“We got into Chicago about 7 P.M. Murkison was to meet the gray man at half past 9. We had dinner at a hotel and then went up to Murkisons room to wait for the time to come.
“下午七点左右，我们抵达芝加哥。默基森约定九点半同那个穿灰衣服的人碰头。我们在旅馆里吃了晚饭，上楼到默基森的房间里去等候。
“‘Now，boys，’ says Murkison，‘lets get our gumption together and inoculate a plan for defeating the enemy. Suppose while Im exchanging airy bandage with the gray cappercapper n.装盖的人（或设备），制帽人，封口机，压盖机，托儿（奸商的同伙） you gents come along，by accident，you know，and holler： “Hello，Murk！” and shake hands with symptoms of surprise and familiarity. Then I take the capper aside and tell him you all are Jenkins and Brown of Grassdale，groceries and feed，good men and maybe willing to take a chance while away from home.’
“‘朋友们，’默基森说，‘现在我们一起核计核计，想出一个打垮对手的方法。比如说，我同那个灰衣服的骗子正聊上劲儿的时候，你们两位碰巧闯了进来，招呼道：“喂，默基！”带着他乡遇故知的神情来跟我握手。我就把骗子叫过一边，告诉他，你们是青草谷来的杂货食品商詹金斯和布朗，都是好人，或许愿意在外乡冒冒险。’
“‘Bring em along，” hell say，of course，“if they care to invest.” Now，how does that scheme strike you？
“‘他当然会说“如果他们愿意投资，带他们来好啦。”两位认为这个办法怎么样？’
“‘What do you say，Jeff？’ says Andy，looking at me.
“‘你以为怎么样，杰夫？’安迪瞅着我说。
“‘Why，I’ll tell you what I say.’ says I. ‘I say lets settle this thing right here now. I dont see any use of wasting any more time.’ I took a nickelplated 38 out of my pocket and clicked the cylindercylinder n.圆筒，圆柱体，汽缸，柱面 around a few times.
“‘呵，我不妨把我的意见告诉你。’我说。‘我说我们当场了结这件事吧。不必再浪费时间了。’我从口袋里掏出一支镀镍的三八口径的左轮手枪，把弹筒转动了几下。
“‘You undevout，sinful，insidious hog，’ says I to Murkison，‘get out that two thousand and lay it on the table. Obey with velocity，’ says I，‘for otherwise alternatives are impending. I am preferably a man of mildness，but now and then I find myself in the middle of extremitiesextremity n.末端，极端，极度，穷困，绝境，临死，非常手段，手足。 Such men as you，’ I went on after he had laid the money out，‘is what keeps the jails and court houses going. You come up here to rob these men of their money. Does it excuse you？’ I asks，‘That they were trying to skin you？ No，sir； you was going to rob Peter to stand off Paul. You are ten times worse，’ says I，‘than that green goods man. You go to church at home and pretend to be a decent citizen，but youll come to Chicago and commit larceny from men that have built up a sound and profitable business by dealing with such contemptiblecontemptible adj.可鄙的 scoundrelsscoundrel n.无赖，恶棍 adj.卑鄙的 as you have tried to be today. How do you know，’ says I，‘that that green goods man hasnt a large family dependent upon his extortions？ Its you supposedly respectable citizens who are always on the lookout to get something for nothing，’ says I，‘that support the lotteries and wildcat mines and stock exchanges and wire tappers of this country. If it wasnt for you theyd go out of business. The green goods man you was going to rob，’ says I，‘studied maybe for years to learn his trade. Every turn he makes he risks his money and liberty and maybe his life. You come up here all sanctified and vanoplied with respectability and a pleasing post office address to swindle him. If he gets the money you can squeal to the police. If you get it he hocks the gray suit to buy supper and says nothing. Mr. Tucker and me sized you up，’ says I，‘and came along to see that you got what you deserved. Hand over the money，’ says I，‘you grass fed hypocritehypocrite n.伪君子，伪善者。’
“‘你这个不老实、造孽的、阴险的胖猪。’我对默基森说，‘乖乖地把那两千块钱掏出来，放在桌上。赶快照办，否则我要对你不客气了。我生性是个和平的人，不过有时候也会走极端。有了你这种人，’我等他把钱掏出来之后继续说。‘法院和监狱才有必要存在。你来这儿想夺那些人的钱。你以为他们想副作一层皮，你就有了借口吗？不，先生，你只不过是以暴易暴罢了。其实你比那个卖假钞票的人坏十倍。’我说。‘你在家乡上教堂，做礼拜，挺像一个正派公民，但是你到芝加哥来，想剥夺别人的钱，那些人同你今天想充当的这类卑鄙小人做交易，才创立了稳妥有利的行业。你可知道，那个卖假钞票的人也是上有老，下有小，要靠他养家活口。正因为你们这批假仁假义的公民专想不劳而获，才助长了这个国家里的彩票、空头矿山、股票买卖和投机倒把。如果没有你们，他们早就没事可干了。你打算抢劫的那个卖假钞票的人，为了研究那门行业，可能花了好几年工夫。每做一笔买卖，他就承担一次丧失自由、钱财、甚至性命的风险。你打着神圣不可侵犯的幌子，凭着体面的掩护和响亮的通讯地址到这儿来骗他的钱。假如他弄到了你的钱，你可以去报告警察局。假如你弄到了他的钱，他只好一声不吭，典当掉他那套灰衣服去换晚饭吃。塔克先生和我看透了你，所以我们同来给你应得的教训。钱递过来，你这个吃草长大的伪君子。’
“I put the two thousand，which was all in 20 bills，in my inside pocket.
“我把两千块钱——全是二十元一张的票子——放进内衣口袋。
“‘Now get out your watch.’ says I to Murkison. ‘No，I dont want it.’ says I. ‘Lay it on the table and you sit in that chair till it ticks off an hour. Then you can go. If you make any noise or leave any sooner well handbill you all over Grassdale. I guess your high position there is worth more than 2，000 to you.’
“‘现在你把表掏出来。’我对默基森说。‘不，我并不要表。把它搁在桌子上，你坐在那把椅子上，过一小时才能离开。要是你嚷嚷，或者不到一小时就离开，我们就在青草谷到处张贴揭发你。我想你在那里的名声地位对你来说总不至值两千块钱吧。
“Then me and Andy left.
“于是我和安迪离开了他。
“On the train Andy was a long time silent. Then he says： ‘Jeff，do you mind my asking you a question？’
“在火车上，安迪好久不开口。最后他说：‘杰夫，我想问你一句话行吗？’
“‘Two，’ says I，‘or forty.’
“‘问两句也不要紧，’我说，‘问四十句都行。’
“‘Was that the idea you had，’ says he，‘when we started out with Murkison？’
“‘我们同默基森一起动身的时候，’他说，‘你就有了那种打算吗？’
“‘Why，certainly.’ says I. ‘What else could it have been？ Wasnt it yours，too？’
“‘嗯，可不是吗。”我回答说。‘还能有什么别的办法？你不是也有那种打算吗？’
“In about half an hour Andy spoke again. I think there are times when Andy dont exactly understand my system of ethics and moral hygienehygiene n.卫生，卫生学。
“约摸过了半小时，安迪才开口。我认为安迪有时并不彻底理解我的伦理和道德的思想体系。
“‘Jeff，’ says he，‘some time when you have the leisure I wish youd draw off a diagramdiagram n.图表 and footnotes of that conscience of yours. Id like to have it to refer to occasionally.’”
“‘杰夫，’他开口说，‘以后你有空的时候，我希望你把你的良心画出一张图解，加上注释说明。有时候我想参考参考。’”
