long  while it flamed by so fast 
A revolutionary tribunal in the capital  and forty or fifty thousand
revolutionary committees all over the land  a law of the Suspected 
which struck away all security for liberty or life  and delivered
over any good and innocent person to any bad and guilty one  prisons
gorged with people who had committed no offence  and could obtain no
hearing  these things became the established order and nature of
appointed things  and seemed to be ancient usage before they were
many weeks old   Above all  one hideous figure grew as familiar as if
it had been before the general gaze from the foundations of the
world  the figure of the sharp female called La Guillotine 

It was the popular theme for jests  it was the best cure for
headache  it infallibly prevented the hair from turning grey  it
imparted a peculiar delicacy to the complexion  it was the National
Razor which shaved close   who kissed La Guillotine  looked through
the little window and sneezed into the sack   It was the sign of the
regeneration of the human race   It superseded the Cross   Models of
it were worn on breasts from which the Cross was discarded  and it
was bowed down to and believed in where the Cross was denied 

It sheared off heads so many  that it  and the ground it most
polluted  were a rotten red   It was taken to pieces  like a
toy puzzle for a young Devil  and was put together again when the
occasion wanted it   It hushed the eloquent  struck down the powerful 
abolished the beautiful and good   Twenty two friends of high public
mark  twenty one living and one dead  it had lopped the heads off 
in one morning  in as many minutes   The name of the strong man of
Old Scripture had descended to the chief functionary who worked it 
but  so armed  he was stronger than his namesake  and blinder  and
tore away the gates of God s own Temple every day 

Among these terrors  and the brood belonging to them  the Doctor
walked with a steady head   confident in his power  cautiously
persistent in his end  never doubting that he would save Lucie s
husband at last   Yet the current of the time swept by  so strong and
deep  and carried the time away so fiercely  that Charles had lain in
prison one year and three months when the Doctor was thus steady and
confident   So much more wicked and distracted had the Revolution
grown in that December month  that the rivers of the South were
encumbered with the bodies of the violently drowned by night  and
prisoners were shot in lines and squares under the southern wintry sun 
Still  the Doctor walked among the terrors with a steady head 
No man better known than he  in Paris at that day  no man in a
stranger situation   Silent  humane  indispensable in hospital and
prison  using his art equally among assassins and victims  he was a
man apart   In the exercise of his skill  the appearance and the
story of the Bastille Captive removed him from all other men   He was
not suspected or brought in question  any more than if he had indeed
been recalled to life some eighteen years before  or were a Spirit
moving among mortals 



V

The Wood Sawyer


One year and three months   During all that time Lucie was never
sure  from hour to hour  but that the Guillotine would strike off her
husband s head next day   Every day  through the stony streets  the
tumbrils now jolted heavily  filled with Condemned   Lovely girls 
bright women  brown haired  black haired  and grey  youths  stalwart
men and old  gentle born and peasant born  all red wine for La
Guillotine  all daily brought into light from the dark cellars of the
loathsome prisons  and carried to her through the streets to slake
her devouring thirst   Liberty  equality  fraternity  or death   the
last  much the easiest to bestow  O Guillotine 

If the suddenness of her calamity  and the whirling wheels of the
time  had stunned the Doctor s daughter into awaiting the result in
idle despair  it would but have been with her as it was with many 
But  from the hour when she had taken the white head to her fresh
young bosom in the garret of Saint Antoine  she had been true to her
duties   She was truest to them in the season of trial  as all the
quietly loyal and good will always be 

As soon as they were established in their new residence  and her
father had entered on the routine of his avocations  she arranged the
little household as exactly as if her husband had been there 
Everything had its appointed place and its appointed time   Little
Lucie she taught  as regularly  as if they had all been united in
their English home   The slight devices with which she cheated
herself into the show of a belief that they would soon be reunited  
the little preparations for his speedy return  the setting aside of
his chair and his books  these  and the solemn prayer at night for
one dear prisoner especially  among the many unhappy souls in prison
and the shadow of death  were almost the only outspoken reliefs of
her heavy mind 

She did not greatly alter in appearance   The plain dark dresses 
akin to mourning dresses  which she and her child wore  were as neat
and as well attended to as the brighter clothes of happy days 
She lost her colour  and the old and intent expression was a constant 
not an occasional  thing  otherwise  she remained very pretty and
comely   Sometimes  at night on kissing her father  she would burst
into the grief she had repressed all day  and would say that her sole
reliance  under Heaven  was on him   He always resolutely answered 
 Nothing can happen to him without my knowledge  and I know that I
can save him  Lucie  

They had not made the round of their changed life many weeks 
when her father said to her  on coming home one evening 

 My dear  there is an upper window in the prison  to which Charles
can sometimes gain access at three in the afternoon   When he can get
to it  which depends on many uncertainties and incidents  he might
see you in the street  he thinks  if you stood in a certain place
that I can show you   But you will not be able to see him  my poor
child  and even if you could  it would be unsafe for you to make a
sign of recognition  

 O show me the place  my father  and I will go there every day  

From that time  in all weathers  she waited there two hours 
As the clock struck two  she was there  and at four she turned
resignedly away   When it was not too wet or inclement for her child
to be with her  they went together  at other times she was alone 
but  she never missed a single day 

It was the dark and dirty corner of a small winding street 
The hovel of a cutter of wood into lengths for burning  was the only
house at that end  all else was wall   On the third day of her being
there  he noticed her 

 Good day  citizeness  

 Good day  citizen  

This mode of address was now prescribed by decree   It had been
established voluntarily some time ago  among the more thorough
patriots  but  was now law for everybody 

 Walking here again  citizeness  

 You see me  citizen  

The wood sawyer  who was a little man with a redundancy of gesture
 he had once been a mender of roads   cast a glance at the prison 
pointed at the prison  and putting his ten fingers before his face to
represent bars  peeped through them jocosely 

 But it s not my business   said he   And went on sawing his wood 

Next day he was looking out for her  and accosted her the moment she
appeared 

 What   Walking here again  citizeness  

 Yes  citizen  

 Ah   A child too   Your mother  is it not  my little citizeness  

 Do I say yes  mamma   whispered little Lucie  drawing close to her 

 Yes  dearest  

 Yes  citizen  

 Ah   But it s not my business   My work is my business   See my saw 
I call it my Little Guillotine   La  la  la  La  la  la   And off his
head comes  

The billet fell as he spoke  and he threw it into a basket 

 I call myself the Samson of the firewood guillotine   See here again 
Loo  loo  loo  Loo  loo  loo   And off  her  head comes   Now  a child 
Tickle  tickle  Pickle  pickle   And off  its  head comes   All the family  

Lucie shuddered as he threw two more billets into his basket  but it
was impossible to be there while the wood sawyer was at work  and not
be in his sight   Thenceforth  to secure his good will  she always
spoke to him first  and often gave him drink money  which he readily
received 

He was an inquisitive fellow  and sometimes when she had quite
forgotten him in gazing at the prison roof and grates  and in lifting
her heart up to her husband  she would come to herself to find him
looking at her  with his knee on his bench and his saw stopped in its
work    But it s not my business   he would generally say at those
times  and would briskly fall to his sawing again 

In all weathers  in the snow and frost of winter  in the bitter winds
of spring  in the hot sunshine of summer  in the rains of autumn  and
again in the snow and frost of winter  Lucie passed two hours of
every day at this place  and every day on leaving it  she kissed the
prison wall   Her husband saw her  so she learned from her father  it
might be once in five or six times   it might be twice or thrice running 
it might be  not for a week or a fortnight together   It was enough
that he could and did see her when the chances served  and on that
possibility she would have waited out the day  seven days a week 

These occupations brought her round to the December month  wherein
her father walked among the terrors with a steady head   On a
lightly snowing afternoon she arrived at the usual corner   It was a
day of some wild rejoicing  and a festival   She had seen the houses 
as she came along  decorated with little pikes  and with little red
caps stuck upon them  also  with tricoloured ribbons  also  with the
standard inscription  tricoloured letters were the favourite  
Republic One and Indivisible   Liberty  Equality  Fraternity  or Death 

The miserable shop of the wood sawyer was so small  that its whole
surface furnished very indifferent space for this legend   He had got
somebody to scrawl it up for him  however  who had squeezed Death in
with most inappropriate difficulty   On his house top  he displayed
pike and cap  as a good citizen must  and in a window he had
stationed his saw inscribed as his  Little Sainte Guillotine   
for the great sharp female was by that time popularly canonised 
His shop was shut and he was not there  which was a relief to Lucie 
and left her quite alone 

But  he was not far off  for presently she heard a troubled movement
and a shouting coming along  which filled her with fear   A moment
afterwards  and a throng of people came pouring round the corner by
the prison wall  in the midst of whom was the wood sawyer hand in
hand with The Vengeance   There could not be fewer than five hundred
people  and they were dancing like five thousand demons   There was
no other music than their own singing   They danced to the popular
Revolution song  keeping a ferocious time that was like a gnashing of
teeth in unison   Men and women danced together  women danced
together  men danced together  as hazard had brought them together 
At first  they were a mere storm of coarse red caps and coarse
woollen rags  but  as they filled the place  and stopped to dance
about Lucie  some ghastly apparition of a dance figure gone raving
mad arose among them   They advanced  retreated  struck at one
another s hands  clutched at one another s heads  spun round alone 
caught one another and spun round in pairs  until many of them
dropped   While those were down  the rest linked hand in hand  and
all spun round together   then the ring broke  and in separate rings
of two and four they turned and turned until they all stopped at
once  began again  struck  clutched  and tore  and then reversed the
spin  and all spun round another way   Suddenly they stopped again 
paused  struck out the time afresh  formed into lines the width of
the public way  and  with their heads low down and their hands high
up  swooped screaming off   No fight could have been half so terrible
as this dance   It was so emphatically a fallen sport  a something 
once innocent  delivered over to all devilry  a healthy pastime
changed into a means of angering the blood  bewildering the senses 
and steeling the heart   Such grace as was visible in it  made it the
uglier  showing how warped and perverted all things good by nature
were become   The maidenly bosom bared to this  the pretty
almost child s head thus distracted  the delicate foot mincing in
this slough of blood and dirt  were types of the disjointed time 

This was the Carmagnole   As it passed  leaving Lucie frightened and
bewildered in the doorway of the wood sawyer s house  the feathery
snow fell as quietly and lay as white and soft  as if it had never been 

 O my father   for he stood before her when she lifted up the eyes
she had momentarily darkened with her hand   such a cruel  bad sight  

 I know  my dear  I know   I have seen it many times   Don t be
frightened   Not one of them would harm you  

 I am not frightened for myself  my father   But when I think of my
husband  and the mercies of these people   

 We will set him above their mercies very soon   I left him climbing
to the window  and I came to tell you   There is no one here to see 
You may kiss your hand towards that highest shelving roof  

 I do so  father  and I send him my Soul with it  

 You cannot see him  my poor dear  

 No  father   said Lucie  yearning and weeping as she kissed her hand 
 no  

A footstep in the snow   Madame Defarge    I salute you  citizeness  
from the Doctor    I salute you  citizen    This in passing   Nothing
more   Madame Defarge gone  like a shadow over the white road 

 Give me your arm  my love   Pass from here with an air of cheerfulness
and courage  for his sake   That was well done   they had left the spot 
 it shall not be in vain   Charles is summoned for to morrow  

 For to morrow  

 There is no time to lose   I am well prepared  but there are
precautions to be taken  that could not be taken until he was actually
summoned before the Tribunal   He has not received the notice yet 
but I know that he will presently be summoned for to morrow  and
removed to the Conciergerie  I have timely information 
You are not afraid  

She could scarcely answer   I trust in you  

 Do so  implicitly   Your suspense is nearly ended  my darling  he
shall be restored to you within a few hours  I have encompassed him
with every protection   I must see Lorry  

He stopped   There was a heavy lumbering of wheels within hearing 
They both knew too well what it meant   One   Two   Three   Three
tumbrils faring away with their dread loads over the hushing snow 

 I must see Lorry   the Doctor repeated  turning her another way 

The staunch old gentleman was still in his trust  had never left it 
He and his books were in frequent requisition as to property
confiscated and made national   What he could save for the owners  he
saved   No better man living to hold fast by what Tellson s had in
keeping  and to hold his peace 

A murky red and yellow sky  and a rising mist from the Seine  denoted
the approach of darkness   It was almost dark when they arrived at
the Bank   The stately residence of Monseigneur was altogether
blighted and deserted   Above a heap of dust and ashes in the court 
ran the letters   National Property   Republic One and Indivisible 
Liberty  Equality  Fraternity  or Death 

Who could that be with Mr  Lorry  the owner of the riding coat upon
the chair  who must not be seen   From whom newly arrived  did he come
out  agitated and surprised  to take his favourite in his arms   To
whom did he appear to repeat her faltering words  when  raising his
voice and turning his head towards the door of the room from which he
had issued  he said    Removed to the Conciergerie  and summoned for
to morrow  



VI

Triumph


The dread tribunal of five Judges  Public Prosecutor  and determined
Jury  sat every day   Their lists went forth every evening  and were
read out by the gaolers of the various prisons to their prisoners 
The standard gaoler joke was   Come out and listen to the Evening Paper 
you inside there  

 Charles Evremonde  called Darnay  

So at last began the Evening Paper at La Force 

When a name was called  its owner stepped apart into a spot reserved
for those who were announced as being thus fatally recorded   Charles
Evremonde  called Darnay  had reason to know the usage  he had seen
hundreds pass away so 

His bloated gaoler  who wore spectacles to read with  glanced over
them to assure himself that he had taken his place  and went through
the list  making a similar short pause at each name   There were
twenty three names  but only twenty were responded to  for one of the
prisoners so summoned had died in gaol and been forgotten  and two
had already been guillotined and forgotten   The list was read  in
the vaulted chamber where Darnay had seen the associated prisoners on
the night of his arrival   Every one of those had perished in the
massacre  every human creature he had since cared for and parted with 
had died on the scaffold 

There were hurried words of farewell and kindness  but the parting
was soon over   It was the incident of every day  and the society of
La Force were engaged in the preparation of some games of forfeits
and a little concert  for that evening   They crowded to the grates
and shed tears there  but  twenty places in the projected
entertainments had to be refilled  and the time was  at best  short
to the lock up hour  when the common rooms and corridors would be
delivered over to the great dogs who kept watch there through the
night   The prisoners were far from insensible or unfeeling  their
ways arose out of the condition of the time   Similarly  though with
a subtle difference  a species of fervour or intoxication  known 
without doubt  to have led some persons to brave the guillotine
unnecessarily  and to die by it  was not mere boastfulness  but a
wild infection of the wildly shaken public mind   In seasons of
pestilence  some of us will have a secret attraction to the disease  
a terrible passing inclination to die of it   And all of us have like
wonders hidden in our breasts  only needing circumstances to evoke them 

The passage to the Conciergerie was short and dark  the night in its
vermin haunted cells was long and cold   Next day  fifteen prisoners
were put to the bar before Charles Darnay s name was called   All the
fifteen were condemned  and the trials of the whole occupied an hour
and a half 

 Charles Evremonde  called Darnay   was at length arraigned 

His judges sat upon the Bench in feathered hats  but the rough red
cap and tricoloured cockade was the head dress otherwise prevailing 
Looking at the Jury and the turbulent audience  he might have thought
that the usual order of things was reversed  and that the felons were
trying the honest men   The lowest  cruelest  and worst populace of a
city  never without its quantity of low  cruel  and bad  were the
directing spirits of the scene   noisily commenting  applauding 
disapproving  anticipating  and precipitating the result  without a
check   Of the men  the greater part were armed in various ways  of
the women  some wore knives  some daggers  some ate and drank as they
looked on  many knitted   Among these last  was one  with a spare
piece of knitting under her arm as she worked   She was in a front
row  by the side of a man whom he had never seen since his arrival at
the Barrier  but whom he directly remembered as Defarge   He noticed
that she once or twice whispered in his ear  and that she seemed to
be his wife  but  what he most noticed in the two figures was  that
although they were posted as close to himself as they could be  they
never looked towards him   They seemed to be waiting for something
with a dogged determination  and they looked at the Jury  but at
nothing else   Under the President sat Doctor Manette  in his usual
quiet dress   As well as the prisoner could see  he and Mr  Lorry
were the only men there  unconnected with the Tribunal  who wore their
usual clothes  and had not assumed the coarse garb of the Carmagnole 

Charles Evremonde  called Darnay  was accused by the public
prosecutor as an emigrant  whose life was forfeit to the Republic 
under the decree which banished all emigrants on pain of Death 
It was nothing that the decree bore date since his return to France 
There he was  and there was the decree  he had been taken in France 
and his head was demanded 

 Take off his head   cried the audience    An enemy to the Republic  

The President rang his bell to silence those cries  and asked the
prisoner whether it was not true that he had lived many years in England 

Undoubtedly it was 

Was he not an emigrant then   What did he call himself 

Not an emigrant  he hoped  within the sense and spirit of the law 

Why not   the President desired to know 

Because he had voluntarily relinquished a title that was distasteful
to him  and a station that was distasteful to him  and had left his
country  he submitted before the word emigrant in the present
acceptation by the Tribunal was in use  to live by his own industry
in England  rather than on the industry of the overladen people of
France 

What proof had he of this 

He handed in the names of two witnesses  Theophile Gabelle  and
Alexandre Manette 

But he had married in England   the President reminded him 

True  but not an English woman 

A citizeness of France 

Yes   By birth 

Her name and family 

 Lucie Manette  only daughter of Doctor Manette  the good physician
who sits there  

This answer had a happy effect upon the audience   Cries in
exaltation of the well known good physician rent the hall   So
capriciously were the people moved  that tears immediately rolled
down several ferocious countenances which had been glaring at the
prisoner a moment before  as if with impatience to pluck him out into
the streets and kill him 

On these few steps of his dangerous way  Charles Darnay had set his
foot according to Doctor Manette s reiterated instructions   The same
cautious counsel directed every step that lay before him  and had
prepared every inch of his road 

The President asked  why had he returned to France when he did 
and not sooner 

He had not returned sooner  he replied  simply because he had no
means of living in France  save those he had resigned  whereas  in
England  he lived by giving instruction in the French language and
literature   He had returned when he did  on the pressing and written
entreaty of a French citizen  who represented that his life was
endangered by his absence   He had come back  to save a citizen s life 
and to bear his testimony  at whatever personal hazard  to the truth 
Was that criminal in the eyes of the Republic 

The populace cried enthusiastically   No   and the President rang his
bell to quiet them   Which it did not  for they continued to cry
 No   until they left off  of their own will 

The President required the name of that citizen   The accused
explained that the citizen was his first witness   He also referred
with confidence to the citizen s letter  which had been taken from
him at the Barrier  but which he did not doubt would be found among
the papers then before the President 

The Doctor had taken care that it should be there  had assured him
that it would be there  and at this stage of the proceedings it was
produced and read   Citizen Gabelle was called to confirm it  and did
so   Citizen Gabelle hinted  with infinite delicacy and politeness 
that in the pressure of business imposed on the Tribunal by the
multitude of enemies of the Republic with which it had to deal  he
had been slightly overlooked in his prison of the Abbaye  in fact 
had rather passed out of the Tribunal s patriotic remembrance  until
three days ago  when he had been summoned before it  and had been set
at liberty on the Jury s declaring themselves satisfied that the
accusation against him was answered  as to himself  by the surrender
of the citizen Evremonde  called Darnay 

Doctor Manette was next questioned   His high personal popularity 
and the clearness of his answers  made a great impression  but  as he
proceeded  as he showed that the Accused was his first friend on his
release from his long imprisonment  that  the accused had remained in
England  always faithful and devoted to his daughter and himself in
their exile  that  so far from being in favour with the Aristocrat
government there  he had actually been tried for his life by it  as
the foe of England and friend of the United States  as he brought
these circumstances into view  with the greatest discretion and with
the straightforward force of truth and earnestness  the Jury and the
populace became one   At last  when he appealed by name to Monsieur
Lorry  an English gentleman then and there present  who  like himself 
had been a witness on that English trial and could corroborate his
account of it  the Jury declared that they had heard enough  and that
they were ready with their votes if the President were content to
receive them 

At every vote  the Jurymen voted aloud and individually   the
populace set up a shout of applause   All the voices were in the
prisoner s favour  and the President declared him free 

Then  began one of those extraordinary scenes with which the populace
sometimes gratified their fickleness  or their better impulses
towards generosity and mercy  or which they regarded as some set off
against their swollen account of cruel rage   No man can decide now
to which of these motives such extraordinary scenes were referable 
it is probable  to a blending of all the three  with the second
predominating   No sooner was the acquittal pronounced  than tears
were shed as freely as blood at another time  and such fraternal
embraces were bestowed upon the prisoner by as many of both sexes as
could rush at him  that after his long and unwholesome confinement he
was in danger of fainting from exhaustion  none the less because he
knew very well  that the very same people  carried by another current 
would have rushed at him with the very same intensity  to rend him to
pieces and strew him over the streets 

His removal  to make way for other accused persons who were to be
tried  rescued him from these caresses for the moment   Five were to
be tried together  next  as enemies of the Republic  forasmuch as
they had not assisted it by word or deed   So quick was the Tribunal
to compensate itself and the nation for a chance lost  that these
five came down to him before he left the place  condemned to die
within twenty four hours   The first of them told him so  with the
customary prison sign of Death  a raised finger  and they all added
in words   Long live the Republic  

The five had had  it is true  no audience to lengthen their
proceedings  for when he and Doctor Manette emerged from the gate 
there was a great crowd about it  in which there seemed to be every
face he had seen in Court  except two  for which he looked in vain 
On his coming out  the concourse made at him anew  weeping 
embracing  and shouting  all by turns and all together  until the
very tide of the river on the bank of which the mad scene was acted 
seemed to run mad  like the people on the shore 

