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Unit 7
Text
A young man finds it very difficult to
say no to a woman as a result he gets into
trouble. The
restaurant
to
which
he
has
agreed
to
take
his
luncheon
date
is
far
too
expensive
for
his
small
pocketbook. How, then,
will he be able to avoid the embarrassing
situation?
THE
LUNCHEON
et Maugham
I
caught
sight
of
her
at
the
play,
and
in
answer
to
her
beckoning
I
went
over
during
the
interval 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
me brightly.
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, 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 that 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 the morning at the Luxembourg 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,
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
eight francs (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 -- at
Foyot's on
Thursday at
half
past
twelve.
She
was
not
so
young
as
I
expected
and
in
appearance
imposing
rather
than
attractive, she was, in
fact, a woman of forty (a charming age, but not
one that excites a sudden
and
devastating 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 to talk about
me I was prepared to be an attentive listener.
I was startled when the bill of fare
was brought, for the prices were a great deal
higher than I
had anticipated. But she
reassured 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 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.
she
answered,
never
eat
more
than
one
thing.
Unless
you
have
a
little
caviare.
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.
after eating heavy things
like chops. I don't believe in overloading my
stomach.
Then came the question of
drink.
are so light. They're
wonderful for the digestion.
She gave me a bright and
amicable flash of her white teeth.
I fancy I turned a trifle
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 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.
you follow my
example and just eat one thing? I'm sure you'd
feel ever so much better for it.
She waved him aside with an
airy gesture.
that more as an
excuse for conversation than anything else. I
couldn't possibly eat anything more
unless
they
had
some
of
those
giant
asparagus.
I
should
be
sorry
to
leave
Paris
without
having
some of
them.
My heart sank. I had seen
them in the shops, and I knew that they were
horribly expensive.
My mouth had often
watered at the sight of them.
I
tried
with
all
my
might
too
will
him
to
say
no.
A
happy
smile
spread
over
his
broad,
pries-
like face, and he assured me that they had some so
large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a
marvel.
asparagus.
I
ordered them.
you eat.
We
waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic
seized me. It was not a question now how
much money I should have left over for
the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to
pay the
bill. It would be embarrassing
to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to
borrow from my
guest. I could not bring
myself to do that. I knew exactly how much I had,
and if the bill came to
more I made up
my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and
with a dramatic cry start up
and say it
had been picked. Of course, it would be awkward if
she had not money enough either to
pay
the bill. Then the only thing would be to leave my
watch and say I would come back and pay
later.
The asparagus
appeared. They were enormous, juicy, and
appetising. I watched the wicked
woman
thrust them down her throat in large mouthfuls,
and in my polite way I spoke about the
condition of the drama in the Balkans.
At last the finished.
I was past caring now, so I
ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and
coffee for her.
know,
there's
one
thing
I
thoroughly
believe
in,
she
said,
as
she
ate
the
ice-cream.
and
then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing
for luncheon. I was speaking for you.
Then a terrible thing
happened. While we were waiting for the coffee the
head waiter, with an
ingratiating
smile
on
his
false
face,
came
up
to
us
bearing
a
large
basket
full
of
huge
peaches.
They had the blush of an innocent girl;
they had the rich tone of an Italian landscape.
But surely
peaches were not in season
then? Lord knew what they cost. I knew too
-- a little later, for my
guest, going on with her conversation,
absentmindedly took one.
The bill came,
and when I paid it I found that I had only enough
for a quite inadequate tip.
Her eyes
rested for an instant on the three francs I left
for the waiter, and I knew that she thought
me
mean. But when I walked
out of the restaurant I had the whole month before
me and not a
penny in my pocket.
luncheon.
But I have had
my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a
vindictive man, but when the
immortal
gods
take
a
hand
in
matter
it
is
pardonable
to
observe
the
result
with
complacency.
Today she
weighs twenty-one stone.
New
Words
luncheon
n.& vi.
(formal word for) lunch
beckon
vt. signal to (sb.) by a motion of the
hand or head
向……招手或点头示意
apartment
n.
a single room; (AmE) flat
or a set of rooms
房间；
（美）一套公寓住房
Latin
a.
拉丁的
n.
拉丁文
quarter
n.
division of a town, esp. one of a
special class of people
（都市的）区，街
overlook
vt. have a view of
from above; fail to see or notice
俯视；忽略
presently
ad. soon; (AmE) at
the present time
不久；
（美）目前
chat
n., vi.
(have) a friendly informal conversation
闲谈，聊天
senator
n.
a member of a senate
参议员，上议员
means
n.
money, income, or wealth, esp. large
enough to afford all one needs
财富，资产
franc
n.
the unit of money in France, Belgium.
Switzerland, and some other countries
法郎
modest
a.
not large in quantity, size, value,
etc.
不太大的；适度的
imposing
a.
impressive because of size, appearance,
or dignity
仪表堂堂的；宏伟的
attractive
a.
having the power to
attract; pleasing
吸引人的；有魅力的
charming
a.
very pleasing; fascinating
有魅力的
devastating
a.
destructive; causing ruin; sweeping
everything before it
毁灭性的；压倒一切的
passion
n.
strong feeling or enthusiasm, esp. of
love or anger
激情
impression
n.
印象
talkative
a.
having the habit of talking a great
deal; fond of talking
好说话的；健谈的
inclined
a.
likely; tending(to);
encouraged
有……倾向的
attentive
a.
listening carefully; doing
acts to satisfy the needs of another
专注的；体贴的，殷勤的
startle
vt. give a shock of
surprise to; cause to move of jump
使吃惊，使惊跳
fare
n.
food, esp. as provided at a meal
食物
bill of fare
a list of
dishes; menu
菜单
reassure
vt. set a person's
mind at rest
使安心
generously
ad. with
readiness to give money, help, kindness, etc.
慷慨地，大方地
generous a.
nowadays
ad. at the present
time, now
salmon
n.
鲑鱼
menu
n.
a list of courses at a meal
or of dishes that can be served in a restaurant
菜单
mutton
n.
meat from a fully grown sheep
羊肉