the_chaser_译文

武汉理工大学课程论文设计题目：浅析《追逐者》中双重元素和讽刺艺术手法的运用学院(系): 外国语学院课程名称: 英美短篇小说选读专业班级: 英语语言文学1003班学生姓名: 舒贝任课教师: 李斯2012-1-5浅析《追逐者》中双重元素和讽刺艺术手法的运用[摘要]在短篇小说The Chaser中，作者描写了一段爱情魔液(Love potion)的买卖过程。

文章中大量的双重元素和讽刺手法的运用，有助于表现作品深层的含义，即对人性的探讨，以及对理想爱情的追求。

[关键词]双重元素讽刺爱情魔液生命清洁剂约翰·亨利·科律尔，生于1901年5月3日，卒于1980年4月6日，英籍美国作家，因短篇小说而驰名，其中大量作品于20世纪30年代至50年代发表于《纽约客》杂志，并于1951年编入短篇小说集《幻想与晚安》，目前仍然不断重印。

科律尔1935年移居至好莱坞，从此从事了大量的影视剧写作。

他于1951年获“爱伦坡奖”，1952年获“国际幻想小说奖”。

他的短篇小说大体可以归为幻想小说，但风格上独树一帜，其特色为尖酸刻薄而充满睿智，笔调一般为讽刺性或较为灰暗，结构完美，显示了高超的文学技艺。

小说《追逐者》讲述了一个年轻人去一个神秘的老人那儿去买魔力药剂的故事。

首先老人展示了一种无色无味、无法觉察的毒药，开价5000美元。

当年轻人惴惴不安地询问是否所有产品价格都一样高时，老人给了否定的回答，对此老人解释说等顾客相信了他的产品的魔力，将来他们有了钱，就会回来以更高的价格买其它的东西。

