小故事

Legal Advice
法律咨询费
Mitchell Palmer was a young lawyer. One day, a neighbor entered his office and asked: "What could I do if another man's dog entered my yard and killed one of my chickens?"
密切尔·伯默先生是个青年律师。有一天，他的一个邻居来到他的办公室问他：“如果别人的狗跑进我的院子并咬死了我的一只鸡，我怎么办？”
Mr. Palmer replied that the damage done could be collected from the owner of the dog.
伯默先生回答道，这损失应上狗的主人赔偿。
"Well," said the man, "since it was your dog, you might as well pay me the worth of the chicken, about one dollar, Mr. Palmer."
“那好，”那个人说，“那恰是你的狗，伯默先生，你该赔我的鸡，大约一美元！”
Mr. Palmer smiled as he handed the man the amount named, and said: "Now, then, as I have paid all that I owe you, don't you think i's only fair you settle up that matter of the little bill you owe me?"
伯默先生微笑着按那个人要的钱付给了他，然后说：“我欠你的钱付清了。你不觉得现在你也该了结一下你欠我的那笔小数目了吗？”
"But", protested the neighbor, "I don't owe you a penny."
那邻居抗议说：“我一分钱也没欠你。”
"Ah," smiled Mr. Palmer, "don't you? Kindly pay me five dollars for the legal advice which I gave you concerning the loss of your chicken."
伯默先生微笑着说，“是吗？我为你损失一只鸡的事作了法律咨询，请你付我五美元。”

重点讲解

重点讲解：
1. might as well
只好（做）；
eg. Anyway, you're here; you might as well stay.
反正你已经在这儿了，那就留下来吧。
eg. Business is terrible I might as well pack up.
生意很不好做--我还是关门算了。
2. settle up
付清（债务）；结清（账单）；
eg. When we approached the till to settle up, he reduced our bill by 50 per cent.
我们去收银台付款时，他给我们的账单打了对折。
eg. I'll settle up with them soon.
我很快就会跟他们清账。
3. concerning
关于；
eg. For more information concerning the club contact I. Coldwell.
咨询俱乐部详情，请与科德维尔联系。
eg. He asked several questions concerning the future of the company.
他问了几个有关公司前途的问题。