For example we'd count the license plates.

比如我们会数车牌。

And he demanded, with a sneer, whether the housekeeper was in the habit of counting the plate at night; because if she didn't find a table-spoon or two missing some sunshiny morning, why, he would be content to—and so forth.

他冷笑着问管家晚上有没有数盘子的习惯？因为如果她在某个阳光明媚的早晨没有找到一两汤匙，为什么，他会满足于——等等。