绿玉皇冠案 08贵重的抵押物(4)

"Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more;

"见到我的委托人急于离去，我便不再说什么，

but, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 pounds notes.

当即召来出纳员，叫他支给委托人五十张票面一千英镑的钞票。

When I was alone once more, however, with the precious case lying upon the table in front of me,

当我再次独自一人在办公室里时，对着放在我面前桌子上的这只贵重的盒子，

I could not but think with some misgivings¹ of the immense responsibility which it entailed² upon me.

我不免对需要承担这样巨大的责任而感到有点忐忑不安。

There could be no doubt that, as it was a national possession,

无疑因为它是一件国宝，倘若它遭到任何意外，

a horrible scandal would ensue if any misfortune should occur to it.

接踵而来的必定是可怕的公愤。

I already regretted having ever consented to take charge of it.

我已经开始后悔我当时为什么竟会同意负责保管它。

However, it was too late to alter the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned once more to my work.

然而，已来不及作任何改变了，我只好将它锁在我私人的保险箱里，然后继续工作。

When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so precious a thing in the office behind me.

到傍晚，我觉得把这么贵重的东西放在办公室里未免太不谨慎。

Bankers' safes had been forced before now, and why should not mine be?

在此之前，银行的保险箱曾经被人撬过，怎见得我的保险箱就不会被撬？

If so, how terrible would be the position in which I should find myself!

万一出了这种事，我的处境该是多么可怕啊！

I determined³, therefore, that for the next few days I would always carry the case backward and forward with me,

因此我决定在往后几天，来来去去都要随身携带着这只盒子，

so that it might never be really out of my reach.

使它实际上和我一刻都寸步不离。

With this intention, I called a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel with me.

这样决定以后，我就雇了一辆出租马车带着这件珍宝回到在斯特里特哈姆的家里。

I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room."

我将它拿到楼上，锁在我起居室的大柜橱里，这才松了一口气。"

1 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 entailed   

使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
• The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 这所房子和地产限定由长女继承。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。