名著·雾都孤儿 - 第131节


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  这种解释看来可能性最大,所以大家也就认可了。狗钻到一把椅子下边,蜷成一团睡了,谁也没再去管它。

   It being now dark, the shutter was closed, and a candle lighted and placed upon the table. The terrible events of the last two days had made a deep impression on all three, increased by the danger and uncertainty of their own position. They drew their chairs closer together, starting at every sound. They spoke little, and that in whispers, and were as silent and awe-stricken as if the remains of the murdered woman lay in the next room.

  这时,天已经黑下来,窗板关上了,他们点亮一支蜡烛,放在桌上。近两天来发生的这些可怕的事件深深地印在他们仨心上,加上自己处境危险,前途未定,便越发感到紧张。他们挪动椅子,彼此靠得紧紧的,听到每一声响动都心惊肉跳。他们绝少说话,有话也是低声耳语,看他们那副噤若寒蝉的样子,好像那个惨遭谋杀的女人的尸体就停放在隔壁房间里。

   They had sat thus, some time, when suddenly was heard a hurried knocking at the door below.

  有一阵子,他们就这么坐着,突然,楼下响起一阵急促的敲门声。

   'Young Bates,' said Kags, looking angrily round, to check the fear he felt himself.

  “小贝兹。”凯格斯一边说,一边怒不可遏地回头看了看,以抑制内心的恐惧。

   The knocking came again. No, it wasn't he. He never knocked like that.

  敲门声又响了。不,这不是他。他从来不像这样敲门。

  格拉基特走到窗前,哆哆嗦嗦地探出头去。用不着告诉他们来者是谁了,他那苍白的面孔已经足够了。眨眼之间,狗也警觉起来,哀叫着往门日奔去。

   'We must let him in,' he said, taking up the candle.

  “我们还是得让他进来。”格拉基特端起蜡烛说道。

   'Isn't there any help for it?' asked the other man in a hoarse voice.

  “就想不出什么别的法子?”另一个汉子声音沙哑地问。

   'None. He MUST come in.'

  “没法子,只能让他进来。”

   'Don't leave us in the dark,' said Kags, taking down a candle from the chimney-piece, and lighting it, with such a trembling hand that the knocking was twice repeated before he had finished.

  “别把咱丢在黑屋子里。”凯格斯一边说,一边从壁炉架上取下一支蜡烛,等他双手哆嗦地点亮蜡烛,敲门声已经又响了两次。

  格拉基特下楼开门去了,回来时身后跟着一个汉子,那人用一张手巾裹住下半个脸,另一张手巾裹住戴着帽子的脑袋。他慢吞吞地解下手巾。苍白的面容,眍进去的双眼,凹陷的脸颊,三天没刮的胡子,瘦削的身形,急促的呼吸:这简直就是赛克斯的幽灵。

   He laid his hand upon a chair which stood in the middle of the room, but shuddering as he was about to drop into it, and seeming to glance over his shoulder, dragged it back close to the wall--as close as it would go--and ground it against it--and sat down.

  他伸手扶住屋子正中放着的一把椅子,正想一屁股坐下去,忽然打了个寒战,又仿佛是想回头看一眼,他把椅子拖到紧靠墙根的地方--近得不能再近了--抵着墙壁,坐了下去。

   Not a word had been exchanged. He looked from one to another in silence. If an eye were furtively raised and met his, it was instantly averted. When his hollow voice broke silence, they all three started. They seemed never to have heard its tones before.

  谁也不说一句话。他一声不吭,挨次打量着他们。即便有谁的目光偷偷抬起来,与他的目光相接,也立即转向一旁。当他瓮声瓮气打破沉默的时候,他们仁吓了一跳,就好像以前从未听到过他的声音一样。

   'How came that dog here?' he asked.

  “狗怎么上这儿来的?”他问道。

   'Alone. Three hours ago.'

  “自个儿来的,来了三个小时了。”

  “今天的晚报说费金被捕了。真有这事还是撒谎?”

   'True.'

  “真的。”

   They were silent again.

  他们再度沉默下来。

   'Damn you all!' said Sikes, passing his hand across his forehead.

  “都给我见鬼去,”赛克斯抬手抹了抹额头,说道。

   'Have you nothing to say to me?'

  “你们就没什么要跟我说的?”

