`Ipassedyouontheroad?\'
`Monseigneur,itistrue.Ihadthehonourofbeingpassedontheroad.\'
`Comingupthehill,andatthetopofthehill,both?\'
`Monseigneur,itistrue.
`Whatdidyoulookat,sofixedly?\'
`Monseigneur,Ilookedattheman.\'
Hestoopedalittle,andwithhistatteredbluecappointedunderthecarriage.Allhisfellowsstoopedtolookunderthecarriage.
`Matman,pig?Andwhylookthere?\'
`Pardon,Monseigneur;heswungbythechainoftheshoethedrag.\'
`Who?\'demandedthetraveller.
`Monseigneur,theman.\'
`MaytheDevilcarryawaytheseidiots!Howdoyoucalltheman?Youknowallthemenofthispartofthecountry.Whowashe?\'
`Yourclemency,Monseigneur!Hewasnotofthispartofthecountry.Ofallthedaysofmylife,Ineversawhim.\'
`Swingingbythechain?Tobesuffocated?\'
`Withyourgraciouspermission,thatwasthewonderofit,Monseigneur.Hisheadhangingover——likethis!\'
Heturnedhimselfsidewaystothecarriage,andleanedback,withhisfacethrownuptothesky,andhisheadhangingdown;thenrecoveredhimself,fumbledwithhiscap,andmadeabow.
`whatwashelike?\'
`Monseigneur,hewaswhiterthanthemiller.Allcoveredwithdust,whiteasaspectre,tallasaspectre!\'
Thepictureproducedanimmensesensationinthelittlecrowd;butalleyes,withoutcomparingnoteswithothereyes,lookedatMonsieurtheMarquis.Perhaps,toobservewhetherhehadanyspectreonhisconscience.
`Truly,youdidwell,\'saidtheMarquis,felicitouslysensiblethatsuchverminwerenottorufflehim,`toseeathiefaccompanyingmycarriage,andnotopenthatgreatmouthofyours.Bah!Puthimaside,MonsieurGabelle!\'
MonsieurGabellewasthePostmaster,andsomeothertaxingfunctionaryunited;hehadcomeoutwithgreatobsequiousnesstoassistatthisexamination,andhadheldtheexaminedbythedraperyofhisarminanofficialmanner.
`Bah!Goaside!\'saidMonsieurGabelle.
`Layhandsonthisstrangerifheseekstolodgeinyourvillageto-night,andbesurethathisbusinessishonest,Gabelle.\'
`Monseigneur,Iamflatteredtodevotemyselftoyourorders.\'
`Didherunaway,fellow?——hereisthatAccursed?\'
Theaccursedwasalreadyunderthecarriagewithsomehalf-dozenparticularfriends,pointingoutthechainwithhisbluecap.Somehalf-dozenotherparticularfriendspromptlyhauledhimout,andpresentedhimbreathlesstoMonsieurtheMarquis.
`Didthemanrunaway,Dolt,whenwestoppedforthedrag?\'
`Monseigneur,heprecipitatedhimselfoverthehill-side,headfirst,asapersonplungesintotheriver.\'
`Seetoit,Gabelle.Goon!\'
Thehalf-dozenwhowerepeeringatthechainwerestillamongthewheels,likesheep;thewheelsturnedsosuddenlythattheywereluckytosavetheirskinsandbones;theyhadverylittleelsetosave,ortheymightnothavebeensofortunate.
Theburstwithwhichthecarriagestartedoutofthevillageanduptherisebeyond,wassooncheckedbythesteepnessofthehill.Gradually,itsubsidedtoafootpace,swingingandlumberingupwardamongthemanysweetscentsofasummernight.Thepostilions,withathousandgossamergnatscirclingabouttheminlieuoftheFuries,quietlymendedthepointstothelashesoftheirwhips;thevaletwalkedbythehorses;thecourierwasaudible,trottingonaheadintothedimdistance.
