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VOA Short Stories., The Exact Science of Matrimony

The Exact Science of Matrimony

Now, the VOA Special English program AMERICAN STORIES. Our story today is called “The Exact Science of Matrimony.” It was written by O. Henry. Here is Barbara Klein with the story.

(MUSIC)

BARBARA KLEIN: Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker could never be trusted. One day, the two men decided to open a marriage business to make some quick and easy money. The first thing they did was to write an advertisement to be published in newspapers. Their advertisement read like this:

“A charming widow, beautiful and home-loving, would like to remarry. She is only thirty-two years old. She has three thousand dollars in cash and owns valuable property in the country. She would like a poor man with a loving heart. No objection to an older man or to one who is not good-looking. But he needs to be faithful and true, can take care of property and invest money with good judgment. Give address, with details about yourself. Signed: Lonely, care of Peters and Tucker, agents, Cairo, Illinois.”

When they finished writing the ad, Jeff Peters said to Andy Tucker: “So far, so good. And now, where is the lady?”

Andy gave Jeff an unhappy look. “What does a marriage advertisement have to do with a lady?” he asked.

“Now listen,” Jeff answered. “You know my rule, Andy. In all illegal activities, we must obey the law, in every detail. Something offered for sale must exist. It must be seen. You must be able to produce it. That is how I have kept out of trouble with the police. Now, for this business to work, we must be able to produce a charming widow, with or without the beauty, as advertised.”

“Well,” said Andy, after thinking it over, “it might be better, if the United States Post Office should decide to investigate our marriage agency. But where can you hope to find a widow who would waste her time on a marriage proposal that has no marriage in it?”

Jeff said that he knew just such a woman.

“An old friend of mine, Zeke Trotter,” he said, “used to work in a tent show. He made his wife a widow by drinking too much of the wrong kind of alcohol. I used to stop at their house often. I think we can get her to work with us.”

(MUSIC)

Missus Zeke Trotter lived in a small town not far away. Jeff Peters went out to see her. She was not beautiful and not so young. But she seemed all right to Jeff.

“Is this an honest deal you are putting on, Mister Peters?” she asked when he told her what he wanted.

“Missus Trotter,” said Jeff, “three thousand men will seek to marry you to get your money and property. What are they prepared to give in exchange? Nothing! Nothing but the bones of a lazy, dishonest, good-for-nothing fortune-seeker. We will teach them something. This will be a great moral campaign. Does that satisfy you?”

“It does, Mister Peters,” she said. “But what will my duties be? Do I have to personally reject these three thousand good-for-nothings you speak of? Or can I throw them out in bunches?”

Jeff explained that her job would be easy. She would live in a quiet hotel and have no work to do. He and Andy would take care of all letters and the business end of the plot. But he warned her that some of the men might come to see her in person. Then, she would have to meet them face-to-face and reject them. She would be paid twenty-five dollars a week and hotel costs.

“Give me five minutes to get ready,” Missus Trotter said. “Then you can start paying me.”

So Jeff took her to the city and put her in a hotel far enough from Jeff and Andy's place to cause no suspicion.

Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker were now ready to catch a few fish on the hook. They placed their advertisement in newspapers across the country. They put two thousand dollars in a bank in Missus Trotter's name. They gave her the bank book to show if anyone questioned the honesty of their marriage agency. They were sure that Missus Trotter could be trusted and that it was safe to leave the money in her name.

Their ad in the newspapers started a flood of letters – more than one hundred a day. Jeff and Andy worked twelve hours a day answering them. Most of the men wrote that they had lost their jobs. The world misunderstood them. But they were full of love and other good qualities.

Jeff and Andy answered every letter with high praise for the writer. They asked the men to send a photograph and more details. And they told them to include two dollars to cover the cost of giving the second letter to the charming widow.

Almost all the men sent in the two dollars requested. It seemed to be an easy business. Still, Andy and Jeff often spoke about the trouble of cutting open envelopes and taking the money out.

