'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time is of value.'
'請您說說您的事吧,先生,' 我說,'我的時間是很寶貴的。'
Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the words came to my lips.
愿上帝饒恕我說的后一句話,但這句話是脫口而出的。
'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. 'Most admirably.'
'工作一個晚上五十個畿尼你感到合適嗎?'他問。'可真不少。'
'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark.
'我說是一個晚上的工作,實際上可能只需要一個小時。
I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which has got out of gear.
我只不過是想請教您有關一臺水力沖壓機齒輪脫開的事。
If you show us what is wrong we shall soon set it right ourselves.
只要您指出毛病在什么地方,我們自己很快就會把它修好的。
What do you think of such a commission as that?'
對于這樣一樁委托,您覺得怎么樣?'
'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.'
'工作看來很輕松,報酬卻極為優(yōu)厚。'
'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last train.' 'Where to?'
'一點不錯,我們想請您今天晚上乘坐末班車來。''到哪兒去?'
'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading.
'去伯克郡的艾津。那是接近牛津郡的一個小地方,離雷丁不到七英里。
There is a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about 11:15.' 'Very good.'
帕丁頓有一班車可以在十一點十五分左右送您到那兒。''很好。'
'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.'
'我會坐一輛馬車來接您。'
'There is a drive, then?'
'那么,還得坐馬車趕一段路程了?'
'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good seven miles from Eyford Station.'
'是的,我們那小地方完全是在鄉(xiāng)下,離艾津車站足足有七英里。'