名著·雾都孤儿 - 第54节


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  赛克斯嫌奥立弗动作迟缓,嘟嘟哝哝骂了一句,推着他朝前走去。他们走进一间低矮昏暗、烟雾弥漫的房间。屋里放着两三张破椅子,一张餐桌和一把非常破旧的长椅。一个男人直挺挺地躺在长椅上,两条腿跷得比头还高,正在吸一根长长的陶制烟斗。那人穿一件做工考究的鼻烟色外套,铜纽扣,系着一条桔黄色的围巾,外带俗气而又刺眼的披肩背心和浅褐色厚呢马裤。格拉基特先生(原来是他)的脑袋或者说面部都没有多少毛发,仅有的一些染得带了点红色,卷成瓶塞锥那样长长的螺旋状,他时不时地将几个脏得出奇的手指插进鬈发,指头上戴满了不值钱的大戒指。他的身材比中等个子略高,两条腿明摆着相当成问题,不过这种情况丝毫无损于他对自己的马靴的赞赏,他此时正怡然自得地注视着高高在上的靴子。

   'Bill, my boy!' said this figure, turning his head towards the door, 'I'm glad to see you. I was almost afraid you'd given it up: in which case I should have made a personal wentur. Hallo!'

  “比尔,老兄。”这个角色朝门口转过头去。“见到你真高兴。我简直担心你不干呢,那我只好单独冒这个险了。哦哟。”

   Uttering this exclamation in a tone of great surprise, as his eyes rested on Oliver, Mr. Toby Crackit brought himself into a sitting posture, and demanded who that was.

  扎比·格拉基特先生以颇感意外的口气发出这一番感叹,目光落到了奥立弗身上,他翻身坐起来,问那是什么人。

   'The boy. Only the boy!' replied Sikes, drawing a chair towards the fire.

  “那个孩子,就是那个孩子啊。”赛克斯把一张椅子拉到火炉旁,答道。

   'Wud of Bister Fagid's lads,' exclaimed Barney, with a grin.

  “笃定是费金先生的徒弟。”巴尼笑嘻嘻地大声宣布。

  “是费金的,哦。”托比打量着奥立弗,叫道。“要论清理小教堂里那班老太太的口袋,可是个顶个的宝贝儿哩。脸盘子就是他的摇钱树。”

   'There--there's enough of that,' interposed Sikes, impatiently; and stooping over his recumbant friend, he whispered a few words in his ear: at which Mr. Crackit laughed immensely, and honoured Oliver with a long stare of astonishment.

  “别--别扯远了。”赛克斯不耐烦地接过话头,俯身凑近斜靠在睡椅上的朋友,在他耳边嘀咕了几句,格拉基特先生听罢放声大笑,又惊奇地盯着奥立弗看了老半天。

   'Now,' said Sikes, as he resumed his seat, 'if you'll give us something to eat and drink while we're waiting, you'll put some heart in us; or in me, at all events. Sit down by the fire, younker, and rest yourself; for you'll have to go out with us again to-night, though not very far off.'

  “好了,”赛克斯重新在椅子上坐好,说道。“趁我们在这儿坐等的功夫,给我们点吃的喝的,就当是替我们,或者说我吧,提提精神。小老弟,坐下烤烤火,歇一会儿,今天晚上你还得跟我们出门,虽说路不算太远。”

   Oliver looked at Sikes, in mute and timid wonder; and drawing a stool to the fire, sat with his aching head upon his hands, scarecely knowing where he was, or what was passing around him.

  奥立弗没有出声,胆怯而又迷惑地看了看赛克斯,搬了一张凳子放在壁炉旁边,坐下来,双手支住发涨的脑袋。他一点不知道自己到了什么地方,也不知道身边发生了什么事。

   'Here,' said Toby, as the young Jew placed some fragments of food, and a bottle upon the table, 'Success to the crack!' He rose to honour the toast; and, carefully depositing his empty pipe in a corner, advanced to the table, filled a glass with spirits, and drank off its contents. Mr. Sikes did the same.

  “来,”托比说道,那个年轻一点的犹太人已经把一些零七碎八的食物和一瓶酒放在了桌上。“祝马到成功。”为了祝酒,他特地站起来,小心翼翼地将空烟斗放在一旁,然后走到桌旁,斟满一杯酒,咕嘟咕嘟喝了下去,赛克斯先生也照样来了一杯。

  “给这孩子喝一口,”托比斟了半杯酒,说道。“把这喝下去,小天真。”

   'Indeed,' said Oliver, looking piteously up into the man's face; 'indeed, I--'

  “真的,”奥立弗抬起头,可怜巴巴地瞅着那个人的面孔。“我真的--”

   'Down with it!' echoed Toby. 'Do you think I don't know what's good for you? Tell him to drink it, Bill.'

  “喝下去。”托比应声说道,“你以为我不清楚什么对你有好处吗?比尔,叫他喝下去。”

   'He had better!' said Sikes clapping his hand upon his pocket. 'Burn my body, if he isn't more trouble than a whole family of Dodgers. Drink it, you perwerse imp; drink it!'

  “他犟不过去。”赛克斯说道,一只手在衣袋上拍了拍。“妈的,这小子比一大帮机灵鬼都要麻烦,喝,你这个不识抬举的小鬼头,喝。”

   Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men, Oliver hastily swallowed the contents of the glass, and immediately fell into a violent fit of coughing: which delighted Toby Crackit and Barney, and even drew a smile from the surly Mr. Sikes.

