When Albert found himself alone with Monte Cristo, “My dear count,” said he, “allow me to commence my services as cicerone by showing you a specimen of a bachelor’s apartment. —
当阿尔伯特发现自己与蒙德·克里斯托独处时，“亲爱的伯爵，”他说，“请允许我以展示一个单身汉公寓的样本来开始我的讲解服务。 —

You, who are accustomed to the palaces of Italy, can amuse yourself by calculating in how many square feet a young man who is not the worst lodged in Paris can live. —
你习惯了意大利的宫殿，可以自行计算一下，巴黎的一位不算最差的年轻人可以在多少平方英尺的空间里生活。 —

As we pass from one room to another, I will open the windows to let you breathe.”
当我们从一个房间走到另一个房间时，我会打开窗户让你呼吸一下。”

Monte Cristo had already seen the breakfast-room and the salon on the ground floor. —
蒙德·克里斯托已经看过了一楼的早餐厅和客厅。 —

Albert led him first to his atelier, which was, as we have said, his favorite apartment. —
阿尔伯特首先带他去了自己的工作室，正如我们所说，这是他最喜欢的房间。 —

Monte Cristo quickly appreciated all that Albert had collected here—old cabinets, Japanese porcelain, Oriental stuffs, Venetian glass, arms from all parts of the world—everything was familiar to him; —
蒙德·克里斯托迅速欣赏了阿尔伯特在这里收集的一切 - 古老的橱柜，日本瓷器，东方织物，威尼斯玻璃，来自世界各地的武器 - 一切对他来说都很熟悉； —

and at the first glance he recognized their date, their country, and their origin.
一眼就能认出它们的年代、国家和来源。

Morcerf had expected he should be the guide; —
莫尔塞夫原本以为自己会成为导游； —

on the contrary, it was he who, under the count’s guidance, followed a course of archæology, mineralogy, and natural history.
相反，正是在伯爵的指导下，他开始了考古学、矿物学和自然历史的学习。

They descended to the first floor; Albert led his guest into the salon. —
他们下到一楼，阿尔贝带着他的客人进入了客厅。 —

The salon was filled with the works of modern artists; —
客厅里摆满了现代艺术家的作品； —

there were landscapes by Dupré, with their long reeds and tall trees, their lowing oxen and marvellous skies; —
有杜普雷的风景画，画中有长长的芦苇和高高的树，有低鸣的牛群和奇妙的天空； —

Delacroix’s Arabian cavaliers, with their long white burnouses, their shining belts, their damasked arms, their horses, who tore each other with their teeth while their riders contended fiercely with their maces; —
有德拉克洛瓦的阿拉伯骑士，他们穿着白色的斗篷，腰间系着闪闪发光的腰带，手持华丽的武器，他们的马相互咬斗，骑士们紧紧握着钉头锤激烈地争斗； —

aquarelles of Boulanger, representing Notre Dame de Paris with that vigor that makes the artist the rival of the poet; —
有布朗热的水彩画，生动地描绘了巴黎圣母院，以其力量使艺术家成为诗人的竞争对手； —

there were paintings by Diaz, who makes his flowers more beautiful than flowers, his suns more brilliant than the sun; —
有迪亚兹的绘画，他把花朵画得比真实的花朵更加美丽，阳光比真实的阳光更加明亮； —

designs by Decamp, as vividly colored as those of Salvator Rosa, but more poetic; —
还有迪康普的设计，色彩如此鲜艳，有着萨尔瓦托罗萨的诗意。 —

pastels by Giraud and Müller, representing children like angels and women with the features of a virgin; —
《粉彩》由纪罗德和米勒完成，描绘了孩子们像天使一样，妇女则具备了处女的特征； —

sketches torn from the album of Dauzats’ “Travels in the East, ” that had been made in a few seconds on the saddle of a camel, or beneath the dome of a mosque—in a word, all that modern art can give in exchange and as recompense for the art lost and gone with ages long since past.
从多扎特的《东方之旅》手册上撕下的素描，是在骆驼鞍上或者清真寺的穹顶下，在几秒钟内完成的。总之，现代艺术能为失去已久的艺术带来何种交换和补偿；

Albert expected to have something new this time to show to the traveller, but, to his great surprise, the latter, without seeking for the signatures, many of which, indeed, were only initials, named instantly the author of every picture in such a manner that it was easy to see that each name was not only known to him, but that each style associated with it had been appreciated and studied by him. —
阿尔伯特期待这次能有一些新的东西向旅客展示，但令他大吃一惊的是，后者不用去寻找签名——很多甚至只有缩写，就能立刻说出每幅画作的作者，可以看出每个名字对他来说不仅是熟悉的，而且每个名字背后的风格都得到了他的欣赏和研究； —

From the salon they passed into the bedchamber; it was a model of taste and simple elegance. —
从客厅走进卧室，它是一个品味和简约优雅的典范； —

A single portrait, signed by Léopold Robert, shone in its carved and gilded frame. —
一个由莱奥波德·罗伯特签名的肖像，在其雕刻和镀金的画框中散发出光芒。 —

This portrait attracted the Count of Monte Cristo’s attention, for he made three rapid steps in the chamber, and stopped suddenly before it.
这幅肖像吸引了蒙特克里斯托伯爵的注意，他在房间里迅速走了三步，突然停下来站在那里。

It was the portrait of a young woman of five or six-and-twenty, with a dark complexion, and light and lustrous eyes, veiled beneath long lashes. —
这是一位二十五六岁的年轻女子的肖像，她有着深色的肤色和长长的睫毛遮住的明亮的眼睛。 —

She wore the picturesque costume of the Catalan fisherwomen, a red and black bodice, and golden pins in her hair. —
她穿着加泰隆尼亚渔妇的特色服装，一个红色和黑色的紧身胸衣，头发上插着金色的饰针。 —

She was looking at the sea, and her form was outlined on the blue ocean and sky. —
她正望着大海，她的身影在蓝色的海洋和天空中显得分外鲜明。 —

The light was so faint in the room that Albert did not perceive the pallor that spread itself over the count’s visage, or the nervous heaving of his chest and shoulders. —
房间里的光线非常微弱，艾伯特没有注意到伯爵脸色的苍白，或者他胸口和肩膀的紧张颤抖。 —

Silence prevailed for an instant, during which Monte Cristo gazed intently on the picture.
沉默在片刻间仍然占据着，蒙特克里斯托伯爵专注地盯着那幅画。

