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Twenty had changed to fifteen, and fifteen to ten, but there was no news of the absentee.
二十天变成了十五天，十五天又变成了十天，远方人还是沓无音讯。
One by one the numbers dwindled down, and still there came no sign of him.
限期一天天在减少，可是仍然不见他的踪影。
Whenever a horseman clattered down the road, or a driver shouted at his team, the old farmer hurried to the gate, thinking that help had arrived at last.
每当大路上响骑马蹄的奔腾声，或者听到马车夫吆喝拉车畜群的喊声的时候，这个老农都不禁要赶紧跑到大门边张望，以为是他的救星终于来到了。
At last, when he saw five give way to four and that again to three, he lost heart, and abandoned all hope of escape.
最后，眼看期限从五天变成了四天，又从四天变成了三天，因此他就失去了信心，而且完全放弃了逃走的希望。
Singlehanded, and with his limited knowledge of the mountains which surrounded the settlement, he knew that he was powerless.
他一个人孤掌难鸣，再加上对于环绕着这个移民区四周的大山的情况又不熟悉，他知道自己是无力逃跑的了。
The more frequented roads were strictly watched and guarded, and none could pass along them without an order from the Council.
通行大道都已经有人严密地把守起来，没有"四圣会"的命令，任何人都不能通过。
Turn which way he would, there appeared to be no avoiding the blow which hung over him.
他又有什么办法呢，看来是走投无路了，他的这场临头大祸，眼看是无法避免了。
Yet the old man never wavered in his resolution to part with life itself before he consented to what he regarded as his daughter's dishonour.
但是，这位老人的决心绝没有动摇，他宁愿拼着一死，也不会忍受对他女儿的这场污辱。
He was sitting alone one evening pondering deeply over his troubles, and searching vainly for some way out of them.
一天晚上，他独自一个人坐着，千思万虑地盘算着他的心事；但是左思右想，总想不出什么办法可以逃脱这场灾难。
That morning had shown the figure 2 upon the wall of his house, and the next day would be the last of the allotted time.
这天早晨，房屋的墙上已经出现了一个"２"字，明天就是一月期限的最后一天了。
What was to happen then? All manner of vague and terrible fancies filled his imagination.
到时究竟会发生什么样的事情呢？他想象到各种各样模糊不清而又令人可怕的情景。
And his daughter–what was to become of her after he was gone?
在他死后，他女儿的结局又将如何？
Was there no escape from the invisible network which was drawn all round them?
难道他们真的就逃不出周围撒下的这道无形的天罗地网么？
He sank his head upon the table and sobbed at the thought of his own impotence.
他想到自己无能为力的时候，不禁伏在桌上哭起来。
What was that? In the silence he heard a gentle scratching sound–low, but very distinct in the quiet of the night.
这是什么？万籁俱寂中，他听到一阵轻微的爬抓声。声音虽然很轻，但是在更深夜静的时候，却听得非常清晰。
It came from the door of the house. Ferrier crept into the hall and listened intently.
这个声响是由大门那边传来的。费瑞厄于是蹑手蹑脚地走进了客厅，他在那里平声静气，凝神倾听着。
There was a pause for a few moments, and then the low, insidious sound was repeated.
停了一会，这个轻微的、令人毛骨悚然的声音又响了。
Someone was evidently tapping very gently upon one of the panels of the door.
显然有人轻轻地在门上叩击着。
Was it some midnight assassin who had come to carry out the murderous orders of the secret tribunal?
难道这就是夜半刺客前来执行秘密法庭暗杀的使命吗？
Or was it some agent who was marking up that the last day of grace had arrived?
或者，这就是那个狗腿子，正在写着限期的最后一天已经到了呢？
