第63章BOOKTHESECOND：THEGOLDENTHREAD(46)

第63章bookthesecond：thegoldenthread(46)

itwasremarkable；but，thetasteofsaintantoineseemedtobedecidedlyopposedtoaroseonthehead-dressofmadamedefarge.twomenhadenteredseparately，andhadbeenabouttoorderdrink，when，catchingsightofthatnovelty，theyfaltered，madeapretenceoflookingaboutasifforsomefriendwhowasnotthere，andwentaway.nor，ofthosewhohadbeentherewhenthisvisitorentered，wasthereoneleft.theyhadalldroppedoff.thespyhadkepthiseyesopen，buthadbeenabletodetectnosign.theyhadloungedawayinapoverty-stricken，purposeless，accidentalmanner，quitenaturalandunimpeachable.

'john，'thoughtmadame，checkingoffherworkasherfingersknitted，andhereyeslookedatthestranger.'staylongenough，andishallknit'barsad'beforeyougo.

'youhaveahusband，madame？'

'ihave.'

'children？'

'nochildren.'

'businessseemsbad？'

'businessisverybad；thepeoplearesopoor.'

'ah，theunfortunate，miserablepeople！sooppressed，too—asyousay.'

'asyousay，'madameretorted，correctinghim，anddeftlyknittinganextrasomethingintohisnamethatbodedhimnogood.

'pardonme；certainlyitwasiwhosaidso，butyounaturallythinkso.ofcourse.'

'ithink？'returnedmadame，inahighvoice.'iandmyhusbandhaveenoughtodotokeepthiswine-shopopen，withoutthinking.allwethink，here，ishowtolive.thatisthesubjectwethinkof，anditgivesus，frommorningtonight，enoughtothinkabout，withoutembarrassingourheadsconcerningothers.ithinkforothers？no，no.'

thespy，whowastheretopickupanycrumbshecouldfindormake，didnotallowhisbaffledstatetoexpressitselfinhissinisterface；butstoodwithanairofgossipinggallantry，leaninghiselbowonmadamedefarge'slittlecounter，andoccasionallysippinghiscognac.

'abadbusinessthis，madame，ofgaspard'sexecution.ah！thepoorgaspard！'withasighofgreatcompassion.

'myfaith！'returnedmadame，coollyandlightly，'ifpeopleuseknivesforsuchpurposes，theyhavetopayforit.heknewbeforehandwhatthepriceofhisluxurywas；hehaspaidtheprice.'

'ibelieve，'saidthespy，droppinghissoftvoicetoatonethatinvitedconfidence，andexpressinganinjuredrevolutionarysusceptibilityineverymuscleofhiswickedface：'ibelievethereismuchcompassionandangerinthisneighbourhood，touchingthepoorfellow？betweenourselves.'

'isthere？'askedmadame，vacantly.

'istherenot？'

'—hereismyhusband！'saidmadamedefarge.

asthekeeperofthewine-shopenteredatthedoor，thespysalutedhimbytouchinghishat，andsaying，withanengagingsmile，'goodday，jacques！'defargestoppedshort，andstaredathim.

'goodday，jacques！'thespyrepeated；withnotquitesomuchconfidence，orquitesoeasyasmileunderthestare.

'youdeceiveyourself，monsieur，'returnedthekeeperofthewine-shop.'youmistakemeforanother.thatisnotmyname.iamernestdefarge.'

'itisallthesame，'saidthespy，airily，butdiscomfitedtoo：'goodday！'

'goodday！'answereddefarge，drily.

'iwassayingtomadame，withwhomihadthepleasureofchattingwhenyouentered，thattheytellmethereis—andnowonder！—muchsympathyandangerinsaintantoine，touchingtheunhappyfateofpoorgaspard.'

'noonehastoldmeso，'saiddefarge，shakinghishead.'iknownothingofit.'

havingsaidit，hepassedbehindthelittlecounter，andstoodwithhishandonthebackofthewife'schair，lookingoverthatbarrieratthepersontowhomtheywerebothopposed，andwhomeitherofthemwouldhaveshotwiththegreatestsatisfaction.

thespy，wellusedtohisbusiness，didnotchangehisunconsciousattitude，butdrainedhislittleglassofcognac，tookasipoffreshwater，andaskedforanotherglassofcognac.madamedefargepoureditoutforhim，tooktoherknittingagain，andhummedalittlesongoverit.

'youseemtoknowthequarterwell；thatistosay，betterthanido？'observeddefarge.

'notatall，butihopetoknowitbetter.iamsoprofoundlyinterestedinitsmiserableinhabitants.'

'hah！'muttereddefarge.

'thepleasureofconversingwithyou，monsieurdefarge，recallstome，'pursuedthespy，'thatihavethehonourofcherishingsomeinterestingassociationswithyourname.'

'indeed！'saiddefarge，withmuchindifference.

'yes，indeed.whendr.manettewasreleased，you，hisolddomestic，hadthechargeofhim，iknow.hewasdeliveredtoyou.youseeiaminformedofthecircumstances？'

'suchisthefact，certainly，'saiddefarge.hehadhaditconveyedtohim，inanaccidentaltouchofhiswife'selbowassheknittedandwarbled，thathewoulddobesttoanswer，butalwayswithbrevity.

'itwastoyou，'saidthespy，'thathisdaughtercame；anditwasfromyourcarethathisdaughtertookhim，accompaniedbyaneatbrownmonsieur；howishecalled？—inalittlewig—lorry—ofthebankoftellsonandcompany—overtoengland.'

'suchisthefact，'repeateddefarge.

'veryinterestingremembrances！'saidthespy.'ihaveknowndr.manetteandhisdaughter，inengland.'

'yes？'saiddefarge.

'youdon'thearmuchaboutthemnow？'saidthespy.

'no，'saiddefarge.

'ineffect，'madamestruckin，lookingupfromherworkandherlittlesong，'weneverhearaboutthem.wereceivedthenewsoftheirsafearrival，andperhapsanotherletter，orperhapstwo；but，sincethen，theyhavegraduallytakentheirroadinlife—we，ours—andwehaveheldnocorrespondence.'

'perfectlyso，madame，'repliedthespy.'sheisgoingtobemarried.'

'going？'echoedmadame.'shewasprettyenoughtohavebeenmarriedlongago.youenglisharecold，itseemstome.'

'oh！youknowiamenglish.'

'iperceiveyourtongueis，'returnedmadame，'andwhatthetongueis，isupposethemanis.'

hedidnottaketheidentificationasacompliment；buthemadethebestofit，andturneditoffwithalaugh.aftersippinghiscognactotheend，headded：