一位忙碌经纪人的浪漫史

（有删节）欧·亨利

O. Henry(1862-1910),原名William Sydney Porter, 是美国最著名的短篇小说家之一。他善于描写美国社会尤其是纽约百姓的生活,善于捕捉生活中令人啼笑皆非而富有哲理的戏剧性场景,用漫画般的笔触勾勒出人物的特点。他的作品构思新颖,语言诙谐,结局常常出人意外。他一共创作了300多篇短篇小说,代表作有小说集《白菜与国王》、《四百万》、《命运之路》等。

大多数人最早接触的O. Henry的短篇小说应该是中学课本上的《麦琪的礼物》吧,那出人意料的结局一定给你留下了深刻的印象。他的《一位忙碌经纪人的浪漫史》,文中的人物描写、场景氛围的营造,以及那令人感觉很窝心的结尾都证明了它是一篇让人叫好的文章。 Pitcher, confidential clerk in the office of Harvey Maxwell, broker, allowed a look of mild interest and surprise to visit his usually expressionless countenance when his employer briskly entered at half past nine in company with his young lady stenographer. With a snappy “Good-morning, Pitcher,” Maxwell dashed at his desk as though he were intending to leap over it, and then plunged into the great heap of letters and telegrams waiting there for him.

九点半时,股票经纪人哈维·麦克斯韦尔在年轻女速记员的陪同下精神抖擞地走进办公室。他事务所里的机要秘书皮彻那通常毫无表情的脸上不禁露出一丝好奇和诧异。麦克斯韦尔精力充沛地喊了声“早啊,皮彻”,就朝他的办公桌冲去,仿佛要跳过它似的。接着,他就一头扎进一大堆等着他处理的信件和电报里。

The young lady had been Maxwell?s stenographer for a year. She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly unstenographic. She 8)forwent the pomp of the alluring pompadour. She wore no chains, bracelets or lockets. She had not the air of being about to accept an invitation to luncheon. Her dress was grey and plain, but it fitted her figure with fidelity and discretion. In her neat black turban hat was the gold-green wing of a macaw. On this morning she was softly and shyly radiant. Her eyes were dreamily bright, her cheeks genuine peachblow, her expression a happy one, tinged with reminiscence.

那位年轻姑娘给麦克斯韦尔当速记员已经有一年了。她的美绝非速记员草草几笔所能简单描述。她不梳那种华丽诱人的庞帕杜高卷式发型,也不戴项链、手镯或盒式小坠子。她脸上没有那种受邀准备参加午宴的神气。她的灰色裙子素净,但相当合身,显身材又不失大方庄重。她那顶简洁的黑色无边帽上插了根金绿色的金刚鹦鹉毛。这个上午,她身上焕发出一种温柔而羞怯的光彩,双眼流波闪烁,脸颊直泛桃红,脸上带着幸福的神色和丝丝怀想。

Pitcher, still mildly curious, noticed a difference in her ways this morning. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her desk was, she lingered, slightly irresolute, in the outer office. Once she moved over by Maxwell?s desk, near enough for him to be aware of her presence. 皮彻仍旧有点好奇,他注意到她这个上午的举止有些异样。她不像往常那样径直走进麦克斯韦尔办公室隔壁那房间(她办公桌在那儿),而是在办公室外间略带迟疑地徘徊。她还一度走近麦克斯韦尔的办公桌,近得足以让他意识到她的存在。

The machine sitting at that desk was no longer a man; it was a busy New York broker, moved by buzzing wheels and uncoiling springs.

坐在办公桌前的不再是个常人,简直成了台机器。那是忙碌的纽约股票经纪人,一台上满发条运作起来齿轮吱吱响的机器。

“Well—what is it? Anything?” asked Maxwell sharply. His opened mail lay like a bank of stage snow on his crowded desk. His keen grey eye, impersonal and brusque, flashed upon her half impatiently.

“Nothing,” answered the stenographer, moving away with a little smile.

“Mr. Pitcher,” she said to the confidential clerk, “did Mr. Maxwell say anything yesterday about engaging another stenographer?”

“He did,” answered Pitcher. “He told me to get another one. I notified the agency yesterday afternoon to send over a few samples this morning. It?s 9:45 o?clock, and not a single picture hat or piece of pineapple chewing gum has showed up yet.”

“噢——怎么?有事吗?”麦克斯韦尔径直问道。他那些拆开了的信件躺在那张堆满东西的办公桌上,好像舞台上的一层人造雪。他那双锐利的灰色眼睛半带厌烦地扫了她一眼,显得不近人情且粗暴无礼。

“没什么,”速记员回答说,然后笑了笑走开了。

“皮彻先生,” 她对机要秘书说,“麦克斯韦尔先生昨天有没提过另外雇一名速记员的事?” “提过。”皮彻答道,“他吩咐我另外找一个。昨天下午,我已通知速记员介绍所,让他们今天上午介绍几个来面试。现在已经九点四十五了,还没见着哪个戴阔边帽的或嚼菠萝口香糖的人呢。”

“I will do the work as usual, then,” said the young lady, “until someone comes to fill the place.” And she went to her desk at once and hung the black turban hat with the gold-green macaw wing in its accustomed place.

“那我还是照常工作好啦,” 那年轻女子说道,“直到有人来顶替我这工作。” 她立刻走到自己的办公桌前,把那顶插着金绿色金刚鹦鹉毛的黑色无边帽挂在老地方。

And this day was Harvey Maxwell?s busy day. The ticker began to reel out jerkily its titful coils of tape, the desk telephone had a chronic attack of buzzing. Men began to throng into the office and call at him over the railing, jovially, sharply, viciously, excitedly. Messenger boys ran in and out with messages and telegrams. The clerks in the office jumped about like sailors during a storm. Maxwell shoved his chair against the wall and transacted business after the manner of a toe dancer. He jumped from ticker to phone, from desk to door with the trained agility of a harlequin. 今天是哈维·麦克斯韦尔的一个大忙天。股票行情自动收录器开始像犯痉挛似地断断续续地吐出卷卷纸带,桌上的电话像害了慢性病似的不时作响。人们开始涌入办公室,隔着扶手栏杆朝他大喊大叫,有的欣喜若狂,有的尖声厉词,有的满怀敌意,有的激动不已。信童跑进跑出传信传电报。办公室里的职员们忙得跳来跳去,活像风暴来临时船上的水手。麦克斯韦尔把椅子猛推到墙边,如芭蕾舞者踮着脚尖跳舞般敏捷地处理业务,一下从股票行情自动收录器跳到电话机旁,一下又从办公桌边跳到门口,其灵活度不亚于受过专门训练的滑稽丑角。

In the midst of this growing and important stress, the broker became suddenly aware of a high-rolled fringe of golden hair under a nodding canopy of velvet and ostrich tips, an imitation sealskin sacque and a string of beads as large as hickory nuts, ending near the floor with a silver heart. There was a self-possessed young lady connected with these accessories; and Pitcher was

there to construe her.

