I well understand that, without you, I
could have no hope. I well understand that, even if Miss Manette held me at
this moment in her innocent heart--do not think I have the presumption to
assume so much--I could retain no place in it against her love for her father.'
If that be so, do you sec what, on the
other hand, is involved in it?'
`I understand equally well, that a word
from her father in any suitor's favour, would outweigh herself and all the
world. For which reason, Doctor Manette,' said Darnay, modestly but firmly, `I
would not ask that word, to save my life.'
`I am sure of it. Charles Darnay, mysteries
arise out of close love, as well as out of wide division; in the former case,
they are subtle and delicate, and difficult to penetrate. My daughter Lucie is,
in this one respect, such a mystery to me; I can make no guess at the state of
her heart.'
`May I ask, sir, if you think she is---' As
he hesitated, her father supplied the rest.
`Is sought by any other suitor?'
`It is what I meant to say.'
Her father considered a little before he
answered:
`You have seen Mr. Carton here, yourself.
Mr. Stryver is here too, occasionally. If it be at all, it can only be by one
of these.'
`Or both,' said Darnay.
`I had not thought of both; I should not
think either, likely. You want a promise from me. Tell me what it is.
`It is, that if Miss Manette should bring
to you at any time, on her own part, such a confidence as I have ventured to
lay before you, you will bear testimony to what I have said, and to your belief
in it. I hope you may be able to think so well of me, as to urge no influence
against me. I say nothing more of my stake in this; this is what I ask. The
condition on which I ask it, and which you have an undoubted right to require,
I will observe immediately.'
`I give the promise,' said the Doctor,
`without any condition. I believe your object to be, purely and truthfully, as
you have stated it. I believe your intention is to perpetuate, and not to
weaken, the ties between me and my other and far dearer self. If she should
ever tell me that you are essential to her perfect happiness, I will give her
to you. If there were--Charles Darnay, if there were---'
The young man had taken his hand
gratefully; their hands were joined as the Doctor spoke:
`--any fancies, any reasons, any
apprehensions, anything whatsoever, new or old, against the man she really
loved--the direct responsibility thereof not lying on his head--they should all
be obliterated for her sake. She is everything to me; more to me than
suffering, more to me than wrong, more to me---Well! This is idle talk.'
So strange was the way in which he faded
into silence, and so strange his fixed look when he had ceased to speak, that
Darnay felt his own hand turn cold in the hand that slowly released and dropped
it.
`You said something to me,' said Doctor
Manette, breaking into a smile. `What was it you said to me?'
He was at a loss how to answer, until he
remembered having spoken of a condition. Relieved as his mind reverted to that,
he answered:
`Your confidence in me ought to be returned
with full confidence on my part. My present name, though but slightly changed
from my mother's, is not, as you will remember, my Own. I wish to tell you what
that is, and why I am in England
`Stop!' said the
Doctor of Beauvais.
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