A Governor visiting a state prison was implored by a convict to pardon him.
州長在視察一所州管監(jiān)獄時,有個罪犯哀求州長寬恕他。
“What are you in for?”asked the Governor.
“你犯了什么事?”州長問道。
“I held a high office,”the convict humbly replied,“and sold subordinate appointments.”
“我曾經(jīng)是個高級官員,”犯人低聲下氣地回答,“因為向下級賣官。”
“Then I decline to interfere,”said the Governor, with asperity,“a man who abuses his office by making it serve a private end and purvey a personal advantage is unfit to be free. By the way, Mr. Warden,”he added to the official beside him, as the convict slunk away,“in appointing you to this position, I was given to understand that your friends could make the Shikane county delegation to the next State convention solid for the present administration. Was I rightly informed?”
“那樣的話,我絕不會管你的事情,”州長嚴(yán)厲地說,“為達(dá)到個人目的、牟取私利而濫用職權(quán)的人不應(yīng)該得到自由。順便說一下,監(jiān)獄長,”當(dāng)那個罪犯偷偷溜走時,他接著對身旁的那位官員說,“我在任命你擔(dān)任這個職務(wù)時,得知你的朋友能讓西科恩縣參加下屆州會議的代表團(tuán)支持本屆政府。我得到的消息準(zhǔn)確嗎?”
“You were, sir.”
“是的,州長先生。”
“Very well, then, I will bid you good-bye. Please be so good as to appoint my nephew Chaplain.''
“那么,很好,我該向你道別了。請別忘記任命我的侄子為牧師啊。”