I entered the hotel manager's office and sat down.

名词修饰名词

• telephone number ^电话号码
• the village fair ^乡村集市
• the fair of the village = the fair in the village ^{村里的集市}

I had just lost $50 and I felt very upset. ^{过去完成时(had + done) §}

feel upset ^{感到难过 / 心烦}

• I felt very upset after the argument. ^{吵完架后我特别难过。}
• Don't feel upset about small things. ^{别为小事难过。}

The manager was sympathetic, but he could do nothing.

could do nothing = could do nothing about it ^{对此事无能为力}

• I could do nothing to help you. ^{我没有办法帮你, 我无能为力（I could do nothing about it.）}
• Sorry,I could do nothing for you.
• They could do nothing to change the situation. ^{他们没法改变这个情况。}
• Certainly. / Of couse. / It’s my pleasure.^{(Can you help me?)}

'Everyone's losing money these days,' he said.

days ^{可以指“时期，时代”}

• in his boyhood days^{（在他的童年时代）}

these days ^{现在这年头 / 最近}

• Everything is expensive these days. ^{现在这年头什么都贵。}
• These days people prefer online shopping. ^{现在大家更喜欢网购。}
• Kids these days are so smart with phones. ^{现在的小孩玩手机可厉害了。}

He started to complain about this wicked world but was interrupted by a knock at the door.

start to do sth. = start doing sth. ^{开始做某事，两者无区别}

• a knock at the door ^{( 敲门声 )}
• knock at the door ^{(敲门, 指动作)}
• He started to complain about the weather again. ^{他又开始抱怨天气了。}
• Don't start to complain as soon as you arrive. ^{别一到就抱怨。}

be interrupted by ^被…打断

• Our conversation was interrupted by a phone call. ^{我们的谈话被电话打断了。}
• He was interrupted by a knock at the door. ^{他被敲门声打断了。}

A girl came in and put an envelope on the desk. ^{= A girl came in with an envelope and put it on the desk.}

put ... on ... ^{把…放在…上}

• He put a book on the desk. ^{在桌子上他放了一本书。}
• She puts a book in the box. ^{她把一本书放进盒子里。}
• She put the report on my desk. ^{她把报告放在我桌上了。}
• Just put your bag on the chair. ^{把包放在椅子上就行。}

It contained £50.

contain ^{里面装着 / 包含}

• The box contained all my old photos. ^{盒子里装着我所有旧照片。}
• This envelope contains important documents. ^{这个信封里有重要文件。}

"I found this outside this gentleman's room," she said.

find ... outside ... ^{在…外面找到…}

• Jasper has put up 'No Parking' signs outside his gate ...
• I found this key outside your door. ^{我在你门外找到这把钥匙的。}
• She found the wallet outside the hotel. ^{她在酒店外面捡到这个钱包。}

"Well," I said to the manager, "there is still some honesty in this world!"

there is still some ... ^{还是有…的}

• There is still some hope left. ^{还是有希望的。}
• There is still some kindness in people. ^{人还是有善良的一面的。}

in this world ^{在这个世界上}

• Good people still exist in this world. ^{这个世界上还是有好人的。}
• You'll find nice surprises in this world. ^{这个世界还是会有惊喜的。}