# ■ 12 A change of clothes

Charles Darnay passed his last night alone in the prison.

He had no hope. He knew he must die, not for anything he had done wrong, but for the crimes of his father and his uncle. He sat down to write to his wife：

I knew nothing about the time your father spent in prison until he told me. Even then I did not know that it was my family that had been so cruel to him. I told your father that my real name was Evrémonde, and he made me promise not to tell you. I am sure that he had forgotten the paper he had written, but what has happened now is not his fault. Take care of him and our child, and one day we shall all meet again in the happier world that comes after death.

Darnay did not sleep peacefully that night and in the morning he walked up and down his prison, waiting. He counted the hours—nine, gone for ever, ten, eleven, twelve gone for ever. At one o'clock he heard someone outside the door. The door opened and closed and there stood Sydney Carton, holding a warning finger to his lips.

Be quiet！I come from your wife. She begs you to do exactly what I say, and to ask no questions. There is no time. Take off your boots and put on mine. '

Carton, my dear friend, 'said Darnay, 'it is impossible to escape from this place. You will only die with me. '

I'm not asking you to escape. Put on my shirt, and my coat. 'He did not allow Darnay time to argue or refuse. 'Now sit down and write what I say, 'he said. 'Quickly, my friend, quickly！'

If you remember, 'he said, and Darnay wrote, 'the words we spoke so long ago, you will understand this when you see it. 'As he said this, Carton took his hand from his pocket.

What is that in your hand? 'asked Darnay.

Nothing. Have you written“see it”? Good, now go on writing, 'said Carton quietly. 'I am happy that I can prove them now. This is not a reason for sadness. 'Carton's hand was close to Darnay's face, and he gently pressed a cloth against Darnay's nose and mouth. A minute later Darnay lay unconscious on the ground. Carton quickly dressed himself in Darnay's clothes, and pushed the note that Darnay had written inside Darnay's pocket. Then he went to the door and called softly, 'Come in now. '

The spy Barsad came in.

Quick, help me, 'said Carton. 'You must help me to the coach. '

You? 'asked the spy.

Him, man, I've changed places with him. You can say that it was too much for him, saying his last goodbye to his friend. That happens quite often, I believe. '

Yes, often, 'replied Barsad. 'But do you promise to keep me out of danger, and go on with this plan to the end? The number must be right. Fifty－two prisoners must die today. '

Have I not already promised to be true to the death? Hurry, man！Take him to Mr Lorry, put him in the coach

yourself, and tell Mr Lorry to leave at once！'

Barsad called two men into the room, and told them to lift the unconscious man and carry him out.

The time is short, Evrémonde, 'said Barsad, in a warning voice.

I know it well, 'replied Carton. 'Be careful with my friend, and leave me. '

The door closed and Carton was left alone. He listened care－fully but there were only normal prison sounds. No shouts, no alarm bells. He waited calmly.

Soon he heard the sound of doors opening. The door of his prison cell opened and a man said, 'Follow me, Evrémonde！'and Carton followed him into a large, dark room.

There were many people there, some standing, some sitting, some walking about, some crying. Most of them stood, silent, looking at the ground. A young woman came up to him；she was thin and pale.

Citizen, Evrémonde, 'she said. ' I was with you in La Force. '

True, 'he said softly, 'but I forget what you were accused of. '

I am innocent. What could a poor little thing like me do? I am not afraid to die, Citizen Evrémonde, but I have done nothing.

Her sad smile as she said this touched Carton's heart.

They say that the Revolution will do so much good for the poor people, 'said the girl. 'How can my death help the poor? If it is true, I am willing to die, but I do not know how that can be. I heard that you were set free, Citizen Evrémonde, 'she went on. 'I hoped it was true. '

It was, but I was taken again, and condemned. '

When we go from here, Citizen Evrémonde, will you let me hold your hand? I am not afraid but I am little and weak, and it will help to make me brave. 'The young girl looked into his face and he saw a sudden doubt come into her eyes, followed by surprise. He touched his lips with his finger.

Are you dying for him? 'she whispered.

