前任首相温思罗斯·莱恩先生在最近的选举中落败了。
The former Prime Minister, Mr. Wentworth Lane, was defeated in the recent elections.
他现在正从政治生涯中退下来，并且已经出国了。
He is now retiring from political life and has gone abroad.
我的朋友帕特里克，一直是莱恩先生的激进进步党的狂热反对者。
My friend, Patrick, has always been a fanatical opponent of Mr. Lane's Radical Progressive Party.
选举之后，帕特里克去了前任首相的家。
After the elections, Patrick went to the former Prime Minister's house.
当他询问莱恩先生是否住在那里时，值班警察告诉他，自从落选以来，前任首相已经出国了。
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.
第二天，帕特里克又去了那所房子。
On the following day Patrick went to the house again.
同一个警察正慢慢地走过入口处，这时帕特里克又问了同一个问题。
The same policeman was just walking slowly past the entrance, when Patrick asked the same question.
尽管这次有点怀疑，警察还是给了他同样的回答。
Though a little suspicious this time the policeman gave him the same answer.
又过了一天，帕特里克再一次去了那所房子，问了完全一样的问题。
The day after, Patrick went to the house once more and asked exactly the same question.
这一次，警察发火了。
This time, the policeman lost his temper.
"我昨天和前天都告诉过你了，"他喊道，"莱恩先生在选举中落败了。他已经退出政治生涯，出国生活去了！"
'I told you yesterday and the day before yesterday,' he shouted, 'Mr. Lane was defeated in the elections. He has retired from political life and gone to live abroad!'
"我知道，"帕特里克回答道，"但我就是喜欢听你说这话！"
'I know,' answered Patrick, 'but I love to hear you say it!'