Two Cities

Chapter 12 Disappointment (1)
Mr. Attorney General could not fail to tell the jury that the prisoner before them, though young, was a veteran of the treachery for which he would pay with his life.This common enemy, Litong, did not start today, nor did it start yesterday, nor did it start last year or the year before.The prisoner had been in and out of France and England a long time ago, and he was never able to account for his activities.If treason can flourish (which, fortunately, never can be), the evil and guilt of the real act cannot be exposed.Fortunately, God revealed a man who was not afraid of difficulties and dangers. He was surprised to understand the nature of the criminal's tricks, and he explained it to His Majesty's Minister of State and the most glorious Privy Council.The patriot was about to testify in court.This man's position and attitude are indeed sublime and great.He was originally a friend of the prisoner, but at that fortunate and inauspicious moment he discovered the shameless deeds of the criminal, so he made up his mind to send the traitor he could hardly respect and love to the sacred altar of the motherland.Prosecutors said that if Britain had a system of erecting statues of meritorious persons like ancient Greece and Rome, a statue would have been erected for this glorious citizen.But such regulations are temporarily vacant, and it seems difficult for him to obtain this statue.As the poet said, virtue may be contagious in a certain way. Apparently they were not aware of such passages), and the glorious virtue called patriotism, that is, love of one's country, is especially contagious.So this witness, this sublime example of spotless, impeccable, loyal to the Crown, this man who would have been admirable to speak of in spite of the humblest circumstances, got in touch with the prisoner's servant, and directed him to a noble resolution. To check his master's desk drawers and pockets, and hide his papers.The Attorney-General said that he knew that some people might have some reproaches for this venerable servant, but generally speaking, he valued the servant more than his brothers and sisters, and respected the servant more than his own parents.He confidently called on the jury to share his attitude.He said that the testimony of these two witnesses and the papers which they had discovered and were about to produce would show that the criminal possessed documents recording His Majesty's forces and the arrangements and planning of His Majesty's army and naval forces, and would prove beyond any doubt that he had regularly used information such as Handed over to a hostile power.Although these documents cannot be confirmed to be the handwriting of the criminal, it does not affect the overall situation, because it shows that the criminal is meticulous and has already prepared a way out for himself, so he should be punished even more.He said the evidence would go back five years and would show the criminal had been engaged in such criminal activity weeks before British troops first opened fire with North American citizens.All the above said, I deeply believe that the jury members who are loyal to the royal family and loyal to their duties will positively affirm that the criminal is unforgivable and should be executed, regardless of their attitude towards killing.Prosecutors said that if the prisoner's head was not beheaded, the jury members would not be able to sleep at night, and they would not tolerate their wives and children lying on their backs.In short, both the jury and the prosecutor agree that the perpetrator should be put to death, regardless of the perpetrator's attitude towards killing.

As soon as the Attorney General finished speaking, there was a "buzzing" sound in the courtroom, as if a swarm of blowflies were flying around the prisoner, waiting to see what he was about to become.After the uproar, the impeccable patriot took the witness stand.

The Solicitor-General then followed the example of his superior and questioned the patriot: the man was Mr. John Bartha.The story of his pure soul was exactly as told by Mr. Attorney General, if it had faults, it was probably told a little too accurately.He could have withdrawn humbly after he had laid down the burden on his noble heart, but the wigged gentleman, who sat not far from Mr. Lorry with a pile of papers before him, demanded that he Some Problems.At this time, another gentleman wearing a wig sitting opposite him was still looking at the ceiling of the court.

Had he ever been a spy himself?No, he despises such base hints.What does he live on?by his property.Where is his property?He doesn't know either.What property?That's nobody's business.Is it inherited?Yes, inherited.Where did it come from?a distant relative.Is it far?Somewhat far.Ever been in prison?of course not.Never been to jail for debt?Not sure what this has to do with the case.Never been to jail for debt? —Come on, answer again.Never been to jail?sat.how many times?Two or three times.Isn't it five or six times?may be.what occupation?gentleman.Have you ever been kicked?Maybe.Do you often get kicked?No.Kicked down the stairs?Certainly not.Once got kicked on the top of the stairs and rolled down the stairs by himself.Is it because of a fake dice roll?The drunk who kicked me said something about it, but that can't be believed.Can you swear it's not true?Sure can.Have you ever made a living by cheating at gambling?there has never been.Have you ever made a living from gambling before?No better than other gentlemen.Have you ever borrowed money from this prisoner?Excuse me.Have you paid off?No.Was the remote friendship with the prisoner forged in the carriage, in the hotel, and on the mail-boat?no.Surely he saw the prisoners with these papers?affim.Don't know anything else about files?have no idea.Can't think of a way to get it?No.Do you estimate in advance that you will benefit from this testimonial?No such thoughts.Isn't it hired by the government to accept formal subsidies to frame others?Oh my God, no.or something else?Oh my God, no.Can I swear?Can swear again and again.No motive other than pure patriotism?There is no other motive.

