In place of that relaxed atmosphere of life and good cheer that seems to be, so to speak, exhaled by a firm enjoying prosperity; in place of the happy faces looking out of the windows and the busy clerks hurrying down the corridors with pens behind their ears; in place of the courtyard full of boxes, resounding to the shouts and laughter of the delivery men; in place of all this, from the moment he came in, he would have found an indefinable air of sadness and death. The corridor was empty, the courtyard deserted; and, of all the many employees who had once crowded into the offices, only two remained: the first was a young man, aged about twenty-three or twenty-four, named Emmanuel Herbault, who was in love with M. Morrel's daughter and had stayed with the firm despite his relatives' efforts to extricate him; while the other was an old cashier, one-eyed, nicknamed Coclès by the young people who had once populated this vast, busy hive which was now almost uninhabited, a label that had now so completely and utterly replaced any previous ones, that in all probability he would not even have turned around if someone were to have called him by his true name.
以前从一家欣欣向荣的商行所发散出来的那种活跃，舒适和快乐的空气；以前在窗户里看到的那些愉快的面孔；以前在那条长廊里匆匆来去的忙碌的职员；以前堆满在天井里的一包包的货物，以及搬运夫们的嬉笑喊叫，——现在都消失了，而只会感觉到一种忧郁阴沉的空气。在那冷落的长廊和空荡荡的办公厅里，以前总是被无数职员挤满着的，现在只剩下了两个人。一个是年约二十三四岁的青年，名叫艾曼纽·赫伯特，他爱上了摩莱尔先生的女儿，虽然他的朋友们都竭力劝他辞职，他还是留了下来；另外一个是只有一只眼睛的年老的出纳，名叫独眼柯克莱斯①，这一个诨名是以前老是挤满在这个大蜂窝（现在几乎已空无一人）里的青年人奉送给他的，这个诨名已完全代替了他的真名，以致谁要是用真名来喊他，他十有八九是不会答应的。【注：①柯克莱斯是古代罗马的一个英雄，在一次战斗中，失去了一只眼睛，这个诨名也是由此而来。】
Someone who had known the interior of the House of Morrel a few years earlier, and who had then returned to Marseille at the period now reached by our narrative, would have found it much changed.
凡是几年以前离开马赛而又熟知摩莱尔父子公司的人，要是在现在回来，就会发觉它已大大地改了样。
Coclès had remained in M. Morrel's service, and the good man's situation had changed in a rather unusual way: he had simultaneously risen to the rank of cashier and fallen to that of a house servant.
柯克莱斯依旧还在摩莱尔先生手下服务，他的地位起了一种最奇特的变化。一方面他被升为出纳员的职位，而同时却又降低到一个仆役的身份。
He was still the same Coclès for all that, kind, patient and devoted, but immovable when it came to arithmetic, the only point on which he would have challenged the whole world, even M. Morrel, knowing nothing beyond his Pythagorean tables, but having these at his fingertips, whichever way one chose to turn them or however one tried to lure him into error.
可是，他还是那过去的柯克莱斯，善良，忠心，不怕麻烦，但在数学问题上却绝不屈服，他在这一点上，会坚决地站起来和全世界抗争，甚至和摩莱尔先生抗争；他又长于九九乘法表，把它背得滚瓜烂熟，不论设什么诡计圈套去考问他，总难他不倒。
In the midst of the general depression that had settled over the firm of Morrel and Son, Coclès was the only one who had remained impassive. There should be no mistake: this impassivity was not due to any lack of feeling, but on the contrary to an unshakeable faith. We have mentioned that the host of clerks and employees who owed their livelihood to the shipowner's firm had gradually deserted the office and the shop, like the rats which, so they say, gradually leave a ship when it has been preordained by fate to perish at sea, with the result that these self-interested guests have entirely abandoned it by the time it sets sail. Coclès had watched all of them depart without even thinking to enquire into the cause of their departure. Everything for Coclès came down to a matter of numbers and, in the twenty years that he had worked for Morrel's, he had always seen payments go through without hindrance and with such regularity that he could no more accept an end to that regularity or a suspension of those payments, than a miller whose wheel is turned by the waters of a plentiful stream would accept that the same stream might cease to flow. Indeed, nothing so far had threatened Coclès' confidence. The previous month's payments had gone through with absolute punctuality. Coclès had noted an error of seventy centimes which M. Morrel had made to his own detriment and, the same day, brought the excess fourteen sous to M. Morrel, who took them with a melancholy smile and dropped them into an almost empty drawer, saying: "Coclès, Coclès, you are a jewel among cashiers."
在摩莱尔父子公司的日趋窘困的过程中，只有他一个人毫不动摇。这倒并不是出于一种情感，却相反的是出于一种坚定的信念。据说一艘命中注定要在海洋里覆没的船，船上的老鼠会预先溜走，临到那艘船起锚的时候，这些自私的乘客都已逃得精光，也正是象这样，摩莱尔父子公司所有这许多职员也一个个的脱离了办公厅和货仓。柯克莱斯眼看着他们离开，但对于离开的原因却连问都不问。我们已经说过，一切在他看来只是一个数学问题。二十年来，他看到所有的付款总都是正确地如期付清，所以在他看来，如说公司有一天竟会付不出款，似乎是不可能的，正如一个磨坊老板不能相信那一向日夜推动他的磨机的河水竟会一旦不流一样。目前还不曾发生过什么事情可以动摇柯克莱斯的信仰。上个月的付款是极其正确地如期付清了的。柯克莱斯查出一笔有损于摩莱尔的十四个苏的错账，当天晚上，他把那十四个铜板交给摩莱尔先生，后者苦笑了一下，把钱掷进一只几乎空空如也的抽屜里，说：“谢谢，柯克莱斯，你是出纳人员中之明珠。”
So Coclès left, more or less satisfied. Praise from M. Morrel, himself a jewel among the best men in Marseille, did more for Coclès' self-esteem than a bonus of fifty écus.
