第8章

`Ipassedyouontheroad?"

`Monseigneur,itistrue.Ihadthehonourofbeingpassedontheroad."

`Comingupthehill,andatthetopofthehill,both?"

`Monseigneur,itistrue.

`Whatdidyoulookat,sofixedly?"

`Monseigneur,Ilookedattheman."

Hestoopedalittle,andwithhistatteredbluecappointedunderthecarriage.Allhisfellowsstoopedtolookunderthecarriage.

`Matman,pig?Andwhylookthere?"

`Pardon,Monseigneur;heswungbythechainoftheshoethedrag."

`Who?"demandedthetraveller.

`Monseigneur,theman."

`MaytheDevilcarryawaytheseidiots!Howdoyoucalltheman?Youknowallthemenofthispartofthecountry.Whowashe?"

`Yourclemency,Monseigneur!Hewasnotofthispartofthecountry.Ofallthedaysofmylife,Ineversawhim."

`Swingingbythechain?Tobesuffocated?"

`Withyourgraciouspermission,thatwasthewonderofit,Monseigneur.Hisheadhangingover——likethis!"

Heturnedhimselfsidewaystothecarriage,andleanedback,withhisfacethrownuptothesky,andhisheadhangingdown;thenrecoveredhimself,fumbledwithhiscap,andmadeabow.

`whatwashelike?"

`Monseigneur,hewaswhiterthanthemiller.Allcoveredwithdust,whiteasaspectre,tallasaspectre!"

Thepictureproducedanimmensesensationinthelittlecrowd;butalleyes,withoutcomparingnoteswithothereyes,lookedatMonsieurtheMarquis.Perhaps,toobservewhetherhehadanyspectreonhisconscience.

`Truly,youdidwell,"saidtheMarquis,felicitouslysensiblethatsuchverminwerenottorufflehim,`toseeathiefaccompanyingmycarriage,andnotopenthatgreatmouthofyours.Bah!Puthimaside,MonsieurGabelle!"

MonsieurGabellewasthePostmaster,andsomeothertaxingfunctionaryunited;hehadcomeoutwithgreatobsequiousnesstoassistatthisexamination,andhadheldtheexaminedbythedraperyofhisarminanofficialmanner.

`Bah!Goaside!"saidMonsieurGabelle.

`Layhandsonthisstrangerifheseekstolodgeinyourvillageto-night,andbesurethathisbusinessishonest,Gabelle."

`Monseigneur,Iamflatteredtodevotemyselftoyourorders."

`Didherunaway,fellow?——hereisthatAccursed?"

Theaccursedwasalreadyunderthecarriagewithsomehalf-dozenparticularfriends,pointingoutthechainwithhisbluecap.Somehalf-dozenotherparticularfriendspromptlyhauledhimout,andpresentedhimbreathlesstoMonsieurtheMarquis.

`Didthemanrunaway,Dolt,whenwestoppedforthedrag?"

`Monseigneur,heprecipitatedhimselfoverthehill-side,headfirst,asapersonplungesintotheriver."

`Seetoit,Gabelle.Goon!"

Thehalf-dozenwhowerepeeringatthechainwerestillamongthewheels,likesheep;thewheelsturnedsosuddenlythattheywereluckytosavetheirskinsandbones;theyhadverylittleelsetosave,ortheymightnothavebeensofortunate.

Theburstwithwhichthecarriagestartedoutofthevillageanduptherisebeyond,wassooncheckedbythesteepnessofthehill.Gradually,itsubsidedtoafootpace,swingingandlumberingupwardamongthemanysweetscentsofasummernight.Thepostilions,withathousandgossamergnatscirclingabouttheminlieuoftheFuries,quietlymendedthepointstothelashesoftheirwhips;thevaletwalkedbythehorses;thecourierwasaudible,trottingonaheadintothedimdistance.

Atthesteepestpointofthehilltherewasalittleburialground,withaCrossandanewlargefigureofOurSaviouronit;itwasapoorfigureinwood,donebysomeinexperiencedrusticcarver,buthehadstudiedthefigurefromthelife——isownlife,maybe——oritwasdreadfullyspareandthin.

Tothisdistressfulemblemofagreatdistressthathadlongbeengrowingworse,andwasnotatitsworst,awomanwaskneeling.Sheturnedherheadasthecarriagecameuptoher,rosequickly,andpresentedherselfatthecarriage-door.

`Itisyou,Monseigneur!Monseigneur,apetition."

Withanexclamationofimpatience,butwithhisUn+changeableface,Monseigneurlookedout.

`How,then!Whatisit?Alwayspetitions!"

