The Buyer from Cactus City

It is well that hay fever and colds do not obtain in the healthful vicinity of Cactus City, Texas, for the dry goods emporium of Navarro & Platt, situated there, is not to be sneezed at.

幸亏干草热和感冒这类毛病，在得克萨斯州仙人掌城这片有益健康的地界上并不流行，因为那儿的纳瓦罗与普拉特绸缎百货行，可不是什么让人不屑一顾的小买卖。

Twenty thousand people in Cactus City scatter their silver coin with liberal hands for the things that their hearts desire. The bulk of this semiprecious metal goes to Navarro & Platt. Their huge brick building covers enough ground to graze a dozen head of sheep. You can buy of them a rattlesnake-skin necktie, an automobile or an eighty-five dollar, latest style, ladies’ tan coat in twenty different shades. Navarro & Platt first introduced pennies west of the Colorado River. They had been ranchmen with business heads, who saw that the world did not necessarily have to cease its revolutions after free grass went out.

仙人掌城两万居民，个个都毫不吝惜地把手里的银币，撒向自己心头所爱的东西。这些半贵重金属，绝大部分都流进了纳瓦罗与普拉特的腰包。他们那栋巨大的砖楼，占地之广，足够放牧十几头羊。在他们店里，你既能买到一条响尾蛇皮领带，也能买到一辆汽车，还能买到一件八十五美元、最新款式、有二十种不同棕褐色调可选的女士外套。纳瓦罗与普拉特还是科罗拉多河以西头一批引入便士这种小额硬币的商家。他们本是精明能干的牧场主，早就看出，即便自由牧场没了，这世界也用不着因此停止转动。

Every Spring, Navarro, senior partner, fifty-five, half Spanish, cosmopolitan, able, polished, had “gone on” to New York to buy goods. This year he shied at taking up the long trail. He was undoubtedly growing older; and he looked at his watch several times a day before the hour came for his siesta.

每年春天，纳瓦罗——这位五十五岁、有一半西班牙血统、见多识广、能干又文雅的合伙人——都要“上路”去纽约进货。今年他却对这趟长途跋涉犯了怵。他显然是上了年纪；他每天都要好几次掏出怀表来看，盼着午睡的时辰快点到来。

“John,” he said, to his junior partner, “you shall go on this year to buy the goods.”

“约翰，”他对他的合伙人说道，“今年你去纽约进货吧。”

Platt looked tired.

普拉特一脸疲惫的神色。

“I’m told,” said he, “that New York is a plumb dead town; but I’ll go. I can take a whirl in San Antone for a few days on my way and have some fun.”

“我听说，”他说道，“纽约是个死气沉沉的城市；不过我还是去吧。路上我可以先在圣安东尼奥转转，玩上几天，乐呵乐呵。”

Two weeks later a man in a Texas full dress suit—black frock coat, broad-brimmed soft white hat, and lay-down collar 3-4 inch high, with black, wrought iron necktie—entered the wholesale cloak and suit establishment of Zizzbaum & Son, on lower Broadway.

两个星期之后，一个穿着得克萨斯正装——黑色礼服大衣，宽檐软质白帽，三四英寸高的翻领，系着一条黑色、如熟铁般硬挺的领带——的男人，走进了百老汇下城齐兹鲍姆父子批发外套西装行。

Old Zizzbaum had the eye of an osprey, the memory of an elephant and a mind that unfolded from him in three movements like the puzzle of the carpenter’s rule. He rolled to the front like a brunette polar bear, and shook Platt’s hand.

老齐兹鲍姆有一双鱼鹰般的眼睛，一副大象般的记性，脑子转起来分三步走，就像木匠折尺一样一节节展开。他像只棕色的北极熊一样滚到店门口，跟普拉特握了握手。

“And how is the good Mr. Navarro in Texas?” he said. “The trip was too long for him this year, so? We welcome Mr. Platt instead.”

“得州那位好心的纳瓦罗先生近来可好啊？”他说道。“今年这趟路对他来说太远了吧？所以我们才有幸迎来了普拉特先生。”

“A bull’s eye,” said Platt, “and I’d give forty acres of unirrigated Pecos County land to know how you did it.”

