評論
打印
"Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks.
"昨天上午，我在銀行辦公室里，我的職員遞進一張名片。
I started when I saw the name, for it was that of none other than
我一看上面的名字，嚇了一跳，因為這不是別人，
well, perhaps even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name which is a household word all over the earth
他的名字，即使是對于你們，我也最多只能說這是全世界家喻戶曉的，
one of the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England.
一個在英國最崇高最尊貴的名字。
I was overwhelmed by the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so,
他一進來，我深感受寵若驚，正想表達他對我的知遇之恩，
but he plunged at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task.
可他卻開門見山地談起正事來，像是急急忙忙要趕緊完成一樁不愉快的任務似的。
'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the habit of advancing money.'
'霍爾德先生，'他說，'我聽說你們常辦貸款業務。'
'The firm does so when the security is good,' I answered.
'如果抵押品值錢，本行是辦理這種業務的。'我回答說。
'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have 50,000 pounds at once.
'我迫切需要，'他說，'立刻得到五萬英鎊。
I could, of course, borrow so trifling a sum ten times over from my friends,
當然，我能夠從我的朋友那里借到十倍于這筆微不足道的款項的，
but I much prefer to make it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself.
但是我寧愿把它當一樁正事來辦，而且要由我親自來辦。
In my position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place one's self under obligations.'
處在我的地位，你不難明白，隨便接受別人的恩惠是不明智的。'
'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked.
'我是否可以問一下，您需要這筆款項多長時間？'我問。
'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me,
'下星期一我可以收回一大筆到期的款項，
and I shall then most certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you think it right to charge.
我那時候完全肯定可以歸還這筆借款的，利息不論多少，只要你認為合理就行。
But it is very essential to me that the money should be paid at once.'"
但對我來說最關緊要的是必須馬上將這筆錢拿到手。'"
