波希米亚丑闻 09高贵的委托者（7）

He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face,

他手里拿着一顶大檐帽，脸的上半部

extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask,

戴着一只黑色的盖过颧骨的遮护面具。

which he had apparently¹ adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered.

显然他刚刚整理过面具，因为进屋时，他的手还停留在面具上。

From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character,

由脸的下半部看，象是个性格坚强的人。

with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy².

他嘴唇厚而下垂，下巴又长又直，显示出一种近乎顽固的果断，

"You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent.

"你收到我写的条子了吗？"他问道，声音深沉、沙哑，带着浓重的德国口音。

"I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.

"我告诉过你，我要来拜访你。"他轮流地瞧着我们两个人，好象拿不准跟谁说话似的。

"Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson,

"请坐，"福尔摩斯说，"这位是我的朋友和同事--华生医生。

who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?"

他经常大力帮助我办案子。请问，我应该怎么称呼您？"

"You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman.

"你可以称呼我冯·克拉姆伯爵。我是波希米亚贵族。

I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and discretion³, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance.

我想这位先生--你的朋友，是位值得尊敬和十分审慎的人，我也可以把极为重要的事托付给他。

If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone."

否则，我宁愿跟你单独谈。"

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair.

我站起身来要走，可是福尔摩斯抓住我的手腕，把我推回到原来的扶手椅里。

"It is both, or none," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."

"要谈两个一起谈，要就不谈，"他对来客说，"在这位先生跟前，凡是您可以跟我谈的您尽管谈好了。"

The Count shrugged⁴ his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said he,

伯爵耸了耸他那宽阔的肩膀说道，"那么首先

"by binding⁵ you both to absolute secrecy⁶ for two years; at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance.

我得约定你们二位在两年内绝对保密，两年后这事就无关重要了。

At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it may have an influence upon European history."

目前说它重要得也许可以影响整个欧洲历史的进程都不过分。"

"I promise," said Holmes. "And I."

"我保证遵约，"福尔摩斯答道。"我也是。"

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 obstinacy   

n.顽固；（病痛等）难治

参考例句：

• It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
• Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。

3 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

4 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

6 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。