English
IntheblackprisonoftheConciergerie,thedoomedofthedayawaitedtheirfate.
Theywereinnumberastheweeksoftheyear.
Fifty-twoweretorollthatafternoononthelife-tideofthecitytotheboundlesseverlastingsea.
Beforetheircellswerequitofthem,newoccupantswereappointed;beforetheirbloodranintothebloodspilledyesterday,thebloodthatwastominglewiththeirsto-morrowwasalreadysetapart.
Twoscoreandtwelveweretoldoff.Fromthefarmer-generalofseventy,whoserichescouldnotbuyhislife,totheseamstressoftwenty,whosepovertyandobscuritycouldnotsaveher.
Physicaldiseases,engenderedinthevicesandneglectsofmen,willseizeonvictimsofalldegrees;andthefrightfulmoraldisorder,bornofunspeakablesuffering,intolerableoppression,andheartlessindifference,smoteequallywithoutdistinction.
CharlesDarnay,aloneinacell,hadsustainedhimselfwithnoflatteringdelusionsincehecametoitfromtheTribunal.
Ineverylineofthenarrativehehadheard,hehadheardhiscondemnation.
Hehadfullycomprehendedthatnopersonalinfluencecouldpossiblysavehim,thathewasvirtuallysentencedbythemillions,andthatunitscouldavailhimnothing.
Nevertheless,itwasnoteasy,withthefaceofhisbelovedwifefreshbeforehim,tocomposehismindtowhatitmustbear.
Hisholdonlifewasstrong,anditwasvery,veryhard,toloosen;bygradualeffortsanddegreesunclosedalittlehere,itclenchedthetighterthere;andwhenhebroughthisstrengthtobearonthathandandityielded,thiswasclosedagain.
Therewasahurry,too,inallhisthoughts,aturbulentandheatedworkingofhisheart,thatcontendedagainstresignation.
If,foramoment,hedidfeelresigned,thenhiswifeandchildwhohadtoliveafterhim,seemedtoprotestandtomakeitaselfishthing.
But,allthiswasatfirst.Beforelong,theconsiderationthattherewasnodisgraceinthefatehemustmeet,andthatnumberswentthesameroadwrongfully,andtroditfirmlyeveryday,spranguptostimulatehim.
Nextfollowedthethoughtthatmuchofthefuturepeaceofmindenjoyablebythedearones,dependedonhisquietfortitude.
So,bydegreeshecalmedintothebetterstate,whenhecouldraisehisthoughtsmuchhigher,anddrawcomfortdown.
Beforeithadsetindarkonthenightofhiscondemnation,hehadtravelledthusfaronhislastway.
Beingallowedtopurchasethemeansofwriting,andalight,hesatdowntowriteuntilsuchtimeastheprisonlampsshouldbeextinguished.
HewrotealonglettertoLucie,showingherthathehadknownnothingofherfather’simprisonment,untilhehadheardofitfromherself,andthathehadbeenasignorantassheofhisfather’sanduncle’sresponsibilityforthatmisery,untilthepaperhadbeenread.
Hehadalreadyexplainedtoherthathisconcealmentfromherselfofthenamehehadrelinquished,wastheonecondition—fullyintelligiblenow—thatherfatherhadattachedtotheirbetrothal,andwastheonepromisehehadstillexactedonthemorningoftheirmarriage.
Heentreatedher,forherfather’ssake,nevertoseektoknowwhetherherfatherhadbecomeobliviousoftheexistenceofthepaper,orhadhaditrecalledtohim(forthemoment,orforgood),bythestoryoftheTower,onthatoldSundayunderthedearoldplane-treeinthegarden.
Ifhehadpreservedanydefiniteremembranceofit,therecouldbenodoubtthathehadsupposeditdestroyedwiththeBastille,whenhehadfoundnomentionofitamongtherelicsofprisonerswhichthepopulacehaddiscoveredthere,andwhichhadbeendescribedtoalltheworld.
Hebesoughther—thoughheaddedthatheknewitwasneedless—toconsoleherfather,byimpressinghimthrougheverytendermeansshecouldthinkof,withthetruththathehaddonenothingforwhichhecouldjustlyreproachhimself,buthaduniformlyforgottenhimselffortheirjointsakes.
Nexttoherpreservationofhisownlastgratefulloveandblessing,andherovercomingofhersorrow,todevoteherselftotheirdearchild,headjuredher,astheywouldmeetinHeaven,tocomfortherfather.
