Book III, Chapter Nine – The Game Made

While Sydney and Barsad are talking in the next room, Mr. Lorry sits in silence. He’s staring at Mr. Cruncher. Hard. Finally, he asks what Mr. Cruncher does besides working at Tellson’s. If Jerry’s been using the respectable name of Tellson’s as a front for illegal activities, then Mr. Lorry will terminate his position as soon as they all get back to London. Mr. Cruncher takes deep offense to this. Basically, he says that what he does isn’t so bad…if only because everyone else does bad things, as well.

Left alone with Sydney, Mr. Lorry asks what sort of deal Barsad made. Sydney says that he’s managed to make sure that someone can get in to see Charles, just once, if things go very poorly at trial. He didn’t want to ask for anything more: it’s a bit perilous in the prison these days. Mr. Lorry starts to tear up a bit at the thought of the danger ahead.  Mr. Lorry agrees to keep Carton’s presence a secret.

They each go their separate ways. Sydney goes to a small woodworking shop in Saint Antoine. He stands outside it. The wood sawyer sees him and is surprised at the resemblance between Sydney and the prisoner. He also comments on Sydney’s perfect French. Next, Sydney heads to a chemist. He buys two different drugs. The pharmacist warns him that combining the two would be dangerous. Seems like Sydney has some sort of plan here…

Sydney walks through the streets of Paris all night, thinking of his childhood. He was orphaned at an early age. He’s never felt at home anywhere. By morning, he’s back at Mr. Lorry’s door. Together, they head to the Tribunal. Charles Evrémonde is called to the stand. He’s been denounced by three people: M. and Mme Defarge, and Doctor Manette. Wait…what? Doctor Manette? The doctor seems a shocked as the rest of the court. He cries out that the accusation is a mistake.

The court calls Defarge to the stand.  He says that he found a letter hidden in the walls of the Bastille…a letter written by Alexandre Manette during his imprisonment. The courtroom gasps. The judges order that the letter be read aloud.