这场戏：疗养院拜访霍洛威小姐
第 22 章 · 共 28 章 · 2'33"
里克和帕姆到疗养院拜访霍洛威小姐，门口有人客气地问，你们 by any chance（说不定）是来见霍洛威小姐的？交谈里对方纠正说这里没有病人，只是 just guests（客人），又提起风沃宅的 disturbances（怪事）。想学怎么客气打听、怎么委婉称呼客人，这几句很实用。
by any chance（说不定）门口遇见鸟小姐
by any chance 莫非、说不定have an appointment 有约在先for an interview 约见的日子go out for a little walk 出去散散步
know so very little of（几乎不了解）见面先道歉
give you these 把这些给你know so very little of 对……几乎不了解talk about 谈论、聊到help you 帮你
里克和帕姆来到霍洛威小姐的疗养院，一进门就有人问 by any chance（说不定）是来见霍洛威小姐的吧；他们在门口遇到一位把自己当成鸟的伯德小姐，托他们带一包小石子给霍洛威。见面后，霍洛威说这里没有病人，只是 just guests（客人），像家旅馆，再加一点同情心。她提到他们在电话里说过风沃宅的 disturbances（怪事），问能怎么帮上忙。想学怎么客气打听、怎么把话说得委婉，这些话很有用。
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。
“Are you by any chance waiting to see Miss Holloway?”
您二位莫不是来见霍洛威小姐的？
一句礼貌试探，by any chance 把冒昧的问话裹得又软又得体。
Are you by any chance ...?
对不太熟的人打听或确认时用；事情已经确定时别说，会显得没把握。
Are you here to see Miss Holloway, by any chance? ／ Would you happen to be waiting for her?
正式
by any chance 连读，句尾上扬但别太用力。
Are you by any chance the new manager? 您莫非就是新来的经理？
“I was asked to give you these by a Miss Bird, I believe.”
是伯德小姐托我把这些带给您的，我想。
被动语态加一句 I believe，把转交说得像公事，客套得很地道。
I was asked to ... by ..., I believe.
代人转交东西或传话时用；熟人之间这么说会显得太见外。
A Miss Bird asked me to bring you these. ／ I was told to pass these on to you.
正式
was asked 轻读，give you these 连读，I believe 放句尾压低。
I was asked to give you this by your neighbour, I believe. 是您的邻居托我把这个带给您的，我想。
“Forgive our ignorance. We know so very little of your work.”
请原谅我们孤陋寡闻，我们对您的工作几乎一无所知。
先自贬再请教，so very little 一叠，谦逊得恰到好处。
Forgive our ignorance. We know so very little of ...
向专家请教、请人介绍时用；对平辈朋友说会显得做作。
Forgive my ignorance, but I know very little about this. ／ I'm afraid I know almost nothing about your work.
正式
Forgive 起句稍重，so very little 放慢加重。
Forgive our ignorance; we know so very little of your field. 请原谅我们孤陋寡闻，对您这一行几乎一无所知。
“But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm Miss Bird.”
可这就很逗了，因为你看，我就是伯德小姐。
一句自报家门的绕圈子，把小人物的可笑和可怜一起说出来。
But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm ...
发现巧合、想强调自己身份时用；正式介绍别这样绕。
That is funny, because I am Miss Bird. ／ How funny, you see, since I am Miss Bird.
口语
because you see 连读，I'm Miss Bird 重读收尾。
But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm the new manager. 可这就很逗了，因为你看，我就是新来的经理。
下一章 · 23put up with忍受这场戏：追问悬崖命案始末意思是「莫非、说不定」，用来客气地猜测或打听。比如 Are you by any chance waiting for me?（你该不会是在等我吧？）语气很礼貌。
if you'd be so very kind，完整点是 if you'd be so very kind as to...。这是很客气、偏老派的请求方式，等于「劳您大驾」。
直译是「只是客人」。疗养院把病人称作 guests，是委婉说法，既顾及面子也更客气。想委婉称呼人时，可以说 guests，不说 patients。
意思是「骚动、闹出的怪事」，比 trouble 更正式。电影里 disturbances at Windward 就是指风沃宅夜里那些怪动静。
表示「受托、被要求去做」。比如 I was asked to give you these（有人托我把这些带给你），常用于转达别人的请求。
