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'Why, as to that, gentlemen,' I answered, trying also to be cool but feeling as excited as he did,
我也故作冷靜，可是內心也是同樣激動地答道：'論到代價，
'there is only one bargain which a man in my position can make.
在我這樣的處境只有一個條件：
I shall want you to help me to my freedom, and to help my three companions to theirs.
我希望你們協助我和我的三個朋友恢復自由，
We shall then take you into partnership and give you a fifth share to divide between you.'
然后同你們合作，以五分之一的寶物作為對你們兩人的報酬。'
'Hum!' said he. 'A fifth share! That is not very tempting.'
他道：'哼！五分之一，這個不值得一辦！'
'It would come to fifty thousand apiece,' said I.
我道：'算來每人也有五萬鎊呢。'
'But how can we gain your freedom? You know very well that you ask an impossibility.'
'可是我們怎么能夠恢復你們的自由呢？你要知道，你的要求是絕對辦不到的事情。'
'Nothing of the sort,' I answered. 'I have thought it all out to the last detail.
我答道：'這個并沒有什么困難，我已考慮得十分成熟了。
The only bar to our escape is that we can get no boat fit for the voyage, and no provisions to last us for so long a time.
所困難的就是我們得不到一只適于航行的船和足夠的干糧。
There are plenty of little yachts and yawls at Calcutta or Madras which would serve our turn well.
在加爾各答或馬德拉斯，合用的小快艇和雙桅快艇多得很，
Do you bring one over. We shall engage to get aboard her by night,
只要你們弄一只來，我們夜里一上船，
and if you will drop us on any part of the Indian coast you will have done your part of the bargain.'
把我們送到印度沿海任何一個地方，你們的義務就算是盡到了。'
'If there were only one,' he said.
他道：'只有你一個人還好辦。'
'None or all,' I answered. 'We have sworn it. The four of us must always act together.'
我答道：'少一個也不行，我們已經立誓，四個人生死不離。'
'You see, Morstan,' said he, 'Small is a man of his word.
"他道：'摩斯坦，你看，斯茂是個守信的人，
He does not flinch from his friends. I think we may very well trust him.'
他不辜負朋友，咱們可以信任他。'
'It's a dirty business,' the other answered. 'Yet, as you say, the money will save our commissions handsomely.'
摩斯坦答道：'真是一件骯臟事啊。可是象你所說，這筆錢可真能解決咱們的問題呢。'
