All right, she said with a laugh, you can ask me. Might as well get it over with. Better than have you call me Fenny all the time. Presumably… said Arthur. We’ve only got two tickets left, you see, and since you were so generous when I spoke to you before… What? snapped Arthur. The woman with the perm and the smile and the now nearly empty book of cloakroom tickets was now waving the two last ones under his nose. I thought I’d give the opportunity to you, because the prizes are so nice. She wrinkled up he nose a little confidentially. Very tasteful. I know you’ll like them. And it is for Anjie’s retirement present you see. We want to give her… A kidney machine, yes, said Arthur. Here. He held out two more ten pence pieces to her, and took the tickets. A thought seemed to strike the woman. It struck her very slowly. You could watch it coming in like a long wave on a sandy beach. Oh dear, she said, I’m not interrupting anything am I? She peered anxiously at both of them. No it’s fine, said Arthur. Everything that could possibly be fine, he insisted, is fine. Thank you, he added. I say, she said, in a delightful ecstasy of worry, you’re not… in love, are you? It’s very hard to say, said Arthur. We haven’t had a chance to talk yet. He glanced at Fenchurch. She was grinning. The woman nodded with knowing confidentiality. I’ll let you see the prizes in a minute, she said, and left. Arthur turned, with a sigh, back to the girl that he found it hard to say whether he was in love with. You were about to ask me, she said, a question. Yes, said Arthur. We can do it together if you like, said Fenchurch. Was I found… …in a handbag… joined in Arthur. …in the Left Luggage Office… they said together. …at Fenchurch street station, they finished. And the answer, said Fenchurch, is no. Fine, said Arthur. I was conceived there. What? I was con… “那好，”她笑着说，“你可以问我了。也许能把这事儿弄清楚。至少比你整天叫我芬妮要好。” “大概是......”阿瑟说。 “您瞧，我们只剩两张彩票了，因为我之前跟您谈的时候您如此慷慨，所以......” “啥玩意儿？”阿瑟恨恨地说。 那个卷发的微笑女人如今正端着一本几乎空了的存包处票子，把最后两张彩票在阿瑟的鼻子底下挥舞着。 “我觉着应当把机会让给您，因为奖品非常的优厚。” 她小小地皱了一下鼻子，好像在跟阿瑟说很贴心的话。 “非常有品味的。我知道您会喜欢的。而且您看，这是给安洁的退休礼物。我们想送给她......” “一台人工肾，好的，”阿瑟说。“给你钱。” 他再拿出二十便士给她然后拿了彩票。 一个念头似乎击中了那个女人。非常缓慢地击中了她。你可以看见那个念头的到来就像沙滩上一道长长的波浪。 “哦，亲爱的，”她说，“我没有打断任何事是不？” 她紧张地盯着他们俩。 “没有，没事的，”阿瑟说。“任何可能发生的事都很好，”他坚持道，“很好。” “谢谢你。”他又补充一句。 “我说啊，”她用一种欣喜若狂的担忧语气讲，“您们不会是在......恋爱中吧？” “很难说，”阿瑟说。“我们到现在都还没有说话的机会。” 他瞅了一眼芬琪诗。她咧嘴笑着。 那个女人像知道了一个机密一样意味深长地点了点头。 “我马上就让您看一眼奖品，”她说着离开了。 阿瑟转过来，叹了口气，面对着那个很难说是不是自己已经爱上的女孩。 “你正要问我，”她说，“一个问题。” “是的，”阿瑟回答。 “如果你愿意的话我们可以一起来：”芬琪诗说。“我是不是......” “装在一只手提包里......”阿瑟加入进来。 “被发现在失物招领处......”他们一起说着。 “......而那个失物招领处在芬琪诗街车站。”他们一起说完了。 “而答案则是，”芬琪诗说，“否定的。” “好吧。”阿瑟说。 “我是在那儿被怀上的。” “啥？” “我是在那儿被怀——”
