卡罗威汽车(了不起的盖茨比 第七章（一） 双语对照)

It was when curiosity about Gatsby was at its highest that the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night --and ,as obscurely as it had begun ,his career as Trimalchio was over .

正在人们对盖茨比的好奇心达到顶点的时候，有一个星期六晚上，他别墅里的灯都没有亮－－于是，他作为特里马乔的生涯，当初莫名其妙地开始，现在又莫名其妙地结束了。

Only graduallly did I become aware that the automobiles which turned expectantly into his drive stayed for just a minute and then drove sulkily away .Wondering if he were sick I went over to find out --an unfamiliar butler with a villainous face squinted at me suspiciously from the door .

我逐渐发觉那些乘兴而来的一辆辆汽车，稍停片刻之后又扫兴地开走了。我疑心他是否病了，于是走过去看看－－一个面目狰狞的陌生仆人从门口满腹狐疑地斜着眼看我。

"Is Mr.Gatsby sick ?"

盖茨比先生病了吗？

"Nope".After a pause he added "sir "in a dilatory ,grudging way .

没有，停了一会他才慢吞吞地、勉勉强强地叫了一声“先生”。

"I hadn't seen him around ,and I was rather worried .Tell him Mr.Carraway came over ."

我好久没看见他了，很不放心。告诉他卡罗威先生来过。

"Who?"he demanded rudely .

谁？他粗鲁地问。

"Carraway ."

卡罗威。

"Carraway .All right ,I'll tell him ."Abruptly he slammed the door .

卡罗威。好啦，我告诉他。他粗鲁地砰的一声关上了大门。

My Finn informed me that Gatsby had dismissed every servant in his house a week ago and replaced them with half a dozen others ,who never went into West Egg Village to be bribed by the tradesmen ,but ordered moderate supplies over the telephone .The grocery boy reported that the kitchen looked like a pigsty ,and the general opinion in the village was that the new people weren't servents at all .

我的芬兰女佣告诉我，盖茨比早在一个星期前就辞退了家里的每一个仆人，另外雇用了五六个人，这些人从来不到西卵镇上去采购，顺便收取那些开店的贿赂，而是打电话订购数量不多的生活用品。据食品店送货的伙计报道，厨房看上去像个猪圈，而镇上一般的看法是，这些新人压根儿不是什么仆人。

Next day Gatsby called me on the phone .

第二天盖茨比打电话给我。

"Going away "I inquired .

准备出门吗？我问。

"No ,old sport ,"

没有，老兄。

"I hear you fired all your servants ."

我听说你把所有的仆人都辞了。

"I wanted somebody who wouldn't gossip .Daisy comes over quite often --in the afternoons ."

我需要的是不爱讲闲话的人。黛西经常来－－总是在下午。

So the whole caravansary had fallen in like a card house at the disapproval in her eyes .

原来如此，由于她看了不赞成，这座大酒店就像纸牌搭的房子一样整个坍掉了。

"They're some people Wolfshiem wanted to do something for .They're all brothers and sisters .They used to run a small hotel ."

他们是沃尔夫山姆想给帮点儿忙的人。他们都是兄弟姐妹。他们开过一家小旅馆。

"I see ."

我明白了。

He was calling up at Daisy's request --would I come to lunch at her house tomorrow ?Miss Baker would be there .Half an hour later Daisy herself telephoned and seemed relieved to find that I was coming .Something was up .And yet I couldn't believe that they would choose this occasion for a scene --especially for the rather harrowing scene that Gatsby had outlined in the garden .

他是应黛西的请求打电话来的－－问我明天是否可以到她家吃午饭。贝克小姐会去的。半小时之后，黛西亲自打电话来，似乎因为知道我答应去而感到宽慰。一定出了什么事。然而我却不能相信他们竟然会先这样一个场合来大闹一场－－尤其是盖茨比早先在花园里所提出的那种令人难堪的场面。

The next day was broiling ,almost the last ,certainly the warmest ,of the summer .As my train emerged from the tunnel into sunlight ,only the hot whistles of the National Biscuit Company broke the simmering hush at noon .The straw seats of the car hovered on the edge of combustion ;the woman next to me perspired delicately for a while into her white shirtwaist ,and then as her newspaper dampened under her fingers ,lapsed despairingly into deep heat with a desolate cry .Her pocker-book slapped to the floor .

