Thestrongtide,soswift,sodeep,andcertain,waslikeacongenialfriend,inthemorningstillness。Hewalkedbythestream,farfromthehouses,andinthelightaridwarmthofthesunfellasleeponthebank。
Whenheawokeandwasafootagain,helingeredthereyetalittlelonger,watchinganeddythatturnedandturnedpurposeless,untilthestreamabsorbedit,andcarrieditontothesea——`Likeme!\'
Atrading-boat,withasailofthesoftenedcolourofadeadleaf,thenglidedintohisview,floatedbyhim,anddiedaway。Asitssilenttrackinthewaterdisappeared,theprayerthathadbrokenupoutofhisheartforamercifulconsiderationofallhispoorblindnessesanderrors,endedinthewords,`Iamtheresurrectionandthelife。\'
Mr。Lorrywasalreadyoutwhenhegotback,anditwaseasytosurmisewherethegoodoldmanwasgone。SydneyCartondranknothingbutalittlecoffee,atesomebread,and,havingwashedandchangedtorefreshhimself,wentouttotheplaceoftrial。
Thecourtwasallastiranda-buzz,whentheblacksheep——whommanyfellawayfromindread——pressedhimintoanobscurecorneramongthecrowd。Mr。Lorrywasthere,andDoctorManettewasthere。Shewasthere,sittingbesideherfather。
Whenherhusbandwasbroughtin,sheturnedalookuponhim,sosustaining,soencouraging,sofullofadmiringloveandpityingtenderness,yetsocourageousforhissake,thatitcalledthehealthybloodintohisface,brightenedhisglance,andanimatedhisheart。Iftherehadbeenanyeyestonoticetheinfluenceofherlook,onSydneyCarton,itwouldhavebeenseentobethesameinfluenceexactly。
BeforethatunjustTribunal,therewaslittleornoorderofprocedure,ensuringtoanyaccusedpersonanyreasonablehearing。TherecouldhavebeennosuchRevolution,ifalllaws,forms,andceremonies,hadnotfirstbeensomonstrouslyabused,thatthesuicidalvengeanceoftheRevolutionwastoscatterthemalltothewinds。
Everyeyewasturnedtothejury。Thesamedeterminedpatriotsandgoodrepublicansasyesterdayandthedaybefore,andto-morrowandthedayafter。Eagerandprominentamongthem,onemanwithacravingface,andhisfingersperpetuallyhoveringabouthislips,whoseappearancegavegreatsatisfactiontothespectators。Alife-thirsting,canniballooking,bloody-mindedjuryman,theJacquesThreeofSt。Antoine。Thewholejury,asajuryofdogsempannelledtotrythedeer。
Everyeyethenturnedtothefivejudgesandthepublicprosecutor。
Nofavourableleaninginthatquarterto-day。Afell,uncompromising,murderousbusiness-meaningthere。Everyeyethensoughtsomeothereyeinthecrowd,andgleamedatitapprovingly;andheadsnoddedatoneanother,beforebendingforwardwithastrainedattention。
CharlesEvré;monde,calledDarnay。Releasedyesterday。Re-accusedandretakenyesterday。Indictmentdeliveredtohimlastnight。SuspectedandDenouncedenemyoftheRepublic,Aristocrat,oneofafamilyoftyrants,oneofaraceproscribed,forthattheyhadusedtheirabolishedprivilegestotheinfamousoppressionofthepeople。CharlesEvré;monde,calledDarnay,inrightofsuchproscription,absolutelyDeadinLaw。
Tothiseffect,inasfeworfewerwords,thePublicProsecutor。
ThePresidentasked,wastheAccusedopenlydenouncedorsecretly?
`Openly,President。\'
`Bywhom?\'
`Threevoices。ErnestDefarge,wine-vendorofSt。Antoine。\'
`Good。\'
`Thé;rè;seDefarge,hiswife。\'
`Good。\'
`AlexandreManette,physician。\'
Agreatuproartookplaceinthecourt,andinthemidstofit,DoctorManettewasseen,paleandtrembling,standingwherehehadbeenseated。
`President,Iindignantlyprotesttoyouthatthisisaforgeryandafraud。Youknowtheaccusedtobethehusbandofmydaughter。Mydaughter,andthosedeartoher,arefardearertomethanmylife。WhoandwhereisthefalseconspiratorwhosaysthatIdenouncethehusbandofmychild!
