巴斯克威尔的猎犬 巴斯克维尔庄园（14）

 

But the dining-room which opened out of the hall was a place of shadow and gloom. It was along chamber with a step separating the dais where the family sat from the lower portion reservedfor their dependents. At one end a minstrel's gallery overlooked it. Black beams shot across aboveour heads, with a smoke-darkened ceiling beyond them. With rows of flaring torches to light it up,and the colour and rude hilarity of an old-time banquet, it might have softened; but now, when twoblackclothed gentlemen sat in the little circle of light thrown by a shaded lamp, one's voicebecame hushed and one's spirit subdued. A dim line of ancestors, in every variety of dress, fromthe Elizabethan knight to the buck of the Regency, stared down upon us and daunted us by theirsilent company. We talked little, and I for one was glad when the meal was over and we were ableto retire into the modern billiard-room and smoke a cigarette.

可是开向厅堂的饭厅则是个晦暗阴郁的处所， 这是一间长形的屋子， 有一段台阶把屋子由中间分成高低不同的两部分， 较高部分为家中人进餐之所， 较低部分则留给佣人们使用。

在一端的高处建有演奏廊。 乌黑的梁木横过我们的头顶， 再上面就是被熏黑了的天花板了。

如果用一排盛燃的火炬把屋子照亮， 在一个丰富多采、 狂欢不羁的古老的宴乐之中， 这严峻的气氛也许能被缓和下来， 可是现在呢？ 两位黑衣绅士坐在由灯罩下面照出来的不大的光环之内， 说话的声音都变低了， 而精神上也感受到压抑。 一排隐隐现出的祖先的画像， 穿着各式各样的服装， 由伊丽莎白女皇时代的骑士起， 直至乔治四世皇太子摄政时代的花花公子止，他们都张目注视着我们， 沉默地陪伴着我们， 威慑着我们。 我们很少说话， 我很高兴这顿饭总算是吃完了， 我们可以到新式的弹子房去吸一支烟了。

"My word, it isn't a very cheerful place," said Sir Henry. "I suppose one can tone down to it,but I feel a bit out of the picture at present. I don't wonder that my uncle got a little jumpy if helived all alone in such a house as this. However, if it suits you, we will retire early to-night, andperhaps things may seem more cheerful in the morning."“说实话， 我觉得这里真不是一个能使人很愉快的地方， ” 亨利爵士说道，“我本以为可以逐渐习惯于这样的环境呢， 可是现在我总感觉有点不对劲。 难怪我伯父单独住在这样一所房子里会变得心神不安呢。 啊， 如果您愿意的话， 咱们今晚早些休息， 也许在清晨时分事物会显得更使人愉快些呢。”