It was nearly eight o’clock in the evening when the cart, which we left on the road, entered the porte-cochere of the Hotel de la Poste in Arras; —
这是在傍晚快八点的时候，我们留在路上的马车驶入了亚眠拉斯邮政酒店的马厩门； —

the man whom we have been following up to this moment alighted from it, responded with an abstracted air to the attentions of the people of the inn, sent back the extra horse, and with his own hands led the little white horse to the stable; —
我们一直在追踪的那个人从车上下来，对旅店里的人冷漠地回应，派回多出来的马，亲自把小白马领到马厩； —

then he opened the door of a billiard-room which was situated on the ground floor, sat down there, and leaned his elbows on a table; —
然后他打开了底楼的一个台球室的门，坐了下来，把手肘搁在桌子上； —

he had taken fourteen hours for the journey which he had counted on making in six; —
他花了十四个小时才走完本来计划六个小时的路程； —

he did himself the justice to acknowledge that it was not his fault, but at bottom, he was not sorry.
他公正地承认这不是他的错，但本质上，他并不抱怨；

The landlady of the hotel entered.
旅店老板娘进来了；

“Does Monsieur wish a bed? Does Monsieur require supper?”
“先生需要床位吗？需要晚餐吗？”

He made a sign of the head in the negative.
他摇了摇头表示否定；

“The stableman says that Monsieur’s horse is extremely fatigued.”
“马夫说先生的马非常疲惫。”

Here he broke his silence.
这时他打破了沉默；

“Will not the horse be in a condition to set out again to-morrow morning?”
“明天早上马儿还能恢复出发吗？”

“Oh, Monsieur! he must rest for two days at least.”
“哦，先生！至少要休息两天。”

He inquired:–
他询问道：–

“Is not the posting-station located here?”
“这里有驿站吗？”

“Yes, sir.”
“有，先生。”

The hostess conducted him to the office; he showed his passport, and inquired whether there was any way of returning that same night to M. sur M. by the mail-wagon; —
女主人领他去了办公室；他出示了护照，并询问是否有办法当晚乘邮车返回梅尔尼尔。 —

the seat beside the post-boy chanced to be vacant; he engaged it and paid for it. —
车夫旁边的座位碰巧是空的；他租下了并付了费用。 —

“Monsieur,” said the clerk, “do not fail to be here ready to start at precisely one o’clock in the morning.”
“先生，”职员说，“请务必准备在凌晨一点准时出发。”

This done, he left the hotel and began to wander about the town.
办完这些事后，他离开了旅馆，开始在城里闲逛。

He was not acquainted with Arras; the streets were dark, and he walked on at random; —
他对阿拉斯不熟悉；街道很暗，他随意地走着； —

but he seemed bent upon not asking the way of the passers-by. —
但他似乎决心不问路过的人。 —

He crossed the little river Crinchon, and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow alleys where he lost his way. —
他渡过了小河Crinchon，发现自己陷入了狭窄小巷的迷宫中。 —

A citizen was passing along with a lantern. —
一位市民提着灯笼经过。 —

After some hesitation, he decided to apply to this man, not without having first glanced behind and in front of him, as though he feared lest some one should hear the question which he was about to put.
经过一番犹豫，他决定向这个人打听，但首先在后面和前面扫视了一下，似乎担心有人听到他即将提出的问题。

“Monsieur,” said he, “where is the court-house, if you please.”
“先生，”他说，“请问法院在哪里。”

“You do not belong in town, sir?” replied the bourgeois, who was an oldish man; “well, follow me. —
“先生，您不是本地人吧？”一个年迈的市民回答说，“好吧，跟我来。 —

I happen to be going in the direction of the court-house, that is to say, in the direction of the hotel of the prefecture; —
我碰巧是朝着法院的方向走，也就是说，朝着总督府的方向； —

for the court-house is undergoing repairs just at this moment, and the courts are holding their sittings provisionally in the prefecture.”
因为法院正在进行维修工作，暂时在总督府举行庭审。”

“Is it there that the Assizes are held?” he asked.
“那里举行大审判吗？”他问道。

“Certainly, sir; you see, the prefecture of to-day was the bishop’s palace before the Revolution. —
“当然，先生；你看，今天的总督府在大革命前是主教教座。” —

M. de Conzie, who was bishop in ‘82, built a grand hall there. —
康齐主教在’82年建造了一座宏伟的大厅。 —

It is in this grand hall that the court is held.”
就是在这个宏伟的大厅里举行法庭。

On the way, the bourgeois said to him:–
在路上，市民对他说：–

“If Monsieur desires to witness a case, it is rather late. —
“如果先生想见证一个案件，那时候已经有点晚了。 —

The sittings generally close at six o’clock.”
庭审通常在下午六点结束。”

When they arrived on the grand square, however, the man pointed out to him four long windows all lighted up, in the front of a vast and gloomy building.
然而，当他们到达大广场时，那个人指给他看一个巨大而阴暗的建筑物前面四扇亮着灯的长窗户。

“Upon my word, sir, you are in luck; you have arrived in season. Do you see those four windows? —
“我的话，先生，你真走运；你来得正是时候。 —

