Chapter7 梅里皮特别墅的斯塔普尔顿一家-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《福尔摩斯探案经典之巴斯克维尔的猎犬The Hound of the Baskervilles》

Chapter 7 The Stapletons of Merripit House The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface from our minds the grim and gray impression which had been left upon both of us by our first experience of Baskerville Hall.As Sir Henry and I sat at breakfast the sunlight flooded in through the high mullioned windows,throwing watery patches of colour from the coats of arms which covered them.The dark panelling glowed like bronze in the golden rays,and it was hard to realize that this was indeed the chamber which had struck such a gloom into our souls upon the evening before. "I guess it is ourselves and not the house that we have to blame!"said the baronet."We were tired with our journey and chilled by our drive,so we took a gray view of the place.Now we are fresh and well,so it is all cheerful once more.” "And yet it was not entirely a question of imagination,"I answered."Did you,for example,happen to hear someone,a woman I think,sobbing in the night?” "That is curious,for I did when I was half asleep fancy that I heard something of the sort.I waited quite a time,but there was no more of it,so I concluded that it was all a dream." "I heard it distinetly,and I am sure that it was really the sob of a woman." "We must ask about this right away."He rang the bell and asked Barrymore ·114· 第七章 梅里皮特别墅的 斯塔普尔顿一家 ①efface [i'feis],抹去，擦去 翌日早晨，一切都是那么清新美丽。这多少消除 了一点我们初到巴斯克维尔庄园时所产生的阴郁灰暗 的印象。我和巴斯克维尔爵士坐下来用早餐时，阳光 从高高的窗棂中倾泻进来，穿过窗上的纹章窗玻璃， 投射出一片片淡淡的波光。在金色阳光的照耀下，深 ②panclling['panolin],镶 色的护墙板发出青铜色的光辉。我们觉得难以置信， 板 这竞然真真切切是头天晚上在我们的心灵上投下阴影 的那个房间。 “我觉得吧，我们要怪就该怪我们自己，而不要怪这 幢宅邸！”从男爵说，“昨天我们长途驱车，又累又冷， 以致对这个地方产生了不好的印象。而现在，我们都神清 气爽，焕然一新，因此，对这里的一切又感觉愉悦了。” “不过，那也不是凭空想象出来的问题啊，”我回答 说，“比如说吧.您是否碰巧也听到过有人，我认为是 女人，半夜里在哭泣，对吧？” “这可真奇怪，因为我的确在半梦半醒的时候听到 ③fancy ['faensil以为：猜 过哭声。我等了一段时间，但后来什么声音都没有了， 湘 因此，我便以为那是在做梦。” “我听得非常清楚，而且可以肯定，那真的是女人 的哭声。” distinctly [dis'tinktli]ad. 清楚地，明显地 “我们得马上把这件事问问清楚，”他摇铃唤来了巴 里摩尔，问他能否解释我们所听到的声音。我觉得，管 ·115· Chapter 7 The Stapletons of Merripit House whether he could account for our experience.It seemed to me that the pallid features of the butler turned a shade paler still as he listened to his master's question. "There are only two women in the house,Sir Henry,"he answered."One is the scullery-maid,who sleeps in the other wing.The other is my wife,and I can answer for it that the sound could not have come from her." And yet he lied as he said it,for it chanced that after breakfast I met Mrs. Barrymore in the long corridor with the sun full upon her face.She was a large, impassive,heavy-featured woman with a stern set expression of mouth.But her telltale eyes were red and glanced at me from between swollen lids.It was she,then,who wept in the night,and if she did so her husband must know it. Yet he had taken the obvious risk of discovery