牛津書蟲系列 化身博士 7 The last night

7 The last night

7 最后一夜

It was now March， and Mr Utterson was sitting by thefire after dinner，when he was surprised to receive avisitfrom Doctor Jekyll's servant，Poole.The old man looked paleand frightened.

轉(zhuǎn)眼到了三月份，一天晚飯后，厄特森先生坐在爐火邊，一瞼驚訝之色，因?yàn)閬砹艘晃豢腿?，是杰基爾博士的仆人普爾，老人家看上去面無人色，充滿了恐懼。

'Mr Utterson，he said，'something is wrong.'

“厄特森先生，”他說，“出事了。”

'Sit down by the fire and tell me all abut it.'

“來，坐到火邊，慢慢說。”

'The doctor's locked himself up in his study， sir.'

“博士把自己鎖在書房里，不出來了，先生。”

'That's quite usual， surely，' said the lawyer. 'You knowyour master's habits as well as I do.He often shuts himselfaway from the world.'

“這不是常事嗎?”律師說，“你和我一樣清楚你的主人的習(xí)慣，他不是經(jīng)常把自己鎖起來嗎?”

'Yes，but this time it's different. It frightens me， sirI've been frightened for more than a week now， and I justcan't go on any longer.

“是，可是這次不一樣，太可怕了，先生，有一個(gè)星期了，我再也受不了啦。”

He stopped and stared down at the floor.

他停下來，低頭盯著地板。

'Try and tell me， Poole，'said Mr Utterson gently. 'Something terrible is happening to my master.I can't explain. But… please，sir，can you come with me and see foryourself?'

“來吧，普爾，告訴我是怎么一回事。”律師輕輕地說道。“主人遇到了可怕的事，我說不清楚，可是……求求您先生，能跟我一起去親自瞧瞧嗎?”

At once Mr Utterson fetched his coat and hat.

厄特森先生立刻拿來自己的大衣，戴上帽子。

'Thank you， sir，'whispered Poole gratefully.

“謝謝，先生，”普爾滿心感激地嘟噥著。

Together they made their way to Doctor Jekyll's house. Itwas a wild，stormy night.To Mr Utterson the streets seemedstrangely empty and lonely. The square， when they reachedit， was full of wind and flying dust. The thin trees were blowing wildly， and untidy grey clouds were sailing past a pale，sickly moon.

他們動(dòng)身去杰基爾博士的家。那是個(gè)狂風(fēng)呼嘯、風(fēng)雨交加的晚上，厄特森先生感到街上不同尋常地空曠和孤獨(dú)。到了廣場附近，風(fēng)沙飛揚(yáng)，細(xì)細(xì)的小樹猛烈地?fù)u擺著，亂七八糟、奇形怪狀的黑云飄過蒼白、昏暗的月亮。

'Well，sir，'said Poole，' here we are， and I hope that nothing is wrong.'He knocked softly at the front door. The doorwas opened just a little and a voice from inside asked，'Is thatyou，Poole?'

“先生，”普爾說，“我們到了，但愿沒出亂子。”他小心翼翼地敲門，門開了一道縫，里面?zhèn)鞒鰜硪粋€(gè)聲音：“是你嗎，普爾?”

'Yes-open the door.'

“沒錯(cuò)，開門吧。”

The hall，when they entered，was brightly lit.A good firewas burning.The room was full of people-every servant inthe house was there.They looked like a crowd of frightenedchildren.

他們走進(jìn)大廳，里面燈火通明，火燒得很旺，屋里擠滿了人——所有的仆人都在，好像一群嚇壞了的孩子。

'What's all this?'said the lawyer.'What are you all doinghere? Your master would not be pleased.'

“這究竟是怎么回事?”律師問，“你們都在這兒干什么?主人是會(huì)不高興的。”

'They're frightened，'said Poole simply.No one elsespoke.A little servant girl began to cry.

