English
Mr.Attorney-Generalhadtoinformthejury,thattheprisonerbeforethem,thoughyounginyears,wasoldinthetreasonablepracticeswhichclaimedtheforfeitofhislife.
Thatthiscorrespondencewiththepublicenemywasnotacorrespondenceofto-day,orofyesterday,orevenoflastyear,oroftheyearbefore.
That,itwascertaintheprisonerhad,forlongerthanthat,beeninthehabitofpassingandrepassingbetweenFranceandEngland,onsecretbusinessofwhichhecouldgivenohonestaccount.
That,ifitwereinthenatureoftraitorouswaystothrive(whichhappilyitneverwas),therealwickednessandguiltofhisbusinessmighthaveremainedundiscovered.
ThatProvidence,however,hadputitintotheheartofapersonwhowasbeyondfearandbeyondreproach,toferretoutthenatureoftheprisoner’sschemes,and,struckwithhorror,todisclosethemtohisMajesty’sChiefSecretaryofStateandmosthonourablePrivyCouncil.
That,thispatriotwouldbeproducedbeforethem.
That,hispositionandattitudewere,onthewhole,sublime.
That,hehadbeentheprisoner’sfriend,but,atonceinanauspiciousandanevilhourdetectinghisinfamy,hadresolvedtoimmolatethetraitorhecouldnolongercherishinhisbosom,onthesacredaltarofhiscountry.
That,ifstatuesweredecreedinBritain,asinancientGreeceandRome,topublicbenefactors,thisshiningcitizenwouldassuredlyhavehadone.
That,astheywerenotsodecreed,heprobablywouldnothaveone.
That,Virtue,ashadbeenobservedbythepoets(inmanypassageswhichhewellknewthejurywouldhave,wordforword,atthetipsoftheirtongues;whereatthejury’scountenancesdisplayedaguiltyconsciousnessthattheyknewnothingaboutthepassages),wasinamannercontagious;moreespeciallythebrightvirtueknownaspatriotism,orloveofcountry.
That,theloftyexampleofthisimmaculateandunimpeachablewitnessfortheCrown,torefertowhomhoweverunworthilywasanhonour,hadcommunicateditselftotheprisoner’sservant,andhadengenderedinhimaholydeterminationtoexaminehismaster’stable-drawersandpockets,andsecretehispapers.
That,he(Mr.Attorney-General)waspreparedtohearsomedisparagementattemptedofthisadmirableservant;butthat,inageneralway,hepreferredhimtohis(Mr.Attorney-General’s)brothersandsisters,andhonouredhimmorethanhis(Mr.Attorney-General’s)fatherandmother.
That,hecalledwithconfidenceonthejurytocomeanddolikewise.
That,theevidenceofthesetwowitnesses,coupledwiththedocumentsoftheirdiscoveringthatwouldbeproduced,wouldshowtheprisonertohavebeenfurnishedwithlistsofhisMajesty’sforces,andoftheirdispositionandpreparation,bothbyseaandland,andwouldleavenodoubtthathehadhabituallyconveyedsuchinformationtoahostilepower.
That,theselistscouldnotbeprovedtobeintheprisoner’shandwriting;butthatitwasallthesame;that,indeed,itwasratherthebetterfortheprosecution,asshowingtheprisonertobeartfulinhisprecautions.
That,theproofwouldgobackfiveyears,andwouldshowtheprisoneralreadyengagedintheseperniciousmissions,withinafewweeksbeforethedateoftheveryfirstactionfoughtbetweentheBritishtroopsandtheAmericans.
That,forthesereasons,thejury,beingaloyaljury(asheknewtheywere),andbeingaresponsiblejury(asTHEYknewtheywere),mustpositivelyfindtheprisonerGuilty,andmakeanendofhim,whethertheylikeditornot.
That,theynevercouldlaytheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldtoleratetheideaoftheirwiveslayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldendurethenotionoftheirchildrenlayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;inshort,thattherenevermorecouldbe,forthemortheirs,anylayingofheadsuponpillowsatall,unlesstheprisoner’sheadwastakenoff.
ThatheadMr.Attorney-Generalconcludedbydemandingofthem,inthenameofeverythinghecouldthinkofwitharoundturninit,andonthefaithofhissolemnasseverationthathealreadyconsideredtheprisonerasgoodasdeadandgone.
