IN WHICH THE READER MAY PERCEIVE A CONTRAST, NOT UNCOMMON IN MATRIMONIAL CASES
在这种婚姻案例中读者可以感知到一种对比，并不罕见。

Mr. Bumble sat in the workhouse parlour, with his eyes moodily fixed on the cheerless grate, whence, as it was summer time, no brighter gleam proceeded, than the reflection of certain sickly rays of the sun, which were sent back from its cold and shining surface. —
旱季里，布姆先生坐在救济院的客厅里，眼睛郁闷地盯着那无情的炉膛，从那里并没有更亮的光芒，只有那残疾的阳光反射出的一些虚弱的光线。 —

A paper fly-cage dangled from the ceiling, to which he occasionally raised his eyes in gloomy thought; —
一只纸飞机笼子悬挂在天花板上，布姆先生有时会抬起眼睛，阴沉地思考； —

and, as the heedless insects hovered round the gaudy net-work, Mr. Bumble would heave a deep sigh, while a more gloomy shadow overspread his countenance. —
当莽撞的昆虫在华丽的网格周围飞舞时，布姆先生会深深地叹息，阴郁的阴影笼罩着他的面容。 —

Mr. Bumble was meditating; it might be that the insects brought to mind, some painful passage in his own past life.
布姆先生在沉思；也许是昆虫使他回忆起自己过去生活中的痛苦片段。

Nor was Mr. Bumble’s gloom the only thing calculated to awaken a pleasing melancholy in the bosom of a spectator. —
布姆先生的阴郁并非唯一能唤起旁观者愉悦忧郁的事物。 —

There were not wanting other appearances, and those closely connected with his own person, which announced that a great change had taken place in the position of his affairs. —
还有其他一些迹象，与他自己的人物密切相关，宣告他的事务地位发生了重大变化。 —

The laced coat, and the cocked hat; where were they? —
金边外套和三角帽；它们去哪了？ —

He still wore knee-breeches, and dark cotton stockings on his nether limbs; —
他仍然穿着短裤，以及下半身的深色棉袜； —

but they were not the breeches. The coat was wide-skirted; —
但它们不再是那条裤子。 外套是宽摆的； —

and in that respect like the coat, but, oh how different! —
在这方面类似于那件外套，但是，哦多么不同！ —

The mighty cocked hat was replaced by a modest round one. —
宏伟的三角帽被一个谦逊的圆帽取代了。 —

Mr. Bumble was no longer a beadle.
布姆先生不再是一个执事。

There are some promotions in life, which, independent of the more substantial rewards they offer, require peculiar value and dignity from the coats and waistcoats connected with them. —
有些晋升在生活中，除了提供更实质的奖励之外，还需要从与之相关的外套和背心中获得独特的价值和尊严。 —

A field-marshal has his uniform; a bishop his silk apron; a counsellor his silk gown; —
一位陆军元帅有他的制服；一位主教有他的丝围裙；一位律师有他的丝袍； —

a beadle his cocked hat. Strip the bishop of his apron, or the beadle of his hat and lace; —
一个执事有他的三角帽。 剥夺主教的围裙，或者剥夺执事的帽子和花边； —

what are they? Men. Mere men. Dignity, and even holiness too, sometimes, are more questions of coat and waistcoat than some people imagine.
它们是什么？男人。仅仅是男人。尊严，有时甚至是圣洁，比一些人想象的更多是外衣和背心的问题。

Mr. Bumble had married Mrs. Corney, and was master of the workhouse. —
巴姆布尔先生已经娶了科尼夫人，成为了救济院的院长。 —

Another beadle had come into power. On him the cocked hat, gold-laced coat, and staff, had all three descended.
另一个看守降临了权力。扁帽、镶金的外套和权杖都落到他手中。

‘And to-morrow two months it was done!’ said Mr. Bumble, with a sigh. ‘It seems a age.’
“而且明天将会是两个月前的事！”巴姆布尔先生叹了口气说。“好像过了一个世纪。”

Mr. Bumble might have meant that he had concentrated a whole existence of happiness into the short space of eight weeks; —
巴姆布尔先生可能是指他在短短八周的时间里将整个幸福的生活集中在一起； —

but the sigh–there was a vast deal of meaning in the sigh.
但那叹息——那叹息中含义很丰富。

‘I sold myself,’ said Mr. Bumble, pursuing the same train of relection, ‘for six teaspoons, a pair of sugar-tongs, and a milk-pot; —
“我卖了自己”，巴姆布尔先生继续思考道，”换来了六把茶匙、一双糖夹和一个奶壶； —

with a small quantity of second-hand furniture, and twenty pound in money. —
还有一些旧家具，二十英镑的现金。 —

