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罗兰太太眯着眼睛喃喃自语： “天哪，大海真是太美了！”
And Mme. Rosemilly replied with a long sigh, which, however, had no sadness in it:
罗塞米伊太太深深地叹了一口气，但绝没有悲伤的意味，接着说：
"Yes, but it is sometimes very cruel, all the same. "
“是啊，可它有时候也是要兴风作浪的。”
Roland exclaimed:
罗兰老爹叫道：
"Look, there is the Normandie just going in. A big ship, isn't she? "
“看， ‘诺曼底号’ 正在进港呢。它真是个大家伙，对吧？”
Then he described the coast opposite, far, far away, on the other side of the mouth of the Seine—that mouth extended over twenty kilometres, said he. He pointed out Villerville, Trouville, Houlgate, Luc, Arromanches, the little river of Caen, and the rocks of Calvados which make the coast unsafe as far as Cherbourg. Then he enlarged on the question of the sand—banks in the Seine, which shift at every tide so that even the pilots of Quilleboeuf are at fault if they do not survey the channel every day. He bid them notice how the town of Havre divided Upper from Lower Normandy. In Lower Normandy the shore sloped down to the sea in pasture—lands, fields, and meadows. The coast of Upper Normandy, on the contrary, was steep, a high cliff, ravined, cleft and towering, forming an immense white rampart all the way to Dunkirk, while in each hollow a village or a port lay hidden: Etretat, Fecamp, Saint—Valery, Treport, Dieppe, and the rest.
接着他又描绘了塞纳河河口另一边那遥远的对岸——这个河口有二十公里宽，他如是说。他又指出了维莱维尔、特罗维尔、乌尔加特、吕克、阿罗芒什、卡昂河以及卡尔瓦多斯礁石带，这个礁石带使得从这里一直到瑟堡的航道都险象环生。接着，他又谈到了塞纳河的沙洲问题，这些沙滩每次涨潮后都要移位，如果不每天巡查航道，连基叶伯夫当地的水手也会出差错。他又叫他们注意观察，勒阿弗尔是如何把诺曼底分为上下两部分的。在下诺曼底，平坦的海岸缓缓下降，从牧场、原野、草地，一直延展到海边。与此相反，上诺曼底的海岸又陡又直，是一道犬牙交错的壮观峭壁，形成了一道一直绵延到敦克尔克的白色防护墙，在每个凹口里都隐藏着一个村落或是一个港口：埃特勒塔、费康、圣瓦勒里、特列港、迪耶普等等。
The two women did not listen. Torpid with comfort and impressed by the sight of the ocean covered with vessels rushing to and fro like wild beasts about their den, they sat speechless, somewhat awed by the soothing and gorgeous sunset. Roland alone talked on without end; he was one of those whom nothing can disturb. Women, whose nerves are more sensitive, sometimes feel, without knowing why, that the sound of useless speech is as irritating as an insult.
两个女人根本没听他在说什么。她们因舒适而变得懒洋洋的，看着海面上那么多来来往往的船舶，像围着自己的巢穴奔跑的野兽，觉得很震撼。她们静默地坐着，看着壮丽柔和的落日，充满了敬畏。只有罗兰老爹一个人滔滔不绝地说个没完，他是那种不会受任何事物干扰的人。女人们的神经比较敏感，有时她们会莫名其妙地觉得，听那些毫无意义的废话就跟受到侮辱一样让人恼火。
Pierre and Jean, who had calmed down, were rowing slowly, and the Pearl was making for the harbour, a tiny thing among those huge vessels.
皮埃尔和让这时已经平静了下来，他们不紧不慢地划着， “珍珠号” 向着港口驶去，在四周的大船中，它显得十分渺小。
When they came alongside of the quay, Papagris, who was waiting there, gave his hand to the ladies to help them out, and they took the way into the town. A large crowd, the crowd which haunts the pier every day at high tide, was also drifting homeward. Mme. Roland and Mme. Rosemilly led the way, followed by the three men. As they went up the Rue de Paris they stopped now and then in front of a milliner's or a jeweller's shop, to look at a bonnet or an ornament; then after making their comments they went on again. In front of the Place Roland paused, as he did every day, to gaze at the docks full of vessels—the Bassin du Commerce, with other docks beyond, where the huge hulls lay side by side, closely packed in rows, four or five deep. And masts innumerable; along several kilometres of quays the endless masts, with their yards, poles, and rigging, gave this great gap in the heart of the town the look of a dead forest. Above this leafless forest the gulls were wheeling, and watching to pounce, like a falling stone, on any scraps flung overboard; a sailor boy, fixing a pulley to a cross—beam, looked as if he had gone up there bird 's—nesting.
