工程师大拇指案 20被砍掉的大拇指(6)

But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way.

但是我这个人天生有点固执，在从事某项工作而遇到阻碍时，就会更加坚持不懈。

I thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me.

我想到我那五十畿尼的酬金，那一趟疲惫的旅行，还有看来摆在我面前的将是一个很不愉快的夜晚。

Was it all to go for nothing?

是否这一切都毫无代价地让它们付诸东流呢？

Why should I slink away without having carried out my commission, and without the payment which was my due?

为什么我不完成委托给我的任务，也不领取我应得的报酬就偷偷逃走呢？

This woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac.

就我所看到的，她可能是个偏执狂的女人。

With a stout¹ bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I cared to confess,

因此，尽管她的神态给我的震动大大超过了我所愿意承认的程度，

I still shook my head and declared my intention of remaining where I was.

我却态度坚定，依旧摇摇头，表明我要留在那里的意图。

She was about to renew her entreaties² when a door slammed overhead,

她正要重新提出她的恳求，这时只听见楼上有很响的关门声，

and the sound of several footsteps was heard upon the stairs.

接着就听到楼梯上的一些脚步声。

She listened for an instant, threw up her hands with a despairing gesture,

她倾听了片刻，举起双手做了一个绝望的姿势，

and vanished as suddenly and as noiselessly as she had come.

便和她来时一样，悄无声息地遽然消失了。

1 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

2 entreaties   

n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He began with entreaties and ended with a threat. 他先是恳求，最后是威胁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves. 暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。 来自《简明英汉词典》