And his wife and child. Yes. '

Oh, will you let me hold your brave hand, stranger? '

Yes, my poor sister, to the last. '

■ 12 互換衣服

查爾斯·代爾那獨自一人在監獄裡過著他最後的一個夜晚。他不抱什麼希望了。他知道他必須得死，不是因為他做錯了什麼事，而是因為他父親和叔叔所犯下的罪行。他坐下來給他的妻子寫信：

在你父親告訴我以前，我對他在監獄中度過的歲月一無所知。即便那時我也不知道是我的家庭曾那樣殘忍地對待過他。我當時告訴你父親我的真實姓氏是埃弗蒙，但他讓我發誓不要告訴你。我相信他那時已經忘了他曾在監獄裡寫的那份記錄。但是現在發生的事不是他的過錯。你要好好照顧他和我們的孩子。會有一天我們將重逢在一個更幸福的世界裡的，人們死後就會到來的那個世界。

代爾那那天晚上沒有安睡過，凌晨他在囚室裡走來走去地等待著。他數著時間——9點，永遠過去了，10點、11點、12點，都永遠消逝了。一點鐘時他聽見有人在門外。門開了又關上。西得尼·卡登走了進來。他伸出一隻手指按在嘴上告訴他別出聲。

“我從你妻子那兒來；她求你完全按照我說的去做。什麼也別問，沒時間了。脫掉你的靴子換上我的。”

“卡登，我親愛的朋友，”代爾那說道，“從這個地方逃跑是不可能的，你只會和我一起去死的。”

“我沒讓你逃跑。穿上我的襯衫。還有我的大衣。”

他沒有給代爾那爭辯或拒絕的時間。“現在坐下寫下我說的話。”他說。“快點兒，我的朋友，快一點兒。”

“如果你還記得，”他說著，代爾那寫著。“我們很久以前說過的話，那麼在你看到它時就會明白這一點了。”當他說著這些話時，卡登從兜兒裡伸出手來。“你手裡是什麼東西? ”代爾那問。

“沒什麼。你寫完'看到它'了嗎? 好的，現在接著寫。”卡登平靜地說。“我很高興現在能夠驗證那些話了。沒有理由傷心。”卡登的手靠近了代爾那的臉並輕輕地把一塊布按在了代爾那的鼻子和嘴上。一分鐘過後，代爾那便失去了知覺，躺在了地上。卡登迅速穿上了代爾那的衣服，並把代爾那剛寫的紙條塞進了代爾那的口袋裡，然後他走到門邊輕聲喊道：“現在進來吧。”

那個間諜巴薩德走了進來。

“快，幫幫我。”卡登說。“你必須幫助我上馬車。”

“你? ”間諜問。

“他，夥計。我已經和他換了位置。你可以聲言說他承受不住和他的朋友訣別。這樣的事經常發生，我相信。”

“是的，經常發生。”巴薩德答道。“但你許諾過不讓我有危險，並把計劃堅持到底的呀? 數字必須是對的，今天必須死52名囚犯的。”

“我難道還沒保證要真的去死嗎? 快點，夥計！帶他去勞裡先生那兒，你自己把他抬到馬車裡去，告訴他們馬上就走。”

巴薩德叫了兩個人進了牢房；並讓他們把那個失去知覺的人抬起來扛出去。

“時間不多了，埃弗蒙。”巴薩德以警告的語氣說。

“我很清楚。”卡登回答說。“小心照顧我的朋友，留我一個人在這兒好了。”

門關上了，卡登獨自留了下來。他仔細地聽著，只有正常的監獄裡的聲響。沒有喊叫，沒有警鈴。他平靜地等待著。

不久他聽到了開門的聲音。他的囚室的門開了，一個人說道：“跟我走，埃弗蒙！”於是卡登便跟著他來到一個大而暗的房間裡。

那裡面有很多人，有站著的，有坐著的，有來來回回走著的，有哭喊著的。他們大多數都默默地站著，看著地面。一個年輕女子向他走來，她又瘦又蒼白。

“埃弗蒙公民，”她說。“我曾在拉弗爾斯和你在一起待過。”

“是的，”他柔聲說，“只是我忘了你是為什麼被指控的。”

“我是無辜的。像我這麼個可憐的小人物能幹什麼呢? 我不怕死，埃弗蒙公民，只是我什麼也沒有做。”

她說這話時悲傷的笑容觸動了卡登的心。

“他們說革命會給窮人們帶來很多好處。”女孩說道。“我的死能幫窮人什麼忙呢? 如果能，那麼我樂意去死。但我不明白這怎麼可能呢? 我曾聽說你被釋放了的，埃弗蒙公民。”她接著說。“我當時希望這是真的。”

“是真的，但又被抓起來了，而且宣判了死刑。”

“在我們從這兒走時，埃弗蒙公民，你能讓我抓住你的手嗎? 我不怕死，可是我又小又弱，所以那樣會讓我勇敢起來的。”年輕的姑娘看著他的臉，於是他發現她眼中忽然露出一絲懷疑，跟著便是驚訝。他用手指碰了碰嘴脣。

“你為他去死嗎? ”她低聲問。

“還有他的妻子和孩子。是的。”

“是的，我可憐的小妹妹，直到最後。”