Chapter I第一章
The Mark Falls
马克贬值
The state of the world had been getting more and more on Soames' nerves ever since the general meeting of the P. P. R. S. It had gone off with that fatuity long associated by him with such gatherings—a watertight rigmarole from the chairman; butter from two reliable shareholders; vinegar from shareholders not so reliable; and the usual 'gup' over the dividend. He had gone there glum, come away glummer. From a notion once taken into his head Soames parted more slowly than a cheese parts from its mites. Two-sevenths of foreign business, nearly all German! And the mark falling! It had begun to fall from the moment that he decided to support the dividend. And why? What was in the wind? Contrary to his custom, he had taken to sniffing closely the political columns of his paper. The French—he had always mistrusted them, especially since his second marriage—the French were going to play old Harry, if he was not greatly mistaken! Their papers, he noticed, never lost a chance of having a dab at English policy; seemed to think they could always call the tune for England to pipe to! And the mark and the franc, and every other sort of money, falling. And, though in Soames was that which rejoiced in the thought that one of his country's bits of paper could buy a great quantity of other countries' bits of paper, there was also that which felt the whole thing silly and unreal, with an ever-growing consciousness that the P. P. R. S. would pay no dividend next year. The P. P. R. S. was a big concern; no dividend would be a sign, no small one, of bad management. Assurance was one of the few things on God's earth which could and should be conducted without real risk. But for that he would never have gone on the Board. And to find assurance had not been so conducted and that by himself, was—well! He had caused Winifred to sell, anyway, though the shares had already fallen slightly. \"大众I thought it was such a good thing, Soames,\"大众 she had said plaintively: \"大众it's rather a bore, losin' money on the shares.\"大众 He had answered without mercy: \"大众If you don't sell, you'll lose more.\"大众 And she had done it. If the Rogers and Nicholases who had followed him into it hadn't sold too—well, it was their look out! He had made Winifred warn them. As for himself, he had nothing but his qualifying shares, and the missing of a dividend or two would not hurt one whose director's fees more than compensated. It was not, therefore, private uneasiness so much as resentment at a state of things connected with foreigners and the slur on his infallibility.
自从天佑再保险公司召开股东大会以来，索姆斯对天下场合排场越来越感到不安。长期以来他一贯把屈曲和这种会议联系在一起，这次大会进行过程中也充满了屈曲的辞吐——董事长的无懈可击的冗长废话、两位可靠的股东的奉承话、几位不太可靠的股东的尖酸刻薄的话以及关于红利的惯常的“闲谈”。他去开会时怏怏不乐，离开时更是愁容满面。一旦一个想法在索姆斯脑中形成，再要他放弃它，切实其实比小虫子离开奶酪还要慢。七分之二的国外业务，险些全部都是德国的！
而马克正在贬值！
从他决定支持分红的那个时候起，马克就开始贬值了。是什么缘故原由呢？会发生什么事情呢？他一反平日的习气，开始密切把稳他读的那份报纸的政治专栏。法国人——他向来不信赖他们，尤其是从他第二次婚姻之后——除非他大错特错，法国人又要兴风作浪了！
他把稳到，他们的报纸从来不放过任何一个鞭笞英国政策的机会，他们彷佛认为总能对英国发号施令！
而马克和法郎以及其他各种货币，都在贬值。虽然索姆斯一想到自己国家的一张纸可以买到其他国家的许多张纸就感到高兴，但是他也以为整件事情既屈曲又虚幻，而且他越来越清楚地知道，天佑再保险公司明年不会分红了。天佑再保险公司是一家大公司，不分红是经营不善的标志，还是一个不小的标志。普天之下，能够而且该当经营得毫无实际风险的奇迹屈指可数，保险业便是个中之一。要不是这个缘故原由，当初他是绝不会加入这个董事会的。如今保险业并非经营得毫无实际风险，而创造这一点的人正是他自己，这真是——唉！
不管若何，他已经让威妮弗雷德把股票卖掉了，虽然股票已经略微下跌了一些。“我以为它是件好东西呢，索姆斯，”她伤心地说，“在股票上赔了钱，真讨厌！
”他绝不留情地回答说：“如果不卖掉，你会赔更多。”于是她把股票卖掉了。如果之前随着他买进的罗杰和尼古拉斯两家人至今还没有卖掉股票——呃，那便是他们自己的事情了！
他已经让威妮弗雷德提醒过他们了。至于他自己，除了取得董事资格所必需的股份外，他空空如也，少拿一两次分红对他也没有什么危害，由于他的董事酬劳足以填补丢失，而且绰绰有余。因此，与其说这是他个人的不安，还不如说是对与外国人有关的事态以及对他一向精确的破灭所产生的愤恨。
Christmas had gone off quietly at Mapledurham. He abominated Christmas, and only observed it because his wife was French, and her national festival New Year's Day. One could not go so far as to observe that, encouraging a foreign notion. But Christmas with no child about—he still remembered the holly and snapdragons of Park Lane in his own childhood—the family parties; and how disgusted he had been if he got anything symbolic—the thimble, or the ring—instead of the shilling. They had never gone in for Santa Claus at Park Lane, partly because they could see through the old gentleman, and partly because he was not at all a late thing. Emily, his mother, had seen to that. Yes; and, by the way, that William Gouldyng, Ingerer, had so stumped those fellows at the Heralds' College, that Soames had dropped the enquiry—it was just encouraging them to spend his money for a sentimental satisfaction which did not materialise. That narrow-headed chap, 'Old Mont,' peacocked about his ancestry; all the more reason for having no ancestry to peacock about. The Forsytes and the Goldings were good English country stock—that was what mattered. And if Fleur and her child, if one came, had French blood in them—well, he couldn't help it now.
