The night-light continued to burn on the chimney-piece, exhausting the last drops of oil which floated on the surface of the water. —
小夜灯继续在烟囱上燃烧，烧尽了漂浮在水面上的最后一滴油。 —

The globe of the lamp appeared of a reddish hue, and the flame, brightening before it expired, threw out the last flickerings which in an inanimate object have been so often compared with the convulsions of a human creature in its final agonies. —
灯罩呈红色，火焰在熄灭前变得更亮，发出了最后的颤抖，这在无生命物体中常常与人类在最后的痛苦中的抽搐相比较。 —

A dull and dismal light was shed over the bedclothes and curtains surrounding the young girl. All noise in the streets had ceased, and the silence was frightful.
一种黯淡而阴沉的灯光洒在包裹着年轻女孩的床单和窗帘上。街上的一切声音都停止了，寂静令人恐惧。

It was then that the door of Edward’s room opened, and a head we have before noticed appeared in the glass opposite; —
就在这时，爱德华的房间的门打开了，我们之前注意到的一个头出现在对面的镜子中； —

it was Madame de Villefort, who came to witness the effects of the drink she had prepared. —
这是维尔福夫人，她来见证她准备的饮料的效果。 —

She stopped in the doorway, listened for a moment to the flickering of the lamp, the only sound in that deserted room, and then advanced to the table to see if Valentine’s glass were empty. —
她站在门口，听了一会儿灯的颤动声，这是那个废弃的房间里唯一的声音，然后走到桌子前，看看瓦伦丁的杯子是否空了。 —

It was still about a quarter full, as we before stated. —
正如我们之前所述，它仍然大约还有四分之一满。 —

Madame de Villefort emptied the contents into the ashes, which she disturbed that they might the more readily absorb the liquid; —
维尔福夫人把内容物倒进了灰烬中，她搅动它们使其更容易吸收液体； —

then she carefully rinsed the glass, and wiping it with her handkerchief replaced it on the table.
然后她小心地冲洗玻璃，用手绢擦干后放回桌子上。

If anyone could have looked into the room just then he would have noticed the hesitation with which Madame de Villefort approached the bed and looked fixedly on Valentine. —
若是有人此刻能窥见房间内，他会注意到维尔福夫人犹豫不决地走近床边，凝视着瓦伦丁。 —

The dim light, the profound silence, and the gloomy thoughts inspired by the hour, and still more by her own conscience, all combined to produce a sensation of fear; —
暗淡的灯光，庄严的寂静，以及由于时间和她自己的良心所激发出的阴郁的思绪，共同产生了一种恐惧的感觉； —

the poisoner was terrified at the contemplation of her own work.
这个毒药制造者被她自己的作品吓坏了。

At length she rallied, drew aside the curtain, and leaning over the pillow gazed intently on Valentine. —
最后，她振作起来，掀开帷幕，倾身俯在枕头上，紧盯着瓦伦丁。 —

The young girl no longer breathed, no breath issued through the half-closed teeth; —
年轻的女孩再也没有呼吸，半掩的牙齿间没有出气息； —

the white lips no longer quivered—the eyes were suffused with a bluish vapor, and the long black lashes rested on a cheek white as wax. —
白色的嘴唇不再颤抖 – 眼睛上弥漫着一股蓝色的蒸汽，长长的黑色睫毛静静地贴在脸上，皮肤苍白如蜡。 —

Madame de Villefort gazed upon the face so expressive even in its stillness; —
维尔福夫人凝视着这张即使在静止中也充满表情的脸； —

then she ventured to raise the coverlet and press her hand upon the young girl’s heart. —
然后她冒险掀开被子，用手按在年轻女孩的心脏上。 —

It was cold and motionless. She only felt the pulsation in her own fingers, and withdrew her hand with a shudder. —
它冰冷而没有脉搏。她只感到自己手指的搏动，恐惧地抽回手。 —

One arm was hanging out of the bed; from shoulder to elbow it was moulded after the arms of Germain Pillon’s “Graces, ”23 but the fore-arm seemed to be slightly distorted by convulsion, and the hand, so delicately formed, was resting with stiff outstretched fingers on the framework of the bed. —
一只手臂悬挂在床外面；从肩膀到肘部，它仿佛是根据日耳曼·皮隆的《三女神》的手臂雕刻而成的，但是前臂似乎因痉挛而略微变形，那只精致的手指头僵硬地伸在床的框架上。 —