Atthesteepestpointofthehilltherewasalittleburialground,withaCrossandanewlargefigureofOurSaviouronit;itwasapoorfigureinwood,donebysomeinexperiencedrusticcarver,buthehadstudiedthefigurefromthelife——isownlife,maybe——oritwasdreadfullyspareandthin.
Tothisdistressfulemblemofagreatdistressthathadlongbeengrowingworse,andwasnotatitsworst,awomanwaskneeling.Sheturnedherheadasthecarriagecameuptoher,rosequickly,andpresentedherselfatthecarriage-door.
`Itisyou,Monseigneur!Monseigneur,apetition.\'
Withanexclamationofimpatience,butwithhisUnchangeableface,Monseigneurlookedout.
`How,then!Whatisit?Alwayspetitions!\'
`Monseigneur.FortheloveofthegreatGod!Myhusband,theforester.\'
`Whatofyourhusband,theforester?Alwaysthesamewithyoupeople.Hecannotpaysomething?\'
`Hehaspaidall,Monseigneur.Heisdead.\'
`Well!Heisquiet.CanIrestorehimtoyou?\'
`Alas,no,Monseigneur!Butheliesyonder,underalittleheapofpoorgrass.\'
`Well?\'
`Monseigneur,,therearesomanylittleheapsofpargrass?\'
`Again,well?\'
Shelookedanoldwoman,butwasyoung.Hermannerwasoneofpassionategrief;byturnssheclaspedherveinousandknottedhandstogetherwithwildenergy,andlaidoneofthemonthecarriage-door——tenderly,caressingly,asifithadbeenahumanbreast,andcouldbeexpectedtofeeltheappealingtouch.
`Monseigneur,hearme!Monseigneur,hearmypetition!Myhusbanddiedofwant;somanydieofwant;somanymorewilldieofwant.\'
`Again,well?CanIfeedthem?\'
`Monseigneur,thegoodGodknows;butIdon\'taskit.Mypetitionis,thatamorselofstoneorwood,withmyhusband\'sname,maybeplacedoverhimtoshowwherehelies.Otherwise,theplacewillbequicklyforgotten,itwillneverbefoundwhenIamdeadofthesamemalady,Ishallbelaidundersomeotherheapofpoorgrass.Monseigneur,theyaresomany,theyincreasesofast,thereissomuchwant.Monseigneur!Monseigneur!\'
Thevalethadputherawayfromthedoor,thecarriagehadbrokenintoabrisktrot,thepostilionshadquickenedthepace,shewasleftfarbehind,andMonseigneur,againescortedbytheFuries,wasrapidlydiminishingtheleagueortwoofdistancethatremainedbetweenhimandhischateau.
Thesweetscentsofthesummernightroseallaroundhim,androse,astherainfalls,impartially,onthedusty,ragged,andtoil-worngroupatthefountainnotfaraway;towhomthemenderofroads,withtheaidofthebluecapwithoutwhichhewasnothing,stillenlargeduponhismanlikeaspectre,aslongastheycouldbearit.Bydegrees,astheycouldbearnomore,theydroppedoffonebyone,andlightstwinkledinlittlecasements;whichlights,asthecasementsdarkened,andmorestarscameout,seemedtohaveshotupintotheskyinsteadofhavingbeenextinguished.
Theshadowofalargehigh-roofedhouse,andofmanyoverhangingtrees,wasuponMonsieurtheMarquisbythattime;andtheshadowwasexchangedforthelightofaflambeau,ashiscarriagestopped,andthegreatdoorofhischateauwasopenedtohim.
