Pagina 334 van 896

"Granted. Thank you. Well, Mr. Stryver, I was about to say:--it

might be painful to you to find yourself mistaken, it might be

painful to Doctor Manette to have the task of being explicit with

you, it might be very painful to Miss Manette to have the task of

being explicit with you. You know the terms upon which I have the

honour and happiness to stand with the family. If you please,

committing you in no way, representing you in no way, I will

undertake to correct my advice by the exercise of a little new

observation and judgment expressly brought to bear upon it. If

you should then be dissatisfied with it, you can but test its

soundness for yourself; if, on the other hand, you should be

satisfied with it, and it should be what it now is, it may spare

all sides what is best spared. What do you say?"

"How long would you keep me in town?"

"Oh! It is only a question of a few hours. I could go to Soho in

the evening, and come to your chambers afterwards."