Dinner was drawing to a close.
晚饭快吃完了。
Mr. Justice Wargrave, mellowed by the excellent port, was being amusing in a caustic fashion, Dr. Armstrong and Tony Marston were listening to him.
沃格雷夫法官先生，几杯甘醇的葡萄美酒下肚，酒意一浮上了脸，就连讽带刺地说起话来了，又风趣又逗乐。阿姆期特朗大夫和安东尼·马斯顿正听着他呢。
The food had been good, the wine perfect. Rogers waited well.
美酒佳肴，罗杰斯伺候得很周到。
Anthony Marston said suddenly: “Quaint, these things, aren’t they?”
安东尼·马斯顿突然说道：“这玩意儿不是挺有意思吗？”
In the centre of the round table, on a circular glass stand, were some little china figures.
原来在圆桌中央的玻璃圆托盘里摆着几个小瓷人儿。
Every one was in better spirits. They had begun to talk to each other with more freedom and intimacy.
就座的人个个兴高采烈。相互间的交谈开始自在多了，也亲热多了。
Miss Brent chatted to General Macarthur, they had discovered some mutual friends. Vera Claythorne was asking Mr. Davis intelligent questions about South Africa. Mr. Davis was quite fluent on the subject. Lombard listened to the conversation. Once or twice he looked up quickly, and his eyes narrowed. Now and then his eyes played round the table, studying the others.
布伦特小姐同麦克阿瑟将军聊着，谈起了他俩都熟悉的几个朋友。维拉·克莱索恩向戴维斯先生打听南非的情况，问得头头是道，答得也流利切题。隆巴德则在一旁听着。有这么一两次，他眯着双眼，抬起头来扫了他们一眼，还不时地环顾全桌，观察着其他的几个人。
“Indians,” said Tony. “Indian Island. I suppose that’s the idea.”
“印地安人，”安东尼说，“印地安岛嘛！我猜就是这个意思。”
Vera leaned forward. “I wonder. How many are there? Ten?”
维拉向前凑了凑。“我看——一共几个？十个吗？”
“Yes — ten there are.”
“不错——有十个。”
Vera cried: “What fun! They’re the ten little Indian boys of the nursery rhyme, I suppose. In my bedroom the rhyme is framed and hung up over the mantelpiece.”
维拉喊了起来：“多有意思！这就是那首儿歌上说的十个印地安小男孩，我看就是。我卧室壁炉架上的镜框里，就镶着这首儿歌。”
Emily Brent agreed.
埃米莉·布伦特同意这一点。
Miss Brent’s eyes looked at her in surprise. Vera flushed. She said, more composedly: “I don’t think this place would be very agreeable in a storm.”
布伦特小姐用惊奇的眼光瞧着她。维拉脸红了，但立刻平静下来，说道：“我看这地方一起风就不讨人喜欢啦。”
Vera said sharply: “I hate it.”
维拉十分生硬地说：“我讨厌。”
Vera murmured: “It must be difficult to get servants anyway.”
维拉喃喃地说道：“是啊！雇佣人无论如何是困难的。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave grunted: “Remarkably childish,” and helped himself to port.
沃格雷夫法官先生又嘟嚷起来：“简直是孩子气。”随即又喝起他的葡萄酒来了。
Emily Brent looked at Vera Claythorne. Vera Claythorne looked at Miss Brent. The two women rose.
埃米莉·布伦特看看维拉·克莱索恩。维拉·克莱索恩也看看布伦特小姐。两个女人站起身来走了出去。
“And mine.”
“我也有。”
Lombard said: “In my room, too.”
隆巴德说道：“我房间里也有。”
Everybody joined the chorus. Vera said: “It’s an amusing idea, isn’t it?”
大家异口同声地都说有。维拉说道：“这不是挺有意思的吗？”
Emily Brent said: “Pleasant sound.”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“好听。”
“I’ve no doubt the house is shut up in winter,” she said. “You’d never get servants to stay here for one thing.”
“一到冬天，这所房子里的人就谁也出不去了。我看这一点可以肯定。”她说道，“还有一点是，佣人也雇不长。”
In the drawing-room, the French windows were open onto the terrace and the sound of the sea murmuring against the rocks came up to them.
休息厅里，法国式落地长窗向平台外面敞开着，海浪拍的声音不时低啸着向她们传来。
“And mine.”
“我也有。”
Vera thought: “Funny how elderly people always get names wrong.”
维拉想道：“人一上年纪，总是好把人家的名字记错，多有意思！”
Emily Brent said: “Mrs. Oliver has been lucky to get these two. The woman’s a good cook.”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“奥利弗夫人雇上这两个，运气不坏。这个女人确实烧得一手好菜。”
She said: “Yes, I think Mrs. Owen has been very lucky indeed.”
她说道：“是啊，我也说欧文夫人的运气的确不错。”
Emily Brent had brought a small piece of embroidery out of her bag. Now, as she was about to thread her needle, she paused. She said sharply: “Owen? Did you say Owen?”
