四签名 124琼诺赞·斯茂的奇异故事(34)

I came at once and had a look at the place, but I could not see how, with my wooden leg, I was to make my way up to it.

我立刻前去察看情势，觉得我这个木腿是个障碍，无法从外面爬进楼窗。

I learned, however, about a trapdoor in the roof, and also about Mr. Sholto's supper-hour.

后来听说屋顶有个暗门可通，又打听清楚了舒尔托先生每天吃晚饭的时间，

It seemed to me that I could manage the thing easily through Tonga.

才想到利用童格助我成功。

I brought him out with me with a long rope wound round his waist.

我带着一条长绳和童格一同去到樱沼别墅，把绳子系在童格的腰上，

He could climb like a cat, and he soon made his way through the roof,

他爬房的本领和猫一样，不久就从屋顶进入室内去了。

but, as ill luck would have it, Bartholomew Sholto was still in the room, to his cost.

可是不幸的巴索洛谬·舒尔托还在屋里，因而被害。

Tonga thought he had done something very clever in killing¹ him,

童格杀了他，还自以为干了一件聪明事。

for when I came up by the rope I found him strutting² about as proud as a peacock.

当我缘绳子爬进去的时候，他正在屋里骄傲得象一只孔雀似地踱来踱去，

Very much surprised was he when I made at him with the rope's end and cursed him for a little bloodthirsty imp³.

直到我怒极拿绳子打他，并咒骂他是小吸血鬼的时候，他才惊讶起来。

I took the treasure box and let it down, and then slid down myself,

我把宝箱拿到手中以后，我先用绳子把宝箱缒了下去，然后自己也顺着绳子溜了下去。

having first left the sign of the four upon the table to show that the jewels had come back at last to those who had most right to them.

在桌上留下一张写着四个签名的字条，表示宝物终于物归原主。

Tonga then pulled up the rope, closed the window, and made off the way that he had come.

童格把绳子收回，关上窗户，仍由原路爬了下来。

I don't know that I have anything else to tell you.

我想我要说的已尽于此。

I had heard a waterman speak of the speed of Smith's launch, the Aurora⁴,

我听一个船夫说过，那只'曙光'号是一只快船，

so I thought she would be a handy craft for our escape.

因此我想到，它倒是我们逃走的便利工具。

I engaged with old Smith, and was to give him a big sum if he got us safe to our ship.

我便雇妥了老斯密司的船，讲明了如果能把我们安然送上大船，就给他一大笔酬金。

He knew, no doubt, that there was some screw loose, but he was not in our secrets.

当然，他可能看得出来这里面有些蹊跷，可是我们的秘密他是不知道的。

All this is the truth, and if I tell it to you, gentlemen,

所有这些，句句是实。先生们，

it is not to amuse you, for you have not done me a very good turn

我说了这些，并不是为了要得到你们的欢心，你们也并没有优待我

but it is because I believe the best defence I can make is just to hold back nothing,

我认为毫无隐瞒就是我最好的辩护，

but let all the world know how badly I have myself been served by Major Sholto,

还要使世人知道舒尔托少校曾经如何欺骗了我们，

and how innocent I am of the death of his son.

至于他儿子的被害，我是无罪的。

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 strutting   

加固，支撑物

参考例句：

• He, too, was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle. 他也是非常自大，在城堡里大摇大摆地走。
• The pompous lecturer is strutting and forth across the stage. 这个演讲者在台上趾高气扬地来回走着。

3 imp   

n.顽童

参考例句：

• What a little imp you are!你这个淘气包！
• There's a little imp always running with him.他总有一个小鬼跟着。

4 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。