صفحة 601 من 896

The gaoler's wife, being provided with no answer to the question,

merely replied, "One must have patience, my dear!" Three turnkeys

who entered responsive to a bell she rang, echoed the sentiment,

and one added, "For the love of Liberty;" which sounded in that

place like an inappropriate conclusion.

The prison of La Force was a gloomy prison, dark and filthy, and

with a horrible smell of foul sleep in it. Extraordinary how soon

the noisome flavour of imprisoned sleep, becomes manifest in all

such places that are ill cared for!

"In secret, too," grumbled the gaoler, looking at the written

paper. "As if I was not already full to bursting!"

He stuck the paper on a file, in an ill-humour, and Charles

Darnay awaited his further pleasure for half an hour: sometimes,

pacing to and fro in the strong arched room: sometimes, resting

on a stone seat: in either case detained to be imprinted on the

memory of the chief and his subordinates.