银匣
Silver Box
在《银匣》中，作者巧妙地运用了讽刺手法，以对贫富的不公正待遇为主题，从资产阶级的伪善和自私进行了有力地抨击。该文揭露了英国法庭对于富人大开方便之门，对于穷人“执法如山”的社会现实。
SCENEⅡ
The Barthwicks’dining-room the same evening. The Barthwicks are seated at dessert.
Mrs Barthwick：John! (a silence broken by the cracking of nuts) John!
Barthwick：I wish you’d speak about the nuts they’re uneatable. (He puts one in his mouth. )
Mrs Barthwick：It’s not the season for them. I called on the Holyroods.(Barthwick fills his glass with port.)
Jack：Crackers，please，Dad.
(Barthwick passes the crackers. His demeanour is reflective. )
Mrs Barthwick：Lady Holyrood has got very stout. I’ve noticed it coming for along time.
Barthwick：(gloomily) Stout? (He takes up the crackers—with transparent airiness.) The Holyroods had some trouble with their servants，hadn’t they?
Jack：Crackers，please，Dad.
Barthwick：(passing the crackers) It got into the papers. The cook，wasn’t it?
Mrs Barthwick：No，the lady’s maid. I was talking it over with Lady Holyrood.The girl used to have her young man to see her.
Barthwick：(uneasily) I’m not sure they were wise—
Mrs Barthwick：My dear John，what are you talking about? How could there be any alternative? Think of the effect on the other servants!
Barthwick：Of course in principle—I wasn’t thinking of that.
Jack：(maliciously) Crackers，please，Dad.
(Barthwick is compelled to pass the crackers )
Mrs Barthwick：Lady Holyrood told me：“I had her up，”she said；“I said to her，‘You’ll leave my house at once；I think your conduct disgraceful. I can’t tell，I don’t know，and I don’t wish to know，what you were doing. I send you away on principle；you need not come to me for a character.’ And the girl said：‘If you don’t give me my notice， my lady， I want a month’s wages. I’m perfectly respectable. I’ve done nothing.’”—Done nothing!
Barthwick：H’m!
Mrs Barthwick：Servants have too much license. They hang together so terribly you never can tell what they’re really thinking；it’s as if they were all in a conspiracy to keep you in the dark. Even with Marlow，you feel that he never lets you know what’s really in his mind. I hate that secretiveness；it destroys all confidence. I feel sometimes I should like to shake him.
Jack：Marlow’s a most decent chap. It’s simply beastly every one knowing your affairs.
Barthwick：The less you say about that the better!
Mrs Barthwick：It goes all through the lower classes. You can not tell when they are speaking the truth. Today when I was shopping after leaving the Holyroods，one of these unemployed came up and spoke to me. I suppose I only had twenty yards or so to walk to the carnage，but he seemed to spring up in the street.
Barthwick：Ah! You must be very careful whom you speak to in these days.
Mrs Barthwick：I didn’t answer him，of course. But I could see at once that he wasn’t telling the truth.
Barthwick：(cracking a nut) There’s one very good rule—look at their eyes.
Jack：Crackers，please，Dad.
Barthwick：(passing the crackers) If their eyes are straightforward I sometimes give them six pence. It’ s against my principles，but it’s most difficult to refuse. If you see that they’re desperate and dull and shifty-looking，as so many of them are，it’s certain to mean drink，or crime，or something unsatisfactory.
Mrs Barthwick：This man had dreadful eyes. He looked as if he could commit a murder. I’ve ’ad nothing to eat today，“ he said. Just like that.
Barthwick：What was William about? He ought to have been waiting.
Jack：(raising his wine-glass to his nose) Is this the ’63，Dad?
(Barthwick，holding his wine-glass to his eye，lowers it and passes it before his nose. )
Mrs Barthwick：I hate people that can’t speak the truth. (Father and son exchange a look behind their port.) It’s just as easy to speak the truth as not. I’ve always found it easy enough. It makes it impossible to tell what is genuine；one feels as if one were continually being taken in.
Barthwick：(sententiously) The lower classes are their own enemies. If they would only trust us，they would get on so much better.
Mrs Barthwick：But even then it’s so often their own fault. Look at that Mrs Jones this morning.
Barthwick：I only want to do what’s right in that matter. I had occasion to see Roper this afternoon. I mentioned it to him. He’s coming in this evening. It all depends on what the detective says. I’ve had my doubts. I’ve been thinking it over.
Mrs Barthwick：The woman impressed me most unfavourably. She seemed to have no shame. That affair she was talking about—she and the man when they were young，so immoral! And before you and Jack! I could have put her out of the room!
Barthwick：Oh! I don’t want to excuse them，but in looking at these matters one must consider—
Mrs Barthwick：Perhaps you’ll say the man’s employer was wrong in dismissing him?
Barthwick：Of course not. It’s not there that I feel doubt. What I ask myself is—
Jack：Port，please，Dad.
Barthwick：(circulating the decanter in religious imitation of the rising and setting of the sun) I ask myself whether we are sufficiently careful in making inquiries about people before we engage them，especially as regards moral conduct.
Jack：Pass the port，please，Mother!
Mrs Barthwick：(passing it) My dear boy，aren’t you drinking too much? (Jack fills his glass)
Marlow：(entering) Detective Snow to see you，Sir.
Barthwick：(uneasily) Ah! Say I’ll be with him in a minute.
Mrs Barthwick：(without turning) Let him come in here，Marlow.
(Snow enters in an overcoat，his bowler hat in hand. )
Barthwick：(half-rising) Oh! Good evening!
Snow：Good evening，sir；good evening，ma’am. I’ve called round to report what I’ve done，rather late，I’ m afraid—another case took me away. (He takes the silver box out of his pocket，causing a sensation in the Barthwick family.) This is the identical article，I believe.
Barthwick：Certainly，certainly.