A few of the men came in person. Jeff and Andy sent them to Missus Trotter and she did the rest. Soon, Jeff and Andy were receiving about two hundred dollars a day. One day, a federal postal inspector came by. But Jeff satisfied him that they were not breaking the law.

(MUSIC)

After about three months, Jeff and Andy had collected more than five thousand dollars, and they decided it was time to stop. Some people were beginning to question their honesty. And, Missus Trotter seemed to have grown tired of her job. Too many men had come to see her and she did not like that.

Jeff went to Missus Trotter's hotel to pay her what she was owed, and to say goodbye. He also wanted her to repay the two thousand dollars that was put into her bank account.

When Jeff walked into the room she was crying, like a child who did not want to go to school.

“Now, now,” he said. “What's it all about? Somebody hurt you? Are you getting homesick?”

“No, Mister Peters,” she said. “I'll tell you. You were always a good friend of my husband Zeke. Mister Peters, I am in love. I just love a man so hard I can't bear not to get him. He's just the kind I've always had in mind.”

“Then take him,” said Jeff. “Does he feel the same way about you?”

“He does,” Missus Trotter answered. “But there is a problem. He is one of the men who have been coming to see me in answer to your advertisement. And he will not marry me unless I give him the two thousand dollars. His name is William Wilkinson.”

Jeff felt sorry for her. He said he would be glad to let her give the two thousand dollars to Mister Wilkinson, so that she could be happy. But he said he had to talk to his partner about it.

Jeff returned to his hotel and discussed it with Andy.

“I was expecting something like this,” Andy said. “You can't trust a woman to stick with you in any plan that involves her emotions.”

Jeff said it was a sad thing to think that they were the cause of the breaking of a woman's heart. Andy agreed with him.

“I'll tell you what I am willing to do,” said Andy. “Jeff, you have always been a man of a soft and generous heart. Perhaps I have been too hard and worldly and suspicious. For once, I will meet you half-way. Go to Missus Trotter. Tell her to take the two thousand dollars out of the bank and give it to this Wilkinson fellow and be happy.”

Jeff shook Andy's hand for a long time. Then he went back to Missus Trotter. She cried as hard for joy as she had done for sorrow.

(MUSIC)

Two days later, Jeff and Andy prepared to leave town.

“Wouldn't you like to go meet Missus Trotter once before we leave?” Jeff asked Andy. “She'd like to express her thanks to you.”

“Why, I guess not,” Andy said. “I think we should hurry and catch the train.”

Jeff was putting all the money they had received in a belt he tied around his body. Then Andy took a large amount of money out of his pocket and asked Jeff to put it together with the other money.

“What's this?” Jeff asked.

“It's Missus Trotter's two thousand dollars,” said Andy.

“How do you come to have it?” Jeff asked.

“Missus Trotter gave it to me,” Andy answered. “I have been calling on her three nights a week for more than a month.”

“Then you are William Wilkinson?” Jeff asked.

“I was,” Andy said.

(MUSIC)

STEVE EMBER: “The Exact Science of Matrimony” was written by O.Henry. It was adapted for Special English by Shelley Gollust and produced by Lawan Davis. Your storyteller was Barbara Klein. You can read and listen to other AMERICAN STORIES on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.


The Exact Science of Matrimony Die exakte Wissenschaft der Eheschließung 結婚の正確な科学 A ciência exacta do matrimónio Точная наука о браке Точна наука про подружжя 婚姻的精确科学 婚姻的精確科學

Now, the VOA Special English program AMERICAN STORIES. Our story today is called “The Exact Science of Matrimony.” It was written by O. Henry. Notre histoire d'aujourd'hui s'appelle «La science exacte du mariage». Il a été écrit par O. Henry. 今日の私たちの話は「結婚の正確な科学」と呼ばれています。それはO.ヘンリーによって書かれました。 Here is Barbara Klein with the story. Zde je Barbara Klein s příběhem. İşte hikayeyle birlikte Barbara Klein.

