heryour wife, dear Darnay.”
The prisoner wrung his hand.
“I bring you a request from her.”
“What is it?”
“A most earnest, pressing, and emphatic entreaty, addressed to
you in the most pathetic tones of the voice so dear to you, that you
well remember.”
The prisoner turned his face partly aside.
“You have no time to ask me why I bring it, or what it means; I
have no time to tell you. You must comply with ittake off those
boots you wear, and draw on these of mine.”
There was a chair against the wall of the cell, behind the
prisoner. Carton, pressing forward, had already, with the speed of
lightning, got him down into it, and stood over him, barefoot.
“Draw on these boots of mine. Put your hands to them; put
your will to them. Quick!”
“Carton, there is no escaping from this place; it never can be
done. You will only die with me. It is madness.”
“It would be madness if I asked you to escape; but do I? When I
ask you to pass out at that door, tell me it is madness and remain
here. Change that cravat for this of mine, that coat for this of mine.
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
While you do it. let me take this ribbon from your hair, and shake
out your hair like this of mine!”
With wonderful quickness, and with a strength both of will and
action, that appeared quite supernatural, he forced all these