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A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
69
DARNAY IS CONVICTED ON THE WRITTEN
CONFESSION MADE BY DR. MANETTE
WHEN CONFINED IN PRISON.
Lucie to embrace him, there, in the court room. If you had seen her, Carton !"
The old man's voice broke, and they walked silently for a few moments. Finally Carton spoke, thoughtfully, as if choosing every word.
"In my efforts of the last two days, I have had one success. I hold a power over one keeper in the Conciergerie, where Darnay is imprisoned. Thru this, I will be allowed access to the prisoner for a few moments tomorrow. Do not tell his wife of this; it could do no good, but listen, now, attentively, to my instructions/'
He put his hand in his coat and drew out a folded paper.
"This is the certificate which enables me, Sidney Carton, an Englishman, to pass out of the city. Keep it for me until tomorrow. You have the other passports, and money, and can buy the means of travelling quickly to the sea-coast, thence to England. Be in starting trim at two o'clock. Quietly and steadily have all these arrangements made, even to the taking of your own seat in the carriage. The moment my place is occupied, drive away. Promise me solemnly, Mr. Lorry, that nothing will influence you to alter the course on which we now stand pledged to each other."
"Nothing, Carton."
"Remember these words tomorrow: Change the course, or delay in it for any reason, and no life can possibly be
saved, and many lives must inevitably be lost. Now, goodnight."
Leaving Mr. Lorry, Carton walked slowly away. His manner tonight was not a reckless one. It was the settled manner of a tired man, who had wandered and struggled and was lost, but who had at last struck into his road and saw its end. He walked to the courtyard of the house where Lucie outwatched the awful night, and stood looking up at the light in her room. Before he went away he breathed a blessing towards it, and a farewell.
In the dark prison of the Conciergerie, the doomed of the day awaited their fate. Charles Darnay, alone in his cell, walked to and fro, as the clock struck the hours he would never hear again. Eleven gone forever; twelve gone forever; one gone forever; then, footsteps in the passage outside his cell.
The key grated in the lock, and Sidney Carton, holding up a silencing finger, stood before him.
"I bring you a request from your wife, dear Darnay," said Carton, abruptly. "You have no time to ask me why, or what it means, and I have no time to tell you. Take off those boots and draw on these of mine."
"Carton, there is no escaping from this place. It is madness. You will only die with me."
"Have I asked you to escape? Change that cravat for this of mine, and that coat for this of mine. Take
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DARNAY IS ALLOWED TO EMBRACE HIS WIFE BEFORE BEING TAKEN TO THE
DEATH CHAMBER.