“Last night. You said yourself you’d give her something to make her sleep.”
“昨天晚上，你自己说过你得给她点什么，好让她睡觉。”
Blore snorted, unconvinced.
布洛尔哼了一声，根本不相信。
Lombard Sam Slowly: “So we’ve been wrong — wrong all along! Built up a nightmare of superstition and fantasy all because of the coincidence of two deaths!”
隆巴德慢慢地说着：“这么说来是我们搞错了——从头错起，一错到底！迷信和幻觉构成了一场梦魇，都是因为两起死亡太凑巧的缘故！”
“Oh, that, yes. A harmless sedative.”
“喔，这个，不错，那是完全无害的镇静剂。”
“Yes. It’s possible, isn’t it, that that might have been an accident?”
“是啊。可能是桩意外吧？”
There was a pause, then Blore said: “About the woman –” and stopped.
大家都不做声。后来布洛尔又说了：“至于那个女人——”他又停住了。
“Damned queer sort of accident,” he grunted.
“哪有这种见鬼的意外。”他嘟囔着说道。
Armstrong said gravely: “And yet, you know, the argument holds. Hang it all, I’m a doctor, I know something about suicides. Anthony Marston wasn’t a suicidal type.”
阿姆斯特朗仍然郑重其事地说道：“可是，你要知道，我们的论点都是站得住的。总而言之，我是个大夫。我多少懂点什么叫自杀。安东尼·马斯顿哪里像个会自杀的人？”
Philip Lombard said: “An accident? In what way?”
菲利普·隆巴德说道：“一桩意外？哪样的意外？”
Blore looked slightly embarrassed. His red-brick face grew a little deeper in hue. He said, almost blurting out the words: “Look here, doctor, you did give her some dope, you know.”
布洛尔有点发窘。那张砖红色脸的颜色更加红了。他几乎是脱口而出地说：“听我说，大夫，是你给了她一些药什么的，你知道。”
Armstrong stared at him. “Dope? What do you mean?”
大夫瞪着他：“药什么的？什么意思？”
Lombard said doubtfully: “It couldn’t, I suppose, have been an accident?”
隆巴德又怀疑起来了：“那我看，会不会是个意外呢？”
“Mrs. Rogers?”
“罗杰斯太太吗？”
“I gave her a mild dose of trional. A perfectly harmless preparation.”
“我给她的是极为缓和的三溴合剂，决无任何副作用。”
Dr. Armstrong said angrily: “I don’t know what you mean.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫发火了：“我不明白你是什么意思。”
Blore grew redder still. He said: “Look here — not to mince matters — you didn’t give her an overdose, did you?”
布洛尔的脸涨得更红了。他说道：“听我说——用不着含糊其辞——你给的超过剂量了吧？”
Armstrong said sharply: “I did nothing of the sort. The suggestion is ridiculous.” He stopped and added in a cold biting tone: “Or do you suggest that I gave her an overdose on purpose?”
阿姆斯特朗急忙说道：“根本没这事。这种说法简直荒谬。”他停了一下又用带刺儿的语调补充说道：“要不，你想说我是故意给她超剂量的？”
Blore said: “It’s possible, isn’t it, that you may have made a mistake? These things do happen once in a while.”
布洛尔说道：“这不是不可能的吧？要是你搞错了呢？这类事情有时就是会发生的。”
“What was it exactly?”
“说得明确些，给的是什么？”
Blore said sullenly: “I only suggested the doctor had made a mistake.”
布洛尔阴沉着脸说：“我只不过是说，大夫也兴许有个失误什么的。”
Philip Lombard said quickly: “Look here, you two, got to keep our heads. Don’t let’s start slinging accusations about.”
菲利普·隆巴德急忙插进来说道：“我说，你们俩都得保持冷静。别你说我，我说你的。”
Dr. Armstrong smiled with an effort. He said, showing his teeth in a somewhat nidrthless smile: “Doctors can’t afford to make mistakes of that kind, my friend.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫强作笑容地露着牙齿，但实际上并没有笑意地说道：“当大夫的可经不起出这样的差错，我的朋友。”
Blore said deliberately: “It wouldn’t be the first you’ve made — if that gramophone record is to be believed!”
布洛尔故意说道：“要是唱片里说的没错——你可不是第一次出这样的差错了。”
Lombard shook his head.
隆巴德摇摇头。
Lombard said unexpectedly: “You know, Blore, you’re not nearly such a fool as you look.”
隆巴德出乎意料地说道：“得了，布洛尔，你总算还不是一个看上去的那种傻瓜。”
“Yes. I want to know why you brought a revolver down here on a pleasant social visit?”
“关于你的！我想知道，像这样一次客客气气的社交访问，你为什么要带着手枪来？”
Lombard smiled. “I brought it because I expected to run into a spot of trouble.”
隆巴德微微一笑：“我所以带着枪，就因为料到我要去的正是个是非之地。”
Blore took a step forward, his hands clenched. He said in a thick voice: “Perjury be damned! That’s a foul lie! You may try and shut me up, Mr. Lombard, but there’s things I want to know — and one of them is about you!”
布洛尔向前跨出一步，双手攥成拳头。连说话的声音都粗了。“去他妈的作假证！信口雌黄！你倒是试试把我抓起来呀！隆巴德先生，我倒有些事情想弄弄明白——其中有一桩就是关于你的！”
“That’s as may be. What about that revolver?”
“说不定我就是。枪是怎么回事？”
Armstrong went white. Philip Lombard said quickly and angrily to Blore: “What’s the sense of making yourself offensive? We’re all in the same boat. We’ve got to pull together. What about your own pretty little spot of perjury?”
阿姆斯特朗脸色顿时煞白。菲利普·隆巴德又急忙插进来，对着布洛尔发怒道：“你这样乱咬一气是什么意思？我们都是一条船上的人。我们得抱成团儿才好。你自己那桩血口喷人作假证明的丑事又是怎么回事呢？”
Lombard said: “You do, do you?”
