血字的研究 16劳瑞斯顿花园街的惨案(4)

A short passage, bare-planked and dusty, led to the kitchen and offices.

有一条短短的过道通向厨房，过道地上没有平地毯，灰尘满地。

Two doors opened out of it to the left and to the right.

过道左右各有一门。

One of these had obviously been closed for many weeks.

其中一个分明已经有很多星期没有开过了。

The other belonged to the dining- room, which was the apartment in which the mysterious affair had occurred.

另一个是餐厅的门，惨案就发生在这个餐厅里面。

Holmes walked in, and I followed him with that subdued¹ feeling at my heart which the presence of death inspires.

福尔摩斯走了进去，我跟在他的后面，心情感到异常沉重。这是由于死尸所引起来的。

It was a large square room, looking all the larger from the absence of all furniture.

这是一间方形大屋子，由于没有家具陈设，因此格外显得宽大。

A vulgar flaring² paper adorned³ the walls, but it was blotched in places with mildew⁴,

墙壁上糊着廉价的花纸，有些地方已经斑斑点点地有了霉迹，

and here and there great strips had become detached and hung down, exposing the yellow plaster beneath.

有的地方还大片大平地剥落下来，露出里面黄色的粉墙。

Opposite the door was a showy fireplace, surmounted⁵ by a mantelpiece of imitation white marble.

门对面有一个漂亮的壁炉。壁炉框是用白色的假大理石作的，

On one corner of this was stuck the stump⁶ of a red wax candle.

炉台的一端放着一段红色蜡烛头。

The solitary⁷ window was so dirty that the light was hazy⁸ and uncertain, giving a dull gray tinge⁹ to everything,

屋里只有一个窗子，异常污浊，因此室内光线非常昏暗，到处都蒙上了一层黯淡的色彩。

which was intensified¹⁰ by the thick layer of dust which coated the whole apartment.

屋内积土尘封，更加深了这种情调。

All these details I observed afterwards.

这些景象是我后来才看到的。

At present my attention was centred upon the single, grim, motionless figure which lay stretched upon the boards,

当我进去的时候，我的注意力就全部集中在那个万分可怕的尸体上；

with vacant, sightless eyes staring up at the discoloured ceiling.

他僵卧在地板上，一双茫然无光的眼睛凝视着褪了色的天花板。

It was that of a man about forty-three or forty-four years of age,

死者大约有四十三、四岁，

middle-sized, broad-shouldered, with crisp curling black hair, and a short, stubbly beard.

中等身材，宽宽的肩膀，一头黑黑的鬈发，并且留着短硬的胡子，

He was dressed in a heavy broadcloth frock coat and waistcoat, with light-coloured trousers, and immaculate collar and cuffs¹¹.

身上穿着厚厚的黑呢礼服上衣和背心，浅色裤子，装着洁白的硬领和袖口。

A top hat, well brushed and trim, was placed upon the floor beside him.

身旁地板上有一顶整洁的礼帽。

His hands were clenched¹² and his arms thrown abroad, while his lower limbs were interlocked,

死者紧握双拳、两臂伸张、双腿交迭着，

as though his death struggle had been a grievous one.

看来在他临死的时候，曾经有过一番痛苦的挣扎。

On his rigid¹³ face there stood an expression of horror,

他那僵硬的脸上露出恐怖的神情，

and, as it seemed to me, of hatred¹⁴, such as I have never seen upon human features.

据我看来，这是一种忿恨的表情，是我生平所没有见过的。

This malignant¹⁵ and terrible contortion¹⁶, combined with the low forehead, blunt nose,

凶恶的面貌，加上龇牙咧嘴的怪状，非常可怖，再配上那副低削的前额，扁平的鼻子

and prognathous jaw¹⁷, gave the dead man a singularly simious and ape-like appearance,

和突出的下巴，看来很象一个怪模怪样的扁鼻猿猴。

which was increased by his writhing¹⁸, unnatural¹⁹ posture²⁰.

此外，那种极不自然的痛苦翻腾的姿态，使它的面貌变得益发可怕。

I have seen death in many forms,

我曾经见过各式各样的死人，

but never has it appeared to me in a more fearsome aspect than in that dark, grimy apartment,

但是还没有见过比这个伦敦市郊大道旁的黑暗、

which looked out upon one of the main arteries²¹ of suburban²² London.

污浊的屋中更为可怖的景象。

Lestrade, lean and ferret-like as ever, was standing²³ by the doorway²⁴,

一向瘦削而具有侦探家风度的雷斯垂德，这时正站在门口，

and greeted my companion and myself.

他向我的朋友和我打着招呼。

"This case will make a stir, sir," he remarked.

他说："这件案子一定要哄动全城了，先生。

"It beats anything I have seen, and I am no chicken."

我也不是一个没有经历的新手了，可是我还没有见过这样离奇的事。"

"There is no clue?" said Gregson.

葛莱森问道："没有什么线索？"

"None at all," chimed in Lestrade.

雷斯垂德随声附和地说："一点也没有。"

1 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

2 flaring   

a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的

参考例句：

• A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
• Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。

3 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

4 mildew   

n.发霉；v.（使）发霉

参考例句：

• The interior was dark and smelled of mildew.里面光线很暗，霉味扑鼻。
• Mildew may form in this weather.这种天气有可能发霉。

5 surmounted   

战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上

参考例句：

• She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。
• I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。

6 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

7 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

8 hazy   

adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的

参考例句：

• We couldn't see far because it was so hazy.雾气蒙蒙妨碍了我们的视线。
• I have a hazy memory of those early years.对那些早先的岁月我有着朦胧的记忆。

9 tinge   

vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息

参考例句：

• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
• There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。

10 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 cuffs   

n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
• The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。

12 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》

13 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

14 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

15 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

16 contortion   

n.扭弯，扭歪，曲解

参考例句：

• I had to admire the contortions of the gymnasts.我不得不为这些体操运动员们高难度的扭体动作而赞叹。
• This sentence was spoken with the bitterness of self-upbraiding,and a contortion of visage absolutely demoniacal.这话是用辛辣的自我谴责的口吻说出来的，说话时他的面孔也歪扭得象个地道的魔鬼。

17 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

18 writhing   

（因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was writhing around on the floor in agony. 她痛得在地板上直打滚。
• He was writhing on the ground in agony. 他痛苦地在地上打滚。

19 unnatural   

adj.不自然的；反常的

参考例句：

• Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？
• She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

20 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

21 arteries   

n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道

参考例句：

• Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

23 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

24 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。