无奈薛家原系金陵一霸，倚财仗势，众豪奴将小人的主人竟打死了。
But the Xues lord it in Jinling with their money and powerful backing.A pack of their thugs beat my master to death,
凶身主仆已皆逃走，无影无踪，只剩得几个局外之人。
after which the murderers, master and men, disappeared without a trace, leaving here only a few people who weren't involved.
望大老爷拘拿凶犯，剪恶除凶，以救孤寡，死者感戴天地之恩不尽!”
I beg Your Honour to arrest the criminals, punish the evil-doers and help the widow and orphan.Then both the living and the dead will be everlastingly grateful!”
因发签差公人立刻将凶犯族人拿来拷问，令他们实供藏在何处；一面再动海捕文书。
and he took up a warrant and was on the point of sending his runners to seize the murderer's dependants and bring them to court so that they might be put to the torture,
雨村心下甚为疑怪，只得停了手，即时退堂，至密室，使从人皆退去，只留门子一个服侍。
Then Yucun refrained and left the court in some bewilderment.Back in his private office he dismissed everyone but the attendant,
这门子忙上来请安，笑问: "老爷一向加官进禄，八九年来便忘了我了？"
When they were alone together the usher, with a broad smile on his face, came forward and touched his hand and knee to the ground in the Manchu salute. 'Your Honour has gone a long way up in the world during these past eight or nine years!
I don't expect you would remember me!”
那门子笑道:"老爷真是贵人多忘事，把出身之地竟忘了，不记当年葫芦庙里之事了？"
The attendant smiled.“High officials have short memories,” he said.“So you've forgotten the spot you started from, Your Honour, and what happened in Gourd Temple?”
雨村听罢，如雷震一惊，方想起往事。
At this disconcerting remark, the past came back to Yucun like the crash of a thunder-bolt.
原来这门子本是葫卢庙内一个小沙弥，因被火之后，无处安身，欲投别庙去修行，又耐不了清凉景况，因想这件生意倒还轻省热闹，遂趁年纪蓄了发，充了门子。
The usher had been a little novice in the temple where he once lodged.
Finding himself homeless after the fire, and bethinking himself that a post in a yamen was a fine, gentlemanly way of earning a living, and being furthermore heartily sick of the rigours of monastic life, the little novice had taken advantage of his youth to grow his hair again and get himself a post as an usher.
雨村那里辨得是他，便忙携手笑道:"原来是故人。”
No wonder Yucun had failed to recognize him.Now, taking his hand, the prefect observed with a smile: “So we are old acquaintances.”
这门子不敢坐，雨村笑道：“你也算贫贱之交了。
but the attendant declined the honour. “We were friends in the days when I was hard up,”said Yucun.
你我故人也；二则此系私室，既欲长谈，岂有不坐之理？"
“Besides, this is my private office.As we are going to have a good talk, how can you remain standing all the time?”
这门子听说，方告了座，斜签着坐了。
Then, deferentially, the attendant perched sideways on the edge of a chair.
雨村便问方才何故不令发签，这门子道:"老爷既荣任这一省，难道没抄一张本省的 ‘护官符’来不成?"
'Your Honour is new to this post.
Surely you must have provided yourself before you left with a copy of the Mandarin's Life-Preserver for this province?”
如今凡作地方官者，皆有一个私单， 上面写的是本省最有权有势、极富极贵大乡绅名姓，各省皆然；倘若不知，一时触犯了这样人家，不但官爵，连性命还保不成呢!所以绰号叫作’护官符’。
All local officials nowadays keep a secret list of the most powerful, wealthy and high-ranking families in their province.
Each province has such a list.Because if unknowingly you offend one of these families, you may lose not only your post but your life as well.
That's why it's called a Protective Charm.
方才所说的这薛家,老爷如何惹得他!这件官司并无难断之处，皆因都碍着情分脸面，所以如此。”
Why do you suppose this case has remained unsettled for so long?” It's a straightforward enough case.
The reason is simply that none of your predecessors dared touch it because of the unpleasantness and loss of face it would have caused them.”
一面说，一面从顺袋中取出一张抄的“护官符”来，递与雨村看时，上面皆是本地大族名宦之家的俗谚口碑，云：§贾不假，白玉为堂金作马。
While he was speaking he had been fishing for a copy of the Mandarin's Lift-Preserver in his pocket.This he now presented to Yu-cun for his inspection.It contained a set of doggerel verses in which were listed the big families and most powerful magnates of the area in which he was working.
It went some-thing like this: Shout hip hurrahFor the Nanking Jia!
They weigh their gold outBy the jar.
其口碑排写明白，下面皆注着始祖官爵并房次云：§贾不假，白玉为堂金作马。
with notes on their ancestry, ranks and family branches.It started off:The Jinling Jias,If truth be told,Have halls of jade,Stables of gold.
阿房宫，三百里，住不下金陵一个史。
Vast 0 Pang Palace,Fit for a king,Isn't fine enoughFor the Shis of Jinling.
东海缺少白玉床，龙王来请金陵王。
The King of the OceanGoes along, When he's short of gold beds, To the Nanking Wang.
丰年好大“薛”，珍珠如土金如铁。
The Nanking XueSo rich are they, To count their moneyWould take all day...
雨村犹未看完，忽闻传点，人报:"王老爷来拜。”
Before Yucun could finish reading the list, a chime sounded at the gate and a certain Mr. Wang was announced.
雨村听说，忙具衣冠出去迎接。
Yu-cun hastily donned the hat and robe of office which he had temporarily laid aside and went out to meet the visitor.
有顿饭工夫，方回来细问。
coming back in the time it takes for a meal to ask for more information.