a tale of two cities(双城记)-第54章

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f　the　Prisons。　
　Sheep　was　a　cant　word　of　the　time　for　a　spy；　under　the　gaolers。　The　spy；　who　was　pale；　turned　paler；　and　asked　him　how　he　dared…　
　‘I'll　tell　you；'　said　Sydney。　‘I　lighted　on　you；　Mr。　Barsad；　coming　out　of　the　prison　of　the　Conciergerie　while　I　was　contemplating　the　walls；　an　hour　or　more　ago。　You　have　a　face　to　be　remembered；　and　I　remember　faces　well。　Made　curious　by　seeing　you　in　that　connection；　and　having　a　reason；　to　which　you　are　no　stranger；　for　associating　you　with　the　misfortunes　of　a　friend　now　very　unfortunate；　I　walked　in　your　direction。　I　walked　into　the　wine…shop　here；　close　after　you；　and　sat　near　you。　I　had　no　difficulty　in　deducing　from　your　unreserved　conversation；　and　the　rumour　openly　going　about　among　your　admirers；　the　nature　of　your　calling。　And　gradually；　what　I　had　done　at　random；　seemed　to　shape　itself　into　a　purpose；　Mr。　Barsad。'　
　‘What　purpose？'　the　spy　asked。　
　‘It　would　be　troublesome；　and　might　be　dangerous；　to　explain　in　the　street。　Could　you　favour　me；　in　confidence；　with　some　minutes　of　your　companyat　the　office　of　Tellson's　Bank；　for　instance？'　
　‘Under　a　threat？'　
　‘Oh！　Did　I　say　that？'　
　‘Then；　why　should　I　go　there？'　
　‘Really；　Mr。　Barsad；　I　can't　say；　if　you　can't。'　
　‘Do　you　mean　that　you　won't　say；　sir？'　the　spy　irresolutely　asked。　
　‘You　apprehend　me　very　clearly；　Mr。　Barsad。　I　won't。'　
　Carton's　negligent　recklessness　of　manner　came　powerfully　in　aid　of　his　quickness　and　skill；　in　such　a　business　as　he　had　in　his　secret　mind；　and　with　such　a　man　as　he　had　to　do　with。　His　practised　eye　saw　it；　and　made　the　most　of　it。　
　‘Now；　I　told　you　so；'　said　the　spy；　casting　a　reproachful　look　at　his　sister；　‘if　any　trouble　comes　of　this；　it's　your　doing。'　
　‘Come；　come；　Mr。　Barsad！'　exclaimed　Sydney。　‘Don't　be　ungrateful。　But　for　my　great　respect　for　your　sister；　I　might　not　have　led　up　so　pleasantly　to　a　little　proposal　that　I　wish　to　make　for　our　mutual　satisfaction。　Do　you　go　with　me　to　the　Bank？'　
　‘I'll　hear　what　you　have　got　to　say。　Yes；　I‘ll　go　with　you。'　
‘I　propose　that　we　first　conduct　your　sister　safely　to　the　corner　of　her　own　street。　Let　me　take　your　arm；　Miss　Pross。　This　is　not　a　good　city；　at　this　time；　for　you　to　be　out　in；　unprotected；　and　as　your　escort　knows　Mr。　Barsad；　I　will　invite　him　to　Mr。　Lorry's　with　us。　Are　we　ready？　Come　then！'　
　Miss　Pross　recalled　soon　afterwards；　and　to　the　end　of　her　life　remembered；　that　as　she　pressed　her　hands　on　Sydney's　arm　and　looked　up　in　his　face；　imploring　him　to　do　no　hurt　to　Solomon；　there　was　a　braced　purpose　in　the　arm　and　a　kind　of　inspiration　in　the　eyes；　which　not　only　contradicted　his　light　manner；　but　changed　and　raised　the　man。　She　was　too　much　occupied　then　with　fears　for　the　brother　who　so　little　deserved　her　affection；　and　with　Sydney's　friendly　reassurances；　adequately　to　heed　what　she　observed。　
　They　left　her　at　the　corner　of　the　street；　and　Carton　led　the　way　to　Mr。　Lorry's；　which　was　within　a　few　minutes'　walk。　John　Barsad；　or　Solomon　Pross；　walked　at　his　side。　
　Mr。　Lorry　had　just　finished　his　dinner；　and　was　sitting　before　a　cheery　little　log　or　two　of　fireperhaps　looking　into　their　blaze　for　the　picture　of　that　younger　elderly　gentleman　from　Tellson's；　who　had　looked　into　the　red　coals　at　the　Royal　George　at　Dover；　now　a　good　many　years　ago。　He　turned　his　head　as　they　entered；　and　showed　the　surprise　with　which　he　saw　a　stranger。　
　‘Miss　Pross's　brother；　sir；'　said　Sydney。　‘Mr。　Barsad。'　
　‘Barsad？'　repeated　the　old　gentleman；　‘Barsad？　I　have　an　association　with　the　name…and　with　the　face。'　
　‘I　told　you　you　had　a　remarkable　face；　Mr。　Barsad；'　observed　Carton；　coolly　‘Pray　sit　down。'　
