a tale of two cities(双城记)-第76节
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e in such a tone as they would have used if they had been watching by a sick…bed in tile night。
Carton stooped to pick up the coat； which lay almost entangling his feet。 As he did so； a small case in which the Doctor was accustomed to carry the list of his day's duties； fell lightly on the floor。 Carton took it up； and there was a folded paper in it。 ‘We should look at this！' he said。 Mr。 Lorry nodded his consent。 He opened it； and exclaimed；
‘Thank GOD'
‘What is it？' asked Mr。 Lorry； eagerly。
‘A moment！ Let me speak of it in its place。 First；' he put his hand in his coat； and took another paper from it； ‘that is the certificate which enables me to pass out of this city。 Look at it。 You seeSydney Carton； an Englishman？'
Mr。 Lorry held it open in his hand； gazing in his earnest face。
‘Keep it for me until to…morrow。 I shall see him to…morrow； you remember； and I had better not take it into the prison。'
‘Why not？'
‘I don't know； I prefer not to do so。 Now； take this paper that Doctor Manette has carried about him。 It is a similar certificate； enabling him and his daughter and her child at any time； to pass the barrier and the frontier？ You see？〃
‘Yes！'
‘Perhaps he obtained it as his last and utmost precaution against evil； yesterday。 When is it dated？ But no matter； don't stay to look； put it up carefully wit！； mine and your own。 Now； observe！ I never doubted until within this hour or two； tat he had； or could have such a paper。 It is good； until recalled。 But it may be soon recalled； and； I have reason to think； will be。'
‘They are not in danger？'
‘They are in great danger。 They are in danger of denunciation by Madame Defarge。 I know it from her own lips。 I have overheard words of that woman's； to…night； which have presented their danger to me in strong colours。 I have lost no time； and since then； I have seen the spy。 He confirms me。 He knows that a wood…sawyer； living by the prison…wall； is under the control of the Defarges； and has been rehearsed by Madame Defarge as to his having seen Her'he never mentioned Lucie's name'making signs and signals to prisoners。 It is easy to foresee that the pretence will be the common one； a prison plot； and that it will involve her lifeand perhaps her child'sand perhaps her father'sfor both have been seen with her at that place。 Don't look so horrified。 You will save them all。'
‘Heaven grant I may； Carton！ But how？'
‘I am going to tell you how。 It will depend on you； and it could depend on no better man。 This new denunciation will certainly not take place until after to…morrow； probably not until two or three days afterwards； more probably a week afterwards。 You know it is a capital crime； to mourn for； or sympathise with； a victim of the Guillotine。 She and her father would unquestionably be guilty of this crime； and this woman （the inveteracy of whose pursuit cannot be described） would wait to add that strength to her case； and make herself doubly sure。 You follow me？'
‘So attentively； and with so much confidence in what you say； that for the moment I lose sight；' touching the back of the Doctor's chair； ‘even of this distress。'
‘You have money； and can buy the means of travelling to tile Sea…coast as quickly as the journey can be made。 Your preparations have been completed for some days； to return to England。 Early to…morrow have your horses ready； so that they may be in starting trim at two o'clock in the afternoon。'
‘It shall be done！'
His manner was so fervent and inspiring； that Mr。 Lorry caught the flame； and was as quick as youth。
‘You are a noble heart。 Did I say we could depend upon no better man？ Tell her； to…night； what you know of her danger as involving her child and her father。 Dwell upon that； for she would lay her own fair head beside her husband's cheerfully。' He faltered for an instant； then went on as before。 ‘For the sake of her child and her father； press upon her the necessity of leaving Paris； with them and you； at that hour。 Tell her that it was her husband's last arrangement。 Tell her that more depends upon it than she dare believe； or hope。 You think that her father； even in this sad state； will submit himself to her； do you not？'
‘I am sure of it。'
‘I thought so。 Quietly and steadily have all these arrangements made in the court…yard here； even to the taking of your own seat in the carriage。 The moment I come to you； take me in； and drive away。'
‘I understand that I wait for you under all circumstances？'
‘You have my certificate in your hand with the rest； you know； and will reserve my place。 Wait for nothing but to have my place occupied； and then for England！'