`CitizenManette,betranquil。TofailinsubmissiontotheauthorityoftheTribunalwouldbetoputyourselfoutofLaw。Astowhatisdearertoyouthanlife,nothingcanbesodeartoagoodcitizenastheRepublic。\'
Loudacclamationshailedthisrebuke。ThePresidentranghisbell,andwithwarmthresumed。
`IftheRepublicshoulddemandofyouthesacrificeofyourchildherselfyouwouldhavenodutybuttosacrificeherListentowhatistofollow。Inthemeanwhile,besilent!\'
Franticacclamationswereagainraised。DoctorManettesatdown,withhiseyeslookingaround,andhislipstrembling;hisdaughterdrewclosertohim。Thecravingmanonthejuryrubbedhishandstogether,andrestoredtheusualhandtohismouth。
Defargewasproduced,whenthecourtwasquietenoughtoadmitofhisbeingheard,andrapidlyexpoundedthestoryoftheimprisonment,andofhishavingbeenamereboyintheDoctor\'sservice,andoftherelease,andofthestateoftheprisonerwhenreleasedanddeliveredtohim。Thisshortexaminationfollowed,forthecourtwasquickwithitswork。
`YoudidgoodserviceatthetakingoftheBastille,citizen?\'
`Ibelieveso。\'
Here,anexcitedwomanscreechedfromthecrowd:`Youwereoneofthebestpatriotsthere。Whynotsayso?Youwereacannonierthatdaythere,andyouwereamongthefirsttoentertheaccursedfortresswhenitfell。Patriots,Ispeakthetruth!\'
ItwasTheVengeancewho,amidstthewarmcommendationsoftheaudience,thusassistedtheproceedings。ThePresidentranghisbell;but,TheVengeance,warmingwithencouragement,shrieked,`Idefythatbell!\'
whereinshewaslikewisemuchcommended。
`InformtheTribunalofwhatyoudidthatdaywithintheBastille,citizen。\'
`Iknew,\'saidDefarge,lookingdownathiswife,whostoodatthebottomofthestepsonwhichhewasraised,lookingsteadilyupathim;`Iknewthatthisprisoner,ofwhomIspeak,hadbeenconfinedinacellknownasOneHundredandFive,NorthTower。Iknewitfromhimself。
HeknewhimselfbynoothernamethanOneHundredandFive,NorthTower,whenhemadeshoesundermycare。AsIservemygunthatday,Iresolve,whentheplaceshallfall,toexaminethatcell。Itfalls。Imounttothecell,withafellow-citizenwhoisoneoftheJury,directedbyagaoler。
Iexamineit,veryclosely。Inaholeinthechimney,whereastonehasbeenworkedoutandreplaced,Ifindawrittenpaper。Thisisthatwrittenpaper。IhavemadeitmybusinesstoexaminesomespecimensofthewritingofDoctorManette。ThisisthewritingofDoctorManette。Iconfidethispaper,inthewritingofDoctorManette,tothehandsofthePresident。
`Letitberead。\'
Inadeadsilenceandstillness——theprisonerundertriallookinglovinglyathiswife,hiswifeonlylookingfromhimtolookwithsolicitudeatherfather,DoctorManettekeepinghiseyesfixedonthereader,MadameDefargenevertakinghersfromtheprisoner,Defargenevertakinghisfromhisfeastingwile,andalltheothereyesthereintentupontheDoctor,whosawnoneofthem——thepaperwasread,asfollows。
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheThird[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXTheSubstanceoftheShadow`I,ALEXANDREMANETTE,unfortunatephysician,nativeofBeauvais,andafterwardsresidentinParis,writethismelancholypaperinmydolefulcellintheBastille,duringthelastmonthoftheyear1767。Iwriteitatstolenintervals,undereverydifficulty。Idesigntosecreteitinthewallofthechimney,whereIhaveslowlyandlaboriouslymadeaplaceofconcealmentforit。Somepityinghandmayfinditthere,whenIandmysorrowsaredust。
`ThesewordsareformedbytherustyironpointwithwhichIwritewithdifficultyinscrapingsofsootandcharcoalfromthechimney,mixedwithblood,inthelastmonthofthetenthyearofmycaptivity。Hopehasquitedepartedfrommybreast。IknowfromterriblewarningsIhavenotedinmyselfthatmyreasonwillnotlongremainunimpaired,butIsolemnlydeclarethatIamatthistimeinthepossessionofmyrightmind——thatmymemoryisexactandcircumstantial——andthatIwritethetruthasI
shallanswerforthesemylastrecordedwords,whethertheybeeverreadbymenornot,attheEternalJudgment-seat。
`Onecloudymoonlightnight,inthethirdweekofDecember(I
thinkthetwenty-secondofthemonth)intheyear1757,IwaswalkingonaretiredpartofthequaybytheSeinefortherefreshmentofthefrostyair,atanhour\'sdistancefrommyplaceofresidenceintheStreetoftheSchoolofMedicine,whenacarriagecamealongbehindme,drivenveryfast。AsIstoodasidetoletthatcarriagepass,apprehensivethatitmightotherwiserunmedown,aheadwasputoutatthewindow,andavoicecalledtothedrivertostop。
`Thecarriagestoppedassoonasthedrivercouldreininhishorses,andthesamevoicecalledtomebymyname。Ianswered。ThecarriagewasthensofarinadvanceofmethattwogentlemenhadtimetoopenthedoorandalightbeforeIcameupwithit。Iobservedthattheywerebothwrappedincloaksandappearedtoconcealthemselves。Astheystoodcarriagedoor,Ialsoobservedthattheybothlookedofaboutmyownage,orratheryounger,andthattheyweregreatlyalike,instature,manner,voice,and(asfarasIcouldsee)facetoo。
`\"YouareDoctorManette?\"saidone。
`\"Iam。\"
`\"DoctorManette,formerlyofBeauvais,\"saidtheother;\"theyoungphysician,originallyanexpertsurgeon,whowithinthelastyearortwohasmadearisingreputationinParis?\"
