双语·《刀锋》 第五章 八

CHAPTER FIVE 8
第五章 八

A couple of days later, when I went to see Elliott, I found him beaming.
两三天后，我登门去看望艾略特，发现他满脸喜色。

“Look，”he said，“I've had my invitation. It came this morning.”
“瞧，”他说道，“我收到请帖了，是今天上午收到的。”

He took the card out from under his pillow and showed it to me.
说完，他从枕头下取出请帖递给我看。

“It's what I told you，”I said.“You see, your name begins with a T. The secretary has evidently only just reached you.”
“我不是早就告诉过你了么。”我说道，“要知道，你的姓是以T开头的。显然，秘书写请帖才轮到你。”

“I h a v e n'tans we red yet.I'll do it to morrow.”
“我还没有写回信呢。明天会写的。”

I had a moment's fright at that.
我一听，吓了一大跳。

“Would you like me to answer it for you?I could post it when I leave you.”
“愿不愿意让我代笔？我走时可以将回信送到邮局去。”

“No, why should you?I'm quite capable of answering invitations myself.”
“哪里的话！为什么要你代笔？我完全能自己写回信的。”

Fortunately, I thought, the envelope would be opened by Miss Keith and she would have the sense to suppress it. Elliott rang the bell.
我暗忖，幸亏拆信人将会是吉斯小姐。她又不傻，肯定会把信扣下来的。这时，艾略特摇了摇铃说：

“I want to show you my costume.”
“我想让你看看我的礼服。”

“You're not thinking of going, Elliott?”
“你不是真的要去吧，艾略特？”

“Of course I am. I haven't worn it since the Beaumont's ball.”
“当然要去。自从去比奥蒙茨家参加过那次舞会之后，这套礼服再没有穿过。”

Joseph answered the bell and Elliott told him to bring the costume. It was in a large flat box, wrapped in tissue paper.There were long white silk hose, padded trunks of cloth of gold slashed with white satin, a doublet to match, a cloak, a ruff to wear round the neck, a flat velvet cap, and a long gold chain from which hung the order of the Golden Fleece.I recognized it as a copy of the gorgeous dress worn by Philip the Second in Titian's portrait at the Prado, and when Elliott told me it was exactly the costume the Count de Lauria had worn at the wedding of the King of Spain with the Queen of England I could not but think that he was giving rein to his imagination.
约瑟夫听见铃声走了进来，艾略特让他把礼服取来。那套礼服放在一个大大的扁平盒子里，用薄棉纸包着。这里面有白绸长袜、带衬里的白锦缎裹边的织金布紧身裤，配一件紧身上衣、一件大氅、一条围在脖子上的绉领、一个平顶丝绒便帽、一条长金链子，链子的一头挂着金羊毛勋章。我认出这套礼服是根据提香所画的菲力普二世穿的那套豪华服装仿制的，而那幅画就在普拉多。艾略特却告诉我，说这套礼服是劳里亚伯爵在参加西班牙国王和英国女王的婚礼时穿过的，这就让我觉得他的想象太离谱了。

On the following morning while I was having breakfast I was called to the telephone. It was Joseph to tell me that Elliott had had another bad attack during the night and the doctor, hurriedly summoned, doubted whether he would last through the day.I sent for the car and drove over to Antibes.I found Elliott unconscious.He had resolutely refused to have a nurse, but I found one there, sent for by the doctor from the English hospital between Nice and Beaulieu, and was glad to see her.I went out and telegraphed to Isabel.She and Gray were spending the summer with the children at the inexpensive seaside resort of La Baule.It was a long journey and I was afraid they would not get to Antibes in time.Except for her two brothers, whom he had not seen for years, she was Elliott's only living relative.
次日上午正在吃早饭时，我被叫去接电话。电话是约瑟夫打来的，说艾略特夜间又发病了，他急忙把医生请了来，医生说艾略特恐怕连今天也熬不过去了。我让服务生将汽车开过来，然后驱车前往安提比斯。艾略特正处于昏迷状态。艾略特原先坚决不肯用护士，可是我却看见有个护士在场，是医生从那个位于尼斯与博略之间的英国医院找来的，这令我看了心里感到欣慰。我出去给伊莎贝尔发了封电报。她和格雷带着孩子正在拉波勒的那个比较便宜的海滨度假地消夏，来安提比斯要走很远的路，恐怕来不及为艾略特送终了。她还有两个哥哥，但和艾略特多年不见，所以她算是艾略特在世的唯一亲人了。

