It was indeed Maximilian Morrel, who had passed a wretched existence since the previous day. —
事实上，过去一天以来，马克西米利安•莫雷尔确实过着悲惨的生活。 —

With the instinct peculiar to lovers he had anticipated after the return of Madame de Saint-Méran and the death of the marquis, that something would occur at M. de Villefort’s in connection with his attachment for Valentine. —
凭着情人的直觉，他预料到在圣梅兰夫人回来和侯爵去世后，与他对瓦伦丁的感情有关的事情会发生在维勒福先生家里。 —

His presentiments were realized, as we shall see, and his uneasy forebodings had goaded him pale and trembling to the gate under the chestnut-trees.
正如我们将看到的那样，他的预感成真了，他不安的预感使他苍白战栗地跑到了栗树下的大门口。

Valentine was ignorant of the cause of this sorrow and anxiety, and as it was not his accustomed hour for visiting her, she had gone to the spot simply by accident or perhaps through sympathy. —
瓦伦丁对这种悲痛和焦虑的原因一无所知，因为这不是他惯常造访的时间，她只是偶然间或许出于同情而来到这个地方。 —

Morrel called her, and she ran to the gate.
莫雷尔叫她，她跑到了大门口。

“You here at this hour?” said she.
“你这个时候在这里？”她说。

“Yes, my poor girl,” replied Morrel; “I come to bring and to hear bad tidings.”
“是的，可怜的女孩，”莫雷尔回答道，“我来带来和听取坏消息。”

“This is, indeed, a house of mourning,” said Valentine; —
“这真是个丧家之犬的地方，”瓦伦丁说； —

“speak, Maximilian, although the cup of sorrow seems already full.”
“说吧，马克西米利安，虽然悲伤的杯子似乎已经满了。”

“Dear Valentine,” said Morrel, endeavoring to conceal his own emotion, “listen, I entreat you; —
“亲爱的瓦伦丁，”莫尔试图掩饰自己的情感，“请听我说，我请求你； —

what I am about to say is very serious. When are you to be married?”
我即将说的事非常严肃。你什么时候结婚？”

“I will tell you all,” said Valentine; “from you I have nothing to conceal. —
“我会告诉你一切，”瓦伦丁说，“对你我没有什么可隐瞒的。 —

This morning the subject was introduced, and my dear grandmother, on whom I depended as my only support, not only declared herself favorable to it, but is so anxious for it, that they only await the arrival of M. d’Épinay, and the following day the contract will be signed.”
今天早上这个话题被提到了，我亲爱的祖母，我唯一依靠的支持，不仅表示支持，而且还非常渴望，他们只等待M. d’Épinay的到来，第二天就会签订合同。”

A deep sigh escaped the young man, who gazed long and mournfully at her he loved.
年轻人叹了口气，长久而悲伤地注视着他所爱的人。

“Alas,” replied he, “it is dreadful thus to hear my condemnation from your own lips. —
“唉，”他回答道，“从你的嘴里听到我的定罪真是可怕。 —

The sentence is passed, and, in a few hours, will be executed; —
判决已经下达，在几个小时后将会执行； —

it must be so, and I will not endeavor to prevent it. —
必须这样，我不会设法阻止它。 —

But, since you say nothing remains but for M. d’Épinay to arrive that the contract may be signed, and the following day you will be his, tomorrow you will be engaged to M. d’Épinay, for he came this morning to Paris.” Valentine uttered a cry.
但是，既然你说现在只等d’Épinay 先生到来签署合同，而明天你就要嫁给他，明天你就要与d’Épinay 先生订婚了，因为他今天早上来到了巴黎。”瓦伦丁发出一声惊叫。

“I was at the house of Monte Cristo an hour since,” said Morrel; —
“我刚一个小时前才在蒙蒂克里斯托先生的府邸里，”莫雷尔说道； —

“we were speaking, he of the sorrow your family had experienced, and I of your grief, when a carriage rolled into the courtyard. —
“我们正在谈论你家所经历的悲痛，以及你的忧伤，突然一辆马车停在了院子里。 —

Never, till then, had I placed any confidence in presentiments, but now I cannot help believing them, Valentine. —
直到那时，我从未对预感抱有任何信任，但现在我无法不相信它们，瓦伦丁。 —

At the sound of that carriage I shuddered; —
听到马车的声音，我不禁颤抖； —

soon I heard steps on the staircase, which terrified me as much as the footsteps of the commander did Don Juan. The door at last opened; —
很快我听到楼梯上有脚步声，它们让我像指挥官的脚步声让唐璜感到害怕一样害怕。门终于打开了； —

Albert de Morcerf entered first, and I began to hope my fears were vain, when, after him, another young man advanced, and the count exclaimed: —
阿尔贝·德·莫尔塞夫先生先进来，我开始希望我的担忧是多余的，但是紧接着，另一个年轻人进来了，蒙蒂克里斯托先生惊呼道： —

‘Ah, here is the Baron Franz d’Épinay! —
“啊，这位是弗朗茨·德·爱皮内先生！ —

’ I summoned all my strength and courage to my support. —
我集中了全部的力量和勇气来支持自己。 —

Perhaps I turned pale and trembled, but certainly I smiled; —
或许我变得苍白颤抖，但我确实微笑了。 —

and five minutes after I left, without having heard one word that had passed.”
五分钟后离开时，我没有听到任何一句话。

“Poor Maximilian!” murmured Valentine.
“可怜的马克西米利安！”瓦伦泰娜轻声说道。

“Valentine, the time has arrived when you must answer me. —
“瓦伦泰娜，现在是你必须回答我的时候了。 —

And remember my life depends on your answer. What do you intend doing? —
请记住，我的生命取决于你的回答。你打算怎么做？ —

” Valentine held down her head; she was overwhelmed.
”瓦伦泰娜低下了头，她感到无比压力。

“Listen,” said Morrel; “it is not the first time you have contemplated our present position, which is a serious and urgent one; —
“听着，”莫雷尔说道，“这不是你第一次考虑我们现在的处境，这是一个严重而迫切的处境； —

I do not think it is a moment to give way to useless sorrow; —
我不认为现在是一个放任无用悲伤的时刻； —

leave that for those who like to suffer at their leisure and indulge their grief in secret. —
把这个留给那些喜欢悲伤的人，让他们在秘密中纵情享受他们的痛苦。 —

There are such in the world, and God will doubtless reward them in heaven for their resignation on earth, but those who mean to contend must not lose one precious moment, but must return immediately the blow which fortune strikes. —
世界上确实有这样的人，上帝无疑会因为他们在尘世上的顺应而在天堂里奖赏他们，但是那些打算抗争的人不能失去一刻宝贵的时间，而是必须立即还击命运给予的一击。 —

Do you intend to struggle against our ill-fortune? —
你打算与我们的厄运斗争吗？ —

Tell me, Valentine for it is that I came to know.”
告诉我，瓦伦丁，因为这是我想要了解的事情。

Valentine trembled, and looked at him with amazement. —
瓦伦丁颤抖着，惊讶地看着他。 —

The idea of resisting her father, her grandmother, and all the family, had never occurred to her.
她从来没有想过反抗她的父亲、祖母和整个家族的想法。

“What do you say, Maximilian?” asked Valentine. “What do you mean by a struggle? —
“你说什么，马克西米利安？”瓦伦丁问道。“你说的斗争是什么意思？ —

Oh, it would be a sacrilege. What? I resist my father’s order, and my dying grandmother’s wish? Impossible!”
哦，那将是一种亵渎。什么？我反抗我父亲的命令，还有我奄奄一息的祖母的遗愿？不可能！”

Morrel started.
莫雷尔吃了一惊。

“You are too noble not to understand me, and you understand me so well that you already yield, dear Maximilian. —
“你太高尚了，以至于不明白我，而你明白我得如此之好，你已经屈服了，亲爱的马克西米利安。 —

No, no; I shall need all my strength to struggle with myself and support my grief in secret, as you say. —
不，不，我需要所有的力量来与自己斗争，以秘密支撑我的悲伤，就像你说的那样。 —

But to grieve my father—to disturb my grandmother’s last moments—never!”
但是让我使我父亲伤心—打扰我祖母的最后时刻—绝对不行！”

“You are right,” said Morrel, calmly.
“你是对的，”马克西米利安平静地说。

“In what a tone you speak!” cried Valentine.
“你说话的口气怎么了！”瓦伦丁喊道。

“I speak as one who admires you, mademoiselle.”
“我是作为一个钦佩你的人来说话的，小姐。”

“Mademoiselle,” cried Valentine; “mademoiselle! Oh, selfish man! —
“小姐，”瓦伦丁喊道。“小姐！哦，自私的人！ —

he sees me in despair, and pretends he cannot understand me!”
他看见我绝望的样子，却假装听不懂我！

“You mistake—I understand you perfectly. —
你误会了，我完全明白你的意思。 —

You will not oppose M. Villefort, you will not displease the marchioness, and tomorrow you will sign the contract which will bind you to your husband.”
你不会反对维尔福先生，你不会惹恼女侯爵，明天你会签署那份将你与丈夫捆绑在一起的合同。

“But, mon Dieu! tell me, how can I do otherwise?”
但是，天哪！告诉我，我还能怎么办？

“Do not appeal to me, mademoiselle; I shall be a bad judge in such a case; —
别向我求助，小姐；这种情况下我会是个糟糕的裁判；自私会让我看不清事实，” 莫雷尔回答道，低着声音，紧握双手，流露出他日益绝望的样子。 —

my selfishness will blind me,” replied Morrel, whose low voice and clenched hands announced his growing desperation.
如果你发现我心甘情愿接受，你会提议什么呢，马克西米利安？

“What would you have proposed, Maximilian, had you found me willing to accede?”
这不是我该说的。

“It is not for me to say.”
你错了；你必须帮我出出主意。

“You are wrong; you must advise me what to do.”
你认真地向我征求意见，瓦伦丁？

“Do you seriously ask my advice, Valentine?”
当然了，亲爱的马克西米利安，如果是好主意的话，我会采纳的；你知道我多么忠于你。

“Certainly, dear Maximilian, for if it is good, I will follow it; you know my devotion to you.”
瓦伦丁，” 莫雷尔推开一块松动的木板，”给我你的手，以示你宽恕我的愤怒。

“Valentine,” said Morrel pushing aside a loose plank, “give me your hand in token of forgiveness of my anger; —
你真的这么问，瓦伦丁？ —

my senses are confused, and during the last hour the most extravagant thoughts have passed through my brain. —
我的感官感到困惑，在过去的一个小时里，我脑海中闪过了最离奇的想法。 —

Oh, if you refuse my advice——”
哦，如果你拒绝我的建议——”

“What do you advise?” said Valentine, raising her eyes to heaven and sighing.
“你有何建议？”瓦伦丁抬起头望向天空，叹了口气。

“I am free,” replied Maximilian, “and rich enough to support you. —
“我自由自在，足够富有，可以供养你。 —

I swear to make you my lawful wife before my lips even shall have approached your forehead.”
我发誓，在我的嘴唇触碰你的额头之前，将你娶为我合法的妻子。

“You make me tremble!” said the young girl.
“你让我害怕！”年轻女孩说道。

“Follow me,” said Morrel; “I will take you to my sister, who is worthy also to be yours. —
“跟我来，”莫雷尔说道，”我会带你去见我的姐姐，她也是你配得上的人。 —

We will embark for Algiers, for England, for America, or, if you prefer it, retire to the country and only return to Paris when our friends have reconciled your family.”
我们可以启航去阿尔及利亚、英国、美国，或者，如果你喜欢，退隐乡村，只有在我们的朋友们调和了你的家庭之后才回到巴黎。”

Valentine shook her head.
瓦伦丁摇了摇头。

“I feared it, Maximilian,” said she; “it is the counsel of a madman, and I should be more mad than you, did I not stop you at once with the word ‘Impossible, Morrel, impossible!’”
“我就怕这个，马克西米利安，”她说道，”这是疯子的建议，如果我不立刻用‘不可能，莫雷尔，不可能！’来制止你，那我就比你更疯狂了。”

“You will then submit to what fate decrees for you without even attempting to contend with it? —
“你会坦然接受命运给予的一切，甚至不试图与之抗争吗？” said Morrel sorrowfully. —