`\"Gentlemen,\"Ireturned,\"IamthatDoctorManetteofwhomyouspeaksograciously。\"
`\"wehavebeentoyourresidence,\"saidthefirst,\"andnotbeingsofortunateastofindyouthere,andbeinginformedthatyouwereprobablywalkinginthisdirection,wefollowed,inthehopeofovertakingyou。
Willyoupleasetoenterthecarriage?\"
`Themannerofbothwasimperious,andtheybothmoved,asthesewordswerespoken,soastoplacemebetweenthemselvesandthecarriagedoor。Theywerearmed。Iwasnot。
`\"Gentlemen,\"saidI,\"pardonme;butIusuallyinquirewhodoesmethehonourtoseekmyassistance,andwhatisthenatureofthecasetowhichIamsummoned。\"
`Thereplytothiswasmadebyhimwhohadspokensecond。\"Doctor,yourclientsarepeopleofcondition。Astothenatureofthecase,ourconfidenceinyourskillassuresusthatyouwillascertainitforyourselfbetterthanwecandescribeit。Enough。Willyoupleasetoenterthecarriage?\"
`Icoulddonothingbutcomply,andIentereditinsilence。Theybothenteredafterme——thelastspringingin,afterputtingupthesteps。
Thecarriageturnedabout,anddroveonasitsformerspeed。
`Irepeatthisconversationexactlyasitoccurred。Ihavenodoubtthatitis,workforword,thesame。Idescribeeverythingexactlyasittookplace,constrainingmymindnottowanderfromthetask。WhereImakethebrokenmarksthatfollowhere,Ileaveoffforthetime,andputmypaperinitshiding-place。****
`Thecarriageleftthestreetsbehind,passedtheNorthBarrier,andemergeduponthecountryroad。Attwo-thirdsofaleaguefromtheBarrier——I
didnotestimatethedistanceatthattime,butafterwardswhenItraversedit——itstruckoutofthemainavenue,andpresentlystoppedatasolitaryhouse。Weallthreealighted,andwalked,byadampsoftfootpathinagardenwhereaneglectedfountainhadoverflowed,tothedoorofthehouse。
Itwasnotopenedimmediately,inanswertotheringingofthebell,andoneofmytwoconductorsstruckthemanwhoopenedit,withhisheavyriding-glove,acrosstheface。
`Therewasnothinginthisactiontoattractmyparticularattention,forIhadseencommonpeoplestruckmorecommonlythandogs。But,theotherofthetwo,beingangrylike-wise,struckthemaninlikemannerwithhisarm;thelookandbearingofthebrotherswerethensoexactlyalike,thatIthenfirstperceivedthemtobetwinbrothers。
`Fromthetimeofouralightingattheoutergate(whichwefoundlocked,andwhichoneofthebrothershadopenedtoadmitus,andhadre-locked),Ihadheardcriesproceedingfromanupperchamber。Iwasconductedtothischamberstraight,thecriesgrowinglouderasweascendedthestairs,andIfoundapatientinahighfeverofthebrain,lyingonabed。
`Thepatientwasawomanofgreatbeauty,andyoung;assuredlynotmuchpasttwenty。Herhairwastornandragged,andherarmswereboundtohersideswithsashesandhandkerchiefs。Inoticedthatthesebondswereallportionsofagentleman\'sdress。Ononeofthem,whichwasafringedScarfforadressofceremony,IsawthearmorialbearingsofaNoble,andtheletterE。
`Isawthis,withinthefirstminuteofmycontemplationofthepatient;for,inherrestlessstrivingsshehadturnedoveronherfaceontheedgeofthebed,haddrawntheendofthescarfintohermouth,andwasindangerofsuffocation。Myfirstactwastoputoutmyhandtorelieveherbreathing;andinmovingthescarfaside,theembroideryinthecornercaughtmysight。
`Iturnedhergentlyover,placedmyhandsuponherbreasttocalmherandkeepherdown,andlookedintoherface。Hereyesweredilatedandwild,andsheconstantlyutteredpiercingshrieks,andrepeatedthewords,\"Myhusband,myfather,andmybrother!\"andthencounteduptotwelve,andsaid,\"Hush!\"Foraninstant,andnomore,shewouldpausetolisten,andthenthepiercingshriekswouldbeginagain,andshewouldrepeatthecry,\"Myhusband,myfather,andmybrother!\"andwouldcountuptotwelve,andsay\"Hush!\"Therewasnovariationintheorder,orthemanner。Therewasnocessation,buttheregularmoment\'spause,intheutteranceofthesesounds。
`\"Howlong,\"Iasked,\"hasthislasted?\"
`Todistinguishthebrothers,Iwillcallthemtheelderandtheyounger;bytheelder,Imeanhimwhoexercisedthemostauthority。Itwastheelderwhoreplied,\"Sinceaboutthishourlastnight。\"
`\"ShehasaHusband,afather,andabrother?\"
`\"Abrother。\"
`\"Idonotaddressherbrother?\"
`Heansweredwithgreatcontempt,\"No。\"
`\"Shehassomerecentassociationwiththenumbertwelve?\"
`Theyoungerbrotherimpatientlyrejoined,\"Withtwelveo\'clock?\"
`\"See,gentlemen,\"saidI,stillkeepingmyhandsuponherbreast,\"howuselessIam,asyouhavebroughtme!IfIhadknownwhatIwascomingtosee,Icouldhavecomeprovided。Asitis,timemustbelost。Therearenomedicinestobeobtainedinthislonelyplace。\"
`Theelderbrotherlookedtotheyounger,whosaidhaughtily,\"Thereisacaseofmedicineshere;\"andbroughtitfromacloset,andputitonthetable。***
`Iopenedsomeofthebottles,smeltthem,andputthestopperstomylips。IfIhadwantedtouseanythingsavenarcoticmedicinesthatwerepoisonsinthemselves,Iwouldnothaveadministeredanyofthose。
`\"Doyoudoubtthem?\"askedtheyoungerbrother。
`\"Yousee,monsieur,Iamgoingtousethem,\"Ireplied,andsaidnomore。
`Imadethepatientswallow,withgreatdifficulty,andaftermanyefforts,thedosethatIdesiredtogive。AsIintendedtorepeatitafterawhile,andasitwasnecessarytowatchitsinfluence,Ithensatdownbythesideofthebed。Therewasatimidandsuppressedwomaninattendance(wifeofthemandown-stairs),whohadretreatedintoacorner。
