書蟲二級《法蘭克福的耳環(huán)》：馬克西姆餐廳之夜

1.A night out at Maxim's
1．馬克西姆餐廳之夜

Jennifer looked at the clock on the waiting-room wall. Nearly half-past eight. The light was still on in Doctor Gibson's room. I'm going to be late, she said to herself, why doesn't he hurry up? The evening surgery was always busy on Thursdays but tonight was worse than usual.

珍妮弗看了看候診室墻上的鐘。快8點半了，吉布森大夫房間里的燈依然亮著。我要遲到了，她自言自語道，為什么他不能快點兒呢？雖然星期四的夜間門診總是很忙碌，但今晚的情況比通常更糟。

She quickly put the newspapers in a cupboard. Then she took off her white coat and locked it in the cupboard too. She was turning off the lights when someone rang the front doorbell. Oh no, not another patient, not at this hour. She ran to the door and opened it. Outside it was dark but she could see a man, his hands deep in his pockets. He moved his head and the light fell on his face.

她迅速將報紙放進柜櫥，隨后脫下白大褂，也鎖了進去。她正準備關(guān)燈，前門門鈴響了起來。噢，不，別再有病人了，別在這個時候。她跑過去，打開了門。外面漆黑一片，但她依稀能分辨出是一個男人，兩手深深地插在口袋里。他的頭動了一下，燈光映照在他的臉上。

Richard!' she cried in surprise. 'What are you doing here?'

“理查德！”她驚呼道，“你跑到這兒來做什么？”

Can I come in for a minute?'

“我能進去待一會兒嗎？”

He did not wait for an answer but pushed past her and went inside. Jennifer turned to him. She was usually pleased when Richard called, but this was the wrong time. 'I'm sorry, but you can't stay. I must hurry. I'm meeting my friend Claire for dinner and...' She stopped. It was Richard's eyes—they looked tired and worried.

不等回答，他便從她身旁擠了進去。珍妮弗轉(zhuǎn)向他。每當理查德來訪，她都會很高興，但這次他卻來得不是時候。“很抱歉你不能待在這兒。我必須立即動身，和好朋友克萊爾共進晚餐，然后……”她停了下來，因為理查德的眼神看上去既疲憊又焦慮。

What's the matter?' she asked.

“出什么事兒了？”她問道。

Just then Dr Gibson called from his room. 'Did I hear the doorbell, Nurse? Was it another patient?'

就在這時，吉布森大夫從房間里喊道：“護士小姐，我是不是聽到門鈴響了？是又來病人了嗎？”

No, it's only my brother Richard,' she called back.

“不是，只是我弟弟理查德。”她回應(yīng)道。

She turned back to Richard. 'Is something wrong?' she asked again.

她又回身問理查德，“出什么事兒了？”

He shook his head. 'I'm fine,' he said. 'It's just... well, I had some trouble at work.'

他搖了搖頭說：“我很好，只是……唉，我在工作上遇到了點兒麻煩。”

Trouble?'

“麻煩？”

It was nothing, really. I said something to my boss and he didn't like it. He got angry with me and... and in the end he told me to go. So I've lost my job.'

“也沒什么，真的。我對老板說了些他不愛聽的話，他因此對我大發(fā)脾氣，最后叫我走人。就這樣，我丟了工作。”

Oh Richard, not again! Why do you do these things?' Jennifer was beginning to feel cross with him. 'And now you have no money, is that it?'

“噢，理查德，你以后別再這樣了。你為什么要這么做？”珍妮弗開始對他感到生氣，“你現(xiàn)在又沒錢了，對吧？”

Take it easy, Jenny. I don't need very much. Only twenty pounds. I'll pay you back next week—really I will.' He put his hand on her arm. 'You can do that for me, can't you? Just twenty pounds. It's for a present.'

“別緊張，珍妮。我不要太多。20鎊就夠了，下周我就還你，說到做到。”他把一只手搭在她的胳膊上說，“你可以幫我這個忙的，對吧？只要20鎊，我要買件禮物。”

Yes, I know, I know. A present for a very special girl—like the last one. And the one before.' Jennifer knew her young brother well and she was often angry with him, but she could never say no to him. She opened her bag, took out some money and gave it to him. 'But remember, I want it back next week.'

“是的，我知道，我知道。要給一個特別的女孩兒買件禮物，就像上次和上上次一樣。”珍妮弗很了解她的弟弟，也經(jīng)常生他的氣，但從未拒絕過他。她打開包，拿出錢遞給了理查德。“但記住，下周就要還我。”

Richard smiled and put his arm around his sister. 'Thanks, Jenny. This is different. Really! She's very, very special. But you're in a hurry so I'll go now.'