Snow：Havin’ your crest and cypher，as you described to me，sir，I’d no hesitation in the matter.
Barthwick：Excellent. Will you have a glass of (he glances at the waning port)—er—sherry— (pours out sherry) Jack，just give Mr Snow this.
(Jack rises and gives the glass to Snow；then， lolling in his chair， regards him indolently. )
Snow：(drinking off wine and putting down the glass) After seeing you I went round to this woman’s lodgings，sir. It’s a low neighborhood，and I thought it as well to place a constable below—and not without ’e was wanted，as things turned out.
Barthwick：Indeed!
Snow：Yes，Sir，I’ ad some trouble. I asked her to account for the presence of the article. She could give me no answer，except to deny the theft；so I took her into custody；then her husband came for me，so I was obliged to take him，too，for assault. He was very violent on the way to the station—very violent—threatened you and your son，and altogether he was a handful，I can tell you.
Mrs Barthwick：What a ruffian he must be!
Snow：Yes，ma’am，a rough customer.
Jack：(sipping his mine，bemused) Punch the beggar’s head.
Snow：Given to drink，as I understand，sir.
Mrs Barthwick：It’s to be hoped he will get a severe punishment.
Snow：The odd thing is，sir，that he persists in sayin’ he took the box himself.
Barthwick：Took the box himself! (He smiles.) What does he think to gain by that?
Snow：He says the young gentleman was intoxicated last night—
(Jack stops the cracking of a nut，and looks at Snow. )
(Barthwick，losing his smile，has put his wine-glass down；there is a silence—Snow，looking from face to face，remarks—took him into the house and gave him whisky；and under the influence of an empty stomach the man says he took the box.)
Mrs Barthwick：The impudent wretch!
Barthwick：D’you mean that he—er—intends to put this forward tomorrow?
Snow：That’ll be his line，sir；but whether he’s endeavouring to shield his wife，or whether (he looks at Jack) there’s something in it，will be for the magistrate to say.
Mrs Barthwick：(haughtily) Something in what? I don’t understand you. As if my son would bring a man like that into the house!
Barthwick：(from the fireplace，with an effort to be calm) My son can speak for himself，no doubt. Well，Jack，what do you say?
Mrs Barthwick：(sharply) What does he say? Why，of course，he says the whole story’s stuff!
Jack：(embarrassed) Well，of course，I—of course，I don’t know anything about it.
Mrs Barthwick：I should think not，indeed! (to Snow) The man is an audacious ruffian!
Barthwick：(suppressing jumps) But in view of my son’s saying there’s nothing in this—this fable—will it be necessary to proceed against the man under the circumstances?
Snow：We shall have to charge him with the assault，sir. It would be as well for your son to come down to the Court. There’ll be a remand，no doubt. The queer thing is there was quite a sum of money found on him，and a crimson silk purse. (Barthwick starts；Jack：rises and sits dozen again) I suppose the lady hasn’t missed her purse?
Barthwick：(hastily) Oh，no! Oh! No!
Jack：No!
Mrs Barthwick：(dreamily) No! (to Snow) I’ ve been inquiring of the servants. This man does hang about the house. I shall feel much safer if he gets a good long sentence；I do think we ought to be protected against such ruffians.
Barthwick：Yes，yes，of course，on principle but in this case we have a number of things to think of. (to Snow) I suppose，as you say，the man must be charged，eh?
Snow：No question about that，sir.
Barthwick：(staring gloomily at Jack) This prosecution goes very much against the grain with me. I have great sympathy with the poor. In my position I’ m bound to recognise the distress there is amongst them. The condition of the people leaves much to be desired. D’ you follow me? I wish I could see my way to drop it.
Mrs Barthwick：(sharply) John! it’s simply not fair to other people. It’s putting property at the mercy of any one who likes to take it.
Barthwick：(trying to make signs to her aside) I’m not defending him，not at all. I’m trying to look at the matter broadly.
Mrs Barthwick：Nonsense，John，there’s a time for everything.
Snow：(rather sardonically) I might point out，sir，that to withdraw the charge of stealing would not make much difference，because the facts must come out (He looks significantly at Jack) in reference to the assault；and as I said that charge will have to go forward.
Barthwick：(hastily) Yes，oh! exactly! It’s entirely on the woman’s account—entirely a matter of my own private feelings.
Snow：If I were you，sir，I should let things take their course. It’s not likely there’ll be much difficulty. These things are very quick settled.
Barthwick：(doubtfully) You think so—you think so?
Jack：(rousing himself) I say，what shall I have to swear to?
Snow：That’s best known to yourself，sir. (retreating to the door) Better employ a solicitor，sir，in case anything should arise. We shall have the butler to prove the loss of the article. You’ll excuse me going， I’ m rather pressed tonight. The case may come on any time after eleven. Good evening，sir；good evening，ma’am. I shall have to produce the box in court tomorrow，so if you’ll excuse me，sir，I may as well take it with me.
(He takes the silver box and leaves them with a little bow. )
(Barthwick makes a move to follow him，then dashing his hands beneath his coat tails，speaks with desperation.)
Barthwick：I do wish you’d leave me to manage things myself. You will put your nose into matters you know nothing of. A pretty mess you’ve made of this!
Mrs Barthwick：(coldly) I don’t in the least know what you’re talking about. If you can’t stand up for your rights，I can. I’ve no patience with your principles，it’s such nonsense.
Barthwick：Principles! Good Heavens! What have principles to do with it for goodness sake? Don’t you know that Jack was drunk last night!
Jack：Dad!
Mrs Barthwick：(in horror rising) Jack!
Jack：Look here，Mother—I had supper. Everybody does. I mean to say—you know what I mean—it’s absurd to call it being drunk. At Oxford everybody gets a bit“on”sometimes—
Mrs Barthwick：Well，I think it’s most dreadful! If that is really what you do at Oxford?