in declaring that it was not so. Why had he done this?And why did she weep so bitterly?Already round this pale-faced,handsome,black-bearded man there was gathering an atmosphere of mystery and of gloom.It was he who had been the first to discover the body of Sir Charles,and we had only his word for all the circumstances which led up to the old man's death.Was it possible that it was Barrymore,after all, whom we had seen in the cab in Regent Street?The beard might well have been the same.The cabman had described a somewhat shorter man,but such an impression might easily have been erroneous.How could I settle the point forever?Obviously the first thing to do was to see the Grimpen postmaster and find whether the test telegram had really been placed in Barrymore's own hands.Be the answer what it might,I should at least have something to report to Sherlock Holmes. Sir Henry had numerous papers to examine after breakfast,so that the time was propitious for my excursion.It was a pleasant walk of four miles along the edge of the moor,leading me at last to a small gray hamlet,in which two larger buildings,which proved to be the inn and the house of Dr.Mortimer, stood high above the rest.The postmaster,who was also the village grocer,had a clear recollection of the telegram. "Certainly,sir,"said he,"I had the telegram delivered to Mr.Barrymore exactly as directed." “Who delivered it?" ·116· 第七章梅里皮特刷利墅的斯塔普尔顿一家 ①pallid [palid].无血色 家在听到主人的问话后，那张苍白的面孔好像变得更加 的：苍白的 shade Ufeid]n.少许，些 苍白了。 微，一点 “这座宅邸里就只有两个女人，亨利爵士，”他回答 说，“一个是在厨房里干粗活的女仆，她睡在宅邸的 ③scullery['skAlari].碗碟 洗涤室（或存放室） 外一侧。另一个就是我妻子，我可以保证，那声音绝对 不是她发出来的。” 然而，他说这话时扯了谎.因为早餐后，我碰巧在 ④chance [tfa:nsl碰巧 长长的走廊上遇见了巴里摩尔太太，当时，阳光正照在 她的脸上。她身材高大，表情冷漠，面色阴沉，紧绷着 嘴唇透着严厉的神情。但是，她两眼通红，眼皮肿起， 5 telltale['telteil]a.泄露机 看我的时候眼睛成了一条小缝，这种情形不言而喻。这 密的 样一来，夜里哭泣的人就是她了。如果她确实哭过，她 的丈夫就一定会知道。而他竞然冒着显然会被人揭穿的 风险说不是她发出的声音。他为何要这样做呢？而她又 为何哭得那么伤心呢？一种神秘而阴郁的气氛已经在这 个脸色苍白、外表英俊、蓄着黑胡子的人的周围形成 了。正是他第一个发现了查尔斯爵士的尸体，而关于将 那老人引向死亡的所有相关情况也只是听他来讲述的。 有没有可能，我们在摄政街看到的那辆马车里的人就是 ⑤might well很可能 巴里摩尔呢？他们的胡子差不多是相同的。根据马车夫 的描述，那个人身材有些矮小。但一面之交留下的印象 是很容易出差错的啊。如何才能彻底弄清楚这个情况 呢？显而易见，我要做的第一件事情就是去拜访一下格 林彭的邮政所所长，去查证那封试探性的电报是否真的 交到了巴里摩尔本人的手上。不管最后结果如何，我至 少可以获得一些能够向夏洛克·福尔摩斯报告的东西。 享利爵士早餐后要审阅大量文件，我正好可以利用 propitious Iprou'pifas]a. 这个时间外出了。这是一次舒心惬意的步行之旅，四英 合适的 里的路程，我一路沿着荒原的边缘前行，最后进入了一 8 excursion [ik'ska:fan]n. 远足 座灰暗单调的小村庄。村上有两幢较其他建筑都要更加 hamlet'hamlit]m.小村 冬 高的房舍，我后来得知，其中的一幢是旅馆，另一幢是 莫蒂默医生的住宅。那个邮政所所长，同时也是村上的 杂货商，对那封电报的情况记忆犹新。 “可以肯定，先生，”他说，“我是完全遵照吩附行 事的，派人把那封电报送交给了巴里摩尔先生。” “谁去送的？” ·117· Chapter 7 The Stapletons of Merripit House "My boy here.James,you delivered that telegram to Mr.Barrymore at the Hall last week,did you not?" “Yes,father,.I delivered it.” "Into his own hands?"I asked. "Well,he was up in the loft at the time,so that I could not put it into his own hands,but I gave it into Mrs.Barrymore's hands,and she promised to deliver it at once.” "Did you see Mr.Barrymore?" "No,sir;I