　As　he　took　a　chair　himself　he　supplied　the　link　that　Mr。　Lorry　wanted；　by　saying　to　him　with　a　frown；　‘Witness　at　that　trial。'　Mr。　Lorry　immediately　remembered；　and　regarded　his　new　visitor　with　an　undisguised　look　of　abhorrence。　
　‘Mr。　Barsad　has　been　recognised　by　Miss　Pross　as　the　affectionate　brother　you　have　heard　of'　said　Sydney；　‘and　has　acknowledged　the　relationship。　I　pass　to　worse　news。　Darnay　has　been　arrested　again。'　
　Struck　with　consternation；　the　old　gentleman　exclaimed；　‘What　do　you　tell　me　I　left　him　safe　and　free　within　these　two　hours；　and　am　about　to　return　to　him！'　
　‘Arrested　for　all　that。　When　was　it　done；　Mr。　Barsad？'　
‘Just　now；　if　at　all。'　
　‘Mr。　Barsad　is　the　best　authority　possible；　sir；'　said　Sydney；　‘and　I　have　it　from　Mr。　Barsad's　communication　to　a　friend　and　brother　Sheep　over　a　bottle　of　wine；　that　the　arrest　has　taken　place。　He　left　the　messengers　at　the　gate；　and　saw　them　admitted　by　the　porter。　There　is　no　earthly　doubt　that　he　is　retaken。'　
　Mr。　Lorry's　business　eye　read　in　the　speaker's　face　that　it　was　loss　of　time　to　dwell　upon　the　point。　Confused；　but　sensible　that　something　might　depend　on　his　presence　of　mind；　he　commanded　himself　and　was　silently　attentive。　
　‘Now；　I　trust；'　said　Sydney　to　him；　‘that　the　name　and　influence　of　Doctor　Manette　may　stand　him　in　as　good　stead　to…morrow　you　said　he　would　be　before　the　Tribunal　again　to…morrow；　Mr。　Barsad？…'　
　‘Yes；　I　believe　so。'　
　‘In　as　good　stead　to…morrow　as　to…day。　But　it　may　not　be　so。　I　own　to　you；　I　am　shaken；　Mr。　Lorry；　by　Doctor　Manette's　not　having　had　the　power　to　prevent　this　arrest。　
　‘He　may　not　have　known　of　it　beforehand；'　said　Mr。　Lorry。　‘But　that　very　circumstance　would　be　alarming；　when　we　remember　how　identified　he　is　with　his　son…in…law。'　
　‘That's　true；'　Mr。　Lorry　acknowledged；　with　his　troubled　hand　at　his　chin；　and　his　troubled　eyes　on　Carton。　
　‘In　short；'　said　Sydney；　‘this　is　a　desperate　time；　when　desperate　games　are　played　for　desperate　stakes。　Let　the　Doctor　play　the　winning　game；　I　will　play　the　losing　one。　No　man's　life　here　is　worth　purchase。　Any　one　carried　home　by　the　people　to…day；　may　be　condemned　to…morrow。　Now；　the　stake　I　have　resolved　to　play　for；　in　case　of　the　worst；　is　a　friend　in　the　Conciergerie。　And　the　friend　I　purpose　to　myself　to　win；　is　Mr。　Barsad。'　
　‘You　need　have　good　cards；　sir；'　said　the　spy。　
　‘I'll　run　them　over。　I'll　see　what　I　hold。Mr。　Lorry；　you　know　what　a　brute　I　am；　I　wish　you'd　give　me　a　little　brandy。'　
　It　was　put　before　him；　and　he　drank　off　a　glassfulrank　off　another　glassfulpushed　the　bottle　thoughtfully　away。　
　‘Mr。　Barsad；'　he　went　one　‘in　the　tone　of　one　who　really　was　looking　over　a　hand　at　cards：　‘Sheep　of　the　prisons；　emissary　of　Republican　committees；　now　turnkey；　now　prisoner；　always　spy　and　secret　informer；　so　much　the　more　valuable　here　for　being　English　that　an　Englishman　is　less　open　to　suspicion　of　subornation　in　those　characters　than　a　Frenchman；　represents　himself　to　his　employers　under　a　false　name。　That's　a　very　good　card。　Mr。　Barsad；　now　in　the　employ　of　the　republican　French　government；　was　former！y　in　the　employ　of　the　aristocratic　English　government；　the　enemy　of　France　and　freedom。　That's　an　excellent　card。　Inference　clear　as　day　in　this　region　of　suspicion；　that　Mr。　Barsad；　still　in　the　pay　of　the　aristocratic　English　government；　is　the　spy　of　Pitt；　the　treacherous　foe　of　the　Republic　crouching　in　its　bosom；　the　English　traitor　and　agent　of　all　mischief　so　much　spoken　of　and　so　difficult　to　find。　That's　a　card　not　to　be　beaten。　Have　you　followed　my　hand；　Mr。　Barsad？'　
‘Not　to　‘understand　your　play；'　returned　the　spy；　somewhat　uneasily。　
　‘I　play　my　Ace；　Denunciation　of　Mr。　Barsad　to　the　nearest　Section　Committee。　Look　over　your　hand；　Mr。　Barsad；　and　see　what　you　have。　Don't　hurry。'　
