Chapter11-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《月亮与六便士The Moon and Sixpence》

Chapter XI During the journey I thought over my errand with misgiving.Now that I was free from the spectacle of Mrs.Strickland's distress I could consider the matter more calmly.I was puzzled by the contradictions that I saw in her behaviour.She was very unhappy,but to excite my sympathy she was able to make a show of her unhappiness.It was evident that she had been prepared to weep,for she had provided herself with a sufficiency of handkerchiefs;I admired her forethought,but in retrospect it made her tears perhaps less moving. I could not decide whether she desired the return of her husband because she loved him,or because she dreaded the tongue of scandal;and I was perturbed by the suspicion that the anguish of love contemned was alloyed in her broken heart with the pangs,sordid to my young mind,of wounded vanity.I had not yet learnt how contradictory is human nature;I did not know how much pose there is in the sincere,how much baseness in the noble,nor how much goodness in the reprobate But there was something of an adventure in my trip,and my spirits rose as I approached Paris.I saw myself,too,from the dramatic standpoint,and I was pleased with my role of the trusted friend bringing back the errant husband to his forgiving wife.I made up my mind to see Strickland the following evening, for I felt instinctively that the hour must be chosen with delicacy.An appeal to the emotions is little likely to be effectual before luncheon.My own thoughts ·084· 十一 ①errand['erond]n.(尤指为 在去往巴黎的途中，我仔仔细细想了想这项任务， 别人送信、买东西或办 心里顾虑重重。现在，我的双眼已经看不到斯特里克兰 事等短程)差使，差事 德太太那痛不欲生的样子了，因此可以更加冷静地思考 ②misgiving[,mis'givi诃ln. 疑虑；担忧；害怕 这桩事。斯特里克兰德太太行为有自相矛盾的地方，我 看出来了，却百思不得其解。她的的确确不幸至极，然 而，为了唤起我的同情心，她还特别会把她的不幸秀出 来。显而易见，她是准备要大哭一场的，因为她事先备 好足量的手帕；我赞赏她的远见卓识，然而，今天回想 起来，她那珠泪涟涟的动人程度大约因此而减淡了。我 ③perturb [p'to:b]g使不安 无法看清楚她渴望丈夫回来的原因是出于对他的爱，还 烦扰：使担心 ④aloy['elbi;1oi(通过 是因为人言可畏：我感到十分困惑，我怀疑让她肝肠寸 掺杂作用)减少，减损（或 断的怨恨是否掺杂着由于虚荣心受损的折磨，而这在我 减低影响（幸福、乐趣、 兴趣等) 年轻的心灵看来是卑鄙龌龊的：那时的我还不了解人性 ⑤pang[pe]n.折磨 那么自相矛盾，我不知道情真意切里蕴藏了多少矫揉造 ⑥sordid['so:dida.卑鄙的 ⑦vanity[vanati]n.虚荣心 作，崇高伟大中蕴藏着多少卑鄙无耻，或者说，在邪恶 reprobate ['repraubeit]n. 堕落里蕴藏着多少善良美德。 堕落者：放荡者 但是我这次巴黎之行在某种程度上带有冒险性质， 快到巴黎的时候，我的情绪高涨起来。我还从演戏的角 度审视自己，对自己扮演的角色很是满意—有朋友诚 意相托，把迷途的丈夫带回，交给宽恕的妻子。我决定 次日晚上再去找斯特里克兰德，因为我本能地感觉到， 时间必须精挑细选才会奏效。以情动人，在午饭以前是 ·085· ChapterXI were then constantly occupied with love,but I never could imagine connubial bliss till after tea. I enquired at my hotel for that in which Charles Strickland was living.It was called the Hotel des Belges.But the concierge,somewhat to my surprise, had never heard of it.I had understood from Mrs.Strickland that it was a large and sumptuousplace at the back of the Rue de Rivoli.We looked it out in the directory.The only hotel of that name was in the Rue des Moines.The quarter was not fashionable;it was not even respectable.I shook my head. "I'm sure that's not it,"I said. The concierge shrugged his shoulders.There was no other hotel of that name in Paris.It occurred to me that Strickland had concealed his address,after all.In giving his partner the one I knew he was perhaps playing a trick on him. I do not know why I had an inkling that it would appeal to Strickland's sense of humour to bring a furious stockbroker over to Paris on a fool's errand to an ill-famed house in a mean street.Still,I