`MonsieurCharles,whomIexpect:ishearrivedfromEngland?\'
`Monseigneur,notyet.\'
CHAPTERIX
TheGorgon\'sHead
ITwasaheavymassofbuilding,thatchaateauofMonsieurtheMarquis,withalargestonecourt-yardbeforeit,andtwostonesweepsofstaircasemeetinginastoneterracebeforetheprincipaldoor.Astonybusinessaltogether,withheavystonebalustrades,andstoneurns,andstoneflowers,andstonefacesofmen,andstoneheadsoflions,inalldirections.AsiftheGorgon\'sheadhadsurveyedit,whenitwasfinished,twocenturiesago.
Upthebroadflightofshallowsteps,MonsieurtheMarquis,flambeaupreceded,wentfromhiscarriage,sufficientlydisturbingthedarknesstoelicitloudremonstrancefromanowlintheroofofthegreatpileofstablebuildingawayamongthetrees.Allelsewassoquiet,thattheflambeaucarriedupthesteps,andtheotherflambeauheldatthegreatdoor,burntasiftheywereinacloseroomofstate,insteadofbeingintheopennight-air.Othersoundthantheowl\'svoicetherewasnone,savethefallingofafountainintoitsstonebasin;for,itwasoneofthosedarknightsthatholdtheirbreathbythehourtogether,andthenheavealonglowsigh,andholdtheirbreathagain.
Thegreatdoorclangedbehindhim,andMonsieurtheMarquiscrossedahallgrimwithcertainoldboar-spears,swords,andknivesofthechase;grimmerwithcertainheavyriding-rodsandriding-whips,ofwhichmanyapeasant,gonetohisbenefactorDeath,hadfelttheweightwhenhislordwasangry.
Avoidingthelargerrooms,whichweredarkandmadefastforthenight,MonsieurtheMarquis,withhisflambeau-bearergoingonbefore,wentupthestaircasetoadoorinacorridor.Thisthrownopen,admittedhimtohisownprivateapartmentofthreerooms:hisbed-chamberandtwoothers.Highvaultedroomswithcooluncarpetedfloors,greatdogsuponthehearthsfortheburningofwoodinwintertime,andallluxuriesbefittingthestateofamarquisinaluxuriousageandcountry.ThefashionofthelastLouisbutone,oftilelinethatwasnevertobreak——thefourteenthLouis——wasconspicuousintheirrichfurniture;but,itwasdiversifiedbymanyobjectsthatwereillustrationsofoldpagesinthehistoryofFrance.
Asupper-tablewaslaidfortwo,inthethirdoftherooms;aroundroom,inoneofthechaateau\'sfourextinguisher-toppedtowers.Asmallloftyroom,withitswindowwideopen,andthewoodenjalousie-blindsclosed,sothatthedarknightonlyshowedinslighthorizontallinesofblack,alternatingwiththeirbroadlinesofstonecolour.
`Mynephew,\'saidtheMarquis,glancingatthesupperpreparation;`theysaidhewasnotarrived.\'
Norwashe;but,hehadbeenexpectedwithMonseigneur.
`Ah!Itisnotprobablehewillarriveto-night;nevertheless,
leavethetableasitis.Ishallbereadyinaquarterofanhour.\'InaquarterofanhourMonseigneurwasready,andsatdownalonetohissumptuousandchoicesupper.Hischairwasoppositetothewindow,andhehadtakenhissoup,andwasraisinghisglassofBordeauxtohislips,whenheputitdown.
`Whatisthat?\'hecalmlyasked,lookingwithattentionatthehorizontallinesofblackandstonecolour\'.
`Monseigneur?That?\'
`Outsidetheblinds.Opentheblinds.\'
Itwasdone.
`well?\'
`Monseigneur,itisnothing.Thetreesandthenightareallthatarehere.\'
Theservantwhospoke,hadthrowntheblindswide,hadlookedoutintothevacantdarkness,andstood,withthatblankbehindhim,lookingroundforinstructions.
`Good,\'saidtheimperturbablemaster.`Closethemagain.\'Thatwasdonetoo,andtheMarquiswentonwithhissupper.Hewashalfwaythroughit,whenheagainstoppedwithhisglassinhishand,hearingthesoundofwheels.Itcameonbriskly,andcameuptothefrontofthechaateau.