Thehousewasdampanddecayed,indifferentlyfurnished——evidently,recentlyoccupiedandtemporarilyused。Somethickoldhangingshadbeennailedupbeforethewindows,todeadenthesoundoftheshrieks。Theycontinuedtobeutteredintheirregularsuccession,withthecry,\"Myhusband,myfather,andmybrother!\"thecountinguptotwelve,and\"Hush!\"Thefrenzywassoviolent,thatIhadnotunfastenedthebandagesrestrainingthearms,but,Ihadlookedtothem,toseethattheywerenotpainful。Theonlysparkofencouragementinthecase,was,thatmyhanduponthesufferer\'sbreasthadthismuchsoothinginfluence,thatforminutesatatimeittranquillisedthefigure。Ithadnoeffectuponthecries:nopendulumcouldbemoreregular。
`Forthereasonthatmyhandhadthiseffect(Iassume),Ihadsatbythesideofthebedforhalfanhour,withthetwobrotherslookingon,beforetheeldersaid:
`\"Thereisanotherpatient。\"
`Iwasstartledandasked,\"Isitapressingcase?\"
`\"Youhadbettersee,\"hecarelesslyanswered;andtookupalight。
***
`Theotherpatientlayinabackroomacrossasecondstaircase,whichwasaspeciesofloftoverastable。Therewasalowplasteredceilingtoapartofit;therestwasopen,totheridgeofthetiledroof,andtherewerebeamsacross。Hayandstrawwerestoredinthatportionoftheplace,fagotsforfiring,andaheapofapplesinsand。Ihadtopassthroughthatpart,togetattheother。Mymemoryiscircumstantialandunshaken。
Itryitwiththesedetails,andIseethemall,inthismycellintheBastille,nearthecloseofthetenthyearofmycaptivity,asIsawthemallthatnight。
`Onsomehayontheground,withacushionthrownunderhishead,layahandsomepeasant-boy-aboyofnotmorethanseventeenatthemost。
Helayonhisback,withhisteethset,hisrighthandclenchedonhisbreast,andhisglaringeyeslookingstraightupward。Icouldnotseewherehiswoundwas,asIkneeledononekneeoverhim;but,Icouldseethathewasdyingofawoundfromasharppoint。
`\"Iamadoctor,mypoorfellow,\"saidI。\"Letmeexamineit。\"
`\"Idonotwantitexamined,\"heanswered;\"letitbe。\"
`Itwasunderhishand,andIsoothedhimtoletmemovehishandaway。Thewoundwasasword-thrust,receivedfromtwentytotwenty-fourhoursbefore,butnoskillcouldhavesavedhimifithadbeenlookedtowithoutdelay。Hewasthendyingfast。AsIturnedmyeyestotheelderbrother,Isawhimlookingdownatthishandsomeboywhoselifewasebbingout,asifhewereawoundedbird,orhare,orrabbit;notatallasifhewereafellow-creature。
`\"Howhasthisbeendone,monsieur?\"saidI。
`\"Acrazedyoungcommondog!Aserf!Forcedmybrothertodrawuponhim,andhasfallenbymybrother\'sSword——likeagentleman。\"
`Therewasnotouchofpity,sorrow,orkindredhumanity,inthisanswer。Thespeakerseemedtoacknowledgethatitwasinconvenienttohavethatdifferentorderofcreaturedyingthere,andthatitwould\'havebeenbetterifhehaddiedintheusualobscureroutineofhisverminkind。
Hewasquiteincapableofanycompassionatefeelingabouttheboy,orabouthisfate。
`Theboy\'seyeshadslowlymovedtohimashehadspoken,andtheynowslowlymovedtome。
`\"Doctor,theyareveryproud,theseNobles;butwecommondogsareproudtoo,sometimes。Theyplunderus,outrageus,beatus,killus;
butwehavealittleprideleft,sometimes。She——haveyouseenher,Doctor?\"
`Theshrieksandthecrieswereaudiblethere,thoughsubduedbythedistance。Hereferredtothem,asifshewerelyinginourpresence。
`Isaid,\"Ihaveseenher。\"
`\"Sheismysister,Doctor。Theyhavehadtheirshamefulrights,theseNobles,inthemodestyandvirtueofoursisters,manyyears,butMhavehadgoodgirlsamongus。Iknowit,andhaveheardmyfathersayso。Shewasagoodgirl。Shewasbetrothedtoagoodyoungman,too:atenantofhis。Wearealltenantsofhis——thatman\'swhostandsthere。
Theotherishisbrother,theworstofabadrace。\"
`Itwaswiththegreatestdifficultythattheboygatheredbodilyforcetospeak;but,hisspiritspokewithadreadfulemphasis。
`Weweresorobbedbythatmanwhostandsthere,asallwecommondogsarebythosesuperiorBeings——taxedbyhimwithoutmercy,obligedtoworkforhimwithoutpay,obligedtogrindourcornathismill,obligedtofeedscoresofhistamebirdsonourwretchedcrops,andforbiddenforourlivestokeepasingletamebirdofourown,pillagedandplunderedtothatdegreethatwhenwechancedtohaveabitofmeat,weateitinfear,withthedoorbarredandtheshuttersclosed,thathispeopleshouldnotseeitandtakeitfromus——Isay,weweresorobbed,andhunted,andweremadesopoor,thatourfathertoldusitwasadreadfulthingtobringachildintotheworld,andthatwhatweshouldmostprayfor,was,thatourwomenmightbebarrenandourmiserableracedieout!\"
`Ihadneverbeforeseenthesenseofbeingoppressed,burstingforthlikeafire。Ihadsupposedthatitmustbelatentinthepeoplesomewhere;but,Ihadneverseenitbreakout,untilIsawitinthedyingboy。
`\"Nevertheless,Doctor,mysistermarried。Hewasailingatthattime,poorfellow,andshemarriedherlover,thatshemighttendandcomforthiminourcottage——ourdog-hut,asthatmanwouldcallit。Shehadnotbeenmarriedmanyweeks,whenthatman\'sbrothersawherandadmiredher,andaskedthatmantolendhertohim——forwhatarehusbandsamongus!