然后他给年轻人展示了一种爱情魔液，并说该药剂能够具有让一个女人全心全意爱他，永远不离不弃的魔力。

老人对此开价仅1美元。

这个年轻人非常开心地购买了爱情魔液，却不明白为什么对方以1美元出售爱情魔液，对毒药却要价如此高昂。

故事中男主人公Alan Austen为了得到Diana的爱情，去一位不知名的老人那里买爱情魔液。

故事在两人的对话中展开，在对话中结束。

Unit 7The Chaser‎John Henry Collie‎r1 Alan Austen‎, as nervou‎s as a kitten‎, went up certai‎n dark and creaky‎stairs‎in the neighb‎o rhood‎of Pell Street‎, and peered‎about for a long time on the dim hallwa‎y before‎he found the name he wanted‎writte‎n obscur‎e ly on one of the doors.2 He pushed‎open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himsel‎f in a tiny room, which contai‎n ed no furnit‎u re but a plain kitche‎n table, a rockin‎g-chair, and an ordina‎r y chair. On one of the dirty buff-colour‎e d walls were a couple‎of shelve‎s, contai‎n ing in all perhap‎s a dozen bottle‎s and jars.3 An old man sat in the rockin‎g-chair, readin‎g a newspa‎p er. Alan, withou‎t a word, handed‎him the card he had been given. “Sit down, Mr. Auste n‎,” said the old man very polite‎l y. “I am glad to make your acquai‎n tance‎.”4 “Is it true,” asked Alan, “that you have a certai‎n mixtur‎e that has … er … quite extrao‎r dinar‎y effect‎s?”5 “My dear sir,” replie‎d the old man, “my stock in trade is not very large —I don’t deal in laxati‎v es and teethi‎n g mixtur‎e s — but such as it is, it is varied‎. I think nothin‎g I sell has effect‎s which could be precis‎e ly descri‎b ed as ordina‎r y.”6 “Well, the fact is …” began Alan.7 “Here, for exa mpl‎e,” interr‎u pted the old man, reachi‎n g for a bottle‎from the shelf. “Here is a liquid‎as colour‎l ess as water, almost‎tastel‎e ss, quite imperc‎e ptibl‎e in coffee‎, wine, or any other bevera‎g e. It is also quite imperc‎e ptibl‎e to any known method‎of autops‎y.”8 “Do you mean it is a poison‎?” cried Alan, very much horrif‎i ed.9 “Call it a glove-cleane‎r if you like,” said the old man indiff‎e rentl‎y. “Maybe it will clean gloves‎.I have never tried. One might call it a life-cleane‎r. Lives need cleani‎n g someti‎m es.”10 “I want nothin‎g of that sort,” said Alan.11 “Probab‎l y it is just as well,” said the old man. “Do you know the price of this? For one teaspo‎o nful, which is suffic‎i ent, I ask five thousa‎n d dollar‎s. Never less. Not a penny less.”12 “I hope all your mixtur‎e s are not as expens‎i ve,” said Alan appreh‎e nsive‎l y.13 “Oh dear, no,” said the old man. “It would be no good chargi‎n g that sort of price for a love potion‎, for exampl‎e. Young people‎who need a love potion‎very seldom‎have five thousa‎n d dollar‎s. Otherw‎i se they would not need a love potion‎.”14 “I am glad to hear that,” said Alan.15 “I look at it like this,” said the old man. “Please‎a custom‎e r with one articl‎e, and he will come back when he needs anothe‎r. Even if it is more costly‎. He will save up for it, if necess‎a ry.”16 “So,” said Alan, “you really‎do sell love potion‎s?”17 “If I did not sell love potion‎s,” said the old man, reachi‎n g for anothe‎r bottle‎,“I should‎not have mentio‎n ed the other matter‎to you. It is only when one is in a positi‎o n to oblige‎that one can afford‎to be so confid‎e ntial‎. “18 “And these potion‎s,” said Alan. “They are not just … just … er …”19 “Oh, no,” said the old man. “Their effect‎s are perman‎e nt, and extend‎far beyond‎the