The nails, too, were turning blue.
指甲也开始变蓝。

Madame de Villefort had no longer any doubt; —
维尔福夫人再没有任何疑问； —

all was over—she had consummated the last terrible work she had to accomplish. —
一切都结束了 – 她完成了自己必须完成的最后一项可怕的工作。 —

There was no more to do in the room, so the poisoner retired stealthily, as though fearing to hear the sound of her own footsteps; —
这个房间已经没有更多事情可做了，所以毒药师小心翼翼地退了下去，仿佛害怕听到自己脚步声。 —

but as she withdrew she still held aside the curtain, absorbed in the irresistible attraction always exerted by the picture of death, so long as it is merely mysterious and does not excite disgust.
但在她退走的同时，她仍然扶着窗帘，沉浸在对死亡的无法抗拒的吸引力中，只要它还是神秘的，不会引起厌恶。

The minutes passed; Madame de Villefort could not drop the curtain which she held like a funeral pall over the head of Valentine. —
时间一分一秒过去，维勒福夫人就是无法放下她抓在瓦伦丁头上的窗帘，就像殡葬布一样。 —

She was lost in reverie, and the reverie of crime is remorse.
她陷入了沉思，犯罪的沉思是懊悔。

Just then the lamp again flickered; the noise startled Madame de Villefort, who shuddered and dropped the curtain. —
就在那时，灯再次闪烁；这个声音吓到了维勒福夫人，她颤抖着放下了窗帘。 —

Immediately afterwards the light expired, and the room was plunged in frightful obscurity, while the clock at that minute struck half-past four.
紧接着灯光熄灭了，房间陷入了可怕的黑暗，同时钟表在那一刻敲响了四点半。

Overpowered with agitation, the poisoner succeeded in groping her way to the door, and reached her room in an agony of fear. —
被激动不已的情绪压倒，毒药师终于摸索着到达门口，极度害怕地回到了自己的房间里。 —

The darkness lasted two hours longer; then by degrees a cold light crept through the Venetian blinds, until at length it revealed the objects in the room.
黑暗持续了两个小时更长；然后逐渐通过百叶窗缝间透出一丝寒冷的光线，最终揭示出房间里的物体。

About this time the nurse’s cough was heard on the stairs and the woman entered the room with a cup in her hand. —
大约此时，护士的咳嗽声传到了楼梯上，那个妇女手里捧着一杯走进了房间。 —

To the tender eye of a father or a lover, the first glance would have sufficed to reveal Valentine’s condition; —
对于一个慈父或者一个恋人来说，第一眼就足以显露出瓦伦丁的状况； —

but to this hireling, Valentine only appeared to sleep.
但对于这个雇佣者来说，瓦伦丁只是看起来在睡觉。

“Good,” she exclaimed, approaching the table, “she has taken part of her draught; —
“好了，”她走近桌子，喊道，”她已经喝了一部分药剂； —

the glass is three-quarters empty.”
杯子里的液体只剩下四分之三了。”

Then she went to the fireplace and lit the fire, and although she had just left her bed, she could not resist the temptation offered by Valentine’s sleep, so she threw herself into an armchair to snatch a little more rest. —
然后她去点燃壁炉，虽然她刚刚离开了床，但她无法抗拒瓦伦丁的睡姿所带来的诱惑，于是她扑进一把扶手椅里再抓紧一点休息。 —

The clock striking eight awoke her. Astonished at the prolonged slumber of the patient, and frightened to see that the arm was still hanging out of the bed, she advanced towards Valentine, and for the first time noticed the white lips. —
打八点的钟声吵醒了她。她吃惊地发现病人长时间地睡着了，而且吓坏了，看到手臂仍然悬挂在床外，她走向瓦伦丁，第一次注意到她白得吓人的嘴唇。 —

She tried to replace the arm, but it moved with a frightful rigidity which could not deceive a sick-nurse. —
她试图把手臂放回去，但它僵硬得可怕，让一个护士无法被蒙骗。 —

She screamed aloud; then running to the door exclaimed:
她大声尖叫，然后跑到门口大喊：“救命，救命！”

“Help, help!”
“怎么了？” d’Avrigny先生问道，他正好在这个时间通常去看望她。

“What is the matter?” asked M. d’Avrigny, at the foot of the stairs, it being the hour he usually visited her.
“怎么了？”维勒福先生冲出房间问道。