” said Morrel sorrowfully.
“是的，如果我死了！”

“Yes,—if I die!”
“好了，瓦伦蒂娜，” Maximilian 悲伤地说，“我只能再次说你是对的。

“Well, Valentine,” resumed Maximilian, “I can only say again that you are right. —
“真的，是我疯了，而你向我证明了热情能让最善良的人变瞎眼。 —

Truly, it is I who am mad, and you prove to me that passion blinds the most well-meaning. —
“我欣赏你冷静的推理。那么明天你将无可挽回地许诺给Franz d’Épinay先生，不仅仅是通过那个被用来增加一出戏剧效果的仪式，叫做签署合同，而是出于你自己的意愿吗？” —

I appreciate your calm reasoning. It is then understood that tomorrow you will be irrevocably promised to M. Franz d’Épinay, not only by that theatrical formality invented to heighten the effect of a comedy called the signature of the contract, but your own will?”
“你又一次让我绝望，Maximilian，” 瓦伦蒂娜说，“你又一次插入刀子到伤口上！

“Again you drive me to despair, Maximilian,” said Valentine, “again you plunge the dagger into the wound! —
“告诉我，如果你的姐姐听了这样的提议，你会怎么做？” —

What would you do, tell me, if your sister listened to such a proposition?”
“什么都不会做，” 他冷漠地回答道，“因为在情感面前，我感到无能为力。”

“Mademoiselle,” replied Morrel with a bitter smile, “I am selfish—you have already said so—and as a selfish man I think not of what others would do in my situation, but of what I intend doing myself. —
“小姐，”莫雷尔带着一丝苦笑回答道，“你已经说过了，我是自私的，作为一个自私的人，我不考虑别人在我的处境下会怎么做，而是考虑我自己打算做什么。 —

I think only that I have known you not a whole year. —
我只想到我认识你还不到一年。 —

From the day I first saw you, all my hopes of happiness have been in securing your affection. —
从我第一次见到你的那一天起，我所有幸福的希望都寄托在争取你的情感上。 —

One day you acknowledged that you loved me, and since that day my hope of future happiness has rested on obtaining you, for to gain you would be life to me. —
有一天你承认你爱我，从那天起，我对未来幸福的希望就寄托在得到你身边，因为得到你对我来说就是生命。 —

Now, I think no more; I say only that fortune has turned against me—I had thought to gain heaven, and now I have lost it. —
现在，我不再想了；我只说命运对我不利——我本以为能得到天堂，可现在却失去了。 —

It is an every-day occurrence for a gambler to lose not only what he possesses but also what he has not.”
对于赌徒来说，不仅失去了自己拥有的，还会失去没有的，这是每天都发生的事情。”

Morrel pronounced these words with perfect calmness; —
莫雷尔平静地说着这些话； —

Valentine looked at him a moment with her large, scrutinizing eyes, endeavoring not to let Morrel discover the grief which struggled in her heart.
瓦伦丁用她那双大而审视的眼睛看着他，努力不让莫雷尔发现在她心中奋斗的悲伤。

“But, in a word, what are you going to do?” asked she.
“可是，总而言之，你打算怎么做？”她问道。

“I am going to have the honor of taking my leave of you, mademoiselle, solemnly assuring you that I wish your life may be so calm, so happy, and so fully occupied, that there may be no place for me even in your memory.”
“我将有幸告别你，小姐，郑重地向你保证，我希望你的生活能够如此平静、幸福和充实，以至于连你的记忆中都没有我的位置。”

“Oh!” murmured Valentine.
“哦！”瓦伦丁小声说道。

“Adieu, Valentine, adieu!” said Morrel, bowing.
“再见，瓦伦丁，再见！”莫雷尔鞠躬道。

“Where are you going?” cried the young girl, extending her hand through the opening, and seizing Maximilian by his coat, for she understood from her own agitated feelings that her lover’s calmness could not be real; —
“你要去哪里？”年轻女孩喊道，她伸出手通过门缝，抓住了马克西米利安的外套，因为她从自己的激动情绪中明白，她情人的冷静不可能是真实的。 —

“where are you going?”
“你要去哪里？”

“I am going, that I may not bring fresh trouble into your family: —
“我要离开，不再给你的家庭带来新的麻烦。 —

and to set an example which every honest and devoted man, situated as I am, may follow.”
“而为了树立一个榜样，每一个像我这样忠诚而有决心的人都能追随。”

“Before you leave me, tell me what you are going to do, Maximilian. —
“在你离开之前，告诉我你打算做什么，马克西米利安。” —

” The young man smiled sorrowfully.
年轻人悲伤地微笑了起来。

“Speak, speak!” said Valentine; “I entreat you.”
“说话，说话！”瓦伦丁恳求道。

“Has your resolution changed, Valentine?”
“你的决心改变了吗，瓦伦丁？”

“It cannot change, unhappy man; you know it must not!” cried the young girl.
“不可能改变，不幸的人，你知道不能改变！”年轻女孩喊道。

“Then adieu, Valentine!”
“那就再见了，瓦伦丁！”

Valentine shook the gate with a strength of which she could not have been supposed to be possessed, as Morrel was going away, and passing both her hands through the opening, she clasped and wrung them. —
瓦伦丁用一种意想不到的力量摇动着铁门，因为莫雷尔要离开了，她双手伸进门缝，紧紧握住并扭曲着。 —

“I must know what you mean to do!” said she. —
“我必须知道你打算怎么做！”她说。 —

“Where are you going?”
“你要去哪里？”

“Oh, fear not,” said Maximilian, stopping at a short distance, “I do not intend to render another man responsible for the rigorous fate reserved for me. —
“哦，不要担心，”马克西米利安停下来，离瓦伦丁有一段距离，“我不打算让另一个人为我严酷的命运负责。 —

Another might threaten to seek M. Franz, to provoke him, and to fight with him; —
另一个人可能会威胁要找弗朗茨先生，挑起他，和他打架； —

all that would be folly. What has M. Franz to do with it? —
这一切都是愚蠢的。弗朗茨先生与此无关。” —

He saw me this morning for the first time, and has already forgotten he has seen me. —
他今天早上第一次见到我，却已经忘记了他见过我。 —

He did not even know I existed when it was arranged by your two families that you should be united. —
当你们两个家庭安排你们团聚时，他甚至不知道我的存在。 —

I have no enmity against M. Franz, and promise you the punishment shall not fall on him.”
我对弗兰茨先生没有仇恨，并且向你保证惩罚不会落在他身上。

“On whom, then!—on me?”
“那么是落在谁身上？—是我吗？”

“On you? Valentine! Oh, Heaven forbid! Woman is sacred; the woman one loves is holy.”
“落在你身上？瓦伦丁！哦，天底下不容许！女人是神圣的；心爱的女人是神圣的。”

“On yourself, then, unhappy man; on yourself?”
“那还是落在你自己身上，可怜的人；是你自己吗？”

“I am the only guilty person, am I not?” said Maximilian.
“我是唯一有罪的人，不是吗？”麦克西米利安说道。

“Maximilian!” said Valentine, “Maximilian, come back, I entreat you!”
“麦克西米利安！”瓦伦丁说，“麦克西米利安，回来，我求求你！”

He drew near with his sweet smile, and but for his paleness one might have thought him in his usual happy mood.
他以他甜美的笑容靠近，若不是他苍白的面色，人们可能会以为他心情如常。

“Listen, my dear, my adored Valentine,” said he in his melodious and grave tone; —
“听着，我亲爱的，我崇拜的瓦伦丁，”他用他悦耳而庄重的语调说道； —

“those who, like us, have never had a thought for which we need blush before the world, such may read each other’s hearts. —
“像我们这样从未有过一丝羞愧之念的人，可以读懂彼此的内心。” —

I never was romantic, and am no melancholy hero. I imitate neither Manfred nor Anthony; —
我从来没有浪漫过，也不是忧郁的英雄。我既不模仿曼弗雷德，也不模仿安东尼； —

but without words, protestations, or vows, my life has entwined itself with yours; —
但是没有言语、不再表白或发誓，我的生活已与你的交织在一起； —

you leave me, and you are right in doing so,—I repeat it, you are right; —
你离开我，你这样做是正确的——我重复，你是正确的； —

but in losing you, I lose my life. The moment you leave me, Valentine, I am alone in the world. —
但是失去了你，我失去了我的生命。一旦你离开我，瓦伦丁，我将孤独地活在这个世界上； —

My sister is happily married; her husband is only my brother-in-law, that is, a man whom the ties of social life alone attach to me; —
我的妹妹已经幸福地结婚了；她的丈夫只是我的姐夫，也就是说，社会生活的联系把我与他联系在一起； —

no one then longer needs my useless life. This is what I shall do; —
没有人需要我这无用的生命了。这就是我要做的； —

I will wait until the very moment you are married, for I will not lose the shadow of one of those unexpected chances which are sometimes reserved for us, since M. Franz may, after all, die before that time, a thunderbolt may fall even on the altar as you approach it, —nothing appears impossible to one condemned to die, and miracles appear quite reasonable when his escape from death is concerned. —
我将等到你结婚的那一刻，因为我不会错过那些有时为我们保留的意外机会，因为弗朗茨先生也许会在那时去世，甚至当你走向祭坛时，一道闪电可能会降临，对一个注定要死去的人来说，没有什么是不可能的，当涉及到他逃脱死亡的时候，奇迹变得相当合理。 —

I will, then, wait until the last moment, and when my misery is certain, irremediable, hopeless, I will write a confidential letter to my brother-in-law, another to the prefect of police, to acquaint them with my intention, and at the corner of some wood, on the brink of some abyss, on the bank of some river, I will put an end to my existence, as certainly as I am the son of the most honest man who ever lived in France.”
然后，我会等到最后一刻，当我的痛苦变得确定、无法挽救、绝望时，我会写一封私密信给我姐夫，另一封给警察局长，告诉他们我的打算，在某个树林的角落，在某个深渊的边缘，在某条河岸上，我会结束自己的生命，就像我是法国最正直的人的儿子一样确定。

Valentine trembled convulsively; she loosened her hold of the gate, her arms fell by her side, and two large tears rolled down her cheeks. —
瓦伦蒂娜颤抖着，她放松了对门的把持，她的双臂垂落在身旁，两滴大眼泪滑落下她的脸颊。 —

The young man stood before her, sorrowful and resolute.
年轻人站在她面前，忧伤而坚定。

“Oh, for pity’s sake,” said she, “you will live, will you not?”
“哦，求求你了，”她说，“你会活下去，对吗？”

“No, on my honor,” said Maximilian; “but that will not affect you. —
“不，凭我荣誉所言，”马克西米利安说，“但那不会影响到你。 —

You have done your duty, and your conscience will be at rest.”
你已经尽了你的责任，你的良心将得到安宁。”

Valentine fell on her knees, and pressed her almost bursting heart. —
瓦伦蒂娜跪倒在地，紧紧地抓住她几乎要破裂的心脏。 —

“Maximilian,” said she, “Maximilian, my friend, my brother on earth, my true husband in heaven, I entreat you, do as I do, live in suffering; —
“马克西米连，”她说，“马克西米连，我的朋友，我的地球上的兄弟，我的天上的真正丈夫，我请求你，像我一样，忍受着生活； —

perhaps we may one day be united.”
也许有一天我们能够团聚。”

“Adieu, Valentine,” repeated Morrel.
“再见，瓦伦丁，”莫雷尔重复道。

“My God,” said Valentine, raising both her hands to heaven with a sublime expression, “I have done my utmost to remain a submissive daughter; —
“我的上帝，”瓦伦丁双手举向天空，神采奕奕地说，“我已经尽我所能地做了一个顺从的女儿； —

I have begged, entreated, implored; he has regarded neither my prayers, my entreaties, nor my tears. —
我已经乞求、央求、恳求过；他既不理会我的祈祷，懇请，也不理会我的眼泪。 —

It is done,” cried she, wiping away her tears, and resuming her firmness, “I am resolved not to die of remorse, but rather of shame. —
已经完成了，”她喊道，擦干眼泪，重新坚定下来，“我决定不会因悔恨而死，而是羞耻致死。 —

Live, Maximilian, and I will be yours. Say when shall it be? —
活下去，马克西米连，我将属于你。请问什么时候？ —

