马龙探案卷五 之 盛怒的审判 四
杰克看了看表。自从前参议员佩维利被谋杀已经过去了整整四十七分钟。照这样下去，治安官克林可能要花四十七年才能找出是谁谋杀了他。
JAKE LOOKED at his watch. It had been exactly forty-seven minutes since the murder of Ex-Senator Peveley. At the rate things were going, it would probably be forty-seven years before Sheriff Kling found out who murdered him.
走廊西端的大门砰地一声打开，又砰地一声关上，一个年轻人以近似闪电的速度和怒气挤进了围在治安官克林周围的人群中央。他是一个身材矮小、瘦弱的年轻人，有着沙色的金发和一张苍白的脸，上面布满了浅棕色的雀斑。此刻，他似乎想用从无框眼镜后面射出的目光把治安官克林击毙。
The great door at the west end of the corridor banged open, banged shut again, and a young man pushed his way into the center of the group around Sheriff Kling with the approximate speed and fury of a lightning bolt. He was a short, slight young man with sandy blond hair and a pale face that was liberally sprinkled with light-brown freckles. At the moment he appeared to be trying to strike Sheriff Kling dead with the glance he shot from behind rimless glasses.
“这是什么意思？我想你是不想给我打电话吧？”
“What’s the idea? I don’t suppose it would occur to you to call me.”
治安官怒目而视，用衬衫袖子的背面擦去额头上的汗水。“我已经有够多的事情要操心了，没工夫管你。”
The sheriff glared right back at him, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his shirt sleeve. “I’ve had enough on my mind without bothering about you.”
年轻人急促地吸了一口气。“多久以前发生的？你做了什么？为什么 ——” 他的目光落在杰克和海伦身上。“你们是谁？”
The young man drew a quick breath. “How long ago did it happen? What have you done? Why -” his eyes fell on Jake and Helene. “Who are you?”
“城里来的滑头，” 杰克不耐烦地说，“你是谁？”
“The city slicker,” Jake said irritably, “and who are you?”
“我是《杰克逊县企业报》的汤姆?伯罗斯。谁 ——”
“Tom Burrows, of the Jackson County Enterprise. Who -”
“听着，汤姆，” 治安官克林开始说。
“Now look here, Tom,” Sheriff Kling began.
年轻人又转向他。“他什么时候被谋杀的？怎么发生的？你把尸体怎么处理了？谁杀了他？”
The young man turned back to him. “When was he murdered? How did it happen? What have you done with the body? Who killed him?”
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“别着急，” 治安官说。
“All in good time,” the sheriff said.
汤姆?伯罗斯低声骂了一句，挤进县书记员的办公室，拿起电话。“给我接麦迪逊的合众社，费用由对方支付。我是汤姆?伯罗斯。”
Tom Burrows muttered something profane, pushed his way into the county clerk’s office, and picked up the telephone. “Get me the United Press in Madison and reverse the charges. Tom Burrows calling.”
“等一下。” 治安官克林说。
“Now wait a minute,” Sheriff Kling said.
“然后让县里的其他记者都抢在我前面吗？见鬼！这可是有稿费的新闻！”
“And have every other correspondent in the county beat me to it? Nuts! This is space rates!”
治安官转向仍然犹豫不决地站在门口的人们。“该死，我不是叫你们都到这里来吗。”
The sheriff turned to the people still standing irresolutely by the door. “Damn it, I thought I told all you to e in here.”
“别滥用你的权力，马夫，否则你会有麻烦的。” 汤姆?伯罗斯漫不经心地说。
“Don’t go exceeding your authority, Marv, or you’ll get into trouble,” Tom Burrows said casually.
“你去死吧。” 治安官克林吼道。他又擦了擦额头。“现在，你们这些不属于法院的人，告诉我你们在这里干什么。”
“You go to hell,” Sheriff Kling roared. He mopped his brow again. “Now, all of you who don’t belong in the courthouse, tell me what you were doing here.”
埃德?斯金丁斯鲁德说话了。“你知道我在这里干什么，马夫。今天是县委员会会议。我留下来是要和菲尔?史密斯说句话。”
Ed Skindingsrude spoke up. “You know what I was doing here, Marv. It’s county board meeting. I stayed behind to have a word with Phil Smith.”
“说什么事？”
“What about?”
“关于县里可恶的老虎机问题，都是因为治安官办公室的不作为。”
“About the abominable slot-machine situation in the county, due to the laxity of the sheriff’s office.”
治安官克林的脸气得发紫。他忍住了一些话，然后转向那个高挑、穿着讲究、灰头发的女人。
Sheriff Kling purpled. He swallowed a few words before he turned to the tall, tailored, gray-haired woman.
“你呢，麦高恩小姐？”
“How about you, Miss MacGowan?”
“我来这里是为了和史密斯先生谈一些银行的业务。是关于学校债券的事，但我觉得你不需要知道所有的细节。” 她说话干脆利落，非常冷淡。
“I was here to see Mr. Smith, on some bank business. It had to do with the school bonds, but I don’t think you need to have all the details.” She spoke crisply and very coldly.
小主，
除了杰克和海伦，被询问的这群人里只有三个人。第三个人是一个漂亮的金发女人，脸化得很随意。治安官克林转向她。
There were only three people in the group being questioned, besides Jake and Helene. The third was a pretty, blonde woman with a carelessly made-up face. Sheriff Kling turned to her.
“你在这里干什么，科拉?贝尔？”
“What were you doing here, Cora Belle?”
“我在等杰瑞?勒克斯通。” 她闷闷不乐地说。
“I was waiting to see Jerry Luckstone,” she said sullenly.
“等他干什么？”
“What about?”
“不关你的事。如果你一定要知道，去问他。”
“None of your business. Ask him, if you have to.”
“我会问的。” 治安官严厉地说。
“I will,” the sheriff said grimly.
汤姆?伯罗斯一直在对着电话说话，最后说：“现在就这些，我稍后再打过来。” 然后挂了电话。
Tom Burrows had been talking into the telephone, finished with, “That’s all now, I’ll call in later,” and hung up.