CONTAINING FRESH DISCOVERIES, AND SHOWING THAT SUPRISES, LIKE MISFORTUNES, SELDOM COME ALONE
包含新发现，并表明惊喜，像不幸一样，很少单独出现

Her situation was, indeed, one of no common trial and difficulty. —
她的处境确实是一个非同寻常的考验和困难。 —

While she felt the most eager and burning desire to penetrate the mystery in which Oliver’s history was enveloped, she could not but hold sacred the confidence which the miserable woman with whom she had just conversed, had reposed in her, as a young and guileless girl. —
虽然她急切而炽热地渴望揭开奥利弗历史的神秘面纱，但她也必须尊重她刚刚交谈过的那位可怜女人对她这个年轻而纯真的女孩所寄予的信任。 —

Her words and manner had touched Rose Maylie’s heart; —
她的语言和举止触动了Rose Maylie的心; —

and, mingled with her love for her young charge, and scarcely less intense in its truth and fervour, was her fond wish to win the outcast back to repentance and hope.
与她对年轻负责任者的爱相融合的，几乎同样激烈、真诚且炽烈的是她对这个被遗弃者回归忏悔和希望的渴望。

They purposed remaining in London only three days, prior to departing for some weeks to a distant part of the coast. —
他们计划在伦敦只待三天，之后再前往海岸的某个遥远地方几周。 —

It was now midnight of the first day. What course of action could she determine upon, which could be adopted in eight-and-forty hours? —
现在已经是第一天的午夜。她能确定的采取什么行动，适用于四十八小时内？ —

Or how could she postpone the journey without exciting suspicion?
或者她如何能延迟旅程而不引起怀疑？

Mr. Losberne was with them, and would be for the next two days; —
洛斯伯恩先生与他们在一起，接下来的两天会一直在; —

but Rose was too well acquainted with the excellent gentleman’s impetuosity, and foresaw too clearly the wrath with which, in the first explosion of his indignation, he would regard the instrument of Oliver’s recapture, to trust him with the secret, when her representations in the girl’s behalf could be seconded by no experienced person. —
但Rose对这位优秀绅士的冲动性太熟悉了，清楚地预见到他会怒火冲天地看待奥利弗被抓回的手段的愤怒，不能信任他与这个秘密，当她在女孩的利益上的陈述无法得到有经验的人的支持时。 —

These were all reasons for the greatest caution and most circumspect behaviour in communicating it to Mrs. Maylie, whose first impulse would infallibly be to hold a conference with the worthy doctor on the subject. —
这些都是在向梅莱夫人告知时最大程度的谨慎和谨慎行为方面的最主要理由，她的第一冲动肯定会是跟这位善良的医生商议这个问题。 —

As to resorting to any legal adviser, even if she had known how to do so, it was scarcely to be thought of, for the same reason. —
至于求助于任何法律顾问，即使她知道怎么做，出于同样的原因，几乎是不可想象的。 —

Once the thought occurred to her of seeking assistance from Harry; —
有一次她想到向哈利寻求帮助; —

but this awakened the recollection of their last parting, and it seemed unworthy of her to call him back, when–the tears rose to her eyes as she pursued this train of reflection–he might have by this time learnt to forget her, and to be happier away.
但这唤起了他们最后一次分别的回忆，当她继续这种反思时眼泪涌上来–这时他可能已经忘记了她，并且变得更快乐，她觉得召唤他回来是不值的。

Disturbed by these different reflections; —
受到这些不同想法的困扰; —

inclining now to one course and then to another, and again recoiling from all, as each successive consideration presented itself to her mind; —
时而偏向这一条路，时而又转向另一条路，然后又因为新的考虑而退缩，当这些想法一个接一个出现在她的脑海中时； —

Rose passed a sleepless and anxious night. —
罗斯度过了一个失眠而焦虑的晚上。 —

After more communing with herself next day, she arrived at the desperate conclusion of consulting Harry.
在第二天再与自己交谈后，她终于绝望地决定去找哈利商量。

‘If it be painful to him,’ she thought, ‘to come back here, how painful it will be to me! —
她心想，“如果他回来这里是件痛苦的事，那么对我来说也是痛苦的！ —

But perhaps he will not come; he may write, or he may come himself, and studiously abstain from meeting me–he did when he went away. —
但也许他不会来；他可能会写信，或者亲自来，却刻意避免见我——他离开时就是这样做的。 —

I hardly thought he would; but it was better for us both.’ —
我几乎没想到他会这么做；但这对我们俩都是更好的。” —

