We Had Everything With Us
Wayne George
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Posted Nov 8, 2024
A short, grasping story based in the 18th century LondonWE HAD EVERYTHING BEFORE US, WE HAD NOTHING BEFORE US, WE WERE ALLGOING DIRECT TO HEAVEN, WE WERE ALL …
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A short, grasping story based in the 18th century London
WE HAD EVERYTHING BEFORE US, WE HAD NOTHING BEFORE US, WE WERE
ALLGOING DIRECT TO HEAVEN, WE WERE ALL GOING DIRECT THE OTHER WAY
IN SHORT, THE PERIOD WAS SO FAR LIKE THE PRESENT PERIOD, THAT SOME OF
ITS NOISIEST AUTHORITIES INSISTED ON ITS BEING RECEIVED, FOR GOOD OR
FOR EVIL, IN THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE OF COMPARISON ONLY.
THERE WERE A KING WITH A LARGE JAW AND A QUEEN WITH A PLAIN FACE, ON
THE THRONE OF ENGLAND; THERE WERE A KING WITH A LARGE JAW AND A
QUEEN WITH A FAIR FACE, ON THE THRONE OF FRANCE. IN BOTH COUNTRIES IT
WAS CLEARER THAN CRYSTAL TO THE LORDS OF THE STATE PRESERVES OF
LOAVES AND FISHES, THAT THINGS IN GENERAL WERE SETTLED FOR EVER.
IT WAS THE YEAR OF OUR LORD ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND
SEVENTY-FIVE. SPIRITUAL REVELATIONS WERE CONCEDED TO ENGLAND AT
THAT FAVOURED PERIOD, AS AT THIS. MRS. SOUTHCOTT HAD RECENTLY
ATTAINED HER FIVE-AND-TWENTIETH BLESSED BIRTHDAY, OF WHOM A
PROPHETIC PRIVATE IN THE LIFE GUARDS HAD HERALDED THE SUBLIME
APPEARANCE BY ANNOUNCING THAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR THE
SWALLOWING UP OF LONDON AND WESTMINSTER, EVEN THE COCK-LANE
GHOST HAD BEEN LAID ONLY A ROUND DOZEN OF YEARS, AFYER RAPPING OUT
ITS MESSAGES, AS THE SPIRITS OF THIS VERY YEAR LAST PAST
(SUPERNATURALLY DEFICIENT IN ORIGINALITY) RAPPED OUT THEIRS. MERE
MESSAGES IN THE EARTHLY ORDER OF EVENTS HAD LATELY COME TO THE
ENGLISH CROWN AND PEOPLE FROM A CONGRES OF BRITISH SUBJECTS IN
AMERICA: WHICH, STRANGE TO RELATE, HAVE PROVED MORE IMPORTANT TO
THE HUMAN RACE THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNICTAIONS YET RECEIVED
THROUGH ANY OF THE CHICKENS OF THE COCK-LANE BROOD.
FRANCE, LESS FAVOURED ON THE WHOLE AS TO MATTERS SPIRITUAL THAN HER
SISTER OF THE SHIELD AND TRIDENT, ROLLED WITH EXCEEDING SMOOTHNESS
DOWN HILL, MAKING PAPER MONEY AND SPENDING IT. UNDER THE GUIDANCE
OF HER CHRISTIAN PASTORS, SHE ENTERTAINED HERSELF, BESIDES, WITH SUCH
HUMANE ACHIEVEMENTS AS SENTENCING A YOUTH TO HAVE HIS HANDS CUTOFF, HIS TONGUE TORN OUT WITH PINCERS, AND HIS BODY BURNED ALIVE,
BECAUSE HE HAS NOT KNEELED DOWN IN THE RAIN TO DO HONOUR TO A DIRTY
PROCESSION OF MONTHS WHICH PASSED WITHIN HIS VIEW, AT A DISTANCE OF
SOME FIFTY OR SIXTY YARDS. IT IS LIKELY ENOUGH THAT, ROOTED IN THE
WOODS OF FRANCE AND NORWAY, THERE WERE GROWING TREES, WHEN THAT
SUFFERER WAS PUT TO DEATH, ALREADY MARKED BY THE WOODMAN, FATE, TO
COME DOWN AND BE SAWN INTO BOARDS, TO MAKE A CERTAIN MOVABLE
FRAMEWORK WITH A SACK AND A KNIFE IN IT, TERRIBLE IN HISTORY. IT IS
LIKELY ENOUGH THT IN TH ROUGH OUTHOUSES OF SOME TILLERS OF THE
HEAVY LANDS ADJACENT TO PARIS, THERE WERE SHELTERED FROM THE
WEATHER THAT VERY DAY, RUDE CARTED, BESPATTERED WITH RUSTIC MIRE,
SNUFFED ABOUT BY PIGS, AND ROOSTED IN BY POULTRY, WHICH THE FARMER,
DEATH, HAD ALREADY SET APART TO BE HIS TUMBRILS OF THE REVOLUTION.
BUT THAT WOODMAN AND THAT FARMER, THOUGH THEY WORK UNCEASINGLY,
WORK SILENTLY, AND NO ONE HEARD THEM AS THEY WENT ABOUT WITH
MUFFLED TREAD: THE RATHER, FORASMUCH AS TO ENTERTAIN ANY SUSPICION
THAT THEY WERE AWAKE, WAS TO BE ATHEISTICAL AND TRAITOROUS.
IN ENGLAND, THERE WAS SCARCELY AN AMOUNT OF ORDER AND PROTECTION
TO JUSTIFY MUCH NATIONAL BOASTING. DARLING BURGLARIES BY ARMED MEN,
AND HIGHWAY ROBBERIES, TOOK PLACE IN THE CAPITAL ITSELF EVERY NIGHT;
FAMILIES WERE PUBLICLY CAUTIONED NOT TO GO OUT OF TOWN WITHOUT
REMOVING THEIR FURNITURE TO UPHOLSTERERS’ WAREHOUSES FOR SECURITY;
THE HIGHWAYMAN IN THE DARK WAS A CITY TRADESMAN IN THE LIGHT, AND
BEING RECOGNIZED AND CHALLENGED BY HIS FELLOW-TRADESMEN WHOM HE
STOPPED IN HIS CHARACTER OF “THE CAPTAIN,” GALLANTLY SHOT HIM
THROUGH THE HEAD AND RODE AWAY; THE MAIL WAS WAYLAID BY SEVEN
ROBBERS, AND THE GUARD SHOT THREE DED, AND THE GOT SHOT DEAD
HIMSELF BY THE OTHER FOUR, “IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE FAILURE OF HIS
AMMUNITION.” AFTER WHICH THE MAIL WAS ROBBED IN PEACE; THAT
MAGNIFICENT POTENTATE, THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, WAS MADE TO
POTENTATE, THE LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, WAS MADE TO STAND ANDDELIVER ON TUMHAM GREEN, BY ONE HIGHWAYMAN, WHO DESPOILED THE
ILLUSTRIOUS CREATURE IN SIGHT OF ALL HIM RETINUE; PRISONERS IN LONDON
GAOLS FOUGHT BATTLES WITH THEIR TURNKEYS, AND THE MAJESTY OF THE
LAW FIRED BLUNDERBUSSES IN AMONG THEM, LOADED WITH ROUNDS OF SHOT
AND BALL; THIEVES SNIPPED OFF DIAMOND CROSSES FROM NECKS OF NOBLE
LORDS AT COURT DRAWING-ROOMS; MUSKETEERS WENT INTO ST. GILES’S TO
SEARCH FOR CONTRABAND GOODS, AND THE MOB FIRED ON THE MUSKETEERS
FIRED ON THE MOB AND NOBODY THOUGHT OF ANY OF THESE OCCURRENCES
MUCH OUT OF THE COMMON WAY. IN THE MIDST OF THEM, THE HANGMAN,
EVER BUSY AND EVER WORSE THAN USELESS, WAS IN CONSTANT REQUISITION;
NOW, STRINGING UP LONG ROWS OF MISCELLANEOUS CRIMINALS; NOW,
HANGING A HOUSEBREAKER ON SATURDAY WHO HAD BEEN TAKEN ON
TUESDAY; NOW, BURNING PEOPLE IN THE HAND AT NEWGATE BY THE DOZEN,
AND NOW BURNING PAMPHLETS AT THE DOOR OF WESTMINSTER HALL; TO-DAY,
TAKING THE LIFE OF AN ATROCIOUS MURDERER, AND TO-MORROW OF A
WRETHCED PLIFERER WHO HAD ROBBED A FARMER’S BOY OF SIXPENNCE.
ALL THESE THINGS, A THOUSAND LIKE THEM, CAME TO PASS IN AND DOSE UPON
THE DEAR OLD YEAR ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE.
ENVIRONED BY THEM, WHILE THE WOODMAN AND THE FARMER WORKED
UNHEEDEDM THOSE TWO OF THE LARGE JAWS, AND THOSE OTHER TWO OF THE
PLAIN AND THE FAIR FAVES, TROD WITH STIR ENOUGH, AND CARRIED THEIR
DIVINE RIGHTS WITH A HIGH HAND. THUS DID THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND SEVEN
HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE CONDUCT THEIR GREATNESSESM AND MYRIADS
OF SMALL CREATURES- THE CREATURES OF THIS CHRONICLE AMONG THE REST-
ALONG THE ROADS THAT LAY BEFORE THEM. IT WAS THE DOVER ROAD THAT
LAY, ON A FRIDAY NIGHT LATE IN NOVEMBER, BEFORE THE FIRST OF THE
PERSONS WITH WHOM THIS HISTORY HAS BUSINESS. THE DOVER READ LAY, AS
TO HIM, BEYOND THE DOVER MAIL, AS IT LUMBERED UO SHOOTER’S HILL. HE
WALKED UP HILL IN THE MIRE BY THE SIDE OF THE MAIL, AS THE REST OF THE
PASSENGERS DID; NOT BECAUSE THEY HAD THE LEAST RELISH FOR WALKING
EXERCISE, UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT BECAUSE THE HLL, AND THEHARNESS, AND THE MUD, AND THE MAIL, WERE ALL SO HEAVY, THAT THE
HORSES HAD THREE TIMES ALREADY COME TO A STOP, BESIDES ONCE
DRAWING THE COACH ACROSS THE ROAD, WITH THE MUTINOUS INTENT OF
TAKING IT BACK TO BLACKHEATH. REINS AND WHIP AND COACHMAN AND
GUARD, HOWEVER, IN COMBINATION, HAD READ THAT ARTCILE OF WAR WHICH
FORBADE A PURPOSE OTHERWISE STRONGLY IN FAVOUR OF THE ARGUMENT,
THAT SOME BRUTE ANIMALS ARE ENDURED WITH REASON; AND THE TEAM HAD
CAPITULATED AND RETURNED TO THEIR DUTY.
WITH DROPPING HEADS AND TREMULOUS TAILS, THEY MASHED THEIR WAY
THROUGH THICK MUD, FLOUNDERING AND STUMBLING BETWEEN WHILES, AS IF
THEY WERE FALLING TO PIECES AT THE LARGER JOINTS. AS OFTEN AS THE
DRIVER RESTED THEM AND BROUGHT THEM TO A STAND, WITH A WARY “WO-
HO! SO-HO-THEN!” THE NEAR LEADER VIOLENTLY SHOOK HIS HEAD AND
EVERYTHING UPON IT-LIKE AN UNUSUALLY EMPHATIC HORSE, DENYING THAT
THE COACH COULD BE GOT UP THE HILL. WHENEVER THE LEADER MADE THIS
RATTLE, THE PASSENGER STARTED, AS A NERVOUS PASSENGER MIGHT, AND
WAS DISTURBED IN MIND.
THERE WAS A STEAMING MIST IN ALL THE HOLLOWS, AND IT HAD ROAMED IN
ITS FORLORNNESS UP THE HILL, LIKE AN EVIL SPIRIT, SEEKING REST AND
FINDING NONE. A CLAMMY AND INTENSELY COLD MIST, IT MAKE ITS SLOW WAY
THROUGH THE AIR IN RIPPLES THAT VISIBLY FOLLOWED AND OVER SPERAD
ONE ANOTHER, AS THE WAVES OF AN UNWHOLESOME SEA MIGHT DO. IT WAS
DENSE ENOUGH TO SHUT OUT EVERYTHING FROM THE LIGHT OF THE COACH-
LAMPS BUT THESE ITS OWN WORKINGS, AND A FEW YARDS OF ROAD; AND THE
REEK OF THE LABOURING HORSES STEAMED INTO IT, AS IF THEY HAD MADE IT
ALL.
TWO OTHER PASSENGERS, BESIDES THE ONE, WERE PLODDING UP THE HILL BY
THE SIDE OF THE MAIL. ALL THREE WERE WRAPPED TO THE CHEEKBONES AND
OVER THE EARS, AND WORE JACK-BOOTS. NOT ONE OF THE THREE COULD HAVE
SAID, FROM ANYTHING HE SAW, WHAT EITHER OF THE OTHER TWO WAS LIKE;AND WATCH WAS HIDDEN UNDER ALMOST AS MANY WRAPPERS FROM THE
EYES OF THE BODY, OF HIS TWO COMPANIONS. IN THOSE DAYS, TRAVELLERS
WERE VERY SHY OF BEING CONFIDENTIAL ON A SHORT NOTICE, FOR ANYBODY
ON THE ROAD MIGHT BE A ROBBER OR IN THE LEAGUE WITH ROBBERS. AS TO
THE LATTER, WHEN EVERY POSTING-HOUSE AND ALE-HOUSE COULD PRODUCE
SOMEBODY IN “THE CAPTAIN’S” PAY, RANGING FROM THE LANDLORD TO THE
LOWEST STABLE NONDESCRIPT, IT WAS THE LIKELIEST THING UPON THE CARDS.
SO THE GUARD OF THE DOVER MAIL THOUGHT TO HIMSELF, THAT FRIDAY
NIGHT IN NOVEMBER, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-FIVE,
LUMBERING UP SHOOTER’S HILL, AS HE STOOD ON HIS OWN PARTICULAR PERCH
BEHING THE MAIL, BEATING HIS FEET, AND KEEPING AN EYE AND A HAND ON
THE ARM-CHEST BEFORE HIM, WHERE A LOADED BLUNDERBUSS LAY AT THE
TOP OF SIX OR EIGHT LOADED HORSE-PISTOLS, DEPOSITED ON A SUBSTRATUM
OF CUTLASS.
THE DOVER MAIL WAS IN ITS USUAL GENIAL POSITION THAT THE GUARD
SUSPECTED THE PASSENGER, THE PASSENGERS SUSPECTED ONE ANOTHER AND
THE GUARD, THEY ALL SUSPECTED EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THE COACHMAN
WAS SURE OF NOTHING BUT THE HORSES; AS TO WHICH CATTLE HE COULD
WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE HAVE TAKEN HIS OATH ON THE TWO TESTAMENTS
THAT THEY NOT FIT FOR THE JOURNEY.
“WO-HO!” SAID THE COACHMAN. “SO, THEN! ONE MORE PULL AND YOU’RE AT
THE TOP AND BE DAMNED TO YOU, FOR I HAVE HAD TROUBLE ENOUGH TO GET
YOU TO IT!-JOE!”
“HALLOA!” THE GUARD REPLIED.
“WHAT O’CLOCK DO YOU MAKE IT, JOE?”
“TEN MINUTES, GOOD, PAST ELEVEN.”
“MY BLOOD!” EJACULATED THE VEXED COACHMAN, “AND NOT ATOP OF
SHOOTER’S YET! TST! YAH! GET ON WITH YOU!”THE EMPHATIC HORSE, CUT SHORT BY THE WHIP IN A MOST DECIDED NEGATIVE,
MADE A DECIDED SCRAMBLE FOR IT, AND THE THREE OTHER HORSES
FOLLOWED SUIT. ONCE MORE, THE DOVER MAIL STRUGGLED ON, WITH THE
JACK-BOOTS OF ITS PASSENGERS SQUASHING ALONG BY ITS SIDE. THEY HAD
STOPPED WHEN THE COACH STOPPED, AND THEY KEPT CLOSE COMPANY WITH
IT. IF ANYONE OF THE THREE HAD HAD THE HARDIHOOD TO PROPOSE TO
ANOTHER TO WALK ON A LITTLE AHEAD INTO THE MIST AND DARKNESS, HE
WOULD HAVE PUT HIMSELF IN A FAIR WAY OF GETTING SHOT INSTANTLY AS A
HIGHWAY MAN.
THE LAST BURST CARRIED THE MAIL TO THE SUMMIT OF THE HILL. THE HORSES
STOPPED TO BREATHE AGAIN, AND THE GUARD GOT DOWN TO SKIN THE WHEEL
FOR DESCENT, AND THE OPEN COACH-DOOR TO LET THE PASSENGERS IN.
