马龙探案卷四 之 正确的凶案 二十一
海伦觉得在莫娜?麦克莱恩家快速喝上一两杯鸡尾酒是个好主意，不过她补充说她、杰克和马龙很快就得离开。他们有重要的事情要处理。
Helene agreed that a quick cocktail or two at Mona McClane’s would be a good idea, though she added that she, Jake, and Malone would have to rush away before long. They had important business to attend to.
一路上没人说话。当莫娜?麦克莱恩那辆黑色的大轿车在房子前停下时，莫娜倾身靠近律师，轻声说：“你确定她会没事吗？”
No one spoke on the way. As Mona McClane’s big black town car drew up before the house, Mona leaned over toward the lawyer and said softly, “You’re sure she’ll be all right?”
“没什么可担心的。” 马龙向她保证，“我从没让一个客户失望过。”
“Not a thing to worry about,” Malone assured her. “I’ve never lost a client.”
她微微露出笑容。站在车外，她又转向他说：“还有一件事 —— 关于你的费用……”
She smiled faintly. Standing outside the car she turned to him again and said, “Another thing—as far as your fee is concerned—”
“别提了。” 马龙赶紧粗声粗气地说，说完立刻在自己脚踝上踢了一脚。
“Forget it,” Malone said quickly and gruffly, and immediately kicked himself on the ankle.
巨大的麦克莱恩家客厅里，黑色大理石壁炉里的火烧得正旺，令人愉快。大家都围在壁炉旁，凝视着明亮的火焰，仿佛在寻求安慰。一个女仆端着一个托盘走了进来，上面放着几大杯热气腾腾、味道浓烈的饮料。
A fire was roaring cheerfully in the black marble fireplace in the immense McClane living room. Everyone gathered around it, gazing into the brilliant blaze as though for fort. A maid appeared with a tray, with big glasses of some scalding-hot and pungent drink.
莫娜?麦克莱恩在黑色外套里面穿了一条鲜艳的紫色连衣裙。她用手指梳理着自己的黑色短发，把额前厚厚的黑色刘海抚平。有那么一瞬间，当她坐在高背锦缎椅子上时，她看起来就像一个精致的日本玩偶。
Mona McClane had on a dress of vivid violet beneath her black coat. She ran her fingers through her short black hair, smoothed out the heavy black bang over her forehead. For an instant as she sat in her high-backed brocade chair, she looked like some exquisite Japanese doll.
“我不明白……” 海伦刚开口又突然停住。
“I don’t see—” Helene began and stopped suddenly.
在杰克看来，这沉默仿佛可以被切成碎片。每个人都在等别人先开口。
It seemed to Jake as though the silence could be cut up into pieces. Everyone was waiting for someone else to speak first.
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