“You have there a most charming mistress, viscount, ” said the count in a perfectly calm tone; —
“你有一个非常迷人的情妇，子爵先生，” 伯爵以完全平静的语气说道； —

“and this costume—a ball costume, doubtless—becomes her admirably.”
“而且这套服装——一套舞会服装，毫无疑问——非常适合她。”

“Ah, monsieur,” returned Albert, “I would never forgive you this mistake if you had seen another picture beside this. —
“啊，先生，”阿尔贝回答道，“如果您在看到这幅画之外看到了另一幅画，我将永远不会原谅您这个错误。 —

You do not know my mother; she it is whom you see here. —
您不了解我的母亲；你看到的就是她。 —

She had her portrait painted thus six or eight years ago. —
她六八年前画了这幅肖像。 —

This costume is a fancy one, it appears, and the resemblance is so great that I think I still see my mother the same as she was in 1830. —
这套服装是一种幻想，看起来非常相似，以至于我仍然觉得我看到的是1830年时的我的母亲。 —

The countess had this portrait painted during the count’s absence. —
伯爵夫人在伯爵不在的时候画了这幅肖像。 —

She doubtless intended giving him an agreeable surprise; —
她无疑打算给他一个愉快的惊喜； —

but, strange to say, this portrait seemed to displease my father, and the value of the picture, which is, as you see, one of the best works of Léopold Robert, could not overcome his dislike to it. —
但令人奇怪的是，这幅肖像似乎让我父亲不喜欢，而且这幅画的价值，正如您所见，是勒奥波尔·罗伯特的作品中最好的之一，却无法克服他对它的厌恶。 —

It is true, between ourselves, that M. de Morcerf is one of the most assiduous peers at the Luxembourg, a general renowned for theory, but a most mediocre amateur of art. —
说实话，在我们之间，德·莫塞夫先生是卢森堡公园最勤奋的一位贵族，是一位理论上有名的将军，但在艺术方面却是一个平庸的业余爱好者。” —

It is different with my mother, who paints exceedingly well, and who, unwilling to part with so valuable a picture, gave it to me to put here, where it would be less likely to displease M. de Morcerf, whose portrait, by Gros, I will also show you. —
这与我母亲截然不同，她画得极好。她不愿舍弃一幅如此有价值的画作，送给了我，在这里陈列，这样更不容易惹恼蒙泰克里斯托夫先生。我也会给你看葛罗的他的人像画。 —

Excuse my talking of family matters, but as I shall have the honor of introducing you to the count, I tell you this to prevent you making any allusions to this picture. —
请原谅我谈论家庭事务，但是既然我有幸向您介绍这位伯爵，我提前告诉您这个情况，以防您提到这幅画。 —

The picture seems to have a malign influence, for my mother rarely comes here without looking at it, and still more rarely does she look at it without weeping. —
这幅画似乎有一种邪恶的影响力，因为我母亲很少来这里而不看它，更少会看它而不流泪。 —

This disagreement is the only one that has ever taken place between the count and countess, who are still as much united, although married more than twenty years, as on the first day of their wedding.”
这是伯爵夫妇唯一发生的争执，尽管他们结婚已经二十多年了，他们仍然像结婚的第一天一样恩爱。

Monte Cristo glanced rapidly at Albert, as if to seek a hidden meaning in his words, but it was evident the young man uttered them in the simplicity of his heart.
蒙泰克里斯托目光迅速地朝阿尔贝瞥了一眼，好像在他的话中寻找隐藏的意义，但显然这位年轻人是以他内心的简单直言之意发表的。

“Now,” said Albert, “that you have seen all my treasures, allow me to offer them to you, unworthy as they are. —
“现在，”阿尔伯特说，“既然你已经看到了我所有的珍宝，让我把它们献给你，虽然它们不值得。” —

Consider yourself as in your own house, and to put yourself still more at your ease, pray accompany me to the apartments of M. de Morcerf, he whom I wrote from Rome an account of the services you rendered me, and to whom I announced your promised visit, and I may say that both the count and countess anxiously desire to thank you in person. —
“请把这里当作你自己的家，为了让你更加自在，请跟我一起去莫尔塞夫先生的房间吧。我曾经给他写过信，告诉他你对我有多么大的帮助，还告诉他你答应的来访。我可以说，伯爵和伯爵夫人都渴望亲自感谢你。” —

You are somewhat blasé I know, and family scenes have not much effect on Sinbad the Sailor, who has seen so many others. —
“我知道你有些审美疲劳了，家庭场景对已经见过那么多的辛巴德水手来说并没有太大的影响。” —

However, accept what I propose to you as an initiation into Parisian life—a life of politeness, visiting, and introductions.”
“然而，请将我提供给你的东西看作是对巴黎生活的引导——一种礼貌、拜访和介绍的生活方式。”

Monte Cristo bowed without making any answer; —
蒙特克里斯托低头，没有作任何回答； —

he accepted the offer without enthusiasm and without regret, as one of those conventions of society which every gentleman looks upon as a duty. —
他毫无热情地接受了这个提议，也没有任何遗憾，因为这是一个绅士视为职责的社交习俗。 —

Albert summoned his servant, and ordered him to acquaint M. and Madame de Morcerf of the arrival of the Count of Monte Cristo. —
阿尔伯特召唤了他的仆人，并命令他通知蒙泰克里斯托伯爵的到来给莫塞夫夫妇。 —

Albert followed him with the count. When they arrived at the antechamber, above the door was visible a shield, which, by its rich ornaments and its harmony with the rest of the furniture, indicated the importance the owner attached to this blazon. —
阿尔伯特跟着伯爵一起走进了客厅。当他们到达门厅时，门上方有一个盾牌，它的丰富装饰和与其他家具的和谐表明了主人对这个纹章的重视。 —

Monte Cristo stopped and examined it attentively.
蒙泰克里斯托停下来仔细观察了一下。

“Azure seven merlets, or, placed bender,” said he. —
“蓝底上方有七只金黄色的小鹰”，他说道。 —

“These are, doubtless, your family arms? —
“这无疑是你的家族纹章吧？ —

Except the knowledge of blazons, that enables me to decipher them, I am very ignorant of heraldry—I, a count of a fresh creation, fabricated in Tuscany by the aid of a commandery of St. Stephen, and who would not have taken the trouble had I not been told that when you travel much it is necessary. —
除了懂纹章的知识让我能解读它们，我对纹章学知之甚少——我是一个新晋的伯爵，由托斯卡纳的圣斯蒂芬骑士团授予的头衔，如果不是被告知在经常旅行时有必要懂一点纹章学的话，我是不会费这个劲的。 —

