12 Duel in the park

Chapter 12 Duel in the park BOOM! The blast from the Count's pistol echoed around the park, scattering pigeons from the trees. The shot hit the trunk dead in the middle. The Count's aim was perfect. The Count rubbed his tired eyes. He hadn't slept at all last night. He had come here to punish Fernand by killing his son. But he felt a sadness... Was he doing the right thing?

第十二章公园决斗轰！伯爵手枪的爆炸声在公园里回响，把树上的鸽子都吓跑了。 子弹正好打在树干中间。 伯爵的瞄准是完美的。 伯爵揉了揉疲倦的眼睛。 他昨晚根本没睡。 他到这里来，是要杀死弗尔南多的儿子来惩罚他的。 但他感到一种悲伤……他做的对吗？

A carriage approached, and Albert stepped out with Beauchamp. His eyes were red and puffy and his pistol trembled in his hand. He had clearly not slept either. "Count," he said, "tell me what cause you have to hate my father." "I cannot." "Then we must fight." Beauchamp stood between the two men. "Gentlemen," he instructed, "you must each take ten paces and then turn and fire."

一辆马车开了过来，阿尔贝和波尚下了车。 他的眼睛红肿，手里的手枪在颤抖。 显然他也没有睡觉。 “伯爵，”他说，“请告诉我，您有什么理由恨我父亲呢？” “我不能。”“那么我们必须战斗。” 波尚站在那两个人中间。 “先生们，”他指示道，“你们必须每人走十步，然后转身开火。”

The duel began. The Count raised his pistol and began pacing. One... two... He thought about his life before Chateau D'If, and the man he once was. Happy Edmond Dantes... Four... five... He thought of Fernand, and how he had stolen that happiness. Seven... eight... The Count's finger curled around the trigger. Nine... ten! The Count turned.

决斗开始了。伯爵举起手枪，开始踱步。 一个……两个……他想起了他在伊夫堡之前的生活，想起了他曾经的那个人。 快乐的爱德蒙·唐太斯……四个…… 五个。他想起了弗尔南多，想起了他怎样偷走了他的幸福。 七……八个。伯爵的手指勾住了扳机。 九个。十个!伯爵转过身来。

"EDMOND!" The Count froze. Mercedes raced across the park. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Edmond!" she gasped. "Please spare my son!" But the Count's pistol remained fixed on Albert. "Edmond is dead," he said coldly. "I am simply an angel of vengeance." "But why Edmond? Why do you seek revenge? Fernand has done nothing to you." The Count's whole body trembled with rage. "Nothing?" he cried. "Because of him, I rotted in jail for twenty years." "No," Mercedes said, "not Fernand..." "You do not believe me? Here is the proof!" The Count pulled a crumpled paper from his pocket and threw it to Mercedes. It was the same letter that, twenty years ago, accused him of treason. Only then, the soldiers had hidden the signatures at the bottom. One of them said Danglars. The other belonged to... "Fernand Mondego," Mercedes whispered. Her legs buckled and she fell weeping to the long grass.

“爱德蒙!”伯爵僵住了。 梅塞德斯跑过公园。 泪水顺着她的面颊流下来。 “爱德蒙！”“请饶了我的儿子吧！”但是伯爵的手枪仍然对准阿尔贝。 “爱德蒙死了，”他冷冷地说。 “我只是一个复仇天使。” “为什么是爱德蒙？”你为什么要报复？ 弗尔南多并没有对你做什么。” 伯爵气得全身发抖。 “什么也没有？”“因为他，我在监狱里蹲了二十年。” “不，”美塞苔丝说，“不是弗尔南多……” “你不相信我？”这就是证据！”伯爵从口袋里掏出一张皱巴巴的纸，扔给了美塞苔丝。 二十年前，正是这封信指控他叛国。 直到那时，士兵们才把签名藏在底部。 腾格拉尔说。 另一个属于……“弗尔南多·蒙台哥，”美塞苔丝低声说。 她的腿一弯，倒在长长的草地上哭泣。

Albert read the letter too. His pistol slipped from his hand. But still the Count kept his weapon aimed at Albert's head. His hand shook. He gazed at Mercedes, crying at his feet. Slowly, he lowered the pistol. "Edmond," Mercedes sobbed. "No," the Count said softly. "I do not know who I am anymore...

艾伯特也读了那封信。 他的手枪从手中滑落。 但是伯爵仍然把他的武器对准阿尔贝的头。 他的手颤抖着。他望着美塞苔丝，在他脚下哭了起来。 他慢慢地放下手枪。 “爱德蒙，”美塞苔丝抽泣着说。 “不，”伯爵轻声说。 “我已经不知道自己是谁了……