Jack： (angrily) Well，why did you send me there? One must do as other fellows do. It’s such nonsense，I mean，to call it being drunk. Of course I’m awfully sorry. I’ve had such a beastly headache all day.
Barthwick：Tcha! If you’d only had the common decency to remember what happened when you came in. Then we should know what truth there was in what this fellow says—as it is，it’s all the most confounded darkness.
Jack：(staring as though at half-formed visions)I just get a—and then—It’s gone—
Mrs Barthwick：Oh，Jack! Do you mean to say you were so tipsy you can’t even remember—
Jack：Look here，Mother! Of course I remember I came—I must have come—
Barthwick： (unguardedly，and walking up and down) Tcha! —and that infernal purse! Good Heavens! It’ll get into the papers. Who on earth could have foreseen a thing like this? Better to have lost a dozen cigarette-boxes，and said nothing about it. (to his wife) It’s all your doing. I told you so from the first. I wish to goodness Roper would come!
Mrs Barthwick：(sharply) I don’t know what you’re talking about，John.
Barthwick：(turning on her) No，you—you—you don’t know anything! (sharply) Where the devil is Roper? If he can see a way out of this he’s a better man than I take him for. I defy any one to see a way out of it. I can’t.
Jack：Look here，don’t excite Dad—I can simply say I was too beastly tired，and don’t remember anything except that I came in and (in a dying voice) went to bed the same as usual.
Barthwick：Went to bed? Who knows where you went—I’ve lost all confidence. For all I know you slept on the floor.
Jack：(indignantly) I didn’t，I slept on the—
Barthwick：(sitting on the sofa) Who cares where you slept；what does it matter if he mentions the—the—a perfect disgrace?
Mrs Barthwick：What? (a silence) I insist on knowing.
Jack：Oh! nothing.
Mrs Barthwick：Nothing? What do you mean by nothing，Jack? There’s your father in such a state about it!
Jack：It’s only my purse.
Mrs Barthwick：Your purse! You know perfectly well you haven’t got one.
Jack：Well，it was somebody else’s—it was all a joke—I didn’t want the beastly thing.
Mrs Barthwick：Do you mean that you had another person’s purse，and that this man took it too?
Barthwick：Tcha! Of course he took it too! A man like that Jones will make the most of it. It’ll get into the papers.
Mrs Barthwick：I don’t understand. What on earth is all the fuss about? (bending over Jack，and softly) Jack now，tell me dear! Don’t be afraid. What is it? Come!
Jack：Oh，don’t Mother!
Mrs Barthwick：But don’t what，dear?
Jack：It was pure sport. I don’t know how I got the thing. Of course I’ d had a bit of a row—I didn’t know what I was doing—I was—I was—well，you know—I suppose I must have pulled the bag out of her hand.
Mrs Barthwick：Out of her hand? Whose hand? What bag—whose bag?
Jack：Oh! I don’t know—her bag—it belonged to— (in a desperate and rising voice) a woman.
Mrs Barthwick：A woman? Oh! Jack! No!
Jack：(jumping up) You would have it. I didn’t want to tell you. It’s not my fault.
(The door opens and Marlow ushers in a man of middle age，inclined to corpulence，in evening dress. He has a ruddy，thin moustache，and dark，quick-moving little eyes. His eyebrows aye Chinese. )
Marlow：Mr Roper，Sir. (He leaves the room.)
Roper：(with a quick look round) How do you do?
(But neither Jack nor Mrs Barthwick make a sign.)
Barthwick：(hurrying) Thank goodness you’ve come，Roper. You remember what I told you this afternoon；we’ve just had the detective here.
Roper：Got the box?
Barthwick：Yes，yes，but look here—it wasn’t the charwoman at all；her drunken loafer of a husband took the things—he says that fellow there (He waves his hand at Jack，who with his shoulder raised，seems trying to ward off a blow) let him into the house last night. Can you imagine such a thing.
(Roper laughs)
Barthwick：(with excited emphasis) It’s no laughing matter， Roper. I told you about that business of Jack’s too—don’t you see the brute took both the things—took that infernal purse. It’ll get into the papers.
Roper：(raising his eyebrows) H’m! The purse! Depravity in high life! What does your son say?
Barthwick：He remembers nothing. D—n! Did you ever see such a mess? It’ll get into the papers.
Mrs Barthwick：(with her hand across hey eyes) Oh! it’s not that—
(Barthwick and Roper turn and look at her)
Barthwick：It’s the idea of that woman—she’s just heard—(Roper nods. And Mrs Barthwick，setting her lips，gives a slow look at Jack，and sits down at the table. ) What on earth’s to be done，Roper? A ruffian like this Jones will make all the capital he can out of that purse.
Mrs Barthwick：I don’t believe that Jack took that purse.
Barthwick：What—when the woman came here for it this morning?
Mrs Barthwick：Here? She had the impudence? Why wasn’t I told?
(She looks round from face to face—no one answers hey，there is a pause. )
Barthwick：(suddenly) What’s to be done，Roper?
Roper：(quietly to Jack) I suppose you didn’t leave your latch-key in the door?
Jack：(sullenly) Yes，I did.
Barthwick：Good heavens! What next?
Mrs Barthwick：I’ m certain you never let that man into the house，Jack，it’s a wild invention. I’m sure there’s not a word of truth in it，Mr Roper.
Roper：(very suddenly) Where did you sleep last night?
Jack：(promptly) On the sofa，there—(hesitating) —that is—I—
Barthwick：On the sofa? D’ you mean to say you didn’t go to bed?
Jack：(sullenly) No.
Barthwick：If you don’t remember anything，how can you remember that?
Jack：Because I woke up there in the morning.
Mrs Barthwick：Oh，Jack!
Barthwick：Good Gracious!
Jack：And Mrs Jones saw me. I wish you wouldn’t bait me so.
Roper：Do you remember giving any one a drink?
