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Their host had placed whisky upon the table, and they had hastened to prime themselves for the work before them.
他们的主人在桌上摆了些威士忌酒，这些人便急匆匆大吃大喝起来。
Baldwin and Cormac were already half-drunk, and the liquor had brought out all their ferocity.
鲍德温和科马克已经半醉，醉后更暴露出他们的凶狠残暴。
Cormac placed his hands on the stove for an instant -- it had been lighted, for the nights were still cold.
因为这几夜依然寒冷异常，屋中生着火，科马克便把双手放到火上取暖。
"That will do," said he, with an oath.
"这就妥当了，"科马克发誓说道。
"Ay," said Baldwin, catching his meaning. "If he is strapped to that, we will have the truth out of him."
"喂，"鲍德温捉摸着科马克话中的含意说道，"如果我们把他捆起来，我们就能从他口中得知真相。"
"We'll have the truth out of him, never fear," said McMurdo.
"不用怕，我们一定能从他口中得知真相的，"麦克默多说道。
He had nerves of steel, this man; for though the whole weight of the affair was on him his manner was as cool and unconcerned as ever.
他生就铁石心肠，尽管这样重大事情的全部重任落到他身上，他依然像平时一样沉着冷静、毫不在意。
The others marked it and applauded.
因此，大家都称赞他。
"You are the one to handle him," said the Boss approvingly.
"由你来对付他，"身主麦金蒂赞许地说。
"Not a warning will he get till your hand is on his throat. It's a pity there are no shutters to your windows."
"他毫不警惕地就会被你扼住喉咙。可惜你的窗户上没有窗板。"
McMurdo went from one to the other and drew the curtains tighter. "Sure no one can spy upon us now. It's close upon the hour."
麦克默多便走过去，把一个个窗子上的窗帘拉紧，说道："此时肯定没有人来探查我们的。时间也快到了。"
"Maybe he won't come. Maybe he'll get a sniff of danger," said the secretary.
"也许他觉察出有危险，可能不来吧，"哈拉威说道。
"He'll come, never fear," McMurdo answered. "He is as eager to come as you can be to see him. Hark to that!"
"不用怕，他要来的，"麦克默多答道，"像你们急于见到他一样，他也急于到这里来。你们听！"
They all sat like wax figures, some with their glasses arrested halfway to their lips. Three loud knocks had sounded at the door.
他们都像蜡人一样坐着不动，有几个人正把酒杯送往唇边，这时也停了下来。只听门上重重地响了三下。
"Hush!" McMurdo raised his hand in caution. An exulting glance went round the circle, and hands were laid upon hidden weapons.
"不要作声，"麦克默多举手示警。这些人欣喜欲狂，都暗暗握住手枪。
"Not a sound, for your lives!" McMurdo whispered, as he went from the room, closing the door carefully behind him.
"为了你们的生命安全，不要出一点声音！"麦克默多低声说道，从室内走出去，小心翼翼地把门关上。
With strained ears the murderers waited. They counted the steps of their comrade down the passage.
这些凶手都拉长了耳朵等候着。他们数着这位伙伴走向过道的脚步声。
Then they heard him open the outer door. There were a few words as of greeting.
听到他打开大门，好像说了几句寒暄话。
Then they were aware of a strange step inside and of an unfamiliar voice.
然后是一阵陌生的脚步声和一个生人的话声。
An instant later came the slam of the door and the turning of the key in the lock.
过了一会儿，门砰地响了一下，接着是钥匙锁门的声音。
Their prey was safe within the trap. Tiger Cormac laughed horribly, and Boss McGinty clapped his great hand across his mouth.
他们的猎物已经完全陷入牢笼。老虎科马克发出一阵狞笑，于是首领麦金蒂用他的大手掩住科马克的嘴。
"Be quiet, you fool!" he whispered. "You'll be the undoing of us yet!"
"别出声，你这蠢货！"麦金蒂低声说道，"你要坏我们的事了！"
There was a mutter of conversation from the next room. It seemed interminable.
邻室中传来模糊不清的低语声，谈个没完，令人难以忍耐。
Then the door opened, and McMurdo appeared, his finger upon his lip. He came to the end of the table and looked round at them.
后来门打开了，麦克默多走进来，把手指放到唇上。麦克默多走到桌子一头，把他们打量了一番。
A subtle change had come over him. His manner was as of one who has great work to do.
他的面容起了令人捉摸不定的变化，这时他的神情似乎是一个着手办大事的人。
His face had set into granite firmness. His eyes shone with a fierce excitement behind his spectacles. He had become a visible leader of men.
他的面容坚决果敢，双目从眼镜后面射出极其激动的光彩。他显然成了一个领导人。
They stared at him with eager interest; but he said nothing. Still with the same singular gaze he looked from man to man.
这些人急切地望着他，可是麦克默多一言不发，依然打量着他们每一个人。
"Well!" cried Boss McGinty at last. "Is he here? Is Birdy Edwards here?"
"喂！"麦金蒂终于大声喊到，"他来了吗？伯尔弟·爱德华在这里吗？"
"Yes," McMurdo answered slowly. "Birdy Edwards is here. I am Birdy Edwards!"
"不错，"麦克默多不慌不忙地答道，"伯尔弟·爱德华在此。我就是伯尔弟·爱德华！"
There were ten seconds after that brief speech during which the room might have been empty, so profound was the silence.
这短短的几句话说出以后，室中顿时像空旷无人一般的寂静无声。
The hissing of a kettle upon the stove rose sharp and strident to the ear.
只听到火炉上水壶的沸腾嘶嘶声尖锐刺耳地传到耳朵里。