理查德笑著，摟著他的姐姐說：“謝謝，珍妮。這次真的不同！她是個非同一般的女孩兒。不過，既然你著急出門，我現(xiàn)在就走。”

Don't forget,' she called after him. 'Next week. Twenty pounds.'

“別忘了，”她在他身后喊道，“下星期，20英鎊。”

Maxim's restaurant was busy—young men and women from offices, several older people, a group of students, and a few theatre people. Jennifer looked around for her friend. Claire usually sat near the window but tonight she was not there. Somebody was having a party and all the tables on that side were full. Then Jennifer heard Claire's voice behind her. 'Did you get lost? I've been here for hours.'

馬克西姆餐廳里異常熱鬧，有一些在辦公室里工作的青年男女、一些年紀較大的人、一群學生和幾個劇團的人。珍妮弗環(huán)視了一下四周，想找到她的朋友。克萊爾通常坐在靠近窗戶的座位上，但是今晚她并不在那兒。有人正舉辦宴會，那一側(cè)的餐桌已是座無虛席。這時珍妮弗聽到背后傳來克萊爾的聲音，“迷路了嗎？我已經(jīng)到這兒好半天了。”

I know I'm late,' Jennifer said, 'and I am sorry. Today has been really busy. The last patient didn't leave until eight-thirty. And then I had a visit from Richard. He wanted to borrow some money. He always wants to borrow money.'

“我知道我來晚了，”珍妮弗說，“我很抱歉。今天確實很忙。最后一個病人直到8點半才離開，之后理查德又跑來找我，他是來借錢的。他總想向我借錢。”

They went to an empty table. A waiter came up to them and took their orders. At that moment there was a cheer from the party beside the window. An older man in a light grey suit was standing up. He spoke for a few minutes and then held up his glass. All the others stood up, and looked at a young girl with large gold ear-rings, who was sitting in the chair next to him. Everyone was laughing, and then they began to sing 'Happy birthday to you'. They were all looking at the girl, but she herself just sat there without a smile on her face. The song came to an end, and there was another loud cheer and more laughing and shouting. Someone called out 'Twenty-one today, twenty-one today... ', and this time everyone in the restaurant sang too.

她們走到一張空桌子旁，一名服務(wù)員走了過來，為她們點菜。正在這時，窗戶旁聚會的人群中響起一片歡呼聲，一位身穿淺灰色西裝的年長男士站了起來。幾分鐘的簡短致詞后，他舉起了酒杯。其他人也都站起身，向一位佩戴著大大的金耳環(huán)的年輕女孩兒看過去，她就坐在這位男士身邊的椅子上。所有人都笑著唱起了“祝你生日快樂”。他們都看著她，而她卻獨自坐在那兒，臉上沒有一絲笑容。唱完生日歌，大家又興高采烈地歡呼起來。有人大聲喊道：“今天21啦，今天21……”這一次餐廳里的每個人都跟著唱了起來。

Suddenly there was a loud crash. Then someone screamed and a voice shouted, 'Bring a towel—quickly.' The man in the grey suit was lying across the table. He was holding his face, which was red with blood. On the table there was broken glass.

忽然，轟隆一聲巨響，有人尖叫起來，一個聲音大喊道：“拿毛巾來，快！”身穿灰色西服的男士倒在了桌子上，他用手捂住已經(jīng)被血染紅了的臉。桌子上到處都是打碎的玻璃杯。

Someone said in a loud voice, 'What happened—did he fall?' Several people were speaking at the same time. 'It's his heart, you know ...' 'Joe's been in and out of hospital for years...' '...his head hit those glasses'.

有人大聲喊道：“出什么事兒了？他摔倒了嗎？”與此同時，另一些人在一旁議論紛紛，“要知道，他的心臟……”“喬這些年已經(jīng)變成醫(yī)院的?？土?hellip;…”“……他的頭撞在了那些杯子上。”

The man was still lying across the table. Jennifer jumped up, and both she and Claire ran over to him.

那位男士仍然躺在桌子上。珍妮弗匆忙站起身，和克萊爾一起朝他跑了過去。

We're nurses,' said Jennifer. 'Can we help?'

“我們是護士，”珍妮弗說，“能幫上忙嗎？”

There was a cut on the side of the man's face. It was deep and he was losing a lot of blood. A waiter ran up with a towel. Jennifer took it and held it to the cut. The man's mouth was open and he was making strange noises.

那位男士的臉有側(cè)被劃傷了，傷口很深，他失血很多。一位服務(wù)員手拿毛巾跑過來，珍妮弗接過毛巾，按住傷口。那位男士張著嘴，發(fā)出了奇怪的聲音。

He needs a doctor. We'll have to get him to hospital,' Jennifer said. She turned to Claire. 'You came here in your car, didn't you?'

