名著·雾都孤儿 - 第87节


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  天啦!是什么东西使血轰地一下涌入心田,使他噤口无语,动弹不得?那里--那里--在窗户那儿--就在他的面前--老犹太站在那儿,眼睛朝屋子里窥探着,和奥立弗的目光相遇了,挨得那样近,奥立弗在向后退缩之前几乎可以摸到他。在他旁边,有一张凶相毕露的面孔不知是因为愤怒还是惧怕,或者二者兼有而变得煞白,正是在客栈院子里跟奥立弗搭讪的那个人。

   It was but an instant, a glance, a flash, before his eyes; and they were gone. But they had recognised him, and he them; and their look was as firmly impressed upon his memory, as if it had been deeply carved in stone, and set before him from his birth. He stood transfixed for a moment; then, leaping from the window into the garden, called loudly for help.

  这副景象在他眼前不过是一晃而过,转瞬即逝,一闪就消失了。不过,他们已经认出奥立弗,奥立弗也认出了他们,他们的相貌牢牢地印入了他的记忆之中,就仿佛是深深地铭刻在石碑上,从他出生以来便竖立在他的面前一样。有一刹那,他呆呆地站在那里,随后便高声呼救,从窗口跳进花园里。

   When the inmates of the house, attracted by Oliver's cries, hurried to the spot from which they proceeded, they found him, pale and agitated, pointing in the direction of the meadows behind the house, and scarcely able to articulate the words, 'The Jew! the Jew!'

  别墅里的人听到喊声,纷纷赶到奥立弗呼救的地点,发现他脸色煞白,激动不已,手指着别墅背后那片草地的方向,连“老犹太!老犹太!”儿个字都几乎说不清了。

   Mr. Giles was at a loss to comprehend what this outcry meant; but Harry Maylie, whose perceptions were something quicker, and who had heard Oliver's history from his mother, understood it at once.

  凯尔司先生弄不清这喊叫声的含意,还是哈利·梅莱脑子来得快,加上他已经从母亲那儿听说了奥立弗的经历,一下子就明白过来了。

   'What direction did he take?' he asked, catching up a heavy stick which was standing in a corner.

  “他们走的是哪个方向?”他抓起角落里立着的一根沉甸甸的棒子,问道。

  “那个方向,”奥立弗指着两个人逃走的方向,回答道,“一眨眼就看不见他们了。”

   'Then, they are in the ditch!' said Harry. 'Follow! And keep as near me, as you can.' So saying, he sprang over the hedge, and darted off with a speed which rendered it matter of exceeding difficulty for the others to keep near him.

  “他们肯定躲在沟里。”哈利说道,“跟我来。尽量离我近一点。”说着,他跃过篱笆,箭一般冲了出去,其他人要想跟上都很困难。

   Giles followed as well as he could; and Oliver followed too; and in the course of a minute or two, Mr. Losberne, who had been out walking, and just then returned, tumbled over the hedge after them, and picking himself up with more agility than he could have been supposed to possess, struck into the same course at no contemptible speed, shouting all the while, most prodigiously, to know what was the matter.

  凯尔司使足了气力跟在后边,奥立弗也跟了上去,就在这当儿,外出散步的罗斯伯力先生回来了,也尾随着他们,跌跌撞撞地翻过篱笆,又敏捷得超乎人们想像地一咕噜爬起来,急步加入了这一场追击,速度之快谁也不敢藐视,同时一选连声地扯着嗓子大叫,很想弄明白是怎么一回事。

   On they all went; nor stopped they once to breathe, until the leader, striking off into an angle of the field indicated by Oliver, began to search, narrowly, the ditch and hedge adjoining; which afforded time for the remainder of the party to come up; and for Oliver to communicate to Mr. Losberne the circumstances that had led to so vigorous a pursuit.

  他们一路飞奔,一次也没有停下来歇口气,跑在最前头的那一位冲进奥立弗指出的那片田野的一角,开始仔细搜索沟渠和附近的篱笆,其余的人抓紧时间赶上前来,奥立弗也才得到机会,将导致这一场全力追击的原委告诉罗斯伯力先生。

   The search was all in vain. There were not even the traces of recent footsteps, to be seen. They stood now, on the summit of a little hill, commanding the open fields in every direction for three or four miles. There was the village in the hollow on the left; but, in order to gain that, after pursuing the track Oliver had pointed out, the men must have made a circuit of open ground, which it was impossible they could have accomplished in so short a time. A thick wood skirted the meadow-land in another direction; but they could not have gained that covert for the same reason.

  搜索一无所获,就连新近留下的脚印也没有发现。这时,他们站在一座小山顶上,从这里可以俯瞰方圆三四英里之内的开阔原野。左边凹地里有一个村子,可是,在跑过了奥立弗所指的那条路之后,他们几个非得在开阔地里兜一圈才到得了那个村子,他们在这么短促的时间里是不可能办到的。在另一个方向,牧场的边缘连接着一片密林,但根据同样的理由,他们也无法赶到那个藏身之处。

  “这肯定是个梦,奥立弗。”哈利·梅莱说道。

   'Oh no, indeed, sir,' replied Oliver, shuddering at the very recollection of the old wretch's countenance; 'I saw him too plainly for that. I saw them both, as plainly as I see you now.'

  “噢,不,真的,先生,”奥立弗回想起那个老家伙的面目,顿时不寒而栗。“我可把他看清楚了。我把他们俩看得清清楚楚,就像我现在看着您一样。”

   'Who was the other?' inquired Harry and Mr. Losberne, together.