他们靠岸后，已经在那里等着的帕帕格里斯用手扶着太太们下船，随后他们就进城了。还有一大群人也在赶往回家的路上，这群人每天在涨潮时都会到码头上来。罗兰太太和罗塞米伊太太走在前面，三个男人跟在后面。走上巴黎大街后，她们时不时在女帽店或珠宝店前面停下来，看看某顶帽子或是某件首饰，议论一番后又继续朝前走去。走到交易所广场前面的时候，罗兰老爹停住了脚步，像往日一样，他细细地打量着泊满船只的巴桑杜商船锚地，和这个船坞紧连着的还有其他几个船坞，那里停泊着四五排大船，一艘贴着一艘，紧紧地靠在一起。数不胜数的桅杆沿着码头绵延数公里，它们上面的横桅、顶桅、缆绳使城市中心的这片空地看上去像一大片枯死的森林。在这片没有树叶的林子上空，一些海鸥在盘旋飞翔。它们在窥伺着被扔进水里的残食，随时准备像落石似的俯冲下来抢食。一个小水手趴在一根顶桅上装滑轮，看上去像是在那里寻找鸟窝。
"Will you dine with us without any sort of ceremony, just that we may end the day together? " said Mme. Roland to her friend.
“您愿意和我们一起吃晚餐吗？不用客套，这样大家就一起度过一整天了。” 罗兰太太问罗塞米伊太太。
"To be sure I will, with pleasure; I accept equally without ceremony. It would be dismal to go home and be alone this evening. "
“当然愿意，我非常高兴，那我就不客气了。今天晚上回家一个人呆着，真是太落寞了。”
Pierre, who had heard, and who was beginning to be restless under the young woman's indifference, muttered to himself: "Well, the widow is taking root now, it would seem. " For some days past he had spoken of her as "the widow. " The word, harmless in itself, irritated Jean merely by the tone given to it, which to him seemed spiteful and offensive.
这个少妇对他的冷漠态度让皮埃尔开始不安起来，他听到这话后低声自语道： “瞧瞧，这个寡妇现在算是要赖到我们家来了。” 几天来，他都称她为 “寡妇” 。这个词，本身并无恶意，可让一听到皮埃尔说这个词时的音调就上火，他觉得这种音调不怀好意，且带有侮辱的味道。
The three men spoke not another word till they reached the threshold of their own house. It was a narrow one, consisting of a ground—floor and two floors above, in the Rue Belle—Normande. The maid, Josephine, a girl of nineteen, a rustic servant—of—all—work at low wages, gifted to excess with the startled animal expression of a peasant, opened the door, went up stairs at her master's heels to the drawing—room, which was on the first floor, and then said:
这三个男人一直走到家门口都没有再开口说过一句话。他们的家坐落在贝尔—诺曼底大街上，很狭小，一共三层楼。女佣叫约瑟芬，是个十九岁的姑娘，工资很低，什么杂事都干，天生一副农民的表情，像个受到惊吓的小动物。她开了门，跟在主人后面到了二楼的客厅，随后说道：
"A gentleman called—three times. "
“有位先生来过三次了。”
Old Roland, who never spoke to her without shouting and swearing, cried out:
罗兰老爹和这个女佣讲话时向来不是吼就是骂，他叫道：
"Who do you say called, in the devil's name? "
“谁来过，连个该死的名字都没有吗？”
She never winced at her master's roaring voice, and replied:
她从来不会因为主人的咆哮而畏缩，她回答说：
"A gentleman from the lawyer's. "
“是律师事务所的一位先生。”
"What lawyer? "
“哪个律师？”
"Why, M 'sieu' Canu—who else? "
“迈卡尼律师啊——还能有谁？”
"And what did this gentleman say? "
“那这位先生说了什么？”
"That M 'sieu' Canu will call in himself in the course of the evening. "
“他说迈卡尼先生今晚会亲自来一趟。”
Maitre Lecanu was M. Roland's lawyer, and in a way his friend, managing his business for him. For him to send word that he would call in the evening, something urgent and important must be in the wind; and the four Rolands looked at each other, disturbed by the announcement as folks of small fortune are wont to be at any intervention of a lawyer, with its suggestions of contracts, inheritance, lawsuits—all sorts of desirable or formidable contingencies. The father, after a few moments of silence, muttered:
迈特尔•勒卡尼先生是替罗兰老爹处理事务的律师，也算是他的朋友。他派人传话说他今晚会来拜访，那一定是发生了什么紧急而重要的事情。罗兰家的四个人面面相觑，坐立不安，因为财产不多的人向来都害怕和律师打交道，律师的到访会让人联想到合同、遗产、诉讼之类吉凶未卜的事情。这位父亲沉思了片刻后，低声说：
"What on earth can it mean? "
“这到底是什么意思呀？”
Mme. Rosemilly began to laugh.
