第5章

`What"son?"heasked,inawhisper,ofthemanhefoundhimselfnextto.

`Nothingyet."

`What"scomingon,?"

`TheTreasoncase.

`Thequarteringone,eh?"

`Ah!"returnedtheman,witharelish;`he"llbedrawnonahurdletobehalfhanged,andthenhe"llbetakendownandslicedbeforehisownface,andthenhisinsidewillbetakenoutandburntwhilehelookson,andthenhisheadwillbechoppedoff,andhe"llbecutintoquarters.Thatthesentence."

`Ifhe"sfoundGuilty,youmeantosay?"Jerryadded,bywayofproviso.

`Oh!they"llfindhimguilty,"saidtheother.`Don"tyoubeafraidofthat."

Mr.Cruncher"sattentionwasheredivertedtothedoorkeeper,whomhesawmakinghiswaytoMr.Lorry,withthenoteinhishand.Mr.Lorrysatatatable,amongthegentlemeninwigs:notfarfromawiggedgentleman,theprisoner"scounsel,whohadagreatbundleofpapersbeforehim:andnearlyoppositeanotherwiggedgentlemanwithhishandsinhispockets,whosewholeattention,whenMr.Cruncherlookedathimthenorafterwards,seemedtobeconcentratedontheceilingofthecourt.Aftersomegruffcoughingandrubbingofhischinandsigningwithhishand,JerryattractedthenoticeofMr.Lorry,whohadstooduptolookforhim,andwhoquietlynoddedandsatdownagain.

`What"s.hegottodowiththecase?"askedthemanhehadspokenwith.

`BlestifIknow,"saidJerry.

`Whathaveyougottodowithit,then,ifapersonmayinquire?"

`BlestifIknowthateither,"saidJerry.

TheentranceoftheJudge,andaconsequentgreatstirandsettlingdowninthecourt,stoppedthedialogue.Presently,thedockbecamethecentralpointofinterest.Twogaolers,whohadbeenstandingthere,wentout,andtheprisonerwasbroughtin,andputtothebar.

Everybodypresent,excepttheonewiggedgentlemanwholookedattheceiling,staredathim.Allthehumanbreathintheplace,rolledathim,likeasea,orawind,orafire.Eagerfacesstrainedroundpillarsandcorners,togetasightofhim;spectatorsinbackrowsstoodup,nottomissahairofhim;peopleonthefloorofthecourt,laidtheirhandsontheshouldersofthepeoplebeforethem,tohelpthemselves,atanybody"scost,toaviewofhim——stooda-tiptoe,gotuponledges,stooduponnexttonothing,toseeeveryinchofhim.Conspicuousamongtheselatter,likeananimatedbitofthespikedwallofNewgate,Jerrystood:aimingattheprisonerthebeerybreathofawhethehadtakenashecamealong,anddischargingittominglewiththewavesofotherbeer,andgin,andtea,andcoffee,andwhatnot,thatflowedathim,andalreadybrokeuponthegreatwindowsbehindhiminanimpuremistandrain.

Theobjectofallthisstaringandblaring,wasayoungmanofaboutfive-and-twenty,well-grownandwell-looking,withasunburntcheekandadarkeye.Hisconditionwasthatofayounggentleman.Hewasplainlydressedinblack,orverydarkgrey,andhishair,whichwaslonganddark,wasgatheredinaribbonatthebackofhisneck;moretobeoutofhiswaythanforornament.Asanemotionofthemindwillexpressitselfthroughanycoveringofthebody,sothepalenesswhichhissituationengenderedcamethroughthebrownuponhischeek,showingthesoultobestrongerthanthesun.Hewasotherwisequiteself-possessed,bowedtotheJudge,andstoodquiet.

Thesortofinterestwithwhichthismanwasstaredandbreathedat,wasnotasortthatelevatedhumanity.Hadhestoodinperilofalesshorriblesentence——hadtherebeenachanceofanyoneofitssavagedetailsbeingspared——byjustsomuchwouldhehavelostinhisfascination.Theformthatwastobedoomedtobesoshamefullymangled,wasthesight;theimmortalcreaturethatwastobesobutcheredandtornasunder,yieldedthesensation.Whateverglossthevariousspectatorsputupontheinterest,accordingtotheirseveralartsandpowersofself-deceit,theinterestwas,attherootofit,Ogreish.