I went very reasonable. Cheap, dirt cheap!’
我卖得很便宜。便宜，非常便宜！”

‘Cheap!’ cried a shrill voice in Mr. Bumble’s ear: —
“便宜！”一个尖声的声音在巴姆布尔先生耳边响起： —

‘you would have been dear at any price; and dear enough I paid for you, Lord above knows that!’
“不管多少钱，你都会很贵；我付出的代价已经贵得足够了，上帝知道！”

Mr. Bumble turned, and encountered the face of his interesting consort, who, imperfectly comprehending the few words she had overheard of his complaint, had hazarded the foregoing remark at a venture.
巴姆布尔先生转过头，看到了他有趣的妻子的脸，她模糊地听到了他抱怨的几句话，于是大胆地提出了上述评论。

‘Mrs. Bumble, ma’am!’ said Mr. Bumble, with a sentimental sternness.
“班布尔夫人，夫人！”巴姆布尔先生说，带着一种感伤的严肃。

‘Well!’ cried the lady.
“怎么了！”夫人大声说。

‘Have the goodness to look at me,’ said Mr. Bumble, fixing his eyes upon her. —
“请你看看我，”巴姆布尔先生盯着她说。 —

(If she stands such a eye as that,’ said Mr. Bumble to himself, ‘she can stand anything. —
如果她能忍受那样一种眼神，’邦布尔先生自言自语道，’那么她就能忍受任何事情。 —

It is a eye I never knew to fail with paupers. —
这是一个我从未见它在乞丐身上失效过的眼神。 —

If it fails with her, my power is gone.‘)
如果它在她身上失效了，那么我的权力就消失了。’)

Whether an exceedingly small expansion of eye be sufficient to quell paupers, who, being lightly fed, are in no very high condition; —
是否一种极微小的眼神变化足以压制乞丐，他们由于食物供应不足并不处于良好状态； —

or whether the late Mrs. Corney was particularly proof against eagle glances; —
或者最近的科尼夫人特别能抵御苍鹭般的凝视； —

are matters of opinion. The matter of fact, is, that the matron was in no way overpowered by Mr. Bumble’s scowl, but, on the contrary, treated it with great disdain, and even raised a laugh thereat, which sounded as though it were genuine.
是观点问题。事实是，这位女院长丝毫没有被邦布尔先生的怒视制服，相反，她以极大的轻蔑对待，并且甚至发出了一阵笑声，听起来似乎是真诚的。

On hearing this most unexpected sound, Mr. Bumble looked, first incredulous, and afterwards amazed. —
听到这个意想不到的声音，邦布尔先生先是不可置信，后来又感到惊讶。 —

He then relapsed into his former state; nor did he rouse himself until his attention was again awakened by the voice of his partner.
然后他又陷入了以前的状态；直到他的注意力再次被搭档的声音唤醒。

‘Are you going to sit snoring there, all day?’ inquired Mrs. Bumble.
‘你难道准备整天都坐在那里打呼噜吗？’班布尔夫人询问道。

‘I am going to sit here, as long as I think proper, ma’am,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble; —
‘我要在这里坐多久就坐多久，夫人，’邦布尔先生回答道； —

‘and although I was not snoring, I shall snore, gape, sneeze, laugh, or cry, as the humour strikes me; —
‘虽然我没有打呼噜，但我会打呼噜、打哈欠、打喷嚏、笑或哭，取决于我的心情； —

such being my prerogative.’
这是我的特权。’

‘Your prerogative!’ sneered Mrs. Bumble, with ineffable contempt.
‘你的特权！’班布尔夫人嗤之以鼻，带着难以言喻的轻蔑。

‘I said the word, ma’am,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘The prerogative of a man is to command.’
‘我说了这个词，夫人，’邦布尔先生说。 ‘一个男人的特权就是命令。’

‘And what’s the prerogative of a woman, in the name of Goodness?’ —
‘那么一个女人的特权是什么，天哪？’ —

cried the relict of Mr. Corney deceased.
因为死去的柯尼先生的遗孀大声哭泣。

‘To obey, ma’am,’ thundered Mr. Bumble. ‘Your late unfortunate husband should have taught it you; —
‘服从，女士，’布莫尔先生雷声大作。‘你已故的丈夫本该教给你这个； —

and then, perhaps, he might have been alive now. —
或许，如果是这样，他现在可能还活着。 —

I wish he was, poor man!’
我希望他还活着，可怜的人！’

Mrs. Bumble, seeing at a glance, that the decisive moment had now arrived, and that a blow struck for the mastership on one side or other, must necessarily be final and conclusive, no sooner heard this allusion to the dead and gone, than she dropped into a chair, and with a loud scream that Mr. Bumble was a hard-hearted brute, fell into a paroxysm of tears.
布莫尔夫人一眼看出，关键时刻已经到来，必须打出决定性的一击，以确立对主人职位的控制权；她一听到这个提到已故人的话题，便跌坐到椅子上，大声尖叫布莫尔先生是个冷酷无情的畜生，然后陷入一阵痉挛的哭泣之中。

