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He was approaching the door of the house, when it opened,
他向那個屋門走過去，
and a little curly-headed lad of six came running out,
恰巧從里面跑出一個卷發的小男孩，約摸六歲光景。
followed by a stoutish, red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand.
后面追上來一個肥胖紅臉的婦人，手里拿著一塊海綿。
"You come back and be washed, Jack," she shouted.
她喊道：“杰克，回來洗澡！
"Come back, you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that he'll let us hear of it."
快回來，你這小鬼！你爸爸回來看見你這個樣子，輕饒不了你！"
"Dear little chap!" said Holmes strategically. "What a rosy-cheeked young rascal!
福爾摩斯乘著這個機會說道：“小朋友！你的小臉紅通通的，真是個好孩子！
Now, Jack, is there anything you would like?"
杰克，你要什么東西嗎？"
The youth pondered for a moment. "I'd like a shillin'," said he.
小孩想了一下，說道：“我要一個先令。"
"Nothing you would like better?"
"你不想要比一個先令更好的嗎？"
"I'd like two shillin' better," the prodigy answered after some thought.
那天真的小孩想了想，又說道：“最好給我兩個先令。"
"Here you are, then! Catch! A fine child, Mrs. Smith!"
"那么，好吧，接住了！斯密司太太，他真是個好孩子。"
"Lor' bless you, sir, he is that, and forward.
"先生，他就是這樣的淘氣，
He gets a'most too much for me to manage, specially when my man is away days at a time."
我老伴有時整天出去，我簡直管不住他。"
"Away, is he?" said Holmes in a disappointed voice.
福爾摩斯裝作失望，問道：“啊，他出去了？
"I am sorry for that, for I wanted to speak to Mr. Smith."
太不湊巧啦！我來找斯密司先生有事。"
"He's been away since yesterday mornin', sir,
"先生，他從昨天早晨就出去了。
and, truth to tell, I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him.
說實話，他到現在還沒有回來，我真有點著急。
But if it was about a boat, sir, maybe I could serve as well."
可是，先生，您如果要租船，也可以和我談。"
"I wanted to hire his steam launch."
"我要租他的汽船。"
"Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam launch that he has gone.
"先生呀，他就是坐那汽船走的。
That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back.
可怪的是我知道船上的煤不夠到伍爾維破來回燒的。
If he's been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin';
他若是坐大片底船去，我就不會這樣著急了，
for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend,
因為有時他還要到更遠的葛雷夫贊德去呢。
and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over.
再說他如果有事，可能有些耽擱，
But what good is a steam launch without coals?"
可是汽船沒有煤燒怎么走呢？"
"He might have bought some at a wharf down the river."
"或者他可以在中途買些煤。"
"He might, sir, but it weren't his way.
"也說不定，可是他從來不這樣做的，
Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags.
他常常說零袋煤價太貴。
Besides, I don't like that wooden-legged man,
再說我不喜歡那裝木腿的人，
wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk.
他那張丑臉和外國派頭。
What did he want always knockin' about here for?"
他常跑到這兒來，也不知道他有什么事。"