WhentheAttorney-Generalceased,abuzzaroseinthecourtasifacloudofgreatblue-flieswereswarmingabouttheprisoner,inanticipationofwhathewassoontobecome.
Whentoneddownagain,theunimpeachablepatriotappearedinthewitness-box.
Mr.Solicitor-Generalthen,followinghisleader’slead,examinedthepatriot:JohnBarsad,gentleman,byname.
ThestoryofhispuresoulwasexactlywhatMr.Attorney-Generalhaddescribedittobe—perhaps,ifithadafault,alittletooexactly.
Havingreleasedhisnoblebosomofitsburden,hewouldhavemodestlywithdrawnhimself,butthatthewiggedgentlemanwiththepapersbeforehim,sittingnotfarfromMr.Lorry,beggedtoaskhimafewquestions.
Thewiggedgentlemansittingopposite,stilllookingattheceilingofthecourt.
Hadheeverbeenaspyhimself?No,hescornedthebaseinsinuation.Whatdidheliveupon?Hisproperty.Wherewashisproperty?
Hedidn’tpreciselyrememberwhereitwas.Whatwasit?Nobusinessofanybody’s.Hadheinheritedit?Yes,hehad.Fromwhom?Distantrelation.Verydistant?Rather.Everbeeninprison?Certainlynot.Neverinadebtors’prison?Didn’tseewhatthathadtodowithit.Neverinadebtors’prison?—Come,onceagain.Never?Yes.Howmanytimes?Twoorthreetimes.Notfiveorsix?Perhaps.Ofwhatprofession?Gentleman.
Everbeenkicked?Mighthavebeen.Frequently?No.Everkickeddownstairs?
Decidedlynot;oncereceivedakickonthetopofastaircase,andfelldownstairsofhisownaccord.
Kickedonthatoccasionforcheatingatdice?
Somethingtothateffectwassaidbytheintoxicatedliarwhocommittedtheassault,butitwasnottrue.Swearitwasnottrue?Positively.Everlivebycheatingatplay?Never.Everlivebyplay?Notmorethanothergentlemendo.Everborrowmoneyoftheprisoner?Yes.Everpayhim?No.
Wasnotthisintimacywiththeprisoner,inrealityaveryslightone,forcedupontheprisonerincoaches,inns,andpackets?No.
Surehesawtheprisonerwiththeselists?Certain.Knewnomoreaboutthelists?No.
Hadnotprocuredthemhimself,forinstance?No.
Expecttogetanythingbythisevidence?No.
Notinregulargovernmentpayandemployment,tolaytraps?Ohdearno.Ortodoanything?Ohdearno.Swearthat?Overandoveragain.
Nomotivesbutmotivesofsheerpatriotism?Nonewhatever.
Thevirtuousservant,RogerCly,sworehiswaythroughthecaseatagreatrate.
Hehadtakenservicewiththeprisoner,ingoodfaithandsimplicity,fouryearsago.
Hehadaskedtheprisoner,aboardtheCalaispacket,ifhewantedahandyfellow,andtheprisonerhadengagedhim.
Hehadnotaskedtheprisonertotakethehandyfellowasanactofcharity—neverthoughtofsuchathing.
Hebegantohavesuspicionsoftheprisoner,andtokeepaneyeuponhim,soonafterwards.
Inarranginghisclothes,whiletravelling,hehadseensimilarliststotheseintheprisoner’spockets,overandoveragain.
Hehadtakentheselistsfromthedraweroftheprisoner’sdesk.Hehadnotputthemtherefirst.
HehadseentheprisonershowtheseidenticalliststoFrenchgentlemenatCalais,andsimilarliststoFrenchgentlemen,bothatCalaisandBoulogne.
Helovedhiscountry,andcouldn’tbearit,andhadgiveninformation.
Hehadneverbeensuspectedofstealingasilvertea-pot;hehadbeenmalignedrespectingamustard-pot,butitturnedouttobeonlyaplatedone.
Hehadknownthelastwitnesssevenoreightyears;thatwasmerelyacoincidence.
Hedidn’tcallitaparticularlycuriouscoincidence;mostcoincidenceswerecurious.
NeitherdidhecallitacuriouscoincidencethattruepatriotismwasHISonlymotivetoo.