  三个人忐忑不安地动了一下,谁也没有开口。

   'You that keep this house,' said Sikes, turning his face to Crackit, 'do you mean to sell me, or to let me lie here till this hunt is over?'

  “这房子是你的,’赛克斯转过睑,冲着格拉基特说道。“你是打算出卖我呢,还是让我住在这儿,等这次搜捕过去?”

   'You may stop here, if you think it safe,' returned the person addressed, after some hesitation.

  “你留下好了,要是你认为安全的话。”被问到的人略略犹豫了一下,答道。

   Sikes carried his eyes slowly up the wall behind him: rather trying to turn his head than actually doing it: and said, 'Is--it--the body--is it buried?'

  赛克斯慢慢地抬起双眼,看了看身后的墙壁,主要是想试一下转过头去,并不是真想这么做。他接着说道:“尸体--尸体--尸体埋了没有?”

   They shook their heads.

  三个人摇了摇头。

  “怎么还没埋呢?”他脱口说道,又像刚才那样朝身后看了一眼。“把这样难看的的东西留在地面上做什么?--谁在敲门?”

   Crackit intimated, by a motion of his hand as he left the room, that there was nothing to fear; and directly came back with Charley Bates behind him. Sikes sat opposite the door, so that the moment the boy entered the room he encountered his figure.

  格拉基特打了个手势,意思是没什么好怕的,这才离开房间,紧接着又领着查理·贝兹回来了。赛克斯正对门坐着,少年刚一进屋,迎面就看见了他。

   'Toby,' said the boy falling back, as Sikes turned his eyes towards him, 'why didn't you tell me this, downstairs?'

  赛克斯将目光朝他转过去,少年一边往后退,一边说:“托比,你在楼下干吗不告诉我?”

   There had been something so tremendous in the shrinking off of the three, that the wretched man was willing to propitiate even this lad. Accordingly he nodded, and made as though he would shake hands with him.

  那三个人吓得魂不附体,看着实在令人害怕,那恶棍不禁想讨好一下这个刚刚进门的少年,他因此点了点头,做出愿意跟他握握手的样子。

   'Let me go into some other room,' said the boy, retreating still farther.

  “让我到另外哪一间屋子里去。”少年不住地往后退,说道。

  “查理。”赛克斯说着,朝前走去。“你难道--你不认识我了?”

   'Don't come nearer me,' answered the boy, still retreating, and looking, with horror in his eyes, upon the murderer's face. 'You monster!'

  “别再挨近我,”少年还在后退,他眼里含着恐惧,盯住凶手的脸,答道。“你这个坏蛋。”

   The man stopped half-way, and they looked at each other; but Sikes's eyes sunk gradually to the ground.

  汉子走了两步便停住了,彼此四目对视,结果,赛克斯的眼睛渐渐垂下了。

   'Witness you three,' cried the boy shaking his clenched fist, and becoming more and more excited as he spoke. 'Witness you three--I'm not afraid of him--if they come here after him, I'll give him up; I will. I tell you out at once. He may kill me for it if he likes, or if he dares, but if I am here I'll give him up. I'd give him up if he was to be boiled alive. Murder! Help! If there's the pluck of a man among you three, you'll help me. Murder! Help! Down with him!'

  “你们仨作证,”少年挥动着紧握的拳头,大声说道。说话间变得越来越激奋。“你们仨作证--我不怕他--如果他们上这儿来抓他,我就把他交出去,说到做到,我马上告发你。他可以为这事杀死我,要是他高兴的话,或者是有这份胆子,可只要我在这儿,我就要把他交出去。哪怕会把他活活放进锅里煮,我也要把他交出去。杀人啦!救命啊!你们仨谁要是有种的话,就给我帮帮忙。杀人啦!救命啊!把他抓起来!”

   Pouring out these cries, and accompanying them with violent gesticulation, the boy actually threw himself, single-handed, upon the strong man, and in the intensity of his energy and the suddenness of his surprise, brought him heavily to the ground.

  少年大喊大叫,并伴以狂暴的手势,果真一头朝那个大汉扑了上去,力量之猛,加上出其不意,竟将他撞倒在地。

  三位旁观者呆若水鸡,谁也没有插手,少年和汉子在地上滚作一团。少年毫不理会拳头雨点般落到自己身上,双手将杀人犯胸前的衣裳拽得越来越紧,使出浑身的劲头,不停地呼救。

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名著·雾都孤儿 - 第131节