Two Cities

Chapter 50 Knock on the Door
"I've got him out." It was true, he was really at home.But his wife was still trembling and seemed to be afraid.

The air around is thick and dark, the hearts of the people are impetuous and eager for revenge, and innocent people are always killed by unnecessary suspicion and malicious slander.It is unforgettable that misfortune happens every day to as innocent and loved as her husband, who only narrowly escaped.Therefore, although she feels that she should be relaxed, there is always invisible pressure.In the winter afternoon, the shadow of night has gradually descended, but there are still people's death carts rumbling through the street.Her heart followed him unknowingly, looking for him among the people sentenced to death, so she hugged his real body even tighter, and became more afraid.

To make her happier, her father showed a kind of condescending sympathy for her feminine weaknesses, which was very interesting.Now there are no more attics, leather shoes, and North Tower 0!He followed his plan and succeeded, fulfilling his promise, and rescued Charles.They can all rely on him!
They lived extremely frugally, not only because it was the safest and least likely to be criticized, but also because they were not rich.Throughout his imprisonment, Charles had to pay guard fees, buy cheap food at high prices, and support poorer fellow prisoners.They also don't want to have a stranger in the house for the reasons above, they don't have someone hired.Two citizens, a man and a woman who acted as porters at the gate, sometimes helped them.Jerry became their daily footman, and slept there every night--Mr. Lorry had taken him for one of them.

One and indivisible republic of liberty, equality, fraternity, or death has a rule that every door or post shall be clearly written with the name of every resident of the household in letters large enough to be easily seen by others.Hence Mr. Cruncher's name was honored on the doorposts of the house.Towards dusk that afternoon the man with that name appeared.He had just supervised the addition of "Charles Evermond, aka Darnay" to the list by a painter brought in by Dr. Manette.

In the atmosphere of the time, the everyday innocuous way of life was transformed.Like many families, the doctor's small family buys small quantities of daily necessities in various small shops at night.Do not want others to see, try to avoid gossip, or make people jealous.For many months Miss Pross and Mr. Cruncher were on purchasing errands.The former carried money, while the latter carried a basket, and set off to buy household necessities every afternoon, roughly when the street lights were on.Miss Pross, who had been with a French family for many years, might have learned them without an accent if she had been willing, for she had no plan of her own.So her level of "bullshit" (as she liked to call it in French) was fairly mediocre.So, her way of buying things is: tell the shop owner a noun, and don't say anything to the boss. made.No matter how much the thing is, she always holds out one finger less than the merchant, thinking that it is a fair price, and such a price is always lower.

"Now, Mr. Cruncher," said Miss Pross, her eyes bright with joy, "if you're ready, I'm ready."

Jerry rustled and offered to serve Miss Pross.The rust on his body is long gone, but the barbed wire remains the same.

"Too much to buy," said Miss Pross. "Time is precious. And to buy wine. No matter what shop you buy them from, these people are drinking!"

"Whether they're toasting your health or the old wretch's, I don't think you know why," Jerry answered.

"Who's that old wretch you speak of?" said Miss Pross.Mr. Cruncher was not too pleased with Miss Pross's question, explaining that he meant "old Satan". "Ha!" said Miss Pross, "I can understand, they have only one sentence, to kill, to kill, to kill in the middle of the night." !"

cried Lucy.

"Yes, yes, I'm careful," said Miss Pross, "and I can tell you, I wish there were no more casual hugs everywhere in the street, so I can't breathe. Little bird, Don't you leave the fireplace until I come back! Take care of your dear husband who has just been rescued! Keep your head on his shoulder as it is now, until the next time we meet! Before I go, May I ask you a word, Doctor Manette?"

"Of course," said the doctor with a smile. "Dear me, talk of that? We've got enough freedom," said Miss Pross. "Keep it down, dear! Are you talking nonsense again?" protested Lucy. "Well, my dear," said Miss Pross, nodding her head with all her strength, "the point is that I am a subject of the most merciful Majesty George III," she curtseyed at the mention of the name, "as a subject, I What I believe in is: smashing the conspiracy of the other generation, thwarting the conspiracy of the other generation, the king is what I hope for, and God bless my king without any worries!"