“TST JOE!” CRIED THE COACHMAN IN A WARNING VOICE, LOOKING DOWN FROM
HIS BOX.
“WHAT DO YOU SAY, TOM?”
THEY BOTH LISTENED.
“I SAY A HORSE AT A CANTER COMING UP, JOE.”
“I SAY A HORSE AT A GALLOP, TOM,” RETURNED THE GUARD, LEAVING HIS
HOLD OF THE DOOR, AND MOUNTING NIMBLY TO HIS PLACE. “GENTLEMEN! IN
THE KING’S NAME, ALL OF YOU!”
WITH THE HURRIED ADJURATION, HE COCKED HIS BLUNDERBUSS, AND STOOD
ON THE OFFENSIVE.
THE PASSENGER BOOKED BY THIS HISTORY, WAS ON THE COACH-STEP, GETTING
IN; THE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE CLOSE BEHIND HIM, AND ABOUT TO
FOLLOW. HE REMAINED ON THE STEP, HALF IN THE COACH AND HALF OUT OF;
THEY REMAINED IN THE ROAD BELOW HIM. THEY ALL LOOKED FROM THE
COACHMAN TO THE GUARD, AND FROM THE GUARD BACK TO THE COACHMAN,
AND LISTENED. THE COACHMAN LOOKED BACK AND THE GUARD LOOKED BACK,AND EVEN THE EMPHATIC LEADER PRICKED UP HIS EARS AND LOOKED BACK,
WITHOUT CONTRADICTING.
THE STILLNESS CONSEQUENT ON THE CESSATION OF THE RUMBLING AND
LABOURING OF THE COACH, ADDED TO THE STILLNESS OF THE NIGHT, MADE IT
VERY QUIET INDEED. THE PANTING OF THE HORSES COMMUNICATED A
TREMULOUS MOTION TO THE COACH, AS IF IT WERE IN A STATE OF AGITATION.
THE HEARTS OF THE PASSENGERS BEAT LOUD ENOUGH PERHAPS TO HEAR; BUT
AT ANY RATE, THE QUIET PAUSE WAS AUDIBLY EXPRESSIVE OF PEOPLE OUT OF
BREATH, AND HOLDING THE BREATH, AND HAVING THE PULSES QUICKENED BY
EXPECTATION.
THE SHOULD OF A HORSE AT A GALLOP CAME FAST AND FURIOUSLY UP THE
HILL.
“SO-HO!” THE GUARD SANG OUT, AS LOUD AS HE COULD ROAR. “YO THERE!
STAND! I SHALL FIRE!”
THE PACE WAS SUDDENLY CHECKED, AND, WITH MUCH SPLASHING AND
FLOUNDERING, A MAN’S VOICE CALLED FROM THE MIST, “IS THAT THE DOVER
MAIL?”
“NEVER YOU MIND WHAT IT IS!” THE GUARD RETORTED. “WHAT ARE YOU?”
“IS THAT THE DOVER MAIL?”
“WHY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW?”
“I WANT A PASSENGER, IF IT IS.”
“WHAT PASSENGER?”
“MR. JARVIS LORRY.”
OUR BOOKED PASSENGER SHOWED IN A MOMENT THAT IT WAS HIS NAME. THE
GUARD, THE COACHMAN, AND THE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS EYED HIM
DISTRUSTFULLY.“KEEP WHERE YOU ARE,” THE GUARD CALLED TO THE VOICE IN THE MIST,
“BECAUSE, IF I SHOULD MAKE A MISTAKE, IT COULD NEVER BE SET RIGHT IN
YOU LIFETIME. GENTLEMAN OF THE NAME LORRY ANSWER STRAIGHT.”
“WHAT IS THE MATTER?” ASKED THE PASSENGER, THEN, WITH MILDLY
QUAVERING SPEECH. “WHO WANTS ME? IS IT JERRY?”
(“I DON’T LIKE JERRY’S VOICE, IF IT IS JERRY,” GROWLED THE GUARD TO
HIMSELF. “HE’S HOARSER THAN SUITS ME, IS JERRY.”)
“YES, MR. LORRY.”
“WHAT IS THE MATTER?”
“A DESPATCH SENT AFTER YOU FROM OVER YONDER. T. AND CO.”
“I KNOW THIS MESSENGER, GUARD,” SAID MR. LORRY, GETTING DOWN INTO THE
ROAD- ASSISTED FROM BEHING MORE SWIFTLY THAN POLITELY BY THE OTHER
TWO PASSENGERS, WHO IMMEDIATELY SCRAMBLED INTO THE COACH, SHUT
THE DOOR, AND PULLED UP THE WINDOW. “HE MAY COME CLOSE; THERE’S
NOTHING WRONG.”
“I HOPE THERE AIN’T, BUT I CAN’T MAKE SO ‘NATION SURE OF THAT,” SAID THE
GUARD, IN GRUFF SOLILOQUY. “HALLO YOU!”
“WELL! AND HALLO YOU!” SAID JERRY, MORE HOARSELY THAN BEFORE.
“COME ON AT FOOTPACE! D’YE MIND ME? AND IF YOU’VE GOT HOLSTERS TO
THAT SADDLE O’ YOUM, DON’T LET ME SEE YOUR HAND GO NIGH ‘EM. FOR I’M A
DEVIL AT QUICK MISTAKE, AND WHEN I MAKE ONE IT TAKES THE FORM OF
LEAD. SO NOW LET’S LOOK AT YOU.”
THE FIGURE OF A HORSE AND RIDER CAME SLOWLY THROUGH THE EDDYING
MIST, AND CAME TO THE SIDE OF THE MAIL, WHERE THE PASSENGER STOOD.
THE RIDER STOOPED, AND, CASTING UP HIS EYES AT THE GIARD, HANDED THE
PASSENGER A SMALL FOLDED PAPER. THE RIDER’S HORSE WAS BLOWN, ANDBOTH HORSE AND RIDER WERE COVERED WITH MUD, FROM THE HOOFS OF THE
HORSE TO THE HAT OF THE MAN.
“GUARD!” SAID THE PASSENGER, IN A TONE OF QUIET BUSINESS CONFIDENCE.
THE WATCHFUL GUARD, WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AT THE STOCK OF HIS RAISED
BLUNDERBUSS, HIS LEFT HAND AT THE BARREL, AND HIS EYE ON THE
HORSEMAN, ANSWERED CURTLY, “SIR.”
“THERE IS NOTHING TO APPREHEND. I BELONG TO TELLSON’S BANK. YOU MUST
KNOW TELLSON’S BANK IN LONDON. I AM GOING TO PARIS ON BUSINESS. A
CROWN TO DRINK. I MAY READ THIS?”
“IF SO BE AS YOU’RE QUICK, SIR.”
HE OPENED IT IN THE LIGHT OF THE COACH-LAMP ON THAT SIDE, AND READ-
FIRST TO HIMSELF AND THE ALOUD: “WAIT AT DOVER FOR MAM’SELLE.’ IT’S
NOT LONG, YOU SEE, GUARD. JERRY, SAY THAT MY ANSWER WAS, RECALLED TO
LIFE.”
JERRY STARTED IN THE SADDLE, “THAT’S A BLAZING STRANGE ANSWER, TOO,”
SAID HE, AT HIS HOARSEST.
“TAKE THAT MESSAGE BACK, AND THEY WILL KNOW THAT I RECEIVED THIS, AS
WELL AS IF I WROTE. MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR WAY. GOOD NIGHT.”
WITH THOSE WORDS THE PASSENGER OPENED THE COACH-DOOR AND GOT IN;
NOT AT ALL ASSISTED BY HIS FELLOW PASSENGERS, WHO HAD EXPEDITIOUSLY
SECRETED THEIR WATCHES AND PURSES IN THEIR BOOTS, AND WERE NOW
MAKING A GENERAL PRETENCE OF BEING ASLEEP. WITH NO MORE DIFINITE
PURPOSE THAN TO ESCAPE THE HAZARD OF ORIGINATION ANY OTHER KIND OF
ACTION.
THE COACH LUMBERED ON AGAIN, WITH HEAVIER WREATHS OF MIST CLOSING
ROUND IT AS IT BEGAN THE DECENT. THE GUARD SOON REPLACED HIS
BLUNDERBUSS IN IS ARM-CHEST, AND, HAVING LOOKED TO THE REST OF ITS
CONTENTS, AND HAVING LOOKED TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY PISTOLS THAT HEWORE ON HIS BELT, LOOKED TO A SMALLER CHEST BENEATH HIS SEAT, IN
WHICH THERE WEER A FEW SMITH’S TOOLS, A COUPLE OF TORCHES, AND A
TINDER-BOX. FOR HE WAS FUMISHED WITH THAT COMPLETENESS THAT IF THE
COACH-LAMPS HAD BEEN BLOWN AND STORMED OUT, WHICH DID
OCCASSIONALY HAPPEN, HE HAD ONLY TO SHUT HIMSELF UP INSIDE, KEEP THE
FLINT AND STEEL SPARKS WELL OF THE STRAW, AND GET A LIGHT WITH
TOLERABLE SAFETY AND EASE (IF HE WERE LUCK) IN FIVE MINUTES.
“TOM!” SOFTLY OVER THE COACH ROOF.
“HALLO, JOE.”
“DID YOU HEAR THE MESSAGE?”
“I DID, JOE.”
“WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF IT, TOM?”
“NOTHING AT ALL, JOE.”
“THAT’S A COINCIDNCE, TOO,” THE GUARD MUSED, “FOR I MADE THE SAME OF IT
MYSELF.”
JERRY, LEFT ALONE IN THE MIST AND DARKNESS, DISMOUNTED MEANWHILE,
NOT ONLY TO EASE HIS SPENT HORSE, BUT TO WIPE THE MUD FROM HIS FACE,
AND SHAKE THE WET OUT OF HIS HAT-BRIM, WHICH MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF
HOLDING ABOUT HALF A GALLON. AFTER STANDING WITH THE BRIDLE OVER
HIS HEAVILY-SPLASHED ARM, UNTIL THE WHEELS OF THE MAIL WERE NO
LONGER WITHIN HEARING AND THE NIGHT WAS QUITE STILL AGAIN, HE TURNED
TO WALK DOWN THE HILL.
“AFTER THAT THERE GALLOP FROM TEMPLE BAR, OLD LADY, I WON’T TRUST
YOUR FORE-LEGS TILL I GET YOU ON THE LEVEL,” SAID THIS HOARSE
MESSENGER, GLANCING AT HIS MARE. “RECALLED TO LIFE.” THAT’S A BLAZING
STRANGE MESSAGE. MUCH OF THAT WOULDN’T DO FOR YOU, JERRY! I SAY,
JERRY! YOU’D BE IN A BLAZING BAD WAY, IF RECALLING TO LIFE WAS TO COME
INTO FASHION, JERRY!”A WONDERFUL FACT TO REFLECT UPON, THAT EVERY HUMAN CREATURE IS
CONSTITUTED TO BE THAT PROFOUND SECRET AND MYSTERY TO EVERY OTHER.
A SOLEMN CONSIDERATION, WHEN I ENTER A GREAT CITY BY NIGHT, THAT
EVERY ONE OF THOSE DARKLY CLUSTERED HOUSES ENCLOSES ITS OWN SECRET;
THAT EVERY ROOM IN EVERY ONE OF THEM ENCLOSES ITS OWN SECRET; THAT
EVERY BEATING HEART IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF BREASTS THERE,
IS, IN SOME OF ITS IMAGININGS, A SECRET TO THE HEART NEAREST IT!
SOMETHING OF THE AWFULNESS, EVEN OF DEATH ITSELF, IS REFERABLE TO
THIS. NO MORE CAN I TURN THE LEAVES OF THIS DEAR BOOK THAT I LOVED,
AND VAINLY HOPE IN TIME TO READ IT ALL. NO MRE CAN I LOOK INTO THE
DEPTHS. OF THIS UNFATHOMABLE WATER, WHEREIN, AS MONUMENTARY LIGHT
GLANCED INTO IT. I HAVE HAD GLIMPSES OF BURIED TREASURE AND OTHER
THINGS SUBMERGED. IT WAS APPOINTED THAT THE WATER SHOULD BE LOCKED
IN AN ETERNAL FROST, WHEN THE LIGHT WAS PLAYING ON ITS SURFACE, AND I
STOOD IN IGNORANCE ON THE SHORE. MY FRIEND IS DEAD, MY NEIGHBOUR IS
DEAD, MY LOVE, THE DARLING OF MY SOUL, IS DEAD; IT IS THE INEXORABLE
CONSOLIDATION AND PERPETUATION OF THE SECRET THAT WAS ALWAYS IN
THAT INDIVIDUALITY, AND WHICH I SHALL CARRY IN MINE TO MY LIFE’S END.
IN ANY OF THE BURIAL-PLACES OF THIS CITY THROUGH WHICH I PASS, IS THERE
A SLEEPER MORE INSCRUTABLE THAN ITS BUSY INHABITANTS ARE, IN THEIR
INNERMOST PERSONALITY, TO ME, OR THAN I AM TO THEM?
AS TO THIS, HIS NATURAL AND NOT TO BE ALIENATED INHERITANCE, THE
MESSENGER ON HORSEBACK HAD EXACTLY THE SAME POSSESSIONS AS THE
KING, THE FIRST MINISTER OF STATE, OR THE RICHEST MERCHANT IN LONDON.
SO WITH THE THREE PSSENGERS SHUT UP IN THE NARROW COMPASS OF ONE
LUMBER OLD MAIL COACH; THEY WERE MYSTERIES TO ANOTHER, AS
COMPLETE AS IF EACH HAD BEEN IN HIS OWN COACH AND SIX, OR HIS OWN
COACH AND SIXTY, WITH THE BREADTH OF A COUNTY BETWEEN HIM AND THE
NEXT.THE MESSENGER RODE BACK AT AN EASY TROT, STOPPING PRETTY OFTEN AT
ALE-HOUSES BY THE WAY TO DRINK, BUT EVINCING A TENDENCY TO KEEP HIS
OWN COUSEL, AND TO KEEP HIS HAT COCKED OVER HIS EYES. HE HAD EYES
THAT ASSORTED VERY WELL WITH THAT DECORATION; BEING OF A SURFACE
BLACK; WITH NO DEPTH IN THE COLOUR OF FOR, AND MUCH TOO NEAR
TOGETHER –AS IF THEY WERE AFRAID OF BEING FOUND OUT IN SOMETHING,
SINGLY, IF THEY KEPT TOO FAR APART. THEY HAD A SINISTER EXPRESSION,
UNDER AN OLD COKED-HAT LIKE THREE-CORNERED SPITTOON, AND OVER A
GREAT MUUFLER FOR THE CHIN AND THROAT, WHICH DESCENDED NEARLY TO
THE WEARER’S KNEES. WHEN HE STOPPED FOR A DRINK, HE MOVED THIS
MUFFLER WITH HIS LEFT HAND, ONLY WHILE HE POURED HIS LIQUOR IN WITH
HIS RIGHT; AS SOON AS THAT WAS DONE, HE MUFFLED AGAIN.
“NO, JERRY, NO!” SAID THE MESSENGER, HARPING ON ONE THEME AS HE RODE.
“IT WOULDN’T DO FOR YOU, JERRY. JERRY, YOU HONEST TRADESMAN, IT
WOULDN’T SUIT YOUR LINE OF BUSINESS! RECALLED-! BUST ME IF I DON’T
THINK HE’D BEEN A DRINKING!”
HIS MESSAGE PERPLEXED HIS MIND TO THAT DEGREE THAT HE WAS IN FAIN,
SERVER ALSO TIMES, TO TAKE OF HIS HAT TO SCRATCH HIS HEAD. EXCEPT ON
THE CROWN, WHICH WAS RAGGEDLY BALD, HE HAD STIFF, BLACK HAIR,
STANDING JAGGEDLY ALL OVER IT, AND GROWING DOWN HILL ALMOST TO HIS
BROAD, BLUNT NOSE. IT WAS SO LIKE SMITH’S WORK, SO MUCH MORE LIKE THE
TOP OF A STRONGLY SPIKED WALL THAN A HEAD OF HAIR, THAT THE BEST OF
PLAYERS AT LEAP-FROG MIGHT HAVE DECLINED HIM, AS THE MOST
DANGEROUS MAN IN THE WORLD TO GO OVER.
