Page 584 sur 896

"Emigrant," said the functionary, "I am going to send you on to

Paris, under an escort."

"Citizen, I desire nothing more than to get to Paris, though I

could dispense with the escort."

"Silence!" growled a red-cap, striking at the coverlet with the

butt-end of his musket. "Peace, aristocrat!"

"It is as the good patriot says," observed the timid functionary.

"You are an aristocrat, and must have an escort--and must pay for

it."

"I have no choice," said Charles Darnay.

"Choice! Listen to him!" cried the same scowling red-cap. "As if

it was not a favour to be protected from the lamp-iron!"

"It is always as the good patriot says," observed the

functionary. "Rise and dress yourself, emigrant."

Darnay complied, and was taken back to the guard-house, where

other patriots in rough red caps were smoking, drinking, and

sleeping, by a watch-fire. Here he paid a heavy price for his

escort, and hence he started with it on the wet, wet roads at

three o'clock in the morning.