a tale of two cities(双城记)-第31章

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lue　cap　to　the　company；　and　drank。　In　the　breast　of　his　blouse　he　carried　some　coarse　dark　bread；　he　ate　of　this　between　whiles；　and　sat　munching　and　drinking　near　Madame　Defarge's　counter。　A　third　man　got　up　and　went　out。　
　Defarge　refreshed　himself　with　a　draught　of　winebut；　he　took　less　than　was　given　to　the　stranger；　as　being　himself　a　man　to　whom　it　was　no　rarityand　stood　waiting　until　the　countryman　had　made　his　breakfast。　He　looked　at　no　one　present；　and　no　one　now　looked　at　him；　not　even　Madame　Defarge；　who　had　taken　up　her　knitting；　and　was　at　work。　
　‘Have　you　finished　your　repast；　friend？'　he　asked；　in　due　season。　
　‘Yes；　thank　you。'　
　‘Come；　then！　You　shall　see　the　apartment　that　I　told　you　you　could　occupy。　It　will　suit　you　to　a　marvel。'　
　Out　of　the　wine…shop　into　the　street；　out　of　the　street　into　a　courtyard；　out　of　the　courtyard　up　a　steep　staircase；　out　of　the　staircase　into　a　garretformerly　the　garret　where　a　white…haired　man　sat　on　a　low　bench；　stooping　forward　and　very　busy；　making　shoes。　
　No　white…haired　man　was　there　now；　but；　the　three　men　were　there　who　had　gone　out　of　the　wine…shop　singly。　And　between　them　and　the　white…haired　man　afar　off；　was　the　one　small　link；　that　they　had　once　looked　in　at　him　through　the　chinks　in　the　wail。　
　Defarge　closed　the　door　carefully；　and　spoke　in　a　subdued　voice：　
　‘Jacques　One；　Jacques　Two；　Jacques　Three！　This　is　the　witness　encountered　by　appointment；　by　me；　Jacques　Four。　
　He　will　tell　you　all。　Speak；　Jacques　Five！　
　The　mender　of　roads；　blue　cap　in　hand；　wiped　his　swarthy　forehead　with　it；　and　said；　‘Where　shall　I　commence；　monsieur？'　
　‘Commence；'　was　Monsieur　Defarge's　not　unreasonable　reply；　‘at　the　commencement。'　
　‘I　saw　him　then；　messieurs；'　began　the　mender　of　roads；　a　year　ago　this　running　summer；　underneath　the　carriage　of　the　Marquis；　hanging　by　the　chain。　Behold　the　manner　of　it。　I　leaving　my　work　on　the　road；　the　sun　going　to　bed；　the　carriage　of　the　Marquis　slowly　ascending　the　hill；　he　hanging　by　the　chainlike　this。'　
　Again　the　mender　of　roads　went　through　the　whole　performance；　in　which　he　ought　to　have　been　perfect　by　that　time；　seeing　that　it　had　been　the　infallible　resource　and　indispensable　entertainment　of　his　village　during　a　whole　year。　
　Jacques　One　struck　in；　and　asked　if　he　had　ever　seen　the　man　before？　
　‘Never；'　answered　the　mender　of　roads；　recovering　his　perpendicular。　
　Jacques　Three　demanded　how　he　afterwards　recognised　him　then？　
　‘By　his　tall　figure；'　said　the　mender　of　roads；　softly；　and　with　his　finger　at　his　nose。　‘When　Monsieur　the　Marquis　demands　that　evening；；　‘‘Say；　what　is　he　like？''　I　make　response；　‘‘Tall　as　a　spectre。'''　
　‘You　should　have　said；　short　as　a　dwarf；'　returned　Jacques　Two。　
　‘But　what　did　I　know？　The　deed　was　not　then　accomplished；　neither　did　he　confide　in　me。　Observe！　Under　those　circumstances　even；　I　do　not　offer　my　testimony。　Monsieur　the　Marquis　indicates　me　with　his　finger；　standing　near　our　little　fountain；　and　says；　‘‘To　me！　Bring　that　rascal！''　My　faith；　messieurs；　I　offer　nothing。'　
　‘He　is　right　there；　Jacques；'　murmured　Defarge；　to　him　who　had　interrupted。　‘Go　on！'　
　‘Good！'　said　the　mender　of　roads；　with　an　air　of　mystery。　‘The　tall　man　is　lost；　and　he　is　soughthow　many　months？　Nine；　ten；　eleven？'　
　‘No　matter；　the　number；'　said　Defarge。　‘He　is　well　hidden；　but　at　last　he　is　unluckily　found。　Go　on！'　
　‘I　am　again　at　work　upon　the　hillside；　and　the　sun　is　again　about　to　go　to　bed。　I　am　collecting　my　tools　to　descend　to　my　cottage　down　in　the　village　below；　where　it　is　already　dark；　when　I　raise　my　eyes；　and　see　coming　over　the　hill　six　soldiers。　In　the　midst　of　them　is　a　tall　man　with　his　arms　boundtied　to　his　sideslike　this！'　
