《曾达的囚徒》第19期:城堡外的一夜(1)

10 A night outside the castle¹

10 城堡外的一夜

I wanted Duke² Michael to think that I was still very ill，so we told the newspapers that the King had had a very serious accident．

我想让迈克尔公爵以为我还十分虚弱，所以我们在报纸上说国王出了很严重的意外事故。

When Princess³ Flavia read this，she was very worried and she decided⁴ to come and see me．

当弗蕾维亚公主看到这条消息时，她非常忧虑，决定前来看我。

The Marshal⁵ could not stop her，and，although I was afraid for her，I was ex cited⁶ at the thought of seeing her again．We spent two wonderfully happy days together．

元帅阻止不了她。虽然我替她担心，但也很高兴能再见到她。我们在一起过了幸福的两天。

We had sent Johann back to the Castle of Zenda and suddenly we had a message from him．The real King was very ill．

我们派约翰回曾达的城堡去了。突然，我们得到了他传来的一个消息：真正的国王病得很重。

'I must save him，'I said to myself．'I love Flavia more each day．I can't go on like this much longer．'

“我得救他。”我对自己说，“我对弗蕾维亚的爱每天都在增加，我没法儿再这样继续下去了。”

I talked to Sapt．He agreed，so we made our plans．

我和萨普特谈了我的想法，他同意了。我们就决定了行动计划。

Late the next night，Sapt，Fritz，and I，with six more men，rode out towards the Castle of Zenda．Sapt was carrying a long rope and I had a short，thick stick and a long knife．

第二天深夜，萨普特、弗里茨和我，还有另外六个人，骑马向曾达城堡进发。萨普特带着一根长绳，我拿着一根又短又粗的棍子和一把长刀。

The night was dark，and it was wet and windy．We stayed away from the town and we met no one．When we came to the moat，we stopped near some trees and the six men hid there with the horses．Then Sapt tied the rope round one of the trees near the water．I pulled off my boots，put the stick between my teeth and gently⁷ went down the rope into the water．I was going to take a look at the pipe⁸．

夜色很黑，空气潮湿。我们绕开城市前进，没有撞上什么人。我们来到护城河的附近，在树丛里停了下来，那六个人和我们的马藏在里面。然后萨普特把绳子系在水边的树上，我脱下靴子，用牙咬着棍子，轻轻地顺着绳子下到河里，我要去看一下那根排水管。

It had been warm and bright that day，and the water was not cold．Slowly and carefully I swam round the dark walls of the castle．

那天很暖和，水也不冷。我缓慢而小心地绕着黑暗的城墙游着。

There were lights in the new buildings，and from time to time I heard people shouting and laughing．'That must be young Rupert and his friends，'I thought．

城堡的新楼里有灯光，我不时能听见人们的叫声和笑声。“这一定是年轻的鲁帕特和他的同伙们。”我想。

Suddenly a dark shape appeared in front of me．It was the pipe！The bottom⁹ of it was very wide and came out into the moat．And then I saw something which nearly made my heart stop．

突然，一个黑影子出现在我的面前，是那根排水管！它的底部非常宽，伸进护城河里。然后我见到一样东西，我的心脏都几乎停止了跳动。

It was a boat， and in the boat there was a man！His gun was beside him，but，luckily，he was asleep．As quietly as I could，I moved closer． The man still slept．

是一只船，而且船里有个人！他的枪就靠在身边。幸运的是，他睡着了。我尽量轻轻地靠近他，他还在睡。

What could I do？ I had to save the King．I took out my knife and drove¹⁰ it through the sleeping man's heart！On the other side of the castle they were still singing．

我能怎么办呢？我得救出国王。我抽出刀，刺进了他的心脏。在城堡的另一边，那些人还在唱歌。

I had very little time．Someone could come at any minute．I looked up at where the pipe went through the wall into the prison¹¹．

我的时间很紧，随时可能有人会来，我看了看排水管穿过城墙进入监狱的地方，

There was a thin line of light at the bottom edge¹²．I heard Detchard's voice，and then I heard the King reply．

在那个地方的底端有一丝光亮透了出来。我听见了戴查德的声音。

Just then the light went out，and，in the darkness，I heard the King crying．I did not call to him．

