a tale of two cities(双城记)-第48章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


with　a　red　upon　it　that　the　sun　had　never　given；　and　would　never　take　away。　


CHAPTER　III
The　Shadow
ONE　of　the　first　considerations　which　arose　in　the　business　mind　of　Mr。　Lorry　when　business　hours　came　round；　was　this：that　he　had　no　right　to　imperil　Tellson's　by　sheltering　the　wife　of　an　emigrant　prisoner　under　the　Bank　roof。　His　own　possessions；　safety；　life；　he　would　have　hazarded　for　Lucie　and　her　child；　without　a　moment's　demur；　but　the　great　trust　he　held　was　not　his　own；　and　as　to　that　business　charge　he　was　a　strict　man　of　business。　
　At　first；　his　mind　reverted　to　Defarge；　and　he　thought　of　finding　out　the　wine…shop　again　and　taking　counsel　with　its　master　in　reference　to　the　safest　dwelling…place　in　the　distracted　state　of　the　city。　But；　the　same　consideration　that　suggested　him；　repudiated　him；　he　lived　in　the　most　violent　Quarter；　and　doubtless　was　influential　there；　and　deep　in　its　dangerous　workings。　
　Noon　coming；　and　the　Doctor　not　returning；　and　every　minute's　delay　tending　to　compromise；　Tellson's；　Mr。　Lorry　advised　with　Lucie。　She　said　that　her　father　had　spoken　of　hiring　a　lodging　for　a　short　term；　in　that　Quarter；　near　the　Banking…house。　As　there　was　no　business　objection　to　this；　and　as　he　foresaw　that　even　if　it　were　all　well　with　Charles；　and　he　were　to　be　released；　he　could　not　hope　to　leave　the　city；　Mr。　Lorry　went　out　in　quest　of　such　a　lodging；　and　found　a　suitable　one；　high　up　in　a　removed　by…street　where　the　closed　blinds　in　all　the　other　windows　of　a　high　melancholy　square　of　buildings　marked　deserted　homes。　
　To　this　lodging　he　at　once　removed　Lucie　and　her　child；　and　Miss　Pross：　giving　them　what　comfort　he　could；　and　much　more　than　he　had　himself。　He　left　Jerry　with　them；　as　a　figure　to　fill　a　doorway　that　would　bear　considerable　knocking　on　the　head；　and　returned　to　his　own　occupations。　A　disturbed　and　doleful　mind　he　brought　to　bear　upon　them；　and　slowly　and　heavily　the　day　lagged　on　with　him。　
　It　wore　itself　out；　and　wore　him　out　with　it；　until　the　Bank　closed。　He　was　again　alone　in　his　room　of　the　previous　night；　considering　what　to　do　next；　when　he　heard　a　foot　upon　the　stair。　In　a　few　moments；　a　man　stood　in　his　presence；　who；　with　a　keenly　observant　look　at　him；　addressed　him　by　his　name。　
　‘Your　servant；'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘Do　you　know　me？'　
　He　was　a　strongly　made　man　with　dark　curling　hair；　from　forty…five　to　fifty　years　of　a　e。　For　answer　he　repeated；　without　any　change　of　emphasis；　the　words：　
　‘Do　you　know　me？'　
　‘I　have　seen　you　somewhere。'　
　‘Perhaps　at　my　wine…shop？'　
　Much　interested　and　agitated；　Mr。　Lorry　said：　‘You　come　from　Doctor　Manette？'　
　‘Yes。　I　come　from　Doctor　Manette。'　
　‘And　what　says　he？　What　does　he　send　me？'　
　Defarge　gave　into　his　anxious　hand；　an　open　scrap　of　paper。　It　bore　the　words　in　the　Doctor's　writing：　
　　
‘Charles　is　safe；　but　I　cannot　safely　leave　this　place　yet。　I　have　obtained　the　favour　that　the　bearer　has　a　short　note　from　Charles　to　his　wife。　Let　the　bearer　see　his　wife。'
It　was　dated　from　La　Force；　within　an　hour。　
　‘Will　you　accompany　me；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　joyfully　relieved　after　reading　this　note　aloud；　‘to　where　his　wife　resides？'　
　‘Yes；'　returned　Defarge。　
　Scarcely　noticing　as　yet；　in　what　a　curiously　reserved　and　mechanical　way　Defarge　spoke；　Mr。　Lorry　put　on　his　hat　and　they　went　down　into　the　court…yard。　There；　they　found　two　women；　one；　knitting。　
　‘Madame　Defarge；　surely！'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　who　had　left　her　in　exactly　the　same　attitude　some　seventeen　years　ago。　
　‘It　is　she；'　observed　her　husband。　
　‘Does　madame　go　with　us？'　inquired　Mr。　Lorry；　seeing　that　she　moved　as　they　moved。　
　‘Yes。　That　she　may　be　able　to　recognise　the　faces　and　know　the　persons。　It　is　for　their　safety。'　