`Askwhoisarrived.\'
ItwasthenephewofMonseigneur.HehadbeensomefewleaguesbehindMonseigneur,earlyintheafternoon.Hehaddiminishedthedistancerapidly,butnotsorapidlyastocomeupwithMonseigneurontheroad.HehadheardofMonseigneur,attheposting-houses,asbeingbeforehim.
HewastobetoldsaidMonseigneurthatsupperawaitedhimthenandthere,andthathewasprayedtocometoit.Inalittlewhilehecame.HehadbeenknowninEnglandasCharlesDarnay.
Monseigneurreceivedhiminacourtlymanner,buttheydidnotshakehands.
`YouleftParisyesterday,sir?\'hesaidtoMonseigneur,ashetookhisseatattable.
`Yesterday.Andyou?\'
`Icomedirect.
`FromLondon?\'
`Yes.\'
`Youhavebeenalongtimecoming,\'saidtheMarquis,withasmile.
`Onthecontrary;Icomedirect.\'
`Pardonme!Imean,notalongtimeonthejourney;alongtimeintendingtheJourney.
`Ihavebeendetainedby\'——thenephewstoppedamomentinhisanswer——variousbusiness.\'
`Withoutdoubt,\'saidthepolisheduncle.
Solongasaservantwaspresent,nootherwordspassedbetweenthem.Whencoffeehadbeenservedandtheywerealonetogether,thenephew,lookingattheuncleandmeetingtheeyesofthefacethatwaslikeafinemask,openedaconversation.
`Ihavecomeback,sir,asyouanticipate,pursuingtheobjectthattookmeaway.Itcarriedmeintogreatandunexpectedperil;butitisasacredobject,andifithadcarriedmetodeathIhopeitwouldhavesustainedme.\'
`Nottodeath,\'saidtheuncle;`itisnotnecessarytosay,todeath.\'
`Idoubt,sir,\'returnedthenephew,`whether,ifithadcarriedmetotheutmostbrinkofdeath,youwouldhavecaredtostopmethere.\'
Thedeepenedmarksinthenose,andthelengtheningofthefinestraightlinesinthecruelface,lookedominousastothat;theunclemadeagracefulgestureofprotest,whichwassoclearlyaslightformofgoodbreedingthatitwasnotreassuring.
`Indeed,sir,\'pursuedthenephew,`foranythingIknow,youmayhaveexpresslyworkedtogiveamoresuspiciousappearancetothesuspiciouscircumstancesthatsurroundedme.
`No,no,no,\'saidtheuncle,pleasantly.
`But,howeverthatmaybe,\'resumedthenephew,glancingathimwithdeepdistrust,`Iknowthatyourdiplomacywouldstopmebyanymeans,andwouldknownoscrupleastomeans.
`Myfriend,Itoldyouso,\'saidtheuncle,withafinepulsationinthetwomarks.`DomethefavourtorecallthatItoldyouso,longago.\'
`Irecallit.\'
`Thankyou,\'saidtheMarquis——verysweetlyindeed.
Histonelingeredintheair,almostlikethetoneofamusicalinstrument.
`Ineffect,sir,\'pursuedthenephew,`Ibelieveittobeatonceyourbadfortune,andmygoodfortune,thathaskeptmeoutofaprisoninFrancehere.\'
`Idonotquiteunderstand,\'returnedtheuncle,sippinghiscoffee.`DareIaskyoutoexplain?\'
`IbelievethatifyouwerenotindisgracewiththeCourt,andhadnotbeenovershadowedbythatcloudforyearspast,aletterdecachetwouldhavesentmetosomefortressindefinitely.\'
`Itispossible,\'saidtheuncle,withgreatcalmness.`Forthehonourofthefamily,Icouldevenresolvetoincommodeyoutothatextent.Prayexcuseme!\'
`Iperceivethat,happilyforme,theReceptionofthedaybeforeyesterdaywas,asusual,acoldone,\'observedthenephew.