`Monseigneur.FortheloveofthegreatGod!Myhusband,theforester."

`Whatofyourhusband,theforester?Alwaysthesamewithyoupeople.Hecannotpaysomething?"

`Hehaspaidall,Monseigneur.Heisdead."

`Well!Heisquiet.CanIrestorehimtoyou?"

`Alas,no,Monseigneur!Butheliesyonder,underalittleheapofpoorgrass."

`Well?"

`Monseigneur,,therearesomanylittleheapsofpargrass?"

`Again,well?"

Shelookedanoldwoman,butwasyoung.Hermannerwasoneofpassionategrief;byturnssheclaspedherveinousandknottedhandstogetherwithwildenergy,andlaidoneofthemonthecarriage-door——tenderly,caressingly,asifithadbeenahumanbreast,andcouldbeexpectedtofeeltheappealingtouch.

`Monseigneur,hearme!Monseigneur,hearmypetition!Myhusbanddiedofwant;somanydieofwant;somanymorewilldieofwant."

`Again,well?CanIfeedthem?"

`Monseigneur,thegoodGodknows;butIdon"taskit.Mypetitionis,thatamorselofstoneorwood,withmyhusband"sname,maybeplacedoverhimtoshowwherehelies.Otherwise,theplacewillbequicklyforgotten,itwillneverbefoundwhenIamdeadofthesamemalady,Ishallbelaidundersomeotherheapofpoorgrass.Monseigneur,theyaresomany,theyincreasesofast,thereissomuchwant.Monseigneur!Monseigneur!"

Thevalethadputherawayfromthedoor,thecarriagehadbrokenintoabrisktrot,thepostilionshadquickenedthepace,shewasleftfarbehind,andMonseigneur,againescortedbytheFuries,wasrapidlydiminishingtheleagueortwoofdistancethatremainedbetweenhimandhischateau.

Thesweetscentsofthesummernightroseallaroundhim,androse,astherainfalls,impartially,onthedusty,ragged,andtoil-worngroupatthefountainnotfaraway;towhomthemenderofroads,withtheaidofthebluecapwithoutwhichhewasnothing,stillenlargeduponhismanlikeaspectre,aslongastheycouldbearit.Bydegrees,astheycouldbearnomore,theydroppedoffonebyone,andlightstwinkledinlittlecasements;whichlights,asthecasementsdarkened,andmorestarscameout,seemedtohaveshotupintotheskyinsteadofhavingbeenextinguished.

Theshadowofalargehigh-roofedhouse,andofmanyoverhangingtrees,wasuponMonsieurtheMarquisbythattime;andtheshadowwasexchangedforthelightofaflambeau,ashiscarriagestopped,andthegreatdoorofhischateauwasopenedtohim.

`MonsieurCharles,whomIexpect:ishearrivedfromEngland?"

`Monseigneur,notyet."

CHAPTERIX

TheGorgon"sHead

ITwasaheavymassofbuilding,thatchaateauofMonsieurtheMarquis,withalargestonecourt-yardbeforeit,andtwostonesweepsofstaircasemeetinginastoneterracebeforetheprincipaldoor.Astonybusinessaltogether,withheavystonebalustrades,andstoneurns,andstoneflowers,andstonefacesofmen,andstoneheadsoflions,inalldirections.AsiftheGorgon"sheadhadsurveyedit,whenitwasfinished,twocenturiesago.

Upthebroadflightofshallowsteps,MonsieurtheMarquis,flambeaupreceded,wentfromhiscarriage,sufficientlydisturbingthedarknesstoelicitloudremonstrancefromanowlintheroofofthegreatpileofstablebuildingawayamongthetrees.Allelsewassoquiet,thattheflambeaucarriedupthesteps,andtheotherflambeauheldatthegreatdoor,burntasiftheywereinacloseroomofstate,insteadofbeingintheopennight-air.Othersoundthantheowl"svoicetherewasnone,savethefallingofafountainintoitsstonebasin;for,itwasoneofthosedarknightsthatholdtheirbreathbythehourtogether,andthenheavealonglowsigh,andholdtheirbreathagain.

Thegreatdoorclangedbehindhim,andMonsieurtheMarquiscrossedahallgrimwithcertainoldboar-spears,swords,andknivesofthechase;grimmerwithcertainheavyriding-rodsandriding-whips,ofwhichmanyapeasant,gonetohisbenefactorDeath,hadfelttheweightwhenhislordwasangry.

