評論
打印
At three o'clock on the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell,
下午三點鐘時，鈴聲大作，
an authoritative voice in the hall,
樓下有命令式的高聲談話，
and, to my surprise, no less a person than Mr. Athelney Jones was shown up to me.
沒有想到上來的不是別人，竟是埃瑟爾尼·瓊斯先生。
Very different was he, however,
可是他的態(tài)度和以前絕不相同了，
from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood.
他已經(jīng)不象在上諾伍德那樣粗暴、架子十足和以常識專家自居了，
His expression was downcast, and his bearing meek and even apologetic.
他在謙虛之外還有些自慚。
"Good-day, sir; good-day," said he. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, I understand."
他道："您好，先生，您好！聽說福爾摩斯先生出去了。"
"Yes, and I cannot be sure when he will be back. But perhaps you would care to wait.
"是的，我不知道他幾時可以回來。請等一等好不好？
Take that chair and try one of these cigars."
請坐，吸一支我們的雪茄煙好嗎？"
"Thank you; I don't mind if I do," said he, mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief.
"謝謝，請賞我一支吸。"他說時用紅綢巾輕輕地揩拭他的上額。
"And a whisky and soda?"
"敬您一杯加蘇打的威士忌酒好嗎？"
"Well, half a glass. It is very hot for the time of year, and I have had a good deal to worry and try me.
"好吧，半杯就夠了。到這時候天氣還是這般的熱，我心緒又是這樣的煩，
You know my theory about this Norwood case?"
您還記得我對這諾伍德案的理解嗎？"
"I remember that you expressed one."
"我記得您說過一次。"
"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it.
"咳，我現(xiàn)在對于這個案子又不得不加以重新考慮了。
I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto, sir, when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it.
我本已緊緊地把舒爾托先生兜在網(wǎng)里了，可是，咳，先生，半道里他又從網(wǎng)眼里溜了出去。
He was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken.
他證明了一個無法推翻的事實
From the time that he left his brother's room he was never out of sight of someone or other.
他自從離開他哥哥以后始終有人和他在一起，
So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trapdoors.
所以這個從暗門進(jìn)入屋內(nèi)的人就不會是他了。
It's a very dark case, and my professional credit is at stake.
這個案子實在難破，我在警署的威望亦發(fā)生了動搖，
I should be very glad of a little assistance."
我很希望得到些幫助。"
