雙語(yǔ)·《刀鋒》 第五章 七

CHAPTER FIVE 7
第五章 七

I found a message from Joseph, Elliott's manservant, to tell me that Elliott was ill in bed and would be glad to see me, so next day I drove over to Antibes. Joseph, before taking me up to see his master, told me that Elliott had had an attack of uraemia and that his doctor took a grave view of his condition.He had come through it and was getting better, but his kidneys were diseased and it was impossible that he should ever completely recover.Joseph had been with Elliott for forty years and was devoted to him, but though his manner was regretful it was impossible not to notice the inner satisfaction with which, like so many members of his class, catastrophe in the house filled him.
我看到艾略特的男仆約瑟夫?qū)憗?lái)的一封信，說(shuō)艾略特臥病在床，很想見(jiàn)見(jiàn)我。于是，次日我便驅(qū)車(chē)去了安提比斯。約瑟夫在領(lǐng)我上樓見(jiàn)他主人之前，告訴我說(shuō)艾略特突患尿毒癥，醫(yī)生認(rèn)為病情不容樂(lè)觀，好在他挺了過(guò)來(lái)，現(xiàn)在病情好轉(zhuǎn)；不過(guò)，他的腎臟有問(wèn)題，不可能完全康復(fù)。約瑟夫跟隨艾略特四十年，對(duì)他忠心耿耿，可是，盡管表面顯得難過(guò)，卻不難看出內(nèi)心在幸災(zāi)樂(lè)禍——仆人們多數(shù)如此，一旦主人家禍起蕭墻，他們不憂反樂(lè)。

“Ce pauvre monsieur，”he sighed.“Evidently he had his manias but at bottom he was good. Sooner or later he must die.”
“先生真可憐?！奔s瑟夫嘆了口氣說(shuō)，“他有他的怪癖，但歸根結(jié)底也算是個(gè)好人。人遲早都是要死的?！?/p>

He spoke already as though Elliott were at his last gasp.
他說(shuō)話的口氣就好像艾略特眼看就要斷氣了似的。

“I'm sure he's provided for you, Joseph，”I said grimly.
“我敢說(shuō)他把你今后的生活已安排好了，約瑟夫?！蔽野逯樥f(shuō)。

“One must hope it，”he said mournfully.
“但愿如此?！彼Z(yǔ)氣哀痛地說(shuō)。

I was surprised when he ushered me into the bedroom to find Elliott very spry. He was pale and looked old, but was in good spirits.He was shaved and his hair was neatly brushed.He wore pale blue silk pyjamas, on the pocket of which were embroidered his initials surmounted by his count's crown.These, much larger and again with the crown, were heavily embroidered on the turned-down sheet.
他把我領(lǐng)進(jìn)艾略特的臥房時(shí)，我卻意外地看到艾略特一副生龍活虎的樣子。他固然臉色蒼白、面相衰老，但精神頭很好。他刮了臉，頭發(fā)梳得整整齊齊，身穿淡藍(lán)色絲綢睡衣，睡衣口袋上繡著他姓名的縮寫(xiě)字母，而字母上方則繡著他的伯爵冠飾。在翻過(guò)來(lái)的被單上，也繡有這些字母和冠飾，型號(hào)比睡衣上的要大許多。

I asked him how he felt.
我問(wèn)他感覺(jué)如何。

“Perfectly well，”he said cheerfully.“It's only a temporary indisposition. I shall be up and about again in a few days.I've got the Grand Duke Dimitri lunching with me on Saturday, and I've told my doctor he must put me to rights by then at all costs.”
“感覺(jué)好極了?！彼麡?lè)呵呵地說(shuō)，“只不過(guò)偶染小恙，用不了幾天就可以活蹦亂跳了。我約了迪米特里大公在星期六和我共進(jìn)午餐。我已告訴了我的醫(yī)生，讓他無(wú)論如何要在這之前把我的病治好?！?/p>

I spent half an hour with him, and on my way out asked Joseph to let me know if Elliott had a relapse. I was astonished a week later when I went to lunch with one of my neighbours to find him there.Dressed for a party, he looked like death.
我陪他坐了半小時(shí)，出來(lái)時(shí)告訴約瑟夫，說(shuō)如果他的病復(fù)發(fā)，就來(lái)通知我。一個(gè)星期后，我到一個(gè)鄰居家赴午宴，卻驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)艾略特也在那里，穿著禮服，臉色像死人。

“You oughtn't to be out, Elliott，”I told him.
“你不應(yīng)該出來(lái)，艾略特?！蔽覍?duì)他說(shuō)。