tell you he was in the loft." "If you didn't see him,how do you know he was in the loft?" "Well,surely his own wife ought to know where he is,"said the postmaster testily."Didn't he get the telegram?If there is any mistake it is for Mr. Barrymore himself to complain." It seemed hopeless to pursue the inquiry any farther,but it was clear that in spite of Holmes's ruse we had no proof that Barrymore had not been in London all the time.Suppose that it were so-suppose that the same man had been the last who had seen Sir Charles alive,and the first to dog the new heir when he returned to England.What then?Was he the agent of others or had he some sinister design of his own?What interest could he have in persecuting the Baskerville family?I thought of the strange warning clipped out of the leading article of the Times.Was that his work or was it possibly the doing of someone who was bent upon counteracting his schemes?The only conceivable motive was that which had been suggested by Sir Henry,that if the family could be scared away a comfortable and permanent home would be secured for the Barrymores.But surely such an explanation as that would be quite inadequate to account for the deep and subtle scheming which seemed to be weaving an invisible net round the young baronet.Holmes himself had said that no more complex case had come to him in all the long series of his sensational investigations.I prayed,as I walked back along the gray,lonely road,that my friend might soon be freed from his preoccupations and able to come down to take this heavy burden of responsibility from my shoulders. Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running feet behind me and by a voice which called me by name.I turned,expecting to see Dr. ·118· 第七章梅里皮特利墅的斯塔普尔顿一家 “我儿子，詹姆斯，上个礼拜是你去给住在庄园的 巴里摩尔先生送的电报，对不对？” “对啊、父亲，我送去的。” “是交到他本人手上的吗？”我问 ①loft [loft]m,阁楼：顶楼 “呃，他当时在楼上，因此，没能把电报交到他本 层 人手上。不过，我把它交给了巴里摩尔太太，她答应即 刻送上去给他。” “你看见了巴里摩尔先生吗？” “没有，先生，我说了他当时正在楼上。” “你都没有亲眼看见他，怎么知道他在楼上呢？“ “对啊，他自己的太太肯定知道他在什么地方了，” 邮政所所长说，显得有点烦躁，“难道他没有收到那份 2 testily'testili)ad暴躁 电报？如果真是出了差错，也应该是由巴里摩尔先生本 地：易怒地；性急地 人来质询啊。” 看起来，再追问下去也不可能有什么结果。不过， ③ruse [ru:zn,策略，计 有一点很清楚了，尽管福尔摩斯巧用计谋，我们还是不 谋：诡计 能证明巴里摩尔确实不曾去过伦敦。假定事实就是如 此一假定最后一个看见查尔斯爵士还活着的人是他： 新继承人回到英国后第一个跟踪的也是他，接下来他会 怎样呢？他是受人指使呢，还是自己有什么用心险恶的 图谋？残害巴斯克维尔家族的人会给他带来什么好处？ 我想起了那封从《泰晤士报》评论文章中剪字而拼贴成 的奇怪的警示信。是他自己干的，还是哪个要阻碍其阴 谋的人干的呢？唯一想得到的动机是，正如亨利爵士所 暗示的那样，如果庄园的主人被吓跑了，那么，巴里摩 尔一家就能守着这幢永久舒适的宅邸。不过，这样的解 释还远远不足以说明，他为何要如此精细谋划.大费周 折，仿佛给年轻的从男爵编织了一张无形大网。福尔摩 斯亲口说过，他经手过的全部惊人大案中没有一桩如本 案一样复杂。走在那条灰暗而孤寂的回家路上，我默默 地祈祷，希望我朋友能早日从他手头上的事务中脱身， 能到庄园来把我肩上的重任接过去。 preoccupation [pri:okju'p 突然之间，我的思绪被身后传来的跑步声给打断 eifon]n.关注的事物 了，还听见有人在喊我的名字。我想，一定是莫蒂默医 生，便转过身去，但让我大吃一惊的是，追赶我的竞然 是个陌生人。