`Iwouldnotsayhappily,myfriend,\'returnedtheuncle,withrefinedpoliteness;`Iwouldnotbesureofthat.Agoodopportunityforconsideration,surroundedbytheadvantagesofsolitude,mightinfluenceyourdestinytofargreateradvantagethanyouinfluenceitforyourself.Butitisuselesstodiscussthequestion.Iam,asyousay,atadisadvantage.Theselittleinstrumentsofcorrection,thesegentleaidstothepowerandhonouroffamilies,theseslightfavoursthatmightsoincommodeyou,areonlytobeobtainednowbyinterestandimportunity.Theyaresoughtbysomany,andtheyaregrantedcomparativelytosofew!Itusednottobeso,butFranceinallsuchthingsischangedfortheworse.Ournotremoteancestorsheldtherightoflifeanddeathoverthesurroundingvulgar.Fromthisroom,manysuchdogshavebeentakenouttobehanged;inthenextroommybedroom,onefellow,toourknowledge,wasponiardedonthespotforprofessingsomeinsolentdelicacyrespectinghisdaughter——hisdaughter?Wehavelostmanyprivileges;anewphilosophyhasbecomethemode;andtheassertionofourstation,inthesedays,mightIdonotgosofarastosaywould,butmightcauseusrealinconvenience.Allverybad,verybad!\'
TheMarquistookagentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andshookhishead;aselegantlydespondentashecouldbecominglybeofacountrystillcontaininghimself,thatgreatmeansofregeneration.
`Wehavesoassertedourstation,bothintheoldtimeandinthemoderntimealso,\'saidthenephew,gloomily,`thatIbelieveournametobemoredetestedthananynameinFrance.\'
`Letushopeso,\'saidtheuncle.`Detestationofthehighistheinvoluntaryhomageofthelow.\'
`Thereisnot,\'pursuedthenephew,inhisformertone,`afaceIcanlookat,inallthiscountryroundaboutus,whichlooksatmewithanydeferenceonitbutthedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery.\'
`Acompliment,\'saidtheMarquis,`tothegrandeurofthefamily,meritedbythemannerinwhichthefamilyhassustaineditsgrandeur.Hah!\'Andhetookanothergentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andlightlycrossedhislegs.
But,whenhisnephew,leaninganelbowonthetable,coveredhiseyesthoughtfullyanddejectedlywithhishand,thefinemasklookedathimsidewayswithastrongerconcentrationofkeenness,closeness,anddislike,thanwascomportablewithitswearer\'sassumptionofindifference.
`Repressionistheonlylastingphilosophy.Thedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery,myfriend,\'observedtheMarquis,`willkeepteedogsobedienttothewhip,aslongasthisroof,\'lookinguptoit,`shutsoutthesky.\'
ThatmightnotbesolongastheMarquissupposed.Ifapictureofthechaateauasitwastobeaveryfewyearshence,andoffiftylikeitastheytooweretobeaveryfewyearshence,couldhavebeenshowntohimthatnight,hemighthavebeenatalosstoclaimhisownfromtheghastly,fire-charred,plunder-wreckedruins.Asfortheroofhevaunted,hemighthavefoundthatshuttingouttheskyinanewway——towit,forever,fromtheeyesofthebodiesintowhichitsleadwasfired,outofthebarrelsofahundredthousandmuskets.
`Meanwhile,\'saidtheMarquis,`Iwillpreservethehonourandreposeofthefamily,ifyouwillnot.Butyoumustbefatigued.ShallweterminateourConferenceforthenight?\'
`Amomentmore.\'
`Anhour,ifyouplease.\'
`Sir,\'saidthenephew,`wehavedonewrong,andarereapingthefruitsofwrong.\'
`Wehavedonewrong?\'repeatedtheMarquis,withaninquiringsmile,anddelicatelypointing,firsttohisnephew,thentohimself.
