Page 481 sur 896

"But I do, and you must take my word for it. Well! If you could

endure to have such a worthless fellow, and a fellow of such

indifferent reputation, coming and going at odd times, I should

ask that I might be permitted to come and go as a privileged

person here; that I might be regarded as an useless (and I would

add, if it were not for the resemblance I detected between you

and me, an unornamental) piece of furniture, tolerated for its

old service, and taken no notice of. I doubt if I should abuse

the permission. It is a hundred to one if I should avail myself

of it four times in a year. It would satisfy me, I dare say, to

know that I had it."

"Will you try?"

"That is another way of saying that I am placed on the footing I

have indicated. I thank you, Darnay. I may use that freedom with

your name?"

"I think so, Carton, by this time."

They shook hands upon it, and Sydney turned away. Within a minute

afterwards, he was, to all outward appearance, as unsubstantial

as ever.