Sheheldhimcloserroundtheneck,androckedhimonherbreastlikeachild.
`If\'whenItellyou,dearestdear,thatyouragonyisover,andthatIhavecomeheretotakeyoufromit,andthatwegotoEnglandtobeatpeaceandatrest,Icauseyoutothinkofyourusefullifelaidwaste,andofournativeFrancesowickedtoyou,weepforit,weepforit!Andif\'whenIshalltellyouofmyname,andofmyfatherwhoisliving,andofmymotherwhoisdead,youlearnthatIhavetokneeltomyhonouredfather,andimplorehispardonforhavingneverforhissakestrivenalldayandlainawakeandweptallnight,becausetheloveofmypoormotherhidhistorturefromme,weepforit,weepforit!Weepforher,then,andforme!Goodgentlemen,thankGod!Ifeelhissacredtearsuponmyface,andhissobsstrikeagainstmyheart.O,seeThankGodforus,thankGod!\'
Hehadsunkinherarms,andhisfacedroppedonherbreast:asightsotouching,yetsoterribleinthetremendouswrongandsufferingwhichhadgonebeforeit,thatthetwobeholderscoveredtheirfaces.
Whenthequietofthegarrethadbeenlongundisturbed,andhisheavingbreastandshakenformhadlongyieldedtothecalmthatmustfollowallstorms——emblemtohumanity,oftherestandsilenceintowhichthestormcalledLifemusthushatlast——theycameforwardtoraisethefatheranddaughterfromtheground.Hehadgraduallydroppedtothefloor,andlaythereinalethargy,wornout.Shehadnestleddownwithhim,thathisheadmightlieuponherarm;andherhairdroopingoverhimcurtainedhimfromthelight.
`If,withoutdisturbinghim,\'shesaid,raisingherhandtoMr.Lorryashestoopedoverthem,afterrepeatedblowingsofhisnose,`allcouldbearrangedforourleavingParisatonce,sothat,fromtheverydoor,hecouldbetakenaway——\'
`But,consider.Ishefitforthejourney?\'askedMr.Lorry.
`Morefitforthat,Ithink,thantoremaininthiscity,sodreadfultohim.\'
`Itistrue,\'saidDefarge,whowaskneelingtolookonandhear.`Morethanthat;MonsieurManetteis,forallreasons,bestoutofFrance.Say,shallIhireacarriageandpost-horses?\'
`That\'sbusiness,\'saidMr.Lorry,resumingontheshortestnoticehismethodicalmanners;`andifbusinessistobedune,Ihadbetterdoit.\'
`Thenbesokind,\'urgedMissManette,`astoleaveushere.Youseehowcomposedhehasbecome,andyoucannotbeafraidtoleavehimwithmenow.Whyshouldyoube?Ifyouwilllockthedoortosecureusfrominterruption,Idonotdoubtthatyouwillfindhim,whenyoucomeback,asquietasyouleavehim.Inanycase,Iwilltakecareofhimuntilyoureturn,andthenwewillremovehimstraight.\'
BothMr.LorryandDefargewereratherdisinclinedtothiscourse,andinfavourofoneofthemremaining.But,astherewerenotonlycarriageandhorsestobeseento,buttravellingpapers;andastimepressed,forthedaywasdrawingtoanend,itcameatlasttotheirhastilydividingthebusinessthatwasnecessarytobedone,andhurryingawaytodoit.
Then,asthedarknessclosedin,thedaughterlaidherheaddownonthehardgroundcloseatthefather\'sside,andwatchedhim.Thedarknessdeepenedanddeepened,andtheybothlayquiet,untilalightgleamedthroughthechinksinthewall.
Mr.LorryandMonsieurDefargehadmadeallreadyforthejourney,andhadbroughtwiththem,besidestravellingcloaksandwrappers,breadandmeat,wine,andhotcoffee.MonsieurDefargeputthisprovender,andthelamphecarried,ontheshoemaker\'sbench(therewasnothingelseinthegarretbutapalletbed),andheandMr.Lorryrousedthecaptive,andassistedhimtohisfeet.
