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"It sounds pretty interesting," said the policeman. "Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left?"
“这事倒挺新鲜。时隔二十年才又见上一面，未免太久了点。分手以后你知道你朋友的消息吗?”警察问。
"Well, yous, for a time we corresponded," said the other. "But after a youar or two we lost track of each other.
那人答道:“说起来我们也有过一段书信往来，但过了一两年便断了联系。
you see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively.
你知道西部那边地方有多大,而我来来往往又行踪无定。
But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he's alive, for he always was the truest, stanchest old chap in the world.
但是我知道要是吉米还活着,准会上这儿来找我。要说忠诚可靠,这老兄天底下数第一，
He'll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night, and it's worth it if my old partner turns up."
他绝不会忘。今天晚上我千里迢迢跑到这家店门口等着，如果老朋友当真来,跑这一趟值得。”
The waiting man pulled out a handsome watch, the lids of it set with small diamonds.
等朋友的人掏出块漂亮的表,表面上镶着小宝石。
"Three minutes to ten," he announced. "It was exactly ten o'clock when we parted here at the restaurant door."
“十点差三分，”他说，“我们在餐馆分手的时间是十点整。”
"Did pretty well out West, didn't you?" asked the policeman.
“你在西部混得还不错吧?”警察问。
"you bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was.
“你猜对了！吉米要是比得上我一半就算他不赖。他是个大好人，就是迟钝了点。
I've had to compete with some of the sharpest wits going to get my pile. A man gets in a groove in New York.
我发财可也不容易，非多长几个心眼不可。在纽约什么都守着老套套。
It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him."
人要开窍得到西部去。”
The policeman twirled his club and took a step or two.
警察甩着警棍，又开步了。
"I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?"
“我得走啦！希望你的朋友真能来。到时候没来你就走吗?”
"I should say not!" said the other. "I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time.
“不会。”他说。“至少我等他半个钟头。如果吉米还活在这世上,等半小时他准来。
So long, officer."
再见,警官。”
"Good-night, sir," said the policeman, passing on along his beat, trying doors as he went.
“再见，先生。”警官说着又继续巡逻,边走边一家家打量。
