登陆注册
16285600000110

第110章 BOOK THE THIRD:THE TRACK OF A STORM(25)

The night wore out,and,as he stood upon the bridge listening to the water as it splashed the river-walls of the Island of Paris,where the picturesque confusion of houses and cathedral shone bright in the light of the moon,the day came coldly,looking like a dead face out of the sky. Then,the night,with the moon and the stars,turned pale and died,and for a little while it seemed as if Creation were delivered over to Death's dominion.

But the glorious sun,rising,seemed to strike those words,that burden of the night,straight and warm to his heart in its long bright rays. And looking along them,with reverently shaded eyes,a bridge of light appeared to span the air between him and the sun,while the river sparkled under it.

The strong tide,so swift,so deep,and certain,was like a congenial friend,in the morning stillness. He walked by the stream,far from the houses,and in the light and warmth of the sun fell asleep on the bank.When he awoke and was afoot again,he lingered there yet a little longer,watching an eddy that turned and turned purposeless,until the stream absorbed it,and carried it on to the sea.—'Like me!'

A trading-boat,with a sail of the softened colour of a dead leaf,then glided into his view,floated by him,and died away. As its silent track in the water disappeared,the prayer that had broken up out of his heart for a merciful consideration of all his poor blindness and errors,ended in the words,'I am the resurrection and the life.'

Mr. Lorry was already out when he got back,and it was easy tosurmise where the good old man was gone.Sydney Carton drank nothing but a little coffee,ate some bread,and,having washed and changed to refresh himself,went out to the place of trial.

The court was all astir and a-buzz,when the black sheep—whom many fell away from in dread—pressed him into an obscure corner among the crowd. Mr.Lorry was there,and Doctor Manette was there.She was there,sitting beside her father.

When her husband was brought in,she turned a look upon him,so sustaining,so encouraging,so full of admiring love,and pitying tenderness,yet so courageous for his sake,that it called the healthy blood into his face,brightened his glance,and animated his heart. If there had been any eyes to notice the influence of her look,on Sydney Carton,it would have been seen to be the same influence exactly.

Before that unjust Tribunal,there was little or no order of procedure,ensuring to any accused person any reasonable hearing. There could have been no such Revolution,if all laws,forms,and ceremonies,had not first been so monstrously abused,that the suicidal vengeance of the Revolution was to scatter them all to the winds.

Every eye was turned to the jury. The same determined patriots and good republicans as yesterday and the day before,and tomorrow and the day after.Eager and prominent among them,one man with a craving face,and his fingers perpetually hovering about his lips,whose appearance gave great satisfaction to the spectators.A life-thirsting,cannibal-looking,bloody-minded juryman,the Jacques Three of Saint Antoine.The whole jury,as a jury of dogs empanelled to try the deer.

Every eye then turned to the five judges and the publicprosecutor. No favourable leaning in that quarter today.A fell,uncompromising,murderous business-meaning there.Every eye then sought some other eye in the crowd,and gleamed at it approvingly;and heads nodded at one another before bending forward with a strained attention.

Charles Evremonde,called Darnay. Released yesterday.Reaccused and retaken yesterday.Indictment delivered to him last night.Suspected and Denounced enemy of the Republic,Aristocrat,one of a family of tyrants,one of a race proscribed,for that they had used their abolished privileges to the infamous oppression of the people.Charles Evremonde,called Darnay,in right of such proion,absolutely Dead in Law.

To this effect,in as few or fewer words,the Public Prosecutor.

The President asked,was the Accused openly denounced or secretly?

'Openly,President.'

'By whom?'

'Three voices. Ernest Defarge,wine vendor of Saint Antoine.'

'Good.'

'Therese Defarge,his wife.'

'Good.'

'Alexandre Manette,physician.'

A great uproar took place in the court,and in the midst of it,Doctor Manette was seen,pale and trembling,standing where he had been seated.

'President,I indignantly protest to you that this is a forgery and a fraud. You know the accused to be the husband of my daughter.My daughter,and those dear to her,are far dearer to me than my life.Who and where is the false conspirator who says thatI denounce the husband of my child?'

'Citizen Manette,be tranquil. To fail in submission of the authority of the Tribunal would be to put yourself out of Law.As to what is dearer to you than life.nothing can be so dear to a good citizen as the Republic.'

Loud acclamations hailed this rebuke. The President rang his bell,and with warmth resumed.

'If the Republic should demand of you the sacrifice of your child herself,you would have no duty but to sacrifice her. Listen to what is to follow.In the meanwhile,be silent!'

