Page 52 - A Tale of Two Cities

‘No, dear wife,’ said Defarge. ‘It is Evrémonde’s trial tomorrow –
A Tale of Two Cities
that is enough suffering for that family. Don’t try and take revenge
on his wife and daughter, too.’

‘I have wanted this family destroyed for a long time,’ Madame
Defarge said in a low voice. ‘They have blood on their hands, and I
will stop at nothing.’

One of the men from the corner table got up and left the café and
the Englishman paid for his drink and followed him out. He walked
behind him for a while, but when the man turned a corner into a
quiet street, the Englishman called out to him loudly.

‘Barsad!’ he said, and the man from the café stopped and turned
around. Barsad could not remember the name of the Englishman in
front of him, but he recognised his face.

‘I am Sydney Carton, Mr Barsad,’ said the Englishman. ‘You may
not remember me, but I remember you very well from the trial of
my friend, Charles Darnay, several years ago. I arrived here in Paris
yesterday evening, hoping to help this same friend and his family,
and I saw you earlier at the Conciergerie Prison. I followed you to
the café that you have just left. You were speaking very openly there
with your friends, so I quickly came to know that you are working
as a spy for the republic here.’
‘How dare you… ,’ Barsad began, but Carton held up his hand.
‘It is very clear to me that you are also working for the aristocratic
government of England, and sending them information about what
is happening here in France. These are desperate times, Mr Barsad,
and the courts here would not hesitate to execute you as an enemy
of the revolution. Do you follow me, Mr Barsad?’

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