Nohumanintelligencecouldhavereadthemysteriesofhismind,inthescaredblankwonderofhisface.Whetherheknewwhathadhappened,whetherherecollectedwhattheyhadsaidtohim,whetherheknewthathewasfree,werequestionswhichnosagacitycouldhavesolved.Theytriedspeakingtohim;but,hewassoconfused,andsoveryslowtoanswer,thattheytookfrightathisbewilderment,andagreedforthetimetotamperwithhimnomore.Hehadawild,lostmannerofoccasionallyclaspinghisheadinhishands,thathadnotbeenseeninhimbefore;yet,hehadsomepleasureinthemeresoundofhisdaughter\'svoice,andinvariablyturnedtoitwhenshespoke.
Inthesubmissivewayofonelongaccustomedtoobeyundercoercion,heateanddrankwhattheygavehimtoeatanddrink,andputonthecloakandotherwrappings,thattheygavehimtowear.Hereadilyrespondedtohisdaughter\'sdrawingherarmthroughhis,andtook——andkept——herhandinbothhisown.
Theybegantodescend;MonsieurDefargegoingfirstwiththelamp,Mr.Lorryclosingthelittleprocession.Theyhadnottraversedmanystepsofthelongmainstaircasewhenhestopped,andstaredattheroofandroundatthewalls.
`Youremembertheplace,myfather?Youremembercominguphere?
`Whatdidyousay?\'
But,beforeshecouldrepeatthequestion,hemurmuredananswerasifshehadrepeatedit.
`Remember?No,Idon\'tremember.Itwassoverylongago.\'
Thathehadnorecollectionwhateverofhishavingbeenbroughtfromhisprisontothathouse,wasapparenttothem.Theyheardhimmutter,`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower;\'andwhenhelookedabouthim,itevidentlywasforthestrongfortress-wallswhichhadlongencompassedhim.Ontheirreachingthecourtyardheinstinctivelyalteredhistread,asbeinginexpectationofadrawbridge;andwhentherewasnodrawbridge,andhesawthecarriagewaitingintheopenstreet,hedroppedhisdaughter\'shandandclaspedhisheadagain.
Nocrowdwasaboutthedoor;nopeoplewerediscernibleatanyofthemanywindows;notevenachancepasser-bywasinthestreet.Anunnaturalsilenceanddesertionreignedthere.Onlyonesoulhastobeseen,andthatwasMadameDefarge——wholeanedagainstthedoor-post,knitting,andsawnothing.
Theprisonerhadgotintoacoach,andhisdaughterhadfollowedhim,whenMr.Lorry\'sfeetwerearrestedonthestepbyhisasking,miserably,forhisshoemakingtoolsandtheunfinishedshoes.MadameDefargeimmediatelycalledtoherhusbandthatshewouldgetthem,andwent,knitting,outofthelamplight,throughthecourt-yard.Shequicklybroughtthemdownandhandedthemin;——andimmediatelyafterwardsleanedagainstthedoor-post,knitting,andsawnothing.
Defargegotuponthebox,andgavetheword`TotheBarrier!\'Thepostilioncrackedhiswhip,andtheyclatteredawayundertheFeebleoverswinginglamps.
Undertheover-swinginglamps——swingingeverbrighterinthebetterstreets,andeverdimmerintheworse——andbylightedshops,gaycrowds,illuminatedcoffee-houses,andtheatre-doors,tooneofthecitygates.Soldierswithlanterns,attheguard-housethere.`Yourpapers,travellers!\'`Seeherethen,MonsieurtheOfficer,\'saidDefarge,gettingdown,andtakinghimgravelyapart,`thesearethepapersofmonsieurinside,withthewhitehead.Theywereconsignedtome,withhim,atthe——\'Hedroppedhisvoice,therewasaflutteramongthemilitarylanterns,andoneofthembeinghandedintothecoachbyanarminuniform,theeyesconnectedwiththearmlooked,notanevery-dayoranevery-nightlook,atmonsieurwiththewhitehead.`Itiswell.Forward!\'fromtheuniform.`Adieu!\'fromDefarge.Andso,underashortgroveoffeeblerandfeebleroverswinginglamps,outunderthegreatgroveofstars.
