“i had a word with lot don’t recall what about there’s thg else, too about a an—he was bck-haired, i thk, curly hair, and he wore eyegsses”

“那是圖伊茲。” 馬龍說。

“that was tuesday,” alone said

這個年輕人絕望地做了個手勢。“我告訴你，我這輩子從沒認識過一個叫傑拉爾德?圖伊茲的人。你認為我會忘記認識一個叫傑拉爾德?圖伊茲的人嗎？”

the young an ade a despairg sture “i tell you i never knew a tuesday y life do you thk i’d fet knog a an nad rald tuesday?”

“別擔心，” 海倫安慰道，“接著說昨天的事。”

“don’t worry about it,” helene said othgly “go on about yesterday”

“就這些了，” 羅斯?麥克勞林疲倦地說，“沒有別的了。就好像我一直在睡覺。不，等等。還有一件事。等等……”

“that’s all,” ross cur said wearily “there jt isn’t anythg else it’s as though i’d been sleepg all that ti no, wait there is thg wait—”

他們等著，緊張得喘不過氣來。

they waited, and breathlessly

“我想起來了，” 他得意地說，“我想起我背誦了吉卜林的《靴子》。”

“i reber,” he said triuphantly “i reber recitg kiplg’s boots”

，！

六十秒後，海倫說：“太棒了！現在你能告訴我第二節怎麼背嗎？我一直想知道。”

after sixty sends helene said “wonderful! now can you tell how the send verse goes? i’ve always wanted to know”

“我很樂意。是……” 年輕人靠在枕頭上，自言自語道，“恐怕我忘了。”

“i’ll be gd to it’s—” the young an y back on his pillow, utterg to hiself “i’ afraid i’ve fotten it”

“也許你從第一節開始背，然後引出第二節，” 海倫滿懷希望地建議道。

“aybe if you started with the first verse and led to it,” helene sugsted hopefully

羅斯?麥克勞林張了幾次嘴，最後說：“對不起，我一點都想不起來了。不過是關於靴子的什麼。”

ross cur opened his outh once or ice, fally said, “i’ rry, i can’t recall any of it thg about boots