a tale of two cities(双城记)-第43章

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tle　stiff　about　the　joints？　Why；　I　am　a　boy；　sir；　to　half　a　dozen　old　codgers　here！'　
　‘How　I　admire　the　gallantry　of　your　youthful　spirit；　Mr。　Lorry。'　
　‘Tut！　Nonsense；　sir！And；　my　dear　Charles；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　glancing　at　the　House　again；　‘you　are　to　remember；　that　getting　things　out　of　Paris　at　this　present　time；　no　matter　what　things；　is　next　to　an　impossibility。　Papers　and　precious　matters　were　this　very　day　brought　to　us　here　（I　speak　in　strict　confidence；　it　is　not　business…like　to　whisper　it；　even　to　you）；　by　the　strangest　bearers　you　cap　imagine；　every　one　of　whom　had　his　head　hanging　on　by　a　single　hair　as　he　passed　the　Barriers。　At　another　time；　our　parcels　would　come　and　go；　as　easily　as　in　business…like　Old　England；　but　now；　everything　is　stopped。'　
　‘And　do　you　really　go　to…night？'　
　‘I　really　go　to…night；　for　the　case　has　become　too　pressing　to　admit　of　delay。'　
　‘And　do　you　take　no　one　with　you？'　
　‘All　sorts　of　people　have　been　proposed　to　me；　but　I　will　have　nothing　to　say　to　any　of　them。　I　intend　to　take　Jerry。　Jerry　has　been　my　body…guard　on　Sunday　nights　for　a　long　time　past；　and　I　am　used　to　him。　Nobody　will　suspect　Jerry　of　being　anything　but　an　English　bull…dog；　or　of　having　any　design　in　his　head　but　to　fly　at　anybody　who　touches　his　master。'　
　‘I　must　say　again　that　I　heartily　admire　your　gallantry　and　youthfulness。'　
　‘I　must　say　again；　nonsense；　nonsense！　When　I　have　executed　this　little　commission；　I　shall；　perhaps；　accept　Tellson's　proposal　to　retire　and　live　at　my　ease。　Time　enough；　then；　to　think　about　growing　old。'　
　This　dialogue　had　taken　place　at　Mr。　Lorry's　usual　desk；　with　Monseigneur　swarming　within　a　yard　or　two　of　it；　boastful　of　what　he　would　do　to　avenge　himself　on　the　rascal…people　before　long。　It　was　too　much　the　way　of　Monseigneur　under　his　reverses　as　a　refugee；　and　it　was　much　too　much　the　way　of　native　British　orthodoxy；　to　talk　of　this　terrible　Revolution　as　if　it　were　the　one　only　harvest　ever　known　under　the　skies　that　had　not　been　sownas　if　nothing　had　ever　been　done；　or　omitted　to　be　done；　that　had　led　to　itas　if　observers　of　the　wretched　millions　in　France；　and　of　the　misused　and　perverted　resources　that　should　have　made　them　prosperous；　had　not　seen　it　inevitably　coming；　years　before；　and　had　not　in　plain　words　recorded　what　they　saw。　Such　vapouring；　combined　with　the　extravagant　plots　of　Monseigneur　for　the　restoration　of　a　state　of　things　that　had　utterly　exhausted　itself；　and　worn　out　Heaven　and　earth　as　well　as　itself；　was　hard　to　be　endured　without　some　remonstrance　by　any　sane　man　who　knew　the　truth。　And　it　was　such　vapouring　all　about　his　ears；　like　a　troublesome　confusion　of　blood　in　his　own　head；　added　to　a　latent　uneasiness　in　his　mind；　which　had　already　made　Charles　Darnay　restless；　and　which　still　kept　him　so。　
　Among　the　talkers；　was　Stryver；　of　the　King's　Bench　Bar；　far　on　his　way　to　state　promotion；　and；　therefore；　loud　on　the　theme：　broaching　to　Monseigneur；　his　devices　for　blowing　the　people　up　and　exterminating　them　from　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　doing　without　them：　and　for　accomplishing　many　similar　objects　akin　in　their　nature　to　the　abolition　of　eagles　by　sprinkling　salt　on　the　tails　of　the　race。　Him；　Darnay　heard　with　a　particular　feeling　of　objection；　and　Darnay　stood　divided　between　going　away　that　he　might　hear　no　more；　and　remaining　to　interpose　his　word；　when　the　thing　that　was　to　be　went　on　to　shape　itself　out。　
　The　House　approached　Mr。　Lorry；　and　laying　a　soiled　and　unopened　letter　before　him；　asked　if　he　had　yet　discovered　any　traces　of　the　person　to　whom　it　was　addressed？　The　House　laid　the　letter　down　so　close　to　Darnay　that　he　saw　the　directionthe　more　quickly　because　it　was　his　own　right　name。　The　address；　turned　into　English；　ran：　
