当埃斯卡洛皮亚大使回家吃午饭时，他的妻子大吃一惊。
When the Ambassador of Escalopia returned home for lunch, his wife got a shock.
他面色苍白，衣服狼狈不堪。
He looked pale and his clothes were in a frightful state.
"发生什么事了？"她问道。
'What has happened?' she asked.
"你的衣服怎么弄成这副样子？"
'How did your clothes get into such a mess?'
"一只灭火器，亲爱的，"大使淡淡地回答道。
'A fire extinguisher, my dear,' answered the Ambassador drily.
"今天上午大学生们把大使馆放火烧了。"
'University students set the Embassy on fire this morning.'
"天哪！"他的妻子惊呼道。
'Good heavens!' exclaimed his wife.
"那时候你在哪儿？"
'And where were you at the time?'
"我照常在办公室，"大使回答道。
'I was in my office as usual,' answered the Ambassador.
"火是在地下室起的。"
'The fire broke out in the basement.
"我立刻下去了，当然，结果那个蠢货霍斯特把灭火器对准了我。"
I went down immediately, of course, and that fool, Horst, aimed a fire extinguisher at me.
"他以为我着火了。"
He thought I was on fire.
"我一定得把那个家伙给调走。"
I must definitely get that fellow posted.'
大使的妻子继续追问，这时她突然注意到丈夫帽子上有一个大洞。
The Ambassador's wife went on asking questions, when she suddenly noticed a big hole in her husband's hat.
"那你怎么解释这个？"她问道。
'And how can you explain that?' she asked.
"哦，那个，"大使说道。
'Oh, that,' said the Ambassador.
"有人从我的办公室窗户外朝里开了一枪。"
'Someone fired a shot through my office window.
"打得准，不是吗？"
Accurate, don't you think?
"幸好当时我没戴着它。要不然，我就没办法回家吃午饭了。"
Fortunately, I wasn't wearing it at the time. If I had been, I would not have been able to get home for lunch.'
If I had been, I would not have been able to get home for lunch.'