The customers, by ones and twos and threes, became quiet shadows that drifted soundless across the floor, soundless through the doors at the head of the stairs.

顾客三三两两地变成安静的影子， 无声地飘过地板， 无声地穿过楼梯口的门。

The crowd of courtiers had broken up and were going in the same direction, by ones and twos and little knots, like people coming away from watching a game or a race.

那群大臣也散开了，三五成群，往同一个方向走去，就像人们看完运动会或比赛散场一样。