第一章

WHEN Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one told him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted. Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious honour, had felt it his duty to mention the fact to Mr. Otis when they came to discuss terms.

当美国公使海勒姆•B. 奥蒂斯先生买下了坎特维尔庄园时，每个人都跟他说他做了一件愚蠢的事，因为毫无疑问，那里会闹鬼！坎特维尔勋爵本身是一个一丝不苟的人，甚至他自己都觉得有义务在商议价钱时告诉奥蒂斯先生这件事。

'We have not cared to live in the place ourselves, ' said Lord Canterville, 'since my grandaunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a fit, from which she never really recovered, by two skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner, and I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. Augustus Dampier, who is a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. After the unfortunate accident to the Duchess, none of our younger servants would stay with us, and Lady Canterville often got very little sleep at night, in consequence of the mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library. '

“我们自己都不愿意住在这里，” 坎特维尔勋爵说， “因为有一次我的姑婆博尔顿老公爵夫人在用餐前准备更衣时，有两只骷髅手搭在了她的肩膀上，她吓得昏了过去，一直都没有从惊吓中完全恢复过来。而且我觉得有必要告诉你，奥蒂斯先生，我们好几个仍在世的家族成员都目睹过这个鬼，连那个教区的牧师、剑桥大学国王学院尊敬的奥古斯塔斯•丹皮尔研究员也曾看到过它。” 在公爵夫人发生那次不幸的意外之后，再没有一个年轻的佣人愿意服侍我们。晚上，坎特维尔夫人经常听见走廊和书房传来怪声，因而睡眠严重不足。

'My Lord, ' answered the Minister, 'I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. I come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actresses and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we'd have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show. '

“阁下，” 公使回答道， “我会把家具连同这个鬼一起估价的。我来自一个现代化的国家，在那里，用钱能买到的所有东西我们都有。活力充沛的年轻人给旧世界改头换面，并且挖走你们顶尖的女演员和首席女歌手。我认为如果在欧洲真的存在鬼魂，那么我们必将迅速把它弄到国内的公共博物馆，或向公众巡回展出。”

'I fear that the ghost exists, ' said Lord Canterville, smiling, 't hough it may have resisted the overtures of your enterprising impresarios. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584in fact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of our family. '

“我恐怕那鬼魂真的存在，” 坎特维尔勋爵微笑着说， “不过它可能会拒绝您那些雄心勃勃的剧团经理们的提议。事实上，它从三世纪前的1584年开始就广为人知了。每当我们家族有人即将离世时，它都会出现。”

'Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy. '

“哦，那他就和家庭医生一样喽，坎特维尔勋爵。但是没有鬼魂这回事，先生。而且我想自然法则不会为了英国贵族破例。”

'You are certainly very natural in America, ' answered Lord Canterville, who did not quite understand Mr. Otis's last observation, 'and if you don't mind a ghost in the house, it is all right. Only you must remember I warned you. '

“你们美国肯定很崇尚自然。” 坎特维尔勋爵回答道，他不太明白奥蒂斯先生最后一句话的意思， “如果你不介意这间房子闹鬼的话，那就这样吧。只是你要记得我警告过你。”

A few weeks after this, the purchase was completed, and at the close of the season the Minister and his family went down to Canterville Chase. Mrs. Otis, who, as Miss Lucretia R. Tappan, of West 53rd Street, had been a celebrated New York belle, was now a very handsome, middle-aged woman, with fine eyes, and a superb profile. Many American ladies on leaving their native land adopt an appearance of chronic ill-health, under the impression that it is a form of European refinement, but Mrs. Otis had never fallen into this error. She had a magnificent constitution, and a really wonderful amount of animal spirits. Indeed, in many respects, she was quite English, and was an excellent example of the fact that we have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language. Her eldest son, christened Washington by his parents in a moment of patriotism, which he never ceased to regret, was a fair-haired, rather good-looking young man, who had qualified himself for American diplomacy by leading the German at the Newport Casino for three successive seasons, and even in London was well known as an excellent dancer. Gardenias and the peerage were his only weaknesses. Otherwise he was extremely sensible. Miss Virginia E. Otis was a little girl of fifteen, lithe and lovely as a fawn, and with a fine freedom in her large blue eyes. She was a wonderful amazon, and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony twice round the park, winning by a length and a half, just in front of the Achilles statue, to the huge delight of the young Duke of Cheshire, who proposed for her on the spot, and was sent back to Eton that very night by his guardians, in floods of tears. After Virginia came the twins, who were usually called 'The Stars and Stripes, ' as they were always getting swished. They were delightful boys, and with the exception of the worthy Minister the only true republicans of the family.