隆巴德反问道：“你想知道？是你想知道吗？”
“Yes, I do, Mr. Lombard.”
“是的，我想知道，隆巴德先生。”
Blore said suspiciously: “You didn’t tell us that last night.”
布洛尔疑心地说道：“昨大晚上你没对我们说啊？”
“In a way, yes,” said Lombard.
“在某些方面，是的。”隆巴德说道。
Lombard’s eyebrows rose. “About me?”
隆巴德的眉毛皱了起来：“关于我的？”
“You were holding out on us?” Blore persisted.
“你是瞒着我们了？”布洛尔钉着问道。
“Well?” Blore prompted impatiently.
“还有呐？”布洛尔不耐烦地催促说。
Lombard said slowly: “I allowed you all to think that I was asked here in the same way as most of the others. That’s not quite true. As a matter of fact I was approached by a little Jewboy-Morris his name was. He offered me a hundred guineas to come down here and keep my eyes open — said I’d got a reputation for being a good man in a tight place.”
隆巴德一字一句地说道：“我让你们大家认为，我也像你们大多数人那样，是被邀请来的，这不完全是真的。实际上是一个犹太小子——名叫莫里斯的，找上了我，给我一百块几尼（英旧币名称——译者注），让我来这儿照料照料——说久闻我善于对付棘手的场面。”
“Well, come on, out with it.”
“好吧，来吧，都说出来吧！”
Lombard said with a grin: “That’s all.”
隆巴德却嘻嘻一笑：“完了。”
“Oh, no, he didn’t. Just shut up like a clam. I could take it or leave it — those were his words. I was hard up. I took it.”
“不，就这些，他说的就这些。再就是闭紧嘴巴像蛤蜊一样了。干，还是不干——这是他的原话。当时我手头正紧，我就说干。”
Dr. Armstrong said: “But surely he told you more than that?”
阿姆斯特朗大夫说道：“不过，他对你说的肯定不止这些。”
Blore looked unconvinced. He said: “Why didn’t you tell us all this last night?”
布洛尔看上去并不相信地说道：“这些，你为什么昨天晚上不向大家说？”
“My dear man –” Lombard shrugged eloquent shoulders. “How was I to know that last night wasn’t exactly the eventuality I was here to cope with? I lay low and told a noncommittal story.”
“我亲爱的伙计——”隆巴德耸着他那富有表达力的肩膀说道，“我怎么能够弄清楚，昨天晚上发生的事究竟是不是我来这儿所要对付的不测问题呢？我得藏起点儿，所以就说了个无中生有的故事。”
Lombard’s face changed. It darkened and hardened. He said: “Yes. I believe now that I’m in the same boat as the rest of you. That hundred guineas was just Mr. Owen’s little bit of cheese to get me into the trap along with the rest of you.”
隆巴德变了脸色，气冲冲而阴沉沉地说道：“当然不了。我现在相信我和大家都在同一条船上。那一百块几尼其实就是欧文先生引诱我同大家一起上他圈套的诱饵。”
Dr. Armstrong said shrewdly: “But now — you think differently?”
阿姆斯特朗认真地说道：“那么现在——你不是这样想了吧？”
Rogers was standing by the dining-room door. As the three men descended the stairs he moved a step or two forward. He said in a low anxious voice: “I hope lunch will be satisfactory. There is cold ham and cold tongue, and I’ve boiled some potatoes. And there’s cheese and biscuits and some tinned fruits.”
罗杰斯靠着餐厅的门在那里站着。当三个人走下楼梯时，他趋前两步着急地低声说道：“我希望这顿饭能使大家满意。有冷火腿、冷口条，我还煮了点土豆儿。别的也就是干酪、饼干和罐头水果了。”
Downstairs the gong pealed a solemn call to lunch.
楼下郑重其事地响起了吃午饭的钟声。
Lombard said: “Sounds all right. Stores are holding out, then?”
隆巴德说道：“听起来还可以，储藏的食品快光了吧？”
He said slowly: “For we are in a trap — I’ll take my oath on that! Mrs. Rogers’ death! Tony Marston’s! The disappearing Indian boys on the dinnertable! Oh, yes, Mr. Owen’s hand is plainly to be seen — but where the devil is Mr. Owen himself?”
他一字一顿地说道：“要知道我们是在陷阱里——我敢发誓说就是这样！罗杰斯太太的死，安东尼·马斯顿的死，餐桌上印地安小瓷人的不知去向！是的，是的，欧文先生的摆弄真是历历可见——但是，这位欧文先生本人究竟在哪儿呢？”
“There is plenty of food, sir — of a tinned variety. The larder is very well stocked. A necessity, that, I should say, Sir, on an island where one may be cut off from the mainland for a considerable period.”
“吃的东西有的是，先生——各色各样的罐头。存货都贮藏得很好。我可以这样说，先生，要是谁在这座岛上同陆地隔绝起来的话，也足以维持好长一阵子的。”
Lombard nodded.
隆巴德点点头。
Rogers murmured as he followed the three men into the dining-room: “It worries me that Fred Narracott hasn’t been over today. It’s peculiarly unfortunate, as you might say.”
罗杰斯跟着三人走进餐厅，一边还低声说着：“弗雷德·纳拉科特今天不露面，这很使我担心。照你们的话说，是倒霉倒透了。”
Rogers addressed Miss Brent: “Will you begin, Madam, or will you wait?”
罗杰斯对布伦特小姐说道：“你们就吃起来呢，夫人，还是再等等？”
“Yes,” said Lombard, “peculiarly unfortunate describes it very well.”
“说得不错，”隆巴德说道，“倒霉倒透了，正是这个话。”
Emily Brent said: “You’re not the last. The General isn’t here yet.”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“你不是最后一个。将军还没有来呢！”
Miss Brent came into the room. She had just dropped a ball of wool and was carefully rewinding the end of it.
布伦特小姐进屋来了。她刚失手弄散了一团毛线，正在倒着线重新绕上。
Vera said: “General Macarthur is sitting right down by the sea. I don’t expect he would hear the gong there and anyway” — she hesitated — “he’s a little vague today, I think.”
