《曾达的囚徒》第23期:囚徒与国王(2)（在线收听）

Wildly，I searched his body for the keys．I found them，and in a minute I was in the first room，where Bersonin and Detchard were．

我疯了一样在他身上搜寻钥匙，我找到了。一瞬间我已经冲进了第一间屋子，

But there was only Bersonin in the room．Before he had time to realize that I was there，I had killed him．

伯索宁和戴查德呆着的那间屋子，但房间里只有伯索宁。还没等他明白过来我已经杀死了他。

Detchard had run into the King's room and locked the door behind him．I ran at it to break it down．But would I be in time？Was the King already dead？

戴查德已经冲进了国王的房间，并从里面锁上了门。我冲上去砸开门。我还来得及吗？国王是不是已经死了？

The King was standing helplessly by the wall．But the doctor was also in the room and the brave little man had thrown himself at Detchard．

国王正无助地站在墙边，那位医生也在里面，这个勇敢的小个子扑向戴查德，

He gave his life for the King，because，as I entered，Detchard pulled himself free and drove his sword into the doctor's side．

他为国王献出了自己的生命。等我冲进去时，戴查德已经挣脱出来，

Then，with an angry shout，Detchard turned to me．

并将剑刺进医生的肋部，然后他怒喊一声转向我。

We fought long and hard．Detchard was an excellent swords-man，and I was growing tired．

我们打了很久，非常激烈。戴查德是位优秀的剑客，而我却越来越疲惫，

He drove me back against the wall，gave me a deep cut in the arm，and began to smile．In a second he would kill me．

他逼得我退到了墙边，在我的胳膊上深深地刺了一剑，然后开始微笑。很快他就能杀死我了。

Suddenly，the King realized who I was．

突然，国王认出了我是谁。

'Cousin Rudolf！'he cried．Then he picked up a chair and threw it at Detchard's legs．The Englishman，jumping to one side，turned his sword against the King，and with a cry the King fell to the ground．

“鲁道夫表弟！”他叫道。随即抄起一张椅子扔向戴查德的腿。那个英国人跳到了一边，将手里的剑刺向国王。国王叫了一声倒在地上。

Detchard moved towards me again，stepped in the doctor's blood on the floor-and fell to the ground himself．I had him！A second later his body lay across the dead doctor．

戴查德又转身向我。可这时他踩上了地板上医生的鲜血，自己倒在了地上。我赢了！片刻之间他的尸体就倒在死去的医生身上了。

But was the King dead？I had no time to find out，because just then I heard the noise of the drawbridge coming down．

国王死了吗？我没时间去理会，因为就在此时我听到了吊桥放下的声音，

And that wild-cat Rupert of Hentzau was still alive．The King must wait for help while I fought his enemies．

而且那个如豹子般凶猛的鲁帕特还活着，国王只好等人来帮他的忙，我得去打败他的敌人。

I ran out of the room and up the steps towards the drawbridge．And then I heard the sound of laughter-Rupert of Hentzau was laughing！

我冲出房间，跑上通往吊桥的台阶。然后我听见了笑声——鲁帕特在笑！

He was standing alone in the middle of the bridge．In the gateway on the far side stood a group of the Duke's men．They seemed too frightened to move．

他一个人站在吊桥中间，远处桥头城门那儿站着一群公爵的人，他们看上去太害怕了，动弹不得。

'Come out，Michael，you dog！' Rupert shouted．

“出来，迈克尔，你这条狗！”鲁帕特叫道。

But a woman's wild cry answered him．'He's dead！He's dead！'

可是一个女人的狂叫回答了他：“他死了！他死了！”

The men in the gateway moved to one side and a woman came forward．Her face was as white as her long dress，and her dark hair lay over her shoulders．

城门旁的人挪向一旁，一个女人朝前走来，她的脸像她的长裙子一样白，她的黑头发披散在肩头，

In her hand she held a gun． The shot rang out，but she missed．Rupert laughed．Again An-toinette de Mauban faced him，her gun ready．

她手里端着一支枪，枪响了，但她没打中。鲁帕特笑了，安冬纳特又一次面向他，子弹上了镗，

But，before she could shoot，Rupert jumped over the side of the bridge， and down into the moat below．

但在她开枪之前，鲁帕特越过桥边，跳进了下面的护城河。

At that moment I heard the sound of running feet inside the new castle- and the welcome voice of my old friend，Captain Sapt！

就在此时我听见了新城堡中有人奔跑的声响——还有我的老朋友萨普特上尉高兴的声音。

Then I knew that the King was safe and needed me no more．I ran out on to the bridge and jumped down into the moat．I had business to finish with Rupert of Hentzau．

我知道国王还活着，而且再也不需要我了。我冲过吊桥，也跳进了护城河。我跟鲁帕特还有账没算完。

I swam hard and caught up with him round the corner of the old castle．He had found my rope，climbed out of the moat， and was already running towards the trees where I had left my horse．

我拼命游着，在老城堡边上追上了他。他发现了我的绳子，爬出了护城河，正要跑向那片树林。树林里还有我的马。

I ran after him as fast as I could．He turned and saw me，and called out，laughing，'Why，it's the play-actor！'

我尽全力追赶。他回身看见了我，笑着喊道：“嘿，是那位演员！”

But then，with a cry of surprise，he found my horse，and in a minute he was on its back．

可就在此时，他惊喜地叫了一声，他看见了我的马，刹那间他已骑在马背上了。

'Get down！'I shouted．'Stand and fight，like a man！'

“下来！”我叫道：“站着跟我打，像条汉子！”

He turned，waiting for me，and I ran at him with my sword．For a few minutes we fought wildly．

他转过身来，等着我。我握着剑冲过去，一转眼我们就疯了似地打在一起了。

Blood ran from his face where I had cut it，but I had fought too many fights that night．He would surely kill me now．

他的脸上被我刺伤的地方血流了出来。但我那天晚上已经厮杀了好多次，现在他肯定会杀了我。

I was saved by Fritz，who came galloping round the castle to find me．When Rupert saw him coming，he knew he had no chance．

是弗里茨救了我。他骑马绕着城堡找我。当鲁帕特见他过来时，就明白没有机会了。

'Goodbye，Rudolf Rassendyll！'he called．'We'll meet again！'

“再见，鲁道夫·拉森狄尔！”他说：“我们会再见面的！”

And he rode away into the forest，laughing and singing…and still alive．

然后他骑马跑进了树林，一边笑一边唱……他还活着。

I fell to the ground．Blood was running again from the cut in my arm，and I could not stand．Fritz jumped down from his horse and lifted me in his arms．

我倒在地上，血又从我胳膊上的伤口流出来，我站不住了。弗里茨跳下马抱起我。

'Dear friend！'he said．'Thank God I've found you！ When Johann did not come，we had to break down the castle door．We were afraid we would be too late．'

“亲爱的朋友！”他说：“感谢上帝我找到了你！约翰没来开门，我们只好砸开城堡的门。我们真担心太迟了。”

'And the King…？'I said．

“国王呢？”我问。

'Thanks to a very brave Englishman，'Fritz said gently，'the King is alive．'

“多亏了一位勇敢的英国人，”弗里茨轻柔地说，“国王还活着。”