牛津書蟲系列 化身博士 4 Doctor Jekyll receives a letter

4 Doctor Jekyll receives a letter

4 杰基爾博士收到一封信

Later that same afternoon Mr Utterson found his way toDoctor Jekyll's house.Jekyll's servant， Poole， let himin at once and took him through the kitchen and across theback garden to the laboratory behind the house.It was thefirst time that Mr Utterson had seen his friend's laboratory，and he looked around curiously.

當(dāng)天下午很晚了，厄特森先生才抽出空去杰基爾博士家。博士的仆人普爾馬上把他讓進(jìn)去，穿過廚房和后花園來到屋后面的實(shí)驗(yàn)室，這是厄特森先生第一次到朋友的實(shí)驗(yàn)室來，他好奇地看來看去。

The old servant led Mr Utterson through the laboratory andup some stairs to the doctor's private study above.This was alarge room with tall， glass-fronted cupboards， a large mirrorand a big，businesslike table.A good fire burned in the fireplace and beside it sat Doctor Jekyll， looking white and ill. Ina thin， tired voice he welcomed his friend.

老仆人帶他經(jīng)過實(shí)驗(yàn)室，上樓來到博士的私人書房。屋子很大，周圍都是鑲著玻璃的柜子，還有一面大鏡子和一張井然有序的大辦公桌。壁爐里火燒得很旺，火邊坐著杰基爾博士，面色蒼白，十分痛苦的樣子。他聲音微弱、無精打來地和朋友打了招呼。

'Have you heard the news?'said Mr Utterson after the oldservant had left.

“你也聽說這事了?”老仆人剛一退下，厄特森先生就問。

'The newsboys were shouting about it in the street，'DoctorJekyll said.'A terrible business.'

“報(bào)童滿街叫喊，”杰基爾說，“這太可怕了。”

'Let me ask you something，'said the lawyer.'Sir DanversCarew was my client， but you are my client too，and I want toknow what I'm doing.You haven't tried to hide the murderer， have you?'

“我要問你些事，”律師說，“丹佛斯·卡魯是我的委托人，但你也是，我要知道自己該如何行事。你不會想把兇手藏起來吧?”

'Utterson，I promise you，'cried the doctor，'I promise youI'll never see him again. I've finished with him for ever. Andnow， indeed， he no longer needs my help.You don't knowhim like I do. He's safe， quite safe.Believe me，nobody willever hear of Hyde again.'

“厄特森，我向你保證，”博士喊道，“我保證再也不見他了，我已跟他一刀兩斷了。實(shí)際上他也不需要我的幫助了。我了解他，你不了解，他現(xiàn)在很安全，非常安全。相信我，沒人會再見到海德了。”

The lawyer listened with a serious face. He did not like hisfriend's feverish， excited look.

律師聽著，一臉的嚴(yán)肅，他不喜歡博士那發(fā)熱病似的興奮神態(tài)。

'You seem very sure of him，'he replied.'I hope you'reright.If he is caught and comes to trial，your name may bementioned.'

“看起來你對他挺放心，”他答道，“希望你是對的，要是抓住了他，弄到法庭上，你的名字也會被提出來的。”

'I'm absolutely sure of him，' answered Jekyll.' I can't tellyou how I know，but I'm certain. But can you please adviseme about one thing?I've received a letter and I don't knowwhether to show it to the police.May I leave it in your hands，Utterson?'

“我對他的確有把握，”杰基爾回答說，“我不能告訴你為什么，但我的確放心。可有一件事我要請教一下，我剛收到一封信，我不知道是否應(yīng)該交給警方，厄特森，我交給你，好嗎?”

'You're afraid，I suppose， that the letter will lead the police to Hyde?'asked the lawyer.

“我想，你是不是怕這封信會讓警方追蹤到海德?”律師問。

'No，'said Doctor Jekyll.'I don't care what happens toHyde.I was thinking of my own reputation… Anyway，here is the letter.'

“不，”杰基爾博士說，“我倒不在乎海德會怎樣。我擔(dān)心的是自己的名聲……不管怎么說，這就是那封信。”

It was written in a strange，pointed handwriting and signed'Edward Hyde'.'I am sorry that I have been so ungrateful inthe past for your many generous acts，'it began.'Please don't worry about me.I am quite safe and I am certain that I can escape unharmed whenever I wish.'

這封信筆跡奇特，線條直愣愣的，簽名是“愛德華·海德”。信開頭寫道：“很久以來承蒙您恩眷，沾沐厚澤，無以為報(bào);實(shí)為遺憾。請您不必為我擔(dān)心，我十分安全，肯定會毫發(fā)無損地逃出去，任我遨游。”

'Did this letter come by post?'asked the lawyer.

“信是郵差送來的嗎?”律師問。

'No，'replied Doctor Jekyll.'There was no postmark on theenvelope.The letter came by hand.'

“不是，”博士回答道，“信封上沒有郵戳，是打發(fā)人直接送來的。”

'Shall I keep the letter and think about it?'asked Mr Utterson.

“讓我先拿著信，再想想?”律師問。

'I want you to decide for me，'answered his client.'I' mnot sure of anything any more.'

“希望你能代我作全盤考慮，”他的委托人說，“我已經(jīng)沒有自信了。”

'Very well，'said the lawyer.'Now tell me—the part inyour will about disappearing for three months or more. Wasthat Hyde's idea?'

“那好吧。”律師說，“還有一句話，遺囑里有關(guān)你失蹤三個(gè)月的條款，也是海德的主意嗎?”

'It was，'whispered Doctor Jekyll.

博士輕輕嘆了口氣：“是的。”

'He was planning to murder you，'said the lawyer.'You've had a lucky escape.'

