虎口拔牙
Jeff Peters was always eloquent eloquent adj.雄辩的，有口才的，动人的，意味深长的 when the ethics of his profession was under discussion.
杰夫·彼得斯每当谈到他的行业的道德问题时，就滔滔不绝，口若悬河。
“The only times，” said he，“that me and Andy Tucker ever had any hiatuses in our cordial intents was when we differed on the moral aspects of grafting. Andy had his standards and I had mine. I didnt approve of all of Andys schemes for levying contributions contribution n.捐献，贡献，投稿 from the public，and he thought I allowed my conscience to interfere interfere vi.干涉，干预，妨碍，打扰 too often for the financial good of the firm. We had high arguments sometimes. One word led on to another till he said I reminded him of Rockefeller.
他说：“只要我们在欺骗事业的道德问题上有了意见分歧，我和安迪·塔克的友好关系就出现了裂痕。安迪有他的标准，我有我的标准。我并不完全同意安迪向大众敲诈勒索的那种做法，他却认为我的良心过于妨碍我们合作事业的经济利益。有时候，我们争论得面红耳赤。还有一次，大家越争越厉害，他竟然拿我同洛克菲勒相比。
“‘I dont know how you mean that，Andy，’ says I，‘but we have been friends too long for me to take offense，at a taunt that you will regret when you cool off. I have yet，’ says I，‘to shake hands with a subpoena subpoena n.传票 vt.传呼，索取 server.’
“‘我明白你的意思，安迪，’我说，‘但是我们交了这么多年的朋友，你用这种话来侮辱我，我并不生你的气。等你冷静下来之后，你自己会后悔的。我至今还没有同法院的传票送达照过面呢。’
“One summer me and Andy decided to rest up a spell in a fine little town in the mountains of Kentucky called Grassdale. We was supposed to be horse drovers，and good decent citizens besides，taking a summer vacation. The Grassdale people liked us，and me and Andy declared a cessation cessation n.停止 of hostilities，never so much as floating the fly leaf of a rubber concession prospectus prospectus n.内容说明书，样张 or flashing a Brazilian diamond while we was there.
“有一年夏天，我和安迪决定在肯塔基州一个名叫青草谷的山峦环抱、风景秀丽的小镇休息一阵子。我们自称是马贩子，善良正派，是到那里去消夏的。青草谷的居民很喜欢我们，我和安迪决定不采取任何敌对行动，既不在那里散发橡胶种植园的计划书，也不兜售巴西金刚钻。
“One day the leading hardware merchant of Grassdale drops around to the hotel where me and Andy stopped，and smokes with us，sociable，on the side porch. We knew him pretty well from pitching quoits quoit n.金属环，铁环，绳圈 vt.掷（圈环） in the afternoons in the court house yard. He was a loud，red man，breathing hard，but fat and respectable beyond all reason.
“有一天，青草谷的五金业巨商来到我和安迪下榻的旅馆，客客气气地同我们一起在走廊上抽烟。我们有时下午一起在县政府院子里玩掷绳环游戏，已经跟他混得很熟了。他是一个多嘴多舌，面色红润，呼吸急促的人，同时又出奇得肥胖和体面。
“After we talk on all the notorious themes of the day，this Murkison—for such was his entitlements entitlement 权利—takes a letter out of his coat pocket in a careful，careless way and hands it to us to read.
“我们把当天的大事都谈过之后，这位默基森——这是他的尊姓——小心而又满不在乎地从衣袋里掏出一封信，递给我们看。
“‘Now，what do you think of that？’ says he，laughing—‘a letter like that to ME！’
“‘喂，你们有什么看法？’他笑着说，‘居然把这样一封信寄给我！’
“Me and Andy sees at a glance what it is； but we pretend to read it through. It was one of them old time typewritten green goods letters explaining how for 1，000 you could get 5，000 in bills that an expert couldnt tell from the genuine，and going on to tell how they were made from plates stolen by an employee of the Treasury at Washington.
“我和安迪一看就明白是怎么回事了，但我们还是装模作样地把它读了一遍。那是一种已经不时髦的，卖假钞票的打字信件，上面告诉你怎样花一千元就可以换到五千元连专家也难辨真伪的钞票，又告诉你，那些钞票是华盛顿财政部的一个雇员把原版偷出来翻印成的。
“‘Think of em sending a letter like that to ME！’ says Murkison again.
