Seventeen（2）

II
“Sidi, you swear to me that it will be as you have promised? A petrol sta-tion in America, in Chicago? It is certain?”
“It is certain, Mohammed, if we get out of here, that is.”
“Success depends on the will of Allah.”
“Let us hope, then, that it is the will of Allah that you should have a pet-rol station in Chicago. Why Chicago?”
“Sidi, the brother of my wife went to America, and he has there a petrolpump in Chicago. Do I want to remain in a backward part of the world allmy days? Here there is money and much food and many rugs and women—but it is not modern. It is not America.”
Peters looked thoughtfully into the dignified¹ black face. Mohammed inhis white robes was a magnificent sight. What strange desires rose in thehuman heart.
“I don’t know that you’re wise,” he said with a sigh, “but so be it. Ofcourse, if we are found out—”
A smile on the black face revealed beautiful white teeth.
“Then it is death—for me certainly. Perhaps not for you, Sidi, since youare valuable.”
“They deal out death rather easily here, do they?”
The shoulders of the other man rose and fell contemptuously.
“What is death? That, too, is the will of Allah!”
“You know what you have to do?”
“I know, Sidi. I am to take you to the roof after dark. Also I am to put inyour room clothing such as I and the other servants wear. Later—therewill be other things.”
“Right. You’d better let me out of the lift now. Somebody may noticewe’re riding up and down. It may give them ideas.”

1 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。