And here Rose dropped the pen, and turned away, as though the very paper which was to be her messenger should not see her weep.
在这里，罗斯放下了笔，转身离开，恨不得让纸张自己成为她的信使，而不至于看到她流泪。

She had taken up the same pen, and laid it down again fifty times, and had considered and reconsidered the first line of her letter without writing the first word, when Oliver, who had been walking in the streets, with Mr. Giles for a body-guard, entered the room in such breathless haste and violent agitation, as seemed to betoken some new cause of alarm.
她拿起同样的笔，又放下了，反复考虑着信的第一行，却一个字也没写出来，这时奥立弗和护卫者吉尔斯急匆匆地进了房间，他们在街上行走。

‘What makes you look so flurried?’ asked Rose, advancing to meet him.
罗斯走上前去迎接他，问道，“你为什么看起来这么慌张呢？”

‘I hardly know how; I feel as if I should be choked,’ replied the boy. ‘Oh dear! —
小男孩回答说，“我不知道怎么回答；我感觉好像被憋住了。” “哦，天哪！ —

To think that I should see him at last, and you should be able to know that I have told you the truth!’
想到我终于见到了他，而你能知道我告诉你实话了！”

‘I never thought you had told us anything but the truth,’ said Rose, soothing him. —
“我从来没想过你会说谎什么，”罗斯安慰他道。 —

‘But what is this?–of whom do you speak?’
“但这是怎么回事？你说的是谁？”

‘I have seen the gentleman,’ replied Oliver, scarcely able to articulate, ‘the gentleman who was so good to me–Mr. Brownlow, that we have so often talked about.’
奥利弗几乎说不出话来，回答说，“我见到了那位对我那么好的绅士——我们经常谈论的布朗洛先生。”

‘Where?’ asked Rose.
罗斯问道，“在哪里？”

‘Getting out of a coach,’ replied Oliver, shedding tears of delight, ‘and going into a house. —
‘下了马车，’Oliver答道，开心地流下了眼泪，‘进了一座房子。 —

I didn’t speak to him–I couldn’t speak to him, for he didn’t see me, and I trembled so, that I was not able to go up to him. —
我没和他说话–我无法和他说话，因为他没看见我，我颤抖得无法走近他。 —

But Giles asked, for me, whether he lived there, and they said he did. —
但吉尔斯替我问他住在那里，他们说他住在那里。 —

Look here,’ said Oliver, opening a scrap of paper, ‘here it is; —
看这里，’Oliver打开一张纸片说，‘这就是地址； —

here’s where he lives–I’m going there directly! Oh, dear me, dear me! —
这是他住的地方–我直接去那里！哦，亲爱的！ —

What shall I do when I come to see him and hear him speak again!’
当我去见他并再次听到他说话时，我该怎么办！’

With her attention not a little distracted by these and a great many other incoherent exclamations of joy, Rose read the address, which was Craven Street, in the Strand. —
Rosa被这些话，以及许多其他无意义的喜悦呼喊声分散了注意力，读到了地址，即Strand的Craven街。 —

She very soon determined upon turning the discovery to account.
她很快就决定要利用这个发现。

‘Quick!’ she said. ‘Tell them to fetch a hackney-coach, and be ready to go with me. —
“快！”她说。“告诉他们去叫辆马车，准备好跟着我去。 —

I will take you there directly, without a minute’s loss of time. —
“我会立刻带你去那里，毫不耽搁。 —

I will only tell my aunt that we are going out for an hour, and be ready as soon as you are.’
“我只会告诉我阿姨我们要外出一个小时，并且一准备好就出发。”

Oliver needed no prompting to despatch, and in little more than five minutes they were on their way to Craven Street. —
奥利弗毫不迟疑地开始准备，不到五分钟他们就驶向克雷文街。 —

When they arrived there, Rose left Oliver in the coach, under pretence of preparing the old gentleman to receive him; —
他们到达那里后，罗斯把奥利弗留在马车里，借口是要先去通知老绅士等他； —

and sending up her card by the servant, requested to see Mr. Brownlow on very pressing business. —
并且通过仆人递上她的名片，请求马上见布朗洛先生，有着急的事情要商谈。 —

The servant soon returned, to beg that she would walk upstairs; —
不久仆人回来，请她上楼； —

and following him into an upper room, Miss Maylie was presented to an elderly gentleman of benevolent appearance, in a bottle-green coat. —
带领她进入一间楼上的房间，梅莉小姐见到了一个穿着瓶绿色外套，面貌慈祥的老绅士。 —