Besides, you must have something on the panels of your carriage, to escape being searched by the custom-house officers. —
此外，你的马车上必须有一些标志，以免被海关官员搜查。 —

Excuse my putting such a question to you.”
对不起，我向您提出这样一个问题。

“It is not indiscreet,” returned Morcerf, with the simplicity of conviction. —
“这并不是不礼貌的，”莫塞夫怀着坚定的信念回答道。 —

“You have guessed rightly. These are our arms, that is, those of my father, but they are, as you see, joined to another shield, which has gules, a silver tower, which are my mother’s. —
“您猜对了。这是我们的家族纹章，也就是我父亲的，但是您看到的是与另一个盾牌相结合，上面有红底白色的塔楼，那是我母亲的。” —

By her side I am Spanish, but the family of Morcerf is French, and, I have heard, one of the oldest of the south of France.”
在她的影响下，我是西班牙人，但莫塞夫家族是法国人，而且我听说是法国南部最古老的家族。

“Yes,” replied Monte Cristo “these blazons prove that. —
“是的，”蒙特克里斯托回答道，“这些纹章证明了这一点。” —

Almost all the armed pilgrims that went to the Holy Land took for their arms either a cross, in honor of their mission, or birds of passage, in sign of the long voyage they were about to undertake, and which they hoped to accomplish on the wings of faith. —
几乎所有前往圣地的武装朝圣者都会选择一个十字架作为他们自己的纹章，以纪念他们的使命；或者选择候鸟作为他们将要踏上的漫长旅程的象征，他们希望可以凭借信仰的翅膀完成这段旅程。 —

One of your ancestors had joined the Crusades, and supposing it to be only that of St. Louis, that makes you mount to the thirteenth century, which is tolerably ancient.”
您的祖先中有人参加了十字军东征，假设那只是路易圣殉教者的十字军东征，那将使您追溯到13世纪，相当久远的历史时期。

“It is possible,” said Morcerf; “my father has in his study a genealogical tree which will tell you all that, and on which I made commentaries that would have greatly edified d’Hozier and Jaucourt. —
“可能吧，”莫塞夫说，“我父亲的书房里有一棵家谱树，可以告诉你所有的情况，我对它做了很多评论，会让达赫齐与乔科为之倾倒的。” —

At present I no longer think of it, and yet I must tell you that we are beginning to occupy ourselves greatly with these things under our popular government.”
目前我已经不再考虑这个问题了，然而我必须告诉你，在我们的民主政府下，我们开始非常关注这些事情。

“Well, then, your government would do well to choose from the past something better than the things that I have noticed on your monuments, and which have no heraldic meaning whatever. —
“那么，你们的政府最好从过去选择一些比我在你们的纪念碑上注意到的那些更好的东西，那些根本没有纹章意义。” —

As for you, viscount,” continued Monte Cristo to Morcerf, “you are more fortunate than the government, for your arms are really beautiful, and speak to the imagination. —
至于你，子爵，”蒙泰克里斯托继续对莫塞夫说，“你比政府更幸运，因为你的纹章真的很美丽，能令人想象。 —

Yes, you are at once from Provence and Spain; —
是的，你既来自普罗旺斯又来自西班牙； —

that explains, if the portrait you showed me be like, the dark hue I so much admired on the visage of the noble Catalan.”
如果你给我看的那幅肖像像真的话，这就解释了为什么我如此赞赏那位高贵加泰罗尼亚人脸上的深色肤色。”

It would have required the penetration of Œdipus or the Sphinx to have divined the irony the count concealed beneath these words, apparently uttered with the greatest politeness. —
只有俄狄浦斯或斯芬克斯的洞察力，才能揭示出伯爵这些貌似极为礼貌的话语下隐藏的讽刺意味。 —

Morcerf thanked him with a smile, and pushed open the door above which were his arms, and which, as we have said, opened into the salon. —
莫尔斯夫微笑着向他道谢，并推开门，门上刻有他的家族纹章，这道门通向客厅。 —

In the most conspicuous part of the salon was another portrait. —
客厅最显眼的位置摆放着另一幅肖像画。 —

It was that of a man, from five to eight-and-thirty, in the uniform of a general officer, wearing the double epaulet of heavy bullion, that indicates superior rank, the ribbon of the Legion of Honor around his neck, which showed he was a commander, and on the right breast, the star of a grand officer of the order of the Saviour, and on the left that of the grand cross of Charles III., which proved that the person represented by the picture had served in the wars of Greece and Spain, or, what was just the same thing as regarded decorations, had fulfilled some diplomatic mission in the two countries.
这是一位大约三十五至四十五岁的男性，身穿将军制服，佩戴着重金属肩章，显示他的军衔较高。颈间系着荣誉军团勋章的绶带，表明他是一位指挥官。右胸佩戴着救世主骑士团大官勋章，左胸佩戴着查理三世大十字勋章星，证明他曾在希腊和西班牙战争中服役，或者，就装饰品而言，他曾在这两个国家履行外交使命，这等同于在上述两个国家执行外交任务。

Monte Cristo was engaged in examining this portrait with no less care than he had bestowed upon the other, when another door opened, and he found himself opposite to the Count of Morcerf in person.
蒙特·克里斯托 (Monte Cristo) 以不亚于他投入在其他画像上的的仔细看待，仔细检查着这幅画像，但另一扇门开了，他发现自己与莫尔塞夫伯爵本人面对面。

He was a man of forty to forty-five years, but he seemed at least fifty, and his black moustache and eyebrows contrasted strangely with his almost white hair, which was cut short, in the military fashion. —
他大约四十到四十五岁，但看上去至少五十岁，他的黑色胡子和眉毛和他几乎白色的短发形成奇怪的对比，短发是根据军事方式剪的。 —

He was dressed in plain clothes, and wore at his button-hole the ribbons of the different orders to which he belonged.
他穿着普通的服装，在钮扣孔上别着他所属的不同勋章的丝带。

He entered with a tolerably dignified step, and some little haste. —
他以相当庄重而有些快速的步伐走进来。 —

