The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections.

前首相温特沃兹.莱恩先生在最近的大选中被击败。

He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad.

他现在退出了政界，到国外去了。

My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's Radical Progressive Party.

我的朋友帕特里克一直是莱恩先生的激进党的强烈反对者。

After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister's house.

大选结束后，帕特里克来到了前首相的住处。

When he asked if Mr. Lane lived there, the policeman on duty told him that since his defeat, the ex-Prime Minister had gone abroad.

当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时，值班的警察告诉他这位前首相落选后出国去了。

On the following day, Patrick went to the house again.

第二天，帕特里克再次来到首相的住处。

The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.

昨天的那位警察正从门口慢慢走过，帕特里克上前问了和昨天同样的问题。

Though a little suspicious this time, the policeman gave him the same answer.

虽然那位警察这次有点疑心，但还是对他作了同样的回答。

The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question.

第三天，帕特里克又去了，提出了同前两天完全一样的问题。

This time, the policeman lost his temper.

这一次警察火了。

"I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday," he shouted,

“我昨天和前天都告诉过您了，”他大叫着，

"Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!"

“莱恩先生在大选中被击败了，他已经退出了政界去国外了！”

"I know," answered Patrick, "but I love to hear you say it!"

“这我都知道，”帕特里克说，“可我就是喜欢听你说出这句！”