評(píng)論
打印
"The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold to have been novel and of interest."
"結(jié)果可能是這樣，"我回答說，"但是我所采用的方法是新穎而又饒有趣味的。"
"Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant public,
"啐，我的好朋友，對(duì)公眾，廣大不善于觀察的公眾來說，
who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis and deduction!
他們根本不可能從一個(gè)人的牙齒看出他是一名編織工，或從一個(gè)人的左拇指看出他是一名排字工，他們才不會(huì)去注意什么是分析和推理的細(xì)微區(qū)別哩！
But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot blame you, for the days of the great cases are past.
但是，如果你確實(shí)寫得太繁瑣，我也不能責(zé)備你，因?yàn)樽鞔蟀傅臅r(shí)代已經(jīng)過去了。
Man, or at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality.
一個(gè)人，或至少是一個(gè)犯刑事罪的人，已經(jīng)沒有過去的那種冒險(xiǎn)的和創(chuàng)新的精神了。
As to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to young ladies from boarding-schools.
我自己的小行業(yè)，似乎也退化到一家代理處的地步，只辦理一些為人家尋找失掉的鉛筆，以及替寄宿學(xué)校的年輕姑娘們出出主意。
I think that I have touched bottom at last, however.
我想，無論如何，我的事業(yè)已經(jīng)是無可挽回地一落千丈了。
This note I had this morning marks my zero-point, I fancy. Read it!"
今天早上我收到的這張條子，我想，正標(biāo)志著我的事業(yè)的最低點(diǎn)。你讀讀這個(gè)吧！"
He tossed a crumpled letter across to me.
他將揉成一團(tuán)的一封信扔過來給我。
It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and ran thus:
這是前天晚上從蒙塔格奇萊斯寄來的，內(nèi)容如下：
Dear Mr. Holmes: I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to me as governess.
親愛的福爾摩斯先生：我急切地想找你商量一下關(guān)于我應(yīng)不應(yīng)該接受人家聘請(qǐng)我當(dāng)家庭女教師的問題。
I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, Violet Hunter.
如果方便的話，我明天十點(diǎn)三十分來拜訪你。你的忠實(shí)的維奧萊特·亨特。
"Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Not I."
"你認(rèn)識(shí)這位年輕的小姐嗎？" "我不認(rèn)識(shí)。"
"It is half-past ten now."
"現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)是十點(diǎn)半了。"
"Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring."
"對(duì)，我敢肯定這是她在拉門鈴。"
"It may turn out to be of more interest than you think.
"這件事也許比你想象的要有趣得多。
You remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to be a mere whim at first,
你還記得藍(lán)寶石事件開頭的研究好象只不過是一時(shí)的興趣，
developed into a serious investigation. It may be so in this case, also."
后來卻發(fā)展成為嚴(yán)肅的調(diào)查，這件事也許同樣如此。"
"Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question."
"唔，但愿如此。我們的疑團(tuán)很快就會(huì)解開，因?yàn)橐俏覜]搞錯(cuò)的話，當(dāng)事人這就來了。"
