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書蟲5級《沙洲之謎》8. 與敵人共進(jìn)晚餐

所屬教程:書蟲5級 沙洲之謎

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2022年09月29日

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8. An evening with the enemy

When we arrived at the house, a servant showed us into the living-room, where a hot wave of perfume and cigarette smoke hit us. The room was richly furnished and overheated, very different from our living conditions on the Dulcibella. Von Brüning, looking relaxed as usual, was talking to Clara on a sofa, while Dollmann rose from an armchair to greet us, and B?hme appeared from a doorway. Dollmann welcomed us politely enough, but his intelligent eyes did not leave us for a moment, and there was a certain falseness in his manner. He introduced me to his wife, Clara's stepmother. She was a large, handsome woman, with unnaturally dark hair and red lips, wearing a low-cut evening dress. I may add that she was unmistakeably German. It was clear that her main concern was to encourage von Brüning and Clara to take an interest in each other.

Clara was trying to avoid looking at us. I hoped she hadn't told her father about her visit to us on the yacht. She was doing her best to appear normal, but at times I caught an expression of deep misery on her lovely face.

Well, are we never going to have dinner?' cried Frau Dollmann impatiently, and we all moved into the dining-room, where we sat down around a large table. I was beginning to feel the effects of my long day's rowing, and the heat and my anxiety made me feel quite faint. But a glass of wine and some excellent food soon concentrated my mind on the dangers of our situation.

I'm leaving Davies, you know,' I said lightly, to the whole table. 'Life on the Dulcibella is too hard for a lazy weekend sailor like me.'

There was silence, until von Brüning said, 'Why are you going so suddenly, Herr Carruthers?'

Oh, didn't I tell you I had to call at the post office for letters? I received two from my boss, and he wants me back in London at once, unfortunately.'

Another uncomfortable silence was broken by Dollmann, who turned to Davies and began, 'By the way, I ought to apologize to you for—'

This was something I did not want to appear involved in, so I said to Frau Dollmann, 'How awful the fog was today!'

Have you been in the harbour all day?' she asked.

Oh yes. We couldn't leave the yacht alone in the fog,' I replied, with professional seriousness.

Von Brüning joined in with a laugh. 'I don't think that's your opinion! You are much too fond of dry land!'

Meanwhile, I could hear Davies and Dollmann discussing the Hohenh?rn – 'my fault' and 'quite safe', I heard my friend say. Suddenly B?hme, who had been looking closely at them both, turned and said to me, 'So, when are you setting out for England? Tomorrow?'

Yes. There's a ferry at 8.15 in the morning, I think.'

Good. We shall be companions. I'm going to Bremen, so we'll travel as far as Leer together. How pleasant!'

Very,' I agreed. 'Is this only a short stay for you?'

The same as usual. I visit the work at Memmert once a month, and spend a night or two here.'

I decided to play a dangerous game. 'Memmert,' I said, 'now do tell me more about Memmert. Von Brüning told us a little, but it all seems so secret! For example, all three of you had one of your mysterious meetings on Memmert today. You'd just come from there when you came to visit the Dulcibella. Why today? Was something important happening there? Were you inspecting the gold? No, I know! You were taking it to the mainland!'

I can't help you,' smiled B?hme. 'I'm only the company engineer. Ask von Brüning for help.'

I turned to the commander. 'My dear young detective,' he laughed, 'I'm not very closely involved in all this. Try the company director. Rescue me, Herr Dollmann!'

I,' said Dollmann, with a noisy laugh, 'cannot tell company secrets. Business interests must be protected!'

Well,' I said, 'I wonder – Do you remember, Davies, how interested the commander was in all our doings, when we met at Bensersiel? I wonder if he feared that our explorations might possibly lead us to Memmert?'

Really,' said von Brüning, with a smile, 'I thought I was being most helpful to you, giving advice about duck shooting and so on. But go on, young man.'

What is he talking about, and why go on with this stupid mystery?' asked Dollmann's wife, yawning.

Why indeed? My head was turning as I thought desperately fast. If I went too far in this direction, they might guess the truth, but if I didn't go far enough, they might also suspect us. 'I was thinking about this delightful dinner party,' I continued, 'and the reason for it. Now I think I can guess why you invited us. Didn't you discuss us at Memmert? And didn't one of you, perhaps Herr B?hme, who hadn't met either of us, suggest an invitation?'

