Sheheldhimcloserroundtheneck,androckedhimonherbreastlikeachild.
　　`If'whenItellyou,dearestdear,thatyouragonyisover,andthatIhavecomeheretotakeyoufromit,andthatwegotoEnglandtobeatpeaceandatrest,Icauseyoutothinkofyourusefullifelaidwaste,andofournativeFrancesowickedtoyou,weepforit,weepforit!Andif'whenIshalltellyouofmyname,andofmyfatherwhoisliving,andofmymotherwhoisdead,youlearnthatIhavetokneeltomyhonouredfather,andimplorehispardonforhavingneverforhissakestrivenalldayandlainawakeandweptallnight,becausetheloveofmypoormotherhidhistorturefromme,weepforit,weepforit!Weepforher,then,andforme!Goodgentlemen,thankGod!Ifeelhissacredtearsuponmyface,andhissobsstrikeagainstmyheart.O,seeThankGodforus,thankGod!'
　　Hehadsunkinherarms,andhisfacedroppedonherbreast:asightsotouching,yetsoterribleinthetremendouswrongandsufferingwhichhadgonebeforeit,thatthetwobeholderscoveredtheirfaces.
　　Whenthequietofthegarrethadbeenlongundisturbed,andhisheavingbreastandshakenformhadlongyieldedtothecalmthatmustfollowallstorms——emblemtohumanity,oftherestandsilenceintowhichthestormcalledLifemusthushatlast——theycameforwardtoraisethefatheranddaughterfromtheground.Hehadgraduallydroppedtothefloor,andlaythereinalethargy,wornout.Shehadnestleddownwithhim,thathisheadmightlieuponherarm;andherhairdroopingoverhimcurtainedhimfromthelight.
　　`If,withoutdisturbinghim,'shesaid,raisingherhandtoMr.Lorryashestoopedoverthem,afterrepeatedblowingsofhisnose,`allcouldbearrangedforourleavingParisatonce,sothat,fromtheverydoor,hecouldbetakenaway——'
　　`But,consider.Ishefitforthejourney?'askedMr.Lorry.
　　`Morefitforthat,Ithink,thantoremaininthiscity,sodreadfultohim.'
　　`Itistrue,'saidDefarge,whowaskneelingtolookonandhear.`Morethanthat;MonsieurManetteis,forallreasons,bestoutofFrance.Say,shallIhireacarriageandpost-horses?'
　　`That'sbusiness,'saidMr.Lorry,resumingontheshortestnoticehismethodicalmanners;`andifbusinessistobedune,Ihadbetterdoit.'
　　`Thenbesokind,'urgedMissManette,`astoleaveushere.Youseehowcomposedhehasbecome,andyoucannotbeafraidtoleavehimwithmenow.Whyshouldyoube?Ifyouwilllockthedoortosecureusfrominterruption,Idonotdoubtthatyouwillfindhim,whenyoucomeback,asquietasyouleavehim.Inanycase,Iwilltakecareofhimuntilyoureturn,andthenwewillremovehimstraight.'
　　BothMr.LorryandDefargewereratherdisinclinedtothiscourse,andinfavourofoneofthemremaining.But,astherewerenotonlycarriageandhorsestobeseento,buttravellingpapers;andastimepressed,forthedaywasdrawingtoanend,itcameatlasttotheirhastilydividingthebusinessthatwasnecessarytobedone,andhurryingawaytodoit.
　　Then,asthedarknessclosedin,thedaughterlaidherheaddownonthehardgroundcloseatthefather'sside,andwatchedhim.Thedarknessdeepenedanddeepened,andtheybothlayquiet,untilalightgleamedthroughthechinksinthewall.
　　Mr.LorryandMonsieurDefargehadmadeallreadyforthejourney,andhadbroughtwiththem,besidestravellingcloaksandwrappers,breadandmeat,wine,andhotcoffee.MonsieurDefargeputthisprovender,andthelamphecarried,ontheshoemaker'sbenchtherewasnothingelseinthegarretbutapalletbed,andheandMr.Lorryrousedthecaptive,andassistedhimtohisfeet.