“‘他们竟会把这种信寄给我，真是笑话！’默基森又说。
“‘Lots of good men get em，’ says Andy. ‘If you dont answer the first letter they let you drop. If you answer it they write again asking you to come on with your money and do business.’
“‘有许多好人都收到过这种信。’安迪说。‘如果你收到第一封信后置之不理，他们也就算了。如果你复了信，他们就会再来信，请你带了钱去做交易。’”
“‘But think ofem writing to ME！ says Murkison.
“‘想不到他们竟会寄信给我！’默基森说。
“A few days later he drops around again.
“过了几天，他又光临了。
“‘Boys，’ says he，‘I know you are all right or I wouldnt confide in you. I wrote to them rascalsrascal n.流氓，无赖，坏蛋，淘气鬼 adj.不诚实的，卑鄙的，下贱的 again just for fun. They answered and told me to come on to Chicago. They said telegraph to J. Smith when I would start. When I get there Im to wait on a certain street corner till a man in a gray suit comes along and drops a newspaper in front of me. Then I am to ask him how the water is，and he knows its me and I know its him.’
“‘朋友们，’他说，‘我知道你们都是规矩人，不然我也不告诉你们了。我给那些流氓去了一封回信，开开玩笑。他们又来了信，请我去芝加哥。他们请我动身前先给杰·史密斯去个电报。到了那里，要我在某一个街角上等着，自会有一个穿灰衣服的人走过来，在我面前掉落一份报纸。我就可以问他：油水怎么样，于是我们彼此心照不宣，就接上了头。’
“‘Ah，yes，’ says Andy，gaping，‘its the same old game. Ive often read about it in the papers. Then he conducts you to the private abattoirabattoir n.<法>屠宰场，（拳击，摔跤，斗牛等的）角斗场 in the hotel，where Mr. Jones is already waiting. They show you brand new real money and sell you all you want at five for one. You see em put it in a satchel for you and know its there. Of course its brown paper when you come to look at it afterward.’
“‘啊，一点不错，’安迪打了个呵欠说，‘还是那套老花样。我在报上时常看到。后来他把你领到一家旅馆已布置好圈套的房间里，那早有一位琼斯先生在恭候了。他们取出许多崭新的真钞票，按五作一的价钱卖给你，你要多少就卖多少。你眼看他们替你把钞票放进一个小包，以为是在那里面了。可你出去以后再看时，里面只是些牛皮纸。’
“‘Oh，they couldnt switch it on me.’ says Murkison. ‘I havent built up the best paying business in Grassdale without having witticismswitticism n.妙语，俏皮话 about me. You say its real money they show you，Mr. Tucker？’
“‘哦，他们想在我面前玩瞒天过海的把戏可不成。’默基森说。‘我如果不精明，怎么能在青草谷创办了最有出息的事业呢？你说他们给你看的是真钞票吗，塔克先生？”
“‘Ive always—I see by the papers that it always is.’ says Andy.
“‘我自己始终用——不，我在报上看到总是用真的。’安迪回答说。
“‘Boys，’ says Murkison，‘Ive got it in my mind that them fellows cant fool me. I think Ill put a couple of thousand in my jeans and go up there and put it all over em. If Bill Murkison gets his eyes once on them bills they show him hell never take em off of em. They offer 5 for 1，and theyll have to stick to the bargain if I tackle em. Thats the kind of trader Bill Murkison is. Yes，I jist believe Ill drop up Chicago way and take a 5 to 1 shot on J. Smith. I guess the waterll be fine enough.’
“‘朋友们，’默基森又说，‘我有把握，那些家伙可骗不了我。我打算带上两千块钱，到那里去捉弄他们一下。如果我比尔·默基森看到他们拿出钞票，我就一直盯着它。他们既然说是五块换一块，我就咬住不放，他们休想反悔。比尔·默基森就是这样的生意人。是啊，我确实打算到芝加哥去一趟，试试杰·史密斯的五换一的把戏。我想油水是够好的。’