WHILE HE TROTTED BACK WITH THE MESSAGE HE WAS TO DELIVER TO THE
NIGHT WATCHMAN IN HIS BOX AT THE DOOR OF TELLSON’S BANK, BY TEMPLE
BAR, EHO WAS TO DELIVER IT TO GREATER AUTHORITIES WITHIN, THE
SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT TOOK SUCH SHAPES TO HIM AS A ROSE OUT OF THE
MESSAGE, AND TOOK SUCH SHAPES TO THE MARE AS A ROSE OUT OF HERPRIVATE TOPICS OF UNEASINESS. THEY SEEMED TO BE NUMEROUS, FOR SHE
SHIELD AT EVERY SHADOW ON THE ROAD.
WHAT TIME, THE MAIL-COACH LUMBERED, JOLTED, RATTLED, AND BUMPED
UPON ITS TEDIOUS WAY, WITH ITS THREE FELLOW-INSCRUTABLE INSIDE. TO
WHOM, LIKEWISE, THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT REVEALED THEMSELVES, IN
THE FORMS THEIR DOZING EYES AND WANDERING THOUGHTS SUGGESTED.
TELLSON’S BANK HAD RUN UPON IT IN THE MAIL. AS THE BANK PASSENGER –
WITH AN ARM DRAWN THROUGH THE LEATHER STRAP, WHICH DID WHAT LAY
IN IT TO KEEP HIM FROM POUNDING AGAINST THE NEXT PASSENGER, AND
DRIVING HIM INTO HIS CORNER, WHENEVER THE COACH GOT A SPECIAL JOLT-
NODDED IN HIS PLACE, WITH HALF-SHUT EYES, THE LITTLE COACH WINDOWS,
AND THE COACH-LAMP DIMLY GLEAMING THROUGH THEM, AND THE BULKY
BUNDLE OF OPPOSITE PASSENGER, BECAME THE BANK, AND DID A GREAT
STROKE OF BUSINESS. THE RATTLE OF THE HARNESS WAS THE CHINK OF THE
MONEY, AND MORE DRAFTS WEER HONOURED IN FIVE MINUTES THAN EVEN
THE TELLSON’S WITH ALL ITS FOREIGN AND HOME CONNECTION, EVER PAID IN
THRICE THE TIME. THEN THE STRONG-ROOMS UNDERGROUND, AT TELLSON’S,
WITH SUCH OF THEIR VALUABLE STORES AND SECTERTS AS WERE KNOWN TO
THE PASSENGER (AND IT WAS NOT A LITTLE THAT HE KNOW ABOUT THEM),
OPENED BEFORE HIM, AND HE WENT IN AMONG THEM WITH THE GREAT KEYS
AND THE FEEBLY-BURNING CANDLE, AND FOUND THEM SAFE, AND STRONG,
AND SOUND, AND STILL, JUST AS HE HAD LAST SEEN THEM.
BUT, THOUGH THE BANK WAS ALMOST ALWAYS WITH HIM, AND THOUGH THE
COACH (IN A CONFUSED WAY, LIKE THE PRESENCE OF PAIN UNDER AN OPIATE)
WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, THERE WAS ANOTHER CURRENT OF IMPRESSION THAT
NEVER CEASED TO RUN, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT. HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO DIG
SOMEONE OUT OF GRAVE.
NOW, WHICH OF THE MULTITUDE OF FACES THAT SHOWED THEMSELVES
BEFORE HIM WAS THE TRUE FACE OF THE BURIED PERSON, THE SHADOWS OF
THE NIGHT DID NOT INDICATE; BUT THEY WERE ALL THE FACES OF A MAN OFFIVE-AND-FORTY BY YEARS, AND THEY DIFFERED IN PRINCIPALLY IN THE
PASSIONS THEY EXPRESSED, AND IN THE GHASTLINESS OF THEIR WORN AND
WASTED STATE. PRIDE, CONTEMPT, DEFIANCE, STUBBORNESS, SUBMISSION,
LAMENTATION, SUCCEEDED ONE ANOTHER, SO DID VARIETIES OF SUNKEN
CHEEK, CADAVEROUS COLOUR, EMANCIPATED HANDS AND FIGURES. BUT THE
FACE WAS IN THE MAIN ONE FACE, AND EVERY HEAD WAS PREMATUERLY
WHITE. A HUNDRED TIMES AND THE DOZING PASSENGERS INQUIRED OF THIS
SPECTRE:
“BURIED HOW LONG?”
THE ANSWER WAS ALWAYS THE SAME: “ALMOST EIGHTEEN YEARS.”
“LONG AGO.”
“YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE RECALLED TO LIFE?”
“THEY TELL ME SO.”
“I HOPE YOU CARE TO LIVE?”
“I CAN’T SAY.”
“SHALL I SHOW HER TO YOU? WILL YOU COME AND SEE HER?”
THE ANSWERS TO THIS QUESTION WEWE VARIOUS AND CONTRADICTORY.
SOMETIMES THE BROKEN REPLY WAS, “WAIT! IT WOULD KILL ME IF I SAW HER
TOO SOON.” SOMETIMES IT WAS GIVEN IN A TENDER RAIN OF TEARS, AND THEN
IT WAS, “TAKE ME TO HER.” SOMETIMES IT WAS STARING AND BEWILDERED
AND THEM IT WAS, “I DON’T KNOW HER, I DON’T UNDERSTAND.”
AFTER SUCH IMAGINARY DISCLOSURE, THE PASSENGER IN HIS FANCY WOULD
DIG, AND DIG, DIG –NOW WITH A SPADE, NOW WITH A GREAT KEY, NOW WITH
HIS HANDS- TO DIG THIS WRETCHED CREATURE OUT. GOT OUT AT LAST, WITH
EARTH HANGING ABOUT HIS FACE AND HAIR, HE WOULD SUDDENLY FAN AWAT
TO DUST. THE PASSENGER WOULD THEN START TO HIMSELF, AND LOWER THE
WINDOW, TO GET THE REALITY OF MIST AND RAIN ON HIS CHEEK.YET EVEN WHEN HIS EYES WERE OPENED ON THE MIST AND RAIN, ON THE
MOVING PATCH OF LIGHT FROM THE LAMPS, AND THE HEDGE AT THE ROADSIDE
RETREATING BY JERKS, THE NIGHT SHADOWS OUTSIDE THE COACH WOULD
FALL INTO THE TRAIN OF THE NIGHT SHADOWS WITHIN. THE REAL BANKING-
HOUSE BY TEMPLE BAR, THE REAL BUSINESS OF THE PAST DAY, THE REAL
STRONG ROOMS, THE REAL EXPRESS SENT AFTER HIM, AND THE REAL MESSAGE
RETURNED, WOULD ALL BE THERE. OUT OF THE MIDST OF THEM, THE GHOSTLY
FACE WOULD RISE, AND HE WOULD ACCOST IT AGAIN.
“BURIED HOW LONG?’
“ALMOST EIGHTEEN YEARS.”
“I HOPE YOU CARE TO LIVE?”
“I CAN’T SAY.”
DIG- DIG- DIG- UNTIL AN IMPATIENT MOVEMENT FROM ON E OF THE TWO
PASSENGER WOULD ADMONISH HIM TO PULL UP THE WINDOW, DRAW HIS ARM
SECURELY THROUGH THE LEATHER STRAP, AND SPECULATE UPON THE TWO
SLUMBERING FORMS, UNTIL HIS MIND LOST ITS HOLD OF THEM, AND THEY
AGAIN SLID AWAY INTO THE BANK AND THE GRAVE.
“BURIED HOW LONG?”
“ALMOST EIGHTEEN YEARS.”
“YOU HAD ABANDONED ALL HOPE OF BEING DUG OUT?”
“LONG AGO.”
THE WORDS WERE STILL IN HIS HEARING AS JUST SPOKEN –DISTINCTLY IN HIS
HEARING AS EVER SPOKEN WORDS HAD BEEN IN HIS LIFE- WHEN THE WEARILY
PASSENGER STARTED TO THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF DAYLIGHT, AND FOUND THAT
THE SHADOWS OF THE NIGHT WERE GONE.
HE LOWERED THE WINDOW, AND LOOKED OUT AT THE RISING SUN. THERE WAS
A RIDGE OF PLOUGHED LAND, WITH A PLOUGH UPON IT WHERE IT HAD BEENLEFT LAST NIGHT WHEN THE HORSES WERE UNYOKED; BEYOND, A QUIET
COPPICE-WOOD, IN WHICH MANY LEAVES OF BURNING RED AND GOLDEN
YELLOW STILL REMAINED UPON THE TREES. THOUGH THE EARTH WAS COLD
AND WET, THE SKY WAS CLEAR, AND THE SUN ROSE BRIGHT, PLACID, AND
BEAUTIFUL.
“EIGHTEEN YEARS!” SAID THE PASSENGER, LOOKING AT THE SUN. “GRACIOUS
CREATOR OF THE DAY! TO BE BURIED ALIVE FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS!”
WHEN THE MAIL GOT SUCCESSFULLY TO DOVER, IN THE COURSE OF THE
FORENOON, THE HEAD DRAWER AT THE ROAY GEORGE HOTEL OPENED THE
COACH-DOOR AS HIS CUSTOM WAS. HE DID IT WITH SOME FLOURISH OF
CEREMONY, FOR A MAIL OUR NEW FROM LONDON IN WINTER WAS AN
ACHIEVEMENT TO CONGRATULATE AN ADVENTUROUS TRAVELLER UPON.
BY THAT TIME, THERE WAS ONLY ONE ADVETUROUS TRAVELLER LEFT BE
CONGRATULATED: FOR THE TWO OTHERS HAD BEEN SET DOWN AT THEIR
RESPECTIVE ROADSIDE DESTINATIONS. THE MILDEWY INSIDE OF THE COACH,
WITH ITS DAMP AND DIRTY STRAW, ITS DISAGREEABLE SMELL, AND ITS
OBSCURITY, WAS RATHER LIKE A LARGE DOG-KENNEL. MR. LORRY, THE
PASSENGER, SHAKING HIMSELF OUT OF IT IN CHAINS OF STRAW, A TANGLE OF
SHAGGY WRAPPER, FLAPPING HAT, AND MUDDY LEGS, WAS RATHER LIKE A
LARGER SORT OF DOG.
“THERE WILL BE A PACKET TO CALAIS, TOMORROW, DRAWER?”
“YES, SIR, ID THE WEATHER HOLDS AND THE WIND SETS TOLERABLE FAIR. THE
TIDE WILL SERVE PRETTU NICELY AT ABOUT TWO IN THE AFTERNOON, SIR. BED,
SIR?”
“I SHALL NOT GO TO BED TILL NIGHT; BUT I WANT A BEDROOM, AND A
BARBER.”
“AND THEN BREAKFAST, SIR?” YES, SIR. THAT WAY, SIR, IF YOU PLEASE. SHOW
CONCORD! GENTLEMAN’S VALISE AND HOT WATER TO CONCORD. (YOU WILLFIND A FINE SEA-COAL FIRE, SIR.) FETCH BARBER TO CONCORD. STIR ABOUT
THERE, NOW, FOR CONCORD!”
THE CONCORD BED-CHAMBER BEING ALWAYS ASSIGNED TO A PASSENGER BY
THE MAIL, AND PASSENGERS BY THE MAIL BEING ALWAYS HEAVILY WRAPPED
UP FROM HEAD TO FOOT, THE ROOM HAD THE ODD INTEREST FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROYAL GEORE, THAT ALTHOUGH BUT ONE KIND OF
MAN WAS SEEN GO INTO IT, ALL KINDS AND VARIETIES OF MEN CAME OUT OF IT.
CONSEQUENTLY, ANOTHER DRAWER, AND TWO PORTERS, AND SEVERAL MAIDS
AND THE LANDLADY, WERE ALL LOITERING BY ACCIDENT AT VARIOUS POINTS
OF THE ROAD BETWEEN THE CONCORD AND THE COFFEE-ROOM, WHEN A
GENTLEMAN OF SIXTY, FORMALLY DRESSED IN A BROWN SUIT OF CLOTHES,
PRETTY WELL WORN, BUT VERY WELL KEPT, WITH LARGE SQUARE CUFFS AND
LARGE FLAPS TO THE POCKETS, PASSED ALONG HIS WAY TO HIS BREAKFAST.
THE COFFEE-ROOM HAD NO OTHER OCCUPANT, THAT FORENOON, THAN THE
GENTLEMAN IN BROWN, HIS BREAKFAST-TABLE WAS DRAWN BEFORE THE FIRE,
AND AS HE SAT, WITH ITS LIGHT SHINING ON HIM, WAITING FOR THE MEAL, HE
SAT SO STILL, THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SITTING FOR HIS PORTRAIT.
VERY ORDERLY AND METHODICAL HE LOOKED, WITH A HAND ON EACH KNEEM
AND A LOUD WATCH TICKING A SONOROUS SERMON UNDER HIS FLAPPED
WAIST-COAT, AS THOUGH IT PITTED ITS GRAVITY AND LONGEVITY AGAINST
THE LEVITY AND EVANESCENE OF THE BRISK FIRE. HE HAD A GOOD LEG, AND
WAS A LITTLE VAIN OF IT, FOR HIS BROWN STOCKINGS FOISTED SLEEK AND
CLOSE, AND WERE OF A FINE TEXTURE; HIS SHOES AND BUCKLES, TOO, THOUGH
PLAIN, WERE TRIM.
HE WORE AN ODD LITTLE SLEEK CRISP FLAXEN WIG, SETTING VERY CLOSE TO
HIS HEAD: WHICH WIG, IT IS TO BE PRESUMED, WAS MADE OF HAIR, BUT WHICH
LOOKED FAR MORE AS THOUGH IT WERE SPUN FROM FILAMENTS OF SILK OR
GLSS. HIS LINEN, THOUGH NOT OF A FINENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS
STOCKINGS, WAS AS WHITE AS THE TOPS OF THE WAVES THAT BROKE UPON THE
NEIGHBOURING BEACH, OR THE SPECKS OF SAIL THAT GLINTED IN THESUNLIGHT FAR AT SEA. A FACE HABITUALLY SUPPRESSED AND QUIETED, WAS
STILL LIGHTED UP UNDER THE QUAINT WIG BY A PAIR OF MOIST BRIGHT EYES
THAT IT MUST HAVE COST THEIR OWNER, IN YEARS GONE BY, SOME PAIRS TO
DRILL TO THE COMPOSED AND RESERVED EXPRESSION OF TELLSON’S BANK. HE
HAD A HEALTHY COLOUR IN HIS CHEEKS, AND HIS FACE, THOUH LINED, BORE
FEW TRACES OF ANXIETY. BUT, PERHAPS, THE CONFIDENTIAL BACHELOR
CLERKS IN TELLSON’S BANK WERE PRINCIPALLY OCCUPIED WITH THE CARES OF
OTHER PEOPLE; AND PERHAPS SECOND-HAND CARES, LIKE SECOND-HAND
CLOTHES, COME EASILY OFF AND ON.
COMPLETING HIS RESEMBLANCE TO A MAN WHO WAS SITTING FOR HIS
PORTRAIT, MR. LORRY DROPPED OFF TO SLEEP. THE ARRIVAL OF HIS
BREAKFAST ROUSED HIM, AND HE SAID TO THE DRAWER, AS HE MOVED HIS
CHAIR TO IT:
“I WISH ACCOMMODATION PREPARED FOR A YOUNG LADY WHO MAY COME
HERE AT ANY TIME TO-DAY. SHE MAY ASK FOR MR. JARVIS LORRY, OR SHE MAY
ONLY ASK FOR A GENTLEMAN FROM TELLSON’S BANK. PLEASE TO LET ME
KNOW.”
“YES, SIR. TELLSON’S BANK IN LONDON, SIR?”
“YES.”
“YES, SIR. WE HAVE OFTEN TIMES THE HONOUR TO ENTERTAIN YOU
GENTLEMEN IN THEIR TRAVELLING BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS BETWIXT
LONDON AND PARIS, SIR. A VAST DEAL OF TRAVELLING SIR, IN TELLSON AND
COMPANY’S HOUSE.”
“YES. WE ARE QUITE A FRENCH HOUSE, AS WELL AS AN ENGLISH ONE.”
“YES, SIR. NOT MUCH IN THE HABIT OF SUCH TRAVELLING YOURSELF, I THINK,
SIR?”
“NOT OF LATE YEARS. IT IS FIFTEEN YEARS SINCE WE –SINCE I- CAME LAST
FROM FRANCE.”“INDEED, SIR? THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME HERE, SIR. BEFORE OUR PEOPLE’S
TIME HERE, SIR. THE GEORGE WAS IN OTHER HANDS AT THAT TIME, SIR”
“I BELIEVE SO.”
“BUT I WOULD HOLD A PRETTY WAGER, SIR, THAT A HOUSE LIKE TELLSON AND
COMPANY WAS FLOURISHING, A MATTER OF FIFTY, NOT TO SPEAK OF FIFTEEN
YEARS AGO?”
