月亮和六便士 第二十三章(2)

 You're bragging¹. If I really did you'd be overwhelmed with remorse². “你在说大话。如果我真的上了吊你会后悔一辈子的。”

Try it, and we'll see, I retorted. “你不妨试一试，就知道我后悔不后悔了。”

A smile flickered³ in his eyes, and he stirred his absinthe in silence. 他的眼睛里露出一丝笑意，默默地搅和着他的苦艾酒。

Would you like to play chess? I asked. I don't mind. “想不想下棋？”我问他说。“我不反对。”

We set up the pieces, and when the board was ready he considered it with a comfortable eye. 我们开始摆棋子，摆好以后，他注视着面前的棋盘，带着一副自得其乐的样子。

There is a sense of satisfaction in looking at your men all ready for the fray⁴. 当你看到自己兵马都已进入阵地，就要开始一场大厮杀，总禁不住有一种快慰的感觉。

Did you really think I'd lend you money? I asked. “你真的以为我会借钱给你吗？”我问他。

I didn't see why you shouldn't. “我想不出来为什么你会不借给我。”

You surprise me. Why? “你使我感到吃惊。”“为什么？”

It's disappointing to find that at heart you are sentimental⁵. “发现你心里还是人情味十足让我失望。

I should have liked you better if you hadn't made that ingenuous⁶ appeal to my sympathies. 如果你不那么天真，想利用我的同情心来打动我，我会更喜欢你一些。”

I should have despised you if you'd been moved by it, he answered. “如果你被我打动，我会鄙视你的。”他回答说。

That's better, I laughed. “那就好了。”我笑起来。

We began to play. We were both absorbed in the game. 我们开始走棋。两个人的精神都被当前的一局棋吸引住。

When it was finished I said to him: 一盘棋下完以后，我对他说：

Look here, if you're hard up, let me see your pictures. “你听我说，如果你缺钱花，让我去看看你的画怎么样？

If there's anything I like I'll buy it. 如果有我喜欢的，我会买你一幅。”

Go to hell, he answered. “你见鬼去吧！”他说。

He got up and was about to go away. I stopped him. 他站起来准备走，我把他拦住了。

You haven't paid for your absinthe, I said, smiling. “你还没有付酒帐呢。”我笑着说。

He cursed me, flung down the money and left. 他骂了我一句，把钱往桌上一扔就走了。

I did not see him for several days after that, but one evening, when I was sitting in the cafe, reading a paper, he came up and sat beside me. 这件事过去以后，我有几天没有看见他，但是有一天晚上我正坐在咖啡馆里看报纸的时候，思特里克兰德走了过来，在我身旁边坐下。

You haven't hanged yourself after all, I remarked. “你原来并没有上吊啊。”我说。

No. I've got a commission. “没有。有人请我画一幅画。

I'm painting the portrait of a retired⁷ plumber⁸ for two hundred francs. 我现在正给一个退休的铅管工画像，可以拿到两百法郎。”

1 bragging   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话

参考例句：

• He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. 他总是吹嘘自己板球水平高超。 来自辞典例句
• Now you're bragging, darling. You know you don't need to brag. 这就是夸口，亲爱的。你明知道你不必吹。 来自辞典例句

2 remorse   

n.痛恨，悔恨，自责

参考例句：

• She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
• He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。

3 flickered   

（通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
• These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。

4 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

5 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

6 ingenuous   

adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的

参考例句：

• Only the most ingenuous person would believe such a weak excuse!只有最天真的人才会相信这么一个站不住脚的借口！
• With ingenuous sincerity,he captivated his audience.他以自己的率真迷住了观众。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 plumber   

n.(装修水管的)管子工

参考例句：

• Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗？
• The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。