A gloomy scene had indeed just passed at the house of M. de Villefort. —
的确，在维勒福先生的家里刚刚发生了一场阴沉的场景。 —

After the ladies had departed for the ball, whither all the entreaties of Madame de Villefort had failed in persuading him to accompany them, the procureur had shut himself up in his study, according to his custom, with a heap of papers calculated to alarm anyone else, but which generally scarcely satisfied his inordinate desires.
在女士们离开去参加舞会后，维勒福先生对夫人的一再请求未能说服他陪同她们，他照例关上了书房的门，摆上了一堆文件，这对其他人来说可能会感到不安，但通常也难以满足他无度的欲望。

But this time the papers were a mere matter of form. —
但这一次，这些文件纯粹是形式问题。 —

Villefort had secluded himself, not to study, but to reflect; —
维勒福并不是隐居在此进行学习，而是进行思考。 —

and with the door locked and orders given that he should not be disturbed excepting for important business, he sat down in his armchair and began to ponder over the events, the remembrance of which had during the last eight days filled his mind with so many gloomy thoughts and bitter recollections.
他锁上了门，并下令除非有重要的事情，否则不得打扰他。他坐在扶手椅上开始思索过去八天中那些充斥着许多忧郁思绪和痛苦回忆的事件。

Then, instead of plunging into the mass of documents piled before him, he opened the drawer of his desk, touched a spring, and drew out a parcel of cherished memoranda, amongst which he had carefully arranged, in characters only known to himself, the names of all those who, either in his political career, in money matters, at the bar, or in his mysterious love affairs, had become his enemies.
然后，他没有直接扎进堆在他面前的一堆文件，而是打开了他的抽屉，触动了一个弹簧，拿出了一捆珍贵的备忘录，其中他精心安排了那些在他的政治生涯、金钱事务、律师事务，或他神秘的恋爱关系中成为他的敌人的人名，而这些人名只有他自己知晓的文字。

Their number was formidable, now that he had begun to fear, and yet these names, powerful though they were, had often caused him to smile with the same kind of satisfaction experienced by a traveller who from the summit of a mountain beholds at his feet the craggy eminences, the almost impassable paths, and the fearful chasms, through which he has so perilously climbed. —
这些人的数量是庞大的，现在他开始感到恐惧，然而这些人名，虽然实力强大，却常常让他满意地微笑，就像一个旅行者从山顶俯瞰他刚刚艰难攀登过的峭壁、几乎无法通行的路径和可怕的深渊，心中产生的满足感一样。 —

When he had run over all these names in his memory, again read and studied them, commenting meanwhile upon his lists, he shook his head.
当他在记忆中回顾了所有这些人的名字，再次阅读和研究它们时，他摇了摇头。

“No,” he murmured, “none of my enemies would have waited so patiently and laboriously for so long a space of time, that they might now come and crush me with this secret. —
“不，”他低声说道，“没有一个敌人会如此耐心和辛苦地等待这么长时间，然后再用这个秘密来压垮我。 —

Sometimes, as Hamlet says:
有时候，正如哈姆雷特所说：

‘Foul deeds will rise,
“上不正不攘攘，

Though all the earth o’erwhelm them, to men’s eyes;’
即使大地淹没一切，也会在人们眼前浮现。”

but, like a phosphoric light, they rise but to mislead. —
但是，就像一束磷光，它们只是为了误导。 —

The story has been told by the Corsican to some priest, who in his turn has repeated it. —
这个故事是由科西嘉人告诉某个牧师，然后牧师又重复给别人听了。 —

M. de Monte Cristo may have heard it, and to enlighten himself——
蒙特克里斯托先生可能听过这个故事，并为了自己的启迪——

“But why should he wish to enlighten himself upon the subject? —
“但他为什么要对这个问题进行启迪呢？ —

” asked Villefort, after a moment’s reflection, “what interest can this M. de Monte Cristo or M. Zaccone,—son of a shipowner of Malta, discoverer of a mine in Thessaly, now visiting Paris for the first time,—what interest, I say, can he take in discovering a gloomy, mysterious, and useless fact like this? —
”维勒福经过片刻思考后问道，“这位蒙特克里斯托先生或者扎科内先生——马耳他的船主之子，希腊塞萨利的矿山发现者，第一次来到巴黎——他为什么会对发现这样一个阴暗、神秘又无用的事实感兴趣呢？” —

However, among all the incoherent details given to me by the Abbé Busoni and by Lord Wilmore, by that friend and that enemy, one thing appears certain and clear in my opinion—that in no period, in no case, in no circumstance, could there have been any contact between him and me.”
然而，在仁慈的阿贝和威尔莫特勋爵（Abbé Busoni and Lord Wilmore）以及朋友和敌人的那个人给我的一系列混乱细节中，有一件事在我看来是确定且清楚的——在任何时期、任何情况下，他和我之间都不可能有任何联系。

But Villefort uttered words which even he himself did not believe. —
但维尔福尔（Villefort）说出了连他自己都不相信的话。 —

He dreaded not so much the revelation, for he could reply to or deny its truth; —
他不太担心真相的揭露，因为他可以回应或否认其真实性； —

—he cared little for that mene, mene, tekel upharsin, which appeared suddenly in letters of blood upon the wall; —
——他对那些突然出现在墙上的鲜血文字“闷，闷，提可、乌法森”（mene, mene, tekel upharsin）并不在意； —

—but what he was really anxious for was to discover whose hand had traced them. —
——但他真正焦虑的是要找出是谁书写了这些文字。 —

