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After Twenty Years
二十年后
O·Henry
欧·亨利
The policeman on the beat moved up the avenue impressively. The impressiveness was normal and not for show, for spectators were few. The time was barely ten o'clock at night, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had almost emptied the streets.
正在巡逻的警察精神抖擞地沿着大街走着。他这样引人注目并不奇怪，并不是为了炫耀，因为此时大街上根本没什么观众。时间还不到晚上10点钟，但夹带着雨意的阵阵冷风几乎清空了街道。
Trying doors as he went, swinging his club with many clever movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street, the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. The area was one that kept early hours. Now and then you might see the lights of a cigar store or of an all-night lunch counter, but the majority of the doors belonged to business places that had long since closed.
警察边走边检查门是否都关好了，他十分灵巧地不停转动着警棍，目光还不时投向宁静的街道。他那魁梧的身材，配着点儿卓越不凡的气势，正是一副治安维持者的形象。那个地区的人晚上休息得很早。你偶尔还能看到一家雪茄店或是昼夜营业的饭馆还亮着灯，但是绝大多数店铺都已经关门了。
Halfway down a certain block, the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. As the policeman walked up to him, the man spoke up quickly.
在一个街区的半路上，警察忽然放慢了脚步。在一家已经关门的五金商店的门廊里，一个男子倚在那里，嘴里叼着一支未点燃的雪茄。当警察朝他走过去时，男人赶忙开口说话了。
"It's all right, officer," he said, confidently. "I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all right.
“没事儿的，长官，”他坦然地说，“我只是在等一个朋友。这是20年前就定好的约会。听起来有点荒唐，是吧?哦，如果你想确定下我说的话是否是真的，我就说给你听。