Frantic acclamations were again raised. Doctor Manette sat down,with his eyes looking around,and his lips trembling;his daughter drew closer to him.The craving man on the jury rubbed his hands together,and restored the usual hand to his mouth.

Defarge was produced,when the court was quiet enough to admit of his being heard,and rapidly expounded the story of the imprisonment,and of his having been a mere boy in the Doctor's service,and of the release,and of the state of the prisoner when released and delivered to him. This short examination followed.for the court was quick with its work.

'You did good service at the taking of the Bastille,citizen?'

'I believe so.'

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 理财小窍门(最实用的居家小书)

    理财小窍门(最实用的居家小书)

    理财是那些有钱人的事,等我有钱了再谈理财吧。其实,这是一个错误的想法,理财理的不仅是钱,也是我们的生活。理财可以从身边的小事做起。你不理财,财不理你!理财应该从哪些方面入手呢?在理财的过程中我们应该注意些什么呢?本书从医疗、教育投资、家庭投资、信用卡等方面向你诠释了理财的定义。手持这本书,让您的理财生活化,简单化!
  • 西游说

    西游说

    《西游说》——还原最真实的西游世界,在这里,你可以看到那些被隐藏起来的真相,颠覆你得西游世界观。同样的故事,不一样的角度,揭开迷雾,看清西游到底是怎么一回事。同样的妖怪,不一样的故事,掀开历史,明白西游到底发生了什么。同样的西行,不一样的妖怪,唐僧肉真的能长生不老?九九八十一难又是什么?神仙也吃人?佛陀也杀生?震撼,在这里开始。让我们,看一部完全不一样的西游记。孙悟空,又岂是任人拿捏的?齐天有血仍为冷,悟空有誓战此生。
  • JM的海

    JM的海

    JM,佳茗,菊玫,还有橙,一场关于魔法的战争即将拉开帷幕……
  • 痞尊

    痞尊

    万年难得一见的混沌元灵身,旷古绝今的七色真神,绝无仅有的龙婴元胎,上古龙族的绝世心法。当然了,还有个修真界战力第一的老魔头做师父,万年神龙做兄弟,几个艳绝天下的侍女和一帮敢打敢杀的小弟。这一切就莫名其妙的落在了风狂身上,所有的运气兜头砸下来,天知道这个痞子会闹出一番怎样的狂潮!
  • Volume Five

    Volume Five

    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。
  • 仙觉

    仙觉

    不是很理想,匆匆结局了。正在整理新书。
  • 超级杀手在都市

    超级杀手在都市

    皇天,杀手界的一代传说,但他竟然退出杀手界,只为找不到工作?还是什么?但他却得到的上古一族族长的传承,看杀手皇天如何闯荡都市,美丽女总裁,古灵精怪的小萝莉,娇媚黑道大姐大,那都不是事。希望大家支持,谢谢本群群号:301450209
  • 居家超级整理术

    居家超级整理术

    整理术是一种不依靠超高才智,不依靠复杂谋略,不依靠高学历,不依靠超强记忆力,只要不偷懒,并按照简单的方法去做,人人都能学会的方法。用手绘插图的方式,详细介绍了如何快速整理橱柜、客厅、沙发、家具等,并列举了上百种居家整理术和废旧品再利用的方法,为你塑造一个温馨的家和家庭关系,从而自由掌握自己的生活。
  • 邪宠大小姐:特工狂妃战天下

    邪宠大小姐:特工狂妃战天下

    她!叶寒沫神秘组织人造特工!她不残忍,却没有同情心,她不毒辣,却异常绝情。不无故杀戮,不无故同情;人若犯我,十倍还之!这是她人生三大准则一朝时空交错,21世纪顶尖人造特工杀手破空入府。睥睨天下,苍生万物宛若蝼蚁,唯有她高悬其上,主宰一切!陋颜又如何?废物又如何?丑陋的容颜下,又是怎样的倾国倾城之貌?当废材大放异彩,注定是一场风起云涌。当草包不再懦弱,天下唯我独尊。一朝惊变,翻手为云,覆手为雨,她猖狂的不可一世。绝色锋芒,袖手乾坤,纵横世间,她铁血冷酷震天下!凤凰涅盘,火舞飞天,翱翔在天际的不是凤凰,而是蜕变的骄龙!看她如何以狂龙之姿,傲视天下,震慑群英!
  • 寻找大舅

    寻找大舅

    温亚军,现为北京武警总部某文学杂志主编。著有长篇小说伪生活等六部,小说集硬雪、驮水的日子等七部。获第三届鲁迅文学奖,第十一届庄重文文学奖,《小说选刊》《中国作家》和《上海文学》等刊物奖,入选中国小说学会排行榜。中国作家协会会员。