雙語·《刀鋒》 第七章 二

CHAPTER SEVEN 2
第七章 二

On presenting myself at the headquarters of the Toulon police I was immediately ushered into the room of the chief inspector. He was sitting at a table, a heavy, swarthy man of saturnine appearance whom I took to be a Corsican.He threw me, perhaps from force of habit, a suspicious glance；but noticing the ribbon of the Legion of Honour, which I had taken the precaution to put in my buttonhole, with an unctuous smile asked me to sit down and proceeded to make profuse apologies for having been obliged to incommode a person of my distinction.Adopting a similar tone, I assured him that nothing could make me happier than to be of service to him.Then we got down to brass tacks and he resumed his brusque, rather insolent manner.Looking at some papers before him, he said：
我到了土倫警察局，立即被領(lǐng)進(jìn)了警察總長的辦公室。警察總長是個(gè)粗漢，坐在辦公桌旁，一張臉黑不溜秋，面色陰沉，看上去像個(gè)科西嘉人。也許是出于職業(yè)習(xí)慣吧，他狠狠地掃了我一眼，目光疑神疑鬼的?？墒强匆娢业募~扣孔里掛著榮譽(yù)軍團(tuán)勛章（那是我以防萬一臨時(shí)掛上去的），他便滿臉堆起笑容，急忙請我坐下，說了一簍子道歉的話，聲稱驚動我這樣一個(gè)有身份的人，實(shí)在不得已。我對他也以禮相待，說能為他效犬馬之勞，我感到不勝榮幸。接下來，我們言歸正傳。他又恢復(fù)了先前的那種嚴(yán)厲、粗暴的神情，眼睛看著桌子上的材料對我說：

“This is a dirty business. It appears that the woman Macdonald had a very bad reputation.She was a drunkard, a dope fiend, and a nymphomaniac.She was in the habit of sleeping not only with sailors off the ships, but with the riffraff of the town.How does it happen that a person of your age and respectability should be acquainted with such a character?”
“真是傷風(fēng)敗俗。這個(gè)叫麥克唐納的女人好像名聲很壞，是個(gè)酒鬼、癮君子、野雞。她不但和上岸的水手睡覺，還同城里的地痞流氓上床。以你這樣的年齡，以你這樣的身份，怎么跟這種人攪和在了一起？”

I was inclined to tell him that it was no business of his, but from a diligent perusal of hundreds of detective stories I have learnt that it is well to be civil with the police.
我本來想告訴他這不關(guān)他的事，可是，根據(jù)我鉆研幾百本偵探小說的經(jīng)驗(yàn)，覺得對待警察還是客氣點(diǎn)好。

“I knew her very little. I met her when she was a girl in Chicago, where she afterwards married a man of good position.I met her again in Paris a year or so ago through friends of hers and mine.”
“我和她并不太熟。初次在芝加哥見她時(shí)，她還是個(gè)孩子。后來，她嫁了個(gè)有頭有臉的人。大概在一年前吧，通過她和我共同認(rèn)識的幾位朋友，我才又一次見到了她?！?/p>

I had been wondering how on earth he had ever connected me with Sophie, but now he pushed forward a book.
我一邊說話一邊納悶，不知道這位警察總長到底是怎么把我和索菲聯(lián)系在了一起。此時(shí)，只見他把一本書推到了我面前說：

“This volume was found in her room. If you will kindly look at the dedication you will see that it hardly suggests that your acquaintance with her was as slight as you claim.”
“這是在她的房間找到的。你看看上面的題詞，恐怕就不能說你和她不太熟了?！?/p>

It was the translation of that novel of mine that she had seen in the bookshop window and asked me to write in. Under my own name I had written“Mignonne, allons voir si la rose，”because it was the first thing that occurred to me.It certainly looked a trifle familiar.
此書就是我的那本法譯版小說，索菲在書店看到過，想請我簽名題詞。我簽了名，并在下面題了詞：“親愛的，讓我們看看這玫瑰花……”題詞是當(dāng)時(shí)隨便想出來的，語氣的確有點(diǎn)太親熱了些。

“If you are suggesting that I was her lover, you are mistaken.”
“假如你懷疑我是她的情人，那你就大錯(cuò)特錯(cuò)了?！?/p>

“It would be no affair of mine，”he replied, and then with a gleam in his eye：“And without wishing to say anything offensive to you I must add that from what I have heard of her proclivities I should not say you were her type. But it is evident that you would not address a perfect stranger as mignonne.”
“是不是情人不關(guān)我的事?！彼卮鹫f，眼睛里閃閃發(fā)著亮光，“我無意冒犯你，但此處必須補(bǔ)充一句，根據(jù)我所了解到的她的喜好，你不是她的意中人?？墒牵幸稽c(diǎn)得弄清楚：你絕不會把一個(gè)自己不太熟悉的人稱為‘親愛的’?！?/p>

