`Ipassedyouontheroad?'
　　`Monseigneur,itistrue.Ihadthehonourofbeingpassedontheroad.'
　　`Comingupthehill,andatthetopofthehill,both?'
　　`Monseigneur,itistrue.
　　`Whatdidyoulookat,sofixedly?'
　　`Monseigneur,Ilookedattheman.'
　　Hestoopedalittle,andwithhistatteredbluecappointedunderthecarriage.Allhisfellowsstoopedtolookunderthecarriage.
　　`Matman,pig?Andwhylookthere?'
　　`Pardon,Monseigneur;heswungbythechainoftheshoethedrag.'
　　`Who?'demandedthetraveller.
　　`Monseigneur,theman.'
　　`MaytheDevilcarryawaytheseidiots!Howdoyoucalltheman?Youknowallthemenofthispartofthecountry.Whowashe?'
　　`Yourclemency,Monseigneur!Hewasnotofthispartofthecountry.Ofallthedaysofmylife,Ineversawhim.'
　　`Swingingbythechain?Tobesuffocated?'
　　`Withyourgraciouspermission,thatwasthewonderofit,Monseigneur.Hisheadhangingover——likethis!'
　　Heturnedhimselfsidewaystothecarriage,andleanedback,withhisfacethrownuptothesky,andhisheadhangingdown;thenrecoveredhimself,fumbledwithhiscap,andmadeabow.
　　`whatwashelike?'
　　`Monseigneur,hewaswhiterthanthemiller.Allcoveredwithdust,whiteasaspectre,tallasaspectre!'
　　Thepictureproducedanimmensesensationinthelittlecrowd;butalleyes,withoutcomparingnoteswithothereyes,lookedatMonsieurtheMarquis.Perhaps,toobservewhetherhehadanyspectreonhisconscience.
　　`Truly,youdidwell,'saidtheMarquis,felicitouslysensiblethatsuchverminwerenottorufflehim,`toseeathiefaccompanyingmycarriage,andnotopenthatgreatmouthofyours.Bah!Puthimaside,MonsieurGabelle!'
　　MonsieurGabellewasthePostmaster,andsomeothertaxingfunctionaryunited;hehadcomeoutwithgreatobsequiousnesstoassistatthisexamination,andhadheldtheexaminedbythedraperyofhisarminanofficialmanner.
　　`Bah!Goaside!'saidMonsieurGabelle.
　　`Layhandsonthisstrangerifheseekstolodgeinyourvillageto-night,andbesurethathisbusinessishonest,Gabelle.'
　　`Monseigneur,Iamflatteredtodevotemyselftoyourorders.'
　　`Didherunaway,fellow?——hereisthatAccursed?'
　　Theaccursedwasalreadyunderthecarriagewithsomehalf-dozenparticularfriends,pointingoutthechainwithhisbluecap.Somehalf-dozenotherparticularfriendspromptlyhauledhimout,andpresentedhimbreathlesstoMonsieurtheMarquis.
　　`Didthemanrunaway,Dolt,whenwestoppedforthedrag?'
　　`Monseigneur,heprecipitatedhimselfoverthehill-side,headfirst,asapersonplungesintotheriver.'
　　`Seetoit,Gabelle.Goon!'
　　Thehalf-dozenwhowerepeeringatthechainwerestillamongthewheels,likesheep;thewheelsturnedsosuddenlythattheywereluckytosavetheirskinsandbones;theyhadverylittleelsetosave,ortheymightnothavebeensofortunate.
　　Theburstwithwhichthecarriagestartedoutofthevillageanduptherisebeyond,wassooncheckedbythesteepnessofthehill.Gradually,itsubsidedtoafootpace,swingingandlumberingupwardamongthemanysweetscentsofasummernight.Thepostilions,withathousandgossamergnatscirclingabouttheminlieuoftheFuries,quietlymendedthepointstothelashesoftheirwhips;thevaletwalkedbythehorses;thecourierwasaudible,trottingonaheadintothedimdistance.
