5 Incident of the Letter来自凶手的一封信-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《化身博士The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde》

Incident of the Letter It was late in the afternoon,when Mr.Utterson found his way to Dr.Jekyll's door,where he was at once admitted by Poole,and carried down by the kitchen offices and across a yard which had once been a garden,to the building which was indifferently known as the laboratory or dissecting rooms.The doctor had bought the house from the heirs of a celebrated surgeon;and his own tastes being rather chemical than anatomical,had changed the destination of the block at the bottom of the garden.It was the first time that the lawyer had been received in that part of his friend's quarters;and he eyed the dingy,windowless structure with curiosity,and gazed round with a distasteful sense of strangeness as he crossed the theatre,once crowded with eager students and now lying gaunt and silent,the tables laden with chemical apparatus,the floor strewn with crates and littered with packing straw,and the light falling dimly through the foggy cupola.At the further end,a flight of stairs mounted to a door covered with red baize;and through this,Mr.Utterson was at last received into the doctor's cabinet. It was a large room fitted round with glass presses,furnished,among other things,with a cheval-glass and a business table,and looking out upon the court by three dusty windows barred with iron.The fire burned in the grate;a ·052· 来自凶手的一封信 等到厄塔森先生终于抽出身来赶到杰基尔博士家 时，已经快到傍晚时分了。管家浦尔马上将他迎了进去， 带他穿过厨房和一个由花园改造而来的院子，来到那座 ①indifferently 可以称作实验室也可以称作解剖室的房子。杰基尔博士 [n'diforontli]ad.中立地 是从一名非常有名气的外科医生的继承人那里买下的这 栋房子。然而，博士的真正兴趣所在并不是解剖学，而 2 anatomical Laeno'tomikol] a.解剖学（上）的 是化学，于是这栋花园尽头的房子就被改作他用了。厄 塔森曾多次光顾朋友的这栋寓所，但他还是第一次来到 这里。他好奇地看着这个昏暗的、没有窗户的房子。穿 过阶梯教室的时候，他环顾了一下四周，感觉怪怪的， 甚至情绪有点低落。曾经，这座教室里挤满了求知若渴 3 apparatus Laep'reitas]n. 的学生，现如今却一片冷清。桌上堆满了化学实验仪器， 实验器具 地板上乱摆着一些板条箱，到处散落着打包填缝用的麦 ④cupola[kju:polo]n.圆屋 秸。一缕阳光透过雾蒙蒙的圆顶照射进来，暗淡了许多。 顶 走到大厅的尽头，有一段楼梯通往一扇门，这门面上镶 ⑤baize[beiz]n.【纺织业】 着一层厚厚的红色毛呢。穿过这扇门，厄塔森先生终于 台面呢 来到了博士的工作室。 这间工作室很大，四周摆满了玻璃橱柜。除了其他 ⑥cheval-glass穿衣镜 陈设，还有一面可转动的穿衣镜和一个办公桌。屋子有 ⑦bar [ba:]v.闩上，闩 三扇装了铁栏杆的窗户，上面蒙满灰尘。从窗户向外看， (门、窗等) ·053· Incident of the Letter lamp was set lighted on the chimney shelf,for even in the houses the fog began to lie thickly;and there,close up to the warmth,sat Dr.Jekyll,looking deathly sick.He did not rise to meet his visitor,but held out a cold hand and bade him welcome in a changed voice. "And now,"said Mr.Utterson,as soon as Poole had left them,"you have heard the news?" The doctor shuddered②.“They were crying it in the square,”he said.I heard them in my dining-room." “One word,,”said the lawyer..