然后我听见了国王的回答。就在这时灯光灭了。在黑暗中我听到了国王的哭声。我没叫他。

I had to get away safely- and take the body of the dead watchman with me．

我必须安全地离开，而且得带上那个死去的哨兵。

I climbed into the boat and began to go back to where my friends were．No one could hear me because the wind was strong．

我爬进小船，开始往朋友们所在的地方划，没人能听见，因为风很大。

But from somewhere behind me，I heard a shout．Someone was calling to the watchman．I reached the side of the moat where Sapt and Fritz were waiting．

但从我的背后，我听见一声叫唤，有人正在叫那个哨兵。我到了河边，萨普特和弗里茨正在等我。

Quickly，I tied the rope round the man's body and Sapt and Fritz pulled it up．Then I climbed up the rope myself．

我很快地把绳子绕在那个哨兵的身上，他们把他拖了上去。然后我也顺着绳子爬了上去。

'Call our men from the trees，'I said quietly．'And hurry！'

“把我们的人叫来，”我悄声说。“要快！”

But just then，three men rode round from the front of the castle．Luckily，they did not see us，but they heard our six friends riding out of the trees，and with a shout they galloped¹³ towards them．

可就在此时，从城堡正面过来了三个骑马的人，很幸运他们没有看见我们，但他们听见了我们的六个朋友骑马从树林里出来，于是叫喊着扑向他们。

Seconds later we heard the sound of shots¹⁴ and I ran to help our men．Sapt and Fritz followed．

数秒钟后我们听见了枪声，我冲去帮助我们的人，萨普特和弗里茨紧跟着。

'Kill them！'cried a voice．It was Rupert of Hentzau．

“杀死他们！”一个声音叫着，是亨佐的鲁帕特。

'Too late！They've got both of us！'cried another voice．'Save yourself，Rupert！'

“太迟了，他们把我俩都抓住了，”另一个声音叫道：“快逃吧，鲁帕特！”

I ran on，holding my stick in my hand．Suddenly，through the darkness，I saw a horse coming towards me．I jumped at the horse's head，and saw the man's face above me．

我跑着，手里拿着棍子。突然，透过黑暗我看见一匹马向我这边冲来，我跳到了马头前，看见了我头顶上方那个人的脸。

'At last！'I shouted．'Rupert of Hentzau！'

“总算见面了！”我叫道：“亨佐的鲁帕特！”

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 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。

3 princess   

n.公主，王妃，公爵夫人

参考例句：

• The princess grew up happily.公主很快乐地长大了。
• She was the people's princess.她是人民的王妃。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 marshal   

n.元帅，总指挥，（美）执法官；vt.整理，集结

参考例句：

• The oldest general was appointed marshal of the armies.资格最老的将军被任命为军队的元帅。
• Marshal your arguments before debating.辩论前整理一下你的论点。

6 cited   

引用( cite的过去式和过去分词 )； 传唤； 记起； [军事]传（或通）令嘉奖

参考例句：

• He cited his heavy workload as the reason for his breakdown. 他说繁重的工作负荷是导致他累垮的原因。
• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat. 医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。

7 gently   

adv.轻轻的；温和的

参考例句：

• I should knock at the door gently.我应该轻轻地敲门。
• Push your chair in gently.轻轻把椅子推进去。

8 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。

9 bottom   

n.底部;屁股，臀部；adj.底部的

参考例句：

• The bottom of the cup is broken.这杯子的底破了。
• The channel must have a flat bottom.沟道的底要平。

10 drove   

vbl.驾驶，drive的过去式；n.畜群

参考例句：

• He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
• They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。

11 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。

12 edge   

n.边(缘)；刃；优势；v.侧着移动，徐徐移动

参考例句：

• Sight along the edge to see if it's straight.顺着边目测，看看直不直。
• She lived on the extreme edge of the forest.她住在森林的最边缘。

13 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

14 shots   

射手( shot的名词复数 )； 开枪； 发射； 注射

参考例句：

• The man fired several shots from his pistol. 那个男人用手枪开了几枪。
• When the shots rang out, everyone hit the deck. 就在枪声传来的时候，大伙都躺倒在地。