The carriage of the Marquis travels the streets of the
city recklessly. When the carriage runs over the little child, the child is killed. The
Marquis has no pity or concern for the loss of life. In fact, he refers to Gaspard’s
(the child’s father) anguished cries as “abominable noise.” He further blames the
residents of area for failing to avoid the swiftly-moving carriage. He complains that
the poor people have no control over their children and that striking the child may have
harmed his horses.
After throwing a coin to the ground in
supposed compensation for the child’s life, he insults Monsieur Defarge and begins to
drive away. The gold coin is thrown back into his carriage and the Defarges comfort
Gaspard.
Later, the Marquis is found dead under the
watchful eyes of the stone statues that survey his estate. There is a note attached to
his dead body and it reads, “Drive him fast to his tomb. This, from
Jacques.” Of course the assembly of men in the wine shop all referred to one another as
Jacques. Therefore, it is reasonable to infer that the murderer is from that section of
the city or is affiliated with the men who frequent Defarge’s wine shop. In addition,
the mender of roads saw a tall man, covered with dust, under the carriage of the
Marquis. Although the identity of the man is not definitively identified, the
description is similar to the previous depictions of Gaspard, the child’s father. It is
reasonable to conclude that the Marquis was killed in revenge for his haughtiness
following the death of the child.
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