Blackmail （ Excerpts ） Arthur Hailey

The chief house officer, Ogilvie, who had declared he would appear at the Croydons suite an hour after his cryptic telephone call actually took twice that time.

负责饭店保安工作的欧吉维探长打了那个神秘的电话，本来说好一个小时后光 临克罗伊敦夫妇所住的套房的，可实际上却过了两个小时才到。

As a result the nerves of both the Duke and Duchess were excessively frayed when the muted buzzer of the outer door eventually sounded.

结果，当外间门上的电铃终于发出沉闷的嗡嗡声时，公爵夫妇的神经都紧张到 了极点。

The Duchess went to the door herself.

公爵夫人亲自去开门。

Earlier she had dispatched her maid on an invented errand and, cruelly, instructed the moon-faced male secretary – who was terrified of dogs – to exercise the Bedlington terriersn.

此前她早已借故把女仆支开，并且狠心地给那位脸儿圆圆的、见到狗就怕得要 死的男秘书派了一个要命的差事，让他牵着贝德林顿狼犬出去散步。

Her own tension was not lessened by the knowledge that both might return at any moment.

想到这两个人随时都会回来，她自己的紧张情绪怎么也松弛不下来。

A wave of cigar smoke accompanied Ogilvie in.

随着欧吉维进屋的是一团雪茄烟雾。

When he had followed her to the living room, the Duchess looked pointedly at the half-burned cigar in the fat man’s mouth.

当他随着她走进起居室时，公爵夫人目光直射着这个大肥佬嘴里叼着的那烧了 半截的雪茄。

“My husband and I find strong smoke offensive. Would you kindly put that out."

“我丈夫和我都讨厌浓烈的烟味，您行行好把它灭了吧 !”

The house detective's piggy eyes surveyed her sardonically from his gross jowled face.

The house detective's small narrow eyes looked her up and down scornfully from his fat face with a heavy jowl.

探长那双夹在面部隆起的肉堆中的猪眼睛轻蔑地将她上下打量了一番。

His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-appointed room, encompassing the Duke who faced them uncertainly, his back to a window.

接着，他便移动目光，对这个宽敞豪华、设备齐全的房间扫视了一周，看到了 那位正背朝窗户、神色茫然地望着他们的公爵。

"Pretty neat set-up you folks got.”

This is a pretty nice room that you have got.

“你们这套房间布置得倒挺讲究的呢。 ”

Taking his time, Ogilvie removed the offending cigar, knocked off the ash and flipped the butt toward an ornamental fireplace on his right. He missed, and the butt fell upon the carpet where he ignored it.

欧吉维慢条斯理地从口中拿下雪茄，敲掉烟灰，然后将烟蒂扔向靠右边的一个 装饰性壁炉，但他失了准头，烟蒂掉到地毯上，他也不去管它。

The Duchess's lips tightened.

公爵夫人的嘴唇绷得紧紧的。

She said sharply, imagine you did not come here to discuss décor ".

她没好气地说道， “我想你该不是为谈论房间布置到这儿来的吧。 ”

The obese body shook in an appreciative chuckle .

The fat body shook in a chuckle because the man was enjoying the fact that he could afford to do whatever he liked and also he was appreciating the fact that the Duchess knew why he had come.

他乐得咯咯直笑，肥胖的身子也跟着抖动起来。

"No, ma'am, can't say I did. I like nice things, though."

• “不是的，夫人，怎么会呢!不过，我确实喜爱高雅的东西。 ”

He lowered the level of his incongruous falsetto voice."

He had an unnaturally high-pitched voice. When he spoke now, he lowered the pitch.

他压低了他那极端刺耳的尖嗓音接着说，

Like that car of yours. The one you keep here in the hotel. Jaguar, ain't it?"

• “比如像你们那辆小轿车，就是停在饭店的那辆，美洲虎牌，是的吧 ?”

• "Aah!"

• “噢!”

It was not a spoken word, but an emission of breath from the Duke of Croydon.