“他們都害怕，”普爾輕聲說。沒人說話，一個(gè)小女仆抑制不住，哭出聲來。

'Quiet!'said Poole sharply，trying to control his own fear.'Now-fetch me a light and we'll finish this business at once.Mr Utterson， sir， please follow me.'He led the way across theback garden towards the laboratory.

“別嚎了!”普爾提高嗓門喊了一聲，努力把自己的恐懼壓下去。“去，拿枝蠟燭來，我們馬上把這事弄個(gè)水落石出。厄特森先生，請(qǐng)跟在我后面。”他在前面引路，穿過后花園朝實(shí)驗(yàn)室走去。

'Come as quietly as you can， sir.I want you to hear， but Idon't want him to hear you.And sin-if he asks you to go inside-don't go!'

“先生，請(qǐng)您把腳步放輕點(diǎn)，我想讓您聽聽，但您可別讓他聽見了。先生，要是他讓您進(jìn)去，千萬別進(jìn)去!”

Mr Utterson's heart gave a little jump of fear， but hebravely followed the servant into the laboratory to the bottomof the stairs.

厄特森先生嚇得心中一緊，但他馬上鼓起勇氣，跟著仆人進(jìn)了實(shí)驗(yàn)室，來到樓梯下。

'Wait here， sir-and listen carefully，whispered Poole. Hehimself，again controlling his fear， climbed the stairs andknocked on the study door.

“在這兒等著，先生，仔細(xì)聽著，”普爾低聲說。而他自己抑制住恐懼，上了樓梯，敲了敲書房的門。

'Mr Utterson would like to see you， sir，'he called.

“先生，厄特森先生想見您，”他叫道。

'Tell him I cannot see anyone，' said a voice from inside theStudy.

“告訴他，我不能見任何人。”書房里傳出一個(gè)聲音。

'Thank you，sir，'said Poole.He led Mr Utterson backacross the garden and into the house. 'Sir，'he said， 'was thatmy master's voice?'

“謝謝您，先生，”普爾說完，又領(lǐng)著厄特森先生穿過花園回到屋里。“先生，”他問，“那是我主人的聲音嗎?”

The lawyer's face was pale. 'It has changed，'he said.

“好像有點(diǎn)變了……”律師說，臉色花白。

'Changed? You're right，'said Poole.'I've worked forDoctof Jekyll for twenty years.That was not my master's voice.Someone has murdered my master. Eight days ago weheard his voice for the last time.“Dear God!”he cried-thenno more.The voice you heard just now was the voice of hismuderer!'

“變了?您說得沒錯(cuò)，”普爾說，“我服侍了杰基爾博士二十年，那根本不是主人的聲音，主人已經(jīng)給人害死了，八天前我最后一次聽見他的聲音。'哦!親愛的主啊!'他喊了一聲，然后就再?zèng)]有聲音了。您剛才聽到的是兇手的聲音!”

'This is an extraordinary story， my good man，'said Mr Utterson. He tried hard to appear calm.'If Dr Jekyll has beenmurdered-why is his murderer still there? What reason couldhe possibly have for staying?'

“這事太不尋常了，好普爾，”厄特森先生說，盡量使自己保持冷靜。“如果杰基爾博士給人害了，為什么兇手還在這兒?是什么原因讓他留在這里呢?”

'Perhaps you don't believe me， sir， but I know what Iheard.For a week now the person-or thing-in that studyhas been crying night and day for some special chemical powders.My master was in the habit，when he was particularlybusy with his scientific work，of writing orders on pieces ofpaper and leaving them on the stairs.'We've had nothing elsethis week， nothing except written orders and a locked door.I've been to every chemist in town in search of these chemicalsof his，but they were never right.They weren't pure enough，he said. I had to take them back to the shop，and try anotherchemist.I don't know what these chemicals are，but the person in that study wants them terribly badly.'

