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PinkMonkey.com Digital Library - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens


200

Tellson’s was a munificent house, and extended great liberality to
old customers who had fallen from their high estate. Again: those
nobles who had seen the coming storm in time, and anticipating
plunder or confiscation, had made provident remittances to
Tellson’s, were always to be heard of there by their needy brethren.
To which it must be added that every new-comer from France
reported himself and his tidings at Tellson’s, almost as a matter of
course. For such variety of reasons, Tellson’s was at that time, as to
French intelligence, a kind of High Exchange; and this was so well
known to the public, and the inquiries made there were in
consequence so numerous, that Tellson’s sometimes wrote the
latest news out in a line or so and posted it in the Bank windows,
for all who ran through Temple Bar to read.

On a steaming, misty afternoon, Mr. Lorry sat at his desk, and
Charles Darnay stood leaning on it, talking with him in a low
voice. The penitential den once set apart for interviews with the
House, was now the news-Exchange, and was filled to
overflowing. It was within half an hour or so of the time of closing.
“But, although you are the youngest man that ever lived,” said
Charles Darnay, rather hesitating, “I must still suggest to you--” “I
understand. That I am too old?” said Mr. Lorry.

“Unsettled weather, a long journey, uncertain means of travelling,
a disorganised country, a city that may not be even safe for you.”
“My dear Charles,” said Mr. Lorry, with cheerful confidence, “you
touch some of the reasons for my going: not for my staying away.
It is safe enough for me; nobody will care to interfere with an old
fellow of hard upon fourscore when there are so many people there
much better worth interfering with. As to its being a disorganised
city, if it were not a disorganised city there would be no occasion to
send somebody from our House here to our House there, who
knows the city and the business, of old, and is in Tellson’s
confidence. As to the uncertain travelling, the long journey, and the
winter weather, if I were not prepared to submit myself to a few
inconveniences for the sake of Tellson’s, after all these years, who
ought to be?” “I wish I were going myself,” said Charles Darnay,
somewhat restlessly, and Eke one thinking aloud.

“Indeed! You are a pretty fellow to object and advise!” exclaimed
Mr. Lorry.

“You wish you were going yourself? And you a Frenchman born?
You are a wise counsellor.” “My dear Mr. Lorry, it is because I am
a Frenchman born, that the thought (which I did not mean to utter
here, however) has passed through my mind often.

One cannot help thinking, having had some sympathy for the
miserable people, and having abandoned something to them,” he
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