埃米莉·布伦特从手提包里拿出一小块刺绣手工，正要开始刺绣，听到维拉的话，她突然停住了，猛地问道：“欧文？是你说欧文来着？”
“Yes.”
“是啊。”
Emily Brent said sharply: “I’ve never met any one called Owen in my life.”
埃米莉·布伦特接着说道：“我可一辈子没见过叫欧文什么的人。”
Vera stared.
维拉傻了眼。
She did not finish her sentence. The door opened and the men joined them. Rogers followed them into the room with the coffee tray.
她的话还没来得及说完，门开了。男人们都进来了。罗杰斯跟着也走进大厅，手里托着咖啡盘。
“But surely –“
“不过，明明是——”
The judge came and sat down by Emily Brent. Armstrong came up to Vera. Tony Marston strolled to the open window. Blore studied with na*fve surprise a statuette in brass-wondering perhaps if its bizarre angularities were really supposed to be the female figure. General Macarthur stood with his back to the mantelpiece. He pulled at his little white moustache. That had been a damned good dinner! His spirits were rising. Lombard turned over the pages of Punch that lay with other papers on a table by the wall.
法官走过去，挨着埃米莉·布伦特坐下。阿姆斯特朗大夫走到维拉身边，安东尼·马斯顿晃晃悠悠地向敞开的窗户走去。布洛尔对一尊铜制的小塑像很感兴趣，呆头呆脑地在研究塑像上奇特的衣褶线条，想弄明白这种衣褶是不是为了显示女性的身段。麦克阿瑟将军背对壁炉架站着，捻着他那短短的白胡须。这顿晚饭真叫棒！他的精神来了。隆巴德在墙边桌上的书报堆里找出一本《笨拙》杂志随便翻着。
Into that silence came The Voice. Without warning, inhuman, penetrating…
正在这个宁静的时刻，突然有一种“声音”传来了，音调冷酷无情，刺人心肺……
William Henry Blore, that you brought about the death of James Stephen Landor on October 10th, 1928.
威廉·亨利·布洛尔，1928年10月10日，是你导致了詹姆斯·斯蒂芬·兰道的一命呜呼。
Emily Caroline Brent, that upon the 5th November, 1931, you were responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor.
埃米莉·卡罗琳·布伦特，你要对1931年11月5日比阿特丽斯·泰勒之死负全部责任。
The Voice went on — a high clear voice.
那个响亮而清晰的“声音”却继续着：
You are charged with the following indictments: Edward George Armstrong, that you did upon the 14th day of March, 1925, cause the death of Louisa Mary Clees.
你们被控告犯有下列罪行：爱德华·乔治·阿姆斯特朗，1925年3月14日，你造成路易莎·玛丽·克利斯的死亡。
Rogers went round with the coffee tray. The coffee was goodreally black and very hot.
罗杰斯端着托盘，转圈儿给大家送咖啡。好咖啡，又浓又热，真带劲。
The whole party had dined well. They were satisfied with themselves and with life. The hands of the clock pointed to twenty minutes past nine. There was a silence-a comfortable replete silence.
这帮子人全都吃得很舒坦。他们心满意足，觉得自己这大半天表现得不错，也过得不错。时钟指针指着差二十分九点，一下子十分安静起来——真是一种使人感到既舒坦又满足的安静。
Philip Lombard, that upon a date in February, 1932, you were guilty of the death of twenty-one men, members of an East African tribe.
菲利普·隆巴德，1932年2月某日，你犯有使东非部落二十一名男人死亡的罪行。
Every one was startled. They looked round — at each other, at the walls. Who was speaking?
大家全部吃了一惊，前后左右地张望着，又彼此对望着。是谁在说话呐？
“Ladies and gentlemen! Silence, please!”
“女士们，先生们，请安静！”
Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, that on the 11th day of August, 1935, you killed Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton.
维拉·伊命莎白·克莱索恩，1935年8月11日，你谋害了西里尔·奥格尔维·汉密尔顿。
Lombard called: “Marston.”
隆巴德喊道：“马斯顿。”
Lawrence John Wargrave, that upon the 10th day of June, 1930, you were guilty of the murder of Edward Seton.
劳伦斯·约翰·沃格雷夫，1930年6月10日，你谋害了爱德华·塞顿。
Dr. Armstrong came across quickly. He helped them to lift her onto the sofa and bent over her. He said quickly: “It’s nothing. She’s fainted, that’s all. She’ll be round in a minute.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫马上走过来，帮着他俩把罗杰斯太太安顿在沙发上，然后弯下腰查看着她说：“没什么，晕过去了。不要紧，就会醒过来的。”
Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defence?
你们这些站在法庭面前的罪犯们，还有什么好替自己辩解的呢？”
The Voice had stopped.
“声音”停顿下来。
Outside, lying in a huddled mass, was Mrs. Rogers.
门外，是罗杰斯太太跌倒在地。
Lombard was the first to move. He leapt to the door and flung it open.
隆巴德第一个作出反应，他立刻奔到门口，一下子把门推开了。
There was a moment’s petrified silence and then a resounding crash! Rogers had dropped the coffee tray!