圣诞节在梅普尔达勒姆汉悄悄静地过去了。他非常不喜好圣诞节，由于他的妻子是法国人，而她的民族节日是元旦，以是他只能过圣诞节。他总不至于要过元旦，以助长外国人的不雅观念吧。但是过圣诞节却没有孩子在身边——他还记得自己小时候公园巷里的冬青树和金鱼草——那些家庭聚会；如果他得到的只是象征性的东西——顶针或者戒指——而不是先令，他是多么厌烦。在公园巷，他们从来就不喜好圣诞老人，一部分是由于他们看穿了这位先生长西席，一部分是由于圣诞老人一点儿也不新奇。他的母亲埃米莉把稳到了那一点。的确如此。顺便提一下，威廉·古尔丁·英格勒这个名字，竟然难住了纹章院的那帮家伙，使索姆斯放弃了追查——连续查下去只不过是鼓励他们花他的钱，使他得到一种无法实现的感情上的知足而已。“老蒙特”，这个心胸狭窄的家伙，炫耀着他的祖宗家世；越是没有祖宗家世可炫耀的人，越有情由这样做。福赛特家族和戈尔丁家族都是英国村落庄的名门王谢——这才是最关键的。如果弗勒和她的孩子，如果她生一个孩子，身上有法国血统——唉，现在他也无能为力啦。
In regard to the coming of a grandchild, Soames knew no more than in October. Fleur had spent Christmas with the Monts; she was promised to him, however, before long, and her mother must ask her a question or two!
关于是否会有一个外孙出生，索姆斯并不比10月份那时更有把握。弗勒是和蒙特一家人一起过圣诞节的，但是她已经答应他，不久就会要孩子，她妈妈必须去问问情形了！
The weather was extremely mild; Soames had even been out in a punt fishing. In a heavy coat he trailed a line for perch and dace, and caught now and then a roach—precious little good, the servants wouldn't eat them, nowadays! His grey eyes would brood over the grey water under the grey sky; and in his mind the mark would fall. It fell with a bump on that eleventh of January when the French went and occupied the Ruhr. He said to Annette at breakfast: \"大众Your country's cracked! Look at the mark now!\公众
景象非常暖和，索姆斯乃至乘坐方头平底船出去游钓。他穿了件厚厚的外套，拖着一根钓线，去钓鲈鱼和鲦鱼，偶尔还能钓到一条拟鲤——这种鱼毫无用途，如今连仆人都不吃了！
他那双灰色的眼睛注目着灰色天空下那灰色的水面，脑筋里却想着马克要贬值。1月11日那天，当法国人出兵攻占了鲁尔区的时候，马克溘然贬值了。他在吃早餐时对安妮特说：“你的国家疯了！
看看现在的马克！
”
\"大众What do I care about the mark?\公众 she had answered over her coffee. \公众I care that they shall not come again into my country. I hope they will suffer a little what we have suffered.\"大众
“我干吗要关心马克呢？”她边喝咖啡边回答，“我只关心德国人不要再闯入我的国家。我希望他们也受一点儿我们以前受过的苦！
”
\"大众You,\"大众 said Soames; \"大众you never suffered anything.\公众
“你，”索姆斯说，“你从来没有受过什么苦。”
Annette put her hand where Soames sometimes doubted the existence of a heart.
安妮特把手放在心口上，索姆斯有时疑惑那里那边所是否真的有一颗心。
\"大众I suffered here,\"大众 she said.
“我这儿受过苦。”她说。
\"大众I didn't notice it. You never went without butter. What do you suppose Europe's going to be like now for the next thirty years! How about British trade?\"大众
“我没有创造过。你从来没有缺少过黄油。你认为在今后的30年里欧洲会变成什么样子！
英国的贸易又会若何？”
\"大众We French see before our noses,\"大众 said Annette with warmth. \"大众We see that the beaten must be kept the beaten, or he will take revenge. You English are so sloppy.\"大众
“我们法国人只管面前的事。”安妮特激动地说，“我们明白要让败北国始终处于败北国的地位，否则他们就会进行报复。你们英国人太多愁善感了。”
\"大众Sloppy, are we?\"大众 said Soames. \公众You're talking like a child. Could a sloppy people ever have reached our position in the world?\公众
“我们多愁善感？”索姆斯说，“你说话就像个小孩一样。一个多愁善感的民族能达到我们在世界上的地位吗？”
\"大众That is your selfishness. You are cold and selfish.\公众
“那是由于你们自私自利。你们既冷漠无情又自私自利。”
\"大众Cold, selfish and sloppy—they don't go together. Try again.\"大众
“冷漠无情、自私自利和多愁善感——这有些相互抵牾啊。连续说。”
\公众Your slop is in your thought and your talk; it is your instinct that gives you your success, and your English instinct is cold and selfish, Soames. You are a mixture, all of you, of hypocrisy, stupidity and egoism.\公众
“你们的多愁善感在你们的思想和辞吐里。给你们带来成功的是你们的本能，而你们英国人的本能便是冷漠无情和自私自利，索姆斯。你和你们所有人都是虚伪、屈曲和自私的稠浊体。”
Soames took some marmalade.
索姆斯拿了些果酱。
\"大众Well,\"大众 he said, \"大众and what are the French?—cynical, avaricious and revengeful. And the Germans are sentimental, heady and brutal. We can all abuse each other. There's nothing for it but to keep clear. And that's what you French won't do.\"大众
“那么，”他说，“法国人又若何呢？——愤世嫉俗、贪得无厌和睚眦必报。德国人则是感情用事、执拗任性和野蛮残酷。我们都可以相互辱骂。除了避免打仗之外别无他法。但这正是你们法国人不愿意做的。”
Annette's handsome person stiffened.
