Outside Oakbridge Station a little group of people stood in momentary uncertainty. Behind them stood porters with suitcases. One of these called “Jim!”
一帮人站在橡树桥车站外面，稍许乱了一阵子。搬运工跟在他门后面搬箱子，有个人喊了声：“吉姆！”
The driver of one of the taxis stepped forward.
司机往前挪了挪。
Four voices gave assent — and then immediately afterwards gave quick surreptitious glances at each other.
四个声音同时答应了——但马上又偷偷地互相打量起来。
Vera Claythome, her own secretarial position clear in her mind, spoke at once: “I’ll wait,” she said, “if you will go on?” She looked at the other three, her glance and voice had that slight suggestion of command mi it that comes from having occupied a position of authority. She might have been directing which tennis sets the girls were to play in.
维拉·克莱索恩，自己感到是秘书身分，职责有关，马上开口说：“我来等一下吧。诸位是不是请先走一步？”她望着其他三位。她的眼神口气都多少带着一种身在其位、自当指挥一切的意味，很像安排她的女学生打网球时哪个先哪个后的那股劲儿。
“You’m for Indian Island, maybe?” he asked in a soft Devon voice.
“你们是去印地安岛吧？”他问道，满口柔和的德文郡口音。
The driver said, addressing his remarks to Mr. Justice Wargrave as the senior member of the party: “There are two taxis here, sir. One of them must wait till the slow train from Exeter gets in — a matter of five minutes — there’s one gentleman coming by that. Perhaps one of you wouldn’t mind waiting? You’d be more comfortable that way.”
司机又说话了，直冲着沃格雷夫法官先生，把他当作这帮人的头儿。“先生，一共是两辆出租汽车。得留下一辆等厄克塞特来的慢车——最多再过五分钟就到——要接一位乘那趟车来的先生。哪一位不在乎等一下？这样安排，大家都可以宽敞些。”
Miss Brent said stiffly, “Thank you,” bent her head and entered one of the taxis, the door of which the driver was holding open.
布伦特小姐端着架子说了声“劳驾了。”头一低，就先钻进了一辆汽车，司机的一只手正敞着车门。
“Claythome,” said Vera.
“我姓克莱索恩。”维拉说道。
Vera said decisively: “Not at all.”
维拉坚决地说：“不必。”
“My name is Lombard, Philip Lombard.”
“我姓隆巴德。菲利普·隆巴德。”
The judge said: “I also am unacquainted with this part of the world.”
法官说道：“这一带我也不熟悉。”
The taxi drove off.
出租汽车开走了。
“I have been to Cornwall and to Torquay, but this is my first visit to this part of Devon.”
“我到过多奎和康沃尔，至于这里，还是初访。”
Mr. Justice Wargrave followed her.
沃格雷夫法官先生随后跟了进去。
Mr. Justice Wargrave inquired: “Do you know this part of the world well?”
沃格雷夫法官先生问道：“这一带您熟悉吗？”
A very distinguished old gentleman, she thought to herself. Quite unlike the usual type of man in seaside guest houses. Evidently Mrs. or Miss Oliver had good connections…
这是一个气派十足的老先生，她想。同海滨宾馆里那种司空见惯的男人迥然不同。显然，那位奥利弗小姐或夫人的社交关系不同一般……
Miss Brent said: “Yes, indeed.”
布伦特小姐答道：“确实不坏。”
The porters were piling luggage on the taxi. Inside, Mr. Justice Wargrave said with due legal caution: “Beautiful weather we are having.”
搬运工正忙着把行李往车上堆。车里，沃格雷夫法官先生颇有身分地说：“天气真是不坏！”
Captain Lombard smiled.
隆巴德队长微笑着。
Captain Lombard said: “I’ll wait with Miss –“
隆巴德队长说道：“我来同那位小姐——一起等吧。”
The driver of the second taxi said: “Like to sit inside while you’re waiting?”
第二辆出租汽车的司机说：“请到车里坐着等吧！”
Vera said conventionally: “I do hope it lasts — the weather, I mean. Our English summers are so treacherous.”
维拉照例回答道：“我倒希望它能稳定下来——我是指天气。我们英国的夏令气候太变化无常了。”
“So that was it. And suppose you don’t like the post when you’ve got there?” Vera laughed again.
“是这么回事！要是您去了之后，又不喜欢那个工作了，怎么办呢？”维拉又笑了。
“Oh, I see.” Just imperceptibly his manner changed. It was slightly more assured easier in tone. He said: “Isn’t that rather unusual?”
“啊，我明白了。”他的态度虽然很难觉察，但是已经有了变化，变得放心了，声调也不再紧张。他说：“不太突然吗？”
He answered: “Yes, travelling by train is rather trying in this weather.”
他回答道：“是啊！这种鬼天气挤火车真够呛。”
He said: “That sunny wall looks more attractive. Unless you’d rather go inside the station?”
他说道：“墙外的太阳多好，真够迷人的。您想进车站里头去吗？”
“No, I’ve never been here before.” She added quickly, conscientiously determined to make her position clear at once, “I haven’t even seen my employer yet.”
“不，以前从来没有来过。”但她又急着补充说，“我还没见过我的东家。”她决心立刻亮出自己的身分。
“No, indeed. It’s so delightful to get out of that stuffy train.”
“当然不。离开闷死人的火车，那才叫痛快呢！”
“Yes, I’m Mrs. Owen’s secretary.”
“不错。我是欧文夫人的秘书。”
With a slight lack of originality Lombard asked: “Do you know this part of the world well?”
隆巴德有点人云亦云似地问道：“您熟悉这一带吗？”
Vera laughed.
