A Tale of Two Cities

chapter 2

It was the road to Dover which, one Friday evening at the end of November, unfolded in front of the first character with whom our history has to deal.

Between this individual and the horizon was the mail trunk, which trudged up Shooter's steep hill.

Our man was paddling in the mud, as were the other travelers; not that in such circumstances walking was pleasant to them; but because the harnesses were so heavy, the climb so fast, the trunk so heavy and the mud so thick, that the horses had stopped three times already, with the subversive thought of returning to their stable. Nevertheless, the combined action of the reins, the whip, the guard and the driver, having been opposed, by virtue of the laws of war, to this design, which proved that animals are endowed with reason, the team, forced to capitulate, had returned to duty.

Head down, tail quivering, the four horses sank into the mud, struggled, slipped, fell heavily, and threatened to tear themselves to pieces.It was the road to Dover which, one Friday evening at the end of November, unfolded in front of the first character with whom our history has to deal.

Between this individual and the horizon was the mail trunk, which trudged up Shooter's steep hill.

Our man was paddling in the mud, as were the other travelers; not that in such circumstances walking was pleasant to them; but because the harnesses were so heavy, the climb so fast, the trunk so heavy and the mud so thick, that the horses had stopped three times already, with the subversive thought of returning to their stable. Nevertheless, the combined action of the reins, the whip, the guard and the driver, having been opposed, by virtue of the laws of war, to this design, which proved that animals are endowed with reason, the team, forced to capitulate, had returned to duty.

Head down, tail quivering, the four horses sank into the mud, struggled, slipped, fell heavily, and threatened to tear themselves to pieces.At that time, one did not know how to challenge oneself too much with the people one met along the way; each of them could be a bandit, or at least affiliated with thieves. Nothing was more ordinary than to find in every roadside house, inn, or cabaret, from the postmaster to the stable-boy, some sacristan sold by some Mandarin.

This is what the guard who accompanied the trunk of Dover thought this Friday evening, November 1775, while, perched behind the car, he was kicking the straw that served as his carpet, and had his eye on it. and the hand on a chest where a trombone loaded to the mouth rested on eight cast-iron pistols, also loaded with bullets and lying on a bed of knives.

As he arrived every night, the guard suspected the travelers, who suspected each other, as well as the guard and the coachman, who in turn was only responsible for his horses and would have sworn in conscience, in both Testaments, that the poor beasts were not forced to do such a chore.Let's go ! hue! cried the driver; one last blow of the necklace, and you will be at the end of your troubles, damned buggers that you are! I would have had enough trouble getting you to arrive… Joé! what time is it ?

"Ten minutes past eleven," replied the guard.

- Mercy! cried the driver impatiently. Eleven ten! and not at the top of the mountain. Psitt! hue! old nags! "

The leading horse, stopped by a violent whip in the midst of its sharpest denials, made a new effort, dragged the rest of the team, and the Dover mailbox resumed its march, escorted by the three travelers. splashed around in the mud.

They had stopped every time the car stopped, and they strayed as little as possible. The one among them who would have had the audacity to suggest to his neighbor to go a little ahead, in the middle of the fog and the darkness, would have been taken for a thief and put in position to receive a bullet in the body .

We were finally at the top of the mountain; the horses were catching their breath, the guard had left his seat in order to stop for the descent, and to open the door to the travelers who were about to get into the car.Psitt! Joé! The driver shouted, looking down from his seat.

And they both listened.

“A horse is galloping up the hill, Joé.

"Full gallop, Tom," said the guard, leaping into his seat. Gentlemen, he added, after c*****g his blunderbuss, in the name of the king, I ask for your assistance. "

The traveler who is part of our history was about to enter the carriage, where the other two were preparing to follow him; he remained on the step, and his two companions behind him on the road.

The three of them looked at the guard and the driver in turn. They turned their heads back, and the horse with the sharp denials pricked up its ears, looking behind him without being prevented.

The immobility which suddenly followed the painful rolling of the mail trunk added to the silence of the night, to which it increased the mournful calm. The panting breath of the horses imparted a sort of shiver to the carriage, and perhaps the hearts of the three traveling companions were beating hard enough to count the beats. Either way, it was the silence of breathless individuals who dare not breathe, and whose pulse is rushed by waiting.A horse was galloping over the mountain, and coming closer and closer.

" Hello ! cried the guard with all the might of his lungs, stop or I fire! "

He was immediately obeyed, and from the depths of the fog a hoarse voice cried out:

"Is this the Dover mail trunk?"