But the will to live was strong in him, or it may be that the doctor's medicaments were effective, for during the course of the day he rallied. Though shattered, he put on a bold front and amused himself by asking the nurse indecent questions about her sex life.I stayed with him most of the afternoon, and next day, on going to see him again, found him, though very weak, sufficiently cheerful.The nurse would only let me stay with him a short time.I was worried at not having received an answer to my telegram.Not knowing Isabel's address at La Baule I had sent it to Paris and feared that the concierge had delayed to forward it.It was not till two days later that I got a reply to say that they were starting at once.As ill luck would have it, Gray and Isabel were on a motor trip in Brittany and had only just had my wire.I looked up the trains and saw that they could not arrive for at least thirty-six hours.
不过，艾略特求生的欲望异常强烈，要不然就是医生用的药产生了作用，反正就在这一天他恢复了意识。尽管已是垂危之人，他仍强打起精神说俏皮话，问了几个有关于护士性生活的下流问题。这天下午的大部分时间，我都守在他身旁。第二天又去看他，发现他虽然身体十分虚弱，情绪却很好。护士只允许我在跟前待很短一点时间。发给伊莎贝尔的电报仍未见回音，这让我感到焦虑。由于不知道伊莎贝尔在拉波勒的地址，电报发到了巴黎去。怕就怕门房转送电报时耽搁了时间。两天之后，我才收到了回电，说他们立刻启程。事情很不凑巧，伊莎贝尔和格雷乘汽车到布列塔尼游玩去了，刚刚接到我的电报。我查了一下列车时刻表，发现他们至少要三十六个小时才能赶来。

Early next morning Joseph called me again to tell me that Elliott had had a very bad night and was asking for me. I hurried over.When I arrived Joseph took me aside.
次日一大早，约瑟夫把电话又打了来，说艾略特夜间病情恶化，提出要见我。我一听，急急忙忙赶了过去。我一到，约瑟夫便将我拉到一旁说：

“Monsieur will excuse me if I speak to him on a delicate subject，”he said to me.“I am of course a freethinker andbelieve all religion is nothing but a conspiracy of the priests to gain control over the people, but Monsieur knows what women are. My wife and the chambermaid insist that the poor gentleman should receive the last sacraments and evidently the time is growing short.”He looked at me in rather a shamefaced way.“And the fact remains, one never knows, perhaps it is better, if one's got to die, to regularize one's situation with the Church.”
“先生，如果我说的事情不合时宜，请你原谅我的冒昧。按说，我是不信教的，认为所有的宗教只不过是神父玩弄的阴谋诡计，为的是控制人们的思想。可是，先生也知道，女人们并不这么想。我的妻子和女佣都坚持认为我们的主人应该得到最后的祝福。现在时间已所剩不多。”他用眼睛看着我，一脸难为情的神色，“现在的事情谁也说不清。也许，一个人临死之前，最好还是改善与教会的关系。”

I understood him perfectly. However freely they mock, most Frenchmen, when the end comes, prefer to make their peace with the faith that is part of their blood and bones.
他的心态我很清楚。大多数法国人，不管平时怎样揶揄嘲笑宗教，但宗教毕竟跟他们血肉相连，一旦生命到了终点，他们还是愿意妥协的。

“Do you want me to suggest it to him?”
“你是要我向他提出吗？”

“If Monsieur would have the goodness.”
“先生如果愿意，那是再好不过了。”

It was not a job I much fancied, but after all Elliott had been for many years a devout Catholic, and it was fitting that he should conform to the obligations of his faith. I went up to his room.He was lying on his back, shrivelled and wan, but perfectly conscious.I asked the nurse to leave us alone.
这个差事我并不怎么喜欢，但是，艾略特毕竟多少年来都是个虔诚的天主教徒，所以，履行一个天主教徒的职责也是理所当然的。我上楼走进他的房间，见他平躺在床上，脸色憔悴，瘦得都成了个干巴人，但神志十分清楚。我让护士出去一会儿。