Monte Cristo saw him advance towards him without making a single step. —
蒙特·克里斯托看见他朝着自己走来，没有迈一步。 —

It seemed as if his feet were rooted to the ground, and his eyes on the Count of Morcerf.
他的脚似乎生 rooted 于地，并牢牢地盯着莫尔塞夫伯爵。

“Father,” said the young man, “I have the honor of presenting to you the Count of Monte Cristo, the generous friend whom I had the good fortune to meet in the critical situation of which I have told you.”
“父亲，”年轻人说，“我有幸向您介绍孟泰·克里斯托伯爵，他是我在我所告诉您的关键时刻遇到的慷慨的朋友。”

“You are most welcome, monsieur,” said the Count of Morcerf, saluting Monte Cristo with a smile, “and monsieur has rendered our house, in preserving its only heir, a service which insures him our eternal gratitude.”
“先生，您非常受欢迎，”莫塞夫伯爵微笑着向蒙地克里斯托敬礼道，“您拯救了我们家的唯一继承人，给我们带来了永恒的感激。”

As he said these words, the count of Morcerf pointed to a chair, while he seated himself in another opposite the window.
蒙塞夫伯爵说着指了指一把椅子，自己则坐到了窗户对面的另一把椅子上。

Monte Cristo, in taking the seat Morcerf offered him, placed himself in such a manner as to remain concealed in the shadow of the large velvet curtains, and read on the careworn and livid features of the count a whole history of secret griefs written in each wrinkle time had planted there.
蒙地克里斯托坐在莫塞夫伯爵提供的座位上，同时隐藏在厚重的天鹅绒帘子的阴影中，透过伯爵脸上布满岁月痕迹的憔悴和苍白的神情，读出了一整段秘密忧伤的故事。

“The countess,” said Morcerf, “was at her toilet when she was informed of the visit she was about to receive. —
“伯爵夫人正在打扮时接到有客人会来的消息。” —

She will, however, be in the salon in ten minutes.”
她会在十分钟内到客厅的。”

“It is a great honor to me,” returned Monte Cristo, “to be thus, on the first day of my arrival in Paris, brought in contact with a man whose merit equals his reputation, and to whom fortune has for once been equitable, but has she not still on the plains of Mitidja, or in the mountains of Atlas, a marshal’s staff to offer you?”
“对我来说真是个莫大的荣幸，”蒙特克里斯托回答道，“在我抵达巴黎的第一天，能与一个名声与才华并重，命运也曾对他公平，但在米蒂杰的平原或阿特拉斯山上，她难道没有元帅的职位给您吗？”

“Oh,” replied Morcerf, reddening slightly, “I have left the service, monsieur. —
“哦，”莫尔塞夫微微脸红地回答道，“先生，我已经离开了军队。 —

Made a peer at the Restoration, I served through the first campaign under the orders of Marshal Bourmont. —
复辟时期我受封为贵族，曾在首次战役中在布尔蒙元帅的指挥下服役。 —

I could, therefore, expect a higher rank, and who knows what might have happened had the elder branch remained on the throne? —
因此，我本可以期待更高的军衔，谁知道如果长辈仍在王位上会发生什么呢？ —

But the Revolution of July was, it seems, sufficiently glorious to allow itself to be ungrateful, and it was so for all services that did not date from the imperial period. —
但七月革命似乎光荣到足以忘恩负义，对那些没有来自帝国时期的服务也是如此。” —

I tendered my resignation, for when you have gained your epaulets on the battle-field, you do not know how to manœuvre on the slippery grounds of the salons. —
我呈上了辞呈，因为当你在战场上获得了肩章，你并不知道如何在沙龙的滑溜地面上操作。 —

I have hung up my sword, and cast myself into politics. I have devoted myself to industry; —
我已经悬挂了我的剑，投身于政治。我已经全身心投入到工业中； —

I study the useful arts. During the twenty years I served, I often wished to do so, but I had not the time.”
我学习有用的艺术。在我服役的二十年里，我经常希望这样做，但我没有时间。”

“These are the ideas that render your nation superior to any other,” returned Monte Cristo. —
“这些想法使你们的国家比其他任何国家都优越，”蒙地·克里斯托回答道。 —

“A gentleman of high birth, possessor of an ample fortune, you have consented to gain your promotion as an obscure soldier, step by step—this is uncommon; —
“一个出生高贵，拥有充裕财富的绅士，你同意作为一个默默无闻的士兵逐步晋升——这是不寻常的； —

then become general, peer of France, commander of the Legion of Honor, you consent to again commence a second apprenticeship, without any other hope or any other desire than that of one day becoming useful to your fellow-creatures; —
然后成为将军，法国贵族，荣誉军团指挥官，你同意再次开始第二次学徒生涯，除了希望有一天对你的同类有所帮助，没有其他的希望或欲望； —

this, indeed, is praiseworthy,—nay, more, it is sublime.”
这确实值得称赞——不仅如此，它是崇高的。”

Albert looked on and listened with astonishment; —
阿尔伯特惊讶地看着，倾听着； —

he was not used to see Monte Cristo give vent to such bursts of enthusiasm.
他不习惯看到蒙地克里斯托如此热情洋溢。

“Alas,” continued the stranger, doubtless to dispel the slight cloud that covered Morcerf’s brow, “we do not act thus in Italy; —
“唉，”陌生人继续说道，无疑是为了驱散莫尔塞夫额头的轻微阴影，“我们在意大利不这样行事； —

we grow according to our race and our species, and we pursue the same lines, and often the same uselessness, all our lives.”
我们按照我们的种族和物种成长，并追随着相同的道路，经常是相同的无用之事，一生都如此。”

“But, monsieur,” said the Count of Morcerf, “for a man of your merit, Italy is not a country, and France opens her arms to receive you; —
“但是，先生，”莫尔塞夫伯爵说，“对于您这样有才华的人来说，意大利不是一个国家，而法国张开双臂欢迎您； —

respond to her call. France will not, perhaps, be always ungrateful. —
回应她的召唤。法国或许不会永远心怀感激。 —

She treats her children ill, but she always welcomes strangers.”
她对待自己的子民不好，但总是热情接纳陌生人。”

“Ah, father,” said Albert with a smile, “it is evident you do not know the Count of Monte Cristo; —
“啊，父亲，”阿尔贝特微笑道，“显然您不了解蒙地克里斯托伯爵； —

he despises all honors, and contents himself with those written on his passport.”
他蔑视一切荣誉，满足于护照上的那些。”