Speak, command, I will obey.”
“请说，命令，我会服从。”

Morrel, who had already gone some few steps away, again returned, and pale with joy extended both hands towards Valentine through the opening.
莫雷尔已经离开了一些步子，但他又回来了，满脸欢喜地通过开口向瓦伦丁伸出双手。

“Valentine,” said he, “dear Valentine, you must not speak thus—rather let me die. —
“瓦伦丁，”他说，“亲爱的瓦伦丁，你不应该这样说，宁愿让我去死。 —

Why should I obtain you by violence, if our love is mutual? —
如果我们的爱是相互的，为什么要用暴力得到你呢？ —

Is it from mere humanity you bid me live? —
你让我活着，难道只是出于人道吗？ —

I would then rather die.”
我宁愿死。”

“Truly,” murmured Valentine, “who on this earth cares for me, if he does not? —
“确实，”瓦伦丁低声说，“如果他不在乎我，世上还有谁会在乎我呢？ —

Who has consoled me in my sorrow but he? On whom do my hopes rest? —
谁在我的悲伤中安慰过我呢？除了他，还有谁？我所有的希望寄托在谁身上？ —

On whom does my bleeding heart repose? On him, on him, always on him! —
我流血的心在谁身上依赖？在他身上，在他身上，永远在他身上！ —

Yes, you are right, Maximilian, I will follow you. —
是的，你是对的，马克西米连，我会跟随你。 —

I will leave the paternal home, I will give up all. —
我会离开父家，我会放弃一切。 —

Oh, ungrateful girl that I am,” cried Valentine, sobbing, “I will give up all, even my dear old grandfather, whom I had nearly forgotten.”
“哦，我是多么不感恩的女孩，”瓦伦丁哭泣着说，“我会放弃一切，甚至我那亲爱的老祖父，我几乎忘记了他。”

“No,” said Maximilian, “you shall not leave him. —
“不，”马克西米连说，“你不会离开他。” —

M. Noirtier has evinced, you say, a kind feeling towards me. —
你说M. Noirtier对我表示了一种友好的感情。 —

Well, before you leave, tell him all; —
好吧，在你离开之前，告诉他一切。 —

his consent would be your justification in God’s sight. —
他的同意将成为你在上帝眼中的辩护。 —

As soon as we are married, he shall come and live with us, instead of one child, he shall have two. —
我们一结婚，他就会和我们一起生活，他会有两个孩子而不是一个。 —

You have told me how you talk to him and how he answers you; —
你告诉过我你是如何和他交谈，以及他是如何回答你的。 —

I shall very soon learn that language by signs, Valentine, and I promise you solemnly, that instead of despair, it is happiness that awaits us.”
我将很快学会用手势语言，Valentine，我郑重地向你保证，我们等待的是幸福而不是绝望。

“Oh, see, Maximilian, see the power you have over me, you almost make me believe you; —
哦，看啊，Maximilian，你几乎让我相信你； —

and yet, what you tell me is madness, for my father will curse me—he is inflexible—he will never pardon me. —
然而，你告诉我的是疯狂的，因为我父亲会诅咒我——他是不可动摇的，他永远不会原谅我。 —

Now listen to me, Maximilian; if by artifice, by entreaty, by accident—in short, if by any means I can delay this marriage, will you wait?”
现在听我说，Maximilian；如果我能以诡计、恳求、意外——总之，如果我能以任何方式推迟这场婚姻，你会等待吗？

“Yes, I promise you, as faithfully as you have promised me that this horrible marriage shall not take place, and that if you are dragged before a magistrate or a priest, you will refuse.”
“是的，我向你发誓，就像你向我发誓一样，这段可怕的婚姻不会发生，如果你被拉到法官或牧师面前，你会拒绝。”

“I promise you by all that is most sacred to me in the world, namely, by my mother.”
“我向我在世界上最为神圣的母亲发誓。”

“We will wait, then,” said Morrel.
“那么我们就等待吧，”莫雷尔说。

“Yes, we will wait,” replied Valentine, who revived at these words; —
“是的，我们就等待，”瓦伦泰恢复了精神。 —

“there are so many things which may save unhappy beings such as we are.”
“还有很多事情可以拯救像我们这样不幸的人。”

“I rely on you, Valentine,” said Morrel; “all you do will be well done; —
“我信赖你，瓦伦泰，”莫雷尔说，“你做的一切都会做得很好； —

only if they disregard your prayers, if your father and Madame de Saint-Méran insist that M. d’Épinay should be called tomorrow to sign the contract——”
只有在他们不理睬你的祈求，你的父亲和圣梅兰夫人坚持明天要叫埃皮奈先生来签署合同——”

“Then you have my promise, Maximilian.”
“那么你有我的承诺，马克西米利安。”

“Instead of signing——”
“而不是签署——”

“I will go to you, and we will fly; but from this moment until then, let us not tempt Providence, let us not see each other. —
“我会去找你，我们会逃走；但从此刻开始直到那时，让我们不要挑战命运，不要见面。 —

It is a miracle, it is a providence that we have not been discovered. —
这是一个奇迹，是上天眷顾我们没有被发现。 —

If we were surprised, if it were known that we met thus, we should have no further resource.”
如果我们被吓到了，如果被知道我们会这样相遇，我们将没有别的办法了。”

“You are right, Valentine; but how shall I ascertain?”
“你说得对，瓦伦丁；但是我怎么可以确定？”

“From the notary, M. Deschamps.”
“从公证人，德尚普斯先生那里。”

“I know him.”
“我认识他。”

“And for myself—I will write to you, depend on me. —
“至于我——我会给你写信的，相信我。 —

I dread this marriage, Maximilian, as much as you.”
马克西米利安，我和你一样害怕这场婚姻。”

“Thank you, my adored Valentine, thank you; that is enough. —
“谢谢你，我心爱的瓦伦丁，谢谢你；这就足够了。 —

When once I know the hour, I will hasten to this spot, you can easily get over this fence with my assistance, a carriage will await us at the gate, in which you will accompany me to my sister’s; —
一旦我知道时间，我会赶到这个地点，你可以在我帮助下轻松越过这道篱笆，一辆马车将在大门口等候我们，在那里你将陪我去我姐姐那里； —

there living, retired or mingling in society, as you wish, we shall be enabled to use our power to resist oppression, and not suffer ourselves to be put to death like sheep, which only defend themselves by sighs.”
我们会在那里生活，退隐或参与社交，你愿意的话，我们将能够使用我们的力量来抵抗压迫，不像一群只能用叹息来自卫的绵羊般被处死。”

“Yes,” said Valentine, “I will now acknowledge you are right, Maximilian; —
“是的，”瓦伦丁说，“现在我承认你是对的，马克西米利安； —

and now are you satisfied with your betrothal? —
现在你对你的订婚满意吗？” —

” said the young girl sorrowfully.
”年轻的女孩悲伤地说。

“My adored Valentine, words cannot express one half of my satisfaction.”
“亲爱的情人节，言语难以表达一半的满足。”

Valentine had approached, or rather, had placed her lips so near the fence, that they nearly touched those of Morrel, which were pressed against the other side of the cold and inexorable barrier.
情人节已经靠近，或者说，她把嘴唇凑近栅栏，几乎碰到了莫雷尔的嘴唇，后者紧贴在冷酷无情的障碍物的另一侧。

“Adieu, then, till we meet again,” said Valentine, tearing herself away. —
“再见，直到我们再次相见，”瓦伦泰娜撕扯着离开。 —

“I shall hear from you?”
“我会收到你的消息吗？”

“Yes.”
“会的。”

“Thanks, thanks, dear love, adieu!”
“谢谢，谢谢，亲爱的，再见！”

The sound of a kiss was heard, and Valentine fled through the avenue. —
吻的声音传来，瓦伦泰娜逃过了林荫道。 —

Morrel listened to catch the last sound of her dress brushing the branches, and of her footstep on the gravel, then raised his eyes with an ineffable smile of thankfulness to heaven for being permitted to be thus loved, and then also disappeared.
莫雷尔聆听着，捕捉她的裙摆在树枝上刷过的最后声音，以及她在碎石路上的脚步声，然后抬起眼睛，对天空露出无比感激的微笑，因为被允许如此被爱，然后也消失了。

The young man returned home and waited all the evening and all the next day without getting any message. —
年轻人回到家，整个晚上和第二天都等待着，却没有收到任何消息。 —

It was only on the following day, at about ten o’clock in the morning, as he was starting to call on M. Deschamps, the notary, that he received from the postman a small billet, which he knew to be from Valentine, although he had not before seen her writing. —
直到第二天上午十点左右，他正准备去找公证人德尚普先生的时候，他收到了邮递员递来的一张小纸条，虽然他之前没有见过她的笔迹，但他知道这是瓦伦丁写的。 —

It was to this effect:
内容如下：

“Tears, entreaties, prayers, have availed me nothing. —
“眼泪、恳求、祈祷都没有起到任何作用。 —

Yesterday, for two hours, I was at the church of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule, and for two hours I prayed most fervently. —
昨天我在圣菲利普杜鲁勒教堂里待了两个小时，用最真挚的心祈祷了两个小时。 —

Heaven is as inflexible as man, and the signature of the contract is fixed for this evening at nine o’clock. —
上天和人一样不可动摇，签订合约的时间固定在今晚九点。 —

I have but one promise and but one heart to give; —
我只有一个承诺和一个心可以给予； —

that promise is pledged to you, that heart is also yours. —
那个承诺已经给了你，那颗心也属于你。 —

This evening, then, at a quarter to nine at the gate.
今晚，九点前在门口见。

“Your betrothed,
“你的未婚妻，

“Valentine de Villefort.”
“瓦伦丁·德维尔福。”

“P.S.—My poor grandmother gets worse and worse; yesterday her fever amounted to delirium; —
“附言——我可怜的祖母越来越糟糕了；昨天她的发热症状已经到了神志不清的地步。” —

today her delirium is almost madness. You will be very kind to me, will you not, Morrel, to make me forget my sorrow in leaving her thus? —
今天她的神智几乎疯狂。莫雷尔，你会对我非常友善，让我忘记离开她的痛苦吗？ —

I think it is kept a secret from grandpapa Noirtier, that the contract is to be signed this evening.”
我觉得我爷爷诺蒂尔先生被瞒着，合同今晚要签订。

Morrel went also to the notary, who confirmed the news that the contract was to be signed that evening. —
莫雷尔还去找了公证人，他证实了今晚要签署合同的消息。 —

Then he went to call on Monte Cristo and heard still more. —
然后他去拜访蒙特克里斯托，听到了更多的消息。 —

Franz had been to announce the ceremony, and Madame de Villefort had also written to beg the count to excuse her not inviting him; —
弗朗茨已经去宣布了典礼，维尔福夫人也写信请托蒙特克里斯托不要来参加。 —

the death of M. de Saint-Méran and the dangerous illness of his widow would cast a gloom over the meeting which she would regret should be shared by the count whom she wished every happiness.
圣梅兰先生的死和他的寡妇危重病将给这个聚会蒙上阴影，她希望蒙特克里斯托不要分享这种悲伤，而是过上幸福的生活。

The day before Franz had been presented to Madame de Saint-Méran, who had left her bed to receive him, but had been obliged to return to it immediately after.
前一天弗朗茨已经见过圣梅兰夫人了，她起身离开床来迎接他，但随后又被迫回到床上。

It is easy to suppose that Morrel’s agitation would not escape the count’s penetrating eye. —
可以想象，莫雷尔的激动不会逃过蒙特克里斯托敏锐的目光。 —

Monte Cristo was more affectionate than ever,—indeed, his manner was so kind that several times Morrel was on the point of telling him all. —
蒙特克里斯托比以往更加深情款款，甚至有几次莫雷尔差点想把全部事情告诉他。 —

But he recalled the promise he had made to Valentine, and kept his secret.
但他回想起与瓦伦丁的承诺，还是保守了秘密。

The young man read Valentine’s letter twenty times in the course of the day. —
这一天，莫雷尔读了瓦伦丁的信二十次。 —

It was her first, and on what an occasion! —
这是她的第一封信，而且还在这样的场合下！ —

Each time he read it he renewed his vow to make her happy. —
每次读信时，他都重申自己要让她幸福的誓言。 —