At no great distance from whom, was seated another old gentleman, in nankeen breeches and gaiters; —
离那位老绅士不远处，坐着另一个穿着青布裤和绑腿裤的老绅士； —

who did not look particularly benevolent, and who was sitting with his hands clasped on the top of a thick stick, and his chin propped thereupon.
他看起来不是特别友好，双手交叉放在一根粗棍上，下巴撑在上面。

‘Dear me,’ said the gentleman, in the bottle-green coat, hastily rising with great politeness, ‘I beg your pardon, young lady–I imagined it was some importunate person who–I beg you will excuse me. Be seated, pray.’
“天哪，”那位穿瓶绿色外套的绅士急忙站起来，极为有礼貌地说，“请原谅，小姐——我以为是某个烦人的人——请您原谅。请坐，求您。”

‘Mr. Brownlow, I believe, sir?’ said Rose, glancing from the other gentleman to the one who had spoken.
“布朗洛先生，我想，先生？”罗斯说着，从另一位绅士转向发言的那位。

‘That is my name,’ said the old gentleman. —
“没错，那是我的名字，”老绅士说。 —

‘This is my friend, Mr. Grimwig. Grimwig, will you leave us for a few minutes?’
“这位是我的朋友，格林威先生。格林威，你能离开我们几分钟吗？”

‘I believe,’ interposed Miss Maylie, ‘that at this period of our interview, I need not give that gentleman the trouble of going away. —
“我相信，”梅莱小姐插话道，“在我们谈话的这个时刻，我想不必叫那位先生离开。” —

If I am correctly informed, he is cognizant of the business on which I wish to speak to you.’
如果我所知属实，他知晓我想与您谈论的事情。

Mr. Brownlow inclined his head. Mr. Grimwig, who had made one very stiff bow, and risen from his chair, made another very stiff bow, and dropped into it again.
布朗洛先生点了点头。格里姆威先生起初站起身，做了一个非常生硬的鞠躬，然后再次做了一个非常生硬的鞠躬，又重新坐了下来。

‘I shall surprise you very much, I have no doubt,’ said Rose, naturally embarrassed; —
“我相信我会让您非常惊讶的，我毫无疑问，”罗丝自然地尴尬地说； —

‘but you once showed great benevolence and goodness to a very dear young friend of mine, and I am sure you will take an interest in hearing of him again.’
“但您曾经对我一个非常亲爱的年轻朋友表现出极大的仁慈和善良，我相信您会对再次听到他的消息感兴趣。”

‘Indeed!’ said Mr. Brownlow.
“的确吗！”布朗洛先生说。

‘Oliver Twist you knew him as,’ replied Rose.
“你当年认识他，他叫奥利弗·特维斯特，”罗丝回答。

The words no sooner escaped her lips, than Mr. Grimwig, who had been affecting to dip into a large book that lay on the table, upset it with a great crash, and falling back in his chair, discharged from his features every expression but one of unmitigated wonder, and indulged in a prolonged and vacant stare; —
她话音刚落，格里姆威先生正在假装翻阅摆在桌上一本厚厚的书，结果它发出巨大的声响摔了下来，然后向椅子上仰倒过去，他的面部表情除了十分惊愕外一无所有，然后陷入长时间的茫然凝望； —

then, as if ashamed of having betrayed so much emotion, he jerked himself, as it were, by a convulsion into his former attitude, and looking out straight before him emitted a long deep whistle, which seemed, at last, not to be discharged on empty air, but to die away in the innermost recesses of his stomach.
然后，仿佛为暴露了太多感情感到羞愧，他猛然像被痉挛般地使身体挺直，回到了以前的姿势，直视前方，发出一声深沉长久的口哨声，最后这声音似乎不是发散到空气中而是渐渐消失在他的胃里最深处。

Mr. Browlow was no less surprised, although his astonishment was not expressed in the same eccentric manner. —
布朗洛先生同样非常惊讶，尽管他的惊讶没有以同样离奇的方式表达。 —

He drew his chair nearer to Miss Maylie’s, and said,
他把椅子拉到梅莱小姐旁边，说，

‘Do me the favour, my dear young lady, to leave entirely out of the question that goodness and benevolence of which you speak, and of which nobody else knows anything; —
“请您这位亲爱的年轻女士，完全不提到您所提到的那种仁慈和善良，其他人谁都知道的，不要管那些； —

and if you have it in your power to produce any evidence which will alter the unfavourable opinion I was once induced to entertain of that poor child, in Heaven’s name put me in possession of it.’
如果您有能力提供任何证据，能改变我曾经对那个可怜孩子持有的不利观点，求求您拿出来给我。”

