Chapter20-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《月亮与六便士The Moon and Sixpence》

Chapter XX Dirk Stroeve agreed to fetch me on the following evening and take me to the cafe at which Strickland was most likely to be found.I was interested to learn that it was the same as that at which Strickland and I had drunk absinthe when I had gone over to Paris to see him.The fact that he had never changed suggested a sluggishness of habit which seemed to me characteristic. "There he is,"said Stroeve,as we reached the cafe. Though it was October,the evening was warm,and the tables on the pavement were crowded.I ran my eyes over them,but did not see Strickland. "Look.Over there,in the corner.He's playing chess." I noticed a man bending over a chess-board,but could see only a large felt hat and a red beard.We threaded our way among the tables till we came to him. s“Strickland.” He looked up. "Hulloa,fatty.What do you want?" “T've brought an old friend to see you.” Strickland gave me a glance,and evidently did not recognise me.He resumed his scrutiny?of the chess-board. ·166· 二十 戴尔克·施特略夫答应第二天晚上来接我，带我到 一家咖啡馆去，在那里最有可能找到斯特里克兰德。结 果我发现这正是上次我来巴黎看斯特里克兰德时我们一 起饮苦艾酒的地方，我觉得真有意思。这么多年过去了， 他连晚上常去的地方都没变，这说明他习惯有惰性，在 Dsluggishness ['slAgifnis]n. 迟缓：惰性 我看来，这也是他的一种个性。 “他在那里。”当我们到了那家咖啡馆以后，施特 略夫说道。 虽然已经进入了十月，傍晚还很暖和，摆在人行道 上的桌子旁坐满了人。我往人群里看了看，并没有看见 斯特里克兰德。 “看呐，在那边，在一个角落里。他在跟人下棋呢。” 我看到一个人俯身在棋盘上，可只能看到一顶大毡 帽和一捧红色的连鬓胡须。我们从桌子中间穿过去，来 到他面前。 “斯特里克兰德。” 他应声抬头。 “哈啰，胖子。你有什么事啊？” ②scrutiny[skru:tini].仔细 “我带一位老朋友来见你。” 检查：审查 斯特里克兰德看了我一眼，显然没有认出我来。他 的注意力又回到棋盘上。 ·167· Chapter XX "Sit down,and don't make a noise,"he said. He moved a piece and straightway became absorbed in the game.Poor Stroeve gave me a troubled look,but I was not disconcerted by so little.I ordered something to drink,and waited quietly till Strickland had finished.I welcomed the opportunity to examine him at my ease.I certainly should never have known him.In the first place his red beard,ragged and untrimmed,hid much of his face,and his hair was long;but the most surprising change in him was his extreme thinness.It made his great nose protrude more arrogantly; it emphasised his cheekbones;it made his eyes seem larger.There were deep hollows at his temples.His body was cadaverous.He wore the same suit that I had seen him in five years before;it was torn and stained,threadbare, and it hung upon him loosely,as though it had been made for someone else. I noticed his hands,dirty,with long nails;they were merely bone and sinew, large and strong;but I had forgotten that they were so shapely.He gave me an extraordinary impression as he sat there,his attention riveted on his game- an impression of great strength;and I could not understand why it was that his emaciationsomehow made it more striking. Presently,after moving,he leaned back and gazed with a curious abstraction at his antagonist.This was a fat,bearded Frenchman.The Frenchman considered the position,then broke suddenly into jovial expletives,and with an impatient gesture,gathering up the pieces,flung them into their box.He cursed Strickland freely,then,calling for the waiter,paid for the drinks,and left. Stroeve drew his chair closer to the table. "Now I suppose we can talk,"he said. Strickland's eyes rested on him,and there was in them a malicious expression.I felt sure he was seeking for some gibe,could think of none,and so was forced to silence. "I've brought an old friend to see you,"repeated Stroeve,beaming cheerfully. Strickland looked at me thoughtfully for nearly a minute.I did not speak ·168· 二十 “坐下，别说话。”