thought I had better go and see.Next day about six o'clock I took a cab to the Rue des Moines,but dismissed it at the corner,since I preferred to walk to the hotel and look at it before I went in.It was a street of small shops subservient to the needs of poor people,and about the middle of it,on the left as I walked down,was the Hotel des Belges.My own hotel was modest enough,but it was magnificent in comparison with this. It was a tall,shabby building,that cannot have been painted for years,and it had so bedraggled an air that the houses on each side of it looked neat and clean. The dirty windows were all shut.It was not here that Charles Strickland lived in guilty splendour with the unknown charmer for whose sake he had abandoned honour and duty.I was vexed,for I felt that I had been made a fool of,and I nearly turned away without making an enquiry.I went in only to be able to tell Mrs.Strickland that I had done my best. The door was at the side of a shop.It stood open,and just within was a sign: ·086· 十一 很难大功告成。那些年，我常常满脑袋的爱情幻想，而 我从来都是在吃过晚茶之后才能幻想美满婚姻的幸福。 我向自己所住的旅馆看门人打听查尔斯·斯特里克 concierge [.ko:nsi'ea3]n. 兰德住的那家旅馆。那家旅馆名叫比利时旅馆，而看门 看门人 人竞然听都没听说过，这多少让我有些惊讶。因为我从 2 sumptuous ['sAmptjuos; -u-]a.奢侈的 斯特里克兰德太太那里听说，那是一家高档豪华的大旅 馆，坐落在利渥里路后边。我们查了一下电话簿，叫这 个名字的旅馆只有一家，在摩纳路。这不是有钱人时常 光顾的地区，甚至连体面都谈不上，我摇头否定了。 “绝对不是这一家。”我的态度坚决。 看门人耸了耸肩，巴黎再没有第二家叫这个名字的 旅馆了。我想起来，斯特里克兰德本来是不想叫别人知 道他住址的，所以他给合股人这个地址可能就是在耍 ③inkling[inklir]n.模糊的 他。不知道为什么，我觉得这个迹象与斯特里克兰德的 想法 幽默感相吻合：让一个气呼呼的证券交易人到巴黎一条 破旧街道上一幢名不见经传的房子白跑一趟。尽管是这 样，我觉得我最好还是眼见为实。次日大约六点，我雇 了一辆马车来到了摩纳街，到了街角就下了车，我更愿 意走到旅馆，先看看旅馆外面的情况，然后再进去。这 @subservient [sab'sa:viant] a.有用的 条街两旁都是为穷人提供必需品的小店铺，我大约走到 这条街的中段的时候，向左一拐，就到了比利时旅馆。 我自己住的是一家不大的旅馆，然而跟这家旅馆一比， 简直算得上宏伟。这是一座破败的小楼，高高的，一定 5bedraggled [bi'dragld]a. 多年没有粉刷过，又湿又脏，把两边的房子倒显得整洁 湿漉漉的 又干净。每扇肮脏的窗户都是关着的。查尔斯·斯特里 克兰德不可能舍弃声誉和责任，跟他那位不知名的小妖 精在这种地方享受罪恶而豪华的生活。我不禁火大起来， 感觉自己被耍了，差点二话不说转身就走。我之所以进 去，就为了事后向斯特里克兰德太太交差的时候，能说 我已经尽力了。 旅馆入口在一家店铺的旁边，门扉洞开，进门处竖 ·087· Chapter XI Bureau au premier.I walked up narrow stairs,and on the landing found a sort of box,glassed in,within which were a desk and a couple of chairs.There was a bench outside,on which it might be presumed the night porter passed uneasy nights.There was no one about,but under an electric bell was written Garcon.I rang,and presently a waiter appeared.He was a young man with furtive eyes and a sullen look.He was in shirt-sleeves and carpet slippers. I do not know why I made my enquiry as casual as possible. "Does Mr.Strickland live here by any chance?"I asked. "Number thirty-two.On the sixth floor." I was so surprised that for a moment I did not answer. "Is he in?" The waiter looked at a board in the bureau. “He hasn't left his key.Go up and you'lsee.” I thought it as well to put one more question. “Madame est la? “Monsieur est seul.” The waiter looked at me suspiciously as I made my way upstairs.They were dark and airless.There was a foul and musty smell.Three flights up a Woman in a dressing-gown,with touzled hair,opened a door and looked at me silently as I passed.At length I reached the sixth floor,and knocked at the door numbered thirty-two.There was a sound within,and the door was partly opened. Charles Strickland stood before me.He uttered not a word.He evidently did not know me. I told him my name.I tried my best to assume an airy manner. "You don't remember me.I had the pleasure of dining with you last July." ·088· 十- 着一块牌子：二楼结账。