“That line, monsieur le commissaire, is the first line of a celebrated poem by Ronsard, whose works I am certain are familiar to a man of your education and culture. I wrote it because I felt sure she knew the poem and would recall the following lines, which might suggest to her that the life she was leading was, to say the least of it, indiscreet.”
“這是龍沙的一首名作中的頭一行詩，總長大人。像你這樣有文化修養(yǎng)的人對龍沙的詩肯定是很了解的。我當(dāng)時(shí)引用這句詩，是覺得她知道這首詩，會聯(lián)想到下面的詩行，從而感到愧疚，至少能意識到自己的生活有失檢點(diǎn)。”

“Evidently I have read Ronsard at school, but with all the work I have to do I confess that the lines you refer to have escaped my memory.”
“當(dāng)然，龍沙的詩我上學(xué)的時(shí)候是讀過的，可現(xiàn)在亂事如麻，你剛才提到的詩句早已忘掉了?！?/p>

I repeated the first stanza and knowing very well he had never heard the poet's name till I mentioned it, had no fear that he would recall the last one which can hardly be taken as an incitement to virtue.
接下來，我把那首詩的第一段背誦了出來。我斷定他以前對龍沙的名字連聽也沒聽說過，所以不怕他知道后邊的詩句并不包含勸人改邪歸正的內(nèi)容。

“She was apparently a woman of some education. We found a number of detective stories in her room and two or three volumes of poetry.There was a Baudelaire and a Rimbaud and an English volume by someone called Eliot.Is heknown?”
“她顯然是讀過一些書的。我們在她的房間里找到了許多本偵探小說和兩三本詩集。一本詩集是波德萊爾寫的，還有一本是蘭波的詩集。另有一本英文詩集，是一個(gè)叫艾略特的人寫的。他的名氣大不大？”

“Widely.”
“名氣非常大?！?/p>

“I have no time to read poetry. In any case I cannot read English.If he is a good poet it is a pity he doesn't write in French, so that educated people could read him.”
“我沒時(shí)間讀詩。再說，我也看不懂英語?？上а剑绻莻€(gè)好詩人，何不用法語寫詩，這樣可以讓法國有文化的人拜讀拜讀嘛?！?/p>

The thought of my chief inspector reading The Waste Land filled me with pleasure. Suddenly he pushed a snapshot towards me.
想到這位警察總長閱讀《荒原》的情景，我的心里覺得好笑。突然，他把一張照片推到了我面前。

“Have you any idea who that is?”
“對這個(gè)人你了解嗎？”

I immediately recognized Larry. He was in bathing trunks, and the photograph, a recent one, had been taken, I guessed, during the summer part of which he had spent with Isabel and Gray at Dinard.My first impulse was to say I did not know, for I wanted nothing less than to get Larry mixed up in this hateful business, but I reflected that if the police discovered his identity my assertion would look as if I thought there was something to hide.
我立刻認(rèn)出是拉里，穿著游泳褲，是最近才拍的一張照片。拍攝的時(shí)間大概就是去年夏天——當(dāng)時(shí)他和伊莎貝爾及格雷在迪納爾避暑。我一急，想說不認(rèn)識，因?yàn)槲也辉缸尷镆蚕萦谶@件麻煩事中，可是細(xì)細(xì)尋思，覺得既然警方知道了他的身份，我再推說不認(rèn)識，只會叫人以為里面有不可告人之處。

“He's an American citizen called Laurence Darrell.”
“他是個(gè)美國公民，叫勞倫斯·達(dá)雷爾?！?/p>

“It was the only photograph found among the woman's effects. What was the connexion between them?”
“在那個(gè)女人的物品中，這是唯一的一張照片。他們之間是什么關(guān)系?！?/p>

“They both came from the same village near Chicago. They were childhood friends.”
“他們都是芝加哥附近一個(gè)村子里的人，從小就認(rèn)識?！?/p>

“But this photograph was taken not long ago, I suspect at a seaside resort in the North or on the West of France. It would be easy to discover the exact place.What is he, this individual?”
“不過，這張照片可是在前不久拍的，我想大概是在法國北部或者西部的一個(gè)海濱療養(yǎng)地拍的吧。要確定位置不會是難事。他是干什么的？”

“An author，”I said boldly. The inspector slightly raised his bushy eyebrows and I guessed that he did not attribute high morality to members of my calling.“Of independent means，”I added to make it sound more respectable.
“是個(gè)作家?！蔽掖笾懽诱f。警察總長的兩撇濃眉稍稍抬起來了一點(diǎn)，大概是認(rèn)為干我們這一行的人，行為都是不大檢點(diǎn)的。“不過，他不是靠撰稿為生的。”我又補(bǔ)充了一句，想讓拉里的身份顯得體面一些。