HewasatrueBriton,andhopedthereweremanylikehim.
Theblue-fliesbuzzedagain,andMr.Attorney-GeneralcalledMr.JarvisLorry.
“Mr.JarvisLorry,areyouaclerkinTellson’sbank?”
“Iam.”
“OnacertainFridaynightinNovemberonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five,didbusinessoccasionyoutotravelbetweenLondonandDoverbythemail?”
“Itdid.”
“Werethereanyotherpassengersinthemail?”
“Two.”
“Didtheyalightontheroadinthecourseofthenight?”
“Theydid.”
“Mr.Lorry,lookupontheprisoner.Washeoneofthosetwopassengers?”
“Icannotundertaketosaythathewas.”
“Doesheresembleeitherofthesetwopassengers?”
“Bothweresowrappedup,andthenightwassodark,andwewereallsoreserved,thatIcannotundertaketosayeventhat.”
“Mr.Lorry,lookagainupontheprisoner.Supposinghimwrappedupasthosetwopassengerswere,isthereanythinginhisbulkandstaturetorenderitunlikelythathewasoneofthem?”
“No.”
“Youwillnotswear,Mr.Lorry,thathewasnotoneofthem?”
“No.”
“Soatleastyousayhemayhavebeenoneofthem?”
“Yes.ExceptthatIrememberthembothtohavebeen—likemyself—timorousofhighwaymen,andtheprisonerhasnotatimorousair.”
“Didyoueverseeacounterfeitoftimidity,Mr.Lorry?”
“Icertainlyhaveseenthat.”
“Mr.Lorry,lookoncemoreupontheprisoner.Haveyouseenhim,toyourcertainknowledge,before?”
“Ihave.”
“When?”
“IwasreturningfromFranceafewdaysafterwards,and,atCalais,theprisonercameonboardthepacket-shipinwhichIreturned,andmadethevoyagewithme.”
“Atwhathourdidhecomeonboard?”
“Atalittleaftermidnight.”
“Inthedeadofthenight.Washetheonlypassengerwhocameonboardatthatuntimelyhour?”
“Hehappenedtobetheonlyone.”
“Nevermindabout`happening,’Mr.Lorry.Hewastheonlypassengerwhocameonboardinthedeadofthenight?”
“Hewas.”
“Wereyoutravellingalone,Mr.Lorry,orwithanycompanion?”
“Withtwocompanions.Agentlemanandlady.Theyarehere.”
“Theyarehere.Hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoner?”
“Hardlyany.Theweatherwasstormy,andthepassagelongandrough,andIlayonasofa,almostfromshoretoshore.”
“MissManette!”
Theyounglady,towhomalleyeshadbeenturnedbefore,andwerenowturnedagain,stoodupwhereshehadsat.Herfatherrosewithher,andkeptherhanddrawnthroughhisarm.
“MissManette,lookupontheprisoner.”
Tobeconfrontedwithsuchpity,andsuchearnestyouthandbeauty,wasfarmoretryingtotheaccusedthantobeconfrontedwithallthecrowd.
Standing,asitwere,apartwithherontheedgeofhisgrave,notallthestaringcuriositythatlookedon,could,forthemoment,nervehimtoremainquitestill.
Hishurriedrighthandparcelledouttheherbsbeforehimintoimaginarybedsofflowersinagarden;andhiseffortstocontrolandsteadyhisbreathingshookthelipsfromwhichthecolourrushedtohisheart.
Thebuzzofthegreatflieswasloudagain.
“MissManette,haveyouseentheprisonerbefore?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Where?”
“Onboardofthepacket-shipjustnowreferredto,sir,andonthesameoccasion.”
“Youaretheyoungladyjustnowreferredto?”
“O!mostunhappily,Iam!”
TheplaintivetoneofhercompassionmergedintothelessmusicalvoiceoftheJudge,ashesaidsomethingfiercely:“Answerthequestionsputtoyou,andmakenoremarkuponthem.”
“MissManette,hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoneronthatpassageacrosstheChannel?”
“Yes,sir.”
“Recallit.”
Inthemidstofaprofoundstillness,shefaintlybegan:“Whenthegentlemancameonboard—”
“Doyoumeantheprisoner?”inquiredtheJudge,knittinghisbrows.
“Yes,myLord.”
“Thensaytheprisoner.”
