An antiques collector was passing a small shop when he noticed a cat on the sidewalk out front, licking milk from a saucer. The man immediately realized the saucer was very old and valuable. He stepped into the shop with an uninterested look and asked to buy the cat. "I'm sorry, " the shop owner said, "but the cat is not for sale: "

　　"Please, " the collector urged, "I need a cat around my house to catch mice. I'll give you 20 dollars. "

　　"The cat is yours," the owner said taking the money.

　　"Listen," the collector added, "I wonder if you could throw in that old saucer as well. The cat seems to like it and I'd hate to have him give it up. "

　　"Sorry," the shop owner answered, "but that saucer brings me luck. Why, just this week I've sold 68 cats!"

一個(gè)古董收集者正路過(guò)一個(gè)小店。他發(fā)現(xiàn)店前人行道上一只貓?jiān)谔蛞粋€(gè)托盤(pán)上的牛奶。這個(gè)人立刻意識(shí)到這個(gè)托盤(pán)是個(gè)值錢(qián)的古物。他帶著一種毫無(wú)興趣的表情步入店內(nèi)，要買(mǎi)那只貓。“對(duì)不起，”店主說(shuō)，“這只貓是不賣(mài)的。”

　　“賣(mài)給我吧，”收集者敦促道，“我家里面需要一只貓來(lái)捉老鼠。我給你20元。”

　　“貓歸你了，”店主接過(guò)錢(qián)說(shuō)道。

　　“還有，”收集者補(bǔ)充道，“我想你是否能把那只舊盤(pán)子也額外贈(zèng)送給我。貓好像很喜歡它。我不愿意看到它失去這東西。”

　　“對(duì)不起，”店主回答說(shuō)，“但那只托盤(pán)能給我?guī)?lái)好運(yùn)。你不知道，光這一周，我就賣(mài)掉68只貓！”