A shopman's footstep, a few whispered words, the rustling of a passing skirt, were the only faint sounds; and these the warm air of the heating apparatus almost stifled.

店员的脚步声、几句耳语、裙子经过的沙沙声，是仅有的微弱声音；这些加热设备的热空气几乎被窒息了。

As he passed along Mouret glanced at the heating apparatus which was to be lighted on the following Monday for the first time, and at the firemen guarding a giant gas-meter enclosed in an iron cage.

当他经过时，穆雷瞥了一眼将在下周一首次点亮的供暖设备，以及看守铁笼中巨大煤气表的消防员。