Why was Rastus 'very dear' in more ways than one?
为什么拉斯特斯在很多方面都是"非常亲爱的"？
Kidnappers are rarely interested in animals, but they recently took considerable interest in Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay's cat.
绑匪很少对动物感兴趣，但他们最近对埃莉诺*拉姆齐夫人的猫产生了相当大的兴趣。
Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.
埃莉诺*拉姆齐太太是一位非常富有的老太太，多年来一直和她的猫拉斯图斯共用一套公寓。
Rastus leads an orderly life.
拉斯特斯过着有秩序的生活。
He usually takes a short walk in the evenings and is always home by seven o'clock.
他通常在晚上走一小段路，七点钟就回家了。
One evening, however he failed to arrive.
一天晚上，他却没能到。
Mrs. Ramsay got very worried.
拉姆齐太太非常担心。
She looked everywhere for him but could not find him.
她到处找他，却找不到他。
Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.
拉斯图斯失踪三天后，拉姆齐夫人收到一封匿名信。
The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of ￡1,000.
撰文人说，拉斯图斯是安全的，如果拉姆齐夫人支付了1 000美元的赎金，他将立即归还。
Mrs.Ramsay was instructed to place the money in a cardboard box and to leave it outside her door.
拉姆齐夫人奉命把钱放在一个纸箱里，放在门外。
At first, she decided to go to the police,
起初，她决定去报警,
but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind.
但由于担心她再也见不到拉斯特斯了--这封信已经说得很清楚了--她改变了主意。
She withdrew ￡1000 from her bank and followed the kidnapper's instructions.
她从银行里提取了1000美元,并听从了绑匪的指示.
The next morning, the box had disappeared but Mrs.Ramsay was sure that the kidnapper would keep his word.
第二天早上，盒子已经消失了，但拉姆齐夫人确信绑架者会遵守诺言。
Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.
果然，拉斯特斯在那天晚上七点准时到了。
He looked very well, though he was rather thirsty, for he drank half a bottle of milk.
他看起来很好，虽然他相当渴，因为他喝了半瓶牛奶。
The police were astounded when Mrs. Ramsay told them what she had done.
当拉姆齐夫人告诉他们她做了什么时，警察感到震惊。
She explained that Rastus was very dear to her.
她解释说拉斯特斯对她很亲爱。
Considering the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!
考虑到她支付的金额，他在很多方面都很亲爱！
