目 录 上一节 下一节 
瘸子走路，就象独眼人送秋波，都不能直截了当地达到目的地。况且割风又正在心情烦乱的时候。他几乎花了一刻钟才回到园里的破屋里。珂赛特已经醒了。冉阿让让她坐在火旁。割风进屋子时，冉阿让正把那园丁挂在墙上的背箩指给她看并且说：“好好听我说，我的小珂赛特。我们必须离开这个地方，但是我们要回来的，这样我们就能很好地住在这里了。这里的那位老大爷会让你待在那东西里，把你带走。你到一位太太家里去等我。我会去找你的。最要紧的是，要是你不想让德纳第大娘又把你抓回去，你就得乖乖地听我的话，什么也不能说啊！” Cosette nodded gravely. 珂赛特郑重地点了点头。 Jean Valjean turned round at the noise made by Fauchelevent opening the door. 冉阿让听到割风推门的声音，回转头去。 "Well?" “怎样了？” "Everything is arranged, and nothing is," said Fauchelevent. "I have permission to bring you in; but before bringing you in you must be got out. That's where the difficulty lies. It is easy enough with the child." “一切都安排好了，一点也没有安排好，”割风说，“我得到允许，让您进来，但是在带您进来以前，得先带您出去。伤脑筋的就是这一点。至于这小姑娘，倒好办。” 
“她答应不出声吗？” "I answer for that." “我担保。” "But you, Father Madeleine?" “可是您呢，马德兰爷爷？” And, after a silence, fraught with anxiety, Fauchelevent exclaimed:-- 经过一阵焦急的沉寂以后，割风喊道： "Why, get out as you came in!" “从您进来的那条路出去，不就完了！” 
冉阿让，和先头一样，只回答了一声：“不可能。” Fauchelevent grumbled, more to himself than to Jean Valjean:-- 割风嘴里叽里咕噜，却并非在和冉阿让谈话，而是在和他自己谈话： "There is another thing which bothers me. I have said that I would put earth in it. When I come to think it over, the earth instead of the corpse will not seem like the real thing, it won't do, it will get displaced, it will move about. The men will bear it. You understand, Father Madeleine, the government will notice it." “还有一件事，使我心里老嘀咕。我说过，放些泥土在里面。可是我想，那里装上泥，不会象是装个人，那样不成，那玩意儿会跑，会动。别人会看出毛病来的。您懂吗，马德兰爷爷，政府会察觉出来的。” Jean Valjean stared him straight in the eye and thought that he was raving. 冉阿让直着双眼，老望他，以为他在说胡话。 Fauchelevent went on:-- 割风接着又说： 
“难道您就出不了这……鬼门关？问题是：一切都得在明天办妥！我得在明天领您进来。院长等着您。” Then he explained to Jean Valjean that this was his recompense for a service which he, Fauchelevent, was to render to the community. That it fell among his duties to take part in their burials, that he nailed up the coffins and helped the grave-digger at the cemetery. That the nun who had died that morning had requested to be buried in the coffin which had served her for a bed, and interred in the vault under the altar of the chapel. That the police regulations forbade this, but that she was one of those dead to whom nothing is refused. That the prioress and the vocal mothers intended to fulfil the wish of the deceased. That it was so much the worse for the government. That he, Fauchelevent, was to nail up the coffin in the cell, raise the stone in the chapel, and lower the corpse into the vault. And that, by way of thanks, the prioress was to admit his brother to the house as a gardener, and his niece as a pupil. That his brother was M. Madeleine, and that his niece was Cosette. That the prioress had told him to bring his brother on the following evening, after the counterfeit interment in the cemetery. But that he could not bring M. Madeleine in from the outside if M. Madeleine was not outside. That that was the first problem. And then, that there was another: the empty coffin." 这时，他向冉阿让一一说明，这是由于他，割风，要替修院办件事而得来的报酬；办理丧事也是他应干的活，他得把棺材钉好，还得到公墓去帮那埋葬工人。早晨死去的那个修女曾要求把她装殓在她平日拿来当床用的棺材里，并且要把她埋在圣坛祭台下的地窖里，这种做法是警务条例所不许可的，而死者却又是那样一个不容违拗的修女。院长和参议嬷嬷们都决定要了死者的愿，政府不政府，不管它了；他，割风，要到那矮屋子里去钉上棺材，到圣坛里去旋开石板，还得把那死人送到地窖下面去。为了酬谢他，院长同意让他的兄弟到修院里来当园丁，也让他的侄女来寄读，他的兄弟便是马德兰先生，侄女便是珂赛特。院长说过，要他在明天傍晚时，等到公墓里的假掩埋办妥后，把他的兄弟带来。可是他不能把马德兰先生从外面带进来，要是马德兰先生不先在外面的话。这是首先遇到的困难，还有一层困难，便是那口空棺材。 "What is that empty coffin?" asked Jean Valjean. “什么空棺材？”冉阿让问。 Fauchelevent replied:-- 割风回答说： "The coffin of the administration." “管理机关的棺材。” 