Jack：By Jove，I do seem to remember a fellow with—a fellow with (He looks at Roper.) I say，d’you want me—?
Roper：(quick as lightning) With a dirty face?
Jack：(with illumination) I do—I distinctly remember his—
(Barthwick moves abruptly；Mrs Barthwick looks at Roper angrily，and touches her son’s arm. )
Mrs Barthwick：You don’t remember，it’s ridiculous! I don’t believe the man was ever here at all.
Barthwick：You must speak the truth，if it is the truth. But if you do remember such a dirty business，I shall wash my hands of you altogether.
Jack：(glaring at them) Well，what the devil—
Mrs Barthwick：Jack!
Jack：Well，Mother，I—I don’t know what you do want.
Mrs Barthwick：We want you to speak the truth and say you never let this low man into the house.
Barthwick：Of course if you think that you really gave this man whisky in that disgraceful way，and let him see what you’d been doing，and were in such a disgusting condition that you don’t remember a word of it—
Roper：(quick) I’ve no memory myself—never had.
Barthwick：(desperately) I don’t know what you’re to say.
Roper：(to Jack) Say nothing at all! Don’t put yourself in a false position. The man stole the things or the woman stole the things，you had nothing to do with it. You were asleep on the sofa.
Mrs Barthwick：Your leaving the latch-key in the door was quite bad enough，there’s no need to mention anything else，(touching his forehead softly) My dear，how hot your head is!
Jack：But I want to know what I’ m to do. (passionately) I won’t be badgered like this.
(Mrs Barthwick recoils from him)
Roper：(very quickly) You forget all about it. You were asleep.
Jack：Must I go down to the Court tomorrow?
Roper：(shaking his head) No.
Barthwick：(in a relieved voice) Is that so?
Roper：Yes.
Barthwick：But you’ll go，Roper.
Roper：Yes.
Jack：(with wan cheerfulness) Thanks，awfully! So long as I don’t have to go. (putting his hand up to his head) I think if you’ll excuse me—I’ve had a most beastly day. (He looks from his father to his mother. )
Mrs Barthwick：(turning quickly) Goodnight，my boy.
Jack：Good-night，Mother.
(He goes out. Mrs Barthwick heaves a sigh. There is a silence. )
Barthwick：He gets off too easily. But for my money that woman would have prosecuted him.
Roper：You find money useful.
Barthwick：I’ve my doubts whether we ought to hide’the truth—
Roper：There’ll be a remand.
Barthwick：What! D’ you mean he’ll have to appear on the remand.
Roper：Yes.
Barthwick：H’m，I thought you’d be able to—Look here，Roper，you must keep that purse out of the papers.
(Roper fixes his little eyes on him and nods. )
Mrs Barthwick：Mr Roper，don’t you think the magistrate ought to be told what sort of people these Jones’s are；I mean about their immorality before they were married. I don’t know if John told you.
Roper：Afraid it’s not material.
Mrs Barthwick：Not material?
Roper：Purely private life! May have happened to the magistrate.
Barthwick：(with a movement as if to shift a burden) Then you’ll take the thing into your hands?
Roper：If the gods are kind. (He holds his hand out)
Barthwick：(shaking it dubiously) Kind eh? What? You going?
Roper：Yes. I’ve another case，something like yours—most unexpected.
(He bows to Mrs Barthwick，and goes out，followed by Barthwick，talking to the last. Mrs Barthwick at the table bursts into smothered sobs. Barthwick returns. )
Barthwick：(to himself) There’ll be a scandal!
Mrs Barthwick：(disguising her grief at once) I simply can’t imagine what Roper means by making a joke of a thing like that!
Barthwick：(staring strangely) You! You can’t imagine anything! You’ve no more imagination than a fly!
Mrs Barthwick：(angrily) You dare to tell me that I have no imagination.
Barthwick：(flustered) I—I’ m upset. From beginning to end，the whole thing has been utterly against my principles.
Mrs Barthwick：Rubbish! You haven’t any! Your principles are nothing in the world but sheer fright!
Barthwick：(walking to the window) I’ve never been frightened in my life. You heard what Roper said. It’s enough to upset one when a thing like this happens. Everything one says and does seems to turn in one’s mouth—it’s—it’s uncanny. It’s not the sort of thing I’ve been accustomed to. (As though stifling，he throws the window open. The faint sobbing of a child comes in.) What’s that?
(They listen)
Mrs Barthwick：(sharply) I can’t stand that crying. I must send Marlow to stop it. My nerves are all on edge. (She rings the bell.)
Barthwick：I’ll shut the window；you’ll hear nothing. (He shuts the window. There is silence. )
Mrs Barthwick：(sharply) That’s no good! It’s on my nerves. Nothing upsets me like a child’s crying. (Marlow comes in) What’s that noise of crying，Marlow? It sounds like a child.
Barthwick：It is a child. I can see it against the railings.
Marlow：(opening the window，and looking out quietly) It’s Mrs Jones’s little boy，ma’am；he came here after his mother.
Mrs Barthwick：(moving quickly to the window) Poor little chap! John，we oughtn’t to go on with this!
Barthwick：(sitting heavily in a chair) Ah! but it’s out of our hands!
(Mrs Barthwick turns her back to the window. There is an expression of distress on hey face. She stands motionless，compressing her lips. The crying begins again. Barthwick conveys his ears with his hands，and Marlow shuts the window. The crying ceases)
(The curtain falls)
第二场
当天晚上，巴塞威克家的餐室。巴塞威克一家坐着吃甜点。
巴塞威克夫人：约翰!（干果的碎裂声击破了寂静）约翰!