安妮特挺直了俊秀的身躯。
\"大众When you are tied to a person, as I am tied to you, Soames, or as we French are tied to the Germans, it is necessary to be top dog, or to be bottom dog.\"大众
“当你和一个人联系在一起的时候，就像我和你联系在一起一样，索姆斯，或者像我们法国人和德国人联系在一起一样，你必须处于支配地位，否则就处于被支配地位。”
Soames stayed his toast.
索姆斯放下了他的烤面包。
\公众Do you suppose yourself top dog in this house?\公众
“你认为你自己在这个家里处于支配地位吗？”
\公众Yes, Soames.\公众
“是的，索姆斯。”
\公众Oh! Then you can go back to France tomorrow.\"大众
“哦！
那么你来日诰日可以回法国去了。”
Annette's eyebrows rose quizzically.
安妮特揶揄般地扬起了眉毛。
\"大众I would wait a little longer, my friend; you are still too young.\"大众
“我还要再等一段韶光，我的朋友，你还很年轻呢。”
But Soames had already regretted his remark; he did not wish any such disturbance at his time of life, and he said more calmly:
但是索姆斯已经后悔刚才说过的话了，他不肯望在他这把年纪的时候还发生这样的争吵，于是他较为沉着地说：
\"大众Compromise is the essence of any reasonable existence between individuals or nations. We can't have the fat thrown into the fire every few years.\"大众
“妥协是人与人或国与国之间合理生存的要素。我们不能每隔几年就闹一次。”
\"大众That is so English,\公众 murmured Annette. \公众We others never know what you English will do. You always wait to see which way the cat jumps.\公众
“这便是范例的英国人。”安妮特喃喃地说，“我们外国人从来不知道你们英国人要做什么。你们总是见风使舵。”
However deeply sympathetic with such a reasonable characteristic, Soames would have denied it at any ordinary moment—to confess to temporising was not, as it were, done. But, with the mark falling like a cartload of bricks, he was heated to the point of standing by his nature.
无论索姆斯多么认同这种通情达理的特性，若在平时，他一定不会承认的——承认自己见风使舵，可以说那是绝对弗成的。但是，随着马克像一车砖块跌落似的贬值，他已经被激怒到出于本性地挺身而出了。
\"大众And why shouldn't we? Rushing into things that you'll have to rush out of! I don't want to argue. French and English never did get on, and never will.\公众
“我们为什么不能这样做呢？难道非要我们卷入那些你们必须摆脱的事情里去吗！
我不想辩论。法国人和英国人从来没有和蔼相处过，而且永久不会和蔼相处。”
Annette rose. \公众You speak the truth, my friend. Entente, mais pas cordiale. What are you doing today?\"大众
安妮特站了起来。“你说的是事实，我的朋友。协商，但并不友好。你本日打算做什么？”
\"大众Going up to town,\"大众 said Soames glumly. \"大众Your precious Government has put business into Queer Street with a vengeance.\公众
“到城里去。”索姆斯怏怏不乐地说，“你的宝贝政府的复仇行为已经把经济逼入绝境了。”
\"大众Do you stay the night?\"大众
“你在那儿过夜吗？”
\"大众I don't know.\公众
“不知道。”
\"大众Adieu, then, jusqu' au revoir!\公众 And she got up.
“再见，那么，往后再见！
”说完她就上楼去了。
Soames remained brooding above his marmalade—with the mark falling in his mind—glad to see the last of her handsome figure, having no patience at the moment for French tantrums. An irritable longing to say to somebody \"大众I told you so\"大众 possessed him. He would have to wait, however, till he found somebody to say it to.
索姆斯仍旧看着他的果酱沉思——心里想着马克贬值——他很高兴看到她那俊秀的身躯离开，由于此刻他实在是不能容忍她那法国式的坏脾气。他现在迫切地渴望对某个人说“我早警告过你了”。但是，他现在只能等，直到找到这么个人之后才能对他说。
A beautiful day, quite warm; and, taking his umbrella as an assurance against change, he set out for the station.
景象晴朗，非常暖和。他带着雨伞，以防变天，动身去了车站。
In the carriage going up they were talking about the Ruhr. Averse from discussion in public, Soames listened from behind his paper. The general sentiment was surprisingly like his own. In so far as it was unpleasant for the Huns—all right; in so far as it was unpleasant for British trade—all wrong; in so far as love of British trade was active and hate of Huns now passive—more wrong than right. A Francophil remark that the French were justified in making themselves safe at all costs, was coldly received. At Maidenhead a man got in whom Soames connected automatically with disturbance. He had much grey hair, a sanguine face, lively eyes, twisting eyebrows, and within five minutes had asked in a breezy voice whether anyone had heard of the League of Nations. Confirmed in his estimate, Soames looked round the corner of his paper. Yes, that chap would get off on some hobby-horse or other! And there he went! The question—said the newcomer—was not whether the Germans should get one in the eye, the British one in the pocket, or the French one in the heart, but whether the world should get peace and goodwill. Soames lowered his paper. If—this fellow said—they wanted peace, they must sink their individual interests, and think in terms of collective interest. The good of all was the good of one! Soames saw the flaw at once. That might