# ■ 5 Two men speak of love

Twelve months after the death of the Marquis in France, Charles Darnay had become a successful teacher of French in London. He had known, when he came to London, that he would have to work hard to earn his living, and he was successful. He was also in love. He had loved Lucie Manette from the time when his life was in danger in the Old Bailey. He had never heard a sound so sweet as her gentle voice；he had never seen a face so beautiful as hers. But he had never spoken to her about his love. The death of his uncle in France had become, over the twelve months, like a dream to him, but he had said nothing to Lucie of his feelings, nor of what had happened. He had good reason for this.

But one day in the summer he came to Dr Manette's home in London. He knew that Lucie was out with Miss Pross, and he had decided to speak to her father. Dr Manette was now strong in body and mind, and sad memories of his long years in prison did not come back to him often. When Darnay arrived, the Doctor welcomed him warmly.

Dr Manette, ' said Darnay, 'I know that Lucie is out. But I have come here today to speak to you.'

There was a silence.'Do you want to speak to me about Lucie?' asked the Doctor, slowly.

Yes. Dear Dr Manette, I love your daughter dearly. If there was ever love in the world, I love Lucie.'

I believe you, ' said Dr Manette sadly.' It's very hard for me to speak of her at any time, but I believe you, Charles Darnay. Have you spoken to Lucie about your love?'

No, never. I know how much your daughter means to you, Dr Manette. Her love for you, and your love for her, these are the greatest things in your life, and in hers. I love Lucie. With all my heart I love her. But I do not want to come between you and her. The two of you will never be separated because of me.'

For a moment Dr Manette turned his head away, and his eyes were full of fear, and pain. Then he looked back at Darnay, and tried to smile.

You have spoken very honestly, Charles, ' he said.'Have you any reason to believe that Lucie loves you?'

None！'

Then what do you want from me?'

A promise. A promise that if Lucie ever tells you that she loves me, you will not speak against me, and will tell her what I have said. I know that she would never accept me if she believed that it would make you unhappy.'

I can promise you more than that, Charles. If Lucie ever tells me that she loves you, I shall give her to you.'

Thank you, Dr Manette, 'said Darnay, gratefully.'There is one thing more. My name in England is not my real name. I want to tell you what my real name is, and why I am in England.'

Stop！'said the Doctor. He had even put his hands over his ears.'I don't want to know. Tell me when I ask you. If Lucie agrees to marry you, you shall tell me on the morning of your marriage.'

It was dark when Darnay left Dr Manette, and it was some time later when Lucie and Miss Pross came home.

Father, ' Lucie called, 'where are you?' She heard no answer, but there were strange sounds coming from her father's bedroom Frightened, she ran upstairs and found her father, pale and silent, busy at his old prison work of making shoes. The shadow of the Bastille had fallen on him again. She took his arm and spoke gently to him, and together they walked up and down for a long time until at last Dr Manette went quietly to bed.

Although Mr Carton visited Dr Manette's house quite often, he usually said very little when he was there. One day in August he arrived when Dr Manette was out and he was received by Lucie. She had always been a little shy with him, but on that day she noticed something different in his face.

Aren't you well, Mr Carton?' she asked.

No, probably not, Miss Manette, but my way of life is not good for my health.'

That seems sad, ' said Lucie gently.'Why do you not change your way of life?'

It's too late for that. I shall never be better than I am. But, Miss Manette, there is something that I want to say to you, but I find it so difficult. Will you listen to me?'

If it will help you, Mr Carton, I will be happy to listen to you, ' said Lucie, but she was pale and trembling.

Miss Manette, I know that you could never have feelings of love for me, a man who has spent his life so badly.'

Even without my love, Mr Carton, can I not save you? Can I not help you?'

No, Miss Manette, ' said Carton.'Even if it was possible for you to love me, it is too late for me. I would only make you sad, and destroy your life. But it has been a last dream of my heart. To see you and your father together, to see the home that you have made for him—this has brought back old and happier memories for me.'