- You don't care! replied the guard.

- Is this the Dover mailbox?

- What do you need to know?

- I'm dealing with a traveler.

- Who are you talking about?

- From Mr. Jarvis Lorry. "

The individual in the car's footboard made a movement, and seemed to say that it was him that it was. The coachman, the guard and the other two looked at him suspiciously.

"Stay where you are, or else you are dead," the guard replied to the voice emerging from the fog. Traveler by the name of Lorry, please answer frankly.

- What is that ? he asked in a soft, vibrant voice. Who needs to talk to me? Is that you, Jerry?

"I don't like that Jerry's voice," the guard whispered between his teeth; she is more hoarse than usual.Yes, Mr. Lerry, I'm bringing you a letter from Tellsone's.

"I know this messenger," said the gentleman, addressing the guard, and dismounting, assisted with more haste than politeness by the two other travelers, who sprang into the carriage, from which they left. hurried to close the door and put up the windows.

"You may allow him to approach," continued Mr. Lorry, "you have nothing to fear.

"It is possible, but not everyone is convinced of it," the guard replied, talking to himself. Hello ! eh!

- Well ? Jerry asked, more hoarse than before.

- Listen to me: go forward, but at a walk; and if by chance there are castings in the saddle that carries you, do not slip your hand in; I'm devilishly quick to mistake, and when I'm wrong, my mistake takes the form of a bullet. Now that you've been warned, show us your face. "

The silhouette of a horse and its rider stood out vaguely through the fog, and approached the mail trunk. Arrived at Lorry, the messenger stopped his mount and handed a paper to the traveler.The horse was out of breath, and both were covered in mud, from the beast's hoof to the rider's hat.

"Guard," the traveler continued calmly, "I repeat that you have nothing to fear. I belong to the Tellsone Bank and Co., - you must know the Tellsone house in London, - I go to Paris on business. Do I have time to read this post? There will be a crown for drinking.

- It depends on its length… If you don't have to… ”

Mr. Lorry approached the lantern, opened the letter he was holding in his hand, and read aloud the following sentence:

"Wait mademoiselle in Dover!" "

“It’s not long, as you can see,” he told the guard; and addressing the emissary: ​​You will say to the house that I have answered you with the word: Risen.

- What a singular response! Jerry cried in his hoarsest voice.

"Take it to these gentlemen anyway, so they'll have proof that I've received their ticket." Good evening, Jerry, good evening; get back there as quickly as possible. "Saying these words, the gentleman opened the door and got into the car, this time without being assisted by his traveling companions. They had hastily hidden their purses and watches in their tall boots, and pretended to be in the deepest sleep, in order not to act.

With the door closed, the mail trunk shook, and, descending the hill, sank into a thicker and thicker fog.

The guard, who had finally put his blunderbuss back in its place, examined the pistols he carried on his belt, and glanced at a small box in which were enclosed a few marshal's tools, a couple of torches, a lighter and tinder. If the car's lanterns had been blown out and broken, as happened from time to time, all he had to do was lock himself in the interior, and beat the lighter bravely, to get light at the end. five minutes, assuming he was lucky.

“Tom! the guard said in a low voice over the car.

Saying these words, the gentleman opened the door and got into the car, this time without being assisted by his traveling companions. They had hastily hidden their purses and watches in their tall boots, and pretended to be in the deepest sleep, in order not to act.

With the door closed, the mail trunk shook, and, descending the hill, sank into a thicker and thicker fog.

The guard, who had finally put his blunderbuss back in its place, examined the pistols he carried on his belt, and glanced at a small box in which were enclosed a few marshal's tools, a couple of torches, a lighter and tinder. If the car's lanterns had been blown out and broken, as happened from time to time, all he had to do was lock himself in the interior, and beat the lighter bravely, to get light at the end. five minutes, assuming he was lucky.- Yes.

- What do you think ?

- Nothing at all.

"Neither do I," replied the guard, surprised at the coincidence of opinion between him and the driver.

Once alone, in the midst of the fog and darkness, Jerry had dismounted, not only to relieve his beast, but also to wipe off the mud that covered his face, and to shake off his hat, the tucks of which could contain. about two liters of water.

When he had finished this double operation, he turned around in the direction of London, and, holding his horse by the bridle, he began to descend the mountain.

“After such a race, old woman,” he said to his horse, “I will not trust your four legs until we are in the plain. Yes, old lady. Risen! What a singular response! It wouldn't be your business; no, Jerry, no, you would be in a bad position if it was fashionable to come back down here. "