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Presently, after moving, he leaned back and gazed with a curious abstraction at his antagonist. This was a fat, bearded Frenchman. The Frenchman considered the position, then broke suddenly into jovial expletives, and with an impatient gesture, gathering up the pieces, flung them into their box. He cursed Strickland freely, then, calling for the waiter, paid for the drinks, and left. Stroeve drew his chair closer to the table.
他走過一步棋后，馬上把身體往后一靠，凝視著他的對手，目光里帶著一種令人奇怪的心不在焉的神情。與他對棋的人是一個蓄著長胡須的肥胖的法國人。這個法國人察看了一下自己的棋勢，突然笑呵呵地破口罵了幾句，氣惱地把棋子收在一起，扔到棋盒里去。他一點也不留情面地咒罵著思特里克蘭德，接著就把侍者叫來，付了兩人的酒賬，離開了。施特略夫把椅子往桌邊挪了挪。
Now I suppose we can talk, he said.
“我想現在咱們可以談話了，”他說。
Strickland's eyes rested on him, and there was in them a malicious expression. I felt sure he was seeking for some gibe, could think of none, and so was forced to silence.
思特里克蘭德的目光落到他身上，那里面閃現著某種惡意的譏嘲。我敢說他正在尋找一句什么挖苦話，因為找不到合適的，所以只好不開口。
I've brought an old friend to see you, repeated Stroeve, beaming cheerfully.
“我給你帶來一位老朋友，他要見你，”施特略夫滿臉堆笑地又把見面時的話重復了一遍。
Strickland looked at me thoughtfully for nearly a minute. I did not speak.
思特里克蘭德沉思地把我端詳了幾乎有一分鐘。我始終沒說話。
I've never seen him in my life, he said.
“我一生中也沒見過這個人，”他說。
I do not know why he said this, for I felt certain I had caught a gleam of recognition in his eyes. I was not so easily abashed as I had been some years earlier.
我不知道為什么他要這樣說，因為從他眼神里我敢肯定他是認識我的。我不像幾年以前那樣動不動就感到難為情了。
I saw your wife the other day, I said. "I felt sure you'd like to have the latest news of her."
“我前幾天見到你妻子了，”我說，“我想你一定愿意聽聽她最近的消息。”
He gave a short laugh. His eyes twinkled.
他干笑了一聲，眼睛里閃著亮。
We had a jolly evening together, he said. "How long ago is it?"
“咱們曾一起度過一個快活的晚上，”他說，“那是多久以前了？”
Five years.
“五年了。”
He called for another absinthe. Stroeve, with voluble tongue, explained how he and I had met, and by what an accident we discovered that we both knew Strickland. I do not know if Strickland listened. He glanced at me once or twice reflectively, but for the most part seemed occupied with his own thoughts; and certainly without Stroeve's babble the conversation would have been difficult. In half an hour the Dutchman, looking at his watch, announced that he must go. He asked whether I would come too. I thought, alone, I might get something out of Strickland, and so answered that I would stay.
他又要了一杯苦艾酒。施特略夫滔滔不絕地解釋，他和我如何會面，如何無意中發現都認識思特里克蘭德的事。我不知道這些話思特里克蘭德是否聽進去了。因為除了有一兩次他好像回憶起什么而看了我一眼以外，大部分時間他似乎都在沉思自己的事。如果不是施特略夫嘮嘮叨叨地說個沒完沒了，這場談話肯定要冷場的。半個鐘頭以后這位荷蘭人看了看表，聲稱他必須回去了。他問我要不要同他一起走。我想剩下我一個人也許還能從思特里克蘭德嘴里打聽到些什么，所以回答他說我還要坐一會兒。
When the fat man had left I said:
當這個胖子走了以后，我開口說：
Dirk Stroeve thinks you're a great artist.
“戴爾克·施特略夫說你是個了不起的畫家。”
What the hell do you suppose I care?
“我才他媽的不在乎他怎么說呢！”
Will you let me see your pictures?
“你可以不可以讓我看看你的畫？”
Why should I?
“為什么我要給你看？”
I might feel inclined to buy one.
“說不定我想買一兩幅。”
I might not feel inclined to sell one.
“說不定我還不想賣呢。”
Are you making a good living? I asked, smiling.
“你過得不錯吧？”我笑著說。
He chuckled.
他咯咯地笑了兩聲。
Do I look it?
“我像過得不錯的嗎？”
You look half starved.
“你像連肚皮也吃不飽的樣子。”
I am half starved.
“我就是連飯也吃不飽。”
Then come and let's have a bit of dinner.
“那咱們去吃點什么吧。”
Why do you ask me?
“你干嘛請我吃飯？”
Not out of charity, I answered coolly. "I don't really care a twopenny damn if you starve or not."
“不是出于慈善心腸，”我冷冷地說，“你吃得飽吃不飽才不干我的事呢。”
His eyes lit up again.
他的眼睛又閃起亮來。
Come on, then, he said, getting up. "I'd like a decent meal."
“那就走吧，”他說，站了起來，“我倒是想好好地吃它一頓。”