几周后，交易完成了。季末的时候，公使和他的家人就搬进了坎特维尔庄园。奥蒂斯太太，即柳克丽霞•R. 塔潘小姐，曾是住在西五十三街的纽约名媛。如今她是个十分迷人的中年妇人，美目明眸、身姿出众。许多美国女士一旦离开自己的国土，就会装出一副患有慢性病的样子，以为在欧洲这就是优雅高贵。但是奥蒂斯太太从未犯过这种错误。她体质极佳，而且精力旺盛。事实上，在许多方面，她都表现得像一个英国人。这是一个很好的例子，说明现在我们与美国除语言之外，其他并没什么不同。她的长子叫华盛顿，父母在一时的爱国情怀下所取的名字一直让他很是惆怅。这位英俊的金发少年证明自己有能力在纽波特娱乐场连续三季领跳德国交际舞，就算在伦敦，也因善于舞蹈而闻名，单凭这一点，他就有资格在美国的外交界发展。对栀子花和贵族头衔的渴望是他唯一的缺点。在其他方面他则极为明智。弗吉尼亚•E. 奥蒂斯小姐，是一个十五岁的少女，和小鹿一样灵巧可爱，长着一对漂亮直率的蓝色大眼睛。她很善于骑马。有一次，她与比尔顿老爵士围着公园赛马两圈，她的小马到达阿喀琉斯神像的时候，赢了一个半的马身，柴郡小公爵欣喜万分，当场向她求婚。他的监护人发现后当晚就把他送回了伊顿公学，弄得他泣不成声。比弗吉尼亚小的是对双胞胎，因为他们总是挨打，常被称作 “星星和条纹” 。两个男孩很讨人喜欢，而且是除了尊敬的公使之外，家中唯一货真价实的共和党人。

As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot, the nearest railway station, Mr. Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them, and they started on their drive in high spirits. It was a lovely July evening, and the air was delicate with the scent of the pine-woods. Now and then they heard a wood pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the rustling fern, the burnished breast of the pheasant. Little squirrels peered at them from the beech-trees as they went by, and the rabbits scudded away through the brushwood and over the mossy knolls, with their white tails in the air. As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase, however, the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds, a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads, and, before they reached the house, some big drops of rain had fallen.

因为坎特维尔庄园距离最近的阿斯科特车站大约七英里，所以奥蒂斯先生用电报叫了一辆马车来接。公使一家兴高采烈地开始了他们的旅程。那是七月一个迷人的夜晚，空气中弥漫着松木的香味。他们不时地听到旅鸽沉醉于自己甜美的歌声，或者会在沙沙作响的蕨类植物丛的深处看到雉鸡胸前明亮的羽毛。他们经过的时候，小松鼠们在山毛榉树上盯着他们看；兔子从灌木丛中飞快地穿过，跑过长满苔藓的小丘，白色的尾巴在空中闪过。然而当他们走到坎特维尔庄园的大道时，天空突然布满乌云，一种奇异的静谧笼罩着四周，一大群秃鼻乌鸦无声地飞过他们的头顶。他们还没进屋，就已经落下了大大的雨点。

Standing on the steps to receive them was an old woman, neatly dressed in black silk, with a white cap and apron. This was Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper, whom Mrs. Otis, at Lady Canterville's earnest request, had consented to keep on in her former position. She made them each a low curtsey as they alighted, and said in a quaint, old-fashioned manner, 'I bid you welcome to Canterville Chase. ' Following her, they passed through the fine Tudor hall into the library, a long, low room, panelled in black oak, at the end of which was a large stained-glass window. Here they found tea laid out for them, and, after taking off their wraps, they sat down and began to look round, while Mrs. Umney waited on them.

一位老太太站在楼梯上迎接他们。她穿着整洁的黑色丝绸衣服、戴着白色的帽子、围着围裙。这位厄姆尼太太是庄园的女管家。奥蒂斯太太在坎特维尔夫人诚恳的请求之下同意继续聘用这个管家。每个人下马车时，她都会向他们深深地行屈膝礼，并用古怪过时的方式说： “我向你们来到坎特维尔庄园致欢迎之意。” 他们跟随着她，穿过华丽的都铎时代风格的大厅，来到书房。书房是一个又长又低的房间，四周的墙都镶着黑橡木板，房间的尽头有一大扇彩色玻璃窗。在这里，他们发现已经有人为他们准备好了茶。他们脱掉外套之后坐了下来，开始环顾四周。厄姆尼太太则在一旁服侍。

Suddenly Mrs. Otis caught sight of a dull red stain on the floor just by the fireplace and, quite unconscious of what it really signified, said to Mrs. Umney, 'I am afraid something has been spilt there. '