You could almost have been there,' said Dollmann.

You may thank your terrible climate that we weren't,' I replied, laughing. 'I also think – but, no – this is going too far. I shall probably offend you.'

Come, let's hear it. Your wild ideas are amusing.'

Well, you know, we were a little surprised to find you all on board the Dulcibella, taking such a deep interest in a small boat! I think you wanted to inspect us!'

Everybody burst out laughing, and Dollmann said, 'I warned you, B?hme. We really must apologize.'

The point is, what did you suspect me of?' I went on. 'I know you can't suspect Davies – just look at him!'

Perhaps we still suspect you,' said von Brüning.

Oho! You'll force me to take action. Perhaps when I get back to London, I'll do some investigating! There must be some questions to ask about the ownership of the Corinne's gold.'

There was another silence, finally broken by Dollmann, who turned to B?hme and von Brüning and said, half-jokingly, 'Gentlemen, we must come to an agreement with this dangerous young man. What can we offer Herr Carruthers?'

Take me to Memmert!' I said. 'Then I'll forgive you.'

But you are starting for England tomorrow!'

I ought to, but I'll stay for that.'

Under promise of absolute secrecy, then?' said B?hme.

And you'll show me everything? Wreck and all? '

Everything, if you can put on a diving suit and dive.'

We've won!' I cried delightedly. 'And now, I don't mind saying that the joke's at an end, as far as I'm concerned. In spite of your kind offer, I must start for England tomorrow. You see, I really did receive letters from my boss. Do you want to see them?' I pulled the letters from my pocket, and gave them to Dollmann. 'Ah, you don't read English easily, perhaps. I expect Herr B?hme does.'

The dinner continued, with more food and even more wine. I drank as little as possible, to keep my head clear. I knew that our enemies had allowed me to win the first part of the game, but I felt sure they knew more about us than they appeared to. However, I guessed we would probably be safe, as long as they believed we thought Memmert, and Memmert only, was the centre of their secret activities. I also knew that they could not suspect us of having been to Memmert that day, because nobody would believe it was possible to do what Davies and I had done.

I have no way of knowing how near we came to being arrested that night, but once or twice we must have been very close. There could not have been a more interesting party of seven people anywhere in Europe that evening, with such differing feelings of fear, love, anger, ambition, and unhappiness, all hidden behind smiling faces.

We stayed for two hours or more, but soon the cigarette smoke and heat brought back my faintness, and my tired arms and legs began to stiffen. We rose to go, and although I do not remember much about the goodbyes, I heard B?hme say he would see me on the ferry the next day. Von Brüning was staying at the house a little longer.

You want to be able to talk about us!' I remember saying, with a last effort at cheerfulness.

Outside in the fresh air, it was a silver, breathless night. And back on the yacht, I fell on to one of the benches, fully dressed. There I slept such a deep sleep that von Brüning's men could have tied me up and taken me to prison, without my noticing a thing.

* * *

furnish v. to put furniture and other things into a house or room 為(房屋或房間)配置家具

Frau n. the German word for 'Mrs'(德語)夫人;太太

professional adj. showing that someone has been well trained and is good at his work 專業(yè)的;內(nèi)行的

ownership n. the fact of owning something 所有權(quán)

stiffen v. to become firm, straight or still 變僵;繃緊

8. 與敵人共進(jìn)晚餐

我們到達(dá)多爾曼的府邸后,一個(gè)用人將我們領(lǐng)進(jìn)了會客廳,一股混合著香水味和煙味的熱浪撲面而來。房間布置得富麗堂皇,而且很熱,和“達(dá)爾茜貝拉”號上的生活條件簡直有天壤之別。馮布呂寧正坐在一張沙發(fā)上和克拉拉交談,看上去像平時(shí)一樣輕松。多爾曼從扶手椅上站起身來迎接我們,博默也正從一扇門里出來。多爾曼依足禮數(shù)歡迎我們,但他機(jī)智的眼睛一刻也沒離開我們身上,舉止也有幾分虛假。他把我介紹給他的妻子,也就是克拉拉的繼母。他妻子高大、漂亮,穿著低胸晚禮服,但頭發(fā)顏色太深、嘴唇太紅,有些不自然。我還得說,她是個(gè)如假包換的德國人。她最關(guān)心的顯然是如何讓馮布呂寧和克拉拉喜歡上對方。