罗塞米伊太太大笑起来。
"Why, a legacy, of course. I am sure of it. I bring good luck. "
“当然是关于遗产的事啦。我敢肯定。我会给人带来好运气的。”
But they did not expect the death of any one who might leave them anything.
可是他们没有预计到，谁死后会给他们留下任何遗产。
Mme. Roland, who had a good memory for relationships, began to think over all their connections on her husband's side and on her own, to trace up pedigrees and the ramifications of cousin—ship.
罗兰太太对亲戚关系记得清清楚楚，她马上开始仔细地罗列她婆家和娘家两方面的所有亲戚关系，从直系亲属一直追溯到旁支的堂表姑姨。
Before even taking off her bonnet she said:
她连帽子都没来得及摘下来就说：
"I say, father" (she called her husband "father" at home, and sometimes "Monsieur Roland" before strangers), "tell me, do you remember who it was that Joseph Lebru married for the second time? "
“我说，老爹，” （她在家称她丈夫为 “老爹” ，有时在外人面前叫他 “罗兰先生” ） “告诉我，你记得约瑟夫•勒伯吕续娶的女人是谁吗？”
"Yes—a little girl named Dumenil, a stationer's daughter. "
“记得，一个叫迪梅尼的小姑娘，是个文具商的女儿。”
"Had they any children? "
“他们有孩子吗？”
"I should think so! four or five at least. "
“我想应该有的！至少有四五个吧。”
"Not from that quarter, then. "
“那遗产肯定不会是他那边的人给的了。”
She was quite eager already in her search; she caught at the hope of some added ease dropping from the sky. But Pierre, who was very fond of his mother, who knew her to be somewhat visionary and feared she might be disappointed, a little grieved, a little saddened if the news were bad instead of good, checked her:
她很亢奋地在脑海里搜索着，开始希望天上会掉馅饼了。可是皮埃尔很爱他的母亲，他知道她稍稍有些善于幻想，因此担心如果这是个坏消息而不是好消息，他母亲会失望，会有点伤心、难过，于是便劝阻她说：
"Do not get excited, mother; there is no rich American uncle. For my part, I should sooner fancy that it is about a marriage for Jean. "
“妈妈，别太兴奋了，我们没有富有的美国叔叔。依我看，这可能关乎让的婚事。”
Every one was surprised at the suggestion, and Jean was a little ruffled by his brother's having spoken of it before Mme. Rosemilly.
所有人听到他这个想法都很吃惊，让也因为他哥哥在罗塞米伊太太面前谈起这样的事情心里有些生气。
"And why for me rather than for you? The hypothesis is very disputable. You are the elder; you, therefore, would be the first to be thought of. Besides, I do not wish to marry. "
“为什么说是我的婚事，而不是你自己的呢？这个假想太站不住脚了。你是老大，因此考虑先结婚的应该是你。更何况，我还不想结婚。”
Pierre smiled sneeringly:
皮埃尔讥笑他说：
"Are you in love, then? "
“那么说，你现在已经坠入爱河了？”
And the other, much put out, retorted: "Is it necessary that a man should be in love because he does not care to marry yet? "
让不高兴了，反驳道： “难道非得爱上谁，才能说还不想结婚吗？”
"Ah, there you are! That 'yet' sets it right; you are waiting. "
“啊，说的对！那个 ‘还’ 字算是讲对了，你在等待。”
"Granted that I am waiting, if you will have it so. "
“就算我在等吧，随你怎么说。”
But old Roland, who had been listening and cogitating, suddenly hit upon the most probable solution.