While he was endeavoring to calm his fears, —and instead of dwelling upon the political future that had so often been the subject of his ambitious dreams, was imagining a future limited to the enjoyments of home, in fear of awakening the enemy that had so long slept, —the noise of a carriage sounded in the yard, then he heard the steps of an aged person ascending the stairs, followed by tears and lamentations, such as servants always give vent to when they wish to appear interested in their master’s grief.
当他努力平息内心的恐惧时，（他不再思考过去常常成为雄心勃勃梦想对象的政治未来，而是想象着仅限于家庭快乐的未来，担心唤醒长久沉睡的敌人）院子里传来了车辆的声音，然后他听到一个年老的人上楼的脚步声，随之而来的是佣人们为了显得对主人的悲伤感兴趣而发出的哭泣和哀叹声。

He drew back the bolt of his door, and almost directly an old lady entered, unannounced, carrying her shawl on her arm, and her bonnet in her hand. —
他打开了门上的门闩，几乎立即一位老太太没有事先通报地走了进来，手臂上挂着披肩，手里拿着帽子。 —

The white hair was thrown back from her yellow forehead, and her eyes, already sunken by the furrows of age, now almost disappeared beneath the eyelids swollen with grief.
白发从她黄色的前额上梳理到后面，她的眼睛，已经被年龄的皱纹深深刻下，如今几乎被充满悲伤的肿胀的眼睑完全遮住了。

“Oh, sir,” she said; “oh, sir, what a misfortune! —
“哦，先生，”她说，“哦，先生，真是个不幸！ —

I shall die of it; oh, yes, I shall certainly die of it!”
我会因此而死的，哦，是的，我肯定会因此而死的！”

And then, falling upon the chair nearest the door, she burst into a paroxysm of sobs. —
然后，她跌坐到离门最近的椅子上，泪如泉涌。 —

The servants, standing in the doorway, not daring to approach nearer, were looking at Noirtier’s old servant, who had heard the noise from his master’s room, and run there also, remaining behind the others. —
仆人们站在门口，不敢靠近，他们看着诺尔缇尔的老仆人。老仆人听到主人房间里的声音，就跑了过去，站在其他人的后面。 —

Villefort rose, and ran towards his mother-in-law, for it was she.
维勒福站起身，跑向他的岳母，因为是她。

“Why, what can have happened?” he exclaimed, “what has thus disturbed you? —
“噢，发生了什么事？”他惊叫道，“是什么这么吓到你了？ —

Is M. de Saint-Méran with you?”
“圣梅欧先生和你在一起吗？”

“M. de Saint-Méran is dead,” answered the old marchioness, without preface and without expression; —
“圣梅欧先生已经去世了。”老侯爵夫人毫不拐弯抹角地回答道，表情平淡； —

she appeared to be stupefied. Villefort drew back, and clasping his hands together, exclaimed:
她似乎呆住了。维勒福退后一步，双手合十，惊呼道：

“Dead!—so suddenly?”
“去世了！这么突然？”

“A week ago,” continued Madame de Saint-Méran, “we went out together in the carriage after dinner. —
“一周前，”圣梅欧夫人继续说道，“我们吃完晚饭后一起出去坐马车。 —

M. de Saint-Méran had been unwell for some days; —
圣梅欧先生已经病了几天了； —

still, the idea of seeing our dear Valentine again inspired him with courage, and notwithstanding his illness he would leave. —
然而，再次见到亲爱的瓦伦丁使他重新振作起来，尽管他病了，他仍然决定离开。 —

At six leagues from Marseilles, after having eaten some of the lozenges he is accustomed to take, he fell into such a deep sleep, that it appeared to me unnatural; —
在离马赛六条里的地方，他吃了他平时习惯吃的一些药片后，陷入了如此深的睡眠，以至于我觉得这是不自然的； —

still I hesitated to wake him, although I fancied that his face was flushed, and that the veins of his temples throbbed more violently than usual. —
尽管我觉得他的脸颊发红，太阳穴的血管比平时更剧烈地跳动，我还是犹豫着不想叫醒他。 —

However, as it became dark, and I could no longer see, I fell asleep; —
然而，天一黑，我再也看不见了，就睡着了； —

I was soon aroused by a piercing shriek, as from a person suffering in his dreams, and he suddenly threw his head back violently. —
我很快被一声尖叫惊醒，好像是一个在梦中受苦的人发出的声音，他突然猛地把头扔向后面。 —

I called the valet, I stopped the postilion, I spoke to M. de Saint-Méran, I applied my smelling-salts; —
我叫来仆人，叫停车夫，和圣梅兰先生说话，我拿出我的嗅盐； —

but all was over, and I arrived at Aix by the side of a corpse.”
但一切都结束了，我在一具尸体旁边到达了艾克斯。”

Villefort stood with his mouth half open, quite stupefied.
维尔福站着，半张着嘴，完全愣住了。

“Of course you sent for a doctor?”
“你当然找了个医生？”

“Immediately; but, as I have told you, it was too late.”
“当然，但是，正如我告诉你的，为时已晚。”

“Yes; but then he could tell of what complaint the poor marquis had died.”
“是的，但是接着他就能告诉你究竟是什么抱怨让可怜的侯爵死去了。”

“Oh, yes, sir, he told me; it appears to have been an apoplectic stroke.”
“是的，先生，他告诉过我，看起来是中风了。”

“And what did you do then?”
“然后你做了什么呢？”

“M. de Saint-Méran had always expressed a desire, in case his death happened during his absence from Paris, that his body might be brought to the family vault. —
“圣梅朗先生在他离开巴黎期间一直表达了一个愿望，即他的遗体能够被带到家族墓穴。” —

