第123章BOOKTHETHIRD：THETRACKOFASTORM(38)

第123章bookthethird：thetrackofastorm(38)

quickly，butwithhishandsastruetothepurposeashisheartwas，cartondressedhimselfintheclothestheprisonerhadlaidaside，combedbackhishair，andtieditwiththeribbontheprisonerhadworn.then，hesoftlycalled，'enterthere！comein！'andthespypresentedhimself.

'yousee？'saidcarton，lookingup，ashekneeledononekneebesidetheinsensiblefigure，puttingthepaperinthebreast；'isyourhazardverygreat？'

'm.carton，'thespyanswered，withatimidsnapofhisfingers，'myhazardisnotthat，inthethickofbusinesshere，ifyouaretruetothewholeofyourbargain.'

'don'tfearme.iwillbetruetothedeath.'

'youmustbe，mr.carton，ifthetaleoffifty-twoistoberight.beingmaderightbyyouinthatdress，ishallhavenofear.'

'havenofear！ishallsoonbeoutofthewayofharmingyou，andtherestwillsoonbefarfromhere，pleasegod！now，getassistanceandtakemetothecoach.'

'you？'saidthespynervously.

'him，man，withwhomihaveexchanged.yougooutatthegatebywhichyoubroughtmein？'

'ofcourse.'

'iwasweakandfaintwhenyoubroughtmein，andiamfainternowyoutakemeout.thepartinginterviewhasoverpoweredme.suchathinghashappenedhere，often，andtoooften.yourlifeisinyourownhands.quick！callassistance！'

'youswearnottobetrayme？'saidthetremblingspy，ashepausedforalastmoment.

'man，man！'returnedcarton，stampinghisfoot；'haveiswornbynosolemnvowalready，togothroughwiththis，thatyouwastethepreciousmomentsnow？takehimyourselftothecourt-yardyouknowof，placehimyourselfinthecarriage，showhimyourselftomr.lorry，tellhimyourselftogivehimnorestorativebutair，andtoremembermywordsoflastnight，andhispromiseoflastnight，anddriveaway！'

thespywithdrew，andcartonseatedhimselfatthetable，restinghisforeheadonhishands.thespyreturnedimmediately，withtwomen.

'howthen？'saidoneofthem，contemplatingthefallenfigure.'soafflictedtofindthathisfriendhasdrawnaprizeinthelotteryofsainteguillotine？'

'agoodpatriot，'saidtheother，'couldhardlyhavebeenmoreafflictedifthearistocrathaddrawnablank.'

theyraisedtheunconsciousfigure，placeditonalittertheyhadbroughttothedoor，andbenttocarryitaway.

'thetimeisshort，evremonde，'saidthespy，inawarningvoice.

'iknowitwell，'answeredcarton.'becarefulofmyfriend，ientreatyou，andleaveme.'

'come，then，mychildren，'saidbarsad.'lifthim，andcomeaway！'

thedoorclosed，andcartonwasleftalone.straininghispowersoflisteningtotheutmost，helistenedforanysoundthatmightdenotesuspicionoralarm.therewasnone.keysturned，doorsclashed，footstepspassedalongdistantpassages：nocrywasraised，orhurrymade，thatseemedunusual.breathingmorefreelyinalittlewhile，hesatdownatthetable，andlistenedagainuntiltheclockstrucktwo.

soundsthathewasnotafraidof，forhedivinedtheirmeaning，thenbegantobeaudible.severaldoorswereopenedinession，andfinallyhisown.agaoler，withalistinhishand，lookedin，merelysaying，'followme，evremonde！'andhefollowedhimintoalargedarkroom，atadistance.itwasadarkwinterday，andwhatwiththeshadowswithin，andwhatwiththeshadowswithout，hecouldbutdimlydiscerntheotherswhowerebroughttheretohavetheirarmsbound.somewerestanding；someseated.somewerelamenting，andinrestlessmotion；but，thesewerefew.thegreatmajorityweresilentandstill，lookingfixedlyattheground.

ashestoodbythewallinadimcorner，whilesomeofthefifty-twowerebroughtinafterhim，onemanstoppedinpassing，toembracehim，ashavingaknowledgeofhim.itthrilledhimwithagreatdreadofdiscovery；butthemanwenton.averyfewmomentsafterthat，ayoungwoman，withaslightgirlishform，asweetsparefaceinwhichtherewasnovestigeofcolour，andlargewidelyopenedpatienteyes，rosefromtheseatwherehehadobservedhersitting，andcametospeaktohim.

'citizenevremonde，'shesaid，touchinghimwithhercoldhand.'iamapoorlittleseamstress，whowaswithyouinlaforce.'

hemurmuredforanswer：'true.iforgetwhatyouwereaccusedof？'

'plots.thoughthejustheavenknowsiaminnocentofany.isitlikely？whowouldthinkofplottingwithapoorlittleweakcreaturelikeme？'

theforlornsmilewithwhichshesaidit，sotouchedhim，thattearsstartedfromhiseyes.

'iamnotafraidtodie，citizenevremonde，butihavedonenothing.iamnotunwillingtodie，iftherepublicwhichistodosomuchgoodtouspoor，willprofitbymydeath；butidonotknowhowthatcanbe，citizenevremonde.suchapoorweaklittlecreature！'

asthelastthingonearththathisheartwastowarmandsoftento，itwarmedandsoftenedtothispitiablegirl.

'iheardyouwerereleased，citizenevremonde.ihopeditwastrue？'

'itwas.but，iwasagaintakenandcondemned.'

'ifimayridewithyou，citizenevremonde，willyouletmeholdyourhand？iamnotafraid，butiamlittleandweak，anditwillgivememorecourage.'

asthepatienteyeswereliftedtohisface，hesawasuddendoubtinthem，andthenastonishment.hepressedthework-wornhunger-wornyoungfingers，andtouchedhislips.

'areyoudyingforhim？'shewhispered.

'andhiswifeandchild.hush！yes.'

'oyouwillletmeholdyourbravehand，stranger？'

'hush！yes，mypoorsister；tothelast.'

thesameshadowsthatarefallingontheprison，arefallinginthatsamehouroftheearlyafternoon，onthebarrierwiththecrowdaboutit，whenacoachgoingoutofparisdrivesuptobeexamined.

'whogoeshere？whomhavewewithin？papers！'

thepapersarehandedout，andread.

'alexandremanette.physician.french.whichishe？'

thisishe；thishelpless，inarticulatelymurmuring，wanderingoldmanpointedout.

'apparentlythecitizen-doctorisnotinhisrightmind？therevolution-feverwillhavebeentoomuchforhim？'

greatlytoomuchforhim.