‘A bad one! I’ll eat my head if he is not a bad one,’ growled Mr. Grimwig, speaking by some ventriloquial power, without moving a muscle of his face.
“坏崽！我敢打赌绝对是个坏崽，”格里姆威先生咕哝道，似乎通过某种腹语术说话，但脸上的肌肉一动不动。

‘He is a child of a noble nature and a warm heart,’ said Rose, colouring; —
“他是一个品性高贵、心地善良的孩子，”罗丝说着，脸红了； —

‘and that Power which has thought fit to try him beyond his years, has planted in his breast affections and feelings which would do honour to many who have numbered his days six times over.’
‘以及那位认为应该考验他超出年龄的力量，已经在他的内心种下了情感和感情，这些情感能够让许多年龄是他六倍的人自愧不如。’

‘I’m only sixty-one,’ said Mr. Grimwig, with the same rigid face. —
‘我只有六十一岁而已，’格林威先生说着，面无表情。 —

‘And, as the devil’s in it if this Oliver is not twelve years old at least, I don’t see the application of that remark.’
‘既然奥利弗至少已经十二岁了，再说什么也不合适了。’

‘Do not heed my friend, Miss Maylie,’ said Mr. Brownlow; ‘he does not mean what he says.’
‘不要理会我的朋友，梅莱小姐，’布朗洛先生说，‘他并不是认真的。’

‘Yes, he does,’ growled Mr. Grimwig.
‘是的，他是的，’格林威先生喃喃地说。

‘No, he does not,’ said Mr. Brownlow, obviously rising in wrath as he spoke.
‘不，他不是，’布朗洛先生说着，明显地愤怒起来。

‘He’ll eat his head, if he doesn’t,’ growled Mr. Grimwig.
‘他要是不是就该自食其头，’格林威先生喃喃道。

‘He would deserve to have it knocked off, if he does,’ said Mr. Brownlow.
‘如果他是，他就该被拍下来，’布朗洛先生说。

‘And he’d uncommonly like to see any man offer to do it,’ responded Mr. Grimwig, knocking his stick upon the floor.
‘他很愿意亲眼见到任何人敢这么做，’格林威先生回应着，敲着地板上的手杖。

Having gone thus far, the two old gentlemen severally took snuff, and afterwards shook hands, according to their invariable custom.
说到这里，两位老绅士纷纷挑起鼻烟，然后按照他们惯常的方式握手。

‘Now, Miss Maylie,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ‘to return to the subject in which your humanity is so much interested. —
‘现在，梅莱小姐，’布朗洛先生说，‘回到你如此关心的话题上来。 —

Will you let me know what intelligence you have of this poor child: —
‘您是否能告诉我有关这个可怜孩子的消息： —

allowing me to promise that I exhausted every means in my power of discovering him, and that since I have been absent from this country, my first impression that he had imposed upon me, and had been persuaded by his former associates to rob me, has been considerably shaken.’
让我承诺，我竭尽全力去找到他，并且自从我离开这个国家以来，起初对他骗我，被他以前的同伴说服来抢劫我的看法已大大动摇。

Rose, who had had time to collect her thoughts, at once related, in a few natural words, all that had befallen Oliver since he left Mr. Brownlow’s house; —
罗丝, 已有时间整理思绪，立刻用几句自然的话语讲述了自奥利弗离开布朗洛先生家以来所发生的一切； —

reserving Nancy’s information for that gentleman’s private ear, and concluding with the assurance that his only sorrow, for some months past, had been not being able to meet with his former benefactor and friend.
将南茜的情报保留给该先生的私下，最后保证他过去几个月唯一的悲伤就是不能跟他以前的恩人和朋友相见。

‘Thank God!’ said the old gentleman. ‘This is great happiness to me, great happiness. —
“谢天谢地！”老绅士说道。“这对我来说是极大的幸福，极大的幸福。” —

But you have not told me where he is now, Miss Maylie. —
“但是梅莱小姐，你还没告诉我他现在在哪里呢。” —

You must pardon my finding fault with you,–but why not have brought him?’
“请原谅我对你挑剔，–但为什么不把他也带来呢？”

