My uncle said no word,good or bad. He sat onthe top door - step and looked at us. Alan took awayhis blunderbuss. The lawyer took him by thearm and led him into the kitchen. We all followed,and looked at him. We were all pleased with ourtrick,but we felt some pity for his shame,too.
我叔叔哑口无言,什么话也没有说。他坐在门口最高的台阶上望着我们。艾伦拿走了他手里的枪。
律师拉着他的胳膊,把他带进了厨房。我们都跟着走了进去,望着他。
我们的计策成功了,都感到高兴,不过,也对我叔叔丢人现眼感到有点可怜。
“Come ,come ,Mr Ebe ne z e r,”the lawyer said.
“Don’t be too s a d . I promis e we will ma ke thingse a s y for you. And now give us the ke ys . Torra nces ha ll bring us a bottle of your fa the r’s wine . We ’lldrink to your n e phew’s future .”
律师说:“好啦,好啦,埃比尼泽先生,别太伤心啦。我保证我们不会叫你为难的。把你的那些钥匙交给我们,让托伦斯去拿一瓶令尊大人的美酒,我们要为你侄子的前程干一杯。”
He turned to me,and took my hand.
他转过身,拉起我的手,说:
“Mr Da vid ,”he said,“I c ongra tula te you on you rin he rita nce . I be lie ye you de s e rve it.”
“大卫先生,我祝贺你得到了遗产,我认为你受之无愧。”
Then,to Alan,“Mr Thomson,I congra tula teyou,too. Yo u a cte d ve ry we ll.”
然后,他对艾伦说;“托马森先生,我也祝贺你。你表演得真象。”
I gave Alan my hand,and thanked him for his
我向艾伦伸出手,对他的帮助
help. Mr Rankeillor and my uncle went away intothe next room to talk,Torrance went to get thewine,and Alan and I lit the fire.
表示感谢。兰基勒先生和我叔叔到隔壁房间会谈去了。托伦斯出去拿酒,我和艾伦把火生了起来。
We made plans for Alan’s escape. There wasa Highland lawyer in Queensferry. He was an AppinStewart,and a safe man. I must see him thenext day,and give him money. He must find a shipto take Alan to France.
我 们商量好让艾伦脱逃的安排。皇后渡口镇上有一位高地的律师,出身于亚品的斯图尔特家族,人很可靠。我计划第二天去见他,给他些钱,让他务必找一条船,把艾伦送到法国。
Torrance came back with the wine. We openedthe bottle and the clerk took the cover off the basket.
Inside there was a good meal. Torrance and Alanand I sat down and ate and drank.
托伦斯把酒拿回来了。我们打开瓶子,托伦斯掀开篮子盖,里面装的是可口的饭菜。托伦斯、艾伦和我坐下来,又吃又喝,美餐了一顿。
The lawyer and my uncle were absent for anhour. When they had agreed together,my uncle andI signed the necessary papers. My uncle had to payme the greater part of the income of the Shaws.
律师和我叔叔谈了一个小时。
他们达成协议后,我叔叔和我在一些必要的文件上签了字。据字据上的条款,他得把肖府的大部分收入交给我。
So now I was like the boy in the old ballad. Ihad come home to my inheritance. When I lay downthat night on a kitchen chest,I was a rich man. Alanand Rankeillor and Torrance slept well on theirhard beds beside me. But I could not sleep.
我 现在就象那首乡谣中的男孩,回到家里,继承了遗产。那天夜里,我躺在厨房里的一只箱子上时,已是一个财主了。艾伦、兰基勒和托伦斯在我旁边的硬板床上睡得又甜又香,我却一点睡意也没有。
All night I lay awake. I was thinking of my future.
我在考虑着我的前途,整整一夜都没有合眼。