第十八章（第8/10页）

“荣幸，天呢！”马尔科姆爵士笑得几乎把咖啡喷出来，然后摆出那副苏格兰人的下流面孔。“荣幸！感觉怎么样？很棒吧，年轻人，是不是？”“很棒！”“我敢打包票你会这么说！哈哈！那可是我的女儿，正所谓虎父无犬女，对吧？我从来不会为绝妙的性经历感到后悔。虽说她母亲，噢，愿神保佑她！”他仰头眼望天空。“可是你让她温暖起来，噢，是你让他重获激情，这逃不过我的眼睛。哈哈！她身上流着我的血液！你将她的激情重新点燃。哈哈哈！我不妨告诉你，我开心极了。她需要爱情的滋润。噢，她是个好姑娘，地道的好姑娘，我早就知道，只要哪个家伙能让她激情重燃，她准会容光焕发。哈哈哈！守林人，呵，小伙子！要我说的话，你可是个偷猎的好手。哈哈！可现在，听着，咱们言归正传，咱们到底该怎么处理这件事？说点正经的，你晓得！”真说正经的，他俩可真有点聊不到一起。梅勒斯虽说微醺，但却比老爵爷清醒得多。他尽量让交谈保持在理性的范围内，也就是说话越少越好。

"So you're a game-keeper! Oh, you're quite right! That sort of game is worth a man's while, eh, what? The test of a woman is when you pinch her bottom. You can tell just by the feel of her bottom if she's going to come up all right. Ha-ha! I envy you, my boy. How old are you?” "Thirty-nine.” The knight lifted his eyebrows.

“你是个守林人！你的行为无可指摘！男子汉即使费点神，也不会放过这样的猎物，对吧？只要捏捏女人的屁股，就会分清优劣。摸摸她的屁股，你就清楚她够不够劲儿。哈哈！我真羡慕你，孩子。你多大了？”“39。”老爵士挑起眉毛。

"As much as that! Well, you've another good twenty years, by the look of you. Oh, game-keeper or not, you're a good cock. I can see that with one eye shut. Not like that blasted Clifford! A lily-livered hound with never a fuck in him, never had. I like you, my boy, I'll bet you've a good cod on you; oh, you're a bantam, I can see that. You're a fighter. Game-keeper! Ha-ha, by crikey, I wouldn't trust my game to you! But look here, seriously, what are we going to do about it? The world's full of blasted old women.” Seriously, they didn't do anything about it, except establish the old free-masonry of male sensuality between them.

“可真不小了！不过，你看起来要年轻个20岁。噢，不管你是守林人或者别的什么，你是个男子汉。我用一只眼也看得出来。不像那个讨厌的克利福德！那个懦弱的家伙，没点儿阳刚之气。我欣赏你，小伙子，我敢打赌，你那话儿绝对够劲儿，噢，你是只好斗的矮脚鸡，我看得出来。你是个斗士。守林人！哈哈，哎呦，我可不敢让你替我看守猎场！可相信我，说正经的，这件事咱们到底该怎么整？满世界都是年老色衰的臭娘们。”说实话，他俩根本没谈出个子午卯酉，倒是在男人的官能感受方面有些志同道合。

"And look here, my boy, if ever I can do anything for you, you can rely on me. Game-keeper! Christ, but it's rich! I like it! Oh, I like it! Shows the girl's got spunk. What? After all, you know, she has her own income, moderate, moderate, but above starvation. And I'll leave her what I've got. By God, I will. She deserves it for showing spunk, in a world of old women. I've been struggling to get myself clear of the skirts of old women for seventy years, and haven't managed it yet. But you're the man, I can see that.” "I'm glad you think so. They usually tell me, in a sideways fashion, that I'm the monkey.” "Oh, they would! My dear fellow, what could you be but a monkey, to all the old women?" They parted most genially, and Mellors laughed inwardly all the time for the rest of the day.

“听我说，小伙子，需要我帮忙的地方，尽管开口。守林人！上帝呀，真是有趣！我喜欢这差事！噢，我喜欢这行当！这说明我女儿够胆识。没错吧？你知道，她毕竟有独立的经济来源，虽然不多，但至少不会饿肚子。将来我也会把自己的财产留给她。上帝作证，我会这样做。但凭这勇气，敢于向这个充斥着老婆娘的世界宣战，她就理应得到我的馈赠。70多年来，我始终想要摆脱老娘们的石榴裙，但至今没能成功。但你准做得到，我看好你。”“很高兴你这么认为。可人们私下里总说我像只猴子。”“噢，他们会那么说的！我亲爱的伙计，对于那些老女人来说，你不是只猴崽子，还会是什么？”他俩愉快地分了手，为此梅勒斯整整乐了一天。

The following day he had lunch with Connie and Hilda, at some discreet place.

第二天，他跟康妮和希尔达共进午餐，他们选了个不起眼的饭馆。

"It's a very great pity it's such an ugly situation all round," said Hilda.

“现在事情变得一团糟，的确非常棘手。”希尔达说。

"I had a lot o' fun out of it," said he.

“我倒觉得其乐无穷。”他说。

"I think you might have avoided putting children into the world until you were both free to marry and have children." "The Lord blew a bit too soon on the spark," said he.

“要我看，等你俩都恢复自由身，可以结婚生子时，再要孩子也不晚。”“上帝让火着得有点快。”他说。

"I think the Lord had nothing to do with it. Of course, Connie has enough money to keep you both, but the situation is unbearable." "But then you don't have to bear more than a small corner of it, do you?" said he.

“我可不认为应该归罪于上帝。当然，康妮的收入足够你俩过活，但目前的情况实在糟糕。”“可你不必体验这种身临险境的窘迫，不是吗？”他说。

"If you'd been in her own class.” "Or if I'd been in a cage at the Zoo.” There was silence.

“要是你俩门第相当就好了。”“或者我被关在动物园的笼子里。”三个人都不再作声。

"I think," said Hilda, "it will be best if she names quite another man as co-respondent and you stay out of it altogether.” "But I thought I'd put my foot right in.” "I mean in the divorce proceedings." He gazed at her in wonder. Connie had not dared mention the Duncan scheme to him.

“依我看，”希尔达说，“最好让康妮另找个男人做替罪羊，而你可以完全置身事外。”“可我愿意承担任何后果。”“我是说在离婚诉讼期间。”他诧异地看着她。找邓肯帮忙的事，康妮没敢跟他说起。

"I don't follow," he said.

“我不明白你的意思。”他说。