Hestuckthepaperonafile,inanill-humour,andCharlesDarnayawaitedhisfurtherpleasureforhalfanhour:sometimes,pacingtoandfrointhestrongarchedroom:sometimes,restingonastoneseat:ineithercasedetainedtobeimprintedonthememoryofthechiefandhissubordinates.
`Come!\'saidthechief,atlengthtakinguphiskeys,`comewithme,emigrant.\'
Throughthedismalprisontwilight,hisnewchargeaccompaniedhimbycorridorandstaircase,manydoorsclangingandlockingbehindthem,untiltheycameintoalarge,low,vaultedchamber,crowdedwithprisonersofbothsexes.Thewomenwereseatedatalongtable,readingandwriting,knitting,sewing,andembroidering;themenwereforthemostpartstandingbehindtheirchairs,orlingeringupanddowntheroom.
Intheinstinctiveassociationofprisonerswithshamefulcrimeanddisgrace,thenewcomerrecoiledfromthiscompany.Butthecrowningunrealityofhislongunrealride,was,theirallatoncerisingtoreceivehim,witheveryrefinementofmannerknowntothetime,andwithalltheengaginggracesandcourtesiesoflife.
Sostrangelycloudedweretheserefinementsbytheprisonmannersandgloom,sospectraldidtheybecomeintheinappropriatesqualorandmiserythroughwhichtheywereseen,thatCharlesDarnayseemedtostandinacompanyofthedead.Ghostsall!Theghostofbeauty,theghostofstateliness,theghostofelegance,theghostofpride,theghostoffrivolity,theghostofwit,theghostofyouth,theghostofage,allwaitingtheirdismissalfromthedesolateshore,allturningonhimeyesthatwerechangedbythedeaththeyhaddiedincomingthere.