(MUSIC)

BARBARA KLEIN: Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker could never be trusted. バーバラクライン:ジェフピーターズとアンディタッカーは決して信用できませんでした。 БАРБАРА КЛЯЙН: Джеффу Питерсу и Энди Такеру никогда нельзя было доверять. One day, the two men decided to open a marriage business to make some quick and easy money. Jednoho dne se oba muži rozhodli otevřít manželský podnik, aby vydělali nějaké rychlé a snadné peníze. ある日、二人の男は、迅速かつ簡単にお金を稼ぐために結婚ビジネスを開くことを決めました。 The first thing they did was to write an advertisement to be published in newspapers. První věcí, kterou udělali, bylo napsat inzerát, který bude zveřejněn v novinách. 彼らが最初にしたことは、新聞に掲載される広告を書くことでした。 Their advertisement read like this: Jejich reklama zněla takto: 彼らの広告は次のように読まれました: Их реклама гласила:

“A charming widow, beautiful and home-loving, would like to remarry. "Okouzlující vdova, krásná a milující domov, se chce znovu oženit." 「魅力的で未亡人で、美しく家庭的な人は、再婚したいと思っています。 «Очаровательная вдова, красивая и домашняя, хочет снова выйти замуж. She is only thirty-two years old. Je jí teprve dvacet dva let. 彼女はたった32歳です。 She has three thousand dollars in cash and owns valuable property in the country. Má v hotovosti tři tisíce dolarů a vlastní hodnotný majetek v zemi. 彼女は3000ドルの現金を持っており、国の貴重な財産を所有しています。 У нее есть три тысячи долларов наличными и ценное имущество в стране. She would like a poor man with a loving heart. Chtěla by chudého muže s milujícím srdcem. 彼女は愛情のこもった心の貧しい人を望んでいます。 No objection to an older man or to one who is not good-looking. Žádná námitka proti staršímu muži nebo proti tomu, kdo není dobře vypadající. 年上の男性や見栄えの悪い人には異論はありません。 Нет возражений против пожилого мужчины или того, кто некрасив. But he needs to be faithful and true, can take care of property and invest money with good judgment. Musí však být věrný a pravdivý, může se starat o majetek a investovat peníze s dobrým úsudkem. しかし、彼は忠実で真実である必要があり、財産を大事にし、適切な判断でお金を投資することができます。 Но он должен быть верным и верным, может заботиться о собственности и вкладывать деньги с рассудительностью. Give address, with details about yourself. Uveďte adresu s podrobnostmi o sobě. 自分の詳細を添えて住所を伝えます。 Signed: Lonely, care of Peters and Tucker, agents, Cairo, Illinois.” Podepsáno: Osamělá, péče o Petra a Tuckera, agenty, Káhira, Illinois. “ 署名:孤独、ピーターズとタッカーの世話、エージェント、カイロ、イリノイ。」 Подпись: Lonely, забота Питерса и Такера, агенты, Каир, Иллинойс».

When they finished writing the ad, Jeff Peters said to Andy Tucker: “So far, so good. Když dokončili psaní reklamy, Jeff Peters řekl Andymu Tuckerovi: „Zatím dobře. 彼らが広告を書き終えたとき、ジェフ・ピーターズはアンディ・タッカーにこう言いました。 And now, where is the lady?” A teď, kde je ta dáma? “ そして今、女性はどこにいますか?」

Andy gave Jeff an unhappy look. Andy se Jeffovi nešťastně podíval. アンディはジェフに不幸な表情を与えました。 “What does a marriage advertisement have to do with a lady?” he asked. „Co má manželská reklama společného s paní?“ Zeptal se. «Qu'est-ce qu'une annonce de mariage a à voir avec une femme?» Il a demandé. 「結婚の広告は女性とどのような関係があるのですか?」彼は尋ねた。

