A STRANGE INTERVIEW, WHICH IS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST CHAMBER
一个奇怪的采访，这是《最后的密室》的续集

The girl’s life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was something of the woman’s original nature left in her still; —
这个女孩的生活曾在伦敦的街头和最肮脏的妓院和密室之间被挥霍，但她身上还残存着一些原始的女人本性； —

and when she heard a light step approaching the door opposite to that by which she had entered, and thought of the wide contrast which the small room would in another moment contain, she felt burdened with the sense of her own deep shame, and shrunk as though she could scarcely bear the presence of her with whom she had sought this interview.
当她听到有人轻盈的脚步逐渐靠近对面的门时，想到这小小的房间即将发生巨大的对比，她心中充满了自己深深的羞耻之感，觉得几乎无法承受与她寻求这次采访的对象共处。

But struggling with these better feelings was pride,–the vice of the lowest and most debased creatures no less than of the high and self-assured. —
但优良情感与骄傲作斗争，–骄傲是最卑微、最堕落的人群同样背负的罪过，亦是高高在上、自信的人士的恶习。 —

The miserable companion of thieves and ruffians, the fallen outcast of low haunts, the associate of the scourings of the jails and hulks, living within the shadow of the gallows itself,–even this degraded being felt too proud to betray a feeble gleam of the womanly feeling which she thought a weakness, but which alone connected her with that humanity, of which her wasting life had obliterated so many, many traces when a very child.
这个可怜的盗贼和暴徒的伴侣，低级酒馆的堕落妓女，监狱和船坞的败类的同伙，生活在被绞架之影之下的人，–即使这个沦落的存在感觉太骄傲了，以至于不愿显露自己久远童年时期连接她与人类的那一丝柔弱女性情感。

She raised her eyes sufficiently to observe that the figure which presented itself was that of a slight and beautiful girl; —
她稍稍抬起眼睛，看到站在那儿的是一个苗条而美丽的女孩； —

then, bending them on the ground, she tossed her head with affected carelessness as she said:
然后，低头看着地面，她姿态悠扬地说道：

‘It’s a hard matter to get to see you, lady. —
“想见到你真不容易啊，夫人。 —

If I had taken offence, and gone away, as many would have done, you’d have been sorry for it one day, and not without reason either.’
如果我抱怨走掉了，像许多人会做的那样，你迟早会为此感到后悔的；这一点也不乏道理。”

‘I am very sorry if any one has behaved harshly to you,’ replied Rose. ‘Do not think of that. —
“如果有人对你粗鲁，我很抱歉，”罗丝回答道。“不要去想那些事。 —

Tell me why you wished to see me. I am the person you inquired for.’
告诉我你为什么想见我。我就是你问询的那个人。”

The kind tone of this answer, the sweet voice, the gentle manner, the absence of any accent of haughtiness or displeasure, took the girl completely by surprise, and she burst into tears.
罗丝诚挚地说的这种语气、甜美的声音、温柔的举止，没有一丝高傲或不悦的口吻，让这个女孩完全感到惊讶，她泣不成声。

‘Oh, lady, lady!’ she said, clasping her hands passionately before her face, ‘if there was more like you, there would be fewer like me,–there would–there would!’
“哦，夫人，夫人！”她激动地合起双手捂住脸说，“如果像您这样的人多一些，像我这样的人会少一些，会–会少一些！”

‘Sit down,’ said Rose, earnestly. ‘If you are in poverty or affliction I shall be truly glad to relieve you if I can,–I shall indeed. Sit down.’
“坐下，”罗丝诚挚地说。“如果你处于贫困或困境，我会真诚地希望能在力所能及的范围内帮助你，–我真的会的。请坐下。”

‘Let me stand, lady,’ said the girl, still weeping, ‘and do not speak to me so kindly till you know me better. —
“让我站着，夫人，”女孩仍然抽泣着说道，“在你更了解我之前，请不要对我如此和善地说话。” —

It is growing late. Is–is–that door shut?’
现在已经很晚了。那道门……那道门关上了吗？

‘Yes,’ said Rose, recoiling a few steps, as if to be nearer assistance in case she should require it. ‘Why?’
‘是的，’罗丝说着，略微后退几步，似乎为了在需要时更接近求助。’为什么？