“好吧，先生，也許您不信我的話，但我明白我聽見了什么。快一個(gè)星期了，那個(gè)人，也許是什么怪物，在書房里沒日沒夜地哭，要一種特別的藥粉。主人每次一忙，就是這樣，把命令寫在紙條上，扔在樓梯上，這倒是他一貫的作風(fēng)。這次也是，我們別的什么也不知道，只有吩咐的紙條和關(guān)緊的門。我去過城里所有的藥店，找他要的東西，可沒一樣符合他的要求。他說那些玩意不純，我又得把東西退回去，再上別的店。我不知道這些藥是干什么的，可書房里的那個(gè)人要得那么急。”

'Did you keep any of these written orders?'asked Mr Utterson.

“你有他寫的這種紙條嗎?”厄特森先生問道。

Poole reached in his pocket and brought out a note.Thelawyer read it carefully.It said：'I am returning your chemicals，as they are impure and therefore useless.In the year18-you made up a mixture of chemical powders for DoctorHenry Jekyll. Please search your cupboards for some more ofthe same mixture and send it to Doctor Jekyll AT ONCE.Thisis VERY IMPORTANT.'

普爾把手伸進(jìn)口袋，掏出一張紙。律師湊近仔細(xì)看了看，上面寫道：“現(xiàn)將剛購的那批貨退還，質(zhì)地不純，不合用途。18××年，您曾給亨利·杰基爾博士配過一批藥劑，恭請(qǐng)貴號(hào)盡量搜尋，若有任何相同藥劑存貨請(qǐng)立即送來。至關(guān)重要，切記，切記。”

'This is a strange note，'said Mr Utterson.

“真是個(gè)奇怪的條子!”厄特森先生說。

'The chemist thought so too，' sir，'said Poole.'When I tookhim this note，he cried，“All my chemicals are pure，and youcan tell your master so!”and he threw the note back at me.'

“藥劑師也這么認(rèn)為，先生，”普爾說著，“我給他這個(gè)條子，他嚷嚷著說：'我所有的藥品都是純的，就這么告訴你們主人!'他說著就沖我把紙條扔了回來。”

'Are you sure this is your master's handwriting?' asked MrUtterson.

“你能肯定這是主人的筆跡嗎?”厄特森先生問。

'Of course，sir，'said Poole.'But what does handwritingmatter? I've seen my master's murderer!'

“當(dāng)然了，先生，”普爾說，“可這又有什么關(guān)系呢?我看見了兇手!”

'Seen him?'repeated Mr Utterson.

“看見他了?”厄特森先生不禁重復(fù)了一遍。

'Yes!It was like this.I came suddenly into the laboratoryfrom the garden.I think he had left the study to look forsomething.The study door was open and there he was at thefar end of the laboratory.He was searching among some oldboxes.He looked up when I came in， gave a kind of cry andran upstairs and into the study.I only saw him for a moment，but my blood seemed to freeze.Sir，if that was my master，why was he wearing a mask over his face? If it was my master， why did he cry out like a trapped animal and run awayfrom me? I've been his servant for twenty years.And then …'Poole paused，and covered his face with his hands，tooupset to speak.

“就是看見了嘛!是這樣的，有一次我從花園突然去了實(shí)驗(yàn)室，我以為他離開書房找什么東西去了，書房的門開著，他就在實(shí)驗(yàn)室最里面，在舊箱子里翻什么東西。我進(jìn)去時(shí)他抬頭看了我一眼，大叫一聲，轉(zhuǎn)身就奔到書房里去了。我只看到他一眼，可血都要凍住了似的。先生，您說要是主人的話，他干嗎臉上戴著面罩?要是主人的話，干嗎像個(gè)四處被迫的野獸，從我跟前逃走?我給他當(dāng)了20年的仆人，可他……”普爾將臉埋在手里，難過得說不下去了。

'This is all very mysterious，'said Mr Utterson，' but I thinkI begin to understand.Your master， Poole，is ill.And the illness has changed his appearance.Perhaps that also explainsthe change in his voice.It certainly explains the mask and theway he has been avoiding his friends.And of course，he's searching for these chemicals he cause he believes they willmake him well again.Dear God，I hope he's right!PoorJekyll-thst is my explanation.It's sad enough，Poole，butit's normal and natural，and there's nothing to be alarmedabout.'