Avoidingthelargerrooms,whichweredarkandmadefastforthenight,MonsieurtheMarquis,withhisflambeau-bearergoingonbefore,wentupthestaircasetoadoorinacorridor.Thisthrownopen,admittedhimtohisownprivateapartmentofthreerooms:hisbed-chamberandtwoothers.Highvaultedroomswithcooluncarpetedfloors,greatdogsuponthehearthsfortheburningofwoodinwintertime,andallluxuriesbefittingthestateofamarquisinaluxuriousageandcountry.ThefashionofthelastLouisbutone,oftilelinethatwasnevertobreak——thefourteenthLouis——wasconspicuousintheirrichfurniture;but,itwasdiversifiedbymanyobjectsthatwereillustrationsofoldpagesinthehistoryofFrance.

Asupper-tablewaslaidfortwo,inthethirdoftherooms;aroundroom,inoneofthechaateau"sfourextinguisher-toppedtowers.Asmallloftyroom,withitswindowwideopen,andthewoodenjalousie-blindsclosed,sothatthedarknightonlyshowedinslighthorizontallinesofblack,alternatingwiththeirbroadlinesofstonecolour.

`Mynephew,"saidtheMarquis,glancingatthesupperpreparation;`theysaidhewasnotarrived."

Norwashe;but,hehadbeenexpectedwithMonseigneur.

`Ah!Itisnotprobablehewillarriveto-night;nevertheless,

leavethetableasitis.Ishallbereadyinaquarterofanhour."InaquarterofanhourMonseigneurwasready,andsatdownalonetohissumptuousandchoicesupper.Hischairwasoppositetothewindow,andhehadtakenhissoup,andwasraisinghisglassofBordeauxtohislips,whenheputitdown.

`Whatisthat?"hecalmlyasked,lookingwithattentionatthehorizontallinesofblackandstonecolour".

`Monseigneur?That?"

`Outsidetheblinds.Opentheblinds."

Itwasdone.

`well?"

`Monseigneur,itisnothing.Thetreesandthenightareallthatarehere."

Theservantwhospoke,hadthrowntheblindswide,hadlookedoutintothevacantdarkness,andstood,withthatblankbehindhim,lookingroundforinstructions.

`Good,"saidtheimperturbablemaster.`Closethemagain."Thatwasdonetoo,andtheMarquiswentonwithhissupper.Hewashalfwaythroughit,whenheagainstoppedwithhisglassinhishand,hearingthesoundofwheels.Itcameonbriskly,andcameuptothefrontofthechaateau.

`Askwhoisarrived."

ItwasthenephewofMonseigneur.HehadbeensomefewleaguesbehindMonseigneur,earlyintheafternoon.Hehaddiminishedthedistancerapidly,butnotsorapidlyastocomeupwithMonseigneurontheroad.HehadheardofMonseigneur,attheposting-houses,asbeingbeforehim.

Hewastobetold(saidMonseigneur)thatsupperawaitedhimthenandthere,andthathewasprayedtocometoit.Inalittlewhilehecame.HehadbeenknowninEnglandasCharlesDarnay.

Monseigneurreceivedhiminacourtlymanner,buttheydidnotshakehands.

`YouleftParisyesterday,sir?"hesaidtoMonseigneur,ashetookhisseatattable.

`Yesterday.Andyou?"

`Icomedirect.

`FromLondon?"

`Yes."

`Youhavebeenalongtimecoming,"saidtheMarquis,withasmile.

`Onthecontrary;Icomedirect."

`Pardonme!Imean,notalongtimeonthejourney;alongtimeintendingtheJourney.

`Ihavebeendetainedby"——thenephewstoppedamomentinhisanswer——variousbusiness."

`Withoutdoubt,"saidthepolisheduncle.

Solongasaservantwaspresent,nootherwordspassedbetweenthem.Whencoffeehadbeenservedandtheywerealonetogether,thenephew,lookingattheuncleandmeetingtheeyesofthefacethatwaslikeafinemask,openedaconversation.

`Ihavecomeback,sir,asyouanticipate,pursuingtheobjectthattookmeaway.Itcarriedmeintogreatandunexpectedperil;butitisasacredobject,andifithadcarriedmetodeathIhopeitwouldhavesustainedme."

`Nottodeath,"saidtheuncle;`itisnotnecessarytosay,todeath."

`Idoubt,sir,"returnedthenephew,`whether,ifithadcarriedmetotheutmostbrinkofdeath,youwouldhavecaredtostopmethere."

Thedeepenedmarksinthenose,andthelengtheningofthefinestraightlinesinthecruelface,lookedominousastothat;theunclemadeagracefulgestureofprotest,whichwassoclearlyaslightformofgoodbreedingthatitwasnotreassuring.

