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“我有点不舒服。” 'You should go to bed, ' she went on, with that ironic expression which went so well with her fine, quick- witted head. “您应该去睡一会儿才好，”她又说，她那俏皮的神色跟她那娇小玲珑的脑袋极为相配。 'Whose?' “到哪里去睡？” 'Yours.' “您自己家里呀！” 'You know very well that I shan't sleep.' “您很清楚我在自己家里是睡不着的。” 
“那么您就不该因为看见有一个男人在我的包厢里就来给我看脸色呀。” 'That's not the reason.' “不是为了这个原因。” 'Oh yes it is, I know all about such things and you're wrong. Let's not say any more about it. After the play, come to Prudence's and stay there until I call you. Understood?' “是这个原因，我一看就知道，您错了，我们别再谈这些事了。散戏后您到普律当丝家里去，一直等到我叫您，您听明白了吗？” 'Yes.' “听明白了。” Did I have any choice but to obey? 我难道能不服从吗？ 
“您仍然爱我吗？”她问。 'How can you ask!' “这还用问吗？” 'Have you thought about me?' “您想我了吗？” 'All day long.' “整天都在想。” 'Do you know something? I'm seriously beginning to be afraid I could fall in love with you. You'd better ask Prudence.' “我真怕我真的爱上您了，您知道吗？还是问问普律当丝吧。” 
“啊！”那个女胖子回答说，“那可真叫人受不了。” 'Now, you are to go back to your seat in the stalls. The Count will return at any minute and there's nothing to be gained if he finds you here.' “现在，您回到您的位子上去，伯爵要回来了，没有必要让他在这里看见您。” 'Why not?' “为什么？” 'Because you don't much like seeing him.' “因为您看到他心里不痛快。” 'It's not that. It's just that if you had told me you wanted to come to the Vaudeville this evening, I could have sent you tickets for a box every bit as well as he could.' “没有的事，不过如果您早跟我讲今天晚上想到歌舞剧院来，我也会像他一样把这个包厢的票子给您送来的。” 
“不幸的是，我没有向他要他就给我送来了，还提出要陪我来。您知道得很清楚，我是不能拒绝的。我所能做的，就是写信告诉您我在哪里，这样您就可以见到我，因为我自己也很希望早些看到您；既然您是这样感谢我的，我就要记住这次教训。” 'I was wrong. Do forgive me!' “我错了，请原谅我吧。” 'Very well. Go back to your seat like a good boy, and for heaven's sake no more jealous scenes!' “这就太好了，乖乖地回到您的座位上去，再不要吃什么醋了。” She kissed me again, and I left. 她再一次吻了我，我就走出来了。 In the corridor, I met the Count on his way back. 在走廊里我遇到了回包厢的伯爵。 
我回到了自己的座位上。 After all, the presence of Monsier de G in Marguerite's box was the most uncomplicated thing. He had been her lover, he brought her tickets for a box, he came to the play with her it was all very natural, and the moment I took a girl like Marguerite as my mistress, I had no alternative but to accept her ways. 其实，G伯爵在玛格丽特的包厢里出现是件极其平常的事。他过去是她的情人，给她送来一张包厢票，陪她来看戏，这一切都是非常自然的事情。既然我有一个玛格丽特那样的姑娘做情妇，当然我就应该容忍她的生活习惯。 All the same, such considerations did not make me any the less wretched for the rest of the evening, and I felt extremely miserable as I left, having seen Prudence, the Count and Marguerite stepping into the barouche which stood waiting for them at the door. 这天晚上剩下来的时间我也不见得更好受一些，在看到普律当丝、伯爵和玛格丽特坐上等在剧院门口的四轮马车以后，我也怏怏地走了。 Even so, a quarter of an hour later I was at Prudence's. She had returned only a moment before. 可是一刻钟以后我就到了普律当丝的家里，她也刚好回来。 'YOU got here almost as quickly as we did, ' said Prudence. “您来得几乎跟我们一样快！”普律当丝对我说。 
“是的，”我不假思索地回答说，“玛格丽特在哪儿？” 'In her apartment.' “在家里。” 'By herself?' “一个人吗？” 'With Monsieur de G.' “跟G伯爵在一起。” I strode up and down in her drawing-room. 我跨着大步在客厅里来回走着。 
“嗳，您怎么啦？” 'Do you imagine I think it's funny waiting around like this for Monsieur de G to come out of Marguerite's?' “您以为我在这儿等着G伯爵从玛格丽特家里出来很有趣吗？” 'You're being unreasonable too. You must understand that Marguerite can't show the Count the door. Monsieur de G has been with her a long time now; he's always given her a lot of money. He still does. Marguerite spends more than a hundred thousand francs a year; she has huge debts. The Duke sends her whatever she asks him for, but she doesn't always dare ask for everything she needs. She can't afford to fall out with the Count who gives her around ten thousand francs a year at least. Marguerite really loves you, my dear, but your affair with her mustn't get serious both for her sake and yours. Your allowance of seven or eight thousand francs wouldn't be anything like enough to pay for her extravagance; it won't even run to the upkeep of her carriage. Just take Marguerite for what she is ?a good- hearted, lively, pretty girl. Be her lover for a month, two months. Give her flowers, buy her sweets, pay for boxes at the theatre. But don't go getting any other ideas, and don't go in for silly jealous scenes. You know what sort of girl you're dealing with: Marguerite's no saint. She likes you, you love her, leave it at that. I think you're foolish to get so touchy! You have the sweetest mistress in the whole of Paris! She receives you in a magnificent apartment, she's covered in diamonds, she needn't cost you a penny unless you decide otherwise, and you're still not satisfied. Hang it all, you expect too much!' “您太不通情理了。要知道玛格丽特是不能请伯爵吃闭门羹的。G伯爵跟她来往已经很久，他一直给她很多钱，现在还在给她。玛格丽特一年要花十多万法郎，她欠了很多债。只要她开口，公爵总能满足她的要求，但是她不敢要公爵负担全部开销。伯爵每年至少给她万把法郎，她不能和他闹翻。玛格丽特非常爱您，亲爱的朋友，但是您跟她的关系，为了你们各自的利益，您不应该看得过于认真的。您那七八千法郎的津贴费是不够这个姑娘挥霍的，连维修她的马车也不够。您要恰如其分地把玛格丽特当作一个聪明美丽的好姑娘对待；做她一两个月的情人，送点鲜花、糖果和包厢票给她，其他的事您就不必操心啦！别再跟她闹什么争风吃醋的可笑把戏了。您很清楚您是在跟谁打交道，玛格丽特又不是什么贞洁女人，她很喜欢您，您也很喜欢她，其他的您就不用管了。我认为您这样容易动感情是很可爱的！您有巴黎最讨人喜欢的女人做情妇！她满身戴着钻石，在富丽堂皇的住宅里接待您，只要您愿意，她又不要您花一个子儿，而您还要不高兴。真见鬼！您的要求也太过分了。” 'You're quite right, but I can't help it. The thought that this man is her lover is agony.' “您说得对，但是我没法控制自己，一想到这个人是她的情人，我心里就别扭。”
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