Beneaththatarchofunmovedandeternallights;some,soremotefromthislittleearththatthelearnedtellusitisdoubtfulwhethertheirrayshaveevenyetdiscoveredit,asapointinspacewhereanythingissufferedordone:theshadowsofthenightwerebroadandblack.Allthroughthecoldandrestlessinterval,untildawn,theyoncemorewhisperedintheearsofMr.JarvisLorry——sittingoppositetheburiedmanwhohadbeendugout,andwonderingwhatsubtlepowerswereforeverlosttohim,andwhatwerecapableofrestoration——theoldinquiry:
`Ihopeyoucaretoberecalledtolife?\'
Andtheoldanswer:
`Ican\'tsay.\'
TELLSON\'SBankbyTempleBarwasanold-fashionedplace,evenintheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeighty.Itwasverysmall,verydark,veryugly,veryincommodious.Itwasanold-fashionedplace,moreover,inthemoralattributethatthepartnersintheHousewereproudofitssmallness,proudofitsdarkness,proudofitsugliness,proudofitsincommodiousness.Theywereevenboastfulofitseminenceinthoseparticulars,andwerefiredbyanempressconvictionthat,ifitwerelessobjectionable,itwouldbelessrespectable.Thiswasnopassivebelief,butanactiveweaponwhichtheyflashedatmoreconvenientplacesofbusiness.Tellson\'s(theysaid)wantednoelbow-room,Tellson\'swantednolight,Tellson\'swantednoembellishment.NoakesandCo.\'smight,orSnooksBrothers\'might;butTellson\'s,thankHeaven!——
AnyoneofthesepartnerswouldhavedisinheritedhissononthequestionofrebuildingTellson\'s.InthisrespecttheHousewasmuchonaparwiththeCountry;whichdidveryoftendisinherititssonsforsuggestingimprovementsinlawsandcustomsthathadlongbeenhighlyobjectionable,butwereonlythemorerespectable.
Thusithadcometopass,thatTellson\'swasthetriumphantperfectionofinconvenience.Afterburstingopenadoorofidioticobstinacywithaweakrattleinitsthroat,youfellintoTellson\'sdowntwosteps,andcametoyoursensesinamiser-ablelittleshop,withtwolittlecounters,wheretheoldestofmenmadeyourchequeshakeasifthewindrustledit,whiletheyexaminedthesignaturebythedingiestofwindows,whichwerealwaysunderashower-bathofmudfromFleet-street,andwhichweremadethedingierbytheirownironbarsproper,andtheheavyshadowofTempleBar.Ifyourbusinessnecessitatedyourseeing`theHouse,\'youwereputintoaspeciesofCondemnedHoldattheback,whereyoumeditatedonamisspentlife,untiltheHousecamewithitshandsinitspockets,andyoucouldhardlyblinkatitinthedismaltwilight.Yourmoneycameoutof\'orwentinto,wormyoldwoodendrawers,particlesofwhichflewupyournoseanddownyourthroatwhentheywereopenedandshut.Yourbank-noteshadamustyodour,asiftheywerefastdecomposingintoragsagain.Yourplatewasstowedawayamongtheneighbouringcesspools,andevilcommunicationscorrupteditsgoodpolishinadayortwo.Yourdeedsgotintoextemporisedstrong-roomsmadeofkitchensandsculleries,andfrettedallthefatoutoftheirparchmentsintothebankinghouseair.Yourlighterboxesoffamilypaperswentup-stairsintoaBarmecideroom,thatalwayshadagreatdining-tableinitandneverhadadinner,andwhere,evenintheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeighty,thefirstletterswrittentoyoubyyouroldlove,orbyyourlittlechildren,werebutnewlyreleasedfromthehorrorofbeingogledthroughthewindows,bytheheadsexposedonTempleBarwithaninsensatebrutalityandferocityworthyofAbyssiniaorAshantee.
