双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第24部分

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　touch。
‘Monseigneur；　hear　me！　Monseigneur；　hear　my　petition！　My　husband　died　of　want；　so　many　die　of　want；　so　many　more　will　die　of　want。'
‘Again；　well？　Can　I　feed　them？'
‘Monseigneur；　the　good　God　knows；　but　I　don't　ask　it。　My　petition　is；　that　a　morsel　of　stone　or　wood；　with　my　husband's　name；　may　be　placed　over　him　to　show　where　he　lies。　Otherwise；　the　place　will　be　quickly　forgotten；　it　will　never　be　found　when　I　am　dead　of　the　same　malady；　I　shall　be　laid　under　some　other　heap　of　poor　grass。　Monseigneur；　they　are　so　many；　they　increase　so　fast；　there　is　so　much　want。　Monseigneur！　Monseigneur！'
The　valet　had　put　her　away　from　the　door；　the　carriage　had　broken　into　a　brisk　trot；　the　postilions　had　quickened　the　pace；　she　was　left　far　behind；　and　Monseigneur；　again　escorted　by　the　Furies；　was　rapidly　diminishing　the　league　or　two　of　distance　that　remained　between　him　and　his　chateau。
The　sweet　scents　of　the　summer　night　rose　all　around　him；　and　rose；　as　the　rain　falls；　impartially；　on　the　dusty；　ragged；　and　toil…worn　group　at　the　fountain　not　far　away；　to　whom　the　mender　of　roads；　with　the　aid　of　the　blue　cap　without　which　he　was　nothing；　still　enlarged　upon　his　man　like　a　spectre；　as　long　as　they　could　bear　it。　By　degrees；　as　they　could　bear　no　more；　they　dropped　off　one　by　one；　and　lights　twinkled　in　little　casements；　which　lights；　as　the　casements　darkened；　and　more　stars　came　out；　seemed　to　have　shot　up　into　the　sky　instead　of　having　been　extinguished。
The　shadow　of　a　large　high…roofed　house；　and　of　many　overhanging　trees；　was　upon　Monsieur　the　Marquis　by　that　time；　and　the　shadow　was　exchanged　for　the　light　of　a　flambeau；　as　his　carriage　stopped；　and　the　great　door　of　his　chateau　was　opened　to　him。
‘Monsieur　Charles；　whom　I　expect：　is　he　arrived　from　England？'
‘Monseigneur；　not　yet。'
CHAPTER　IX
The　Gorgon's　Head
IT　was　a　heavy　mass　of　building；　that　chaateau　of　Monsieur　the　Marquis；　with　a　large　stone　court…yard　before　it；　and　two　stone　sweeps　of　staircase　meeting　in　a　stone　terrace　before　the　principal　door。　A　stony　business　altogether；　with　heavy　stone　balustrades；　and　stone　urns；　and　stone　flowers；　and　stone　faces　of　men；　and　stone　heads　of　lions；　in　all　directions。　As　if　the　Gorgon's　head　had　surveyed　it；　when　it　was　finished；　two　centuries　ago。
Up　the　broad　flight　of　shallow　steps；　Monsieur　the　Marquis；　flambeau　preceded；　went　from　his　carriage；　sufficiently　disturbing　the　darkness　to　elicit　loud　remonstrance　from　an　owl　in　the　roof　of　the　great　pile　of　stable　building　away　among　the　trees。　All　else　was　so　quiet；　that　the　flambeau　carried　up　the　steps；　and　the　other　flambeau　held　at　the　great　door；　burnt　as　if　they　were　in　a　close　room　of　state；　instead　of　being　in　the　open　night…air。　Other　sound　than　the　owl's　voice　there　was　none；　save　the　falling　of　a　fountain　into　its　stone　basin；　for；　it　was　one　of　those　dark　nights　that　hold　their　breath　by　the　hour　together；　and　then　heave　a　long　low　sigh；　and　hold　their　breath　again。
The　great　door　clanged　behind　him；　and　Monsieur　the　Marquis　crossed　a　hall　grim　with　certain　old　boar…spears；　swords；　and　knives　of　the　chase；　grimmer　with　certain　heavy　riding…rods　and　riding…whips；　of　which　many　a　peasant；　gone　to　his　benefactor　Death；　had　felt　the　weight　when　his　lord　was　angry。
