Three days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.

拉斯特斯失踪3天后，拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信。

Sure enough, Rastus arrived punctually at seven o'clock that evening.

果然，当天晚上7点正，拉斯特斯准时回来了。

Mrs. Eleanor Ramsay, a very wealthy old lady, has shared a flat with her cat, Rastus, for a great many years.

埃莉诺.拉姆齐太太是一个非常富有的老妇人，多年来，一直同她养的猫拉斯一起住在一所公寓里。

There days after Rastus' disappearance, Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter.

拉斯特斯失踪3天后，拉姆齐太太收到一封匿名信。

The writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands and would be returned immediately if Mrs. Ramsay paid a ransom of ￡1,000.

写信人声称拉斯特斯安然无恙，只要拉姆齐太太愿意支付1,000 英镑赎金，可以立即将猫送还。

At first, she decided to go to the police, but fearing that she would never see Rastus again -- the letter had made that quite clear -- she changed her mind.

一开始拉姆齐太太打算报告警察，但又害怕再也见不到拉斯特斯了 --这点，信上说得十分明白--于是便改变了主意。