可是罗兰老爹边听边思索着，突然找到了一个可能性最大的答案。
"Bless me! what fools we are to be racking our brains. Maitre Lecanu is our very good friend; he knows that Pierre is looking out for a medical partnership and Jean for a lawyer's office, and he has found something to suit one of you. "
“上帝保佑！我们这样费劲心思去想这个问题真是愚蠢至极。迈特尔•勒卡尼先生是我们的好朋友，他知道皮埃尔一直在找一家医务室，而让在找一家律师事务所，他或许是为你们其中的一个找到了合适工作。”
This was so obvious and likely that every one accepted it.
这个答案显而易见，可能性也极大，因此大家都接受了。
"Dinner is ready, " said the maid. And they all hurried off to their rooms to wash their hands before sitting down to table.
“晚饭准备好了。” 女佣说。于是各人都匆匆回到自己房间，洗手准备就餐。
Ten minutes later they were at dinner in the little dining—room on the ground—floor.
十分钟后，他们都来到了一楼的小餐厅里用餐。
At first they were silent; but presently Roland began again in amazement at this lawyer's visit.
起先大家都沉默不语，可不一会儿，罗兰对律师的这次造访又产生了疑问。
"For after all, why did he not write? Why should he have sent his clerk three times? Why is he coming himself? "
“说到底，为什么他不写信给我们呢？为什么他派他事务所的人来找了我三次？为什么他现在要亲自来呢？”
Pierre thought it quite natural.
皮埃尔认为这是很自然的，他说：
"An immediate decision is required, no doubt; and perhaps there are certain confidential conditions which it does not do to put into writing. "
“毫无疑问，他希望能立即得到答复，又或许他有些机密的事情要告诉我们，不太方便写在纸上。”
Still, they were all puzzled, and all four a little annoyed at having invited a stranger, who would be in the way of their discussing and deciding on what should be done.
可他们心里还是很迷惑，而且四个人都因邀请了这个客人感到有点烦心，因为她妨碍了他们的讨论和应做的决定。
They had just gone upstairs again when the lawyer was announced. Roland flew to meet him.
他们刚回到楼上的客厅里，便被告知说律师来了。罗兰迫不及待地迎上前去。
"Good evening, my dear Maitre, " said he, giving his visitor the title which in France is the official prefix to the name of every lawyer.
“晚上好，我亲爱的总管。” 他这样尊称这位来访者。在法国，所有律师的名字前面都带有这个尊称。
Mme. Rosemilly rose.
罗塞米伊太太站起身来。
"I am going, " she said. "I am very tired. "
“我要走了，” 她说， “我很累了。”
A faint attempt was made to detain her; but she would not consent, and went home without either of the three men offering to escort her, as they always had done.
大家稍稍表示了一下想挽留她的意思，可她拒绝了。往常都有人送她回家，可这次三个男人谁也没主动提出送她。
Mme. Roland did the honours eagerly to their visitor.
罗兰太太赶忙走到来访者身边说：
"A cup of coffee, monsieur? "
“要不要来杯咖啡，先生？”
"No, thank you. I have just had dinner. "
“不用了，谢谢。我刚吃过饭。”
"A cup of tea, then? "
“那来杯茶好吗？”
"Thank you, I will accept one later. First we must attend to business. "
“谢谢你，我一会儿再喝吧。我们先谈谈正事。”
The deep silence which succeeded this remark was broken only by the regular ticking of the clock, and below stairs the clatter of saucepans which the girl was cleaning—too stupid even to listen at the door.
这话音刚落，大家顿时安静了下来，只听见钟摆有节奏的滴答声和楼下女佣刷平底锅的叮当声，那声音在门口听起来都笨手笨脚的。
The lawyer went on:
律师接着说：
"Did you, in Paris, know a certain M. Marechal—Leon Marechal? "
“你们认不认识巴黎的一位叫马雷夏尔先生的人，莱昂•马雷夏尔？”
M. and Mme. Roland both exclaimed at once: "I should think so! "
罗兰两口子立刻异口同声地惊呼道： “没错，我们认识！”
"He was a friend of yours? "
“他是你们的一个朋友吗？”
Roland replied: "Our best friend, monsieur, but a fanatic for Paris; never to be got away from the boulevard. He was a head clerk in the exchequer office. I have never seen him since I left the capital, and latterly we had ceased writing to each other. When people are far apart you know—"
罗兰答道： “先生，他是我们最好的朋友，可他是一个巴黎迷；他不愿意离开巴黎的林阴大道。他是财政部的重要职员。自从我离开首都以后就没再见到过他，后来我们也不再通信了。您知道，当人们离得很远的时候——”
The lawyer gravely put in:
那位律师神情凝重地打断他：
"M. Marechal is deceased. "
“马雷夏尔先生去世了。”
Both man and wife responded with the little movement of pained surprise, genuine or false, but always ready, with which such news is received.
