马龙探案卷四 之 正确的凶案 十九
海伦往她拿着的杯子里倒了一点石榴汁，让杯子里温暖的琥珀色液体微微泛起玫瑰色的光泽。她轻轻地搅拌着混合物，尝了尝。
helene poured a little grenadine into the glass she was holding, giving its warm amber a faintly rosy glow. She stirred the mixture gently and tasted it.
“任何人都应该喜欢这个。尝尝看，罗斯。”
“Anybody ought to like this. try it, Ross.”
罗斯?麦克劳林顺从地接过杯子，小小地抿了一口。然后他把杯子还回去。
Ross mcLaurin took the glass obediently and managed a tiny sip. then he handed it back.
“对不起。”
“I’m sorry.”
“没关系。” 海伦耐心地说，“我再试试别的。” 她拿起一个空杯子，开始往里面倒各种液体。
“that’s all right,” helene said patiently. “I’ll try another one.” She picked up an empty glass and began measuring liquids into it.
“不是调味剂的问题。” 年轻人不开心地说，“是酒精，我好像受不了。”
“It isn’t the flavorings,” the young man said unhappily. “It’s the alcohol I can’t seem to stand.”
“没关系。” 杰克安慰道，“我很多时候也有这种感觉。你会克服的。”
“Never mind,” Jake said consolingly. “I’ve felt the same way a lot of times. You’ll get over it.”
马龙呻吟着。“我们一点进展都没有。这是个多么疯狂的主意……”
malone groaned. “we aren’t getting anywhere at all. of all the insane ideas—”
“你有更好的主意吗？” 海伦严厉地问。
“have you a better one?” helene asked severely.
“没有。” 他承认。
“No,” he admitted.
“那我就继续尝试。”
“then I’ll go right on trying.”
马龙擦了擦脸。现在是七点钟，从五点半开始，海伦就一直在调制新的鸡尾酒。在这段时间里，床上的年轻人只喝了不到一盎司的酒。
malone mopped his face. It was now seven o’clock, and helene had been inventing new cocktails since half-past five. In that time the young man on the bed had managed to down less than an ounce of liquor.
梳妆台上的那堆瓶子足以让一家高档酒吧引以为傲。马龙想到这件事结束后这些瓶子都得由他来处理。他还没决定是自己喝掉它们还是开个酒吧。
the collection of bottles on the bureau would have done credit to a high-class bar. malone reflected that he’d have them on his hands when this affair was over. he hadn't decided yet whether to drink them himself or just open a saloon.
在他沉思的时候，电话响了。是冯?弗拉纳根打来的。
In the midst of his reflections, the telephone rang. It was von Flanagan.
“马龙，我要把莫娜?麦克莱恩家的那群人都带到这儿来。” 警察报告说。
“malone, I'm bringing that whole bunch from mona mcclane's down here,” the police officer reported.
马龙说：“你在干什么？”
malone said, “You're doing what?”
“我想让那些人都看看除夕夜被杀的那个人。也许他们当中有人会认出他。”
“I want all those people to take a gander at the guy who was killed New Year's Eve. maybe one of them will recognize him.”
“好主意。” 马龙不置可否地说，“你什么时候这么做？”
“Good idea,” malone said nonmittally. “when are you doing this?”
“他们现在就来了。我希望你也一起来。还有，你知道那个金发美女在哪里吗？”
“they're on the way right now. I want you to e along. And do you know where the hell that blonde dame might be?”
马龙说：“嗯？谁？哦，对。当然。我知道。”
“malone said, “huh? who? oh yeah. Sure. I know.”
“别结巴了。” 冯?弗拉纳根吼道，“你能把她一起带来吗？”
“Stop stuttering,” von Flanagan growled, “can you bring her down here with you?”
“这是世界上最容易的事。”
“Easiest thing in the world.”
“那就去做，快点。”
“then do it, and make it snappy.”
马龙放下电话。海伦正从年轻人那里拿走一个高高的杯子，里面装着一些看起来有毒的绿色混合物。
malone put down the telephone. helene was just taking a tallish glass, containing some poisonous-looking green mixture, away from the young man.
“这也是一种很特别的。可惜浪费了。好吧，如果你不想要。我要……”
“this was a very special one, too. Shame to waste it. well, if you don't want it. I do—”
“放下那个杯子。” 马龙严厉地说，“你现在和冯?弗拉纳根有个约会。”
“put that glass down.” malone said sharply. “You've got a date with von Flanagan, right now.”
“为什么？我做了什么？”
“why, what have I done?”
“在路上我再告诉你。穿上你的帽子和外套。”
“I'll tell you on the way. put on your hat and coat.”
“海伦去哪儿我就去哪儿。” 杰克坚定地说。
“I'm going anywhere helene goes,” Jake said firmly.
“好吧，你也可以来。”
“All right, you can e, too.”
“如果我要去和冯?弗拉纳根会面，” 她若有所思地说，“我得喝上那一杯。” 她迅速喝光了杯子里的酒，穿上外套，调整了一下那顶小巧的棕色皮帽。
“If I’m going to have a session with von Flanagan,” she said thoughtfully, “I’m going to need that drink.” She emptied the glass quickly, put on her coat, and adjusted the pert little brown fur hat.