“Carew was my client,but so are you,and I want to know what I am doing.You have not been mad enough to hide this fellow?” "Utterson,I swear to God,"cried the doctor,"I swear to God I will never set eyes on him again.I bind my honour to you that I am done with him in this world.It is all at an end.And indeed he does not want my help;you do not know him as I do;he is safe,he is quite safe;mark my words,he will never more be heard of..” The lawyer listened gloomily;he did not like his friend's feverish manner. "You seem pretty sure of him,"said he;"and for your sake,I hope you may be right.If it came to a trial,your name might appear." "I am quite sure of him,"replied Jekyll;"I have grounds for certainty that I cannot share with any one.But there is one thing on which you may advise me. I have-I have received a letter;and I am at a loss whether I should show it to the police.I should like to leave it in your hands,Utterson;you would judge wisely,I am sure;I have so great a trust in you." "You fear,I suppose,that it might lead to his detection?"asked the lawyer. "No,"said the other."I cannot say that I care what becomes of Hyde;I am ·054· 来自凶手的一封信 是一个院子。壁炉里火燃得很旺，发出呼呼的声音。炉 台上点着一盏灯，因为这会儿屋里的雾气也浓了不少。 ①bade [beid]v.(bid的过 杰基尔博士正靠近壁炉坐着取暖，看上去十分憔悴虚 去式)表示（祝福、祝 弱。看到厄塔森走进来，他没有起身相迎，只伸出一只 贺、欢迎等) 冰冷的手，问了声好，嗓音与平日里有些不同。 “那么，”浦尔刚一出去，厄塔森就迫不及待地问， “你已经听说这事了？” ②shudder [fAdo]g颤抖， 博士打了一个哆嗦回答说：“报童在广场上不停叫 哆嗦 喊，我在餐厅里听到了。” “我简单说吧，”厄塔森说，“丹弗斯·卡鲁爵士是 我的委托人，而你也是。我想知道我接下来应该如何行 事。你不至于疯狂到把这个家伙藏起来吧？” “厄塔森，我向上帝发誓！”博土喊叫着，“我对着 上帝发誓我再也不会见他了，哪怕是一眼。我以我的名 誉向你保证，我从此与他绝交了。一切都结束了。实际 上，他根本不需要我的帮助，你不了解他，但我了解。 他现在很安全，相当的安全。请你记住我说的话：不会 有人再见到海德了。” ③feverish[f:vori0a.狂 厄塔森听着，脸上阴云密布，他并不喜欢这位博士 热的，极其兴奋的 朋友此时那种极度激动的神态。“你看起来对他很有把 握啊！”他说，“为了你，我倒希望你是对的。一旦他 被抓住，弄到法院去，到时候你恐怕也会被牵扯进来。 “我对他有十足的把握。”杰基尔回答说，“我能这 么肯定当然是有原因的，但我不会告诉任何人。不过， 确实有一件事情，我需要听听你的意见。我一我收到 了一封来信，但是到底应不应该把它交给警方，我心里 是一点谱也没有。我想把它交给你，厄塔森，我相信你 会帮我作出正确的判断。我最信任的人就是你了。” “我想，你是害怕警方会通过这封信追踪到海德 吧？”厄塔森问。 “不，”博士回答，“我现在并不关心海德结局如何， 原文the court:本书第一章厄塔森与恩菲尔德散步时见到的院子。 ·055· Incident of the Letter quite done with him.I was thinking of my own character,which this hateful business has rather exposed." Utterson ruminated awhile;he was surprised at his friend's selfishness, and yet relieved by it..“Wel,”said he,at last,,“'let me see the letter.” The letter was written in an odd,upright hand and signed"Edward Hyde": and it signified,briefly enough,that the writer's benefactor,Dr.Jekyll,whom he had long so unworthily repaid for a thousand generosities,need labour under no alarm for his safety,as he had means of escape on which he placed a sure dependence.The lawyer liked this letter well enough;it put a better colour on the intimacy than he had looked for;and he blamed himself for some of his past suspicions. "Have you the envelope?"he asked. "I burned it,"replied Jekyll,"before I thought what I was about.But it bore no postmark.The note was handed in." "Shall I keep this and sleep upon it?"asked Utterson. "I wish you to judge for me entirely,"was the reply."I have lost confidence in myself.” "Well,I shall consider,"returned the lawyer."And now one word more:it was Hyde who dictated the terms in your will about that disappearance?" The doctor seemed seized with a qualm of faintness;he shut his mouth tight and nodded. “I knew it,”said Utterson.“He meant to murder you.You had a fine escape.” "I have had what is far more to the purpose,"returned the doctor solemnly: "I have had a lesson-O God,Utterson,what a lesson I have had!"And he covered his face for a moment with his hands. On his way out,the lawyer stopped and had a word or two with Poole."By ·056· 来自凶手的一封信 我已经与他一刀两断了。我是担心我自己的名声，我怕 ①expose[k'sp3uz]k使暴 这件烦人的事情会牵连到我，损害了我的名声。” 