a tale of two cities(双城记)-第32章

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　‘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　is　in　the　midst　of　many　soldiers。　He　is　bound　as　before；　and　in　his　mouth　there　is　a　gagtied　so；　with　a　tight　string；　making　him　look　almost　as　if　he　laughed。'　He　suggested　it；　by　creasing　his　face　with　his　two　thumbs；　from　the　corners　of　his　mouth　to　his　ears。　‘On　the　top　of　the　gallows　is　fixed　the　knife；　blade　upwards；　with　its　point　in　the　air。　He　is　hanged　there　forty　feet　highand　is　left　hanging；　poisoning　the　water。　
　They　looked　at　one　another；　as　he　used　his　blue　cap　to　wipe　his　face；　on　which　the　perspiration　had　started　afresh　while　he　recalled　the　spectacle。　
　‘It　is　frightful；　messieurs。　How　can　the　women　and　the　children　draw　water！　Who　can　gossip　of　an　evening；　under　that　shadow！　Under　it；　have　I　said？　When　I　left　the　village；　Monday　evening　as　the　sun　was　going　to　bed；　and　looked　back　from　the　hill；　the　shadow　struck　across　the　church；　across　the　mill；　across　the　prisonseemed　to　strike　across　the　earth；　messieurs；　to　where　the　sky　rests　upon　it！'　
　The　hungry　man　gnawed　one　of　his　fingers　as　he　looked　at　the　other　three；　and　his　finger　quivered　with　the　craving　that　was　on　him。　
　‘That's　all；　messieurs。　I　left　at　sunset　（as　I　had　been　warned　to　do）；　and　I　walked　on；　that　night　and　half　next　day；　until　I　met　（as　I　was　warned　I　should）　this　comrade。　With　him；　I　came　on；　now　riding　and　now　walking；　through　the　rest　of　yesterday　and　through　last　night。　And　here　you　see　me！'　
　After　a　gloomy　silence；　the　first　Jacques　said；　‘Good！　You　have　acted　and　recounted　faithfully。　Will　you　wait　for　us　a　little；　outside　the　door？'　
　‘Very　willingly；'　said　the　mender　of　roads。　Whom　Defarge　escorted　to　the　top　of　the　stairs；　and；　leaving　seated　there；　returned。　
　The　three　had　risen；　and　their　heads　were　together　when　he　came　back　to　the　garret。　
　‘How　say　you；　Jacques？'　demanded　Number　One。　‘To　be　registered？'　
　‘To　be　registered；　as　doomed　to　destruction；'　returned　Defarge。　
　‘Magnificent！'　croaked　the　man　with　the　craving。　
‘The　chateau　and　all　the　race？'　inquired　the　first。　
　‘The　chateau　and　all　the　race；'　returned　Defarge。　‘Extermination。'　
　The　hungry　man　repeated；　in　a　rapturous　croak；　‘Magnificent！'　and　began　gnawing　another　finger。　
　‘Are　you　sure；'　asked　Jacques　Two；　of　Defarge；　‘that　no　embarrassment　can　arise　from　our　manner　of　keeping　the　register？　Without　doubt　it　is　safe；　for　no　one　beyond　ourselves　can　decipher　it；　but　shall　we　always　be　able　to　decipher　it　or；　I　ought　to　say；　will　she？'　
　‘Jacques；'　returned　Defarge；　drawing　himself　up；　‘if　madame　my　wife　undertook　to　keep　the　register　in　her　memory　alone；　she　would　not　lose　a　word　of　itnot　a　syllable　of　it。　Knitted；　in　her　own　stitches　and　her　own　symbols；　it　will　always　be　as　plain　to　her　as　the　sun。　Confide　in　Madame　Defarge。　It　would　be　easier　for　the　weakest　poltroon　that　lives；　to　erase　himself　from　existence；　than　to　erase　one　letter　of　his　name　or　crimes　from　the　knitted　register　of　Madame　Defarge。'　
　There　was　a　murmur　of　confidence　and　approval；　and　then　the　man　who　hungered；　asked：　‘Is　this　rustic　to　be　sent　back　soon？　I　hope　so。　He　is　very　simple；　is　he　not　a　little　dangerous？'　
　‘He　knows　nothing；'　said　Defarge；　‘at　least　nothing　more　than　would　easily　elevate　himself　to　gallows　of　the　same　height。　I　charge　myself　with　him；　let　him　remain　with　me；　I　will　take　care　of　him；　and　set　him　on　his　road。　He　wishes　to　see　the　fine　worldthe　King；　the　Queen；　and　Court；　let　him　see　them　on　Sunday。　
　‘What？'　exclaimed　the　hungry　man；　staring。　‘Is　it　a　good　sign；　that　he　wishes　to　see　Royalty　and　Nobility？'　