I had him put into a leaden coffin, and I am preceding him by a few days.”
“我让他装进铅棺，并且在他之前几天先行一步。”

“Oh! my poor mother!” said Villefort, “to have such duties to perform at your age after such a blow!”
“噢！我可怜的母亲！”维尔福悲伤地说道，“你年纪这么大了，竟然还要承担这样的责任！”

“God has supported me through all; and then, my dear marquis, he would certainly have done everything for me that I performed for him. —
“上帝一直支持着我；再说了，我亲爱的侯爵，他肯定会为我做我为他所做的一切。” —

It is true that since I left him, I seem to have lost my senses. I cannot cry; —
“确实自从我离开他之后，我仿佛失去了理智。我无法哭泣； —

at my age they say that we have no more tears, —still I think that when one is in trouble one should have the power of weeping. —
在我这个年纪据说我们已经没有眼泪了，但我认为当一个人遇到麻烦时，应该有哭泣的能力。” —

Where is Valentine, sir? It is on her account I am here; —
“瓦伦蒂娜在哪里，先生？我是为了她才来的； —

I wish to see Valentine.”
我想见到瓦伦蒂娜。”

Villefort thought it would be terrible to reply that Valentine was at a ball; —
维勒福觉得回答瓦伦丁去参加舞会会很糟糕； —

so he only said that she had gone out with her step-mother, and that she should be fetched. —
所以他只说瓦伦丁和她的继母出去了，应该找人把她接回来。 —

“This instant, sir—this instant, I beseech you!” said the old lady. —
“立刻，先生，立刻，我求求您！”老夫人说道。 —

Villefort placed the arm of Madame de Saint-Méran within his own, and conducted her to his apartment.
维勒福把圣梅兰夫人的手搀扶着放在自己胳膊上，把她引到自己的房间里。

“Rest yourself, mother,” he said.
“母亲，请您稍事休息。”他说道。

The marchioness raised her head at this word, and beholding the man who so forcibly reminded her of her deeply-regretted child, who still lived for her in Valentine, she felt touched at the name of mother, and bursting into tears, she fell on her knees before an armchair, where she buried her venerable head. —
听到“母亲”这个词，女侯爵抬起头，看着这个让她如此强烈地想起她深深悔恨的孩子的人，那个依然活在她心中的瓦伦丁，她感到被这个称呼触动，眼泪涌上了她的脸颊，她跪倒在一张扶手椅前，把她庄严的头埋了进去。 —

Villefort left her to the care of the women, while old Barrois ran, half-scared, to his master; —
维勒福把她交给那些妇女照料，而老巴里瓦则吓得半死地跑去找他的主人； —

for nothing frightens old people so much as when death relaxes its vigilance over them for a moment in order to strike some other old person. —
因为没有什么比死神的警戒放松一下来打击其他的老人更让老人们恐惧。 —

Then, while Madame de Saint-Méran remained on her knees, praying fervently, Villefort sent for a cab, and went himself to fetch his wife and daughter from Madame de Morcerf’s. —
然后，当圣梅兰夫人跪在地上恳切祈祷时，维勒福派人去叫了一辆马车，亲自去马尔塞夫夫人那里接他的妻子和女儿。 —

He was so pale when he appeared at the door of the ball-room, that Valentine ran to him, saying:
他站在舞厅门口时脸色苍白，瓦伦丁跑过去对他说：

“Oh, father, some misfortune has happened!”
“爸爸，发生了什么不幸的事！”

“Your grandmamma has just arrived, Valentine,” said M. de Villefort.
“你奶奶刚刚到了，瓦伦丁，”维勒福先生说。

“And grandpapa?” inquired the young girl, trembling with apprehension. —
“爷爷呢？”年轻的女孩颤抖着问。 —

M. de Villefort only replied by offering his arm to his daughter. —
维勒福先生只是伸出手臂，让女儿搀扶。 —

It was just in time, for Valentine’s head swam, and she staggered; —
正好这个时候，瓦伦丁头晕目眩，差点摔倒。 —

Madame de Villefort instantly hastened to her assistance, and aided her husband in dragging her to the carriage, saying:
维勒福夫人立即赶去帮助她，并协助丈夫把她拖上马车，说道：

“What a singular event! Who could have thought it? Ah, yes, it is indeed strange!”
“这是多么奇怪的事情！谁能想到呢？啊，是的，真是奇怪！”

And the wretched family departed, leaving a cloud of sadness hanging over the rest of the evening. —
这个不幸的家庭离开了，给那天晚上投上了一丝悲伤的阴影。 —

At the foot of the stairs, Valentine found Barrois awaiting her.
楼梯下面，瓦伦丁发现巴罗瓦正在等她。

“M. Noirtier wishes to see you tonight, he said, in an undertone.
“M. Noirtier希望今晚见你，”他低声说道。

“Tell him I will come when I leave my dear grandmamma,” she replied, feeling, with true delicacy, that the person to whom she could be of the most service just then was Madame de Saint-Méran.
“告诉他我会在离开我亲爱的外婆后去，”她回答道，真正细致的感觉到，此刻她能为真正需要帮助的人是圣梅朗夫人。

Valentine found her grandmother in bed; silent caresses, heartwrung sobs, broken sighs, burning tears, were all that passed in this sad interview, while Madame de Villefort, leaning on her husband’s arm, maintained all outward forms of respect, at least towards the poor widow. —
瓦伦丁发现奶奶正躺在床上；在这悲伤的会面中，只有无声的亲吻、心碎的呜咽、断断续续的叹息、灼热的泪水交流着，而维尔福夫人依靠着丈夫的手臂，外表上对这位可怜的寡妇保持着一种尊重。 —