“的確是樁怪事。”厄特森先生說，“我想我有點(diǎn)明白了。普爾，你的主人看來是病了，長相也變了，嗓音也變了，這樣就能解釋為什么他戴面罩了，因?yàn)樗辉敢娕笥?當(dāng)然了，他拼命地找藥，是因?yàn)樗J(rèn)為吃了藥就會(huì)好了。上帝啊!希望他一切都好!哦!可憐的杰基爾!這是我的解釋，想起來怪怕人的，但還算正常，也還算自然，不必那么擔(dān)心。”

'Sir，'said the servant，'that…thing was not my master.My master is a tall，fine，well-built man.The stranger wasmuch shorter… Sir，I have been with my master for twentyyears and I know his appearance as well as I know my own.No，sir，that thing in the mask was never Doctor Jekyll， and Ibelieve that he-it-murdered my master!'

“可是，先生，”仆人說，“那個(gè)……東西，不是主人。主人是個(gè)大高個(gè)，又體面又英俊，那個(gè)人矮得多……先生，我和主人在一起二十年了，還會(huì)不記得主人長得什么樣?除非我不知道自己長什么樣了!不，先生，面罩下的那個(gè)東西決不會(huì)是杰基爾博士的，而且我認(rèn)定，就是——它——殺了主人!”

'Poole，'said the lawyer，if you say that， I must makesure. We must break down the study door.'

“普爾，”律師說，一你要是這么說，我一定要弄個(gè)水落石出了。咱們得把門撞開。”

'You're right， Mr Utterson!'cried the old servant.

“這才對(duì)啊!厄特森先生!”老仆人大聲說道。

'Very well. Will you help me? If we are wrong， I'll makesure that you're not blamed for it.'

“很好。那么你愿意幫助我嗎?萬一弄錯(cuò)了，我不會(huì)讓你受責(zé)備的。”

'There's an axe in the laboratory， suggested Poole.

“實(shí)驗(yàn)室里有把斧子，”普爾建議說。

'You realize， Poole，'said Mr Utterson，'that this may bedangerous for us both? Let us now be honest with each other.This masked figure that you saw-you're certain that it wasnot your master·'

“普爾，你知道，”厄特森先生說，“這事對(duì)咱們倆都?jí)蛭ｋU(xiǎn)的。咱們有話直說，你見到的那個(gè)戴面罩的人，你敢肯定不是你的主人。”

'That's right， sir.'

“是的，先生。”

'Did you in fact recognize it?'

“你確實(shí)能認(rèn)出他嗎?”

'Well，sir，it was all so quick that I'm not really sure.But-well，I think it was Mr Hyde.It was short，like MrHyde， and it moved in the same light， quick， active way. Andwho else could come in by the laboratory door from the street?You must remember，sir，that at the time of the Carew murder Mr Hyde still had the laboratory key with him. But that's not all.Mr Utterson， did you ever meet Mr Hyde?'

“嗯，先生，時(shí)間太短，他跑得很快，不敢真的確定。但是——直說吧，我想那是海德先生。個(gè)子和他一樣矮，動(dòng)作一樣輕快、敏捷，再有，除了他，誰還能從街上走實(shí)驗(yàn)室的門進(jìn)來呢?您別忘了，先生，卡魯兇殺案發(fā)生時(shí)，鑰匙還在海德先生手里呢!這還不算。對(duì)了，先生，您見過這個(gè)海德先生嗎?”

'Yes，'replied the lawyer.'I once spoke with him.'

“見過，”律師說，“我跟他說過一次話。”

'Then you will know， sir，that there is something strangeabout Mr Hyde，something evil.'

“那您也該清楚，海德先生有點(diǎn)奇怪，他身上有種邪惡的東西。”

'I agree with you，'said Mr Utterson.'I felt something likethst， too.'

