双城记 查尔斯·狄更斯-第7部分

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which　she　presided。　Madame　Defarge　being　sensitive　to　cold；　was　wrapped　in　fur；　and　had　a　quantity　of　bright　shawl　twined　about　her　head；　though　not　to　the　concealment　of　her　large　earrings。　Her　knitting　was　before　her；　but　she　had　laid　it　down　to　pick　her　teeth　with　a　toothpick。　Thus　engaged；　with　her　right　elbow　supported　by　her　left　hand；　Madame　Defarge　said　nothing　when　her　lord　came　in；　but　coughed　Just　one　grain　of　cough。　This；　in　bination　with　the　lifting　of　her　darkly　defined　eyebrows　over　her　toothpick　by　the　breadth　of　a　line；　suggested　to　her　husband　that　he　would　do　well　to　look　round　the　shop　among　the　customers；　for　any　new　customer　who　had　dropped　in　while　he　stepped　over　the　way。
The　wine…shop　keeper　accordingly　rolled　his　eyes　about；　until　they　rested　upon　an　elderly　gentleman　and　a　young　lady；　who　were　seated　in　a　corner。　Other　pany　were　there：　two　playing　cards；　two　playing　dominoes；　three　standing　by　the　counter　lengthening　out　a　short　supply　of　wine。　As　he　passed　behind　the　counter；　he　took　notice　that　the　elderly　gentleman　said　in　a　look　to　the　young　lady　‘This　is　our　man。
‘What　the　devil　do　you　do　in　that　galley　there？'　said　Monsieur　Defarge　to　himself；　‘I　don't　know　you。'
But；　he　feigned　not　to　notice　the　two　strangers；　and　fell　into　discourse　with　the　triumvirate　of　customers　who　were　drinking　at　the　counter。
‘How　goes　it；　Jacques？'　said　one　of　these　three　to　Monsieur　Defarge。　‘Is　all　the　spilt　wine　swallowed？'
‘Every　drop；　Jacques；'　answered　Monsieur　Defarge。
When　this　interchange　of　christian　name　was　effected。　Madame　Defarge；　picking　her　teeth　with　her　toothpick　coughed　another　grain　of　cough；　and　raised　her　eyebrows　by　the　breadth　of　another　line。
‘It　is　not　often；'　said　the　second　of　the　three；　addressing　Monsieur　Defarge；　‘that　many　of　these　miserable　beasts　know　the　taste　of　wine；　or　of　anything　but　black　bread　and　death。　Is　it　not　so；　Jacques？'
‘It　is　so；　Jacques；'　Monsieur　Defarge　returned。
At　this　second　interchange　of　the　christian　name；　Madame　Defarge；　still　using　her　toothpick　with　profound　posure；　coughed　another　grain　of　cough；　and　raised　her　eyebrows　by　the　breadth　of　another　line。
The　last　of　the　three　now　said　his　say；　as　he　put　down　his　empty　drinking　vessel　and　smacked　his　lips。
‘Ah！　So　much　the　worse！　A　bitter　taste　it　is　that　such　poor　cattle　always　have　in　their　mouths；　and　hard　lives　they　live；　Jacques。　Am　I　right；　Jacques？'
‘You　are　right；　Jacques；'　was　the　response　of　Monsieur　Defarge。
This　third　interchange　of　the　christian　name　was　pleted　at　the　moment　when　Madame　Defarge　put　her　toothpick　by；　kept　her　eyebrows　up；　and　slightly　rustled　in　her　seat。
‘Hold　then！　True！'　muttered　her　husband。　‘Gentlemen……my　wife！'
The　three　customers　pulled　off　their　hats　to　Madame　Defarge；　with　three　flourishes。　She　acknowledged　their　homage　by　bending　her　head；　and　giving　them　a　quick　look。　Then　she　glanced　in　a　casual　manner　round　the　wine…shop；　took　up　her　knitting　with　great　apparent　calmness　and　repose　of　spirit；　and　became　absorbed　in　it。
‘Gentlemen；'　said　her　husband；　who　had　kept　his　bright　eye　observantly　upon　her；　‘good　day。　The　chamber；　furnished　bachelor…fashion；　that　you　wished　to　see；　and　‘were　inquiring　for　when　I　stepped　out；　is　on　the　fifth　floor。　The　doorway　of　the　staircase　gives　on　the　little　court…yard　close　to　the　left　here；'　pointing　with　his　hand；　‘near　to　the　window　of　my　establishment。　But；　now　that　I　remember；　one　of　you　has　already　been　there；　and　can　show　the　way。　Gentlemen；　adieu！
They　paid　for　their　wine；　and　left　the　place。　The　eyes　of　Monsieur　Defarge　were　studying　his　wife　at　her　knitting　when　the　elderly　gentleman　advanced　from　his　corner；　and　begged　the　favour　of　a　word。