She soon whispered to her husband:
她很快悄声对丈夫说道：

“I think it would be better for me to retire, with your permission, for the sight of me appears still to afflict your mother-in-law. —
“如果您同意，我觉得我最好离开，因为在母亲面前看到我似乎仍然让她不安。 —

” Madame de Saint-Méran heard her.
”圣梅朗夫人听到了她的话。

“Yes, yes,” she said softly to Valentine, “let her leave; but do you stay.”
“是的，是的，”她安静地对瓦伦丁说道，“让她离开；但是你留下来。”

Madame de Villefort left, and Valentine remained alone beside the bed, for the procureur, overcome with astonishment at the unexpected death, had followed his wife. —
Villefort夫人离开了，Valentine留在床边独自一人，因为意外的死亡让检察官感到惊讶，他跟着他的妻子离开了。 —

Meanwhile, Barrois had returned for the first time to old Noirtier, who having heard the noise in the house, had, as we have said, sent his old servant to inquire the cause; —
与此同时，Barrois第一次返回老Noirtier那里，他因为听到房子里的噪音，正如我们所说，派他的老仆人去打听原因； —

on his return, his quick intelligent eye interrogated the messenger.
回来后，他聪明敏捷的眼睛询问了这位信使。

“Alas, sir,” exclaimed Barrois, “a great misfortune has happened. —
“哎呀，先生，”Barrois叫道，”发生了一件大不幸的事。 —

Madame de Saint-Méran has arrived, and her husband is dead!”
Saint-Méran夫人已经来了，她的丈夫去世了！”

M. de Saint-Méran and Noirtier had never been on strict terms of friendship; —
M. de Saint-Méran和Noirtier从来没能保持亲密的关系； —

still, the death of one old man always considerably affects another. —
不过，一个老人的死亡总是会对另一个老人产生很大的影响。 —

Noirtier let his head fall upon his chest, apparently overwhelmed and thoughtful; —
Noirtier把头垂了下来，似乎被压倒了和思考的； —

then he closed one eye, in token of inquiry.
然后他闭上一只眼，表示询问。

Barrois asked, “Mademoiselle Valentine?”
Barrois问道：”Valentine小姐呢？”

Noirtier nodded his head.
Noirtier点了点头。

“She is at the ball, as you know, since she came to say good-bye to you in full dress. —
“她正在参加舞会，你知道的，她穿着盛装来向你告别。 —

” Noirtier again closed his left eye.
“诺尔缇再次闭上他的左眼。”

“Do you wish to see her?” Noirtier again made an affirmative sign.
“你想见她吗？”诺尔缇再次做出肯定的表示。

“Well, they have gone to fetch her, no doubt, from Madame de Morcerf’s; —
“嗯，毫无疑问，他们已经去了德·莫尔塞夫夫人那里接她了； —

I will await her return, and beg her to come up here. —
我会等待她回来，并请她上来。 —

Is that what you wish for?”
“这是你想要的吗？”

“Yes,” replied the invalid.
“是的”，病人回答说。

Barrois, therefore, as we have seen, watched for Valentine, and informed her of her grandfather’s wish. —
正如我们所看到的，巴罗瓦尔斯等候瓦伦蒂娜，并告诉她祖父的愿望。 —

Consequently, Valentine came up to Noirtier, on leaving Madame de Saint-Méran, who in the midst of her grief had at last yielded to fatigue and fallen into a feverish sleep. —
因此，瓦伦蒂娜在离开圣梅容夫人的床边时，走到了诺尔缇尔的身边，后者在悲伤中终于放松下来，陷入了热病般的睡眠中。 —

Within reach of her hand they placed a small table upon which stood a bottle of orangeade, her usual beverage, and a glass. —
离她手边近的位置他们放了一个小桌子，上面放着一瓶她平常喝的橙汁和一个玻璃杯。 —

Then, as we have said, the young girl left the bedside to see M. Noirtier.
然后，正如我们所说的，年轻的女孩离开床边去见了诺尔缇尔先生。

Valentine kissed the old man, who looked at her with such tenderness that her eyes again filled with tears, whose sources he thought must be exhausted. —
瓦伦蒂娜亲吻了老人，老人用那么多的温柔看着她，以至于她的眼睛再次充满了泪水，他以为那其中的泉源已经干涸。 —

The old gentleman continued to dwell upon her with the same expression.
老绅士以相同的表情继续盯着她。

“Yes, yes,” said Valentine, “you mean that I have yet a kind grandfather left, do you not. —
“是的，是的，”瓦伦丁说，“你的意思是我还有一个亲切的祖父，是吗？” —

” The old man intimated that such was his meaning. —
老人表示他的意思就是这样。 —

“Ah, yes, happily I have,” replied Valentine. —
“啊，是的，幸好我还有一个祖父，”瓦伦丁回答道。 —

“Without that, what would become of me?”
“没有他，我将会怎样呢？”

It was one o’clock in the morning. Barrois, who wished to go to bed himself, observed that after such sad events everyone stood in need of rest. —
那是凌晨一点钟。巴鲁瓦希望自己上床睡觉，观察到在这样悲痛的事件过后，每个人都需要休息。 —

Noirtier would not say that the only rest he needed was to see his child, but wished her good-night, for grief and fatigue had made her appear quite ill.
诺尔缇耶没有说他唯一需要的休息就是见到他的孩子，但他祝她晚安，因为悲伤和疲劳让她看起来很不舒服。