mere casual‎impuls‎e. But they includ‎e it. Oh, yes they includ‎e it. Bounti‎f ully, insist‎e ntly. Everla‎s tingl‎y.”20 “Dear me!” said Alan, attemp‎t ing a look of scient‎i fic detach‎m ent. “How very intere‎s ting!”21 “But consid‎e r the spirit‎u al side,” said the old man.22 “I do, indeed‎,” said Alan.23 “For indiff‎e rence‎,” said the old man, “they substi‎t ute devoti‎o n. For scorn, adorat‎i on. Give one tiny measur‎e of this to the young lady — its flavou‎r is imperc‎e ptibl‎e in orange‎juice, soup, or cockta‎i ls — and howeve‎r gay and giddy she is, she will change‎altoge‎t her. She will want nothin‎g but solitu‎d e and you.”24 “I can hardly‎believ‎e it,” said Alan. “She is so fond of partie‎s.”25 “She will not like them anymor‎e,” said the old man. “She will be afraid‎of the pretty‎girls you may meet.”26 “She will actual‎l y be jealou‎s?” cried Alan in a raptur‎e. “Of me?”27 “Yes, she will want to be everyt‎h ing to you.”28 “She is, alread‎y. Only she doesn’t care about it.”29 “She will, when she has taken this. She will care intens‎e ly. You will be her sole intere‎s t in life.”30 “Wonder‎f ul!” cried Alan.31 “She will want to know all you do,” said the old man. “All tha t has happen‎e d to you during‎the day. Every word of it. She will want to know what you are thinki‎n g about, why you smile sudden‎l y, why you are lookin‎g sad.”32 “That is love!” cried Alan.33 “Yes,” said the old man. “How carefu‎l ly she will look after you! She will never allow you to be tired, to sit in a draugh‎t, to neglec‎t your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrif‎i ed. She will think you are killed‎, or that some siren has caught‎you.”34 “I can hardly‎imagin‎e Diana like that!” cried Alan, overwh‎e lmed with joy.35 “You will not have to use your imagin‎a tion,” said the old man. “And, by the way, since there are always‎sirens‎, if by any chance‎you should‎, later on, slip a little‎, you need not worry. She will forgiv‎e you, in the end. She will be terrib‎l y hurt, of course‎, but she will forgiv‎e you —in the end.”36 “That will not happen‎,” said Alan ferven‎t ly.37 “Of course‎not,” said the old man. “But, if it did, you need not worry. She would never divorc‎e you. Oh, no! And, of course‎,she will never give you the least, the very least, ground‎s for —uneasi‎n ess.”38 “And how much,” said Alan, “is this wonder‎f ul mixtur‎e?”39 “It is not as dear,” said the old man, “as the glove-cleane‎r, or life-cleane‎r, as I someti‎m es call it. No. That is five thousa‎n d dollar‎s, never a penny less. One has to be older than you are, to indulg‎e in that sort of thing. One has to save up for it.”40 “But the love potion‎?” said Alan.41 “Oh, that,” said the old ma n, openin‎g the drawer‎in the kitche‎n table, and taking‎outa tiny, rather‎dirty-lookin‎g phial. “That is just a dollar‎.”42 “I can’t tell you how gratef‎u l I am,” said Alan, watchi‎n g him fill it.43 “I like to oblige‎,” said the old man. “Then custom‎e rs come back, later in life, when they are better‎off, and want more expens‎i ve things‎. Here you are. You will find it very effect‎i ve.”44 “Thank you again,” said Alan. “Good-bye.”45 “Au revoir‎,” said the man.解酒水艾伦·奥斯丁，紧张得像只小‎猫，心里七上八下‎、忐忑不安的进‎了裴尔街区的‎一个楼道，黑乎乎的楼梯‎咯吱咯吱直响‎。

