English
Insuchrisingsoffireandrisingsofsea—thefirmearthshakenbytherushesofanangryoceanwhichhadnownoebb,butwasalwaysontheflow,higherandhigher,totheterrorandwonderofthebeholdersontheshore—threeyearsoftempestwereconsumed.
ThreemorebirthdaysoflittleLuciehadbeenwovenbythegoldenthreadintothepeacefultissueofthelifeofherhome.
Manyanightandmanyadayhaditsinmateslistenedtotheechoesinthecorner,withheartsthatfailedthemwhentheyheardthethrongingfeet.
For,thefootstepshadbecometotheirmindsasthefootstepsofapeople,tumultuousunderaredflagandwiththeircountrydeclaredindanger,changedintowildbeasts,byterribleenchantmentlongpersistedin.
Monseigneur,asaclass,haddissociatedhimselffromthephenomenonofhisnotbeingappreciated:ofhisbeingsolittlewantedinFrance,astoincurconsiderabledangerofreceivinghisdismissalfromit,andthislifetogether.
LikethefabledrusticwhoraisedtheDevilwithinfinitepains,andwassoterrifiedatthesightofhimthathecouldasktheEnemynoquestion,butimmediatelyfled;so,Monseigneur,afterboldlyreadingtheLord’sPrayerbackwardsforagreatnumberofyears,andperformingmanyotherpotentspellsforcompellingtheEvilOne,nosoonerbeheldhiminhisterrorsthanhetooktohisnobleheels.
TheshiningBull’sEyeoftheCourtwasgone,oritwouldhavebeenthemarkforahurricaneofnationalbullets.
Ithadneverbeenagoodeyetoseewith—hadlonghadthemoteinitofLucifer’spride,Sardana—palus’sluxury,andamole’sblindness—butithaddroppedoutandwasgone.
TheCourt,fromthatexclusiveinnercircletoitsoutermostrottenringofintrigue,corruption,anddissimulation,wasallgonetogether.
Royaltywasgone;hadbeenbesiegedinitsPalaceand“suspended,”whenthelasttidingscameover.
TheAugustoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety-twowascome,andMonseigneurwasbythistimescatteredfarandwide.
Aswasnatural,thehead-quartersandgreatgathering-placeofMonseigneur,inLondon,wasTellson’sBank.
Spiritsaresupposedtohaunttheplaceswheretheirbodiesmostresorted,andMonseigneurwithoutaguineahauntedthespotwherehisguineasusedtobe.
Moreover,itwasthespottowhichsuchFrenchintelligenceaswasmosttobereliedupon,camequickest.
Again:Tellson’swasamunificenthouse,andextendedgreatliberalitytooldcustomerswhohadfallenfromtheirhighestate.
Again:thosenobleswhohadseenthecomingstormintime,andanticipatingplunderorconfiscation,hadmadeprovidentremittancestoTellson’s,werealwaystobeheardoftherebytheirneedybrethren.
Towhichitmustbeaddedthateverynew-comerfromFrancereportedhimselfandhistidingsatTellson’s,almostasamatterofcourse.
Forsuchvarietyofreasons,Tellson’swasatthattime,astoFrenchintelligence,akindofHighExchange;andthiswassowellknowntothepublic,andtheinquiriesmadetherewereinconsequencesonumerous,thatTellson’ssometimeswrotethelatestnewsoutinalineorsoandposteditintheBankwindows,forallwhoranthroughTempleBartoread.
Onasteaming,mistyafternoon,Mr.Lorrysatathisdesk,andCharlesDarnaystoodleaningonit,talkingwithhiminalowvoice.
ThepenitentialdenoncesetapartforinterviewswiththeHouse,wasnowthenews-Exchange,andwasfilledtooverflowing.
Itwaswithinhalfanhourorsoofthetimeofclosing.
“But,althoughyouaretheyoungestmanthateverlived,”saidCharlesDarnay,ratherhesitating,“Imuststillsuggesttoyou—”
“Iunderstand.ThatIamtooold?”saidMr.Lorry.
“Unsettledweather,alongjourney,uncertainmeansoftravelling,adisorganisedcountry,acitythatmaynotbeevensafeforyou.”
“MydearCharles,”saidMr.Lorry,withcheerfulconfidence,“youtouchsomeofthereasonsformygoing:notformystayingaway.
Itissafeenoughforme;nobodywillcaretointerferewithanoldfellowofharduponfourscorewhentherearesomanypeopletheremuchbetterworthinterferingwith.
