We never dreamed of such good fortune!
我们从没梦想过有这样的好运！ —

The son of a provincial bailiff, Jean Marin had come, as do so many others, to study law in the Quartier Latin. In the various beer-houses that he had frequented he had made friends with several talkative students who spouted politics as they drank their beer.
省辖区的保释官的儿子，让·马兰像其他许多人一样来到拉丁区学习法律。在他经常光顾的各种啤酒屋里，他结交了几个健谈的学生朋友，他们边喝啤酒边大谈政治。 —

He had a great admiration for them and followed them persistently from cafe to cafe, even paying for their drinks when he had the money.
他对他们非常敬佩，一直追随他们从咖啡馆到咖啡馆，甚至在有钱时还付他们的酒钱。

He became a lawyer and pleaded causes, which he lost.
他成为了一名律师，但却输掉了很多案件。 —

However, one morning he read in the papers that one of his former comrades of the Quartier had just been appointed deputy.
然而，有一天早上他在报纸上看到，他曾经的拉丁区同伴中有人被任命为副手。

He again became his faithful hound, the friend who does the drudgery, the unpleasant tasks, for whom one sends when one has need of him and with whom one does not stand on ceremony.
他再次成为了忠实的朋友，那个干苦差事的朋友，有事找他帮忙，不顾形式对待他的朋友。 —

But it chanced through some parliamentary incident that the deputy became a minister.
但由于一些议会事件的巧合，这个副手成了一名部长。 —

Six months later Jean Marin was appointed a state councillor.
六个月后，让·马兰被任命为国务院顾问。

He was so elated with pride at first that he lost his head.
他起初因为自豪而得意洋洋， —

He would walk through the streets just to show himself off, as though one could tell by his appearance what position he occupied.
以至于忘了自己是谁。他会走在街上，像是通过他的外表可以告诉别人他的地位一样。 —

He managed to say to the shopkeepers as soon as he entered a store, bringing it in somehow in the course of the most insignificant remarks and even to the news vendors and the cabmen:
他一进商店就会设法在最微不足道的谈话中提到自己的身份，无论是和店主们还是报摊人员和驾驶员。

“I, who am a state councillor—”
“我，身为一名国务参议员——”

Then, in consequence of his position as well as for professional reasons and as in duty bound through being an influential and generous man, he felt an imperious need of patronizing others.
因为他的地位和职业的关系，并且作为一个有影响力和慷慨的人的职责，他觉得有一种强烈的需求去资助他人。 —

He offered his support to every one on all occasions and with unbounded generosity.
他无论何时都会提供支持，并且非常慷慨。

When he met any one he recognized on the boulevards he would advance to meet them with a charmed air, would take their hand, inquire after their health, and, without waiting for any questions, remark:
当他在大街上遇到认识的人时，他会兴高采烈地走过去，握住他们的手，问候他们的健康状况，而且不等对方问他任何问题，就说：

“You know I am state councillor, and I am entirely at your service.
“你知道，我是国务参议员，我完全听候您差遣。” —

If I can be of any use to you, do not hesitate to call on me.
如果你需要任何帮助，请毫不犹豫地找我。 —

In my position one has great influence.”
在我的职位上，我有很大的影响力。

Then he would go into some cafe with the friend he had just met and ask for a pen and ink and a sheet of paper.
然后他会跟刚认识的朋友一起进入一个咖啡馆，要来一支钢笔、一张纸。 —

“Just one, waiter; it is to write a letter of recommendation.”
“只要一支，服务员；我要写一封推荐信。”

And he wrote ten, twenty, fifty letters of recommendation a day.
于是他一天写了十封，二十封，五十封推荐信。 —

He wrote them to the Cafe Americain, to Bignon’s, to Tortoni’s, to the Maison Doree, to the Cafe Riche, to the Helder, to the Cafe Anglais, to the Napolitain, everywhere, everywhere.
他写给美洲咖啡馆，写给比尼翁咖啡馆，写给托托尼咖啡馆，写给金屋饭店，写给里奇咖啡馆，写给埃尔德咖啡馆，写给英国咖啡馆，写给拿波利坦咖啡馆，无处不写。 —

He wrote them to all the officials of the republican government, from the magistrates to the ministers.
他写给共和国政府的所有官员，从法官到部长。 —