柯克莱斯回去十分快乐，因为摩莱尔先生本身便是马赛忠厚者中之明珠，他这样夸奖他，比送他一份五十艾居的礼还更使他高兴。
However, since achieving this victory over the end-of-month payments, M. Morrel had suffered some moments of agony. It had meant mustering all his resources. Fearful that the rumour concerning his difficulties might spread through the town if he was seen to be turning to such extremities, he had travelled in person to the fair at Beaucaire to sell some jewellery belonging to his wife and daughter, and part of his silver. As a result of this sacrifice, the reputation of the house of Morrel had been spared the slightest hint of a stain, but the cashbox was totally empty. With its usual egoism, all credit had slipped away, terrified by the rumours: the truth was that if he was to meet the hundred thousand francs which he would owe M. de Boville on the 15th of the present month, and the second hundred thousand francs which would fall due on the 15th of the month following, M. Morrel's only hope lay in the return of the Pharaon, which had certainly set sail, as they knew from another ship which had weighed anchor at the same time and which had come safely to port. But this ship (coming, like the Pharaon, from Calcutta) had arrived a fortnight earlier, while there was as yet no news of the Pharaon.
但从月底以来，摩莱尔先生曾度过了许多焦虑的时间。为了应付月底，他曾搜尽了他所有的财源。他深怕他的窘况会在马赛传扬，所以到布揆耳的集市，把他妻子和女儿的珠宝卖了，还卖了他的一部分金银器皿。这样，公司的名誉才能依旧维持着。但他现在已经山穷水尽。借款吧，由于市上所传的那些消息，已借不到了。要偿付波维里先生这个月十五日的十万法郎和下个月十五日的十万，摩莱尔先生除了等待埃及王号回来，实在没有别的希望了。他知道埃及王号业已开出，那是他从一艘和它同时起锚的帆船上听来的，而那艘船却已经到港。那艘船象埃及王号一样，也是从加尔各答开来的，但它已在两星期前到达，而埃及王号却杳无音讯。
He was received by Emmanuel. The young man shied away from any unfamiliar face, because each new one meant a new creditor who had come to demand something from the shipowner, and he wished to spare his employer the unpleasantness of this visit; so he questioned the stranger; but the latter declared that he had nothing to say to M. Emmanuel: he wished to speak to M. Morrel in person. With a sigh, Emmanuel called Coclès. Coclès appeared, and the young man asked him to take the stranger to see M. Morrel.
接见他的是艾曼纽。这个青年人——他看到每一个新的面孔就要吃惊，因为每一个新的面孔就是一个闻风来询问公司老板的新债主——想使他的雇主避免受这次会见的痛苦，就问来客有何贵干。这位陌生人说，他和艾曼纽没有什么可说的，他的事情需和摩莱尔先生亲自面谈。艾曼纽叹了一口气，就召柯克莱斯来。柯克莱斯来了，青年吩咐引导来客到摩莱尔先生房间。
"Monsieur Morrel is in his study, Mademoiselle Julie?" he asked.
“摩莱尔先生在办公室吧，在不在，裘丽小姐？”出纳员说。
"Yes -- at least I think he is," the girl replied, hesitating. "Coclès, you go first and see, and if my father is there, announce the gentleman."
“是的，我想在吧，至少，”青年姑娘犹豫不决地说。“你可以去看看，柯克莱斯，要是我的爹爹在那儿，就给这位先生通报一声。”
This is how things stood when, the day after concluding the important business we have described with M. de Boville, the agent of the firm of Thomson and French, of Rome, announced himself on his arrival at Morrel and Son.
罗马汤姆生·弗伦奇银行那位专员在见过波维里先生的第二天去拜会摩莱尔父子公司的时候，情况便是如此。
Coclès went ahead, the stranger following. On the staircase they passed a beautiful girl of between sixteen and seventeen, who looked uneasily at the stranger. The latter noticed the look, though it was lost on Coclès.
柯克莱斯先走，来客跟在他的后面。在楼梯上，他们遇见一位十六七岁的美丽的姑娘，她焦虑地望着这位陌生人。
"There is no point in announcing me, Mademoiselle," the Englishman replied. "Monsieur Morrel does not know my name. This good man has only to let him know that I am the head clerk of Messrs Thomson and French, of Rome, with whom your father's firm does business."
“我是毋庸报名的，小姐，”英国人答道。“我的名字摩莱尔先生并不知道，这位可敬的先生只要通报说罗马汤姆生·弗伦奇银行的专员求见就行了，那家银行是和你的父亲有来往的。”
Seeing the foreigner, he closed the register, rose and drew up a chair. Then, when the other man was seated, he sat down.
一看到来客，摩莱尔先生就合拢他的账簿，站起身来，指着一个座位请来客坐下。当他看到他坐下以后，自己才坐回到他原来的椅子上。
The girl paled and carried on down the stairs, while Coclès and the stranger continued on their way up. She went into the office where Emmanuel was sitting, and Coclès, using a key that had been entrusted to him and which warned the boss of some important arrival, opened a door in a corner of the second-floor landing, showed the stranger into an antechamber, opened a second door, which he then closed behind him and, after momentarily leaving the emissary of Thomson and French on his own, reappeared and signalled to him to enter. The Englishman did so, to find M. Morrel sitting at a table, paling at the awful columns of figures in the register that recorded his debts.
青年姑娘脸色苍白起来，她继续下楼，而陌生客和柯克莱斯则继续上楼。她走进艾曼纽所在的那间办公厅，而柯克莱斯则用他身上所带的一把钥匙打开第二重楼梯拐角上的一扇门，引导那陌生客到一间候见室里，再打开第二道门，进去后即把门关上，让汤姆生·弗伦奇银行的专员独自等候了一会儿，然后回身出来，请他进去。英国人走进房里，发现摩莱尔坐在一张桌子前面，正在翻阅几本极大的账簿，里面都是他的债务。
Fourteen years had profoundly changed the merchant who, thirty-six years old at the beginning of this story, was now about to reach fifty: his hair was grey, his forehead was lined with anxious furrows and his look, which had once been so firm and confident, had become vague and irresolute, as if it were constantly trying to avoid having to settle on a single idea or a single person.
