a tale of two cities(双城记)-第52章

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　His　removal；　to　make　way　for　other　accused　persons　who　were　to　be　tried；　rescued　him　from　these　caresses　for　the　moment。　Five　were　to　be　tried　together；　next；　as　enemies　of　the　Republic；　forasmuch　as　they　had　not　assisted　it　by　word　or　deed。　So　quick　was　the　Tribunal　to　compensate　itself　and　the　nation　for　a　chance　lost；　that　these　five　came　down　to　him　before　he　left　the　place；　condemned　to　die　within　twenty…four　hours。　The　first　of　them　told　him　so；　with　the　customary　prison　sign　of　Deatha　raised　fingerand　they　all　added　in　words；　‘Long　live　the　Republic。'　
　The　five　had　had；　it　is　true；　no　audience　to　lengthen　their　proceedings；　for　when　he　and　Doctor　Manette　emerged　from　the　gate；　there　was　a　great　crowd　about　it；　in　which　there　seemed　to　be　every　face　he　had　seen　in　Courtexcept　two；　for　which　he　looked　in　vain。　On　his　coming　out；　the　concourse　made　at　him　anew；　weeping；　embracing；　and　shouting；　all　by　turns　and　all　together；　until　the　very　tide　of　the　river　on　the　bank　of　which　the　mad　scene　was　acted；　seemed　to　run　mad；　like　the　people　on　the　shore。　
　They　put　him　into　a　great　chair　they　had　among　them；　and　which　they　had　taken　either　out　of　the　Court　itself；　or　one　of　its　rooms　or　passages。　Over　the　chair　they　had　thrown　a　red　flag；　and　to　the　back　of　it　they　had　bound　a　pike　with　a　red　cap　on　its　top。　In　this　car　of　triumph；　not　even　the　Doctor's　entreaties　could　prevent　his　being　carried　to　his　home　on　men's　shoulders；　with　a　confused　sea　of　red　caps　heaving　about　him；　and　casting　up　to　sight　from　the　stormy　deep　such　wrecks　of　faces；　that　he　more　than　once　misdoubted　his　mind　being　in　confusion；　and　that　he　was　in　the　tumbril　on　his　way　to　the　Guillotine。　
　In　wild　dreamlike　procession；　embracing　whom　they　met　and　pointing　him　out；　they　carried　him　on。　Reddening　the　snowy　streets　with　the　prevailing　Republican　colour；　in　winding　and　tramping　through　them；　as　they　had　reddened　them　below　the　snow　with　a　deeper　dye；　they　carried　him　thus　into　the　court…yard　of　the　building　where　he　lived。　Her　father　had　gone　on　before；　to　prepare　her；　and　when　her　husband　stood　upon　his　feet；　she　dropped　insensible　in　his　arms。　
　As　he　held　her　to　his　heart　and　turned　her　beautiful　head　between　his　face　and　the　brawling　crowd；　so　that　his　tears　and　her　lips　might　come　together　unseen；　a　few　of　the　people　fell　to　dancing。　Instantly；　all　the　rest　fell　to　dancing；　and　the　court…yard　overflowed　with　the　Carmagnole。　Then；　they　elevated　into　the　vacant　chair　a　young　woman　from　the　crowd　to　be　carried　as　the　Goddess　of　Liberty；　and　then　swelling　and　overflowing　out　into　the　adjacent　streets；　and　along　the　river's　bank；　and　over　the　bridge；　the　Carmagnole　absorbed　them　every　one　and　whirled　them　away。　
　After　grasping　the　Doctor's　hand；　as　he　stood　victorious　and　proud　before　him；　after　grasping　the　hand　of　Mr。　Lorry；　who　came　panting　in　breathless　from　his　struggle　against　the　waterspout　of　the　Carmagnole；　after　kissing　little　Lucie；　who　was　lifted　up　to　clasp　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　after　embracing　the　ever　zealous　and　faithful　Pross　who　lifted　her；　he　took　his　wife　in　his　arms；　and　carried　her　up　to　their　rooms。　
‘Lucie！　My　own！　I　am　safe。'　
　‘O　dearest　Charles；　let　me　thank　God　for　this　on　my　knees　as　I　have　prayed　to　Him。'　
　They　all　reverently　bowed　their　heads　and　hearts。　Then　she　was　again　in　his　arms；　he　said　to　hem：　
　‘And　now　speak　to　your　father；　dearest。　No　other　man　in　all　this　France　could　have　done　what　he　has　done　for　me。'　
　She　laid　her　head　upon　her　father's　breast；　as　she　had　laid　his　poor　head　on　her　own　breast；　long；　long　ago。　He　was　happy　in　the　return　he　had　made　her；　he　was　recompensed　for　his　suffering；　he　was　proud　of　his　strength。　‘You　must　not　be　weak；　my　darling；'　he　remonstrated；　‘don't　tremble　so。　I　have　saved　him。　


