名著·雾都孤儿 - 第95节

　　“这是第二个问题，”女士慎重其事地之说，“头一个问题是，这消息值多少钱？”

'Who the devil can tell that, without knowing of what kind it is?' asked Monks.

　　“还不清楚是哪一类消息呢，谁他妈说得上来？”孟可司问道。

'Nobody better than you, I am persuaded,' answered Mrs. Bumble: who did not want for spirit, as her yoke-fellow could abundantly testify.

　　“我相信，没有人比你更清楚的了。”邦布尔太太并不缺少魄力，对于这一点她的夫君完全可以证明。

'Humph!' said Monks significantly, and with a look of eager inquiry; 'there may be money's worth to get, eh?'

　　“哼。”孟可司带着一副急于问个究竟的神色，意味深长地说，“该不会很值钱吧，嗯？”

'Perhaps there may,' was the composed reply.

　　“可能是吧。”回答十分从容。

　　“有一样从她那儿拿走的东西，”孟可司说道，“她本来戴在身上，后来--”

'You had better bid,' interrupted Mrs. Bumble. 'I have heard enough, already, to assure me that you are the man I ought to talk to.'

　　“你最好出个价，”邦布尔太太没让他说下去，“我已经听得够多的了，我相信你正是想要知道底细的人。”

Mr. Bumble, who had not yet been admitted by his better half into any greater share of the secret than he had originally possessed, listened to this dialogue with outstretched neck and distended eyes: which he directed towards his wife and Monks, by turns, in undisguised astonishment; increased, if possible, when the latter sternly demanded, what sum was required for the disclosure.

　　邦布尔先生至今没有获得他当家人的恩准，对这个秘密了解得比当初多一些，此时他伸长脖子，瞪大眼睛听着这番对话，满脸掩饰不住的惊愕表情，时而看看老婆，时而又看看孟可司。当孟可司厉声问道，对这个有待透露的秘密得出个多大的数目时，他的惊愕更是有增无已，如果先前还不算达到了顶点的话。

'What's it worth to you?' asked the woman, as collectedly as before.

　　“你看值多少钱？”女士问的时候跟先前一样平静。

'It may be nothing; it may be twenty pounds,' replied Monks. 'Speak out, and let me know which.'

　　“也许一个子不值，也许值二十镑，”孟可司回答，“说出来，让我心里有个数。”

　　“就依你说的这个数目，再加五镑，给我二十五个金镑，”那女的说道，“我把知道的事情都告诉你。先说出来可没门。”

'Five-and-twenty pounds!' exclaimed Monks, drawing back.

　　“二十五镑！”孟可司大叫一声，仰靠在椅子上。

'I spoke as plainly as I could,' replied Mrs. Bumble. 'It's not a large sum, either.'

　　“我说得再明白不过了，”邦布尔太太回答，“也算不得一个大数。”

'Not a large sum for a paltry secret, that may be nothing when it's told!' cried Monks impatiently; 'and which has been lying dead for twelve years past or more!'

　　“一个微不足道，也许讲出来什么也算不上的秘密，还不算大数？”孟可司猴急地嚷了起来，“加上埋在地下已经十二年还有多的。”

'Such matters keep well, and, like good wine, often double their value in course of time,' answered the matron, still preserving the resolute indifference she had assumed. 'As to lying dead, there are those who will lie dead for twelve thousand years to come, or twelve million, for anything you or I know, who will tell strange tales at last!'

　　“这类玩意儿保存好了，跟好酒一样，越陈越值钱。”女总管回答说，依旧保持着那一副满不在乎的样子。“说到埋在地下嘛，不是还有些个埋在地下一万二千年，或者一千二百万年的，你我都知道，终归还是要说出些个稀奇古怪的事来。”

　　“我要是付了钱，却什么也没得到呢？”孟可司犹豫起来，问道。

'You can easily take it away again,' replied the matron. 'I am but a woman; alone here; and unprotected.'

　　“你可以轻而易举重新拿回去，”女总管回答，“我不过是个女人，孤身一人呆在这里，没有人保护。”

'Not alone, my dear, nor unprotected, neither,' submitted Mr. Bumble, in a voice tremulous with fear: '_I_ am here, my dear. And besides,' said Mr. Bumble, his teeth chattering as he spoke, 'Mr. Monks is too much of a gentleman to attempt any violence on porochial persons. Mr. Monks is aware that I am not a young man, my dear, and also that I am a little run to seed, as I may say; bu he has heerd: I say I have no doubt Mr. Monks has heerd, my dear: that I am a very determined officer, with very uncommon strength, if I'm once roused. I only want a little rousing; that's all.'

