- While Darnay is being arrested at home, Miss Pross and Jerry are still out shopping for his feast.
- All of a sudden, Miss Pross sees a man and starts to scream.
- The man jumps in awkward embarrassment.
- Miss Pross runs up to him, calling out his name.
- Soloman, the man, drags her into an alley and tells her to shut up.
- Jerry follows them into the alley. He’s a bit confused.
- Angry, Soloman wants to know what Miss Pross wants.
- Miss Pross, teary-eyed, introduces Soloman to Jerry as her beloved brother.
- Of course, our narrator is quick to tell us that Soloman stole Miss Pross’ money and then pretended to be dead...but she doesn’t know that yet.
- Suddenly, Jerry takes an interest in Soloman.
- As he remembers it, however, Soloman wasn’t his name back in England.
- In fact, he thinks that Soloman used to be a spy. He was supposed to have died.
- What was the name Soloman used to use?
- While Jerry thinks, a new voice breaks into the conversation.
- It’s Sydney Carton. He informs Jerry that Solomon’s old name was Barsad.
- Carton reassures Miss Pross that everything is all right. He showed up a day ago; he’s been to see Mr. Lorry and he’s now trying to be of some help to the Manettes.
- Now, though, he’s here to see Barsad.
- Apparently Soloman/Barsad has become a spy in the French prisons.
- Carton explains that he’d like to have a conversation with Barsad at Mr. Lorry’s.
- When Barsad seems inclined to say no, Carton gently tells him that he has information that could make life pretty sticky for Barsad.
- That changes Barsad’s mind!
- Miss Pross, however, is worried. She begs Carton to protect her brother.
- Carton promises.
- At Mr. Lorry’s, Carton introduces Barsad.
- Next, he breaks the bad news to Mr. Lorry: Darnay has been arrested again.
- Not to worry, though: Carton has a plan.
- To make the plan work, though, he needs Barsad’s help.
- As we may have mentioned, Barsad isn’t exactly the helping sort.
- In fact, he needs quite a bit of convincing.
- Luckily, however, Carton has some dirt on Barsad.
- Barsad has been spying on the prisoners for the French revolutionaries, but he’s also been spying on the French for the English.
- No one likes a double-crossing spy.
- Moreover, Carton knows that Barsad’s friend is passing as a Frenchman—but he’s really an Englishman, Roger Cly.
- Jerry suddenly pays close attention. He wants to know why Roger Cly never got properly buried.
- In fact, he asks Barsad.
- Barsad can’t figure out how Jerry would know this…until Jerry informs them that he tried to dig Roger up. In Roger’s place, however, he found an empty coffin.
- Barsad knows that Carton’s managed to beat him in this particular game.
- Now that he gets the point, Barsad wants to know what Carton wants from him.
- As it turns out, Carton doesn’t want much. Barsad is a keyholder of the prison. He can pass in and out at will, right?
- Barsad agrees. He’s able to go into the prison whenever he likes.
- Carton nods, then asks Barsad to step into the next room so they can have a word together in private.
- ...and, unfortunately, we don’t get to read about that particular conversation.