Hewaswillingenough,butmysisterwasgoodandvirtuous,andhatedhisbrotherwithahatredasstrongasmine。Whatdidthetwothen,topersuadeherhusbandtousehisinfluencewithher,tomakeherwilling?\"
`Theboy\'seyes,whichhadbeenfixedonmine,slowlyturnedtothelooker-on,andIsawintheMofacesthatallhesaidwastrue。Thetwoopposingkindsofprideconfrontingoneanother,Icansee,eveninthisBastille;thegentleman\'sallnegligentindifference;thepeasant\'s,alltrodden-downsentiment,andpassionaterevenge。
`\"Youknow,Doctor,thatitisamongtheRightsoftheseNoblestoharnessuscommondogstocarts,anddriveus。Theysoharnessedhimanddrovehim。YouknowthatitisamongtheirRightstokeepusintheirgroundsallnight,quietingthefrogs,inorderthattheirnoblesleepmaynotbedisturbed。Theykepthimoutintheunwholesomemistsatnight,andorderedhimbackintohisharnessintheday。Buthewasnotpersuaded。
No!Takenoutofharnessonedayatnoon,tofeed——ifhecouldfindfood——hesobbedtwelvetimes,onceforeverystrokeofthebell,anddiedonherbosom。\"
`Nothinghumancouldhaveheldlifeintheboybuthisdeterminationtotellallhiswrong。Heforcedbackthegatheringshadowsofdeath,asheforcedhisclenchedrighthandtoremainclenched,andtocoverhiswound。
`\"Then,withthatman\'spermissionandevenwithhisaid,hisbrothertookheraway;inspiteofwhatIknowshemusthavetoldhisbrother——andwhatthatis,willnotbelongunknowntoyou,Doctor,ifitisnow——hisbrothertookheraway——forhispleasureanddiversion,foralittlewhile。
Isawherpassmeontheroad。WhenItookthetidingshome,ourfather\'sheartburst;heneverspokeoneofthewordsthatfilledit。Itookmyyoungsister(forIhaveanother)toaplacebeyondthereachofthisman,andwhere,atleast,shewillneverbehisvassal。Then,Itrackedthebrotherhere,andlastnightclimbedin-acommondog,butswordinhand——Whereistheloftwindow?Itwassomewherehere?\"
`Theroomwasdarkeningtohissight;theworldwasnarrowingaroundhim。Iglancedaboutme,andsawthatthehayandstrawweretrampledoverthefloor,asiftherehadbeenastruggle。
`\"Sheheardme,andranin。Itoldhernottocomenearustillhewasdead。Hecameinandfirsttossedmesomepiecesofmoney;thenstruckatmewithawhip。ButI,thoughacommondog,sostruckathimastomakehimdraw。Lethimbreakintoasmanypiecesashewill,theswordthathestainedwithmycommonblood;hedrewtodefendhimself——thrustatmewithallhisskillforhislife。\"
`Myglancehadfallen,butafewmomentsbefore,onthefragmentsofabrokensword,lyingamongthehay。Thatweaponwasagentleman\'s。
Inanotherplace,layanoldswordthatseemedtohavebeenasoldier\'s。
`\"Now,liftmeup,Doctor;liftmeup。Whereishe?\"
`\"Heisnothere,\"Isaid,supportingtheboy,andthinkingthathereferredtothebrother。
`\"He!Proudasthesenoblesare,heisafraidtoseeme。Whereisthemanwhowashere?Turnmyfacetohim。\"
`Ididso,raisingtheboy\'sheadagainstmyknee。But,investedforthemomentwithextraordinarypower,heraisedhimselfcompletely:
obligingmetorisetoo,orIcouldnothavestillsupportedhim。
`\"Marquis,\"saidtheboy,turnedtohimwithhiseyesopenedwide,andhisrighthandraised,\"inthedayswhenallthesethingsaretobeansweredfor,Isummonyouandyours,tothelastofyourbadrace,toanswerforthem。Imarkthiscrossofblooduponyou,asasignthatI
doit。Inthedayswhenallthesethingsaretobeansweredfor,Isummonyourbrother,theworstofthebadrace,toanswerforthemseparately。
Imarkthiscrossofblooduponhim,asasignthatIdoit。
`Twice,heputhishandtothewoundinhisbreast,andwithforefingerdrewacrossintheair。Hestoodforaninstantwiththefingeryetraised,and,asitwithit,andIlaidhimdowndead。****
`WhenIreturnedtothebedsideoftheyoungwoman,Ifoundherravinginpreciselythesameorderandcontinuity。Iknewthatthismightlastformanyhours,andthatitwouldprobablyendinthesilenceofthegrave。
`IrepeatedthemedicinesIhadgivenher,andIsatatthesideofthebeduntilthenightwasfaradvanced。Sheneverabatedthepiercingqualityofhershrieks,neverstumbledinthedistinctnessortheorderofherwords。Theywerealways\"Myhusband,myfather,andmybrother!