They put him into a great chair they had among them  and which they
had taken either out of the Court itself  or one of its rooms or
passages   Over the chair they had thrown a red flag  and to the back
of it they had bound a pike with a red cap on its top   In this car
of triumph  not even the Doctor s entreaties could prevent his being
carried to his home on men s shoulders  with a confused sea of red
caps heaving about him  and casting up to sight from the stormy deep
such wrecks of faces  that he more than once misdoubted his mind
being in confusion  and that he was in the tumbril on his way to the
Guillotine 

In wild dreamlike procession  embracing whom they met and pointing
him out  they carried him on   Reddening the snowy streets with the
prevailing Republican colour  in winding and tramping through them 
as they had reddened them below the snow with a deeper dye  they
carried him thus into the courtyard of the building where he lived 
Her father had gone on before  to prepare her  and when her husband
stood upon his feet  she dropped insensible in his arms 

As he held her to his heart and turned her beautiful head between his
face and the brawling crowd  so that his tears and her lips might
come together unseen  a few of the people fell to dancing   Instantly 
all the rest fell to dancing  and the courtyard overflowed with the
Carmagnole   Then  they elevated into the vacant chair a young woman
from the crowd to be carried as the Goddess of Liberty  and then
swelling and overflowing out into the adjacent streets  and along the
river s bank  and over the bridge  the Carmagnole absorbed them every
one and whirled them away 

After grasping the Doctor s hand  as he stood victorious and proud
before him  after grasping the hand of Mr  Lorry  who came panting in
breathless from his struggle against the waterspout of the Carmagnole 
after kissing little Lucie  who was lifted up to clasp her arms round
his neck  and after embracing the ever zealous and faithful Pross who
lifted her  he took his wife in his arms  and carried her up to their
rooms 

 Lucie   My own   I am safe  

 O dearest Charles  let me thank God for this on my knees as I have
prayed to Him  

They all reverently bowed their heads and hearts   When she was again
in his arms  he said to her 

 And now speak to your father  dearest   No other man in all this
France could have done what he has done for me  

She laid her head upon her father s breast  as she had laid his poor
head on her own breast  long  long ago   He was happy in the return
he had made her  he was recompensed for his suffering  he was proud
of his strength    You must not be weak  my darling   he remonstrated 
 don t tremble so   I have saved him  



VII

A Knock at the Door


 I have saved him    It was not another of the dreams in which he had
often come back  he was really here   And yet his wife trembled  and
a vague but heavy fear was upon her 

All the air round was so thick and dark  the people were so
passionately revengeful and fitful  the innocent were so constantly
put to death on vague suspicion and black malice  it was so
impossible to forget that many as blameless as her husband and as
dear to others as he was to her  every day shared the fate from which
he had been clutched  that her heart could not be as lightened of its
load as she felt it ought to be   The shadows of the wintry afternoon
were beginning to fall  and even now the dreadful carts were rolling
through the streets   Her mind pursued them  looking for him among
the Condemned  and then she clung closer to his real presence and
trembled more 

Her father  cheering her  showed a compassionate superiority to this
woman s weakness  which was wonderful to see   No garret  no shoemaking 
no One Hundred and Five  North Tower  now   He had accomplished the
task he had set himself  his promise was redeemed  he had saved Charles 
Let them all lean upon him 

Their housekeeping was of a very frugal kind   not only because that
was the safest way of life  involving the least offence to the
people  but because they were not rich  and Charles  throughout his
imprisonment  had had to pay heavily for his bad food  and for his
guard  and towards the living of the poorer prisoners   Partly on
this account  and partly to avoid a domestic spy  they kept no
servant  the citizen and citizeness who acted as porters at the
courtyard gate  rendered them occasional service  and Jerry  almost
wholly transferred to them by Mr  Lorry  had become their daily
retainer  and had his bed there every night 

It was an ordinance of the Republic One and Indivisible of Liberty 
Equality  Fraternity  or Death  that on the door or doorpost of every
house  the name of every inmate must be legibly inscribed in letters
of a certain size  at a certain convenient height from the ground 
Mr  Jerry Cruncher s name  therefore  duly embellished the doorpost
down below  and  as the afternoon shadows deepened  the owner of that
name himself appeared  from overlooking a painter whom Doctor Manette
had employed to add to the list the name of Charles Evremonde  called
Darnay 

In the universal fear and distrust that darkened the time  all the
usual harmless ways of life were changed   In the Doctor s little
household  as in very many others  the articles of daily consumption
that were wanted were purchased every evening  in small quantities
and at various small shops   To avoid attracting notice  and to give
as little occasion as possible for talk and envy  was the general desire 

For some months past  Miss Pross and Mr  Cruncher had discharged the
office of purveyors  the former carrying the money  the latter  the
basket   Every afternoon at about the time when the public lamps were
lighted  they fared forth on this duty  and made and brought home
such purchases as were needful   Although Miss Pross  through her
long association with a French family  might have known as much of
their language as of her own  if she had had a mind  she had no mind
in that direction  consequently she knew no more of that  nonsense 
 as she was pleased to call it  than Mr  Cruncher did   So her
manner of marketing was to plump a noun substantive at the head of a
shopkeeper without any introduction in the nature of an article  and 
if it happened not to be the name of the thing she wanted  to look
round for that thing  lay hold of it  and hold on by it until the
bargain was concluded   She always made a bargain for it  by holding
up  as a statement of its just price  one finger less than the merchant
held up  whatever his number might be 

 Now  Mr  Cruncher   said Miss Pross  whose eyes were red with
felicity   if you are ready  I am  

Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross s service   He had worn
all his rust off long ago  but nothing would file his spiky head down 

 There s all manner of things wanted   said Miss Pross   and we shall
have a precious time of it   We want wine  among the rest 
Nice toasts these Redheads will be drinking  wherever we buy it  

 It will be much the same to your knowledge  miss  I should think  
retorted Jerry   whether they drink your health or the Old Un s  

 Who s he   said Miss Pross 

Mr  Cruncher  with some diffidence  explained himself as meaning  Old
Nick s  

 Ha   said Miss Pross   it doesn t need an interpreter to explain the
meaning of these creatures   They have but one  and it s Midnight
Murder  and Mischief  

 Hush  dear   Pray  pray  be cautious   cried Lucie 

 Yes  yes  yes  I ll be cautious   said Miss Pross   but I may say
among ourselves  that I do hope there will be no oniony and tobaccoey
smotherings in the form of embracings all round  going on in the
streets   Now  Ladybird  never you stir from that fire till I come
back   Take care of the dear husband you have recovered  and don t
move your pretty head from his shoulder as you have it now  till you
see me again   May I ask a question  Doctor Manette  before I go  

 I think you may take that liberty   the Doctor answered  smiling 

 For gracious sake  don t talk about Liberty  we have quite enough of
that   said Miss Pross 

 Hush  dear   Again   Lucie remonstrated 

 Well  my sweet   said Miss Pross  nodding her head emphatically 
 the short and the long of it is  that I am a subject of His Most
Gracious Majesty King George the Third   Miss Pross curtseyed at the
name   and as such  my maxim is  Confound their politics  Frustrate
their knavish tricks  On him our hopes we fix  God save the King  

Mr  Cruncher  in an access of loyalty  growlingly repeated the words
after Miss Pross  like somebody at church 

 I am glad you have so much of the Englishman in you  though I wish
you had never taken that cold in your voice   said Miss Pross 
approvingly    But the question  Doctor Manette   Is there   it was
the good creature s way to affect to make light of anything that was
a great anxiety with them all  and to come at it in this chance
manner   is there any prospect yet  of our getting out of this place  

 I fear not yet   It would be dangerous for Charles yet  

 Heigh ho hum   said Miss Pross  cheerfully repressing a sigh as she
glanced at her darling s golden hair in the light of the fire 
 then we must have patience and wait   that s all   We must hold up
our heads and fight low  as my brother Solomon used to say 
Now  Mr  Cruncher   Don t you move  Ladybird  

They went out  leaving Lucie  and her husband  her father  and the
child  by a bright fire   Mr  Lorry was expected back presently from
the Banking House   Miss Pross had lighted the lamp  but had put it
aside in a corner  that they might enjoy the fire light undisturbed 
Little Lucie sat by her grandfather with her hands clasped through
his arm   and he  in a tone not rising much above a whisper  began to
tell her a story of a great and powerful Fairy who had opened a
prison wall and let out a captive who had once done the Fairy a
service   All was subdued and quiet  and Lucie was more at ease than
she had been 

 What is that   she cried  all at once 

 My dear   said her father  stopping in his story  and laying his
hand on hers   command yourself   What a disordered state you are in 
The least thing  nothing  startles you    You   your father s daughter  

 I thought  my father   said Lucie  excusing herself  with a pale face
and in a faltering voice   that I heard strange feet upon the stairs  

 My love  the staircase is as still as Death  

As he said the word  a blow was struck upon the door 

 Oh father  father   What can this be   Hide Charles   Save him  

 My child   said the Doctor  rising  and laying his hand upon her
shoulder   I  have  saved him   What weakness is this  my dear 
Let me go to the door  

He took the lamp in his hand  crossed the two intervening outer
rooms  and opened it   A rude clattering of feet over the floor 
and four rough men in red caps  armed with sabres and pistols 
entered the room 

 The Citizen Evremonde  called Darnay   said the first 

 Who seeks him   answered Darnay 

 I seek him   We seek him   I know you  Evremonde  I saw you before
the Tribunal to day   You are again the prisoner of the Republic  

The four surrounded him  where he stood with his wife and child
clinging to him 

 Tell me how and why am I again a prisoner  

 It is enough that you return straight to the Conciergerie  and will
know to morrow   You are summoned for to morrow  

Doctor Manette  whom this visitation had so turned into stone  that
he stood with the lamp in his hand  as if be woe a statue made to
hold it  moved after these words were spoken  put the lamp down  and
confronting the speaker  and taking him  not ungently  by the loose
front of his red woollen shirt  said 

 You know him  you have said   Do you know me  

 Yes  I know you  Citizen Doctor  

 We all know you  Citizen Doctor   said the other three 

He looked abstractedly from one to another  and said  in a lower
voice  after a pause 

 Will you answer his question to me then   How does this happen  

 Citizen Doctor   said the first  reluctantly   he has been denounced
to the Section of Saint Antoine   This citizen   pointing out the
second who had entered   is from Saint Antoine  

The citizen here indicated nodded his head  and added 

 He is accused by Saint Antoine  

 Of what   asked the Doctor 

 Citizen Doctor   said the first  with his former reluctance   ask no
more   If the Republic demands sacrifices from you  without doubt you
as a good patriot will be happy to make them   The Republic goes
before all   The People is supreme   Evremonde  we are pressed  

 One word   the Doctor entreated    Will you tell me who denounced him  

 It is against rule   answered the first   but you can ask Him of
Saint Antoine here  

The Doctor turned his eyes upon that man   Who moved uneasily on his
feet  rubbed his beard a little  and at length said 

 Well   Truly it is against rule   But he is denounced  and
gravely  by the Citizen and Citizeness Defarge   And by one other  

 What other  

 Do  you  ask  Citizen Doctor  

 Yes  

 Then   said he of Saint Antoine  with a strange look   you will be
answered to morrow   Now  I am dumb  



VIII

A Hand at Cards


Happily unconscious of the new calamity at home  Miss Pross threaded
her way along the narrow streets and crossed the river by the bridge
of the Pont Neuf  reckoning in her mind the number of indispensable
purchases she had to make   Mr  Cruncher  with the basket  walked at
her side   They both looked to the right and to the left into most of
the shops they passed  had a wary eye for all gregarious assemblages
of people  and turned out of their road to avoid any very excited
group of talkers   It was a raw evening  and the misty river  blurred
to the eye with blazing lights and to the ear with harsh noises 
showed where the barges were stationed in which the smiths worked 
making guns for the Army of the Republic   Woe to the man who played
tricks with  that  Army  or got undeserved promotion in it   Better
for him that his beard had never grown  for the National Razor shaved
him close 

Having purchased a few small articles of grocery  and a measure of
oil for the lamp  Miss Pross bethought herself of the wine they
wanted   After peeping into several wine shops  she stopped at the
sign of the Good Republican Brutus of Antiquity  not far from the
National Palace  once  and twice  the Tuileries  where the aspect of
things rather took her fancy   It had a quieter look than any other
place of the same description they had passed  and  though red with
patriotic caps  was not so red as the rest   Sounding Mr  Cruncher 
and finding him of her opinion  Miss Pross resorted to the Good
Republican Brutus of Antiquity  attended by her cavalier 

Slightly observant of the smoky lights  of the people  pipe in mouth 
playing with limp cards and yellow dominoes  of the one bare 
breasted  bare armed  soot begrimed workman reading a journal aloud 
and of the others listening to him  of the weapons worn  or laid
aside to be resumed  of the two or three customers fallen forward
asleep  who in the popular high shouldered shaggy black spencer
looked  in that attitude  like slumbering bears or dogs  the two
outlandish customers approached the counter  and showed what they wanted 

As their wine was measuring out  a man parted from another man in a
corner  and rose to depart   In going  he had to face Miss Pross 
No sooner did he face her  than Miss Pross uttered a scream  and
clapped her hands 

In a moment  the whole company were on their feet   That somebody was
assassinated by somebody vindicating a difference of opinion was the
likeliest occurrence   Everybody looked to see somebody fall  but
only saw a man and a woman standing staring at each other  the man
with all the outward aspect of a Frenchman and a thorough Republican 
the woman  evidently English 

What was said in this disappointing anti climax  by the disciples of
the Good Republican Brutus of Antiquity  except that it was something
very voluble and loud  would have been as so much Hebrew or Chaldean
to Miss Pross and her protector  though they had been all ears   But 
they had no ears for anything in their surprise   For  it must be
recorded  that not only was Miss Pross lost in amazement and
agitation  but  Mr  Cruncher  though it seemed on his own separate
and individual account  was in a state of the greatest wonder 

 What is the matter   said the man who had caused Miss Pross to scream 
speaking in a vexed  abrupt voice  though in a low tone   and in
English 

 Oh  Solomon  dear Solomon   cried Miss Pross  clapping her hands
again    After not setting eyes upon you or hearing of you for so
long a time  do I find you here  

 Don t call me Solomon   Do you want to be the death of me   asked
the man  in a furtive  frightened way 

 Brother  brother   cried Miss Pross  bursting into tears    Have I
ever been so hard with you that you ask me such a cruel question  

 Then hold your meddlesome tongue   said Solomon   and come out  if
you want to speak to me   Pay for your wine  and come out 
Who s this man  

Miss Pross  shaking her loving and dejected head at her by no means
affectionate brother  said through her tears   Mr  Cruncher  

 Let him come out too   said Solomon    Does he think me a ghost  

Apparently  Mr  Cruncher did  to judge from his looks   He said not a
word  however  and Miss Pross  exploring the depths of her reticule
through her tears with great difficulty paid for her wine   As she
did so  Solomon turned to the followers of the Good Republican Brutus
of Antiquity  and offered a few words of explanation in the French
language  which caused them all to relapse into their former places
and pursuits 

 Now   said Solomon  stopping at the dark street corner 
 what do you want  

 How dreadfully unkind in a brother nothing has ever turned my love
away from   cried Miss Pross   to give me such a greeting  and show
me no affection  

 There   Confound it   There   said Solomon  making a dab at Miss
Pross s lips with his own    Now are you content  

Miss Pross only shook her head and wept in silence 

 If you expect me to be surprised   said her brother Solomon   I am
not surprised  I knew you were here  I know of most people who are
here   If you really don t want to endanger my existence  which I half
believe you do  go your ways as soon as possible  and let me go mine 
I am busy   I am an official  

 My English brother Solomon   mourned Miss Pross  casting up her
tear fraught eyes   that had the makings in him of one of the best
and greatest of men in his native country  an official among
foreigners  and such foreigners   I would almost sooner have seen the
dear boy lying in his   

 I said so   cried her brother  interrupting    I knew it   You want
to be the death of me   I shall be rendered Suspected  by my own
sister   Just as I am getting on  

 The gracious and merciful Heavens forbid   cried Miss Pross    Far
rather would I never see you again  dear Solomon  though I have ever
loved you truly  and ever shall   Say but one affectionate word to
me  and tell me there is nothing angry or estranged between us  and I
will detain you no longer  

Good Miss Pross   As if the estrangement between them had come of any
culpability of hers   As if Mr  Lorry had not known it for a fact 
years ago  in the quiet corner in Soho  that this precious brother
had spent her money and left her 

He was saying the affectionate word  however  with a far more
grudging condescension and patronage than he could have shown if
their relative merits and positions had been reversed  which is
invariably the case  all the world over   when Mr  Cruncher  touching
him on the shoulder  hoarsely and unexpectedly interposed with the
following singular question 

 I say   Might I ask the favour   As to whether your name is John
Solomon  or Solomon John  

The official turned towards him with sudden distrust   He had not
previously uttered a word 

 Come   said Mr  Cruncher    Speak out  you know     Which  by the
way  was more than he could do himself     John Solomon  or Solomon
John   She calls you Solomon  and she must know  being your sister 
And  I  know you re John  you know   Which of the two goes first 
And regarding that name of Pross  likewise   That warn t your name
over the water  

 What do you mean  

 Well  I don t know all I mean  for I can t call to mind what your
name was  over the water  

 No  

 No   But I ll swear it was a name of two syllables  

 Indeed  

 Yes   T other one s was one syllable   I know you   You was a spy  
witness at the Bailey   What  in the name of the Father of Lies 
own father to yourself  was you called at that time  

 Barsad   said another voice  striking in 

 That s the name for a thousand pound   cried Jerry 

The speaker who struck in  was Sydney Carton   He had his hands
behind him under the skirts of his riding coat  and he stood at
Mr  Cruncher s elbow as negligently as he might have stood at the Old
Bailey itself 

 Don t be alarmed  my dear Miss Pross   I arrived at Mr  Lorry s 
to his surprise  yesterday evening  we agreed that I would not
present myself elsewhere until all was well  or unless I could be
useful  I present myself here  to beg a little talk with your brother 
I wish you had a better employed brother than Mr  Barsad   I wish
for your sake Mr  Barsad was not a Sheep of the Prisons  

Sheep was a cant word of the time for a spy  under the gaolers 
The spy  who was pale  turned paler  and asked him how he dared  

 I ll tell you   said Sydney    I lighted on you  Mr  Barsad  coming
out of the prison of the Conciergerie while I was contemplating the
walls  an hour or more ago   You have a face to be remembered  and I
remember faces well   Made curious by seeing you in that connection 
and having a reason  to which you are no stranger  for associating
you with the misfortunes of a friend now very unfortunate  I walked
in your direction   I walked into the wine shop here  close after you 
and sat near you   I had no difficulty in deducing from your unreserved
conversation  and the rumour openly going about among your admirers 
the nature of your calling   And gradually  what I had done at random 
seemed to shape itself into a purpose  Mr  Barsad  

 What purpose   the spy asked 

 It would be troublesome  and might be dangerous  to explain in the
street   Could you favour me  in confidence  with some minutes of
your company  at the office of Tellson s Bank  for instance  

 Under a threat  

 Oh   Did I say that  

 Then  why should I go there  

 Really  Mr  Barsad  I can t say  if you can t  

 Do you mean that you won t say  sir   the spy irresolutely asked 

 You apprehend me very clearly  Mr  Barsad   I won t  

Carton s negligent recklessness of manner came powerfully in aid of
his quickness and skill  in such a business as he had in his secret
mind  and with such a man as he had to do with   His practised eye
saw it  and made the most of it 

 Now  I told you so   said the spy  casting a reproachful look at his
sister   if any trouble comes of this  it s your doing  

 Come  come  Mr  Barsad   exclaimed Sydney    Don t be
ungrateful   But for my great respect for your sister  I might not
have led up so pleasantly to a little proposal that I wish to make
for our mutual satisfaction   Do you go with me to the Bank  

 I ll hear what you have got to say   Yes  I ll go with you  

 I propose that we first conduct your sister safely to the corner of
her own street   Let me take your arm  Miss Pross   This is not a
good city  at this time  for you to be out in  unprotected  and as
your escort knows Mr  Barsad  I will invite him to Mr  Lorry s with us 
Are we ready   Come then  

Miss Pross recalled soon afterwards  and to the end of her life
remembered  that as she pressed her hands on Sydney s arm and looked
up in his face  imploring him to do no hurt to Solomon  there was a
braced purpose in the arm and a kind of inspiration in the eyes 
which not only contradicted his light manner  but changed and raised
the man   She was too much occupied then with fears for the brother
who so little deserved her affection  and with Sydney s friendly
reassurances  adequately to heed what she observed 

They left her at the corner of the street  and Carton led the way to
Mr  Lorry s  which was within a few minutes  walk   John Barsad  or
Solomon Pross  walked at his side 

Mr  Lorry had just finished his dinner  and was sitting before a
cheery little log or two of fire  perhaps looking into their blaze
for the picture of that younger elderly gentleman from Tellson s  who
had looked into the red coals at the Royal George at Dover  now a
good many years ago   He turned his head as they entered  and showed
the surprise with which he saw a stranger 

 Miss Pross s brother  sir   said Sydney    Mr  Barsad  

 Barsad   repeated the old gentleman   Barsad   I have an association
with the name  and with the face  

 I told you you had a remarkable face  Mr  Barsad   observed Carton 
coolly    Pray sit down  

As he took a chair himself  he supplied the link that Mr  Lorry
wanted  by saying to him with a frown   Witness at that trial  
Mr  Lorry immediately remembered  and regarded his new visitor with
an undisguised look of abhorrence 

 Mr  Barsad has been recognised by Miss Pross as the affectionate
brother you have heard of   said Sydney   and has acknowledged the
relationship   I pass to worse news   Darnay has been arrested again  

