- It’s August, 1792.
- Monseigneur, that amazing man who stands in for all French aristocrats, has decided that France is not the safest place to be hanging out.
- He’s now fleeing across the ocean, headed for countries that are a bit more friendly than his own.
- But we’re not concerned with Monseigneur right now. We’re back in London.
- At Tellson’s, to be specific.
- Tellson’s, in case you were wondering, is as dark and dingy and cramped as it ever was. That’s just the way that Mr. Lorry likes it.
- At the moment, Darnay is trying to talk Mr. Lorry out of going to France on business.
- It’s too dangerous in France at the moment—especially for an elderly man.
- Mr. Lorry agrees, but business is business. Tellson’s has many French customers, and someone has to look after their property, even during times of strife.
- As it turns out, Mr. Lorry happens to be one of the youngest members of Tellson’s.
- If anyone could brave war and revolution, it’d be him. That’s what he thinks, at any rate.
- Darnay remains unconvinced.
- Mr. Lorry assures him that he’ll bring Jerry Cruncher along as a bodyguard.
- Between the two of them, they should be able to stop any mischief that people might intend toward the bank or the bank’s property.
- Darnay and Mr. Lorry stand in a corner of the bank talking together.
- Gradually, another conversation in the bank catches their attention.
- Our good old friend, Mr. Stryver, has brought a letter to the bank. It’s addressed to a Marquis St. Evrémonde, care of Tellson’s Bank.
- Our narrator quickly informs us that Dr. Manette made Darnay promise never to reveal his real identity.
- Perhaps that’s why Darnay starts when he sees the letter—but he doesn’t say a word.
- Luckily, Stryver has more than enough words for the entire office.
- He explains that the new Marquis is a craven coward. He abandoned his lands before the old Marquis died.
- Darnay steps into the conversation and says that he knows the Marquis. He can deliver the letter.
- Puzzled, Mr. Lorry hands it to him.
- Darnay quickly leaves. As he walks out, he opens the letter.
- It’s from Monsieur Gabelle, the steward of his uncle’s lands.
- Gabelle has been taken prisoner merely because he did what the Marquis ordered him to do.
- Now he begs the new Marquis (Darnay) to come back and take responsibility for his own lands.
- Darnay puts down the letter and begins some serious thinking.
- Sure, he once believed that it would be better for him to abandon his inheritance entirely.
- Starting life over in England was a bit hard, but at least he wasn’t the cause of other people’s pain.
- Now, however, he sees that inaction can be as morally corrupt as bad actions.
- Quickly, Darnay comes to a conclusion: he must return to France.
- With this decided, Darnay sets about planning a "business" trip. He tells Lucie that he’ll be gone for a few days.
- Then he writes a letter explaining his real situation and leaves it for her to find once he’s left.
- He also writes to the doctor, asking him to take care of the family until he returns.
- In the dead of the night, Darnay sets out for Paris.
- We’re not sure, but we really don’t have a very good feeling about this...