And he was happy, perfectly happy.
他快乐，非常快乐。

One morning as he was starting out to go to the council it began to rain.
有一天早上，他准备去参加议会，突然开始下雨了。 —

He hesitated about taking a cab, but decided not to do so and set out on foot.
他犹豫是否搭出租车，但最终决定放弃，踏上了徒步之旅。

The rain came down in torrents, swamping the sidewalks and inundating the streets.
雨倾盆而下，淹没了人行道，也淹没了街道。 —

M. Marin was obliged to take shelter in a doorway.
马鲁安先生只好躲进了一个门廊里。 —

An old priest was standing there—an old priest with white hair.
一个头发花白的老牧师站在那里。在他成为委员之前， —

Before he became a councillor M. Marin did not like the clergy.
马林先生并不喜欢神职人员。 —

Now he treated them with consideration, ever since a cardinal had consulted him on an important matter.
自从一位红衣主教请教他一个重要问题之后，他对他们表示了尊重。 —

The rain continued to pour down in floods and obliged the two men to take shelter in the porter’s lodge so as to avoid getting wet.
雨仍然倾盆而下，迫使两个人躲在守门人的小屋里以免被淋湿。 —

M. Marin, who was always itching to talk so as to let people know who he was, remarked:
马林先生总是迫不及待地想要说话，以让人们知道他是谁，他说道：

“This is horrible weather, Monsieur l’Abbe.”
“这天气真糟糕，阿布先生。”

The old priest bowed:
老牧师鞠了一躬：

“Yes indeed, sir, it is very unpleasant when one comes to Paris for only a few days.”
“是的，先生，当一个人只在巴黎逗留几天时，这真是非常不愉快。”

“Ah! You come from the provinces?”
“啊！您来自省份？”

“Yes, monsieur. I am only passing through on my journey.”
“是的，先生。我只是路过这里。”

“It certainly is very disagreeable to have rain during the few days one spends in the capital.
“对于在首都度过几天的人来说，下雨当然是非常令人讨厌的事情。 —

We officials who stay here the year round, we think nothing of it.”
我们这些全年都在这里的官员，对此并不在意。”

The priest did not reply.
牧师没有回答。 —

He was looking at the street where the rain seemed to be falling less heavily.
他正望着雨似乎变得不那么大的街道。 —

And with a sudden resolve he raised his cassock just as women raise their skirts in stepping across water.
他突然下定决心，像女人走过水面时提起裙子一样，他抬高了袈裟。

M. Marin, seeing him start away, exclaimed:
“麦兰先生，您会淋湿的。再等一会儿，雨就会停的。”看到他离开，麦兰先生大声说道。

“You will get drenched, Monsieur l’Abbe. Wait a few moments longer;
善良的人无法抗拒地停下了脚步， —

the rain will be over.”
然后说道：

The good man stopped irresistibly and then said:
“但我非常赶时间。我有个重要的约会。”

“But I am in a great hurry.
麦兰先生似乎很担心。 —

I have an important engagement.”

M. Marin seemed quite worried.
“但您会被淋透的。我能问问您是往哪个方向走吗？”

“But you will be absolutely drenched.
神父似乎犹豫了一下。 —

Might I ask in which direction you are going?”
然后他说道：

The priest appeared to hesitate. Then he said:
“我要往皇家宫殿的方向走。”

“I am going in the direction of the Palais Royal.”
“既然这样，如果您允许的话，阁下，我愿意给您提供伞的遮挡。”

“In that case, if you will allow me, Monsieur l’Abbe, I will offer you the shelter of my umbrella:
“至于我，我正要去参加会议。我是一名国务委员。” —

As for me, I am going to the council.
老神父抬起头看着他的邻居， —

I am a councillor of state.”
然后惊叫道：

The old priest raised his head and looked at his neighbor and then exclaimed:
“谢谢您，先生。我很乐意接受您的提议。”

