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4 The last of the spirits
4．最后一位幽靈
'The third spirit will come at midnight.'
“第三位幽靈將在午夜的時候到來。”
Scrooge suddenly remembered the words of Jacob Marley's ghost, and, lifting his eyes, saw a spirit, all in black, coming slowly towards him.
斯克羅吉突然記起雅各布·馬利幽靈的話，他抬起眼睛，看見了一個幽靈，身著黑衣服，慢慢地朝他走來。
It was a tall, silent figure, wearing a long black robe which hid its head and body.
它個頭很高，一聲不響，一件長長的黑袍蒙住了他的頭和身體。
When it came close to him, it stopped and pointed onwards with one hand.
當它走近的時候，它停住了，并用一只手朝前指著。
Scrooge was more afraid of this spirit than he had been of the others, and his voice was shaking as he asked, 'Are you the spirit of Christmas Yet to Come?'
斯克羅吉對這個幽靈的恐懼勝過前面所有的，他用顫抖的聲音問道，“你是來日的圣誕幽靈嗎？”
The ghost neither spoke nor moved, but still pointed onwards.
幽靈既不講話也不走開，但還是朝前指著。
'Are you going to show me shadows of the things which haven't happened yet, but will happen in the future?'
“你是不是要給我看那些尚未發生的但將來會發生的事情的幻影？”
Scrooge asked. There was no answer.
斯克羅吉問。仍然沒有應答。
'Ghost of the future!' he continued.
“未來的鬼魂！”他繼續說。
'You frighten me very much, but I think you can help me to change my life.
“你把我嚇壞了，但我想你能幫我改變我的生活。
I'll be very grateful to you if you show me the future. Won't you speak to me?'
如果你能為我指明未來的話，我會很感激你的。你難道不跟我講話嗎？”
Again, no reply.
還是沒有回答。
'Well, show me the way, spirit!' said Scrooge finally.
“那好吧，幽靈，就給我指出我的出路吧。”斯克羅吉最后說。
'The night is passing, and time is valuable to me, I know.'
“夜晚馬上就要結束，時間對我來說很珍貴，我知道。”
The ghost moved away, with Scrooge following in its shadow.
鬼魂走開了，斯克羅吉跟著它的影子。
Suddenly they were in the heart of the capital, among the businessmen and moneylenders.
突然他們來到了市中心，周圍都是商人和放債人。
The ghost pointed to one small group of men, so Scrooge went closer to listen to their conversation.
鬼魂指了指一小群人，斯克羅吉便走上前聽著他們的談話。
'No, I don't know much about it,' said one fat man. 'I only know he's dead.'
“不，這件事我知道的不多。”一個胖子說。“我只知道他死了。”
'When did he die?' asked another man.
“他什么時候死的？”另一個人問。
'Last night, I think.'
“昨天晚上，我想。”
'Why, what was the matter with him?' asked a third.
“怎么了，他出了什么事？”第三個人問道。
'I've no idea,' replied the fat man, looking bored. 'who cares?'
“我不知道，”胖子回答說，看上去很不耐煩。“管他呢？”
'What's he done with his money?' asked a red-faced gentleman.
“他的錢怎么處理了？”一位紅臉先生問。
'I haven't heard,' said the fat man. 'He hasn't left it to me, that's all I know.'
“我沒聽說，”胖子說，“我只知道他沒把錢留給我。”
They all laughed at this.
聽了這話他們都笑了。
Scrooge knew the men, and looked towards the spirit, hoping it would explain what the conversation meant.
斯克羅吉認識這些人，他看著幽靈，希望它能解釋解釋他們的談話是什么意思。
But the ghost moved on, pointing at two more men. Scrooge listened again.
但鬼魂繼續朝前走，又指著另外兩個人。斯克羅吉又聽了他們在說什么。
He knew these men well. They were rich and important, and he had often done business with them.
他很熟悉這些人。他們有錢又都是要人，他經常和他們做生意。