But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble’s soul; his heart was waterproof. —
但是，眼泪无法触动布莫尔先生的灵魂；他的心脏是防水的。 —

Like washable beaver hats that improve with rain, his nerves were rendered stouter and more vigorous, by showers of tears, which, being tokens of weakness, and so far tacit admissions of his own power, pleased and exalted him. —
就像可以随雨变好的可洗毛海狸帽一样，他的神经被泪水淋过后更强壮、更有力，因为他认为泪水是软弱的象征，这样间接承认了他自己的权力，这让他感到满意和兴奋。 —

He eyed his good lady with looks of great satisfaction, and begged, in an encouraging manner, that she should cry her hardest: —
他用极度满意的目光看着他的好夫人，并以鼓励的语气请求她哭得最厉害： —

the exercise being looked upon, by the faculty, as strongly conducive to health.
因为医生们认为这种锻炼对健康大有好处。

‘It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘So cry away.’
‘它可以打开肺部，洗净面容，锻炼眼睛，平复脾气，’布莫尔先生说道。‘所以尽管哭。’

As he discharged himself of this pleasantry, Mr. Bumble took his hat from a peg, and putting it on, rather rakishly, on one side, as a man might, who felt he had asserted his superiority in a becoming manner, thrust his hands into his pockets, and sauntered towards the door, with much ease and waggishness depicted in his whole appearance.
说完这句俏皮话，布莫尔先生从挂钩上取下他的帽子，有点儿歪歪地戴在一边，显示出他认为自己以一种得体的方式维护了他的优越性；他双手插在口袋里，以一种轻松和滑稽的举止，悠哉地朝着门口走去。

Now, Mrs. Corney that was, had tried the tears, because they were less troublesome than a manual assault; —
现在，柯尼太太尝试了哭泣，因为它们比使用手打击要少麻烦； —

but, she was quite prepared to make trial of the latter mode of proceeding, as Mr. Bumble was not long in discovering.
但她已经完全准备好采取后一种方式，而不久布莫尔先生就发现了这一点。

The first proof he experienced of the fact, was conveyed in a hollow sound, immediately succeeded by the sudden flying off of his hat to the opposite end of the room. —
他体验到这一事实的第一个证据，就是传来的低沉声音，紧接着他的帽子突然飞到房间的另一头。 —

This preliminary proceeding laying bare his head, the expert lady, clasping him tightly round the throat with one hand, inflicted a shower of blows (dealt with singular vigour and dexterity) upon it with the other. —
这个初步程序使他的头暴露在外，精通此道的女士用一只手紧紧抓住他的喉咙，用另一只手狠狠地向他的头上连续打了一阵（以独特的力量和灵巧处理）。 —

This done, she created a little variety by scratching his face, and tearing his hair; —
完成这一切之后，她用手抓他的脸，扯他的头发，稍微增加了些变化； —

and, having, by this time, inflicted as much punishment as she deemed necessary for the offence, she pushed him over a chair, which was luckily well situated for the purpose: —
在她认为已经对这个过错进行了足够的惩罚后，她把他推倒在一个恰到好处的椅子上； —

and defied him to talk about his prerogative again, if he dared.
同时挑衅他如果敢再提自己的特权，就看他敢不敢；

‘Get up!’ said Mrs. Bumble, in a voice of command. —
“站起来！”班布尔夫人命令道； —

‘And take yourself away from here, unless you want me to do something desperate.’
“快从这里消失，除非你想让我做出绝望的事情。”；

Mr. Bumble rose with a very rueful countenance: —
班布尔先生露出一副很悲愤的表情站了起来； —

wondering much what something desperate might be. —
好奇究竟“绝望的事情”是什么； —

Picking up his hat, he looked towards the door.
他拾起帽子，看向门口；

‘Are you going?’ demanded Mrs. Bumble.
“你走吗？”班布尔夫人要求道；

‘Certainly, my dear, certainly,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble, making a quicker motion towards the door. —
“当然，亲爱的，当然，”班布尔先生回答，迅速向门口走去； —

‘I didn’t intend to–I’m going, my dear! —
“我并不打算-我走了，亲爱的！ —

You are so very violent, that really I–’
你实在太暴躁了，我真的-”

At this instant, Mrs. Bumble stepped hastily forward to replace the carpet, which had been kicked up in the scuffle. —
就在这时，班布尔太太急忙走上前去重新摆放被在混战中踢起的地毯； —

