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二十年后--(美)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.

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 been closed.

When about midway of 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.

"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 straight. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands — 'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant."

"Until five years ago," said the policeman. "It was torn down then."

The man in the doorway struck a match and lit his cigar. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his right eyebrow. His tiepin was a large diamond, oddly set.

参考译文

一位执勤的警察气势轩昂地走向大街，这种形象很正常，不是为走秀，因为街上的行人寥寥无几了，带有水汽的冷风已把大街上的人都赶回家去了。

他挨家挨户地敲门，一边灵巧地挥舞着警棍，不时地用机警的眼神瞟下平静的大街。他身材魁梧，姿态略显神气，展现出一幅和平卫士的优美画面。这个地区宵禁较早。不时地可以看到香烟店或是通宵便餐店里发出的亮光，但是大多数店铺都处于关门较早的商业地段。

大约走到一个街区的中间时，警察放慢了脚步。一家黑暗的五金店门口有一个男子依靠在那里，他嘴上叼着一只未点燃的雪茄。看见警察向自己走来，那个男子很快地说：

“这儿没有出什么事，警官先生。”他自信地说，“我只是在这儿等一位朋友罢了。这是20年前定下的一个约会。你听了觉得有点好笑，是吗？好吧，如果有兴致听的话，我来给你讲讲。大约20年前，这儿，这个店铺现在所占的地方，原来是一家餐馆，Brady的Big Joe餐厅。”

“那餐馆5年前就被拆除了。”警察接上去说。

男子划了根火柴，点燃了叼在嘴上的雪茄。借着火柴的亮光，警察发现这个男子脸色苍白、方下巴、目光锋利，右眼角附近有一块小小的白色的伤疤。领带别针是一块古怪地别着的大钻石。

词汇释义
1.impressively adv.令人难忘地

例句：
All the examiners commented that Jack had an impressively clear head and considerable powers of independent criticism.
所有考官们评论说杰克思路清晰，给人印象深刻，独立判断能力也相当强。

2.swing n. 摇摆,改变,冲力 v. 摇摆,使...旋转,动摇

例句：
The children were swinging on a rope.
孩子们抓着绳子荡来荡去。

3.guardian n. 保护人,监护人

例句：
The guardian act negligently towards his ward.
监护人未等待他对未成年人应负的监护责任。

4.appointment n. 约会,预约

例句：
May I make an appointment?
我可以定一个时间见面吗?

5.square-jawed adj. 方下巴的?,下颌呈方形的

难句解析

1.the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace.

【参考译文】他身材魁梧，姿态略显神气，展现出一幅和平卫士的优美画面。

【结构解析】句子的主干是"the officer made a picture..."，“with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority”是介词结构做状语，修饰主语。