双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第67部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Her　father　had　followed　her；　and　would　have　fallen　on　his　knees　to　both　of　them；　but　that　Darnay　put　out　a　hand　and　seized　him；　crying：
‘No；　no！　What　have　you　done；　what　have　you　done；　that　you　should　kneel　to　us！　We　know　now；　what　a　struggle　you　made　of　old。　We　know　now；　what　you　underwent　when　you　suspected　my　descent；　and　when　you　knew　it。　We　know　now；　the　natural　antipathy　you　strove　against；　and　conquered；　for　her　dear　sake。　We　thank　you　with　all　our　hearts；　and　all　our　love　and　duty。　Heaven　be　with　you！'
Her　father's　only　answer　was　to　draw　his　hands　through　his　white　hair；　and　wring　them　with　a　shriek　of　anguish。
‘It　could　not　be　otherwise；'　said　the　prisoner。　‘All　things　have　worked　together　as　they　have　fallen　out。　It　was　the　always…vain　endeavour　to　discharge　my　poor　mother's　trust　that　first　brought　my　fatal　presence　near　you。　Good　could　never　e　of　such　evil；　a　happier　end　was　not　in　nature　to　so　unhappy　a　beginning。　Be　forted；　and　forgive　me。　Heaven　bless　you！'
As　he　was　drawn　away；　his　wife　released　him；　and　stood　looking　after　him　with　her　hands　touching　one　another　in　the　attitude　of　prayer；　and　with　a　radiant　look　upon　her　face；　in　which　there　was　even　a　forting　smile。　As　he　went　out　at　the　prisoners'　door；　she　turned；　laid　her　head　lovingly　on　her　father's　breast；　tried　to　speak　to　him；　and　fell　at　his　feet。
Then；　issuing　from　the　obscure　corner　from　which　he　had　never　moved；　Sydney　Carton　came　and　took　her　up。　Only　her　father　and　Mr。　Lorry　were　with　her。　His　arm　trembled　as　it　raised　her；　and　supported　her　head。　Yet；　there　was　an　air　about　him　that　was　not　all　of　pity……that　had　a　flush　of　pride　in　it。
‘Shall　I　take　her　to　a　coach？　I　shall　never　feel　her　weight。'
He　carried　her　lightly　to　the　door；　and　laid　her　tenderly　down　in　a　coach。　Her　father　and　their　old　friend　got　into　it；　and　he　took　his　seat　beside　the　driver。
When　they　arrived　at　the　gateway　where　he　had　paused　in　the　dark　not　many　hours　before；　to　picture　to　himself　on　which　of　the　rough　stones　of　the　street　her　feet　had　trodden；　he　lifted　her　again；　and　carried　her　up　the　staircase　to　their　rooms。　There；　he　laid　her　down　on　a　couch；　where　her　child　and　Miss　Pross　wept　over　her。
‘Don't　recall　her　to　herself；'　he　said；　softly；　to　the　latter；　‘she　is　better　so。　Don't　revive　her　to　consciousness；　while　she　only　faints。'
‘Oh；　Carton；　Carton；　dear　Carton！'　cried　little　Lucie；　springing　up　and　throwing　her　arms　passionately　round　him；　in　a　burst　of　grief。　‘Now　that　you　have　e；　I　think　you　will　do　something　to　help　mamma；　something　to　save　papa！　O；　look　at　her；　dear　Carton！　Can　you；　of　all　the　people　who　love　her；　bear　to　see　her　so？'
He　bent　over　the　child；　and　laid　her　blooming　cheek　against　his　face。　He　put　her　gently　from　him；　and　looked　at　her　unconscious　mother。
‘Before　I　go；'　he　said；　and　paused……'I　may　kiss　her？'
It　was　remembered　afterwards　that　when　he　bent　down　and　touched　her　face　with　his　lips；　he　murmured　some　words。　The　child；　who　was　nearest　to　him；　told　them　afterwards；　and　told　her　grandchildren　when　she　was　a　handsome　old　lady；　that　she　heard　him　say；　‘A　life　you　love。'
When　he　had　gone　out　into　the　next　room；　he　turned　suddenly　on　Mr。　Lorry　and　her　father；　who　were　following；　and　said　to　the　latter：
‘You　had　great　influence　but　yesterday；　Doctor　Manette；　let　it　at　least　be　tried。　These　judges；　and　all　the　men　in　power；　ire　very　friendly　to　you；　and　very　recognisant　of　your　services；　are　they　not？'
