English
SydneyCartonpausedinthestreet,notquitedecidedwheretogo.
“AtTellson’sbanking-houseatnine,”hesaid,withamusingface.
“ShallIdowell,inthemeantime,toshowmyself?Ithinkso.
ItisbestthatthesepeopleshouldknowthereissuchamanasIhere;itisasoundprecaution,andmaybeanecessarypreparation.Butcare,care,care!Letmethinkitout!”
Checkinghisstepswhichhadbeguntotendtowardsanobject,hetookaturnortwointhealreadydarkeningstreet,andtracedthethoughtinhismindtoitspossibleconsequences.Hisfirstimpressionwasconfirmed.
“Itisbest,”hesaid,finallyresolved,“thatthesepeopleshouldknowthereissuchamanasIhere.”
AndheturnedhisfacetowardsSaintAntoine.
Defargehaddescribedhimself,thatday,asthekeeperofawine-shopintheSaintAntoinesuburb.
Itwasnotdifficultforonewhoknewthecitywell,tofindhishousewithoutaskinganyquestion.
Havingascertaineditssituation,Cartoncameoutofthosecloserstreetsagain,anddinedataplaceofrefreshmentandfellsoundasleepafterdinner.
Forthefirsttimeinmanyyears,hehadnostrongdrink.
Sincelastnighthehadtakennothingbutalittlelightthinwine,andlastnighthehaddroppedthebrandyslowlydownonMr.Lorry’shearthlikeamanwhohaddonewithit.
Itwasaslateasseveno’clockwhenheawokerefreshed,andwentoutintothestreetsagain.
AshepassedalongtowardsSaintAntoine,hestoppedatashop-windowwheretherewasamirror,andslightlyalteredthedisorderedarrangementofhisloosecravat,andhiscoat-collar,andhiswildhair.
Thisdone,hewentondirecttoDefarge’s,andwentin.
TherehappenedtobenocustomerintheshopbutJacquesThree,oftherestlessfingersandthecroakingvoice.
Thisman,whomhehadseenupontheJury,stooddrinkingatthelittlecounter,inconversationwiththeDefarges,manandwife.
TheVengeanceassistedintheconversation,likearegularmemberoftheestablishment.
AsCartonwalkedin,tookhisseatandasked(inveryindifferentFrench)forasmallmeasureofwine,MadameDefargecastacarelessglanceathim,andthenakeener,andthenakeener,andthenadvancedtohimherself,andaskedhimwhatitwashehadordered.
Herepeatedwhathehadalreadysaid.
“English?”askedMadameDefarge,inquisitivelyraisingherdarkeyebrows.
Afterlookingather,asifthesoundofevenasingleFrenchwordwereslowtoexpressitselftohim,heanswered,inhisformerstrongforeignaccent.“Yes,madame,yes.IamEnglish!”
MadameDefargereturnedtohercountertogetthewine,and,ashetookupaJacobinjournalandfeignedtoporeoveritpuzzlingoutitsmeaning,heheardhersay,“Isweartoyou,likeEvremonde!”
Defargebroughthimthewine,andgavehimGoodEvening.
“How?”
“Goodevening.”
“Oh!Goodevening,citizen,”fillinghisglass.“Ah!andgoodwine.IdrinktotheRepublic.”
Defargewentbacktothecounter,andsaid,“Certainly,alittlelike.”
Madamesternlyretorted,“Itellyouagooddeallike.”
JacquesThreepacificallyremarked,“Heissomuchinyourmind,seeyou,madame.”
TheamiableVengeanceadded,withalaugh,“Yes,myfaith!
Andyouarelookingforwardwithsomuchpleasuretoseeinghimoncemoreto-morrow!”
Cartonfollowedthelinesandwordsofhispaper,withaslowforefinger,andwithastudiousandabsorbedface.
Theywereallleaningtheirarmsonthecounterclosetogether,speakinglow.