“Now listen,” Jeff answered. "Teď poslouchej," odpověděl Jeff. 「聞いてください」とジェフは答えた。 “You know my rule, Andy. "Znáš moje pravidlo, Andy." «Tu connais ma règle, Andy. 「あなたは私のルールを知っています、アンディ。 In all illegal activities, we must obey the law, in every detail. Při všech nezákonných činnostech musíme dodržovat zákon v každém detailu. すべての違法行為において、私たちは法律を細部まで遵守しなければなりません。 Something offered for sale must exist. Něco nabídnuté k prodeji musí existovat. Quelque chose proposé à la vente doit exister. 販売のために提供された何かが存在している必要があります。 Что-то выставленное на продажу должно существовать. It must be seen. To musí být vidět. Il faut le voir. 必見です。 You must be able to produce it. Musíte být schopni to vyrobit. あなたはそれを生産できなければなりません。 That is how I have kept out of trouble with the police. Tak jsem se vyhnul problémům s policií. C'est ainsi que j'ai évité les ennuis avec la police. それで警察とのトラブルを防いだ。 Now, for this business to work, we must be able to produce a charming widow, with or without the beauty, as advertised.” Nyní, aby toto podnikání fungovalo, musíme být schopni vyrobit okouzlující vdovu, s krásou nebo bez krásy, jak je inzerováno. “ 今、このビジネスが機能するためには、宣伝されているように、美しさの有無にかかわらず、魅力的な未亡人を生み出すことができなければなりません。」

“Well,” said Andy, after thinking it over, “it might be better, if the United States Post Office should decide to investigate our marriage agency. "No," řekl Andy poté, co o tom přemýšlel, "mohlo by být lepší, kdyby se americká pošta rozhodla prošetřit naši manželskou agenturu." 「まあ」とアンディは考えて言った、「合衆国郵便局が私たちの結婚相談所を調査することを決定した方がいいかもしれません。 But where can you hope to find a widow who would waste her time on a marriage proposal that has no marriage in it?” Ale kde můžete doufat, že najdete vdovu, která by ztratila svůj čas na sňatku, který v něm nemá manželství? “ しかし、結婚していない結婚の提案に時間を浪費する未亡人をどこで見つけられるでしょうか。」

Jeff said that he knew just such a woman. Jeff řekl, že věděl jen takovou ženu. ジェフは彼がまさにそのような女性を知っていたと言いました。

“An old friend of mine, Zeke Trotter,” he said, “used to work in a tent show. "Můj starý přítel, Zeke Trotter," řekl, "pracoval ve stanové show." 「私の昔の友人、ジークトロッター」と彼は言った、「テントショーで働いていました。 He made his wife a widow by drinking too much of the wrong kind of alcohol. Učinil svou ženu vdovou tím, že pil příliš mnoho špatného druhu alkoholu. 彼は間違った種類のアルコールを飲みすぎて妻を未亡人にしました。 I used to stop at their house often. Často jsem se zastavoval v jejich domě. I think we can get her to work with us.” Myslím, že ji můžeme přimět, aby s námi pracovala. “ 私たちは彼女に私たちと一緒に働かせることができると思います。」

(MUSIC)

Missus Zeke Trotter lived in a small town not far away. Slečna Zeke Trotterová žila v malém městečku nedaleko. Jeff Peters went out to see her. Jeff Peters šel za ní. She was not beautiful and not so young. Nebyla krásná a nebyla tak mladá. But she seemed all right to Jeff. Ale zdála se Jeffovi v pořádku.

“Is this an honest deal you are putting on, Mister Peters?” she asked when he told her what he wanted. "Je to upřímná dohoda, kterou uzavíráte, pane Peterse?" Zeptala se, když jí řekl, co chce. «Est-ce un accord honnête que vous concluez, Monsieur Peters?» elle a demandé quand il lui a dit ce qu'il voulait. 「これはあなたがかけている正直な取引ですか、ミスター・ピーターズ?」彼女はいつ彼に何をしたいのかを尋ねた。 - Вы заключаете честную сделку, мистер Питерс? - спросила она, когда он сказал ей, чего хочет.