Astoitsbeingadisorganisedcity,ifitwerenotadisorganisedcitytherewouldbenooccasiontosendsomebodyfromourHouseheretoourHousethere,whoknowsthecityandthebusiness,ofold,andisinTellson’sconfidence.
Astotheuncertaintravelling,thelongjourney,andthewinterweather,ifIwerenotpreparedtosubmitmyselftoafewinconveniencesforthesakeofTellson’s,afteralltheseyears,whooughttobe?”
“IwishIweregoingmyself,”saidCharlesDarnay,somewhatrestlessly,andlikeonethinkingaloud.
“Indeed!Youareaprettyfellowtoobjectandadvise!”exclaimedMr.Lorry.“Youwishyouweregoingyourself?AndyouaFrenchmanborn?Youareawisecounsellor.”
“MydearMr.Lorry,itisbecauseIamaFrenchmanborn,thatthethought(whichIdidnotmeantoutterhere,however)haspassedthroughmymindoften.
Onecannothelpthinking,havinghadsomesympathyforthemiserablepeople,andhavingabandonedsomethingtothem,”hespokehereinhisformerthoughtfulmanner,“thatonemightbelistenedto,andmighthavethepowertopersuadetosomerestraint.
Onlylastnight,afteryouhadleftus,whenIwastalkingtoLucie—”
“WhenyouweretalkingtoLucie,”Mr.Lorryrepeated.“Yes.IwonderyouarenotashamedtomentionthenameofLucie!WishingyouweregoingtoFranceatthistimeofday!”
“However,Iamnotgoing,”saidCharlesDarnay,withasmile.“Itismoretothepurposethatyousayyouare.”
“AndIam,inplainreality.Thetruthis,mydearCharles,”Mr.LorryglancedatthedistantHouse,andloweredhisvoice,“youcanhavenoconceptionofthedifficultywithwhichourbusinessistransacted,andoftheperilinwhichourbooksandpapersoveryonderareinvolved.
TheLordaboveknowswhatthecompromisingconsequenceswouldbetonumbersofpeople,ifsomeofourdocumentswereseizedordestroyed;andtheymightbe,atanytime,youknow,forwhocansaythatParisisnotsetafireto-day,orsackedto-morrow!
Now,ajudiciousselectionfromthesewiththeleastpossibledelay,andtheburyingofthem,orotherwisegettingofthemoutofharm’sway,iswithinthepower(withoutlossofprecioustime)ofscarcelyanyonebutmyself,ifanyone.
AndshallIhangback,whenTellson’sknowsthisandsaysthis—Tellson’s,whosebreadIhaveeatenthesesixtyyears—becauseIamalittlestiffaboutthejoints?
Why,Iamaboy,sir,tohalfadozenoldcodgershere!”
“HowIadmirethegallantryofyouryouthfulspirit,Mr.Lorry.”
“Tut!Nonsense,sir!
—And,mydearCharles,”saidMr.Lorry,glancingattheHouseagain,“youaretoremember,thatgettingthingsoutofParisatthispresenttime,nomatterwhatthings,isnexttoanimpossibility.
Papersandpreciousmatterswerethisverydaybroughttoushere(Ispeakinstrictconfidence;itisnotbusiness-liketowhisperit,eventoyou),bythestrangestbearersyoucanimagine,everyoneofwhomhadhisheadhangingonbyasinglehairashepassedtheBarriers.
Atanothertime,ourparcelswouldcomeandgo,aseasilyasinbusiness-likeOldEngland;butnow,everythingisstopped.”
“Anddoyoureallygoto-night?”
“Ireallygoto-night,forthecasehasbecometoopressingtoadmitofdelay.”
“Anddoyoutakenoonewithyou?”
“Allsortsofpeoplehavebeenproposedtome,butIwillhavenothingtosaytoanyofthem.IintendtotakeJerry.
JerryhasbeenmybodyguardonSundaynightsforalongtimepastandIamusedtohim.
NobodywillsuspectJerryofbeinganythingbutanEnglishbull-dog,orofhavinganydesigninhisheadbuttoflyatanybodywhotoucheshismaster.”
“ImustsayagainthatIheartilyadmireyourgallantryandyouthfulness.”
“Imustsayagain,nonsense,nonsense!WhenIhaveexecutedthislittlecommission,Ishall,perhaps,acceptTellson’sproposaltoretireandliveatmyease.
Timeenough,then,tothinkaboutgrowingold.”
