红发会 13正式应聘(4)

My face lengthened¹ at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was not to have the vacancy² after all;

福尔摩斯先生，我听到这些话感到很沮丧。我当时想，完了，这个职位还是弄不到手。

but after thinking it over for a few minutes he said that it would be all right.

但是他考虑了一会以后又说那没有关系。

'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be fatal,

他说，'如果是别人的话，这个缺点可能是不幸的。

but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a head of hair as yours.

但是，你的头发长得这么好，对你这样一个人，我们必须破例照顾。

When shall you be able to enter upon your new duties?'

你什么时候可以来上班？'

'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' said I.

我说，'唔，事情有点不好办，因为我已有了一个铺子。'

'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding.

文森特·斯波尔丁说，'那不要紧，

'I should be able to look after that for you.'

我能替你照管你的生意。'

'What would be the hours?' I asked. 'Ten to two.'

我问，'上班时间是几点到几点？''上午十点到下午两点。'

Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. Holmes,

福尔摩斯先生，开当票的人的买卖多半在晚上，

especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just before pay-day;

特别是在星期四、星期五晚上，这正是发薪前两天，

so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the mornings.

所以在上午多赚几个钱对我是很合适的。

Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, and that he would see to anything that turned up.

而且我知道我的伙计人挺不错，要有什么事他是会照料好的。

'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?'

我说，'这对我很合适。薪金多少？'

'Is 4 pounds a week.' 'And the work?' 'Is purely³ nominal⁴.'

'每周四英镑。''那工作怎么样？''只是挂挂名而已。'

'What do you call purely nominal?'

'你说挂挂名是什么意思？'

'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the building, the whole time.

'唔，在整个办公时间你必须呆在办公室里，或者至少在那楼房里呆着；

If you leave, you forfeit⁵ your whole position forever. The will is very clear upon that point.

如果你离开，那你就是永远放弃了你的整个职位。对于这一点在遗嘱上说得很清楚。

You don't comply with the conditions if you budge⁶ from the office during that time.'

如果你在这段时间里稍微离开一下办公室，那就是没有按照条件办事。'

1 lengthened   

（时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。
• He wanted to have his coat lengthened a bit. 他要把上衣放长一些。

2 vacancy   

n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺

参考例句：

• Her going on maternity leave will create a temporary vacancy.她休产假时将会有一个临时空缺。
• The vacancy of her expression made me doubt if she was listening.她茫然的神情让我怀疑她是否在听。

3 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

4 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。

5 forfeit   

vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物

参考例句：

• If you continue to tell lies,you will forfeit the good opinion of everyone.你如果继续撒谎，就会失掉大家对你的好感。
• Please pay for the forfeit before you borrow book.在你借书之前请先付清罚款。

6 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。