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"My dear!" said her father, stopping in his story, and laying his

hand on hers, "command yourself. What a disordered state you are

in! The least thing--nothing--startles you! You, your father's

daughter!"

"I thought, my father," said Lucie, excusing herself, with a pale

face and in a faltering voice, "that I heard strange feet upon

the stairs."

"My love, the staircase is as still as Death."

As he said the word, a blow was struck upon the door.

"Oh father, father. What can this be! Hide Charles. Save him!"

"My child," said the Doctor, rising, and laying his hand upon her

shoulder, "I have saved him. What weakness is this, my dear! Let

me go to the door."

He took the lamp in his hand, crossed the two intervening outer

rooms, and opened it. A rude clattering of feet over the floor,

and four rough men in red caps, armed with sabres and pistols,

entered the room.

"The Citizen Evremonde, called Darnay," said the first.

"Who seeks him?" answered Darnay.