Afterasilenceofafewmoments,duringwhichtheyalllookedtowardshimwithoutdisturbinghisoutwardattentionfromtheJacobineditor,theyresumedtheirconversation.
“Itistruewhatmadamesays,”observedJacquesThree.“Whystop?Thereisgreatforceinthat.Whystop?”
“Well,well,”reasonedDefarge,“butonemuststopsomewhere.Afterall,thequestionisstillwhere?”
“Atextermination,”saidmadame.
“Magnificent!”croakedJacquesThree.TheVengeance,also,highlyapproved.
“Exterminationisgooddoctrine,mywife,”saidDefarge,rathertroubled;“ingeneral,Isaynothingagainstit.
ButthisDoctorhassufferedmuch;youhaveseenhimto-day;youhaveobservedhisfacewhenthepaperwasread.”
“Ihaveobservedhisface!”repeatedmadame,contemptuouslyandangrily.“Yes.Ihaveobservedhisface.
IhaveobservedhisfacetobenotthefaceofatruefriendoftheRepublic.Lethimtakecareofhisface!”
“Andyouhaveobserved,mywife,”saidDefarge,inadeprecatorymanner,“theanguishofhisdaughter,whichmustbeadreadfulanguishtohim!”
“Ihaveobservedhisdaughter,”repeatedmadame;“yes,Ihaveobservedhisdaughter,moretimesthanone.
Ihaveobservedherto-day,andIhaveobservedherotherdays.
Ihaveobservedherinthecourt,andIhaveobservedherinthestreetbytheprison.Letmebutliftmyfinger—!”
Sheseemedtoraiseit(thelistener’seyeswerealwaysonhispaper),andtoletitfallwitharattleontheledgebeforeher,asiftheaxehaddropped.
“Thecitizenessissuperb!”croakedtheJuryman.
“SheisanAngel!”saidTheVengeance,andembracedher.
“Astothee,”pursuedmadame,implacably,addressingherhusband,“ifitdependedonthee—which,happily,itdoesnot—thouwouldstrescuethismanevennow.”
“No!”protestedDefarge.“Notiftoliftthisglasswoulddoit!ButIwouldleavethematterthere.Isay,stopthere.”
“Seeyouthen,Jacques,”saidMadameDefarge,wrathfully;“andseeyou,too,mylittleVengeance;seeyouboth!Listen!
Forothercrimesastyrantsandoppressors,Ihavethisracealongtimeonmyregister,doomedtodestructionandextermination.Askmyhusband,isthatso.”
“Itisso,”assentedDefarge,withoutbeingasked.
“Inthebeginningofthegreatdays,whentheBastillefalls,hefindsthispaperofto-day,andhebringsithome,andinthemiddleofthenightwhenthisplaceisclearandshut,wereadit,hereonthisspot,bythelightofthislamp.Askhim,isthatso.”
“Itisso,”assentedDefarge.
“Thatnight,Itellhim,whenthepaperisreadthrough,andthelampisburntout,andthedayisgleaminginabovethoseshuttersandbetweenthoseironbars,thatIhavenowasecrettocommunicate.Askhim,isthatso.”
“Itisso,”assentedDefargeagain.
“Icommunicatetohimthatsecret.IsmitethisbosomwiththesetwohandsasIsmiteitnow,andItellhim,`Defarge,Iwasbroughtupamongthefishermenofthesea-shore,andthatpeasantfamilysoinjuredbythetwoEvremondebrothers,asthatBastillepaperdescribes,ismyfamily.
Defarge,thatsisterofthemortallywoundedboyuponthegroundwasmysister,thathusbandwasmysister’shusband,thatunbornchildwastheirchild,thatbrotherwasmybrother,thatfatherwasmyfather,thosedeadaremydead,andthatsummonstoanswerforthosethingsdescendstome!’Askhim,isthatso.”
“Itisso,”assentedDefargeoncemore.