　　Nohumanintelligencecouldhavereadthemysteriesofhismind,inthescaredblankwonderofhisface.Whetherheknewwhathadhappened,whetherherecollectedwhattheyhadsaidtohim,whetherheknewthathewasfree,werequestionswhichnosagacitycouldhavesolved.Theytriedspeakingtohim;but,hewassoconfused,andsoveryslowtoanswer,thattheytookfrightathisbewilderment,andagreedforthetimetotamperwithhimnomore.Hehadawild,lostmannerofoccasionallyclaspinghisheadinhishands,thathadnotbeenseeninhimbefore;yet,hehadsomepleasureinthemeresoundofhisdaughter'svoice,andinvariablyturnedtoitwhenshespoke.
　　Inthesubmissivewayofonelongaccustomedtoobeyundercoercion,heateanddrankwhattheygavehimtoeatanddrink,andputonthecloakandotherwrappings,thattheygavehimtowear.Hereadilyrespondedtohisdaughter'sdrawingherarmthroughhis,andtook——andkept——herhandinbothhisown.
　　Theybegantodescend;MonsieurDefargegoingfirstwiththelamp,Mr.Lorryclosingthelittleprocession.Theyhadnottraversedmanystepsofthelongmainstaircasewhenhestopped,andstaredattheroofandroundatthewalls.
　　`Youremembertheplace,myfather?Youremembercominguphere?
　　`Whatdidyousay?'
　　But,beforeshecouldrepeatthequestion,hemurmuredananswerasifshehadrepeatedit.
　　`Remember?No,Idon'tremember.Itwassoverylongago.'
　　Thathehadnorecollectionwhateverofhishavingbeenbroughtfromhisprisontothathouse,wasapparenttothem.Theyheardhimmutter,`OneHundredandFive,NorthTower;'andwhenhelookedabouthim,itevidentlywasforthestrongfortress-wallswhichhadlongencompassedhim.Ontheirreachingthecourtyardheinstinctivelyalteredhistread,asbeinginexpectationofadrawbridge;andwhentherewasnodrawbridge,andhesawthecarriagewaitingintheopenstreet,hedroppedhisdaughter'shandandclaspedhisheadagain.
　　Nocrowdwasaboutthedoor;nopeoplewerediscernibleatanyofthemanywindows;notevenachancepasser-bywasinthestreet.Anunnaturalsilenceanddesertionreignedthere.Onlyonesoulhastobeseen,andthatwasMadameDefarge——wholeanedagainstthedoor-post,knitting,andsawnothing.
　　Theprisonerhadgotintoacoach,andhisdaughterhadfollowedhim,whenMr.Lorry'sfeetwerearrestedonthestepbyhisasking,miserably,forhisshoemakingtoolsandtheunfinishedshoes.MadameDefargeimmediatelycalledtoherhusbandthatshewouldgetthem,andwent,knitting,outofthelamplight,throughthecourt-yard.Shequicklybroughtthemdownandhandedthemin;——andimmediatelyafterwardsleanedagainstthedoor-post,knitting,andsawnothing.
　　Defargegotuponthebox,andgavetheword`TotheBarrier!'Thepostilioncrackedhiswhip,andtheyclatteredawayundertheFeebleoverswinginglamps.
　　Undertheover-swinginglamps——swingingeverbrighterinthebetterstreets,andeverdimmerintheworse——andbylightedshops,gaycrowds,illuminatedcoffee-houses,andtheatre-doors,tooneofthecitygates.Soldierswithlanterns,attheguard-housethere.`Yourpapers,travellers!'`Seeherethen,MonsieurtheOfficer,'saidDefarge,gettingdown,andtakinghimgravelyapart,`thesearethepapersofmonsieurinside,withthewhitehead.Theywereconsignedtome,withhim,atthe——'Hedroppedhisvoice,therewasaflutteramongthemilitarylanterns,andoneofthembeinghandedintothecoachbyanarminuniform,theeyesconnectedwiththearmlooked,notanevery-dayoranevery-nightlook,atmonsieurwiththewhitehead.`Itiswell.Forward!'fromtheuniform.`Adieu!'fromDefarge.Andso,underashortgroveoffeeblerandfeebleroverswinginglamps,outunderthegreatgroveofstars.
