-
（
1
）
THE LUNCHEON
By W. Somerset
Maugham (1874-1965)
(The words in red
are the explanations)
I caught sight of
her at the play and in answer to her
beckoning
(to give sb a
signal using your finger or hands,
especially to tell them to move nearer or to
follow you)
I went
over
during the interval
(a period of time
between two events)
and sat down beside
her.
It
was
long
since
I
had
last
seen
her
and
if
someone
had
not
mentioned
her
name,
I
hardly
think
I
would
have
recognised
her.
She
addressed
(to something
directly to sb)
me brightly.
of
us
getting
any
younger.
Do
you
remember
the
first
time
I
saw
you?
You
asked me to luncheon.
Did I
remember?
It was twenty
years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny
apartment
in
the
Latin
Quarter
overlooking
a
cemetery
(an
area
of
land
for
burying
dead
people, especially one that is not
beside a church)
and
I
was
earning
barely
enough
money to keep body and soul together.
She had read a book of mine and
had
written
to
me
about
it.
I
answered,
thanking
her,
and
presently
I
received from her another letter saying
she was passing through Paris and
would
like to have a chat with me; but her time was
limited and the only
free moment she
had was on the following Thursday; she was
spending
1
the
morning
at
the
Luxembourg
(
卢森堡
)
and
would
I
give
her
a
little
luncheon
at
Foyot's
afterwards?
Foyot's
is
a
restaurant
at
which
the
French senators eat and it was so far
beyond my means that I had never
even
thought of going there. But I was flattered
（
to be pleased because sb
has
made you fell important or
special
）
and I
was too young to have learned to say no
to
a
woman.
(Few
men,
I
may
add,
learn
this
until
they
are
too
old
to
make
it
of
any
consequence
to
a
woman
what
they
say.)
I
had
eighty
francs
(
法郎
)(gold francs) to last me
the rest of the month and a modest
luncheon should not cost more than
fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next
two weeks I could manage well enough.
I
answered
that
I
would
meet
my
friend
—
by
correspondence
(the letters
a
person sends and
receives)
—
at Foyot's on
Thursday at half-past twelve. She was
not so young as I expected and in
appearance imposing
(impressive to look
at)
rather than attractive.
She was in fact a woman of forty (a charming age,
but
not
one
that
excites
a
sudden
and
devastating
(impressive and powerful)
passion
at
first
sight),
and
she
gave
me
the
impression
of
having
more
teeth,
white
and
large
and
even,
than
were
necessary
for
any
practical
purpose. She was
talkative, but since she seemed inclined
(wanting to do sth)
to talk about me I was prepared to be
an attentive listener.
2
I
was
startled
when
the
bill
of
fare
was
brought,
for
the
prices
were
a
great deal higher than I
had anticipated
(to expect
sth)
. But she reassured
( to
say or do sth that makes sb less
frightened or worried)
me.
never
eat
more
than
one
thing.
I
think
people
eat
far
too
much
nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I
wonder if they have any salmon.
Well, it was early in the year for
salmon
（鲑鱼）
and it was not on
the bill of
fare, but I asked the
waiter if there was any. Yes, a beautiful salmon
had
just come in, it was the first they
had had. I ordered it for my guest. The
waiter asked her if she would have
something while it was being cooked.
little
caviare
（鱼子酱）
. I never mind
caviare.
My heart sank a
little. I knew I could not afford caviare, but I
could not
very well tell her that. I
told the waiter by all means to bring caviare. For
myself I chose the cheapest dish on the
menu and that was a mutton chop.
expect
to
work
after
eating
heavy
things
like
chops.
I
don't
believe
in
overloading my stomach.
3
Then came the
question of drink.
(without delay)
.
(to do sth
next, after having done sth else first)
as
though
I
had
not
spoken.
French
white
wines
are
so
light.
They're wonderful for
the digestion.
(generous and friendly to
visitors)
still,
but not
exactly effusive
(showing much or too
much emotion).
She
gave
me
a
bright
and
amicable
(done
or
achieved
in
a
polite
or
friendly
way
without arguing)
flash of
her white teeth.
（香槟）
.
I fancy I turned a trifle
(slightly)
pale. I ordered
half a bottle. I mentioned
casually
that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to
drink champagne.
She ate the caviare and she ate the
salmon. She talked gaily
(in a cheerful
way )
of art and literature
and music. But I wondered what the bill would come
to. When my mutton chop arrived she
took me quite seriously to task.
4