Toherfatherhimself,hewroteinthesamestrain;but,hetoldherfatherthatheexpresslyconfidedhiswifeandchildtohiscare.
Andhetoldhimthis,verystrongly,withthehopeofrousinghimfromanydespondencyordangerousretrospecttowardswhichheforesawhemightbetending.
ToMr.Lorry,hecommendedthemall,andexplainedhisworldlyaffairs.
Thatdone,withmanyaddedsentencesofgratefulfriendshipandwarmattachment,allwasdone.HeneverthoughtofCarton.
Hismindwassofulloftheothers,thatheneveroncethoughtofhim.
Hehadtimetofinishtheselettersbeforethelightswereputout.Whenhelaydownonhisstrawbed,hethoughthehaddonewiththisworld.
But,itbeckonedhimbackinhissleep,andshoweditselfinshiningforms.
Freeandhappy,backintheoldhouseinSoho(thoughithadnothinginitliketherealhouse),unaccountablyreleasedandlightofheart,hewaswithLucieagain,andshetoldhimitwasalladream,andhehadnevergoneaway.
Apauseofforgetfulness,andthenhehadevensuffered,andhadcomebacktoher,deadandatpeace,andyettherewasnodifferenceinhim.
Anotherpauseofoblivion,andheawokeinthesombremorning,unconsciouswherehewasorwhathadhappened,untilitflasheduponhismind,“thisisthedayofmydeath!”
Thus,hadhecomethroughthehours,tothedaywhenthefifty-twoheadsweretofall.
Andnow,whilehewascomposed,andhopedthathecouldmeettheendwithquietheroism,anewactionbeganinhiswakingthoughts,whichwasverydifficulttomaster.
Hehadneverseentheinstrumentthatwastoterminatehislife.
Howhighitwasfromtheground,howmanystepsithad,wherehewouldbestood,bowhewouldbetouched,whetherthetouchinghandswouldbedyedred,whichwayhisfacewouldbeturned,whetherhewouldbethefirst,ormightbethelast:theseandmanysimilarquestions,innowisedirectedbyhiswill,obtrudedthemselvesoverandoveragain,countlesstimes.
Neitherweretheyconnectedwithfear:hewasconsciousofnofear.
Rather,theyoriginatedinastrangebesettingdesiretoknowwhattodowhenthetimecame;adesiregiganticallydisproportionatetothefewswiftmomentstowhichitreferred;awonderingthatwasmorelikethewonderingofsomeotherspiritwithinhis,thanhisown.
Thehourswentonashewalkedtoandfro,andtheclocksstruckthenumbershewouldneverhearagain.
Ninegoneforever,tengoneforever,elevengoneforever,twelvecomingontopassaway.
Afterahardcontestwiththateccentricactionofthoughtwhichhadlastperplexedhim,hehadgotthebetterofit.
Hewalkedupanddown,softlyrepeatingtheirnamestohimself.Theworstofthestrifewasover.
Hecouldwalkupanddown,freefromdistractingfancies,prayingforhimselfandforthem.
Twelvegoneforever.
HehadbeenapprisedthatthefinalhourwasThree,andbeknewhewouldbesummonedsometimeearlier,inasmuchasthetumbrilsjoltedheavilyandslowlythroughthestreets.
Therefore,heresolvedtokeepTwobeforehismind,asthehour,andsotostrengthenhimselfintheintervalthathemightbeable,afterthattime,tostrengthenothers.
Walkingregularlytoandfrowithhisarmsfoldedonhisbreast,averydifferentmanfromtheprisoner,whohadwalkedtoandfroatLaForce,heheardOnestruckawayfromhim,withoutsurprise.
Thehourhadmeasuredlikemostotherhours.
DevoutlythankfultoHeavenforhisrecoveredself-possession,hethought,“Thereisbutanothernow,”andturnedtowalkagain.
Footstepsinthestonepassageoutsidethedoor.Hestopped.
Thekeywasputinthelock,andturned.
Beforethedoorwasopened,orasitopened,amansaidinalowvoice,inEnglish:“Hehasneverseenmehere;Ihavekeptoutofhisway.Goyouinalone;Iwaitnear.Losenotime!”
Thedoorwasquicklyopenedandclosed,andtherestoodbeforehimfacetoface,quiet,intentuponhim,withthelightofasmileonhisfeatures,andacautionaryfingeronhislip,SydneyCarton.
Therewassomethingsobrightandremarkableinhislook,that,forthefirstmoment,theprisonermisdoubtedhimtobeanapparitionofhisownimagining.