“What is it?” asked Villefort, rushing from his room. —
“医生，你听到他们在呼救吗？” —

“Doctor, do you hear them call for help?”
“是的，是的，我们赶快上去，声音是从瓦伦丁的房间传来的。”

“Yes, yes; let us hasten up; it was in Valentine’s room.”
但是在医生和父亲赶到房间之前，同一层楼的仆人们已经进来了，他们看到瓦伦丁苍白而动弹不得地躺在床上，抬起双手朝天齐声惊呼，仿佛被闪电击中了一样。

But before the doctor and the father could reach the room, the servants who were on the same floor had entered, and seeing Valentine pale and motionless on her bed, they lifted up their hands towards heaven and stood transfixed, as though struck by lightening.
医生和父亲还未到达房间时，同一层楼的仆人们已经进来了，他们看到瓦伦丁苍白而动弹不得地躺在床上，抬起双手朝天齐声惊呼，仿佛被闪电击中了一样。

“Call Madame de Villefort!—Wake Madame de Villefort! —
“叫维尔福夫人过来！醒来，维尔福夫人！” —

” cried the procureur from the door of his chamber, which apparently he scarcely dared to leave. —
检察官从他的房间门口大声呼喊，显然他几乎不敢离开。 —

But instead of obeying him, the servants stood watching M. d’Avrigny, who ran to Valentine, and raised her in his arms.
但是仆人们没有听从他的命令，而是站着看着阿弗里尼先生，他跑向瓦伦丁，把她抱在怀里。

“What?—this one, too?” he exclaimed. “Oh, where will be the end?”
“什么？这个也死了？”他惊呼道。“哦，这一切会有个结局吗？”

Villefort rushed into the room.
维尔福冲进房间。

“What are you saying, doctor?” he exclaimed, raising his hands to heaven.
“你在说什么，医生？”他举起双手朝天大叫。

“I say that Valentine is dead!” replied d’Avrigny, in a voice terrible in its solemn calmness.
“我说瓦伦丁已经死了！”阿弗里尼用庄重而平静的声音回答，声音中透着可怕的气息。

M. de Villefort staggered and buried his head in the bed. —
维尔福登看着床，晃了晃头。 —

On the exclamation of the doctor and the cry of the father, the servants all fled with muttered imprecations; —
医生的呼喊和父亲的呼声中，仆人们都带着诅咒的低声骂骂咧咧逃跑了； —

they were heard running down the stairs and through the long passages, then there was a rush in the court, afterwards all was still; —
他们听到脚步声沿着楼梯跑下去，穿过长长的走廊，然后灰暗的院子里响起一阵声音，然后一切恢复安静； —

they had, one and all, deserted the accursed house.
他们全都离开了这个受诅咒的房子。

Just then, Madame de Villefort, in the act of slipping on her dressing-gown, threw aside the drapery and for a moment stood motionless, as though interrogating the occupants of the room, while she endeavored to call up some rebellious tears. —
就在那时，维尔福夫人正踏在穿上浴袍的一瞬间，掀开帷幕，一动不动地站在那里，仿佛询问着房间里的人，同时试图勾起一些顽强的眼泪。 —

On a sudden she stepped, or rather bounded, with outstretched arms, towards the table. —
突然间，她伸出双臂，如同弹跳一般，向着桌子扑了过去。 —

She saw d’Avrigny curiously examining the glass, which she felt certain of having emptied during the night. —
她看见达夫里尼正在好奇地查看杯子，她确定自己在夜间已经把它喝空了。 —

It was now a third full, just as it was when she threw the contents into the ashes. —
它现在是三分之一满的，就像她把里面的内容倒入灰烬时一样。 —

The spectre of Valentine rising before the poisoner would have alarmed her less. —
瓦伦丁的幽灵在毒贩面前升起来，对她来说也不会更加惊吓。 —

It was, indeed, the same color as the draught she had poured into the glass, and which Valentine had drunk; —
它确实与她倒进玻璃杯里的饮料颜色相同，而瓦伦丁也喝了这杯饮料； —

it was indeed the poison, which could not deceive M. d’Avrigny, which he now examined so closely; —
它确实是无法欺骗达沃尔尼先生的毒药，他正在仔细检查它； —

it was doubtless a miracle from heaven, that, notwithstanding her precautions, there should be some trace, some proof remaining to reveal the crime.
毫无疑问，这是来自上天的奇迹，尽管她采取了种种预防措施，仍有一些痕迹、一些证据可以揭示这个罪行；

