Lost horizon消失的地平线（2）

“He was a jolly fine chap, by all accounts of what he did at Baskul,”went on Sanders. "他真是个不错的人，在巴斯库尔行善积德了".桑德斯继续说道。

Rutherford nodded. “Yes, undoubtedly … but how extraordinary …extraordinary …” He appeared to collect himself after a spell of mind-wandering. 卢瑟福附和着点点头 :" 是的，这一点不容置疑。可是～到底有多么杰出～多么优秀～" 他在一阵神情恍惚之后努力寻找合适的语言。

Then he said: “It was never in the papers, or I think I should have read about it. How was that?” 然后他说道:" 报纸上一点也没透露，否则我应该早就在新闻上读到这些事了。到底是怎么回事呢?"

Sanders looked suddenly rather uncomfortable, and even, I imagined, was on the point of blushing. 桑德斯突然间变得很为难的样子，甚至看起来脸都红了。

“To tell you the truth,” he replied, “I seem to have let out more than I should have. Or perhaps it doesn't matter now—it must be stale news in every mess, let alone in the bazaars. 他回答说:" 说真的，我好像把不该说的都说了。也许现在说说也无妨～～所有的乌龙事件的发生都有共同点，更别说当时情形一片混乱"

It was hushed up, you see—I mean, about the way the thing happened. Wouldn't have sounded well. The Government people merely gave out that one of their machines was missing and mentioned the names. "你看，消息就这样被封锁了～～我是说关于事情发生的经过。假如消息不胫而走，一定会造成不好的反响。所以政府只是提到丢失了一架飞机，的事情传出去，并公布了失踪人员的姓名."

Sort of thing that didn't attract an awful lot of attention among outsiders.” " 这样做就不会引起外界的强烈关注."

At this point Wyland rejoined us, and Sanders turned to him half apologetically. 此时怀兰回到他的座位了，桑德斯面带歉意的看着他。

“I say, Wyland, these chaps have been talking about‘Glory' Conway. I'm afraid I spilled the Baskul yarn—I hope you don't think it matters?” " 听我说，怀兰，我们刚才说起了格劳瑞•怀兰。我恐怕将巴斯库尔的事情说漏了嘴～～照你看来应该没关系吧?"

Wyland was severely silent for a moment. It was plain that he was reconciling the claims of compatriot courtesy and official rectitude. 怀兰一时间变得异常沉默。可以理解，他在对同胞的悼念和公职人员的守则这两者之间努力挣扎。

“I can't help feeling,” he said at length, “that it's a pity to make a mere anecdote of it. I always thought you air fellows were put on your honor not to tell tales out of school.” " 我不得不认为" 在一段沉默以后，他才开口说道:" 把这件事当成趣闻闲聊有失颜面。我一直以为你们这些乘务人员懂得分寸而不会如此满口胡言."

Having thus snubbed the youth, he turned, rather more graciously, to Rutherford. “Of course, it's all right in your case, but I'm sure you realize that it's sometimes necessary for events up on the Frontier to be shrouded in a little mystery.” 在谴责了这位年轻人之后，他转头对卢瑟福说话时地语气变得和蔼了许多:" 当然，你是没什么问题的。有时隐瞒前线的事情是出于情非得已，相信你明白这一点。"

“On the other hand,” replied Rutherford dryly, “one has a curious itch to know the truth.” " 从一般人来说" 卢瑟福略显尴尬地说道:" 对真相的好奇是人的本性。"

“It was never concealed from any one who had any real reason for wanting to know it. I was at Peshawar at the time, and I can assure you of that. Did you know Conway well—since schooldays, I mean?” “Just a little at Oxford, and a few chance meetings since. Did you come across him much?” “At Angora, when I was stationed there, we met once or twice.” “Did you like him?” “I thought he was clever, but rather slack.” Rutherford smiled. “He was certainly clever. He had a