“One of us… One of us… One of us…” Three words, endlessly repeated, dinning themselves hour after hour into receptive brains. Five people — five frightened people.
“我们中的一个……我们中的一个……我们中的一个……”这句话无尽无休地重复着,在他们脑子里轰轰作响,五个人——五个吓破了胆的人。
Five people who watched each other, who now hardly troubled to hide their state of nervous tension. There was little pretence now — no formal veneer of conversation. They were five enemies linked together by a mutual instinct of self-preservation.
五个人互相监视着,谁都顾不得再掩饰自己紧张的心情,谁都不再弄虚作假,也没有人故作镇静、侃侃而谈了。五个人彼此都是敌人,但又被生存的本能紧紧连在一起。
And all of them, suddenly, looked less like human beings. They were reverted to more bestial types.
突然之间,五个人的样子都变了,与其说是人不如说更像野兽了。
Ex-Inspector Blore looked coarser and clumsier in build. His walk was that of a slow padding animal. His eyes were bloodshot. There was a look of mingled ferocity and stupidity about him. He was like a beast at bay ready to charge its pursuers.
退职警官布洛尔的身体显得更粗笨了,走起路来那慢慢吞吞的劲儿看上去和只狗熊差不多。他的眼睛里布满血丝,样子既凶残又带些笨拙。他简直完全是一只被逼入绝境的野兽,准备随时对它的追捕者进行反扑。
Like a wary old tortoise, Mr. Justice Wargrave sat hunched up, his body motionless, his eyes keen and alert.
劳伦斯·沃格雷夫像一只小心翼翼的老龟团缩着坐在那儿,身体一动不动,只有一双眼睛又敏锐又警觉。
Philip Lombard’s senses seemed heightened, rather than diminished. His ears reacted to the slightest sound. His step was lighter and quicker, his body was lithe and graceful. And he smiled often, his lips curling back from his long white teeth.
菲利普·隆巴德的感觉不是迟钝了,而是更加敏锐了。对任何最轻微的声响他的耳朵也会有反应。他的体态灵活、优美,步履变得更轻盈,速度也变得更迅猛了。他常常笑,咧着嘴露出一排长长的白牙。
Vera Claythorne was very quiet. She sat most of the time huddled in a chair. Her eyes stared ahead of her into space. She looked dazed. She was like a bird that has dashed its head against glass and that has been picked up by a human hand. It crouches there, terrified, unable to move, hoping to save itself by its immobility.
维拉·克莱索恩缩在椅子里一声不吭,目光呆滞地望着前方,就像一只在玻璃窗上撞得精疲力尽,最后被别人攥在手里的小鸟。她卧在那儿一动也不动,希望这样可以保全自己。
Armstrong was in a pitiable condition of nerves. He twitched and his hands shook. He lighted cigarette after cigarette and stubbed them out almost immediately. The forced inaction of their position seemed to gall him more than the others. Every now and then he broke out into a torrent of nervous speech. “We — we shouldn’t just sit here doing nothing! There must be something — surely, surely, there is something that we can do? If we lit a bonfire –“
阿姆斯特朗的神经己经衰弱到极其可怜的地步。他浑身抽动,两手不停地颤抖。他一根接一根地点着香烟,但马上又把它们掐灭。他对这种困居在这里、无力改变自己处境的现状,似乎比其他人更感到焦灼不安。时不时他会迸出几句神经质的话来,“我们——我们不能只坐在这儿干等。我们必须做点什么——我们肯定可以做点什么。如果我们燃个大火堆——”
Blore said heavily: “In this weather?”
布洛尔粗声粗气地接了一句:“在这种天气里?”
By tacit consent, they had adopted a plan of campaign. They all sat in the big drawing-room. Only one person left the room at a time. The other four waited till the fifth returned.
虽然没经讨论,最后大家都采取了一个办法。所有的人都坐在客厅里,一次只允许一个人离开屋子,一定要等这个人回来,另一个人才允许出去。
The rain was pouring down again. The wind came in fitful gusts. The depressing sound of the pattering rain nearly drove them mad.