`Indeed,sir,"pursuedthenephew,`foranythingIknow,youmayhaveexpresslyworkedtogiveamoresuspiciousappearancetothesuspiciouscircumstancesthatsurroundedme.

`No,no,no,"saidtheuncle,pleasantly.

`But,howeverthatmaybe,"resumedthenephew,glancingathimwithdeepdistrust,`Iknowthatyourdiplomacywouldstopmebyanymeans,andwouldknownoscrupleastomeans.

`Myfriend,Itoldyouso,"saidtheuncle,withafinepulsationinthetwomarks.`DomethefavourtorecallthatItoldyouso,longago."

`Irecallit."

`Thankyou,"saidtheMarquis——verysweetlyindeed.

Histonelingeredintheair,almostlikethetoneofamusicalinstrument.

`Ineffect,sir,"pursuedthenephew,`Ibelieveittobeatonceyourbadfortune,andmygoodfortune,thathaskeptmeoutofaprisoninFrancehere."

`Idonotquiteunderstand,"returnedtheuncle,sippinghiscoffee.`DareIaskyoutoexplain?"

`IbelievethatifyouwerenotindisgracewiththeCourt,andhadnotbeenovershadowedbythatcloudforyearspast,aletterdecachetwouldhavesentmetosomefortressindefinitely."

`Itispossible,"saidtheuncle,withgreatcalmness.`Forthehonourofthefamily,Icouldevenresolvetoincommodeyoutothatextent.Prayexcuseme!"

`Iperceivethat,happilyforme,theReceptionofthedaybeforeyesterdaywas,asusual,acoldone,"observedthenephew.

`Iwouldnotsayhappily,myfriend,"returnedtheuncle,withrefinedpoliteness;`Iwouldnotbesureofthat.Agoodopportunityforconsideration,surroundedbytheadvantagesofsolitude,mightinfluenceyourdestinytofargreateradvantagethanyouinfluenceitforyourself.Butitisuselesstodiscussthequestion.Iam,asyousay,atadisadvantage.Theselittleinstrumentsofcorrection,thesegentleaidstothepowerandhonouroffamilies,theseslightfavoursthatmightsoincommodeyou,areonlytobeobtainednowbyinterestandimportunity.Theyaresoughtbysomany,andtheyaregranted(comparatively)tosofew!Itusednottobeso,butFranceinallsuchthingsischangedfortheworse.Ournotremoteancestorsheldtherightoflifeanddeathoverthesurroundingvulgar.Fromthisroom,manysuchdogshavebeentakenouttobehanged;inthenextroom(mybedroom),onefellow,toourknowledge,wasponiardedonthespotforprofessingsomeinsolentdelicacyrespectinghisdaughter——hisdaughter?Wehavelostmanyprivileges;anewphilosophyhasbecomethemode;andtheassertionofourstation,inthesedays,might(Idonotgosofarastosaywould,butmight)causeusrealinconvenience.Allverybad,verybad!"

TheMarquistookagentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andshookhishead;aselegantlydespondentashecouldbecominglybeofacountrystillcontaininghimself,thatgreatmeansofregeneration.

`Wehavesoassertedourstation,bothintheoldtimeandinthemoderntimealso,"saidthenephew,gloomily,`thatIbelieveournametobemoredetestedthananynameinFrance."

`Letushopeso,"saidtheuncle.`Detestationofthehighistheinvoluntaryhomageofthelow."

`Thereisnot,"pursuedthenephew,inhisformertone,`afaceIcanlookat,inallthiscountryroundaboutus,whichlooksatmewithanydeferenceonitbutthedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery."

`Acompliment,"saidtheMarquis,`tothegrandeurofthefamily,meritedbythemannerinwhichthefamilyhassustaineditsgrandeur.Hah!"Andhetookanothergentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andlightlycrossedhislegs.

But,whenhisnephew,leaninganelbowonthetable,coveredhiseyesthoughtfullyanddejectedlywithhishand,thefinemasklookedathimsidewayswithastrongerconcentrationofkeenness,closeness,anddislike,thanwascomportablewithitswearer"sassumptionofindifference.

`Repressionistheonlylastingphilosophy.Thedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery,myfriend,"observedtheMarquis,`willkeepteedogsobedienttothewhip,aslongasthisroof,"lookinguptoit,`shutsoutthesky."