Mr. Bumble immediately darted out of the room, without bestowing another thought on his unfinished sentence: —
班布尔先生立刻冲出房间，没有再去想自己未完成的话； —

leaving the late Mrs. Corney in full possession of the field.
此时的科尼夫人则完全占据了这片领地。

Mr. Bumble was fairly taken by surprise, and fairly beaten. —
旁晚老巴姆感到相当吃惊，又被打得相当惨。 —

He had a decided propensity for bullying: —
他有着明显的欺凌倾向： —

derived no inconsiderable pleasure from the exercise of petty cruelty; —
从施行小规模残酷中获得相当多的快乐； —

and, consequently, was (it is needless to say) a coward. —
因此，他（毫不用说）是个懦夫。 —

This is by no means a disparagement to his character; —
这并不是贬低他品格的意思； —

for many official personages, who are held in high respect and admiration, are the victims of similar infirmities. —
因为很多受人尊敬和钦佩的官员，也是这种弱点的受害者。 —

The remark is made, indeed, rather in his favour than otherwise, and with a view of impressing the reader with a just sense of his qualifications for office.
这种说法实际上更有利他，旨在让读者正确认识他担任职务的资格。

But, the measure of his degradation was not yet full. —
但，他的堕落程度还没达到极致。 —

After making a tour of the house, and thinking, for the first time, that the poor-laws really were too hard on people; —
走遍房屋，第一次觉得穷人法律对人太苛刻； —

and that men who ran away from their wives, leaving them chargeable to the parish, ought, in justice to be visited with no punishment at all, but rather rewarded as meritorious individuals who had suffered much; —
逃离妻子，让她们成为教区负担，理应没有一点惩罚，反而作为经历了许多磨难的有功者应得奖励； —

Mr. Bumble came to a room where some of the female paupers were usually employed in washing the parish linen: —
老巴姆来到一个房间，通常有一些女贫民在那里负责洗洗教区的布料； —

when the sound of voices in conversation, now proceeded.
此刻传来了交谈声音。

‘Hem!’ said Mr. Bumble, summoning up all his native dignity. —
‘咳！’老巴姆振作起他天生的尊严。 —

‘These women at least shall continue to respect the prerogative. Hallo! —
‘至少这些女人应该继续尊重这项特权。喂！ —

hallo there! What do you mean by this noise, you hussies?’
喂喂！你们这些贱人，这种吵闹是什么意思？’

With these words, Mr. Bumble opened the door, and walked in with a very fierce and angry manner: —
搞出这番话来，邦布尔先生打开门，一副非常凶狠和愤怒的样子走了进去： —

which was at once exchanged for a most humiliated and cowering air, as his eyes unexpectedly rested on the form of his lady wife.
这个样子突然变得羞愧和畏缩，因为他的目光突然停在了他的夫人身上。

‘My dear,’ said Mr. Bumble, ‘I didn’t know you were here.’
“亲爱的，”邦布尔先生说，“我不知道你在这里。”

‘Didn’t know I was here!’ repeated Mrs. Bumble. ‘What do you do here?’
“不知道我在这里！”邦布尔夫人重复道，“你在这里做什么？”

‘I thought they were talking rather too much to be doing their work properly, my dear,’ replied Mr. Bumble: —
“我觉得他们说话太多了，工作肯定没有做好，亲爱的，”邦布尔先生回答道， —

glancing distractedly at a couple of old women at the wash-tub, who were comparing notes of admiration at the workhouse-master’s humility.
分散地瞥了一眼两位老妇人在洗衣桶前，她们在比较赞美医院管理员的谦卑态度。

‘You thought they were talking too much?’ said Mrs. Bumble. ‘What business is it of yours?’
“你觉得他们说话太多？”邦布尔夫人说，“这关你什么事？”

‘Why, my dear–’ urged Mr. Bumble submissively.
“亲爱的–”邦布尔先生顺从地劝说。

‘What business is it of yours?’ demanded Mrs. Bumble, again.
邦布尔夫人再次问道：“这关你什么事？”

‘It’s very true, you’re matron here, my dear,’ submitted Mr. Bumble; —
“是啊，亲爱的，你是这里的女监护人，”邦布尔先生交代道； —

‘but I thought you mightn’t be in the way just then.’
“但我想你当时或许不在这里。”

‘I’ll tell you what, Mr. Bumble,’ returned his lady. ‘We don’t want any of your interference. —
“告诉你，邦布尔先生，”夫人回答道，“我们不需要你插手。 —

You’re a great deal too fond of poking your nose into things that don’t concern you, making everybody in the house laugh, the moment your back is turned, and making yourself look like a fool every hour in the day. Be off; come!’
你总是喜欢掺和那些与你无关的事情，等你转身一离开，整个房子里的人都会笑，整天让自己看起来像个傻瓜。走开；来！”

