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I lay back against the cushions, puffing at my cigar,
我向后仰靠在椅背上，抽了一口雪茄，
while Holmes, leaning forward, with his long, thin forefinger checking off the points upon the palm of his left hand,
福爾摩斯俯身向前，用他那瘦長的食指在他左手掌上指點著，
gave me a sketch of the events which had led to our journey.
向我說明引起我們這次旅行的事件的梗概。
"Silver Blaze," said he, "is from the Somomy stock and holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor.
"銀色白額馬，"福爾摩斯說道，"是索莫密種，和它馳名的祖先一樣，始終保持著優秀的記錄。
He is now in his fifth year and has brought in turn each of the prizes of the turf to Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner.
它已經是五歲口了，在賽馬場上每次都為它那幸運的主人羅斯上校贏得頭獎。
Up to the time of the catastrophe he was the first favourite for the Wessex Cup, the betting being three to one on him.
在這次不幸事件以前，它是韋塞克斯杯錦標賽的冠軍，人們在他身上的賭注是三比一。
He has always, however, been a prime favourite with the racing public and has never yet disappointed them,
然而它是賽馬嗜好者最愛的名駒，而且從未使它的愛好者落空，
so that even at those odds enormous sums of money have been laid upon him.
因此，即使是這樣的懸殊的賭注，也有巨款押在它身上。
It is obvious, therefore, that there were many people who had the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze from being there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday.
所以，設法阻止銀色白額馬去參加下星期二的比賽，顯然同許多人的切身利害息息相關。
The fact was, of course, appreciated at King's Pyland, where the colonel's training-stable is situated.
當然，在上校馴馬廄所在地金斯皮蘭，人們都知道這種事實。
Every precaution was taken to guard the favourite.
所以，對這匹名駒采取了各種預防措施來保護它。
The trainer, John Straker, is a retired jockey who rode in Colonel Ross's colours before he became too heavy for the weighing-chair.
馴馬人約翰·斯特雷克原是羅斯上校的賽馬騎師，后來因體重增加，才另換他人。
He has served the colonel for five years as jockey and for seven as trainer, and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant.
斯特雷克在上校家做了五年騎師，七年馴馬師，平時的表現是一個熱心腸的誠實仆人。
Under him were three lads, for the establishment was a small one, containing only four horses in all.
斯特雷克手下有三個小馬倌，馬廄不大，一共只有四騎馬。
One of these lads sat up each night in the stable, while the others slept in the loft.
一個小馬倌每天晚上都住在馬廄里，另外兩個就睡在草料棚中。
All three bore excellent characters.
三個小伙子的品行都很好。
John Straker, who is a married man, lived in a small villa about two hundred yards from the stables.
約翰·斯特雷克已經結婚，住在離馬廄二百碼遠近的一座小別墅里。
He has no children, keeps one maidservant, and is comfortably off.
他沒有孩子，有一個女仆，生活還算舒適。
The country round is very lonely, but about half a mile to the north there is a small cluster of villas
那個地方很荒涼，在北邊半英里以外，有幾座別墅，是塔維斯托克鎮的承包商建造的，
which have been built by a Tavistock contractor for the use of invalids and others who may wish to enjoy the pure Dartmoor air.
專供病人療養以及其他愿來呼吸達特穆爾新鮮空氣的人住用。
Tavistock itself lies two miles to the west, while across the moor, also about two miles distant,
向西二英里以外就是塔維斯托克鎮，穿過荒野，大約也有二英里遠近，
is the larger training establishment of Mapleton, which belongs to Lord Backwater and is managed by Silas Brown.
有一個梅普里通馬廄，是屬于巴克沃特勛爵的，管理人名叫賽拉斯·布朗。
In every other direction the moor is a complete wilderness, inhabited only by a few roaming gypsies.
荒野其他方向則異?；臎?，只有少數流浪的吉卜賽人散居著。
Such was the general situation last Monday night when the catastrophe occurred.
這件禍事發生的星期一晚上，基本情況就是這樣。