　　Atthesteepestpointofthehilltherewasalittleburialground,withaCrossandanewlargefigureofOurSaviouronit;itwasapoorfigureinwood,donebysomeinexperiencedrusticcarver,buthehadstudiedthefigurefromthelife——isownlife,maybe——oritwasdreadfullyspareandthin.
　　Tothisdistressfulemblemofagreatdistressthathadlongbeengrowingworse,andwasnotatitsworst,awomanwaskneeling.Sheturnedherheadasthecarriagecameuptoher,rosequickly,andpresentedherselfatthecarriage-door.
　　`Itisyou,Monseigneur!Monseigneur,apetition.'
　　Withanexclamationofimpatience,butwithhisUnchangeableface,Monseigneurlookedout.
　　`How,then!Whatisit?Alwayspetitions!'
　　`Monseigneur.FortheloveofthegreatGod!Myhusband,theforester.'
　　`Whatofyourhusband,theforester?Alwaysthesamewithyoupeople.Hecannotpaysomething?'
　　`Hehaspaidall,Monseigneur.Heisdead.'
　　`Well!Heisquiet.CanIrestorehimtoyou?'
　　`Alas,no,Monseigneur!Butheliesyonder,underalittleheapofpoorgrass.'
　　`Well?'
　　`Monseigneur,,therearesomanylittleheapsofpargrass?'
　　`Again,well?'
　　Shelookedanoldwoman,butwasyoung.Hermannerwasoneofpassionategrief;byturnssheclaspedherveinousandknottedhandstogetherwithwildenergy,andlaidoneofthemonthecarriage-door——tenderly,caressingly,asifithadbeenahumanbreast,andcouldbeexpectedtofeeltheappealingtouch.
　　`Monseigneur,hearme!Monseigneur,hearmypetition!Myhusbanddiedofwant;somanydieofwant;somanymorewilldieofwant.'
　　`Again,well?CanIfeedthem?'
　　`Monseigneur,thegoodGodknows;butIdon'taskit.Mypetitionis,thatamorselofstoneorwood,withmyhusband'sname,maybeplacedoverhimtoshowwherehelies.Otherwise,theplacewillbequicklyforgotten,itwillneverbefoundwhenIamdeadofthesamemalady,Ishallbelaidundersomeotherheapofpoorgrass.Monseigneur,theyaresomany,theyincreasesofast,thereissomuchwant.Monseigneur!Monseigneur!'
　　Thevalethadputherawayfromthedoor,thecarriagehadbrokenintoabrisktrot,thepostilionshadquickenedthepace,shewasleftfarbehind,andMonseigneur,againescortedbytheFuries,wasrapidlydiminishingtheleagueortwoofdistancethatremainedbetweenhimandhischateau.
　　Thesweetscentsofthesummernightroseallaroundhim,androse,astherainfalls,impartially,onthedusty,ragged,andtoil-worngroupatthefountainnotfaraway;towhomthemenderofroads,withtheaidofthebluecapwithoutwhichhewasnothing,stillenlargeduponhismanlikeaspectre,aslongastheycouldbearit.Bydegrees,astheycouldbearnomore,theydroppedoffonebyone,andlightstwinkledinlittlecasements;whichlights,asthecasementsdarkened,andmorestarscameout,seemedtohaveshotupintotheskyinsteadofhavingbeenextinguished.
　　Theshadowofalargehigh-roofedhouse,andofmanyoverhangingtrees,wasuponMonsieurtheMarquisbythattime;andtheshadowwasexchangedforthelightofaflambeau,ashiscarriagestopped,andthegreatdoorofhischateauwasopenedtohim.
　　`MonsieurCharles,whomIexpect:ishearrivedfromEngland?'
　　`Monseigneur,notyet.'
