a tale of two cities(双城记)-第34章

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ing；　with　an　engaging　smile；　‘Good　day；　Jacques！'　Defarge　stopped　short；　and　stared　at　him。　
　‘Good　day；　Jacques！'　the　spy　repeated；　with　not　quite　so　much　confidence；　or　quite　so　easy　a　smile　under　the　stare。　
　‘You　deceive　yourself；　monsieur；'　returned　the　keeper　of　the　wine…shop。　‘You　mistake　me　for　another。　That　is　not　my　name。　I　am　Ernest　Defarge。'　
　‘It　is　all　the　same；'　said　the　spy；　airily；　but　discomfited　too：　‘good　day！'　
　‘Good　day！'　answered　Defarge；　drily。　
　‘I　was　saying　to　madame；　with　whom　I　had　the　pleasure　of　chatting　when　you　entered；　that　they　tell　me　there　isand　no　wonder！much　sympathy　and　anger　in　Saint　Antoine；　touching　the　unhappy　fate　of　poor　Gaspard。'　
　‘No　one　has　told　me　so；'　said　Defarge；　shaking　his　head。　‘I　know　nothing　of　it。'　
　Having　said　it；　he　passed　behind　the　little　counter；　and　stood　with　his　hand　on　the　back　of　his　wife's　chair；　looking　over　that　barrier　at　the　person　to　whom　they　were　both　opposed；　and　whom　either　of　them　would　have　shot　with　the　greatest　satisfaction。　
　The　spy；　well　used　to　his　business；　did　not　change　his　unconscious　attitude；　but　drained　his　little　glass　of　cognac；　took　a　sip　of　fresh　water；　and　asked　for　another　glass　of　cognac。　Madame　Defarge　poured　it　out　for　him；　took　to　her　knitting　again；　and　hummed　a　little　song　over　it。　
　‘You　seem　to　know　this　quarter　well；　that　is　to　say；　better　than　I　do？'　observed　Defarge。　
　‘Not　at　all；　but　I　hope　to　know　it　better。　I　am　so　profoundly　interested　in　its　miserable　inhabitants。'　
　‘Hah！'　muttered　Defarge。　
　‘The　pleasure　of　conversing　with　you；　Monsieur　Defarge；　recalls　to　me；'　pursued　the　spy；　‘that　I　have　the　honour　of　cherishing　some　interesting　associations　with　your　name。'　
　‘Indeed！'　said　Defarge；　with　much　indifference。　
　‘Yes；　indeed。　When　Dr。　Manette　was　released；　you；　his　old　domestic；　had　the　charge　of　him；　I　know。　He　was　delivered　to　you。　You　see　I　am　informed　of　the　circumstances？'　
　‘Such　is　the　fact；　certainly；'　said　Defarge。　He　had　had　it　conveyed　to　him；　in　an　accidental　touch　of　his　wife's　elbow　as　she　knitted　and　warbled；　that　he　would　do　best　to　answer；　but　always　with　brevity。　
　‘It　was　to　you；'　said　the　spy；　‘that　his　daughter　came；　and　it　was　from　your　care　that　his　daughter　took　him；　accompanied　by　a　neat　brown　monsieur；　how　is　he　called？in　a　little　wigLorryof　the　bank　of　Tellson　and　Companyover　to　England。'　
　‘Such　is　the　fact；'　repeated　Defarge。　
　‘Very　interesting　remembrances'　said　the　spy。　‘I　have　known　Dr。　Manette　and　his　daughter；　in　England。'　
　‘Yes？'　said　Defarge。　
　‘You　don't　hear　much　about　them　now？'　said　the　spy。　
‘No；'　said　Defarge。　
　‘In　effect；'　madame　struck　in；　looking　up　from　her　work　and　her　little　song；　‘we　never　hear　about　them。　We　received　the　news　of　their　safe　arrival；　and　perhaps　another　letter；　or　perhaps　Mo；　but；　since　then；　they　have　gradually　taken　their　road　in　lifewe；　oursand　we　have　held　no　correspondence。'　
　‘Perfectly　so；　madame；'　replied　the　spy。　‘She　is　going　to　be　married。'　
　‘Going？'　echoed　madame。　‘She　was　pretty　enough　to　have　been　married　long　ago。　You　English　are　cold；　it　seems　to　me。'　
　‘Oh！　You　know　I　am　English。'　
　‘I　perceive　your　tongue　is；'　returned　madame；　‘and　what　the　tongue　is；　I　suppose　the　man　is。'　
　He　did　not　take　the　identification　as　a　compliment；　but　he　made　the　best　of　it；　and　turned　it　off　with　a　laugh。　After　sipping　his　cognac　to　the　end；　he　added：　
　‘Yes；　Miss　Manette　is　going　to　be　married。　But　not　to　an　Englishman；　to　one　who；　like　herself；　is　French　by　birth。　And　speaking　of　Gaspard　（ah；　poor　Gaspard！　It　was　cruel；　cruel！）　it　is　a　curious　thing　that　she　is　going　to　marry　the　nephew　of'　Monsieur　the　Marquis；　for　whom　Gaspard　was　exalted　to　that　height　of　so　many　feet；　in　other　words；　the　present　Marquis。　But　he　lives　unknown　in　England；　he　is　no　Marquis　there；　he　is　Mr。　Charles　Darnay。　D'Aulnais　is　the　name　of　his　mother's　family。'　
