登陆注册
3554300000092

第92章 BOOK THE THIRD:THE TRACK OF A STORM(7)

'They are,'Mr. Lorry whispered the words,glancing fearfully around at the locked room,'murdering the prisoners.If you are sure of what you say;if you really have the power you think you have—as I believe you have—make yourself known to these devils,and get taken to La Force.It may be too late,I don't know,but let it not be a minute later!'

Doctor Manette pressed his hand,hastened bareheaded out of the room,and was in the court-yard when Mr. Lorry regained the blind.

His streaming white hair,his remarkable face,and the impetuous confidence of his manner,as he put the weapons aside like water,carried him in an instant to the heart of the concourse at the stone. For a few minutes there was a pause,and a hurry,and a murmur,and the unintelligible sound of his voice;and then Mr.Lorry saw him,surrounded by all,and in the midst of a line of twenty men long,all linked shoulder to shoulder,and hand toshoulder,hurried out with cries—'Live the Bastille prisoner!Help for the Bastille prisoner's kindred in La Force!Room for the Bastille prisoner in front there!Save the prisoner Evremonde at La Force!'and a thousand answering shouts.

He closed the lattice again with a fluttering heart,closed the window and the curtain,hastened to Lucie,and told her that her father was assisted by the people,and gone in search of her husband. He found her child and Miss Pross with her;but,it never occurred to him to be surprised by their appearance until a long time afterwards,when he sat watching them in such quiet as the night knew.

Lucie had,by that time,fallen into a stupor on the floor at his feet,clinging to his hand. Miss Pross had laid the child down on his own bed,and her head had gradually fallen on the pillow beside her pretty charge.O the long,long night,with the moans of the poor wife!And O the long,long night,with no return of her father and no tidings!

Twice more in the darkness the bell at the great gate sounded,and the irruption was repeated,and the grindstone whirled and spluttered.'What is it?'cried Lucie,affrighted.'Hush!The soldiers'swords are sharpened there,'said Mr. Lorry.'The place is national property now,and used as a kind of armoury,my love.'

Twice more in all;but,the last spell of work was feeble and fitful. Soon afterwards the day began to dawn,and he softly detached himself from the clasping hand,and cautiously looked out again.A man,so besmeared that he might have been a sorely wounded soldier creeping back to consciousness on a field of slain,was rising from the pavement by the side of the grindstone,and looking about him with a vacant air.Shortly,this worn-outmurderer descried in the imperfect light one of the carriages of Monseigneur,and,staggering to that gorgeous vehicle,climbed in at the door,and shut himself up to take his rest on its dainty cushions.

The great grindstone,Earth,had turned when Mr. Lorry looked out again,and the sun was red on the courtyard.But,the lesser grindstone stood alone there in the calm morning air,with a red upon it that the sun had never given,and would never take away.

XXXIII.THE SHADOW

O ne of the first considerations which arose in the business mind of Mr. Lorry when business hours came round,was this:—that he had no right to imperil Tellson's by sheltering the wife of an emigrant prisoner under the Bank roof.His own possessions,safety,life,he would have hazarded for Lucie and her child,without a moment's demur;but the great trust he held was not his own,and as to that business charge he was a strict man of business.

At first,his mind reverted to Defarge,and he thought of finding out the wine-shop again and taking counsel with its master in reference to the safest dwelling-place in the distracted state of the city. But,the same consideration that suggested him,repudiated him;he lived in the most violent Quarter,and doubtless was influential there,and deep in its dangerous workings.

Noon coming,and the Doctor not returning,and every minute's delay tending to compromise Tellson's,Mr. Lorry advised with Lucie.She said that her father had spoken of hiring a lodging for a short term,in that Quarter,near the Banking-house.As there was no business objection to this,and as he foresaw that even if it were all well with Charles,and he were to be released,he could not hope to leave the city,Mr.Lorry went out in quest of such a lodging,and found a suitable one,high up in a removed by-street where the closed blinds in all the other windows of a high melancholy square of buildings marked deserted homes.

To this lodging he at once removed Lucie and her child,and Miss Pross;giving them what comfort he could,and much more than he had himself. He left Jerry with them,as a figure to fill a doorway that would bear considerable knocking on the head,and returned to his own occupations.A disturbed and doleful mind he brought to bear upon them;and slowly and heavily,the day lagged on with him.

It wore itself out,and wore him out with it,until the Bank closed. He was again alone in his room of the previous night,considering what to do next,when he heard a foot upon the stair.In a few moments a man stood in his presence,who,with a keenly observant look at him,addressed him by his name.

'Your servant,'said Mr. Lorry.'Do you know me?'

He was a strongly made man with dark curling hair,from forty-five to fifty years of age. For answer he repeated without any change of emphasis,the words:

'Do you know me?'

'I have seen you somewhere.'

'Perhaps at my wine-shop?'

Much interested and agitated,Mr. Lorry said:'You come from Doctor Manette?'

'Yes,I come from Doctor Manette.'

'And what says he?What does he send me?'

Defarge gave into his anxious hand,an open scrap of paper. It bore the words in the Doctor's writing:

Charles is safe,but I cannot safely leave this place yet. I have obtained the favour that the bearer has a short note from Charles to his wife.Let the bearer see his wife.

It was dated from La Force,within an hour.