Avoiding　the　larger　rooms；　which　were　dark　and　made　fast　for　the　night；　Monsieur　the　Marquis；　with　his　flambeau…bearer　going　on　before；　went　up　the　staircase　to　a　door　in　a　corridor。　This　thrown　open；　admitted　him　to　his　own　private　apartment　of　three　rooms：　his　bed…chamber　and　two　others。　High　vaulted　rooms　with　cool　uncarpeted　floors；　great　dogs　upon　the　hearths　for　the　burning　of　wood　in　winter　time；　and　all　luxuries　befitting　the　state　of　a　marquis　in　a　luxurious　age　and　country。　The　fashion　of　the　last　Louis　but　one；　of　tile　line　that　was　never　to　break……the　fourteenth　Louis……was　conspicuous　in　their　rich　furniture；　but；　it　was　diversified　by　many　objects　that　were　illustrations　of　old　pages　in　the　history　of　France。
A　supper…table　was　laid　for　two；　in　the　third　of　the　rooms；　a　round　room；　in　one　of　the　chaateau's　four　extinguisher…topped　towers。　A　small　lofty　room；　with　its　window　wide　open；　and　the　wooden　jalousie…blinds　closed；　so　that　the　dark　night　only　showed　in　slight　horizontal　lines　of　black；　alternating　with　their　broad　lines　of　stone　colour。
‘My　nephew；'　said　the　Marquis；　glancing　at　the　supper　preparation；　‘they　said　he　was　not　arrived。'
Nor　was　he；　but；　he　had　been　expected　with　Monseigneur。　
‘Ah！　It　is　not　probable　he　will　arrive　to…night；　nevertheless；
leave　the　table　as　it　is。　I　shall　be　ready　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour。'　In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　Monseigneur　was　ready；　and　sat　down　alone　to　his　sumptuous　and　choice　supper。　His　chair　was　opposite　to　the　window；　and　he　had　taken　his　soup；　and　was　raising　his　glass　of　Bordeaux　to　his　lips；　when　he　put　it　down。
‘What　is　that？'　he　calmly　asked；　looking　with　attention　at　the　horizontal　lines　of　black　and　stone　colour'。
‘Monseigneur？　That？'
‘Outside　the　blinds。　Open　the　blinds。'
It　was　done。
‘well？'
‘Monseigneur；　it　is　nothing。　The　trees　and　the　night　are　all　that　are　here。'
The　servant　who　spoke；　had　thrown　the　blinds　wide；　had　looked　out　into　the　vacant　darkness；　and　stood；　with　that　blank　behind　him；　looking　round　for　instructions。
‘Good；'　said　the　imperturbable　master。　‘Close　them　again。'　That　was　done　too；　and　the　Marquis　went　on　with　his　supper。　He　was　halfway　through　it；　when　he　again　stopped　with　his　glass　in　his　hand；　hearing　the　sound　of　wheels。　It　came　on　briskly；　and　came　up　to　the　front　of　the　chaateau。
‘Ask　who　is　arrived。'
It　was　the　nephew　of　Monseigneur。　He　had　been　some　few　leagues　behind　Monseigneur；　early　in　the　afternoon。　He　had　diminished　the　distance　rapidly；　but　not　so　rapidly　as　to　e　up　with　Monseigneur　on　the　road。　He　had　heard　of　Monseigneur；　at　the　posting…houses；　as　being　before　him。
He　was　to　be　told　（said　Monseigneur）　that　supper　awaited　him　then　and　there；　and　that　he　was　prayed　to　e　to　it。　In　a　little　while　he　came。　He　had　been　known　in　England　as　Charles　Darnay。
Monseigneur　received　him　in　a　courtly　manner；　but　they　did　not　shake　hands。
‘You　left　Paris　yesterday；　sir？'　he　said　to　Monseigneur；　as　he　took　his　seat　at　table。
‘Yesterday。　And　you？'
‘I　e　direct。
‘From　London？'
‘Yes。'
‘You　have　been　a　long　time　ing；'　said　the　Marquis；　with　a　smile。
‘On　the　contrary；　I　e　direct。'
‘Pardon　me！　I　mean；　not　a　long　time　on　the　journey；　a　long　time　intending　the　Journey。
‘I　have　been　detained　by'……the　nephew　stopped　a　moment　in　his　answer……various　business。'
‘Without　doubt；'　said　the　polished　uncle。
So　long　as　a　servant　was　present；　no　other　words　passed　between　them。　When　coffee　had　been　served　and　they　were　alone　together；　the　nephew；　looking　at　the　uncle　and　meeting　the　eyes　of　the　face　that　was　like　a　fine　mask；　opened　a　conversation。