维拉笑了。
“Oh, no, I don’t think so. Her own secretary was suddenly taken ill and she wired to an agency for a substitute and they sent me.”
“不吧，我不这样想，欧文夫人原来的秘书突然病了。她给介绍所打了电报。介绍所就让我来了。”
“Your employer?”
“您的东家？”
Lombard thought: “Awkward, this — am I supposed to have met them or not?”
隆巴德想：“糟糕，怎么说呢——说见过还是没见过？”
“Oh, thank you. There are a lot of wasps about this summer.”
“啊，谢谢。今年夏天马蜂真多。”
Lombard said: “That will be the train now.”
隆巴德说道：“现在火车到了。”
“Oh, really? The Owens are frightfully keen on it, I suppose. What are they like? Do tell me.”
“真的？欧文一家可着迷啦。我看就是。究竟什么模样，给我说说吧。”
He said quickly:”There’s a wasp crawling up your arm. No — keep quite still.” He made a convincing pounce. “There. It’s gone!”
他急忙说道：“别动！一只马蜂，就在您的胳膊上，正爬着呢。”他像煞有介事地哄赶了一下。“好了，飞了。”
Lombard said: “I don’t know. I haven’t seen it.”
隆巴德说：“我不知道。我没见过它。”
It was a tall soldierly old man who appeared at the eidt from the platform. His grey hair was clipped close and he had a neatly trimmed white moustache. His porter, staggering slightly under the weight of the solid leather suitcase, indicated Vera and Lombard.
从月台出口处走出来的是个高身量，军人气概十足的老头，一头修剪得短短的灰白头发。小白胡也拾掇得整整齐齐。他的那口扎扎实实的大皮箱压得搬运工走起路来有点晃悠悠的。搬运工向维拉和隆巴德招了招手。
The loud drawn out scream of an approaching train was heard.
向这儿开来的火车的拖长了的汽笛声，已经听得见了。
“Yes, I suppose it’s the heat. Who are we waiting for, do you know?”
“就是。怕是气候太热招的。我们等谁，您有数吗？”
“I haven’t the least idea.”
“一点也不清楚。”
“Oh, it’s only temporary — a holiday post. I’ve got a permanent job at a girls’ school. As a matter of fact I’m frightfully thrilled at the prospect of seeing Indian Island. There’s been such a lot about it in the papers. Is it really very fascinating?”
“这只是个零活——假期里的差使，我在一所女学校里有固定职业。说实在的，一想到要见到印地安岛我还很怵头呢。报上的议论简直太多了。它真是那么引人注目吗？”
Vera came forward in a competent manner. She said: “I am Mrs. Owen’s secretary. There is a car here waiting.” She added: “This is Mr. Lombard.”
维拉走了过来，显得既干练又利索。她说：“我就是欧文夫人的秘书。汽车在这儿等着呢！”她接着说：“这位是隆巴德先生。”
The faded blue eyes, shrewd in spite of their age, sized up Lombard. For a moment a judgment showed in them — had there been any one to read it.
那双蓝眼球，已经失神和没有光彩了，年纪老啦，尽管这样，打量起隆巴德，照样尖厉着呐。就这么一刹那，谁要是正好注意到的话，完全可以看出来，两人都在揣摩着对方。
Philip Lombard said critically: “It’s a bit shut in… I like open country myself. Where you can see what’s coming…”
菲利普·隆巴德不无挑剔地说道：“就是闭塞点儿……我是喜欢空旷的乡村的，纵目远眺，一目了然，啥都看得见……”
General Macarthur said: “Don’t know this part of Devon at all. My little place is in East Devon — just on the border — line of Dorset.”
麦克阿瑟将军说道：“对德文郡的这一带，太不熟悉了。本人的小地方是在东乡，就挨着多尔塞特旁边。”
General Macarthur said to him: “You’ve seen a bit of the world, I fancy?”
麦克阿瑟将军问他：“我看，老兄到过不少地方吧。”
“Good-looking fellow. Something just a little wrong about him…’
“长得不坏。就是有这么一丁点儿邪气……”
The three of them got into the waiting taxi. They drove through the sleepy streets of little Oakbridge and continued about a mile on the main Plymouth road. Then they plunged into a maze of cross country lanes, steep, green and narrow.
三人上了那辆等着的出租汽车，车子穿过死气沉沉的橡树桥街道，在普莱茅斯大道上大约又跑了个把英里路。然后进入一片纵横交叉的乡间小巷，那里倒是青翠新鲜得很，就是又陡又窄。
Vera said: “It really is lovely here. The hills and the red earth and everything so green and luscious looking.”
维拉说道：“这儿实在可爱得很。小山包，红土，到处绿油油、香喷喷的。”
But General Macarthur did not mention the War.
然而，麦克阿瑟将军并没有提到大战。
Illuminated by the setting sun, they had their first glimpse of Indian Island jutting up out of the sea to the south.
映着落日余辉，他们第一次望到了海面上的印地安岛，在正南方向。
Lombard shrugged his shoulders disparagingly. “I’ve knocked about here and there, sir.”
隆巴德耸耸肩膀说：“到处转了转，您哪？”
They came up over a steep hill and down a zig-zag, track to Sticklehaven — a mere cluster of cottages with a fishing boat or two drawn up on the beach.
他们的车子翻过一个陡坡，向下来到通往斯蒂克尔海文的曲里拐弯的车道上——只有一个村落，傍水近滩，茅屋数间，渔舟点点。
He thought to himself: “He’ll ask me now if I was old enough to be in the War. These old boys always do.”
