Introduction：This story took place in a Spanish café，with a plot centeringon three characters：the old man，the middle-aged waiter，and the young waiter。Rich as the old man was，life was meaningless for him。He tried to commit suicide，but in vain。The old man tried to drive away emptiness in life by drowning his sorrow in alcohol，while the young man，not understanding the bitterness of being old，was eager to go back home to meet his wife……
1.It was very late and everyone had left the cafe except an oldman who sat in the shadow the leaves of the tree made against the electric light。In the day time the street was dusty，but at night the dew settled the dust and the old man liked to sit late because he was deaf and now at night it was quiet and he felt the difference。The two waiters inside the cafe knew that the old man was a little drunk，and while he was a good client they knew that if he became too drunk hewould leave without paying，so they kept watch on him。
2.“Last week he tried to commit suicide，”one waiter said。
3.“Why？”
4.“He was in despair。”
5.“What about？”
6.“Nothing。”
評注：“Nothing”一詞包含了他企圖自殺的深層原因：生活的無意義與空虛。
7.“How do you know it was nothing？”
8.“He has plenty of money。”
9.They sat together at a table that was close against the wall near the door ofthe cafe and looked at the terrace where the tables were all empty except wherethe old man sat in the shadow of the leaves of the tree that moved slightly in the wind。A girl and a soldier went by in the street。The street light shone on the brass number on his collar。The girl wore no head covering and hurried beside him。
10.“The guard will pick him up，”one waiter said。
11.“What does it matter if he gets what he’s after？”
12.“He had better get off the street now。The guard will get him。They went byfive minutes ago。”
評注：這兩個侍者在隱晦地談論某位士兵和少女的風流韻事，顯然他們的深夜幽會是不被軍隊允許的，執勤警衛如果撞見他們後果就會很嚴重。
13.The old man sitting in the shadow rapped on his saucer with his glass。The younger waiter went over to him。
14.“What do you want？”
15.The old man looked at him。“Another brandy，”he said。
16.“You’ll be drunk，”the waiter said。The old man looked athim。The waiterwent away。
17.“He’ll stay all night，”he said to his colleague。“I’m sleepy now。I neverget into bed before three o’clock。He should have killed himself last week。”
18.The waiter took the brandy bottle and another saucer from the counter insidethe cafe and marched out to the old man’s table。He put down the saucer and poured the glass full of brandy。
19.“You should have killed yourself last week，”he said to the deaf man。The old man motioned with his finger。“A little more，”he said。The waiter poured oninto the glass so that the brandy slopped over and ran down the stem into the topsaucer of the pile。“Thank you，”the old man said。The waiter took the bottleback inside the cafe。He sat down at the table with his colleague again。
20.“He’s drunk now，”he said。
21.“He’s drunk every night。”
22.“What did he want to kill himself for？”
23.“How should I know。”
24.“How did he do it？”
25.“He hung himself with a rope。”
26.“Who cut him down？”
27.“His niece。”
28.“Why did she do it？”
29.“Fear for his soul。”
評注：為他的靈魂擔憂。根據《聖經》，自殺違背了十戒，其靈魂將無法升入天堂。
30.“How much money has he got？”
31.“He’s got plenty。”