Headnote vignette

John McLenan

Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, Book III, chapter 10 ( "The Substance of the Shadow")

The twenty-seventh installment of the novel appeared in Harper's Weekly (5 November 1859): 716-718; it had originally appeared in the UK on Saturday, 29 October in All the Year Round

This illustration depicts the point in Dr. Manette's long-hidden narrative that describes how the two St. Evr&eactute;monde brothers ordered him into their coach: "'We have been to your residence,' said the first, 'and not being so fortunate as to find you there, and being informed that you were probably walking in this direction, we followed, in the hope of overtaking you. Will you please to enter the carriage?' "The manner of both was imperious, and they both moved, as these words were spoken, so as to place me between themselves and the carriage door. They were armed. I was not. "'Gentlemen,' said I, `pardon me; but I usually inquire who does me the honour to seek my assistance, and what is the nature of the case to which I am summoned.' "The reply to this was made by him who had spoken second. 'Doctor, your clients are people of condition. As to the nature of the case, our confidence in your skill assures us that you will ascertain it for yourself better than we can describe it. Enough. Will you please to enter the carriage?'"