‘Because,’ said the girl, ‘I am about to put my life and the lives of others in your hands. —
‘因为，’女孩说，’我即将把我的生命和其他人的生命都交到你手中。 —

I am the girl that dragged little Oliver back to old Fagin’s on the night he went out from the house in Pentonville.’
我就是那个在彭顿维尔之家半夜将小奥利弗拖回老费金那里的女孩。

‘You!’ said Rose Maylie.
‘你！’罗丝梅利说。

‘I, lady!’ replied the girl. ‘I am the infamous creature you have heard of, that lives among the thieves, and that never from the first moment I can recollect my eyes and senses opening on London streets have known any better life, or kinder words than they have given me, so help me God! —
‘是的，女士！’女孩回答说。’我就是你听说过的那个潦倒的人，居住在贼人当中，从我能记得伦敦街道的第一刻开始，从未有过比这更好的生活，或比他们给过我的更温暖的言论，我发誓！ —

Do not mind shrinking openly from me, lady. —
不要介意公开避开我，女士。 —

I am younger than you would think, to look at me, but I am well used to it. —
看上去比你想象中要年轻，但我已经习惯了。 —

The poorest women fall back, as I make my way along the crowded pavement.’
最贫穷的女人也会退后，当我穿过拥挤的人行道。

‘What dreadful things are these!’ said Rose, involuntarily falling from her strange companion.
‘这些可怕的事情！’罗丝情不自禁地从奇特的伴侣身边退开。

‘Thank Heaven upon your knees, dear lady,’ cried the girl, ‘that you had friends to care for and keep you in your childhood, and that you were never in the midst of cold and hunger, and riot and drunkenness, and–and–something worse than all–as I have been from my cradle. —
‘感谢上天，亲爱的女士，’女孩呼喊道，’你曾有朋友在你童年时关照着你，保护着你，你从未身处寒冷、饥饿、暴乱、醉酒和……一切比这更糟的事情之中，而我从出生起一直是如此。 —

I may use the word, for the alley and the gutter were mine, as they will be my deathbed.’
我可以用这个词，因为小巷和水沟是我的，它们也将是我的临终之地。

‘I pity you!’ said Rose, in a broken voice. ‘It wrings my heart to hear you!’
‘我为你感到遗憾！’罗丝声音哽咽地说道。’听到这些真是伤心啊！’

‘Heaven bless you for your goodness!’ rejoined the girl. —
‘上天保佑你的善良！’女孩回答说。 —

‘If you knew what I am sometimes, you would pity me, indeed. —
‘如果你知道我有时候是怎样的，你确实会可怜我的。 —

But I have stolen away from those who would surely murder me, if they knew I had been here, to tell you what I have overheard. —
但我从那些肯定会谋杀我的人中偷走了，如果他们知道我在这里，我就告诉你我听到的事情。 —

Do you know a man named Monks?’
你认识一个叫蒙克斯的人吗？

‘No,’ said Rose.
‘不，’ 罗丝说。

‘He knows you,’ replied the girl; ‘and knew you were here, for it was by hearing him tell the place that I found you out.’
‘他认识你，’那女孩回答说； ‘他知道你在这里，因为是通过听他说出这个地方，我找到了你。

‘I never heard the name,’ said Rose.
罗丝说：‘我从来没有听过这个名字。

‘Then he goes by some other amongst us,’ rejoined the girl, ‘which I more than thought before. —
‘那么他在我们中间用另一个名字，’女孩回答说， ‘我以前甚至比想象中更多。 —

Some time ago, and soon after Oliver was put into your house on the night of the robbery, I–suspecting this man–listened to a conversation held between him and Fagin in the dark. —
有一段时间，就在奥利弗被放进你们家那晚上的抢劫事件之后，我怀疑这个男人，就在黑暗中听到了他和费金之间进行的谈话。 —

I found out, from what I heard, that Monks–the man I asked you about, you know–’
从我听到的内容中，我发现，蒙克斯–就是我问过你的那个人，你知道吧–’

