第4章

类别:其他 作者:Charles Dickens字数:13923更新时间:18/12/14 10:56:46
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。I can\'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!\' [NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheSecond[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERIIASight`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。 `What\'son?\'heasked,inawhisper,ofthemanhefoundhimselfnextto。 `Nothingyet。\' `What\'scomingon,?\' `TheTreasoncase。 `Thequarteringone,eh?\' `Ah!\'returnedtheman,witharelish;`he\'llbedrawnonahurdletobehalfhanged,andthenhe\'llbetakendownandslicedbeforehisownface,andthenhisinsidewillbetakenoutandburntwhilehelookson,andthenhisheadwillbechoppedoff,andhe\'llbecutintoquarters。 Thatthesentence。\' `Ifhe\'sfoundGuilty,youmeantosay?\'Jerryadded,bywayofproviso。 `Oh!they\'llfindhimguilty,\'saidtheother。`Don\'tyoubeafraidofthat。\' Mr。Cruncher\'sattentionwasheredivertedtothedoorkeeper,whomhesawmakinghiswaytoMr。Lorry,withthenoteinhishand。Mr。 Lorrysatatatable,amongthegentlemeninwigs:notfarfromawiggedgentleman,theprisoner\'scounsel,whohadagreatbundleofpapersbeforehim:andnearlyoppositeanotherwiggedgentlemanwithhishandsinhispockets,whosewholeattention,whenMr。Cruncherlookedathimthenorafterwards,seemedtobeconcentratedontheceilingofthecourt。Aftersomegruffcoughingandrubbingofhischinandsigningwithhishand,JerryattractedthenoticeofMr。Lorry,whohadstooduptolookforhim,andwhoquietlynoddedandsatdownagain。 `What\'s。hegottodowiththecase?\'askedthemanhehadspokenwith。 `BlestifIknow,\'saidJerry。 `Whathaveyougottodowithit,then,ifapersonmayinquire?\' `BlestifIknowthateither,\'saidJerry。 TheentranceoftheJudge,andaconsequentgreatstirandsettlingdowninthecourt,stoppedthedialogue。Presently,thedockbecamethecentralpointofinterest。Twogaolers,whohadbeenstandingthere,wentout,andtheprisonerwasbroughtin,andputtothebar。 Everybodypresent,excepttheonewiggedgentlemanwholookedattheceiling,staredathim。Allthehumanbreathintheplace,rolledathim,likeasea,orawind,orafire。Eagerfacesstrainedroundpillarsandcorners,togetasightofhim;spectatorsinbackrowsstoodup,nottomissahairofhim;peopleonthefloorofthecourt,laidtheirhandsontheshouldersofthepeoplebeforethem,tohelpthemselves,atanybody\'scost,toaviewofhim——stooda-tiptoe,gotuponledges,stooduponnexttonothing,toseeeveryinchofhim。Conspicuousamongtheselatter,likeananimatedbitofthespikedwallofNewgate,Jerrystood:aimingattheprisonerthebeerybreathofawhethehadtakenashecamealong,anddischargingittominglewiththewavesofotherbeer,andgin,andtea,andcoffee,andwhatnot,thatflowedathim,andalreadybrokeuponthegreatwindowsbehindhiminanimpuremistandrain。 Theobjectofallthisstaringandblaring,wasayoungmanofaboutfive-and-twenty,well-grownandwell-looking,withasunburntcheekandadarkeye。Hisconditionwasthatofayounggentleman。Hewasplainlydressedinblack,orverydarkgrey,andhishair,whichwaslonganddark,wasgatheredinaribbonatthebackofhisneck;moretobeoutofhiswaythanforornament。Asanemotionofthemindwillexpressitselfthroughanycoveringofthebody,sothepalenesswhichhissituationengenderedcamethroughthebrownuponhischeek,showingthesoultobestrongerthanthesun。Hewasotherwisequiteself-possessed,bowedtotheJudge,andstoodquiet。 Thesortofinterestwithwhichthismanwasstaredandbreathedat,wasnotasortthatelevatedhumanity。Hadhestoodinperilofalesshorriblesentence——hadtherebeenachanceofanyoneofitssavagedetailsbeingspared——byjustsomuchwouldhehavelostinhisfascination。