“I'm afraid you're very ill, Elliott，”I said.“I was wondering, I was wondering if you wouldn't like to see a priest?”
“你的病情恐怕十分危重了，艾略特。”我启口说道，“不知道……不知道你愿不愿意请个牧师来？”

He looked at me for a minute without answering.
他看着我，半天没说话。

“D'you mean to say I'm going to die?”
“你的意思是说我就要死了？”

“Oh, I hope not. But it's just as well to be on the safe side.”
“哦，但愿不是这样。不过，不怕一万就怕万一么。”

“I understand.”
“我懂了。”

He was silent. It is a terrible moment when you have to tell someone what I had just told Elliott.I could not look at him.I clenched my teeth because I was afraid I was going to cry.I was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing him, with my arm outstretched for support.
他一时哑了口。这是一个令人痛心的时刻——明知此话会刺激艾略特，却又不得不说。我不忍心看他，咬紧牙关，生怕会哭出声来。此时，我坐在床沿上，面向他，伸出一只胳臂撑着身体。

He patted my hand.
他在我的手背上拍了拍，说道：

“Don't be upset, my dear fellow. Noblesse oblige, you know.”
“别难过，老伙计。要知道，这是必须走的一步。”

I laughed hysterically.
我听了，破涕为笑，说道：

“You ridiculous creature, Elliott.”
“你真是个奇怪的家伙，艾略特。”

“That's better. Now call up the bishop and say that I wish to make my confession and receive Extreme Unction.I would be grateful if he'd send the Abbé Charles.He’s a friend of mine.”
“这就对了。现在打电话给主教，说我要忏悔并且接受涂油礼。如果能把查尔斯神父派来，我将感激不尽。他是我的朋友。”

The Abbé Charles was the bishop’s vicar general whom I had occasion to mention before.I went downstairs and telephoned.I spoke to the bishop himself.
查尔斯神父是主教的代理人，在前边的一章里提到过。我下楼去打电话，跟主教通上了话。

“Is it urgent?”he asked.
“很急吗？”他问。

“Very.”
“十万火急。”

“I will attend to it at once.”
“我这就办理。”

The doctor arrived and I told him what I had done. He went up with the nurse to see Elliott and I waited on the ground floor in the dining-room.It is only twenty minutes'drive from Nice to Antibes and little more than half an hour later a black sedan drew up at the door.Joseph came to me.
医生来时，我把刚才的事情跟他讲了讲。随后，他便带着护士上楼去看艾略特，而我守候在楼下的餐厅里。从尼斯来安提比斯只有二十分钟的车程，所以过了半小时多一点，就有一辆黑颜色的大轿车停在了门口。约瑟夫跑来找我。

“C'est Monseigneur en personne, Monsieur，”he said in a flurry.“It's the bishop himself.”
“是主教本人，先生，”他慌慌张张地说，“主教大人亲自来了。”

I went out to receive him. He was not as usual accompanied by his vicar general, but, why I did not know, by a young abbé who bore a casket that contained, I supposed, the utensils needed to administer the sacrament.The chauffeur followed with a shabby black valise.The bishop shook hands with me and presented his companion.
我急忙迎出门去。这次，主教没有像往常那样身旁跟着那位代理人，不知怎么却带来了一个年轻的神父，这位神父手捧一个匣子，我想里面可能装的是施涂油礼的用具。司机紧随其后，手提一只寒碜的黑色旅行箱。主教和我握了手，把同来的神父介绍给了我。

“How is our poor friend?”
“咱们的那位可怜的朋友怎么样了？”

“I'm afraid he's very ill, Monseigneur.”
“恐怕已处于病危状态，主教大人。”

“Will you be so obliging as to show us into a room where we can enrobe?”
“是不是请你把我们带到哪个房间里去，让我们把法衣换上。”

“The dining-room is here, Monseigneur, and the drawing-room is on the next floor.”
“这儿是餐厅，主教大人。客厅在楼上。”

“The dining-room will do very well.”
“到餐厅里换就很好了。”