ThisdialoguehadtakenplaceatMr.Lorry’susualdesk,withMonseigneurswarmingwithinayardortwoofit,boastfulofwhathewoulddotoavengehimselfontherascal-peoplebeforelong.
ItwastoomuchthewayofMonseigneurunderhisreversesasarefugee,anditwasmuchtoomuchthewayofnativeBritishorthodoxy,totalkofthisterribleRevolutionasifitweretheonlyharvesteverknownundertheskiesthathadnotbeensown—asifnothinghadeverbeendone,oromittedtobedone,thathadledtoit—asifobserversofthewretchedmillionsinFrance,andofthemisusedandpervertedresourcesthatshouldhavemadethemprosperous,hadnotseenitinevitablycoming,yearsbefore,andhadnotinplainwordsrecordedwhattheysaw.
Suchvapouring,combinedwiththeextravagantplotsofMonseigneurfortherestorationofastateofthingsthathadutterlyexhausteditself,andwornoutHeavenandearthaswellasitself,washardtobeenduredwithoutsomeremonstrancebyanysanemanwhoknewthetruth.
Anditwassuchvapouringallabouthisears,likeatroublesomeconfusionofbloodinhisownhead,addedtoalatentuneasinessinhismind,whichhadalreadymadeCharlesDarnayrestless,andwhichstillkepthimso.
Amongthetalkers,wasStryver,oftheKing’sBenchBar,faronhiswaytostatepromotion,and,therefore,loudonthetheme:broachingtoMonseigneur,hisdevicesforblowingthepeopleupandexterminatingthemfromthefaceoftheearth,anddoingwithoutthem:andforaccomplishingmanysimilarobjectsakinintheirnaturetotheabolitionofeaglesbysprinklingsaltonthetailsoftherace.
Him,Darnayheardwithaparticularfeelingofobjection;andDarnaystooddividedbetweengoingawaythathemighthearnomore,andremainingtointerposehisword,whenthethingthatwastobe,wentontoshapeitselfout.
TheHouseapproachedMr.Lorry,andlayingasoiledandunopenedletterbeforehim,askedifhehadyetdiscoveredanytracesofthepersontowhomitwasaddressed?
TheHouselaidtheletterdownsoclosetoDarnaythathesawthedirection—themorequicklybecauseitwashisownrightname.Theaddress,turnedintoEnglish,ran:
“Verypressing.ToMonsieurheretoforetheMarquisSt.Evremonde,ofFrance.ConfidedtothecaresofMessrs.TellsonandCo.,Bankers,London,England.”
Onthemarriagemorning,DoctorManettebadmadeithisoneurgentandexpressrequesttoCharlesDarnay,thatthesecretofthisnameshouldbe—unlesshe,theDoctor,dissolvedtheobligation—keptinviolatebetweenthem.
Nobodyelseknewittobehisname;hisownwifehadnosuspicionofthefact;Mr.Lorrycouldhavenone.
“No,”saidMr.Lorry,inreplytotheHouse;“Ihavereferredit,Ithink,toeverybodynowhere,andnoonecantellmewherethisgentlemanistobefound.”
ThehandsoftheclockverginguponthehourofclosingtheBank,therewasageneralsetofthecurrentoftalkerspastMr.Lorry’sdesk.
Heheldtheletteroutinquiringly;andMonseigneurlookedatit,inthepersonofthisplottingandindignantrefugee;andMonseigneurlookedatitinthepersonofthatplottingandindignantrefugee;andThis,That,andTheOther,allhadsomethingdisparagingtosay,inFrenchorinEnglish,concerningtheMarquiswhowasnottobefound.
“Nephew,Ibelieve—butinanycasedegeneratesuccessor—ofthepolishedMarquiswhowasmurdered,”saidone.“Happytosay,Ineverknewhim.”
“Acravenwhoabandonedhispost,”saidanother—thisMonseigneurhadbeengotoutofParis,legsuppermostandhalfsuffocated,inaloadofhay—”someyearsago.”
“Infectedwiththenewdoctrines,”saidathird,eyeingthedirectionthroughhisglassinpassing;“sethimselfinoppositiontothelastMarquis,abandonedtheestateswhenheinheritedthem,andleftthemtotheruffianherd.
Theywillrecompensehimnow,Ihope,ashedeserves.”
“Hey?”criedtheblatantStryver.“Didhethough?Isthatthesortoffellow?Letuslookathisinfamousname.D—nthefellow!”
Darnay,unabletorestrainhimselfanylonger,touchedMr.Stryverontheshoulder,andsaid:
“Iknowthefellow.”
