Chapter 34
第三十四章
But though I was no less convinced than Stroeve that the connection between Strickland and Blanche would end disastrously, I did not expect the issue to take the tragic form it did. The summer came, breathless and sultry, and even at night there was no coolness to rest one's jaded nerves. The sun-baked streets seemed to give back the heat that had beat down on them during the day, and the passers-by dragged their feet along them wearily. I had not seen Strickland for weeks. Occupied with other things, I had ceased to think of him and his affairs. Dirk, with his vain lamentations, had begun to bore me, and I avoided his society. It was a sordid business, and I was not inclined to trouble myself with it further.
雖然我同施特略夫一樣也認為思特里克蘭德同勃朗什的關(guān)系將以一場災(zāi)難收場,我卻沒有料到這件事會演成這樣一出悲劇。夏天來了,天氣郁悶得令人喘不過氣來,連夜間也沒有一絲涼意,使人們疲勞的神經(jīng)能夠得到一點休息。被太陽曬得炙熱的街道好象又把白天吸收的熱氣散發(fā)回來;街頭行人疲勞不堪地拖著兩只腳。我又有好幾個星期沒有見到思特里克蘭德了。因為忙于其他事務(wù),我甚至連這個人同他們那檔子事都不去想了。戴爾克一見到我就長吁短嘆,開始叫人生厭;我盡量躲著他不同他在一起。我感到整個這件事齷齪不堪,我不想再為它傷腦筋了。
One morning I was working. I sat in my Pyjamas. My thoughts wandered, and I thought of the sunny beaches of Brittany and the freshness of the sea. By my side was the empty bowl in which the concierge had brought me my cafe au lait and the fragment of croissant which I had not had appetite enough to eat. I heard the concierge in the next room emptying my bath. There was a tinkle at my bell, and I left her to open the door. In a moment I heard Stroeve's voice asking if I was in. Without moving, I shouted to him to come. He entered the room quickly, and came up to the table at which I sat.
一天早上,我正在工作,身上還披著睡衣。但是我的思緒卻游移不定,浮想聯(lián)翩。我想到布里坦尼陽光燦爛的海濱和清澈的海水。我身邊擺著女看門人給我端來的盛咖啡牛奶的空碗和一塊吃剩的月芽形小面包。我的胃口很不好,沒能吃完。隔壁的屋子里,女看門人正在把我浴盆里的水放掉。突然,門鈴叮鈴鈴地響起來,我讓她去給我開門。不大的工夫我就聽到施特略夫的聲音,打聽我在不在家。我大聲招呼他進來,而沒有離開我的座位。施特略夫慌慌張張地走了進來,一直走到我坐的桌子前面。
She's killed herself, he said hoarsely.
“她死了,”他聲音嘶啞地說。
What do you mean? I cried, startled.
“你說什么?”我吃驚地喊叫起來。
He made movements with his lips as though he were speaking, but no sound issued from them. He gibbered like an idiot. My heart thumped against my ribs, and, I do not know why, I flew into a temper.
他的嘴唇動了動,好象在說什么,但是什么聲音也沒有發(fā)出來。他象個白癡似地胡亂地說了一些沒有意義的話。我的一顆心在胸腔里撲騰騰地亂跳,不知為什么,我突然發(fā)起火來。
For God's sake, collect yourself, man, I said. "What on earth are you talking about?"
“看在上帝面上,你鎮(zhèn)定點兒好不好?”我說,“你究竟在說些什么?”