　　CHAPTERIX
　　TheGorgon'sHead
　　ITwasaheavymassofbuilding,thatchaateauofMonsieurtheMarquis,withalargestonecourt-yardbeforeit,andtwostonesweepsofstaircasemeetinginastoneterracebeforetheprincipaldoor.Astonybusinessaltogether,withheavystonebalustrades,andstoneurns,andstoneflowers,andstonefacesofmen,andstoneheadsoflions,inalldirections.AsiftheGorgon'sheadhadsurveyedit,whenitwasfinished,twocenturiesago.
　　Upthebroadflightofshallowsteps,MonsieurtheMarquis,flambeaupreceded,wentfromhiscarriage,sufficientlydisturbingthedarknesstoelicitloudremonstrancefromanowlintheroofofthegreatpileofstablebuildingawayamongthetrees.Allelsewassoquiet,thattheflambeaucarriedupthesteps,andtheotherflambeauheldatthegreatdoor,burntasiftheywereinacloseroomofstate,insteadofbeingintheopennight-air.Othersoundthantheowl'svoicetherewasnone,savethefallingofafountainintoitsstonebasin;for,itwasoneofthosedarknightsthatholdtheirbreathbythehourtogether,andthenheavealonglowsigh,andholdtheirbreathagain.
　　Thegreatdoorclangedbehindhim,andMonsieurtheMarquiscrossedahallgrimwithcertainoldboar-spears,swords,andknivesofthechase;grimmerwithcertainheavyriding-rodsandriding-whips,ofwhichmanyapeasant,gonetohisbenefactorDeath,hadfelttheweightwhenhislordwasangry.
　　Avoidingthelargerrooms,whichweredarkandmadefastforthenight,MonsieurtheMarquis,withhisflambeau-bearergoingonbefore,wentupthestaircasetoadoorinacorridor.Thisthrownopen,admittedhimtohisownprivateapartmentofthreerooms:hisbed-chamberandtwoothers.Highvaultedroomswithcooluncarpetedfloors,greatdogsuponthehearthsfortheburningofwoodinwintertime,andallluxuriesbefittingthestateofamarquisinaluxuriousageandcountry.ThefashionofthelastLouisbutone,oftilelinethatwasnevertobreak——thefourteenthLouis——wasconspicuousintheirrichfurniture;but,itwasdiversifiedbymanyobjectsthatwereillustrationsofoldpagesinthehistoryofFrance.
　　Asupper-tablewaslaidfortwo,inthethirdoftherooms;aroundroom,inoneofthechaateau'sfourextinguisher-toppedtowers.Asmallloftyroom,withitswindowwideopen,andthewoodenjalousie-blindsclosed,sothatthedarknightonlyshowedinslighthorizontallinesofblack,alternatingwiththeirbroadlinesofstonecolour.
　　`Mynephew,'saidtheMarquis,glancingatthesupperpreparation;`theysaidhewasnotarrived.'
　　Norwashe;but,hehadbeenexpectedwithMonseigneur.
　　`Ah!Itisnotprobablehewillarriveto-night;nevertheless,
　　leavethetableasitis.Ishallbereadyinaquarterofanhour.'InaquarterofanhourMonseigneurwasready,andsatdownalonetohissumptuousandchoicesupper.Hischairwasoppositetothewindow,andhehadtakenhissoup,andwasraisinghisglassofBordeauxtohislips,whenheputitdown.
　　`Whatisthat?'hecalmlyasked,lookingwithattentionatthehorizontallinesofblackandstonecolour'.
　　`Monseigneur?That?'
　　`Outsidetheblinds.Opentheblinds.'
　　Itwasdone.
　　`well?'
　　`Monseigneur,itisnothing.Thetreesandthenightareallthatarehere.'
　　Theservantwhospoke,hadthrowntheblindswide,hadlookedoutintothevacantdarkness,andstood,withthatblankbehindhim,lookingroundforinstructions.
　　`Good,'saidtheimperturbablemaster.`Closethemagain.'Thatwasdonetoo,andtheMarquiswentonwithhissupper.Hewashalfwaythroughit,whenheagainstoppedwithhisglassinhishand,hearingthesoundofwheels.Itcameonbriskly,andcameuptothefrontofthechaateau.
