11 Nancy makes a visit
11 南希的拜访
On the evening after the Bumbles’ little business meeting, Mr Bill Sikes, waking from a sleep, called out to ask the time.
在邦布尔夫妇那次小小的密谈之后的晚上，比尔·赛克斯先生从睡梦中醒来，大声询问时间。
The room he was lying in was very small and dirty.
他躺着的房间又小又脏。
It was a different room from the one he had occupied before the Chertsey expedition, but it was in the same poor part of London.
这与他去彻特西作案前住的房间不同，但仍在伦敦同一个贫民区里。
There were so few possessions or comforts in the room that it was clear Mr Sikes had met hard times.
房间里几乎没有什么财物或舒适之物，显然赛克斯先生遭遇了困境。
He himself was thin and pale from illness, and was lying on the bed, wrapped in an old coat.
他本人因病消瘦苍白，裹着一件旧外套躺在床上。
The white dog lay on the floor next to him.
那只白狗趴在他旁边的地板上。
Seated by the window was Nancy, repairing Sikes’ old jacket.
南希坐在窗边，缝补着赛克斯的旧夹克。
She, too, was thin and pale.
她也变得消瘦苍白了。
At Sikes’ voice she raised her head from work. ‘Not long past seven,’ she said. ‘How do you feel now, Bill?’
听到赛克斯的声音，她抬起头停下手中的活。“刚过七点不久，”她说，“比尔，你现在感觉怎么样？”
‘As weak as water. Help me get up, will you?’
“虚弱得像水一样。扶我起来好吗？”
As Nancy helped him out of bed, Sikes swore and cursed at her clumsiness. Illness had not improved his temper.
当南希扶他下床时，赛克斯骂骂咧咧，嫌她笨手笨脚。疾病并没有改善他的脾气。
‘You wouldn’t speak like that if you knew how kindly I’ve nursed you these last few days,’ said Nancy. ‘So many nights, I’ve looked after you.’ She sat down in a chair, exhausted.
“如果你知道这几天我是多么尽心地照顾你，你就不会这样说话了，”南希说，“多少个夜晚，我一直在照料你。”她筋疲力尽地在椅子上坐下。
‘Get up!’ shouted Sikes. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
“站起来！”赛克斯吼道，“你怎么了？”
But Nancy was unable to get up. Her head fell back against the chair and she fainted.
但南希站不起来了。她的头向后靠在椅背上，晕了过去。
Sikes swore and cursed again, but Nancy remained unconscious.
赛克斯又骂了一通，但南希依然昏迷不醒。
‘What’s the matter here?’ asked a voice from the door, and Fagin, followed by the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates, entered the room. When they saw Nancy, they hurried to help her. Charley rubbed her hands and the Dodger gave her a drink from the bottle he carried. Gradually, Nancy recovered her senses.
“这儿出什么事了？”门口传来一个声音，费金带着机灵鬼和查利·贝茨走进了房间。看到南希的样子，他们急忙上前帮忙。查利搓着她的手，机灵鬼用随身带的瓶子喂了她一口酒。渐渐地，南希恢复了知觉。
Sikes then turned to Fagin. ‘What are you here for?’ he asked roughly. ‘You haven’t been here for weeks — all the time I was ill. I haven’t two coins to rub together. Why didn’t you help me? You treat me worse than a dog!’
赛克斯转向费金。“你来干什么？”他粗鲁地问，“我生病这几个星期你都没来过。我身无分文，你为什么不来帮我？你对我比狗还不如！”
‘Don’t be bad-tempered, my dear,’ said Fagin calmly. ‘I haven’t forgotten you, Bill.’
“别发脾气嘛，亲爱的，”费金平静地说，“我没忘了你，比尔。”
‘Well, what about some money, then? I’ve done enough work for you recently — what about some money?’
“那钱呢？最近我给你干了那么多活——钱怎么说？”
‘I haven’t a single coin with me, my dear,’ said Fagin.
“亲爱的，我身上一个子儿也没有，”费金说。
‘Then go and get some — you’ve got lots at home. No, I don’t trust you. Nancy can go back with you to your house and fetch some money. I’ll stay here and sleep.’
