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C H A R L E S D I C KE N S
E DIT E D
JA M E S WE BE R LI N N
TH E UN I V E RS I TY OF C H I CA G O
G I N N A N D C O M PA N Y
BO STO N N E W YO RK CH I CAGO LO N D O N
A TL A N T A D A LL A S C O L ! M B! S S A N F RA N C I S C O
C O P Y R I G H T , 1 9 06 , BY
GINN A N D C O M P A NY
A LL R I G H TS R E S E R V E D
g t b e n a u m Bu ss
O A
G I NN AN D C M P N Y P R O 0
P R I E T OR S BOS O
T N ! S A . . .
P R E F A CE .
itself into its pre sent form . Through out its execution it ,
INT R O D ! C TIO N
BO O K TH E F I R S T . RE C A LL E D TO LIF E .
C H A P TE R
I . Th e P e ri o d
11 . Th e M ail
III . Th e N i gh t S h ad ows
IV . Th e Pre p ar at i o n
V . Th e Wi n e -S h o p
VI . Th e S h o e m a ke r
BO O K TH E S E C O N D . TH E G O LDE N TH R E AD .
F iv e Ye ars L at e r
A i
S gh t
A Di app i t m e t
s o n n
C on g at l at ry
r u o
Th J ac k al
e
H un dr d f P o pl
e s o e e
M o i r t h M a q i i To w
ns e u e r u s n n
M on s i e r th M a q is i t h Co
u e r u n e u nt ry
Th G rgo
e H ad
o n s
’
e
Tw o P r m i o se s
A C m pa i Pi t r
o n on c u e
Th F e ll o w o f D e li a y
e c c
Th F e ll w f N o D li ac y
e o o e c
Th H o e t T ad m a
e n s r es n
K i tt i g
n n
S t ill K i t t i g n n
vi C O N T E N TS .
i
On e N gh t
N i e D ay s
n
A Opi i
n n on
A Pl e a
E ch o i g F o otst p s
n e
Th e S e a S t ill R i se s
F i re R i se s
D raw t o th L ad
n e o s to n e R o ck
BOO K TH E T HIR D . T H E TR AC K OF A S TO RM .
I n S e c re t
Th e Gr i n d s t o n e
Th e S h a dow
l
C a m in S t o rm
Th e Wo d S awy r o - e
Tr i m ph
u
A K o c k at t h e D r
n oo
A H a d at C ard
n s
Th e G am e M ad e
Th e S b t a c o f t h S h ad o w
u s n e e
D sk
u
D ark e s n s
F if t y t wo -
Th e K i tt i g D n n on e
Th e F o o t t e p s D ie o u t f
s e ve r or
N O TE S
LI S T O F I LL ! S TRA TI ON S .
Po rtr ai t o f D i c k e n s F r o n t isp ie ce
D r M an e tt e in t h e B as t ill e
. F ac i ng p ag e 1
Th e Mal l H u
10
T e lls o n ’
Ba k
s n 1 66
Th e S e a R is e s 2 62
I NTR OD! CTI ON .
The lif e ~
of C harles Dickens is as fascinating and pic
t u r e s qu e as his o w n novel s Born in humble cir
on e of .
H u mp h r e y Clin k e r and G il B la s ,
even D o n Q u ix o t e
i s more neglected than h e used to be and the Vicar of ,
v ii
v iii I N TR O D ! C TI O N .
it had very little effe c t upon his writing and in his novels ,
we find few all u sions t o any books save thos e that have j ust
been m entioned .
for some time ; b u t the school was not a very good o n e nor
did he care mu c h for his c omrades there When therefore .
, ,
o
f T w o Cit ie s After les.s than t w o years as c o u rt reporter
”
“
see the house rise at him as he expres sed it would , ,
S C
. .
! I N T R O D ! C TI O N .
popular writer has ever held his pla c e in the heart of the
public as Dickens h as .
and school teac h ers and the like He saw the funn y side
-
, .
I N T R O D ! C TI O N . xi
”
of their efforts to get o n but he saw the heroism and t h e
“
,
pathos too All his best c hara c ters are drawn from among
,
.
them ,
from what is c alled in E ngland the middle c lass ,
and from the poor I n all his long novels he pi c tures onl y
.
r ie n c e
; so is the boy hood of Philip in G r e a t E xp e c t a t io n s ;
and into do z en s o f his other work s we find his earl y m em
o r ie s woven till from a c areful reading we almost learn the
,
”
Little D orrit and “
Th e Mar c hioness and Little Nell ,
”
o t her name never had had
,
they are taken all together , ,
that is are not par t of the a c tual march of the story ; and
,
causes the events and the res u lts of her misery an d her
, ,
an d b y George Gissing
(Bla c kie London
) O ne b y F rank ,
.
S C
. .
I N TR O D ! C TI O N .
My F ath e r as I R e c a ll H im ,
by Mamie Dickens (Harpers )
is interesting . S ee also his L e t t e rs edited by his da u ghter
,
( Macmillan ) .
Lib r ary) .
M R S B M G A R D I N E R Th e
. . .
, F r e n ch R e vo l u t i o n ( E po c hs of
Mo d e rn H i st o ry S e r i e s ) .
M A L L E T F r e n ch R e vo l u t i o n ( S c r i b n e r s w i th b i b li o gr aphy)
, ,
.
M O R S E S T E P H E NS
-
F r e n ch R e vo l u t i o n ( V o l V I I I
, Ox f o r d .
,
S e r ie s ) .
A TALE OF TWO CI TI E S .
I N TH REE BOOKS .
B OOK TH E F I RS T . R E CA LLE D TO L I F E .
C HA P TE R I .
TH E PE R I O D .
epoch o f bel ief it was the epoch o f incredul ity it was the
, ,
1
2 A T ALE OR T WO C IT I E S .
It w thousand se v en h undr e d
of Our Lo r d one
7 ”
Spiritua
’
an d S e
~
,
l revelations w ere conceded to
E ngland at that fav oured period, as at t h is Mrs Sout h cott . .
than her s ister o f the shield and triden t , rolled wit h exceed
ing smoothnes s down h ill making paper money an d S pend
-
,
traitorous .
place in the capital itself every night ; fam ilies were pub
licly cautioned not to go o u t o f town without rem oving
’
their f u rniture to upholsterers warehouses f o r security ;
the h ighwayman in the dark was a C ity tradesman in the
light and being recognised and challenge d by h is fellow
, ,
“
tradesman whom he stopped in his character o f th e
C aptain gallantly shot him through the head and rode
,
”
away ; the mail was way laid by seven robbers , and the ‘
guard shot three dead and then got shot dead himself by
,
“
the other four in conse quence of the failure o f his ammu
,
”
n ition : after which the mail was robbed in peace ; that
magnificent potentate the Lord Mayor o f London was
, ,
’
went into St G ile s s to search for contraband goods and
.
, ,
’
a wretched pilferer wh o had robbed a farmer s boy o f
S ixpence .
C H AP T E R II .
TH E M A IL .
mail, were all so heavy that the horses had three times
,
then ! the near leader violentl y shook his head and every
thing upon it — like an unusually emphatic h ors e denying ,
cold m ist it made its slo w way through the air in ripples
,
the hill by the side o f the mail All three were wrapped .
to th e cheek bones and over the ears and wore jack boots
-
,
-
.
a substrat um o f cutlass .
else , an d the coac h man was sure o f nothing but the horses ;
as t o wh ich cattle he could with a clear conscience have
taken h is oath o n t h e t w o Testaments t h at th ey w e re n o t
fit f o r t he j ourney .
’ ”
What o clock do y o u make it Jo e ? ,
”
Te n minutes , good past eleven ,
.
’ ”
atop o f Shooter s yet ? Tst ! Yah ! Get o n with you !
The emphatic hors e cut s h ort by the whip in a most
,
quickened by expectation .
“
So h o !
-
the guard sang o u t as loud as h e could roar , .
What are y o u ?
I s that the Do v er mail ?
”
Why do y o u want to know ?
”
I wan t a passenger if it is ,
.
”
What passenger ?
Mr Jarvis Lorry
. .
“ ”
Keep where you are the guard called to the voice in
,
“
the mist because , if I should make a m istake it could
, ,
”
name o f Lorry answer straight .
“ ”
What is the matter ? asked the passenger, then , with
mildl y quav ering speech “
Who wants me ? Is it Jerry ?
.
“ ’ ’
( I don t like Jerr y s voice ,
if it is Jerry growled the ,
guard to himself “
He s hoarser than suits m e, is Jerry
’
. .
“
Yes Mr Lorry
,
. .
”
I know th is messenger, guard, said Mr Lorry getting .
,
“ ’
window He may come close ; there s nothing wrong
. .
“ ’ ’ ’
I hope there ain t but I can t make s o Nation sure of
,
” “ ”
that said the guard in gruff soliloquy
,
Hallo y o u !
,
.
“ ”
Well ! And hallo you ! said Jerry, more hoarsely than
before .
“
C ome o n at a footpace ; d ye mind me An d if you ve
? ’ ’
’ ’
got holsters to that saddle o yourn don t let me see y our ,
’ ’
hand go nigh em F o r I m a devil at a quick mistake
.
,
’ ”
let s look at you .
rider were covered with mud from the hoofs o f the hors e ,
to the hat o f t h e m an .
“ ”
G u ard ! said the passenger in a tone o f quiet busines s ,
confidence .
“ ”
the horseman answered curtly S ir
, ,
.
“ ’
There is nothing to appre h end I belong t o Te lls o n s .
”
to Paris o n busines s A cro w n to drink I may read this ?
. .
“ ” ’
If so be as you re quick s ir , .
”
Jerry say that my answer was RE C A LL E D To L I F E
, ,
.
”
way Good night
. .
the flint and steel S parks well o ff the straw, and get a light
with tolerable s afety and c as e (if he w ere lucky ) in fiv e
minutes .
“
To m ! softly over the c oac h roof -
.
Hallo, Jo e .
”
What did y o u make o f it To m ? ,
”
Nothing at all Jo e ,
.
’ ” “
That s a coin c idence too the guard mused for I mad e
, , ,
meanwh ile not only to ease his spent horse but to wipe the
, ,
m u d from his face and to shake the wet o u t o f his hat brim
,
-
,
After standin g with the bridle over his h eav ily S plashed -
“
After that there gallop from Temple bar, o ld lady I -
,
’ ’
wouldn t do for you Jerry ! I say , Jerry ! You d be in a
,
C H A P T E R III .
TH E NI GH T S H A D O WS
“
N o Jerry no !
,
”
, said t h e messenger harping o n o n e ,
’
theme as he rode It wouldn t do for you Jerry Jerry,
.
,
.
’
strong rooms underground at Te lls o n s with su c h of their
-
, ,
and the feebly burning candle and found them saf e and
-
, ,
them .
But though the bank was almost always with him and
, ,
pain under an opiate) was always with him there was another ,
grave .
ye ars.
“ ”
You had abandoned all h Ope o f being dug o u t ?
”
Long ago .
”
They tell me so .
A TALE OF TWO C IT IE S . 15
’ ”
I can t say .
”
her . Sometimes , it was staring and bewildered and then
“ ’ ’
it was , I don t know her I don t understand . .
fancy would dig, and dig dig — now with a spade now , ,
.
Yet even when his eyes were O pene d o n the mist an d rain,
o n the moving patch o f light from the lamps an d the hedge ,
side the coach would fall into the train o f the night shadows
within The real B anking house by Temple bar, the real
.
- -
business o f the past day the real strong rooms the real
,
-
,
“ ”
Buried how long ?
Almost e ighteen years .
“
Buried h o w long ?
Almost e ighteen years .
trees Though t h e earth was cold and wet, the sky was
.
“
E igh te e n years ! said the passenger looking at the
”
,
su n .
“
Gracious C r e ator o f Day ! To b e buri e d ali v e f o r
e igh t ee n y e ar s ! ”
C HAP TE R I V .
TH E P RE PA R A T I O N .
dewy ins ide o f the coac h with its damp and dirty straw , ,
larger sort o f do g .
“
There will be a packet to C alais to morrow drawer ? ” -
,
”
the afternoon sir B ed, sir ?
,
.
“
I shall n o t go to bed till nigh t ; but I w ant a bedroom ,
”
and a barber .
kept with large s quare cuff s and large flaps t o the pockets
, ,
drawn before the fire , and as h e sat with its light shining ,
18 A TALE OF T WO C ITIE S .
mo v ed his c h air to it
‘
I wish accommodation prepared for a young lady who
may come here at any time to day S h e m ay ask for Mr -
. .
’ ”
Yes s ir Te lls o n s Bank in London, s ir ?
,
.
”
Yes .
“
Yes We are quite a F rench house , as well as an E n g
.
lish o n e .
”
yo u rself I think sir ?
, ,
“
N o t o f late years It is fifteen years since we
.
’
fore our people S time here s ir The George was in other ,
.
“ ”
I believe so .
You m ight treble that and say a hundred and fifty yet ,
”
Indeed s ir !
,
o f Dover hid itself away from the beach and r an its head ,
into the chalk cliffs like a mari n e ostrich The beach was
,
.
and the sea did what it liked arid what it l iked was de ,
20 A TALE or Tw o C IT IE S .
cli ffs and brought the coast down madly T h e air among
, , .
coals .
came up the narrow street, and rumbled into the inn yard -
.
said h e .
”
S o soon ?
22 A TALE OF TWO C ITI E S .
“ ”
Pray take a seat sir I n a very clear and pleasant
,
.
“
I kis s y our h and, m iss said Mr Lorry, wit h t h e m an
, .
“
Myself .
another bow .
“
I replie d to the Bank s ir, that as it was considered
,
’
durin g the j ourney un der that wort hy gentleman s prote o
,
senger was sent after him to beg the fav our of h is waitin g
”
for me here .
“
I was happy said Mr Lorry, to be entruste d with the
,
.
”
charge I shall be more happy to execute it
. .
“
S ir, I thank you indeed I thank you very gratefully . .
He did not begin but in his indecis ion met her glance
, , , .
“
Are you quite a stranger to me S ir ?
,
B e t ween the e y ebrows and just over the li ttle femin ine
nose the line of which w as as delicate an d fine as it was
,
“
I n your adopted countr y I presume I cannot do better , ,
’
don t heed m e any more than if I was a speaking mach ine
— truly I am n o t much else I will with your lea v e
, ,
.
,
”
Story !
H e seemed wilfully t o mistake the w ord she had repeated ,
“
N o t o f B eau v ais ?
W h y yes o f B eau v ais Like Monsieur Manett e, your
, ,
.
fath er, the gentleman was o f B eauv ais Like Mons ieur .
“
At that time I may ask at what time s ir ? , ,
go on
‘ ’
But this is my father s story , sir ; and I begin t o think
—the curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon
him “
th at when I was left an orphan t h rough my mother s ’
A TAL E OF Tw o C ITI E S . 25
her c h air again, and, hold ing the chair back with his left -
“
Miss M anette it w as I And you will see h o w truly I
,
.
Hous e since , an d I hav e been busy with the other bus iness
’
o f Te lls o n s House s ince F eelin gs ! I have no time for
.
h is former attitude .
“
P ray said Mr Lorry in a soot h ing tone bringing his
, .
, ,
w as say ing
26 A T ALE OF TWO C ITI E S .
then the history o f your father would hav e been the history
o f t h is u n fortunate gentleman , the Doctor o f Beau v ais
”
.
”
I entreat y o u to tell me more , S ir .
“
Yo u speak collectedly, and y o u ar e collected That s’
.
born
“
The little c h ild was a daughter, s ir .
A daughter A .
— a — matter o f business — ’
don t be
distres sed Miss, if the poor lady h ad suff ered s o intensely
.
when he had very gently raised her and the hands that had ,
to M r Jarvis Lorry
. .
“
That s right that s righ t C ourage ! Business ! You
’
,
’
.
“
Yo u know t h at your parents h ad no great pos session,
and t h at w h at they had was secured to your mo t her and t o
y o u . There h as been n o new disco v ery , o f money o r o f
,
“
But h e h as been — been found H e is ali v e Greatly
. .
“
I am going t o se e h is Gh o st ! It w ill b e his G h ost
n o t h im !
h ave been free I h av e been h appy, yet his Gh ost has never
,
h aunte d me ! ”
“
O nly o n e thi n g m ore , s aid M r Lorry, layi n g stres s .
pretty pale face and her cold hands Do you call th at being .
a B anker ?
Mr Lorry was so exceedingly disconcerted by a question
.
“ ”
t e r io u s penalty o f letting them know something not m e n
t io n e d if they stayed there staring recovered her charge
, ,
“
I hope she will do well now said M r Lorry
”
,
. .
pretty !
“
I hope said Mr Lorry after another pause o f feeble
, .
,
“
sympathy and humil ity, that you accompany Miss Manette
t o F rance ?
“ ”
A likely thing too ! replied t h e strong woman
,
If .
C H AP TE R V .
TH E WI NE S H O P
'
’
dry into infants mouths ; others made small mud embank -
cut off little streams o f wine that started away in new dirce
tions ; others , devoted themselves to the s odden and lee dyed -
drainage to carry o ff the wine and not only did it all get ,
in g o f h ealt h s s h aking
,
hands ,
aof
n d e v en j oining o f h ands
and dancing a dozen toget h er When t h e wine w as gone,
, .
t o it than sunshine .
had worked them down was the mill that grinds young people
,
upon them , and upon the grown faces and ploughe d into ,
upon poles and lines ; Hunger was patched into them with
straw and rag and wood and paper ; Hunger was repeate d
in e v ery fragment o f the small modicum o f firewood that
the m an sawed o ff ; Hunger stared down from the smokeless
c h imneys , and started up from the filthy street that h ad no
offal among its refuse o f any thing to eat Hunger was the
, ,
.
t h e hunted air of the people there was yet some wild beast -
D
34 A T A LE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
over their scanty measures o f thin wine and beer and were ,
’ ’
sm ith S hammers w ere heavy and the gunmaker s stock was
,
their many little res er v oirs o f mud and water, had no foot
ways but broke o ff abruptly at the doors
,
The kennel to .
,
warning .
A TALE OF Tw o C IT I E S . 35
“ ”
I t s not my afiair said he with a final shrug o f the
’
, ,
bring another .
“ ”
Say then my Gaspard what do you do there ?
, , ,
“
What now ? Are y o u a subject for the mad hosp ital ? -
said the wine shop keeper crossing the road and o b lit e r at
-
, ,
ing the jest with a handful of mud picked up for the pur ,
one of his stained shoes j erked o ff his foot into his hand,
and held o u t A joker of an extremely not to say w o lfis h ly
.
, ,
“
Put it o n put it o n ”
said the other ,
“
C all wine , .
,
fore her but sh e had laid it down to pick her teeth with a
,
“ ” “
Hold then ! True ! muttere d her husband Gentle .
men my wife !
'
”
Gentlemen said h e r husband w h o had kept his bright
, ,
They paid for their wine an d left the place The eye s ,
.
”
Willingly sir ,
said Monsieur Defarge and quietly
, ,
nothing .
paved entry to the gloomy tile paved stair c ase Mons ieur -
,
”
Is he alone ? the latter whispered .
“ ”
Is he always alone then ? ,
”
Yes .
O f h is o w n desire ? ”
”
is now .
“ ”
He is greatly changed ?
C hanged ! ”
’
answer could have been half so forcible Mr Lorr y s . .
’
disturban ce o f mind and to his young companion s agita
,
wholesome aspirations .
o u t a key .
“ ”
The door is locked then , my friend ? said Mr Lorry, .
s urprised .
A TALE OF TW O C ITIE S . 41
“
Yo u think it necessary to keep the unfortunate gentl e
m an s o retired
“ I t h in k it necessary to turn the key ” M onsieur D e .
W hy
Why ! Becaus e h e h as lived s o long locked up that , ,
possi ble , but done - done see you under that sky there ,
,
-
“
C ou rage dear miss ! C ourage ! Business ! T h e worst
,
n e ss ! ”
“
I forgot them in the surprise o f your vis it explained ,
Monsieur Defarge “
Leave us, good boys ; we h ave busi
.
n es s here .
”
Is that well ?
“
I think it is well .
ter s waist, and held her ; for he felt that she was sinking
’
.
”
“
A — a — a — busines s , business ! he urged with a ,
“
C ome in come in !
,
”
“
I am afraid of it s h e answered shuddering
”
, ,
.
”
O f it ? What ?
I mean of him O f my fat her
. .
arm that shook upon his shoulder l ifted her a l ittle and , ,
hurrie d her into the room He set her down just within
.
the inside t ook out the key again and held it in his hand
, , .
this door was fast closed, and the other was opened but a
v ery little way Such a scanty portion o f ligh t was ad
.
coming in, t o see anyth ing ; and long h abit alone could
h ave slowly formed in any o n e , the ability to do any work
re quiring nicety in such obscurity Yet work o f that kind .
,
was being done in the garret ; for w ith his back towards ,
C H A P T E R VI .
TH E S H O E M AKE R .
sound made long and long ago S o entirely had it lost the
.
S ome m inutes o f silent work had pas sed, and the haggard
eye s h ad l o oked up again : n o t w ith any inter e st o r curi
46 A TALE OF T WO C ITI E S .
“
Are you going t o finis h that pair o f shoes to day ? ” -
“
What did you say ?
Do you mean to finish that pair o f shoes to day ? -
“ ’ ’
I can t say that I mean to I suppose so I don t . .
”
know .
But the ques tion reminded him o f his work and he bent ,
o v er it again .
