a tale of two cities(双城记)-第47章

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to　be　balanced　in　this　world；　must　be　carried　over　into　the　next；　no　man　could　have　said；　that　night；　any　more　than　Mr。　Jarvis　Lorry　could；　though　he　thought　heavily　of　these　questions。　He　sat　by　a　newly…lighted　wood　fire　（the　blighted　and　unfruitful　year　was　prematurely　cold）；　and　on　his　honest　and　courageous　face　there　was　a　deeper　shade　than　the　pendent　lamp　could　throw；　or　any　object　in　the　room　distortedly　reflecta　shade　of　horror。　
　He　occupied　rooms　in　the　Bank；　in　his　fidelity　to　the　House　of　which　he　had　grown　to　be　a　part；　like　a　strong　root…ivy。　It　chanced　that　they　derived　a　kind　of　security　from　the　patriotic　occupation　of　the　main　building；　but　the　true…hearted　old　gentleman　never　calculated　about　that。　All　such　circumstances　were　indifferent　to　him；　so　that　he　did　his　duty。　On　the　opposite　side　of　the　court…yard；　under　a　colonnade；　was　extensive　standing　for　carriageswhere；　indeed；　some　carriages　of　Monseigneur　yet　stood。　Against　two　of　the　pillars　were　fastened　two　great　flaring　flambeaux；　and　in　the　light　of　these；　standing　out　in　the　open　air；　was　a　large　grindstone：　a　roughly　mounted　thing　which　appeared　to　have　hurriedly　been　brought　there　from　some　neighbouring　smithy；　or　other　workshop。　Rising　and　looking　out　of　window　at　these　harmless　objects；　Mr。　Lorry　shivered；　and　retired　to　his　seat　by　the　fire。　He　had　opened；　not　only　the　glass　window；　but　the　lattice　blind　outside　it；　and　he　had　closed　both　again；　and　he　shivered　through　his　frame。　
　From　the　streets　beyond　the　high　wall　and　the　strong　gate；　there　came　the　usual　night　hum　of　the　city；　with　now　and　then　an　indescribable　ring　in　it；　weird　and　unearthly；　as　if　some　unwonted　sounds　of　a　terrible　nature　were　going　up　to　Heaven。　
　‘Thank　God；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　clasping　his　hands；　‘that　no　one　near　and　dear　to　me　is　in　this　dreadful　town　to…night。　May　He　have　mercy　on　all　who　are　in　danger！'　
　Soon　afterwards；　the　bell　at　the　great　gate　sounded；　and　he　thought；　‘They　have　come　back！'　and　sat　listening。　But；　there　was　no　loud　irruption　into　the　court…yard；　as　he　had　expected；　and　he　heard　the　gate　clash　again；　and　all　was　quiet。　
　The　nervousness　and　dread　that　were　upon　him　inspired　that　vague　uneasiness　respecting　the　Bank；　which　a　great　change　would　naturally　awaken；　with　such　feelings　roused。　It　was　well　guarded；　and　he　got　up　to　go　among　the　trusty　people　who　were　watching　it；　then　his　door　suddenly　opened；　and　two　figures　rushed　in；　at　sight　of　which　he　fell　back　in　amazement。　
　Lucie　and　her　father！　Lucie　with　her　arms　stretched　out　to　him；　and　with　that　old　look　of　earnestness　so　concentrated　and　intensified；　that　it　seemed　as　though　it　had　been　stamped　upon　her　face　expressly　to　give　force　and　power　to　it　in　this　one　passage　of　her　life。　
　‘What　is　this？'　cried　Mr。　Lorry；　breathless　and　confused。　‘What　is　the　matter？　Lucie！　Manette！　What　has　happened？　What　has　brought　you　here？　What　is　it？'　
　With　the　look　fixed　upon　him；　in　her　paleness　and　wildness；　she　panted　out　in　his　arms；　imploringly；　‘O　my　dear　friend！　My　husband！'　
　‘Your　husband；　Lucie？'　
　‘Charles。'　
　‘What　of　Charles？'　
　‘Here。'　
　‘Here；　in　Paris？'　
　‘Has　been　here　some　daysthree　or　fourI　don't　know　how　manyI　can't　collect　my　thoughts。　An　errand　of　generosity　brought　him　here　unknown　to　us；　he　was　stopped　at　the　barrier；　and　sent　to　prison。'　
　The　old　man　uttered　an　irrepressible　cry。　Almost　at　the　same　moment；　the　bell　of　the　great　gate　rang　again；　and　a　loud　noise　of　feet　and　voices　came　pouring　into　the　court…yard。　
　‘What　is　that　noise？'　said　the　Doctor；　turning　towards　the　window。　
　‘Don't　look！'　cried　Mr。　Lorry。　‘Don't　look　out！　Manette；　for　your　life；　don't　touch　the　blind！'　