“猜得真准，”普拉特说道，“我愿拿佩科斯县四十英亩没水浇的地，换你告诉我你是怎么猜出来的。”

“I knew,” grinned Zizzbaum, “just as I know that the rainfall in El Paso for the year was 28.5 inches, or an increase of 15 inches, and that therefore Navarro & Platt will buy a $15,000 stock of suits this spring instead of $10,000, as in a dry year. But that will be to-morrow. There is first a cigar in my private office that will remove from your mouth the taste of the ones you smuggle across the Rio Grande and like—because they are smuggled.”

“我早知道，”齐兹鲍姆咧嘴一笑，“就像我知道埃尔帕索今年的降雨量是二十八点五英寸，比往年多了十五英寸，所以纳瓦罗与普拉特今年春天要进一万五千美元的西装货，而不是像旱年那样只进一万美元。不过那是明天的事了。先到我的私人办公室里抽支雪茄吧，抽完这个，你嘴里那股走私偷运过里奥格兰德河的雪茄味儿——你倒挺爱那味儿，就因为它是走私来的——就该消散了。”

It was late in the afternoon and business for the day had ended, Zizzbaum left Platt with a half-smoked cigar, and came out of the private office to Son, who was arranging his diamond scarfpin before a mirror, ready to leave.

那天下午已经快过去了，一天的生意也办完了，齐兹鲍姆丢下普拉特和一支抽了一半的雪茄，从私人办公室里出来，找他儿子阿贝——阿贝正对着镜子摆弄自己的钻石领带别针，准备下班。

“Abey,” he said, “you will have to take Mr. Platt around to-night and show him things. They are customers for ten years. Mr. Navarro and I we played chess every moment of spare time when he came. That is good, but Mr. Platt is a young man and this is his first visit to New York. He should amuse easily.”

“阿贝，”他说道，“今晚你得带普拉特先生转转，带他见识见识。他们做我们的客户都十年了。纳瓦罗先生每次来，我俩一有空闲就下棋。这样挺好，可普拉特先生还年轻，这又是他头一回来纽约。他应该容易找乐子才对。”

“All right,” said Abey, screwing the guard tightly on his pin. “I’ll take him on. After he’s seen the Flatiron and the head waiter at the Hotel Astor and heard the phonograph play ‘Under the Old Apple Tree’ it’ll be half past ten, and Mr. Texas will be ready to roll up in his blanket. I’ve got a supper engagement at 11:30, but he’ll be all to the Mrs. Winslow before then.”

“好嘞，”阿贝说道，一边把领带别针上的保险扣拧紧。“我带他去玩玩。等他看过熨斗大厦，见识过阿斯特酒店的领班侍者，又听过留声机放《老苹果树下》，那时候差不多就十点半了，这位得州先生也该乐意裹着毯子睡觉了。我十一点半还有个夜宵的约会，不过在那之前，怎么都能把他哄得舒舒服服的。”

The next morning at 10 Platt walked into the store ready to do business. He had a bunch of hyacinths pinned on his lapel. Zizzbaum himself waited on him. Navarro & Platt were good customers, and never failed to take their discount for cash.

第二天早晨十点，普拉特走进店里，准备好谈生意了。他的翻领上别着一束风信子。齐兹鲍姆亲自来招待他。纳瓦罗与普拉特是好客户，从来不忘现金付款享受折扣。

“And what did you think of our little town?” asked Zizzbaum, with the fatuous smile of the Manhattanite.

“您觉得咱们这座小城怎么样啊？”齐兹鲍姆问道，脸上带着曼哈顿人那种自鸣得意的笑容。

“I shouldn’t care to live in it,” said the Texan. “Your son and I knocked around quite a little last night. You’ve got good water, but Cactus City is better lit up.”

“我可不乐意住在这儿，”这位得州人说道。“昨晚我和您儿子四处逛了逛。你们这儿水质是不错，可仙人掌城的灯火比这儿亮堂多了。”

“We’ve got a few lights on Broadway, don’t you think, Mr. Platt?”

“我们百老汇上也有不少灯呢，普拉特先生，您不觉得吗？”

“And a good many shadows,” said Platt. “I think I like your horses best. I haven’t seen a crow-bait since I’ve been in town.”

“阴影可也不少，”普拉特说道。“我觉得我最喜欢的还是你们这儿的马。我来这儿之后，还没见着一匹瘦骨嶙峋的驽马呢。”

Zizzbaum led him up stairs to show the samples of suits.

