a tale of two cities(双城记)-第26章

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！


　there　appeared　to　be　not　half　desk　enough　for　him：　‘I　am　going　to　make　an　offer　of　myself　in　marriage　to　your　agreeable　little　friend；　Miss　Manette；　Mr。　Lorry。'　
　Oh　dear　me！'　cried　Mr。　Lorry；　rubbing　his　chin；　and　looking　at　his　visitor　dubiously。　
　‘Oh　dear　me；　sir？'　repeated　Stryver；　drawing　back。　
‘Oh　dear　you；　sir？　What　may　your　meaning　be；　Mr。　Lorry？'　
　‘My　meaning；'　answered　the　man　of　business；　‘is；　of　course；　friendly　and　appreciative；　and　that　it　does　you　the　greatest　credit；　andin　short；　my　meaning　is　everything　you　could　desire。　Butreally；　you　know；　Mr。　Stryver　…'　Mr。　Lorry　paused；　and　shook　his　head　at　him　in　the　oddest　manner；　as　if　he　were　compelled　against　his　will　to　add；　internally；　‘you　know　there　really　is　so　much　too　much　of　you！'　
‘Well！'　said　Stryver；　slapping　the　desk　with　his　contentious　hand；　opening　his　eyes　wider；　and　taking　a　long　breath；　‘if　I　understand　you；　Mr。　Lorry；　I'll　be　hanged！'　
　Mr。　Lorry　adjusted　his　little　wig　at　both　ears　as　a　means　towards　that　end；　and　bit　the　feather　of　a　pen。　
　‘Dn　it　all；　sir！'　said　Stryver；　staring　at　him；　‘am　I　not　eligible？'　
　‘Oh　dear　yes！　Yes。　Oh　yes；　you're　eligible！'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘If　you　say　eligible；　you　are　eligible。'　
　‘Am　I　not　prosperous？'　asked　Stryver。　
　‘Oh！　if　you　come　to　prosperous；　you　are　prosperous；'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　
　‘And　advancing？'　
　‘If　you　come　to　advancing；　you　know；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　delighted　to　be　able　to　make　another　admission；　‘nobody　can　doubt　that。'　
　‘Then　what　on　earth　is　your　meaning；　Mr。　Lorry？'　demanded　Stryver；　perceptibly　crestfallen。　
　‘Well！　I　Were　you　going　there　now？'　asked　Mr。　Lorry。　‘Straight！'　said　Stryver；　with　a　plump　of　his　fist　on　the　desk。　‘Then　I　think　I　wouldn't；　if　I　was　you。'　
　‘Why？'　said　Stryver。　‘Now；　I'll　put　you　in　a　corner；'　forensically　shaking　a　forefinger　at　him。　‘You　are　a　man　of　business　and　bound　to　have　a　reason。　State　your　reason。　
Why　wouldn't　you　go？'　
　‘Because；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘I　wouldn't　go　on　such　an　object　without　having　some　cause　to　believe　that　I　should　succeed。'　
　‘Dn　ME！'　cried　Stryver；　‘but　this　beats　everything。'　
　Mr。　Lorry　glanced　at　the　distant　House；　and　glanced　at　the　angry　Stryver。　
　‘Here's　a　man　of　businessa　man　of　yearsa　man　of　experiencein　a　Bank；'　said　Stryver；　‘and　having　summed　up　three　leading　reasons　for　complete　success；　he　says　there's　no　reason　at　all！　Says　it　with　his　head　on！'　Mr。　Stryver　remarked　upon　tile　peculiarity　as　if　it　would　have　been　infinitely　less　remarkable　if　he　had　said　it　with　his　head　off。　
　‘When　I　speak　of　success；　I　speak　of　success　with　the　young　lady；　and　when　I　speak　of　causes　and　reasons　to　make　success　probable；　I　speak　of　causes　and　reasons　that　will　tell　as　such　with　the　young　lady。　The　young　lady；　my　good　sir；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　mildly　tapping　the　Stryver　arm；　‘the　young　lady。　The　young　lady　goes　before　all。'　
‘Then　you　mean　to　tell　me；　Mr。　Lorry；'　said　Stryver；　squaring　his　elbows；　‘that　it　is　your　deliberate　opinion　that　the　young　lady　at　present　in　question　is　a　mincing　Fool？'　
　‘Not　exactly　so。　I　mean　to　tell　you；　Mr。　Stryver；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　reddening；　‘that　I　will　hear　no　disrespectful　word　Of　that　young　lady　from　any　lips；　and　that　if　I　knew　any　manwhich　I　hope　I　do　notwhose　taste　was　so　coarse；　and　whose　temper　was　so　overbearing；　that　he　could　not　restrain　himself　from　speaking　disrespectfully　of　that　young　lady　at　this　desk；　not　even　Tellson's　should　prevent　my　giving　him　a　piece　of　my　mind。'　
　The　necessity　of　being　angry　in　a　suppressed　tone　had　put　Mr。　Stryver's　blood…vessels　into　a　dangerous　state　when　it　was　his　turn　to　be　angry；　Mr。　Lorry's　veins；　methodical　as　their　courses　could　usually　be；　were　in　no　better　state　now　it　was　his　turn。　