　Madame　Defarge　knitted　steadily；　but　the　intelligence　had　a　palpable　effect　upon　her　husband。　Do　what　he　would；　behind　the　little　counter；　as　to　the　striking　of　a　light　and　the　lighting　of　his　pipe；　he　was　troubled；　and　his　hand　was　not　trustworthy。　The　spy　would　have　been　no　spy　if　he　had　failed　to　see　it；　or　to　record　it　in　his　mind。　
　Having　made；　at　least；　this　one　hit；　whatever　it　might　prove　to　be　worth；　and　no　customers　coming　in　to　help　him　to　any　other；　Mr。　Barsad　paid　for　what　he　had　drunk；　and　took　his　leave：　taking　occasion　to　say；　in　a　genteel　manner；　before　he　departed；　that　he　looked　forward　to　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Monsieur　and　Madame　Defarge　again。　For　some　minutes　after　he　had　emerged　into　the　outer　presence　of　Saint　Antoine；　the　husband　and　wife　remained　exactly　as　he　had　left　them；　lest　he　should　come　back。　
　‘Can　it　be　true；'　said　Defarge；　in　a　low　voice；　looking　down　at　his　wife　as　he　stood　smoking　with　his　hand　on　the　back　of　her　chair：　‘what　he　has　said　of　Ma'amselle　Manette？'　
　‘As　he　has　said　it；'　returned　madame；　lifting　her　eyebrows　a　little；　‘it　is　probably　false。　But　it　may　be　true。'　
　‘If　it　is'Defarge　began；　and　stopped。　
‘If　it　is？'　repeated　his　wife。　
　‘And　if　it　does　come；　while　we　live　to　see　it　triumphI　hope；　for　her　sake；　Destiny　will　keep　her　husband　out　of　France。'　
　‘Her　husband's　destiny；'　said　Madame　Defarge；　with　her　usual　composure；　‘will　take　him　where　he　is　to　go；　and　will　lead　him　to　the　end　that　is　to　end　him。　That　is　all　I　know。'　
　‘But　it　is　very　strangenow；　at　least；　is　it　not　very　strange'said　Defarge；　rather　pleading　with　his　wife　to　induce　her　to　admit　it；　‘that；　after　all　our　sympathy　for　Monsieur　her　father；　and　herself；　her　husband's　name　should　be　proscribed　under　your　hand　at　this　moment；　by　the　side　of　that　infernal　dog's　who　has　just　left　us？'　
　‘Stranger　things　than　that　will　happen　when　it　does　come；'　answered　madame。　‘I　have　them　both　here；　of　a　certainty；　and　they　are　both　here　for　their　merits；　that　is　enough。'　
　She　rolled　up　her　knitting　when　she　had　said　those　words；　and　presently　took　the　rose　out　of　the　handkerchief　that　was　wound　about　her　head。　Either　Saint　Antoine　had　an　instinctive　sense　that　the　objectionable　decoration　was　gone　or　Saint　Antoine　was　on　the　watch　for　its　disappearance；　howbeit；　the　Saint　took　courage　to　lounge　in；　very　shortly　afterwards；　and　the　wine…shop　recovered　its　habitual　aspect。　
　In　the　evening；　at　which　season　of　all　others　Saint　Antoine　turned　himself　inside　out；　and　sat　on　doorsteps　and　window…ledges；　and　came　to　the　corners　of　vile　streets　and　courts；　for　a　breath　of　air；　Madame　Defarge　with　her　work　in　her　hand　was　accustomed　to　pass　from　place　to　place　and　from　group　to　group：　a　Missionarythere　were　many　like　hersuch　as　the　world　will　do　well　never　to　breed　again。　All　the　women　knitted。　They　knitted　worthless　things；　but；　the　mechanical　work　was　a　mechanical　substitute　for　eating　and　drinking；　the　hands　moved　for　the　jaws　and　the　digestive　apparatus：　if　the　bony　fingers　had　been　still；　the　stomachs　would　have　been　more　famine…pinched。　
　But；　as　the　fingers　went；　the　eyes　went；　and　the　thoughts。　And　as　Madame　Defarge　moved　on　from　group　to　group；　all　three　went　quicker　and　fiercer　among　every　little　knot　of　women　that　she　had　spoken　with；　and　left　behind。　
　Her　husband　smoked　at　his　door；　looking　after　her　with　admiration。　‘A　great　woman；'　said　he；　‘a　strong　woman；　a　grand　woman；　a　frightfully　grand　woman！'　
