Two Cities

Chapter 13 Disappointment (2)
The blowflies buzzed again. "Miss Manette, it is your duty to testify in court. You must testify, and you cannot escape. If the prisoner can't understand your feeling that you don't want to testify, he is the only one who doesn't understand you. Please continue." "He told me he was working on something that was likely to spell disaster for someone else, so he was traveling under a false name. He said he had been to France a few days ago for it, and would probably be going back and forth between France and England. We've been together for a long time."

"Did he talk about America, Miss Manette? Be more precise." "He explained to me the history of the dispute, and said that, in his judgment at the time, England was wrong and stupid. He also joked that George Washington might go down in history, comparable to George III Deng Xiaoping. But he didn’t mean anything malicious when he said it, and he was still laughing when he said it, just to pass the time.”

In a moving performance under the gaze of a large crowd, the attention-grabbing facial expressions of the principal actors are imitated by the audience when they are not paying attention.When the girl presented these testimony, her forehead was clenched in pain, she was very anxious and nervous, and she stopped talking for a while and waited for the judge to record it, and carefully observed whether the lawyer agreed with her words.At this time, the audience in every corner of the court also showed the same expression.And as the judge looked up from his record to express his hatred for the outrageous remarks about George Washington, the look on the witness's face was immediately reflected on the foreheads of most of those present.

At this time, the Chief Prosecutor told Your Honor that in order to prevent accidents and also for formal needs, he felt that the lady's father, Dr. Manette, should be required to testify.Dr. Manette was called to appear in court.

"Dr. Manette, look at the prisoner. Have you ever seen him?" "Once. He visited me at my lodgings in London. That was about three or three and a half years ago." "You may Are you sure he is a passenger who has been on the cruise with you? What do you think of his conversation with your daughter?" "I can't answer both questions, my lord." "You can't answer what special reason. Did you?" He answered in a low voice, "Yes." "You have had misfortune in the country of your birth, and been imprisoned for a long time without trial or even charge, have you, Doctor Manette? "

He answered in a tone that touched every heart, "Long time in prison."

"Did you just get out at that time on the steamer you were talking about?"

"That's what they told me." "Have you no memory of the situation?" "No. Since sometime—I can't even tell when—from when I was in jail I made myself learn I went from making shoes until I found myself in London, living with my daughter who was with me at the moment. My daughter knew me well when the good God restored my faculties. But I can't even explain how she became acquainted with me. I have no memory of the whole process."

The Attorney General sat down, and so did the father and daughter.

At this time, the case took a bizarre turn.The main purpose of this case is to prove that five years ago on that Friday in November, the prisoner went south in the mail van with some co-convict who was pursuing. to create a false impression), and immediately turned back more than ten miles to a certain fortress and shipyard to collect information.A witness testified that the four criminals had been waiting for another person at the same time in the café of an inn in the city of the same fort and shipyard.The prisoner's defense attorney cross-examined the witness, only to find out that he had never seen the prisoner at any other time, and nothing else.At this time, the gentleman wearing a wig and looking at the ceiling of the court wrote a few words on a small note, rolled it up, and threw it to the lawyer.After reading the note, the lawyer watched the prisoner carefully and curiously for a while.

"Can you reiterate that you are sure that person is this prisoner?" The witness said that he was very sure. "Have you ever seen anyone who looked like this prisoner?" said the witness, who would not have mistaken any resemblance. "Look seriously at my learned friend, that gentleman over there,"

Pointing to the person who threw the note, the lawyer said, "Then take a closer look at the prisoner. What do you think? Don't they look alike?"

Except that my learned friend was somewhat careless, if not outrageous, in grooming, he was exactly like the prisoner.Comparing the two, not only the witness was shocked, but all the people present were also shocked.Everyone asked the judge to order "the learned friend" to take off the wig.The man reluctantly agreed.In this way, the two of them appear even more similar.The judge asked Stryver (the prisoner's lawyer) whether Carleton (that was the name of my learned friend) was to be tried for treason next.Mr. Stryver replied that it was not necessary, but he wanted the witness to say: Will what happened once happen a second time?Would he still be so convinced if he had seen the proof of his recklessness earlier?Was he still so convinced after he had seen proof of his recklessness?Will you be more convinced?As a result of repeated questioning, the testimony was smashed like a crockpot, and the role played by the witness in this case was refuted to the point of failure.

Mr. Cruncher had eaten a meal of rust off his fingers when he heard this.Now he must listen to Mr. Stryver reduce the prisoner's case to a tights for the jury.Mr. Stryver testified to the jury that Bartha, the patriot, was a hired spy and spy, a blood-dealer who never blushed, and the most shameless rascal since Judas the curse--and he Dey is indeed like Judas.He testified that the virtuous servant Clay was a well-deserved friend and partner of Barcelona.The two perjurers, who were perjurers, took a fancy to the prisoner, and wanted to make him a victim, for he was a Frenchman, and in France he had some domestic duties which required him to travel up and down the Channel.As for the housework, he would rather die than reveal it because it concerns the interests of some of his relatives and friends.But the twisted testimony they've wrought from this young lady is really nothing at all (you've seen the pain she suffered when she gave it), and it's just a small friendship between young men and women who meet by chance like this It was a polite exercise—except for the reference to Washington, which was too extreme a part of the party rules, but could only be read as an exaggerated joke.If the government actually wants to restrict and establish its prestige by taking advantage of the most despicable national antagonism and fear (Mr. Attorney General has exaggerated this), it may only become a shortcoming of the government.It is a pity that such an approach is completely unfounded, except that the vicious and dishonorable nature of the testimony only distorts the image of this type of case.It can only fill our state trials with such cases.No sooner had he said this than the judge had put on a hard face, as if the statement were purely unfounded, and he could not sit on the bench and turn a deaf ear to such innuendos.