十四年的光阴已改变了这位可敬的商人的容貌，他，在本书开始的时候是三十六岁，现在已五十岁了。他的头发已变成白色，时间和忧愁已在他的额头刻下深深的皱纹，而他的目光，一度曾是这样坚定和尖锐，现在已踌躇而徬徨，象是他怕被迫把他的注意力集中在一个念头或一个人身上似的。
"He informed you correctly, Monsieur. The firm of Thomson and French had some three or four hundred thousand francs to pay in France in the course of this month and the following; so, knowing your reputation for scrupulous punctuality, it collected all the bills that it could find with your signature and requested me to cash these bills successively as they came up for payment and to make use of the funds."
“他说的不错。汤姆生·弗伦奇银行本月份得在法国付出三四十万法郎款子，知道您严守信用，所以把凡是有您签字的期票都收买了过来，叫我负责来按期收款，以便动用。”
"Monsieur," said Morrel, apparently made still more uneasy by this appraisal, "you wished to speak to me?"
“阁下，”摩莱尔说，他的不安因这种审问似的目光而更加强了，“您想跟我谈谈吗？”
"Yes, Monsieur. You know on whose behalf I am here?"
“是的，阁下，您明白我是从哪儿来的吧？”
"The firm of Thomson and French, or so my cashier says."
“汤姆生·弗伦奇银行，我的出纳员是这样告诉我。”
The Englishman looked at him with curiosity and obvious interest.
英国人用一种好奇而显然还带着关怀的神气望着他。
Morrel gave a deep sigh and drew a hand across a forehead covered in sweat.
摩莱尔深深地叹了一口气，用手抹一抹他那满挂着汗珠的前额。
"So, Monsieur," he said, "you have bills of exchange signed by me?"
“哦，那末，先生，”摩莱尔说，“您有着我的期票吗？”
"Well, first of all," the Englishman said, taking a sheaf of papers out of his pocket, "here is a transfer of two hundred thousand francs made out to the benefit of our firm by Monsieur de Boville, inspector of prisons. Do you acknowledge owing this amount to Monsieur de Boville?"
“这儿是，”英国人从他的口袋里拿出一叠纸来说，“典狱长波维里先生开给我们银行的一张二十万法郎的转让证书，那本来是他的。您当然知道您是欠他这笔款子吧？”
"For how much?" Morrel asked, in what he hoped was a confident voice.
“多少数目？”摩莱尔用一种竭力想使之镇定的声音问。
"Yes, Monsieur, for some considerable amount."
“是的，而且数目相当大。”
"To be repaid…"
“您该在什么时候付款？”
"Yes, I do. It was an investment that he made in my company, some five years ago, at four and a half per cent."
“是的，他那笔钱是以四厘半的利息放在我的手里的，差不多有五年了。”
"I accept that," said Morrel, blushing with shame at the thought that for the first time in his life he might be unable to honour his signature. "Is that all?"
“我认得的，”摩莱尔先生说，他的脸涨得通红，象是想到他将在一生中第一次保不住他自己签字的尊严似的。“都在这儿了吗？”
"Half on the fifteenth of this month, half on the fifteenth of next month."
“一半在本月十五，一半在下个月十五。”
"That's right. Then I have here thirty-two thousand francs, for the end of this month: these are bills which you have signed and which have been made out to our order by third parties."
“不错，这儿还有三万二千五百法郎是最近付款的。这上面都有您的签字，都是持票人转让给我们银行的。”
"No, Monsieur. In addition, I have these bills, due at the end of next month, assigned to us by the firms of Pascal and Wild and Turner of Marseille: about fifty-five thousand francs. In all, two hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred francs."
“不，本月底还有这些期票，是巴斯卡商行和马赛威都商行转让给我们银行的，一共大约是五万五千法郎，——总数是，二十八万七千五百法郎。”
Poor Morrel's suffering as all this was being counted out is impossible to describe.
在这一笔一笔计数的时候，摩莱尔所感到的痛苦简直是非笔墨所能形容的。
At this almost brutally direct approach, the colour drained horribly from Morrel's face.
听到这一段几乎近于残酷的话，摩莱尔的脸顿时变成死灰色。
"Two hundred and eighty-seven thousand, five hundred francs," he repeated mechanically.
“二十八万七千五百法郎！”他照样说一遍。
"Monsieur," he said, "so far… and it is now more than twenty-four years since I took over this firm from my father, who had himself managed it for thirty-five years… so far, not a single bill signed by Morrel and Son has been presented at our counter and gone unpaid."
“阁下，”他说，“到目前为止——我从先父手里接过这家公司的经理权到现在已有二十四年多了，而先父也曾亲自经营了三十五年——凡是有摩莱尔父子公司签名的任何票据，还从来不曾失过信用。”
"Yes, Monsieur," the Englishman replied. Then, after a moment's silence: "I cannot conceal from you, Monsieur Morrel, that even allowing for your probity, which until now has been beyond reproach, the general rumour in Marseille is that you will not be able to meet your debts."
“是的，阁下，”英国人答道。“我不必向您隐瞒，”他沉默了一会儿，然后继续说，“到目前为止，您的信实守约是众所周知的，可是据马赛最近的传闻，恐怕您不能履行您的债务。”
"Yes, I know that," said the Englishman. "But, as one man of honour to another, tell me honestly: will you be able to pay these as promptly?"
“那我知道，”英国人回答。“但以一个诚实君子答复一个诚实君子应有的态度来说，请坦白告诉我，这些期票您能不能照样的按时付清？”
"Well? If this last resource were to fail…?"
“嗯，”对方说，“假如这最后一个来源也靠不住了呢？”
Morrel shuddered and looked at the man opposite him with more confidence than he had shown so far.
