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'You see,' began the Captain, rolling his eyes slowly round the little room, and taking in as much of it as his shirt-collar permitted; 'I'm a seafaring man myself, Mr Carker, and Wal'r, as is on your books here, is almost a son of mine.'
“您知道，”船长开始说道，一边慢慢地转着眼睛环视着这间小房间，把他衬衫领子没有挡住的地方都看在眼里。“我本人是个航海人员，卡克先生，列在你们职员名册上的沃尔可以说是我的儿子。”
'Walter Gay?' said Mr Carker, showing all his teeth again.
“是指沃尔特·盖伊吗？”卡克先生又露出所有的牙齿说道。
'Wal'r Gay it is,' replied the Captain, 'right!' The Captain's manner expressed a warm approval of Mr Carker's quickness of perception. 'I'm a intimate friend of his and his Uncle's. Perhaps,' said the Captain, 'you may have heard your head Governor mention my name? - Captain Cuttle.'
“是沃尔·盖伊，”船长回答，“完全正确！”船长在神态中对卡克先生灵敏的理解力表示热烈赞扬。“我是他和他舅舅的亲密朋友。也许，”船长说，“您曾听到你们公司老板提起过我的名字吧？——卡特尔船长。”
'No!' said Mr Carker, with a still wider demonstration than before.'Well,' resumed the Captain, 'I've the pleasure of his acquaintance. I waited upon him down on the Sussex coast there, with my young friend Wal'r, when - in short, when there was a little accommodation wanted.' The Captain nodded his head in a manner that was at once comfortable, easy, and expressive. 'You remember, I daresay?'
“没有，”卡克先生比先前更宽阔地露出他的牙齿说。“唔，”船长继续说，“我有幸跟他认识。我跟我年轻的朋友沃尔一道，在萨塞克斯海边拜访过他，当时——总之，当时需要请他通融小小一笔资金。”船长点点头，神态既愉快，从容，又富于表情。“我想，您记得吧？”
'I think,' said Mr Carker, 'I had the honour of arranging the business.'
“我想，”卡克先生说，“我曾有幸安排过这件事情。”
'To be sure!' returned the Captain. 'Right again! you had. Now I've took the liberty of coming here—
“不错！”船长答道，“又完全正确！是您安排的。现在我冒昧地到这里来——”
'Won't you sit down?' said Mr Carker, smiling.
“您坐下好吗？”卡克微笑着说。
'Thank'ee,' returned the Captain, availing himself of the offer. 'A man does get more way upon himself, perhaps, in his conversation, when he sits down. Won't you take a cheer yourself?'
“谢谢您，”船长接受了建议，回答道，“坐下来谈话也许会轻松一些。您自己也在椅子上坐下好吗？”
重点讲解
一.permit:n.许可证, 执照 v.允许, 许可
【词义辨析】
allow, let, permit, leave, authorize
这些动词均含“让、允许”之意。
allow普通用词，侧重听任、默许或不加阻止。在正式场合可用来表客气的请求。
let常用词，用于各种非正式场合，语气最弱，指允许或无力阻止某事，暗示漠不关心或听之任之。
permit正式用词，在多数场合可与allow换用，语义最强，指准许某人做某事，含权威或正式的意味。
leave侧重不加干涉。
authorize语气最强，指权威性的允许与认可。
【例句用法】
You can't work here without a work permit.
你没有许可证就不能在这里工作。
I'll come after the meeting if time permits.
如果时间许可的话，我开完会就来。
二.return:v.返回, 归还, 回报, 回应,申报 n.归还, 返回, （收益)回报, 申报 adj.返回的
【词义辨析】
answer, reply, respond, retort, return
这些动词均有“回答”之意。
answer常用词，指用书面、口头或行动对他人的请求、询问、质问等作出回答或反应。
reply较正式用词，较少用于口语。侧重经过考虑的较正式答复。
respond正式用词，指即刻的，以口头或行动对外来的号召、请求或刺激等作出回答或响应。
retort指对不同意见、批评或控诉作出迅速、有力的回答，即“反驳”。
return正式用词，从本义“归来，回去”引申作“回答、答辨”讲时，含反驳或反唇相讥之意。
【例句用法】
Our investment accounts return a high rate of interest.
我们的投资项目利润回报很高。
We look forward to the return of spring.
我们期待着春天的到来。