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First Attempts
第三章 初次尝试
When Georges Duroy reached the street，he hesitated as to what he should do. He felt inclined to stroll along，dreaming of the future and inhaling the soft night air；but the thought of the series of articles ordered by M. Walter occurred to him，and he decided to return home at once and begin work. He walked rapidly along until he came to Rue Boursault. The tenement in which he lived was occupied by twenty families—families of workingmen—and as he mounted the staircase he experienced a sensation of disgust and a desire to live as wealthy men do. Duroy's room was on the fifth floor. He entered it，opened his window，and looked out：the view was anything but prepossessing.
当乔治·迪鲁瓦到街上的时候，他犹豫着该做些什么。他想一边幻想未来、吸入夜晚温和的空气，一边向前走走、散散步；但他想起了瓦尔特先生要他写的那一系列文章，于是他决定马上回家并开始工作。他迅速向前走去，直到来到布尔索街。他住的这个房屋被二十户人家占用着——工人家庭——而且，爬上楼梯的时候，他体验到一种恶心的感觉和一种像富人那样生活的渴望。迪鲁瓦的房间在六楼。他进入房间，打开窗户，然后向外看：那风景根本不能让人有好感。
He turned away，thinking： "This won't do. I must go to work. " So he placed his light upon the table and began to write. He dipped his pen into the ink and wrote at the head of his paper in a bold hand： "Souvenirs of a Soldier in Africa". Then he cast about for the first phrase. He rested his head upon his hand and stared at the blank sheet before him. What should he say？Suddenly he thought： "I must begin with my departure，" and he wrote： "In 1874，about the fifteenth of May，when exhausted France was recruiting after the catastrophe of the terrible years—" Here he stopped short，not knowing how to introduce his subject. After a few minutes' reflection，he decided to lay aside that page until the following day，and to write a description of Algiers. He began： "Algiers is a very clean city—" but he could not continue. After an effort he added： "It is inhabited partly by Arabs. " Then he threw his pen upon the table and arose. He glanced around his miserable room；mentally he rebelled against his poverty and resolved to leave the next day.
他走开去，想着： “这样不成。我必须开始工作。” 所以，他把他的灯放在桌子上，并开始写了。他把钢笔浸入墨水中，然后在纸上方用黑体字写道： “一个士兵在非洲的服役记” 。接着他考虑第一个短语。他用手托着头，盯着面前空白的纸张。他该讲述些什么呢？忽然他想： “我可以从出发开始写。” 于是他写道： “在1874年，大约5月15日，在那可怕岁月中的大灾难过后，当精疲力竭的法国正在征募新兵之时——” 在这儿他突然停下，不知道如何引入主题。沉思了几分钟后，他决定把这一页搁到一旁，等明天再写；并决定描写阿尔及尔。他开始了： “阿尔及尔是一座非常干净的城市——” 但他没办法继续。一番努力后，他加上： “它的一部分被阿拉伯人占据。” 然后，他把钢笔丢到桌子上，并站了起来。他环顾了他蹩脚的房间；在心理上，他反抗他的贫困，并下决心第二天离开。
Suddenly the desire to work came on him，and he tried to begin the article again；he had vague ideas of what he wanted to say，but he could not express his thoughts in words. Convinced of his inability he arose once more，his blood coursing rapidly through his veins. He turned to the window just as the train was coming out of the tunnel，and his thoughts reverted to his parents. He saw their tiny home on the heights overlooking Rouen and the valley of the Seine. His father and mother kept an inn，La Belle—Vue，at which the citizens of the faubourgs took their lunches on Sundays. They had wished to make a "gentleman" of their son and had sent him to college. His studies completed，he had entered the army with the intention of becoming an officer，a colonel，or a general. But becoming disgusted with military life，he determined to try his fortune in Paris. When his time of service had expired，he went thither，with what results we have seen. He awoke from his reflections as the locomotive whistled shrilly，closed his window，and began to disrobe，muttering： "Bah，I shall be able to work better to—morrow morning. My brain is not clear to—night. I have drunk a little too much. I can't work well under such circumstances. " He extinguished his light and fell asleep.