Silenceinthecourt!CharlesDarnayhadyesterdaypleadedNotGuiltytoanindictmentdenouncinghim(withinfinitejingleandjangle)forthathewasafalsetraitortoourserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,prince,ourLordtheKing,byreasonofhishaving,ondiversoccasions,andbydiversmeansandways,assistedLewis,theFrenchKing,inhiswarsagainstoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth;thatwastosay,bycomingandgoing,betweenthedominionsofoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,andthoseofthesaidFrenchLewis,andwickedly,falsely,traitorously,andotherwiseevil-adverbiously,revealingtothesaidFrenchLewiswhatforcesoursaidserene,illustrious,excellent,andsoforth,hadinpreparationtosendtoCanadaandNorthAmerica.Thismuch,Jerry,withhisheadbecomingmoreandmorespikyasthelawtermsbristledit,madeoutwithhugesatisfaction,andsoarrivedcircuitouslyattheunder-standingthattheaforesaid,andoverandoveragainaforesaid,CharlesDarnay,stoodtherebeforehimuponhistrial;thatthejurywereswearingin;andthatMr.Attorney-Generalwasmakingreadytospeak.

Theaccused,whowas(andwhoknewhewas)beingmentallyhanged,beheaded,andquartered,byeverybodythere,neitherflinchedfromthesituation,norassumedanytheatricalairinit.Hewasquietandattentive;watchedtheopeningproceedingswithagraveinterest;andstoodwithhishandsrestingontheslabofwoodbeforehim,socomposedly,thattheyhadnotdisplacedaleafoftheherbswithwhichitwasstrewn.Thecourtwasallbestrewnwithherbsandsprinkledwithvinegar,asaprecautionagainstgaolairandgaolfever.

Overtheprisoner"sheadtherewasamirror,tothrowthelightdownuponhim.Crowdsofthewickedandthewretchedhadbeenreflectedinit,andhadpassedfromitssurfaceandthisearth"stogether.Hauntedinamostghastlymannerthatabominableplacewouldhavebeen,iftheglasscouldeverhaverenderedbackitsreflections,astheoceanisonedaytogiveupitsdead.Somepassingthoughtoftheinfamyanddisgraceforwhichithadbeenreserved,mayhavestrucktheprisoner"smind.Bethatasitmay,achangeinhispositionmakinghimconsciousofabaroflightacrosshisface,helookedup;andwhenhesawtheglasshisfaceflushed,andhisrighthandpushedtheherbsaway.

Ithappened,thattheactionturnedhisfacetothatsideofthecourtwhichwasonhisleft.Aboutonalevelwithhiseyes,theresat,inthatcorneroftheJudge"sbench,twopersonsuponwhomhislookimmediatelyrested;soimmediately,andsomuchtothechangingofhisaspect,thatalltheeyesthatwereturneduponhim,turnedtothem.

Thespectatorssawinthetwofigures,ayoungladyoflittlemorethantwenty,andagentlemanwhowasevidentlyherfather;amanofaveryremarkableappearanceinrespectoftheabsolutewhitenessofhishair,andacertainindescribableintensityofface:notofanactivekind,butponderingandself-communing.Whenthisexpressionwasuponhim,helookedasifhewereold;butwhenitwasstirredandbrokenup——asItwasnow,inamoment,onhisspeakingtohisdaughter——hebecameahandsomeman,notpasttheprimeoflife.

Hisdaughterhadoneofherhandsdrawnthroughhisarm,asshesatbyhim,andtheotherpresseduponit.Shehaddrawnclosetohim,inherdreadofthescene,andinherpityfortheprisoner.Herforeheadhadbeenstrikinglyexpressiveofanengrossingterrorandcompassionthatsawnothingbuttheperiloftheaccused.Thishadbeensoverynoticeable,soverypowerfullyandnaturallyshown,thatstarerswhohadhadnopityforhimweretouchedbyher;andthewhisperwentabout,`Whoarethey?"

Jerry,themessenger,whohadmadehisownobservations,inhisownmanner,andwhohadbeensuckingtherustoffhisfingersinhisabsorption,stretchedhisnecktohearwhotheywere.Thecrowdabouthimhadpressedandpassedtheinquiryontothenearestattendant,andfromhimithadbeenmoreslowlypressedandpassedback;atlastitgottoJerry:

`Witnesses."

`Forwhichside?"

`Against."

`Againstwhatside?"

`Theprisoner"s."

TheJudge,whoseeyeshadgoneinthegeneraldirection,recalledthem,leanedbackinhisseat,andlookedsteadilyatthemanwhoselifewasinhishand,asMr.Attorney-Generalrosetospintherope,grindtheaxe,andhammerthenailsintothescaffold.