‘He is waiting in a coach at the door,’ replied Rose.
“他正等在门口的一辆马车里呢，”罗斯回答道。

‘At this door!’ cried the old gentleman. With which he hurried out of the room, down the stairs, up the coachsteps, and into the coach, without another word.
“在这个门口！”老绅士惊呼一声。说完便没有再多说，匆匆离开房间，下楼梯，上马车台阶，直接进了马车。

When the room-door closed behind him, Mr. Grimwig lifted up his head, and converting one of the hind legs of his chair into a pivot, described three distinct circles with the assistance of his stick and the table; —
当房门在他身后关上时，格里姆威格先生抬起头，将椅子的一条后腿当作支点，辅以手杖和桌子，画了三个明显的圆圈； —

sitting in it all the time. After performing this evolution, he rose and limped as fast as he could up and down the room at least a dozen times, and then stopping suddenly before Rose, kissed her without the slightest preface.
他一直坐在椅子上。完成这个动作后，他站了起来，尽可能快地跛行了至少十几次房间里，然后突然停在罗斯面前，毫无征兆地吻了她。

‘Hush!’ he said, as the young lady rose in some alarm at this unusual proceeding. ‘Don’t be afraid. —
“嘘！”他说，当年轻女士在这种不寻常的情况下有些惊慌地站起来时。“别怕。 —

I’m old enough to be your grandfather. You’re a sweet girl. —
我已经年纪大到可以当你爷爷了。你是个可爱的女孩。 —

I like you. Here they are!’
我喜欢你。它们在这里！”

In fact, as he threw himself at one dexterous dive into his former seat, Mr. Brownlow returned, accompanied by Oliver, whom Mr. Grimwig received very graciously; —
事实上，当他一下子灵巧地扑回到他以前的座位时，布朗洛先生回来了，带着奥利弗，格林威先生非常和蔼地接待了他； —

and if the gratification of that moment had been the only reward for all her anxiety and care in Oliver’s behalf, Rose Maylie would have been well repaid.
如果那一刻的满足是为了奥利弗的利益而进行所有焦虑和照顾的唯一回报，罗丝·梅莉本应得到很好的回报。

‘There is somebody else who should not be forgotten, by the bye,’ said Mr. Brownlow, ringing the bell. —
“顺便说，还有一个不能被遗忘的人，”布朗洛先生说着，按响了铃。 —

‘Send Mrs. Bedwin here, if you please.’
“请叫贝德温夫人过来，如果你不介意的话。”

The old housekeeper answered the summons with all dispatch; —
老管家们迅速回答了召唤； —

and dropping a curtsey at the door, waited for orders.
在门口躬身行礼，等待着命令。

‘Why, you get blinder every day, Bedwin,’ said Mr. Brownlow, rather testily.
“你每天都变得更加盲目，贝德温，”布朗洛先生有些试探地说。

‘Well, that I do, sir,’ replied the old lady. —
“是的，先生，”老太太回答道。 —

‘People’s eyes, at my time of life, don’t improve with age, sir.’
“在我这个年龄，人的眼睛确实不会随着年龄而改善，先生。”

‘I could have told you that,’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow; —
“我本可以告诉你这件事的，”布朗洛先生回答； —

‘but put on your glasses, and see if you can’t find out what you were wanted for, will you?’
“不过戴上你的眼镜，看看你能不能找出你为什么需要而来的，好吗？”

The old lady began to rummage in her pocket for her spectacles. —
老太太开始在口袋里翻找她的眼镜。 —

But Oliver’s patience was not proof against this new trial; —
但奥利弗的耐心并不能抵御这一新考验； —

and yielding to his first impulse, he sprang into her arms.
并顺应自己的第一冲动，他扑进她的怀里。

‘God be good to me!’ cried the old lady, embracing him; ‘it is my innocent boy!’
‘上帝保佑我！’老夫人喊道，拥抱着他；’这是我的无辜孩子！’

‘My dear old nurse!’ cried Oliver.
‘我亲爱的老保姆！’奥利弗喊道。

‘He would come back–I knew he would,’ said the old lady, holding him in her arms. —
‘他会回来的–我知道他会的，’老夫人说着，将他搂在怀里。 —

‘How well he looks, and how like a gentleman’s son he is dressed again! —
‘他看起来多好，又穿得像绅士的儿子一样！ —