“我同意你說的，”厄特森先生說，“我和你感覺差不多。”

'Yes，sir.Well，when that thing in the mask jumped outfrom behind the boxes and ran up the stairs，I had exactly thesame feeling.That thing behind the mask was Mr Hydee!'

“是這樣嘛!面罩下的那個(gè)東西從箱子后面跳出來，跑上樓梯，當(dāng)時(shí)我就是那種感覺，覺得面罩下的那個(gè)人一定是海德先生!”

'I understand，Poole，and I believe you，'said the lawyerslowly.'And I believe poor Henry Jekyll has been murdered.I believe too that his murderer is still hiding in the study.Now， Poole， let's go and make an end of it.'

“我知道了，普爾，我相信你，”律師一字一頓地說道，“我相信可憐的亨利·杰基爾已經(jīng)給人害死了，我也確信兇手還在書房里藏著。現(xiàn)在，普爾，咱們就去了結(jié)這事。”

Together they went out into the back garden.The cloudshad covered the moon and it was now quite dark. As theypassed silently by the wall of the laboratory， they stopped andlistened.Further away they could hear the everyday noises of aLondon evening. From the study above them， however，camethe sound of footsteps moving backwards and forwards acrossthe floor.

他們一起走進(jìn)后花園，烏云遮住了月亮，周圍一片幽暗，兩人靜悄悄地沿著實(shí)驗(yàn)室的墻走過去，停住腳，聽了一會(huì)兒，遠(yuǎn)處傳來倫敦城天天晚上的吵吵鬧鬧的聲音，但上面的書房里只有徘徊的腳步聲，打破了周圍的寂靜。

'It walks like that all day，sir，'whisperedPoole，'yes，andmost of the night too.It only stops when some more chemicalsarrive from the chemist.Ah， sir，listen to that-do you thinkthose are my master's footsteps?'

“他整天就這么走，先生。”普爾低聲說，“哎，大半夜就這么走來走去的，只有新藥品送來了，腳步聲才會(huì)停下來。您聽，先生，那是主人的腳步聲嗎?”

The short，light steps were indeed very different from Henry Jekyll's long，heavy ones.

這腳步聲又輕，又短，確實(shí)和亨利·杰基爾又長、又重的步子很不一樣。

'Have you anything else to tell me，Poole?'asked thelawyer heavily.

“還有什么其它情況嗎，普爾?”律師沉重地問道。

'Once，'said Poole，'I heard it weeping.'

“有一次，”普爾說，“我聽見他在哭。”

'Weeping?'repeated Mr Utterson in horror.

“哭?”厄特森一臉恐怖地重復(fù)道。

'Weeping like a lost child，'said the old servant.'It tore myheart. I felt like weeping too.'

“哭得像個(gè)迷路的孩子，”老仆人說，“我聽了直心碎，也特別想哭。”

'well，'said the lawyer，'we have a job to do.'

“行了，”律師說，“咱們還有事要干。”

They went into the laboratory and climbed the stairs to thestudy.'Jekyll，'called the lawyer in a loud voice，'I must seeyou.'He paused for a moment，but there was no reply.'Ifyou refuse to let me in， then I'll break dowu the door!'

他們進(jìn)了實(shí)驗(yàn)室，沿著樓梯向書房走去。“杰基爾，”律師大聲喊起來，“我要見你!”他停了一會(huì)兒，沒人回答。“你要是不讓我進(jìn)去，我可就破門而入了!”

'Utterson，'said a voice from inside the study，'I beg you toleave me alone!'

“厄特森，”里面?zhèn)鞒鲆粋€(gè)聲音，“求求你，讓我自己呆著吧!”

'That's not Jekyll's voice!' shied Mr Utterson. 'It's Hyde's!Break the door down， Poole !'

“這不是杰基爾的聲音!”厄特森先生大喊一聲，“這是海德!普爾，砸門!”