Struck with consternation  the old gentleman exclaimed   What do you
tell me   I left him safe and free within these two hours  and am
about to return to him  

 Arrested for all that   When was it done  Mr  Barsad  

 Just now  if at all  

 Mr  Barsad is the best authority possible  sir   said Sydney   and I
have it from Mr  Barsad s communication to a friend and brother Sheep
over a bottle of wine  that the arrest has taken place   He left the
messengers at the gate  and saw them admitted by the porter 
There is no earthly doubt that he is retaken  

Mr  Lorry s business eye read in the speaker s face that it was loss
of time to dwell upon the point   Confused  but sensible that
something might depend on his presence of mind  he commanded himself 
and was silently attentive 

 Now  I trust   said Sydney to him   that the name and influence of
Doctor Manette may stand him in as good stead to morrow  you said he
would be before the Tribunal again to morrow  Mr  Barsad    

 Yes  I believe so  

   In as good stead to morrow as to day   But it may not be so 
I own to you  I am shaken  Mr  Lorry  by Doctor Manette s not having
had the power to prevent this arrest  

 He may not have known of it beforehand   said Mr  Lorry 

 But that very circumstance would be alarming  when we remember how
identified he is with his son in law  

 That s true   Mr  Lorry acknowledged  with his troubled hand at his
chin  and his troubled eyes on Carton 

 In short   said Sydney   this is a desperate time  when desperate
games are played for desperate stakes   Let the Doctor play the
winning game  I will play the losing one   No man s life here is
worth purchase   Any one carried home by the people to day  may be
condemned tomorrow   Now  the stake I have resolved to play for  in
case of the worst  is a friend in the Conciergerie   And the friend I
purpose to myself to win  is Mr  Barsad  

 You need have good cards  sir   said the spy 

 I ll run them over   I ll see what I hold   Mr  Lorry  you know
what a brute I am  I wish you d give me a little brandy  

It was put before him  and he drank off a glassful  drank off another
glassful  pushed the bottle thoughtfully away 

 Mr  Barsad   he went on  in the tone of one who really was looking
over a hand at cards    Sheep of the prisons  emissary of Republican
committees  now turnkey  now prisoner  always spy and secret
informer  so much the more valuable here for being English that an
Englishman is less open to suspicion of subornation in those
characters than a Frenchman  represents himself to his employers
under a false name   That s a very good card   Mr  Barsad  now in the
employ of the republican French government  was formerly in the
employ of the aristocratic English government  the enemy of France
and freedom   That s an excellent card   Inference clear as day in
this region of suspicion  that Mr  Barsad  still in the pay of the
aristocratic English government  is the spy of Pitt  the treacherous
foe of the Republic crouching in its bosom  the English traitor and
agent of all mischief so much spoken of and so difficult to find 
That s a card not to be beaten   Have you followed my hand  Mr  Barsad  

 Not to understand your play   returned the spy  somewhat uneasily 

 I play my Ace  Denunciation of Mr  Barsad to the nearest Section
Committee   Look over your hand  Mr  Barsad  and see what you have 
Don t hurry  

He drew the bottle near  poured out another glassful of brandy 
and drank it off   He saw that the spy was fearful of his drinking
himself into a fit state for the immediate denunciation of him 
Seeing it  he poured out and drank another glassful 

 Look over your hand carefully  Mr  Barsad   Take time  

It was a poorer hand than he suspected   Mr  Barsad saw losing cards
in it that Sydney Carton knew nothing of   Thrown out of his
honourable employment in England  through too much unsuccessful hard
swearing there  not because he was not wanted there  our English
reasons for vaunting our superiority to secrecy and spies are of very
modern date  he knew that he had crossed the Channel  and accepted
service in France   first  as a tempter and an eavesdropper among his
own countrymen there   gradually  as a tempter and an eavesdropper
among the natives   He knew that under the overthrown government he
had been a spy upon Saint Antoine and Defarge s wine shop  had
received from the watchful police such heads of information
concerning Doctor Manette s imprisonment  release  and history  as
should serve him for an introduction to familiar conversation with
the Defarges  and tried them on Madame Defarge  and had broken down
with them signally   He always remembered with fear and trembling 
that that terrible woman had knitted when he talked with her  and had
looked ominously at him as her fingers moved   He had since seen her 
in the Section of Saint Antoine  over and over again produce her
knitted registers  and denounce people whose lives the guillotine
then surely swallowed up   He knew  as every one employed as he was
did  that he was never safe  that flight was impossible  that he was
tied fast under the shadow of the axe  and that in spite of his
utmost tergiversation and treachery in furtherance of the reigning
terror  a word might bring it down upon him   Once denounced  and on
such grave grounds as had just now been suggested to his mind  he
foresaw that the dreadful woman of whose unrelenting character he had
seen many proofs  would produce against him that fatal register  and
would quash his last chance of life   Besides that all secret men are
men soon terrified  here were surely cards enough of one black suit 
to justify the holder in growing rather livid as he turned them over 

 You scarcely seem to like your hand   said Sydney  with the greatest
composure    Do you play  

 I think  sir   said the spy  in the meanest manner  as he turned to
Mr  Lorry   I may appeal to a gentleman of your years and benevolence 
to put it to this other gentleman  so much your junior  whether he
can under any circumstances reconcile it to his station to play that
Ace of which he has spoken   I admit that  I  am a spy  and that it
is considered a discreditable station  though it must be filled by
somebody  but this gentleman is no spy  and why should he so demean
himself as to make himself one  

 I play my Ace  Mr  Barsad   said Carton  taking the answer on himself 
and looking at his watch   without any scruple  in a very few minutes  

 I should have hoped  gentlemen both   said the spy  always striving
to hook Mr  Lorry into the discussion   that your respect for my
sister   

 I could not better testify my respect for your sister than by
finally relieving her of her brother   said Sydney Carton 

 You think not  sir  

 I have thoroughly made up my mind about it  

The smooth manner of the spy  curiously in dissonance with his
ostentatiously rough dress  and probably with his usual demeanour 
received such a check from the inscrutability of Carton   who was a
mystery to wiser and honester men than he   that it faltered here and
failed him   While he was at a loss  Carton said  resuming his former
air of contemplating cards 

 And indeed  now I think again  I have a strong impression that I
have another good card here  not yet enumerated   That friend and
fellow Sheep  who spoke of himself as pasturing in the country prisons 
who was he  

 French   You don t know him   said the spy  quickly 

 French  eh   repeated Carton  musing  and not appearing to notice
him at all  though he echoed his word    Well  he may be  

 Is  I assure you   said the spy   though it s not important  

 Though it s not important   repeated Carton  in the same mechanical
way   though it s not important  No  it s not important   No   Yet I
know the face  

 I think not   I am sure not   It can t be   said the spy 

 It can t be   muttered Sydney Carton  retrospectively  and idling
his glass  which fortunately was a small one  again    Can t be 
Spoke good French   Yet like a foreigner  I thought  

 Provincial   said the spy 

 No   Foreign   cried Carton  striking his open hand on the table  as
a light broke clearly on his mind    Cly   Disguised  but the same man 
We had that man before us at the Old Bailey  

 Now  there you are hasty  sir   said Barsad  with a smile that gave
his aquiline nose an extra inclination to one side   there you really
give me an advantage over you   Cly  who I will unreservedly admit 
at this distance of time  was a partner of mine  has been dead
several years   I attended him in his last illness   He was buried in
London  at the church of Saint Pancras in the Fields   His unpopularity
with the blackguard multitude at the moment prevented my following
his remains  but I helped to lay him in his coffin  

Here  Mr  Lorry became aware  from where he sat  of a most remarkable
goblin shadow on the wall   Tracing it to its source  he discovered
it to be caused by a sudden extraordinary rising and stiffening of
all the risen and stiff hair on Mr  Cruncher s head 

 Let us be reasonable   said the spy   and let us be fair   To show
you how mistaken you are  and what an unfounded assumption yours is 
I will lay before you a certificate of Cly s burial  which I happened
to have carried in my pocket book   with a hurried hand he produced
and opened it   ever since   There it is   Oh  look at it  look at it 
You may take it in your hand  it s no forgery  

Here  Mr  Lorry perceived the reflection on the wall to elongate  and
Mr  Cruncher rose and stepped forward   His hair could not have been
more violently on end  if it had been that moment dressed by the Cow
with the crumpled horn in the house that Jack built 

Unseen by the spy  Mr  Cruncher stood at his side  and touched him on
the shoulder like a ghostly bailiff 

 That there Roger Cly  master   said Mr  Cruncher  with a taciturn
and iron bound visage    So  you  put him in his coffin  

 I did  

 Who took him out of it  

Barsad leaned back in his chair  and stammered   What do you mean  

 I mean   said Mr  Cruncher   that he warn t never in it   No   Not he 
I ll have my head took off  if he was ever in it  

The spy looked round at the two gentlemen  they both looked in
unspeakable astonishment at Jerry 

 I tell you   said Jerry   that you buried paving stones and earth in
that there coffin   Don t go and tell me that you buried Cly   It was
a take in   Me and two more knows it  

 How do you know it  

 What s that to you   Ecod   growled Mr  Cruncher   it s you I have got
a old grudge again  is it  with your shameful impositions upon tradesmen 
I d catch hold of your throat and choke you for half a guinea  

Sydney Carton  who  with Mr  Lorry  had been lost in amazement at
this turn of the business  here requested Mr  Cruncher to moderate
and explain himself 

 At another time  sir   he returned  evasively   the present time is
ill conwenient for explainin    What I stand to  is  that he knows
well wot that there Cly was never in that there coffin   Let him say
he was  in so much as a word of one syllable  and I ll either catch
hold of his throat and choke him for half a guinea   Mr  Cruncher
dwelt upon this as quite a liberal offer   or I ll out and announce him  

 Humph   I see one thing   said Carton    I hold another card 
Mr  Barsad   Impossible  here in raging Paris  with Suspicion filling
the air  for you to outlive denunciation  when you are in communication
with another aristocratic spy of the same antecedents as yourself 
who  moreover  has the mystery about him of having feigned death and
come to life again   A plot in the prisons  of the foreigner against
the Republic   A strong card  a certain Guillotine card   Do you play  

 No   returned the spy    I throw up   I confess that we were so
unpopular with the outrageous mob  that I only got away from England
at the risk of being ducked to death  and that Cly was so ferreted up
and down  that he never would have got away at all but for that sham 
Though how this man knows it was a sham  is a wonder of wonders to me  

 Never you trouble your head about this man   retorted the
contentious Mr  Cruncher   you ll have trouble enough with giving
your attention to that gentleman   And look here   Once more    
Mr  Cruncher could not be restrained from making rather an ostentatious
parade of his liberality   I d catch hold of your throat and choke
you for half a guinea  

The Sheep of the prisons turned from him to Sydney Carton  and said 
with more decision   It has come to a point   I go on duty soon  and
can t overstay my time   You told me you had a proposal  what is it 
Now  it is of no use asking too much of me   Ask me to do anything in
my office  putting my head in great extra danger  and I had better
trust my life to the chances of a refusal than the chances of consent 
In short  I should make that choice   You talk of desperation 
We are all desperate here   Remember   I may denounce you if I think
proper  and I can swear my way through stone walls  and so can others 
Now  what do you want with me  

 Not very much   You are a turnkey at the Conciergerie  

 I tell you once for all  there is no such thing as an escape possible  
said the spy  firmly 

 Why need you tell me what I have not asked   You are a turnkey at the
Conciergerie  

 I am sometimes  

 You can be when you choose  

 I can pass in and out when I choose  

Sydney Carton filled another glass with brandy  poured it slowly out
upon the hearth  and watched it as it dropped   It being all spent 
he said  rising 

 So far  we have spoken before these two  because it was as well that
the merits of the cards should not rest solely between you and me 
Come into the dark room here  and let us have one final word alone  



IX

The Game Made


While Sydney Carton and the Sheep of the prisons were in the
adjoining dark room  speaking so low that not a sound was heard 
Mr  Lorry looked at Jerry in considerable doubt and mistrust   That
honest tradesman s manner of receiving the look  did not inspire
confidence  he changed the leg on which he rested  as often as if he
had fifty of those limbs  and were trying them all  he examined his
finger nails with a very questionable closeness of attention  and
whenever Mr  Lorry s eye caught his  he was taken with that peculiar
kind of short cough requiring the hollow of a hand before it  which
is seldom  if ever  known to be an infirmity attendant on perfect
openness of character 

 Jerry   said Mr  Lorry    Come here  

Mr  Cruncher came forward sideways  with one of his shoulders in
advance of him 

 What have you been  besides a messenger  

After some cogitation  accompanied with an intent look at his patron 
Mr  Cruncher conceived the luminous idea of replying   Agicultooral
character  

 My mind misgives me much   said Mr  Lorry  angrily shaking a
forefinger at him   that you have used the respectable and great
house of Tellson s as a blind  and that you have had an unlawful
occupation of an infamous description   If you have  don t expect me
to befriend you when you get back to England   If you have  don t
expect me to keep your secret   Tellson s shall not be imposed upon  

 I hope  sir   pleaded the abashed Mr  Cruncher   that a gentleman
like yourself wot I ve had the honour of odd jobbing till I m grey at
it  would think twice about harming of me  even if it wos so  I don t
say it is  but even if it wos   And which it is to be took into
account that if it wos  it wouldn t  even then  be all o  one side 
There d be two sides to it   There might be medical doctors at the
present hour  a picking up their guineas where a honest tradesman
don t pick up his fardens  fardens  no  nor yet his half fardens  
half fardens  no  nor yet his quarter  a banking away like smoke at
Tellson s  and a cocking their medical eyes at that tradesman on the
sly  a going in and going out to their own carriages  ah  equally
like smoke  if not more so   Well  that  ud be imposing  too  on
Tellson s   For you cannot sarse the goose and not the gander 
And here s Mrs  Cruncher  or leastways wos in the Old England times 
and would be to morrow  if cause given  a floppin  again the business
to that degree as is ruinating  stark ruinating   Whereas them medical
doctors  wives don t flop  catch  em at it   Or  if they flop  their
toppings goes in favour of more patients  and how can you rightly
have one without t other   Then  wot with undertakers  and wot with
parish clerks  and wot with sextons  and wot with private watchmen
 all awaricious and all in it   a man wouldn t get much by it  even
if it wos so   And wot little a man did get  would never prosper with
him  Mr  Lorry   He d never have no good of it  he d want all along
to be out of the line  if he  could see his way out  being once in  
even if it wos so  

 Ugh   cried Mr  Lorry  rather relenting  nevertheless   I am shocked
at the sight of you  

 Now  what I would humbly offer to you  sir   pursued Mr  Cruncher 
 even if it wos so  which I don t say it is   

 Don t prevaricate   said Mr  Lorry 

 No  I will  not   sir   returned Mr  Crunches as if nothing were
further from his thoughts or practice   which I don t say it is  wot
I would humbly offer to you  sir  would be this   Upon that there
stool  at that there Bar  sets that there boy of mine  brought up and
growed up to be a man  wot will errand you  message you  general 
light job you  till your heels is where your head is  if such should
be your wishes   If it wos so  which I still don t say it is  for I
will not prewaricate to you  sir   let that there boy keep his
father s place  and take care of his mother  don t blow upon that
boy s father  do not do it  sir  and let that father go into the line
of the reg lar diggin   and make amends for what he would have
undug  if it wos so  by diggin  of  em in with a will  and with
conwictions respectin  the futur  keepin  of  em safe   That 
Mr  Lorry   said Mr  Cruncher  wiping his forehead with his arm  as
an announcement that he had arrived at the peroration of his
discourse   is wot I would respectfully offer to you  sir   A man
don t see all this here a goin  on dreadful round him  in the way of
Subjects without heads  dear me  plentiful enough fur to bring the
price down to porterage and hardly that  without havin  his serious
thoughts of things   And these here would be mine  if it wos so 
entreatin  of you fur to bear in mind that wot I said just now  I up
and said in the good cause when I might have kep  it back  

 That at least is true   said Mr  Lorry    Say no more now   It may be
that I shall yet stand your friend  if you deserve it  and repent in
action  not in words   I want no more words  

Mr  Cruncher knuckled his forehead  as Sydney Carton and the spy
returned from the dark room    Adieu  Mr  Barsad   said the former 
 our arrangement thus made  you have nothing to fear from me  

He sat down in a chair on the hearth  over against Mr  Lorry 
When they were alone  Mr  Lorry asked him what he had done 

 Not much   If it should go ill with the prisoner  I have ensured
access to him  once  

Mr  Lorry s countenance fell 

 It is all I could do   said Carton    To propose too much  would be
to put this man s head under the axe  and  as he himself said 
nothing worse could happen to him if he were denounced   It was
obviously the weakness of the position   There is no help for it  

 But access to him   said Mr  Lorry   if it should go ill before the
Tribunal  will not save him  

 I never said it would  

Mr  Lorry s eyes gradually sought the fire  his sympathy with his
darling  and the heavy disappointment of his second arrest  gradually
weakened them  he was an old man now  overborne with anxiety of late 
and his tears fell 

 You are a good man and a true friend   said Carton  in an altered
voice    Forgive me if I notice that you are affected   I could not
see my father weep  and sit by  careless   And I could not respect
your sorrow more  if you were my father   You are free from that
misfortune  however  

Though he said the last words  with a slip into his usual manner 
there was a true feeling and respect both in his tone and in his
touch  that Mr  Lorry  who had never seen the better side of him 
was wholly unprepared for   He gave him his hand  and Carton gently
pressed it 

 To return to poor Darnay   said Carton    Don t tell Her of this
interview  or this arrangement   It would not enable Her to go to see
him   She might think it was contrived  in case of the worse  to
convey to him the means of anticipating the sentence  

Mr  Lorry had not thought of that  and he looked quickly at Carton to
see if it were in his mind   It seemed to be  he returned the look 
and evidently understood it 

 She might think a thousand things   Carton said   and any of them
would only add to her trouble   Don t speak of me to her   As I said
to you when I first came  I had better not see her   I can put my
hand out  to do any little helpful work for her that my hand can find
to do  without that   You are going to her  I hope   She must be very
desolate to night  

 I am going now  directly  

 I am glad of that   She has such a strong attachment to you and
reliance on you   How does she look  

 Anxious and unhappy  but very beautiful  

 Ah  

It was a long  grieving sound  like a sigh  almost like a sob   It
attracted Mr  Lorry s eyes to Carton s face  which was turned to the
fire   A light  or a shade  the old gentleman could not have said
which   passed from it as swiftly as a change will sweep over a
hill side on a wild bright day  and he lifted his foot to put back
one of the little flaming logs  which was tumbling forward   He wore
the white riding coat and top boots  then in vogue  and the light of
the fire touching their light surfaces made him look very pale  with
his long brown hair  all untrimmed  hanging loose about him   His
indifference to fire was sufficiently remarkable to elicit a word of
remonstrance from Mr  Lorry  his boot was still upon the hot embers
of the flaming log  when it had broken under the weight of his foot 

 I forgot it   he said 

Mr  Lorry s eyes were again attracted to his face   Taking note of
the wasted air which clouded the naturally handsome features  and
having the expression of prisoners  faces fresh in his mind  he was
strongly reminded of that expression 

 And your duties here have drawn to an end  sir   said Carton 
turning to him 

 Yes   As I was telling you last night when Lucie came in so
unexpectedly  I have at length done all that I can do here   I hoped
to have left them in perfect safety  and then to have quitted Paris 
I have my Leave to Pass   I was ready to go  

They were both silent 

 Yours is a long life to look back upon  sir   said Carton  wistfully 

 I am in my seventy eighth year  

 You have been useful all your life  steadily and constantly occupied 
trusted  respected  and looked up to  

 I have been a man of business  ever since I have been a man 
Indeed  I may say that I was a man of business when a boy  

 See what a place you fill at seventy eight   How many people will
miss you when you leave it empty  

 A solitary old bachelor   answered Mr  Lorry  shaking his
head    There is nobody to weep for me  

 How can you say that   Wouldn t She weep for you   Wouldn t her child  

 Yes  yes  thank God   I didn t quite mean what I said  

 It  is  a thing to thank God for  is it not  

 Surely  surely  

 If you could say  with truth  to your own solitary heart  to night 
 I have secured to myself the love and attachment  the gratitude or
respect  of no human creature  I have won myself a tender place in no
regard  I have done nothing good or serviceable to be remembered by  
your seventy eight years would be seventy eight heavy curses  would
they not  

 You say truly  Mr  Carton  I think they would be  

Sydney turned his eyes again upon the fire  and  after a silence of a
few moments  said 

 I should like to ask you   Does your childhood seem far off   Do the
days when you sat at your mother s knee  seem days of very long ago  

Responding to his softened manner  Mr  Lorry answered 

 Twenty years back  yes  at this time of my life  no   For  as I draw
closer and closer to the end  I travel in the circle  nearer and
nearer to the beginning   It seems to be one of the kind smoothings
and preparings of the way   My heart is touched now  by many
remembrances that had long fallen asleep  of my pretty young mother
 and I so old    and by many associations of the days when what we
call the World was not so real with me  and my faults were not
confirmed in me  

 I understand the feeling   exclaimed Carton  with a bright flush 
 And you are the better for it  

 I hope so  

Carton terminated the conversation here  by rising to help him on
with his outer coat   But you   said Mr  Lorry  reverting to the theme 
 you are young  

 Yes   said Carton    I am not old  but my young way was never the
way to age   Enough of me  

 And of me  I am sure   said Mr  Lorry    Are you going out  

 I ll walk with you to her gate   You know my vagabond and restless
habits   If I should prowl about the streets a long time  don t be
uneasy  I shall reappear in the morning   You go to the Court to morrow  

 Yes  unhappily  

 I shall be there  but only as one of the crowd   My Spy will find a
place for me   Take my arm  sir  