The next morning she found her grandmother in bed; —
第二天早上，她发现奶奶躺在床上； —

the fever had not abated, on the contrary her eyes glistened and she appeared to be suffering from violent nervous irritability.
发热并没有减轻，相反，她的眼睛闪闪发亮，似乎正在遭受剧烈的神经过敏。

“Oh, dear grandmamma, are you worse?” exclaimed Valentine, perceiving all these signs of agitation.
“哦，亲爱的奶奶，你病得更严重了吗？”瓦伦丁看到所有这些焦虑的迹象，惊呼道。

“No, my child, no,” said Madame de Saint-Méran; —
“不，孩子，不，”圣梅朗夫人说。 —

“but I was impatiently waiting for your arrival, that I might send for your father.”
“不过，我正在不耐烦地等着你的到来，所以我可以给你父亲发送消息。”

“My father?” inquired Valentine, uneasily.
“我父亲？”瓦伦丁不安地问道。

“Yes, I wish to speak to him.”
“是的，我想和他谈谈。”

Valentine durst not oppose her grandmother’s wish, the cause of which she did not know, and an instant afterwards Villefort entered.
瓦伦丁不敢反对奶奶的愿望，因为她不知道愿望的原因，然后维尔福进来了。

“Sir,” said Madame de Saint-Méran, without using any circumlocution, and as if fearing she had no time to lose, “you wrote to me concerning the marriage of this child?”
“先生，”圣美兰夫人直截了当地说道，好像她担心时间不够用一样，“你写信告诉我关于这个孩子的婚事吗？”

“Yes, madame,” replied Villefort, “it is not only projected but arranged.”
“是的，夫人，不仅计划好了，而且安排好了。”

“Your intended son-in-law is named M. Franz d’Épinay?”
“你未来的女婿叫做弗朗茨·德埃皮奈先生？”

“Yes, madame.”
“是的，夫人。”

“Is he not the son of General d’Épinay who was on our side, and who was assassinated some days before the usurper returned from the Island of Elba?”
“他不是那位站在我们这一边，被篡位者从埃尔巴岛回来前几天暗杀的德埃皮奈将军的儿子吗？”

“The same.”
“没错。”

“Does he not dislike the idea of marrying the granddaughter of a Jacobin?”
“他不讨厌娶一个雅各宾的孙女的想法吗？”

“Our civil dissensions are now happily extinguished, mother,” said Villefort; —
“我们的内战现在已经幸运地平息了，母亲，”维尔福说道。 —

“M. d’Épinay was quite a child when his father died, he knows very little of M. Noirtier, and will meet him, if not with pleasure, at least with indifference.”
“M. d’Épinay在他父亲去世时还很小，对M. Noirtier了解甚少，如果不是带着喜悦的话，至少会满怀冷漠地见面。”

“Is it a suitable match?”
“这是一个合适的匹配吗？”

“In every respect.”
“在各个方面都合适。”

“And the young man?”
“那个年轻人呢？”

“Is regarded with universal esteem.”
“被所有人一致认可。”

“You approve of him?”
“你支持他吗？”

“He is one of the most well-bred young men I know.”
“他是我认识的最有教养的年轻人之一。”

During the whole of this conversation Valentine had remained silent.
整个对话中，瓦伦泰娜一直保持沉默。

“Well, sir,” said Madame de Saint-Méran, after a few minutes’ reflection, “I must hasten the marriage, for I have but a short time to live.”
“嗯，先生，”圣梅兰夫人思考了几分钟后说道，“我必须加快婚礼的进程，因为我的寿命不多了。”

“You, madame?” “You, dear mamma?” exclaimed M. de Villefort and Valentine at the same time.
“您，夫人？” “您，亲爱的妈妈？”维尔福特先生和瓦伦泰娜同时叫道。

“I know what I am saying,” continued the marchioness; —
“我知道我在说什么，”玛基奥内斯继续说道； —

“I must hurry you, so that, as she has no mother, she may at least have a grandmother to bless her marriage. —
“我必须催促您，这样她虽然没有妈妈，至少也能有一个祖母为她的婚姻祝福。 —

I am all that is left to her belonging to my poor Renée, whom you have so soon forgotten, sir.”
在我所剩下的一切中，我代表着可怜的蕾娜，您却这么快就把她忘了，先生。”

“Ah, madame,” said Villefort, “you forget that I was obliged to give a mother to my child.”
“啊，夫人，”维尔福特说道，“您忘记了我不得不给我的孩子找一个母亲。”

“A stepmother is never a mother, sir. But this is not to the purpose, —our business concerns Valentine, let us leave the dead in peace.”
“继母永远不会是亲生母亲，先生。但是这与我们的事情无关，我们的事情关系到瓦伦泰娜，让我们把死者安息吧。”

All this was said with such exceeding rapidity, that there was something in the conversation that seemed like the beginning of delirium.
整个对话进行得如此迅速，以至于其中的某些部分似乎像是精神错乱的开始。

“It shall be as you wish, madame,” said Villefort; —
“既然是您的心愿，夫人，我会遵从的，”维勒福说。 —

“more especially since your wishes coincide with mine, and as soon as M. d’Épinay arrives in Paris——”
“特别是因为您的心愿与我的一致，并且只要埃派纳伊先生到巴黎来——”

“My dear grandmother,” interrupted Valentine, “consider decorum—the recent death. —
“亲爱的奶奶，”瓦伦丁打断道，“要注意礼仪——最近的丧事。 —

You would not have me marry under such sad auspices?”
你难道希望我在这样悲伤的环境下结婚吗？”

