a tale of two cities(双城记)-第45章

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retchedly　clothed；　that　they　twisted　straw　round　their　bare　legs；　and　thatched　their　ragged　shoulders　to　keep　the　wet　off　Apart　from　the　personal　discomfort　of　being　so　attended；　and　apart　from　such　considerations　of　present　danger　as　arose　from　one　of　the　patriots　being　chronically　drunk；　and　carrying　his　musket　very　recklessly；　Charles　Darnay　did　not　allow　the　restraint　that　was　laid　upon　him　to　awaken　any　serious　fears　in　his　breast；　for；　he　reasoned　with　himself　that　it　could　have　no　reference　to　the　merits　of　an　individual　case　that　was　not　yet　stated；　and　of　representations；　confirmable　by　the　prisoner　in　the　Abbaye；　that　were　not　yet　made。　
　But　when　they　canto　to　the　town　of　Beauvaiswhich　they　did　at　eventide；　when　the　streets　were　filled　with　peoplehe　could　not　‘conceal　from　himself　that　the　aspect　of　affairs　was　very　alarming。　An　ominous　crowd　gathered　to　see　him　dismount　at　the　posting…yard；　and　many　voices　called　out　loudly；　‘Down　with　the　emigrant！'　
　He　stopped　in　the　act　of　swinging　himself　out　of　his　saddled　and；　resuming　it　as　his　safest　place；　said：　
　‘Emigrant；　my　friends！　Do　you　not　see　me　here；　in　France；　of　my　own　will？'　
　‘You　are　a　cursed　emigrant；'　cried　a　farrier；　making　at　him　In　a　furious　manner　through　the　press；　hammer　in　hand；　‘and　you　are　a　cursed　aristocrat！'　
　The　postmaster　interposed　himself　between　this　man　and　the　rider's　bridle　（at　which　he　was　evidently　making）；　and　soothingly　said；　‘Let　him　be；　let　him　be！　He　will　be　judged　at　Paris。'　
　‘Judged！'　repeated　the　farrier；　swinging　his　hammer。　‘Ay！　and　condemned　as　a　traitor。'　At　this　the　crowd　roared　approval。　
　Checking　the　postmaster；　who　was　for　turning　his　horse's　head　to　the　yard　（the　drunken　patriot　sat　composedly　in　his　saddle　looking　on；　with　the　line　round　his　wrist）；　Darnay　said；　as　soon　as　he　could　make　his　voice　heard：　
　‘Friends；　you　deceive　yourselves；　or　you　are　deceived。　I　am　not　a　traitor。'　
　‘He　lies！'　cried　the　smith。　‘He　is　a　traitor　since　the　decree。　His　life　is　forfeit　to　the　people。　His　cursed　life　is　not　his　own！'　
　At　the　instant　when　Darnay　saw　a　rush　in　the　eyes　of　the　crowd；　which　another　instant　would　have　brought　upon　him；　the　postmaster　turned　his　horse　into　the　yard；　the　escort　rode　in　close　upon　his　horse's　flanks；　and　the　postmaster　shut　and　barred　the　crazy　double　gates。　The　farrier　struck　a　blow　upon　them　with　his　hammer；　and　the　crowd　groaned；　but；　no　more　was　done。　
　‘What　is　this　decree　that　the　smith　spoke　of？'　Darnay　asked　the　postmaster；　when　he　had　thanked　him；　and　stood　beside　him　in　the　yard。　
　‘Truly；　a　decree　for　selling　the　property　of　emigrants。'　
　‘When　passed？'　
　‘On　the　fourteenth。'　
　‘The　day　I　left　England！'　
　‘Everybody　says　it　is　but　one　of　several；　and　that　there　will　be　othersif　there　are　not　alreadybanishing　all　emigrants；　and　condemning　all　to　death　who　return。　That　is　what　he　meant　when　he　said　your　life　was　not　your　own。'　
　‘But　there　are　no　such　decrees　yet？'　
　‘What　do　I　know！'　said　the　postmaster；　shrugging　his　shoulders；　‘there　may　be；　or　there　will　be。　It　is　all　the　same。　What　would　you　have？'　
　They　rested　on　some　straw　in　a　loft　until　the　middle　of　the　night；　and　then　rode　forward　again　when　all　the　town　was　asleep。　Among　the　many　wild　changes　observable　on　familiar　things　which　made　this　wild　ride　unreal；　not　the　least　was　the　seeming　rarity　of　sleep。　After　long　and　lonely　spurring　over　dreary　roads；　they　would　come　to　a　cluster　of　poor　cottages；　not　steeped　in　darkness；　but　all　glittering　with　lights；　and　would　find　the　people；　in　a　ghostly　manner　in　the　dead　of　the　night；　circling　hand　in　hand　round　a　shrivelled　tree　of　Liberty；　or　all　drawn　up　together　singing　a　Liberty　song。　Happily；　however；　there　was　sleep　in　Beauvais　that　night　to　help　them　out　of　it；　and　they　passed　on　once　more　into　solitude　and　loneliness：　jingling　through　the　untimely　cold　and　wet；　among　impoverished　fields　that　had　yielded　no　fruits　of　the　earth　that　year；　diversified　by　the　blackened　remains　of　burnt　houses；　and　by　the　sudden　emergence　from　ambuscade；　and　sharp　reining　up　across　their　way；　of　patriot　patrols　on　the　watch　on　all　the　roads。　