　Darkness　closed　around；　and　then　came　the　ringing　of　church　bells　and　the　distant　beating　of　the　military　drums　in　the　Palace　Court…Yard；　as　the　women　sat　knitting；　knitting。　Darkness　encompassed　them。　Another　darkness　was　closing　in　as　surely；　when　the　church　bells；　then　ringing　pleasantly　in　many　an　airy　steeple　over　France；　should　be　melted　into　thundering　cannon；　when　the　military　drums　should　be　beating　to　drown　a　wretched　voice；　that　night　all…potent　as　the　voice　of　Power　and　Plenty；　Freedom　and　Life。　So　much　was　closing　in　about　the　women　who　sat　knitting；　knitting；　that　they　their　very　selves　were　closing　in　around　a　structure　yet　unbuilt；　where　they　were　to　sit　knitting；　knitting；　counting　dropping　heads。　

CHAPTER　XVIII
Nine　Days
THE　marriage…day　was　shining　brightly；　and　they　were　ready　outside　the　closed　door　of　the　Doctor's　room；　where　he　was　speaking　with　Charles　Darnay。　They　were　ready　to　go　to　church；　the　beautiful　bride；　Mr。　Lorry；　and　Miss　Prossto　whom　the　event；　through　a　gradual　process　of　reconcilement　to　the　inevitable；　would　have　been　one　of　absolute　bliss；　but　for　the　yet　lingering　consideration　that　her　brother　Solomon　should　have　been　the　bridegroom。　
　‘And　so；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　who　could　not　sufficiently　admire　the　bride；　and　who　had　been　moving　round　her　to　take　in　every　point　of　her　quiet；　pretty　dress；　‘and　so　it　was　for　this；　my　sweet　Lucie；　that　I　brought　you　across　the　Channel；　such　a　baby！　Lord　bless　me！　How　little　I　thought　what　I　was　doing！　How　lightly　I　valued　the　obligation　I　was　conferring　on　my　friend　Mr。　Charles！'　
　‘You　didn't　mean　it；'　remarked　the　matter…of…fact　Miss　Pross；　‘and　therefore　how　could　you　know　it？　Nonsense！'　
　‘Really？　Well；　but　don't　cry；'　said　the　gentle　Mr。　Lorry。　
‘I　am　not　crying；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘you　are。　
　‘I；　my　Pross？'　（By　this　time；　Mr。　Lorry　dared　to　be　pleasant　with　her；　on　occasion。）　
　‘You　were；　just　now；　I　saw　you　do　it；　and　I　don't　wonder　at　it。　Such　a　present　of　plate　as　you　have　made　‘em；　is　enough　to　bring　tears　into　anybody's　eyes。　There's　not　a　fork　or　a　spoon　in　the　collection；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘that　I　didn't　cry　over；　last　night　after　the　box　came；　till　I　couldn't　see　it。'　
　‘I　am　highly　gratified；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘though；　upon　my　honour；　I　had　no　intention　of　rendering　those　trifling　articles　of　remembrance　invisible　to　any　one。　Dear　me！　This　is　an　occasion　that　makes　a　man　speculate　on　all　he　has　lost。　Dear；　dear；　dear！　To　think　that　there　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry；　any　time　these　fifty　years　almost！'　
　‘Not　at　all！'　From　Miss　Pross。　
　‘You　think　there　never　might　have　been　a　Mrs。　Lorry？'　asked　the　gentleman　of　that　name。　
　‘Pooh！'　rejoined　Miss　Pross；　‘you　were　a　bachelor　in　your　cradle。'　
‘Well！'　observed　Mr。　Lorry；　beamingly　adjusting　his　little　wig；　‘that　seems　probable；　too。　
　‘And　you　were　cut　out　for　a　bachelor；'　pursued　Miss　Pross；　‘before　you　were　put　in　your　cradle。'　
　‘Then；　I　think；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘that　I　was　very　unhandsomely　dealt　with；　and　that　I　ought　to　have　had　a　voice　in　the　selection　of　my　pattern。　Enough！　Now；　my　dear　Lucie；'　drawing　his　arm　soothingly　round　her　waist；　‘I　hear　them　moving　in　the　next　room；　and　Miss　Pross　and　I；　as　two　formal　folks　of　business；　are　anxious　not　to　lose　the　final　opportunity　of　saying　something　to　you　that　you　wish　to　hear。　You　leave　your　good　father；　my　dear；　in　hands　as　earnest　and　as　loving　as　your　own；　he　shall　be　taken　every　conceivable　care　of；　during　the　next　fortnight；　while　you　are　in　Warwickshire　and　thereabouts；　even　Tellson's　shall　go　to　the　wall　（comparatively　speaking）　before　him。　And　when；　at　the　fortnight's　end；　he　comes　to　join　you　and　your　beloved　husband；　on　your　other　fortnight's　trip　in　Wales；　you　shall　say　that　we　have　sent　him　to　you　in　the　best　health　and　in　the　happiest　frame。　Now　I　hear　Somebody's　step　coming　to　the　door。　Let　me　kiss　my　dear　girl　with　an　old…fashioned　bachelor　blessing；　be