　　Beneaththatarchofunmovedandeternallights;some,soremotefromthislittleearththatthelearnedtellusitisdoubtfulwhethertheirrayshaveevenyetdiscoveredit,asapointinspacewhereanythingissufferedordone:theshadowsofthenightwerebroadandblack.Allthroughthecoldandrestlessinterval,untildawn,theyoncemorewhisperedintheearsofMr.JarvisLorry——sittingoppositetheburiedmanwhohadbeendugout,andwonderingwhatsubtlepowerswereforeverlosttohim,andwhatwerecapableofrestoration——theoldinquiry:
　　`Ihopeyoucaretoberecalledtolife?'
　　Andtheoldanswer:
　　`Ican'tsay.'
　　TELLSON'SBankbyTempleBarwasanold-fashionedplace,evenintheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeighty.Itwasverysmall,verydark,veryugly,veryincommodious.Itwasanold-fashionedplace,moreover,inthemoralattributethatthepartnersintheHousewereproudofitssmallness,proudofitsdarkness,proudofitsugliness,proudofitsincommodiousness.Theywereevenboastfulofitseminenceinthoseparticulars,andwerefiredbyanempressconvictionthat,ifitwerelessobjectionable,itwouldbelessrespectable.Thiswasnopassivebelief,butanactiveweaponwhichtheyflashedatmoreconvenientplacesofbusiness.Tellson'stheysaidwantednoelbow-room,Tellson'swantednolight,Tellson'swantednoembellishment.NoakesandCo.'smight,orSnooksBrothers'might;butTellson's,thankHeaven!——
　　AnyoneofthesepartnerswouldhavedisinheritedhissononthequestionofrebuildingTellson's.InthisrespecttheHousewasmuchonaparwiththeCountry;whichdidveryoftendisinherititssonsforsuggestingimprovementsinlawsandcustomsthathadlongbeenhighlyobjectionable,butwereonlythemorerespectable.
　　Thusithadcometopass,thatTellson'swasthetriumphantperfectionofinconvenience.Afterburstingopenadoorofidioticobstinacywithaweakrattleinitsthroat,youfellintoTellson'sdowntwosteps,andcametoyoursensesinamiser-ablelittleshop,withtwolittlecounters,wheretheoldestofmenmadeyourchequeshakeasifthewindrustledit,whiletheyexaminedthesignaturebythedingiestofwindows,whichwerealwaysunderashower-bathofmudfromFleet-street,andwhichweremadethedingierbytheirownironbarsproper,andtheheavyshadowofTempleBar.Ifyourbusinessnecessitatedyourseeing`theHouse,'youwereputintoaspeciesofCondemnedHoldattheback,whereyoumeditatedonamisspentlife,untiltheHousecamewithitshandsinitspockets,andyoucouldhardlyblinkatitinthedismaltwilight.Yourmoneycameoutof'orwentinto,wormyoldwoodendrawers,particlesofwhichflewupyournoseanddownyourthroatwhentheywereopenedandshut.Yourbank-noteshadamustyodour,asiftheywerefastdecomposingintoragsagain.Yourplatewasstowedawayamongtheneighbouringcesspools,andevilcommunicationscorrupteditsgoodpolishinadayortwo.Yourdeedsgotintoextemporisedstrong-roomsmadeofkitchensandsculleries,andfrettedallthefatoutoftheirparchmentsintothebankinghouseair.Yourlighterboxesoffamilypaperswentup-stairsintoaBarmecideroom,thatalwayshadagreatdining-tableinitandneverhadadinner,andwhere,evenintheyearonethousandsevenhundredandeighty,thefirstletterswrittentoyoubyyouroldlove,orbyyourlittlechildren,werebutnewlyreleasedfromthehorrorofbeingogledthroughthewindows,bytheheadsexposedonTempleBarwithaninsensatebrutalityandferocityworthyofAbyssiniaorAshantee.