“Where is he now?”
“他現(xiàn)在何處？”

Again I was tempted to say I didn't know, but again decided it would only make things awkward if I did. The French police may have many faults, but their system enables them to find anyone they want without delay.
我又想推說不知道，可還是覺得那樣會叫事情更為尷尬。法國的警務(wù)也許有各種弊端，但他們有一張網(wǎng)，立刻就能查出一個(gè)人來。

“He's living at Sanary.”
“他住在薩納里?！?/p>

The inspector looked up and it was clear that he was interested.
警察總長抬頭看了看我，顯然對我的回答很感興趣。

“Where?”
“地址呢？”

I had remembered Larry telling me that Auguste Cottet had lent him his cottage and on my return at Christmas I had written to ask him to come and stay with me for a while, but as I fully expected he had refused. I gave the inspector his address.
拉里曾告訴過我，說奧古斯特·科迪特把他的鄉(xiāng)間小屋借給了他。我圣誕節(jié)回家時(shí)，給那個(gè)地址寫過信，請他來我家做客，住上幾天，可不出所料，他謝絕了我的邀請。此時(shí)見總長問起，我就把他的地址說了出來。

“I'll telephone to Sanary and have him brought here. It might be worth while to question him.”
“我會給薩納里那邊打電話的，讓他到這兒來一趟。從他嘴里也許能問出些情況來。”

I could not but see that the inspector thought that here might be a suspect, but I was only inclined to laugh；I was convinced that Larry could easily prove that he had nothing to do with the affair. I was anxious to hear more about Sophie's lamentable end, but the inspector only told me in somewhat greater detail what I already knew.Two fishermen had brought the body in.It was a romantic exaggeration of my local policeman's that it was stark naked.The murderer had left girdle and brassière.If Sophie had been dressed in the same way as I had seen her he had had to strip her only of her slacks and her jersey.There was nothing to identify her and the police had inserted a description in the local paper.This had brought a woman to the station who kept a small rooming-house in a back street, what the French call a maison de passe, to which men could bring women or boys.She was an agent of the police, who liked to know who frequented her house and what for.Sophie had been turned out of the hotel on the quay at which she was living when I ran across her because her conduct was more scandalous than even the tolerant proprietor could put up with.She had offered to engage a room with a tiny sitting-room beside it in the house of the woman I have just mentioned.It was more profitable to let it two or three times a night for short periods, but Sophie offered to pay so handsomely that the woman consented to rent it to her by the month.She came to the police station now to state that her tenant had been absent for several days, she had not bothered, thinking she had gone for a trip to Marseilles or to Villefranche, where ships of the British fleet had lately arrived, an event that always attracted women, young and old, from all along the coast；but she had read the description of the deceased in the paper and thought it might apply to her tenant.She had been taken to see the body and after a trifling hesitation declared it was that of Sophie Macdonald.
我心中暗想，警察總長一定把拉里當(dāng)成了嫌犯，于是覺得心里好笑。我斷定，拉里很容易就可以證明自己與此事一點(diǎn)關(guān)系都沒有。我所關(guān)心的是索菲的慘劇，想了解更多的細(xì)節(jié)，可是總長告訴我的情況并不比我已經(jīng)了解到的多多少。尸體是兩個(gè)漁民打撈出來的。至于我們那兒的村警說死者一絲不掛，純粹是夸大其詞。兇手沒有剝掉她的內(nèi)褲和乳罩。如果索菲死時(shí)還是我以前見過的那身裝束，那么，兇手只是扒掉了她的長褲和運(yùn)動衫。起初，由于查不出她的身份，警方曾在當(dāng)?shù)貓?bào)紙上登了一則告示，描述了她的特征，結(jié)果引來了一位女子。此人在一條背街上經(jīng)營地下出租屋，法語稱作妓院，經(jīng)常有男人帶女人或男孩去出租屋鬼混。其實(shí)，她是警方的耳目。警方詢問了她，問她有什么人到出租屋去，都干了些什么。我上次碰見索菲時(shí)，她剛被碼頭跟前的那家旅館趕了出來，因?yàn)樗男袨檫^于寡廉鮮恥，就連一向?qū)捜莸穆灭^老板都忍無可忍了。于是，她就到旁邊的地下出租屋去，就是剛才提到的那位女子經(jīng)營的出租屋，想租一套帶小客廳的房間。按說，臨時(shí)把房間租出去，一夜出租兩三次，是有利可圖的。但索菲按月租，出的價(jià)錢更高，于是女房東就答應(yīng)租給她了。女房東這個(gè)時(shí)候來警察局，說她的房客幾天都沒見蹤影了。原先她并沒有在意，以為索菲到馬賽或者維爾弗朗什去了——最近，英國海軍的艦隊(duì)抵達(dá)那兩處港口，像磁石一樣把海岸線一帶許多的女人（年輕的以及年老的）都吸引了去。后來，她看了報(bào)上登的關(guān)于死者的描述，覺得很符合女房客的特征。被領(lǐng)去辨認(rèn)死尸時(shí)，她幾乎沒有猶豫，立刻便認(rèn)定死者就是索菲·麥克唐納。