“你能保证在我们回来之前一直待在这儿吗？”
“will you promise to stay right here until we get back?”
罗斯?麦克劳林点点头。“我保证。我知道你们在努力帮我。我会照你们说的做。”
Ross mcLaurin nodded. “I promise. I know you’re trying to help me. I’ll do anything you say.”
马龙说：“我们不会去很久。如果你需要什么，就拿起电话要。”
malone said, “we won’t be long. If you want anything, pick up the phone and ask for it.”
在去冯?弗拉纳根办公室的路上，他解释了这次拜访的原因。
on the way to von Flanagan’s office he explained the reason for the visit.
“我在想冯?弗拉纳根要多久才能想到这一点。” 她评论道，“这两起谋杀案是用同一张纸、同一把剪刀剪出来的。马龙，你觉得那把钥匙去哪儿了？”
“I wondered how long it would take von Flanagan to tumble to that,” she mented. “those two killings are cut out of the same paper, and with the same pair of scissors. malone, where do you suppose that key went to?”
“凶手拿着它。第一起谋杀案发生的那个晚上，他跟踪我，还掏了我的口袋。”
“the murderer has it. he trailed me the night of the first murder and picked my pocket.”
“有这种可能。” 杰克说。
“It’s possible,” Jake said.
“或者是这个图伊兹跟踪了我，掏了我的口袋，然后杀了他的人从他那里拿走了钥匙。”
“or this tuesday trailed me and picked my pocket, and then the man who murdered him took it from him.”
“我更喜欢第一种说法。” 海伦说。
“I like the first one better,” helene said.
“或者它从我的口袋里掉了出来，掉进了下水道格栅里。”
“or it fell out of my pocket somewhere and was lost down a grating.”
“那太无聊了，而且很可能就是这么回事。” 她说，“我想那把钥匙也打开了非常重要的东西。哦，好吧，为洒了的钥匙哭泣也没用。” 她伸手握住杰克的手，紧紧地握着。
“that’s dull and probably what happened,” she said. “I imagine it unlocked something damned important, too. oh well, no use crying over spilled keys.” She reached for Jake’s hand and held it tight.
他们是最后一批到达冯?弗拉纳根办公室的人。莫娜?麦克莱恩在那里，身着黑色的定制昂贵服饰，看起来非常令人印象深刻，非常小巧玲珑，非常时髦。洛特斯?艾伦坐在一把直背椅子上，用一个棕色琥珀烟嘴抽着烟，显得非常冷静和沉着。杰克注意到并赞赏她的驼毛大衣、小巧的棕色帽子和整洁的小牛津鞋。文宁夫妇并肩坐在破旧的皮沙发上。迈克尔?文宁的脸红红的，带着一丝愤慨。伊迪莎?文宁看起来比以前更加苍白和憔悴。杰克断定，灰色松鼠毛和蓝色毡帽肯定不适合她。不过，她曾经肯定是个大美女。她隔着房间与他目光相接，微微露出友好的认可的微笑。
they were the last to arrive at von Flanagan’s office. mona mcclane was there, looking very impressive and very small and very chic, in something black, tailored, and expensive. Lotus Allen was sitting in a straight chair, smoking a cigarette in a brown amber holder, seeming very cool and self-possessed. Jake noted and approved her camel’s hair coat, her small brown hat and trim little oxfords. the Vennings sat side by side on the worn leather couch. michael Venning’s face was pink and a shade indignant. Editha Venning seemed more pale and haggard than before. Gray squirrel and blue felt were certainly not being to her, Jake decided. Still, she must have been a howling beauty once. She met his gaze across the room with just the faintest smile of friendly recognition.
卢埃拉?怀特坐在她旁边的一把大皮椅上，宽阔的脸庞毫无表情，但她的小眼睛注视着房间里发生的一切。杰克想知道在树林里是不是她向他开枪。在他看来，她只要稍有挑衅就会向几乎任何人开枪。
Louella white sat beside her in a big leather chair, her broad face impassive, but her small eyes watching everything that went on in the room. Jake wondered if she had been shooting at him there in the woods. She looked to him as though she would shoot at almost anybody, on very little provocation.
他从马龙的描述中认出了彭德利?泰德韦尔。那个高个子、脸色苍白的年轻人靠在墙上，一只手深深地插在大衣口袋里。杰克怀疑他的手正放在他的相机上。
he recognized pendley tidewell from malone’s description. the tall, pale young man was leaning against the wall, one hand deep in his overcoat pocket. Jake suspected it was resting on his camera.
冯?弗拉纳根对这群人的到来感到既敬畏又生气。“那个麦克劳林到底在哪儿？”
Von Flanagan was just awed enough by the assemblage to be angry. “where in the hell is that mcLaurin?”
每个人都显得很茫然。
Everyone looked vague.
“他可能又出去喝得烂醉了。” 洛特斯?艾伦最后轻声说道。
“he’s probably out on a drunk,” Lotus Allen said at last, speaking delicately.