　　Butindeed,atthattime,puttingtodeathwasarecipemuchinvoguewithalltradesandprofessions,andnotleastofallwithTellson's.DeathisNature'sremedyforallthings,andwhynotLegislation's?Accordingly,theforgerwasputtodeath;theuttererofabadnotewasputtoDeath;theunlawfulopenerofaletterwasputtoDeath;thepurloineroffortyshillingsandsixpencewasputtoDeath;theholderofahorseatTellson'sdoor,whomadeoffwithit,wasputtoDeath;thecoinerofabadshillingwasputtoDeath;thesoundersofthree-fourthsofthenotesinthewholegamutofGrime,wereputtoDeath.Notthatitdidtheleastgoodinthewayofprevention——itmightalmosthavebeenworthremarkingthatthefactwasexactlythereverse——but,itclearedoffastothisworldthetroubleofeachparticularcase,andleftnothingelseconnectedwithittobelookedafter.Thus,Tellson's,initsday,likegreaterplacesofbusiness,itscontemporaries,hadtakensomanylives,that,iftheheadslaidlowbeforeithadbeenrangedonTempleBarinsteadofbeingprivatelydisposedof'theywouldprobablyhaveexcludedwhatlittlelightthegroundfloorhad,inarathersignificantmanner.
　　CrampedinallkindsofdimcupboardsandhutchesatTellson's,theoldestofmencarriedonthebusinessgravely.
　　WhentheytookayoungmanintoTellson'sLondonhouse,theyhidhimsomewheretillhewasold.Theykepthiminadarkplace,likeacheese,untilhehadthefullTellsonflavourandblue-moulduponhim.Thenonlywashepermittedtobeseen,spectacularlyporingoverlargebooks,andcastinghisbreechesandgaitersintothegeneralweightoftheestablishment.
　　OutsideTellson's——neverbyanymeansinit,unlesscalledin——wasanodd-job-man,anoccasionalporterandmessenger,whoservedasthelivesignofthehouse.Hewasneverabsentduringbusinesshours,unlessuponanerrand,andthenhewasrepresentedbyhisson:agrislyurchinoftwelve,whowashisexpressimage.PeopleunderstoodthatTellson's,inastatelyway,toleratedtheodd-job-man.Thehousehadalwaystoleratedsomepersoninthatcapacity,andtimeandtidehaddriftedthispersontothepost.HissurnamewasCruncher,andontheyouthfuloccasionofhisrenouncingbyproxytheworksofdarkness,intheeasterlyparishchurchofHoundsditch,hehadreceivedtheaddedappellationofJerry.
　　ThescenewasMr.Cruncher'sprivatelodginginHanging-sword-alley,Whitefriars:thetime,half-pastsevenoftheclockonawindyMarchmorning,AnnoDominiseventeenhundredandeighty.Mr.CruncherhimselfalwaysspokeoftheyearofourLordasAnnaDominoes:apparentlyundertheimpressionthattheChristianeradatedfromtheinventionofapopulargame,byaladywhohadbestowedhernameuponit.
　　Mr.Cruncher'sapartmentswerenotinasavouryneighbourhood,andwerebuttwoinnumber,evenifaclosetwithasinglepaneofglassinitmightbecountedasone.Buttheywereverydecentlykept.Earlyasitwas,onthewindyMarchmorning,theroominwhichhelaya-bedwasalreadyscrubbedthroughout;andbetweenthecupsandsaucersarrangedforbreakfast,andthelumberingdealtable,averycleanwhiteclothwasspread.
　　Mr.Cruncherreposedunderapatchworkcounterpane,likeaHarlequinathome.Atfirst,hesleptheavily,but,bydegrees,begantorollandsurgeinbed,untilheroseabovethesurface,withhisspikyhairlookingasifitmusttearthesheetstoribbons.Atwhichjuncture,heexclaimed,inavoiceofdireexasperation:
　　`Bustme,ifsheain'tatitagin!'
　　Awomanoforderlyandindustriousappearancerosefromherkneesinacorner,withsufficienthasteandtrepidationtoshowthatshewasthepersonreferredto.
　　`What!'saidMr.Cruncher,lookingoutofbedforaboot.
　　`You'reatitagin,areyou?
　　Afterhailingthemornwiththissecondsalutation,hethrewabootatthewomanasathird.Itwasaverymuddyboot,andmayintroducetheoddcircumstanceconnectedwithMr.Cruncher'sdomesticeconomy,that,whereasheoftencamehomeafterbankinghourswithcleanboots,heoftengotupnextmorningtofindthesamebootscoveredwithclay.