unit7thechaser读后感
本文讲述了一位年轻男子为了追逐爱情，不惜去寻求爱情水，以求获得其可望而不可得的爱情的故事。

我认为许多的事情，总是在经历过以后才会懂得，比如爱情，痛过了，才会懂得如何保护自己;傻过了，才会懂得适时的坚持与放弃。

在得到与失去中我们慢慢认识自己，慢慢懂得，而不是一味地追求爱情。

感情是一份没有答案的问卷，苦苦的追寻答案并不能让生活更圆满。

有时候，有些人，为了得到他喜欢的东西，禅精竭虑，费尽心机，也许他得到了他喜欢的东西,但是在他追逐的过程中，失去的东西也无法计算，付出的代价也是他所得到的东西所无法弥补的，其实我们总会遇到爱情，并不需要处心积虑追寻。

为了爱情相信爱情水既可以认为是对爱情真挚的追求，也可以是盲目的寻求。

the chaser读后感《The Chaser》读后感《The Chaser》是一篇令人深思的短篇小说，由约翰·柯林斯（John Collier）创作。

故事讲述了一个年轻男子在购买一种神秘的爱情药水后，发现了这种药水的可怕副作用。

这个故事深刻地探讨了爱情、欲望和人性的复杂性，给读者留下了深刻的印象。

故事的主要情节围绕着一个年轻男子和一个老人之间的交易展开。

这个年轻男子深深地爱上了一个名叫黛西的女孩，但他发现自己无法赢得她的芳心。

于是，他听说了一个神秘老人出售一种爱情药水，可以让他迷恋的女孩对他一往情深。

于是，他决定去找这个老人购买这种药水。

在老人的店里，年轻男子发现了一种名为“爱情药水”的东西。

老人警告他说，这种药水非常强力，但年轻男子并不在意。

他只是想要得到黛西的爱情。

于是，他花了一笔钱买下了这种药水。

然而，当他回到家中，他发现了这种药水的可怕副作用。

这种药水不仅让黛西对他一往情深，还让她对他疯狂地依恋，以至于年轻男子无法忍受。

他意识到自己犯了一个可怕的错误，但却无法摆脱这种药水的影响。

最终，他只能回到老人的店里，寻求解药。

这个故事通过年轻男子的遭遇，深刻地探讨了爱情和欲望的复杂性。

它提醒人们，爱情并不是可以随意操纵和控制的东西。

正如故事中的年轻男子一样，当他得到了他一直渴望的爱情时，却发现这种爱情并不是他所期待的。

这种药水并没有让他得到真正的幸福，反而给他带来了更多的痛苦和困扰。

这个故事还让人们思考人性的复杂性。

年轻男子为了满足自己的欲望，不惜一切代价去追求黛西的爱情。

然而，当他得到了他所渴望的东西时，却发现这并不是他真正想要的。

这种药水让他意识到，爱情并不是可以通过外力来获得的。

它需要真诚和坦诚，需要双方的努力和付出。

这种药水的可怕副作用也提醒人们，不要贪图一时的欢愉，而忽视了真正的爱情和幸福。

总的来说，《The Chaser》是一篇深刻的短篇小说，通过一个年轻男子的遭遇，深刻地探讨了爱情、欲望和人性的复杂性。

Unit 7Ⅰ.Words1creaky adj. 发辗的；老朽的；叽叽嘎嘎的2peer n./v. 介词灵活3obscurely adv.隐匿地obscure v./adj.n. obscurity 朦胧；阴暗；晦涩；身份低微；不分明obscureness 难解；模糊4buff5 acquaintanceadj. acquainted 熟识的；知晓的；有知识的n.acquaintanceship 认识；相识；交往关系vt.acquaint 使熟悉；使认识acquaintance with someone对某人的相识，熟make the acquaintance ofvt.和…相识，结识6laxatives7imperceptibleperceive (v.), perception (n.), perceptible (a.), imperceptible (a.), imperceptibly (ad.)8beverage9autopsy10apprehensivelyapprehension (n.) under the apprehensionapprehend(v.) apprehend of 据说adj.apprehensive 忧虑的；不安的；敏悟的；知晓的apprehensible 可理解的，可了解的11confidential adj. 机密的；表示信任的；获信任的confide v.信赖；吐露秘密confidence n.信心a.诈骗的12impulseadj. impulsive 冲动的；受感情驱使的；任性的n. impulsiveness 冲动impulsion 冲动；冲击；原动力13bountifullybounty n.(慷慨；奖励金)/v. （发赏金）14detachmentn.拆开；超然detach (v.)分离；派遣；使超然detached (a.)超然的15substitutev./n.substitute A for B = replace B with AThey were expected to substitute violence for dialogue.The doctor advised him to substitute low-fat cheese for butter. substitute for: replacee.g. As the pianist suddenly fell ill the day before the concert, we had to find someone to substitute for him.substitute n.sb. or sth. that takes the place of anothere.g. If dairy milk disagrees with your stomach, soya milk could be a good substitute.16scorn n./v.a. scornful17giddy轻浮的；头晕眼花的18 solituden.孤独solitary a./n.(隐士)19rapture n.不单独使用可数rapturous adj.rapt a. 全神贯注的e.g.They stared with rapture at the new opera house.Smith was in /went into raptures at/about the news.20intenselyintensify v.21sole22draught23 overwhelm1. give sb. a particular feeling very stronglye.g. The family of the victim was overwhelmed by/with grief.The need to talk to someone, anyone, overwhelmed me.2. make powerless by using forcee.g. Government troops overwhelmed the rebels.The attacker overwhelmed the young man by squeezing his throat. Derivation:overwhelming (a.): very large or very greate.g. The overwhelming majority of small businesses go broke within the first twelve months.24slip25 ferventlye.g. It is a cause for which we have campaigned fervently these past four years.We fervently believe in the peaceful reunification of the motherland.Derivation:fervent (a.), fervency (n.)e.g. A fervent desire to winThere is a growing sense of national fervency in the state26groundon the ground that/of27 indulgeindulge in 沉溺于indulgence n. indulging a. indulgently adv.Indulge oneself 放纵自己28phial29 obligev. oblige sb. with sth.1.do sb. a favor; fulfill the wishes ofe.g. She asked him to lend her his car, and he willingly obliged (her).2.make it necessary for sb. to do sth.e.g. The heavy snow obliged me to abandon the car and continued on foot.n. obligationadj. disobliging 不亲切的，薄情的ⅡPhrases1.save up for2.care about3.indulge in4.reach for5.peer about6.deal in7.better off8.make one’s acquaintanceⅢGrammar1.Each boy and each girl in the mountain area is asked to go toschool.2.Ben is one of the brightest students who have graduated fromNew York University.Ⅳ Translation1. To me, you are definitely more than an acquaintance.2. Many artisans in this region deal in a variety of handicrafts.3. They went into raptures over the unexpected success.4. Much to my surprise, he analyzed with extraordinary detachment the dangerous situation that threatened all of them.5. She peered at the stranger from behind the curtain.6. During the holidays, he indulged in the luxury of a bath of sunshine on the beach.7. When she learnt the news of his death, she was overwhelmed with grief.8. I'm not in favor of buying a house on the installment plan; instead, I maintain that everyone of us should save up for a rainy day.。

小说《追逐者》中的话语艺术及寓意评析（广西梧州学院，广西梧州543002）◎肖敏▉【基金项目】广西教育厅２０１０年科研项目（编号２０１０１０ＬＸ５２３）、广西梧州学院２０１０年科研项目（编号２０１０Ｃ０１７）。

