【英中对照】The Green Door 绿门 欧·亨利(8)

富有冒险精神的钢琴推销员在街角驻足思考一会，便穿过了街道，走过一个街区，又穿回来，再次加入前进的人流。第二次经过时他假装没有注意到黑人，随手接过递给他的卡片。走到十步外他检查了一番，上面与第一张一样留着“绿门”的文字。三四张卡片被他前后的行人扔在地上，它们空白面朝上，鲁道夫翻了过来。每张上面都印着牙科诊所的“传说”。
Rarely did the arch sprite Adventure need to beckon twice to Rudolf Steiner, his true follower. But twice it had been done, and the quest was on.
冒险这小淘气鬼很少要向它真正的追随者鲁道夫·施泰纳两度招手。可它已经这么干了，并且还要继续。
Rudolf walked slowly back to where the giant negro stood by the case of rattling teeth. This time as he passed he received no card. In spite of his gaudy and ridiculous garb, the Ethiopian displayed a natural barbaric dignity as he stood, offering the cards suavely to some, allowing others to pass unmolested. Every half minute he chanted a harsh, unintelligible phrase akin to the jabber of car conductors and grand opera. And not only did he withhold a card this time, but it seemed to Rudolf that he received from the shining and massive black countenance a look of cold, almost contemptuous disdain.

鲁道夫慢慢走回高大黑人所站的地方，旁边就是放着嘎嘎作响牙齿的柜子。这次他经过时没有接到卡片。虽然穿着俗气又可笑，但这埃塞俄比亚人站着便散发出一股与生俱来的、充满野性的威严。他既温和地向一些人发放卡片，又让其他人不受打扰地通过。每隔半分钟他便像电车售票员和大歌剧那样大喊，说些刺耳不清的话。这次鲁道夫不仅没拿到卡片，仿佛还从那张锃亮魁梧的黝黑脸膛上看到了冷冰冰、满是鄙夷的神情。