就在这个愈发紧张和重要的时刻,经纪人突然注意到一顶带鸵鸟毛羽饰、微微抖动的丝绒帽下那高高卷起的金发刘海,一件宽大的人造海豹皮上衣,一串用大如山核桃的珠子穿成,吊着个心形银坠,几乎垂到地板上的珠链。穿戴这些衣饰的是一个沉着镇定的年轻女子。皮彻正准备介绍她。

“Lady from the Stenographer?s Agency to see about the position,” said Pitcher.

Maxwell turned half around, with his hands full of papers and ticker tape. “What position?” he asked, with a frown.

“Position of stenographer,” said Pitcher. “You told me yesterday to call them up and have one sent over this morning.”

“You are losing your mind, Pitcher,” said Maxwell. “Why should I have given you any such instructions? Miss Leslie has given perfect satisfaction during the year she has been here. The place is hers as long as she chooses to retain it. There?s no place open here, madam. Countermand that order with the agency, Pitcher, and don?t bring any more of ?em in here.”

“这位小姐是速记员介绍所介绍过来的,应聘速记员一职。”皮彻说道。

麦克斯韦尔半转过身,双手满是纸张和写着股票行情的纸带。“什么职位?”他皱着眉头问道。

“速记员。”皮彻说,“昨天你吩咐我给他们打电话,叫他们今天上午介绍一个人过来。” “皮彻,你犯糊涂了吧?”麦克斯韦尔说,“我怎么会叫你这样做呢?莱丝丽小姐在这儿工作的一年里令人十分满意。只要她愿意干下去,这个职位永远是她的。小姐,这儿没有职位空缺。皮彻,通知介绍所取消招聘,叫他们别再介绍人过来。”

The silver heart left the office, swinging and banging itself independently against the office furniture as it indignantly departed. Pitcher seized a moment to remark to the bookkeeper that the “old man” seemed to get more absent-minded and forgetful every day of the world.

那心形银坠离开了办公室,一路上愤愤不平,自个儿晃晃悠悠地撞上了办公室里的家具,撞得乒乓作响。皮彻忙中偷闲对簿记员说,“头儿”似乎一天比一天心不在焉,且越发健忘。 The rush and pace of business grew fiercer and faster. On the floor they were pounding half a dozen stocks in which Maxwell?s customers were heavy investors. Orders to buy and sell were coming and going as swift as the flight of swallows. Some of his own holdings were imperiled, and the man was working like some high-geared, delicate, strong machine—strung to full tension, going at full speed, accurate, never hesitating, with the proper word and decision and act, ready and prompt as clockwork. Stocks and bonds, loans and mortgages, margins and securities—here was a world of finance, and there was no room in it for the human world or the world of nature. 业务处理越来越忙,节奏越来越快。麦克斯韦尔的顾客投资很大的股票中有六个遭到重创。下单买进卖出,来去疾如燕飞。麦克斯韦尔本人持有的一部分股票也危如累卵。他就像一台高速运转、精密而强大的机器那样工作着 ——精神绷紧到最大限度,开足马力,准确精密,从不犹豫,言语、决策和行动都像发条装置那般,准备充分,反应迅速。股票、债券、贷款、抵押、交易保证金和有价证券——这是一个金融世界,里头没有容纳人类世界或是自然界的丝毫空隙。

When the luncheon hour drew near there came a slight lull in the uproar.

午餐时间逐渐临近,喧嚣之中出现了片刻安静。

Maxwell stood by his desk with his hands full of telegrams and memoranda, with a fountain pen over his right ear and his hair hanging in disorderly strings over his forehead. And through the window came a wandering—perhaps a lost—odour—a delicate, sweet odour of lilac that fixed the broker for a moment immovable. For this odour belonged to Miss Leslie; it was her own, and hers only. The odour brought her vividly, almost tangibly before him. The world of finance dwindled suddenly to a speck. And she was in the next room—twenty steps away.

麦克斯韦尔站在办公桌边,手里满是电报和备忘便条,右耳上夹着一支钢笔,一缕缕的头发凌乱地垂在前额上。窗口飘进了一股四处徘徊的气息——或许是一种失落的气息—— 一股优雅的丁香花香气,刹那间,麦克斯韦尔给怔住了。因为这气息来自莱丝丽小姐。是她的气息,她独有的气息。芳香在他心中唤出了她的容貌,栩栩如生,几乎伸手可及。金融世界转瞬间缩成一小斑点。而她就在隔壁房间,仅二十步之遥。

“By George, I?ll do it now,” said Maxwell, half aloud. “I?ll ask her now. I wonder why I didn?t do it long ago.” He dashed into the inner office. He charged upon the desk of the stenographer. “真的,我现在就得去,”麦克斯韦尔几乎喊了出来,“我现在就去问她。我怎么没早点儿想起呢?”他箭步冲进里间办公室,向速记员的办公桌冲过去。

She looked up at him with a smile. A soft pink crept over her cheek, and her eyes were kind and frank. Maxwell leaned one elbow on her desk. He still clutched fluttering papers with both hands and the pen was above his ear.

她抬起头,微笑地看着他,脸颊泛出淡淡红晕,眼里流露出温柔和坦诚。麦克斯韦尔一只胳膊撑在她桌上,手上依然握着晃动着的文件纸张,耳朵上还夹着那支钢笔。

“Miss Leslie,” he began hurriedly, “I have but a moment to spare. I want to say something in that moment. Will you be my wife? I haven?t had time to make love to you in the ordinary way, but I really do love you. Talk quick, please—those fellows are clubbing the stuffing out of Union Pacific.”

“莱丝丽小姐,”他匆匆开口说,“我只能抽出这么点时间。趁这个机会跟你说几句话。你愿意做我的妻子吗?我没有时间以常人的方式跟你谈情说爱,但是我确实爱你。请快回答我——那帮人正在设法打垮联合太平洋铁路公司呢。”

“Oh, what are you talking about?” exclaimed the young lady. She rose to her feet and gazed upon him, round-eyed.