Mr  Lorry did so  and they went down stairs and out in the streets 
A few minutes brought them to Mr  Lorry s destination   Carton left
him there  but lingered at a little distance  and turned back to the
gate again when it was shut  and touched it   He had heard of her
going to the prison every day    She came out here   he said  looking
about him   turned this way  must have trod on these stones often 
Let me follow in her steps  

It was ten o clock at night when he stood before the prison of La
Force  where she had stood hundreds of times   A little wood sawyer 
having closed his shop  was smoking his pipe at his shop door 

 Good night  citizen   said Sydney Carton  pausing in going by 
for  the man eyed him inquisitively 

 Good night  citizen  

 How goes the Republic  

 You mean the Guillotine   Not ill   Sixty three to day   We shall
mount to a hundred soon   Samson and his men complain sometimes  of
being exhausted   Ha  ha  ha   He is so droll  that Samson 
Such a Barber  

 Do you often go to see him   

 Shave   Always   Every day   What a barber   You have seen him at work  

 Never  

 Go and see him when he has a good batch   Figure this to yourself 
citizen  he shaved the sixty three to day  in less than two pipes 
Less than two pipes   Word of honour  

As the grinning little man held out the pipe he was smoking  to
explain how he timed the executioner  Carton was so sensible of a
rising desire to strike the life out of him  that he turned away 

 But you are not English   said the wood sawyer   though you wear
English dress  

 Yes   said Carton  pausing again  and answering over his shoulder 

 You speak like a Frenchman  

 I am an old student here  

 Aha  a perfect Frenchman   Good night  Englishman  

 Good night  citizen  

 But go and see that droll dog   the little man persisted  calling
after him    And take a pipe with you  

Sydney had not gone far out of sight  when he stopped in the middle
of the street under a glimmering lamp  and wrote with his pencil on a
scrap of paper   Then  traversing with the decided step of one who
remembered the way well  several dark and dirty streets  much dirtier
than usual  for the best public thoroughfares remained uncleansed in
those times of terror  he stopped at a chemist s shop  which the
owner was closing with his own hands   A small  dim  crooked shop 
kept in a tortuous  up hill thoroughfare  by a small  dim  crooked man 

Giving this citizen  too  good night  as he confronted him at his
counter  he laid the scrap of paper before him    Whew   the chemist
whistled softly  as he read it    Hi  hi  hi  

Sydney Carton took no heed  and the chemist said 

 For you  citizen  

 For me  

 You will be careful to keep them separate  citizen   You know the
consequences of mixing them  

 Perfectly  

Certain small packets were made and given to him   He put them  one
by one  in the breast of his inner coat  counted out the money for
them  and deliberately left the shop    There is nothing more to do  
said he  glancing upward at the moon   until to morrow   I can t sleep  

It was not a reckless manner  the manner in which he said these words
aloud under the fast sailing clouds  nor was it more expressive of
negligence than defiance   It was the settled manner of a tired man 
who had wandered and struggled and got lost  but who at length struck
into his road and saw its end 

Long ago  when he had been famous among his earliest competitors as a
youth of great promise  he had followed his father to the grave 
His mother had died  years before   These solemn words  which had
been read at his father s grave  arose in his mind as he went down
the dark streets  among the heavy shadows  with the moon and the
clouds sailing on high above him    I am the resurrection and the
life  saith the Lord   he that believeth in me  though he were dead 
yet shall he live   and whosoever liveth and believeth in me  shall
never die  

In a city dominated by the axe  alone at night  with natural sorrow
rising in him for the sixty three who had been that day put to death 
and for to morrow s victims then awaiting their doom in the prisons 
and still of to morrow s and to morrow s  the chain of association
that brought the words home  like a rusty old ship s anchor from the
deep  might have been easily found   He did not seek it  but repeated
them and went on 

With a solemn interest in the lighted windows where the people were
going to rest  forgetful through a few calm hours of the horrors
surrounding them  in the towers of the churches  where no prayers
were said  for the popular revulsion had even travelled that length
of self destruction from years of priestly impostors  plunderers  and
profligates  in the distant burial places  reserved  as they wrote
upon the gates  for Eternal Sleep  in the abounding gaols  and in the
streets along which the sixties rolled to a death which had become so
common and material  that no sorrowful story of a haunting Spirit
ever arose among the people out of all the working of the Guillotine 
with a solemn interest in the whole life and death of the city
settling down to its short nightly pause in fury  Sydney Carton
crossed the Seine again for the lighter streets 

Few coaches were abroad  for riders in coaches were liable to be
suspected  and gentility hid its head in red nightcaps  and put on
heavy shoes  and trudged   But  the theatres were all well filled 
and the people poured cheerfully out as he passed  and went chatting
home   At one of the theatre doors  there was a little girl with a
mother  looking for a way across the street through the mud 
He carried the child over  and before the timid arm was loosed from
his neck asked her for a kiss 

 I am the resurrection and the life  saith the Lord   he that
believeth in me  though he were dead  yet shall he live   and
whosoever liveth and believeth in me  shall never die  

Now  that the streets were quiet  and the night wore on  the words
were in the echoes of his feet  and were in the air   Perfectly calm
and steady  he sometimes repeated them to himself as he walked  but 
he heard them always 

The night wore out  and  as he stood upon the bridge listening to the
water as it splashed the river walls of the Island of Paris  where
the picturesque confusion of houses and cathedral shone bright in the
light of the moon  the day came coldly  looking like a dead face out
of the sky   Then  the night  with the moon and the stars  turned pale
and died  and for a little while it seemed as if Creation were
delivered over to Death s dominion 

But  the glorious sun  rising  seemed to strike those words  that
burden of the night  straight and warm to his heart in its long
bright rays   And looking along them  with reverently shaded eyes 
a bridge of light appeared to span the air between him and the sun 
while the river sparkled under it 

The strong tide  so swift  so deep  and certain  was like a congenial
friend  in the morning stillness   He walked by the stream  far from
the houses  and in the light and warmth of the sun fell asleep on the
bank   When he awoke and was afoot again  he lingered there yet a
little longer  watching an eddy that turned and turned purposeless 
until the stream absorbed it  and carried it on to the sea    Like me  

A trading boat  with a sail of the softened colour of a dead leaf 
then glided into his view  floated by him  and died away   As its
silent track in the water disappeared  the prayer that had broken up
out of his heart for a merciful consideration of all his poor
blindnesses and errors  ended in the words   I am the resurrection
and the life  

Mr  Lorry was already out when he got back  and it was easy to
surmise where the good old man was gone   Sydney Carton drank nothing
but a little coffee  ate some bread  and  having washed and changed
to refresh himself  went out to the place of trial 

The court was all astir and a buzz  when the black sheep  whom many
fell away from in dread  pressed him into an obscure corner among the
crowd   Mr  Lorry was there  and Doctor Manette was there   She was
there  sitting beside her father 

When her husband was brought in  she turned a look upon him  so
sustaining  so encouraging  so full of admiring love and pitying
tenderness  yet so courageous for his sake  that it called the
healthy blood into his face  brightened his glance  and animated his
heart   If there had been any eyes to notice the influence of her
look  on Sydney Carton  it would have been seen to be the same
influence exactly 

Before that unjust Tribunal  there was little or no order of
procedure  ensuring to any accused person any reasonable hearing 
There could have been no such Revolution  if all laws  forms  and
ceremonies  had not first been so monstrously abused  that the
suicidal vengeance of the Revolution was to scatter them all to the
winds 

Every eye was turned to the jury   The same determined patriots and
good republicans as yesterday and the day before  and to morrow and
the day after   Eager and prominent among them  one man with a
craving face  and his fingers perpetually hovering about his lips 
whose appearance gave great satisfaction to the spectators   A life 
thirsting  cannibal looking  bloody minded juryman  the Jacques Three
of St  Antoine   The whole jury  as a jury of dogs empannelled to try
the deer 

Every eye then turned to the five judges and the public prosecutor 
No favourable leaning in that quarter to day   A fell  uncompromising 
murderous business meaning there   Every eye then sought some other
eye in the crowd  and gleamed at it approvingly  and heads nodded at
one another  before bending forward with a strained attention 

Charles Evremonde  called Darnay   Released yesterday   Reaccused and
retaken yesterday   Indictment delivered to him last night   Suspected
and Denounced enemy of the Republic  Aristocrat  one of a family of
tyrants  one of a race proscribed  for that they had used their
abolished privileges to the infamous oppression of the people 
Charles Evremonde  called Darnay  in right of such proscription 
absolutely Dead in Law 

To this effect  in as few or fewer words  the Public Prosecutor 

The President asked  was the Accused openly denounced or secretly 

 Openly  President  

 By whom  

 Three voices   Ernest Defarge  wine vendor of St  Antoine  

 Good  

 Therese Defarge  his wife  

 Good  

 Alexandre Manette  physician  

A great uproar took place in the court  and in the midst of it 
Doctor Manette was seen  pale and trembling  standing where he had
been seated 

 President  I indignantly protest to you that this is a forgery and a
fraud   You know the accused to be the husband of my daughter   My
daughter  and those dear to her  are far dearer to me than my life 
Who and where is the false conspirator who says that I denounce the
husband of my child  

 Citizen Manette  be tranquil   To fail in submission to the
authority of the Tribunal would be to put yourself out of Law 
As to what is dearer to you than life  nothing can be so dear to a
good citizen as the Republic  

Loud acclamations hailed this rebuke   The President rang his bell 
and with warmth resumed 

 If the Republic should demand of you the sacrifice of your child
herself  you would have no duty but to sacrifice her   Listen to what
is to follow   In the meanwhile  be silent  

Frantic acclamations were again raised   Doctor Manette sat down 
with his eyes looking around  and his lips trembling  his daughter
drew closer to him   The craving man on the jury rubbed his hands
together  and restored the usual hand to his mouth 

Defarge was produced  when the court was quiet enough to admit of his
being heard  and rapidly expounded the story of the imprisonment  and
of his having been a mere boy in the Doctor s service  and of the
release  and of the state of the prisoner when released and delivered
to him   This short examination followed  for the court was quick
with its work 

 You did good service at the taking of the Bastille  citizen  

 I believe so  

Here  an excited woman screeched from the crowd    You were one of the
best patriots there   Why not say so   You were a cannonier that day
there  and you were among the first to enter the accursed fortress
when it fell   Patriots  I speak the truth  

It was The Vengeance who  amidst the warm commendations of the
audience  thus assisted the proceedings   The President rang his
bell  but  The Vengeance  warming with encouragement  shrieked 
 I defy that bell   wherein she was likewise much commended 

 Inform the Tribunal of what you did that day within the Bastille 
citizen  

 I knew   said Defarge  looking down at his wife  who stood at the
bottom of the steps on which he was raised  looking steadily up at
him   I knew that this prisoner  of whom I speak  had been confined
in a cell known as One Hundred and Five  North Tower   I knew it from
himself   He knew himself by no other name than One Hundred and Five 
North Tower  when he made shoes under my care   As I serve my gun
that day  I resolve  when the place shall fall  to examine that cell 
It falls   I mount to the cell  with a fellow citizen who is one of
the Jury  directed by a gaoler   I examine it  very closely   In a
hole in the chimney  where a stone has been worked out and replaced 
I find a written paper   This is that written paper   I have made it
my business to examine some specimens of the writing of Doctor
Manette   This is the writing of Doctor Manette   I confide this
paper  in the writing of Doctor Manette  to the hands of the President  

 Let it be read  

In a dead silence and stillness  the prisoner under trial looking
lovingly at his wife  his wife only looking from him to look with
solicitude at her father  Doctor Manette keeping his eyes fixed on
the reader  Madame Defarge never taking hers from the prisoner 
Defarge never taking his from his feasting wife  and all the other
eyes there intent upon the Doctor  who saw none of them  the paper
was read  as follows 



X

The Substance of the Shadow


 I  Alexandre Manette  unfortunate physician  native of Beauvais 
and afterwards resident in Paris  write this melancholy paper in my
doleful cell in the Bastille  during the last month of the year 
1767   I write it at stolen intervals  under every difficulty 
I design to secrete it in the wall of the chimney  where I have
slowly and laboriously made a place of concealment for it   Some
pitying hand may find it there  when I and my sorrows are dust 

 These words are formed by the rusty iron point with which I write
with difficulty in scrapings of soot and charcoal from the chimney 
mixed with blood  in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity 
Hope has quite departed from my breast   I know from terrible
warnings I have noted in myself that my reason will not long remain
unimpaired  but I solemnly declare that I am at this time in the
possession of my right mind  that my memory is exact and
circumstantial  and that I write the truth as I shall answer for
these my last recorded words  whether they be ever read by men or not 
at the Eternal Judgment seat 

 One cloudy moonlight night  in the third week of December  I think
the twenty second of the month  in the year 1757  I was walking on a
retired part of the quay by the Seine for the refreshment of the
frosty air  at an hour s distance from my place of residence in the
Street of the School of Medicine  when a carriage came along behind
me  driven very fast   As I stood aside to let that carriage pass 
apprehensive that it might otherwise run me down  a head was put out
at the window  and a voice called to the driver to stop 

 The carriage stopped as soon as the driver could rein in his horses 
and the same voice called to me by my name   I answered   The carriage
was then so far in advance of me that two gentlemen had time to open
the door and alight before I came up with it 

 I observed that they were both wrapped in cloaks  and appeared to
conceal themselves   As they stood side by side near the carriage
door  I also observed that they both looked of about my own age  or
rather younger  and that they were greatly alike  in stature  manner 
voice  and  as far as I could see  face too 

  You are Doctor Manette   said one 

 I am  

  Doctor Manette  formerly of Beauvais   said the other   the young
physician  originally an expert surgeon  who within the last year or
two has made a rising reputation in Paris  

  Gentlemen   I returned   I am that Doctor Manette of whom you speak
so graciously  

  We have been to your residence   said the first   and not being so
fortunate as to find you there  and being informed that you were
probably walking in this direction  we followed  in the hope of
overtaking you   Will you please to enter the carriage  

 The manner of both was imperious  and they both moved  as these
words were spoken  so as to place me between themselves and the
carriage door   They were armed   I was not 

  Gentlemen   said I   pardon me  but I usually inquire who does me
the honour to seek my assistance  and what is the nature of the case
to which I am summoned  

 The reply to this was made by him who had spoken second 
 Doctor  your clients are people of condition   As to the nature of
the case  our confidence in your skill assures us that you will
ascertain it for yourself better than we can describe it   Enough 
Will you please to enter the carriage  

 I could do nothing but comply  and I entered it in silence   They
both entered after me  the last springing in  after putting up the
steps   The carriage turned about  and drove on at its former speed 

 I repeat this conversation exactly as it occurred   I have no doubt
that it is  word for word  the same   I describe everything exactly
as it took place  constraining my mind not to wander from the task 
Where I make the broken marks that follow here  I leave off for the
time  and put my paper in its hiding place 

                         

 The carriage left the streets behind  passed the North Barrier  and
emerged upon the country road   At two thirds of a league from the
Barrier  I did not estimate the distance at that time  but afterwards
when I traversed it  it struck out of the main avenue  and presently
stopped at a solitary house  We all three alighted  and walked  by a
damp soft footpath in a garden where a neglected fountain had
overflowed  to the door of the house   It was not opened immediately 
in answer to the ringing of the bell  and one of my two conductors
struck the man who opened it  with his heavy riding glove  across the
face 

 There was nothing in this action to attract my particular attention 
for I had seen common people struck more commonly than dogs 
But  the other of the two  being angry likewise  struck the man in
like manner with his arm  the look and bearing of the brothers were
then so exactly alike  that I then first perceived them to be twin
brothers 

 From the time of our alighting at the outer gate  which we found
locked  and which one of the brothers had opened to admit us  and had
relocked   I had heard cries proceeding from an upper chamber   I was
conducted to this chamber straight  the cries growing louder as we
ascended the stairs  and I found a patient in a high fever of the brain 
lying on a bed 

 The patient was a woman of great beauty  and young  assuredly not
much past twenty   Her hair was torn and ragged  and her arms were
bound to her sides with sashes and handkerchiefs   I noticed that
these bonds were all portions of a gentleman s dress   On one of
them  which was a fringed scarf for a dress of ceremony  I saw the
armorial bearings of a Noble  and the letter E 

 I saw this  within the first minute of my contemplation of the
patient  for  in her restless strivings she had turned over on her
face on the edge of the bed  had drawn the end of the scarf into her
mouth  and was in danger of suffocation   My first act was to put out
my hand to relieve her breathing  and in moving the scarf aside  the
embroidery in the corner caught my sight 

 I turned her gently over  placed my hands upon her breast to calm
her and keep her down  and looked into her face   Her eyes were
dilated and wild  and she constantly uttered piercing shrieks  and
repeated the words   My husband  my father  and my brother   and
then counted up to twelve  and said   Hush    For an instant  and no
more  she would pause to listen  and then the piercing shrieks would
begin again  and she would repeat the cry   My husband  my father 
and my brother   and would count up to twelve  and say   Hush    There
was no variation in the order  or the manner   There was no cessation 
but the regular moment s pause  in the utterance of these sounds 

  How long   I asked   has this lasted  

 To distinguish the brothers  I will call them the elder and the
younger  by the elder  I mean him who exercised the most authority 
It was the elder who replied   Since about this hour last night  

  She has a husband  a father  and a brother  

  A brother  

  I do not address her brother  

 He answered with great contempt   No  

  She has some recent association with the number twelve  

 The younger brother impatiently rejoined   With twelve o clock  

  See  gentlemen   said I  still keeping my hands upon her breast 
 how useless I am  as you have brought me   If I had known what I was
coming to see  I could have come provided   As it is  time must be
lost   There are no medicines to be obtained in this lonely place  

 The elder brother looked to the younger  who said haughtily   There
is a case of medicines here   and brought it from a closet  and put
it on the table 

                         

 I opened some of the bottles  smelt them  and put the stoppers to my
lips   If I had wanted to use anything save narcotic medicines that
were poisons in themselves  I would not have administered any of those 

  Do you doubt them   asked the younger brother 

  You see  monsieur  I am going to use them   I replied  and said no
more 

 I made the patient swallow  with great difficulty  and after many
efforts  the dose that I desired to give   As I intended to repeat it
after a while  and as it was necessary to watch its influence  I then
sat down by the side of the bed   There was a timid and suppressed
woman in attendance  wife of the man down stairs   who had retreated
into a corner   The house was damp and decayed  indifferently
furnished  evidently  recently occupied and temporarily used 
Some thick old hangings had been nailed up before the windows  to
deaden the sound of the shrieks   They continued to be uttered in
their regular succession  with the cry   My husband  my father  and
my brother    the counting up to twelve  and  Hush   The frenzy was
so violent  that I had not unfastened the bandages restraining the
arms  but  I had looked to them  to see that they were not painful 
The only spark of encouragement in the case  was  that my hand upon
the sufferer s breast had this much soothing influence  that for
minutes at a time it tranquillised the figure   It had no effect upon
the cries  no pendulum could be more regular 

 For the reason that my hand had this effect  I assume   I had sat by
the side of the bed for half an hour  with the two brothers looking
on  before the elder said 

  There is another patient  

 I was startled  and asked   Is it a pressing case  

  You had better see   he carelessly answered  and took up a light 

                         

 The other patient lay in a back room across a second staircase 
which was a species of loft over a stable   There was a low plastered
ceiling to a part of it  the rest was open  to the ridge of the tiled
roof  and there were beams across   Hay and straw were stored in that
portion of the place  fagots for firing  and a heap of apples in sand 
I had to pass through that part  to get at the other   My memory is
circumstantial and unshaken   I try it with these details  and I see
them all  in this my cell in the Bastille  near the close of the
tenth year of my captivity  as I saw them all that night 

 On some hay on the ground  with a cushion thrown under his head  lay
a handsome peasant boy  a boy of not more than seventeen at the most 
He lay on his back  with his teeth set  his right hand clenched on
his breast  and his glaring eyes looking straight upward   I could
not see where his wound was  as I kneeled on one knee over him 
but  I could see that he was dying of a wound from a sharp point 

  I am a doctor  my poor fellow   said I    Let me examine it  

  I do not want it examined   he answered   let it be  

 It was under his hand  and I soothed him to let me move his hand
away   The wound was a sword thrust  received from twenty to twenty 
four hours before  but no skill could have saved him if it had been
looked to without delay   He was then dying fast   As I turned my
eyes to the elder brother  I saw him looking down at this handsome
boy whose life was ebbing out  as if he were a wounded bird  or hare 
or rabbit  not at all as if he were a fellow creature 

  How has this been done  monsieur   said I 

  A crazed young common dog   A serf   Forced my brother to draw upon him 
and has fallen by my brother s sword  like a gentleman  

 There was no touch of pity  sorrow  or kindred humanity  in this
answer   The speaker seemed to acknowledge that it was inconvenient
to have that different order of creature dying there  and that it
would have been better if he had died in the usual obscure routine of
his vermin kind   He was quite incapable of any compassionate feeling
about the boy  or about his fate 

 The boy s eyes had slowly moved to him as he had spoken  and they
now slowly moved to me 

  Doctor  they are very proud  these Nobles  but we common dogs are
proud too  sometimes   They plunder us  outrage us  beat us  kill us 
but we have a little pride left  sometimes   She  have you seen her 
Doctor  

 The shrieks and the cries were audible there  though subdued by the
distance   He referred to them  as if she were lying in our presence 

 I said   I have seen her  

  She is my sister  Doctor   They have had their shameful rights 
these Nobles  in the modesty and virtue of our sisters  many years 
but we have had good girls among us   I know it  and have heard my
father say so   She was a good girl   She was betrothed to a good
young man  too   a tenant of his   We were all tenants of his  that man s
who stands there   The other is his brother  the worst of a bad race  

 It was with the greatest difficulty that the boy gathered bodily
force to speak  but  his spirit spoke with a dreadful emphasis 

