English Original
Marcus Osborne sat on his office chair with his feet propped atop his desk. He reflected, if anyone came into my office at this moment he would think I was the epitome of the happy and able private detective, and he wouldn't be too far off the mark.
Osborne was in his early thirties, slightly over six feet, with strong classic features and thick black hair. He knew he was a handsome man. After three years in the business, his private detective agency had a good reputation in the city. He was single and in love. The only drawback to this picture was that the object of his feelings was a married woman.
Three knocks on the door brought him back to reality. "Come in," he said, taking his feet off the desk.
A slender middle-aged man with thinning hair and rimless glasses, dressed in an expensive suit, opened the door and walked in. The detective got up and shook the newcomer's hand.
"Please sit down. I'm Marcus Osborne, director of the agency. What can I do for you?" He said this with a half-anxious expression which he had practiced in the mirror many times.
"My name is Harold Jones," he spoke in a low voice. "You have been highly recommended to me. I have a very sensitive matter to discuss and I've heard your agency is very discreet."
Osborne acknowledged the words with a modest inclination of his head.
Looking away, Osborne's new client explained. "I suspect my wife is cheating on me but I want to be sure. I want you to investigate... Follow her when she leaves our apartment, let me know where she goes and who she sees."
"We can give you a complete and detailed report. When would you like it?"
"I guess two weeks will be good enough. Unless you think you should follow her longer."
"We'll see... but two weeks may be okay."
"Fine. This is my card with my address. And here is an envelope with her picture and a check for an advance payment. I already know your rate. Please don't spare any expense."
"What's your wife's name?"
"Christine Ann."
Osborne held his breath. Christine Ann was his lover's name. This man must be her husband. He opened the envelope and looked at the picture and the check, hoping to gain time and recover his composure.
Jones perceived his seriousness as a desire to start work at once. "I see you're a man of few words. I'm sure you'll give me a thorough report next time I see you. Good day."
Marcus finally found his voice. "Good day, Mr. Jones," he said, getting up and walking his new client to the door.
After Jones was gone, Marcus sat down again at his desk. He was stunned. Mechanically, he opened a drawer and took out a bottle of Scotch and a glass. He poured himself a generous shot and, while sipping it, pondered how to handle this tricky situation.
So his new client was Christine Ann's husband. Not much to look at, he thought. No wonder she wants to get a divorce and marry me. Besides, she's in love with me.
He knew he couldn't give this client a true report. Still, he had to make a report.
He decided to give his operative Scott Palmer the job and to stay away from Christine Ann during the two weeks of the investigation. He would tell her about her husband's suspicions later, after he had delivered the report. They would have a good laugh then.
Two weeks later, Scott Palmer, twenty-one, eager, and in love with his job, came into Osborne's office. "I've finished the Jones investigation. I'll have the report on your desk first thing tomorrow morning."
"Great! Do me a favor now, will you? Call Mr. Jones and ask him to come to the office tomorrow morning at ten."
"You got it. See you tomorrow."
But the next morning when Jones walked into the office, Scott hadn't finished the report yet.
"Good morning, Mr. Jones. Sit down. Would you like a cup of coffee?" said Osborne, trying to gain some time.
"That would be nice. Thanks."
Osborne poured hot coffee into cups. When they had started drinking, Scott walked in and, after greeting Jones, gave a folder to his boss. Quickly, Osborne took out the original and gave it to his client, keeping the duplicate face down in front of him.
Jones read the report without a change of expression. When he finished, he looked at Osborne directly and said, "Three."
"Beg your pardon?"
"I was afraid of something like this. Three of them in only two weeks."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your report. It's really complete. It shows that she had three lovers in two weeks."
Osborne choked on his coffee, spilling some on the copy of the report. He exclaimed, "What!? Oh, pardon me." And, using the excuse of wiping the coffee, started reading it.
When he finished, he felt weak and exhausted. With an effort, he raised his eyes to the face of his client, who, with a knowing look, asked slowly, enunciating each word very clearly, "Don't you believe that there are some women you just can't trust?"