Mr. Bumble, seeing with excruciating feelings, the delight of the two old paupers, who were tittering together most rapturously, hesitated for an instant. —
邦布尔先生看到两位老乞丐高兴得相互咯咯笑，感到极度痛苦，犹豫了一会儿。 —

Mrs. Bumble, whose patience brooked no delay, caught up a bowl of soap-suds, and motioning him towards the door, ordered him instantly to depart, on pain of receiving the contents upon his portly person.
忍受不了等待的邦布尔夫人立刻拿起一碗肥皂水泡，示意他朝着门口走，命令他立刻离开，否则就会把里面的内容倒在他那胖乎乎的身上。

What could Mr. Bumble do? He looked dejectedly round, and slunk away; —
布姆先生感到沮丧地四处张望，懊丧地走开； —

and, as he reached the door, the titterings of the paupers broke into a shrill chuckle of irrepressible delight. —
当他走到门口时，乞丐们的窃笑声变成了一阵难以抑制的欢乐的尖叫声； —

It wanted but this. He was degraded in their eyes; —
这正是他不愿看到的。他在他们眼中受到了贬损； —

he had lost caste and station before the very paupers; —
他在乞丐们面前失去了阶级和地位； —

he had fallen from all the height and pomp of beadleship, to the lowest depth of the most snubbed hen-peckery.
他从最高傲慢的管理者身份坠落到被最藐视的鸦片婆妈的最底层。

‘All in two months!’ said Mr. Bumble, filled with dismal thoughts. ‘Two months! —
“就在两个月内！”布姆先生充满沮丧的想法说。“两个月！ —

No more than two months ago, I was not only my own master, but everybody else’s, so far as the porochial workhouse was concerned, and now!–’
仅仅两个月前，我不仅是我的主人，而且还是所有其他人的主人，就那所贫民院工作来说，而现在！”

It was too much. Mr. Bumble boxed the ears of the boy who opened the gate for him (for he had reached the portal in his reverie); —
这太过分了。布姆先生揍了打开门的男孩的耳光（因为他在幻想中已经走到了大门口）； —

and walked, distractedly, into the street.
然后心烦意乱地走进了街头。

He walked up one street, and down another, until exercise had abated the first passion of his grief; —
他走过一条街又走过一条街，直到运动减轻了他的悲伤的最初激情； —

and then the revulsion of feeling made him thirsty. He passed a great many public-houses; —
然后感受到的情感反转让他感到口渴。他经过了许多酒吧； —

but, at length paused before one in a by-way, whose parlour, as he gathered from a hasty peep over the blinds, was deserted, save by one solitary customer. —
但最后停在了一条小巷里的一家，从匆匆窥视窗帘看到这家酒吧的客厅里只有一位孤独的顾客。 —

It began to rain, heavily, at the moment. This determined him. Mr. Bumble stepped in; —
此时开始下起了大雨。这让他下定决心。布姆先生走了进去； —

and ordering something to drink, as he passed the bar, entered the apartment into which he had looked from the street.
并且在经过吧台时点了一样饮料，走进了他从街上看到的房间。

The man who was seated there, was tall and dark, and wore a large cloak. —
坐在那里的男人身材高大，皮肤黝黑，披着一件大斗篷。 —

He had the air of a stranger; and seemed, by a certain haggardness in his look, as well as by the dusty soils on his dress, to have travelled some distance. —
他有一种陌生人的气息；看上去一副疲惫的样子，穿着上沾满了灰尘，似乎行了相当远的路程。 —

He eyed Bumble askance, as he entered, but scarcely deigned to nod his head in acknowledgment of his salutation.
他斜眼看着邦布尔姆进来，只是勉强点了点头以示回应。

Mr. Bumble had quite dignity enough for two; —
邦布尔姆的尊严足够了两个人； —

supposing even that the stranger had been more familiar: —
就算这个陌生人更加亲切： —

so he drank his gin-and-water in silence, and read the paper with great show of pomp and circumstance.
所以他沉默地喝着他的杜松子酒，摆出一副华而不实的样子看报纸。

It so happened, however: as it will happen very often, when men fall into company under such circumstances: —
然而事情偏偏如此：当男人们在这种情况下聚在一起时，经常会发生的事； —

that Mr. Bumble felt, every now and then, a powerful inducement, which he could not resist, to steal a look at the stranger: —
邦布尔姆时不时感到一种强烈的冲动，无法抵挡，偷偷看陌生人一眼； —

and that whenever he did so, he withdrew his eyes, in some confusion, to find that the stranger was at that moment stealing a look at him. —
每当他这样做时，他尴尬地把目光移开，却发现此刻那个陌生人也正在偷看他。 —

