双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第22部分

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r　they　should　foam；　rage；　roar；　and　turn　cataleptic　on　the　spot……thereby　setting　up　a　highly　intelligible　finger…post　to　the　Future；　for　Monseigneur's　guidance。　Besides　these　Dervishes；　were　other　three　who　had　rushed　into　another　sect；　which　mended　matters　with　a　jargon　about　‘the　Centre　of　Truth'　holding　that　Man　had　got　out　of　the　Centre　of　Truth……which　did　not　need　much　demonstration　but　had　not　got　out　of　the　Circumference；　and　that　he　was　to　be　kept　from　flying　out　of　the　Circumference；　and　was　even　to　be　shoved　back　into　the　Centre；　by　fasting　and　seeing　of　spirits。　Among　these；　accordingly；　much　discoursing　with　spirits　went　on……and　it　did　a　world　of　good　which　never　became　manifest。
But；　the　fort　was；　that　all　the　pany　at　the　grand　hotel　of　Monseigneur　were　perfectly　dressed。　If　the　Day　of　Judgment　had　only　been　ascertained　to　be　a　dress　day；　everybody　there　would　have　been　eternally　correct。　Such　frizzling　and　powdering　and　sticking　up　of　hair；　such　delicate　plexions　artificially　preserved　and　mended；　such　gallant　swords　to　look　at；　and　such　delicate　honour　to　the　sense　of　smell；　would　surely　keep　anything　going；　for　ever　and　ever。　The　exquisite　gentlemen　of　the　finest　breeding　wore　little　pendent　trinkets　that　chinked　as　they　languidly　moved；　these　golden　fetters　rang　like　precious　little　bells；　and　what　with　that　ringing；　and　with　the　rustle　of　silk　and　brocade　and　fine　linen；　there　was　a　flutter　in　the　air　that　fanned　Saint　Antoine　and　his　devouring　hunger　far　away。
Dress　was　the　one　unfailing　talisman　and　charm　used　for　keeping　all　things　in　their　places。　Everybody　was　dressed　for　a　Fancy　Ball　that　was　never　to　leave　off。　From　the　Palace　of　the　Tuileries；　through　Monseigneur　and　the　whole　Court；　through　the　Chambers；　the　Tribunals　of　Justice；　and　all　society　（except　the　scarecrows）；　the　Fancy　Ball　descended　to　the　mon　Executioner：　who；　in　pursuance　of　the　charm；　was　required　to　officiate　‘frizzled；　powdered；　in　a　gold…laced　coat；　pumps；　and　white　silk　stockings。'　At　the　gallows　and　the　wheel……the　axe　was　a　rarity……Monsieur　Paris；　as　it　was　the　episcopal　mode　among　his　brother　Professors　of　the　provinces；　Monsieur　Orleans；　and　the　rest；　to　call　him；　presided　in　this　dainty　dress。　And　who　among　the　pany　at　Monseigneur's　reception　in　that　seventeen　hundred　and　eightieth　year　of　our　Lord；　could　possibly　doubt；　that　a　system　rooted　in　a　frizzled　hangman；　powdered；　gold…laced；　pumped；　and　white…silk　stockinged；　would　see　the　very　stars　out！
Monseigneur　having　eased　his　four　men　of　their　burdens　and　taken　his　chocolate；　caused　the　doors　of　the　Holiest　of　Holiests　to　be　thrown　open；　and　issued　forth。　Then；　what　submission；　what　cringing　and　fawning；　what　servility；　what　abject　humiliation！　As　to　bowing　down　in　body　and　spirit；　nothing　in　that　way　was　left　for　Heaven……which　may　have　been　one　among　other　reasons　why　the　worshippers　of　Monseigneur　never　troubled　it。
Bestowing　a　word　of　promise　here　and　a　smile　there；　a　whisper　on　one　happy　slave　and　a　wave　of　the　hand　on　another；　Monseigneur　affably　passed　through　his　rooms　to　the　remote　region　of　the　Circumference　of　Truth。　There；　Monseigneur　turned；　and　came　back　again；　and　so　in　due　course　of　time　got　himself　shut　up　in　his　sanctuary　by　the　chocolate　sprites；　and　was　seen　no　more。
