Chapter12-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《月亮与六便士The Moon and Sixpence》

Chapter XII The Avenue de Clichy was crowded at that hour,and a lively fancy might see in the passers-by the personages of many a sordid romance.There were clerks and shopgirls;old fellows who might have stepped out of the pages of Honore de Balzac;members,male and female,of the professions which make their profit of the frailties of mankind.There is in the streets of the poorer quarters of Paris a thronging vitality which excites the blood and prepares the soul for the unexpected. "Do you know Paris well?"I asked. "No.We came on our honeymoon.I haven't been since." "How on earth did you find out your hotel?" "It was recommended to me.I wanted something cheap." The absinthe came,and with due solemnity we dropped water over the melting sugar. "I thought I'd better tell you at once why I had come to see you,"I said,not without embarrassment. His eyes twinkled."I thought somebody would come along sooner or later. I've had a lot of letters from Amy." "Then you know pretty well what I've got to say." ·094· 十二 此刻正是克里舍林荫路人山人海的时刻，你只需展 开丰富的想象力，就可以在来来往往的路人中间看到许 许多多悲惨爱情故事里的人物：有小职员和女店员，有 好像从巴尔扎克的小说里走出来的老古董，有利用人性 的弱点谋生的一些职业男女从业人员。在巴黎的贫穷地 ①frailty[freilti].脆弱， 区，街道上总是熙熙攘攘，人头攒动，生机勃勃，让你 虚弱 ②throng[0ro:0ro:l蜂 热血沸腾，准备上演一场出乎意料的好戏。 拥，挤满 “你对巴黎很熟悉吧？”我问道。 “不熟悉。我们度蜜月的时候来过，以后我再没来 过。” “那你怎么能找到这家旅馆呢？” “是别人介绍给我的，我要找家便宜的。” 苦艾酒端上来了，我们按照规矩，郑重地把水浇在 快化了的糖上。 “我想我还是开门见山，告诉你我来找你的原因 吧。”我不无尴尬地说道。 他的眼晴亮了。 “艾米已经给我寄来了不少信，我早就料到迟早会 有人来的。” “那么，我要对你讲什么，你也已经一清二楚了 吧。” ·095· Chapter XI! “T've not read them.” I lit a cigarette to give myself a moment's time.I did not quite know now how to set about my mission.The eloquent phrases I had arranged,pathetic or indignant,seemed out of place on the Avenue de Clichy.Suddenly he gave a chuckle. "Beastly job for you this,isn't it?" "Oh,I don't know,"I answered. "Well,look here,you get it over,and then we'll have a jolly evening." I hesitated. "Has it occurred to you that your wife is frightfully unhappy?" “she'll get over it.” I cannot describe the extraordinary callousness with which he made this reply.It disconcerted me,but I did my best not to show it.I adopted the tone used by my Uncle Henry,a clergyman,when he was asking one of his relatives for a subscription to the Additional Curates Society. "You don't mind my talking to you frankly?" He shook his head,smiling. "Has she deserved that you should treat her like this?" No.” "Have you any complaint to make against her?" None.” "Then,isn't it monstrous to leave her in this fashion,after seventeen years of married life,without a fault to find with her?" “Monstrous..” I glanced at him with surprise.His cordial agreement with all I said cut the ground from under my feet.It made my position complicated,not to say ludicrous.I was prepared to be persuasive,touching,and hortatory, admonitory and expostulating,if need be vituperativeeven,indignant and sarcastic;but what the devil does a mentor do when the sinner makes no bones about confessing his sin?I had no experience,since my own practice has ·096· 十二 “那些信我没看。” 我点燃了一支烟，想给自己一点儿时间考虑考虑。 我此时可真不知道该怎样完成这个任务了。我准备好的 些洋洋洒洒的说辞，有伤感哀怨的，也有愤愤不平的， 好像在克里舍林荫道上都不合时宜。突然，斯特里克兰 德吃吃地笑起来。 “给你交办的事让你心烦，是不是啊？” “哦，我也不知道。”我答道。 “好啦，听我说，你不妨一吐为快，然后咱们就可 以乐一晚上了。” 我左右为难。 “你想过没有，你的妻子太悲苦了？” D callousness ['kaelasnis]n. “她会好起来的。”他答道。 麻木不仁 我无法形容他说话时的那种极端残忍和冷漠。我不 知所措，可我尽量掩饰着。我选用了我叔叔亨利说话的 语调，亨利叔叔是个牧师，每当他请求亲戚给候补副牧 师协会捐款的时候，就是用这种语调。 “你不介意我跟你直来直去吧？” 他微笑着摇了摇头。 “你这样对待她公平吗？” “不公平。” “你对她有什么意见吗？” “没有。” “那么，你们结婚十七年，你也挑不出她什么毛病， ②cordial[ka:djal]a.