這場戲：追問葬禮上的姑娘
第 4 章 · 共 17 章 · 2'08"
萊姆的葬禮上有個劇院姑娘，馬丁斯追著門房打聽她的名字，還問他 used to visit（過去常去）萊姆。對方勸他：再 dig up（翻出舊事）對哈里沒好處，何苦再來一遍 post-mortem（事後復盤）。他卻不聽，退掉回英國的機票，還訂了當晚劇院的票。想學旁敲側擊打聽訊息時怎麼說，這段很典型。
won't need it 是「用不著」
master of suspense 懸念大師compliments 問候、致意won't need it 用不著Whichever you prefer 隨你方便
萊姆死後，馬丁斯到處打聽他生前的事。他追問門房誰 used to visit（過去常去）萊姆，又想知道葬禮上那位約瑟夫施塔特劇院的姑娘是誰。對方不肯明說，只勸他別去打擾她，還說：再 dig up（翻出舊事）對哈里沒好處，何苦再 post-mortem（事後復盤）一遍；甚至有人勸他為自個兒打算。馬丁斯不聽，退掉回英國的機票，讓少校把票收回去；他反倒訂了當晚劇院的票，非要找到那姑娘。compliments 是替人轉達問候；master of suspense 是誇作家「懸念大師」；think of yourself 是為自個兒打算。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“Some girl of the Josefstadt Theatre. You know what Harry was.”
約瑟夫施塔特劇院的一個姑娘。你知道哈里是什麼樣的人。
不說名字只給身份，再補一句人人懂的暗示，意味深長。
You know what ... was.
要暗示某人的舊習、不便明說時能用；對當事人家屬別說這種話。
You know how Harry was. ／ That's Harry for you.
口語
Josefstadt 重音在後，You know 輕帶過。
You know what Tom was, always late. 你知道湯姆是什麼樣的人，總是遲到。
“You oughtn't to speak to her. It would only cause her pain.”
你不該去找她說話。那隻會讓她痛苦。
把勸阻說成替對方著想，禮貌裡全是攔阻。
It would only cause ... pain.
勸人別做會傷人的事時能用；自己有私心時這樣說會被聽出來。
It would only hurt her. ／ Talking to her would do more harm than good.
正式
oughtn't to 連讀，cause her pain 放緩。
Don't bring it up again; it would only cause her pain. 別再提了，那隻會讓她難受。
“What's the good of another post-mortem?”
再來一次驗屍又有什麼用？
用一句反問把查案的力氣說成白費，勸退得很體面。
What's the good of ...?
覺得某件事純屬白費時能用；對正在努力的人這樣說會顯得潑冷水。
What would another post-mortem achieve? ／ What good would digging it up do?
中性
What's the good 連讀，post-mortem 重音在 mor。
What's the good of arguing with him again? 再跟他吵又有什麼用？
“You'd do better to think of yourself.”
你最好還是多想想你自己。
打著為你好旗號的勸退，越體貼越像逐客令。
You'd do better to ...
給人出主意、勸其換個方向時能用；對方正在氣頭上時這樣說會招反感。
You'd be wiser to look after yourself. ／ Your time is better spent on yourself.
中性
You'd do better 連讀，yourself 重讀收尾。
You'd do better to focus on your own report. 你最好還是先管好自己的報告。
“One has to work the best way one can, you know.”
人總得想辦法過日子，你知道。
用最平淡的語氣替自己開脫，把生存說成無奈的公理。
One has to ... the best way one can.
為自己的將就、妥協找說法時能用；正式場合這樣講會顯得推卸。
You do what you can to get by. ／ Everyone manages the best way they can.
中性
best way one can 連讀，you know 輕收。
One has to raise a family the best way one can. 養家總得儘自己所能。
“- Here's the ticket for the plane tomorrow. - You tell the major I won't need it.”
——這是明天那班飛機的票。——你告訴少校，我用不著。
把回絕塞給傳話人，連面都不見，倔勁全在裡頭。
You tell ... I won't need it.
要託人回絕、傳話時能用；對上級或客戶這樣轉達會顯得失禮。
Tell the major I won't be needing it. ／ You can tell him I'm not taking it.
口語
tell the major 連讀，won't need it 輕快收尾。
You tell the manager I won't need the room. 你告訴經理，那個房間我不要了。
下一章 · 05what difference does it make有什麼區別這場戲：登門弔唁追問死因本義是驗屍，引申為事後復盤、再翻一遍舊事。原句 What's the good of another post-mortem，就是「再來一次復盤又有什麼用」，語氣很不耐煩。
說 dig up，字面是「挖出來」，常指把舊事、醜聞翻出來重提。原句裡 dig up 說的就是「萬一你翻出對哈里不利的事」，語氣帶著警告。
說 think of yourself，字面是「想想你自己」。原句 You'd do better to think of yourself，就是「你最好還是多想想自己」，是句勸人放手的話。
不是「誇獎」，而是替人轉達的「問候、致意」。原句 Major Calloway's compliments，就是「卡洛威少校向您問好」，是相當客套的說法。
說 master of suspense，suspense 是懸念。原句 A master of suspense 是克拉賓恭維馬丁斯的話，也點出這類小說最講究的那一手。