维拉说道：“麦克阿瑟将军正在下面的海滩边上坐着。我看，在那里怎么也听不见钟声——”说着，说着，她迟疑起来，“——他今天有点儿走神，我看是有点儿。”
There was a faint malicious pleasure in his voice.
他声音里稍微带着点儿幸灾乐祸的味道。
She said quickly: “I hope you didn’t wait for me. Am I late?”
她急急忙忙地说道：“但愿我没让你们大伙儿等着吧。我来迟了吗？”
Vera Claythorne hurried in. She was a little out of breath.
维拉·克莱索恩急急忙忙地跑进来，有点喘不过气。
As she took her seat at table she remarked: “The weather is changing. The wind is quite strong and there are white horses on the sea.”
她在餐桌旁自己的位子上坐了下来，说道：“天气变了。风挺厉害，海面上白浪滔滔的。”
They sat round the table.
他们围着餐桌坐下。
Mr. Justice Wargrave came in. He walked with a slow measured tread. He darted quick looks from under his bushy eyebrows at the other occupants of the dining-room. He said: “You have had an active morning.”
沃格雷夫法官也进来了。他是踱着方步进来的。从浓密的眉毛底下，他飞快地一个个扫视着餐厅里其他的那些人说：“你们上午都挺活跃。”
As by common accord, they all rose to their feet. They stood looking towards the door.
好像互相说好了似的，他们全都站起来了。站着向门口望去。
Vera shivered a little and said: “There is a storm coming.”
维拉哆嗦了一下子说道：“风暴来了。”
Suddenly, with the plates held in his hands, he stopped.
他手里拿着盘子，突然间站住了。
The five people sitting round the table seemed to find conversation difficult. Outside sudden gusts of wind came up and died away.
坐在餐桌周围的五个人似乎找不到什么话说。外面，一阵狂风刮过来又刮了过去。
Blore made a contribution to the discourse. He said conversationally: “There was an old fellow in the train from Plymouth yesterday. He kept saying a storm was coming. Wonderful how they know weather, these old salts.”
布洛尔打开了话匣子，他滔滔不绝地说道：“昨天，在那趟普莱茅斯的列车上有个老家伙。他老唠叨着风暴要来了，真不知道他们怎么学会看天气的，亏得这些老水手们！”
Dr. Armstrong jumped up.
阿姆斯特朗大夫一跃而起。
Rogers went round the table collecting the meat plates.
罗杰斯绕着餐桌收拾菜盘子。
He said in an odd scared voice: “There’s somebody running…”
他用一种少有的惊恐的声音说：“有人在跑……”
He left the room. Behind him he heard Rogers’voice. “Will you take cold tongue or cold ham, Madam?”
他走出屋子，还听到背后罗杰斯在说着：“您是要冷火腿还是要冷口条，夫人？”
They could all hear it — running feet along the terrace.
他们都能听到了——平台上有奔跑的脚步声。
Rogers said quickly: “I will go down and inform him luncheon is ready.”
罗杰斯接上去说道：“我下去跑一趟，通知他午饭已经准备好了。”
“I’ll go,” he said. “You others start lunch.”
“我去，”他说道，“你们吃你们的饭吧。”
In that minute, they knew — knew without being told…
此时此刻，不用讲，他们——他们都明白了……
There was a sudden hiss and roar as the rain came down.
倾刻之间大雨猛泼下来，一片涮涮涮涮的声音。
Armstrong said: “Yes, he’s dead…”
阿姆斯特朗说道：“是的，他死了……”
Seven people looked at each other and could find no words to say.
七个人你看看我，我瞧瞧你，谁也不知道说什么好。
Vera went up to the table. She was there a minute or two later when Rogers came softly into the room.
维拉走到桌子旁，站了一两分钟，这时候，罗杰斯轻轻地走了进来。
The storm broke just as the old man’s body was borne in through the door. The others were standing in the hall.
老人家的遗体刚抬进门，风暴就来临了。其余的人都站在厅堂里。
There was a pause — a long pause.
立刻一片肃静——肃静了好一阵子。
In a loud harsh voice that surprised herself Vera said: “You’re quite right, Rogers. Look for yourself. There are only seven…”
维拉用连自己也感到吃惊的粗嗓子大声说道：“你说对了，罗杰斯。你自己瞧吧，只有七个了……”
It was as they had left it. The sweet course stood ready on the sideboard untasted.
一如他们方才走出去时的样子，那道甜食还一筷子没动地在食柜上搁着。
As Blore and Armstrong passed up the stairs with their burden, Vera Claythorne turned suddenly and went into the deserted dining-room.
布洛尔和阿姆斯特朗抬着尸体上楼去了，维拉·克莱索恩猛地扭转身子走进了空无一人的餐厅。
Dr. Armstrong appeared, his breath coming fast. He said: “General Macarthur –“
阿姆斯特朗大夫跑进来，呼吸急促地说：“麦克阿瑟将军——”
He started when he saw her. Then his eyes asked a question. He said: “Oh, Miss, I — I just came to see…”
罗杰斯看到维拉，吃了一惊。他的眼神像是充满了疑问地说：“噢，小姐，我——我就是进来看……”
“Dead!” The word burst from Vera explosively.
“死了！”维拉猛地迸出了这两个字。
General Macarthur had been laid on his bed.
他们把麦克阿瑟将军放到他自己的床上。
Miss Brent was knitting. Vera Claythorne was standing by the window looking out at the hissing rain. Blore was sitting squarely in a chair, his hands on his knees. Lombard was walking restlessly up and down. At the far end of the room Mr. Justice Wargrave was sitting in a grandfather chair. His eyes were half closed. They opened as the doctor came into the room. He said in a clear penetrating voice: “Well, doctor?”