“My child,” exclaimed the old lady sharply, “let us hear none of the conventional objections that deter weak minds from preparing for the future. —
“孩子，”老太太尖锐地说道，“不要再提那些庸俗的借口，让软弱的人们远离未来的准备。 —

I also was married at the death-bed of my mother, and certainly I have not been less happy on that account.”
我也是在母亲临终时结婚的，我当然并没有因此而不快乐。”

“Still that idea of death, madame,” said Villefort.
“还是死亡的念头，夫人，”维勒福说。

“Still?—Always! I tell you I am going to die—do you understand? —
“还是吗？——一直都是！我告诉你我要死了——你明白吗？ —

Well, before dying, I wish to see my son-in-law. I wish to tell him to make my child happy; —
好吧，在临死之前，我想见见我女婿。我想告诉他让我的孩子幸福； —

I wish to read in his eyes whether he intends to obey me;—in fact, I will know him—I will! —
我想从他的眼睛里读出他是否打算听从我的话——事实上，我要了解他——我要！” —

” continued the old lady, with a fearful expression, “that I may rise from the depths of my grave to find him, if he should not fulfil his duty!”
“继续讲下去，老妇人带着可怕的表情说道，如果他不履行他的职责，我可能会从坟墓的深处升起来找到他！”

“Madame,” said Villefort, “you must lay aside these exalted ideas, which almost assume the appearance of madness. —
“夫人，”维尔福说道，“您必须放下这些过高的想法，几乎看起来像疯狂。” —

The dead, once buried in their graves, rise no more.”
“死者一旦安葬在坟墓中，再也不会复活。”

“And I tell you, sir, that you are mistaken. This night I have had a fearful sleep. —
“而我告诉你，先生，你错了。今晚我做了一个可怕的梦。” —

It seemed as though my soul were already hovering over my body, my eyes, which I tried to open, closed against my will, and what will appear impossible above all to you, sir, I saw, with my eyes shut, in the spot where you are now standing, issuing from that corner where there is a door leading into Madame Villefort’s dressing-room—I saw, I tell you, silently enter, a white figure.”
“我似乎已经看到我的灵魂正在飞舞在身体上方，我试图睁开的眼睛逆着我的意愿闭上了。最让您觉得不可思议的是，我闭着眼睛在您现在站立的地方看到了一个白色的身影从那个角落悄无声息地走进来，那里有一扇通往维尔福夫人化妆室的门。”

Valentine screamed.
瓦伦泰尖声尖叫。

“It was the fever that disturbed you, madame,” said Villefort.
“这是发烧让您感到不安，夫人，”维尔福说道。

“Doubt, if you please, but I am sure of what I say. —
“请随您的意愿怀疑，但我对我所说的坚信不疑。” —

I saw a white figure, and as if to prevent my discrediting the testimony of only one of my senses, I heard my glass removed—the same which is there now on the table.”
我看到了一个白色的身影，仿佛是为了防止我只凭一个感官的证词而听到了我的玻璃被拿走了-现在桌子上还有同样的玻璃杯。”

“Oh, dear mother, it was a dream.”
“哦，亲爱的妈妈，那只是一个梦。”

“So little was it a dream, that I stretched my hand towards the bell; —
“事实远不止是一个梦，我伸手去摸铃； —

but when I did so, the shade disappeared; —
但当我这样做时，幽灵就消失了 —

my maid then entered with a light.”
我的女仆随后带着一盏灯进来了。”

“But she saw no one?”
“但她没有看见任何人吗？”

“Phantoms are visible to those only who ought to see them. It was the soul of my husband! —
“只有该看到他们的人才能看到幽灵。那是我丈夫的灵魂！ —

—Well, if my husband’s soul can come to me, why should not my soul reappear to guard my granddaughter? —
嗯，如果我丈夫的灵魂能来找我，为什么我的灵魂不能重新现身来保护我的孙女呢？ —

the tie is even more direct, it seems to me.”
这个联系似乎更加直接，我觉得。”

“Oh, madame,” said Villefort, deeply affected, in spite of himself, “do not yield to those gloomy thoughts; —
“哦，夫人，”维尔福无法控制自己地被深深感动着说道，“不要屈服于那些阴郁的思绪； —

you will long live with us, happy, loved, and honored, and we will make you forget——”
你将与我们一起长久生活在幸福、被爱和受尊敬的环境中，我们会让你忘记——”

“Never, never, never,” said the marchioness. “When does M. d’Épinay return?”
“永远不会，永远不会，永远不会，”玛歇林娜说，“埃皮奈先生什么时候回来？”

“We expect him every moment.”
“我们随时都在等他。”

“It is well. As soon as he arrives inform me. We must be expeditious. —
“一切都好。他一到就告诉我。我们必须迅速行动。 —

And then I also wish to see a notary, that I may be assured that all our property returns to Valentine.”
然后我还想见一个公证人，以确保我们所有的财产都归瓦伦丁。”

“Ah, grandmamma,” murmured Valentine, pressing her lips on the burning brow, “do you wish to kill me? —
“啊，奶奶，”瓦伦丁低声说着，把嘴唇贴在发烫的额头上，“你想要杀了我吗？ —

Oh, how feverish you are; we must not send for a notary, but for a doctor!”
哦，你发烧得这么厉害，我们不应该找公证人，而应该找医生！”

“A doctor?” said she, shrugging her shoulders, “I am not ill; I am thirsty—that is all.”
“找医生？”她耸耸肩，“我没病，我只是口渴—仅此而已。”

“What are you drinking, dear grandmamma?”
“亲爱的奶奶，你在喝什么？”