齐兹鲍姆领他上楼去看西装样品。

“Ask Miss Asher to come,” he said to a clerk.

“请阿舍小姐过来，”他对一个店员说道。

Miss Asher came, and Platt, of Navarro & Platt, felt for the first time the wonderful bright light of romance and glory descend upon him. He stood still as a granite cliff above the cañon of the Colorado, with his wide-open eyes fixed upon her. She noticed his look and flushed a little, which was contrary to her custom.

阿舍小姐来了，纳瓦罗与普拉特商行的普拉特，头一回感受到浪漫和荣光那奇妙耀眼的光芒降临到自己身上。他站在原地，纹丝不动，像科罗拉多河峡谷上方的一座花岗岩峭壁，睁大眼睛死死盯着她。她注意到了他的目光，微微红了脸——这可不是她平时的习惯。

Miss Asher was the crack model of Zizzbaum & Son. She was of the blond type known as “medium,” and her measurements even went the required 38-25-42 standard a little better. She had been at Zizzbaum’s two years, and knew her business. Her eye was bright, but cool; and had she chosen to match her gaze against the optic of the famed basilisk, that fabulous monster’s gaze would have wavered and softened first. Incidentally, she knew buyers.

阿舍小姐是齐兹鲍姆父子行里数一数二的模特。她属于人称“中等”身材的金发类型，她的三围甚至比标准的38-25-42还要略胜一筹。她在齐兹鲍姆店里干了两年，深谙这一行的门道。她的眼神明亮，却又冷静；就算她选择用自己的目光去对上那传说中蛇怪的双眼，恐怕也是那怪物的目光先软化、先躲闪。顺带一提，她看买家看得很准。

“Now, Mr. Platt,” said Zizzbaum, “I want you to see these princess gowns in the light shades. They will be the thing in your climate. This first, if you please, Miss Asher.”

“好了，普拉特先生，”齐兹鲍姆说道，“我要给您看看这些浅色调的公主裙。这在您那边的气候正合适。阿舍小姐，请先展示这一件。”

Swiftly in and out of the dressing-room the prize model flew, each time wearing a new costume and looking more stunning with every change. She posed with absolute self-possession before the stricken buyer, who stood, tongue-tied and motionless, while Zizzbaum orated oilily of the styles. On the model’s face was her faint, impersonal professional smile that seemed to cover something like weariness or contempt.

这位当红模特飞快地进出更衣室，每次都换上一套新装，一次比一次更加惊艳夺目。她在这位被镇住了的买手面前摆着姿势，从容不迫，泰然自若；而买手却站在那儿，哑口无言，动弹不得，齐兹鲍姆则在一旁油腔滑调地讲解着各式款式。模特脸上挂着那种淡淡的、不带个人色彩的职业性微笑，那笑容里似乎还藏着几分疲惫，或是几分不屑。

When the display was over Platt seemed to hesitate. Zizzbaum was a little anxious, thinking that his customer might be inclined to try elsewhere. But Platt was only looking over in his mind the best building sites in Cactus City, trying to select one on which to build a house for his wife-to-be—who was just then in the dressing-room taking off an evening gown of lavender and tulle.

展示结束之后，普拉特似乎有些犹豫。齐兹鲍姆心里有点着急，以为这位客户或许有意去别处再看看。可其实普拉特只是在脑子里盘算着仙人掌城里最好的几处地皮，想给自己那位未来的妻子选一块地方盖房子——而这位未来的妻子，此刻正在更衣室里，脱下一件薰衣草色的薄纱晚礼服。

“Take your time, Mr. Platt,” said Zizzbaum. “Think it over to-night. You won’t find anybody else meet our prices on goods like these. I’m afraid you’re having a dull time in New York, Mr. Platt. A young man like you—of course, you miss the society of the ladies. Wouldn’t you like a nice young lady to take out to dinner this evening? Miss Asher, now, is a very nice young lady; she will make it agreeable for you.”