外面,雨瓢泼似地下个不停,风一阵紧似一阵。单调、沉闷的雨声逼得他们几乎发疯。
Mr. Justice Wargrave said, and his small clear voice was heavy with passionate determination: “Not if we are careful. We must be very careful…”
劳伦斯·沃格雷夫先生说:“我们是不会死的。我们必须非常、非常小心……”他那细小清晰的声音因为下了巨大的决心显得异常沉重。
Lombard said: “It’s only a question of time. The weather will clear. Then we can do something — signal — light fires — make a raft — something!”
隆巴德说:“天气会好起来的,这只不过是时间问题。那时我们就可以做点事了——发信号——燃个火堆——绑个筏子什么的!”
“It’s Armstrong… I saw him looking at me sideways just then… his eyes are mad… quite mad… Perhaps he isn’t a doctor at all… That’s it, of course!… He’s a lunatic, escaped from some doctor’s house — pretending to be a doctor… It’s true… shall I tell them?… Shall I scream out?… No, it won’t do to put him on his guard… Besides he can seem so sane… What time is it?… Only a quarter past three!… Oh, God, I shall go mad myself… Yes, it’s Armstrong… He’s watching me now…”
“一定是阿姆斯特朗……我发现他用眼角溜着我……那眼神很不正常……完全疯了……很可能他根本就不是医生……毫无疑问,就是这么回事!……他是个疯子,从某家医院逃出来的疯子——乔装成医生……没错……我是不是把这话告诉他们?不然我干脆喊出来?不,不行,那会让他有所提防……而且他可以装出无辜的样子……几点了?……刚刚三点过一刻……噢,上帝,我自己都要疯了……没错,就是阿姆斯特朗……他又在盯着我……”
Armstrong said with a sudden cackle of laughter: “A question of time — time? We can’t afford time! We shall all be dead…”
阿姆斯特朗突然咯咯地笑着说:“时间的问题——是吗?我们哪来的时间?过不了多久就都要死了……”
The mid-day meal had been duly eaten — but there had been no conventional formality about it. All five of them had gone to the kitchen. In the larder they had found a great store of tinned foods.
中饭还是按时开的,在储藏室里他们找到一大批罐头食品。
They had opened a tin of tongue and two tins of fruit. They had eaten standing round the kitchen table. Then, herding close together, they had returned to the drawing-room — to sit there — sit — watching each other…
他们打开了一听口条,两听水果,站在厨房里一张桌子的四周便草草吃完这顿中饭。饭后大家又回到客厅里坐着——坐在那里互相监视着……
And by now the thoughts that ran through their brains were abnormal, feverish, diseased…
到了这时,他们头脑中不论再想什么都已成为病态的、疯狂的、不健全的……
“Twenty to four… only twenty to four… perhaps the clock has stopped… I don’t understand — no, I don’t understand… This sort of thing can’t happen… it is happening… Why don’t we wake up? Wake up — Judgement Day — not that! If I could only think… My head — something’s happening in my head — it’s going to burst — it’s going to split… This sort of thing can’t happen… What’s the time? Oh, God! it’s only a quarter to four.”
“还差二十分钟四点……才刚差二十分四点钟……没准儿钟停了吧……我不明白——真的,我真不明白……这种事不可能发坐……但它现在就正在发生……为什么我们还不醒过来?醒醒吧——审判日——不,不可能!只要我们还可以思维……我的脑子——我的脑子出毛病了——我的头简直要爆炸了——要爆炸了……这种事不可能发生……几点了?啊,天哪!还差一刻才四点呢!”
