As the fair Rosa, with foreboding doubt, had foretold, so it happened. Whilst John de Witt was climbing the narrow winding stairs which led to the prison of his brother Cornelius, the burghers did their best to have the troop of Tilly, which was in their way, removed.

美丽的罗莎预感到会有不祥之事发生；她说对了，事情真的发生了。当约翰·德维特沿着蜿蜒狭窄的楼梯到他哥哥科尔内留斯的牢房去时，市民们正想方设法地赶走拦住他们去路的蒂莉的军队。

Seeing this disposition, King Mob, who fully appreciated the laudable intentions of his own beloved militia, shouted most lustily,—

看到这种倾向，民众头目非常欣赏自己亲爱的民兵护卫队这种值得赞美的意图，他激昂地呼喊：

Hurrah for the burghers!"

“市民万岁！”

As to Count Tilly, who was as prudent as he was firm, he began to parley with the burghers, under the protection of the cocked pistols of his dragoons, explaining to the valiant townsmen, that his order from the States commanded him to guard the prison and its approaches with three companies.

蒂莉伯爵呢，既坚决又谨慎，在骑兵们的扛枪保护下，他开始与市民和谈，跟这群勇敢的市民们解释国会给他下的命令：他和三个连队必须守住监狱和监狱入口。

Wherefore such an order? Why guard the prison?" cried the Orangists.

“为什么会下这样的命令？为什么要守住监狱？”奥兰治派嚷嚷着。

Stop," replied the Count, "there you at once ask me more than I can tell you. I was told, 'Guard the prison,' and I guard it. You, gentlemen, who are almost military men yourselves, you are aware that an order must never be gainsaid."

“安静，”伯爵答道，“你们一下子问我这么多，我没法儿回答。上级让我‘守住监狱’，我只有遵循命令。先生们，你们自己差不多就是军人，你们清楚军令不可违。”

But this order has been given to you that the traitors may be enabled to leave the town."

“但是他们给你的这个命令会让那两个叛徒从城里逃走。”

Very possibly, as the traitors are condemned to exile," replied Tilly.

“那当然，因为他们被判处流放了。”蒂莉回答。

But who has given this order?"

“谁下的命令？”

The States, to be sure!"

“自然是国会了！”

The States are traitors."

“国会是叛徒。”

I don't know anything about that!"

“这个我毫不知情了！”

And you are a traitor yourself!"

“你自己就是叛徒！”

I?" "Yes, you."

“我？”“是的，就是你。”

Well, as to that, let us understand each other gentlemen. Whom should I betray? The States? Why, I cannot betray them, whilst, being in their pay, I faithfully obey their orders."

“这样吧，先生们，关于这点我们还是互相体谅一下。我能背叛谁？国会吗？我当然不会背叛国会，怎么说我也是拿他们发的军饷，拿了钱我就得效命。”

As the Count was so indisputably in the right that it was impossible to argue against him, the mob answered only by redoubled clamour and horrible threats, to which the Count opposed the most perfect urbanity.

伯爵的理由很充分，无从辩驳，群众只有用变本加厉的喧闹和威胁来回应，对此伯爵彬彬有礼地应对着。

Gentlemen," he said, "uncock your muskets, one of them may go off by accident; and if the shot chanced to wound one of my men, we should knock over a couple of hundreds of yours, for which we should, indeed, be very sorry, but you even more so; especially as such a thing is neither contemplated by you nor by myself."

“先生们，”他说，“把你们火枪的扳机退回来吧，要是当中哪支不小心走火了，又碰巧伤到我的人，我们可要放倒你们几百个。到时候我们很遗憾，你们更遗憾，特别是这样的事我们谁都不希望发生。”

"If you did that," cried the burghers, "we should have a pop at you, too."

“你要是这么做，”市民叫嚣着，“我们就一枪崩了你。”

Of course you would; but suppose you killed every man Jack of us, those whom we should have killed would not, for all that, be less dead."

“你们当然可以打死我，但是你们想想，就算你们把我们都干掉了又怎样，我们杀了的人也不会再活过来。”

Then leave the place to us, and you will perform the part of a good citizen."

“那你就给我们闪开，闪开你就尽了一个好公民应尽的义务。”

First of all," said the Count, "I am not a citizen, but an officer, which is a very different thing; and secondly, I am not a Hollander, but a Frenchman, which is more different still. I have to do with no one but the States, by whom I am paid; let me see an order from them to leave the place to you, and I shall only be too glad to wheel off in an instant, as I am confoundedly bored here."

