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Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals,
绑架者很少对动物感兴趣
but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat.
最近 绑架者却盯上了埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太的猫
Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady,
埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太是一个非常富有的老妇人
has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.
多年来 一直同她养的猫拉斯一起住在一所公寓里
Rastus leads an orderly life.
拉斯特斯生活很有规律
He usually takes a short walk in the evenings
傍晚常常出去溜达一会儿
and is always home by seven o'clock.
并且总是在7点钟以前回来
One evening, however, he failed to arrive.
可是 有一天晚上 它出去后再也没回来
Mrs. Ramsay got very worried.
拉姆齐太太急坏了
She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
四处寻找 但没有找着
Three days after Rastus' disappearance,
拉斯特斯失踪3天后
Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.
拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信
The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands
写信人声称拉斯特斯安然无恙
and would be returned immediately
只要拉姆齐太太愿意支付1000 英镑赎金
if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of 1000 pounds.
可以立即将猫送还
Mrs. Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box
他让拉姆齐太太把钱放在一个纸盒里
and to leave it outside her door.
然后将纸盒放在门口
At first, she decided to go to the police,
一开始拉姆齐太太打算报告警察
but fearing that she would never see Rastus again --
但又害怕再也见不到拉斯特斯
the letter had made that quite clear --
这点 信上说得十分明白
she changed her mind.
于是便改变了主意
She withdrew 1000 pounds from her bank
她从银行取出1000 英镑
and followed the kidnapper's instructions.
并照绑架者的要求做了
The next morning, the box had disappeared
第二天早晨 放钱的盒子不见了
but Mrs. Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.
但拉姆齐太太确信绑架者是会履行诺言的
Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.
果然 当天晚上7点正 拉斯特斯准时回来了
He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty,
它看上去一切正常 只是口渴得很
for he drank half a bottle of milk.
喝了半瓶牛奶
The police were astounded
拉姆齐太太把她所做的事告诉了警察
when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.
警察听后大为吃惊
She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.
拉姆齐太太解释说她心疼她的猫拉斯特斯
Considering the amount she paid,
想到她所花的那笔钱
he was dear in more ways than one!
她的心疼就具有双重意义了
