巴斯克维尔的猎犬 巴斯克维尔的猎犬（12）

 

The room had been fashioned into a small museum, and the walls were lined by a number ofglass-topped cases full of that collection of butterflies and moths the formation of which had beenthe relaxation of this complex and dangerous man. In the centre of this room there was an uprightbeam, which had been placed at some period as a support for the old worm-eaten baulk of timberwhich spanned the roof. To this post a figure was tied, so swathed and muffled in the sheets whichhad been used to secure it that one could not for the moment tell whether it was that of a man or awoman. One towel passed round the throat and was secured at the back of the pillar. Anothercovered the lower part of the face, and over it two dark eyes -- eyes full of grief and shame and adreadful questioning -- stared back at us. In a minute we had torn off the gag, unswathed the bonds,and Mrs. Stapleton sank upon the floor in front of us. As her beautiful head fell upon her chest Isaw the clear red weal of a whiplash across her neck.

这间屋子被布置成小博物馆的样子， 墙上装着一排安着玻璃盖的小匣， 里边装的全是蝴蝶和飞蛾， 那个诡计多端和危险的人把采集这些东西当作了娱乐消遣。 在屋子中间有一根直立的木桩， 是什么时候为了支持横贯屋顶、 被虫蛀了的旧梁木才竖起来的。 这根柱子上面捆着一个人， 那人被布单捆绑得不能出声， 你无法马上看出来是男是女。 一条手巾绕着脖子系在背后的柱子上， 另一条手巾蒙住了面孔的下半部， 上面露出了 两只黑眼睛——眼中充满了痛苦与羞耻的表情， 还带着可怕的怀疑——死盯着我们。 一会儿的功夫， 我们就把那人嘴上和身上捆着的东西都解了下来， 斯台普吞太太就在我们的面前倒了下去。 当她那美丽的头下垂在胸前的时候， 我在她的脖子上看到了清晰的红色鞭痕。

"The brute!" cried Holmes. "Here, Lestrade, your brandy-bottle! Put her in the chair! She hasfainted from ill-usage and exhaustion."

“这畜生！” 福尔摩斯喊道，“喂， 雷斯垂德， 你的白兰地呢？ 把她安置在椅子上！ 她已因受虐待和疲竭而昏过去了 。”

She opened her eyes again.

她又睁开了眼睛。