be, but the good of one was not the good of all. He felt that if he did not take care he would be pointing this out. The man was a perfect stranger to him, and no good ever came of argument. Unfortunately his silence amid the general opinion that the League of Nations was 'no earthly,' seemed to cause the newcomer to regard him as a sympathiser; the fellow kept on throwing his eyebrows at him! To put up his paper again seemed too pointed, and his position was getting more and more false when the train ran in at Paddington. He hastened to a cab. A voice behind him said: \"大众Hopeless lot, sir, eh! Glad to see YOU saw my point.\"大众
在进城去的车厢里，人们正在评论辩论着鲁尔区的事情。索姆斯不喜好当众议论，他就用报纸遮住脸听着。大家的态度和他的态度惊人地相似。只假如对德国佬不利的——都对；只假如对英国贸易不利的——都错；只要对英国贸易的爱是积极的，对德国佬的恨是悲观的——错多对少。一个亲法派的人说法国人不惜统统代价确保自身安全的做法是通情达理的，大家听了都反应冷淡。在梅登黑德站上来一个人，索姆斯自然而然地把他和骚乱联系在了一起。他的头发斑白，面色红润，眼神生动，眉毛波折。还不到五分钟，他就用一种轻松愉快的声音发话了，问是否有人听说过国际同盟。索姆斯以为自己的判断得到了证明，他从报纸的一角向外看去。是的，那个家伙要开始鼓吹自己喜好的话题了。他果真开始了！
问题——这个新来的家伙说——不在于德国人是不是该当当头挨一棒，英国人是不是该当在口袋里大捞一把，或者法国人是不是该当在情绪上宣泄一下，而在于这个天下是不是该当得到和平与友好。索姆斯放下了报纸。如果——这个家伙说——他们想要和平，就必须放下个人利益，而去考虑集体利益。集体的利益便是个人的利益！
索姆斯一眼就看出了马脚。这话大概是对的，但是个人的利益不一定是集体的利益。他以为如果自己一欠妥心就会指出这一点的。他和这个人素不相识，跟这种人辩论毫无意义。不幸的是，在大家都认为国际同盟“毫无希望”的时候，索姆斯的沉默彷佛使那个新来的家伙把他当成了一个同情者，从而不断地向他使眼色！
他若再拿起报纸来，就彷佛显得太有针对性了，正当他的处境越来越随意马虎让人误会的时候，火车驶入了帕丁顿车站。他急忙下车，走向一辆出租车。一个声音在他背后说：“一群无药可救的人，师长西席，唉！
很高兴看到您能理解我的不雅观点。”
\"大众Quite!\公众 said Soames. \"大众Taxi!\"大众
“没错！
”索姆斯说，“出租车！
”
\"大众Unless the League of Nations functions, we're all for Gehenna.\"大众
“除非国际同盟发挥浸染，否则我们全都得下地狱。”
Soames turned the handle of the cab door.
索姆斯迁徙改变出租车的门把手。
\公众Quite!\"大众 he said again. \"大众Poultry!\公众 and got in. He was not going to be drawn. The fellow was clearly a firebrand!
“没错！
”他又说了一句，“家禽街！
”然后就上了车。他不想被人纠缠。那个家伙显然是个鞭策者！
In the cab the measure of his disturbance was revealed. He had said 'Poultry,' an address that 'Forsyte, Bustard and Forsyte' had abandoned two-and-twenty years ago when, merged with 'Cuthcott, Holliday and Kingson,' they became 'Cuthcott, Kingson and Forsyte.' Rectifying the error, he sat forward, brooding. Fall of the mark! The country was sound about it, yes—but when they failed to pay the next dividend, could they rely on resentment against the French instead of against the directors? Doubtful! The directors ought to have seen it coming! That might be said of the other directors, but not of himself—here was a policy that he personally never would have touched. If only he could discuss the whole thing with some one—but old Gradman would be out of his depth in a matter of this sort. And, on arrival at his office, he gazed with a certain impatience at that changeless old fellow, sitting in his swivel chair.
在出租车里，他的烦躁程度显现出来了。他刚才说的“家禽街”，早在22年前，“福赛特、巴斯塔德和福赛特”公司就已经放弃不用这个地址了。那时他们和“卡斯考特、霍利迪和金森”公司合并，变成了“卡斯考特、金森和福赛特”公司。纠正了地址的缺点之后，他朝前坐好，心里沉思着。马克贬值！
国家对此有着充分的准备，是的——但是下次当他们不能分红的时候，他们能指望人们对法国人的怨恨会代替对董事们的怨恨吗？不大可能！
董事们该当预见到会发生这样的事情！
对其他的董事也容许以这样说，但是对他自己却不能这么说——这种政策是他本人从来没有打仗过的。假如他能把全体事情和某人磋商一下就好了——但是这种问题不是老格雷德曼力所能及的。于是，他一到自己的办公室，就有点儿不耐烦地注目着那个坐在转椅中的一成不变的老家伙。
\"大众Ah! Mr. Soames, I was hopin' you might come in this morning. There's a young man been round to see you from the P. P. R. S. Wouldn't give his business, said he wanted to see you privately. Left his number on the 'phone.\"大众
“啊！
索姆斯师长西席，我正盼着您本日早上能来呢。有一个天佑再保险公司的年轻人来看您。他不肯解释来意，只说要单独和您见一壁。他留下了电话号码。”
\"大众Oh!\"大众 said Soames.
“哦！
”索姆斯说。
\公众Quite a young feller—in the office.\公众
“一个非常年轻的小伙子——在办公室事情。”
\公众What did he look like?\"大众
“他长得什么样子？”
\公众Nice, clean young man. I was quite favourably impressed—name of Butterfield.\"大众
“文雅、干净的年轻人。给我的印象非常不错——名叫巴特菲尔德。”
\"大众Well, ring him up, and let him know I'm here.\"大众 And going over to the window, he stood looking out on to a perfectly blank wall.
“那么，给他打电话，见告他我在这儿。”说完他走到窗前，站在那里望着窗外一壁光秃秃的墙壁。
Suited to a sleeping partner, his room was at the back, free from disturbance. Young man! The call was somewhat singular! And he said over his shoulder: \公众Don't go when he comes, Gradman, I know nothing of him.\"大众
为了适宜他匿名合资人的身份，他的房间设在后面，不受打扰。年轻人！
这次拜访有些非同平凡！
他回过分说：“等他来了，你不要走开，格雷德曼，我一点儿也不理解他。”
The world changed, people died off, the mark fell, but Gradman was there—embodiment, faithful and grey, of service and integrity—an anchor.