　‘That　is　what　I　mean　to　tell　you；　sir；'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘Pray　let　there　be　no　mistake　about　it。'　
　Mr。　Stryver　sucked　tile　end　of　a　ruler　for　a　little　while　and　then　stood　hitting　a　tune　out　of　his　teeth　with　it；　which'　probably　gave　him　the　toothache。　He　broke　the　awkward　silence　by　saying：　
　‘This　is　something　new　to　me；　Mr。　Lorry。　You　deliberately　advise　me　not　to　go　up　to　Soho　and　offer　myselfmyself；　Stryver　of　the　King's　Bench　bar？'　
　‘Do　you　ask　me　for　my　advice；　Mr。　Stryver？'　
　‘Yes；　I　do。'　
　‘Very　good。　Then　I　give　it；　and　you　have　repeated　it　correctly。'　
　‘And　all　I　can　say　of　it　is；'　laughed　Stryver　with　a　vexed　laugh；　‘that　thisha；　ha！beats　everything　past；　present；　and　to　come。'　
　‘Now　understand　me；'　pursued　Mr。　Lorry。　‘As　a　man　of　business；　I　am　not　justified　in　saying　anything　about　this　matter；　for；　as　a　man　of　business；　I　know　nothing　of　it。　But；　as　an　old　fellow；　who　has　carried　Miss　Manette　in　his　arms；　who　is　the　trusted　friend　of　Miss　Manette　and　of　her　father　too；　and　who　has　a　great　affection　for　them　both；　I　have　spoken。　The　confidence　is　not　of　my　seeking；　recollect。　Now；　you　think　I　may　not　be　right？'　
　‘Not　I！'　said　Stryver；　whistling。　‘I　can't　undertake　to　find　third　parties　in　common　sense；　I　can　only　find　it　for　myself　I　suppose　sense　in　certain　quarters；　you　suppose　mincing　bread…and…butter　nonsense。　It's　new　to　me；　but　you　are　right；　I　dare　say。'　
　‘What　I　suppose；　Mr。　Stryver；　I　claim　to　characterise　for　myself　And　understand　me；　sir；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　quickly　flushing　again；　‘I　will　notnot　even　at　Tellson'shave　it　characterised　for　me　by　any　gentleman　breathing。'　
　‘There！　I　beg　your　pardon！'　said　Stryver。　
　‘Granted。　Thank　you。　Well；　Mr。　Stryver；　I　was　about　to　sayit　might　be　painful　to　you　to　find　yourself　mistaken；　it　might　be　painful　to　Doctor　Manette　to　have　the　task　of　being　explicit　with　you；　it　might　be　very　painful　to　Miss　Manette　to　have　the　task　of　being　explicit　with　you。　You　know　the　terms　upon　which　I　have　the　honour　and　happiness　to　stand　with　the　family。　If　you　please；　committing　you　in　no　way；　representing　you　in　no　way；　I　will　undertake　to　correct　my　advice　by　the　exercise　of　a　little　new　observation　and　judgment　expressly　brought　to　bear　upon　it。　If　you　should　then　be　dissatisfied　with　it；　you　can　but　test　its　soundness　for　yourself；　if；　on　the　other　hand；　you　should　be　satisfied　with　it；　and　it　should　be　what　it　now　is；　it　may　spare　all　sides　what　is　best　spared。　What　do　you　say？'　
　‘How　long　would　you　keep　me　in　town？'　
　‘Oh！　It　is　only　a　question　of　a　few　hours。　I　could　go　to　Soho　in　the　evening；　and　come　to　your　chambers　afterwards。'　
　‘Then　I　say　yes；'　said　Stryver：　‘I　won't　go　up　there　now；　I　am　not　so　hot　upon　it　as　that　comes　to；　I　say　yes；　and　I　shall　expect　you　to　look　in　to…night。　Good…morning。'　
　Then　Mr。　Stryver　turned　and　burst　out　of　the　Bank；　causing　such　a　concussion　of　air　on　his　passage　through；　that　to　stand　up　against　it　bowing　behind　the　two　counters；　required　the　utmost　remaining　strength　of　the　two　ancient　clerks。　
　Those　venerable　and　feeble　persons　were　always　seen　by　the　public　in　the　act　of　bowing；　and　were　popularly　believed；　when　they　had　bowed　a　customer　out；　still　to　keep　on　bowing　in　the　empty　office　until　they　bowed　another　customer　in。　
　The　barrister　was　keen　enough　to　divine　that　the　banker　would　not　have　gone　so　far　in　his　expression　of　opinion　on　any　less　solid　ground　than　moral　certainty。　Unprepared　as　he　was　for　the　large　pill　he　had　to　swallow；　he　got　it　down。　‘And　now；'　said　Mr。　Stryver；　shaking　his　forensic　forefinger　at　the　Temple　in　general；　when　it　was　down；　‘my　way　out　of　this；　is；　to　put　you　all　in　the　wrong。'　