The axe rose and fell.The door shook and a scream of purefear，like a trapped animal，rang from the study. Again theaxe crashed against the door.But the wood was strong and thelock was well made.At last， however， the door fell inwardsupon the carpet.

手起斧落，房門震了震，屋里傳來恐懼的尖叫聲，就像野獸被夾住了腿。門上又落了一斧，但上好的木頭很結(jié)實(shí)，鎖也打制得很堅(jiān)固，最后好不容易，門才落在屋里的地毯上。

The two men stared into the study.They saw a warm，comfortable room with a good fire burning in the fireplace anda few papers on the big table. A friendly， homely room. Butface down in the middle of the floor there lay the body of aman.The lawyer turned it over on its back and saw the face ofEdward Hyde. He was dressed in clothes that were much toolarge for him， and in his hand he held a small bottle.

兩人向屋里瞪眼望去，壁爐里的火很旺，又暖和又舒服，一張大桌子上散著幾張紙，這是一間又樸素又溫馨的屋子。可是屋中間的地板上臥著一具尸體，律師把他扳過來，是愛德華·海德的臉。他穿著比他個(gè)兒大得多的衣服，手里捏著一個(gè)小瓶子。

The lawyer shook his head.'He's taken poison， Poole， hesaid.'I fear we've come too late to save Doctor Jekyll， andtoo late to punish his murderer too. Now we must find yourmaster's body.'

律師搖搖頭。“他吃了毒藥，普爾?？峙略蹅冞€是來晚了，沒法救杰基爾醫(yī)生，也不可能懲罰兇手了?，F(xiàn)在咱們得找到主人的尸體。”

They searched everywhere，but there was no sign of HenryJekyll， dead or alive.

他們找遍了，可就是沒有杰基爾的影子，不管是死的，還是活的。

'Perhaps your master has escaped，'said Mr Utterson hopefully. He went to check the door from the laboratory into thenarrow side-street.It was locked，and covered with dust.Onthe floor nearby he found a broken key.

“也許他早逃走了!”厄特森先生充滿希望地說。他轉(zhuǎn)身去查看從實(shí)驗(yàn)室通往小街的那扇門。門上了鎖，到處是灰塵，旁邊地上，他找到了一把折斷的鑰匙。

'It's a long time since anyone opened this door!' said MrUtterson.

“好久沒人開過這扇門了!”厄特森先生說。

'Yes，'said Poole，picking up the broken key.'So how didHyde get in?'

“是啊，”普爾一邊答道，一邊撿起折斷的鑰匙。“那么，海德是怎么進(jìn)來的呢?”

'This is too difficult for me，Pooh，'said the lawyer.'Let'sgo back to the study.'

“這真叫我摸不著頭腦了，普爾，”律師說，“咱們?cè)倩貢靠纯础?rdquo;

They searched the study again.'Look，sir，'said Poole，Pointing to a small bable in the corner.There were bottles ofliquid and some white powders lying in saucers.'He was testing his chemicals here.'

他們又在書房找了一遍。“先生，你看，”普爾指著屋角的小桌子，上面擺著盛著各種各樣液體的小瓶子，碟子里有些白色粉末。“他在這兒實(shí)驗(yàn)這些藥品。”

One of the doctor's books was lying on the floor. Its coverwas torn off.The lawyer picked it up.Doctor Jekyll loved hisbooks and always took great care of them. But he had writtenall over this one-the handwriting was unmistakable-beforetearing it and throwing it on the floor.

地上扔著醫(yī)生的一本書，封皮已破爛不堪。律師把書撿起來。杰基爾博士一直很愛看書，也愛惜書，可這本書在沒有被撕壞和扔到地上之前，上面寫滿了字，筆跡也沒錯(cuò)。

Then the lawyer noticed the tall mirror on the wall betweenthe glass-fronted bookshelves.

隨后律師又注意到兩個(gè)玻璃書柜之間的墻上，鑲著一面又高又大的鏡子。

'How strange，'said Mr Utterson.'Why did Jekyll want amirror in his study?'

