福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第19期:勞瑞斯頓花園街的慘案(7)

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

我在一旁觀察他的時候，不禁想起了訓練有素的純種獵犬，

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

在叢林中跑來跑去，狺狺吠叫，一直到它嗅出獵物的蹤跡才肯甘休的樣子。

For twenty minutes or more he continued his researches,

他一直檢查了二十分鐘，

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

小心翼翼地測量了一些痕跡之間的距離；這些痕跡，我是一點也看不出來的。

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

偶爾他也令人不可思議地用卷尺測量墻壁。

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

后來他非常小心地從地板上什么地方捏起一小撮灰色塵土，

and packed it away in an envelope.

并且把它放在一個信封里。

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

接著，他用放大鏡檢查了墻壁上的血字，

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

非常仔細地觀察了每個字母。

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

最后，他似乎很滿意了，于是就把卷尺和放大鏡裝進衣袋中去。

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

他微笑著說："有人說'天才'就是無止境地吃苦耐勞的本領。

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

這個定義下得很不恰當，但是在偵探工作上倒還適用。"

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

葛萊森和雷斯垂德十分好奇地、帶著幾分輕蔑地一直看著這位私家同行的動作。

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

他們分明還沒有明白我現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)漸漸理會了的--

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

福爾摩斯的每個最細微的動作都具有它實際的而又明確的目的。

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

他們兩人品聲問道："先生，你的看法怎么樣？"

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

我的同伴說："如果我竟幫起你們來，我就未免要奪取兩位在這一案件上所建樹的功勞了。

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

你們現(xiàn)在進行得很順利，任何人都不便從中插手。"

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

他的話中滿含譏諷意味。他接著又說：

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

"如果你們能把偵查的進行情況隨時見告，

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

我也愿盡力協(xié)助。

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

現(xiàn)在我還要和發(fā)現(xiàn)這個尸體的警察談一談。

Can you give me his name and address?"

你們可以把他的姓名、住址告訴我嗎？"

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

雷斯垂德看了看他的記事本說："他叫約翰·欒斯，

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

現(xiàn)在下班了。你可以到肯寧頓花園門路，奧德利大院46號去找他。"

Holmes took a note of the address.

福爾摩斯把地址記了下來。

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

他說："醫(yī)生，走吧，咱們?nèi)フ宜ァ?/p>

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

我告訴你們一樁對于這個案件有幫助的事情。"他回過頭來向這兩個偵探繼續(xù)說道，

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

"這是一件謀殺案。兇手是個男人，

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

他高六英尺多，正當中年。

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

照他的身材來說，腳小了一點，穿著一雙粗平方頭靴子，抽的是印度雪茄煙。

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輛四輪馬車來的。這個馬車用一騎馬拉著，那騎馬有三只蹄鐵是舊的，右前蹄的蹄鐵是新的。

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

這個兇手很可能是臉色赤紅，右手指甲很長。

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

這僅僅是幾點跡象，但是這些對于你們兩位也許有點幫助。"

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

雷斯垂德和葛萊森彼此面面相覷，露出一種表示懷疑的微笑。

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

雷斯垂德問道，"如果這個人是被殺死的，那么又是怎樣謀殺的呢？"

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

"毒死的。"福爾摩斯簡單地說，然后就大踏步地向外走了，

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

"還有一點，雷斯垂德，"他走到門口時又回過頭來說，

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

"在德文中，'拉契' 這個字是復仇的意思；所以別再浪費時間去尋找那位'瑞契兒小姐'了。"

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

講完這幾句臨別贈言以后，福爾摩斯轉身就走了，剩下這兩位敵手目瞪口呆地站在那里。