was more at ease than she had been.

“What is that?” she cried, all at once.

“My dear!” said her father, stopping in his story, and laying his

hand on hers, “command yourself. What a disordered state you

are in! The least thingnothingstartles you! You, your father’s

daughter!”

“I thought, my father,” said Lucie, excusing herself. with a pale

face and in a faltering voice, “that I heard strange feet upon the

stairs.”

“My love, the staircase is as still as Death.”

As he said the word, a blow was struck upon the door.

“Oh father, father. What can this be! Hide Charles. Save him!”

“My child,” said the Doctor, rising, and laying his hand upon

her shoulder, “I have saved him. What weakness is this, my dear!

Let me go to the door.”

He took the lamp in his hand, crossed the two intervening outer

rooms, and opened it. A rude clattering of feet over the floor, and

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four rough men in red caps, armed with sabres and pistols,

entered the room.

“The Citizen Evremonde, called Darnay,” said the first.

“Who seeks him?” answered Darnay.

“I seek him. We seek him. I know you, Evremonde; I saw you

before the Tribunal today. You are again the prisoner of the

Republic.”

The four surrounded him where he stood with his wife and

child clinging to him.

“Tell me how and why I am aga