他心里在想：“现在他该问我是不是赶上了大战（指第一次世界大战——译者注）。这些老棍子都是这个德性。”
Vera said, surprised: “It’s a long way out.”
维拉很有点意外地开口说道：“离岸远着哪。”
She had pictured it differently, close to shore, crowned with a beautiful white house. But there was no house visible, only the boldly silhouetted rock with its faint resemblance to a giant Indian’s head. There was something sinister about it. She shivered faintly.
现实同她设想的竟完全不同。她原以为会在岸边不远，盖着那么一座美丽的小白楼，但是现在根本连房子也看不见，只看见了粗黑影绰的岩石和依稀像是印地安巨人脑袋的岛形。还带点肃杀凶气呢！她有点不寒而栗了。
Outside a little inn, the Seven Stars, three people were sitting. There was the hunched elderly figure of the judge, the upright form of Miss Brent, and a third man — a big bluff man who came forward and introduced himself. “Thought we might as well wait for you,” he said. “Make one trip of it. Allow me to introduce myself. Name’s Davis. Natal, South Africa’s, my natal spot, ha, ha!” He laughed breezily.
在一座店名“七星”的小饭铺门前，正坐着三个人。有老态龙钟的法官，有直腰挺胸的布伦特小姐，另一个——第三个，粗粗大大的，走过来做自我介绍。“想来还是等等你们的好，”他说道，“打算一趟一起走。请允许我自我介绍一下，贱姓戴维斯，南非出生，南非是我的故土。哈哈！”他谈笑风生地说。
Mr. Justice Wargrave looked at him with active malevolence. He seemed to be wishing that he could order the court to be cleared. Miss Emily Brent was clearly not sure if she liked Colonials.
沃格雷夫法官先生瞧着他，毫不掩饰自己的厌恶，一看上去就是他那副想让旁听人员全部退出法庭似的神气，而布伦特小姐则弄不清楚自己是否欢喜殖民地上的人。
“Any one care for a little nip before we embark?” asked Mr. Davis hospitably.
“有谁想在上船之前先吃点什么吗？”戴维斯先生满心好意地问道。
Nobody assenting to this proposition, Mr. Davis turned and held up a finger.
对这个建议，谁也不吭声。戴维斯先生转过身来，竖起了一个指头。
In response to Davis’ beckoning finger, a man detached himself from a nearby wall against which he was leaning and came up to them. His rolling gait proclaimed hirn a man of the sea. He had a weather — beaten face and dark eyes with a slightly evasive expression. He spoke in his soft Devon voice.
戴维斯用手指一招，正斜靠在附近墙上的一个男人立即走过来了。他那罗圈腿似的步伐说明他是个吃水上饭的。他有着一张饱经风霜的脸，一双多少有点闪烁不定的黑眼睛，一口软绵绵的当地口音。
“Will you be ready to be starting for the island, ladies and gentlemen? The boat’s waiting. There’s two gentlemen coming by car, but Mr. Owen’s orders was not to wait for them as they might arrive at any time.”
“太太们、先生们都准备好上岛了吗？船早已候着了。有两位先生要开车来，欧文先生关照不必等他们了，因为不能肯定他们什么时候到。”
“Mustn’t delay, then. Our good host and hostess will be expecting us,” he said. He might have noticed that a curious constraint came over the other members of the party. It was as though the mention of their host and hostess had a curiously paralyzing effect upon the guests.
“那好，不该再耽搁了，我们好心的主人和主妇正盼着我们呢！”他说道。说话间，他应该注意到那伙人中间出现了一种异常的紧迫感。似乎一提到主人和女主人，他们就有想像不到的震动。
The party got up. Their guide led them along a small stone jetty. Alongside it a motor boat was lying.
大伙儿站起身来，跟着他们的向导沿岸走上一座小小的堤岸码头，旁边紧靠着一艘摩托小艇。
Mr. Justice Wargrave said sharply: “There are a good many of us.”
沃格雷夫法官先生说话却尖刻得多了：“我们人可不少。”
The boat’s owner said persuasively: “She’s a fine boat, that, Ma’am. You could go to Plymouth in her as easy as winking.
船主却尽量找词儿说：“这船可棒着呢，太太，可是条好船哪！坐它上普莱茅斯，一眨眼就到，方便极了。”
Emily Brent said: “That’s a very small boat.”
埃米莉·布伦特说道：“这船够小的。”
Rather doubtfully, Miss Brent permitted herself to be helped into the boat. The others followed suit. There was as yet no fraternizing among the party. It was as though each member of it was puzzled by the other members.
布伦特小姐尽管心神不定，还是让人扶上了船。跟着，其余的人也挨个儿上了船。到现在为止，大家相互之间还谈不上什么照顾和扶持，而且还有点猜疑。向导刚要解开缆绳，忽然又停了下来，手里还拿着那个搭钩。
Philip Lombard said in his pleasant easy voice: “It’s quite all right. Glorious weather — no swell.”
菲利普·隆巴德和和气气地说道：“不成问题。天气好，没风浪。”
“She’d take double the number, sir.”
“再多一倍也坐得下，先生。”
They were just about to cast loose when their guide paused, boathook in hand. Down the steep track into the village a car was coming. A car so fantastically powerful, so superlatively beautiful that it had all the nature of an apparition. At the wheel sat a young man, his hair blown back by the wind. In the blaze of the evening light he looked, not a man, but a young God, a Hero God out of some Northern Saga.
在陡斜的车道上，从村里驶过来一辆小汽车。这辆车威风极了，出奇的漂亮，简直不同凡响。车上坐着一个年青人，风吹得他的头发直向后飘。在夜色的闪耀中，他看来哪里像是世人，简直是一尊年青的神仙，一尊见诸于北欧传说中的英雄神仙。
He touched the horn and a great roar of sound echoed from the rocks of the bay.