“那就去拿点来——你家里多的是。不，我不信你。让南希跟你回你家取钱。我就待在这儿睡觉。”
After a good deal of arguing, Fagin managed to reduce the amount Sikes was demanding from five pounds to three pounds. He went back to his house with Nancy and the boys.
经过一番激烈的讨价还价，费金终于把赛克斯索要的金额从五英镑降到了三英镑。他带着南希和孩子们回到了自己家。
When they were inside, Fagin told the girl, ‘I’ll just go upstairs and fetch the cash for Bill, my dear. There’s little money in this business, Nancy, little money and no thanks — but I’m fond of seeing the young people around me.’
进屋后，费金对女孩说：“亲爱的，我上楼去给比尔拿钱。南希啊，这行当赚不了什么钱，钱少还没人感激——但我就是喜欢看着年轻人在我身边。”
Suddenly there was a man’s voice at the front door. As soon as Nancy heard it, she sat up in her chair.
突然，前门传来了一个男人的声音。南希一听到这声音，立刻在椅子上坐直了身子。
‘That’s the man I was expecting earlier,’ said Fagin. ‘Don’t worry. He’ll only be ten minutes.’
“这就是我刚才在等的那个人，”费金说，“别担心，他只待十分钟。”
The man entered the room. It was Monks. When he saw Nancy, he moved back, as if he had expected no one but Fagin.
那人走进房间，是蒙克斯。看到南希时，他往后退了一步，仿佛他以为只会见到费金一个人。
‘It’s all right, only one of my young people,’ Fagin said to him. ‘Did you see him?’
“没关系，只是我的一个小手下，”费金对他说，“你见到他了吗？”
‘Yes,’ answered Monks.
“见到了，”蒙克斯回答。
‘Any news?’
“有什么消息吗？”
‘Good news,’ said Monks with a smile. ‘Let me have a word with you.’ He and Fagin went upstairs to talk privately.
“好消息，”蒙克斯笑着说，“借一步说话。”他和费金上楼私谈去了。
As soon as they had left the room, Nancy took off her shoes and crept silently up the stairs to listen in the passage — as she had done once before. She was gone for a quarter of an hour, then, like a ghost, she reappeared in the downstairs room and sat down. Immediately afterwards, the two men descended the stairs.
他们一离开房间，南希就脱下鞋子，悄无声息地爬上楼梯，在走廊里偷听——就像她以前做过的那样。她离开了大约一刻钟，然后像个幽灵一样重新出现在楼下的房间里坐下。紧接着，两个男人也下楼来了。
‘How pale you are, Nancy!’ said Fagin, once Monks had left the house. ‘What have you been doing to yourself?’
“你的脸色好苍白啊，南希！”蒙克斯离开后，费金说道，“你这是怎么了？”
‘Nothing — except waiting here for you too long,’ she answered, turning her face away from him. ‘Now, where’s the money for Bill?’
“没什么——除了在这儿等你太久，”她转过脸去回答道，“现在，给比尔的钱在哪儿？”
With a sigh for every piece of money, Fagin put the agreed amount into her hand.
费金每拿出一枚硬币都要叹一口气，最后把商量好的数额放到了她手里。
When Nancy was out in the street again, she sat down on a doorstep, and for a few minutes seemed unable to move. Then she started running wildly through the streets, and when she was exhausted she stopped and burst into tears. This strange mood seemed to leave her then, and she turned and hurried back to Sikes’ house.
当南希再次来到街上时，她在台阶上坐下来，有好几分钟似乎动弹不得。接着她开始在街上疯狂奔跑，跑累了便停下来放声大哭。这种奇怪的情绪似乎随后消散了，她转身匆匆赶回赛克斯的住处。
At first when she returned, Sikes noticed nothing unusual about her. Fagin, with his sharp, suspicious eyes, would have noticed something at once. But as night came, the girl’s nervous excitement increased and even Sikes was alarmed by the paleness in her cheeks and the fire in her eye.