天下改变了，逝者已逝，马克贬值了，但是格雷德曼还在那里——他是贡献与正派的化身，忠实而又老练——一个可以依赖的人。
Gradman's voice, grating, ingratiating, rose.
格雷德曼那刺耳而谄媚的声音响了起来。
\"大众This French news—it's not nice, Mr. Soames. They're a hasty lot. I remember your father, Mr. James, coming into the office the morning the Franco-Prussian war was declared—quite in his prime then, hardly more than sixty, I should say. Why, I recall his very words: 'There,' he said, 'I told them so.' And here they are—at it still. The fact is, they're cat and dog.\"大众
“这条法国新闻——可不太妙啊，索姆斯师长西席。他们是一帮轻率的家伙。我记得在普法战役宣战那天早上，您的父亲詹姆斯师长西席走进办公室——那时他正值壮年，还不到60岁，我记得。哦，我想起了他的原话。‘你瞧，’他说，‘我早就见告过他们要打仗了。’现在他们——仍旧要打。事实便是，他们是猫狗不相容。”
Soames, who had half turned, resumed his contemplation of a void. Poor old Gradman dated! What would he say when he heard that they had been insuring foreign business? Stimulated by the old-time quality of Gradman's presence, his mind ranged with sudden freedom. He himself had another twenty years, perhaps. What would he see in that time? Where would old England be at the end of it? In spite of the papers, we're not such fools as we look,' he thought. If only we can steer clear of flibberty-gibberting, and pay our way!'
索姆斯半转过身，连续瞩目着那一片空缺处，沉思开了。可怜的老格雷德曼后进了！
如果他听到他们一贯在给外国买卖做保险，他会怎么说呢？由于受到格雷德曼身上的昔日情怀的传染，他的思绪溘然自由翱翔起来。或许他自己还能再活20年吧。到那时他会看到些什么呢？古老的英国末了会变成什么样子？“不管报纸上怎么说，我们并不像看上去的那样傻。”他想，“假如我们能避开无谓的空谈，并且不赔本就好了！
”
\"大众Mr. Butterfield, sir.\公众 H'm! The young man had been very spry. Covered by Gradman's bluff and greasy greeting, he \"大众took a lunar,\"大众 as his Uncle Roger used to call it. The young fellow, in a neat suit, a turndown collar, with his hat in his hand, was a medium modest-looking chap. Soames nodded.
“巴特菲尔德师长西席来了，师长西席。”嗬！
这个年轻人来得可真快。在格雷德曼那既坦直又调皮的呼唤的掩护之下，他可以像他叔叔罗杰过去常说的那样“不雅观察一下”。这个小伙子穿着一套整洁的翻领洋装，手里拿着帽子，身材中等，态度谦恭。索姆斯点点头。
\"大众You want to see me?\公众
“你想要见我？”
\"大众Alone, if I might, sir.\公众
“我想单独见您，如果可以的话，师长西席。”
\"大众Mr. Gradman here is my right-hand man.\公众
“这位格雷德曼师长西席是我的得力助手。”
Gradman's voice purred gratingly: \"大众You can state your business. Nothing goes outside these walls, young man.\公众
格雷德曼的声音刺耳地响了起来：“你只管解释你的来意。任何事情都不会传出去的，年轻人。”
\公众I'm in the office of the P.P.R.S., sir. The fact is, accident has just put some information in my hands, and I'm not easy in my mind. Knowing you to be a solicitor, sir, I preferred to come to you, rather than go to the chairman. As a lawyer, would you tell me: Is my first duty to the Society, being in their employ?\"大众
“我在天佑再保险公司的办公室事情，师长西席。事情是这样的，我意外地得到了一些，我感到心里不安。由于我知道您是一名状师，师长西席，以是我甘心来找您，也不愿去找董事长。作为一名状师，请您见告我：作为公司的雇员，我的紧张职责是不是要对它卖力？”
\公众Certainly,\"大众 said Soames.
“当然。”索姆斯说。
\"大众I don't like this job, sir, and I hope you'll understand that I'm not here for any personal motive—it's just because I feel I ought to.\公众
“我不喜好这份事情，师长西席，而且我希望您能明白我到这里来不是出于任何个人目的——而是由于我以为我该当这样做。”
Soames regarded him steadily. Though large and rather swimming, the young man's eyes impressed him by their resemblance to a dog's. \公众What's it all about?\"大众 he said.
索姆斯一贯注目着他。虽然这个年轻人的眼睛又大又水灵，但是给他的印象却像是一条虔诚的狗的眼睛。“究竟是什么事情？”他说。
The young man moistened his lips.
这个年轻人舔了舔嘴唇。
\"大众The insurance of our German business, sir.\"大众
“是我们在德国的保险业务，师长西席。”
Soames pricked his ears, already slightly pointed by Nature.
索姆斯那双天生就轻微有点儿尖的耳朵竖已经了起来。
\"大众It's a very serious matter,\"大众 the young man went on, \"大众and I don't know how it'll affect me, but the fact is, this morning I overheard a private conversation.\公众
“这件事非常严重，”这个年轻人接着说，“我不知道这件事会对我产生什么影响，但事实是，本日早上我无意间听到一段私人发言。”
\公众Oh!\"大众 said Soames.