摩莱尔打了一个寒颤，望一望这个到刚才为止讲话尚未这样斩钉截铁的人。
"Well, Monsieur, it is hard to say it, but… I am already used to misfortune and I must learn to be used to shame… I believe that I should be obliged to withhold payment."
“唉，”摩莱尔答道，“强迫我说这句话是太残酷了，但我是已经惯遭不幸的了，我必须把自己练成老脸皮。我恐怕不得不延期付款。”
"Have you no friends who could help you in these circumstances?"
“难道您没有朋友可以帮助吗？”
Morrel smiled sadly and said: "In business, Monsieur, as you very well know, one has no friends, only associates."
摩莱尔凄然微笑了一下。“在商界，阁下，”他说，“是没有朋友，只有往来的。”
"A question which is asked with such frankness," he said, "deserves an equally frank answer. Yes, Monsieur, I shall pay if, as I hope, my ship arrives safely to port, because its arrival will restore to me the credit that has been lost to me because of a succession of accidents. But if, by misfortune, the Pharaon, which I am counting on as my last resource, were to fail me…"
“问题既然提得直截了当，”他说，“答复也就应该直爽。是的，我可以付清的，假如，能如我的希望，我的船能安全到达，——因为它一到，我因过去许多次意外事件而丧失的信用就又可以恢复了，但假如埃及王号损失了，这最后一个来源也就没有了——”
Tears came to the poor shipowner's eyes.
那可怜的人的眼睛里充满了眼泪。
And M. Morrel added glumly: "This delay is not natural. The Pharaon left Calcutta on February the fifth. It should have been here more than a month ago."
于是，摩莱尔又用一种低沉的声音说，“这次的脱期是说不通的。埃及王号在二月五日离开加尔各答，它应该在一个月以前就到这儿的。”
"What is that?" the foreigner said, straining his ears. "What is the meaning of that noise?"
“那是什么？”英国人问。“这一片闹声是什么意思？”
"I must admit, Monsieur, that I am almost as fearful of receiving news of my vessel as of remaining in this uncertainty. At least uncertainty means the continuation of hope."
“我可以坦白告诉您一件事，阁下？我怕得到我那条船的任何消息，简直就和我怕陷在疑雾中差不多。不确定倒还使人抱有希望。”
"As I was on my way to see you, a ship was coming into port."
“我到这儿来的时候，有一艘船正在进港。”
"No, it is a ship from Bordeaux, the Gironde, also coming from India, but not mine."
“不，那是一条波尔多的船，是吉隆丹号。它也是从印度来的，但却不是我的。”
"Perhaps it encountered the Pharaon and will bring you news."
“或许它曾和埃及王号通过话，给您带了消息来呢？”
"Your last?"
“最后的了？”
"My last."
“最后的了。”
"But it is not yours?"
“而那不是您的吗？”
"That is true," the Englishman muttered. "So you have only one hope left?"
“这倒是真的，”英国人喃喃地说，“那末您只有一个希望了？”
"I know. A young man who has remained loyal to me in my misfortune spends part of his time at a lookout on the top floor of the house, hoping to be able to be the first to bring me good news. He told me of this ship's arrival."
“我知道的，阁下，有一个在我日暮途穷的时候依旧跟着我的青年人，每天花一部分时间守在这间屋子的阁楼上，希望能最先向我来报告好消息。这艘船的进港，他已经通知过我了。”
"I am lost, Monsieur, completely lost."
“我就毁了，整个地毁了！”
"Only one."
“只有一个了。”
"So that if this hope fails…"
“那末要是这一个也耽误——”
Morrel got up to open the door, but his strength failed and he slipped back into his chair. The two men remained facing one another, Morrel shaking uncontrollably, the foreigner studying him with a look of profound pity. The noise had ceased, but Morrel still appeared to be waiting for something: the noise had a cause and must in turn produce some effect. The foreigner thought he could hear the footsteps of several people coming up the stairs and stopping on the landing. A key turned in the first door and it creaked on its hinges.
摩莱尔站起身来，向门口走去，但他的气力支持不住，倒在一张椅子里。两个人面对面地互相望着，——摩莱尔四肢都索索地发抖，那陌生人则带着一种极其怜悯的神色凝视着他。闹声止了，摩莱尔似乎已预料到是什么事：那件事引起了闹声，而那件事是一定会到来的。那陌生人觉得他好象听到楼梯上有脚步声，那是几个人的脚步声，而那个脚步声已在门口停下。一把钥匙插进了第一道门的锁眼，可以听到门上的铰链声。
"My God! Oh, my God!" Morrel exclaimed, becoming pale. "What is it now?"
“噢，噢！”摩莱尔喊道，脸色立刻苍白，“这是什么？”
There was a considerable noise on the staircase: comings and goings, even a cry of distress.
楼梯上传来一片响声，是人们匆忙的奔走声和半窒息的呜咽声。
"Only two people have the key to that door," Morrel muttered, "Coclès and Julie."
“只有两个人有那扇门的钥匙，”摩莱尔喃喃地说，——“柯克莱斯和裘丽。”
At that moment, the second door opened and the young girl appeared, pale, her cheeks bathed in tears. Morrel got up, trembling, and leant against the arm of his chair, because he could not stand up. He wanted to ask a question, but his voice failed him.
这时，第二道门开了，门口出现那泪痕满面的青年姑娘。摩莱尔用手撑着椅臂，颤巍巍地站起来。他本来想说话，但他却说不出来。
"Come in, come in," said Morrel. "I suppose you are all there at the door."
“进来，进来吧！”摩莱尔说，“我料到你们都在门口。”
The girl did not reply, but nodded her head, still pressing it against his chest.
那青年姑娘没有说话，点了点头，依旧躺在她父亲的怀里。
Indeed, no sooner had he spoken these words than Mme Morrel came in, sobbing, followed by Emmanuel. Behind them, in the antechamber, could be seen the rough features of seven or eight half-naked sailors. At the sight of these men, the Englishman started. He took a step as if to approach them, then thought better of it and stepped back into the darkest, most distant corner of the study.