他按着喇叭，一阵回声震荡，响彻海湾的山石丛中。
It was a fantastic moment. In it, Anthony Marston seemed to be something more than mortal. Afterwards, more than one of those present remembered that moment.
这一刹那确是精彩。安东尼·马斯顿此时此刻简直太不同凡响了。就是后来，清楚记得这个情景的也绝不止一人。
Fred Narracott sat by the engine thinking to himself that this was a queer lot. Not at all his idea of what Mr. Owen’s guests were likely to be. He’d expected something altogether more classy. Togged up women and gentlemen in yachting costume and all very rich and important looking. Not at all like Mr. Elmer Robson’s parties.
弗雷德·纳拉科特坐在马达旁边，心里想着，这帮人真叫奇怪。欧文先生请的这些客人究竟是些什么货色，真叫人摸不着头脑。总之，他想像的要比现在见到的高级，比如应该是全身穿着乘游艇出游的服装，富丽堂皇，气派非凡的老爷太太等等。
This Mr. Owen must be a very different sort of gentleman. Funny it was, thought Fred, that he’d never yet set eyes on Owen –, or his Missus either. Never been down here yet, he hadn’t. Everything ordered and paid for by that Mr. Morris. Instructions always very clear and payment prompt, but it was odd, all the same. The papers said there was some mystery about Owen. Mr. Narracott agreed with them.
这位欧文先生也真叫特别，就是让弗雷德想想也够滑稽的。他压根儿没瞅见过这位老爷，甭说太太了。从来没见他来过，没有。全都是莫里斯先生张罗的，钱也是他付，应该做些什么，得怎么做，总是说得再清楚不过了，而钱也给得爽快。就算这么着吧，仍是出奇。报纸上说了欧文那么多莫名其妙的闲话。纳拉科特想想，确实有道理。
A faint grin came to Fred Narracott’s lips as he remembered the millionaire’s guests. That had been a party if you like — and the drink they’d got through!
弗雷德·纳拉科特回想起埃尔默·罗布森先生平时的交往，不由得撇嘴微微一笑，这帮人哪里像是这位百万富翁的高朋贵客。如果你说得出口，这帮人真叫是——瞧他们平时喝的是啥玩意！
He summed them up dispassionately.
他不动声色地估摸着这帮子人。
But that theory departed from him as he surveyed his passengers. Not this lot — none of them looked likely to have anything to do with a film star.
但是，他望望眼前的一个个客人，觉得这种想法没道理。这帮人不像——没一个够得上同一位电影明星打交道的。
Perhaps, after all, it was Miss Gabrielle Turl who had bought the island.
说真格的，兴许就是加布里埃尔·特尔小姐买下的产业吧。
One old maid — the sour kind — he knew them well enough. She was a Tartar, he could bet.
一个是老姑娘——酸不溜丢的那种，这帮人她全看得透。要不，就打赌？她不是个刺儿头才叫怪呐。
Nice looking young lady — but the ordinary kind, not glamourous — no Hollywood touch about her.
那个年青的妞儿，脸蛋不错——只是也平常，没那股浪劲儿——谈不上好莱坞气派。
Old military gentleman — real Army by the look of him.
一个是老行伍——从神色看，倒是个地道的军人。
That bluff cheery genthe wasn’t a real gentleman. Retired tradesman, that’s what he is, thought Fred Narracott.
那个装腔作势、咋咋呼呼的大少爷可不是个正人君子。弗雷德·纳拉科特认为，他像是个倒闭了铺子的生意人。
No, there was only one satisfactory passenger in the boat. The last gentleman, the one who had arrived in the car (and what a car! A car such as had never been seen in Sticklehaven before. Must have cost hundreds and hundreds, a car like that.). He was the right kind. Born to money, he was.
慢着，船上还是有一个像点样子的客人，就他一个，开小汽车最后到的那个（多棒的汽车！斯蒂克尔海文以前从没有见过，像这种车，得花上几万几万的），他才够格，钱堆里长大的。
The other gentleman, the lean hungry looking gentleman with the quick eyes, he was a queer one, he was. Just possible he might have something to do with the pictures.
另外那个先生，精瘦精瘦的，一脸狠相，一双滴溜溜转的眼睛，少见，倒很可能同电影行业有点儿瓜葛。
The boat churned its way round the rock. Now at last the house came into view. The south side of the island was quite different. It shelved gently down to the sea. The house was there facing south — low and square and modem-looking with rounded windows letting in all the light.
小船在礁石中间颠簸前进。现在总算望得见那幢房子了。岛的南侧又是另一番景象了，边缘延伸为斜坡一直伸入海中。那幢房子就正好位于那里，面朝南，不高，方方正正的，时髦得很，圆形的窗户把阳光充分地引入室内。
Philip Lombard said sharply: “Must be difficult to land here in dirty weather.”
菲利普·隆巴德尖声尖气地说道：“碰上坏天气，在这儿上岸那就难啦！”
If the party had been all like him. he’d understand it…
要是这帮人都像他那样……那才说得通……
An exciting house — a house that lived up to expectation!
这幢房子确实使人感到兴奋——没有辜负大家的向往。
Queer business when you came to think of it — the whole thing was queer — very queer…
真要想个明白的话，是越想越糊涂——本来就是件糊涂事——够糊涂的……
Fred Narracott said cheerfully: “Can’t land on Indian Island when there’s a southeasterly. Sometimes ’tis cut off for a week or more.”