刹那间，室内出现了死一般的寂静。突然，一声声响，回声振荡。原来，罗杰斯的咖啡盘失手落地了！
John Gordon Macarthur, that on the 4th of January, 1917, you deliberately sent your wife’s lover, Arthur Richmond, to his death.
约翰·戈登·麦克阿瑟，1917年1月4日，你蓄意谋害了你的妻子的情人阿瑟·里奇蒙。
Anthony James Marston, that upon the 14th day of November last, you were guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes.
安东尼·詹姆斯·马斯顿，去年11月14日，你杀害了约翰和露西·库姆斯。
Anthony sprang to help him. Between them, they lifted up the woman and carried her into the drawing-room.
安东尼一跃而起，跑过去帮助他。他们俩架着罗杰斯太太，把她弄进了休息厅。
At the same moment, from somewhere outside the room there came a scream and the sound of a thud.
与此同时，大厅外面，不知从哪里传来了一声尖叫，接着是“扑通”一声。
Thomas Rogers and Ethel Rogers, that on the 6th of May, 1929, you brought about the death of Jennifer Brady.
托马斯·罗杰斯和埃塞尔·罗杰斯，1929年5月6日，你们害死了詹尼弗·布雷迪。
Vera cried out: “Who was that speaking? Where was he? It sounded — it sounded –“
维拉喊起来了。“说话的人是谁？他在哪儿？听起来就像——听起来就像——”
Rogers, his face white, his hands shaking, murmured: “Yes, sir,” and slipped quickly out of the room.
罗杰斯，脸色煞白，双手颤抖，嗫嚅地答道：“遵命，先生。”说着立刻溜出了房间。
Lombard said to Rogers: “Get some brandy.”
隆巴德对罗杰斯说：“拿点白兰地来！”
Blore was mopping his face with a handkerchief.
布洛尔光顾拿着手帕抹脸。
General Macarthur spluttered out: “What’s going on here? What kind of a practical joke was that?”
麦克阿瑟将军气急败坏地说道：“这是搞什么名堂？开什么玩笑？”
Emily Brent sat upright, her head held high. In both cheeks was a spot of hard colour. The judge sat in his habitual pose, his head sunk down into his neck. With one hand he gently scratched his ear. Only his eyes were active, darting round and round the room, puzzled, alert with intelligence.
埃米莉·布伦特端端正正地坐着，昂着头，双颊发红。而法官还是那副老样子，随随便便地坐在那里，脑袋几乎要缩到脖子里去了，一只手搔着耳朵，只有两只眼睛忙个不停，瞧瞧这，瞧瞧那，围着房间转，困惑警觉，还透着机智。
His hand was shaking. His shoulders sagged. He looked suddenly ten years older.
他的手在发抖，双肩耷拉下来，一下子好像老了十岁。
Only Mr. Justice Wargrave and Miss Brent seemed comparatively unmoved.
只有沃格雷夫法官先生和布伦特小姐，比起他们来似乎未为所动。
Again it was Lombard who acted. Armstrong being busy with the collapsed woman, Lombard was free once more to take the initiative. He said: “That voice? It sounded as though it were in the room.”
隆巴德一直在忙碌着。阿姆斯特朗只顾处理瘫倒的罗杰斯太太。隆巴德趁此脱出身来，开口说道：“那个声音？听上去就像在这个屋里。”
Like the judge, Lombard’s eyes wandered slowly round the room. They rested a minute on the open window, then he shook his head decisively. Suddenly his eyes lighted up. He moved forward swiftly to where a door near the fireplace led into an adjoining room.
隆巴德的眼睛也像法官那样慢腾腾地在房间里转来转去，先在敞开着的窗户上盯了一会儿，接着肯定地摇摇头。突然，他双目炯炯、身手敏捷地走向壁炉架旁边那扇通向邻室的房门。
Vera cried: “Who was it? Who was it? It wasn’t one of us.”
维拉喊着说道：“是谁？是谁呢？不会是我们自己，哪一个都不会是的。”
The others crowded after him. Only Miss Brent remained alone sitting erect in her chair.
其余的人蜂拥而上。只有布伦特小姐孤零零地独自挺坐在椅子上，纹丝儿不动。
He said: “All, here we are.”
他嚷道：“啊，在这儿呐。”
Inside the second room a table had been brought up close to the wall which adjoined the drawing-room. On the table was a gramophone — an old-fashioned type with a large trumpet attached. The mouth of the trumpet was against the wall, and Lombard, pushing it aside, indicated where two or three small holes had been unobtrusively bored through the wall.
隔壁房间里，一张桌子被挪到紧挨着休息厅的那堵墙边。桌上放着一台留声机——带大喇叭的那种老式留声机，喇叭正冲着墙。隆巴德一下子把喇叭推开，指着墙上钻透了的几个小孔。乍一看，一点也不显眼。
With a swift gesture, he caught the handle and flung the door open. He passed through and immediately uttered an exclamation of satisfaction.
