評論
打印
When the ring was found, however, it settled the question.
等到發(fā)現指環(huán)以后，問題就算確定了。
Clearly the murderer had used it to remind his victim of some dead or absent woman.
很明顯，兇手曾經利用這只指環(huán)使被害者回憶起某個已死的、或者是不在場的女人。
It was at this point that I asked Gregson
關于這一點，我曾經問過葛萊森，
whether he had inquired in his telegram to Cleveland as to any particular point in Mr. Drebber's former career.
在他拍往克利夫蘭的電報中，是否問到錐伯過去的經歷中有過任何突出的問題沒有。
He answered, you remember, in the negative.
你還可以記得，他當時回答說他沒有問題。
"I then proceeded to make a careful examination of the room,
"以后，我就開始把這間屋子進行了一番仔細的檢查。
which confirmed me in my opinion as to the murderer's height,
檢查結果，使我肯定認為兇手是個高個子，
and furnished me with the additional details as to the Trichinopoly cigar and the length of his nails.
并且還發(fā)現了其他一些細節(jié)：例如印度雪茄煙，兇手的長指甲等等。
I had already come to the conclusion, since there were no signs of a struggle,
因為屋中并沒有揪打的跡象，因此當時又得出了這樣的一個結論：
that the blood which covered the floor had burst from the murderer's nose in his excitement.
地板上的血跡是兇手在他激動的時候流的鼻血。
I could perceive that the track of blood coincided with the track of his feet.
我發(fā)覺，凡是有血跡的地方，就有他的足跡。
It is seldom that any man, unless he is very full-blooded, breaks out in this way through emotion,
除非是個血液旺盛的人，一般很少有人會在感情激動時這樣大量流血的。
so I hazarded the opinion that the criminal was probably a robust and ruddy- faced man.
所以，我就大膽地認為，這個罪犯可能是個身強力壯的赤面人。
Events proved that I had judged correctly.
后來事實果然證明了，我的判斷是正確的。
"Having left the house, I proceeded to do what Gregson had neglected.
"離開屋子以后，我就去做葛萊森疏忽未做的事了。
I telegraphed to the head of the police at Cleveland,
我給克利夫蘭警察局長拍了一個電報，
limiting my inquiry to the circumstances connected with the marriage of Enoch Drebber.
僅僅詢問有關伊瑙克·錐伯的婚姻問題，
The answer was conclusive.
回電很明確。
It told me that Drebber had already applied for the protection of the law against an old rival in love, named Jefferson Hope,
電報中說，錐伯曾經指控過一個叫做杰弗遜·侯波的舊日情敵，并且請求過法律保護，
and that this same Hope was at present in Europe.
這個侯波目前正在歐洲。
I knew now that I held the clue to the mystery in my hand,
我當時就知道了，我已經掌握了這個秘密案件的線索了。
and all that remained was to secure the murderer.
剩下要做的就只是穩(wěn)穩(wěn)地捉住兇手了。
