“That’s a fair young lady to be pitied by and wept for by! How
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
does it feel? Is it worth being tried for one’s life, to be the object of
such sympathy and compassion, Mr. Darnay?”
Again Darnay answered not a word.
“She was mightily pleased to have your message, when I gave it
to her. Not that she showed she was pleased, but I suppose she
was.”
The allusion served as a timely reminder to Darnay that this
disagreeable companion had, of his own free will, assisted him in
the strait of the day. He turned the dialogue to that point, and
thanked him for it.
“I neither want any thanks, nor merit any,” was the careless
rejoinder. “It was nothing to do, in the first place; and I don’t know
why I did it, in the second. Mr. Darnay, let me ask you a question.”
“Willingly, and a small return for your good offices.”
“Do you think I particularly like you?”
“Really, Mr. Carton,” returned the other, oddly disconcerted, “I
have not asked myself the question.”
“But ask yourself the question now.”
“You have acted as if you do; but I don’t think you do.”
“I don’t think I do,” said Carton. “I begin to have a very good
opinion of your understanding.”
“Nevertheless,” pursued Darnay, rising to ring the bell, “there
is nothing in that, I hope, to prevent my calling the reckoning, and
our part