But,hespoke,anditwashisvoice;hetooktheprisoner’shand,anditwashisrealgrasp.
“Ofallthepeopleuponearth,youleastexpectedtoseeme?”besaid.
“Icouldnotbelieveittobeyou.Icanscarcelybelieveitnow.Youarenot”—theapprehensioncamesuddenlyintohismind—”aprisoner?”
“No.Iamaccidentallypossessedofapoweroveroneofthekeepershere,andinvirtueofitIstandbeforeyou.Icomefromher—yourwife,dearDarnay.”
Theprisonerwrunghishand.
“Ibringyouarequestfromher.”
“Whatisit?”
“Amostearnest,pressing,andemphaticentreaty,addressedtoyouinthemostpathetictonesofthevoicesodeartoyou,thatyouwellremember.”
Theprisonerturnedhisfacepartlyaside.
“YouhavenotimetoaskmewhyIbringit,orwhatitmeans;Ihavenotimetotellyou.Youmustcomplywithit—takeoffthosebootsyouwear,anddrawontheseofmine.”
Therewasachairagainstthewallofthecell,behindtheprisoner.Carton,pressingforward,hadalready,withthespeedoflightning,gothimdownintoit,andstoodoverhim,barefoot.
“Drawonthesebootsofmine.Putyourhandstothem;putyourwilltothem.Quick!”
“Carton,thereisnoescapingfromthisplace;itnevercanbedone.Youwillonlydiewithme.Itismadness.”
“ItwouldbemadnessifIaskedyoutoescape;butdoI?
WhenIaskyoutopassoutatthatdoor,tellmeitismadnessandremainhere.
Changethatcravatforthisofmine,thatcoatforthisofmine.
Whileyoudoit,letmetakethisribbonfromyourhair,andshakeoutyourhairlikethisofmine!”
Withwonderfulquickness,andwithastrengthbothofwillandaction,thatappearedquitesupernatural,heforcedallthesechangesuponhim.Theprisonerwaslikeayoungchildinhishands.
“Carton!DearCarton!Itismadness.Itcannotbeaccomplished,itnevercanbedone,ithasbeenattempted,andhasalwaysfailed.Iimploreyounottoaddyourdeathtothebitternessofmine.”
“DoIaskyou,mydearDarnay,topassthedoor?WhenIaskthat,refuse.Therearepenandinkandpaperonthistable.Isyourhandsteadyenoughtowrite?”
“Itwaswhenyoucamein.”
“Steadyitagain,andwritewhatIshalldictate.Quick,friend,quick!”
Pressinghishandtohisbewilderedhead,Darnaysatdownatthetable.Carton,withhisrighthandinhisbreast,stoodclosebesidehim.
“WriteexactlyasIspeak.”
“TowhomdoIaddressit?”
“Tonoone.”Cartonstillhadhishandinhisbreast.
“DoIdateit?”
“No.”
Theprisonerlookedup,ateachquestion.Carton,standingoverhimwithhishandinhisbreast,lookeddown.
”`Ifyouremember,’”saidCarton,dictating,”`thewordsthatpassedbetweenus,longago,youwillreadilycomprehendthiswhenyouseeit.Youdorememberthem,Iknow.
Itisnotinyournaturetoforgetthem.’”
Hewasdrawinghishandfromhisbreast;theprisonerchancingtolookupinhishurriedwonderashewrote,thehandstopped,closinguponsomething.
“Haveyouwritten`forgetthem’?”Cartonasked.
“Ihave.Isthataweaponinyourhand?”
“No;Iamnotarmed.”
“Whatisitinyourhand?”
“Youshallknowdirectly.Writeon;therearebutafewwordsmore.”Hedictatedagain.
”`Iamthankfulthatthetimehascome,whenIcanprovethem.
ThatIdosoisnosubjectforregretorgrief.
’”Ashesaidthesewordswithhiseyesfixedonthewriter,hishandslowlyandsoftlymoveddownclosetothewriter’sface.
ThependroppedfromDarnay’sfingersonthetable,andhelookedabouthimvacantly.
“Whatvapouristhat?”heasked.
“Vapour?”
“Somethingthatcrossedme?”
“Iamconsciousofnothing;therecanbenothinghere.Takeupthepenandfinish.Hurry,hurry!”
Asifhismemorywereimpaired,orhisfacultiesdisordered,theprisonermadeanefforttorallyhisattention.