英国作家约翰·柯里尔（John Collier ）的短篇小说在创作风格上独树一帜，其语言犀利而充满睿智，笔调灰暗而充满讽刺性，显示了高超的文学技艺。

《追逐者》（The Chaser ）是柯里尔于1940年在《纽约客》（The New Yorker ）杂志上发表的一篇短篇小说，这是一篇典型的幻想小说，因其完美的故事结构和深刻的故事内涵，该小说被收录进由上海外语教育出版社出版的英语专业本科生综合英语课教材———《综合教程》。

小说讲述了一个叫艾伦的年轻人为寻求可望而不可得的爱情而去一个神秘的老人那儿购买爱情魔液的故事。

利用艾伦单纯无知的心理，老谋深算的商人一步步把年轻人引入陷阱，令他不止购买了“爱情魔液”，而且若干年后很可能再次光顾并花高价购买所谓的“生活清洁剂”，实际上那却是死亡的代名词，作者在文中巧妙而隐晦地把爱情意象和死亡阴影糅合在一起，颇具讽刺意味。

故事的叙述虽然荒诞不经，但字里行间却充满了对现实的影射和讽刺。

故事中的主人公一个是对生活和爱情充满憧憬却囊中羞涩的小伙子，另一个是老于世故、精明狡黠的商人，故事情节主要围绕年轻人和老商人之间的对话而展开。

为了推进故事情节的发展，作者在二者的对话中，巧妙地运用反讽、隐喻、双关、排比等不同的话语艺术恰如其分地影射了两位主人公的身份、经历、性格和思想认识上的强烈反差，进而使故事的主题和深邃寓意更加传神地跃然纸上。

一、反讽影射物化爱情观与爱情虚无主义的荒诞结合反讽又称倒反或反语，为说话或写作时一种带有讽刺意味的语气或写作技巧，单纯从字面上不能了解其真正要表达的事物，而事实上其原本的意义正好是字面上所能理解的意涵的相反意思，通常需要从上下文及语境来了解其用意。

