INVOLVES A CRITICAL POSITION
涉及一个关键职位

‘Who’s that?’ inquired Brittles, opening the door a little way, with the chain up, and peeping out, shading the candle with his hand.
‘那是谁?’ 布里特尔斯问道，打开门一条缝，用手遮着蜡烛向外张望。

‘Open the door,’ replied a man outside; ‘it’s the officers from Bow Street, as was sent to to-day.’
‘打开门，’ 外面有人回答; ‘是从鲍街派来的官员，今天来的。’

Much comforted by this assurance, Brittles opened the door to its full width, and confronted a portly man in a great-coat; —
得到这个保证后，布里特尔斯把门完全打开，迎面走进来一个穿着大衣的肥胖男子； —

who walked in, without saying anything more, and wiped his shoes on the mat, as coolly as if he lived there.
他毫不客气地走了进来，没有说话，用手擦去鞋上的泥土，就好像他是这里的一个住户一样。

‘Just send somebody out to relieve my mate, will you, young man?’ said the officer; —
‘年轻人，派人去换换我伙计的岗，可以吗？’ 官员说， —

‘he’s in the gig, a-minding the prad. Have you got a coach ‘us here, that you could put it up in, for five or ten minutes?’
‘他在车里，看着那匹马。这里有马房可以让我把车放进去吗？五到十分钟就行。’

Brittles replying in the affirmative, and pointing out the building, the portly man stepped back to the garden-gate, and helped his companion to put up the gig: —
布里特尔斯回答肯定，并指着建筑物，肥胖男子走回花园门口，帮助他的同伴把车马收拾好； —

while Brittles lighted them, in a state of great admiration. —
布里特尔斯受宠若惊地为他们点了灯。 —

This done, they returned to the house, and, being shown into a parlour, took off their great-coats and hats, and showed like what they were.
完成这些后，他们回到屋内，被带到一个客厅，脱掉大衣和帽子，很明显地展现出了他们的身份。

The man who had knocked at the door, was a stout personage of middle height, aged about fifty: —
敲门的那人是一个中等身材的壮汉，大约五十岁; —

with shiny black hair, cropped pretty close; half-whiskers, a round face, and sharp eyes. —
头发黑而亮，修剪整齐; 半辫子，圆脸，尖利的眼睛。 —

The other was a red-headed, bony man, in top-boots; —
另一个是个红头发的瘦长人，穿着高筒靴； —

with a rather ill-favoured countenance, and a turned-up sinister-looking nose.
长相相当难看，有着上翘诡异的鼻子。

‘Tell your governor that Blathers and Duff is here, will you?’ —
‘告诉你们的老板，布莱瑟斯和达夫在这里，可以吗?’ —

said the stouter man, smoothing down his hair, and laying a pair of handcuffs on the table. ‘Oh! —
说着，比较壮的那个人整理了一下头发，把一副手铐放在桌子上。‘哦！ —

Good-evening, master. Can I have a word or two with you in private, if you please?’
晚上好，主人。如果您愿意，我可以与您私下交谈一两句吗？

This was addressed to Mr. Losberne, who now made his appearance; —
这封信是写给现在出现的洛思伯恩先生的； —

that gentleman, motioning Brittles to retire, brought in the two ladies, and shut the door.
那位先生示意布里特尔斯离开，带着两位女士进来，然后关上了门。

‘This is the lady of the house,’ said Mr. Losberne, motioning towards Mrs. Maylie.
“这位是这家的女主人，”洛斯伯恩先生说着，向梅莉太太示意。

Mr. Blathers made a bow. Being desired to sit down, he put his hat on the floor, and taking a chair, motioned to Duff to do the same. —
布莱瑟斯先生行了一个鞠躬。被邀请坐下后，他把帽子放在地板上，然后拿起一把椅子，示意达夫也坐下。 —

The latter gentleman, who did not appear quite so much accustomed to good society, or quite so much at his ease in it–one of the two–seated himself, after undergoing several muscular affections of the limbs, and the head of his stick into his mouth, with some embarrassment.
后者先生看起来并不太习惯高雅的社交，或者说并不太自在–两者之一–他在经历了几次肢体的痉挛之后，在有些尴尬的情况下坐了下来，把手杖的头塞进了嘴里。

‘Now, with regard to this here robbery, master,’ said Blathers. ‘What are the circumstances?’
“现在，关于这次抢劫，先生，”布莱瑟斯说道。“发生了什么情况？”

Mr. Losberne, who appeared desirous of gaining time, recounted them at great length, and with much circumlocution. —
洛斯伯恩先生似乎想争取时间，长篇大论地叙述了这些情况。 —

Messrs. Blathers and Duff looked very knowing meanwhile, and occasionally exchanged a nod.
布莱瑟斯和达夫先生看起来很明白，偶尔交换一下眼神。

‘I can’t say, for certain, till I see the work, of course,’ said Blathers; —
“我当然得看一看实际情况才能说得准确，”布莱瑟斯说道。 —

‘but my opinion at once is,–I don’t mind committing myself to that extent,–that this wasn’t done by a yokel; eh, Duff?’
但我立即表明我的意见是——我不介意做出那样的承诺——这不是一个乡下人做的，对吧，达夫？