“Oh, what nonsense, my dear fellow. Frieda is expecting the Princess Mafalda.I've known the Italian royal family for years, ever since poor Louisa was en poste at Rome, and I couldn't let poor Frieda down.”
“胡說(shuō)什么呀，老伙計(jì)。弗里達(dá)請(qǐng)了瑪法達(dá)公主呢。從路易莎在羅馬任上的時(shí)候起，我認(rèn)識(shí)意大利王室已有多年了。我說(shuō)什么也不能叫可憐的弗里達(dá)失望。”

I did not know whether to admire his indomitable spirit or to lament that at his age, stricken with mortal illness, he should still retain his passion for society. You would never have thought he was a sick man.Like a dying actor when he has the grease paint on his face and steps on the stage, who forgets for the time being his aches and pains, Elliott played his part of the polished courtier with his accustomed assurance.He was infinitely amiable, flatter-ingly attentive to the proper people, and amusing with that malicious irony at which he was an adept.I think I had never seen him display his social gift to greater advantage.When the Royal Highness had departed（and the grace with which Elliott bowed, managing to combine respect for her exalted rank with an old man's admiration for a comely woman, was a sight to see）I was not surprised to hear our hostess tell him that he had been the life and soul of the party.
他年事已高，且身患絕癥，對(duì)社交活動(dòng)卻始終保持著高漲的熱情，真不知是應(yīng)該敬佩他不屈不撓的精神還是應(yīng)該可憐他。你絕對(duì)不會(huì)想到他這個(gè)樣子，竟然是個(gè)病人。他就像一個(gè)垂死的演員，臉上涂了油彩，登臺(tái)表演時(shí)，立刻忘掉了病痛。他擔(dān)任捧場(chǎng)的角色，瀟灑自如地將此角色扮演得極其到位，對(duì)客人們和藹可親、殷勤周到，用他最擅長(zhǎng)的手法捧臀啜屁，卻妙語(yǔ)如珠，令人開(kāi)懷。我覺(jué)得自己從未見(jiàn)過(guò)他把社交藝術(shù)發(fā)揮到如此高的水平。當(dāng)公主殿下離開(kāi)時(shí)，艾略特弓腰送行，風(fēng)度雅致，既表現(xiàn)了對(duì)公主崇高身份的尊敬，又表現(xiàn)了一個(gè)老人對(duì)一個(gè)年輕美麗女子的景慕，令人嘆為觀止。難怪設(shè)宴的女主人事后稱(chēng)他為宴會(huì)的生命和靈魂。

A few days later he was in bed again and his doctor forbade him to leave his room. Elliott was exasperated.
幾天后，他又臥倒在了病床上。醫(yī)生對(duì)他下了禁令，不許他離開(kāi)房間半步。艾略特為此感到非常窩火。

“It's too bad this should happen just now. It's a particularly brilliant season.”
“早不病晚不病，偏偏這個(gè)時(shí)候病了。社交季節(jié)正如火如荼?！?/p>

He reeled off a long list of persons of importance who were spending the summer on the Riviera.
他列了一長(zhǎng)串重量級(jí)人物的名單，說(shuō)他們夏天齊聚里維埃拉。

I went to see him every three or four days. Sometimes he was in bed, but sometimes he lay on a chaise longue in a gorgeous dressing-gown.He seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of them, for I do not remember that I ever saw him in the same one twice.On one of these occasions, it was the beginning of August by now, I found Elliott unusually quiet.Joseph had told me when he let me into the house that he seemed a little better so I was surprised that he was so listless.I tried to amuse him with such gossip of the coast as I had picked up, but he was plainly uninterested.There was a slight frown between his eyes, and a sullenness in his expression that was unusual with him.
我每隔三四天都去探望他一次。他有時(shí)候躺在床上，有時(shí)候穿一件華麗的晨衣坐在一把躺椅上。這種晨衣他似乎備有無(wú)數(shù)件，記得從未見(jiàn)他穿重過(guò)樣。八月初的一天，我又去看望他，發(fā)現(xiàn)他反常地少言寡語(yǔ)。迎我進(jìn)門(mén)時(shí)，約瑟夫曾告訴我，說(shuō)他病情有所好轉(zhuǎn)，所以見(jiàn)他如此沒(méi)有精神頭，我便覺(jué)得有些奇怪了。我把自己得來(lái)的一些當(dāng)?shù)氐男〉老⒅v給他聽(tīng)，想讓他高興起來(lái)，他卻一點(diǎn)興趣也沒(méi)有。他雙眉微蹙，臉上有種慍怒的表情，這在他是少見(jiàn)的。

“Are you going to Edna Novemali's party?”he asked me suddenly.
“埃德娜·諾威馬里舉辦宴會(huì)，你去參加嗎？”他冷不丁這樣問(wèn)道。

“No, of course not.”
“不去。怎么啦？”

“Has she asked you?”
“她邀請(qǐng)你了沒(méi)有？”