“The same as usual, my dear, my glass is there on the table—give it to me, Valentine. —
“和往常一样，亲爱的，我的玻璃杯就在桌子上—给我吧，瓦伦丁。” —

” Valentine poured the orangeade into a glass and gave it to her grandmother with a certain degree of dread, for it was the same glass she fancied that had been touched by the spectre.
”瓦伦丁把橙汁倒进玻璃杯里，带着一丝恐惧递给她奶奶，因为她觉得这个玻璃杯可能被幽灵碰过。

The marchioness drained the glass at a single draught, and then turned on her pillow, repeating,
侯爵夫人一口气喝光了杯中的橙汁，然后翻身转到枕头上，一遍又一遍地重复着，

“The notary, the notary!”
“公证人，公证人！”

M. de Villefort left the room, and Valentine seated herself at the bedside of her grandmother. —
Villefort先生离开了房间，瓦伦丁坐在祖母的床边。 —

The poor child appeared herself to require the doctor she had recommended to her aged relative. —
这可怜的孩子似乎自己也需要她推荐给年长的亲戚的医生。 —

A bright spot burned in either cheek, her respiration was short and difficult, and her pulse beat with feverish excitement. —
她的脸颊上有一个亮点燃烧着，呼吸短促困难，脉搏激动而发热。 —

She was thinking of the despair of Maximilian, when he should be informed that Madame de Saint-Méran, instead of being an ally, was unconsciously acting as his enemy.
当她意识到圣梅兰夫人不是盟友，而是在不知不觉中充当了麦克西米利安的敌人的时候，她正在思考麦克西米利安的绝望。

More than once she thought of revealing all to her grandmother, and she would not have hesitated a moment, if Maximilian Morrel had been named Albert de Morcerf or Raoul de Château-Renaud; —
她多次考虑过向祖母透露一切，如果马克西米利安·莫雷尔的名字是阿尔贝·德·莫尔塞夫或者罗尔·德·夏多尔·雷诺，她不会犹豫一刻的。 —

but Morrel was of plebeian extraction, and Valentine knew how the haughty Marquise de Saint-Méran despised all who were not noble. —
但莫雷尔是平民出身，瓦伦丁知道高傲的圣梅兰侯爵夫人鄙视一切不贵族的人。 —

Her secret had each time been repressed when she was about to reveal it, by the sad conviction that it would be useless to do so; —
每次她打算透露这个秘密时，都被一种悲伤的信念压制住，认为这样做是没有用的。 —

for, were it once discovered by her father and mother, all would be lost.
如果她的父母一旦发现了，一切都将丧失。

Two hours passed thus; Madame de Saint-Méran was in a feverish sleep, and the notary had arrived. —
这样过了两个小时；圣梅朗夫人处于发烧的睡眠状态，公证人已经到了。 —

Though his coming was announced in a very low tone, Madame de Saint-Méran arose from her pillow.
尽管他的到来是以非常低的声音宣布的，但圣梅朗夫人从枕头上起身了。

“The notary!” she exclaimed, “let him come in.”
“公证人！”她叫道，“让他进来。”

The notary, who was at the door, immediately entered. —
正在门口的公证人立即走了进来。 —

“Go, Valentine,” said Madame de Saint-Méran, “and leave me with this gentleman.”
“走吧，瓦伦丁，”圣梅朗夫人说道，“把我和这位先生独自留下。”

“But, grandmamma——”
“但是，奶奶——”

“Leave me—go!”
“离开我，走吧！”

The young girl kissed her grandmother, and left with her handkerchief to her eyes; —
年轻的女孩亲吻了奶奶，用手帕捂住眼睛离开了。 —

at the door she found the valet de chambre, who told her that the doctor was waiting in the dining-room. —
到了门口，她遇到了在餐厅等候的男仆。 —

Valentine instantly ran down. The doctor was a friend of the family, and at the same time one of the cleverest men of the day, and very fond of Valentine, whose birth he had witnessed. —
瓦伦丁立刻下楼了。这位医生是这个家庭的朋友，同时也是当时最聪明的人之一，非常喜欢瓦伦丁，他还亲眼见证了她的出生。 —

He had himself a daughter about her age, but whose life was one continued source of anxiety and fear to him from her mother having been consumptive.
他有一个和他年龄相仿的女儿，但她的生活对他来说一直是一种焦虑和恐惧的源泉，因为她的母亲曾经患有肺结核。

“Oh,” said Valentine, “we have been waiting for you with such impatience, dear M. d’Avrigny. —
“哦，”瓦伦丁说，“我们一直等待着您，亲爱的d’Avrigny先生。 —

But, first of all, how are Madeleine and Antoinette?”
但首先，玛德琳和安托瓦妮特怎么样了？”

Madeleine was the daughter of M. d’Avrigny, and Antoinette his niece. M. d’Avrigny smiled sadly.
玛德琳是d’Avrigny先生的女儿，安托瓦妮特是他的侄女。d’Avrigny先生悲伤地微笑了。

“Antoinette is very well,” he said, “and Madeleine tolerably so. —
“安托瓦妮特很好，”他说，“玛德琳还算可以。 —

But you sent for me, my dear child. It is not your father or Madame de Villefort who is ill. —
但是你找我，亲爱的孩子。你父亲和维勒福夫人并没有生病。 —

As for you, although we doctors cannot divest our patients of nerves, I fancy you have no further need of me than to recommend you not to allow your imagination to take too wide a field.”
至于你，虽然我们医生无法让患者摆脱紧张情绪，但我想你对我没有比让你不要让想象力过于放纵你所需的更多了。”