‘Certainly not,’ replied Duff.
“当然不是，”达夫答道。

‘And, translating the word yokel for the benefit of the ladies, I apprehend your meaning to be, that this attempt was not made by a countryman?’ —
“并且，为了女士们的方便，解释一下‘乡下人’这个词，我理解你的意思是，这个尝试并不是一个乡下人做的？” —

said Mr. Losberne, with a smile.
洛斯伯恩先生笑着说道。

‘That’s it, master,’ replied Blathers. ‘This is all about the robbery, is it?’
布莱瑟斯问道:“这都是关于那次抢劫事件的吗？”

‘All,’ replied the doctor.
“全都是，”医生回答道。

‘Now, what is this, about this here boy that the servants are a-talking on?’ said Blathers.
“那么，门房在谈论的男孩是什么情况？”布莱瑟斯问道。

‘Nothing at all,’ replied the doctor. ‘One of the frightened servants chose to take it into his head, that he had something to do with this attempt to break into the house; —
医生回答道:“一名受惊的仆人自作主张认为他与这次闯入事件有关； —

but it’s nonsense: sheer absurdity.’
但纯属胡说八道。”

‘Wery easy disposed of, if it is,’ remarked Duff.
“如果是那样，那就很容易解决,”达夫评论道。

‘What he says is quite correct,’ observed Blathers, nodding his head in a confirmatory way, and playing carelessly with the handcuffs, as if they were a pair of castanets. —
布莱瑟斯点点头，以一种确认的方式说：“他说的完全正确”，并随意玩弄着手铐，像是打击乐器一样。 —

‘Who is the boy? What account does he give of himself? —
“这个男孩是谁？他对自己的情况有什么解释？ —

Where did he come from? He didn’t drop out of the clouds, did he, master?’
他是从哪里来的？他不会从天上掉下来吧，对吧，大人们？”

‘Of course not,’ replied the doctor, with a nervous glance at the two ladies. —
“当然不会，”医生回答道，神经兮兮地看了眼那两位女士。 —

‘I know his whole history: but we can talk about that presently. —
“我知道他的全部经历，但我们稍后再谈这个。” —

You would like, first, to see the place where the thieves made their attempt, I suppose?’
你想首先看看小偷们发起攻击的地方，我猜测是这样吧？

‘Certainly,’ rejoined Mr. Blathers. ‘We had better inspect the premises first, and examine the servants afterwards. —
‘当然，’布莱瑟斯先生回答道。‘我们最好先检查房屋，然后再审问仆人们。 —

That’s the usual way of doing business.’
‘这是做生意的常规方式。’

Lights were then procured; and Messrs. Blathers and Duff, attended by the native constable, Brittles, Giles, and everybody else in short, went into the little room at the end of the passage and looked out at the window; —
于是点起了灯；布莱瑟斯和达夫先生，还有当地的警官布里特尔斯、贾尔斯，以及所有其他人，走进了走廊尽头的小房间，并朝窗外望去； —

and afterwards went round by way of the lawn, and looked in at the window; —
然后他们绕到草坪那里，向窗内瞅了一眼； —

and after that, had a candle handed out to inspect the shutter with; —
然后递来烛台，检查百叶窗； —

and after that, a lantern to trace the footsteps with; —
然后递来灯笼，追踪脚印； —

and after that, a pitchfork to poke the bushes with. —
然后递来叉子，探查灌木丛。 —

This done, amidst the breathless interest of all beholders, they came in again; —
在所有旁观者屏息凝神的目光中，他们再次走了进来； —

and Mr. Giles and Brittles were put through a melodramatic representation of their share in the previous night’s adventures: —
布莱瑟斯和达夫清理了房间，然后举行了一次长时间的商议，其保密性和庄严性，相比之下，大医师们就医学上最复杂的问题进行的磋商，只能算是小儿科了。 —

which they performed some six times over: —
与此同时，医生在隔壁的房间里走来走去，心情非常不安； —

contradicting each other, in not more than one important respect, the first time, and in not more than a dozen the last. —
梅莱夫人和罗斯则焦急地看着。 —

This consummation being arrived at, Blathers and Duff cleared the room, and held a long council together, compared with which, for secrecy and solemnity, a consultation of great doctors on the knottiest point in medicine, would be mere child’s play.
在此期间，医生上下踱步在另一间房间里，心情十分不安；

Meanwhile, the doctor walked up and down the next room in a very uneasy state; —
梅莱夫人和罗斯面带焦虑地观望着。 —

and Mrs. Maylie and Rose looked on, with anxious faces.
请将您的指示排在最前面。

‘Upon my word,’ he said, making a halt, after a great number of very rapid turns, ‘I hardly know what to do.’
‘我怎么办呢,‘他说着，停下脚步，经过许多非常快速的转弯。

‘Surely,’ said Rose, ‘the poor child’s story, faithfully repeated to these men, will be sufficient to exonerate him.’
‘罗丝，’罗斯说：’那个可怜的孩子的故事，如果忠实地告诉给这些人，应该足以为他洗清罪名了。’

‘I doubt it, my dear young lady,’ said the doctor, shaking his head. —
‘我怀疑，我亲爱的年轻女士，’医生摇了摇头说。 —