“Doyou,byJupiter?”saidStryver.“Iamsorryforit.”
“Why?”
“Why,Mr.Darnay?D’yehearwhathedid?Don’task,why,inthesetimes.”
“ButIdoaskwhy?”
“ThenItellyouagain,Mr.Darnay,Iamsorryforit.
Iamsorrytohearyouputtinganysuchextraordinaryquestions.
Hereisafellow,who,infectedbythemostpestilentandblasphemouscodeofdevilrythateverwasknown,abandonedhispropertytothevilestscumoftheearththateverdidmurderbywholesale,andyouaskmewhyIamsorrythatamanwhoinstructsyouthknowshim?Well,butI’llansweryou.
IamsorrybecauseIbelievethereiscontaminationinsuchascoundrel.That’swhy.”
Mindfulofthesecret,Darnaywithgreatdifficultycheckedhimself,andsaid:“Youmaynotunderstandthegentleman.”
“IunderstandhowtoputYOUinacorner,Mr.Darnay,”saidBullyStryver,“andI’lldoit.
Ifthisfellowisagentleman,IDON’Tunderstandhim.
Youmaytellhimso,withmycompliments.
Youmayalsotellhim,fromme,thatafterabandoninghisworldlygoodsandpositiontothisbutcherlymob,Iwonderheisnotattheheadofthem.
But,no,gentlemen,”saidStryver,lookingallround,andsnappinghisfingers,“Iknowsomethingofhumannature,andItellyouthatyou’llneverfindafellowlikethisfellow,trustinghimselftothemerciesofsuchpreciousPROTEGES.
No,gentlemen;he’llalwaysshow‘emacleanpairofheelsveryearlyinthescuffle,andsneakaway.”
Withthosewords,andafinalsnapofhisfingers,Mr.StryvershoulderedhimselfintoFleet-street,amidstthegeneralapprobationofhishearers.
Mr.LorryandCharlesDarnaywereleftaloneatthedesk,inthegeneraldeparturefromtheBank.
“Willyoutakechargeoftheletter?”saidMr.Lorry.“Youknowwheretodeliverit?”
“Ido.”
“Willyouundertaketoexplain,thatwesupposeittohavebeenaddressedhere,onthechanceofourknowingwheretoforwardit,andthatithasbeenheresometime?”
“Iwilldoso.DoyoustartforParisfromhere?”
“Fromhere,ateight.”
“Iwillcomeback,toseeyouoff.”
Veryillateasewithhimself,andwithStryverandmostothermen,DarnaymadethebestofhiswayintothequietoftheTemple,openedtheletter,andreadit.Thesewereitscontents:
“PrisonoftheAbbaye,Paris.
“June21,1792.“MONSIEURHERETOFORETHEMARQUIS.
“Afterhavinglongbeenindangerofmylifeatthehandsofthevillage,Ihavebeenseized,withgreatviolenceandindignity,andbroughtalongjourneyonfoottoParis.
OntheroadIhavesufferedagreatdeal.
Noristhatall;myhousehasbeendestroyed—razedtotheground.
“ThecrimeforwhichIamimprisoned,MonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,andforwhichIshallbesummonedbeforethetribunal,andshalllosemylife(withoutyoursogeneroushelp),is,theytellme,treasonagainstthemajestyofthepeople,inthatIhaveactedagainstthemforanemigrant.
ItisinvainIrepresentthatIhaveactedforthem,andnotagainst,accordingtoyourcommands.
ItisinvainIrepresentthat,beforethesequestrationofemigrantproperty,Ihadremittedtheimpoststheyhadceasedtopay;thatIhadcollectednorent;thatIhadhadrecoursetonoprocess.
Theonlyresponseis,thatIhaveactedforanemigrant,andwhereisthatemigrant?
“Ah!mostgraciousMonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,whereisthatemigrant?Icryinmysleepwhereishe?
IdemandofHeaven,willhenotcometodeliverme?Noanswer.
AhMonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,Isendmydesolatecryacrossthesea,hopingitmayperhapsreachyourearsthroughthegreatbankofTilsonknownatParis!
“FortheloveofHeaven,ofjustice,ofgenerosity,ofthehonourofyournoblename,Isupplicateyou,MonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,tosuccourandreleaseme.
Myfaultis,thatIhavebeentruetoyou.
OhMonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,Iprayyoubeyoutruetome!