　‘Very　pressing。　To　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis　St。　Evrémonde；　of　France。　Confided　to　the　cares　of　Messrs。　Tellson　and　Go。；　Bankers；　London；　England。'　
　On　the　marriage　morning；　Dr。　Manette　had　made　it　his　one　urgent　and　express　request　to　Charles　Darnay；　that　the　secret　of　this　name　should　beunless　he；　the　Doctor；　dissolved　the　obligationkept　inviolate　between　them。　Nobody　else　knew　it　to　be　his　name；　his　own　wife　had　no　suspicion　of　the　fact；　Mr。　Lorry　could　have　none。　
　‘No；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　in　reply　to　the　House；　‘I　have　referred　it；　I　think；　to　everybody　now　here；　and　no　one　can　tell　me　where　this　gentleman　is　to　be　found。'　
　The　hands　of　the　clock　verging　upon　the　hour　of　closing　the　Bank；　there　was　a　general　set　of　the　current　of　talkers　past　Mr。　Lorry's　desk。　He　held　the　letter　out　inquiringly；　and　Monseigneur　looked　at　it；　in　the　person　of　this　plotting　and　indignant　refugee；　and　Monseigneur　looked　at　it；　in　the　person　of　that　plotting　and　indignant　refugee；　and　This；　That；　and　The　Other；　all　had　something　disparaging　to　say；　in　French　or　in　English；　concerning　the　Marquis　who　was　not　to　be　found。　
　‘Nephew；　I　believebut　in　any　case　degenerate　successorof　the　polished　Marquis　who　was　murdered；'　said　one。　‘Happy　to　say；　I　never　knew　him。'　
　‘A　craven　who　abandoned　his　post；'　said　anotherthis　Monseigneur　had　been　got　out　of　Paris；　legs　uppermost　and　half　suffocated；　in　a　load　of　hay‘some　years　ago。'　
　‘Infected　with　the　new　doctrines；'　said　a　third；　eyeing　the　direction　through　his　glass　in　passing；　‘set　himself　in　opposition　to　the　last　Marquis；　abandoned　the　estates　when　he　inherited　them；　and　left　them　to　the　ruffian　herd。　They　will　recompense　him　now；　I　hope；　as　he　deserves。'　
　‘Hey？'　cried　the　blatant　Stryver。　‘Did　he　though？　Is　that　the　sort　of　fellow？　Let　us　look　at　his　infamous　name。　Dn　the　fellow！'　
　Darnay；　unable　to　restrain　himself　any　longer；　touched　Mr。　Stryver　on　the　shoulder；　and　said：　
　‘I　know　the　fellow。'　
　‘Do　you；　by　Jupiter？'　said　Stryver。　‘I　am　sorry　for　it。'　
‘Why？'　
　‘Why；　Mr。　Darnay？　D'ye　hear　what　he　did？　Don't　ask；　why；　in　these　times。'　
　‘But　I　do　ask　why。'　
　‘Then　I　tell　you　again；　Mr。　Darnay；　I　am　sorry　for　it。　I　am　sorry　to　hear　you　putting　any　such　extraordinary　questions。　Here　is　a　fellow；　who；　infected　by　the　most　pestilent　and　blasphemous　code　of　devilry　that　ever　was　known；　abandoned　his　property　to　the　vilest　scum　of　the　earth　that　ever　did　murder　by　wholesale；　and　you　ask　me　why　I　am　sorry　that　a　man　who　instructs　youth　knows　him？　Well；　but　I'll　answer　you。　I　am　sorry　because　I　believe　there　is　contamination　in　such　a　scoundrel。　That's　why。'　
　Mindful　of　the　secret；　Darnay　with　great　difficulty　checked　himself；　and　said：　‘You　may　not　understand　the　gentleman。'　
　‘I　understand　how　to　put　you　in　a　corner；　Mr。　Darnay；'　said　Bully　Stryver；　‘and　I'll　do　it。　If　this　fellow　is　a　gentleman；　I　don't　understand　him。　You　may　tell　him　so；　with　my　compliments。　You　may　also　tell　him；　from　me；　that　after　abandoning　his　worldly　goods　and　position　to　this　butcherly　mob；　I　wonder　he　is　not　at　the　head　of　them。　But；　no；　gentlemen；'　said　Stryver；　looking　all　round；　and　snapping　his　fingers；　‘I　know　something　of　human　nature；　and　I　tell　you　that　you'll　never　find　a　fellow　like　this　fellow；　trusting　himself　to　the　mercies　of　such　precious　protégés。　No；　gentlemen；　he'll　always　show　‘em　a　clean　pair　of　heels　very　early　in　the　scuffle；　and　sneak　away。'　
　With　those　words；　and　a　final　snap　of　his　fingers；　Mr。　Stryver　shouldered　himself　into　Fleet…street；　amidst　the　general　approbation　of　his　hearers。　Mr。　Lorry　and　Charles　Darnay　were　left　alone　at　the　desk；　in　the　general　departure　from　the　Bank。　
　‘Will　you　take　charge　of　the　letter？'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘You　know　where　to　deliver　it？'　
