第5章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A Tale of Two Cities",免费读到尾

  `What\'son?\'heasked,inawhisper,ofthemanhefoundhimselfnextto.

  `Nothingyet.\'

  `What\'scomingon,?\'

  `TheTreasoncase.

  `Thequarteringone,eh?\'

  `Ah!\'returnedtheman,witharelish;`he\'llbedrawnonahurdletobehalfhanged,andthenhe\'llbetakendownandslicedbeforehisownface,andthenhisinsidewillbetakenoutandburntwhilehelookson,andthenhisheadwillbechoppedoff,andhe\'llbecutintoquarters.Thatthesentence.\'

  `Ifhe\'sfoundGuilty,youmeantosay?\'Jerryadded,bywayofproviso.

  `Oh!they\'llfindhimguilty,\'saidtheother.`Don\'tyoubeafraidofthat.\'

  Mr.Cruncher\'sattentionwasheredivertedtothedoorkeeper,whomhesawmakinghiswaytoMr.Lorry,withthenoteinhishand.Mr.Lorrysatatatable,amongthegentlemeninwigs:notfarfromawiggedgentleman,theprisoner\'scounsel,whohadagreatbundleofpapersbeforehim:andnearlyoppositeanotherwiggedgentlemanwithhishandsinhispockets,whosewholeattention,whenMr.Cruncherlookedathimthenorafterwards,seemedtobeconcentratedontheceilingofthecourt.Aftersomegruffcoughingandrubbingofhischinandsigningwithhishand,JerryattractedthenoticeofMr.Lorry,whohadstooduptolookforhim,andwhoquietlynoddedandsatdownagain.

  `What\'s.hegottodowiththecase?\'askedthemanhehadspokenwith.

  `BlestifIknow,\'saidJerry.

  `Whathaveyougottodowithit,then,ifapersonmayinquire?\'

  `BlestifIknowthateither,\'saidJerry.

  TheentranceoftheJudge,andaconsequentgreatstirandsettlingdowninthecourt,stoppedthedialogue.Presently,thedockbecamethecentralpointofinterest.Twogaolers,whohadbeenstandingthere,wentout,andtheprisonerwasbroughtin,andputtothebar.

  Everybodypresent,excepttheonewiggedgentlemanwholookedattheceiling,staredathim.Allthehumanbreathintheplace,rolledathim,likeasea,orawind,orafire.Eagerfacesstrainedroundpillarsandcorners,togetasightofhim;spectatorsinbackrowsstoodup,nottomissahairofhim;peopleonthefloorofthecourt,laidtheirhandsontheshouldersofthepeoplebeforethem,tohelpthemselves,atanybody\'scost,toaviewofhim——stooda-tiptoe,gotuponledges,stooduponnexttonothing,toseeeveryinchofhim.Conspicuousamongtheselatter,likeananimatedbitofthespikedwallofNewgate,Jerrystood:aimingattheprisonerthebeerybreathofawhethehadtakenashecamealong,anddischargingittominglewiththewavesofotherbeer,andgin,andtea,andcoffee,andwhatnot,thatflowedathim,andalreadybrokeuponthegreatwindowsbehindhiminanimpuremistandrain.

  Theobjectofallthisstaringandblaring,wasayoungmanofaboutfive-and-twenty,well-grownandwell-looking,withasunburntcheekandadarkeye.Hisconditionwasthatofayounggentleman.Hewasplainlydressedinblack,orverydarkgrey,andhishair,whichwaslonganddark,wasgatheredinaribbonatthebackofhisneck;moretobeoutofhiswaythanforornament.Asanemotionofthemindwillexpressitselfthroughanycoveringofthebody,sothepalenesswhichhissituationengenderedcamethroughthebrownuponhischeek,showingthesoultobestrongerthanthesun.Hewasotherwisequiteself-possessed,bowedtotheJudge,andstoodquiet.

