評論
打印
In the first place, we may start with a strong presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for leaving America.
首先，我們可以從一個有充分根據的假定開始--奧彭肖上校是由于某種有力的原因而離開美國的。
Men at his time of life do not change all their habits
到了他那樣年紀的人是不會改變他全部的習慣的，
and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the lonely life of an English provincial town.
他也不會心甘情愿地放棄佛羅里達的宜人的氣候而回到英國來過鄉鎮的寂寥生活的。
His extreme love of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of someone or something,
他對英國的孤獨生活那樣極為罕見的喜愛暗示著他心中懼怕某人、某事，
so we may assume as a working hypothesis that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from America.
因此我們不妨作出一個可用的假設，認為他是出于對某人、某事的恐懼被迫離開美國的。
As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by considering the formidable letters which were received by himself and his successors.
至于他所怕的是什么，我們只能其他和他的幾個繼承人所接到的那幾次可怕的信件來推斷。
Did you remark the postmarks of those letters?"
你注意到那幾封信的郵戳了沒有？"
"The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the third from London."
"第一封是從本地治里寄出的，第二封是敦提，第三封是倫敦。"
"From East London. What do you deduce from that?"
"從倫敦東區寄出。你據此能推斷出什么來呢？"
"They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship."
"那些地方都是海港。寫信的人是在船上。"
"Excellent. We have already a clue.
"好極了，我們有了一條線索了。
There can be no doubt that the probability -- the strong probability -- is that the writer was on board of a ship.
毫無疑問，很可能--極其可能--寫信的人當時一定是在一條船上。
And now let us consider another point.
現在我們再考慮第二點。
In the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and its fulfillment,
就本地治里來說，從收到恐嚇信起到出事時止，前后經過七個星期。
in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Does that suggest anything?"
至于敦提，僅僅經過大約三、四天。這說明什么問題呢？"
"A greater distance to travel." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Then I do not see the point."
"前者路程較遠。""可是信件也要經過較遠的路程呀？""那我就不懂了。"
