a tale of two cities(双城记)-第18章

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this　in　his　little　wig；　and　thanking　his　bachelor　stars　for　having　lighted　him　in　his　declining　years　to　a　Home。　But；　no　Hundreds　of　people　came　to　see　the　sights；　and　Mr。　Lorry　looked　in　vain　for　the　fulfilment　of　Miss　Pross's　prediction。　
　Dinner…time；　and　still　no　Hundreds　of　people。　In　the　arrangements　of　the　little　household；　Miss　Pross　took　charge　of　the　lower　regions；　and　always　acquitted　herself　marvellously。　Her　dinners；　of　a　very　modest　quality；　were　so　well　cooked　and　so　well　served；　and　so　neat　in　their　contrivances；　half　English　and　half　French；　that　nothing　could　be　better。　Miss　Pross's　friendship　being　of　the　thoroughly　practical　kind；　she　had　ravaged　Soho　and　the　adjacent　provinces；　in　search　of　impoverished　French；　who；　tempted　by　shillings　and　half…crowns；　would　impart　culinary　mysteries　to　her。　From　these　decayed　sons　and　daughters　of　Gaul；　she　had　acquired　such　wonderful　arts；　that　the　woman　and　girl　who　formed　the　staff　of　domestics　regarded　her　as　quite　a　Sorceress；　or　Cinderella's　Godmother：　who　would　send　out　for　a　fowl；　a　rabbit；　a　vegetable　or　two　from　the　garden；　and　change　them　into　any…thing　she　pleased。　
　On　Sundays；　Miss　Pross　dined　at　the　Doctor's　table；　but　on　other　days　persisted　in　taking　her　meals　at　unknown　periods；　either　in　the　lower　regions；　or　in　her　own　room　on　the　second　floora　blue　chamber；　to　which　no　one　but　her　Ladybird　ever　gained　admittance。　On　this　occasion；　Miss　Pross；　responding　to　Ladybird's　pleasant　face　and　pleasant　efforts　to　please　her；　unbent　exceedingly；　so　the　dinner　was　very　pleasant；　too。　
　It　was　an　oppressive　day；　and；　after　dinner；　Lucie　proposed　that　the　wine　should　be　carried　out　under　the　plane…tree；　and　they　should　sit　there　in　the　air。　As　everything　turned　upon　her；　and　revolved　about　her；　they　went　out　under　the　plane…tree；　and　she　carried　the　wine　down　for　the　special　benefit　of　Mr。　Lorry。　She　had　installed　herself；　some　time　before；　as　Mr。　Lorry's　cup…bearer；　and　while　they　sat　under　the　plane…tree；　talking；　she　kept　his　glass　replenished。　Mysterious　backs　and　ends　of　houses　peeped　at　them　as　they　talked；　and　the　plane…tree　whispered　to　them　in　its　own　way　above　their　heads。　
　Still；　the　Hundreds　of　people　did　not　present　themselves。　Mr。　Darnay　presented　himself　while　they　were　sitting　under　the　plane…tree；　but　he　was　only　One。　
　Doctor　Manette　received　him　kindly；　and　so　did　Lucie。　But；　Miss　Pross　suddenly　became　afflicted　with　a　twitching　in　the　head　and　body；　and　retired　into　the　house。　She　was　not　unfrequently　the　victim　of　this　disorder；　and　she　called　it；　in　familiar　conversation；　‘a　fit　of　the　jerks。'　
　The　Doctor　was　in　his　best　condition；　and　looked　specially　young。　The　resemblance　between　him　and　Lucie　was　very　strong　at　such　times；　and　as　they　sat　side　by　side；　she　leaning　on　his　shoulder；　and　he　resting　his　arm　on　the　back　of　her　chair；　it　was　very　agreeable　to　trace　the　likeness。　
　He　had　been　talking　all　day；　on　many　subjects；　and　with　unusual　vivacity。　‘Pray；　Doctor　Manette；'　said　Mr。　Darnay；　as　they　sat　under　the　plane…treeand　he　said　it　in　the　natural　pursuit　of　the　topic　in　hand；　which　happened　to　be　the　old　buildings　of　London…have　you　seen　much　of　the　Tower？'　
　‘Lucie　and　I　have　been　there；　but　only　casually。　We　have　seen　enough　of　it；　to　know　that　it　teems　with　interest；　little　more。'　
　‘I　have　been　there；　as　you　remember；'　said　Darnay；　with　a　smile；　though　reddening　a　little　angrily；　‘in　another　character；　and　not　in　a　character　that　gives　facilities　for　seeing；　much　of　it。　They　told　me　a　curious　thing　when　I　was　there。　
　‘What　was　that？'　Lucie　asked。　