刚回来时，赛克斯没发现她有什么异常。若是目光敏锐多疑的费金在场，肯定一眼就能看出端倪。但随着夜色渐深，女孩的紧张情绪愈发强烈，就连赛克斯也被她苍白的脸颊和眼中的怒火吓了一跳。
He lay in bed, drinking hot gin-and-water, and staring at her. ‘You look like a corpse that’s come back to life again. What’s the matter with you tonight?’
他躺在床上，喝着热杜松子酒兑水，盯着她看。“你看起来像具复活了的尸体。今晚你到底怎么了？”
‘Nothing. Why are you staring at me so hard?’
“没什么。你干嘛这么死死盯着我？”
‘Either you’ve caught the fever yourself, or — no, you’re not going to… you wouldn’t do that!’
“要么是你自己也染上了热病，要么——不，你不会……你不会那样做的！”
‘Do what?’ asked the girl.
“做什么？”女孩问。
‘There’s not a girl alive as loyal as you. If you weren’t, I’d have cut your throat months ago. No, you must have the fever coming on, that’s it. Now, give me some of my medicine.’
“这世上没有比你更忠心的姑娘了。要不是这样，几个月前我就割断你的喉咙了。不，你肯定是快要发烧了，没错。快，给我倒点药。”
Nancy quickly poured out his medicine with her back to him. He took it, and after turning restlessly for some time, he eventually fell into a deep, heavy sleep.
南希背对着他迅速倒好了药。他喝下药，在床上辗转反侧了一阵子后，终于沉沉睡去了。
‘The drug’s taken effect at last,’ Nancy said to herself as she rose from her position beside the bed. ‘I hope I’m not too late.’
“药效终于发作了，”南希从床边站起身时暗自思忖，“希望我还来得及。”
Quickly, she put on her coat and hat, looking round fearfully as if she expected at any moment to feel Sikes’ heavy hand on her shoulder. She kissed the robber’s lips softly, then ran from the house without a sound.
她迅速穿上外套戴上帽子，惊恐地环顾四周，仿佛随时会感到赛克斯沉重的手搭在她肩上。她轻轻吻了吻这个强盗的嘴唇，然后悄无声息地跑出了屋子。
She hurried in the direction of west London, pushing past people on the pavement, and running across crowded streets without looking.
她朝伦敦西区方向疾行，在人行道上推开人群，不看路便穿过拥挤的街道。
‘The woman is mad!’ said the people, turning to look at her as she rushed past them.
“这女人疯了！”人们看着她冲过去，纷纷转头议论道。
She came to a wealthier part of the town where the streets were quieter, and before long she had reached her destination. It was a family hotel in a quiet street near Hyde Park. The clock struck eleven as she entered.
她来到了镇上较富裕的区域，这里的街道安静了许多，没过多久她就到达了目的地。那是海德公园附近一条僻静街道上的一家家庭旅馆。她进门时，时钟敲响了十一下。
The man at the desk looked at her and asked, ‘What do you want here?’
前台的男人看着她问道：“你来这儿干什么？”
‘I want to see Miss Maylie.’
“我要见梅利小姐。”
The man looked at the young woman with strong disapproval. ‘She won’t want to see someone like you. Come on, get out.’
男人一脸嫌弃地看着这个年轻女子。“她不会想见你这种人的。快走，出去。”
‘Let me see her — or two of you will have to throw me out!’ said Nancy violently.
“让我见她——否则你们得两个人才能把我扔出去！”南希激烈地说道。
The man looked at her again，and decided it would be easier to do as she asked. He led her upstairs to Rose’s room.
男人又看了她一眼，觉得照她说的做反而省事。于是他领着她上楼去了罗斯的房间。
Nancy entered with a brave face but with fear in her heart.
南希表面上装作勇敢，内心却充满了恐惧。
‘Please sit down and tell me why you wish to see me,’ said Rose Maylie, looking with some surprise at this poor, rough girl from the streets. Rose’s manner was so kind and sincere, and so unexpected, that Nancy burst into tears.