中文翻译
马库斯·奥斯本坐在办公椅上，双脚架在桌子上。他心想，如果此刻有人走进我的办公室，他会认为我是一个快乐又能干的私家侦探的典范，而且他的想法也八九不离十。
奥斯本三十出头，身高略超六英尺，五官轮廓分明，有一头浓密的黑发。他知道自己是个英俊的男人。从业三年后，他的私家侦探事务所在城里享有良好的声誉。他单身，并且正在恋爱。这幅美好图景的唯一瑕疵是，他爱慕的对象是一位已婚女性。
三声敲门声将他拉回现实。“请进，”他说着，把脚从桌子上放了下来。
一位身材瘦削、头发稀疏、戴着无框眼镜、穿着昂贵西装的中年男子开门走了进来。侦探站起身，与新来者握手。
“请坐。我是马库斯·奥斯本，事务所的负责人。有什么可以为您效劳的？”他说这话时带着一丝焦虑的表情，这表情他曾在镜子前练习过很多次。
“我叫哈罗德·琼斯，”他低声说道。“有人极力向我推荐您。我有一件非常敏感的事情要谈，而且我听说贵事务所非常谨慎。”
奥斯本谦逊地点了点头，表示认可。
奥斯本的新客户移开目光，解释道：“我怀疑我的妻子对我不忠，但我想确认一下。我希望您能调查一下……当她离开我们的公寓时跟踪她，告诉我她去了哪里，见了谁。”
“我们可以为您提供一份完整详细的报告。您希望什么时候要？”
“我想两周应该足够了。除非您认为需要跟踪更长时间。”
“我们看看情况……但两周可能没问题。”
“好的。这是我的名片，上面有我的地址。这是一个信封，里面有她的照片和一张预付支票。我已经知道您的收费标准了。请不必节省开支。”
“您妻子叫什么名字？”
“克里斯汀·安。”
奥斯本屏住了呼吸。克里斯汀·安是他情人的名字。这个人一定是她的丈夫。他打开信封，看了看照片和支票，希望能争取时间，恢复镇定。
琼斯将他的严肃理解为渴望立即开始工作。“我看您是个话不多的人。我相信下次见面时您会给我一份详尽的报告。再见。”
马库斯终于找回了自己的声音。“再见，琼斯先生，”他说着，起身将新客户送到门口。
琼斯走后，马库斯又坐回办公桌前。他惊呆了。他机械地打开右下方的抽屉，拿出一瓶苏格兰威士忌和一个杯子。他给自己倒了一大杯，一边小口啜饮，一边思考如何处理这个棘手的局面。
原来他的新客户是克里斯汀·安的丈夫。长得不怎么样，他想。难怪她想离婚嫁给我。而且，她爱的是我。
他知道自己不能给这位客户一份真实的报告。但他仍然必须做一份报告。
他决定把这项工作交给他的助手斯科特·帕尔默，并在调查的两周内远离克里斯汀·安。他打算在提交报告后再告诉她她丈夫的怀疑。到时候他们可以好好笑一场。
两周后，二十一岁、充满热情、热爱工作的斯科特·帕尔默走进奥斯本的办公室。“我已经完成了琼斯的调查。明天一早我会把报告放在您桌上。”
“太好了！现在帮我个忙好吗？打电话给琼斯先生，请他明天上午十点来办公室。”
“没问题。明天见。”
但第二天早上琼斯走进办公室时，斯科特还没有完成报告。
“早上好，琼斯先生。请坐。想来杯咖啡吗？”奥斯本说道，试图争取一些时间。
“那太好了。谢谢。”
奥斯本把热咖啡倒进杯子。他们刚开始喝咖啡，斯科特走了进来，向琼斯打过招呼后，把一个文件夹交给了他的老板。奥斯本迅速抽出原件交给客户，将副本正面朝下放在自己面前。
琼斯面无表情地读着报告。读完后，他直视着奥斯本说：“三个。”
“您说什么？”
“我就怕是这样的事。短短两周，三个。”
“您在说什么？”
“您的报告。真的很完整。报告显示她在两周内有了三个情人。”
奥斯本被咖啡呛到了，洒了一些在面前的报告副本上。他惊呼道：“什么！？哦，抱歉。”然后，他借口擦掉咖啡渍，开始阅读报告。
读完后，他感到虚弱无力，精疲力竭。他费力地抬起眼睛看向客户的脸，客户带着了然的神情，缓慢而清晰地一字一句问道：“你难道不觉得，有些女人就是不能信任吗？”