“She's asked everybody on the Riviera.”
“里維埃拉的每個(gè)人她都邀請(qǐng)了?！?/p>

The Princess Novemali was an American of immense wealth who had married a Roman prince, but not an ordinary prince such as go for two a penny in Italy, but the head of a great family and the descendant of a condottiere who had carved out a principality for himself in the sixteenth century. She was a woman of sixty, a widow, and since the Fascist regime demanded too large a slice of her American income to suit her, she had left Italy and built herself, on a fine estate behind Cannes, a Florentine villa.She had brought marble from Italy with which to line the walls of her great reception rooms and imported painters to paint the ceilings.Her pictures, her bronzes, were uncommonly fine and even Elliott, though he didn't like Italian furniture, was obliged to admit that hers was magnificent.The gardens were lovely and the swimming-pool must have cost a small fortune.She entertained largely and you never sat down less than twenty at table.She had arranged to give a fancy-dress party on the night of the August full moon, and although it was still three weeks ahead nothing else was being talked of on the Riviera.There were to be fireworks and she was bringing down a coloured orchestra from Paris.The exiled royalties were telling one another with envious admiration that it would cost her more than they had to live on for a year.
諾威馬里王妃原是美國(guó)的一個(gè)腰纏萬(wàn)貫的富婆，嫁給了一位羅馬的王子，此王子可不是意大利的那種窮得叮當(dāng)響的普通王子，而是一個(gè)偉大家族的族長(zhǎng)，一個(gè)雇傭兵隊(duì)長(zhǎng)的后代——那個(gè)隊(duì)長(zhǎng)在十六世紀(jì)曾為自己開(kāi)拓出了一個(gè)公國(guó)。諾威馬里王妃年已六十，是個(gè)寡婦，由于不滿(mǎn)意大利法西斯政權(quán)對(duì)她美國(guó)的進(jìn)項(xiàng)課以重稅，便來(lái)到法國(guó)，在戛納山背面的一塊漂亮的土地上蓋了一幢佛羅倫薩風(fēng)格的別墅。她特意從意大利運(yùn)來(lái)大理石，為她那些大客廳的墻壁鑲邊，還從國(guó)外請(qǐng)來(lái)畫(huà)家給她畫(huà)天頂畫(huà)。她的藏畫(huà)和銅像都異常精美；連素來(lái)不喜歡意大利家具的艾略特，也不得不承認(rèn)她的家具十分華貴。她家的花園美觀漂亮，游泳池造價(jià)肯定不菲。她請(qǐng)客高朋滿(mǎn)座，每次都不少于二十個(gè)人。她安排好在八月里月圓時(shí)舉行一次化裝舞會(huì)。雖然還有三個(gè)星期的時(shí)間，里維埃拉已經(jīng)到處都在談?wù)撨@次舞會(huì)了。那天晚上要放焰火，她還要從巴黎帶一個(gè)黑人樂(lè)隊(duì)過(guò)來(lái)助興。那些流亡的王公貴族相互談?wù)摃r(shí)又是羨慕，又是妒忌，認(rèn)為她這一晚的花費(fèi)足夠他們一年的用度。

“It's princely，”they said.
“真是氣派呀?！庇械娜苏f(shuō)。

“It's crazy，”they said.
“簡(jiǎn)直是發(fā)瘋?！庇械娜苏f(shuō)。

“It's in bad taste，”they said.
“沒(méi)品位?！庇械娜苏f(shuō)。

“What are you going to wear?”Elliott asked me.
“你準(zhǔn)備穿什么樣的衣服？”艾略特問(wèn)我。

“But I told you, Elliott, I'm not going. You don't think I'm going to dress myself up in fancy dress at my time of life.”
“我不是告訴你了么，艾略特，我就不打算去。你以為我這把歲數(shù)了還會(huì)穿得花里胡哨去參加什么化裝舞會(huì)?！?/p>

“She hasn't asked me，”he said hoarsely.
“她沒(méi)有邀請(qǐng)我?！彼曇羲粏〉卣f(shuō)。

He looked at me with haggard eyes.
說(shuō)完，他用一雙倦怠無(wú)神的眼睛望著我。

“Oh, she will，”I said coolly.“I dare say all the invitations haven't gone out yet.”
“哦，她會(huì)請(qǐng)的。”我平心靜氣地說(shuō)，“請(qǐng)?zhí)隙ㄟ€在陸續(xù)發(fā)著呢。”

“She's not going to ask me.”His voice broke.“It's a deliberate insult.”
“她不會(huì)請(qǐng)我的。”他聲音有些哽咽地說(shuō)，“這是故意叫我下不了臺(tái)?！?/p>

“Oh, Elliott, I can't believe that. I'm sure it's an oversight.”
“哎，艾略特，這我就不能相信了。中間肯定是有些疏漏?！?/p>

