第17章02. The wedding

　　The priest looked up from his book， and stood silent． Mr Rochester said in his deep voice，without turning his head，'Continue with the ceremony．'
　　Silence fell again．Then the priest shook his head．'I must investigate this first，'he said．One of the strangers from the back of the church came forward and said，calmly and quietly，
　　'This wedding cannot continue，because Mr Rochester is already married．'
　　I felt as if I had been hit．Mr Rochester's whole face was like colourless marble．Without speaking or smiling，he was holding me tightly round the waist，as if he would never let go．
　　'Who are you？'he growled at the stranger．'And tell me what you know of this supposed wife of mine．'
　　'I'm a lawyer，sir．I have a certificate here proving that you married Bertha Mason in the West Indies fifteen years ago．'
　　'That may prove I've been married，but it doesn't prove that she's still alive．'
　　'I can produce a witness，'said the lawyer，'who has seen her alive recently．'
　　'Produce him—or go to hell！'said Mr Rochester．
　　'Here he is．Mr Mason！'called the lawyer．And the second stranger slowly approached from the shadows，his pale face looking frightened．Mr Rochester，staring furiously at him，raised his strong right arm to knock him down．
　　'No！'cried Mason，trembling．Mr Rochester dropped his arm，and turned away in disgust．
　　'Sir，'said the priest，frowning，'don't forget we are in the house of God．Mr Mason，please tell us if this gentleman's wife is still alive．'
　　'She's at Thornfield Hall，'replied Mason in a weak voice．'I'm her brother and I've seen her there．'
　　'Thornfield Hall！'cried the priest．'I've lived here for years，and I've never heard of a Mrs Rochester！'

牧师从书本中抬起头来，静静地站着。罗切斯特先生没有回头，用他深沉的声音说：“仪式继续进行。”
　　又是一阵沉默。然后，牧师摇着头说：“我必须先调查一下。”其中一个陌生人从教堂后面走上前来，镇静地轻声说：
　　“婚礼不能继续，因为罗切斯特先生已经结婚了。”
　　我觉得自己像被猛击了一下。罗切斯特先生的脸整个变成了无色的大理石。他既没说话也没有笑，只是紧紧搂着我的腰，好像永远不想放手似的。
　　“你是谁？”他冲陌生人吼道。“告诉我，关于我所谓的妻子你知道些什么！”
　　“先生，我是律师。我有文件在此证明十五年前你在西印度群岛和伯莎，梅森结了婚。”
　　“这可能证明我结过婚，但不证明她还活着。”
　　“我有证人。”律师说，“他最近看到她还活着。”
　　“让他出来，不然就下地狱去！”罗切斯特说。
　　“他在这儿。梅森先生！”律师叫道。另一个陌生人从暗处走近，他的脸吓得发白。罗切斯特先生愤怒地瞪着他，举起强壮的右臂，要把他打翻在地。
　　“不！”梅森发抖地叫着。罗切斯特放下手，厌恶地扭过头去。
　　牧师皱着眉头说：“先生，不要忘记我们是在上帝的圣殿里。梅森先生，请告诉我们这位先生的妻子是不是还活着。”
　　“她就在特恩费得。”梅森用虚弱的声音说。“我是她哥哥，曾在那儿见过她。”
　　“特恩费得！”牧师大声说，“我在这里住了这么多年，从来没听说过什么罗切斯特太太！”