  We were so robbed by that man who stands there  as all we common
dogs are by those superior Beings  taxed by him without mercy  obliged
to work for him without pay  obliged to grind our corn at his mill 
obliged to feed scores of his tame birds on our wretched crops  and
forbidden for our lives to keep a single tame bird of our own 
pillaged and plundered to that degree that when we chanced to have a
bit of meat  we ate it in fear  with the door barred and the shutters
closed  that his people should not see it and take it from us  I say 
we were so robbed  and hunted  and were made so poor  that our father
told us it was a dreadful thing to bring a child into the world  and
that what we should most pray for  was  that our women might be barren
and our miserable race die out  

 I had never before seen the sense of being oppressed  bursting forth
like a fire   I had supposed that it must be latent in the people
somewhere  but  I had never seen it break out  until I saw it in the
dying boy 

  Nevertheless  Doctor  my sister married   He was ailing at that
time  poor fellow  and she married her lover  that she might tend and
comfort him in our cottage  our dog hut  as that man would call it 
She had not been married many weeks  when that man s brother saw her
and admired her  and asked that man to lend her to him  for what are
husbands among us   He was willing enough  but my sister was good and
virtuous  and hated his brother with a hatred as strong as mine 
What did the two then  to persuade her husband to use his influence
with her  to make her willing  

 The boy s eyes  which had been fixed on mine  slowly turned to the
looker on  and I saw in the two faces that all he said was true 
The two opposing kinds of pride confronting one another  I can see 
even in this Bastille  the gentleman s  all negligent indifference 
the peasants  all trodden down sentiment  and passionate revenge 

  You know  Doctor  that it is among the Rights of these Nobles to
harness us common dogs to carts  and drive us   They so harnessed him
and drove him   You know that it is among their Rights to keep us in
their grounds all night  quieting the frogs  in order that their
noble sleep may not be disturbed   They kept him out in the unwholesome
mists at night  and ordered him back into his harness in the day 
But he was not persuaded   No   Taken out of harness one day at noon 
to feed  if he could find food  he sobbed twelve times  once for
every stroke of the bell  and died on her bosom  

 Nothing human could have held life in the boy but his determination
to tell all his wrong   He forced back the gathering shadows of death 
as he forced his clenched right hand to remain clenched  and to cover
his wound 

  Then  with that man s permission and even with his aid  his brother
took her away  in spite of what I know she must have told his
brother  and what that is  will not be long unknown to you  Doctor 
if it is now  his brother took her away  for his pleasure and
diversion  for a little while   I saw her pass me on the road 
When I took the tidings home  our father s heart burst  he never
spoke one of the words that filled it   I took my young sister  for
I have another  to a place beyond the reach of this man  and where 
at least  she will never be  his  vassal   Then  I tracked the
brother here  and last night climbed in  a common dog  but sword in
hand   Where is the loft window   It was somewhere here  

 The room was darkening to his sight  the world was narrowing around
him   I glanced about me  and saw that the hay and straw were
trampled over the floor  as if there had been a struggle 

  She heard me  and ran in   I told her not to come near us till he
was dead   He came in and first tossed me some pieces of money  then
struck at me with a whip   But I  though a common dog  so struck at
him as to make him draw   Let him break into as many pieces as he
will  the sword that he stained with my common blood  he drew to
defend himself  thrust at me with all his skill for his life  

 My glance had fallen  but a few moments before  on the fragments of
a broken sword  lying among the hay   That weapon was a gentleman s 
In another place  lay an old sword that seemed to have been a soldier s 

  Now  lift me up  Doctor  lift me up   Where is he  

  He is not here   I said  supporting the boy  and thinking that he
referred to the brother 

  He   Proud as these nobles are  he is afraid to see me   Where is
the man who was here   Turn my face to him  

 I did so  raising the boy s head against my knee   But  invested for
the moment with extraordinary power  he raised himself completely 
obliging me to rise too  or I could not have still supported him 

  Marquis   said the boy  turned to him with his eyes opened wide 
and his right hand raised   in the days when all these things are to
be answered for  I summon you and yours  to the last of your bad race 
to answer for them   I mark this cross of blood upon you  as a sign
that I do it   In the days when all these things are to be answered
for  I summon your brother  the worst of the bad race  to answer for
them separately   I mark this cross of blood upon him  as a sign that
I do it  

 Twice  he put his hand to the wound in his breast  and with his
forefinger drew a cross in the air   He stood for an instant with the
finger yet raised  and as it dropped  he dropped with it  and I laid
him down dead 

                         

 When I returned to the bedside of the young woman  I found her
raving in precisely the same order of continuity   I knew that this
might last for many hours  and that it would probably end in the
silence of the grave 

 I repeated the medicines I had given her  and I sat at the side of
the bed until the night was far advanced   She never abated the
piercing quality of her shrieks  never stumbled in the distinctness
or the order of her words   They were always  My husband  my father 
and my brother   One  two  three  four  five  six  seven  eight  nine 
ten  eleven  twelve   Hush  

 This lasted twenty six hours from the time when I first saw her   I
had come and gone twice  and was again sitting by her  when she began
to falter   I did what little could be done to assist that opportunity 
and by and bye she sank into a lethargy  and lay like the dead 

 It was as if the wind and rain had lulled at last  after a long and
fearful storm   I released her arms  and called the woman to assist
me to compose her figure and the dress she had torn   It was then that
I knew her condition to be that of one in whom the first expectations
of being a mother have arisen  and it was then that I lost the little
hope I had had of her 

  Is she dead   asked the Marquis  whom I will still describe as the
elder brother  coming booted into the room from his horse 

  Not dead   said I   but like to die  

  What strength there is in these common bodies   he said  looking
down at her with some curiosity 

  There is prodigious strength   I answered him   in sorrow and despair  

 He first laughed at my words  and then frowned at them   He moved a
chair with his foot near to mine  ordered the woman away  and said in
a subdued voice 

  Doctor  finding my brother in this difficulty with these hinds 
I recommended that your aid should be invited   Your reputation is
high  and  as a young man with your fortune to make  you are probably
mindful of your interest   The things that you see here  are things
to be seen  and not spoken of  

 I listened to the patient s breathing  and avoided answering 

  Do you honour me with your attention  Doctor  

  Monsieur   said I   in my profession  the communications of
patients are always received in confidence    I was guarded in my
answer  for I was troubled in my mind with what I had heard and seen 

 Her breathing was so difficult to trace  that I carefully tried the
pulse and the heart   There was life  and no more   Looking round as
I resumed my seat  I found both the brothers intent upon me 

                         

 I write with so much difficulty  the cold is so severe  I am so
fearful of being detected and consigned to an underground cell and
total darkness  that I must abridge this narrative   There is no
confusion or failure in my memory  it can recall  and could detail 
every word that was ever spoken between me and those brothers 

 She lingered for a week   Towards the last  I could understand some
few syllables that she said to me  by placing my ear close to her lips 
She asked me where she was  and I told her  who I was  and I told her 
It was in vain that I asked her for her family name   She faintly
shook her head upon the pillow  and kept her secret  as the boy had done 

 I had no opportunity of asking her any question  until I had told
the brothers she was sinking fast  and could not live another day 
Until then  though no one was ever presented to her consciousness
save the woman and myself  one or other of them had always jealously
sat behind the curtain at the head of the bed when I was there 
But when it came to that  they seemed careless what communication I
might hold with her  as if  the thought passed through my mind  I
were dying too 

 I always observed that their pride bitterly resented the younger
brother s  as I call him  having crossed swords with a peasant  and
that peasant a boy   The only consideration that appeared to affect
the mind of either of them was the consideration that this was highly
degrading to the family  and was ridiculous   As often as I caught
the younger brother s eyes  their expression reminded me that he
disliked me deeply  for knowing what I knew from the boy   He was
smoother and more polite to me than the elder  but I saw this 
I also saw that I was an incumbrance in the mind of the elder  too 

 My patient died  two hours before midnight  at a time  by my watch 
answering almost to the minute when I had first seen her   I was
alone with her  when her forlorn young head drooped gently on one
side  and all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended 

 The brothers were waiting in a room down stairs  impatient to ride
away   I had heard them  alone at the bedside  striking their boots
with their riding whips  and loitering up and down 

  At last she is dead   said the elder  when I went in 

  She is dead   said I 

  I congratulate you  my brother   were his words as he turned round 

 He had before offered me money  which I had postponed taking   He
now gave me a rouleau of gold   I took it from his hand  but laid it
on the table   I had considered the question  and had resolved to
accept nothing 

  Pray excuse me   said I   Under the circumstances  no  

 They exchanged looks  but bent their heads to me as I bent mine to
them  and we parted without another word on either side 

                         

 I am weary  weary  weary  worn down by misery   I cannot read what I
have written with this gaunt hand 

 Early in the morning  the rouleau of gold was left at my door in a
little box  with my name on the outside   From the first  I had
anxiously considered what I ought to do   I decided  that day  to
write privately to the Minister  stating the nature of the two cases
to which I had been summoned  and the place to which I had gone   in
effect  stating all the circumstances   I knew what Court influence
was  and what the immunities of the Nobles were  and I expected that
the matter would never be heard of  but  I wished to relieve my own
mind   I had kept the matter a profound secret  even from my wife 
and this  too  I resolved to state in my letter   I had no apprehension
whatever of my real danger  but I was conscious that there might be
danger for others  if others were compromised by possessing the
knowledge that I possessed 

 I was much engaged that day  and could not complete my letter that
night   I rose long before my usual time next morning to finish it 
It was the last day of the year   The letter was lying before me just
completed  when I was told that a lady waited  who wished to see me 

                         

 I am growing more and more unequal to the task I have set myself 
It is so cold  so dark  my senses are so benumbed  and the gloom upon
me is so dreadful 

 The lady was young  engaging  and handsome  but not marked for long
life   She was in great agitation   She presented herself to me as
the wife of the Marquis St  Evremonde   I connected the title by
which the boy had addressed the elder brother  with the initial
letter embroidered on the scarf  and had no difficulty in arriving at
the conclusion that I had seen that nobleman very lately 

 My memory is still accurate  but I cannot write the words of our
conversation   I suspect that I am watched more closely than I was 
and I know not at what times I may be watched   She had in part
suspected  and in part discovered  the main facts of the cruel story 
of her husband s share in it  and my being resorted to   She did not
know that the girl was dead   Her hope had been  she said in great
distress  to show her  in secret  a woman s sympathy   Her hope had
been to avert the wrath of Heaven from a House that had long been
hateful to the suffering many 

 She had reasons for believing that there was a young sister living 
and her greatest desire was  to help that sister   I could tell her
nothing but that there was such a sister  beyond that  I knew nothing 
Her inducement to come to me  relying on my confidence  had been the
hope that I could tell her the name and place of abode   Whereas 
to this wretched hour I am ignorant of both 

                         

 These scraps of paper fail me   One was taken from me  with a
warning  yesterday   I must finish my record to day 

 She was a good  compassionate lady  and not happy in her marriage 
How could she be   The brother distrusted and disliked her  and his
influence was all opposed to her  she stood in dread of him  and in
dread of her husband too   When I handed her down to the door  there
was a child  a pretty boy from two to three years old  in her carriage 

  For his sake  Doctor   she said  pointing to him in tears   I would
do all I can to make what poor amends I can   He will never prosper
in his inheritance otherwise   I have a presentiment that if no other
innocent atonement is made for this  it will one day be required of
him   What I have left to call my own  it is little beyond the worth
of a few jewels  I will make it the first charge of his life to
bestow  with the compassion and lamenting of his dead mother  on this
injured family  if the sister can be discovered  

 She kissed the boy  and said  caressing him   It is for thine own
dear sake   Thou wilt be faithful  little Charles   The child
answered her bravely   Yes   I kissed her hand  and she took him in
her arms  and went away caressing him   I never saw her more 

 As she had mentioned her husband s name in the faith that I knew it 
I added no mention of it to my letter   I sealed my letter  and  not
trusting it out of my own hands  delivered it myself that day 

 That night  the last night of the year  towards nine o clock  a man
in a black dress rang at my gate  demanded to see me  and softly
followed my servant  Ernest Defarge  a youth  up stairs   When my
servant came into the room where I sat with my wife  O my wife 
beloved of my heart   My fair young English wife   we saw the man 
who was supposed to be at the gate  standing silent behind him 

 An urgent case in the Rue St  Honore  he said   It would not detain
me  he had a coach in waiting 

 It brought me here  it brought me to my grave   When I was clear of
the house  a black muffler was drawn tightly over my mouth from
behind  and my arms were pinioned   The two brothers crossed the road
from a dark corner  and identified me with a single gesture   The
Marquis took from his pocket the letter I had written  showed it me 
burnt it in the light of a lantern that was held  and extinguished
the ashes with his foot   Not a word was spoken   I was brought here 
I was brought to my living grave 

 If it had pleased  God  to put it in the hard heart of either of the
brothers  in all these frightful years  to grant me any tidings of my
dearest wife  so much as to let me know by a word whether alive or
dead  I might have thought that He had not quite abandoned them 
But  now I believe that the mark of the red cross is fatal to them 
and that they have no part in His mercies   And them and their
descendants  to the last of their race  I  Alexandre Manette  unhappy
prisoner  do this last night of the year 1767  in my unbearable agony 
denounce to the times when all these things shall be answered for 
I denounce them to Heaven and to earth  

A terrible sound arose when the reading of this document was done   A
sound of craving and eagerness that had nothing articulate in it but
blood   The narrative called up the most revengeful passions of the
time  and there was not a head in the nation but must have dropped
before it 

Little need  in presence of that tribunal and that auditory  to show
how the Defarges had not made the paper public  with the other
captured Bastille memorials borne in procession  and had kept it 
biding their time   Little need to show that this detested family
name had long been anathematised by Saint Antoine  and was wrought
into the fatal register   The man never trod ground whose virtues and
services would have sustained him in that place that day  against
such denunciation 

And all the worse for the doomed man  that the denouncer was a
well known citizen  his own attached friend  the father of his wife 
One of the frenzied aspirations of the populace was  for imitations
of the questionable public virtues of antiquity  and for sacrifices
and self immolations on the people s altar   Therefore when the
President said  else had his own head quivered on his shoulders  
that the good physician of the Republic would deserve better still of
the Republic by rooting out an obnoxious family of Aristocrats  and
would doubtless feel a sacred glow and joy in making his daughter a
widow and her child an orphan  there was wild excitement  patriotic
fervour  not a touch of human sympathy 

 Much influence around him  has that Doctor   murmured Madame Defarge 
smiling to The Vengeance    Save him now  my Doctor  save him  

At every juryman s vote  there was a roar   Another and another 
Roar and roar 

Unanimously voted   At heart and by descent an Aristocrat  an enemy
of the Republic  a notorious oppressor of the People   Back to the
Conciergerie  and Death within four and twenty hours 



XI

Dusk


The wretched wife of the innocent man thus doomed to die  fell under
the sentence  as if she had been mortally stricken   But  she uttered
no sound  and so strong was the voice within her  representing that
it was she of all the world who must uphold him in his misery and not
augment it  that it quickly raised her  even from that shock 

The Judges having to take part in a public demonstration out of
doors  the Tribunal adjourned   The quick noise and movement of the
court s emptying itself by many passages had not ceased  when Lucie
stood stretching out her arms towards her husband  with nothing in
her face but love and consolation 

 If I might touch him   If I might embrace him once   O  good citizens 
if you would have so much compassion for us  

There was but a gaoler left  along with two of the four men who had
taken him last night  and Barsad   The people had all poured out to
the show in the streets   Barsad proposed to the rest   Let her
embrace him then  it is but a moment    It was silently acquiesced in 
and they passed her over the seats in the hall to a raised place 
where he  by leaning over the dock  could fold her in his arms 

 Farewell  dear darling of my soul   My parting blessing on my love 
We shall meet again  where the weary are at rest  

They were her husband s words  as he held her to his bosom 

 I can bear it  dear Charles   I am supported from above   don t
suffer for me   A parting blessing for our child  

 I send it to her by you   I kiss her by you   I say farewell to her
by you  

 My husband   No   A moment    He was tearing himself apart from her 
 We shall not be separated long   I feel that this will break my heart
by and bye  but I will do my duty while I can  and when I leave her 
God will raise up friends for her  as He did for me  

Her father had followed her  and would have fallen on his knees to
both of them  but that Darnay put out a hand and seized him  crying 

 No  no   What have you done  what have you done  that you should
kneel to us   We know now  what a struggle you made of old   We know 
now what you underwent when you suspected my descent  and when you
knew it   We know now  the natural antipathy you strove against  and
conquered  for her dear sake   We thank you with all our hearts  and
all our love and duty   Heaven be with you  

Her father s only answer was to draw his hands through his white hair 
and wring them with a shriek of anguish 

 It could not be otherwise   said the prisoner    All things have
worked together as they have fallen out   It was the always vain
endeavour to discharge my poor mother s trust that first brought my
fatal presence near you   Good could never come of such evil 
a happier end was not in nature to so unhappy a beginning   Be comforted 
and forgive me   Heaven bless you  

As he was drawn away  his wife released him  and stood looking after
him with her hands touching one another in the attitude of prayer 
and with a radiant look upon her face  in which there was even a
comforting smile   As he went out at the prisoners  door  she turned 
laid her head lovingly on her father s breast  tried to speak to him 
and fell at his feet 

Then  issuing from the obscure corner from which he had never moved 
Sydney Carton came and took her up   Only her father and Mr  Lorry
were with her   His arm trembled as it raised her  and supported her head 
Yet  there was an air about him that was not all of pity  that had a flush
of pride in it 

 Shall I take her to a coach   I shall never feel her weight  

He carried her lightly to the door  and laid her tenderly down in a
coach   Her father and their old friend got into it  and he took his
seat beside the driver 

When they arrived at the gateway where he had paused in the dark not
many hours before  to picture to himself on which of the rough stones
of the street her feet had trodden  he lifted her again  and carried
her up the staircase to their rooms   There  he laid her down on a
couch  where her child and Miss Pross wept over her 

 Don t recall her to herself   he said  softly  to the latter   she is
better so   Don t revive her to consciousness  while she only faints  

 Oh  Carton  Carton  dear Carton   cried little Lucie  springing up
and throwing her arms passionately round him  in a burst of grief 
 Now that you have come  I think you will do something to help mamma 
something to save papa   O  look at her  dear Carton   Can you  of all
the people who love her  bear to see her so  

He bent over the child  and laid her blooming cheek against his face 
He put her gently from him  and looked at her unconscious mother 

 Before I go   he said  and paused   I may kiss her  

It was remembered afterwards that when he bent down and touched her
face with his lips  he murmured some words   The child  who was
nearest to him  told them afterwards  and told her grandchildren when
she was a handsome old lady  that she heard him say   A life you love  

When he had gone out into the next room  he turned suddenly on
Mr  Lorry and her father  who were following  and said to the latter 

 You had great influence but yesterday  Doctor Manette  let it at
least be tried   These judges  and all the men in power  are very
friendly to you  and very recognisant of your services  are they not  

 Nothing connected with Charles was concealed from me   I had the
strongest assurances that I should save him  and I did    He returned
the answer in great trouble  and very slowly 

 Try them again   The hours between this and to morrow afternoon are
few and short  but try  

 I intend to try   I will not rest a moment  

 That s well   I have known such energy as yours do great things
before now  though never   he added  with a smile and a sigh together 
 such great things as this   But try   Of little worth as life is when
we misuse it  it is worth that effort   It would cost nothing to lay
down if it were not  

 I will go   said Doctor Manette   to the Prosecutor and the President
straight  and I will go to others whom it is better not to name 
I will write too  and  But stay   There is a Celebration in the streets 
and no one will be accessible until dark  

 That s true   Well   It is a forlorn hope at the best  and not much
the forlorner for being delayed till dark   I should like to know how
you speed  though  mind   I expect nothing   When are you likely to
have seen these dread powers  Doctor Manette  

 Immediately after dark  I should hope   Within an hour or two from this  

 It will be dark soon after four   Let us stretch the hour or two 
If I go to Mr  Lorry s at nine  shall I hear what you have done 
either from our friend or from yourself  

 Yes  

 May you prosper  

Mr  Lorry followed Sydney to the outer door  and  touching him on the
shoulder as he was going away  caused him to turn 

 I have no hope   said Mr  Lorry  in a low and sorrowful whisper 

 Nor have I  

 If any one of these men  or all of these men  were disposed to spare
him  which is a large supposition  for what is his life  or any man s
to them   I doubt if they durst spare him after the demonstration in
the court  

 And so do I   I heard the fall of the axe in that sound  

Mr  Lorry leaned his arm upon the door post  and bowed his face upon it 

 Don t despond   said Carton  very gently   don t grieve 
I encouraged Doctor Manette in this idea  because I felt that it
might one day be consolatory to her   Otherwise  she might think  his
life was want only thrown away or wasted   and that might trouble her  

 Yes  yes  yes   returned Mr  Lorry  drying his eyes   you are
right   But he will perish  there is no real hope  

 Yes   He will perish   there is no real hope   echoed Carton 

And walked with a settled step  down stairs 



XII

Darkness


Sydney Carton paused in the street  not quite decided where to go 
 At Tellson s banking house at nine   he said  with a musing face 
 Shall I do well  in the mean time  to show myself   I think so 
It is best that these people should know there is such a man as I
here  it is a sound precaution  and may be a necessary preparation 
But care  care  care   Let me think it out  

Checking his steps which had begun to tend towards an object  he took
a turn or two in the already darkening street  and traced the thought
in his mind to its possible consequences   His first impression was
confirmed    It is best   he said  finally resolved   that these
people should know there is such a man as I here    And he turned his
face towards Saint Antoine 