“喔,你在说什么呀?” 年轻女人嚷道。她站起来,直愣愣地盯着他,眼睛睁得圆圆的。

“Don?t you understand?” said Maxwell, restively. “I want you to marry me. I love you, Miss Leslie. I wanted to tell you, and I snatched a minute when things had slackened up a bit. They?re calling me for the phone now. Tell ?em to wait a minute, Pitcher. Won?t you, Miss Leslie?” “你不明白吗?”麦克斯韦尔倔头倔脑地说,“我想要你嫁给我。我爱你,莱丝丽小姐。我早就想对你说了,所以工作没那么紧张时就抽空跑来。他们现在又打电话找我了。皮彻,让他们等一会儿。莱丝丽小姐,你愿意吗?”

The stenographer acted very queerly. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then

tears flowed from her wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the broker?s neck.

速记员的举动很奇怪。起先,她似乎惊愕万分;接着,泪水从她那充满诧异的眼睛里流了下来;之后,透过晶莹的泪花,她展露出阳光般灿烂的笑容,一条胳膊温柔地搂住经纪人的脖子。

“I know now,” she said, softly. “It?s this old business that has driven everything else out of your head. I was frightened at first. Don?t you remember, Harvey? We were married yesterday evening at 8 o?clock in the Little Church Around the Corner.”

“现在我懂了,”她柔声说道,“是这破买卖让你啥都忘了。起初我还很害怕呢。难道你不记得了吗?哈维,我们昨晚八点钟在?街角的小教堂?里举行过婚礼了。”

忙碌经纪人的浪漫史

证券经纪人哈维?麦克斯韦尔事务所的机要秘书皮彻，在上午九点半的时候，看到他的老板和那个年轻的女速记员一起匆匆进来，他那毫无表情的脸上不禁露出了一丝诧异和惊奇。麦克斯韦尔飞快地说了声“早上好，皮彻”，就朝他的办公桌冲去，仿佛要跳过它似的。接着，他就埋头在一大堆等着他处理的信件和电报里。

那个年轻姑娘已经替麦克斯韦尔当了一年速记员。她的美丽是一般速记员所没有的。她并不采用那种华丽诱人的庞巴杜式的发型。也不戴什么项链，手镯，鸡心之类的东西。她根本没有准备接受人家邀请去吃饭的神气。她的灰色衣服虽然很朴素，但穿在她身上非但合适，而且文雅。她那俊俏的黑头由帽上插了一支金绿色的鹦鹉羽毛。今天上午，她身上有一种温柔而羞怯的光辉。她的眼睛梦也似的晶莹，她的脸颊桃花般地娇艳，脸上还带着幸福的神色和追怀的情调。

[庞巴杜式:十八世纪盛行的一种从四面往上梳拢，松而高的头发式样，为法国国王路易十五的情发庞巴杜首创。]

皮彻仍旧有点好奇，注意到她今天早晨的举止有些异样。她不像往常那样，径直走进她办公桌所在的套间里去，却有点踌躇不决地逗留在外面的办公室里。有一次，她埃近麦达斯韦尔的办公桌，近得仿佛要让他知道自己在场。

坐在办公桌前的人简直成了一部机器;它是一个忙碌的纽约市的经纪人，由那些营营作响的齿轮和正在展开的发条推动着。

“哦——怎么,有事吗,”麦克斯韦尔粗声粗气地问道。他那些拆开了的信件堆在那张杂乱的办公桌上，好象舞台上的假雪。他那锐利的灰色眼睛唐突而不近人情，有点不耐烦地扫了她一下。

“没事。”速记员回答道，微笑着走开了。

“皮彻先生，”她对机要秘书说，“麦克斯韦尔先生昨天有没有对你说起另请一个速记员,”

“说过。”皮彻回道，“他吩咐我另找一位。昨天下午我就通知了介绍所，让他们今早送几个来看看。现在已经九点四十五分了，可是还没有哪一个戴花哨帽子或者嚼菠萝口香糖的来过。”

“那么，在有人顶替之前，”那年轻女人说，“我照常工作好啦。”她说罢走到自己的办公

桌前，把那顶插着金绿色鹦鹉毛的黑头由帽挂在老地方。

谁没见过一个生意大忙时的纽约经纪人，谁就没有资格当人类学家。诗人歌颂了“灿烂的生命中一个忙碌的时辰”。对经纪人来说，不但时辰是忙碌的，他的每一分每一秒也都忙碌不堪，仿佛挤满了乘客的车厢，前后站台都没有立足的余地。

[诗人歌颂了“灿烂的?时

今天正是哈维?麦克斯韦尔的忙日。股票行情自动收录器开始痉挛地吐出一卷卷的纸条，电话机犯了不断营营发响的毛病。人们开始拥进事务所，在栏杆外探进身来向他呼唤，有的高兴，有的慌张，有的疾言厉色，有的刻薄狠毒。送信的小厮捧着信件和电报奔进奔出。事务所里的办事员跳来跳去，活像风暴发作时船上的水手。连皮彻那不露声色的脸上也泛起了近似有生气的神态。

交易所里有了飓风，山崩，暴风雪，冰川移动和火山爆发;自然界的剧变在经纪人的事务所里小规模地重演了。麦克斯韦尔把椅子往墙边一推，腾出身子来处理业务，忙得仿佛在跳脚尖舞。他从股票行情自动收录器跳到电话机旁，从办公桌边跳到门口，灵活得像是一个训练有素的小丑。

正在个忙是不可开交，愈来愈紧张的当口，经纪人忽然瞥见一堆高耸的金黄色头发，上面是一顶颤动的丝绒帽子和驼毛帽饰，一件充海豹皮的短外衣，一串几乎垂到地板、胡桃大的珠项链和一个银鸡心。同这些附属品有关联的是一个从容不迫的年轻姑娘，皮彻正准备介绍。

“速记员介绍所派来的小姐，来应聘的。”皮彻说。

麦克斯韦尔打了半个转身，双手还捧着一堆纸张和股票行情的纸条。

“应什么聘,”他皱皱眉头说。

“应聘当速记员。”皮彻说。“昨天你吩咐我打电话，叫他们今早晨派一个来。”

“你头脑搞糊涂了，皮彻。”麦克斯韦尔说。“我干吗要这样吩咐你,莱斯利小姐在这儿的一年里工作令人十分满意。只要她愿意继续干下去，这个职位永远是她的。对不起，小姐，这儿并没有空位置。皮彻，赶快向介绍所取消要人的话，别再引谁进来啦。”

那个银鸡心晃晃荡荡，不听指挥地在办公室的家具上磕磕碰碰，愤愤离去。皮彻在百忙中对簿记员说，老板近来好象越发心不在焉，越发容易忘事了。

业务越来越忙，节奏越来越快。麦克斯韦尔的顾客投资很多的股票有五、六种在市场上受到严重打击。买进卖出的单据像飞燕穿帘般地递来递去。他自己持有的股票有几种也遭到了危险，他像一部高速运转，精巧坚固的机器——紧张万分，开足马力，正确精密，从不犹豫，言语、动作和决断都像钟表的机件那样恰当而迅速。证券和公债，借款和抵押，保证金和担保品——这是一个金融的世界，其中没有容纳人类世界或是自然界的丝毫空隙。