CHAPTER　VII
A　Knock　at　the　Door
‘I　HAVE　saved　him。'　It　was　not　another　of　the　dreams　in　which　he　had　often　come　back；　he　was　really　here。　And　yet　his　wife　trembled；　and　a　vague　but　heavy　fear　was　upon　her。　
　All　the　air　around　was　so　thick　and　dark；　the　people　were　so　passionately　revengeful　and　fitful；　the　innocent　were　so　constantly　put　to　death　on　vague　suspicion　and　black　malice；　it　was　so　impossible　to　forget　that　many　as　blameless　as　her　husband　and　as　dear　to　others　as　he　was　to　her；　every　day　shared　the　fate　from　which　he　had　been　clutched；　that　her　heart　could　not　be　as　lightened　of　its　load　as　she　felt　it　ought　to　be。　The　shadows　of　the　wintry　afternoon　were　beginning　to　fall；　and　even　now　the　dreadful　carts　were　rolling　through　the　streets。　Her　mind　pursued　them；　looking　for　him　among　the　Condemned；　and　then　she　clung　closer　to　his　real　presence　and　trembled　more。　
　Her　father；　cheering　her；　showed　a　compassionate　superiority　to　this　woman's　weakness；　which　was　wonderful　to　see。　No　garret；　no　shoemaking；　no　One　Hundred　and　Five；　North　Tower；　now！　He　had　accomplished　the　task　he　had　set　himself；　his　promise　was　redeemed；　he　had　saved　Charles。　Let　them　all　lean　upon　him。　
　Their　housekeeping　was　of　a　very　frugal　kind：　not　only　because　that　was　the　safest　way　of　life；　involving　the　least　offence　to　the　people；　but　because　they　were　not　rich；　and　Charles；　throughout　his　imprisonment；　had　had　to　pay　heavily　for　his　bad　food；　and　for　his　guard；　and　towards　the　living　of　the　poorer　prisoners。　Partly　on　this　account；　and　partly　to　avoid　a　domestic　spy；　they　kept　no　servant；　the　citizen　and　citizeness　who　acted　as　porters　at　the　court…yard　gate；　rendered　them　occasional　service；　and　Jerry　（almost　wholly　transferred　to　them　by　Mr。　Lorry）　had　become　their　daily　retainer；　and　had　his　bed　there　every　night。　
　It　was　an　ordinance　of　the　Republic　One　and　Indivisible　of　Liberty；　Equality；　Fraternity；　or　Death；　that　on　the　door　or　doorpost　of　every　house；　the　name　of　every　inmate　must　be　legibly　inscribed　in　letters　of　a　certain　size；　at　a　certain　convenient　height　from　the　ground。　Mr。　Jerry　Cruncher's　name；　therefore；　duly　embellished　the　doorpost　down　below；　and；　as　the　afternoon　shadows　deepened；　the　owner　of　that　name　himself　appeared；　from　overlooking　a　painter　whom　Doctor　Manette　had　employed　to　add　to　the　list　the　name　of　Charles　Evrémonde；　called　Darnay。　
　In　the　universal　fear　and　distrust　that　darkened　the　time；　all　the　usual　harmless　ways　of　life　were　changed。　In　the　Doctor's　little　household；　as　in　very　many　others；　the　articles　of　daily　consumption　that　were　wanted　were　purchased　every　evening；　in　small　quantities　and　at　various　small　shops。　To　avoid　attracting　notice；　and　to　give　as　little　occasion　as　possible　for　talk　and　envy；　was　the　general　desire。　
　For　some　months　past；　Miss　Pross　and　Mr。　Cruncher　had　discharged　the　office　of　purveyors；　the　former　carrying　the　money；　the　latter；　tile　basket。　Every　afternoon　at　about　the　time　when　the　public　lamps　were　lighted；　they　fared　forth　on　this　duty；　and　made　and　brought　home　such　purchases　as　were　needful。　Although　Miss　Pross；　through　her　long　association　with　a　French　family；　might　have　known　as　much　of　their　language　as　of　her　own；　if　she　had　had　a　mind；　she　had　no　mind　in　that　direction；　consequently　she　knew　no　more　of　that　‘nonsense'　（as　she　was　pleased　to　call　it）　than　Mr。　Cruncher　did。　So　her　manner　of　marketing　was　to　plump　a　noun…substantive　at　the　head　of　a　shopkeeper　without　any　introduction　in　the　nature　of　an　article；　and；　if　it　happened　not　to　be　the　name　of　the　thing　she　wanted；　to　look　round　for　that　thing；　lay　hold　of　it；　and　hold　on　by　it　until　the　bargain　was　concluded。　She　always　made　a　bargain　for　it；　by　holding　up；　as　a　statement　of　its　just　price；　one　finger　less　than　the　merchant　held　up；　whatever　his　number　might　be。　