“They’re going mad… they’re all go mad… Afraid of death… we’re all afraid of death… I’m afraid of death… Yes, but that doesn’t stop death coming…” The hearse is at the door, sir. “Where did I read that? The girl… I’ll watch the girl. Yes, I’ll watch the girl…”
“他们全都快疯了……快了……怕死……我们都怕死……我也怕死……是啊,但这并不能阻止死亡来临……‘柩车已在门口等候了,先生。’我在什么地方读过这句话?那个姑娘……我得防备着她。没错,我得防备着她……”
“They won’t get me! I can take care of myself… I’ve been in tight places before… Where the hell is that revolver?… Who took it?… Who’s got it?… Nobody’s got it — we know that. We were all searched… Nobody can have it… But some one knows where it is…”
“我不会落到他们手里去的!我还能照顾自己……以前我也经历过险境……那把手枪到底跑到哪儿去了?……是谁偷走的?……现在又在谁手里呢?……不会有人带在身上……大家都知道,所有的人都被搜了一遍儿……没人带着它……但是有一个人却知道它现在放在什么地方……”
“I must keep my head… I must keep my head… If only I keep my head… It’s all perfectly clear — all worked out. But nobody must suspect. It may do the trick. It must! Which one? That’s the question — which one? I think — yes, I rather think — yes — him.”
“我必须保持冷静……我必须保持冷静……只要我能保持冷静就好了……这再清楚不过了……是早已策划好的。是谁呢?这是个问题——是谁?我觉得——对,是这么回事——哼,就是他!”
Vera rose. She said: “I’ll go and make it. You can all stay here.”
维拉站起身来说:“我这就去做。你们等一会儿。”
When the clock struck five they all jumped.
钟一打五点,大家都跳了起来。
He hesitated and said: “We could go out and get it going, I suppose.”
他犹豫了一下,又说,“我们可以去开动它。”
They went back again to the drawing-room. Although it was summer the room was dark. Lombard switched on the lights but they did not come on. He said: “Of course! The engine’s not been run today since Rogers hasn’t been there to see to it.”
大家又都回到客厅。虽说是夏天,屋里已很昏暗了。隆巴德拨了一下电灯开关,但灯没有亮。他说:“是啊,罗杰斯不在,机器也停了一天了。”
Five people went into the kitchen. Tea was made and drunk by Vera and Blore. The other three had whiskey — opening a fresh bottle and using a siphon from a nailed up case.
五个人走进厨房。茶做好了,维拉和布洛尔各自倒了一杯,其余三位喝的是威士忌——酒不但是新启封的,而且连蜡管都是从一盒没启封的盒里取出来的。
Vera stared, then gave a short rather hysterical laugh. She said: “Of course! You would!”
维拉最初一愣,接着就歇斯底里地笑起来。她说:“当然!你们愿意这样!”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said gently: “I think, my dear young lady, we would all prefer to come and watch you make it.”
劳伦斯·沃格雷夫和蔼地说:“亲爱的姑娘,我想我们都愿意一起去看着您做。”
Vera said: “Does any one — want tea?”
维拉问,“你们谁想喝茶?”
The judge murmured with a reptilian smile: “We must be very careful…”
法官像爬行动物一样笑着叨咕道:“我们不得不十分小心……”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “There are packets of candles in the larder, I saw them, better use those.”
劳伦斯·沃格雷夫说:“我看见贮藏室里有一包蜡烛,我们就点蜡烛吧!”
There was a moment’s silence. Blore said: “I’d like a cup.”
半天也没有人响应,最后布洛尔说:“我想喝一杯。”
He came back with a box of candles and a pile of saucers. Five candles were lit and placed about the room.
他拿回了一包蜡烛和几只碟子。点着了五枝蜡烛散放在大厅里。
Lombard went out. The other four sat watching each other.
隆巴德走了出去。其余四位坐在客厅里互相监视着。
As she opened her door, she suddenly halted and stood stock still. Her nostrils quivered. The sea… The smell of the sea at St. Tredennick…
当她打开门时,她一下子呆立住了,鼻子皱了皱,那是海的气味,圣特坦尼克海的气味……
At twenty past six, Vera felt that to sit there longer was unbearable. She would go to her room and bathe her aching head and temples in cold water.
六点过二十分的时候,维拉再也坐不住了。她的头痛得要命,她想回到自己的房间去用冷水洗洗。
The time was a quarter to six.
