莫娜·麦克莱恩的脸几乎惨白。“我不希望看到那种事情发生。”
Mona McClane’s face was almost dead white. “I wouldn’t like to see that happen.”
“我没想到你会这样想。”马龙说。他站在那里看着壁炉。“我当然理解你的动机。我甚至对此表示同情。但不幸的是，在这个世界上，只有警察部门才能行使神的正义的特权。”
“I didn’t think you would,” Malone said. He stood looking into the fireplace. “I understand your motive, of course. I even sympathize with it. But, unfortunately, in this world only the police department can assume the prerogatives of divine justice.”
海伦说：“马龙，这一切到底是怎么回事？”这几乎是一声呼喊。
Helene said, “Malone, what is it all about?” It was almost a cry.
没有人回答她。似乎也没有人听到她的话。莫娜·麦克莱恩转向那个棕色眼睛的女孩说：“洛特斯，亲爱的，你去楼上请文宁夫妇下来喝杯鸡尾酒好吗？告诉他们马龙在这儿。你最好也把彭德利叫下来。”
No one answered her. No one seemed to hear her. Mona McClane turned to the brown-eyed girl and said, “Lotus dear, will you run up and ask the Vennings to drop down for a cocktail? Tell them Malone is here. You’d better ask Pendley down, too.”
女孩走后，马龙说：“如果可以的话，我也想给卢埃拉·怀特送个便条。”他在一个信封背面草草写了些什么，然后递给女仆。“给怀特小姐。”
After the girl had gone, Malone said, “I’d like to send a note to Louella White, too, if I may.” He scribbled something on the back of an envelope and handed it the maid. “For Miss White.”
莫娜·麦克莱恩看着他。“洛特斯把她自己的一切都告诉了我。整个故事。就好像我一直都不知道似的。”
“Mona McClane looked at him. “Lotus told me all about herself. The whole story. As though I hadn’t known it all the time.”
“你知道？”马龙说，扬起了眉毛。
“You knew it?” Malone said, his eyebrows up.
“我当然知道。老阿博特夫人在她去世前，当她和洛特斯在巴黎的时候，把一切都告诉了我。这就是为什么我一直想关照这个女孩，她值得这样做。”
“Of course I did. Old Mrs. Abbot told me all about it before she died, when she and Lotus were in Paris. That’s why I’ve tried to keep an eye on the girl, she deserves it.”
“你真好。”马龙喃喃地说。
“It was good of you,” Malone murmured.
她厉声说：“毕竟，麦克莱恩家族当年也是坐统舱过来的。”她站起来，站在壁炉前，双手深深地插在她黑色羊毛连衣裙的大侧兜里。“坐统舱，但坐的是最好的船之一。”
She said sharply, “After all, the McClanes came over in the steerage, too.” She rose and stood before the fireplace, her hands thrust deep in the huge side pockets of her black wool dress. “In the steerage, but one of the best boats.”
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