CHAPTERIII

ADisappointment

MR.ATTORNEY-GENERALhadtoinformthejury,thattheprisonerbeforethem,thoughyounginyears,wasoldinthetreasonablepracticeswhichclaimedtheforfeitofhislife.Thatthiscorrespondencewiththepublicenemywasnotacorrespondenceofto-day,orofyesterday,orevenoflastyear,oroftheyearbefore.That,itwascertaintheprisonerhad,forlongerthanthat,beeninthehabitofpassingandrepassingbetweenFranceandEngland,onsecretbusinessofwhichhecouldgivenohonestaccount.That,ifitwereinthenatureoftraitorouswaystothrive(whichhappilyitneverwas),therealwickednessandguiltofhisbusinessmighthaveremainedundiscovered.ThatProvidence,however,hadputitintotheheartofapersonwhowasbeyondfearandbeyondreproach,toferretoutthenatureoftheprisoner"sschemes,and,struckwithhorror,todisclosethemtohisMajesty"sChiefSecretaryofStateandmosthonourablePrivyCouncil.That,thispatriotwouldbeproducedbeforethem.That,hispositionandattitudewere,onthewhole,sublime.That,hehadbeentheprisoner"sfriend,but,atonceinanauspiciousandanevilhourdetectinghisinfamy,hadresolvedtoimmolatethetraitorhecouldnolongercherishinhisbosom,onthesacredaltarofhiscountry.That,ifstatuesweredecreedinBritain,asinancientGreeceandRome,topublicbenefactors,thisshiningcitizenwouldassuredlyhavehadone.That,astheywerenotsodecreed,heprobablywouldnothaveone.That,Virtue,ashadbeenobservedbythepoets(inmanypassageswhichhewellknewthejurywouldhave,wordforword,atthetipsoftheirtongues;whereatthejury"scountenancesdisplayedaguiltyconsciousnessthattheyknewnothingaboutthepassages),wasinamannercontagious;moreespeciallythebrightvirtueknownaspatriotism,orloveofcountry.That,theloftyexampleofthisimmaculateandunimpeachablewitnessfortheCrown,torefertowhomhoweverunworthilywasanhonour,hadcommunicateditselftotheprisoner"sservant,andhadengenderedinhimaholydeterminationtoexaminehismaster"stable-drawersandpockets,andsecretehispapers.That,he(Mr.Attorney-General)waspreparedtohearsomedisparagementattemptedofthisadmirableservant;butthat,inageneralway,hepreferredhimtohis(Mr.Attorney-General"s)brothersandsisters,andhonouredhimmorethanhis(Mr.Attorney-General"s)fatherandmother.That,hecalledwithconfidenceonthejurytocomeanddolikewise.That,theevidenceofthesetwowitnesses,coupledwiththedocumentsoftheirdiscoveringthatwouldbeproduced,wouldshowtheprisonertohavebeenfurnishedwithlistsofhisMajesty"sforces,andoftheirdispositionandpreparation,bothbyseaandland,andwouldleavenodoubtthathehadhabituallyconveyedsuchinformationtoahostilepower.That,theselistscouldnotbeprovedtobeintheprisoner"shandwriting;butthatitwasallthesame;that,indeed,itwasratherthebetterfortheprosecution,asshowingtheprisonertobeartfulinhisprecautions.That,theproofwouldgobackfiveyears,andwouldshowtheprisoneralreadyengagedintheseperniciousmissions,withinafewweeksbeforethedateoftheveryfirstactionfoughtbetweentheBritishtroopsandtheAmericans.That,forthesereasons,thejury,beingaloyaljury(asheknewtheywere),andbeingaresponsiblejury(astheyknewtheywere),mustpositivelyfindtheprisonerGuilty,andmakeanendofhim,whethertheylikeditornot.That,theynevercouldlaytheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldtoleratetheideaoftheirwiveslayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;that,theynevercouldendurethenotionoftheirchildrenlayingtheirheadsupontheirpillows;inshort,thattherenevermorecouldbe,forthemortheirs,anylayingofheadsuponpillowsatall,unlesstheprisoner"sheadwastakenoff.ThatheadMr.Attorney-Generalconcludedbydemandingofthem,inthenameofeverythinghecouldthinkofwitharoundturninit,andonthefaithofhissolemnasseverationthathealreadyconsideredtheprisonerasgoodasdeadandgone.