“他想殺害你，”律師說，“幸虧你死里逃生。”

'I've had a lesson too，'said his client， in pain and sadness.'Oh， what a lesson!' And he covered his face with his hands.

“這對我也是個(gè)教訓(xùn)啊!”他的委托人痛心疾首地說。“天哪!多可怕的教訓(xùn)!”說著，他把臉深深地埋在手里。

On his way ont of the house， the lawyer stopped and spoketo Poole.

出門的時(shí)候，律師停下來跟普爾說了幾句話。

'By the way，'he said， 'a letter was handed in today foryour master. Who brought it， and what did he look like?'

“順便問你一件事，”律師說，“主人今天收到了一封信。是誰送來的，長得什么樣?”

'Nobody came except the postman， sir，'said the servant insurprise.

“除了郵差沒有別人來過，先生，”仆人驚訝地回答說。

'That worries me，'thought Mr Utterson as he walkedhome.'Clearly the letter arrived by the laboratory door; perhaps it was even written in the study. I must think about thiscarefully.'

“這事真讓人擔(dān)心，”回家的路上，厄特森先生邊走邊想，“顯然，信是從實(shí)驗(yàn)室的門遞進(jìn)來的，很可能就是在博士的書房里寫的，這事得仔細(xì)想想。”

In the street the newsboys were still shouting，'Read allabout it!Terrible murder!'

街上報(bào)童高聲叫賣著：“賣報(bào)賣報(bào)!可怕的兇殺案!”

The lawyer's thoughts were sad. One of his clients wasdead，and the life and reputation of another were in danger.Mr Utterson did not

律師的心情十分低落，一個(gè)委托人死了，另一個(gè)的性命和名譽(yù)也發(fā)發(fā)可危。他一向不向別人求助，但今天情形卻不同。

usually ask anyone for advice. Today，however，was different.

晚上，他坐在爐火邊，坐在旁邊的是事務(wù)所主任蓋斯特先生。兩人共事多年，彼此熟識、了解。蓋斯特先生也曾處理過與博士有關(guān)的業(yè)務(wù)，他們也很熟。

That evening he sat by his fireside with his chief clerk， MrGuest，beside him.The lawyer and his clerk had worked together for many years， and knew and understood each other，Also， Mr Guest had been involved in business with DoctorJekyll and knew him well.

外面霧氣蒙蒙，陰冷幽暗，屋里卻溫暖而明亮，桌上還有一瓶上等的威士忌。

Outside it was foggy and dark，but the room was bright andwarm and there was a bottle of good whisky on the table，

“丹佛斯·卡魯爵士的事真讓人難過，”厄特森先生說。

'This is a sad business about Sir Danvers Carew，'said MrUtterson.

“不錯(cuò)，先生，那個(gè)兇手肯定是發(fā)瘋了。”

'Yes indeed，sir.The murderer was a madman，of course.'

“我倒想聽聽你的看法，”律師又說道，“我這兒有他寫的親筆信。”

'I would like your opinion about that，'replied the lawyer.'I have a letter from the murderer here.'

蓋斯特先生專門研究過書法，是個(gè)鑒定筆跡的行家。一聽這話，他眼睛都亮了。“兇手的信!”他叫道，“這太有意思了!”仔細(xì)看了看筆跡，他說：“不像是個(gè)瘋子，只是這筆跡太少見了!”

Mr Guest was interested in the study of handwriting. Hiseyes brightened at once.'A murderer's letter!' he said.'That will be interesting.'He looked carefully at the writing.'Not a madman， I think，'he said.'But what unusual handwriting!'

正說著，仆人走進(jìn)來，送上一張便條。

Just then a servant entered with a note.

“是杰基爾博士的條子嗎?”蓋斯特問，“我想我認(rèn)識這筆跡。有什么不方便的嗎，厄特森先生?”

'Is that note from Doctor Jekyll?' asked Mr Guest.'Ithought I recognized the handwriting.Is it anything private，Mr Utterson?'

“只是請我吃飯的請柬，怎么?你想看看?”

'Only an invitation to dinner.Why?Do you want to seethe letter?'

“就看一下，先生。”那職員把兩封信并排放在一起，仔細(xì)比較。

'Just for a moment，please，sir.'The clerk put the two letters side by side and studied them carefully.'Thank you，sir，'he said.'Very interesting.'

“謝謝，先生，”他說，“真有意思。”

For a moment Mr Utterson hesitated，wondering and worrying.At last he put his thoughts into words.'Why did youlook at the two letters together?'he asked.

厄特森先生遲疑了一會兒，越想越擔(dān)心，最后還是忍不住問了出來：“你為什么把兩封信放到一起看呢?”

'Well，sir，in many ways the two are surprisingly similar.'

“呃，先生，這兩封信的筆體驚人地相似。”

'How strange!…Mr Guest，I must ask you not to speakof this business to anyone.'

“這太離奇了!……蓋斯特先生，請你千萬不要把這事告訴任何人。”

'Of course not，sir，'said the clerk.'You can depend onme.'Shortly afterwards he said good night to his master andmade his way home.

“當(dāng)然不會，先生，”職員說，“您放心吧!”沒多久，他道了晚安，回家去了。

When he was alone，Mr Utterson locked the two letters inhis cupboard.'Well!'he thought.'So Henry Jekyll wrotethat letter for a murderer!'His face was as calm and expressionless as usual，but his heart was filled with fear for his oldfriend.

又剩下厄特森先生一個(gè)人了，他把兩封信鎖在柜子里。“明白了!”他想，“一定是亨利·杰基爾為兇手寫了那封信。”他的臉上像往常一樣毫無表情，心里卻為老朋友充滿了恐懼。