English
Thetravellerfaredslowlyonhisway,whofaredtowardsParisfromEnglandintheautumnoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety-two.
Morethanenoughofbadroads,badequipages,andbadhorses,hewouldhaveencounteredtodelayhim,thoughthefallenandunfortunateKingofFrancehadbeenuponhisthroneinallhisglory;but,thechangedtimeswerefraughtwithotherobstaclesthanthese.
Everytown-gateandvillagetaxing-househaditsbandofcitizen-patriots,withtheirnationalmusketsinamostexplosivestateofreadiness,whostoppedallcomersandgoers,cross-questionedthem,inspectedtheirpapers,lookedfortheirnamesinlistsoftheirown,turnedthemback,orsentthemon,orstoppedthemandlaidtheminhold,astheircapriciousjudgmentorfancydeemedbestforthedawningRepublicOneandIndivisible,ofLiberty,Equality,Fraternity,orDeath.
AveryfewFrenchleaguesofhisjourneywereaccomplished,whenCharlesDarnaybegantoperceivethatforhimalongthesecountryroadstherewasnohopeofreturnuntilheshouldhavebeendeclaredagoodcitizenatParis.
Whatevermightbefallnow,hemustontohisjourney’send.
Notameanvillagecloseduponhim,notacommonbarrierdroppedacrosstheroadbehindhim,butheknewittobeanotherirondoorintheseriesthatwasbarredbetweenhimandEngland.
Theuniversalwatchfulnesssoencompassedhim,thatifhehadbeentakeninanet,orwerebeingforwardedtohisdestinationinacage,hecouldnothavefelthisfreedommorecompletelygone.
Thisuniversalwatchfulnessnotonlystoppedhimonthehighwaytwentytimesinastage,butretardedhisprogresstwentytimesinaday,byridingafterhimandtakinghimback,ridingbeforehimandstoppinghimbyanticipation,ridingwithhimandkeepinghimincharge.
HehadbeendaysuponhisjourneyinFrancealone,whenhewenttobedtiredout,inalittletownonthehighroad,stillalongwayfromParis.
NothingbuttheproductionoftheafflictedGabelle’sletterfromhisprisonoftheAbbayewouldhavegothimonsofar.
Msdifficultyattheguard-houseinthissmallplacehadbeensuch,thathefelthisjourneytohavecometoacrisis.
Andhewas,therefore,aslittlesurprisedasamancouldbe,tofindhimselfawakenedatthesmallinntowhichhehadbeenremitteduntilmorning,inthemiddleofthenight.
Awakenedbyatimidlocalfunctionaryandthreearmedpatriotsinroughredcapsandwithpipesintheirmouths,whosatdownonthebed.
“Emigrant,”saidthefunctionary,“IamgoingtosendyouontoParis,underanescort.”
“Citizen,IdesirenothingmorethantogettoParis,thoughIcoulddispensewiththeescort.”
“Silence!”growledared-cap,strikingatthecoverletwiththebutt-endofhismusket.“Peace,aristocrat!”
“Itisasthegoodpatriotsays,”observedthetimidfunctionary.“Youareanaristocrat,andmusthaveanescort—andmustpayforit.”
“Ihavenochoice,”saidCharlesDarnay.
“Choice!Listentohim!”criedthesamescowlingred-cap.“Asifitwasnotafavourtobeprotectedfromthelamp-iron!”
“Itisalwaysasthegoodpatriotsays,”observedthefunctionary.“Riseanddressyourself,emigrant.”
Darnaycomplied,andwastakenbacktotheguard-house,whereotherpatriotsinroughredcapsweresmoking,drinking,andsleeping,byawatch-fire.
Herehepaidaheavypriceforhisescort,andhencehestartedwithitonthewet,wetroadsatthreeo’clockinthemorning.
Theescortweretwomountedpatriotsinredcapsandtri-colouredcockades,armedwithnationalmusketsandsabres,whorodeoneoneithersideofhim.
Theescortedgovernedhisownhorse,butalooselinewasattachedtohisbridle,theendofwhichoneofthepatriotskeptgirdedroundhiswrist.
Inthisstatetheysetforthwiththesharpraindrivingintheirfaces:clatteringataheavydragoontrotovertheuneventownpavement,andoutuponthemire-deeproads.
Inthisstatetheytraversedwithoutchange,exceptofhorsesandpace,allthemire-deepleaguesthatlaybetweenthemandthecapital.