That is the Court of Assizes. There is light there, so they are not through. —
你看见那四扇窗户了吗？ —

The matter must have been greatly protracted, and they are holding an evening session. —
那就是审判法院。那里还有灯光，所以还没有结束。 —

Do you take an interest in this affair? Is it a criminal case? —
这个案件肯定耗费了很多时间，他们正在进行晚间开庭。 —

Are you a witness?”
你对这个案件感兴趣吗？是一个刑事案件吗？

He replied:–
你是目击证人吗？”

“I have not come on any business; I only wish to speak to one of the lawyers.”
他回答道：–

“That is different,” said the bourgeois. “Stop, sir; —
“我不是为了任何业务而来；我只是想和其中一个律师谈谈。” —

here is the door where the sentry stands. —
“那就不同了，”市民说。 —

You have only to ascend the grand staircase.”
你只需沿着大楼梯上去。

He conformed to the bourgeois’s directions, and a few minutes later he was in a hall containing many people, and where groups, intermingled with lawyers in their gowns, were whispering together here and there.
他遵从了博物馆馆长的指示，几分钟后他来到了一个挤满人群的大厅，那里有一些穿着律师袍的律师们，各个地方窃窃私语交谈。

It is always a heart-breaking thing to see these congregations of men robed in black, murmuring together in low voices, on the threshold of the halls of justice. —
看到这些穿着黑袍，在法庭门口低声交谈的人群总是令人心碎。 —

It is rare that charity and pity are the outcome of these words. —
这些言语很少带有慈悲和怜悯。 —

Condemnations pronounced in advance are more likely to be the result. —
更有可能是提前下的定论。 —

All these groups seem to the passing and thoughtful observer so many sombre hives where buzzing spirits construct in concert all sorts of dark edifices.
所有这些群体对于路过并留心观察的人都象征着黑暗建筑的团结蜂巢。

This spacious hall, illuminated by a single lamp, was the old hall of the episcopal palace, and served as the large hall of the palace of justice. —
这间宽敞的大厅只有一盏灯，是主教宫的旧大厅，也是法庭大厅。 —

A double-leaved door, which was closed at that moment, separated it from the large apartment where the court was sitting.
一扇双层关闭的门暂时将其与法庭所在的大厅隔开。

The obscurity was such that he did not fear to accost the first lawyer whom he met.
黑暗程度如此之深，以至于他并不担心去问遇到的第一个律师。

“What stage have they reached, sir?” he asked.
“他们进展到什么阶段了，先生？”他问。

“It is finished,” said the lawyer.
“已经结束了，”律师说。

“Finished!”
“结束了！”

This word was repeated in such accents that the lawyer turned round.
这个词用的语气如此，以至于律师转身。

“Excuse me sir; perhaps you are a relative?”
“对不起，先生；也许您是相关人士？”

“No; I know no one here. Has judgment been pronounced?”
“不是；我这里不认识任何人。裁决已经下来了吗？”

“Of course. Nothing else was possible.”
“当然。没有其他可能性。”

“To penal servitude?”
“判处苦役？”

“For life.”
“终身监禁。”

He continued, in a voice so weak that it was barely audible:–
他继续说，声音微弱得几乎听不见：–

“Then his identity was established?”
“那么他的身份得以确定了？”

“What identity?” replied the lawyer.“There was no identity to be established. —
“什么身份？”律师回答说。“没有什么身份需要确定。 —

The matter was very simple. The woman had murdered her child; the infanticide was proved; —
这件事情很简单。这名女子谋杀了她的孩子；婴儿谋杀事实明确； —

the jury threw out the question of premeditation, and she was condemned for life.”
陪审团排除了谋杀事先计划的问题，她被判终身监禁。”

“So it was a woman?” said he.
“所以是一名女子？”他说。

“Why, certainly. The Limosin woman. Of what are you speaking?”
“当然。来自Limousin地区的女人。你在说什么？”

“Nothing. But since it is all over, how comes it that the hall is still lighted?”
“无所谓。但既然一切都结束了，为什么大厅还亮着灯？”

“For another case, which was begun about two hours ago.
“因为还有另一个案件，大约两个小时前开始。”

“What other case?”
“什么其他案件？”

“Oh! this one is a clear case also. It is about a sort of blackguard; —
“哦！这也是一个明确的案件。关于一个流氓； —

a man arrested for a second offence; a convict who has been guilty of theft. —
一名因为第二次犯罪而被捕的男子；一个犯了偷窃罪的前科犯。 —

I don’t know his name exactly. There’s a bandit’s phiz for you! —
我不确定他的名字。他有一张强盗的面容！ —

I’d send him to the galleys on the strength of his face alone.”
我光凭他的长相就会把他送上奴役船。

“Is there any way of getting into the court-room, sir?” said he.
“先生，有没有办法进入法庭呢？”他说。

“I really think that there is not. There is a great crowd. However, the hearing has been suspended. —
“我真的认为没有。那里人山人海。不过，听证已经暂停。 —