巴塞威克：我希望你说，那些干果不能吃。（他放了一个到嘴里）
巴塞威克夫人：现在不是季节。我拜访过郝利如德家了。（巴塞威克往酒杯里倒了些波尔图葡萄酒）
杰克：干果给我，爸爸。
（巴塞威克递过干果，他的举动带着思考的意味）
巴塞威克夫人：郝利如德夫人现在可强硬了，我已经注意了好长一段时间了。
巴塞威克：（阴沉的）强硬?（他拿起干果，带着明显的快活劲儿）郝利如德家在仆人问题上遇到了麻烦，不是吗？
杰克：干果给我，爸爸。
巴塞威克：(递过干果）都上报纸了。厨子，是吧？
巴塞威克夫人：不，是夫人的女仆。我和郝利如德夫人谈过这事儿了。那女孩的情人经常来找她。
巴塞威克：（不安地）我不确定他们是否明智——
巴塞威克夫人：我亲爱的约翰，你在说什么呢？怎么可能还有其他选择呢？想想这对其他仆人的影响吧！
巴塞威克：当然这是原则——我不是在想那个。
杰克：（蓄意地）干果，爸爸。
(巴塞威克不得不递给他干果）
巴塞威克夫人：郝夫人告诉我：“我叫她上楼来，”她说：“我对她说，‘你立刻离开我家；你做了不光彩的事。我不能说，不知道也不想知道你最近都做了什么。我出于原则让你走；你不必为了一个家伙来我这儿。’那女孩说：‘如果没有任何理由的话，夫人，我坚持要一个月的工资。我是个体面的人，没做任何亏心事。’”——没做亏心事？！
巴塞威克：哼！
巴塞威克夫人：仆人们有太多权限了。他们老是混在一起而你永远不知道他们在想些什么；就好像他们都在搞阴谋诡计就是不让你知道。马洛也一样，感觉他不会让你明白他的心。我恨那种私密，它毁了所有的信任。有时我真想除了他。
杰克：马洛是个很体面的家伙。每个人都知道你的事，这真糟透了。
巴塞威克夫人：下层阶级都是这样。你简直不知道他们什么时候说真话。我今天离开郝家去购物，一个无业者走上来跟我搭话。我想我和那群行尸走肉该有二十码左右远吧，可他突然当街冒了出来。
巴塞威克：啊！这个年头你可要小心和你说话的人呐。
巴塞威克夫人：我当然不会理他。但我一眼就看出他没说真话。
巴塞威克：（咬干果）有个好办法，看他们的眼睛。
杰克：干果，爸爸。
巴塞威克：（递干果）如果他们的眼睛坦率直接，我有时会给他们六便士。这违背了我的原则，但有时很难拒绝。如果你看见他们极度渴望，愚笨又躲躲闪闪，大多数人都是这样，这必然意味着酗酒，犯罪、或其他令人不满的事。
巴塞克夫人：那男人的眼睛真可怕。看起来他好像要杀人。“我今天没得吃，”他说。就像这样。
巴塞威克：威廉在忙什么？他本该在这儿候着。
杰克：（举着酒杯凑到鼻前）这是六三年的吗，爸爸？
（巴塞威克，把酒杯抬到眼前，放低，在鼻子前一过）
巴塞威克夫人：我恨人们说谎话。（父子俩在酒杯后交换了一个眼神）说真话和说假话一样容易。我总觉得那太容易了。分辨什么是真的几乎不可能了；人总觉得好像不断受骗。
巴塞威克：(以醒世格言的语气）下层人的敌人是他们自己。只要他们信任我们，情况就会好得多。
巴塞威克夫人：但即使那样也多半是他们自己的错。想想早上那个琼斯太太吧。
巴塞威克：我只想在这件事上讨个公道。我下午见了罗珀。我向他提了这事，他晚上来。这事儿全看侦探怎么说。我有我的疑问，我一直在思考这事。
巴塞威克夫人：那女人给我的印象非常不好。她好像没有羞耻感。她说的那事——她和那男人年轻时，太不道德了！而且还在你和杰克面前说！我真该把她撵出去！
巴塞威克：哦！我不想为他们辩解，但看看这些事，有时必须考虑到——
巴塞威克夫人：也许你认为那男人的老板不该解雇他？
巴塞威克：当然不是，这不是我的疑问所在。我问我自己的是——
杰克：爸爸，请把波尔图递给我。
巴塞威克：（将玻璃瓶递过来，模仿太阳的东升西落）我在问自己，我们在雇佣这些人之前，对他们是否进行了足够详细地询问，尤其是在道德行为方面。
杰克：请把波尔图给我，妈妈！
巴塞成克夫人：（递酒）我的好儿子，你是不是喝得太多了？（杰克给自己倒酒）
马洛：（进来）斯诺侦探要见你，先生。
巴塞威克：（不安地）啊！告诉他我等会见他。
巴塞威克夫人：（一动不动地）让他到这里来，马洛。
（斯诺进来，身着大衣，手里拿着圆顶高帽）
巴塞威克：（半起）哦！晚上好！
斯诺：晚上好，先生；晚上好，夫人。我前来拜访并汇报我所做的事。恐怕晚了一点——另一个案子耽误了我。（他从口袋里取出银匣子，这在巴塞威克家人中引起了轰动）我想，这是一模一样的物件吧。
巴塞威克：不错，当然。
斯诺：上面有您的纹章和花押字，正如您所说的，先生。在这件事上我毫不犹豫。
巴塞威克：好极了。您要喝一杯（他扫了一眼所剩无几的波尔图）——呃，雪利酒——（倒雪利酒）杰克，把这个拿给斯诺先生。
（杰克站起来，把酒杯递给斯诺；然后，懒散地依靠在椅子上，用困倦的眼神打量着他。）
斯诺：（喝完酒，放下玻璃杯）见过您后我就去了那女人的住所，先生。那是个下层人的社区，于是我想最好留一个警察在下面——事实证明，没有他还真不行。
巴塞威克：果真如此！