夫妻二人都流露出一种吃惊而又悲痛的神色，这种情感不管是发自肺腑还是故作姿态，反正是一般人听到这类消息时会立刻表现出来的神态。
Maitre Lecanu went on:
迈特尔•勒卡尼先生接着说：
"My colleague in Paris has just communicated to me the main item of his will, by which he makes your son Jean—Monsieur Jean Roland—his sole legatee. "
“我在巴黎的同事刚刚告诉我他遗嘱里的主要内容，他指定你们的儿子让•罗兰先生为他的唯一财产继承人。”
They were all too much amazed to utter a single word. Mme. Roland was the first to control her emotion and stammered out:
大家都吃惊得一句话都说不出来。罗兰太太首先控制住了自己的感情，她结结巴巴地说：
"Good heavens! Poor Leon—our poor friend! Dear me! Dear me! Dead! "
“上帝啊！我们可怜的朋友，我们可怜的莱昂！天啊！我的天啊！他死了！”
The tears started to her eyes, a woman's silent tears, drops of grief from her very soul, which trickle down her cheeks and seem so very sad, being so clear. But Roland was thinking less of the loss than of the prospect announced. Still, he dared not at once inquire into the clauses of the will and the amount of the fortune, so to work round to these interesting facts he asked:
她开始流泪，那种女人默默流出的眼泪，是悲痛的心灵的泪珠，顺着脸颊流了下来，她看起来是那么悲伤，泪水是那么晶莹明澈。可罗兰想的更多的是刚刚宣布的消息给他带来的前景，对老朋友的死倒并不感到伤心。可他不敢立即询问遗嘱的条款和财产的数目。为了拐弯抹角地谈到他所关心的问题，他问道：
"And what did he die of, poor Marechal? "
“可怜的马雷夏尔，他是怎么死的？”
Maitre Lecanu did not know in the least.
迈特尔•勒卡尼先生对此一无所知。
"All I know is, " said he, "that dying without any direct heirs, he has left the whole of his fortune—about twenty thousand francs a year ($3, 840) in three per cents—to your second son, whom he has known from his birth up, and judges worthy of the legacy. If M. Jean should refuse the money, it is to go to the foundling hospitals. "
“我只知道死者没有一个直接继承人，” 他说， “他把每年两万法郎（合3，840美元）的财产加上百分之三的利息全部留给了您的小儿子。他是看着他出生长大的，觉得他应该得到这笔遗产。如果让先生拒绝接受，那么这笔遗产将转赠给孤儿院。”
Old Roland could not conceal his delight and exclaimed:
罗兰老爹掩饰不住他的喜悦，高声嚷道：
"Sacristi! It is the thought of a kind heart. And if I had had no heir I would not have forgotten him; he was a true friend. "
“上帝啊！他真是个好心肠。要是我没有子女，我也不会忘记他的，他是个真正的朋友。”
The lawyer smiled.
律师笑了。
"I was very glad, " he said, "to announce the event to you myself. It is always a pleasure to be the bearer of good news. "
“能亲自通知您这件事情，我很高兴。” 他说， “给人带来好消息总是一件让人高兴的事情。”
It had not struck him that this good news was that of the death of a friend, of Roland's best friend; and the old man himself had suddenly forgotten the intimacy he had but just spoken of with so much conviction.
他压根就没想过，这个好消息是一位朋友的死讯，是罗兰老爹最要好的朋友的死讯。而罗兰老爹自己也很快忘记了他刚刚还口口声声谈论的那种真挚友谊。
Only Mme. Roland and her sons still looked mournful. She, indeed, was still shedding a few tears, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief, which she then pressed to her lips to smother her deep sobs.