“不急，普拉特先生，”齐兹鲍姆说道。“今晚您再好好想想。这样的货色，价钱您到别处可找不到比我们更合适的了。普拉特先生，我担心您在纽约过得挺闷的吧。您这样一位年轻人——自然，少不了想念女士们的陪伴。今晚要不要请一位漂亮的年轻小姐陪您吃顿晚饭？就说阿舍小姐吧，她可是位非常好的年轻小姐，她会让您过得挺愉快的。”

“Why, she doesn’t know me,” said Platt, wonderingly. “She doesn’t know anything about me. Would she go? I’m not acquainted with her.”

“可是，她又不认识我，”普拉特诧异地说道。“她对我一无所知。她会愿意去吗？我跟她又不熟。”

“Would she go?” repeated Zizzbaum, with uplifted eyebrows. “Sure, she would go. I will introduce you. Sure, she would go.”

“她会愿意去吗？”齐兹鲍姆重复道，扬起了眉毛。“当然啦，她会去的。我来给你们介绍一下。她当然会去。”

He called Miss Asher loudly.

他高声唤来了阿舍小姐。

She came, calm and slightly contemptuous, in her white shirt waist and plain black skirt.

她走了过来，穿着白色女衬衫和朴素的黑裙子，神情平静，带着几分不屑。

“Mr. Platt would like the pleasure of your company to dinner this evening,” said Zizzbaum, walking away.

“普拉特先生想请您赏光，今晚一起吃顿饭，”齐兹鲍姆说完便走开了。

“Sure,” said Miss Asher, looking at the ceiling. “I’d be much pleased. Nine-eleven West Twentieth street. What time?”

“行啊，”阿舍小姐望着天花板说道。“我很乐意。西二十街九一一号。几点？”

“Say seven o’clock.”

“就说七点吧。”

“All right, but please don’t come ahead of time. I room with a school teacher, and she doesn’t allow any gentlemen to call in the room. There isn’t any parlor, so you’ll have to wait in the hall. I’ll be ready.”

“好的，不过请别提前来。我跟一位女教师合租，她不许有男客上门。屋里也没客厅，您得在门厅里等着。我到时候会准备好的。”

At half past seven Platt and Miss Asher sat at a table in a Broadway restaurant. She was dressed in a plain, filmy black. Platt didn’t know that it was all a part of her day’s work.

七点半，普拉特和阿舍小姐坐在百老汇一家餐馆的餐桌旁。她穿着一身朴素、轻薄的黑色衣裙。普拉特并不知道，这不过是她日常工作的一部分罢了。

With the unobtrusive aid of a good waiter he managed to order a respectable dinner, minus the usual Broadway preliminaries.

在一位得力侍者不动声色的帮助下，他总算点了一顿像样的晚餐，省去了百老汇餐厅那套惯常的花哨排场。

Miss Asher flashed upon him a dazzling smile.

阿舍小姐朝他绽放出一个耀眼的笑容。

“Mayn’t I have something to drink?” she asked.

“我能喝点什么吗？”她问道。

“Why, certainly,” said Platt. “Anything you want.”

“当然可以，”普拉特说道。“你想要什么都行。”

“A dry Martini,” she said to the waiter.

“来一杯干马提尼，”她对侍者说道。

When it was brought and set before her Platt reached over and took it away.

酒端上来放到她面前的时候，普拉特伸手把它拿了过去。

“What is this?” he asked.

“这是什么？”他问道。

“A cocktail, of course.”

“当然是鸡尾酒了。”

“I thought it was some kind of tea you ordered. This is liquor. You can’t drink this. What is your first name?”

“我还以为你点的是什么茶呢。这可是酒。你不能喝这个。你叫什么名字？”

“To my intimate friends,” said Miss Asher, freezingly, “it is ‘Helen.’”

“熟人都叫我‘海伦’，”阿舍小姐冷冰冰地说道。

“Listen, Helen,” said Platt, leaning over the table. “For many years every time the spring flowers blossomed out on the prairies I got to thinking of somebody that I’d never seen or heard of. I knew it was you the minute I saw you yesterday. I’m going back home to-morrow, and you’re going with me. I know it, for I saw it in your eyes when you first looked at me. You needn’t kick, for you’ve got to fall into line. Here’s a little trick I picked out for you on my way over.”

