歪唇男人 36揭开迷雾(9)（打印版）

I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, some time later,

我写完了报道，这些事也就置之脑后不再去想了。直到后来有一天，

I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ served upon me for 25 pounds.

我为一位朋友背书担保了一张票据，后来竟接到一张传票要我赔偿二十五镑，

I was at my wit's end where to get the money, but a sudden idea came to me.

我因拿不出这么多钱，急得走投无路，这才忽然计上心来。

I begged a fortnight's grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers,

我央求债主缓期半月让我去筹款，又请求雇主给我几天假。

and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise.

然后我就化起装来，到城里去乞讨。

In ten days I had the money and had paid the debt.

过了十天，我凑齐了钱，清了这笔债。

Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous work at 2 pounds a week

哦，这么一来，你们可以想见，再要我安心地去做那一星期只能挣两英镑的辛苦工作是多么不容易了，

when I knew that I could earn as much in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the ground, and sitting still.

当我已懂得只要我在脸上抹上一点油彩，把帽子放在地上，静静地坐着就能挣到同样多钱的时候。

It was a long fight between my pride and the money, but the dollars won at last,

是要自尊心还是要钱，我思想斗争了很久，最后是金钱占了上风，

and I threw up reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first chosen,

我抛弃了记者生活，日复一日地坐在我第一次选定的那条街的拐角，

inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets with coppers.

借着我那一副可怕的面容所引起的恻隐之心，铜板儿塞满了我的口袋。

Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane,

只有一个人知道我的隐秘。这就是我在天鹅闸巷寄宿的那下等烟馆的老板，

where I could every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings transform myself into a well-dressed man about town.

在那里我能够每天早晨以一个邋遢乞丐的面目出现，到晚上又变成一个衣冠楚楚的浪荡公子。

This fellow, a lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that my secret was safe in his possession.

这个印度阿三收了我高价的房租，所以他会为我保密。