Theytravelledinthenight,haltinganhourortwoafterdaybreak,andlyingbyuntilthetwilightfell.
Theescortweresowretchedlyclothed,thattheytwistedstrawroundtheirbarelegs,andthatchedtheirraggedshoulderstokeepthewetoff.
Apartfromthepersonaldiscomfortofbeingsoattended,andapartfromsuchconsiderationsofpresentdangerasarosefromoneofthepatriotsbeingchronicallydrunk,andcarryinghismusketveryrecklessly,CharlesDarnaydidnotallowtherestraintthatwaslaiduponhimtoawakenanyseriousfearsinhisbreast;for,hereasonedwithhimselfthatitcouldhavenoreferencetothemeritsofanindividualcasethatwasnotyetstated,andofrepresentations,confirmablebytheprisonerintheAbbaye,thatwerenotyetmade.
ButwhentheycametothetownofBeauvais—whichtheydidateventide,whenthestreetswerefilledwithpeople—hecouldnotconcealfromhimselfthattheaspectofaffairswasveryalarming.
Anominouscrowdgatheredtoseehimdismountoftheposting-yard,andmanyvoicescalledoutloudly,“Downwiththeemigrant!”
Hestoppedintheactofswinginghimselfoutofhissaddle,and,resumingitashissafestplace,said:
“Emigrant,myfriends!Doyounotseemehere,inFrance,ofmyownwill?”
“Youareacursedemigrant,”criedafarrier,makingathiminafuriousmannerthroughthepress,hammerinhand;“andyouareacursedaristocrat!”
Thepostmasterinterposedhimselfbetweenthismanandtherider’sbridle(atwhichhewasevidentlymaking),andsoothinglysaid,“Lethimbe;lethimbe!HewillbejudgedatParis.”
“Judged!”repeatedthefarrier,swinginghishammer.“Ay!andcondemnedasatraitor.”Atthisthecrowdroaredapproval.
Checkingthepostmaster,whowasforturninghishorse’sheadtotheyard(thedrunkenpatriotsatcomposedlyinhissaddlelookingon,withthelineroundhiswrist),Darnaysaid,assoonashecouldmakehisvoiceheard:
“Friends,youdeceiveyourselves,oryouaredeceived.Iamnotatraitor.”
“Helies!”criedthesmith.“Heisatraitorsincethedecree.Hislifeisforfeittothepeople.Hiscursedlifeisnothisown!”
AttheinstantwhenDarnaysawarushintheeyesofthecrowd,whichanotherinstantwouldhavebroughtuponhim,thepostmasterturnedhishorseintotheyard,theescortrodeincloseuponhishorse’sflanks,andthepostmastershutandbarredthecrazydoublegates.
Thefarrierstruckablowuponthemwithhishammer,andthecrowdgroaned;but,nomorewasdone.
“Whatisthisdecreethatthesmithspokeof?”Darnayaskedthepostmaster,whenhehadthankedhim,andstoodbesidehimintheyard.
“Truly,adecreeforsellingthepropertyofemigrants.”
“Whenpassed?”
“Onthefourteenth.”
“ThedayIleftEngland!”
“Everybodysaysitisbutoneofseveral,andthattherewillbeothers—iftherearenotalready-banishingallemigrants,andcondemningalltodeathwhoreturn.
Thatiswhathemeantwhenhesaidyourlifewasnotyourown.”
“Buttherearenosuchdecreesyet?”
“WhatdoIknow!”saidthepostmaster,shrugginghisshoulders;“theremaybe,ortherewillbe.Itisallthesame.Whatwouldyouhave?”
Theyrestedonsomestrawinaloftuntilthemiddleofthenight,andthenrodeforwardagainwhenallthetownwasasleep.
Amongthemanywildchangesobservableonfamiliarthingswhichmadethiswildrideunreal,nottheleastwastheseemingrarityofsleep.
Afterlongandlonelyspurringoverdrearyroads,theywouldcometoaclusterofpoorcottages,notsteepedindarkness,butallglitteringwithlights,andwouldfindthepeople,inaghostlymannerinthedeadofthenight,circlinghandinhandroundashrivelledtreeofLiberty,oralldrawnuptogethersingingaLibertysong.
