工程师大拇指案 35一片火海(1)

But the inspector¹ was mistaken, for those criminals were not destined² to fall into the hands of justice.

但是这位巡官错了，这些罪犯命中注定不会落入法网。

As we rolled into Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke

当我们所乘的火车驶进艾津车站时，只见一股巨大的浓烟，

which streamed up from behind a small clump³ of trees in the neighbourhood and hung like an immense ostrich⁴ feather over the landscape.

从邻近的一个小树丛后面滚滚而上，有如一匹硕大无比的驼鸟毛悬挂在美丽的田园上空。

"A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off again on its way.

"是房子失火了吗？"当火车喷着气开出车站时，布雷兹特里特问道。

"Yes, sir!" said the station-master.

"是的，先生，"车站站长回答说。

"When did it break out?"

"什么时候起火的？"

"I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, and the whole place is in a blaze."

"我听说是夜里起火的，先生。但是火越烧越旺，现在已成了一片火海了。"

"Whose house is it?" "Dr. Becher's."

"是谁的房子？" "比彻医生的。"

"Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very thin, with a long, sharp nose?"

"告诉我，"工程师插了一句，"比彻医生是个德国人，非常瘦削，有个又长又尖的鼻子，对不对？"

The station-master laughed heartily⁵.

站长放声大笑起来。

"No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a better-lined waistcoat.

"不对，先生，比彻医生是个英国人，在我们这个教区里还没一个人比他穿得更讲究。

But he has a gentleman staying with him, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner,

据我了解，倒是有位先生和他住在一起，那位先生是外国人，是一个病人，

and he looks as if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm."

但是看起来您请他饱餐一顿上好的牛排，他也不会觉得油腻的。"

The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all hastening in the direction of the fire.

站长的话还没说完，我们已急急忙忙朝着失火的方向奔去。

1 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

2 destined   

adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的

参考例句：

• It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
• The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

3 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

4 ostrich   

n.鸵鸟

参考例句：

• Ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.驼鸟是双腿跑得最快的动物。
• The ostrich indeed inhabits continents.鸵鸟确实是生活在大陆上的。

5 heartily   

adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很

参考例句：

• He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。
• The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。