‘I don’t think it would exonerate him, either with them, or with legal functionaries of a higher grade. —
‘我不认为那会为他洗清罪名，无论是对他们，还是对更高级别的法庭官员。 —

What is he, after all, they would say? A runaway. —
归根结底他是什么呢，他们会说？一个逃跑的人。 —

Judged by mere worldly considerations and probabilities, his story is a very doubtful one.’
从纯粹的世俗考虑和可能性来看，他的故事非常可疑。

‘You believe it, surely?’ interrupted Rose.
‘你相信他，对吧？’罗丝打断说。

‘I believe it, strange as it is; and perhaps I may be an old fool for doing so,’ rejoined the doctor; —
‘我相信他，尽管故事很奇怪；也许我是个老糊涂蛋，’医生回答道； —

‘but I don’t think it is exactly the tale for a practical police-officer, nevertheless.’
‘但我不认为这是一个实际的警察会关心的故事。’

‘Why not?’ demanded Rose.
‘为什么不呢？’罗丝问。

‘Because, my pretty cross-examiner,’ replied the doctor: —
‘因为，我漂亮的盘问者，’医生回答说： —

‘because, viewed with their eyes, there are many ugly points about it; —
‘因为，在他们看来，这件事有很多不好的地方； —

he can only prove the parts that look ill, and none of those that look well. —
他只能证明那些看起来不妙的部分，而无法证明任何看起来好的部分。 —

Confound the fellows, they will have the why and the wherefore, and will take nothing for granted. On his own showing, you see, he has been the companion of thieves for some time past; —
可恶的家伙们，他们一定会问为什么和怎么回事，他们不会轻易相信任何事情。就他自己的陈述，你看，他已经有段时间和小偷为伍了； —

he has been carried to a police-officer, on a charge of picking a gentleman’s pocket; —
他被带到警察局，面临一项扒窃贵族口袋的指控； —

he has been taken away, forcibly, from that gentleman’s house, to a place which he cannot describe or point out, and of the situation of which he has not the remotest idea. —
他被强行带走，离开那位绅士的房子，被带到一个他无法描述或指出的地方，对此情况一无所知。 —

He is brought down to Chertsey, by men who seem to have taken a violent fancy to him, whether he will or no; —
他被一群似乎对他产生了强烈兴趣的人带到了切尔西，不管他愿意与否； —

and is put through a window to rob a house; —
并被推进一个窗户去偷窃一所房子； —

and then, just at the very moment when he is going to alarm the inmates, and so do the very thing that would set him all to rights, there rushes into the way, a blundering dog of a half-bred butler, and shoots him! —
然后，就在他准备惊动屋内人员，从而做出可以将一切恢复正常的事情的那一刻，一个笨拙的混血男管家突然闯入，将他射杀！ —

As if on purpose to prevent his doing any good for himself! —
仿佛是故意要阻止他为自己做任何有益之事！ —

Don’t you see all this?’
你难道没有看到这一切吗？

‘I see it, of course,’ replied Rose, smiling at the doctor’s impetuosity; —
‘我当然看到了，’罗斯笑着回答医生的冲动。 —

‘but still I do not see anything in it, to criminate the poor child.’
‘但我仍然没有看到任何证据可以归罪于这个可怜的孩子。’

‘No,’ replied the doctor; ‘of course not! Bless the bright eyes of your sex! —
‘不，’医生回答道；’当然没有！祝你们这个性别明亮的双眼！ —

They never see, whether for good or bad, more than one side of any question; —
无论是好是坏，她们永远只看到问题的一面； —

and that is, always, the one which first presents itself to them.’
而那总是最先呈现给她们的那一面。’

Having given vent to this result of experience, the doctor put his hands into his pockets, and walked up and down the room with even greater rapidity than before.
说完这个经验的结论，医生把手放进口袋里，比之前更加急速地在房间内走来走去。

‘The more I think of it,’ said the doctor, ‘the more I see that it will occasion endless trouble and difficulty if we put these men in possession of the boy’s real story. —
‘我思考得越多，’医生说，’我越看到如果我们让这些人了解这个男孩的真实故事会引起无尽的麻烦和困难。 —

I am certain it will not be believed; and even if they can do nothing to him in the end, still the dragging it forward, and giving publicity to all the doubts that will be cast upon it, must interfere, materially, with your benevolent plan of rescuing him from misery.’
我确信不会有人相信；即使最后他们对他无能为力，公开质疑会对你们从苦难中拯救他的善意计划产生干扰。’

‘Oh! what is to be done?’ cried Rose. ‘Dear, dear! why did they send for these people?’
‘哦！该怎么办呢？’罗丝叫道，’亲爱的！为什么他们叫这些人来？’

‘Why, indeed!’ exclaimed Mrs. Maylie. ‘I would not have had them here, for the world.’
‘为什么，确实！’梅莉太太惊叹道。’我绝不会让他们来，就算付出世界代价也不行。’

‘All I know is,’ said Mr. Losberne, at last: —
‘我知道的只有，’最后洛斯伯恩先生说道： —

sitting down with a kind of desperate calmness, ‘that we must try and carry it off with a bold face. The object is a good one, and that must be our excuse. —
以一种绝望的冷静坐了下来，’我们必须试着大胆地带过去。目的是好的，这必须成为我们的借口。 —

