While John Gilbert was in hospital, he asked his doctor to tell him whether his operation had been successful,

当约翰.吉尔伯特住院的时候，他问医生他的手术是否成功，

but the doctor refused to do so.

但医生拒绝告诉他。

The following day, the patient asked for a bedside telephone.

第二天，这位病人要了一部床头电话。

When he was alone, he telephoned the hospital exchange and asked for Doctor Millington.

当房里只剩他一个人时，他接通了医院的交换台，要求与米灵顿医生讲话。

When the doctor answered the phone, Mr. Gilbert said he was inquiring about a certain patient, a Mr. John Gilbert.

当这位医生接过电话时，吉尔伯特先生说他想询问一个病人的情况，是一位名叫约翰.吉尔伯特的先生。

He asked if Mr. Gilbert's operation had been successful and the doctor told him that it had been.

他问吉尔伯特先生的手术中否成功，医生告诉他手术很成功。

He then asked when Mr. Gilbert would be allowed to go home

然后他又问吉尔伯特先生什么时候可以回家，

and the doctor told him that he would have to stay in hospital for another two weeks.

医生说他在医院还必须再住上两个星期。

Then Dr. Millington asked the caller if he was a relative of the patient.

之后，米灵顿医生问打电话的人是否是病人的亲属。

'No,' the patient answered, 'I am Mr. John Gilbert.'

“不是，”病人回答说，“我就是约翰.吉尔伯特先生。”