工程师大拇指案 13向福尔摩斯叙述故事(7)

'Then the matter stands thus.

'那么，事情是这样的。

You are probably aware that fuller's- earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found in one or two places in England?'

您可能知道，漂白土是一种非常贵重的矿产，在英国，只有一两处发现有这种矿藏？'

'I have heard so.'

'我听说过。'

'Some little time ago I bought a small place -- a very small place -- within ten miles of Reading.

'不久以前，我在距离雷丁不到十英里的地方买了一小块地--非常小的一块地，

I was fortunate enough to discover that there was a deposit¹ of fuller's-earth in one of my fields.

我非常幸运地发现，其中一块地里有漂白土矿床。

On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a comparatively small one,

然而，经过探查之后，我发现这个矿床是比较小的，

and that it formed a link between two very much larger ones upon the right and left–both of them, however, in the grounds of my neighbours.

但它却连接了左右两个大得多的矿床--可是，这两处全在我的邻居的地里。

These good people were absolutely ignorant² that their land contained that which was quite as valuable as a gold-mine.

这些善良的人们，对于在他们的土地里蕴藏着和金矿同样贵重的矿藏却一点儿也不知道。

Naturally, it was to my interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value,

自然，在他们发现他们土地的真正价值之前把他们的地买下来是很上算的。

but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this.

但是，不幸我缺乏购买土地的资金。

I took a few of my friends into the secret, however,

为此，我找了几个朋友秘密商量。

and they suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little deposit,

他们提议我们应该悄悄地、秘密地开采我们自己那小块矿床，

and that in this way we should earn the money which would enable³ us to buy the neighbouring fields.

用这种方法来筹集购买邻居土地的资金。

This we have now been doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we erected⁴ a hydraulic⁵ press.

到目前为止，我们已经这么干了一段时间了。为了便于操作，我们安装了一台水压机。

This press, as I have already explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the subject.

正像我先前已经说过的那样，这台机器出了毛病，我们希望能得到你的指点。

We guard our secret very jealously⁶,

我们小心翼翼地保守着秘密，

however, and if it once became known⁷ that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our little house, it would soon rouse⁸ inquiry⁹,

可是，一旦有人知道我们曾请过水利工程师到我们的小房子来，很快就会引仆人们的好奇，

and then, if the facts came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these fields and carrying out our plans.

那时，如果真相泄露出去，那么获得这些土地和实行我们的计划的机会就全完了。

That is why I have made you promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are going to Eyford to-night.

这就是我要您保证不对任何人透露您今天晚上要到艾津去的缘故。

I hope that I make it all plain?'

我希望我已经把一切都讲清楚了。'

1 deposit   

n.定金，存款，矿藏；vt.使沉淀，寄存，储蓄

参考例句：

• There is too much deposit in a bottle of wine.酒瓶里有太多的沉淀物。
• The hotel requires a deposit for all advance bookings.旅馆规定凡预订房间都要先付订金。

2 ignorant   

adj.无知的，没有学问的，愚昧的，不知道的

参考例句：

• They are unbelievably ignorant.他们无知到令人难以置信的地步。
• He's not stupid,merely ignorant.他并不愚蠢，只是无知。

3 enable   

vt.使能够；使可以；使成为可能

参考例句：

• Only teamwork will enable us to get the job done on time.只有团结一致，我们才能按时完成这项工作。
• This will enable China to go a step further in grain production.这是中国粮食生产再上新台阶的巨大动力。

4 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

5 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

6 jealously   

ad.嫉妒的，猜疑的

参考例句：

• A number of men still jealously guard their rights. 很多男人仍在谨慎地维护着他们特权。 来自英语晨读30分（高二）
• His jealously guarded secret was soon common property. 他小心翼翼保守的秘密很快就成为众所皆知之事。

7 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

8 rouse   

n.觉醒，奋起；v.唤醒，鼓舞，激动

参考例句：

• I usually rouse at six in the morning.我通常在早晨6点钟醒来。
• You must rouse yourself to action.你必须振作精神，起来行动。

9 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。