guard came to the prison shoe shop where Jimmy Valentine was working and took him to the prison office. There the warden handed Jimmy his pardon, which had been signed that morning by the governor. He took it quietly; he was too tired to show excitement. He had been in prison nearly ten months and he had been sentenced to four years. True, he had expected to stay only about three months, at the longest. He had a lot of friends and he had been sure they would help him.

看守來到基米·范林丁正在干活的監獄制鞋間，將他帶到監獄辦公室。到了那里，監獄長將一張赦免書遞給基米，這是今天早上州長簽署的。基米默默地接過去，對此他沒有流露出任何的激動。他早已膩煩，他在獄中呆了將近10個月，而判他的是4年徒刑。說真的，他本來打算最多呆3個月的。他有好多朋友，他相信他們一定會為他想辦法的。

“Now, Valentine,” said the warden, “You’ll go out in the morning. Make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow really. Stop breaking open safes and be honest.”

“范林丁，”監獄長說，“明天早上你就可以出獄了，要活出個人樣來。其實你這人并不壞。再不要撬保險柜了。做一個誠實的人。”

“Me?” said Jimmy, in surprise. “Why, I’ve never broken open a safe in my life.”

“我？”基米吃驚地說，“你說什么？我可從來沒有撬過保險柜呀。”

“Oh, no,” laughed the warden. “Of course not. And what about that Springfield job? Do you mean to say you didn’t take part in it?”

“啊，沒有，”監獄長笑道，“當然沒有。可是，春田事件該怎么說呢？你是說你沒有參與那件事嗎？”

“Me?” said Jimmy still more surprised. “Why, warden, I’ve never been to Springfield in my life!”

“我？”基米更吃驚了。“怎么，監獄長，我可從來沒有去過春田呀！”

“Take him back,” the warden said to the guard smiling, “and give him some clothes. Unlock him at seven in the morning and let him come to me. Better think over my advice, Valentine.”

“把他帶回去，”監獄長對看守笑道，“給他一些衣服，明天早上7點給他開鎖后讓他到我這里來。最好還是把我的勸告想一下，范林丁。”

At a quarter past seven the next morning Jimmy stood in the warden’s office. He wore a badly-fitting ready-made suit and the cheap shoes that the state gives to prisoners, when they are set free. The clerk handed him a railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which he was supposed to start a new, honest life. The warden gave him a cigar, and they shook hands. Valentine, 9762, was registered on the books “Pardoned by Governor,” and Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine.

第二天早上7點15分，基米站在了監獄長的辦公室。他穿著一套很不合身的現成衣服和一雙廉價的鞋子。這些是在釋放犯人時發給他們的。一名職員遞給他一張火車票和5美元。拿著這些錢，從此就可以開始誠實的新的人生了。監獄長遞給他一支雪茄。他們握了握手。范林丁，9762號，已經登記在“州長赦免冊”中。于是，詹姆斯·范林了便走到了陽光下。