　　`Askwhoisarrived.'
　　ItwasthenephewofMonseigneur.HehadbeensomefewleaguesbehindMonseigneur,earlyintheafternoon.Hehaddiminishedthedistancerapidly,butnotsorapidlyastocomeupwithMonseigneurontheroad.HehadheardofMonseigneur,attheposting-houses,asbeingbeforehim.
　　HewastobetoldsaidMonseigneurthatsupperawaitedhimthenandthere,andthathewasprayedtocometoit.Inalittlewhilehecame.HehadbeenknowninEnglandasCharlesDarnay.
　　Monseigneurreceivedhiminacourtlymanner,buttheydidnotshakehands.
　　`YouleftParisyesterday,sir?'hesaidtoMonseigneur,ashetookhisseatattable.
　　`Yesterday.Andyou?'
　　`Icomedirect.
　　`FromLondon?'
　　`Yes.'
　　`Youhavebeenalongtimecoming,'saidtheMarquis,withasmile.
　　`Onthecontrary;Icomedirect.'
　　`Pardonme!Imean,notalongtimeonthejourney;alongtimeintendingtheJourney.
　　`Ihavebeendetainedby'——thenephewstoppedamomentinhisanswer——variousbusiness.'
　　`Withoutdoubt,'saidthepolisheduncle.
　　Solongasaservantwaspresent,nootherwordspassedbetweenthem.Whencoffeehadbeenservedandtheywerealonetogether,thenephew,lookingattheuncleandmeetingtheeyesofthefacethatwaslikeafinemask,openedaconversation.
　　`Ihavecomeback,sir,asyouanticipate,pursuingtheobjectthattookmeaway.Itcarriedmeintogreatandunexpectedperil;butitisasacredobject,andifithadcarriedmetodeathIhopeitwouldhavesustainedme.'
　　`Nottodeath,'saidtheuncle;`itisnotnecessarytosay,todeath.'
　　`Idoubt,sir,'returnedthenephew,`whether,ifithadcarriedmetotheutmostbrinkofdeath,youwouldhavecaredtostopmethere.'
　　Thedeepenedmarksinthenose,andthelengtheningofthefinestraightlinesinthecruelface,lookedominousastothat;theunclemadeagracefulgestureofprotest,whichwassoclearlyaslightformofgoodbreedingthatitwasnotreassuring.
　　`Indeed,sir,'pursuedthenephew,`foranythingIknow,youmayhaveexpresslyworkedtogiveamoresuspiciousappearancetothesuspiciouscircumstancesthatsurroundedme.
　　`No,no,no,'saidtheuncle,pleasantly.
　　`But,howeverthatmaybe,'resumedthenephew,glancingathimwithdeepdistrust,`Iknowthatyourdiplomacywouldstopmebyanymeans,andwouldknownoscrupleastomeans.
　　`Myfriend,Itoldyouso,'saidtheuncle,withafinepulsationinthetwomarks.`DomethefavourtorecallthatItoldyouso,longago.'
　　`Irecallit.'
　　`Thankyou,'saidtheMarquis——verysweetlyindeed.
　　Histonelingeredintheair,almostlikethetoneofamusicalinstrument.
　　`Ineffect,sir,'pursuedthenephew,`Ibelieveittobeatonceyourbadfortune,andmygoodfortune,thathaskeptmeoutofaprisoninFrancehere.'
　　`Idonotquiteunderstand,'returnedtheuncle,sippinghiscoffee.`DareIaskyoutoexplain?'
　　`IbelievethatifyouwerenotindisgracewiththeCourt,andhadnotbeenovershadowedbythatcloudforyearspast,aletterdecachetwouldhavesentmetosomefortressindefinitely.'
　　`Itispossible,'saidtheuncle,withgreatcalmness.`Forthehonourofthefamily,Icouldevenresolvetoincommodeyoutothatextent.Prayexcuseme!'
