A Tale of Two Cities

fe. That this correspondence with the public enemy was not a correspondence of to-day, or of yesterday, or even of last year, or of the year before. That, it was certain

t, this patriot would be produced before them. That, his position and attitude were, on the whole, sublime. That, he had been the prisoner's friend, but, at once in an auspicious and an evil hour detecting his infamy, had resolved to immolate the traitor he could no longer cherish in his bosom, on the sacred altar of his country. That, if statues were decreed in Britain, as in ancient Greece and Rome, to public benefactors, this shining citizen

to examine his master's table-drawers and pockets, and secrete his papers. That, he (Mr. Attorney-General) was prepared to hear some disparagement attempted of this admirable servant; but that, in a general way, he preferred him to his (Mr. A

Majesty's forces, and of their disposition and preparation, both by sea and land, and would leave no doubt that he had

jury, being a loyal jury (as he knew they were), and being a responsible jury (as they knew they were), must positively find the prisoner Guilty, and make an end of him, whether they liked it or not. That, they never could lay their heads upon their pillows; that, they never could tolerate the idea of their wives laying their heads upon their pillows; that, they never could endure the notion of their children layin

eat blue-flies were swarming about the prisoner, in anticipation of what he was

ess-

described it to be-perhaps, if it had a fault, a little too exactly. Having released his noble bosom of its burden, he would have modestly withdrawn himself, but that the wigged gen

nybody's. Had he inherited it? Yes, he had. From whom? Distant relation. Very distant? Rather. Ever been in prison? Certainly not. Never in a debtors' prison? Didn't see what that had to do with it. Nev

, and fell down-stairs of his own accord. Kicked on that occasion for cheating at

h the prisoner, in reality a very slight one, forced upon the prisoner in coaches, inns, and packets? No. Sure he saw the prisoner with these lists? Certain. Knew no more about the lists? No. Had not procured them himself, for instance? No

soon afterwards. In arranging his clothes, while travelling, he had seen similar lists to these in the prisoner's pockets, over and over again. He had taken these lists from the drawer of the prisoner's desk. He had not put them there first. He had seen the prisoner show these identical lists to French gentlemen at Calais, and similar lists to French gentlemen, both at Calais and Boulogne. He loved his country, and couldn't bear it, and had given information.

n, and Mr. Attorney-Genera

are you a clerk i

a

seven hundred and seventy-five, did business occasio

di

other passenge

wo

the road in the co

ey

he prisoner. Was he one

ertake to say

e either of thes

as so dark, and we were all so reserved,

d up as those two passengers were, is there anything in his bu

N

Mr. Lorry, that he

N

say he may have b

ave been--like myself--timorous of highwaym

a counterfeit of t

nly have

he prisoner. Have you seen him, t

hav

he

nd, at Calais, the prisoner came on board the packet-

r did he com

tle after

he the only passenger who came

d to be the

rry. He was the only passenger who ca

wa

alone, Mr. Lorry, o

s. A gentleman and

you any conversatio

d the passage long and rough, and I lay

Mane

d were now turned again, stood up where she had sat. Her fa

, look upon t

edge of his grave, not all the staring curiosity that looked on, could, for the moment, nerve him to remain quite still. His hurried right hand parcelled out the herbs before him into ima

ave you seen the

s,

he

p just now referred to, sir

ung lady just n

unhappi

sical voice of the Judge, as he said something fiercely: `An

ersation with the prisoner on t

s,

all

llness, she faintly began: `Wh

ner?' inquired the Jud

my L

y the pr

he deck near the cabin steps, and I sat on the deck at his side to take care of him. There were no other passengers that night, but we four. The prisoner was so good as to beg permission to advise me how I could shelter my father from the wind and weather, better than I had do

for a moment. Had he

N

y were w

ench ge

conferred

t moment, when it was necessary for the Fr

nded about among them,

ded about among them, but

e in shape

at the top of the cabin steps to have the light of the lamp that was hanging there; it was a dull lam

