原文
It must have been about two in the morning when I returned home. I tried to wake up my wife by ringing the doorbell, but she was fast asleep. So I got a ladder from the shed in the garden, put it against the wall and began climbing towards the bedroom window. I was almost there when a sarcastic voice below said, I don't think the windows need cleaning at this time of the night.
I looked down and nearly fell off the ladder when I saw a policeman. I immediately regretted answering in the way I did, but I said, I enjoy cleaning windows at night. So do I answered the policeman in the same tone. Excuse my interrupting you.
I hate to interrupt a man when he's busy working, but would you mind coming with me to the station? Well, I'd prefer to stay here, I said. You see, I've forgotten my key. Your what?
He called my key. I shouted. Fortunately, the shouting woke up my wife who opened the window just as the policeman had started to climb towards me.