　Beginning　to　be　struck　by　Defarge's　manner；　Mr。　Lorry　looked　dubiously　at　him；　and　led　the　way。　Both　the　women　followed；　the　second　woman　being　The　Vengeance。　
　They　passed　through　the　intervening　streets　as　quickly　as　they　might；　ascended　the　staircase　of　the　new　domicile；　were　admitted　by　Jerry；　and　found　Lucie　weeping；　alone。　She　was　thrown　into　a　transport　by　the　tidings　Mr。　Lorry　gave　her　of　her　husband；　and　clasped　the　hand　that　delivered　his　note…little　thinking　what　it　had　been　doing　near　him　in　the　night；　and　might；　but　for　a　chance；　have　done　to　him。　
　　
‘DEAREST；Take　courage。　I　am　well；　and　your　father　has　influence　around　me。　You　cannot　answer　this。　Kiss　our　child　for　me。'
That　was　all　the　writing。　It　was　so　much；　however；　to　her　who　received　it；　that　she　turned　from　Defarge　to　his　wife；　and　kissed　one　of　the　hands　that　knitted。　It　was　a　passionate；　loving；　thankful；　womanly　action；　but　the　hand　made　no　responsedropped　cold　and　heavy；　and　took　to　its　knitting　again。　
　There　was　something　in　its　touch　that　gave　Lucie　a　check。　She　stopped　in　the　act　of　putting　the　note　in　her　bosom；　and；　with　her　hands　yet　at　her　neck；　looked　terrified　at　Madame　Defarge。　Madame　Defarge　met　the　lifted　eyebrows　and　forehead　with　a　cold；　impassive　stare。　
　‘My　dear；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　striking　in　to　explain；　‘there　are　frequent　risings　in　the　streets；　and；　although　it　is　not　likely　they　will　ever　trouble　you；　Madame　Defarge　wishes　to　see　those　whom　she　has　the　power　to　protect　at　such　times；　to　the　end　that　she　may　know　themthat　she　may　identify　them。　I　believe；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　rather　halting　in　his　reassuring　words；　as　the　stony　manner　of　all　the　three　impressed　itself　upon　him　more　and　more；　‘I　state　the　case；　Citizen　Defarge？'　
　Defarge　looked　gloomily　at　his　wife；　and　gave　no　other　answer　than　a　gruff　sound　of　acquiescence。　
　‘You　had　better；　Lucie；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　doing　all　he　could　to　propitiate；　by　tone　and　manner；　‘have　the　dear　child　here；　and　our　good　Pross。　Our　good　Pross；　Defarge；　is　an　English　lady；　and　knows　no　French。'　
　The　lady　in　question；　whose　rooted　conviction　that　she　was　more　than　a　match　for　any　foreigner；　was　not　to　be　shaken　by　distress　and　danger；　appeared　wish　folded　arms；　and　observed　in　English　to　The　Vengeance；　whom　her　eyes　first　encountered；　‘Well；　I　am　sure；　Boldface！　I　hope　you　are　pretty　well！'　She　also　bestowed　a　British　cough　on　Madame　Defarge；　but；　neither　of　the　two　took　much　heed　of　her。　
　‘Is　that　his　child？'　said　Madame　Defarge；　stopping　in　her　work　for　the　first　time；　and　pointing　her　knitting…needle　at　little　Lucie　as　if　it　were　the　finger　of　Fate。　
　‘Yes；　madame；'　answered　Mr。　Lorry；　‘this　is　our　poor　prisoner's　darling　daughter；　and　only　child。'　
　The　shadow　attendant　on　Madame　Defarge　and　her　party　seemed　to　fall　so　threatening　and　dark　on　the　child；　that　her　mother　instinctively　kneeled　on　the　ground　beside　her；　and　held　her　to　her　breast。　The　shadow　attendant　on　Madame　Defarge　and　her　party　seemed　then　to　fall；　threatening　and　dark；　on　both　the　mother　and　the　child。　
　‘It　is　enough；　my　husband；'　said　Madame　Defarge。　‘I　have　seen　them。　We　may　go。　
　But；　the　suppressed　manner　had　enough　of　menace　in　itnot　visible　and　presented；　but　indistinct　and　withheldto　alarm　Lucie　into　saying；　as　she　laid　her　appealing　hand　on　Madame　Defarge's　dress：　
　‘You　will　be　good　to　my　poor　husband。　You　will　do　him　no　harm。　You　will　help　me　to　see　him　if　you　can？'　
　‘Your　husband　is　not　my　business　here；'　returned　Madame　Defarge；　looking　down　at　her　with　perfect　composure。　‘It　is　the　daughter　of　your　father　who　is　my　business　here。'　
　‘For　my　sake；　then；　be　merciful　to　my　husband。　For　my　child's　sake！　She　will　put　her　hands　together　and　pray　you　to　be　merciful。　We　are　more　afraid　of　you　than　of　these　others。'　