Can I do nothing to help you?' asked Lucie sadly.

Only this, Miss Manette. Let me remember that I spoke to you of the feelings of my heart, and that you were kind and gentle towards me.'

Oh, Mr Carton. Try again to change.'

No, Miss Manette, it is too late. My bad habits will never change now. But tell me that you will never speak of what I have said today, not to anyone, not even to the person dearest to you.'

Mr Carton, ' said Lucie.'This is your secret. No one will ever know of it from me.'

Thank you, Miss Manette. I shall never speak of this again. But in the hour of my death, it will be a happy memory for me that my last words of love were to you.'

Lucie had never heard Mr Carton speak like this before. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of his hopeless, miserable life.

Don't cry, ' said Sydney Carton.'I am not worth your love. But you should know that for you, or for anyone close to you, I would do anything. Please remember always, that there is a man who would give his life to keep someone you love alive and close to you. Goodbye, Miss Manette.'

On the day of Lucie's marriage to Charles Darnay, Mr Lorry and Miss Pross stood, with Lucie, outside the door of Dr Manette's room. Inside, the Doctor and Mr Darnay had been talking together for a long time.

Soon it would be time to leave for the church. Lucie looked very beautiful, and Mr Lorry watched her proudly. He talked about the day, So long ago, when he had brought Lucie, as a baby in his arms, from France to England. Miss Pross, too, had her memories and thought fondly of her brother Solomon. He had stolen money from her many years ago and she had never seen him since then, but she still loved him.

The door of the Doctor's room opened and he came out with Charles Darnay. The Doctor's face was white, but he was calm. He took his daughter's arm and they went out to the waiting coach. The others followed in a second coach and soon, in a nearby church, Lucie Manette and Charles Darnay were marrined.

After the marriage Lucie and Charles came back to the house for breakfast, and then Lucie had to say goodbye to her father for two weeks—the first time they had not been together since his return from Paris.

When Lucie and Charles had left, Mr Lorry noticed a change in the Doctor. A little sadness was natural, but there was a lost, frightened look in the Doctor's eyes, which worried Mr Lorry very much. When he left to go to Tellson's Bank, he whispered to Miss Pross that he would return as quickly as he could.

Two hours later he hurried back to the house, and Miss Pross met him at the door.

Oh, what shall we do, Mr Lorry?' she cried.'He doesn't know me, and is making shoes again！'

Mr Lorry went up to the Doctor's room.'Dr Manette, my dear friend. Look at me. Don't you remember me?'

But Dr Manette said nothing and worked on in silence. Once again, he was a prisoner in the Bastille, without friends or family, without even a name of his own.

For nine days and nine nights the shoemaker worked on, leaving his table only to sleep, eat, or walk up and down his room. Mr Lorry sat with him night and day, talking gently to him from time to time, trying to bring his friend's mind back to the present.

Then at last, on the tenth morning, the shoemaking work was put away, and Dr Alexandre Manette, pale but calm, was his old self again. Lucie was never told, and in the quiet and happy years that followed her marriage, Dr Manette remained strong in mind and body.

■ 5 兩個男人談論愛情

法國侯爵死了12個月之後，查爾斯·代爾那已經在倫敦成了一名成功的法語教師。在他前往倫敦時他就知道自己將不得不靠勤奮的工作謀生。他現在成功了。同時他還陷入了愛河之中。還在他的生命在舊巴勒處於危險的境地時，他就已經愛上了路茜·馬內特。他從未聽到過像她那麼甜蜜的聲音，他也從未見過她那麼美麗的臉龐。可他從未向她表白過愛慕之情。他在法國的叔叔的死在12個月之後，對他來說已經成了一個夢。但他沒有對路茜說過他的感受，也從未提起過所發生的事情。對此他自有理由。

