Resumo de The Golden Thread The Second Part Of The Tale Of Two Cities

Book the Second: The Golden ThreadFive years later, Dr. Manette has recovered from his ordeal. French emigre Charles Darnay is tried at the Old Bailey for spying. Those testifying against him are a John Barsad and a Roger Cly, who claim that he had been reporting on English troops in North America to the French. Dr. Manette and his daughter vouch for Darnay because he had sailed with them on their voyage to England. In the end, Darnay is released because the prosecution witnesses are unable to tell him apart from Sydney Carton, the junior defense counsel. Carton is depicted unflatteringly as a drunkard; conversely Darnay is set out as a handsome and gallant victim of a deficient British legal process. After seeing Lucie's sympathy for Darnay during his trial, Carton becomes enamoured with her and jealous of Darnay.In Paris, the Marquis St. Evrémonde, the uncle of Charles Darnay, is returning from an audience with one of the 'greatest lords in France' (Monseigneur) when his coach runs over and kills the son of the peasant Gaspard; he throws a coin to Gaspard to compensate him for his loss; in the assembled crowd is the implacable tricoteuse, Madame Defarge. She throws the money back, enraging the Marquis and leading him to exclaim that he would willingly kill any of the peasants of France.On his way back to his château, the Marquis passes through a village, where a road mender tells him that he saw a man clinging to the bottom of his carriage. The Marquis has his servant investigate, but discovers nothing and continues on his way.Charles Darnay returns to France to meet his uncle. Their political positions are diametrically opposed: Darnay is a democrat, while the Marquis is an adherent of the ancient regime. The Marquis is portrayed as a cruel, heartless nobleman:"Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark deference of fear and slavery, my friend," observed the Marquis, "will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, as long as this roof," looking up to it, "shuts out the sky." That night, Gaspard, the man who had ridden beneath the Marquis' carriage, murders the Marquis in his sleep. He leaves a note upon the dagger he drove through the Marquis' heart, saying "Drive him fast to his tomb. This, from Jacques." Later, he is captured and hung for his crime.Returning to England, Darnay asks Dr. Manette for his consent to marry Lucie. He is not the only suitor however. Both Stryver, Carton's patron (by way of comic relief) and more seriously, Carton himself, are captivated by her. Carton is the only one of the three to reveal his feelings directly to Lucie--Stryver is convinced of the futility of his matrimonial aspirations by Mr. Lorry, and Darnay proposes the marriage to Dr. Manette. When Carton confesses his love to Lucie, he tells her that he will not act on it because he knows he is incapable of making her happy. He confesses that she has inspired him to lead a better life, but he has no energy to act. He promises her that he will "embrace any sacrifice" for her or one that she loves. Meanwhile, Darnay agrees to reveal his true surname to Dr. Manette on the morning of his marriage to Lucie.In Paris, Monsieur and Madame Defarge foment Jacobin sympathies; in her knitting, she enciphers lists of those to be killed when the revolution succeeds. They learn, from an informant within the police that a spy is to be quartered in Saint Antoine, John Barsad, one of those who gave false testimony against Charles Darnay. Madame Defarge takes the long view as opposed to her husband, who is impatient to bring on the revolution. The following morning, Barsad enters the Defarges' wine shop, but Madame Defarge recognises him from the description which she had been given. Barsad acts as an agent provocateur and strives to lure Madame Defarge into discussing the impending execution of the unfortunate Gaspard. In the course of the conversation, he mentions that Darnay is to be married to Lucie Manette.

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