千裡之外的夜聽（聽讀城堡外的一夜）

2023-08-11 18:51:58

★ 第10章 ★

I wanted Duke Michael to think that I was still very ill, so we told the newspapers that the King had had a very serious accident.

我想讓麥可公爵以為我還十分虛弱，所以我們在報紙上說國王出了很嚴重的意外事故。

When Princess Flavia read this, she was very worried and she decided to come and see me.

當弗蕾維亞公主看到這條消息時，她非常憂慮，決定前來看我。

The Marshal could not stop her, and, although I was afraid for her, I was excited at the thought of seeing her again. We spent two wonderfully happy days together.

元帥阻止不了她。雖然我替她擔心，但也很高興能再見到她。我們在一起過了幸福的兩天。

We had sent Johann back to the Castle of Zenda and suddenly we had a message from him. The real King was very ill.

我們派約翰回曾達的城堡去了。突然，我們得到了他傳來的一個消息：真正的國王病得很重。

'I must save him,' I said to myself. 'I love Flavia more each day. I can't go on like this much longer.'

「我得救他。」我對自己說，「我對弗蕾維亞的愛每天都在增加，我沒法兒再這樣繼續下去了。」

I talked to Sapt. He agreed, so we made our plans.

我和薩普特談了我的想法，他同意了。我們就決定了行動計劃。

Late the next night, Sapt, Fritz, and I, with six more men, rode out towards the Castle of Zenda. Sapt was carrying a long rope and I had a short, thick stick and a long knife.

第二天深夜，薩普特、弗裡茨和我，還有另外六個人，騎馬向曾達城堡進發。薩普特帶著一根長繩，我拿著一根又短又粗的棍子和一把長刀。

The night was dark, and it was wet and windy. We stayed away from the town and we met no one. When we came to the moat, we stopped near some trees and the six men hid there with the horses. Then Sapt tied the rope around one of the trees near the water. I pulled off my boots，put the stick between my teeth and gently went down the rope into the water. I was going to take a look at the pipe.

夜色很黑，空氣潮溼。我們繞開城市前進，沒有撞上什麼人。我們來到護城河的附近，在樹叢裡停了下來，那六個人和我們的馬藏在裡面。然後薩普特把繩子系在水邊的樹上，我脫下靴子，用牙咬著棍子，輕輕地順著繩子下到河裡，我要去看一下那根排水管。

It had been warm and bright that day, and the water was not cold. Slowly and carefully Iswam round the dark walls of the castle.

那天很暖和，水也不冷。我緩慢而小心地繞著黑暗的城牆遊著。

There were lights in the new buildings, and from time to time I heard people shouting and laughing. 'That must be young Rupert and his friends,' I thought.

城堡的新樓裡有燈光，我不時能聽見人們的叫聲和笑聲。「這一定是年輕的魯帕特和他的同夥們。」我想。

Suddenly a dark shape appeared in front of me. It was the pipe! The bottom of it was very wide and came out into the moat. And then I saw something which nearly made my heart stop.

突然，一個黑影子出現在我的面前，是那根排水管!它的底部非常寬，伸進護城河裡。然後我見到一樣東西，我的心臟都幾乎停止了跳動。

It was a boat, and in the boat, there was a man! His gun was beside him, but, luckily, he was asleep. As quietly as I could, I moved closer. The man still slept.

是一隻船，而且船裡有個人!他的槍就靠在身邊。幸運的是，他睡著了。我儘量輕輕地靠近他，他還在睡。

What could I do? I had to save the King. I took out my knife and drove it through the sleeping man's heart! On the other side of the castle, they were still singing.

我能怎麼辦呢?我得救出國王。我抽出刀，刺進了他的心臟。在城堡的另一邊，那些人還在唱歌。

I had very little time. Someone could come at any minute. I looked up at where the pipe went through the wall into the prison.

我的時間很緊，隨時可能有人會來，我看了看排水管穿過城牆進入監獄的地方，

There was a thin line of light at the bottom edge. I heard Detchard's voice, and then I heard the King reply.

在那個地方的底端有一絲光亮透了出來。我聽見了戴查德的聲音。

Just then the light went out, and, in the darkness, I heard the King crying. I did not call him.

然後我聽見了國王的回答。就在這時燈光滅了。在黑暗中我聽到了國王的哭聲。我沒叫他。

I had to get away safely- and take the body of the dead watchman with me.

我必須安全地離開，而且得帶上那個死去的哨兵。

I climbed into the boat and began to go back to where my friends were. No one could hear me because the wind was strong.

我爬進小船，開始往朋友們所在的地方劃，沒人能聽見，因為風很大。

But from somewhere behind me, I heard a shout. Someone was calling to the watchman. I reached the side of the moat where Sapt and Fritz were waiting.

但從我的背後，我聽見一聲叫喚，有人正在叫那個哨兵。我到了河邊，薩普特和弗裡茨正在等我。

Quickly, I tied the rope around the man's body and Sapt and Fritz pulled it up. Then I climbed up the rope myself.

我很快地把繩子繞在那個哨兵的身上，他們把他拖了上去。然後我也順著繩子爬了上去。

'Call our men from the trees,' I said quietly. 'And hurry!'

「把我們的人叫來，」我悄聲說。「要快!」

But just then, three men rode round from the front of the castle. Luckily, they did not see us, but they heard our six friends riding out of the trees, and with a shout, they galloped towards them.

可就在此時，從城堡正面過來了三個騎馬的人，很幸運他們沒有看見我們，但他們聽見了我們的六個朋友騎馬從樹林裡出來，於是叫喊著撲向他們。

Seconds later we heard the sound of shots and I ran to help our men. Sapt and Fritz followed.

