四签名 108琼诺赞·斯茂的奇异故事（18）

He stopped and held out his manacled hands for the whisky and water which Holmes had brewed¹ for him.

他说到这里停住了，伸出带着铐子的手，接过了福尔摩斯给他斟的加水威士忌酒。

For myself, I confess that I had now conceived the utmost horror of the man

我可以想象得出这个人的极端残忍和狠毒，

not only for this cold-blooded business in which he had been concerned

不仅是他那残酷的行为，

but even more for the somewhat flippant and careless way in which he narrated² it.

还从他在述说这段故事时的满不在乎的神气里。

Whatever punishment was in store for him, I felt that he might expect no sympathy from me.

无论将来他得到什么刑罚，我是不会对他表示同情的。

Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat with their hands upon their knees,

歇洛克·福尔摩斯和琼斯坐在那里，手放在膝上，

deeply interested in the story but with the same disgust written upon their faces.

侧耳倾听，面色也显出厌恶的神气。

He may have observed it, for there was a touch of defiance³ in his voice and manner as he proceeded.

斯茂也许看出来了，因为在他继续说下去的时候，声音和动作里都带着些抗拒的意味。

"It was all very bad, no doubt," said he.

他道："当然了，全部事实确实是万分糟糕。

"I should like to know how many fellows in my shoes

可是我倒愿意知道，究竟有多少人处在我的地位

would have refused a share of this loot when they knew that they would have their throats cut for their pains.

会宁可被杀也不要那些宝物？

Besides, it was my life or his when once he was in the fort.

还有一层，他一进堡垒，就形成了我们两个人里必须死掉一个的形势；

If he had got out, the whole business would come to light,

假若他跑出堡外，这整个事情就会暴露，

and I should have been court- martialled and shot as likely as not;

我就要受军事审判而被枪决

for people were not very lenient⁴ at a time like that."

因为，在那样的时刻，定刑不会从宽的。"

"Go on with your story," said Holmes shortly.

福尔摩斯截断他的话道："接着谈你的事吧。"

1 brewed   

调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡）

参考例句：

• The beer is brewed in the Czech Republic. 这种啤酒是在捷克共和国酿造的。
• The boy brewed a cup of coffee for his mother. 这男孩给他妈妈冲了一杯咖啡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 narrated   

v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 lenient   

adj.宽大的，仁慈的

参考例句：

• The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
• It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。