“That is the most just remark,” replied the stranger, “I ever heard made concerning myself.”
“这是我听过的关于我自己的最公正的评论，”陌生人答道。

“You have been free to choose your career,” observed the Count of Morcerf, with a sigh; —
“你可以自由选择你的职业，”莫切夫伯爵叹息道； —

“and you have chosen the path strewed with flowers.”
“而你选择了铺满鲜花的道路。”

“Precisely, monsieur,” replied Monte Cristo with one of those smiles that a painter could never represent or a physiologist analyze.
“确切地说，先生，”蒙特克里斯多用那种画家不能表达、生理学家不能分析的微笑回答道。

“If I did not fear to fatigue you,” said the general, evidently charmed with the count’s manners, “I would have taken you to the Chamber; —
“如果不怕累着你，”将军说，显然被伯爵的举止所迷住，“我本来会带你去议会的； —

there is a debate very curious to those who are strangers to our modern senators.”
对于不了解我们现代参议员的人来说，这场辩论非常有趣。”

“I shall be most grateful, monsieur, if you will, at some future time, renew your offer, but I have been flattered with the hope of being introduced to the countess, and I will therefore wait.”
“先生，如果您将来方便的话，我会非常感激您再次提出这个建议，但是我曾得到过去见伯爵夫人的希望，所以我会等待。”

“Ah, here is my mother,” cried the viscount.
“啊，这是我母亲，”子爵喊道。

Monte Cristo, turned round hastily, and saw Madame de Morcerf at the entrance of the salon, at the door opposite to that by which her husband had entered, pale and motionless; —
蒙特克里斯多急忙转身，看到莫切夫夫人从沙龙入口处进来，从与她丈夫进入的门相对的门口，脸色苍白、一动不动。 —

when Monte Cristo turned round, she let fall her arm, which for some unknown reason had been resting on the gilded door-post. —
当蒙特克里斯托转身时，她放下了不知怎么的在镀金的门柱上靠着的手臂。 —

She had been there some moments, and had heard the last words of the visitor. —
她在那里待了一些时间，听到了来访者的最后一句话。 —

The latter rose and bowed to the countess, who inclined herself without speaking.
后者起身向伯爵夫人行了一礼，伯爵夫人微微点头示意。

“Ah! good heavens, madame,” said the count, “are you ill, or is it the heat of the room that affects you?”
“啊！天哪，夫人，”伯爵说道，“您生病了吗，还是屋子里的热气使您感到不适？”

“Are you ill, mother?” cried the viscount, springing towards her.
“您生病了吗，母亲？”子爵扑向她。

She thanked them both with a smile.
她微笑着感谢了他们俩。

“No,” returned she, “but I feel some emotion on seeing, for the first time, the man without whose intervention we should have been in tears and desolation. —
“不，”她回答道，“但是我第一次见到您，心情有些激动。如果没有您的帮助，我们将会哭泣和绝望。” —

Monsieur,” continued the countess, advancing with the majesty of a queen, “I owe to you the life of my son, and for this I bless you. —
大人，”伯爵夫人以女王的威严走上前来，“我亏欠您给我儿子的生命，为此我祝福您。现在，我要感谢您让我有机会向您表达我从心底祝福和感谢您的快乐。” —

Now, I thank you for the pleasure you give me in thus affording me the opportunity of thanking you as I have blessed you, from the bottom of my heart.”
现在，我要感谢您让我有机会向您表达我从心底感谢和祝福您的快乐。

The count bowed again, but lower than before; he was even paler than Mercédès.
伯爵再次鞠躬，但比之前更低；他甚至比梅赛德斯还要苍白。

“Madame,” said he, “the count and yourself recompense too generously a simple action. —
“夫人，”他说，“伯爵和您过于慷慨地回报了一次简单的行动。 —

To save a man, to spare a father’s feelings, or a mother’s sensibility, is not to do a good action, but a simple deed of humanity.”
拯救一个人，顾及一个父亲的感受或者一个母亲的敏感，并不是做出善行，而只是人道主义的简单行为。”

At these words, uttered with the most exquisite sweetness and politeness, Madame de Morcerf replied:
在说出这些极为温柔和有礼的话语时，莫尔塞夫夫人回答道：

“It is very fortunate for my son, monsieur, that he found such a friend, and I thank God that things are thus.”
“对于我的儿子来说，非常幸运地找到了这样一个朋友，我感谢上帝事情会这样。”

And Mercédès raised her fine eyes to heaven with so fervent an expression of gratitude, that the count fancied he saw tears in them. —
梅赛德斯抬起她美丽的眼睛向天空祈祷，表达了如此强烈的感激之情，以至于伯爵觉得她的眼中有泪水。 —

M. de Morcerf approached her.
莫尔塞夫先生走近她。

“Madame,” said he. “I have already made my excuses to the count for quitting him, and I pray you to do so also. —
“夫人，”他说。 “我已向伯爵道过歉，离开了他，请你也这样做。 —

The sitting commences at two; it is now three, and I am to speak.”
会议从两点开始，现在已经三点了，轮到我发言了。”

“Go, then, and monsieur and I will strive our best to forget your absence, ” replied the countess, with the same tone of deep feeling. —
“那么，去吧，我们将尽力忘记您的离去，”伯爵夫人以同样深情的语调回答道。 —

“Monsieur,” continued she, turning to Monte Cristo, “will you do us the honor of passing the rest of the day with us?”
“先生，”她接着对蒙蒂·克里斯托说，“您是否愿意给我们荣幸地度过今天的其他时间呢？”

“Believe me, madame, I feel most grateful for your kindness, but I got out of my travelling carriage at your door this morning, and I am ignorant how I am installed in Paris, which I scarcely know; —
“相信我，夫人，我非常感激您的好意，但我今早下了旅行车就来到了您的门前，我对自己在巴黎的安排一无所知； —

this is but a trifling inquietude, I know, but one that may be appreciated.”
这只是一个微不足道的不安，我知道这可能没有人能体会得到。”

“We shall have the pleasure another time,” said the countess; “you promise that?”
“我们下次再会吧，”伯爵夫人说道，“您答应了吗？”

Monte Cristo inclined himself without answering, but the gesture might pass for assent.
蒙蒂·克里斯托点了点头，没有回答，但这个手势可以当作同意。