此人身材矮小，体形瘦削，面部修饰得干 ·119· Chapter 7 The Stapletons of Merripit House Mortimer,but to my surprise it was a stranger who was pursuing me.He was a small,slim,clean-shaven,prim-faced man,flaxen-haired and lean-jawed, between thirty and forty years of age,dressed in a gray suit and wearing a straw hat.A tin box for botanical specimens hung over his shoulder and he carried a green butterfly-net in one of his hands. "You will,I am sure,excuse my presumption,Dr.Watson,"said he as he came panting up to where I stood."Here on the moor we are homely folk and do not wait for formal introductions.You may possibly have heard my name from our mutual friend,Mortimer.I am Stapleton,of Merripit House." “Your net and box would have told me as much,”said I,“for I knew that Mr.Stapleton was a naturalist.But how did you know me?" "I have been calling on Mortimer,and he pointed you out to me from the window of his surgery as you passed.As our road lay the same way I thought that I would overtake you and introduce myself.I trust that Sir Henry is none the worse for his journey?" “He is very well,thank you.” "We were all rather afraid that after the sad death of Sir Charles the new baronet might refuse to live here.It is asking much of a wealthy man to come down and bury himself in a place of this kind,but I need not tell you that it means a very great deal to the countryside.Sir Henry has,I suppose,no superstitious fears in the matter?" "I do not think that it is likely." "Of course you know the legend of the fiend dog which haunts the family?" “I have heard it.” "It is extraordinary how credulous the peasants are about here!Any number of them are ready to swear that they have seen such a creature upon the moor."He spoke with a smile,but I seemed to read in his eyes that he took the matter more seriously."The story took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles,and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end." “But how?” "His nerves were so worked up that the appearance of any dog might have had a fatal effect upon his diseased heart.I fancy that he really did see something of the kind upon that last night in the yew alley.I feared that some ·120· 第七章梅里皮特刷利墅的斯塔普尔顿一家 干净净，表情严肃，头发呈淡黄色，下巴尖长，年龄在 Dprim (priml a.整洁的 21axen[flaksan]a.(头 三十到四十岁之间。他穿着一身灰白色套装，头戴一顶 发)像亚麻色的，淡黄 草帽，肩上挂着一只用来装生物标本的镀锡铁皮盒子， 色的 一只手上拿着绿色的扑蝶网兜 “我背定，您会原谅我的冒昧，华生医生，”他说 着，气喘吁吁地走到我的跟前，“在我们荒原这一带， 大家都像一家人，都用不着做任何正式的介绍。您可能 ③homely ['houmli]a.熟悉 的，亲切友好的 从我们共同的好朋友莫蒂默那里听过我的名字了。我就 是斯塔普尔顿，住在梅里皮特别墅。” “您的网兜和盒子已经向我做了介绍了，”我说， “因为我知道，斯塔普尔顿先生是位生物学家。但是， 您怎么就知道了我的名字呢？” “我刚才到了莫蒂默医生家里，正好您从他家的窗 户外面经过，他便把您指给我看了。因为，我们要走的 路相同，我就想追上您，做个自我介绍。我估计，亨利 ④none the worse不受影 响：依然如故 爵士的这趟旅行一切都顺利吧？” “他很好，谢谢您！” “我们都很担心，查尔斯爵士的猝亡之后，这位从 男爵会不愿到此居住。要求一位有钱的绅士屈尊埋没在 这样一处地方，确实有点过分了。不过，不用我说您也 知道，在这样偏僻的一隅，其意义是非常重大的。我猜， 亨利爵士不会这么迷信，觉得这件事情很恐怖吧？” “我想，不太可能吧！” “您肯定听说过有关纠缠这个家族的魔鬼似的猎犬 的传说吧？” “我确实听说过了。” “确实很奇怪啊，住在这儿的农夫们怎么就轻信了 G credulous ['kredjulos]a. 轻信的，易信的 呢！他们中任何人都会发誓说，曾在这片荒原上亲眼 看到那样一只畜生，”他说话时脸上露着微笑，但从他 的眼神中，我似乎看到了，他心里感觉事态更加严重， “那个传说给查尔斯爵士的心理产生了很大的影响，我 毫不怀疑，这事最终导致了他的悲惨结局。” “但怎么会呢？ ⑥work up使激动 “他的心脏本来就有毛病，加上神经高度紧张，任何 猎犬的出现都会给他造成致命的危险。