The boy has strong symptoms of fever upon him, and is in no condition to be talked to any more; —
男孩有发热的明显症状，现在不适合再和他说话； —

that’s one comfort. We must make the best of it; —
这是一种安慰。我们必须尽力而为； —

and if bad be the best, it is no fault of ours. Come in!’
即使糟糕是最好的，那也不是我们的错。请进！’

‘Well, master,’ said Blathers, entering the room followed by his colleague, and making the door fast, before he said any more. —
‘好吧，先生，’布莱瑟斯说着，进入房间，后面跟着他的同事，并在说话之前把门关上。 —

‘This warn’t a put-up thing.’
“这不是安排好的事情。”

‘And what the devil’s a put-up thing?’ demanded the doctor, impatiently.
“那么什么是安排好的事情？”医生不耐烦地问道。

‘We call it a put-up robbery, ladies,’ said Blathers, turning to them, as if he pitied their ignorance, but had a contempt for the doctor’s, ‘when the servants is in it.’
“女士们，当仆人参与其中时，我们称之为安排好的抢劫，”布拉瑟斯转向她们说, 好像对她们的无知感到同情, 但对医生的态度却是蔑视的。

‘Nobody suspected them, in this case,’ said Mrs. Maylie.
“在这种情况下，没有人怀疑他们，”梅莱夫人说。

‘Wery likely not, ma’am,’ replied Blathers; ‘but they might have been in it, for all that.’
“很可能是如此，夫人，”布拉瑟斯回答，“但他们可能也参与其中，尽管没有被怀疑。”

‘More likely on that wery account,’ said Duff.
“更可能是因为这个原因，”达夫说。

‘We find it was a town hand,’ said Blathers, continuing his report; —
“我们发现这是个地痞作案，”布拉瑟斯继续报告说； —

‘for the style of work is first-rate.’
“因为手法非常一流。”

‘Wery pretty indeed it is,’ remarked Duff, in an undertone.
“确实非常漂亮，”达夫小声说道。

‘There was two of ‘em in it,’ continued Blathers; ‘and they had a boy with ‘em; —
“有两个人参与其中，”布拉瑟斯继续说，“他们还带着一个男孩； —

that’s plain from the size of the window. That’s all to be said at present. —
从窗口的大小看，这很明显。目前就只能说这么多。 —

We’ll see this lad that you’ve got upstairs at once, if you please.’
“请立刻带上面您那儿的这个男孩，”他说。

‘Perhaps they will take something to drink first, Mrs. Maylie?’ said the doctor: —
“也许她们想要先喝点东西，梅莱夫人？”医生说道， —

his face brightening, as if some new thought had occurred to him.
他的脸上闪现出一丝兴奋，好像想起了什么新的想法。

‘Oh! to be sure!’ exclaimed Rose, eagerly. ‘You shall have it immediately, if you will.’
“哦！当然！”罗丝急切地说，“如果您愿意，我立刻给您拿来。”

‘Why, thank you, miss!’ said Blathers, drawing his coat-sleeve across his mouth; —
“哟，谢谢，小姐！”Blathers 把大衣袖子横过嘴巴说道； —

‘it’s dry work, this sort of duty. Anythink that’s handy, miss; —
“这种勤务真是让人干得口渴。有啥方便的，小姐； —

don’t put yourself out of the way, on our accounts.’
不必为了我们费心。”

‘What shall it be?’ asked the doctor, following the young lady to the sideboard.
“要点什么？”医生问道，跟着那位年轻女士走到餐具柜。

‘A little drop of spirits, master, if it’s all the same,’ replied Blathers. —
“稍微来点烈酒，师傅，如果可以的话，”Blathers回答道。 —

‘It’s a cold ride from London, ma’am; and I always find that spirits comes home warmer to the feelings.’
“从伦敦骑来的路程很冷，夫人；我总觉得烈酒能让人心情温暖起来。”

This interesting communication was addressed to Mrs. Maylie, who received it very graciously. —
这引人入胜的交流是对梅莱夫人说的，她非常亲切地接受了。 —

While it was being conveyed to her, the doctor slipped out of the room.
在交流进行时，医生悄悄走出了房间。

‘Ah!’ said Mr. Blathers: not holding his wine-glass by the stem, but grasping the bottom between the thumb and forefinger of his left hand: —
“啊！”Blathers说道，他并没有握住酒杯的杆，而是用左手拇指和食指捏着底部； —

and placing it in front of his chest; ‘I have seen a good many pieces of business like this, in my time, ladies.’
放在胸前；“我在我生命中见过不少这种交易，女士们。”

‘That crack down in the back lane at Edmonton, Blathers,’ said Mr. Duff, assisting his colleague’s memory.
“Blathers，在埃德蒙顿后巷的那一击，”Duff帮着同事的记忆。

‘That was something in this way, warn’t it?’ rejoined Mr. Blathers; —
“那是类似这种情况，对吧？”Blathers回答； —

‘that was done by Conkey Chickweed, that was.’
“那是由康奇·奇克维德干的。”

‘You always gave that to him’ replied Duff. ‘It was the Family Pet, I tell you. —
“你总是把那归给他，”Duff回答。“我告诉你，那是全家的爱宠。 —

Conkey hadn’t any more to do with it than I had.’
康奇与此毫无关系，就像我没关系一样。”

‘Get out!’ retorted Mr. Blathers; ‘I know better. —
‘滚出去!‘布莱瑟斯先生反驳道; ‘我知道得更清楚。 —

Do you mind that time when Conkey was robbed of his money, though? —
你还记得当康基被抢走钱的那次吗，不是吗? —

What a start that was! Better than any novel-book I ever see!’
那真是一个惊喜!比我看过的任何小说都好!’