One,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten,eleven,twelve。
Hush!\"
`Thislastedtwenty-sixhoursfromthetimewhenIfirstsawher。
Ihadcomeandgonetwice,andwasagainsittingbyher,whenshebegantofalter。Ididwhatlittlecouldbedonetoassistthatopportunity,andby-and-byshesankintoalethargy,andlaylikethedead。
`Itwasasifthewindandrainhadlulledatlast,afteralongandfearfulstorm。Ireleasedherarms,andcalledthewomantoassistmetocomposeherfigureandthedressshehadtorn。ItwasthenthatI
knewherconditiontobethatofoneinwhomthefirstexpectationsofbeingamotherhavearisen;anditwasthenthatIlostthelittlehopeIhadhadofher。
`\"Isshedead?\"askedtheMarquis,whomIwillstilldescribeastheelderbrother,comingbootedintotheroomfromhishorse。
`\"Notdead,\"saidI;\"butliketodie。\"
`\"whatstrengththereisinthesecommonbodies!\"hesaid,lookingdownatherwithsomecuriosity。
`\"Thereisprodigiousstrength,\"Iansweredhim,\"insorrowanddespair。\"
`Hefirstlaughedatmywords,andthenfrownedatthem。Hemovedachairwithhisfootneartomine,orderedthewomanaway,andsaidinasubduedvoice,`\"Doctor,findingmybrotherinthisdifficultywiththesehinds,Irecommendedthatyouraidshouldbeinvited。Yourreputationishigh,and,asayoungmanwithyourfortunetomake,youareprobablymindfulofyourinterest。Thethingsthatyouseehere,arethingstobeseen,andnotspokenof。\"
`Ilistenedtothepatient\'sbreathing,andavoidedanswering。
`\"Doyouhonourmewithyourattention,Doctor?
`\"Monsieur,\"saidI,\"inmyprofession,thecommunicationsofpatientsarealwaysreceivedinconfidence。\"Iwasguardedinmyanswer,forIwastroubledinmymindwithwhatIhadheardandseen。
`Herbreathingwassodifficulttotrace,thatIcarefullytriedthepulseandtheheart。Therewaslife,andnomore。LookingroundasIresumedmyseat,Ifoundthebrothersintentuponme。****
`Iwritewithsomuchdifficulty,thecoldissosevere,Iamsofearfulofbeingdetectedandconsignedtoanundergroundcellandtotaldarkness,thatImustabridgethisnarrative。Thereisnoconfusionorfailureinmymemory;itcanrecall,andcoulddetail,everywordthatwaseverspokenbetweenmeandthosebrothers。
`Shelingeredforaweek。Towardsthelast,Icouldunderstandsomefewsyllablesthatshesaidtome,byplacingmyearclosetoherlips。Sheaskedmewhereshewas,andItoldher;whoIwas,andItoldher。ItwasinvainthatIaskedherforherfamilyname。Shefaintlyshookherheaduponthepillow,andkepthersecret,astheboyhaddone。
`Ihadnoopportunityofaskingheranyquestion,untilIhadtoldthebrothersshewassinkingfast,andcouldnotliveanotherday。
Untilthen,thoughnoonewaseverpresentedtoherconsciousnesssavethewomanandmyself,oneorotherofthemhadalwaysjealouslysatbehindthecurtainattheheadofthebedwhenIwasthere。Butwhenitcametothat,theyseemedcarelesswhatcommunicationImightholdwithher;asif——thethoughtpassedthroughmymind——Iweredyingtoo。
`Ialwaysobservedthattheirpridebitterlyresentedtheyoungerbrother\'s(asIcallhim)havingcrossedswordswithapeasant,andthatpeasantaboy。Theonlyconsiderationthatappearedtoaffectthemindofeitherofthemwastheconsiderationthatthiswashighlydegradingtothefamily,andwasridiculous。AsoftenasIcaughttheyoungerbrother\'seyes,theirexpressionremindedmethathedislikedmedeeply,furknowingwhatIknewfromtheboy。Hewassmootherandmorepolitetomethantheelder;butIsawthis。IalsosawthatIwasanincumbranceinthemindoftheelder,too。
`Mypatientdied,twohoursbeforemidnight——atatime,bymywatch,answeringalmosttotheminutewhenIhadfirstseenher。Iwasalonewithher,whenherforlornyoungheadtroopedgentlyononeside,andallherearthlywrongsandsorrowsended。
`Thebrotherswerewaitinginaroomdown-stairs,impatienttorideaway。Ihadheardthem,aloneatthebedside,strikingtheirbootswiththeirriding-whips,andloiteringupanddown。
`\"Atlastsheisdead?\"saidtheelder,whenIwentin。
`\"Sheisdead,\"saidI。
`\"Icongratulateyou,mybrother,\"werehiswordsasheturnedround。
`Hehadbeforeofferedmemoney,whichIhadpostponedtaking。
Henowgavemearouleauofgold。Itookitfromhishand,butlaiditonthetable。Ihadconsideredthequestion,andhadresolvedtoacceptnothing。