“But if the body's been identified, what do you want me for?”
“既然尸體已經(jīng)得到了辨認(rèn)，又何必叫我來呢？”

“Madame Bellet is a woman of high honourability and excellent character，”said the inspector，“but she may have reasons for identifying the dead woman that we do not know；and in any case I think she should be seen by someone who was more closely connected with her so that the fact may be confirmed.”
“貝萊夫人品德高尚，誠實(shí)可信，”總長說道，“但她也許出于某種不得而知的原因認(rèn)錯(cuò)人。不管怎么說吧，我覺得應(yīng)當(dāng)找一個(gè)和死者關(guān)系比較密切的人來證實(shí)一下。”

“Do you think you have any chance of catching the murderer?”
“你認(rèn)為有可能抓住兇手嗎？”

The inspector shrugged his massive shoulders.
總長聳了聳他那寬厚的肩膀。

“Naturally we are making inquiries. We have questioned a number of persons at the bars she used to go to.She may have been killed out of jealousy by a sailor whose ship has already left the port, or by a gangster for whatever money she had on her.It appears that she always had on her a sum that would seem large to a man of that sort.It may be that some people have a strong suspicion who the culprit is, but in the circles she moved it is unlikely that anyone will speak unless it is to his advantage.Consorting with the bad characters she did, such an end as she has come to was only too probable.”
“當(dāng)然，我們正在找線索，曾經(jīng)到她常去的酒吧詢問過幾個(gè)人。她可能被哪個(gè)吃醋的水手殺害，而水手的船已經(jīng)離開了港口，或者是遇到了一個(gè)圖財(cái)害命的惡棍。她好像身上老帶著錢，免不了叫歹徒見財(cái)起意。也許有人了解些線索，知道何人是兇手，但她那個(gè)圈子里的人，除非利益相關(guān)，否則沒人會說話的。她跟那些壞蛋鬼混，早晚都會落到這種下場的?！?/p>

I had nothing to say to this. The inspector asked me to come next morning at nine o'clock, by which time he would have seen“this gentleman of the photograph”，after which a policeman would take us to the nearest morgue to see the body.
我一時(shí)無語?？傞L要我次日上午九點(diǎn)鐘再來一趟，那時(shí)他應(yīng)當(dāng)接見過“照片中的這位男子”。然后，由一位警察領(lǐng)我們?nèi)フJ(rèn)尸。

“And how about burying her?”
“死者怎么安葬呢？”

“If after identifying the body you claim it as friends of the deceased and are prepared to undertake the expense of the funeral yourselves, you will receive the necessary authorization.”
“辨認(rèn)完尸體，如果你們認(rèn)定死者是你們的朋友，同時(shí)愿意負(fù)擔(dān)喪葬費(fèi)，就可以得到相關(guān)的授權(quán)?！?/p>

“I'm sure that Mr. Darrell and I would like to have it as soon as possible.”
“我敢肯定，我和達(dá)雷爾先生都愿意獲得授權(quán)，越快越好?！?/p>

“I quite understand. It is a sad story and it is better that the poor woman should be laid to rest without delay.And that reminds me that I have here the card of an undertaker who will arrange the matter for you on reasonable terms and with dispatch.I will just write a line on it so that he may give you every attention.”
“我完全理解。這是一件叫人傷心的事情。應(yīng)該讓那個(gè)可憐的女人盡早入土為安，越快越好。這讓我想起我這兒有一張殯葬承辦人的名片。此人辦事周到，收費(fèi)合理，會為你們把事情打理好的。我在名片上批幾個(gè)字，他一定會重視的?！?/p>