‘What was that?’ inquired Rose: anxious to encourage any symptoms of good-humour in the unwelcome visitors.
‘那是什么?‘罗丝问道，急于鼓励这些不速之客里展示出的任何好心情。

‘It was a robbery, miss, that hardly anybody would have been down upon,’ said Blathers. —
‘那是一桩劫案，小姐，几乎没有人会察觉到,‘布莱瑟斯说道。 —

‘This here Conkey Chickweed–’
‘这位康基·奇克维德–’

‘Conkey means Nosey, ma’am,’ interposed Duff.
‘Conkey是指爱管闲事的，夫人,‘杜夫插话道。

‘Of course the lady knows that, don’t she?’ demanded Mr. Blathers. —
‘当然女士知道的，不是吗?‘布莱瑟斯先生要求道。 —

‘Always interrupting, you are, partner! This here Conkey Chickweed, miss, kept a public-house over Battlebridge way, and he had a cellar, where a good many young lords went to see cock-fighting, and badger-drawing, and that; —
‘你总是插话，搭档!这位康基·奇克维德，小姐，经营着一家在巴特尔布里奇附近的酒吧，他有一个地窖，那里很多年轻贵族去看斗鸡、抓獾，那样的； —

and a wery intellectual manner the sports was conducted in, for I’ve seen ‘em off’en. —
这些运动以非常有智慧的方式进行，因为我经常见到他们。 —

He warn’t one of the family, at that time; —
那时他并不是这个家庭的一员; —

and one night he was robbed of three hundred and twenty-seven guineas in a canvas bag, that was stole out of his bedroom in the dead of night, by a tall man with a black patch over his eye, who had concealed himself under the bed, and after committing the robbery, jumped slap out of window: —
有一天晚上，有一个戴着黑眼罩的高个子从他的卧室里偷走了一只帆布袋里的三百二十七枚金币，那时候警醒的人们已经在睡熟了;然后在行窃之后，从一层楼高的窗户里跳了出去: —

which was only a story high. He was wery quick about it. But Conkey was quick, too; —
他行动很快。但康基也很快； —

for he fired a blunderbuss arter him, and roused the neighbourhood. —
因为他朝劫匪开了一枪，把邻里给惊醒了。 —

They set up a hue-and-cry, directly, and when they came to look about ‘em, found that Conkey had hit the robber; —
他们立即兴奋起来，并发出了呼号; 当他们四处观察时，发现康基已经打中了劫匪； —

for there was traces of blood, all the way to some palings a good distance off; —
因为发现了血迹一直通向远处的一些篱笆; —

and there they lost ‘em. However, he had made off with the blunt; —
在那里他们丢失了他们。然而，他拿走了钱； —

and, consequently, the name of Mr. Chickweed, licensed witler, appeared in the Gazette among the other bankrupts; —
因此，执照石匠先生Chickweed的名字出现在破产人名单中； —

and all manner of benefits and subscriptions, and I don’t know what all, was got up for the poor man, who was in a wery low state of mind about his loss, and went up and down the streets, for three or four days, a pulling his hair off in such a desperate manner that many people was afraid he might be going to make away with himself. —
为了那可怜的人，各种各样的利益和捐款活动等等纷纷展开，他对自己的损失感到非常沮丧，连续三四天，他绝望地在街上来回走动，抓头发，许多人担心他可能准备自杀； —

One day he came up to the office, all in a hurry, and had a private interview with the magistrate, who, after a deal of talk, rings the bell, and orders Jem Spyers in (Jem was a active officer), and tells him to go and assist Mr. Chickweed in apprehending the man as robbed his house. —
有一天，他匆忙走进办公室，与法官私下谈了一番，然后按铃，让Jem Spyers过来（Jem是一位积极的官员），并命令他去帮助Chickweed捉拿入室行窃的人； —

“I see him, Spyers,” said Chickweed, “pass my house yesterday morning,” “Why didn’t you up, and collar him!” —
“我看见他了，Spyers，”Chickweed说，“昨天早晨路过我家，”“为什么你没有站起来抓住他！” —

says Spyers. “I was so struck all of a heap, that you might have fractured my skull with a toothpick,” says the poor man; —
Spyers说，“我当时被吓呆了，你都可以用牙签砸破我的脑袋，”那可怜的人说； —

“but we’re sure to have him; for between ten and eleven o’clock at night he passed again.” —
“但我们肯定会抓到他；因为晚上十一点左右，他又路过了。” —