弗雷德·纳拉科特乐呵呵地说：“风一往东南刮，那谁也休想上印地安岛。有时候不上不下的，一断就是个把礼拜。”
Fred Narracott shut off the engine, they nosed their way gently into a little natural inlet between rocks.
弗雷德·纳拉科特关上马达，小艇载着他们顺利地钻进了岩石和岩石之间形成的一个天然小港湾。
The boat grated against the rocks. Fred Narracott jumped out and he and Lombard helped the others to alight. Narracott made the boat fast to a ring in the rock. Then he led the way up steps cut in the rock.
小艇碰撞着岩石，嘎嘎作响。弗雷德·纳拉科特跳下船，他同隆巴德搀扶着其他的人下了船。纳拉科特把小艇牢牢拴在岩石上的一个环上，随后引导大家登着岩石上凿出来的石级。
Vera Claythome thought: “The catering must be very difficult. That’s the worst of an island. All the domestic problems are so worrying.”
维拉·克英索恩想：“供应想必很不方便。这一点对一个小岛来说是最糟糕的，看来要当好这个家是够人操心的了。”
General Macarthur said: “Ha, delightful spot!”
麦克阿瑟将军嘴里说着：“好地方，叫人心旷神怡！”
The butler came forward bowing slightly. He was a tall lank man, grey-haired and very respectable. He said: “Will you come this way, please?”
男管家走过来，微微躬着身。他细高条，灰白头，十分体面。管家说道：“请这里来。”
As the party ascended the steps, and came out on a terrace above, their spirits revived. In the open doorway of the house a correct butler was awaiting them, and something about his gravity reassured them. And then the house itself was really most attractive, the view from the terrace magnificent…
这帮人拾级而上，来到上面一层的平台，精神才稳定下来。在这所房子洞开着的房门口，一个端端正正的男管家正等着他们，他那副一本正经像煞有介事的神态，使这帮人更稳定了些。此外，这幢房子本身确实是再动人不过了，站在平台上欣赏海岛上的绮丽风光，真是壮观……
In the wide hall drinks stood ready. Rows of bottles. Anthony Marston’s spirits cheered up a little. He’d just been thinking this was a rum kind of show. None of his lot! What could old Badger have been thinking about to let him in for this? However the drinks were all right. Plenty of ice, too.
宽敞的大厅里，酒已摆好，成排成排的瓶子。安东尼·马斯顿精神有些振奋了，他刚才还一直在想着，真是一出莫名其妙的把戏，不对他的胃口！老家伙巴杰尔把他弄在里头，真不知道是怎么想的。但话又得说回来，这些酒是不错的，冰也不少。
Mr. Owen — unfortunately delayed — unable to get here till tomorrow.
欧文先生……不巧，耽误了……明天才能到。
What was it the butler chap was saying?
这个男管家什么的家伙方才说什么来着？
Instructions — everything they wanted — if they would like to go to their rooms?… Dinner would be at 8 o’clock…
他关照好了……要啥有啥……现在是否到各位的房间去？……八点钟开饭……
But he felt uneasy. Damned odd sort of place.
然而，他心里并不平静！真见鬼，这鬼地方！
Mrs. Rogers had a flat monotonous voice. Vera looked at her curiously. What a white bloodless ghost of a woman! Very respectable looking, with her hair dragged back from her face and her black dress. Queer light eyes that shifted the whole time from place to place.
罗杰斯太太的声音既平板又单调，维拉好奇地望了望她。真是少见的毫无血色的苍白的女幽灵。头发往后一把抓，穿着一身黑。模样儿倒体面极了。就是那双眼睛，出奇的亮，而且一刻不停地转来转去。
“You’ll ring the bell if you want anything, Miss?”
“小姐，要是想要什么，请拉铃。”
Vera had followed Mrs. Rogers upstairs. The woman had thrown open a door at the end of a passage and Vera had walked into a delightful bedroom with a big window that opened wide upon the sea and another looking east. She uttered a quick exclarnation of pleasure.
维拉由罗杰斯太太带上了楼。这个女人推开了甬道尽头的一扇门，维拉走进一间讨人喜欢的卧室。有一扇大窗户正好在海的上方，另一扇朝东。她立刻高兴得呼唤了一声。
Mrs. Rogers was saying: “I hope you’ve got everything you want, Miss?”
罗杰斯太太问：“小姐，还要什么吗？”
Vera looked round. Her luggage had been brought up and had been unpacked. At one side of the room a door stood open into a pale blue tiled bathroom. She said quickly: “Yes, everything, I think.”
维拉向四周扫了一眼。行李已经搬进来，而且打开了。房间的另一边是浅蓝色瓷砖铺成的浴室，门开着。她当即说道：“我看，不用了。”
She looked like a woman who walked in mortal fear…
看上去，她就是这样一个生活在极度恐惧之中的女人。
Vera thought: “She looks frightened of her own shadow.”
维拉想道：“她连自己的影子都害怕。”
Yes, that was it — frightened!
对了，就是这个——这个女人害怕着呢！
A little shiver passed down Vera’s back. What on earth was the woman afraid of?
维拉感到脊背上一阵轻微的发冷。这女人究竟害怕什么呢？
Mrs. Rogers turned to go. Her feet moved noiselessly over the floor. She drifted from the room like a shadow.
罗杰斯太太转身走了。她脚步轻盈，寂然无声，就像一个影子似地挪出了房间。
Mrs. Rogers said: “I’m a good cook and Rogers is handy about the house. I didn’t know, of course, that there was to be such a large party.”
罗杰斯太太说道：“我是个好厨师，我男人管家也能干。当然，我其实不知道会有这么多人。”
Vera said: “Mrs. Owen didn’t mention me?”
