单身贵族案 07贵族来信(7)

"I warn you that they are very incomplete."

"我可有言在先，这些材料是很不完整的。"

"Perhaps we may make them less so."

"也许我们可以把它们凑起来。"

"Such as they are, they are set forth¹ in a single article of a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you.

"就是这样，昨天晨报上的一篇文章谈得还比较详细，让我读给你听听。

It is headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding':

标题是：《上流社会婚礼中的奇怪事件》。

The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the greatest consternation²

罗伯特·圣西蒙勋爵全家惊恐万状，

by the strange and painful episodes which have taken place in connection with his wedding.

这是由于在举行婚礼时发生的奇怪的不幸事件。

The ceremony, as shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning;

正如昨天报纸上简要地报道的，婚礼仪式是在前天上午举行的；

but it is only now that it has been possible to confirm the strange rumours³ which have been so persistently⁴ floating about.

可是直至日前，始有可能对不断到处流传的奇怪传闻予以证实。

In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush⁵ the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn⁶ to it

尽管朋友们设法遮掩，此事却已引起公众的极大注意，

that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what is a common subject for conversation.

因此对已经成为公众谈话资料之事，故作不予理睬的姿态，是毫无裨益的。

The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover Square, was a very quiet one,

婚礼是在汉诺佛广场的圣乔治大教堂举行，仪式简单，极力不予张扬，

no one being present save the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord Backwater,

除了新娘的父亲，阿洛伊修斯·多兰先生、巴尔莫拉尔公爵夫人、巴克沃特勋爵、

Lord Eustace, and Lady Clara St. Simon (the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Whittington.

尤斯塔斯勋爵和克拉拉·圣西蒙小姐（新郎的弟弟和妹妹）以及艾丽西亚·惠延顿夫人外，别无他人参加。

1 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。

3 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

4 persistently   

ad.坚持地；固执地

参考例句：

• He persistently asserted his right to a share in the heritage. 他始终声称他有分享那笔遗产的权利。
• She persistently asserted her opinions. 她果断地说出了自己的意见。

5 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。