I ushered him in. Joseph and I waited in the hall.Presently the door opened and the bishop came out, followed by the abbé holding in both hands the chalice surmounted by a little platter on which lay the consecrated wafer.They were covered by a cambric napkin so fine that it was transparent.I had never seen the bishop but at a dinner or luncheonparty, and a very good trencherman he was, who enjoyed his food and a glass of good wine, telling funny and sometimes ribald stories with verve.He had struck me then as a sturdy, thickset man of no more than average height.Now, in surplice and stole, he looked not only tall, but stately.His red face, puckered as a rule with malicious yet kindly laughter, was grave.There was in his appearance nothing left of the cavalry officer he had once been；he looked, what indeed he was, a great dignitary of the Church.I was hardly surprised to see Joseph cross himself.The bishop inclined his head in a slight bow.
我把他领进了餐厅，然后和约瑟夫在过厅里等候。不一会儿，门开了，主教走了出来，后面跟着神父；神父双手捧着一只圣餐杯，杯子上放一个小盘子，里面有一块行圣礼用的圣饼。这些东西用一块细麻纱餐巾盖着，而麻纱是透明的。之前，我只是在晚宴或午宴上见到过主教，知道他是个大肚汉，喜欢美食美酒，喜欢讲幽默故事，有时甚至还讲些粗俗的笑话。那时候，他给我的印象是一个身体结实强壮的人，只有中等身材。今天他穿上白法衣，披上圣带，看上去不但个头很高，而且庄严肃穆。他的那张红脸，平时总是乐呵呵的，笑容可掬，现在却一副严肃相。从外表上看，过去的那个骑兵军官在他身上找不到一丝痕迹了；此刻，他的面相符合于他在教会的实际地位，一看就知道是个显贵人物。难怪约瑟夫见了肃然起敬，在胸前画了个十字。主教身子微微一躬，点了点头。

“Conduct me to the sick man，”he said.
“领我去见病人吧。”他说道。

I made way for him to ascend the stairs before me, but he bade me precede him. We went up in solemn silence.I entered Elliott's room.
我闪开身子，让他先上楼，而他却叫我走在前边。于是，我们一声不响，一脸严肃地上了楼。我先一步走进艾略特的病房通报道：

“The bishop has come himself, Elliott.”
“主教大人亲自来了，艾略特。”

Elliott struggled to raise himself to a sitting position.
艾略特挣扎着坐了起来。

“Monseigneur, this is an honour I did not venture to expect.”
“主教大人亲自光临，我感到不胜荣幸。”

“Do not move, my friend.”The bishop turned to the nurse and me.“Leave us.”And then to the abbé：“I will call you when I am ready.”
“你别动，我的朋友。”主教叫了一声，然后对我和护士说：“请你们先出去一下。”接着，他又转向那个神父叮咛道：“你也出去，到时候我叫你。”

The abbé glanced around and I guessed that he was looking for a place to set down the chalice.I pushed aside the tortoiseshell-backed brushes on the dressing-table.The nurse went downstairs and I led the abbé into the adjoining room which Elliott used as a study.The windows were open to the blue sky and he went over and stood by one of them.I sat down.A race of Stars was in progress and their sails gleamed dazzling white against the azure.A big schooner with a black hull, her red sails spread, was beating up against the breeze towards the harbour.I recognized her for a lobster boat, bringing a catch from Sardinia to supply the gala dinners at the casinos with a fish course.Through the closed door I could hear the muffled murmur of voices.Elliott was making his confession.I badly wanted a cigarette, but feared the abbé would be shocked if I lit one.He stood motionless, looking out, a slender young man, and his thick waving black hair, his fine dark eyes, his olive skin revealed his Italian origin.There was the quick fire of the South in his aspect and I asked myself what urgent faith, what burning desire had caused him to abandon the joys of life, the pleasures of his age, and the satisfaction of his senses, to devote himself to the service of God.
神父四下里瞧瞧，我猜想他很可能是要找个地方放下手中的圣杯，于是就将梳妆台上的那把玳瑁壳镶背的发刷推开为他腾地方。护士下楼去了，我把神父领进隔壁的房间，此处是艾略特的书房。书房的窗户敞开着，望得见外边的蓝天。他走到一扇窗户前观景。我则坐下来休息。海上正在进行帆船赛，白帆在蓝天的映衬下显得格外耀眼。一条黑壳的大船张起红色的船帆，迎着微风向港口驶来。我认出那是一条捕捞龙虾的船，从撒丁岛那儿满载而归，为赌场提供海鲜，让那些寻欢作乐的赌徒们大快朵颐。艾略特的房门关闭着，却仍能听得见里面有隐隐约约的说话声。艾略特在做忏悔。我烟瘾大发，想点一根烟，却又怕神父不高兴。神父是个身材瘦削的年轻人，一动不动地站在那儿向外眺望，黑黑的头发呈波浪状，一双乌黑的眼睛秀秀气气的，皮肤呈橄榄色，一看就知道是意大利人。他的脸上洋溢着南方人的那种蓬勃的生命力，我不由得心里想到，真不知他有着多么坚定的信仰和燃烧的激情，才使得他放弃了现世开心的生活、青春的欢乐以及世俗人的七情六欲，转而真诚地为上帝服务。