“真奇怪，”厄特森先生說，“杰基爾在書房里放這東西有什么用?”

Next they turned to the desk and found a large packet addressed to Mr Utterson. The handwriting was DoctorJekyll's.The lawyer opened the packet and three envelopesfell out on to the floor.The first contained a will. It was likeDoctor Jekyll's first win in every way- except one.The doctor had left all his money，not to Edward Hyde，but to GabrielJohn Utterson.

他們又轉(zhuǎn)身去看書桌，發(fā)現(xiàn)有一個(gè)大郵包，上面寫著“厄特森先生收”，筆跡是杰基爾博士的。律師打開郵包，里面掉出三封信。第一封是遺囑，和博士的第一份遺囑一模一樣，只有一條除外，博士把所有積蓄不是給了愛德華·海德，而是給了加布里埃爾·約翰·厄特森。

The lawyer looked at the will，then at Poole，and finally atthe dead man on the floor.

律師看了看遺囑，又看了看普爾，最后把目光投向地板上的尸體。

'I just don't understand，'he whispered.'Hyde has beenhere all this time-why didn't he destroy this will?'

“我還是不明白，”他喃喃說道，“海德一直呆在這兒——可他怎么沒有把這份遺囑毀掉呢?”

He picked up the next envelope.It contained a short note inthe doctor's handwriting.Mr Utterson saw the date.'Poole!'he cried，'this is today's date on the letter. Jekyllwas alive here today. He can't be dead-he has run away or ishiding somewhere.And if so， why?If he's alive，can we besure that Hyde killed himself? We must be careful， Poole，orwe may involve your master in some terrible danger.

他又拿起另一個(gè)信封，是博士手寫的短箋，厄特森先生看了看日期。“普爾!”他叫道，“是今天的日期，杰基爾今天還活著，他肯定沒有死——一定是逃跑了，要不就是躲起來了。真是那樣的話，那又為什么呢?如果他還活著，我們能肯定海德是自殺的嗎?普爾，咱們得小心行事，否則可能會(huì)把你的主人拖到什么慘禍里去的!”

'Why don't you read the note， sir?asked the servant.

“您為什么不念下去，先生?”仆人問。

'Because I'm afraid，said the lawyer，in a worried voice.Slowly，he lifted the letter，and read：

“我害怕，”律師心事重重地說，然后他慢慢地拾起了信，念道：

My dear Utterson，

“我親愛的厄特森：

If you are reading this，it means that I have disappeared.Please go home and read Lanyon's letter.Afterwards，pleaseread the confessicn of

當(dāng)您看到這張紙條的時(shí)候，這意味著我已經(jīng)失蹤了。請(qǐng)您回去看看蘭寧醫(yī)生的信。之后，請(qǐng)您再讀我的懺悔書。

Your unfortunate and unhappy friend，

您的不幸而痛苦的朋友

Henry Jekyll

亨利·杰基爾”

'This must be the confession， said Mr Utterson to himself，picking up the third and largest envelope.He put it in hispocket.'say nothing about these papers， Poole，'he said.' Ifyour master has died or disappeared，this paper may save hisreputation.It's now ten o'clock.I must go home and studythese papers in peace and quiet But I shall come back here before midnight，and then we shall send fof the police.

厄特森先生拾起第三封信，那是個(gè)最大的信封，厄特森自言自語說：“這一定是懺悔書了。”他把信放進(jìn)口袋，說：“普爾，別跟別人說起信的事，要是主人死了或者失蹤了，這些東西也許能挽救他的名譽(yù)。10點(diǎn)了，我要回家去安安靜靜地讀信，午夜之前我一定趕回來，那時(shí)我們?cè)倥扇巳?bào)警。”

They went out，locking the laboratory door behind them.With a heavy heart Mr Utterson walked home to read his letters.

他們一同出來，鎖上了實(shí)驗(yàn)室的門。厄特森先生心情沉重地回家去看這些信。