斯诺：是的，先生，我还遇到了一些麻烦。我要求她解释这东西的来历。她答不上来，只是否认偷窃；于是我决定拘留她；然后她丈夫找我麻烦，所以我不得不把他也带走，因为他袭警。在到局里的路上他非常暴力——非常、非常暴力——威胁您和您的儿子，总之他可是个大麻烦，这一点我可以告诉您。
巴塞威克夫人：他一定是个十足的暴徒。
斯诺：是的，夫人，非常粗鲁的家伙。
杰克：（吮吸着酒，乐了）揍那乞丐的头。
斯诺：依我看，喝酒成性，先生。
巴塞威克夫人：我们希望他将受到严厉的惩罚。
斯诺：奇怪的是，先生，他坚持说是他自己拿了那匣子。
巴塞威克：自己拿了匣子？（他笑了）他认为那样说有什么好处？
斯诺：他说您的公子那天晚上喝得烂醉如泥。
（杰克不再咬干果，看着斯诺）
（巴塞威克的笑容消失了，放下了酒杯；然后是寂静——斯诺，看了看大伙，说道，他让他进屋，给他威士忌；然后在肚子空空的情况下，他说他拿了那个匣子）
巴塞威克夫人：无耻的暴徒！
巴塞威克：你是说他——嗯——明天会提出这个？
斯诺：那是他的事，先生；但是他是否会竭力包庇他妻子，或者（他看着杰克）这其中有隐情，那得由执法官说了算。
巴塞威克夫人：（傲慢地）有隐情？我真是搞不懂你，难道我的儿子会把那样一个人领到家里来吗？
巴塞威克：（从火炉边，竭力保持镇静）毫无疑问，我的儿子可以为自己辩护。喏，杰克，你怎么说？
巴塞威克夫人：（尖锐地）他怎么说？理所当然，他说的整个故事都是废话。
杰克：（窘迫地）哦，当然，我——当然，我对此一无所知。
巴塞威克夫人：我可真没想到！（对斯诺）那暴徒真是胆大妄为！
巴塞威克：（忍住没有跳起来）但是依我儿子所说的来看，没有什么——无稽之谈——还有必要对这个人继续追究下去吗？
斯诺：我们必须指控他袭警，先生。最好你的儿子也去一趟法院。毫无疑问，会有还押候审。怪事是还在他身上发现—小笔钱，和一个深红色的丝制钱包。(巴塞威克吃了一惊；杰克站起身，然后又坐下）我想夫人没掉钱包吧?
巴塞威克：（急切地）哦，没有！哦，没有！
杰克：绝对没有！
巴塞威克夫人：（恍惚地）没有！（对斯诺）我一直在追问仆人们。这个人常在我家周围转悠。如果判他个长长的刑期，我会觉得安全得多；我认为我们应当被保护，不受这些暴徒的侵犯。
巴塞威克：是，是的，当然，原则上是的，但这件事还有许多其他方面要考虑。（对斯诺）我想，如你所说，这个人必须被起诉，嗯？
斯诺：这是毫无疑问的，先生。
巴塞威克：（阴郁地盯着杰克）这项诉讼违背了我的本性。我对穷人抱有极大的同情心。站在这一立场上，我必然体会得到他们的苦痛。人民的条件亟待提高。你能懂吗？我希望你能理解我为什么要撤诉。
巴塞威克夫人：（尖锐地）约翰！这对其他人太不公平了！私人财产将完全被那些觊觎者所摆布。
巴塞威克：（试图在一边对她使眼色）我丝毫没有要保护他的意思，我是在全面看待这一问题。
巴塞威克夫人：废话，约翰！做事要当其时。
斯诺：（相当讥讽的）我必须指出，先生，撤回诉讼并不能改变什么，因为真相总要大白（他意味深长地看着杰克）至于袭警的指控，如我所说，还将继续。
巴塞威克：（着急地）正是，哦！完全对！这完全是就那女人而言——完全是我个人的感情。
斯诺：如果我是你，先生，我就让事情顺其自然。不会太难的，这些事很快就会解决。
巴塞威克：（怀疑地）你这样认为——你真这样认为吗？
杰克：（振奋起来）我说，我得向什么发誓吗？
斯诺：那你自己最清楚不过了，先生。（退向门口）最好请个律师，先生，以防任何可能发生的状况。我们还要让管家验明失物，所以不得不告辞，今晚我时间有点紧。过了十一点，案子就会来。晚安，先生；晚安，夫人。明天开庭我还要呈交这匣子，所以原谅我，先生，我还是要带走它。
（他稍稍鞠了一躬，带走了匣子）
（巴塞威克起身跟着他，然后在衣服下摆猛地甩手，绝望地说着什么）
巴塞威克：我真希望你能让我自己处理事情。你一无所知却要横加干涉。看你把事情弄得一团乱！
巴塞威克夫人：（冷漠地）我真不知道你在说什么。如果你不能维护你的权利，我可以！我没有耐心听你的原则，全是废话。
巴塞威克：原则！天哪！出于善心，这和原则有什么关系？你根本不知道杰克昨晚喝醉了！
杰克：爸爸！
巴塞威克夫人：（惊讶地起身）杰克！
杰克：听着，妈妈——我吃了晚饭，每个人都是。我想说——你知道我的意思——把那叫醉了真是太荒唐了。在牛津大家时不时都会多喝点——
巴塞威克夫人：哦，我想这太可怕了！这就是你在牛津做的？
杰克：（生气地）好啊，那你为什么送我去那儿？其他人怎么做你就得跟着。真是荒唐，我是指，这也能叫醉？当然我非常抱歉，今天一整天我都头痛极了。
巴塞威克：切！你要是知道礼仪的话，就该记得你进来时发生了什么。这样我们就知道那家伙话里的真相了——而现在，全蒙在鼓里，可恶。
杰克：（瞪眼，好像想起点什么）我就是拿了个——然后——不见了——
巴塞威克夫人：哦！杰克！你是说你醉成那样，竟什么也不记得——
杰克：听着，妈妈！我当然记得，我回来——我一定已经回来——