“首先我想声明，”伯爵说，“我不是普通公民，而是军官，这是两码事；其次，我不是荷兰人，而是法国人，这就更不一样了。我只认给我发军饷的国会，要我闪开，就给我看国会的命令，命令拿来了，我即刻掉头，我在这儿也呆腻味了。”

Yes, yes!" cried a hundred voices; the din of which was immediately swelled by five hundred others; "let us march to the Town-hall; let us go and see the deputies! Come along! Come along!"

“没错，没错！”上百个人喊道，立刻又有五百个人附和，“去市政厅，去见议员！赶紧了！快走！”

That's it," Tilly muttered between his teeth, as he saw the most violent among the crowd turning away; "go and ask for a meanness at the Town-hall, and you will see whether they will grant it; go, my fine fellows, go!"

“这就对了，”蒂莉望着人群中最凶暴的人走开了，嘀咕着，“上市政厅请求干坏事，瞧好了吧，看他们会不会答应。走吧，兄弟们！”

The worthy officer relied on the honour of the magistrates, who, on their side, relied on his honour as a soldier.

这位可敬的军官信赖行政长官们的品行，而行政长官们又指望他能恪守军人的品德。

I say, Captain," the first lieutenant whispered into the ear of the Count, "I hope the deputies will give these madmen a flat refusal; but, after all, it would do no harm if they would send us some reinforcement."

“队长，我说，”第一中尉跟伯爵耳语，“我倒是希望议员会断然拒绝这群疯子，但要是他们能给我们派点儿援兵，这也不是什么坏事。”

In the meanwhile, John de Witt, whom we left climbing the stairs, after the conversation with the jailer Gryphus and his daughter Rosa, had reached the door of the cell, where on a mattress his brother Cornelius was resting, after having undergone the preparatory degrees of the torture. The sentence of banishment having been pronounced, there was no occasion for inflicting the torture extraordinary.

与此同时，刚刚我们说到的约翰·德维特在同监狱看守格里弗斯及其女儿罗莎交谈后，爬梯上楼，现在已经来到牢房门口。他的哥哥科尔内留斯，饱受预审酷刑的折磨，正躺在褥垫上休息。流放的判决一宣告，他们就没理由再严刑拷打了。

Cornelius was stretched on his couch, with broken wrists and crushed fingers. He had not confessed a crime of which he was not guilty; and now, after three days of agony, he once more breathed freely, on being informed that the judges, from whom he had expected death, were only condemning him to exile.

科尔内留斯躺在床上，腕部折了，手指也断了。尽管如此，他没有承认自己没有犯过的罪行；而现在，三天的痛苦煎熬后，当他得知原以为会判他死刑的法官只判决他流放，他终于又能松一口气了。

Endowed with an iron frame and a stout heart, how would he have disappointed his enemies if they could only have seen, in the dark cell of the Buytenhof, his pale face lit up by the smile of the martyr, who forgets the dross of this earth after having obtained a glimpse of the bright glory of heaven.

他生就一副铮铮铁骨和一颗坚毅勇敢的心。他的敌人要是在布伊坦霍夫漆黑的牢房里看到他惨白的脸上还挂着笑容会多失望啊，那分明是瞥见天堂荣耀，忘却尘世污秽的殉道者才会有的笑容。

The warden, indeed, had already recovered his full strength, much more owing to the force of his own strong will than to actual aid; and he was calculating how long the formalities of the law would still detain him in prison.

事实上，监视官科尔内留斯已经完全恢复了体力，这很大程度上归功于他自己的强大意志，而不是实际的帮助。他正盘算着按照冗杂的法律程序，他还要在监狱里呆多久。

This was just at the very moment when the mingled shouts of the burgher guard and of the mob were raging against the two brothers, and threatening Captain Tilly, who served as a rampart to them. This noise, which roared outside of the walls of the prison, as the surf dashing against the rocks, now reached the ears of the prisoner.

也正是这一时刻，民兵护卫队和民众人声鼎沸，怒气冲冲地要置两兄弟于死地，威胁着保护他们的蒂莉队长。监狱围墙外的咆哮怒号声，犹如惊涛拍岸，现在传到了囚犯的耳里。

But, threatening as it sounded, Cornelius appeared not to deem it worth his while to inquire after its cause; nor did he get up to look out of the narrow grated window, which gave access to the light and to the noise of the world without.