How great is the power of a woman who has made so courageous a resolution! —
多么伟大的力量能使一个女人下如此勇敢的决定啊！ —

What devotion does she deserve from him for whom she has sacrificed everything! —
为了她，她不惜一切牺牲的人应该得到多大的忠诚！ —

How ought she really to be supremely loved! —
她立即成为了女王和妻子，足以让人感激和爱戴她。 —

She becomes at once a queen and a wife, and it is impossible to thank and love her sufficiently.
她应该被至高无上地爱着！

Morrel longed intensely for the moment when he should hear Valentine say, “Here I am, Maximilian; —
莫雷尔非常渴望听到瓦伦丁说的那句“我在这里，马克西米利安；快来帮我。”他已经安排好了她的逃亡计划； —

come and help me.” He had arranged everything for her escape; —
两个梯子藏在三叶草地里； —

two ladders were hidden in the clover-field; —
摘要：蒙特克里斯托比恢复了他以前的热情，实在、善良，心思细致一如往常；他的友善态度让莫雷尔好几次差点忍不住向他诉说一切。但他想起了他对瓦伦丁的承诺，保守了这个秘密。这一天，莫雷尔读了瓦伦丁的信二十次，这封信是她写给他的第一封，而且还是在这样重要的时刻！每次读信都让他再次发誓要让她幸福。真是一个女人多么伟大的力量，她做出了如此勇敢的决定！对于她为他牺牲了一切的人，他应该怀着多么深厚的痴心来爱她啊！她立即成为了女王和妻子，对她的感激和爱戴是无法言喻的。她应该被无限地爱着！莫雷尔热切地期盼着那一刻，瓦伦丁会说：“我在这里，马克西米利安；快来帮我。”他已经为她的逃亡做好了一切准备；两个梯子就藏在三叶草地里。 —

a cabriolet was ordered for Maximilian alone, without a servant, without lights; —
马克西米利安独自一人叫了一辆敞篷车，没有雇佣仆人，也没有点车灯； —

at the turning of the first street they would light the lamps, as it would be foolish to attract the notice of the police by too many precautions. —
在第一个转弯处点亮车灯，因为采取过多的预防措施会引起警察的注意是愚蠢的。 —

Occasionally he shuddered; he thought of the moment when, from the top of that wall, he should protect the descent of his dear Valentine, pressing in his arms for the first time her of whom he had yet only kissed the delicate hand.
他时不时地颤抖；他想象着那一刻，从那堵墙的顶上，他要保护他心爱的瓦伦蒂娜下降，第一次抱着她，他之前只吻过她纤细的手。

When the afternoon arrived and he felt that the hour was drawing near, he wished for solitude, his agitation was extreme; —
当下午到来，他感到时机逼近，他渴望独处，他的不安极度； —

a simple question from a friend would have irritated him. —
一个朋友的简单问题都会激怒他。 —

He shut himself in his room, and tried to read, but his eye glanced over the page without understanding a word, and he threw away the book, and for the second time sat down to sketch his plan, the ladders and the fence.
他关上房门，试图阅读，但他的眼睛只是草草扫过一页也不懂其中的一句话，于是他抛掉了书，第二次坐下来，绘制他的计划，包括梯子和围栏。

At length the hour drew near. Never did a man deeply in love allow the clocks to go on peacefully. —
最后时刻临近了。从来没有一个深深恋爱的人会让钟表平稳地走过去。 —

Morrel tormented his so effectually that they struck eight at half-past six. —
莫雷尔折磨得自己忍不住，到了六点半时就敲起了八下钟声。 —

He then said, “It is time to start; the signature was indeed fixed to take place at nine o’clock, but perhaps Valentine will not wait for that. —
然后他说：“是时候出发了；虽然签名确实定在九点，但也许瓦伦蒂娜不会等那个时候了。” —

” Consequently, Morrel, having left the Rue Meslay at half-past eight by his timepiece, entered the clover-field while the clock of Saint-Philippe-du-Roule was striking eight. —
因此，莫雷尔按照自己的表在八点半离开了麦斯莱街，当圣菲利普-迪鲁尔教堂的钟声敲八下时，他进入了三叶草地。 —

The horse and cabriolet were concealed behind a small ruin, where Morrel had often waited.
马和马车被隐藏在一座小遗址后面，莫雷尔经常在那里等待。

The night gradually drew on, and the foliage in the garden assumed a deeper hue. —
夜色渐渐降临，花园里的树叶变得更深。 —

Then Morrel came out from his hiding-place with a beating heart, and looked through the small opening in the gate; —
然后莫雷尔心急地从藏身之处走出来，透过大门的小孔看去； —

there was yet no one to be seen.
还是没有人出现。

The clock struck half-past eight, and still another half-hour was passed in waiting, while Morrel walked to and fro, and gazed more and more frequently through the opening. —
钟声敲响了八点半，莫雷尔继续等待了半个小时，他来回走动，并越来越频繁地透过小孔张望。 —

The garden became darker still, but in the darkness he looked in vain for the white dress, and in the silence he vainly listened for the sound of footsteps. —
花园变得更加黑暗，但在黑暗中，他徒劳地寻找着白色的裙子，而在寂静中，他徒劳地听着脚步声。 —

The house, which was discernible through the trees, remained in darkness, and gave no indication that so important an event as the signature of a marriage-contract was going on. —
这座房子透过树木依稀可见，仍然黑暗一片，没有任何表明如此重要的事件，比如签署婚约，正在进行。 —

Morrel looked at his watch, which wanted a quarter to ten; —
莫雷尔看了一眼手表，离十点还差一刻钟。 —

but soon the same clock he had already heard strike two or three times rectified the error by striking half-past nine.
但很快他已经听到两三次敲过的同一座钟矫正了错误，敲响了九点半。

This was already half an hour past the time Valentine had fixed. —
这已经是瓦伦蒂娜所定的时间过去了半个小时。 —

It was a terrible moment for the young man. —
对于这个年轻人来说，这是一个可怕的时刻。 —

The slightest rustling of the foliage, the least whistling of the wind, attracted his attention, and drew the perspiration to his brow; —
最轻微的树叶沙沙声，微风的最轻微的呼啸声都能引起他的注意，让他额头冒汗。 —

then he tremblingly fixed his ladder, and, not to lose a moment, placed his foot on the first step. —
然后他颤抖地固定好梯子，为了不浪费一刻钟，将脚踏在第一阶梯上。 —

Amidst all these alternations of hope and fear, the clock struck ten. —
在所有这些希望和担忧的变化中，钟敲响了十点。 —

“It is impossible,” said Maximilian, “that the signing of a contract should occupy so long a time without unexpected interruptions. —
“不可思议，”马克西米连说，“签署合同竟会花费如此长时间，还伴有意外的中断。 —

I have weighed all the chances, calculated the time required for all the forms; —
我已经权衡过所有机会，计算了所有步骤所需的时间； —

something must have happened.”
一定发生了什么事。”

And then he walked rapidly to and fro, and pressed his burning forehead against the fence. —
然后他迅速来回走动，把灼热的额头压在篱笆上。 —

Had Valentine fainted? or had she been discovered and stopped in her flight? —
瓦伦丁晕倒了吗？或者她在逃跑时被发现和阻止了吗？ —

These were the only obstacles which appeared possible to the young man.
这些是年轻人认为唯一可能出现的障碍。

The idea that her strength had failed her in attempting to escape, and that she had fainted in one of the paths, was the one that most impressed itself upon his mind. —
她尝试逃离时力气不够，晕倒在其中一条小径上这个想法最深深地印在他的脑海里。 —

“In that case,” said he, “I should lose her, and by my own fault. —
“如果是那样，”他说，“我会失去她，而且是自己的过错。 —

” He dwelt on this idea for a moment, then it appeared reality. —
”他停留在这个想法上片刻，然后它变成了现实。 —

He even thought he could perceive something on the ground at a distance; —
他甚至认为远处地上有什么东西； —

he ventured to call, and it seemed to him that the wind wafted back an almost inarticulate sigh.
他冒险呼喊，似乎风将一个几乎无法言喻的叹息吹回来。

At last the half-hour struck. It was impossible to wait longer, his temples throbbed violently, his eyes were growing dim; —
最后半小时敲响了。再等下去是不可能的，他的太阳穴剧烈跳动，眼睛开始昏暗； —

he passed one leg over the wall, and in a moment leaped down on the other side. —
他一脚跨过墙，一下子跳下来。 —

He was on Villefort’s premises—had arrived there by scaling the wall. —
他已经来到了维尔福家的地盘上，通过翻墙进来了。 —

What might be the consequences? However, he had not ventured thus far to draw back. —
后果可能会是什么呢？然而，他没有冒险到如此地步来退缩。 —

He followed a short distance close under the wall, then crossed a path, hid entered a clump of trees. —
他沿着墙近距离地前进了一段路程，然后穿过了一条小路，进入了一丛树林。 —

In a moment he had passed through them, and could see the house distinctly.
转眼间，他已经穿过了树林，可以清楚地看到房子了。

Then Morrel saw that he had been right in believing that the house was not illuminated. —
随后，莫雷尔发现自己相信房子没有亮灯是正确的。 —

Instead of lights at every window, as is customary on days of ceremony, he saw only a gray mass, which was veiled also by a cloud, which at that moment obscured the moon’s feeble light. —
与在庆典日常见的每个窗户都亮灯不同，他只看到了一个灰色的团块，也被一层云遮蔽着，此刻云层遮住了月亮微弱的光芒。 —

A light moved rapidly from time to time past three windows of the second floor. —
一个灯光不时地从二楼的三扇窗户前快速移动。 —

These three windows were in Madame de Saint-Méran’s room. —
这三扇窗户在圣梅兰夫人的房间里。 —

Another remained motionless behind some red curtains which were in Madame de Villefort’s bedroom. —
另一个则静止不动地待在了Madame de Villefort的卧室后面的一堆红色帷幕后。 —

Morrel guessed all this. So many times, in order to follow Valentine in thought at every hour in the day, had he made her describe the whole house, that without having seen it he knew it all.
Morrel猜到了这一切。为了在一天当中能想起Valentine的一切，他曾让她描述整个房子，所以即使没有亲眼看到，他也了解了一切。

This darkness and silence alarmed Morrel still more than Valentine’s absence had done. —
这种黑暗和寂静比Valentine的缺席更让Morrel担心。 —

Almost mad with grief, and determined to venture everything in order to see Valentine once more, and be certain of the misfortune he feared, Morrel gained the edge of the clump of trees, and was going to pass as quickly as possible through the flower-garden, when the sound of a voice, still at some distance, but which was borne upon the wind, reached him. —
在极度悲伤中，决定为了再次见到Valentine并确认他所担心的不幸而冒险的Morrel走到了一丛树边，正准备尽快穿过花园时，他听到了一声声音，虽然还很远，但却随着风传了过来。 —

At this sound, as he was already partially exposed to view, he stepped back and concealed himself completely, remaining perfectly motionless.
听到这个声音，他已经部分暴露在视线中，他后退并完全隐藏起来，保持完全静止。

He had formed his resolution. If it was Valentine alone, he would speak as she passed; —
他已经下定决心。如果是Valentine一个人，他会在她经过时和她说话。 —

if she was accompanied, and he could not speak, still he should see her, and know that she was safe; —
如果她有人陪同，即使他不能说话，他仍应看到她，知道她是安全的； —

if they were strangers, he would listen to their conversation, and might understand something of this hitherto incomprehensible mystery.
如果他们是陌生人，他会听他们的对话，也许能理解到这个此前难以理解的谜团的一些信息。

The moon had just then escaped from behind the cloud which had concealed it, and Morrel saw Villefort come out upon the steps, followed by a gentleman in black. —
月亮恰好从隐藏它的云朵后面露出来，莫雷尔看到维勒福尔特走出台阶，后面跟着一个穿黑色衣服的绅士。 —

They descended, and advanced towards the clump of trees, and Morrel soon recognized the other gentleman as Doctor d’Avrigny.
他们下了楼，朝着树丛走去，莫雷尔很快认出另一个绅士是达芙尼医生。