克拉拉盡量不看我們。我希望她沒把去游艇上找我們的事告訴她父親。她盡量表現(xiàn)得正常,可我偶爾還是能在她漂亮的臉上看到一絲極其痛苦的表情。

“喂,我們是不是都不用吃飯了?”多爾曼夫人不耐煩地喊道。于是我們都進(jìn)了餐廳,圍坐在一張大餐桌旁。劃了一整天的船,疲憊開始向我襲來,又因?yàn)闊岷徒箲],我覺得很虛弱。不過一杯酒下肚,又吃了些好吃的,我很快又把心思集中到目前危險(xiǎn)的處境上來。

“你們知道嗎,我要丟下戴維斯了。”我輕松地對全桌人說,“‘達(dá)爾茜貝拉’號上的生活對我這樣懶散的周末航行者來說太艱苦了。”

一陣沉默后,馮布呂寧說:“你為什么突然要走呢,卡拉瑟斯先生?”

“噢,我不是和你說過我得去郵局取信嗎?我收到了上司的兩封信,不幸的是,他讓我立刻回倫敦?!?/p>

又是一陣尷尬的沉默。終于,多爾曼轉(zhuǎn)向戴維斯,開了口:“順便提一句,我應(yīng)該向你道歉,因?yàn)椤?/p>

我不想讓別人覺得我摻和這件事,便對多爾曼夫人說:“今天的霧真煩人啊!”

“你們一整天都待在港口嗎?”她問。

“唉,是呀。大霧天不能丟下船不管?!蔽覕[出很內(nèi)行的樣子,一本正經(jīng)地回答。

馮布呂寧笑著插話:“我覺得這不是你的想法吧!你太喜歡陸地了!”

與此同時(shí),我能聽到戴維斯和多爾曼談?wù)摶舳骰舳魃持蕖笆俏业腻e(cuò)”、“挺安全的”,我聽到我的朋友這樣說。一直仔細(xì)盯著他們看的博默突然轉(zhuǎn)過頭問我:“那你什么時(shí)候動(dòng)身回英國?明天嗎?”

“對。我記得明天早上8點(diǎn)15分有一班渡輪。”

“很好,咱們可以做伴兒了。我要去不來梅,這樣咱們能一路同行到萊爾呢,太好了!”

“的確?!蔽腋胶偷?,“你這次就待這么短時(shí)間嗎?”

“通常都這樣。我一個(gè)月來梅默爾特島視察一次工程,在這兒住一兩晚?!?/p>

我決定走一招兒險(xiǎn)棋?!懊纺瑺柼貚u!”我說,“快給我講講梅默爾特島吧。馮布呂寧說起過一點(diǎn)兒,可一切看上去還是太神秘了!比如今天,你們?nèi)司驮诿纺瑺柼貚u進(jìn)行了一次神秘聚會,就在你們來‘達(dá)爾茜貝拉’號之前。為什么是今天呢?梅默爾特島是不是發(fā)生了什么重要事情?你們是在尋找那些黃金嗎?不對,我知道了!你們是打算把黃金運(yùn)到大陸去!”

“我?guī)筒涣四??!辈┠Φ溃拔抑皇枪镜墓こ處?。問馮布呂寧吧?!?/p>

我朝艇長轉(zhuǎn)過頭去?!拔矣H愛的年輕偵探,”他笑道,“這件事我參與得并不多。問問公司董事吧。救救我,多爾曼先生!”

“我呀,”多爾曼發(fā)出刺耳的笑聲,“我不能泄露公司機(jī)密呀。商業(yè)利益必須得到保護(hù)!”

“好吧,”我說,“我在想——戴維斯,你還記得嗎?我們在貝瑟西爾遇到馮布呂寧艇長時(shí),他對我們的一舉一動(dòng)是多么感興趣!我在想,他是不是怕我們的考察會開展到梅默爾特島去?”

“真是的,”馮布呂寧一笑,“我還覺得我?guī)土四銈兇竺δ兀o你們打野鴨提供建議什么的。不過你接著說,年輕人。”

“他在說什么呀?為什么還要談?wù)撨@個(gè)無聊的秘密?”多爾曼的妻子打著呵欠問道。

是啊,為什么呢?我竭盡全力思索著,大腦飛速運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)。我要是就這個(gè)問題追問太多,他們可能會猜到真相,可是若淺嘗輒止也可能會引起懷疑?!拔以谙脒@次美妙的晚宴,”我接著說道,“還有你們宴客的原因?,F(xiàn)在我能猜到你們?yōu)槭裁囱埼覀z了。你們在梅默爾特島談到我們了吧?是不是有誰——或許是還沒見過我倆的博默先生,提議請我們赴宴?”

