‘In the name of the assembled companions in misfortune；' said a gentleman of courtly appearance and address； coming forward； ‘I have the honour of giving you welcome to La Force； and of condoling with you on the calamity that has brought you among us。 May it soon terminate happily！ It would be an impertinence elsewhere； but it is not so here； to ask your name and condition？'
Charles Darnay roused himself； and gave the required information； in words as suitable as he could find。
‘But I hope；' said the gentleman； following the chief gaoler with his eyes； who moved across the room； ‘that you are not in secret？'
‘I do not understand the meaning of the term； but I have heard them say so。'
‘Ah； what a pity！ We so much regret it！ But take courage； several members of our society have been in secret； at first； and it has lasted but a short time。' Then he added； raising his voice； ‘I grieve to inform the societyin secret。
There was a murmur of commiseration as Charles Darnay crossed the room to a grated door where the gaoler awaited him； and many voicesamong which； the soft and compassionate voices of woman were conspicuousgave him good wishes and encouragement。 He turned at the grated door； to render the thanks of his heart； it closed under the gaoler's hand； and the apparitions vanished from his sight for ever。
The wicket opened on a stone staircase； leading upward。 When they had ascended forty steps （the prisoner of half an hour already counted them）； the gaoler opened a low black door； and they passed into a solitary cell。 It struck cold and damp； but was not dark。
‘Yours；' said the gaoler。
‘Why am I confined alone？'
‘How do I know！'
‘I can buy pen； ink； and paper？'
‘Such are not my orders。 You will be visited； and can ask then。 At present； you may buy your food； and nothing more。'
There were in the cell； a chair； a table； and a straw mattress。 As the gaoler made a general inspection of these objects； and of the four walls； before going out； a wandering fancy wandered through the mind of the prisoner leaning against the wall opposite to him； that this gaoler was so unwholesomely bloated； both in face and person； as to look like a man who had been drowned and filled with water。 When the gaoler was gone； he thought in the same wandering way； ‘Now am I left； as if I were dead。' Stopping then； to look down at the mattress； he turned from it with a sick feeling； and thought； ‘And here in these crawling creatures is the first condition of the body after death。'
‘Five paces by four and a half five paces by four and a half； five paces by four and a half。' The prisoner walked to and fro in his cell； counting its measurement； and the roar of the city arose like muffled drums with a wild swell of voices added to them。 ‘He made shoes； he made shoes； he made shoes。' The prisoner counted the measurement again； and paced faster； to draw his mind with him from that latter repetition。 ‘The ghosts that vanished when the wicket closed。 There was one among them； the appearance of a lady dressed in black； who was leaning in the embrasure of a window； and she had a light shining upon her golden hair； and she looked like * * * * Let us ride on again； for God's sake； through the illuminated villages with the people all awake！ * * * * He made shoes； he made shoes； he made shoes。 * * * * Five paces by four and a half。' With such scraps tossing and rolling upward from the depths of his mind； the prisoner walked faster and faster； obstinately counting and counting； and the roar of the city changed to this extent…that it still rolled in like muffled drums； but with the wail of voices that he knew； in the swell that rose above them。
CHAPTER II
The Grindstone
TELLSON'S BANK； established in the Saint Germain Quarter of Paris； was in a wing of a large house； approached by a court…yard and shut off from the street by a high wall and a strong gate。 The house belonged to a great nobleman who had lived in it until he made a flight from the troubles； in his own cook's dress； and got across the borders。 A mere beast of the chase flying from hunters； he was still in his metempsychosis no other than the same Monseigneur； the preparation of whose chocolate for whose lips had once occupied three strong men besides the cook in question。
Monseigneur gone； and the three strong men absolving themselves from the sin of having drawn his high wages； by being more than ready and willing to cut his throat on the altar of the dawning Republic one and indivisible of Liberty； Equality； Fraternity； or Death； Monseigneur's house had been first sequestrated； and then confiscated。 For； all things moved so fast； and decree followed decree with that fierce precipitation； that now upon the third night of the autumn month of September； patriot emissaries of the law were in possession of Monseigneur's house； and had marked it with the tricolour； and were drinking brandy in its state apartments。
