美国语文第六册 第3期:纽卡斯尔公爵趣事(3)
The parties separated; the Duke drove to a friend's house in the neighborhood,
晚宴散后，公爵乘马车来到相邻的朋友家下榻，
without a wish or desire to see his new acquaintance till that day seven years;
一直到七年后的那天都没有任何想去看望自己这位刚结识的朋友的意思和愿望。
but the memory of the Cornish elector, not being burdened with such a variety of objects, was more retentive.
不过，这件事在康沃尔这位选举人的记忆里可扎下根了。
The supervisor died a few months after, and the Duke's humble friend, relying on the word of a peer,
几个月后总督死了，公爵这位卑微的朋友怀揣着对同侪这句话的期冀，
was conveyed to London posthaste, and ascended with alacrity the steps of that nobleman's palace.
十万火急地赶往伦敦，抢先一步踏上那位大人物宅邸的台阶。
The reader should be informed, that just at this time, no less a person than the King of Spain was expected hourly to depart this life,
列为看官想必清楚，在当时有一位身份不亚于西班牙国王的人无时无刻不想远离这种生活，
an event in which the minister of Great Britain was particularly concerned;
问题是大不列颠的内阁大臣则尤其热衷于这种生活。
and the Duke of Newcastle, on the very night that the proprietor of the decisive vote arrived at his door, had sat up anxiously expecting dispatches from Madrid.
在那个特别的夜晚手中握有关键选票的人在纽卡斯尔公爵门前叩门，而纽卡斯尔公爵原本焦急地盼望来自马德里的信件。
Wearied by official business and agitated spirits, he retired to rest,
由于连日公事繁忙，他心神疲惫不堪，已经回到内室休息。
having previously given particular instructions to his porter not to go to bed,
他早就叮嘱过门童务必打起精神，
as he expected every minute a messenger with advices of the greatest importance,
他每分钟都在焦急中度过，盼望有信使捎来最重要的讯息，
and desired that he might be shown upstairs, the moment of his arrival.
盼着门童能将信使引上楼来。