“猜得真準(zhǔn),就跟你去過現(xiàn)場似的。”多爾曼說。

“你得感謝你們可怕的天氣,讓我們沒去成?!蔽倚Φ?,“我還覺得——好吧,我不說了——下面的話可能有點(diǎn)兒過,恐怕會冒犯你們?!?/p>

“說吧,讓我們聽聽。你這些奇特大膽的想法還挺有趣的?!?/p>

“唔,這么說吧,我們看到你們都在‘達(dá)爾茜貝拉’號上,對一艘小船這么感興趣,還真有點(diǎn)吃驚呢!我覺得你們想調(diào)查我們!”

大家哄堂大笑。多爾曼說:“我提醒過你的,博默。咱們真得道歉了?!?/p>

“問題在于你們懷疑我什么?”我接著說道,“我知道你們不可能懷疑戴維斯——看他的樣子就知道!”

“說不定我們現(xiàn)在仍然懷疑你呢?!瘪T布呂寧說。

“哈!你們是逼我采取行動(dòng)呀。沒準(zhǔn)我回到倫敦就要調(diào)查一番!‘科琳娜’號黃金的所有權(quán)肯定有點(diǎn)兒問題!”

又是一陣沉默。終于,多爾曼打破沉默,他轉(zhuǎn)向博默和馮布呂寧,半開玩笑地說:“先生們,咱們得跟這位危險(xiǎn)的年輕人達(dá)成協(xié)議。我們能給卡拉瑟斯先生什么條件呢?”

“帶我去梅默爾特島吧!”我說,“那樣我就原諒你們?!?/p>

“可你明天就要?jiǎng)由砘赜耍 ?/p>

“我是該回去,可是為了這個(gè)條件,我可以留下?!?/p>

“那么你發(fā)誓絕對保密?”博默問。

“那么你們就把什么都給我看?包括沉船在內(nèi)的一切?”

“什么都給你看,如果你能穿上潛水服潛到水下?!?/p>

“我們贏了!”我欣喜地叫道,“現(xiàn)在,我想說玩笑該結(jié)束了,至少就我而言是這樣。謝謝你們的好意,不過我明天必須得動(dòng)身回英國。你們看,我真的收到了上司的來信,要看看嗎?”我從兜里掏出信,遞給多爾曼,“哎呀,你讀英文可能有點(diǎn)兒吃力。我想博默先生沒問題。”

晚宴還在繼續(xù),端上來更多的食物、甚至更多的酒。我為了保持頭腦清醒,盡可能地少喝。我知道我們的敵人讓我們贏了第一局,但他們對我們的了解肯定比看上去要多。不過,我想只要他們以為我們把梅默爾特島——僅僅把梅默爾特島——當(dāng)成他們秘密活動(dòng)的中心,我們就應(yīng)該會安全。我還知道他們不可能疑心我們那天去過島上,因?yàn)槲液痛骶S斯在當(dāng)天做過的事實(shí)在匪夷所思。

那晚我們被捕的可能性有多大,我無從得知,但肯定是有那么一兩次離被捕不遠(yuǎn)了。那一晚,在歐洲的任何角落都不會有比這更有意思的七人聚會了,各人的笑臉下掩藏著千差萬別的情緒:恐懼、愛戀、怒火、野心和憂傷。

我們又待了兩個(gè)小時(shí),或許還多一點(diǎn),但很快,香煙的霧氣和屋里的熱度重新勾起了我的疲憊,勞累的四肢開始變得僵硬。我們起身告辭,雖然我不太記得道別時(shí)說了什么,但還是聽到博默說他次日會在渡輪上跟我碰面。馮布呂寧還要再待一會兒。

“這樣你們就能談?wù)撐覀兞?!”我記得自己打起最后一分精神,笑著說了這么一句。

那是一個(gè)晴朗無風(fēng)、月光皎潔的夜晚,外面空氣很清新。回到游艇,我衣服都沒脫就倒在一個(gè)座位上熟睡過去。就算馮布呂寧的手下把我綁到監(jiān)獄去,我估計(jì)也一無所知。

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