将近午餐时间，喧嚣

麦克斯韦尔站在办公桌边，手里满是电报和备忘便条，右耳上夹着一支自来水笔，一绺绺的头发凌乱地垂在前额上。他的窗子是打开的，因为可爱的女门房，春天姑娘，已经在大地的暖气管里添了一些热气。

窗口飘进了一股迷惘的气息——或许是失落了的气息——一股紫丁香优雅的甜香，刹那间使经纪人动弹不得。因为这种气息是属于莱斯利小姐的;是她的，只是她一个人的。

那股气息使她的容貌栩栩如生地，几乎是触摸得到地显现在他眼前。金融的世界突然缩成一个遥远的小黑点。她就在隔壁房间里——相去不出二十步远。

“天哪，我现在就去。”麦克斯韦尔脱口说了出来。“我现在就去要求她。我不明白为什么早不去做。”

他一股劲儿冲进里面的办公室，像一个做空头的人急于补进一样。他向速记员的办公桌冲过去。

[“像一个做空头的人急于补进一样”:在证券交易中，行情看跌时，投机商大量抛出期货，等价格下落时再购进，从中盈利;与“多头”相反。]

“莱斯利小姐，”他匆匆开口说，“我只有一点空闲。我利用它来说几句话。你愿意做我的妻子吗,我实在没有时间用普通的方式跟你谈情说爱，但是我确实爱你。请你快回答吧——那帮人正在抢购太平洋铁路的股票呢。”

“喔，你说什么,”年轻女人嚷道。她站了起来，眼睛睁得大大地盯着他。

“你不明白吗,”麦克斯韦尔着急地说，“我要求你跟我结婚。我爱你，莱斯利小姐。我早就想对你说了。所以事情稍微少一点时就抽空跑来。他们又打电话找我了。皮彻，让他们等一会儿。你肯不肯，莱斯利小姐,”

速记员的举动非常蹊跷。起先她似乎诧异得愣住了;接着，泪水从她惊讶的眼睛里流下来;之后，她泪花昌莹地愉快地笑了，一条胳臂温柔地勾住经纪人的脖子。

“我现在懂得啦，”她柔声说，“这种生意经使你把什么都忘了。起初我吓了一跳。难道你不记得了吗，哈维,我们昨晚八点钟在街角的小教堂里举行过婚礼啦。”

一位忙碌经纪人的浪漫史

森博国际英?语

重庆沙坪坝?校区地址:三峡广场立?海大厦25?楼A2A3?

电话:023-65620?353;023-65017?715

一位忙碌经?纪人的浪漫?史

(有删节)欧?亨利

O. Henry?(1862-1910),原名Wil?liam Sydne?y Porte?r, 是美国最著?名的短篇小?说家之一。他善于描写?美国社会尤?其是纽约百?姓的生活,善于捕捉生?活中令人啼?笑皆非而富?有哲理的戏?剧性场景,用漫画般的?笔触勾勒出?人物的特点。他的作品构?思新颖,语言诙谐,结局常常出?人意外。他一共创作?了300多?篇短篇小说?,代表作有小?说集《白菜与国王?》、《四百万》、《命运之路》等。

大多数人最?早接触的O?. Henry?的短篇小说?应该是中学?课本上的《麦琪的礼物?》吧,那出人意料?的结局一定?给你留下了?深刻的印象?。他的《一位忙碌经?纪人的浪漫?史》,文中的人物?描写、场景氛围的?营造,以及那令人?感觉很窝心?的结尾都证?明了它是一?篇让人叫好?的文章。

Pitch?er, confi?denti?al clerk? in the offic?e of Harve?y Maxwe?ll, broke?r, allow?ed a look of mild inter?est and surpr?ise to visit? his usual?ly expre?ssion?less count?enanc?e when his emplo?yer brisk?ly enter?ed at half past nine in compa?ny with his young? lady steno?graph?er. With a snapp?y “Good-morni?ng, Pitch?er,”?Maxwe?ll dashe?d at his desk as thoug?h he were inten?ding to leap over it, and then plung?ed into the great? heap of lette?rs and teleg?rams waiti?ng there? for him.

九点半时,股票经纪人?哈维?麦克斯韦尔?在年轻女速?记员的陪同?下精神抖擞?地走进办公?室。他事务所里?的机要秘书?皮彻那通常?毫无表情的?脸上不禁露?出一丝好奇? 和诧异。麦克斯韦尔?精力充沛地?喊了声“早啊,皮彻”,就朝他的办?公桌冲去,仿佛要跳过?它似的。接着,他就一头扎?进一大堆等?着他处理的?信件和电报?里。

The young? lady had been Maxwe?ll?s?steno?graph?er for a year. She was beaut?iful in a way that was decid?edly unste?nogra?phic. She 8)forwe?nt the pomp of the allur?ing pompa?dour. She wore no chain?s, brace?lets or locke?ts. She had not the air of being? about? to accep?t an invit?ation? to lunch?eon. Her dress? was grey and plain?, but it fitte?d her figur?e with fidel?ity and discr?etion?. In her neat black? turba?n hat was the gold-green? wing of a macaw?. On this morni?ng she was softl?y and shyly? radia?nt. Her eyes were dream?ily brigh?t, her cheek?s genui?ne peach?blow, her expre?ssion? a happy? one, tinge?d with remin?iscen?ce.

那位年轻姑?娘给麦克斯?韦尔当速记?员已经有一?年了。她的美绝非?速记员草草?几笔所能简?单描述。她不梳那种?华丽诱人的?庞帕杜高卷?式发型,也不戴项链?、手镯或盒式小坠子?。她脸上没有?那种受邀准?备参加午宴?的神气。她的灰色裙?子素净,但相当合身?,显身材又不?失大方庄重?。她那顶简洁?的黑色无边?帽上插了根?金绿色的金?刚鹦鹉毛。这个上午,她身上焕发?出一种温柔?而羞怯的光?彩,双眼流波闪?烁,脸颊直泛桃?红,脸上带着幸?福的神色和?丝丝怀想。

Pitch?er, still? mildl?y curio?us, notic?ed a diffe?rence? in her ways this morni?ng. Inste?ad of going? strai?ght into the adjoi?ning room, where? her desk was, she linge?red, sligh?tly irres?olute?, in the outer? offic?e. Once she moved? over by Maxwe?ll?s?desk, near enoug?h for him to be aware? of her prese?nce.