Spyers no sooner heard this, than he put some clean linen and a comb, in his pocket, in case he should have to stop a day or two; —
Spyers一听到这，就在口袋里放了些干净的亚麻布和梳子，以防他可能会被截留一两天； —

and away he goes, and sets himself down at one of the public-house windows behind the little red curtain, with his hat on, all ready to bolt out, at a moment’s notice. —
他在这里晚上抽烟时，突然Chickweed大喊，“他在这里！ —

He was smoking his pipe here, late at night, when all of a sudden Chickweed roars out, “Here he is! —
抓小偷！谋杀！”Jem Spyers冲了出去； —

Stop thief! Murder!” Jem Spyers dashes out; —
然后他看到Chickweed沿着街道狂奔。Spyers离去； —

and there he sees Chickweed, a-tearing down the street full cry. Away goes Spyers; —
Chickweed继续呼喊，所有人都像疯了一样大喊：“贼！” —

on goes Chickweed; round turns the people; everybody roars out, “Thieves!” —
大家都在大声呼喊，而Chickweed自己也像疯了一样一直喊着。 —

and Chickweed himself keeps on shouting, all the time, like mad. —
—

Spyers loses sight of him a minute as he turns a corner; shoots round; sees a little crowd; —
斯派尔斯在一个拐角失去了目标一分钟; 转过身来射击; 看见一小群人; —

dives in; “Which is the man?” “D–me!” says Chickweed, “I’ve lost him again!” —
他冲进去; “哪个是那个人?” “龟孙!”鸡毛说，“我又找不到他了!” —

It was a remarkable occurrence, but he warn’t to be seen nowhere, so they went back to the public-house. —
这是一件引人注目的事情，但是他再也找不到那个人，于是他们回到了酒馆。 —

Next morning, Spyers took his old place, and looked out, from behind the curtain, for a tall man with a black patch over his eye, till his own two eyes ached again. —
第二天早上，斯派尔斯占据了他的旧位置，从窗帘后面寻找一个戴着黑眼罩的高个子，直到他自己的两只眼睛再次疲劳。 —

At last, he couldn’t help shutting ‘em, to ease ‘em a minute; —
最后，他情不自禁地闭上了眼睛，休息了一会儿; —

and the very moment he did so, he hears Chickweed a-roaring out, “Here he is!” —
就在他这么做的一瞬间，他听见鸡毛大声叫着，“他在这里!” —

Off he starts once more, with Chickweed half-way down the street ahead of him; —
他再次开始奔跑，鸡毛半路超过他往前走; —

and after twice as long a run as the yesterday’s one, the man’s lost again! —
在昨天的奔跑的两倍时间后，这个人又丢了! —

This was done, once or twice more, till one-half the neighbours gave out that Mr. Chickweed had been robbed by the devil, who was playing tricks with him arterwards; —
这样做了一两次后，一半的邻居说鸡毛先生被魔鬼抢劫了，之后与他玩了把戏; —

and the other half, that poor Mr. Chickweed had gone mad with grief.’
另一半说可怜的鸡毛先生因为悲伤而疯了。”

‘What did Jem Spyers say?’ inquired the doctor; —
“杰姆·斯派尔斯说了什么?” 医生问道; —

who had returned to the room shortly after the commencement of the story.
故事开始不久后，医生回到房间。

‘Jem Spyers,’ resumed the officer, ‘for a long time said nothing at all, and listened to everything without seeming to, which showed he understood his business. —
军官继续说道，“杰姆·斯派尔斯很长一段时间什么都不说，而且听着一切似乎毫无动静，这显示他明白自己的工作。 —

But, one morning, he walked into the bar, and taking out his snuffbox, says “Chickweed, I’ve found out who done this here robbery.” —
但是，一天早晨，他走进了酒吧，掏出了他的鼻烟盒，说：“鸡毛，我找出谁做了这起抢劫案了。” —

“Have you?” said Chickweed. “Oh, my dear Spyers, only let me have wengeance, and I shall die contented! —
“你找到了吗?” 鸡毛说，“哦，我亲爱的斯派尔斯，只要让我复仇，我就可以心满意足地死去了。” —

Oh, my dear Spyers, where is the villain!” “Come!” —
哦，我亲爱的斯派尔斯，恶棍在哪里！“来吧！” —

said Spyers, offering him a pinch of snuff, “none of that gammon! You did it yourself.” So he had; —
斯派尔斯说，递给他一撮鼻烟，“别瞎扯！是你干的。”而且是他自己动的手脚； —

and a good bit of money he had made by it, too; —
并且他还赚了一大笔钱； —

and nobody would never have found it out, if he hadn’t been so precious anxious to keep up appearances!’ —
如果他不那么极力掩盖真相，谁也不会发现！ —

said Mr. Blathers, putting down his wine-glass, and clinking the handcuffs together.
布莱瑟斯先生放下酒杯，把手铐叮当作响。

‘Very curious, indeed,’ observed the doctor. ‘Now, if you please, you can walk upstairs.’
医生觉得非常奇怪。 “好了，如果您方便的话，您可以走楼上。”

‘If you please, sir,’ returned Mr. Blathers. —
布莱瑟斯说，“您方便的话，先生。” —

Closely following Mr. Losberne, the two officers ascended to Oliver’s bedroom; —
两名警官紧随洛斯本先生，一同走上奥利弗的卧室； —