巴塞威克：（毫无防范的，走来走去）切——还有那可恨的钱包！天哪！会上报纸的。谁知道会发生这种事？早知道就是丢一打银匣子也一声不吭了。（对他妻子）都是你做的。从开始我就告诉你。我真希望罗珀能来一趟！
巴塞威克夫人：（尖锐地）我真不知道你在说什么，约翰。
巴塞威克：（对着她）不知道，你——你——你什么也不知道！（尖锐地）见鬼，罗珀去哪了？他要能找到这事的解决办法，那就是我低估他了。所有人都没有办法，我也一样。
杰克：喂，别激动，爸爸——我只要说我实在太累了，什么也记不得，只知道一回来（声音快听不见）就像往常一样睡了。
巴塞威克：睡了？谁知道你去了哪里——我再也不信任你了。我知道你睡在地板上。
杰克：（义愤地）我没有。我睡在——
巴塞威克：（坐在沙发上）谁管你睡在哪儿；这有什么用？如果他提到那——那——？真是丢人现眼！
巴塞威克夫人：什么？（沉默）我坚持要知道。
杰克：哦。没什么。
巴塞威克夫人：没什么？你说没什么是什么意思，杰克？那就是为什么你父亲弄成这样！
杰克：只是我的钱包。
巴塞威克夫人：你的钱包！你绝对知道你没有钱包。
杰克：是这样，是别人的——这是个玩笑——我可不想要那东西。
巴塞威克夫人：你是说你拿了别人的钱包，然后这个人也拿了？
巴塞威克：切！当然他也拿了！一个琼斯那样的人会对此大做文章的。这事会上报纸的。
巴塞威克夫人：我不懂，你们到底急什么？（俯身到杰克身边，温柔地）杰克，现在告诉我，亲爱的！别害怕。怎么了，说！
杰克：哦，别，妈妈！
巴塞威克夫人：别什么，亲爱的？
杰克：只是闹着玩。我不知道我怎么拿到那个。当然我吵了架——我不知道我在做什么——我是——我是——啊，你知道——我—定是从她手里抢了包。
巴塞威克夫人：从她手里？谁手里？什么包——谁的包？
杰克：哦，我不知道——她的包——它是——（绝望地提高嗓门）一个女人的。
巴塞威克夫人：一个女人？哦，杰克！不！
杰克：（跳起来）是你要听的。我本不想告诉你。这不是我的错。
（门开了，马洛领进个中年男人，他已开始发福，穿晚礼服。他面色红润，有点八髭须，黑色的，很快转动着小眼睛。眉毛像中国人）
马洛：罗珀先生来了。（他退出）
罗珀：（迅速向四周扫了一遍）您好！
（但杰克和巴塞威克夫人都无动于衷）
巴塞威克：（急忙地）谢天谢地，您来了，罗珀。你记得我下午对你说的吧；侦探刚刚来过了。
罗珀：拿到匣子了？
巴塞威克：是的，是，但是听着，根本不是那个女仆；是她那酗酒的、游手好闲的丈夫干的——他说那小子（他朝杰克甩起手，杰克一缩肩，好像要躲开那一下）昨晚让他进的屋子。你能想象这样的事吗？
（罗珀笑了）
巴塞威克：（激动地强调）这可不是笑的事，罗珀。我也对你说了杰克的事——你该知道那畜生拿了两样东西——那个可恨的钱包。这事儿会上报纸的。
罗珀：（挑挑眉头）唔！那钱包！高层生活的堕落！您儿子怎么说的？
巴塞威克：他什么都不记得。见鬼！你见过这样的乱局吗？这事会上报纸的。
巴塞威克夫人：（手遮在眼前）哦！不是那样——
（巴塞威克和罗珀转身看她）
巴塞威克：那是那个女人的想法——她才听说——（罗珀点头，巴塞威克夫人，咬着嘴唇，慢慢地看了杰克一眼，坐在了桌旁）究竟该怎么办，罗珀？像琼斯那样的暴徒会利用钱包的事尽可能地敲诈我们。
巴塞威克夫人：我不相信杰克拿了那钱包。
巴塞威克：什么——今天早上什么时候那女人来要过钱包？
巴塞威克夫人：在这儿？她有脸来？怎么不告诉我？
（她环望四周每个人的脸——没人答话——说话暂停）
巴塞威克：（突然地）该怎么办，罗珀？
罗珀：（平静地对杰克）我想你没把门闩钥匙留在门上吧？
杰克：（阴沉地）是的，我丢在那了。
巴塞威克：天哪！下一步干了什么？
巴塞威克夫人：我确定你没让那人进来，杰克，这太疯狂了。我确信这里面没有真相，罗珀先生。
罗珀：（非常突然地）你昨晚在哪儿睡的？
杰克：（很快地）在沙发上，那里——（犹豫着）——那是——我——
巴塞威克：在沙发上？你是说你没上床？
杰克：（阴郁地）没有。
巴塞威克：如果你什么也记不得，你怎么记得那个？
杰克：因为我早上醒来时，在那里。
巴塞威克夫人：哦。杰克！
巴塞威克：上帝啊！
杰克：琼斯太太看见我了。我希望你们别这样折磨我。
罗珀：你可记得，请谁喝过一杯？
杰克：看在上帝的份上，我确实记得一个家伙——一个家伙——（他看着罗珀）我说，你是要我——？
罗珀：（闪电般快地）脸很脏？
杰克：（得了提示般）我是——我清楚记得他的——
（巴塞威克猛地一动，他的夫人怒气冲冲地看着罗珀，并碰了一下她儿子的胳膊）
巴塞威克夫人：你不记得了，这太荒唐了！我根本不相信这个人曾经在这儿。
巴塞威克：你必须说出事实，如果它是事实。但如果你真的记得这样一件肮脏的事，我就再也不管你了。
杰克：（瞪着他们）好，见鬼去吧——
巴塞威克夫人：杰克！
杰克：哦，妈妈，我——我不知道你们到底要什么。
巴塞威克夫人：我们想要你说实话，另外，再也不要将这个身份低下的人带回家。