  “另一个是谁?”哈利与罗斯伯力先生异口同声。

   'The very same man I told you of, who came so suddenly upon me at the inn,' said Oliver. 'We had our eyes fixed full upon each other; and I could swear to him.'

  “就是我跟您讲过的那个人,在客店里一下撞到我身上的那一个。”奥立弗说,“我们都睁大眼睛互相看着。我可以发誓,肯定是他。”

   'They took this way?' demanded Harry: 'are you sure?'

  “他们走的是这条路?”哈利追问道,“你没弄错吧?”

  “错不了,那两个人就在窗子跟前,”奥立弗一边说,一边指了指把别墅花园和牧场隔开的那道篱笆。“高个子就从那儿跳过去。老犹太往右边跑了几步,是从那个缺口爬出去的。”

   The two gentlemen watched Oliver's earnest face, as he spoke, and looking from him to each other, seemed to fell satisfied of the accuracy of what he said. Still, in no direction were there any appearances of the trampling of men in hurried flight. The grass was long; but it was trodden down nowhere, save where their own feet had crushed it. The sides and brinks of the ditches were of damp clay; but in no one place could they discern the print of men's shoes, or the slightest mark which would indicate that any feet had pressed the ground for hours before.

  奥立弗说话的时候,两位绅士一直注视着他那诚恳的面孔,然后又相互看了一眼,似乎确信他说得很有道理。可是,无论哪个方向都看不出一丝一毫有人仓惶出逃的痕迹。草很深,但除了他们自己的脚步踩过的,其余的草都没被踏倒,沟渠的两侧和边沿有一些湿漉漉的泥土,但是没有一处能认出有人的鞋印,也没有丝毫痕迹表明过去几个小时里曾经有脚踩在这块地面上。

   'This is strange!' said Harry.

  “这可真奇怪。”哈利说。

   'Strange?' echoed the doctor. 'Blathers and Duff, themselves, could make nothing of it.'

  “怪?”大夫应声说道,“布拉瑟斯跟达福亲自来也弄不出什么名堂。”

   Notwithstanding the evidently useless nature of their search, they did not desist until the coming on of night rendered its further prosecution hopeless; and even then, they gave it up with reluctance. Giles was dispatched to the different ale-houses in the village, furnished with the best description Oliver could give of the appearance and dress of the strangers. Of these, the Jew was, at all events, sufficiently remarkable to be remembered, supposing he had been seen drinking, or loitering about; but Giles returned without any intelligence, calculated to dispel or lessen the mystery.

  尽管搜索显然已属徒劳,他们并没有停下来,直到夜幕降临,再找下去已毫无指望,这才罢手,但也是很不情愿。凯尔司奉命匆匆赶往村里的几家啤酒店,根据奥立弗所能提供的最为详尽的描述,前去寻访两个长相、穿着与此相符的陌生人。在这两个人当中,老犹太无论如何也是不难让人想起来的,假如有人看见他在附近喝酒或者是溜达的话。尽管如此,凯尔司却没有带着任何足以解开这个谜或者多少澄清一点疑云的消息回来。

  第二天,进行了新的搜索,重又打听了一番,但结果也好不到哪儿去。第三天,奥立弗和罗斯伯力先生上镇子里去了,指望在那里看见或者听到那伙人的一点什么事情,可这一番努力同样毫无结果。几天之后,这件事渐渐被人遗忘了,跟大部分事情一样,怪事如果得不到新的养料,往往自生自灭。

   Meanwhile, Rose was rapidly recovering. She had left her room: was able to go out; and mixing once more with the family, carried joy into the hearts of all.

  与此同时,露丝日渐好转,她已经脱离了病房,能够出外走一走了,她又一次同家中的人呆在一块儿,把欢乐带到每个人的心里。

   But, although this happy change had a visible effect on the little circle; and although cheerful voices and merry laughter were once more heard in the cottage; there was at times, an unwonted restraint upon some there: even upon Rose herself: which Oliver could not fail to remark. Mrs. Maylie and her son were often closeted together for a long time; and more than once Rose appeared with traces of tears upon her face. After Mr. Losberne had fixed a day for his departure to Chertsey, these symptoms increased; and it became evident that something was in progress which affected the peace of the young lady, and of somebody else besides.

  然而,尽管这一可喜的变化给这个小天地带来了明显的影响,尽管别墅里再度响起了笑语欢声,某些人,甚至包括露丝本人,却时时呈现出一种不常有的拘谨,奥立弗不可能对此毫无党察。梅莱太太和儿子经常闭门长谈。露丝不止一次面带泪痕出现。在罗斯伯力先生确定了前去杰茨的日子以后,这些迹象有增无已。显然有件什么事情正在进行之中,打破了少女以及另外几个人内心的平静。

   At length, one morning, when Rose was alone in the breakfast-parlour, Harry Maylie entered; and, with some hesitation, begged permission to speak with her for a few moments.

  终于,一天早晨,摆着早餐的房间里只有露丝一个人,哈利·梅莱走了进去。他带着几分犹豫,恳求允许自己和她交谈片刻。

   'A few--a very few--will suffice, Rose,' said the young man, drawing his chair towards her. 'What I shall have to say, has already presented itself to your mind; the most cherished hopes of my heart are not unknown to you, though from my lips you have not heard them stated.'

  “几分钟--只需要几分钟--就够了,露丝,”年轻人把椅子拖到她的面前,“我不得不一吐为快,这些话本身你其实已经明白了,我心中最珍视的希望你也并非一无所知,尽管你还没有听到这些话从我口中说出来。”

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名著·雾都孤儿 - 第87节