Where have you been, this long, long while? Ah! the same sweet face, but not so pale; —
你这么长时间去了哪里？啊！同样甜美的脸，但不再苍白； —

the same soft eye, but not so sad. I have never forgotten them or his quiet smile, but have seen them every day, side by side with those of my own dear children, dead and gone since I was a lightsome young creature.’ —
同样温柔的眼，但不再忧伤。我从未忘记他们或他那宁静的微笑，每天都看到它们，与我自己亲爱的孩子们的脸孔并列，他们已经去世，而我还是个年轻欢快的姑娘时就失去了他们。’ —

Running on thus, and now holding Oliver from her to mark how he had grown, now clasping him to her and passing her fingers fondly through his hair, the good soul laughed and wept upon his neck by turns.
一边这样说着，现在放开奥利弗，看他长大了，一会又抱住他，用手指抚摸着他的头发，这位好心灵时而笑时而哭地把他抱在脖子上。

Leaving her and Oliver to compare notes at leisure, Mr. Brownlow led the way into another room; —
离开她和奥利弗让他们悠闲地交流，布朗洛先生领着进了另一个房间； —

and there, heard from Rose a full narration of her interview with Nancy, which occasioned him no little surprise and perplexity. —
在那里，从罗斯口中听到了她与南希的一番交谈，这让他感到非常惊讶和困惑。 —

Rose also explained her reasons for not confiding in her friend Mr. Losberne in the first instance. —
罗斯还解释了自己一开始为何不向好友洛斯伯恩先生吐露实情的理由。 —

The old gentleman considered that she had acted prudently, and readily undertook to hold solemn conference with the worthy doctor himself. —
老绅士认为她的行事谨慎，欣然同意自己将与值得信赖的医生本人举行庄严会谈。 —

To afford him an early opportunity for the execution of this design, it was arranged that he should call at the hotel at eight o’clock that evening, and that in the meantime Mrs. Maylie should be cautiously informed of all that had occurred. —
为了让他尽早有机会实施这一计划，安排他在当晚八点拜访旅馆，在此期间悄悄告知梅莱太太发生的一切。 —

These preliminaries adjusted, Rose and Oliver returned home.
安排妥当后，罗斯和奥利弗回家了。

Rose had by no means overrated the measure of the good doctor’s wrath. —
罗斯绝对没有夸大好医生的愤怒程度。 —

Nancy’s history was no sooner unfolded to him, than he poured forth a shower of mingled threats and execrations; —
纳西的经历一经告知他，他便倾泻出一连串威胁和诅咒； —

threatened to make her the first victim of the combined ingenuity of Messrs. Blathers and Duff; —
威胁要让她成为布拉瑟斯和达夫两位先生联手创造出的第一个牺牲品； —

and actually put on his hat preparatory to sallying forth to obtain the assistance of those worthies. —
并且确实戴上帽子，准备出门找这些可敬的人们寻求帮助。 —

And, doubtless, he would, in this first outbreak, have carried the intention into effect without a moment’s consideration of the consequences, if he had not been restrained, in part, by corresponding violence on the side of Mr. Brownlow, who was himself of an irascible temperament, and party by such arguments and representations as seemed best calculated to dissuade him from his hotbrained purpose.
如果不是被布朗洛先生那边的相应暴力以及那些最好的争辩和陈述所约束，他第一次爆发时会毫不考虑后果而贯彻他那狂热的目的。

‘Then what the devil is to be done?’ said the impetuous doctor, when they had rejoined the two ladies. —
‘那么该怎么办?’ 当他们重新回到两位女士身边时，冲动的医生说道。 —

‘Are we to pass a vote of thanks to all these vagabonds, male and female, and beg them to accept a hundred pounds, or so, apiece, as a trifling mark of our esteem, and some slight acknowledgment of their kindness to Oliver?’
‘难道我们要迎合所有这些流浪汉，男性和女性，向他们表示感谢，并请求他们接受每人一百英镑左右，作为我们对他们的敬意的微薄表示，并对他们对奥利弗的善意的一点点承认?’

‘Not exactly that,’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow, laughing; —
‘不完全是那样，’布朗洛先生笑着回答； —

‘but we must proceed gently and with great care.’
‘但我们必须小心翼翼地继续。’

‘Gentleness and care,’ exclaimed the doctor. ‘I’d send them one and all to–’
‘温和和小心,‘医生大声说。’我会把他们所有人都送去-’

‘Never mind where,’ interposed Mr. Brownlow. —
‘不要紧在哪儿,‘布朗洛先生插话说。 —

‘But reflect whether sending them anywhere is likely to attain the object we have in view.’
‘但请考虑一下，是否把他们送去任何地方有可能实现我们的目的。’

