評論
打印
Chapter 28
第二十八章
The explanation came a week later. It was about ten o' clock at night; I had been dining by myself at a restaurant, and having returned to my small apartment, was sitting in my parlour, reading I heard the cracked tinkling of the bell, and, going into the corridor, opened the door. Stroeve stood before me.
一個星期以后我知道謎底了。這一天我一個人在外面吃了晚飯，飯后回到我的住處。大約十點左右，我正坐在起居間看書，忽然，門鈴暗啞地響起來。我走到過道上，打開門，站在我面前的是施特略夫。
Can I come in? he asked.
“可以進來嗎？”他問。
In the dimness of the landing I could not see him very well, but there was something in his voice that surprised me. I knew he was of abstemious habit or I should have thought he had been drinking. I led the way into my sitting room and asked him to sit down.
樓梯口光線很暗，我看不清他的樣子，但是他說話的聲音卻使我吃了一驚。我知道他喝酒從來不過量，否則我會以為他喝醉酒了。我把他領進起居間里，叫他坐下。
Thank God I've found you, he said.
“謝天謝地，總算找到你了，”他說。
What's the matter? I asked in astonishment at his vehemence.
“怎么回事？”我問；他的激動不安的樣子叫我非常吃驚。
I was able now to see him well. As a rule he was neat in his person, but now his clothes were in disorder. He looked suddenly bedraggled. I was convinced he had been drinking, and I smiled. I was on the point of chaffing him on his state.
進到屋子里面，我可以清清楚楚地打量他了。平時他總是穿戴得干凈整齊，這次卻衣冠不整，突然給人以邋里邋遢的感覺。我一點也不懷疑了，他一定是喝醉了。我對他笑了笑，準備打趣他兩句。
I didn't know where to go, he burst out. "I came here earlier, but you weren't in."
“我不知道該到哪兒去，”他突兀地說了一句，“剛才來了一次，你不在。”
I dined late, I said.
“我今天吃飯晚了，”我說。
I changed my mind: it was not liquor that had driven him to this obvious desperation. His face, usually so rosy, was now strangely mottled. His hands trembled.
我的想法改變了；他顯然不是因為喝了酒才這樣嗒然若喪。他的臉平常總是紅撲撲的，現在卻一塊紅、一塊白，斑斑點點，樣子非常奇怪。他的兩只手一直在哆嗦。
Has anything happened? I asked.
“出了什么事了嗎？”
My wife has left me.
“我的妻子離開了我了。”
He could hardly get the words out. He gave a little gasp, and the tears began to trickle down his round cheeks.
他費了很大力氣才把這幾個字說出來。他抽噎了一下，眼淚沿著胖乎乎的面頰一滴滴地落下來。