WhentheAttorney-Generalceased,abuzzaroseinthecourtasifacloudofgreatblue-flieswereswarmingabouttheprisoner,inanticipationofwhathewassoontobecome.Whentoneddownagain,theunimpeachablepatriotappearedinthewitness-box.

Mr.Solicitor-Generalthen,followinghisleader"slead,examinedthepatriot:JohnBarsad,gentleman,byname.ThestoryofhispuresoulwasexactlywhatMr.Attorney-Generalhaddescribedittobe-perhaps,ifithadafault,alittletooexactly.Havingreleasedhisnoblebosomofitsburden,hewouldhavemodestlywithdrawnhimself,butthatthewiggedgentlemanwiththepapersbeforehim,sittingnotfarfromMr.Lorry,beggedtoaskhimafewquestions.Thewiggedgentlemansittingopposite,stilllookingattheceilingofthecourt.

Hadheeverbeenaspyhimself?No,hescornedthebaseinsinuation.Whatdidheliveupon?Hisproperty.Wherewashisproperty?Hedidn"tpreciselyrememberwhereitwas.Whatwasit?Nobusinessofanybody"s.Hadheinheritedit?Yes,hehad.Fromwhom?Distantrelation.Verydistant?Rather.Everbeeninprison?Certainlynot.Neverinadebtors"prison?Didn"tseewhatthathadtodowithit.Neverinadebtors"prison?——Come,onceagain.Never?Yes.Howmanytimes?Twoorthreetimes.Notfiveorsix?Perhaps.Ofwhatprofession?Gentleman.Everbeenkicked?Mighthavebeen.Frequently?No.Everkickeddown-stairs?Decidedlynot;oncereceivedakickonthetopofastaircase,andfelldown-stairsofhisownaccord.Kickedonthatoccasionforcheatingatdice?Somethingtothateffectwassaidbytheintoxicatedliarwhocommittedtheassault,butitwasnottrue.Swearitwasnottrue?Positively.Everlivebycheatingatplay?Never.Everlivebyplay?Notmorethanothergentlemendo.Everborrowmoneyoftheprisoner?Yes.Everpayhim?No.Wasnotthisintimacywiththeprisoner,inrealityaveryslightone,forcedupontheprisonerincoaches,inns,andpackets?No.Surehesawtheprisonerwiththeselists?Certain.Knewnomoreaboutthelists?No.Hadnotprocuredthemhimself,forinstance?No.Expecttogetanythingbythisevidence?No.Notinregulargovernmentpayandemployment,tolaytraps?Ohdearno.Ortodoanything?Ohdearno.Swearthat?Overandoveragain.Nomotivesbutmotivesofsheerpatriotism?Nonewhatever.

Thevirtuousservant,RogerCly,sworehiswaythroughthecaseatagreatrate.Hehadtakenservicewiththeprisoner,ingoodfaithandsimplicity,fouryearsago.Hehadaskedtheprisoner,aboardtheCalaispacket,ifhewantedahandyfellow,andtheprisonerhadengagedhim.Hehadnotaskedtheprisonertotakethehandyfellowasanactofcharity——neverthoughtofsuchathing.Hebegantohavesuspicionsoftheprisoner,andtokeepaneyeuponhim,soonafterwards.Inarranginghisclothes,whiletravelling,hehadseensimilarliststotheseintheprisoner"spockets,overandoveragain.Hehadtakentheselistsfromthedraweroftheprisoner"sdesk.Hehadnotputthemtherefirst.HehadseentheprisonershowtheseidenticalliststoFrenchgentlemenatCalais,andsimilarliststoFrenchgentlemen,bothatCalaisandBoulogne.Helovedhiscountry,andcouldn"tbearit,andhadgiveninformation.Hehadneverbeensuspectedofstealingasilvertea-pot;hehadbeenmalignedrespectingamustard-pot,butitturnedouttobeonlyaplatedone.Hehadknownthelastwitnesssevenoreightyears;thatwasmerelyacoincidence.Hedidn"tcallitaparticularlycuriouscoincidence;mostcoincidenceswerecurious.Neitherdidhecallitacuriouscoincidencethattruepatriotismwashisonlymotivetoo.HewasatrueBriton,andhopedthereweremanylikehim.

Theblue-fliesbuzzedagain,andMr.Attorney-GeneralcalledMr.JarvisLorry.

`Mr.JarvisLorry,areyouaclerkinTellson"sbank?"