我猜想，最后出事 的那天傍晚，他一定是在紫杉树篱小道看见了什么类似于 ·121· Chapter 7 The Stapletons of Merripit House disaster might occur,for I was very fond of the old man,and I knew that his heart was weak.” “How did you know that'? "My friend Mortimer told me." "You think,then,that some dog pursued Sir Charles,and that he died of fright in consequence?" “Have you any better explanation?” "I have not come to any conclusion." "Has Mr.Sherlock Holmes?" The words took away my breath for an instant,but a glance at the placid face and steadfast2 eyes of my companion showed that no surprise was intended. "It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you,Dr.Watson,"said he."The records of your detective have reached us here,and you could not celebrate him without being known yourself.When Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity.If you are here,then it follows that Mr. Sherlock Holmes is interesting himself in the matter,and I am naturally curious to know what view he may take." "I am afraid that I cannot answer that question." "May I ask if he is going to honour us with a visit himself?" "He cannot leave town at present.He has other cases which engage his attention..” "What a pity!He might throw some light on that which is so dark to us. But as to your own researches,if there is any possible way in which I can be of service to you I trust that you will command me.If I had any indication of the nature of your suspicions or how you propose to investigate the case,I might perhaps even now give you some aid or advice." "I assure you that I am simply here upon a visit to my friend,Sir Henry, and that I need no help of any kind." “Excellent!”said Stapleton.“You are perfectly right to be wary and discreet.I am justly reproved for what I feel was an unjustifiable intrusion,and I promise you that I will not mention the matter again." We had come to a point where a narrow grassy path struck off from the ·122· 第七章梅里皮特刷利墅的斯塔普尔顿一家 猎犬的东西。我先前担心，有可能会发生什么不测，因为 我很喜欢那位老人，同时也知道，他的心脏很脆弱。” “您是怎样知道这个情况的呢？” “我朋友莫蒂默告诉我的。” “那么您认为，当时是否有条猎犬在追逐查尔斯爵 士，他也因此被吓死了吗？” “您还能有什么更加理想的解释吗？” “我还没有得出任何结论呢。” “夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生呢？” 他这句话让我顿时感到呼吸困难。我看了一眼我的 ①placid「plasid]a.平静 同伴，见他表情平静，目光沉稳，感觉他并非故意要使 的：宁静的 ②steadfast['stedfost]a.方 我感到惊讶。 向固定的 “要我们假装不认识您，那是无济于事的，华生医 生，”他说，“我们这里的人都看过您对侦探案的记述， 您在褒扬您的朋友的同时，自己也跟着出了名。当莫蒂 默在我面前提到您的名字时，他不可能隐瞒得了您的身 份啊。既然您都到这儿来了，由此推测，夏洛克·福尔 摩斯先生本人也对本案产生了兴趣。我呢，生来就很好 奇，很想知道他对这事的看法。” “我恐怕无法回答您这个问题。” “请问一下，他会赏光亲自来我们这儿吗？” “他目前无法离开伦敦，有些其他案件需要去处理。” “真是遗憾啊！他本可以把这件我们迷惑不解的怪 事看出些端倪来的。不过，您在调查取证时，如果有能 够用得上我的地方，请尽管盼附。如果我能稍稍了解您 的疑问或者是您取证的方式方法，我或许能即刻给您提 供协助或者提出建议呢。” “您相信好啦，我来这里仅仅是为了拜访我的朋友 亨利爵士，我不需要任何协助。” “太好啦！”斯塔普尔顿说，“您这样小心谨慎是绝 对正确的。我毫无缘由地多管闲事，理应受到训斥。我 向您保证，以后再也不提这件事情了。” 3reprove [ri'pru:vlg责备 我们走到了一个岔口，一条狭窄多草的小路从大道上 unjustifiable [An'dsAstifa ab(o训a.辩护不了的 斜岔出去，弯弯曲曲地向前延伸，一直穿过了荒原。右侧 不能认为是正当的 是一座山，地势陡峭，乱石密布，先前是个花岗岩石料场。 intrusion [in'tru:san]. 扰：干涉：妨碍 正对着我们的那面是乌黑的崖壁，上面的罅隙里长着羊齿 ·123·