數秒鐘後我們聽見了槍聲，我衝去幫助我們的人，薩普特和弗裡茨緊跟著。

'Kill them!' cried a voice. It was Rupert of Hentzau.

「殺死他們!」一個聲音叫著，是亨佐的魯帕特。

'Too late! They've got both of us!' cried another voice. 'Save yourself, Rupert!'

「太遲了，他們把我倆都抓住了，」另一個聲音叫道：「快逃吧，魯帕特!」

I ran on, holding my stick in my hand. Suddenly, through the darkness, I saw a horse coming towards me. I jumped at the horse's head and saw the man's face above me.

我跑著，手裡拿著棍子。突然，透過黑暗我看見一匹馬向我這邊衝來，我跳到了馬頭前，看見了我頭頂上方那個人的臉。

'At last!' I shouted. 'Rupert of Hentzau!'

「總算見面了!」我叫道： 「亨佐的魯帕特!」

He had only his sword, and my men were coming at him from one side, and Sapt and Fritz from the other.

他手裡只有劍，我的人從一邊向他靠近，薩普特和弗裡茨從另一邊向他靠近。

Rupert laughed. 'It's the play-actor!' he cried, and with his sword, he knocked my stick from my hand.

魯帕特笑了。「原來是那位演員!」他叫道。他用劍打掉我的棍子，

Then he turned his horse, galloped to the moat, and jumped into the water with our bullets flying around his ears.

然後掉轉馬頭，衝進了護城河。我們的子彈在他耳邊飛舞，

Our men tried to shoot him in the water, but it was dark, there was no moon-and we lost him.

我們的人向水中射擊，但天太黑了，沒有月亮，他逃脫了。

We had killed two of the Six-Lauengram and Krafstein- but I was angry. Three of our brave friends were also dead, and we carried them home with a heavy heart.

我們殺死了那六個人中的兩個——勞恩格蘭姆和克拉夫斯坦，但我很生氣，我們有三個勇敢的朋友死了，我們把他們的屍體帶回去，心情很沉痛。

And I did not like to hear Rupert call me a play-actor.

我討厭魯帕特管我叫「演員」。

Of course, Michael and I could not let the people know that we were enemies. So, in the daytime, it was safe to be in the town of Zenda.

當然，麥可和我不會讓人們知道我們是對頭，因此白天在曾達城裡是安全的。

One day, soon after our night outside the castle, Princess Flavia and I were riding through the town when we saw a group of people dressed in black going to the church.

有一天，城堡外的那一夜之後沒多久，當我和弗蕾維亞公主騎著馬在城裡穿行時，看見一群人穿著黑衣服走進教堂。

Rupert of Hentzau was with them, and when he saw us, he turned his horse and came towards us.

魯帕特也和他們在一起。他看見我們，掉轉馬頭衝我們走來。

'It's the funeral of my dear friend, Lauengram,' he said, in answer to our question.

「這是我的朋友勞恩格蘭姆的葬禮。」他回答我們的問題說。

'I'm sorry your friend is dead,' I said to him.

「你的朋友死了我很難過。」我對他說。

'And I'm sorry, too,' Flavia added, her beautiful blue eyes sad.

「我也很難過。」弗蕾維亞說，她那美麗的藍眼睛變得悲哀了。

Rupert looked at her and smiled. Then he turned and rode away. Although I was angry because he had smiled at Flavia, I went after him.

魯帕特看著她，微笑了。然後他騎馬離開了。雖然他對弗蕾維亞微笑使我生氣，我還是追了上去。

'You fought bravely the other night,' I said, 'and you're young. Help me save the King-and I'll help you.'

「那天晚上你很勇敢。」我說，「而且你正年輕，幫助我救出國王——我也會幫助你的。」

But Rupert was not interested. 'No,' he answered. 'But if they were both dead-the King and the Duke- then you could be King and marry your Princess, and I could be rich, and have the woman I want.'

但是魯帕特不感興趣。「不，」他回答。「不過如果他倆都死了——國王和公爵——你就能當上國王，娶你的公主，而我就可以有很多錢，而且得到我想要的女人。」

'Antoinette de Mauban?' I asked carelessly, trying not to show my interest.

「安·德·莫班?」我滿不在乎地問，試圖裝著不感興趣的樣子。

'Yes,' replied Rupert. 'I hate the Duke. She loves him, not me!' Angrily, he joined the funeral group again.

「對。」魯帕特回答。「我恨公爵，她愛的是他，不是我!」他氣衝衝地又回到葬禮的人群中去了。

Strangely, when we returned home there was a message for me from Antoinette herself.

奇怪的是，當我們回家時，一張安冬納特本人寫來的紙條正等著我們。

'I helped you once. Help me now. Save me from this terrible place! Save me from these murderers!'

「我曾經幫助過你，現在幫幫我。把我從這個可怕的地方救出去!從這些殺人兇手中間救出去!」

I was sorry for her, but what could I do?

我為她感到難過，但是我又能怎麼樣呢?

《書蟲牛津英漢雙語讀物:曾達的囚徒》裡主人公魯道夫·拉森狄爾年輕富有，出生於一個歷史悠久的英國家庭，可他卻長著盧裡塔尼亞王室所特有的深紅色頭髮和長而筆挺的鼻子。是多年前一個小小的家庭「意外」造成的結果。

魯道夫決定去參加盧裡塔尼亞斯國王的加冕典禮。他到了曾達城，並在森林裡漫步。第二天上午他卻發現自己身陷意想不到的奇遇之中。他與新朋友薩普特上尉和弗裡茨一起制定了營救曾達城堡中的囚徒的計劃。很快他就與國王的死對頭黑邁克和魯帕特交上了手，而且愛上了國王的表妹，美麗的弗蕾維亞公主。

然後國王……然而，誰才是真正的盧裡塔尼亞的國王呢?