He was never absent during business hours, unless upon an errand, and then he was represented by his son, a grisly urchin of twelve, who was his express image.
在办公时间, 他从不无故缺席, 除非有事外出, 这时就由他十二岁的儿子, 一个面色苍白、头发卷曲的可怕的小家伙,替他顶班。 父亲外出时, 小家伙对他那副样子习以
常, 对替父亲干活也习以
常,他总是用左手支着满头鬈发的脑袋, 右手不停地书写着, 连头也不抬。