只有罗兰太太和她的两个儿子还保持着悲戚的面容。实际上，她一直是眼泪汪汪的，用手绢不停地擦着眼睛，随后用手绢捂着嘴，压制住太响的呜咽声。
The doctor murmured:
医生喃喃地说：
"He was a good fellow, very affectionate. He often invited us to dine with him—my brother and me. "
“他真是个好人，非常重感情。他经常邀请我们去吃饭——我弟弟和我。”
Jean, with wide—open, glittering eyes, laid his hand on his handsome fair beard, a familiar gesture with him, and drew his fingers down it to the tip of the last hairs, as if to pull it longer and thinner. Twice his lips parted to utter some decent remark, but after long meditation he could only say this:
让泛着泪花的眼睛睁得大大的，像以往那样，右手捋着他漂亮的金色胡子，一直捋到胡子尖儿，像是要把它们拉长拉细似的。他的嘴唇动了两次，想讲几句得体的话，可想了良久他也只能说：
"Yes, he was certainly fond of me. He would always embrace me when I went to see him. "
“是的，他的确很喜欢我。我每次去看他，他总会抱抱我。”
But his father's thoughts had set off at a gallop—galloping round this inheritance to come; nay, already in hand; this money lurking behind the door, which would walk in quite soon, to—morrow, at a word of consent.
可他父亲这时思潮起伏，思索着那即将到手的，不，是已经到手的遗产。那笔钱就近在咫尺，只要小儿子表示同意，很快，确切的说是明天，就会成为他们家的了。
"And there is no possible difficulty in the way? " he asked. "No lawsuit—no one to dispute it? "
“会不会遇到什么麻烦？” 他问， “不会有人提起诉讼——不会有人反对吗？”
Maitre Lecanu seemed quite easy.
迈特尔•勒卡尼先生好像很有把握。
"No; my Paris correspondent states that everything is quite clear. M. Jean has only to sign his acceptance. "
“没有，我巴黎的同行说一切都非常清楚。让先生只需要签字，表示他愿意接受就可以了。”
"Good. Then—then the fortune is quite clear? "
“好极了。那么，那财产帐目清楚吗？”
"Perfectly clear. "
“非常清楚。”
"All the necessary formalities have been gone through? "
“所有需要办理的手续都办完了吗？”
"All. "
“办完了。”
Suddenly the old jeweller had an impulse of shame—obscure, instinctive, and fleeting; shame of his eagerness to be informed, and he added:
突然，这个老珠宝商感到一阵羞愧，一种由他迫不及待打听这些事情而带来的模糊的、本能的、稍纵即逝的羞愧，于是他补充道：
"You understand that I ask all these questions immediately so as to save my son unpleasant consequences which he might not foresee. Sometimes there are debts, embarrassing liabilities, what not! And a legatee finds himself in an inextricable thorn—bush. After all, I am not the heir—but I think first of the little 'un. "
“您知道我之所以要立即问您所有这些问题，是为了不让儿子碰上一些他也许预料不到的麻烦。有时候，会有些债务、让人为难的义务等等诸如此类的事情！遗产受赠人总会陷进摆脱不了的荆棘丛中。总之，我虽然不是遗产继承人，可我总得先为小家伙们着想。”
They were accustomed to speak of Jean among themselves as the "little one, " though he was much bigger than Pierre.
他们已经习惯了把让叫成 “小家伙” ，尽管他的块头比皮埃尔大得多。
Suddenly Mme. Roland seemed to wake from a dream, to recall some remote fact, a thing almost forgotten that she had heard long ago, and of which she was not altogether sure. She inquired doubtingly:
罗兰太太似乎突然大梦初醒，想起了某件遥远的事情，某件她听说过但几乎忘记了的事情，对这件事她并不能完全肯定。她疑惑不解地问道：
"Were you not saying that our poor friend Marechal had left his fortune to my little Jean? "
“您是不是说我们可怜的朋友马雷夏尔把他的财产留给了我亲爱的让？”
"Yes, madame. "
“是的，夫人。”
And she went on simply:
于是她简单地接着说：
"I am much pleased to hear it; it proves that he was attached to us. "
“我为此感到很高兴，这证明他很爱我们。”
Roland had risen.
罗兰站了起来。
"And would you wish, my dear sir, that my son should at once sign his acceptance? "
“亲爱的先生，您是不是需要我儿子马上签字表示他愿意接受？”
"No—no, M. Roland. To—morrow, at my office to—morrow, at two o'clock, if that suits you. "
“不，不，罗兰先生。明天，明天下午两点，在我的事务所，如果你们方便的话。”
"Yes, to be sure—yes, indeed. I should think so. "
“行，行，当然方便。我就是这样想的。”
Then Mme. Roland, who had also risen and who was smiling after her tears, went up to the lawyer, and laying her hand on the back of his chair while she looked at him with the pathetic eyes of a grateful mother, she said:
这时罗兰太太也站了起来，破涕为笑，她走近律师，把手放在他的椅背上，用一个母亲感恩的温和目光看着他，说道：
"And now for that cup of tea, Monsieur Lecanu? "
“那么，现在喝杯茶吧，勒卡尼先生？”
"Now I will accept it with pleasure, madame. "
“现在我想喝了，夫人，非常乐意。”
The maid, on being summoned, brought in first some dry biscuits in deep tin boxes, those crisp, insipid English cakes which seem to have been made for a parrot's beak, and soldered into metal cases for a voyage round the world. Next she fetched some little gray linen doilies, folded square, those tea—napkins which in thrifty families never get washed. A third time she came in with the sugar—basin and cups; then she departed to heat the water. They sat waiting.
