血字的研究 19劳瑞斯顿花园街的惨案(7)（在线收听）

As I watched him I was irresistibly reminded of a pure-blooded, well-trained foxhound,

我在一旁观察他的时候，不禁想起了训练有素的纯种猎犬，

as it dashes backward and forward through the covert, whining in its eagerness, until it comes across the lost scent.

在丛林中跑来跑去，狺狺吠叫，一直到它嗅出猎物的踪迹才肯甘休的样子。

For twenty minutes or more he continued his researches,

他一直检查了二十分钟，

measuring with the most exact care the distance between marks which were entirely invisible to me,

小心翼翼地测量了一些痕迹之间的距离；这些痕迹，我是一点也看不出来的。

and occasionally applying his tape to the walls in an equally incomprehensible manner.

偶尔他也令人不可思议地用卷尺测量墙壁。

In one place he gathered up very carefully a little pile of gray dust from the floor,

后来他非常小心地从地板上什么地方捏起一小撮灰色尘土，

and packed it away in an envelope.

并且把它放在一个信封里。

Finally he examined with his glass the word upon the wall,

接着，他用放大镜检查了墙壁上的血字，

going over every letter of it with the most minute exactness.

非常仔细地观察了每个字母。

This done, he appeared to be satisfied, for he replaced his tape and his glass in his pocket.

最后，他似乎很满意了，于是就把卷尺和放大镜装进衣袋中去。

"They say that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains," he remarked with a smile.

他微笑着说："有人说'天才'就是无止境地吃苦耐劳的本领。

"It's a very bad definition, but it does apply to detective work."

这个定义下得很不恰当，但是在侦探工作上倒还适用。"

Gregson and Lestrade had watched the manoeuvres of their amateur companion with considerable curiosity and some contempt.

葛莱森和雷斯垂德十分好奇地、带着几分轻蔑地一直看着这位私家同行的动作。

They evidently failed to appreciate the fact,which I had begun to realize,

他们分明还没有明白我现在已经渐渐理会了的--

that Sherlock Holmes's smallest actions were all directed towards some definite and practical end.

福尔摩斯的每个最细微的动作都具有它实际的而又明确的目的。

"What do you think of it, sir?" they both asked.

他们两人品声问道："先生，你的看法怎么样？"

"It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I were to presume to help you," remarked my friend.

我的同伴说："如果我竟帮起你们来，我就未免要夺取两位在这一案件上所建树的功劳了。

"You are doing so well now that it would be a pity for anyone to interfere."

你们现在进行得很顺利，任何人都不便从中插手。"

There was a world of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke.

他的话中满含讥讽意味。他接着又说：

"If you will let me know how your investigations go," he continued,

"如果你们能把侦查的进行情况随时见告，

"I shall be happy to give you any help I can.

我也愿尽力协助。

In the meantime I should like to speak to the constable who found the body.

现在我还要和发现这个尸体的警察谈一谈。

Can you give me his name and address?"

你们可以把他的姓名、住址告诉我吗？"

Lestrade glanced at his notebook. "John Rance," he said.

雷斯垂德看了看他的记事本说："他叫约翰·栾斯，

"He is off duty now. You will find him at 46, Audley Court, Kennington Park Gate."

现在下班了。你可以到肯宁顿花园门路，奥德利大院46号去找他。"

Holmes took a note of the address.

福尔摩斯把地址记了下来。

"Come along, Doctor," he said: "we shall go and look him up.

他说："医生，走吧，咱们去找他去。

I'll tell you one thing which may help you in the case," he continued, turning to the two detectives.

我告诉你们一桩对于这个案件有帮助的事情。"他回过头来向这两个侦探继续说道，

"There has been murder done, and the murderer was a man.

"这是一件谋杀案。凶手是个男人，

He was more than six feet high, was in the prime of life,

他高六英尺多，正当中年。

had small feet for his height, wore coarse, square-toed boots and smoked a Trichinopoly cigar.

照他的身材来说，脚小了一点，穿着一双粗平方头靴子，抽的是印度雪茄烟。

He came here with his victim in a four-wheeled cab, which was drawn by a horse with three old shoes and one new one on his off fore-leg.

他是和被害者一同乘坐一辆四轮马车来的。这个马车用一骑马拉着，那骑马有三只蹄铁是旧的，右前蹄的蹄铁是新的。

In all probability the murderer had a florid face, and the finger-nails of his right hand were remarkably long.

这个凶手很可能是脸色赤红，右手指甲很长。

These are only a few indications, but they may assist you."

这仅仅是几点迹象，但是这些对于你们两位也许有点帮助。"

Lestrade and Gregson glanced at each other with an incredulous smile.

雷斯垂德和葛莱森彼此面面相觑，露出一种表示怀疑的微笑。

"If this man was murdered, how was it done?" asked the former.

雷斯垂德问道，"如果这个人是被杀死的，那么又是怎样谋杀的呢？"

"Poison," said Sherlock Holmes curtly, and strode off.

"毒死的。"福尔摩斯简单地说，然后就大踏步地向外走了，

"One other thing, Lestrade," he added, turning round at the door:

"还有一点，雷斯垂德，"他走到门口时又回过头来说，

"'Rache,' is the German for 'revenge'; so don't lose your time looking for Miss Rachel."

"在德文中，'拉契' 这个字是复仇的意思；所以别再浪费时间去寻找那位'瑞契儿小姐'了。"

With which Parthian shot he walked away, leaving the two rivals open mouthed behind him.

讲完这几句临别赠言以后，福尔摩斯转身就走了，剩下这两位敌手目瞪口呆地站在那里。