Happily,however,therewassleepinBeauvaisthatnighttohelpthemoutofitandtheypassedononcemoreintosolitudeandloneliness:jinglingthroughtheuntimelycoldandwet,amongimpoverishedfieldsthathadyieldednofruitsoftheearththatyear,diversifiedbytheblackenedremainsofburnthouses,andbythesuddenemergencefromambuscade,andsharpreiningupacrosstheirway,ofpatriotpatrolsonthewatchonalltheroads.
DaylightatlastfoundthembeforethewallofParis.Thebarrierwasclosedandstronglyguardedwhentheyrodeuptoit.
“Wherearethepapersofthisprisoner?”demandedaresolute-lookingmaninauthority,whowassummonedoutbytheguard.
Naturallystruckbythedisagreeableword,CharlesDarnayrequestedthespeakertotakenoticethathewasafreetravellerandFrenchcitizen,inchargeofanescortwhichthedisturbedstateofthecountryhadimposeduponhim,andwhichhehadpaidfor.
“Where,”repeatedthesamepersonage,withouttakinganyheedofhimwhatever,“arethepapersofthisprisoner?”
Thedrunkenpatriothadtheminhiscap,andproducedthem.
CastinghiseyesoverGabelle’sletter,thesamepersonageinauthorityshowedsomedisorderandsurprise,andlookedatDarnaywithacloseattention.
Heleftescortandescortedwithoutsayingaword,however,andwentintotheguard-room;meanwhile,theysatupontheirhorsesoutsidethegate.
Lookingabouthimwhileinthisstateofsuspense,CharlesDarnayobservedthatthegatewasheldbyamixedguardofsoldiersandpatriots,thelatterfaroutnumberingtheformer;andthatwhileingressintothecityforpeasants’cartsbringinginsupplies,andforsimilartrafficandtraffickers,waseasyenough,egress,evenforthehomeliestpeople,wasverydifficult.
Anumerousmedleyofmenandwomen,nottomentionbeastsandvehiclesofvarioussorts,waswaitingtoissueforth;but,thepreviousidentificationwassostrict,thattheyfilteredthroughthebarrierveryslowly.
Someofthesepeopleknewtheirturnforexaminationtobesofaroff,thattheylaydownonthegroundtosleeporsmoke,whileotherstalkedtogether,orloiteredabout.
Theredcapandtri-colourcockadewereuniversal,bothamongmenandwomen.
Whenhehadsatinhissaddlesomehalf-hour,takingnoteofthesethings,Darnayfoundhimselfconfrontedbythesamemaninauthority,whodirectedtheguardtoopenthebarrier.
Thenhedeliveredtotheescort,drunkandsober,areceiptfortheescorted,andrequestedhimtodismount.
Hedidso,andthetwopatriots,leadinghistiredhorse,turnedandrodeawaywithoutenteringthecity.
Heaccompaniedhisconductorintoaguard-room,smellingofcommonwineandtobacco,wherecertainsoldiersandpatriots,asleepandawake,drunkandsober,andinvariousneutralstatesbetweensleepingandwaking,drunkennessandsobriety,werestandingandlyingabout.
Thelightintheguard-house,halfderivedfromthewaningoil-lampsofthenight,andhalffromtheovercastday,wasinacorrespondinglyuncertaincondition.
Someregisterswerelyingopenonadesk,andanofficerofacoarse,darkaspect,presidedoverthese.
“CitizenDefarge,”saidhetoDarnay’sconductor,ashetookaslipofpapertowriteon.“IsthistheemigrantEvremonde?”
“Thisistheman.”
“Yourage,Evremonde?”
“Thirty-seven.”
“Married,Evremonde?”
“Yes.”
“Wheremarried?”
“InEngland.”
“Withoutdoubt.Whereisyourwife,Evremonde?”
“InEngland.”
“Withoutdoubt.Youareconsigned,Evremonde,totheprisonofLaForce.”
“JustHeaven!”exclaimedDarnay.“Underwhatlaw,andforwhatoffence?”
Theofficerlookedupfromhisslipofpaperforamoment.
“Wehavenewlaws,Evremonde,andnewoffences,sinceyouwerehere.”Hesaiditwithahardsmile,andwentonwriting.
“IentreatyoutoobservethatIhavecomeherevoluntarily,inresponsetothatwrittenappealofafellow-countrymanwhichliesbeforeyou.
Idemandnomorethantheopportunitytodosowithoutdelay.Isnotthatmyright?”
“Emigrantshavenorights,Evremonde,”wasthestolidreply.