( h is lips and his nails were o f the same pale lead colour
)
-
,
but an instant .
”
W h at did y o u s ay ?
Here is a v isitor ”
.
“
C ome ! said Defarge
” “
Here is monsieur wh o knows
.
,
”
you are working at Take it monsieur .
, .
“
Tell mons ieur w h at kin d o f shoe it is, an d the maker s
’
”
n ame .
A T AL E OF Tw o C ITIE S . 7
”
say ?
I said, c ouldn t y o u describe t h e kind o f s h oe, f o r m on
’
’
sieur s information ?
’ ’
It is a lady s S hoe It is a young lady s walking shoe
.
-
.
h ad a pattern in my hand ”
He glanced at the sh o e, with
.
“ ’ ”
And the maker s n ame ? said Defarge .
o f the right hand in the hollow o f the left, and then the
’
regular changes without a moment s intermission The
,
.
“ ”
Did you ask m e f o r my name ?
”
Assuredly I did .
”
Is that all ?
On e Hundred and F ive , North Tower .
“
Yo u are not a shoemaker by trade ? ”
said Mr Lorry .
,
I asked leave to
He lapsed away, even f o rminutes , ringing t h ose measured
changes o n his hands the whole time His eyes came slowly .
“
I asked leav e t o teach myself and I got it with much
,
face :
“
Monsieur Man e tte, do y ou remember nothing o f me ?
T h e s h oe dropped t o the ground and h e sat looking ,
“
Mon sieur Manette ; Mr Lorry laid h is h and upon
.
“
De f ar ge s arm ;
’
do y ou remember nothi n g o f this man ?
Look at h im Look at me I S there n o o ld banker, n o o ld
. .
M onsieur Manette ?
the two less and les s atte n tively and his eyes in gloom y
, ,
“
Have you r e cognised h im monsieur ? ”
asked Defarge , ,
in a whisper .
“
Yes ; for a moment At first I t h ought it quite h Ope
.
the face that I once knew well Hush ! Let us draw further .
”
back Hush !.
his unconsciousness o f the figure that could have put out its
hand and touc h ed him as he stooped over his labour .
stood like a S pirit bes ide him and he bent over his
, , ,
work .
’
instrument in his hand for his shoemaker s knife It lay
, .
raised the m and saw her face The two S pectators started
,
.
Wh at is this !
With t h e tears streaming do wn her face s h e put h er tw o ,
“
Yo u are not the gaoler S daug h ter ?
’ ”
“ ”
She sighed N o .
But, not for long Releas ing his arm she laid her h and
.
,
How was it !
As the concentrating expression returned to h is forehead ,
“
H ow was this ? — Was it yo u ? ”
n o t mo v e !
“
Hark ! h e exclaimed
” “
Wh ose v oice was th at ? ”
.
h is head .
“
No n o no ; you are too young too blooming I t can t
, , , .
’
”
name my gentle angel ?
,
h is breast .
“
O sir at another time y ou shall know m y name and
, , ,
If y o u hear in my voice — ’
I don t know that it is so ,
“
If when I tell y ou , dearest d e ar t h at your agony is
, ,
God ! I feel his sacred tears upon my face and his sobs strike ,
”
against my hear t 0 , see ! Thank G o d for us, thank God !
.
54 A T A LE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
c h inks in th e wall .
ter s drawing her arm through his and took — and kept
’
,
not trav ersed man y steps o f the long main staircase when he
stopped and stared at the roof and round at the walls
, .
“
Yo u remember the place, my father ? Yo u remember
coming up here ?
“
What did you say ?
But b e fore she could repeat the question, he murmured
,
“
Remember ? N o , I don t remember It was s o very
’
.
”
long ago .
’
had followed him, when Mr Lorry s feet were arrested o n .
called to her husband that she would get them , and went ,
“
D efarge go t upon the box, and gave the word To the
Barrier ! ”
The postilion cracked h is whip, and they clat
t e r e d away under the feeble o v er swinging lamps -
.
“
lanterns at the guard house there -
Your papers , travel .
” ”
lers ! S ee here then Monsieur the O fficer, said D e
,
“
farge, getting do wn, and taking him gravely apart these ,
“ ”
Adieu ! from Defarge And so under a short grove o f
.
,
the cold and restless inter v al until dawn, they once more ,
A TAL E OF Tw o C IT I E S . 57
An d t h e o ld ans w e r
“ ’ ”
I can t say .
B OOK TH E S E C OND . TH E G OLDE N TH RE AD .
C H AP TE R I .
F IV E YE A RS L A TE R .
TE L L S ON S ’
B a k by Temple Bar was an o ld fas h ioned
n -
’ ’
elbow room Te lls o n s wanted n o light, Te lls o n s wanted
-
,
’ ’
Brothers m ight ; but Te llso n s thank Heaven ! ,
58
A TALE OF TW O C ITIE S . 59
“ ”
see ing the Hou se y o u were put into a species o f Co n
,
spent life until the House came with its hands in its pock
,
into rags again Your plate was stowed away among the
.
forger was put to Death ; the utterer o f a bad note was put
t o Death ; the unlawful opener o f a letter w as put t o Deat h ;
the purloiner o f forty shillings and S ixpence was put to
Death ; t h e h older o f a h orse at Te lls o n s door who made
’
,
world) the trouble o f each par t icular case and left nothing ,
m anner .
“ ’
boot . Y o u re at it agin are you ? ,
“
What, said Mr C runcher v ary ing his apostrop h e
”
.
,
”
ter ?
“
I w as only saying my prayers .
Yo u weren t ’
And if y o u were I won t be took t h e
.
,
’
’
Jerry , going a praying agin your father s prosperity .
g o t a religious mo th er , y
o u h a v e my b o y : going
,
and fl O p
ping herself down an d praying that th e bread and butter
,
- -
“
And w h at do y o u suppose, you conceited female said ”
,
”
n o more than that .
“
Wort h n o more than that, repeate d M r C runc h er
”
. .
A TALE OF T WO C IT IE S . 63
’
be prayed agin, I tell you I can t aff ord it I m not . .
’
Bu u ust me !
- - ”
said Mr C runcher who all this time had .
,
been putt ing o n his clothes if I ain t what wit h piety and
“
,
’
,
“ ’
once more, I won t be gone agin in this manner I am ,
.
’
my lines is strained to that d e gree 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 mornin g
to night t o prevent me from being the better for it in
pocket and I won t put up w it h it, A gge r aw ay t e r and
,
’
,
”
in g .
”
my table Keep still ! .
’
in to Te lls o n s Jerry took up his station o n th is windy
,
’
attached to Te lls o n s establishment was put through the
door and the word was given
,
“ ”
Porter wanted !
Hooray father ! H ere s an early job to begin wit h !
,
’ ”
cogitated .
‘
Al ways rusty ! His fingers is al way s rusty !
- ”
mut -
C H AP TE R II .
A S I GH T .
“
Ye e s, sir, returne d Jerry, in s omet h ing o f a dogged
- ”
“ ”
manner I d o know the Bailey .
“
Just s o An d y ou kno w M r Lorry ?
. .
”
Bailey Much better said Jerry, not unlike a reluctant
.
,
“
witness at the establishment in question, than I, as a
h onest tradesman , wish t o know the Bailey .
“
Very well F ind the door where the witness e s go in
.
,
”
then let y ou in .
“
Into t h e court s ir ? ”
,
”
Into the court .
think o f this ?
“
Am I t o wait in t h e court sir ? h e asked, as t h e result
”
,
o f that conference .
“
I am going t o tell y o u The doorkeeper will pass the.
h e wants you ”
.
“ ”
Is t hat all s ir ? ,
.
.
“
I suppos e they ll be trying F orgeries this morning ?
’ ”
”
Treason !
’
That s quartering said Jerry B arbarous !
,
.
”
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 S pile a man I thi n k It s hard , .
”
enough to kill him but it s wery h ard to S pile him sir
,
’
,
.
“ ” “
Not at all , returned the ancient clerk Speak well o f
the law Take care o f your c h est and voice, my good friend
.
,
”
advice .
“
It s t h e damp s ir w h at settles o n my c h est and v oice
’
, , ,
“
said Jerry I leave you to judge what a damp way o f
.
”
earning a living mine is .
” “
“
Well well said the o ld clerk ; we all have o u r vari
, ,
”
Go along .
the bench It had more than once happened, that the judge
.
“
W h at s o n ?’ ”
he asked, in a whisper o f the m an he ,
“ ”
Nothing yet .
70 A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
the pris oner was brought in, and put to the bar .
the w av es o f other beer and gin and tea, and coffee, and , ,
black o r v ery dark grey, and his h air, wh ich was long and
,
lent and so forth and those o f the said F renc h Lewis and
, , ,
ou sl
y ,
reveal ing t o the said F rench Lewis what forces o u r
much Jerry with his head becoming more and more spiky
, ,
Darnay stood there before him upon his trial ; that the jury
,
F o r which s ide ?
”
Against
.
C HAP T E R III .
A D I S A PP O IN T M E N T .
MR . A TT O R NE Y GE NE R A L
had to inform the jury, t h at th e
-
oner had for longer than that, been in the habit o f passing
,
’
Attorney General s ) brothers and sisters and honoured him
-
,
’
more than his (Mr Attorne y General S ) father and mother
.
-
.
’
be in the prisoner s handwriting ; but that it was all the
same ; that indeed it was rather the better for the prose ou
, ,
within a few weeks before the date o f the very first a c tion
fought between the British troops an d the Americans .
’
Mr S olicitor General then, following his leader s lead,
.
-
’
Where was h is property ? He didn t precisely remember
where it was What was it ? N o busines s o f anybody s
.
’
.
,
.
n
alle d Mr Jarvis Lorry
. .
” ’
Mr Jarvis Lorry, are y o u a clerk in Te lls o n s Bank ?
.
”
I am .
”
t o travel between London an d Dover by the mail ?
“ ”
It did .
”
They did .
”
those t w o passengers ?
“
I cannot u n dertake to s ay th at he was .
e v en that ”
.
“
Mr Lorry look again upon the prisoner Suppos ing
.
, .
“
Did y o u ever see a counterfeit o f timidity, Mr Lorry ? .
”
I certainly have seen that .
”
you seen him to your cer t ain knowledge, before ?
,
“ ”
I have .
When ?
I was returning from F rance a few days afterwards ,
“
At w h at hour did h e come o n board ?
“ ”
At a little after midnight .
panion ?
“
With two companions A ge n tleman an d lady T h ey . .
”
are here .
“
They are h ere H ad y ou any con v ersation wit h the
.
”
prisoner ?
80 A TAL E OF T WO C ITI E S .
t o s h ore .
“
M is s M anette !
T h e young lady, t o w h om all eyes h ad been turned b e
fore, and were n ow turned again, stood up where s h e had
sat H er fat h er r o se wit h h er and kept h e r h and drawn
.
,
through h is arm .
“
Mis s Manette look upon th e prisoner
,
.
“
Miss Manette , h ave y ou seen t h e prison e r b e fo r e ?
”
Yes , s ir .
Wher e ? ”
”
and o n the sam e occasion .
“
fiercely : Answer the questions put t o y ou an d make no ,
”
remark upon them .
“
Miss Manette h ad y o u any conversation wit h th e pris
,
“
Yes, S ir .
”
Recall it .
82 A T ALE OF Two C ITI E S .
“
N o w , t o the prisoner s conversatio n Miss Manette
’
,
.
”
an d good, an d useful t o my father I hope bursting into.
,
tears “
,
I m ay n o t repay h im by do ing h im harm t o day ” -
.
“
M is s Manette, if the prisoner does n o t perfectly under
stand t h at y ou gi ve t h e evidence which it is y our duty to
give wh ich y o u must give and which y o u cannot escape
from giving wit h great unwillingness , he is the only
person present in t h at condition Please t o go o n . .
“
He tol d me that h e was travelling o n business o f a del
ic at e and di fficult nature whic h might get people into
,
“
Did he say anything about America, Miss Manette ?
”
Be particular .
“
He tried t o explain t o me ho w t h at quarrel had arisen ,
for the Judge to write it down watched its effect upon the ,
called accordingly .
”
ever s een him before ?
O nce When he called at m y lodgings in London
. .
”
Some three years or three y ears and a half ago
, .
”
ter ?
S ir I can do neither
,
.
“
Has it been your misfortune to undergo a long im pr is
onm ent without trial o r even accusation in your native
, , ,
”
country Doctor Manette ?
,
“ ”
Were you newl y released o n the occas ion in question ?
”
They tell me s o .
84 A TALE OF Tw o C IT IE S .
”
Have yo u n o remembrance o f th e occas ion ?
None My m in d is a blan k, from some time
. I c an
n o t even s ay what time when I employed myself, in
my captivity, in making shoes, to the time when I found
myself liv ing in London wit h my dear daughter here She .
ing this piece o f paper in the next pause the counsel looked ,
“
Yo u say again y o u are quite sure that it was th e pris
”
oner ?
The witness was quite sure .
cent gallantries and pol itenes ses likely t o pass between any
young gentleman an d young lady so thrown together :
with the exception o f that reference t o George Washington ,
ing that h e could not s it upon that B enc h and suffer thos e
allus ions .
swarmed again .
the audience that his state was feverish ; t his o n e man sat
lean ing back, with his torn gown half off him his untidy ,
“ ’
o bservation to his next neighbour and added I d hold , ,
’
young lady Help the gentleman to take her o u t Don t
. .
brooding look which made h im old had been upon him like , ,
pleasure that they should retire under watch and ward and ,
“
Jerry if y o u wish t o take something t o eat y o u can
, ,
.
’
jury come in Don t be a moment behind them for I want
.
,
“ ’ ’
I ll tell the prisoner so It won t do f o r a respectable .
”
lic ly, y o u know .
Quick ! H av e y o u go t it ? ”
“ ”
Yes , sir .
“
If y o u had sent t h e message , Recalled t o Life , again ’
,
”
o u meant, this time
y .
carri o n .
C H AP T E R IV
C O N G R A TULA T O R Y .
miles away .
beyond his misery : and the sound of her voice the light o f ,
for she could recall some occasions o n which her power had
failed ; but they were few and slight and she belie v ed
, ,
them over .
”
likely to succeed o n that accoun t ,
.
“
Yo u have laid me under an obligation to y o u for l ife
”
in two senses s aid his late client tak ing his hand
, ,
.
“
I h ave done my best for y o u Mr Darnay ; and m y best ,
.
back again .
“
Yo u think s o ? said Mr Stry v er
” “
Well ! y o u have
. .
”
man o f business too ,
.
“ ”
And as s u ch, quoth Mr Lorry whom the counsel .
,
learned in the law had now shouldered back into the group ,
”
ill Mr Darnay has had a terrible day we are worn o u t
.
, .
” “
Speak f o r yourself, Mr Lorry , said Stryver ; I have
.
’ ”
a night s work t o do y e t Speak f o r yourself . .
“
I speak f o r myself, answered M r Lorry, an d f o r M r
”
. .
“
My father said Lucie, softly laying h er h and o n h is
, .
“
Shall we go home , my father ?
Wit h a long breath , h e ans wered, Yes
“
.
f
’
It is a pity y ou h av e not s ir ,
.
“ ”
I think so too .
”
atten d to it .
D arnay '
“
This is a strange chance that throws y o u and me to
g ether. This must be a strange night to you standing alone ,
“
I hardly seem yet, returned C harles Darnay, to b e
” “
”
long t o this world again .
“ ’ ’
I don t wonder at it ; it s not s o long since y o u were
pretty far advanced o n your way t o anot h er Yo u S peak .
”
f aintly .
“ ”
I begin t o think I am faint .
”
t h e nearest tavern to dine well at .
before him and his fully half insolent manner upon him
,
-
.
“
Do you feel yet that y o u belong to this terrestrial
, ,
”
scheme again Mr Darnay ?
,
.
“
It must be an immens e satisfaction !
He s aid it bitterly an d fil le d up his glas s again : whic h
,
“
As to me the greatest desire I have is to forget that I
, ,
”
in an y particular you an d I ,
.
“
Now your dinn er is done C arton presently said, w hy “ '
your toast ?
“
What healt h ? What toast ? ”
’ ” ’
must be I ll swear it s there
, .
“ ”
Miss Manette then ! ,
”
Miss Manette , then !
Looking his companion full in h is fac e w h ile he drank
the toast C art on flung his glas s over h is shoulder against
,
’
That s a fa ir y o ung lady to hand to a coach in the dark,
M r Darnay ! he s aid filling his new goblet
.
, .
96 A TAL E OF Tw o C ITI E S .
“ ’
That s a fair young lady to be pit ied by and wept f o r
by ! H o w does it feel ? Is it wort h being tried f o r one s ’
“
She w as migh tily pleased t o have yo u r m e ssage, wh en
I gav e it h e r N o t that she s h owed she was pleased, but I
.
”
suppose S h e was .
“
,
’
place ; an d I do n t kn ow why I did it, in th e second Mr . .
ce rt e d,
“
I h ave n o t asked myself t h e question ”
.
“ ”
But ask yourself the questio n n o w .
“
Ne v ertheless , pursued Darnay rising to ring t h e bell ,
”
,
”
reckoning and o u r parting without ill blood o n either s ide
,
-
.
s w e r in g in t h e a ffirmative ,
“
Then bring me another pint
o f t h is same wine , drawer , an d come and wake me at t e n
”
.
The bill being paid, C harles Darnay rose and wished him
good night Without returning the wish , C arton ros e t o o
.
98 A TAL E OF T WO C ITI E S .
C H AP TE R V .
TH E JA OKA L .
was certainly not be h ind any other lea rned profes sion in its
Bacchanalian propens ities ; neither was Mr Stryver , already .
o f flaring companions .
more bus iness h e got the greater his power seemed to gro w
,
but C arton was there with his hands in his pockets staring
, ,
even there they prolonged their usual orgie s late into the
nigh t, an d C arton was rumoured to be seen at broad day ,
t h at humble capacity
“
Ten O clock, s ir said t h e m an at the tavern w h o m h e
’ ‘
, ,
”
Te n O clock sir’
, .
ou t
. He turned into the Temple and h aving revived him , ,
“
You are a little late, Memory said Stry v er , .
“
Yo u hav e h ad y our bottle , I perceive , Sydney .
’ ’
day s client ; o r see ing him dine it s all o n e !
T h at was a rare point, Sydney, that you brought to
bear upon t he identification How did y ou com e by it ?
.
“
H o w muc h ? ”
1 02 .
o
,
OF T WO C ITIE S .
rem ove d: th e t OW
’
g a n ; , ,
and complied .
“
I always am sound ; am I n o t ?
’
I don t gainsay it What has roughened your temper ?
.
”
Put some punch to it and smooth it again .
“
T h e old Sydney C arton o f o ld Shrewsbury S chool, said
”
despondency !
“
Ah ! returned the other, sighing : yes ! T h e same
”
”
f o r other boys and seldom did my o w n
,
.
“
And why not ?
G o d knows It was my way, I suppose
. .
“
C arton, said his friend s quaring himself at h im with
”
'
”
pose Look at me
. .
“
O h botheration ! returned S y dney with a lighter and
, ,
“
H o w have I done what I have done ? ”
said Stryver ;
ho w do I do what I do ? ”
“
Partly through pay ing me to help y o u I suppose But ,
.
g , ,
A TAL E OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 03
”
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 m y opinion is
y o u were ,
”
said C arton At this he laughe
. d again ,
and ,
“
B efore Shrewsbury and at Shrewsbury and ever since
, ,
“
And whose fault was that ?
Upon my Soul I am not sure that it was not yours
, .
“
Well then ! Pledge me to the pretty witness said ,
“
Stryver holding up his glass
,
Are y o u turned in a.
”
pleasant direction ?
Apparently not for h e became gloomy again
,
.
“ ”
Pretty witness he muttered looking down into his
, ,
glass .
“
I have h ad enough of witnesses to day an d to -
’
night ; who s your pretty witness ?
“ ’
The picturesque doctor s daughter, Miss Manette .
S h e pretty !
”
Is she n o t ?
No .
”
doll ?
Do y o u know Sydney, said Mr Stryver, looking at
, .
him with sharp eyes , and slowly dra wing a hand acros s h is
“
florid face : do y o u know, I rather thought at the time , ,
“
Quick t o see what happened ! If a girl, doll o r n o doll ,
’
swoons within a yard o r tw o o f a man s nose, he c an see it
without a perspecti v e glass I pledge y o u , but I deny the
-
.
’ ’
beauty And n o w I ll have n o more drink ; I ll get t o
.
”
bed .
O f the house t h e air was cold and sad, the dull sky over
,
r isen far away and the first spray o f it in its advance had
,
the fair city o f this vision there were airy galleries from
,
wild flowers grew, and the hawthorn blo ssomed, in the now
v anished fields As a consequence, country airs circulated
.
much as he wanted .
’
These things were within Mr Jarvis Lorry s knowledge , .
“ ”
Doc t or Manette at home ?
E xpected home .
”
Mis s Lucie at home ?
E xpected home .
“ ” “
A S I am at home myself, said Mr Lorry I ll go u p .
,
’
”
stairs .
’
Alth ough the Doctor s d aughter had known nothing of
t h e country O f her birth , she appeared to have innately
’
the best room, an d in it were Lucie s birds , an d flo wers ,
and books an d desk, and work table, and b o x O f water
,
-
the rustle o f the plane tree in the y a rd, was the Doctor s
- ’
“
I should h av e t h ought Mr Lorry began . .
