“这笔债是为什么欠下的？”董贝先生终于问道。“谁是债权人？”

　　’He don’t know,’ replied the Captain, putting his hand on Walter’s shoulder. ’I do. It came of helping a man that’s dead now, and that’s cost my friend Gills many a hundred pound already. More particulars in private, if agreeable.’

　　“他不知道，”船长把手搁在沃尔特的肩膀上，回答道。“我知道。那是因为帮助一位现已不在人世的人而欠下的。可是那已经使我的朋友吉尔斯耗费了几百镑了。如果您同意，详细情况我可以在私下里说给您听。”

　　’People who have enough to do to hold their own way,’ said Mr Dombey, unobservant of the Captain’s mysterious signs behind Walter, and still looking at his son, ’had better be contentwith their own obligations and difficulties, and not increase them by engaging for other men. It is an act of dishonesty and presumption, too,’ said Mr Dombey, sternly; ’great presumption; for the wealthy could do no more. Paul, come here!’

　　“那些好不容易自己才能生活下去的人们，”董贝先生没有注意船长在沃尔特背后所做的神秘的手势，仍然看着他的儿子，说道，“最好安安分分地照料他们自己的负担和困难就行了，不要再去替别人担保，增加这种负担和困难了。这是一种不诚实的，而且也是狂妄无礼的行为，”董贝先生严厉地说道；“极大的狂妄无礼；因为那些富有的人所能做的最多也不过如此罢了。保罗，到这里来！”

　　The child obeyed: and Mr Dombey took him on his knee.

　　孩子依从了。董贝先生把他抱到膝盖上。

　　’If you had money now - ’ said Mr Dombey. ’Look at me!’

　　“如果你现在有钱——”董贝先生说道，“看着我！”

　　Paul, whose eyes had wandered to his sister, and to Walter, looked his father in the face.

　　保罗的眼睛原先看着他的姐姐和沃尔特，这时看着他父亲的脸。

　　’If you had money now,’ said Mr Dombey; ’as much money as young Gay has talked about; what would you do?’

　　“如果你现在有钱，”董贝先生说道，“有年轻人盖伊谈到的那么多的钱的话，那么你将怎么办？”

　　’Give it to his old Uncle,’ returned Paul.

　　“把它给他年老的舅舅，”保罗回答道。

　　’Lend it to his old Uncle, eh?’ retorted Mr Dombey. ’Well! When you are old enough, you know, you will share my money, and we shall use it together.’

　　“把它借给他年老的舅舅，是不是？”董贝先生对他进行纠正，说道。“唔！你知道，等你长大以后，你将跟我一起享有我的钱。我们将一起使用它。”

　　’Dombey and Son,’ interrupted Paul, who had been tutored early in the phrase.

　　“董贝父子，”保罗打断他的话，说道；他很小就被教会说这几个字。

　　’Dombey and Son,’ repeated his father. ’Would you like to begin to be Dombey and Son, now, and lend this money to young Gay’s Uncle?’

　　“董贝父子，”他的父亲重复说道。“你愿意现在就来管董贝父子公司的事，把这钱借给盖伊的舅舅吗？”

　　’Oh! if you please, Papa!’ said Paul: ’and so would Florence.’

　　“啊！如果你愿意的话，爸爸！”保罗说道。“弗洛伦斯也会愿意的。”

　　’Girls,’ said Mr Dombey, ’have nothing to do with Dombey and Son. Would you like it?’

　　“女孩子，”董贝先生说道，“跟董贝父子没有关系。你愿意吗？”

　　’Yes, Papa, yes!’

　　“愿意，爸爸，愿意！”

　　’Then you shall do it,’ returned his father. ’And you see, Paul,’ he added, dropping his voice, ’how powerful money is, and how anxious people are to get it. Young Gay comes all this way to beg for money, and you, who are so grand and great, having got it, are going to let him have it, as a great favour and obligation.’

　　“那么就由你来办这件事，”他的父亲回答道。“你看到了，保罗，”他压低了声音，补充说道，“钱有多么大的力量；人们多么急切地想要得到它。年轻人盖伊跑这一趟路来是为了恳求借钱，而你是这么高贵、伟大、有钱，你将作为一笔很大的恩惠与人情，让他得到它。”