`\"Prayexcuseme,\"saidI。\"Underthecircumstances,no。\"`Theyexchangedlooks,butbenttheirheadstomeasIbentminetothem,andwepartedwithoutanotherwordoneitherside。****
`Iamweary,weary,weary——worndownbymisery。IcannotreadwhatIhavewrittenwiththisgaunthand。
`Earlyinthemorning,therouleauofgoldwasleftatm\'doorinalittlebox,withmynameontheoutside。Fromthefirst,IhadanxiouslyconsideredwhatIoughttodo。Idecided,thatday,towriteprivatelytotheMinister,statingthenatureofthetwoeasestowhichIhadbeensummoned,andtheplacetowhichIhadgone:ineffect,statingallthecircumstances。IknewwhatCourtinfluencewas,andwhattheimmunitiesoftheNobleswere,andIexpectedthatthematterwouldneverbeheardof;but,Iwishedtorelievemyownmind。Ihadkeptthematteraprofoundsecret,evenfrommywife;andthis,too,Iresolvedtostateinmyletter。
Ihadnoapprehensionwhateverofmyrealdanger;butIwasconsciousthattheremightbedangerforothers,ifotherswerecompromisedbypossessingtheknowledgethatIpossessed。
`Iwasmuchengagedthatday,andcouldnotcompletemyletterthatnight。Iroselongbeforemyusualtimenextmorningtofinishit。
Itwasthelastdayoftheyear。Theletterwaslyingbeforemejustcompleted,whenIwastoldthataladywaited,whowishedtoseeme。****
`IamgrowingmoreandmoreunequaltothetaskIhavesetmyself。
Itissocold,sodark,mysensesaresobenumbed,andthegloomuponmeissodreadful。
`Theladywasyoung,engaging,andhandsome,butnotmarkedforlonglife。Shewasingreatagitation。ShepresentedherselftomeasthewifeoftheMarquisSt。Evré;monde。Iconnectedthetitlebywhichtheboyhadaddressedtheelderbrother,withtheinitialletterembroideredonthescarf,andhadnodifficultyinarrivingattheconclusionthatIhadseenthatnoblemanverylately。
`Mymemoryisstillaccurate,butIcannotwritethewordsofOurconversation。IsuspectthatIamwatchedmorecloselythanIwas,andIknownotatwhattimesImaybewatched。Shehadinpartsuspected,andinpartdiscovered,themainfactsofthecruelstory,ofherhusband\'sshareinit,andmybeingresortedto。Shedidnotknowthatthegirlwasdead。Herhopehadbeen,shesaidingreatdistress,toshowher,insecret,awoman\'ssympathy。HerhopehadbeentoavertthewrathofHeavenfromaHousethathadlongbeenhatefultothesufferingmany。
`Shehadreasonsforbelievingthattherewasayoungsisterliving,andhergreatestdesirewas,tohelpthatsister。Icouldtellhernothingbutthattherewassuchasister;beyondthat,Iknewnothing。Herinducementtocometome,relyingonmyconfidence,hadbeenthehopethatIcouldtellherthenameandplaceofabode。Whereas,tothiswretchedhourI
amignorantofboth。****
`Thesescrapsofpaperfailme。Onewastakenfromme,withawarning,yesterday。Imustfinishmyrecordto-day。
`Shewasagood,compassionatelady,andnothappyinhermarriage。
Howcouldshebe!Thebrotherdistrustedanddislikedher,andhisinfluencewasallopposedtoher;shestoodindreadofhim,andindeadofherhusbandtoo。WhenIhandedherdowntothedoor,therewasachild,aprettyboyfromtwotothreeyearsold,inhercarriage。
`\"Forhissake,Doctor,\"shesaid,pointingtohimintears,\"I
woulddoallIcantomakewhatpooramendsIcan。Hewillneverprosperinhisinheritanceotherwise。Ihaveapresentimentthatifnootherinnocentatonementismadeforthis,itwillonedayberequiredofhim。WhatI
havelefttocallmyown——itislittlebeyondtheworthofafewjewels——I
willmakeitthefirstchargeofhislifetobestow,withthecompassionandlamentingofhisdeadmother,onthisinjuredfamily,ifthesistercanbediscovered。\"
`Shekissedtheboy,andsaid,caressinghim,\"Itisforthineowndearsake。Thouwiltbefaithful,littleCharles?\"Thechildansweredherbravely,\"Yes!\"Ikissedherhand,andshetookhiminherarms,andwentawaycaressinghim。Ineversawhermore。
`Asshehadmentionedherhusband\'snameinthefaiththatIknewit,Iaddednomentionofittomyletter。Isealedmyletter,and,nottrustingitoutofmyownhands,delivereditmyselfthatday。
`Thatnight,thelastnightoftheyear,towardsnineo\'clock,amaninablackdressrangatmygate,demandedtoseeme,andsoftlyfollowedmyservant,ErnestDefarge,ayouth,upstairs。WhenmyservantcameintotheroomwhereIsatwithmywife——Omywife,belovedofmyheart!