“I will not detain you, monsieur,” continued the countess; —
“我不会挽留您，先生，”伯爵夫人继续说道； —

“I would not have our gratitude become indiscreet or importunate.”
“我们不希望我们的感激成为过分或冒昧。”

“My dear Count,” said Albert, “I will endeavor to return your politeness at Rome, and place my coupé at your disposal until your own be ready.”
“亲爱的伯爵，”阿尔贝说道，“在罗马，我将尽力回报您的礼貌，将我的轿车供您使用，直到您的车准备好为止。”

“A thousand thanks for your kindness, viscount, ” returned the Count of Monte Cristo “but I suppose that M. Bertuccio has suitably employed the four hours and a half I have given him, and that I shall find a carriage of some sort ready at the door.”
“万分感谢您的好意，子爵，”蒙特克里斯托伯爵回答道，“但我想伯图乔先生已经恰当地利用了我给他的四个半小时，我想我会在门口找到一辆车准备好。”

Albert was used to the count’s manner of proceeding; —
阿尔贝习惯了伯爵的做事方式; —

he knew that, like Nero, he was in search of the impossible, and nothing astonished him, but wishing to judge with his own eyes how far the count’s orders had been executed, he accompanied him to the door of the house. —
他知道，正如尼禄一样，他正在寻找不可能的事情，没有什么能使他惊讶，但他想亲眼判断伯爵的命令是否得到执行，他陪伴他走到了房子的门口。 —

Monte Cristo was not deceived. As soon as he appeared in the Count of Morcerf’s antechamber, a footman, the same who at Rome had brought the count’s card to the two young men, and announced his visit, sprang into the vestibule, and when he arrived at the door the illustrious traveller found his carriage awaiting him. —
蒙特克里斯托并没有受骗。刚一进入莫塞夫伯爵的门厅，一个跑腿的仆人便冲了进来，他就是之前在罗马给两个年轻人带来伯爵名片并宣布他到访的那个人。他到达门口时，这位著名旅行家发现他的马车已经在等候了。 —

It was a coupé of Koller’s building, and with horses and harness for which Drake had, to the knowledge of all the lions of Paris, refused on the previous day seven hundred guineas.
这是科勒公司制造的一辆双门轿车，上面配备的马匹和马具，根据巴黎各界名流们的共识，在前一天德雷克曾拒绝了七百英镑的报价。

“Monsieur,” said the count to Albert, “I do not ask you to accompany me to my house, as I can only show you a habitation fitted up in a hurry, and I have, as you know, a reputation to keep up as regards not being taken by surprise. —
“先生，”伯爵对阿尔贝说道，“我不请求你陪我去我家，因为我只能给你看一个仓促布置的住所，而且如你所知，我在保持着一个不会被出其不意的口碑。 —

Give me, therefore, one more day before I invite you; —
所以在我邀请你之前，请再给我一天时间； —

I shall then be certain not to fail in my hospitality.”
这样我就能确保不会辜负我的款待。”

“If you ask me for a day, count, I know what to anticipate; —
“如果你要求我再等一天，伯爵，我知道会发生什么； —

it will not be a house I shall see, but a palace. —
我会看到的不再是一个房子，而是一个宫殿。” —

You have decidedly some genius at your control.”
“你确实掌握了一些天才。”

“Ma foi, spread that idea,” replied the Count of Monte Cristo, putting his foot on the velvet-lined steps of his splendid carriage, “and that will be worth something to me among the ladies.”
“天哪，传播这个想法吧。”蒙特克里斯托伯爵说道，他的豪华马车上铺着天鹅绒，他的脚踩在上面，“这对我在女士们中间将会很有价值。”

As he spoke, he sprang into the vehicle, the door was closed, but not so rapidly that Monte Cristo failed to perceive the almost imperceptible movement which stirred the curtains of the apartment in which he had left Madame de Morcerf.
他说着一跃进入车辆中，车门被关闭，但蒙特克里斯托还是能察觉到他已经离开的那个房间的窗帘上几乎不可察觉的动作。

When Albert returned to his mother, he found her in the boudoir reclining in a large velvet armchair, the whole room so obscure that only the shining spangle, fastened here and there to the drapery, and the angles of the gilded frames of the pictures, showed with some degree of brightness in the gloom. —
当阿尔贝返回给他的母亲时，他发现她正躺在一个大的天鹅绒扶手椅上，整个房间昏暗得只有帷幕上散布的闪光亮片和挂画上金色框架的角落在黑暗中稍微亮起。 —

Albert could not see the face of the countess, as it was covered with a thin veil she had put on her head, and which fell over her features in misty folds, but it seemed to him as though her voice had altered. —
艾伯特看不见女伯爵的脸，因为她的头上蒙着一层薄纱，雾蒙蒙地遮住了她的面容，但他觉得她的声音好像变了。 —

He could distinguish amid the perfumes of the roses and heliotropes in the flower-stands, the sharp and fragrant odor of volatile salts, and he noticed in one of the chased cups on the mantle-piece the countess’s smelling-bottle, taken from its shagreen case, and exclaimed in a tone of uneasiness, as he entered:
他可以辨别出花架上玫瑰和天竺葵的香气中，一种刺鼻芳香的气味，并注意到壁炉台上的一个雕花杯子里，女伯爵的触鼻瓶，从鳄鱼皮盒中取出，他进入时不安地喊道：

“My dear mother, have you been ill during my absence?”
“我亲爱的母亲，在我离开期间你生病了吗？”

“No, no, Albert, but you know these roses, tuberoses, and orange-flowers throw out at first, before one is used to them, such violent perfumes.”
“不，不，艾伯特，但你知道这些玫瑰、晚香玉和橙花刚开始时，给人们带来了那么强烈的香味。”

“Then, my dear mother,” said Albert, putting his hand to the bell, “they must be taken into the antechamber. —
“那么，我亲爱的母亲，”艾伯特说着，将手放在钟上，“它们必须移到前厅。” —

You are really ill, and just now were so pale as you came into the room——”
“你真的病了，刚才你进房间时那么苍白——”

“Was I pale, Albert?”
“我苍白了吗，艾伯特？”

“Yes; a pallor that suits you admirably, mother, but which did not the less alarm my father and myself.”
“是的，母亲，这个苍白非常适合你，但还是让我和父亲感到不安。”