Mr. Stryver then proposed that several of his witnesses should be present.

The next moment Mr. Cruncher heard Mr. Solicitor turn over all the suits Mr. Stryver had cut for the jury.He said that Barcelona and Klay were even a hundred times better than he expected, and prisoners were a hundred times worse.At last your Honor spoke, and he turned the garment over and over again, and in general, must have recut it once, and converted it into a shroud for a prisoner.

Now, as the jury began to deliberate on the merits, the big flies buzzed again.

Even under such ups and downs, Mr. Carlton, who had been looking at the ceiling of the court, still did not move his body or change his attitude.While his knowledgeable friend Stryver gathered the papers before him, whispered to those around him, and looked anxiously at the jury now and then.While all the spectators are more or less walking around, forming separate talking circles.Even when our prosecutor had left his seat and was walking slowly up and down the stage, which did not necessarily make the audience suspect that he was nervous, the gentleman remained motionless in his chair.His barrister's robe was partly unbuttoned, and his loose wig was still buttoned up after it had been taken off.He put his hands in his pockets, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling.He had a very sloppy demeanor which not only seemed disrespectful but greatly diminished the undoubted resemblance between him and the prisoner (his momentary earnestness had been intensified when the two were compared just now. similar impression), so most of the viewers are now noticing him and exchanging opinions about how they thought they were so alike just now.That's what Mr. Cruncher told those around him.And he said, "I'll put a half-gold as surety, that man can't do law. He doesn't look like that, does he?"

However, this Mr. Carleton noticed more details of the scene than it appeared on the surface, because at this time Miss Manette's head was drooping on her father's chest, and he was the first to see it, and Said unequivocally, "Sir, watch out for that lady. Help that gentleman get her out. Can't you see she's about to pass out!"

When the girl was helped out, many people expressed their sympathy, and sympathy for her father.Bringing up his prison life again obviously made the old man miserable.When he was questioned, he was very excited. Since then, a thick cloud has covered him, and he has been thinking blankly, showing an old and weak appearance.After he appeared, the jury was seated again, and a moment later its foreman began to speak.

The jury was unanimous and wanted to retire.His Honor (perhaps with George Washington in mind) was surprised that they should be divided, pointed out that they must be watched and protected when they retired, and then retired himself.The trial has gone on for a day, and the courtroom lights have been lit.It was rumored that the jury would be out for a long time.The spectators stepped out for refreshments, and the prisoners retreated to sit behind the dock.

Mr. Lorry, who had accompanied the lady and her father out of court, reappeared at this moment.He gestured to Jerry.Now that interest had subsided, Jerry squeezed into his side without much effort.

"Jerry, if you want a snack, you can go now. But don't go too far. You have to be there when the jury comes back. Don't come back after them, because I need you to bring the verdict back to the bank right away. You are the fastest messenger I have ever seen, and you are much faster than me to get back to the gate of the law school." Jerry showed a little forehead, and he tapped his forehead with his knuckles, indicating that he accepted the task and also accepted an order.At this moment Mr. Carton came up and touched Mr. Lorry on the arm.

"How is the lady?" "She is very ill, her father is taking care of her, and she is better after being out of court."

"I can tell the prisoner that. It's not okay for a respectable banker like you to speak to him in public, and you know that."

Mr. Lorry blushed, as if realizing that he had indeed had such an inner struggle before.Mr Carleton went to the dock.The court exit is in that direction.Jerry followed closely behind, his eyes, ears, and even his hair full of barbed wire all focused on him.

"Mr. Darnay!" The prisoner came forward in this direction.

"Of course you are anxious to hear about the witness, Miss Manette. She will be well soon. She will be most excited when you see her."

"I am very sorry for making her suffer. Can you convey this to her? Also, I thank her from the bottom of my heart for all her hard work."

"Yes. If you ask, I can convey it for you." Mr. Carlton looked indifferent, almost impolite.He stood with half his back to the prisoner, his elbows languidly resting on the dock.

"Then I will make a request. Please accept my heartfelt thanks." "And you," said Carlton, still half turned from him, "what are you waiting for?" "The most unfortunate consequences."

"That is the wisest hope and the most probable consequence, however, I think it would be in your favor not to have a jury."

Stopping on the road near the courthouse was not permitted, so Jerry heard nothing else.He left these two people who looked alike but had completely different attitudes.The two people standing side by side are reflected in the mirror above their heads.

In the street outside, crowded with thieves and rogues, an hour and a half was hard to pass in spite of the mutton pies and ale.The husky-throated messenger sat down uncomfortably on a bench after his light meal, and fell asleep.Then there was a loud hum and a hurrying crowd against the court and the stairs, and he was swept away.

"Jerry! Jerry!" Mr. Lorry called to him from the door when he arrived.

"Here, sir! It's war to push back. Here I am, sir!"

Mr. Lorry slipped him a note in the crowd. "Quick, are you ready?"

"Take it, sir!" A few words were written on the note: "Acquitted."

"Even if your message is 'Resurrection of the Dead' again," Jerry turned around and whispered, "I'll understand what you mean."

There was no chance to say anything, or even to think, before he pushed his way out of Old Baylor, because the crowd was already pushing out like a flood and almost knocked him to the ground.A tumultuous stream of people rolled through the street, as if disappointed blowflies had parted again in search of other corpses.

(End of this chapter)