AshelookedatCartonwithcloudedeyesandwithanalteredmannerofbreathing,Carton—hishandagaininhisbreast—lookedsteadilyathim.
“Hurry,hurry!”
Theprisonerbentoverthepaper,oncemore.
”`Ifithadbeenotherwise;’”Carton’shandwasagainwatchfullyandsoftlystealingdown;”`Inevershouldhaveusedthelongeropportunity.
Ifithadbeenotherwise;’”thehandwasattheprisoner’sface;”`Ishouldbuthavehadsomuchthemoretoanswerfor.
Ifithadbeenotherwise—’”Cartonlookedatthepenandsawitwastrailingoffintounintelligiblesigns.
Carton’shandmovedbacktohisbreastnomore.
Theprisonersprangupwithareproachfullook,butCarton’shandwascloseandfirmathisnostrils,andCarton’sleftarmcaughthimroundthewaist.
Forafewsecondshefaintlystruggledwiththemanwhohadcometolaydownhislifeforhim;but,withinaminuteorso,hewasstretchedinsensibleontheground.
Quickly,butwithhandsastruetothepurposeashisheartwas,Cartondressedhimselfintheclothestheprisonerbadlaidaside,combedbackhishair,andtieditwiththeribbontheprisonerhadworn.Then,hesoftlycalled,“Enterthere!Comein!”andtheSpypresentedhimself.
“Yousee?”saidCarton,lookingup,ashekneeledononekneebesidetheinsensiblefigure,puttingthepaperinthebreast:“isyourhazardverygreat?”
“Mr.Carton,”theSpyanswered,withatimidsnapofhisfingers,“myhazardisnotTHAT,inthethickofbusinesshere,ifyouaretruetothewholeofyourbargain.”
“Don’tfearme.Iwillbetruetothedeath.”
“Youmustbe,Mr.Carton,ifthetaleoffifty-twoistoberight.Beingmaderightbyyouinthatdress,Ishallhavenofear.”
“Havenofear!Ishallsoonbeoutofthewayofharmingyou,andtherestwillsoonbefarfromhere,pleaseGod!Now,getassistanceandtakemetothecoach.”
“You?”saidtheSpynervously.
“Him,man,withwhomIhaveexchanged.Yougooutatthegatebywhichyoubroughtmein?”
“Ofcourse.”
“Iwasweakandfaintwhenyoubroughtmein,andIamfainternowyoutakemeout.
Thepartinginterviewhasoverpoweredme.
Suchathinghashappenedhere,often,andtoooften.Yourlifeisinyourownhands.Quick!Callassistance!”
“Youswearnottobetrayme?”saidthetremblingSpy,ashepausedforalastmoment.
“Man,man!”returnedCarton,stampinghisfoot;“haveIswornbynosolemnvowalready,togothroughwiththis,thatyouwastethepreciousmomentsnow?
Takehimyourselftothecourtyardyouknowof,placehimyourselfinthecarriage,showhimyourselftoMr.Lorry,tellhimyourselftogivehimnorestorativebutair,andtoremembermywordsoflastnight,andhispromiseoflastnight,anddriveaway!”
TheSpywithdrew,andCartonseatedhimselfatthetable,restinghisforeheadonhishands.TheSpyreturnedimmediately,withtwomen.
“How,then?”saidoneofthem,contemplatingthefallenfigure.“SoafflictedtofindthathisfriendhasdrawnaprizeinthelotteryofSainteGuillotine?”
“Agoodpatriot,”saidtheother,“couldhardlyhavebeenmoreafflictediftheAristocrathaddrawnablank.”
Theyraisedtheunconsciousfigure,placeditonalittertheyhadbroughttothedoor,andbenttocarryitaway.
“Thetimeisshort,Evremonde,”saidtheSpy,inawarningvoice.
“Iknowitwell,”answeredCarton.“Becarefulofmyfriend,Ientreatyou,andleaveme.”
“Come,then,mychildren,”saidBarsad.“Lifthim,andcomeaway!”
Thedoorclosed,andCartonwasleftalone.
Straininghispowersoflisteningtotheutmost,helistenedforanysoundthatmightdenotesuspicionoralarm.Therewasnone.
Keysturned,doorsclashed,footstepspassedalongdistantpassages:nocrywasraised,orhurrymade,thatseemedunusual.
Breathingmorefreelyinalittlewhile,hesatdownatthetable,andlistenedagainuntiltheclockstruckTwo.