　‘Now；　Mr。　Cruncher；'　said　Miss　Pross；　whose　eyes　were　red　with　felicity；　‘if　you　are　ready；　I　am。'　
　Jerry　hoarsely　professed　himself　at　Miss　Pross's　service。　He　had　worn　all　his　rust　off　long　ago；　but　nothing　would　file　his　spiky　head　down。　
　‘There's　all　manner　of　things　wanted；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘and　we　shall　have　a　precious　time　of　it。　We　want　wine；　among　the　rest。　Nice　toasts　these　Redheads　will　be　drinking；　wherever　we　buy　it。'　
　‘It　will　be　much　the　same　to　your　knowledge；　miss；　I　should　think；'　retorted　Jerry；　‘whether　they　drink　your　health　or　the　Old　Un's。　
‘Who's　he？'　said　Miss　Pross。　
　Mr。　Cruncher；　with　some　diffidence；　explained　himself　as　meaning　‘Old　Nick's。'　
　‘Ha！'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘it　doesn't　need　an　interpreter　to　explain　the　meaning　of　these　creatures。　They　have　but　one；　and　it's　Midnight　Murder；　and　Mischief'　
　‘Hush；　dear！　Pray；　pray；　be　cautious！'　cried　Lucie。　
　‘Yes；　yes；　yes；　I'll　be　cautious；'　said　Miss　Pross；　‘but　I　may　say　among　ourselves；　that　I　do　hope　there　will　be　no　oniony　and　tobaccoey　smotherings　in　the　form　of　embracings　all　round；　going　on　in　the　streets。　Now；　Ladybird；　never　you　stir　from　that　fire　till　I　come　back！　Take　care　of　the　dear　husband　you　have　recovered；　and　don't　move　your　pretty　head　from　his　shoulder　as　you　have　it　now；　till　you　see　me　again！　May　I　ask　a　question；　Doctor　Manette；　before　I　go？'　
　‘I　think　you　may　take　that　liberty；'　the　Doctor　answered；　smiling。　
　‘For　gracious　sake；　don't　talk　about　Liberty；　we　have　quite　enough　of　that；'　said　Miss　Pross。　
　‘Hush；　dear！　Again？'　Lucie　remonstrated。　
　‘Well；　my　sweet；'　said　Miss　Pross；　nodding　her　head　emphatically；　‘the　short　and　the　long　of　it　is；　that　I　am　a　subject　of　His　Most　Gracious　Majesty　King　George　the　Third；'　Miss　Pross　curtseyed　at　the　name；　‘and　as　such；　my　maxim　is；　Confound　their　politics；　Frustrate　their　knavish　tricks；　On　him　our　hopes　we　fix；　God　save　the　King！'　
　Mr。　Cruncher；　in　an　access　of　loyalty；　growlingly　repeated　the　words　after　Miss　Pross；　like　somebody　at　church。　
　‘I　am　glad　you　have　so　much　of　the　Englishman　in　you；　though　I　wish　you　had　never　taken　that　cold　in　your　voice；'　said　Miss　Pross；　approvingly。　‘But　the　question；　Doctor　Manette。　Is　there'it　was　the　good　creature's　way　to　affect　to　make　light　of　anything　that　was　a　great　anxiety　with　them　all；　and　to　come　at　it　in　this　chance　manner'is　there　any　prospect　yet；　of　our　getting　out　of　this　place？'　
　‘I　fear　not　yet。　It　would　be　dangerous　for　Charles　yet。'　
　‘Heigh…ho…hum！'　said　Miss　Pross；　cheerfully　repressing　a　sigh　as　she　glanced　at　her　darling's　golden　hair　in　the　light　of　the　fire；　‘then　we　must　have　patience　and　wait：　that's　all。　We　must　hold　up　our　heads　and　fight　low；　as　my　brother　Solomon　used　to　say。　Now；　Mr。　Cruncher！Don't　you　move；　Ladybird！'　
They　went　out；　leaving　Lucie；　and　her　husband；　her　father；　and　the　child；　by　a　bright　fire。　Mr。　Lorry　was　expected　back　presently　from　the　Banking　House。　Miss　Pross　had　lighted　the　lamp；　but　had　put　it　aside　in　a　corner；　that　they　might　enjoy　the　fire…light　undisturbed。　Little　Lucie　sat　by　her　grandfather　with　her　hands　clasped　through　his　arm：　and　he；　in　a　tone　not　rising　much　above　a　whisper；　began　to　tell　her　a　story　of　a　great　and　powerful　Fairy　who　had　opened　a　prison…wall　and　let　out　a　captive　who　had　once　done　the　Fairy　a　service。　All　was　subdued　and　quiet；　and　Lucie　was　more　at　ease　than　she　had　been。　
　‘What　is　that？'　she　cried；　all　at　once。　
　‘My　dear！'　said　her　father；　stopping　in　his　story；　and　laying　his　hand　on　hers；　‘command　yourself。　What　a　disordered　state　you　are　in！　The　least　thingnothingstartles　you！　You；　your　father's