A Tale of Two Cities Volume II, Chapter Eleven – A Companion Picture Summary

It’s late at night. Sydney Carton is working. Stryver is drinking.
He’s so happy about drinking, in fact, that he asks Sydney to make another bowl of punch for the two of them
He has news.
Stryver, it seems, has decided to marry.
Sydney knows Stryver pretty well. He asks if the woman has money.
Stryver takes Sydney to task for being such a cynic. He’s actually fallen in love this time.
In fact, Stryver’s a bit worried that Sydney won’t like his choice of a bride.
Once upon a time, Sydney spoke slightingly of the woman whom Stryver has decided to make the happiest woman on earth.
Sydney starts a little bit. Could Stryver mean…
Yes. Stryver means to marry Lucie.
Apparently, Stryver’s willing to overlook her poverty.
He’s pretty magnanimous about the whole thing. Lucie will benefit a lot from the marriage, he thinks, but he’s willing to take her, anyway.
We just want to put our opinion on the record: Stryver’s a pompous fool.
Sydney thinks so, too.
While Stryver tells Carton about his plans, he also tries to dispense some free advice on how he thinks Carton should lead his own life.
Perhaps Sydney could find someone like…like Lucie to marry.
Lucie?
Carton jumps uncomfortably.
Stryver continues to offer unwelcome advice about Sydney’s love life.
Luckily, Sydney chooses to ignore him.