同类推荐
  • 新城录

    新城录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 全金元词

    全金元词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Frivolous Cupid

    Frivolous Cupid

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Life of Stephen A. Douglas

    The Life of Stephen A. Douglas

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说梵网六十二见经

    佛说梵网六十二见经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 平心平天下

    平心平天下

    本书从全方位角度来展现了作者对中华优秀传统文化的认知与解读,既显示了作者的精神情怀与文化自信,又彰显了传统文化的品格情操和独特魅力。作者归纳中国文化的本体论是“一”,“一”的最初形态是“和”,基本形态是“纯”,由此产生了和谐与纯诚的文化,并且一以贯之;中国文化的辩证法是“二”,为阴阳,也为因果,更是“不二”;中国文化的特征为“三”,即三才天地人,也即体相用,不易变易简易,表现为佛体道相儒用,神奇神秘与神圣;中国文化的抱负是四为,精神是四观,智慧是四知,作者提出“以四观精神开启四知智慧成就四为人生”;中国文化的方法论是“五”,五行产生了五音五色、五液五方、五味五常等。
  • 爱,很是简单

    爱,很是简单

    在见到他时,她便对他已经一见钟情了。在他初遇她时,他没有一见钟情。随着时间的消失,他对她日久生情。原本以为同命运的两个人互相找到了自己的幸福会一直幸福的生活下去。可有谁知道生活就是一座火山,随时喷发导致坍塌。只是,一生只为等待他的她能守护和留住自己的幸福吗?他会为了自己的孩子回归家庭吗?
  • 武林灵剑奇缘

    武林灵剑奇缘

    公元755年,安史之乱爆发前夕。社会动荡,江湖混乱。男子六岁时失去养育自己的义父,不畏艰难,寻找义父,途中,不经意卷入江湖纷争。故事情节曲折三波,江湖路千辛万苦。步步惊心,但又逢凶化吉。战胜一切,最终成为一代仙侠。本文描述了主人公与恶魔殊死斗争的种种艰辛。拼战中,名利双收,抱得美人归。双剑合并,力挽狂澜。天地之大,谁与争锋。
  • 小学生最喜欢读的益智故事

    小学生最喜欢读的益智故事

    小朋友们,你们爱听故事吗?喜欢故事里跌宕起伏的情节吗?喜欢那些出乎意料的故事结局吗?喜欢故事中蕴含的智慧吗?这里有你喜爱的故事,孩子们,还等什么,来吧,来这里寻找快乐和智慧吧!
  • 宋阵

    宋阵

    穿越到了积弱已久的宋朝也就罢了,还偏偏到了靖康之耻被金人掳走的宋俘队伍里,肉体上的折磨动摇不了身为杀手的意志,却又为了皇帝老儿交给的任务,达到自己救世的目的,不得不和第一奸臣秦桧扯上关系。探测同化预警隐匿辅助攻击防御……携阵法系统之大成,踏入历史的潮流,随风起而云涌,踏天下之不平。这是一段历史不会记载的岁月,也是一场烽烟四起的沙场拼杀,这里有情义,有兄弟,有烈酒,有美人,更有那不朽的铿锵悲歌。交流群号《237519282》推荐收藏打赏,谢谢大家支持。
  • 做事三刀:软刀.硬刀.险刀

    做事三刀:软刀.硬刀.险刀

    做事难,难在方法,人们都想成功地做一番大事业,但却苦于找不到做事的方法。其实,做事的方法虽然五花八门、形式不一,但归纳起来,不外乎三点,形象点说就是三“刀”:软刀、硬刀、险刀。“做事用软刀”就是说把脸皮放厚,能忍会磨,能退善让,不要太过于精明好胜,也不要把面子看得太重,一切以做成事为最终目的。“做事用硬刀”则是说以硬碰硬,以强攻强,拿出自己的勇气和实力,坚决地去做事,不要被任何艰难困苦所吓倒。“做事用险刀”就是不要按常理出牌,而要别出心裁,另辟蹊径。要敢于冒险,懂得创新,能出奇制胜。做事若能将此三“刀”灵活运用,必能无坚不摧,无往不胜。
  • 答万季埜诗问

    答万季埜诗问

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 多尔衮

    多尔衮

    多尔衮,大清国入主中原的领军人物。他生前登上了阿玛王的高位,成为凌驾于皇帝之上的太上皇;身后则被追尊为成宗义帝,那是皇帝才能有的庙号和谥号。但最灿烂的瞬间往往是最短暂的,荣耀和他宏伟的陵墓一样很快就被人摧毁。直到一百多年后,乾隆还他一个公道。正所谓“一生荣辱,盖棺难定论;百年沉浮,去伪方存真”。
  • 匪王一枝花

    匪王一枝花

    1932年的一天,黑龙江一支两万多人组成的东北义勇军在马占山的授意下,由李海青率领暗渡松花江,准备偷袭伪满洲国新京,抓捕小皇帝溥仪,推翻伪满洲国。哪知部队还未到农安县,就被吉林大汉奸熙洽老贼发觉,在去新京的路上布下重兵。海青无奈,只好先打下吉林扶余县城,暂时作为大本营。经一段时间的休整后,便派重兵直袭农安,准备先拔掉去新京的最大障碍——农安县城。义军的两万人马把农安围困了三天三夜,经过奋力拼杀,把个农安城打得变成了一片火海。天空硝烟弥漫,地上血迹斑斑。
  • 盯人

    盯人

    秋一收,农事闲了下来,但农闲也是农村社会稳定最容易出事的时候。一到这时候,上边就得安排盯人了。大湾村村文书兼治保主任老周的家在路口。这天,在老周家,乡派出所长要老周盯一个人,盯紧点。要盯的人是钉子,钉子是老上访户。说起钉子,各级干部都很头疼,但县官不如现管,防止钉子越级上访的责任,最终还是要压到大湾村。派出所长怕电话里说不好,是按照上级的指示,专门到大湾来落实这个盯人的任务。村上留他吃饭,他都不吃。所长要上摩托了,又撒了一圈“满天星”翻盖黄鹤楼烟。他们见所长像一缕风一样走远了,才都把烟点着,吃烟,又都回老周屋里坐,却又都不吭气。