The young man, seeing them approach, drew back mechanically, until he found himself stopped by a sycamore-tree in the centre of the clump; —
年轻人看到他们走近，下意识地退后，直到他发现自己被树丛中间的一棵悬铃木树挡住； —

there he was compelled to remain. Soon the two gentlemen stopped also.
他被迫在那里停留。很快，两位绅士也停下来。

“Ah, my dear doctor,” said the procureur, “Heaven declares itself against my house! —
“啊，亲爱的医生，”检察官说，“上天已经宣告反对我的家！ —

What a dreadful death—what a blow! Seek not to console me; —
多么可怕的死亡—多么沉重的打击！不要试图安慰我； —

alas, nothing can alleviate so great a sorrow—the wound is too deep and too fresh! Dead, dead!”
唉，没有什么能减轻如此巨大的悲伤—伤口太深太新鲜了！死了，死了！”

The cold sweat sprang to the young man’s brow, and his teeth chattered. —
冷汗从年轻人的额头涌出，牙齿格格作响。 —

Who could be dead in that house, which Villefort himself had called accursed?
到底是谁死在那所被维尔福亲自称之为诅咒的房子里？

“My dear M. de Villefort,” replied the doctor, with a tone which redoubled the terror of the young man, “I have not led you here to console you; —
“我亲爱的维尔福先生”，医生回答道，语气使年轻人的恐惧倍增，“我带你来这里不是来安慰你； —

on the contrary——”
相反地——”

“What can you mean?” asked the procureur, alarmed.
“你是什么意思？”维尔福问道，感到惊慌。

“I mean that behind the misfortune which has just happened to you, there is another, perhaps, still greater.”
“我是说，在刚刚发生在你身上的不幸背后，可能还有另一个，也许更大的不幸。”

“Can it be possible?” murmured Villefort, clasping his hands. —
“这难道可能吗？”维尔福喃喃自语，双手紧握。 —

“What are you going to tell me?”
“你要告诉我什么？”

“Are we quite alone, my friend?”
“我们是完全单独的，我的朋友吗？”

“Yes, quite; but why all these precautions?”
“是的，完全单独；但为什么要这样小心呢？”

“Because I have a terrible secret to communicate to you,” said the doctor. —
“因为我有一个可怕的秘密要告诉你，”医生说。 —

“Let us sit down.”
“让我们坐下。”

Villefort fell, rather than seated himself. —
Villefort 坐下，而不是坐下。 —

The doctor stood before him, with one hand placed on his shoulder. —
医生站在他面前，一只手放在他的肩膀上。 —

Morrel, horrified, supported his head with one hand, and with the other pressed his heart, lest its beatings should be heard. —
Morrel 惊恐地用一只手支撑着自己的头，用另一只手按着自己的心脏，以免听到它的跳动声。 —

“Dead, dead!” repeated he within himself; —
“死了，死了！”他自言自语。 —

and he felt as if he were also dying.
他感觉自己也要死了。

“Speak, doctor—I am listening,” said Villefort; “strike—I am prepared for everything!”
“说吧，医生—我在听着，”Villefort 说，“打吧—我已经做好了一切准备！”

“Madame de Saint-Méran was, doubtless, advancing in years, but she enjoyed excellent health. —
“圣梅朗夫人无疑已经年纪大了，但她身体状况很好。 —

” Morrel began again to breathe freely, which he had not done during the last ten minutes.
Morrel 开始再次自由呼吸，这在过去的十分钟里他都没有做到。

“Grief has consumed her,” said Villefort—“yes, grief, doctor! —
“悲伤消磨了她，”Villefort 说，“是的，悲伤，医生！ —

After living forty years with the marquis——”
在和侯爵生活了四十年之后——”

“It is not grief, my dear Villefort,” said the doctor; —
“亲爱的维尔福，这不是悲伤，”医生说； —

“grief may kill, although it rarely does, and never in a day, never in an hour, never in ten minutes. —
“悲伤可能会导致死亡，尽管很少发生，而且绝不是一天，绝不是一个小时，绝不是十分钟之内。 —

” Villefort answered nothing, he simply raised his head, which had been cast down before, and looked at the doctor with amazement.
”维尔福什么也没回答，他只是抬起了头，之前一直低着，惊讶地看着医生。

“Were you present during the last struggle?” asked M. d’Avrigny.
“你在最后一搏斗期间在场吗？” d’Avrigny先生问道。

“I was,” replied the procureur; “you begged me not to leave.”
“是的，”检察官回答道，“你曾请求我不要离开。”

“Did you notice the symptoms of the disease to which Madame de Saint-Méran has fallen a victim?”
“您注意到圣梅兰夫人所患疾病的症状了吗？”

“I did. Madame de Saint-Méran had three successive attacks, at intervals of some minutes, each one more serious than the former. —
“是的。圣梅兰夫人有连续三次的发作，间隔数分钟，每次比前一次更严重。 —

When you arrived, Madame de Saint-Méran had already been panting for breath some minutes; —
当您到达时，圣梅兰夫人已经气喘吁吁了几分钟； —

she then had a fit, which I took to be simply a nervous attack, and it was only when I saw her raise herself in the bed, and her limbs and neck appear stiffened, that I became really alarmed. —
—

Then I understood from your countenance there was more to fear than I had thought. —
然后我从你的面色中明白，要比我想的更加可怕。 —

This crisis past, I endeavored to catch your eye, but could not. —
这场危机过去后，我努力想要引起你的注意，但没有成功。 —

You held her hand—you were feeling her pulse—and the second fit came on before you had turned towards me. —
你握住她的手——正在感受她的脉搏——而第二次痉挛发作时你还没有转向我。 —

This was more terrible than the first; the same nervous movements were repeated, and the mouth contracted and turned purple.”
这比第一次更加可怕；同样的神经运动重复出现，嘴唇收缩并变成紫色。

“And at the third she expired.”
“在第三次发作时她去世了。”

“At the end of the first attack I discovered symptoms of tetanus; you confirmed my opinion.”
“在第一次发作结束时，我发现了破伤风的症状；你证实了我的观点。”

“Yes, before others,” replied the doctor; “but now we are alone——”
“是的，在别人面前，”医生回答道；”但现在我们两个人在这里——”

“What are you going to say? Oh, spare me!”
“你要说什么？哦，饶了我吧！”

“That the symptoms of tetanus and poisoning by vegetable substances are the same.”
“破伤风和植物毒素中毒的症状是相同的。”

M. de Villefort started from his seat, then in a moment fell down again, silent and motionless. —
维尔福先生从座位上跳了起来，然后片刻后又沉下去，一言不发，一动不动。 —

Morrel knew not if he were dreaming or awake.
莫雷尔不知道自己是在做梦还是清醒。

“Listen,” said the doctor; “I know the full importance of the statement I have just made, and the disposition of the man to whom I have made it.”
“听着，”医生说，“我知道我刚才所说的话的重要性，也知道我对这个人的处置。”

“Do you speak to me as a magistrate or as a friend?” asked Villefort.
“你是以法官的身份还是朋友的身份跟我说话？”维勒福问道。

“As a friend, and only as a friend, at this moment. —
“此刻，只以朋友的身份跟你说话。” —

The similarity in the symptoms of tetanus and poisoning by vegetable substances is so great, that were I obliged to affirm by oath what I have now stated, I should hesitate; —
阵颤和蔬菜中毒的症状相似，我若不得不宣誓我所陈述的内容，我会犹豫的。 —

I therefore repeat to you, I speak not to a magistrate, but to a friend. —
所以我再次告诉你，我不是在对法官说话，而是对朋友说话。 —

And to that friend I say, ‘During the three-quarters of an hour that the struggle continued, I watched the convulsions and the death of Madame de Saint-Méran, and am thoroughly convinced that not only did her death proceed from poison, but I could also specify the poison.’”
并且对那位朋友我说，“在持续三刻钟的斗争中，我目睹了圣梅兰夫人的痉挛和死亡，我深信她的死亡不仅因为中毒，我还能具体说明中毒的种类。”

“Can it be possible?”
“这可能吗？”

“The symptoms are marked, do you see?—sleep broken by nervous spasms, excitation of the brain, torpor of the nerve centres. —
“症状很明显，你看到了吗？——不断被神经痉挛打破的睡眠，大脑的兴奋，神经中枢的麻痹。” —

Madame de Saint-Méran succumbed to a powerful dose of brucine or of strychnine, which by some mistake, perhaps, has been given to her.”
圣梅朗夫人因误服了一剂强力的布鲁辛或马钱子碱而不幸身亡。

Villefort seized the doctor’s hand.
维勒福医生抓住了医生的手。

“Oh, it is impossible,” said he, “I must be dreaming! —
“哦，这不可能，”他说，“我一定在做梦！” —

It is frightful to hear such things from such a man as you! —
这样一个人竟然说出这样的事情，太可怕了！ —

Tell me, I entreat you, my dear doctor, that you may be deceived.”
我请求你告诉我，亲爱的医生，希望你被欺骗了。

“Doubtless I may, but——”
“我当然有可能被骗，但是——”

“But?”
“但是？”

“But I do not think so.”
“但是我不这样认为。”

“Have pity on me doctor! So many dreadful things have happened to me lately that I am on the verge of madness.”
“医生，请怜悯我！最近发生了太多可怕的事情，我快要发疯了。”

“Has anyone besides me seen Madame de Saint-Méran?”
“除了我之外，还有其他人见过圣梅朗夫人吗？”

“No.”
“没有。”

“Has anything been sent for from a chemist’s that I have not examined?”
“有没有从药房订购什么东西，我没有检查过的？”

“Nothing.”
“没有。”

“Had Madame de Saint-Méran any enemies?”
“圣梅朗夫人有仇人吗？”

“Not to my knowledge.”
“据我所知没有。”

“Would her death affect anyone’s interest?”
“她的死会影响任何人的利益吗？”

“It could not indeed, my daughter is her only heiress—Valentine alone. —
“确实不会，我的女儿是她唯一的继承人——只有瓦伦丁。” —

Oh, if such a thought could present itself, I would stab myself to punish my heart for having for one instant harbored it.”
“哦，如果这样的想法能出现，我会刺伤自己来惩罚自己的心，因为它曾经一瞬间怀有过这个想法。”

“Indeed, my dear friend,” said M. d’Avrigny, “I would not accuse anyone; —
“确实，亲爱的朋友，我不会指责任何人； —

I speak only of an accident, you understand,—of a mistake, —but whether accident or mistake, the fact is there; —
我只是说一个意外，你明白吗——一个错误——但无论是意外还是错误，事实就在那里； —

it is on my conscience and compels me to speak aloud to you. Make inquiry.”
这让我良心过不下去，所以我不得不明确告诉你。去调查一下。”

“Of whom?—how?—of what?”
“调查谁？——怎么调查？——调查什么？”

“May not Barrois, the old servant, have made a mistake, and have given Madame de Saint-Méran a dose prepared for his master?”
“巴罗瓦，老仆人，是不是弄错了，给圣梅兰夫人吃了原准备给主人的剂量？”

“For my father?”
“给我父亲？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“But how could a dose prepared for M. Noirtier poison Madame de Saint-Méran?”
“但是为什么一剂准备给努尔缇尔先生的剂量会毒死圣梅兰夫人？”

“Nothing is more simple. You know poisons become remedies in certain diseases, of which paralysis is one. —
“再没有比这更简单的事了。你知道在某些疾病中，毒药可以成为治疗方法，比如瘫痪。” —

For instance, having tried every other remedy to restore movement and speech to M. Noirtier, I resolved to try one last means, and for three months I have been giving him brucine; —
例如，我已尝试过所有其他方法来恢复诺尔缇尔先生的运动和言语能力，于是我决定尝试最后的方法，三个月来我一直给他服用布鲁辛； —

so that in the last dose I ordered for him there were six grains. —
所以在我为他最后一次剂量中给了他六粒。 —

This quantity, which is perfectly safe to administer to the paralyzed frame of M. Noirtier, which has become gradually accustomed to it, would be sufficient to kill another person.”
这个剂量对于诺尔缇尔先生瘫痪的身体来说是完全安全的，因为他已经逐渐适应了它，但是这个剂量足以致另一个人于死地。”