　‘Jacques；'　said　Defarge；　judiciously　show　a　cat　milk；　if　you　wish　her　to　thirst　for　it。　Judiciously　show　a　dog　his　natural　prey；　if　you　wish　him　to　bring　it　down　one　day。'　
　Nothing　more　was　said；　and　the　mender　of　roads；　being　found　already　dozing　on　the　topmost　stair；　was　advised　to　lay　himself　down　on　the　pallet…bed　and　take　some　rest。　He　needed　no　persuasion；　and　was　soon　asleep。　
　Worse　quarters　than　Defarge's　wine…shop；　could　easily　have　been　found　in　Paris　for　a　provincial　slave　of　that　degree。　Saving　for　a　mysterious　dread　of　madame　by　which　he　was　constantly　haunted；　his　life　was　very　new　and　agreeable。　But；　madame　sat　all　day　at　her　counter；　so　expressly　unconscious　of　him；　and　so　particularly　determined　not　to　perceive　that　his　being　there　had　any　connexion　with　anything　below　the　surface；　that　he　shook　in　his　wooden　shoes　whenever　his　eye　lighted　on　her。　For；　he　contended　with　himself　that　it　was　impossible　to　foresee　what　that　lady　might　pretend　next；　and　he　felt　assured　that　if　she　should　take　it　into　her　brightly　ornamented　head　to　pretend　that　she　had　seen　him　do　a　murder　and　afterwards　Ray　the　victim；　she　would　infallibly　go　through　with　it　until　the　play　was　played　out。　
　Therefore；　when　Sunday　came；　the　mender　of　roads　was　not　enchanted　（though　he　said　he　was）　to　find　that　madame　was　to　accompany　monsieur　and　himself　to　Versailles。　It　was　additionally　disconcerting　to　have　madame　knitting　all　the　way　there；　in　a　public　conveyance；　it　was　additionally　disconcerting　yet；　to　have　madame　in　the　crowd　in　the　afternoon；　still　with　her　knitting　in　her　hands　as　the　crowd　waited　to　see　the　carriage　of　the　King　and　Queen。　
　‘You　work　hard；　madame；'　said　a　man　near　her。　
　‘Yes；'　answered　Madame　Defarge；　‘I　have　a　good　deal　to　do。'　
　‘What　do　you　make；　madame？'　
　‘Many　things。'　
　‘For　instance'　
　‘For　instance；'　returned　Madame　Defarge；　composedly；　‘shrouds。'　
　The　man　moved　a　little　further　away；　as　soon　as　he　could；　and　the　mender　of　roads　fanned　himself　with　his　blue　cap：　feeling　it　mightily　close　and　oppressive。　If　he　needed　a　King　and　Queen　to　restore　him；　he　was　fortunate　in　having　his　remedy　at　hand；　for；　soon　the　large…faced　King　and　the　fair…faced　Queen　came　in　their　golden　coach；　attended　by　the　shining　Bull's　Eye　of　their　Court；　a　glittering　multitude　of　laughing　ladies　and　fine　lords；　and　in　jewels　and　silks　and　powder　and　splendour　and　elegantly　spurning　figures　and　handsomely　disdainful　faces　of　both　sexes；　the　mender　of　roads　bathed　himself；　so　much　to　his　temporary　intoxication；　that　he　cried　Long　live　the　King；　Long　live　the　Queen；　Long　live　everybody　and　everything！　as　if　he　had　never　heard　of　ubiquitous　Jacques　in　his　time。　Then；　there　were　gardens；　courtyards；　terraces；　fountains；　green　banks；　more　King　and　Queen；　more　Bull's　Eye；　more　lords　and　ladies；　more　Long　live　they　all！　until　he　absolutely　wept　with　sentiment。　During　the　whole　of　this　scene；　which　lasted　some　three　hours；　he　had　plenty　of　shouting　and　weeping　and　sentimental　company；　and　I　throughout　Defarge　held　him　by　the　collar；　as　if　to　restrain　him　from　flying　at　the　objects　of　his　brief　devotion　and　tearing　them　pieces。　
　‘Bravo'　said　Defarge；　clapping　him　on　the　back　when　it　was　Over；　like　a　patron；　‘you　are　a　good　boy！'　
　The　mender　of　roads　was　now　coming　to　himself；　and　was　mistrustful　of　having　made　a　mistake　in　his　late　demonstrations；　but　no。　
　‘You　are　the　fellow　we　want；'　said　Defarge；　in　his　ear；　‘you　make　these　fools　believe　that　it　will　last　for　ever。　Then；　they　are　the　more　insolent；　and　it　is　the　nearer　ended。'　
　‘Hey！'　cried　the　mender　of　roads；　reflectively；　‘that's　true。'　‘These　fools　know　nothing。　While　they　despise　your　breath；　and　would　stop　it　for　ever　and　ever；　in　you　or　in　a　hundred　like　you　rather　than　in　one　of　their　own　horses　or　dogs；　they　only　know　what　your　breath　tells　them。　Let　it　deceive　them；　then；　a　little　longer；　it　cannot　deceive　them　too　much。'　