皮彻仍旧有?点好奇,他注意到她?这个上午的?举止有些异?样。她不像往常?那样径直走?进麦克斯韦?尔办公室隔?壁那房间(她办公桌在?那儿),而是在办公?室外间略带?迟疑地徘徊?。她还一度走?近麦克斯韦?尔的办公桌?,近得足以让?他意识到她?的存在。

The machi?ne sitti?ng at that desk was no longe?r a man; it was a busy New York broke?r, moved? by buzzi?ng wheel?s and uncoi?ling sprin?gs.

坐在办公桌?前的不再是?个常人,简直成了台?机器。那是忙碌的?纽约股票经?纪人,一台上满发?条运作起来?齿轮吱吱响?的机器。

森博国际英?语

重庆沙坪坝?校区地址:三峡广场立?海大厦25?楼A2A3?

电话:023-65620?353;023-65017?715

“Well—what is it? Anyth?ing?”?asked? Maxwe?ll sharp?ly. His opene?d mail lay like a bank of stage? snow on his crowd?ed desk. His keen grey eye, imper?sonal? and brusq?ue, flash?ed upon her half impat?ientl?y.

“Nothi?ng,”?answe?red the steno?graph?er, movin?g away with a littl?e smile?.

“Mr. Pitch?er,”?she?said?to?the?confi?denti?al clerk?, “did?Mr. Maxwe?ll say anyth?ing yeste?rday about? engag?ing anoth?er steno?graph?er?”

“He?did,”?answe?red Pitch?er.?“He?told?me?to?get?anoth?er one. I notif?ied the agenc?y yeste?rday after?noon to send over a few sampl?es this morni?ng. It?s?9:45 o?clock?, and not a singl?e pictu?re hat or piece? of pinea?pple chewi?ng gum has showe?d?up?yet.”

“噢——怎么?有事吗?”麦克斯韦尔?径直问道。他那些拆开?了的信件躺?在那张堆满?东西的办公?桌上,好像舞台上?的一层人造?雪。他那双锐利?的灰色眼睛?半带厌烦地?扫了她一眼?,显得不近人?情且粗暴无?礼。

“没什么,”速记员回答?说,然后笑了笑?走开了。

“皮彻先生,”?她对机要秘?书说,“麦克斯韦尔?先生昨天有?没提过另外?雇一名速记?员的事?”

“提过。”皮彻答道,“他吩咐我另?外找一个。昨天下午,我已通知速?记员介绍所?,让他们今天?上午介绍几?个来面试。现在已经九?点四十五了?,还没见着哪?个戴阔边帽?的或嚼菠萝?口香糖的人?呢。”

“I?will?do?the?work as usual?, then,”?said?the?young? lady, “until? someo?ne comes? to fill the place?.”?And?she?went?to?her?desk?at?once?and?hung?the?black? turba?n hat with the gold-green? macaw? wing in its accus?tomed? place?.

“那我还是照?常工作好啦?,”?那年轻女子?说道,“直到有人来?顶替我这工?作。”?她立刻走到?自己的办公?桌前,把那顶插着?金绿色金刚?鹦鹉毛的黑?色无边帽挂?在老地方。

And this day was Harve?y Maxwe?ll?s?busy?day. The ticke?r began? to reel out jerki?ly its titfu?l coils? of tape, the desk telep?hone had a chron?ic attac?k of buzzi?ng. Men began? to thron?g into the offic?e and call at him over the raili?ng, jovia?lly, sharp?ly, vicio?usly, excit?edly. Messe?nger boys ran in and out with messa?ges and teleg?rams. The clerk?s in the offic?e jumpe?d about? like sailo?rs durin?g a storm?. Maxwe?ll shove?d his chair? again?st the wall and trans?acted? busin?ess after? the manne?r of a toe dance?r. He jumpe?d from ticke?r to phone?, from desk to door with the train?ed agili?ty of a harle?quin.

今天是哈维??麦克斯韦尔?的一个大忙?天。股票行情自?动收录器开?始像犯痉挛?似地断断续?续地吐出卷?卷纸带,桌上的电话?像害了慢性?病似的不时?作响。人们开始涌? 入办公室,隔着扶手栏?杆朝他大喊?大叫,有的欣喜若?狂,有的尖声厉?词,有的满怀敌?意,有的激动不?已。信童跑进跑?出传信传电?报。办公室里的?职员们忙得?跳来跳去,活像风暴来?临时船上的?水手。麦克斯韦尔?把椅子猛推?到墙边,如芭蕾舞者?踮着脚尖跳?舞般敏捷地?处理业务,一下从股票?行情自动收?录器跳到电?话机旁,一下又从办公桌边跳?到门口,其灵活度不?亚于受过专?门训练的滑?稽丑角。

In the midst? of this growi?ng and impor?tant stres?s, the broke?r becam?e sudde?nly aware? of a high-rolle?d fring?e of golde?n hair under? a noddi?ng canop?y of velve?t and ostri?ch tips, an imita?tion seals?kin sacqu?e and a strin?g of beads? as large? as hicko?ry nuts, endin?g near the floor? with a silve?r heart?. There? was a self-posse?ssed young? lady conne?cted with these? acces?sorie?s; and Pitch?er was

森博国际英?语

重庆沙坪坝?校区地址:三峡广场立?海大厦25?楼A2A3?

电话:023-65620?353;023-65017?715

there? to const?rue her.

就在这个愈?发紧张和重?要的时刻,经纪人突然?注意到一顶?带鸵鸟毛羽?饰、微微抖动的?丝绒帽下那?高高卷起的?金发刘海,一件宽大的?人造海豹皮?上衣,一串用大如? 山核桃的珠?子穿成,吊着个心形?银坠,几乎垂到地?板上的珠链?。穿戴这些衣?饰的是一个?沉着镇定的?年轻女子。皮彻正准备?介绍她。

“Lady?from?the?Steno?graph?er?s?Agenc?y to see about? the posit?ion,”?said?Pitch?er.

Maxwe?ll turne?d half aroun?d, with his hands? full of paper?s and ticke?r tape. “What?posit?ion?”?he asked?, with a frown?.

“Posit?ion of steno?graph?er,”?said?Pitch?er. “You?told?me?yeste?rday to call them up and have one sent over this morni?ng.”

“You?are?losin?g your mind, Pitch?er,”?said?Maxwe?ll. “Why?shoul?d I have given? you any such instr?uctio?ns? Miss Lesli?e has given? perfe?ct satis?facti?on durin?g the year she has been here. The

place? is hers as long as she choos?es to retai?n it. There??s?no?place? open here, madam?. Count?erman?d that order? with the agenc?y, Pitch?er, and?don?t?bring? any?more?of??em?in?here.”