I was pretty sure he would get a rake-off on the amount paid, but I thanked him warmly, and when he had ushered me out with every expression of esteem I went forthwith to the address on the card. The undertaker was brisk and businesslike.I chose a coffin, neither the cheapest nor the most expensive, accepted his offer to get me two or three wreaths from a florist of his acquaintance—“to save monsieur a painful duty and out of respect for the dead，”he said-and arranged for the hearse to be at the morgue at two o'clock next day.I could not but admire his efficiency when he told me that I need not trouble to see about a grave, he would do all that was necessary, and“Madame was a Protestant, I assume，”furthermore he would, if I wished it, have a pastor waiting at the cemetery to read the burial service.But since I was a stranger and a foreigner he was sure that I would not take it amiss if he asked me to be good enough to give him a cheque in advance.He named a larger sum than I had foreseen, evidently expecting me to beat him down, and I discerned a look of surprise, perhaps even of disappointment, on his face when I took out my cheque-book and wrote out a cheque without demur.
我敢打包票，他一定會從殯葬費(fèi)里吃回扣的，但還是對他表示了感謝。他送我出門，一舉一動都表現(xiàn)得畢恭畢敬。按照名片上的地址，我即刻前去找殯葬承辦人。對方是個(gè)爽快人，一副公事公辦的樣子。我挑了一口棺材，價(jià)錢適中，既不是最便宜的，也不是最貴的。他主動提出替我從他熟識的一家花店訂購兩三只花圈，我接受了他的建議?！斑@樣可以免去先生一些麻煩事，也可以表達(dá)我對死者的敬意?！彼忉屨f。我們約定好讓柩車于次日兩點(diǎn)鐘到達(dá)太平間。他叫我不必為墳地操心，一切都由他代辦，還說“想來死者是新教徒”，如果我同意的話，他將找一位牧師等在公墓那邊，于下葬時(shí)為死者祈禱。對于他的辦事效率，我不得不佩服。不過，鑒于我們素不相識，我又是個(gè)外國人，所以他提出我最好預(yù)先給他開一張支票，希望我不會介意。他說出的錢數(shù)比我預(yù)料的要多一點(diǎn)，顯然是等著我還價(jià)?？墒?，我二話沒說，掏出支票本來，開了一張支票給他。只見他臉上現(xiàn)出了意外的表情，那樣子甚至可以說有點(diǎn)失望。

I took a room at an hotel and next morning returned to the police station. I was kept waiting for some time and then was bidden to go into the chief inspector's office.I found Larry, looking grave and distressed, sitting in the chair I had sat in the day before.The inspector greeted me with joviality.I might have been a long-lost brother.
我在一家旅館要了個(gè)房間住下來，次日早晨又去了警察局。等了一小會兒，就有人把我領(lǐng)進(jìn)了警察總長的辦公室。拉里也在那兒，表情凝重、悲傷，坐在我昨天坐過的那把椅子上?？傞L高興地跟我打招呼，仿佛我是他失散多年的兄弟似的。

“Well, mon cher monsieur, your friend has answered all the questions it was my duty to put him with the utmost frankness. I have no reason to disbelieve his statement that he had not seen this poor woman for eighteen months.He has accounted for his movements during the last week in a perfectly satisfactory manner as well as for the fact that his photograph was found in her room.It was taken at Dinard and he happened to have it in his pocket one day when he was lunching with her.I have had excellent reports of the young man from Sanary and I am besides, I say it without vanity, a good judge of character myself；I am convinced that he is incapable of committing a crime of this nature.I have ventured to offer him my sympathy that a friend of his childhood, brought up with all the advantages of a healthy family life, should have turned out so badly.But such is life.And now, my dear gentlemen, one of my men will accompany you to the morgue and when you have identified the body, your time is at your own disposal.Go and have agood lunch.I have a card here of the best restaurant in Toulon and I will just write a word on it which will assure you of the patron's best attention.A good bottle of wine will do you both good after this harrowing experience.”
“很好，親愛的先生，你的朋友極其坦率地回答了我有責(zé)任問他的所有問題。他說已經(jīng)有一年半的時(shí)間沒見那個(gè)可憐的女人了，對此我沒有理由不相信。至于他上星期身在何處以及他的照片為什么出現(xiàn)在了那個(gè)女人的房間，他解釋得清清楚楚，令人十分滿意。照片是在迪納爾拍的，有一天，他和那女人吃午飯時(shí)，剛好放在他口袋里，就送給了她。我從薩納里已經(jīng)收到了報(bào)告，對這個(gè)年輕人評價(jià)很好。再說，不是我吹牛，我是個(gè)很有眼光的人，堅(jiān)信他不可能干那種傷天害理的事情。那女人是他童年時(shí)的朋友，在一個(gè)氣氛健康的家庭長大，有著種種優(yōu)越環(huán)境，竟會落得如此悲慘的下場，對此我深表同情。不過，這就是人生呀?，F(xiàn)在，親愛的先生們，我的一個(gè)下屬將陪二位到太平間去，在確定了死者的身份之后，你們的責(zé)任就算盡到了。好好去吃一頓。我這兒有一張餐館的名片，那是土倫最好的餐館。我在上面批幾個(gè)字給老板，你們一定會受到最優(yōu)惠的待遇。辛苦了這么一通，喝上一瓶美酒，對你們會大有好處?！?/p>

