which one of his workmen had bought.是一个定语从句修饰前面的 “mice”,“mice”就是“which”的先行词.
这个从句表达的意思是:
one of his workmen had bought two white mice.用这句话来说明(修饰)“小白鼠” 的由来.
而 “ two white mice” 在前面已提到了,在这句中就 用 “which ”替代:
“one of his workmen had bought which”
把 “ which” 放到从句的句首,紧跟先行词 “mice”,表明 “which”是指 “mice”的,这就成了现在的从句样子.
这个句子的意思为:
一家小建筑公司的经理很收到了一张由他的一个工人买过两只小白鼠的账单,对此他感到十分惊讶.
在我翻译中的 “由” 字就是从从句中说“小白鼠是一个工人买的”来的.
供你参考.