“Missus Trotter,” said Jeff, “three thousand men will seek to marry you to get your money and property. "Slečno Trotterová," řekl Jeff, "tři tisíce mužů se vás pokusí oženit, abyste získali své peníze a majetek." «Missus Trotter», dit Jeff, «trois mille hommes chercheront à vous épouser pour obtenir votre argent et vos biens. What are they prepared to give in exchange? Co jsou připraveni dát výměnou? 彼らは引き換えに与える準備は何ですか? Что они готовы дать взамен? Nothing! Nothing but the bones of a lazy, dishonest, good-for-nothing fortune-seeker. Nic jiného než kosti líného, nečestného, nešťastného hledajícího. Rien que les os d'un chercheur de bonne aventure paresseux, malhonnête et bon à rien. 怠惰で不誠実な、何の役にも立たないフォーチュンシーカーの骨に他なりません。 Ничего, кроме костей ленивого, нечестного, никчемного искателя удачи. We will teach them something. Něco jim naučíme. Мы их кое-чему научим. This will be a great moral campaign. Bude to velká morální kampaň. Это будет великая моральная кампания. Does that satisfy you?” Uspokojuje vás to? “

“It does, Mister Peters,” she said. "Ano, pane Peterse," řekla. “But what will my duties be? Do I have to personally reject these three thousand good-for-nothings you speak of? Musím osobně odmítnout těchto tři tisíce dobrých věcí, o kterých mluvíte? 私はあなたが話しているこれらの三千の善のために個人的に拒絶しなければなりませんか? Or can I throw them out in bunches?” Nebo je můžu vyhodit do hroznů? “ または私はそれらを束に捨てることができますか?」 Или я могу выбрасывать их пачками?»

Jeff explained that her job would be easy. Jeff vysvětlil, že její práce bude snadná. She would live in a quiet hotel and have no work to do. Bydlila v klidném hotelu a neměla žádnou práci. He and Andy would take care of all letters and the business end of the plot. On a Andy se postarali o všechna písmena a obchodní konec zápletky. 彼とアンディはすべての手紙と陰謀の仕事の終わりを世話します。 Он и Энди позаботятся обо всех письмах и деловой части сюжета. But he warned her that some of the men might come to see her in person. Varoval ji však, aby ji někteří z mužů mohli navštívit osobně. しかし、一部の男性は彼女に直接会いに来るかもしれないと警告した。 Then, she would have to meet them face-to-face and reject them. Pak by se s nimi musela setkat tváří v tvář a odmítnout je. それから、彼女は彼らに面と向かって会って、彼らを拒絶しなければなりませんでした。 She would be paid twenty-five dollars a week and hotel costs. Odměna by jí byla vyplácena dvacet pět dolarů týdně a náklady na hotel. 彼女には週に25ドルとホテルの費用が支払われます。

“Give me five minutes to get ready,” Missus Trotter said. "Dej mi pět minut, abych se připravil," řekla slečna Trotterová. 「準備が整うまで5分ほどください」とMissus Trotter氏は語った。 “Then you can start paying me.” "Tak mi můžeš začít platit." 「その後、私に支払いを開始できます。」

So Jeff took her to the city and put her in a hotel far enough from Jeff and Andy’s place to cause no suspicion. Jeff ji tedy vzal do města a dal ji do hotelu dostatečně daleko od místa Jeffa a Andyho, aby nevyvolával žádné podezření. それで、ジェフは彼女を街に連れて行き、疑いの余地がないジェフとアンディの場所から十分離れたホテルに彼女を置きました。

