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“我非常樂(lè)意為你們效勞,”老人回道,“那么,如果你們以后生活寬裕點(diǎn)了,才會(huì)再回來(lái)購(gòu)賣一些更貴的東西?!薄澳且嗌馘X,”艾倫問(wèn),“你這神奇的藥水?!皩?duì),是愛(ài)情,”老人答,“她對(duì)你的照顧將會(huì)是那樣的無(wú)微不至!她絕不會(huì)讓你累著,絕不會(huì)讓你在風(fēng)口坐著,對(duì)你的飲食她也絲毫不會(huì)有疏忽?!薄八鏁?huì)嫉妒嗎?”艾倫欣喜若狂,“會(huì)為我嗎?”“會(huì)的,她會(huì)希望,對(duì)于你來(lái)說(shuō),她就是你的一切?!昂?,我會(huì)。買愛(ài)情水的年輕人很少有五千美元的,要不,他們也不會(huì)需要愛(ài)情水了。就算是進(jìn)行尸體解剖,就現(xiàn)在所知的方法來(lái)說(shuō),要發(fā)現(xiàn)也很難。一位老人正坐在搖椅上,看著報(bào)紙。他在昏暗的平臺(tái)上停了下來(lái),仔細(xì)張望了許久,才看到了那扇門,門上那個(gè)模糊不清的名字正是他要找的。而且我的這些藥,它的藥效,嚴(yán)格來(lái)說(shuō),可沒(méi)一樣可以說(shuō)是普普通通的。“不要更好,”老人說(shuō),“你可知道這東西的價(jià)格?一茶匙的量,也夠用了,我賣五千美元,絕對(duì)不能少,一分也不能少?!薄澳沁@些藥水,”艾倫說(shuō),“他們不會(huì)只是只是—嗯—”“哦,不會(huì),”老人說(shuō),“藥效會(huì)持久存在,服了這藥水,他的愛(ài)情之水將會(huì)綿綿不斷如滔滔江水,偶爾心頭掠過(guò)的那愛(ài)的小浪花,只會(huì)是那其中的滄海一粟,當(dāng)然這種偶爾的愛(ài)的浪花自然也有,哦,是,當(dāng)然包括在內(nèi)。什么都不會(huì)想,什么都不會(huì)要,只會(huì)想一個(gè)人跟你呆著?!八龝?huì)想知道你所做的一切,”老人說(shuō),“當(dāng)天你所發(fā)生的一切,字字句句都想知道。”“不會(huì)發(fā)生那樣的事,”艾倫激動(dòng)地說(shuō)?!薄澳菒?ài)情水呢?”艾倫問(wèn)?!薄癆u revoir,(再見(jiàn))”老人說(shuō)。能奢侈一下買這種藥水的,年齡肯定比你大。“你不需要發(fā)揮你的想象力,”老人說(shuō),“另外,還有,因?yàn)檫@世上總是不乏狐媚妖艷的女子,萬(wàn)一你以后稍有放縱,也不用擔(dān)心,最終她會(huì)原諒你的。你將會(huì)是她生命中唯一的樂(lè)趣。也不會(huì)再吹毛求疵而是柔情蜜意?!薄澳?,”艾倫說(shuō),“你真有愛(ài)情水賣?”“沒(méi)愛(ài)情水,”老人說(shuō),“我會(huì)跟你羅嗦那些嗎。或者稱它生命清除劑也未嘗不可,生命有時(shí)也需要清除,人類才能得以凈化?!昂芨吲d認(rèn)識(shí)你。Unit 7 The ChaserJohn Henry Collier1 Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dim hallway before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors. 2 He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rockingchair, and an ordinary chair. On one of the dirty buffcoloured walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars. 3 An old man sat in the rockingchair, reading a newspaper. Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given. “Sit down, Mr. Austen,” said the old man very politely. “I am glad to make your acquaintance.”