爱的力量

 　　A guard came to the prison shoe shop where Jimmy Valentine was working and took him to the prison office. There the warden¹ handed Jimmy his pardon, which had been signed that morning by the governor². He took it quietly; he was too tired to show excitement. He had been in prison nearly ten months and he had been sentenced to four years. True, he had expected to stay only about three months, at the longest. He had a lot of friends and he had been sure they would help him.

　　看守来到基米·范林丁正在干活的监狱制鞋间，将他带到监狱办公室。到了那里，监狱长将一张赦免书递给基米，这是今天早上州长签署的。基米默默地接过去，对此他没有流露出任何的激动。他早已腻烦，他在狱中呆了将近10个月，而判他的是4年徒刑。说真的，他本来打算最多呆3个月的。他有好多朋友，他相信他们一定会为他想办法的。

　　“Now, Valentine,” said the warden, “You’ll go out in the morning. Make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow really. Stop breaking open safes and be honest.”

　　“范林丁，”监狱长说，“明天早上你就可以出狱了，要活出个人样来。其实你这人并不坏。再不要撬保险柜了。做一个诚实的人。”

　　“Me?” said Jimmy, in surprise. “Why, I’ve never broken open a safe in my life.”

　　“我？”基米吃惊地说，“你说什么？我可从来没有撬过保险柜呀。”

　　“Oh, no,” laughed the warden. “Of course not. And what about that Springfield job? Do you mean to say you didn’t take part in it?”

　　“啊，没有，”监狱长笑道，“当然没有。可是，春田事件该怎么说呢？你是说你没有参与那件事吗？”

　　“Me?” said Jimmy still more surprised. “Why, warden, I’ve never been to Springfield in my life!”

　　“我？”基米更吃惊了。“怎么，监狱长，我可从来没有去过春田呀！”

　　“Take him back,” the warden said to the guard smiling, “and give him some clothes. Unlock³ him at seven in the morning and let him come to me. Better think over my advice, Valentine.”

　　“把他带回去，”监狱长对看守笑道，“给他一些衣服，明天早上7点给他开锁后让他到我这里来。最好还是把我的劝告想一下，范林丁。”

　　At a quarter past seven the next morning Jimmy stood in the warden’s office. He wore a badly-fitting ready-made suit and the cheap shoes that the state gives to prisoners⁴, when they are set free. The clerk handed him a railroad⁵ ticket and the five-dollar bill with which he was supposed to start a new, honest life. The warden gave him a cigar, and they shook hands. Valentine, 9762, was registered⁶ on the books “Pardoned by Governor,” and Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine.

　　第二天早上7点15分，基米站在了监狱长的办公室。他穿着一套很不合身的现成衣服和一双廉价的鞋子。这些是在释放犯人时发给他们的。一名职员递给他一张火车票和5美元。拿着这些钱，从此就可以开始诚实的新的人生了。监狱长递给他一支雪茄。他们握了握手。范林丁，9762号，已经登记在“州长赦免册”中。于是，詹姆斯·范林了便走到了阳光下。

1 warden   

n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人

参考例句：

• He is the warden of an old people's home.他是一家养老院的管理员。
• The warden of the prison signed the release.监狱长签发释放令。

2 governor   

n.统治者，地方长官(如省长，州长，总督等)

参考例句：

• The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters.这位州长是搪塞新闻记者的能手。
• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。

3 unlock   

v.启示，揭示，开...的锁

参考例句：

• The border police required the traveler to unlock his luggage.边防警察要求旅客打开行李。
• We heard somebody unlock the door.我们听见有人开门锁。

4 prisoners   

n.囚徒( prisoner的名词复数 )；俘虏；被夺去自由的人[动物]等

参考例句：

• The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. 总统大赦了所有的政治犯。
• The prisoners were living in appalling conditions. 囚犯的居住条件极为恶劣。

5 railroad   

n.铁路；vi.由铁路运输

参考例句：

• The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市，即纽约与芝加哥。
• My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

6 registered   

adj.登记的，注册的

参考例句：

• Ships were registered abroad to circumvent employment and safety regulation. 船只在外国注册以逃避有关雇佣和安全的规定。
• In former times, only property owners could be registered as voters. 从前，只有有财产的人才能登记作选民。