Theofficerwroteuntilhehadfinished,readovertohimselfwhathehadwritten,sandedit,andhandedittoDefarge,withthewords“Insecret.”
Defargemotionedwiththepapertotheprisonerthathemustaccompanyhim.Theprisonerobeyed,andaguardoftwoarmedpatriotsattendedthem.
“Isityou,”saidDefarge,inalowvoice,astheywentdowntheguardhousestepsandturnedintoParis,“whomarriedthedaughterofDoctorManette,onceaprisonerintheBastillethatisnomore?”
“Yes,”repliedDarnay,lookingathimwithsurprise.
“MynameisDefarge,andIkeepawine-shopintheQuarterSaintAntoine.Possiblyyouhaveheardofme.”
“Mywifecametoyourhousetoreclaimherfather?Yes!”
Theword“wife”seemedtoserveasagloomyremindertoDefarge,tosaywithsuddenimpatience,“Inthenameofthatsharpfemalenewly-born,andcalledLaGuillotine,whydidyoucometoFrance?”
“Youheardmesaywhy,aminuteago.Doyounotbelieveitisthetruth?”
“Abadtruthforyou,”saidDefarge,speakingwithknittedbrows,andlookingstraightbeforehim.
“IndeedIamlosthere.Allhereissounprecedented,sochanged,sosuddenandunfair,thatIamabsolutelylost.Willyourendermealittlehelp?”
“None.”Defargespoke,alwayslookingstraightbeforehim.
“Willyouanswermeasinglequestion?”
“Perhaps.Accordingtoitsnature.Youcansaywhatitis.”
“InthisprisonthatIamgoingtosounjustly,shallIhavesomefreecommunicationwiththeworldoutside?”
“Youwillsee.”
“Iamnottobeburiedthere,prejudged,andwithoutanymeansofpresentingmycase?”
“Youwillsee.But,whatthen?Otherpeoplehavebeensimilarlyburiedinworseprisons,beforenow.”
“Butneverbyme,CitizenDefarge.”
Defargeglanceddarklyathimforanswer,andwalkedoninasteadyandsetsilence.
Thedeeperhesankintothissilence,thefainterhopetherewas—orsoDarnaythought—ofhissofteninginanyslightdegree.He,therefore,madehastetosay:
“Itisoftheutmostimportancetome(youknow,Citizen,evenbetterthanI,ofhowmuchimportance),thatIshouldbeabletocommunicatetoMr.LorryofTellson’sBank,anEnglishgentlemanwhoisnowinParis,thesimplefact,withoutcomment,thatIhavebeenthrownintotheprisonofLaForce.Willyoucausethattobedoneforme?”
“Iwilldo,”Defargedoggedlyrejoined,“nothingforyou.MydutyistomycountryandthePeople.Iamtheswornservantofboth,againstyou.Iwilldonothingforyou.”
CharlesDarnayfeltithopelesstoentreathimfurther,andhispridewastouchedbesides.
Astheywalkedoninsilence,hecouldnotbutseehowusedthepeopleweretothespectacleofprisonerspassingalongthestreets.Theverychildrenscarcelynoticedhim.
Afewpassersturnedtheirheads,andafewshooktheirfingersathimasanaristocrat;otherwise,thatamaningoodclothesshouldbegoingtoprison,wasnomoreremarkablethanthatalabourerinworkingclothesshouldbegoingtowork.
Inonenarrow,dark,anddirtystreetthroughwhichtheypassed,anexcitedorator,mountedonastool,wasaddressinganexcitedaudienceonthecranesagainstthepeople,ofthekingandtheroyalfamily.
Thefewwordsthathecaughtfromthisman’slips,firstmadeitknowntoCharlesDarnaythatthekingwasinprison,andthattheforeignambassadorshadoneandallleftParis.
Ontheroad(exceptatBeauvais)hehadheardabsolutelynothing.
Theescortandtheuniversalwatchfulnesshadcompletelyisolatedhim.
ThathehadfallenamongfargreaterdangersthanthosewhichhaddevelopedthemselveswhenheleftEngland,heofcourseknewnow.
Thatperilshadthickenedabouthimfast,andmightthickenfasterandfasteryet,heofcourseknewnow.
Hecouldnotbutadmittohimselfthathemightnothavemadethisjourney,ifhecouldhaveforeseentheeventsofafewdays.
