“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

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

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” After 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

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

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 French House, and had

beenoh! twenty years.”

“At that timeI may ask, at what time, sir?”

“I speak, miss, of twenty years ago. He marriedan English