“My dear doctor, there is no communication between M. Noirtier’s apartment and that of Madame de Saint-Méran, and Barrois never entered my mother-in-law’s room. —
“亲爱的医生，诺尔缇尔先生的住所与圣麦蓝夫人的房间之间没有任何联系，巴罗瓦从未进入我岳母的房间。 —

In short, doctor although I know you to be the most conscientious man in the world, and although I place the utmost reliance in you, I want, notwithstanding my conviction, to believe this axiom, errare humanum est.”
总之，医生，虽然我知道您是世上最认真的人，虽然我对您完全信赖，但是我想，尽管我深信不疑地相信这个公理，也许犯错误是人性的。”

“Is there one of my brethren in whom you have equal confidence with myself?”
“在我之外，你还有谁是你同样有信心的同行吗？”

“Why do you ask me that?—what do you wish?”
“你为什么问我这个问题？你想要什么？”

“Send for him; I will tell him what I have seen, and we will consult together, and examine the body.”
“派人叫他来；我会告诉他我看到了什么，我们将一起商议，并检查尸体。”

“And you will find traces of poison?”
“你会找到毒物的痕迹吗？”

“No, I did not say of poison, but we can prove what was the state of the body; —
“不，我没有说是毒物，但我们可以证明尸体的状态； —

we shall discover the cause of her sudden death, and we shall say, ‘Dear Villefort, if this thing has been caused by negligence, watch over your servants; —
我们会发现她突然死亡的原因，并告诉维尔福先生，‘亲爱的维尔福，如果这是因为疏忽造成的，请留心你的仆人； —

if from hatred, watch your enemies.’”
如果是出于仇恨，请注意你的敌人。’”

“What do you propose to me, d’Avrigny?” said Villefort in despair; —
“你对我有何提议，达维尼？”维尔福失望地问道； —

“so soon as another is admitted into our secret, an inquest will become necessary; —
“一旦我们的秘密暴露给别人，就会有必要展开调查； —

and an inquest in my house—impossible! —
在我的家里进行调查—不可能！ —

Still,” continued the procureur, looking at the doctor with uneasiness, “if you wish it—if you demand it, why then it shall be done. —
不过，”检察官继续不安地看着医生说道，“如果你希望，如果你要求，那就这样做。 —

But, doctor, you see me already so grieved—how can I introduce into my house so much scandal, after so much sorrow? —
但是，医生，你看到我已经如此悲伤—在经历了如此多的悲痛之后，我怎么能把这么大的丑闻引入我的家庭？ —

My wife and my daughter would die of it! —
我的妻子和女儿会因此而死！” —

And I, doctor—you know a man does not arrive at the post I occupy—one has not been king’s attorney twenty-five years without having amassed a tolerable number of enemies; —
而且，医生，你应该知道，一个人不可能到达我现在的职位，而没有积累一大堆敌人； —

mine are numerous. Let this affair be talked of, it will be a triumph for them, which will make them rejoice, and cover me with shame. —
我的敌人可不少。如果这个事情被讨论出来，对于他们来说将是一场胜利，他们会为此高兴，而我将蒙羞。 —

Pardon me, doctor, these worldly ideas; were you a priest I should not dare tell you that, but you are a man, and you know mankind. —
请原谅我，医生，我是在说这些世俗的想法；如果你是一名牧师，我是不敢这样告诉你的，但你是一个人，你了解人性。 —

Doctor, pray recall your words; you have said nothing, have you?”
请回忆一下你刚才说过的话；你没有说什么，对吗？

“My dear M. de Villefort,” replied the doctor, “my first duty is to humanity. —
“亲爱的维尔福先生，”医生回答道，“我的首要责任是对人类负责。 —

I would have saved Madame de Saint-Méran, if science could have done it; —
如果科学可以做到的话，我本来会拯救圣梅兰夫人的； —

but she is dead and my duty regards the living. —
但她已经去世了，我的责任在于那些还活着的人。 —

Let us bury this terrible secret in the deepest recesses of our hearts; —
让我们把这个可怕的秘密埋藏在我们内心最深的地方吧； —

I am willing, if anyone should suspect this, that my silence on the subject should be imputed to my ignorance. —
如果有人怀疑这件事，我愿意让人们认为我对此一无所知，我的沉默是出于无知。” —

Meanwhile, sir, watch always—watch carefully, for perhaps the evil may not stop here. —
同时，先生，请时刻保持警惕——务必小心观察，因为恶劣的事情可能并不会止步于此。 —

And when you have found the culprit, if you find him, I will say to you, ‘You are a magistrate, do as you will!’”
当你找到凶手时，如果你能找到他的话，我会对你说：“你是个法官，随你所愿！”

“I thank you, doctor,” said Villefort with indescribable joy; —
“谢谢您，医生，”维尔福充满难以言喻的喜悦地说道； —

“I never had a better friend than you. —
“我从来没有比你更好的朋友了。” —

” And, as if he feared Doctor d’Avrigny would recall his promise, he hurried him towards the house.
他说完这话，好像生怕达维尼医生会收回他的承诺，他就匆匆地把他带向了房子。

When they were gone, Morrel ventured out from under the trees, and the moon shone upon his face, which was so pale it might have been taken for that of a ghost.
他们一走，莫雷尔冒险从树下走出来，月光照在他苍白的脸上，几乎可以被误认为是幽灵的脸。

“I am manifestly protected in a most wonderful, but most terrible manner,” said he; —
“我显然以一种非常奇妙但可怕的方式得到了保护，”他说； —

“but Valentine, poor girl, how will she bear so much sorrow?”
“但是瓦伦蒂娜，可怜的女孩，她将如何承受如此多的悲伤？”

As he thought thus, he looked alternately at the window with red curtains and the three windows with white curtains. —
他这样想着，交替地望着带有红色窗帘的窗户和带有白色窗帘的三扇窗户。 —

The light had almost disappeared from the former; —
前者的光线几乎已经消失了； —

doubtless Madame de Villefort had just put out her lamp, and the nightlamp alone reflected its dull light on the window. —
毫无疑问，维尔福夫人刚刚熄灭了她的灯，只有夜灯在窗户上映出暗淡的光芒。 —

At the extremity of the building, on the contrary, he saw one of the three windows open. —
与建筑物的尽头相反，他看见三扇窗户中的一扇是开着的。 —

A wax-light placed on the mantle-piece threw some of its pale rays without, and a shadow was seen for one moment on the balcony. —
壁炉架上放着一支蜡烛，将一些苍白的光线投射到了外面，露台上的一个影子出现了一瞬间。 —

Morrel shuddered; he thought he heard a sob.
莫雷尔感到颤抖，他以为自己听到了一声呜咽。

It cannot be wondered at that his mind, generally so courageous, but now disturbed by the two strongest human passions, love and fear, was weakened even to the indulgence of superstitious thoughts. —
由于爱情和恐惧这两种最强烈的人类情感的困扰，他的思维被削弱到甚至纵容迷信的程度，这并不令人惊讶。 —

Although it was impossible that Valentine should see him, hidden as he was, he thought he heard the shadow at the window call him; —
尽管瓦伦丁不可能看见他，因为他藏得好，但他觉得在窗户上的影子叫了他一声。 —

his disturbed mind told him so. This double error became an irresistible reality, and by one of the incomprehensible transports of youth, he bounded from his hiding-place, and with two strides, at the risk of being seen, at the risk of alarming Valentine, at the risk of being discovered by some exclamation which might escape the young girl, he crossed the flower-garden, which by the light of the moon resembled a large white lake, and having passed the rows of orange-trees which extended in front of the house, he reached the step, ran quickly up and pushed the door, which opened without offering any resistance.
他饱受困扰的思维告诉他如此。这种双重错误成为了一种不可抗拒的现实，年轻时的他在难以理解的情感驱使下，从藏身之处跳了出来。他冒着被发现的风险，冒着惊动瓦伦丁的风险，冒着被年轻姑娘发现而发出的惊叫的风险，穿过花园，利用月光下看上去像是一个巨大的白色湖泊的花园。经过延伸在房子前面的一排橘树，他走上台阶，迅速推开门，门毫不抵抗地打开了。

Valentine had not seen him. Her eyes, raised towards heaven, were watching a silvery cloud gliding over the azure, its form that of a shadow mounting towards heaven. —
瓦伦丁没有看到他。她的目光朝天空抬起，看着一朵银白色的云在蔚蓝的天空中滑过，它的形状犹如一团升向天堂的阴影。 —

Her poetic and excited mind pictured it as the soul of her grandmother.
她那富有诗意且兴奋的思绪将其描绘成她祖母的灵魂。

Meanwhile, Morrel had traversed the anteroom and found the staircase, which, being carpeted, prevented his approach being heard, and he had regained that degree of confidence that the presence of M. de Villefort even would not have alarmed him. —
与此同时，莫雷尔穿过前厅，找到了楼梯。楼梯上铺着地毯，不会发出声响，他重新恢复了一点自信，即使有德维尔福先生的出现也不会惊慌失措。 —

He was quite prepared for any such encounter. —
他已经做好了这样的遭遇的准备。 —

He would at once approach Valentine’s father and acknowledge all, begging Villefort to pardon and sanction the love which united two fond and loving hearts. Morrel was mad.
他将立即接近瓦伦丁的父亲，坦白一切，并请求维尔福先生原谅并认可这两颗热烈相爱的心。莫雷尔疯了。

Happily he did not meet anyone. Now, especially, did he find the description Valentine had given of the interior of the house useful to him; —
幸运的是他没有遇见任何人。此刻，瓦伦丁对房子内部的描述对他很有用； —

he arrived safely at the top of the staircase, and while he was feeling his way, a sob indicated the direction he was to take. —
他安全地抵达了楼梯顶端，当他摸索着前进时，一声哭泣指示了他应该走的方向。 —

He turned back, a door partly open enabled him to see his road, and to hear the voice of one in sorrow. —
他转身，一扇半开的门使他能看到前行的路，并听见一个人的悲伤声音。 —

He pushed the door open and entered. At the other end of the room, under a white sheet which covered it, lay the corpse, still more alarming to Morrel since the account he had so unexpectedly overheard. —
他推开门走了进去。在房间的另一端，被一张盖着的白布覆盖着的尸体令莫雷尔越发震惊，因为他意外地听到了关于这件事的描述。 —

By its side, on her knees, and with her head buried in the cushion of an easy-chair, was Valentine, trembling and sobbing, her hands extended above her head, clasped and stiff. —
在尸体旁边，瓦伦丁跪在一张扶手椅上，把头埋在靠垫里，颤抖着哭泣，双手高举过头顶，紧握在一起，僵硬不动。 —

She had turned from the window, which remained open, and was praying in accents that would have affected the most unfeeling; —
她从窗户转过身来，窗户仍然敞开着，用一种可能感动最冷漠的口气祈祷着； —

her words were rapid, incoherent, unintelligible, for the burning weight of grief almost stopped her utterance.
她的话语快速、混乱、难以理解，因为极度悲伤的重负几乎使她无法说话。

The moon shining through the open blinds made the lamp appear to burn paler, and cast a sepulchral hue over the whole scene. —
透过敞开的百叶窗，月光使灯光看起来变得苍白，给整个场景投下了一种阴森的色调。 —

Morrel could not resist this; he was not exemplary for piety, he was not easily impressed, but Valentine suffering, weeping, wringing her hands before him, was more than he could bear in silence. —
莫雷尔无法忍受这一切；他不是虔诚的人，也不容易被打动，但面对着薇伦丁的痛苦、哭泣和在他面前握紧双手的样子，他无法保持沉默。 —

He sighed, and whispered a name, and the head bathed in tears and pressed on the velvet cushion of the chair—a head like that of a Magdalen by Correggio—was raised and turned towards him. —
他叹了口气，轻声喃喃一个名字，那张垂满泪水、靠在绒布垫子上的头——如同科雷吉奥的洗礼者玛利亚一样的头——抬起来转向他。 —

Valentine perceived him without betraying the least surprise. —
瓦伦丁毫不露出丝毫惊讶地看到了他。 —

A heart overwhelmed with one great grief is insensible to minor emotions. —
沉浸在巨大悲痛中的心对细微的情感麻木不仁。 —

Morrel held out his hand to her. Valentine, as her only apology for not having met him, pointed to the corpse under the sheet, and began to sob again.
莫雷尔向她伸出了手。瓦伦丁没有与他见面的任何借口，只是指着被白布遮盖的尸体，又开始哭泣起来。