Mr. Bumble’s awkwardness was enhanced by the very remarkable expression of the stranger’s eye, which was keen and bright, but shadowed by a scowl of distrust and suspicion, unlike anything he had ever observed before, and repulsive to behold.
邦布尔姆的笨拙愈加显著，因为陌生人眼神异常敏锐而明亮，但被一种不信任和猜疑的冷笑所遮蔽，与他以往见过的任何东西都不同，令人厌恶。

When they had encountered each other’s glance several times in this way, the stranger, in a harsh, deep voice, broke silence.
当他们多次这样对视之后，陌生人用一种尖锐而低沉的声音打破了沉默。

‘Were you looking for me,’ he said, ‘when you peered in at the window?’
‘你是在找我吗，’他说，’当你凝视窗外的时候？’

‘Not that I am aware of, unless you’re Mr. –’ Here Mr. Bumble stopped short; —
‘据我所知，除非你是先生–’ 在那里邦布尔姆停了下来； —

for he was curious to know the stranger’s name, and thought in his impatience, he might supply the blank.
因为他很好奇想知道这个陌生人的名字，心急如焚，他或许会填空。

‘I see you were not,’ said the stranger; an expression of quiet sarcasm playing about his mouth; —
‘我看出你不是在找我，’陌生人说；他口角露出一丝安静的讽刺； —

‘or you have known my name. You don’t know it. —
‘或者你会认识我的名字。你不认识。 —

I would recommend you not to ask for it.’
我建议你最好不要问。

‘I meant no harm, young man,’ observed Mr. Bumble, majestically.
“我并没有恶意，年轻人，”宾保先生庄严地说道。

‘And have done none,’ said the stranger.
“并且我也没有造成任何伤害，”陌生人说道。

Another silence succeeded this short dialogue: which was again broken by the stranger.
这段简短的对话之后又陷入了沉默，然后被陌生人打破了。

‘I have seen you before, I think?’ said he. —
“我想我以前见过你，对吧？”他说。 —

‘You were differently dressed at that time, and I only passed you in the street, but I should know you again. —
“那时你穿着不同的衣服，我只是在街上经过了你，但我会认出你来。” —

You were beadle here, once; were you not?’
“你曾经是这里的法警，是吗？”

‘I was,’ said Mr. Bumble, in some surprise; ‘porochial beadle.’
“是的，”宾保先生有些惊讶地说道，“教区法警。”

‘Just so,’ rejoined the other, nodding his head. —
“完全正确，”陌生人点点头说道。 —

‘It was in that character I saw you. What are you now?’
“我就是以那个身份见过你。你现在是什么身份？”

‘Master of the workhouse,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble, slowly and impressively, to check any undue familiarity the stranger might otherwise assume. —
“济贫院院长，”宾保先生缓慢而令人印象深刻地说道，以防陌生人对他产生过多的亲昵。 —

‘Master of the workhouse, young man!’
“济贫院院长，年轻人！”

‘You have the same eye to your own interest, that you always had, I doubt not?’ —
“你对自己的利益始终如一，我毫不怀疑。” —

resumed the stranger, looking keenly into Mr. Bumble’s eyes, as he raised them in astonishment at the question.
陌生人继续说道，目光锐利地看着宾保先生的眼睛，当他惊讶地抬起眼睛看着他时。

‘Don’t scruple to answer freely, man. I know you pretty well, you see.’
“别犹豫地自由回答，伙计。我对你很了解，你看。”

‘I suppose, a married man,’ replied Mr. Bumble, shading his eyes with his hand, and surveying the stranger, from head to foot, in evident perplexity, ‘is not more averse to turning an honest penny when he can, than a single one. —
“我想，已婚的男人,”巴默先生回答，用手遮住眼睛，显然困惑地审视着这个陌生人，从头到脚，“在可以赚一分诚实的钱的时候，并不比单身的人更不情愿。” —

Porochial officers are not so well paid that they can afford to refuse any little extra fee, when it comes to them in a civil and proper manner.’
“教区官员的薪水并不高，他们承受不起拒绝任何一个文明得体的额外小费。”

The stranger smiled, and nodded his head again: —
陌生人微笑着再次点头： —

as much to say, he had not mistaken his man; —
仿佛在说，他没有看错人； —

then rang the bell.
然后按响了铃。

‘Fill this glass again,’ he said, handing Mr. Bumble’s empty tumbler to the landlord. —
“再倒一杯这个，”他把巴默先生空着的玻璃杯递给店主说。 —

‘Let it be strong and hot. You like it so, I suppose?’
“让它又烈又烫。你喜欢这样的，我想？”

‘Not too strong,’ replied Mr. Bumble, with a delicate cough.
“不要太烈，”巴默先生轻咳一声。

‘You understand what that means, landlord!’ said the stranger, drily.
“你懂我意思的，店主！”陌生人干巴巴地说。