While Madame de Villefort remained rooted to the spot like a statue of terror, and Villefort, with his head hidden in the bedclothes, saw nothing around him, d’Avrigny approached the window, that he might the better examine the contents of the glass, and dipping the tip of his finger in, tasted it.
当维尔福夫人像一座恐惧的雕像一样站在原地动弹不得时，维尔福得把头藏在床单里，对周围一无所知。达沃尔尼走近窗户，以便更好地检查玻璃杯里的内容，他用手指尖蘸了一下尝了尝；

“Ah,” he exclaimed, “it is no longer brucine that is used; let me see what it is!”
“啊，”他呼喊道，”现在不再是布鲁津了，让我看看它是什么！”

Then he ran to one of the cupboards in Valentine’s room, which had been transformed into a medicine closet, and taking from its silver case a small bottle of nitric acid, dropped a little of it into the liquor, which immediately changed to a blood-red color.
然后他跑到瓦伦丁房间的一个橱柜前，这个橱柜已经变成了一个药物柜，他从它的银制盒子里拿出一瓶硝酸，滴了一点到酒里，酒立刻变成了血红色。

“Ah,” exclaimed d’Avrigny, in a voice in which the horror of a judge unveiling the truth was mingled with the delight of a student making a discovery.
“啊，”德阿维尼惊呼道，他的声音中充满了一个法官揭示真相的恐惧与一个学者发现真相的喜悦。

Madame de Villefort was overpowered; her eyes first flashed and then swam, she staggered towards the door and disappeared. —
维尔福夫人被压倒了，她的眼神闪烁后又模糊了，她向门口蹒跚而去，随即消失了。 —

Directly afterwards the distant sound of a heavy weight falling on the ground was heard, but no one paid any attention to it; —
紧接着，远处传来一声重物掉落在地上的声音，但没有人注意到它； —

the nurse was engaged in watching the chemical analysis, and Villefort was still absorbed in grief. —
护士正在观察化学分析，维尔福夫人仍然陷入了悲伤之中。 —

M. d’Avrigny alone had followed Madame de Villefort with his eyes, and watched her hurried retreat. —
德阿维尼独自一人用目光追随着维尔福夫人，目送着她匆匆离去。 —

He lifted up the drapery over the entrance to Edward’s room, and his eye reaching as far as Madame de Villefort’s apartment, he beheld her extended lifeless on the floor.
他掀起爱德华房间入口处的帷幕，他的目光一直延伸到维尔福夫人的房间，只见她倒在地板上身不动。

“Go to the assistance of Madame de Villefort,” he said to the nurse. —
“去帮助维尔福夫人，”他对护士说道。 —

“Madame de Villefort is ill.”
“维尔福夫人病了。”

“But Mademoiselle de Villefort——” stammered the nurse.
“但维尔福小姐——”护士结结巴巴地说道。

“Mademoiselle de Villefort no longer requires help,” said d’Avrigny, “since she is dead.”
“维尔福小姐不再需要帮助了，”达维尼说道，“因为她已经死了。”

“Dead,—dead!” groaned forth Villefort, in a paroxysm of grief, which was the more terrible from the novelty of the sensation in the iron heart of that man.
“死了，死了！”维尔福痛苦地呻吟着，这种感觉在这个铁石心肠的男人身上格外可怕。

“Dead!” repeated a third voice. “Who said Valentine was dead?”
“死了！”第三个声音重复道，“谁说瓦伦丁死了？”

The two men turned round, and saw Morrel standing at the door, pale and terror-stricken. —
两个男人转过身，看到莫雷尔站在门口，面色苍白，吓坏了。 —

This is what had happened. At the usual time, Morrel had presented himself at the little door leading to Noirtier’s room. —
发生了什么事。莫雷尔按常规在通往努瓦地尔的房间的小门前出现。 —

Contrary to custom, the door was open, and having no occasion to ring he entered. —
与往常不同，门是开着的，他没有按铃就进去了。 —

