Ch. 3: A Disappointment (p. 67-81)

Thoughts, Vocab, Explanations: 

•  So the gist of these extremely long-winded opening remarks is that Mr. Darnay is accused of giving France information about the plans of the British military when those two countries were at war (specifically, it sounds like, when the French came to the aid of the Americans during the American Revolutionary War.)  He is accused by some high-and-mighty Englishman and evidence was produced against him by his own servant (although that evidence does not seem to be in Mr. Darnay's handwriting.)

• I have a hunch that that opening speech was precisely when I decided I didn't like this book in high school.   In fact, Dickens often uses the technique of making characters we're ultimately meant to dislike incredibly long-winded, but here it's got the extra layers of history and war and the courtroom and it's harder to see it as the satire it's intended to be.

• "Gentleman" is a profession.  Humph.
  
• "Ever kicked downstairs?  Decidedly not; once received a kick on the top of a staircase, and fell down-stairs of his own accord." (p. 69)  You can see the good old Dickensian sense of humor in the responses to this cross-examination, as Mr. Darnay's lawyer just obliterates the "patriot" who accused Mr. Darney of treason.

• Aha!  Now we start to learn about the other two people in the coach from wayyyyy back at the beginning of the book!  Remember, they were all wrapped up like mummies and each suspected the other of being a robber or murderer or something?
•  Is it weird that I can't help liking Carton better than his fancier, better-groomed double?  Carton's wig is half off, he's slouching around, and he's so obnoxious: "Yes I could.  I will, if you ask it" is the jerkiest possible response to "Could you tell so-and-so something" but it kind of makes me love him (80).

Takeaways: 

Despite everyone's assumptions going in, Mr. Darnay is acquitted and will live to flirt with Ms. Manette and tell dumb jokes about George Washington another day!