“请坐下，告诉我你为什么想见我，”罗斯·梅利说道，有些惊讶地看着这个来自街头的可怜粗野女孩。罗斯的态度如此善良真诚，又如此出乎意料，南希不禁放声大哭起来。
When she had recovered a little, she asked, ‘Is the door shut?’
等她稍微平复了一些，她问道：“门关上了吗？”
‘Yes,’ answered Rose, a little nervously. ‘But why?’
“关上了，”罗斯有些紧张地回答，“为什么问这个？”
‘Because I am about to put my life, and the lives of others, in your hands. I am the girl that kidnapped little Oliver and took him back to old Fagin’s house on the night Oliver was going to the bookseller.’
“因为我即将把我的命，还有别人的命，都交到你的手上。我就是那个绑架了小奥利弗，并在奥利弗要去书店的那晚把他抓回老费金家的女孩。”
‘You!’ said Rose.
“是你！”罗斯惊呼道。
‘Yes, it was me. I am that wicked creature you have heard about. I’ve no friends except thieves and robbers. I’ve lived on the streets since I was a child, cold, hungry, among people who are always drunk and fighting. And that’s where I’ll die, too.’
“是的，就是我。我就是你们听说的那个坏女人。除了小偷和强盗，我没有别的朋友。我从小就在街头流浪，挨饿受冻，周围都是些酗酒斗殴的人。我也终将死在那种地方。”
‘I pity you!’ said Rose in a broken voice.
“我真同情你！”罗斯哽咽着说。
‘But I’ll tell you why I’m here. Do you know a man called Monks?’
“但我得告诉你我来这儿的原因。你认识一个叫蒙克斯的人吗？”
‘No,’ answered Rose.
“不认识，”罗斯回答。
‘He knows you. I heard him tell Fagin that you were at this hotel. Maybe he’s changed his name. Soon after Oliver was put into your house on the night of the robbery, I listened in secret to a conversation between Monks and Fagin in the dark. And I heard Monks say that he’d seen Oliver in the street, and that he knew at once Oliver was the child he was looking for, although I couldn’t hear why. Monks then agreed to pay Fagin some money if he could find Oliver again, and more money if he could turn the poor boy into a thief.’
“但他认识你。我听见他跟费金说你住在这家旅馆。也许他改了名字。抢劫案发生那晚，奥利弗被送到你家后不久，我偷偷听到了蒙克斯和费金在暗处的谈话。我听到蒙克斯说他在街上见过奥利弗，并且立刻认出那就是他要找的孩子，虽然我没听清原因。蒙克斯随后同意，如果费金能再找到奥利弗就付给他一笔钱；如果能把这可怜的孩子变成小偷，还会付更多钱。”
‘Why?’ asked Rose.
“为什么？”罗斯问。
‘He saw my shadow on the wall as I listened, and I had to escape. I didn’t see him again until last night.’
“我在偷听时被他看到了墙上的影子，只好逃走。直到昨晚我才再次见到他。”
‘And what happened then?’
“那后来发生了什么？”
‘I listened at the door again. And I heard Monks say this: “So the only proof of the boy’s identity is at the bottom of the river, and the old woman who received it is dead.” He and Fagin laughed. Then Monks said that he had all Oliver’s money safely now, but how funny it would be if the boy went to prison for stealing, after his father’s unfair will.’
“我又在门外偷听。我听到蒙克斯这么说：‘所以证明这孩子身份的唯一证据已经沉入河底，而保管它的老太婆也已经死了。’他和费金都笑了起来。然后蒙克斯说他现在已经安全地拿到了本该属于奥利弗的所有钱，但如果这孩子因为偷窃进了监狱，考虑到他父亲那份不公的遗嘱，那该有多滑稽。”
‘What is all this?’ asked Rose.
“这一切到底是怎么回事？”罗斯问。
‘It’s the truth, lady. Then Monks said he couldn’t have Oliver killed because suspicion would point to himself. But he’d try for the rest of his life to harm the boy if he could. Then Monks laughed again about the money Oliver should have got from his father’s will. “My young brother Oliver will never see that money!” he said.’