He waited for a moment in the hall and called for a servant to conduct him to M. Noirtier; —
他在大厅里等了一会儿，叫佣人带他去找M. Noirtier； —

but no one answered, the servants having, as we know, deserted the house. —
但没有人回应，因为佣人已经逃离了这座房子。 —

Morrel had no particular reason for uneasiness; —
莫雷尔没有特别担心的理由； —

Monte Cristo had promised him that Valentine should live, and so far he had always fulfilled his word. —
蒙蒂克里斯托答应过他，瓦伦丁会活下来，到目前为止他一直信守承诺。 —

Every night the count had given him news, which was the next morning confirmed by Noirtier. —
每晚计算都给他带来消息，第二天早上由Noirtier证实。 —

Still this extraordinary silence appeared strange to him, and he called a second and third time; —
然而，这种非同寻常的宁静对他来说显得奇怪，并且他又第二次、第三次地打电话； —

still no answer. Then he determined to go up. Noirtier’s room was opened, like all the rest. —
仍然没有答案。然后他决定上楼。Noirtier的房间和其他房间一样打开。 —

The first thing he saw was the old man sitting in his armchair in his usual place, but his eyes expressed alarm, which was confirmed by the pallor which overspread his features.
他看到的第一件事是老人坐在他的老位置的扶手椅上，但他的眼神表达出的是惊恐，这一点在他脸上的苍白中得到了证实。

“How are you, sir?” asked Morrel, with a sickness of heart.
“您好吗，先生？”莫雷尔问道，心情病变不良。

“Well,” answered the old man, by closing his eyes; —
“很好。”老人闭上眼睛回答道； —

but his appearance manifested increasing uneasiness.
但他的外表表明他越来越不安。

“You are thoughtful, sir,” continued Morrel; —
“您真是个体贴的先生，”莫雷尔继续说道； —

“you want something; shall I call one of the servants?”
“您需要什么吗？我可以叫一个仆人吗？”

“Yes,” replied Noirtier.
“是的，”诺蒂尔回答道。

Morrel pulled the bell, but though he nearly broke the cord no one answered. —
莫雷尔按响了门铃，但是尽管他几乎拉断了绳子，却没有人回答。 —

He turned towards Noirtier; the pallor and anguish expressed on his countenance momentarily increased.
他转向诺蒂尔；他脸上表达出的苍白和痛苦一时增加。

“Oh,” exclaimed Morrel, “why do they not come? Is anyone ill in the house? —
“哦，”莫雷尔惊叫道，“他们为什么不过来？家里有人生病吗？” —

” The eyes of Noirtier seemed as though they would start from their sockets. —
诺蒂尔的眼睛看起来好像要从眼眶里突出来。 —

“What is the matter? You alarm me. Valentine? Valentine?”
“怎么了？你吓到我了。瓦伦丁？瓦伦丁？”

“Yes, yes,” signed Noirtier.
“是的，是的，”诺蒂尔用手势回应。

Maximilian tried to speak, but he could articulate nothing; —
马克斯米利安想要说话，但他什么也说不出来； —

he staggered, and supported himself against the wainscot. —
他踉跄了一下，靠在了墙上。 —

Then he pointed to the door.
然后他指向了门。

“Yes, yes, yes!” continued the old man.
“是的，是的，是的！”老人继续说道。

Maximilian rushed up the little staircase, while Noirtier’s eyes seemed to say,—“Quicker, quicker!”
马克斯米利安冲上了小楼梯，诺蒂尔的眼睛似乎在说：“快点，快点！”

In a minute the young man darted through several rooms, till at length he reached Valentine’s.
一分钟后，年轻人穿过几个房间，最终来到了瓦伦丁的房间。

There was no occasion to push the door, it was wide open. A sob was the only sound he heard. —
没有任何理由推门，门是敞开的。他只听到了一声啜泣。 —

He saw as though in a mist, a black figure kneeling and buried in a confused mass of white drapery. —
他看到一个黑色的身影，仿佛迷雾中跪着，被一堆混乱的白色织物所掩埋。 —

A terrible fear transfixed him. It was then he heard a voice exclaim “Valentine is dead! —
一种可怕的恐惧使他动弹不得。就在那时，他听到一个声音呼喊道：“瓦伦丁死了！” —

” and another voice which, like an echo repeated:
“死了，死了！” 另一个声音回荡着，仿佛回声一般。

“Dead,—dead!”
“死了，死了！”