One rather absurd incident took place. There were a number of harlots in the tavern: some were sitting with men, others by themselves; and presently I noticed that one of these was looking at us. When she caught Strickland's eye she smiled. I do not think he saw her. In a little while she went out, but in a minute returned and, passing our table, very politely asked us to buy her something to drink. She sat down and I began to chat with her; but, it was plain that her interest was in Strickland. I explained that he knew no more than two words of French. She tried to talk to him, partly by signs, partly in pidgin French, which, for some reason, she thought would be more comprehensible to him, and she had half a dozen phrases of English. She made me translate what she could only express in her own tongue, and eagerly asked for the meaning of his replies. He was quite good-tempered, a little amused, but his indifference was obvious.
這時發生了一件有些荒唐的事。酒館里有幾個妓女；有的同男人坐在一起，有的獨自坐在那里。我們沒進去多久，我就注意到其中的一個總是瞟著我們。當她的眼睛同思特里克蘭德的目光相遇以后，她向他作了個笑臉。我想思特里克蘭德根本沒有注意她。過了一會兒她從酒館里走了出去，但是馬上又走進來；在經過我們座位的時候，她很有禮貌地請我們給她買一點什么喝的。她坐下來，我同她閑聊起來，但是她的目標顯然是思特里克蘭德。我對她講，他法文只懂幾個字。她試著同他講了幾句，一半用手勢，一半用外國人說的蹩腳法語，不知為什么，她認為這種話他更容易懂，另外，她倒也會說五六句英國話。有的話她只能用法國話說，她就叫我給她翻譯，而且熱切地向我打聽他回話的意思。思特里克蘭德脾氣很好，甚至還覺得這件事有些好笑，但是顯然根本沒有把她看在眼里。
I think you've made a conquest, I laughed.
“我想你把一顆心征服了。”我笑著說。
I'm not flattered.
“我并不感到得意。”
In his place I should have been more embarrassed and less calm. She had laughing eyes and a most charming mouth. She was young. I wondered what she found so attractive in Strickland. She made no secret of her desires, and I was bidden to translate.
如果我換在他的地位上，我會感到很困窘，也不會象他這樣心平氣靜。這個女人生著一雙笑眼，一張很可愛的嘴。她很年輕。我奇怪她在思特里克蘭德身上發現了什么吸引她的地方。她一點兒也不想隱瞞自己的要求，她叫我把她說的都翻譯出來。
She wants you to go home with her.
“她要你把她帶回家去。”
I'm not taking any, he replied.
“我用不著女人。”他回答。
I put his answer as pleasantly as I could. It seemed to me a little ungracious to decline an invitation of that sort, and I ascribed his refusal to lack of money.
我盡量把他的回答說得很婉轉；我覺得拒絕這種邀請有些太不禮貌了。我向她解釋，他是因為沒有錢才拒絕的。
But I like him, she said. "Tell him it's for love."
“但是我喜歡他，”她說，“告訴他是為了愛情。”
When I translated this, Strickland shrugged his shoulders impatiently.
當我把她的話翻譯出以后，思特里克蘭德不耐煩地聳了聳肩膀。
Tell her to go to hell, he said.
“告訴她叫她快滾蛋。”他說。
His manner made his answer quite plain, and the girl threw back her head with a sudden gesture. Perhaps she reddened under her paint. She rose to her feet.
他的神色清楚地表明了他的意思，女孩子一下子把頭向后一揚。也許在她涂抹的脂粉下臉也紅起來。她站起身來。
Monsieur n'est pas poli, she said.
“這位先生太不懂得禮貌【原文為法語】。”她說。
She walked out of the inn. I was slightly vexed.
她走出酒館，我覺得有些生氣。
There wasn't any need to insult her that I can see, I said. "After all, it was rather a compliment she was paying you."
“我看不出你有什么必要這樣侮辱她，”我說，“不管怎么說，她這樣做還是看得起你啊。”
That sort of thing makes me sick, he said roughly.
“這種事叫我惡心，”他沒好氣地說。
I looked at him curiously. There was a real distaste in his face, and yet it was the face of a coarse and sensual man. I suppose the girl had been attracted by a certain brutality in it.
我好奇地打量了他一會兒。他的臉上確實有一種厭惡的神情，然而這卻是一張粗野的、顯現著肉欲的臉。我猜想吸引了那個女孩子的正是他臉上的這種粗野。
I could have got all the women I wanted in London. I didn't come here for that.
“我在倫敦想要什么女人都可以弄到手，我不是為這個到巴黎來的。”
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