博斯科姆比溪谷秘案 38水落石出(5)

Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking them off,

唔，他们就这样来到了西部农村，以后我怎么也摆脱不了他们，

and there they have lived rent free on my best land ever since.

从此以后，他就在我最好的土地上生活，租金全免。

There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness;

从此我不得安生，家无宁日，老是忘记不了过去，

turn where I would, there was his cunning¹, grinning face at my elbow.

不管我走到什么地方，他那狡诈的狞笑的面孔总是跟随着我。

It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my past than of the police.

艾丽斯长大以后情况更糟，因为他也很快就看出，我怕她知道我的过去，甚至比警察知道我的过去更怕得厉害。

Whatever he wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without question, land, money, houses,

不管他想要什么，他都非要弄到手不可，而不管是什么，我都毫不迟疑地给他，土地、金钱、房子什么都给，

until at last he asked a thing which I could not give. He asked for Alice.

直到最后他向我要一件我不能给人的东西为止。他要我的艾丽斯。

His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was known to be in weak health,

你看，他的儿子已经长大成人，我的女孩子也长大成人了，因为大家都知道我身体不好，

it seemed a fine stroke² to him that his lad should step into the whole property.

让他的小子插手于整个财产，对他来说是很得计的。

But there I was firm. I would not have his cursed³ stock⁴ mixed with mine;

但是，这件事我坚决不干。我决不同意让他那该死的血统和我们家的血统混到一块去，

not that I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was enough.

并不是我不喜欢那个小伙子，而是因为他身上有他老子的血，这就够受的了。

I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do his worst.

我坚决不答应。麦卡锡威胁我。我对他说，即使把他最毒辣的手段使出来我也不在乎。

We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to talk it over.

我们约定在我们两所房子之间那个池塘会面以便谈出个结果来。

1 cunning   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；n.狡猾，奸诈

参考例句：

• A spy used cunning means to find out secrets.间谍使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• The fox is known for its cleverness and cunning.狐狸的机敏和狡猾是人所共知的。

2 stroke   

n.笔画，击打，连续的动作，中风，心跳；vt.奉承，轻抚； vi.击打，心跳...

参考例句：

• He drove in a nail with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把钉子敲进去了。
• He broke the lock with one stroke of the hammer.他一锤就把锁砸坏了。

3 cursed   

a.可憎的，可恶的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• The necklace was cursed. 这条项链上附有会给人带来灾难的符咒。
• She cursed at one of her servants this morning. 今天早晨她大骂了一个仆人。

4 stock   

n.存货，储备；树干；血统；股份；家畜；adj.存货的；平凡的，惯用的；股票的；畜牧的；vt.进货，采购；储存；供给；vi.出新芽；进货

参考例句：

• The shop takes stock every week on Friday mornings.这家商店每星期五早晨盘点存货。
• Experts have forecast an upturn in the stock market.专家已预测股票市场价格有上升趋势。