“ThentellWindandFirewheretostop,”returnedmadame;“butdon’ttellme.”
Bothherhearersderivedahorribleenjoymentfromthedeadlynatureofherwrath—thelistenercouldfeelhowwhiteshewas,withoutseeingher—andbothhighlycommendedit.
Defarge,aweakminority,interposedafewwordsforthememoryofthecompassionatewifeoftheMarquis;butonlyelicitedfromhisownwifearepetitionofherlastreply.
“TelltheWindandtheFirewheretostop;notme!”
Customersentered,andthegroupwasbrokenup.
TheEnglishcustomerpaidforwhathehadhad,perplexedlycountedhischange,andasked,asastranger,tobedirectedtowardstheNationalPalace.
MadameDefargetookhimtothedoor,andputherarmonhis,inpointingouttheroad.
TheEnglishcustomerwasnotwithouthisreflectionsthen,thatitmightbeagooddeedtoseizethatarm,liftit,andstrikeunderitsharpanddeep.
But,hewenthisway,andwassoonswallowedupintheshadowoftheprisonwan.
Attheappointedhour,heemergedfromittopresenthimselfinMr.Lorry’sroomagain,wherehefoundtheoldgentlemanwalkingtoandfroinrestlessanxiety.
HesaidhehadbeenwithLucieuntiljustnow,andhadonlyleftherforafewminutes,tocomeandkeephisappointment.
Herfatherhadnotbeenseen,sincehequittedthebanking-housetowardsfouro’clock.
ShehadsomefainthopesthathismediationmightsaveCharles,buttheywereveryslight.
Hehadbeenmorethanfivehoursgone:wherecouldhebe?
Mr.Lorrywaiteduntilten;but,DoctorManettenotreturning,andhebeingunwillingtoleaveLucieanylonger,itwasarrangedthatheshouldgobacktoher,andcometothebanking-houseagainatmidnight.
Inthemeanwhile,CartonwouldwaitalonebythefirefortheDoctor.
Hewaitedandwaited,andtheclockstrucktwelve;butDoctorManettedidnotcomeback.Mr.Lorryreturned,andfoundnotidingsofhim,andbroughtnone.Wherecouldhebe?
Theywerediscussingthisquestion,andwerealmostbuildingupsomeweakstructureofhopeonhisprolongedabsence,whentheyheardhimonthestairs.
Theinstantheenteredtheroom,itwasplainthatallwaslost.
Whetherhehadreallybeentoanyone,orwhetherbehadbeenallthattimetraversingthestreets,wasneverknown.
Ashestoodstaringatthem,theyaskedhimnoquestion,forhisfacetoldthemeverything.
“Icannotfindit,”saidhe,“andImusthaveit.Whereisit?”
Hisheadandthroatwerebare,and,ashespokewithahelplesslookstrayingallaround,hetookhiscoatoff,andletitdroponthefloor.
“Whereismybench?Ihavebeenlookingeverywhereformybench,andIcan’tfindit.Whathavetheydonewithmywork?Timepresses:Imustfinishthoseshoes.”
Theylookedatoneanother,andtheirheartsdiedwithinthem.
“Come,come!”saidhe,inawhimperingmiserableway;“letmegettowork.Givememywork.”
Receivingnoanswer,hetorehishair,andbeathisfeetupontheground,likeadistractedchild.
“Don’ttortureapoorforlornwretch,”heimploredthem,withadreadfulcry;“butgivememywork!Whatistobecomeofus,ifthoseshoesarenotdoneto-night?”
Lost,utterlylost!
Itwassoclearlybeyondhopetoreasonwithhim,ortrytorestorehim,that—asifbyagreement—theyeachputahanduponhisshoulder,andsoothedhimtositdownbeforethefire,withapromisethatheshouldhavehisworkpresently.
Hesankintothechair,andbroodedovertheembers,andshedtears.
