双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第58部分

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In　the　universal　fear　and　distrust　that　darkened　the　time；　all　the　usual　harmless　ways　of　life　were　changed。　In　the　Doctor's　little　household；　as　in　very　many　others；　the　articles　of　daily　consumption　that　were　wanted　were　purchased　every　evening；　in　small　quantities　and　at　various　small　shops。　To　avoid　attracting　notice；　and　to　give　as　little　occasion　as　possible　for　talk　and　envy；　was　the　general　desire。
For　some　months　past；　Miss　Pross　and　Mr。　Cruncher　had　discharged　the　office　of　purveyors；　the　former　carrying　the　money；　the　latter；　tile　basket。　Every　afternoon　at　about　the　time　when　the　public　lamps　were　lighted；　they　fared　forth　on　this　duty；　and　made　and　brought　home　such　purchases　as　were　needful。　Although　Miss　Pross；　through　her　long　association　with　a　French　family；　might　have　known　as　much　of　their　language　as　of　her　own；　if　she　had　had　a　mind；　she　had　no　mind　in　that　direction；　consequently　she　knew　no　more　of　that　‘nonsense'　（as　she　was　pleased　to　call　it）　than　Mr。　Cruncher　did。　So　her　manner　of　marketing　was　to　plump　a　noun…substantive　at　the　head　of　a　shopkeeper　without　any　introduction　in　the　nature　of　an　article；　and；　if　it　happened　not　to　be　the　name　of　the　thing　she　wanted；　to　look　round　for　that　thing；　lay　hold　of　it；　and　hold　on　by　it　until　the　bargain　was　concluded。　She　always　made　a　bargain　for　it；　by　holding　up；　as　a　statement　of　its　just　price；　one　finger　less　than　the　merchant　held　up；　whatever　his　number　might　be。
‘Now；　Mr。　Cruncher；'　said　Miss　Pross；　whose　eyes　were　red　with　felicity；　‘if　you　are　ready；　I　am。'
Jerry　hoarsely　professed　himself　at　Miss　Pross's　service。　He　had　worn　all　his　rust　off　long　ago；　but　nothing　would　file　his　spiky　head　down。
‘There's　all　manner　of　things　wanted；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘and　we　shall　have　a　precious　time　of　it。　We　want　wine；　among　the　rest。　Nice　toasts　these　Redheads　will　be　drinking；　wherever　we　buy　it。'
‘It　will　be　much　the　same　to　your　knowledge；　miss；　I　should　think；'　retorted　Jerry；　‘whether　they　drink　your　health　or　the　Old　Un's。　
‘Who's　he？'　said　Miss　Pross。
Mr。　Cruncher；　with　some　diffidence；　explained　himself　as　meaning　‘Old　Nick's。'
‘Ha！'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘it　doesn't　need　an　interpreter　to　explain　the　meaning　of　these　creatures。　They　have　but　one；　and　it's　Midnight　Murder；　and　Mischief'
‘Hush；　dear！　Pray；　pray；　be　cautious！'　cried　Lucie。
‘Yes；　yes；　yes；　I'll　be　cautious；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘but　I　may　say　among　ourselves；　that　I　do　hope　there　will　be　no　oniony　and　tobaccoey　smotherings　in　the　form　of　embracings　all　round；　going　on　in　the　streets。　Now；　Ladybird；　never　you　stir　from　that　fire　till　I　e　back！　Take　care　of　the　dear　husband　you　have　recovered；　and　don't　move　your　pretty　head　from　his　shoulder　as　you　have　it　now；　till　you　see　me　again！　May　I　ask　a　question；　Doctor　Manette；　before　I　go？'
‘I　think　you　may　take　that　liberty；'　the　Doctor　answered；　smiling。
‘For　gracious　sake；　don't　talk　about　Liberty；　we　have　quite　enough　of　that；'　said　Miss　Pross。
‘Hush；　dear！　Again？'　Lucie　remonstrated。
‘Well；　my　sweet；'　said　Miss　Pross；　nodding　her　head　emphatically；　‘the　short　and　the　long　of　it　is；　that　I　am　a　subject　of　His　Most　Gracious　Majesty　King　George　the　Third；'　Miss　Pross　curtseyed　at　the　name；　‘and　as　such；　my　maxim　is；　Confound　their　politics；　Frustrate　their　knavish　tricks；　On　him　our　hopes　we　fix；　God　save　the　King！'