　　`What,'saidMr.Cruncher,varyinghisapostropheaftermissinghismark——'whatareyou,upto,Aggerawayter?'
　　`Iwasonlysayingmyprayers.
　　`Sayingyourprayers!You'reanicewoman!Whatdoyoumeanbyfloppingyourselfdownandprayingaginme?'
　　`Iwasnotprayingagainstyou;Iwasprayingforyou.'
　　`Youweren't.Andifyouwere,Iwon'tbetookthelibertywith.Here!yourmother'sanicewoman,youngJerry,goingaprayingaginyourfather'sprosperity.You'vegotadutifulmother,youhave,myson.You'vegotareligiousmother,youhave,myboy:goingandfloppingherselfdown,andprayingthatthebread-and-buttermaybesnatchedoutofthemouthofheronlychild.'
　　Mastercruncherwhowasinhisshirttookthisveryill,and,turningtohismother,stronglydeprecatedanyprayingawayofhispersonalboard.
　　`Andwhatdoyousuppose,youconceitedfemale,'saidMr.Cruncher,withunconsciousinconsistency,`thattheworthofyourprayersmaybe?Namethepricethatyouputyourprayersat!'
　　`Theyonlycomefromtheheart,Jerry.Theyareworthnomorethanthat.'
　　`Worthnomorethanthat,'repeatedMr.Cruncher.`Theyain'tworthmuch,then.Whetherorno,Iwon'tbeprayedagin,Itellyou.Ican'taffordit.I'mnotagoingtobemadeunluckybyyoursneaking.Ifyoumustgofloppingyourselfdown,flopinfavourofyourhusbandandchild,andnotinoppositionto'em.IfIhadhadanybutaunnat'ralwife,andthispoorboyhadhadanybutaunnat'ralmother,Imighthavemadesomemoneylastweekinsteadofbeingcounter-prayedandcounterminedandreligiouslycircumwentedintotheworstofluck.B-u-u-ustme`saidMr.
　　Cruncher,whoallthistimehadbeenputtingonhisclothes,`ifIain't,whatwithpietyandoneblowedthingandanother,beenchousedthislastweekintoasbadluckaseverapoordevilofahonesttradesmanmetwith!YoungJerry,dressyourself,myboy,andwhileIcleanmybootskeepaeyeuponyourmothernowandthen,andifyouseeanysignsofmoreflopping,givemeacall.For,Itellyou,'hereheaddressedhiswifeoncemore,`Iwon'tbegoneagin,inthismanner.Iamasricketyasahackneycoach,I'massleepyaslaudanum,mylinesisstrainedtothatdegreethatIshouldn'tknow,ifitwasn'tforthepainin'em,whichwasmeandwhichsomebodyelse,yetI'mnonethebetterforitinpocket;andit'smysuspicionthatyou'vebeenatitfrommorningtonighttopreventmefrombeingthebetterforitinpocket,andIwon'tputupwithit,Aggerawayter,andwhatdoyousaynow!'
　　Growling,inaddition,suchphrasesas`Ah!yes!You'rereligious,too.Youwouldn'tputyourselfinoppositiontotheinterestsofyourhusbandandchild,wouldyou?Notyou!'andthrowingoffothersarcasticsparksfromthewhirlinggrindstoneofhisindignation,Mr.Cruncherbetookhimselftohisboot-cleaningandhisgeneralpreparationforbusiness.Inthemeantime,hisson,whoseheadwasgarnishedwithtendererspikes,andwhoseyoungeyesstoodclosebyoneanother,ashisfather'sdid,kepttherequiredwatchuponhismother.Hegreatlydisturbedthatpoorwomanatintervals,bydartingoutofhissleepingcloset,wherehemadehistoilet,withasuppressedcryof`Youaregoingtoflop,mother——Halloa,father!'and,afterraisingthisfictitiousalarm,dartinginagainwithanundutifulgrin.
　　Mr.Cruncher'stemperwasnotatallimprovedwhenhecametohisbreakfast.HeresentedMrs.Cruncher'ssayinggracewithparticularanimosity.
　　`Now,Aggerawayter!Whatareyouupto?Atitagin?'
　　Hiswifeexplainedthatshehadmerely`askedablessing.'