Neither dared for some time to speak in that room. —
在那个房间里，两人都不敢说话。 —

They hesitated to break the silence which death seemed to impose; —
他们犹豫着打破这死亡强加的寂静； —

at length Valentine ventured.
最终，瓦伦丁冒险开口了。

“My friend,” said she, “how came you here? —
“朋友，”她说，“你怎么来这里的？ —

Alas, I would say you are welcome, had not death opened the way for you into this house.”
唉，我要说你是受欢迎的，如果不是死神为你开辟了这条进入屋子的道路。”

“Valentine,” said Morrel with a trembling voice, “I had waited since half-past eight, and did not see you come; —
“瓦伦丁，”莫雷尔颤抖着声音说道，“我等了自从八点半以来，却没有看到你的到来； —

I became uneasy, leaped the wall, found my way through the garden, when voices conversing about the fatal event——”
我感到不安，跃过围墙，穿过花园，当时有些人在谈论那个致命的事件——”

“What voices?” asked Valentine. Morrel shuddered as he thought of the conversation of the doctor and M. de Villefort, and he thought he could see through the sheet the extended hands, the stiff neck, and the purple lips.
“是什么声音？”瓦伦丁问道。莫雷尔想起医生和维尔福先生的对话，不由得打了个寒颤，他觉得他可以透过窗帘看到伸展的手、僵硬的脖颈和紫色的嘴唇。

“Your servants,” said he, “who were repeating the whole of the sorrowful story; —
“是你的仆人们，他们一直在重复那个令人悲伤的故事； —

from them I learned it all.”
通过他们我了解了所有的事情。”

“But it was risking the failure of our plan to come up here, love.”
“但是来到这里就冒险破坏我们的计划了，亲爱的。”

“Forgive me,” replied Morrel; “I will go away.”
“请原谅我，”莫雷尔回答道，“我会离开的。”

“No,” said Valentine, “you might meet someone; stay.”
“不，”瓦伦丁说，“你可能会碰到人，留下来吧。”

“But if anyone should come here——”
“但是如果有人来了——”

The young girl shook her head. “No one will come,” said she; —
年轻女孩摇了摇头。“不会有人来，”她说； —

“do not fear, there is our safeguard,” pointing to the bed.
“不要害怕，我们有床作保护，”指着床。

“But what has become of M. d’Épinay?” replied Morrel.
“但是d’Épinay先生怎么样了？”莫雷尔回答道。

“M. Franz arrived to sign the contract just as my dear grandmother was dying.”
“正当我亲爱的祖母去世时，弗朗茨先生赶到这里签署合同。”

“Alas,” said Morrel with a feeling of selfish joy; —
“唉，”莫雷尔自私地欢呼道; —

for he thought this death would cause the wedding to be postponed indefinitely.
因为他以为这场死亡将会无限期地推迟婚礼。

“But what redoubles my sorrow,” continued the young girl, as if this feeling was to receive its immediate punishment, “is that the poor old lady, on her death-bed, requested that the marriage might take place as soon as possible; —
“但是令我悲伤加倍的是，”年轻女孩继续说，仿佛这种感受将立即受到惩罚，“可怜的老太太在临终前请求尽快举行婚礼; —

she also, thinking to protect me, was acting against me.”
她也是为了保护我而与我为敌。”

“Hark!” said Morrel. They both listened; —
“听！”莫雷尔说。他们都听着; —

steps were distinctly heard in the corridor and on the stairs.
走廊和楼梯上清晰地传来脚步声。

“It is my father, who has just left his study.”
“那是我父亲，他刚刚离开书房。”

“To accompany the doctor to the door,” added Morrel.
“去送医生出门，”莫雷尔补充道。

“How do you know it is the doctor?” asked Valentine, astonished.
“你怎么知道是医生？”瓦伦蒂娜惊讶地问道。

“I imagined it must be,” said Morrel.
“我猜想应该是，”莫雷尔说。

Valentine looked at the young man; they heard the street door close, then M. de Villefort locked the garden door, and returned upstairs. —
瓦伦蒂娜看着年轻人;他们听到了街门关上的声音，然后维勒福爵士锁上了花园门，回到楼上。 —

He stopped a moment in the anteroom, as if hesitating whether to turn to his own apartment or into Madame de Saint-Méran’s; —
他在前厅犹豫了一下，似乎不知是去自己的公寓还是去圣梅兰夫人的那边。 —

Morrel concealed himself behind a door; Valentine remained motionless, grief seeming to deprive her of all fear. —
莫雷尔躲在一扇门后面；瓦伦丁一动不动，悲伤似乎让她丧失了所有的恐惧。 —

M. de Villefort passed on to his own room.
威尔福先生走进了自己的房间。

“Now,” said Valentine, “you can neither go out by the front door nor by the garden.”
“现在，”瓦伦丁说，“你既不能从前门出去，也不能从花园出去。”

Morrel looked at her with astonishment.
莫雷尔惊讶地看着她。

“There is but one way left you that is safe,” said she; —
“你只剩下一条安全的去路了，”她说； —

“it is through my grandfather’s room. —
“那就是通过我祖父的房间。 —

” She rose. “Come,” she added.
”她站起来。“来吧，”她补充道。

“Where?” asked Maximilian.
“去哪里？”马克西米利安问道。

“To my grandfather’s room.”
“去我祖父的房间。”

“I in M. Noirtier’s apartment?”
“我去诺蒂埃先生的房间？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Can you mean it, Valentine?”
“你是认真的，瓦伦丁吗？”

“I have long wished it; he is my only remaining friend and we both need his help,—come.”
“我早就希望这样了；他是我唯一剩下的朋友，我们都需要他的帮助，来吧。”

“Be careful, Valentine,” said Morrel, hesitating to comply with the young girl’s wishes; —
“小心点，瓦伦丁，”莫雷尔犹豫着是否按照这位年轻女孩的意愿行动； —

“I now see my error—I acted like a madman in coming in here. —
“我现在认识到我的错误了 - 我在进来时像个疯子一样行动。 —

Are you sure you are more reasonable?”
“你确定你更合理吗？”

“Yes,” said Valentine; “and I have but one scruple, —that of leaving my dear grandmother’s remains, which I had undertaken to watch.”
“是的，”瓦伦泰娜说，“我只有一个顾虑 - 离开我亲爱的祖母的遗体，我已经答应照看。”

“Valentine,” said Morrel, “death is in itself sacred.”
“瓦伦泰娜，”莫雷尔说，“死亡本身是神圣的。”

“Yes,” said Valentine; “besides, it will not be for long.”
“是的，”瓦伦泰娜说，“而且不会太长。”

She then crossed the corridor, and led the way down a narrow staircase to M. Noirtier’s room; —
然后她穿过走廊，带着窄窄的楼梯来到M. 诺提尔的房间； —

Morrel followed her on tiptoe; at the door they found the old servant.
莫雷尔踮起脚尖跟在她后面；门口他们遇到了老仆人。

“Barrois,” said Valentine, “shut the door, and let no one come in.”
“巴罗瓦，”瓦伦泰娜说，“关上门，不要让任何人进来。”

She passed first.
她先前。

Noirtier, seated in his chair, and listening to every sound, was watching the door; —
坐在椅子上听着每一声音的诺提尔眼睛一亮。 —

he saw Valentine, and his eye brightened. —
他看到了瓦伦泰娜，他明亮的眼睛开始询问。 —

There was something grave and solemn in the approach of the young girl which struck the old man, and immediately his bright eye began to interrogate.
年轻女孩的举止庄重而庄重，老人被打动了，他的明亮眼睛立刻开始询问。

“Dear grandfather.” said she hurriedly, “you know poor grandmamma died an hour since, and now I have no friend in the world but you.”
“亲爱的爷爷。”她急切地说，“你知道可怜的奶奶一个小时前去世了，现在世界上我只有你一个朋友了。”

His expressive eyes evinced the greatest tenderness.
他表情丰富的眼睛流露出最深情的柔软。

“To you alone, then, may I confide my sorrows and my hopes?”
“那么，只有你才能倾诉我的悲伤和希望了吗？”

The paralytic motioned “Yes.”
瘫痪的老人示意“是”。

Valentine took Maximilian’s hand.
瓦伦丁握住了马克西米利安的手。

“Look attentively, then, at this gentleman.”
“仔细看，这位先生。”

The old man fixed his scrutinizing gaze with slight astonishment on Morrel.
老人略带惊讶地用审视的目光盯着莫雷尔。

“It is M. Maximilian Morrel,” said she; —
“他是马克西米利安·莫雷尔先生，”她说； —

“the son of that good merchant of Marseilles, whom you doubtless recollect.”
“你无疑还记得那位好商人的儿子来自马赛，”

“Yes,” said the old man.
“记得，”老人说。

“He brings an irreproachable name, which Maximilian is likely to render glorious, since at thirty years of age he is a captain, an officer of the Legion of Honor.”
“他有一个无可挑剔的名字，马克西米利安有可能使其更加辉煌，因为他三十岁时就成为了一名上尉，荣获了荣誉军团的军官。”

The old man signified that he recollected him.
老人表示他记得他。

“Well, grandpapa,” said Valentine, kneeling before him, and pointing to Maximilian, “I love him, and will be only his; —
“好吧，爷爷，”瓦伦丁跪在他面前，指着马克西米利安说道，“我爱他，只愿意属于他”。 —

were I compelled to marry another, I would destroy myself.”
如果我被迫与另一个人结婚，我会毁灭自己。

The eyes of the paralytic expressed a multitude of tumultuous thoughts.
瘫痪者的眼神表达了许多混乱的思绪。

“You like M. Maximilian Morrel, do you not, grandpapa?” asked Valentine.
“你喜欢马克西米利安·莫雷尔先生，是吗，爷爷？”瓦伦丁问道。

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“And you will protect us, who are your children, against the will of my father?”
“你会保护我们这些作为你的孩子，不让父亲的意愿妨碍我们吗？”

Noirtier cast an intelligent glance at Morrel, as if to say, “perhaps I may.”
诺蒂埃向莫雷尔投去了一个聪明的眼神，好像在说“也许我会”。

Maximilian understood him.
马克西米利安明白了他的意思。

“Mademoiselle,” said he, “you have a sacred duty to fulfil in your deceased grandmother’s room, will you allow me the honor of a few minutes’ conversation with M. Noirtier?”
“小姐，”他说，“您有一个神圣的职责要在您已故的祖母的房间里履行，您是否允许我有几分钟与诺蒂埃先生交谈？”

“That is it,” said the old man’s eye. Then he looked anxiously at Valentine.
“就是这样，”老人的眼神说。然后他焦虑地看着瓦伦丁。

“Do you fear he will not understand?”
“您担心他听不懂吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Oh, we have so often spoken of you, that he knows exactly how I talk to you. —
“哦，我们经常谈起您，他对我怎么和您交谈非常了解。” —

” Then turning to Maximilian, with an adorable smile; —
然后瓦伦丁带着一种可爱的微笑转向马克西米利安。 —

although shaded by sorrow,—“He knows everything I know,” said she.
尽管被悲伤所笼罩，她说，“他知道我知道的一切。”

Valentine arose, placed a chair for Morrel, requested Barrois not to admit anyone, and having tenderly embraced her grandfather, and sorrowfully taken leave of Morrel, she went away. —
瓦伦丁站起来，为莫雷尔摆了一把椅子，请求巴罗伊不要让任何人进来，然后她亲切地拥抱了爷爷，伤心地与莫雷尔告别，离开了。 —

To prove to Noirtier that he was in Valentine’s confidence and knew all their secrets, Morrel took the dictionary, a pen, and some paper, and placed them all on a table where there was a light.
为了向努尔提证明他掌握瓦伦丁的信任，知道他们所有的秘密，莫雷尔拿起字典、一支笔和一些纸，将它们放在一张有灯的桌子上。

“But first,” said Morrel, “allow me, sir, to tell you who I am, how much I love Mademoiselle Valentine, and what are my designs respecting her.”
“但是首先，”莫雷尔说，“请允许我告诉您我是谁、我有多爱瓦伦丁小姐，以及我对她的打算。”

