福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第82期:案情回顧(4)
"They were rich and I was poor, so that it was no easy matter for me to follow them.
他們是有錢的人，而我卻是一個窮光蛋。因此，我要到處追趕他們，這件事對我說來并不容易。
When I got to London my pocket was about empty,
當我來到倫敦城的時候，我已經(jīng)差不多是囊空如洗了。
and I found that I must turn my hand to something for my living.
當時我發(fā)覺，我必須找個工作，維持我的生活。
Driving and riding are as natural to me as walking,
趕車、騎馬對我來說，就是象走路一樣的平常。
so I applied at a cab-owner's office, and soon got employment.
于是我就到一家馬車廠去找點工作，立刻就成功了。
I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner, and whatever was over that I might keep for myself.
每個星期我要向車主繳納一定數(shù)目的租金，剩下的就歸我自己所有。
There was seldom much over, but I managed to scrape along somehow.
但是，剩余的錢并不多，可是我總是設(shè)法勉強維持下去。
The hardest job was to learn my way about,
最困難的事情是不認識道路。
for I reckon that of all the mazes that ever were contrived, this city is the most confusing.
我認為在所有道路復(fù)雜的城市中，再沒有比倫敦城的街道更復(fù)雜難認的了。
I had a map beside me, though, and when once I had spotted the principal hotels and stations, I got on pretty well.
我就在身旁帶上一張地圖；直到我熟悉了一些大旅館和幾個主要車站以后，我的工作才干得順利起來。
"It was some time before I found out where my two gentlemen were living;
"過了好久，我才找到這兩位先生居住的地方。
but I inquired and inquired until at last I dropped across them.
我東查西問，直到最后我在無意之中碰上了他們。
They were at a boarding-house at Camberwell, over on the other side of the river.
他們住在泰晤士河對岸坎伯韋爾地方的一家公寓里。
When once I found them out, I knew that I had them at my mercy.
只要我找到了他們，我知道，他們就算落在我的掌握之中了，
I had grown my beard, and there was no chance of their recognizing me.
我已經(jīng)蓄了胡須，他們不可能認出我來。
I would dog them and follow them until I saw my opportunity.
我緊緊地跟著他們，待機下手。
I was determined that they should not escape me again.
我下定決心，這一次絕不能再讓他們逃脫。
"They were very near doing it for all that.
"雖然如此，他們還是幾乎又溜掉了。
Go where they would about London, I was always at their heels.
他們在倫敦走到哪兒，我就形影不離地跟到哪里。
Sometimes I followed them on my cab, and sometimes on foot,
有時我趕著馬車跟在他們后邊，有時步行著。
but the former was the best, for then they could not get away from me.
然而趕著馬車卻是最好的辦法，因為這樣他們就無法擺脫我了。
It was only early in the morning or late at night that I could earn anything,
只有在清晨或者在深夜我才做點生意，賺點錢，
so that I began to get behindhand with my employer.
可是這樣一來我就不能及時向車主繳納租金了。
I did not mind that, however, as long as I could lay my hand upon the men I wanted. "
但是，只要我能夠親手殺死仇人，別的我都不管了。"
They were very cunning, though.
但是，他們非常狡猾。
They must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed,
他們一定也意識到，可能有人會追蹤他們，
for they would never go out alone, and never after nightfall.
因此他們決不單獨外出，也絕不在晚間出去。
During two weeks I drove behind them every day, and never once saw them separate.
兩個星期以來，我每天趕著馬車跟在他們后面，可是我一次也沒有看見他們分開過。
Drebber himself was drunk half the time, but Stangerson was not to be caught napping.
錐伯經(jīng)常是喝得醉醺醺的，但是，斯坦節(jié)遜卻從來毫不疏忽。
I watched them late and early, but never saw the ghost of a chance;
我起早摸黑地窺伺著他們，可是總遇不到機會。
but I was not discouraged, for something told me that the hour had almost come.
但是，我并沒有因此而灰心失望，因為我總感覺到，報仇的時刻就要來到了。
My only fear was that this thing in my chest might burst a little too soon and leave my work undone.
我惟一擔心的卻是我胸口里的這個毛病，說不定它會過早地破裂，使我的報仇大事功虧一簣。
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