“YOU MIGHT TREBLE THAT, AND SAY A HUNDRED AND FIFTY, YET NOT BE FAR
FROM THE TRUTH.”
“INDEED, SIR!”
ROUNDING HIS MOUTH AND BOTH HIS EYES, AS HE STEPPED BACKWARDS FROM
THE TABLE, THE WAITER SHIFTED HIS NAPKIN FROM HIS RIGHT ARM, TO HIS
LEFT, DROPPED INTO A COMFORTABLE ATTITUDE, AND STOOD SURVEYING THE
GUEST WHILE HE ATE AND DRANK, AS FROM AN OBSERVATORY OR
WATCHTOWER. ACCORDING TO THE IMMEMORIAL USAGE OF WAITERS IN ALL
AGES.
WHEN MR. LORRY HAD FINISHED HIS BREAKFAST, HE WENT OUT FOR A STROLL
ON THE BEACH. THE LITTLE NARROW, CROOKED TOWN OF DOVER HID ITSELF
AWAY FROM THE BEACH, AND RAN ITS HEAD INTO THE CHALK CLIFFS, LIKE A
MARINE OSTRICH. THE BEACH WAS A DESERT OF HEAPS OF SEA AND STONES
TUMBLING WILDLY ABOUT, AND THE SEA DID WHAT IT LIKED, AND WHAT IT
LIKED WAS DESTRUCTION. IT THUNDERED AT THE TOWN, AND THUNDERED AT
THE CLIFFS, AND BROUGHT THE COAST DOWN, MADLY. THE AIR AMONG THE
HOUSES WAS OF SO STRONG A PISCATORY FLAVOUR THAT ONE MIGHT HAVE
SUPPOSED SICK FISH WENT UP TO BE DIPPED IN IT, AS SICK PEOPLE WENT DOWN
TO BE DIPPED IN THE SEA. A LITTLE FISHING WAS DONE IN THE PORT, AND A
QUANTITY OF STROLLING ABOUT BY NIGHT, AND LOOKING SEAWARD:
PARTICULARLY AT THOSE TIMES WHEN THE TIDE MADE, AND WAS NEAR FLOOD.
SMALL TRADESMEN, WHO DID NO BUSINESS WHATEVER SOMETIMES
UNACCOUNTABLE REALIZED LARGE FORTUNES, AND IT WAS REMARKABLE
THAT NOBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD ENDURE A LAMPLIGHTER.AS THE DAY DECLINED INTO THE AFTERNOON, AND THE AIR, WHICH HAD BEEN
AT INTERVALS CLEAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE FRENCH COAST TO BE SEEN,
BECAME AGAIN CHARGED WITH MIST AND VAPOUR, MR’ LORRY’S THOUGHTS
SEEMED TO CLOUD TOO. WHEN IT WAS DARK, AND HE SAT BEFORE THE COFFEE-
ROOM DIRE, AWAITING HIS DINNER AS HE HAD AWAITING HIS BREAKFAST, HIS
MIND WAS BUSILY DIGGING, DIGGING, DIGGING, IN THE LIVE RED COALS.
A BOTTLE OF GOOD CLARET AFTER DINNER DOES A DIGGER IN THE RED COALS
NO HARM, OTHERWISE THAN AS IT HAS A TENDENCY TO THROW HIM OUT OF
WORK. MR. LORRY HAD BEEN IDLE A LONG TIME, AND HAD JUST POURED OUT
HIS LAST GLASSFUL OF WINE WITH AS COMPLETE AS APPEARANCE OF
SATISFACTION AS IS EVER TO BE FOUND IN AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN OF A
FRESH COMPLEXION WHO HAS GOT TO THE END OF A BOTTLE, WHEN A
RATTLING OF WHEELS CAME UO THE NARROW STREET, AND RUMBLED INTO
THE INN-YARD.
HE SET DOWN HIS GLASS UNTOUCHED. “THIS IS MAM’SELLE!” SAID HE.
IN A VERY FEW MINUTED THE WAITER CAME IN TO ANNOUNCE THAT MISS
MANETTE HAD ARRIVED FROM LONDON, AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEE THE
GENLEMAN FROM TELLSON’S
“SO SOON?”
MISS MANETTE HAD TAKEN SOME REFRESHMENT ON THE ROAD, AND REQUIRED
NONE THEN, AND WAS EXTREMELY ANXIOUS TO SEE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
TELLSON’S IMMEDIATELY, IF IT SUITED HIS PLEASURE AND CONVENIENCE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TELLSON’S HAD NOTHING LEFT FOR IT BUT TO EMPTY
HIS GLASS WITH AN AIR OF STOLID DESPERATION, SETTLE HIS ODD LITTLE
FLAXEN WIG AT THE EARS, AND FOLLOW THE WAITER TO MISS MANETTE’S
APARTMENT. IT WAS A LARGE, DARK ROOM, FURNISHED IN A FUNERAL
MANNER WITH BLACK HORSEHAIR, AND LOADED WITH HEAVY DARK TABLES.
THESE HAD BEEN OILED AND OILED, UNTIL THE TWO TALL CANDLES ON THE
TABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM WERE GLOOMILY REFLECTED ON EVERYLEAF; AS IF THEY WERE BURIED, IN DEEP GGRAVES OF BLACK MAHOGANY, AND
NO LIGHT TO SPEAK OF COULD BE EXPECTED FROM THEM UNTIL THEY WERE
DUG OUT.
THE OBSCURITY WAS SO DIFFICULT TO PENETRATE THAT MR. LORRY, PICKING
HIS WAY OVER THE WELL-WORN TURKEY CARPET, SUPPOSED MISS MANETTE TO
BE, FOR THE MOMENT, IN SOME ADJACENT ROOM, UNTIL, HAVING GOT PAST THE
TWO TALL CANDLES, HE SAW STANDING TO RECEIVE HIM BY THE TABLE
BETWEEN THEM AND THE FIRE, A YOUNG LADY OF NO MORE THAN SEVENTEEN,
IN A RIDING-CLOAK, AND STILL HOLDING HER STRAW TRAVELLING-HAT BY ITS
RIBBON IN HER HAND. AS HIS EYES RESTED ON A SHORT, SLIGHT, PRETTY
FIGURE, A QUANTITY OF GOLDEN HAIR, A PAIR OF BLUE EYES THAT MET HIS
OWN WITH AN INQUIRING LOOK, AND A FOREHEAD WITH A SINGULAR
CAPACITY (REMEMBERING HOW YOUNG AND SMOOTH IT WAS), OF RIFTING AND
KNITTING ITSELF INTO AN EXPRESSION THAT WAS NOT QUITE ONE OF
PERPLEXITY, OR WONDER, OR ALARM, OR MERELY OF A BRIGHT FIXED
ATTENTION, THOUGH IT INCLUDED ALL THE FOUR EXPRESSIONS –AS HIS EYES
RESTED ON THESE THINGS, A SUDDEN VIVID LIKENESS PASSED BEFORE HIM, OF
A CHILD WHIM HE HAD HELD IN HIS ARMS ON THE PASSAGE ACROSS THAT VERY
CHANNEL, ONE COLD TIME, WHEN THE HAIL DRIFTED HEAVILY AND THE SEA
RAN HIGH. THE LIKENESS PASSED AWAY, LIKE A BREATH ALONG THE SURFACE
OF THE GAUNT PIER-GLASS BEHING HER, ON THE FRAME OF WHICH, A HOSPITAL
PROCESSION OF NEGRO CUPID’S SEVERAL HEADLESS AND ALL CRIPPLES, WERE
OFFERING BLACK BASKETS OF DEAS SEA FRUIT TO BLACK DIVINITIES OF THE
FEMININE GENDER- AND HE MADE HIS FORMAL BOW TO MISS MANETTE.
“PRAY TAKE A SEAT, SIR.” IN A VERY CLEAR AND PLEASANT YOUNG VOICE; A
LITTLE FOREIGN IN ITS ACCENT, BUT A VERY LITTLE INDEED.
“I KISS YOUR HAND, MISS,” SAID MR. LORRY, WITH THE MANNERS OF AN
EARLIER DATE, AS HE MADE HIS FORMAL BOW AGAIN, AND TOOK HIS SEAT.
“I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE BANK, SIR, YESTERDAY, INFORMING ME THAT
SOME INTELLIGENCE –OR DISCOVERY-““THE WORD IS NOT MATERIAL, MISS; EITHER WORD WILL DO.”
“-RESPECTING THE SMALL PROPERTY OF MY POOR FATHER, WHOM I NEVER SAW
–SO LONG DEAD-“
MR. LORRY MOVED IN HIS CHAIR, AND CAST A TROUBLED LOOK TOWARD THE
HOSPITAL PROCESSION OF NEGRO CUPIDS. AS IF THEY HAD ANY HELP FOR
ANYBODY IN THEIR ABSURD BASKETS!
“-RENDERED IT NECESSARY THAT I SHOULD GO TO PARIS, THERE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH A GENTLEMAN OF THE BANK, SO GOOD AS TO BE
DESPATCHED TO PARIS FOR THE PURPOSE.”
“MYSELF.”
“AS I WAS PREPARED TO HEAR, SIR.”
SHE CURTSEYED TO HIM (YOUNG LADIES MADE COURTESY’S IN THOSE DAYS),
WITH A PRETTY DESIRE TO CONVEY TO HIM THAT SHE FELT HOW MUCH OLDER
AND WISER HE WAS THAN SHE. HE MADE HER ANOTHER BOW.
“I REPLIED TO THE BANK, SIR, THAT AS IT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY, BY
THOSE WHO KNOW, AND WHO ARE SO KIND TO ADVISE ME, THAT I SHOULD GO
TO FRANCE, AND THAT AS I AM AN ORPHAN AND HAVE NO FRIEND WHO COULD
GO WITH ME, I SHOULD ESTEEM IT HIGHLY IF I MIGHT BE PERMITTED TO PLACE
MYSELF, DURING THE JOURNEY, UNDER THAT WORTHY GENTLEMAN’S
PROTECTION. THE GENTLEMAN HAD LEFT LONDON, BUT I THINK A MESSENGER
WAS SENT AFTER HIM TO BEG THE FAVOUR OF HIS WAITING FOR ME HERE.”
“I WAS HAPPY,” SAID MR. LORRY, “TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE CHARGE. I
SHALL BE MORE HAPPY TO EXECUTE IT.”
“SIR, I THANK YOU INDEED. I THANK YOU VERY GRATEFULLY. IT WAS TOLD TO
ME BY THE BANK THAT THE GENTLEMAN WOULD EXPLAIN TO ME THE DETAILS
OF THE BUSINESS, AND THAT I MUST PREPARE MYSELF TO FIND THEM OF A
SUPRISING NATURE. I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO PREPARE MYSELF, AND INATURALLY HAVE A STRONG AND EAGER INTEREST TO KNOW WHAT THEY
ARE.”
“NATURALLY,” SAID MR. LORRY. “YES –I-“
AFTER A PAUSE, HE ADDED, AGAIN SETTLING THE CRISP FLAXEN WIG AT THE
EARS, “IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BEGIN.”
HE DID NOT BEGIN, BUT, IN HIS INDECISION, MET HER GLANCE. THE YOUNG
FOREHEAD LIFTED ITSELF INTO THAT SINGULAR EXPRESSION –BUT IT WAS
PRETTY AND CHARACTERISTIC, BESIDES BEING SINGULAR- AND SHE RAISED
HER HAND, AS IF WITH AN INVOLUNTARY ACTION SHE CAUGHT AT, OR STAYED
SOME PASSING SHADOW.
“ARE YOU QUITE A STRANGER TO ME, SIR?”
“AM I NOT?” MR. LORRY OPENED HIS HANDS, AND EXTENDED THEM OUTWARDS
WITH AN ARGUMENTATIVE SMILE.
BETWEEN THE EYEBROWS AND JUST OVER THE LITLE FEMININE NOSE, THE LINE
OF WHICH WAS DELICATE AND FINE AS IT WAS POSSIBLE TO BE THE,
EXPRESSION DEEPENED ITSELF AS SHE TOOK HER SEAT THOUGHTFULLY IN THE
CHAIR BY WHICH SHE HAD HITHERTO REMAINED STANDING. HE WATCHED HER
AS SHE MUSED, AND THE MOMENT SHE RAISED HER EYES AGAIN, WENT ON:
“IN YOUR ADOPTED COUNTY, I PRESUME, I CANNOT DO BETTER THAN TO
ADDRESS YOU AS A YOUNG ENGLISH LADY, MISS MANETTE?”
“IF YOU PLEASE, SIR.”
“MISS MANETTE, I AM A MAN OF BUSINESS. I HAVE A BUSINESS CHARGE TO
ACQUIT MYSELF OF. IN YOUR RECEPTION OF IT, DON’T HEED ME ANY MORE
THAN IF I WAS A SPEAKING MACHINE –TRULY, I AM NOT MUCH ELSE. I WILL,
WITH YOUR LEAVE, RELATE TO YOU, MISS, THE STORY OF ONE OF OUR
CUSTOMERS.”
“STORY!”
HE SEEMED WILLFULLY TO MISTAKE THE OWRD SHE HAD REPEATED, WHEN HEADDED, IN A HURRY, “YES, CUSTOMERS; IN THE BANKING BUSINESS WE
USUALLY CALL OYR CONNECTION OUR CUSTOMERS. HE WAS A FRENCH
GENTLEMAN; A SCIENTIFIC GENTLEMAN; A MAN OF GREAT ACQUIREMENTS –A
DOCTOR.”
“NOT OF BEAUVAIS?”
“WHY, YES, OF BEAUVAIS. LIKE MONSIEUR MANETTE, YOUR FATHER, THE
GENTLEMAN WAS OF BEAUVAIS. LIKE MONSIEUR MANETTER, YOUR FATHER,
THE GENTLEMAN WAS OF REPUTE IN PARIS. I HAD THE HONOUR OF KNOWING
HIM THERE. OUR RELATIONS WERE BUSINESS RELATIONS, BUT CONFIDENTIAL. I
WAS AT THE TIME IN OUR FRENCH HOUSE, AND HAD BEEN –OH! TWENTY
YEARS.”
“AT THAT TIME –I MAY ASK, AT WHAT TIME, SIR?”
“I SPEAK, MISS, OF TWENTY YEARS AGO. HE MARRIED –AN ENGLISH LADY- AND I
WAS ONE OF THE TRUSTEES. HIS AFFAIRS, LIKE THE AFFAIRS OF MANY OTHER
FRENCH GENTLEMAN AND FRENCH FAMILIES, WERE ENTIRELY IN TELLSON’S
HANDS. IN A SIMILAR WAY I AM, OR I HAVE BEEN, TRUSTEE OF ONE KIND OR
OTHER FOR SCORES OF OUR CUSTOMERS. THESE ARE MERE BUSINESS
RELATIONS, MISS; THERE IS NO FRIENDSHIP IN THE, NO PARTICULAR INTEREST,
NOTHING LIKE SENTIMENT. I HAVE PASSED FROM ONE TO ANOTHER, IN THE
COURSE OF MY BUSINESS LIFE, JUST AS I PASS FROM ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS
TO ANOTHER IN THE COURSE OF MY BUSINESS DAY; IN SHORT, I HAVE NO
FEELINGS; I AM A MERE MACHINE. TO GO ON-“
“BUT THIS IS MY FATHER’S STORY, SIR, AND I BEGIN TO THINK” –THE
CURIOUSLY ROUGHENED FOREHEAD WAS VERY INTENT UPON HIM- “THAT
WHEN I WAS LEFT AN ORPHAN THROUGH MY MOTHER’S SURVIVING MY FATHER
ONLY TWO YEARS, IT WAS YOU WHO BROUGHT ME TO ENGLAND. I AM ALMOST
SURE IT WAS YOU.”
MR. LORRY TOOK THE HESITATING LITTLE HAND THAT CONFIDINGLY
ADVANCED TO TAKE HIS, AND HE PUT IT WITH SOME CEREMONY TO HIS LIPS. HE
THEN CONDUCTED THE YOUNG LADY STRAIGHTWAY TO THE CHAIR AGAIN,AND, HOLDING THE CHAIR-BACK WITH HIS LEFT HAND, AND USING HIS RIGHT
BY TURNS TO RUB HIS CHIN, PULL HIS WIG AT THE EARS, OR POINT WHAT HE
SAID, STOOD LOOKING DOWN INTO HER FACE WHILE SHE SAT LOOKING UP INTO
HIS.
