Herbert Blamyre was trusted one day with the urgent task of carrying two boxes of gold from London to Naples On the way he came to know Levison and Major Baxter Who were the two men Was Herbert able to fulfill the task Please read the following story for the answers
有一天,赫伯特·布兰爱尔接到紧急命令,要他将两箱黄金从伦敦运到那不勒斯。途中,他认识了利维森和伯斯特少校。这两个人是谁?赫伯特能不能完成使命?请阅读下面的故事。
My name is Herbert Blamyre I live with my wife, Minnie, in a little house to the south of London We had only been married for a month, and had returned from a holiday in Ireland I was a junior partner in a bank in Lombard Street, and had four more days of holiday left Minnie and I were sitting in the garden, when the maid brought the telegram which was to start my adventures
我的名字叫赫伯特·布兰爱尔,是伦巴第街一家银行的小股东。一个月前,我和美妮喜结良缘,并双双到爱尔兰度蜜月。假期结束前四天,我们回到我们在伦敦南部的小屋。有一天,我和美妮正在花园里闲坐时,女佣送来一封电报。紧接着,我就开始了一连串的探险。
The telegram was from my partner, Mr Schwarzmoor It said, "We want you to start for Italy at once on important business No delay Be at office by 630 Start from London Bridge by 915, and catch Dover night boat" "Herbert, dear, you won't go, you mustn't go," said Minnie "Please, don't go!" "I must, my dear," I said "The Bank has no one to send but me I shall not be gone for long I must start in ten minutes, and catch the next train"
电报是我的合伙人斯瓦茨莫尔先生打来的,内容是:“我们要你马上动身前往意大利接洽一宗重要的生意,不能拖延。请在六时三十分到办公室来,并在九时十五分从伦敦桥出发,赶前往多佛的夜班船。”“赫伯特,亲爱的,你不要去。求你,别去了,”美妮央求着说。“亲爱的,我不能不去。银行里除了我之外,没有合适的人好派。我不会去很久的。我得在十分钟之内出发,赶下一班火车。”
Mr Schwarzmoor met me when at last I reached the bank "I hope your wife is well," he said "I am sorry to have to ask you to miss some of your holiday, but there was nothing I could do about it We need you to take some gold to Naples Here it is," and he pointed to two large boxes "The boxes are made of iron, but we have covered them with leather, so that they look like samples They are fastened with letter-locks, and contain a quarter of a million pounds in gold You must take the money to Pagliavicini and Rossi, No 172 Toledo, Naples The king of Naples expects that there will be a war, and he needs the money to buy guns The names that open the locks are ‘Masinisa', for the one with the white star on the cover, and ‘Cotopaxo' for the one with the black star You must not forget these two words Open the boxes at Lyons to make sure all is well Talk to no one Do not make any friends on the way"
我好不容易到了银行,斯瓦茨莫尔先生正在那里等我。他一见到我就说:“您太太还好吧。非常抱歉,不能让你好好享受假期,这实在没办法。我们需要你把这些黄金带到那不勒斯去。”他指着两个大箱子对我说:“这些箱子是铁制的。我们在外面包了皮革,这样,别人会以为这只是两个样品箱。两个箱子都装了密码锁。里面有价值二十五万镑的黄金。你必须把这些黄金带到柏莱米西尼与罗斯银行,它在那不勒斯,托莱多街,一百七十二号。那不勒斯国王认为可能会爆发战争,所以急需这笔钱购买枪械。你必须牢牢记住,外皮印有一颗白颜色星星的那个铁箱的密码是“玛西尼沙”,另外那个印着黑色星星的是“科杜帕索”。到里昂后把箱子打开,看看一切是否完好。记住,一路上不要跟别人交谈,也不要结交任何朋友。”
"I shall pretend to be a traveling salesman," I said "Please be careful, Blamyre You have a dangerous journey ahead of you Do you have a gun" I opened my coat, and showed a special belt with a gun in it "Good," said Mr Schwarzmoor "I hope you do not need to use it You will stop in Paris tomorrow I have some letters for you to give to Lefebre and Desjeans, and you will go on to Marseilles by the night train You catch the boat on Friday We will send you a telegram at Marseilles Are the letters for Paris ready, Mr Hargrave" "Yes, sir, nearly ready Mr Wilkins is working on them now" I reached Dover before midnight, and at once got four porters to carry my chests down the stone steps leading to the Calais boat The first was taken safely onto the boat, but while the second was being carried down, one of the men slipped He would have fallen into the water, but he was caught by a large man who, with his wife, was just in front of me "Steady, my man," he said "Why, what have you got there" "Don't know, sir," replied the porter "I only know it's heavy enough to break a man's back"