维拉说道：“欧文夫人没提起过我吗？”
Mrs. Rogers’ eyelashes flickered: “I haven’t seen Mrs. Owen — not yet. We only came here two days ago.”
罗杰斯太太眨巴着眼睛说：“我没见过欧文夫人——还没有。我们不过才来了两天。”
Extraordinary people, these Owens, thought Vera. Aloud she said: “What staff is there here?”
真是少见，这姓欧文的一家子！维拉想着。她大声说道：“有多少当差的呢？”
Vera said: “But you can manage?”
维拉说道：“那么你能忙得过来？”
“Just me and Rogers, Miss.” the host and Vera frowned. Eight people in the house — ten with hostess — and only one married couple to do for them.
“就我和罗杰斯，小姐。”维拉皱起眉头。现在，这幢房子里有八个人——加上男主人和女主人则是十个——而只有一对夫妇供这些人使唤。
“Oh, yes, Miss, I can manage. If there’s to be large parties often, perhaps Mrs. Owen could get extra help in.”
“行，行啊，小姐，我能行。如果经常请客的话，估计欧文夫人会添帮手的。”
Mrs. Rogers said: “No, Miss, I don’t know anything. Just a list of the ladies and gentlemen and what rooms they were to have.”
罗杰斯太太说道：“不，小姐，我什么也不明白。我知道的只是各位女宾和先生们的一份名单，还有哪位住哪个房间。”
She said pleasantly: “I’m Mrs. Owen’s new secretary. I expect you know that.”
她高高兴兴地说道：“我是欧文夫人新雇的秘书。这一点我希望你明白。”
Vera said: “I expect so.”
维拉说道：“我想会吧。”
Vera thought: “I wish I’d seen the Owens… I wish I knew what they were like.” She got up andwalked restlessly about the room.
维拉想道：“我真希望我见到过欧文他们……我真希望我清楚他们是怎么样的。”她站起来，不安地在房里踱来踱去。
Vera went over to the window and sat down on the window seat. She was faintly disturbed. Everything — somehow — was a little queer. The absence of the Owens, the pale ghostlike Mrs. Rogers. And the guests! Yes, the guests were queer too. An oddly assorted party.
维拉走到窗前，坐在靠窗的椅子里。她隐隐约约地感到一点不安，一切——多少有点奇怪。欧文两口子缺席，幽灵似的苍白的罗杰斯太太，还有那帮子客人！这些客人本来就稀奇古怪，少见的大杂烩！
She stood in front of the fireplace and read it. It was the old nursery rhyme that she remembered from her childhood days.
她站在炉台前看着这首诗歌。原来是托儿所里流传的儿童歌谣，早在她还是个孩子的时候就记住了。
A perfect bedroom decorated throughout in the modem style. Off white rugs on the gleaming parquet floor — faintly tinted walls — a long mirror surrounded by lights. A mantelpiece bare of ornaments save for an enormous block of white marble shaped like a bear, a piece of modem sculpture in which was inset a clock. Over it, in a gleaming chromium frame, was a big square of parchment — a poem.
这是一间完完全全照时兴式样装修起来的无可挑剔的卧室。锃光刷亮的镶木地板上铺着洁白的地毯，浅色辉映的墙壁，四周镶嵌着电灯泡的大镜子。壁炉架朴素大方，只有一大块按时兴式样雕刻成狗熊形状的白色大理石，中间镶嵌着一只座钟，上面有一个发亮的克罗米镜框，镜框里是一大块羊皮纸，上面写着一首诗歌。
Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine.
十个印地安小男孩，为了吃饭去奔走；噎死一个没法救，十个只剩九。
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight.
九个印地安小男孩，深夜不寐真困乏；倒头一睡睡死啦，九个只剩八。
Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
四个印地安小男孩，结伙出海遭大难；鱼吞一个血斑斑，四个只剩三。
The sea… So peaceful today — sometimes so cruel…
海啊……今天是如此的平静——有时又是那样的狂暴……
How big the sea was! From here there was no land to be seen anywhere — just a vast expanse of blue water rippling in the evening sun.
这海多么辽阔！从这里望出去，哪儿也看不到边——就是若大一片茫茫天水，落日余晖，碧波涟漪。
Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one.
两个印地安小男孩，太阳底下长叹息；晒死烤死悲戚戚，两个只剩一。
Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four.
五个印地安小男孩，惹事生非打官司；官司缠身直到死，五个只剩四。
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
七个印地安小男孩，伐树砍枝不顺手；斧劈两半一命休，七个只剩六。
Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
三个印地安小男孩，动物园里遭祸殃；狗熊突然从天降，三个只剩两。
One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none.
一个印地安小男孩，归去来兮只一人；悬梁自尽了此生，一个也不剩。
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
六个印地安小男孩，玩弄蜂房惹蜂怒；飞来一蜇命呜呼，六个只剩五。
Vera smiled. Of course! This was Indian Island!
维拉微微一笑。确实，这不是印地安岛吗？
She went and sat again by the window looking out to sea.
她又走到窗前坐下，望着海。
Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
八个印地安小男孩，德文城里去猎奇；丢下一个命归西，八个只剩七。
Yes, he was very tired. The sea and perfect peace — that was what he needed. He would like, really, to take a long holiday. But he couldn’t afford to do that. He could afford it financially, of course, but he couldn’t afford to drop out. You were soon forgotten nowadays. No, now that he had arrived, he must keep his nose to the grindstone.