“MISS MANETTE, IT WAS I. AND YOU WILL SEE HOW TRULY I SPOKE OF MYSELF
JUST NOW, IN SAYING I HAD NO FEELINGS, AND THAT ALL THE RELATIONS I
HOLD WITH MY FELLOW-CREATURES ARE MERE BUSINESS RELATIONS, WHEN
YOU REFLECT THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN YOU SINCE. NO; YOU HAVE BEEN THE
WARD OF TELLSON’S HOUSE SINCE, AND I HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH THE OTHER
BUSINESS OF TELLSON’S HOUSE SINCE, FEELINGS! I HAVE NO TIME FOR THEM,
NO CHANCE OF THEM. I PASS MY WHOLE LIFE, MISS, IN TURING AN IMMENSE
PECUNIARY MANGLE.”
AFTER THIS ODD DESCRIPTION OF HIS DAILY ROUTINE OF EMPLOYMENT, MR.
LORRY FLATTENED HIS FLAXEN WIG UPON HIS HEAD WITH BOTH HANDS
(WHICH WAS MOST UNNECESSARY, FOR NOTHING COULD BE FLATTER THAN ITS
SHINING SURFACE WAS BEFORE), AND RESUMED HIS FORMER ATTITUDE.
“SO FAR, MISS (AS YOU HAVE REMARKED), THIS IS THE STORY OF YOU
REGRETTED FATHER. NOW COMES THE DIFFERENCE. IF YOU FATHER HAD NOT
DIED WHEN HE DID –DON’T BE FRIGHTENED! HOW YOU START!”
SHE DID, INDEED START. AND SHE CAUGHT HIS WRIST IN BOTH HER HANDS.
“PRAY,” SAID MR. LORRY, IN A SOOTHING TONE, BRINGING HIS LEFT HAND FROM
THE BACK OF THE CHAIR TO LAY IT ON THE SUPPLICATORY FINGURES THAT
SLAPPED HIM IN SO VIOLENT A TREMBLE: “PRAY CONTROL YOUR AGITATION –A
MATTER OF BUSINESS. AS I WAS SAYING-“
HER LOOK SO DISCOMPOSED HIM THAT HE STOPPED, WANDERED, AND BEGAN
ANEW:
“AS I WAS SAYING; IF MONSIEUR MANETTE HAD NOT DIED; IF HE HAD
SUDDENLY AND SILENTLY DISAPPEARED; IF HE HAD BEEN SPIRITED AWAY; IF ITHAD NOT BEEN DIFFICULT TO GUESS TO WHAT DREADFUL PLACE, THOUGH NO
ART COULD TRACE HIM; OF HE HAD AN ENEYM IN SOME COMPATRIOT WHO
COULD EXERCISE A PRIVILEGE THAT I IN MY OWN TIME HAVE KNOWN THE
BOLDEST PEOPLE AFRAID TO SPEAK IN A WHISPER, ACROSS THE WATER THERE;
FOR INSTANCE, THE PRIVILEGE OF FILING UP BLANK FORMS FOR THE
CONSIGNMENT OF ANY ONE TO THE OBLIVION OF A PRISON FOR ANY LENGTH
OF TIME; IF HIS WIFE HAD IMPLORED THE KING, THE QUEEN, THE COURT, THE
CLERGY, FOR ANY TIDINGS OF HIM AND ALL QUITE IN VAIN; -THEN THE
HISTORY OF YOU FATHER WOULD HAVE BEEN THE HISTORY OF THE
UNFORTUNATE GENTLEMAN, THE DOCTOR OF BEAUVAIS.”
“I ENTREAT YOU TO TELL ME MORE, SIR.”
“I WILL. I AM GOING TO. YOU CAN BEAR IT?”
“I CAN BEAR ANYTHING BUT THE UNCERTAINTY YOU LEAVE ME IN AT THIS
MOMENT.”
“YOU SPEAK COLLECTEDLY, AND YOU –ARE COLLECTED. THAT’S GOOD!”
(THOUGH HIS MANNER WAS LESS SATISFIED THAN HIS WORDS.) “A MATTER OF
BUSINESS. REGARD IT AS A MATTER OF BUSINESS –BUSINESS THAT MUST BE
DONE. NOW OF THIS DOCTOR’S WIFE, THOUGH A LADY OF GREAT COURAGE AND
SPIRIT, HAD SUFFERED SO INTENSEY FROM THIS CAUSE BEFORE HER LITTLE
CHILD WAS BORN-“
“THE LITTLE CHILD WAS A DAUGHTER, SIR.”
“A DAUGHTER. A-A-MATTER OF BUSINESS –DON’T BE DISTRESSED. MISS, IF THE
POOR LADY HAD SUFFERED SO INTENSELY BEFORE HER LITTLE CHILD WAS
BORN, THAT SHE CAME TO THE DETERMINATION THAT SPARING THE POOR
CHILD THE INHERITANCE OF ANY PART OF THE AGONY SHE HAD KNOWN IN THE
PAINS OF, BY REARING HER IN THE BELIEF THAT HER FATHER WAS DEAD –NO,
DON’T KNEEL! IN HEAVEN’S NAME WHY SHOULD YOU KNEEL TO ME!”
“FOR THE TRUTH. O DEAR, GOOD, COMPASSIONATE SIR, FOR THE TRUTH!”“A-A MATTER OF BUSINESS. YOU CONFUSE ME, AND HOW CAN I TRANSACT
BUSINESS IF I AM CONFUSED? LET US BE CLEAR-HEADED. IF YOU COULD KINDLY
MENTION HOW, FOR INSTANCE, WHAT NINE TIMES NINEPENCE ARE, OR HOW
MANY SHILLINGS IN TWENTY GUINEAS, IT WOULD BE SO ENCOURAGING. I
SHOULD BE SO MUCH MORE AT MY EASE ABOUT YOUR STATE OF MIND.”
WITHOUT DIRECTLY ANSWERING TO HIS APPEAL, SHE SAT SO STILL WHEN HE
HAD VERY GENTLY RAISED HER, AND THE HANDS THAT HAD NOT CEASED TO
CLASP HIS WRIST WERE SO MUCH MORE STEADY THAN THEY HAD BEEN, THAT
SHE COMMUNICATED SOME INSURANCE TO MR. JARVIS LORRY.
“THAT’S RIGHT, THAT’S RIGHT. COURAGE! BUSINESS! YOU HAVE BUSINESS
BEFORE YOU; USEFUL BUSINESS. MISS MANETTE, YOUR MOTHER TOOK THIS
COURSE WITH YOU. AND WHEN SHE DIED –I BELIEVE BROKEN-HEARTED-
HAVING NEVER SLACKENED HER UNAVAILING SEARCH FOR YOUR FATHER, SHE
LEFT YOU, AT TWO YEARS OLD, TO GROW TO BE BLOOMING, BEAUTIFUL, AND
HAPPY, WITHOUT THE DARK CLOUD UPON YOU OF LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY
WHETHER YOUR FATHER SOON WORE HIS HEART OUT IN PRISON, OR WASTED
THERE THROUGH MANY LINGERING YEARS.”
AS HE SAID THE WORDS HE LOOKED DOWN, WITH AN ADMIRING PITY, ON THE
FLOWING GOLDEN HAIR; AS IF HE PICTURED TO HIMSELF THAT IT MIGHT HAVE
ALREADY TINGED WITH GREY.
“YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PARENTS HAD NO GREAT POSSESSION, AND THAT
WHAT THEY HAD SECURED TO YOUR MOTHER AND TO YOU. THERE HAS BEEN
NO NEW DISCOVERY, OF MONEY, OR OF ANY OTHER PROPERTY; BUT-“
HE FELT HIS WRIST HELD CLOSER, AND HE STOPPED. THE EXPRESSION IN THE
FOREHEAD, WHICH HAD SO PARTICULARLY ATTRACTED HIS NOTICE, AND
WHICH WAS NOW IMMOVABLE, HAD DEEPENED INTO ONE OF PAIN AND HORROR.
“BUT HE HAS BEEN –BEEN FOUND. HE IS ALIVE. GREATLY CHANGED, IT IS TOO
PROBABLE; ALMOST A WRECK, IT IS POSSIBLE; THOUGH WE WILL HOPE THE
BEST. STILL, ALIVE. YOUR FATHER HAS BEEN TALKED TO THE HOUSE OF AN OLFSERVANT IN PARIS, AND WE ARE GOING THERE: I, TO INDENTING HIM IF I CAN:
YOU, TO RESTORE HIM TO LIFE, LOVE, DUTY, REST, COMFORT.
A SHIVER RAN THROUGH HER FRAME, AND FROM IT THROUGH HIS. SHE SAID, IN
A LOW, DISTINCT AWE-STRICKEN VOICE, AS IF SHE WERE SAYING IT IN A DREAM,
“I AM GOING TO SEE HIS GHOST! IT WILL BE HIS GHOST –NOT HIM!”
MR. LORRY QUIETLY CHAFED THE HANDS THAT HELD HIS ARM. “THERE, THERE,
THERE! SEE NOW, SEE NOW! THE BEST AND THE WORS ARE KNOWN TO YOU,
NOW. YOU ARE WELL ON YOU WAY TO THE POOR WRONGED GENTLEMAN, AND
WITH A FAIR SEAVOYAGE, AND A FAIR LAND JOURNEY, YOU WILL BE SOON AT
HIS DEAR SIDE.”
SHE REPEATED IN THE SAME TONE, SUNK TO A WHISPER, “I HAVE BEEN FREE, I
HAVE BEEN HAPPY, YET HIS GHOST HAS NEVER HAUNTED ME!”
“ONLY ONE THING MORE,” SAID MR. LORRY, LAYING STRESS UPON IT AS A
WHOLESOME MEANS OF ENFORCING HER ATTENTION: “HE HAS BEEN FOUND
UNDER ANOTHER NAME; HIS OWN, LONG FORGOTTEN OR LONG CONCEALED. IT
WOULD BE WORSE THAN USELESS NOW TO INQUIRE WHICH; WORSE THAN
USELESS TO SEEK TO KNOW WHETHER HE HAS BEEN FOR YEARS OVERLOOKED,
OR ALWAYS DESIGNEDLY HELD PRISONER. IT WOULD BE WORSE THAN USELESS
NOW TO MAKE ANY INQUIRIES, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS. BETTER
NOT TO MENTION THE SUBJECT, ANYWHERE OR IN ANY WAY, AND TO REMOVE
HIM –FOR A WHILE AT EVENTS- OUT OF FRANCE. EVEN I, SAFE AS AN
ENGLISHMAN, AND EVEN TELLSON’S, IMPORTANT AS THEY ARE TO FRENCH
CREDIT, AVOID ALL NAMING OF THE MATTER. I CARRY ABOUT ME, NOT A SCRAP
OF WRITING OPENLY REFERRING TO IT. THIS IS A SECRET SERVIVE ALTOGETHER.
MY CREDENTIALS, ENTRIES, AND MEMORANDA, ARE ALL COMPREHENDED IN
THE ONE LINE, ‘RECALLED TO LIFE,’ WHICH MAY MEAN ANYTHING. BUT WHAT
IS THE MATTER! SHE DOESN’T NOTICE A WORD! MISS MANETTE!”
PERFECTLY STILL AND SILENT, AND NOT EVEN FALLEN BACK IN HER CHAIR, SHE
SAT UNDER HIS HAND, UTTERLY INSENSIBLE; WITH HER EYES OPEN AND FIXEDUPON HIS, AND WITH THAT THE LAST EXPRESSION LOOKING AS IF IT WERE
CARVED OR BRANDED INTO HER FOREHEAD. SO CLOSE WAS HER HOLD UPON
HIS ARM, THAT HE FEARED TO DETACH HIMSELF LEST HE SHOULD HURT HER;
THEREFORE HE CALLED OUT LOUDLY FOR ASSISTANCE WITHOUT MOVING.
A WILD-LOOKING WOMAN, WHON EVEN IN HIS AGITATION, MR. LORRY
OBSERVED TO BE ALL OF A RED COLOUR, AND TO HAVE RED HAIR, AND TO BE
DRESSED IN SOME EXTRAORDINARY TIGHT-FITTING FASHION, AND TO HAVE
HER HEAD A MOST WONDERFUL BONNET LIKE A GRENADIER WOODEN
MEASURE, AND GOOD MEASURE TOO, OR A GREAT STILTON CHEESE, CAME
RUNNING INTO THE ROOM IN ADVANCE OF THE INN SERVANTS, AND SOON
SETTLED THE WUESTION OF HE’S DETACHMENT FROM THE POOR YOUNG LADY,
BY LAYING A BRAWNY HAND UPON HIS CHEST, AND SENDING HIM FLYING BACK
AGAINST THE NEAREST WALL
(“I REALLY THINK THIS MUST BE A MAN!” WAS MR. LORRY’S BREATHLESS
REFLECTION, SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH HIS COMING AGAINST THE WALL.)
“WHY, LOOK AT YOU ALL!” BAWLED THIS FIGURE, ADDRESSING IN INN
SERVANTS. “WHY DON’T YOU GO AND FETCH THINGS INSTEAD OF STANDING
THERE STARING AT ME? I AM NOT SO MUCH TO LOOK AT, AM I? WHY DON’T YOU
GO AND FETCH THINGS? I’LL LET YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON’T BRING SMELLING-
SALTS, COLD WATER, AND VINEGAR, I WILL.”
THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE DISPERSAL FOR THESE RESTORATIVE, AND SHE
SOFTLY LAID THE PATIENT ON A SOFA, AND TENDED HER WITH GREAT SKILL
AND GENTLENESS: CALLING HER “MY PRECIOUS!” AND “MY BIRD!” AND
SPREADING HER GOLDEN HAIR ASIDE OVER HER SHOULDERS WITH GREAT
PRIDE AND CARE.
“AND YOU IN BROWN!” SHE SAID, INDIGNANTLY TURNING TO MR. LORRY;
“COULDN’T YOU TELL HER WHAT YOU HAD TO TELL HER, WITHOUT
FRIGHTENING HER TO DEATH? LOOK AT HER, WITH HER PRETTY PALE FACE AND
HER COLD HANDS. DO YOU CALL THAT BEING A BANKER?”MR. LORRY WAS SO EXCEEDINGLY DISCONCERTED BY A QUESTION SO HARD TO
ANSWER, THAT HE COULD ONLY LOOK ON, AT A DISTANCE, WITH MUCH
FEEBLER SYMPATHY AND HUMILITY, WHILE THE STRONG WOMAN, HAVNG
BANISHED INN SERVANTS UNDER THE MYSTERIOUS PENALTY OF “LETTING
THEM KNOW” SOMETHING NOT MENTIONED IF THEY STAYED THERE, STARING,
RECOVERED HER CHARGE BY A REGULAR SERIES OF GRADUATIONS, AND
COAXED HER TO LAY HER DROOPING HEAD UPON HER SHOULDER.
“I HOPE SHE WILL DO WELL NOW,” SAID MR. LORRY.
“NO THANKS TO YOU IN BROWN, IF SHE DOES. MY DARLING PRETY!”
“I HOPE,” SAID MR. LORRY AFTER ANOTHER PAUSE OF FEEBLE SYMPATHY AND
HUMILITY, “THAT YOU ACCOMPANY MISS MANETTE TO FRANCE?”
“A LIKELY THING, TOO!” REPLIED THE STRONG WOMAN. “IF IT WAS EVER THE
INTENDED THAT I SHOULD GO ACROSS SALT WATER, DO YOU SUPPOSE
PROVIDENCE WOULD HAVE CAST MY LOT IN AN ISLAND?”
THIS BEING ANOTHER QUESTION HARD TO ANSWER, MR. JARVIS LORRY
WITHDREW TO CONSIDER IT. A LARGE CASK OF WINE HAD BEEN DROPPED AND
BROKEN IN THE STREET. THE ACCIDENT HAD HAPPENED IN GETTING OUT OFA
CART; THE CASK HAD TUMBLED OUT WITH A RUN, THE HOOPS HAD BURST, AND
IT LAY ON THE STONES JUST OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF THE WINE-SHOP, SHATTER
LIKE A WALNUT-SHELL.