　　`Iperceivethat,happilyforme,theReceptionofthedaybeforeyesterdaywas,asusual,acoldone,'observedthenephew.
　　`Iwouldnotsayhappily,myfriend,'returnedtheuncle,withrefinedpoliteness;`Iwouldnotbesureofthat.Agoodopportunityforconsideration,surroundedbytheadvantagesofsolitude,mightinfluenceyourdestinytofargreateradvantagethanyouinfluenceitforyourself.Butitisuselesstodiscussthequestion.Iam,asyousay,atadisadvantage.Theselittleinstrumentsofcorrection,thesegentleaidstothepowerandhonouroffamilies,theseslightfavoursthatmightsoincommodeyou,areonlytobeobtainednowbyinterestandimportunity.Theyaresoughtbysomany,andtheyaregrantedcomparativelytosofew!Itusednottobeso,butFranceinallsuchthingsischangedfortheworse.Ournotremoteancestorsheldtherightoflifeanddeathoverthesurroundingvulgar.Fromthisroom,manysuchdogshavebeentakenouttobehanged;inthenextroommybedroom,onefellow,toourknowledge,wasponiardedonthespotforprofessingsomeinsolentdelicacyrespectinghisdaughter——hisdaughter?Wehavelostmanyprivileges;anewphilosophyhasbecomethemode;andtheassertionofourstation,inthesedays,mightIdonotgosofarastosaywould,butmightcauseusrealinconvenience.Allverybad,verybad!'
　　TheMarquistookagentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andshookhishead;aselegantlydespondentashecouldbecominglybeofacountrystillcontaininghimself,thatgreatmeansofregeneration.
　　`Wehavesoassertedourstation,bothintheoldtimeandinthemoderntimealso,'saidthenephew,gloomily,`thatIbelieveournametobemoredetestedthananynameinFrance.'
　　`Letushopeso,'saidtheuncle.`Detestationofthehighistheinvoluntaryhomageofthelow.'
　　`Thereisnot,'pursuedthenephew,inhisformertone,`afaceIcanlookat,inallthiscountryroundaboutus,whichlooksatmewithanydeferenceonitbutthedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery.'
　　`Acompliment,'saidtheMarquis,`tothegrandeurofthefamily,meritedbythemannerinwhichthefamilyhassustaineditsgrandeur.Hah!'Andhetookanothergentlelittlepinchofsnuff,andlightlycrossedhislegs.
　　But,whenhisnephew,leaninganelbowonthetable,coveredhiseyesthoughtfullyanddejectedlywithhishand,thefinemasklookedathimsidewayswithastrongerconcentrationofkeenness,closeness,anddislike,thanwascomportablewithitswearer'sassumptionofindifference.
　　`Repressionistheonlylastingphilosophy.Thedarkdeferenceoffearandslavery,myfriend,'observedtheMarquis,`willkeepteedogsobedienttothewhip,aslongasthisroof,'lookinguptoit,`shutsoutthesky.'
　　ThatmightnotbesolongastheMarquissupposed.Ifapictureofthechaateauasitwastobeaveryfewyearshence,andoffiftylikeitastheytooweretobeaveryfewyearshence,couldhavebeenshowntohimthatnight,hemighthavebeenatalosstoclaimhisownfromtheghastly,fire-charred,plunder-wreckedruins.Asfortheroofhevaunted,hemighthavefoundthatshuttingouttheskyinanewway——towit,forever,fromtheeyesofthebodiesintowhichitsleadwasfired,outofthebarrelsofahundredthousandmuskets.
　　`Meanwhile,'saidtheMarquis,`Iwillpreservethehonourandreposeofthefamily,ifyouwillnot.Butyoumustbefatigued.ShallweterminateourConferenceforthenight?'
　　`Amomentmore.'
　　`Anhour,ifyouplease.'
　　`Sir,'saidthenephew,`wehavedonewrong,andarereapingthefruitsofwrong.'