“什么棺材？什么管理机关。” "A nun dies. The municipal doctor comes and says, `A nun has died.' The government sends a coffin. The next day it sends a hearse and undertaker's men to get the coffin and carry it to the cemetery. The undertaker's men will come and lift the coffin; there will be nothing in it." “死了一个修女。市政府的医生来了并且说：‘有个修女死了。’政府便送来一口棺材。第二天，再派一辆丧车和几个殡仪执事来把那棺材抬到公墓去。殡仪执事们来了，抬起那棺材，里面却没有东西。” "Put something in it." “放点东西在里面。” "A corpse? I have none." “放个死人？我找不出。” "No." “不是。” 
“那么，什么呢？” "A living person." “放个活人。” "What person?" “什么活人？” "Me!" said Jean Valjean. “我。”冉阿让说。 Fauchelevent, who was seated, sprang up as though a bomb had burst under his chair. 割风，原是坐着的，他猛地站起，好象椅子下面响了一个爆竹。 
“您！” "Why not?" “为什么不呢？” Jean Valjean gave way to one of those rare smiles which lighted up his face like a flash from heaven in the winter. 冉阿让露出一种少见的笑容，正如冬季里天空中的那种微光。 "You know, Fauchelevent, what you have said: `Mother Crucifixion is dead.' and I add: `and Father Madeleine is buried.' “您知道，割风，您先头说过：受难嬷嬷死了，我补上了一句说，马德兰先生埋了。事情就是这样。” "Ah! good, you can laugh, you are not speaking seriously." “啊，好，您是在开玩笑。您不是在说正经话。” 
“绝对正经。我不是得先从这里出去吗？” "Certainly." “当然。” "l have told you to find a basket, and a cover for me also," “我早和您说过，要您替我找一个背箩和一块油布。” "Well?" “那又怎样呢？” "The basket will be of pine, and the cover a black cloth." “来个杉木背箩和一块黑布就可以了。” 
“首先，只有白布。葬修女，全用白的。” "Let it be a white cloth, then." “白布也成。” "You are not like other men, Father Madeleine." “您这个人，不和旁人一样，马德兰爷爷。” To behold such devices, which are nothing else than the savage and daring inventions of the galleys, spring forth from the peaceable things which surrounded him, and mingle with what he called the "petty course of life in the convent," caused Fauchelevent as much amazement as a gull fishing in the gutter of the Rue Saint-Denis would inspire in a passer-by. 这种幻想也只不过是苦役牢里的一种横蛮大胆的发明，割风是一向被圈在平静的事物中的，他平日见到的，按照他的说法，“只是修院里的一些磨磨蹭蹭的事儿”，现在忽然有这种奇想出现在他那宁静的环境里，而且要和修院牵涉在一起，他当时的惊骇竟可和一个看见一只海鸥在圣德尼街边溪流里捕鱼的行人的神情相比。 Jean Valjean went on:-- 冉阿让接着说： 
“问题是要从这里偷跑出去。现在这就是个办法。但是您得先把一切情形告诉我。事情怎样进行？棺材在哪里？” "The empty one?" “空的那口吗？” "Yes." “对。” "Down stairs, in what is called the dead-room. It stands on two trestles, under the pall." “在下面，所谓的太平间里。放在两个木架上，上面盖了一块盖棺布。” "How long is the coffin?" “那棺材有多长？” 
“六尺。” "What is this dead-room?" “太平间是怎样的？” "It is a chamber on the ground floor which has a grated window opening on the garden, which is closed on the outside by a shutter, and two doors; one leads into the convent, the other into the church." “那是底层的一间屋子，有一扇窗对着园子，窗口有铁条，窗板从外面开关，还有两扇门：一扇通修院，一扇通礼拜堂。” "What church?" “什么礼拜堂？” "The church in the street, the church which any one can enter." “街上的礼拜堂，大众的礼拜堂。” 
“您有那两扇门的钥匙吗？” "No; I have the key to the door which communicates with the convent; the porter has the key to the door which communicates with the church." “没有。我只有通修院那扇门的钥匙，通礼拜堂那扇门的钥匙在门房手里。” "When does the porter open that door?" “什么时候门房才开那扇门呢？” "Only to allow the undertaker's men to enter, when they come to get the coffin. When the coffin has been taken out, the door is closed again." “只是在殡仪执事要进去抬棺材的时候，他才开那扇门。棺材出去了，门又得关上。” "Who nails up the coffin?" “谁钉棺材？” 
“我钉。” "Who spreads the pall over it?" “谁盖那块布？” "I do." “我盖。” "Are you alone?" “就您一个人吗？” "Not another man, except the police doctor, can enter the dead-room. That is even written on the wall." “除了警署的医生以外，任何男人都不许进太平间。那是写好在墙上的。” 