“Whentheprisonercameonboard,henoticedthatmyfather,”turninghereyeslovinglytohimashestoodbesideher,“wasmuchfatiguedandinaveryweakstateofhealth.
MyfatherwassoreducedthatIwasafraidtotakehimoutoftheair,andIhadmadeabedforhimonthedecknearthecabinsteps,andIsatonthedeckathissidetotakecareofhim.
Therewerenootherpassengersthatnight,butwefour.
TheprisonerwassogoodastobegpermissiontoadvisemehowIcouldsheltermyfatherfromthewindandweather,betterthanIhaddone.
Ihadnotknownhowtodoitwell,notunderstandinghowthewindwouldsetwhenwewereoutoftheharbour.Hediditforme.
Heexpressedgreatgentlenessandkindnessformyfather’sstate,andIamsurehefeltit.
Thatwasthemannerofourbeginningtospeaktogether.”
“Letmeinterruptyouforamoment.Hadhecomeonboardalone?”
“No.”
“Howmanywerewithhim?”
“TwoFrenchgentlemen.”
“Hadtheyconferredtogether?”
“Theyhadconferredtogetheruntilthelastmoment,whenitwasnecessaryfortheFrenchgentlementobelandedintheirboat.”
“Hadanypapersbeenhandedaboutamongthem,similartotheselists?”
“Somepapershadbeenhandedaboutamongthem,butIdon’tknowwhatpapers.”
“Liketheseinshapeandsize?”
“Possibly,butindeedIdon’tknow,althoughtheystoodwhisperingveryneartome:becausetheystoodatthetopofthecabinstepstohavethelightofthelampthatwashangingthere;itwasadulllamp,andtheyspokeverylow,andIdidnothearwhattheysaid,andsawonlythattheylookedatpapers.”
“Now,totheprisoner’sconversation,MissManette.”
“Theprisonerwasasopeninhisconfidencewithme—whicharoseoutofmyhelplesssituation—ashewaskind,andgood,andusefultomyfather.
Ihope,”burstingintotears,“Imaynotrepayhimbydoinghimharmto-day.”
Buzzingfromtheblue-flies.
“MissManette,iftheprisonerdoesnotperfectlyunderstandthatyougivetheevidencewhichitisyourdutytogive—whichyoumustgive—andwhichyoucannotescapefromgiving—withgreatunwillingness,heistheonlypersonpresentinthatcondition.Pleasetogoon.”
“Hetoldmethathewastravellingonbusinessofadelicateanddifficultnature,whichmightgetpeopleintotrouble,andthathewasthereforetravellingunderanassumedname.
Hesaidthatthisbusinesshad,withinafewdays,takenhimtoFrance,andmight,atintervals,takehimbackwardsandforwardsbetweenFranceandEnglandforalongtimetocome.”
“DidhesayanythingaboutAmerica,MissManette?Beparticular.”
“Hetriedtoexplaintomehowthatquarrelhadarisen,andhesaidthat,sofarashecouldjudge,itwasawrongandfoolishoneonEngland’spart.
Headded,inajestingway,thatperhapsGeorgeWashingtonmightgainalmostasgreatanameinhistoryasGeorgetheThird.
Buttherewasnoharminhiswayofsayingthis:itwassaidlaughingly,andtobeguilethetime.”
Anystronglymarkedexpressionoffaceonthepartofachiefactorinasceneofgreatinteresttowhommanyeyesaredirected,willbeunconsciouslyimitatedbythespectators.
Herforeheadwaspainfullyanxiousandintentasshegavethisevidence,and,inthepauseswhenshestoppedfortheJudgetowriteitdown,watcheditseffectuponthecounselforandagainst.
Amongthelookers-ontherewasthesameexpressioninallquartersofthecourt;insomuch,thatagreatmajorityoftheforeheadsthere,mighthavebeenmirrorsreflectingthewitness,whentheJudgelookedupfromhisnotestoglareatthattremendousheresyaboutGeorgeWashington.
Mr.Attorney-GeneralnowsignifiedtomyLord,thathedeemeditnecessary,asamatterofprecautionandform,tocalltheyounglady’sfather,DoctorManette.Whowascalledaccordingly.
“DoctorManette,lookupontheprisoner.Haveyoueverseenhimbefore?”