露，使显露 厄塔森沉思了好一会儿。朋友的自私让他感到吃惊， ②ruminate[ru:mineit]v. 但他同时又感觉松了一口气。“好吧，”他最后说，“让 深思，沉思 我看看那封信。” 这封信笔迹奇特，线条直愣直愣的，署名是“爱德 华·海德”。信很简短，主要内容是：杰基尔博士是写 信人的大恩人，后者一直以来承蒙博士关照，但却无以 为报，深感遗憾。现在，博士不用再为他的安全担心了， 因为他已经找到逃脱的办法，定能万无一失。看完这封 ③intimacy[intimasi]]n.亲 信，厄塔森感到挺满意。这封信说明，杰基尔与海德之 密，亲近 间是一种正常的亲密关系，并不像他所想象的那样。他 为自己以前的种种猜测感到自责。 “信封呢？”他问。 “我烧掉了，”杰基尔回答，“我还没意识到自己在 做什么就直接扔进火里了，但封信上没有邮戳，信是打 发人直接送来的。” “我能带走这封信，回去好好想想再作决定吗？” 厄塔森问。 “我希望你能替我作周全的考虑，”博士说，“我已 ④dictate[dik'teit间O授， 经失去自信。” 口述 “好的，我会的。”厄塔森回答，“我还有一个问题： ⑤qualm[kwo:mn.(一阵)】 是海德逼着你在遗嘱里写了那段关于‘失踪'的条款吧？” 眩晕（或恶心） 杰基尔博士看上去像是眩晕症发作了一样，他嘴唇 紧闭，只是点了点头。 6 solemnly ['solomli]ad. “我早知道是这样，”厄塔森说，“他本想杀了你的， 严肃认真地 你已经算是死里逃生了。” “我得到的教训远比这条命重要。”博士严肃地回答， “我得到了一个教训一噢，上帝！这是一个多么深刻 的教训啊，厄塔森！”说完，他把脸深深埋进手里，好 一阵子没有抬起来。 从博士家出来的时候，厄塔森停下来和浦尔说了几 句话。“顺便问你一下，”他说，“今天有人送来一封信， ·057· Incident of the Letter the bye,"said he,"there was a letter handed in to-day:what was the messenger like?"But Poole was positive nothing had come except by post;"and only circulars by that,"he added. This news sent off the visitor with his fears renewed.Plainly the letter had come by the laboratory door;possibly,indeed,it had been written in the cabinet;and if that were so,it must be differently judged,and handled with the more caution.The newsboys,as he went,were crying themselves hoarse along the footways:"Special edition.Shocking murder of an M.P."That was the funeral oration of one friend and client;and he could not help a certain apprehension lest the good name of another should be sucked down in the eddy of the scandal.It was,at least,a ticklish decision that he had to make;and self-reliant as he was by habit,he began to cherish a longing for advice.It was not to be had directly;but perhaps,he thought,it might be fished for. Presently after,he sat on one side of his own hearth,with Mr.Guest, his head clerk,upon the other,and midway between,at a nicely calculated distance from the fire,a bottle of a particular old wine that had long dwelt unsunned in the foundations of his house.The fog still slept on the wing above the drowned city,where the lamps glimmered like carbuncles;and through the muffle and smother of these fallen clouds,the procession of the town's life was still rolling in through the great arteries with a sound as of a mighty wind.But the room was gay with firelight.In the bottle the acids were long ago resolved;the imperial dye had softened with time,as the colour grows richer in stained windows;and the glow of hot autumn afternoons on hillside vineyards,was ready to be set free and to disperse the fogs of London. Insensibly the lawyer melted.There was no man from whom he kept fewer secrets than Mr.Guest;and he was not always sure that he kept as many as he meant.Guest had often been on business to the doctor's;he knew ·058· 来自凶手的一封信 那送信人长什么样子？”但是，浦尔很肯定地说那天除 了邮差之外，没有其他人送信过来。“而且邮差送来的 也只是报纸。”浦尔补充说。 带着这个消息，厄塔森开始往家走，先前的恐惧又 开始袭来。很显然，那封信是从实验室那扇门递进来的。 很可能就是在博士的工作室里写的！如果真是这样，那 就一定要重新仔细查看，慎重处理。在他回家的路上， 不断有报童沿人行道大声叫卖，声音都嘶哑了：“号外 号外！惊人消息！议员被杀！”这难道就是他的朋友兼 ①oration:'reifon]n.演 委托人的祭文吗，厄塔森心想。他感到一阵无法抑制的 说，演讲 ②cddy[edn.漩涡，涡 恐惧，生怕另外一位委托人也身陷这场丑闻的漩涡中， 流 并因此败坏了名声。无论如何，这对他来说都是一件很 ③ticklish[tiki0a.棘手 棘手的事情。