評論
打印
"I'll sit down, with your leave," the prisoner said, suiting the action to the word.
"請允許我坐下來講吧。"犯人一面說，一面就不客氣地坐了下來，
"This aneurism of mine makes me easily tired, and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters.
"我的這個血瘤癥很容易使我感到疲乏，何況半個鐘頭以前，我們斗爭了一番，這絕不會使病情有所改進。
I'm on the brink of the grave, and I am not likely to lie to you.
我已經是墳墓邊上的人了，所以我是不會對你們說謊的。
Every word I say is the absolute truth, and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me."
我所說的每一句話，都是千真萬確的。至于你們究竟如何處置，這對我來說，就無關緊要了。"
With these words, Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair and began the following remarkable statement.
杰弗遜·侯波說完這些話以后，就靠在椅背上，開始說出了下面這篇驚人的供詞。
He spoke in a calm and methodical manner, as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough.
他敘述時的態度從容不迫，并且講得有條有理，好象他所說的事情十分平淡無奇。
I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined account,
我可以保證，這個補充供詞完全正確無誤，
for I have had access to Lestrade's notebook,
因為這是我乘機從雷斯垂德的筆記本上抄錄下來的。
in which the prisoner's words were taken down exactly as they were uttered.
他是在他的筆記本中，把這個罪犯的供詞按照他原來的說法，逐字逐句地記錄了下來的。
"It don't much matter to you why I hated these men," he said;
他說："我為什么要恨這兩個人，這一點對于你們說來，是無關緊要的。
"it's enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beings,a father and daughter
他們惡貫滿盈，他們犯了罪，害死過兩個人——一個父親和一個女兒，
and that they had, therefore, forfeited their own lives.
因此他們付出了他們自己的性命，這也是罪有應得的。
After the lapse of time that has passed since their crime,
從他們犯罪以來，時間已經隔了這么久，
it was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court.
我也不可能提出什么罪證，到任何一個法庭上去控告他們了。
I knew of their guilt though, and I determined that I should be judge, jury,
可是，我知道他們有罪，我打定主意，我要把法官、陪審員
and executioner all rolled into one.
和行刑的劊子手的任務全部由我一個人擔當票來。
You'd have done the same, if you have any manhood in you, if you had been in my place.
如果你們是男子漢大丈夫，如果你們站在我的地位上，你們一定也會象我這樣干的。
"That girl that I spoke of was to have married me twenty years ago.
"我剛才說到的那個姑娘，二十年前她本來是要嫁給我的，
She was forced into marrying that same Drebber, and broke her heart over it.
可是她卻被迫嫁給了這個錐伯，以致使她含恨而死。
I took the marriage ring from her dead finger,
我從她遺體的手指上把這個結婚指環取了下來，
and I vowed that his dying eyes should rest upon that very ring,
當時我就發過誓，我一定要讓錐伯瞧著這只指環斃命；
and that his last thoughts should be of the crime for which he was punished.
還要在他臨死的時刻，讓他認識到，是由于自己所干的罪惡，才受到了懲罰。
I have carried it about with me, and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until I caught them.
我萬里迢迢地踏遍了兩大洲，追蹤著錐伯和他的幫兇，一直到我追上了他們為止，這只戒指都一直帶在身邊。
They thought to tire me out, but they could not do it.
他們打算東奔西跑，把我拖垮；但是，他們是枉費心機。
If I die tomorrow, as is likely enough,
即使我明天就死——這是很有可能的，
I die knowing that my work in this world is done, and well done.
但是在我臨死的時候，我總算知道了：我在這個世界上的工作已經完成了，而且是出色地完成了。
They have perished, and by my hand.
他們兩個人已經死了，而且都是被我親手殺死的，
There is nothing left for me to hope for, or to desire.
此外，我就再也沒有什么別的希望和要求了。