　　`Wehavedonewrong?'repeatedtheMarquis,withaninquiringsmile,anddelicatelypointing,firsttohisnephew,thentohimself.
　　`Ourfamily;ourhonourablefamily,whosehonourisofsomuchaccounttobothofus,insuchdifferentways.Eveninmyfather'stime,wedidaworldofwrong,injuringeveryhumancreaturewhocamebetweenusandourpleasure,whateveritwas.WhyneedIspeakofmyfather'stime,whenitisequallyyours?CanIseparatemyfather'stwin-brother,jointinheritor,andnextsuccessor,fromhimself?'
　　`Deathhasdonethat!'saidtheMarquis.
　　`Andhasleftme,'answeredthenephew,`boundtoasystemthatisfrightfultome,responsibleforit,butpowerlessinit;seekingtoexecutethelastrequestofmydearmother'slips,andobeythelastlookofmydearmother'seyes,whichimploredfiletohavemercyandtoredress;andtorturedbyseekingassistanceandpowerinvain?
　　`Seekingthemfromme,mynephew,'saidtheMarquis,touchinghimonthebreastwithhisforefinger——theywerenowstandingbythehearth——youwillforeverseektheminvain,beassured.
　　Everyfinestraightlineintheclearwhitenessofhisface,wascruelly,craftily,andcloselycompressed,whilehestoodlookingquietlyathisnephew,withhissnuff-boxinhishand.
　　Onceagainhetouchedhimonthebreast,asthoughhisfingerwerethefinepointofasmallsword,withwhich,indelicatefinesse,heranhimthroughthebody,andsaid,
　　`Myfriend,Iwilldie,perpetuatingthesystemunderwhichIhavelived.'
　　Whenhehadsaidit,hetookaculminatingpinchofSnuff,andputhisboxinhispocket.
　　`Bettertobearationalcreature,'headdedthen,afterringingasmallbellonthetable,`andacceptyournaturaldestiny.Butyouarelost,MonsieurCharles,Isee.'
　　`ThispropertyandFrancearelosttome,'saidthenephew,sadly;`Irenouncethem.'
　　`Aretheybothyourstorenounce?Francemaybe,butistheproperty?Itisscarcelyworthmentioning;but,isityet?'
　　`Ihadnointention,inthewordsIused,toclaimityet.Ifitpassedtomefromyou,to-morrow——
　　`WhichIhavethevanitytohopeisnotprobable.'
　　`——ortwentyyearshence——'
　　`Youdometoomuchhonour,'saidtheMarquis;`still,Ipreferthatsupposition.'
　　`——Iwouldabandonit,andliveotherwiseandelsewhere.Itislittletorelinquish.Whatisitbutawildernessofmiseryandruin?'
　　`Hah!'saidtheMarquis,glancingroundtheluxuriousroom.`Totheeyeitisfairenough,here;butseeninitsintegrity,underthesky,andbythedaylight,itisacrumblingtowerofwaste,mismanagement,extortion,debt,mortgage,oppression,hunger,nakedness,andsuffering.'
　　`Hah!'saidtheMarquisagain,inawell-satisfiedmanner.
　　`Ifiteverbecomesmine,itshallbeputintosomehandsbetterqualifiedtofreeitslowlyifsuchathingispossiblefromtheweightthatdragsitdown,sothatthemiserablepeopleWhocannotleaveitandwhohavebeenlongwrungtothelastpointofendurance,may,inanothergeneration,sufferless;batitisnotforme.Thereisacurseonit,andonallthisland.'
　　`Andyou?'saidtheuncle.`Forgivemycuriosity;doyou,underyournewphilosophy,graciouslyintendtolive?'
　　`Imustdo,tolive,whatothersofmycountrymen,evenwithnobilityattheirbacks,mayhavetodosomeday——work.'
　　`InEngland,forexample?'
　　`Yes.Thefamilyhonour,sir,issafefrommeinthiscountry.Thefamilynamecansufferfrommeinnoother,forIbearitinnoother.'