酷兔英语

CHAPTER II IT IS LUCKY THAT THE PONT D'AUSTERLITZ BEARS CARRIAGES







Uncertainty was at an end for Jean Valjean: fortunately it still lasted for the men. He took advantage of their hesitation. It was time lost for them, but gained for him. He slipped from under the gate where he had concealed himself, and went down the Rue des Postes, towards the region of the Jardin des Plantes. Cosette was beginning to be tired. He took her in his arms and carried her. There were no passers-by, and the street lanterns had not been lighted on account of there being a moon.



He redoubled his pace.



In a few strides he had reached the Goblet potteries, on the front of which the moonlight rendered distinctly legible the ancient inscription:--



De Goblet fils c'est ici la fabrique;[14] Venez choisir des cruches et des broos, Des pots a fleurs, des tuyaux, de la brique. A tout venant le Coeur vend des Carreaux.



[14] This is the factory of Goblet Junior: Come choose your jugs and crocks, Flower-pots, pipes, bricks. The Heart sells Diamonds to every comer.



He left behind him the Rue de la Clef, then the Fountain Saint-Victor, skirted the Jardin des Plantes by the lower streets, and reached the quay. There he turned round. The quay was deserted. The streets were deserted. There was no one behind him. He drew a long breath.



He gained the Pont d'Austerlitz.



Tolls were still collected there at that epoch.



He presented himself at the toll office and handed over a sou.



"It is two sous," said the old soldier in charge of the bridge. "You are carrying a child who can walk. Pay for two."



He paid, vexed that his passage should have aroused remark. Every flight should be an imperceptible slipping away.



A heavy cart was crossing the Seine at the same time as himself, and on its way, like him, to the right bank. This was of use to him. He could traverse the bridge in the shadow of the cart.



Towards the middle of the Bridge, Cosette, whose feet were benumbed, wanted to walk. He set her on the ground and took her hand again.



The bridge once crossed, he perceived some timber-yards on his right. He directed his course thither. In order to reach them, it was necessary to risk himself in a tolerably large unsheltered and illuminated space. He did not hesitate. Those who were on his track had evidently lost the scent, and Jean Valjean believed himself to be out of danger. Hunted, yes; followed, no.



A little street, the Rue du Chemin-Vert-Saint-Antoine, opened out between two timber-yards enclosed in walls. This street was dark and narrow and seemed made expressly for him. Before entering it he cast a glance behind him.



From the point where he stood he could see the whole extent of the Pont d'Austerlitz.



Four shadows were just entering on the bridge.



These shadows had their backs turned to the Jardin des Plantes and were on their way to the right bank.



These four shadows were the four men.



Jean Valjean shuddered like the wild beast which is recaptured.



One hope remained to him; it was, that the men had not, perhaps, stepped on the bridge, and had not caught sight of him while he was crossing the large illuminated space, holding Cosette by the hand.



In that case, by plunging into the little street before him, he might escape, if he could reach the timber-yards, the marshes, the market-gardens, the uninhabited ground which was not built upon.



It seemed to him that he might commit himself to that silent little street. He entered it.











二 幸而奥斯特里茨桥上正在行车









冉阿让不再怀疑了,幸而那几个人还在犹豫不决,他便利用他们的迟疑,这对他们来说是浪费了时间,对他来说却是争取到了时间。他从藏身的门洞里走出来转进驿站街,朝着植物园一带走去。珂赛特开始感到累了。他把她抱在胳膊上。路上没有一个行人,路灯也没有点上,因为有月亮。



他两步当一步地往前走。



几下子,他便跨到了哥伯雷陶器店,月光正把店门外墙上的几行旧式广告照得清晰可读:



祖传老店哥伯雷,



水罐水壶请来买,



还有花盆,瓦管以及砖,



凭心出卖红方块①。



①心和红方块指纸牌上的两种花色。 



他跨过钥匙街,然后圣维克多喷泉,顺着植物园旁边的下坡路走到了河沿。到了那里,他再回头望。河沿上是空的。街上也是空的。没有人跟来。他喘了口气。



他到了奥斯特里茨桥。



当时过桥还得付过桥税。



他走到收税处,付了一个苏。



"得付两个苏,"守桥的伤兵说,"您还抱着一个自己能走的孩子。得付两个人的钱。"



他照付了钱,想到别人也许可以从这里发现他过了桥,心里有些嘀咕。逃窜总应当不留痕迹。



恰巧有一辆大车,和他一样,要在那时过桥到塞纳河的右岸去。这对他是有利的。他可以隐在大车的影子里一同过去。



快到桥的中段,珂赛特的脚麻了,要下来走。他把她放在地上,牵着她的手。



过桥以后,他发现在他前面稍稍偏右的地方有几处工场,他便往那里走去。必须冒险在月光下穿过一片相当宽的空地才能到达。他不迟疑。搜索他的那几个人显然迷失方向了,冉阿让自以为脱离了危险。追,尽管追,跟,却没跟上。



在两处有围墙的工场中间出现一条小街,这就是圣安东尼绿径街。那条街又窄又暗,仿佛是特意为他修的。在进街口以前,他又往后望了一眼。



从他当时所在的地方望去,可以望见奥斯特里茨桥的整个桥身。



有四个人影刚刚走上桥头。



那些人影背着植物园,正向右岸走来。



这四个影子,便是那四个人了。



冉阿让浑身寒毛直竖,象是一头重入罗网的野兽。



他还存有一线希望,他刚才牵着珂赛特在月光下穿过这一大片空地的时候,那几个人也许还没有上桥,也就不至于看见他。



既是这样,就走进那小街,要是他能到那些工场、洼地、园圃、旷地,他就有救了。



他仿佛觉得可以把自己托付给那条静悄悄的小街。他走进去了。
关键字:Les Miserables,悲惨世界 第二部珂赛特
生词表:
  • goblet [´gɔblit] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.高脚玻璃杯 四级词汇
  • bridge [bridʒ] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.桥(梁);鼻梁;桥牌 四级词汇
  • expressly [ik´spresli] 移动到这儿单词发声 ad.明白地;特意地 六级词汇
  • holding [´həuldiŋ] 移动到这儿单词发声 n.保持,固定,存储 六级词汇


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