牛津书虫系列《曾达的囚徒》Chapter9 附中英双语文本

“假如有人想进第一间屋子，那三个人中的两人就会应战，而鲁帕特或者戴查德就会冲进第二间屋子把国王杀掉。”约翰说：“第二间屋子里有一个小窗子，一根大排水管穿过窗户通往外面的护城河。”他接着说，“排水管能容纳下一个人。他们会在国王身上绑上一块很重的石头，然后把他推下排水管。尸体掉下去，消失在水下，然后杀人犯们也会顺着排水管下来，再游泳穿过护城河。”
'And if I bring an army to the castle？'I asked．
“假如我带领一支军队去攻打城堡呢？”我问。
'Duke Michael will still murder the King，'replied Johann．'He won't fight．He'll kill the King and push his body down the pipe．And he'll put one of the Six in the prison．He'll say the man had done something to make him angry．That will stop the stories about a prisoner in Zenda．'Johann stopped for a minute，but then he added，'If they know I've told you this，they'll kill me．They're all bad，but Rupert of Hentzau is the worst．Don't let them kill me…'
“迈克尔公爵仍然会杀了国王，”约翰说。“他不会跟你硬打的。他会把国王杀了，推下排水管，然后把那六个家伙中的一个关进监狱。他会说那个家伙做了让他生气的事儿。这样就可以制止人们关于曾达有个囚徒的传言。”约翰停了一会儿，又说：“如果他们知道我告诉了你们这个，他们会杀了我。他们都很坏，可是最坏的是鲁帕特。别让他们杀了我……”
'All right，'I said．'But if anyone asks you who the prisoner of Zenda is，don't tell him． If you do，I'll kill you myself！'
“好吧！”我说，“但如果有人问你曾达的囚徒是谁，你别说出来，不然的话我会杀了你！”
Johann left the room and I looked at Sapt．
约翰离开了房间。我望着萨普特。
'It doesn't matter what plan we make，'I said．'The King will be dead before we can get to him！'
“我们订什么计划都无关紧要了。”我说，“还没等我们到国王身边他就已经死了。”
Sapt shook his grey head angrily．'You'll still be King of Ruritania in a year's time．'
萨普特愤怒地摇着他灰白的脑袋：“一年之内你照样还是卢里塔尼亚的国王。”
'Perhaps one of the Duke's men will turn against him…'I began．
“也许公爵的人里面会有一个起来反叛他……”我说。
'Impossible，'replied Sapt．
“不可能。”萨普特回答。
'Then we need the help of God，'I said．
“那我们就需要上帝来帮忙了。”我回答。