a tale of two cities(双城记)-第11章

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le　place；　in　which　most　kinds　of　debauchery　and　villainy　were　practised；　and　where　dire　diseases　were　bred；　that　came　into　court　with　the　prisoners；　and　sometimes　rushed　straight　from　the　dock　at　my　Lord　Chief　Justice　himself；　and　pulled　him　off　the　bench。　It　had　more　than　once　happened；　that　the　Judge　in　the　black　cap　pronounced　his　own　doom　as　certainly　as　the　prisoner's；　and　even　died　before　him。　For　the　rest；　the　Old　Bailey　was　famous　as　a　kind　of　deadly　inn…yard；　from　which　pale　travellers　set　out　continually；　in　carts　and　coaches；　on　a　violent　passage　into　the　other　world：　traversing　some　two　miles　and　a　half　of　public　street　and　road；　and　shaming　few　good　citizens；　if　any。　So　powerful　is　use；　and　so　desirable　to　be　good　use　in　the　beginning。　It　was　famous；　too；　for　the　pillory；　a　wise　old　institution；　that　inflicted　a　punishment　of　which　no　one　could　foresee　the　extent；　also；　for　the　whipping…post；　another　dear　old　institution；　very　humanising　and　softening　to　behold　in　action；　also；　for　extensive　transactions　in　blood…money；　another　fragment　of　ancestral　wisdom；　systematically　leading　to　the　most　frightful　mercenary　crimes　that　could　be　committed　under　Heaven。　Altogether；　the　Old　Bailey；　at　that　date；　was　a　choice　illustration　of　the　precept；　that　‘Whatever　is　is　right；'　an　aphorism　that　would　be　as　final　as　it　is　lazy；　did　it　not　include　the　troublesome　consequence；　that　nothing　that　ever　was；　was　wrong。　
　Making　his　way　through　the　tainted　crowd；　dispersed　up　and　down　this　hideous　scene　of　action；　with　the　skill　of　a　man　accustomed　to　make　his　way　quietly；　the　messenger　found　out　the　door　he　sought；　and　handed　in　his　letter　through　a　trap　in　it。　For　people　then　paid　to　see　the　play　at　the　Old　Bailey；　just　as　they　paid　to　see　the　play　in　Bedlamonly　the　former　entertainment　was　much　the　dearer。　Therefore；　all　the　Old　Bailey　doors　were　well　guardedexcept；　indeed；　the　social　doors　by　which　the　criminals　got　there；　and　those　were　always　left　wide　open。　
　After　some　delay　and　demur；　the　door　grudgingly　turned　on　its　hinges　a　very　little　way；　and　allowed　Mr。　Jerry　Cruncher　to　squeeze　himself　into　court。　
　‘What's　on？'　he　asked；　in　a　whisper；　of　the　man　he　found　himself　next　to。　
　‘Nothing　yet。'　
　‘What's　coming　on；？'　
　‘The　Treason　case。　
　‘The　quartering　one；　eh？'　
　‘Ah！'　returned　the　man；　with　a　relish；　‘he'll　be　drawn　on　a　hurdle　to　be　half　hanged；　and　then　he'll　be　taken　down　and　sliced　before　his　own　face；　and　then　his　inside　will　be　taken　out　and　burnt　while　he　looks　on；　and　then　his　head　will　be　chopped　off；　and　he'll　be　cut　into　quarters。　That　the　sentence。'　
　‘If　he's　found　Guilty；　you　mean　to　say？'　Jerry　added；　by　way　of　proviso。　
　‘Oh！　they'll　find　him　guilty；'　said　the　other。　‘Don't　you　be　afraid　of　that。'　
　Mr。　Cruncher's　attention　was　here　diverted　to　the　doorkeeper；　whom　he　saw　making　his　way　to　Mr。　Lorry；　with　the　note　in　his　hand。　Mr。　Lorry　sat　at　a　table；　among　the　gentlemen　in　wigs：　not　far　from　a　wigged　gentleman；　the　prisoner's　counsel；　who　had　a　great　bundle　of　papers　before　him：　and　nearly　opposite　another　wigged　gentleman　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　whose　whole　attention；　when　Mr。　Cruncher　looked　at　him　then　or　afterwards；　seemed　to　be　concentrated　on　the　ceiling　of　the　court。　After　some　gruff　coughing　and　rubbing　of　his　chin　and　signing　with　his　hand；　Jerry　attracted　the　notice　of　Mr。　Lorry；　who　had　stood　up　to　look　for　him；　and　who　quietly　nodded　and　sat　down　again。　
　‘What's。　he　got　to　do　with　the　case？'　asked　the　man　he　had　spoken　with。　
　‘Blest　if　I　know；'　said　Jerry。　
　‘What　have　you　got　to　do　with　it；　then；　if　a　person　may　inquire？'　
　‘Blest　if　I　know　that　either；'　said　Jerry。　
