博斯科姆比溪谷秘案 31阐述看法(2)

"What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son.

"那么这个'库伊'是什么意思呢？""唔，显然这个词不可能是喊给他儿子听的。

The son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere¹ chance that he was within earshot.

他当时只知道他的儿子是在布里斯托尔。他儿子当时听到'库伊'这个词完全是偶然的。

The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with.

死者当时喊'库伊'是为了引其他约见的那个人的注意。

But 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used between Australians.

而'库伊'显然是澳大利亚人的一种叫法，并且只是在澳大利亚人之间用的。

There is a strong presumption² that the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool

因此可以大胆地设想，麦卡锡想要在博斯科姆比池塘会晤的那个人

was someone who had been in Australia."

是一个曾经到过澳大利亚的人。"

"What of the rat, then?"

"那么'拉特'这个词又是什么意思呢？"

Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened³ it out on the table.

歇洛克·福尔摩斯从他口袋里掏出一张折叠的纸，把它在桌上摊开。

"This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night."

他说："这是一张维多利亚殖民地的地图。我昨天晚上打电报到布里斯托尔去把它要来的。"

He put his hand over part of the map. "What do you read?"

他把手放在地图的一个地方上说："你念一下这是什么？"

"ARAT," I read. "And now?" He raised his hand. "BALLARAT."

我照念道："阿拉特。"他把手举起来说："你再念。""巴勒拉特。"

"Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his son only caught the last two syllables⁴.

"这就对了。这就是那个人喊叫的那个词，而他的儿子只听清这个词的最后两个音节。

He was trying to utter the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat."

他当时是使劲想把谋杀他的凶手的名字说出来。巴勒拉特的某某人。"

"It is wonderful!" I exclaimed.

我赞叹道："妙极了！"

1 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

2 presumption   

n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定

参考例句：

• Please pardon my presumption in writing to you.请原谅我很冒昧地写信给你。
• I don't think that's a false presumption.我认为那并不是错误的推测。

3 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。

4 syllables   

n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a word with two syllables 双音节单词
• 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓，它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记