‘Willingly；　sir；'　said　Monsieur　Defarge；　and　quietly　stepped　with　him　to　the　door。
Their　conference　was　very　short；　but　very　decided。　Almost　at　the　first　word；　Monsieur　Defarge　started　and　became　deeply　attentive。　It　had　not　lasted　a　minute；　when　he　nodded　and　went　out。　The　gentleman　then　beckoned　to　the　young　lady；　and　they；　too；　went　out。　Madame　Defarge　knitted　with　nimble　fingers　and　steady　eyebrows；　and　saw　nothing。
Mr。　Jarvis　Lorry　and　Miss　Manette；　emerging　from　the　wine…shop　thus；　joined　Monsieur　Defarge　in　the　doorway　to　which　he　had　directed　his　other　pany　just　before。　It　opened　from　a　stinking　little　black　court…yard；　and　was　the　general　public　entrance　to　a　great　pile　of　houses；　inhabited　by　a　great　number　of　people。　In　the　gloomy　tile…paved　entry　to　the　gloomy　tile…paved　staircase；　Monsieur　Defarge　bent　down　on　one　knee　to　the　child　of　his　old　master；　and　put　her　hand　to　his　lips。　It　was　a　gentle　action；　but　not　at　all　gently　done；　a　very　remarkable　transformation　had　e　over　him　in　a　few　seconds。　He　had　no　good…humour　in　his　face；　nor　any　openness　of　aspect　left；　but　had　bee　a　secret；　angry；　dangerous　man。
‘It　is　very　high；　it　is　a　little　difficult。　Better　to　begin　slowly。'　Thus；　Monsieur　Defarge；　in　a　stern　voice；　to　Mr。　Lorry；　as　they　began　ascending　the　stairs。
‘Is　he　alone？'　the　latter　whispered。
‘Alone！　God　help　him；　who　should　be　with　him？'　said　the　other；　in　the　same　low　voice。
‘Is　he；　always　alone；　then？'
‘Yes。
‘Of　his　own　desire？'
‘Of　his　own　necessity。　As　he　was；　when　I　first　saw　him　after　they　found　me　and　demanded　to　know　if　I　would　take　him；　and；　at　my　peril　be　discreet……has　he　was　then；　so　he　is　now。
‘He　is　greatly　changed？'
‘Changed！'
The　keeper　of　the　wine…shop　stopped　to　strike　the　wall　with　his　hand；　and　mutter　a　tremendous　curse。　No　direct　answer　could　have　been　half　so　forcible。　Mr。　Lorry's　spirits　grew　heavier　and　heavier；　as　he　and　his　two　panions　ascended　higher　and　higher。
Such　a　staircase；　with　its　accessories；　in　the　older　and　more　crowded　parts　of　Paris；　would　be　bad　enough　now；　but；　at　that　time；　it　was　vile　indeed　to　unaccustomed　and　unhardened　senses。　Every　little　habitation　within　the　great　foul　nest　of　one　high　building……that　is　to　say；　the　room　or　rooms　within　every　door　that　opened　on　the　general　staircase……left　its　own　heap　of　refuse　on　its　own　landing；　besides　Ringing　other　refuse　from　its　own　windows。　The　uncontrollable　and　hopeless　mass　of　deposition　so　engendered；　would　have　polluted　the　air；　even　if　poverty　and　deprivation　had　not　loaded　it　wit！'　their　intangible　impurities；　the　Mo　bad　sources　bined　made　it　almost　insupportable。　Through　such　an　atmosphere；　by　a　steep　dark　shaft　of　dirt　and　poison；　the　way　lay。　Yielding　to　his　own　disturbance　of　mind；　and　to　his　young　panion's　agitation；　which　became　greater　every　instant；　Mr。　Jarvis　Lorry　twice　stopped　to　rest。　Each　of　these　stoppages　was　made　at　a　doleful　grating；　by　which　any　languishing　good　airs　that　were　left　uncorrupted　seemed　to　escape；　and　all　spoilt　and　sickly　vapours　seemed　to　crawl　in。　Through　the　rusted　bars；　tastes；　rather　than　glimpses；　were　caught　of　the　jumbled　neighbourhood；　and　nothing　within　range；　nearer　or　lower　than　the　summits　of　the　two…great　towers　of　Notre…Dame；　had　any　promise　on　it　of　healthy　life　or　wholesome　aspirations。
At　last；　the　top　of　the　staircase　was　gained；　and　they　stopped　for　the　third　time。　There　was　yet　an　upper　staircase；　of　a　steeper　inclination　and　of　contracted　dimensions；　to　be　ascended；　before　the　garret　story　was　reached。　The　keeper　of　the　wine…shop；　always　going　a　little　in　advance；　and　always　going　on　the　side　which　Mr。　Lorry　took；　as　though　he　dreaded　to　be　asked　any　question　by　the　young　lady；　turned　himself　about　here；　and；　carefully　feeling　in　the　pockets　of　the　coat　he　carried　over　his　shoulder；　took　out　a　key。