“我会假扮成一个旅行推销员,”我说。“布兰爱尔,摆在你面前的是一次艰险的旅程,你千万要小心。身上带枪了吗?”我解开衣扣,露出那条特制的枪带,我的左轮手枪就插在上面。斯瓦茨莫尔先生点点头,说道:“很好。不过我希望你一路上用不上它。明天你先在巴黎上岸,我有些信件请你转交给里弗柏尔和狄金斯,然后你再继续搭夜班的火车到马赛去,这样你就能赶上星期五的那班船。到时我们会发电报到马赛跟你联系。哈克雷弗先生,巴黎的信件准备好了吗?”“快要好了,威尔金斯先生正在准备。”我在午夜之前抵达多佛。船一靠岸,我就雇了四个挑夫,帮我把箱子从石级上扛下来,放到一艘去加莱的船上。第一个箱子很顺利地搬上去了,但是,挑夫们搬第二个箱子时,其中一个人突然滑了一下,眼看就要落进水里。这时,我前面一位带着太太的大个子男人扶住了他。“兄弟,稳一点!怎么了”他对那个挑夫说。“我也不知道是怎么回事,只觉得这个箱子实在太重,我的背都快压断了。”
"These steps cause a lot of trouble when bringing down heavy goods," said a voice behind me "I see, from your luggage, that we may be in the same business" I looked round as we stepped on board The man who had spoken to me was tall and thin He had a rather large nose, and a long thin face He wore an overcoat which was too small for him, a flowered waistcoat, tight trousers, a high shirt collar and a stiff neckcloth I replied that I was a traveling salesman, and that I thought we might be going to have a rough journey across to France "Yes, a very dirty night," he said "I advise you to find your bed at once The boat, I see, is very crowded"
这时,我背后突然有人开口说:“每次搬运重物,这些石级总要添不少麻烦。从你这些行李看,我猜我们应该是同行。”我一面走上岸,一面回头望去,发现刚才跟我讲话的是个又高又瘦的男子。他瘦长的脸,大大的鼻子,身上的大衣显得过于瘦小,穿着碎花背心,紧身长裤,高领衬衫,打着硬邦邦的领巾。我告诉他,我是个旅行推销员,又说这次横跨海峡的法国之行可能会不太顺利。“是啊,今晚天气可够糟的,”他回答说:“我劝你还是快点找到床位。这艘船实在太拥挤了。”
I went straight to my bed, and lay down for an hour At the end of that time I got up and looked around me At one of the small tables sat six of the passengers, among them the two I had already met They were talking and drinking, and I went over to join them The large man was a Major Baxter, who had been in India for some years The other was a Mr Levison "It's getting very hot down here," said the Major "Why don't we three go up on deck and get some fresh air My wife is always ill on these crossings We won't see her again until the boat stops" When we got on deck, I saw, to my great surprise, four other boxes exactly like mine I could hardly believe my eyes, but there they were, leather covers, letter-locks and all
我直接上了床,躺了一个钟头,然后起身四处看了一下。只见一张小桌旁坐着六个乘客,当中有两个我已经碰过面了。他们一面聊天一面喝酒,我便走过去加入他们的谈话。那个高大的男人是伯斯特少校,曾经在印度住过几年,另外一个是利维森先生。“这里越来越闷了,”那位少校提议道:“我们三个干嘛不到甲板上,呼吸一下新鲜空气呢?我太太总晕船,所以船靠岸前她不会过来的。”我们来到甲板上。我吃惊地看到,有四个箱子摆在那儿,和我的铁箱一模一样。我几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛,但它们的的确确就摆在那儿:皮革箱面,密码锁,还有其他的一切,简直象极了。
"Those are mine, sir," said Mr Levison "I am traveling for the House of Mackintosh Those cases contain waterproof overcoats, the best make in the world We have used these cases for many years It is sometimes difficult, this accidental resemblance of luggage It sometimes leads to mistakes However, I would think your goods are much heavier than mine What do you carry Gas pipes, railway chairs, knives or something else made of iron"
“先生,这些箱子都是我的,”利维森先生对我说,“我要到麦琴都索公司去。箱子里装的是世界上最好的防水大衣。这些箱子我已经用了很多年了。偶而会遇到外形相似的,那就很麻烦。有时甚至还会拿错呢!不过,我相信你的箱子应该比我的重得多。里面装的到底是什么?煤气管,火车座椅,刀,还是其他铁制的东西?”