Butindeed,atthattime,puttingtodeathwasarecipemuchinvoguewithalltradesandprofessions,andnotleastofallwithTellson\'s.DeathisNature\'sremedyforallthings,andwhynotLegislation\'s?Accordingly,theforgerwasputtodeath;theuttererofabadnotewasputtoDeath;theunlawfulopenerofaletterwasputtoDeath;thepurloineroffortyshillingsandsixpencewasputtoDeath;theholderofahorseatTellson\'sdoor,whomadeoffwithit,wasputtoDeath;thecoinerofabadshillingwasputtoDeath;thesoundersofthree-fourthsofthenotesinthewholegamutofGrime,wereputtoDeath.Notthatitdidtheleastgoodinthewayofprevention——itmightalmosthavebeenworthremarkingthatthefactwasexactlythereverse——but,itclearedoff(astothisworld)thetroubleofeachparticularcase,andleftnothingelseconnectedwithittobelookedafter.Thus,Tellson\'s,initsday,likegreaterplacesofbusiness,itscontemporaries,hadtakensomanylives,that,iftheheadslaidlowbeforeithadbeenrangedonTempleBarinsteadofbeingprivatelydisposedof\'theywouldprobablyhaveexcludedwhatlittlelightthegroundfloorhad,inarathersignificantmanner.
CrampedinallkindsofdimcupboardsandhutchesatTellson\'s,theoldestofmencarriedonthebusinessgravely.
WhentheytookayoungmanintoTellson\'sLondonhouse,theyhidhimsomewheretillhewasold.Theykepthiminadarkplace,likeacheese,untilhehadthefullTellsonflavourandblue-moulduponhim.Thenonlywashepermittedtobeseen,spectacularlyporingoverlargebooks,andcastinghisbreechesandgaitersintothegeneralweightoftheestablishment.
OutsideTellson\'s——neverbyanymeansinit,unlesscalledin——wasanodd-job-man,anoccasionalporterandmessenger,whoservedasthelivesignofthehouse.Hewasneverabsentduringbusinesshours,unlessuponanerrand,andthenhewasrepresentedbyhisson:agrislyurchinoftwelve,whowashisexpressimage.PeopleunderstoodthatTellson\'s,inastatelyway,toleratedtheodd-job-man.Thehousehadalwaystoleratedsomepersoninthatcapacity,andtimeandtidehaddriftedthispersontothepost.HissurnamewasCruncher,andontheyouthfuloccasionofhisrenouncingbyproxytheworksofdarkness,intheeasterlyparishchurchofHoundsditch,hehadreceivedtheaddedappellationofJerry.
ThescenewasMr.Cruncher\'sprivatelodginginHanging-sword-alley,Whitefriars:thetime,half-pastsevenoftheclockonawindyMarchmorning,AnnoDominiseventeenhundredandeighty.(Mr.CruncherhimselfalwaysspokeoftheyearofourLordasAnnaDominoes:apparentlyundertheimpressionthattheChristianeradatedfromtheinventionofapopulargame,byaladywhohadbestowedhernameuponit.)
Mr.Cruncher\'sapartmentswerenotinasavouryneighbourhood,andwerebuttwoinnumber,evenifaclosetwithasinglepaneofglassinitmightbecountedasone.Buttheywereverydecentlykept.Earlyasitwas,onthewindyMarchmorning,theroominwhichhelaya-bedwasalreadyscrubbedthroughout;andbetweenthecupsandsaucersarrangedforbreakfast,andthelumberingdealtable,averycleanwhiteclothwasspread.
Mr.Cruncherreposedunderapatchworkcounterpane,likeaHarlequinathome.Atfirst,hesleptheavily,but,bydegrees,begantorollandsurgeinbed,untilheroseabovethesurface,withhisspikyhairlookingasifitmusttearthesheetstoribbons.Atwhichjuncture,heexclaimed,inavoiceofdireexasperation:
`Bustme,ifsheain\'tatitagin!\'
Awomanoforderlyandindustriousappearancerosefromherkneesinacorner,withsufficienthasteandtrepidationtoshowthatshewasthepersonreferredto.
`What!\'saidMr.Cruncher,lookingoutofbedforaboot.
`You\'reatitagin,areyou?
Afterhailingthemornwiththissecondsalutation,hethrewabootatthewomanasathird.Itwasaverymuddyboot,andmayintroducetheoddcircumstanceconnectedwithMr.Cruncher\'sdomesticeconomy,that,whereasheoftencamehomeafterbankinghourswithcleanboots,heoftengotupnextmorningtofindthesamebootscoveredwithclay.
