雙語小說連載:《董貝父子》第9章 Part 5

Mr Brogley himself was a moist-eyed, pink-complexioned, crisp-haired man, of a bulky figure and an easy temper - for that class of Caius Marius who sits upon the ruins of other people's Carthages, can keep up his spirits well enough. He had looked in at Solomon's shop sometimes, to ask a question about articles in Solomon's way of business; and Walter knew him sufficiently to give him good day when they met in the street. But as that was the extent of the broker's acquaintance with Solomon Gills also, Walter was not a little surprised when he came back in the course of the forenoon, agreeably to his promise, to find Mr Brogley sitting in the back parlour with his hands in his pockets, and his hat hanging up behind the door.
布羅格利先生本人的眼睛經常是水汪汪的，臉孔是粉紅色的，頭髮捲曲，塊頭很大，性格隨和——因爲凱烏斯·馬略這樣一類人是能夠精神振作地坐在其他民族的迦太基的廢墟上的①。他有時曾順道到所羅門的店裏來看看，問一問所羅門所經營的儀器方面的問題；沃爾特跟他熟了，在街上遇見時總要向他寒暄問好，然而這位經紀人與所羅門·吉爾斯也僅僅熟悉到這樣的程度罷了，所以當沃爾特那天午前信守諾言，回到家中，看見布羅格利先生坐在後客廳裏，雙手插在衣袋中，帽子掛在門後的時候，感到相當驚奇。
'Well, Uncle Sol!' said Walter. The old man was sitting ruefully on the opposite side of the table, with his spectacles over his eyes, for a wonder, instead of on his forehead. 'How are you now?'
“唔，所爾舅舅！”沃爾特說道。那老人正沮喪地坐在桌子的另一邊，眼鏡居然很難得地戴在眼睛前面，而不是架在前額上。“你現在好嗎？”
Solomon shook his head, and waved one hand towards the broker, as introducing him.
所羅門搖搖頭，一隻手向經紀人揮了揮，作爲介紹他。
'Is there anything the matter?' asked Walter, with a catching in his breath.
“發生什麼事情了嗎？”沃爾特屏息地問道。
'No, no. There's nothing the matter, said Mr Brogley. 'Don't let it put you out of the way.' Walter looked from the broker to his Uncle in mute amazement. 'The fact is,' said Mr Brogley, 'there's a little payment on a bond debt - three hundred and seventy odd, overdue: and I'm in possession.'
“沒有，沒有，沒有發生什麼事情，”布羅格利先生說道。“您別爲這憂慮。”沃爾特沉默而驚奇地把眼光從經紀人身上轉移到他舅舅身上。“事情是，”布羅格利先生說道，“這裏有一張沒有支付的票據。三百七十多鎊，已經過期了。現在票據在我手裏。”
'In possession!' cried Walter, looking round at the shop.
“在您手裏！”沃爾特往店鋪裏環視了一下，喊道。
'Ah!' said Mr Brogley, in confidential assent, and nodding his head as if he would urge the advisability of their all being comfortable together. 'It's an execution. That's what it is. Don't let it put you out of the way. I come myself, because of keeping it quiet and sociable. You know me. It's quite private.'
“是的，”布羅格利先生用一種講機密話的語氣說道，同時點點頭，彷彿他想勸告大家，每個人都應當覺得自己很好。“這是執行一件該辦的事。事情僅僅如此而已。你別爲這憂慮。我親自到這裏來，是因爲我想悄悄地、和和氣氣地把這件事情了結了。您知道我，完全是私下的，一點也沒有聲張。”
'Uncle Sol!' faltered Walter.
“所爾舅舅！”沃爾特結結巴巴地說道。
'Wally, my boy,' returned his uncle. 'It's the first time. Such a calamity never happened to me before. I'm an old man to begin.' Pushing up his spectacles again (for they were useless any longer to conceal his emotion), he covered his face with his hand, and sobbed aloud, and his tears fell down upon his coffee-coloured waistcoat.
“沃利，我的孩子，”他的舅舅回答道。“這是第一次。我從前從沒有遇到過這樣的不幸。我太老了，沒法從頭開始了。”他把眼鏡又推到額上去（因爲它已不能再掩蓋他的情緒了），用一隻手捂住臉孔，大聲抽泣着，眼淚掉落在他的咖啡色的背心上。
'Uncle Sol! Pray! oh don't!' exclaimed Walter, who really felt a thrill of terror in seeing the old man weep. 'For God's sake don't do that. Mr Brogley, what shall I do?'
“所爾舅舅！啊！請別這樣！”沃爾特高聲喊道；他看到老人哭泣，確實感到一陣恐怖。“看在上帝的分上，別這樣！ -------- ①凱烏斯·馬略（CaiusMarius，公元前157—86年），曾七次當選爲古羅馬的執政官，他指揮非洲的戰爭時，勇猛頑強，用兵如神。公元前88年，他被迫逃出羅馬，歷經艱險，逃到非洲，曾在迦太基的廢墟中避難。迦太基（Carthage）爲古代著名大城市之一，相傳爲腓尼基人於公元前814年所建，今爲突尼斯市郊區。