第二天天气酷热，夏日几乎要终结，然而这也无疑是夏天中最热的一天。当我乘的火车从隧道里钻出来驶进阳光里时，只有全国饼干公司热辣辣的汔笛打破了中午闷热的静寂。客车里的草椅垫热得简直要着火了。坐在我旁边的一个妇女起先很斯文地任汗水渗透衬衣，后来，她的报纸在她手指下面也变潮了时，她长叹一声，在酷热中颓然地往后一倒。她的钱包啪的一声到了地上。

"Oh ,my !"she gasped .

哎哟！她吃惊地喊道。

I picked it up with a weary bend and handed it back ot her ,holding it at arm's length and by the extreme tip of the corners to indicate that I had no designs upon it --but every one near by ,including the woman ,suspected me just the same .

我懒洋洋地弯下腰把它捡了起来，递还给了她，手伸得远远的，捏着钱包的一个角，表示我并无染指的意图－－可是附近的每一个人，包括那女人，照样怀疑我。

"Hot !"said the conductor to familiar faces ."Some weather !Hot !Hot !Hot ! Is it hot enough for you ?Is it hot ?Is it ....?"

热！查票员对面熟的乘客说，够呛的天气！热…热…热…你觉得够热的吗？热吗？你觉得…

My commutation ticket came back to me with a dark stain from his hand .That any one should care in this heat whose flushed lips he kissed ,whose head made damp the pajama pocket over his heart !

我的月季票递还给我时，上面留下了他手上的黑汗渍。在这种酷热的天气还有谁关心他亲吻的是谁的朱唇，谁的脑袋偎湿了他胸前的睡衣口袋！

....Through the hall of the Buchanan's house blew a faint wind ,carrying the sound of the telephone bell out to Gatsby and me as we waited at the door .

…盖茨比和我在门口等开门的时候，一阵微风吹过布坎农住宅的前厅，带来电话铃的声音。…盖茨比和我在门口等开门的时候，一阵微风吹过布坎住宅的前厅，带来电话铃的声音。

"The master's body !"roared the butler into mouthpiece ."I'm sorry ,madame ,but we can't furnish it --it's far too hot to touch this noon!"

主人的尸体？男客家大声身话筒里嚷道，对不起，太太，可是我们不能提供--今天中午太热了，没法碰！

What he really said was :"Yes ---yes ---I'll see ."

实际上他讲的是：是…是…我去瞧瞧。

He set down the receiver and came toward us ,glistening slightly ,to take our stiff straw hats .

他放下了话筒，朝我们走过来，头上冒着汗珠，接过我们的硬壳草帽。

"Madame expects you in the salon!"he cried ,needlessly indicating the direction .In this heat every extra gesture was an affront to the common store of life .

夫人在客厅里等您哩！他喊道，一面不必要地指着方向。在这酷热的天气，每一个多余的手势都是滥用生活公有财富。

The room ,shadowed well with awnings ,was dark and cool .Daisy and Jordan lay upon an enormous couch ,like silver idols ,weighing down their own white dresses against the singing breeze of the fans .

这间屋子外面有遮篷挡着，又阴暗又凉快。黛西和乔丹躺在一张巨大的长发上，好像两座银像压住自己的白色衣裙，不让电扇的呼呼响的风吹动。

"We can't move ,"they said together .

我们动不了了。她们俩同声说。

Jordan's fingers ,powdered white over their tan ,rested for a moment in mine .

乔丹的手指，黝黑色上面搽了一层白粉，在我手掌里搁了一会。

"And Mr.Thomas Buchanan ,the athete ?"I inquired .

体育家托马斯.布坎农先生呢？我问。

Simultaneously I heard his voice ,gruff ,muffled ,husky ,at the hall telephone .