Soundsthathewasnotafraidof,forhedivinedtheirmeaning,thenbegantobeaudible.
Severaldoorswereopenedinsuccession,andfinallyhisown.
Agaoler,withalistinhishand,lookedin,merelysaying,“Followme,Evremonde!”
andhefollowedintoalargedarkroom,atadistance.
Itwasadarkwinterday,andwhatwiththeshadowswithin,andwhatwiththeshadowswithout,hecouldbutdimlydiscerntheotherswhowerebroughttheretohavetheirarmsbound.Somewerestanding;someseated.
Somewerelamenting,andinrestlessmotion;but,thesewerefew.
Thegreatmajorityweresilentandstill,lookingfixedlyattheground.
Ashestoodbythewallinadimcorner,whilesomeofthefifty-twowerebroughtinafterhim,onemanstoppedinpassing,toembracehim,ashavingaknowledgeofhim.
Itthrilledhimwithagreatdreadofdiscovery;butthemanwenton.
Averyfewmomentsafterthat,ayoungwoman,withaslightgirlishform,asweetsparefaceinwhichtherewasnovestigeofcolour,andlargewidelyopenedpatienteyes,rosefromtheseatwherehehadobservedhersitting,andcametospeaktohim.
“CitizenEvremonde,”shesaid,touchinghimwithhercoldhand.“Iamapoorlittleseamstress,whowaswithyouinLaForce.”
Hemurmuredforanswer:“True.Iforgetwhatyouwereaccusedof?”
“Plots.ThoughthejustHeavenknowsthatIaminnocentofany.Isitlikely?Whowouldthinkofplottingwithapoorlittleweakcreaturelikeme?”
Theforlornsmilewithwhichshesaidit,sotouchedhim,thattearsstartedfromhiseyes.
“Iamnotafraidtodie,CitizenEvremonde,butIhavedonenothing.
Iamnotunwillingtodie,iftheRepublicwhichistodosomuchgoodtouspoor,willprofitbymydeath;butIdonotknowhowthatcanbe,CitizenEvremonde.Suchapoorweaklittlecreature!”
Asthelastthingonearththathisheartwastowarmandsoftento,itwarmedandsoftenedtothispitiablegirl.
“Iheardyouwerereleased,CitizenEvremonde.Ihopeditwastrue?”
“Itwas.But,Iwasagaintakenandcondemned.”
“IfImayridewithyou,CitizenEvremonde,willyouletmeholdyourhand?Iamnotafraid,butIamlittleandweak,anditwillgivememorecourage.”
Asthepatienteyeswereliftedtohisface,hesawasuddendoubtinthem,andthenastonishment.Hepressedthework-worn,hunger-wornyoungfingers,andtouchedhislips.
“Areyoudyingforhim?”shewhispered.
“Andhiswifeandchild.Hush!Yes.”
“Oyouwillletmeholdyourbravehand,stranger?”
“Hush!Yes,mypoorsister;tothelast.”
Thesameshadowsthatarefallingontheprison,arefalling,inthatsamehouroftheearlyafternoon,ontheBarrierwiththecrowdaboutit,whenacoachgoingoutofParisdrivesuptobeexamined.
“Whogoeshere?Whomhavewewithin?Papers!”
Thepapersarehandedout,andread.
“AlexandreManette.Physician.French.Whichishe?”
Thisishe;thishelpless,inarticulatelymurmuring,wanderingoldmanpointedout.
“ApparentlytheCitizen-Doctorisnotinhisrightmind?TheRevolution-feverwillhavebeentoomuchforhim?”
Greatlytoomuchforhim.
“Hah!Manysufferwithit.Lucie.Hisdaughter.French.Whichisshe?”
Thisisshe.
“Apparentlyitmustbe.Lucie,thewifeofEvremonde;isitnot?”
Itis.
“Hah!Evremondehasanassignationelsewhere.Lucie,herchild.English.Thisisshe?”
Sheandnoother.
“Kissme,childofEvremonde.Now,thouhastkissedagoodRepublican;somethingnewinthyfamily;rememberit!SydneyCarton.Advocate.English.Whichishe?”
Helieshere,inthiscornerofthecarriage.He,too,ispointedout.
“ApparentlytheEnglishadvocateisinaswoon?”
Itishopedhewillrecoverinthefresherair.Itisrepresentedthatheisnotinstronghealth,andhasseparatedsadlyfromafriendwhoisunderthedispleasureoftheRepublic.