　With　the　aid　of　his　indispensable　cap；　he　represented　a　man　with　his　elbows　bound　fast　at　his　hips；　with　cords　that　were　knotted　behind　him。　
　‘I　stand　aside；　messieurs；　by　my　heap　of　stones；　to　see　the　soldiers　and　their　prisoner　pass　（for　it　is　a　solitary　road；　that；　where　any　spectacle　is　well　worth　looking　at）；　and　at　first；　as　they　approach；　I　see　no　more　than　that　they　are　six　soldiers　with　a　tall　man　bound；　and　that　they　are　almost　black　to　my　sightexcept　on　the　side　of　the　sun　going　to　bed　where　they　have　a　red　edge；　messieurs。　Also；　I　see　that　their　long　shadows　are　on　the　hollow　ridge　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road；　and　are　on　the　hill　above　it；　and　are　like　the　shadows　of　giants。　Also；　I　see　that　they　are　covered　with　dust；　and　that　the　dust　moves　with　them　as　they　come；　tramp；　tramp！　But　when　they　advance　quite　near　to　me；　I　recognise　the　tall　man；　and　he　recognises　me。　Ah；　but　he　would　be　well　content　to　precipitate　himself　over　the　hillside　once　again；　as　on　the　evening　when　he　and　I　first　encountered；　close　to　the　same　spot！'　
　He　described　it　as　if　he　were　there；　and　it　was　evident　that　he　saw　it　vividly；　perhaps　he　had　not　seen　much　in　his　life。　
　‘I　do　not　show　the　soldiers　that　I　recognise　the　tall　man；　he　does　not　show　the　soldiers　that　he　recognises　me；　we　do　it；　and　we　know　it；　with　our　eyes。　‘‘Come　on！''　says　the　chief　of　that　company；　pointing　to　the　village；　‘‘bring　him　fast　to　his　tomb！''　and　they　bring　him　faster。　I　follow。　His　arms　are　swelled　because　of　being　bound　so　tight；　his　wooden　shoes　are　large　and　clumsy；　and　he　is　lame。　Because　he　is　lame；　and　consequently　slow；　they　drive　him　with　their　gunslike　this！'　
　He　imitated　the　action　of　a　man's　being　impelled　forward　by　the　butt…ends　of　muskets。　
　‘As　they　descend　the　hill　like　madmen　running　a　race；　he　falls。　They　laugh　and　pick　him　up　again。　His　face　is　bleeding　and　covered　with　dust；　but　he　cannot　touch　it；　thereupon　they　laugh　again。　They　bring　him　into　the　village；　all　the　village　runs　to　look；　they　take　him　past　the　mill；　and　up　to　the　prison；　all　the　village　sees　the　prison　gate　open　in　the　darkness　of　the　night；　and　swallow　himlike　this！'　
　He　opened　his　mouth　as　wide　as　he　could；　and　shut　it　with　a　sounding　snap　of　his　teeth。　Observant　of　his　unwillingness　to　mar　the　effect　by　opening　it　again；　Defarge　said；　‘Go　on；　Jacques。'　
　‘All　the　village；'　pursued　the　mender　of　roads；　on　tiptoe　and　in　a　low　voice；　‘withdraws；　all　the　village　whispers　by　the　fountain；　all　the　village　sleeps；　all　the　village　dreams　of　that　unhappy　one；　within　the　locks　and　bars　of　the　prison　on　the　crag；　and　never　to　come　out　of　it；　except　to　perish。　In　the　morning；　with　my　tools　upon　my　shoulder；　eating　my　morsel　of　black　bread　as　I　go；　I　make　a　circuit　by　the　prison；　on　my　way　to　my　work。　There　I　see　him；　high　up；　behind　the　bars　of　a　lofty　iron　cage；　bloody　and　dusty　as　last　night；　looking　through。　He　has　no　hand　free；　to　wave　to　me；　I　dare　not　call　to　him；　he　regards　me　like　a　dead　man。'　
　Defarge　and　the　three　glanced　darkly　at　one　another。　The　looks　of　all　of　them　were　dark；　repressed；　and　revengeful；　as　they　listened　to　the　countryman's　story；　the　manner　of　all　of　them；　while　it　was　secret；　was　authoritative　too。　They　had　the　air　of　a　rough　tribunal；　Jacques　One　and　Two　sitting　on　the　old　pallet…bed；　each　with　his　chin　resting　on　his　hand；　and　his　eyes　intent　on　the　road…mender；　Jacques　Three；　equally　intent；　on　one　knee　behind　them；　with　his　agitated　hand　always　gliding　over　the　network　of　fine　nerves　about　his　mouth　and　nose；　Defarge　standing　between　them　and　the　narrator；　whom　he　had　stationed　in　the　light　of　the　window；　by　turns　looking　from　him　to　them；　and　from　them　to　him。　
　‘Go　on；　Jacques；'　said　Defarge。　