他用迅雷不及掩耳的动作一把抓住门把儿，猛地把门推开了，他走了进去，立刻发出一声满意的呼声。
Adjusting the gramophone he replaced the needle on the record and immediately they heard again: “You are charged with the following indictments –“
他调整了一下留声机，把唱头放在唱片上，立刻他们又听到了那个“声音”：“你们被控告犯有下列罪行——”
He led the way back into the drawing-room. The others followed.
他带头回到了休息厅，大家跟着他。
The hand of the judge gently stroked his upper lip. He said: “At the moment I’m not prepared to give an opinion.”
法官用手轻轻拍打着上嘴唇说：“此时此刻我还不打算发表看法。”
Dr. Armstrong said, with a sigh of relief: “A disgraceful and heartless practical joke, I suppose.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫松了一口气，叹息着说：“我看这个玩笑开得未免太不顾脸面，太没有心肝了吧。”
Anthony Marston broke in. He said: “Look here, there’s one thing you’ve forgotten. Who the devil turned the thing on and set it going?”
安东尼·马斯顿插嘴说：“听我说，有一点你们都忘了。究竟是什么人放上唱片，让它转起来的呢？”
Adroitly Rogers slipped between the two women.
罗杰斯轻巧地挤进两个女人的中间。
Wargrave murmured: “Yes, I think we must inquire into that.”
沃格雷夫依然轻轻地说道：“对了，我看我们得查查这件事。”
Tile doctor stared at him.
大夫瞪着他。
Lombard obeyed.
隆巴德听从地照办了。
Mrs. Rogers’ breath came in quick gasps. Her eyes, staring frightened eyes, went round and round the ring of faces.
罗杰斯太太急促地喘起气来，她的两只眼睛，傻瞪瞪的惊恐万状的两只眼睛，一遍又一遍地环视着周围一大圈人的脸。
“Allow me, Madam, I’ll speak to her. Ethel — Ethel — it’s all right. All right, do you hear? Pull yourself together.”
“请原谅，夫人，让我来和她说说。埃塞尔——埃塞尔——没事了，没事！你听见了吗？来，振作一点！”
“What else is it?
“不然，还能是什么？”
Rogers had just come in with a glass of brandy. Miss Brent was bending over the moaning form of Mrs. Rogers.
罗杰斯端着一杯白兰地走了进来。这时，布伦特小姐正俯下身去查看还在不断呻吟的罗杰斯太太。
Vera cried: “Turn it off! Turn it off! It’s horrible!”
维拉喊了起来：“关上！关上！大可怕了！”
The small clear voice of Mr. Justice Wargrave murmured: “So you think it’s a joke, do you?”
沃格雷夫法官先生字正腔圆而又细声细气地轻轻说道：“这么说，你认为这只是开玩笑？”
Rogers said quickly: “Of course it did. It gave me a turn too. Fair made me drop that tray. Wicked lies, it was! I’d like to know –“
罗杰斯立刻说道：“真是使人发晕，它也使我晕了一下，好端端的把盘子也摔了。可恶的诽谤，简直太可恶了！我真想弄弄清楚——”
There was urgency in Rogers’ tone. “Pull yourself together, Ethel.”
罗杰斯的声音又在催促她：“振作一点，埃塞尔。”
Dr. Armstrong said sharply: “Where’s that brandy?”
阿姆斯特朗大夫急忙问：“那杯白兰地呢？”
“It was The Voice — that awful voice — like a judgment –“
“是那个声音。那个可怕的声音，像审判那样——”
Dr. Armstrong spoke to her soothingly. “You’ll be all right now, Mrs. Rogers. Just a nasty turn.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫安慰着她，对她说道：“你现在没问题了，罗杰斯太太。不过发作这么一阵子。”
Her face turned green again, her eyelids fluttered.
她的脸色又发青了，眼睑抖动起来。
Rogers had put it down on a little table. Some one handed it to the doctor and he bent over the gasping woman with it. “Drink this, Mrs. Rogers.”
原来罗杰斯把它放在一张小桌上了。立即有人递了过来。大夫端着酒杯向干噎着气的罗杰斯太太弯下身去：“把它喝了，罗杰斯太太。”
She drank, choking a little and gasping. The spirit did her good. The colour returned to her face. She said: “I’m all right now. It just — gave me a turn.”
她喝了。稍许呛了一下，喘着气。酒精起了作用，脸上顿时有了血色。她说道：“我现在没事了。那只不过——我晕了一下。”
“Yes.”
“是的。”
He was interrupted. It was only a cough — a dry little cough but it had the effect of stopping him in full cry. He stared at Mr. Justice Wargrave and the latter coughed again. Then lie said: “Who put that record on the gramophone? Was it you, Rogers?”
他突然停住了。那是因为一声咳嗽——一声轻轻的干咳竟然起到了大声喝住他的作用。他呆滞地看着沃格雷夫法官先生。法官先生又是一声咳嗽，然后问：“留声机上的片子是谁放上去的？是你吗，罗杰斯？”
She said: “Did I faint, sir?”