Jeff Peters and Andy Tucker were now ready to catch a few fish on the hook. Jeff Peters a Andy Tucker byli připraveni chytit pár ryb na háček. ジェフ・ピーターズとアンディ・タッカーは、フックで数匹の魚を捕まえる準備ができました。 They placed their advertisement in newspapers across the country. Umístili svou reklamu do novin po celé zemi. 彼らは全国の新聞に広告を掲載した。 They put two thousand dollars in a bank in Missus Trotter’s name. Vložili dva tisíce dolarů do banky na jméno slečny Trotterové. 彼らはミスソス・トロッターの名で銀行に2000ドルを入れました。 They gave her the bank book to show if anyone questioned the honesty of their marriage agency. Dali jí bankovní knihu, aby ukázala, jestli někdo pochyboval o poctivosti své manželské agentury. 彼らは彼女に彼女の預金通帳を与えて、誰かが彼らの結婚機関の正直さを疑ったかどうか示しました。 They were sure that Missus Trotter could be trusted and that it was safe to leave the money in her name. Byli si jistí, že se slečno Trotterové dá věřit a že je bezpečné ponechat peníze v jejím jménu. 彼らは、ミサストロッターが信頼できること、そしてお金を彼女の名前のままにしても安全であることを確信していました。

Their ad in the newspapers started a flood of letters – more than one hundred a day. Jejich reklama v novinách vyvolala záplavu dopisů - více než sto denně. Jeff and Andy worked twelve hours a day answering them. Jeff a Andy pracovali dvanáct hodin denně a odpovídali na ně. Most of the men wrote that they had lost their jobs. Většina mužů psala, že přišli o práci. The world misunderstood them. Svět je nepochopil. 世界はそれらを誤解しました。 But they were full of love and other good qualities. Byly však plné lásky a dalších dobrých vlastností. しかし、彼らは愛と他の良質に満ちていました。

Jeff and Andy answered every letter with high praise for the writer. Jeff a Andy odpověděli na každý dopis s velkou chválou za spisovatele. They asked the men to send a photograph and more details. Požádali muže, aby poslali fotografii a další podrobnosti. And they told them to include two dollars to cover the cost of giving the second letter to the charming widow. A řekli jim, aby zahrnuli dva dolary na pokrytí nákladů na dávání druhého dopisu okouzlující vdově.

Almost all the men sent in the two dollars requested. Téměř všichni muži poslaní ve dvou dolarech požádali. It seemed to be an easy business. Zdálo se, že jde o snadný obchod. Still, Andy and Jeff often spoke about the trouble of cutting open envelopes and taking the money out. Přesto Andy a Jeff často hovořili o problémech s krájením otevřených obálek a vybíráním peněz. それでも、アンディとジェフは、開いた封筒を切り取ってお金を取り出す問題についてよく話しました。

A few of the men came in person. Několik mužů přišlo osobně. 数人の男性が直接来ました。 Jeff and Andy sent them to Missus Trotter and she did the rest. Jeff a Andy je poslali Missus Trotterové a ona udělala zbytek. ジェフとアンディはそれらをミスサストロッターに送り、彼女は残りを行いました。 Soon, Jeff and Andy were receiving about two hundred dollars a day. Jeff a Andy brzy dostali asi dvě stě dolarů. One day, a federal postal inspector came by. Jednoho dne přišel federální poštovní inspektor. But Jeff satisfied him that they were not breaking the law. Ale Jeff ho uspokojil, že neporušují zákon. しかし、ジェフは彼らが法律を破っていないことを彼に満足させました。

(MUSIC)

After about three months, Jeff and Andy had collected more than five thousand dollars, and they decided it was time to stop. Asi po třech měsících shromáždili Jeff a Andy více než pět tisíc dolarů a rozhodli se, že je čas zastavit. Some people were beginning to question their honesty. Někteří lidé začali zpochybňovat jejich upřímnost. And, Missus Trotter seemed to have grown tired of her job. A zdálo se, že slečna Trotterová unavená svou prací. そして、ミサス・トロッターは彼女の仕事にうんざりしているようでした。 Too many men had come to see her and she did not like that. Přišlo k ní příliš mnoho mužů, kterým se to nelíbilo. あまりにも多くの男性が彼女に会いに来ていました、そして彼女はそれが好きではありませんでした。

Jeff went to Missus Trotter’s hotel to pay her what she was owed, and to say goodbye. Jeff šel do hotelu slečny Trotterové, aby jí zaplatil to, co jí dlužilo, a rozloučil se. ジェフは、彼女が負っていたものを支払うために、そしてさよならを言うために、ミサストロッターのホテルに行きました。 He also wanted her to repay the two thousand dollars that was put into her bank account. Také chtěl, aby splatila dva tisíce dolarů, které byly vloženy na její bankovní účet.