就在同时我听见了他的声音，粗犷、低沉、沙哑，正在用前厅的电话与什么人通着话。

Gatsby stood in the center of the crimson carpet and gazed around with fascinated eyes .Daisy watched him and laughed ,her sweet ,exciting laugh ;a tiny gust of powder rose from her bosom into the air .

盖茨比站在绯红的地毯中央，用着了迷的目光四周张望。黛西看着他，发出了她那甜蜜、动人的笑声。微微的一阵香粉从她胸口升入空中。

"The rumor is ,"whispered Jordan ,"that that's Tom's girl on the telephone ."

有谣言说，乔丹悄悄地说，那边是汤姆的情人在打电话。

We were silent .The voice in the hall rose high with annoyance."Very well ,then ,I won't sell you the car at all .......I'm under no obligations to you at all ....And as for your bothering me about it at lunch time I won't stand that at all !"

我们都不说话，前厅里的声音气恼地提高了：那好吧，我根本不把车子卖给你了…我根本不欠你什么情…至于你在午饭时候来打扰我，我根本不答应！

"Holding down the receiver ,"said Daisy cynically .

挂上话筒再讲，黛西冷嘲热讽地说。

"No,he's not ,"I assured her ."It's a bona fide deal .I happen to know about it ."

不，他不是。我向她解释道，这是一笔确有其事的交易。我碰巧知道这件事。

Tom flung open the door ,blocked out its space for a moment with his thick body ,and hurried into the room .

汤姆猛然推开了门，他粗壮的身躯片刻间堵住了门口，然后急匆匆走进了屋子。

"Mr .Gatsby !"He put out his broad ,flat hand with well-concealed dislike ."I'm glad to see you ,sir .....Nick......"

盖茨比先生！他伸出了他宽大、扁平的手，很成功地掩饰住了对他的厌恶，我很高兴见到您，先生…尼克…

"Make us a cold drink ,"cried Daisy .

给我们来一杯冷饮吧！黛西大声说。

As he left the room again she got up and went over to Gatsby and pulled his face down kissing him on the mouth .

他又离开屋子以后，她站起身来，走到盖茨比面前，把他的脸拉近，吻他的嘴。

"You know I love you ,"she murmured .

你知道我爱你。她喃喃地说。

"You forget there's a lady present ,"said Jordan .

你忘了还有一位女客在座，乔丹说。

Daisy looked around doubtfully .

黛西故意装傻回过头看看。

"You kiss Nick too ."

你也跟尼克接吻吧。

"What a low ,vulgar girl!"

多低级、多下流的女孩子！

"I don't care !"cried Daisy and began to clog on the brick fireplace .Then she remembered the heat and sat down guiltily on the couch just as a freshly laundered nurse leading a little girl came into the room .

我不在乎！黛西大声说，同时在砖砌的壁炉前面跳起舞来。后来她想起了酷热的天气，又不好意思地在沙发上从了下来。正在这时一个穿着新洗的衣服的保姆搀着一个小女孩走进屋子来。

"Bles-sed pre-cious ,"she crooned ,holding out her arms ."Come to your own mother that loves you ."

心－－肝，宝－－贝，她嗲声嗲气地说，一面伸出她的胳臂，到疼你的亲娘这里来。

The child ,relinquished by the nurse ,rushed across the room and rooted shyly into her mother's dress .

保姆一撒手，小孩就从屋子那边跑过来，羞答答地一头埋进她母亲的衣裙里。

"The Bles-sed pre-cious !Did mother get powder on your old yellowy hair ?Stand up now ,and say How-de-do."

心－－肝，宝－－贝啊！妈妈把粉弄到你黄黄的头上了吗？站起身来，说声－－您好。

Gatsby and I in turn leaned down and took the small reluctant hand .Afterward he kept looking at the child with surprise .I don't think he had ever really believed in its existence before .

盖茨比和我先后弯下腰来，握一握她不情愿伸出的小手。然后他惊奇地盯着孩子看。我想他以前从来没有真正相信过有这个孩子存在。

"I got dressed before luncheon ,"said the child ,turning eagerly to Daisy .