The host smiled, disappeared, and shortly afterwards returned with a steaming jorum: —
主人微笑着退下，不久后端出了一碗冒着热气的酒： —

of which, the first gulp brought the water into Mr. Bumble’s eyes.
第一口喝下去让巴默先生眼睛里冒出了泪水。

‘Now listen to me,’ said the stranger, after closing the door and window. —
“现在听我说，”陌生人关上门窗后说。 —

‘I came down to this place, to-day, to find you out; —
“我今天来到这个地方，就是要找到你； —

and, by one of those chances which the devil throws in the way of his friends sometimes, you walked into the very room I was sitting in, while you were uppermost in my mind. —
命运有时会让我们碰巧遇到一些契机，你恰好走进了我当时正在坐的那个房间。 —

I want some information from you. I don’t ask you to give it for nothing, slight as it is. —
我需要一些信息。我不要求你白给，虽然很少。” —

Put up that, to begin with.’
首先把那个挂上去。

As he spoke, he pushed a couple of sovereigns across the table to his companion, carefully, as though unwilling that the chinking of money should be heard without. —
在他说话的时候，他小心地把几个金币推到桌子对面，轻轻地，仿佛不希望金钱的叮当声被听到。 —

When Mr. Bumble had scrupulously examined the coins, to see that they were genuine, and had put them up, with much satisfaction, in his waistcoat-pocket, he went on:
当邦布尔先生仔细检查了硬币，确认它们是真的，并对着自己的背心口袋满意地放好后，他接着说道：

‘Carry your memory back–let me see–twelve years, last winter.’
回想一下你的记忆——让我想想——十二年前的冬天。

‘It’s a long time,’ said Mr. Bumble. ‘Very good. I’ve done it.’
‘那已经是很久以前了,‘邦布尔先生说。很好，我记住了。

‘The scene, the workhouse.’
场景在什么地方？收容所。

‘Good!’
很好！

‘And the time, night.’
“现在的时间，是夜晚。”

‘Yes.’
“是的。”

‘And the place, the crazy hole, wherever it was, in which miserable drabs brought forth the life and health so often denied to themselves–gave birth to puling children for the parish to rear; —
“地点，那个疯狂的地方，无论是在哪里，那些可怜的妓女为了让自己常常被拒绝的生命和健康——为了让教区来抚养他们哭泣的孩子； —

and hid their shame, rot ‘em in the grave!’
并把他们的耻辱藏在坟墓里！”

‘The lying-in room, I suppose?’ said Mr. Bumble, not quite following the stranger’s excited description.
“你是说产房？”邦布尔先生问道，有点跟不上陌生人激动的描述。

‘Yes,’ said the stranger. ‘A boy was born there.’
“是的，”陌生人说，“一个男孩就在那里出生。”

‘A many boys,’ observed Mr. Bumble, shaking his head, despondingly.
“那里多少男孩啊，”邦布尔先生沮丧地摇摇头。

‘A murrain on the young devils!’ cried the stranger; ‘I speak of one; —
“可恶的年轻恶魔！”陌生人喊道，“我说的是一个； —

a meek-looking, pale-faced boy, who was apprenticed down here, to a coffin-maker–I wish he had made his coffin, and screwed his body in it–and who afterwards ran away to London, as it was supposed.
一个看起来温顺，脸色苍白的男孩，被学徒地送到这里，当了个棺材匠——我真希望他亲手制作了他的棺材，然后把自己锁在里面——然后据说后来逃往了伦敦。”

‘Why, you mean Oliver! Young Twist!’ said Mr. Bumble; —
“哦，你是指奥利弗！小特维斯！”邦布尔先生说； —

‘I remember him, of course. There wasn’t a obstinater young rascal–’
“我当然记得他。没有比他更顽固的小淘气鬼——”

‘It’s not of him I want to hear; I’ve heard enough of him,’ said the stranger, stopping Mr. Bumble in the outset of a tirade on the subject of poor Oliver’s vices. —
“我不想听他的事情；我听够了他的事情，”陌生人打断邦布尔先生对可怜的奥利弗的恶行展开的抨击。 —

‘It’s of a woman; the hag that nursed his mother. Where is she?’
“我想知道的是一个女人；她帮助照顾他母亲的老妇人。她在哪里？”

‘Where is she?’ said Mr. Bumble, whom the gin-and-water had rendered facetious. —
“她在哪里？”邦布尔先生说，那杯琴酒已让他变得滑稽。 —

‘It would be hard to tell. There’s no midwifery there, whichever place she’s gone to; —
“很难说。不管她去了哪个地方，那里都没有接生术；” —

so I suppose she’s out of employment, anyway.’
所以我想她已经失业了，无论如何。”

