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ellson's Bank。 Please to let me know。
‘Yes； sir。 Tellson's Bank in London； sir？'
‘Yes。'
‘Yes； sir。 We have often times the honour to entertain your gentlemen in their travelling backwards and forwards betwixt London and Paris； sir。 A vast deal of travelling； sir； in Tellson and pany's House。'
‘Yes。 We are quite a French House； as well as an English one。'
‘Yes； sir。 Not much in the habit of such travelling your…self； I think； sir？'
‘Not of late years。 It is fifteen years since we……since I……came last from France。'
‘Indeed； sir？ That was before my time here； sir。 Before our people's time here； sir。 The George was in other hands at that time； sir。'
‘I believe so。'
‘But I would hold a pretty wager； sir； that a House like Tellson and pany was flourishing； a matter of fifty； not to speak of fifteen years ago？'
‘You might treble that； and say a hundred and fifty； yet not be far from the truth。'
‘Indeed； sir！'
Rounding his mouth and both his eyes； as he stepped backward from the table； the waiter shifted his napkin from his…right arm to his left； dropped into a fortable attitude； and stood surveying the guest while he ate and drank； as from an observatory or watch…tower。 According to the immemorial usage of waiters in all ages。
When Mr。 Lorry had finished his breakfast； he went out for a stroll on the beach。 The little narrow； crooked town of Dover hid itself away from the beach； and ran its head into the chalk cliffs； like a marine ostrich。 The beach was a desert of heaps of sea and stones tumbling wildly about； and the sea did what it liked； and what it liked was destruction。 It thundered at the town； and thundered at the cliffs； and brought the coast down； madly。 The air among the houses was of so strong a piscatory flavour that one might have supposed sick fish went up to be dipped in it； as sick people went down to be dipped in the sea。 A little fishing was done in the port； and a quantity of strolling about by night； and looking seaward： particularly at those times when the tide made； and was near flood。 Small tradesmen； who did no business whatever； sometimes unaccountably realised large fortunes； and it was remarkable that nobody in the neighbourhood could endure a lamplighter。
As the day declined into the afternoon； and the air； which had been at intervals clear enough to allow the French coast to be seen； became again charged with mist and vapour； Mr。 Lorry's thoughts seemed to cloud too。 When dark； and he sat before the coffee…room fire； awaiting his dinner as he had awaited his breakfast； his mind was digging； digging； digging； in the live red coals。
A bottle of good claret after dinner does a digger in the red coals no harm； otherwise than as it has a tendency to throw him out of work。 Mr。 Lorry had been idle a lo and had just poured out his last glassful of wine plete an appearance of satisfaction as is ever to be found in an elderly gentleman of a fresh plexion who has got to the end of a bottle； when a rattling of wheels came up the narrow street； and rumbled into the inn…yard。
He set down his glass untouched。 ‘This is Mam'selle！' said he。
In a very few minutes the waiter came in to announce that Miss Manette had arrived from London； and〃； happy to see the gentleman from Tellson's。
‘So soon？'
Miss Manette had taken some refreshment on the road； and required none then； and was extremely anxious to see the gentleman from Tellson's immediately； if it suited his pleasure and convenience。
The gentleman from Tellson's had nothing left for it but to empty his glass with an air of stolid desperation； settle his odd little flaxen wig at the ears； and follow the waiter to Miss Manette's apartment。 It was a large； dark room； furnished in a funereal manner with black horsehair； and loaded with heavy dark tables。 These had been oiled； until the two tall candles on the table in the of the room were gloomily reflected on every leaf； were buried； in deep graves of black mahogany； and to speak of could be expected from them until the dug out。
The obscurity was so difficult to penetrate that Mr Lorry； picking his way over the well…worn Turkey carpet； supposed Miss Manette to be； for the moment； in some adjacent room； until； having got past the two tall candles； he saw to receive him by the table between them and the young lady of not more than seventeen； in a riding…cloak； and still holding her straw travelling…hat by its ribbon in her hand。 As his eyes rested on a short； slight； pretty figure； a quantity of golden hair； a pair of blue eyes that met his own with an inquiring look； and a forehead with a singular capacity （remembering how young and smooth it was of lifting and knitting itself into an expression that was not quite one of perplexity； or wonder； or alarm or merely of a bright fixed attention； though is included all the four expressions……as his eyes rested on these things； a sudden vivid likeness passed before him； of a child whom he had held in his arms on the passage across that very Channel； one cold time； when the hail drifted heavily and the sea ran high。 The likeness passed away； like a breath along the surface of the gaunt pier…glass behind her； on the frame of which； a hospital procession of negro cupids； several head…less and all cripples； were offering black baskets of Dead Sea fruit to black divinities of the feminine gender……and he made his formal bow to Miss Manette。
‘Pray take a seat； sir。' In a very clear and pleasant young voice； a little foreign in its accent； but a very little indeed。
‘I kiss your hand； miss；' said Mr。 Lorry； with the manners of an earlier date； as he made his formal bow again； and took his seat。
‘I received a letter from the Bank； sir； yesterday； informing me that some intelligence……or discovery………
‘The word is not material； miss； either word will do。'
‘……respecting the small property of my poor father； whom I never saw……so long dead………'
Mr。 Lorry moved in his chair； and cast a troubled look towards the hospital procession of negro cupids。 As if they had any help for anybody in their absurd baskets！
‘……rendered it necessary that I should go to Paris； there to municate with a gentleman of the Bank； so good as to be despatched to Paris for the purpose。'
‘Myself'
‘