Andyethismisgivingswerenotsodarkas,imaginedbythelightofthislatertime,theywouldappear.
Troubledasthefuturewas,itwastheunknownfuture,andinitsobscuritytherewasignoranthope.
Thehorriblemassacre,daysandnightslong,which,withinafewroundsoftheclock,wastosetagreatmarkofbloodupontheblessedgarneringtimeofharvest,wasasfaroutofhisknowledgeasifithadbeenahundredthousandyearsaway.
The“sharpfemalenewly-born,andcalledLaGuillotine,”washardlyknowntohim,ortothegeneralityofpeople,byname.
Thefrightfuldeedsthatweretobesoondone,wereprobablyunimaginedatthattimeinthebrainsofthedoers.
Howcouldtheyhaveaplaceintheshadowyconceptionsofagentlemind?
Ofunjusttreatmentindetentionandhardship,andincruelseparationfromhiswifeandchild,heforeshadowedthelikelihood,orthecertainty;but,beyondthis,hedreadednothingdistinctly.
Withthisonhismind,whichwasenoughtocarryintoadrearyprisoncourtyard,hearrivedattheprisonofLaForce.
Amanwithabloatedfaceopenedthestrongwicket,towhomDefargepresented“TheEmigrantEvremonde.”
“WhattheDevil!Howmanymoreofthem!”exclaimedthemanwiththebloatedface.
Defargetookhisreceiptwithoutnoticingtheexclamation,andwithdrew,withhistwofellow-patriots.
“WhattheDevil,Isayagain!”exclaimedthegaoler,leftwithhiswife.“Howmanymore!”
Thegaoler’swife,beingprovidedwithnoanswertothequestion,merelyreplied,“Onemusthavepatience,mydear!”
Threeturnkeyswhoenteredresponsivetoabellsherang,echoedthesentiment,andoneadded,“FortheloveofLiberty;”whichsoundedinthatplacelikeaninappropriateconclusion.
TheprisonofLaForcewasagloomyprison,darkandfilthy,andwithahorriblesmelloffoulsleepinit.
Extraordinaryhowsoonthenoisomeflavourofimprisonedsleep,becomesmanifestinallsuchplacesthatareillcaredfor!
“Insecret,too,”grumbledthegaoler,lookingatthewrittenpaper.“AsifIwasnotalreadyfulltobursting!”
Hestuckthepaperonafile,inanill-humour,andCharlesDarnayawaitedhisfurtherpleasureforhalfanhour:sometimes,pacingtoandfrointhestrongarchedroom:sometimes,restingonastoneseat:ineithercasedetainedtobeimprintedonthememoryofthechiefandhissubordinates.
“Come!”saidthechief,atlengthtakinguphiskeys,“comewithme,emigrant.”
Throughthedismalprisontwilight,hisnewchargeaccompaniedhimbycorridorandstaircase,manydoorsclangingandlockingbehindthem,untiltheycameintoalarge,low,vaultedchamber,crowdedwithprisonersofbothsexes.
Thewomenwereseatedatalongtable,readingandwriting,knitting,sewing,andembroidering;themenwereforthemostpartstandingbehindtheirchairs,orlingeringupanddowntheroom.
Intheinstinctiveassociationofprisonerswithshamefulcrimeanddisgrace,thenew-comerrecoiledfromthiscompany.
Butthecrowningunrealityofhislongunrealride,was,theirallatoncerisingtoreceivehim,witheveryrefinementofmannerknowntothetime,andwithalltheengaginggracesandcourtesiesoflife.
Sostrangelycloudedweretheserefinementsbytheprisonmannersandgloom,sospectraldidtheybecomeintheinappropriatesqualorandmiserythroughwhichtheywereseen,thatCharlesDarnayseemedtostandinacompanyofthedead.Ghostsall!
Theghostofbeauty,theghostofstateliness,theghostofelegance,theghostofpride,theghostoffrivolity,theghostofwit,theghostofyouth,theghostofage,allwaitingtheirdismissalfromthedesolateshore,allturningonhimeyesthatwerechangedbythedeaththeyhaddiedincomingthere.
Itstruckhimmotionless.Thegaolerstandingathisside,andtheothergaolersmovingabout,whowouldhavebeenwellenoughastoappearanceintheordinaryexerciseoftheirfunctions,lookedsoextravagantlycoarsecontrastedwithsorrowingmothersandbloomingdaughterswhowerethere—withtheapparitionsofthecoquette,theyoungbeauty,andthematurewomandelicatelybred—thattheinversionofallexperienceandlikelihoodwhichthesceneofshadowspresented,washeightenedtoitsutmost.
