登陆注册
12109300000110

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
  • 两晋演义

    两晋演义

    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。
  • 士翼

    士翼

    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。
  • THE NEW MAGDALEN

    THE NEW MAGDALEN

    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。
  • 钱通

    钱通

    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。
  • 普济方·针灸

    普济方·针灸

    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
  • 我是法神

    我是法神

    始元5260年,奥德里奇在成神之路上跨过了重重困难,却没想到最后一步时反噬而亡,在无尽的混沌之中,他来到了地球。。。一代天骄,看他如何玩转地球,掀起血雨腥风。(第一次写,不喜勿喷^V^)
  • 异界之邪气凛然

    异界之邪气凛然

    异界之邪气凛然简介:不想拎刀砍人的魔法师不是一个好牧师!文章基调比较轻松,不阴暗不虐主不种马轻度YY,致敬老异界流作者,不扯犊子不烂尾,三观绝对正,延续老异界流...
  • 当高冷特工碰上腹黑男

    当高冷特工碰上腹黑男

    此书讲的就是一个未来世界的高冷特工穿越到21世纪被自家外表温润如玉纯良无害实际腹黑傲娇鬼畜的哥哥拐走的故事。此书又名《养成萌妹的三百六十种方法》《论如何将鬼畜哥哥改造成忠犬》。总的来说欢脱向,不过后期悬疑较多。绝对甜宠无虐。注:此书除了高冷妹妹和腹黑哥哥之外,还有不少配角。如果出现配角抢戏,也请不要惊讶。毕竟这部小说已经想好的很多番外都是关于配角的。此部小说作者脑洞较大,看了就知道。
  • 麻辣教师穿越记:侍婢乱宫

    麻辣教师穿越记:侍婢乱宫

    我的文《小魔术师穿越记:雏凤倾后宫》【完结】《麻辣教师穿越记:侍婢乱宫》》【完结】《女警穿成记:谁动了王爷》》【完结】【原创作者社团『未央』出品】她穿越了,屡经生死,在死人堆里哭喊,在大火里求救,好不容易出了火坑,又掉进了狼窝,改朝换代,她连自己是几岁,是谁都搞不清?靠扫地混饭吃,不过,老话说的好啊,是金子都会发光,抢着的冷饭也好吃,她被五位王爷关注了……倒霉的是,他们的关注,成了她的灾难,一次次受伤,一次次换来王爷的疼惜,于是她要......
  • 说好的主角光环

    说好的主角光环

    她华丽丽地穿越了……哈哈,按照这设定,接下来自己就该开启金手指,一句开挂成为世界最强者!!顺便拐个帅哥!!!可是……这是什么鬼!
  • 崛起吧女玄师

    崛起吧女玄师

    隐世玄门没落至今,传男不传女。隐世玄门最后一代香火,偏偏是个女的,所以自小,她被瞒的死死的。不知道自家父亲的和自家祖宗的职业。她是都市白领,安然平静,直到那日被父亲的紧急电话召回!回程路途看似平静,却在最后一程来了一遭狠的。仇人还是朋友?父死母失踪,巨大的变故,让这个刚出校门的小姑娘一瞬间成长了起来。她习玄门术法,开天能。她在普通人中不普通,四面八方来投。查真相,灭死敌。行行归,她不归。术幡扬玄门。只是,那个霸道嚣张的臭男人,能不能不要整天追着她后面说她有病,得治?面对这样的情况,她只好再次祭出天能术法,打算来个眼不见为净。额,天能术法不管用?(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 绪诸

    绪诸

    眼见繁华的世界只是表象,用另外一种眼光看待世界,所谓的神灵究竟是什么?每隔千年,“人类”总会派出他们的智者去向世界发出疑问,他们是什么,如何才能超脱?
  • 太宰志

    太宰志

    问杳阔天地,谁主沉浮?看风流人物,各领风骚。一幅腥风血雨的乱世长卷缓缓打开,叶一夕、第五释、萧道成……一个个天骄怀揣着不同的目的步入历史的眼帘,他们豪气云天,大声嘶喊:我来过,我看见,我征服。
  • 都市霸道狂医

    都市霸道狂医

    他只是一个穷屌丝,没钱,没房,没车,没老婆的四无青年。一次意外,身上多出了一个诡异的白泽纹身。从此,麻辣女教师、娇艳老板娘、极品车模和护士姐姐各式美女各个投怀送抱。且看他因白泽纹身带来的异能在这迷情都市塑造属于自己的英雄传奇。
  • 毗婆沙

    毗婆沙

    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。