不等他那些话说完，摩莱尔夫人就进来了，她哭得非常伤心。艾曼纽跟在她的后面。在候见室里，还有七八个衣不蔽体的水手的难看的面孔。一看到这些人，那英国人吃了一惊，向前跨了一步，然后他又抑制住自己，退到房间最不受人注意和最远的一个角落。
"And the crew?" Morrel asked.
“船员呢？”摩莱尔问。
Morrel raised both hands heavenwards with a sublime look of resignation and gratitude.
摩莱尔带着一种听天由命和崇高的感激的表情举手向天。
"Father! Father!" she cried. "Have courage!"
“噢，爹爹，爹爹！”她说，“勇敢一点！”
"Oh, father!" the girl said, clasping her hands. "Forgive your child who is the bringer of bad news."
“噢，爹爹！”她绞着双手说，“原谅你的孩子给你带来了不好的消息。”
"Thank you, Lord!" he said. "At least you have smitten me alone."
“谢谢，我的上帝，”他说，“至少您只打击了我一个人！”
Phlegmatic though the Englishman was, a tear rose to his eye.
那英国人虽然平时极不易动感情，这时也有一股眼泪润湿了他的眼睛。
"Safe," said the girl, "saved by the ship from Bordeaux that has just come into port."
“救起来了，”姑娘说，“是刚才进港的那条船上的船员救起来的。”
The colour drained from Morrel's cheeks and Julie threw herself into his arms.
摩莱尔的脸色又一次变白了。裘丽扑入他的怀里。
"The Pharaon is lost?" he asked in a strangled voice.
“那末埃及王号完了吗？”摩莱尔说，声音已嘶哑。
"Come here, Penelon," said the young man, "and tell us."
“过来一点，庇尼龙，”那青年人说，“从头至尾讲出来。”
Mme Morrel went and sat down in the armchair, taking one of her husband's hands in her own, while Julie remained clinging to his breast. Emmanuel had stayed half-way across the room and seemed to link the Morrel family group to the sailors at the door.
摩莱尔夫人在她丈夫的身旁坐下来，握住他的一只手：裘丽依旧把她的头靠在他的肩头；艾曼纽站在房间中央，象是在作摩莱尔一家人和门口的水手们之间的联系人。
"How did it happen?" Morrel asked.
“事情的经过是怎么样的？”摩莱尔说。
"Good day, Monsieur Morrel," he said, as if he had left Marseille only the day before and had returned from Aix or Toulon.
“日安，摩莱尔先生，”他说，好象他是昨天晚上离开马赛，刚从埃克斯或土伦回来似的。
"As far as the captain is concerned, Monsieur Morrel, he stayed behind, ill, in Palma. But, God willing, it was nothing and you will see him home in a few days, as fit as you or I."
“船长，摩莱尔先生，——他生病留在帕尔马了，感谢上帝，病得并不厉害，几天之后你就可以看到他健康地回来。”
Penelon switched his quid of tobacco from the right cheek to the left, put his hand in front of his mouth, turned around and spat a long jet of blackish saliva into the antechamber, then stepped forward and, swaying on his hips, began:
庇尼龙把他嘴里的烟草从右面顶到左面，用手遮住嘴巴，转过头去，喷了一大口烟汁，然后摆开一只脚，开始讲了。
An old sailor, tanned by the equatorial sun, stepped forward, twisting the remains of a hat between his hands.
一个被热带的太阳晒成棕褐色的老海员向前走了几步，两手不住地旋转着一顶残破的帽子。
"That's good. Now speak up, Penelon," said M. Morrel.
“很好，现在你把事情讲讲吧，庇尼龙。”
"Good day, my friend," the shipowner said, unable to suppress a smile, even through his tears. "But where is your captain?"
“日安，庇尼龙！”摩莱尔回答，他虽然微笑着，却禁不住满眶热泪，“船长在哪儿？”
"'What do I think of them, Captain? What I think is they're coming up a bit faster than they need to and they're a bit darker than well-meaning clouds have any right to be.'"
“‘我看它们是升得太快了，不象是没有原因的，要是它们不是预报灾祸，就不会那样黑。’”
"'I'm thinking the same myself," said the captain, "and I'm going to take some precautions. We are carrying too much sail for the wind that's coming. Hey, there! Bring in the royal and furl the flying jib!'"
“‘我也是这样看，’船长说，‘我先来防一手。我们张的帆太多啦。喂！全体来松帆！拉落三角头帆！’”
"Well now, Monsieur Morrel, we were near enough between Cape Blanc and Cape Boyador and sailing before a nice south-south-easter after having been well and truly becalmed for a week, when Captain Gaumard came over to me -- I should mention I was at the wheel -- and said: 'Penelon, old boy, what do you think of them there clouds gathering on the horizon?'"
“你瞧，摩莱尔先生，”他说，“开初我们风平浪静的航行了一星期，然后在布兰克岬和波加达岬之间的一段海面上乘着一阵和缓的南——西南风航行，忽然茄马特船长走到我面前，——我得告诉你，我是在后梢，——说，‘庇尼龙，你看那边升起的那些云是什么意思？’”
"And I'll be blowed if I wasn't looking at them myself."
“我那时自己也正在看那些云。”
"Five minutes later, the mainsail was furled and we had only the foresail, the topsails and the topgallants."
“五分钟以后，大帆落下来了，我们只得扯着尾帆和上桅帆航行。”
"It was not before time. Hardly had the order been carried out than we had the wind on our heels and the ship was listing."
“真是千钧一发哪，狂风已经赶上我们了，船开始倾侧起来。”
"'Fair enough!' said the captain. 'We're still carrying too much sail. Furl the mainsail!'"
“‘呀，’船长说，‘我们的帆还是扯得太多了，全体来落大帆！’”
"'Because, in your place, I still wouldn't be running ahead like that.'"
“‘咦，’我说，‘我想它不见得就此肯罢休呢。’”
"'So, tell me, old Penelon,' said the captain. 'Why are you shaking your head?'"