  Thesortofinterestwithwhichthismanwasstaredandbreathedat,wasnotasortthatelevatedhumanity.Hadhestoodinperilofalesshorriblesentence——hadtherebeenachanceofanyoneofitssavagedetailsbeingspared——byjustsomuchwouldhehavelostinhisfascination.Theformthatwastobedoomedtobesoshamefullymangled,wasthesight;theimmortalcreaturethatwastobesobutcheredandtornasunder,yieldedthesensation.Whateverglossthevariousspectatorsputupontheinterest,accordingtotheirseveralartsandpowersofself-deceit,theinterestwas,attherootofit,Ogreish.

  Silenceinthecourt!CharlesDarnayhadyesterdaypleadedNotGuiltytoanindictmentdenouncinghimwithinfinitejingleandjangleforthathewasafalsetraitortoourserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,prince,ourLordtheKing,byreasonofhishaving,ondiversoccasions,andbydiversmeansandways,assistedLewis,theFrenchKing,inhiswarsagainstoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth;thatwastosay,bycomingandgoing,betweenthedominionsofoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,andthoseofthesaidFrenchLewis,andwickedly,falsely,traitorously,andotherwiseevil-adverbiously,revealingtothesaidFrenchLewiswhatforcesoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,hadinpreparationtosendtoCanadaandNorthAmerica.Thismuch,Jerry,withhisheadbecomingmoreandmorespikyasthelawtermsbristledit,madeoutwithhugesatisfaction,andsoarrivedcircuitouslyattheunder-standingthattheaforesaid,andoverandoveragainaforesaid,CharlesDarnay,stoodtherebeforehimuponhistrial;thatthejurywereswearingin;andthatMr.Attorney-Generalwasmakingreadytospeak.

  Theaccused,whowasandwhoknewhewasbeingmentallyhanged,beheaded,andquartered,byeverybodythere,neitherflinchedfromthesituation,norassumedanytheatricalairinit.Hewasquietandattentive;watchedtheopeningproceedingswithagraveinterest;andstoodwithhishandsrestingontheslabofwoodbeforehim,socomposedly,thattheyhadnotdisplacedaleafoftheherbswithwhichitwasstrewn.Thecourtwasallbestrewnwithherbsandsprinkledwithvinegar,asaprecautionagainstgaolairandgaolfever.

  Overtheprisoner\'sheadtherewasamirror,tothrowthelightdownuponhim.Crowdsofthewickedandthewretchedhadbeenreflectedinit,andhadpassedfromitssurfaceandthisearth\'stogether.Hauntedinamostghastlymannerthatabominableplacewouldhavebeen,iftheglasscouldeverhaverenderedbackitsreflections,astheoceanisonedaytogiveupitsdead.Somepassingthoughtoftheinfamyanddisgraceforwhichithadbeenreserved,mayhavestrucktheprisoner\'smind.Bethatasitmay,achangeinhispositionmakinghimconsciousofabaroflightacrosshisface,helookedup;andwhenhesawtheglasshisfaceflushed,andhisrighthandpushedtheherbsaway.

  Ithappened,thattheactionturnedhisfacetothatsideofthecourtwhichwasonhisleft.Aboutonalevelwithhiseyes,theresat,inthatcorneroftheJudge\'sbench,twopersonsuponwhomhislookimmediatelyrested;soimmediately,andsomuchtothechangingofhisaspect,thatalltheeyesthatwereturneduponhim,turnedtothem.

  Thespectatorssawinthetwofigures,ayoungladyoflittlemorethantwenty,andagentlemanwhowasevidentlyherfather;amanofaveryremarkableappearanceinrespectoftheabsolutewhitenessofhishair,andacertainindescribableintensityofface:notofanactivekind,butponderingandself-communing.Whenthisexpressionwasuponhim,helookedasifhewereold;butwhenitwasstirredandbrokenup——asItwasnow,inamoment,onhisspeakingtohisdaughter——hebecameahandsomeman,notpasttheprimeoflife.