布伦特小姐还在织毛线。维拉·克莱索恩站在窗口望着唰唰作响的大雨。布洛尔端端正正地坐在一把椅子里，双手撑着膝盖。隆巴德一刻不停地走来走去。而沃格雷夫法官先生则在厅堂的那一头，双眼半阖地坐在一把安乐椅里。大夫走进厅堂的时候，他忽然睁开眼睛，用咬字清楚、气势逼人的声音说道：“怎么样，大夫？”
After making a last examination Armstrong left the room and came downstairs. He found the others assembled in the drawing-room.
最后又检查了一遍，阿姆斯特朗这才离开房间下楼了。人家都聚集在休息厅里。
“Nevertheless you are sure of your facts?”
“而你能肯定你的判断？”
“I am quite sure.”
“我完全肯定。”
A little murmur went round, but the clear voice of the judge was raised once more. “Did you find the actual weapon used?”
这下子引起了一片嘁嘁喳喳的议论。法官又一次用响亮的声音说话了：“你找到凶器实物了吗？”
Armstrong was very pale. He said: “No question of heart afilure or anything like that. Macarthur was hit with a life preserver or some such thing on the back of the head.”
阿姆斯特朗脸色非常苍白地说：“根本不是心脏或者这一类的毛病。麦克阿瑟后脑勺被救生圈或类似的东西打了。”
“No.”
“没有。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said quietly: “We know now exactly where we are.”
于是沃格雷夫法官平静地说道：“现在我们清楚地知道我们的处境了。”
There was no doubt now who was in charge of the situation.
谁在主宰这一切，现在是不容置疑的了。
Dr. Armstrong said quickly: “I am a well-known professional man. The mere idea that I can be suspected of –“
阿姆斯特朗大夫很快地说：“我是一个著名的专家。我被怀疑仅仅是一个单纯的想法——“
He leant forward. “You have none of you yet grasped what a very peculiar situation this is. To my mind there is only one course of procedure to adopt. Is there any one whom we can definitely eliminate from suspicion on the evidence which is in our possession?”
他向前倾斜。你们没有人知道这是一个多么奇怪的情况。在我看来，只有一种程序可以采用。有没有人可以完全消除我们对所掌握的证据的怀疑？”
Again a gesture of the judge’s hand arrested a speaker before he finished his speech.
再一次，演讲结束前法官用手手逮捕了一位演讲者。
This morning Wargrave had sat huddled in his chair on the terrace refrain — “Unfortunately,” he said, “we are all in that position. There is only our own word to go upon.”
整个早晨沃格雷夫一直蜷缩在平台上的那张椅子里 —— 他说道：“不幸的是，我们都处在那个位置。我们只有一句话要说。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said in his small clear voice: “I, too, am a well-known person! But, my dear Sir, that proves less than nothing! Doctors have gone mad before now. Judges have gone mad. So,” he added, looking at Blore, “have policemen!”
沃格雷夫法官用他那清脆的声音说：“我也是一个著名的人！但是，我亲爱的先生，这证明没有什么了不起！医生现在已经发疯了。法官们都疯了。所以，”他看着布洛尔，接着说，“有警察！”
Lombard said: “At any rate, I suppose you’ll leave the women out of it.”
隆巴德说：“无论如何，我想你会让那些女人离开。”
The judge’s eyebrows rose. He said in the famous “acid” tone that Counsel knew so well: “Do I understand you to assert that women are not subject to homicidal mania?”
法官挑了下眉毛。他用律师熟知的那句著名的“刻薄”的语气说：“我能理解你断言女性不会杀人吗？”
Lombard said irritably: “Of course not. But all the same, it hardly seems possible –” He stopped.
隆巴德生气地说：“当然不是。但同样，这几乎不可能——” 他停了下来。
Mr. Justice Wargrave still in the same thin sour voice addressed Armstrong.
沃格雷夫法官仍然对阿姆斯特朗讲话。
“I take it, Dr. Armstrong, that a woman would have been physically capable of striking the blow that killed poor Macarthur?”
“我认为，阿姆斯特朗朗大夫，一个女人可以打死可怜的麦克阿瑟吗？”
Mr. Justice Wargrave wriggled his tortoise — like neck. He said: “The other two deaths have resulted from the administration of drugs. That, no one will dispute, is easily compassed by a person of the smallest physical strength.”
沃格雷夫法官扭动着乌龟般的脖子。他说：“另外两人死亡是由于服用药物所致。没有人怀疑，很容易被一个身体力量最小的人所围困。
“It would require no undue exertion of force?”
“这不需要费很大劲吧？”
“Not at all.”
“完全不需要。”
His eyes turned slowly till they rested on her. It was the dispassionate stare of a man well used to weighing humanity in the balance. She thought: “He’s just seeing me as a — as a specimen. And” — the thought came to her with real surprise –“he doesn’t like me much!”
法官的一双眼睛慢慢地转过来，盯在她的脸上，这个眼神冷漠无情，说明这个人长期惯于察言辨色而自己则声色不露。维拉想道：“他这样看着我，把我当成——一种标本，而且”——她一想到这个念头，不禁有点吃惊——“他讨厌我！”
Vera cried angrily: “I think you’re mad!”
维拉怒不可遏地说道：“我看你是疯了！”
The doctor said calmly: “Perfectly capable — given a suitable instrument, such as a rubber truncheon or cosh.”
大夫平静地说：“完全有能力——只要有合适的器械，比如橡皮管或耳轴。”
The judge said: “Then we are agreed. There can be no elimination on the ground of character or position alone.”
法官说道：“这样说来，我们都一致了，不存在仅仅因为品德或者身分而排除哪一个人的嫌疑问题了。”
Emily Brent was knitting. She did not look up. In a cold voice she said: “The idea that I should be accused of taking a fellow creature’s life — not to speak of the lives of three fellow creatures — is, of course, quite absurd to any one who knows anything of my character. But I quite appreciate the fact that we are all strangers to one another and that in those circumstances, nobody can be exonerated without the fullest proof. There is, as I have said, a devil amongst us.”
