巴斯克威尔的猎犬 梅利琵宅邸的主人斯台普吞（3）

 

　　Sir Henry had numerous papers to examine after breakfast, so that the time was propitious¹ formy excursion. It was a pleasant walk of four miles along the edge of the moor², leading me at lastto a small gray hamlet, in which two larger buildings, which proved to be the inn and the house ofDr. Mortimer, stood high above the rest. The postmaster, who was also the village grocer, had aclear recollection of the telegram.

　　早餐之后， 亨利爵士有很多文件要看， 因此这段时间恰好可以让我出门了。 这是一次令人愉快的散步， 我沿着沼地的边缘走了 四英里路， 最后走到了一个荒凉单调的小村， 村中有两所较其余都高的大房子， 事后知道一所是客栈， 一所是摩梯末医生的房子， 那位邮政局长——又是本村的食品杂货商， 对那封电报记得很清楚。

　　"Certainly, sir," said he, "I had the telegram delivered to Mr. Barrymore exactly as directed."“肯定的， 先生， ” 他说道，“我是完全按照指示叫人将那封电报送交白瑞摩先生的。”

　　"Who delivered it?"

　　“谁送去的？ ”

　　"My boy here. James, you delivered that telegram to Mr. Barrymore at the Hall last week, didyou not?"

　　“我的小孩送去的。 杰姆士， 上星期是你把那封电报送交住在庄园的白瑞摩先生的， 是不是？ ”

　　"Yes, father, I delivered it."

　　“是的， 爸爸， 是我送的。”

　　"Into his own hands?" I asked.

　　“是他亲手收到的吗？ ” 我问道。

　　"Well, he was up in the loft³ at the time, so that I could not put it into his own hands, but Igave it into Mrs. Barrymore's hands, and she promised to deliver it at once."“啊， 当时他正在楼上呢， 所以我没有能亲自交到他手， 可是， 我把它交到了 白瑞摩太太的手里了， 她答应说马上就送上去。”

　　"Did you see Mr. Barrymore?"

　　“你看到白瑞摩先生了吗？ ”

　　"No, sir; I tell you he was in the loft."“没有， 先生， 我跟您说他是在楼上呢。”

　　"If you didn't see him, how do you know he was in the loft?"“如果你并没有看到他， 你怎么能知道他是在楼上呢？ ”

　　"Well, surely his own wife ought to know where he is," said the postmaster testily⁴. "Didn't heget the telegram? If there is any mistake it is for Mr. Barrymore himself to complain."“噢， 当然他自己的妻子应该知道他在什么地方啊！” 邮政局长有些愠怒地说道，“究竟他收到了那份电报没有？ 如果发生了任何差错， 也应该是白瑞摩先生自己来质问啊。”

1 propitious   

adj.吉利的；顺利的

参考例句：

• The circumstances were not propitious for further expansion of the company.这些情况不利于公司的进一步发展。
• The cool days during this week are propitious for out trip.这种凉爽的天气对我们的行程很有好处。

2 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

3 loft   

n.阁楼，顶楼

参考例句：

• We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
• By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

4 testily   

adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地

参考例句：

• He reacted testily to reports that he'd opposed military involvement. 有报道称他反对军队参与，对此他很是恼火。 来自柯林斯例句