诺伍德的建筑师（16）

“So, my dear Watson, there's my report of a failure. And yet—and yet—”—he clenched¹ his thin hands in a paroxysm of conviction—“I know it's all wrong. I feel it in my bones. There is something that has not come out, and that housekeeper² knows it. There was a sort of sulky defiance³ in her eyes, which only goes with guilty knowledge. However, there's no good talking any more about it, Watson; but unless some lucky chance comes our way I fear that the Norwood Disappearance⁴ Case will not figure in that chronicle of our successes which I foresee that a patient public will sooner or later have to endure.”

“Surely,” said I, “the man's appearance would go far with any jury?”

“That is a dangerous argument, my dear Watson. You remember that terrible murderer, Bert Stevens, who wanted us to get him off in '87? Was there ever a more mild-mannered, Sunday-school young man?”

“It is true.”

“Unless we succeed in establishing an alternative theory this man is lost. You can hardly find a flaw in the case which can now be presented against him, and all further investigation⁵ has served to strengthen it. By the way, there is one curious little point about those papers which may serve us as the starting-point for an inquiry⁶. On looking over the bank-book I found that the low state of the balance was principally due to large cheques which have been made out during the last year to Mr. Cornelius. I confess that I should be interested to know who this Mr. Cornelius may be with whom a retired⁷ builder has such very large transactions. Is it possible that he has had a hand in the affair? Cornelius might be a broker⁸, but we have found no scrip to correspond with these large payments. Failing any other indication my researches must now take the direction of an inquiry at the bank for the gentleman who has cashed these cheques. But I fear, my dear fellow, that our case will end ingloriously by Lestrade hanging our client, which will certainly be a triumph for Scotland Yard.”

“喏，我亲一爱一的华生，这就是我的失败经过。但是……但是……”他突然握紧拳头，好象恢复了自信，“我知道一切都不对。我确实感到全不对。还有点重要的情况，女管家是知道的，可是问不出来。她那种愠怒、反抗的眼神，只说明她自觉有罪。不过再多说也没有用了。除非运气找上门来，恐怕这件诺伍德的失踪案不会在咱们的破案记录中出现。我看耐心的公众只好容忍这一次。”

“这个年轻人的外表一定会感动任何一个陪审一团一吧？”我说。

“那是个危险的论点，我亲一爱一的华生。你记得一八八七年那个想要咱们帮他开脱的大谋杀犯贝尔特·司蒂芬斯吧？你见过态度比他更一温一和、更象主日学校的儿童似的年轻人吗？”

“这倒是真的。”

“除非咱们能提出另一个可取的假设来，不然麦克法兰就算完了。在这个现在就可以对他提出控诉的案子中，你简直找不出一点一毛一病。进一步调查的结果反倒加强了立案理由。我想起来了，那些字据中还有一点奇怪的地方，也许可以作为一次调查的起点。我在翻看银行存折的时候，发现余额无几，主要因为过去一年里有几张大额支票开给了柯尼利亚斯先生。我很想知道跟这位退休的建筑师有过这样的大宗一交一易的柯尼利亚斯先生是什么人。也许他和这件案子有关系？柯尼利亚斯先生可能是个掮客，但是我没有找到和这几笔大额付款相符的凭据。既然现在没有别的迹象，我必须向银行查询那位把支票兑换成现款的绅士。但是，我的朋友，我担心这件案子将不光彩地以雷斯垂德吊死咱们的委托人告结束，这对苏格兰场无疑会成为一次胜利。”

1 clenched   

v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
• She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上，以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

3 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

4 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

7 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

8 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。