“这位小姐是?速记员介绍?所介绍过来?的,应聘速记员?一职。”皮彻说道。

麦克斯韦尔?半转过身,双手满是纸?张和写着股?票行情的纸?带。“什么职位?”他皱着眉头?问道。

“速记员。”皮彻说,“昨天你吩咐?我给他们打?电话,叫他们今天?上午介绍一?个人过来。”

“皮彻,你犯糊涂了?吧?”麦克斯韦尔?说,“我怎么会叫?你这样做呢??莱丝丽小姐?在这儿工作?的一年里令?人十分满意?。只要她愿意?干下去,这个职位永?远是她的。小姐,这儿没有职?位空缺。皮彻,通知介绍所?取消招聘,叫他们别再?介绍人过来?。”

The silve?r heart? left the offic?e, swing?ing and bangi?ng itsel?f indep?enden?tly again?st the offic?e furni?ture as it indig?nantl?y depar?ted. Pitch?er seize?d a momen?t to remar?k to the bookk?eeper? that the “old?man”?seeme?d to get more absen?t-minde?d and forge?tful every? day of the world?.

那心形银坠?离开了办公?室,一路上愤愤?不平,自个儿晃晃?悠悠地撞上?了办公室里?的家具,撞得乒乓作?响。皮彻忙中偷?闲对簿记员?说,“头儿”似乎一天比?一天心不在?焉,且越发健忘?。

The rush and pace of busin?ess grew fierc?er and faste?r. On the floor? they were pound?ing half a dozen? stock?s in which? Maxwe?ll?s?custo?mers were heavy? inves?tors. Order?s to buy and sell were comin?g and going? as swift? as the fligh?t of swall?ows. Some of his own holdi?ngs were imper?iled, and the man was worki?ng like some high-geare?d, delic?ate, stron?g machi?ne—strun?g to full tensi?on, going? at full speed?, accur?ate, never? hesit?ating?, with the prope?r word and decis?ion and act, ready? and promp?t as clock?work. Stock?s and bonds?, loans? and mortg?ages, margi?ns and secur?ities?—here was a world? of finan?ce, and there? was no room in it for the human? world? or the world? of natur?e.

业务处理越?来越忙,节奏越来越?快。麦克斯韦尔?的顾客投资?很大的股票?中有六个遭?到重创。下单买进卖?出,来去疾如燕?飞。麦克斯韦尔?本人持有的?一部分股票?也危如累卵。他就像一台?高速运转、精密而强大?的机器那样?工作着 ——精神绷紧到?最大限度,开足马力,准确精密,从不犹豫,言语、决策和行动?都像发条装?置那般,准备充分,反应迅速。股票、债券、贷款、抵押、交易保证金?和有价证券——这是一个金?融世界,里头没有容?纳人类世界?或是自然界?的丝毫空隙?。

When the lunch?eon hour drew near there? came a sligh?t lull in the uproa?r.

午餐时间逐?渐临近,喧嚣之中出?现了片刻安?静。

森博国际英?语

重庆沙坪坝?校区地址:三峡广场立?海大厦25?楼A2A3?

电话:023-65620?353;023-65017?715

Maxwe?ll stood? by his desk with his hands? full of teleg?rams and memor?anda, with a fount?ain pen over his right? ear and his hair hangi?ng in disor?derly? strin?gs over his foreh?ead. And throu?gh the windo?w came a wande?ring—perha?ps a lost—odour?—a delic?ate, sweet? odour? of lilac? that fixed? the broke?r for a momen?t immov?able. For this odour? belon?ged to Miss Lesli?e; it was her own, and hers

only. The odour? broug?ht her vivid?ly, almos?t tangi?bly befor?e him. The world? of finan?ce dwind?led sudde?nly to a speck?. And she was in the next room—twent?y steps? away.

麦克斯韦尔?站在办公桌?边,手里满是电?报和备忘便?条,右耳上夹着?一支钢笔,一缕缕的头?发凌乱地垂?在前额上。窗口飘进了?一股四处徘?徊的气息——或许是一种? 失落的气息?—— 一股优雅的?丁香花香气?,刹那间,麦克斯韦尔?给怔住了。因为这气息?来自莱丝丽?小姐。是她的气息?,她独有的气?息。芳香在他心?中唤出了她?的容貌,栩栩如生,几乎伸手可及。金融世界转?瞬间缩成一?小斑点。而她就在隔?壁房间,仅二十步之?遥。

“By?Georg?e, I?ll?do?it?now,”?said?Maxwe?ll, half aloud?. “I?ll?ask?her?now. I wonde?r?why?I?didn?t?do?it long ago.”?He?dashe?d into the inner? offic?e. He charg?ed upon the desk of the steno?graph?er.

“真的,我现在就得?去,”麦克斯韦尔?几乎喊了出?来,“我现在就去?问她。我怎么没早?点儿想起呢??”他箭步冲进?里间办公室?,向速记员的?办公桌冲过?去。

She looke?d up at him with a smile?. A soft pink crept? over her cheek?, and her eyes were kind and frank?. Maxwe?ll leane?d one elbow? on her desk. He still? clutc?hed flutt?ering? paper?s with both hands? and the pen was above? his ear.

她抬起头,微笑地看着?他,脸颊泛出淡?淡红晕,眼里流露出?温柔和坦诚?。麦克斯韦尔?一只胳膊撑?在她桌上,手上依然握?着晃动着的?文件纸张,耳朵上还夹?着那支钢笔?。

“Miss?Lesli?e,”?he?began? hurri?edly, “I?have?but?a?momen?t to spare?. I want to say somet?hing in that momen?t. Will you be my wife? I haven??t?had?time?to?make?love?to?you?in?the?ordin?ary way, but I reall?y do love you. Talk quick?, pleas?e—those? fello?ws are clubb?ing the stuff?ing out of Union? Pacif?ic.”

“莱丝丽小姐?,”他匆匆开口?说,“我只能抽出?这么点时间?。趁这个机会?跟你说几句?话。你愿意做我?的妻子吗?我没有时间?以常人的方?式跟你谈情?说爱,但是我确实?爱你。请快回答我?——那帮人正在?设法打垮联?合太平洋铁?路公司呢。”

“Oh,?what?are?you?talki?ng about??”?excla?imed the young? lady. She rose to her feet and gazed? upon him, round?-eyed.