巴塞威克：当然，如果你真的认为你如此不光彩地给了那男人威士忌，还让他看见你做了什么，而且在那样—个可耻的情景下，你什么也不记得了——
罗珀：（很快地）我自己也没记性，从来没有。
巴塞威克：（气极地）我不知道你想要说什么。
罗珀：（对杰克）什么也别说！别把你自己置于不利的处境。偷东西的男人和女人和你毫无关系。你在沙发上睡着了。
巴塞威克夫人：把钥匙留在门上真是糟透了，其他什么事也别提。（轻拂他的前额）我亲爱的，你的头烫极了！
杰克：可我想知道该怎么做。（激烈地）我不想被这样兜来兜去。
（巴塞威克夫人离开他）
罗珀：（非常快地）把这些都忘了。那会儿你睡着了。
杰克：我明天非得去法院吗？
罗珀：（摇头）不必。
巴塞威克：（如释重负地）真是这样吗？
罗珀：是的。
巴塞威克：但是你得去，罗珀。
罗珀：是的。
杰克：（脸色苍白，快乐起来）太谢谢了，只要我不用去。（把手放在头上）我想我该走了，今天太糟了。（他看看爸爸，又看看妈妈）
巴塞威克夫人：（很快转身）晚安，孩子。
杰克：晚安，妈妈。
（他出去，巴塞威克夫人叹了口气。沉默）
巴塞威克：他倒轻松脱身了。要不是我的钱，那女人早就起诉他了。
罗珀：钱总是有用的。
巴塞威克：我疑惑我们是否该隐瞒事实——
罗珀：还是会有还押候审。
巴塞威克：什么？你是说他还得出庭！
罗珀：是的。
巴塞威克：哼，我原以为你能——听着，罗珀，你绝对不能让钱包上报纸。
（罗珀用小眼睛看着他并点了点头）
巴塞威克夫人：罗珀先生，你不觉得应当告知执法官琼斯是什么样的人；我是说他们婚前的不道德行为。我不知道是否约翰告诉过你。
罗珀：恐怕不是物质方面的。
巴塞威克夫人：不是物质方面的？
罗珀：纯粹的私生活！执法官自己也可能有这样的事。
巴塞威克：（有一刻像是在卸掉重负）这么说你全权负责此事了？
罗珀：如果上帝够仁慈的话。（他伸出手）
巴塞威克：（怀疑地和他握手）仁慈？什么？你要走？
罗珀：是的，还有个案子，和你们的一样，完全料不到。
（他向巴塞威克夫人鞠躬，走出去，巴塞威克随后，跟他说着什么。桌边的巴塞威克夫人抑制不住啜泣，巴塞威克回来）
巴塞威克：（自语）将会有一桩丑闻。
巴塞威克夫人：（立刻掩饰住悲伤）我真是不能想象罗珀竟拿这种事情开玩笑！
巴塞威克：（盯着她，眼神怪异）你！你什么也想象不了！你的想象力还不如一只苍蝇！
巴塞威克夫人：（发怒）你竟敢说我没有想象力？！
巴塞威克：（激动地）我——我很不安。从头到尾，整件事都违背了我的原则。
巴塞威克夫人：废话！你有什么原则！除了害怕，你什么原则也没有！
巴塞威克：（走到窗前）我一生从未害怕过。你听见罗珀说的了吧，遇上这事足够令人不安了。一个人说的和做的都是为了他的嘴——这——这真不可思议。不是我所习惯的那种事。（觉得闷，他推开窗，隐约有小孩哭声传入）那是什么？
（他们倾听）
巴塞威克夫人：（尖锐地）我受不了那哭声，让马洛去制止他们。我神经要崩溃了。（她按了铃）
巴塞威克：我关上窗你就听不见了。（他关窗，安静）
巴塞威克夫人：（尖锐地）没用！吵了我神经，没有什么比小孩哭更让我烦。（马洛进来）那是什么噪音，马洛？听起来像孩子。
巴塞威克：是个小孩，我看见他在栏杆那儿。
马洛：（打开窗，无声地向外看）那是琼斯太太的小儿子，夫人；他来找他妈妈。
巴塞威克夫人：（很快走到窗前）可怜的小子！约翰，我们不该再继续了！
巴塞威克：（沉沉地坐在椅子上）唉！但现在已失去控制了。
（巴塞威克夫人背对窗户，脸上愁云密布，她站着不动，咬着唇。哭声又起。巴塞威克以手掩耳。于是马洛关窗。哭声停）
（幕落）
作者介绍
约翰·高尔斯华绥（John Galsworthy),英国小说家、剧作家，英国批判现实主义作家。他著有长篇小说《福尔赛世家》三部曲、《现代喜剧》三部曲和剧本《银匣》等。1932年，高尔斯华绥“因其描述的卓越艺术”而获得诺贝尔文学奖。
核心单词
conspiracy [kEn5spirEsi] n. 阴谋；谋叛；共谋
dreadful [5dredful] adj. 可怕的，令人恐惧的；令人敬畏的
genuine [5dVenjuin] adj. 真的；非伪造的；名副其实的
identical [ai5dentikEl] adj. 同一的，完全相同的
distress [dis5tres] n. 悲痛，苦恼，忧伤
名句诵读
I hate people that can’t speak the truth.
我恨人们说谎话。
If he can see a way out of this he’s a better man than I take him for. I defy any one to see a way out of it. I can’t.
他要能找到这事的解决办法，那就是我低估他了。所有人都没有办法，我也一样。
My nerves are all on edge.
我的神经要崩溃了。