但是夏季的一天他去到倫敦馬內特醫生家。他知道路茜和普羅斯小姐出去了。他已決定要和她的父親談一談。馬內特醫生的身心現在都已很強壯，過去漫長的監獄生活的悲傷記憶已不常浮現在他眼前了。代爾那來時，醫生熱情地歡迎了他。

“馬內特醫生，”代爾那說，“我知道路茜出去了。但我今天到這兒來是想和您談談的。”

一陣沉默。“你是想和我談談路茜的吧?”醫生慢慢地問道。

“是的，親愛的馬內特醫生，我深深地愛著您的女兒。如果這世界上有愛情的話，那麼我就愛路茜。”

“我相信你，”馬內特醫生憂傷地說。“任何時候談起她對我來說都很困難，但我相信你，查爾斯·代爾那。你對路茜表白過你對她的愛了嗎?”

“沒有，從來沒有過。我知道您女兒對您來說多麼重要，馬內特醫生。她對您的愛和您對她的愛都是您的及她的生命中最重要的東西。我愛路茜，全心全意地愛她。但是我不想打破你們的關係。你們兩個人將永不會因為我而分開。”

有一陣兒馬內特醫生把頭側轉過去，眼中充滿了恐懼和痛苦。後來他轉過頭來看著代爾那，盡力裝出一副笑臉。

“你說得很誠懇，查爾斯，”他說。“你有什麼理由相信路茜愛你嗎?”

“沒有！”

“那麼你想從我這兒得到什麼呢?”

“承諾。這個承諾就是一旦路茜告訴您她愛我，那麼您就不要說反對的話，並且告訴她我所說的這些話。我知道如果她認為您會痛苦，那就絕不會接受我的愛。”

“我可以承諾更多的東西，查爾斯。如果路茜告訴我說她愛你，我就會把她交給你。”

“謝謝您，馬內特醫生。”代爾那感激地說。“還有一件事，我在英國的名字不是我的真實姓名，我想告訴您我的真實姓名，還有我來英國的原因。”

“打住！”醫生說。他甚至已經用手捂住了耳朵。“我不想知道。我問你時你再告訴我吧。如果路茜同意嫁給你，你就要在你們結婚的那天早晨告訴我。”

代爾那離開馬內特醫生時天已經黑了。路茜和普羅斯小姐晚些時候才回家。

“爸爸，”路茜喊道，“您在哪兒?”她沒有聽到回答，可是從她父親的臥室裡傳來了些奇怪的聲音。路茜嚇壞了，她跑上樓去見到了父親，臉色蒼白，正在悄無聲息地忙著做在監獄裡乾的老活計——做鞋子。巴士底獄的陰影又一次降臨到了他身上。她抓住了父親的手，溫柔地對他說著話，並且和他一起來來回回走了很長時間，直到最後馬內特醫生安靜地上了床睡覺。

儘管卡登先生經常拜訪馬內特醫生家，但他來時總是很少說話。8月的一天他來時馬內特醫生出去了，路茜接待了他。她在他面前總是有點害羞，但在那天她注意到了他的臉上有種不同以往的神情。

“您不舒服嗎，卡登先生?”她問。

“不，大概不是吧，馬內特小姐。只是我的生活方式對健康不好。”

“那可太不幸了，”路茜柔聲說，“您為什麼不改變一下您的生活方式呢?”

“那太晚了。我永遠不會比現在有什麼起色了。但是，馬內特小姐，我有一件事想對您說，但又發現這太難了。您會聽我說嗎?”

“如果那對您有幫助的話，卡登先生，我會樂意聽您說的。”路茜說。然而她的臉色蒼白，渾身發抖。

“馬內恃小姐，我知道您是永遠不會對我有愛情的。我這個人生活得這麼糟糕。”

“即便沒有愛情，卡登先生，難道我就不能挽救您嗎?我不能幫您嗎?”

