经典英文短篇小说 (50)

My Financial Career

by Stephen Leacock

When I go into a bank I get rattled. The clerks rattle me; the wickets rattle me;

the sight of the money rattles me; everything rattles me.

The moment

I cross the threshold of a bank and attempt to transact business

there, I become an irresponsible idiot.

I knew this beforehand, but my salary had been raised to fifty dollars a month

and I felt that the bank was the only place for it.

So I shambled in and looked timidly round at the clerks. I had an idea that a

person about to open an account must needs consult the manager.

I

went

up to

a wicket

marked

was

a tall,

cool

devil. The very sight of him rattled me. My voice was sepulchral.

I

see

the

manager?

I

said,

and

added

solemnly,

I

don't

know

why I said

The manager was a grave, calm man. I held my fifty-six dollars clutched in a

crumpled ball in my pocket.

I

see

you,

I

asked,

I

didn't

want

to

say

again,

but

without it the thing seemed self-evident.

The manager looked at me in some alarm. He felt that I had an awful secret to

reveal.

in the lock.

We both sat down and looked at each other. I found no voice to speak.

He

had

gathered

from

my

mysterious

manner

that

I

was

a

detective.

I

knew

what he was thinking, and it made me worse.

agency.

not

a

detective

at

all.

I

have

come

to

open

an

account.

I

intend

to

keep

all

my

money in this bank.

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