突然，奥蒂斯太太看到壁炉旁的地上有一个暗红色的斑点。她一点都没意识到这斑点意味着什么，便对厄姆尼太太说： “我觉得有什么东西洒在那儿了。”

'Yes, madam, ' replied the old housekeeper in a low voice, 'blood has been spilt on that spot. '

“是的，夫人，” 老管家用低沉的声音回答道， “那儿溅上了血迹。”

'How horrid, ' cried Mrs. Otis; 'I don't at all care for blood-stains in a sitting-room. It must be removed at once. '

“真恐怖！” 奥蒂斯太太叫道， “我一点也不喜欢客厅里有血迹。一定要马上擦掉。”

The old woman smiled, and answered in the same low, mysterious voice, 'It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered on that very spot by her own husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575. Sir Simon survived her nine years, and disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances. His body has never been discovered, but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase. The blood-stain has been much admired by tourists and others, and cannot be removed. '

老管家微笑着，用同样低沉神秘的声音回答说：这是坎特维尔的伊利诺夫人的血。1575年，她就是在这里被自己的丈夫坎特维尔西蒙爵士杀死的。在她去世九年后，西蒙爵士突然神秘地消失。至今都未找到他的尸体，但他罪恶的鬼魂仍出没在庄园里。包括游客等人在内的很多人都对这血迹感兴趣，但这血迹怎么都去不掉。

'That is all nonsense, ' cried Washington Otis; 'Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent will clean it up in no time, ' and before the terrified housekeeper could interfere he had fallen upon his knees, and was rapidly scouring the floor with a small stick of what looked like a black cosmetic. In a few moments no trace of the blood-stain could be seen.

“完全是胡说八道，” 华盛顿•奥蒂斯喊道， “平克顿的冠军牌去渍液和帕拉根牌的清洁剂可以立即把它清洗掉。” 受惊的老管家还没来得及阻止，他已经跪下来，用一小支类似黑色化妆品的东西迅速地擦拭着地板。没过一会儿，血迹消失了。

'I knew Pinkerton would do it, ' he exclaimed triumphantly, as he looked round at his admiring family; but no sooner had he said these words than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the sombre room, a fearful peal of thunder made them all start to their feet, and Mrs. Umney fainted.

“我就知道平克顿可以把它擦掉。” 他一边得意洋洋地喊道，一边看着对他满是赞赏的家人。但是，他话音刚落，一道可怕的闪电一下子就照亮了这个昏暗的房间，可怕的雷鸣把大家吓得都站了起来，厄姆尼夫人更是晕了过去。

'What a monstrous climate! ' said the American Minister calmly, as he lit a long cheroot. 'I guess the old country is so overpopulated that they have not enough decent weather for everybody. I have always been of opinion that emigration is the only thing for England. '

“多么古怪的天气啊！” 美国公使在点一支长方头雪茄时镇定地说道。 “我想这古老的国家人口实在太多了，没有足够的好天气用来分给每个人！我一直都认为，在英国唯一的出路就是移民了。”

'My dear Hiram, ' cried Mrs. Otis, 'what can we do with a woman who faints? '

“亲爱的海勒姆，” 奥蒂斯太太说， “这个女人晕倒了，我们该怎么办呢？”

'Charge it to her like breakages, ' answered the Minister; 'she won't faint after that'; and in a few moments Mrs. Umney certainly came to. There was no doubt, however, that she was extremely upset, and she sternly warned Mr. Otis to beware of some trouble coming to the house.

“和打破东西一样扣她工钱，” 外交公使回答说， “这样她就不会再晕倒了。” 果然，几分钟后，厄姆尼太太醒了过来。不过，毫无疑问，她极其不安，严肃地警告奥蒂斯先生要小心将有麻烦降临到这所房子上。

'I have seen things with my own eyes, sir, ' she said, 't hat would make any Christian's hair stand on end, and many and many a night I have not closed my eyes in sleep for the awful things that are done here. 'Mr. Otis, however, and his wife warmly assured the honest soul that they were not afraid of ghosts, and, after invoking the blessings of Providence on her new master and mistress, and making arrangements for an increase of salary, the old housekeeper tottered off to her own room.

“我亲眼目睹了许多事，先生，” 她说， “任何基督徒见了都会毛发直竖的事。很多很多个夜晚，我都因为在这发生的那些可怕的事而不能合眼。” 不过，奥蒂斯先生和他的妻子亲切地安抚这老实人，说他们不怕鬼。老管家只能替新主人祈求上天保佑，和奥蒂斯夫妇商量了一下加薪的事宜，然后蹒跚地走回自己的房间。