真的，他太累了。海啊，百分之百的宁静啊——这些正中下怀。他真想多歇上一阵子，只不过是做不到而已。当然，不是经济上做不到，而是，他哪能这样随便撒手呢？人家很快就会把你忘得一干二净。不能！他现在既然来到这里，还得下功夫搞出些名堂来。
The sea that dragged you down to its depths. Drowned… Found drowned… drowned…
就是这个海把人拖入深渊。淹死……发现淹死了……淹死了……
Drowned at sea… Drowned… drowned…
淹死在海中…淹死了…淹死了…
She would not think of it! All that was over…
她不愿想到这个！一切都已经过去了……
No, she wouldn’t remember…
不，她不愿记得……
He was tired after his long motor drive. His eyeballs ached. Driving west you were driving against the sun.
长途跑车，确实累了，他眼珠儿发疼。往西开车，就是正对着西照的阳光开车。
Dr. Armstrong came to Indian Island just as the sun was sinking into the sea. On the way across he had chatted to the boatman — a local man. He was anxious to find out a little about these people who owned Indian Island, but the man Narracott seemed curiously ill M*formed, or perhaps unwilling to talk.
阿姆斯特朗大夫到达印地安岛时，太阳正好落山。过海的那会儿，他和船夫——一个本地人，聊了一阵子。他急于想打听一点关于本岛主人的种种情况，然而这位纳拉科特似乎出奇的闭塞，也许是不愿意讲。
He thought: “All the same, this evening, I’ll imagine to myself that I’m not going back — that I’ve done with London and Harley Street and all the rest of it.”
他想道：“反正今天晚上我就当作再也不回转去了——同伦敦哈里街（伦敦名医荟集的街道名——译者注），和其它一切的一切都一刀两断了。”
So Dr. Armstrong chatted instead of the weather and of fishing.
于是，阿姆斯特朗大夫只能扯扯天气啦，打鱼啦等等。
He thought: “I’m leaving my ordinary life behind me.”
他想道：“我把我的老一套生活抛到脑后去了。”
There was something magical about an island — the mere word suggested fantasy. You lost touch with the world — an island was a world of its own. A world, perhaps, from which you might never return.
谈到小岛什么的，总好像有一种魔力似的。就光“小岛”这两个字，幻想的味儿就很浓。它使你同整个世界隔绝了——自成一个天地。这个天地，也许，你就一辈子回不去啦！
In a chair on the terrace an old gentleman was sitting and the sight of him ‘Was vaguely familiar to Dr. Armstrong. Where had he seen that frog — like face, that tortoise-like neck, that hunched up attitudeyes, and those pale shrewd little eyes? Of course — old Wargrave. He’d given evidence once before him. Always looked half asleep, but was shrewd as could be when it came to a point of law. Had great power with a jury — it was said he could make their minds up for them any day of the week. He’d got one or two unlikely convictions out of them. A hanging judge, some people said.
平台上，椅子里坐着一位老先生，阿姆斯特郎大夫一眼看过去，仿佛有点面熟。他在哪儿见过这张癞蛤蟆样的脸，这个乌龟似的脖子以及这副拱腰曲背的姿态——还有这双暗淡而狡猾的小眼睛呢？是他——老沃格雷夫。大夫有一次在他面前作过证。瞧那样子，总是半睡不醒的。可是，一碰到法律问题，那就精极了。比方说，对付陪审团，他可有点子了。人家说他完全可以让陪审团照他的意思作出决定。根本通不过的案子，他不止一次地让陪审团通过了。而且说在哪天就在哪天通过，有人说他是个刽子手法官。
Funny place to meet him… here — out of the world.
在这个地方——尘世之外……见到他，太有意思了。
And, smiling to himself, he began to make plans, fantastic plans for the future. He was still smiling when he walked up the rock cut steps.
他乐滋滋地盘算起以后的打算来，其实都是些荒唐的想法。一直到他踏上石阶的时候，他还在对自己笑呢。
The judge said: “No host and hostess. Very curious state of affairs. Don’t understand this place.”
法官说道：“没有男主人，也没有女主人。莫名其妙得透顶，弄不清楚这地方。”
Dr. Armstrong said: “I must go and pay my respects to my host and hostess.”
阿姆斯特朗大夫说道：“我得去向东道主夫妇致意。”
‘D’you know Constance Culmington?”
“你听说过康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿吗？”
Mr. Justice Wargrave closed his eyes again, looking decidedly reptilian, and said: “You can’t do that.”
沃格雷夫法官先生又阖上了眼，满脸鬼模鬼样的。“不行啊。”
Dr. Armstrong stared at him for a minute. When he thought the old gentleman had actually gone to sleep, Wargrave said suddenly:
阿姆斯特朗大夫盯着他看了足有一分钟。正当他以为这位老先生真的睡着了时，沃格雷夫猛地又说起话来了。
Mr. Justice Wargrave thought to himself: “Armstrong? Remember him in the witness box. Very correct and cautious. All doctors are damned fools. Harley Street ones are the worst of the lot.” And his mind dwelt malevolently on a recent interview he had had with a suave personage in that very street.
沃格雷夫法官先生思忖着：“阿姆斯特朗？记得！证人席上见过。挺会装模作样的，那个小心劲儿就甭提了。当医生的都是混蛋。哈莱街那帮子人更是混蛋之尤。”他想到前不久才见过那条街上的一个奉承讨好的人物，一口恶气还憋在心头。
Aloud he grunted: “Drinks are in the hall.”
他大声哼哼着说：“大厅里面有喝的。”
Dr. Armstrong was startled. “Why not?”
阿姆斯特朗大夫惊讶地说道：“怎么回事？”
“Er — no, I’m afraid I don’t.”
“呃——不，我想没有。”
Dr. Armstrong shook his head and went on up to the house.
