目 录 上一节 下一节 
为了要实现心中的愿望该想出多少办法，编出多少理由啊！ I could not therefore remain in the corridors any longer, and went back to my seat in the pit, quickly glancing around the auditorium as I did so to see in which box she was sitting. 因此，我在走廊里再也待不下去了，我回到正厅就坐，一面飞快地朝大厅里扫了一眼，想看看她坐在哪个包厢里。 She was in the stage-box in the stalls, and quite alone. She looked much altered, as I have told you, and I could not detect on her lips her old unconcerned smile. She had been ill; she still was. 她独自一人坐在底层台前包厢里。我刚才已经跟您说过，她变了，嘴上已不再带有那种满不在乎的微笑。她生过一场病，而且病还没有完全好。 Although it was already April, she was still dressed for winter and wore velvet. 尽管已经是四月份的天气了，她穿得还是像在冬天里一样，全身衣裳都是天鹅绒的。 I looked at her so insistently that my eye caught hers. 我目不转睛地瞅着她，终于把她的眼光给吸引过来了。 
她对我端详了一会儿，又拿起望远镜想仔细瞧瞧我，她肯定觉得我面熟，但一下子又想不起我是谁。因为当她放下望远镜的时候，嘴角上浮现出一丝微笑，这是女人用来致意的一种非常妩媚的笑容，显然她在准备回答我即将向她表示的敬意。但是我对她的致意一点反应也没有，似乎故意要显得比她高贵，我装出一副她记起了我，我倒已经把她忘掉了的神气。 Believing that she was mistaken, she turned her head away. 她以为认错了人，把头掉了过去。 The curtain went up. 启幕了。 I have seen Marguerite many times in the theatre. I never once saw her pay the slightest attention to what was happening on stage. 在演戏的时候，我向玛格丽特看了好几次，可是我从未见到她认认真真地在看戏。 For me too, the play was of very little interest, and I had eyes only for her while doing my utmost to ensure that she did not notice. 就我来说，对演出同样也是心不在焉的，我光关心着她，但又尽量不让她觉察到。 
我看到她在和她对面包厢里的人交换眼色，便向那个包厢望去，我认出了坐在里面的是一个跟我相当熟悉的女人。 She had once been a kept woman, had tried the stage, had not succeeded and, counting on her contacts among the fashionable women of Paris, had gone into business and opened a milliner's shop. 这个女人过去也做过妓女，曾经打算进戏班子，但是没有成功。后来靠了她和巴黎那些时髦女子的关系，做起生意来了，开了一家妇女时装铺子。 In her, I saw a way of contriving a meeting with Marguerite, and I took advantage of a moment when she was looking in my direction to wish her a pleasant evening with hands and eyes. 我从她身上找到了一个跟玛格丽特会面的办法，趁她往我这边瞧的时候，我用手势和眼色向她问了好。 What I had foreseen happened: she summoned me to her box. 果然不出我所料，她招呼我到她包厢里去。 Prudence Duvernoy ?such was the apt name of the milliner ?was one of those ample women of forty with whom no great diplomatic subtleties are required to get them to say what you wish to know, especially when what you wish to know is as simple as what I had to ask. 那位妇女时装铺老板娘的芳名叫普律当丝·迪韦尔诺瓦，是一个四十来岁的胖女人，要从她们这样的人那里打听些什么事是用不到多费周折的，何况我要向她打听的事又是那么平常。 
我趁她又要跟玛格丽特打招呼的时候问她说： 'Who's that you're watching?' “您是在看谁啊？” 'Marguerite Gautier.' “玛格丽特·戈蒂埃。” 'Do you know her?' “您认识她吗？” 'Yes, I'm her milliner, and she's a neighbour of mine.' “认识，她是我铺子里的主顾，而且也是我的邻居。” 
“那么您也住在昂坦街？” 'In number 7. The window of her dressing-room looks on to the window of mine.' “七号，她梳妆间的窗户和我梳妆间的窗正好对着。” 'They say she's a charming girl.' “据说她是一个很迷人的姑娘。” 'Don't you know her?' “您不认识她吗？” 'No, but I'd very much like to.' “不认识，但是我很想认识她。” 
“您要我叫她到我们的包厢里来吗？” 'No, I'd prefer you to introduce me to her.' “不要，最好还是您把我介绍给她。” 'At her place?' “到她家里去吗？” 'Yes.' “是的。” 'That's more difficult.' “这不太好办。” 
“为什么？” 'Because she's under the protection of an old Duke who is very jealous.' “因为有一个嫉妒心很重的老公爵监护着她。” ' "Protection", how charming.' “监护，那真太妙了！” 'Yes, protection, ' Prudence went on. 'Poor old thing. He'd be hard put to it to be her lover.' “是啊，她是受到监护的，”普律当丝接着说，“可怜的老头儿，做她的情夫真够麻烦的呢。” Prudence then related how Marguerite had become acquainted with the Duke at Bagneres. 于是普律当丝对我讲了玛格丽特在巴涅尔认识公爵的经过。 
“就是因为这个缘故，”我继续说，“她才一个人上这儿来的吗？” 'That's right.' “完全正确。” 'But who'll drive her home?' “但是谁来陪她回去呢？” 'He will.' “就是他。” 'So he'll come and fetch her?' “那么他是要来陪她回去的罗，是吗？” 
“过一会儿他就会来的。” 'And who's taking you home?' “那么您呢，谁来陪您回去呢？” 'Nobody.' “没有人。” 'Allow me.' “我来陪您回去吧！” 'But you're with a friend, I believe.' “可是我想您还有一位朋友吧。” 
“那么我们一起陪您回去好啦。”
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