　The　Doctor　turned；　with　his　hand　upon　the　fastening　of　the　window；　and　said；　with　a　cool　bold　smile：　
　‘My　dear　friend；　I　have　a　charmed　life　in　this　city。　I　have　been　a　Bastille　prisoner。　There　is　no　patriot　in　Parisin　Paris？　In　Francewho；　knowing　me　to　have　been　a　prisoner　in　the　Bastille；　would　touch　me；　except　to　overwhelm　me　with　embraces；　or　carry　me　in　triumph。　My　old　pain　has　given　me　a　power　that　has　brought　us　through　the　barrier；　and　gained　us　news　of　Charles　there；　and　brought　us　here。　I　knew　it　would　be　so；　I　knew　I　could　help　Charles　out　of　all　danger；　I　told　Lucie　so。What　is　that　noise？'　His　hand　was　again　upon　the　window。　
　‘Don't　look！'　cried　Mr。　Lorry；　absolutely　desperate。　‘No；　Lucie；　my　dear；　nor　you！'　He　got　his　arm　round　her；　and　held　her。　‘Don't　be　so　terrified；　my　love。　I　solemnly　swear　to　you　that　I　know　of　no　harm　having　happened　to　Charles；　that　I　had　no　suspicion　even　of　his　being　in　this　fatal　place。　What　prison　is　he　in？'　
　‘La　Force！'　
　‘La　Force！　Lucie；　my　child；　if　ever　you　were　brave　and　serviceable　in　your　lifeand　you　were　always　bothyou　will　compose　yourself　now；　to　do　exactly　as　I　bid　you；　for　more　depends　upon　it　than　you　can　think；　or　I　can　say。　There　is　no　help　for　you　in　any　action　on　your　part　to…night；　you　cannot　possibly　stir　out。　I　say　this；　because　what　I　must　bid　you　to　do　for　Charles's　sake；　is　the　hardest　thing　to　do　of　all。　You　must　instantly　be　obedient；　still；　and　quiet。　You　must　let　me　put　you　in　a　room　at　the　back　here。　You　must　leave　your　father　and　me　alone　for　two　minutes；　and　as　there　are　Life　and　Death　in　the　world　you　must　not　delay。'　
　‘I　will　be　submissive　to　you。　I　see　in　your　face　that　you　know　I　can　do　nothing　else　than　this。　I　know　you　are　true。'　
　The　old　man　kissed　her；　and　hurried　her　into　his　room；　and　turned　the　key；　then；　came　hurrying　back　to　the　Doctor；　and　opened　the　window　and　partly　opened　the　blind；　and　put　his　hand　upon　the　Doctor's　arm；　and　looked　out　with　him　into　the　court…yard。　
　Looked　out　upon　a　throng　of　men　and　women：　not　enough　in　number；　or　near　enough；　to　fill　the　court…yard：　not　more　than　forty　or　fifty　in　all。　The　people　in　possession　of　the　house　had　let　them　in　at　the　gate；　and　they　had　rushed　in　to　work　at　the　grindstone；　it　had　evidently　been　set　up　there　for　their　purpose；　as　in　a　convenient　and　retired　spot。　
　But；　such　awful　workers；　and　such　awful　work！　
　The　grindstone　had　a　double　handle；　and；　turning　at　it　madly　were　two　men；　whose　faces；　as　their　long　hair　flapped　back　when　the　whirlings　of　the　grindstone　brought　their　faces　up；　were　more　horrible　and　cruel　than　the　visages　of　the　wildest　savages　in　their　most　barbarous　disguise。　False　eye…brows　and　false　moustaches　were　stuck　upon　them；　and　their　hideous　countenances　were　all　bloody　and　sweaty；　and　all　awry　with　howling；　and　all　staring　and　glaring　with　beastly　excitement　and　want　of　sleep。　As　these　ruffians　turned　and　turned；　their　matted　locks　now　flung　forward　over　their　eyes；　now　flung　backward　over　their　necks；　some　women　held　wine　to　their　mouths　that　they　might　drink；　and　what　with　dropping　blood；　and　what　with　dropping　wine；　and　what　with　the　stream　of　sparks　struck　out　of　the　stone；　all　their　wicked　atmosphere　seemed　gore　and　fire。　The　eye　could　not　detect　one　creature　in　the　group　free　from　the　smear　of　blood。　Shouldering　one　another　to　get　next　at　the　sharpening…stone；　were　men　stripped　to　the　waist；　with　the　stain　all　over　their　limbs　and　bodies；　men　in　all　sorts　of　rags；　with　the　stain　upon　those　rags；　men　devilishly　set　off　with　spoils　of　women's　lace　and　silk　and　ribbon；　with　the　stain　dyeing　those　trifles　through　and　through。　Hatchets；　knives；　bayonets；　swords；　all　brought　to　be　sharpened；　were　all　red　with　it。　Some　of　the　hacked　swords　were　tied　to　the　wrists　of　those　who　carried　them；　with　strips　of　linen　and　fragments　of　dress：　ligatures　various　in　kind；　but　all　deep　of　the　one　colour。　And　as　the　frantic　wielders　of　these　weapons　snatched　them　from　the　stream　of　sparks　and　tore　away　into　the　streets；　the　same　red　hue　was　red　in　their　frenzied　eyes；eyes　which　any　unbrutalised　beholder　would　have　given　twenty　years　of　life；　to　petrify　with　a　well…directed　gun。　