When Jeff walked into the room she was crying, like a child who did not want to go to school. Když Jeff vešel do místnosti, plakala jako dítě, které nechtělo chodit do školy.

“Now, now,” he said. "Teď, teď," řekl. “What’s it all about? "O čem to celé je? 「それは一体何なの? Somebody hurt you? Někdo ti ublížil? 誰かがあなたを傷つけましたか? Are you getting homesick?” Začínáš být doma? “

“No, Mister Peters,” she said. "Ne, pane Peterse," řekla. “I’ll tell you. "Řeknu ti to. You were always a good friend of my husband Zeke. Vždy jsi byl dobrý přítel mého manžela Zeke. あなたはいつも私の夫ジークの良い友達でした。 Mister Peters, I am in love. Pane Peterse, jsem zamilovaná. I just love a man so hard I can’t bear not to get him. Miluju člověka tak tvrdého, že ho nemůžu snášet, abych ho nedostal. 私はただ男を愛しているので、彼を捕まえないと我慢できない。 Я просто люблю мужчину так сильно, что не могу не заполучить его. He’s just the kind I’ve always had in mind.” Je to ten typ, který jsem měl vždy na mysli. “ 彼は私がいつも考えていたような人です。」

“Then take him,” said Jeff. "Tak ho vezmi," řekl Jeff. 「それから彼を連れて行きなさい」とジェフは言った。 “Does he feel the same way about you?” "Cítí se o tobě stejně?" 「彼はあなたについて同じように感じますか?」

“He does,” Missus Trotter answered. "Ano," odpověděla slečna Trotterová. “But there is a problem. "Ale je tu problém." He is one of the men who have been coming to see me in answer to your advertisement. Je to jeden z mužů, kteří mě přišli navštívit jako odpověď na vaši reklamu. And he will not marry me unless I give him the two thousand dollars. A nebude se oženit, dokud mu nedám dva tisíce dolarů. His name is William Wilkinson.” Jmenuje se William Wilkinson. “

Jeff felt sorry for her. Jeff za ni litoval. He said he would be glad to let her give the two thousand dollars to Mister Wilkinson, so that she could be happy. Řekl, že by ji rád nechal dát dva tisíce dolarů panu Wilkinsonovi, aby mohla být šťastná. 彼は彼女が幸せになることができるようにミスター・ウィルキンソンに彼女に2000ドルを与えさせてくれたらうれしいだろうと彼は言った。 But he said he had to talk to his partner about it. Řekl však, že o tom musí mluvit se svým partnerem. しかし、彼はそれについて彼のパートナーと話をしなければならなかったと言いました。

Jeff returned to his hotel and discussed it with Andy. Jeff se vrátil do svého hotelu a prodiskutoval to s Andym. ジェフはホテルに戻り、アンディと話し合いました。

“I was expecting something like this,” Andy said. "Čekal jsem něco takového," řekl Andy. 「私はこのようなものを期待していました」とアンディは言いました。 “You can’t trust a woman to stick with you in any plan that involves her emotions.” "Nemůžeš věřit ženě, že se s tebou bude držet v plánu, který zahrnuje její emoce." 「あなたは、女性が彼女の感情を伴うどんな計画においてもあなたに固執することを信頼することができません。」

Jeff said it was a sad thing to think that they were the cause of the breaking of a woman’s heart. Jeff řekl, že je smutné myslet si, že jsou příčinou zlomení ženského srdce. ジェフは、それが女性の心の傷の原因であると考えるのは悲しいことだと言いました。 Andy agreed with him. Andy s ním souhlasil.