‘Yes,’ said Rose, ‘I understand.’
‘是的，’罗丝说，‘ 我明白了。

’–That Monks,’ pursued the girl, ‘had seen him accidently with two of our boys on the day we first lost him, and had known him directly to be the same child that he was watching for, though I couldn’t make out why. —
‘–蒙克斯，’女孩继续说，‘在我们第一次把他丢失当天无意中看到了他和我们两个男孩在一起，直接就认出他是当时在盯着的那个孩子，尽管我弄不清楚为什么。 —

A bargain was struck with Fagin, that if Oliver was got back he should have a certain sum; —
与费金达成了一项协议，如果找回了奥利弗，他将得到一笔固定的钱； —

and he was to have more for making him a thief, which this Monks wanted for some purpose of his own.’
而且为了让他成为一个小偷，他还将得到更多，这正是蒙克斯为了自己某种目的而想要的。

‘For what purpose?’ asked Rose.
‘为什么目的？’罗丝问道。

‘He caught sight of my shadow on the wall as I listened, in the hope of finding out,’ said the girl; —
‘在我听的时候瞥见了我在墙上的影子，希望找出来，’女孩说。 —

‘and there are not many people besides me that could have got out of their way in time to escape discovery. —
‘而且没有几个人除了我以外能够及时躲开，以免被发现。 —

But I did; and I saw him no more till last night.’
但我看见了；直到昨晚我再也没有见过他。”

‘And what occurred then?’
“那时发生了什么事呢？”

‘I’ll tell you, lady. Last night he came again. —
“我告诉你，夫人。昨晚他又来了。 —

Again they went upstairs, and I, wrapping myself up so that my shadow would not betray me, again listened at the door. —
再次他们上楼，我包裹着自己，以免我的影子暴露，再次在门口倾听。 —

The first words I heard Monks say were these: —
我听到蒙克斯说的第一句话是： —

“So the only proofs of the boy’s identity lie at the bottom of the river, and the old hag that received them from the mother is rotting in her coffin.” —
“所以，孩子身份的唯一证据都深埋在河底，收到母亲那里的那位老婆婆早已腐烂在她的棺材里。” —

They laughed, and talked of his success in doing this; —
他们笑着谈论他这样做的成功； —

and Monks, talking on about the boy, and getting very wild, said that though he had got the young devil’s money safely now, he’d rather have had it the other way; —
而蒙克斯继续谈论孩子，变得很狂暴，说虽然他现在已经安全地拿到了年轻恶魔的钱，但他宁愿事情发展得另一种方式； —

for, what a game it would have been to have brought down the boast of the father’s will, by driving him through every jail in town, and then hauling him up for some capital felony which Fagin could easily manage, after having made a good profit of him besides.’
因为，把父亲遗嘱的吹嘘击倒，只要把他从城里的每一个监狱驱赶一遍，然后在简单地擒获他之后，加以利用，这是一场多么精彩的游戏，其中费金还可以从中大赚一笔。”

‘What is all this!’ said Rose.
“这是怎么回事！” 罗丝说。

‘The truth, lady, though it comes from my lips,’ replied the girl. —
“事实，夫人，虽然是从我的嘴里说出来的，”女孩回答道。 —

‘Then, he said, with oaths common enough in my ears, but strange to yours, that if he could gratify his hatred by taking the boy’s life without bringing his own neck in danger, he would; —
“然后，他骂骂咧咧地说，虽然这在我的耳中很常见，但对你们来说却是陌生的，如果他能毫无风险地满足自己的仇恨，夺走孩子的生命，他就会； —

but, as he couldn’t, he’d be upon the watch to meet him at every turn in life; —
但是，由于他不能，他会随时留意生活中的每一个转弯，去遇见他； —

and if he took advantage of his birth and history, he might harm him yet. —
如果他利用他的出生和历史，他可能会伤害他。 —

“In short, Fagin,” he says, “Jew as you are, you never laid such snares as I’ll contrive for my young brother, Oliver.”’
“简而言之，费金，”他说，“如同你是犹太人一样，你从未布过像我将为我年轻的兄弟奥利弗策划的那样的圈套。”

‘His brother!’ exclaimed Rose.
“他的哥哥！”罗丝惊呼道。

‘Those were his words,’ said Nancy, glancing uneasily round, as she had scarcely ceased to do, since she began to speak, for a vision of Sikes haunted her perpetually. —
“那就是他说的话。”南希说着，不安地环顾四周，自从开始讲话以来，她几乎没有停止过，因为她脑海中一直出现着赛克斯的幻影。 —

