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'It's all up, Morstan,' he was saying as they passed my hut.
經過我的茅屋的時候，他和上尉說道：'摩斯坦，怎么辦？
'I shall have to send in my papers. I am a ruined man.'
我可毀了，我得辭職了。'
'Nonsense, old chap!' said the other, slapping him upon the shoulder.
上尉拍著他的肩道：'老兄，沒有什么了不起，
'I've had a nasty facer myself, but...'
比這更糟糕的情況我也有過呢，可是....'
That was all I could hear, but it was enough to set me thinking.
我只能聽到這些，可是，這已經夠讓我動腦筋的了。
A couple of days later Major Sholto was strolling on the beach: so I took the chance of speaking to him.
兩天以后，當舒爾托少校正在海濱散步的時候，我趁機走上前去和他說話。
'I wish to have your advice, Major,' said I.
我道：'少校，我有事向您請教。'
'Well, Small, what is it?' he asked, taking his cheroot from his lips.
他拿開口里銜著的雪茄煙，問道：'斯茂，什么事？'
'I wanted to ask you, sir,' said I, 'who is the proper person to whom hidden treasure should be handed over.
我道：'先生，我要請教您，如果有埋藏的寶物，應當交給誰比較合適呢？
I know where half a million worth lies, and, as I cannot use it myself,
我知道一批價值五十萬鎊的寶物埋藏的地點；既然我自己不能使用，
I thought perhaps the best thing that I could do would be to hand it over to the proper authorities,
我想最好還是把它交給有關的當局，
and then perhaps they would get my sentence shortened for me.'
說不定他們會縮短我的刑期呢。'
'Half a million, Small?' he gasped, looking hard at me to see if I was in earnest.
他吸了口氣，死盯著我，看看我是否在說真話，然后問道：'斯茂，五十萬鎊？'
'Quite that, sir–in jewels and pearls. It lies there ready for anyone.
'先生，一點兒也不錯，五十萬鎊現成的珠寶，隨時可以到手。
And the queer thing about it is that the real owner is outlawed and cannot hold property,
奇怪的是原主已經犯罪遠逃，
so that it belongs to the first comer.'
捷足的人就可以得到。'
'To government, Small,' he stammered, 'to government.'
他結巴著說道：'應當交政府，斯茂，應當交政府。'
But he said it in a halting fashion, and I knew in my heart that I had got him.
他的口氣很不堅定，我心里明白，他已上了我的圈套了。