　‘I　do。'　
　‘Will　you　undertake　to　explain；　that　we　suppose　it　to　have　been　addressed　here；　on　the　chance　of　our　knowing　where　to　forward　it；　and　that　it　has　been　here　some　time？'　
　‘I　will　do　so。　Do　you　start　for　Paris　from　here？'　
‘From　here；　at　eight。'　
‘I　will　come　back；　to　see　you　off。'　
　Very　ill　at　ease　with　himself；　and　with　Stryver　and　most　other　men；　Darnay　made　the　best　of　his　way　into　the　quiet　of　the　Temple；　opened　the　letter；　and　read　it。　These　were　its　contents：　
　　
‘Prison　of　the　Abbaye；　Paris。
June　21；　1792。
　MONSIEUR　HERETOFORE　THE　MARQUIS；　
　‘After　having　long　been　in　danger　of　my　life　at　the　hands　of　the　village；　I　have　been　seized；　with　great　violence　and　indignity；　and　brought　a　long　journey　on　foot　to　Paris。　On　the　road　I　have　suffered　a　great　deal。　Nor　is　that　all；　my　house　has　been　destroyedrazed　to　the　ground。　
　‘The　crime　for　which　I　am　imprisoned；　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　and　for　which　I　shall　be　summoned　before　the　tribunal；　and　shall　lose　my　life　（without　your　so　generous　help）；　is；　they　tell　me；　treason　against　the　majesty　of　the　people；　in　that　I　have　acted　against　them　for　an　emigrant。　It　is　in　vain　I　represent　that　I　have　acted　for　them；　and　not　against；　according　to　your　commands。　It　is　in　vain　I　represent　that；　before　the　sequestration　of　emigrant　property；　I　had　remitted　the　imposts　they　had　ceased　to　pay；　that　I　had　collected　no　rent；　that　I　had　had　recourse　to　no　process。　The　only　response　is；　that　I　have　acted　for　an　emigrant；　and　where　is　that　emigrant？　
　‘Ah！　most　gracious　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　where　is　that　emigrant？　I　cry　in　my　sleep　where　is　he？　I　demand　of　Heaven；　will　he　not　come　to　deliver　me？　No　answer。　Ah　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　I　send　my　desolate　cry　across　the　sea；　hoping　it　may　perhaps　reach　your　ears　through　the　great　bank　of　Tilson　known　at　Paris！　
　‘For　the　love　of　Heaven；　of　justice；　of　generosity；　of　the　honour　of　your　noble　name；　I　supplicate　you；　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　to　succour　and　release　me。　My　fault　is；　that　I　have　been　true　to　you。　Oh　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　I　pray　you　be　you　true　to　me！　
　‘From　this　prison　here　of　horror；　whence　I　every　hour　tend　nearer　and　nearer　to　destruction；　I　send　you；　Monsieur　heretofore　the　Marquis；　the　assurance　of　my　dolorous　and　unhappy　service。　
　　
‘Your　afflicted
‘GABELLE'
The　latent　uneasiness　in　Darnay's　mind　was　roused　to　vigorous　life　by　this　letter。　The　peril　of　an　old　servant　and　a　good　one；　whose　only　crime　was　fidelity　to　himself　and　his　family；　stared　him　so　reproachfully　in　the　face；　that；　as　he　walked　to　and　fro　in　the　Temple　considering　what　to　do；　he　almost　hid　his　face　from　the　passers…by。　
　He　knew　very　well；　that　in　his　horror　of　the　deed　which　had　culminated　the　bad　deeds　and　bad　reputation　of　the　old　family　house；　in　his　resentful　suspicions　of　his　uncle；　and　in　the　aversion　with　which　his　conscience　regarded　the　crumbling　fabric　that　he　was　supposed　to　uphold；　he　had　acted　imperfectly。　He　knew　very　well；　that　in　his　love　for　Lucie；　his　renunciation　of　his　social　place；　though　by　no　means　new　to　his　own　mind；　had　been　hurried　and　incomplete。　He　knew　that　he　ought　to　have　systematically　worked　it　out　and　supervised　it；　and　that　he　had　meant　to　do　it；　and　that　it　had　never　been　done。　
　The　happiness　of　his　own　chosen　English　home；　the　necessity　of　being　always　actively　employed；　the　swift　changes　and　troubles　of　the　time　which　had　followed　on　one　another　so　fast；　that　the　events　of　this　week　annihilated　the　immature　plans　of　last　week；　and　the　events　of　the　week　following　made　all　new　again；　he　knew　very　well；　that　to　the　force　of　these　circumstances　he　had　yielded　：not　without　disquiet；　but　still　without　continuou