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traveller and French citizen； in charge of an escort which the disturbed state of the country had imposed upon him； and which he had paid for。
‘Where；' repeated the same personage； without taking any heed of him whatever； ‘are the papers of this prisoner？'
The drunken patriot had them in his cap； and produced them。 Casting his eyes over Gabelle's letter； the same personage in authority showed some disorder and surprise； and looked at Darnay with a close attention。
He left escort and escorted without saying a word； however； and went into the guard…room； meanwhile； they sat upon their horses outside the gate。 Looking about him while in this state of suspense； Charles Darnay observed that the gate was held by a mixed guard of soldiers and patriots； the latter far outnumbering the former； and that while ingress into the city for peasants carts bringing in supplies； and for similar traffic and traffickers； was easy enough； egress； even for the homeliest people； was very difficult。 A numerous medley of men and women； not to mention beasts and vehicles of various sorts； was waiting to issue forth； but； the previous identification was so strict； that they filtered through the barrier very slowly。 Some of these people knew their turn for examination to be so far off； that they lay down on the ground to sleep or smoke； while others talked together； or loitered about。 The red cap and tricolour cockade were universal； both among men and women。
When he had sat in his saddle some half…hour； taking note of these things； Darnay found himself confronted by the same man in authority； who directed the guard to open the barrier。 Then he delivered to the escort； drunk and sober； a receipt for the escorted； and requested him to dismount。 He did so； and the two patriots； leading his tired horse； turned and rode away without entering the city。
He acpanied his conductor into a guard…room； smelling of mon wine and tobacco； where certain soldiers and patriots； asleep and awake； drunk and sober； and in various neutral states between sleeping and waking； drunkenness and sobriety； were standing and lying about。 The light in the guard…house； half derived from the waning oil…lamps of the night； and half from the overcast day； was in a correspondingly uncertain condition。 Some registers were lying open on a desk； and an officer of a coarse； dark aspect； presided over these。
‘Citizen Defarge；' said he to Darnay's conductor； as he took a slip of paper to write on。 ‘Is this the emigrant Evrémonde？'
‘This is the man。'
‘Your age； Evrémonde？'
‘Thirty…seven。'
‘Married； Evrémonde？'
‘Yes。'
‘Where married？'
‘In England。'
‘Without doubt。 Where is your wife； Evrémonde？'
‘In England。'
‘Without doubt。 You are consigned； Evrémonde； to the prison of La Force。'
‘Just Heaven！' exclaimed Darnay。 ‘Under what law； and for what offence？'
The officer looked up from his slip of paper for a moment。
‘We have new laws； Evrémonde； and new offences； since you were here。' He said it with a hard smile； and went on writing。
‘I entreat you to observe that I have e here voluntarily； in response to that written appeal of a fellow…countryman which lies before you。 I demand no more than the opportunity to do so without delay。 Is not that my right？'
‘Emigrants have no rights； Evrémonde；' was the stolid reply。 The officer wrote until he had finished； read over to himself what he had written； sanded it； and handed it to Defarge； with the words ‘In secret。'
Defarge motioned with the paper to the prisoner that he must acpany him。 The prisoner obeyed； and a guard of two armed patriots attended them。
‘Is it you；' said Defarge； in a low voice； as they went down the guard…house steps and turned into Paris； ‘who married the daughter of Doctor Manette； once a prisoner in the Bastille that is no more？'
‘Yes；' replied Darnay； looking at him with surprise。
‘My name is Defarge； and I keep a wine…shop in the Quarter Saint Antoine。 Possibly you have heard of me。'
‘My wife came to your house to reclaim her father？ Yes！'
The word ‘wife' seemed to serve as a gloomy reminder to Defarge； to say with sudden impatience； ‘In the name of that sharp female newly…born； and called La Guillotine； why did you e to France？'
‘You heard me say why； a minute ago。 Do you not believe it is the truth？'
‘A bad truth for you；' said Defarge； speaking with knitted brows； and looking straight before him。
‘Indeed I am lost here。 All here is so unprecedented； so changed； so sudden and unfair； that I am absolutely lost。 Will you render me a little help？'
‘None。' Defarge spoke； always looking straight before him。
‘Will you answer me a single question？'
‘Perhaps。 According to its nature。 You can say what it is。'
‘In this prison that I am going to so unjustly； shall I have some free munication with the world outside？'
‘You will see。'
‘I am not to be buried there； prejudged； and without any means of presenting my case？'
‘You will see。 But； what then？ Other people have been similarly buried in worse prisons； before now。
‘But never by me； Citizen Defarge。'
Defarge glanced darkly at him for answer； and walked on in a steady and set silence。 The deeper he sank into this silence； the fainter hope there was……or so Darnay thought……of his softening in any slight degree。 He； therefore； made haste to say：
‘It is of the utmost importance to me （you know； Citizen； even better than I； of how much importance）； that I should be able to municate to Mr。 Lorry of Tellson's Bank； an English gentleman who is now in Paris； the simple fact； without ment； that I have been thrown into the prison of La Force。 Will you cause that to be done for me？'
‘I will do；' Defarge doggedly rejoined； ‘nothing for you。 My duty is to my country and the People。 I am the sworn servant of both； against you。 I will do nothing for you。'
Charles Darnay felt it hopeless to entreat him further； and his pride was touched besides。 As they walked on in silence； he could not but see how used the people were to the spectacle of prisoners passing along the streets。 The very children scarcely noticed him。 A few passers turned their heads； and a few shook their fingers at him as an aristocrat； otherwise； that a man in good clothes should be going to p