When I was a British cabinet minister and chairman of the Conservative Party, I had a legal adviser who was aptly named Mr. Maybe. When I was taken to task for some infringement of administrative law or alleged excessive use of my legal powers, he would never be able to tell me how the courts would ultimately rule.
我在担任英国内阁部长和保守党主席期间，有一个名字颇为应景的法律顾问：梅比先生（Mr. Maybe，“也许”之意）。当我因职务需要违反了一些行政法或遭到指控滥用我的法律权力时，他从来不能告诉我法院最终会怎么判。“我们能赢这宗官司吗？”我问梅比先生。他的回答永远是两可的。“您应该赢，”有一次他说，“但我无法保证您会赢。”