`What,\'saidMr.Cruncher,varyinghisapostropheaftermissinghismark——\'whatareyou,upto,Aggerawayter?\'
`Iwasonlysayingmyprayers.
`Sayingyourprayers!You\'reanicewoman!Whatdoyoumeanbyfloppingyourselfdownandprayingaginme?\'
`Iwasnotprayingagainstyou;Iwasprayingforyou.\'
`Youweren\'t.Andifyouwere,Iwon\'tbetookthelibertywith.Here!yourmother\'sanicewoman,youngJerry,goingaprayingaginyourfather\'sprosperity.You\'vegotadutifulmother,youhave,myson.You\'vegotareligiousmother,youhave,myboy:goingandfloppingherselfdown,andprayingthatthebread-and-buttermaybesnatchedoutofthemouthofheronlychild.\'
Mastercruncher(whowasinhisshirt)tookthisveryill,and,turningtohismother,stronglydeprecatedanyprayingawayofhispersonalboard.
`Andwhatdoyousuppose,youconceitedfemale,\'saidMr.Cruncher,withunconsciousinconsistency,`thattheworthofyourprayersmaybe?Namethepricethatyouputyourprayersat!\'
`Theyonlycomefromtheheart,Jerry.Theyareworthnomorethanthat.\'
`Worthnomorethanthat,\'repeatedMr.Cruncher.`Theyain\'tworthmuch,then.Whetherorno,Iwon\'tbeprayedagin,Itellyou.Ican\'taffordit.I\'mnotagoingtobemadeunluckybyyoursneaking.Ifyoumustgofloppingyourselfdown,flopinfavourofyourhusbandandchild,andnotinoppositionto\'em.IfIhadhadanybutaunnat\'ralwife,andthispoorboyhadhadanybutaunnat\'ralmother,Imighthavemadesomemoneylastweekinsteadofbeingcounter-prayedandcounterminedandreligiouslycircumwentedintotheworstofluck.B-u-u-ustme`saidMr.
Cruncher,whoallthistimehadbeenputtingonhisclothes,`ifIain\'t,whatwithpietyandoneblowedthingandanother,beenchousedthislastweekintoasbadluckaseverapoordevilofahonesttradesmanmetwith!YoungJerry,dressyourself,myboy,andwhileIcleanmybootskeepaeyeuponyourmothernowandthen,andifyouseeanysignsofmoreflopping,givemeacall.For,Itellyou,\'hereheaddressedhiswifeoncemore,`Iwon\'tbegoneagin,inthismanner.Iamasricketyasahackneycoach,I\'massleepyaslaudanum,mylinesisstrainedtothatdegreethatIshouldn\'tknow,ifitwasn\'tforthepainin\'em,whichwasmeandwhichsomebodyelse,yetI\'mnonethebetterforitinpocket;andit\'smysuspicionthatyou\'vebeenatitfrommorningtonighttopreventmefrombeingthebetterforitinpocket,andIwon\'tputupwithit,Aggerawayter,andwhatdoyousaynow!\'
Growling,inaddition,suchphrasesas`Ah!yes!You\'rereligious,too.Youwouldn\'tputyourselfinoppositiontotheinterestsofyourhusbandandchild,wouldyou?Notyou!\'andthrowingoffothersarcasticsparksfromthewhirlinggrindstoneofhisindignation,Mr.Cruncherbetookhimselftohisboot-cleaningandhisgeneralpreparationforbusiness.Inthemeantime,hisson,whoseheadwasgarnishedwithtendererspikes,andwhoseyoungeyesstoodclosebyoneanother,ashisfather\'sdid,kepttherequiredwatchuponhismother.Hegreatlydisturbedthatpoorwomanatintervals,bydartingoutofhissleepingcloset,wherehemadehistoilet,withasuppressedcryof`Youaregoingtoflop,mother——Halloa,father!\'and,afterraisingthisfictitiousalarm,dartinginagainwithanundutifulgrin.
Mr.Cruncher\'stemperwasnotatallimprovedwhenhecametohisbreakfast.HeresentedMrs.Cruncher\'ssayinggracewithparticularanimosity.