　All　this　was　seen　in　a　moment；　as　the　vision　of　a　drowning　man；　or　of　any　human　creature　at　any　very　great　pass；　could　see　a　world　if　it　were　there。　They　drew　back　from　the　window；　and　the　Doctor　looked　for　explanation　in　his　friend's　ashy　face。　
　‘They　are；'　Mr。　Lorry　whispered　the　words；　glancing　fearfully　round　at　the　locked　room；　‘murdering　the　prisoners。　If　you　are　sure　of　what　you　say；　if　you　really　have　the　power　you　think　you　haveas　I　believe　you　havemake　yourself　known　to　these　devils；　and　get　taken　to　La　Force。　It　may　be　too　late；　I　don't　know；　but　let　it　not　be　a　minute　later！'　
　Doctor　Manette　pressed　his　hand；　hastened　bareheaded　out　of　the　room；　and　was　in　the　court…yard　when　Mr。　Lorry　regained　the　blind。　
　His　streaming　white　hair；　his　remarkable　face；　and　the　impetuous　confidence　of　his　manner；　as　he　put　the　weapons　aside　like　water；　carried　him　in　an　instant　to　the　heart　of　the　concourse　at　the　stone。　For　a　few　moments　there　was　a　pause；　and　a　hurry；　and　a　murmur；　and　the　unintelligible　sound　of　his　voice；　and　then　Mr。　Lorry　saw　him；　surrounded　by　all；　and　in　the　midst　of　a　line　of　twenty　men　long；　all　linked　shoulder　to　shoulder；　and　hand　to　shoulder；　hurried　out　with　cries　of'Live　the　Bastille　prisoner！　Help　for　the　Bastille　prisoner's　kindred　in　La　Force！　Room　for　the　Bastille　prisoner　in　front　there！　Save　the　prisoner　Evrémonde　at　La　Force！'　and　a　thousand　answering　shouts。　
　He　closed　the　lattice　again　with　a　fluttering　heart；　closed　the　window　and　the　curtain；　hastened　to　Lucie；　and　told　her　that　her　father　was　assisted　by　the　people；　and　gone　in　search　of　her　husband。　He　found　her　child　and　Miss　Pross　with　her；　but；　it　never　occurred　to　him　to　be　surprised　by　their　appearance　until　a　long　time　afterwards；　when　he　sat　watching　them　in　such　quiet　as　the　night　knew。　
　Lucie　had；　by　that　time；　fallen　into　a　stupor　on　the　floor　at　his　feet；　clinging　to　his　hand。　Miss　Pross　had　laid　the　child　down　on　his　own　bed；　and　her　had　had　gradually　fallen　on　the　pillow　beside　her　pretty　charge。　O　the　long；　long　night；　with　the　moans　of　the　poor　wife！　And　O　the　long；　long　night；　with　no　return　of　her　father　and　no　tidings！　
　Twice　more　in　the　darkness　the　bell　at　the　great　gate　sounded；　and　the　irruption　was　repeated；　and　the　grindstone　whirled　and　spluttered。　‘What　is　it？'　cried　Lucie；　affrighted。　‘Hush！　The　soldiers'　swords　are　sharpened　there；'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘The　place　is　national　property　now；　and　used　as　a　kind　of　armoury；　my　love。'　
　Twice　more　in　all；　but；　the　last　spell　of　work　was　feeble　and　fitful。　Soon　afterwards　the　day　began　to　dawn；　and　he　softly　detached　himself　from　the　clasping　hand；　and　cautiously　looked　out　again。　A　man；　so　besmeared　that　he　might　have　been　a　sorely　wounded　soldier　creeping　back　to　consciousness　on　a　field　of　slain；　was　rising　from　the　pavement　by　the　side　of　the　grindstone；　and　looking　about　him　with　a　vacant　air。　Shortly；　this　worn…out　murderer　descried　in　the　imperfect　light　one　of　the　carriages　of　Monseigneur；　and；　staggering　to　that　gorgeous　vehicle；　climbed　in　at　the　door；　and　shut　himself　up　to　take　his　rest　on　its　dainty　cushions。　
　The　great　grindstone；　Earth；　had　turned　when　Mr。　Lorry　looked　out　again；　and　the　sun　was　red　on　the　court…yard。　But；　the　lesser　grindstone　stood　alone　there　in　the　calm　morning　air；　with　a　red　upon　it　that　the　sun　had　never　given；　and　would　never　take　away。　


CHAPTER　III
The　S