“Once.WhenhecagedatmylodgingsinLondon.Somethreeyears,orthreeyearsandahalfago.”
“Canyouidentifyhimasyourfellow-passengeronboardthepacket,orspeaktohisconversationwithyourdaughter?”
“Sir,Icandoneither.”
“Isthereanyparticularandspecialreasonforyourbeingunabletodoeither?”
Heanswered,inalowvoice,“Thereis.”
“Hasitbeenyourmisfortunetoundergoalongimprisonment,withouttrial,orevenaccusation,inyournativecountry,DoctorManette?”
Heanswered,inatonethatwenttoeveryheart,“Alongimprisonment.”
“Wereyounewlyreleasedontheoccasioninquestion?”
“Theytellmeso.”
“Haveyounoremembranceoftheoccasion?”
“None.Mymindisablank,fromsometime—Icannotevensaywhattime—whenIemployedmyself,inmycaptivity,inmakingshoes,tothetimewhenIfoundmyselflivinginLondonwithmydeardaughterhere.
Shehadbecomefamiliartome,whenagraciousGodrestoredmyfaculties;but,Iamquiteunableeventosayhowshehadbecomefamiliar.Ihavenoremembranceoftheprocess.”
Mr.Attorney-Generalsatdown,andthefatheranddaughtersatdowntogether.
Asingularcircumstancethenaroseinthecase.
Theobjectinhandbeingtoshowthattheprisonerwentdown,withsomefellow-plotteruntracked,intheDovermailonthatFridaynightinNovemberfiveyearsago,andgotoutofthemailinthenight,asablind,ataplacewherehedidnotremain,butfromwhichhetravelledbacksomedozenmilesormore,toagarrisonanddockyard,andtherecollectedinformation;awitnesswascalledtoidentifyhimashavingbeenattheprecisetimerequired,inthecoffee-roomofanhotelinthatgarrison-and-dockyardtown,waitingforanotherperson.
Theprisoner’scounselwascross-examiningthiswitnesswithnoresult,exceptthathehadneverseentheprisoneronanyotheroccasion,whenthewiggedgentlemanwhohadallthistimebeenlookingattheceilingofthecourt,wroteawordortwoonalittlepieceofpaper,screweditup,andtossedittohim.
Openingthispieceofpaperinthenextpause,thecounsellookedwithgreatattentionandcuriosityattheprisoner.
“Yousayagainyouarequitesurethatitwastheprisoner?”
Thewitnesswasquitesure.
“Didyoueverseeanybodyveryliketheprisoner?”
Notsolike(thewitnesssaid)asthathecouldbemistaken.
“Lookwelluponthatgentleman,mylearnedfriendthere,”pointingtohimwhohadtossedthepaperover,“andthenlookwellupontheprisoner.Howsayyou?Aretheyverylikeeachother?”
Allowingformylearnedfriend’sappearancebeingcarelessandslovenlyifnotdebauched,theyweresufficientlylikeeachothertosurprise,notonlythewitness,buteverybodypresent,whentheywerethusbroughtintocomparison.
MyLordbeingprayedtobidmylearnedfriendlayasidehiswig,andgivingnoverygraciousconsent,thelikenessbecamemuchmoreremarkable.
MyLordinquiredofMr.Stryver(theprisoner’scounsel),whethertheywerenexttotryMr.Carton(nameofmylearnedfriend)fortreason?
But,Mr.StryverrepliedtomyLord,no;buthewouldaskthewitnesstotellhimwhetherwhathappenedonce,mighthappentwice;whetherhewouldhavebeensoconfidentifhehadseenthisillustrationofhisrashnesssooner,whetherhewouldbesoconfident,havingseenit;andmore.
Theupshotofwhich,was,tosmashthiswitnesslikeacrockeryvessel,andshiverhispartofthecasetouselesslumber.
Mr.Cruncherhadbythistimetakenquitealunchofrustoffhisfingersinhisfollowingoftheevidence.
HehadnowtoattendwhileMr.Stryverfittedtheprisoner’scaseonthejury,likeacompactsuitofclothes;showingthemhowthepatriot,Barsad,wasahiredspyandtraitor,anunblushingtraffickerinblood,andoneofthegreatestscoundrelsuponearthsinceaccursedJudas—whichhecertainlydidlookratherlike.
