it was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an old man who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light. in the day time the street was dusty, but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference. the two waiters inside the cafe knew that the old man was a little drunk, and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk he would leave without paying, so they kept watch on him.
時間很晚了，大家都離開餐館，只有一個老人還坐在樹葉擋住燈光的陰影里。白天裡，街上儘是塵埃，到得晚上，露水壓住了塵埃。這個老人喜歡坐得很晚，因為他是個聾子，現在是夜裡，十分寂靜，他感覺得到跟白天的不同。呆在餐館裡的兩個侍者知道這老人有點兒醉了，他雖然是個好主顧，可是，他們知道，如果他喝得太醉了，他會不付賬就走，所以他們一直在留神他。
"last week he tried to commit suicide," one waiter said.
"why?"
"he was in despair."
"what about?"
"nothing."
"how do you know it was nothing?"
"he has plenty of money."
"上個星期他想自殺，"一個侍者說。
"為什麼?"
"他絕望啦。"
"幹嗎絕望?"
"沒事兒。"
"你怎么知道是沒事兒?"
"他有很多錢。"
they sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door of the cafe and looked at the terrace where the tables were all empty except where the old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved slightly in the wind. a girl and a soldier went by in the street. the street light shone on the brass number on his collar. the girl wore no head covering and hurried beside him.
他們一起坐在緊靠著餐館大門牆邊的桌旁，眼睛望著平台，那兒的桌子全都空無一人，只有那個老人坐在隨風輕輕飄拂的樹葉的陰影里。有個少女和一個大兵走過大街。街燈照在他那領章的銅號碼上。那個少女沒戴帽子，在他身旁匆匆走著。
"the guard will pick him up," one waiter said.
"what does it matter if he gets what he's after?"
"he had better get off the street now. the guard will get him. they went by five minutes ago."
the old man sitting in the shadow rapped on his saucer with his glass. the younger waiter went over to him.