The　show　being　over；　the　flutter　in　the　air　became　quite　a　little　storm；　and　the　precious　little　bells　went　ringing　down…stairs。　There　was　soon　but　one　person　left　of　all　the　crowd；　and　he；　with　his　hat　under　his　arm　and　his　snuff…box　in　his　hand；　slowly　passed　among　the　mirrors　on　his　way　out。
‘I　devote　you；'　said　this　person；　stopping　at　the　last　door　on　his　way；　and　turning　in　the　direction　of　the　sanctuary；　‘to　the　Devil！'
With　that；　he　shook　the　snuff　from　his　fingers　as　if　he　had　shaken　the　dust　from　his　feet；　and　quietly　walked　down　stairs。
He　was　a　man　of　about　sixty；　handsomely　dressed；　haughty　in　manner；　and　with　a　face　like　a　fine　mask。　A　face　of　a　transparent　paleness；　every　feature　in　it　clearly　defined；　one　set　expression　on　it。　The　nose：　beautifully　formed　otherwise；　was　very　slightly　pinched　at　the　top　of　each　nostril。　In　those　two　pressions；　or　dints；　the　only　little　change　that　the　face　ever　showed；　resided。　They　persisted　in　changing　colour　e…times；　and　they　would　be　occasionally　dilated　and　contracted　by　something　like　a　faint　pulsation；　then；　they　gave　a　look　of　treachery；　and　cruelty；　to　the　whole　countenance。　Examined　with　attention；　its　capacity　of　helping　such　a　look　was　to　be　found　in　the　line　of　the　mouth；　and　the　lines　of　the　orbits　of　the　eyes；　being　much　too　horizontal　and　thin；　still；　in　the　effect　the　face　made；　it　was　a　handsome　face；　and　a　remarkable　one。
Its　owner　went　down　stairs　into　the　court…yard；　got　into　his　carriage；　and　drove　away。　Not　many　people　had　talked　with　him　at　the　reception；　he　had　stood　in　a　little　space　apart；　and　Monseigneur　might　have　been　warmer　in　his　manner。　It　appeared；　under　the　circumstances；　rather　agreeable　to　him　to　see　the　mon　people　dispersed　before　his　horses；　and　often　barely　escaping　from　being　run　down。　His　man　drove　as　if　he　were　charging　an　enemy；　and　the　furious　recklessness　of　the　man　brought　no　check　into　the　face；　or　to　the　lips；　of　the　master。　The　plaint　had　sometimes　made　itself　audible；　even　in　that　deaf　city　and　dumb　age；　that；　in　the　narrow　streets　without　footways；　the　fierce　patrician　custom　of　hard　driving　endangered　and　maimed　the　mere　vulgar　in　a　barbarous　manner。　But；　few　cared　enough　for　that　to　think　of　it　a　second　time；　and；　in　this　matter；　as　in　all　others；　the　mon　wretches　were　left　to　get　out　of　their　difficulties　as　they　could。
With　a　wild　rattle　and　clatter；　and　an　inhuman　abandonment　of　consideration　not　easy　to　be　understood　in　these　days；　the　carriage　dashed　through　streets　and　swept　round　corners；　with　women　screaming　before　it；　and　men　clutching　each　other　and　clutching　children　out　of　its　way。　At　last；　swooping　at　a　street　corner　by　a　fountain；　one　of　its　wheels　came　to　a　sickening　little　jolt；　and　there　was　a　loud　cry　from　a　number　of　voices；　and　the　horses　reared　and　plunged。
But　for　the　latter　inconvenience；　the　carriage　probably　would　not　have　stopped；　carriages　were　often　known　to　drive　on；　and　leave　their　wounded　behind；　and　why　not？　But　the　frightened　valet　had　got　down　in　a　hurry；　and　there　were　twenty　hands　at　the　horses'　bridles。
‘What　has　gone　wrong？'　said　Monsieur；　calmly　looking　out。
A　tall　man　in　a　nightcap　had　caught　up　a　bundle　from　among　the　feet　of　the　horses；　and　had　laid　it　on　the　basement　of　the　fountain；　and　was　down　in　the　mud　and　wet；　howling　over　it　like　a　wild　animal。
‘Pardon；　Monsieur　the　Marquis！'　said　a　ragged　and　submissive　man；　‘it　is　a　child。'
‘Why　does　he　make　that　abominable　noise？　Is　it　his　child？'
‘Excuse　me；　Monsieur　the　Marquis……it　is　a　pity……yes。'