　　`Don'tdoit!'saidMr.Cruncher,lookingabout,asifheratherexpectedtoseetheloafdisappearundertheefficacyofhiswife'spetitions.`Iain'tagoingtobeblestoutofhouseandhome.Iwon'thavemywittlesblestoffmytable.Keepstill!'
　　Exceedinglyred-eyedandgrim,asifhehadbeenupallnightatapartywhichhadtakenanythingbutaconvivialturn,JerryCruncherworriedhisbreakfastratherthanateit,growlingoveritlikeanyfour-footedinmateofamenagerie.Towardsnineo'clockhesmoothedhisruffledaspect,and,presentingasrespectfulandbusiness-likeanexteriorashecouldoverlayhisnaturalselfwith,issuedforthtotheoccupationoftheday.
　　Itcouldscarcelybecalledatrade,inspiteofhisfavouritedescriptionofhimselfas`ahonesttradesman.'Hisstockconsistedofawoodenstool,madeoutofabroken-backedchaircutdown,whichstool,youngJerry,walkingathisfather'sside,carriedeverymorningtobeneaththebanking-housewindowthatwasnearestTempleBar:where,withtheadditionofthefirsthandfulofstrawthatcouldbegleanedfromanypassingvehicletokeepthecoldandwetfromtheodd-job-man'sfeet,itformedtheencampmentfortheday.Onthispostofhis,Mr.CruncherwasaswellknowntoFleet-streetandtheTemple,astheBaritself,——andwasalmostasill-looking.
　　Encampedataquarterbeforenine,ingoodtimetotouchhisthree-corneredhattotheoldestofmenastheypassedintoTellson's,JerrytookuphisstationonthiswindyMarchmorning,withyoungJerrystandingbyhim,whennotengagedinmakingforaysthroughtheBar,toinflictbodilyandmentalinjuriesofanacutedescriptiononpassingboyswhoweresmallenoughforhisamiablepurpose.Fatherandson,extremelylikeeachother,lookingsilentlyonatthemorningtrafficinFleet-street,withtheirtwoheadsasneartooneanotherasthetwoeyesofeachwere,boreaconsiderableresemblancetoapairofmonkeys.Theresemblancewasnotlessenedbytheaccidentalcircumstance,thatthematureJerrybitandspatoutstraw,whilethetwinklingeyesoftheyouthfulJerrywereasrestlesslywatchfulofhimasofeverythingelseinFleet-street.
　　TheheadofoneoftheregularindoormessengersattachedtoTellson'sestablishmentwasputthroughthedoor,andthewordwasgiven.
　　`Porterwanted!'
　　`Hooray,father!Here'sanearlyjobtobeginwith!'
　　HavingthusgivenhisparentGodspeed,youngJerryseatedhimselfonthestool,enteredonhisreversionaryinterestinthestrawhisfatherhadbeenchewing,andcogitated.
　　`Alwaysrusty!Hisfingersisal-waysrusty!'mutteredyoungJerry.`Wheredoesmyfathergetallthatironrustfrom?Hedon'tgetnoironrusthere!'
　　CHAPTERII
　　ASight
　　`YOUknowtheOldBaileywell,nodoubt?'saidoneoftheoldestofclerkstoJerrythemessenger.
　　`Ye-es,sir,'returnedJerry,insomethingofadoggedmanner.`IdoknowtheBailey.'
　　`Justso.AndyouknowMr.Lorry.'
　　`IknowMr.Lorry,sir,muchbetterthanIknowtheBailey.Muchbetter,'saidJerry,notunlikeareluctantwitnessattheestablishmentinquestion,`thanI,asahonesttradesman,wishtoknowtheBailey.'
　　`Verywell.Findthedoorwherethewitnessesgoin,andshowthedoor-keeperthisnoteforMr.Lorry.Hewillthenletyouin.'
　　`Intothecourt,sir?'
　　`Intothecourt.'
　　Mr.Cruncher'seyesseemedtogetalittleclosertooneanother,andtointerchangetheinquiry,`Whatdoyouthinkofthis?'
　　`AmItowaitinthecourt,sir?'heasked,astheresultofthatconference.