他说道。 他走了一步棋，马上就全神贯注在下棋上了。可怜 的施特略夫不安地看了我一眼，但是我却没有感到那么 不自在。我点了一点儿喝的，静静地坐在那里等着斯特 里克兰德把棋下完。我还是很高兴有这么一个机会，倒 可以自由自在地观察他。假如我一个人过来的话，我肯 定根本认不出他了。首先，我发觉他的大半张脸都掩在 参差不齐、乱蓬蓬的红胡子下面，他的头发很长：但是 ①protrude [prau'tru:dg伸 最大的变化就是他瘦得厉害，让人吃惊，因为瘦，他的 出，突出 大鼻子显得更加傲慢，更加突出，撷骨也更加突出，眼 2cadaverous [ka'daevaras]a. 睛也显得更大了。在他的太阳穴下面出现了两个深坑。 憔悴的，形容枯槁的 他的身体已经骨瘦如柴，穿的衣服还是我五年前见到的 那套，只是已经破破烂烂，油迹斑斑，衣料也被磨薄， 穿在身上晃晃荡荡，好像原本是给别人做的。我注意到 他的两只手脏脏的，指甲很长，只剩筋和骨头了，反而 显得宽大而有力，但是我却不记得过去他的手曾经这么 ③ivet[ivi间把目光、注 意力等)集中于 有型过。他坐在那里聚精会神地下棋，给我留下一个很 奇特的印象一仿佛他身体里蕴藏着一股伟大的力量。 emaciation [i,meisi'eifan] n.消瘦，瘦弱；憔悴 我不明白为什么，他极度消瘦的样子凸显了这个印象。 他走了一步棋以后，身体向后一仰，心不在焉地凝 antagonist [aen'taganist]n. 对手 视着他的对手，让人难以理解。与他对弈的人是一个胖 ⑥jovial[d3auviol]a.快活 胖的长着一脸络腮胡的法国人。这个法国人审时度势， 的，愉快的，高兴的 然后突然乐呵呵地骂了几句，不耐烦地把棋子收拢起 来，丢进了棋盒。他毫无顾忌地咒骂着斯特里克兰德， 然后就叫来侍者，付了两人的喝酒钱，转身离去。施特 略夫把椅子往桌边挪了挪。 “我想现在咱们可以聊聊了。”他说。 斯特里克兰德的目光落到他身上，那表情不怀好 意。我敢说他正在寻找一句冷嘲热讽的话，却没找到， 所以也就没说话。 “我带一位老朋友来见你。”施特略夫笑容满面， 欢快地又把见面时的话重复了一遍。 斯特里克兰德若有所思地端详了我快一分钟的时 ·169· Chapter XX “T've never seen him in my life,”he said. I do not know why he said this,for I felt certain I had caught a gleam of recognition in his eyes.I was not so easily abashed as I had been some years earlier. "I saw your wife the other day,"I said."I felt sure you'd like to have the latest news of her.” He gave a short laugh.His eyes twinkled. “We had a jolly evening together,”he said.“How long ago is it?? Five years.” He called for another absinthe.Stroeve,with voluble tongue,explained how he and I had met,and by what an accident we discovered that we both knew Strickland.I do not know if Strickland listened.He glanced at me once or twice reflectively,but for the most part seemed occupied with his own thoughts; and certainly without Stroeve's babble the conversation would have been difficult.In half an hour the Dutchman,looking at his watch,announced that he must go.He asked whether I would come too.I thought,alone,I might get something out of Strickland,and so answered that I would stay. When the fat man had left I said: "Dirk Stroeve thinks you're a great artist." "What the hell do you suppose I care?" “Will you let me see your pictures??” “Why should I? "I might feel inclined to buy one." “I might not feel inclined to sell one.” "Are you making a good living?"I asked,smiling. He chuckled. "Do I look it?" “You look half starved..” 'I am half starved.” ·170· 二十 间。我没说话。 “我这辈子都没见过这个人。”他矢口否认。 我不知道为什么他要这么说，因为我从他眼神中蓦 然闪过的一丝光里认定他认出了我。此时的我已经不似 前些年那样动不动就局促不安了。 “我前几天见到你太太了，”我开门见山地说道，“我 想你一定愿意听听她的近况。” 他短促地笑了笑，眼神闪亮了。 “咱们曾一起度过一个快活的晚上，”他说，“那是 多长时间以前的事啊？” ①voluble[voljubl]a.口若悬 “五年前。” 河的 他又要了一杯苦艾酒。施特略夫滔滔不绝地解释， 他和我是怎么见的面，又是怎么偶然发现我们都认识斯 特里克兰德。我不知道斯特里克兰德是否在听。因为除 了有一两次他好像若有所思地看了我一眼以外，大部分 时间他似乎都沉浸在自己的思绪里。当然，假如没有施 特略夫这么絮絮叨叨，没完没了，这场谈话肯定很难继 续下去。半个钟头以后，这位荷兰人看了看表，声称他 非走不可了。他问我要不要同他一起走。我想剩下我一 个人也许还能从斯特里克兰德嘴里套出点什么，所以回 答他说我还要待一会儿。 等这个胖子走了以后，我说道： “戴尔克·施特略夫说你是个伟大的画家。” “你觉得我他妈的会在乎他怎么说吗？” “你能让我看看你的画吗？” “为什么我要让你看呢？” “我可能买一幅啊。” “我还可能不想卖呢。” “你过得挺好吧？”我笑问。 他咯咯地笑了。 “我像过得挺好的样子吗？” “你像半饥半饱的样子。” “我就是半饥半饱。” ·171· Chapter XX "Then come and let's have a bit of dinner." “Why do you ask me? "Not out of charity,"I answered coolly."I don't really care a twopenny damn if you starve or not." His eyes lit up again. “Come on,,then,”he said,getting up.“T'd like a decent meal.” ·172· 二十 “那来吧，咱们去吃点饭吧。” “你干吗请我吃饭？” ①twopenny['tapani]n.一点 “不是发善心，”我酷酷地答道，“其实你吃得饱不 点，丝毫 饱跟我没有半毛钱该死的关系。” 他的眼睛又闪亮了。 “那就快走吧，”他说着，随即站了起来，“我倒是 想好好地吃上一顿。” ·173·