我在午饭前就打扮好了。孩子说，急切地把脸转向黛西。

"That's because your mother wanted to show you off ."Her ace bent into the single wrinkle of the small white neck ."You dream ,you .You absolute little dream ."

那是因为你妈要显摆你。她低下头来把脸伏在雪白的小脖子上唯一的褶皱里，你啊，你这个宝贝。你这个独一无二的小宝贝。

"Yes ,"admitted the child calmly ."Aunt Jordan's got on a white dress too ."

是啊，小孩平静地答应，乔丹阿姨也穿了一件白衣裳。

"How do you like mother's friends ?"Daisy turned her around so that she faced Gatsby ."Do you think they're pretty ?"

你喜欢妈妈的朋友吗？黛西把她转过来，让她面对着盖茨比，你觉得他们漂亮吗？

"Where's Daddy?"

爸爸在哪儿?

"She doesn't look like her father ,"explained Daisy ."She looks like me .She's got my hair and shape of the face."

她长得不像她父亲，黛西解释说，她长得像我。她的头发和脸型都像我。

Daisy sat back upon the couch .The nurse took a step forward and held out her hand .

黛西朝后靠在沙发上。保姆走上前一步，伸出了手。

"Come ,Pammy."

来吧，帕咪。

"Goodbye ,sweetheart !"

再见，乖乖！

With a reluctant backward glance the well-disciplined child held to her nurse's hand and was pulled out the door ,just as Tom came back ,preceding four gin rickeys that cliked full of ice .

很懂规矩的小孩依依不舍地回头看了一眼，抓着保姆的手，就被拉到门外去。正好汤姆回来，后面跟着的用人端来了四杯杜松子利克酒，里面装满了冰块喀嚓作响。

Gatsby took up his drink .

盖茨比端过一杯酒来。

"They certainly look cool ,"he said ,with visible tension .这酒绝对凉，他说，看得出来他有点紧张。

We drank in long greedy swallows .

我们迫不及待地大口大口地把酒喝下去。

"I read somewhere that the sun's getting hotter every year ,"said Tom genially ."It seems that pretty soon the earth's going to fall into the sun--or wait a minute --it's just the opposite --the sun's getting colder every year .

我在什么地方看到过，说太阳一年比一年热，汤姆很和气地说，好像地球不久就会掉进太阳里去--等一等--恰恰相反--太阳一年比一年冷。

"Come outside ,"he suggested to Gatsby ,"I'd like you to have a look at the place ."

到外面来吧，他向盖茨比提议，我想请你看看我这个地方。

I went with them out to the veranda .On the green Sound ,stagnant in the heat ,one small sail crawled slowly toward the fresher sea .Gatsby's eyes followed it momentarily ; he raised his hand and pointed across the bay .

我跟他们一起到外面游廊上去。在绿色的海湾上，海水在酷热中停滞不动，一条小帆船慢慢向比较新鲜的海域移动。盖茨比的眼光片刻间追随着这条船。他举起了手，指着海湾的对面。

"I'm right across from you ."

我就住在你正对面。

"So you are ."

可不是嘛。

Our eyes lifted over the rosebeds and the hot lawn and the weedy refuse of the dog days along shore .Slowly the white wings of the boat moved against the blue cool limit of the sky .Ahead lay the scalloped ocean and the abounding blessed isles .

我们的眼睛掠过玫瑰花圃，掠过炎热的草坪，掠过海岸边那些大热天的乱草堆。那条小船的白翼在蔚蓝清凉的天际慢慢地移动。再往前是水波荡漾的海洋和星罗棋布的宝岛。

"There's sport for you ,"said Tom ,nodding .I'd like to be out there with him for about an hour .

那是多么好的运动，汤姆点着头说，我真想出去和他在那边玩上个把钟头。

We had luncheon in the dining-room ,darkened ,too ,against the heat ,and drank down nervous gayety with the cold ale .

我们在餐厅里吃的午饭，里面也遮得很阴凉，大家把紧张的欢笑和凉啤酒一起喝下肚去。

"What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon ,"cried Daisy ,"and the day after that ,and the next thirty years ?"