‘I　have　e　back；　sir；　as　you　anticipate；　pursuing　the　object　that　took　me　away。　It　carried　me　into　great　and　unexpected　peril；　but　it　is　a　sacred　object；　and　if　it　had　carried　me　to　death　I　hope　it　would　have　sustained　me。'
‘Not　to　death；'　said　the　uncle；　‘it　is　not　necessary　to　say；　to　death。'
‘I　doubt；　sir；'　returned　the　nephew；　‘whether；　if　it　had　carried　me　to　the　utmost　brink　of　death；　you　would　have　cared　to　stop　me　there。'
The　deepened　marks　in　the　nose；　and　the　lengthening　of　the　fine　straight　lines　in　the　cruel　face；　looked　ominous　as　to　that；　the　uncle　made　a　graceful　gesture　of　protest；　which　was　so　clearly　a　slight　form　of　good　breeding　that　it　was　not　reassuring。
‘Indeed；　sir；'　pursued　the　nephew；　‘for　anything　I　know；　you　may　have　expressly　worked　to　give　a　more　suspicious　appearance　to　the　suspicious　circumstances　that　surrounded　me。
‘No；　no；　no；'　said　the　uncle；　pleasantly。　
‘But；　however　that　may　be；'　resumed　the　nephew；　glancing　at　him　with　deep　distrust；　‘I　know　that　your　diplomacy　would　stop　me　by　any　means；　and　would　know　no　scruple　as　to　means。
‘My　friend；　I　told　you　so；'　said　the　uncle；　with　a　fine　pulsation　in　the　two　marks。　‘Do　me　the　favour　to　recall　that　I　told　you　so；　long　ago。'
‘I　recall　it。'
‘Thank　you；'　said　the　Marquis……very　sweetly　indeed。
His　tone　lingered　in　the　air；　almost　like　the　tone　of　a　musical　instrument。
‘In　effect；　sir；'　pursued　the　nephew；　‘I　believe　it　to　be　at　once　your　bad　fortune；　and　my　good　fortune；　that　has　kept　me　out　of　a　prison　in　France　here。'
‘I　do　not　quite　understand；'　returned　the　uncle；　sipping　his　coffee。　‘Dare　I　ask　you　to　explain？'
‘I　believe　that　if　you　were　not　in　disgrace　with　the　Court；　and　had　not　been　overshadowed　by　that　cloud　for　years　past；　a　letter　de　cachet　would　have　sent　me　to　some　fortress　indefinitely。'
‘It　is　possible；'　said　the　uncle；　with　great　calmness。　‘For　the　honour　of　the　family；　I　could　even　resolve　to　inmode　you　to　that　extent。　Pray　excuse　me！'
‘I　perceive　that；　happily　for　me；　the　Reception　of　the　day　before　yesterday　was；　as　usual；　a　cold　one；'　observed　the　nephew。
‘I　would　not　say　happily；　my　friend；'　returned　the　uncle；　with　refined　politeness；　‘I　would　not　be　sure　of　that。　A　good　opportunity　for　consideration；　surrounded　by　the　advantages　of　solitude；　might　influence　your　destiny　to　far　greater　advantage　than　you　influence　it　for　yourself。　But　it　is　useless　to　discuss　the　question。　I　am；　as　you　say；　at　a　disadvantage。　These　little　instruments　of　correction；　these　gentle　aids　to　the　power　and　honour　of　families；　these　slight　favours　that　might　so　inmode　you；　are　only　to　be　obtained　now　by　interest　and　importunity。　They　are　sought　by　so　many；　and　they　are　granted　（paratively）　to　so　few！　It　used　not　to　be　so；　but　France　in　all　such　things　is　changed　for　the　worse。　Our　not　remote　ancestors　held　the　right　of　life　and　death　over　the　surrounding　vulgar。　From　this　room；　many　such　dogs　have　been　taken　out　to　be　hanged；　in　the　next　room　（my　bedroom）；　one　fellow；　to　our　knowledge；　was　poniarded　on　the　spot　for　professing　some　insolent　delicacy　respecting　his　daughter……his　daughter？　We　have　lost　many　privileges；　a　new　philosophy　has　bee　the　mode；　and　the　assertion　of　our　station；　in　these　days；　might　（I　do　not　go　so　far　as　to　say　would；　but　might）　cause　us　real　inconvenience。　All　very　bad；　very　bad！'
The　Marquis　took　a　gentle　little　pinch　of　snuff；　and　shook　his