a tale of two cities(双城记)-第4部分

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　‘Indeed；　sir？　That　was　before　my　time　here；　sir。　Before　our　people's　time　here；　sir。　The　George　was　in　other　hands　at　that　time；　sir。'　
　‘I　believe　so。'　
　‘But　I　would　hold　a　pretty　wager；　sir；　that　a　House　like　Tellson　and　Company　was　flourishing；　a　matter　of　fifty；　not　to　speak　of　fifteen　years　ago？'　
　‘You　might　treble　that；　and　say　a　hundred　and　fifty；　yet　not　be　far　from　the　truth。'　
　‘Indeed；　sir！'　
　Rounding　his　mouth　and　both　his　eyes；　as　he　stepped　backward　from　the　table；　the　waiter　shifted　his　napkin　from　his…right　arm　to　his　left；　dropped　into　a　comfortable　attitude；　and　stood　surveying　the　guest　while　he　ate　and　drank；　as　from　an　observatory　or　watch…tower。　According　to　the　immemorial　usage　of　waiters　in　all　ages。　
　When　Mr。　Lorry　had　finished　his　breakfast；　he　went　out　for　a　stroll　on　the　beach。　The　little　narrow；　crooked　town　of　Dover　hid　itself　away　from　the　beach；　and　ran　its　head　into　the　chalk　cliffs；　like　a　marine　ostrich。　The　beach　was　a　desert　of　heaps　of　sea　and　stones　tumbling　wildly　about；　and　the　sea　did　what　it　liked；　and　what　it　liked　was　destruction。　It　thundered　at　the　town；　and　thundered　at　the　cliffs；　and　brought　the　coast　down；　madly。　The　air　among　the　houses　was　of　so　strong　a　piscatory　flavour　that　one　might　have　supposed　sick　fish　went　up　to　be　dipped　in　it；　as　sick　people　went　down　to　be　dipped　in　the　sea。　A　little　fishing　was　done　in　the　port；　and　a　quantity　of　strolling　about　by　night；　and　looking　seaward：　particularly　at　those　times　when　the　tide　made；　and　was　near　flood。　Small　tradesmen；　who　did　no　business　whatever；　sometimes　unaccountably　realised　large　fortunes；　and　it　was　remarkable　that　nobody　in　the　neighbourhood　could　endure　a　lamplighter。　
　As　the　day　declined　into　the　afternoon；　and　the　air；　which　had　been　at　intervals　clear　enough　to　allow　the　French　coast　to　be　seen；　became　again　charged　with　mist　and　vapour；　Mr。　Lorry's　thoughts　seemed　to　cloud　too。　When　dark；　and　he　sat　before　the　coffee…room　fire；　awaiting　his　dinner　as　he　had　awaited　his　breakfast；　his　mind　was　digging；　digging；　digging；　in　the　live　red　coals。　
　A　bottle　of　good　claret　after　dinner　does　a　digger　in　the　red　coals　no　harm；　otherwise　than　as　it　has　a　tendency　to　throw　him　out　of　work。　Mr。　Lorry　had　been　idle　a　lo　and　had　just　poured　out　his　last　glassful　of　wine　complete　an　appearance　of　satisfaction　as　is　ever　to　be　found　in　an　elderly　gentleman　of　a　fresh　complexion　who　has　got　to　the　end　of　a　bottle；　when　a　rattling　of　wheels　came　up　the　narrow　street；　and　rumbled　into　the　inn…yard。　
　He　set　down　his　glass　untouched。　‘This　is　Mam'selle！'　said　he。　
　In　a　very　few　minutes　the　waiter　came　in　to　announce　that　Miss　Manette　had　arrived　from　London；　and〃；　happy　to　see　the　gentleman　from　Tellson's。　
　‘So　soon？'　
　Miss　Manette　had　taken　some　refreshment　on　the　road；　and　required　none　then；　and　was　extremely　anxious　to　see　the　gentleman　from　Tellson's　immediately；　if　it　suited　his　pleasure　and　convenience。　