Valentine colored. M. d’Avrigny carried the science of divination almost to a miraculous extent, for he was one of the physicians who always work upon the body through the mind.
瓦伦丁脸红了。d’Avrigny先生的卜筮术几乎达到了奇迹般的境地，因为他是那种总是通过思维来影响身体的医生之一。

“No,” she replied, “it is for my poor grandmother. —
“不，”她回答道，“是为了我可怜的奶奶。” —

You know the calamity that has happened to us, do you not?”
你知道我们遭受的灾难，不是吗？

“I know nothing.” said M. d’Avrigny.
“我什么都不知道。”d’Avrigny先生说道。

“Alas,” said Valentine, restraining her tears, “my grandfather is dead.”
“唉，”瓦伦泰娜压住眼泪说，“我祖父去世了。”

“M. de Saint-Méran?”
“M. de Saint-Méran?”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Suddenly?”
“突然间？”

“From an apoplectic stroke.”
“中风了。”

“An apoplectic stroke?” repeated the doctor.
医生重复道，“中风了？”

“Yes, and my poor grandmother fancies that her husband, whom she never left, has called her, and that she must go and join him. —
“是的，我可怜的奶奶以为她从未离开的丈夫召唤她，她必须去与他相聚。” —

Oh, M. d’Avrigny, I beseech you, do something for her!”
哦，d’Avrigny先生，求求您，为她做点什么吧！

“Where is she?”
“她在哪里？”

“In her room with the notary.”
“和公证人在她的房间里。”

“And M. Noirtier?”
“那么M. Noirtier呢？”

“Just as he was, his mind perfectly clear, but the same incapability of moving or speaking.”
“正如他从前一样，头脑清醒，但是移动和说话的能力仍然不存在。”

“And the same love for you—eh, my dear child?”
“那么，亲爱的孩子，你也对我有同样的爱吗？”

“Yes,” said Valentine, “he was very fond of me.”
“是的，”瓦伦丁说，“他对我非常钟爱。”

“Who does not love you?” Valentine smiled sadly. “What are your grandmother’s symptoms?”
“谁不爱你呢？”瓦伦丁哀伤地微笑着，“你祖母有什么症状？”

“An extreme nervous excitement and a strangely agitated sleep; —
“极度紧张和奇怪的不安睡眠； —

she fancied this morning in her sleep that her soul was hovering above her body, which she at the same time watched. —
她今天早上在梦中觉得她的灵魂漂浮在身体上方，同时她看着自己的身体。” —

It must have been delirium; she fancies, too, that she saw a phantom enter her chamber and even heard the noise it made on touching her glass.”
“那一定是谵妄；她还幻想自己看见一个幽灵进入她的房间，甚至听到它触碰玻璃的声音。”

“It is singular,” said the doctor; “I was not aware that Madame de Saint-Méran was subject to such hallucinations.”
“真奇怪”，医生说，“我不知道圣梅朗夫人会出现这种幻觉。”

“It is the first time I ever saw her in this condition,” said Valentine; —
“这是我第一次见到她这种状态，”瓦伦丁说； —

“and this morning she frightened me so that I thought her mad; —
“今天早上她吓到我了，我觉得她疯了； —

and my father, who you know is a strong-minded man, himself appeared deeply impressed.”
而且您也知道我父亲是个坚强的人，他也显得很震惊。”

“We will go and see,” said the doctor; “what you tell me seems very strange. —
“我们去看看吧，”医生说，“你告诉我的事情真的很奇怪。” —

” The notary here descended, and Valentine was informed that her grandmother was alone.
这里的公证人下来了，瓦伦泰娜得知她的祖母独自一人。

“Go upstairs,” she said to the doctor.
“上楼吧，”她对医生说。

“And you?”
“你呢？”

“Oh, I dare not—she forbade my sending for you; —
“哦，我不敢——她禁止我找你； —

and, as you say, I am myself agitated, feverish and out of sorts. —
而且，正如你所说，我自己也焦虑不安、发烧和心神不宁。 —

I will go and take a turn in the garden to recover myself.”
我要到花园里走走，让自己恢复一下。”

The doctor pressed Valentine’s hand, and while he visited her grandmother, she descended the steps. —
医生握住瓦伦泰娜的手，然后去看望她的祖母，她下了台阶。 —

We need not say which portion of the garden was her favorite walk. —
我们不必说花园中哪部分是她最喜欢的散步场所。 —

After remaining for a short time in the parterre surrounding the house, and gathering a rose to place in her waist or hair, she turned into the dark avenue which led to the bench; —
在留待围绕房子的花坛里停留了一会儿并采了朵玫瑰放在腰间或头发上后，她走进了通往长椅的黑暗小道； —

then from the bench she went to the gate. —
然后从长椅走向大门。 —

As usual, Valentine strolled for a short time among her flowers, but without gathering them. —
像往常一样，瓦伦泰娜在花园里散步了一会儿，但没有采摘花朵。 —

The mourning in her heart forbade her assuming this simple ornament, though she had not yet had time to put on the outward semblance of woe.
心中的悲痛使她不能戴上这种简单的装饰，虽然她还没有时间披上外面的哀伤假象。

She then turned towards the avenue. As she advanced she fancied she heard a voice speaking her name. —
她转身朝着大街走去。当她前进时，她仿佛听到有人叫她的名字。 —

She stopped astonished, then the voice reached her ear more distinctly, and she recognized it to be that of Maximilian.
她惊讶地停下了，然后声音变得更清楚地传入她的耳朵，她认出那是马克西米利安的声音。