chapter 1 The Period It was the best of times It was the worst of times It was the season of light It was the season of darkness It was the spring of hope It was the winter of despair The horses mashed their way through thick mud with drooping heads They were pulling the Dover mail coach up Shooter’s Hill It was late on a Friday night in November 1775 The hill the harness the mud and the mail were all so heavy that the horses had already stopped three times A cold mist had roamed up the hill like an evil spirit Three passengers were plodding up the hill by the side of the mail They could only see a few yards of road from the light of the coach lamps In those days travelers kept to 4
themselves for anyone on the road might be a robber The guard of the Dover mail stood watch with a loaded blunderbuss six or eight loaded pistols and a pile of swords at hand Joe said the coachman What o’clock do you make it Joe Ten minutes past eleven My blood exclaimed the coachman And not atop of Shooter’s yet Get on with you He added the whip to emphasize his command The lead horse made a determined scramble and the three other horses followed This last burst carried the mail to the summit of the hill When the horses stopped to breathe again the guard got down off the coach He opened the coach door to let the passengers back in Tst Joe cried the coachman in a warning voice from his perch on the box Both men listened The sound of a galloping horse came fast and furious up the hill So-ho the guard sang out as loud as he could roar You there Stand I shall fire 5
The gallop quickly slowed and a man’s voice called from the mist Is that the Dover mail Never you mind the guard retorted Why do you want to know I want a passenger if it is What passenger Mr Jarvis Lorry One passenger showed in a moment that was his name The guard the coachman and the two other passengers looked at him full of distrust Keep where you are the guard called to the voice in the mist Gentleman named Lorry answer straight What is the matter asked the passenger Is it Jerry Yes Mr Lorry A bulletin sent you from over yonder T and Company I know this messenger guard said Mr Lorry He climbed down onto the road He may come close There’s nothing wrong I hope there ain’t said the guard Hello you Come close slowly 6