这时是五点四十五分。
She got up and went towards the door. Then she remembered and came back and got a candle out of the box. She lighted it, let a little wax pour into a saucer and stuck the candle firmly to it. Then she went out of the room, shutting the door behind her and leaving the four men inside.
她站起来向门口走去,忽然她又记起了什么,走了回来。她从碟里拿出一根蜡烛,点着以后在一只盘子里滴了几滴溶化的蜡油,之后把蜡烛粘上,这才走出屋子。门在她身后关上了,留下四个男人在大厅里。
She went up the stairs and along the passage to her room.
她爬上了楼梯,顺着走廊向她的房间走去。
That was it. She could not be mistaken. Of course one smelt the sea on an island anyway, but this was different. It was the smell there had been on the beach that day — with the tide out and the rocks covered with seaweed drying in the sun.
一点不错,她不会搞错的。当然了,岛上到处充满海腥气味,但是她嗅到的可完全不一样。这是那天沙滩上的气味——潮水落了,礁石上留下很多水草,已经被太阳晒干了……
But that smell — that smell of the beach at St. Tredennick… That wasn’t imagined. It was true…
但是那气味——圣特坦尼克海滨沙滩的气味……这不可能是幻觉。确实……
“Can I swim out to the island, Miss Claythorne?”
“我能到那小岛上去吗,克莱索恩小姐?”
“Don’t be a fool,” Vera Claythorne urged herself. “It’s all right. The others are downstairs. All four of them. There’s no one in the room. There can’t be. You’re imagining things, my girl.”
“别自己吓唬自己。”维拉暗中给自己鼓鼓气,“没什么可怕的,那四个人都在楼下。四个人都在楼下,屋里不会有其他人了,也不可能还有别的人了。这只不过是你的幻觉而已。”
“Why can’t I swim out to the island?…”
“为什么不让我游到那个小岛上去呢,克莱索恩小姐?……”
Vera screamed. She screamed and screamed — screams of the utmost terror — wild desperate cries for help.
这不可能是幻觉。确实……维拉一声尖叫,紧接着是一连串恐怖的哀嚎,力竭声嘶的高声呼救。
And there was some one in the room… She had heard something — surely she had heard something…
屋里有人……她听见了响动——她肯定听见了响动……
Horrid whiny spoilt little brat! If it weren’t for him, Hugo would be rich… able to marry the girl he loved…Hugo…
这个哭哭咧咧、被惯坏了的小崽子!如果不是他的缘故,雨果本应该很富有……本应该和他所爱的姑娘结婚的……雨果……
She made a step forward. The draught from the window caught the flame of the candle. It flickered and went out…
她问前迈了一步。从打开的窗户刮进来一股冷风,吹得蜡烛的火焰闪了几闪,接着就熄灭了……
Tn the dark she was suddenly afraid…
在黑暗里一阵恐惧突然向她袭来……
Surely — surely — Hugo was beside her? No, waiting for her in the room…
一定——一定——雨果一定就在她身边。不,不对,他正在屋里等着她呢……
And then, as she stood there, listening — a cold, clammy hand touched her throat — a wet hand, smelling of the sea…
就在她站在那儿倾听的时候——一只冰凉湿冷的手一下子触到了她的喉咙——手上都是水,散发着海的气昧……
“What’s happened?”
“发生什么事了?“
“What the devil?”
“怎么回事?“
“Good God, what is it?”
“天哪,这是什么?”
Then a sudden exclamation, a quick “My God, look at that!” her senses returned. She opened her eyes and raised her head. She saw what it was the men with the candles were looking at.
然后一个声音高叫了一声:“我的上帝,快来看!”她恢复了知觉,睁开眼,抬起头。她看见了拿着蜡烛的几个人正在审视什么——
She did not hear the sounds from below, of a chair being overturned, of a door opening, of men’s feet running up the stairs. She was conscious only of supreme terror. Then, restoring her sanity, lights flickered in the doorway — candles — men hurrying into the room.
她没有听到下面传来的声音,一把椅子被撞翻了,门打开了,楼梯上人们急促的脚步声。她完全被恐惧攫住,直到门道那边出现了跳跃的亮光——蜡烛光——人们涌进了屋子,她才清醒过来。
She was only half aware of some one bending over her, of some one forcing her head down between her knees.
