《远大前程》第13章 规划马格韦契的未来和听他讲述自己的身世(3)

When we were alone，he said to me，You look so pale，Handel．This has been a painful time for you．

当我们俩独自在一起时，他对我说，你看上去很苍白，汉德尔，这对你来说是痛苦的时刻。

Herbert，something must be done．He wants to spend even more on me！He must be stopped！

赫伯特，有些事情要去做。他想在我身上投入更多！必须阻止他！

You mean you can't accept any more of his money？

你的意思是说再也不接受他的钱了？

How can I？ You know he's a criminal！How do I know where his money comes from？

我怎么能接受？你知道他是一个逃犯！我怎么知道他的钱是从哪儿来的？

And think what I owe him al－ready！I have no way of paying him back．

想想我已经欠下他的账！我没有办法还他。

Oh Herbert，if I didn't have you as a friend，I'd be desperate！

哦，赫伯特，如果我没有你作为一个朋友，我会绝望的！

I could only just control my tears．Herbert kindly¹ pretended not to notice．

我能勉强地控制住眼泪，赫伯特友好地假装没看见。

My dear Handel，he said，if you want to pay back what you owe him，you could always join my company，Clarrikers．

我亲爱的汉德尔，他说，如果您要想不欠他的钱，你随时可以参加我的公司，克拉雷克斯，

I'm going to be a partner there soon，you know．Poor Her-bert！He did not suspect whose money was helping² him become a partner．

我马上就是那儿的一个股东，你知道。可怜的赫伯特！他确实没有对帮助他成为股东的这些钱产生怀疑。

But there's another thing，added Herbert．This man has a fierce and violent character．

不过，另有一件事情，他补充着说，这个家伙有一个凶恶、暴烈的性格，

He's come here with a fixed³ idea，which he's been looking forward to for half his life．If you destroy his idea，his life will be worthless⁴．

他带着一个固执的想法来到这儿，在这里他盼望着度过后半生。如果你破坏了他的想法，他的生活将失去意义。

And he will allow himself to be arrested and hanged，I continued，nodding．

他会让自己被捕，被拖上绞刑架，我点着头继续说，

Yes，I've thought that ever since he arrived．If that happened，I'd feel guilty for ever．

是的，我想过了，自从他到来以前，如果那是碰巧发生的，我对以前感到有罪。

So you cannot destroy his dream now．First we must get him out of England，where he risks death every moment．

因此，你现在不能破坏他的梦想。首先，我们必须把他弄出英格兰。在这儿，他随时都有死的危险。

Then you will explain that you can't accept his money．I'll help you all the way，trust me．I shook Herbert's hand gratefully．

然后，你将说明你不能接受他的钱。我将设法帮助你，相信我。我感激地握着赫伯特的手。

1 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

4 worthless   

adj.无价值的，无用的，可鄙的

参考例句：

• Don't read worthless books.不要读没有用的书。
• He was worthless as a painter.他作为画家一事无成。