評論
打印
"It is one of those cases where the art of the reasoner should be used rather for the sifting of details than for the acquiring of fresh evidence.
"對這件案子，思維推理的藝術，應當用來仔細查明事實細節，而不是去尋找新的證據。
The tragedy has been so uncommon, so complete,
這件慘案極不平凡，如此費解，
and of such personal importance to so many people that we are suffering from a plethora of surmise, conjecture, and hypothesis.
并且與那么多人有切身利害關系，使我們頗費推測、猜想和假設。
The difficulty is to detach the framework of fact -- of absolute undeniable fact -- from the embellishments of theorists and reporters.
困難在于，需要把那些確鑿的事實——無可爭辯的事實與那些理論家、記者虛構粉飾之詞區別開來。
Then, having established ourselves upon this sound basis,
我們的責任是立足于可靠的根據，
it is our duty to see what inferences may be drawn and what are the special points upon which the whole mystery turns.
得出結論，并確定在當前這件案子里哪一些問題是主要的。
On Tuesday evening I received telegrams from both Colonel Ross, the owner of the horse, and from Inspector Gregory,
星期二晚上，我接到馬主人羅斯上校和警長格雷戈里兩個人的電報，
who is looking after the case, inviting my cooperation."
格雷戈里請我與他合作偵破這件案子。"
"Tuesday evening!" I exclaimed. "And this is Thursday morning. Why didn't you go down yesterday?"
"星期二晚上！"我驚呼道，"今天已經是星期四早晨了。為什么你昨天不動身呢？"
"Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson -- which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs.
"我親愛的華生，這是我的過錯，恐怕我會發生很多錯誤，而并不象那些只是通過你的回憶錄知道我的人所想象的那樣。
The fact is that I could not believe it possible that the most remarkable horse in England could long remain concealed,
事實是，我并不相信這匹英國名駒會隱藏得這么久，
especially in so sparsely inhabited a place as the north of Dartmoor.
特別是在達特穆爾北部這樣人煙稀少的地方。
From hour to hour yesterday I expected to hear that he had been found, and that his abductor was the murderer of John Straker.
昨天我時時刻刻指望著能聽到找到馬的消息，而那個拐馬的人就是殺害約翰·斯特雷克的兇手。
When, however, another morning had come and I found that beyond the arrest of young Fitzroy Simpson nothing had been done,
哪知到了今天，我發現除了捉住年輕人菲茨羅伊·辛普森以外，沒有任何進展。
I felt that it was time for me to take action.
我感到是該我行動的時候了。
Yet in some ways I feel that yesterday has not been wasted."
不過，我覺得昨天的時間也并沒有白白浪費。"
"You have formed a theory, then?"
"那么說，你已經作出了分析判斷。"
"At least I have got a grip of the essential facts of the case.
"至少我對這件案子的主要事實有了一些了解。
I shall enumerate them to you, for nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person,
現在我可以對你一一列舉出來，我覺得，弄清一件案子的最好辦法，就是能把它的情況對另一個人講清楚，
and I can hardly expect your cooperation if I do not show you the position from which we start."
此外，如果我不告訴你我們現在掌握什么情況，我就很難指望得到你的幫助。"