　He　drew　the　bottle　near；　poured　out　another　glassful　of　brandy；　and　drank　it　off。　He　saw　that　the　spy　was　fearful　of　his　drinking　himself　into　a　fit　state　for　the　immediate　denunciation　of　him。　Seeing　it；　he　poured　out　and　drank　another　glassful。　
　Look　over　your　hand　carefully；　Mr。　Barsad。　Take　time。'　It　was　a　poorer　hand　than　he　suspected。　Mr。　Barsad　saw　losing　cards　in　it　that　Sydney　Carton　knew　nothing　of。　Thrown　out　of　his　honourable　employment　in　England；　through　too　much　unsuccessful　hard　swearing　therenot　because　he　was　not　wanted　there：　our　English　reasons　for　vaunting　our　superiority　to　secrecy　and　spies　are　of　very　modern　datehe　knew　that　he　had　crossed　the　Channel；　and　accepted　service　in　France：　first；　as　a　tempter　and　an　eavesdropper　among　his　own　countrymen　there：　gradually；　as　a　tempter　and　an　eavesdropper　among　the　natives。　He　knew　that　under　the　overthrown　government　he　had　been　a　spy　upon　Saint　Antoine　and　Defarge's　wine…shop；　had　received　from　the　watchful　police　such　heads　of　information　concerning　Doctor　Manette's　imprisonment；　release；　and　history；　as　should　serve　him　for　an　introduction　to　familiar　conversation　with　the　Defarges；　and　tried　them　on　Madame　Defarge；　and　had　broken　down　with　them　signally。　He　always　remembered　with　fear　and　trembling；　that　that　terrible　woman　had　knitted　when　he　talked　with　her；　and　had　looked　ominously　at　him　as　her　fingers　moved。　He　had　since　seen　her；　in　the　Section　of　Saint　Antoine；　over　and　over　a　gain　produce　her　knitted　registers；　and　denounce　people　whose　lives　the　guillotine　then　surely　swallowed　up。　He　knew；　as　every　one　employed　as　he　was　did；　that　he　was　never　safe；　that　flight　was　impossible；　that　he　was　tied　fast　under　the　shadow　of　the　axe；　and　that　in　spite　of　his　utmost　tergiversation　and　treachery　in　furtherance　of　the　reigning　terror；　a　word　might　bring　it　down　upon　him。　Once　denounced；　and　on　such　grave　grounds　as　had　just　now　been　suggested　to　his　mind；　he　foresaw　that　the　dreadful　woman　of　whose　unrelenting　character　he　had　seen　many　proofs；　would　produce　against　him　that　fatal　register；　and　would　quash　his　last　chance　of　life。　Besides　that　all　secret　men　are　men　soon　terrified；　here　were　surely　cards　enough　of　one　black　suit；　to　justify　the　holder　in　growing　rather　livid　as　he　turned　them　over。　
　‘You　scarcely　seem　to　like　your　hand；'　said　Sydney；　with　the　greatest　composure。　‘Do　you　play？'　
　‘I　think；　sir；'　said　the　spy；　in　the　meanest　manner；　as　he　turned　to　Mr。　Lorry；　‘I　may　appeal　to　a　gentleman　of　your　years　and　benevolence；　to　put　it　to　this　other　gentleman；　so　much　your　junior；　whether　he　can　under　any　circumstances　reconcile　it　to　his　station　to　play　that　Ace　of　which　he　has　spoken。　I　admit　that　I　am　a　spy；　and　that　it　is　considered　a　discreditable　stationthough　it　must　be　filled　by　somebody；　but　this　gentleman　is　no　spy；　and　why　should　he　so　demean　himself　as　to　make　himself　one？'　
　‘I　play　my　Ace；　Mr。　Barsad；'　said　Carton；　taking　the　answer　on　himself；　and　looking　at　his　watch；　‘without　any　scruple　in　a　very　few　minutes。'　
　‘I　should　have　hoped；　gentlemen　both；'　said　the　spy；　always　striving　to　hook　Mr。　Lorry　into　the　discussion；　‘that　your　respect　for　my　sister…'　
　‘I　could　not　better　testify　my　respect　for　your　sister　than　by　finally　relieving　her　of　her　brother；'　said　Sydney　Carton。　
　‘You　think　not；　sir？'　
　‘I　have　thoroughly　made　up　my　mind　about　it。'　
　The　smooth　manner　of　the　spy；　curiously　in　dissonance　with　his　ostentatiously　rough　dress；　and　probably　with　his　usual　demeanour；　received　such　a　check　from　the　inscrutability　of　Carton；who　was　a　mystery　to　wiser　and　honester　men　than　he；that　it　faltered　here　and　failed　him。　While　he　was　at　a　loss；　Carton　said；　resuming　his　former　air　of　contemplating　cards：　
　‘And　indeed；　now　I　think　again