“I thank you, monsieur.
接着，麦兰先生牵起他的手臂， —

I shall be glad to accept your offer.”
带他离开。他给他指路，看护他，给他建议。

M. Marin then took his arm and led him away.
M. Marin持着伞， —

He directed him, watched over him and advised him.
保护着神父。

“Be careful of that stream, Monsieur l’Abbe. And be very careful about the carriage wheels;
“切记小心那道小溪，教士先生。还要非常小心车轮， —

they spatter you with mud sometimes from head to foot.
它们有时会从头到脚溅上泥泞。” —

Look out for the umbrellas of the people passing by;
“注意路过的人们的伞， —

there is nothing more dangerous to the eyes than the tips of the ribs.
伞骨尖端对眼睛来说是最危险的。” —

Women especially are unbearable;
“尤其是女人， —

they pay no heed to where they are going and always jab you in the face with the point of their parasols or umbrellas.
她们令人受不了；她们不顾周围情况，总是用伞尖戳到你的脸上。” —

And they never move aside for anybody.
“而且从不为任何人让路。 —

One would suppose the town belonged to them.
人们会以为这个城市属于她们。” —

They monopolize the pavement and the street.
“她们征用人行道和街道。 —

It is my opinion that their education has been greatly neglected.”
我认为她们的教育程度严重被忽视了。”

And M. Marin laughed.
马兰先生笑了起来。

The priest did not reply. He walked along, slightly bent over, picking his steps carefully so as not to get mud on his boots or his cassock.
神父没有回答。他稍微低着头，小心地走着，以免鞋子或袈裟上弄上泥土。

M. Marin resumed:
马兰先生接着说：

“I suppose you have come to Paris to divert your mind a little?”
“我猜你是来巴黎消遣一下心情吧？”

The good man replied:
这个好人回答道：

“No, I have some business to attend to.”
“不，我有一些事情要处理。”

“Ali! Is it important business?
“阿里！这是重要的事情吗？ —

Might I venture to ask what it is?
敢问是什么事情？ —

If I can be of any service to you, you may command me.”
如果我可以为您提供任何服务，您可以指挥我。”

The priest seemed embarrassed. He murmured:
神父似乎感到尴尬。他低声说道：

“Oh, it is a little personal matter;
“哦，这只是一些私人的事情； —

a little difficulty with—with my bishop.
与我的主教有点困难。 —

It would not interest you.
这不会让您感兴趣。 —

It is a matter of internal regulation—an ecclesiastical affair.”
这是一项内部管理的事务-一个教会事务。”

M. Marin was eager.
马利先生很热心。

“But it is precisely the state council that regulates all those things.
“但正是国务会议管理所有这些事情。在这种情况下， —

In that case, make use of me.”
利用我。”

“Yes, monsieur, it is to the council that I am going. You are a thousand times too kind.
“是的，先生，我去找的就是国务会议。您真是太好了。 —

I have to see M. Lerepere and M. Savon and also perhaps M. Petitpas.”
我需要见到勒雷佩尔先生、萨文先生，也许还有小帕。”

M. Marin stopped short.
马利先生突然停住了。

“Why, those are my friends, Monsieur l’Abbe, my best friends, excellent colleagues, charming men.
“咦，那些是我的朋友，阿布先生，我的最好的朋友，优秀的同事，迷人的人。 —

I will speak to them about you, and very highly. Count upon me.”
我会和他们谈论您，并且非常推荐您。请对我放心。”

The cure thanked him, apologizing for troubling him, and stammered out a thousand grateful promises.
神父感谢他，并为给他添麻烦表示歉意，结结巴巴地说出了一千个感激的承诺。

M. Marin was enchanted.
马利先生非常高兴。

“Ah, you may be proud of having made a stroke of luck, Monsieur l’Abbe. You will see—you will see that, thanks to me, your affair will go along swimmingly.”
“啊，你可以为自己取得一次幸运的机会而感到自豪，阁下。您会看到—多亏了我，您的事情将会顺利进行。”

They reached the council hall.
他们来到了会议厅。 —

M. Marin took the priest into his office, offered him a chair in front of the fire and sat down himself at his desk and began to write.
马林先生领着这位牧师到了自己的办公室，给他安排了一张靠近火炉的椅子，自己则坐在办公桌前开始写信。

“My dear colleague, allow me to recommend to you most highly a venerable and particularly worthy and deserving priest, M. L’Abbe——”
“亲爱的同事，请允许我向您极力推荐一位庄重、特别值得尊敬和赞誉的牧师，阁下……”