Howthevirtuousservant,Cly,washisfriendandpartner,andwasworthytobe;howthewatchfuleyesofthoseforgersandfalseswearershadrestedontheprisonerasavictim,becausesomefamilyaffairsinFrance,hebeingofFrenchextraction,didrequirehismakingthosepassagesacrosstheChannel—thoughwhatthoseaffairswere,aconsiderationforotherswhowerenearanddeartohim,forbadehim,evenforhislife,todisclose.
Howtheevidencethathadbeenwarpedandwrestedfromtheyounglady,whoseanguishingivingittheyhadwitnessed,cametonothing,involvingthemerelittleinnocentgallantriesandpolitenesseslikelytopassbetweenanyyounggentlemanandyoungladysothrowntogether;—withtheexceptionofthatreferencetoGeorgeWashington,whichwasaltogethertooextravagantandimpossibletoberegardedinanyotherlightthanasamonstrousjoke.
Howitwouldbeaweaknessinthegovernmenttobreakdowninthisattempttopractiseforpopularityonthelowestnationalantipathiesandfears,andthereforeMr.Attorney-Generalhadmadethemostofit;how,nevertheless,itresteduponnothing,savethatvileandinfamouscharacterofevidencetoooftendisfiguringsuchcases,andofwhichtheStateTrialsofthiscountrywerefull.
But,theremyLordinterposed(withasgraveafaceasifithadnotbeentrue),sayingthathecouldnotsituponthatBenchandsufferthoseallusions.
Mr.Stryverthencalledhisfewwitnesses,andMr.CruncherhadnexttoattendwhileMr.Attorney-GeneralturnedthewholesuitofclothesMr.Stryverhadfittedonthejury,insideout;showinghowBarsadandClywereevenahundredtimesbetterthanhehadthoughtthem,andtheprisonerahundredtimesworse.
Lastly,camemyLordhimself,turningthesuitofclothes,nowinsideout,nowoutsidein,butonthewholedecidedlytrimmingandshapingthemintograve-clothesfortheprisoner.
Andnow,thejuryturnedtoconsider,andthegreatfliesswarmedagain.
Mr.Carton,whohadsolongsatlookingattheceilingofthecourt,changedneitherhisplacenorhisattitude,eveninthisexcitement.
Whilehisteamedfriend,Mr.Stryver,massinghispapersbeforehim,whisperedwiththosewhosatnear,andfromtimetotimeglancedanxiouslyatthejury;whileallthespectatorsmovedmoreorless,andgroupedthemselvesanew;whileevenmyLordhimselfarosefromhisseat,andslowlypacedupanddownhisplatform,notunattendedbyasuspicioninthemindsoftheaudiencethathisstatewasfeverish;thisonemansatleaningback,withhistorngownhalfoffhim,hisuntidywigputonjustasithadhappenedtofightonhisheadafteritsremoval,hishandsinhispockets,andhiseyesontheceilingastheyhadbeenallday.
Somethingespeciallyrecklessinhisdemeanour,notonlygavehimadisreputablelook,butsodiminishedthestrongresemblanceheundoubtedlyboretotheprisoner(whichhismomentaryearnestness,whentheywerecomparedtogether,hadstrengthened),thatmanyofthelookers-on,takingnoteofhimnow,saidtooneanothertheywouldhardlyhavethoughtthetwoweresoalike.
Mr.Crunchermadetheobservationtohisnextneighbour,andadded,“I’dholdhalfaguineathatHEdon’tgetnolaw-worktodo.
Don’tlooklikethesortofonetogetany,dohe?”
Yet,thisMr.Cartontookinmoreofthedetailsofthescenethanheappearedtotakein;fornow,whenMissManette’sheaddroppeduponherfather’sbreast,hewasthefirsttoseeit,andtosayaudibly:“Officer!looktothatyounglady.Helpthegentlemantotakeherout.Don’tyouseeshewillfall!”
Therewasmuchcommiserationforherasshewasremoved,andmuchsympathywithherfather.
Ithadevidentlybeenagreatdistresstohim,tohavethedaysofhisimprisonmentrecalled.
Hehadshownstronginternalagitationwhenhewasquestioned,andthatponderingorbroodinglookwhichmadehimold,hadbeenuponhim,likeaheavycloud,eversince.
Ashepassedout,thejury,whohadturnedbackandpausedamoment,spoke,throughtheirforeman.