‘Why； then；' said Mr。 Lorry； grasping his eager but so firm and steady hand； ‘it does not all depend on one old man； but I shall have a young and ardent man at my side。'
‘By the help of Heaven you shall！ Promise me solemnly that nothing will influence you to alter the course on which we now stand pledged to one another。'
‘Nothing； Carton。'
‘Remember these words to…morrow： change the course； or delay in itfor any reasonand no life can possibly be saved； and many lives must inevitably be sacrificed。'
‘I will remember them。 I hope to do my part faithfully。' ‘And I hope to do mine。 Now； good…bye！'
Though he said it with a grave smile of earnestness； and though lie even put the old man's hand to his lips； he did not part from him then。 He helped him so far to arouse the rocking figure before the dying embers； as to get a cloak and hat put upon it； and to tempt it forth to find where the bench and work were hidden that it still moaningly besought to have。 He walked on the other side of it and protected it to the court…yard of the house where the afflicted heartso happy in the memorable time when he had revealed his own desolate heart to itoutwatched the awful night。 He entered the court…yard and remained there for a few moments alone； loping up at the light in the window of her room。 Before he went away； he breathed a blessing towards it； and a Farewell。
CHAPTER XIII
Fifty…two
IN the black prison of the Conciergerie； the doomed of the day awaited their fate。 They were in number as the weeks of the year。 Fifty…two were to roll that afternoon on the life…tide of the city to the boundless everlasting sea。 Before their cells were quit of them； new occupants were appointed； before their blood ran into the blood spilled yesterday； the blood that was to mingle with theirs to…morrow was already set apart。
Two score and twelve were told off From the farmer…general of seventy； whose riches could not buy his life； to the seamstress of twenty； whose poverty and obscurity could not save her。 Physical diseases； engendered in the vices and neglects of men； will seize on victims of all degrees； and the frightful moral disorder； born of unspeakable suffering； intolerable oppression； and heartless indifference； smote equally without distinction。
Charles Darnay； alone in a cell； had sustained himself with no flattering delusion since he came to it from the Tribunal。 In every line of the narrative he had heard； he had heard his condemnation。 He had fully comprehended that no personal influence could possibly save him； that he was virtually sentenced by the millions； and that units could avail him nothing。
Nevertheless； it was not easy； with the face of his beloved wife fresh before him； to compose his mind to what it must bear。 His hold on life was strong； and it was very； very hard to loosen； by gradual efforts and degrees unclosed a little here； it clenched the tighter there； and when he brought his strength to bear on that hand and it yielded； this was closed again。 There was a hurry； too； in all his thoughts； a turbulent and heated working of his heart； that contended against resignation。 If for a moment； he did feel resigned； then his wife and child who had to live after him； seemed to protest and to make it a selfish thing。
But； all this was at first。 Before long； the consideration that there was no disgrace in the fate he must meet； and that numbers went the same road wrongfully； and trod it firmly every day； sprang up to stimulate him。 Next followed the thought that much of the future peace of mind enjoyable by the dear ones； depended on his quiet fortitude。 So； by degrees he calmed into the better state； when he could raise his thoughts much higher； and draw comfort down。
Before it had set in dark on the night of his condemnation； he had travelled thus far on his last way。 Being allowed to purchase the means of writing； and a light； he sat down to write until such time as the prison lamps should be extinguished。
He wrote a long letter to Lucie； showing her that he had known nothing of her father's imprisonment； until he had heard of it from herself； and that he had been as ignorant as she of his father's and uncle's responsibility for that misery； until the paper had been read。 He had already explained to her that his concealment from herself of the name he had relinquished； was the one conditionfully intelligible nowthat her father had attached to their betrothal； and was the one promise he had still exacted on the morning of their marriage。 He entreated her； for her father's sake； never to seek to know whether her father
