A Governor visiting a state prison was implored by a convict to pardon him.
州长在视察一所州管监狱时,有个罪犯哀求州长宽恕他。
“What are you in for?”asked the Governor.
“你犯了什么事?”州长问道。
“I held a high office,”the convict humbly replied,“and sold subordinate appointments.”
“我曾经是个高级官员,”犯人低声下气地回答,“因为向下级卖官。”
“Then I decline to interfere,”said the Governor, with asperity,“a man who abuses his office by making it serve a private end and purvey a personal advantage is unfit to be free. By the way, Mr. Warden,”he added to the official beside him, as the convict slunk away,“in appointing you to this position, I was given to understand that your friends could make the Shikane county delegation to the next State convention solid for the present administration. Was I rightly informed?”
“那样的话,我绝不会管你的事情,”州长严厉地说,“为达到个人目的、牟取私利而滥用职权的人不应该得到自由。顺便说一下,监狱长,”当那个罪犯偷偷溜走时,他接着对身旁的那位官员说,“我在任命你担任这个职务时,得知你的朋友能让西科恩县参加下届州会议的代表团支持本届政府。我得到的消息准确吗?”
“You were, sir.”
“是的,州长先生。”
“Very well, then, I will bid you good-bye. Please be so good as to appoint my nephew Chaplain.''
“那么,很好,我该向你道别了。请别忘记任命我的侄子为牧师啊。”