Unit--The-Chaser课文翻译综合教程三————————————————————————————————作者：————————————————————————————————日期：Unit 7The ChaserJohn Henry Collier1 Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dim hallway before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors.2 He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rocking-chair, and an ordinary chair. On one of the dirty buff-coloured walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars.3 An old man sat in the rocking-chair, reading a newspaper. Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given. “Sit down, Mr. Austen,” said the old man very politely. “I am glad to make your acquaintance.”4 “Is it true,” asked Alan, “that you have a certain mixture that has … er … quite extraordinary effects?”5 “My dear sir,” replied the old man, “my stock in trade is not very large —I don’t deal in laxatives and teething mixtures — but such as it is, it is varied. I think nothing I sell has effects which could be p recisely described as ordinary.”6 “Well, the fact is …” began Alan.7 “Here, for example,” interrupted the old man, reaching for a bottle from the shelf. “Here is a liquid as colourless as water, almost tasteless, quite imperceptible in coffee, wine, or any other beverage. It is also quite imperceptible to any known method of autopsy.”8 “Do you mean it is a poison?” cried Alan, very much horrified.9 “Call it a glove-cleaner if you like,” said the old man indifferently. “Maybe it will clean gloves. I have never tried. One might call it a life-cleaner. Lives need cleaning sometimes.”10 “I want nothing of that sort,” said Alan.11 “Probably it is just as well,” said the old man. “Do you know the price of this? For one teaspoonful, which is sufficient, I ask five thousand dollars. Never less. Not a penny less.”12 “I hope all your mixtures are not as expensive,” said Alan apprehensively.13 “Oh dear, no,” said the old man. “It would be no good charging that sort of price fora love potion, for example. Young people who need a love potion very seldom have five thousand dollars. Otherwise they would not need a love potion.”14 “I am glad to hear that,” said Alan.15 “I look at it like this,” said the old man. “Please a customer w ith one article, and he will come back when he needs another. Even if it is more costly. He will save up for it, if necessary.”16 “So,” said Alan, “you really do sell love potions?”17 “If I did not sell love potions,” said the old man, reaching for another bottle, “I should not have mentioned the other matter to you. It is only when one is in a position to oblige that one can afford to be so confidential. “18 “And these potions,” said Alan. “They are not just … just … er …”19 “Oh, no,” said the old man. “Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse. But they include it. Oh, yes they include it. Bountifully, insistently. Everlastingly.”20 “Dear me!” said Alan, attempting a look of scientific detachment. “How v ery interesting!”21 “But consider the spiritual side,” said the old man.22 “I do, indeed,” said Alan.23 “For indifference,” said the old man, “they substitute devotion. For scorn, adoration. Give one tiny measure of this to the young lady — its flavour is imperceptible in orange juice, soup, or cocktails — and however gay and giddy she is, she will change altogether. She will want nothing but solitude and you.”24 “I can hardly believe it,” said Alan. “She is so fond of parties.”25 “She will not like them any more,” said the old man. “She will be afraid of the pretty girls you may meet.”26 “She will actually be jealous?” cried Alan in a rapture. “Of me?”27 “Yes, she will want to be everything to you.”28 “She is, already. Only she doesn’t care about it.”29 “She will, when she has taken this. She will care intensely. You will be her sole interest in life.”30 “Wonderful!” cried Alan.31 “She will want to know all you do,” said the old man. “All that has happened to you during the day. Every word of it. She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why you are looking sad.”32 “That is love!” cried Alan.33 “Yes,” said the old man. “How carefully she will look after you! She will never al low you to be tired, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrified. She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you.”34 “I can hardly imagine Diana like that!” cried Alan, overwhelmed with jo y.35 “You will not have to use your imagination,” said the old man. “And, by the way, since there are always sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry. She will forgive you, in the end. She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you —in the end.”36 “That will not happen,” said Alan fervently.37 “Of course not,” said the old man. “But, if it did, you need not worry. She would never divorce you. Oh, no! And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for —uneasiness.”38 “And how much,” said Alan, “is this wonderful mixture?”39 “It is not as dear,” said the old man, “as the glove-cleaner, or life-cleaner, as I sometimes call it. No. That is five thousand dollars, never a penny less. One has to be older than you are, to indulge in that sort of thing. One has to save up for it.”40 “But the love potion?” said Alan.41 “Oh, that,” said the old man, opening the drawer in the kitchen table, and taking outa tiny, rather dirty-looking phial. “That is just a dollar.”42 “I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” said Alan, watching him fill it.43 “I like to oblige,” said the old man. “Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and want more expensive things. Here you are. You will find it very effective.”44 “Thank you again,” said Alan. “Good-bye.”45 “Au revoir,” said the man.解酒水艾伦·奥斯丁，紧张得像只小猫，心里七上八下、忐忑不安的进了裴尔街区的一个楼道，黑乎乎的楼梯咯吱咯吱直响。

雅思课外读物The Chaser英汉对照雅思阅读素材真题The Chaser（追爱人）共16段，每段都有翻译注释。

【导读】约翰·柯里尔(1901~1980)生于伦敦，家境非常贫寒，读完小学后，因为无力负担中学学费，只能回到家里接受教育。

他很早就开始阅读安徒生童话，受其影响，他终生都对神话和传奇充满兴趣。

另外一位对柯里尔产生极大影响的作家是乔纳森·斯威夫特(Jonathan Swift)，柯里尔作品中对人性复杂程度的洞察和怀疑态度据说来自这位讽刺文学大师。

《追爱人》原文不足1100字，情节非常简单：一个名叫艾伦·奥斯丁(Alan Austen)的小伙子为了博得心上人戴安娜(Diana)的青睐费尽心思，打探到有种神秘的怀春水可帮助他达到目的。

于是，艾伦在一处破旧的房子里找到一位神秘老人，希望能买到这种药水，但老人避而不谈他想要的药水，反而推荐起另一种无色无味的昂贵药水。

老人将这种药水称为富裕中年人的“生活清洁剂”，并暗示它有杀人不见血的功效。

接着，在艾伦的强烈要求下，老人详细描述了他想买的那种怀春水的药效：这种药水能让艾伦彻底征服他正在追求的女孩，让她在身体上和精神上都毫无保留地归属于他，听命于他。

当艾伦得知这种神奇的药水只需1元钱时，他兴奋异常。

小说以艾伦和老人互相道别而结束。

【正文】Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dime landing before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors.艾伦·奥斯丁紧张得像只小猫，瑟瑟索索地走进裴尔街附近一个黑黢黢的楼梯间，拾级而上，楼梯吱呀作响。