　　“不是孤身一人，亲爱的，也不是没人保护，”邦布尔先生用吓得发抖的声音央告说，“有我在这儿呢，亲爱的。再说了，”邦布尔先生说话时牙齿咔哒直响，“孟可司先生实实在在是位绅士，不会对教区人士动武的。孟可司先生知道，我不是年轻人了，也可以说，我已经有一点老不中用了。可他也听说过--我是说，我丝毫也不怀疑孟可司先生已经听说了，我亲爱的--要是惹火了，我可是一个办事果断的人，力气非同一般。只要惹我一下就够了，就是这么回事。”

As Mr. Bumble spoke, he made a melancholy feint of grasping his lantern with fierce determination; and plainly showed, by the alarmed expression of every feature, that he DID want a little rousing, and not a little, prior to making any very warlike demonstration: unless, indeed, against paupers, or other person or persons trained down for the purpose.

　　说着，邦布尔先生装出一副果断得吓人，实则可怜巴巴的样子，紧紧握住他带来的那盏手提灯，可眉梢嘴角那一处处吓慌了的神情清清楚楚地表明，他的确需要惹一下子，而且还不只是惹一下子就够了，才做得出勇猛过人的姿态来。当然，对付贫民或其他专供恐吓的人就是另外一回事了。

'You are a fool,' said Mrs. Bumble, in reply; 'and had better hold your tongue.'

　　“你这个蠢货，”邦布尔太太答道，“还是把嘴闭上为妙。”

　　“要是他不能用小一点的嗓门说话，那他来以前最好把舌头割掉，”孟可司恶狠狠地说，“别忙。他是你丈夫，嗯？”

'He my husband!' tittered the matron, parrying the question.

　　“他，我丈夫！”女总管吃吃地笑起来，避而不答。

'I thought as much, when you came in,' rejoined Monks, marking the angry glance which the lady darted at her spouse as she spoke. 'So much the better; I have less hesitation in dealing with two people, when I find that there's only one will between them. I'm in earnest. See here!'

　　“你一进来，我就那样想过，”孟可司说道。他已经注意到了，她说话时怒不可遏地朝老公瞪了一眼。“那就更好了。要是发现跟我打交道的两个人其实是一个，我可就干脆多了。我不是说着玩的。瞧吧。”

He thrust his hand into a side-pocket; and producing a canvas bag, told out twenty-five sovereigns on the table, and pushed them over to the woman.

　　他把一只手插进侧边衣袋里，掏出一个帆布袋子，点着数把二十五金镑放在桌子上，然后推到那位女士面前。

'Now,' he said, 'gather them up; and when this cursed peal of thunder, which I feel is coming up to break over the house-top, is gone, let's hear your story.'

　　“喏，”他说道，“把东西收起来。这该死的雷声，我觉得它会把房顶炸塌的，等它过去，我们就来听听你的故事。”

　　雷声，好像的确近得多了，几乎就在他们头顶上震动、炸响，随后渐渐远去。孟可司从桌边扬起脸，朝前弓着身子，一心想听听那个妇人会说出些什么。两个男人急于听个究竟，一起朝那张小小的桌子俯下来，那女的也把头伸过去，好让她像耳语一般的说话声能听得见，三张脸险些儿碰着了。吊灯微弱的亮光直接落在他们的脸上，使这三张面孔显得越发苍白而又焦急，在一片朦胧昏暗之中，看上去像是三个幽灵。

'When this woman, that we called old Sally, died,' the matron began, 'she and I were alone.'

　　“那个女人，我们管她叫老沙丽，她死的时候，”女总管开始了，“在场的只有我跟她两个人。”

'Was there no one by?' asked Monks, in the same hollow whisper; 'No sick wretch or idiot in some other bed? No one who could hear, and might, by possibility, understand?'

　　“旁边没别的人了？”孟可司同样悄没声地问，“别的床上没有害病的家伙，或者说白痴吧？谁也听不见，绝没有人听了去？”

'Not a soul,' replied the woman; 'we were alone. _I_ stood alone beside the body when death came over it.'

　　“一个人都没有，”女的回答，“就我们俩。死的功夫，就我一个人守在尸体旁边。”

'Good,' said Monks, regarding her attentively. 'Go on.'

　　“好，”孟可司专注地望着她，说道，“讲下去。”