“这是真的，小姐。接着蒙克斯说他不能让人杀掉奥利弗，因为那样会引起对他的怀疑。但只要有可能，他会用余生去伤害这个孩子。然后蒙克斯又嘲笑起奥利弗本该从他父亲遗嘱中得到的那笔钱。‘我那年轻的弟弟奥利弗永远也别想见到那笔钱了！’他说。”
‘His brother!’ exclaimed Rose.
“他的弟弟！”罗斯惊叫道。
‘Those were his words,’ said Nancy, looking round uneasily, as if she still expected to see Sikes. ‘And then he talked about how amazed you would be if you knew who Oliver really was.’
“他就是这么说的，”南希不安地环顾四周，仿佛仍觉得会看到赛克斯似的，“然后他还谈到，如果你知道了奥利弗的真实身份，会有多么震惊。”
‘And this man was serious?’
“这个人说的是认真的吗？”
‘His voice was full of anger and hatred. I know many people who do worse things, but I’d rather listen to all of them than to this man Monks. But I must get back now, or people will wonder where I’ve been.’
“他的声音里充满了愤怒和仇恨。我认识许多干坏事的人，但我宁愿听他们说话，也不愿听这个蒙克斯讲半个字。但我现在必须回去了，不然人们会怀疑我去哪儿了。”
‘Back! How can you go back to such a life?’ asked Rose. ‘You’ve told me all this. Now I can help you by letting you stay somewhere safe.’
“回去！你怎么还能回到那种生活里去？”罗斯问，“你已经把一切都告诉我了。现在我可以帮你，让你住在一个安全的地方。”
‘No. Perhaps it’s hard for you to believe, but there’s one man, the most dangerous of them all, that I can never leave. You’re the first person who’s ever spoken to me so kindly — but it’s too late.’
“不。也许你很难相信，但有一个人，他们中最危险的一个，是我永远无法离开的。你是第一个对我说话如此和善的人——但已经太晚了。”
‘It’s never too late!’
“永远不会太晚！”
‘It is!’ cried the girl. ‘I can’t leave him now. And if I tell anyone about this man, he’ll die.’
“就是太晚了！”女孩哭喊道，“我现在不能离开他。而且如果我向任何人透露了这个男人的事，他就会没命的。”
‘But how can I find you again, when we want to investigate this mystery further?’
“但如果我们想进一步调查这个谜团，该怎么再找到你呢？”
‘I’ll meet you secretly, if you promise not to watch or follow me,’ said Nancy. ‘And if you promise just one more thing — not to do anything to hurt the man I can never leave.’
“如果你答应不监视或跟踪我，我会秘密和你见面，”南希说，“还要答应我一件事——不要做任何伤害那个我永远无法离开的人的事。”
‘I promise.’
“我答应你。”
‘Every Sunday night, between eleven and twelve, I will walk on London Bridge if I am alive. Meet me there if you want more information.’
“每个星期天晚上十一点到十二点之间，如果我还活着，我会在伦敦桥上散步。如果你想知道更多信息，就去那里找我。”
As Nancy said these words, she left the room and ran down the stairs and out into the street once more. Rose was left alone, her thoughts in great confusion, as she wondered desperately what to do and who to ask for advice.
说完这些话，南希离开房间，跑下楼梯，又一次冲进了街道。罗斯独自留在房里，思绪万千，绝望地想着该怎么办，该向谁求助。
The next morning, Oliver, who had been out walking, ran into Rose’s room at the hotel. He was breathless with excitement.
第二天早上，外出散步回来的奥利弗跑进了旅馆罗斯的房间。他激动得上气不接下气。
‘I can’t believe what I’ve seen! Now you’ll all know that I’ve told you the truth!’ he shouted.
“我简直不敢相信我所看到的！现在你们都会知道我说的全是真话了！”他大喊道。
‘I know you’ve always told us the truth — but what are you talking about?’ asked Rose.
“我知道你一直对我们说实话——但你在说什么呀？”罗斯问。
‘I’ve seen Mr Brownlow, the kind man who was so good to me.’
“我见到了布朗洛先生，那位对我特别好的善良绅士。”
‘Where?’