ALL THE PEOPLE WITHIN REACH HAD SUSPENDED THEIR BUSINESS, OR THEIR
IDLENESS, TO RUN TO THE SPOT AND DRINK THE WINE. THE ROUGH, IRREGULAR
STONES OF THE STREET, POINTING EVERYWAY, AND DESIGNED, ONE MIGHT
HAVE THOUGHT, EXPRESSLY TO LAME ALL LIVING CREATURES THAT
APPROACHED THEM, HAD DAMMED IT INTO THE LITTLE POOL; THESE WERE
SURROUNDED, EACH BY ITS OWN JOSTLING GROUP OR CROWD, ACCORDING TO
ITS SIZE. SOME MEN KNEEED DOWN, MADE SCOOPS OF THEIR TWO HANDS
JOINED, AND SIPPED, OR TRIED TO HELP WOMEN, WHE BENT OVER THEIR
SHOULDERS, TO SIP, BEFORE THE WINE HAD ALL RUN OUT BETWEEN THEIRFINGERS. OTHERS, MEN AND WOMEN, DIPPED IN THE PUDDLES WITHLITTLE
MUGS OF MUTILATED EARTHWARE, OR EVEN WITH HANDKERCHIEFS FROM
WOMEN’S HEAD, WHICH WERE SQUEEZED DRY INTO INFANTS’ MOUTHS; OTHERS
MADE SMALL MUD-EMBANKMENTS, TO STEM THE WINE AS IT RAN; OTHERS,
DIRECTED BY LOOKERS-ON UP AT HIGH WINDOWS, DARTED HERE AND THERE,
TO CUT OFF LITTLE STREAMS OF WINE THAT STARTED AWAY IN NEW
DIRECTION; OTHERS DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO THE SODDEN AND LEE-DYED
PEEVES OF THE CASK, LICKING, AND EVEN CHAMPING THE MOISTER WINE-
ROTTED FRAGMENTS WITH EAGER RELISH. THERE WAS NO DRAINAGE TO
CARRY OF THE WINE, AND NOT ONLY DID IT ALL GET TAKEN UP, BUT SO MUCH
MUD GOT TAKEN UP ALONG WITH IT, THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A
SCAVENGER IN THE STREET, IF ANYBODY ACQUAINTED WITH IT COULD HAVE
BELIEVED IN SUCH A MIRACULOUS PRESENCE.
A SHRILL SOUND OF LAUGHTER AND OF AMUSED VOICES –VOICES OF MEN,
WOMEN, AND CHILDREN- RESOUNDED IN THE STREET WHILE THIS WINE GAME
LASTED. THERE WAS A SPECIAL COMPANIONSHIP IN IT, AN OBSERVABLE
INCLINATION ON THE PART OF EVERY ONE TO JOIN SOME OTHER ONE, WHICH
LED, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE LUCKIER OR LIGHTER-HEARTED, TO FROLICSOME
EMBRACES, DRINKING OF HEALTHS, SHAKING OF HANDS, AND EVEN JOINING OF
HANDS AND DANCING, A DOZEN TOGETHER. WHEN THE WINE WAS GONE, ALL
THE PLACES WHERE IT HAD BEEN MOST ABUNDANT WERE RAKED INTO A
GRIDIRON-PATTERN BY FINGERS, THESE DEMONSTRATIONS CEASED, AS
SUDDENLY AS THEY HAD BROKEN OUT. THE MAN WHO HAD LEFT HIS SAW
STICKING IN THE FIREWOOD HE WAS CUTTING, SET IT IN MOTION AGAIN; THE
WOMEN WHO HAD LEFT ON ADOOR-STEP THE LITTLE POT OF HOT ASHES, AT
WHICH SHE HAD BEEN TRYING TO SOFTEN THE PAIN IN ER OWN STARVED
FINGER AND TOES, OR IN THOSE OF HER CHILD, RETURNED TO IT; MEN WITH
BARE ARMS, MATTED LOCKS, AND CADEVEROUS FACES, WHO HAD EMERGED
INTO THE WINTER LIGHT FROM CELLARS, MOVED AWAY, TO DESCEND AGAIN;
AND A GLOOM GATHERED ON THE SCENE THAT APPEARED MORE NATURAL TO
IT THAN SUNSHINE.THE WINE WAS RED WINE, AND HAD STAINED THE GROUND OF NARROW STREET
IN THE SUBURB OF SAINT ANTIONE, IN PARIS, WHERE IT WAS SPILLED. IT HAD
STAINED MANY HANDS, TOO, AND MANY FACES, AND MANY NAKED FEET, AND
MANY WOODEN SHOES. THE HANDS OF THE MAN WHO SAWED THE WOOD, LEFT
RED MARKS ON THE BILLETS; AND THE FOREHEAD OF THE WOMAN WHO
NURSED THE BABY, WAS STAINED WITH THE STAIN OF THE OLD RAG SHO
WOUND HER HEAD AGAIN. THOSE WHO HAD BEEN GREEDY WITH THE STAVES
OF THE CASK, HAD ACQUIRED A TIGERISH SMEAR ABOUT THE MOUTH; AND ONE
TALL JOKER SO BESMIRCHED, HIS HEAD MORE OUT OF A LONG SQUALID BAG
NIGHT CAP THAN IN IT, SCRAPED UPON A WALL WITH HE’S FINGER DIPPED IN
MUDDY WINE-LESS –BLOOD.
THE TIME WAS TO COME, WHEN THAT WINE TOO WOULD BE SPILLED ON THE
STREET-STONES, AND WHEN THE STAIN OF IT WOULD BE RED UPON MANY
THERE.
AND NOW THAT THE CLOUD SETTLED ON SAINT ANTOINE, WHICH WAS A
MOMENTARY GLEAM HAD DRIVEN FROM HIS SACRED COUNTENANCE, THE
DARKNESS OF IT WAS HEAVY –COLD, DIRT, SICKNESS, IGNORANCE, AND WANT,
WERE THE LORDS IN WAITING ON THE SAINTLY PRESENCE- NOBLES OF GREAT
POWER ALL IF THEM; BUT MOST ESPECIALLY THE LAST. SAMPLES OF PEOPLE
THAT HAD UNDERGONE A TERRIBLE GRINGING AND REGRINDING IN THE MILL,
AND CERTAINLY NOT IN THE FABULOUS MILL WHICH GROUND OLD PEOPLE
YOUNG, SHIVERED AT EVERY CORNER, PASSED IN AND OUT AT EVERY
DOORWAY, LOOKED FROM EVERY WINDOW, FLUTTERED IN EVERY VESTIGE OF
A GARMENT THAT THE WIND SHOOK. THE MILL WHICH HAD WORKED THEM
DOWN, WAS THE MILL THAT GRIND S YOUNG PEOPLE OLD; THE CHILDREN HAD
ANCIENT FACES AND GRAVE VOICES; AND UPON THEM, AND UPON THE GROWN
FACES, AND PLOUGHED INTO EVERY FURROW OF AE AND COMING UP AFRESH,
WAS A SIGH, HUNGER. IT WAS PREVALENT EVERYWHERE. HUNGER WAS PUSHED
OUT OF THE TALL HOUSES, IN THE WRETCHED CLOTHING THAT HUNG UPON
POLES AND LINES; HINGER WAS PATCHED INTO THEM WITH STRAW AND RAGAND WOOD AND PAPER; HUNGER WAS REPEATED IN EVERY FRAGMENT OF THE
SMALL MODICUM OF FIREWOOD THAT THE MAN SAWED OFF; HUNGER STARED
DOWN FROM THE SMOKELESS CHIMNEYS, AND STARED UP FROM THE SOFTLY
STREET THAT HAD NO OFFAL, AMONG ITS REFUSE, OF ANYTHING TO EAT.
HUNGER WAS THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BAKER’S SHELVES, WRITTEN IN EVERY
SMALL LOAF OF HIS SCANTY OF BAD BREAD; AT THE SAUSAGE-SHOP, IN EVERY
DEAD-DOG PREPARATION THAT WAS OFFERED FOR SALE. HUNGER RATTLED ITS
DRY BONES AMONG THE ROASTING CHESTNUTS IN THE TURNED CYLINDER;
HUNGER WAS SHRED INTO ATOMIC IN EVERY FARTHING PORRIDGE OF HUSKY
CHIPS OF POTATO, FRIED WITH SOME RELUCTANT DROPS OF OIL.
ITS ABIDINGG PLACE WAS IN ALL THING FITTED TO IT. A NARROW WINDING
STREET, FULL OF OFFENSE AND STENCH, WITH OTHER NARROW WINDING
STREET DIVERGING, ALL PEOPLED BY RAGS AND NIGHTCAPS, AND ALL
SMELLING OF RAGS AND NIGHTCAPS, AND ALL VISIBLE THINGS WITH A
BROODING LOOK UPON THEM THAT LOOKED ILL. IN THE HUNTED AIR OF THE
PEOPLE THERE WAS YET SOME WILD-BEAST THOUGHT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
TURNING AT BAY. DEPRESSED AND SLINKING THOUGH THEY WERE, EYES OF
FIRE WERE NOT WANTING AMONG THEM; NOR COMPRESSED LIPS, WHITE WITH
WHAT THEY SUPPRESSED; NOR FOREHEADS KNITTED INTO THE LIKENESS OF
THE GALLOWS-ROPE THEY MUSED ABOUT ENDURING, OR INFLICTING. THE
TRADE SIGNS (AND THEY WERE ALMOST AS MANY AS THE SHOPS) WERE, ALL,
FRIM ILLUSTRATIONS OF WANT. THE BUTCHER AND THE PORK MAN PAINTED UP,
ONLY THE LEANEST SCRAGS OF MEAT; THE BAKER, THE COARSEST OF MEAGER
LOAVES. THE PEOPLE RUDELY PICTURED AS DRINKING IN THE WINE-SHOPS,
CROAKED OVER THEIR SCANTY MEASURES OF THIN WINE AND BEER, AND WERE
GLOWERINGY CONFIDENTIAL TOGETHER. NOTHING WAS REPRESENTED IN A
FLOURISH CONDITION, SAVE TOOLS AND WEAPONS; BUT, THE CUTLER’S KNIVES
AND AXES WERE SHARP AND BRIGHT, THE SMITH’S HAMMERS WERE HEAVY,
AND THE GUN-MAKER'S STOCK WAS MURDEROUS. THE CRIPPLING STONES OF
THE PAVEMENT, WITH THEIR MANY LITTLE RESERVOIRS OF MUD AND WATER,
HAD NO FOOTWAYS, BUT BROKE OFF ABRUPTLY AT THE DOORS. THE KENNEL,TO MAKE AMENDS, RAN DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET –WHEN IT RAN AT
ALL: WHICH WAS ONLY AFTER HEAVY RAINS, AND THEN IT RAN, BY MANY
ECCENTRIC FITS, INTO THE HOUSE. ACROSS THE STREETS, AT WIDE INTERVALS,
ONE CLUMSY LAMP WAS SLUNG BY A ROPE AND PULLEY; AT NIGHT, WHEN THE
LAMPLIGHTER HAD LET THESE DOWN, AND LIGHTED, AND HOISTED THEM
AGAIN, A FEEBLE GROVE OF DIM WICKS SWUNG IN A SICKLY MANNER
OVERHEAD, AS IF THEY WERE AT SEA. INDEED THEY WERE AT SEA, AND THE
SHIP AND CREW WERE IN PERIL OF TEMPEST.
FOR, THE TIME WAS TO COME, WHEN THE GAUNT SCARECROWS OF THAT
REGION SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THE LAMPLIGHTER, IN THEIR IDLENESS AND
HUNGER, SO LONG, AS TO CONCIEVE THE IDEA OF IMPROVING THIS METHOD,
AND HAULING UP MEN BY THOSE ROPES AND PULLEYS, TO FLARE UPON THE
DARKNESS OF THEIR CONDITION. BUT, THE TIME WAS NOT COME YET; AND
EVERY WIND THAT BLEW OVER FRANCE SHOOK THE RAGS OF THE
SCARECROWS IN VAIN, FOR THE BIRDS, FINE OF SONG AND FEATHER, TOOK NO
WARNING.
THE WINE-SHOP WAS A CORNER SHOP, BETTER THAN MOST OTHERS IN ITS
APPEARANCE AND DEGREE, AND THE MASTER OF THE WINE-SHOP HAD STOOD
OUTSIDE IT, IN A YELLOW WAISTCOAT AND GREEN BREECHES, LOOKING ON THE
STRUGGLE FOR THE LOST WINE. “IT’S NOT MY AFFAIR,” SAID HE, WITH A FINAL
SHRUG OF THE SHOULDERS. “THE PEOPLE FROM THE MARKET DID IT. LET ME
BRING ANOTHER.”
THERE, HIS EYES HAPPENIN TO CATCH THE TALL JOKER WRITING UP HIS JOKE,
HE CALLED TO HIM ACROSS THE WAY:
“SAY, THEN, MY GASPARD, WHAT DO YOU DO THERE?”
THE FELLOW POINTED TO HIS JOKE WITH IMMENSE SIGNIFICANCE AS IS OFTEN
THE WAY WITH HIS TRIBE. IT MISSED ITS MARK, NOW COMPLETELY FAILED, AS
IS OFTEN THE WAY WITH HIS TRIBE TOO.“WHAT NOW? ARE YOU A SUBJECT OF THE MAD HOSPITAL?” SAID THE WINE-
SHOP KEEPER, CROSSING THE ROAD, AND OBLITERATING THE JEST WITH A
HANDFUL OF MUD, PICKED UP FOR THE PURPOSE, AND SMEARED OVER IT. “WHY
DO YOU WRITE IN THE PUBLIC STREETS? IS THERE –TELL ME THOU- IS THERE NO
OTHER PLACE TO WRITE SUCH WORDS IN?”
IN HIS EXPOSTULATION HE DROPPED HIS CLEANER HAND (PERHAPS
ACCIDENTALY, PERHAPS NOT) UPON THE JOKER’S HEART. THE JOKER RAPPED IT
WITH IS OWN, TOOK A NIMBLE SPRING UPWARD, AND CAME DOWN IN A
FANTASTIC DANCING ATTITUDE, WITH ONE OF HIS STAINED SHOES JERKED OFF
HIS FOOT INTO HIS HAND, AND HELD OUT. A JOKER OF AN EXTREMELY, NOT TO
SAY WOLFISHLY PRACTICAL CHARACTER, HE LOOKED UNDER THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
“PUT IT ON, PUT IT ON,” SAID THE OTHER. “CALL WINE, WINE; AND FINISH
THERE,” WITH THAT ADVICE, HE WIPED HIS SOILED HAND UPON THE JOKER’S
DRESS, SUCH AS IT WAS –QUITE DELIBERATELY, AS HAVING DIRTIED THE HAND
ON HIS ACCOUNT; AND THEN RECROSSED THE READ AND ENTERED THE WINE-
SHOP.
THIS WINE-SHOP KEEPER WAS A BULL-NECKED, MARTIAL-LOOKING MAN OF
THIRTY, AND HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN OF A HOT TEMPERAMENT, FOR,
ALTHOUGH IT WAS A BITTER DAY, HE WORE NO COAT, BUT CARRIED ONE
SLUNG OVER HIS SHOULDER. HIS SHIRT-SLEEVES WERE ROLLED UP, TOO, AND
HIS BROWN ARMS WERE BARE TO THE ELBOWS. NEITHER DID HE WEAR
ANYTHING MORE ON HIS HEAD THAN HIS OWN CRISPLY-CURLING SHORT DARK
HAIR. HE WAS A DARK MAN ALTOGETHER, WITH GOOD EYES AND A GOOD
BREADTH BETWEEN THEM. GOOD-HUMOURED LOOKING ON THE WHOLE, BUT
IMPLICABLE-LOOKING TOO; EVIDENTLY A MAN OF A STRONG RESOLUTION AND
A SET PURPOSE; A MAN NOT DESIRABLE TO BE MET, ROUGHING DOWN A
NARROW PAS WITH A GULF ON EITHER SIDE, FOR NOTHING WOULD TURN THE
MAN.MADAME DEFARGE, HIS WIFE, SAT IN THE SHOP BEHIND THE COUNTER AS HE
CAME IN. MADAME DEFARGE WAS A STOUT WOMAN OF ABOUT HIS OWN AGE,
WITH A WATCHFUL EYE THAT SELDOM SEEMED TO LOOK AT ANYTHING, A
LARGE HAND HEAVILY RINGED, A STEADY FACE, STRONG FEATURES, AND A
GREAT COMPOSURE OF MANNER. THERE WAS A CHARACTER ABOUT MADAME
DEFARGE, FROM WHICH ONE MIGHT HAVE PREDICTED THAT SHE DID NOT
OFTEN MAKE MISTAKES AGAINST HERSELF IN ANY OF THE RECKONINGS OVER
WHICH SHE PRESIDED. MADAME DEFARGE BEING SENSITIVE TO COLD, WAS
WRAPPED IN FUR, AND HAD QUANTITY OF BRIGHT SHAWL TWINED ABOUT HER
HEAD, THOUGH NOT TO THE CONCEALMENT OF HER LARGE EARRINGS. HER
KNITTING WAS BEFORE HER, BUT SHE LAID IT DOWN TO PICK HER TEETH WITH
A TOOTHPICK. THUS ENGAGED, WITH HER RIGHT ELBOW SUPPORTED BY HER
LEFT HAND, MADAME DEFARGE SAID NOTHING WHEN HER LORD CAME IN, BUT
COUGHED JUST ONE GRAIN OF COUGH. THIS, IN COMBINATION WITH THE
LIFTING OF HER DARKLY DEFINED EYEBROWS OVER HER TOOTHPICK BY THE
BREADTH OF A LINE, SUGGESTED TO HER HUSBAND THAT HE WOULD DO WELL
TO LOOK ROUND THE SHOP AMONG THE CUSTOMERS, FOR ANY NEW CUSTOMER
WHO HAD DROPPED IN WHILE HE STEPPED OVER THE WAY.