她在昏迷之中感到一个人向她俯下身来,她的头被抬了起来。
She began to laugh hysterically. She said: “It was seaweed — only seaweed — and that’s what the smell was…”
她爆发出一阵歇斯底里般的狂笑。“水草——原来只是水草——是水草的气味……”
She shuddered, took a step forward, collapsed on the floor.
她全身颤抖着,往前迈了一步就摔倒在地板上。
A broad ribbon of wet seaweed was hanging down from the ceiling. It was that which in the darkness had swayed against her throat. It was that which she had taken for a clammy hand, a drowned hand come back from the dead to squeeze the life out of her!…
一大条水草挂在天花板上,来回摆动,碰到她的脖子。这就是那只从后面伸过来要掐死她的手,一只冰冷、粘湿的死人的手!
And then the faintness came over her once more — waves upon waves of sickness. Again some one took her head and forced it between her knees.
她又一次感到晕眩和恶心。她的头也又一次被人使劲搬了起来。
Blore’s voice answered. He stared a minute before speaking. He said: “I got it from downstairs.”
回答她的是布洛尔的声音。布洛尔愣了一会儿才开口,“是我从楼下取来的。”
Aeons of time seemed to pass. They were offering her something to drink — pressing the glass against her lips. She smelt brandy.
时间似乎过了很久。人们正在给她喝一些东西——一只玻璃杯贴住她的唇边。她闻到白兰地的气味。
She was just about to gulp the spirit gratefully down when, suddenly, a warning note — like an alarm bell — sounded in her brain. She sat up, pushing the glass away. She said sharply: “Where did this come from?”
就在她满心感激正要一口喝下的时候,突然一惊——一只警铃在她脑子里铃铃地响起来。她坐起来,一把推开玻璃杯,不客气地问:“从哪儿倒的酒?”
Vera cried: “I won’t drink it…”
维拉喊道:“我不喝这酒……”
Vera said uncertainly: “I’m all right now. I’ll have some water.”
维拉口气不太肯定地说:“我好多了,只是想喝点水。”
There was a moment’s silence, then Lombard laughed. He said with appreciation: “Good for you, Vera! You’ve got your wits about you — even if you have been scared half out of your life. I’ll get a fresh bottle that hasn’t been opened.” He went swiftly out.
大家沉默了足有一分钟,之后隆巴德笑了。他颇为赞赏地说:“好样的,维拉!你真够机警的——你都吓成这个样子了,还能想到这个。我这就去给你取一瓶没有启封的来。”说着他消失在门外。
Armstrong supported her as she struggled to her feet. She went over to the basin, swaying and clutching at him for support. She let the cold tap run and then filled the glass.
阿姆斯特朗帮助她挣扎着站了起来。她靠着他,摇摇晃晃地走到洗脸池旁边,打开冷水龙头,接了一杯。
Vera drank a little of the spirit. The colour came back to her face.
维拉喝了一小口,脸上恢复了点血色。
Armstrong said: “How do you know?”
阿姆斯特朗问:“你怎么能肯定?”
He thrust the sealed bottle under Vera’s nose. “There you are, my girl. Absolutely no deception.” He peeled off the tin foil and drew the cork. “Lucky there’s a good supply of spirits in the house. Thoughtful of U. N. Owen.”
他把封着的瓶口往维拉鼻子底下一杵,说道:“给你,我的姑娘。真正原封的。”他把瓶口的锡箔剥掉,打开瓶塞。“幸好别墅里存了不少酒。欧文先生考虑得非常周到。”
Vera said almost in a whisper: “You think — that was what was meant?”
维拉讷讷地说:“您这么想——您认为这是预先安排好的,是吗?”
Armstrong said: “I’m not saying you did. You might have done it, or some one might have tampered with the bottle for just this emergency.”
阿姆斯特朗说:“我并没有一定说你加了东西。当然你也有可能这么干,但也没准另外有人在这瓶酒里耍了花招,专等着这样一个机会。”
Vera shuddered violently.