Mr。　Cruncher；　in　an　access　of　loyalty；　growlingly　repeated　the　words　after　Miss　Pross；　like　somebody　at　church。
‘I　am　glad　you　have　so　much　of　the　Englishman　in　you；　though　I　wish　you　had　never　taken　that　cold　in　your　voice；'　said　Miss　Pross；　approvingly。　‘But　the　question；　Doctor　Manette。　Is　there'……it　was　the　good　creature's　way　to　affect　to　make　light　of　anything　that　was　a　great　anxiety　with　them　all；　and　to　e　at　it　in　this　chance　manner……'is　there　any　prospect　yet；　of　our　getting　out　of　this　place？'
‘I　fear　not　yet。　It　would　be　dangerous　for　Charles　yet。'
‘Heigh…ho…hum！'　said　Miss　Pross；　cheerfully　repressing　a　sigh　as　she　glanced　at　her　darling's　golden　hair　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　‘then　we　must　have　patience　and　wait：　that's　all。　We　must　hold　up　our　heads　and　fight　low；　as　my　brother　Solomon　used　to　say。　Now；　Mr。　Cruncher！……Don't　you　move；　Ladybird！'　
They　went　out；　leaving　Lucie；　and　her　husband；　her　father；　and　the　child；　by　a　bright　fire。　Mr。　Lorry　was　expected　back　presently　from　the　Banking　House。　Miss　Pross　had　lighted　the　lamp；　but　had　put　it　aside　in　a　corner；　that　they　might　enjoy　the　fire…light　undisturbed。　Little　Lucie　sat　by　her　grandfather　with　her　hands　clasped　through　his　arm：　and　he；　in　a　tone　not　rising　much　above　a　whisper；　began　to　tell　her　a　story　of　a　great　and　powerful　Fairy　who　had　opened　a　prison…wall　and　let　out　a　captive　who　had　once　done　the　Fairy　a　service。　All　was　subdued　and　quiet；　and　Lucie　was　more　at　ease　than　she　had　been。
‘What　is　that？'　she　cried；　all　at　once。
‘My　dear！'　said　her　father；　stopping　in　his　story；　and　laying　his　hand　on　hers；　‘mand　yourself。　What　a　disordered　state　you　are　in！　The　least　thing……nothing……startles　you！　You；　your　father's　daughter！'
‘I　thought；　my　father；'　said　Lucie；　excusing　herself；　with　a　pale　face　and　in　a　faltering　voice；　‘that　I　heard　strange　feet　upon　the　stairs。'
‘My　love；　the　staircase　is　as　still　as　Death。'　As　he　said　the　word；　a　blow　was　struck　upon　the　door。
‘Oh　father；　father。　What　can　this　be！　Hide　Charles。　Save　him！'
‘My　child；'　said　the　Doctor；　rising；　and　laying　his　hand　upon　her　shoulder；　‘I　have　saved　him。　What　weakness　is　this；　my　dear！　Let　me　go　to　the　door。'
He　took　the　lamp　in　his　hand；　crossed　the　two　intervening　outer　rooms；　and　opened　it。　A　rude　clattering　of　feet　over　the　floor；　and　four　rough　men　in　red　caps；　armed　with　sabres　and　pistols；　entered　the　room。
‘The　Citizen　Evrémonde；　called　Darnay；'　said　the　first。　‘Who　seeks　him？'　answered　Darnay。
‘I　seek　him。　We　seek　him。　I　know　you；　Evrémonde；　I　saw　you　before　the　Tribunal　to…day。　You　are　again　the　prisoner　of　the　Republic。'
The　four　surrounded　him；　where　he　stood　with　his　wife　and　child　clinging　to　him。
‘Tell　me　how　and　why　am　I　again　a　prisoner？'
‘It　is　enough　that　you　return　straight　to　the　Conciergerie；　and　will　know　to…morrow。　You　are　summoned　for　to…morrow。'
Dr。　Manette；　whom　this　visitation　had　so　turned　into　stone；　that　he　stood　with　the　lamp　in　his　hand；　as　if　he　were　a　statue　made　to　hold　it；　moved　after　these　words　were　spoken；　put　the　lamp　down；　and　confronting　the　speaker；　and　taking　him；　not　ungently；　by　the　loose　front　of　his　red　woollen　shirt；　said：
‘You　know　him；　you　have　said。　Do　you　know　me？'
‘Yes；　I　know　you；　Citizen　Doctor。'
‘We　all　know　you；　Citizen　Doctor；'　said　the　other　three。
He　looked　abstractedly　from　one　to　another；　and　said；　in　a　lower　voice；　after　a　pause：