MyfairyoungEnglishwife!——wesawtheman,whowassupposedtobeatthegate,standingsilentbehindhim。
`AnurgentcaseintheRueSt。Honoré;\',hesaid。Itwouldnotdetainme,hehadacoachinwaiting。
`Itbroughtmehere,itbroughtmetomygrave。WhenIwasclearofthehouse,ablackmufflerwasdrawntightlyovermymouthfrombehind,andmyarmswerepinioned。Thetwobrotherscrossedtheroadfromadarkcorner,andidentifiedmewithasinglegesture。TheMarquistookfromhispockettheletterIhadwritten,showeditme,burntitinthelightofalanternthatwasheld,andextinguishedtheasheswithhisfoot。Notawordwasspoken。Iwasbroughthere,Iwasbroughttomylivinggrave。
`IfithadpleasedGODtoputitinthehardheartofeitherofthebrothers,inallthesefrightfulyears,tograntmeanytidingsofmydearestwife——somuchastoletmeknowbyawordwhetheraliveordead——I
mighthavethoughtthatHehadnotquiteabandonedthem。But,nowIbelievethatthemarkoftheredcrossisfataltothem,andthattheyhavenopartinHismercies。Andthemandtheirdescendants,tothelastoftheirrace,I,AlexandreManette,unhappyprisoner,dothislastnightoftheyear1767,inmyunbearableagony,denouncetothetimeswhenallthesethingsshallbeansweredfor。IdenouncethemtoHeavenandtoearth。\'
Aterriblesoundarosewhenthereadingofthisdocumentwasdone。
Asoundofcravingandeagernessthathadnothingarticulateinitbutblood。Thenarrativecalledupthemostrevengefulpassionsofthetime,andtherewasnotaheadinthenationbutmusthavedroppedbeforeit。
Littleneed,inpresenceofthattribunalandthatauditory,toshowhowtheDefargeshadnotmadethepaperpublic,withtheothercapturedBastillememorialsborneinprocession,andhadkeptit,bidingtheirtime。
LittleneedtoshowthatthisdetestedfamilynamehadlongbeenanathematisedbySaintAntoine,andwaswroughtintothefatalregister。ThemannevertrodgroundwhosevirtuesandServiceswouldhavesustainedhiminthatplacethatday,againstsuchdenunciation。
Andalltheworseforthedoomedman,thatthedenouncerwasawell-knowncitizen,hisownattachedfriend,thefatherofhiswife。Oneofthefrenziedaspirationsofthepopulacewas,forimitationsofthequestionablepublicvirtuesofantiquity,andforsacrificesandself-immolationsonthepeople\'saltar。ThereforewhenthePresidentsaid(elsehadhisownheadquiveredonhisshoulders),thatthegoodphysicianoftheRepublicwoulddeservebetterstilloftheRepublicbyrootingoutanobnoxiousfamilyofAristocrats,andwoulddoubtlessfeelasacredglowandjoyinmakinghisdaughterawidowandherchildanorphan,therewaswildexcitement,patrioticfervour,notatouchofhumansympathy。
`Muchinfluencearoundhim,hasthatDoctor?\'murmuredMadameDefarge,smilingtoTheVengeance。`Savehimnow,myDoctor,savehim!\'
Ateveryjuryman\'svote,therewasaroar。Anotherandanother。
Roarandroar。
Unanimouslyvoted。AtheartandbydescentanAristocrat,anenemyoftheRepublic,anotoriousoppressorofthePeople。BacktotheConciergerie,andDeathwithinfour-and-twentyhours!
[NextChapter][TableofContents]ATaleofTwoCities:BooktheThird[PreviousChapter][TableofContents]CHAPTERXIDuskTHEwretchedwifeoftheinnocentmanthusdoomedtodie,underthesentence,asifshehadbeenmortallystricken。But,sheutterednosound;andsostrongwasthevoicewithinher,representingthatitwassheofalltheworldwhomustupholdhiminhismiseryandnotaugmentit,thatitquicklyraisedher,evenfromthatshock。
Thejudgeshavingtotakepartinapublicdemonstrationoutofdoors,thetribunaladjourned。Thequicknoiseandmovementofthecourt\'semptyingitselfbymanypassageshadnotceased,whenLuciestoodstretchingoutherarmstowardsherhusband,withnothinginherfacebutloveandconsolation。
`IfImighttouchhim!IfImightembracehimonce!O,goodcitizens,ifyouwouldhavesomuchcompassionforus!\'
Therewasbutagaolerleft,alongwithtwoofthefourmenwhohadtakenhimlastnight,andBarsad。Thepeoplehadallpouredouttotheshowinthestreets。Barsadproposedtotherest,`Letherembracehimthen;itisbutamoment。\'Itwassilentlyacquiescedin,andtheypassedherovertheseatsinthehalltoaraisedplace,wherehe,byleaningoverthedock,couldfoldherinhisarms。
`Farewell,deardarlingofmysoul。Mypartingblessingonmylove。Weshallmeetagain,wherethewearyareatrest!\'
Theywereherhusband\'swords,asheheldhertohisbosom。
`Icanbearit,dearCharles。Iamsupportedfromabove:don\'tsufferforme。Apartingblessingforourchild。\'
`Isendittoherbyyou。Ikissherbyyou。Isayfarewelltoherbyyou。\'
`Myhusband。No!Amoment!\'Hewastearinghimselfapartfromher。`Weshallnotbeseparatedlong。Ifeelthatthiswillbreakmyheartby-and-by;butIwilldomydutywhileIcan,andwhenIleaveher,Godwillraiseupfriendsforher,asHedidforme。\'
Herfatherhadfollowedher,andwouldhavefallenonhiskneestobothofthem,butthatDarnayputoutahandandseizedhim,crying: