"'Well,' said I, 'other people don't think quite so much of me as you seem to do, Mr. Pinner.
"'啊，'我说道，'别人可不像你这样替我着想，平纳先生。
I had a hard enough fight to get this berth, and I am very glad to have it.'
我找到这份差事可不容易，我可非常喜欢它呢。'
'Pooh, man; you should soar above it. You are not in your true sphere. Now, I'll tell you how it stands with me.
'什么话，先生，你理应飞黄腾达，干这事是不得其所。我要告诉你，我是多么重视你的才能。
What I have to offer is little enough when measured by your ability, but when compared with Mawson's it's light to dark. Let me see. When do you go to Mawson's?'
我给你的职位和薪俸，按你的才干衡量还是够低的，但和莫森商行相比，那就有天壤之别了。请你告诉我，你什么时候到莫森商行去上班？'
'On Monday.'
'下星期一。'
'Ha, ha! I think I would risk a little sporting flutter that you don't go there at all.'
'哈，哈！我想我应当冒险打个赌，你根本不要到那里去。'
'Not go to Mawson's?'
'不到莫森商行去？'
'No, sir. By that day you will be the business manager of the FrancoMidland Hardware Company, Limited,
'对呀，先生。到那天你要当上法国中部五金有限公司的经理，
with a hundred and thirty-four branches in the towns and villages of France, not counting one in Brussels and one in San Remo.'
这家公司在法国城乡有一百三十四家分公司，另外在布鲁塞尔和圣雷莫还各有一家分公司。'
This took my breath away. 'I never heard of it,' said I.
这使我大吃一惊。'我从未听说过这家公司，'我说道。
'Very likely not. It has been kept very quiet, for the capital was all privately subscribed, and it's too good a thing to let the public into.
'你很可能没听说过。公司一直在无声无息地营业，因为它的资本是向私人筹集的，生意兴隆，根本不需要加以宣扬。
My brother, Harry Pinner, is promoter, and joins the board after allotment as managing director.
我兄弟哈里·平纳是创办人，做了总经理，并且进了董事会。
He knew I was in the swim down here and asked me to pick up a good man cheap. A young, pushing man with plenty of snap about him.
他知道我在这里交游很广，要我替他物色一个干练而薪俸不高的人，一个精力充沛而又听使唤的小伙子。
Parker spoke of you, and that brought me here to-night. We can only offer you a beggarly five hundred to start with.'
帕克谈到了你，于是我今晚到这儿来访。我们开始只能给你极为菲薄的五百镑。'
'Five hundred a year!' I shouted.
'一年五百镑！'我大声喊道。
'Only that at the beginning; but you are to have an over-riding commission of one per cent on all business done by your agents,
'不过这只是在开始的时候；除此以外，凡是你的代销商完成的营业额，你都可以提取百分之一的佣金，
and you may take my word for it that this will come to more than your salary.'
你可以相信我的话，这笔收入会比你的薪水还要多。'
'But I know nothing about hardware.'
'可是我一点也不懂五金。'
'Tut, my boy, you know about figures.'
'什么话，我的朋友，你懂会计。'
My head buzzed, and I could hardly sit still in my chair. But suddenly a little chill of doubt came upon me.
我头脑在嗡嗡作响，几乎连椅子也坐不稳了。可是突然一点疑问涌上心头。

'I must be frank with you,' said I.
'我必须坦率地对你说，'我说道。
'Mawson only gives me two hundred, but Mawson is safe. Now, really, I know so little about your company that...'
'莫森商行只给我一年二百镑，可是莫森商行是可靠的。啊，说实在话，我对你们的公司确实知道得很少...'
'Ah, smart, smart!' he cried in a kind of ecstasy of delight.
'啊，精明，精明！'他欣喜若狂地高声喊道。
'You are the very man for us. You are not to be talked over, and quite right, too.
'我们正需要你这样的人。你是不会被人说服的，这也很对。
Now, here's a note for a hundred pounds, and if you think that we can do business you may just slip it into your pocket as an advance upon your salary.'
瞧，这是一张一百镑的钞票，如果你认为我们可以成交，那你就把它作为预支薪水收起来吧。'
'That is very handsome,' said I. 'When should I take over my new duties?'
'那太好了，'我说道，'我什么时候就任新职呢？'
'Be in Birmingham to-morrow at one,' said he.
'明天一点钟在伯明翰，'他说道。
'I have a note in my pocket here which you will take to my brother.
'我口袋里有一张便条，你可以拿它去见我兄弟。
You will find him at 126B Corporation Street, where the temporary offices of the company are situated.
你可以到这家公司的临时办公室科波莱森街126号乙去找他。
Of course he must confirm your engagement, but between ourselves it will be all right.'
当然他必须对你的任用表示认可，但在我们之间这是不成问题的。'
'Really, I hardly know how to express my gratitude, Mr. Pinner,' said I.
'说实在的，我几乎不知道如何表示感谢才好，平纳先生。'我说道。
'Not at all, my boy. You have only got your deserts. There are one or two small things -- mere formalities -- which I must arrange with you.
'不必客气，我的朋友。这不过是你应得的。可是有一两件小事，我必须和你办清楚，这仅仅是个形式。
You have a bit of paper beside you there.
你手边有一张纸。
Kindly write upon it, "I am perfectly willing to act as business manager to the Franco-Midland Hardware Company, Limited, at a minimum salary of ?500."'
请在上面写上：我完全愿意做法国中部五金有限公司的经理，年薪最少五百镑。"'
I did as he asked, and he put the paper in his pocket.
我照他所说的写了，他把这张纸放进口袋里。
'There is one other detail,' said he. 'What do you intend to do about Mawson's?'
'还有一件小事，'他说道，'你对莫森商行准备怎样应付呢？'
I had forgotten all about Mawson's in my joy. 'I'll write and resign,' said I.
我高兴得把莫森商行的事忘得一干二净。'我给他们写信辞职好了，'我说道。
'Precisely what I don't want you to do. I had a row over you with Mawson's manager.
'我恰恰不希望你这么办。为你的事，我曾和莫森商行的经理发生了口角。
I had gone up to ask him about you, and he was very offensive; accused me of coaxing you away from the service of the firm, and that sort of thing.
我去问他关于你的事，他非常无礼，责备我把你从他们商行气走等等。
At last I fairly lost my temper. "If you want good men you should pay them a good price," said I.
我终于忍耐不住说："如果你要用一些有才干的人，那你就应当给他们优厚的薪俸。"
"He would rather have our small price than your big one," said he.
他说："他宁肯接受我们的低薪，也不会拿你们的高薪。"
"I'll lay you a fiver," said I, "that when he has my offer you'll never so much as hear from him again."
我说："我和你赌五个金镑，如果他接受我的聘请，你再也不会听到他的回音了。"
"Done!" said he. "We picked him out of the gutter, and he won't leave us so easily." Those were his very words.'
他说："好！我们把他从平民窟里救了出来，他不会这么轻易离开我们的。"这就是他的原话。'
'The impudent scoundrel!' I cried.
'这个无礼的恶棍！'我喊道。
'I've never so much as seen him in my life. Why should I consider him in any way? I shall certainly not write if you would rather I didn't.'
'我们素未谋面，我为什么非要照顾他不可呢？如果你不愿意让我写信给他，我当然不给他写信了。'
'Good! That's a promise,' said he, rising from his chair. 'Well, I'm delighted to have got so good a man for my brother.
'好！就这样说定了，'他从椅上站起来说道，'好，我很高兴替兄弟物色到这样有才干的人。
Here's your advance of a hundred pounds, and here is the letter.
这是你的一百镑预支薪金，这是那封信。
Make a note of the address, 126B Corporation Street, and remember that one o'clock to-morrow is your appointment. Good-night, and may you have all the fortune that you deserve!'"
请记下地址，科波莱森街126号乙，记住约好的时间是明天下午一点钟。晚安，祝你一切顺利！'"