按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t be permitted to place myself； during the journey； under that worthy gentleman's protection。 The gentleman had left London； but I think a messenger was sent after him to beg the favour of his waiting for me here。'
‘I was happy；' said Mr。 Lorry； ‘to be entrusted with the charge。 I shall be more happy to execute it。'
‘Sir； I thank you indeed。 I thank you very gratefully。 It was told me by the Bank that the gentleman would explain to me the details of the business； and that I must prepare myself to find them of a surprising nature。 I have done my best to prepare myself； and I naturally have a strong and eager interest to know what they are。
‘Naturally；' said Mr。 Lorry。 ‘YesI…'
Alter a pause； he added； again settling the crisp flaxen wig at the ears：
‘It is very difficult to begin。'
He did not begin； but； in his indecision； met her glance。
The young forehead lifted itself into that singular expressionbut it was pretty and characteristic； besides being singularand she raised her hand； as if with an involuntary action she caught at； or stayed some passing shadow。
‘Are you quite a stranger to me； sir？'
‘Am I not？' Mr。 Lorry opened his hands； and extended them outwards with an argumentative smile。
Between the eyebrows and just over the little feminine nose； the line of which was as delicate and fine as it was possible to be； the expression deepened itself as she took her seat thoughtfully in the chair by which she had hitherto remained standing。 He watched her as she mused； and the moment she raised her eyes again； went on：
‘In your adopted country； I presume； I cannot do better than address you as a young English lady； Miss Manette？'
‘If you please； sir。'
‘Miss Manette； I am a man of business。 I have a business charge to acquit myself of。 In your reception of it； don't heed me any more than if I was a speaking machinetruly； I am not much else。 I will； with your leave； relate to you； miss； the story of one of our customers。'
‘Story！'
He seemed wilfully to mistake the word she had repeated； when he added； in a hurry； ‘Yes； customers； in the banking business we usually call our connexion our customers。 He was a French gentleman； a scientific gentleman； a man of great acquirementsa Doctor。'
‘Not of Beauvais？'
‘Why； yes； of Beauvais。 Like Monsieur Manette； your father； the gentleman was of Beauvais。 Like Monsieur Manette； your father； the gentleman was of repute in Paris。 I had the honour of knowing him there。 Our relations were business relations； but confidential。 I was at that time in our FrenchHouse； and had beenoh！ twenty years。'
‘At that timeI may ask； at what time； sir？'
‘I speak； miss； of twenty years ago。 He marriedan English ladyand I was one of the trustees。 His affairs； like the affairs of many other French gentlemen and French families； were entirely in Tellson's hands。 In a similar way I am； or I have been； trustee of one kind or other for scores of our customers。 These are mere business relations； miss； there is no friendship in them； no particular interest； nothing like sentiment。 I have passed from one to another； iii the course of my business life； just as I pass from one of our customers to another in the course of my business day； in short； I have no feelings； I am a mere machine。 To go on…
‘But this is my father's story； sir； and I begin to think'the curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon him'that when I was left an orphan through my mother's surviving my father only two years； it was you who brought me to England。 I am almost sure it was you。
Mr。 Lorry took the hesitating little hand that confidingly advanced to take his； and he put it with some ceremony to his lips。 He then conducted the young lady straightaway to her chair again； and； holding the chair…back with his left hand； and using his right by turns to rub his chin； pull his wig at the ears； or point what lie said； stood looking down into her face while she sat looking up into his。
‘Miss Manette； it was I。 And you will see how truly I spoke of myself just now； in saying I had no feelings； and that all the relations I hold with my fellow…creatures are mere business relations； when you reflect that I have never seen you since。 No； you have been the ward of Tellsons House since； and I have been busy with the other business of Tellsons House since。 Feelings I have no time for them； no chance of them。 I pass my whole life； miss； in turning an immense pecuniary Mangle。'
After this odd description of his daily routine of employment； Mr。 Lorry flattened his flaxen wig upon his head with both hands （which was most unnecessary； for nothing could be flatter than its shining surface was before）； and resumed his former attitude。