Roger Clay, the virtuous servant, took the oath very quickly.He started working for the prisoner four years ago, simply and simply.On the Calais steamer he asked the prisoner if he wanted a handyman, and the prisoner hired him.Not hired because the prisoner was poor - never thought of such a thing.He became suspicious of the prisoner, and then began to spy on him.He had seen similar documents in his pockets many times while packing prisoner clothes on his travels.These papers have been taken from prisoner drawers before.It wasn't put in beforehand.He had seen the prisoners at Calais show these documents to the French.See him again at Calais and Bologna showing the same documents to the French.He loved his country and was filled with righteous anger, so he exposed him.Never been suspected of stealing a silver teapot.Got wronged once for a mustard jug that was actually silver plated.He and the witness had known each other for seven or eight years, purely by coincidence.He didn't say it was a particularly bizarre coincidence.Most coincidences are a little bit out of the ordinary.Genuine patriotism was also his only motive.He didn't call it an odd coincidence.He was a true Briton, and I hope many are like him.

The blowflies buzzed again.Mr. Attorney-General summons Mr. Jarvis Lowry.

"Mr. Jarvis Lorry, are you an employee of Tellson's Bank?"

"Yes." "Did you ever travel by mail coach from London to Dover on a Friday evening in November 770?" "Yes."

"Are there any other passengers in the car?" "Two." "Did they get off in the middle of the night?" "Yes."

"Mr. Lorry, look at the prisoner. Is he one of the two travelers?"

"I can't say with certainty that he is." "Does he look like one of the two travelers?" "They're both packed up, it's dark, and we're all so closed off, I don't know." Not even certain of his resemblance." "Mr. Lorry, look at the prisoner again. If he wraps himself up like the two travelers, does he have the size and build of them?" "No Like." "Won't you swear that he wasn't one of those two, Mr. Lorry?" "No."

"You mean, then, that he could have been one of the two?" "Yes. I remember that both of them were timid, as afraid of robbers as I was. But the prisoner had no air of timidity. " "Have you ever seen someone pretend to be timid, Mr. Lorry?" "Of course." "Mr. Lorry, look at the prisoner again. Are you sure you've seen him before?" "Yes."

"When is it?"

"I returned from France a few days after that, and the prisoner boarded the steamer I was in at Calais, and traveled with me."

"What time did he get on the boat?" "Shortly after midnight."

"It was the dead of night. Was he the only one on board at that inconvenient hour?"

"He happened to be the only one." "Never mind whether it happened or not, he was the only one who got on board in the dead of night, didn't he?" "Yes."

"Are you traveling alone, Mr. Lorry? Is there anyone with you?"

"There were two traveling together, a gentleman and a lady. They are both here now."

"It's all here. Have you spoken to the prisoner, then?"

"I didn't talk much. There was a storm that day, the boat shook very badly, and the road was long. I spent almost the whole time lying on the sofa."

"Miss Manette!"

The young lady that everyone used to search for with their eyes is now attracting everyone's attention.She rose from her seat, and her father followed him—he didn't want her to let go of his arm.

"Miss Manette, please look at this prisoner." It was more difficult for the defendant to face such sincere youth and beauty, to face such pity, than to face the whole crowd present.He seemed to be standing on the edge of a grave facing her.At this time, all the eyes staring at him with curiosity could not give him the strength to keep quiet.With his busy right hand, he combined the herbs at hand to form the flowers in the imaginary garden.He tried so hard to catch his breath that his lips trembled, and the blood rushed from his lips to his heart.The buzzing of the big fly sounded again.

"Miss Manette, have you ever seen the prisoner?" "Yes, sir."

"Where?" "On the steamer just mentioned, sir, at the same time." "Are you the lady just mentioned?" "Ah! unfortunately, yes!" The mournful voice of sympathy mingled with the judge's less melodious voice.The judge solemnly said: "What to ask you, what to answer, and don't express other opinions."

"Miss Manette, did you speak to the prisoner while crossing the Channel?"

"I said, sir." "Think about it."

She said in a small voice in the deep silence: "When the gentleman got on board—" "Do you mean the prisoner?" asked the Judge, frowning.

"Yes, my lord." "Call him a prisoner!"

"When the prisoner got on the boat, he saw that my father was very tired and weak," she said, turning her head to look at her father standing beside her affectionately. "My father was very tired. I was afraid that he was short of air, so I I made a temporary berth for him on the deck next to the cabin steps, and sat on the deck beside him to attend to him. There were no other passengers that night but the four of us. The good prisoner kept persuading me He told me how to arrange to keep my father safe from the wind and rain - I don't know how to do it, and I don't know what the weather will be like when we are out of port. It's all up to him. He helped me .He was very concerned about my father's illness, and I believe it was from his heart. That's how we talked."

"Let me interject. Did he come aboard alone?" "No."

"Anyone with him?" "Two Frenchmen." "Are they talking?"

"They talked together until the two Frenchmen were going ashore in a small boat."

"Have they passed files like these between them?" "There have been some files, but I don't know what." "Is it the same size and shape as these files?" "Maybe, but I don't really know." I know, though they were whispering very close to me: for they were standing on the top of the cabin stairs, by the light overhead. The light was so dim, and their voices so small, that I could not hear what they were saying. What, I saw that they had read some manuscripts."

"Well, tell me about your conversation with the prisoner, Miss Manette." "The prisoner spoke to me without reservation, because I was in a difficult position. He was also very concerned, kind, and helpful to my father. ’ she wept. "I don't want to repay him with injury today."

(End of this chapter)