“‘喂，庇尼龙，’船长说，‘你为什么摇头？’”
"By which I mean you could see the wind coming like you can see the dust rising in Montredon. Luckily this storm was up against a man who knew it."
“你可以看到那风就象蒙德里顿的灰沙一样的刮过来，幸而船长懂事。”
Everyone started at the unexpected sound of this firm, sonorous voice. Penelon shaded his eyes with his hand and looked at the person who was so confidently directing his captain's manoeuvre.
他这坚决，响亮和出人意外的声音使人人都吃了一惊。庇尼龙把手遮在眉毛上，定目凝视这个批评他船长的技术的人。
"'I think you're right, old man,' he said. 'There's a puff of wind coming.'"
“‘你说得不错，’他回答说，‘我们要遇到大风了。’”
"'If that's how you like to put it, Captain,' I said. 'Anyone who bought what's down there at the price of a puff would make on the bargain. It's an out-and-out storm, if I've ever seen one.'"
“‘大风！不止大风，我们要遇到的是一阵暴风，不然就算我不懂。’”
"'Double-reef the topsails!' the captain yelled. 'Let go the bowlines, to take in the topsails and weigh the yards!'"
“‘全体注意！顶帆收两隔！’船长喊道，‘帆脚索放松，绑紧，落上桅帆，扯起帆桁上的滑车！’”
"We did better than that, Monsieur," the old sailor said, with some respect, "because we struck the mizzen and turned into the wind to run before the storm. Ten minutes later, we struck the main topsails and went on with bare masts."
“我们干得更好，先生，”老水手带着相当敬意说，“我们把船尾对准风头，顺风奔走。十分钟以后，我们扯落顶帆，光着桅杆飞驶。”
"That was not enough in those waters," said the Englishman. "I should have reefed in four times and got rid of the foresail."
“在那种纬度的地方这样是不够的，”那英国人说。“要是我，我就把顶帆放四隔，把尾帆扯落。”
"The ship was rather old to risk doing that," the Englishman said.
“那艘船太旧了，经不起那样的风险。”英国人说。
"'Dammit!' I said after we'd struggled for four hours. 'Since we're sinking, let's sink; you only die once!'"
“‘呀，’在抽了四个钟头水以后，我说，‘既然我们是在往下沉，就让我们沉下去算了吧，我们总得死一次的。’”
"I gave him the wheel and went below. There was already three feet of water. I came back up, shouting: "All hands to the pump! To the pump!" But it was already too late. We all set to it, but I think the more we put out, the more there was coming in."
“我把舵交给他，就下去了，那儿已经有三呎深的水。我喊道，‘全体来抽水！’可是太迟了，好象我们抽出得愈多，进来的就更多。”
"That was well done," said the Englishman.
“干得好！”英国人说。
"Nothing inspires a man like a solid argument," the sailor went on, "and all the more so as meanwhile the weather had lightened and the wind had fallen. But, for all that, the water kept on rising, not much, perhaps two inches an hour, but it did rise. You see, two inches an hour may seem like nothing; but in twelve hours it's not an inch short of twenty-four, and twenty-four inches are two feet. Those two feet, added to the three we had already, makes five. And when a ship has five feet of water in it, it's fit to be called dropsical."
“只要道理讲得对，大家自然会有勇气，”那水手继续说。“那个时候，风势减了，海也平下去了，但水却不断地涨上来，——不多，只是每小时两吋，但它还是涨。每小时两吋似乎不算多，但十二小时就成两呎啦，而两呎加上我们以前有的三呎就变成了五呎。”
"Yes, it was indeed! That's what did for us. After twelve hours of being tossed this way and that, as if the devil was on our tail, we sprang a leak. 'Penelon,' the captain told me, 'I think we're going under, old chap. Give me the wheel and go down into the hold.'"
“哦，就是这把我们断送啦，在颠簸了十二个钟头以后，船出了一个漏洞。‘庇尼龙，’船长说，‘我看我们是在往下沉，把舵给我，到下舱去看看。’”
"'Is that how you set an example, Master Penelon?' said the captain. 'Well, just you wait there.' And he went to fetch a pair of pistols from his cabin. 'The first man who leaves the pump,' said he, 'I'll blow his brains out.'"
“‘这可是你做的榜样吗，庇尼龙？’船长喊道，‘好极，等一等。’他到他的船舱里去拿了一对手枪回来。‘谁第一个离开抽水机，我就一枪把他的脑髓打出来！’他说。”
"The captain came down last; or, rather, he didn't come down, because he didn't want to leave the ship. I had to seize him myself and throw him after our shipmates, before jumping in myself. It was not too soon. Just after I jumped, the deck burst with a noise which you would have thought was a volley from a forty-eight-gun man-of-war."
“船长最后一个下来，说得更准确一点，他没有下来，他不肯离开大船，所以我就把他拦腰抱起，抛进小船，然后我自己也跟着跳下去。真是千钧一发，因为我刚跳开，甲板就嘣的一声象一艘主力舰上边众炮齐发似的炸裂了。”
"Listen, Monsieur Morrel," Penelon continued. "We loved the Pharaon but, much as a sailor may love his ship, he loves his hide better. So we didn't wait to be asked twice, especially as the ship itself was groaning as if to say: 'Be off with you, be off with you.' And it was telling the truth, the poor old Pharaon, because you could feel it literally going down under our feet. So in a trice the boat was in the sea and all eight of us were in the boat."
“唉，”庇尼龙继续说，“你知道，摩莱尔先生，一个水手是舍不得他的船的，但却更舍不得他的命，所以我们也不等他再说第二遍。愈是那样，船就愈沉得快，象是在说：‘走吧，逃命去吧！’我们马上把小船放到水里，八个人都跳到里面。”
"'Come on, then,' said the captain. 'That's enough. Monsieur Morrel will have nothing to reproach us for: we've done what we could to save the ship; now we must try to save the men. To the boats, boys, and look sharp about it.'"