It　was　a　bit　of　the　art　of　an　Old　Bailey　tactician；　in　which　he　found　great　relief。　‘You　shall　not　put　me　in　the　wrong；　young　lady；'　said　Mr。　Stryver；　‘I'll　do　that　for　you。'　
　Accordingly；　when　Mr。　Lorry　called　that　night　as　late　as　ten　o'clock；　Mr。　Stryver；　among　a　quantity　of　books　and　papers　littered　out　for　the　purpose；　seemed　to　have　nothing　less　on　his　mind　than　the　subject　of　the　morning。　He　even　showed　surprise　when　he　saw　Mr。　Lorry；　and　was　altogether　in　an　absent　and　preoccupied　state。　
　‘Well！'　said　that　good…natured　emissary；　after　a　full　half…hour　of　bootless　attempts　to　bring　him　round　to　the　question。　‘I　have　been　to　Soho。'　
　‘To　Soho？'　repeated　Mr。　Stryver；　coldly。　‘Oh；　to　be　sure！　What　am　I　thinking　of！'　
　‘And　I　have　no　doubt；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘that　I　was　right　in　the　conversation　we　had。　My　opinion　is　confirmed；　and　I　reiterate　my　advice。'　
　‘I　assure　you；'　returned　Mr。　Stryver；　in　the　friendliest　way；　‘that　I　am　sorry　for　it　on　your　account；　and　sorry　for　it　on　the　poor　father's　account。　I　know　this　must　always　be　a　sore　subject　with　the　family；　let　us　say　no　more　about　it。'　
　‘I　don't　understand　you；'　said　Mr　Lorry。　
　‘I　dare　say　not；'　rejoined　Stryver；　nodding　his　head　in　a　smoothing　and　final　way；　no　matter；　no　matter。'　
　‘But　it　does　matter；'　Mr。　Lorry　urged。　
　‘No　it　doesn't；　I　assure　you　it　doesn't。　Having　supposed　that　there　was　sense　where　there　is　no　sense；　and　a　laudable　ambition　where　there　is　not　a　laudable　ambition；　I　am　well　out　of　my　mistake；　and　no　harm　is　done。　Young　women　have　committed　similar　follies　often　before；　and　have　repented　them　in　poverty　and　obscurity　often　before。　In　an　unselfish　aspect；　I　am　sorry　that　the　thing　is　dropped；　because　it　would　have　been　a　bad　thing　for　me　in　a　worldly　point　of　view；　in　a　selfish　aspect；　I　am　glad　that　the　thing　has　dropped；　because　it　would　have　been　a　bad　thing　for　me　in　a　worldly　point　of　viewit　is　hardly　necessary　to　say　I　could　have　gained　nothing　by　it。　There　is　no　harm　at　all　done。　I　have　not　proposed　to　the　young　lady；　and；　between　ourselves；　I　am　by　no　means　certain；　on　reflection；　that　I　ever　should　have　committed　myself　to　that　extent。　Mr。　Lorry；　you　cannot　control　the　mincing　vanities　and　giddinesses　of　empty…headed　girls；　you　must　not　expect　to　do　it；　or　you　will　always　he　disappointed。　
Now；　pray　say　no　more　about　it。　I　tell　you；　I　regret　it　on　account　of　others；　but　I　am　satisfied　on　my　own　account。　And　I　am　really　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　allowing　me　to　sound　you；　and　for　giving　me　your　advice；　you　know　the　young　lady　better　than　I　do；　you　were　right；　it　never　would　have　done。　
　Mr。　Lorry　was　so　taken　aback；　that　he　looked　quite　stupidly　at　Mr。　Stryver　shouldering　him　towards　the　door；　with　an　appearance　of　showering　generosity；　forbearance；　and　goodwill；　on　his　erring　head。　'Make　the　best　of　it；　my　dear　sir；'　said　Stryver；　‘say　no　more　about　it；　thank　you　again　for　allowing　me　to　sound　you；　good…night！'　Mr。　Lorry　was　out　in　the　night；　before　he　knew　where　he　was。　Mr。　Stryver　was　lying　back　on　his　sofa；　winking　at　his　Ceiling。　

CHAPTER　XIII
The　Fellow　of　Delicacy
IF　Sydney　Carton　ever　shone　anywhere；　he　certainly　never　shone　the　house　of　Doctor　Manette。　He　had　been　there　often；　during　a　whole　year；　and　had　always　been　the　same　moody　and　morose　lounger　there。　When　he　cared　to　talk；　he　talked　well；　but；　the　cloud　of　caring　for　nothing；　which　overshadowed　him　with　such　a　fatal　darkness；　was　very　rarely　pierced　by　the　light　within　him。　
　And　yet　he　did　care　something　for　the　streets　that　environed　that　house；　and　for　the　senseless　stones　that　made　their　pavements。　Many　a　night　he　vaguely　and　unhappily　wandered　there；　when　wine　had　brought　no　transitory　gladness　to　him；　many　a　dreary　daybreak　revealed　his　solitary　figure　lingering　there；　and　still　lingering　there　when　the　first　beams　of　the　sun　brought　into　strong　relief；　removed　beauties