`Now,Aggerawayter!Whatareyouupto?Atitagin?\'
Hiswifeexplainedthatshehadmerely`askedablessing.\'
`Don\'tdoit!\'saidMr.Cruncher,lookingabout,asifheratherexpectedtoseetheloafdisappearundertheefficacyofhiswife\'spetitions.`Iain\'tagoingtobeblestoutofhouseandhome.Iwon\'thavemywittlesblestoffmytable.Keepstill!\'
Exceedinglyred-eyedandgrim,asifhehadbeenupallnightatapartywhichhadtakenanythingbutaconvivialturn,JerryCruncherworriedhisbreakfastratherthanateit,growlingoveritlikeanyfour-footedinmateofamenagerie.Towardsnineo\'clockhesmoothedhisruffledaspect,and,presentingasrespectfulandbusiness-likeanexteriorashecouldoverlayhisnaturalselfwith,issuedforthtotheoccupationoftheday.
Itcouldscarcelybecalledatrade,inspiteofhisfavouritedescriptionofhimselfas`ahonesttradesman.\'Hisstockconsistedofawoodenstool,madeoutofabroken-backedchaircutdown,whichstool,youngJerry,walkingathisfather\'sside,carriedeverymorningtobeneaththebanking-housewindowthatwasnearestTempleBar:where,withtheadditionofthefirsthandfulofstrawthatcouldbegleanedfromanypassingvehicletokeepthecoldandwetfromtheodd-job-man\'sfeet,itformedtheencampmentfortheday.Onthispostofhis,Mr.CruncherwasaswellknowntoFleet-streetandtheTemple,astheBaritself,——andwasalmostasill-looking.
Encampedataquarterbeforenine,ingoodtimetotouchhisthree-corneredhattotheoldestofmenastheypassedintoTellson\'s,JerrytookuphisstationonthiswindyMarchmorning,withyoungJerrystandingbyhim,whennotengagedinmakingforaysthroughtheBar,toinflictbodilyandmentalinjuriesofanacutedescriptiononpassingboyswhoweresmallenoughforhisamiablepurpose.Fatherandson,extremelylikeeachother,lookingsilentlyonatthemorningtrafficinFleet-street,withtheirtwoheadsasneartooneanotherasthetwoeyesofeachwere,boreaconsiderableresemblancetoapairofmonkeys.Theresemblancewasnotlessenedbytheaccidentalcircumstance,thatthematureJerrybitandspatoutstraw,whilethetwinklingeyesoftheyouthfulJerrywereasrestlesslywatchfulofhimasofeverythingelseinFleet-street.
TheheadofoneoftheregularindoormessengersattachedtoTellson\'sestablishmentwasputthroughthedoor,andthewordwasgiven.
`Porterwanted!\'
`Hooray,father!Here\'sanearlyjobtobeginwith!\'
HavingthusgivenhisparentGodspeed,youngJerryseatedhimselfonthestool,enteredonhisreversionaryinterestinthestrawhisfatherhadbeenchewing,andcogitated.
`Alwaysrusty!Hisfingersisal-waysrusty!\'mutteredyoungJerry.`Wheredoesmyfathergetallthatironrustfrom?Hedon\'tgetnoironrusthere!\'
CHAPTERII
ASight
`YOUknowtheOldBaileywell,nodoubt?\'saidoneoftheoldestofclerkstoJerrythemessenger.
`Ye-es,sir,\'returnedJerry,insomethingofadoggedmanner.`IdoknowtheBailey.\'
`Justso.AndyouknowMr.Lorry.\'
`IknowMr.Lorry,sir,muchbetterthanIknowtheBailey.Muchbetter,\'saidJerry,notunlikeareluctantwitnessattheestablishmentinquestion,`thanI,asahonesttradesman,wishtoknowtheBailey.\'
`Verywell.Findthedoorwherethewitnessesgoin,andshowthedoor-keeperthisnoteforMr.Lorry.Hewillthenletyouin.\'
`Intothecourt,sir?\'
`Intothecourt.\'
Mr.Cruncher\'seyesseemedtogetalittleclosertooneanother,andtointerchangetheinquiry,`Whatdoyouthinkofthis?\'
`AmItowaitinthecourt,sir?\'heasked,astheresultofthatconference.