He was by now positively beaming with good will. We walked to the mortuary with a policeman.They were not doing a lively business in that establishment.There was a body on one slab only.We went up to it and the mortuary attendant uncovered the head.It was not a pleasant sight.The sea water had taken the curl out of the dyed silvery hair and it was plastered dankly on the skull.The face was horribly swollen and it was ghastly to look at, but there was no doubt that it was Sophie's.The attendant drew the covering sheet down to show us what we both would rather not have seen, the horrid gash across the throat that stretched from ear to ear.
說話時(shí)，他滿臉喜色，樣子顯得很開心。隨即，我們跟著一個(gè)警察去了太平間。此處的生意很不景氣，停尸床上只停放著一具尸體。我們走過去，工作人員揭開了蒙在死者頭上的遮布，現(xiàn)出的場景慘不忍睹——死者那染成了銀灰色并燙過的卷發(fā)已被海水泡直，濕漉漉地貼在腦殼上；面部腫得不像樣，看上去似鬼臉一般可怕。盡管如此，一看就知道是索菲無疑。工作人員把遮布又朝下拉了拉，露出了一條刀口——那刀口切穿了喉管，從一個(gè)耳朵根切到了另一個(gè)耳朵根，讓我們倆不忍再看下去。

We went back to the station. The chief inspector was busy, but we said what we had to say to an assistant；he left us and presently returned with the necessary papers.We took them to the undertaker.
我們回到了警察局。總長抽不出空接見我們，于是我們就把事情對他的助手說了，助手讓我們等了一會兒，便拿來了所需的證件。我們把證件拿走，給了殯葬承辦人。

“Now let's have a drink，”I said.
“好啦，咱們?nèi)ズ纫槐?。”我說道。

Larry hadn't uttered a word since we left the police station to go to the mortuary except on our return there to declare that he identified the body as that of Sophie Macdonald. I led him down to the quay and we sat in the café in which I had sat with her.A strong mistral was blowing and the harbour, usually so smooth, was flecked with white foam.The fishing-boats were gently rocking.The sun shone brightly and, as always happens with a mistral, every object in sight had a peculiar sparkling sharpness as though you looked at it through glasses focused with more than common accuracy.It imparted a nerve-racking, throbbing vitality to everything in sight.I drank a brandy and soda, but Larry never touched the one I had ordered for him.He sat in moody silence and I did not disturb him.
剛才從警察局去太平間，拉里在返回的路上曾說他一眼就認(rèn)出死者是索菲·麥克唐納。除此之外，他再也沒說過一句話。我領(lǐng)著他向碼頭走去，到了一家咖啡店——我和索菲曾在這家店里喝咖啡。外邊北風(fēng)呼嘯，平時(shí)平靜的港灣此時(shí)白浪翻滾。漁船隨著海水在輕輕地?fù)u晃。陽光亮晃晃的。每次刮北風(fēng)，視野里的一景一物都異常清晰，就像是用聚焦望遠(yuǎn)鏡看到的一樣，在刺激著人們的神經(jīng)，使人們的心靈顫抖。我喝了一杯蘇打水白蘭地，而拉里碰也沒碰我給他要的那杯酒。他一語不發(fā)，心情沉痛，木然呆坐著。我沒有去打攪他。

Presently I looked at my watch.
過了一會兒，我看了看表說：

“We'd better go and have something to eat，”I said.“We've got to be at the mortuary at two.”
“咱們走吧，吃點(diǎn)東西去。兩點(diǎn)鐘還得到太平間去呢。”

“I'm hungry, I didn't have any breakfast.”
“我餓得肚子咕嚕叫，早晨沒吃東西。”

Having judged from his appearance that the chief inspector knew where the food was good, I took Larry to the restaurant he had told us of. Knowing that Larry seldom ate meat, I ordered an omelette and a grilled lobster and then, asking for the wine list, chose, again following the policeman's counsel, a vintage wine.When it appeared I poured out a glass for Larry.
從那位警察總長的外表看來，我斷定他是個(gè)美食專家，于是便將拉里帶到了他推薦的那家餐館。我知道拉里很少吃肉，所以點(diǎn)了煎蛋卷和烤龍蝦，又讓侍者把酒單拿來，仍按照警察總長的建議挑了一瓶葡萄酒。酒送來時(shí)，我給拉里倒了一杯。

“You damn well drink it，”I said.“It may suggest a topic of conversation to you.”
“勸你喝下去，”我說道，“杯酒可以解千愁，讓你把心里的話說出來。”