“ ”
H o w do y o u do ? inquired that lady then — sharply,
and yet as if to expres s that S h e bore him n o malice .
“ ”
I am pretty well , I thank y o u ans wered Mr Lorry, ,
.
Indeed ?
”
Ah ! indeed ! said Miss Pross I am v ery muc h pu t
.
o u t . a t Tnd b ir d
1 10 A TAL E OF Tw o C ITIE S .
“
There never was , nor will be but o n e m an worthy o f ,
”
Lady bird said Miss Pros s ; and that was my brother
,
”’
Solomon if he hadn t made a mistake in life
, .
’
Here again : Mr Lorry s inquirie s into Miss Pross s
.
’
“ ”
Never .
“
Ah ! returned M iss Pross , S haking her head
” “
But I .
”
D o you believe that he thinks o f it much ?
I do said Miss P ross
,
”
”
N o w an d then said Mis s Pross
,
.
“
twinkle in his bright eye as it looked kindly at her that
, ,
Doctor Manette has any theory of his own pres erved through ,
“ ’
I don t suppose anything about it but what Ladybird
”
tells me .
“
And that is
That she thinks he h as .
“ ”
Dull ? Mis s Pross inquired with placidity ,
.
zealous in t erest .
“ ’
Well ! To the best o f my understanding and bad s the ,
o f the apology ,
“
he is afraid O f the whole subj ect ”
.
“ ”
Afraid ?
for.
“
True said h e and fearful t o reflect upon Yet
”
,
“
, .
,
“
C an t be helped said Miss Pross shaking her head
’ ”
, , .
much pride as she could poss ibly have taken in her o w n hair
if she had been the v ainest and handsomest o f women .
prediction .
lo u s ly
. H er dinners o f a very modest quality were s o
, ,
practical kind she had rav aged S oho and the adjacent
,
’
Pross responding to Lady bird s pleasant face and pleasant
,
turned upon her and revolved about her they went out under ,
the plane tree and she carried the wine down for the special
-
,
’
before , as Mr Lorry s cup bearer ; and while they sat unde r
.
-
in the head and body, and retired into the house She was .
He had been talking all day o n many subj ects and with ,
unusual v ivacity “
Pray, Doctor Manette
.
”
said Mr ,
.
”
there .
“
What was t h at ? Lucie asked .
sugge sted that the letters were n o t initials but the complete ,
w ord DI G
,
T h e floor was examined v ery carefully under
.
”
to keep it from the gaoler .
“ ” ”
My father ! exclaimed Lucie , you are ill !
11 8 A TALE OF TW O C ITI E S .
Lightning al w ay s do,
.
“
A multitude o f people and yet a solitude ! said Darnay ,
Is it n o t impress iv e , Mr Darnay ? ”
asked Lucie . .
“
Let us shudder too We may know what it is ? .
“
It will seem n othing to y o u Such w h ims are only .
the echoes o f all the footsteps that are coming b y and b y into - -
”
o u r lives .
“
There is a great crowd com ing o n e day into o u r lives ,
if that be s o , Sydney C arton struck in in his moody
”
,
way .
“
Are all these footsteps destined to come to all o f us ,
“ ’
I don t know Mr Darnay ; I told you it was a foolish
,
.
’ ”
m y father s .
“ ”
And I hear them ! he added again after a peal o f ,
“ ”
thunder Here they come fast fierce an d furious ! , , ,
“
What a night it has been ! Almost a night, Jerry said ,
“ ”
Mr Lorry , to bring the dead out o f their graves
. .
“ ’
I never see the night myself master — nor y e t I don t ,
”
expect to it what would do that answered Jerry
—
,
.
again, together !
Perhaps Perh aps see the great crowd of people with its
.
,
C H AP T E R V I I .
M O N S E I G N E UR IN T O WN .
and looser lives ; all totall y unfit for their se v eral callings
all lying horribly in pretending t o belong to them but all ,
poured their distracting babble into any ears they could lay
hold of at the reception of Monseigneur
,
Unbelieving .
cover among the angels of that sphere one sol itary wife ,
at twenty .
fanned Saint Anto ine and his devouring h unger far away .
“
What has gone wron g ? said Monsieur, calmly lo ok ing
”
ou t .
“
Pardo n , Monsieur t h e Mar quis ! said a ragged and sub
“ ”
m issive man, it is a child .
“
Wh y do es h e make that abomin able n o ise ? Is it his
child ?
“
E xcuse me Monsieur the Mar quis it is a pity yes
,
- .
“
Killed ! shrieked the man, in wild desperation extend
”
,
1 28 A TAL E OF Two C ITI E S .
s ay anything ; a f ter the first cry they had been s ilent , and ,
“
It is extraordinary to me said h e, th at y o u peopl e
“
,
that .
the heads craned forward that all the e y es might look down
at it as it fell The tall man called o u t again with a most
.
“ ”
I know all I know all said the last comer
, ,
Be a .
“
Yo u are a philosopher y o u there said the Mar quis,
, ,
”
smiling . How do they call y ou ?
“ ”
They call me Defarge .
1 30 A TALE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
o f the fountain ran the swift river ran the day r an into
, ,
to rule time and tide waited for n o man the rats were
, ,
C H A P T E R V III .
M O N SE I GNE UR IN TH E C O U N T RY .
Mons ieur the Marquis in his trav elling carriage (wh ich
A TA LE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 31
“ ”
steeped in crimson It will die o u t said Monsieur the
.
,
“ ”
Marquis glancing at his hands , directly
,
.
When the heavy drag had been adjusted to the wheel and ,
the Mar quis going down toget h er, there was n o glow left
w h en the drag was taken O ff .
Round upon all these darkening obj ects as the night drew
o n the Marquis looked, with the air o f o n e w h o was coming
,
near home .
The village had its o n e poor street, with its poor brewery ,
It had its poor people too All its people were poor, and .
onions and the like for supper, while m any were at the
fountain washing leaves and grasses and any such small
, , ,
knowing it, the slow sure filing down o f misery worn face -
“ ”
Bring me hither that fellow ! said the Marquis to the
courier.
“ ”
I passed y o u o n the road ?
Monseigneur it is true I had th e h onour o f being
,
.
“
C oming up the hill an d at the top of the hill both ?
,
”
,
1 34 A TALE OF T WO C ITIE S .
Gabelle !
Monsieur Gabelle was t h e Po st master and some other
tax ing fu nctionary, united ; h e h ad come o u t with great
obsequiousnes s to assist at this exami n ation, an d had held
th e examined by the dr apery o f h is arm in an official
manner .
“ ”
Bah ! G o aside ! said Monsieur Gabelle .
”
Gabelle .
“
Monsei gneur, I am flattered t o devote myself t o your
”
or ders .
“
Did h e ru n away fellow ? — where is that Accursed ?
,
”
“
D id t h e m an ru n away, Dolt, when w e stopped f o r th e
”
drag ?
“
Monseigneur he precipitated him self o ver the h ill s ide
,
-
“ ”
S ee to it, Gabelle Go on ! .
The half dozen who were peering at the chain were still
-
been s o fortunate .
an d thin .
r ia e door
-
g .
“
It is you Mons eigneur ! Monseigneur a petition
, ,
.
“ ”
How then ! What is it ? Always petitions !
,
“
What of your husband, t h e forester ? Al ways the same
”
with you people He cannot pay something ?.
“
He has paid all Monseigneur He is dead ,
. .
”
l ittle heap of poor grass .
“
Well ?
Monseigneur there are s o m any little heaps o f po o r
,
”
grass ?
“ ”
Again well ?
,
“
Monseigneur hear me ! Monseigneu r hear my peti
, ,
“
Again, well ? C an I feed them ?
’
Monse igneur, the good God knows ; but I don t ask it .
The valet had put her away from the door, the carri age
had bro ken into a brisk trot the post ilions had quickened
,
the pace she was left far behind and Monseigneur again
, , ,
ch ateau .
ragged, and toil worn group at the fountain not far away ;
-
to whom the mender of roads with the aid o f the blue c ap,
Avo iding the larger rooms, which were dark and mad e
fast f o r the night, Monsieur the Marquis with his fl am ,
—
A supper table was laid f o r t w o in the third o f t h e ,
g u i s h e r t o pp e d t o wers
-
A small l o f ty room
.
,
with its w in '
“
My n e p he w, s aid the Marquis , glancing at t h e supp e r
”
“
preparation ; they s aid he was not arr ived .
“
Ah ! It is n o t probable h e will arri v e t o nigh t ; never ~ -
”
ter o f an hour .
“
What is that ? ”
he calmly asked looking with att e n ,
“ ”
Monseigneur ? That ?
O utside the blinds O pen t h e blinds . .
I t was done .
“
Well ?
Monseigneur it is not h ing T h e tr e es and the night
,
.
”
ar e all that are here .
“ ”
Good said the im perturbable master
,
“
C los e them .
”
again .
t h e ch ateau .
“
Ask who is arrived .
a s C harles Darnay .
”
Yesterday And y ou ?
.
”
I come direct .
”
Yes
.
“
On the contrary ; I come direct .
“ ” —
I have been detained by the nephew stopped a
momen t in h is answer “
various busines s ”
.
“ ”
Without doubt said the polished uncle
,
.
meeting the eyes o f the face that was like a fine mask,
O pened a conversation .
“
I have come back sir as y o u anticipate pu rsuing t h e
, , ,
“
N o t to death ”
said t h e uncle ; it is not necessary t o
,
”
S ay to death
,
.
“
I doubt sir , returned t h e nep h ew, w h et h er if it h ad
,
” “
,
“
Indeed s ir, pursued t h e nep h ew, for anyt h ing I
,
“
means o f regeneration .
“
We h ave so as serted o u r station , bot h in the o ld tim e
and in the modern time also said the nep h ew, gloomily
”
, ,
“
that I belie ve o u r name t o be more d etested than any
n am e in F rance
”
.
“
Let us hope s o said t h e uncle
,
“
Detestation o f t h e
.
“
T h ere is n o t pursued the nephew in his former tone ,
”
, ,
“ ” “
A compliment said the Marquis , to th e grandeur o f
,
’
comportable with its wearer s assumption of indifference .
“
Repress ion is the only lasting philosophy The dark .
” “ ”
as this roof looking up to it, shuts o u t the sky
,
.
thousand muskets .
“
Meanwh ile, said t h e Marquis , I will preserve the
” “
”
the night ?
“
A moment more .
“
We have done wrong ? repeated the Marquis with an
”
,
then t o himself .
“
O ur family ; o u r h onourable family, w h ose honour is o f
s o much account t o bot h o f us in such di ff erent ways .
,
1 44 A TALE OF T WO C ITI E S .
'
”
cessor from himself
,
?
“ ”
Death has done that ! said the Marquis .
”
And has left me, answered the nephew, bound to a
system that is fright f u l to me responsible for it, but ,
“
Seeking them from me my nephew said the Marqu is , , ,
“ ”
Better to be a rational creature , he added the n after ,
“
ringing a small h e ll o n the table and accept your natural ,
“
This property and F rance are lost to me , said the
”
“ ”
nephew sadly ; I renounce them
, .
”
f o r I bear it in n o other .
The r in gin g o f the bell had caused the adj oining bed
'
“
E ngland is very attractive t o y ou seeing h ow in difl e r ,
“
I hav e already said that for m y prospering there I am
, ,
”
my Refuge .
”
With a daughter ?
Yes
.
Yes
,
said the Marq u is “
You ar e fatigued Good
. .
”
n ight !
lines of the setting o f the eyes and the thin straight lips , ,
“
Yes , r e peated the Marquis
”
A Doctor wit h a dau gh.
”
fatigued Good night !
.
t h e door
.
A TAL E OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 47
h ims elf before he rang his little bell again, and summoned
,
h is valet t o h is o wn bedroom .
“
I am cool n o w said Monsieur the M arquis and may
, ,
”
g o t o bed .
let his thin gauze curtains fall around him , and heard the
nigh t break its s ilence with a long sigh as h e composed
h imself t o S leep .
and o f eas e and rest, as the driven slave and the yoked o x
m ay its lean inhabitants slept soundly, and were fed and
,
freed .
ligh t and the eye s o the stone faces o f the ch ateau were
,
f -
O pened .
Lighter and ligh ter, until at last the s u n touched the tops
o f the still trees an d poured its radiance over the hill
,
In .
birds was loud and h igh and o n the weather beaten s ill of
, ,
-
quis o n e little bird sang its sweetest song with all its
,
wit h his blue cap W h at did all this portend and what
.
,
D rive h im f as t to h is to m b . Th is , f ro m JA C Q U E S .
A TAL E OF Tw o C ITI E S . 151
C HAP TE R X .
TW O PR O M I SE S .
read with young men who could find any leisure and inter
e s t for the study of a living tongue spoken all over the
ters were not at that time easily found ; Princes that had
been, and Kings that were to be were not y e t o f the ,
’
whose attainments made the student s w ay unusually pleas
an t and profitable and as an elegant translator w h o brough t
,
pered .
“
It is a tone o f fer v ent admiration true homage and ,
“ ”
Shall I go o n , s ir ?
Another blank .
“ ”
Yes go o n
,
.
speak f o r me !
The Doctor sat with h is face turned away, an d his eyes
bent o n the ground At the last words , h e stretched o u t
.
“
N o t that, sir ! Let that be ! I adjure y ou , d o n o t recall
”
that !
His cry was so like a cry of actual pain, that it rang in
Ch arles Darn ay s ears long after he had ceased He
’
.
“
I ask your pardon, said t h e Doctor in a subdued tone
”
, ,
y o u may be satisfied o f it .
A TALE OF Tw o C ITIE S . 1 55
Nor written ?
Ne v er ”
.
“
I kno w said Darnay respectfully how can I fail to
,
“
, ,
“
Dear Doctor M anett e , always knowing this , always
seeing her and y o u with this hallowed light about y ou I ,
”
her !
“
I b e lie v e it ans w ered h er father , mournfully
,
“
I .
“
But do n o t belie v e , said D arnay, upon w h ose ear t h e
,
”
“
N O, dear Doctor Manette Like y o u a voluntary ex ile
.
,
in any suitor s fav our, would out w eigh h erself and all th e
’
”
world F o r which reason , Doctor Manette , said Darnay ,
.
“
modestly but firmly , I would not ask that word, to save
my life .
“
May I ask, sir if y o u think she is
,
As he hes i
t at e d, her father supplied the rest .
“ ”
Is sought by an y other suitor ?
“ ”
It is w hat I meant t o say .
”
o n e o f these .
”
O r both said Darnay,
.
“
It is , that if Mis s Manette S hould bring to y o u at any
time , o n her o wn part, such a co n fidence as I have v e n
tur o d to lay before y o u you will bear testimony to what I
,
“ ” “
I give the promise said the Doctor, without any c o n
,
p e t u at e ,
an d n o t to weaken , the ties between me and my
were
The young m an had taken his hand gratefully ; thei r
hands were j oined as the Doctor spoke
any fancies an y reasons any apprehensions an y
, , ,
“
Yo u said someth ing to me, said Doctor Manette , break
”
”
ing into a smile What was it y o u said to me
.
?
why I am in E ngland ”
.
Stop !
F or an instant th e Doctor e v en h ad his t w o h ands at h is
,
“
Tell me when I ask y o u n o t n o w If your suit should
,
.
Willingly .
”
G o d bless y o u !
“
My father ! she calle d to him “
F ather dear ! .
ing sound in his bedroom Pas sing l ightly across the inter
.
C H AP TE R XI .
A C O M PA NI O N P I C T URE .
S Y D N E Y,
said Mr Stryver, o n that self same night o r
.
-
,
“
morning, to his j ackal ; m ix another bowl o f punch ; I
h ave something to say to y ou ”
.
Sydney had been working double tides that night and the ,
“
You are a luckier, if y o u mean that .
’
I don t mean that I mean, I am a m an o f more
.
m ore
“
Say gallantry w h ile y o u are about it, suggested C arton
,
”
.
’
Well ! I ll say gallantry My meaning is , that I am a
.
G O on ”
,
said Sydney C arton .
“
y o u oug h t to be much obliged to me ”
.
“
Yo u shall n o t get o ff in that w ay, rejoined Stry v er
’
s houldering the rej oinder at him ; n o, S y dney it s my duty ,
laughed .
“
Look at me ! said Stry v er, squaring h imself ; I h a ve
” “
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 63
“
I never s aw y o u do it y e t muttered C arton
”
, .
’
I do it because it s politic ; I do it o n pr inciple And .
”
look at me ! I get o n .
“
Yo u have no business to be incorrigible ”
w as h is ,
’
friend s answer , delivered in no very soothing tone .
“
I ha v e no business t o be at all that I know o f , said
,
”
,
Sydne y C arton “
Who is t h e lady ?
.
’
Now don t let my announcement o f t h e name make y ou
,
”
uncomfortable Sydney said Mr Stry ver preparing him
, ,
.
,
“ ”
I did ?
C ertainly ; and in th ese chambers .
“
Yo u made mention o f the young lady as a go lde n haired -
‘
”
had no ear f o r mus ic .
“
N o w y o u know all about it S y d ”
said Mr Str y v er
,
I ,
. .
’
don t care about fortune : S h e is a charming creature , an d I
have made up m y mind to please m y self : o n the whole ,
a man already pretty well Off and a rapidly rising man and
, ,
I be ast onished ?
“
Yo u approve ? ”
Well ! said his friend Stry ver you take it more easily ,
’ ’
don t know the value of m oney y o u live h ard y ou ll knock
, ,
”
to think about a nurse .
proj ecting him self into Soho w h ile he was yet o n Saint
Du n s t an s side o f Temple B ar bursting in h is full blo wn
’
,
-
’
at Te lls o n s and knowing Mr Lorry as the intimate friend
,
.
“
Halloa ! said M r Stry v er H o w do y o u do ? I hope
. .
y o u are well !
It was S t ryv e r s grand peculiarity that h e alway s s eemed
’
“ ”
D— n it all , sir ! said Stryver, staring at him , am I
not eligible ?
’ ”
O h dear ye s ! Yes O h yes you re eligible !
.
,
Mr Lorry
.
“
If y o u say el igible y o u are eligible
.
”
,
.
“
Am I n o t prosperous ? asked Stryver .
“
An d advancing ?
I f y ou com e to advancing , y ou know, said Mr Lorry, .
”
c an doubt that .
“
T h en what o n earth is your m eaning M r Lorry ? ”
, .
“
Well ! I Were y ou going t h ere n ow ? asked Mr
”
.
Lorry .
“
Straigh t ! s aid Stryver with a plu m p o f h is fist o n th e
”
,
desk .
“
T h en I think I wouldn t if I was y o u
’
, .
“
fo rensic ally shaking a forefinger at him You are a m an .
W hy wouldn t y o u go ?
’
” “ ’
B ecause said Mr Lorry I wouldn t go o n such an
,
.
,
“ —
D n ME ! ”
cried Stry v er, but th is beats e v erything
“ ”
.
“ ’
Here s a man o f bus iness a man o f years a m an o f
” “
e xperience in a Bank said Stryver ; ,
and having
s ummed up t h ree leading reasons for complete succes s h e ,
’
s ays there s n o reason at all ! Says it wit h h is head o n ! ”
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 69
“
When I speak o f success I speak o f succes s wit h the ,
“
said Mr Lorry reddeni n g
.
,
that I will hear n o d is r e
,
”
prevent my giving him a piece of m y mind .
“
That is what I mean to tell you s ir said Mr Lorry , ,
. .
”
Pray let there be no mistake about it .
and then stood hitting a tune out o f his teeth with it whic h ,
”
Ye s I do .
correctly .
“
A n d all I c an say o f it is , laughed Stry v er wit h a
”
,
”
pre s ent and to come ,
.
“
N o w understand me
‘
pursued Mr Lorry As a man ,
. .
“ ” “ ’
N ot I ! said Str y ver, whis tling I can t undertake .
’
mincing bread and but ter nonsense It s n e w to me, but - -
.
“
What I suppose Mr Stryver I claim to characterise ,
.
,
”
f o r m y self And u n derstand me, sir, said Mr Lorr y,
. .
“
quickly flushing again I will n o t — not even at Tell .
”
breathing .
“
There ! I beg y our pardon ! said S t ryver .
You know the terms upon which I hav e the honour and hap
p in e s s t o stand with the family If y o u please committing .
,
“ ”
Well ! said that good natured emissary , after a full
~
“ ” “
To Soho ? repeated Mr Stryver, coldly . O h, t o be .
”
and I reiterate my advice .
“
way that I am sorry f o r it o n your account an d sorry f o r
, ,
’
it o n the poor father s account I know this must alway s
.
“
I don t understand y ou , said M r Lorry
’
.
“
But it does matter M r Lorry urged
”
,
. .
“
an d good will o n his erring head , Make the best o f it, .
at h is ceilin g .
C H A P T E R ! III .
TH E FE LL O W O F NO D E L I C A CY .
there O ften during a whole year, and had always been the
,
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 t h at neighbourhood
, .
“
t o his j ackal that he had thought better of that marrying
matter ) had carried his delicacy into De v onshire an d
”
,
d oor .
alone She had ne v er been quite at her ease with him and
.
,
a change in it .
‘
I fear you are not well Mr C arton ! ,
.
rofl i at s?
p g e
“
it not — forgive me ; I have begun the question
IS on
”
my lips a pity t o live no better life ?
1 76 A TA LE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
“
Without it can I not save y o u , Mr C arton ? Can I
,
.