Mr. Cruncher's devotion was aroused, and he began to read in a low voice after Miss Pross as if in church.

"You're quite English, and I'm glad, though I hope your throat is better," Miss Pross praised him. "The question now is, Dr. Are you escaping from here?" — This good elder sister always pretended to be indifferent to everyone's worries, but she asked inadvertently.

"I don't think so. It would be dangerous to Charles." "Ah-ah-hmm!" Miss Pross changed her mind at the sight of her beloved's golden hair in the firelight, but still feigned joy. The look suppressed the sigh. "Then we'll just have to wait quietly. That's it. As my brother Solomon used to say, we must keep our heads high and watch every opportunity. Come on, Mr. Cruncher!—you're here, little bird." Son!"

They went out, leaving Lucy, her husband, her father, and the little one by the bright fire.Mr. Lorry was coming back from the Bank Building soon, and Miss Pross had just lit a lamp, which was not placed in the middle, so that everyone could enjoy the roaring fire without feeling too bright.Little Lucy sat beside her grandfather with her arms around him, and her grandfather began to tell her stories in a low voice.It tells the story of a powerful fairy who broke through the prison wall to rescue a prisoner. The fairy had been helped by the prisoner.All the voices were low, and Lucy felt more at ease than ever.

"What's that?" She suddenly yelled. "Honey!" her father stopped the story and put his hand on hers. "Take it easy. You're too confused! A little thing--nothing happens--and you'll be amazed! You're still Is it your father's daughter?"

"I think, Father," Lucy explained with a pale face and a weak tone, "I heard strange footsteps on the stairs."

"My dear, the stairs are quiet and there is no sound." He had just said this when the door slammed. "Oh, papa, papa, what's the matter! Hide Charles and save him!"

"Honey," the doctor stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. "He's been set free. How weak you are, baby! I'm going to open the door."

He took up the lamp, walked through the two rooms in the middle, and opened the door.With heavy steps on the floor, four rough men in red caps, sabers and pistols came in.

"Citizen Evermond, aka Darnay," said one of them. "Did you look for him?" Darnay answered. "Yes. We're looking for him. I know you, Evremonde, I saw you in court today. The Republic is arresting you again." Four men surrounded him, and he stood, his wife and daughter close with him.

"What's the reason? Tell me." "You just have to go back to the Inquisition Prison immediately. You'll be interrogated tomorrow."

The doctor was bewildered by the sudden visitor, and he stood motionless with a lamp in his hand.After hearing this, he took action, put down the lamp, walked up to the speaker, grabbed the loose front of his woolen shirt and said:
"You say you know him, but do you know me?" "Of course, Citizen Doctor." "We all know you, Citizen Doctor," said the other three.He looked at them suspiciously for a while, then lowered his voice and said, "So, can you answer my previous question? What happened?"

"Citizen Doctor," said the first reluctantly, "the St. Antoines think he has been accused. This citizen is from the St. Antoines," he said, pointing to the second one. people.

The man nodded, and added: "Saint Antoine denounced him." "For what reason?" asked the doctor.

"Doctor Citizen," said the first man, still in the same tone as before, "you don't need to know the reason. Since the republic demands sacrifices from you, you must, as a good patriot. The republic above all. The people above all. Evermond, we're busy."

"One more question," the doctor begged, "can you tell me who did this?"

"It's not allowed by the rules," said the first, "but you can ask this guy from St. Antoine."

The doctor turned to look at the man, who stood restlessly, wiped his beard, and said:

"Yes! It's against the rules. But the accusers—the serious ones—are the Citizen Defarges. There's one more."

"Who?" "Is there anything else you need to know, Doctor Citizen?" "Yes."

"Then," said the St. Antoine with a curious expression, "you'll know tomorrow, and I can't say anything now!"

(End of this chapter)