He stopped and asked:
他停下来问道：

“Your name, if you please?”
“请告诉我您的名字。”

“L’Abbe Ceinture.”
“Ceinture牧师。”

“M. l’Abbe Ceinture, who needs your good office in a little matter which he will communicate to you.
“Ceinture先生需要您的好意，为他传达一个小事情。”

“I am pleased at this incident which gives me an opportunity, my dear colleague——”
“我很高兴这次的事件给了我一个机会，亲爱的同事……”

And he finished with the usual compliments.
随后他以常规的问候结束了信件。

When he had written the three letters he handed them to his protege, who took his departure with many protestations of gratitude.
当他写完这三封信后，把它们递给了他的袒护对象，后者对此表示感激之情后离去。

M. Marin attended to some business and then went home, passed the day quietly, slept well, woke in a good humor and sent for his newspapers.
M. Marin做完了一些事务后回家了，过了平静的一天，睡得很好，醒来时心情很好，便向报社订了报纸。

The first he opened was a radical sheet. He read:
他打开的第一份是一份激进的报纸。他读到：

“OUR CLERGY AND OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
“我们的教士和政府官员

“We shall never make an end of enumerating the misdeeds of the clergy.
“我们永远无法说清楚教士们的罪恶行为。 —

A certain priest, named Ceinture, convicted of conspiracy against the present government, accused of base actions to which we will not even allude, suspected besides of being a former Jesuit, metamorphosed into a simple priest, suspended by a bishop for causes that are said to be unmentionable and summoned to Paris to give an explanation of his conduct, has found an ardent defender in the man named Marin, a councillor of state, who was not afraid to give this frocked malefactor the warmest letters of recommendation to all the republican officials, his colleagues.
一个名叫Ceinture的牧师，被指控密谋反对现政府，被控以我们甚至不愿提及的下流行为，而且还有疑似前耶稣会士，变成简单的神父，被主教停职，原因据说是不可言说的，并被传唤到巴黎对其行为作出解释，在所有共和国官员及其同事面前，这个穿上袈裟的罪犯都找到了热情的拥护者，名叫马林的国务委员。

“We call the, attention of the ministry to the unheard of attitude of this councillor of state——”
“我们要求部长注意这位国务委员无耻的态度——”

M. Marin bounded out of bed, dressed himself and hastened to his colleague, Petitpas, who said to him:
M.马林跳下床，穿好衣服，匆匆忙忙地赶到他的同事佩蒂帕斯那里，佩蒂帕斯对他说：

“How now? You were crazy to recommend to me that old conspirator!”
“你怎么样了？你真是疯了，竟然向我推荐了那个老阴谋家！”

M. Marin, bewildered, stammered out:
M.马林感到困惑，结结巴巴地说：

“Why no—you see—I was deceived.
“不不不，你看，我被欺骗了。 —

He looked such an honest man.
他看起来是个正直的人。 —

He played me a trick—a disgraceful trick!
他玩弄了我一个把戏-一个可耻的把戏！ —

I beg that you will sentence him severely, very severely. I am going to write.
请惩罚他，严厉地惩罚他。我要写信。 —

Tell me to whom I should write about having him punished.
请告诉我应该写信向谁报告惩罚他。 —

I will go and see the attorney-general and the archbishop of Paris—yes, the archbishop.”
我要去找总检察长和巴黎大主教-是的，大主教。”

And seating himself abruptly at M. Petitpas’ desk, he wrote:
他突然坐在佩蒂帕斯的桌子前，写道：

“Monseigneur, I have the honor to bring to your grace’s notice the fact that I have recently been made a victim of the intrigues and lies of a certain Abbe Ceinture, who imposed on my kind-heartedness.
“大主教，我有幸向您报告一个事实，我最近成了某个名叫Cinture的神父的阴谋和谎言的受害者，他利用了我善良的心。”

“Deceived by the representations of this ecclesiastic, I was led——”
“被这个牧师的陈述所欺骗，我被引导——”

Then, having signed and sealed his letter, he turned to his colleague and exclaimed:
然后，签署并密封了他的信后，他转向同事大声说：

“See here; my dear friend, let this be a warning to you never to recommend any one again.”
“看这里，亲爱的朋友，让这个成为你再也不推荐任何人的警示。”