FORE3020501英美短篇小说10300120197顾妍 It possesses, nevertheless, a number of highly talented and ingenious beggars, " he said; if I had not spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and the eleven camel-loads of blotting-paper. Also I have forg ow it ended My own life-story is a curious one, "said the stranger, apparently stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim, "I was not always as you see me now We are supposed to undergo complete change in the course of every seven years, " said Crosby, as an explanation of the foregoing announcement I mean I was not always in such distressing circumstances as I am at present, "pursued the That sounds rather rude said Crosby stiffly, "considering that you are at present talking to a man reputed to be one of the most gifted conversationalists of the Afghan border. I don't mean in that way, "said the greybeard hastily; "I've been very much interested in your conversation. I was alluding to my unfortunate financial situation. You mayn't hardly believe it, but at the present moment I am absolutely without a farthing. Don't see any prospect of getting any money, either, for the next few days. I dont suppose you've ever found yourself in such a position, "he added "In the town of Yom27, "said Crosby, which is in Southern Afghanistan, and which ppens to be my birthplace, there was a Chinese philosopher who used to say that one of the three chiefest human blessings was to be absolutely without money. I forget what the other two were memory28, "and did he practise what he preached? Thats the test 29m asm for the philosopher's Ah, I daresay, said the stranger, in a tone that betrayed no enthu He lived happily with very little money or resources, "said Crosby if I had not spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and the eleven camel-loads of blotting-paper..要是刚才我没把不同寻常的真实事件贬损一通的话,我 就会把易卜拉欣和11匹骆驼运载的吸墨纸的故事说给你听了。 2 stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim(那人)压抑着自己想听易卜拉欣故事的欲望 23 as an explanation of the foregoing announcement为对方的上述声明加以解释 24 pursued the stranger doggedly那陌生人固执地接着说下去 25 stiffly指克罗斯比的口气强硬了起来 26 farthing法辛(1961年以前的英国铜币,等于四分之一便士) 27Yom约姆市,此处应为克罗斯比虚构出的地名 a tone that betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosophers memory他说话的腔调表明他对回忆那位哲人的 话毫无兴趣 29 That's the test.那是检验他的主张是否合理的关键所在。FORE130205.01 英美短篇小说 10300120197 顾妍 3 "It possesses, nevertheless, a number of highly talented and ingenious beggars," he said; "if I had not spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and the eleven camel-loads of blotting-paper.21 Also I have forgotten exactly how it ended." "My own life-story is a curious one," said the stranger, apparently stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim22; "I was not always as you see me now." "We are supposed to undergo complete change in the course of every seven years," said Crosby, as an explanation of the foregoing announcement23 . "I mean I was not always in such distressing circumstances as I am at present," pursued the stranger doggedly24 . "That sounds rather rude," said Crosby stiffly25, "considering that you are at present talking to a man reputed to be one of the most gifted conversationalists of the Afghan border." "I don't mean in that way," said the greybeard hastily; "I've been very much interested in your conversation. I was alluding to my unfortunate financial situation. You mayn't hardly believe it, but at the present moment I am absolutely without a farthing26. Don't see any prospect of getting any money, either, for the next few days. I don't suppose you've ever found yourself in such a position," he added. "In the town of Yom27," said Crosby, "which is in Southern Afghanistan, and which also happens to be my birthplace, there was a Chinese philosopher who used to say that one of the three chiefest human blessings was to be absolutely without money. I forget what the other two were." "Ah, I daresay," said the stranger, in a tone that betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory28; "and did he practise what he preached? That's the test.29 " "He lived happily with very little money or resources," said Crosby. 21 if I had not spoken so disparagingly of marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of Ibrahim and the eleven camel-loads of blotting-paper. 要是刚才我没把不同寻常的真实事件贬损一通的话，我 就会把易卜拉欣和 11 匹骆驼运载的吸墨纸的故事说给你听了。 22 stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim （那人）压抑着自己想听易卜拉欣故事的欲望 23 as an explanation of the foregoing announcement 为对方的上述声明加以解释 24 pursued the stranger doggedly 那陌生人固执地接着说下去 25 stiffly 指克罗斯比的口气强硬了起来 26 farthing 法辛（1961 年以前的英国铜币， 等于四分之一便士） 27 Yom 约姆市，此处应为克罗斯比虚构出的地名 28 in a tone that betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory 他说话的腔调表明他对回忆那位哲人的 话毫无兴趣。 29 That's the test. 那是检验他的主张是否合理的关键所在