ThatmightnotbesolongastheMarquissupposed.Ifapictureofthechaateauasitwastobeaveryfewyearshence,andoffiftylikeitastheytooweretobeaveryfewyearshence,couldhavebeenshowntohimthatnight,hemighthavebeenatalosstoclaimhisownfromtheghastly,fire-charred,plunder-wreckedruins.Asfortheroofhevaunted,hemighthavefoundthatshuttingouttheskyinanewway——towit,forever,fromtheeyesofthebodiesintowhichitsleadwasfired,outofthebarrelsofahundredthousandmuskets.

`Meanwhile,"saidtheMarquis,`Iwillpreservethehonourandreposeofthefamily,ifyouwillnot.Butyoumustbefatigued.ShallweterminateourConferenceforthenight?"

`Amomentmore."

`Anhour,ifyouplease."

`Sir,"saidthenephew,`wehavedonewrong,andarereapingthefruitsofwrong."

`Wehavedonewrong?"repeatedtheMarquis,withaninquiringsmile,anddelicatelypointing,firsttohisnephew,thentohimself.

`Ourfamily;ourhonourablefamily,whosehonourisofsomuchaccounttobothofus,insuchdifferentways.Eveninmyfather"stime,wedidaworldofwrong,injuringeveryhumancreaturewhocamebetweenusandourpleasure,whateveritwas.WhyneedIspeakofmyfather"stime,whenitisequallyyours?CanIseparatemyfather"stwin-brother,jointinheritor,andnextsuccessor,fromhimself?"

`Deathhasdonethat!"saidtheMarquis.

`Andhasleftme,"answeredthenephew,`boundtoasystemthatisfrightfultome,responsibleforit,butpowerlessinit;seekingtoexecutethelastrequestofmydearmother"slips,andobeythelastlookofmydearmother"seyes,whichimploredfiletohavemercyandtoredress;andtorturedbyseekingassistanceandpowerinvain?

`Seekingthemfromme,mynephew,"saidtheMarquis,touchinghimonthebreastwithhisforefinger——theywerenowstandingbythehearth——youwillforeverseektheminvain,beassured.

Everyfinestraightlineintheclearwhitenessofhisface,wascruelly,craftily,andcloselycompressed,whilehestoodlookingquietlyathisnephew,withhissnuff-boxinhishand.

Onceagainhetouchedhimonthebreast,asthoughhisfingerwerethefinepointofasmallsword,withwhich,indelicatefinesse,heranhimthroughthebody,andsaid,

`Myfriend,Iwilldie,perpetuatingthesystemunderwhichIhavelived."

Whenhehadsaidit,hetookaculminatingpinchofSnuff,andputhisboxinhispocket.

`Bettertobearationalcreature,"headdedthen,afterringingasmallbellonthetable,`andacceptyournaturaldestiny.Butyouarelost,MonsieurCharles,Isee."

`ThispropertyandFrancearelosttome,"saidthenephew,sadly;`Irenouncethem."

`Aretheybothyourstorenounce?Francemaybe,butistheproperty?Itisscarcelyworthmentioning;but,isityet?"

`Ihadnointention,inthewordsIused,toclaimityet.Ifitpassedtomefromyou,to-morrow——

`WhichIhavethevanitytohopeisnotprobable."

`——ortwentyyearshence——"

`Youdometoomuchhonour,"saidtheMarquis;`still,Ipreferthatsupposition."

`——Iwouldabandonit,andliveotherwiseandelsewhere.Itislittletorelinquish.Whatisitbutawildernessofmiseryandruin?"

`Hah!"saidtheMarquis,glancingroundtheluxuriousroom.`Totheeyeitisfairenough,here;butseeninitsintegrity,underthesky,andbythedaylight,itisacrumblingtowerofwaste,mismanagement,extortion,debt,mortgage,oppression,hunger,nakedness,andsuffering."

`Hah!"saidtheMarquisagain,inawell-satisfiedmanner.

`Ifiteverbecomesmine,itshallbeputintosomehandsbetterqualifiedtofreeitslowly(ifsuchathingispossible)fromtheweightthatdragsitdown,sothatthemiserablepeopleWhocannotleaveitandwhohavebeenlongwrungtothelastpointofendurance,may,inanothergeneration,sufferless;batitisnotforme.Thereisacurseonit,andonallthisland."

`Andyou?"saidtheuncle.`Forgivemycuriosity;doyou,underyournewphilosophy,graciouslyintendtolive?"

`Imustdo,tolive,whatothersofmycountrymen,evenwithnobilityattheirbacks,mayhavetodosomeday——work."

`InEngland,forexample?"

`Yes.Thefamilyhonour,sir,issafefrommeinthiscountry.Thefamilynamecansufferfrommeinnoother,forIbearitinnoother."