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Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee the head waiter, with an ingratiating smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. They had the blush of an innocent girl; they had the rich tone of an Italian landscape. But surely peaches were not in season then? Lord knew what they cost. I knew too—a little later, for my guest, going on with her conversation, absentmindedly took one.
接着，发生了一件可怕的事情。当我们在等咖啡的时候，那个领班侍者，带着满脸奉承的笑容，拎来满满一大篮子特大的桃子，红得酷似天真少女的脸蛋，其色调之瑰丽犹如一幅意大利风景画。当时桃子肯定还没有到上市季节，只有上帝晓得买它们得花多少价钱。不过很快我也晓得了，因为我的客人一边说着话，一边心不在焉地拿了一只。
"You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat" —my one miserable little chop—"and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach."
"你看，你已经塞了一肚子肉，"-她是指我那可怜的一小块羊排-"不能再吃什么了。而我只不过来了点小吃，我还可以再品尝一只桃子。"
The bill came, and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for an instant on the three francs I left for the waiter, and I knew that she thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a penny in my pocket.
账单来了。付过账后，我发现剩下的钱连付点像样的小费都不够了。她的目光在我留给侍者的三个法郎上停了一会儿，我知道她会觉得我是个吝啬鬼。可是等走出餐厅，我面临着的将是整整一个月的开销要支付，而口袋里却分文俱无。
"Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon."
"你学学我，"她边握手边说道，"午餐顶多只吃一道菜。
""I'll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight."
"我会做得更好，"我回敬道，"我今晚什么也不吃了。
""Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!"
"幽默家！"她得意洋洋地大声说着，跳上了一辆马车。"你是个十足的幽默家！"
But I have had my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in the matter it is pardonable to observe the result withcomplacency. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.
但是我终于报了仇。我自认不是一个爱报复的人，但是竟连不朽的众神也被触怒而干预其事时，我怀着心满意足的心情目睹这个结局，想必也是可以原谅的了。现今她的体重已达二十一英石(二百九十四磅)。
