目 录 上一节 下一节 
他出来时，我向他迎了上去。 'Will you promise me, father, ' I said, 'that you won't do anything to distress Marguerite?' “爸爸，”我对他说，“别做什么会使玛格丽特感到痛苦的事，您能答应我吗？” My father paused, gave me a look of contempt, and merely said: 我父亲站定了，轻蔑地看着我，只是回答我说： 'I do believe you've taken leave of your senses.' “我想您是疯了。” Thereupon, he stormed out, slamming the door violently behind him. 讲完他就走了出去，把身后的门使劲地关上了。 
我也跟着下了楼，搭上一辆双轮马车回布吉瓦尔去了。 Marguerite was waiting for me at the window. 玛格丽特在窗口等着我。 'AT last!' she cried, throwing her arms around my neck. 'You're back! You look so pale!' “总算来了！”她嚷着向我扑来搂着我，“你来了，你脸色有多么苍白啊！” Then I told her about the scene with my father. 于是我把我和父亲之间发生的事告诉了她。 'Oh my God! I was expecting something like this, ' she said. 'When Joseph came and told us your father had arrived, my heart stopped as though he'd brought bad news. Poor dear! And I'm to blame for all your troubles. Perhaps it would be better for you to leave me than quarrel with your father. Still, I never did him any harm. We live very quietly and we'll live more quietly still. Of course, he realizes that you must have a mistress, and he should be pleased it's me, because I love you and won't ask you for anything more than your circumstances warrant. Did you tell him what we've worked out for the future?' “啊！天哪！我也想到了，”她说，“约瑟夫来通知我们说你父亲来了的时候，我像大祸临头一样浑身哆嗦。可怜的朋友！都是我让你这么痛苦的。也许你离开我要比跟你父亲闹翻好一些。可是我一点也没有惹着他呀。我们安安静静地过日子，将来的日子还要安静。他完全知道你需要一个情妇，我做你的情妇，他应该为此而感到高兴，因为我爱你，了解你的景况，也不会向你提出过分的要求。你有没有对他说过我们将来的计划？” 
“讲过了，最惹他生气的正是这件事，因为他在我们这个主意里面看到了我们相爱的证据。” 'What do we do now?' “那怎么办呢？” 'Stay together, sweet Marguerite, and let the storm blow over.' “我们还是待在一起，我好心的玛格丽特，让这场暴风雨过去吧。” 'And will it blow over?' “能过去吗？” 'Storms always do.' “一定会过去的。” 
“但是你父亲会就此罢休吗？” 'What can he do?' “你说他会怎么办？” 'How should I know? Everything a father can do to force his son to obey him. He'll remind you of my past life, and may even credit me with some new treachery invented for the purpose of persuading you to give me up.' “我怎么能知道呢？一个父亲为了使他儿子服从他的意志，什么事都干得出来的。他为了让你抛弃我，会使你想起我过去的生活，也许承他情再替我编出一些新鲜事来。” 'You know how I love you.' “你当然清楚我是爱你的。” 'Yes, but there's something else I know: sooner or later you'll have to obey your father, and in the end you may let yourself be convinced.' “是的，但是我也知道你迟早总得听从你父亲的，最后你也许会被他说服的。” 
“不会的，玛格丽特，最后将是我说服他。他是听了几个朋友的闲话才发这么大脾气的；但是他心肠很好，为人正直，他还是会回心转意的。再说，总而言之，这和我又有什么相干！” 'You mustn't say that, Armand. I'd rather anything than give people the idea that I've come between you and your family. Leave it for today, and return to Paris tomorrow. Your father will have thought things over and so will you, and perhaps you'll understand each other better. Don't offend his principles. Try to appear as though you're making some concessions to what he wants. Make it look as if you're not all that attached to me, and he'll leave matters as they are, Keep hoping, my dear, and be sure of one thing: whatever happens, your Marguerite will still be yours.' “别这么说，阿尔芒，我什么都愿意，就是不愿意让别人以为是我在撺掇你和你家庭闹翻的；今天就算了，明天你就回巴黎去。你父亲会像你一样从他那方面再好好考虑考虑的，也许你们会相互很好地谅解。不要触犯他的原则，装作对他的愿望作些让步；别显得太关心我，他就会让事情就这么过去的。乐观一些吧，我的朋友，对一件事情要有信心：不管发生什么事，你的玛格丽特总是你的。” 'You swear it?' “你向我发誓吗？” 'Do I need to?' “需要我向你发誓吗？” How sweet it is to let yourself be won round by a voice your love! Marguerite and I spent all day going over our plans as though we somehow knew we had to hurry them through. We were expecting something to happen at any minute but, happily, the day passed without further event. 听从一个心爱的声音的规劝是多么温柔甜蜜啊！玛格丽特和我两个一整天都在反复谈论我们的计划，就像我们已经懂得了必须更快地实现这些计划，我们每时每刻都在期待发生什么事。幸而这一天总算过去了，没有发生什么新情况。 
第二天，我十点钟就出发，中午时分，我到了旅馆。 My father had already gone out. 我父亲已经出去了。 I went to my apartment hoping that he might be there. No one had called. I went round to my solicitor's. There was no one there either! 我回到了自己家里，希望他可能也上那里去了。没有人来过。我又到公证人家里，也没有人。 I returned to the hotel and waited until six. Monsieur Duval did not return. 我重新回到旅馆，一直等到六点钟，父亲没有回来。 I set off back to Bougival. 我又回布吉瓦尔去了。 
我看到了玛格丽特，她并没有像前一天那样在等我，而是坐在炉火旁边，那时的天气已经需要生炉子了。 She was deep enough in her thoughts for me to come right up to her chair without her hearing me or turning round. When my lips touched her forehead, she started as though the kiss had woken her suddenly. 她深深地陷在沉思之中。我走近她的扶手椅她都没有听到我的声音，连头也没有回，当我把嘴唇贴在她的额头上时，她哆嗦了一下，就好像是被这下亲吻惊醒了似的。 'You gave me a fright, ' she said. 'What did your father say?' “你吓了我一跳。”她对我说，“你父亲呢？” 'I didn't see him. I can't make it out. I couldn't find him at his hotel nor in any of the places where he was likely to be.' “我没有见到他。我不知道是怎么回事，不论在旅馆里，还是在他可能去的地方都找不到他。” 'Well, you'll have to try again tomorrow.' “好吧，明天再去。” 
“我想等他派人来叫我。我想所有我应该做的我都做了。” 'No, my dear, it's not enough. You must go and see your father again, and do it tomorrow.' “不，我的朋友，这样做远远不够，一定要回到你父亲那儿去，尤其是明天。” 'Why tomorrow rather than any other day?' “为什么非要是明天而不是别的日子呢？” 'Because, ' said Marguerite, who, I thought, flushed slightly at my question, 'because then your determination will seem all the greater and consequently we shall be forgiven more quickly.' “因为，”玛格丽特听到我这样问，脸色微微发红，说道，“因为越是你要求得迫切，我们将越快地得到宽恕。” For the remainder of that day, Marguerite seemed preoccupied, listless, downcast. I had to say everything twice to get an answer. She attributed her inattentiveness to the fears for the future which the events of the past two days had prompted. 这一天里，玛格丽特总是茫然若失，心不在焉，忧心忡忡。为了得到她的回答，我对她说话，总得重复两遍。她把这种心事重重的原因归诸于两天以来发生的事情和对前途的担忧。
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