“听着，海伦，”普拉特俯身向前说道。“这么多年来，每回大草原上春花盛开的时候，我心里就会想起一个我从没见过、也从没听说过的人。昨天我一见到你，就知道那个人是你。我明天就要回家了，你要跟我一起走。我知道这是真的，因为你头一眼看我的时候，我就在你眼睛里瞧见了。你用不着反抗，反正你早晚得依了我。这是我路上给你挑的一件小玩意儿。”

He flicked a two-carat diamond solitaire ring across the table. Miss Asher flipped it back to him with her fork.

他把一枚两克拉的单钻戒指弹过桌面。阿舍小姐用叉子把它弹了回去。

“Don’t get fresh,” she said, severely.

“别放肆，”她严厉地说道。

“I’m worth a hundred thousand dollars,” said Platt. “I’ll build you the finest house in West Texas.”

“我身家十万美元，”普拉特说道。“我要给你盖西得克萨斯最漂亮的房子。”

“You can’t buy me, Mr. Buyer,” said Miss Asher, “if you had a hundred million. I didn’t think I’d have to call you down. You didn’t look like the others to me at first, but I see you’re all alike.”

“您买不了我，买手先生，”阿舍小姐说道，“就算您有一亿美元也不行。我没想到还得跟您撂几句狠话。一开始我还觉得您跟别人不一样，可现在看来，您跟他们都一个样。”

“All who?” asked Platt.

“别人是谁？”普拉特问道。

“All you buyers. You think because we girls have to go out to dinner with you or lose our jobs that you’re privileged to say what you please. Well, forget it. I thought you were different from the others, but I see I was mistaken.”

“你们这些买手都一样。你们以为，我们这些姑娘为了不丢饭碗，只好陪你们出去吃饭，你们就有资格随便说什么了。得了吧，忘了这茬吧。我还以为您跟别人不一样呢，看来是我看错了。”

Platt struck his fingers on the table with a gesture of sudden, illuminating satisfaction.

普拉特的手指忽然在桌上一敲，脸上露出恍然大悟的满意神情。

“I’ve got it!” he exclaimed, almost hilariously—“the Nicholson place, over on the north side. There’s a big grove of live oaks and a natural lake. The old house can be pulled down and the new one set further back.”

“我想起来了！”他几乎是欣喜若狂地喊道——“北边的尼科尔森那块地。那儿有一大片常绿橡树林，还有一个天然湖泊。旧房子可以拆掉，新房子再往后盖一点。”

“Put out your pipe,” said Miss Asher. “I’m sorry to wake you up, but you fellows might as well get wise, once for all, to where you stand. I’m supposed to go to dinner with you and help jolly you along so you’ll trade with old Zizzy, but don’t expect to find me in any of the suits you buy.”

“别再抽你那烟斗做梦了，”阿舍小姐说道。“很抱歉把您叫醒，不过你们这些人也该一次性弄明白自己是个什么处境。我陪您吃饭，是要哄着您跟老齐兹做成生意，可您别指望在您采购的哪套西装里，能找到我这个人。”

“Do you mean to tell me,” said Platt, “that you go out this way with customers, and they all—they all talk to you like I have?”

“你是想告诉我，”普拉特说道，“你就是这样陪客户出去的，而他们——他们都像我这样跟你搭讪吗？”

“They all make plays,” said Miss Asher. “But I must say that you’ve got ’em beat in one respect. They generally talk diamonds, while you’ve actually dug one up.”

“他们都会耍这一套，”阿舍小姐说道。“不过我得说句公道话，您有一点比他们都强。他们一般只是嘴上说说钻石，您倒是真挖出了一颗来。”

“How long have you been working, Helen?”

“你干这行多久了，海伦？”

“Got my name pat, haven’t you? I’ve been supporting myself for eight years. I was a cash girl and a wrapper and then a shop girl until I was grown, and then I got to be a suit model. Mr. Texas Man, don’t you think a little wine would make this dinner a little less dry?”

“把我的名字都记熟了，是吧？我靠自己养活自己已经八年了。我先做过收银女孩，又做过打包工，然后做售货员，一直到长大成人，后来才当上了西装模特。这位得州先生，您不觉得来点酒，能让这顿饭没那么干巴巴的吗？”

“You’re not going to drink wine any more, dear. It’s awful to think how— I’ll come to the store to-morrow and get you. I want you to pick out an automobile before we leave. That’s all we need to buy here.”