　‘He　remains　up　there　in　his　iron　cage　some　days。　The　village　looks　at　him　by　stealth；　for　it　is　afraid。　But　it　always　looks　up；　from　a　distance；　at　the　prison　on　the　crag；　and　in　the　evening；　when　the　work　of　the　day　is　achieved　and　it　assembles　to　gossip　at　the　fountain；　all　faces　are　turned　towards　the　prison。　Formerly；　they　were　turned　towards　the　posting…house；　now；　they　are　turned　towards　the　prison。　They　whisper　at　the　fountain；　that　although　condemned　to　death　he　will　not　be　executed；　they　say　that　petitions　have　been　presented　in　Paris；　showing　that　he　was　enraged　and　made　mad　by　the　death　of　his　child；　they　say　that　a　petition　has　been　presented　to　the　King　himself。　What　do　I　know？　It　is　possible。　Perhaps　yes；　perhaps　no。'　
　‘Listen　then；　Jacques；'　Number　One　of　that　name　sternly　interposed。　‘Know　that　a　petition　was　presented　to　the　King　and　Queen。　All　here；　yourself　excepted；　saw　the　King　take　it；　in　his　carriage　in　the　street；　sitting　beside　the　Queen。　It　is　Defarge　whom　you　see　here；　who；　at　the　hazard　of　his　life；　darted　out　before　the　horses；　with　the　petition　in　his　hand。'　
　‘And　once　again　listen；　Jacques！'　said　the　kneeling　Number　Three：　his　fingers　ever　wandering　over　and　over　those　fine　nerves；　with　a　strikingly　greedy　air；　as　if　he　hungered　for　some　thingthat　was　neither　food　nor　drink；　‘the　guard；　horse　and　foot；　surrounded　the　petitioner；　and　struck　him　blows。　You　hear？'　
　‘I　hear；　messieurs。'　
‘Go　on　then；'　said　Defarge。　
　‘Again；　on　the　other　hand；　they　whisper　at　the　fountain；'　resumed　the　countryman；　‘that　he　is　brought　down　into　our　country　to　be　executed　on　the　spot；　and　that　he　will　very　certainly　be　executed。　They　even　whisper　that　because　he　has　slain　Monseigneur；　and　because　Monseigneur　was　the　father　of　his　tenantsserfswhat　you　willhe　will　be　executed　as　a　parricide。　One　old　man　says　at　the　fountain；　that　his　right　hand；　armed　with　the　knife；　will　be　burnt　off　before　his　face；　that；　into　wounds　which　will　be　made　in　his　arms；　his　breast；　and　his　legs；　there　will　be　poured　boiling　oil；　melted　lead；　hot　resin；　wax；　and　sulphur；　finally；　that　he　will　be　torn　limb　from　limb　by　four　strong　horses。　That　old　man　says；　all　this　was　actually　done　to　a　prisoner　who　made　an　attempt　on　the　life　of　the　late　King；　Louis　Fifteen。　But　how　do　I　know　if　he　lies？　
I　am　not　a　scholar。'　
　‘Listen　once　again　then；　Jacques！'　said　the　man　with　the　restless　hand　and　the　craving　air。　‘The　name　of　that　prisoner　was　Damiens；　and　it　was　all　done　in　open　day；　in　the　open　streets　of　this　city　of　Paris；　and　nothing　was　more　noticed　in　the　vast　concourse　that　saw　it　done；　than　the　crowd　of　ladies　of　quality　and　fashion；　who　were　full　of　eager　attention　to　the　lastto　the　last；　Jacques；　prolonged　until　nightfall；　when　he　had　lost　two　legs　and　an　arm；　and　still　breathed！　And　it　was　donewhy；　how　old　are　you？'　
　‘Thirty…five；'　said　the　mender　of　roads；　who　looked　sixty。　
　‘It　was　done　when　you　were　more　than　ten　years　old；　you　might　have　seen　it。'　
　‘Enough！'　said　Defarge；　with　grim　impatience。　‘Long　live　the　Devil！　Go　on。'　
　‘Well！　Some　whisper　this；　some　whisper　that；　they　sped　of　nothing　else；　even　the　fountain　appears　to　fall　to　that　tune。　At　length；　on　Sunday　night　when　all　the　village　is　asleep；　come　soldiers；　winding　down　from　the　prison；　and　their　guns　ring　on　the　stones　of　the　little　street。　Workmen　dig；　workmen　hammer；　soldiers　laugh　and　sing；　in　the　morning；　by　the　fountain；　there　is　raised　a　gallows　forty　feet　high；　poisoning　the　water。'　
　The　mender　of　roads　looked　through　rather　than　at　the　low　ceiling；　and　pointed　as　if　he　saw　the　gallows　somewhere　in　the　sky。　
　‘All　work　is　stopped；　all　assemble　there；　nobody　leads　the　cows　out；　the　cows　are　there　with　the　rest。　At　midday；　the　roll　of　drums。　Soldiers　have　marched　into　the　prison　in　the　night；　and　he