　Daylight　at　last　found　them　before　the　wall　of　Paris。　The　barrier　was　closed　and　strongly　guarded　when　they　rode　up　to　it。　
　‘Where　are　the　papers　of　this　prisoner？'　demanded　a　resolute…looking　man　in　authority；　who　was　summoned　out　by　the　guard。　
　Naturally　struck　by　the　disagreeable　word；　Charles　Darnay　requested　the　speaker　to　take　notice　that　he　was　a　free　traveller　and　French　citizen；　in　charge　of　an　escort　which　the　disturbed　state　of　the　country　had　imposed　upon　him；　and　which　he　had　paid　for。　
　‘Where；'　repeated　the　same　personage；　without　taking　any　heed　of　him　whatever；　‘are　the　papers　of　this　prisoner？'　
　The　drunken　patriot　had　them　in　his　cap；　and　produced　them。　Casting　his　eyes　over　Gabelle's　letter；　the　same　personage　in　authority　showed　some　disorder　and　surprise；　and　looked　at　Darnay　with　a　close　attention。　
　He　left　escort　and　escorted　without　saying　a　word；　however；　and　went　into　the　guard…room；　meanwhile；　they　sat　upon　their　horses　outside　the　gate。　Looking　about　him　while　in　this　state　of　suspense；　Charles　Darnay　observed　that　the　gate　was　held　by　a　mixed　guard　of　soldiers　and　patriots；　the　latter　far　outnumbering　the　former；　and　that　while　ingress　into　the　city　for　peasants　carts　bringing　in　supplies；　and　for　similar　traffic　and　traffickers；　was　easy　enough；　egress；　even　for　the　homeliest　people；　was　very　difficult。　A　numerous　medley　of　men　and　women；　not　to　mention　beasts　and　vehicles　of　various　sorts；　was　waiting　to　issue　forth；　but；　the　previous　identification　was　so　strict；　that　they　filtered　through　the　barrier　very　slowly。　Some　of　these　people　knew　their　turn　for　examination　to　be　so　far　off；　that　they　lay　down　on　the　ground　to　sleep　or　smoke；　while　others　talked　together；　or　loitered　about。　The　red　cap　and　tricolour　cockade　were　universal；　both　among　men　and　women。　
　When　he　had　sat　in　his　saddle　some　half…hour；　taking　note　of　these　things；　Darnay　found　himself　confronted　by　the　same　man　in　authority；　who　directed　the　guard　to　open　the　barrier。　Then　he　delivered　to　the　escort；　drunk　and　sober；　a　receipt　for　the　escorted；　and　requested　him　to　dismount。　He　did　so；　and　the　two　patriots；　leading　his　tired　horse；　turned　and　rode　away　without　entering　the　city。　
　He　accompanied　his　conductor　into　a　guard…room；　smelling　of　common　wine　and　tobacco；　where　certain　soldiers　and　patriots；　asleep　and　awake；　drunk　and　sober；　and　in　various　neutral　states　between　sleeping　and　waking；　drunkenness　and　sobriety；　were　standing　and　lying　about。　The　light　in　the　guard…house；　half　derived　from　the　waning　oil…lamps　of　the　night；　and　half　from　the　overcast　day；　was　in　a　correspondingly　uncertain　condition。　Some　registers　were　lying　open　on　a　desk；　and　an　officer　of　a　coarse；　dark　aspect；　presided　over　these。　
　‘Citizen　Defarge；'　said　he　to　Darnay's　conductor；　as　he　took　a　slip　of　paper　to　write　on。　‘Is　this　the　emigrant　Evrémonde？'　
　‘This　is　the　man。'　
　‘Your　age；　Evrémonde？'　
　‘Thirty…seven。'　
　‘Married；　Evrémonde？'　
　‘Yes。'　
　‘Where　married？'　
　‘In　England。'　
　‘Without　doubt。　Where　is　your　wife；　Evrémonde？'　
　‘In　England。'　
　‘Without　doubt。　You　are　consigned；　Evrémonde；　to　the　prison　of　La　Force。'　
　‘Just　Heaven！'　exclaimed　Darnay。　‘Under　what　law；　and　for　what　offence？'　
　The　officer　looked　up　from　his　slip　of　paper　for　a　moment。　