他一向行事很有主见，但此时，他开始盼 的，难处理的 望能有人给他指点一二。当然，也不能直接询问，但至 少可以旁敲侧击地听听意见。 没一会儿，他回到家后，坐在自家火炉旁，与他面 对面坐着的是律师事务所主任盖斯特先生。在他俩中间， 距离炉火不远不近的位置，放着一瓶陈年佳酿，这酒可 是在他家地窖里储存了有些年头了。此时，灰蒙蒙的城 ④glimmer[glima]k发出 市上空，依然被浓雾笼罩，有种令人室息的感觉。街头 微光 的路灯散发着微弱的光芒，犹如一颗颗红榴石。尽管如 5 carbuncle ['ka:bAgkl]n. 此，浓雾的包围并不能阻挡城市里喧嚣忙碌的生活，一 深红色的宝石（或美玉）】 切仍如风驰电掣般呼啸着滚滚向前。这不，屋子里炉火 ⑥muffle[mA)n.包裹物， 熠熠，一片祥和。酒瓶里的酸味早已化为醇香！雾气朦 覆盖物 ⑦dye[dai]n.(尤指染上 胧的窗外，随着天色越来越浓，浓艳的色彩逐渐变得柔 的)颜色，色调 和。山坡上葡萄园里，秋日下午的阳光依然强烈，似乎 ⑧stained[steind]a.染污 准备好随时冲下来，驱散伦敦城里的雾气。 的，弄脏的 不知不觉中，一贯看上去古板严肃的厄塔森也变得 ⑨disperse[disp:s驱 温和了许多。盖斯特先生是他最信任的人，他对任何人 散（薄雾、霭等】 都没有像对盖斯特那样，透露过那么多秘密。有时甚至 连他自己都不清楚，他是否向此人透露了他本不想透露 的事情。他想，盖斯特先生经常和杰基尔博士有业务上 的来往，常到他家去，也认识杰基尔的老管家浦尔，不 ·059· Incident of the Letter Poole;he could scarce have failed to hear of Mr.Hyde's familiarity about the house;he might draw conclusions:was it not as well,then,that he should see a letter which put that mystery to right?and above all since Guest,being a great student and critic of handwriting,would consider the step natural and obliging?The clerk,besides,was a man of counsel;he could scarce read so strange a document without dropping a remark;and by that remark Mr. Utterson might shape his future course. "This is a sad business about Sir Danvers,"he said. "Yes,sir,indeed.It has elicited a great deal of public feeling,"returned Guest..“The man,of course,was mad.” "I should like to hear your views on that,"replied Utterson."I have a document here in his handwriting;it is between ourselves,for I scarce know what to do about it;it is an ugly business at the best.But there it is;quite in your way:a murderer's autograph②.” Guest's eyes brightened,and he sat down at once and studied it with passion.No sir,”he said::“not mad;.but it is an odd hand.” "And by all accounts a very odd writer,"added the lawyer. Just then the servant entered with a note. “Is that from Dr..Jekyll,sir?”inquired the clerk.“I thought I knew the writing.Anything private,Mr.Utterson?" "Only an invitation to dinner.Why?Do you want to see it?" "One moment.I thank you,sir;"and the clerk laid the two sheets of paper alongside and sedulously compared their contents."Thank you,sir,"he said at last,returning both;"it's a very interesting autograph." There was a pause,during which Mr.Utterson struggled with himself. "Why did you compare them,Guest?"he inquired suddenly. ·060· 来自凶手的一封信 太可能没听说过海德以及海德经常在博士家出入的情况 吧。他或许明白这其中的事情。那么，他是不是也应该 看看这封信，也应该了解了解杰基尔与海德之间的神秘 关系？更重要的是，盖斯特曾专门研习过笔迹，是一名 非常出色的鉴定专家，给他看一看，不仅不会让人觉得 刻意唐突，还会显得自己很乐于助人吧？何况盖斯特是 一个很有见地的人，让他看看这封古怪的信件，他不会 不就此发表点意见的。而他的意见或许还能帮助自己厘 清下一步该如何行动。 ①elicit[lisit)引起 “丹弗斯爵士的事情真让人难过。”厄塔森说 “是的，先生，确实如此。这件事弄得群情激愤。” 盖斯特说，“那个凶手，一定是发疯了。” “我想听听您对此事的看法。”厄塔森说，“我这儿有一 封凶手亲笔写的东西，此事只限于你我之间，不宜外传，因 为我还不知道该如何处理。无论如何这也是一桩丑闻。您看， 2autograph [:tougra:f]n. 这就是那杀人犯的亲笔信，请您用您的特长帮忙看看。” 手迹，真迹 盖斯特的眼睛马上发亮了，他立刻坐下来，认真研 究起来。“不，先生，”他说，“一点看不出来是疯了， 倒是笔法有些古怪。” “凡是见过他的人都这么觉得，这写信人确实很古 怪。”厄塔森补充说。 正在这时，仆人走了进来，递上一张便条。 “这是杰基尔博士送来的吗，先生？”盖斯特问，“我 想我认识刚刚那个笔迹。这便条里有什么不便让外人看 3 sedulously ['sedjulasli] 的吗，厄塔森先生？” ad.固执地，执着地 “只是邀请我去他家吃晚饭而己。怎么了？你想看看吗？” “就看一眼，谢谢你，先生。”于是，盖斯特将便条 和那封信并排放在一起，仔细对比着看。最后，他一 边将信件和便条还给厄塔森，一边说：“谢谢你，先生。 这么看来，那确实是一份非常有意思的亲笔信。” 然后，两个人都沉默了，好一会儿没再说话，厄塔 森内心却在激烈地斗争着。“盖斯特，你为什么要把这 两种笔迹对比着看呢？”他突然问。 ·061·