　The　entrance　of　the　Judge；　and　a　consequent　great　stir　and　settling　down　in　the　court；　stopped　the　dialogue。　Presently；　the　dock　became　the　central　point　of　interest。　Two　gaolers；　who　had　been　standing　there；　went　out；　and　the　prisoner　was　brought　in；　and　put　to　the　bar。　
　Everybody　present；　except　the　one　wigged　gentleman　who　looked　at　the　ceiling；　stared　at　him。　All　the　human　breath　in　the　place；　rolled　at　him；　like　a　sea；　or　a　wind；　or　a　fire。　Eager　faces　strained　round　pillars　and　corners；　to　get　a　sight　of　him；　spectators　in　back　rows　stood　up；　not　to　miss　a　hair　of　him；　people　on　the　floor　of　the　court；　laid　their　hands　on　the　shoulders　of　the　people　before　them；　to　help　themselves；　at　anybody's　cost；　to　a　view　of　himstood　a…tiptoe；　got　upon　ledges；　stood　upon　next　to　nothing；　to　see　every　inch　of　him。　Conspicuous　among　these　latter；　like　an　animated　bit　of　the　spiked　wall　of　Newgate；　Jerry　stood：　aiming　at　the　prisoner　the　beery　breath　of　a　whet　he　had　taken　as　he　came　along；　and　discharging　it　to　mingle　with　the　waves　of　other　beer；　and　gin；　and　tea；　and　coffee；　and　what　not；　that　flowed　at　him；　and　already　broke　upon　the　great　windows　behind　him　in　an　impure　mist　and　rain。　
　The　object　of　all　this　staring　and　blaring；　was　a　young　man　of　about　five…and…twenty；　well…grown　and　well…looking；　with　a　sunburnt　cheek　and　a　dark　eye。　His　condition　was　that　of　a　young　gentleman。　He　was　plainly　dressed　in　black；　or　very　dark　grey；　and　his　hair；　which　was　long　and　dark；　was　gathered　in　a　ribbon　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　more　to　be　out　of　his　way　than　for　ornament。　As　an　emotion　of　the　mind　will　express　itself　through　any　covering　of　the　body；　so　the　paleness　which　his　situation　engendered　came　through　the　brown　upon　his　cheek；　showing　the　soul　to　be　stronger　than　the　sun。　He　was　otherwise　quite　self…possessed；　bowed　to　the　Judge；　and　stood　quiet。　
　The　sort　of　interest　with　which　this　man　was　stared　and　breathed　at；　was　not　a　sort　that　elevated　humanity。　Had　he　stood　in　peril　of　a　less　horrible　sentencehad　there　been　a　chance　of　any　one　of　its　savage　details　being　sparedby　just　so　much　would　he　have　lost　in　his　fascination。　The　form　that　was　to　be　doomed　to　be　so　shamefully　mangled；　was　the　sight；　the　immortal　creature　that　was　to　be　so　butchered　and　torn　asunder；　yielded　the　sensation。　Whatever　gloss　the　various　spectators　put　upon　the　interest；　according　to　their　several　arts　and　powers　of　self…deceit；　the　interest　was；　at　the　root　of　it；　Ogreish。　
　Silence　in　the　court！　Charles　Darnay　had　yesterday　pleaded　Not　Guilty　to　an　indictment　denouncing　him　（with　infinite　jingle　and　jangle）　for　that　he　was　a　false　traitor　to　our　serene；　illustrious；　excellent；　and　so　forth；　prince；　our　Lord　the　King；　by　reason　of　his　having；　on　divers　occasions；　and　by　divers　means　and　ways；　assisted　Lewis；　the　French　King；　in　his　wars　against　our　said　serene；　illustrious；　excellent；　and　so　forth；　that　was　to　say；　by　coming　and　going；　between　the　dominions　of　our　said　serene；　illustrious；　excellent；　and　so　forth；　and　those　of　the　said　French　Lewis；　and　wickedly；　falsely；　traitorously；　and　otherwise　evil…adverbiously；　revealing　to　the　said　French　Lewis　what　forces　our　said　serene；　illustrious；　excellent；　and　so　forth；　had　in　preparation　to　send　to　Canada　and　North　America。　This　much；　Jerry；　with　his　head　becoming　more　and　more　spiky　as　the　law　terms　bristled　it；　made　out　with　huge　satisfaction；　and　so　arrived　circuitously　at　the　under…standing　that　the　aforesaid；　and　over　and　over　again　aforesaid；　Charles　Darnay；　stood　there　before　him　upon　his　trial；　that　the　jury　were　swearing　in；　and　that　Mr。　Attorney…General　was　making　ready　to　speak。　