她问道：“我是晕过去了吗？先生？”
The judge said drily: “That is probably true. But I think you’d better explain, Rogers.”
法官干巴巴地说道：“这一点也许是真话。可是，我看你最好把事情说说清楚，罗杰斯。”
The butler wiped his face with a handkerchief. He said earnestly: “I was just obeying orders, Sir, that’s all.”
管家用手绢擦擦脸上的汗。他认真地说：“我只是奉命办事，先生，就是这些。”
Rogers cried: “I didn’t know what it was. Before God, I didn’t know what it was, sir. If I had I’d never have done it.”
罗杰斯大喊：“我不知道唱片的内容呀！天晓得，我真不知道唱片的内容，先生。要是我早知道，我说啥也不会这样做了。”
Wargrave looked at Lombard. “Was there a title on it?”
沃格雷夫瞧着隆巴德：“上面是有标题吗？”
“Whose orders?”
“奉谁的命？”
“Mr. Owen’s.”
“欧文先生的。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “Let me get this quite clear. Mr. Owen’s orders were — what exactly?” Rogers said: “I was to put a record on the gramophone. I’d find the record mi the drawer and my wife was to start the gramophone when I’d gone into the drawing-room with the coffee tray.”
沃格雷夫法官先生说：“让我把这一点完全弄清楚。是欧文先生的命令——具体是怎么说的？”罗杰斯回答道：“他让我把唱片放在留声机上。唱片在抽屉里。当我到屋里送咖啡去的时候，让我妻子把留声机打开。”
Rogers cried: “It’s the truth, sir. I swear to God it’s the truth. I didn’t know what it was — not for a moment. It had a name on it — I thought it was just a piece of music.”
罗杰斯喊了起来：“这是实活，先生。我向上帝发誓，这是实话。我事先并不知道唱片会说些什么——一点也不知道。唱片上原来有个名字来着——我原以为它只是一段音乐。”
The judge murmured: “A very remarkable story.”
法官又轻声地说：“挺像样的故事。”
Lombard nodded. He grinned suddenly, showing his white pointed teeth. He said: “Quite right, Sir. It was entitled Swan Song…”
隆巴德点点头。忽然他咧开嘴笑了，露出一嘴白白的尖牙齿说：“一点不错，生生。唱片的标题是‘天鹅湖’……”
Tony said: “I’ll go and forage.”
安东尼说：“我去张罗。”
Leaning on the two men, Mrs. Rogers tottered out of the room. When they had gone Tony Marston said: “Don’t know about you, Sir, but I could do with a drink.”
罗杰斯太太靠在两个男人身上，踉踉跄跄地走出了房间。他们走后，安东尼·马斯顿提议：“你们怎么样，各位？我可得喝点什么了。”
“Yes, Sir.”
“遵命，先生。”
Lombard said: “I agree.”
隆巴德答道：“我同意。”
General Macarthur broke out suddenly. He exclaimed: “The whole thing is preposterous — preposterous! Slinging accusations about like this! Something must be done about it. This fellow Owen whoever he is –“
麦克阿瑟将军忍不住了，他猛然喊叫起来：“这桩事情真是荒唐透顶——荒唐透顶！乱扣帽子，以至于此！得给他点颜色看看。这个叫欧文的，管他是哪一个——”
Dr. Armstrong said: “I’ll give you a hand, Rogers.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫说：“我来帮你一把。”
The judge interposed. He spoke with the authority that a lifetime in the courts had given him. He said: “That is exactly what we must go into very carefully. I should suggest that you get your wife to bed first of all, Rogers. Then come back here.”
法官又插进来说话了。一辈子的法官生涯养成了他一说起话来就神气十足：“这一点确实是我们要认真弄清楚的。罗杰斯，我建议你先把你妻子送回房去安顿她躺下，然后再回到这儿来。”
He returned a second or two later. “Found them all waiting on a tray outside ready to be brought in.”
他一两秒钟就回来了，说：“就在门口盘子里放着，正等着端进来呢。”
He went out of the room.
他走出了房间。
He set down his burden carefully. The next minute or two was spent in dispensing drinks. General Macarthur had a stiff whiskey and so did the judge. Every one felt the need of a stimulant. Only Emily Brent demanded and obtained a glass of water.
他小心翼翼地把东西放下，接着就是斟啊，倒啊的。麦克阿瑟将军挑了杯烈性白兰地，法官也照样斟了一杯。大家都想提提神。只有埃米莉·布伦特只要了一杯白水。
Emily Brent interrupted. She said sharply: “That’s just it, who is he?”
埃米莉·布伦特打断了他。她尖声说：“就是这个问题。他是哪一个？”
The room became an impromptu court of law.
这间大厅成了临时法庭。
Several of the men refilled their glasses. A moment or two later Rogers re-entered the room.
几个男的又各自喝了一杯。隔一会儿，罗杰斯回来了。
Mr. Justice Wargrave took charge of the proceedings.