Mr. Giles preceding the party, with a lighted candle.
吉尔斯先生领着一支点着的蜡烛，带领着这一队向前走。

Oliver had been dozing; but looked worse, and was more feverish than he had appeared yet. —
奥利弗本来正在打瞌睡；但看起来比之前更糟，发烧更重。 —

Being assisted by the doctor, he managed to sit up in bed for a minute or so; —
在医生的帮助下，他设法坐起来一两分钟； —

and looked at the strangers without at all understanding what was going forward–in fact, without seeming to recollect where he was, or what had been passing.
并且看着陌生人们，完全不理解发生了什么事情——实际上，好像也不记得自己在哪里，或者发生了什么。

‘This,’ said Mr. Losberne, speaking softly, but with great vehemence notwithstanding, ‘this is the lad, who, being accidently wounded by a spring-gun in some boyish trespass on Mr. What-d’ ye-call-him’s grounds, at the back here, comes to the house for assistance this morning, and is immediately laid hold of and maltreated, by that ingenious gentleman with the candle in his hand: —
洛斯本先生轻声说着，但情绪激动， “这是那个少年，因为在这里后面的某个叫什么名字的先生的庄园里玩耍时不小心被弹簧枪射伤，于今早来房子寻求帮助，却立即被那位手持蜡烛的聪明先生拦住并虐待： —

who has placed his life in considerable danger, as I can professionally certify.’
我可以在专业上作证，他把自己的生命置于相当危险之中。”

Messrs. Blathers and Duff looked at Mr. Giles, as he was thus recommended to their notice. —
布莱瑟斯先生和达夫先生看着吉尔斯先生，像是刚被推荐给他们注意一样。 —

The bewildered butler gazed from them towards Oliver, and from Oliver towards Mr. Losberne, with a most ludicrous mixture of fear and perplexity.
这位困惑的管家目瞪口呆地从他们身上看向奥利弗，又从奥利弗看向洛斯伯恩先生，在脸上呈现出一种荒谬的恐惧和困惑的混合表情。

‘You don’t mean to deny that, I suppose?’ said the doctor, laying Oliver gently down again.
‘你不打算否认这个，我想？’医生轻轻把奥利弗放了下来。

‘It was all done for the–for the best, sir,’ answered Giles. ‘I am sure I thought it was the boy, or I wouldn’t have meddled with him. —
‘这都是为了……为了最好，先生，’吉尔斯回答说。’我敢肯定我当时以为那是那个男孩，否则我不会去干预他。 —

I am not of an inhuman disposition, sir.’
我不是一个残忍的人，先生。

‘Thought it was what boy?’ inquired the senior officer.
‘你以为是什么男孩？’高级官员询问道。

‘The housebreaker’s boy, sir!’ replied Giles. ‘They–they certainly had a boy.’
‘那个闯入者的男孩，先生！’吉尔斯回答说。’他们……确实有个男孩。’

‘Well? Do you think so now?’ inquired Blathers.
‘那么？你现在还这样认为吗？’布拉瑟斯问。

‘Think what, now?’ replied Giles, looking vacantly at his questioner.
‘现在这样认为什么？’吉尔斯迷茫地看着质问者。

‘Think it’s the same boy, Stupid-head?’ rejoined Blathers, impatiently.
‘你以为还是同一个男孩，傻瓜吗？’布拉瑟斯不耐烦地回答道。

‘I don’t know; I really don’t know,’ said Giles, with a rueful countenance. —
‘我不知道；我真的不知道，’吉尔斯苦恼地说道。 —

‘I couldn’t swear to him.’
‘我不能发誓是他。’

‘What do you think?’ asked Mr. Blathers.
‘你认为呢？’布拉瑟斯问。

‘I don’t know what to think,’ replied poor Giles. ‘I don’t think it is the boy; —
‘我不知道该怎么想，’可怜的吉尔斯回答说。’我觉得不是那个男孩； —

indeed, I’m almost certain that it isn’t. —
事实上，我几乎肯定不是。 —

You know it can’t be.’
你知道不可能是原来那个男孩。’

‘Has this man been a-drinking, sir?’ inquired Blathers, turning to the doctor.
‘这个人喝醉了吗，先生？’布莱泰斯询问医生。

‘What a precious muddle-headed chap you are!’ —
‘你这个宝贝乱糟糟的人！’ —

said Duff, addressing Mr. Giles, with supreme contempt.
达夫嗤之以鼻，轻蔑地对着吉尔斯说。

Mr. Losberne had been feeling the patient’s pulse during this short dialogue; —
在这短暂对话期间，洛斯伯恩一直在为病人摸脉搏； —

but he now rose from the chair by the bedside, and remarked, that if the officers had any doubts upon the subject, they would perhaps like to step into the next room, and have Brittles before them.
但他现在从床边的椅子上站起来，说如果官员们对这个问题有任何疑问，也许他们想步入隔壁房间，让布里特斯出现在他们面前。