女佣被叫来了，她先拿来了一些盛在深锡罐里的干点心，这些细碎而无味的英国糕点像是专门做来给鹦鹉啄食的，而且是塞在金属盒子里，好像是为环游世界的人准备的。接着，她又去拿来了几条折成方形的灰色亚麻茶巾，这些茶巾在穷人家里是从来不洗的。第三次她又拿来了糖罐和茶杯，接着她就去烧水了。大家就坐在那里等着。
No one could talk; they had too much to think about and nothing to say. Mme. Roland alone attempted a few commonplace remarks. She gave an account of the fishing excursion, and sang the praises of the Pearl and of Mme. Rosemilly.
谁也不想说话。他们都思绪万千，什么也不想说。只有罗兰太太试着闲扯了几句。她讲起钓鱼旅行，还夸赞了一番 “珍珠号” 和罗塞米伊太太。
"Charming, charming! " the lawyer said again and again.
“有趣，真有意思！” 律师重复地说。
Roland, leaning against the marble mantel—shelf as if it were winter and the fire burning, with his hands in his pockets and his lips puckered for a whistle, could not keep still, tortured by the invincible desire to give vent to his delight. The two brothers, in two arm—chairs that matched, one on each side of the centre—table, stared in front of them, in similar attitudes full of dissimilar expressions.
罗兰背靠在大理石壁炉架上，就像冬天生火时一样，双手插在口袋里，嘟着嘴吹口哨，坐立不安，难以抑制满心的欢喜。两兄弟坐在客厅中央的小圆桌左右两旁两把同样的扶手椅里，双眼直视前方，姿态差不多，但表情却不同。
At last the tea appeared. The lawyer took a cup, sugared it, and drank it, after having crumbled into it a little cake which was too hard to crunch. Then he rose, shook hands, and departed.
茶终于端上来了。律师端起一杯，加了些糖，把一小片硬得啃都啃不动的饼干放在里面浸泡弄碎，然后把茶喝了。接着他便站起来，和大家握手告别。
"Then it is understood, " repeated Roland. "To—morrow, at your place, at two? "
“就这么说定了，” 罗兰重复了一遍， “明天下午两点在您那里见。”
"Quite so. To—morrow, at two. "
“好的。明天下午两点见。”
Jean had not spoken a word.
让一句话都没说。
When their guest had gone, silence fell again till father Roland clapped his two hands on his younger son's shoulders, crying:
客人走了以后，大家又沉默了一会儿，后来罗兰老爹张开双手拍了拍他小儿子的双肩，大声说：
"Well, you devilish lucky dog! You don't embrace me! "
“嘿，该死的走运鬼！怎么还不抱抱我！”
Then Jean smiled. He embraced his father, saying:
让笑了。他一面拥抱他父亲一面说：
"It had not struck me as indispensable. "
“我没觉得一定要抱你啊。”
The old man was beside himself with glee. He walked about the room, strummed on the furniture with his clumsy nails, turned about on his heels, and kept saying:
罗兰老爹高兴得难以自持。他来回在房里踱步，用他笨拙的手指在家具上敲打着，脚跟转来转去，一直说：
"What luck! What luck! Now, that is really what I call luck! "
“多好的运气！多好的运气啊！看吧，这才是我说的好运气！”
Pierre asked:
皮埃尔问道：
"Then you used to know this Marechal well? "
“那么您过去和这位马雷夏尔很熟是吗？”
And his father replied:
他父亲回答说：
"I believe! Why, he used to spend every evening at our house. Surely you remember he used to fetch you from school on half—holidays, and often took you back again after dinner. Why, the very day when Jean was born it was he who went for the doctor. He had been breakfasting with us when your mother was taken ill. Of course we knew at once what it meant, and he set off post—haste. In his hurry he took my hat instead of his own. I remember that because we had a good laugh over it afterward. It is very likely that he may have thought of that when he was dying, and as he had no heir he may have said to himself: 'I remember helping to bring that youngster into the world, so I will leave him my savings. ' "
“那还用说！他以前每晚都来我们家。你肯定也记得，每逢放半天假的时候，他总是去学校接你，还经常在吃过晚饭后送你回学校。噢，还有，让出生的那天，是他去请的医生。你妈妈临产觉得难受的时候，他正和我们一起吃早饭。我们当然马上就知道这意味着什么，他便飞也似的跑去请了医生。忙乱中他还错戴了我的帽子。我记得这件事是因为事后我们为此还笑痛了肚皮。很可能他在临终时也想起了这些小事，又因为他没有任何继承人，他就思量着： ‘我记得那小家伙出生时我也出了一把力的，我要把我的财产留给他。’”
Mme. Roland, sunk in a deep chair, seemed lost in reminiscences once more. She murmured, as though she were thinking aloud:
罗兰太太坐在一把很深的椅子里，仿佛再次陷入了回忆中。她自言自语般地嘀咕着：
"Ah, he was a good friend, very devoted, very faithful, a rare soul in these days. "
“啊，他真是个好人，热情诚恳，在这个年代，这样的人可真不多见啊。”
Jean got up.