“I'm not a man that people overlook.”
“我可不是個(gè)容人蔑視的人?！?/p>

“Anyhow, you wouldn't have been well enough to go.”
“再怎么說(shuō)，你身體不好，反正也去不成?！?/p>

“Of course I should. The best party of the season！If I were on my deathbed I'd get up for it.I've got the costume of my ancestor, the Count de Lauria, to wear.”
“去不成也要去。這是本季節(jié)最盛大的一次聚會(huì)。我只要還有一口氣，就是爬著也要去。我要把我的祖先勞里亞伯爵的那套禮服穿在身上?！?/p>

I did not quite know what to say and so remained silent.
我真不知說(shuō)什么好了，于是干脆閉上了嘴。

“Paul Barton was in to see me just before you came，”Elliott said suddenly.
“就在你來(lái)之前，保羅·巴頓來(lái)看過(guò)我?！卑蕴赝蝗婚_(kāi)口說(shuō)道。

I cannot expect the reader to remember who this was, since I had to look back myself to see what name I had given him. Paul Barton was the young American whom Elliott had introduced into London society and who had aroused his hatred by dropping him when he no longer had any use for him.He had been somewhat in the public eye of late, first because he had adopted British nationality and then because he had married the daughter of a news-paper magnate who had been raised to the peerage.With this influence behind him and with his own adroitness it was evident that he would go far.Elliott was very bitter.
我不能指望讀者還記得這個(gè)人，因?yàn)槲易约阂驳弥販厍拔目次揖烤菇o了他一個(gè)什么名字。保羅·巴頓就是那個(gè)由艾略特引進(jìn)倫敦社交界，后來(lái)覺(jué)得艾略特派不上用場(chǎng)，就不再理會(huì)他的美國(guó)青年，艾略特恨他恨得牙根癢癢。此人近來(lái)相當(dāng)引人注目，先是因?yàn)樗尤肓擞?guó)國(guó)籍，后來(lái)又由于他娶了一個(gè)報(bào)界巨頭的千金，而這位巨頭已經(jīng)晉升為貴族了。有了這樣的后臺(tái)，再加上此人八面玲瓏，顯然前途不可限量。艾略特為此像吃了黃連一樣心里感到苦澀。

“Whenever I wake up in the night and hear a mouse scratching away in the wainscoat I say：‘That's Paul Barton climbing.'Believe me, my dear fellow, he'll end up in the House of Lords. Thank God, I shan't be alive to see it.”
“夜里一旦醒來(lái)，聽(tīng)見(jiàn)老鼠窸窸窣窣在壁櫥里爬動(dòng)，我就心想：‘這是保羅·巴頓在朝上爬?！?qǐng)相信我的話，老伙計(jì)，這家伙早晚能鉆進(jìn)上議院的。謝天謝地，那一天我是看不到了。”

“What did he want?”I asked, for I knew as well as Elliott that this young man did nothing for nothing.
“他來(lái)這兒有何貴干？”我問(wèn)。我和艾略特心里都很清楚，這個(gè)年輕人無(wú)事不登三寶殿。

“I'll tell you what he wanted，”said Elliott, snarling.“He wanted to borrow my Count de Lauria costume.”
“讓我告訴你，他有何貴干吧?！卑蕴貧獾门叵溃八虢栌梦易嫦葎诶飦啿舻哪翘锥Y服?！?/p>

“Nerve！”
“恬不知恥！”

“Don't you see what it means?It means he knew Edna hadn't asked me and wasn't going to ask me. She put him up to it.The old bitch.She'd never have got anywhere without me.I gave parties for her.I introduced her to everyone she knows.She sleeps with her chauffeur；you knew that of course.Disgusting！He sat there and told me that she's having the whole garden illuminated and there are going to be fireworks.I love fireworks.And he told me that Edna was being pestered by people who were asking for invitations, but she had turned them all down because she wanted the party to be really brilliant.He spoke as though there were no question of my being invited.”
“難道你看不出他的用心？顯然，他知道埃德娜沒(méi)有邀請(qǐng)我，也不打算邀請(qǐng)我。這是埃德娜唆使他來(lái)氣我的。那條老母狗。沒(méi)有我，她哪有今日。當(dāng)初，我特意為她舉辦宴會(huì)，她認(rèn)識(shí)的人都是我介紹的。她和自己的司機(jī)睡覺(jué)，這個(gè)當(dāng)然你也是知道的。真叫人惡心！巴頓來(lái)了告訴我，說(shuō)她要給花園里張燈結(jié)彩，還要放焰火。誰(shuí)不知道我最?lèi)?ài)看的就是放焰火。他說(shuō)許多人死乞白賴(lài)跟埃德娜要請(qǐng)?zhí)?，卻都一一碰壁，因?yàn)榘５履炔辉溉硕?，想把宴?huì)辦得別開(kāi)生面。聽(tīng)他說(shuō)話的口氣，就好像我肯定是在被邀請(qǐng)之列似的?！?/p>