“‘来，’船长说，‘我们已经尽了我们的力了，摩莱尔先生不能再怪我们。上救生艇去，孩子们，越快越好！’”
"Ten minutes later, it dipped its bows, then its stern, then started to roll over like a dog chasing its own tail. And finally, heigh-ho, boys! Brrrou…! Down she went, no more Pharaon!"
“十分钟以后，它就向前倾，然后又横倒，连翻了几个身，于是就再会了埃及王号。”
"As for us, we were three days with nothing to eat or drink, and we'd even started to talk about drawing lots to see which of us would be food for the rest, when we saw the Gironde. We signalled to her, she saw us, made for where we were, put down her boat and picked us up. That's how it happened, Monsieur Morrel, on my word! On the word of a sailor! Isn't that true, you others?"
“至于我们，我们有三天没吃没喝，所以我们开始想抽签，看那一个来当其余的人的牺牲品，正在这时，我们看见了吉隆丹号，我们就发出求救的讯号，它看见了我们，向我们驶过来，把我们都救上了船。唉，摩莱尔先生，那就是全部事实，我是凭一个水手的名誉说的，是不是真的？你们那些人说吧。”
A general murmur of assent showed that the storyteller had unanimous support for the truth of the basic facts and the picturesque embroidery of the details.
一片“是的”附和声证明这个叙述者已忠实详细地说出了他们的不幸和受苦的情形。
"Oh, no! Let's not talk about that, Monsieur Morrel."
“噢，那个我们不谈了吧，摩莱尔先生。”
"Very well, my friends," said M. Morrel, "you are fine men, and I already knew that no one was responsible for the misfortune that has befallen me other than my own fate. It's God's will and not the fault of men. Let us bow to His will. Now, how much pay are you owed?"
“很好，很好，”摩莱尔先生说，“我知道谁都没有错，这只能怪命。这件事是上帝的意志，赞美上帝！你们的工资还该付多少？”
"Coclès, pay two hundred francs to each of these good men. At any other time, my friends," he went on, "I should have added: 'And give each of them two hundred francs bonus.' But times are bad, and the little money that remains is not mine to give. So accept my regrets, and don't hold it against me."
“柯克莱斯！这些好汉子每一个付两百法郎给他们，”摩莱尔说。“要是在别的时候，”他又说，“我本来会说，另外再给他们两百法郎，算是送礼的，但时代不同罗，我现在仅有的一点钱不是我自己的了。”
"In that case, we are owed three months…" said Penelon.
“好吧，那末，是三个月。”庇尼龙说。
"On the contrary, let's," said the shipowner with a melancholy smile.
“不，我们要谈。”
"What's concerned?"
“至于什么？”
"The money…"
“那钱。”
Penelon grimaced with emotion, turned to his companions, said a few words to them and turned back.
庇尼龙转身和他的同伴商量了几句话。
"As far as that's concerned, Monsieur Morrel," he said, shifting his quid of tobacco to the other side of his mouth and sending a second jet of saliva into the antechamber to balance the first, "as far as that's concerned…"
“至于那个，摩莱尔先生，”他说，又转动着他嘴里的那块烟草块，——“至于那个——”
"My dear friends!" exclaimed M. Morrel, deeply moved. "Thank you, you are all the best of men. But take it! Take it, and if you find a good owner to sail with, join him, you are free."
“谢谢，我的朋友们，谢谢！”摩莱尔按着心口说。“拿了吧，拿了吧！假如你们能找到另外一个老板，去为他服务吧。你们尽管可以那样做。”
"Well?"
“怎么？”
"Well, Monsieur Morrel, my comrades say that for the moment they will have enough with fifty francs each, and they can wait for the rest."
“我们都说，我们目前只要五十法郎就够了，其余的我们等到下次再算。”
"I have no money left to build ships, Penelon," the shipowner replied, smiling sadly. "I can't accept your offer, generous as it is."
“我没有钱再造船了，庇尼龙，”船主带着一个悲哀的微笑说，“所以我不能接受你们的好意。”
This last remark produced a startling effect on the worthy seamen. They looked at one another aghast. Penelon, as if winded by a blow, almost swallowed his quid; luckily he put a hand to his throat in time.
这最后的几个字在海员们身上发生了一种不可思议的影响。庇尼龙几乎把他的烟草块咽了下去，幸而他又吐了出来。
"What, Monsieur Morrel!" he said in a strangled voice. "What! You are dismissing us! Are you displeased with us?"
“什么！摩莱尔先生，”他用一种低沉的声音说，“你打发我们走吗？那末你生我们的气了吗？”
"No, my children, not at all," said the shipowner. "I am not displeased, quite the opposite. I am not dismissing you. But what do you expect? I have no more ships, I have no further need of seamen."
“不，不！”摩莱尔先生说，“我没有生气，我不是打发你们走，但我已没有船了，所以我不需要任何水手了。”
"Well, if you have no money, don't pay us. We'll just do what the poor old Pharaon did: we'll keep our sails furled!"
“没有钱了！那末你一定不要再付钱给我们。我们可以象埃及王号一样，两手空空走的。”
"What do you mean, you have no more ships?" said Penelon. "Well, have some more built. We'll wait. Thank God, we know what it is to ride out a spell of bad weather."
“没有船！”庇尼龙答道，“嗯，那末，你会造的呀，我们可以等你。”
"Enough, my dear friends, enough!" M. Morrel exclaimed, stifled with emotion. "Go, I beg you. We shall meet again in better times. You go with them, Emmanuel, and see that my wishes are carried out."
“够了，够了，我的朋友们！”摩莱尔喊道，他几乎要被压倒了。“离开我吧，我求求你们，我们将来在时势好些的时候再见。艾曼纽，陪他们下去，执行我的吩咐。”
"No, my friends -- at least, I hope not. Goodbye then." He signalled to Coclès, who took the lead; the sailors followed the cashier and Emmanuel followed the sailors.