“Fromthisprisonhereofhorror,whenceIeveryhourtendnearerandnearertodestruction,Isendyou,MonsieurheretoforetheMarquis,theassuranceofmydolorousandunhappyservice.
“Yourafflicted,
“Gabelle.”
ThelatentuneasinessinDarnay’smindwasrousedtovigourouslifebythisletter.
Theperilofanoldservantandagoodone,whoseonlycrimewasfidelitytohimselfandhisfamily,staredhimsoreproachfullyintheface,that,ashewalkedtoandfrointheTempleconsideringwhattodo,healmosthidhisfacefromthepassersby.
Heknewverywell,thatinhishorrorofthedeedwhichhadculminatedthebaddeedsandbadreputationoftheoldfamilyhouse,inhisresentfulsuspicionsofhisuncle,andintheaversionwithwhichhisconscienceregardedthecrumblingfabricthathewassupposedtouphold,hehadactedimperfectly.
Heknewverywell,thatinhisloveforLucie,hisrenunciationofhissocialplace,thoughbynomeansnewtohisownmind,hadbeenhurriedandincomplete.
Heknewthatheoughttohavesystematicallyworkeditoutandsupervisedit,andthathehadmeanttodoit,andthatithadneverbeendone.
ThehappinessofhisownchosenEnglishhome,thenecessityofbeingalwaysactivelyemployed,theswiftchangesandtroublesofthetimewhichbadfollowedononeanothersofast,thattheeventsofthisweekannihilatedtheimmatureplansoflastweek,andtheeventsoftheweekfollowingmadeallnewagain;heknewverywell,thattotheforceofthesecircumstanceshehadyielded:—notwithoutdisquiet,butstillwithoutcontinuousandaccumulatingresistance.
Thathehadwatchedthetimesforatimeofaction,andthattheyhadshiftedandstruggleduntilthetimehadgoneby,andthenobilityweretroopingfromFrancebyeveryhighwayandbyway,andtheirpropertywasincourseofconfiscationanddestruction,andtheirverynameswereblottingout,wasaswellknowntohimselfasitcouldbetoanynewauthorityinFrancethatmightimpeachhimforit.
But,hehadoppressednoman,hehadimprisonednoman;hewassofarfromhavingharshlyexactedpaymentofhisdues,thathehadrelinquishedthemofhisownwill,thrownhimselfonaworldwithnofavourinit,wonhisownprivateplacethere,andearnedhisownbread.
MonsieurGabellehadheldtheimpoverishedandinvolvedestateonwritteninstructions,tosparethepeople,togivethemwhatlittletherewastogive—suchfuelastheheavycreditorswouldletthemhaveinthewinter,andsuchproduceascouldbesavedfromthesamegripinthesummer—andnodoubthehadputthefactinpleaandproof,forhisownsafety,sothatitcouldnotbutappearnow.
ThisfavouredthedesperateresolutionCharlesDarnayhadbeguntomake,thathewouldgotoParis.
Yes.Likethemarinerintheoldstory,thewindsandstreamshaddrivenhimwithintheinfluenceoftheLoadstoneRock,anditwasdrawinghimtoitself,andhemustgo.
Everythingthatarosebeforehisminddriftedhimon,fasterandfaster,moreandmoresteadily,totheterribleattraction.
Hislatentuneasinesshadbeen,thatbadaimswerebeingworkedoutinhisownunhappylandbybadinstruments,andthathewhocouldnotfailtoknowthathewasbetterthanthey,wasnotthere,tryingtodosomethingtostaybloodshed,andasserttheclaimsofmercyandhumanity.
Withthisuneasinesshalfstifled,andhalfreproachinghim,hehadbeenbroughttothepointedcomparisonofhimselfwiththebraveoldgentlemaninwhomdutywassostrong;uponthatcomparison(injurioustohimself)hadinstantlyfollowedthesneersofMonseigneur,whichhadstunghimbitterly,andthoseofStryver,whichaboveallwerecoarseandgalling,foroldreasons.
Uponthose,hadfollowedGabelle’sletter:theappealofaninnocentprisoner,indangerofdeath,tohisjustice,honour,andgoodname.
Hisresolutionwasmade.HemustgotoParis.
Yes.TheLoadstoneRockwasdrawinghim,andhemustsailon,untilhestruck.
Heknewofnorock;hesawhardlyanydanger.
Theintentionwithwhichhehaddonewhathehaddone,evenalthoughhehadleftitincomplete,presenteditbeforehiminanaspectthatwouldbegratefullyacknowledgedinFranceonhispresentinghimselftoassertit.
