a tale of two cities(双城记)-第71章
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oner's favour； and the President declared him free。
Then； began one of those extraordinary scenes with which the populace sometimes gratified their fickleness； or their better impulses towards generosity and mercy； or which they regarded as some set off against their swollen account of cruel rage。 No man can decide now to which of these motives such extraordinary scenes were referable； it is probable； to a blending of all the three； with the second predominating。 No sooner was the acquittal pronounced； than tears were shed as freely as blood at another time； and such fraternal embraces were bestowed upon the prisoner by as many of both sexes as could rush at him； that after his long and unwholesome confinement he was in danger of fainting from exhaustion； none the less because he knew very well； that the very same people； carried by another current； would have rushed at him with the very same intensity； to rend him to pieces and strew him over the streets。
His removal； to make way for other accused persons who were to be tried； rescued him from these caresses for the moment。 Five were to be tried together； next； as enemies of the Republic； forasmuch as they had not assisted it by word or deed。 So quick was the Tribunal to compensate itself and the nation for a chance lost； that these five came down to him before he left the place； condemned to die within twenty…four hours。 The first of them told him so； with the customary prison sign of Deatha raised fingerand they all added in words； ‘Long live the Republic。'
The five had had； it is true； no audience to lengthen their proceedings； for when he and Doctor Manette emerged from the gate； there was a great crowd about it； in which there seemed to be every face he had seen in Courtexcept two； for which he looked in vain。 On his coming out； the concourse made at him anew； weeping； embracing； and shouting； all by turns and all together； until the very tide of the river on the bank of which the mad scene was acted； seemed to run mad； like the people on the shore。
They put him into a great chair they had among them； and which they had taken either out of the Court itself； or one of its rooms or passages。 Over the chair they had thrown a red flag； and to the back of it they had bound a pike with a red cap on its top。 In this car of triumph； not even the Doctor's entreaties could prevent his being carried to his home on men's shoulders； with a confused sea of red caps heaving about him； and casting up to sight from the stormy deep such wrecks of faces； that he more than once misdoubted his mind being in confusion； and that he was in the tumbril on his way to the Guillotine。
In wild dreamlike procession； embracing whom they met and pointing him out； they carried him on。 Reddening the snowy streets with the prevailing Republican colour； in winding and tramping through them； as they had reddened them below the snow with a deeper dye； they carried him thus into the court…yard of the building where he lived。 Her father had gone on before； to prepare her； and when her husband stood upon his feet； she dropped insensible in his arms。
As he held her to his heart and turned her beautiful head between his face and the brawling crowd； so that his tears and her lips might come together unseen； a few of the people fell to dancing。 Instantly； all the rest fell to dancing； and the court…yard overflowed with the Carmagnole。 Then； they elevated into the vacant chair a young woman from the crowd to be carried as the Goddess of Liberty； and then swelling and overflowing out into the adjacent streets； and along the river's bank； and over the bridge； the Carmagnole absorbed them every one and whirled them away。
After grasping the Doctor's hand； as he stood victorious and proud before him； after grasping the hand of Mr。 Lorry； who came panting in breathless from his struggle against the waterspout of the Carmagnole； after kissing little Lucie； who was lifted up to clasp her arms round his neck； and after embracing the ever zealous and faithful Pross who lifted her； he took his wife in his arms； and carried her up to their rooms。
‘Lucie！ My own！ I am safe。'
‘O dearest Charles； let me thank God for this on my knees as I have prayed to Him。'
They all reverently bowed their heads and hearts。 Then she was again in his arms； he said to hem：
‘And now speak to your father； dearest。 No other man in all this France could have done what he has done for me。'
She laid her head upon her father's breast； as she had laid his poor head on her own breast； long； long ago。 He was happy in the return he had made her； he was recompensed for his suffering； he was proud of his strength。 ‘You must not be weak； my darling；' he remonstrated； ‘don't tremble so。 I have saved him。
CHAPTER VII
A Knock at the Door
‘I HAVE saved him。' It was not another of the dreams in which he had often come back； he was really here。 And yet his wife trembled； and a vague but heavy fear was upon her。
All the air around was so thick and dark； the people were so passionately revengeful and fitful； the innocent were so constantly put to death on vague suspicion and black malice； it was so impossible to forget that many as blameless as her husband and as dear to others as he was to her； every day shared the fate from which he had been clutched； that her heart could not be as lightened of its load as she felt it ought to be。 The shadows of the wintry afternoon were beginning to fall； and even now the dreadful carts were rolling through the streets。 Her mind pursued them； looking for him among the Condemned； and then she clung closer to his real presence and trembled more。
Her father； cheering her； showed a compassionate superiority to this woman's weakness； which was wonderful to see。 No garret； no shoemaking； no One Hundred and Five； North Tower； now！ He had accomplished the task he had set himself； his promise was redeemed； he had saved Charles。 Let them all lean upon him。
Their housekeeping was of a very frugal kind： not only because that was the safest way of life； involving the least offence to the people； but because they were not rich； and Charles； throughout his imprisonment； had had to pay heavily for his bad food； and for his guard； and towards the living of the poorer prisoners。 Partly on this account； and partly to avoid a domestic spy； they kept no servant； the citizen and citizeness who acted as porters at the court…yard gate； rendered them occasional service； and Jerry （almost wholly transferred to them by Mr。 Lorry） had become their daily retainer； and had his bed there every night。
It was an ordinance of the Republic One and Indivisible of Liberty； Equality； Fraternity； or Death； that on the door or doorpost of every house； the name of every inmate must be legibly inscribed in letters of a certain size； at a certain convenient height from the ground。 Mr。 Jerry Cruncher's name； therefore； duly embellished the doorpost down below； and； as the afternoon shadows deepened； the owner of that name himself appeared； from overlooking a painter whom Doctor Manette had employed to add to the list the name of Charles Evrémonde； called Darnay。
In the universal fear and distrust that darkened the time； all the usual harmless ways of life were changed。 In the Doctor's little household； as in very many others； the articles of daily consumption that were wanted were purchased every evening； in small quantities and at various small shops。 To avoid attracting notice； and to give as little occasion as possible for talk and envy； was the general desire。
For some months past； Miss Pross and Mr。 Cruncher had discharged the office of purveyors； the former carrying the money； the latter； tile basket。 Every afternoon at about the time when the public lamps were lighted； they fared forth on this duty； and made and brought home such purchases as were needful。 Although Miss Pross； through her long association with a French family； might have known as much of their language as of her own； if she had had a mind； she had no mind in that direction； consequently she knew no more of that ‘nonsense' （as she was pleased to call it） than Mr。 Cruncher did。 So her manner of marketing was to plump a noun…substantive at the head of a