“
in earnest tears I know y o u would say this t o n o o n e else
,
.
d egraded but that the sight o f you with your father and o f ,
”
but I w ish y o u to know that y o u inspired it .
“
Will nothin g of it remain ? O Mr C arton think again ! .
,
Try again !
“
N O Mis s Manett e ; all through it I have known m y
, ,
”
doing no service , idly burning away .
“
S ince it is my misfortune Mr C arton to have made ,
.
,
”
o f my becoming worse .
‘
S ince the state o f y our mind that you describe is at , ,
at all ?
“
The u tmost good that I am capable o f n o w , Miss Ma
nette I hav e come here to realise Let me carry through
,
.
“
Which I entreated y o u to belie v e again and again, most ,
Mr C arton !
.
”
“
E ntreat me to believe it n o more Miss Manett e I ,
.
N
1 78 A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
“
Be under n o apprehension, Miss Manette o f my e v e r ,
“
Be comforted ! h e said I am n o t worth such feeling,
” “
,
“
I will Mr C arton
, .
”
.
“
been fl Oppin g in some pointed manner when an unusual ,
“
Young Jerry said M r C runcher turning t o h is o ff
,
.
,
“ ’
spring it s a ,
“
H o o r o ar father ! ”
cried Young Jerry
, .
“ ’
What d ye mean ? What are y ou h o o ro ar in g at ? What
do y o u want to c o n w e y to your o w n father y o u young Rip ? ,
’
D ye hear ?
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI ES . 1 81
’ ”
I warn t do ing n o harm , Young Jerry protested, rub
bing his cheek .
“
Drop it then said Mr C runcher ; I won t have none
,
“
.
’
’
o f yo u r no harms Get a to p of that there seat and look
.
,
”
at the crowd .
“
What is it brother ? W h at s it about ?
,
” ’
’
I don t know said t h e man
,
“
Spies ! Yah a ! Tst ! .
”
Spies !
H e asked another man “
Who is it ? ”
.
“ ’
I don t kno w ”
returned t h e man : clapping h is h ands to
,
S pi ies !
-
“
Was H e a spy ? asked Mr C runcher
”
. .
Wh y ,
be sure !toexclaimed Jerry recalling the Trial
,
” “ ’
Dead as mutton returned the other and can t be t o o
, ,
”
Spies !
The idea was s o acceptable in the prevalent absence o f
any idea that the crowd caught it up with eagerness and
, ,
“
Jerry ”
said Mr C runcher apostrophising h imself in
,
.
,
’ ”
straight made u h .
“
N o w I tell y o u where it is !
,
said Mr C runcher to h is .
“
w ife , o n entering If, as a honest tradesman , my w e n tu r s
.
“ ”
I am saying nothing .
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 1 85
”
another Drop it altogether
. .
“ ”
Ye s , Jerry .
tea.
“
Ah ! It is yes , Jerry T h at s about it You may .
’
.
“
Yo u and your yes , Jerry ”
said Mr C runc h er, taking a , .
”
I think s o I believe y ou
. .
“
Yo u are going o u t t o night ? ”
ask e d his d e c e nt wife, -
“ ”
Ye s , I am .
N o y o u may n t
,
I m a going — as your mother knows
’ ’
.
’ ” ’
a fishing That s where I m going to Going a fishing
. . .
“ ”
Your fish in g r o d gets r ayth e r rusty ; don t it father ?
- ’
,
“ ’
returned that gentle m an shaking his head ; that s ques ,
”
long a bed -
.
o w n reflections
:
“
And mind y o u ! ”
said Mr C run cher .
“
N o game s to .
”
kno w .
he r b oy ou t ? ”
’
o n e o cloc k To wards that small and ghostly hour, he rose
.
strong idea that the coffin he had seen was running after
him ; an d pictured as hopping o n behind him bolt upright
, ,
when the boy got to his o w n door h e had reason for being
half dead And even then it would not leave him but fol
.
,
“
I told you I would, ”
said Mr C runcher and I .
,
’ ”
honour and obey ; why the de vil don t you ?
1 90 A TALE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
“ ”
I ll try t o be a good wife , Jerry the poor woman pr o
’
,
“
Is it being a good wife to oppose your husband s busi ’
“
Yo u hadn t taken to t h e dreadful business then Jer ry
’
, .
’
If you re a religious woman gi v e me a irreligious o n e ! You ,
”
knocked into y ou .
his r u sty hands under his head for a pillow his s o n lay ,
temper and kept an iron pot lid b y him as a proj ectile for
,
-
his grim pursuer His cunning was fres h with the day, .
1 92 A TAL E OF TWO C ITIE S .
C H AP T E R XV .
K N I TT I N G .
slunk about there from the time O f the O pening o f the door ,
’ ’
from the king s palace to the criminal s gaol Games at .
towers with them drinkers drew figu res o n the tables with
,
pattern o n her sleeve with her toothpick and saw and heard ,
o f roads in a blue cap All adust and ath irst the two
.
,
“ ”
Good day gentlemen ! said Mons ieur Defarge
,
.
“ ”
It is bad weather gentlemen said Defarge S haking
, , ,
his head .
then all cast down their eyes and sat silent E xcept o n e .
“ ”
My wife said Defarge aloud, address ing Madame
,
O
1 94 A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
’
a day and a half s journey o u t o f Paris He is a good .
”
drink my wife !
,
went o u t .
at work .
“
Have you finished your r epast friend ? he asked, in
”
,
due season .
“
Yes thank y ou
,
.
between them an d the white haired man afar off was the -
,
plis h e d,
either did h e confide in me O bserve ! Unde r
n .
’
rascal ! My faith messieurs , I offer nothing
, .
“
He is right there Jacques , murmured Defarge t o h im
, ,
w h o had interrupted Go o n ! .
“ ”
Good ! said the mender o f roads , with an air o f m y s
“
t e ry . The tall man is lost, and he is sought h o w many
”
months ? N ine , ten, eleven ?
“ ” “
N o matter , the number said Defarge ,He is well .
“
I am again at work upon the hill S ide , and the s u n i s -
“
I stand aside mes sieurs , by my heap o f stones , t o se e
,
I see that their long shadows are o n the hollow ridge o n the
O pposite s ide o f the road and are o n the hill above it and
, ,
are like the shadows of giants Also I see that they are .
,
covered wit h dust and that the dust move s with them as
,
’
fast to his tomb ! and the y bring him faster I follow . .
“
As they descend the hill l ike madmen running a race ,
thereupon they laugh again They bring him into the vil
.
lage ; all the village runs to look ; the y take him past the
mill an d up t o the prison ; all the village sees the prison
,
— like this !
“ ”
s aid, Go on Jacques
,
.
”
All the village pursued the mender o f roads on tip
, ,
“
toe an d in a low voice withdraws ; all the village w h is
,
pers by the fountain ; all the village sleeps ; all the village
d reams o f that unhappy o n e within the locks and bars o f
,
“ ”
G o o n Jacques , said Defarge
, .
s , p e r h aps n o
y e .
200 A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
the open streets o f this city o f Paris ; and not h ing was more
notice d in t h e vast concours e that s aw it done than t h e ,
”
still breathed ! An d it was done why how o ld are y o u ?
,
“
E nough ! said Defarge, with grim impatience .
li v e the Devil ! Go o n ”
.
“
Well ! S ome whisper this , some whisper that ; t h ey
S peak o f nothing else ; e v en the fountain appears to fall t o
”
feet high, poisoning the water .
in the sky .
the cows o u t, the cows are there with the rest At mid day . .
-
,
laughed .
”
H e suggested it, by creasing his face with h is
t w o thumbs from the corners of h is mouth to his ears
,
.
“
On the top o f the gallows is fixe d the knife , b lade
upwards , with its point in the air He is hanged there .
”
forty feet h igh and i s left hanging poisoning the water ,
.
“
It is frightful, mess ieurs H o w c an the women and .
an d looked back from the hill the s h adow struck across the ,
a cross the earth , mes sieurs to where the sky rests upon it ! ,
“
That s all mes sieurs I left at sunset (as I h ad been
’
,
.
o u see me !
y
After a gloomy S ilence the first Jacques said Good , ,
.
‘
Very willingly said the mender of roads Whom , .
t here returned
,
.
”
How say y o u Jacques ? demanded Number O ne , .
”
be registered ?
“
To be registered, as doomed to destruction ret u rned ,
Defarge .
“ ”
Magnificent ! croaked the man with the c ra v ing .
”
The ch ateau and all the race returned Defarge ,
.
”
t e r mi n atio n .
20 2 A T ALE OF Tw o C IT I E S .
“
The hungry repeated, in a rapturous croak, Mag
m an
“ ” “
Are y o u sure, asked Jacques Tw o , o f Defarge, that
n o embar ras sment c an arise from o u r manner o f k eep ing
“ “
Jacques , returned Defarge, drawing himself up if ,
”
little dangerous ?
“ “
He knows nothing, said Defarge ; at least nothing
more t h an would easily elevate himself to a gallows o f the
same height I charge myself with him ; let him rema in
.
with me ; I will take care of him and set him o n his road
, .
“
What ? exclaimed the hungry m an staring
”
Is it a
,
.
“
Brav o ! said Defarge clapping h im o n the back when
”
,
“
Yo u are the fellow we want, said Defarge, in h is ear ;
”
”
Then the y are the more insolent and it is the nearer ended
, ,
.
“ ” “ ’
Hey ! cried the mender o f roads r e fl e ct iv e ly ; that s ,
”
t rue .
“
These fools know nothing While they despise your .
dogs they only know what y our breath tells them Let it
, .
”
t o o much .
nodded in confirmation .
” “
As to you said she you would shout and shed tears
, ,
”
y o u not ?
“
Truly madame I t h ink so F o r the moment
, ,
. .
“
Truly yes madame ,
.
'
C H AP T E R ! V I .
S T I LL K N I TT I N G .
dust and down the weary m iles o f avenue by the ways ide
, ,
“
E h my faith It is a portrait ! said madame laugh
.
”
,
The nig h t was h ot, and the shop close shut and sur ,
cate, but the stock of wine smelt much stron ger than it ever
tasted, and s o did the stock o f rum an d brandy and aniseed .
“
You are fatigued said madame raising h er glance as
”
, ,
“ ”
s h e knotted the money There are only the usual odours
. .
“ ”
I am a little tired, her husband acknowledged .
”
men !
“ ”
But my dear, began D efarge .
”
But m y dear ! repeated madame, nodding firmly
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 209
”
dear !
“
Well, then, said Defarge , as if a thought were wrung
“ ”
o u t o f his breast, it is a long time .
”
It is a long time repeated his wife ; an d when is it
,
“
It does not t ake a long time t o strike a man with Li ght
ning said Defarge
,
.
“ ” “
How long demanded madame composedly, does it
, ,
“ “
It does not take a long time said madame f o r an , ,
”
solat ion Keep it. .
“
I tell thee said madame extending her right hand
, , ,
“
for emphasis t h at although it is a long time o n the road
, ,
around and consider the lives o f all the world that we know ,
cons ider the faces o f all the world that we know consider ,
”
s uch things last ? Bah ! I mock you .
“ ”
My brave w ife returned Defarge , standing before her
,
“
Well ! said Defarge with a half complaining and h alf
apologetic shrug
“
We S h all n ot see t h e triumph
.
”
.
“
We shall h av e helped it returned madame , wit h h er
”
,
“
e xtended hand in strong action Nothing that we do is
.
,
I would
There madame with h er teet h set, tied a v ery terr ible
,
knot indeed .
“ ”
Hold ! cried Defarge , reddening a little as if he felt
c h arged with cowardice ;
“
I t o o, my dear, will stop at
”
nothing .
“
Yes ! But it is your weaknes s that y ou sometimes nee d
t o see your v ictim and your opportunity, t o sustai n you .
loose a tiger and a devil ; but wait f o r the time with the tiger
”
and the devil chained not shown yet always ready .
beside her, and if she now and then glanced at the flower ,
“
You knit with great skill, madam e .
”
I am accustomed t o it .
”
A pretty pattern t o o !
Yo u t h ink s o ? ”
said madame , looking at h im wit h a
smile .
“
Decidedly May o n e ask w h at it is f o r ?
.
“ ”
N o t f o r use ?
That depends I may fin d a us e f o r it o n e day If I
.
,
.
”
do well, said madame drawing a breath and nodding ,
“ ’
h e r head with a stern kind o f coque try , I ll use it !
_
h ad kept his eyes open but had been able t o detect n o S ign
, .
“
J OH N, thought madame checking o ff her work as h er
”
,
“
Yo u have a husband, madame ? ”
I have .
C hildren ? ”
N o children .
Business se e ms bad ? ”
as you say
As yo u say madame retorted, correcting him an d
, ,
“ ”
I think ? returned madame in a high voice I and
, .
”
o thers ? N o no ,
.
“ ’
A bad business this madame, o f Gaspard s execution
,
.
” “
My faith ! returned madame coolly and lightly, if ,
“
I believe said the spy dropping his soft v oice to a
,
“
Is there ? asked madame , v acantly
”
.
Is there n o t ?
”
Here is my husband ! said Madame Defarge .
214 A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
“
Good day, Jacques ! t h e spy repeated ; with n o t quite
”
stare .
“
Yo u decei v e yourself monsieur returned the keeper
, ,
“
It is all the same , said the spy airily, but dis co m fit e d ,
”
too : good day !
“ ”
G o od day ! answered Defarge dry ly ,
.
”
I know nothing o f it .
“
Yo u seem to know this quarter well ; that is to say,
”
better than I do ? obser ved Defarge .
“
N o t at all but I hope to know it better
,
I am s o pr o .
”
f o u n dly interested in its miserable inhabitan t s .
“
C an it be true said Defarge in a lo w v o ice, looking
”
, ,
M anette
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 21 7
“
If it is Defarge began ; an d stopped .
”
If it is ? repeated his wife .
o f F rance .
’
Her husband s destiny, said Madame Defarge w ith ,
”
all I know .
”
come answere d madame
,
“
I h ave t hem both here o f a .
,
certainty ; and they are both here for their merits ; that is
enough .
”
a grand woman, a frightfully grand woman .
“
If I could h ope th at, my fat h er !
B elie v e it, lo v e ! Indeed it is s o C ons ider h o w natu
.
replied
“
My child, y o u did see h im and it is C harles I f it h ad
,
.
had been no other, I should have been the cause and then ,
the dark part of my l ife would have cast its S hadow beyond
myself and would h ave fallen on you
,
”
.
“ ”
See ! said the Doctor o f B eauvais raising his hand ,
”
I coul d intersect them He added in his inward an d po n
.
“
dering manner as he looked at the moon, It was twenty
,
squeez e in .
upon the unborn child from whom I had been rent Whether .
’
s ib ility o f his fa ther s hav ing disappeared of his own will
2 22 A TAL E OF T WO C IT I E S .
b e a woman ”
.
h and .
“
I h av e pictured my daughter t o myself as perfectly , ,
”
my place was a blank .
“
Yo u Lucie ? It is o u t o f t he cons olation and r e s t o r a
,
”
What did I say , just n o w ?
S h e kne w nothing o f y o u S h e care d nothing f o r y o u
. .
“
S o ! But o n other moonligh t nights when the sadnes
s ,
They were only three at table and Miss P ross made the ,
than half disposed to obj ect t o the loving little plot that
kept him away ; and drank t o h im affectionat ely .
the morning Lucie came down stairs again, and stole into
,
-
She timidly laid her hand o n his dear breast and put up ,
withdrew her h and an d kisse d his lips once more and went
, ,
had mo v ed in praying f o r h im .
A TALE OF Tw o C ITI E S . 2 25
C H A P T E R ! V III .
N I NE D A YS .
“
And so said Mr Lorry w h o could not su fficiently
,
.
,
admire the bride and who had been moving round her t o
,
“
take in every point o f her quiet pretty dress ; and so it ,
“ ” ’
You didn t mean it remarked the matter o f fact Mis s
,
- -
“ ’ ”
Really ? Well ; but don t cry, said the gentle Mr .
Lorry .
”
I, my Pross ? (By this time Mr Lor r
y dared to be , .
“
Yo u were just now ; I saw y o u do it and I don t w o n ,
’
” “
a fork o r a S poon in the c ollection said Miss Pross that , ,
’
I didn t cry over, last night after the box came till I ,
’ ”
c ouldn t see it .
2 26 A TALE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
“
N o t at all ! ”
F rom Mis s Pross .
“ ”
Pooh ! rejoined Miss Pross ; y o u were a bachelor in
your cradl e ”
.
“
Well ! observ e d Mr Lorry beamingly adjusting his
”
.
,
“ ”
little wig that seem s probable too
, ,
.
“
And y ou were cu t o u t for a bachelor, pursued Miss
P ross before you were put in your cradle
,
.
“
Then I think said Mr Lorry that I was v ery u h
,
”
.
“
,
.
,
”
dear Lucie drawin g his arm soothingly round her waist
, ,
’
S omebody s step coming to the door Let me kiss my dear .
”
body c omes to claim his o wn .
22 8 A TALE OF Tw o C ITIE S .
“
I t h ink, h e w h ispere d t o M is s P ross, afte r anxiou s
”
’
n o w, o r at all disturb him I must look in at Te llso n s ;
.
t o look o u t o f Te lls o n s
’
H e was detained t wo hours
. .
knocking .
“
Good G o d ! h e said wit h a start
”
,
“
Wh at s th at ?
’ ”
.
“
What is t o be told t o Ladybird ? He d o esn t know me,
’
and is making s h o es !
’
h imse lf into the Doctor s room The bench was turne d .
shoemak er at his work before and his head was bent down , ,
an other that was l y ing by him and asked him what it was ? ,
“ ’ ”
A y oung lady s walking shoe he muttered without , ,
looking up “
I t ought t o ha v e been finis h ed long ago
. .
”
Le t it be .
“
But Doctor Manette Look at me !
,
.
“
Yo u know me my dear friend ? Think again
,
This .
s o ; but ,
n o persuasion could extract a word from him .
’
t o absent h imself from Te lls o n s f o r the first time in h is
life and took his post by the window in the same room
,
.
s ilent protest against the delus ion into w h ich h e had fallen ,
a free place .
“ ”
Dear Doctor will y o u go out
,
?
“ ”
As before he repeated
,
O ut ? ,
“ ”
Yes ; f o r a walk with me Why n o t ? .
’
ing down at the plane tree ; but o n Mr Lorry s return, he
-
,
.
’
The time went very slowly o n , and Mr Lorry s hop e .
CH APT E R X IX .
AN O P I N IO N .
’
F o r going to the door o f the Doctor S room and looking in
, ,
’
he perce ived that the shoemaker s bench an d tools were put
aside again an d that the Do c tor himself sat reading at the
,
’
the Doctor s bedroom door in the early morning ?
Within a few minutes Mis s Pross stood whispering at ,
his s ide If he had had any particle of doubt left her talk
.
,
with his usual neat leg The Doctor was summoned in the .
’
posed that his daughter s marriage had taken place yester
day A n incid e ntal allusion , purposely thrown o u t , t o the
.
day o f t h e week and the day o f the month , set him think
,
said feelingly :
,
“
My dear Manette I am anxious t o have your O pin ion , ,
“
Doctor Manette said Mr Lorry , touc h ing him aff e c
”
,
.
t io n at e ly o n the arm
“
the case is t h e case o f a par t icularly
,
“
If I understand, said the Doctor , in a subdu e d t o n e,
”
Ye s ! )2
Be e xplicit ,
”
s aid the Doct o r . Spar e no d e t ail .
2 36 A T A LE OF Tw o CITI E S .
o t h er w h o may be tr u sted
”
.
“
Now my dear Manette , said Mr Lorry at length, in
,
”
.
,
“
h is most considerate and most aff ectionate way, I am a
m ere m an o f busines s , and unfit t o C ope with suc h intricate
an d difficult matters I do not posses s the kind of informa
.
“ ”
I think it probable said the Doctor breaking S ilence , ,
”
d ear friend was not quite unforeseen by its subject
, .
“
Was it dreaded by him ? Mr Lorry v entured t o ask
”
. .
V ery much
”
He said it with an in v oluntary shudder
. .
“ ” “
Would he asked Mr Lorry be s ens ibl y relieved if
,
.
,
“
Now, said Mr Lorry gently layin g hi s hand o n t he
”
.
,
’ “
Doctor s arm again after a S hort silence o n both S ides to
, ,
“
I believe ret u rned Doctor Manette that there h ad
”
,
“
,
there had long been a dread lurking in his m ind that those ,
“
Wo uld he remember what took place in t h e relapse ? ”
“ ”
N o w as t o the future
,
hinted Mr Lorry , . .
”
A S to the future said the Doctor recovering firmness
, , ,
”
an d passed, I S hould hope tha t the worst was over .
238 A T AL E OF Tw o CITI E S .
said Mr Lorry
. .
“ ”
I am thankful ! repeated the Doctor bending his head
with reverence .
“
There are t wo other points , said Mr Lorry, o n wh ic h .
“
Yo u cannot do your friend a better service .
much ?
“
I t h in k n o t It may be the character o f his mind, to be
.
“
Yo u are sure t h at he is n o t under t o o great a strain ?
I think I am quite sure o f it ”
.
“
E xcuse me as a pers istent man o f busines s Assuming
,
.
“
Manette with the firmnes s o f self conviction, that an y -
’
innermost working o f this p oor man s m ind He once .
” “
You see t o o said the Doctor tremulously , it is such
, , ,
an O ld companion
”
.