  Hisdaughterhadoneofherhandsdrawnthroughhisarm,asshesatbyhim,andtheotherpresseduponit.Shehaddrawnclosetohim,inherdreadofthescene,andinherpityfortheprisoner.Herforeheadhadbeenstrikinglyexpressiveofanengrossingterrorandcompassionthatsawnothingbuttheperiloftheaccused.Thishadbeensoverynoticeable,soverypowerfullyandnaturallyshown,thatstarerswhohadhadnopityforhimweretouchedbyher;andthewhisperwentabout,`Whoarethey?\'

  Jerry,themessenger,whohadmadehisownobservations,inhisownmanner,andwhohadbeensuckingtherustoffhisfingersinhisabsorption,stretchedhisnecktohearwhotheywere.Thecrowdabouthimhadpressedandpassedtheinquiryontothenearestattendant,andfromhimithadbeenmoreslowlypressedandpassedback;atlastitgottoJerry:

  `Witnesses.\'

  `Forwhichside?\'

  `Against.\'

  `Againstwhatside?\'

  `Theprisoner\'s.\'

  TheJudge,whoseeyeshadgoneinthegeneraldirection,recalledthem,leanedbackinhisseat,andlookedsteadilyatthemanwhoselifewasinhishand,asMr.Attorney-Generalrosetospintherope,grindtheaxe,andhammerthenailsintothescaffold.

  CHAPTERIII

  ADisappointment

  MR.ATTORNEY-GENERALhadtoinformthejury,thattheprisonerbeforethem,thoughyounginyears,wasoldinthetreasonablepracticeswhichclaimedtheforfeitofhislife.Thatthiscorrespondencewiththepublicenemywasnotacorrespondenceofto-day,orofyesterday,orevenoflastyear,oroftheyearbefore.That,itwascertaintheprisonerhad,forlongerthanthat,beeninthehabitofpassingandrepassingbetweenFranceandEngland,onsecretbusinessofwhichhecouldgivenohonestaccount.That,ifitwereinthenatureoftraitorouswaystothrivewhichhappilyitneverwas,therealwickednessandguiltofhisbusinessmighthaveremainedundiscovered.ThatProvidence,however,hadputitintotheheartofapersonwhowasbeyondfearandbeyondreproach,toferretoutthenatureoftheprisoner\'sschemes,and,struckwithhorror,todisclosethemtohisMajesty\'sChiefSecretaryofStateandmosthonourablePrivyCouncil.That,thispatriotwouldbeproducedbeforethem.That,hispositionandattitudewere,onthewhole,sublime.That,hehadbeentheprisoner\'sfriend,but,atonceinanauspiciousandanevilhourdetectinghisinfamy,hadresolvedtoimmolatethetraitorhecouldnolongercherishinhisbosom,onthesacredaltarofhiscountry.That,ifstatuesweredecreedinBritain,asinancientGreeceandRome,topublicbenefactors,thisshiningcitizenwouldassuredlyhavehadone.That,astheywerenotsodecreed,heprobablywouldnothaveone.That,Virtue,ashadbeenobservedbythepoetsinmanypassageswhichhewellknewthejurywouldhave,wordforword,atthetipsoftheirtongues;whereatthejury\'scountenancesdisplayedaguiltyconsciousnessthattheyknewnothingaboutthepassages,wasinamannercontagious;moreespeciallythebrightvirtueknownaspatriotism,orloveofcountry.That,theloftyexampleofthisimmaculateandunimpeachablewitnessfortheCrown,torefertowhomhoweverunworthilywasanhonour,hadcommunicateditselftotheprisoner\'sservant,andhadengenderedinhimaholydeterminationtoexaminehismaster\'stable-drawersandpockets,andsecretehispapers.That,heMr.Attorney-Generalwaspreparedtohearsomedisparagementattemptedofthisadmirableservant;butthat,inageneralway,hepreferredhimtohisMr.Attorney-General\'sbrothersandsisters,andhonouredhimmorethanhisMr.Attorney-General\'sfatherandmother.That,hecalledwithconfidenceonthejurytocomeanddolikewise.That,theevidenceofthesetwowitnesses,coupledwiththedocumentsoftheirdiscoveringthatwouldbeproduced,wouldshowtheprisonertohavebeenfurnishedwithlistsofhisMajesty\'sforces,andoftheirdispositionandpreparation,bothbyseaandland,andwouldleavenodoubtthathehadhabituallyconveyedsuchinformationtoahostilepower.That,theselistscouldnotbeprovedtobeintheprisoner\'shandwriting;butthatitwasallthesame;that,indeed,itwasratherthebetterfortheprosecution,asshowingtheprisonertobeartfulinhisprecautions.That,theproofwouldgobackfiveyears,andwouldshowtheprisoneralreadyengagedintheseperniciousmissions,withinafewweeksbeforethedateoftheveryfirstactionfoughtbetweentheBritishtroopsandtheAmericans.That,forthesereasons,thejury,beingaloyaljuryasheknewtheywere,andbeingaresponsiblejuryastheyknewtheywere,mustpositivelyfindtheprisonerGuilty,andmakeanendofhim,whethertheylikeditornot.That,theynevercouldlaytheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldtoleratetheideaoftheirwiveslayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldendurethenotionoftheirchildrenlayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;inshort,thattherenevermorecouldbe,forthemortheirs,anylayingofheadsuponpillowsatall,unlesstheprisoner\'sheadwastakenoff.ThatheadMr.Attorney-Generalconcludedbydemandingofthem,inthenameofeverythinghecouldthinkofwitharoundturninit,andonthefaithofhissolemnasseverationthathealreadyconsideredtheprisonerasgoodasdeadandgone.