这声音不像是从口中说出来的，倒像是从克罗伊敦公爵鼻子中呼出来的。

His wife shot him a swift, warning glance.

他的夫人马上瞪了他一眼，以示警告。

"In what conceivable way does our car concern you?”

• “我们的车子与你有什么相干呢 ?”

As if the question from the Duchess had been a signal, the house detective's manner changed. He inquired abruptly, "Who else is in this place?"

公爵夫人的这句问话似乎是个信号，一听到这个信号，探长的态度马上就变 了。他猝然问道， “这儿还有别的人么?”

It was the Duke who answered, "No one. We sent them out."

公爵回答道，“没有。我们早把他们都打发出去了。 ”

"There's things it pays to check."

“还是检查一下的好。 ”

Moving with surprising speed, the fat man walked around the suite, opening doors and inspecting the space behind them.

这个大胖子以敏捷得出奇的动作对整个套房前前后后地巡查了一遍，凡是有门 的地方就打开往里看看。

Obviously he knew the room arrangement well.

显然，他对整套房间布局是极为熟悉的。

After reopening and closing the outer door, he returned, apparently satisfied, to the living room.

他再次打开外间的房门并重新关上之后，面带满意的神色回到了起居室。

The Duchess had seated herself in a straight-backed Ogilvie remained standing.

公爵夫人已端坐在一张直背靠椅上，欧吉维还是站立着。

"Now then," he said."You two was in the hit-'n-run ."

“我说，”他开口了，“你俩怎么撞了人就开车逃跑呢 ?!”

She met his eyes directly." What are you talking about?"

她直视着他的眼睛。 “你在胡扯些什么呀?”

"Don't play games, lady. This is for real."

“别做戏了，夫人。这可不是闹着玩儿的。 ”

He took out a fresh cigar and bit off the end, "You saw the papers. There's been plenty on radio, too."

他又掏出一支新雪茄，把烟头咬掉。“你们该看过报纸吧，电台里也广播得不少 哩。 ”

Two high points of color appeared in the paleness of the Duchess of Croydon's cheeks.

克罗伊敦公爵夫人那本来很苍白的双颊上泛起了两团红晕。

"What you are suggesting is the most disgusting, ridiculous..."

“你那些含含糊糊的话真是太令人恶心，太荒唐可笑了 ⋯⋯”

"I told you – Cut it out!” The words spat forth with sudden savagery , all pretense of blandnessgone. Ignoring the Duke, Ogilvie waved the unlighted cigar under his adversary 's nose.

Ogilvie spat out the words, throwing away his pretended politeness.

“我要你一一闭嘴!”这些话从探长口中像炸雷似地吐了出来，他此时凶相毕露， 先前装出的那副温和劲儿荡然无存。欧吉维全然没把公爵放在眼里，竟把那支 没点燃的雪茄在他的对手鼻子底下晃了一晃。

"You listen to me, your high-an'-mightiness. This city's burnin' mad – cops, mayor, everybody else.

“你给我听着，尊敬的殿下。这会儿全城上下都闹翻了——警察，市长，所有的 人。

When they find who done that last night, who killed that kid an' its mother, then hightailed it, they'll throw the book, and never mind who it hits, or whether they got fancy titles neither.

一旦他们查出昨夜的事是谁干的，是谁撞死了那小孩和她的母亲，然后却逃之 天天，他们一定会对肇事者严加惩处，不管那肇事者是谁，也不管他们有着多 么显赫的爵衔。

Now I know what I know, and if I do what by rights I should, there'll be a squad of cops in here so fast you'll hardly see 'em.

现在我知道了真相，假如我照章办事的话，没等你眨眼，便会有一队警察开到 这儿来。

But I come to you first, in fairness, so's you could tell your side of it to me."

但是我要讲讲公道，所以先到你们这儿来，想听听你们自己的说法。 ”

The piggy eyes blinked, then hardened.

他那猪一般的小眼睛眨巴了几下，随即变得凶狠起来。

if you want it the other way, just say so."