　‘In　making　some　alterations；　the　workmen　came　upon　an　old　dungeon；　which　had　been；　for　many　years；　built　up　and　forgotten。　Every　stone　of　its　inner　wall　was　covered　by　inscriptions　which　had　been　carved　by　prisonersdates；　names；　complaints；　and　prayers。　Upon　a　corner　stone　in　an　angle　of　the　wall；　one　prisoner；　who　seemed　to　have　gone　to　execution；　had　cut　as　his　last　work；　three　letters。　They　were　done　with　some　very　poor　instrument；　and　hurriedly；　with　an　unsteady　hand。　At　first；　they　were　read　as　D。　I。　C。；　but；　on　being　more　carefully　examined；　the　last　letter　was　found　to　be　G。　There　was　no　record　or　legend　of　any　prisoner　with　those　initials；　and　many　fruitless　guesses　were　made　what　the　name　could　have　been。　At　length；　it　was　suggested　that　the　letters　were　not　initials；　but　the　complete　word；　DIG。　The　floor　was　examined　very　carefully　under　the　inscription；　and；　in　the　earth　beneath　a　stone；　or　tile；　or　some　fragment　of　paving；　were　found　the　ashes　of　a　paper；　mingled　with　the　ashes　of　a　small　leathern　case　or　bag。　What　the　unknown　prisoner　had　written　will　never　be　read；　but　he　had　written　something；　and　hidden　it　away　to　keep　it　from　the　gaoler。'　
　‘My　father；'　exclaimed　Lucie；　‘you　are　ill！'　
　He　had　suddenly　started　up；　with　his　hand　to　his　head。　His　manner　and　his　look　quite　terrified　them　all。　
　‘No；　my　dear；　not　ill。　There　are　large　drops　of　rain　falling；　and　they　made　me　start。　We　had　better　go　in。'　
　He　recovered　himself　almost　instantly。　Rain　was　really　falling　in　large　drops；　and　he　showed　the　back　of　his　hand　with　rain…drops　on　it。　But；　he　said　not　a　single　word　in　reference　to　the　discovery　that　had　been　told　of；　and；　as　they　went　into　the　house；　the　business　eye　of　Mr。　Lorry　either　detected；　or　fancied　it　detected；　on　his　face；　as　it　turned　towards　Charles　Darnay；　the　same　singular　look　that　had　been　upon　it　when　it　turned　towards　him　in　the　passages　of　the　Court　House。　
　He　recovered　himself　so　quickly；　however；　that　Mr。　Lorry　had　doubts　of　his　business　eye。　The　arm　of　the　golden　giant　in　the　hall　was　not　more　steady　than　he　was；　when　he　stopped　under　it　to　remark　to　them　that　he　was　not　yet　proof　against　slight　surprises　（if　he　ever　would　be）；　and　that　the　rain　had　startled　him。　
　Tea…time；　and　Miss　Pross　making　tea；　with　another　fit　of　the　jerks　upon　her；　and　yet　no　Hundreds　of　people。　Mr。　Garton　had　lounged　in；　but　he　made　only　Two。　
　The　night　was　so　very　sultry；　that　although　they　sat　with　doors　and　windows　open；　they　were　overpowered　by　heat。　When　the　tea…table　was　done　with；　they　all　moved　to　one　of　the　windows；　and　looked　out　into　the　heavy　twilight。　Lucie　sat　by　her　father；　Darnay　sat　beside　her；　Carton　leaned　against　a　window。　The　curtains　were　long　and　white；　and　some　of　the　thunder…gusts　that　whirled　into　the　corner；　caught　them　up　to　the　ceiling；　and　waved　them　like　spectral　wings。　
　‘The　rain…drops　are　still　falling；　large；　heavy；　and　few；'　said　Doctor　Manette。　‘It　comes　slowly。　
　‘It　comes　surely；'　said　Carton。　
　They　spoke　low；　as　people　watching　and　waiting　mostly　do；　as　people　in　a　dark　room；　watching　and　waiting　for　Lightning；　always　do。　
　There　was　a　great　hurry　in　the　streets；　of　people　speeding　away　to　get　shelter　before　the　storm　broke；　the　wonderful　corner　for　echoes　resounded　with　the　echoes　of　footsteps　coming　and　going；　yet　not　a　footstep　was　there。　
　‘A　multitude　of　people；　and　yet　a　solitude！'　said　Darnay；　when　they　had　listened　for　a　while。　
　‘Is　it　not　impressive；　Mr。　Darnay？'　asked　Lucie。　‘Sometimes；　I　have　sat　here　of　an　evening；　until　I　have　fanciedbut　even　the　shade　of　a　foolish　fancy　makes　me　shudder　to…night；　when　all　is　so　black　and　solemn…'　
　‘Let　us　shudder　too。　We　may　know　what　it　is。'　
　‘It　will　seem　nothing　to　you。　Such　whims　are　only　impressive　as　we　originate　them；　I　think；　they　are　not　to　be　communicated。　I　have　sometimes　sat　alone　here　of　an　evening；　listening；　until　I　have　made　the　echoes　out　to　be　the　echoes　of　all　the　footsteps　that　are　coming　by…and…by　into　our　lives。'　