Theformthatwastobedoomedtobesoshamefullymangled,wasthesight; theimmortalcreaturethatwastobesobutcheredandtornasunder,yieldedthesensation。Whateverglossthevariousspectatorsputupontheinterest,accordingtotheirseveralartsandpowersofself-deceit,theinterestwas,attherootofit,Ogreish。 Silenceinthecourt!CharlesDarnayhadyesterdaypleadedNotGuiltytoanindictmentdenouncinghim(withinfinitejingleandjangle) forthathewasafalsetraitortoourserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,prince,ourLordtheKing,byreasonofhishaving,ondiversoccasions,andbydiversmeansandways,assistedLewis,theFrenchKing,inhiswarsagainstoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth; thatwastosay,bycomingandgoing,betweenthedominionsofoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,andthoseofthesaidFrenchLewis,andwickedly,falsely,traitorously,andotherwiseevil-adverbiously,revealingtothesaidFrenchLewiswhatforcesoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,hadinpreparationtosendtoCanadaandNorthAmerica。Thismuch,Jerry,withhisheadbecomingmoreandmorespikyasthelawtermsbristledit,madeoutwithhugesatisfaction,andsoarrivedcircuitouslyattheunder-standingthattheaforesaid,andoverandoveragainaforesaid,CharlesDarnay,stoodtherebeforehimuponhistrial; thatthejurywereswearingin;andthatMr。Attorney-Generalwasmakingreadytospeak。 Theaccused,whowas(andwhoknewhewas)beingmentallyhanged,beheaded,andquartered,byeverybodythere,neitherflinchedfromthesituation,norassumedanytheatricalairinit。Hewasquietandattentive; watchedtheopeningproceedingswithagraveinterest;andstoodwithhishandsrestingontheslabofwoodbeforehim,socomposedly,thattheyhadnotdisplacedaleafoftheherbswithwhichitwasstrewn。Thecourtwasallbestrewnwithherbsandsprinkledwithvinegar,asaprecautionagainstgaolairandgaolfever。 Overtheprisoner\'sheadtherewasamirror,tothrowthelightdownuponhim。Crowdsofthewickedandthewretchedhadbeenreflectedinit,andhadpassedfromitssurfaceandthisearth\'stogether。Hauntedinamostghastlymannerthatabominableplacewouldhavebeen,iftheglasscouldeverhaverenderedbackitsreflections,astheoceanisonedaytogiveupitsdead。Somepassingthoughtoftheinfamyanddisgraceforwhichithadbeenreserved,mayhavestrucktheprisoner\'smind。Bethatasitmay,achangeinhispositionmakinghimconsciousofabaroflightacrosshisface,helookedup;andwhenhesawtheglasshisfaceflushed,andhisrighthandpushedtheherbsaway。 Ithappened,thattheactionturnedhisfacetothatsideofthecourtwhichwasonhisleft。Aboutonalevelwithhiseyes,theresat,inthatcorneroftheJudge\'sbench,twopersonsuponwhomhislookimmediatelyrested;soimmediately,andsomuchtothechangingofhisaspect,thatalltheeyesthatwereturneduponhim,turnedtothem。 Thespectatorssawinthetwofigures,ayoungladyoflittlemorethantwenty,andagentlemanwhowasevidentlyherfather;amanofaveryremarkableappearanceinrespectoftheabsolutewhitenessofhishair,andacertainindescribableintensityofface:notofanactivekind,butponderingandself-communing。Whenthisexpressionwasuponhim,helookedasifhewereold;butwhenitwasstirredandbrokenup——asItwasnow,inamoment,onhisspeakingtohisdaughter——hebecameahandsomeman,notpasttheprimeoflife。 Hisdaughterhadoneofherhandsdrawnthroughhisarm,asshesatbyhim,andtheotherpresseduponit。Shehaddrawnclosetohim,inherdreadofthescene,andinherpityfortheprisoner。Herforeheadhadbeenstrikinglyexpressiveofanengrossingterrorandcompassionthatsawnothingbuttheperiloftheaccused。