52 Mud is mud

My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.

我的堂兄哈里在他的书房里一直摆着一只形状古怪的大瓶子。

Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, greyish substance.

尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色,但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠、颜色发灰的东西。

If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud.

要是你问哈里瓶里装着什么,他会告诉你是香水泥。

If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin.

如果你表示怀疑或惊奇,他会立即请你闻一闻,然后取出一些抹在你的皮肤上。

This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have.

这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑。

The bottle really does contain perfumed mud.

瓶里装的的确是香水泥。