“Did your father speak of it?” inquired Mercédès eagerly.
“你父亲提到过吗？”梅赛德斯急切地问道。

“No, madame; but do you not remember that he spoke of the fact to you?”
“不，夫人，但您难道不记得他向您提到过这个事实吗？”

“Yes, I do remember,” replied the countess.
“是的，我记得，”伯爵夫人回答道。

A servant entered, summoned by Albert’s ring of the bell.
一名仆人进来，应阿尔贝的铃声而来。

“Take these flowers into the anteroom or dressing-room,” said the viscount; —
“把这些花放到前厅或化妆室去，”子爵说道； —

“they make the countess ill.”
“它们会让伯爵夫人不舒服。”

The footman obeyed his orders. A long pause ensued, which lasted until all the flowers were removed.
仆人按照他的命令行事。接下来是一个漫长的暂停，一直持续到所有的花都被清走。

“What is this name of Monte Cristo?” inquired the countess, when the servant had taken away the last vase of flowers, “is it a family name, or the name of the estate, or a simple title?”
“蒙特克里斯托这个名字是什么意思？”伯爵夫人问道，当仆人拿走最后一束花时，“是一个家族名字吗？还是房地产的名字？还是一个简单的头衔？”

“I believe, mother, it is merely a title. —
“我相信，母亲，它只是一个头衔。 —

The count purchased an island in the Tuscan archipelago, and, as he told you today, has founded a commandery. —
伯爵在托斯卡尼群岛购买了一座岛屿，正如他今天告诉您的那样，他成立了一个骑士团。” —

You know the same thing was done for Saint Stephen of Florence, Saint George Constantinian of Parma, and even for the Order of Malta. Except this, he has no pretension to nobility, and calls himself a chance count, although the general opinion at Rome is that the count is a man of very high distinction.”
你知道同样的事情也发生在佛罗伦萨的圣斯蒂芬、帕尔马的圣乔治康斯坦廷尼和骑士圣约翰派驻罗马的马尔他人身上。除此之外，他没有自命不凡的士族地位，自称是个偶然成为伯爵的人，尽管罗马的普遍意见是伯爵是个非常高贵的人。

“His manners are admirable,” said the countess, “at least, as far as I could judge in the few minutes he remained here.”
“他的举止非常令人赞赏，”伯爵夫人说，“至少，在他在这里逗留的短短几分钟内，我这么觉得。”

“They are perfect mother, so perfect, that they surpass by far all I have known in the leading aristocracy of the three proudest nobilities of Europe—the English, the Spanish, and the German.”
“他们是完美的，母亲，如此完美，甚至比我所见过的英国、西班牙和德国这三个最自豪的贵族中的领袖们还要出色。”

The countess paused a moment; then, after a slight hesitation, she resumed.
伯爵夫人停顿了片刻，然后，在稍稍犹豫后，又继续说道。

“You have seen, my dear Albert—I ask the question as a mother—you have seen M. de Monte Cristo in his house, you are quicksighted, have much knowledge of the world, more tact than is usual at your age, do you think the count is really what he appears to be?”
“亲爱的艾伯特，你在他的府邸里见过蒙特克里斯托先生，你的眼力很好，在世事上有着丰富的知识，在你这个年纪来说更有手腕，你认为这位伯爵真的如他所表现出来的那样吗？”

“What does he appear to be?”
“他似乎是什么样子？”

“Why, you have just said,—a man of high distinction.”
“喂，你刚刚说过，是位非常有地位的人。”

“I told you, my dear mother, he was esteemed such.”
“亲爱的妈妈，我告诉过你，他是被人们认为非常有地位的人。”

“But what is your own opinion, Albert?”
“但是，阿尔贝，你自己怎么看？”

“I must tell you that I have not come to any decided opinion respecting him, but I think him a Maltese.”
“我必须告诉你，我对他还没有形成确定的看法，但我认为他是个马耳他人。”

“I do not ask you of his origin but what he is.”
“我不是在询问他的出身，而是问他是什么样子的人。”

“Ah! what he is; that is quite another thing. —
“啊！他是什么样子；那是完全不同的事情。” —

I have seen so many remarkable things in him, that if you would have me really say what I think, I shall reply that I really do look upon him as one of Byron’s heroes, whom misery has marked with a fatal brand; —
“我在他身上看到了太多引人注目的特点，以至于如果你想听我真正的看法，我会回答说，我真的认为他是拜伦笔下的英雄之一，厄运给他刻上了致命的印记； —

some Manfred, some Lara, some Werner, one of those wrecks, as it were, of some ancient family, who, disinherited of their patrimony, have achieved one by the force of their adventurous genius, which has placed them above the laws of society.”
有些是曼弗雷德，有些是拉拉，有些是维尔纳，他们就像是一些古老家族的残骸，被剥夺了祖产，却靠着冒险的天赋取得了一番成就，让他们超越了社会法律。”

“You say——”
“你是说——”

“I say that Monte Cristo is an island in the midst of the Mediterranean, without inhabitants or garrison, the resort of smugglers of all nations, and pirates of every flag. —
“我说，蒙特克里斯托岛位于地中海中央，没有居民或驻军，是各国走私者和海盗的聚集地。” —

Who knows whether or not these industrious worthies do not pay to their feudal lord some dues for his protection?”
“谁知道这些勤劳的家伙是否向他们的封建领主支付一些保护费呢？”

“That is possible,” said the countess, reflecting.
“这有可能，”伯爵夫人反思着说。

“Never mind,” continued the young man, “smuggler or not, you must agree, mother dear, as you have seen him, that the Count of Monte Cristo is a remarkable man, who will have the greatest success in the salons of Paris. Why, this very morning, in my rooms, he made his entrée amongst us by striking every man of us with amazement, not even excepting Château-Renaud.”
“别介意，”年轻人继续说道，“不管是走私者还是其他身份，母亲亲爱的，你见过他，你应该同意，蒙特克里斯托伯爵是一个非凡的人，他在巴黎的沙龙中将获得巨大成功。今天早上，在我的房间里，他让我们每个人都惊讶不已地进入了我们的视线，连沙图·雷诺也不例外。”

“And what do you suppose is the count’s age? —
“你猜估计蒙特克里斯托伯爵多大年纪？”梅尔塞德问道，显然对这个问题非常重视。 —

” inquired Mercédès, evidently attaching great importance to this question.
“三十五或三十六岁，母亲。”