A place of business in London like Tellson's place of business in Paris； would soon have driven the House out of its mind and into the Gazette。 For； what would staid British responsibility and respectability have said to orange…trees in boxes in a Bank court…yard； and even to a Cupid over the counter？ Yet such things were。 Tellson's had whitewashed the Cupid； but he was still to be seen on the ceiling； in the coolest linen； aiming （as he very often does） at money from morning to night。 Bankruptcy must inevitably have come of this young Pagan； in Lombard street； London； and also of a curtained alcove in the rear of the immortal boy； and also of a looking…glass let into the wall； and also of clerks not at all old； who danced in public on the slightest provocation。 Yet； a French Tellson's could get on with these things exceedingly well； and； as long as the times held together； no man had taken fright at them； and drawn out his money。
What money would be drawn out of Tellson's henceforth； and what would lie there； lost and forgotten； what plate and jewels would tarnish in Tellson's hiding…places； while the depositors rusted in prisons； and when they should have violently perished； how many accounts with Tellson's never to be balanced in this world； must be carried over into the next； no man could have said； that night； any more than Mr。 Jarvis Lorry could； though he thought heavily of these questions。 He sat by a newly…lighted wood fire （the blighted and unfruitful year was prematurely cold）； and on his honest and courageous face there was a deeper shade than the pendent lamp could throw； or any object in the room distortedly reflecta shade of horror。
He occupied rooms in the Bank； in his fidelity to the House of which he had grown to be a part； like a strong root…ivy。 It chanced that they derived a kind of security from the patriotic occupation of the main building； but the true…hearted old gentleman never calculated about that。 All such circumstances were indifferent to him； so that he did his duty。 On the opposite side of the court…yard； under a colonnade； was extensive standing for carriageswhere； indeed； some carriages of Monseigneur yet stood。 Against two of the pillars were fastened two great flaring flambeaux； and in the light of these； standing out in the open air； was a large grindstone： a roughly mounted thing which appeared to have hurriedly been brought there from some neighbouring smithy； or other workshop。 Rising and looking out of window at these harmless objects； Mr。 Lorry shivered； and retired to his seat by the fire。 He had opened； not only the glass window； but the lattice blind outside it； and he had closed both again； and he shivered through his frame。
From the streets beyond the high wall and the strong gate； there came the usual night hum of the city； with now and then an indescribable ring in it； weird and unearthly； as if some unwonted sounds of a terrible nature were going up to Heaven。
‘Thank God；' said Mr。 Lorry； clasping his hands； ‘that no one near and dear to me is in this dreadful town to…night。 May He have mercy on all who are in danger！'
Soon afterwards； the bell at the great gate sounded； and he thought； ‘They have come back！' and sat listening。 But； there was no loud irruption into the court…yard； as he had expected； and he heard the gate clash again； and all was quiet。
The nervousness and dread that were upon him inspired that vague uneasiness respecting the Bank； which a great change would naturally awaken； with such feelings roused。 It was well guarded； and he got up to go among the trusty people who were watching it； then his door suddenly opened； and two figures rushed in； at sight of which he fell back in amazement。
Lucie and her father！ Lucie with her arms stretched out to him； and with that old look of earnestness so concentrated and intensified； that it seemed as though it had been stamped upon her face expressly to give force and power to it in this one passage of her life。
‘What is this？' cried Mr。 Lorry； breathless and confused。 ‘What is the matter？ Lucie！ Manette！ What has happened？ What has brought you here？ What is it？'
With the look fixed upon him； in her paleness and wildness； she panted out in his arms； imploringly； ‘O my dear friend！ My husband！'
‘Your husband； Lucie？'
‘Charles。'
‘What of Charles？'
‘Here。'
‘Here； in Paris？'
‘Has been here some daysthree or fourI don't know how manyI can't collect my thoughts。 An errand of generosity brought him here unknown to us； he was stopped at the barrier； and sent to prison。'
The old man uttered an irrepressible cry。 Almost at the same moment； the bell of the great gate rang again； and a loud noise of feet and voices came pouring into the court…yard。
‘What is that noise？' said the Doctor； turning towards the window。
‘Don't look！' cried Mr。 Lorry。 ‘Don't look out！ Manette； for your life； don't touch the blind！'
The Doctor turned； with his hand upon the fastening of the window； and said； with a cool bold smile：
‘My dear friend； I have a charmed life in this city。 I have been a Bastille prisoner。 There is no patriot in Parisin Paris？ In Francewho； knowing me to have been a prisoner in the Bastille； would touch me； except to overwhelm me with embraces； or carry me in triumph。 My old pain has given me a power that has broug