oner's conversati

helpless situation-as he was kind, and good, and useful to my father. I

rom the b

ich it is your duty to give--which you must give--and which you cannot escape from giving-

and that he was therefore travelling under an assumed name. He said that this business had, within a few days, taken him

about America, Miss M

sh one on England's part. He added, in a jesting way, that perhaps George Washington might gain almost as great a name in hi

ntent as she gave this evidence, and, in the pauses when she stopped for the Judge to write it down, watched its effect upon the counsel for and against. Among the lookers-on there was the same expression in all quarter

it necessary, as a matter of precaution and form, to call the

on the prisoner. Have yo

ings in London. Some three years

ssenger on board the packet, or speak t

can do n

nd special reason for your

in a low voic

g imprisonment, without trial, or even accusa

that went to every hear

eleased on the occ

ave you no remembran

s, to the time when I found myself living in London with my dear daughter here. She had become familiar to me, when a gracious

down, and the father and

ago, and got out of the mail in the night, as a blind, at a place where he did not remain, but from which he travelled back some dozen miles or more, to a garrison and dockyard, and there collected informat

an who had all this time been looking at the ceiling of the court, wrote a word or two on a little piece of paper, screwed it up, and

prisoner?' Not so like (the witness said) as that he could be mistaken. `Look well upon that gentleman, my learned friend there,'

brought into comparison. My Lord being prayed to bid my learned friend lay aside his wig, and giving no very gracious consent, the likeness became much more remarkable. My Lord inquired of Mr. Stryver (the

his rashness sooner, whether he would be so confident, having seen it; and more. The upshot of which

hing trafficker in blood, and one of the greatest scoundrels upon earth since accursed Judas--which he certainly did look rather like. How the virtuous servant, Cly, was his friend and partner, and was worthy to be; how the watchful eyes of those forgers and false swearers had rested on the pri

was altogether too extravagant and impossible to be regarded in any other light than as a monstrous joke. How it would be a weakness in the government to break down in this attempt to practise for popularity on the lowest national antipathies and fears, and therefore Mr. Attorney-General had made the most of it; how, never

the jury, inside out; showing how Barsad and Cly were even a hundred times better than he had thought them, and the prisoner a hundred times worse. Lastly, came my

to consider, and the gr

n his platform, not unattended by a suspicion in the minds of the audience that his state was feverish; this one man sat leaning back, with his torn gown half off him, his untidy wig put on just as it had happened to light on his head after its removal, his hands in his pockets, and his eyes on the ceiling as they had been all day. Something especially reckless in his demeanour, not only gave him a disreputable look, but so diminished the st

en Miss Manette's head dropped upon her father's breast, he was the first to see it, and to say audibl

days of his imprisonment recalled. He had shown strong internal agitation when he was questioned, and that pondering or brooding look which made him ol

easure that they should retire under watch and ward, and retired himself. The trial had lasted all day, and the lamps in the court were now being lighted. It began t

father went out, now reappeared, and beckoned to Jerry:

ear when the jury come in. Don't be a moment behind them, for I want you to take the verdict back

kle, and he knuckled in acknowledgment

the moment, and touche

the youn

ather is comforting her, and she feel

a respectable bank gentleman like you, to

mind, and Mr. Carton made his way to the outside of the bar. The way out of co

Dar

r came forw

f the witness, Miss Manette. She will do

tat

ause of it. Could you tell her so for

d. I will, i

most insolent. He stood, half turned from the p

Accept my co

nly half turned towards him,

wor

and the likeliest. But I think t

e: but left them--so like each other in feature, so unlike each other i

on pies and ale. The hoarse messenger, uncomfortably seated on a form after taking that refection, had dropped into a doz

was already calling at t

ight to get back aga

aper through the throng.

s,

the paper was the

Life," again, muttered Jerry, as he turne

me

Bailey; for, the crowd came pouring out with a vehemence that nearly took him off his legs, and a lo