这场戏：追问葬礼上的姑娘
第 4 章 · 共 17 章 · 2'08"
莱姆的葬礼上有个剧院姑娘，马丁斯追着门房打听她的名字，还问他 used to visit（过去常去）莱姆。对方劝他：再 dig up（翻出旧事）对哈里没好处，何苦再来一遍 post-mortem（事后复盘）。他却不听，退掉回英国的机票，还订了当晚剧院的票。想学旁敲侧击打听消息时怎么说，这段很典型。
won't need it 是「用不着」
master of suspense 悬念大师compliments 问候、致意won't need it 用不着Whichever you prefer 随你方便
莱姆死后，马丁斯到处打听他生前的事。他追问门房谁 used to visit（过去常去）莱姆，又想知道葬礼上那位约瑟夫施塔特剧院的姑娘是谁。对方不肯明说，只劝他别去打扰她，还说：再 dig up（翻出旧事）对哈里没好处，何苦再 post-mortem（事后复盘）一遍；甚至有人劝他为自个儿打算。马丁斯不听，退掉回英国的机票，让少校把票收回去；他反倒订了当晚剧院的票，非要找到那姑娘。compliments 是替人转达问候；master of suspense 是夸作家「悬念大师」；think of yourself 是为自个儿打算。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“Some girl of the Josefstadt Theatre. You know what Harry was.”
约瑟夫施塔特剧院的一个姑娘。你知道哈里是什么样的人。
不说名字只给身份，再补一句人人懂的暗示，意味深长。
You know what ... was.
要暗示某人的旧习、不便明说时能用；对当事人家属别说这种话。
You know how Harry was. ／ That's Harry for you.
口语
Josefstadt 重音在后，You know 轻带过。
You know what Tom was, always late. 你知道汤姆是什么样的人，总是迟到。
“You oughtn't to speak to her. It would only cause her pain.”
你不该去找她说话。那只会让她痛苦。
把劝阻说成替对方着想，礼貌里全是拦阻。
It would only cause ... pain.
劝人别做会伤人的事时能用；自己有私心时这样说会被听出来。
It would only hurt her. ／ Talking to her would do more harm than good.
正式
oughtn't to 连读，cause her pain 放缓。
Don't bring it up again; it would only cause her pain. 别再提了，那只会让她难受。
“What's the good of another post-mortem?”
再来一次验尸又有什么用？
用一句反问把查案的力气说成白费，劝退得很体面。
What's the good of ...?
觉得某件事纯属白费时能用；对正在努力的人这样说会显得泼冷水。
What would another post-mortem achieve? ／ What good would digging it up do?
中性
What's the good 连读，post-mortem 重音在 mor。
What's the good of arguing with him again? 再跟他吵又有什么用？
“You'd do better to think of yourself.”
你最好还是多想想你自己。
打着为你好旗号的劝退，越体贴越像逐客令。
You'd do better to ...
给人出主意、劝其换个方向时能用；对方正在气头上时这样说会招反感。
You'd be wiser to look after yourself. ／ Your time is better spent on yourself.
中性
You'd do better 连读，yourself 重读收尾。
You'd do better to focus on your own report. 你最好还是先管好自己的报告。
“One has to work the best way one can, you know.”
人总得想办法过日子，你知道。
用最平淡的语气替自己开脱，把生存说成无奈的公理。
One has to ... the best way one can.
为自己的将就、妥协找说法时能用；正式场合这样讲会显得推卸。
You do what you can to get by. ／ Everyone manages the best way they can.
中性
best way one can 连读，you know 轻收。
One has to raise a family the best way one can. 养家总得尽自己所能。
“- Here's the ticket for the plane tomorrow. - You tell the major I won't need it.”
——这是明天那班飞机的票。——你告诉少校，我用不着。
把回绝塞给传话人，连面都不见，倔劲全在里头。
You tell ... I won't need it.
要托人回绝、传话时能用；对上级或客户这样转达会显得失礼。
Tell the major I won't be needing it. ／ You can tell him I'm not taking it.
口语
tell the major 连读，won't need it 轻快收尾。
You tell the manager I won't need the room. 你告诉经理，那个房间我不要了。
下一章 · 05what difference does it make有什么区别这场戏：登门吊唁追问死因本义是验尸，引申为事后复盘、再翻一遍旧事。原句 What's the good of another post-mortem，就是「再来一次复盘又有什么用」，语气很不耐烦。
说 dig up，字面是「挖出来」，常指把旧事、丑闻翻出来重提。原句里 dig up 说的就是「万一你翻出对哈里不利的事」，语气带着警告。
说 think of yourself，字面是「想想你自己」。原句 You'd do better to think of yourself，就是「你最好还是多想想自己」，是句劝人放手的话。
不是「夸奖」，而是替人转达的「问候、致意」。原句 Major Calloway's compliments，就是「卡洛威少校向您问好」，是相当客套的说法。
说 master of suspense，suspense 是悬念。原句 A master of suspense 是克拉宾恭维马丁斯的话，也点出这类小说最讲究的那一手。