‘So far； miss （as you have remarked）； this is the story of your regretted father。 Now comes the difference。 If your father had not died when he did…Don't be frightened！ How you start！'
She did； indeed； start。 And she caught his wrist with both her hands。
‘Pray；' said Mr。 Lorry； in a soothing tone； bringing hi' left hand from the back of the chair to lay it on the supplicatory fingers that clasped him in so violent a tremble； ‘pray control your agitationa matter of business。 As I was saying…'
Her look so discomposed him that he stopped； wandered and began anew：
‘As I was saying； if Monsieur Manette had not died； if he had suddenly and silently disappeared； if he had been spirited away； if it had not been difficult to guess to what dreadful place； though no art could trace him； if he had an enemy in some compatriot who could exercise a privilege that I in my own time have known the boldest people afraid to speak of in a whisper； across the water there； for instance the privilege of filling up blank forms for the consignment of any one to the oblivion of a prison for any length of time if his wife had implored the king； the queen； the court； the clergy； for any tidings of him； and all quite in vain ；then the history of your father would have been the history of this unfortunate gentleman； the Doctor of Beauvais。
‘I entreat you to tell me more； sir。'
‘I will。 I am going to。 You can bear it？'
‘I can bear anything but the uncertainty you leave me in at this moment。
‘You speak collectedly； and youare collected。 ‘That good！' （Though his manner was less satisfied than hi words。） ‘A matter of business。 Regard it as a matter o…business…business that must be done。 Now if this doctor's wife； though a lady of great courage and spirit； had suffered so intensely from this cause before her little child was born…'
‘The little child was a daughter； sir？'
‘A daughter。 Aamatter of businessdon't be distressed。 Miss； if the poor lady had suffered so intensely before her little child was born； that she came to the determination of sparing the poor child the inheritance of any part of the agony she had known the pains of； by rearing her in the belief that her father was dead…No； don't kneel！ In Heaven's name why should you kneel to me？'
‘For the truth。 O dear； good； compassionate sir； for the truth！'
‘Aa matter of business。 You confuse me； and how can I transact business if I am confused？ Let us be clear…headed。 If you could kindly mention now； for instance； what nine times ninepence are； or how many shillings in twenty guineas； it would be so encouraging。 I should be so much more at my ease about your state of mind。'
Without directly answering to this appeal； she sat so still when he had very gently raised her； and the hands that had not ceased to clasp his wrists were so much more steady than they had been； that she communicated some reassurance to Mr。 Jarvis Lorry。
‘That's right； that's right。 Courage！ Business！ You have business before you； useful business。 Miss Manette； your mother took this course with you。 And when she diedI believe broken…heartedhaving never slackened her unavailing search for your father； she left you； at two years old； to grow to be blooming； beautiful； and happy； without the dark cloud upon you of living in uncertainty whether your father soon wore his heart out in prison； or wasted there through many lingering years。'
As he said the words he looked down； with an admiring pity； on the flowing golden hair； as if he pictured to him…self that it might have been already tinged with grey。
‘You know that your parents had no great possession； and that what they had was secured to your mother and to you。 There has been no new discovery； of money； or of any other property； but…
He felt his wrist held closer； and he stopped。 The expression in the forehead； which had so particularly attracted his notice； and which was now immovable； had deepened into one of pain and horror。
‘But he has been…been found。 He is alive。 Greatly changed； it is too probable； almost a wreck； it is possible； though we will hope the best。 Still； alive。 Your father has been taken to the house of an old servant in Paris； and we are going there： I； to identify him if I can： you； to restore him to life； love； duty； rest； comfort。'
A shiver ran through her frame； and from it through his。 She said； in a low； distinct； awe…stricken voice； as if she were saying it in a dream；
‘I am going to see his Ghost！ It will be his Ghostnot him！'
Mr。 Lorry quietly chaf