突然，他产生了工作的渴望，于是他再次试着开始写那篇文章；他对自己想讲述的东西有些模糊的想法，但他无法用语言表达自己的想法。他确信自己无能为力了，再次站了起来；他的血液快速地通过血管流动着。他转向窗户，正当此时，那列火车从隧道里出来，他的思绪回到了他父母那儿。他看见他们在高地上的小小的家，它俯瞰着鲁昂和塞纳河流域。他父母开着一家旅馆—— “风光酒店” ，郊外的市民星期天在那里吃午餐。他们希望使他们的儿子成为一位 “绅士” ，因此送他上了大学。他学业完成后，带着成为军官、上校，或将军的目的进入了军队。但他对军队生活变得反感了，决定在巴黎碰碰运气。服役期满时，他去了那儿，结果如何我们已经看到了。当机车尖声地鸣响汽笛时，他从深思中醒了过来。他关上窗户，并开始脱衣服，同时咕哝道： “呸，明天早上，我将能更好地工作。今晚我的脑子不清醒。我喝得有点太多了。在这种情况下，我没办法好好工作。” 他熄灭了灯，然后就睡着了。
He awoke early，and，rising，opened his window to inhale the fresh air. In a few moments he seated himself at his table，dipped his pen in the ink，rested his head upon his hand and thought—but in vain！However，he was not discouraged，but in thought reassured himself： "Bah，I am not accustomed to it！It is a profession that must be learned like all professions. Some one must help me the first time. I'll go to Forestier. He'll start my article for me in ten minutes. "
他醒得早，而后，他起床把窗户打开，以吸吸新鲜空气。过了一会儿，他在桌边坐了下来，把钢笔在墨水里蘸了蘸，用手托着头思考起来——但徒劳无功！然而，他没有气馁；而是在心里再次向自己保证道： “呸，我对这个不习惯！像所有行业一样，这是个必须得学习的行业。第一次，有人得帮帮我。我要去找福雷斯捷。他十分钟以内就能替我给我的文章开个头。”
When he reached the street，Duroy decided that it was rather early to present himself at his friend's house，so he strolled along under the trees on one of the boulevards for a time. On arriving at Forestier's door，he found his friend going out.
当他到街上的时候，迪鲁瓦决定，现在去他的朋友家太早了，所以他在一条林阴大道上的树下向前走走，散了一会儿步。刚到福雷斯捷家门口时，他就发现他的朋友正要出去。
"You here—at this hour！Can I do anything for you？"
“你在这儿——在这个时间！我能为你做些什么吗？”
Duroy stammered in confusion： "I—I—cannot write that article on Algeria that M. Walter wants. It is not very surprising，seeing that I have never written anything. It requires practice. I could write very rapidly，I am sure，if I could make a beginning. I have the ideas but I cannot express them. " He paused and hesitated.
迪鲁瓦迷迷糊糊结结巴巴地说： “我——我——写不出瓦尔特先生想要的那篇关于阿尔及利亚的文章。这不是很意外，因为我从未写过任何东西。它需要练习。我能写得很快，我确定，如果我能开个头的话。我有想法，但我无法把它们表达出来。” 他停下来，犹豫着。
Forestier smiled maliciously： "I understand that. "
福雷斯捷狡黠地微笑着： “这个我了解。”
Duroy continued： "Yes，anyone is liable to have that trouble at the beginning；and，well—I have come to ask you to help me. In ten minutes you can set me right. You can give me a lesson in style；without you I can do nothing. "
迪鲁瓦继续说： “是的，任何人在一开始都可能有这种烦恼；而且，嗯——我来是请你帮帮我的。你可以在十分钟内把我引入正轨。你可以在风格方面教导教导我；没有你我什么也做不成。”
The other smiled gaily. He patted his companion's arm and said to him： "Go to my wife；she will help you better than I can. I have trained her for that work. I have not time this morning or I would do it willingly. "
福雷斯捷快乐地微笑着。他轻轻拍了拍他朋友的胳膊并对他说： “去找我妻子吧，她能比我更好地帮助你。我训练过她做这个工作。今天上午我没有时间，不然我会乐意做这件事的。”
But Duroy hesitated： "At this hour I cannot inquire for her. "
但迪鲁瓦犹豫着： “这个时间我不能去找她吧。”
"Oh，yes，you can；she has risen. You will find her in my study. "
“哦，不，你可以的；她已经起床了。你会在我的书房里找到她。”
"I will go，but I shall tell her you sent me！"
“我会去的，但我会告诉她是你让我去的！”
Forestier walked away，and Duroy slowly ascended the stairs，wondering what he should say and what kind of a reception he would receive.
