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.\'