THE WINE-SHOP KEEPER ACCORDINGLY ROLLED HIS EYES ABOUT, UNTIL THEY
RESTED UPON AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN AND YOUNG LADY, WHO WERE
SEATED IN A CORNER. OTHER COMPANY WERE THERE: TWO PLAYING CARDS,
TWO PLAYING DOMINOES, THREE STANDING BY THE COUNTER LENGTHENING
OUT A SHORT SUPPLY OF WINE. AS HE PASSED BEHIND THE COUNTER, HE TOOK
NOTICE THAT THE ELDERLY GENTLEMAN SAID IN A LOOK TO THE YOUNG LADY,
“THIS IS OUR MAN.”
“WHAT THE DEVIL DO YOU DO IN THAT GALLEY THERE?” SAID MONSIEUR
DEFARGE TO HIMSELF, “I DON’T KNOW YOU.”
BUT, HE FEIGNED NOT TO NOTICE THE TWO STRANGERS AND FELL INTO
DISCOURSE WITH THE TRIUMVIRATE OF CUSTOMERS WHO WERE DRINKING AT
THE COUNTER.“HOW HOES IT, JACQUES?” SAID ONE OF THESE THREE TO MONSIEUR DEFARGE.
“IS ALL THE SPILT WINE SWALLOWED?”
“EVERY DROP, JACQUES,” ANSWERED MONSIEUR DEFARGE.
WHEN THIS INTERCHANGE OF CHRISTIAN NAME WAS EFFECTED, MADAME
DEFARGE, PICKING HER TEETH WITH HER TOOTHPICK, COUGHED ANOTHER
GRAIN OF COUGH, AND RAISED HER EYEBROWS BY THE BREADTH OF ANOTHER
LINE.
“IT IS NOT OFTEN,” SAID THE SECOND OF THE THREE, ADDRESSING MONSIEUR
DEFARGE, “THAT MANY OF THESE MISERABLE BEASTS KNOW THE TASKE OF
WINE, OR OF ANYTHING BUT BLACK BREAD AND DEATH. IS IT NOT SO,
JACQUES?”
“IT IS SO, JACQUES,” MONSIEUR DEFARGE RETURNED
AT THE SECOND INTERCHANGE OF THE CHRISTIAN NAME, MADAME DEFARGE,
STILL USING HER TOOTHPICK WITH PROFOUND COMPOSURE, COUGHED
ANOTHER GRAIN OF COUGH, AND RAISED HER EYEBROWS BY THE BREADTH OF
ANOTHER LINE.
THE LAST OF THE THREE NOW SAID HIS SAY, AS HE PUT DOWN HIS EMPTY
DRINKING VESSEL AND SMACKED HIS LIPS.
“AH! SO MUCH THE WORSE! A BITTER TASTE IT IS THAT SUCH POOR CATTLE
ALWAYS HAVE IN THEIR MOUTHS, AND HARD LIVES THEY LIVE, JACQUES. AM I
RIGHT, JACQUES?”
“YOU ARE RIGHT, JACQUES,” WAS THE RESPONSE OF MONSIEUR DEFARGE.
THIS THIRD INTERCHANGE OF THE CHRISTIAN NAME WAS COMPLETED AT THE
MOMENT WHEN MADAME DEFARGE PUT HER TOOTHPICK BY, KEPT HER
EYEBROWS UP, AND SLIGHTLY RUSTLED IN HER SEAT.
“HOLD THEN! TRUE!” MUTTERED HER HUSBAN. “GENTLEMEN –MY WIFE!”THE THREE CUSTOMERS PULLED THEIR HATS TO MADAME DEFARGE, WITH
THREE FLOURISHES. SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR HOMAGE BY BENDING HER
HEAD, AND GIVING THEM A QUICK LOOK. THEN SHE GLANCED IN A CASUAL
MANNER ROUND THE WINE-SHOP, TOOK UP HER KNITTING WITH GREAT
APPARENT CALMNESS AND REPOSE OF A SPIRIT, AND BECAME ABSORBED IN IT.
“GENTLEMEN,” SAID HER HUSBAND, WHO HAD KEPT HIS BRIGHT EYE
OBSERVANTLY UPON HER, “GOOD DAY. THE CHAMBER, FURNISHED BACHELOR-
FASHION, THAT YOU WISHED TO SEE, AND WEER INQUIRING FOR WHEN I
STEPPED OUT IS ON THE FIFTH FLOOR. THE DOORWAY OF THE STAIRCASE GIVES
ON THE LITTLE COURTYARD CLOSE TO THE LEFT HERE,” POINTING WITH HIS
HAND, NEAR TO THE WINDOW OF MY ESTABLISHMENT. BUT NOW THAT I
REMEMBER, ONE OF YOU HAS ALREADY BEEN THERE, AND CAN SHOW YOU THE
WAY. GENTLEMEN, ADIEU!”
THEY PAID FOR THEIR WINE, AND LEFT THE PLACE. THE EYES OF MONSIEUR
DEFARGE WERE STUDYING HIS WIFE AT HER KNITTING WHEN THE ELDERLY
GENTLEMAN ADVANCED FROM HIS CORNER, AND BEGGED THE FAVOUR OF A
WORD.
“WILLINGLY, SIR,” SAID MONSIEUR DEFARGE, AND QUIETLY STEPPED WITH HIM
TO THE DOOR.
THEIR CONFERENCE WAS VERY SHORT, BUT VERY DECIDED. ALMOST AT THE
FIRST WORD, MONSIEUR DEFARGE STARTED AND BECAME DEEPLY ATTENTIVE.
IT HAD NOT LASTED A MINUTE, WHEN HE NODDED AND WENT OUT. THE
GENTLEMAN THEN BECKONED TO THE YOUNG LADY, AND THEY, TOO, WENT
OUT. MADAME DEFARGE KNITTED WITH NIMBLE FINGERS AND STEADY
EYEBROWS, AND SAW NOTHING.
MR. JARVIS LORRY AND MISS MANETTE, EMERGING FROM THE WINE-SHOP THUS,
JOINED MONSIEUR DEFARGE IN THE DOORWAY TO WHICH HE HAD DIRECTED
HIS OWN COMPANY JUST BEFORE. IT OPENED FROM A STINKING LITTLE BLACK
COURTYARD, AND WAS THE GENERAL PUBLIC ENTRANCE TO A GREAT PILE OFHOUSES, INHABITED BY A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE. IN THE GLOOMY TILE-
PAVED ENTRY TO THE GLOOMY TILE-PAVED STAIRCASE, MONSIEUR DEFARGE
BENT DOWN ON ONE KNEE TO THE CHILD OF HIS OLD MASTER, AND PUT HER
HAND TO HIS LIPS. IT WAS A GENLE ACTION, BUT NOT AT ALL GENTLY DONE; A
VERY REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION HAD COME OVER HIM IN A FEW
SECONDS. HE HAD NO GOOD HUMOUR IN HIS FACE, NOR ANY OPENNESS OF
ASPECT LEFT, BUT HAD BECOME A SECRET, ANGRY, DANGEROUS MAN.
“IT IS VERY HIGH; IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT. BETTER TO BEGIN SLOWLY.” THUS,
MONSIEUR DEFARGE, IN A STERN VOICE TO MR. LORRY, AS THEY BEGAN
ASCENDING THE STAIRS.
“IS HE ALONE?” THE LATTER WHISPERED.
“ALONE! GOD HELP HIM, WHO SHOULD BE WITH HIM!” SAID THE OTHERM IN THE
SAME LOW VOICE.
“IS HE ALWAYS ALONE, THEN?”
“YES.”
“OF HIS OWN DESIRE?”
“OF HIS OWN NECESSITY. AS HE WAS, WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM AFTER THEY
FOUNF ME AND DEMANDED TO KNOW IF I WOULD TAKE HIM, AND, AT MY PERIL
BE DISCREET –AS HE WAS THEN, SO HE IS NOW.”
“HE IS GREATLY CHANGED?”
“CHANGED!”
THE KEEPER OF THE WINE-SHOP STOPPED TO STRIKE THE WALL WITH HIS HAND,
AND MUTTERED A TREMENDOUS CURSE. NO DIRECT ANSWER COULD HAVE
BEEN HALF SO FORCIBLE. MR. LORRY’S SPIRITS GREW HEAVIER, AS HE AND HIS
TWO COMPANIONS ASCENDED HIGHER AND HIGHER.
SUCH A STAIRCASE, WITH ITS ACCESSORIES, IN THE OLDER AND MORE
CROWDED PARTS OF PARIS, WOULD BE BAD ENOUGH NOW; BUT, AT THAT TIME,
IT WAS VILE INDEED TO UNACCUSTOMED AND UNHARDENED SENSES. EVERYLITTLE HABITATION WRITHING THE GREAT FOUL NEST OF ONE HIGH BUILDING –
THAT IS TO SAY, THE ROOM OR ROOMS WITHIN EVERY DOOR THAT OPENED ON
THE GENERAL STAIRCASE- LEFT ITS OWN HEAP OF REFUSE FROM ITS OWN
WINDOWS. THE UNCONTROLLABLE AND HOPELESS MASS OF DECOMPOSITION
SO ENGENDERED, WOULD HAVE POLLUTED THE AIR, EVEN IF POVERTY AND
DEPRIVATION HAD NOT LOADED IT WITH THEIR INTANGIBLE IMPUNITIES; THE
TWO BAD SOURCES COMBINED MAKE IT ALMOST INSUPPORTABLE. THROUGH
SUCH AN ATMOSPHERE, BY A STEEP DARK SHAFT OF DIRT AND POISON, THE
WAY LAY. YIELDING TO HIS OWN DISTURBANCE OF MIND, AND TO HIS YOUNG
COMPANION’S AGITATION, WHICH BECAME GREATER EVERY INSTANT, MR.
JARVIS LORRY TWICE STOPPED TO REST. EACH OF THESE STOPPAGES WAS MADE
AT A DOLEFUL GRATING, BY WHICH AND LANGUISHING GOOD AIRS THAT WERE
LEFT UNCORRUPTED, SEEMED TO ESCAPE, AND ALL SPOILT AND SICKLY
VAPOURS SEEMED TO CRAWL IN. THROUGH THE RUSTED BARS, TASTES RATHER
THAN GLIMPSES, WERE CAUGHT OF THE JUMBLED NEIGHBORHOOD; AND
NOTHING OF THE TWO GREAT TOWERS OF NOTRE-DAME, HAD ANY PROMISE ON
IT OF HEALTHY LIFE OR WHOLESOME ASPIRATIONS.
AT LAST THE TOP OF THE STAIRCASE WAS GAINED, AND THE STOPPED FOR THE
THIRD TIME. THERE WAS YET AN UPPER STAIRCASE, OF A STEEPER INCLINATION
AND OF CONTRACTED DIMENSIONS, TO BE ASCENDED, BEFORE THE GARRET
STORY WAS REACHED. THE KEEPER OF THE WINE-SHOP, ALWAYS GOING A
LITTLE IN ADVANCEM AND ALWAYS GOING ON THE SIDE WHICH MR. LORRY
TOOK, AS THOUGH HE DREADED TO BE ASKED ANY QUESTION BY THE YOUNG
LADY, TURNED HIMSELF ABOUT HERE, AND, CAREFULLY FEELING IN THE
POCKETS OF THE COAT HE CARRIED OVER HIS SHOULDER, TOOK OUT A KEY.
“THE DOOR IS LOCKED THEN, MY FRIEND?” SAID MR. LORRY, SURPRISED.
“AY. YES,” WAS THE GRIM REPLY OF MONSIEUR DEFARGE.
“YOU THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE UNFORTUNATE GENTLEMAN SO
RETIRED?”“I THINK IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE KEY.” MONSIEUR DEFARGE WHISPERED IT
CLOSER IN HIS EAR, AND FROWNED HEAVILY.
“WHY?”
“WHY! BECAUSE HE HAS LIVED SO LONG, LOCKED UP, THAT HE WOULD BE
FRIGHTENED –RAVE-TEAR HISELF TO PIECES –DIE-COME TO IKNOW NOT WHAT
HARM- IF HIS DOOR WAS LEFT OPEN.”
“IS IT POSSIBLE!” EXCLAIMED MR. LORRY.
“IT IS POSSIBLE!” REPEATED DEFARGE, BITTERLY. “YES. AND A BEAUTIFUL
WORLD WE LIVE IN, WHEN IT IS POSSILE, AND WHEN MANY OTHER SUCH THINGS
ARE POSSIBLE, AND NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, BUT DONE –DONE, SEE YOU! - UNDER
THAT SKY THERE, EVERY DAY. LONG LOVE THE DEVIL. LET US GO ON.”
THIS DIALOGUE HAD BEEN HELPED IN SO VERY LOW A WHISPER, THAT NO A
WORD OF IT HAD RECHED THE YOUNG LADY’S EARS. BUT, BY THIS TIME SHE
TREMBLED UNDER SUCH STRONG EMOTION, AND HER FACE EXPRESSED SUCH
DEEP ANXIETY, AND ABOVE ALL, SUCH DREAD AND TERROR, THAT MR. LORRY
FELT IT INCUMBENT ON HIM TO SPEAK A WORK OR TWO OF REASSURANCE.
“COURAGE, DEAR MISS! COURAGE! BUSINESS! THE WORSE WILL BE OVER IN A
MOMENT; IT IS BUT PASSING THE ROOM-DOOR, AND THE WORST IS OVER. THEN,
ALL THE GOOD YOU BRING TO HIM, ALL THE RELIEF, ALL THE HAPPINESS YOU
BRING TO HIM, BEGIN. LET OUR GOOD FRIEND HERE, ASSIST YOU ON THAT SIDE.
THAT’S WELL, FRIEND DEFARGE. COME, NOW. BUSINESS, BUSINESS!”
THEY WENT UP SLOWLY AND SOFTLY. THE STAIRCASE WAS SHORT, AND THEY
WERE SOON AT THE TOP. THERE, AS IT HAD AN ABRUPT TURN IN IT, THEY CAME
ALL AT ONCE IN SIGHT OF THREE MEN, WHILE HEADS WERE BENT DOWN CLOSE
TOGETHER ATH THE SIDE OF A DOOR, AND WHO WERE INTENTY LOOKING INTO
THE ROOM TO WHICH THE DOOR BELONGED, THROUGH SOME CHINKS OR HOLES
IN THE WALL. ON HEARING DOOTSTEPS CLOSE AT HAND, THESE THREE TURNED,AND ROSE, AND SHOWED THEMSELVES TO BE THE THREE OF ONE NAME WHO
HAD BEEN DRINKING AT THE WINE-SHOP.
“I FORGOT THEM IN THE SURPRISE OF YOUR VISIT,” EXPLAINED MONSIEUR
DEFARGE. “LEAVE US, GOOD BOYS; WE HAVE BUSINESS HERE.”
THE THREE GLIDED BY, AND WENT SILENTLY DOWN.
THERE APPEARING TO BE NO OTHER DOOR ON THAT FLOOR, AND THE KEEPER
OF THE WINE-SHOP GOING STRAIGHT TO THIS ONE WHEN THEY WERE LEFT
ALONE, MR. LORRY ASKED HIM IN A WHISPER, WITH A LITTLE ANGER:
“DO YOU MAKE A SHOW OF MONSIEUR MANETTE?”
“I SHOW HIM, IN THE WAY YOU HAVE SEEN, TO A CHOSEN FEW.”
“IS THAT WELL?”
“I THINK IT IS WELL.”
WHO ARE THE FEW?? HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THEM?”
“I CHOOSE THEM AS REAL MEN, OF MY NAME –JACQUES IS MY NAME- TO WHOM
THE SIGHT IS LIKELY TO DO GOOD. ENOUGH; YOU ARE ENGLISH; THAT IS
ANOTHER THING. STAY THERE, IF YOU PLEASE, A LITTLE MOMENT.”
WITH AN ADMONITORY GESTURE TO KEEP THEM BACK, HE STOOPED, AND
LOOKED IN THROUGH THE CREVIVE IN THE WALL. SOON RAISING HIS HEAD
AGAIN, HE STRUCK TWICE OR THRICE UPON THE DOOR –EVIDENTLY WITH NO
OTHER OBJECT THAN TO MAKE A NOISE THERE. WITH THE SAME INTENTION, HE
DREW THE KEY ACROSS IT, THREE OR FOUR TIMES, BEFORE HE PUT IT DUMSILY
INTO THE LOCK, AND TURNED IT AS HEAVILY AS HE COULD.
