蓝宝石案 39赖德先生(9)

There was a rush, a clatter¹ upon the stairs, the bang of a door,

只听见楼梯上一阵"噔噔"的脚步声，"嘭"的一声关门声，

and the crisp rattle² of running footfalls from the street.

接着是从街上传来的一阵清脆的跑步声。

"After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his clay pipe,

"毕竟，华生，"福尔摩斯一边说着，一边伸出手去拿那只陶土制的烟斗，

"I am not retained by the police to supply their deficiencies.

"我现在还没有被警察局请去向他们提供他们所不知道的案情。

If Horner were in danger it would be another thing;

如果霍纳现在处于危险境地，那就是另外一回事了；

but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must collapse³.

但是这个家伙是不可能再出头露面控告他了，这个案件也就会不了了之。

I suppose that I am commuting⁴ a felony, but it is just possible that I am saving a soul.

我想我在使一个重罪得以减轻，但也可能我是挽救了一个人。

This fellow will not go wrong again; he is too terribly frightened.

这个人将不会再做坏事了，他已经吓得丧魂落魄了。

Send him to jail now, and you make him a jail-bird for life.

要是把他送进监狱的话，你就会使他变成一个终身的罪犯。

Besides, it is the season of forgiveness.

再说，现在正是大赦时节，我们何乐而不为呢。

Chance has put in our way a most singular and whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward.

偶然的机会使我们碰上这个十分奇特的古怪问题，而这个问题的解决也就算是对它的报酬了。

If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin another investigation⁵,

如果你愿意按一按铃，医生，我们还可以开始另一案件的调查，

in which, also a bird will be the chief feature."

其中主要的特点仍然是一只家禽。"

1 clatter   

v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声

参考例句：

• The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
• Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。

2 rattle   

v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓

参考例句：

• The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。
• She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

3 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

4 commuting   

交换（的）

参考例句：

• I used the commuting time to read and answer my mail. 我利用上下班在汽车中的时间来阅读和答复给我的函电。
• Noncommuting objects are as real to the mathematicians as commuting objects. 对于数学家来说，不可交换的对象与可交换的对象是一样真实的。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。