“他需要看大夫，我們必須把他送到醫(yī)院去，”珍妮弗說。她轉(zhuǎn)向克萊爾：“你開車來的，對嗎？”

Yes, come on—we'll take him,' Claire replied.

“沒錯。來吧，我們送他去醫(yī)院。”克萊爾回答道。

They helped the man outside and put him in Claire's car. Jennifer jumped in beside him and they drove off. She was still holding the towel to the man's face. The blood was not coming so fast now and he was beginning to feel a little better.

她們把這位男士扶到了屋外克萊爾的汽車上，珍妮弗跳上車，坐在他的旁邊，然后就出發(fā)了。珍妮弗仍舊用毛巾捂著他的臉，這時血已經(jīng)流得不那么猛了，他開始覺得稍好一些。

Where... where are we going?' he asked. 'Are you taking me home?'

“這是哪里……我們這是去哪里？”他問道，“你們是要送我回家嗎？”

Just stay there and don't speak,' Jennifer told him. 'You fell and hurt yourself. You'll be all right, but you must see a doctor. We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes.'

“待在那兒了，別說話，”珍妮弗對他說，“你摔倒后傷到了自己。你很快就會沒事的，不過你必須去看醫(yī)生。再過一會兒我們就到醫(yī)院了。”

At the word 'hospital' the man immediately tried to sit up. 'No, no,' he said angrily, 'I don't need to go to hospital. I'm feeling better now. Just take me home. And who are you?'

一聽到“醫(yī)院”這個詞，這位男士立刻就要起身。“不，不，”他生氣地說，“我不需要去醫(yī)院。我現(xiàn)在感覺好多了。請把我送回家。另外，你是誰？”

I'm a nurse,' Jennifer told him. 'And you need to see a doctor. We're nearly there now. Just sit still—and stop talking.'

“我是護士，”珍妮弗告訴他，“你必須去看醫(yī)生。我們馬上就到了。靜靜地坐著，別說話。”

But the man was feeling stronger now and he would not be quiet. He pulled at Jennifer's arm and said loudly, 'I don't need a doctor. It's just a small cut on my face. I'm all right now. Take me home!' When Jennifer did not answer him, he said in a quieter voice. 'Come on now—listen to me. I'm feeling fine, really I am. There's no need to take me to hospital. They'll want to keep me there—they always do, because of my bad heart. You see, I have to meet some business people the day after tomorrow—it's very important. So just stop the car and I can get a taxi home.'

然而此時這位男士感覺恢復了一些，便不肯安靜下來。他拽著珍妮弗的胳膊大喊道：“我不需要什么醫(yī)生。我臉上不過是劃了個小口子，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)沒事了。送我回家！”見珍妮弗對他置之不理，他便輕聲說：“拜托，聽我說。我感覺很好，真的。根本沒必要送我去醫(yī)院。醫(yī)生們會把我留下來的。因為我心臟不好，他們總想讓我住院治療。你要知道，后天我還要去見一些客戶，而且事關(guān)重大。請把車停下來，我可以打車回家。”

By now the car was at the door of the hospital. A nurse came to meet them and while Claire told her about the accident, Jennifer helped the man out of the car. He said something angrily to the nurse, but after a few seconds he went with her into the hospital. Jennifer and Claire drove away.

此時車已經(jīng)開到了醫(yī)院門口。一名護士走出來接待他們，克萊爾將這場事故的情況告訴了她，珍妮弗則幫忙把他扶出了汽車。他怒氣沖沖地對護士說了些什么，但幾秒鐘之后便跟她走進了醫(yī)院。隨后珍妮弗和克萊爾便驅(qū)車離開了。

What a difficult man!' said Claire crossly. 'No "Thank you for your help" or "You're very kind".'

“真是個麻煩的人！”克萊爾沒好氣地說，“連句‘謝謝你的幫助’或‘你真是個好人’這樣的話都沒有。”

Some people never say thank you,' Jennifer said. 'Don't worry about it.'

“有些人從來不會說謝謝，”珍妮弗說道，“別為這事心煩了。”

When they got back to Maxim's, a police car was standing outside, with its blue light on. There was a small group of people around the door. Jennifer pushed through them, Claire behind her. They tried to go inside. A policeman moved forward and put up his arm. 'You'll have to wait here,' he told them.

當她們返回到馬克西姆餐廳時，一輛亮著藍燈的警車正停在外面。一小群人圍在大門旁。珍妮弗從人群中擠了過去，克萊爾緊跟其后。她們想進到餐廳里面。一位警察走上前來，抬起手攔住了她們。“你們必須在此等候。”他告訴她們說。

But we ordered dinner... and we haven't eaten yet,' said Claire.