‘
I w ould not keep it said Mr Lorry shaking his h ead ;
”
,
.
,
“
I would recommend him to sacrifice it I only want your .
was ended They passed the day in the count r y and the
.
,
’
manner Mr Lorry hacked the S hoemaker S bench to pieces ,
, .
C HAPTE R XX .
A P LE A .
C harles Darnay
H e watche d his opportunity O f taking Darnay aside int o
a window , and o f speaking to him when no o n e overheard .
“
Mr Darnay, said C arton, I wish we might be friends
.
” “
.
”
We are already friends I h Ope ,
.
“
Upon my life said C arton smiling I fin d that easier
,
” “
, ,
“
I remember a certain famous occasion when y ou forced
me to confe ss that you h ad been drinking ”
.
“
I remember it t o o The curse o f those occasions is
.
at an end f o r me ! — ’
D on t be alarmed ; I am not going t o
”
preach .
24 4 A T AL E OF T WO CITI E S .
“
I don t know th at y ou ne v er will
’ ’ ‘
.
“ ”
Will y o u try ?
That is another way o f say ing that I am placed o n the
footing I have indicated I thank you Darnay I may.
,
.
”
use that freedom with your name ?
“
I think so C arton, by this time
, .
We are thoughtful to -
night ! said Darnay, drawing his
ar m about her .
“
Yes dearest C harles with her hands o n his breast, an d
,
”
,
’
o n o u r mind to night
-
.
“ ”
What is it m y Lucie ?
,
”
beg you not to ask it ?
Will I prom ise ? W h at will I not promise t o my
Love ? ’
h air from the cheek an d his other hand against the h eart
,
”
s ideration and re spect than you expres sed for him to night
-
.
“ ”
Indeed , my o w n ? Why so ?
“
If y o u know it it is enough W h at woul d y o u hav e
,
.
”
m e do my Life
,
?
“
I would ask you dearest to be very generous wit h h im
, ,
”
I never thought this Of him .
“
My husband it is so I fear he is not to be reclaimed ;
,
.
”
things .
246 A T ALE OF Tw o C ITI E S .
“ ”
And 0 m y dearest Love ! she urged clinging nearer
, ,
“
eyes to his remem b er h o w strong we are in o u r happi
,
”
ness and h o w weak he is in his misery !
,
”
I live .
then pacing the dark streets , could hav e heard her inno
cent disclosure, an d could have s e en the drops o f p ity
kissed away by her h usband from the soft blue eyes S O
lov ing o f t h at husband he might hav e cried t o the nig ht
,
CH A P TE R X X I .
E C HOI N G F O O TS TE P S .
n ot
. The y see my F ather s face 0 F ather blessed words !
’
.
,
that blew over a little garden tomb were mingled with the m
-
chubby arms and he kept his place with her as she gre w .
widow with property and three boys who had nothing par ,
t icu lar ly S hining about them but the straight hair of their
dumpling heads .
patronage o f the most offens ive qual ity from every pore ,
’
corner in S oho and h ad o ffe r e d as pupils to Lucie s hus
,
“
band : delicately saying Halloa ! here are three lumps ,
Darnay ! ”
The polite rejection o f t h e t h ree lumps o f
bread and cheese h ad qui t e bloated Mr Stryver w ith in
- -
.
in practice to “
catc h h im and o n the diamond cut
”
,
-
“ ”
him not to be caught S ome o f his K ing s Bench famil
.
’
iar s who were occas ionally parties to the full b odied w ine
,
-
and the lie excused him for th e latter by say ing that he
,
’
and those o f her o w n dear father s always active and self,
e ars, o f the many times her father had told her that he
found her more devoted t o him married (if that could be)
t han s ingle , and o f t h e many times her husband had said
t o h er that n o cares and duties seemed t o di v ide her lo v e
f o r h im o r her help to h im , and asked her What is the
“
b e hurried, o r t o h a v e t o o muc h t o do ?
But there were other echoes from a distance that
, , ,
an d eigh t y nine , Mr -
Lorry came in late from Te lls o n s
.
,
’
,
“ ”
I began t o think said Mr Lorry pushing his brown
, .
,
s on s
’
We hav e been s o full o f business all day, that w e
.
“
N o t a theory ; it was a fan cy .
”
A fancy then my wise pet said Mr Lorry, patting
, , , .
afar O ff, as the little circle sat in the dark London Window .
“
Keep near to me Jacques Three cried Defarge ; and
, ,
”
is my wife ?
“
E h , well ! Here you see me ! said madame composed
”
,
knife .
“
Where do y o u go my wife ?
,
“
C ome then ! cried Defarge in a resounding voice
”
, , .
hours .
“
drawbridge down ! Work comrades all work ! Work , , ,
“ ”
To me women ! ,cried madame his wife What ! .
ditch the S ingle drawbridge the mas s ive stone walls and
, ,
‘
,
mass ive stone walls and the eight great towers and still
, ,
Show it me !
Pass this way, then .
’
he held by the turnkey s The ir three heads had been clos e
.
the walls with a deep hoarse roar, from which occas ion
, ,
h and an d arm went with all the speed they could make
,
.
“
Pas s that torch slowly along these walls , th at I may
”
see them , said Defarge to the turnkey .
”
Alexandre Manette s aid Defarge in his ear, follow ,
, ,
Give it me !
He had still the linstock o f his gun in his o w n h and He .
few blows .
” “
see ! Here is m y knife throwing it to him ; rip open that
,
”
bed and search the straw Hold the light higher y ou !
,
.
,
”
Jacques ?
“
Nothing .
”
S O ! Light them , you !
The turnkey fi re d the little pile w h ich blazed high an d , ,
” ”
husband ! she cried pointing him o u t ,
S ee Defarge ! .
stain e d r e d .
CHAPT E R XX I I .
TH E SE A S TI L L RIS E S .
ing light and heat con t emplating the wine S hop an d the
,
-
“
it : I know how hard it has grown for me the wearer o f ,
y ou ?
”
E ver y lean bare arm ,
that had been without work b e
A TAL E OF TW O CITI E S . 2 61
“
Hark ! ”
said The Vengeance “
Listen , then ! W h o .
”
comes ?
A S if a train of powder laid from the outermost bound
o f the S aint Antoine Quarter to the wine S h O door had -
p ,
along .
“ “ ”
It is Defarge s aid madame ,
S ilence patriots !.
,
“ ”
an d looke d around him ! Listen everywhere ! said ,
“ ”
madame again L isten to him !
. Defarge stood pant ,
S ay then my husband
,
Wh at is it ? ”
.
ot h er world ? ”
“
Does everybody h ere recall o ld F oulon who told t h e ,
”
The news is o f him He is among us ! .
262 A TA LE OF Tw o CITI E S :
”
dead ?
“
N o t dead ! He feared us so muc h — an d wit h reason
that he caused himself to be represented as dead, and had
a grand mock funeral But they have found him alive
.
,
H ad he reason ? ”
cry.
“ ”
Patriots ! said Defarge, in a determined voice,
w e ready ? ”
F oulon who tol d the starving people t hey might eat grass !
F oulon who told my o ld father that he might eat grass,
when I had no bread to give h im ! F oulon who told my
baby it might suck grass when these breasts were dry wit h
,
g round that
,
gras s may grow from h im ! With these c ries ,
- h im in the H all .
264 A TAL E OF Tw o CI TIE S .
”
well done Let him eat it n o w !
. Madame put her knife
under h er arm , an d clapped her h ands as at a play .
instant the barrier o f dust and chaff that had stood sur
r is in l long we t to the wi ds and Saint Antoine had
p g y ,
n n ,
got h im !
It was known directly, to the furthest confines o f the
crowd Defarge had but sprung o v er a railing and a table
.
,
h im to the lamp !
Down an d up, and h ead foremost o n t h e steps O f th e
,
2 66 A TALE OF TWO CITI E S .
with its las t knot o f customers and Mons ieur Defarge said
,
CH APT E R XXIII .
FI RE RI S E S .
men women, childr e n , and the soil that bore them — all
,
worn o u t .
Monseigneur .
finger .
“
Yo u go down h ere ,
an d straight t h rough t he
s treet, past the fountain
an d
”
streets and past n o fountai n s Well ? .
“
Well ! About two leagues beyond t h e summit O f t h at
h ill abo v e the v illage ”
.
”
At sunset .
“
Surely .
As the road mender pl ied his dusty labour, and the h ail
-
h air and beard the coarse woollen red cap, th e rough medley
,
and h is feet were footsore and his ankles chafed and bleed
,
ing ; his great S hoes stu ffed with leaves and grass had
, ,
over F rance .
to the pattering lum ps o f dull ice o n his body and the dia
monds into which the s u n changed t hem until the s u n was ,
mender o f roads having got his tools together and all things
ready to go down into the village roused him , .
”
‘
Good ! said the sleeper rising o n his elbow , .
”
league s beyond the summit o f the hill ?
”
About .
About Good ! .
A faint murmur arose about the h ouse from the few people
w h o w ere left there an d there was saddling o f a h orse an d
,
the darkness and bridle was drawn in the space by the vil
,
The tocsin rang impatiently but other help (if that were ,
We st, North, and S outh, along the nig h t ens h rouded roads, -
the road before his posting house gate which the v illage -
,
A TALE OF T WO CITI E S . 275
C HAPT E R XX IV .
D R A WN TO TH E L O A D S TO NE R O C K .
’
seigneur, after boldly reading the Lord s Prayer ba c kwards
f o r a great number O f years and performing many ot h er
,
lation was all gone together Royalty was gone ; had been
, .
’
place o f Monseigneur in London was Te lls o n s Ban k
, ,
.
’
is in Te llso n s confidence As t o the un certain travelling,
.
“
I wish I were going myself, said C harles Darnay
”
,
“
Indeed ! Yo u are a pretty fellow t o object an d advise !
exclaimed Mr Lorry .
“
Yo u wish y o u were going your
.
”
ble people , and having abandoned something t o them he ,
“
And I am , in plain reality The truth is my dear .
,
these with the least possible delay, and the burying of them,
’
o r otherwise getting o f them o u t of harm s way is within ,
’
Te lls o n s knows this and says this — Te lls o n s , whos e ’
“
Tut ! Nonsens e, sir ! — An d my dear Ch arles said , ,
“
Mr Lorry glancing at the House again you are to r e
.
, ,
”
stopped .
“
And do y o u really go to nigh t ? -
”
ing to admit o f delay .
An d do y o u take n o o n e wit h y o u ? ”
2 80 A TALE OF Tw o CI TI E S .
“
I must say again that I heartily admire your gallan
try and youthfulness .
'
vest ever known under the skies that h ad not been sow n
as if nothing h ad ever been done o r om itted to be done , ,
w h o was n o t t o be found .
“
Nep h ew, I believe — but in any case dege n e rate succes
s or — Of the polished Marquis w h o was murdered ,
”
s aid
one .
“
Happy to say I ne v er knew him , .
“
Infected with the n e w doctrines ”
said a t h ird ey e ing , ,
“
Hey ? ”
cried the blatant Stryv er “
Did h e th ough ? .
“ ”
I know the fello w .
DO y o u , by Jupit e r ? ”
said Stry v er “
I am sorry .
”
f o r it .
(C
Wh y ? ”
“ ”
But I do ask why .
“
I understand h o w t o put yo u in a corner Mr Darnay , .
,
’
t le m an , I d o n t understand him Yo u may tell him so with .
,
”
But, n o gentlemen, said Stryver looking all round and
, , ,
p ro tegés .
“ ”
Will y ou take charge o f the letter ? said Mr Lorry . .
o ther men Darnay made the best o f his way Into the quiet
,
its contents :
Pr i s o n of th e A bb ay e P ari s, . Ju ne 2 1 ,
1 792 .
M O N S I E UR H E RE TO F O RE TH E MA R Q U IS .
“
The crime f o r w h ic h I am imprisoned, Monsieur here
t ofore the Mar quis , and for which I shall be summoned
before the tribunal , and shall lose my life (without your
)
s o ge n erous help , is , they tell me treason against the ,
grant ?
“
Ah ! most gracious Mons ieur h eretofore t h e Mar quis ,
g o
. E ver y thing that arose before his mind drifted him on ,
attraction His latent uneasi n ess had been that bad aim s
.
,
he was better than the y was not there try ing t o do some
, ,
which had stung him bitterly, and those of Stry ver whi c h ,
above all were coarse and galling for old reasons Upon , .
’
thos e, had followed Gabelle s letter : the appeal of an inno
cent prisoner, in danger o f death , to his justice honour, ,
p le t
,
e presented it before him in an aspect that would be
cons idered that neither Lucie nor her father must know of
it until he was gone Lucie should be S pared the pai nof
.
in hi s course .
M r Lorry
.
“
I would not cons ent to your being charge d
.
with any written answer, but perhaps you will take a verbal
? ”
one
“
That I will, and r e adily , said Mr Lorry, if it is not ”
.
“
”
dangerous .
“
Not at all Though it is t o a prisoner in t h e Abbaye
. .
”
Gabelle .
Gabelle in prison ?
“
S imply , that h e h as receiv ed th e letter, and will
‘
’
come .
“
Any time m e ntioned ?
He will start upon his j o urn e y t o morro w nig h t ” -
.
”
Any person mentioned ?
No .
“
Lorry at parti n g, and take precious care o f them till I
come back ”
C harles Darnay S hook his he ad and doub t
.
C HAPTE R I .
IN SE C RE T .
house had its band o f citizen pat r iots wit h their national
-
,
2 90
A TA LE OF Tw o C I TIE S . 2 91
bed tired out in a little town o n the high road still a long
, ,
w ay from Paris .
’
Nothing but the production of the afflicted Gabelle s letter
from his prison o f the Abbaye would have go t him o n so
far His difficulty at the guard house in this small place
.
-
o f the night .
“
E migrant said the functionary, I am going to send
”
,
“
”
y o u o n to Paris under an escort ,
.
“
C itizen I desire nothing more than to get to Paris
, ,
”
though I could dispense with the escort .
“ ”
S ilence ! growled a red cap striking at the coverlet -
,
“ ”
with the butt e n d of his musket -
Peace aristocrat ! .
,
“ ”
It i s as the good patrio t say s observed the timid f unc ,
t io n ar y
“
. You are an aristocrat, and must ha v e an escort
— and must pay for it ” .
2 92 A TALE OF T WO CITIE S .
c ap
.
“
As if it was n o t a fav our to be protected from t h e
lamp iron !
-
“ ”
It is always as the good patriot say s observed the ,
”
functionary Rise and dres s yourself emigrant
.
, .
’
th e wet, wet roads at three 0 clock in the morning .
c h ange except o f horses and pace, all the mire deep league s
,
-
C harles Darnay did not allow the restraint that was lai d
upon him to awaken any serious fears in h is breast ; f o r,
h e reasoned with himself that it could hav e no reference t o
the merits o f an individual case that was n o t yet stated,
294 A TALE OF TW O CITI E S .
master shut and barred the crazy doub le gates The far .
“
What is this decree that the smith S poke o f ? Darnay
asked the postmaster, when he had thanked them and stood ,
“ ”
Truly, a decree f o r selling the property o f emigrants .
“
But ther e are n o suc h decrees yet ?
What do I know ! said the postmaster, s h rugging h is
”
“
shoulders ; there may be o r there will be It is all the
,
.
familiar things which make this wild ride unreal not the ,
“ ”
Where are the papers o f this prisoner ? demanded a
resolute looking man in authority , who was summoned out
-
by the guard .
”
oner ?
The drunken patriot h ad them in his cap and pro duced ,
sat upon their horses outside the gate Looking about him .
and women .
E vr emonde ?
“
This is the man .
Thirty seven -
.
Married, Ev r emonde ? ”
”
Yes .
Where m arri e d ?
I n E n glan d ”
.
2 98 A TA L E OE TW O CITI E S .
“
A bad tr u th f o r y o u , said Defarge , speaking with
knitted brows , and looking straight before h im .
“
Indeed I am lost here All here is s o unprece dented,
,
.
h im .
“
Will y o u answer m e a s ingle question ? ”
”
it is .
“
I n th is prison that I am going t o s o unjustl y shall I ,
”
been similarly buried in worse prisons before n o w .
“
But n ever by me, C itizen Defarge .
“
It is o f the utmost importance t o me (y o u kn o w, C iti
zen , e v en better than I o f h o w much importance ) that I
, ,
”
f o r me ?
“ ” “
I will do Defarge doggedly rej oin ed, nothing f o r
,
for y o u .
“
What the Devil ! H o w m any more o f them ! exclaimed
t h e m an with the bloated face .
dear ! ”
T h ree turnkeys w h o entered responsive t o t h e bell
s h e rang echoe d t h e sentiment
“
, and o n e added F o r the
, ,
for !
In secret, t o o grumbled t h e gaoler looking at the writ
, ,
that the in v ers ion o f all experience and likeli h ood whic h
the scene o f S h adows pre sented, was h eighten e d t o its
utmost Surely, ghosts all Surely, the long unreal ride
. .
”
tune said a gentleman o f courtly appear an ce and addres s ,
,
“
But I hope said t h e gentleman, following the c h ief
”
,
“
Ah , what a p ity ! We s o muc h regret it ! But take
C ourage ; s everal members o f ou r society hav e been in
”
secret at first an d it has laste d but a short time
, ,
Then .
”
in secret .
s ight f o r ever .
“
Yours , said the gaol e r
”
.
”
more .
“
F ive paces by four and a half fi ve paces by four and a ,
h e made shoes ”
The prisoner c ounted t h e measurement
.
3 04 A TAL E OF Tw o CI TI E S .
again, and paced faster to draw his m ind wit h him from
,
" ith such scraps tossing and rolling upward from the
W
depths o f h is mind the prisoner walked faster and faster
, ,
C HAPT E R II .
TH E G R I N D S TO NE .
TE LL S ON ’
Bank e stablished in t h e Saint G e rmain
S ,
O pened not only the glass window, but the lattice blind
,
through h is frame .
F rom the streets bey ond the high w all and the str ong
gate , there came th e usual night hum o f the city, wit h now
and t h en an indescribable ring in it weird and unearthly, ,
“ ” “
Thank God said Mr Lorry clasping his hands that
, .
, ,
was quiet .
“
What is this ! cried Mr Lorry breathles s and confused
.
, .
C harles ”
.
What of Ch arles ? ”
”
Here .
”
Here , in Paris ?
Has been here some days ,
— t h ree o r four — I don t’
s ame moment the bell of the great gate rang again, and a
,
“ ”
’
Don t look ! cried Mr Lorry Don t look o u t !
. .
’
’ ”
Manette , for your life , don t touch the blind !
The Doctor turned, with h is h and upon the fastening O f
the window, an d said, with a cool bold smile :
“
My dear friend I h ave a charmed li f e in this city I
, .
“ ’
Don t look ! ”
cried Mr Lorry absolutely d e sp e rate
.
, .
La F orce !
La F orce ! Lucie m y c h ild, if e v er y o u w e r e b r ave
,
nets , swords , all brought to be sharp e ned were all red with ,
’
friend s ashy face .
“
They are Mr Lorry w h ispered the words glancing
”
,
.
,
ble sound o f his voice ; and then Mr Lorry saw him sur .
,
her that her father was assiste d by the people and gone in ,
fallen o n the pillow bes ide her pret t y c h arge 0 the long .
,
long night with the moans o f the poor wife And O the
, .
ings !
Twice more in the darkness the bell at t h e great gat '
“
afi r igh t e d
’
Hush ! The soldiers swords are sharpened
.
” “
there , said Mr Lorry The place is National property
. .
”
now and used as a kind o f armoury my love
, , .
Twice more in all ; but the last spell of work was feeble ,
CH AP T E R I I I .
TH E S HA D OW .
business .
’
paper I t b o r e the w ords in th e Doctor s writing,
.
.
yet I have O btained the fav our that the bearer has a short
.
“ ”
Will y ou accompany me said Mr Lorry, j oy f u lly r e
, .
“
lie v e d after reading this note aloud, t o where his wife
”
resides ?
“
Ye s retur n ed Defarge
,
.
hat and they went down into the court yard T h ere, they -
.
“
Madame Defarge surely ! ,
”
said M r Lorry , wh o had .
“
It is she, obser ved her h usband
”
.
that S h e mo v ed as they mo v ed .
“
Yes That she may be able t o recognise t h e faces and
.
”
know the persons It is f o r their safety
. .
to him .
”
ou r child for me .
“
Yo u h ad better Lucie ”
said Mr Lorry doing all h e
, , .
,
“
could to propitiate, by tone and manner have the dea r ,
“ ”
Is that his child ? said Madame Defarge , stopping in
h er work f or the first time and pointing her knitting needle
,
-
” “
Yes , madame answered Mr Lorry ; this is our poor
,
.
’ ”
prisoner s darl ing daughter and only ch ild , .
“
It is enough , my husband, s aid Madame D e farge
”
.
“
You will be good t o my poor husband Yo u will .
”
c an ?
“
Your husband is n o t my business here, returne d
Madame Defarge , looking down at her wit h perfect compos
ure . It is the daughter o f your father wh o is my busi
ness h ere ”
.
“
F o r my sake then be merciful t o my husband
, , F or .
m y c h ild s sake !
’
She will put her hands together an d pray
31 8 A TA LE OF TW O CI TI E S .
her.
“
C ourage courage ! S o far all goes well with us
,
much much better t han it has o f late gone with many poor
,
“
I am not thankless I h Ope but that dreadful woman , ,
”
seems to throw a shadow o n me an d o n all my hopes .