　‘We　have　new　laws；　Evrémonde；　and　new　offences；　since　you　were　here。'　He　said　it　with　a　hard　smile；　and　went　on　writing。　
　‘I　entreat　you　to　observe　that　I　have　come　here　voluntarily；　in　response　to　that　written　appeal　of　a　fellow…countryman　which　lies　before　you。　I　demand　no　more　than　the　opportunity　to　do　so　without　delay。　Is　not　that　my　right？'　
　‘Emigrants　have　no　rights；　Evrémonde；'　was　the　stolid　reply。　The　officer　wrote　until　he　had　finished；　read　over　to　himself　what　he　had　written；　sanded　it；　and　handed　it　to　Defarge；　with　the　words　‘In　secret。'　
　Defarge　motioned　with　the　paper　to　the　prisoner　that　he　must　accompany　him。　The　prisoner　obeyed；　and　a　guard　of　two　armed　patriots　attended　them。　
　‘Is　it　you；'　said　Defarge；　in　a　low　voice；　as　they　went　down　the　guard…house　steps　and　turned　into　Paris；　‘who　married　the　daughter　of　Doctor　Manette；　once　a　prisoner　in　the　Bastille　that　is　no　more？'　
　‘Yes；'　replied　Darnay；　looking　at　him　with　surprise。　
　‘My　name　is　Defarge；　and　I　keep　a　wine…shop　in　the　Quarter　Saint　Antoine。　Possibly　you　have　heard　of　me。'　
　‘My　wife　came　to　your　house　to　reclaim　her　father？　Yes！'　
　The　word　‘wife'　seemed　to　serve　as　a　gloomy　reminder　to　Defarge；　to　say　with　sudden　impatience；　‘In　the　name　of　that　sharp　female　newly…born；　and　called　La　Guillotine；　why　did　you　come　to　France？'　
　‘You　heard　me　say　why；　a　minute　ago。　Do　you　not　believe　it　is　the　truth？'　
　‘A　bad　truth　for　you；'　said　Defarge；　speaking　with　knitted　brows；　and　looking　straight　before　him。　
　‘Indeed　I　am　lost　here。　All　here　is　so　unprecedented；　so　changed；　so　sudden　and　unfair；　that　I　am　absolutely　lost。　Will　you　render　me　a　little　help？'　
　‘None。'　Defarge　spoke；　always　looking　straight　before　him。　
　‘Will　you　answer　me　a　single　question？'　
　‘Perhaps。　According　to　its　nature。　You　can　say　what　it　is。'　
　‘In　this　prison　that　I　am　going　to　so　unjustly；　shall　I　have　some　free　communication　with　the　world　outside？'　
　‘You　will　see。'　
　‘I　am　not　to　be　buried　there；　prejudged；　and　without　any　means　of　presenting　my　case？'　
　‘You　will　see。　But；　what　then？　Other　people　have　been　similarly　buried　in　worse　prisons；　before　now。　
　‘But　never　by　me；　Citizen　Defarge。'　
　Defarge　glanced　darkly　at　him　for　answer；　and　walked　on　in　a　steady　and　set　silence。　The　deeper　he　sank　into　this　silence；　the　fainter　hope　there　wasor　so　Darnay　thoughtof　his　softening　in　any　slight　degree。　He；　therefore；　made　haste　to　say：　
　‘It　is　of　the　utmost　importance　to　me　（you　know；　Citizen；　even　better　than　I；　of　how　much　importance）；　that　I　should　be　able　to　communicate　to　Mr。　Lorry　of　Tellson's　Bank；　an　English　gentleman　who　is　now　in　Paris；　the　simple　fact；　without　comment；　that　I　have　been　thrown　into　the　prison　of　La　Force。　Will　you　cause　that　to　be　done　for　me？'　
　‘I　will　do；'　Defarge　doggedly　rejoined；　‘nothing　for　you。　My　duty　is　to　my　country　and　the　People。　I　am　the　sworn　servant　of　both；　against　you。　I　will　do　nothing　for　you。'　
　Charles　Darnay　felt　it　hopeless　to　entreat　him　further；　and　his　pride　was　touched　besides。　As　they　walked　on　in　silence；　he　could　not　but　see　how　used　the　people　were　to　the　spectacle　of　prisoners　passing　along　the　streets。　The　very　children　scarcely　noticed　him。　A　few　passers　turned　their　heads；　and　a　few　shook　their　fingers　at　him　as　an　aristocrat；　otherwise；　that　a　man　in　good　clothes　should　be　going　to　prison；　was　no　more　remarkable　than　that　a　labourer　in　working　clothes　should　be　going　to　work。　In　one　narrow；　dark；　and　dirty　street　through　which　they　passed；　an　excited　orator；　mounted　on　a　stool；　was　addressing　an　excited　audience　on　the　crimes　against　the　people；　of　the　king　and　the　royal　family。　The　few　words　that　he　caught　from　this　man's　lips；　first　made　it　known　to　Charles　Darnay　that　the　king　was　in　prison；　and　that　the　foreign　ambassadors　had　one　and　all　left　Paris