English Original
Once, late at night, an Englishman came out of his hotel room into the corridor and asked a servant for a glass of water. The servant complied. The Englishman returned to his room, but reappeared a few minutes later to request another glass. The servant brought him a second glass.
Every few minutes, the Englishman would emerge from his room and repeat his request. After half an hour, the astonished servant decided to ask what he was doing with all the water. "Nothing," the Englishman answered imperturbably. "It's simply that my room is on fire."
中文翻译
一天深夜，一位英国人从酒店房间来到走廊，向服务员要了一杯水。服务员照办了。英国人回到房间，但几分钟后又出来要了一杯水。服务员给他送去了第二杯。
每隔几分钟，这位英国人就会从房间出来重复他的请求。半小时后，惊讶不已的服务员决定问问他到底要水做什么。"没什么，"英国人泰然自若地回答，"只不过是我的房间着火了。"