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'Well! at last and at least, Uncle Sol must be told,' thought Walter, with a sigh. And as Walter was apprehensive that his voice might perhaps quaver a little, and that his countenance might not be quite as hopeful as he could wish it to be, if he told the old man himself, and saw the first effects of his communication on his wrinkled face, he resolved to avail himself of the services of that powerful mediator, Captain Cuttle. Sunday coming round, he set off therefore, after breakfast, once more to beat up Captain Cuttle's quarters.
“唉！最终反正总得告诉所尔舅舅的，”沃尔特叹了一口气，想道。沃尔特担心的是，如果由他本人告诉老人，并看到这消息在他起了皱纹的脸上所引起的第一阵反应的话，那么他的声音也许会稍稍颤抖，他脸上的神色也许不能像他所希望的那样轻松愉快，因此他决定去请卡特尔船长这位能干的斡旋者来帮忙。于是，星期天吃过早饭以后，他就从家里出发，再一次出其不意地到卡特尔船长的住所去。
It was not unpleasant to remember, on the way thither, that Mrs MacStinger resorted to a great distance every Sunday morning, to attend the ministry of the Reverend Melchisedech Howler, who, having been one day discharged from the West India Docks on a false suspicion (got up expressly against him by the general enemy) of screwing gimlets into puncheons, and applying his lips to the orifice, had announced the destruction of the world for that day two years, at ten in the morning, and opened a front parlour for the reception of ladies and gentlemen of the Ranting persuasion, upon whom, on the first occasion of their assemblage, the admonitions of the Reverend Melchisedech had produced so powerful an effect, that, in their rapturous performance of a sacred jig, which closed the service, the whole flock broke through into a kitchen below, and disabled a mangle belonging to one of the fold.
他在途中愉快地记起，麦克斯廷杰太太每逢星期天上午都要到一个很远的地方去听梅尔奇斯代克·豪洛尔大师说教。这位大师原先在西印度船坞工作，后来由于仇人诬陷，说他曾用手锥钻破大酒桶，然后把嘴唇贴住洞孔偷喝桶中的酒，因此有一天他就被解除了职务；他曾经宣称，世界将在两年后的那一天上午十点钟毁灭；他开放一个客厅来接待狂热教派的男女信徒们；在他们第一次的集会上，梅尔奇斯代克的训戒产生了很大的影响，在仪式结束时，他们欢天喜地地大跳圣舞，所以有的人竟都塌陷到下面的厨房里，把一个信徒的碾压机也砸坏了。
This the Captain, in a moment of uncommon conviviality, had confided to Walter and his Uncle, between the repetitions of lovely Peg, on the night when Brogley the broker was paid out. The Captain himself was punctual in his attendance at a church in his own neighbourhood, which hoisted the Union Jack every Sunday morning; and where he was good enough—the lawful beadle being infirm—to keep an eye upon the boys, over whom he exercised great power, in virtue of his mysterious hook. Knowing the regularity of the Captain's habits, Walter made all the haste he could, that he might anticipate his going out; and he made such good speed, that he had the pleasure, on turning into Brig Place, to behold the broad blue coat and waistcoat hanging out of the Captain's oPen window, to air in the sun.
这些轶事是船长那天晚上把钱支付给经纪人布罗格里之后，反复唱那支《佩格姑娘》曲子的中间，在非常欢乐的时刻讲给沃尔特和他舅舅听的。船长自己也按时上一个邻近的教堂去。那教堂每逢星期天上午就升起英国国旗。因为教区事务员身体病弱，他就在那里好心地照管孩子们；由于他那神秘的钩子所起的作用，他在孩子们中间享有很高的威望。沃尔特知道船长从不改变他的习惯，所以尽快赶路，以便在他出门之前到达。他的速度很快，当他拐弯走进布里格广场的时候，他高兴地看到，那宽大的蓝色外衣和背心正悬挂在船长的打开的窗子的外面，在太阳下晾晒。
It appeared incredible that the coat and waistcoat could be seen by mortal eyes without the Captain; but he certainly was not in them, otherwise his legs—the houses in Brig Place not being lofty—would have obstructed the street door, which was perfectly clear. Quite wondering at this discovery, Walter gave a single knock.
凡人的肉眼居然能看到外衣和背心离开船长的身体，这似乎是难以使人相信的；但他这时确实没有穿它们，否则他的双腿就堵塞住那毫无遮拦的临街的前门了，因为布里格广场的房屋是不高的。沃尔特对这发现很感惊奇，敲了一下门。
