kerchief.

“两位小姐要在埃斯梅拉达别墅长住吗？”他问道，边轻松地操纵着小船，边用蓝白相间的手帕拭去脸上的汗水。

"Some twenty days: we are both married ladies," said Hilda, in her curious hushed voice, that made her Italian sound so foreign.

“大概住二十天左右，我俩都结婚了。”希尔达的语调怪异而沙哑，她的意大利语外国腔十足。

"Ah! Twenty days!" said the man.

“啊！二十天呢！”船夫说。

There was a pause. After which he asked: "Do the signore want a gondolier for the twenty days or so that they will stay at the Villa Esmeralda? Or by the day, or by the week?" Connie and Hilda considered. In Venice, it is always preferable to have one's own gondola, as it is preferable to have one's own car on land.

沉默片刻。他又问：“两位夫人，逗留期间要不要雇船？按天计算，或者按周计算都可以。”康妮和希尔达考虑着他的提议。置身水城威尼斯，雇条凤尾船确实方便得多，就好比在陆地上拥有自己的汽车一样。

"What is there at the Villa? What boats?" "There is a motor-launch, also a gondola. But—” The but meant: they won't be your property.

“别墅里有什么？配有什么船只？”“有只摩托艇，还有条凤尾船。只是……”话锋一转的意思是说，别墅的船你们无法随便调用。

"How much do you charge?" It was about thirty shillings a day, or ten pounds a week.

“你要多少钱？”他的要价为每天30先令，每周10英镑。

"Is that the regular price?" asked Hilda.

“这是市价吗？”希尔达问。

"Less, Signora, less. The regular price—” The sisters considered.

“便宜，夫人，便宜得多。目前的市价是——”姐妹俩思忖着。

"Well," said Hilda, "come tomorrow morning, and we will arrange it. What is your name?" His name was Giovanni, and he wanted to know at what time he should come, and then for whom should he say he was waiting. Hilda had no card. Connie gave him one of hers. He glanced at it swiftly, with his hot, southern blue eyes, then glanced again.

“哦，”希尔达说，“你明早过来吧，到时候咱们再定。你叫什么？”船夫名叫乔瓦尼，他询问碰面的时间，到时候找哪位合适。希尔达没有名片。康妮给他一张自己的。他匆匆瞥了一眼，南欧人那双热烈的蓝色眸子转动着，又看了一遍。

"Ah!" He said, lighting up. "Milady! Milady, isn't it?” "Milady Costanza!" said Connie.

“啊！”他说，脸上泛起光彩。“从男爵夫人！从男爵夫人，是吗？”“康斯坦萨夫人！”康妮答道。

He nodded, repeating: "Milady Costanza!" And putting the card carefully away in his blouse.

他点点头，重复着：“康斯坦萨夫人！”接着，小心翼翼地把名片揣进衣兜里。

The Villa Esmeralda was quite a long way out, on the edge of the lagoon looking towards Chioggia. It was not a very old house, and