評論
打印
He waited for the senior partner to continue. Mr. Letterblair unlocked a drawer and drew out a packet. "If you will run your eye over these papers--"
他等待老合伙人說下去。萊特布賴先生打開一個抽屜，抽出了一包東西。“如果你瀏覽一下這些文件——”
Archer frowned. "I beg your pardon, sir; but just because of the prospective relationship, I should prefer your consulting Mr. Skipworth or Mr. Redwood."
阿切爾皺起了眉頭。“請原諒，先生；可正因為未來的親戚關系，我更希望你與斯吉普沃思先生或雷德伍德先生商討這件事。”
Mr. Letterblair looked surprised and slightly offended. It was unusual for a junior to reject such an opening.
萊特布賴先生似乎頗感意外，而且有點生氣。一位下級拒絕這樣的開場白是很少見的。
He bowed. "I respect your scruple, sir; but in this case I believe true delicacy requires you to do as I ask. Indeed, the suggestion is not mine but Mrs. Manson Mingott's and her son's. I have seen Lovell Mingott; and also Mr. Welland. They all named you."
他點了點頭，說：“我尊重你的顧慮，先生，不過對這件事，我以為真正的審慎還是要按我說的去做。說老實話，這并不是我的提議，而是曼森·明戈特和她的兒子們的提議。我已經見過了洛弗爾·明戈特，還有韋蘭先生，他們全都指名要你辦。”
Archer felt his temper rising. He had been somewhat languidly drifting with events for the last fortnight, and letting May's fair looks and radiant nature obliterate the rather importunate pressure of the Mingott claims. But this behest of old Mrs. Mingott's roused him to a sense of what the clan thought they had the right to exact from a prospective son-in-law; and he chafed at the role.
阿切爾感到怒火在上升。最近兩個星期，他一直有點不由自主地隨波逐流，以梅的漂亮容貌和光彩個性去對付明戈特家那些糾纏不休的要求。然而老明戈特太太的這道諭旨卻使他清醒地看到，這個家族認為他們有權強迫未來的女婿去干些什么，他被這種角色激怒了。
"Her uncles ought to deal with this," he said.
“她的叔叔們應該處理這件事，”他說。
"They have. The matter has been gone into by the family. They are opposed to the Countess's idea; but she is firm, and insists on a legal opinion."
“他們處理了。全家人進行了研究，他們反對伯爵夫人的意見，但她很堅決，堅持要求得到法律的判決。”
The young man was silent: he had not opened the packet in his hand.
年輕人不作聲了：他還沒有打開手上的紙包。
"Does she want to marry again?"
“她是不是想再嫁人？”
"I believe it is suggested; but she denies it."
“我認為有這個意思；但她否認這一點。”
"Then--"
“那么——”
"Will you oblige me, Mr. Archer, by first looking through these papers? Afterward, when we have talked the case over, I will give you my opinion."
“阿切爾先生，勞駕你先看一遍這些文件好嗎？以后，等我們把情況交談之后，我會告訴你我的意見。”