`Iam."

`OnacertainFridaynightinNovemberonethousandsevenhundredandseventy-five,didbusinessoccasionyoutotravelbetweenLondonandDoverbythemail?"

`Itdid."

`Werethereanyotherpassengersinthemail?"

`Two."

`Didtheyalightontheroadinthecourseofthenight?"

`Theydid."

`Mr.Lorry,lookupontheprisoner.Washeoneofthosetwopassengers?

`Icannotundertaketosaythathewas."

`Doesheresembleeitherofthesetwopassengers?"

`Bothweresowrappedup,andthenightwassodark,andwewereallsoreserved,thatIcannotundertaketosayeventhat."

`Mr.Lorry,lookagainupontheprisoner.Supposinghimwrappedupasthosetwopassengerswere,isthereanythinginhisbulkandstaturetorenderitunlikelythathewasoneofthem?"

`No."

`Youwillnotswear,Mr.Lorry,thathewasnotoneofthem?"

`No."

`Soatleastyousayhemayhavebeenoneofthem?"

`Yes.ExceptthatIrememberthembothtohavebeen——likemyself——timorousofhighwaymen,andtheprisonerhasnotatimorousair."

`Didyoueverseeacounterfeitoftimidity,Mr.Lorry?"

`Icertainlyhaveseenthat."

`Mr.Lorry,lookoncemoreupontheprisoner.Haveyouseenhim,toyourcertainKnowledge,before?"

`Ihave."

`When?"

`IwasreturningfromFranceafewdaysafterwards,and,atCalais,theprisonercameonboardthepacket-shipinwhichIreturned,andmadethevoyagewithme."

`Atwhathourdidhecomeonboard?"

`Atalittleaftermidnight."

`Inthedeadofthenight.Washetheonlypassengerwhocameonboardatthatuntimelyhour?"

`Hehappenedtobetheonlyone."

`Nevermindabout"happening,"Mr.Lorry.Hewastheonlypassengerwhocameonboardinthedeadofthenight?"

`Hewas."

`Wereyoutravellingalone,Mr.Lorry,orwithanycompanion?"

`Withtwocompanions.Agentlemanandlady.Theyarehere."

`They"arehere.Hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoner?"

`Hardlyany.Theweatherwasstormy,andthepassagelongandrough,andIlayonasofa,almostfromshoretoshore."

`MissManette!"

Theyounglady,towhomalleyeshadbeenturnedbefore,andwerenowturnedagain,stoodupwhereshehadsat.Herfatherrosewithher,andkeptherhanddrawnthroughhisarm.

`MissManette,lookupontheprisoner."

Tobeconfrontedwithsuchpity,andsuchearnestyouthandbeauty,wasfarmoretryingtotheaccusedthantobeconfrontedwithallthecrowd.Standing,asitwere,apartwithherontheedgeofhisgrave,notallthestaringcuriositythatlookedon,could,forthemoment,nervehimtoremainquitestill.Hishurriedrighthandparcelledouttheherbsbeforehimintoimaginarybedsofflowersinagarden:andhiseffortstocontrolandsteadyhisbreathingshookthelipsfromwhichthecolourrushedtohisheart.Thebuzzofthegreatflieswasloudagain.

`MissManette,haveyouseentheprisonerbefore?"

`Yes,sir."

`Where?"

`Onboardofthepacket-shipjustnowreferredto,sir,andonthesameoccasion."

`Youaretheyoungladyjustnowreferredto?"

`O!mostunhappily,Iam."

TheplaintivetoneofhercompassionmergedintothelessmusicalvoiceoftheJudge,ashesaidsomethingfiercely:`Answerthequestionsputtoyou,andmakenoremarkuponthem."

`MissManette,hadyouanyconversationwiththeprisoneronthatpassageacrosstheChannel?"

`Yes,sir."

`Recallit."

Inthemidstofaprofoundstillness,shefaintlybegan:`Whenthegentlemancameonboard"

`Doyoumeantheprisoner?"inquiredtheJudge,knittinghisbrows.

`Yes,myLord."

`Thensaytheprisoner."

