Mr. Attorney-General now signified to my Lord, that he deemed
it necessary, as a matter of precaution and form, to call the young
lady’s father, Doctor Manette. Who was called accordingly.
“Doctor Manette, look upon the prisoner. Have you ever seen
him before?”
“Once. When he called at my lodgings in London. Some three
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
years, or three years and a half ago.”
“Can you identify him as your fellow-passenger on board the
packet, or speak to his conversation with your daughter?”
“Sir, I can do neither.”
“Is there any particular and special reason for your being
unable to do either?”
He answered, in a low voice, “There is.”
“Has it been your misfortune to undergo a long imprisonment,
without trial, or even accusation, in your native country, Doctor
Manette?”
He answered, in a tone that went to every heart, “A long
imprisonment.”
“Were you newly released on the occasion in question?”
“They tell me so.”
“Have you no remembrance of the occasion?”
“None. My mind is a blank, from some timeI cannot even say
what timewhen I employed myself, in my captivity, in making
shoes, to the time when I found myself living in London with my
dear daughter here. She had become familiar to me, when a
gracious God restored my faculties; but, I am unable to say how
she had become fa