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
热门推荐
  • 玉烛宝典

    玉烛宝典

    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。
  • 妖孽皇爷:调皮王妃太难教

    妖孽皇爷:调皮王妃太难教

    黑道女霸戚沫一朝穿越,竟被人强行拉去豪华的燚皇王府当了公主,此后,戚沫仅用几天时间称霸全城,无意间调戏了那妖孽般的皇叔,从此就被高冷腹黑妖孽皇叔盯上强行调教,皇叔桃花太旺怎么办?没事儿,她戚沫会一朵一朵的清除!初见他时,某女一脸色相道:“妖孽,有没有兴趣跟老娘去小树林啊?”某男魅笑回答:“有何不可?”初告白时,某女一脸花痴样道:“妖孽,我能追你吗?”“……”“妖孽,你不说话我就当你答应了”“……”“妖孽,你答应了”某皇爷:“你除了会打架逃跑吃喝玩乐还会干嘛?”某女嘿嘿一笑:“即可么么哒,又可嘿嘿嘿”某女猥琐笑道:“皇叔,夜里寂寞难耐,今晚求调教~”某皇爷满脸黑线,无言以对!
  • 玄黄宝鉴

    玄黄宝鉴

    传说海上有三仙岛,曰蓬莱,方丈,瀛洲,钟灵毓秀,人人为之神迷,千百年来无一人访得其踪迹。然而,世间依然有一些执着于求仙问道的人仍时时刻刻牵挂着那个遥远的梦……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 史上第一搞笑

    史上第一搞笑

    在全民皆穿的时代,我们的主人公不可避免的接受了反穿越(我靠为毛是反穿越)别人能泡妞,我只能被妞泡,别人能穿越,我只能被穿越,别人欺负人,我只能被人欺负。在主人公肖扬那不大不小的一间别墅里,他稀里糊涂的接待了如岳飞,秦桧这样的生死冤家。还有李白杜甫这样的生死基友。
  • 荒天噬仙

    荒天噬仙

    荒地古界,诸神遗族并立,僵尸圣祖超脱六界,神圣炽天使普渡众生,元素法神毁天灭地,修道之仙执掌乾坤,当神明与仙人并存于世,究竟谁更胜一筹?少年林凡,记忆尽失,独身苏醒于太古森林,吞噬星河,超脱万界,揭开洪荒时期所遗留下的真相。
  • 草莓夹心饼干:霸道校草撩到手

    草莓夹心饼干:霸道校草撩到手

    或许在每个人的青春里,都有一个非常非常重要的人吧……
  • 痴情词:九世情绝

    痴情词:九世情绝

    擅改飞升之限……犯下大错……念在你苦修不易,今罚你堕入阿鼻地狱,而他将被罚堕入轮回……受九世轮回之苦,历九世永灾之劫……「望天怜之,他每轮回一世,我愿自断一尾,自灭一识,压于石塔之下,只求减少他所受之苦,所历之事,万劫不复,再所不辞!」“你已毁去八尾八识,他最后一世,你要交出最后一识?”“,自毁修行是心甘情愿,下一世……九尾仍愿如此……”一滴泪从漂亮的狐眼中滑下。八尾换八世相思,最后一尾……代表着……九尾望向用法力幻像出来的人,微微笑了,九世之后,你便自由了吧……为了你的自由,魂飞魄散又如何呢……只是,在我消失之际,真的很希望能再看看你……
  • 九霄狂帝

    九霄狂帝

    诸天大世界长青大帝之子梅长风,因一场夺嫡阴谋而意外陨落,重生在一不知名的位面小界一废材之身,却又身不由已的陷入一系列纷争和阴谋之中。梅长风凭借前世丰富的修炼经验和超越这个位面的惊人学识,从此开始其逆天崛起之路,从武郡小城到大商帝国,从星月学院到域外战场,从无数秘境到各路强敌……
  • 倾心如水

    倾心如水

    初见时,她满身伤痕,冷漠无情的他却对年幼的她充满怜悯之心。他收她为徒,决心传授她武功,不再被欺负。她视他为师,努力习武,对他尊敬仰慕。而他一次次的袒护让她越发对他依赖。她的聪颖俏皮让他难以自控。开始的开始,原来早已对你倾心,只是如水,让人难以察觉······