‘What object?’ asked the doctor.
‘什么目的?‘医生问。

‘Simply, the discovery of Oliver’s parentage, and regaining for him the inheritance of which, if this story be true, he has been fraudulently deprived.’
‘简单地说，就是发现奥利弗的亲生父母，让他重新获得他如果这个故事是真的被欺骗剥夺的遗产。’

‘Ah!’ said Mr. Losberne, cooling himself with his pocket-handkerchief; ‘I almost forgot that.’
‘啊!‘洛斯伯恩先生拿手绢给自己降温说。’我差点忘了这一点。’

‘You see,’ pursued Mr. Brownlow; ‘placing this poor girl entirely out of the question, and supposing it were possible to bring these scoundrels to justice without compromising her safety, what good should we bring about?’
“你看”，布朗罗先生继续说道；“将这个可怜的女孩完全排除在外，并假设我们可以在不危及她安全的情况下使这些恶棍们受到制裁，我们能带来什么好处呢？”

‘Hanging a few of them at least, in all probability,’ suggested the doctor, ‘and transporting the rest.’
“至少，很可能会绞死其中的一些人，把剩下的人流放”，医生建议道。

‘Very good,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, smiling; —
“很好”，布朗罗先生笑着回答； —

‘but no doubt they will bring that about for themselves in the fulness of time, and if we step in to forestall them, it seems to me that we shall be performing a very Quixotic act, in direct opposition to our own interest–or at least to Oliver’s, which is the same thing.’
“但毫无疑问，他们自己迟早会招致这样的结局，如果我们介入以防患，那在我看来就是做了一个非常唐吉诃德般的行为，直接违背了我们自己的利益–或者至少是违背了奥利弗的利益，也就是一回事。”

‘How?’ inquired the doctor.
“怎么说？”医生问道。

‘Thus. It is quite clear that we shall have extreme difficulty in getting to the bottom of this mystery, unless we can bring this man, Monks, upon his knees. —
“这样说。很显然，要弄清楚这个谜团将会极其困难，除非我们能让这个人，蒙克斯，屈服。 —

That can only be done by stratagem, and by catching him when he is not surrounded by these people. —
“这只能通过策略来实现，将他抓在他不受这些人包围时。 —

For, suppose he were apprehended, we have no proof against him. —
“因为，假设他被捕，我们没有任何对他的证据。 —

He is not even (so far as we know, or as the facts appear to us) concerned with the gang in any of their robberies. —
“我们甚至（就我们所知，或事实看来）不认为他和这伙人有任何抢劫有关。 —

If he were not discharged, it is very unlikely that he could receive any further punishment than being committed to prison as a rogue and vagabond; —
“如果他不被释放，很不可能他会受到比被判为流氓和游民更多的惩罚； —

and of course ever afterwards his mouth would be so obstinately closed that he might as well, for our purposes, be deaf, dumb, blind, and an idiot.’
“当然，以后他的嘴更会坚定地合拢，以至于对我们的目的而言，他就等同于聋子、哑巴、瞎子和白痴。”

‘Then,’ said the doctor impetuously, ‘I put it to you again, whether you think it reasonable that this promise to the girl should be considered binding; —
“那么”，医生急切地说，“我再次问你，你认为把对那个女孩的承诺当作约束是合理的吗； —

a promise made with the best and kindest intentions, but really–’
“这是出于最好和最善意的意图所做的承诺，但实际上–”

‘Do not discuss the point, my dear young lady, pray,’ said Mr. Brownlow, interrupting Rose as she was about to speak. —
“亲爱的小姐，请不要讨论这一点”，布朗罗先生打断了正要开口讲话的罗斯。 —

‘The promise shall be kept. I don’t think it will, in the slightest degree, interfere with our proceedings. —
“承诺将会被遵守。我认为这并不会在任何程度上影响我们的行动。” —

But, before we can resolve upon any precise course of action, it will be necessary to see the girl; —
但是，在我们能够决定任何具体行动之前，有必要见到这个女孩； —

to ascertain from her whether she will point out this Monks, on the understanding that he is to be dealt with by us, and not by the law; —
从她那里确实是否愿意指出这个蒙克斯，条件是他由我们处理，而不是法律； —

or, if she will not, or cannot do that, to procure from her such an account of his haunts and description of his person, as will enable us to identify him. —
或者，如果她不能或不愿这样做，从她那里获取有关他常去的地方和他的描述， —

She cannot be seen until next Sunday night; this is Tuesday. —
她下周日晚上才能见到；现在是周二。 —