埃米莉·布伦特只顾自己织着毛线，头也不抬，冷冰冰地说道：“凡是了解我为人的人，要是听到有人说我害死了别人的性命——更甭说是一下子三条性命啦，不用说都会感到极其荒谬的。但是，我充分理解我们毕竟是谁都不了解谁，而且在这种情况下，如果没有充分的证据，那就谁也脱不了干系。我到现在为止还是这么说：我们中间就是有一个魔鬼。”
In measured tones the judge was saying: “My dear young lady, do try and restrain your feelings. I am not accusing you.”
法官正在有板有眼地说着：“我亲爱的大小姐，克制一下自己的感情吧！试试看。我不是在说你。”
He bowed to Miss Brent. “I hope, Miss Brent, that you are not offended by my insistence that all of us are equally under suspicion?”
他又向布伦特小姐弯了弯腰。“我希望你别见怪，我一定说我们谁都有嫌疑，没有一个例外。”
Lombard said: “Well, to my mind, Rogers seems pretty well ruled out.”
隆巴德说道：“这个，依我看，罗杰斯完全可以排除在外。”
Lombard said: “What about Rogers?”
隆巴德说道：“对罗杰斯怎么看？”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “Indeed, and on what grounds?”
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“当真？有什么根据？”
The judge looked at him unblinkingly. “What about him?”
法官目不转睛地看着他：“什么怎么看？”
The judge’s heavy eyebrows rose once more. He said: “In my time, young man, several people have come before me accused of the murders of their wives — and have been found guilty.”
法官的浓眉毛又挑起来了，说道：“年青人，我以前审问过一些被控谋杀妻子的人，结果证明所控属实。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “You are assuming heresay to be evidence. We do not know that Rogers and his wife conspired to murder their employer. That may have been a false statement, made so that Rogers should appear to be in the same position as ourselves. Mrs. Rogers’ terror last night may have been due to the fact that she realized her husband was mentally unhinged.”
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“你把道听途说当证据了。我们并不清楚罗杰斯和他的妻子是否密谋杀害了他们的东家。这完全可能是伪诉，为了使罗杰斯等同于我们的处境。昨天晚上罗杰斯太太恐惧的原因，也有可能是她发觉她丈夫的精神失常了。”
Lombard said: “He hasn’t got the brains for one thing. And for another his wife was one of the victims.”
隆巴德说道：“一则，他没这个心眼儿，再说，他的老婆也是一个受害者。”
“Oh! I agree. Wife murder is perfectly possible — almost natural, let’s say! But not this particular kind! I can believe in Rogers killing his wife because he was scared of her breaking down and giving him away, or because he’d taken a dislike to her, or because he wanted to link up with some nice little bit rather less long in the tooth. But I can’t see him as the lunatic Mr. Owen dealing out crazy justice and starting on his own wife for a crime they both committed.”
“这个我同意。谋杀老婆，这太可能了——几乎可以说太稀松平常了！但这桩具体事情，一定不是！我可以相信罗杰斯杀了妻子。说他为了怕她顶不住，怕她出卖了他也行；说他嫌弃她也行；说他想搞一个年青得多的小妞儿，另结新欢也行。但是我没法相信他就是那个疯子欧文先生，搞他妈的什么执法不阿，还拿自己的老婆首先开刀，其实那桩坏事明明是他们两个一起干的。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “My point is that there can be no exceptions allowed on the score of character, position, or probability. What we must now examine is the possibility of eliminating one or more persons on the facts. To put it simply, is there among us one or more persons who could not possibly have administered either Cyanide to Anthony Marston, or an overdose of sleeping draught to Mrs. Rogers, and who had no opportunity of striking the blow that killed General Macarthur?” Blore’s rather heavy face lit up. He leant forward.
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“我的论点是不要从品德、身分或者可能性等等方面排除任何人。而是根据各种事实审查排除一个或者更多人的可能性。现在就来进行。简单说吧，我们中间有谁或者哪些人完全不可能对安东尼·马斯顿使用氰化物，完全不可能对罗杰斯太太使用过量的安眠药，完全没有机会对麦克阿瑟进行致命的一击呢？”布洛尔一直阴沉着的脸开朗起来了。他向前靠了靠。
“Now you’re talking, Sir!” he said. “That’s the stuff! Let’s go into it. As regards young Marston I don’t think there’s anything to be done. It’s already been suggested that some one from outside slipped something into the dregs of his glass before he refilled it for the last time. A person actually in the room could have done that even more easily. I can’t remember if Rogers was in the room, but any of the rest of us could certainly have done it.”
“这才像话，先生！”他说道，“就是这个办法！我们来试试。关于马斯顿这个小伙子，我看没什么好查的了。有人已经说过在马斯顿最后一次斟满酒杯之前，窗外可能有人往剩酒余沥中偷偷放了些什么。真正在房间里的人干起来甚至更容易。我记不得当时罗杰斯是不是在房间里了，至于我们其余这些人，哪个都有干这事的可能。”
Lombard said: “Well, have it your own way. U. N. Owen is one of us. No eiceptions allowed. We all qualify.”
隆巴德说道：“好吧，你尽管说你的。反正尤·纳·欧文是我们中间的一个，谁都有可能，哪一个也跑不了。”
He paused, then went on. “Now take the woman Rogers. The people who stand out there are her husband and the doctor. Either of them could have done it as easy as winking –“
他停了停之后又接着说：“现在拿罗杰斯的女人来说吧，当时跑出去的是她大夫和大夫。他们俩哪一个都可以轻而易举地做——”
Armstrong sprang to his feet. He was trembling.
阿姆斯特朗跳了起来，混身发抖。
“Your indignation is very natural. Nevertheless you must admit that the facts have got to be faced. Either you or Rogers could have administered a fatal dose with the greatest ease. Let us now consider the position of the other people present. What chance had 1, had Inspector Blore, had Miss Brent, had Miss Claythorne, had Mr. Lombard of administering poison? Can any one of us be completely and entirely eliminated?” He paused. “I think not.”