热情 这样离开了她，不是太不公正了吗？” 的：诚恩的 3 ludicrous ['lju:dikros]a. “是太不公正啦。” 荒谬可笑的 我奇怪地看了他一眼。我说什么，他都衷心赞同， ④hortatory [ho:tatari]a.动 这反倒把我的嘴先封上了。他把我的处境复杂化，更不 告的 5admonitory [ad'monitari] 用说荒唐可笑了。本来我已经准备好了去劝说他、感动 a.警告的 他、敦促他、警告他、反驳他，如果需要的话还要责骂他， 6expostulate [ik'spostjuleit] ,劝诚 要义愤填膺，讽刺挖苦；可罪人若是毫不犹豫地对自己 7vituperative [vi'tju:parativ] 所犯罪行供认不讳，导师还能有什么作为呢？我从来没 a.责骂的 有见过这样的人，因为我如果做错了事总是死不承认。 ·097· Chapter XII always been to deny everything. "What,then?"asked Strickland. I tried to curl my lip. "Well,if you acknowledge that,there doesn't seem much more to be said." "I don't think there is." I felt that I was not carrying out my embassy with any great skill.I was distinctly nettled "Hang it all,one can't leave a woman without a bob." "Why not?" "How is she going to live?" "I've supported her for seventeen years.Why shouldn't she support herself for a change?" “She can't,” “Let her try.'" Of course there were many things I might have answered to this.I might have spoken of the economic position of woman,of the contract,tacit and overt,which a man accepts by his marriage,and of much else;but I felt that there was only one point which really signified. "Don't you care for her any more?" "Not a bit,"he replied. The matter was immensely serious for all the parties concerned,but there was in the manner of his answer such a cheerful effrontery that I had to bite my lips in order not to laugh.I reminded myself that his behaviour was abominable.I worked myself up into a state of moral indignation. "Damn it all,there are your children to think of.They've never done you any harm.They didn't ask to be brought into the world.If you chuck everything like this,they'll be thrown on the streets. "They've had a good many years of comfort.It's much more than the majority of children have.Besides,somebody will look after them.When it comes to the point,the MacAndrews will pay for their schooling." "But aren't you fond of them?They're such awfully nice kids.Do you mean to ·098· 十二 “你还想说什么？”斯特里克兰德问道。 我试图撇撇嘴。 “嗯，你既然都承认了，好像也就没什么要多说的 了。” “我想也是。” 我觉得我这次外交行动技术含量太低了，显而易 ①nettle[netl]v.令人恼火 见，我恼羞成怒了。 “真见鬼，男人抛弃一个女人，也不能一个先令也 不留啊。” “为什么不能？” “让她怎么活呀？” “我已经养了她十七年了，她怎么就不能换个活 法，自食其力？” “她不能。” “让她试试好啦。” 当然，我可以反驳的理由有很多：我可以谈妇女的 经济地位，谈男人婚后应该公开或默认承担的义务，还 有其他许许多多的理由，但是我认为真正重要的只有 一点。 “你还爱不爱她了？” “一点儿也不爱了。”他答道。 不论对婚烟的哪一方，这都是一个严肃极了的问 ②effrontery'frAntari]i.厚 题，可他回答时的样子却是嬉皮笑脸，没羞没臊，我拼 颜无耻（的行为） 命咬着唇才总算没有笑出声来。我一再提醒自己他的行 为是可恶的，我酝酿着，终于进入了义愤填膺的状态。 “他妈的，你要想想自己的孩子啊，他们从来没有 伤害过你。他们不是主动要求来这个世界的。你这样抛 妻别子，就是把他们遗弃街头。” “他们己经过了这么多年的舒服日子了，比大多数 孩子有福。再说，总有人照顾他们的。到了紧要关头， 麦克安德鲁夫妇会给他们付学费的。” “可是，你难道不爱他们吗？他们是两个多么可爱 的孩子啊！你的意思是你想从此与他们一刀两断吗？” ·099· Chapter XI! say you don't want to have anything more to do with them?" "I liked them all right when they were kids,but now they're growing up I haven't got any particular feeling for them." “lt's just inhuman.” 1 dare say.” "You don't seem in the least ashamed." T'mnot.” I tried another tack. “Everyone will think you a perfect swine.” "Let them." "Won't it mean anything to you to know that people loathe and despise you?" No.” His brief answer was so scornful that it made my question,natural though it was,seem absurd.I reflected for a minute or two. "I wonder if one can live quite comfortably when one's conscious of the disapproval of one's fellows?Are you sure it won't begin to worry you?Everyone has some sort of a conscience,and sooner or later it will find you out.Supposing your wife died,wouldn't you be tortured by remorse?" He did not answer,and I waited for some time for him to speak.At