巴斯克威尔的猎犬 亨利· 巴斯克维尔爵士（15）

 

"I was looking out for loiterers in the street, but I saw none. We are dealing¹ with a clever man,Watson. This matter cuts very deep, and though I have not finally made up my mind whether it is abenevolent or a malevolent² agency which is in touch with us, I am conscious always of power anddesign. When our friends left I at once followed them in the hopes of marking down their invisibleattendant. So wily was he that he had not trusted himself upon foot, but he had availed himself ofa cab so that he could loiter behind or dash past them and so escape their notice. His method hadthe additional advantage that if they were to take a cab he was all ready to follow them. It has,however, one obvious disadvantage."

“那时我是向街中寻找假装闲逛的人们， 可是我一个也没有看到， 跟咱们打交道的是个精明人啊， 华生。 这件事很微妙呢， 虽然我还没有能肯定对方是善意的还是恶意的， 但是我觉得他是个有能力、 有智谋的人。 在我们的朋友告别之后， 我马上就尾随了他们， 为的是想发现他们的暗中追随者。 他可真狡猾， 连走路都觉得不可靠， 他为自己准备了一辆马车， 这样他就能跟在后边逛来逛去， 或是从他们的身旁猛冲过去， 以免引起他们的注意。 他这手法还有个特别的好处呢， 果真他们坐上一辆马车的话， 他马上就能尾随上他们了。 但是， 显然也有一个不利之处。”

"It puts him in the power of the cabman."

“这样他就要听凭马车夫的摆布了 。”

"Exactly."

“完全正确。”

"What a pity we did not get the number!"

“咱们没有记下车号来， 多可惜。”

"My dear Watson, clumsy as I have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that I neglectedto get the number? No. 2704 is our man. But that is no use to us for the moment."“我亲爱的华生， 虽然我竟显得那样笨拙， 可是你一定不会真的把我想象得连号码都忘了记下来吧？ Ｎｏ .２ ７ ０ ４ 就是咱们要找的车号。 但是， 它眼下对咱们还没有用处。”

"I fail to see how you could have done more."“我看不出在当时的那种情况下你还能干些什么。”

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 malevolent   

adj.有恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Why are they so malevolent to me?他们为什么对我如此恶毒？
• We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。