　‘There　is　a　great　crowd　coming　one　day　into　our　lives；　if　that　be　so；'　Sydney　Carton　struck　in；　in　his　moody　way。　
　The　footsteps　were　incessant；　and　the　hurry　of　them　became　more　and　more　rapid。　The　corner　echoed　and　re…echoed　with　the　tread　of　feet；　some；　as　it　seemed；　under　the　windows；　some；　as　it　seemed；　in　the　room；　some　coming；　some　going；　some　breaking　off；　some　stopping　altogether；　all　in　the　distant　streets；　and　not　one　within　sight。　
　‘Are　all　these　footsteps　destined　to　come　to　all　of　us；　Miss　Manette；　or　are　we　to　divide　them　among　us？'　
　‘I　don't　know；　Mr。　Darnay；　I　told　you　it　was　a　foolish　fancy；　but　you　asked　for　it。　When　I　have　yielded　myself　to　it；　I　have　been　alone；　and　then　I　have　imagined　them　the　foot…steps　the　people　who　are　to　come　into　my　life；　and　my　father's。'　
　‘I　take　them　into　mine！'　said　Carton。　‘I　ask　no　questions　and　make　no　stipulations。　There　is　a　great　crowd　bearing　down　upon　us；　Miss　Manette；　and　I　see　them…by　the　Lightning。'　He　added　the　last　words；　after　there　had　been　a　vivid　flash　which　had　shown　him　lounging　in　the　window。　
　‘And　I　hear　them。'　he　added　again；　after　a　peal　of　thunder。　
　‘Here　they　come；　fast；　fierce；　and　furious。'　
　It　was　the　rush　and　roar　of　rain　that　he　typified；　and　it　stopped　him；　for　no　voice　could　be　heard　in　it。　A　memorable　storm　of　thunder　and　lightning　broke　with　that　sweep　of　water；　and　there　was　not　a　moment's　interval　in　crash；　and　We；　and　rain；　until　after　the　moon　rose　at　midnight。　
　The　great　bell　of　Saint　Paul's　was　striking　One　in　the　cleared　air；　when　Mr。　Lorry；　escorted　by　Jerry；　high…booted。　and　bearing　a　lantern；　set　forth　on　his　return…passage　to　Clerkenwell。　There　were　solitary　patches　of　road　on　the　way　between　Soho　and　Clerkenwell；　and　Mr。　Lorry；　mindful　of　footpads；　always　retained　Jerry　for　this　service：　though　it　was　usually　performed　a　good　two　hours　earlier。　
　‘What　a　night　it　has　been！　Almost　a　night；　‘Jerry；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘to　bring　the　dead　out　of　their　graves。　
　‘I　never　see　the　night　myself；　masternor　yet　I　don't　expect　towhat　would　do　that；'　answered　Jerry。　
　‘Good…night；　Mr。　Carton；'　said　the　man　of　business。　‘Good…night；　Mr。　Darnay。　Shall　we　ever　see　such　a　night　again；　together！'　
　Perhaps。　Perhaps；　see　the　great　crowd　of　people　with　its　rush　and　roar；　bearing　down　upon　them；　too。　


CHAPTER　VII
Monseigneur　in　Town
　
MONSEIGNEUR；　one　of　the　great　lords　in　power　at　the　Court；　held　his　fortnightly　reception　in　his　grand　hotel　in　Paris。　Monseigneur　was　in　his　inner　room；　his　sanctuary　of　sanctuaries；　the　Holiest　of　Holiests　to　the　crowd　of　worshippers　in　the　suite　of　rooms　without。　Monseigneur　was　about　to　take　his　chocolate。　Monseigneur　could　swallow　a　great　many　things　with　ease；　and　was　by　some　few　sullen　minds　supposed　to　be　rather　rapidly　swallowing　France；　but；　his　morning's　chocolate　could　not　so　much　as　get　into　the　throat　of　Monseigneur；　without　the　aid　of　four　strong　men　besides　the　Cook。　
　Yes。　It　took　four　men；　all　four　a…blaze　with　gorgeous　decoration；　and　the　Chief　of　them　unable　to　exist　with　fewer　than　two　gold　watches　in　his　pocket；　emulative　of　the　noble　and　chaste　fashion　set　by　Monseigneur；　to　conduct　the　happy　chocolate　to　Monseigneur's　lips。　One　lacquey　carried　the　chocolate…pot　into　the　sacred　presence；　a　second；　milled　and　frothed　the　chocolate　with　the　little　instrument　he　bore　for　that　function；　a　third；　presented　the　favoured　napkin；　a　fourth　（he　of　the　two　old　watches）；　poured　the　chocolate　out。　It　was　impossible　Monseigneur　to　dispense　with　one　of　these　attendants　on　the　chocolate　and　hold　his　high　place　under　the　admiring　Heavens。　Deep　would　have　been　the　blot　upon　his　escutcheon　if　his　chocolat