“不，馬內特小姐，”卡登說。“即使您可能愛我，那對我來說也已經太晚了。我只會讓您傷心，從而毀了您的生活。但那也是我心中最後的一個夢想。能看到您和您的父親在一起，看到您為他建起的這個家——這已經為我帶回了那古老而幸福的回憶。”

“我就不能為您做點兒什麼嗎?”路茜悲傷地問。

“僅此而已，馬內特小姐，就讓我記住我曾對您說過我心中的感情，而您對我又關懷又體貼。”

“哦，卡登先生，再試著去改變一下吧。”

“不，馬內特小姐，這太晚了。我的壞毛病永遠也不會改掉了。但是請您告訴我您以後絕不會提起我今天對您說過的話，不要告訴任何人，甚至您最親愛的人。”

“卡登先生，”路茜說。“這是您的隱私，不會有人從我這兒知道這些的。”

“謝謝您，馬內特小姐。我不會再說這些了，但在我死的時候，我會因為我最後的愛情表白是對您說的而留下幸福的回憶。”

路茜以前從未聽過卡登先生這麼說過，一想到他絕望、不幸的生活，她的眼裡就充滿了淚水。

“不要哭，”西得尼·卡登說。“我不值得您愛，但是您要知道我會樂意對您或任何您親近的人做任何事情的。請永遠記住，這裡有一個男人，他將不惜自己的生命去保護您所愛的人的生命，併為了讓他和您永遠在一起而不惜一切。再見，馬內特小姐。”

在路茜嫁給查爾斯·代爾那的這天，勞裡先生和普羅斯小姐陪路茜站在馬內特醫生的房門外。屋子裡，醫生和代爾那先生已經在一起談了很長時間。

很快就將是去教堂的時間了。路茜顯得非常漂亮。勞裡先生驕傲地看著她。他說起了多年前他把路茜抱在懷裡從法國去英國那天的事。普羅斯小姐也回憶起往事並深情地想起了她的弟弟所羅門。好多年前他偷了她的錢，從那以後她就再沒見過他，但她仍舊愛他。

醫生的房門打開了。他和查爾斯·代爾那走了出來。醫生的臉色蒼白但仍很鎮靜。他挽起女兒的胳膊走向已在等候的馬車。其他人則乘坐第二輛馬車跟隨其後。很快路茜·馬內特和查爾斯·代爾那就在附近的一個教堂裡舉行了婚禮。

婚禮結束後路茜和查爾斯回到家裡吃早餐，然後路茜不得不和父親告別兩個星期——這是他從巴黎回來後他們第一次分開。

路茜和查爾斯走後，勞裡先生注意到醫生的變化。有一些傷感是自然的，但是在他的眼睛裡有一種失落、恐懼的神情，這使勞裡先生非常擔憂。在他要去臺爾森銀行時，他小聲對普羅斯小姐說了他將盡快回來。

兩個小時之後他匆忙返回時，普羅斯小姐在門口迎住了他。

而且又開始做起鞋子來了。”

勞裡先生上樓來到醫生的房間。“馬內特醫生，我親愛的朋友，看著我，你不記得我了嗎?”

可馬內特醫生什麼話也沒說，只是默默地做著他的活兒。他又成了巴士底獄裡的囚犯了，沒有朋友，沒有家，甚至連名字都沒有。

連著9天9夜鞋匠一直在做他的活兒，只是在睡覺，吃飯或在屋子裡走來走去時才離開工作臺。勞裡先生日夜陪著他，時不時地輕聲和他說著話，竭力想把他朋友的思緒帶回到現實中來。

最後，在第10天的早晨，做鞋的工作被拋到了一邊。亞歷山大·馬內特醫生——臉色蒼白卻很平靜，這時又恢復了他應有的神情。路茜沒有被告知這些，而且在她婚後寧靜而幸福的日子裡，馬內特醫生始終保持著強健的心理和身體狀態。