‘Will　you　answer　his　question　to　me　then？　How　does　this　happen？'
‘Citizen　Doctor；'　said　the　first；　reluctantly；　‘he　has　been　denounced　to　the　Section　of　Saint　Antoine。　This　citizen；'　pointing　out　the　second　who　had　entered；　‘is　from　Saint　Antoine。'
The　citizen　here　indicated　nodded　his　head；　and　added：　‘He　is　accused　by　Saint　Antoine。'
‘Of　what？'　asked　the　Doctor。
‘Citizen　Doctor；'　said　the　first；　with　his　former　reluctance；　‘ask　no　more。　If　the　Republic　demands　sacrifices　from　you；　without　doubt　you　as　a　good　patriot　will　be　happy　to　make　them。　The　Republic　goes　before　all。　The　People　is　supreme。　Evrémonde；　we　are　pressed。'
‘One　word；'　the　Doctor　entreated。　‘Will　you　tell　me　who　denounced　him？'
‘It　is　against　rule；'　answered　the　first；　‘but　you　can　ask　Him　of　Saint　Antoine　here。'
The　Doctor　turned　his　eyes　upon　that　man。　Who　moved　uneasily　on　his　feet；　rubbed　his　beard　a　little；　and　at　length　said：
‘Well！　Truly　it　is　against　rule。　But　he　is　denounced…and　gravely…by　the　Citizen　and　Citizeness　Defarge。　And　by　one　other。
‘What　other？'
‘Do　you　ask；　Citizen　Doctor？'
‘Yes。'
‘Then；'　said　he　of　Saint　Antoine；　with　a　strange　look；　‘you　will　be　answered　to…morrow。　Now；　I　am　dumb！'　
CHAPTER　VIII
A　Hand　at　Cards
HAPPILY　unconscious　of　the　new　calamity　at　home；　Miss　Pross　threaded　her　way　along　the　narrow　streets　and　crossed　the　river　by　the　bridge　of　the　Pont…Neuf　reckoning　in　her　mind　the　number　of　indispensable　purchases　she　had　to　make。　Mr。　Cruncher；　with　the　basket；　walked　at　her　side。　They　both　looked　to　the　right　and　to　the　left　into　most　of　the　shops　they　passed；　had　a　wary　eye　for　all　gregarious　assemblages　of　people；　and　turned　out　of　their　road　to　avoid　any　very　excited　group　of　talkers。　It　was　a　raw　evening；　and　the　misty　river；　blurred　to　the　eye　with　blazing　lights　and　to　the　ear　with　harsh　noises；　showed　where　the　barges　were　stationed　in　which　the　smiths　worked；　making　guns　for　the　Army　of　the　Republic。　Woe　to　the　man　who　played　tricks　with　that　Army；　or　got　undeserved　promotion　in　it！　Better　for　him　that　his　beard　had　never　grown；　for　the　National　Razor　shaved　him　close。
Having　purchased　a　few　small　articles　of　grocery；　and　a　measure　of　oil　for　the　lamp；　Miss　Pross　bethought　herself　of　the　wine　they　wanted。　After　peeping　into　several　wine…shops；　she　stopped　at　the　sign　of　The　Good　Republican　Brutus　of　Antiquity；　not　far　from　the　National　Palace；　once　（and　twice）　the　Tuileries；　where　the　aspect　of　things　rather　took　her　fancy。　It　had　a　quieter　look　than　any　other　place　of　the　same　description　they　had　passed；　and；　though　red　with　patriotic　caps；　was　not　so　red　as　the　rest。　Sounding　Mr。　Cruncher；　and　finding　him　of　her　opinion；　Miss　Pross　resorted　to　The　Good　Republican　Brutus　of　Antiquity；　attended　by　her　cavalier。
Slightly　observant　of　the　smoky　lights；　of　the　people；　pipe　in　mouth；　playing　with　limp　cards　and　yellow　dominoes；　of　the　one　bare…breasted；　bare…armed；　soot…begrimed　workman　reading　a　journal　aloud；　and　of　the　others　listening　to　him；　of　the　weapons　worn；　or　laid　aside　to　be　resumed；　of　the　two　or　three　customers　fallen　forward　asleep；　who　in　the　popular　high…　shouldered　shaggy　black　spencer　looked；　in　that　attitude；　like　slumbering　bears　or　dogs；　the　two　outlandish　customers　approached　the　counter；　and　showed　what　they　wanted。
As　their　wine　was　measuring　out；　a　man　parted　from　another　man　in　a　er；　and　rose　to　depart。　In　going；　he　had　to　face　Miss　Pross。　No　sooner　did　he　face　her；　than　Miss　Pross　uttered　a　scream；　and　clapped　her　hands。
In　a　moment；