冯?弗拉纳根哼了一声。“我会让人把他抓来。我要谁来这儿，谁就得在这儿。” 他生气地环顾了一下房间。“好吧，我们都去看看这具尸体。我只想知道他是谁。”
Von Flanagan grunted. “I’ll have him picked up. when I want someone here, I want him.” he looked crossly around the room. “All right, we’ll all go have a look at this corpse. All I want is to know who he is.”
在停尸房，一行人在冯?弗拉纳根的陪同下一个接一个地进去，而马龙则坐在一张破旧的木桌上，抽着雪茄。莫娜?麦克莱恩第一个进去，过了好几分钟才出来，脸上没有任何表情。
At the morgue the members of the party went in one by one, acpanied by von Flanagan, while malone sat on one of the battered wooden desks, smoking a cigar. mona mcclane went first, was gone several minutes, and returned without a trace of expression on her face.
“不，我不认识他。” 她回答马龙的目光说道。她把外套紧紧地裹在肩上。“我原以为这里会是个更加阴森的地方。其实也没那么糟。”
“No, I didn’t know him.” she said answering malone’s look. She pulled her coat close around her shoulders. “I’d expected this to be a far more gloomy place. It really isn’t half bad.”
接着是洛特斯?艾伦进去，她的脸色非常苍白，下巴高高扬起。她回来后摇了摇头。海伦接着进去，然后是伊迪莎?文宁，她回来时嗅着管理员给她的一小瓶氨水。接着是迈克尔?文宁，然后是面容冷酷的卢埃拉?怀特，最后是年轻的彭德利?泰德韦尔。
Lotus Allen went next, her face very white, her chin high. She came back, shaking her head. helene followed, and then Editha Venning, who returned sniffing a small bottle of ammonia the attendant had given her. She was followed by michael Venning, then the hard-faced Louella white, and finally young pendley tidewell.
就在后者查看那具身份不明的尸体时，里面的房间里突然传来一阵巨大的骚动。冯?弗拉纳根愤怒的咆哮声似乎要把整座楼都震塌了。彭德利?泰德韦尔试图偷拍几张照片。
It was while the latter was viewing the unidentified body that a terrific motion broke loose in the inner room. Von Flanagan’s angry roar seemed to shake the building to its foundations. pendley tidewell had attempted to take a few candid-camera shots.
不知怎么的，马龙设法让事情平息了下来。
Somehow malone managed to calm things down.
“对不起，” 彭德利?泰德韦尔抱歉地说，“我从来没有机会……” 他看了一眼冯?弗拉纳根的脸，赶紧闭上了嘴。
“I’m sorry,” pendley tidewell said apologetically. “I never had a chance to—” he looked at von Flanagan’s face and shut up fast.
在所有这些人当中，没有人说认识除夕夜被谋杀的那个人。
of all the party, no one reported knowing the man who had been murdered on New Year’s Eve.
冯?弗拉纳根把手插在口袋里，皱着眉头。“这群人里有人在说谎。因为在麦克莱恩夫人家里谋杀那个人的和谋杀这家伙的是同一个人。”
Von Flanagan thrust his hands in his pockets and scowled. “Someone in this crowd is a liar. because the same person who murdered the man in mrs. mcclane’s house murdered this guy.”
马龙把雪茄上的烟灰弹掉。“你这是瞎猜。” 他轻蔑地说，“仅仅因为这两个人碰巧都有同一个伦敦鞋匠做的鞋。”
malone knocked the ashes from his cigar. “You’re making a wild guess,” he said scornfully. “Just because the two men both happened to have had their shoes made by the same London shoemaker.”
“这么说你也注意到了。” 冯?弗拉纳根吼道。
“So you noticed that, too,” von Flanagan growled.
“这说明不了什么。” 马龙平静地说。
“It doesn’t mean a thing,” malone began blandly.
“不只是鞋子。” 冯?弗拉纳根咆哮道，“不只是鞋子、西服或者衬衫。还有名字。”
“It ain’t just the shoes.” von Flanagan roared. “It ain’t just the shoes, or the suits or the shirts. It’s the names.”
“名字？” 马龙重复道。他不知道自己是否和房间里的其他人一样一脸茫然。
“the names?” malone repeated. he wondered if he looked as blank as everyone else in the room.”
“我把这群人带到这儿来不是因为这个人身份不明，” 冯?弗拉纳根说，“而是因为他已经被确认了身份。因为我发现这两个人之间的联系不仅仅是同一个鞋匠做的鞋。因为他们是同一个人。”
“I didn’t bring this mob down here because this guy hadn’t been identified,” von Flanagan said, “but because he had been. because I found out there’s more connection between these two than having the same shoemaker. because they’re the same guy.”
他停顿了一下。他的脸慢慢地变成了深紫红色。突然，他转过身，穿过房间，打开了远处的一扇门。
he paused. his face was slowly turning a rich magenta. Suddenly he turned, walked across the room and opened a door at the far end.
“迪基特先生，你现在进来。”
“mr. dickett, you e in here now.”