“Thirty-five or thirty-six, mother.”
“他的确是个 Remarkable Man。”

“So young,—it is impossible,” said Mercédès, replying at the same time to what Albert said as well as to her own private reflection.
“太年轻了，不可能。”梅赛德斯说道，同时回应了阿尔贝说的话和她自己的私人思考。

“It is the truth, however. Three or four times he has said to me, and certainly without the slightest premeditation, ‘at such a period I was five years old, at another ten years old, at another twelve,’ and I, induced by curiosity, which kept me alive to these details, have compared the dates, and never found him inaccurate. —
“然而，这是事实。他已经三四次地对我说过，而且肯定是毫无预谋地说的，‘在那个时候，我五岁了，另一个时候，我十岁了，再一个时候，我十二岁了，’我受到了好奇心的驱使，对这些细节保持了关注，并且比对了日期，从来没有发现他错误。 —

The age of this singular man, who is of no age, is then, I am certain, thirty-five. —
这个异常之人的年龄，他没有年龄，我确定是三十五。 —

Besides, mother, remark how vivid his eye, how raven-black his hair, and his brow, though so pale, is free from wrinkles,—he is not only vigorous, but also young.”
此外，母亲，请注意他眼睛的锐利、头发的漆黑以及虽然苍白但没有皱纹的额头，他不仅精力旺盛，而且年轻。”

The countess bent her head, as if beneath a heavy wave of bitter thoughts.
伯爵夫人低下头，仿佛被一股沉重的苦思波浪压迫。

“And has this man displayed a friendship for you, Albert?” she asked with a nervous shudder.
“这个人对你展示过友谊吗，阿尔贝？”她颤抖着问道。

“I am inclined to think so.”
“我倾向于这样认为。”

“And—do—you—like—him?”
“你—喜欢—他—吗？”

“Why, he pleases me in spite of Franz d’Épinay, who tries to convince me that he is a being returned from the other world.”
“为什么呢，尽管弗朗茨·德埃皮奈试图让我相信他是一个从另一个世界回来的存在，但他还是让我感到喜欢。”

The countess shuddered.
女伯爵颤抖了一下。

“Albert,” she said, in a voice which was altered by emotion, “I have always put you on your guard against new acquaintances. —
“艾伯特，”她的声音因为情绪而改变，“我一直警告你要谨慎结交新朋友。 —

Now you are a man, and are able to give me advice; —
现在你是个成年人了，能给我出主意了； —

yet I repeat to you, Albert, be prudent.”
可是我要再次提醒你，艾伯特，要谨慎。”

“Why, my dear mother, it is necessary, in order to make your advice turn to account, that I should know beforehand what I have to distrust. —
“为什么，我亲爱的母亲，为了使你的忠告取得效果，我应该事先知道我需要警惕什么。 —

The count never plays, he only drinks pure water tinged with a little sherry, and is so rich that he cannot, without intending to laugh at me, try to borrow money. —
伯爵从不玩牌，只喝一点点加了点雪利酒的纯净水，他很富有，不会无缘无故向我借钱，他根本不会耍我。 —

What, then, have I to fear from him?”
那么，我有什么好怕的呢？”

“You are right,” said the countess, “and my fears are weakness, especially when directed against a man who has saved your life. —
“你是对的，”女伯爵说，“我的担忧是软弱的，尤其是对一个曾经救过你一命的人。 —

How did your father receive him, Albert? —
你父亲是如何对待他的，艾伯特？ —

It is necessary that we should be more than complaisant to the count. —
我们对伯爵必须比客气还客气。” —

M. de Morcerf is sometimes occupied, his business makes him reflective, and he might, without intending it——”
蒙切夫先生有时候忙碌，他的事务使他反思，他可能会不经意地——”

“Nothing could be in better taste than my father’s demeanor, madame,” said Albert; —
“没什么比我父亲的风度更有品味了，夫人，”阿尔贝说道； —

“nay, more, he seemed greatly flattered at two or three compliments which the count very skilfully and agreeably paid him with as much ease as if he had known him these thirty years. —
“而且，他似乎对蒙特克里斯托十分受宠若惊，蒙特克里斯托很巧妙地、很愉快地称赞了几句，就像他认识我父亲已经三十年一样轻松自如。 —

Each of these little tickling arrows must have pleased my father,” added Albert with a laugh. —
这些温言细语一定让我父亲很高兴，”阿尔贝笑着补充道。 —

“And thus they parted the best possible friends, and M. de Morcerf even wished to take him to the Chamber to hear the speakers.”
“于是他们以最好的朋友的关系分别，蒙切夫先生甚至希望带他去议会听演讲。

The countess made no reply. She fell into so deep a reverie that her eyes gradually closed. —
伯爵夫人没有回应。她陷入了深深的沉思中，眼睛渐渐闭上了。 —

The young man, standing up before her, gazed upon her with that filial affection which is so tender and endearing with children whose mothers are still young and handsome. —
站在她面前的年轻人以那种孩子对待年轻貌美的母亲般的孝爱凝视着她。 —

Then, after seeing her eyes closed, and hearing her breathe gently, he believed she had dropped asleep, and left the apartment on tiptoe, closing the door after him with the utmost precaution.
接着，他看到她闭上眼睛，听到她轻轻地呼吸，他相信她已经入睡了，他踮起脚尖离开了公寓，非常小心地关上了门。

“This devil of a fellow,” he muttered, shaking his head; —
“这个该死的家伙”，他嘟囔着，摇了摇头； —

“I said at the time he would create a sensation here, and I measure his effect by an infallible thermometer. —
“我当时就说他会在这里引起轰动，我用一种绝对准确的方法来衡量他的影响力。 —

My mother has noticed him, and he must therefore, perforce, be remarkable.”
我妈妈也注意到了他，所以他必然是非常出色的。”

He went down to the stables, not without some slight annoyance, when he remembered that the Count of Monte Cristo had laid his hands on a “turnout” which sent his bays down to second place in the opinion of connoisseurs.
他下到马厩，想起蒙特克里斯托伯爵夺走了他的马车，这让他有些不爽，这也让他的赛马在专家们心目中名次下滑到第二。

“Most decidedly,” said he, “men are not equal, and I must beg my father to develop this theorem in the Chamber of Peers.”
“毫无疑问，”他说，“人们是不平等的，我必须请父亲在上议院论证这个定理。”