“你的愤慨是非常自然的。但是，尽管如此，你得承认必须面对事实。不是你，就是罗杰斯，你们都有可能毫不费力地使用致命的剂量。现在，我们再来看看在场的其他各位的情况。我、布洛尔探长、布伦特小姐、克莱索恩小姐、隆巴德先生有没有下毒的机会呢？这些人中间谁可能完全被排除在外呢？”他顿了顿，“我看一个也不可能。”
“I protest — This is absolutely uncalled for! I swear that the dose I gave the woman was perfectly –“
“我抗议——这简直是莫名其妙！我发誓，我给那女人的药剂是毫无——”
Vera said angrily: “I was nowhere near the woman! All of you can swear to that.”
维拉愤怒了，说道：“我根本不在这个女人旁边！你们都可以作证。”
“Dr. Armstrong.”
“阿姆斯特朗大夫。”
The small sour voice was compelling. The doctor stopped with a jerk in the middle of his sentence. The small cold voice went on.
这个细细的、酸溜溜的声音挺管用。大夫刚说了半句，就骤然停住了。
Mr. Justice Wargrave waited a minute, then he said: “As far as my memory serves me the facts were these — will any one please correct me if I make a misstatement? Mrs. Rogers was lifted onto the sofa by Anthony Marston and Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong went to her. He sent Rogers for brandy. There was then a question raised as to where the voice we had just heard had come from. We all went into the next room with the exception of Miss Brent who remained in this room — alone with the unconscious woman.”
沃格雷夫法官先生迟疑了一分钟才说话：“根据我的记忆，事实是这样的——如果我说得不对，请各位纠正。安东尼·马斯顿和隆巴德先生把罗杰斯太太抬上沙发之后，阿姆斯特朗大夫跑了过去。他让罗杰斯去取白兰地。后来呢，大家提出了一个问题：究竟我们听到的指控是从哪里发出来的。我们都走进隔壁那间房子，除了布伦特小姐仍旧呆在老地方没动——单独一人同失去了知觉的那个女人在一起。”
Emily Brent said: “Is common humanity a criminal offence?”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“正常的同情心也是刑事犯罪吗？”
The remorseless small voice went on. “When we returned to this room, you, Miss Brent, were bending over the woman on the sofa.”
但是无情而细细的声音照样在说着：“而当我们回到房间里的时候，你，布伦特小姐，正俯身对着沙发上的女人。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “I am only establishing facts. Rogers then entered the room with the brandy which, of course, he could quite well have doctored before entering the room. The brandy was administered to the woman and shortly afterwards her husband and Dr. Armstrong assisted her up to bed where Dr. Armstrong gave her a sedative.”
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“我只是在摆事实。随后，罗杰斯送白兰地进屋，当然，他完全可能在进屋之前就下了药。这杯白兰地让那个女人喝下去了。不一会儿，他丈夫和阿姆斯特朗大夫帮她上了床。阿姆斯特朗大夫当场给了她镇静剂。”
A spot of colour came into Emily Brent’s cheeks. She stopped knitting. She said: “This is outrageous!”
埃米莉·布伦特的脸颊顿时变了颜色。她放下织物说道：“这简直使人不能容忍！”
Blore said: “That’s what happened. Absolutely. And that lets out the judge, Mr. Lombard, myself and Miss Claythorne.”
布洛尔说道：“事情经过是这样的。完全是。这就不关法官、隆巴德先生、我自己和克莱索恩小姐我们这几个人的事了。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “Upstairs in her room, Mrs. Rogers is lying in bed. The sedative that the doctor has given her begins to take effect. She is vaguely sleepy and acquiescent. Supposing that at that moment there is a tap on the door and some one enters bringing her, shall we say, a tablet, or a draught, with the message that ‘the doctor says you’re to take this.’ Do you imagine for one minute that she would not have swallowed it obediently without thinking twice about it?”
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“罗杰斯太太就躺在楼上她自己的房间里。大夫给她的镇静剂开始发生作用了，她迷迷糊糊地发困，不做声了。假定说，那时候有个人敲了一下门，走进房间，比如递给她一片药或者一点药水，还传着大夫的口信说这是大夫吩咐让她吃的。你决不会想像罗杰斯太太会再三考虑，不听传话，不马上把药吞下去的。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave, bringing a cold eye to bear upon him, murmured: “Ah, but does it? We must take into account every possible eventuality.”
沃格雷夫法官先生冷冷地看了他一眼，低声说道：“啊？是没事了吗？我们一定得把每一点可能发生的情况都估计进去。”
His voice was loud and jubilant.
他说得很响亮，而且显得十分高兴。
Blore stared. He said: “I don’t get you.”
布洛尔的眼睛又瞪起来了，他说：“我不懂你的意思。”
Lombard objected: “But then Rogers would have been up there.”
隆巴德不同意：“那时候罗杰斯就在房间里了。”
There was a silence. Blore shifted his feet and frowned. Philip Lombard said: “I don’t believe in that story for a minute. Besides none of us left this room for hours afterwards. There was Marston’s death and all the rest of it.”
静了一会儿，布洛尔不安地移动着双脚，皱着眉头。菲利普·隆巴德说道：“这种说法，我一点儿也不信。再说，事发之后总有好长时间，我们谁都没有离开这间屋子吧，后来又是马斯顿的死，等等，等等的。”
The judge said: “Some one could have left his or her bedroom — later.”
法官说道：“如果有人后来是从他或她自己的卧室里去找罗杰斯太太的呢？我是说再后来。”
Dr. Armstrong stirred. “No,” he said. “Rogers went downstairs to clear up in the dining-room and pantry. Any one could have gone up to the woman’s bedroom then without being seen.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫开了口。“不对，”他说道，“那时候罗杰斯下楼收拾餐厅和小厨房去了。就是可能有人神不知鬼不觉地到过那里。”
Emily Brent said: “Surely, doctor, the woman would have been fast asleep by then under the influence of the drug you had administered?”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“大夫，你能肯定说那个女人吃了你的药以后一定睡得很死吗？”
Lombard said: “Of course you would say that, doctor. Suits your book — eh?”
