Page 41 - A Tale of Two Cities

‘I can,’ said Charles. ‘I will do that now, and come to say goodbye
to you this evening.’ Feeling very uneasy, Charles went out into the
street and opened and read the letter:

Prison of the Abbaye, Paris
June 21, 1792

Marquis,

After being in danger of my life for some time in the village of
Evrémonde, my house has been destroyed and I have been brought to Paris
and thrown into prison.

My crime, they tell me, for which I will be hanged, is that I have been
working for an aristocratic emigrant. I explained that we had collected no
rent and only the smallest of taxes, but no one will listen. They say only
that I have been working for an emigrant, and where is the emigrant?

I beg you to come and help me, Marquis. I have been true to you and I
beg that you will be true to me.
Gabelle

Charles walked through the streets, wondering what he should
do. He knew that because of his love for Lucie, and because he
had hated his uncle so much, he had given up his life in France too
quickly and without proper organisation. Now a good man was in
danger because Charles had made him responsible for his land and
his position. There was only one thing he could do: he must go to
Paris at once.

33