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‘A multitude of people； and yet a solitude！' said Darnay； when they had listened for a while。
‘Is it not impressive； Mr。 Darnay？' asked Lucie。 ‘Sometimes； I have sat here of an evening； until I have fancied……but even the shade of a foolish fancy makes me shudder to…night； when all is so black and solemn………'
‘Let us shudder too。 We may know what it is。'
‘It will seem nothing to you。 Such whims are only impressive as we originate them； I think； they are not to be municated。 I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening； listening； until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are ing by…and…by into our lives。'
‘There is a great crowd ing one day into our lives； if that be so；' Sydney Carton struck in； in his moody way。
The footsteps were incessant； and the hurry of them became more and more rapid。 The corner echoed and re…echoed with the tread of feet； some； as it seemed； under the windows； some； as it seemed； in the room； some ing； some going； some breaking off； some stopping altogether； all in the distant streets； and not one within sight。
‘Are all these footsteps destined to e to all of us； Miss Manette； or are we to divide them among us？'
‘I don't know； Mr。 Darnay； I told you it was a foolish fancy； but you asked for it。 When I have yielded myself to it； I have been alone； and then I have imagined them the foot…steps the people who are to e into my life； and my father's。'
‘I take them into mine！' said Carton。 ‘I ask no questions and make no stipulations。 There is a great crowd bearing down upon us； Miss Manette； and I see them………by the Lightning。' He added the last words； after there had been a vivid flash which had shown him lounging in the window。
‘And I hear them。' he added again； after a peal of thunder。
‘Here they e； fast； fierce； and furious。'
It was the rush and roar of rain that he typified； and it stopped him； for no voice could be heard in it。 A memorable storm of thunder and lightning broke with that sweep of water； and there was not a moment's interval in crash； and We； and rain； until after the moon rose at midnight。
The great bell of Saint Paul's was striking One in the cleared air； when Mr。 Lorry； escorted by Jerry； high…booted。 and bearing a lantern； set forth on his return…passage to Clerkenwell。 There were solitary patches of road on the way between Soho and Clerkenwell； and Mr。 Lorry； mindful of footpads； always retained Jerry for this service： though it was usually performed a good two hours earlier。
‘What a night it has been！ Almost a night； ‘Jerry；' said Mr。 Lorry； ‘to bring the dead out of their graves。
‘I never see the night myself； master……nor yet I don't expect to……what would do that；' answered Jerry。
‘Good…night； Mr。 Carton；' said the man of business。 ‘Good…night； Mr。 Darnay。 Shall we ever see such a night again； together！'
Perhaps。 Perhaps； see the great crowd of people with its rush and roar； bearing down upon them； too。
CHAPTER VII
Monseigneur in Town
MONSEIGNEUR； one of the great lords in power at the Court； held his fortnightly reception in his grand hotel in Paris。 Monseigneur was in his inner room； his sanctuary of sanctuaries； the Holiest of Holiests to the crowd of worshippers in the suite of rooms without。 Monseigneur was about to take his chocolate。 Monseigneur could swallow a great many things with ease； and was by some few sullen minds supposed to be rather rapidly swallowing France； but； his morning's chocolate could not so much as get into the throat of Monseigneur； without the aid of four strong men besides the Cook。
Yes。 It took four men； all four a…blaze with gorgeous decoration； and the Chief of them unable to exist with fewer than two gold watches in his pocket； emulative of the noble and chaste fashion set by Monseigneur； to conduct the happy chocolate to Monseigneur's lips。 One lacquey carried the chocolate…pot into the sacred presence； a second； milled and frothed the chocolate with the little instrument he bore for that function； a third； presented the favoured napkin； a fourth （he of the two old watches）； poured the chocolate out。 It was impossible Monseigneur to dispense with one of these attendants on the chocolate and hold his high place under the admiring Heavens。 Deep would have been the blot upon his escutcheon if his chocolate had been ignobly waited on by only three men； he must have died of two。
Monseigneur had been out at a little supper last night； where the edy and the Grand Opera were charmingly represented。 Monseigneur was out at a little supper most nights； with fascinating pany。 So polite and so impressible was Monseigneur； that the edy and the Grand Opera had far more influence with him in the tiresome articles of state affairs and state secrets； than the needs of all France。 A happy circumstance for France； as the like always is for all countries similarly favoured！……always was for England （by way of example）； in the regretted days of the merry Stuart who sold it。
Monseigneur had one truly noble idea of general public business； which was； to let everything go on in its own way； of particular public business； Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that it must all go his way……tend to his own power and pocket。 Of his pleasures； general and particular； Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea； that the world was made for them。 The text of his order （altered from the original by only a pronoun； which is not much） ‘ran： ‘The earth and the fulness thereof are mine； saith Monseigneur。'
Yet； Monseigneur had slowly found that vulgar embarrassments crept into his affairs； both private and public； and he had； as to both classes of affairs； allied himself perforce with a Farmer…General。 As to finances public； because Monseigneur could not make anything at all of them； and must consequently let them out to somebody who could； as to finances private； because Farmer…Generals were rich； and Monseigneur； after generations of great luxury and expense； was growing poor。 Hence Monseigneur had taken his sister from a convent； while there was yet time to ward off the impending veil； the cheapest garment she could wear； and had bestowed her as a prize upon a very rich Farmer…General； poor in family。 Which Farmer…General； carrying an appropriate cane with a golden apple on the top of it； was now among the pany in the outer rooms； much prostrated before by mankind……always excepting superior mankind of the blood of Monseigneur； who； his own wife included； looked down upon him with the loftiest contempt。
A sumptuous man was the Farmer…General。 Thirty horses stood in his stables； twenty…four male domestics sat in his halls； six body…women waited on his wife。 As one who pre…tended to do nothing but plunder and forage where he could； the Farmer…General……howsoever his matrimonial relations conduced to social morality……was at least the greatest reality among the personages who attended at the hotel of Monseigneur that day。
For； the rooms； though a beautiful scene to look at； and adorned with every device of decoration that the taste and skill of the time could achieve； were； in truth； not a sound business； considered with any reference to the scarecrows in the rags and nightcaps elsewhere （and not so far off； either； but that the watching towers of Notre Dame； almost equidistant from the two extremes； could see them both）； they would have been an exceedingly unfortable business……if that could have been anybody's business； at the house of Monseigneur。 Military officers destitute of military knowledge； naval officers with no idea of a ship； civil officers without a notion of affairs； brazen ecclesiastics； of the worst world worldly； with sensual eyes； loose tongues； and looser lives； all totally unfit for their several callings； all lying horribly in pretending to belong to them； but all nearly or remotely of the order of Monseigneur； and therefore foisted on all public employments from which anything was to be got； these were to be told off by the score and the score。 People not immediately connected with Monseigneur or the State； yet equally unconnected with anything that was real； or with lives passed in travelling by any straight road to any true earthly end； were no less abundant。 Doctors who made great fortunes out of dainty remedi