Theywerenotagreed,andwishedtoretire.
MyLord(perhapswithGeorgeWashingtononhismind)showedsomesurprisethattheywerenotagreed,butsignifiedhispleasurethattheyshouldretireunderwatchandward,andretiredhimself.
Thetrialhadlastedallday,andthelampsinthecourtwerenowbeinglighted.
Itbegantoberumouredthatthejurywouldbeoutalongwhile.
Thespectatorsdroppedofftogetrefreshment,andtheprisonerwithdrewtothebackofthedock,andsatdown.
Mr.Lorry,whohadgoneoutwhentheyoungladyandherfatherwentout,nowreappeared,andbeckonedtoJerry:who,intheslackenedinterest,couldeasilygetnearhim.
“Jerry,ifyouwishtotakesomethingtoeat,youcan.But,keepintheway.
Youwillbesuretohearwhenthejurycomein.
Don’tbeamomentbehindthem,forIwantyoutotaketheverdictbacktothebank.
YouarethequickestmessengerIknow,andwillgettoTempleBarlongbeforeIcan.”
Jerryhadjustenoughforeheadtoknuckle,andheknuckleditinacknowedgmentofthiscommunicationandashilling.Mr.Cartoncameupatthemoment,andtouchedMr.Lorryonthearm.
“Howistheyounglady?”
“Sheisgreatlydistressed;butherfatheriscomfortingher,andshefeelsthebetterforbeingoutofcourt.”
“I’lltelltheprisonerso.Itwon’tdoforarespectablebankgentlemanlikeyou,tobeseenspeakingtohimpublicly,youknow.”
Mr.Lorryreddenedasifhewereconsciousofhavingdebatedthepointinhismind,andMr.Cartonmadehiswaytotheoutsideofthebar.
Thewayoutofcourtlayinthatdirection,andJerryfollowedhim,alleyes,ears,andspikes.
“Mr.Darnay!”
Theprisonercameforwarddirectly.
“Youwillnaturallybeanxioustohearofthewitness,MissManette.Shewilldoverywell.Youhaveseentheworstofheragitation.”
“Iamdeeplysorrytohavebeenthecauseofit.Couldyoutellhersoforme,withmyferventacknowledgments?”
“Yes,Icould.Iwill,ifyouaskit.”
Mr.Carton’smannerwassocarelessastobealmostinsolent.Hestood,halfturnedfromtheprisoner,loungingwithhiselbowagainstthebar.
“Idoaskit.Acceptmycordialthanks.”
“What,”saidCarton,stillonlyhalfturnedtowardshim,“doyouexpect,Mr.Darnay?”
“Theworst.”
“It’sthewisestthingtoexpect,andthelikeliest.ButIthinktheirwithdrawingisinyourfavour.”
Loiteringonthewayoutofcourtnotbeingallowed,Jerryheardnomore:butleftthem—solikeeachotherinfeature,sounlikeeachotherinmanner—standingsidebyside,bothreflectedintheglassabovethem.
Anhourandahalflimpedheavilyawayinthethief-and-rascalcrowdedpassagesbelow,eventhoughassistedoffwithmuttonpiesandale.
Thehoarsemessenger,uncomfortablyseatedonaformaftertakingthatrefection,haddroppedintoadoze,whenaloudmurmurandarapidtideofpeoplesettingupthestairsthatledtothecourt,carriedhimalongwiththem.
“Jerry!Jerry!”Mr.Lorrywasalreadycallingatthedoorwhenhegotthere.
“Here,sir!It’safighttogetbackagain.HereIam,sir!”
Mr.Lorryhandedhimapaperthroughthethrong.“Quick!Haveyougotit?”
“Yes,sir.”
Hastilywrittenonthepaperwastheword“AQUITTED.”
“Ifyouhadsentthemessage,`RecalledtoLife,’again,”mutteredJerry,asheturned,“Ishouldhaveknownwhatyoumeant,thistime.”
Hehadnoopportunityofsaying,orsomuchasthinking,anythingelse,untilhewasclearoftheOldBailey;for,thecrowdcamepouringoutwithavehemencethatnearlytookhimoffhislegs,andaloudbuzzsweptintothestreetasifthebaffledblue-fliesweredispersinginsearchofothercarrion.
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