下面的安排就由沃格雷夫法官先生来主持了。
Rogers shook his head. “I can’t say, Sir. You see, I’ve never seen him.”
罗杰斯摇摇脑袋。“我说不上来，先生。你知道，我从来没有见过他。”
Wargrave said: “Have you got that letter?”
沃格雷夫说道：“信还在吗？”
“I am aware of the fact. What I want you to teH me is what you yourself know about the man.”
“这一点我知道。我要你把你自己对这个人的了解告诉我。”
“Old established firm,” he volunteered.
“老公司了。”他自动作了说明。
General Macarthur said: “You’ve never seen him? What d’yer mean?”
麦克阿瑟将军说：“从来没见过他？你这话是什么意思？”
“We’ve only been here just under a week, Sir, my wife and 1. We were engaged by letter, through an agency. The Regina Agency in Plymouth.”
“我们到这儿还不到一个礼拜，先生，我是指我跟我妻子。他们是通过介绍所写信雇用我们的。就是普莱茅斯的那家‘女王介绍公司’。”
“I letter engaging us? No, Sir. I didn’t keep it.”
“介绍所的信吗？没了，先生。我没留下。”
There was a faint stir in the room.
整个房间顿时起了一阵轻微的骚动。
“She’s all right,” he said. “I’ve given her a sedative to take. What’s that, a drink? I could do with one.”
“她没问题了，”他说道，“我留下了一些镇静剂让她吃。这是什么？啊，酒！我来一杯！”
Blore nodded.
布洛尔点点头表示他知道。
Dr. Armstrong re-entered the room.
阿姆斯特朗大夫回到了休息厅里。
The judge said: “Now then, Rogers, we must get to the bottom of this. Who is this Mr. Owen?”
法官开口问道：“好吧，罗杰斯，我们得把事情弄清楚。你说说欧文先生是谁？”
Rogers stared. “He owns this place, Sir.”
罗杰斯瞪大了眼睛。“这所房子是他的，先生。”
“Yes, sir. We were to arrive on a certain day. We did. Everything was in order here. Plenty of food in stock and everything very nice. Just needed dusting and that.”
“是的，先生。规定我们哪一天到，我们就来了。而这里一切都已经安排好了。储存了好多好多吃的东西。什么都是上等货，只要拾掇拾掇干净就行了。”
“Go on with your story. You were engaged, as you say, by letter.”
“继续说下去吧。他们雇了你，照你的说法是通过信件雇的。”
“Yes, Sir, I’ve got it here.”
“还在，先生。我拿来了。”
“What next?”
“后来呢？”
The judge said sharply: “Surely you’ve got that letter?”
法官厉声说道：“那封信当然还在？”
He produced it from a pocket. The judge took it.
说着，他从口袋里掏出一封信来。法官接了过去。
“Nothing, sir. We got orders — by letter again — to prepare the rooms for a houseparty and then yesterday by the afternoon post I got another letter from Mr. Owen. It said he and Mrs. Owen were detained and to do the best we could and it gave the instructions about dinner and coffee and putting on the gramophone record.”
“没了，先生。我们都是按来信指示办的。让我们收拾好房间准备请一次客。昨天下午欧文先生来信说，他和他夫人有事耽搁，来不了了，让我们尽量招待好客人。关于晚饭，咖啡什么的，都作了指示，还让我们放上唱片。”
“H’m,” he said. “Headed Ritz Hotel and typewritten.”
“唔，”他说道，“落款地址是丽兹大饭店。信是打字机打的。”
With a quick movement Blore was beside him. He said: “If you’ll just let me have a look.”
转眼间，布洛尔就站到了他身边说：“请你让我看看。”
He twitched it out of the other’s hand, and ran his eye over it. He murmured: “Coronation machine. Quite new — no defects. Ensign paper — the most widely used make. You won’t get anything out of that. Might be fingerprints, but I doubt it.”
他一把将信纸抽过去，扫了一遍，然后轻声说：“冠冕牌打字机，相当新——没有毛病。纹章纸——大路货。光看这些，甭想发现什么问题。也许会有指纹。但我怀疑。”
Anthony Marston was standing beside Blore looking over his shoulder. He said: “Got some fancy Christian names, hasn’t he? Ulick Norman Owen. Quite a mouthful.”
安东尼·马斯顿正在布洛尔身旁探出头去看这封信。他说道：“名字挺花哨。尤利克·诺尔曼·欧文。够响亮的。”
He looked round at the others and thrusting his neck forward like an angry tortoise, he said: “I think the time has come for us all to pool our information. It would be well, I think, for everybody to come forward with all the information they have regarding the owner of this house.”
他环视所有的人，把脖子伸得老长，活像一只发怒的王八。他说道：“我看该是我们大伙儿凑凑情况的时候了，大家把各自了解到的关于这所房子主人的情况都谈出来吧。”
Wargrave stared at him with sudden attention.