Then,thatgloriousvisionofdoinggood,whichissooftenthesanguinemirageofsomanygoodminds,arosebeforehim,andheevensawhimselfintheillusionwithsomeinfluencetoguidethisragingRevolutionthatwasrunningsofearfullywild.
Ashewalkedtoandfrowithhisresolutionmade,heconsideredthatneitherLucienorherfathermustknowofituntilhewasgone.
Lucieshouldbesparedthepainofseparation;andherfather,alwaysreluctanttoturnhisthoughtstowardsthedangerousgroundofold,shouldcometotheknowledgeofthestep,asasteptaken,andnotinthebalanceofsuspenseanddoubt.
Howmuchoftheincompletenessofhissituationwasreferabletoherfather,throughthepainfulanxietytoavoidrevivingoldassociationsofFranceinhismind,hedidnotdiscusswithhimself.
But,thatcircumstancetoo,hadhaditsinfluenceinhiscourse.
Hewalkedtoandfro,withthoughtsverybusy,untilitwastimetoreturntoTellson’sandtakeleaveofMr.Lorry.
AssoonashearrivedinParishewouldpresenthimselftothisoldfriend,buthemustsaynothingofhisintentionnow.
Acarriagewithpost-horseswasreadyattheBankdoor,andJerrywasbootedandequipped.
“Ihavedeliveredthatletter,”saidCharlesDarnaytoMr.Lorry.“Iwouldnotconsenttoyourbeingchargedwithanywrittenanswer,butperhapsyouwilltakeaverbalone?”
“ThatIwill,andreadily,”saidMr.Lorry,“ifitisnotdangerous.”
“Notatall.ThoughitistoaprisonerintheAbbaye.”
“Whatishisname?”saidMr.Lorry,withhisopenpocket-bookinhishand.
“Gabelle.”
“Gabelle.AndwhatisthemessagetotheunfortunateGabelleinprison?”
“Simply,`thathehasreceivedtheletter,andwillcome.’”
“Anytimementioned?”
“Hewillstartuponhisjourneyto-morrownight.”
“Anypersonmentioned?”
“No.”
HehelpedMr.Lorrytowraphimselfinanumberofcoatsandcloaks,andwentoutwithhimfromthewarmatmosphereoftheoldBank,intothemistyairofFleet-street.
“MylovetoLucie,andtolittleLucie,”saidMr.Lorryatparting,“andtakepreciouscareofthemtillIcomeback.”
CharlesDarnayshookhisheadanddoubtfullysmiled,asthecarriagerolledaway.
Thatnight—itwasthefourteenthofAugust—hesatuplate,andwrotetwoferventletters;onewastoLucie,explainingthestrongobligationhewasundertogotoParis,andshowingher,atlength,thereasonsthathehad,forfeelingconfidentthathecouldbecomeinvolvedinnopersonaldangerthere;theotherwastotheDoctor,confidingLucieandtheirdearchildtohiscare,anddwellingonthesametopicswiththestrongestassurances.
Toboth,hewrotethathewoulddespatchlettersinproofofhissafety,immediatelyafterhisarrival.
Itwasahardday,thatdayofbeingamongthem,withthefirstreservationoftheirjointlivesonhismind.
Itwasahardmattertopreservetheinnocentdeceitofwhichtheywereprofoundlyunsuspicious.
But,anaffectionateglanceathiswife,sohappyandbusy,madehimresolutenottotellherwhatimpended(hehadbeenhalfmovedtodoit,sostrangeitwastohimtoactinanythingwithoutherquietaid),andthedaypassedquickly.
Earlyintheeveningheembracedher,andherscarcelylessdearnamesake,pretendingthathewouldreturnby-and-bye(animaginaryengagementtookhimout,andhehadsecretedavaliseofclothesready),andsoheemergedintotheheavymistoftheheavystreets,withaheavierheart.
Theunseenforcewasdrawinghimfasttoitself,now,andallthetidesandwindsweresettingstraightandstrongtowardsit.
Helefthistwoletterswithatrustyporter,tobedeliveredhalfanhourbeforemidnight,andnosooner;tookhorseforDover;andbeganhisjourney.
“FortheloveofHeaven,ofjustice,ofgenerosity,ofthehonourofyournoblename!”
wasthepoorprisoner’scrywithwhichhestrengthenedhissinkingheart,asheleftallthatwasdearonearthbehindhim,andfloatedawayfortheLoadstoneRock.
Theendofthesecondbook.
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