“ ” “
Tut tut ! said Mr Lorry ; what is this despondency
,
.
troubled h im greatly .
CHA P T E R IV .
CA LM IN S TO RM .
o ners o f both sexe s and all ages had been killed by the
dirty with murder and some c lean some sober and some ,
not — for his life and liberty That in the first frantic .
,
Doctor had covered his eyes with his hands , and swooned
away in the midst o f it .
the first time , he felt that in that sharp fire h e had slowly ,
forged the iron which could break the prison door o f his
“
daughter s husband, and deliver him
’
It all tended to a
.
better hands .
But though the Doctor tried hard and never ceased try
, ,
death against the world in arms ; the black flag waved night
and day from the great towers o f Notre Dame ; three hun -
grass and the stubble o f the corn along the fruitful banks ,
o f the broad rivers and in the sand o f the sea shore What -
.
,
not O pened !
There was n o pause no pity no peace no interval of
, , ,
the evening and the morning were th e first day other count ,
A TA L E OF Tw o CI TI E S . 3 23
obta ins in all such c ases the time was lo n g wh ile it flamed
, ,
in as many minutes .
the gr ief s h e had repressed all day, and would say that her
sole reliance, under Heav en was o n him He always res o
,
.
“
lu t e ly answered : Nothing c an happen to him without my
knowledge and I know that I c an sav e him , Lucie
,
”
.
They had not made the round o f their changed life , many
weeks , when her father said t o h er o n comin g home o n e ,
e v ening :
“
My dear th ere is an upper window in t h e prison t o
, ,
”
you to make a S ign o f recognition .
“
0 S how me the place , my father, an d I w ill go there
”
every day .
“ ”
Good day citizeness ,
.
”
Good day citizen ,
.
'
“
Walking here again citizeness ?
,
“
But it s not my business, said h e And w e nt o n saw
’
.
ing h is wood .
“
What ! Walking he r e again, citizenes s ? ”
Yes , citizen .
in g close to her .
Yes dearest
,
Yes citizen
,
.
’
Ah ! But it s n o t my business My work is my busi .
”
la la ; La, la la ! And Off his head comes !
, ,
”
And o ff its head comes All the fam ily ! .
receiv ed .
decorated with little pikes , and with little red caps stuck
upon them ; also wit h tricoloured ribbons ; also , wit h the
,
’
bared t o this, the pretty almost child s head thus dis
'
“
I know my dear I know,
I have seen it many
,
.
h arm y ou
-
”
.
“
I am not frightened f o r myself my fat h er But ,
.
“ ”
I do s o father, an d I send him my Soul with it !
,
A TAL E OF Tw o CI TI E S . 3 31
N o father,
”
said Lucie yearning an d weeping as s h e
, ,
“
kissed her hand n o ,
.
” “ ”
you citizeness from the Doctor
, ,
I salute y o u ci t izen .
,
.
“
Gi v e me your arm m y lo v e Pass from here with an ,
.
” “
well done ; the y had left the spot ; it shall n o t be in
vain C h arles is summone d f o r to morrow
.
” -
.
“
F o r to morrow ! -
”
afraid ?
“
She could scarcely answer I trust in you ,
.
Do so implicitly
,
Your suspense is nearly ended my
.
,
”
Lorry .
“ ”
I must see Lorry the Doctor repeated turning her , ,
another way .
”
c ie r ge rie , an d summoned f o r t o morrow
-
.
C HAP T E R VI .
T RIU M P H .
every evening, and were read out by the gaolers o f the v ari
o u s prisons t o their prisoners The standard gaoler j oke -
.
was ,
“
C om e o u t an d listen t o the Ev ening P ap e r, you
inside there !
“
C harles Ev r emonde , called Darnay !
S o at last began the Ev ening P aper at La F orc e
, , .
and a half .
.
, ,
the Pre sident sat Doctor Ma ri ette in his usual quiet dres s ,
‘
“
Take O ff his head ! cried t h e audienc e
”
An e nemy .
A citizenes s o f F rance ?
Yes By birth
. .
33 6 A TALE OE T WO CITI E S .
“ ”
they continue d t o cry N o ! until they lef t o ff o f the ir ,
o w n will .
h im free .
itself and the nation for a c h ance lost, that t h ese five came
down to him before he left the place , condemned to die
with in twenty four h ours The fi rst o f them told him s o
-
.
,
in g all by turns and all together until the very tide o f the
, ,
river o n the ban k o f which the mad scene was acted, seemed
to r u n mad like the people o n the shore
,
.
, .
and along the river s bank and over the bridge, the C ar
’
,
’
After grasping the Doctor s hand as he stood victoriou s ,
“
Lucie ! My o w n ! I am safe .
“
And n o w speak t o your father, dearest N o ot h er m an .
C HAP T E R VI I .
A N
K O CK A T TH E DOOR .
C runc h er s n ame
’
, t h erefore ,
duly embellished the doorp o st
down below ; and, as the afternoon shadows deepened th e ,
about the time when the public lamps were ligh ted, they
fared fort h o n this duty , and made and brought h ome such
purchases as were needful Althoug h Mis s Pross , through
.
“
Now, Mr C runc h er said Miss Pros s whose ey e s were
.
”
, ,
H e had worn all his rust Off long ago but nothing would ,
“ ”
There s all manner o f things wanted, said Mis s Pross,
’
in g, where v er we buy it
”
.
“
It will be much the same to your knowledge miss I , ,
h ealth o r the O ld ! n s ’ ”
.
“
Who s he ? said Miss P ross
’”
.
’ ”
as meaning O ld Nick s .
“ ” “ ’
Ha ! said Mis s Pross it doesn t need an interpreter ,
’ ”
on e,
and it s Midnight Murder and Mischief , .
“
Hus h dear ! Pray pray be cautious ! cried Lucie
,
”
, ,
.
’ ”
Yes yes yes I ll be cautious said Mis s Pross ; but
, , , ,
never you stir from that fire till I com e back Take care .
’
o f the dear husband you have recovered an d don t move ,
s w e r e d smiling
, .
“
F or gracious sake don t talk about Liberty ; we h av e
’
,
“ ”
Hush dear ! Again ? Lucie remonstrated
,
.
‘ ”
Well my sweet, said Mis s Pross nodding her head
, ,
“
emphatically, the short and the long o f it is that I am ,
”
King !
Mr C runcher, in an acces s o f loyalty , growlingly r e
.
“
I am glad y o u have s o muc h o f the E nglishman in yo u ,
th ough I wish y o u had never taken that cold in your v oice, ”
“
said Miss Pros s , approvingly But the question , Doctor
.
’
Manette Is there . it was the good creature s way t o
affect t o make light o f anything that was a great anxiety
with them all and t o come at it in this chance mann e r
,
“
is there any prospect yet, o f o u r getting o u t o f t h is
”
place ?
“
I fear n o t yet It would be dangerous f o r Ch arles yet
. .
Don t y o u mo v e , Ladybird !
’ ”
Yo u know h im
have said Do y ou know m e ?
, y
o u .
”
“
C itizen Doctor, said t h e first, reluctantly ; h e has “
”
Saint Antoine .
”
O f what ? asked the Doctor .
“
t an ce ,
ask n o more If the Republic demands sacrifices
.
“ ” “
O ne word the Doctor entreated
,
Will y ou tell me .
”
wh o denounced him ?
“
It is against rule , answered t h e fi rst ; but y o u c an ask
”
said :
“
Well ! Truly it is against rule But h e is denounced .
And by o n e other .
“
Wh at other ?
Do yo u ask, C itizen Doctor ? ”
”
Yes .
”
y o u will be answered to morrow N o w , I-
am dumb !.
A TA L E OE Tw o CITIE S . 34 7
C HAPT E R VIII .
A HA ND AT CA RD S .
and to the ear with harsh noises , S howed where the barges
were stationed in which the smiths worked making gun s ,
measure o f o il for the lamp Mis s Pros s beth ought hers elf
,
took her fancy It had a quieter look than any other place
.
“ ”
What is the matter ? said the m an w h o had cause d
Miss Pross to scream ; speaking in a v exed abrupt v o ic e
o w tone ), an d in E nglish
( though in a l .
350 A TAL E OE Tw o CITIE S .
”
I am busy I am an official
. .
“
My E nglish brother S olomon, mourned Mis s Pr o ss ,
“
The gracious and merciful Heav ens forbid ! ”
cried
Miss Pros s “
F ar rather woul d I ne v er s e e y ou again, dear
.
left her !
He was saying t h e affectionate word h owe v er, w it h a ,
“
C ome ! said Mr C runcher
”
.
“
Speak o u t, y o u know
. .
(Which ,
by the way ,
was more than he could d o h imself ) .
“
John S olomon, o r Solomon John ? She calls you Solo
m o n , and she must know, being your sister And I know .
”
your name over the water .
W h at do you mean ? ”
) 1
‘6
NO ?
No . But I ll swear it was a name o f tw o syllabl e s
’
.
”
I ndeed ?
’ ’
Ye s T other one s was o n e syllable I know y o u
. . .
“
D on t be alarmed, my dear Mis s P ross I arri v e d at
’
.
h im h o w h e d ar e d
35 2 A TAL E OE Tw o CITIE S .
“
I ll te l l y o u , said Sydney
’
I lighted o n y ou , Mr . .
“ ”
What purpose ? the spy asked .
’
s on s B ank, f o r instance ?
“
Under a threat ?
O h ! Did I say that ! ”
’ ’ ”
Really Mr B arsad I can t say, if y o u can t
, .
, ,
.
lu t e ly asked .
“
Yo u appre h end me v ery clearly, M r B arsad I won t’ ”
. . .
most o f it .
“
C ome come, Mr Barsad ! exclaimed Sydney
,
. Don t’
.
35 4 A TALE or Tw o CITI E S .
”
I told y ou y o u had a remarkable face , Mr Barsad, .
“
Lorry wanted, by saying t o h im with a frown Witness at ,
”
that trial Mr Lorry immediately remembered and r e
. .
,
rence .
“
Mr B arsad has been recognised by Miss P ros s as the
.
” “
a ffectionate brother you have heard o f , said S y dney and ,
’
Darnay has been arrested again .
”
Just n o w, if at all .
doubt t h at he is retaken .
ti v e .
“
N o w I trust ”
,
said Sydney t o h im, that t h e name and
,
“
“
Yes ; I believe s o .
n o t be s o I o w n t o y o u , I am shaken, Mr Lorry by
. .
,
A TA L E OE TW O C I TI E S . 5
”
arrest .
“ ”
He may not have known o f it beforehand, said Mr .
Lorry .
“
But that very circumstance would be alarming when we ,
”
remember how identified he is with his s o n in law - -
.
“ ”
’
That s true Mr Lorry acknowledged with his troubled
,
.
,
“ ” “
I n short said S y dne y this I s a desperate time when
, , ,
’
N O man s life here is worth purchase Any o n e carried .
“
Yo u need hav e good cards s ir ”
said the spy , , .
“’
I ll ru n them over I ll s ee what I hold — M r Lorry
.
’
. .
,
’
y o u know what a brute I am ; I wish you d give me a little
”
brandy .
“
Mr Barsad h e went o n in t h e tone o f o n e w h o really
.
”
, ,
“
was looking over a hand at cards : Sheep o f the prisons ,
e missary of Republican committees now turnkey , now ,
my h and, Mr B arsad ?.
what uneasily .
“
I play my Ace, Denunciation o f M r B arsad t o t h e .
“
Look over your hand carefully Mr B arsad Take time
, . . .
kne w that under the overth rown gover n ment h e had been
a spy upon S aint Antoine and De f ar ge s wine s h op ; h ad ’ -
C arton .
“
Yo u think not, sir ? ”
contemplating cards
“
A n d indeed, now I think again I h ave a strong impres ,
ated That friend and fellow Sheep who spoke o f him self
.
-
,
“
F rench Yo u don t kno w him, s aid the spy quickly
.
’
,
.
”
he may be .
“ ’
Is I assure you said the spy ; though it s not impor
, ,
”
tant .
“
T h ough it s n o t important, repeated C arton in t h e
’
,
”
N o it s n o t important
,
’
NO Yet I know the face
. . .
“ ’ ”
I think not I am sure n o t It can t be said the spy
. .
, .
“
It — ’ —
can t b e ”
muttered Sy dney C arton r e t r o s pe c
, ,
t iv e ly, and filling his glass (wh ich fortunately was a small
on e
) aga in “
C.an ’
t — be Spoke good. F renc h Yet like .
a foreigner, I thought ?
“
Pr ovincial said the spy
”
,
.
A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S . 359
No . F oreign !
crie d C arton striking his ope n h and
”
,
”
us at the O ld Bailey .
“
Now there you are hasty s ir
,
said Barsad with a , , ,
“
Let us be reasonable said t h e spy, and let us be fair
”
,
.
s ince There it is
. O h look at it look at it ! Yo u may
.
, ,
” ’
take it in y our hand ; it s no forgery .
“
T h at there Roger C ly master said Mr C runcher, wit h
”
, , .
3 60 A TA LE OE Tw o CITI E S .
co ffi n ? ”
“
I did .
Wh o took him ou t o f it ? ”
”
do y o u mean ?
“
I mean , said M r C runcher, that he w arn t ne v er in
” “
.
’
e v er in it .
“ ” “
I tell y o u said Jerry , that y o u burie d paving stones
,
-
”
kno ws it .
H o w do y o u know it ?
What s t h at t o y o u ? E c o d ! growled Mr C runc he r,
’ ”
.
“ ’
it s y o u I have go t a o ld grudge again, is it with your ,
“
At another time, s ir, he returned e v asively the pres
” “
, ,
h im .
”
“
Humph ! I s ee o n e thing said C arton ,
I h old .
“
Why need you tell me what I h av e n o t ask e d ? You
ar e a turnkey at the C onciergerie ?
“
I am sometimes .
’
Yo u c an be when y o u choose ?
I can pass in and o u t when I choose .
”
le t us have on e final w ord alone .
C HAP T E R IX .
TH E GAM E M A DE .
t hose l imbs and were trying them all ; he exam ined his
,
“ ”
Jerry, said Mr Lorry “
C om e here
.
”
. .
A TA L E OE Tw o C I TI E S . 3 63
“
What have you been besides a messenger ? ,
”
replying, A gr icu lt o o r al character .
“ ”
My mind misgive s me much , said Mr Lorry angrily .
,
’
respectable and great house o f Te lls o n s as a blind and ,
’
me t o keep your secret Te llso n s shall not be imposed
.
upon ? ’
“
I h Ope sir pleaded the abashed Mr C runcher that a
,
”
,
“
.
,
’
j obbing till I m grey at it, would think twice about harming
o f me even if it w o s s o — ’
I don t say it is but even if it
, ,
’ ’ ’
wos it wouldn t , even then be all 0 o n e S ide There d be
, ,
.
in — even if it w o s s o .
is
Don t pre v aricate s aid Mr Lorry
’
. .
“ ’
were further from his thoughts o r practice wh ich I don t
say it is — w o t I would humbly offer t o y o u , S ir, would be
t h is Upon that t h ere st ool , at that there B ar, sets that
.
’ ’
father go into the line o f the reg lar diggin , an d make
amends f o r w h at he would h ave u n dug — if it w os s o -
’ ’ ’ ” ’
r e s e c t in the futur keepin o f em safe That Mr Lorry
p ,
.
,
.
’ ’
m an don t see all this here a goin o n dr eadful round him ,
3 66 A TAL E OE Tw o CITIE S .
h owev e r .
“
To return to poor Darnay s aid C arton ’
Don t tell , .
“
S h e m ight think a t h ousand things C arton said, and
” “
,
”
d esolate t o night -
.
“
I am going now directly , .
“ ”
Anxious and unhappy, but very beautiful .
”
Ah !
It was a long grievi n g sound like a sigh — almost like a
, ,
o f the fire touching the ir light surfaces made him look very
“
I forgot it h e said
”
, .
“
Yes As I was telling you last night w h en Lucie came
.
”
ready to go .
”
Yours is a long life t o look back upon, sir ? said
C arton wistfully
,
.
“
I am in my se v enty eighth year -
.
“
I h ave been a man o f business ever s ince I have been a ,
”
when a boy .
“
See what a place y ou fill at seventy eight H ow many -
.
h is head “
.There is nobody t o weep for me ”
.
“
How can y o u say t h at ? Wouldn t She weep f o r y o u ?
’
“ ’
Yes yes , thank G o d
,
I didn t quite mean what I
.
”
said .
“
It is a thing to thank God for ; is it not ?
Surely surely ,
.
would they n o t ?
Yo u say truly Mr C arton ; I think they would be
,
. .
“
Twenty years back yes ; at this time o f my life n o
, , .
I understand th e feeling ! ”
exclaimed C art o n , with a
bright flush “
An d y ou are t h e better f o r it ?
I h Ope s o .
3 70 A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S .
Do y o u often go t o see h im
Shav e ? Always E v ery day W h at a barb e r ! Yo u
. .
”
honour !
As the grinning litt le m an held o u t the pipe he w as
smoki n g, to explain h o w h e time d the executioner, C arton
was s o sensible o f a ris ing desire t o strike the life o u t o f
h im, that he turned away .
“
But you are n o t E nglis h, said the wood sawyer,
” -
h is shoulder .
“
You speak like a F renc h man .
I am an o ld student her e ”
.
”
Good night citiz en ,
.
”
But go and see that droll dog the little man pers iste d, ,
h i ! hi ! ”
”
F o r you citizen ? ,
”
F o r me .
“
Yo u will be careful to keep them separate citizen ? ,
”
s leep .
s aid these words aloud under the fast sailing clo u ds nor -
,
’
been that day put t o death an d f o r to morrow s victims then ,
-
’
words home , like a rusty o ld ship s anchor from the deep,
might h ave b een easily found He did not s eek it, bil t
.
theatre s were all well filled, and the people poured c h eer
fully o u t as he passed, and went chatting h ome At o n e .
“
I am the resurrection and the life , sait h the Lord : h e
t h at belie v eth in me though he were dead, yet shall h e
,
n ever die .
e cu to r .
o r secretly ?
“ ”
O penly President ,
.
By whom ?
”
Antoine .
“
Good .
”
Good .
”
be so dear t o a good citizen as the Republic .
sat down , wit h his eyes looking around, and his lips trem
bling ; h is daughter drew closer t o him The craving man .
“
You did good ser v ice at t he taking o f t h e B astille ,
”
citizen ?
“
I belie v e s o .
The P res ident rang his bell ; but, The Vengeance warming ,
“
with encouragement, shrieked, I defy that bell ! wherein
she was likewise muc h commended .
“
Inform t h e Tribunal o f what y o u did th at day With in ‘
”
the Bastille citizen
,
.
3 78 A TALE OE Tw o CITI E S .
“
Thes e words are formed by the rusty ir on po int with
which I write with di fficulty in scrap ings o f s oot an d char
coal from the ch imney mixed w ith blood in the last mont h
, ,
noted in mys elf that m y reason will not long remain unim
paired, but I solemnly declare that I am at this time in the
possess ion o f my r ight m ind — that my memory is exact
an d c ircumstantial and that I write the truth as I shall
answer for these my last recorded words whether they be ,
“
O ne cloudy moonlight nigh t, in t h e third week o f
December (I think the twenty second o f t h e mon th) in the
-
,
“
The carriage stopped as soon as th e driver could rein in
h is horses, and the sa m e v oice called t o m e by m y name I .
they stood s ide by side near the c arriage door I also observed ,
’
I am .
‘
the young phys ician originally an expert surgeon w h o
, , ,
was not .
’ ‘
Gentlemen said I pardon me ; but I usually inquire
, ,
“
The reply to this was made by him who had spoken
,
. .
carriage ?
“
I could do nothing but comply and I e n tered it in ,
“
F rom the tim e of our alighting at the outer gate (whic h
we found locked an d which o n e o f the brothers had O pene d
,
“
The patient was a woman o f great beauty and young ; ,
’
portions o f a gentleman s dress On o n e o f them which .
,
I had known what I was com ing to see I could have come ,
’
medicines to be obtained in this lonely place .
“
The elder brother looked to the younger who said ,
“
I opened some of the bottles , smelt them and put the ,
’
counti n g up to twelve and Hush ! The fren zy was so ,
the arms ; but I had looked to t hem to see that they were
, ,
was that my hand upon the sufferer s breast had this much
,
’
“
F o r the reason that my hand had this e ff ect (I assume ) ,
A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S . 383
I had sat by the s ide of the bed for half an hour with the ,
’
There is another patient .
up a light .
“
The oth er patient lay in a back room across a second
staircase , whi c h was a species o f loft over a stable There .
his teeth set his right hand clenche d o n his breast and his
, ,
point .
“ ‘ ’ ‘
I am a doctor m y poor fellow said I Let me
, , .
’
examine it .
“
It was under his hand and I soothed him to let me ,
the elder brot h er, I saw him looking down at this handsome
boy whose life was ebbing o u t, as if h e were a wou n ded
bird o r hare o r rabbit ; not at all as if he were a fello w
, ,
creature .
’
s word like a gentleman .
“
There was no touch o f p ity, sorrow, or kindred humanity,
in this answer The S peaker seemed to acknowledge that it
.
“
Doctor, they are very proud, t h ese Nobles ; but we
‘
“
The shrieks and the cries were audible there, though
subdued by the distance He referred to them as if she .
,
“
I said, I have seen h er ’
.