‘What do you mean?’ demanded the stranger, sternly.
“你是什么意思？”陌生人严厉地要求道。

‘That she died last winter,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble.
“她去年冬天去世了。”班布尔先生回答说。

The man looked fixedly at him when he had given this information, and although he did not withdraw his eyes for some time afterwards, his gaze gradually became vacant and abstracted, and he seemed lost in thought. —
当他提供这一信息后，那人目不转睛地看着他，尽管之后有一段时间他没有移开目光，但他的凝视逐渐变得空洞和心不在焉，他似乎陷入了沉思之中。 —

For some time, he appeared doubtful whether he ought to be relieved or disappointed by the intelligence; —
有段时间，他似乎在犹豫应该因为这个消息而松了口气还是感到失望； —

but at length he breathed more freely; and withdrawing his eyes, observed that it was no great matter. —
但最后他松了口气；并移开目光，说这并不是什么大不了的事情。 —

With that he rose, as if to depart.
说完他便起身要离开。

But Mr. Bumble was cunning enough; and he at once saw that an opportunity was opened, for the lucrative disposal of some secret in the possession of his better half. —
但班布尔先生足够狡猾；他立刻意识到一个机会已经打开，可以通过他那位爱人持有的某个秘密来牟利。 —

He well remembered the night of old Sally’s death, which the occurrences of that day had given him good reason to recollect, as the occasion on which he had proposed to Mrs. Corney; —
他清楚地记得老莎莉去世的那天，那天的事件使他有充分的理由记住，因为那是他向科尼太太求婚的日子； —

and although that lady had never confided to him the disclosure of which she had been the solitary witness, he had heard enough to know that it related to something that had occurred in the old woman’s attendance, as workhouse nurse, upon the young mother of Oliver Twist. Hastily calling this circumstance to mind, he informed the stranger, with an air of mystery, that one woman had been closeted with the old harridan shortly before she died; —
尽管那位女士不曾向他透露她作为唯一目击者所看到的那个秘密，但他听到了足够的信息，知道那和老桶子的护理有关，在她担任流浪汉宝贝奥利弗·特威斯特的年轻母亲的护理期间发生了什么。匆匆想起这一情况后，他神秘兮兮地告诉陌生人，有一个女人在老婆婆去世前不久跟她独处； —

and that she could, as he had reason to believe, throw some light on the subject of his inquiry.
并且他有理由相信，她能为他的调查提供一些线索。

‘How can I find her?’ said the stranger, thrown off his guard; —
“我怎么联系她？”陌生人说，失去克制； —

and plainly showing that all his fears (whatever they were) were aroused afresh by the intelligence.
明显地显示出他所有的恐惧（不管是什么）都被这一信息重新激起。

‘Only through me,’ rejoined Mr. Bumble.
“只能通过我。”班布尔先生回答说。

‘When?’ cried the stranger, hastily.
“什么时候？”陌生人急忙问道。

‘To-morrow,’ rejoined Bumble.
‘明天，’ 重新回答了班布尔。

‘At nine in the evening,’ said the stranger, producing a scrap of paper, and writing down upon it, an obscure address by the water-side, in characters that betrayed his agitation; —
‘晚上九点，’陌生人说着，拿出一张纸片，在水边写下了一个模糊的地址，那些字迹暴露了他的激动情绪； —

‘at nine in the evening, bring her to me there. —
‘明晚九点，在那里把她带到我面前。 —

I needn’t tell you to be secret. It’s your interest.’
我不用告诉你保密了吧。这关系到你的利益。’

With these words, he led the way to the door, after stopping to pay for the liquor that had been drunk. —
说着，他领着前去门口，停下来付了饮料的钱。 —

Shortly remarking that their roads were different, he departed, without more ceremony than an emphatic repetition of the hour of appointment for the following night.
轻描淡写地说着道路不同，除了强调明晚的约会时间，就没再做什么礼节之事，就离开了。

On glancing at the address, the parochial functionary observed that it contained no name. The stranger had not gone far, so he made after him to ask it.
瞥了一眼地址后，教区职员发现上面没有名字。陌生人走得还不远，于是他追了上去问清。

‘What do you want?’ cried the man, turning quickly round, as Bumble touched him on the arm. ‘Following me?’
‘你想干啥？’那人快速转身，当班布尔碰了他一下手臂时，他反问道，‘跟着我？’

‘Only to ask a question,’ said the other, pointing to the scrap of paper. —
‘只是问一个问题，一个指向那张纸片的问题。 —

‘What name am I to ask for?’
‘我应该问什么名字？’

‘Monks!’ rejoined the man; and strode hastily, away.
‘Monks！’那人回答道，然后匆匆忙忙地离开了。