‘Nothing　connected　with　Charles　was　concealed　from　me。　I　had　the　strongest　assurances　that　I　should　save　him；　and　I　did。'　He　returned　the　answer　in　great　trouble；　and　very　slowly。
‘Try　them　again。　The　hours　between　this　and　to…morrow　afternoon　are　few　and　short；　but　try。'
‘I　intend　to　try。　I　will　not　rest　a　moment。'
‘That's　well。　I　have　known　such　energy　as　yours　do　great　things　before　now……though　never；'　he　added；　with　a　smile　and　a　sigh　together；　‘such　great　things　as　this。　But　try！　Of　little　worth　as　life　is　when　we　misuse　it；　it　is　worth　that　effort。　It　would　cost　nothing　to　lay　down　if　it　were　not。'
‘I　will　go；'　said　Doctor　Manette；　‘to　the　Prosecutor　and　the　President　straight；　and　I　will　go　to　others　whom　it　is　better　not　to　name。　I　will　write　too；　and……But　stay！　There　is　a　celebration　in　the　streets；　and　no　one　will　be　accessible　until　dark。'
‘That's　true。　Well！　It　is　a　forlorn　hope　at　the　best；　and　not　much　the　forlorner　for　being　delayed　till　dark。　I　should　like　to　know　how　you　speed；　though；　mind！　I　expect　nothing！　When　are　you　likely　to　have　seen　these　dread　powers；　Doctor　Manette？'
‘Immediately　after　dark；　I　should　hope。　Within　an　hour　or　two　from　this。'
‘It　will　be　dark　soon　after　four。　Let　us　stretch　the　hour　or　two。　If　I　go　to　Mr。　Lorry's　at　nine；　shall　I　hear　what　you　have　done；　either　from　our　friend　or　from　yourself？'
‘Yes。'　‘May　you　prosper！'
Mr。　Lorry　followed　Sydney　to　the　outer　door；　and；　touching　him　on　the　shoulder　as　he　was　going　away；　caused　him　to　turn。
‘I　have　no　hope；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　in　a　low　and　sorrowful　whisper。
‘Nor　have　I。'
‘If　any　one　of　these　men；　or　all　of　these　men；　were　disposed　to　spare　him……which　is　a　large　supposition；　for　what　is　his　life；　or　any　man's　to　them！……I　doubt　if　they　durst　spare　him　after　the　demonstration　in　the　court。'
‘And　so　do　I。　I　heard　the　fall　of　the　axe　in　that　sound。'
Mr。　Lorry　leaned　his　arm　upon　the　door…post；　and　bowed　his　face　upon　it。
‘Don't　despond；'　said　Carton；　very　gently；　‘don't　grieve。　I　encouraged　Doctor　Manette　in　this　idea；　because　I　felt　that　it　might　one　day　be　consolatory　to　her。　Otherwise；　she　might　think　〃his　life　was　wantonly　thrown　away　or　wasted；〃　and　that　might　trouble　her。'
‘Yes；　yes；　yes；'　returned　Mr。　Lorry；　drying　his　eyes；　‘you　are　right。　But　he　will　perish；　there　is　no　real　hope。
‘Yes。　He　will　perish：　there　is　no　real　hope；'　echoed　Carton。　And　walked　with　a　settled　step；　down…stairs。　
CHAPTER　XII
Darkness
SYDNEY　CARTON　paused　in　the　street；　not　quite　decided　where　to　go。　‘At　Tellson's　banking…house　at　nine；'　he　said；　with　a　musing　face。　‘Shall　I　do　well；　in　the　mean　time；　to　show　myself？　I　think　so。　It　is　best　that　these　people　should　know　there　is　such　a　man　as　I　here；　it　is　a　sound　precaution；　and　may　be　a　necessary　preparation。　But　care；　care；　care！　Let　me　think　it　out！'
Checking　his　steps；　which　had　begun　to　tend　towards　an　object；　he　took　a　turn　or　two　in　the　already　darkening　street；　and　traced　the　thought　in　his　mind　to　its　possible　consequences。　His　first　impression　was　confirmed。　‘It　is　best；'　he　said；　finally　resolved；　‘that　these　people　should　know　there　is　such　a　man　as　I　here。'　And　he　turned　his　face　towards　Saint　Antoine。