`Ourfamily;ourhonourablefamily,whosehonourisofsomuchaccounttobothofus,insuchdifferentways.Eveninmyfather\'stime,wedidaworldofwrong,injuringeveryhumancreaturewhocamebetweenusandourpleasure,whateveritwas.WhyneedIspeakofmyfather\'stime,whenitisequallyyours?CanIseparatemyfather\'stwin-brother,jointinheritor,andnextsuccessor,fromhimself?\'
`Deathhasdonethat!\'saidtheMarquis.
`Andhasleftme,\'answeredthenephew,`boundtoasystemthatisfrightfultome,responsibleforit,butpowerlessinit;seekingtoexecutethelastrequestofmydearmother\'slips,andobeythelastlookofmydearmother\'seyes,whichimploredfiletohavemercyandtoredress;andtorturedbyseekingassistanceandpowerinvain?
`Seekingthemfromme,mynephew,\'saidtheMarquis,touchinghimonthebreastwithhisforefinger——theywerenowstandingbythehearth——youwillforeverseektheminvain,beassured.
Everyfinestraightlineintheclearwhitenessofhisface,wascruelly,craftily,andcloselycompressed,whilehestoodlookingquietlyathisnephew,withhissnuff-boxinhishand.
Onceagainhetouchedhimonthebreast,asthoughhisfingerwerethefinepointofasmallsword,withwhich,indelicatefinesse,heranhimthroughthebody,andsaid,
`Myfriend,Iwilldie,perpetuatingthesystemunderwhichIhavelived.\'
Whenhehadsaidit,hetookaculminatingpinchofSnuff,andputhisboxinhispocket.
`Bettertobearationalcreature,\'headdedthen,afterringingasmallbellonthetable,`andacceptyournaturaldestiny.Butyouarelost,MonsieurCharles,Isee.\'
`ThispropertyandFrancearelosttome,\'saidthenephew,sadly;`Irenouncethem.\'
`Aretheybothyourstorenounce?Francemaybe,butistheproperty?Itisscarcelyworthmentioning;but,isityet?\'
`Ihadnointention,inthewordsIused,toclaimityet.Ifitpassedtomefromyou,to-morrow——
`WhichIhavethevanitytohopeisnotprobable.\'
`——ortwentyyearshence——\'
`Youdometoomuchhonour,\'saidtheMarquis;`still,Ipreferthatsupposition.\'
`——Iwouldabandonit,andliveotherwiseandelsewhere.Itislittletorelinquish.Whatisitbutawildernessofmiseryandruin?\'
`Hah!\'saidtheMarquis,glancingroundtheluxuriousroom.`Totheeyeitisfairenough,here;butseeninitsintegrity,underthesky,andbythedaylight,itisacrumblingtowerofwaste,mismanagement,extortion,debt,mortgage,oppression,hunger,nakedness,andsuffering.\'
`Hah!\'saidtheMarquisagain,inawell-satisfiedmanner.
`Ifiteverbecomesmine,itshallbeputintosomehandsbetterqualifiedtofreeitslowlyifsuchathingispossiblefromtheweightthatdragsitdown,sothatthemiserablepeopleWhocannotleaveitandwhohavebeenlongwrungtothelastpointofendurance,may,inanothergeneration,sufferless;batitisnotforme.Thereisacurseonit,andonallthisland.\'
`Andyou?\'saidtheuncle.`Forgivemycuriosity;doyou,underyournewphilosophy,graciouslyintendtolive?\'
`Imustdo,tolive,whatothersofmycountrymen,evenwithnobilityattheirbacks,mayhavetodosomeday——work.\'
`InEngland,forexample?\'
`Yes.Thefamilyhonour,sir,issafefrommeinthiscountry.Thefamilynamecansufferfrommeinnoother,forIbearitinnoother.\'