　　`Iamgoingtotellyou.Thedoor-keeperwillpassthenotetoMr.Lorry,anddoyoumakeanygesturethatwillattractMr.Lorry'sattention,andshowhimwhereyoustand.Thenwhatyouhavetodo,is,toremainthereuntilhewantsyou.'
　　`Isthatall,sir?'
　　`That'sall.Hewishestohaveamessengerathand.Thisistotellhimyouarethere.'
　　Astheancientclerkdeliberatelyfoldedandsuperscribedthenote,Mr.Cruncher,aftersurveyinghiminsilenceuntilhecametotheblotting-paperstage,remarked:
　　`Isupposethey'llbetryingForgeriesthismorning?'
　　`Treason!'
　　`That'squartering,'saidJerry.`Barbarous!'
　　`Itisthelaw,'remarkedtheancientclerk,turninghissurprisedspectaclesuponhim.`Itisthelaw.
　　`It`shardinthelawtospileaman,Ithink.It`shardenoughtokillhim,butit'sweryhardtospilehim,sir.'
　　`Notatall,'returnedtheancientclerk.`Speakwellofthelaw.Takecareofyourchestandvoice,mygoodfriend,andleavethelawtotakecareofitself.Igiveyouthatadvice.'
　　`It'sthedamp,sir,whatsettlesonmychestandvoice,'saidJerry.`Ileaveyoutojudgewhatadampwayofearningalivingmineis.'
　　`Well,well,'saidtheoldclerk;`weallhaveourvariouswaysofgainingalivelihood.Someofushavedampways,andsomeofushavedryways.Hereistheletter.Goalong.'
　　Jerrytooktheletter,and,remarkingtohimselfwithlessinternaldeferencethanhemadeanoutwardshowof,`Youarealeanoldone,too,'madehisbow,informedhisson,inpassing,of[`isdestination,andwenthisway.
　　TheyhangedatTyburn,inthosedays,sothestreetoutsideNewgatehadnotobtainedoneinfamousnotorietythathassinceattachedtoit.But,thegaolwasavileplace,inwhichmostkindsofdebaucheryandvillainywerepractised,andwheredirediseaseswerebred,thatcameintocourtwiththeprisoners,andsometimesrushedstraightfromthedockatmyLordChiefJusticehimself,andpulledhimoffthebench.Ithadmorethanoncehappened,thattheJudgeintheblackcappronouncedhisowndoomascertainlyastheprisoner's,andevendiedbeforehim.Fortherest,theOldBaileywasfamousasakindofdeadlyinn-yard,fromwhichpaletravellerssetoutcontinually,incartsandcoaches,onaviolentpassageintotheotherworld:traversingsometwomilesandahalfofpublicstreetandroad,andshamingfewgoodcitizens,ifany.Sopowerfulisuse,andsodesirabletobegooduseinthebeginning.Itwasfamous,too,forthepillory,awiseoldinstitution,thatinflictedapunishmentofwhichnoonecouldforeseetheextent;also,forthewhipping-post,anotherdearoldinstitution,veryhumanisingandsofteningtobeholdinaction;also,forextensivetransactionsinblood-money,anotherfragmentofancestralwisdom,systematicallyleadingtothemostfrightfulmercenarycrimesthatcouldbecommittedunderHeaven.Altogether,theOldBailey,atthatdate,wasachoiceillustrationoftheprecept,that`Whateverisisright;'anaphorismthatwouldbeasfinalasitislazy,diditnotincludethetroublesomeconsequence,thatnothingthateverwas,waswrong.
　　Makinghiswaythroughthetaintedcrowd,dispersedupanddownthishideoussceneofaction,withtheskillofamanaccustomedtomakehiswayquietly,themessengerfoundoutthedoorhesought,andhandedinhisletterthroughatrapinit.ForpeoplethenpaidtoseetheplayattheOldBailey,justastheypaidtoseetheplayinBedlam——onlytheformerentertainmentwasmuchthedearer.Therefore,alltheOldBaileydoorswerewellguarded——except,indeed,thesocialdoorsbywhichthecriminalsgotthere,andthosewerealwaysleftwideopen.
　　Aftersomedelayanddemur,thedoorgrudginglyturnedonitshingesaverylittleway,andallowedMr.JerryCrunchertosqueezehimselfintocourt.