　Madame　Defarge　looked　superciliously　at　the　client；　and　nodded　in　confirmation。　
　‘As　to　you；'　said　she；　‘you　would　shout　and　shed　tears　for　anything；　if　it　made　a　show　and　a　noise。　Say！　Would　you　not？'　
　‘Truly；　madame；　I　think　so。　For　the　moment。'　
　‘If　you　were　shown　a　great　heap　of　dolls；　and　were　set　upon　them　to　pluck　them　to　pieces　and　despoil　them　for　your　own　advantage；　you　would　pick　out　the　richest　and　gayest。　Say！　Would　you　not？'　
　‘Truly　yes；　madame。'　
　‘Yes。　And　if　you　were　shown　a　flock　of　birds；　unable　to　fly；　and　were　set　upon　them　to　strip　them　of　their　feathers　for　your　own　advantage；　you　would　set　upon　the　birds　of　the　finest　feathers；　would　you　not？'　
　‘It　is　true；　madame。'　
　‘You　have　seen　both　dolls　and　birds　today；'　said　Madame　Defarge；　with　a　wave　of　her　hand　towards　the　place　where　they　had　last　been　apparent；　‘now；　go　home！'　

CHAPTER　XVI
Still　knitting
　
MADAME　DEFARGE　and　monsieur　her　husband　returned　amicably　to　the　bosom　of　Saint　Antoine；　while　a　speck　in　a　blue　cap　toiled　through　the　darkness；　and　through　the　dust；　and　down　the　weary　miles　of　avenue　by　the　wayside；　slowly　tending　towards　that　point　of　the　compass　where　the　chateau　of　Monsieur　the　Marquis；　now　in　his　grave；　listened　to　the　whispering　trees。　Such　ample　leisure　had　the　stone　faces；　now；　for　listening　to　the　trees　and　to　the　fountain；　that　the　few　village　scarecrows　who；　in　their　quest　for　herbs　to　eat　and　fragments　of　dead　stick　to　burn；　strayed　within　sight　of　the　great　stone　courtyard　and　terrace　staircase；　had　it　borne　in　upon　their　starved　fancy　that　the　expression　of　the　faces　was　altered。　A　rumour　just　lived　in　the　villagehad　a　faint　and　bare　existence　there；　as　its　people　had　that　when　the　knife　struck　home；　the　faces　changed；　from　faces　of　pride　to　faces　of　anger　and　pain　also；　that　when　that　dangling　figure　was　hauled　up　forty　fee　above　the　fountain；　they　changed　again；　and　bore　a　cruel　look　of　being　avenged；　which　they　would　henceforth　bear　for　ever。　In　the　stone　face　over　the　great　window　of　the　bed…chamber　where　the　murder　was　done；　two　fine　dints　were　pointed　out　in　the　sculptured　nose；　which　everybody　recognised；　and　which　nobody　had　seen　of　old；　and　on　the　scarce　occasions　when　two　or　three　ragged　peasants　emerged　from　the　crowd　to　take　a　hurried　peep　at　Monsieur　the　Marquis　petrified；　a　skinny　finger　would　not　have　pointed　to　it　for　a　minute；　before　they　all　started　away　among　the　moss　and　leaves；　like　the　more　fortunate　hares　who　could　find　a　living　there。　
　Chateau　and　hut；　stone　face　and　dangling　figure；　the　red　stain　on　the　stone　floor；　and　the　pure　water　in　the　village　wellthousands　of　acres　of　landa　whole　province　of　Franceall　France　itselflay　under　the　night　sky；　concentrated　into　a　faint　hairbreadth　line。　So　does　a　whole　world；　with　all　its　greatnesses　and　littlenesses；　lie　in　a　twinkling　star。　And　as　mere　human　knowledge　can　split　a　ray　of　light　and　analyse　the　manner　of　its　composition；　so；　sublimer　intelligences　may　read　in　the　feeble　shining　of　this　earth　of　ours；　every　thought　and　act；　every　vice　and　virtue；　of　every　responsible　creature　on　it。　
　The　Defarges；　husband　and　wife；　came　lumbering　under　the　starlight；　in　their　public　vehicle；　to　that　gate　of　Paris　whereunto　their　journey　naturally　tended。　There　was　the　usual　stoppage　at　the　barrier　guardhouse；　and　the　usual　lanterns　came　glancing　forth　for　the　usual　examination　and　inquiry。　Monsieur　Defarge　alighted；　knowing　one　or　two　of　the　soldiery　there；　and　one　of　the　police。　The　latter　he　was　intimate　with；　and　affectionately　embraced。　
　When　Saint　Antoine　had　again　enfolded　the　Defarges　in　his　d