红发会 21开始调查(2)

We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square,

我们坐地铁一直到奥尔德斯盖特；再走一小段路，我们便到了萨克斯·科伯格广场，

the scene of the singular story which we had listened to in the morning.

上午听到的那奇特的故事正发生在这个地方。

It was a poky, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy¹ two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in enclosure,

这是一些既隘狭窄破落而又虚摆场面的穷街陋巷，四排灰暗的两层砖房排列在一个周围有铁栏杆的围墙之内。

where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps² of faded laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and uncongenial atmosphere.

院子里是一片杂草丛生的草坪，草坪上几簇枯萎的月桂小树丛正在烟雾弥漫和很不适意的环境里顽强地生长着。

Three gilt³ balls and a brown board with "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house,

在街道拐角的一所房子上方，有一块棕色木板和三个镀金的圆球，上面刻有"杰贝兹·威尔逊"这几个白色大字，

announced the place where our red-headed client carried on his business.

这个招牌向人们表示，这就是我们红头发委托人做买卖的所在地。

Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between puckered⁴ lids.

歇洛克·福尔摩斯在那房子前面停了下来，歪着脑袋细细察看了一遍这所房子，眼睛在皱纹密布的眼皮中间炯炯发光。

Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses.

他随即漫步走到街上，然后再返回那个拐角，眼睛注视着那些房子。

Finally he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped⁵ vigorously upon the pavement with his stick two or three times,

最后他回到那家当票坐落的地方，用手杖使劲地敲打了两三下那里的人行道，

he went up to the door and knocked.

之后便走到当票门口敲门。

1 dingy   

adj.昏暗的，肮脏的

参考例句：

• It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
• The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。

2 clumps   

n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声

参考例句：

• These plants quickly form dense clumps. 这些植物很快形成了浓密的树丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bulbs were over. All that remained of them were clumps of brown leaves. 这些鳞茎死了，剩下的只是一丛丛的黃叶子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 gilt   

adj.镀金的；n.金边证券

参考例句：

• The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。
• The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。

4 puckered   

v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His face puckered , and he was ready to cry. 他的脸一皱，像要哭了。
• His face puckered, the tears leapt from his eyes. 他皱着脸，眼泪夺眶而出。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 thumped   

v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Dave thumped the table in frustration . 戴夫懊恼得捶打桌子。
• He thumped the table angrily. 他愤怒地用拳捶击桌子。