Surely,ghostsall.
Surely,thelongunrealridesomeprogressofdiseasethathadbroughthimtothesegloomyshades!
“Inthenameoftheassembledcompanionsinmisfortune,”saidagentlemanofcourtlyappearanceandaddress,comingforward,“IhavethehonourofgivingyouwelcometoLaForce,andofcondolingwithyouonthecalamitythathasbroughtyouamongus.Mayitsoonterminatehappily!
Itwouldbeanimpertinenceelsewhere,butitisnotsohere,toaskyournameandcondition?”
CharlesDarnayrousedhimself,andgavetherequiredinformation,inwordsassuitableashecouldfind.
“ButIhope,”saidthegentleman,followingthechiefgaolerwithhiseyes,whomovedacrosstheroom,“thatyouarenotinsecret?”
“Idonotunderstandthemeaningoftheterm,butIhaveheardthemsayso.”
“Ah,whatapity!Wesomuchregretit!
Buttakecourage;severalmembersofoursocietyhavebeeninsecret,atfirst,andithaslastedbutashorttime.”
Thenheadded,raisinghisvoice,“Igrievetoinformthesociety—insecret.”
TherewasamurmurofcommiserationasCharlesDarnaycrossedtheroomtoagrateddoorwherethegaolerawaitedhim,andmanyvoices—amongwhich,thesoftandcompassionatevoicesofwomenwereconspicuous—gavehimgoodwishesandencouragement.
Heturnedatthegrateddoor,torenderthethanksofhisheart;itclosedunderthegaoler’shand;andtheapparitionsvanishedfromhissightforever.
Thewicketopenedonastonestaircase,leadingupward.
Whentheybadascendedfortysteps(theprisonerofhalfanhouralreadycountedthem),thegaoleropenedalowblackdoor,andtheypassedintoasolitarycell.
Itstruckcoldanddamp,butwasnotdark.
“Yours,”saidthegaoler.
“WhyamIconfinedalone?”
“HowdoIknow!”
“Icanbuypen,ink,andpaper?”
“Sucharenotmyorders.Youwillbevisited,andcanaskthen.Atpresent,youmaybuyyourfood,andnothingmore.”
Therewereinthecell,achair,atable,andastrawmattress.
Asthegaolermadeageneralinspectionoftheseobjects,andofthefourwalls,beforegoingout,awanderingfancywanderedthroughthemindoftheprisonerleaningagainstthewalloppositetohim,thatthisgaolerwassounwholesomelybloated,bothinfaceandperson,astolooklikeamanwhohadbeendrownedandfilledwithwater.
Whenthegaolerwasgone,hethoughtinthesamewanderingway,“NowamIleft,asifIweredead.”
Stoppingthen,tolookdownatthemattress,heturnedfromitwithasickfeeling,andthought,“Andhereinthesecrawlingcreaturesisthefirstconditionofthebodyafterdeath.”
“Fivepacesbyfourandahalf,fivepacesbyfourandahalf,fivepacesbyfourandahalf.”
Theprisonerwalkedtoandfroinhiscell,countingitsmeasurement,andtheroarofthecityaroselikemuffleddrumswithawildswellofvoicesaddedtothem.
“Hemadeshoes,hemadeshoes,hemadeshoes.”
Theprisonercountedthemeasurementagain,andpacedfaster,todrawhismindwithhimfromthatlatterrepetition.
“Theghoststhatvanishedwhenthewicketclosed.
Therewasoneamongthem,theappearanceofaladydressedinblack,whowasleaningintheembrasureofawindow,andshehadalightshininguponhergoldenhair,andshelookedlikeLetusrideonagain,forGod’ssake,throughtheilluminatedvillageswiththepeopleallawake!
Hemadeshoes,hemadeshoes,hemadeshoes.Fivepacesbyfourandahalf.”
Withsuchscrapstossingandrollingupwardfromthedepthsofhismind,theprisonerwalkedfasterandfaster,obstinatelycountingandcounting;andtheroarofthecitychangedtothisextent—thatitstillrolledinlikemuffleddrums,butwiththewailofvoicesthatheknew,intheswellthatroseabovethem.
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