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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
“‘Not go to Mawson’s’?’
“‘No, sir. By that day you will be the business manager of the Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited, with a hundred and thirty-four branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting one in Brussels and one in San Remo.’
“This took my breath away. ‘I never heard of it.’ said I.
“‘Very likely not. It has been kept very quiet, for the capital was all privately1 subscribed2, and it’s too good a thing to let the public into. My brother, Harry3 Pinner, is promoter, and joins the board after allotment as managing director. He knew I was in the swim down here and asked me to pick up a good man cheap. A young, pushing man with plenty of snap about him. Parker spoke4 of you, and that brought me here to-night. We can only offer you a beggarly five hundred to start with.’
“‘Five hundred a year!’ I shouted.
“‘Only that at the beginning; but you are to have an overriding5 commission of one per cent on all business done by your agents, and you may take my word for it that this will come to more than your salary.’
“‘But I know nothing about hardware.’
“‘Tut, my boy, you know about figures.’
“My head buzzed, and I could hardly sit still in my chair. But suddenly a little chill of doubt came upon me.
“‘I must be frank with you,’ said I. ‘Mawson only gives me two hundred, but Mawson is safe. Now, really, I know so little about your company that —’
“‘Ah, smart, smart!’ he cried in a kind of ecstasy6 of delight. ‘You are the very man for us. You are not to be talked over, and quite right, too. Now, here’s a note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that we can do business you may just slip it into your pocket as an advance upon your salary.’
“‘That is very handsome,’ said I. ‘When should I take over my new duties?’
“‘Be in Birmingham to-morrow at one,’ said he. ‘I have a note in my pocket here which you will take to my brother. You will find him at 126B Corporation Street, where the temporary offices of the company are situated7. Of course he must confirm your engagement, but between ourselves it will be all right.’
“不到莫森商行去？”
“对呀，先生。到那天你要当上法国中部五金有限公司的经理，这家公司在法国城乡有一百三十四家分公司，另外在布鲁塞尔和圣雷莫还各有一家分公司。”
“这使我大吃一惊。”我从未听说过这家公司，”我说道。
“你很可能没听说过。公司一直在无声无息地营业，因为它的资本是向私人筹集的，生意兴隆，根本不需要加以宣扬。我兄弟哈里-平纳是创办人，做了总经理，并且进了董事会。他知道我在这里一交一游很广，要我替他物色一个干练而薪俸不高的人，一个一精一力充沛而又听使唤的小伙子。帕克谈到了你，于是我今晚到这儿来访。我们开始只能给你极为菲薄的五百镑。”
“一年五百镑！”我大声喊道。
“不过这只是在开始的时候；除此以外，凡是你的代销商完成的营业额，你都可以提取百分之一的佣金。你可以相信我的话，这笔收入会比你的薪水还要多。”
“可是我一点也不懂五金啊。”
“什么话，我的朋友，你懂会计啊。”
“我头脑在嗡嗡作响，几乎连椅子也坐不稳了。可是突然一点疑问涌上心头。
“我必须坦率地对你说，”我说道，“莫森商行只给我一年二百镑，可是莫森商行是可靠的。啊，说实在话，我对你们的公司确实知道得很少……”
“啊，一精一明，一精一明！”他欣喜若狂地高声喊道，”我们正需要你这样的人。你是不会被人说服的，这也很对。瞧，这是一张一百镑的钞票，如果你认为我们可以成一交一，那你就把它作为预支薪水收起来吧。”
“那太好了，”我说道，“我什么时候就任新职呢？”
“明天一点钟在伯明翰，”他说道，“我口袋里有一张便条，你可以拿它去见我兄弟。你可以到这家公司的临时办公室科波莱森街！”２６号乙去找他。当然他必须对你的任用表示认可，但在我们之间这是不成问题的。”
收听单词发音 |
1
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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2
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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3
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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4
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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5
overriding
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| a.最主要的 | |
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6
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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7
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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