  WhentheAttorney-Generalceased,abuzzaroseinthecourtasifacloudofgreatblue-flieswereswarmingabouttheprisoner,inanticipationofwhathewassoontobecome.Whentoneddownagain,theunimpeachablepatriotappearedinthewitness-box.

  Mr.Solicitor-Generalthen,followinghisleader\'slead,examinedthepatriot:JohnBarsad,gentleman,byname.ThestoryofhispuresoulwasexactlywhatMr.Attorney-Generalhaddescribedittobe-perhaps,ifithadafault,alittletooexactly.Havingreleasedhisnoblebosomofitsburden,hewouldhavemodestlywithdrawnhimself,butthatthewiggedgentlemanwiththepapersbeforehim,sittingnotfarfromMr.Lorry,beggedtoaskhimafewquestions.Thewiggedgentlemansittingopposite,stilllookingattheceilingofthecourt.

  Hadheeverbeenaspyhimself?No,hescornedthebaseinsinuation.Whatdidheliveupon?Hisproperty.Wherewashisproperty?Hedidn\'tpreciselyrememberwhereitwas.Whatwasit?Nobusinessofanybody\'s.Hadheinheritedit?Yes,hehad.Fromwhom?Distantrelation.Verydistant?Rather.Everbeeninprison?Certainlynot.Neverinadebtors\'prison?Didn\'tseewhatthathadtodowithit.Neverinadebtors\'prison?——Come,onceagain.Never?Yes.Howmanytimes?Twoorthreetimes.Notfiveorsix?Perhaps.Ofwhatprofession?Gentleman.Everbeenkicked?Mighthavebeen.Frequently?No.Everkickeddown-stairs?Decidedlynot;oncereceivedakickonthetopofastaircase,andfelldown-stairsofhisownaccord.Kickedonthatoccasionforcheatingatdice?Somethingtothateffectwassaidbytheintoxicatedliarwhocommittedtheassault,butitwasnottrue.Swearitwasnottrue?Positively.Everlivebycheatingatplay?Never.Everlivebyplay?Notmorethanothergentlemendo.Everborrowmoneyoftheprisoner?Yes.Everpayhim?No.Wasnotthisintimacywiththeprisoner,inrealityaveryslightone,forcedupontheprisonerincoaches,inns,andpackets?No.Surehesawtheprisonerwiththeselists?Certain.Knewnomoreaboutthelists?No.Hadnotprocuredthemhimself,forinstance?No.Expecttogetanythingbythisevidence?No.Notinregulargovernmentpayandemployment,tolaytraps?Ohdearno.Ortodoanything?Ohdearno.Swearthat?Overandoveragain.Nomotivesbutmotivesofsheerpatriotism?Nonewhatever.