我沿着窄窄的楼梯上楼，看见 楼梯平台上有一间玻璃隔起来类似于消房的方形房间， 里面摆着一张办公桌和两三把椅子。消房外面有一条长 凳，晚上守门人大约就在这里凑合着睡一觉。附近一 ①furtive[f:tiva鬼鬼崇 个人也没有，但是我看到在一个电铃按钮下面写着服务 祟的 员2字样。我按了一下，一个人瞬间出现，他年纪轻轻， ②sullen[sAlon]a.愠怒的， 鬼鬼祟祟，一脸的阴沉，身上只穿一件衬衣，脚上趿拉 不高兴的 着一双毡子拖鞋。 我向他打听斯特里克兰德的时候，不知为何要尽量 装作随随便便的样子。 “有个斯特里克兰德先生住这儿？”我问。 “六楼，32号房。” 我张口结舌，一时无言以对。 “他在吗？” 服务员看了看办公桌3上的一块木板。 “他没把钥匙留下，自己上去看看吧。” 我想最好再问一个问题。 “太太也在这里吗4？” ③foul[faul山a.令人恶心的， “只有先生一个人5。” 令人作呕的 当我走上楼梯的时候，服务员一直狐疑地打量着 ④musty[mAst可a.发霉的： 有霉臭的 我。楼梯黑洞洞的，通风不好，一股恶臭的霉味。三层 ⑤touzled['tauzld].(头发 楼梯上面有一扇门是开着的，我经过的时候，一个穿着 等)蓬乱的 睡衣、头发乱蓬蓬的女人默默地看着我。最后，我上了 六楼，敲三十二号房的房门。屋里有了动静，房门开了 一条缝，查尔斯·斯特里克兰德站到了我的面前。他一 句话都没说，显而易见是没有认出我来。 我报上姓名，尽量装出一副满不在乎的样子。 “你不记得我了。今年六月我有幸在府上与您共进 晚餐。” 1原文为法语。 2原文为法语。 3原文为法语。 4原文为法语。 5 原文为法语。 ·089· Chapter XI “Come in,.”he said cheerily.“T'm delighted to see you.Take a pew.” I entered.It was a very small room,overcrowded with furniture of the style which the French know as Louis Philippe.There was a large wooden bedstead on which was a billowing red eiderdown,and there was a large wardrobe,a round table,a very small washstand,and two stuffed chairs covered with red rep.Everything was dirty and shabby.There was no sign of the abandoned luxury that Colonel MacAndrew had so confidently described.Strickland threw on the floor the clothes that burdened one of the chairs,and I sat down on it. "What can I do for you?"he asked. In that small room he seemed even bigger than I remembered him.He wore an old Norfolk jacket,and he had not shaved for several days.When last I saw him he was spruce enough,but he looked ill at ease:now,untidy and ill- kempt,he looked perfectly at home.I did not know how he would take the remark I had prepared. “T've come to see you on behalf of your wife..” "I was just going out to have a drink before dinner.You'd better come too. Do you like absinthe?" 'I can drink it.” “Come on,then.” He put on a bowler hat much in need of brushing. "We might dine together.You owe me a dinner,you know." "Certainly.Are you alone?" I flattered myself that I had got in that important question very naturally. "Oh yes.In point of fact I've not spoken to a soul for three days.My French isn't exactly brilliant." I wondered as I preceded him downstairs what had happened to the little lady in the tea-shop.Had they quarrelled already,or was his infatuation passed? It seemed hardly likely if,as appeared,he had been taking steps for a year to ·090· 十- ⊙pew [pju::]n.座位 “进来吧，”他兴致勃勃地说道，“见到你很高兴。 坐下吧。” 我走进去。这房间非常逼仄局促，堆满了被法国人 称为路易·菲利浦式样的家具：一张堆着一床鼓鼓囊囊 eiderdown ['aidadaun]n. 鸭绒被（褥） 的红色鸭绒被的大木床，一个大衣柜，一个圆桌，一个 小小的脸盆架，两把包着红色棱纹平布的软座椅子。样 样肮脏，件件破烂，没有丝毫麦克安德鲁上校言之凿凿 所描述的恣意放荡的奢华的痕迹。斯特里克兰德把堆在 一把椅子上的衣服丢到地上，我坐了下来。 “我能帮你做什么呢？”他问道。 在这间小房间里，他看起来似乎比我记忆中的更加 高大。他身穿着一件诺弗克式的旧夹克，胡须几天没有 ③spruce[spru:s]a.整洁的， 刮了。我记得上次看到他的时候，他收拾得非常整洁漂 漂亮的 ④il-kempt[i'kempt]a.不 亮，看起来却束手束脚的：现在呢，不修边幅，神态却 整洁的 轻松自在。我不知道他听了我准备好的说辞以后会如何 作答。 “我是代表你妻子来看你的。” “我正准备在吃晚饭以前去外边喝点什么，你最好 跟我一起去。你喜欢喝苦艾酒吗？” “我能喝一点儿。” “那就走吧。” 他戴上一顶早该清洗的圆顶礼帽。 “我们可以一起吃晚饭，你还欠我一顿饭呢，你知 道的。” “当然。就你一个人吗？” 我不禁自鸣得意起来，我把这个至关重要的问题那 么自然而然地提了出来。 “哦，是啊。说实在的，我已经有三天没有跟人说 话了，我的法语真不怎么样。” 我走在他前面下楼，心中好奇茶点店的那位妙龄女 郎怎么了，他们是闹别扭了，还是他神魂颠倒的热乎劲 过去了？从我见到的情况来看，他经过一年的处心积 虑，就为了这样不顾一切地一头扎到巴黎来，很难说得 ·091· Chapter XI make his desperate plunge.We walked to the Avenue de Clichy,and sat down at one of the tables on the pavement of a large cafe. ·092· 十- 通。我们步行走到克里舍林荫路，在一家大咖啡馆摆在 人行道上的一张台子前坐了下来。 ·093·