“They had conferred together until the last moment, when it

was necessary for the French gentlemen to be landed in their

boat.”

“Had any papers been handed about among them, similar to

these lists?”

“Some papers had been handed about among them, but I don’t

know what papers.”

“Like these in shape and size?”

“Possibly, but indeed I don’t know, although they stood

whispering very near to me: because they stood at the top of the

cabin steps to have the light of the lamp that was hanging there; it

was a dull lamp, and they spoke very low, and I did not hear what

they said, and saw only that they looked at papers.”

“Now, to the prisoner’s conversation, Miss Manette.”

“The prisoner was as open in his confidence with mewhich

arose out of my helpless situationas he was kind, and good, and

useful to my father. I hope,” bursting into tears, “I may not repay

him by doing him harm today.”

Buzzing from the blue-flies.

“Miss Manette, if the prisoner does not perfectly understand

that you give the evidence which it is your duty to givewhich you

must giveand which you cannot escape from givingwith great

unwillingness, he is the only person present in that condition.

Please to go on.”

“He told me that he was travelling on business of a delicate and

difficult nature, which might get people into trouble, and that he

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

was therefore travelling under an assumed name. He said that this

business had, within a few days, taken him to France, and might,

at intervals, take him backwards and forwards between France

and England for a long time to come.”

“Did he say anything about America, Miss Manette? Be

particular.”

“He tried to explain to me how that quarrel had arisen, and he

said that, so far as he could judge, it was a wrong and foolish one

on England’s part. He added, in a jesting way, that perhaps

George Washington might gain almost as great a name in history

as George the Third. But there was no harm in his way of saying

this: it was said laughingly, and to beguile the time.”

Any strongly marked expression of face on the part of a chief

actor in a scene of great interest to whom many eyes are directed,

will be unconsciously imitated by the spectators. Her forehead was

painfully anxious and intent as she gave this evidence, and, in the

pauses when she stopped for the judge to write it down, watched

its effect upon the counsel for and against. Among the lookers-on

there was the same expression in all quarters of the court;

insomuch, that a great majority of the foreheads there, might have

been mirrors reflecting the witness, when the Judge looked up

from his notes to glare at that tremendous heresy about George

Washington.