`Whentheprisonercameonboard,henoticedthatmyfather,"turninghereyeslovinglytohimashestoodbesideher,wasmuchfatiguedandinaveryweakstateofhealth.MyfatherwassoreducedthatIwasafraidtotakehimoutoftheair,andIhadmadeabedforhimonthedecknearthecabinsteps,andIsatonthedeckathissidetotakecareofhim.Therewerenootherpassengersthatnight,butwefour.TheprisonerwassogoodastobegpermissiontoadvisemehowIcouldsheltermyfatherfromthewindandweather,betterthanIhaddone.Ihadnotknownhowtodoitwell,notunderstandinghowthewindwouldsetwhenwewereoutoftheharbour.Hediditforme.Heexpressedgreatgentlenessandkindnessformyfather"sstate,andIamsurehefeltit.Thatwasthemannerofourbeginningtospeaktogether."

`Letmeinterruptyouforamoment.Hadhecomeonboardalone?"

`No."

`Howmanywerewithhim?"

`TwoFrenchgentlemen."

`Hadtheyconferredtogether?"

`Theyhadconferredtogetheruntilthelastmoment,whenitwasnecessaryfortheFrenchgentlementobelandedintheirboat."

`Hadanypapersbeenhandedaboutamongthem,similartotheselists?"

`Somepapershadbeenhandedaboutamongthem,butIdon"tknowwhatpapers."

`Liketheseinshapeandsize?"

`Possibly,butindeedIdon"tknow,althoughtheystoodwhisperingveryneartome:becausetheystoodatthetopofthecabinstepstohavethelightofthelampthatwashangingthere;itwasadulllamp,andtheyspokeverylow,andIdidnothearwhattheysaid,andsawonlythattheylookedatpapers."

`Now,totheprisoner"sconversation,MissManette."

`Theprisonerwasasopeninhisconfidencewithme-whicharoseoutofmyhelplesssituation-ashewaskind,andgood,andusefultomyfather.Ihope,"burstingintotears,`Imaynotrepayhimbydoinghimharmto-day."

Buzzingfromtheblue-flies.

`MissManette,iftheprisonerdoesnotperfectlyunderstandthatyougivetheevidencewhichitisyourdutytogive——whichyoumustgive——andwhichyoucannotescapefromgiving——withgreatunwillingness,heistheonlypersonpresentinthatcondition.Pleasetogoon.

`Hetoldmethathewastravellingonbusinessofadelicateanddifficultnature,whichmightgetpeopleintotrouble,andthathewasthereforetravellingunderanassumedname.Hesaidthatthisbusinesshad,withinafewdays,takenhimtoFrance,andmight,atintervals,takehimbackwardsandforwardsbetweenFranceandEnglandforalongtimetocome."

`DidhesayanythingaboutAmerica,MissManette?Beparticular."

`Hetriedtoexplaintomehowthatquarrelhadarisen,andhesaidthat,sofarashecouldjudge,itwasawrongandfoolishoneonEngland"spart.Headded,inajestingway,thatperhapsGeorgeWashingtonmightgainalmostasgreatanameinhistoryasGeorgetheThird.Buttherewasnoharminhiswayofsayingthis:itwassaidlaughingly,andtobeguilethetime."

Anystronglymarkedexpressionoffaceonthepartofachiefactorinasceneofgreatinteresttowhommanyeyesaredirected,willbeunconsciouslyimitatedbythespectators.Herforeheadwaspainfullyanxiousandintentasshegavethisevidence,and,inthepauseswhenshestoppedfortheJudgetowriteitdown,watcheditseffectuponthecounselforandagainst.Amongthelookers-ontherewasthesameexpressioninallquartersofthecourt;insomuch,thatagreatmajorityoftheforeheadsthere,mighthavebeenmirrorsreflectingthewitness,whentheJudgelookedupfromhisnotestoglareatthattremendousheresyaboutGeorgeWashington.

Mr.Attorney-GeneralnowsignifiedtomyLord,thathedeemeditnecessary,asamatterofprecautionandform,tocalltheyounglady"sfather,DoctorManette.Whowascalledaccordingly.

`DoctorManette,lookupontheprisoner.Haveyoueverseenhimbefore?"

`Once.WhenhecalledatmylodgingsinLondon.Somethreeyears,orthreeyearsandahalfago."

`Canyouidentifyhimasyourfellow-passengeronboardthepacket,orspeaktohisconversationwithyourdaughter?"

`Sir,Icandoneither."

`Isthereanyparticularandspecialreasonforyourbeingunabletodoeither?"

Heanswered,inalowvoice,`Thereis."

`Hasitbeenyourmisfortunetoundergoalongimprisonment,withouttrial,orevenaccusation,inyournativecountry,DoctorManette?"

Heanswered,inatonethatwenttoeveryheart,`Alongimprisonment."