“And are you lending him the costume?”
“你準(zhǔn)備把禮服借給他嗎？”

“I'd see him dead and in hell first. I'm going to be buried in it.”Elliott, sitting up in bed, rocked to and fro like a woman distraught.“Oh, it's so unkind，”he said.“I hate them, I hate them all.They were glad enough to make a fuss of me when I could entertain them, but now I'm old and sick they have no use for me.Not ten people have called to inquire since I've been laid up, and all this week only one miserable bunch of flowers.I’ve done every-thing for them.They’ve eaten my food and drunk my wine.I’ve run their errands for them.I’ve made their parties for them.I’ve turned myself inside out to do them favours.And what have I got out of it?Nothing, nothing, nothing.There’s not one of them who cares if I live or die.Oh, it’s so cruel.”He began to cry.Great heavy tears trickled down his withered cheeks.“I wish to God I’d never left America.”
“讓他去死吧，恨不得把他送進(jìn)十八層地獄。我就是死了穿著它下葬也不借給他?！闭f(shuō)到這里，艾略特猛地從床上坐起，像個(gè)發(fā)了瘋的女人一樣，把身子晃來(lái)晃去的，“全都是些狼心狗肺的東西。”他咬牙切齒地說(shuō)，“我恨他們，我恨他們所有的人。當(dāng)我能夠?yàn)樗麄兣鯃?chǎng)時(shí)，他們無(wú)一不圍著我轉(zhuǎn)?，F(xiàn)在我又老又病，他們就把我棄如敝屣。自從我臥床不起，來(lái)探望的人不超過(guò)十個(gè)。這都一個(gè)星期了，只可憐巴巴地送來(lái)了一束花。我為他們可以說(shuō)是盡心盡力。他們吃我的喝我的，我為他們跑前跑后，為他們張羅宴會(huì)，鞠躬盡瘁地為他們服務(wù)。可是，我得到什么回報(bào)了呢？什么也沒(méi)有，一點(diǎn)回報(bào)也沒(méi)有。沒(méi)有一個(gè)人關(guān)心我的死活。天呀，全都是些絕情絕義的壞東西?！闭f(shuō)到傷心處，他嚶嚶地哭出了聲來(lái)，大滴大滴的眼淚順著皺巴巴的臉頰直朝下滾，“真后悔呀，當(dāng)初就不該離開(kāi)美國(guó)?！?/p>

It was lamentable to see that old man, with the grave yawning in front of him, weep like a child because he hadn't been asked to a party：shocking and at the same time almost intolerably pathetic.
看見(jiàn)這個(gè)不久于人世的老人僅僅因?yàn)閯e人沒(méi)有請(qǐng)他去赴宴，便像個(gè)孩子一樣號(hào)啕大哭，著實(shí)可悲可憐。這樣的一幅情景叫人吃驚，也難免會(huì)心生惻隱。

“Never mind, Elliott，”I said，“it may rain on the night of the party. That'll bitch it.”
“不請(qǐng)你也沒(méi)有關(guān)系，艾略特，”我說(shuō)，“也許那天晚上會(huì)下雨，叫他們放不成焰火?！?/p>

He caught at my words like the drowning man we've all heard about at a straw. He began to giggle through his tears.
他一聽(tīng)，就像人們所說(shuō)的快死的人抓住了一根救命稻草一樣，含著淚花笑了起來(lái)。

“I've never thought of that. I'll pray to God for rain as I've never prayed before.You're quite right；that'll bitch it.”
“我怎么沒(méi)想到。我祈求上天，無(wú)比虔誠(chéng)地祈求上天，愿到時(shí)候天降大雨。你說(shuō)得不錯(cuò)，叫他們放不成焰火?！?/p>

