ladyand I was one of the trustees. His affairs, like the affairs of

many other French gentlemen and French families, were entirely

in Tellson’s hands. In a similar way I am, or I have been, trustee of

one kind or other for scores of our customers. These are mere

business relations, miss; there is no friendship in them, no

particular interest, nothing like sentiment. I have passed from one

to another, in the course of my business life, just as I pass from

one of our customers to another in the course of my business day;

in short, I have no feelings; I am a mere machine. To go on”

“But this is my father’s story, sir; and I begin to think”the

curiously roughened forehead was very intent upon him“that

when I was left an orphan through my mother’s surviving my

father only two years, it was you who brought me to England. I am

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

almost sure it was you.”

Mr. Lorry took the hesitating little hand that confidingly

advanced to take his, and he put it with some ceremony to his lips.

He then conducted the young lady straightway to her chair again,

and, holding the chair-back with his left hand, and using his right

hand by turns to rub his chin, pull his wig at the ears, or point

what he said, stood looking down into her face while she sat

looking up into his.

“Miss Manette, it was I. And you will see how truly I spoke of

myself just now, in saying I had no feelings, and that all the

relations I hold with my fellow-creatures are mere business

relations, when you reflect that I have never seen you since. No;

you have been the ward of Tellson’s House since, and I have been

busy with the other business of Tellson’s House since. Feelings! I

have no time for them, no chance of them. I pass my whole life,

miss, in turning an immense pecuniary Mangle.”

After this odd description of his daily routine of employment,

Mr. Lorry flattened his flaxen wig upon his head with both hands

(which was most unnecessary, for nothing could be flatter than its

shining surface was before), and resumed his former attitude.

“So far, miss (as you have remarked), this is the story of your

regretted father. Now comes the difference. If your father had not

died when he didDon’t be frightened! How you start!”

She did, indeed, start. And she caught his wrist with both her

hands.

“Pray,” said Mr. Lorry, in a soothing tone, bringing his left

hand from the back of the chair to lay it on the supplicatory

fingers that clasped him in so violent a tremble: “pray control your

agitationa matter of business. As I was saying” Her look so

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

discomposed him that he stopped, wandered, and began anew:

“As I was saying: if Monsieur Manette had not died; if he had

suddenly and silently disappeared; if he had been spirited away; if

it had not been difficult to guess to what dreadful place, though no

art could trace him; if he had an enemy in some compatriot who

could exercise a privilege that I in my own time have known the