" Black" Burton, a man evil-tempered and malicious, had been picking a quarrel with a tenderfoot at the bar, when Thornton stepped good-naturedly between.

当时，桑顿在酒吧间出面好言相劝“黑”伯顿，——一个脾气暴躁、心狠手辣的家伙，——不要老是欺负一个新来的人。

He was astonished at his singular manner of moving his tongue as he pronounced his words, but after all, this did not present the slightest excuse for picking a quarrel.

他说话的时候奇怪地动了动舌头， 这让他有些吃惊， 但这毕竟不是找茬的借口。

May not the epigrams of a foolish public compel our excellent Norbert to pick a quarrel with Julien, under such circumstances I know I should have no control over him.

愚蠢的公众的警句可能不会迫使我们优秀的诺伯特与于连争吵， 在这种情况下我知道我无法控制他。

" Out into your city, " he said, " to drink a keg or two and pick a quarrel. It has been too long since I've killed a man. Might be I should seek out your betrothed" .

" 去您的城市里，" 他回答，" 喝上一两桶，再找人打一架。好长时间没杀人啦，兴许我能找上您的未婚夫。"