Asifallthathadhappenedsincethegarrettimewereamomentaryfancy,oradream,Mr.LorrysawhimshrinkintotheexactfigurethatDefargehadhadinkeeping.
Affected,andimpressedwithterrorastheybothwere,bythisspectacleofruin,itwasnotatimetoyieldtosuchemotions.
Hislonelydaughter,bereftofherfinalhopeandreliance,appealedtothembothtoostrongly.
Again,asifbyagreement,theylookedatoneanotherwithonemeaningintheirfaces.Cartonwasthefirsttospeak:
“Thelastchanceisgone:itwasnotmuch.Yes;hehadbetterbetakentoher.
But,beforeyougo,willyou,foramoment,steadilyattendtome?
Don’taskmewhyImakethestipulationsIamgoingtomake,andexactthepromiseIamgoingtoexact;Ihaveareason—agoodone.”
“Idonotdoubtit,”answeredMr.Lorry.“Sayon.”
Thefigureinthechairbetweenthem,wasallthetimemonotonouslyrockingitselftoandfro,andmoaning.
Theyspokeinsuchatoneastheywouldhaveusediftheyhadbeenwatchingbyasick-bedinthenight.
Cartonstoopedtopickupthecoat,whichlayalmostentanglinghisfeet.
Ashedidso,asmallcaseinwhichtheDoctorwasaccustomedtocarrythelistsofhisday’sduties,fenlightlyonthefloor.
Cartontookitup,andtherewasafoldedpaperinit.“Weshouldlookatthis!”hesaid.Mr.Lorrynoddedhisconsent.
Heopenedit,andexclaimed,“ThankGOD!”
“Whatisit?”askedMr.Lorry,eagerly.
“Amoment!Letmespeakofitinitsplace.
First,”heputhishandinhiscoat,andtookanotherpaperfromit,“thatisthecertificatewhichenablesmetopassoutofthiscity.Lookatit.Yousee—SydneyCarton,anEnglishman?”
Mr.Lorryhelditopeninhishand,gazinginhisearnestface.
“Keepitformeuntilto-morrow.Ishallseehimto-morrow,youremember,andIhadbetternottakeitintotheprison.”
“Whynot?”
“Idon’tknow;Iprefernottodoso.Now,takethispaperthatDoctorManettehascarriedabouthim.
Itisasimilarcertificate,enablinghimandhisdaughterandherchild,atanytime,topassthebarrierandthefrontier!Yousee?”
“Yes!”
“Perhapsheobtaineditashislastandutmostprecautionagainstevil,yesterday.Whenisitdated?
Butnomatter;don’tstaytolook;putitupcarefullywithmineandyourown.Now,observe!
Ineverdoubteduntilwithinthishourortwo,thathehad,orcouldhavesuchapaper.Itisgood,untilrecalled.
Butitmaybesoonrecalled,and,Ihavereasontothink,willbe.”
“Theyarenotindanger?”
“Theyareingreatdanger.TheyareindangerofdenunciationbyMadameDefarge.Iknowitfromherownlips.
Ihaveoverheardwordsofthatwoman’s,to-night,whichhavepresentedtheirdangertomeinstrongcolours.
Ihavelostnotime,andsincethen,Ihaveseenthespy.Heconfirmsme.
Heknowsthatawood-sawyer,livingbytheprisonwall,isunderthecontroloftheDefarges,andhasbeenrehearsedbyMadameDefargeastohishavingseenHer”—henevermentionedLucie’sname—”makingsignsandsignalstoprisoners.
Itiseasytoforeseethatthepretencewillbethecommonone,aprisonplot,andthatitwillinvolveherlife—andperhapsherchild’s—andperhapsherfather’s—forbothhavebeenseenwithheratthatplace.Don’tlooksohorrified.Youwillsavethemall.”
“HeavengrantImay,Carton!Buthow?”
“Iamgoingtotellyouhow.Itwilldependonyou,anditcoulddependonnobetterman.