尽管吵闹声听起来很吓人，但科尔内留斯看起来并不想打听原委，也懒得站起来朝狭小的铁窗外眺望一下，光线和外界的喧闹就是从那扇窗户传进来的。

He was so absorbed in his never-ceasing pain that it had almost become a habit with him. He felt with such delight the bonds which connected his immortal being with his perishable frame gradually loosening, that it seemed to him as if his spirit, freed from the trammels of the body, were hovering above it, like the expiring flame which rises from the half-extinguished embers.

他专注于那时时刻刻牵扯着他的疼痛，疼痛对他来说几乎成了常态。他感到，他不朽灵魂和他肉体凡胎之间的纽带慢慢松掉了。为此他满心的欢喜，就好像他的精神已经摆脱了肉体的束缚，正漂浮于躯壳之上，犹如即将被扑灭的余烬里窜出的火苗。

He also thought of his brother; and whilst the latter was thus vividly present to his mind the door opened, and John entered, hurrying to the bedside of the prisoner, who stretched out his broken limbs and his hands tied up in bandages towards that glorious brother, whom he now excelled, not in services rendered to the country, but in the hatred which the Dutch bore him.

他还想起了他弟弟，当他弟弟的形象鲜活地映入他脑海的时候，门开了。约翰进来了，匆匆来到他的床前。他朝他光荣的弟弟伸出伤残的双臂和缠着绷带的双手。他现在已经超越了他弟弟，不是因为为国效力，而是荷兰人对他所怀的仇恨胜过对他弟弟的仇恨。

John tenderly kissed his brother on the forehead, and put his sore hands gently back on the mattress.

约翰轻柔地吻着他哥哥的前额，轻轻地把那受伤的手放回到床褥上。

Cornelius, my poor brother, you are suffering great pain, are you not?"

“科尔内留斯，我可怜的哥哥，很疼，不是吗？”

I am suffering no longer, since I see you, my brother."

“弟弟，一看见你，我就不觉得疼了。”

Oh, my poor dear Cornelius! I feel most wretched to see you in such a state."

“哎！我可怜的、亲爱的科尔内留斯！看到你这个样子，我真是难受。”

And, indeed, I have thought more of you than of myself; and whilst they were torturing me, I never thought of uttering a complaint, except once, to say, 'Poor brother!' But now that you are here, let us forget all. You are coming to take me away, are you not?"

“其实我更多想到的是你而不是我自己。他们折磨我的时候，我从没想过吐露一丝抱怨，就是有一次，我说了声，‘可怜的弟弟！’如今你来了，让我们忘掉一切。你是来接我走的，对吗？”

I am."

“嗯。”

I am quite healed; help me to get up, and you shall see how I can walk."

“我痊愈得差不多了，扶我站起来，让你看看我可以走路了。”

You will not have to walk far, as I have my coach near the pond, behind Tilly's dragoons."

“你不用走多远，我的马车就停在池塘边，就在蒂莉骑兵的后面。”

Tilly's dragoons! What are they near the pond for?"

“蒂莉的骑兵！他们到池塘边干嘛？”

Well," said the Grand Pensionary with a melancholy smile which was habitual to him, "the gentlemen at the Town-hall expect that the people at the Hague would like to see you depart, and there is some apprehension of a tumult."

“是这样的，”前议长带着他惯有的忧郁笑容说，“市政厅的先生们认为海牙人会来看你离开，担心会出乱子。”

Of a tumult?" replied Cornelius, fixing his eyes on his perplexed brother; "a tumult?"

“出乱子？”科尔内留斯盯着他不知所措的弟弟，问道，“出乱子？”

Yes, Cornelius."

“嗯，是的，科尔内留斯。”

Oh! that's what I heard just now," said the prisoner, as if speaking to himself. Then, turning to his brother, he continued,—

“哦！我刚才听到的就是这个了。”犯人说道，好像是在自言自语。接着又转身问他弟弟：

Are there many persons down before the prison."

“监狱下面是不是有很多人？”

Yes, my brother, there are."

“是的，哥哥，有不少。”

But then, to come here to me—"

“可这么说来，他们是冲着我来的——”

Well?"

“怎样？”

How is it that they have allowed you to pass?"

“他们是怎么让你上来的？”

You know well that we are not very popular, Cornelius," said the Grand Pensionary, with gloomy bitterness. "I have made my way through all sorts of bystreets and alleys."

“科尔内留斯，你很清楚咱们不受欢迎。”议长黯然神伤地说，“我都是抄小道来的。”

You hid yourself, John?"

“约翰，你都不敢抛头露面了吗？”

I wished to reach you without loss of time, and I did what people will do in politics, or on the sea when the wind is against them,—I tacked."

