蓝宝石案 16蓝宝石现身(6)

When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and held it against the light.

看门人走了以后，福尔摩斯拿起宝石对着光线仔细鉴赏。

"It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just see how it glints and sparkles.

"真是一颗美奂绝伦的宝石，"他说，"请看看它是何等地光彩照耀呀。

Of course it is a nucleus¹ and focus of crime. Every good stone is.

当然，它又是罪恶的渊薮。每颗珍贵的宝石无不如此。

They are the devil's pet baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet² may stand for a bloody³ deed.

它们是魔鬼最得意的诱饵。在更大的和更古老的宝石上，每一个刻面都象征着一个血腥的罪行。

This stone is not yet twenty years old.

这颗宝石问世以来还不到二十年。

It was found in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China

它是在华南厦门河岸上发现的，

and is remarkable⁴ in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is blue in shade instead of ruby⁵ red.

它的奇异之处在于，除了它是蔚蓝色的而不是鲜红色的这一点之外，它具有红宝石的一切特点，

In spite of its youth, it has already a sinister⁶ history.

尽管它流传在世为时不长，可是已经有过一段不幸的历史了。

There have been two murders, a vitriol- throwing, a suicide, and several robberies

已经发生了两起谋杀案，一起浇洒硝镪水毁人容貌案，一起自杀案，另外还有几起抢劫案，

brought about for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallized charcoal⁷.

就是由于这颗重四十谷的结晶碳的缘故。

Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor⁸ to the gallows⁹ and the prison?

谁能想到如此美丽的小装饰品竟是向绞刑架和监狱输送罪犯的供应商呢？

I'll lock it up in my strong box now and drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it."

我要把它锁在我的保险柜里，并写一封短笺给伯爵夫人，说我们已经觅获这颗宝石。"

1 nucleus   

n.核，核心，原子核

参考例句：

• These young people formed the nucleus of the club.这些年轻人成了俱乐部的核心。
• These councils would form the nucleus of a future regime.这些委员会将成为一个未来政权的核心。

2 facet   

n.(问题等的)一个方面；(多面体的)面

参考例句：

• He has perfected himself in every facet of his job.他已使自己对工作的各个方面都得心应手。
• Every facet of college life is fascinating.大学生活的每个方面都令人兴奋。

3 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

6 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

7 charcoal   

n.炭，木炭，生物炭

参考例句：

• We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

8 purveyor   

n.承办商，伙食承办商

参考例句：

• Silence, purveyor of gossip, do not spread that report. 快别那样说，新闻记者阁下，别散布那个消息。 来自互联网
• Teaching purpose: To comprehensively understand the role function and consciousness composition of a news purveyor. 教学目的：全面深入的理解新闻传播者的角色功能和意识构成。 来自互联网

9 gallows   

n.绞刑架，绞台

参考例句：

• The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
• Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。