红发会 06奇怪的广告(1)

"It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months ago."

"这是一八九零年四月二十七日的《纪事年报》，正好是两个月以前的。"

"Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?"

"很好。好了，威尔逊先生，请讲。"

"Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead;

"唔，歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生，就是我刚才对你说的，"杰贝兹一面用手拭他的前额一面说，

"I have a small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City.

"我在市区附近的萨克斯·科伯格广场开了个小当铺。

It's not a very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than just give me a living.

那个买卖不大，近年来我只勉强靠它维持生活。

I used to be able to keep two assistants, but now I only keep one;

过去还有能力雇用两个伙计，但是，现在只雇一个。

and I would have a job to pay him but that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the business."

就这一伙计我也雇不起啊，如果不是他为学会做这个买卖自愿只拿一半工资的话。"

"What is the name of this obliging¹ youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes.

歇洛克·福尔摩斯问道："这位乐于助人的青年叫什么名字？"

"His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, either. It's hard to say his age.

"他名叫文森特·斯波尔丁。其实他的年纪也不小了，只是到底多大我说不上。

I should not wish a smarter assistant, Mr. Holmes;

福尔摩斯先生，我这个伙计真精明强干。

and I know very well that he could better himself and earn twice what I am able to give him.

我很清楚，他本来可以生活得更好些，赚比我付给他多一倍的工资。

But, after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?"

可是，不管怎么讲，既然他很满意，我又何必要劝他多长几个心眼呢？"

"Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employee who comes under the full market price.

"噢，真的？你能以低于市价的工钱雇到伙计，好象是最幸运不过的了。

It is not a common experience among employers² in this age.

这在象你这样年纪的雇主当中，可不是平常的事啊。

I don't know that your assistant is not as remarkable³ as your advertisement."

我不知道你的伙计是不是和你的广告一样很不一般。"

"Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fellow for photography.

威尔逊先生说："啊，他也有他的毛病。他比谁都爱照相。

Snapping⁴ away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind,

他拿着照相机到处照，就是没有上进心。

and then diving down into the cellar⁵ like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures.

他一照完相就急急忙忙地跑到地下室去冲洗，快得象兔子钻洞一样。

That is his main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice⁶ in him."

这是他最大的毛病，但是，总的说来，他是个好工人，他没有坏心眼。"

1 obliging   

a.恳切的，热心助人的

参考例句：

• They were very obliging and offered to wait for us. 他们非常热情，主动提出等候我们。
• He is a diamond of the first water, always obliging. 他是第一流的好人，总是乐于帮助别人。

2 employers   

雇主( employer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws. 雇主有义务遵行健康安全法。

3 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

4 snapping   

adv.显著地，强烈地，非常地v.猛地咬住( snap的现在分词 )；（使某物）发出尖厉声音地突然断裂[打开，关闭]；厉声地说；拍照

参考例句：

• The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away. 细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The fire is snapping. 火劈劈啪啪地响。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 cellar   

n.地窖，地下室，酒窖

参考例句：

• He took a bottle of wine from the cellar.他从酒窖里拿出一瓶酒。
• The little girl hid away in the cellar.小姑娘藏在地下室里。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。