“我想马上赶到你这儿，我只是做了官场上的人都会做的——海上遭遇逆风不也是见风使舵嘛。”

At this moment the noise in the square below was heard to roar with increasing fury. Tilly was parleying with the burghers.

这时，从下面广场传来的喧闹声夹杂着更多的怒火。蒂莉正和他们谈判。

Well, well," said Cornelius, "you are a very skilful pilot, John; but I doubt whether you will as safely guide your brother out of the Buytenhof in the midst of this gale, and through the raging surf of popular hatred, as you did the fleet of Van Tromp past the shoals of the Scheldt to Antwerp."

“是啊，是啊，”科尔内留斯说，“约翰，你是一个技术娴熟的舵手，但我担心你还能不能像你以前一样，率领特罗普舰队从斯凯尔特河的浅滩一路开到安特卫普，在这阵狂风中，在民众仇恨的惊涛骇浪中，安全地把你哥哥从布伊坦霍夫送出去。”

With the help of God, Cornelius, we'll at least try," answered John; "but, first of all, a word with you."

“上帝会帮咱们的，科尔内留斯，我们总得试试吧，”约翰回答到，“不过，我事先得跟你说件事。”

Speak!"

“说吧！”

The shouts began anew.

叫喊声又掀起一轮高潮。

Hark, hark!" continued Cornelius, "how angry those people are! Is it against you, or against me?"

“听听，”科尔内留斯继续说道，“这些人多愤怒啊！这愤怒是冲着你，还是冲我呢？”

I should say it is against us both, Cornelius. I told you, my dear brother, that the Orange party, while assailing us with their absurd calumnies, have also made it a reproach against us that we have negotiated with France."

“应该是冲我们俩，科尔内留斯。我跟你说过，我亲爱的哥哥，奥兰治派不仅中伤诽谤我们，还指责我们跟法国谈判。”

What blockheads they are!"

“这些白痴！”

But, indeed, they reproach us with it."

“但他们就是抓住这点不放。”

And yet, if these negotiations had been successful, they would have prevented the defeats of Rees, Orsay, Wesel, and Rheinberg; the Rhine would not have been crossed, and Holland might still consider herself invincible in the midst of her marshes and canals."

可是一旦这些谈判成功了，他们就不会在里斯、奥尔赛、威塞尔和莱茵堡打败仗了，也不会让人家打过莱茵河，荷兰还可以在沼泽和运河中编织着自己不可战胜的神话。

All this is quite true, my dear Cornelius, but still more certain it is, that if at this moment our correspondence with the Marquis de Louvois were discovered, skilful pilot as I am, I should not be able to save the frail barque which is to carry the brothers De Witt and their fortunes out of Holland. That correspondence, which might prove to honest people how dearly I love my country, and what sacrifices I have offered to make for its liberty and glory, would be ruin to us if it fell into the hands of the Orange party. I hope you have burned the letters before you left Dort to join me at the Hague."

“你说的都没错，我亲爱的科尔内留斯，但我更确定的是，如果现在有人发现我们跟德卢瓦侯爵的通信，我这个舵手就是本领再强，也救不了这艘要把德维特兄弟及其财产运出荷兰的脆弱小船。这些信件会向正直的人证明我是多么爱我的国家，为了祖国的自由和荣耀，我作出了怎样的牺牲，但要是这些信件落入奥兰治派之手，我们就完了。我希望你在离开多特来海牙与我会合前，把这些信给烧了。”

My dear brother," Cornelius answered, "your correspondence with M. de Louvois affords ample proof of your having been of late the greatest, most generous, and most able citizen of the Seven United Provinces. I rejoice in the glory of my country; and particularly do I rejoice in your glory, John. I have taken good care not to burn that correspondence."

“亲爱的弟弟，”科尔内留斯回答，“你和德卢瓦侯爵的来往信件可以充分证明你是近几年来七省联邦最伟大、最慷慨和最能干的公民。我为祖国的荣誉感到高兴，我更为你的荣誉而欣慰，约翰。信件我已经妥善处理了，说什么也不能烧。”

Then we are lost, as far as this life is concerned," quietly said the Grand Pensionary, approaching the window.

“那样的话，这辈子我们是完了，”议长踱向窗口，静静地说。

No, on the contrary, John, we shall at the same time save our lives and regain our popularity."

“不，约翰，恰恰相反，我们不仅得拯救自己的生命，还要重获众望。”

But what have you done with these letters?"

