評論
打印
'And you，a man of science，believe that the creature is supernatural—something from another world？'asked Holmes.
“那么您，一位從事科學工作的人，相信這個東西是超乎自然的——是從另一個世界而來的家伙嗎？”福爾摩斯問道。
'I don't know what to believe，'said Dr Mortimer．
“我也不知道應該相信什么，”摩梯末醫生道。
'But you must agree that the footprints were made by a liv- ing creature，not a ghost？'
“但是您總得承認那些爪印是活生生的東西而不是鬼怪留下的吧？”
'When the hound first appeared two hundred and fifty years ago，it was real enough to tear out Sir Hugo's throat…but it was a supernatural hell-hound，'said Dr Mortimer．
“那條獵犬在250年前最初出現時，它撕斷了雨果爵士的喉嚨，這真有其事……但是它是一條超乎自然的惡犬，”摩梯末醫生說道。
'If you think that Sir Charles' death was caused by some－ thing supernatural，my detective work can't help you，'said Holmes，rather coldly．
“要是您認為查爾斯爵士的死是某種超自然因素造成的話，那我的偵探工作可幫不了您什么忙，”福爾摩斯相當冷淡地說道。
'Perhaps，'said Mortimer．'But you can help me by advis- ing me what to do for Sir Henry Baskerville．He arrives in Lon－ don by train in exactly，'Dr Mortimer looked at his watch，'one hour and a quarter．'
“也許吧，”摩梯末道。“可是您能幫助我，建議我該為亨利·巴斯克維爾爵爾做些什么。他將正好在，”摩梯末看了看他的表，“1小時15分鐘之后乘火車抵達倫敦。”
'Sir Henry is now head of the Baskerville family？'asked Holmes．
“亨利爵士現在是巴斯克維爾家族的主人嗎？”福爾摩斯問道。
'Yes，'said Dr Mortimer．'He is the last of the Baskervilles．The family lawyers contacted him in the USA．He has come to England immediately by ship．He landed this morning．Now，Mr Holmes，what do you advise me to do with him？'
“對了，”摩梯末道。“他是巴斯克維爾家族的最后一位成員。家族的律師們與他在美國聯系上了。他已立即乘船前來英格蘭。他是今早靠岸的。現在，福爾摩斯先生，您建議我對他做些什么呢？”
'Why should he not go to the family home？'asked Holmes．
“為什么他不應該到他祖祖輩輩居住的家里去呢？”福爾摩斯問道。
'Because so many Baskervilles who go there die horrible deaths．But Sir Charles'good work must go on．If it doesn't，all the people on the Baskerville lands will be much poorer．If the Baskerville family leaves the Hall，that is what will happen．I don't know what to do．That is why I came to you for advice．'
“因為巴斯克維爾家族里去了那兒的這么多人都令人恐怖地死去了。可是查爾斯爵士的慈善工作必須繼續下去。否則的話，巴斯克維爾家族所擁有的土地上的人們將要窮困得多。要是巴斯克維爾家族離開園的話，那將是即將發生的事實。我不知道該怎么辦。這便是我前來向您討教的原因。”
Holmes though for a little while．Then he said：'You think it is too dangerous for any Baskerville to live at the Hall because of this supernatural hell－hound．Well，I think you should go and meet Sir Henry Baskerville．Say nothing to him about this．I shall give you my advice in twenty－four hours．At ten o'clock tomorrow morning，Dr Mortimer，I would like you to bring Sir Henry Baskerville here．'
福爾摩斯考慮了一小會兒。然后他說：“您認為由于那條神秘的惡犬因而巴斯克維爾家的人住在那個莊園里都不安全。唔，我認為您該去接亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士。對他只字不提這些。24小時之后我將給您提供我的建議。明天早上10點鐘時，摩梯末醫生，我希望您能偕亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士同來此處。”
Dr Mortimer got up from his chair．As he was leaving the room，Holmes said：'One more question，Dr Mortimer．You said that before Sir Charles'death several people saw this strange creature on the moor？'
