狄更斯雙語小說:《董貝父子》第26章Part 1

Chapter 26
Shadows of the Past and Future
'Your most obedient, Sir,' said the Major. 'Damme, Sir, a friend of my friend Dombey's is a friend of mine, and I'm glad to see you!'
'I am infinitely obliged, Carker,' explained Mr Dombey, 'to Major Bagstock, for his company and conversation. 'Major Bagstock has rendered me great service, Carker.'
Mr Carker the Manager, hat in hand, just arrived at Leamington, and just introduced to the Major, showed the Major his whole double range of teeth, and trusted he might take the liberty of thanking him with all his heart for having effected so great an Improvement in Mr Dombey's looks and spirits'
'By Gad, Sir,' said the Major, in reply, 'there are no thanks due to me, for it's a give and take affair. A great creature like our friend Dombey, Sir,' said the Major, lowering his voice, but not lowering it so much as to render it inaudible to that gentleman, 'cannot help improving and exalting his friends. He strengthens and invigorates a man, Sir, does Dombey, in his moral nature.'
Mr Carker snapped at the expression. In his moral nature. Exactly. The very words he had been on the point of suggesting.
'But when my friend Dombey, Sir,' added the Major, 'talks to you of Major Bagstock, I must crave leave to set him and you right. He means plain Joe, Sir - Joey B. - Josh. Bagstock - Joseph- rough and tough Old J., Sir. At your service.'
Mr Carker's excessively friendly inclinations towards the Major, and Mr Carker's admiration of his roughness, toughness, and plainness, gleamed out of every tooth in Mr Carker's head.
'And now, Sir,' said the Major, 'you and Dombey have the devil's own amount of business to talk over.'
'By no means, Major,' observed Mr Dombey.
'Dombey,' said the Major, defiantly, 'I know better; a man of your mark - the Colossus of commerce - is not to be interrupted. Your moments are precious. We shall meet at dinner-time. In the interval, old Joseph will be scarce. The dinner-hour is a sharp seven, Mr Carker.'
With that, the Major, greatly swollen as to his face, withdrew; but immediately putting in his head at the door again, said:
'I beg your pardon. Dombey, have you any message to 'em?'
Mr Dombey in some embarrassment, and not without a glance at the courteous keeper of his business confidence, entrusted the Major with his compliments.
'By the Lord, Sir,' said the Major, 'you must make it something warmer than that, or old Joe will be far from welcome.'
'Regards then, if you will, Major,' returned Mr Dombey.
'Damme, Sir,' said the Major, shaking his shoulders and his great cheeks jocularly: 'make it something warmer than that.'
'What you please, then, Major,' observed Mr Dombey.
'Our friend is sly, Sir, sly, Sir, de-vilish sly,' said the Major, staring round the door at Carker. 'So is Bagstock.' But stopping in the midst of a chuckle, and drawing himself up to his full height, the Major solemnly exclaimed, as he struck himself on the chest, 'Dombey! I envy your feelings. God bless you!' and withdrew.
'You must have found the gentleman a great resource,' said Carker, following him with his teeth.
'Very great indeed,' said Mr Dombey.

第二十六章　
過去和將來的陰影
“我是您最順從的僕人，先生，”少校說道，“他媽的，先生，我的朋友董貝先生的朋友就是我的朋友。我很高興見到您。”
“卡克，”董貝先生解釋道，“白格斯托克少校陪同我遊覽，跟我交談，我對他無限感激。白格斯托克少校給我幫了很大的忙，卡克。”
經理卡克先生手中握着帽子，剛剛到達萊明頓，並剛剛被介紹給少校；他向少校顯露出上下兩排的全部牙齒，說他相信，他能不揣冒昧地衷心感謝他在改善董貝先生的神色和精神上取得了十分顯著的效果。
“說實在的，先生，”少校回答道，“用不着感謝我，因爲這是件雙方相互受益的事情。像我們的朋友董貝這樣一位偉大的人物，先生，”少校放低了嗓門說道，但是沒有低到使那位先生聽不到，“他總是在無意之間就能促使他的朋友進步，變得高尚起來的，先生；他——董貝先生增強和激勵着一個人的道德本性。”
卡克先生對這些話連聲贊同。他增強和激勵着一個人的道德本性，正是這樣！這正是他就要脫口說出的話。
“但是，先生，”少校接着說道，“當我的朋友董貝跟您談到白格斯托克少校時，我卻必須懇求允許我把他和您糾正糾正。他指的是直率的喬，先生——喬埃·白——喬希·白格斯托克——約瑟夫——粗魯和堅強的老喬，先生。我願爲您效勞。”
卡克先生對少校極爲友好的態度，以及卡克先生對他粗魯、堅強和直率的讚賞，都從卡克先生的每顆牙齒中閃現出來。
“現在，先生，”少校說道，“您和董貝有好多好多的事情要商量啦。”
“不，不，少校，”董貝先生說道。
“董貝，”少校堅決不同意地說道，“我很明白，像您這樣傑出的人物——商業界的鉅子，是不應該受到打擾的。您的每一秒鐘都是寶貴的。我們吃晚飯的時候再見吧。在這段時間裏，老約瑟夫就避開了。卡克先生，吃晚飯的時間是七點正。”
少校說完這些話之後，臉上露出極爲揚揚得意的表情，離開了。但他立即又在門口探進頭來說：
“請原諒，董貝，您有什麼話需要我轉告她們的？”
董貝先生有點不好意思，向那位殷勤有禮、掌握了他的商業祕密的人稍稍看了一眼，然後拜託少校向她們轉致他的問候。
“哎呀，先生”少校說，“您得說點更熱情的話纔好呢，要不老喬就不會受到熱烈的歡迎了。”
“那麼，少校，就請向她們轉致我的敬意吧！”董貝先生回答道。
“他媽的，先生，”少校滑稽地搖晃着他的肩膀和肥厚的雙頰，說道，“您得表示更熱情一些纔好呵。”
“那麼，少校，您愛說什麼就說什麼吧，”董貝先生說道。
“我們的朋友是狡猾的，先生，狡猾的，魔鬼一般的狡猾，”少校在門口轉過頭來直盯着卡克，說道，“白格斯托克也是這樣，”但是少校在吃吃笑着的中間停了下來，伸直了身子，拍拍胸膛，莊重地說道，“董貝，我真羨慕您的感情，上帝保佑您！”然後他離開了。
“您一定覺得這位先生是一位很能開心解悶的人，”卡克先生在他的身後露出牙齒，說道。
“確實是這樣，”董貝先生說道。