福爾摩斯探案集·工程師大拇指案 第9期:向福爾摩斯敘述故事(3)

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Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the office,

然而，昨天正當(dāng)我想離開辦公室的時候，

my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who wished to see me upon business.

我的辦事員進來通報，有位先生為業(yè)務(wù)上的事情希望見我，

He brought up a card, too, with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it.

同時遞給我一張名片，上面印著萊桑德·斯塔克上校的名字，

Close at his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle size, but of an exceeding thinness.

緊跟著他進屋的就是上校本人。他中上等身材，只是極其瘦削，

I do not think that I have ever seen so thin a man.

我從來沒有見到過這么瘦削的人。

His whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over his outstanding bones.

他的整個面部瘦削得只剩下鼻子和下巴，兩頰的皮膚緊繃在凸起的顴骨上。

Yet this emaciation seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease,

然而他這種憔悴模樣看來是天生的，而不是由于疾病所致，

for his eye was bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured.

因為他目光炯炯，步伐輕快，舉止自如。他的衣著簡樸整齊。

He was plainly but neatly dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than thirty.

他的年齡，據(jù)我判斷，大約將近四十歲。

'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent.

'是哈瑟利先生嗎？'他說，有點德國口音，

'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley,

'哈瑟利先生，有人向我推薦說，

as being a man who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and capable of preserving a secret.'

您不但精通業(yè)務(wù)，而且為人小心謹慎，能夠保守秘密。'

I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an address.

我鞠了一躬，就象任何一個青年那樣，聽到這類恭維的話就感到飄飄然。

'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?'

'我可以冒昧地問一下，是誰把我說得這么好呢？'

'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just at this moment.

'哦，也許目前我還是不告訴您為好。

I have it from the same source that you are both an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.'

我從同一消息來源還聽說您既是一個孤兒，又是一個單身漢，并且是獨身一人住在倫敦。'

'That is quite correct,' I answered;

'一點也不錯，'我回答說，

'but you will excuse me if I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional qualifications.

'但是請您原諒，我看不出這些和我業(yè)務(wù)能力有什么關(guān)系，

I understand that it was on a professional matter that you wished to speak to me?'

據(jù)我所知，您是為了一件業(yè)務(wù)上的事情來同我洽談的。'

'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the point.

'的確如此。但是您會發(fā)現(xiàn)我沒有半句廢話。

I have a professional commission for you, but absolute secrecy is quite essential–absolute secrecy, you understand,

我們有一件工作想委托您，但是最重要的是絕對保密，絕對保密，你懂嗎？

and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than from one who lives in the bosom of his family.'

當(dāng)然，我們可以希望一位獨居的人比一位和家屬生活在一起的人更能做到絕對保密。'

'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely depend upon my doing so.'

'您可以絕對相信，'我說，'如果我向您保證嚴守秘密，那我就一定會做到的。'