He obediently did as I bade him.
他順從地照我的話做了。

“Shri Ganesha used to say that silence also is conversation，”he murmured.
“希瑞·格涅沙常說，沉默也是一種交談?！彼卣f。

“That suggests a jolly social gathering of intellectual dons at the University of Cambridge.”
“這倒叫我想起了劍橋大學(xué)教師們的一次別開生面的社交聚會，有著異曲同工之妙?！?/p>

“I'm afraid you'll have to stand the racket of this funeral by yourself，”he said.“I haven't any money.”
“至于這次的喪葬費(fèi)，你恐怕得一個(gè)人承擔(dān)了，”他說道，“我現(xiàn)在已囊空如洗?！?/p>

“I'm quite prepared to do that，”I answered. Then the implication of his remark hit me.“You haven't been and gone and done it really?”
“我十分樂意承擔(dān)?！蔽掖鸬?。把他的話又回味了一下，我接著又說道：“你不會真的那樣做了吧？”

He did not answer for a moment. I noticed the whimsical, teasing glint in his eyes.
他一時(shí)沒有回答我的話。我注意到他的眼里閃出一絲古怪、戲謔的光。

“You haven't got rid of your money?”
“你不會仗義疏財(cái)，把錢都送人了吧？”

“Every cent except what I need to last me till my ship comes in.”
“除了一點(diǎn)錢夠我在輪船來之前用，其余的全都送了人?！?/p>

“What ship?”
“什么輪船？”

“The man who has the next cottage to mine at Sanary is the Marseilles agent of a line of freighters that run from the Near East to New York. They've cabled him from Alexandria that they've had to put off a couple of sick men there from a ship that's coming on to Marseilles and asked him to get two more to take their place.He's a buddy of mine and he's promised to get me on.I’m giving him my old Citro?n as a parting present.When I step on board I shall have nothing but the clothes I stand up in and a few things in a grip.”
“我在薩納里居住，隔壁有個(gè)鄰居是一家貨輪公司在馬賽的代理人，貨輪的航線是往返于近東和紐約之間。他們從亞歷山大城發(fā)電報(bào)給他，說一條開往馬賽的船有兩個(gè)水手生病，在亞歷山大城上了岸，叫他找兩個(gè)替工。他是我的好朋友，答應(yīng)把我弄上船。我要把我的那輛舊的雪鐵龍送給他作為紀(jì)念。這樣，一旦登船，除了身上的一身衣服以及包里的幾件日用品，我就一無所有了。”

“Well, it's your own money. You're free, white, and twenty-one.”
“錢是你自己的。你是個(gè)白種人，已滿二十一歲，作為成年人你可以自由支配你的財(cái)產(chǎn)?！?/p>

“Free is the right word. I've never been happier or felt more independent in my life.When I get to New York I shall have my wages and they'll carry me on till I can get a job.”
“自由這個(gè)詞用得很恰當(dāng)。以前我從未感到如此快樂和自在過。到紐約下船，他們會給我一些報(bào)酬，夠我花一陣子，直至我找到工作?！?/p>

“What about your book?”
“你的書寫得怎么樣了？”

“Oh, it's finished and printed. I made a list of people I wanted it sent to-you ought to get a copy in a day or two.”
“哦，已完稿，并印了出來。我開了一張贈書的名單，你在一兩天內(nèi)當(dāng)會收到?！?/p>

“Thank you.”
“多謝?！?/p>

There was not much more to say and we finished our meal in amiable silence. I ordered coffee.Larry lit a pipe and I a cigar.I looked at him thoughtfully.He felt my eyes upon him and threw me a glance；his own were lit with an impish twinkle.
接下來再無話可說，我們倆默默地在友好的氣氛中吃完了飯。然后，我要了杯咖啡。拉里點(diǎn)著煙斗，我則燃起一支雪茄。我一邊想心事一邊望著他。他感覺到我在盯著他瞧，便掃了我一眼，目光里閃出一絲頑皮。

“If you feel like telling me I'm a damned fool, don't hesitate. I wouldn't in the least mind.”
“如果你心里想罵我是個(gè)大傻瓜，盡管罵出口好啦，我一點(diǎn)都不會介意的?！?/p>

“No, I don't particularly feel like that. I was only wondering if your life wouldn't have fallen into a more perfect pattern if you'd married and had children like everybody else.”
“我心里并沒有這種念頭。我只是在想，你要是像其他人一樣結(jié)婚生子，日子過得豈不是比現(xiàn)在美滿一些?！?/p>