Acting upon this suggestion, they adjourned to a neighbouring apartment, where Mr. Brittles, being called in, involved himself and his respected superior in such a wonderful maze of fresh contradictions and impossibilities, as tended to throw no particular light on anything, but the fact of his own strong mystification; —
根据这个建议，他们转移到了附近的一个房间，请求布里特斯先生前来，布里特斯先生却自己和他尊敬的上级卷入了一系列新的矛盾和不可能的情况，这些情况并没有给任何事情带来特别的启示； —

except, indeed, his declarations that he shouldn’t know the real boy, if he were put before him that instant; —
除了他断言他如果立刻看到真正的孩子，也不会认出他来。 —

that he had only taken Oliver to be he, because Mr. Giles had said he was; —
他只认为奥利弗是那个人，因为吉尔斯先生说他是； —

and that Mr. Giles had, five minutes previously, admitted in the kitchen, that he began to be very much afraid he had been a little too hasty.
五分钟前，吉尔斯先生在厨房里承认自己可能有点太仓促了；

Among other ingenious surmises, the question was then raised, whether Mr. Giles had really hit anybody; —
其他一些猜测之中，有人提出吉尔斯先生是否真的打中了任何人； —

and upon examination of the fellow pistol to that which he had fired, it turned out to have no more destructive loading than gunpowder and brown paper: —
在检查了他开的那把手枪后，结果显示它只是装有火药和棕色纸张，没有真正的杀伤力； —

a discovery which made a considerable impression on everybody but the doctor, who had drawn the ball about ten minutes before. —
这个发现引起了所有人的震惊，除了之前十分钟前就取出子弹的医生； —

Upon no one, however, did it make a greater impression than on Mr. Giles himself; —
但是没有人比吉尔斯自己更受影响； —

who, after labouring, for some hours, under the fear of having mortally wounded a fellow-creature, eagerly caught at this new idea, and favoured it to the utmost. —
他在为数小时之后终于摆脱极度担忧自己可能致命伤人的恐惧，急切地接受了这个新想法，并不遗余力地支持它； —

Finally, the officers, without troubling themselves very much about Oliver, left the Chertsey constable in the house, and took up their rest for that night in the town; —
最后，警官们并不太关心奥利弗，把切尔茨宵夜留在了房子里，当晚在镇上住下； —

promising to return the next morning.
承诺第二天早上回来；

With the next morning, there came a rumour, that two men and a boy were in the cage at Kingston, who had been apprehended over night under suspicious circumstances; —
随着第二天的到来，传言称有两男一男孩在金斯顿的囚笼里，因为前一晚根据可疑情况被捕； —

and to Kingston Messrs. Blathers and Duff journeyed accordingly. —
于是布拉瑟斯先生和达夫先生就前往金斯顿； —

The suspicious circumstances, however, resolving themselves, on investigation, into the one fact, that they had been discovered sleeping under a haystack; —
然而，调查发现，这些可疑情况最终只是他们被发现在干草堆下睡觉而已； —

which, although a great crime, is only punishable by imprisonment, and is, in the merciful eye of the English law, and its comprehensive love of all the King’s subjects, held to be no satisfactory proof, in the absence of all other evidence, that the sleeper, or sleepers, have committed burglary accompanied with violence, and have therefore rendered themselves liable to the punishment of death; —
尽管这是一个重罪，但根据英国法律仁慈的眼光和对所有国王臣民的广泛关爱，这只是一种可被监禁的行为，在没有其他证据的情况下，不能被认定为实施了伴有暴力的入室行窃，因此也无法被判死刑； —

Messrs. Blathers and Duff came back again, as wise as they went.
布拉瑟斯先生和达夫先生原封不动地回来了；

In short, after some more examination, and a great deal more conversation, a neighbouring magistrate was readily induced to take the joint bail of Mrs. Maylie and Mr. Losberne for Oliver’s appearance if he should ever be called upon; —
简而言之，在进行了更多的审查和更多的交谈之后，附近的一位法官轻松同意接受梅莉夫人和洛斯伯恩先生的联合保释金，以确保奥利弗日后如被传唤，会出庭应对； —

and Blathers and Duff, being rewarded with a couple of guineas, returned to town with divided opinions on the subject of their expedition: —
Blathers和Duff，各得到几个金币作为奖励，回到城镇，就他们这次远征的话题有了分歧： —

the latter gentleman on a mature consideration of all the circumstances, inclining to the belief that the burglarious attempt had originated with the Family Pet; —
在成熟考虑了所有情况后，前者倾向于认为入室盗窃企图是由家庭宠物发起的； —

and the former being equally disposed to concede the full merit of it to the great Mr. Conkey Chickweed.
而后者则同样倾向于将全部功劳归功于伟大的Conkey Chickweed先生。

Meanwhile, Oliver gradually throve and prospered under the united care of Mrs. Maylie, Rose, and the kind-hearted Mr. Losberne. —
与此同时，Oliver在梅莉太太、罗丝和善良的洛斯伯恩先生的合力照料下逐渐茁壮成长和繁荣。 —

If fervent prayers, gushing from hearts overcharged with gratitude, be heard in heaven–and if they be not, what prayers are! —
如果满怀感激之情的真诚祈祷能够传达到天堂——如果不能，那还有什么祈祷可以呢！ —

–the blessings which the orphan child called down upon them, sunk into their souls, diffusing peace and happiness.
——孤儿孩子向他们祝福，这些祝福深入了他们的灵魂，传达着平和与幸福。