维拉浑身索索发抖。
Philip Lombard said with a laugh: “Well, here’s one murder that hasn’t gone according to plan!”
菲利普·隆巴德笑着说:“好了,又发生了一起预谋未遂的谋杀案。”
Armstrong held the glass while Philip poured the brandy into it. He said: “You’d better drink this, Miss Claythorne. You’ve had a nasty shock.”
菲利普·隆巴德往医生擎着的一只杯子里倒了一些酒。医生说:“您最好喝下这个,克莱索恩小姐,您受惊了。”
Blore said angrily: “I didn’t put anything in it. That’s what you’re getting at, I suppose.”
布洛尔火气十足地回答:“假设在里边加东西。我想你指的就是这件事吧。”
Lombard came swiftly back into the room. He had a new bottle of brandy in his hands and a corkscrew.
隆巴德飞快地走了回来,手里拿着一瓶没开封的白兰地和瓶塞起子。
Blore said resentfully: “That brandy’s all right.”
布洛尔忿忿地说:“那白兰地一点问题也没有。”
Blore said: “So did I… What about it, doctor? You came up the stairs behind me.”
布洛尔说,“是怎么回事,医生?你在我后面上的楼。”
The three men looked at each other. “That’s odd… Thought he came up with us.”
三个人面面相觑。“奇怪……好像他和我们一同上来了。”
Lombard nodded. “Expected you to pass out through fright! Some people would have, wouldn’t they, doctor?”
隆巴德点点头。“准备把您吓死!有的人就可能被吓死。对吗,医生?”
He picked up the glass of brandy that Blore had brought. He dipped a finger in it, tasted it gingerly. His expression did not alter. He said dubiously: “H’m, tastes all right.”
他拿起布洛尔端来的酒,用手指头蘸了蘸,小心翼翼地舔了一下。他的表情并没有改变。他不太相信地说:“嗯,尝起来并没问题。”
Blore stepped forward angrily. He said: “If you’re saying that I tampered with that, I’ll knock your ruddy block off.”
布洛尔恼怒地跨上前来,说:“如果您的意思是我企图做这种事,我马上就敲烂你的狗头。”
Vera, her wits revived by the brandy, made a diversion by saying: “Where’s the judge?”
这时,维拉在白兰地的作用下神志完全清醒了,她故意把话题引到别处去:“法官到哪儿去了?”
Armstrong did not commit himself. He said doubtfully: “H’m, impossible to say. Young healthy subject — no cardiac weakness. Unlikely. On the other hand –“
阿姆斯特朗并没有注意听他说话。他疑惑地说:“唔……这要看情况。对这样一位年轻人,身体也不错——又没心脏病,不太可能被吓死。另一方面……”
Lombard said: “It’s damned odd…”
最后隆巴德说:“这可太奇怪了……”
Armstrong said: “I thought he was following me… Of course, he’d be bound to go slower than we did. He’s an old man.”
阿姆斯特朗说:“我还以为他跟在我后面……当然,他走得慢一些,他是个老人。”
They looked at each other again.
他们又你望我、我望你地愣了一会儿。
Blore cried: “We must look for him.”
布洛尔喊道:“我们得赶快去找他。”
They crossed the hall. Armstrong called out loudly: “Wargrave, Wargrave, where are you?”
他们穿过大厅。阿姆斯特朗大声喊:“沃格雷夫,沃格雷夫,您在哪儿?”
As they went down the stairs Armstrong said over his shoulder: “Of course he may have stayed in the living-room…”
在他下楼梯的途中,阿姆斯特朗回过头来说:“当然,他也可能留在客厅里了……”
He started for the door. The others followed him, Vera last.
他们问门口走去,其余的人跟在他后面,维拉走在最后。
There was no answer. A deadly silence filled the house apart from the gentle patter of the rain.
没有回答。除了淅淅沥沥的雨声,屋里像死一样地沉寂。
Then, in the entrance to the drawing-room door, Armstrong stopped dead. The others crowded up and looked over his shoulder.