“在哪儿？”
‘Going into a house,’ said Oliver, crying with joy. ‘I’ve got the address here.’
“他正走进一栋房子，”奥利弗高兴得哭了起来，“地址就在这儿。”
‘Quick,’ said Rose. ‘Call a coach. I’ll take you there immediately.’
“快，”罗斯说，“叫辆马车。我马上带你去那儿。”
The idea came to Rose that perhaps Mr Brownlow would advise her. She had been afraid to tell Nancy’s story to Dr Losberne, since the good doctor was very excitable and often acted with more enthusiasm than wisdom.
罗斯想到或许布朗洛先生能给她出主意。她一直不敢把南希的事告诉洛斯伯恩医生，因为这位好医生容易激动，行事往往热情有余而理智不足。
In less than five minutes they were in the coach on their way to the address. Rose went in first to talk to Mr Brownlow alone. She was taken into his study, and polite greetings were exchanged. When they were seated again, Rose said,
不到五分钟，他们就坐上马车前往那个地址了。罗斯先进去单独与布朗洛先生交谈。她被领进书房，双方礼貌地寒暄了一番。重新落座后，罗斯说道：
‘This will surprise you very much, but you were once very kind to a dear friend of mine, and I’m sure you will be interested to hear news of him.’
“接下来的话可能会让您非常吃惊，但您曾经对我的一位挚友非常仁慈，我相信您一定有兴趣听听他的消息。”
‘Really? May I ask you his name?’
“是吗？请问他叫什么名字？”
‘Oliver Twist.’
“奥利弗·特威斯特。”
Mr Brownlow said nothing for a few seconds, but simply stared at Rose. Finally he moved his chair nearer to her and said with great feeling, ‘I once thought that he was a liar and a thief. If you have evidence to show me I was wrong, please tell me at once.’
布朗洛先生沉默了几秒钟，只是盯着罗斯看。最后他把椅子挪近了些，动情地说：“我曾以为他是个骗子和窃贼。如果你有证据证明我错了，请立刻告诉我。”
‘I know him to be a child with a warm heart,’ said Rose. ‘And despite the hardships of his life, he’s a better person than almost anyone I know.’
“我知道他是个心地善良的孩子，”罗斯说，“尽管历经苦难，他却比我认识的几乎所有人都要好。”
‘I looked for him everywhere,’ said Mr Brownlow, ‘but I could never find him. I could never quite believe that he really did intend to rob me.’
“我到处找他，”布朗洛先生说，“却始终找不到。我怎么也无法完全相信他真的打算抢劫我。”
Rose told him everything that had happened to Oliver since then. She finished by saying, ‘And his only sorrow, for some months, has been that he could not find you, his former friend.’
罗斯把此后发生在奥利弗身上的一切都告诉了他。最后她说：“这几个月来，他唯一的悲伤就是找不到您这位昔日的朋友。”
‘Thank God!’ said Mr Brownlow. ‘This is great happiness to me, great happiness. But why haven’t you brought him with you, Miss Maylie?’
“感谢上帝！”布朗洛先生说，“这对我来说真是莫大的幸福，莫大的幸福。可是梅利小姐，您怎么没把他一起带来呢？”
‘He’s waiting in a coach at the door,’ replied Rose.
“他正在门口的马车里等着呢，”罗斯答道。
Mr Brownlow hurried out of the room, down the stairs and into the coach without another word. In a minute he had returned with Oliver. ‘How well he looks!’ he said. ‘New clothes, the same sweet face, but not so pale; the same eyes, but not so sad.’
布朗洛先生二话不说，匆匆跑出房间，下了楼梯钻进马车。一分钟后，他带着奥利弗回来了。“他气色真好！”他说，“穿着新衣服，还是那张可爱的脸庞，但不那么苍白了；还是那双眼睛，但不那么忧伤了。”
They talked with great joy for some time. Then Mr Brownlow sent for Mrs Bedwin, the old housekeeper. She came in quietly and waited for her orders.
他们满怀喜悦地聊了好一会儿。然后布朗洛先生派人去请老管家贝德温太太。她静静地走进来，等候吩咐。
‘You get blinder every day,’ said Mr Brownlow impatiently.
