The 1,000,000 Bank-Note Mark Twain
"They are gone." This in the lofty, cold way of that fellows tribe.
"Gone? Gone where?"
"On a journey."
"But whereabouts?"
"To the Continent, I think."
"The Continent?"
"Yes, sir."
"Which way - by what route?"
"I cant say, sir."
"When will they be back?"
"In a month, they said."
"A month! Oh, this is awful! Give me some sort of idea of how to get a word to them. Its of the last importance."
“他们走了。”他用这类人那种不可一世的冷冰冰的口气说。“走了?去哪儿了?”
“出远门了。”
“可——上哪儿啦?”
“我想是去欧洲大陆了吧。”“欧洲大陆?”
“没错,先生。”
“怎么走的——走的是哪条路呀?”“我说不上,先生。”
“什么时候回来呢?”
“他们说,得一个月吧。”
“一个月!唉,这可糟了!帮忙想想办法,看怎么能给他们传个话。这事要紧着哪。”
"I cant, indeed. Ive no idea where theyve gone, sir."
"Then I must see some member of the family."
"Familys away, too; been abroad months - in Egypt and India, I think."
"Man, theres been an immense mistake made. Theyll be back before night. Will you tell them Ive been here, and that I will keep coming till its all made right, and they neednt be afraid?"
"Ill tell them, if they come back, but I am not expecting them. They said you would be here in an hour to make inquiries, but I must tell you its all right, theyll be here on time and expect you."
"实在办不到。他们上哪儿了我一无所知,先生。”
“那,我一定要见这家的其他人。”
“其他人也走了;出国好几个月了——我想,是去埃及和印度了吧。”
“伙计,出了件大错特错的事。他们不到天黑就会转回来。请你告诉他们我来过,不把这事全办妥,我还会接着来,他们用不着担心。”
“只要他们回来我就转告,不过,我想他们不会回来。他们说过,不出一个钟头你就会来打听,我呢,一定要告诉你什么事都没出;等时候一到,他们自然会在这儿候着你。”
So I had to give it up and go away. What a riddle it all was! I was like to lose my mind. They would be here "on time." What could that mean? Oh, the letter would explain, maybe. I had forgotten the letter; I got it out and read it. This is what it said:
"You are an intelligent and honest man, as one may see by your face. We conceive you to be poor and a stranger. Enclosed you will find a sum of money. It is lent to you for thirty days, without interest. Report at this house at the end of that time. I have a bet on you. If I win it you shall have any situation that is in my gift - any, that is, that you shall be able to prove yourself familiar with and competent to fill."
我只好打住,走开了。搞的什么鬼!我真是摸不着头脑。“等时候一到”他们会在这儿。这是什么意思?哦,没准那封信上说了。我把刚才忘了的那封信抽出来一看,信上是这样说的:
"看面相可知,你是个又聪明、又诚实的人。我们猜,你很穷,是个外地人。你会在信封里找到一笔钱。这笔钱借你用三十天,不计利息。期满时来此宅通报。我们在你身上打了一个赌。假如我赢了,你可以在我的职权范围内随意择一职位——也就是说,你能证明自己熟悉和胜任的任何职位均可。"
No signature, no address, no date.
Well, here was a coil to be in! You are posted on what had preceded all this, but I was not. It was just a deep, dark puzzle to me. I hadnt the least idea what the game was, nor whether harm was meant me or a kindness. I went into a park, and sat down to try to think it out, and to consider what I had best do.
没落款,没地址,也没有日期。
好嘛,这真是一团乱麻!现在你当然明白这件事的前因后果,可当时我并不知道。这个谜洞对我来说深不可测、漆黑一团。这出把戏我全然不晓,也不知道对我是福还是祸。我来到一个公园坐下来,想理清头绪,看看我怎么办才好。
来源:大耳朵英语
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