"Well, Bert," said the old man, "I'm glad to make your acquaintance, and I hope you'll come and see me. You'll find me in very humble quarters. Now won't you let me pay for my dinner? I believe I have enough money. Let me see." And he put his hand in his pocket.“

好的,伯特。”老人說,“很高興認(rèn)識你,我也希望你可以來看我。你會發(fā)現(xiàn)我的小住處非常簡陋。不過,現(xiàn)在你真的不用我付晚餐錢嗎?我確信我有足夠的錢來支付。讓我來看看。”然后他把手伸進(jìn)了口袋。

Bert would not hear of such a thing; but walked up to the desk, and paid the whole bill.

伯特不愿讓老人付錢,于是他徑直走到收銀臺前買了單。

When he looked around again, the little old man was gone.

而當(dāng)他再次環(huán)顧四周時,老人已經(jīng)不見了。

"I'll go and see him the first chance I have," said Bert, as he looked at the penciled strip of newspaper margin again before putting it into his pocket.

“只要一有機(jī)會我一定去看望他”,伯特又看了眼那條用鉛筆寫過地址的報紙邊角,然后把它塞進(jìn)了口袋里。

On the following Monday, Bert went to call on his new friend in Devonshire Street. Having climbed the two flights, he found the door of the back room at the right ajar, and, looking in, saw Mr. Crooker at a desk, in the act of receiving a roll of money from a well-dressed visitor. Bert entered unnoticed, and waited till the money was counted and a receipt signed. Then, as the visitor departed, Mr. Crooker noticed the boy, offered him a chair, and then turned to place the money in the safe.

在緊接著的禮拜一,伯特去德文郡街上拜訪了他的新朋友。爬了兩段樓梯之后,他右轉(zhuǎn)發(fā)現(xiàn)了里屋的門,門半掩著。朝里看,就看見克魯克老先生坐在一張桌子前,從一個衣冠楚楚的來訪者那收下了一疊鈔票。伯特輕手輕腳地進(jìn)了房間,等待克魯克老先生數(shù)好錢并填好收據(jù)。直到后來來訪者離開,老先生才發(fā)現(xiàn)伯特的到來并請他就座,然后又轉(zhuǎn)身把錢存在保險箱里。