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That same afternoon, as McMurdo sat smoking, lost in thought, beside the stove of his sitting-room,
就在这天中午，麦克默多坐在起居室壁炉旁吸烟，正陷于沉思之中，
the door swung open and its framework was filled with the huge figure of Boss McGinty.
门突然被撞开，首领麦金蒂高大的身影堵满了门框。
He passed the sign, and then seating himself opposite to the young man he looked at him steadily for some time, a look which was as steadily returned.
他打过招呼，在这个年轻人对面坐了下来，冷静沉着地瞪了他好一阵子，麦克默多也照样瞪着他。
"I'm not much of a visitor, Brother McMurdo," he said at last.
"我是不轻易出来拜访人的，麦克默多兄弟，"麦金蒂终于说道。
"I guess I am too busy over the folk that visit me. But I thought I'd stretch a point and drop down to see you in your own house."
"我总是忙于接待那些拜访我的人。可是我认为我已经破例到你家来看望你了。"
"I'm proud to see you here, Councillor," McMurdo answered heartily, bringing his whisky bottle out of the cupboard. "It's an honour that I had not expected."
"蒙你光临，我很感荣幸，参议员先生，"麦克默多亲热地答道，从食起橱里取出一起威士忌酒来，"这是我喜出望外的光荣。"
"How's the arm?" asked the Boss.
"胳膊怎么样，"身主问道。
McMurdo made a wry face. "Well, I'm not forgetting it," he said; "but it's worth it."
麦克默多作了一个鬼脸，答道："啊，我不会忘记的，可是这是有价值的。"
"Yes, it's worth it," the other answered, "to those that are loyal and gothrough with it and are a help to the lodge.
"对于那些忠实可靠、履行仪式、帮助会务的人来说，这是有价值的。
What were you speaking to Brother Morris about on Miller Hill this morning?"
今天早晨在米勒山附近，你对莫里斯兄弟说了些什么？"
The question came so suddenly that it was well that he had his answer prepared.
这一问题来得如此突兀，幸而麦克默多早有准备。
He burst into a hearty laugh. "Morris didn't know I could earn a living here at home.
遂放声大笑道："莫里斯不知道我可以在家中谋生。
He shan't know either; for he has got too much conscience for the likes of me. But he's a good-hearted old chap.
他也根本不会知道，因为他把我这一类人的良心估计过高。不过他倒是一个好心的老家伙。
It was his idea that I was at a loose end, and that he would do me a good turn by offering me a clerkship in a drygoods store."
他以为我没有职业，所以他要我在一家绸布店里做职员。"
"Oh, that was it?"
"啊，原来是为这事吗？"
"Yes, that was it."
"是的，就是这么件事。"
"And you refused it?"
"那么你回绝了吗？"
"Sure. Couldn't I earn ten times as much in my own bedroom with four hours' work?"
"当然了。我在自己卧室里干四个小时，不要比在他那里多挣十倍吗？"
"That's so. But I wouldn't get about too much with Morris."
"不错。可是要是我的话，我不会和莫里斯来往太多的。"
"Why not?"
"为什么呢？"
"Well, I guess because I tell you not. That's enough for most folk in these parts."
"我想我不能告诉你。这里大多数人都明白。"
"It may be enough for most folk; but it ain't enough for me, Councillor," said McMurdo boldly.
"也许大多数人都明白，可是我还不明白，参议员先生，"麦克默多鲁莽地说。
"If you are a judge of men, you'll know that."
"如果你是一个公正的人，你就会知道的。"
The swarthy giant glared at him, and his hairy paw closed for an instant round the glass as though he would hurl it at the head of his companion.
这个黑大汉怒目瞪着麦克默多，他那毛茸茸的手爪一下子抓住酒杯，好像要把它猛掷在对方头上。
Then he laughed in his loud, boisterous, insincere fashion.
后来他反而兴高采烈、虚情假意地大笑起来。
"You're a queer card, for sure," said he.
"毫无疑问，你确实是一个怪人，"麦金蒂说道。
"Well, if you want reasons, I'll give them. Did Morris say nothing to you against the lodge?"
"好，如果你一定要知道原因，那么我就告诉你。莫里斯没有向你说什么反对本会的话吗？"
"No."
"没有。"
"Nor against me?"
"也没有反对我的话吗？"
"No."
"没有。"
"Well, that's because he daren't trust you. But in his heart he is not a loyal brother.
"啊，那是因为他还不敢相信你。可是他心里已经不是一个忠心的弟兄了。
We know that well. So we watch him and we wait for the time to admonish him. I'm thinking that the time is drawing near.
我们对这一点知道得很清楚，所以对他很注意，我们就等待时机去告诫他，我想这一时刻已经不远了。
There's no room for scabby sheep in our pen. But if you keep company with a disloyal man, we might think that you were disloyal, too. See?"
因为在我们的羊圈里是没有那些下贱绵羊的栖身之地的。可是如果你同一个不忠心的人结交，我们要认为你也是一个不忠心的人。这你明白了吗？"
"There's no chance of my keeping company with him; for I dislike the man," McMurdo answered.
"因为我不喜欢这个人，我也没有机会和他结交，"麦克默多回答道。
"As to being disloyal, if it was any man but you he would not use the word to me twice."
"至于说我不忠心，也就是出自你的口中，假如要是别的人，他就不会有机会第二次再对我说这种话了。"
"Well, that's enough," said McGinty, draining off his glass. "I came down to give you a word in season, and you've had it."
"好，不要再说了，"麦金蒂把酒一饮而尽，说道，"我是及时来劝告你，你应当明白。"
"I'd like to know," said McMurdo, "how you ever came to learn that I had spoken with Morris at all?"
"我很想知道你究竟是怎么知道我和莫里斯谈过话的。"麦克默多说道。
McGinty laughed. "It's my business to know what goes on in this township," said he.
麦金蒂笑了一笑。"在这个镇子里发生什么事，我都知道，"麦金蒂说。"
"I guess you'd best reckon on my hearing all that passes. Well, time's up, and I'll just say..."
我想你总该知道不论什么事都逃不过我的耳目的。好，时间不早了，我还要说..."
But his leavetaking was cut short in a very unexpected fashion.
可是一个非常意外的情况打断了他告别的话。
With a sudden crash the door flew open, and three frowning, intent faces glared in at them from under the peaks of police caps.
随着一下突然的撞击声，门打开了，三张坚决的面孔正从警帽的帽檐下怒目横眉地瞪着他们。
