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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Sam's Chance And How He Improved It » CHAPTER VIII. — AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE.
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CHAPTER VIII. — AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE.
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 As Sam walked rapidly to the post office he tried to think of some way of raising the money he needed. If his credit had been better Henry Martin might have accommodated him; but Sam was conscious that he had not treated his roommate in such a way as to inspire confidence. Then it occurred to him that he might obtain the ring back by giving the pawnbroker2 what money he had, and leaving his vest on deposit with him. At any rate, it would do no harm to try.
 
There was no time to go round to the pawnbroker's now, for his employer was very particular about receiving his letters promptly3, and so great a delay might lead to his dismissal. He waited, therefore, until dinner time and then went round.
 
The pawnbroker recognized him at once, and regretted to see him. He knew the value of the ring, and was afraid Sam wished to redeem4 it.
 
"What can I do for you?" he asked, pretending not to know him.
 
"I was here yesterday," said Sam. "Don't you remember me?"
 
"I have so many come in I can't remember them all."
 
"But I left a ring here."
 
"A ring?" repeated the pawnbroker, vacantly. "What kind of a ring?"
 
"A ring with a stone set in it."
 
"Oh? you left it here."
 
"Yes, and you gave me five dollars on it."
 
"Did I? Then I gave you too much."
 
Sam was glad to hear this. Evidently the man, so he thought, did not understand the value of the ring, and would be glad to let him have it again. It was for his interest to let him think so.
 
"I guess you're right," he said. "The ring wasn't worth much, but my grandfather left it to me, and so I like it."
 
"You said it was your grandmother yesterday," remarked the pawnbroker, shrewdly.
 
"Did I? Well, it's all the same," said Sam, getting over the little difficulty. "I should like to have it again."
 
"Have you got the receipt?" asked the pawnbroker, to gain time.
 
"Yes, I've got it here."
 
The man looked discomfited5, but Sam's next words freed him from anxiety.
 
"I want to ask of you a favor," said Sam. "I haven't got money enough here, but I'll pay you what I've got and bring you the rest tomorrow."
 
"Oh, no, you won't," said the old man, smiling, and wagging his head. "Do you think I am a fool? That isn't the way I do business, my boy."
 
"But I swear to you I will bring you the money," said Sam, earnestly. "I'll give you a little extra besides, to pay you for waiting."
 
"You are very kind," said the pawnbroker, revealing his yellow teeth in a cunning smile; "but I can't do it."
 
Sam had one other resource.
 
"Then," he proposed, "I'll pay you all the money I have, and give you my vest besides to keep till to-morrow."
 
"How much money have you got?"
 
"Three dollars."
 
"And your vest is worth about twenty-five cents."
 
"Twenty-five cents!" repeated Sam, looking insulted. "Do you think I would wear a twenty-five cent vest?"
 
"It is all it is worth to me. I lent you five dollars, and you want to put me off with three dollars and a quarter."
 
"But I would come round to-morrow and give you the money."
 
"Shall you have the money to-morrow?" inquired the dealer6.
 
"Yes," answered Sam.
 
"Where will you get it?"
 
"I ain't obliged to tell that. It don't make no difference to you."
 
"Well, if you get the money to-morrow you can come round to-morrow," said the old man, with the air of one who had announced his ultimatum7.
 
"But I want it to-day, particular," persisted Sam.
 
"Why do you want it to-day, particular?" asked the pawnbroker, looking curious.
 
"I'm going to a party to-night," said Sam, whose imagination was always to be relied upon. "I want to wear the ring there."
 
"Did you expect to go to the party without a vest?" queried8 the old man.
 
"Oh, I've got another at home," said Sam, composedly.
 
"You'll have to do without the ring till you bring me the money," said the pawnbroker, finally.
 
Sam saw from his manner that he was in earnest, and as perplexed9 as ever he left the shop.
 
"What am I going to do now?" he thought. "It's a shame to give up the reward on account of that mean old man. Why can't he trust me, I'd like to know? Does he think I would cheat him?"
 
Then a new fear disturbed Sam.
 
The pawnbroker might see the reward, and himself go to the advertiser and claim it.
 
"I wonder whether he takes the Herald10?" thought our hero.
 
Something must be done, and at once. It was quite impossible to let such a golden chance slip by. So, finally, he determined11 to see Henry Martin, and if absolutely necessary tell him the whole story, and get him to accompany him to the pawnbroker's shop.
 
On his way back he happened to overtake Henry in the street, and broached12 the subject to him. Henry listened to him attentively13.
 
"So that is where you got your supply of money from, Sam?" he said.
 
"Yes."
 
"I thought you must have raised some somewhere, or you would have been borrowing of me."
 
"I want to borrow three dollars of you now, or three fifty, to make sure I have enough."
 