我们今天下午做什么好呢？黛西大声说，还有明天，还有今后三十年？

"Don't be morbid ,"Jordan said ."Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall ."

不要这样病态，乔丹说，秋天一到，天高气爽，生活就又重新开始了。

"But it's so hot ,"insisted Daisy ,on the verge of tears ,"And everything's so confused .Let's all go to town !"

可是天真热得要命，黛西固执地说，差点要哭出来了，一切又都混乱不堪。咱们都进城去吧！

Her voice struggled on through the heat ,beating againsst it ,moulding its senselessness into forms .

她的声音继续在热浪中挣扎，向它冲击着，把无知无觉的热气塑成一些形状。

I've heard of making a garage out of a stable ,"Tom was saying to Gatsby,"but I'm the first man who ever made stable out of a garage ."

我听说过把马房改作车库，汤姆在对盖茨比说，但是我是第一个把车库变成马房的人。

"Who wants to go to town ?"demanded Daisy insistently .Gatsby's eyes floated toward her ."Ah",she cried ,you look so cool ."

谁愿意进城去？黛西执拗地问道。盖茨比的眼睛慢慢朝她看过去。“啊”，她喊道，你看上去真帅。

Their eyes met ,and they stared together at each other ,alone in space .With an effort she glanced down at the table .

他们目光的相遇了，彼此目不转睛地看着对方，超然物外。她好不容易才把视线转回到餐桌上。

"You always look so cool ,"she repeated .

你看上去总是那么帅。她重复说。

She had told him that she loved him ,and Tom Buchanan saw .He was astounded .His mouth opened a little and he looked at Gatsby and then back at Daisy as if he had just recognized her as some one he knew a long time ago .

她已经告诉他她爱他，汤姆.布坎农也看出来了。他大为震惊。他的嘴微微张开，看看盖茨比，又看看黛西，仿佛他刚刚认出她是他很久以前就认识的一个人。

"You resemble the advertisement of the man ,"she went on innocently ."You know the advertisement of the man --"

你很像广告里那个人，她恬然地继续说，你知道广告里那个人…

"All right ,"broke it Tom quickly ,"I'm perfectly willing to go to town .Come on --we're all going to town ."

好吧，汤姆赶紧打断了她的话，我非常乐意进城去。走吧--我们大家都进城去。

He got up ,his eyes still flashing between Gatsby and his wife .No one moved .

他站了起来，目光还是在盖茨比和他妻子之间闪来闪去。谁都没动。

"Come on !" His temper cracked a little ."What's the matter ,anyhow? If we're going to town let's start ."

走啊！他有点冒火了，到底怎么回事？咱们要进城，那就走吧。

His hand ,trembling with his effort at self control ,bore to his lips the last of his glass of ale .Daisy's voice got us to our feet and out on to the blazing gravel drive .

他把杯中剩下的啤酒举到了唇边，五只手由于他尽力控制自己而在发抖。黛西的声音促使我们站了起来，走到外面炽热的石字行车道上。

"Are we just going to go ?"she objected ."Like this ? Aren't we going to let any one smoke a cigarette first ?"

我们马上就走吗？她不以为然地说，就像这样？难道我们不让人家先抽根烟吗？

"Everybody smoked all through lunch ."

吃饭的时候大家从头到尾都在抽烟。

"Oh ,let's have fun ,"she begged him ."It's too hot to fuss ."

哦，咱们高高兴兴地玩吧，她央求他，天太热了，别闹吧。

He didn't answer .

他没有回答。

"Have it your own way ,"she said ." Come on ,Jordan."

随你的便吧，她说，来吧，乔丹。

They went up-stairs to get ready while we three men stood there shuffling the hot pebbles with our feet .A silver curve of the moon hovered alresdy in the western sky .Gatsby started to speak ,changed his mind ,but not before Tom wheeled and faced him expectantly .

她们上楼去做好准备，我们三个男的就站在那儿用我们的脚把滚烫的小石子踢来踢去。一弯银月已经悬在西天。盖茨比刚开口说话，又改变了主意，想闭上嘴巴，但汤姆也转过身来面对着他等他说话。