接着在客厅门口阿姆斯特朗一下子僵立住了,其余的人一拥而上,从他的肩膀后面往客厅里望去。
Mr. Justice Wargrave was silting in his high-backed chair at the end of the room. Two candles burnt on either side of him. But what shocked and startled the onlookers was the fact that he sat there robed in scarlet with a judge’s wig upon his head…
劳伦斯·沃格雷夫在屋子的另一端,坐在一张高靠背椅上,一边放着一枝燃着的蜡烛。但最使这几位目击者感到惊慌、恐怖的是法官头上戴着假发,身上裹着紫红色的袍子……
Somebody cried out.
不知是谁大叫了一声。
Dr. Armstrong motioned to the others to keep back. He himself walked across to the silent staring figure, reeling a little as he walked like a drunken man.
阿姆斯特朗挥了挥手,示意大家不要靠上前去。他独自向那个一动不动、目光呆痴的人体走去。他摇摇晃晃的脚步看上去像个酩酊的酒鬼。
He bent forward, peering into the still face. Then, with a swift movement, he raised the wig. It fell to the floor, revealing the high bald forehead with, in the very middle, a round stained mark from which something had trickled…
他走到法官前面,查看了一下那张毫无表情的脸。接着他捅了一下假发,假发落在地板上,一下子露出光秃秃的脑门,脑门正中有个红色的斑痕,正往下滴着什么……
His outburst shocked and startled the others.
他的这种爆发把其余的人都惊呆了。
Dr. Armstrong raised the limp hand and felt for the pulse. Then he turned to the others.
阿姆斯特朗举起法官的一只胳臂,摸摸脉搏,然后转过身来对其他几个人说——
“‘Five little Indian boys going in for law; one got in Chancery and then there were four.’ That’s the end of Mr. Bloody Justice Wargrave. No more pronouncing sentence for him! No more putting on of the black cap! Here’s the last time he’ll ever sit in court! No more summing up and sending innocent men to death. How Edward Seton would laugh if he were here! God, how he’d laugh!”
“五个小印第安孩子去打官司,一个落了法网,关在铁槛后面。这就是这位嗜血成性的劳伦斯·沃格雷夫的下场!这次他再也不用去宣判别人了!不用戴法官帽了!这次是他最后一次坐在法庭上!不需要再去总结,再把无辜的人送上绞架了。如果爱德华·塞顿在这儿的话,一定会大笑起来!上帝,他一定会大笑一场!”
Blore said: “And the scarlet curtain that was missing from the bathroom…”
布洛尔说:“袍子是浴室失去的红窗帘……”
Suddenly Philip Lombard laughed — a high unnatural laugh.
菲利普·隆巴德突然大笑起来——笑声又尖又高,听起来非常不自然。
Philip Lombard’s face changed — sobered. He said in a low voice: “I know I did… Well, I was wrong. Here’s one more of us who’s been proved innocent — too late!”
菲利普·隆巴德的脸陡然变了——他冷静下来,小声说:“是啊,我说过……看来我搞错了。我们中又有一个被证明是无辜的——只是又晚了!”
Vera stooped to the wig. She said, and her voice shook with terror: “Miss Brent’s missing grey wool…”
维拉俯下身去看了看那团假发,说:“这是布伦特丢的那两束毛线……”她的声音颤抖着,充满了恐惧。
Blore said: “God — the revolver!”
布洛尔说:“上帝——那枝左轮?”
He said — and his voice was expressionless, dead, far away: “He’s been shot…”
他的声音毫无语调、死气沉沉,听上去似乎很遥远:“他被枪杀了……”
Vera cried: “Only this morning you said he was the one!”
维拉喊道:“今天早上你还说他就是杀人凶手呢!”
The doctor said, still in the same lifeless voice: “Got him through the head. Instantaneous.”
阿姆斯特朗还是用那种毫无生气的调子说:“脑袋被射穿,当时就断气了。”
Vera whispered: “So this is what they wanted them for…”
维拉嗫嚅道:“他们偷这些东西原来是作这个……”
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