I managed to divert his frivolous mind into another channel and left him, if not cheerful, at least composed. But I was not willing to let the matter rest, so on getting home I called up Edna Novemali and, saying I had to come to Cannes next day, asked if I could lunch with her.She sent a message that she'd be pleased but there'd be no party.Nevertheless when I arrived I found ten people there besides herself.She was not a bad sort, generous and hospitable, and her only grave fault was her malicious tongue.She could not help saying beastly things about even her intimate friends, but she did this because she was a stupid woman and knew no other way to make herself interesting.Since her slanders were repeated she was often not on speaking terms with the objects of her venom, but she gave good parties and most of them found it convenient after a while to forgive her.I did not want to expose Elliott to the humiliation of asking her to invite him to her big do, so waited to see how the land lay.She was excited about it and the conversation at luncheon was concerned with nothing else.
我的幾句話讓他改變了想法，放棄了那些愚蠢的念頭。待我辭別時(shí)，他即便不是心情快活，也起碼是心平氣和了。不過(guò)，我還是放心不下，一回到家就給埃德娜·諾威馬里掛了個(gè)電話，說(shuō)我次日到戛納去，問(wèn)能不能和她一起吃頓午飯。后來(lái)，她叫人傳話來(lái)，說(shuō)她很高興請(qǐng)我吃飯，但僅僅是便宴?？墒俏业竭_(dá)后，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)除她之外，還有十位客人也在場(chǎng)。她是個(gè)挺不錯(cuò)的人，慷慨大方、熱情好客，只有一個(gè)壞毛病，那就是嘴上不饒人。即便是對(duì)好朋友，她也會(huì)在背后說(shuō)人家的壞話。這倒不是說(shuō)她天性惡毒，而是因?yàn)榇竽X愚鈍，再想不出別的方式引起別人的注意了。她說(shuō)的話傳出去，被她中傷的人就不再搭理她了。不過(guò)，她舉辦的宴會(huì)總是別開(kāi)生面，過(guò)上一陣子，大多數(shù)被她得罪的人就覺(jué)得不便跟她斤斤計(jì)較了。我覺(jué)得一開(kāi)口就求她邀請(qǐng)艾略特來(lái)參加即將舉辦的盛會(huì)，會(huì)讓艾略特丟面子，想想還是見(jiàn)機(jī)行事的好。她對(duì)這次盛會(huì)興致很高，吃飯時(shí)把話頭全集中在了這上面。

“Elliott will be delighted to have an opportunity to wear his Philip the Second costume，”I said as casually as I could.
“艾略特一定會(huì)高興死的，這下子算是有機(jī)會(huì)穿他那套菲力普二世時(shí)代的禮服了?！蔽冶M量做出一副漫不經(jīng)心的樣子隨口說(shuō)道。

“I haven't asked him，”she said.
“我沒(méi)有邀請(qǐng)他?！彼f(shuō)道。

“Why not?”I replied, with an air of surprise.
“為什么沒(méi)邀請(qǐng)？”我裝作詫異地問(wèn)。

“Why should I?He doesn't count socially any more. He's a bore and a snob and a scandalmonger.”
“為什么要請(qǐng)他呢？他在社交圈子里已風(fēng)光不再，純粹是個(gè)老厭物、勢(shì)利眼，就喜歡傳播流言蜚語(yǔ)?！?/p>

Since these accusations could with equal truth be brought against her, I thought this a bit thick. She was a fool.
這一番指控用在她自己的身上倒是挺合適的。我覺(jué)得她太刻薄，蠢里蠢氣的。

“Besides，”she added，“I want Paul to wear Elliott's costume. He'll look simply divine in it.”
“再說(shuō)，”她又補(bǔ)加了一句，“我想讓保羅把艾略特的那件禮服穿上。保羅穿上一定顯得很高貴?！?/p>

I said nothing more, but determined by hook or by crook to get poor Elliott the invitation he hankered after. After luncheon Edna took her friends out into the garden.That gave me the chance I was looking for.On one occasion I had stayed in the house for a few days and knew its arrangement.I guessed that there would still be a number of invitation cards left over and that they would be in the secretary's room.I whipped along there, meaning to slip one in my pocket, write Elliott's name on it, and post it.I knew he was much too ill to go, but it would mean a great deal to him to receive it.I was taken aback when I opened the door to find Edna's secretary at her desk.I had expected her to be still at lunch.She was a middle-aged Scotch woman, called Miss Keith, with sandy hair, a freckled face, pince-nez, and an air of determined virginity.I collected myself.
我不再說(shuō)話，但決心要替艾略特把他朝思暮想的請(qǐng)?zhí)绞?，不管用什么樣的手段都在所不惜。午飯后，埃德娜把她的朋友們帶到花園里去散步。這給了我可乘之機(jī)。我曾經(jīng)有一次在這里做過(guò)幾天客，所以知道一點(diǎn)她家的情況。我猜想可能還會(huì)有些請(qǐng)?zhí)Ｏ聛?lái)，保存在秘書(shū)的房間里。我悄悄向那兒溜去，打算拿一張請(qǐng)?zhí)M(jìn)口袋，回去后寫(xiě)上艾略特的名字寄給他。我知道他病得厲害，根本無(wú)法成行，但能拿到這份請(qǐng)?zhí)麑?duì)他而言卻意義重大?？墒且煌崎_(kāi)房門(mén)，我卻驚呆了，只見(jiàn)埃德娜的秘書(shū)坐在她的辦公桌旁。我原以為她還沒(méi)有吃完午飯呢。秘書(shū)是個(gè)中年的蘇格蘭女子，名叫吉斯小姐，沙色頭發(fā)，雀斑臉，戴一副夾鼻眼鏡，顯出一副守身如玉的處女氣質(zhì)。我急忙穩(wěn)定住情緒。