福雷斯捷离开了，于是迪鲁瓦慢慢地爬上了楼梯，不知道自己该说些什么、自己会得到怎样的接待。
The servant who opened the door said： "Monsieur has gone out. "
开门的仆人说： “先生出去了。”
Duroy replied： "Ask Mme. Forestier if she will see me，and tell her that M. Forestier，whom I met on the street，sent me. "
迪鲁瓦答道： “问一下福雷斯捷夫人是否愿意接见我，并告诉她，我在街上遇见福雷斯捷先生，他让我来的。”
The lackey soon returned and ushered Duroy into Madame's presence. She was seated at a table and extended her hand to him.
仆人很快回来了，并把迪鲁瓦引进夫人在的地方。她坐在桌子旁边，向他伸出手。
"So soon？" said she. It was not a reproach，but a simple question.
“这么早？” 她说。这并不是责备，只是一个简单的问题。
He stammered： "I did not want to come up，Madame，but your husband，whom I met below，insisted—I dare scarcely tell you my errand—I worked late last night and early this morning，to write the article on Algeria which M. Walter wants—and I did not succeed—I destroyed all my attempts—I am not accustomed to the work—and I came to ask Forestier to assist me—his once. "
他结结巴巴地说： “我不想上来的，夫人，但您的丈夫，我在楼下遇到他，坚持——我简直不敢告诉您我来的任务——我昨晚工作到很晚，今天一大早也在工作，为了写瓦尔特先生想要的那篇关于阿尔及利亚的文章——但我没有成功——我把我所有的尝试都毁掉了——我不习惯这个工作——因此我来请福雷斯捷帮帮我——就这一次。”
She interrupted with a laugh： "And he sent you to me？"
她笑着打断他： “所以他让您来找我？”
"Yes，Madame. He said you could help me better than he—but—I dared not—I did not like to. "
“是的，夫人。他说您能比他更好地帮助我——但是——我不敢——我不喜欢。”
She rose.
她站起来。
"It will be delightful to work together that way. I am charmed with your idea. Wait，take my chair，for they know my handwriting on the paper—we will write a successful article. "
“这样一起工作会令人愉快的。我被你们的主意迷住了。等等，坐我的椅子，因为他们认识我在纸上的笔迹——我们将会写出一篇成功的文章。”
She took a cigarette from the mantelpiece and lighted it. "I cannot work without smoking，" she said； "what are you going to say？"
她从壁炉架上拿出一根香烟并点燃了它。 “不抽烟我没法工作，” 她说， “您打算讲述些什么？”
He looked at her in astonishment. "I do not know；I came here to find that out. "
他惊讶地看着她。 “我不知道；我来这儿就是为了弄明白这个的。”
She replied： "I will manage it all right. I will make the sauce but I must have the dish. " She questioned him in detail and finally said： "Now，we will begin. First of all we will suppose that you are addressing a friend，which will allow us scope for remarks of all kinds. Begin this way： 'My dear Henry，you wish to know something about Algeria；you shall. ' "
她答道： “我会好好地处理这篇文章的。我将做酱汁，但我必须得有菜呀。” 她详细地问了他一些问题，最后说： “现在，咱们开始。首先，我们将假设您在和一个朋友讲话，这样将给我们留出各种评论的余地。以这种方式开始： ‘我亲爱的亨利，你希望知道一些有关阿尔及利亚的事情；你将知晓。’”
Then followed a brilliantly worded description of Algeria and of the port of Algiers，an excursion to the province of Oran，a visit to Saida，and an adventure with a pretty Spanish maid employed in a factory.
接着是对阿尔及利亚和阿尔及尔港口的词藻华丽的描写、到奥兰省的一次短途旅行、去赛伊达的一次旅行，以及和一个漂亮的受聘于工厂的西班牙女仆的冒险经历。
When the article was concluded，he could find no words of thanks；he was happy to be near her，grateful for and delighted with their growing intimacy. It seemed to him that everything about him was a part of her，even to the books upon the shelves. The chairs，the furniture，the air—all were permeated with that delightful fragrance peculiar to her.
文章写完时，他找不出一个字来表达他的谢意；在她旁边让他快乐，他为他们之间发展着的亲密而心存感激、感到高兴。对他来说，似乎他周围的一切——甚至直至书架上的书，都是她的一部分。椅子、家具、空气——一切都洋溢着她独有的那令人愉快的香味。
She asked bluntly： "What do you think of my friend Mme. de Marelle？"
她坦率地问道： “您觉得我的朋友德马雷勒夫人怎么样？”
"I think her very fascinating，" he said；and he would have liked to add： "But not as much so as you. " He had not the courage to do so.