　The　gentleman　from　Tellson's　had　nothing　left　for　it　but　to　empty　his　glass　with　an　air　of　stolid　desperation；　settle　his　odd　little　flaxen　wig　at　the　ears；　and　follow　the　waiter　to　Miss　Manette's　apartment。　It　was　a　large；　dark　room；　furnished　in　a　funereal　manner　with　black　horsehair；　and　loaded　with　heavy　dark　tables。　These　had　been　oiled；　until　the　two　tall　candles　on　the　table　in　the　of　the　room　were　gloomily　reflected　on　every　leaf；　were　buried；　in　deep　graves　of　black　mahogany；　and　to　speak　of　could　be　expected　from　them　until　the　dug　out。　
　The　obscurity　was　so　difficult　to　penetrate　that　Mr　Lorry；　picking　his　way　over　the　well…worn　Turkey　carpet；　supposed　Miss　Manette　to　be；　for　the　moment；　in　some　adjacent　room；　until；　having　got　past　the　two　tall　candles；　he　saw　to　receive　him　by　the　table　between　them　and　the　young　lady　of　not　more　than　seventeen；　in　a　riding…cloak；　and　still　holding　her　straw　travelling…hat　by　its　ribbon　in　her　hand。　As　his　eyes　rested　on　a　short；　slight；　pretty　figure；　a　quantity　of　golden　hair；　a　pair　of　blue　eyes　that　met　his　own　with　an　inquiring　look；　and　a　forehead　with　a　singular　capacity　（remembering　how　young　and　smooth　it　was　of　lifting　and　knitting　itself　into　an　expression　that　was　not　quite　one　of　perplexity；　or　wonder；　or　alarm　or　merely　of　a　bright　fixed　attention；　though　is　included　all　the　four　expressionsas　his　eyes　rested　on　these　things；　a　sudden　vivid　likeness　passed　before　him；　of　a　child　whom　he　had　held　in　his　arms　on　the　passage　across　that　very　Channel；　one　cold　time；　when　the　hail　drifted　heavily　and　the　sea　ran　high。　The　likeness　passed　away；　like　a　breath　along　the　surface　of　the　gaunt　pier…glass　behind　her；　on　the　frame　of　which；　a　hospital　procession　of　negro　cupids；　several　head…less　and　all　cripples；　were　offering　black　baskets　of　Dead　Sea　fruit　to　black　divinities　of　the　feminine　genderand　he　made　his　formal　bow　to　Miss　Manette。　
　‘Pray　take　a　seat；　sir。'　In　a　very　clear　and　pleasant　young　voice；　a　little　foreign　in　its　accent；　but　a　very　little　indeed。　
　‘I　kiss　your　hand；　miss；'　said　Mr。　Lorry；　with　the　manners　of　an　earlier　date；　as　he　made　his　formal　bow　again；　and　took　his　seat。　
　‘I　received　a　letter　from　the　Bank；　sir；　yesterday；　informing　me　that　some　intelligenceor　discovery…　
　‘The　word　is　not　material；　miss；　either　word　will　do。'　
　‘respecting　the　small　property　of　my　poor　father；　whom　I　never　sawso　long　dead…'　
　Mr。　Lorry　moved　in　his　chair；　and　cast　a　troubled　look　towards　the　hospital　procession　of　negro　cupids。　As　if　they　had　any　help　for　anybody　in　their　absurd　baskets！　
　‘rendered　it　necessary　that　I　should　go　to　Paris；　there　to　communicate　with　a　gentleman　of　the　Bank；　so　good　as　to　be　despatched　to　Paris　for　the　purpose。'　
　‘Myself'　
　‘As　I　was　prepared　to　hear；　sir。'　
　She　curtseyed　to　him　（young　ladies　made　curtseys　in　those　days）；　with　a　pretty　desire　to　convey　to　him　that　she　felt　how　much　older　and　wiser　he　was　than　she。　He　made　her　another　bow。　
　‘I　replied　to　the　Bank；　sir；　that　as　it　was　considered　necessary；　by　those　who　know；　and　who　are　so　kind　as　to　advise　me；　that　I　should　go　to　France；　and　that　as　I　am　an　orphan　and　have　no　friend　who　could　go　with　me；　I　should　esteem　it　highly　if　I　might　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