“要是你们想另寻出路，不妨就直说了吧。 ”

The Duchess of Croydon – three centuries and a half of inbred arrogancebehind her – did not yield easily.

The Duchess was supported by her arrogance coming from parents of noble families with a history of three centuries and a half. She wouldn't give up easily.

克罗伊敦公爵夫人——依仗着三个半世纪祖传下来的狂傲天性 ——并没有轻易 就范。

Springing to her feet, her face wrathful, gray-green eyes blazing, she faced the grossness of the house detective squarely.

她猛地一下跳了起来，怒容满面，灰绿色的眼睛里喷射出火光，直直地逼视着 肥肉成堆的探长。

Her tone would have withered anyone who knew her well.

她说话的声调简直可以把熟悉她的任何人都吓得矮掉半截。

“You unspeakable blackguard !How dare you!”

“你这下流的恶棍，竟敢撒野，真是狗胆包天 !”

Even the self-assurance of Ogilvie flickered for an instant.

欧吉维虽有那股自信劲儿，也不禁为之一震。

But it was the Duke of Croydon who interjected, "It's no go, old girl. I'm afraid. It was a good try."

It's no use. What you did just now was a good attempt at trying to save the situation.

但在这时克罗伊敦公爵插话了：“这恐怕也不是个办法，老婆子。不过这样试试 也好。 ”

Facing Ogilvie, he said, "What you accuse us of is true. I am to blame. I was driving the car and killed the little girl."

他面向欧吉维说道：“你对我们的指控属实，肇事者是我，是我开车撞死那小姑 娘的。 ”

"That's more like it," Ogilvie said.He lit the fresh cigar."Now we're getting somewhere."

"That's more acceptable," Ogilvie said. He lit another cigar, "Now we're making some progress. "

“这还有点像话，”欧吉维说着点燃了那支新掏出的雪茄。 “现在我们总算是谈 到点子上了。 ”

Wearily, in a gesture of surrender, the Duchess of Croydon sank back into her chair.

克罗伊敦公爵夫人疲乏地做了一个认输的手势后，颓然坐回到椅子上。

Clasping her hands to conceal their trembling, she asked."What is it you know?"

她双手对握着，以掩饰自己的手在颤抖，嘴里发话问道： “你都知道些什么?”

"Well now, I'll spell it out."

“好吧，我就全说出来。 ”

The house detective took his time, leisurely putting a cloud of blue cigar smoke, his eyes sardonically on the Duchess as if challenging her objection.

...he looked at the Duchess sardonically as if he wanted to see if she dared to object to his smoking.

探长要紧不慢，悠然自得地喷吐出一团青色的雪茄烟雾，同时还把那一双眼睛 带着嘲弄意味地瞟向公爵夫人，仿佛有意要逗她表示反感似的。

But beyond wrinkling her nose in distaste, she made no comment.

但公爵夫人一言未发，只是厌恶地皱了皱鼻子。

Ogilvie pointed to the Duke."Last night, early on, you went to Lindy's Place in Irish Bayou. You drove there in your fancy Jaguar, and you took a lady friend. Leastways, I guess you'd call her that if you're not too fussy."

欧吉维手指着公爵说： “昨晚，入夜不久，你去了爱尔兰牛轭湖的林迪娱乐 城。你是开着你们那辆豪华的美洲虎去的，并且还带着一个女朋友。至少，你 若不过份挑字眼的话，我想你是会这么称呼她的。 ”

As Ogilvie glanced, grinning, at the Duchess, the Duke said sharply, "Get on with it!"

说到这儿，欧吉维目光瞥向公爵夫人，一边还咧着嘴笑。见此情形，公爵厉声 吼道：“接着说下去!”

