Chapter-16
The Tellson’s Bank office in Paris was in the wing of a large house. When the Revolution came, the nobleman who owned the house put on his servant’s clothes and fled the country.
Mr. Lorry was working late one night when Lucie and her father burst into the room.
“What are you doing in Paris?” he cried. “What is wrong?” Mr Lorry asked.
“Charles is here!” gasped Lucie, looking as if she might faint from sheer terror.
“It can’t be true!” cried Mr. Lorry.
“Yes, he has been here three—no four days. He came to help an old servant, but he was stopped at the city gates and sent to the prison of La Force!”
“Then you two will be in danger as well!” cried Mr. Lorry.
“My dear friend,” said Dr. Manette calmly, “I do not believe anyone in this city would harm me. In fact, they would welcome me after all of my suffering in the Bastille. That suffering will give me the power to help Charles.”
“Then we must speak alone while Lucie goes to my rooms at the back of the bank to rest.” And Mr. Lorry ushered Lucie out of the office.
When they were alone, Mr. Lorry motioned to Dr. Manette to look out of the window. In the courtyard beyond was a huge grindstone being turned by two savage-looking men. Fighting to get close to sharpen their hatchets, knives and swords were forty or fifty frenzied men, whose blood and sweat mixed with the sparks from the stone.
“What is the meaning of this?” asked the doctor, drawing away from the window.
“They are going to murder the prisoners at La Force,” said Mr. Lorry, “If you really have the power you think you have, then go out among those savages, tell them who you are, and seek help for Charles! There is no time to spare!”
No sooner were the words out of Mr. Lorry’s mouth than the doctor was standing before the grindstone in the courtyard, his white hair streaming in the wind, his eyes gleaming with determination, his arms waving excitedly as he spoke.
Suddenly, a roar went up from the crowd. “Long live the Bastille prisoner! Long live his kin! Save Evremonde from La Force!”
Then the mob surged forward, with Dr. Manette at the front, leading the way to La Force. Mr. Lorry left the window and went to comfort Lucie through the long night ahead.
The next morning, when Dr. Manette had not returned, Mr. Lorry found a small apartment near by where Lucie, her child and Miss Pross would be more comfortable. Then he hired Jerry Cruncher to guard them.
The day dragged on as Mr. Lorry attended to his duties at the bank, and still there was no word from Dr. Manette. Then, just after closing time, a stranger entered his office.
“Do you know me, Mr. Lorry?” asked the thin, dark-haired man.
“I have seen you somehwere,” replied Mr. Lorry, wondering how the man knew his name.
“Perhaps at my wine shop,” said Ernest Defarge.
Mr. Lorry’s eyes opened wide. “Do you come from Dr. Manette?” he asked eagerly.
Defarge handed him a note from the doctor. It was dated only an hour before and read:
“Charles is safe, but I cannot leave this place yet. The bearer of this message also has a note from Charles to his wife.”
“I will take you to his wife,” said Mr. Lorry, when he had finished reading the note.