“The Princess is taking the crowd around the garden, so I thought I'd come in and smoke a cigarette with you.”
“王妃帶客人們到花園散步去了。我沒(méi)事，想著就到你這兒來(lái)抽根煙吧?！?/p>

“You're welcome.”
“歡迎你來(lái)?！?/p>

Miss Keith spoke with a Scotch burr and when she indulged in the dry humour which she reserved for her favourites she so broadened it as to make her remarks extremely amusing, but when you were overcome with laughter she looked at you with pained surprise as though she thought you daft to see anything funny in what she said.
吉斯小姐說(shuō)話時(shí)帶有蘇格蘭語(yǔ)的那種小舌顫音。和自己喜歡的人在一起時(shí)，她會(huì)表現(xiàn)出一種“干幽默”，而此時(shí)她的小舌顫音就顫得更厲害了，會(huì)惹得聽(tīng)者發(fā)笑。可是，你禁不住笑出聲來(lái)時(shí)，她則向你投來(lái)氣惱、詫異的目光，就好像她認(rèn)為你昏了頭，竟然覺(jué)得她的話好笑。

“I suppose this party is giving you a hell of a lot of work. Miss Keith，”I said.
“這次舉辦那宴會(huì)肯定給你增加了不少負(fù)擔(dān)，吉斯小姐?！蔽艺f(shuō)道。

“I don't know whether I'm standing on my head or on my heels.”
“忙得團(tuán)團(tuán)轉(zhuǎn)，都分不清東南西北了。”

Knowing I could trust her, I went straight to the point.
知道她可以信賴(lài)，于是我開(kāi)門(mén)見(jiàn)山地說(shuō)：

“Why hasn't the old girl asked Mr. Templeton?”
“為什么王妃沒(méi)有邀請(qǐng)鄧普頓先生呢？”

Miss Keith permitted a smile to cross her grim features.
吉斯小姐那不茍言笑的臉上此時(shí)浮出一絲笑容，說(shuō)道：

“You know what she is. She's got a down on him.She crossed his name out on the list herself.”
“你知道她是怎樣的人。她跟他有過(guò)節(jié)。是她親自從客人名單上把他的名字劃掉的?！?/p>

“He's dying, you know. He'll never leave his bed again.He's awfully hurt at being left out.”
“你知道，他已是垂死之人了，這輩子也離不開(kāi)病床了。受到如此冷落，他心里難過(guò)到了極點(diǎn)?！?/p>

“If he wanted to keep in with the Princess he'd have been wiser not to tell everyone that she goes to bed with her chauffeur. And him with a wife and three children.”
“如果他不想跟王妃鬧翻，他就不應(yīng)該逢人便說(shuō)王妃跟自己的司機(jī)睡覺(jué)。她的司機(jī)是有老婆的，還有三個(gè)孩子呢。”

“And does she?”
“她到底睡了沒(méi)有？”

Miss Keith looked at me over her pince-nez.
吉斯小姐的目光從夾鼻眼鏡的上方瞟過(guò)來(lái)，望了我一眼。

“I've been a secretary for twenty-one years, my dear sir, and I've made it a rule to believe all my employers as pure as the driven snow. I'll admit that when one of my ladies found herself three months gone in the family way when his lordship had been shooting lions in Africa for six, my faith was sorely tried, but she took a little trip to Paris, a very expensive little trip it was too, and all was well.Her ladyship and I shared a deep sigh of relief.”
“我當(dāng)秘書(shū)已經(jīng)有二十一個(gè)年頭了。我有一個(gè)原則，那就是相信自己的雇主像白雪一樣純潔。必須承認(rèn)，有時(shí)候我的某個(gè)雇主會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)自己已有三個(gè)月的身孕，而老爺去非洲獵獅，去了有半個(gè)年頭。此時(shí)，我對(duì)女主人堅(jiān)信不疑的原則會(huì)經(jīng)受?chē)?yán)峻的考驗(yàn)。不過(guò)，女主人只要到巴黎去一趟，進(jìn)行一次極其昂貴的短途旅行，就會(huì)化險(xiǎn)為夷。我和女主人便如釋重負(fù)，長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)松一口氣。”

“Miss Keith, I didn't come here to smoke a cigarette with you, I came to snitch an invitation card and send it to Mr. Templeton myself.”
“吉斯小姐，我并不是想抽煙才到這兒來(lái)的。我來(lái)是想偷一張請(qǐng)?zhí)H自寄給鄧普頓先生?！?/p>

“That would have been a very unscrupulous thing to do.”
“這樣做十分不妥當(dāng)。”

