血字的研究 36葛莱森大显身手(7)

"Very," said Holmes.

"十分可疑。"福尔摩斯说。

"He still carried the heavy stick which the mother described him as having with him when he followed Drebber.

"那时他还拿着她母亲所说的追击锥伯用的那个大棒子。

It was a stout¹ oak cudgel."

是一根很结实的橡木棍子。"

"What is your theory, then?"

"那么你的高见如何？"

"Well, my theory is that he followed Drebber as far as the Brixton Road.

"啊，根据我的看法，他追锥伯一直追到了布瑞克斯顿路。

When there, a fresh altercation² arose between them,

这时他们又争吵起来。争吵之间，

in the course of which Drebber received a blow from the stick, in the pit of the stomach perhaps, which killed him without leaving any mark.

锥伯挨了狠狠的一棒子，也许正打在心窝上，所以虽然送了命，却没有留下任何伤痕。

The night was so wet that no one was about, so Charpentier dragged the body of his victim into the empty house.

当夜雨很大，附近又没有人。于是夏朋婕就把尸首拖到那所空屋里去。

As to the candle, and the blood, and the writing on the wall, and the ring, they may all be so many tricks to throw the police on to the wrong scent³."

至于蜡烛、血迹、墙上的字迹和戒指等等，不过是想把警察引入迷途的一些花招罢了。"

"Well done!" said Holmes in an encouraging voice.

福尔摩斯以称赞的口气说："做得好！

"Really, Gregson, you are getting along. We shall make something of you yet."

葛莱森，你实在大有长进，看来你迟早会出人头地的。"

"I flatter myself that I have managed it rather neatly," the detective answered, proudly.

这位侦探骄傲地答道："我自己认为，这件事办得总算干净利落。

"The young man volunteered a statement, in which he said that after following Drebber some time,

可是这个小伙子自己却供称：他追了一程以后，

the latter perceived him, and took a cab in order to get away from him.

锥伯发觉了他，于是就坐上了一部马车逃走了。

On his way home he met an old shipmate, and took a long walk with him.

他在回家的路上，遇到了一位过去船上的老同事，他陪着这位老同事走了很久。

On being asked where this old shipmate lived, he was unable to give any satisfactory reply.

可是问到他这位老同事的住址时，他的回答并不能令人满意。

I think the whole case fits together uncommonly⁴ well.

我认为这个案子的情节前后非常吻合。

What amuses me is to think of Lestrade, who had started off upon the wrong scent.

好笑的是雷斯垂德，他一开始就走上了歧途。

I am afraid he won't make much of it.

我恐怕他不会有什么成绩的。

Why, by Jove, here's the very man himself!"

嘿！正说他，他就来了。"

It was indeed Lestrade, who had ascended⁵ the stairs while we were talking, and who now entered the room.

进来的人果然是雷斯垂德。我们谈话的时候，他已经上了楼，跟着就走进屋来。

The assurance and jauntiness⁶ which generally marked his demeanour and dress were, however, wanting.

平常，无论从他的外表行动，还是衣着上，都看得出来的那种扬扬自得和信心百倍的气派，现在都消逝不见了。

His face was disturbed and troubled, while his clothes were disarranged and untidy.

只见他神色慌张，愁容满面，衣服也凌乱不堪。

He had evidently come with the intention of consulting with Sherlock Holmes, for on perceiving his colleague he appeared to be embarrassed and put out.

他到这里来，显然是有事要向福尔摩斯求教的，因为当他一看到他的同事便显得忸怩不安，手足无措起来。

He stood in the centre of the room, fumbling⁷ nervously⁸ with his hat and uncertain what to do.

他站在房子中间，两手不住地摆弄着帽子。

"This is a most extraordinary case," he said at last,"a most incomprehensible affair."

最后，他说道："这的确是个非常离奇的案子，一件不可思议的怪事。"

"Ah, you find it so, Mr. Lestrade!" cried Gregson, triumphantly⁹.

葛莱森得意地说道："啊，你也这样看吗，雷斯垂德先生？

"I thought you would come to that conclusion.

我早就知道你会得出这样结论的。

Have you managed to find the secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson?"

你已经找到那个秘书先生斯坦节逊了吗？"

"The secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson," said Lestrade, gravely, "was murdered at Halliday's Private Hotel about six o'clock this morning."

雷斯垂德心情沉重地说："那位秘书斯坦节逊先生，今天早晨六点钟左右在郝黎代旅馆被人暗杀了。"

1 stout   

adj.强壮的，粗大的，结实的，勇猛的，矮胖的

参考例句：

• He cut a stout stick to help him walk.他砍了一根结实的枝条用来拄着走路。
• The stout old man waddled across the road.那肥胖的老人一跩一跩地穿过马路。

2 altercation   

n.争吵，争论

参考例句：

• Throughout the entire altercation,not one sensible word was uttered.争了半天，没有一句话是切合实际的。
• The boys had an altercation over the umpire's decision.男孩子们对裁判的判决颇有争议。

3 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

4 uncommonly   

adv. 稀罕(极，非常)

参考例句：

• an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
• My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。

5 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 jauntiness   

n.心满意足；洋洋得意；高兴；活泼

参考例句：

7 fumbling   

n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理

参考例句：

• If he actually managed to the ball instead of fumbling it with an off-balance shot. 如果他实际上设法拿好球而不是fumbling它。50-balance射击笨拙地和迅速地会开始他的岗位移动，经常这样结束。
• If he actually managed to secure the ball instead of fumbling it awkwardly an off-balance shot. 如果他实际上设法拿好球而不是fumbling它。50-50提议有时。他从off-balance射击笨拙地和迅速地会开始他的岗位移动，经常这样结束。

8 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

9 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。