Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 "Toto, thank goodness you're here. Quickly, come inside.' Even though he looked his usual well- groomed self, dressed in an impeccable grey suit and bowler hat, it was clear that Larry was far from relaxed as he opened the grand wooden cat flap at the side of 10 Downing Street and ushered his guests in. The kittens had made their way easily

第四章“托托，谢天谢地你来了。 快进来。”尽管拉里穿着一套完美无瑕的灰色西装，头戴圆顶礼帽，看上去还是一如既往的整洁得体，但当他打开唐宁街10号旁边那扇巨大的木制猫门，迎接宾客时，显然一点也不放松。 小猫们很容易就走了过去

enough from the tube at Westminster, but Toto had to agree with Silver- everyone on the way had looked a bit surly and glum. Even with her limited eyesight she was getting the impression that the whole of London was in a BAD mood. The police officers looked bored and distracted, the cab drivers were honking their horns even more than usual, and the school children they'd passed looked like they might be about to throw tantrums, and end up on the naughty step. And now the worry etched on Larry's face made it even more evident: something was up. They followed Larry, padding their way down a short hall into a small, dark, wooden lift (known in the human world

但是托托不得不同意西尔弗的看法——路上的每个人都显得有点阴沉和忧郁。 即使视力有限，她也能感觉到整个伦敦的气氛都很糟糕。 警察们看起来很无聊，心烦意乱，出租车司机们比平时更频繁地按喇叭，他们经过的学生们看起来可能要发脾气了，最后走到淘气的台阶上。 而现在，拉里脸上刻下的担忧更让人明白：出事了。 他们跟在拉里后面，穿过一个短短的大厅，进入了一个在人类世界里很有名的又小又黑的木制电梯

as a dumb waiter, the kind you sometimes see in restaurants to move food between floors). It could just about fit all three cats in. Larry pulled the old iron shutters closed and pushed a button. The lift descended deep into the building, and when it came to a stop they stepped out into in an

作为一个愚蠢的服务员，你有时会在餐馆里看到在楼层之间传递食物的那种)。 它刚好能装下三只猫。 拉里拉上旧铁百叶窗，按下按钮。 电梯下降到大楼的深处，当它停下来时，他们走了出来

underground office. In the centre, there was an old wooden desk, covered in papers and lit by a green desk light. Facing it were two very nappable-looking leather armchairs and, to the side, a drinks trolley with five or six different types of milk in beautiful crystal decanters. What was most striking about the office, though, were the pictures on the walls. Each one was a portrait painting of a different cat. There was one who looked Victorian, another in military uniform from the First World War. There were many wearing monocles or top hats, there were some in full regimental dress, and others wore fancy suits. They all looked proud and very, VERY important.

地下的办公室。中间有一张旧木桌，上面铺着纸，点着一盏绿色的台灯。 对面摆着两张看起来非常舒适的皮扶手椅，旁边摆着一辆饮料手推车，里面装着五、六种不同的牛奶，装在漂亮的水晶酒瓶里。 不过，这间办公室最引人注目的是墙上的画。 每一幅画都是不同的猫的肖像。 其中一个看起来像维多利亚时代，另一个穿着一战时期的军装。 有许多人戴着单片眼镜或高礼帽，有些人穿着全套军服，还有一些人穿着华丽的西装。 他们看起来都很骄傲，而且非常非常重要。

'My predecessors, explained Larry, after Silver had quietly described the scene to his sister. 'But before I tell you about them, where are my manners? This might be a crisis, but there's no room for rudeness. Toto, Silver, what can I get you to drink? Let me see I've got some organic, some ordinary semi-skimmed, almond for those of you

“我的前任，”在西尔弗平静地向他妹妹描述了当时的情景后，拉里解释说。 “但在我告诉你之前，我的礼貌到哪里去了？” 这可能是个危机，但不能容忍粗鲁。 托托，小银，你们想喝点什么？ 让我看看，我有一些有机的，一些普通的半脱脂杏仁

who might be allergic to dairy (at this Silver looked very confused). No, I think we need something stronger. How about a couple of glasses of JERSEY MILK? Yes, that's the stuff.' He licked his lips as he expertly poured the creamy milk into Martini glasses. Toto sipped hers slowly- it was like nothing

他可能对乳制品过敏（西尔弗听了很困惑）。 不，我觉得我们需要更烈的酒。 来几杯泽西牛奶怎么样？ 是的，就是这个。”他舔了舔嘴唇，熟练地把奶油牛奶倒进马提尼酒杯里。 托托慢慢地啜饮着她的——就像什么也没有