登陆注册
12109300000025

第25章 BOOK THE SECOND:THE GOLDEN THREAD(8)

'You are the young lady just now referred to?'

'O!most unhappily,I am!'

The plaintive tone of her compassion merged into the less musical voice of the Judge,as he said something fiercely:'Answer the questions put to you,and make no remark upon them.'

'Miss Manette,had you any conversation with the prisoner on that passage across the Channel?'

'Yes,sir.'

'Recall it.'

In the midst of a profound stillness,she faintly began:'When the gentleman came on board—'

'Do you mean the prisoner?'inquired the Judge,knitting his brows.

'Yes,my Lord.'

'Then say the prisoner.'

'When the prisoner came on board,he noticed that my father,'turning her eyes lovingly to him as he stood beside her,'was much fatigued and in a very weak state of health. My father was so reduced that I was afraid to take him out of the air,and I had made a bed for him on the 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 done.I had not known how to do it well,not understanding how the wind would set when we were out of the harbour.He did it for me.He expressed great gentleness and kindness for my father's state,and I am sure he felt it.That was the manner of our beginning to speak together.'

'Let me interrupt you for a moment. Had he come on board alone?'

'No.'

'How many were with him?'

'Two French gentlemen.'

'Had they conferred together?'

'They had conferred together until the last moment,when it was necessary for the French gentlemen to be landed in their boat.'

'Had any papers been handed about among them,similar to these lists?'

'Some papers had been handed about among them,but I don't know what papers.'

'Like these in shape and size?'

'Possibly,but indeed I don't know,although they stood whispering very near to me:because they stood at the top of the cabin steps to have the light of the lamp that was hanging there;it was a dull lamp,and they spoke very low,and I did not hear what they said,and saw only that they looked at papers.'

'Now,to the prisoner's conversation,Miss Manette.'

'The prisoner was as open in his confidence with me—which arose out of my helpless situation—as he was kind,and good,and useful to my father. I hope,'bursting into tears,'I may not repay him by doing him harm today.'

Buzzing from the blue-flies.

'Miss Manette,if the prisoner does not perfectly understand that you give the evidence which it is your duty to give—which you must give—and which you cannot escape from giving—with great unwillingness,he is the only person present in that condition. Please to go on.'

'He told me that he was travelling on business of a delicate and difficult nature,which might get people into trouble,and that hewas therefore travelling under an assumed name. He said that this business had,within a few days,taken him to France,and might,at intervals,take him backwards and forwards between France and England for a long time to come.'

'Did he say anything about America,Miss Manette?Be particular.'

'He tried to explain to me how that quarrel had arisen,and he said that,so far as he could judge,it was a wrong and foolish one on England's part. He added,in a jesting way,that perhaps George Washington might gain almost as great a name in history as George the Third.But there was no harm in his way of saying this:it was said laughingly,and to beguile the time.'

Any strongly marked expression of face on the part of a chief actor in a scene of great interest to whom many eyes are directed,will be unconsciously imitated by the spectators. Her forehead was painfully anxious and intent 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 quarters of the court;insomuch,that a great majority of the foreheads there,might have been mirrors reflecting the witness,when the Judge looked up from his notes to glare at that tremendous heresy about George Washington.

Mr. Attorney-General now signified to my Lord,that he deemed it necessary,as a matter of precaution and form,to call the young lady's father,Doctor Manette.Who was called accordingly.

'Doctor Manette,look upon the prisoner. Have you ever seen him before?'

'Once. When he called at my lodgings in London.Some threeyears,or three years and a half ago.'

'Can you identify him as your fellow-passenger on board the packet,or speak to his conversation with your daughter?'

'Sir,I can do neither.'

'Is there any particular and special reason for your being unable to do either?'

He answered,in a low voice,'There is.'

'Has it been your misfortune to undergo a long imprisonment,without trial,or even accusation,in your native country,Doctor Manette?'

He answered,in a tone that went to every heart,'A long imprisonment.'

'Were you newly released on the occasion in question?'

'They tell me so.'

'Have you no remembrance of the occasion?'

'None. My mind is a blank,from some time—I cannot even say what time—when I employed myself,in my captivity,in making shoes,to the time when I found myself living in London with my dear daughter here.She had become familiar to me,when a gracious God restored my faculties;but,I am unable to say how she had become familiar.I have no remembrance of the process.'