隆巴德说道：“当然，这是你的老一套，大夫。照本宣科，呃？”
“In all likelihood, yes. But it is not a certainty. Until you have pre — scribed for a patient more than once you cannot tell their reaction to different drugs. There is, sometimes, a considerable period before a sedative takes effect. It depends on the personal idiosyncrasy of the patient towards that particular drug.”
“十之八九会是这样，但也没有准。对任何一个具体的病人，只有经过几次处方以后，才能知道他对不同药物有什么不同反应。有时候，硬是要隔好久，镇静剂才起作用。这都得看每个人的体质对具体药物的反应如何了。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave, stroking his Up and looking quite passionless and inhuman, said: “We have now dealt with the second killing, and have established the fact that no one of us can be completely exonerated from suspicion.”
沃格雷夫法官先生用手指轻轻地敲着嘴唇，满脸的冷漠，毫无一点儿人情味地说道：“我们现在谈的是第二起凶杀案，事实说明我们哪一个都不能全然摆脱嫌疑。”
Blore said: “And that gets us — where?”
布洛尔说道：“那对我们说明什么问题呢？”
But again that passionless cold little voice stopped the words on his lips. “No good result can come from recrimination. Facts are what we have to deal with. It is established, I think, that there is a possibility of such a thing as I have outlined occurring. I agree that its probability value is not high; though there again, it depends on who that person might have been. The appearance of Miss Brent or of Miss Claythorne on such an errand would have occasioned no surprise in the patient’s mind. I agree that the appearance of myself, or of Mr. Blore, or of Mr. Lombard could have been, to say the least of it, unusual, but I still think the visit would have been received without the awakening of any real suspicion.”
但是法官冷漠无情的低语声又一次把他已经到了嘴边的话头拦了回去。“反驳解决不了任何问题，我们要弄清楚的是事实真象，我认为，我刚才摆的情况有可能发生是站得住脚的，我也承认这种可能性并不很大。但那也得看可能去的人具体是谁了。要是这种送药的差事落在布伦特小姐或者克莱索恩小姐头上，病人见到她们去，绝对不会有疑虑。换了我去，或者是布洛尔先生、隆巴德先生去，至少说，就很不正常，但是我仍然认为这不至于引起她内心的怀疑。”
Again Armstrong’s face darkened with anger.
阿姆斯特朗又给惹怒了，脸色顿时阴沉起来。
Blore said: “I was with Mr. Lombard and Dr. Armstrong all the morning. They’ll bear me out.”
布洛尔说道：“我一上午都同隆巴德和阿姆斯特朗大夫在一起。他们可以给我作证。”
“I sat on that chair on the terrace for the whole morning until the gong went, but there were, I should imagine, several periods during the morning when I was quite unobserved and during which it would have been possible for me to walk down to the sea, kill the General, and return to my chair. There is only my word for the fact that I never left the terrace. In the circumstances that is not enough. There must be proof.”
“我就在平台上那把椅子里整整坐了一上午，直到钟响。但是我应该说，我记得其间有好几次周围完全没有人，而我也完全有可能去到海边，杀死将军后再回到椅子里坐着。要证明我一直没有离开过平台，只能听我自己说。而在这种情况下，这是不够的。必须有证明。”
Blore said: “Of course, I did. Went straight there and straight back. You know I did.”
布洛尔说道：“不错，我去过。直去直回，这你应该清楚。”
He paused and went on. “We come now to the death of General Macarthur. That took place this morning. I will ask any one who considers that he or she has an alibi to state it in so many words. I myself will state at once that I have no valid alibi. I spent the morning sitting on the terrace and meditating on the singular position in which we all find ourselves.
他停了停又说：“我们现在谈谈麦克阿瑟将军的死亡。那是今天早晨发生的。谁要是有什么可以谈的，可以开脱他或者她自己的，我请他们照样说上一遍。至于我本人，现在我当场表示，我没有充分证据说明自己不在场。整个上午我都坐在平台上，想着一个问题，就是包括我们每个人在内的处境问题。
Dr. Armstrong said: “You went to the house for a rope.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫说道：“你去屋里取过绳子。”
Emily Brent said: “I took a walk with Miss Claythorne up to the top of the island. Afterwards I sat on the terrace in the sun.”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“我同克莱索恩小姐一起到岛顶上走了走。后来，我坐在平台上晒太阳。”
“Had to find it, didn’t I? Can’t lay your hands on a coil of rope all in a minute.”
“难道不需要花时间找？哪能一伸手就是一大卷绳子到手？”
Armstrong repeated: “I only said you were a long time.”
阿姆斯特朗又说了一遍：“我不过是说你去了好久。”
Armstrong said hotly: “Certainly. That is, Lombard went off for a few minutes. I remained where I was.”
阿姆斯特朗光火了：“哪还用说。隆巴德不过走开了几分钟，我一直在原地没动。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “During Inspector Blore’s absence, were you two gentlemen together?”
沃格雷夫法官先生说道：“布洛尔探长走开的时候，你们两位在一起吗？”
The judge said: “Did either of you two glance at your watches?”
法官说道：“你们俩谁看过表呢？”
The judge said evenly: “A minute or two is a vague expression.”
法官不慌不忙地说道：“一两分钟，这个说法太含糊。”
Armstrong nodded. He said: “That’s right. Not long enough to do a murder, I assure you.”
阿姆斯特朗点头表示同意：“没错。我向你们保证，就这么一会儿，来不及杀人的。”
“Well, no.”
“没看过。”
Blore turned crimson. He said: “What the hell do you mean by that, Dr. Armstrong?”
布洛尔涨红了脸，说道：“你这样说是什么意思，阿姆斯特朗大夫？”
Philip Lombard said: “I wasn’t wearing one.”
菲利普·隆巴德说道：“我没有带表。”
He turned his head to the upright figure with the knitting lying on her lap. “Miss Brent?”