Suddenly the voices in the next room were still and I looked at the door. It was opened and the bishop appeared.
隔壁房间的声音忽然停止了，我抬起头，见门打开了，主教出来了。

“Venez，”he said to the priest.
“你来吧！”他对神父说道。

I was left alone. I heard the bishop's voice once more and I knew he was saying the prayers that the Church has ordained should be said for the dying.Then there was another silence and I knew that Elliott was partaking of the body and the blood of Christ.From I know not what feeling, inherited, I suppose, from far-away ancestors, though not a Catholic I can never attend Mass without a sense of tremulous awe when the little tinkle of the servitor's bell informs me of the Elevation of the Host；and now, similarly, I shivered as though a cold wind ran through me, I shivered with fear and wonder.The door was opened once more.
屋子里只剩下了我一个人。接着，我听见隔壁房间又传来了主教的声音，情知他在念祈祷词，即教会规定为垂死之人所应该念的祈祷词。随之而至的又是一阵沉寂，我知道艾略特在吃圣餐。恐怕是受到远祖的影响，我虽然不是一个天主教徒，但是每次做弥撒时，听见主的仆人摇着小铃通知人们领圣餐时，总会浑身发抖，产生恐惧感，此时亦哆嗦不已，仿佛寒意传遍全身，心里又害怕又奇怪。书房的门又被推开了。

“You may come in，”said the bishop.
“你可以进来了。”主教对我说道。

I entered. The abbé was spreading the cambric napkin over the cup and the little gilt plate on which the consecrated wafer had lain.Elliott’s eyes shone.
我走进艾略特的房间，见神父正在把细麻纱餐巾盖在圣杯以及盛放过圣饼的那个镀金小盘子上。艾略特的两眼熠熠生辉。

“Conduct Monseigneur to his car，”he said.
“劳驾你送主教大人上车！”他对我说。

We descended the stairs. Joseph and the maids were waiting in the hall.The maids were crying.There were three of them and one after the other they came forward and, dropping to their knees, kissed the bishop's ring.He blessed them with two fingers.Joseph's wife nudged him and he advanced, fell to his knees too, and kissed the ring.The bishop smiled faintly.
我们一行走下楼去。约瑟夫率三个女佣正等候在过厅里。女佣们热泪盈眶，依次走上前来，跪下亲吻主教的戒指。主教伸出两个指头放在她们头上，为她们祝福。约瑟夫的妻子用胳膊碰了碰他，于是他步上前去，也跪倒在地，吻了吻主教的戒指。主教微微一笑说：

“You are a freethinker, my son?”
“你是不信教的吧，我的孩子？”

I could see Joseph making an effort over himself.
我可以看见约瑟夫在努力保持镇静。

“Yes, Monseigneur.”
“是的，主教大人。”

“Do not let it trouble you. You have been a good and faithful servant to your master.God will overlook the errorsof your understanding.”
“不必介意。你对主人忠心耿耿。上帝对你在认识上的错误会忽略不计的。”

I went out into the street with him and opened the door of his car. He gave me a bow as he stepped in and smiled indulgently.
我陪主教到了马路上，为他开了汽车门。他向我弓腰致谢，临上车前冲我仁慈地一笑说：

“Our poor friend is very low. His defects were of the surface；he was generous of heart and kindly towards his fellow men.”
“咱们可怜的朋友已生命垂危。他表面上是有些缺点的，但内心对自己的同胞宽宏大度、善良慈祥。”