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We waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic seized me. It was not a question now how much money I should have left over for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to pay the bill. It would be embarrassing to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much I had, and if the bill came to more I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and with a dramatic cry start up and say it had been picked. Of course, it would beawkward if she had not money enough either to pay the bill. Then the only thing would be to leave my watch and say I would come back and pay later.
我们等着芦笋烹制好送上来。我突然惊恐起来。现在的问题已不是我还能剩下几个钱来维持这个月的生计了，而是我的钱够不够付账。要是我差十法郎，不得不向客人借的话，那就太难堪了。我可做不出那样的事来。身边到底有多少钱，我心里有底，倘若账单超过了这个数字，我就决心这么办：伸手往口袋里一摸，随即故意惊叫一声，跳起来说钱给小偷扒了。当然，如果她的钱也不够付账的话，那就尴尬了。那样，唯一的办法就是将我的手表留下，言明以后再来付。
The asparagus appeared. They were enormous, juicy, and appetising. I watched the wicked womanthrust them down her throat in large mouthfuls, and in my polite way I spoke about the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last she finished.
芦笋端上来了。又大汁又多，令人垂涎不止。我一面看着这个邪恶的女人大口大口地将芦笋往肚里塞，一面彬彬有礼地谈论着巴尔干半岛戏剧界的现状。她终于吃完了。
"Coffee?" I said.
"喝点咖啡？"我说。
"Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered.
"好，就来一客冰淇淋和咖啡吧，"她回答说。
I was past caring now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for her.
到这时，我什么也不在乎了，为自己叫了咖啡，为她叫了一客冰淇淋和咖啡。
"You know, there's one thing I thoroughly believe in," she said, as she ate the ice-cream."One should always get up from a meal feeling one could eat a little more."
"你知道，我坚信一点，"她边吃冰淇淋边说道。"当一个人吃完一顿饭站起来时，他应该感到还没有吃得十分饱。"
"Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly.
"你还饿吗？"我有气无力地问道。
"Oh, no, I'm not hungry; you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you."
"噢，不，我不饿。你知道，我不吃午餐。我早晨一杯咖啡，然后到晚上用餐，但我午餐向来最多只吃一道菜。适才我这样说是为了你啊。"
"Oh, I see!"
"哦，我明白啦！"