“你一天比一天眼花了，”布朗洛先生不耐烦地说。
‘People’s eyes, at my time of life, don’t improve with age,’ replied the old lady.
“到了我这个年纪，人的视力可不会随着年龄增长而变好，”老太太回答道。
‘Then put on your glasses.’
“那就戴上眼镜。”
As she searched for them in her pocket, Oliver could not wait any longer and ran into her arms.
正当她在口袋里摸索眼镜时，奥利弗再也等不及了，一头扑进了她的怀里。
‘Dear God!’ she said. ‘It’s my innocent boy!’
“天哪！”她说，“是我那无辜的孩子啊！”
‘My dear old nurse!’ cried Oliver.
“我亲爱的老保姆！”奥利弗哭喊道。
‘I knew he would come back,’ said the old lady, holding him in her arms. ‘How well he’s dressed — how well he looks again!’ She laughed and cried at the same time, and could not let Oliver go.
“我就知道他会回来的，”老太太抱着他说，“穿得多体面——气色又多好啊！”她又哭又笑，舍不得放开奥利弗。
While Oliver talked to Mrs Bedwin, Rose asked Mr Brownlow if she could speak to him privately. He led her into another room, and there listened, with a good deal of amazement, to Rose’s account of her extraordinary conversation with Nancy. Between them, they decided that Mrs Maylie and Dr Losberne should be told, and that Mr Brownlow would come to the hotel that evening for a discussion. For the moment, nothing would be said to Oliver himself.
趁奥利弗跟贝德温太太说话的工夫，罗斯问布朗洛先生能否私下谈谈。他把她领进另一个房间，十分惊讶地听罗斯讲述了她与南希那次非同寻常的谈话。两人商定，应该把此事告知梅利太太和洛斯伯恩医生，并且布朗洛先生当晚将前往旅馆商议对策。至于奥利弗本人，暂时什么都不要告诉他。
That evening at the hotel Oliver’s four friends met as arranged. Dr Losberne, of course, was full of immediate plans to rush round London arresting all the gang and hanging them at once. Mr Brownlow, fortunately, was able to persuade him to abandon this wild idea.
那天晚上，奥利弗的四位朋友如约在旅馆碰面。不出所料，洛斯伯恩医生满脑子都是立即冲遍伦敦逮捕整个团伙并将他们统统绞死的计划。幸运的是，布朗洛先生成功劝服他放弃了这个疯狂的念头。
‘Then what’s to be done?’ cried the doctor impatiently.
“那我们该怎么办？”医生不耐烦地嚷道。
‘First,’ said Mr Brownlow calmly, ‘we must discover who Oliver’s parents were. Then — if this girl’s story is true — we must regain the inheritance that should have been his.’
“首先，”布朗洛先生冷静地说，“我们必须查明奥利弗的父母是谁。然后——如果这个女孩所说属实——我们必须夺回本该属于他的遗产。”
‘Yes, yes,’ said the doctor, nodding in agreement. ‘But how shall we achieve these aims?’
“是啊，是啊，”医生点头赞同道，“但我们该如何实现这些目标呢？”
‘We must find this man Monks,’ said Mr Brownlow. ‘Nancy will not betray the man who is special to her, but she will surely agree to tell us how or where to find Monks. Then we must find a way to force Monks to talk. We must be both cautious and clever. After all, we have no proof against him, and if we cannot make him talk, this mystery will never be solved. But we’ll have to wait five days until Sunday before we can meet Nancy on London Bridge. Until then, we can do nothing.’
“我们必须找到这个叫蒙克斯的人，”布朗洛先生说，“南希不会出卖对她来说特殊的那个人，但她肯定会同意告诉我们如何或在何处找到蒙克斯。然后我们必须想办法迫使蒙克斯开口。我们既要谨慎又要机智。毕竟我们没有针对他的证据，如果不能让他开口，这个谜团就永远解不开。但我们还得等五天，直到星期天才能在伦敦桥上见到南希。在此之前，我们什么也做不了。”
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