沃格雷夫突然注意地瞅着他。
There was a moment’s pause and then Emily Brent spoke with decision. “There’s something very peculiar about all this,” she said. “I received a letter with a signature that was not very easy to read. It purported to be from a woman I had met at a certain summer resort two or three years ago. I took the name to be either Ogden or Oliver. I am acquainted with a Mrs. Oliver and also with a Miss Ogden. I am quite certain that I have never met, or become friendly with, anyone of the name of Owen.”
说完，冷场了一阵子。接着埃米莉·布伦特拿定主意，开了腔。“这桩事情的前前后后，的确有些古怪，”她说道，“我收到一封信，署名看不真切。大概是来自一个两三年前在某个避暑场所结识的妇女。我猜她不是姓奥尔顿，就是姓奥利弗。我认识一个奥利弗夫人，也认识一位奥尔顿小姐，但我可以完全肯定的是，我从来没有见过，也没有结交过任河一个姓欧文的朋友。”
He paused and then went on. “We are all his guests. I think it would be profitable if each one of us were to explain exactly how that came about.”
他顿了顿，然后继续说下去。“我们都是他的客人。我认为我们每个人都要把自己怎样作为客人来到这里的前后经过说个一清二楚，这才好。”
The old judge said with a slight start: “I am obliged to you, Mr. Marston. You have drawn my attention to a curious and suggestive point.”
老法官微微一震地说：“不胜感激，马斯顿先生。你提醒我注意到既有意思又耐人寻味的一点了。”
The judge read it. He said: “I begin to understand… Miss Claythorne?”
法官看了信。说道：“我有点明白了……克莱索恩小姐？”
“In a minute –“
“等等！”
“We will take one thing at a time, Mr. Lombard. We are at present inquiring into the causes which have resulted in our being assembled here tonight. General Macarthur?”
“隆巴德先生，我们一桩桩来。我们现在正在弄清楚我们今晚是怎么到这里聚会的。麦克阿瑟将军，您说说？”
Lombard, who had been staring at Blore, said suddenly: “Look here, I’ve just thought of something –“
隆巴德一直盯着布洛尔，突然对他说：“听着，我刚想起——”
“Yes, I will fetch it for you.”
“带着呢。我去给你拿来。”
The judge said: “Marston?”
法官说：“马斯顿？”
Again Wargrave nodded. He said: “Dr. Armstrong?”
沃格雷夫又点了点头说：“阿姆斯特朗大夫呢？”
Mr. Justice Wargrave said: “You have that letter, Miss Brent?”
沃格雷夫法官说道：“你带着那封信吗，布伦特小姐？”
“I was called in professionally.”
“我是应邀出诊来的。”
The judge lifted a hand.
法官举起了一只手。
“No. A colleague of mine was mentioned in the letter.”
“不认识。来信提到了我的一个同行。”
“But…”
“可我——”
The judge said: “To give verisimilitude… Yes, and that colleague, I presume, was momentarily out of touch with you?”
法官说道：“为了把戏唱得逼真些吧？……当然，据我估计，你的这位同行这一阵子想必和你没有什么来往吧？
“Well — er — yes.”
“这——呃——没有。”
Vera explained the circumstances of her secretarial engagement.
维拉把她受聘为秘书的前后经过也讲了一遍。
“I see. You had no previous acquaintanceship with the family?”
“明白了。以前你同这一家相识吗？”
She went away and returned a minute later with the letter.
她走出去不到一分钟就把信拿来了。
Anthony said: “Got a wire. From a pal of mine. Badger Berkeley. Surprised me at the time because I had an idea the old horse had gone to Norway. Told me to roll up here.”
安东尼答道：“我收到的是电报。是我的一个要好朋友打来的，他叫巴杰尔·巴克莱。当时很出乎我的预料，因为我所知道的是，这个老傻瓜已经到挪威去了，而他却请我光临此地。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave turned his attention to Mr. Blore. His forefinger stroked his upper lip and his voice was dangerously polite.
沃格雷夫法官先生把注意力转向了布洛尔先生，两个指头拍打着上嘴唇，他的话客气得令人不安。
Pulling at his moustache, the General muttered: “Got a letter — from this fellow Owen — mentioned some old pals of mine who were to be here — hoped I’d excuse informal invitation. Haven’t kept the letter, I’m afraid.”
将军一边捻着胡须，一边低声说道：“来了封信——也是这个姓欧文的家伙寄来的——提到了我的一些老熟人，说他们要来这儿——便函邀请，不够隆重，希望我别介意。信嘛，我怕是没留着。”
Wargrave said: “Mr. Lombard?”
沃格雷夫说道：“隆巴德先生？”
Lombard’s brain had been active. Was he to come out in the open, or not? He made up his mind.
隆巴德的脑子里一直在翻腾着。是抖落出来，公开？还是不？他拿定了主意。
“Same sort of thing,” he said. “Invitation, mentioned of mutual friends — I fell for it all right. I’ve tom up the letter.”