"Well" – the smug fat face swung back – "the way I hear it, you won a hundred at the tables, then lost it at the bar. You were into a second hundred – with a real swinging party – when your wife here got there in a taxi. "

• “好哇”——那张得意洋洋的胖脸又转了回来 ——“据我所知，你先在赌桌上赢 了一百，跟着又在酒吧里全花掉了。正当你准备 ——同一些有头有脸的人物— —赌上第二个一百时，你的夫人乘坐出租车赶到了那儿。 ”

"How do you know all this?"

• “你是怎么得知这一切的?”

"I'll tell you, Duke – I've been in this town and this hotel a long time.

• “告诉你吧，公爵——我在这个城市和这个旅馆呆的时间都很久了。

I got friends all over.

到处都有我的朋友。

I oblige them; they do the same for me, like letting me know what gives, an’ where.There ain't much, out of the way, which people who stay in this hotel do, I don't get to hear about.

我时常为他们帮忙，他们也同样帮我的忙，比如说告诉我哪儿发生了些什么事 儿，住在这个旅馆的人们做了些什么事情，凡是有点儿出格的，那就很少能瞒 得过我。

Most of ’em never know I know, or know me.

他们多半都不知道我会知道，而且也不认识我。

They think they got their little secret tucked away , and so they have – except like now."

他们以为自己的那些小秘密被隐瞒住了 ——也的确有瞒住的时候——可是这一 回却瞒不住了。 ”

The Duke said coldly, "I see."

公爵冷冷地说，“原来如此。 ”

"One thing I'd like to know. I got a curious nature, ma’ am. How'd you figure where he was?"

“有一件事我想弄明白。我生性好奇，夫人。你是如何猜到他的去处的呢 ?”

The Duchess said, "You know so much... I suppose it doesn't matter. My husband has a habit of making notes while he is telephoning. Afterward he often forgets to destroy them. ”

公爵夫人说道，“你知道得这么多⋯⋯说给你听也无所谓了。我丈夫打电话时有 做记录的习惯，而打完电话后又总是忘了毁掉这些记录。 ”

The house detective clucked his tongue reprovingly.

The house detective made noises with his tongue to show his disapproval.

探长连啧舌头，表示责备。

"A little careless habit like that, Duke – look at the mess it gets you in. Well, here's what I figure about the rest. You an' your wife took off home, you drivin', though the way things turned out it might have been better if she'd have drove."

• “就这么一个小小的粗心大意的习愤，公爵 ——你看它为你带来多大的麻烦。 对啦，接下来的情况我猜是这样的。你和你的夫人一起回家了。是你开的车， 尽管后来的结果表明，若是换了她来开车，那情形也许会好些。 ”

"My wife doesn't drive."

“我夫人不会开车。 ”

Ogilvie nodded understandingly.

欧吉维点了点头，表示理解。

"Explains that one. Anyway, I reckon you were lickered ( = liquored ) up, but good..."

“这个是清楚了。反正，我估计你当时是已经醉酒了，但是好⋯⋯”

The Duchess interrupted."Then you don't know! You don't know anything for sure! You can't possibly prove..."

公爵夫人打断了他的话： “这么说你并不知道!你并没有掌握什么真实情况，你 拿不出任何真凭实据⋯⋯”

"Lady, I can prove all I need to."

“夫人，凡是需要证实的，我都能证实。 ”

The Duke cautioned, "Better let him finish, old girl."

公爵规劝她说，“老婆子，还是让他把话说完吧。 ”

"That's right," Ogilvie said."Just sit an' listen. Last night I seen you come in – through the basement, so's not to use the lobby. Looked right shaken, too, the pair of you.

“这就对了，”欧吉维说道。 “好好坐着听我讲。昨天夜里，我看见你们进来的 ——为了不穿过门厅，你们走的是地下室，而且看起来还是一副惊魂未定的样 子，你们两人都是。

Just come in myself, an' I got to wondering why.Like I said, I got a curious nature."

我本人也恰在那时进屋，一看那情形就觉得奇怪，想探个究竟。我刚才说过， 我这人生性好奇。 ”

The Duchess breathed, "Go on."

公爵夫人轻声道，“说下去。 ”