“是的，我的朋友们，至少，我希望如此。现在去吧。”他向柯克莱斯示意，柯克莱斯就先走，海员们跟在他的后面，艾曼纽在后。
"Now," the shipowner said to his wife and daughter, "please leave us alone for a moment. I have to talk to this gentleman."
“现在，”船主对他的妻子和女儿说，“离开我吧，我想和这位先生谈一谈。”
"At least this is not farewell for ever, is it, Monsieur Morrel?" said Penelon.
“至少，我们可以再见的吧，摩莱尔先生？”庇尼龙问。
He nodded towards the representative of Thomson and French, who had remained motionless throughout this scene, standing in his corner and intervening only with the few words we mentioned. The two women looked at the stranger, whom they had entirely forgotten, and left the room; but as she went the girl addressed a sublime look of supplication to him, to which he replied with a smile that any disinterested observer would have been astonished to see flowering on that icy face. The two men were left alone.
于是他向汤姆生·弗伦奇银行的专员瞥了一眼，后者在这一幕场面中，始终坐在那个角落，除了我们上面所提过的那几句话以外，他不曾有过别的举动。两个女人对这个人望了一望，她们已完全忘记有这个人在场，于是就退了出去。裘丽在离开房间的时候，对陌生人投了一个恳求的眼光，后者答她一个微笑，当时要是有一个无利害关系的旁观者在场，看到他那严肃的脸上竟会发出这样的微笑，一定会很感到惊奇。房间里这时只剩下了两个男人。
"Well, Monsieur," said Morrel, slumping down into a chair. "You saw and heard everything, so there is nothing for me to say."
“唉，先生，”摩莱尔倒入一张椅子里，说，“您都听见了，我再没有什么可告诉您的了。”
"What I saw, Monsieur," said the Englishman, "is that you have suffered a further misfortune, as undeserved as the rest, and this has confirmed me in my desire to oblige you."
“我知道，”英国人答道，“一场新的，不公的灾难已降到您的身上，而这只能增加我为您效劳的愿望。”
"Well, reassign all these bills to September the fifth. On that day at eleven in the morning" (the clock showed precisely eleven as he spoke) "I shall present myself here."
“好，请把这些期票重新开过，改到九月五日，到九月五日，十一点钟，时钟的针指在十一点上，我来收钱。”
"Oh, Monsieur!" said Morrel.
“噢，阁下！”摩莱尔喊道。
"Yes."
“是的。”
Morrel hesitated. "Two months," he said.
摩莱尔想了一想。“两个月。”他说。
"How long do you need?"
“您希望延期多久？”
The last words were spoken so softly that the other man could not hear them.
这最后的几个字的音调是说得这样的低，以致那陌生人根本听不到。
"But do you think that the house of Thomson and French…?"
“但是，”摩莱尔问道，“汤姆生·弗伦奇银行能同意吗？”
The bills were renewed, the old ones torn up, and at least the poor shipowner found himself with three months to muster his last resources. The Englishman accepted his thanks with the sang-froid peculiar to his nation and took his leave of Morrel, who accompanied him with his blessings as far as the door.
期票重新开过，旧的撕毁，那可怜的船主发现自己还有三个月的时间可以让他设法。英国人以他那一民族所特具的平静的态度接受了他的一番谢意，摩莱尔向他说了许多感激的话，亲自送他到楼梯口。
"Would you like a stay before paying me?"
“您希望延期付款吗？”
"You are certainly the one whose bills fall due in the shortest time."
“您的期票，至少，是最先该付的。”
"Have no fear, Monsieur, I take full responsibility. Today is June the fifth."
“噢，一切由我负责好了。今天是六月五日？”
"Let us see," said the foreigner. "I am one of your principal creditors, am I not?"
“我看，”那陌生人又说，“我是您最大的债权人吧？是不是？”
"A space of time might save my honour and so my life."
“延期可以救我的名誉，因而也可以救我的生命。”
"I shall be waiting for you, Monsieur," said Morrel. "And you shall be paid, or I shall be dead."
“我等着您，”摩莱尔回答说，“我会付款给你的，——不然，我就死。”
"Good. I shall give you three."
“我愿意给您三个月。”那陌生人回答。
"I promise."
“我向您发誓，我一定照办！”
On the staircase he met Julie. The girl was pretending to go down, but in fact had been waiting for him.
那陌生人在楼梯上遇见了裘丽，她假装要下楼，但实际上是在等他。
"Very well. Farewell, Mademoiselle. Stay always as good and virtuous as you are now and I truly believe God will reward you by giving you Emmanuel as a husband."
“很好。再会，小姐！愿你永远象现在一样的纯洁高尚，我相信上天会报答你，赐艾曼纽做你的丈夫。”
"Yes, Monsieur," Julie said.
“是的，先生。”裘丽回答。
"Oh, Monsieur!" she said, clasping her hands.
“噢，阁下！”她绞着双手说。
"Do you promise me this?"
“你答应吗？”
"Mademoiselle," the foreigner said. "One day you will receive a letter signed by… Sinbad the Sailor. Do precisely as this letter tells you, however strange its instructions may seem."
“小姐，”那陌生人说，“有一天，你会接到一封署名‘水手辛巴德’的信。不论那封信看来是多么奇怪，你一定要按照信上所吩咐你的话去做。”
Julie gave a little cry, blushed as red as a cherry and clasped the banister to stop herself falling. The stranger went on his way, with a wave of farewell. In the courtyard he met Penelon, who was holding a roll of one hundred francs in each hand, apparently undecided whether to take them with him.
裘丽轻轻地喊了一声，面孔红得象一朵玫瑰，靠身在栏杆上。那陌生人摆摆手，继续下楼去。他在天井里找到庇尼龙，庇尼龙正一手拿着一封一百法郎的纸包，似乎不能决定究竟是拿了好还是不拿好。
"Come with me, friend," the stranger said. "We must talk."
“跟我来，朋友，”英国人说，“我想跟你谈一谈。”