“但是我們已經(jīng)點好了晚餐……，而且還什么都沒吃呢，”克萊爾說道。

But the policeman was not listening to them. He was looking through the glass door. Something was happening inside and people were moving about. Then one of Maxim's waiters opened the door and two policemen came out. They were holding a young girl between them. It was the girl from the birthday party, the girl with the unhappy face and the expensive gold ear-rings. The police pushed her into the back of their car and drove away quickly.

然而這名警察根本沒留意她們在說些什么。他正透過玻璃門向屋里張望。只見屋里的人們來回走動著，似乎發(fā)生了什么事情。接著馬克西姆餐廳的一位服務(wù)員推開了門，兩名警察押著一個年輕的女孩兒走了出來。她正是生日宴會上那位戴著昂貴金耳環(huán)、郁郁寡歡的女孩兒。警察把她推進警車的后排座位上，迅速開走了。

Jennifer and Claire looked at each other. What an evening! They waited two or three minutes, but the restaurant door was closed now and the policeman was standing in front of it again.

珍妮弗和克萊爾對視了一下。多么不尋常的一個晚上??！她倆又等了兩三分鐘，但此時餐廳的門已被關(guān)上了，那位警察再一次站到了餐廳門前。

Neither of them felt hungry any more. They walked slowly towards the car. Claire was the first to speak. 'Come on, Jenny, let's enjoy ourselves—we're having a night out.' Jennifer did not speak.

此時兩個人誰也不覺得餓了。她們慢悠悠地朝汽車走去。克萊爾先開了口：“別不高興了，珍妮。咱們來盡情地享受吧，今晚是出來散心的。”珍妮弗一聲不吭。

Claire went on, 'Do you remember Maxim's little song on TV?' She began to sing:

克萊爾繼續(xù)說道：“你還記得電視上播放的馬克西姆餐廳那首小曲嗎？”她開始唱道：

Come where the music's wonderful,

快來這音樂的圣地，

Come where the food is fine.

快來這美食的天堂，

Let's all meet at Maxim's,

齊聚馬克西姆，

We'll have a wonderful time.

共享歡樂時光。

She stopped. Jennifer was not pleased. 'All this is not really my idea of a wonderful time,' she said. 'I'm tired and I wanted a nice quiet evening, a good meal, and an early night.'

她停了下來。珍妮弗看起來不太開心。“這一切并不是我所想象的歡樂時光，”她說道，“我累了，本想安安靜靜好好過一晚，享受一下美味佳肴，然后早點休息的。”

Come on,' Claire replied. 'Let's go to another restaurant.'

“好了，”克萊爾回答說，“咱們換一家餐館吧。”

No, let's leave it till next week. I'll just walk home now.'

“算了，還是改在下個星期吧。我現(xiàn)在只想回家。”

They said goodbye. Claire got into her car and called, 'See you next week, then.'

于是她們互相道了別。“那么，下周再見吧。”克萊爾上車后說道。

Jennifer walked slowly home. She felt unhappy and worried—worried about her young brother, Richard. She remembered his visit to the surgery earlier that evening. He was always in and out of jobs, and never had any money. A year ago he had a little trouble with the police, but Richard did not worry about it. He never worried about anything! He just laughed, and came to Jennifer to ask for more money. Both their parents were dead, and there were no other brothers or sisters. So Jennifer, fifteen years older than Richard, worried about her brother a lot.

珍妮弗步履緩慢地往家走。她悶悶不樂，并為她的弟弟理查德感到憂心忡忡。她又想起了晚上早些時候理查德跑到她診所找她時的情景。他總是不斷找到新工作又不斷地失業(yè)，且從來都是身無分文。一年前他還和警方扯上了麻煩，但理查德對此卻毫不在乎。他從不把任何事情放在心上！他只是一笑而過，然后去向珍妮弗要更多的錢。他倆的父母雙雙過世，再無其他兄弟姐妹。因此比理查德大15歲的珍妮弗總是對她的弟弟放心不下。

She went past a jewellery shop with its lights on, and stopped to look in the window for a minute. She saw some ear-rings and then remembered the gold ear-rings on the girl at Maxim's. They were large and looked very expensive—and they looked all wrong next to that small unhappy face. Where did she get them? Jennifer smiled to herself. Perhaps the police were asking that question now.

她路過了一家珠寶店，店內(nèi)仍開著燈，于是她停下腳步，向櫥窗里看了一會兒。她看見了一些耳環(huán)，不禁想起了馬克西姆餐廳里那個女孩兒所佩戴的金耳環(huán)。那對耳環(huán)很大，似乎價值不菲，看起來與那張嬌小而愁眉不展的臉龐格格不入。她從哪兒得到的這對耳環(huán)？珍妮弗微微一笑?；蛟S現(xiàn)在警察正在問這個問題呢。