Question

想请教你如何理解最后一句中Positive在句中充当什么成分，怎么会出现两个that,这句的主语又是什么？

Once upon a time there was an Austrian emperor who made it a rule to interview every one of his soldiers once a year. During the interviews he invariably asked three questions- "How old are you?", "How long have you been in my army?" and "Are you satisfied with your pay and the food you get?"

The Emperor looked at him long and hard and suddenly took it into his head that he had seen the young man somewhere before. He began, a little out of the usual order, with the second question;
"How long have you been in my army?"
"Twenty-one years," replied the Frenchman, not without some pride in his ability to learn a foreign language soquickly and so well.

The monarch was surprised for the young man didnot look very much older than that, but he went on to ask:

"Then how old are you?"
"One day," came the answer.
That was too much for the Emperor, who sat backand muttered.
"Well, well. That beats me. It seems eitheryou're mad or I am.

"Positive that that was the last of the imperialquestions, the proud linguist stepped forward and with a smile said:

"Both, your majesty."

Answer 1

Positive that that was the last of the imperial questions是形容词短语作伴随状语 与句子主语the proud linguist 是主表关系, 其中that引导的是宾语从句 作形容词的宾语第二个that是从句中的主语。the proud linguist 是主语stepped forward 是谓语and with a smile said是并列谓语。

句子意思。自信这是皇帝的问题中最后的问题，这个骄傲的语言学家向前跨了一步并且微笑着说：