“喔,你在说什么?呀?”?年轻女人嚷?道。她站起来,直愣愣地盯?着他,眼睛睁得圆?圆的。

“Don?t?you?under?stand??”?said?Maxwe?ll, resti?vely. “I?want?you?to?marry? me. I love you, Miss Lesli?e. I wante?d to tell you, and I snatc?hed a minut?e when thing?s had slack?ened up a bit. They?re?calli?ng me for the phone? now. Tell??em?to?wait?a?minut?e, Pitch?er. Won?t?you, Miss Lesli?e?”

“你不明白吗??”麦克斯韦尔?倔头倔脑地?说,“我想要你嫁?给我。我爱你,莱丝丽小姐?。我早就想对?你说了,所以工作没?那么紧张时?就抽空跑来?。他们现在又?打电话找我?了。皮彻,让他们等一?会儿。莱丝丽小姐?,你愿意吗?”

The steno?graph?er acted? very queer?ly. At first? she seeme?d overc?ome with amaze?ment; then

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tears? flowe?d from her wonde?ring eyes; and then she smile?d sunni?ly throu?gh them, and one of her arms slid tende?rly about? the broke?r?s?neck.

速记员的举?动很奇怪。起先,她似乎惊愕?万分;接着,泪水从她那?充满诧异的?眼睛里流了?下来;之后,透过晶莹的?泪花,她展露出阳?光般灿烂的?笑容,一条胳膊温?柔地搂住经?纪人的脖子?。

“I?know?now,”?she?said, softl?y. “It?s?this?old?busin?ess that has drive?n every?thing? else out of your head. I was frigh?tened? at first?. Don?t?you?remem?ber, Harve?y? We were marri?ed yeste?rday eveni?ng at 8 o?clock? in the Littl?e Churc?h Aroun?d the Corne?r.”?

“现在我懂了?,”她柔声说道?,“是这破买卖?让你啥都忘?了。起初我还很?害怕呢。难道你不记?得了吗?哈维,我们昨晚八?点钟在?街角的小教?堂?里举行过婚?礼了。”

忙碌经纪人的浪漫史

窗口飘进了一股迷惘的气息――或许是失落了的气息――一股紫丁香优雅的甜香，刹那间使经纪人动弹不得。因为这种气息是属于莱斯利小姐的;是她的，只是她一个人的。

那个年轻姑娘已经替麦克斯韦尔当了一年速记员。她的美丽是一般速记员所没有的。她并不采用那种华丽诱人的庞巴杜式(十八世纪盛行的一种从四面往上梳拢，松而高的头发式样，为法国国王路易十五的情妇庞巴杜首创。)的发型。也不戴什么项链，手镯，鸡心之类的东西。她根本没有准备接受人家邀请去吃饭的神气。她的灰色衣服虽然很朴素，但穿在她身上非但合适，而且文雅。她那俊俏的黑头由帽上插了一支金绿色的鹦鹉羽毛。今天上午，她身上有一种温柔而羞怯的光辉。她的眼睛梦似的晶莹，她的脸颊桃花般地娇艳，脸上还带着幸福的神色和追怀的情调。

坐在办公桌前的人简直成了一部机器;它是一个忙碌的纽约市的经纪人，由那些营营作响的齿轮和正在展开的发条推动着。

“哦――怎么,有事吗,”麦克斯韦尔粗声粗气地问道。他那些拆开了的信件堆在那张杂乱的办公桌上，好像舞台上的假雪。他那锐利的灰色眼睛唐突而不近人情，有点不耐烦地扫了她一下。

“没事。”速记员回答道，微笑着走开了。

“皮彻先生，”她对机要秘书说，“麦克斯韦尔先生昨天有没有对你说起另请一个速记员,”

“那么，在有人顶替之前，”那年轻女人说，“我照常工作好啦。”她说罢走到自己的办公桌前，把那顶插着金绿色鹦鹉毛的黑头由帽挂在老地方。

谁没见过一个生意大忙时的纽约经纪人，谁就没有资格当人类学家。诗人歌颂了“灿烂的生命中一个忙碌的时辰”(诗人指托马斯?莫当特(1730--1809)。他的《蜜蜂》一诗中有“灿烂的生命中一个忙碌的时辰，抵得上一世纪的默默无闻”句。)。对经纪人来说，不但时辰是忙碌的，他的每一分每一秒也都忙碌不堪，仿佛挤满了乘客的车厢，前后站台都没有立足的余地。

“速记员介绍所派来的小姐，来应聘的。”皮彻说。

麦克斯韦尔打了半个转身，双手还捧着一堆纸张和股票行情的纸条。

“应什么聘,”他皱皱眉头说。

“应聘当速记员。”皮彻说。“昨天你吩咐我打电话，叫他们今早晨派一个来。”

那个银鸡心晃晃荡荡，不听指挥地在办公室的家具上磕磕碰碰，愤愤离去。皮彻在百忙中对簿记员说，老板近来好象越发心不在焉，越发容易忘事了。

业务越来越忙，节奏越来越快。麦克斯韦尔的顾客投资很多的股票有五、六种在市场上受到严重打击。买进卖出的单据像飞燕穿帘般地递来递去。他自己持有的股票有几种也遭到了危险，他像一部高速运转，精巧坚固的机器――紧张万分，开足马力，正确精密，从不犹豫，言语、动作和决断都像钟表的机件那样恰当而迅速。证券和公债，借款和抵押，保证金和担保品――这是一个金融的世界，其中没有容纳人类世界或是自然界的丝毫空隙。

将近午餐时间，喧嚣暂时平静下来。

那股气息使她的容貌栩栩如生地，几乎是触摸得到地显现在他眼前。金融的世界突然缩成一个遥远的小黑点。她就在隔壁房间里――相去不出二十步远。

“天哪，我现在就去。”麦克斯韦尔脱口说了出来。“我现在就去要求她。我不明白为什么早不去做。”

他一股劲儿冲进里面的办公室，像一个做空头的人急于补进一样(在证券交易中，行情看跌时，投机商大量抛出期货，等价格下落时再购进，从中盈利;与“多头”相反。)。他向速记员的办公桌冲过去。

“莱斯利小姐，”他匆匆开口说，“我只有一点空闲。我利用它来说几句话。你愿意做我的妻子吗,我实在没有时间用普通的方式跟你谈情说爱，但是我确实爱你。请你快回答吧――那帮人正在抢购太平洋铁路的股票呢。”