Defarge had described himself  that day  as the keeper of a wine shop
in the Saint Antoine suburb   It was not difficult for one who knew
the city well  to find his house without asking any question   Having
ascertained its situation  Carton came out of those closer streets
again  and dined at a place of refreshment and fell sound asleep
after dinner   For the first time in many years  he had no strong drink 
Since last night he had taken nothing but a little light thin wine 
and last night he had dropped the brandy slowly down on Mr  Lorry s
hearth like a man who had done with it 

It was as late as seven o clock when he awoke refreshed  and went out
into the streets again   As he passed along towards Saint Antoine  he
stopped at a shop window where there was a mirror  and slightly
altered the disordered arrangement of his loose cravat  and his coat 
collar  and his wild hair   This done  he went on direct to Defarge s 
and went in 

There happened to be no customer in the shop but Jacques Three 
of the restless fingers and the croaking voice   This man  whom he
had seen upon the Jury  stood drinking at the little counter  in
conversation with the Defarges  man and wife   The Vengeance assisted
in the conversation  like a regular member of the establishment 

As Carton walked in  took his seat and asked  in very indifferent
French  for a small measure of wine  Madame Defarge cast a careless
glance at him  and then a keener  and then a keener  and then
advanced to him herself  and asked him what it was he had ordered 

He repeated what he had already said 

 English   asked Madame Defarge  inquisitively raising her dark eyebrows 

After looking at her  as if the sound of even a single French word
were slow to express itself to him  he answered  in his former strong
foreign accent    Yes  madame  yes   I am English  

Madame Defarge returned to her counter to get the wine  and  as he
took up a Jacobin journal and feigned to pore over it puzzling out
its meaning  he heard her say   I swear to you  like Evremonde  

Defarge brought him the wine  and gave him Good Evening 

 How  

 Good evening  

 Oh   Good evening  citizen   filling his glass    Ah  and good wine 
I drink to the Republic  

Defarge went back to the counter  and said   Certainly  a little
like    Madame sternly retorted   I tell you a good deal like  
Jacques Three pacifically remarked   He is so much in your mind 
see you  madame    The amiable Vengeance added  with a laugh   Yes 
my faith   And you are looking forward with so much pleasure to seeing
him once more to morrow  

Carton followed the lines and words of his paper  with a slow
forefinger  and with a studious and absorbed face   They were all
leaning their arms on the counter close together  speaking low 
After a silence of a few moments  during which they all looked
towards him without disturbing his outward attention from the Jacobin
editor  they resumed their conversation 

 It is true what madame says   observed Jacques Three    Why stop 
There is great force in that   Why stop  

 Well  well   reasoned Defarge   but one must stop somewhere 
After all  the question is still where  

 At extermination   said madame 

 Magnificent   croaked Jacques Three   The Vengeance  also  highly
approved 

 Extermination is good doctrine  my wife   said Defarge  rather
troubled   in general  I say nothing against it   But this Doctor has
suffered much  you have seen him to day  you have observed his face
when the paper was read  

 I have observed his face   repeated madame  contemptuously and
angrily    Yes   I have observed his face   I have observed his face
to be not the face of a true friend of the Republic   Let him take
care of his face  

 And you have observed  my wife   said Defarge  in a deprecatory
manner   the anguish of his daughter  which must be a dreadful
anguish to him  

 I have observed his daughter   repeated madame   yes  I have
observed his daughter  more times than one   I have observed her
to day  and I have observed her other days   I have observed her
in the court  and I have observed her in the street by the prison 
Let me but lift my finger      She seemed to raise it  the listener s
eyes were always on his paper   and to let it fall with a rattle on
the ledge before her  as if the axe had dropped 

 The citizeness is superb   croaked the Juryman 

 She is an Angel   said The Vengeance  and embraced her 

 As to thee   pursued madame  implacably  addressing her husband 
 if it depended on thee  which  happily  it does not  thou wouldst
rescue this man even now  

 No   protested Defarge    Not if to lift this glass would do it 
But I would leave the matter there   I say  stop there  

 See you then  Jacques   said Madame Defarge  wrathfully   and see
you  too  my little Vengeance  see you both   Listen   For other crimes
as tyrants and oppressors  I have this race a long time on my register 
doomed to destruction and extermination   Ask my husband  is that so  

 It is so   assented Defarge  without being asked 

 In the beginning of the great days  when the Bastille falls  he
finds this paper of to day  and he brings it home  and in the middle
of the night when this place is clear and shut  we read it  here on
this spot  by the light of this lamp   Ask him  is that so  

 It is so   assented Defarge 

 That night  I tell him  when the paper is read through  and the lamp
is burnt out  and the day is gleaming in above those shutters and
between those iron bars  that I have now a secret to communicate 
Ask him  is that so  

 It is so   assented Defarge again 

 I communicate to him that secret   I smite this bosom with these two
hands as I smite it now  and I tell him   Defarge  I was brought up
among the fishermen of the sea shore  and that peasant family so
injured by the two Evremonde brothers  as that Bastille paper describes 
is my family   Defarge  that sister of the mortally wounded boy upon
the ground was my sister  that husband was my sister s husband  that
unborn child was their child  that brother was my brother  that
father was my father  those dead are my dead  and that summons to
answer for those things descends to me    Ask him  is that so  

 It is so   assented Defarge once more 

 Then tell Wind and Fire where to stop   returned madame   but don t
tell me  

Both her hearers derived a horrible enjoyment from the deadly nature
of her wrath  the listener could feel how white she was  without
seeing her  and both highly commended it   Defarge  a weak minority 
interposed a few words for the memory of the compassionate wife of
the Marquis  but only elicited from his own wife a repetition of her
last reply    Tell the Wind and the Fire where to stop  not me  

Customers entered  and the group was broken up   The English customer
paid for what he had had  perplexedly counted his change  and asked 
as a stranger  to be directed towards the National Palace 
Madame Defarge took him to the door  and put her arm on his  in
pointing out the road   The English customer was not without his
reflections then  that it might be a good deed to seize that arm 
lift it  and strike under it sharp and deep 

But  he went his way  and was soon swallowed up in the shadow of the
prison wall   At the appointed hour  he emerged from it to present
himself in Mr  Lorry s room again  where he found the old gentleman
walking to and fro in restless anxiety   He said he had been with
Lucie until just now  and had only left her for a few minutes  to
come and keep his appointment   Her father had not been seen  since
he quitted the banking house towards four o clock   She had some
faint hopes that his mediation might save Charles  but they were very
slight   He had been more than five hours gone   where could he be 

Mr  Lorry waited until ten  but  Doctor Manette not returning  and he
being unwilling to leave Lucie any longer  it was arranged that he
should go back to her  and come to the banking house again at midnight 
In the meanwhile  Carton would wait alone by the fire for the Doctor 

He waited and waited  and the clock struck twelve  but Doctor Manette
did not come back   Mr  Lorry returned  and found no tidings of him 
and brought none   Where could he be 

They were discussing this question  and were almost building up some
weak structure of hope on his prolonged absence  when they heard him
on the stairs   The instant he entered the room  it was plain that
all was lost 

Whether he had really been to any one  or whether he had been all
that time traversing the streets  was never known   As he stood
staring at them  they asked him no question  for his face told them
everything 

 I cannot find it   said he   and I must have it   Where is it  

His head and throat were bare  and  as he spoke with a helpless look
straying all around  he took his coat off  and let it drop on the floor 

 Where is my bench   I have been looking everywhere for my bench  and
I can t find it   What have they done with my work   Time presses 
I must finish those shoes  

They looked at one another  and their hearts died within them 

 Come  come   said he  in a whimpering miserable way   let me get
to work   Give me my work  

Receiving no answer  he tore his hair  and beat his feet upon the
ground  like a distracted child 

 Don t torture a poor forlorn wretch   he implored them  with a dreadful
cry   but give me my work   What is to become of us  if those shoes are
not done to night  

Lost  utterly lost 

It was so clearly beyond hope to reason with him  or try to restore him 
that  as if by agreement  they each put a hand upon his shoulder 
and soothed him to sit down before the fire  with a promise that he
should have his work presently   He sank into the chair  and brooded
over the embers  and shed tears   As if all that had happened since
the garret time were a momentary fancy  or a dream  Mr  Lorry saw him
shrink into the exact figure that Defarge had had in keeping 

Affected  and impressed with terror as they both were  by this
spectacle of ruin  it was not a time to yield to such emotions 
His lonely daughter  bereft of her final hope and reliance  appealed
to them both too strongly   Again  as if by agreement  they looked at
one another with one meaning in their faces 
Carton was the first to speak 

 The last chance is gone   it was not much   Yes  he had better be
taken to her   But  before you go  will you  for a moment  steadily
attend to me   Don t ask me why I make the stipulations I am going to
make  and exact the promise I am going to exact  I have a reason  a
good one  

 I do not doubt it   answered Mr  Lorry    Say on  

The figure in the chair between them  was all the time monotonously
rocking itself to and fro  and moaning   They spoke in such a tone as
they would have used if they had been watching by a sick bed in the night 

Carton stooped to pick up the coat  which lay almost entangling his feet 
As he did so  a small case in which the Doctor was accustomed to
carry the lists of his day s duties  fell lightly on the floor 
Carton took it up  and there was a folded paper in it    We should
look at this   he said   Mr  Lorry nodded his consent   He opened it 
and exclaimed   Thank  God   

 What is it   asked Mr  Lorry  eagerly 

 A moment   Let me speak of it in its place   First   he put his hand
in his coat  and took another paper from it   that is the certificate
which enables me to pass out of this city   Look at it   You see  
Sydney Carton  an Englishman  

Mr  Lorry held it open in his hand  gazing in his earnest face 

 Keep it for me until to morrow   I shall see him to morrow 
you remember  and I had better not take it into the prison  

 Why not  

 I don t know  I prefer not to do so   Now  take this paper that
Doctor Manette has carried about him   It is a similar certificate 
enabling him and his daughter and her child  at any time  to pass the
barrier and the frontier   You see  

 Yes  

 Perhaps he obtained it as his last and utmost precaution against
evil  yesterday   When is it dated   But no matter  don t stay to look 
put it up carefully with mine and your own   Now  observe   I never
doubted until within this hour or two  that he had  or could have
such a paper   It is good  until recalled   But it may be soon recalled 
and  I have reason to think  will be  

 They are not in danger  

 They are in great danger   They are in danger of denunciation by
Madame Defarge   I know it from her own lips   I have overheard words
of that woman s  to night  which have presented their danger to me in
strong colours   I have lost no time  and since then  I have seen the
spy   He confirms me   He knows that a wood sawyer  living by the
prison wall  is under the control of the Defarges  and has been
rehearsed by Madame Defarge as to his having seen Her   he never
mentioned Lucie s name   making signs and signals to prisoners 
It is easy to foresee that the pretence will be the common one  a
prison plot  and that it will involve her life  and perhaps her
child s  and perhaps her father s  for both have been seen with her
at that place   Don t look so horrified   You will save them all  

 Heaven grant I may  Carton   But how  

 I am going to tell you how   It will depend on you  and it could
depend on no better man   This new denunciation will certainly not
take place until after to morrow  probably not until two or three
days afterwards  more probably a week afterwards   You know it is a
capital crime  to mourn for  or sympathise with  a victim of the
Guillotine   She and her father would unquestionably be guilty of
this crime  and this woman  the inveteracy of whose pursuit cannot
be described  would wait to add that strength to her case  and make
herself doubly sure   You follow me  

 So attentively  and with so much confidence in what you say  that
for the moment I lose sight   touching the back of the Doctor s
chair   even of this distress  

 You have money  and can buy the means of travelling to the seacoast
as quickly as the journey can be made   Your preparations have been
completed for some days  to return to England   Early to morrow have
your horses ready  so that they may be in starting trim at two o clock
in the afternoon  

 It shall be done  

His manner was so fervent and inspiring  that Mr  Lorry caught the
flame  and was as quick as youth 

 You are a noble heart   Did I say we could depend upon no better man 
Tell her  to night  what you know of her danger as involving her
child and her father   Dwell upon that  for she would lay her own
fair head beside her husband s cheerfully    He faltered for an instant 
then went on as before    For the sake of her child and her father 
press upon her the necessity of leaving Paris  with them and you 
at that hour   Tell her that it was her husband s last arrangement 
Tell her that more depends upon it than she dare believe  or hope 
You think that her father  even in this sad state  will submit
himself to her  do you not  

 I am sure of it  

 I thought so   Quietly and steadily have all these arrangements made
in the courtyard here  even to the taking of your own seat in the
carriage   The moment I come to you  take me in  and drive away  

 I understand that I wait for you under all circumstances  

 You have my certificate in your hand with the rest  you know 
and will reserve my place   Wait for nothing but to have my place
occupied  and then for England  

 Why  then   said Mr  Lorry  grasping his eager but so firm and
steady hand   it does not all depend on one old man  but I shall have
a young and ardent man at my side  

 By the help of Heaven you shall   Promise me solemnly that nothing
will influence you to alter the course on which we now stand pledged
to one another  

 Nothing  Carton  

 Remember these words to morrow   change the course  or delay in
it  for any reason  and no life can possibly be saved  and many
lives must inevitably be sacrificed  

 I will remember them   I hope to do my part faithfully  

 And I hope to do mine   Now  good bye  

Though he said it with a grave smile of earnestness  and though he
even put the old man s hand to his lips  he did not part from him
then   He helped him so far to arouse the rocking figure before the
dying embers  as to get a cloak and hat put upon it  and to tempt it
forth to find where the bench and work were hidden that it still
moaningly besought to have   He walked on the other side of it and
protected it to the courtyard of the house where the afflicted
heart  so happy in the memorable time when he had revealed his own
desolate heart to it  outwatched the awful night   He entered the
courtyard and remained there for a few moments alone  looking up at
the light in the window of her room   Before he went away  he
breathed a blessing towards it  and a Farewell 



XIII

Fifty two


In the black prison of the Conciergerie  the doomed of the day
awaited their fate   They were in number as the weeks of the year 
Fifty two were to roll that afternoon on the life tide of the city to
the boundless everlasting sea   Before their cells were quit of them 
new occupants were appointed  before their blood ran into the blood
spilled yesterday  the blood that was to mingle with theirs to morrow
was already set apart 

Two score and twelve were told off   From the farmer general of seventy 
whose riches could not buy his life  to the seamstress of twenty 
whose poverty and obscurity could not save her   Physical diseases 
engendered in the vices and neglects of men  will seize on victims
of all degrees  and the frightful moral disorder  born of unspeakable
suffering  intolerable oppression  and heartless indifference 
smote equally without distinction 

Charles Darnay  alone in a cell  had sustained himself with no
flattering delusion since he came to it from the Tribunal  In every
line of the narrative he had heard  he had heard his condemnation 
He had fully comprehended that no personal influence could possibly
save him  that he was virtually sentenced by the millions  and that
units could avail him nothing 

Nevertheless  it was not easy  with the face of his beloved wife
fresh before him  to compose his mind to what it must bear   His hold
on life was strong  and it was very  very hard  to loosen  by gradual
efforts and degrees unclosed a little here  it clenched the tighter
there  and when he brought his strength to bear on that hand and it
yielded  this was closed again   There was a hurry  too  in all his
thoughts  a turbulent and heated working of his heart  that contended
against resignation   If  for a moment  he did feel resigned  then
his wife and child who had to live after him  seemed to protest and
to make it a selfish thing 

But  all this was at first   Before long  the consideration that
there was no disgrace in the fate he must meet  and that numbers went
the same road wrongfully  and trod it firmly every day  sprang up to
stimulate him   Next followed the thought that much of the future
peace of mind enjoyable by the dear ones  depended on his quiet
fortitude   So  by degrees he calmed into the better state  when he
could raise his thoughts much higher  and draw comfort down 

Before it had set in dark on the night of his condemnation  he had
travelled thus far on his last way   Being allowed to purchase the
means of writing  and a light  he sat down to write until such time
as the prison lamps should be extinguished 

He wrote a long letter to Lucie  showing her that he had known
nothing of her father s imprisonment  until he had heard of it from
herself  and that he had been as ignorant as she of his father s and
uncle s responsibility for that misery  until the paper had been read 
He had already explained to her that his concealment from herself of
the name he had relinquished  was the one condition  fully
intelligible now  that her father had attached to their betrothal 
and was the one promise he had still exacted on the morning of their
marriage   He entreated her  for her father s sake  never to seek to
know whether her father had become oblivious of the existence of the
paper  or had had it recalled to him  for the moment  or for good  
by the story of the Tower  on that old Sunday under the dear old
plane tree in the garden   If he had preserved any definite remembrance
of it  there could be no doubt that he had supposed it destroyed with
the Bastille  when he had found no mention of it among the relics of
prisoners which the populace had discovered there  and which had been
described to all the world   He besought her  though he added that he
knew it was needless  to console her father  by impressing him
through every tender means she could think of  with the truth that he
had done nothing for which he could justly reproach himself  but had
uniformly forgotten himself for their joint sakes   Next to her
preservation of his own last grateful love and blessing  and her
overcoming of her sorrow  to devote herself to their dear child 
he adjured her  as they would meet in Heaven  to comfort her father 

To her father himself  he wrote in the same strain  but  he told her
father that he expressly confided his wife and child to his care 
And he told him this  very strongly  with the hope of rousing him
from any despondency or dangerous retrospect towards which he foresaw
he might be tending 

To Mr  Lorry  he commended them all  and explained his worldly affairs 
That done  with many added sentences of grateful friendship and warm
attachment  all was done   He never thought of Carton   His mind was
so full of the others  that he never once thought of him 

He had time to finish these letters before the lights were put out 
When he lay down on his straw bed  he thought he had done with this world 

But  it beckoned him back in his sleep  and showed itself in shining
forms   Free and happy  back in the old house in Soho  though it had
nothing in it like the real house   unaccountably released and light
of heart  he was with Lucie again  and she told him it was all a dream 
and he had never gone away   A pause of forgetfulness  and then he
had even suffered  and had come back to her  dead and at peace  and yet
there was no difference in him   Another pause of oblivion  and he
awoke in the sombre morning  unconscious where he was or what had
happened  until it flashed upon his mind   this is the day of my death  

Thus  had he come through the hours  to the day when the fifty two
heads were to fall   And now  while he was composed  and hoped that
he could meet the end with quiet heroism  a new action began in his
waking thoughts  which was very difficult to master 

He had never seen the instrument that was to terminate his life 
How high it was from the ground  how many steps it had  where he
would be stood  how he would be touched  whether the touching hands
would be dyed red  which way his face would be turned  whether he
would be the first  or might be the last   these and many similar
questions  in nowise directed by his will  obtruded themselves over
and over again  countless times   Neither were they connected with
fear   he was conscious of no fear   Rather  they originated in a
strange besetting desire to know what to do when the time came 
a desire gigantically disproportionate to the few swift moments to
which it referred  a wondering that was more like the wondering of
some other spirit within his  than his own 

The hours went on as he walked to and fro  and the clocks struck the
numbers he would never hear again   Nine gone for ever  ten gone for
ever  eleven gone for ever  twelve coming on to pass away   After a
hard contest with that eccentric action of thought which had last
perplexed him  he had got the better of it   He walked up and down 
softly repeating their names to himself   The worst of the strife was
over   He could walk up and down  free from distracting fancies 
praying for himself and for them 

Twelve gone for ever 

He had been apprised that the final hour was Three  and he knew he
would be summoned some time earlier  inasmuch as the tumbrils jolted
heavily and slowly through the streets   Therefore  he resolved to keep
Two before his mind  as the hour  and so to strengthen himself in the
interval that he might be able  after that time  to strengthen others 

Walking regularly to and fro with his arms folded on his breast 
a very different man from the prisoner  who had walked to and fro at
La Force  he heard One struck away from him  without surprise 
The hour had measured like most other hours   Devoutly thankful to
Heaven for his recovered self possession  he thought   There is but
another now   and turned to walk again 

Footsteps in the stone passage outside the door   He stopped 

The key was put in the lock  and turned   Before the door was opened 
or as it opened  a man said in a low voice  in English    He has never
seen me here  I have kept out of his way   Go you in alone  I wait near 
Lose no time  

The door was quickly opened and closed  and there stood before him
face to face  quiet  intent upon him  with the light of a smile on
his features  and a cautionary finger on his lip  Sydney Carton 

There was something so bright and remarkable in his look  that  for
the first moment  the prisoner misdoubted him to be an apparition of
his own imagining   But  he spoke  and it was his voice  he took the
prisoner s hand  and it was his real grasp 

 Of all the people upon earth  you least expected to see me   he said 

 I could not believe it to be you   I can scarcely believe it now 
You are not   the apprehension came suddenly into his mind   a prisoner  

 No   I am accidentally possessed of a power over one of the keepers
here  and in virtue of it I stand before you   I come from her  your
wife  dear Darnay  

The prisoner wrung his hand 

 I bring you a request from her  

 What is it  

 A most earnest  pressing  and emphatic entreaty  addressed to you in the
most pathetic tones of the voice so dear to you  that you well remember  

The prisoner turned his face partly aside 

 You have no time to ask me why I bring it  or what it means  I have
no time to tell you   You must comply with it  take off those boots
you wear  and draw on these of mine  

There was a chair against the wall of the cell  behind the
prisoner   Carton  pressing forward  had already  with the speed of
lightning  got him down into it  and stood over him  barefoot 

 Draw on these boots of mine   Put your hands to them 
put your will to them   Quick  

 Carton  there is no escaping from this place  it never can be done 
You will only die with me   It is madness  

 It would be madness if I asked you to escape  but do I   When I ask
you to pass out at that door  tell me it is madness and remain here 
Change that cravat for this of mine  that coat for this of mine 
While you do it  let me take this ribbon from your hair  and shake
out your hair like this of mine  

With wonderful quickness  and with a strength both of will and action 
that appeared quite supernatural  he forced all these changes upon him 
The prisoner was like a young child in his hands 