Noirtier made a sign that he would listen.
努尔提示意他愿意听。

It was an imposing sight to witness this old man, apparently a mere useless burden, becoming the sole protector, support, and adviser of the lovers who were both young, beautiful, and strong. —
看到这个老人，表面上似乎只是个无用的负担，成为这对年轻、美丽、强壮的恋人的唯一保护者、支持者和顾问，真是一幅令人印象深刻的景象。 —

His remarkably noble and austere expression struck Morrel, who began his story with trembling. —
莫雷尔被他那非常高贵和严肃的表情所感动，颤抖着开始他的故事。 —

He related the manner in which he had become acquainted with Valentine, and how he had loved her, and that Valentine, in her solitude and her misfortune, had accepted the offer of his devotion. —
他讲述了自己与瓦伦丁相识的方式，以及他如何爱上她，瓦伦丁在孤独和不幸中接受了他的献身。 —

He told him his birth, his position, his fortune, and more than once, when he consulted the look of the paralytic, that look answered, “That is good, proceed.”
他告诉他他的出身，他的地位，他的财富，并且不止一次地，当他询问瘫痪老人的眼神时，那个眼神回答：“这很好，继续。”

“And now,” said Morrel, when he had finished the first part of his recital, “now I have told you of my love and my hopes, may I inform you of my intentions?”
“现在，”莫雷尔说，当他讲完他的故事的第一部分时，“现在我告诉你关于我的爱和希望，我能告诉你我的意图吗？”

“Yes,” signified the old man.
“可以的，”老人表示同意。

“This was our resolution; a cabriolet was in waiting at the gate, in which I intended to carry off Valentine to my sister’s house, to marry her, and to wait respectfully M. de Villefort’s pardon.”
“这是我们的决定；一个马车等在门口，我打算带走瓦伦丁去我妹妹的家，与她结婚，并恭敬地等待维尔福先生的赦免。”

“No,” said Noirtier.
“不，”努尔蒂埃说。

“We must not do so?”
“我们不能这样做？”

“No.”
“不。”

“You do not sanction our project?”
“你不赞成我们的计划？”

“No.”
“不。”

“There is another way,” said Morrel. The old man’s interrogative eye said, “Which?”
“还有另一种办法，”莫雷尔说。老人疑问的眼神说：“哪种？”

“I will go,” continued Maximilian, “I will seek M. Franz d’Épinay—I am happy to be able to mention this in Mademoiselle de Villefort’s absence—and will conduct myself toward him so as to compel him to challenge me. —
“我会去的，”马克西米利安继续说，“我会找弗朗茨·德埃皮内，就在德维尔福小姐不在的时候我可以提到这件事情，并且我会让他感到被迫向我发起挑战。” —

” Noirtier’s look continued to interrogate.
诺尔缇耶的目光继续追问。

“You wish to know what I will do?”
“你想知道我会做什么？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“I will find him, as I told you. I will tell him the ties which bind me to Mademoiselle Valentine; —
“我会像我告诉你的那样找到他。我会告诉他我与瓦伦丁小姐的紧密联系； —

if he be a sensible man, he will prove it by renouncing of his own accord the hand of his betrothed, and will secure my friendship, and love until death; —
如果他是个明智的人，他会自愿放弃他未婚妻的手，而且会得到我的友谊和爱直到死亡； —

if he refuse, either through interest or ridiculous pride, after I have proved to him that he would be forcing my wife from me, that Valentine loves me, and will have no other, I will fight with him, give him every advantage, and I shall kill him, or he will kill me; —
如果他拒绝，要么出于利益，要么荒谬的骄傲，当我向他证明他要将我的妻子强行夺走时，瓦伦丁爱我，不会接受别人，我将与他决斗，给他一切优势，我将杀死他，或他将杀死我； —

if I am victorious, he will not marry Valentine, and if I die, I am very sure Valentine will not marry him.”
如果我胜利，他将不会娶瓦伦丁，如果我死去，我很确定瓦伦丁也不会嫁给他。”

Noirtier watched, with indescribable pleasure, this noble and sincere countenance, on which every sentiment his tongue uttered was depicted, adding by the expression of his fine features all that coloring adds to a sound and faithful drawing.
诺蒂尔观察着这位高贵而真诚的面容，对于他的话语所表达的每种情感都在上面得到了体现。他的精致面容所展示的表情，像给一幅声音准确忠实的画作添加上色彩那样。

Still, when Morrel had finished, he shut his eyes several times, which was his manner of saying “No.”
然而，当莫雷尔讲完之后，他闭上了几次眼睛，这是他表示“不”的方式。

“No?” said Morrel; “you disapprove of this second project, as you did of the first?”
“不？”莫雷尔说道，“您不赞成这个第二个计划，就像您不赞成第一个一样？”

“I do,” signified the old man.
“是的”，老人表示。

“But what then must be done?” asked Morrel. —
“那么，应该怎么办？”莫雷尔问道。 —

“Madame de Saint-Méran’s last request was, that the marriage might not be delayed; —
“圣梅兰夫人的最后请求是不能延迟婚礼； —

must I let things take their course?” Noirtier did not move. —
我应该听任事情自然发展吗？”诺蒂尔没有动。 —

“I understand,” said Morrel; “I am to wait.”
“我明白了”，莫雷尔说道，“我会等待。”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“But delay may ruin our plan, sir,” replied the young man. “Alone, Valentine has no power; —
“但是拖延可能会破坏我们的计划，先生”，年轻人回答道，“独自一人，瓦伦蒂娜没有能力； —

she will be compelled to submit. I am here almost miraculously, and can scarcely hope for so good an opportunity to occur again. —
她将被迫屈服。我几乎是奇迹般地来到这里，很难再期待有这么好的机会出现。 —

Believe me, there are only the two plans I have proposed to you; —
相信我，我只提议了这两个计划给你； —

forgive my vanity, and tell me which you prefer. —
原谅我的虚荣心，告诉我你更喜欢哪个； —

Do you authorize Mademoiselle Valentine to intrust herself to my honor?”
你同意瓦伦丁小姐把自己交托给我的名誉吗？

“No.”
不。

“Do you prefer I should seek M. d’Épinay?”
你是希望我去找埃平内先生吗？

“No.”
不。

“Whence then will come the help we need—from chance?” resumed Morrel.
那我们需要的帮助将来自哪里呢？——机会吗？重新开始道：不。

“No.”
是要从你这里得到帮助吗？

“From you?”
是的。

“Yes.”
先生，你能完全理解我的意思吗？请原谅我的迫切，因为我的生命取决于你的答案。

“You thoroughly understand me, sir? Pardon my eagerness, for my life depends on your answer. —
我们的帮助会来自你吗？ —

Will our help come from you?”
是的。

“Yes.”
你对此有把握吗？

“You are sure of it?”
是的。这个回答中蕴含着如此坚定的意愿，至少没人能怀疑到他的决心，即使怀疑到他的能力。

“Yes.” There was so much firmness in the look which gave this answer, no one could, at any rate, doubt his will, if they did his power.
是的。

“Oh, thank you a thousand times! But how, unless a miracle should restore your speech, your gesture, your movement, how can you, chained to that armchair, dumb and motionless, oppose this marriage? —
“哦，千万谢谢！可是，除非奇迹般地恢复了你的说话能力，你的手势，你的动作，否则你被困在那把扶手椅上，无声无动地，又怎么能反对这场婚姻呢？” —

” A smile lit up the old man’s face, a strange smile of the eyes in a paralyzed face.
老人脸上露出了微笑，面容瘫痪的脸上闪烁着奇怪的目光。

“Then I must wait?” asked the young man.
“那么我必须等待？”年轻人问道。

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“But the contract?” The same smile returned. “Will you assure me it shall not be signed?”
“但是合同呢？”同样的微笑回到了他的脸上。“你能保证不签署合同吗？”

“Yes,” said Noirtier.
“是的，”努尔缇埃说道。

“The contract shall not be signed!” cried Morrel. “Oh, pardon me, sir; —
“合同将不会签署！”莫雷尔喊道。“哦，请原谅我，先生； —

I can scarcely realize so great a happiness. —
我难以意识到如此巨大的幸福。 —

Will they not sign it?”
他们不会签字吗？

“No,” said the paralytic. Notwithstanding that assurance, Morrel still hesitated. —
“不会的，”瘫痪的人说道。尽管得到了这个保证，莫雷尔仍然犹豫不决。 —

This promise of an impotent old man was so strange that, instead of being the result of the power of his will, it might emanate from enfeebled organs. —
这个无能老人的承诺是如此奇怪，以至于它可能并非源于他的意志力量，而是来自虚弱的器官。 —

Is it not natural that the madman, ignorant of his folly, should attempt things beyond his power? —
疯子不知道自己的愚蠢，难道不自然地会尝试超越自己能力的事情吗？ —

The weak man talks of burdens he can raise, the timid of giants he can confront, the poor of treasures he spends, the most humble peasant, in the height of his pride, calls himself Jupiter. —
软弱的人会谈论他能举起的负担，胆小的人会谈论他能对抗的巨人，穷人会谈论他花费的财富，最卑微的农民在他的自豪中称自己为朱庇特。 —

Whether Noirtier understood the young man’s indecision, or whether he had not full confidence in his docility, he looked uneasily at him.
诺庄是否理解了年轻人的犹豫不决，或者是否没有完全相信他的顺从，他不安地看着他。

“What do you wish, sir?” asked Morrel; —
“您有什么事吗，先生？”莫雷尔问道。 —

“that I should renew my promise of remaining tranquil? —
“我重新承诺保持安静吗？” —

” Noirtier’s eye remained fixed and firm, as if to imply that a promise did not suffice; —
诺庄的眼睛保持着稳定坚定的目光，仿佛暗示一份承诺是不够的； —

then it passed from his face to his hands.
则转移到了他的脸上和手上。

“Shall I swear to you, sir?” asked Maximilian.
“我要向您坚决发誓吗，先生？” 马克西米利安问道。

“Yes,” said the paralytic with the same solemnity. —
“是的，”瘫痪病人用同样的庄重说道。 —

Morrel understood that the old man attached great importance to an oath. —
莫雷尔明白，这位老人非常看重誓言。 —

He extended his hand.
他伸出手。

“I swear to you, on my honor,” said he, “to await your decision respecting the course I am to pursue with M. d’Épinay.”
“我发誓，以我的荣誉之名，”他说，“等待您对我与爱丽丝·德艾皮奈先生之间的事情做出决定。”

“That is right,” said the old man.
“很好，”老人说道。

“Now,” said Morrel, “do you wish me to retire?”
“现在，”莫雷尔说道，“您希望我离开吗？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

“Without seeing Mademoiselle Valentine?”
“在没有见到瓦伦丁小姐的情况下？”

“Yes.”
“是的。”

Morrel made a sign that he was ready to obey. —
莫雷尔示意他已准备好遵从。 —

“But,” said he, “first allow me to embrace you as your daughter did just now. —
“但是，”他说，“请允许我像刚才您的女儿一样拥抱您一次。” —

” Noirtier’s expression could not be understood. —
诺提尔的表情无法理解。 —

The young man pressed his lips on the same spot, on the old man’s forehead, where Valentine’s had been. —
年轻人将唇印在老人额头的同一个位置，就像瓦伦丁刚才那样。 —

Then he bowed a second time and retired.
然后他再次鞠躬退场。

He found outside the door the old servant, to whom Valentine had given directions. —
他在门外找到了老仆人，瓦伦丁曾给他指示。 —

Morrel was conducted along a dark passage, which led to a little door opening on the garden, soon found the spot where he had entered, with the assistance of the shrubs gained the top of the wall, and by his ladder was in an instant in the clover-field where his cabriolet was still waiting for him. —
莫雷尔被带过一条黑暗的走廊，走到一个通向花园的小门，很快发现了他进入的地方，借助灌木丛爬上了墙顶，然后通过梯子瞬间来到了四叶草地，他的马车仍在等他。 —

He got in it, and thoroughly wearied by so many emotions, arrived about midnight in the Rue Meslay, threw himself on his bed and slept soundly.
他上了车，经历了这么多的情绪激荡后感到疲倦不堪，大约半夜时抵达了梅莱街，扔下自己上床睡得很香。

VOLUME FOUR
第四卷