“亲爱的，你以后不能再喝酒了。想想都觉得难受——我明天就去店里接你。咱们走之前，我想让你先挑一辆汽车。这就是我们在这儿唯一还需要买的东西了。”

“Oh, cut that out. If you knew how sick I am of hearing such talk.”

“哦，得了吧。您要是知道我听这种话都听腻烦成什么样了。”

After the dinner they walked down Broadway and came upon Diana’s little wooded park. The trees caught Platt’s eye at once, and he must turn along under the winding walk beneath them. The lights shone upon two bright tears in the model’s eyes.

吃过晚饭，他们沿百老汇往下走，来到了戴安娜女神那座小小的林荫公园。普拉特的目光立刻被那些树木吸引住了，他非要沿着树下那条蜿蜒的小径走一走不可。灯光照在这位模特眼里，映出了两滴晶莹的泪珠。

“I don’t like that,” said Platt. “What’s the matter?”

“我不喜欢这样，”普拉特说道。“怎么了？”

“Don’t you mind,” said Miss Asher. “Well, it’s because—well, I didn’t think you were that kind when I first saw you. But you are all like. And now will you take me home, or will I have to call a cop?”

“您别在意，”阿舍小姐说道。“唉，是因为——唉，我一开始见到您的时候，没想到您是那种人。可您终究还是跟他们一样。现在，您是送我回家呢，还是要我叫警察？”

Platt took her to the door of her boarding-house. They stood for a minute in the vestibule. She looked at him with such scorn in her eyes that even his heart of oak began to waver. His arm was half way around her waist, when she struck him a stinging blow on the face with her open hand.

普拉特把她送到了她住的公寓门口。两人在门厅里站了一会儿。她眼里带着那样的轻蔑望着他，就连他那颗橡木般坚硬的心，也开始动摇起来。他的手臂刚搂到她腰间一半，她便扬手狠狠地在他脸上打了一记响亮的耳光。

As he stepped back a ring fell from somewhere and bounded on the tiled floor. Platt groped for it and found it.

他往后退了一步，不知从哪儿掉出一枚戒指，在瓷砖地板上蹦跳着。普拉特摸索着把它捡了起来。

“Now, take your useless diamond and go, Mr. Buyer,” she said.

“好了，拿上您这没用的钻石戒指，走吧，买手先生，”她说道。

“This was the other one—the wedding ring,” said the Texan, holding the smooth gold band on the palm of his hand.

“这是另外那枚——结婚戒指，”这位得州人说道，摊开手掌，掌心里躺着那枚光滑的金戒指。

Miss Asher’s eyes blazed upon him in the half darkness.

阿舍小姐的眼睛在半明半暗中望着他，燃起了怒火。

“Was that what you meant?—did you”—

“您说的是这个意思？——难道您”——

Somebody opened the door from inside the house.

这时屋里有人把门打开了。

“Good-night,” said Platt. “I’ll see you at the store to-morrow.”

“晚安，”普拉特说道。“我明天店里见你。”

Miss Asher ran up to her room and shook the school teacher until she sat up in bed ready to scream “Fire!”

阿舍小姐跑上楼回到自己房间，使劲摇晃那位女教师，把她摇得从床上坐了起来，差点就要喊出“着火了！”

“Where is it?” she cried.

“在哪儿？”她喊道。

“That’s what I want to know,” said the model. “You’ve studied geography, Emma, and you ought to know. Where is a town called Cac—Cac—Carac—Caracas City, I think, they called it?”

“这正是我想知道的，”这位模特说道。“艾玛，你学过地理，你应该知道。有个叫卡——卡——卡拉——好像是叫卡拉卡斯城的地方，在哪儿？”

“How dare you wake me up for that?” said the school teacher. “Caracas is in Venezuela, of course.”

“你就为这个把我吵醒，胆子也太大了吧！”这位女教师说道。“卡拉卡斯当然是在委内瑞拉了。”

“What’s it like?”

“那地方是什么样的？”

“Why, it’s principally earthquakes and negroes and monkeys and malarial fever and volcanoes.”

“哎呀，那儿主要就是地震、黑人、猴子、疟疾和火山。”

“I don’t care,” said Miss Asher, blithely; “I’m going there to-morrow.”

“我才不管呢，”阿舍小姐轻快地说道，“反正我明天就要去那儿了。”