Thishadbeensoverynoticeable,soverypowerfullyandnaturallyshown,thatstarerswhohadhadnopityforhimweretouchedbyher;andthewhisperwentabout,`Whoarethey?\' Jerry,themessenger,whohadmadehisownobservations,inhisownmanner,andwhohadbeensuckingtherustoffhisfingersinhisabsorption,stretchedhisnecktohearwhotheywere。Thecrowdabouthimhadpressedandpassedtheinquiryontothenearestattendant,andfromhimithadbeenmoreslowlypressedandpassedback;atlastitgottoJerry: `Witnesses。\' `Forwhichside?\' `Against。\' `Againstwhatside?\' `Theprisoner\'s。\' TheJudge,whoseeyeshadgoneinthegeneraldirection,recalledthem,leanedbackinhisseat,andlookedsteadilyatthemanwhoselifewasinhishand,asMr。Attorney-Generalrosetospintherope,grindtheaxe,andhammerthenailsintothescaffold。 [NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheSecond[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERIIIADisappointmentMR。ATTORNEY-GENERALhadtoinformthejury,thattheprisonerbeforethem,thoughyounginyears,wasoldinthetreasonablepracticeswhichclaimedtheforfeitofhislife。Thatthiscorrespondencewiththepublicenemywasnotacorrespondenceofto-day,orofyesterday,orevenoflastyear,oroftheyearbefore。That,itwascertaintheprisonerhad,forlongerthanthat,beeninthehabitofpassingandrepassingbetweenFranceandEngland,onsecretbusinessofwhichhecouldgivenohonestaccount。That,ifitwereinthenatureoftraitorouswaystothrive(whichhappilyitneverwas),therealwickednessandguiltofhisbusinessmighthaveremainedundiscovered。ThatProvidence,however,hadputitintotheheartofapersonwhowasbeyondfearandbeyondreproach,toferretoutthenatureoftheprisoner\'sschemes,and,struckwithhorror,todisclosethemtohisMajesty\'sChiefSecretaryofStateandmosthonourablePrivyCouncil。 That,thispatriotwouldbeproducedbeforethem。That,hispositionandattitudewere,onthewhole,sublime。That,hehadbeentheprisoner\'sfriend,but,atonceinanauspiciousandanevilhourdetectinghisinfamy,hadresolvedtoimmolatethetraitorhecouldnolongercherishinhisbosom,onthesacredaltarofhiscountry。That,ifstatuesweredecreedinBritain,asinancientGreeceandRome,topublicbenefactors,thisshiningcitizenwouldassuredlyhavehadone。That,astheywerenotsodecreed,heprobablywouldnothaveone。That,Virtue,ashadbeenobservedbythepoets(inmanypassageswhichhewellknewthejurywouldhave,wordforword,atthetipsoftheirtongues;whereatthejury\'scountenancesdisplayedaguiltyconsciousnessthattheyknewnothingaboutthepassages),wasinamannercontagious;moreespeciallythebrightvirtueknownaspatriotism,orloveofcountry。That,theloftyexampleofthisimmaculateandunimpeachablewitnessfortheCrown,torefertowhomhoweverunworthilywasanhonour,hadcommunicateditselftotheprisoner\'sservant,andhadengenderedinhimaholydeterminationtoexaminehismaster\'stable-drawersandpockets,andsecretehispapers。That,he(Mr。Attorney-General)waspreparedtohearsomedisparagementattemptedofthisadmirableservant; butthat,inageneralway,hepreferredhimtohis(Mr。Attorney-General\'s) brothersandsisters,andhonouredhimmorethanhis(Mr。Attorney-General\'s) fatherandmother。That,hecalledwithconfidenceonthejurytocomeanddolikewise。That,theevidenceofthesetwowitnesses,coupledwiththedocumentsoftheirdiscoveringthatwouldbeproduced,wouldshowtheprisonertohavebeenfurnishedwithlistsofhisMajesty\'sforces,andoftheirdispositionandpreparation,bothbyseaandland,andwouldleavenodoubtthathehadhabituallyconveyedsuchinformationtoahostilepower。That,theselistscouldnotbeprovedtobeintheprisoner\'shandwriting; butthatitwasallthesame;that,indeed,itwasratherthebetterfortheprosecution,asshowingtheprisonertobeartfulinhisprecautions。 