THE DOOR SLOWLY OPENED INWARD UNDER HIS HAND, AND HE LOOKED INTO
THE ROOM AND SAID SOMETHING. A FAINT VOICE ANSWERED SOMETHING.
LITTLE MORE THAN A SINGLE SYLLABLE COULD HAVE BEEN SPIKEN ON EITHER
SIDE.HE LOOKED BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER, AND BECKONED THEM TO ENTER. MR.
LORRY GOT HIS ARM SECURELY ROUND THE DAUGHTER’S WAIST AND HELD
HER; FOR HE FELT THAT SHE WAS SINKING.
“A-A-A-BUSINESS, BUSINESS!” HE URGED, WITH A MOISTURE THAT WAS NOT OF
BUSINESS SHINING ON HIS CHEEK. “COME IN, COME IN!”
“I AM AFRAID OF IT,” SHE ANSWERED, SHUDDERING.
“OF IT? WHAT?”
“I MEAN OF HIM. OF MY FATHER.”
RENDERED IN A MANNER DESPERATE, BY HER STATE AND BY THE BECKONING
OF THEIR CONDUCTOR, HE DREW OVER HIS NECK THE ARM THAT SHOOL UPON
HIS SHOULDER, LIFTED HER A LITTLE, AND HURRIED HER INTO THE ROOM. HE
SAT HER DOWN JUST WITHIN THE DOOR, AND HELD HER, CLINGING TO HIM.
DEFANGE DREW OUT THE KEY, CLOSED THE DOOR, LOCKED OUT ON THE INSIDE,
AND TOOK OUT THE KEY AGAIN, AND HELD IT IN HIS HAND. ALL THIS HE DID,
METHODICALLY, AND WITH AS LOUD AND HARSH AN ACCOMPANIMENT OF
NOISE AS HE COULD MAKE. FINALLY, HE WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM WITH AM
MEASURED TREAD TO WHERE THE WINDOW WAS. HE STOPPED THERE AND
FACED ROUND.
THE GARRET, BUILT TO BE A DEPOSITORY FOR FIRESIDE AND THE LIKE, WAS
DIM AND DARK; FOR THE WINDOW OF DORMER SHAPE, WAS IN TRUTH A DOOR
IN THE ROOF, WITH A LITTLE CRANE OVER IT FOR THE HOISTING UP OF THE
STORES FORM THE STREET: UNGLAZED, AND CLOSING UP THE MIDDLE IN TWO
PIECES, LIKE ANY OTHER DOOR OF FRENCH CONSTRUCTIONN. TO EXCLUDE THE
COLD, ONE HALF OF THIS DOOR WAS FAST CLOSED, AND THE OTHER WAS
OPENED BUT A VERY LITTLE WAY. SUCH A SCANTY PORTION OF LIGHT WAS
ADMITTED THROUGH THESE MEANS, THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT, ON FIRST COMING
IN, TO SEE ANYTHING; AND LONG HABIT ALONE COULD HAVE SLOWLY DORMED
IN ANY ONE, THE ABILITY TO DO ANY WORK REQUIRING NICETY IN SUCHOBSCURITY. YET, WORK OF THAT KIND WAS BEING DONE IN THE GARRET; FOR
WITH HIS BACK TOWARD THE DOOR, AND HIS FACE TOWARD THE WINDOW
WHERE THE KEEPER OF THE WINE-SHOP STOOD LOOKING AT HIM, A WHITE-
HAIRED MAN SAT ON A LOW BENCH, STOOPING FORWARD AND VERY BUSY,
MAKING SHOES.
“GOOD DAY!” SAID MONSIEUR DEFARE, LOOKING DOWN AT THE WHITE HEAD
THAT BENT LOW OVER THE SHOEMAKING.
IT WAS RAISED FOR A MOMENT, AND A VERY FAINT VOICE RESPONDED TO THE
SALUTATION, AS IF IT WERE AT A DISTANCE:
“GOOD DAY!”
“YOU ARE STILL HARD AT WORK, I SEE!”
AFTER A LONG SILENCE, THE HEAD WAS LIFTED FOR ANOTHER MOMENT, AND
THE VOICE REPLIED, “YES –I AM WORKINGG.” THIS TIME, A PAIR OF HAGGARD
EYES HAD LOOKED AT THE QUESTIONER, BEFORE THE FACE HAD DROPPED
AGAIN.
THE FAINTNESS OF THE VOIVE WAS PITIABLE AND DREADFUL. IT WAS NOT THE
FAINTNESS OF PHYSICAL WEAKNESS, THOUGH CONFINEMENT AND HARD FARE
NO DOUBT HAD THEIR PART IN IT. ITS DEPLORABLE PERCULIARITY WAS, THAT
IS WAS THE FAINTNESS OF SOLITUDE AND DISUSE. IT WAS LIKE THE LAST
FEEBLE ECHO OF A SOUND MADE LONG AND LONG AGO. SO ENTIRELY HAD IT
LOST THE LIFE AND RESONSNCE OF THE HUMAN VOICE, THAT IT AFFECTED THE
SENSES LIKE A ONCE BEAUTIFUL COLOUR FADEDA WAY INTO A POOR WEAK
STAIN. SO SUNKEN AND SUPPRESSED IT WAS, THAT IT WAS LIKE A VOICE
UNDERGROUND. SO EXPRESSIVE IT WAS, OF A HOPELESS AND LOST CREATURE,
THAT A FAMISHED TRAVELLER, WEARIED OUT BY LONELY WANDERING IN AWILDERNESS, WOULD HAVE REMEMBERD HOME AND FRIENDS IN SUCH A TONE
BEFORE LYING DOWN TO DIE.
SOME MINUTES OF SILENT WORK HAD PASSED: AND THE HAGGARD EYES HAD
LOOKED UP AGAIN: NOT WITH ANY INTEREST OR CURIOSITY BUT, WITH A DULL
MECHANICAL PERCEPTION, BEFOREHAND, THAT THE SPOT WHERE THE ONLY
VISITOR THEY AWARE OF HAD STOOD, WAS NOT EMPTY.
“I WANT,” SAID DEFARGE, WHO HAD NOT REMOVED HIS GAZE FROM THE
SHOEMAKER, “TO LET IN A LITTLE MORE LIGHT HERE. YOU CAN BEAR A LITTLE
MORE?”
THE SHOEMAKER STOPPED HIS WORK; LOOKED WITH A VACANT AIR OF
LISTENING, AT THE FLOOR ON ONE SIDE OF HIM; THEN SIMILARLY, AT THE
FLOOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIM; THEN, UPWARD AT THE SPEAKER.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
“YOU CAN BEAR A LITTLE MORE LIGHT?”
“I MUST BEAR IT, IF YOU LET IT IN.” (LAYING THE PALEST SHADOW OF A STRESS
UPON THE SECOND WORD.)
THE OPENED HALF-DOOR WAS OPENED A LITTLE FURTHER, AND SECURED AT
THAT ANGLE FOR THE TIME. A BROAD RAY OF LIGHT FELL INTO THE GARRET,
AND SHOWED THE WORKMAN WITH AN UNFINISHED SHOE UPON HIS LAP,
PAUSING HIS LABOUR. HIS FEW COMMON TOOLS AND VARIOUS SCRAPS OF
LEATHER WERE AT HIS FEET AND ON HIS BENCH. HE HAD A WHITE BEARD,
RAGGEDY CUT, BUT NOT VERY LONG, A HOLLOW FACE, AND EXCEEDINGLY
BRIGHT EYES. THE HOLLOWNESS AND THINNESS OF HIS FACE WOULD HAVE
CAUSED THEM TO LOOK LARGE, UNDER HIS YET DARK EYEBROWS AND HIS
CONFUSED WHITE HAIR, THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN REALLYY OTHERWISE; BUT,
THEY WERE NATURALLY LARGE, AND LOOKED UNNATURALLY SO. HIS YELLOW
RAGS OF SHIRT LAY OPEN AT THE THROAT, AND SHOWED HIS BODY TO BE
WITHERED AND WORN. HE, AND HIS COLD CANVAS FROCK, AND HIS LOOSE
STOCKINGS, AND ALL HIS POOR TATTERS OF CLOTHES, HAD IN A LONGSECLUSION FROM DIRECT LIGHT AND AIR, FADED DOWN TO SUCH A DULL
UNIFORMITY IF PARCHMENT-YELLOW, THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO
SAY WHICH WAS WHICH.
HE HAD PUT UP A HAND BETWEEN HIS EYES AND THE LIGHT, AND THE VERY
BONES OF IT SEEMED TRANSPARENT. SO HE SAT, WITH A STEADFASTLY VACANT
GAZE, PAUSING IN HIS WORK. HE NEVER LOOKED AT THE FIGURE BEFORE HIM
WITHOUT FIRST LOOKING DOWN ON THIS SIDE OF HIMSELF, THEN ON THAT, AS
IF HE HAD LOST THE HABIT OF ASSOCIATING PLACE AND SOUND; HE NEVER
SPOKE, WITHOUT FIRST WANDERING IN THIS MANNER, AND FORGETTING TO
SPEAK.
“ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH THAT PAIR OF SHOES TO-DAY?” ASKED DEFARGE,
MOTIONING TO MR. LORRY TO COME FORWARD.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
“DO YOU MEAN TO FINISH THAT PAIR OF SHOES TO-DAY?”
“I CAN’T SAY THAT I MEAN TO. I SUPPOSE SO. I DON’T KNOW.”
MR. LORRY CAME SILENTLY FORWARD LEAVING THE DAUGHTER BY THE DOOR.
WHEN HE HAD STOOD, FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, BY THE SIDE OF DEFARGE, THE
SHOEMAKER LOOKED UP. HE SHOWED NO SURPRISE AT SEEING ANOTHER
FIGURE BUT THE UNSTEADY FINGERS OF ONE OF HIS HANDS STRAYED TO HIS
LIPS AS HE LOOKED AT IT (HIS LIPS AND HIS NAILS WERE OF THE SAME PALE
LEAD-COLOUR), AND THEN THE HAND DROPPED TO HIS WORK, AND HE ONCE
MORE BENT OVER THE SHOE. THE LOOK AND THE ACTION HAD OCCUPIED BUT
AN INSTANT.
“YOU HAVE A VISITOR, YOU SEE,” SAID MONSIEUR DEFARGE.
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
“HERE IS A VISITOR.”THE SHOEMAKER LOOKED UP AS BEFORE, BUT WITHOUT REMOVING A HAND
FROM HIS WORK.
“COME!” SAID DEFARGE. “HERE IS MONSIEUR, WHO KNOWS A WELL-MADE SHOE
WHEN HE SEES ONE. SHOE HIM THAT SHOE YOU ARE WORKING AT. TAKE IT,
MONSIEUR.”
MR. LORRY TOOK IT IN HIS HAND.
“TELL MONSIEUR WHAT KIND OF SHOE IT IS, AND THE MAKER’S NAME.”
THERE WAS A LONGER PAUSE THAN USUAL, BEFORE THE SHOEMAKER REPLIED:
“I FORGOT WHAT IT WAS YOU ASKED ME. WHAT DID YOU SAY?”
“I SAID, COULDN’T YOU DESCRIBE THE KIND OF SHOE, FOR MONSIEUR’S
INFORMATION?”
“IT IS A LADY’S SHOE. IT IS A YOUNG LADY’S WALKING-SHOE. IT IS IN THE
PRESENT MODE. I NEVER SAW THE MODE. I HAVE A PATTERN IN MY HAND.” HE
GLANCED AT THE SHOE WITH SOME LITTLE PASSING TOUCH OF PRIDE.
“AND THE MAKER’S NAME?” SAID DEFARGE.
NOW THAT HE HAD NO WORK TO HOLD, HE LAID THE KNUCKLES OF THE RIGHT
HAND IN THE HOLLOW OF THE RIGHT AND THEN PASSED A HAND ACROSS HIS
BEARDED CHIN, AND SO ON IN REGULAR CHANGES, WITHOUT A MOMENT’S
INTERMISSION. THE TASK OF RECALLING HIM FROM THE VAGRANCY INTO
WHICH HE ALWAYS SANK WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN, WAS LIKE RECALLING SOME
VERY WEAK PERSON FROM A SWOON, OR ENDEAVOURING, IN THE HOPE OF
SOME DISCLOSURE, TO STAY THE SPIRIT OF A FAST-DYING MAN.
“DID YOU ASK ME FOR MY NAME?”
“ASSUREDLY I DID.”
“ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE, NORTH TOWER.”
“IS THAT ALL?”“ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE, NORTH TOWER.”
WITH A WEARY SOUND THAT WAS NOT A SIGH, NOR A GROAN, HE BENT TO
WORK AGAIN, UNTIL THE SILENCE WAS AGAIN BROKEN.
“YOU ARE NOT A SHOEMAKER BY TRADE?” SAID MR. LORRY, LOOKING
STEADFASTLY AT HIM.
HIS HAGGARD EYES TURNED TO DEFARGE AS IF HE WOULD HAVE TRANSFERRED
THE QUESTION TO HIM: BUT AS NO HELP CAME FROM THAT QUARTER, THEY
TURNED BACK ON THE QUESTIONER WHEN THEY HAD SOUGHT THE GROUND.
“I AM NOT A SHOEMAKER BY TRADE? NO, I WAS NOT A SHOEMAKER BY TRADE.
I-I LEARNT IT HERE. I TAUGHT MYSELF. I ASKED TO LEAVE TO-“
HE LAPSED AWAY, EVEN FOR MINUTED, RINGING THOSE MEASURED CHANGES
ON HIS HANDS THE WHOLE TIME. HIS EYES CAME SLOWLY BACK, AT LAST, TO
THE FACE FROM WHICH THEY HAD WANDERED; WHEN THEY RESTED ON IT, HE
STARTED, AND RESUMED, IN THE MANNER OF A SLEEPER THAT MOMENT
AWAKE, REVERTING TO A SUBJECT OF LAST NIGHT.
“I ASKED TO LEAVE TO TEACH MYSELF, AND I GOT IT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY
AFTER A LONG WHILE, AND I HAVE MADE SHOES EVER SINCE.”
AS HE HELD OUT HIS HAND FOR THE SHOE THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM HIM,
MR. LORRY SAID, STILL LOOKING STEADFASTLY IN HIS FACE:
“MONSIEUR MANETTE, DO YOU REMEMBER NOTHING OF ME?”
THE SHOE DROPPED TO THE GROUND, AND HE SAT LOOKING FIXEDLY AT THE
QUESTIONER.
“MONSIEUR MANETTE,” MR LORRY LAID HIS HAND UPON DEFARGE’S ARM, “DO
YOU REMEMBER NOTHING OF THIS MAN? LOOK AT HIM. LOOK AT ME. IS THERE
NO OLD BANKER, NO OLD BUSINESS, NO OLD SERVANT, NO OLD TIME, RISING IN
YOUR MIND, MONSIEUR MANETTE?”AS THE CAPTIVE OF MANY YEARS SAT LOOKING FIXEDLY, BY TURNS, AT MR.
LORRY AND AT DEFARGE, SOME LONG OBLITERATED MARKS OF AN ACTIVELY
INTENT INTELLIGENCE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOREHEAD, GRADUALLY FORCED
THEMSELVES THROUGH THE BLACK MIST THAT HAD FALLEN ON HIM. THEY
WERE OVERCLOUDED AGAIN, THEY WERE FAINTER, THEY WERE GONE; BUT
THEY HAD BEEN THERE. AND SO EXACTLY WAS THE EXPRESSION REPEATED ON
THE FAIR YOUNG FACE OF HER WHO HAD CREPT ALONG THE WALL TO A PONT
WHERE SHE COULD SEE HIM, AND WHERE SHE NOW STOOD LOOKING AT HIM,
WITH HANDS WHICH AT FIRST HAD BEEN ONLY RAISED IN FRIGHTENED
COMPASSION, IF NOT EVEN TO KEEP HIM OFF AND SHUT OUT THE SIGHT OF HIM,
BUT WHICH WERE NOW EXTENDING TOWARDS HIM, TREMBLING WITH
EAGERNESS TO LAY THE SPECTRAL FACE UPON HER WARM YOUNG BREAST,
AND LOVE IT BACK TO LIFE AND HOPE –SO EXACTLY WAS THE EXPRESSION
REPEATED ( THOUGH IN STRONGER CHARACTERS) ON HER FAIR YOUNG FACE,
THAT IT LOOKE AS THOUGH IT HAD PASSED LIKE A MOVING LIGHT, FROM HIM
TO HER...
Submitted: November 08, 2024
© Copyright 2024 Wayne Onyango. All rights reserved.