“Isthatall?Itisnotagreatdeal,that!ManyareunderthedispleasureoftheRepublic,andmustlookoutatthelittlewindow.JarvisLorry.Banker.English.Whichishe?”
“Iamhe.Necessarily,beingthelast.”
ItisJarvisLorrywhohasrepliedtoallthepreviousquestions.
ItisJarvisLorrywhohasalightedandstandswithhishandonthecoachdoor,replyingtoagroupofofficials.
Theyleisurelywalkroundthecarriageandleisurelymountthebox,tolookatwhatlittleluggageitcarriesontheroof;thecountry-peoplehangingabout,pressnearertothecoachdoorsandgreedilystarein;alittlechild,carriedbyitsmother,hasitsshortarmheldoutforit,thatitmaytouchthewifeofanaristocratwhohasgonetotheGuillotine.
“Beholdyourpapers,JarvisLorry,countersigned.”
“Onecandepart,citizen?”
“Onecandepart.Forward,mypostilions!Agoodjourney!”
“Isaluteyou,citizens.—Andthefirstdangerpassed!”
TheseareagainthewordsofJarvisLorry,asheclaspshishands,andlooksupward.Thereisterrorinthecarriage,thereisweeping,thereistheheavybreathingoftheinsensibletraveller.
“Arewenotgoingtooslowly?Cantheynotbeinducedtogofaster?”asksLucie,clingingtotheoldman.
“Itwouldseemlikeflight,mydarling.Imustnoturgethemtoomuch;itwouldrousesuspicion.”
“Lookback,lookback,andseeifwearepursued!”
“Theroadisclear,mydearest.Sofar,wearenotpursued.”
Housesintwosandthreespassbyus,solitaryfarms,ruinousbuildings,dye-works,tanneries,andthelike,opencountry,avenuesofleaflesstrees.
Thehardunevenpavementisunderus,thesoftdeepmudisoneitherside.
Sometimes,westrikeintotheskirtingmud,toavoidthestonesthatclatterusandshakeus;sometimes,westickinrutsandsloughsthere.
Theagonyofourimpatienceisthensogreat,thatinourwildalarmandhurryweareforgettingoutandrunning—hiding—doinganythingbutstopping.
Outoftheopencountry,inagainamongruinousbuildings,solitaryfarms,dye-works,tanneries,andthelike,cottagesintwosandthrees,avenuesofleaflesstrees.
Havethesemendeceivedus,andtakenusbackbyanotherroad?Isnotthisthesameplacetwiceover?ThankHeaven,no.Avillage.
Lookback,lookback,andseeifwearepursued!Hush!theposting-house.
Leisurely,ourfourhorsesaretakenout;leisurely,thecoachstandsinthelittlestreet,bereftofhorses,andwithnolikelihooduponitofevermovingagain;leisurely,thenewhorsescomeintovisibleexistence,onebyone;leisurely,thenewpostilionsfollow,suckingandplaitingthelashesoftheirwhips;leisurely,theoldpostilionscounttheirmoney,makewrongadditions,andarriveatdissatisfiedresults.
Allthetime,ouroverfraughtheartsarebeatingataratethatwouldfaroutstripthefastestgallopofthefastesthorseseverfoaled.
Atlengththenewpostilionsareintheirsaddles,andtheoldareleftbehind.
Wearethroughthevillage,upthehill,anddownthehill,andonthelowwaterygrounds.
Suddenly,thepostilionsexchangespeechwithanimatedgesticulation,andthehorsesarepulledup,almostontheirhaunches.Wearepursued?
“Ho!Withinthecarriagethere.Speakthen!”
“Whatisit?”asksMr.Lorry,lookingoutatwindow.
“Howmanydidtheysay?”
“Idonotunderstandyou.”
”—Atthelastpost.HowmanytotheGuillotineto-day?”
“Fifty-two.”
“Isaidso!Abravenumber!Myfellow-citizenherewouldhaveitforty-two;tenmoreheadsareworthhaving.TheGuillotinegoeshandsomely.Iloveit.Hiforward.Whoop!”
Thenightcomesondark.Hemovesmore;heisbeginningtorevive,andtospeakintelligibly;hethinkstheyarestilltogether;heaskshim,byhisname,whathehasinhishand.Opityus,kindHeaven,andhelpus!
Lookout,lookout,andseeifwearepursued.
Thewindisrushingafterus,andthecloudsareflyingafterus,andthemoonisplungingafterus,andthewholewildnightisinpursuitofus;but,sofar,wearepursuedbynothingelse.
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