“哦！
”索姆斯说。
\"大众Yes, sir. I quite understand your tone, but the very first words did it. I simply couldn't make myself known after hearing them. I think you'll agree, sir.\"大众
“是的，师长西席。我非常理解您的反应，但是第一句话就让我忍不住偷听下去。我不能让他们知道我听到了他们的发言。我想您会赞许的，师长西席。”
\"大众Who were the speakers?\"大众
“发言的人是谁？”
\"大众The manager, and a man called Smith—I fancy by his accent his name's a bit more foreign—who's done most of the agenting for the German business.\公众
“经理和一个叫做史密斯的人——听他的口音，我猜想他的名字更像是个外国人的——他代理绝大部分的德国业务。”
\"大众What were the words?\"大众 said Soames.
“他们谈了些什么？”索姆斯说。
\"大众Well, sir, the manager was speaking, and then this Smith said: 'Quite so, Mr. Elderson, but we haven't paid you a commission on all this business for nothing; if the mark goes absolutely phut, you will have to see that your Society makes it good for us!'\公众
“嗯，师长西席，当时经理正在说话，然后这个史密斯说：‘的确如此，埃尔德森师长西席，但是在全体业务中我们不是白给你们佣金的，如果马克彻底塌台了，你就得设法让你的公司赔偿我们的丢失！
’”
The intense longing, which at that moment came on Soames to emit a whistle, was checked by sight of Gradman's face. The old fellow's mouth had opened in the nest of his grizzly short beard; his eyes stared puglike, he uttered a prolonged: \公众A-ow!\"大众
那一刻，索姆斯十分渴望吹个口哨，但是一看到格雷德曼脸上的表情，他抑制住了这种强烈的渴望。那个老家伙的嘴在他那灰白的鸟巢似的短须里伸开了，他的眼睛瞪得像哈巴狗一样，发出一声拖长的“啊——呦！
”
\"大众Yes,\"大众 said the young man, \"大众it was a knock-out!\公众
“是的，”年轻人说，“真是危言耸听！
”
\"大众Where were you?\"大众 asked Soames, sharply.
“当时你在哪儿？”索姆斯厉声问道。
\"大众In the lobby between the manager's room and the board room. I'd just come from sorting some papers in the boardroom, and the manager's door was open an inch or so. Of course I know the voices well.\公众
“在经理室和董事会会议室之间的走廊里。我刚在会议室整理完一些文件，出来的时候，经理室的门开着一英寸旁边的缝。当然我非常熟习他们的声音。”
\公众What after?\公众
“后来呢？”
\"大众I heard Mr. Elderson say, 'H'ssh! Don't talk like that!' and I slipped back into the board room. I'd had more than enough, sir, I assure you.\公众
“我听到埃尔德森师长西席说：‘嘘！
别那么大声！
’于是我又溜回了会议室。我听到的已经够多了，师长西席，我向您担保。”
Suspicion and surmise clogged Soames' thinking apparatus. Was this young fellow speaking the truth? A man like Elderson—the risk was monstrous! And, if true, what was the directors' responsibility? But proof—proof? He stared at the young man, who looked upset and pale enough, but whose eyes did not waver. Shake him if he could! And he said sharply:
疑惑和预测充斥着索姆斯的大脑。这个小伙子说的是真话吗？像埃尔德森这样的人——居然冒这样大的风险！
那么，如果是真的，董事们的任务是什么？但是证据——证据呢？他盯着这个年轻人。年轻人看起来焦虑不安，神色很苍白，但他的目光却很武断。想办法诈一诈他！
于是他厉声说：
\公众Now mind what you're saying! This is most serious!\"大众
“你得把稳你所说的话！
这是非常严重的！
”
\"大众I know that, sir. If I'd consulted my own interest, I'd never have come here. I'm not a sneak.\"大众
“我知道，师长西席。如果考虑到我个人的利益，我绝不会到这来。我不是一个密告的人。”
The words rang true, but Soames did not drop his caution.
这些话听起来是真的，但是索姆斯没有放松当心。
\"大众Ever had any trouble in the office?\"大众
“你以前在办公室出过什么问题吗？”
\公众No, sir, you can make enquiry. I've nothing against Mr. Elderson, and he's nothing against me.\"大众
“没有，师长西席，您可以去查问。我没有什么针对埃尔德森师长西席的事情，他也没有什么针对我的事情。”
Soames thought suddenly: 'Good heavens! He's shifted it on to me, and in the presence of a witness! And I supplied the witness!'
索姆斯溘然想到：“天哪！
他把这件事推到我身上了，而且还有一个证人在场！
而这个证人又是我供应的！
”
\"大众Have you any reason to suppose,\"大众 he said, \"大众that they became aware of your being there?\"大众
“依你看，”他说，“他们是不是创造了你当时在那里呢？”
\"大众They couldn't have, I think.\公众
“他们不会知道的，我想。”
The implications of this news seemed every second more alarming. It was as if Fate, kept at bay all his life by clever wrist-work, had suddenly slipped a thrust under his guard. No good to get rattled, however—must think it out at leisure!
这个的含义彷佛每一秒钟都让人更加担忧。就像命运之神，生平都以奥妙的腕力使对手无法近身，却溘然被对手趁其不备刺了一剑。不管若何，错愕失落措毫无用途——必须从容不迫地把它想清楚！
\"大众Are you prepared, if necessary, to repeat this to the Board?\"大众
“如果有必要，你是否准备把这件事向董事会再说一遍？”
The young man pressed his hands together.
年轻人把双手牢牢地握在一起。
\公众Well, sir, I'd much rather have held my tongue; but if you decide it's got to be taken up, I suppose I must go through with it now. I'm sure I hope you'll decide to leave it alone; perhaps it isn't true—only why didn't Mr. Elderson say: 'You ruddy liar!'?\"大众
“哦，师长西席，我倒甘心保持沉默，但如果您决定必须这么做的话，我想我一定会作陪到底。我是真的希望您会决定要不要管它，或许这件事不是真的——只是为什么埃尔德森师长西席不说：‘你这个大骗子！
呢？’”
Exactly! Why didn't he? Soames gave a grunt of intense discomfort.
