A Governor visiting a state prison was implored¹ by a convict to pardon him.

州长在视察一所州管监狱时，有个罪犯哀求州长宽恕他。

“What are you in for？”asked the Governor.

“你犯了什么事？”州长问道。

“I held a high office,”the convict humbly² replied,“and sold subordinate appointments.”

“我曾经是个高级官员，”犯人低声下气地回答，“因为向下级卖官。”

“Then I decline to interfere,”said the Governor, with asperity,“a man who abuses his office by making it serve a private end and purvey³ a personal advantage is unfit to be free. By the way, Mr. Warden,”he added to the official beside him, as the convict slunk away,“in appointing you to this position, I was given to understand that your friends could make the Shikane county delegation⁴ to the next State convention solid for the present administration. Was I rightly informed？”

“那样的话，我绝不会管你的事情，”州长严厉地说，“为达到个人目的、牟取私利而滥用职权的人不应该得到自由。顺便说一下，监狱长，”当那个罪犯偷偷溜走时，他接着对身旁的那位官员说，“我在任命你担任这个职务时，得知你的朋友能让西科恩县参加下届州会议的代表团支持本届政府。我得到的消息准确吗？”

“You were, sir.”

“是的，州长先生。”

“Very well, then, I will bid you good-bye. Please be so good as to appoint my nephew Chaplain.''

“那么，很好，我该向你道别了。请别忘记任命我的侄子为牧师啊。”