  奥立弗叫这两个家伙凶神恶煞的样子吓坏了,赶紧把杯里的酒一口气吞了下去,随即拼命地咳嗽起来,逗得托比·格拉基特和巴尼乐不可支,连绷着脸的赛克斯先生也带上了一丝笑容。

  这桩事了结了,赛克斯美美地吃了一顿(奥立弗什么也吃不下,他们逼着他咽了一小片面包),两个家伙便倒在椅子上打起盹来。奥立弗依旧坐在壁炉旁边的凳子上。巴尼裹上一床毯子,紧挨着挡灰板,直挺挺地在地板上躺了下来。

   They slept, or appeared to sleep, for some time; nobody stirring but Barney, who rose once or twice to throw coals on the fire. Oliver fell into a heavy doze: imagining himself straying along the gloomy lanes, or wandering about the dark churchyard, or retracing some one or other of the scenes of the past day: when he was roused by Toby Crackit jumping up and declaring it was half-past one.

  他们睡着了,或者说表面上睡着了,好一阵子,除了巴尼爬起来往炉子里加了一两次煤,谁也没有动一动。奥立弗昏昏沉沉地打起瞌睡来,想像中仿佛自己是在黑洞洞的胡同里走迷了路,又像是在教堂墓地里游来荡去,过去一天中的这个那个场景又浮现在眼前,就在这时,托比·格拉基特一跃而起,说已经一点半了。奥立弗被他搅醒了。

   In an instant, the other two were on their legs, and all were actively engaged in busy preparation. Sikes and his companion enveloped their necks and chins in large dark shawls, and drew on their great-coats; Barney, opening a cupboard, brought forth several articles, which he hastily crammed into the pockets.

  眨眼间,另外两个人也站了起来,一齐风风火火地投入繁忙的准备。赛克斯和他那位搭档各自用黑色大披巾将脖子和下巴裹起来,穿上大衣。巴尼打开食橱,从里边摸出几样东西,急急忙忙地塞进他俩的口袋。

   'Barkers for me, Barney,' said Toby Crackit.

  “巴尼,把大嗓门给我。”扎比·格拉基特说道。

   'Here they are,' replied Barney, producing a pair of pistols. 'You loaded them yourself.'

  “在这儿呢,”巴尼一面回答,一面取出两把手枪。“你自个儿上的药。”

  “好哩。”托比应了一声,将手枪藏好。“你的家伙呢?”

   'I've got 'em,' replied Sikes.

  “我带着呢。”赛克斯回答。

   'Crape, keys, centre-bits, darkies--nothing forgotten?' inquired Toby: fastening a small crowbar to a loop inside the skirt of his coat.

  “面纱、钥匙、打眼锥黑灯--没落下什么吧?”托比把一根小铁撬绑在大衣内襟的一个套环上问道。

   'All right,' rejoined his companion. 'Bring them bits of timber, Barney. That's the time of day.'

  “忘不了,”同伴答道,“给他们带几根木棒去,巴尼。时候到了。”

   With these words, he took a thick stick from Barney's hands, who, having delivered another to Toby, busied himself in fastening on Oliver's cape.

  说罢,他从巴尼手中接过一根大棒,巴尼已经把另一根递给了托比,自己正忙着替奥立弗戴斗篷。

  “走吧。”赛克斯说着,伸出一只手。

   Oliver: who was completely stupified by the unwonted exercise, and the air, and the drink which had been forced upon him: put his hand mechanically into that which Sikes extended for the purpose.

  少有的长途跋涉,周围的气氛,被迫喝下去的酒,奥立弗已经叫这一切弄得晕头转向,他机械地把手伸给赛克斯握住,他伸出手来就是这个目的。

   'Take his other hand, Toby,' said Sikes. 'Look out, Barney.'

  “托比,抓住他那一只手,”赛克斯说道,“巴尼,瞧瞧外边。”

   The man went to the door, and returned to announce that all was quiet. The two robbers issued forth with Oliver between them. Barney, having made all fast, rolled himself up as before, and was soon asleep again.

  那家伙朝门口走去,回来报告说一点动静也没有。两个强盗一左一右把奥立弗夹在中间走出门去。巴尼关好大门,插上门闩,又跟先前一样将自己裹了个严严实实,不一会儿就睡着了。

   It was now intensely dark. The fog was much heavier than it had been in the early part of the night; and the atmosphere was so damp, that, although no rain fell, Oliver's hair and eyebrows, within a few minutes after leaving the house, had become stiff with the half-frozen moisture that was floating about. They crossed the bridge, and kept on towards the lights which he had seen before. They were at no great distance off; and, as they walked pretty briskly, they soon arrived at Chertsey.

  外边夜色正浓。雾比前半夜浓多了。尽管没下雨,空气却还是那样潮湿,出门没几分钟,奥立弗的头发、眉毛便叫四下里飘浮着的半凝结状的水汽弄得紧绷绷的了。他们过了桥,朝着他先前已经看见过的那一片灯火走去。路程井不太远,他们走得又相当快、不久便来到了杰茨。

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名著·雾都孤儿 - 第54节