  Thevirtuousservant,RogerCly,sworehiswaythroughthecaseatagreatrate.Hehadtakenservicewiththeprisoner,ingoodfaithandsimplicity,fouryearsago.Hehadaskedtheprisoner,aboardtheCalaispacket,ifhewantedahandyfellow,andtheprisonerhadengagedhim.Hehadnotaskedtheprisonertotakethehandyfellowasanactofcharity——neverthoughtofsuchathing.Hebegantohavesuspicionsoftheprisoner,andtokeepaneyeuponhim,soonafterwards.Inarranginghisclothes,whiletravelling,hehadseensimilarliststotheseintheprisoner\'spockets,overandoveragain.Hehadtakentheselistsfromthedraweroftheprisoner\'sdesk.Hehadnotputthemtherefirst.HehadseentheprisonershowtheseidenticalliststoFrenchgentlemenatCalais,andsimilarliststoFrenchgentlemen,bothatCalaisandBoulogne.Helovedhiscountry,andcouldn\'tbearit,andhadgiveninformation.Hehadneverbeensuspectedofstealingasilvertea-pot;hehadbeenmalignedrespectingamustard-pot,butitturnedouttobeonlyaplatedone.Hehadknownthelastwitnesssevenoreightyears;thatwasmerelyacoincidence.Hedidn\'tcallitaparticularlycuriouscoincidence;mostcoincidenceswerecurious.Neitherdidhecallitacuriouscoincidencethattruepatriotismwashisonlymotivetoo.HewasatrueBriton,andhopedthereweremanylikehim.

  Theblue-fliesbuzzedagain,andMr.Attorney-GeneralcalledMr.JarvisLorry.

  `Mr.JarvisLorry,areyouaclerkinTellson\'sbank?\'

  `Iam.\'

  `OnacertainFridaynightinNovemberonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five,didbusinessoccasionyoutotravelbetweenLondonandDoverbythemail?\'

  `Itdid.\'

  `Werethereanyotherpassengersinthemail?\'

  `Two.\'

  `Didtheyalightontheroadinthecourseofthenight?\'

  `Theydid.\'

  `Mr.Lorry,lookupontheprisoner.Washeoneofthosetwopassengers?

  `Icannotundertaketosaythathewas.\'

  `Doesheresembleeitherofthesetwopassengers?\'

  `Bothweresowrappedup,andthenightwassodark,andwewereallsoreserved,thatIcannotundertaketosayeventhat.\'

  `Mr.Lorry,lookagainupontheprisoner.Supposinghimwrappedupasthosetwopassengerswere,isthereanythinginhisbulkandstaturetorenderitunlikelythathewasoneofthem?\'

  `No.\'

  `Youwillnotswear,Mr.Lorry,thathewasnotoneofthem?\'

  `No.\'

  `Soatleastyousayhemayhavebeenoneofthem?\'

  `Yes.ExceptthatIrememberthembothtohavebeen——likemyself——timorousofhighwaymen,andtheprisonerhasnotatimorousair.\'

  `Didyoueverseeacounterfeitoftimidity,Mr.Lorry?\'

  `Icertainlyhaveseenthat.\'

  `Mr.Lorry,lookoncemoreupontheprisoner.Haveyouseenhim,toyourcertainKnowledge,before?\'

  `Ihave.\'

  `When?\'