"You had no right to pawn1 that ring, Sam. You ought to have remembered that it was not yours."
 
"I couldn't help it. I was out of money. Besides, I didn't know whose it was."
 
"It was your duty to find out, or try to find out."
 
"Could I go round the city asking everybody if the ring belonged to them?"
 
"No, but you could have advertised it in some paper.".
 
"How could I when I was dead broke? You know I couldn't."
 
"Well, what do you propose to do now?"
 
"I want you to lend me money enough to get back the ring. Then I'll go round to Wall Street and return it and get the twenty-five dollars reward, and pay you back every cent I owe you."
 
Henry reflected.
 
"I don't know but that's the best way," he said; "but I must go with you to see that it's all right."
 
"Of course you can. I want you to," said Sam, relieved.
 
"We can't go now, for there isn't time. Come into my place as soon as you get away, and we'll go round together."
 
"All right, Henry. You're a trump14, and no mistake. I thought you'd help me out."
 
Sam's cheerfulness returned, and he went to work with more alacrity15. All the afternoon he was forming plans for the disposal of the reward when it came into his hands.
 
About a quarter after five the two boys entered the pawnbroker's office.
 
The latter was not particularly pleased to see Sam, and his countenance16 showed it.
 
"I guess I'll take that ring, mister," said Sam, in an independent tone.
 
"What ring?"
 
"Oh, you know well enough."
 
"Have you brought the money?"
 
"Yes; I've got it here."
 
"It will be five dollars and a half."
 
"That is too much, but I'll give it to you; so just hand it over."
 
"Wait a minute, my friend," said the pawnbroker. "Where did you get the ring?"
 
"I've told you already."
 
"You said your grandmother left it to you; but I don't believe it."
 
"I can't help what you believe. Just hand it over."
 
"I have a strong suspicion, my young friend, that it is stolen."
 
"It's a lie!" said Sam, angrily.
 
"I'm not sure about that. I think I'll call a policeman."
 
Here Henry Martin interfered17.
 
"Did you think it was stolen when you advanced money on it?" he asked.
 
"Yes, I did," said the pawnbroker. "Your friend's story was too thin."
 
"Then," said Henry, quietly, "you've got yourself into trouble. You can be arrested for receiving stolen goods."
 
The pawnbroker turned pale. He knew very well that he was in a dilemma18.
 
"My friend didn't tell you the truth," continued Henry. "He found the ring, and now he has found the owner. He wants to return it, and that is why he is here. Unless you give it up, I will myself call a policeman."
 
Henry's quiet, assured manner produced its effect. With great reluctance19 the pawnbroker produced the ring, the charges were paid, and the two boys retired20 triumphant21.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 pawn 8ixyq     
n.典当,抵押,小人物,走卒;v.典当,抵押
参考例句:
  • He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
  • It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。
2 pawnbroker SiAys     
n.典当商,当铺老板
参考例句:
  • He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker's.他从当铺赎回手表。
  • She could get fifty dollars for those if she went to the pawnbroker's.要是她去当铺当了这些东西,她是可以筹出50块钱的。
3 promptly LRMxm     
adv.及时地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
  • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
4 redeem zCbyH     
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等)
参考例句:
  • He had no way to redeem his furniture out of pawn.他无法赎回典当的家具。
  • The eyes redeem the face from ugliness.这双眼睛弥补了他其貌不扬之缺陷。
5 discomfited 97ac63c8d09667b0c6e9856f9e80fe4d     
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败
参考例句:
  • He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句
6 dealer GyNxT     
n.商人,贩子
参考例句:
  • The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
  • The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
7 ultimatum qKqz7     
n.最后通牒
参考例句:
  • This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
  • The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。
8 queried 5c2c5662d89da782d75e74125d6f6932     
v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 );询问
参考例句:
  • She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事?”琴向觉民问道,她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
9 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
10 herald qdCzd     
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎
参考例句:
  • In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
  • Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。
11 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
12 broached 6e5998583239ddcf6fbeee2824e41081     
v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 );打开并开始用;用凿子扩大(或修光);(在桶上)钻孔取液体
参考例句:
  • She broached the subject of a picnic to her mother. 她向母亲提起野餐的问题。 来自辞典例句
  • He broached the subject to the stranger. 他对陌生人提起那话题。 来自辞典例句
13 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 trump LU1zK     
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭
参考例句:
  • He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
  • The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。
15 alacrity MfFyL     
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意
参考例句:
  • Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老,动作仍很敏捷。
  • He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。
16 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
17 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
18 dilemma Vlzzf     
n.困境,进退两难的局面
参考例句:
  • I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
  • He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。
19 reluctance 8VRx8     
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿
参考例句:
  • The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
  • He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。
20 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
21 triumphant JpQys     
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的
参考例句:
  • The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
  • There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。


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