`Iamgoingtotellyou.Thedoor-keeperwillpassthenotetoMr.Lorry,anddoyoumakeanygesturethatwillattractMr.Lorry\'sattention,andshowhimwhereyoustand.Thenwhatyouhavetodo,is,toremainthereuntilhewantsyou.\'
`Isthatall,sir?\'
`That\'sall.Hewishestohaveamessengerathand.Thisistotellhimyouarethere.\'
Astheancientclerkdeliberatelyfoldedandsuperscribedthenote,Mr.Cruncher,aftersurveyinghiminsilenceuntilhecametotheblotting-paperstage,remarked:
`Isupposethey\'llbetryingForgeriesthismorning?\'
`Treason!\'
`That\'squartering,\'saidJerry.`Barbarous!\'
`Itisthelaw,\'remarkedtheancientclerk,turninghissurprisedspectaclesuponhim.`Itisthelaw.
`It`shardinthelawtospileaman,Ithink.It`shardenoughtokillhim,butit\'sweryhardtospilehim,sir.\'
`Notatall,\'returnedtheancientclerk.`Speakwellofthelaw.Takecareofyourchestandvoice,mygoodfriend,andleavethelawtotakecareofitself.Igiveyouthatadvice.\'
`It\'sthedamp,sir,whatsettlesonmychestandvoice,\'saidJerry.`Ileaveyoutojudgewhatadampwayofearningalivingmineis.\'
`Well,well,\'saidtheoldclerk;`weallhaveourvariouswaysofgainingalivelihood.Someofushavedampways,andsomeofushavedryways.Hereistheletter.Goalong.\'
Jerrytooktheletter,and,remarkingtohimselfwithlessinternaldeferencethanhemadeanoutwardshowof,`Youarealeanoldone,too,\'madehisbow,informedhisson,inpassing,of[`isdestination,andwenthisway.
TheyhangedatTyburn,inthosedays,sothestreetoutsideNewgatehadnotobtainedoneinfamousnotorietythathassinceattachedtoit.But,thegaolwasavileplace,inwhichmostkindsofdebaucheryandvillainywerepractised,andwheredirediseaseswerebred,thatcameintocourtwiththeprisoners,andsometimesrushedstraightfromthedockatmyLordChiefJusticehimself,andpulledhimoffthebench.Ithadmorethanoncehappened,thattheJudgeintheblackcappronouncedhisowndoomascertainlyastheprisoner\'s,andevendiedbeforehim.Fortherest,theOldBaileywasfamousasakindofdeadlyinn-yard,fromwhichpaletravellerssetoutcontinually,incartsandcoaches,onaviolentpassageintotheotherworld:traversingsometwomilesandahalfofpublicstreetandroad,andshamingfewgoodcitizens,ifany.Sopowerfulisuse,andsodesirabletobegooduseinthebeginning.Itwasfamous,too,forthepillory,awiseoldinstitution,thatinflictedapunishmentofwhichnoonecouldforeseetheextent;also,forthewhipping-post,anotherdearoldinstitution,veryhumanisingandsofteningtobeholdinaction;also,forextensivetransactionsinblood-money,anotherfragmentofancestralwisdom,systematicallyleadingtothemostfrightfulmercenarycrimesthatcouldbecommittedunderHeaven.Altogether,theOldBailey,atthatdate,wasachoiceillustrationoftheprecept,that`Whateverisisright;\'anaphorismthatwouldbeasfinalasitislazy,diditnotincludethetroublesomeconsequence,thatnothingthateverwas,waswrong.
Makinghiswaythroughthetaintedcrowd,dispersedupanddownthishideoussceneofaction,withtheskillofamanaccustomedtomakehiswayquietly,themessengerfoundoutthedoorhesought,andhandedinhisletterthroughatrapinit.ForpeoplethenpaidtoseetheplayattheOldBailey,justastheypaidtoseetheplayinBedlam——onlytheformerentertainmentwasmuchthedearer.Therefore,alltheOldBaileydoorswerewellguarded——except,indeed,thesocialdoorsbywhichthecriminalsgotthere,andthosewerealwaysleftwideopen.
Aftersomedelayanddemur,thedoorgrudginglyturnedonitshingesaverylittleway,andallowedMr.JerryCrunchertosqueezehimselfintocourt.