 Carton   Dear Carton   It is madness   It cannot be accomplished 
it never can be done  it has been attempted  and has always failed 
I implore you not to add your death to the bitterness of mine  

 Do I ask you  my dear Darnay  to pass the door   When I ask that 
refuse   There are pen and ink and paper on this table   Is your hand
steady enough to write  

 It was when you came in  

 Steady it again  and write what I shall dictate   Quick  friend  quick  

Pressing his hand to his bewildered head  Darnay sat down at the table 
Carton  with his right hand in his breast  stood close beside him 

 Write exactly as I speak  

 To whom do I address it  

 To no one    Carton still had his hand in his breast 

 Do I date it  

 No  

The prisoner looked up  at each question   Carton  standing over him
with his hand in his breast  looked down 

  If you remember    said Carton  dictating    the words that passed
between us  long ago  you will readily comprehend this when you see it 
You do remember them  I know   It is not in your nature to forget them   

He was drawing his hand from his breast  the prisoner chancing to
look up in his hurried wonder as he wrote  the hand stopped  closing
upon something 

 Have you written  forget them    Carton asked 

 I have   Is that a weapon in your hand  

 No  I am not armed  

 What is it in your hand  

 You shall know directly   Write on  there are but a few words more  
He dictated again     I am thankful that the time has come  when I
can prove them   That I do so is no subject for regret or grief   
As he said these words with his eyes fixed on the writer  his hand
slowly and softly moved down close to the writer s face 

The pen dropped from Darnay s fingers on the table  and he looked
about him vacantly 

 What vapour is that   he asked 

 Vapour  

 Something that crossed me  

 I am conscious of nothing  there can be nothing here   Take up the
pen and finish   Hurry  hurry  

As if his memory were impaired  or his faculties disordered  the
prisoner made an effort to rally his attention   As he looked at
Carton with clouded eyes and with an altered manner of breathing 
Carton  his hand again in his breast  looked steadily at him 

 Hurry  hurry  

The prisoner bent over the paper  once more 

  If it had been otherwise    Carton s hand was again watchfully
and softly stealing down    I never should have used the longer
opportunity   If it had been otherwise    the hand was at the
prisoner s face    I should but have had so much the more to answer
for   If it had been otherwise      Carton looked at the pen and saw
it was trailing off into unintelligible signs 

Carton s hand moved back to his breast no more   The prisoner sprang
up with a reproachful look  but Carton s hand was close and firm at
his nostrils  and Carton s left arm caught him round the waist 
For a few seconds he faintly struggled with the man who had come
to lay down his life for him  but  within a minute or so  he was
stretched insensible on the ground 

Quickly  but with hands as true to the purpose as his heart was 
Carton dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside 
combed back his hair  and tied it with the ribbon the prisoner had
worn   Then  he softly called   Enter there   Come in   and the Spy
presented himself 

 You see   said Carton  looking up  as he kneeled on one knee beside
the insensible figure  putting the paper in the breast    is your
hazard very great  

 Mr  Carton   the Spy answered  with a timid snap of his fingers 
 my hazard is not  that   in the thick of business here  if you are
true to the whole of your bargain  

 Don t fear me   I will be true to the death  

 You must be  Mr  Carton  if the tale of fifty two is to be right 
Being made right by you in that dress  I shall have no fear  

 Have no fear   I shall soon be out of the way of harming you  and the
rest will soon be far from here  please God   Now  get assistance and
take me to the coach  

 You   said the Spy nervously 

 Him  man  with whom I have exchanged   You go out at the gate by
which you brought me in  

 Of course  

 I was weak and faint when you brought me in  and I am fainter now
you take me out   The parting interview has overpowered me   Such a
thing has happened here  often  and too often   Your life is in your
own hands   Quick   Call assistance  

 You swear not to betray me   said the trembling Spy  as he paused
for a last moment 

 Man  man   returned Carton  stamping his foot   have I sworn by no
solemn vow already  to go through with this  that you waste the
precious moments now   Take him yourself to the courtyard you know of 
place him yourself in the carriage  show him yourself to Mr  Lorry 
tell him yourself to give him no restorative but air  and to remember
my words of last night  and his promise of last night  and drive away  

The Spy withdrew  and Carton seated himself at the table  resting his
forehead on his hands   The Spy returned immediately  with two men 

 How  then   said one of them  contemplating the fallen figure    So
afflicted to find that his friend has drawn a prize in the lottery of
Sainte Guillotine  

 A good patriot   said the other   could hardly have been more
afflicted if the Aristocrat had drawn a blank  

They raised the unconscious figure  placed it on a litter they had
brought to the door  and bent to carry it away 

 The time is short  Evremonde   said the Spy  in a warning voice 

 I know it well   answered Carton    Be careful of my friend  I
entreat you  and leave me  

 Come  then  my children   said Barsad    Lift him  and come away  

The door closed  and Carton was left alone   Straining his powers of
listening to the utmost  he listened for any sound that might denote
suspicion or alarm   There was none   Keys turned  doors clashed 
footsteps passed along distant passages   no cry was raised  or hurry
made  that seemed unusual   Breathing more freely in a little while 
he sat down at the table  and listened again until the clock struck Two 

Sounds that he was not afraid of  for he divined their meaning  then
began to be audible   Several doors were opened in succession  and
finally his own   A gaoler  with a list in his hand  looked in 
merely saying   Follow me  Evremonde   and he followed into a large
dark room  at a distance   It was a dark winter day  and what with
the shadows within  and what with the shadows without  he could but
dimly discern the others who were brought there to have their arms
bound   Some were standing  some seated   Some were lamenting  and in
restless motion  but  these were few   The great majority were silent
and still  looking fixedly at the ground 

As he stood by the wall in a dim corner  while some of the fifty two
were brought in after him  one man stopped in passing  to embrace
him  as having a knowledge of him   It thrilled him with a great
dread of discovery  but the man went on   A very few moments after
that  a young woman  with a slight girlish form  a sweet spare face
in which there was no vestige of colour  and large widely opened
patient eyes  rose from the seat where he had observed her sitting 
and came to speak to him 

 Citizen Evremonde   she said  touching him with her cold hand 
 I am a poor little seamstress  who was with you in La Force  

He murmured for answer    True   I forget what you were accused of  

 Plots   Though the just Heaven knows that I am innocent of any 
Is it likely   Who would think of plotting with a poor little weak
creature like me  

The forlorn smile with which she said it  so touched him  that tears
started from his eyes 

 I am not afraid to die  Citizen Evremonde  but I have done nothing 
I am not unwilling to die  if the Republic which is to do so much
good to us poor  will profit by my death  but I do not know how that
can be  Citizen Evremonde   Such a poor weak little creature  

As the last thing on earth that his heart was to warm and soften to 
it warmed and softened to this pitiable girl 

 I heard you were released  Citizen Evremonde   I hoped it was true  

 It was   But  I was again taken and condemned  

 If I may ride with you  Citizen Evremonde  will you let me hold your
hand   I am not afraid  but I am little and weak  and it will give me
more courage  

As the patient eyes were lifted to his face  he saw a sudden doubt in
them  and then astonishment   He pressed the work worn  hunger worn
young fingers  and touched his lips 

 Are you dying for him   she whispered 

 And his wife and child   Hush   Yes  

 O you will let me hold your brave hand  stranger  

 Hush   Yes  my poor sister  to the last  

                         

The same shadows that are falling on the prison  are falling  in that
same hour of the early afternoon  on the Barrier with the crowd about it 
when a coach going out of Paris drives up to be examined 

 Who goes here   Whom have we within   Papers  

The papers are handed out  and read 

 Alexandre Manette   Physician   French   Which is he  

This is he  this helpless  inarticulately murmuring  wandering old
man pointed out 

 Apparently the Citizen Doctor is not in his right mind 
The Revolution fever will have been too much for him  

Greatly too much for him 

 Hah   Many suffer with it   Lucie   His daughter   French   Which is she  

This is she 

 Apparently it must be   Lucie  the wife of Evremonde  is it not  

It is 

 Hah   Evremonde has an assignation elsewhere   Lucie  her child 
English   This is she  

She and no other 

 Kiss me  child of Evremonde   Now  thou hast kissed a good
Republican  something new in thy family  remember it   Sydney Carton 
Advocate   English   Which is he  

He lies here  in this corner of the carriage   He  too  is pointed out 

 Apparently the English advocate is in a swoon  

It is hoped he will recover in the fresher air   It is represented
that he is not in strong health  and has separated sadly from a
friend who is under the displeasure of the Republic 

 Is that all   It is not a great deal  that   Many are under the
displeasure of the Republic  and must look out at the little window 
Jarvis Lorry   Banker   English   Which is he  

 I am he   Necessarily  being the last  

It is Jarvis Lorry who has replied to all the previous questions 
It is Jarvis Lorry who has alighted and stands with his hand on the
coach door  replying to a group of officials   They leisurely walk
round the carriage and leisurely mount the box  to look at what
little luggage it carries on the roof  the country people hanging
about  press nearer to the coach doors and greedily stare in  a
little child  carried by its mother  has its short arm held out for
it  that it may touch the wife of an aristocrat who has gone to the
Guillotine 

 Behold your papers  Jarvis Lorry  countersigned  

 One can depart  citizen  

 One can depart   Forward  my postilions   A good journey  

 I salute you  citizens   And the first danger passed  

These are again the words of Jarvis Lorry  as he clasps his hands 
and looks upward   There is terror in the carriage  there is weeping 
there is the heavy breathing of the insensible traveller 

 Are we not going too slowly   Can they not be induced to go faster  
asks Lucie  clinging to the old man 

 It would seem like flight  my darling   I must not urge them too much 
it would rouse suspicion  

 Look back  look back  and see if we are pursued  

 The road is clear  my dearest   So far  we are not pursued  

Houses in twos and threes pass by us  solitary farms  ruinous
buildings  dye works  tanneries  and the like  open country  avenues
of leafless trees   The hard uneven pavement is under us  the soft
deep mud is on either side   Sometimes  we strike into the skirting
mud  to avoid the stones that clatter us and shake us  sometimes  we
stick in ruts and sloughs there   The agony of our impatience is then
so great  that in our wild alarm and hurry we are for getting out and
running  hiding  doing anything but stopping 

Out of the open country  in again among ruinous buildings  solitary
farms  dye works  tanneries  and the like  cottages in twos and
threes  avenues of leafless trees   Have these men deceived us  and
taken us back by another road   Is not this the same place twice over 
Thank Heaven  no   A village   Look back  look back  and see if we are
pursued   Hush  the posting house 

Leisurely  our four horses are taken out  leisurely  the coach stands
in the little street  bereft of horses  and with no likelihood upon
it of ever moving again  leisurely  the new horses come into visible
existence  one by one  leisurely  the new postilions follow  sucking
and plaiting the lashes of their whips  leisurely  the old postilions
count their money  make wrong additions  and arrive at dissatisfied
results   All the time  our overfraught hearts are beating at a rate
that would far outstrip the fastest gallop of the fastest horses ever
foaled 

At length the new postilions are in their saddles  and the old are
left behind   We are through the village  up the hill  and down the
hill  and on the low watery grounds   Suddenly  the postilions
exchange speech with animated gesticulation  and the horses are
pulled up  almost on their haunches   We are pursued 

 Ho   Within the carriage there   Speak then  

 What is it   asks Mr  Lorry  looking out at window 

 How many did they say  

 I do not understand you  

   At the last post   How many to the Guillotine to day  

 Fifty two  

 I said so   A brave number   My fellow citizen here would have it
forty two  ten more heads are worth having   The Guillotine goes
handsomely   I love it   Hi forward   Whoop  

The night comes on dark   He moves more  he is beginning to revive 
and to speak intelligibly  he thinks they are still together  he asks
him  by his name  what he has in his hand   O pity us  kind Heaven 
and help us   Look out  look out  and see if we are pursued 

The wind is rushing after us  and the clouds are flying after us  and
the moon is plunging after us  and the whole wild night is in pursuit
of us  but  so far  we are pursued by nothing else 



XIV

The Knitting Done


In that same juncture of time when the Fifty Two awaited their fate
Madame Defarge held darkly ominous council with The Vengeance and
Jacques Three of the Revolutionary Jury   Not in the wine shop did
Madame Defarge confer with these ministers  but in the shed of the
wood sawyer  erst a mender of roads   The sawyer himself did not
participate in the conference  but abided at a little distance 
like an outer satellite who was not to speak until required  or to
offer an opinion until invited 

 But our Defarge   said Jacques Three   is undoubtedly a good
Republican   Eh  

 There is no better   the voluble Vengeance protested in her shrill
notes   in France  

 Peace  little Vengeance   said Madame Defarge  laying her hand with
a slight frown on her lieutenant s lips   hear me speak   My husband 
fellow citizen  is a good Republican and a bold man  he has deserved
well of the Republic  and possesses its confidence   But my husband
has his weaknesses  and he is so weak as to relent towards this Doctor  

 It is a great pity   croaked Jacques Three  dubiously shaking his
head  with his cruel fingers at his hungry mouth   it is not quite
like a good citizen  it is a thing to regret  

 See you   said madame   I care nothing for this Doctor  I   He may
wear his head or lose it  for any interest I have in him  it is all
one to me   But  the Evremonde people are to be exterminated  and the
wife and child must follow the husband and father  

 She has a fine head for it   croaked Jacques Three    I have seen
blue eyes and golden hair there  and they looked charming when Samson
held them up    Ogre that he was  he spoke like an epicure 

Madame Defarge cast down her eyes  and reflected a little 

 The child also   observed Jacques Three  with a meditative enjoyment
of his words   has golden hair and blue eyes   And we seldom have a
child there   It is a pretty sight  

 In a word   said Madame Defarge  coming out of her short abstraction 
 I cannot trust my husband in this matter   Not only do I feel  since
last night  that I dare not confide to him the details of my projects 
but also I feel that if I delay  there is danger of his giving warning 
and then they might escape  

 That must never be   croaked Jacques Three   no one must escape 
We have not half enough as it is   We ought to have six score a day  

 In a word   Madame Defarge went on   my husband has not my reason
for pursuing this family to annihilation  and I have not his reason
for regarding this Doctor with any sensibility   I must act for myself 
therefore   Come hither  little citizen  

The wood sawyer  who held her in the respect  and himself in the
submission  of mortal fear  advanced with his hand to his red cap 

 Touching those signals  little citizen   said Madame Defarge 
sternly   that she made to the prisoners  you are ready to bear
witness to them this very day  

 Ay  ay  why not   cried the sawyer    Every day  in all weathers 
from two to four  always signalling  sometimes with the little one 
sometimes without   I know what I know   I have seen with my eyes  

He made all manner of gestures while he spoke  as if in incidental
imitation of some few of the great diversity of signals that he had
never seen 

 Clearly plots   said Jacques Three    Transparently  

 There is no doubt of the Jury   inquired Madame Defarge  letting her
eyes turn to him with a gloomy smile 

 Rely upon the patriotic Jury  dear citizeness   I answer for my
fellow Jurymen  

 Now  let me see   said Madame Defarge  pondering again    Yet once more 
Can I spare this Doctor to my husband   I have no feeling either way 
Can I spare him  

 He would count as one head   observed Jacques Three  in a low voice 
 We really have not heads enough  it would be a pity  I think  

 He was signalling with her when I saw her   argued Madame Defarge 
 I cannot speak of one without the other  and I must not be silent 
and trust the case wholly to him  this little citizen here 
For  I am not a bad witness  

The Vengeance and Jacques Three vied with each other in their fervent
protestations that she was the most admirable and marvellous of
witnesses   The little citizen  not to be outdone  declared her to be
a celestial witness 

 He must take his chance   said Madame Defarge    No  I cannot spare
him   You are engaged at three o clock  you are going to see the batch
of to day executed   You  

The question was addressed to the wood sawyer  who hurriedly replied
in the affirmative   seizing the occasion to add that he was the most
ardent of Republicans  and that he would be in effect the most
desolate of Republicans  if anything prevented him from enjoying the
pleasure of smoking his afternoon pipe in the contemplation of the
droll national barber   He was so very demonstrative herein  that he
might have been suspected  perhaps was  by the dark eyes that looked
contemptuously at him out of Madame Defarge s head  of having his small
individual fears for his own personal safety  every hour in the day 

 I   said madame   am equally engaged at the same place   After it is
over  say at eight to night  come you to me  in Saint Antoine  and we
will give information against these people at my Section  

The wood sawyer said he would be proud and flattered to attend the
citizeness   The citizeness looking at him  he became embarrassed 
evaded her glance as a small dog would have done  retreated among
his wood  and hid his confusion over the handle of his saw 

Madame Defarge beckoned the Juryman and The Vengeance a little nearer
to the door  and there expounded her further views to them thus 

 She will now be at home  awaiting the moment of his death   She will
be mourning and grieving   She will be in a state of mind to impeach
the justice of the Republic   She will be full of sympathy with its
enemies   I will go to her  

 What an admirable woman  what an adorable woman   exclaimed
Jacques Three  rapturously    Ah  my cherished   cried The Vengeance 
and embraced her 

 Take you my knitting   said Madame Defarge  placing it in her
lieutenant s hands   and have it ready for me in my usual seat 
Keep me my usual chair   Go you there  straight  for there will
probably be a greater concourse than usual  to day  

 I willingly obey the orders of my Chief   said The Vengeance with
alacrity  and kissing her cheek    You will not be late  

 I shall be there before the commencement  

 And before the tumbrils arrive   Be sure you are there  my soul  
said The Vengeance  calling after her  for she had already turned
into the street   before the tumbrils arrive  

Madame Defarge slightly waved her hand  to imply that she heard  and
might be relied upon to arrive in good time  and so went through the
mud  and round the corner of the prison wall   The Vengeance and the
Juryman  looking after her as she walked away  were highly appreciative
of her fine figure  and her superb moral endowments 

There were many women at that time  upon whom the time laid a
dreadfully disfiguring hand  but  there was not one among them more
to be dreaded than this ruthless woman  now taking her way along the
streets   Of a strong and fearless character  of shrewd sense and
readiness  of great determination  of that kind of beauty which not
only seems to impart to its possessor firmness and animosity  but to
strike into others an instinctive recognition of those qualities  the
troubled time would have heaved her up  under any circumstances 
But  imbued from her childhood with a brooding sense of wrong  and an
inveterate hatred of a class  opportunity had developed her into a
tigress   She was absolutely without pity   If she had ever had the
virtue in her  it had quite gone out of her 

It was nothing to her  that an innocent man was to die for the sins
of his forefathers  she saw  not him  but them   It was nothing to her 
that his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan  that
was insufficient punishment  because they were her natural enemies
and her prey  and as such had no right to live   To appeal to her 
was made hopeless by her having no sense of pity  even for herself 
If she had been laid low in the streets  in any of the many encounters
in which she had been engaged  she would not have pitied herself 
nor  if she had been ordered to the axe to morrow  would she have
gone to it with any softer feeling than a fierce desire to change
places with the man who sent here there 

Such a heart Madame Defarge carried under her rough robe   Carelessly
worn  it was a becoming robe enough  in a certain weird way  and her
dark hair looked rich under her coarse red cap   Lying hidden in her
bosom  was a loaded pistol   Lying hidden at her waist  was a sharpened
dagger   Thus accoutred  and walking with the confident tread of such
a character  and with the supple freedom of a woman who had habitually
walked in her girlhood  bare foot and bare legged  on the brown
sea sand  Madame Defarge took her way along the streets 

Now  when the journey of the travelling coach  at that very moment
waiting for the completion of its load  had been planned out last
night  the difficulty of taking Miss Pross in it had much engaged
Mr  Lorry s attention   It was not merely desirable to avoid
overloading the coach  but it was of the highest importance that the
time occupied in examining it and its passengers  should be reduced
to the utmost  since their escape might depend on the saving of only
a few seconds here and there   Finally  he had proposed  after anxious
consideration  that Miss Pross and Jerry  who were at liberty to
leave the city  should leave it at three o clock in the lightest 
wheeled conveyance known to that period   Unencumbered with luggage 
they would soon overtake the coach  and  passing it and preceding it
on the road  would order its horses in advance  and greatly facilitate
its progress during the precious hours of the night  when delay was
the most to be dreaded 

Seeing in this arrangement the hope of rendering real service in that
pressing emergency  Miss Pross hailed it with joy   She and Jerry had
beheld the coach start  had known who it was that Solomon brought 
had passed some ten minutes in tortures of suspense  and were now
concluding their arrangements to follow the coach  even as Madame
Defarge  taking her way through the streets  now drew nearer and
nearer to the else deserted lodging in which they held their consultation 

 Now what do you think  Mr  Cruncher   said Miss Pross  whose
agitation was so great that she could hardly speak  or stand 
or move  or live    what do you think of our not starting from this
courtyard   Another carriage having already gone from here to day 
it might awaken suspicion  

 My opinion  miss   returned Mr  Cruncher   is as you re right 
Likewise wot I ll stand by you  right or wrong  

 I am so distracted with fear and hope for our precious creatures  
said Miss Pross  wildly crying   that I am incapable of forming any
plan   Are  you  capable of forming any plan  my dear good Mr  Cruncher  

 Respectin  a future spear o  life  miss   returned Mr  Cruncher 
 I hope so   Respectin  any present use o  this here blessed old head
o  mine  I think not   Would you do me the favour  miss  to take
notice o  two promises and wows wot it is my wishes fur to record in
this here crisis  

 Oh  for gracious sake   cried Miss Pross  still wildly crying 
 record them at once  and get them out of the way  like an excellent man  

 First   said Mr  Cruncher  who was all in a tremble  and who spoke
with an ashy and solemn visage   them poor things well out o  this 
never no more will I do it  never no more  

 I am quite sure  Mr  Cruncher   returned Miss Pross   that you never
will do it again  whatever it is  and I beg you not to think it
necessary to mention more particularly what it is  