摩梯末醫生從椅子上站起身來。在他即將離開之時，福爾摩斯說道：“再問您一個問題，摩梯末醫生。您曾經說過，在查爾斯爵士死去之前曾有幾個人在沼地上看到那個奇怪的動物吧？”
'Three people did，'said Mortimer．
“有三個人看到過，”摩梯末道。
'Did anyone see it after the death？'
“在他死去之后有人看到過嗎？”
'I haven't heard of anyone．'
“我還沒有聽說過。”
'Thank you，Dr Mortimer．Good morning．'
“謝謝您，摩梯末醫生。早安。”
After Mortimer had left us，Holmes sat down in his chair．He looked pleased．He always looked pleased when a case interest－ ed him．
摩梯末從我們這兒走之后，福爾摩斯在他的座位上坐了下來。他顯得很高興。每當有案件讓他感興趣時他總是露出高興的樣子。
I knew that he needed to be alone to think about all that he had heard．I went out for the day，and came back to find the room full of thick smoke from Holmes'pipe．
我知道他需要獨自一人思考一下他所聽到的東西。整個白天我就出去了，回來時發現滿屋都是福爾摩斯的煙斗里冒出來的濃煙。
'What do you think of this case？'I asked him．
“對這個案子你是怎么想的？”我問他。
'It is hard to say．Take，for example，the change in the foot－ prints．Did Sir Charles walk on his toes down the Alley？Only a stupid person is likely to believe that．The truth is he was run－ ning—running for his life．He ran until his heart stopped and he fell dead．'
“很難說。就拿腳印的變化來說吧。查爾斯爵士是踮著腳沿小路走的嗎？只有傻爪才可能相信這種說法。事情的真相是，他當時在奔跑——為了逃命。他一直跑到心臟停止跳動并倒地而死為止。”
'What was he running from？'I asked．
“他是為了逃避什么才跑的呢？”我問道。
'That is the difficult question，'said Holmes．'I think he was mad with fear before he began to run．He didn't know what he was doing．That explains why he ran away from the house instead of towards it．He was running away from help．The next question：who was he waiting for that night？And why was he waiting in the Yew Alley and not in the house？'
“那就是難題所在。”福爾摩斯道，“我認為他在開始跑之前已被嚇得神魂顛倒了。他并不知道自己當時的舉動。這就解釋了他為何不朝房子而朝相反的方向跑著的原因。他這么跑就離（能得到）幫助（的地方）越來越遠。下一個問題是：當晚他在等誰呢？還有，他為什么要在水松小道而不在房子里等人呢？”
'You think he was waiting for someone？'
“你認為他是在等人嗎？”
'Sir Charles was old and unwell．We can understand why he took a walk each evening．But why did he stand in the cold，on wet ground，for five or ten minutes？Dr Mortimer cleverly noted the cigar ash，so we know how long Sir Charles stood there．We know that he kept away from the moor，so it's un－ likely that he waited at the moor gate every evening．I am be－ ginning to understand some things，Watson．But I'll think no more about it until we meet Dr Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville in the morning．Please give me my violin．'
“查爾斯爵士年事已高，身體又虛弱。我們可以理解他為什么會在每個傍晚出去散步。可是，他為何要在寒冷的夜里在潮濕的地面上站上五至十分鐘呢？摩梯末醫生很機敏地注意到了雪茄落下的煙灰，因此我們知曉了查爾斯爵士在那兒站立了多長時間。我們知道他是一向躲避沼地的。因此他不大可能每晚都在通向沼地的柵門前佇立等候著。我現在開始明白某些事情了，華生。可是，等明早見到摩梯末醫生和亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士后我再考慮這件事吧。請你把我的小提琴拿給我。”
And Holmes began to play his violin．He had done all the thinking he could．Now he needed more details of the case to help him．
福爾摩斯于是開始拉起了他的小提琴。凡是能考慮到的他都已考慮過了。現在他需要與該案件有關的更多的細節來幫助他偵探這個案子。