阿姆斯特朗大夫摇摇头，继续向房子走去。
“It’s of no consequence,” said the judge. “Very vague woman — and practically unreadable handwriting. I was just wondering if I’d come to the wrong house.”
“这问题不大，”法官说道，“这个女人的身分不清楚，其实笔迹也认不真切。我正在怀疑自己是不是找错了地方。”
His mind went on to the two women in the house, the tight-lipped old maid and the girl. He didn’t care for the girl, cold-blooded young hussy. No, three women, if you counted the Rogers woman. Odd creature, she looked scared to death. Respectable pair and knew their job.
他又想到屋里的两个女人，一个紧闭着嘴不说话的老小姐和另一个姑娘。他才不在乎那个姑娘呢，冷冰冰的毛丫头。啊，不，是三个女的，还得把罗杰斯的那口子算进去。怪人，看来她惊恐得要死。两口子倒是挺体面的一对，也懂行。
Rogers coming out on the terrace that minute, the judge asked him: “Is Lady Constance Culmington expected, do you know?”
这时，罗杰斯来到平台上。法官问他：“请康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿夫人了，你知道吗？”
He thought to himself: “Must go through with it, I suppose,” and thereafter dismissed everything from his mind.
他自己思付：“我想，总得坚持始终吧。”随后他就什么也不想啦。
Mr. Justice Wargrave reflected on the subject of Constance Culmington. Undependable like all women.
沃格雷夫法官先生还在琢磨着康斯坦斯·卡尔明顿的问题。这个女人就像天下所有的女人一样的不可靠。
Rogers stared at him. “No, Sir, not to my knowledge.”
罗杰斯凝视着他。“不，先生，我不清楚。”
The judge’s eyebrows rose. But he only grunted. He thought: “Indian Island, eh? There’s a nigger in the woodpile.”
法官抬起了眉毛，但只是嘟嚷了一下。他想：“印地安岛，呃？其中必有文章！”
Anthony Marston was in his bath. He luxuriated in the steaming water. His limbs had felt cramped after his long drive. Very few thoughts passed through his head. Anthony was a creature of sensation — and of action.
安东尼·马斯顿正在洗澡，热水冒着气，痛快得很。开车开久了，四肢都发麻。他脑子里啥也不考虑。安东尼是个好激动的人物——也好动。
Warm steaming water — tired limbs — presently a shave — a cocktaildinner. And after –?
热气腾腾的水，无力的四肢，再刮上一次脸，一次鸡尾酒——吃上一顿。之后？
Mr. Blore was tying his tie. He wasn’t very good at this sort of thing.
布洛尔先生在打领带，这类事情他并不在行。
That fellow Lombard now, he was a queer chap.
隆巴德那家伙，现在看来，真是少有。
But the motor boat had gone back to the mainland.
可是摩托艇已经开回去了。
He’d have to stay.
他没法子，只能留下。
For two pins he’d make an excuse and get away. the whole business…
他得借故溜走，丢开整个这档子事……
He thought: Remember this island when I was a kid. Never thought I’d be doing this sort of a job in a house here. Good thing, perhaps, that one can’t foresee the future…
他想道：打从孩提时起，自己就记得这座岛了。但从来也没想到过会在这儿的这所房子里干这种活。也许，一个人预见不到将来倒是件好事……
Did he look all right? He supposed so.
穿着打扮看上去没问题吧？他自己认为是没有问题的。
As the gong sounded, Philip Lombard came out of his room and walked to the head of the stairs. He moved like a panther, smoothly and noiselessly. There was something of the panther about him altogether. A beast of prey — pleasant to the eye.
听到钟响，菲利普·隆巴德走出房间，一直走到楼梯尽头，就像一头豹子似的，轻捷无声。总之，他确实有点豹子气的，像一头猛兽那样——看上去，怪精神的。
Neat touch, having that there!
这么搁着倒是显得干净利落。
He glanced up at the framed nursery rhyme over the mantelpiece.
他对壁炉架上镜框里的托儿所歌谣瞟了一眼。
Well, it was up to him.
不过，这还得看他自己。
Not straight. He’d swear the man wasn’t straight.
不地道。他敢起誓发咒，这个人就是不地道。
He didn’t mean to bungle his job.
他并不打算把事情弄糟。
General Macarthur was frowning to himself.
麦克阿瑟将军紧皱着双眉。
Nobody had been exactly cordial to him. all eyed each other — as though they knew.
谁对他也不亲切……大家都是你看我、我看你的德性，怪！就好像他们都知道…
Damn it all, the whole thing was deuced odd! Not at all what he’d been led to expect…
一切都该死。这桩事情的前前后后都见鬼！一点也不像他先前一直想像的那样……
In her bedroom, Emily Brent, dressed in black silk ready for dinner, was reading her Bible.
埃米莉·布伦特，一身黑绸衣衫，等着吃晚饭，现在，她正坐在自己的卧室里，读圣经。
He was going to enjoy that week.
他可得乐上一个礼拜。
He was smiling to himself. A week — eh?
他自得其乐地咧着嘴。不是一个礼拜吗——呃？
Her tight lips closed. She shut the Bible.
她闭上嘴，紧撅着，合上了圣经。
Rising, she pinned a cairngorm brooch at her neck, and went down to dinner.
她站起身来，颈项上别了一枚苏格兰烟晶宝石别针，下楼吃饭去了。
Her lips moved as she followed the words: “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell.”
她喃喃地嚅动着嘴唇，逐字逐句地念道：“异教徒们自作圈套自己套，借网藏身反而自投罗网。上帝的审判，执法不阿：作恶之人作孽自受，作恶之人必入地狱。”
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