“那这些信件，你怎么处置了？”

I have intrusted them to the care of Cornelius van Baerle, my godson, whom you know, and who lives at Dort."

我把它们交给我的教子，科尔内留斯·范巴尔莱托管了，你也认识他的，他住在多特。

Poor honest Van Baerle! who knows so much, and yet thinks of nothing but of flowers and of God who made them. You have intrusted him with this fatal secret; it will be his ruin, poor soul!"

“可怜的范巴尔莱，这个耿直的孩子！他知识渊博，却只关注花和创造花的上帝。你托付他守住这么重要的秘密，会毁了他的，可怜的孩子！”

His ruin?"

“毁了他？”

Yes, for he will either be strong or he will be weak. If he is strong, he will, when he hears of what has happened to us, boast of our acquaintance; if he is weak, he will be afraid on account of his connection with us: if he is strong, he will betray the secret by his boldness; if he is weak, he will allow it to be forced from him. In either case he is lost, and so are we. Let us, therefore, fly, fly, as long as there is still time."

“是啊，不论他坚强或是懦弱。如果他坚强，当他听说了我们的遭遇，他会以与我们相识为豪；倘若他懦弱的话，他会因为与我们的关系而胆怯；如果他坚强，他会大胆地说出秘密；如果他懦弱，他会被人逼着说出秘密。无论哪种情况，他都完了，我们也完了。因此，趁着还有时间，我们赶紧逃吧！”

Cornelius de Witt, raising himself on his couch, and grasping the hand of his brother, who shuddered at the touch of his linen bandages, replied,—

科尔内留斯·德维特从床榻上起身，握住了他弟弟的手，约翰触碰到亚麻绷带，不禁打了个寒颤。科尔内留斯说：

Do not I know my godson? have not I been enabled to read every thought in Van Baerle's mind, and every sentiment in his heart? You ask whether he is strong or weak. He is neither the one nor the other; but that is not now the question. The principal point is, that he is sure not to divulge the secret, for the very good reason that he does not know it himself."

“难道我还不了解我的教子吗？难道我还不清楚他脑子里的每一个想法，心里的每一种情愫吗？你问我他是坚强还是懦弱。我看他既不坚强也不懦弱，但现在这不是问题。关键是他一定不会泄露秘密，因为他压根就不知道秘密。”

John turned round in surprise.

约翰惊讶地转过身。

You must know, my dear brother, that I have been trained in the school of that distinguished politician John de Witt; and I repeat to you, that Van Baerle is not aware of the nature and importance of the deposit which I have intrusted to him."

“你应该知道，弟弟，我可是杰出的政治家约翰·德维特一手培养出来的。我再说一遍，范巴尔莱不知道我交他托管的是什么东西，更不清楚那东西的重要性。”

Quick then," cried John, "as there is still time, let us convey to him directions to burn the parcel."

“那赶快，”约翰大声说道，“趁还有时间，咱们派人给他捎个信儿，让他烧了那包裹。”

Through whom?"

“派谁？”

Through my servant Craeke, who was to have accompanied us on horseback, and who has entered the prison with me, to assist you downstairs."

“派我的随从克莱克，他本来要骑马送我们，他和我一块儿进了监狱，来扶你下楼的。”

Consider well before having those precious documents burnt, John!"

“约翰，在烧掉那些珍贵的文件之前，你可得想清楚了！”

I consider, above all things, that the brothers De Witt must necessarily save their lives, to be able to save their character. If we are dead, who will defend us? Who will have fully understood our intentions?"

“我首先考虑的，是德维特兄弟一定得活命，才能挽救他们的声誉。倘若我们死了，谁来为我们正名？谁会明白我们的一片苦心呢？”

You expect, then, that they would kill us if those papers were found?"

“那你认为他们发现那些信件后会杀了我们吗？”

John, without answering, pointed with his hand to the square, whence, at that very moment, fierce shouts and savage yells made themselves heard.

约翰没有答话，伸手指着广场，就从那儿，就在那一刻传来了狂野的叫喊声。

Yes, yes," said Cornelius, "I hear these shouts very plainly, but what is their meaning?"

“是啊，是啊，”科尔内留斯说，“那些叫喊声我听得一清二楚，可他们想干什么呀？”

John opened the window.

约翰打开窗户。

Death to the traitors!" howled the populace.

“处死卖国贼！”民众吼道。

Do you hear now, Cornelius?"

“哥哥，你现在听清了？”

To the traitors! that means us!" said the prisoner, raising his eyes to heaven and shrugging his shoulders.

