绿玉皇冠案 04几近疯癫的委托人(4)

"My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your ears.

"我的名字，"我们的客人回答说，"你们也许是熟悉的。

I am Alexander Holder¹, of the banking² firm of Holder & Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street."

我是针线街霍尔德·史蒂文森银行的亚历山大·霍尔德。"

The name was indeed well known to u

这个名字我们的确很熟悉，

as belonging to the senior partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of London.

他是伦敦城里第二家最大私人银行的主要合伙人。

What could have happened, then, to bring one of the foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass?

究竟是什么事情会使伦敦一位第一流公民落到这样可怜的境地？

We waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced³ himself to tell his story.

我们十分好奇地等待着他再振作起精神来陈述他自己的遭遇。

"I feel that time is of value," said he;

"我觉得时间很宝贵，"他说，

"that is why I hastened here when the police inspector⁴ suggested that I should secure your cooperation.

"所以当警厅巡官建议我取得你们的合作时，我就急速赶到这里来了。

I came to Baker⁵ Street by the Underground and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this snow.

我是乘坐地铁并且急急忙忙步行来到贝克街的，因为马车在雪地上行驶缓慢。

That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who takes very little exercise.

所以我刚才气都喘不过来，这是因为我平时很少锻炼的缘故。

I feel better now, and I will put the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can.

现在我感觉好一点了，我尽量简单明了地把事实讲给你们听。

It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking business

当然，你们都知道得很清楚，一家有成就的银行

as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative⁶ investments for our funds

必须依靠善于为资金找到有利的投资，

as upon our increasing our connection and the number of our depositors.

同时还依靠能够增加业务联系和存户的数目。

One of our most lucrative⁷ means of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security is unimpeachable⁸.

我们投放资金最能获利的方法之一是在绝对可靠的担保之下，以贷款的方式将钱放贷出去。

We have done a good deal in this direction during the last few years,

这几年来我们做了很多笔这种交易，

and there are many noble families to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their pictures, libraries, or plate."

许多名门贵族以他们珍藏的名画，图书或金银餐具作为抵押起向我们借贷了大笔款项。"

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

3 braced   

adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来

参考例句：

• They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

6 remunerative   

adj.有报酬的

参考例句：

• He is prepared to make a living by accepting any remunerative chore.为了生计，他准备接受任何有酬报的杂活。
• A doctor advised her to seek remunerative employment.一个医生建议她去找有酬劳的工作。

7 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

8 unimpeachable   

adj.无可指责的；adv.无可怀疑地

参考例句：

• He said all five were men of unimpeachable character.他说这五个都是品格完美无缺的人。
• It is the revenge that nature takes on persons of unimpeachable character.这是自然对人品无瑕的人的报复。