That,theproofwouldgobackfiveyears,andwouldshowtheprisoneralreadyengagedintheseperniciousmissions,withinafewweeksbeforethedateoftheveryfirstactionfoughtbetweentheBritishtroopsandtheAmericans。 That,forthesereasons,thejury,beingaloyaljury(asheknewtheywere),andbeingaresponsiblejury(astheyknewtheywere),mustpositivelyfindtheprisonerGuilty,andmakeanendofhim,whethertheylikeditornot。That,theynevercouldlaytheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldtoleratetheideaoftheirwiveslayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldendurethenotionoftheirchildrenlayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;inshort,thattherenevermorecouldbe,forthemortheirs,anylayingofheadsuponpillowsatall,unlesstheprisoner\'sheadwastakenoff。ThatheadMr。Attorney-Generalconcludedbydemandingofthem,inthenameofeverythinghecouldthinkofwitharoundturninit,andonthefaithofhissolemnasseverationthathealreadyconsideredtheprisonerasgoodasdeadandgone。 WhentheAttorney-Generalceased,abuzzaroseinthecourtasifacloudofgreatblue-flieswereswarmingabouttheprisoner,inanticipationofwhathewassoontobecome。Whentoneddownagain,theunimpeachablepatriotappearedinthewitness-box。 Mr。Solicitor-Generalthen,followinghisleader\'slead,examinedthepatriot:JohnBarsad,gentleman,byname。ThestoryofhispuresoulwasexactlywhatMr。Attorney-Generalhaddescribedittobe-perhaps,ifithadafault,alittletooexactly。Havingreleasedhisnoblebosomofitsburden,hewouldhavemodestlywithdrawnhimself,butthatthewiggedgentlemanwiththepapersbeforehim,sittingnotfarfromMr。Lorry,beggedtoaskhimafewquestions。Thewiggedgentlemansittingopposite,stilllookingattheceilingofthecourt。 Hadheeverbeenaspyhimself?No,hescornedthebaseinsinuation。 Whatdidheliveupon?Hisproperty。Wherewashisproperty?Hedidn\'tpreciselyrememberwhereitwas。Whatwasit?Nobusinessofanybody\'s。 Hadheinheritedit?Yes,hehad。Fromwhom?Distantrelation。Verydistant? Rather。Everbeeninprison?Certainlynot。Neverinadebtors\'prison? Didn\'tseewhatthathadtodowithit。Neverinadebtors\'prison?——Come,onceagain。Never?Yes。Howmanytimes?Twoorthreetimes。Notfiveorsix?Perhaps。Ofwhatprofession?Gentleman。Everbeenkicked?Mighthavebeen。Frequently?No。Everkickeddown-stairs?Decidedlynot;oncereceivedakickonthetopofastaircase,andfelldown-stairsofhisownaccord。 Kickedonthatoccasionforcheatingatdice?Somethingtothateffectwassaidbytheintoxicatedliarwhocommittedtheassault,butitwasnottrue。Swearitwasnottrue?Positively。Everlivebycheatingatplay? Never。Everlivebyplay?Notmorethanothergentlemendo。Everborrowmoneyoftheprisoner?Yes。Everpayhim?No。Wasnotthisintimacywiththeprisoner,inrealityaveryslightone,forcedupontheprisonerincoaches,inns,andpackets?No。Surehesawtheprisonerwiththeselists? Certain。Knewnomoreaboutthelists?No。Hadnotprocuredthemhimself,forinstance?No。Expecttogetanythingbythisevidence?No。Notinregulargovernmentpayandemployment,tolaytraps?Ohdearno。Ortodoanything? Ohdearno。Swearthat?Overandoveragain。Nomotivesbutmotivesofsheerpatriotism?Nonewhatever。 Thevirtuousservant,RogerCly,sworehiswaythroughthecaseatagreatrate。Hehadtakenservicewiththeprisoner,ingoodfaithandsimplicity,fouryearsago。Hehadaskedtheprisoner,aboardtheCalaispacket,ifhewantedahandyfellow,andtheprisonerhadengagedhim。 Hehadnotaskedtheprisonertotakethehandyfellowasanactofcharity——neverthoughtofsuchathing。Hebegantohavesuspicionsoftheprisoner,andtokeepaneyeuponhim,soonafterwards。Inarranginghisclothes,whiletravelling,hehadseensimilarliststotheseintheprisoner\'spockets,overandoveragain。