I did not reply "Sir, I think you will do very well," said Levison "Trade secrets should not be discussed in public Don't you think so, Major" "You're right, sir," replied the Major "One cannot be too careful" "There's the Calais light," cried someone at that moment, and soon we were getting ready to leave the boat
我没有回答他。利维森又说:“先生,我相信你的生意一定会做得很好。商业机密本来就不适合在公共场合讨论。少校,你说是吗?”“不错,”那位少校回答说,“小心没大错。”这时有人喊道:“你们看,加莱港的灯光!”于是,大家开始忙着做下船的准备。
I thought no more about my traveling companions We parted at Paris I went my way and they went their way The Major was going to visit Dromont, near Lyons From there he would go to Marseilles, then on to Alexandria Mr Levison was also going to Marseilles, like myself and the Major, but not by my train He had too much to do in Paris first
我没再去考虑我的旅伴。我们在巴黎分手,各走各的路。那位少校要到里昂附近的德罗芒去,再从那儿前往马赛,最后再去亚历山大。利维森先生象我和少校一样,也要到马赛去。但是他在巴黎还有很多事情要办,所以不会和我们一起上火车。
I had delivered my letters in Paris and was on my way back to my hotel with Mr Lefebre, a great friend of mine It was about six o'clock and we were crossing the road, when a carriage passed us In it was Mr Levison, and his four boxes were by his side I waved to him, but he did not seem to notice me In the same street we met the Major and his wife, on their way to the railway station
在巴黎送完信后,我就和一个好朋友,里弗柏尔,一起回酒店。当时大约是傍晚六点左右。我和里弗柏尔正要穿过马路时,一辆马车刚好从我们面前经过,车里坐的是利维森先生,他那四个铁箱也放在他的旁边。我向他招招手,可他好象没有看见我。在同一条街上,我们又遇到了少校和他的太太。他们正要到火车站去。
"Terrible city, this," said the Major "It smells so of onions I'd like to wash it out house by house Julia, this is my pleasant traveling companion of last night" They went on their way At midnight, I was standing at the station watching my luggage being put onto the train A cab drew up and an Englishman got out He asked the driver, in excellent French, for change for a five-franc piece It was Levison, but I saw no more of him, for the crowd just then pushed me forward I found a seat in a carriage with two other people They were so wrapped up in their coats that I could not see what they were like at all
少校一开口就说:“这个城市简直糟透了,到处都是洋葱味,我真恨不得一家家去把这个味道弄掉。朱丽雅,这位是我昨晚刚认识的旅伴。”然后,他们就继续上路了。午夜时分。我站在车站,看着我的行李被搬上火车。这时一辆马车驶过来,从车上走出一位英国人,他用流利的法语请司机找换一张五法郎的钞票。我仔细一看,原来是利维森先生。可是,熙来攘往的人群把我挤得站不住脚,一转眼他就不见了。我在一个车厢里找到了座位,那里还有两个乘客。他们都用厚厚的大衣把自己裹住,所以我无法清楚地看到他们的长相。
Once the train had started, I fell asleep and dreamed of my dear wife, and our home Then I began to worry, for I dreamed I had forgotten the words which would open the letter locks I tried hard to remember, but it was no good Then I was in the bank at No 172 Toledo, Naples, being ordered to give the words, or be put to death by a row of soldiers I must give the words, or tell where I had hidden the boxes, for I seemed to have hidden them for some reason At that moment an earthquake shook the city, a flood of fire rolled past beneath the window I cried out, "Please God, show me the words," and then I woke up
火车一开动,我就昏昏入睡,睡梦中我看见我太太和我们的家。然后我梦见自己把那些密码给忘了。我努力回想密码,但总是想不起来,这真让我忧心忡忡。接着我又梦见那不勒斯托利多街一百七十二号的那家银行。我在那儿,必须说出箱子的密码,不然就会被一整排的军人枪毙。我一定得告诉他们箱子的密码,或者藏箱子的地方,因为我好象为了某些原因把箱子藏了起来。正在这时,城市里突然发生了地震。一片大火从窗口涌进来,我惊惶地大喊:“老天爷,请你告诉我那些密码吧!”然后我就惊醒了。
"Dromont, Dromont Ten minutes to Dromont,”" called the guard At Dromont I went to a restaurant and asked for a cup of coffee Suddenly three or four noisy young Englishmen came hurrying in, with a quiet, elderly traveling salesman It was Levison again They led him along, and called for champagne "Yes, yes," the leader said "You must have some, old man We have won three games, you know You will be able to get your own back before we get to Lyons" Levison talked cheerfully about the last game of cards and drank the wine In a few minutes the young men had drunk their champagne, and gone out to smoke In another moment Levison caught my eye
