小主，

她的眼睛抬起来看了他的脸一瞬间，然后又看向编织物，说：“不是。”

She lifted her eyes to his face for a fraction of a second, looked back at the knitting again, and said, “No.”

他有一种模糊而不舒服的感觉，觉得自己应该和她聊聊天，房间里的其他人似乎都在交谈。

He had a vague and unfortable notion that he ought to make conversation with her, everyone else in the room seemed to be occupied in talk.

“你在织一件毛衣吗？”

“Are you making a sweater?”

“是的。” 这次她没有抬头。

“Yes.” This time she didn’t look up.

他有点泄气，但还是忍不住要挑战一下。他又试了一次。

He was a little discouraged, but couldn’t resist the challenge. He tried again.

“我想你很高兴回到芝加哥。”

“I suppose you’re glad to be back in Chicago.”

“是的。”

“Yes.”

“还是说你喜欢住在东方？”

“Or did you enjoy living in the Orient?”

“不喜欢。”

“No.”

海伦回来的时候，马龙刚刚承认失败。她换上了一件贴身的柔软羊毛连衣裙，颜色和成熟的小麦一模一样，还重新梳理了她那柔顺的淡金色头发。马龙热切地希望杰克现在能看她一眼，就一眼。

Malone had just admitted defeat when Helene returned. She had changed into a clinging, soft wool dress the exact color of ripe wheat, and rearranged her sleek, pale-gold hair. Malone wished fervently that Jake could get one look at her right now, just one.

和海伦一起走进房间的女孩被介绍为罗特斯?艾伦。马龙觉得她叫简会更好。她那光滑、梳理整齐的头发只是普通的发色，从脸上往后梳成一个厚重的发髻盘在脑后。她身上有种让人愉快但难以言表的平凡气质。她的五官通常被认为长相不错，皮肤也很健康；她中等身高，身材苗条，体型匀称。任何一个男人如果再看她一眼，很可能会接着看很多眼，而且是带着赞赏的目光。而关键就在于能否吸引人回过头来看第二看。

The girl who came into the room with Helene was introduced as Lotus Allen. She would have been better named Jane, Malone thought. Her smooth, well-brushed hair was just plain hair color and was drawn back from her face into a heavy coil on the back of her neck. There was something pleasantly and indescribably ordinary about her. She had what were usually described as good features and a healthy skin; she was of average height, with a trim, well-organized figure. Any man who did take a second look at her would probably take a great many more, and approving ones. It was the second look that would be the hurdle.

小主，

“我觉得罗斯不会来了。” 她对莫娜?麦克莱恩说。

“I don’t think Ross will show up,” she said to Mona McClane.

莫娜?麦克莱恩微微扬起一条眉毛。“又不来？”

Mona McClane raised one eyebrow slightly. “Again?”

女孩点点头。“从新年到现在，他一直醉醺醺的。这都快破纪录了。” 她拿起一个高脚杯，坐下来，对每个人都不偏不倚地微笑着。

The girl nodded. “He’s been plastered now since New Year’s. It’s almost a record.” She picked up a tall glass, sat down, and smiled impartially at everybody.

莫娜?麦克莱恩说：“但是图伊兹先生去哪儿了呢？” 没人回答。然后她又说：“我忘了你们都还没见过他。” 她按铃叫来了女仆。“我真希望你们能见见他。” 马龙觉得莫娜这话像是特意说给他听的。他不知道为什么。

Mona McClane said, “But where is Mr. Tuesday?” Nobody answered. Then she added, “I forgot none of you have met him.” She rang for the maid. “I’m so anxious for you to meet him.” Malone had the feeling that Mona was talking for his benefit. He wondered why.

她让女仆去请图伊兹先生下楼来，然后说：“他今天早上才到城里。他非常迷人，也很有趣。”

She sent the maid to ask Mr. Tuesday to step downstairs, and said, “He only arrived in town this morning. He’s very charming and interesting.”

马龙突然意识到卢埃拉?怀特正设法观察房间里的每一个人，而表面上又好像没有把她那双小而有神的眼睛从编织物上移开。

Malone suddenly became conscious of the fact that Louella White was managing to watch everyone in the room, without seeming to take her small, beady eyes off her knitting.

“图伊兹先生从哪儿来的？” 罗特斯?艾伦问。

“Where’s Mr. Tuesday from?” Lotus Allen asked.

莫娜说：“他也从东方来。我肯定他和文宁夫妇会有很多共同话题。”

Mona said, “He’s also from the Orient. I’m sure he and the Vennings will have so much in mon.”

女仆片刻后又出现了。她那刻意保持镇定的脸非常苍白。

The maid reappeared a moment later. Her carefully restrained face was very pale.

“对不起，夫人，但是图伊兹先生不会下来了。”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Tuesday isn’t ing down.”

罗特斯?艾伦放下杯子说：“天哪。别告诉我他也喝醉了。”

Lotus Allen put down her glass and said, “Good God. Don’t tell me he’s plastered, too.”

“不是的，艾伦小姐。” 女仆转向莫娜?麦克莱恩。“对不起，夫人。但是图伊兹先生死了。”

“No, Miss Allen.” The maid turned back to Mona McClane. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But Mr. Tuesday’s dead.”