a tale of two cities(双城记)-第5章
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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 lo and had just poured out his last glassful of wine complete an 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 up 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 minutes the waiter came in to announce that Miss Manette had arrived from London； and〃； happy to see the gentleman 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 funereal manner with black horsehair； and loaded with heavy dark tables。 These had been oiled； until the two tall candles on the table in the of the room were gloomily reflected on every leaf； were buried； in deep graves of black mahogany； and to speak of could be expected from them until the 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 to receive him by the table between them and the young lady of not 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 lifting 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 is included all the four expressionsas his eyes rested on these things； a sudden vivid likeness passed before him； of a child whom 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 behind her； on the frame of which； a hospital procession of negro cupids； several head…less and all cripples； were offering black baskets of Dead Sea fruit to black divinities of the feminine genderand 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 intelligenceor discovery…
‘The word is not material； miss； either word will do。'
‘respecting the small property of my poor father； whom I never sawso long dead…'
Mr。 Lorry moved in his chair； and cast a troubled look towards 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 curtseys 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 as 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 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 surprising nature。 I have done my best to prepare myself； and I naturally have a strong and eager interest to know what they are。
‘Naturally；' said Mr。 Lorry。 ‘YesI…'
Alter 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 expressionbut it was pretty and characteristic； besides being singularand 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 little feminine nose； the line of which was as 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 country； I presume； I cannot do better than 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 machinetruly； I am not much else。 I will； with your leave； relate to you； miss； the story of one of our customers。'
‘Story！'
He seemed wilfully to mistake the word she had repeated； when he added； in a hurry； ‘Yes； customers； in the banking business we usually call our connexion our customers。 He was a French gentleman； a scientific gentleman； a man of great acquirementsa Doctor。'
‘Not of Beauvais？'
‘Why； yes； of Beauvais。 Like Monsieur Manette； your father； the gentleman was of Beauvais。 Like Monsieur Manette； 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 that time in our FrenchHouse； and had beenoh！ twenty years。'
‘At that timeI may ask； at what time； sir？'
‘I speak； miss； of twenty years ago。 He marriedan English ladyand I was one of the trustees。 His affairs； like the affairs of many other French gentlemen 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 them； no particular interest； nothing like sentiment。 I have passed from one to another； iii 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 straightaway to her 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 lie 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…creat