“今天晚上，等到修院里大家全睡了，您能不能把我蒙在那屋子里？” "No. But I could hide you in a small, dark nook which opens on the dead-room, where I keep my tools to use for burials, and of which I have the key." “不成。但是我可以把您藏在一间通太平间的小黑屋子里，那是我放埋葬工具的地方，归我管，钥匙也在我这里。 "At what time will the hearse come for the coffin to-morrow?" “灵车在明天几点钟来取棺材？” "About three o'clock in the afternoon. The burial will take place at the Vaugirard cemetery a little before nightfall. It is not very near." “下午三点左右。在伏吉拉尔公墓下葬，在天快黑的时候，那地方不很近。” "I will remain concealed in your tool-closet all night and all the morning. And how about fohought Fauchelevent. "In that case, it would be terrible." “我就在您放工具的小屋子里躲一整夜和整个半天。可是吃的东西呢？我会饿的。” 
其实，棺材里藏活人，苦役犯所采用的这种救急办法，也是帝王所采用的。假使奥斯丹·加斯迪莱约的记载可靠的话，查理五世①在逊位以后，想和卜隆白作最后一次会晤时，便用这种方法把她抬进圣茹斯特修院，继又把她抬出去的。 ①查理五世是十六世纪德意志皇帝，逊位后出家修道。 Fauchelevent, who had recovered himself a little, exclaimed:-- 割风，稍稍镇静以后，大声问道： "But how will you manage to breathe?" “可是您怎么能呼吸呢？” "I will breathe." “我会呼吸的。” 
“在那盒子里！我，只要想想，已经吐不出气来了。” "You surely must have a gimlet, you will make a few holes here and there, around my mouth, and you will nail the top plank on loosely." “您一定有一个螺丝锥，您在靠近嘴的地方，随便锥几个小孔，上面的木板，也不要钉得太紧。” "Good! And what if you should happen to cough or to sneeze?" “好！万一您要咳嗽或打喷嚏呢？” "A man who is making his escape does not cough or sneeze." “逃命的人从来不咳嗽，也不打喷嚏。” And Jean Valjean added:-- 冉阿让又加了一句： 
“割风爷，得拿定主意了：或是在这里等人家来捉，或是接受由灵车带出去的办法。” Every one has noticed the taste which cats have for pausing and lounging between the two leaves of a half-shut door. Who is there who has not said to a cat, "Do come in!" There are men who, when an incident stands half-open before them, have the same tendency to halt in indecision between two resolutions, at the risk of getting crushed through the abrupt closing of the adventure by fate. The over-prudent, cats as they are, and because they are cats, sometimes incur more danger than the audacious. Fauchelevent was of this hesitating nature. But Jean Valjean's coolness prevailed over him in spite of himself. He grumbled:-- 大家都见过，猫儿有一种癖性，它爱在半掩着的门边徘徊不前。谁也对猫儿说：“进来！”有些人在半开着的机会面前也一样会有停滞在两种决策中左思右想的表现，冒着让自己被压在陡然截断生路的命运下面。那些过于谨慎的人，浑身是猫性，并且正因为他们是猫，他们遇到的危险有时反而比大胆的人更多更大。割风正是那种具有顾前思后性格的人。可是冉阿让的冷静态度，使他不由自主地被争取过来了。他嘟嘟囔囔地说： "Well, since there is no other means." “总之，除此以外，没有旁的办法。” Jean Valjean resumed:-- 冉阿让接着说： "The only thing which troubles me is what will take place at the cemetery." “唯一使我担心的事，便是不知道到了公墓怎么办。” 
“这倒正是我放心的地方，”割风大声说，“要是您有把握，让自己能出棺材，那我也有把握让您能出坟坑。那个埋葬工人是个酒鬼，是我的朋友。梅斯千爷爷。一个爱喝酒的老头儿。埋葬工人把死人放在坟坑里，而我，我可以把埋葬工人放在我的口袋里。到了公墓怎么办，让我先来告诉您。我们到了那里，天还没有黑，离坟场关铁栅栏的时候还有三刻钟。灵车要一直滚到坟坑边。我在后面跟着，那是我的任务。我衣袋里带着一个铁锤、一把凿子、一个取钉钳。灵车停下来，殡仪执事们兜着您的棺材结上一根绳子，把您吊下去。神甫走来念些经，画一个十字，洒上圣水，溜了。我一个人和梅斯千爷爷留下来。那是我的朋友，我告诉您。总是两件事，要不是他喝醉了，要不是他没有喝醉。要是他没有喝醉，我就对他说：‘我们来喝一盅，趁这时好木瓜酒馆还开着。’我带他去，我把他灌醉，梅斯千爷爷用不着几下子便会醉倒，他是老带着几分醉意的，我为你让他直躺在桌子下面，拿了他那张进公墓的工作证，把他甩下，我自个儿回来。您就只有我一个人要对付了。要是他已经醉了，我就对他说：‘去你的，让我来干你的活。’他走了，我把您从洞里拖上来。” Jean Valjean held out his hand, and Fauchelevent precipitated himself upon it with the touching effusion of a peasant. 冉阿让向他伸出一只手，割风跳上前，一把握住，乡下人的那股热情的确很动人。 "That is settled, Father Fauchelevent. All will go well." “只要不发生意外，”割风心里想，“这是多么大的一场风险！” "Provided nothing goes wrong," thought Fauchelevent. "In that case, it would be terrible." “只要不发生意外，”割风心里想，“这是多么大的一场风险！” | 