随后，他把脑袋转向怀里抱着毛线，笔挺地坐着的那个主儿：“布伦特小姐？”
Lombard said with a smile: “I wanted to test the possibilities of heliographing to the mainland. Wanted to find the best spot. I was only absent a minute or two.”
隆巴德带着微笑说道：“我想试试能不能用太阳光的反射向岸上发信号。得找一个合适的地方。我只走开了一两分钟。”
Armstrong said: “You were a long time…”
阿姆斯特朗说道：“你一去好久……”
“And you sat there till lunch time?”
“你一直在那里坐到吃午饭？”
“Yes.”
“是的。”
Blore asked: “Was it after we’d spoken to him or before?”
布洛尔问道：“是我们同他谈了之后，还是之前？”
The judge said: “I don’t think I noticed you there.”
法官说道：“我不记得你在那里。”
Vera for the first time was vague. She said: “I don’t know. About an hour before lunch, I think — or it might have been less.”
维拉这才有些恍惚，她说道：“我不清楚，大约吃饭前一个钟头吧，我想想——可能还不到。”
“Miss Claythorne?”
“克莱索恩小姐？”
Vera answered readily and clearly. “I was with Miss Brent early this morning. After that I wandered about a bit. Then I went down and talked to General Macarthur.”
维拉胸有成竹地大声回答道：“今天一早，我同布伦特小姐在一起；之后，我各处溜了溜，再后来，就到海边同麦克阿瑟将军谈了谈。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave interrupted. He said: “What time was that?”
沃格雷夫法官先生插嘴说道：“那是什么时候？”
“No, I was round the corner of the house to the east. It was out of the wind there.”
“不，我是在房子朝东的拐角那边。那里避风。”
She shivered.
她有点哆嗦。
The judge nodded. He said: “What did you do next?”
法官点了点头说：“后来你又做什么了呢？”
Vera said: “I don’t know. He — he was very queer.”
维拉说道：“我不清楚。他——他真是非常奇怪。”
“In what way was he queer?” the judge wanted to know.
“怎么奇怪法？”法官要追问清楚。
Vera said in a low voice: “He said we were all going to die — he said he was waiting for the end. He — he frightened me…”
维拉低声说道：“他说我们都快要死了——他说他正在等待着他的末日。他——他吓得我……”
“I went back to the house. Then, just before lunch, I went out again and up behind the house. I’ve been terribly restless all day.”
“我回屋里了。一直到吃饭之前才出来，又到屋后走了走。反正整整一天我都是心神不定的。”
Rogers, summoned before the court, had very little to tell. He bad been busy all the morning about household duties and with the preparation of lunch. He had taken cocktails onto the terrace before lunch and had then gone up to remove his things from the attic to another room. He had not looked out of the window during the morning and had seen nothing that could have any bearing upon the death of General Macarthur. He would swear definitely that there had been eight china figures upon the dining-table when he laid the table for lunch.
应召来到审问席面前的罗杰斯确实说不出多少情况来。他一上午忙着大小家务和准备午饭。饭前他还给平台上送过鸡尾酒，之后又上楼把自己的东西从阁楼搬进另外一间房子里。一上午连窗外都没有望过一眼，连一点有关麦克阿瑟将军死亡的蛛丝马迹都没有见到。他敢发誓说，中午他开饭摆桌子的时候，餐桌上确确实实有八个小瓷人儿。
Mr. Justice Wararave cleared his throat.
沃格雷夫法官先生清了清嗓子。
Lombard murmured to Vera Claythorne; “The summing up will now take place!”
隆巴德对维拉·克莱索恩低声说道：“现在听他宣读结论吧！”
Mr. Justice Wargrave stroked his chin. He said: “There remains Rogers. Though I doubt if his evidence will add anything to our sum of knowledge.”
沃格雷夫法官先生抚摸着下巴颏说道：“还剩一个罗杰斯。其实他的证词究竟能给我们增添多少情况呢，我怀疑。”
At the conclusion of Rogers’ evidence there was a pause.
罗杰斯的证词一结束，屋里顿时又静了下来。
The judge said: “We have inquired into the circumstances of these three deaths to the best of our ability. Whilst probability in some cases is against certain people being implicated, yet we cannot say definitely that any one person can be considered as cleared of all complicity. I reiterate my positive belief that of the seven persons assembled in this room one is a dangerous and probably insane criminal. There is no evidence before us as to who that person is. All we can do at the present juncture is to consider what measures we can take for communicating with the mainland for help, and in the event of help being delayed (as is only too possible given the state of the weather) what measures we must adopt to ensure our safety.”
法官说道：“我们尽最大的可能就三起死亡案情作了质询。有些涉及人员在某些方面确无干系，但迄今为止，我们仍不能肯定哪个人同本案全无牵连。我重申我绝对相信，现在本室的七人中有一个就是危险的也可能是精神失常的罪犯。但是，在我们面前尚无证据说明他是哪一个。眼下我们所能做的就是想想有什么办法同岸上取得联系以求帮助，也想想万一岸上的帮助一时来不了（而且按天气的情况看，十之八九来不了）时，必需采取哪些措施才能保证我们的安全。”
“I would ask you all to consider this carefully and to give me any suggestions that may occur to you. In the meantime I warn everybody to be upon his or her guard. So far the murderer has had an easy task, since his victims have been unsuspicious. From now on, it is our task to suspect each and every one amongst us. Forewarned is forearmed. Take no risks and be alert to danger. That is all.” Philip Lombard murmured beneath his breath: “The court will now adjourn…”
“我请求大家慎重考虑这种情况，把自己想到的任何建议提出来。在此期间，我还警告大家要各自提高警惕。杀人凶手之所以能够肆无忌惮，正是因为我们这些受害对象毫无戒心。从现在起，我们应该以考查我们中间的每一个人为自己的责任。凡事预则立，也就是有备而无患。切勿大意，谨防危险。完了。”菲利普·隆巴德不出声地嘟囔道：“现在退庭……”
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