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Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee the head waiter, with an ingratiating smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. They had the blush of an innocent girl; they had the rich tone of an Italian landscape. But surely peaches were not in season then? Lord knew what they cost. I knew too—a little later, for my guest, going on with her conversation, absentmindedly took one.
接著，發生了一件可怕的事情。當我們在等咖啡的時候，那個領班侍者，帶著滿臉奉承的笑容，拎來滿滿一大籃子特大的桃子，紅得酷似天真少女的臉蛋，其色調之瑰麗猶如一幅意大利風景畫。當時桃子肯定還沒有到上市季節，只有上帝曉得買它們得花多少價錢。不過很快我也曉得了，因為我的客人一邊說著話，一邊心不在焉地拿了一只。
"You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat" —my one miserable little chop—"and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach."
"你看，你已經塞了一肚子肉，"-她是指我那可憐的一小塊羊排-"不能再吃什么了。而我只不過來了點小吃，我還可以再品嘗一只桃子。"
The bill came, and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for an instant on the three francs I left for the waiter, and I knew that she thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a penny in my pocket.
賬單來了。付過賬后，我發現剩下的錢連付點像樣的小費都不夠了。她的目光在我留給侍者的三個法郎上停了一會兒，我知道她會覺得我是個吝嗇鬼。可是等走出餐廳，我面臨著的將是整整一個月的開銷要支付，而口袋里卻分文俱無。
"Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon."
"你學學我，"她邊握手邊說道，"午餐頂多只吃一道菜。
""I'll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight."
"我會做得更好，"我回敬道，"我今晚什么也不吃了。
""Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!"
"幽默家！"她得意洋洋地大聲說著，跳上了一輛馬車。"你是個十足的幽默家！"
But I have had my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in the matter it is pardonable to observe the result withcomplacency. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.
但是我終于報了仇。我自認不是一個愛報復的人，但是竟連不朽的眾神也被觸怒而干預其事時，我懷著心滿意足的心情目睹這個結局，想必也是可以原諒的了。現今她的體重已達二十一英石(二百九十四磅)。