 No  miss   returned Jerry   it shall not be named to you   Second 
them poor things well out o  this  and never no more will I interfere
with Mrs  Cruncher s flopping  never no more  

 Whatever housekeeping arrangement that may be   said Miss Pross 
striving to dry her eyes and compose herself   I have no doubt it
is best that Mrs  Cruncher should have it entirely under her own
superintendence   O my poor darlings  

 I go so far as to say  miss  moreover   proceeded Mr  Cruncher  with
a most alarming tendency to hold forth as from a pulpit   and let my
words be took down and took to Mrs  Cruncher through yourself  that
wot my opinions respectin  flopping has undergone a change  and that
wot I only hope with all my heart as Mrs  Cruncher may be a flopping
at the present time  

 There  there  there   I hope she is  my dear man   cried the distracted
Miss Pross   and I hope she finds it answering her expectations  

 Forbid it   proceeded Mr  Cruncher  with additional solemnity 
additional slowness  and additional tendency to hold forth and hold
out   as anything wot I have ever said or done should be wisited on
my earnest wishes for them poor creeturs now   Forbid it as we shouldn t
all flop  if it was anyways conwenient  to get  em out o  this here
dismal risk   Forbid it  miss   Wot I say  for  bid  it    This was
Mr  Cruncher s conclusion after a protracted but vain endeavour
to find a better one 

And still Madame Defarge  pursuing her way along the streets  came
nearer and nearer 

 If we ever get back to our native land   said Miss Pross   you may
rely upon my telling Mrs  Cruncher as much as I may be able to remember
and understand of what you have so impressively said  and at all
events you may be sure that I shall bear witness to your being
thoroughly in earnest at this dreadful time   Now  pray let us think 
My esteemed Mr  Cruncher  let us think  

Still  Madame Defarge  pursuing her way along the streets  came
nearer and nearer 

 If you were to go before   said Miss Pross   and stop the vehicle
and horses from coming here  and were to wait somewhere for me 
wouldn t that be best  

Mr  Cruncher thought it might be best 

 Where could you wait for me   asked Miss Pross 

Mr  Cruncher was so bewildered that he could think of no locality but
Temple Bar   Alas   Temple Bar was hundreds of miles away  and Madame
Defarge was drawing very near indeed 

 By the cathedral door   said Miss Pross    Would it be much out of the
way  to take me in  near the great cathedral door between the two towers  

 No  miss   answered Mr  Cruncher 

 Then  like the best of men   said Miss Pross   go to the posting 
house straight  and make that change  

 I am doubtful   said Mr  Cruncher  hesitating and shaking his head 
 about leaving of you  you see   We don t know what may happen  

 Heaven knows we don t   returned Miss Pross   but have no fear for
me   Take me in at the cathedral  at Three o Clock  or as near it as
you can  and I am sure it will be better than our going from here 
I feel certain of it   There   Bless you  Mr  Cruncher   Think not of
me  but of the lives that may depend on both of us  

This exordium  and Miss Pross s two hands in quite agonised entreaty
clasping his  decided Mr  Cruncher   With an encouraging nod or two 
he immediately went out to alter the arrangements  and left her by
herself to follow as she had proposed 

The having originated a precaution which was already in course of
execution  was a great relief to Miss Pross   The necessity of
composing her appearance so that it should attract no special notice
in the streets  was another relief   She looked at her watch  and it
was twenty minutes past two   She had no time to lose  but must get
ready at once 

Afraid  in her extreme perturbation  of the loneliness of the
deserted rooms  and of half imagined faces peeping from behind every
open door in them  Miss Pross got a basin of cold water and began
laving her eyes  which were swollen and red   Haunted by her feverish
apprehensions  she could not bear to have her sight obscured for a
minute at a time by the dripping water  but constantly paused and
looked round to see that there was no one watching her   In one of
those pauses she recoiled and cried out  for she saw a figure
standing in the room 

The basin fell to the ground broken  and the water flowed to the feet
of Madame Defarge   By strange stern ways  and through much staining
blood  those feet had come to meet that water 

Madame Defarge looked coldly at her  and said   The wife of Evremonde 
where is she  

It flashed upon Miss Pross s mind that the doors were all standing
open  and would suggest the flight   Her first act was to shut them 
There were four in the room  and she shut them all   She then placed
herself before the door of the chamber which Lucie had occupied 

Madame Defarge s dark eyes followed her through this rapid movement 
and rested on her when it was finished   Miss Pross had nothing
beautiful about her  years had not tamed the wildness  or softened
the grimness  of her appearance  but  she too was a determined woman
in her different way  and she measured Madame Defarge with her eyes 
every inch 

 You might  from your appearance  be the wife of Lucifer   said Miss
Pross  in her breathing    Nevertheless  you shall not get the better
of me   I am an Englishwoman  

Madame Defarge looked at her scornfully  but still with something of
Miss Pross s own perception that they two were at bay   She saw a
tight  hard  wiry woman before her  as Mr  Lorry had seen in the same
figure a woman with a strong hand  in the years gone by   She knew
full well that Miss Pross was the family s devoted friend  Miss Pross
knew full well that Madame Defarge was the family s malevolent enemy 

 On my way yonder   said Madame Defarge  with a slight movement of
her hand towards the fatal spot   where they reserve my chair and my
knitting for me  I am come to make my compliments to her in passing 
I wish to see her  

 I know that your intentions are evil   said Miss Pross   and you may
depend upon it  I ll hold my own against them  

Each spoke in her own language  neither understood the other s words 
both were very watchful  and intent to deduce from look and manner 
what the unintelligible words meant 

 It will do her no good to keep herself concealed from me at this
moment   said Madame Defarge    Good patriots will know what that means 
Let me see her   Go tell her that I wish to see her   Do you hear  

 If those eyes of yours were bed winches   returned Miss Pross   and
I was an English four poster  they shouldn t loose a splinter of me 
No  you wicked foreign woman  I am your match  

Madame Defarge was not likely to follow these idiomatic remarks in
detail  but  she so far understood them as to perceive that she was
set at naught 

 Woman imbecile and pig like   said Madame Defarge  frowning 
 I take no answer from you   I demand to see her   Either tell her
that I demand to see her  or stand out of the way of the door and let
me go to her    This  with an angry explanatory wave of her right arm 

 I little thought   said Miss Pross   that I should ever want to
understand your nonsensical language  but I would give all I have 
except the clothes I wear  to know whether you suspect the truth  or
any part of it  

Neither of them for a single moment released the other s eyes 
Madame Defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood when Miss
Pross first became aware of her  but  she now advanced one step 

 I am a Briton   said Miss Pross   I am desperate   I don t care an
English Twopence for myself   I know that the longer I keep you here 
the greater hope there is for my Ladybird   I ll not leave a handful
of that dark hair upon your head  if you lay a finger on me  

Thus Miss Pross  with a shake of her head and a flash of her eyes
between every rapid sentence  and every rapid sentence a whole breath 
Thus Miss Pross  who had never struck a blow in her life 

But  her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought the
irrepressible tears into her eyes   This was a courage that Madame
Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for weakness    Ha  ha  
she laughed   you poor wretch   What are you worth   I address myself
to that Doctor    Then she raised her voice and called out   Citizen
Doctor   Wife of Evremonde   Child of Evremonde   Any person but this
miserable fool  answer the Citizeness Defarge  

Perhaps the following silence  perhaps some latent disclosure in the
expression of Miss Pross s face  perhaps a sudden misgiving apart from
either suggestion  whispered to Madame Defarge that they were gone 
Three of the doors she opened swiftly  and looked in 

 Those rooms are all in disorder  there has been hurried packing 
there are odds and ends upon the ground   There is no one in that
room behind you   Let me look  

 Never   said Miss Pross  who understood the request as perfectly as
Madame Defarge understood the answer 

 If they are not in that room  they are gone  and can be pursued and
brought back   said Madame Defarge to herself 

 As long as you don t know whether they are in that room or not  you
are uncertain what to do   said Miss Pross to herself   and you shall
not know that  if I can prevent your knowing it  and know that  or
not know that  you shall not leave here while I can hold you  

 I have been in the streets from the first  nothing has stopped me 
I will tear you to pieces  but I will have you from that door   said
Madame Defarge 

 We are alone at the top of a high house in a solitary courtyard 
we are not likely to be heard  and I pray for bodily strength to keep
you here  while every minute you are here is worth a hundred thousand
guineas to my darling   said Miss Pross 

Madame Defarge made at the door   Miss Pross  on the instinct of the
moment  seized her round the waist in both her arms  and held her
tight   It was in vain for Madame Defarge to struggle and to strike 
Miss Pross  with the vigorous tenacity of love  always so much
stronger than hate  clasped her tight  and even lifted her from the
floor in the struggle that they had   The two hands of Madame Defarge
buffeted and tore her face  but  Miss Pross  with her head down  held
her round the waist  and clung to her with more than the hold of a
drowning woman 

Soon  Madame Defarge s hands ceased to strike  and felt at her
encircled waist    It is under my arm   said Miss Pross  in smothered
tones   you shall not draw it   I am stronger than you  I bless
Heaven for it   I hold you till one or other of us faints or dies  

Madame Defarge s hands were at her bosom   Miss Pross looked up  saw
what it was  struck at it  struck out a flash and a crash  and stood
alone  blinded with smoke 

All this was in a second   As the smoke cleared  leaving an awful
stillness  it passed out on the air  like the soul of the furious
woman whose body lay lifeless on the ground 

In the first fright and horror of her situation  Miss Pross passed
the body as far from it as she could  and ran down the stairs to call
for fruitless help   Happily  she bethought herself of the
consequences of what she did  in time to check herself and go back 
It was dreadful to go in at the door again  but  she did go in  and
even went near it  to get the bonnet and other things that she must
wear   These she put on  out on the staircase  first shutting and
locking the door and taking away the key   She then sat down on the
stairs a few moments to breathe and to cry  and then got up and
hurried away 

By good fortune she had a veil on her bonnet  or she could hardly
have gone along the streets without being stopped   By good fortune 
too  she was naturally so peculiar in appearance as not to show
disfigurement like any other woman   She needed both advantages  for
the marks of gripping fingers were deep in her face  and her hair was
torn  and her dress  hastily composed with unsteady hands  was
clutched and dragged a hundred ways 

In crossing the bridge  she dropped the door key in the river 
Arriving at the cathedral some few minutes before her escort  and
waiting there  she thought  what if the key were already taken in a
net  what if it were identified  what if the door were opened and the
remains discovered  what if she were stopped at the gate  sent to
prison  and charged with murder   In the midst of these fluttering
thoughts  the escort appeared  took her in  and took her away 

 Is there any noise in the streets   she asked him 

 The usual noises   Mr  Cruncher replied  and looked surprised by the
question and by her aspect 

 I don t hear you   said Miss Pross    What do you say  

It was in vain for Mr  Cruncher to repeat what he said  Miss Pross
could not hear him    So I ll nod my head   thought Mr  Cruncher 
amazed   at all events she ll see that    And she did 

 Is there any noise in the streets now   asked Miss Pross again 
presently 

Again Mr  Cruncher nodded his head 

 I don t hear it  

 Gone deaf in an hour   said Mr  Cruncher  ruminating  with his mind
much disturbed   wot s come to her  

 I feel   said Miss Pross   as if there had been a flash and a crash 
and that crash was the last thing I should ever hear in this life  

 Blest if she ain t in a queer condition   said Mr  Cruncher  more
and more disturbed    Wot can she have been a takin   to keep her
courage up   Hark   There s the roll of them dreadful carts   You can
hear that  miss  

 I can hear   said Miss Pross  seeing that he spoke to her 
 nothing   O  my good man  there was first a great crash  and then a
great stillness  and that stillness seems to be fixed and
unchangeable  never to be broken any more as long as my life lasts  

 If she don t hear the roll of those dreadful carts  now very nigh
their journey s end   said Mr  Cruncher  glancing over his shoulder 
 it s my opinion that indeed she never will hear anything else in
this world  

And indeed she never did 



XV

The Footsteps Die Out For Ever


Along the Paris streets  the death carts rumble  hollow and harsh 
Six tumbrils carry the day s wine to La Guillotine   All the
devouring and insatiate Monsters imagined since imagination could
record itself  are fused in the one realisation  Guillotine   And yet
there is not in France  with its rich variety of soil and climate 
a blade  a leaf  a root  a sprig  a peppercorn  which will grow to
maturity under conditions more certain than those that have produced
this horror   Crush humanity out of shape once more  under similar
hammers  and it will twist itself into the same tortured forms 
Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again 
and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind 

Six tumbrils roll along the streets   Change these back again to what
they were  thou powerful enchanter  Time  and they shall be seen to
be the carriages of absolute monarchs  the equipages of feudal nobles 
the toilettes of flaring Jezebels  the churches that are not my
father s house but dens of thieves  the huts of millions of starving
peasants   No  the great magician who majestically works out the
appointed order of the Creator  never reverses his transformations 
 If thou be changed into this shape by the will of God   say the
seers to the enchanted  in the wise Arabian stories   then remain so 
But  if thou wear this form through mere passing conjuration  then resume
thy former aspect    Changeless and hopeless  the tumbrils roll along 

As the sombre wheels of the six carts go round  they seem to plough
up a long crooked furrow among the populace in the streets   Ridges
of faces are thrown to this side and to that  and the ploughs go
steadily onward   So used are the regular inhabitants of the houses
to the spectacle  that in many windows there are no people 
and in some the occupation of the hands is not so much as suspended 
while the eyes survey the faces in the tumbrils   Here and there 
the inmate has visitors to see the sight  then he points his finger 
with something of the complacency of a curator or authorised exponent 
to this cart and to this  and seems to tell who sat here yesterday 
and who there the day before 

Of the riders in the tumbrils  some observe these things  and all
things on their last roadside  with an impassive stare  others  with
a lingering interest in the ways of life and men   Some  seated with
drooping heads  are sunk in silent despair  again  there are some so
heedful of their looks that they cast upon the multitude such glances
as they have seen in theatres  and in pictures   Several close their
eyes  and think  or try to get their straying thoughts together 
Only one  and he a miserable creature  of a crazed aspect  is so
shattered and made drunk by horror  that he sings  and tries to
dance   Not one of the whole number appeals by look or gesture  to
the pity of the people 

There is a guard of sundry horsemen riding abreast of the tumbrils 
and faces are often turned up to some of them  and they are asked
some question   It would seem to be always the same question  for 
it is always followed by a press of people towards the third cart 
The horsemen abreast of that cart  frequently point out one man in it
with their swords   The leading curiosity is  to know which is he 
he stands at the back of the tumbril with his head bent down 
to converse with a mere girl who sits on the side of the cart 
and holds his hand   He has no curiosity or care for the scene about him 
and always speaks to the girl   Here and there in the long street
of St  Honore  cries are raised against him   If they move him at all 
it is only to a quiet smile  as he shakes his hair a little more
loosely about his face   He cannot easily touch his face  his arms
being bound 

On the steps of a church  awaiting the coming up of the tumbrils 
stands the Spy and prison sheep   He looks into the first of them 
not there   He looks into the second   not there   He already asks
himself   Has he sacrificed me   when his face clears  as he looks
into the third 

 Which is Evremonde   says a man behind him 

 That   At the back there  

 With his hand in the girl s  

 Yes  

The man cries   Down  Evremonde   To the Guillotine all aristocrats 
Down  Evremonde  

 Hush  hush   the Spy entreats him  timidly 

 And why not  citizen  

 He is going to pay the forfeit   it will be paid in five minutes more 
Let him be at peace  

But the man continuing to exclaim   Down  Evremonde   the face of
Evremonde is for a moment turned towards him   Evremonde then sees
the Spy  and looks attentively at him  and goes his way 

The clocks are on the stroke of three  and the furrow ploughed among
the populace is turning round  to come on into the place of execution 
and end   The ridges thrown to this side and to that  now crumble in
and close behind the last plough as it passes on  for all are following
to the Guillotine   In front of it  seated in chairs  as in a garden
of public diversion  are a number of women  busily knitting   On one
of the fore most chairs  stands The Vengeance  looking about for her
friend 

 Therese   she cries  in her shrill tones    Who has seen her 
Therese Defarge  

 She never missed before   says a knitting woman of the sisterhood 

 No  nor will she miss now   cries The Vengeance  petulantly 
 Therese  

 Louder   the woman recommends 

Ay   Louder  Vengeance  much louder  and still she will scarcely hear
thee   Louder yet  Vengeance  with a little oath or so added  and yet
it will hardly bring her   Send other women up and down to seek her 
lingering somewhere  and yet  although the messengers have done dread
deeds  it is questionable whether of their own wills they will go far
enough to find her 

 Bad Fortune   cries The Vengeance  stamping her foot in the chair 
 and here are the tumbrils   And Evremonde will be despatched in a
wink  and she not here   See her knitting in my hand  and her empty
chair ready for her   I cry with vexation and disappointment  

As The Vengeance descends from her elevation to do it  the tumbrils
begin to discharge their loads   The ministers of Sainte Guillotine
are robed and ready   Crash   A head is held up  and the knitting 
women who scarcely lifted their eyes to look at it a moment ago when
it could think and speak  count One 

The second tumbril empties and moves on  the third comes up   Crash 
  And the knitting women  never faltering or pausing in their Work 
count Two 

The supposed Evremonde descends  and the seamstress is lifted out
next after him   He has not relinquished her patient hand in getting
out  but still holds it as he promised   He gently places her with
her back to the crashing engine that constantly whirrs up and falls 
and she looks into his face and thanks him 

 But for you  dear stranger  I should not be so composed  for I am
naturally a poor little thing  faint of heart  nor should I have been
able to raise my thoughts to Him who was put to death  that we might
have hope and comfort here to day   I think you were sent to me by Heaven  

 Or you to me   says Sydney Carton    Keep your eyes upon me  dear child 
and mind no other object  

 I mind nothing while I hold your hand   I shall mind nothing when
I let it go  if they are rapid  

 They will be rapid   Fear not  

The two stand in the fast thinning throng of victims  but they speak
as if they were alone   Eye to eye  voice to voice  hand to hand 
heart to heart  these two children of the Universal Mother  else so
wide apart and differing  have come together on the dark highway 
to repair home together  and to rest in her bosom 

 Brave and generous friend  will you let me ask you one last
question   I am very ignorant  and it troubles me  just a little  

 Tell me what it is  

 I have a cousin  an only relative and an orphan  like myself  whom I
love very dearly   She is five years younger than I  and she lives in
a farmer s house in the south country   Poverty parted us  and she
knows nothing of my fate  for I cannot write  and if I could  how
should I tell her   It is better as it is  

 Yes  yes   better as it is  

 What I have been thinking as we came along  and what I am still
thinking now  as I look into your kind strong face which gives me so
much support  is this   If the Republic really does good to the poor 
and they come to be less hungry  and in all ways to suffer less  she
may live a long time   she may even live to be old  

 What then  my gentle sister  

 Do you think   the uncomplaining eyes in which there is so much
endurance  fill with tears  and the lips part a little more and
tremble    that it will seem long to me  while I wait for her in the
better land where I trust both you and I will be mercifully sheltered  

 It cannot be  my child  there is no Time there  and no trouble
there  

 You comfort me so much   I am so ignorant   Am I to kiss you now 
Is the moment come  

 Yes  

She kisses his lips  he kisses hers  they solemnly bless each other 
The spare hand does not tremble as he releases it  nothing worse than
a sweet  bright constancy is in the patient face   She goes next
before him  is gone  the knitting women count Twenty Two 

 I am the Resurrection and the Life  saith the Lord 
he that believeth in me  though he were dead  yet shall he live 
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die  

The murmuring of many voices  the upturning of many faces 
the pressing on of many footsteps in the outskirts of the crowd 
so that it swells forward in a mass  like one great heave of water 
all flashes away   Twenty Three 

                         

They said of him  about the city that night  that it was the
peacefullest man s face ever beheld there   Many added that he looked
sublime and prophetic 

One of the most remarkable sufferers by the same axe  a woman  had
asked at the foot of the same scaffold  not long before  to be
allowed to write down the thoughts that were inspiring her   If he
had given any utterance to his  and they were prophetic  they would
have been these 

 I see Barsad  and Cly  Defarge  The Vengeance  the Juryman  the
Judge  long ranks of the new oppressors who have risen on the
destruction of the old  perishing by this retributive instrument 
before it shall cease out of its present use   I see a beautiful city
and a brilliant people rising from this abyss  and  in their struggles
to be truly free  in their triumphs and defeats  through long years
to come  I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of
which this is the natural birth  gradually making expiation for
itself and wearing out 

 I see the lives for which I lay down my life  peaceful  useful 
prosperous and happy  in that England which I shall see no more 
I see Her with a child upon her bosom  who bears my name   I see her
father  aged and bent  but otherwise restored  and faithful to all
men in his healing office  and at peace   I see the good old man  so
long their friend  in ten years  time enriching them with all he has 
and passing tranquilly to his reward 

 I see that I hold a sanctuary in their hearts  and in the hearts of
their descendants  generations hence   I see her  an old woman 
weeping for me on the anniversary of this day   I see her and her
husband  their course done  lying side by side in their last earthly
bed  and I know that each was not more honoured and held sacred in
the other s soul  than I was in the souls of both 

 I see that child who lay upon her bosom and who bore my name  a man
winning his way up in that path of life which once was mine   I see
him winning it so well  that my name is made illustrious there by the
light of his   I see the blots I threw upon it  faded away   I see
him  fore most of just judges and honoured men  bringing a boy of my
name  with a forehead that I know and golden hair  to this place  
then fair to look upon  with not a trace of this day s disfigurement
  and I hear him tell the child my story  with a tender and a faltering
voice 

 It is a far  far better thing that I do  than I have ever done 
it is a far  far better rest that I go to than I have ever known  








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