“卖国贼！这是指我们啊！”囚犯仰头望天，耸了耸肩。

Yes, it means us," repeated John.

“嗯，是指我们。”约翰重复着。

Where is Craeke?"

“克莱克在哪儿？”

At the door of your cell, I suppose."

“应该就在你牢房门外。”

Let him enter then."

“让他进来。”

John opened the door; the faithful servant was waiting on the threshold.

约翰打开门，那忠实的随从果然守在门口。

Come in, Craeke, and mind well what my brother will tell you."

“进来吧，克莱克，仔细听我哥跟你说的话。”

No, John; it will not suffice to send a verbal message; unfortunately, I shall be obliged to write."

“不，约翰，口信不行。很遗憾，我必须得写封信。”

And why that?"

“为啥？”

Because Van Baerle will neither give up the parcel nor burn it without a special command to do so."

“因为范巴尔莱没见到专门指示，是决不会交出或烧掉包裹的。”

But will you be able to write, poor old fellow?" John asked, with a look on the scorched and bruised hands of the unfortunate sufferer.

“可是，老兄，你能写字吗？”约翰看着这个不幸的被迫害者那双满是烫伤和瘀青的手问。

If I had pen and ink you would soon see," said Cornelius.

“如果有笔和墨水，你就知道了。”科尔内留斯说。

Here is a pencil, at any rate."

“无论如何，还有一支铅笔。”

Have you any paper? for they have left me nothing."

“你有纸吗？我这儿可什么都没有。”

Here, take this Bible, and tear out the fly-leaf."

“喏，这本《圣经》，把扉页撕下来。”

Very well, that will do."

“太好了，这个行。”

But your writing will be illegible."

“不过你的字迹会很难认。”

Just leave me alone for that," said Cornelius. "The executioners have indeed pinched me badly enough, but my hand will not tremble once in tracing the few lines which are requisite."

“交给我好了，”科尔内留斯说，“行刑的人是折磨得我够呛，但我的手，写那几行必须得写的字，抖都不会抖一下。”

And really Cornelius took the pencil and began to write, when through the white linen bandages drops of blood oozed out which the pressure of the fingers against the pencil squeezed from the raw flesh.

科尔内留斯真的拿起笔来写，由于手指捏笔用力，肉里渗出的鲜血浸透了白色亚麻绷带。

A cold sweat stood on the brow of the Grand Pensionary.

议长的额头上沁着冷汗。

Cornelius wrote:—

科尔内留斯写道：

My dear Godson,—

亲爱的教子：

Burn the parcel which I have intrusted to you. Burn it without looking at it, and without opening it, so that its contents may for ever remain unknown to yourself. Secrets of this description are death to those with whom they are deposited. Burn it, and you will have saved John and Cornelius de Witt.

你把我交付给你的包裹烧了。不要看它，也不要打开，这样你就永远不知道里面的内容了。这里面的秘密会让任何保管这东西的人丧命。烧了它，你就救了德维特兄弟。

Farewell, and love me.

再见，爱我。

Cornelius de Witt

科尔内留斯·德维特

August 20th, 1672.

一六七二年八月二十日。

John, with tears in his eyes, wiped off a drop of the noble blood which had soiled the leaf, and, after having handed the despatch to Craeke with a last direction, returned to Cornelius, who seemed overcome by intense pain, and near fainting.

约翰眼里噙着泪水，抹去沾染在纸上的一滴高贵的血，把纸条交给克莱克，又嘱咐了一番，回到科尔内留斯的身边。科尔内留斯好像剧痛难忍，几近昏厥过去。

Now," said he, "when honest Craeke sounds his coxswain's whistle, it will be a signal of his being clear of the crowd, and of his having reached the other side of the pond. And then it will be our turn to depart."

“好了，”约翰说，“要是可靠的克莱克吹响了他的水手哨，就说明他已经穿过人群，到了池塘的另一边。那时候咱们也该动身了。”

Five minutes had not elapsed, before a long and shrill whistle was heard through the din and noise of the square of the Buytenhof.

不到五分钟，一声长而尖锐的哨声响过，那声音压过了布伊坦霍夫广场的喧闹嘈杂。

John gratefully raised his eyes to heaven.

约翰充满感激地仰望天空。

And now," said he, "let us off, Cornelius."

“好了，”他说，“咱们走吧，科尔内留斯。” MPC8cuhbS1/N/LmrW3OxxzQiyQas+uIp37FV4+MvxIz/TZNpCWWfUZCwP1J0k0Rl