Thisnewdenunciationwillcertainlynottakeplaceuntilafterto-morrow;probablynotuntiltwoorthreedaysafterwards;moreprobablyaweekafterwards.
Youknowitisacapitalcrime,tomournfor,orsympathisewith,avictimoftheGuillotine.
Sheandherfatherwouldunquestionablybeguiltyofthiscrime,andthiswoman(theinveteracyofwhosepursuitcannotbedescribed)wouldwaittoaddthatstrengthtohercase,andmakeherselfdoublysure.Youfollowme?”
“Soattentively,andwithsomuchconfidenceinwhatyousay,thatforthemomentIlosesight,”touchingthebackoftheDoctor’schair,evenofthisdistress.”
“Youhavemoney,andcanbuythemeansoftravellingtotheseacoastasquicklyasthejourneycanbemade.
Yourpreparationshavebeencompletedforsomedays,toreturntoEngland.
Earlyto-morrowhaveyourhorsesready,sothattheymaybeinstartingtrimattwoo’clockintheafternoon.”
“Itshallbedone!”
Hismannerwassoferventandinspiring,thatMr.Lorrycaughttheflame,andwasasquickasyouth.
“Youareanobleheart.DidIsaywecoulddependuponnobetterman?
Tellher,to-night,whatyouknowofherdangerasinvolvingherchildandherfather.
Dwelluponthat,forshewouldlayherownfairheadbesideherhusband’scheerfully.”
Hefalteredforaninstant;thenwentonasbefore.
“Forthesakeofherchildandherfather,pressuponherthenecessityofleavingParis,withthemandyou,atthathour.
Tellherthatitwasherhusband’slastarrangement.
Tellherthatmoredependsuponitthanshedarebelieve,orhope.
Youthinkthatherfather,eveninthissadstate,willsubmithimselftoher;doyounot?”
“Iamsureofit.”
“Ithoughtso.Quietlyandsteadilyhaveallthesearrangementsmadeinthecourtyardhere,eventothetakingofyourownseatinthecarriage.ThemomentIcometoyou,takemein,anddriveaway.”
“IunderstandthatIwaitforyouunderallcircumstances?”
“Youhavemycertificateinyourhandwiththerest,youknow,andwillreservemyplace.Waitfornothingbuttohavemyplaceoccupied,andthenforEngland!”
“Why,then,”saidMr.Lorry,graspinghiseagerbutsofirmandsteadyhand,“itdoesnotalldependononeoldman,butIshallhaveayoungandardentmanatmyside.”
“BythehelpofHeavenyoushall!Promisemesolemnlythatnothingwillinfluenceyoutoalterthecourseonwhichwenowstandpledgedtooneanother.”
“Nothing,Carton.”
“Rememberthesewordsto-morrow:changethecourse,ordelayinit—foranyreason—andnolifecanpossiblybesaved,andmanylivesmustinevitablybesacrificed.”
“Iwillrememberthem.Ihopetodomypartfaithfully.”
“AndIhopetodomine.Now,goodbye!”
Thoughhesaiditwithagravesmileofearnestness,andthoughheevenputtheoldman’shandtohislips,hedidnotpartfromhimthen.
Hehelpedhimsofartoarousetherockingfigurebeforethedyingembers,astogetacloakandhatputuponit,andtotemptitforthtofindwherethebenchandworkwerehiddenthatitstillmoaninglybesoughttohave.
Hewalkedontheothersideofitandprotectedittothecourtyardofthehousewheretheafflictedheart—sohappyinthememorabletimewhenhehadrevealedhisowndesolatehearttoit—outwatchedtheawfulnight.
Heenteredthecourtyardandremainedthereforafewmomentsalone,lookingupatthelightinthewindowofherroom.
Beforehewentaway,hebreathedablessingtowardsit,andaFarewell.
Share this article to
FINISH