“也是这么回事，”他说道，“是邀请，还提起了彼此熟识的朋友们——没说的，我上了当。信，我撕了。”
He said: “Just now we had a somewhat disturbing experience. An apparently disembodied voice spoke to us all by name, uttering certain precise accusations against us. We will deal with those accusations presently. At the moment I am interested in a minor point. Amongst the names recited was that of William Henry Blore. But as far as we know there is no one named Blore amongst us. The name of Davis was not mentioned. What have you to say about that, Mr. Davis?”
他说道：“就在眼下，我们刚有过一番多少有点使人不安的经历。一个显然是虚无飘渺难以捉摸的声音冲着我们指名道姓地说了话，对我们提出了某些具体的指控，我们这就来清理清理这些控告。不过现在，有一个细节，我很想把它弄弄清楚：在提到的那些名字当中，有一个威廉·亨利·布洛尔。但就我们大家所知，我们之间并没有一个叫布洛尔的，而戴维斯的名字却没有提到。关于之一点，戴维斯先生，阁下有何见教呢？”
“You are William Henry Blore?”
“那你是威廉·亨利·布洛尔？”
Blore flung back his head and set his square jaw.
布洛尔仰起脸，咬紧牙关。
All eyes were turned on Blore. Angry suspicious eyes. Anthony Marston moved a step nearer to him. His fists clenched themselves.
所有的目光一下子都转向了布洛尔，怀疑，愤怒；而安东尼·马斯顿则向前跨了一步，走近布洛尔，双手自然而然地攥成了拳头。
Blore said sulkily: “Cat’s out of the bag, it seems. I suppose I’d better admit that my name isn’t Davis.”
布洛尔沉下脸来说道：“露了馅儿啦。我看我还得承认我不姓戴维斯才过得去啊！”
“That’s right.”
“一点不错。”
“I will add something,” said Lombard. “Not only are you here under a false name, Mr. Blore, but in addition I’ve noticed this evening that you’re a first-class liar. You claim to have come from Natal, South Africa. I know South Africa and Natal and I’m prepared to swear that you’ve never set foot in South Africa in your life.”
“我还要补充几点，”隆巴德说道，“你到这里来不但用了假名字，而且今天晚上我还发现你是个头号的骗子。你自称来自南非纳塔尔港。恰好我最熟悉南非和纳塔尔。我敢发誓说，你这辈子根本没有见过南非。”
“You gentlemen have got me wrong,” he said. “I’ve got my credentials and you can see them. I’m an ex — C. I. D. man. I run a detective agency in Plymouth. I was put on this job.”
“各位先生，你们误会了。”他说，“我带着证件，请诸位查看。我原是刑事调查局的人员。现在在普莱茅斯开了一家侦探事务所。我是接受委托，有任务来的。”
“Now then, you swine,” he said. “Any explanation?”
“那么好吧，蠢猪，”他说道，“还有什么好说的吗？”
Mr. Justice Wargrave asked: “By whom?”
沃格雷夫法宫先生问道：“谁的委托？”
“This man Owen. Enclosed a handsome money order for expenses and instructed me as to what he wanted done. I was to join the houseparty, posing as a guest. I was given all your names. I was to watch you all.”
“这个欧文给我寄了一大笔钱，作为我按他指示办些公事的费用。他要我扮作客人模样，也参加这次宴会。他把你们的名字都抄给我了。要我对你们每一个人都进行监视。”
“Your conclusions are, I think, justified,” he said. “Ulick Norman Owen! In Miss Brent’s letter, though the signature of the surname is a mere scrawl the Christian names are reasonably clear — Una Nancy — in either case, you notice, the same initials. Ulick Norman OwenUna Nancy Owen — each time, that is to say, U. N. Owen. Or by a slight stretch of fancy, UNKNOWN!”
“我认为你的结论有道理，”他说道，“尤利克·诺尔曼·欧文！在布伦特小姐的信上，尽管姓氏签得糊里糊涂，可名字还是相当清楚的——尤纳·南希——你们注意到了吗，每个邀请，都用的是同一个字头：尤利克·诺尔曼·欧文——尤纳·南希·欧文——也就是说，每次都是U。N。欧文。也许可以稍微联想一下，就是UNKNOWN（和U。N。欧文谐音——译者注），就是无名氏！”
“Any reason given?”
“说为什么了吗？”
Blore said bitterly: “Mrs. Owen’s jewels. Mrs. Owen my foot! I don’t believe there’s any such person.”
布洛尔哭丧着脸说道：“就是为了欧文夫人的珠宝啊！欧文夫人算个屁！现在我才不信有这么个人呐！”
The judge nodded gently. He said: “Oh, yes. I’ve no doubt in my own mind that we have been invited here by a madman — probably a dangerous homicidal lunatic.”
法官慢慢地点着他的脑袋说：“啊！是啊，我的想法是已毫不怀疑我们都是被一个疯人，也许是被一个危险已极的杀人狂，请来的。”
Vera cried: “But this is fantastic — mad!”
维拉喊叫起来：“这岂不是荒诞无稽之极吗——发疯了！”
Again the forefinger of the judge stroked his lip, this time appreciatively.
法官的两个指头又去拍打他那上嘴唇了，但这次神情怡然。
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