Four Chaps in the Library 01
图书馆的四个家伙 01

　　In the process of recalling my college days, I am reminded of that momentous occasion during my first year at St Montague's, when, by some irksome and malign fate, I discovered myself sharing the confines of the school library with three well-read scholars of that time. These loathsome fellows I normally would avoid at all costs, but owing to the atrocious February weather I was compelled to gain welcome warmth beside that roaring fire.

　　"What is your name, young chap?" I was asked, by a large scholar wearing a three-piece suit of pin-stripes. His enquiry wore a ghastly cloak of supposed superiority and rank, which I kind of expected, as I was a mere first year student at that particular time.

　　"Grim Shaw," I told him, and as I uttered my name I surveyed the three pairs of beady eyes which were fixed upon my being. I detected a vast amount of arrogance beyond those staring sockets.

　　"A common name," sneered the fellow, whose own name I knew to be Rhodes-Fotheringham. As I have mentioned, he was large, with a reddened, chubby face and whiskers that hid his stiff upper lip completely. It appeared as if he owned the bottom one only, and I reckoned this to be quite comical, although I dared not to chuckle in their presence.

　　回忆我在圣.蒙塔格大学的生活，我总是会想到我在那的第一年时发生的这件事。当时，我非常郁闷得发现我得和三个当时看来很博学的学生共享图书馆。若在平时，我会不惜一切代价躲避这些讨厌的家伙，但那年二月的天气实在是太糟糕了，我不得不呆在壁炉旁，享受那熊熊旺火的温暖。

　　“你叫什么名字，小伙子？”一个穿着高大的排扣三件套西服的学生问。他询问的语气仿佛都透着股优越感和居高临下的感觉，这个我早有心理准备，因为当时我还只是个新生而已。

　　“格里姆.肖。”我回答。我看到三双犀利的眼睛正盯着我瞧。从他们的眼神中，我能感觉到强烈的傲慢。

　　“名字真俗。”一个家伙嘲笑道，我后来知道他的名字是拉霍斯.佛斯林汉姆。我说过，他的个子很高，面色发红，满是赘肉，上嘴唇完全被浓密的胡须盖住，看起来就像他只长了下嘴唇似的。我觉得这真是太滑稽了，但又不敢在他们面前笑。