“喔，你说什么,”年轻女人嚷道。她站了起来，眼睛睁得大大地盯着他。

速记员的举动非常蹊跷。起先她似乎诧异得愣住了;接着，泪水从她惊讶的眼睛里流下来;之后，她泪花晶莹地愉快地笑了，一条胳臂温柔地勾住经纪人的脖子。

欧?亨利，原名为威廉?西德尼?波特(William Sydney Porter)。美国著名批判现实主义作家，世界三大短篇小说大师之一。曾被评论界誉为曼哈顿桂冠散文作家和美国现代短篇小说之父。他的作品构思新颖，语言诙谐，结局总使人“感到在情理之中，又在意料之外”;又因描写了众多的人物，富于生活情趣，被誉为“美国生活的幽默百科全书”。

一个忙碌经纪人的浪漫史

证券经纪人哈维?麦克斯韦尔事务所的机要秘书皮彻，在上午九点半的时候，看到他的老板和那个年轻的女速记员一起匆匆进来，他那往常毫无表情的脸上不禁露出了一丝诧异和好奇。麦克斯韦尔飞快地说了声“早上好，皮彻”，就朝他的办公桌冲去，仿佛要跳过它似的。接着，他就埋头在一大堆等着他处理的信件和电报里。

那个年轻姑娘已经替麦克斯韦尔当了一年速记员。她的美丽是一般速记员所没有的。她并不采用那种华丽诱人的庞巴杜式的发型，也不戴什么项链、手镯、鸡心之类的东西。她根本没有准备接受人家邀请去吃饭的神气。她的灰色衣服虽然很朴素，但穿在她身上非但合适，而且文雅。她那俊俏的黑头巾帽上插了一支金绿色的鹦鹉羽毛。今天上午，她身上有一种温柔而羞怯的光辉。她的眼睛梦也似的晶莹，她的脸颊桃花般的娇艳，脸上还带着幸福的神色和追怀的情调。

皮彻仍旧有点好奇，注意到她今天早晨的举止有些异样。她不像往常那样，径直走进她办公桌所在的套间，却有点踌躇不决地逗留在外面的办公室里。有一次，她挨近麦克斯韦尔的办公桌，近得仿佛要让他知道自己在场。

坐在办公桌前的人简直成了一部机器;它是一个忙碌的纽约市的经纪人，由好些嘤嘤作响的齿轮和正在展开的发条推动着。

“哦――怎么?有事吗?”麦克斯韦尔粗声粗气地问道。他那些拆开了的信件堆在那张杂乱的办公桌上，好像舞台上的假雪。他那锐利的灰色眼睛唐突而不近人情，有点不耐烦地扫了她一下。

“没事。”速记员回道，微笑着走开了。

“皮彻先生，”她对机要秘书说，“麦克斯韦尔先生昨天有没有对你说起另请一个速记员?”

“那么，在有人顶替之前，”那年轻女人说，“我照常工作好啦。”她说罢走到自己的办公桌前，把那顶插着金绿色鹦鹉毛的黑头巾帽挂在老地方。

谁没见过一个生意大忙时的纽约经纪人，谁就没有资格当人类学家。诗人歌颂了“灿烂的生命中一个忙碌的时辰”。对经纪人来说，不但时辰是忙碌的，他的每一分每一秒也都忙碌不堪，仿佛挤满了乘客的车厢，前后站台都没有插足的余地。

今天正是哈维?麦克斯韦尔的忙日。股票行情自动收录器开始痉挛地吐出一卷卷的纸条，电话机犯了不断嘤嘤发响的毛病。人们开始拥进事务所，在栏杆外探进身来向他呼唤，有的高兴，有的慌张，有的疾言厉色，有的刻薄狠毒。送信的小厮捧着信件和电报奔进奔出。事务所里的办事员跳来跳去，活像风暴发作时船上的水手。连皮彻那不露声色的脸上也泛起了近似有生气的神态。

正在这个忙得不可开交、愈来愈紧张的当口，经纪人忽然瞥见一堆高耸的金黄色头发，上面是一顶颤动的丝绒帽子和驼毛帽饰，一件充海豹皮的短外衣，一串几乎垂到地板、胡桃大的珠项链和一个银鸡心。同这些附属品有关联的是一个从容不迫的年轻姑娘，皮彻正准备介绍。

“速记员介绍所派来的小姐，来应聘的。”皮彻说。

麦克斯韦尔打了半个转身，双手还捧着一堆纸张和股票行情的纸条。

“应什么聘?”他皱皱眉头说。

“应聘当速记员。”皮彻说。“昨天你吩咐我打电话，叫他们今早晨派一个来。”

“你头脑搞糊涂了，皮彻。”麦克斯韦尔说。“我干吗要这样吩咐你?莱斯利小姐在这儿的一年里工作令人十分满意。只要她愿意继续干下去，这个职位永远是她的。对不起，小姐，这儿并没有空位置。皮彻，赶快向介绍所取消要人的话，别再引谁进来啦。”

那个银鸡心晃晃荡荡，不听指挥地在办公室的家具上磕磕碰碰，愤愤离去。皮彻在百忙中对速记员说，老板近来好像越发心不在焉，越发容易忘事了。

业务越来越忙，节奏越来越快。麦克斯韦尔的顾客投资很多的股票有五六种在市场上受到严重打击。买进卖出的单据像飞燕穿帘般地递来递去。他自己持有的股票有几种也遭到了危险，他像一部高速运转、精巧坚固的机器――紧张万分，开足马力，正确精密，从不犹豫，言语、动作和决断都像钟表的机件那样恰当而迅速。证券和公愤，借款和抵押，保证金和担保品――这是一个金融的世界，其中没有容纳人类世界或是自然界的丝毫空隙。

将近午餐时间，喧嚣暂时平静下来。

“天哪，我现在就去。”麦克斯韦尔脱口说了出来。“我现在就去要求她。我不明白为什么早不去做。”

他一股劲儿冲进里面的办公室，像一个做空头的人急于补进一样。他向速记员的办公桌冲过去。

“莱斯利小姐，”他匆匆开口说，“我只有一点空闲。我利用它来说几句话。你愿意做我的妻子吗?我实在没有时间用普通的方式跟你谈情说爱，但是我确实爱你。请你快回答吧――那帮人正在抢购太平洋铁路的股票呢。”

“喔，你说什么?”年轻女人嚷道。她站了起来，眼睛睁得大大地盯着他。

“你不明白吗?”麦克斯韦尔着急地说，“我要求你跟我结婚。我爱你，莱斯利小姐。我早就想对你说了。所以事情稍微少一点时就抽空跑来。他们又打电话找我了。皮彻，让他们等一会儿。你肯不肯，莱斯利小姐?”

“我现在懂得啦，”她柔声说，“这种生意经使你把什么都忘了。起初我吓了一跳。难道你不记得了吗，哈维?我们昨晚八点钟在街角的小教堂里举行过婚礼啦!”

(选自《欧?亨利短篇小说精选》人民文学出版社出版)

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