《曾达的囚徒》第18期:有关囚犯的消息(2)

Later Sapt brought Johann up to see me．At first Johann was afraid to speak，but then he began to talk．We asked him many questions，and finally Johann gave us the information we wanted．

过了一会儿萨普特带约翰来见我。一开始约翰不敢说话，然后他开始说了。我们问了他许多问题，最后约翰终于把我们想知道的说了出来。

In the Castle¹ of Zenda，near the drawbridge and below the ground，there were two small rooms，cut out of the rock itself．

在城堡靠近吊桥的地方，有两个地下小屋，是从岩石中凿出来的。

In the first of these rooms there were always three of the Six．At the back of this room there was a door which led into the second room．The King was in the second room．

那六个人中的三个总是在第一间小屋里呆着，屋子的尽头安着一扇门通向第二间屋子，国王就在那里面。

'If someone tries to get into the first room，two of the tnree men will fight，but Rupert of Hentzau or Detchard will run into the second room and kill the King，'Johann said．

“假如有人想进第一间屋子，那三个人中的两人就会应战，而鲁帕特或者戴查德就会冲进第二间屋子把国王杀掉。”约翰说：

'There's a small window in the second room with a large pipe² going down into the moat outside，'he went on．

“第二间屋子里有一个小窗子，一根大排水管穿过窗户通往外面的护城河。”他接着说，

'You can get a man inside it，and they'll tie a heavy stone to the King's body and push it down the pipe．

“排水管能容纳下一个人。他们会在国王身上绑上一块很重的石头，然后把他推下排水管。

The body will go down and disappear³ under the water，and the murderers⁴ will then go down the pipe themselves，and swim across the moat．'

尸体掉下去，消失在水下，然后杀人犯们也会顺着排水管下来，再游泳穿过护城河。”

'And if I bring an army to the castle？'I asked．

“假如我带领一支军队去攻打城堡呢？”我问。

'Duke⁵ Michael will still murder the King，'replied Johann．'He won't fight．He'll kill the King and push his body down the pipe．

“迈克尔公爵仍然会杀了国王，”约翰说。“他不会跟你硬打的。他会把国王杀了，推下排水管，

And he'll put one of the Six in the prison⁶．He'll say the man had done something to make him angry．That will stop the stories about a prisoner⁷ in Zenda．'

然后把那六个家伙中的一个关进监狱。他会说那个家伙做了让他生气的事儿。这样就可以制止人们关于曾达有个囚徒的传言。”

Johann stopped for a minute，but then he added，'If they know I've told you this，they'll kill me．They're all bad，but Rupert of Hentzau is the worst．Don't let them kill me…'

约翰停了一会儿，又说：“如果他们知道我告诉了你们这个，他们会杀了我。他们都很坏，可是最坏的是鲁帕特。别让他们杀了我……”

'All right，'I said．'But if anyone asks you who the prisoner of Zenda is，don't tell him． If you do，I'll kill you myself！'

“好吧！”我说，“但如果有人问你曾达的囚徒是谁，你别说出来，不然的话我会杀了你！”

Johann left the room and I looked at Sapt．

约翰离开了房间。我望着萨普特。

'It doesn't matter what plan we make，'I said．'The King will be dead before we can get to him！'

“我们订什么计划都无关紧要了。”我说，“还没等我们到国王身边他就已经死了。”

Sapt shook his grey head angrily．'You'll still be King of Ruritania in a year's time．'

萨普特愤怒地摇着他灰白的脑袋：“一年之内你照样还是卢里塔尼亚的国王。”

'Perhaps one of the Duke's men will turn against him…'I began．

“也许公爵的人里面会有一个起来反叛他……”我说。

'Impossible，'replied Sapt．

“不可能。”萨普特回答。

'Then we need the help of God，'I said．

“那我们就需要上帝来帮忙了。”我回答。

1 castle   

n.城堡，象棋中的车；vt.置于城堡中，筑城堡防御

参考例句：

• We had to give up the castle.我们不得不放弃这座城堡了。
• He took a photograph of the castle.他拍了一张这个城堡的照片。

2 pipe   

n.管，导管，输送管，管状器官，声带，烟斗，笛，管乐器&vt.以管输送

参考例句：

• The pipe has been stopped up already.管子已完全堵住了。
• The pipe carries water.这管子是送水用的。

3 disappear   

vi.消失，不见了

参考例句：

• How can people suddenly disappear?为何人会突然消失？
• The snow will soon disappear when the warm weather comes.天气变暖时，雪很快就会融化。

4 murderers   

n.谋杀犯，凶手( murderer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The murderers lurked behind the trees. 谋杀者埋伏在树后。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hollywood films misrepresented us as drunks, maniacs and murderers. 好莱坞电影把我们歪曲成酒鬼、疯子和杀人凶手。 来自辞典例句

5 duke   

n.公爵

参考例句：

• His grandfather was a royal duke.他的祖父是王室公爵。
• The duke was the king's most trusted adviser.公爵是国王最信赖的顾问。

6 prison   

n.监狱(禁)；拘留所

参考例句：

• They put him in a prison.他们将他逮捕入狱。
• If you go on like this you will be put into prison. 你这样下去会进监狱的。

7 prisoner   

n.俘虏，囚犯，被监禁的人

参考例句：

• The soldier reported that a prisoner was at large.士兵报告说一名囚犯在逃。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。