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Danger
危机
It was the height of the reign of terror.
恐怖统治达到了顶峰。
McMurdo, who had already been appointed Inner Deacon, with every prospect of some day succeeding McGinty as Bodymaster,
麦克默多已经被委任为会中的执事，大有希望日后继麦金蒂做身主的候选人，
was now so necessary to the councils of his comrades that nothing was done without his help and advice.
现在他的同伙都要征求他的意见，以致没有他的指点和协助，什么事也做不成。
The more popular he became, however, with the Freemen, the blacker were the scowls which greeted him as he passed along the streets of Vermissa.
可是，他在自由人会中的名声愈大，当他在维尔米萨街上走过时，那些平民愈仇视他。
In spite of their terror the citizens were taking heart to band themselves together against their oppressors.
他们不顾恐怖的威胁，决心联合起来共同反抗压其他们的人。
Rumours had reached the lodge of secret gatherings in the Herald office and of distribution of firearms among the law-abiding people.
死酷党听到传说：先驱报社有秘密集会，并向守法的平民分发武器。
But McGinty and his men were undisturbed by such reports.
但麦金蒂和他手下的人对此却毫不介意。
They were numerous, resolute, and well armed. Their opponents were scattered and powerless.
因为他们人数众多，胆大包天，武器精良；而对手却是一盘散沙，无权无势。
It would all end, as it had done in the past, in aimless talk and possibly in impotent arrests.
结果一定像过去一样，只是漫无目标的空谈，多半是无能为力的罢手而已。
So said McGinty, McMurdo, and all the bolder spirits.
这就是麦金蒂、麦克默多和那些勇敢分子们的说法。
It was a Saturday evening in May.
党徒们经常在星期六晚上集会。
Saturday was always the lodge night, and McMurdo was leaving his house to attend it when Morris, the weaker brother of the order, came to see him.
五月里，一个星期六的晚上，麦克默多正要去赴会，被称为懦夫的莫里斯兄弟前来拜访他。
His brow was creased with care, and his kindly face was drawn and haggard.
莫里斯愁容满面，紧皱双眉，慈祥的面孔显得憔悴瘦长。
"Can I speak with you freely, Mr. McMurdo?"
"我可以和你随便谈谈吗？麦克默多先生。"
"Sure."
"当然可以。"
"I can't forget that I spoke my heart to you once, and that you kept it to yourself, even though the Boss himself came to ask you about it."
"我从未忘记，有一次我曾向你说过心里话，甚至首领亲自来问你这件事，你也守口如瓶。"
"What else could I do if you trusted me? It wasn't that I agreed with what you said."
"既然你信任我，我怎能不这样做呢？但这并不等于我同意你所说的话。"
"I know that well. But you are the one that I can speak to and be safe. I've a secret here," he put his hand to his breast,
"这点我是知道的。不过我只有对你才敢说心里话，而又不怕泄露。现在我有一件秘密，"他把手放在胸前，说道。
"and it is just burning the life out of me. I wish it had come to any one of you but me. If I tell it, it will mean murder, for sure.
"它使我心急如焚。我愿它施加于你们任何一个人身上，只希望我能幸免。假如我把它说出来，势必要出谋杀案件。
If I don't, it may bring the end of us all. God help me, but I am near out of my wits over it!"
如果我不说，那就可能招致我们全体覆灭。愿上帝救我，我简直不知如何是好了！"
McMurdo looked at the man earnestly. He was trembling in every limb. He poured some whisky into a glass and handed it to him.
麦克默多恳切地望着他，只见他四肢颤抖。麦克默多倒了一杯威士忌酒给他。
"That's the physic for the likes of you," said he. "Now let me hear of it."
"这就是对你这样的人用的药品，"麦克默多说道，"现在请你告诉我吧。"
Morris drank, and his white face took a tinge of colour.
莫里斯把酒喝了，苍白的面容恢复了红润。
"I can tell it to you all in one sentence," said he. "There's a detective on our trail."
"我可以只用一句话就向你说清楚。"他说道，"已经有侦探追查我们了。"
McMurdo stared at him in astonishment.
麦克默多惊愕地望着他。
"Why, man, you're crazy," he said. "Isn't the place full of police and detectives, and what harm did they ever do us?"
"怎么？伙计，你疯了！"麦克默多说道，"这地方不是经常塞满警察和侦探吗？他们对我们又有什么损害呢？"
"No, no, it's no man of the district. As you say, we know them, and it is little that they can do. But you've heard of Pinkerton's?"
"不，不，这并不是本地人。正像你说的，那些本地人，我们都知道，他们是干不出什么名堂的，可是你听说过平克顿的侦探吗？"
"I've read of some folk of that name."
"我听说过几个人的名字。"
"Well, you can take it from me you've no show when they are on your trail. It's not a take-it-or-miss-it government concern.
"好，我可以告诉你，他们追查你时，你可不要不在意。那不是一家漫不经心的政府机构。
It's a dead earnest business proposition that's out for results and keeps out till by hook or crook it gets them.
而是一个十分认真的起业中的智囊，它决心要查个水落石出，不择手段地要搞出个结果来。
If a Pinkerton man is deep in this business, we are all destroyed."
假如一个平克顿的侦探要插手过问这件事，那我们就全毁了。"
"We must kill him."
"我们必须杀死他。"
"Ah, it's the first thought that came to you! So it will be up at the lodge. Didn't I say to you that it would end in murder?"
"啊，你首先想到的就是这个！那就一定要在会上提出来了。我不是向你说过，结果会出谋杀案件吗？"
"Sure, what is murder? Isn't it common enough in these parts?"
"当然了，杀人算什么？在此地不是极普通的事吗？"
"It is, indeed; but it's not for me to point out the man that is to be murdered. I'd never rest easy again.
"的确，是这样，可是我并没有想叫这个人被杀啊。我心里又将永远不能平静了。
And yet it's our own necks that may be at stake. In God's name what shall I do?"
可是不然的话，我们自己的生命也是危险的。上帝啊，我怎么办呢？"
He rocked to and fro in his agony of indecision. But his words had moved McMurdo deeply.
他身体前后摇动，犹豫不决。他的话使麦克默多深受感动。
It was easy to see that he shared the other's opinion as to the danger, and the need for meeting it.
不难看出，麦克默多是同意莫里斯对危机的看法的，需要去应付它。