的确如此！
他为什么不说呢？索姆斯非常不安地咕哝了一声。
\"大众Anything more?\公众 he said.
“还有别的吗？”他说。
\"大众No, sir.\公众
“没有了，师长西席。”
\公众Very well. You've not told anyone?\公众
“很好。你没有见告过别人吧？”
\公众No, sir.\"大众
“没有，师长西席。”
\"大众Then don't, and leave it to me.\"大众
“那就不要见告别人，让我来处理吧。”
\公众I'll be only too happy to, sir. Good-morning!\"大众
“那我真的太高兴了，师长西席。祝您日安！
”
\"大众Good-morning!\"大众
“你也一样！
”
No—very bad morning! No satisfaction whatever in this sudden fulfilment of his prophetic feeling about Elderson. None!
不安——非常不安！
虽然他对埃尔德森的预感溘然得到了证明，但是他一点儿也不感到满意。一点也不！
\"大众What d'you think of that young fellow, Gradman? Is he lying?\"大众
“你以为那个小伙子怎么样，格雷德曼？他在撒谎吗？”
Thus summoned, as it were, from stupor, Gradman thoughtfully rubbed a nose both thick and shining.
格雷德曼仿佛从晕厥中被唤醒了一样，沉思着擦了擦他那只又大又亮的鼻子。
\公众It's one word against another, Mr. Soames, unless you get more evidence. But I can't see what the young man has to gain by it.\"大众
“这只是一壁之词，索姆斯师长西席，除非您能找到更多的证据。但是我看不出这个年轻人这样做能得到什么好处。”
\"大众Nor I; but you never know. The trouble will be to get more evidence. Can I act without it?\"大众
“我也看不出，但是世事难料。问题就在于要找到更多的证据。没有证据我能采纳行动吗？”
\公众It's delicate,\公众 said Gradman. And Soames knew that he was thrown back on himself. When Gradman said a thing was delicate, it meant that it was the sort of matter on which he was accustomed to wait for orders—presumptuous even to hold opinion! But had he got one? Well, one would never know! The old chap would sit and rub his nose over it till Kingdom Come.
“这件事很奇妙。”格雷德曼说。索姆斯知道他只能依赖自己了。当格雷德曼说一件事情很奇妙的时候，就意味着对付这类事情他向来是惟命是从的——就连有想法都是很冒昧的！
但是他有没有想法呢？哦，没有人会知道！
这个老家伙会一贯坐在那里对着这件事擦鼻子，直到上西天。
\"大众I shan't act in a hurry,\公众 he said, almost angrily: \"大众I can't see to the end of this.\"大众
“我不能贸然行事，”他险些生气地说，“我还没有摸透这件事。”
Every hour confirmed that statement. At lunch the tape of his city club showed the mark still falling—to unheard-of depths! How they could talk of golf, with this business on his mind, he could not imagine!
那句话每时每刻都在得到证明。午餐时，城市俱乐部的行情收录带上显示马克仍旧在贬值——跌到了一种闻所未闻的程度！
心里装着这件事，他切实其实无法想象他们怎么还能评论辩论高尔夫球！
\"大众I must go and see that fellow,\"大众 he said to himself. \"大众I shall be guarded. He may throw some light.\"大众 He waited until three o'clock and repaired to the P. P. R. S. Reaching the office, he sought the Board room. The chairman was there in conference with the manager. Soames sat down quietly to listen; and while he listened he watched that fellow's face. It told him nothing. What nonsense people talked when they said you could tell character from faces! Only a perfect idiot's face could be read like that. And here was a man of experience and culture, one who knew every rope of business life and polite society. The hairless, neat features exhibited no more concern than the natural mortification of one whose policy had met with such a nasty knock. The drop of the mark had already wiped out any possible profit on the next half-year. Unless the wretched thing recovered, they would be carrying a practically dead load of German insurance. Really it was criminal that no limit of liability had been fixed! How on earth could he ever have overlooked that when he came on the Board? But he had only known of it afterwards. And who could have foreseen anything so mad as this Ruhr business, or realised the slack confidence of his colleagues in this confounded fellow? The words \公众gross negligence\"大众 appeared 'close up' before his eyes. What if an action lay against the Board! Gross negligence! At his age and with his reputation! Why! The thing was plain as a pikestaff; for omitting a limit of liability this chap had got his commission! Ten per cent, probably, on all that business—he must have netted thousands! A man must be in Queer Street indeed to take a risk like that! But conscious that his fancy was running on, Soames rose, and turned his back. The action suggested another. Simulate anger, draw some sign from that fellow's self-control! He turned again, and said pettishly: \"大众What on earth were you about, Mr. Manager, when you allowed these contracts to go through without limit of liability? A man of your experience! What was your motive?\公众
“我要去见见那个家伙，”他自言自语道，“我要保持当心。或许他会露出一些马脚。”一贯等到3点钟，他才到天佑再保险公司去。一到公司，他就找到董事会会议室。董事长正在那里和经理开会。索姆斯悄悄地坐下来听着，一边听一边注目着那家伙的脸。从他脸上看不出什么。有人说你能从脸上看出人的性情，这切实其实是胡说八道！
只有纯粹的白痴才能让人从脸上看出来。而眼下这个人却是一个有履历有文化的人，他熟习商业生活和上流社会的统统规则。他那光秃秃的头顶和整洁的脸庞所表现出来的忧虑，只不过是一个经营方针遭到了严重打击的人自然而然的窘迫感而已。马克贬值已经彻底抵消了下半年所有潜在的利润。除非那该死的东西能恢复原状，否则他们就会背上一笔有名无实的德国保险。之前竟没有确定任务限额，这真是犯罪！
他加入董事会的时候怎么会忽略了这一点呢？但是他也是后来才知道这件事的。而且谁能预见到像鲁尔事宜这么猖獗的事情呢，谁又能意识到他的同事们会对这个糊涂的家伙盲目信赖呢？“严重失落职”这几个字像“特写镜头”一样浮现在他的面前。假如有人控告董事会怎么办！
严重失落职！
以他的年事，凭他的声誉！
唉！
这件事再明显不过了，由于忽略了任务限额，那家伙才拿到了他的佣金！
可能有10%，在全体那笔买卖上——他一定已经净赚了几千镑！
一个敢于冒那样风险的人，一定是断港绝潢了！
索姆斯意识到自己的想象没完没了，于是他站了起来，转过身去。这个动作使他想到了另一个动作。假装生气，从那个家伙的自我掌握中找出一些迹象！
他又回过身来，怒气冲冲地说：“你到底是怎么搞的，经理师长西席，没有制订任务限额就通过了这些条约？像你这么有履历的人，居然干出这种事！
你的动机是什么？”
A slight narrowing of the eyes, a slight compression of the lips. He had relied on the word 'motive,' but the fellow passed it by.