“
It w as with the greatest difficulty that the b oy gat h ered
fronting o n e another I c an see, e v en in this Bastille ; th e
,
’
and died o n her bosom .
’
dow ? It was somewhere here ?
“
The room was darkening to his S ight ; the world w as
narrowing around h im I glanced about me and saw t h at
.
,
the hay and straw were trample d over the floor, as if th ere
h ad been a struggle .
A TA LE OE TW O CITI E S . 3 87
defend himself thrust at me with all his skill for his life .
’
“
My glance had fallen but a few moments before o n the
, ,
’
weapon was a gentleman s I n another place lay an o ld .
,
’
He is not here I said supporting the b oy and t hink
, , ,
‘
He ! Proud as these nobles are he is afraid to see me ,
.
’
I did so raising the boy s head against m y knee But
,
.
,
‘
O pened wide and his right han d raised in the day s when ,
’
as a S ign that I do it .
“
Twice he put his hand to the wound in h is breast and
, ,
“
Wh e n I re t urned to the beds ide of the y oung woman I ,
3 88 A TA LE OE T WO C I TI E S .
I knew that this might last for many hours , and that it
would probably end in the S ilence of the grave .
“
I repeated the medicines I had given her and I sat at ,
the side o f the bed until the night was far advanced She .
‘
They were alway s My husband, my father and m y brother ! ,
“
This lasted twenty six hours from the time when I first
-
saw h er I had come and gone twice and was again sitting
.
,
“
It was as if th e wind and rain h ad lulled at last after ,
’ ’
Not dead said I ; but like to die,
.
’
What strength there is in these common bodies ! he
said looking down at h er with some curiosity
, .
’
There is prodigious stre n gth, I answered him in ,
‘
’
sorrow and despair .
“
He first laughed at my words and t hen frowned at ,
curtain at the head o f the bed when I was there But when .
’
the younger brother s ey es their expres s ion reminded m e ,
“
My patient died tw o hours before midnight — at a,
“
The brothers were waiting in a room down stairs im -
,
’
She is dead said I ,
.
’
I congratulate y o u , my brother were his words as he ,
turned round .
“
He had before o fi e r e d me mone y which I had post ,
’
Pray excuse me said I
‘
Under the circumstances n o
,
.
,
.
e ither side .
“
I am weary weary weary — worn down b y misery I
, ,
.
“
E arly in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at
m y door in a little box with my name o n the outs ide , .
do. I dec ided that day to write priv ately to the Minis
, ,
ter stating the nature o f the two cases to which I had been
,
e nce was and what the immunitie s o f the Nobles were and
, ,
“
I was much engaged that day and could not complete ,
“
I am growing more and more unequal to t h e task I have
s e t m y self .It is s o cold s o dark m y senses are so b e , ,
“
The lady was y oung engaging and handsome but not , , ,
’
band s share in it and my being resorted to She did n o t
,
.
know that the girl was dead Her hope had been she said .
,
’
in great distres s to S how her, in secret, a woman s s y mpa
,
“
She had reasons for believing that there was a youn g
sister living and her greatest des ire was t o help that sis
, ,
ter I could tell her nothing but that there was suc h a
.
t o day
-
.
and disliked her and his influence was all O pposed to her ;
,
and that they have n o part in His mercies And them and .
”
t o Heaven and to earth .
there was not a head in the nation but must have dropped
before it .
need to show that this detested famil y name had long been
an athematised by Saint Antoine and was wrought into the ,
And all the worse for the doomed man that the de ,
’
o n the people s altar Therefore when the President said
.
,
orphan there was wild exc itement pat riotic fervour not
, , ,
“ ”
Much infl uence around him has that Doctor ? mur ,
”
him now m y Doctor save him !
, ,
’
At ever y jury man s vote there was a roar Another and ,
.
C HAPT E R X I .
D US K .
the voice within her representing that it was she of all the
,
’
movement o f the court s empty ing itself by many passages
had n o t ceased when Lucie stood stretching o u t her arms
,
towards her husband with nothing in her face but love and,
consolation .
“
If I might touch him ! If I m ight embrace him once !
0 good citizens if y ou would have so muc h compassion
, ,
.
for us !
3 96 A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S .
”
b u t a moment .It was s ilent ly acquiesced in and they ,
arms .
“
F arewell , dear darling o f m y soul My parting bles s .
”
are at re st !
They were h er husband s words , as he h eld h er t o h is
’
bosom .
“
I c an bear it dear Ch arles I am supported from
,
.
’
above don t suff er f o r me A parting bless ing f o r o u r
:
.
child .
“
I send it t o her by you I kis s h er by y o u I say . .
farewell t o her by y ou .
“
My husband N o ! A moment !
.
”
H e was tearing
h imself apart from h er “
We shall n o t be separated long
. .
”
raise up friends f o r her as He did f o r me ,
.
y ou !
3 98 A TA L E OE T wo CI TI E S .
’
she is better so ; don t revive her t o consciousnes s whil e ,
”
s h e only faints .
“
O h C arton C arton dear C arton ! cried l ittle Lucie
,
”
, , ,
against his face He put her gently from him and looked .
,
“ ”
Before I go, he said, and paused I m ay kiss .
”
her ?
It was remembered afterwards that when h e bent down
an d touched her face with h is lips , he murmure d some
words The child who was nearest to h im told them
.
, ,
love ? ’
When he had gone out into the next room , h e turned sud
d e n ly on Mr Lorry an d her father, w h o were following,
.
very slowly .
“
Try th em again The hours between this and t o .
“ ”
I intend to try I will not rest a moment . .
’
That s well I have known such energy as yours do .
A TALE OE Tw o CITIE S . 399
”
were not .
“
I will go said Doctor M an e tte , to the Prosecutor an d
,
“
“
That s true Well ! It is a forlorn h ope at the best
’
.
,
and not much the forlorner for being delay ed till dark I .
“
Immediately after dark I s h ould h Ope With in an ,
.
“
It will be dark soon after four Let us stretch t h e .
Yes .
”
May you prosper !
M r Lorry followed S y dn e y to t h e outer door and, touch
.
,
to turn .
“
I h av e no hope , said Mr Lorry in a low and sorrow .
,
‘
ful whisper .
Nor have I .
”
durst spare him after t h e demonstration in the cou rt .
“
And so do I I heard the fall o f th e axe in that sound
.
.
400 A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S .
h is face upon it .
“
Don t despond, said C arton , v ery gently ; don t grie v e
’ ” ’
.
“
Ye s, yes, yes, r e turned Mr Lorry, dry ing h is eyes
”
.
,
“
Y e s H e will perish ; there is n o real hope, echoe d
.
”
C HAPT E R XII .
D A R KN E S S .
“ ’”
where to go At Te lls o n s banking house at nine, he
.
-
”
care care care ! Let me t hink it o u t !
, ,
”
know there is such a m an as I here And he turned his .
cult for one who knew the city well, to find h is house w it h
40 2 A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S .
t o y o u like E vr emonde !
,
(C
H OW ? 7)
” “
a little like Madame sternly retorted I tell y o u a good
.
,
” “
deal like Jacques Three pac ifically remarked, He is s o
.
”
much in your mind, see y ou madame The am iable V e n
,
.
“
ge a n c e added with a laugh,
Ye s ,
m y faith ! And, y o u ar e
“
It is true w h at madame says obser v ed Jacques Three
”
,
.
“ ” “
Well well , reasoned Defarge
, but o n e must stop ,
“
At extermi n ation said madame , .
”
Magnificen t ! croaked Jacque s Three The Vengeance .
,
“
E xtermination is good doctrine my wife said Defarge
”
, , ,
“
rather troubled ; in general I say nothing against it Bu t , .
”
y o u have observed his face when the paper was read .
A TA L E OE Tw o CITI E S . 4 03
”
And y o u have o b served my wife said Defarge in a , , ,
“
d eprecator y manner the anguish o f his daughter, which
,
’
She seemed to raise it ( the listener s ey es were alway s on
his paper), and to let it fall with a rattle o n the ledge
before her as if the axe had dropped
,
.
“ ”
The citizeness i s superb ! c roake d the Ju ry m an .
”
She is an Angel ! said The Vengeance and embraced ,
, , ,
“
her husband if it depended o n thee — which h appily it
, , ,
“ ” “
No ! protested Defarge Not if to lift this glass .
”
stop there .
“
See y o u then Jacques said Madame Defarge wrath
, , ,
“
full y ; and see y o u too m y little Vengeance ; see y o u
, ,
”
that so .
“
It is so assented Defarge without being asked
, ,
.
”
lamp Ask him is that so
.
,
.
“ ”
It is so assente d Defarge
,
.
“ ”
It is so assented Defarge again
,
.
‘
Defarge I was brought up among the fishermen o f the
,
’
s ister s husband that unborn child was their child that
, ,
“ ”
It is so as sented Defarge once more
,
.
”
stop ; not me !
C ustomers entered and the group was broken up The ,
.
hel pless look stray ing all around he took his coat o ff and , ,
them .
”
let me get to work Give me my work . .
“ ’ ”
Don t torture a poor forlorn wretch he implored them , ,
“
with a dreadful cry ; but give me m y work ! What is t o
become o f us if those shoes are not done to night ?
,
-
the fire with a prom ise that he S hould have his work
,
Lorry saw him shrink into the exact figure that Defarge
had had in keepin g .
“
The last chance is gone : it was not much Ye s ; he .
’
for a moment steadily attend to me Don t ask me wh y I
,
?
“
I do n o t doubt it answered Mr Lorry S ay o n
,
. . .
The figure in the chair between them was all the time ,
? ”
there was a folded paper in it We S hould look at this .
“
exclaimed Thank G O D ! ,
“ ”
What is it ? ask e d Mr Lorry eagerly .
,
.
E nglishman ?
fa c e .
“
Keep it for me until to morrow I s h all see him to -
.
”
the prison .
“
Wh y not ? ”
’
I don t know : I prefer not to do s o N o w take th is .
,
”
You see ?
a ! : 2
Yes
40 8 A TALE OE Tw o CITIE S .
’
ter ; don t stay t o look ; put it up carefully with mine an d
your o w n N o w obser v e ! I never doubted until within
.
,
“ ”
They are not in danger ?
They are in great danger T he y ar e in dang e r o f .
“
-
making signs and s ignals to prisoners It is easy to .
plot and that it will involve her life — an d per h aps her
,
”
s ave them all .
“
Heaven grant I m ay C arton ! But h ow ,
? ”
“
By the help o f Heaven you shall ! Promis e me s o l
e m n ly that nothing will influence you t o alter the course
,
”
o n which we now stand pledged t o o n e another .
“
Nothing, C arton ”
.
“
I w ill remember them I hope t o do my part faith .
fully
And I h Ope t o do m ine N o w good bye ! .
,
-
’
though he even put the o ld man s hand t o his lips he did ,
towards it an d a F arew e ll
,
.
A TA L E OE Tw o C ITI E S . 4 11
C HAPT E R XIII .
F I F TY T
‘
WO .
d own .
s h ould be extinguished .
with Luc ie again an d she told him it was all a dream, and
,
”
d eath !
Thus h ad he come through the hours , to th e day w h en
,
Nine gone for ever t e n gone for e ver eleven gone for e v er
, , ,
others .
“
recovered self possession he thought -
There i s but an , ,
”
other now and turned to walk again
,
.
stopped .
The key was put in the lock and turned B efore the , .
The door was quickl y O pened and closed and there stood ,
before him face to face quiet inten t upon him with the
, , , ,
’
spoke and it was his voice ; he took the pri soner s hand,
,
”
me ? he said .
41 6 A TALE OE Tw o CITI E S .
I could belie v e it t o be y o u
n ot I can scarcely belie ve .
it n o w You are n o t
. t h e appre h ension came suddenly
“ ”
into his mind a prisoner ?
N o I am accidentally possessed o f a power o v er o n e
.
”
What is it ?
”
mine .
h im barefoot .
“
Draw o n these boots o f mine P ut your hands to them ;
’
“
C arton there is n o escaping from t h is p lace ; it never
,
”
ness .
‘
It would be madnes s if I asked y o u t o es cape ; but do
'
take this ribbon from your hair and shake o u t your hair ,
”
l ike this of mine !
With wonderful quickness and with a strengt h bot h o f,
’
do s o is n o subj ect for regret o r grief
,
As he said these .
’
and softly moved down close t o t h e writer s face .
”
Vapour ?
Something th at crossed me ? ”
“
Hurry h urry !
,
”
’
the hand was at the prisoner s face ; I should but have
h ad s o muc h the more to answer f o r If it had been other
.
faintly struggled with the man who had come t o lay down
h is life for him ; but within a minute o r s o he was stretc h ed
, ,
oner had laid aside combed back his hair an d tied it wit h
, ,
“
E nter there ! C ome in ! an d the s py presented himself
”
.
“
You see ? sa id C arton looking up as he kneeled o n
”
, ,
“ ”
the breast : is your hazard very great ?
“
Mr C arton the S py answered with a timid snap o f
.
”
, ,
“
h is fingers m y hazard is not th at in the thick o f bus ines s
, ,
“ ”
Don t fear me I will be true to the death
’
. .
”
have no fear .
“
Have no fear ! I shall soon be out of the w ay o f harm
ing you and the rest will soon be far from here please
, ,
“ ”
You ? said the Spy nervously , .
”
O f course .
C all assistance !
“ ”
You swear not t o betray me ? said the t rembl ing spy,
as he paused for a last moment .
“
Man m an ! returned C arton stamping his foot ; have
,
“
,
words o f last night an d his prom ise o f last night and drive ,
”
away !
The spy withdrew and C arton seated himself at the table
, ,
H o w , then ? ”
said one of them contemplating the fallen ,
“
figure . S o afflicted to fin d 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 .
“
The time is short E vr emonde , said the Spy , in a
”
,
warning voice .
“
I know it well ans wered C arton
”
,
“
Be careful o f my .
“
C ome , then , my children s aid Barsad
” “
Lift h im , and
,
.
”
come away !
The door clos ed, and C arton was left alone Straining .
he sat down at the table and listened again until the clocks
,
”
weak, and it will give m e more coura ge .
work worn hunger worn young fingers and touched his lips
-
,
-
, .
“
Are y o u dying f o r h im ? she whispered .
”
And hi s wife and child Hush ! Yes . .
”
Hush ! Yes , my poor sister ; t o the last .
“
Who goes here ? Whom have we within ? Papers ! ”
he ?
This is he ; this helples s inarticulately murmuring, w an
,
“
Apparently the C itizen Doctor is n o t in his righ t -
”
for him ?
This is she .
is it n o t ?
It is .
S h e and no other .
A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S . 4 23
pointed o u t .
“
Apparently the E nglish advo c ate i s in a swoon ? ”
“
Is that all ? It is not a great deal that ! Many are ,
”
Which is he ?
‘
I am he Necessarily being the last
.
,
.
to the Guillotine .
”
Behold your papers Jarvis Lorry countersigned , ,
.
”
On e can depar t citizen ? ,
“
Look back look back, and see if we are pursued !
,
”
pursued .
“ ”
But o u r Defarge said Jacques Three, is undoubtedly
,
a good Republican ? E h ?
“ ”
There is n o better the voluble Vengeance protested in
,
“
Peace , little Vengeance said Madame Defarge lay ing , ,
and pos sesses its confiden c e But my husband has his weak .
”
nesses and he is s o weak as to relent towards this Doctor
,
.
“ ”
It is a great pity croaked Jacques Three dubiously
, ,
“
mouth ; it is not quite like a good citi z en ; it is a thing
”
t o regret .
“ “
See y o u said m ad ame , I care nothing for this Doctor
, ,
”
charming when Sanson h eld them up O gre that he was .
,
“ ”
The child also observed Jacques Three with a medi
, ,
“
t at iv e enj oy ment of his words has golden hair and blue ,
s igh t !
”
A TALE OE Tw o C I TI E S . 7
”
Ina word said Madame Defarge , coming o u t of her
‘
”
then they m ight escape .
“
That must never be croaked Jacques Three ; n o one ,
”
to have s ix score a day .
”
I n a word Madame Defarge went on m y husband has
, ,
little citi z en .
The wood sawy er who held her in the respect and him
-
, ,
“
Touching those s ignals little citi z en said Madam e , ,
“
Defarge sternly that she made to the prisoners ; y o u are
, , .
”
ready to bear witness to them this very d ay ?
“
Ay ay , w h y not !
,
”
crie d the sawy er “
E very day in .
,
“
C learly plots said Jacques Three
”
,
Transparently ! .
”
There is no doubt of the Jury ? inquired Madame
Defarge letting her e y es turn to him with a gloom y smile
,
.
“
Rel y upon the patriotic Jury dear citizenes s I answer ,
.
”
for my fellow Jurymen -
.
“ ”
Now let me see said Madame Defarge pondering
, ,
”
him ?
“
He would count as one h ead obser v ed 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 urged ,
“
Madame Defarge ; I cannot speak of o n e without the
other ; and I mu s t not be s ilent, and trust t h e case wholly
to him this little citizen here F o r, I am n o t a bad
,
.
witness .
“ ”
He must take his chance said Madame Defarge
,
.
”
-
You ?
4 30 A TA L E OE T .
She was absolutely without p ity If she had ever had the .
ment , because they were her natural enemie s and her prey,
an d as such had no right to live To appeal to her w as .
,
would not hav e pitied herself ; nor if she had been ordered ,
a certain weird way, and her dark hair looked rich under
h er coarse red cap Lying hidden in her bosom was a
.
,
’
Pross in it h ad much engaged Mr Lorr y s attention It . .
’
it at three o clock in the lightest wheeled conveyance -
would soon overtake the coach and pass ing it and preced , ,
with joy She and Jerry had beheld the coach start had
.
,
“
Now what do y o u think M r C runcher said Mis s
, .
,
“
speak o r stand o r move o r li ve
, , what do y o u think of o u r
,
” ’
right Likewise w o t I ll stand by you right or wrong
.
, .
“
I am s o distracted with fear and h Ope for o u r precious
” “
creatures said Miss Pross wildl y crying that I am in
, , ,
’ ’
R e s pe ct in a future spear 0 life miss returned Mr , , .
’
here blessed o ld head 0 mine , I think not Would you do .
’
me the favour miss to take notice 0 two promise s and
, ,
”
wows w o t it is my wishes fur to record in this here cris is ?
“ ”
O h for gracious sake ! cried Miss Pross still wildly
, ,
l ike an excellent m an
“
F irst said Mr C runcher, wh o was all in a tremble
”
,
.
,
“
and who spoke with an ashy and solemn visage them poor ,
more !
“
I am quite sure Mr C runcher, returned Miss Pross
,
.
,
“
No miss returned Jerry
, ,
it shall n o t be named to ,
’
you Se c ond : them poor things well o u t 0 this and never
.
,
never no more !
“
Whatever h ousekeepi n g arrangement that may be said ”
,
“
I have n o doubt it is best that Mrs C runcher should have .
“
from a pulpit an d let my words be took down an d took
4 34 A TALE OE Tw o CITIE S .
‘
By the cathedral door, said Mis s Pros s Would it .
”
Then, like the best o f men, said Miss Pross , go t o
”
t h e posting house straight and make that change
-
, .
“
I am doubtful said Mr C runcher, hesitating an d shak
”
,
.
“
ing his head about leaving o f y o u , y o u see We don t
,
.
’
”
know what may happen .
“
Heav en knows we don t, returned Mis s Pross , b u t
’ ” “
’
O C lo c k o r as near it as you c an , and I am sure it will b e
from beh ind every O pen door in them Mis s Pros s got a ,
basin of cold water and began laving her eyes which were ,
The basin fell to the ground broken and the water flowed ,
“
Madame Defarge looked coldly at h e r, and said The ,
It flashed upon M iss Pross s mind that the doors were all ’
standing O pen and would suggest the flight Her first act
,
.
“
You might from your appearance be the wife o f 1 11 0 1
, ,
1
“
” “
fer said Miss Pross in her breat h ing
,
Nevertheless you
,
.
’
s omething o f Miss Pros s s own perception that the y two
’
that Miss Pross was the family s devoted friend ; Mis s
’
Pross knew full well that Madame Defarge was the famil y s
malevolent enem y .
“
On my way yonder , said M adame Defarge with a ,
43 6 A TAL E OE TW O CI TI E S .
”
make my compliments to her in pass ing I wish to see her . .
“ ”
I know that y our intentions are evil said Mis s Pross ,
.
’
an d y o u may depend upon it I ll hold my o w n agains t ,
them .
“
It will do her no good to keep hers elf concealed from
” “
me at this moment s aid Madame Defarge
,
Good patri .
”
her that I wish to see her Do you hear ? .
“ ”
If tho se eyes of yours were bed winches returned Mis s -
,
”
am your match .
“
Woman imbecile and pig like ! said Madame Defarge -
,
“
frowning .I t ake no answer from y o u I demand to se e .
”
o f the way of the door and let me go to her ! Th is with ,
“ ” “
I little thought said Miss Pross that I should ever
, ,
’
Neither o f them f o r a single moment released the o ther s
eyes Madame Defarge had n o t m ove d from the spot where
.