“我觉得她非常迷人。” 他说；而且，他本想加一句： “但没有您这么迷人。” 他没有勇气这么做。
She continued： "If you only knew how comical，original，and intelligent she is！She is a true Bohemian. It is for that reason that her husband no longer loves her. He only sees her defects and none of her good qualities. "
她继续说： “要是您知道她是多么滑稽、聪明、有独创性就好了！她是个真正放荡不羁的文化人。正是因为这个原因，她的丈夫才不再爱她。他只看到她的缺点，却看不到她的优点。”
Duroy was surprised to hear that Mme. de Marelle was married.
迪鲁瓦听到德马雷勒夫人已婚的时候有些惊讶。
"What，" he asked， "is she married？What does her husband do？"
“什么，” 他问道， “她结婚了？她的丈夫是做什么的？”
Mme. Forestier shrugged her shoulders. "Oh，he is superintendent of a railroad. He is in Paris a week out of each month. His wife calls it 'Holy Week. ' or 'The week of duty. ' When you get better acquainted with her，you will see how witty she is！Come here and see her some day. "
福雷斯捷夫人耸耸肩。 “哦，他是一个铁路部门的负责人。他每个月里有一个星期在巴黎。他妻子称之为 ‘神圣的一周’ 或 ‘责任的一周。’ 当您更好地了解她时，您会知道她是多么机智。改天来这儿看看她。”
As she spoke，the door opened noiselessly，and a gentleman entered unannounced. He halted on seeing a man. For a moment Mme. Forestier seemed confused；then she said in a natural voice，though her cheeks were tinged with a blush： "Come in，my dear sir；allow me to present to you an old comrade of Charles，M. Georges Duroy，a future journalist. "
她说话的时候，门被轻轻地打开了，然后一个绅士未经通报进来了。他一看到有个男人，就停了下来。有一会儿，福雷斯捷夫人似乎有些混乱；接着，虽然她的双颊染着红晕，她仍用自然的声音说道： “进来吧，我亲爱的先生；请允许我向您介绍夏尔的一个老朋友，乔治·迪鲁瓦先生，一个未来的新闻记者。”
Then in a different tone，she said： "Our best and dearest friend，Count de Vaudrec. "
然后她以一种不同的腔调说道： “我们最好而且最亲爱的朋友，德沃德雷克伯爵。”
The two men bowed，gazed into one another's eyes，and then Duroy took his leave. Neither tried to detain him.
这两位男士鞠了躬，注视着彼此的眼睛，接着迪鲁瓦就告辞了。他们俩都没试图挽留他。
On reaching the street he felt sad and uncomfortable. Count de Vaudrec's face was constantly before him. It seemed to him that the man was displeased at finding him tete—a—tete with Mme. Forestier，though why he should be，he could not divine.
一到街上，他就觉得悲伤、不舒服。德沃德雷克伯爵的面容始终在他面前。他觉得似乎这个男人不高兴碰见他和福雷斯捷夫人私下在一起，尽管他猜不出为什么他会这样。
To while away the time until three o'clock，he lunched at Duval 's，and then lounged along the boulevard. When the clock chimed the hour of his appointment，he climbed the stairs leading to the office ofLa Vie Francaise.