  `IwasreturningfromFranceafewdaysafterwards,and,atCalais,theprisonercameonboardthepacket-shipinwhichIreturned,andmadethevoyagewithme.\'

  `Atwhathourdidhecomeonboard?\'

  `Atalittleaftermidnight.\'

  `Inthedeadofthenight.Washetheonlypassengerwhocameonboardatthatuntimelyhour?\'

  `Hehappenedtobetheonlyone.\'

  `Nevermindabout\"happening,\"Mr.Lorry.Hewastheonlypassengerwhocameonboardinthedeadofthenight?\'

  `Hewas.\'

  `Wereyoutravellingalone,Mr.Lorry,orwithanycompanion?\'

  `Withtwocompanions.Agentlemanandlady.Theyarehere.\'

  `They\'arehere.Hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoner?\'

  `Hardlyany.Theweatherwasstormy,andthepassagelongandrough,andIlayonasofa,almostfromshoretoshore.\'

  `MissManette!\'

  Theyounglady,towhomalleyeshadbeenturnedbefore,andwerenowturnedagain,stoodupwhereshehadsat.Herfatherrosewithher,andkeptherhanddrawnthroughhisarm.

  `MissManette,lookupontheprisoner.\'

  Tobeconfrontedwithsuchpity,andsuchearnestyouthandbeauty,wasfarmoretryingtotheaccusedthantobeconfrontedwithallthecrowd.Standing,asitwere,apartwithherontheedgeofhisgrave,notallthestaringcuriositythatlookedon,could,forthemoment,nervehimtoremainquitestill.Hishurriedrighthandparcelledouttheherbsbeforehimintoimaginarybedsofflowersinagarden:andhiseffortstocontrolandsteadyhisbreathingshookthelipsfromwhichthecolourrushedtohisheart.Thebuzzofthegreatflieswasloudagain.

  `MissManette,haveyouseentheprisonerbefore?\'

  `Yes,sir.\'

  `Where?\'

  `Onboardofthepacket-shipjustnowreferredto,sir,andonthesameoccasion.\'

  `Youaretheyoungladyjustnowreferredto?\'

  `O!mostunhappily,Iam.\'

  TheplaintivetoneofhercompassionmergedintothelessmusicalvoiceoftheJudge,ashesaidsomethingfiercely:`Answerthequestionsputtoyou,andmakenoremarkuponthem.\'

  `MissManette,hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoneronthatpassageacrosstheChannel?\'

  `Yes,sir.\'

  `Recallit.\'

  Inthemidstofaprofoundstillness,shefaintlybegan:`Whenthegentlemancameonboard\'

  `Doyoumeantheprisoner?\'inquiredtheJudge,knittinghisbrows.

  `Yes,myLord.\'

  `Thensaytheprisoner.\'

  `Whentheprisonercameonboard,henoticedthatmyfather,\'turninghereyeslovinglytohimashestoodbesideher,wasmuchfatiguedandinaveryweakstateofhealth.MyfatherwassoreducedthatIwasafraidtotakehimoutoftheair,andIhadmadeabedforhimonthedecknearthecabinsteps,andIsatonthedeckathissidetotakecareofhim.Therewerenootherpassengersthatnight,butwefour.TheprisonerwassogoodastobegpermissiontoadvisemehowIcouldsheltermyfatherfromthewindandweather,betterthanIhaddone.Ihadnotknownhowtodoitwell,notunderstandinghowthewindwouldsetwhenwewereoutoftheharbour.Hediditforme.Heexpressedgreatgentlenessandkindnessformyfather\'sstate,andIamsurehefeltit.Thatwasthemannerofourbeginningtospeaktogether.\'

  `Letmeinterruptyouforamoment.Hadhecomeonboardalone?\'

  `No.\'

  `Howmanywerewithhim?\'

  `TwoFrenchgentlemen.\'

  `Hadtheyconferredtogether?\'