Some people have gone out, and when the hearing is resumed, you might make an effort.”
有些人已经离开，等继续开庭时，你可以试试看。”

“Where is the entrance?”
“入口在哪里？”

“Through yonder large door.”
“就通过那边大门进去。”

The lawyer left him. In the course of a few moments he had experienced, almost simultaneously, almost intermingled with each other, all possible emotions. —
律师离开了他。在几分钟内，他几乎同时经历了所有可能的情绪。 —

The words of this indifferent spectator had, in turn, pierced his heart like needles of ice and like blades of fire. —
这个冷漠的旁观者的话轮番刺痛他的心灵，像冰针和火刃一样。 —

When he saw that nothing was settled, he breathed freely once more; —
当他发现没有什么结果时，他又松了口气； —

but he could not have told whether what he felt was pain or pleasure.
但他无法分辨他所感受到的是痛苦还是快乐。

He drew near to many groups and listened to what they were saying. —
他走近许多人群，倾听他们的谈话。 —

The docket of the session was very heavy; —
庭审的案卷非常繁重； —

the president had appointed for the same day two short and simple cases. —
法庭主席当天指定了两起简单的案件。 —

They had begun with the infanticide, and now they had reached the convict, the old offender, the “return horse.” —
他们从婴儿谋杀案开始，现在已经到了犯人，那位老惯犯，那匹“回头马”。 —

This man had stolen apples, but that did not appear to be entirely proved; —
这个人被指控偷了苹果，但似乎不能完全证实； —

what had been proved was, that he had already been in the galleys at Toulon. —
被证实的是，他以前曾在土伦的通赖煤矿做苦役； —

It was that which lent a bad aspect to his case. —
这让他的案件看起来很糟糕； —

However, the man’s examination and the depositions of the witnesses had been completed, but the lawyer’s plea, and the speech of the public prosecutor were still to come; —
然而，这个人的审讯和证人的证词已经结束，但律师的辩护和公诉人的陈词尚未完成； —

it could not be finished before midnight. The man would probably be condemned; —
这可能要等到午夜。这个人很可能会被判刑； —

the attorney-general was very clever, and never missed his culprits; he was a brilliant fellow who wrote verses.
总检察长非常聪明，从不放过罪犯；他是一位善写诗句的杰出人物；

An usher stood at the door communicating with the hall of the Assizes. He inquired of this usher:–
一个拱廊通向巡抚厅的大门，他问这位拱廊导引员：–

“Will the door be opened soon, sir?”
“先生，大门会很快打开吗？”

“It will not be opened at all,” replied the usher.
“大门将不再被打开，”拱廊导引员回答说。

“What! It will not be opened when the hearing is resumed? Is not the hearing suspended?”
“什么！听证会恢复时大门不会再被打开吗？听证会没有中止吗？”

“The hearing has just been begun again,” replied the usher, “but the door will not be opened again.”
“听证会刚刚恢复，”拱廊导引员回答说，“但大门将不再被打开。”

“Why?”
“为什么？”

“Because the hall is full.”
“因为厅里已经满员。”

“What! There is not room for one more?”
“什么！再也容不下一个人了？”

“Not another one. The door is closed. No one can enter now.”
“已经没有位置了。大门关闭了。现在已无法进入。”

The usher added after a pause: “There are, to tell the truth, two or three extra places behind Monsieur le President, but Monsieur le President only admits public functionaries to them.”
答复说：“说实话，总统座位后面有两三个额外的位置，但总统只允许公务员坐在那里。”

So saying, the usher turned his back.
说完，接待员掉头走开。

He retired with bowed head, traversed the antechamber, and slowly descended the stairs, as though hesitating at every step. —
他低着头离开，穿过前厅，慢慢走下楼梯，仿佛在每一步都在犹豫不决。 —

It is probable that he was holding counsel with himself. —
可能他在自我商议。 —

The violent conflict which had been going on within him since the preceding evening was not yet ended; —
自从前一晚以来一直在他内心激烈冲突的事情还没有结束； —

and every moment he encountered some new phase of it. —
每时每刻他都遇到一些新的阶段。 —

On reaching the landing-place, he leaned his back against the balusters and folded his arms. —
当到达楼梯平台时，他靠在栏杆上，双臂抱在胸前。 —

All at once he opened his coat, drew out his pocket-book, took from it a pencil, tore out a leaf, and upon that leaf he wrote rapidly, by the light of the street lantern, this line: —
他突然打开大衣，掏出口袋本子，拿出一支铅笔，从上面撕下一张纸，然后在街灯的光线下，迅速写下一行字： —

M. Madeleine, Mayor of M. sur M.; then he ascended the stairs once more with great strides, made his way through the crowd, walked straight up to the usher, handed him the paper, and said in an authoritative manner:–
M. Madeleine, M市市长，然后他再次大步上楼梯，穿过人群，径直走向接待员，递给他那张纸，用一种有权威的口吻说道：

“Take this to Monsieur le President.”
“把这个交给总统。”

The usher took the paper, cast a glance upon it, and obeyed.
接待员接过纸，扫了一眼，遵照命令去了。