那家伙眼睛稍稍一眯，嘴唇微微一抿。他原指望“动机”这个词会起浸染，但那个家伙却把它避开了。
\公众For such high premiums as we have been getting, Mr. Forsyte, a limited liability was not possible. This is a most outrageous development, and I'm afraid it must be considered just bad luck.\公众
“对付我们一贯以来收取的如此高的保险费而言，福赛特师长西席，要设界说务限额是不太可能的。这是十分非常的发展情形，恐怕只能把它归结于坏运气。”
\公众Unfortunately,\公众 said Soames, \"大众there's no such thing as luck in properly regulated assurance, as we shall find, or I'm much mistaken. I shouldn't be surprised if an action lay against the Board for gross negligence!\公众
“不幸的是，”索姆斯说，“我们将会创造，在管理得当的保险业中是不存在运气这类东西的，否则便是我大错特错了。如果有人控告董事会严重失落职，我一点儿也不感到意外！
”
That had got the chairman's goat!—Got his goat? What expressions they used nowadays! Or did it mean the opposite? One never knew! But as for Elderson—he seemed to Soames to be merely counterfeiting a certain flusteration. Futile to attempt to spring anything out of a chap like that. If the thing were true, the fellow must be entirely desperate, prepared for anything and everything. And since from Soames the desperate side of life—the real holes, the impossible positions which demand a gambler's throw—had always been carefully barred by the habits of a prudent nature, he found it now impossible to imagine Elderson's state of mind, or his line of conduct if he were guilty. For all he could tell, the chap might be carrying poison about with him; might be sitting on a revolver like a fellow on the film. The whole thing was too unpleasant, too worrying for words. And without saying any more he went away, taking nothing with him but the knowledge that their total liability on this German business, with the mark valueless, was over two hundred thousand pounds. He hastily reviewed the fortunes of his co-directors. Old Fontenoy was always in low water; the chairman a dark horse; Mont was in land, land right down in value, and mortgaged at that; old Cosey Mothergill had nothing but his name and his director's fees; Meyricke must have a large income, but light come, light go, like most of those big counsel with irons in many fires and the certainty of a judgeship. Not a really substantial man among the lot, except himself! He ploughed his way along, head down. Public companies! Preposterous system! You had to trust somebody, and there you were! It was appalling!
这下倒把董事长惹怒了！
——把他惹怒了？如今他们用的都是些什么词啊！
或者这是正话反说？谁知道呢！
但是至于埃尔德森——在索姆斯看来，他只是在假装一副紧张不安的样子。试图从他那样的家伙身上套出些什么来，是空费劲了。如果这件事是真的，那个家伙一定彻底绝望了，肯定会铤而走险。由于对索姆斯来说，人生绝望的一壁——那些迫使赌徒决一死战的真实的困境和难以忍受的田地——一贯都被他那谨慎的天性小心翼翼地隔绝了，如果埃尔德森有罪的话，他现在切实其实无法想象他的生理状态和行为办法会是什么样子。由于他现在能觉得到的是，那家伙可能随身带着毒药，也可能像电影里的人一样，屁股下坐着一把左轮手枪。全体这件事太让人不悦，太让人焦虑了，非言语所能表达。于是，他没有再说什么就离开了，他没有带走任何东西，只是得知了一条，由于马克变得一文不值，他们在德国业务上的负债总计超过20万英镑。他匆匆地估算了一下那些和他共事的董事们的财产。老福坦诺向来手头窘迫；董事长的财产难以预测；蒙特的财产是土地，土地正在贬值，并且都抵押出去了；老柯赛·莫德吉尔除了他的浮名和董事酬劳金外空空如也；迈里克一定有一大笔收入，但是来得快，去得也快，就像大多数的那些大状师，业务繁忙，而且肯定能当上法官。这些人之中，除了他自己，没有一个是真正富余的人！
他低着头，脚步沉重地向前走着。上市公司！
荒谬的制度！
你不得不信赖某一个人，然后你就落到了本日的田地！
这可真恐怖！
\"大众Balloons, sir—beautiful colours, five feet circumference. Take one, gentleman!\公众
“气球，师长西席——俊秀的颜色，可以吹出五英尺的周长。买一个吧，师长西席！
”
\"大众Good gad!\公众 said Soames. As if the pricked bubble of German business were not enough!
“上帝啊！
”索姆斯说。彷佛戳破了德国业务的气泡还不足似的！