  `Theyhadconferredtogetheruntilthelastmoment,whenitwasnecessaryfortheFrenchgentlementobelandedintheirboat.\'

  `Hadanypapersbeenhandedaboutamongthem,similartotheselists?\'

  `Somepapershadbeenhandedaboutamongthem,butIdon\'tknowwhatpapers.\'

  `Liketheseinshapeandsize?\'

  `Possibly,butindeedIdon\'tknow,althoughtheystoodwhisperingveryneartome:becausetheystoodatthetopofthecabinstepstohavethelightofthelampthatwashangingthere;itwasadulllamp,andtheyspokeverylow,andIdidnothearwhattheysaid,andsawonlythattheylookedatpapers.\'

  `Now,totheprisoner\'sconversation,MissManette.\'

  `Theprisonerwasasopeninhisconfidencewithme-whicharoseoutofmyhelplesssituation-ashewaskind,andgood,andusefultomyfather.Ihope,\'burstingintotears,`Imaynotrepayhimbydoinghimharmto-day.\'

  Buzzingfromtheblue-flies.

  `MissManette,iftheprisonerdoesnotperfectlyunderstandthatyougivetheevidencewhichitisyourdutytogive——whichyoumustgive——andwhichyoucannotescapefromgiving——withgreatunwillingness,heistheonlypersonpresentinthatcondition.Pleasetogoon.

  `Hetoldmethathewastravellingonbusinessofadelicateanddifficultnature,whichmightgetpeopleintotrouble,andthathewasthereforetravellingunderanassumedname.Hesaidthatthisbusinesshad,withinafewdays,takenhimtoFrance,andmight,atintervals,takehimbackwardsandforwardsbetweenFranceandEnglandforalongtimetocome.\'

  `DidhesayanythingaboutAmerica,MissManette?Beparticular.\'

  `Hetriedtoexplaintomehowthatquarrelhadarisen,andhesaidthat,sofarashecouldjudge,itwasawrongandfoolishoneonEngland\'spart.Headded,inajestingway,thatperhapsGeorgeWashingtonmightgainalmostasgreatanameinhistoryasGeorgetheThird.Buttherewasnoharminhiswayofsayingthis:itwassaidlaughingly,andtobeguilethetime.\'

  Anystronglymarkedexpressionoffaceonthepartofachiefactorinasceneofgreatinteresttowhommanyeyesaredirected,willbeunconsciouslyimitatedbythespectators.Herforeheadwaspainfullyanxiousandintentasshegavethisevidence,and,inthepauseswhenshestoppedfortheJudgetowriteitdown,watcheditseffectuponthecounselforandagainst.Amongthelookers-ontherewasthesameexpressioninallquartersofthecourt;insomuch,thatagreatmajorityoftheforeheadsthere,mighthavebeenmirrorsreflectingthewitness,whentheJudgelookedupfromhisnotestoglareatthattremendousheresyaboutGeorgeWashington.

  Mr.Attorney-GeneralnowsignifiedtomyLord,thathedeemeditnecessary,asamatterofprecautionandform,tocalltheyounglady\'sfather,DoctorManette.Whowascalledaccordingly.

  `DoctorManette,lookupontheprisoner.Haveyoueverseenhimbefore?\'

  `Once.WhenhecalledatmylodgingsinLondon.Somethreeyears,orthreeyearsandahalfago.\'

  `Canyouidentifyhimasyourfellow-passengeronboardthepacket,orspeaktohisconversationwithyourdaughter?\'

  `Sir,Icandoneither.\'

  `Isthereanyparticularandspecialreasonforyourbeingunabletodoeither?\'

  Heanswered,inalowvoice,`Thereis.\'

  `Hasitbeenyourmisfortunetoundergoalongimprisonment,withouttrial,orevenaccusation,inyournativecountry,DoctorManette?\'

  Heanswered,inatonethatwenttoeveryheart,`Alongimprisonment.\'

点击下载App,搜索"A Tale of Two Cities",免费读到尾