“Granted. Be a good sport, Miss Keith.Give me a card.He won't come and it'll make the poor old man happy.You've got nothing against him, have you?”
“我也知道不妥當(dāng)。行行好，吉斯小姐，那就請(qǐng)你給我一張請(qǐng)?zhí)伞Ｄ莻€(gè)可憐的老人反正也是來(lái)不了的，只是給他張請(qǐng)?zhí)兴吲d高興。他沒(méi)有什么叫你感到不痛快的地方吧？”

“No, he's always been very civil to me. He's a gentleman, I will say that for him, and that's more than you can say for most of the people who come here and fill their fat bellies at the Princess's expense.”
“沒(méi)有。他對(duì)我總是客客氣氣的。我敢說(shuō)他是真正的紳士，比大多數(shù)跑到王妃這兒騙吃騙喝的人都要強(qiáng)?！?/p>

All important persons have about them someone in a subordinate position who has their ear. These dependents are very susceptible to slights, and, when they are not treated as they think they should be, will by well-directed shafts, constantly repeated, poison the minds of their patrons against those who have provoked their animosity.It is well to keep in with them.This Elliott knew better than anybody and he had always a friendly word and a cordial smile for the poor relation, the old maidservant or the trusted secretary.I was sure he had often exchanged pleasant badinage with Miss Keith and at Christmas had not forgotten to send her a box of chocolates, a vanity case, or a handbag.
所有重要人物的身邊都有些得寵的下屬。這些仰人鼻息的人，你是萬(wàn)萬(wàn)得罪不起的。假如他們覺(jué)得自己沒(méi)有得到應(yīng)有的尊重，他們就會(huì)在主子面前放你的冷箭，挑撥離間。和這些人，你是必須要搞好關(guān)系的。艾略特比任何人都更懂得這一點(diǎn)，所以對(duì)那些窮親戚、老年女傭或者受主人信賴(lài)的秘書(shū)，見(jiàn)了面他總會(huì)親熱地寒暄幾句，或者熱忱地賠個(gè)笑臉。我敢說(shuō)，他肯定經(jīng)常跟吉斯小姐說(shuō)開(kāi)心的話，過(guò)圣誕節(jié)時(shí)不會(huì)忘了送給她一盒巧克力、一個(gè)化妝盒或者一個(gè)手提包。

“Come on, Miss Keith, have a heart.”
“求求你，吉斯小姐，發(fā)個(gè)善心吧。”

Miss Keith fixed her pince-nez more firmly on her prominent nose.
吉斯小姐把夾鼻眼鏡在她那高鼻梁上固定得更牢了些。

“I am sure you wish me to do nothing disloyal to my employer, Mr. Maugham, besides which the old cow would fire me if she found out I'd disobeyed her.The cards are on the desk in their envelopes.I am going to look out of the window, partly to stretch my legs which are cramped from sitting too long in one position and also to observe the beauty of the prospect.What happens when my back is turned neither God nor man can hold me responsible for.”
“毛姆先生，我堅(jiān)信你絕不愿意讓我去干對(duì)我的雇主不忠實(shí)的事情；再說(shuō)，萬(wàn)一叫那個(gè)老母牛發(fā)現(xiàn)我違背了她的意愿，必定會(huì)炒我的魷魚(yú)。請(qǐng)?zhí)驮谶@張桌子上，裝在信封里。我現(xiàn)在要到窗戶(hù)跟前向外瞭望瞭望，一是因?yàn)槲以谝粋€(gè)位置上坐得太久了，腿有點(diǎn)僵，想活動(dòng)一下；二是因?yàn)橄胄蕾p一下窗外美麗的景色。當(dāng)我將臉轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)去的時(shí)候，背后發(fā)生什么事，不管是老天還是任何人都不能叫我為之負(fù)責(zé)了?！?/p>

When Miss Keith resumed her seat the invitation was in my pocket.
當(dāng)吉斯小姐重新回到她的座位上時(shí)，請(qǐng)?zhí)呀?jīng)進(jìn)了我的口袋。

“It's been nice to see you, Miss Keith，”I said, holding out my hand.“What are you wearing at the fancy-dressparty?”
“今天見(jiàn)到你，真是叫人舒心，吉斯小姐。”我說(shuō)著，伸出了手，“化裝舞會(huì)上你準(zhǔn)備穿什么服裝？”

“I am a minister's daughter, my dear sir，”she replied.“I leave such foolishness to the upper classes. When I have seen that the representatives of the Herald and the Mail get a good supper and a bottle of our second-best champagne, my duties will be terminated and I shall retire to the privacy of my bedchamber with a detective story.”
“我親愛(ài)的先生，我是牧師的女兒，”她回答說(shuō)，“這種荒唐的事情就讓那些上層階級(jí)的人去做吧。只要把《先驅(qū)報(bào)》和《郵報(bào)》的代表們招待好，讓他們酒足飯飽，我的責(zé)任就算盡到了。我將回到臥室里去，安安靜靜地看我的偵探小說(shuō)?！?/p>