　The　accused；　who　was　（and　who　knew　he　was）　being　mentally　hanged；　beheaded；　and　quartered；　by　everybody　there；　neither　flinched　from　the　situation；　nor　assumed　any　theatrical　air　in　it。　He　was　quiet　and　attentive；　watched　the　opening　proceedings　with　a　grave　interest；　and　stood　with　his　hands　resting　on　the　slab　of　wood　before　him；　so　composedly；　that　they　had　not　displaced　a　leaf　of　the　herbs　with　which　it　was　strewn。　The　court　was　all　bestrewn　with　herbs　and　sprinkled　with　vinegar；　as　a　precaution　against　gaol　air　and　gaol　fever。　
　Over　the　prisoner's　head　there　was　a　mirror；　to　throw　the　light　down　upon　him。　Crowds　of　the　wicked　and　the　wretched　had　been　reflected　in　it；　and　had　passed　from　its　surface　and　this　earth's　together。　Haunted　in　a　most　ghastly　manner　that　abominable　place　would　have　been；　if　the　glass　could　ever　have　rendered　back　its　reflections；　as　the　ocean　is　one　day　to　give　up　its　dead。　Some　passing　thought　of　the　infamy　and　disgrace　for　which　it　had　been　reserved；　may　have　struck　the　prisoner's　mind。　Be　that　as　it　may；　a　change　in　his　position　making　him　conscious　of　a　bar　of　light　across　his　face；　he　looked　up；　and　when　he　saw　the　glass　his　face　flushed；　and　his　right　hand　pushed　the　herbs　away。　
　It　happened；　that　the　action　turned　his　face　to　that　side　of　the　court　which　was　on　his　left。　About　on　a　level　with　his　eyes；　there　sat；　in　that　corner　of　the　Judge's　bench；　two　persons　upon　whom　his　look　immediately　rested；　so　immediately；　and　so　much　to　the　changing　of　his　aspect；　that　all　the　eyes　that　were　turned　upon　him；　turned　to　them。　
　The　spectators　saw　in　the　two　figures；　a　young　lady　of　little　more　than　twenty；　and　a　gentleman　who　was　evidently　her　father；　a　man　of　a　very　remarkable　appearance　in　respect　of　the　absolute　whiteness　of　his　hair；　and　a　certain　indescribable　intensity　of　face：　not　of　an　active　kind；　but　pondering　and　self…communing。　When　this　expression　was　upon　him；　he　looked　as　if　he　were　old；　but　when　it　was　stirred　and　broken　upas　It　was　now；　in　a　moment；　on　his　speaking　to　his　daughterhe　became　a　handsome　man；　not　past　the　prime　of　life。　
　His　daughter　had　one　of　her　hands　drawn　through　his　arm；　as　she　sat　by　him；　and　the　other　pressed　upon　it。　She　had　drawn　close　to　him；　in　her　dread　of　the　scene；　and　in　her　pity　for　the　prisoner。　Her　forehead　had　been　strikingly　expressive　of　an　engrossing　terror　and　compassion　that　saw　nothing　but　the　peril　of　the　accused。　This　had　been　so　very　noticeable；　so　very　powerfully　and　naturally　shown；　that　starers　who　had　had　no　pity　for　him　were　touched　by　her；　and　the　whisper　went　about；　‘Who　are　they？'　
　Jerry；　the　messenger；　who　had　made　his　own　observations；　in　his　own　manner；　and　who　had　been　sucking　the　rust　off　his　fingers　in　his　absorption；　stretched　his　neck　to　hear　who　they　were。　The　crowd　about　him　had　pressed　and　passed　the　inquiry　on　to　the　nearest　attendant；　and　from　him　it　had　been　more　slowly　pressed　and　passed　back；　at　last　it　got　to　Jerry：　
　‘Witnesses。'　
　‘For　which　side？'　
　‘Against。'　
　‘Against　what　side？'　
　‘The　prisoner's。'　
　The　Judge；　whose　eyes　had　gone　in　the　general　direction；　recalled　them；　leaned　back　in　his　seat；　and　looked　steadily　at　the　man　whose　life　was　in　his　hand；　as　Mr。　Attorney…General　rose　to　spin　the　rope；　grind　the　axe；　and　hammer　the　nails　into　the　scaffold。　


CHAPTER　III
A　Disappointment
　
MR。　ATTORNEY…GENERAL　had　to　inform　the　jury；　that　the　prisoner　before　them；　though　young　in　years；　was　old　in　the　treasonable　practices　which　claimed　the　forfeit　of　his　life。　That　this　correspondence　with　the　public　enemy　was　not　a　correspondence　of　to…day；　or　of　yesterday；　or　even　of　last　year；　or　of　the　year　before。　That；　it　was　certain　the　prisoner　had；　for　longer　than　that；　been　in　the　habit　of　passing　and　repassing　between　France　and　England；　on　secret　business　of　which　he　could　give　no　honest　account。　That；　if　it　were　in　the　nature　of　traitorous　ways　to　thrive　（which　happily　it　n