last I had to break the silence myself. "What have you to say to that?" "Only that you're a damned fool." "At all events,you can be forced to support your wife and children,"I retorted, somewhat piqued."I suppose the law has some protection to offer them." "Can the law get blood out of a stone?I haven't any money.I've got about a hundred pounds.” I began to be more puzzled than before.It was true that his hotel pointed to the most straitened2circumstances. "What are you going to do when you've spent that?" “Earn some.” ·100· 十二 “孩子小的时候我还是喜欢的，可是现在他们都长 大了，我对他们没有什么特殊的感情了。” “这话简直没人味儿。” “的确是。” “你好像一点儿也不愧疚。” “我不愧疚。” 我尝试另一种外交手段。 “谁都会认为你是个彻头彻尾的下流胚。” “随他们的便。” “你一点儿也不在意人见人厌，人见人恨吗？” “不在意。” 他那极简的回答使得我提出的合情合理的问题显得 荒谬可笑。我反思了一两分钟。 “一个人知道同伴都在反对自己，我怀疑他能不能 心安理得地活下去。你肯定自己不会心乱如麻吗？每个 人的良心都不会完全泯灭，早晚你会受到良心的谴责。 你的妻子要是死了，你难道就不会追悔莫及吗？” 他并没有回答我的问题，我等了一会儿，等他说话。 最后我不得不自己打破沉默。 “你有什么想说的？” “我只想说一句：你是个该死的傻瓜。” “无论如何，法律可以强制你扶养你的妻子儿女。” 我有些恼怒地驳斥道，“我想法律会为他们提供保障 的。” “法律能够从石头里榨出油来吗？我没钱，只有大 ①pique [pi:k]g使生气：激 约100镑。” 怒 我大惑不解，此时更甚从前。当然，从他住的旅馆 看，他的经济情况确实非常困难。 “你把这笔钱花完了以后怎么办？” ②straitened[streitand]a.经 “去挣点。” 济上拮据的，贫困的 ·101· Chapter XI! He was perfectly cool,and his eyes kept that mocking smile which made all I said seem rather foolish.I paused for a little while to consider what I had better say next.But it was he who spoke first. "Why doesn't Amy marry again?She's comparatively young,and she's not unattractive.I can recommend her as an excellent wife.If she wants to divorce me I don't mind giving her the necessary grounds." Now it was my turn to smile.He was very cunning,but it was evidently this that he was aiming at.He had some reason to conceal the fact that he had run away with a woman,and he was using every precaution to hide her whereabouts.I answered with decision. "Your wife says that nothing you can do will ever induce her to divorce you. She's quite made up her mind.You can put any possibility of that definitely out of your head.” He looked at me with an astonishment that was certainly not feigned.The smile abandoned his lips,and he spoke quite seriously. "But,my dear fellow,I don't care.It doesn't matter a twopenny damn to me one way or the other..” I laughed. "Oh,come now;you mustn't think us such fools as all that.We happen to know that you came away with a woman." He gave a little start,and then suddenly burst into a shout of laughter.He laughed so uproariously that people sitting near us looked round,and some of them began to laugh too. "I don't see anything very amusing in that." 'Poor Amy,”he grinned. Then his face grew bitterly scornful. "What poor minds women have got!Love.It's always love.They think a man leaves only because he wants others.Do you think I should be such a fool as to do what I've done for a woman?" "Do you mean to say you didn't leave your wife for another woman?" “Of course not.” ·102· 十二 他超级冷静，眼晴里始终闪露着嘲讽的笑意，相比 之下，我所说的一切都显得愚不可及。我停了一会儿， 考虑下面该说什么好。谁知他竞先开了口。 “艾米为什么不改嫁呢？她还比较年轻，也不是不 吸引人。我还可以把她作为一个贤妻推荐推荐。如果她 想跟我离婚，我完全可以给她提供必要的借口。” 现在该轮到我笑了。他非常狡猾，不过，显而易见， 这才是他的真正目的。出于某种缘由，他要把自己跟某 个女人私奔的事瞒天过海，他采取一切预防措施不暴露 那个女人的行踪。我斩钉截铁地回答道： “你太太说，你就是机关算尽，她也不跟你离婚。 她的心意己决，我劝你还是死了这条心吧。” 他大吃一惊，定定地看着我，可以肯定不是在装模 作样。只见他嘴角上的笑容不见了，他郑重其事地说道： ①feigned[feind]a,假的， 伪的，虚伪的 “但是，我亲爱的朋友，我不在意。我才不管他妈 的跟我离不离婚呢。” 我哈哈大笑。 “噢，算了吧！你别把我们都当成那种傻子了，我 们正巧知道你是跟一个女人一起离开的。” 他微微一惊，随即迸发出一阵大笑。他笑得声音那 么响，引得坐在我们周围的人纷纷回头，一些人还跟着 笑了起来。 “我看不出这有什么可笑的。” 2 uproariously [Ap'ro:riasli] “可怜的艾米。”他咧着嘴笑道。 ad.吵闹地 接下来，他的脸色突然一变，露出极端的轻蔑 “女人的脑袋是什么脑袋，可怜啊！爱情。满脑袋 爱情。她们认为男人离开了她们只是为了新欢。你以为 我那么傻，还会再为另一个女人重蹈覆辙？” “你的意思是说你不是因为别的女人才离开你太太 的？” “当然不是。” ·103·