让站起来了。
"I shall go out for a little walk, " he said.
“我要出去散会儿步。” 他说。
His father was surprised and tried to keep him; they had much to talk about, plans to be made, decisions to be formed. But the young man insisted, declaring that he had an engagement. Besides, there would be time enough for settling everything before he came into possession of his inheritance. So he went away, for he wished to be alone to reflect. Pierre, on his part, said that he too was going out, and after a few minutes followed his brother.
他爸爸吃了一惊，想留住他。因为他们有很多事情要商量，得订些计划，做些决定。可年轻人推说他有个约会，非出去不可。何况在接受遗产之前，他们还有足够的时间把一切安排妥当。于是他走了，因为他想自己一个人仔细想想。皮埃尔说他也想出去走走，几分钟以后，他也出门了。
As soon as he was alone with his wife, father Roland took her in his arms, kissed her a dozen times on each cheek, and, replying to a reproach she had often brought against him, said:
就只剩下他夫妻俩了，罗兰老爹立即把妻子搂在怀里，在她双颊上各吻了十多下。过去，她经常责备他离开了巴黎，现在他借此机会反驳道：
"You see, my dearest, that it would have been no good to stay any longer in Paris and work for the children till I dropped, instead of coming here to recruit my health, since fortune drops on us from the skies.
“瞧瞧，亲爱的，要是我们那时继续呆在巴黎为孩子们操劳，真是毫无益处，反倒是迁到这里来以后，我的健康也好转了，还得到了天降的横财呢。”
She was quite serious.
她表情凝重。
"It drops from the skies on Jean, " she said. "But Pierre? "
“发横财的是让，” 她说， “可皮埃尔呢？”
"Pierre? But he is a doctor; he will make plenty of money; besides, his brother will surely do something for him. "
“皮埃尔？他可是个医生啊，他能赚大钱的。而且他弟弟也会帮他忙的。”
"No, he would not take it. Besides, this legacy is for Jean, only for Jean. Pierre will find himself at a great disadvantage. "
“不，他不会接受的。况且这遗产是给让一个人的，他一个人的。皮埃尔会发现自己处境很糟的。”
The old fellow seemed perplexed: "Well, then, we will leave him rather more in our will. "
老伙计似乎有点困惑不解： “那么，我们在遗嘱里多留些给他吧，我们的那份。”
"No; that again would not be quite just. "
“不行，这样做也不怎么公平。”
"Drat it all! " he exclaimed. "What do you want me to do in the matter? You always hit on a whole heap of disagreeable ideas. You must spoil all my pleasures. Well, I am going to bed. Good—night. All the same, I call it good luck, jolly good luck! "
“见鬼去吧！” 他嚷道， “你叫我怎么办呢？你总是找一堆理由来反对我的意见。你总让我扫兴。算了，我睡觉去了。晚安。不管怎样，这就是运气，真是太走运了！”
And he went off, delighted in spite of everything, and without a word of regret for the friend so generous in his death.
于是，他便高高兴兴地走了，别的一概不管，那位如此慷慨的朋友过世了，他连一句惋惜悼念话都没有说。
Mme. Roland sat thinking again in front of the lamp which was burning out.
罗兰太太坐在油灯前陷入了深思。灯油已经快要燃尽了。