‘
I have been in the streets from the first nothing h as ,
“
We are alone at the top o f a high house in a solitary
court y ard we are not likely to be heard, and I pray f o r
-
,
”
ling said Miss Pross
,
.
hate clasped her tight and even lifted her from the floor in
, ,
D efarge bu ff e ted and tore her face ; but Miss Pross wit h , ,
her head down held her round the waist, an d clung t o her
,
passed the body as far from it as she could and ran down ,
A T A LE OE Tw o C ITIE S . 43 9
again ; but she did go in and even went near it to get the
, , ,
b onnet and other things that she must wear These she .
door and taking away the key She then sat down o n the .
up an d hurried away .
o f griping fingers were deep in her face , and her hair was
“
Is there an y noise in the streets ? S h e asked him .
s ay ? ”
“ ”
Miss Pross could not hear him So I ll n o d my head, .
’
”
that .And she did .
44 0 A TAL E OE Tw o CITI E S .
“ ’ ”
I don t hear it .
“ ”
I feel said Mis s 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 ! s aid Mr .
’ ’
been a takin to keep her courage up ? Hark ! There s the
,
”
roll o f them dreadful carts ! You c an hear that mis s ? ,
”
I c an hear said Miss Pross seeing that he S poke t o
, ,
“
If she don t hear t h e roll o f t h ose dreadful carts , now
’
An d indeed s he n ev er did .
CH APT E R ! V .
TH E F O O TS TE P S DI E O! T F OR E VER .
'
the scene about him and always speaks to the girl Here
,
.
bound .
“
W h ic h is E v r emonde ? said a m an be h ind h im .
A TAL E OF Tw o CITI E S . 4 43
Yes .
”
Hush hush ! the Spy entreats him, timidly
,
.
”
An d why n o t citizen ?
,
this side and to that now crumble in and close behind the,
” “
Th er ese ! she cries in her shrill tones Who has ,
.
s isterhood .
“
No ; nor will she mi s s now cries The Vengean c e , ,
“
petulantly Th er ese
. .
“ ”
Louder the woman recommends
, .
speak, count O n e .
“
But f o r y ou dear stranger I s h ould n o t be s o composed,
, ,
”
upon m e, dear child, an d mind n o other obj ect .
“
I mind noth ing wh ile I h old your h and I s h all mind .
“
They will be rapid F ear n o t ! .
“
I am the Resurrection and the Life , saith the Lord : h e
that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he , ,
They said of him about the city that night that it was
, ,
’
the peacefullest man s face ever beheld there Many added .
c ome I see the evil of this time and o f the previous time of
,
“
I see the liv es for which I lay down my life , peaceful ,
s h all see no more I see Her with a child upon her bosom
. ,
A TAL E OF Tw o CITI E S . 44 7
office, and at peace I see the good old man so long their
.
’
friend in t e n y ears t i m e enriching them with all he has,
,
s ide b y s ide in their last earthly bed, and I know that each
was not more honoured and held sacred in the oth er s soul , ’
“
I see that child who lay upon h er bosom and who bor e
my name , a man, winning his way up in that path of life
which once was m ine I se e him winning it so well that
.
,
see the blots I threw upon it faded away I see him fore
,
.
,
this place — then fair to look upon with not a trace o f this ,
’
day s d is figu r e m e n t — an d I hear him tell t h e child my
story, with a tender and a faltering voice .
“
It is a far far better thing that I do than I have eve r
, ,
”
ever known .
450 N O TE S .
D o y ou s e e an y advan c e in t h e pl o t Do e s th e o pe i n ng p aragrap h
he lp th e s to ry Wh y is it pu t in
12 . f id e t c Th i s is a ki d o f figu re o f wh i ch
As if t h e y w e re a ra ,
. n
D i c k e s is e x c e e di gl y f o d S e e t h m
n t io f l apfr g o
n th e n . e en n o e o n
o pp s i t e p age He d o e s o t o ft
’
as i h is o t h e b
n ks b t m a y e x am pl m ay b e f o n d eve h re
r oo ,
u n es u n e .
2 0 S m al l t rad e m e n e t c
. i o t h e r wo rd s s m u ggli g w as e x te n
s ,
. n , n
s iv ly c arr i e d o
e n .
2 2 De ad S e a fru it : i e t as te l e ss wi t h u t lif e
. . .
,
o .
2 4 B e au vai s : a s m all c i ty
. rth we st f Pari s ab t fo rty m il e s no o ou .
2 5 An i m m e ns e pe cu n i ary M an gl e
. A m a gl w as a m ac h in e . n e
fo rm e rl y s d f s m o o th i g c l o t h e s it c o rre p d e d t t h e m o d e rn
u e or n s on o
wr i ge rn .
f o t h e F re
r h ki gs t o i g bl a k f o r m s o f arre s t c all d lett es de
nc n s n n , e r
c ach t a d di s t r ib t e t h e m t o t h e i
e ,
n f av r i t Th e l at t e
u u ld t h e r o es . r co n,
of c o e fi ll i
u rs a f o rm w i th t h e n am e o f a y
,
n e t h e y ch ose a d s o n on n
s e c r e h is i m p r i s o m e t
u n n .
2 9 L ay i n g a b aw y h an d I
. th i s m e t i o f M i s s P ro s s s
r n . s n n o
’
s tr e gt h m e a i gl e
n o m ad e p u p se l y
n n ss, r r o
3 2 S u b u rb o f S t A nt o i n e A t t h e t i m e o f t h R e vo l t i o t h i s
. . . e u n
p art o f Pa is wh i c h b o d r d n th e fam
r , pr is o f t h e B as till er e e o ous on
s o o ft e m e ti ed i
n th i t o r y w as
n on e of th p r st a d m o s t
n s s ,
on e oo e n
da ge r q ar te rs f th c i ty S t A t o i e wa t h e re f ore c all e d t h e
n ou s u o e . . n n s “
p atr s ai t f R v l t i
on n o e o u on .
”
3 4 K e n n e l : i gh t e t h ce t ry wo rd f o
. e g tt e r e n - n u r u .
”
5 1 52 W h at d y u t h i k f t h e s e s p e e c h e s o f L i
-
. o o n o uc e s
’
Ch apt er V W h at is t h e s i g i fi canc e o f th e i t ro d c t i
. o f th e n n u on
bro k w i e c as k
en n
E n d of B ook 1 Wh y d o e Di c k e s divid e h is s t o ry h r . I s t h re s n e e e
as y e t a y h i t o f t h e fi al o t c m
n n I t h i s t o b e a h m ro u s s t o ry n u o e s u o
or a t rag d y H w do y ou k w
e Wh i t h l adi g fig r f t h e
o no o s e e n u e o
m o ve d t e adil y s
Ch ap t e r I B ook I I Th i s is a
,
pi o di c c h apt e r i e it d o e s ot
. n e s ,
. . n
f orward t h e m ai pl ot N t e w h y n . o .
59 Th e s t o ry o f t h B ar m e c id m ay b f
. d in th e A rabian e e e ou n
N igh ts E n te rtain m e n ts .
66 . Old B ail e y :
pri c ip al c ri m i al c rt th e n n ou of L o n d on ; on Ne w
G ate S tre e t e ar S t P a l n . u
’
s .
6 7 Ty b urn E xe cu t i o s w e re h ld at Ty b u
. . n e rn u n t il 1 783 .
N O TE S . 451
Ch apt e I I I Th e t w o p r i c ip al m al
r .h ar ac t r f t h e s t o ry a n e c e s o re
i n tro d e d i t h i h ap te r Wh a t h y C a y o p i t t a y
uc n s c . o re e n u o n ou n
s p e i al i m s ta ce o f pr o b abl b ari g t h
c c rc u nt m o f t h pl t e e n on e o u co e e o
98 S e i on s Ki n g s B e ch
. ss Th S si s i ,
O f t h e l ow r
’
n . e es on s one e
E gli s h c ri m i al c r t t h Ki g B h i t h e h igh t ’
n n ou s e n s enc s es .
99 H il ary Te rm an d M i ch ae l m a
. J a ary 1 1 t o S e pt e m b e r 2 9 ; s : nu
i c l d e s th fou r te m s d i g wh i h as s w pr s e t d i E gli h
n u e r ur n c c e e re e n e n n s
c ou rt s .
10 0
J ff i e s . G o rge J e ff e y s ( 1 64 8
e r B ea a d Ch i f J t i e r ro n n e us c
o f E gl a d ; a m a
n n f vil h abi t wh o wa k n o w as t h e H a gi g s, s no n e n n
J dge fr m h is re l e nt l e s s c r e l ty e sp e c i ally af t r t h e Mo m o th
u ,
”
o u ,
e n u
e x p e di t i on .
1 0 4 A we ll o f h ou s e s : h u s e b il t r u d a s m all i
. r c ou rt o s u o n nn e
,
lik e a w e ll .
10 6 Pau p e r w i t h ou t a s e t t l e m e n t
. s A p o r m a i E gl a d . o n n n n
m s t b t ak
u ar
e f b y t h e p ar i h i wh i c h h e h as re id d i e m ad e
en c e o s n s e , . .
a s e tt l m t e I f h e w a d e r i t o a o th e r p ari s h h e h a
en . n l ai m o it
s n n s no c n .
1 19 P e h aps e t c Th i s i o e o f Di k
. r ,
rat h r O bvi o s a d y e t
. s n c ens s
’
e u n
ve ry ffe t i v d vi ce s f o m ai t ai i n g t h e re ad e i s s p s e
e c e e r n n r n u en .
12 1 Com e dy an d Gran d Op e ra Th e r f r
. i t t h a tr s s s . e e e nce s o e c e e ,
n ot t t h e a t h o rs
o Th e m e rry S tu art w h o o ld it S e M a a l ay
u .
— s . e c u ,
H is to y f E gla d C h ap t r I I
r o n Th e ki g f E gl a d (C h arl e s I I )
n , e . n o n n
O ffe re d t o j o i w i t h F r a e agai s t H o ll a d if F ra c e wo ld
n nc gage n n ,
n u en
t r aty f D
e er i o 1 6 70 — Th e e art h an d t h e f l n e s s
ov n 1 Co
. x 26 u . r . . .
— F arm e Ge n e al : a t ax c o ll t r w h o p a id t h v r m t a
r- ;ro g ec o ne e o e n en
c t ai
er m i re t r f
n su t h e p i il e ge o f c o ll e c t i g t h e t ax
n u n or wh i h r v n es, c
w r th
e e aid t b us s farm e d o t t o h imo e
“
u .
122 N ot re Dam e : t h m s t f am s a d p h ap s t h m t b a t i
.
- e o ou n er e os e u
f l th
u , gh t t h l arg s t O f t h e c h r c h s f P ari s
ou no e I t is o t h e I le
e ,
u e o . n
d la C i t é ( e
e t t p se no e o .
1 3 2 T h e F u i e s : i G r e k m y t h d a gh t e rs f Ni gh t a d D ark
. r n e ,
u o n
n e s a d th
s , av n g O f all wr g
e en pp o se d t b e w m w ith t
e rs on su o o en er
ribl f a e a d l g s ak y h ai r
e c s n on n .
t h re e h id e s s i t rs w i t h
ou ak s f o h ai
s e o l k fr m wh m wo ld sn e r r, ne oo o o u
t ur n a m an t o s to n e .
13 8 li n e t h at w a n e ve r t o bre ak Th e ki g o f F ra e at t h e
. Th e s . n nc
t im e O f th e R l t i w as a B b f w h ich h
e vo u s e it h ad b e e
on ou r on , o ou n
p ph e ie d t h at it s h ld h ld th t h r e f F ra f r ve r
ro s ou o e on o n ce o e .
4 52 N OTE S .
14 1 . Le tt e r de cach e t . S ee n ot e to p . 26 .
150 . Th e Ge rm an b allad :
l d ab o u t a p o e m ve ry p o pu l ar in E n g an
t h e c l se o f t h e i gh t e e nth c e t ry S i W al t S tt s fi rs t p bli s h e d
’
o e n u . r er co u
w rk w as a t ra s l at i o n f it all e d William a d H l
o n H l is ar o ,
c n e en . e en c
r i d O ff o h r e b ac k b y t h k e l e t on p c t e r O f h e l ove r
e n o s e s s e r .
1 6 0 Dou bl e t id e s : l g h r
. i all i t w o rk i g a fi h on ou s n us on o n ,
s s er
m e n an d s e am e n s o m e t i m e m s t b y t h e n i gh t t id e as w ll as b y t h s u ,
e e
d ay .
1 65 . M i ch ae lm as T e rm . See n ote p 99
to . .
van c e th eW h at is t h e i r p rp o s
st o ry u e
i L on d o n i t h e l at t r h alf f t h e i gh t e t h c e t ry ; t h e y w re
n n e o e e n n u e
s o m e t h i g li k e t h e nc r t gar d e s i l arge A m e ri an c i t i
c on B th e n n c es . o
V a x h all a d R a l agh w
u n l s e d so af t e r 1800 S t Du n s t an
ne e re c o on . .
’
s .
D s t a w a A r c h bi h p
un n f C a t e b r y i t h e t e t h c nt ry a d w as
s s o o n r u n n e u n
af t r w ar d s m ad
e a ai t A t at t h im rnam
e te d th
s ity n . s ue o o en e c ,
or
i n r id f T m pl e Ba
ne ,
s e o e r .
1 79 Th e h e at h e n r t i c
. wat ch i g t h e s t re am : a all i n us n n us o
t o t h s t ry f a c
e t ym a w h
o o wi hi g t r a i
oun r at d w n n o, s n o c o ss r ve r , s o
t w ai t t ill t h e w at r h
o ld h a by e s ou ve r u n .
1 80 A p oe t s at u p o a s t o o l S h i aid t h av b e e t h c t m
. n . uc s s o e n e us o
am o g t h e A t h e ni ans
n .
1 8 7 I aak W alt on : t h a t h r O f Th C m p l at A gl t h m t
. z e u o e o e n er , e os
f am o s b o o k o n t h e a t f fi h i g H is c all d t h e p atro n s ai t o f
u r o s n . e e n
fi s h e rm e n .
19 0 . C l ay -
so il e d b oot s S e p 62 . e . .
b dio es to se ll to su rge o n s f or an at o m i al p r p o se s ; l at e r
c all e d u c a
b dy o s n at c h e r .
199 . Dam ie n s . R o b e rt D am i e n s
pt d t a as i at e L o i s at t e m e o ss s n u
! V i 1 75 7 H e n c ed d i . t abbi g t h ki g t h
su gh cet i killi g e n s n e n ,
ou no n n
h im a d w as a t all y e x e
,
n t d i th m a c u e r Di k d scrib e cu e n e nn c ens e s.
20 4 S h i ni n g B ll s E y e of t h e i r Cou rt A b l l s — y is a ki d f
. u
’
. u
’
e e n o
l a t e r D i c k e s m a s h e r t h at t h e
n n. n rt i p art i l arl y vivid i
e n e co u s cu n
c o t ra t w i t h t h e d ar kn e s a d m i e ry o f t h e p e o pl e O f F a c e
n s s n s r n .
Ch apt e r ! V I H as t h i s c h ap t r a y b ar i g o t h m ai
. t ry e n e n n e n s o
Wh o a e m e t i rd i n C h ap t e r V B o o k I
n on e , .
2 53 Th e B as t ill e : t h e m t c e l e b rat d p r i
. i F a ce b g n os e so n n r n ,
e u
in 1 3 70 a d ad d d t at i t e r al t h r af t
,
n e I t w a alwayo da a n v s e e er . s s u se s
b o dy . Th e m ac h i ne w as n am e d fr o m its i ve n t o r
n ,
a Dr . Gu ill o t i n e ,
w h o is id t o h av p e r i h e d b y it S e e p 3 2 3
sa e s . . .
2 9 7 Pr i s on of La F orce S e o t e t p 2 84
. . e n o . .
t h e R e vo l t i o — His m e t e m p s ch os i
u y n . h is c h a ge d c di ti on s n on .
3 0 5 I n t o t h e Ga e tt e am
.
g t h e li s t s o f b a kr p t s z on n u .
3 1 8 E l e ve n h u n dre d Th e s e w e r e t h e vi t i m s o f w h at we re s b
. . c u
s e qu e t l y c all e d t h e M a s acr e s O f S e p t e m b e r (S e p t e m b e
n 2 6 s r -
,
D a t o o r d e r e d o p e r m i t t e d t h e c o m m i tt e e o f
n n , rve ill a c e t o ord e r
r su n ,
h ir e d b y t h e C o m m e t o o k p sse s s i o o f th e pr i so s un S o m e of th e m
,
o n n .
c o s t i t t e d t h e m s e l v s a tr ib
n u al o t h e rs s e rve d as e x e c t i o e rs
e Th e un u n .
s ab e r pike s ax e a d c l b Th e m b r o f kill e d am o t e d t o
s, ,
s, n u s . nu e un
n ni e h dre d a d ix ty s ix ( C t y D icti a y) I t w a t h e s e m as a
un n s - en u r on r . s s
3 22 Th e n e w E ra b e gan F ra c e w as d e c l ar d a r p bli c a d t h e
. . n e e u n
E q ali ty B o t h e rh o o d
u , Th e c al e d ar w a r e vi s e d an d F anc e b gan
r . n s r e
t o r e ck o f ro m t h e Ye ar O e o f t h e R e p bli c
n n u .
3 2 7 S an s on S a s on w as t h e c h i e f e x e cu t i one r t h ro gh ou t t h e
. . n u
R e i g o f Te rr r H e b h e ad e d b o th t h e ki g a d t h e q
n o . e n n u een .
3 3 0 Th e Carm agn o l e Th e Ca I a w a t h p o p u l ar P ar i s i a s o g
. . r s e n n ,
t h e C arm ag o l e t h e p o p l ar d a ce o f t h R e vo l u t i o
n u n e n .
sta nz as o f t h e E gli h n at i o al a t h e m n s n n .
3 4 7 Tu il e r i e s : th e gr e at p al ac e o f L i s ! I V
. t h e s i te o f th e ou , on
O ld P ar i s i a p o t t r i e s (tu ile ie s )
n P ont N e u f : a br id ge ove r t h e S e i e
e r .
- n
nea r t h e L o u vre .
3 70 Ch e m i t s s h Op : a dru g s t o r e
. s
’
.
3 7 1 3 73 W h at i t h e p rp os e f t h e s e p age s
— . s u o
3 73 I s l an d o f P a i : t h e I le d e la C ite o I l a d f t h e C i t y
. r s ,
r s n o ,
N Ot D am e
re .
N O TE S . 4 55
385 . We we re
bbe d Wh at d y o t h in k o f th e n atu ral e s
s o ro . o u n s
o f th i s p h — C h ap t r X Th i i f Di k s f w s f l ’
s eec ce e . s s one o c en s e uc ss u
sh t to i s
or sI t is c o m pl e t e i i ts e lf w e ll
r e . tr t e d a d r e m ark abl y n ,
con s uc ,
n
p w rf l
o e u .
402 J acobi n j ou rn al
. Th J a b i ( c all e d fr o m th e c o ve t o f
. e co ns s o- n n
t h e Jac o b i m k w h re i t h e y m e t ) w r a p a t y i t h R v l t i
n on s, e n e e r n e e o u on
l d b y R b s pi r
e a d c h i fl y re p
o e eibl f t h R ig O f T o r f
re , n e s on s e or e e n e rr o
1 792 — 1 79 3 .
p art o f th e pl t f ro o e se e n by Di c k e n s o r an a ft r t he o u gh t I S it nee dd e
I s it e ff t ivec e
h o rs e s , ill ag h a e ac h v e s a h o u s e w h e r e a s u ppl y o f h o rs e s is k e p t r e ad y
f o t ave l s
r r Th i s is c all e d t h e
er . p ti g h e os n -
ou s .
432 W h at i D i c k
. m t iv i i t r d c i g h m
s h i th e
e ns s
’
o e n n o u n u or e re n
m id s t O f t rag d y ? e
4 3 6 Be d w i ch e s : w e h s f m e l y
.
- n se d i s tti g p a d r nc e or r u n e n u n
t ak i g d ow b d s
n n e .
44 1 J e ab e l
. J e e b e l t h e w ife f Ah ab ki g f I a l w a a
z s . z ,
o ,
n o sr e ,
s
w i ke d w m a w h o
c am e h a
o m e t o b a y o y m f v il
n se n Di k s co e s n n o e . c ens
m is p e ll s it h r
s N ot m y f at h e s h ou e t c F r m C h ri t
e e .
— p ch r
’
s ,
e . o s
’
s s ee
to th m o e y h a ge
e i t h T m pl e M att x x i 1 3 ; J h ii 1 6
n -
c n rs n e e . . . o n . .
S c h all i
u t li t rat e t h gh m m i m a y ve lis ts as
u s on s o e ur ,
ou co on n n no ,
Th a k ray a d G
c e ge E li t a n ve y ar i D i c k s eor o , re r r e n en .
44 6 Tw e t y T h re e W h at d
. n Di k e s gai b y s gge st i g t h
- . oe s c n n u n e
o f t h e m o t r m ar k abl e s ffe e r
s Ja
e c mm l y all d M ad am e u r s : e nn e , o on c e
R o l a d wif f R o l a d d e la P lat ie
n , e o S h w a g ill t i d l at i 1 79 3
n re . e s u o ne e n .
44 6 4 4 7 A e t h— fi al p a ag ap h aft th w rd Twe ty
. r e n r r s er e o n
! nive rsity o f
C alifo rn ia
Ric h m o nd C A 9 4 80 4 4 6 9 8
,
-
( 5 10 ) 64 2 6 7 53 -
I ye a r lo a ns m a y b e
-
re c h a rge d b y b i i
r n g ng
b o o ks to NRLF
Re w als a nd re c h a rge s m ay b e m a d e 4
ne
d ays prio r T
O d u e d ate .
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