‘And more. When he spoke of you and the other lady, and said it seemed contrived by Heaven, or the devil, against him, that Oliver should come into your hands, he laughed, and said there was some comfort in that too, for how many thousands and hundreds of thousands of pounds would you not give, if you had them, to know who your two-legged spaniel was.’
“还有。当他提到你和另一个女士，说奥利弗落入你们手中似乎是上天或魔鬼的安排时，他笑了，说这也有一点安慰，因为如果你们有数千甚至数十万英镑，你们会愿意付出多少来知道你们的两栖猎犬是谁。”

‘You do not mean,’ said Rose, turning very pale, ‘to tell me that this was said in earnest?’
“你不是说，”罗丝脸色变得苍白，“告诉我这是当真的吗？”

‘He spoke in hard and angry earnest, if a man ever did,’ replied the girl, shaking her head. —
“如果有人当真愤怒地说话的话，他就是这样说的，”女孩摇着头回答道。 —

‘He is an earnest man when his hatred is up. I know many who do worse things; —
“他的仇恨一旦被激起，他是个认真的人。我认识很多人做过更糟糕的事情； —

but I’d rather listen to them all a dozen times, than to that Monks once. —
但我宁愿听他们十几遍，也不愿再听一次那个蒙克斯。 —

It is growing late, and I have to reach home without suspicion of having been on such an errand as this. —
天色已晚，我得回家，不让人怀疑我去过这种地方。 —

I must get back quickly.’
我必须快点回去。”

‘But what can I do?’ said Rose. ‘To what use can I turn this communication without you? Back! —
“但我能做什么呢？”罗丝说。“没有你，我该如何利用这个信息？回去！ —

Why do you wish to return to companions you paint in such terrible colors? —
为什么你想回到你描绘得如此可怕的同伴那里？ —

If you repeat this information to a gentleman whom I can summon in an instant from the next room, you can be consigned to some place of safety without half an hour’s delay.’
如果你把这个信息告诉我可以立即召来的绅士，你可以在不到半个小时的时间内被送到一个安全的地方。”

‘I wish to go back,’ said the girl. ‘I must go back, because–how can I tell such things to an innocent lady like you? —
“我想回去，”女孩说。“我必须回去，因为 — 我怎么能告诉像你这样无辜的女士这样的事呢？ —

–because among the men I have told you of, there is one: the most desperate among them all; —
“因为在我告诉你的那些人中，有一个：他们中最绝望的一个； —

that I can’t leave: no, not even to be saved from the life I am leading now.’
我不能离开：不，即使要脱离我现在的生活也不行。”

‘Your having interfered in this dear boy’s behalf before,’ said Rose; —
“在这位亲爱的男孩的事情上，你曾经介入过，”罗丝说； —

‘your coming here, at so great a risk, to tell me what you have heard; —
“你冒着巨大风险来这里告诉我你听到的消息； —

your manner, which convinces me of the truth of what you say; —
你的举止让我相信你所说的是真的； —

your evident contrition, and sense of shame; —
你表现出的悔过和羞耻； —

all lead me to believe that you might yet be reclaimed. Oh!’ —
所有这些让我相信你仍然有可能被挽救。哦！” —

said the earnest girl, folding her hands as the tears coursed down her face, ‘do not turn a deaf ear to the entreaties of one of your own sex; —
这位热情的女孩说着，双手交叠，眼泪如泉水般流下，你不要对一个同性的恳求置之不理； —

the first–the first, I do believe, who ever appealed to you in the voice of pity and compassion. —
第一次——我相信是第一次——谁用怜悯和同情的声音向你求情。 —

Do hear my words, and let me save you yet, for better things.’
请听听我的话，让我拯救你，做更好的事情。”

‘Lady,’ cried the girl, sinking on her knees, ‘dear, sweet, angel lady, you are the first that ever blessed me with such words as these, and if I had heard them years ago, they might have turned me from a life of sin and sorrow; —
“女士，”女孩跪倒在地上喊道，“亲爱的，甜美的，天使般的女士，你是第一个用这样的话语祝福我的人，如果多年前我听到过这些话，也许可以使我远离罪恶和悲伤的生活； —

but it is too late, it is too late!’
但是现在太晚了，太晚了！”