I would suggest that in the meantime, we remain perfectly quiet, and keep these matters secret even from Oliver himself.’
我建议在此期间我们保持完全安静，甚至不告诉奥利弗这些事情。”

Although Mr. Losberne received with many wry faces a proposal involving a delay of five whole days, he was fain to admit that no better course occurred to him just then; —
虽然洛斯伯恩先生对这个涉及延迟五天的提议表示不满，但他不得不承认在那时并没有更好的办法； —

and as both Rose and Mrs. Maylie sided very strongly with Mr. Brownlow, that gentleman’s proposition was carried unanimously.
由于罗斯和梅莱夫人都强烈支持布朗洛先生，因此这位先生的提议获得了一致通过。

‘I should like,’ he said, ‘to call in the aid of my friend Grimwig. —
“我想，”他说，“请我的朋友格林威格帮忙。 —

He is a strange creature, but a shrewd one, and might prove of material assistance to us; —
他是一个奇怪的人，但很精明，可能对我们有实质性的帮助； —

I should say that he was bred a lawyer, and quitted the Bar in disgust because he had only one brief and a motion of course, in twenty years, though whether that is recommendation or not, you must determine for yourselves.’
我应该说他是个律师，因为他在二十年里只接过一次案子，只有一个常规动议，因为这是否是推荐，你们必须自己确定。”

‘I have no objection to your calling in your friend if I may call in mine,’ said the doctor.
“如果我可以请我的朋友，我没意见，”医生说。

‘We must put it to the vote,’ replied Mr. Brownlow, ‘who may he be?’
“我们必须投票决定，”布朗洛先生回答，“他可能是谁？”

‘That lady’s son, and this young lady’s–very old friend,’ said the doctor, motioning towards Mrs. Maylie, and concluding with an expressive glance at her niece.
“那位女士的儿子，还有这位年轻女士的——非常老的朋友，”医生指着梅莱夫人，并用一种表情丰富的眼神看了看她的侄女。

Rose blushed deeply, but she did not make any audible objection to this motion (possibly she felt in a hopeless minority); —
罗斯脸红了，但她并没有明显反对这个动议（也许她觉得自己处于绝对少数）； —

and Harry Maylie and Mr. Grimwig were accordingly added to the committee.
于是哈利梅莱和格林威格先生也被加入委员会。

‘We stay in town, of course,’ said Mrs. Maylie, ‘while there remains the slightest prospect of prosecuting this inquiry with a chance of success. —
“当然，只要还有成功的可能性，我们会留在城里，”梅莉太太说。 —

I will spare neither trouble nor expense in behalf of the object in which we are all so deeply interested, and I am content to remain here, if it be for twelve months, so long as you assure me that any hope remains.’
“为了我们大家都如此深切关心的事情，我将不惜任何努力和花费，我愿意留在这里，哪怕是十二个月，只要您向我保证还有一线希望。”

‘Good!’ rejoined Mr. Brownlow. ‘And as I see on the faces about me, a disposition to inquire how it happened that I was not in the way to corroborate Oliver’s tale, and had so suddenly left the kingdom, let me stipulate that I shall be asked no questions until such time as I may deem it expedient to forestall them by telling my own story. —
“好！”布朗洛先生回答道。“我看到在场的每个人都想知道，我为什么没有在场为奥利弗的故事提供证词，为什么那么突然地离开了国家，所以请允许我要求，在我认为适当披露我自己的故事之前，不要问我任何问题。” —

Believe me, I make this request with good reason, for I might otherwise excite hopes destined never to be realised, and only increase difficulties and disappointments already quite numerous enough. —
“请相信，我这么请求是有充分理由的，否则我可能会引起永远不会实现的希望，并且只会增加已经够多的困难和失望。” —

Come! Supper has been announced, and young Oliver, who is all alone in the next room, will have begun to think, by this time, that we have wearied of his company, and entered into some dark conspiracy to thrust him forth upon the world.’
“来吧！晚餐已宣布，年轻的奥利弗现在独自一人在隔壁房间，此刻他可能会觉得我们已经厌倦了他的陪伴，悄悄密谋将他赶出去面对这个世界。”

With these words, the old gentleman gave his hand to Mrs. Maylie, and escorted her into the supper-room. —
说完这些话，老绅士扶着梅莉太太的手，领她走进了用餐厅。 —

Mr. Losberne followed, leading Rose; and the council was, for the present, effectually broken up.
洛斯伯恩先生跟着，牵着罗丝；目前的议会已经有效分裂了。