At this juncture some one touched me on the elbow.
恰好那時,有人用肘碰了碰我,
I turned, and saw a stranger by my side.
轉(zhuǎn)身一看,身邊站著位陌生人,
I thought that he was going to remonstrate with me for my backwardness.
我以為,他將指責(zé)為何拖延開車時間。
In fact, I began to have strong temptations to pull off my uniform,
其實(shí)當(dāng)時,我真想一把扯掉身上的制服,
for every anxious eye was fixed upon the glaring badges which marked me as the chief officer of the train.
因為,每一雙焦慮眼睛無不注視我制服上佩戴的列車長佩章。
However, this stranger was a middle-aged man, tall and stout, with a face of great energy and intelligence.
那位陌生的中年人,身材高大、壯實(shí),看起來精力充沛、富有睿智。
His eye was black and brilliant,—so brilliant that I could not gaze steadily into it, though I tried;
望著他那雙黝黑閃亮的眼睛,亮得似乎無法凝視片刻,直入深處。
and his lips, which were very thin, seemed more like polished marble than human flesh.
他的嘴唇很薄,看來更像拋光后的大理石。
His dress was black throughout, and not only set with exact nicety, but was scrupulously clean and neat.
他全身上下黑色裝束,服裝極為考究,潔凈筆挺。
“You want an engineer, I understand,” he said in a low, cautious tone,
“我知道,你需要一位火車司機(jī)。”他開口對我說,聲音低沉,言語謹(jǐn)慎,
at the same time gazing quietly about him, as though he wanted no one to hear what he said.
同時冷靜地環(huán)顧著周圍,好像不希望有人聽見我們之間的對話。
“I do,” I replied. “My train is all ready, and we have no engineer within twenty miles of this place.”
“確實(shí)需要。”我說道,“火車就要開了,這地方方圓二十英里內(nèi)卻找不到一位司機(jī)。”
“Well, sir, I am going to Bromberg; I must go, and I will run the engine for you.”
“哦,是這樣。先生,我將去布朗伯格,一定要坐這班車走,我來給你開車。”
“Ha!” I uttered, “are you an engineer?”
“太好了!”我開口問,“你是司機(jī)?”
I am, sir—one of the oldest in the country.
當(dāng)然,先生,我可是這個國家資格最老的司機(jī)。