‘It is never too late,’ said Rose, ‘for penitence and atonement.’
“懊悔和赎罪永远不会太迟，”罗丝说。

‘It is,’ cried the girl, writhing in agony of her mind; —
“是的，”女孩在心灵的痛苦中痉挛喊道； —

‘I cannot leave him now! I could not be his death.’
“我现在不能离开他！我不愿成为他的死亡。”

‘Why should you be?’ asked Rose.
“你为什么要这样做？”罗丝问。

‘Nothing could save him,’ cried the girl. —
“没有什么能救他的，”女孩叫道。 —

‘If I told others what I have told you, and led to their being taken, he would be sure to die. —
‘如果我告诉其他人我告诉你的事情，并导致他们被抓走，他肯定会死。 —

He is the boldest, and has been so cruel!’
他是最大胆的，而且非常残忍！’

‘Is it possible,’ cried Rose, ‘that for such a man as this, you can resign every future hope, and the certainty of immediate rescue? It is madness.’
‘罗丝喊道：’为这样一个人，你能放弃所有未来的希望，以及立即获救的确信吗？这是疯狂的。

‘I don’t know what it is,’ answered the girl; —
‘我不知道是什么，’女孩回答道； —

‘I only know that it is so, and not with me alone, but with hundreds of others as bad and wretched as myself. —
‘我只知道是如此，不仅仅是我，还有成百上千像我一样坏和可怜的人。 —

I must go back. Whether it is God’s wrath for the wrong I have done, I do not know; —
我必须回去。我不知道这是否是上帝对我所犯错误的愤怒； —

but I am drawn back to him through every suffering and ill usage; —
但我被每一次痛苦和虐待都拉回到他身边； —

and I should be, I believe, if I knew that I was to die by his hand at last.’
如果我知道最后要被他手起杀手，我相信我也会如此。

‘What am I to do?’ said Rose. ‘I should not let you depart from me thus.’
‘我该怎么办？’罗丝说。’我不应该让你这样离开我。

‘You should, lady, and I know you will,’ rejoined the girl, rising. —
‘你应该，夫人，我知道你会的，’女孩站起身。 —

‘You will not stop my going because I have trusted in your goodness, and forced no promise from you, as I might have done.’
‘你不会阻止我离开，因为我相信你的善意，并没有强迫你做出承诺，就像我本来可以做的那样。

‘Of what use, then, is the communication you have made?’ —
‘那么，你所做的沟通有什么用呢？ —

said Rose. ‘This mystery must be investigated, or how will its disclosure to me, benefit Oliver, whom you are anxious to serve?’
‘罗丝说。’这个谜底必须得到调查，否则，向我透露这个秘密，对你渴望帮助的奥利弗有什么好处呢？

‘You must have some kind gentleman about you that will hear it as a secret, and advise you what to do,’ rejoined the girl.
‘你周围一定有一些善良的绅士会把它当成秘密听，然后给你建议，’女孩回答道。

‘But where can I find you again when it is necessary?’ —
‘但是当有必要时我在哪里可以找到你再次呢？ —

asked Rose. ‘I do not seek to know where these dreadful people live, but where will you be walking or passing at any settled period from this time?’
问道,“我并不想知道这些可怕的人住在哪里，而是想知道你从现在开始的任何固定时期会在哪里走过或经过？”

‘Will you promise me that you will have my secret strictly kept, and come alone, or with the only other person that knows it; —
“你能保证你会严密保守我的秘密，并且会独自前来，或只与唯一知情的人一同前来吗； —

and that I shall not be watched or followed?’ asked the girl.
并且我不会被监视或跟踪吗？”女孩问道。

‘I promise you solemnly,’ answered Rose.
“我郑重地向你保证，” 罗丝回答说。

‘Every Sunday night, from eleven until the clock strikes twelve,’ said the girl without hesitation, ‘I will walk on London Bridge if I am alive.’
女孩毫不犹豫地说：“每个星期日晚上十一点到整点，如果我还活着，我就会在伦敦桥上行走。”