为了打发三点前的时间，他在 “迪瓦尔” 餐厅吃了午餐，然后沿着林阴大道闲逛。当时钟敲响他约定的时间时，他登上了通向《法兰西生活报》办公室的楼梯。
Duroy asked： "Is M. Walter in？"
迪鲁瓦问： “瓦尔特先生在里面吗？”
"M. Walter is engaged，" was the reply. "Will you please take a seat？"
回答是： “瓦尔特先生现在正忙。您请坐下吧？”
Duroy waited twenty minutes，then he turned to the clerk and said： "M. Walter had an appointment with me at three o'clock. At any rate，see if my friend M. Forestier is here. "
迪鲁瓦等了二十分钟，然后他转向那位职员说： “瓦尔特先生三点钟和我有个约会。不管怎样，请您看看我的朋友福雷斯捷先生是否在这儿。”
He was conducted along a corridor and ushered into a large room in which four men were writing at a table. Forestier was standing before the fireplace，smoking a cigarette. After listening to Duroy's story he said： "Come with me；I will take you to M. Walter，or else you might remain here until seven o'clock. "
他被引导着沿一条走廊前行，然后被引进了一个大房间，房间里有四个人正在一张桌子旁写字。福雷斯捷正站在壁炉前，抽着一支香烟。听了迪鲁瓦说的事后，他说： “跟我来；我带你去找瓦尔特先生，否则你可能留在这里等到七点。”
They entered the manager's room. Norbert de Varenne was writing an article，seated in an easy chair；Jacques Rival，stretched upon a divan，was smoking a cigar. The room had the peculiar odor familiar to all journalists. When they approached M. Walter，Forestier said： "Here is my friend Duroy. "
他们进了经理的办公室。诺贝尔·德瓦雷纳正坐在一把安乐椅里写文章；雅克·里瓦尔正伸展开肢体躺在一把长沙发椅上抽雪茄。这房间有着那种所有新闻工作者都熟悉的特殊气味。当他们走近瓦尔特先生时，福雷斯捷说： “这是我的朋友迪鲁瓦。”
The manager looked keenly at the young man and asked： "Have you brought my article？"
那位经理敏锐地看着这个年轻人，问道： “您带来我要的文章了吗？”
Duroy drew the sheets of manuscript from his pocket.
迪鲁瓦从他的口袋里拿出那几页手稿。
"Here they are，Monsieur. "
“给您，先生。”
The manager seemed delighted and said with a smile： "Very good. You are a man of your word. Need I look over it，Forestier？"
这位经理似乎很高兴，他微笑着说： “很好。您是个守信用的人。福雷斯捷，我需要检查它吗？”
But Forestier hastened to reply： "It is not necessary，M. Walter；I helped him in order to initiate him into the profession. It is very good. " Then bending toward him，he whispered： "You know you promised to engage Duroy to replace Marambot. Will you allow me to retain him on the same terms？"
但福雷斯捷急忙回答： “这没必要，瓦尔特先生；为了使他初步了解这个行业，我帮了他。这篇文章很好。” 然后，福雷斯捷向他俯下身，低声说道： “您知道，您允诺过聘用迪鲁瓦来代替马朗波。您允许我以相同的地位来聘用他吗？”
"Certainly. "
“当然。”
Taking his friend's arm，the journalist drew him away，while M. Walter returned to the game of ecarte he had been engaged in when they entered. Forestier and Duroy returned to the room in which Georges had found his friend. The latter said to his new reporter： "You must come here every day at three o'clock，and I will tell you what places to go to. First of all，I shall give you a letter of introduction to the chief of the police，who will in turn introduce you to one of his employees. You can arrange with him for all important news，official and semiofficial. For details you can apply to Saint—Potin，who is posted；you will see him to—morrow. Above all，you must learn to make your way everywhere in spite of closed doors. You will receive two hundred francs a months，two sous a line for original matter，and two sous a line for articles you are ordered to write on different subjects. "
拉着他朋友的胳膊，那位新闻记者把他拉走了，与此同时，瓦尔特先生回到了他们进来时他正在玩的埃卡泰牌游戏中。福雷斯捷和迪鲁瓦回到了乔治找到他朋友的那个房间。福雷斯捷对他的新记者说道： “你每天三点必须来这儿，然后我会告诉你去什么地方。首先，我会给你一封给警察局局长的介绍信，他会转而把你介绍给他的一个雇员。你可以跟他安排所有重要的新闻，官方的和半官方的。至于细节，你可以请教圣波坦，他很了解；明天你会见到他。最重要的是，你必须学会，任何地方，即使关着门，你也进得去。你一个月将得到二百法郎，原材料一行两个苏，要求你写的关于不同主题的文章也是一行两个苏。”
"What shall I do to—day？" asked Duroy.
“我今天该做些什么？” 迪鲁瓦问。
"I have no work for you to—day；you can go if you wish to. "
“今天我没有工作让你做了；如果你想走，你可以走了。”
"And our—our article？"
“但我们——我们的文章呢？”
"Oh，do not worry about it；I will correct the proofs. Do the rest to—morrow and come here at three o'clock as you did to—day. "
“哦，不用担心它了；我会改校样的。明天做剩下的，并且和今天一样，三点来这儿。”
And after shaking hands，Duroy descended the staircase with a light heart.
然后，握完手后，迪鲁瓦带着轻松的心情走下了楼梯。