“德罗芒!德罗芒!还有十分钟就到德罗芒了!”列车警卫高声喊道。到了德罗芒后,我先到一家餐馆要了杯咖啡。突然,三、四个年轻的英国人吵吵闹闹进了餐馆,领着一个上了年纪的、沉静的旅行推销员。我惊奇地发现,这个人原来又是利维森。他们向侍者要香槟喝。“是的,是的,”为首的人说,“老人家,你应该多喝一点。要知道,我们已经赢了三场。你一定能在我们到里昂之前把钱赢回去。”利维森一面喝着酒,一面兴高采烈地谈着最后那场牌局。一会儿,那些年轻人喝完香槟,都出去抽烟了。这时,利维森才发现了我。
"Why, good gracious," he said "Well, I am glad to see you Now, my dear sir, you must have some champagne with me" He called to the waiter, "Another bottle of champagne, if you please" Then, turning to me he said, " I hope to join you before we get to Lyons I am tired of the noise of those youngsters Besides, I cannot afford to lose too much money" The waiter brought the bottle of champagne Levison took the bottle at once "No," he said, " I never allow anyone to open wine for me" He turned his back on me to remove the cork He had taken it off, and was filling my glass, when up dashed a man to shake hands with me He was in such a hurry that he knocked into Mr Levison and the bottle of champagne was broken
“天哪,是你!”他说道:“我很高兴见到你。我亲爱的朋友,你一定得陪我喝点香槟。”他对侍者喊道:“请再给我拿瓶香槟。”然后又对我说:“我希望到里昂之前能和你在一起。我很讨厌那群吵闹的年轻人,而且也输不起那么多钱。”这时,侍者已经把香槟送了过来,利维森马上把那瓶酒接过去。“不,”他说:“我向来不喜欢别人替我开酒瓶。”说着便转过身去,背对着我,把瓶塞弄开了。他正在给我倒酒,突然,一个人匆匆忙忙跑过来和我握手。这个人来势太猛,竟撞着了利维森先生,而且那瓶香槟也被碰碎了。
It was the Major, hot, as usual, and very eager to talk to us "Oh, I am so sorry Let me order another bottle How are you gentlemen How lucky to meet you again! Julia's with the luggage We can have a good time here More champagne here What's ‘bottle' in French Such an annoying thing has happened Those friends of Julia's had gone off on holiday They'd forgotten we were coming Very bad, very bad Ah, there's the bell We'll all go in the same carriage" Levison looked rather angry "I shall not see you, for a station or two," he said "I must join those boys, and see if I can win back some of my money Good-bye, Major Baxter Good-bye, Mr Blamyre"
来者不是别人,正是那位素来热情的少校。他急切地和我们攀谈起来。“啊!真抱歉,让我再叫一瓶吧!朋友,你好吗?我真幸运,又遇到了你。朱丽雅正在看管着那些行李,我们可以在这儿好好谈一谈。再多叫几瓶香槟吧!‘瓶子'法语怎么讲?我老是遇到这些令人烦恼的事,朱丽雅的朋友忘了我们要来,都渡假去了,真倒霉!真倒霉!啊!铃声。我们一起坐马车到车站去吧!”利维森非常恼火。他气呼呼地说:“这一两站我不会来找你们。我还得回去找那群年轻人,看看能不能赢回点儿钱。再见,柏斯德少校。再见,布兰爱尔先生。”
I found the Major quite pleasant to talk to He was full of stories about his days in India, always interrupted by his fussy, good-natured, managing wife Soon the train stopped at Charmont, and in came Levison "No more heavy losing for me," he said "But if you and the Major and Mrs Baxter would care for a game at a shilling a point, then I'm willing to play" We agreed We cut for partners I and Mrs Baxter against the Major and Levison We won nearly every game Levison played too carefully, and the Major talked and laughed and always forgot which cards had been played Still, it helped to pass the time When we had played for long enough we began to talk Levison started to tell us about his business
我发现与少校聊天是件非常愉快的事。他告诉了我许多他早年在印度的故事。不过他的话常常被他身边那位谨慎、贤慧、但又爱管事的太太打断。很快,火车来到了夏尔芒,利维森出现了。他对我说:“还好,这次没输多少。不过,如果你、少校还有少校太太愿意玩一局一分一先令的话,我愿意奉陪。”我们都表示同意,并且分了伙儿。我和少校太太一组,少校和利维森一组。我们这组几乎每次都赢。利维森打牌太谨慎,少校则又说又笑,时常忘记自己打过什么牌。不过,打牌总能帮人打发时间。我们玩了很久, 然后又开始聊天。利维森谈起他的生意。
"I have at last discovered something for which the makers of waterproof clothing have been searching for years," he said "That is, how to let out the heated air of the body, and yet at the same time to keep out the rain When I get back to London, I shall offer this secret to the Mackintosh firm for ten thousand pounds If they refuse the offer, I shall at once open a shop in Paris I shall call the new material Magentosh, and make a lot of money out of it"
“那些防水服装制造商多年来一直在寻找的东西,总算被我发现了。”他说:“那就是怎样在排出人体热气的同时,又能将雨水隔绝。我一回到伦敦,就要把这个秘密一万块钱卖给麦金都索防水服公司。如果他们不答应,我就自己在巴黎开厂,将这种新布料称为麦根都索,用它来赚笔大钱。”
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