He smiled. I must have remarked twenty times on the beauty of his smile, it was so cosy, trustful, and sweet.It reflected the candour, the truthfulness of his charming nature；but I must do so once again, for now, besides all that, there was in it something rueful and tender.
他聽后笑了。他的笑容很美，我以前說過足有二十遍了——這種笑容恬適、真誠、迷人，反映出了他那坦率、誠摯、令人舒心的天性。此處有必要再談及他的笑容，因?yàn)檫@次的笑容除了包含以上成分之外，還有些許凄婉和柔情。

“It's too late for that now. The only woman I've met whom I could have married was poor Sophie.”
“現(xiàn)在太遲了。我碰到的女子，唯一可婚可娶的只有可憐的索菲。”

I looked at him with amazement.
我愕然地望了望他。

“Can you say that after all that's happened?”
“發(fā)生了那許多事情，你還能這么說嗎？”

“She had a lovely soul, fervid, aspiring, and generous. Her ideals were greathearted.There was even at the end a tragic nobility in the way she sought destruction.”
“她有一顆可親可愛的靈魂，滿懷熱情，有追求，慷慨大方。她的理想是高尚的。即便她尋求自我毀滅，最后以悲劇告終，里面也蘊(yùn)含著高尚的因素?！?/p>

I was silent. I did not know what to make of these strange assertions.
我啞口無言，對這種奇怪的論斷真不知怎么說才好。

“Why didn't you marry her then?”I asked.
“那你當(dāng)初為什么不娶她？”我末了問道。

“She was a child. To tell you the truth, it never occurred to me when I used to go over to her grandfather's and we read poetry together under the elm tree that there was in that skinny brat the seed of spiritual beauty.”
“她那時(shí)還是個(gè)孩子。當(dāng)時(shí)我常到她祖父家，和她一同在榆樹下讀詩，說實(shí)話，我沒想到那個(gè)瘦巴巴的丫頭正孕育著美麗的精神世界?！?/p>

I could not but think it surprising that at this juncture he made no mention of Isabel. He could not have forgotten that he had been engaged to her and I could only suppose that he regarded the episode as a foolishness without consequence of two young things not old enough to know their own minds.I was ready to believe that the suspicion had never so much as fugitively crossed his mind that ever since she had been eating her heart out for him.
我不由感到奇怪，在結(jié)婚這件事上，他竟然只字未提伊莎貝爾。他曾經(jīng)和伊莎貝爾訂過婚，此事不可能已淡然忘卻。我只能推想，他也許把他倆的訂婚視為兩個(gè)不明事理的年輕人干下的荒唐事，只能是無果而終。我覺得，若說伊莎貝爾一直在苦苦暗戀著他，這樣的想法在他的腦海里恐怕連個(gè)影子都沒有出現(xiàn)過。

It was time for us to go. We walked to the square where Larry had left his car, very shabby now, and drove to the mortuary.The undertaker was as good as his word.The businesslike efficiency with which everything was accomplished, under that garish sky, with the violent wind bending the cypresses of the cemetery, added a last note of horror to the proceedings.When it was all over the undertaker shook hands with us cordially.
該去料理喪事了。我們到了廣場上，那兒停放著拉里那輛破舊不堪的汽車，然后驅(qū)車前往太平間。殯葬承辦人所言不虛，果真辦事效率很高，把所有的事情均已辦妥。天上一片亮晃晃的光，狂風(fēng)大作，把公墓的柏樹吹彎了腰，給葬禮增添了幾分恐怖的氣氛。葬禮結(jié)束后，承辦人客氣地跟我們一一握手。

“Well, gentlemen, I hope you are satisfied. It went very well.”
“但愿兩位先生能夠滿意。一切都進(jìn)行得非常順利?！?/p>

“Very well，”I said.
“的確非常順利?！蔽艺f道。

“Monsieur will not forget that I am always at his disposition if he has need of my services. Distance is no object.”
“請先生記著，如果有什么差遣，我將隨時(shí)準(zhǔn)備效力，路遠(yuǎn)路近不在話下?！?/p>

I thanked him. When we came to the gate of the cemetery Larry asked me if there was anything further I wanted him for.
我對他表示了謝意。走到公墓門口時(shí)，拉里問我還有什么事情需要他做。

“Nothing.”
“沒有什么別的事了?！?/p>

“I'd like to get back to Sanary as soon as possible.”
“我想盡快趕回薩納里去?！?/p>

“Drop me at my hotel, will you?”
“把我送到旅館，好嗎？”

We spoke never a word as we drove. When we arrived I got out.We shook hands and he went off.I paid my bill, got my bag, and took a taxi to the station.I too wanted to get away.
汽車啟動后，我們誰都沒有再說一句話。到旅館后，我下了車。然后，我們握了握手，他就把車開走了。我在旅館結(jié)了賬，拿上行李箱，乘出租車去了火車站。我和拉里一樣，也想趕快離開這個(gè)地方。