Mr. Attorney-General sat down,and the father and daughter sat down together.

同类推荐
  • 明季三朝野史

    明季三朝野史

    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。
  • 七千佛神符经

    七千佛神符经

    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。
  • 孔子家语

    孔子家语

    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。
  • 十二礼赞阿弥陀佛文

    十二礼赞阿弥陀佛文

    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。
  • 赞法界颂

    赞法界颂

    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。
热门推荐
  • 中医补肾养生法

    中医补肾养生法

    概述了中医有关肾与肾虚基本知识,详细介绍了补肾养生的各种中药、食品及配方。其中单昧中药和食品69种,包括其性味、归经、成分、功效作用和应用等;各种补肾靓汤、药膳、药酒及中药配方600余首,按中医辨证分类,详述其组成、制作、功效和用法等。同时介绍了熏洗、拔罐、敷脐、按摩、刮痧、药枕、药浴等中医补肾法。内容通俗易懂,方法简明实用,养生保健与治病效果确切,适于广大群众、特别是肾虚体弱的中老年朋友阅读参考。
  • 重生之网络霸主

    重生之网络霸主

    本为程序员的秦宵被陷害致死,后重生。也许是上天的安排,秦宵在阴阳巧合之下又遇到了前世陷害自己的人。且看秦宵如何在这些人当中盘旋周转,力挽狂澜。前世他只不过是一个被人利用的程序员。而今生,秦宵要做到纵横网络,玩弄人于股掌当中。
  • 倾世泪星痕

    倾世泪星痕

    对不起,我爱你易烊千玺,从此以后,我不想再看到你!你就是这样保护她的对吗易烊千玺!星痕,他是你的太阳,那我就做你的月亮。
  • 你若无情,我依然爱你

    你若无情,我依然爱你

    她,丧母,把1岁半的弟弟养大,成为杀手,却有一段难以回首的过去,她,离挽歌。
  • 硝烟青春

    硝烟青春

    青春里怎么会没有硝烟!总是一处未熄,一处又燃。回首望去竟是美丽惊心的烟火。两个在外打工仔陆桥和路子,在青春最迷茫的时候经历了犯罪与逃亡,爱情与婚姻,只因青春勃发,一时冲动改变了人生的航向,半生潦倒,究竟魂归何处?
  • 超级文明之战争

    超级文明之战争

    数不尽的漫天繁星,宇宙浩瀚无垠,文明恒河沙数,不可计数。某片星域,无数宇宙战舰联合围杀一艘超级要塞,一场规模无比庞大的星际战争,悄然煽动了蝴蝶的翅膀。权限之争,基地之战,雏鹰初鸣,人类文明将为此拉开波澜壮阔的序幕。自此,传承不失,文明不绝,人类不灭,战争不息,浩瀚的战争洪流席卷…。求推荐票,无限求!!!
  • 动物王国探索之旅

    动物王国探索之旅

    从40亿年前,最低等的菌类出现,到今天活跃的150多万种动物,动物王国于这温和美丽的星球上经历了无数次的分化变迁、优胜劣汰,终于它们战胜了自然的种种严峻考验,雪山到谷地、大陆到海域无不遍布着它们的足迹。本书以全新的视角与准确、生动的文字,为读者剖析了动物们匪夷所思的生活习性与鲜为人知的惊人内幕。
  • 苑里志

    苑里志

    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。
  • 相思谋:妃常难娶

    相思谋:妃常难娶

    某日某王府张灯结彩,婚礼进行时,突然不知从哪冒出来一个小孩,对着新郎道:“爹爹,今天您的大婚之喜,娘亲让我来还一样东西。”说完提着手中的玉佩在新郎面前晃悠。此话一出,一府宾客哗然,然当大家看清这小孩与新郎如一个模子刻出来的面容时,顿时石化。此时某屋顶,一个绝色女子不耐烦的声音响起:“儿子,事情办完了我们走,别在那磨矶,耽误时间。”新郎一看屋顶上的女子,当下怒火攻心,扔下新娘就往女子所在的方向扑去,吼道:“女人,你给本王站住。”一场爱与被爱的追逐正式开始、、、、、、、
  • 薇王国之战

    薇王国之战

    神女幻化而成的大地上,有一个薇王国。这个王国有五官、五藏大学士、六府、四支边军等庙堂势力,还有大日、古月、十字星等江湖势力……