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。\'