‘The　door　is　locked　then；　my　friend？'　said　Mr。　Lorry'；　surprised。
‘Ay。　Yes；'　was　the　grim　reply　of　Monsieur　Defarge。
‘You　think　it　necessary　to　keep　the　unfortunate　gentleman　so　retired？'
‘I　think　it　necessary　to　turn　the　key。'　Monsieur　Defarge　whispered　it　closer　in　his　ear；　and　frowned　heavily。
‘Why？'
‘Why！　Because　he　has　lived　so　long；　locked　up；　that　he　would　be　frightened……rave……tear　himself　to　pieces……die……e　to　I　know　not　what　harm…if　his　door　was　left　open。'
‘Is　it　possible？'　exclaimed　Mr。　Lorry。
‘Is　it　possible？'　repeated　Defarge；　bitterly。　‘Yes。　And　a　beautiful　world　we　live　in；　when　it　is　possible；　and　when　many　other　such　things　are　possible；　and　not　only　possible；　but　done……done；　see　you！……under　that　sky　there；　every　day。　Long　live　the　Devil。　Let　us　go　on。'
This　dialogue　had　been　held　in　so　very　low　a　whisper；　that　not　a　word　of　it　had　reached　the　young　lady's　ears。　But；　by　this　time　she　trembled　under　such　strong　emotion；　and　her　face　expressed　such　deep　anxiety；　and；　above　all；　such　dread　and　terror；　that　Mr。　Lorry　felt　it　incumbent　on　him　to　speak　a　word　or　two　of　reassurance。
‘Courage；　dear　miss！　Courage！　Business！　The　worst　will　be　over　in　a　moment；　it　is　but　passing　the　room…door；　and　the　worst　is　over。　Then；　all　the　good　you　bring　to　him；　all　the　relief；　all　the　happiness　you　bring　to　him；　begin。　Let　our　good　friend　here；　assist　you　on　that　side。　That's　well；　friend　Defarge。　e；　now。　Business；　business！'
They　went　up　slowly　and　softly。　The　staircase　was　short；　and　they　were　soon　at　the　top。　There；　as　it　had　an　abrupt　turn　in　it；　they　came　all　at　once　in　sight　of　three　men；　whose　heads　were　bent　down　close　together　at　the　side　of　a　door；　and　who　were　intently　looking　into　the　room　to　which　the　door　belonged；　through　some　chinks　or　holes　in　the　wall。　On　hearing　footsteps　close　at　hand；　these　three　turned；　and　rose；　and　showed　themselves　to　be　the　three　of　one　name　who　had　been　drinking　in　the　wine…shop。
‘I　forgot　them　in　the　surprise　of　your　visit；'　explained　Monsieur　Defarge。　‘Leave　us；　good　boys；　we　have　business'　here。'
The　three　glided　by；　and　went　silently　down。
There　appearing　to　be　no　other　door　on　that　floor；　and　the　keeper　of　the　wine…shop　going　straight　to　this　one　when　they　were　left　alone；　Mr。　Lorry　asked　him　in　a　whisper；　with　little　anger：
‘Do　you　make　a　show　of　Monsieur　Manette？'
‘I　show　him；　in　the　way　you　have　seen；　to　a　chosen　few。'
‘Is　that　well？'
‘I　think　it　is　well。'
‘Who　are　the　few？　How　do　you　choose　them？'
‘I　choose　them　as　real　men；　of　my　name……Jacques　is　my　name……to　whom　the　sight　is　likely　to　do　good。　Enough　you　are　English；　that　is　another　thing。　Stay　there；　if　you　please；　a　little　moment。'
With　an　admonitory　gesture　to　keep　them　back；　he　stooped；　and　looked　in　through　the　crevice　in　the　wall。　Soon　raising　his　head　again；　he　struck　twice　or　thrice　upon　the　door……evidently　with　no　other　object　than　to　make　a　noise　there　With　the　same　intention；　he　drew　the　key　across　it；　three　or　four　times；　before　he　put　it　clumsily　into　the　lock；　and　turned　it　as　heavily　as　he　could。
The　door　slowly　opened　inward　under　his　hand；　and　he　looked　into　the　room　and　said　something。　A　faint　voice　answered　something。　Little　more　than　a　single　syllable　could　have　been　spoken　on　either　side。
He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder；　and　beckoned　them　cc　enter。　Mr。　Lorry　got　his　arm　securely　round　the　daughter　waist；　and　held　her；　for　he　felt　that　she　was　sinking。
‘A……a……a……business；　business！'　he　urged；　with　a　moisture　that　was　not　of　business　shining　on　his　cheek。　‘e　in　e　in！'
‘I　am　afraid　of　it；'　she　answered；　shuddering。
‘Of　it？　What？'
‘I　mean　of　him。　Of　my　father。'
Rendered　in　a　manner　desperate；　by　her　state　and　by　the　beckoning　of　their　conductor；　he　drew　over　his　neck　the