Hehadtakentheselistsfromthedraweroftheprisoner\'sdesk。Hehadnotputthemtherefirst。HehadseentheprisonershowtheseidenticalliststoFrenchgentlemenatCalais,andsimilarliststoFrenchgentlemen,bothatCalaisandBoulogne。Helovedhiscountry,andcouldn\'tbearit,andhadgiveninformation。Hehadneverbeensuspectedofstealingasilvertea-pot;hehadbeenmalignedrespectingamustard-pot,butitturnedouttobeonlyaplatedone。Hehadknownthelastwitnesssevenoreightyears;thatwasmerelyacoincidence。Hedidn\'tcallitaparticularlycuriouscoincidence;mostcoincidenceswerecurious。Neitherdidhecallitacuriouscoincidencethattruepatriotismwashisonlymotivetoo。 HewasatrueBriton,andhopedthereweremanylikehim。 Theblue-fliesbuzzedagain,andMr。Attorney-GeneralcalledMr。 JarvisLorry。 `Mr。JarvisLorry,areyouaclerkinTellson\'sbank?\' `Iam。\' `OnacertainFridaynightinNovemberonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five,didbusinessoccasionyoutotravelbetweenLondonandDoverbythemail?\' `Itdid。\' `Werethereanyotherpassengersinthemail?\' `Two。\' `Didtheyalightontheroadinthecourseofthenight?\' `Theydid。\' `Mr。Lorry,lookupontheprisoner。Washeoneofthosetwopassengers? `Icannotundertaketosaythathewas。\' `Doesheresembleeitherofthesetwopassengers?\' `Bothweresowrappedup,andthenightwassodark,andwewereallsoreserved,thatIcannotundertaketosayeventhat。\' `Mr。Lorry,lookagainupontheprisoner。Supposinghimwrappedupasthosetwopassengerswere,isthereanythinginhisbulkandstaturetorenderitunlikelythathewasoneofthem?\' `No。\' `Youwillnotswear,Mr。Lorry,thathewasnotoneofthem?\' `No。\' `Soatleastyousayhemayhavebeenoneofthem?\' `Yes。ExceptthatIrememberthembothtohavebeen——likemyself——timorousofhighwaymen,andtheprisonerhasnotatimorousair。\' `Didyoueverseeacounterfeitoftimidity,Mr。Lorry?\' `Icertainlyhaveseenthat。\' `Mr。Lorry,lookoncemoreupontheprisoner。Haveyouseenhim,toyourcertainKnowledge,before?\' `Ihave。\' `When?\' `IwasreturningfromFranceafewdaysafterwards,and,atCalais,theprisonercameonboardthepacket-shipinwhichIreturned,andmadethevoyagewithme。\' `Atwhathourdidhecomeonboard?\' `Atalittleaftermidnight。\' `Inthedeadofthenight。Washetheonlypassengerwhocameonboardatthatuntimelyhour?\' `Hehappenedtobetheonlyone。\' `Nevermindabout\"happening,\"Mr。Lorry。Hewastheonlypassengerwhocameonboardinthedeadofthenight?\' `Hewas。\' `Wereyoutravellingalone,Mr。Lorry,orwithanycompanion?\' `Withtwocompanions。Agentlemanandlady。Theyarehere。\' `They\'arehere。Hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoner?\' `Hardlyany。Theweatherwasstormy,andthepassagelongandrough,andIlayonasofa,almostfromshoretoshore。\' `MissManette!\' Theyounglady,towhomalleyeshadbeenturnedbefore,andwerenowturnedagain,stoodupwhereshehadsat。Herfatherrosewithher,andkeptherhanddrawnthroughhisarm。 `MissManette,lookupontheprisoner。\' Tobeconfrontedwithsuchpity,andsuchearnestyouthandbeauty,wasfarmoretryingtotheaccusedthantobeconfrontedwithallthecrowd。 Standing,asitwere,apartwithherontheedgeofhisgrave,notallthestaringcuriositythatlookedon,could,forthemoment,nervehimtoremainquitestill。Hishurriedrighthandparcelledouttheherbsbeforehimintoimaginarybedsofflowersinagarden:andhiseffortstocontrolandsteadyhisbreathingshookthelipsfromwhichthecolourrushedtohisheart。Thebuzzofthegreatflieswasloudagain。 `MissManette,haveyouseentheprisonerbefore?\' `Yes,sir。\' `Where?\' `Onboardofthepacket-shipjustnowreferredto,sir,andonthesameoccasion。\'