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It might be thought that as a member, all the doings of the society would be told to him;
也许有人以为，死酷党所作所为全都会让它的党徒知道的，
but he was soon to discover that the organization was wider and more complex than the simple lodge.
可是他很快就会发现这个组织比一般简单的分会要广泛、复杂得多。
Even Boss McGinty was ignorant as to many things; for there was an official named the County Delegate,
即使身主麦金蒂对许多事也一无所知，因为有一个称为县代表的官员，
living at Hobson's Patch farther down the line, who had power over several different lodges which he wielded in a sudden and arbitrary way.
住在离市中心很远的霍布森领地，他用出人意外而又专横的手段行使权力，统治着各个不同的分会。
Only once did McMurdo see him, a sly, little gray-haired rat of a man, with a slinking gait and a sidelong glance which was charged with malice.
麦克默多仅仅看到过他一次，这是一个狡诈的人，头发有点发灰，行动鬼鬼祟祟，活像一只耗子，总是充满恶意地斜眼看人。
Evans Pott was his name, and even the great Boss of Vermissa felt towards him something of the repulsion and fear which the huge Danton may have felt for the puny but dangerous Robespierre.
此人名叫伊万斯·波特，甚至维尔米萨的大头目在他面前也感到有些畏惧，如同非凡的丹东在凶险的罗伯斯比尔面前感到软弱无力一样。
One day Scanlan, who was McMurdo's fellow boarder, received a note from McGinty inclosing one from Evans Pott,
一天，麦克默多同寓的伙伴斯坎伦收到麦金蒂的一封便笺，里面附有伊万斯·波特写来的信，
which informed him that he was sending over two good men, Lawler and Andrews, who had instructions to act in the neighbourhood;
信上通知说，将派两名得力人员--劳勒和安德鲁斯--到邻区行事，
though it was best for the cause that no particulars as to their objects should be given.
而对他们行事的对象，就不做详细说明了。
Would the Bodymaster see to it that suitable arrangements be made for their lodgings and comfort until the time for action should arrive?
身主是否可以给他们安排适当住处，直到行动的时间到来？
McGinty added that it was impossible for anyone to remain secret at the Union House,
麦金蒂写道，在工会里任何人都无法保守秘密，
and that, therefore, he would be obliged if McMurdo and Scanlan would put the strangers up for a few days in their boarding house.
因此，他责成麦克默多和斯坎伦把这两个来人安排在他们寓所住几天。
The same evening the two men arrived, each carrying his gripsack.
就在当天夜晚，这两个人来了，每个人带着一个手提包。
Lawler was an elderly man, shrewd, silent, and self-contained, clad in an old black frock coat,
劳勒年龄较大，是一个精明人，沉默寡言，比较稳重，身着一件旧礼服大衣，
which with his soft felt hat and ragged, grizzled beard gave him a general resemblance to an itinerant preacher.
戴一顶软毡帽，乱蓬蓬的灰白胡子，使人感到他是一个巡回传教士。
His companion Andrews was little more than a boy, frank-faced and cheerful, with the breezy manner of one who is out for a holiday and means to enjoy every minute of it.
他的伙伴安德鲁斯是一个半大的孩子，面容坦率，性情开朗，举止轻快活泼，好像一个人出来欢度假期，准备不放过一分钟地尽情欢乐似的。
Both men were total abstainers, and behaved in all ways as exemplary members of the society,
两个人都绝不饮酒，从各方面看都是地地道道的党徒，
with the one simple exception that they were assassins who had often proved themselves to be most capable instruments for this association of murder.
只有一个简单的例外，那就是他们都是杀手，他们常常证明自己是这个杀人团伙最得力的工具。
Lawler had already carried out fourteen commissions of the kind, and Andrews three.
劳勒已经干过十四次这类犯罪活动，安德鲁斯也杀过三次人了。
They were, as McMurdo found, quite ready to converse about their deeds in the past,
麦克默多发现，他们很乐意谈自己过去的作为，
which they recounted with the half-bashful pride of men who had done good and unselfish service for the community.
讲起来颇为得意，带着为社团立下过汗马功劳的骄傲神情。
They were reticent, however, as to the immediate job in hand.
但对目前要执行的任务却守口如瓶。
"They chose us because neither I nor the boy here drink," Lawler explained.
"他们选派我们来是因为我和这个孩子都不饮酒，"劳勒解释说。
"They can count on us saying no more than we should. You must not take it amiss, but it is the orders of the County Delegate that we obey."
"他们相信我们不会说出我们不应该说的。这是县代表的命令，我们必须服从。请你们不要见怪。"
"Sure, we are all in it together," said Scanlan, McMurdo's mate, as the four sat together at supper.
"当然了，我们都是同党，"麦克默多的同宿人斯坎伦说道，这时四人坐下共进晚餐。
"That's true enough, and we'll talk till the cows come home of the killing of Charlie Williams or of Simon Bird, or any other job in the past.
"这是实话，我们可以毫无限制地谈论如何杀死查利·威廉斯，或者如何杀死西蒙·伯德，以及过去的其他案子。
But till the work is done we say nothing."
可是在我们这件事未得手之前，我们什么也不能谈。"
"There are half a dozen about here that I have a word to say to," said McMurdo, with an oath.
"这里有六七个人，我要教训他们，"麦克默多咒骂道。
"I suppose it isn't Jack Knox of Ironhill that you are after. I'd go some way to see him get his deserts."
"我猜，你们是不是追踪铁山的杰克·诺克斯？我认为他应该得到惩罚。"
"No, it's not him yet."
"不，还不是他。"
"Or Herman Strauss?"
"要不然是赫尔曼·斯特劳斯？"
"No, nor him either."
"不，也不是他。"
"Well, if you won't tell us we can't make you; but I'd be glad to know."
"好，如果你们不肯说，我们也不勉强，可是我很愿意知道。"
Lawler smiled and shook his head. He was not to be drawn.
劳勒摇头微笑。他是坚决不肯开口了。
In spite of the reticence of their guests, Scanlan and McMurdo were quite determined to be present at what they called "the fun."
尽管他俩缄默不言，斯坎伦和麦克默多却决定参加他们所说的"游戏"。
When, therefore, at an early hour one morning McMurdo heard them creeping down the stairs he awakened Scanlan, and the two hurried on their clothes.
所以，一天清晨，麦克默多听到他们蹑手蹑脚地下了楼，便把斯坎伦叫醒，急忙穿上衣服。
When they were dressed they found that the others had stolen out, leaving the door open behind them.
当他们穿好衣服时，发现其他人已经溜出去了，他们身后的门开着。
It was not yet dawn, and by the light of the lamps they could see the two men some distance down the street.
天还没亮，他们借助灯光，看到那两个人已经走到街上。
They followed them warily, treading noiselessly in the deep snow.
麦克默多和斯坎伦便小心翼翼地尾随踏雪而行。