The　fountain　was　a　little　removed；　for　the　street　opened；　where　it　was；　into　a　space　some　ten　or　twelve　yards　square。　As　the　tall　man　suddenly　got　up　from　the　ground；　and　came　running　at　the　carriage；　Monsieur　the　Marquis　clapped　his　hand　for　an　instant　on　his　sword…hilt。'
‘Killed！'　shrieked　the　man；　in　wild　desperation；　extending　both　arms　at　their　length　above　his　head；　and　staring　at　him。　‘Dead！'
The　people　closed　round；　and　looked　at　Monsieur　the　Marquis。　There　was　nothing　revealed　by　the　many　eyes　that　looked　at　him　but　watchfulness　and　eagerness；　there　was　no　visible　menacing　or　anger。　Neither　did　the　people　say　anything；　after　the　first　cry；　they　had　been　silent；　and　they　remained　so。　The　voice　of　the　submissive　man　who　had　spoken；　was　flat　and　tame　in　its　extreme　submission。　Monsieur　the　Marquis　ran　his　eyes　over　them　all；　as　if　they　had　been　mere　rats　e　out　of　their　holes。
He　took　out　his　purse。
‘It　is　extraordinary　to　me；'　said　he；　‘that　you　people　cannot　take　care　of　yourselves　and　your　children。　One　or　the　other　of　you　is　for　ever　in　the　way。　How　do　I　know　what　injury　you　have　done　my　horses？　See！　Give　him　that。'
He　threw　out　a　gold　coin　for　the　valet　to　pick　up；　and　all　the　heads　craned　forward　that　all　the　eyes　might　look　down　at　it　as　it　fell。　The　tall　man　called　out　again　with　a　most　unearthly　cry；　‘Dead！'
He　was　arrested　by　the　quick　arrival　of　another　man；　for　whom　the　rest　made　way。　On　seeing　him；　the　miserable　creature　fell　upon　his　shoulder；　sobbing　and　crying；　and　pointing　to　the　fountain；　where　some　women　were　stooping　over　the　motionless　bundle；　and　moving　gently　about　it。　They　were　as　silent；　however；　as　the　men。
‘I　know　all；　I　know　all；'　said　the　last　er。　‘Be　a　brave　man；　my　Gaspard！　It　is　better　for　the　poor　little　plaything　to　die　so；　than　to　live。　It　has　died　in　a　moment　without　pain。　Could　it　have　lived　an　hour　as　happily？'
‘You　are　a　philosopher；　you　there；'　said　the　Marquis；　smiling。　‘How　do　they　call　you？'
‘They　call　me　Defarge。'
‘Of　what　trade？'
‘Monsieur　the　Marquis；　vendor　of　wine。'
‘Pick　up　that；　philosopher　and　vendor　of　wine；'　said　the　Marquis；　throwing　him　another　gold　coin；　‘and　spend　it　as　you　will。　The　horses　there；　are　they　right？
Without　deigning　to　look　at　the　assemblage　a　second　time；　Monsieur　the　Marquis　leaned　back　in　his　seat；　and　was　just　being　driven　away　with　the　air　of　a　gentleman　who　had　accidentally　broken　some　mon　thing；　and　had　paid　for　it；　and　could　afford　to　pay　for　it；　when　his　ease　was　suddenly　disturbed　by　a　coin　flying　into　his　carriage；　and　ringing　on　its　floor。
‘Hold！'　said　Monsieur　the　Marquis。　‘Hold　the　horses！　Who　threw　that？'
He　looked　to　the　spot　where　Defarge　the　vendor　of　wine　had　stood；　a　moment　before；　but　the　wretched　father　was　grovelling　on　his　face　on　the　pavement　in　that　spot；　and　the　figure　that　stood　beside　him　was　the　figure　of　a　dark　stout　woman；　knitting。
‘You　dogs！'　said　the　Marquis；　but　smoothly；　and　with　an　unchanged　front；　except　as　to　the　spots　on　his　nose：　‘I　would　ride　over　any　of　you　very　willingly；　and　exterminate　you　from　the　earth。　If　I　knew　which　rascal　threw　at　the　carriage；　and　if　that　brigand　were　sufficiently　near　it；　he　should　be　crushed　under　the　wheels。'
So　cowed　was　their　condition；　and　so　long　and　hard　their　experience　of　what　such　a　man　could　do　to　them；　within　the　law　and　beyond　it；　that　not　a　voice；　or　a　hand；　or　even　an　eye　was　raised。　Among　the　men；　not　one。　But　the　woman　who　stood　kni