<P> In July 1789, the Defarges help to lead the storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny . Defarge enters Dr. Manette's former cell, "One Hundred and Five, North Tower," and searches it thoroughly . Throughout the countryside, local officials and other representatives of the aristocracy are dragged from their homes to be killed, and the St. Evrémonde château is burned to the ground . </P> <P> In 1792, Mr. Lorry decides to travel to Paris to collect important documents from the Tellson's branch in that city and bring them to London for safekeeping against the chaos of the French Revolution . Darnay intercepts a letter written by Gabelle, one of his uncle's servants who has been imprisoned by the revolutionaries, pleading for the Marquis to help secure his release . Without telling his family or revealing his position as the new Marquis, Darnay sets out for Paris . </P> <P> Shortly after Darnay arrives in Paris, he is denounced for being an emigrated aristocrat from France and jailed in La Force Prison . Dr. Manette, Lucie, little Lucie, Jerry, and Miss Pross travel to Paris and meet Mr. Lorry to try to free Darnay . A year and three months pass, and Darnay is finally tried . </P> <P> Dr Manette, viewed as a hero for his imprisonment in the Bastille, testifies on Darnay's behalf at his trial . Darnay is released, only to be arrested again later that day . A new trial begins on the following day, under new charges brought by the Defarges and a third individual who is soon revealed as Dr Manette . He had written an account of his imprisonment at the hands of Darnay's father and hidden it in his cell; Defarge found it while searching the cell during the storming of the Bastille . </P>

Who said the best of times the worst of times