‘Stay another moment,’ interposed Rose, as the girl moved hurriedly towards the door. —
“再等一会儿，”罗丝阻止着女孩急忙朝门口走去。 —

‘Think once again on your own condition, and the opportunity you have of escaping from it. —
“再想一次你自己的处境，以及你有机会摆脱的机会。 —

You have a claim on me: not only as the voluntary bearer of this intelligence, but as a woman lost almost beyond redemption. —
你对我有权利：不只是作为这个消息的自愿传递者，也作为一个几乎无法挽救的女人。 —

Will you return to this gang of robbers, and to this man, when a word can save you? —
聪明点，回到那个强盗团、回到那个男人身边去吗？一个话就可以拯救你。 —

What fascination is it that can take you back, and make you cling to wickedness and misery? Oh! —
是什么吸引力能让你回头，让你执着于邪恶和痛苦？哦！ —

is there no chord in your heart that I can touch! —
你心中没有一根弦可以被我触动吗！ —

Is there nothing left, to which I can appeal against this terrible infatuation!’
有没有什么留下来的，我可以对这可怕的着迷做出呼吁的？

‘When ladies as young, and good, and beautiful as you are,’ replied the girl steadily, ‘give away your hearts, love will carry you all lengths–even such as you, who have home, friends, other admirers, everything, to fill them. —
女孩坚定地回答说：“像你这样年轻、善良、美丽的女士一旦把心交出去，爱会驱使你去做一切事情——甚至像你这样，拥有家庭、朋友、其他仰慕者，一切都能填满你心灵。 —

When such as I, who have no certain roof but the coffinlid, and no friend in sickness or death but the hospital nurse, set our rotten hearts on any man, and let him fill the place that has been a blank through all our wretched lives, who can hope to cure us? —
像我这样，没有固定的屋顶，只有棺材盖，生病或临终时没有朋友，只有医院的护士，让我们这样的破烂的心迷恋上任何一个男人，并让他填补那个自始至终都是空白的位置，谁又能希望治愈我们呢？ —

Pity us, lady–pity us for having only one feeling of the woman left, and for having that turned, by a heavy judgment, from a comfort and a pride, into a new means of violence and suffering.’
同情我们，女士们——同情我们只剩下一种女性感情，而这种感情被一种沉重的判决转变为一种新的暴力和痛苦的手段。”

‘You will,’ said Rose, after a pause, ‘take some money from me, which may enable you to live without dishonesty–at all events until we meet again?’
‘“你会的”，罗丝停顿片刻后说，“接受一些钱，这样你就可以过上不用靠欺诈手段生活的日子——至少在我们再次见面之前。”

‘Not a penny,’ replied the girl, waving her hand.
‘“一分钱都不要”，女孩摇摇头回答。

‘Do not close your heart against all my efforts to help you,’ said Rose, stepping gently forward. —
‘“不要对我帮助你的所有努力都心如死灰”，罗丝轻轻走近说。 —

‘I wish to serve you indeed.’
‘“我真想帮助你。”

‘You would serve me best, lady,’ replied the girl, wringing her hands, ‘if you could take my life at once; —
‘“如果你能立马把我的命带走，那样你才能最好地帮助我，女士”，女孩握着双手回答。 —

for I have felt more grief to think of what I am, to-night, than I ever did before, and it would be something not to die in the hell in which I have lived. —
‘“今晚我对自己的真实身份感到更多悲伤，甚于以往的任何时刻，如果我能在我曾经生活过的地狱里死去，那将会是一种解脱。 —

God bless you, sweet lady, and send as much happiness on your head as I have brought shame on mine!’
‘“愿上帝保佑你，亲爱的女士，愿你头顶拥有的幸福，与我给我的耻辱一样多！”

Thus speaking, and sobbing aloud, the unhappy creature turned away; —
说着，不停地哭泣，这个不幸的人转身离开； —

while Rose Maylie, overpowered by this extraordinary interview, which had more the semblance of a rapid dream than an actual occurrence, sank into a chair, and endeavoured to collect her wandering thoughts.
而罗丝·梅莉则被这场非同寻常的会面压倒，宛如一场快速梦境而非真实的事件，她坐到椅子上，尽力搜集飘忽的思绪。