　Madame　Defarge　received　it　as　a　compliment；　and　looked　at　her　husband。　Defarge；　who　had　been　uneasily　biting　his　thumb…nail　and　looking　at　her；　collected　his　face　into　a　sterner　expression。　
　‘What　is　it　that　your　husband　says　in　that　little　letter？'　asked　Madame　Defarge；　with　a　lowering　smile。　‘Influence；　he　says　something　touching　influence？'　
　‘That　my　father；'　said　Lucie；　hurriedly　taking　the　paper　from　her　breast；　but　with　her　alarmed　eyes　on　her　questioner　and　not　on　it；　‘has　much　influence　around　him。'　
　‘Surely　it　will　release　him！'　said　Madame　Defarge。　‘Let　it　do　so。'　
　‘As　a　wife　and　mother；'　cried　Lucie；　most　earnestly；　‘I　implore　you　to　have　pity　on　me　and　not　to　exercise　any　power　that　you　possess；　against　my　innocent　husband；　but　to　use　it　in　his　behalf。　O　sister…woman；　think　of　me。　As　a　wife　and　mother！'　
　Madame　Defarge　looked；　coldly　as　ever；　at　the　suppliant；　and　said；　turning　to　her　friend　The　Vengeance：　
　‘The　wives　and　mothers　we　have　been　used　to　see；　since　we　were　as　little　as　this　child；　and　much　less；　have　not　been　greatly　considered？　We　have　known　their　husbands　and　fathers　laid　in　prison　and　kept　from　them；　often　enough？　All　our　lives；　we　have　seen　our　sister…women　suffer；　in　themselves　and　in　their　children；　poverty；　nakedness；　hunger；　thirst。　sickness；　misery；　oppression　and　neglect　of　all　kinds？'　
　‘We　have　seen　nothing　else；'　returned　The　Vengeance。　
　‘We　have　borne　this　a　long　time；'　said　Madame　Defarge；　turning　her　eyes　again　upon　Lucie。　‘Judge　you！　Is　it　likely　that　the　trouble　of　one　wife　and　mother　would　be　much　to　us　now？'　
　She　resumed　her　knitting　and　went　out。　The　Vengeance　followed。　Defarge　went　last；　and　closed　the　door。　
　‘Courage；　my　dear　Lucie；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　as　he　raised　her。　‘Courage；　courage！　So　far　all　goes　well　with　usmuch；　much　better　than　it　has　of　late　gone　with　many　poor　souls。　Cheer　up；　and　have　a　thankful　heart。'　
　‘I　am　not　thankless；　I　hope；　but　that　dreadful　woman　seems　to　throw　a　shadow　on　me　and　on　all　my　hopes。'　
　‘Tut；　tut！'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　‘what　is　this　despondency　in　the　brave　little　breast？　A　shadow　indeed！　No　substance　in　it；　Lucie。'　
　But　the　shadow　of　the　manner　of　these　Defarges　was　dark　upon　himself；　for　all　that；　and　in　his　secret　mind　it　troubled　him　greatly。　


CHAPTER　IV
Calm　in　Storm
DOCTOR　MANETTE　did　not　return　until　the　morning　of　the　fourth　day　of　his　absence。　So　much　of　what　had　happened　in　that　dreadful　time　as　could　be　kept　from　the　knowledge　of　Lucie　was　so　well　concealed　from　her；　that　not　until　long　afterwards；　when　France　and　she　were　far　apart；　did　she　know　that　eleven　hundred　defenceless　prisoners　of　both　sexes　and　all　ages　had　been　killed　by　the　populace；　that　four　days　and　nights　had　been　darkened　by　this　deed　of　horror；　and　that　the　air　around　her　had　been　tainted　by　the　slain。　She　only　knew　that　there　had　been　an　attack　upon　the　prisons；　that　all　political　prisoners　had　been　in　danger；　and　that　some　had　been　dragged　out　by　the　crowd　and　murdered。　
　To　Mr。　Lorry；　the　Doctor　communicated　under　an　injunction　of　secrecy　on　which　he　had　no　need　to　dwell；　that　the　crowd　had　taken　him　through　a　scene　of　carnage　to　the　prison　of　La　Force。　That；　in　the　prison　he　had　found　a　self…appointed　Tribunal　sitting；　before　which　the　prisoners　were　brought　singly；　and　by　which　they　were　rapidly　ordered　to　be　put　forth　to　be　massacred；　or　to　be　released；　or　（in　a　few　cases）　to　be　sent　back　to　their　cells。　That；　presented　by　his　conductors　to　this　Tribunal；　he　had　announced　himself　by　name　and　profession　as　having　been　for　eighteen　years　a　secret　and　unaccused　prisoner　in　the　Bastille；　that；　one　of　the　body　so　sitting　in　judgment　had　risen　and　identified　him；　and　that　this　man　was　Defarge。　
　That；　hereupon　he　had　ascerta