“I’ll tell you what I am willing to do,” said Andy. "Řeknu ti, co jsem ochoten udělat," řekl Andy. 「私が何をするつもりかをお話しします」とアンディは言いました。 — Я скажу тебе, что я готов сделать, — сказал Энди. “Jeff, you have always been a man of a soft and generous heart. "Jeffe, vždy jsi byl mužem měkkého a velkorysého srdce." 「ジェフ、あなたはいつも柔らかくて寛大な心の人でした。 Perhaps I have been too hard and worldly and suspicious. Možná jsem byl příliš tvrdý a světský a podezřelý. おそらく、私はあまりにもハードで、世俗的で、疑わしいものでした。 For once, I will meet you half-way. Prozatím se s vámi setkám na půl cesty. とりあえず、途中でお会いしましょう。 На этот раз я встречу тебя на полпути. Go to Missus Trotter. Přejít na slečnu Trotterovou. Tell her to take the two thousand dollars out of the bank and give it to this Wilkinson fellow and be happy.” " 銀行から2000ドルを引き出して、このウィルキンソンフェローに渡して幸せになるように彼女に言ってください。」

Jeff shook Andy’s hand for a long time. Jeff dlouho potřásl Andyho rukou. Then he went back to Missus Trotter. Potom se vrátil k Missus Trotterové. She cried as hard for joy as she had done for sorrow. Plakala stejně těžko pro radost, jako pro zármutek. 彼女は悲しみのためにしたのと同じくらい喜びのために激しく泣きました。 Она плакала так же сильно от радости, как и от горя.

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Two days later, Jeff and Andy prepared to leave town. O dva dny později se Jeff a Andy připravili opustit město.

“Wouldn’t you like to go meet Missus Trotter once before we leave?” Jeff asked Andy. „Nechtěli byste se jednou setkat s Missus Trotterovou, než odjedeme?“ Zeptal se Jeff Andy. “She’d like to express her thanks to you.” "Chtěla by ti poděkovat."

“Why, I guess not,” Andy said. "Myslím, že ne," řekl Andy. “I think we should hurry and catch the train.” "Myslím, že bychom si měli pospíšit a chytit vlak."

Jeff was putting all the money they had received in a belt he tied around his body. Jeff dával všechny peníze, které obdržel, do opasku, který svázal kolem jeho těla. Then Andy took a large amount of money out of his pocket and asked Jeff to put it together with the other money. Pak Andy vytáhl z kapsy velké množství peněz a požádal Jeffa, aby je dal dohromady s ostatními penězi. アンディはポケットから多額のお金を取り出し、ジェフに他のお金と一緒にまとめるように頼みました。

“What’s this?” Jeff asked. „Co je to?“ Zeptal se Jeff.

“It’s Missus Trotter’s two thousand dollars,” said Andy. "Jsou to dva tisíce dolarů slečny Trotterové," řekl Andy.

“How do you come to have it?” Jeff asked. „Jak to, že to máš?“ Zeptal se Jeff. 「どうやってそれを手に入れるのですか?」ジェフは尋ねました。

“Missus Trotter gave it to me,” Andy answered. "Slečna Trotterová mi to dala," odpověděl Andy. “I have been calling on her three nights a week for more than a month.” "Zavolám jí tři noci v týdnu déle než měsíc." 「私は彼女に週に3泊を1か月以上呼びかけています。」 «Я звоню ей три вечера в неделю уже больше месяца».

“Then you are William Wilkinson?” Jeff asked. „Pak jste William Wilkinson?“ Zeptal se Jeff.

“I was,” Andy said. "Byl jsem," řekl Andy.

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STEVE EMBER: “The Exact Science of Matrimony” was written by O.Henry. STEVE EMBER: „Exact Science of Manrimony“ napsal O.Henry. It was adapted for Special English by Shelley Gollust and produced by Lawan Davis. Your storyteller was Barbara Klein. You can read and listen to other AMERICAN STORIES on our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Steve Ember.