Defarge　had　described　himself；　that　day；　as　the　keeper　of　a　wine…shop　in　the　Saint　Antoine　suburb。　It　was　not　difficult　for　one　who　knew　the　city　well；　to　find　his　house　without　asking　any　question。　Having　ascertained　its　situation；　Carton　came　out　of　those　closer　streets　again；　and　dined　at　a　place　of　refreshment　and　fell　sound　asleep　after　dinner。　For　the　first　time　in　many　years；　he　had　no　strong　drink。　Since　last　night　he　had　taken　nothing　but　a　little　light　thin　wine；　and　last　night　he　had　dropped　the　brandy　slowly　down　on　Mr。　Lorry's　hearth　like　a　man　who　had　done　with　it。
It　was　as　late　as　seven　o'clock　when　he　awoke　refreshed；　and　went　out　into　the　streets　again。　As　he　passed　along　towards　Saint　Antoine；　he　stopped　at　a　shop…window　where　there　was　a　mirror；　and　slightly　altered　the　disordered　arrangement　of　his　loose　cravat；　and　his　coat…collar；　and　his　wild　hair。　This　done；　he　went　on　direct　to　Defarge's；　and　went　in。
There　happened　to　be　no　customer　in　the　shop　but　Jacques　Three；　of　the　restless　fingers　and　the　croaking　voice。　This　man；　whom　he　had　seen　upon　the　Jury；　stood　drinking　at　the　little　counter；　in　conversation　with　the　Defarges；　man　and　wife。　The　Vengeance　assisted　in　the　conversation；　like　a　regular　member　of　the　establishment。
As　Carton　walked　in；　took　his　seat　and　asked　（in　very　indifferent　French）　for　a　small　measure　of　wine；　Madame　Defarge　cast　a　careless　glance　at　him；　and　then　a　keener；　and　then　a　keener；　and　then　advanced　to　him　herself；　and　asked　him　what　it　was　he　had　ordered。
He　repeated　what　he　had　already　said。
‘English？'　asked　Madame　Defarge；　inquisitively　raising　her　dark　eyebrows。
After　looking　at　her；　as　if　the　sound　of　even　a　single　French　word　were　slow　to　express　itself　to　him；　he　answered；　in　his　former　strong　foreign　accent；　‘Yes；　madame；　yes。　I　am　English！'
Madame　Defarge　returned　to　her　counter　to　get　the　wine；　and；　as　he　took　up　a　Jacobin　journal　and　feigned　to　pore　over　it　puzzling　out　its　meaning；　he　heard　her　say；　‘I　swear　to　you；　like　Evrémonde！'
Defarge　brought　him　the　wine；　and　gave　him　Good　Evening。
‘How？'
‘Good　evening。'
‘Oh！　Good　evening；　citizen；'　filling　his　glass。　‘Ah！　and　good　wine。　I　drink　to　the　Republic。'
Defarge　went　back　to　the　counter；　and　said；　‘Certainly；　a　little　like。'　Madame　sternly　retorted；　‘I　tell　you　a　good　deal　like。'　Jacques　Three　pacifically　remarked；　‘He　is　so　much　in　your　mind；　see　you；　madame。'　The　amiable　Vengeance　added；　with　a　laugh；　‘Yes；　my　faith！　And　you　are　looking　forward　with　so　much　pleasure　to　seeing　him　once　more　to…morrow！'
Carton　followed　the　lines　and　words　of　his　paper；　with　a　slow　forefinger；　and　with　a　studious　and　absorbed　face。　They　were　all　leaning　their　arms　on　the　counter　close　together；　speaking　low。　After　a　silence　of　a　few　moments；　during　which　they　all　looked　towards　him　without　disturbing　his　outward　attention　from　the　Jacobin　editor；　they　resumed　their　conversation。
‘It　is　true　what　madame　says；'　observed　Jacques　Three。　‘Why　stop？　There　is　great　force　in　that。　Why　stop？'
‘Well；　well；'　reasoned　Defarge；　‘but　one　must　stop　somewhere。　After　all；　the　question　is　still　where？'
‘At　extermination；'　said　madame。
‘Magnificent！'　croaked　Jacques　Three。　The　Vengeance；　also；　highly　approved。
‘Extermination　is　good　doctrine；　my　wife；'　said　Defarge；　rather　troubled；　‘in　general；　I　say　nothing　against　it。　But　this　Doctor　has　suffered　much；　you　have　seen　him　to…day；　you　have　observed　his　face　when　the　paper　was　read。'
‘I　have　observed　his　face！'　repeated　madame；　contemptuously　and　angrily。　‘Yes。　I　have　observed　his　face。　I　have　observed　his　face　to　be　not　the　face　of　a　true　friend　of　th