Chapter9 华生医生的第二份报告-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 9 Second Report ofDr.Watson THE LIGHT UPON THE MOOR Baskerville Hall,Oct.15th. MY DEAR HOLMES: If I was compelled to leave you without much news during the early days of my mission you must acknowledge that I am making up for lost time,and that events are now crowding thick and fast upon us.In my last report I ended upon my top note with Barrymore at the window,and now I have quite a budget already which will,unless I am much mistaken,considerably surprise you.Things have taken a turn which I could not have anticipated.In some ways they have within the last forty-eight hours become much clearer and in some ways they have become more complicated.But I will tell you all and you shall judge for yourself. Before breakfast on the morning following my adventure I went down the corridor and examined the room in which Barrymore had been on the night before. The western window through which he had stared so intently has,I noticed,one peculiarity above all other windows in the house-it commands the nearest outlook on to the moor.There is an opening between two trees which enables one from this point of view to look right down upon it,while from all the other windows it is only a distant glimpse which can be obtained.It follows,therefore,that Barrymore, since only this window would serve the purpose,must have been looking out for something or somebody upon the moor.The night was very dark,so that I can hardly imagine how he could have hoped to see anyone.It had struck me that it was possible that some love intrigue was on foot.That would have accounted ·154· 第九章华生医生的第二份报告 荒原上的灯光 亲爱的福尔摩斯： 我遵嘱执行此次使命，如果说在最初时日里没有什 acknowledge [ak'nolid3]v. 么情况要报告给你，也是迫不得已。但是，你现在得承 承认 2 thick and fast接二连三 认，我正在弥补时间上的损失，况且，这儿也接二连三出 地 现新情况，变化迅速。上次汇报时，我在结尾处只写到巴 ③budget ['bAdsit]m.-组 (新闻、信件等) 里摩尔站在窗口。现在，我已经掌握了更多情况。如果我 估计得没错，你肯定会对此大为惊讶的。情况发生了转 折，这是我始料未及的。在过去的48小时里，有些方面已 经明朗多了，而另外一些方面却变得更加扑朔迷离。我现 在把一切都报告给你，然后由你自己去做出判断。 我的那次奇遇之后的那个早晨，早餐之前，我顺 着走廊察看了头天夜间巴里摩尔待的那个房间。我注意 到，他当时是透过西面的窗户神情专注地向外观望的， 那扇窗户有一个奇特之处，整个宅邸的其他窗户都不具 备一它能近距离地看到荒原。窗户前面有两棵树，透 过树中间的空隙便可把荒原尽收眼底，而从别的窗户却 只能远远地看到一点点。因此，既然只有这扇窗户才能 达到巴里摩尔的要求，我便推测，他当时一定是在寻找 荒原上的什么东西或者什么人。夜色昏暗，我很难想象 他指望着要看到什么人。但我突然又想到，说不定正在 发生着男女偷情的事情。他行动诡秘，还有他妻子心神 ④on foot在进行中 不宁，这样就说得道了。他长得一表人才，相貌出众， 赢得某个乡村姑娘的欢心很容易。因此，这种说法是站 ·155· Chapter 9 Second Report of Dr.Watson for his stealthy movements and also for the uneasiness of his wife.The man is a striking-looking fellow,very well equipped to steal the heart of a country girl,so that this theory seemed to have something to support it.That opening of the door which I had heard after I had returned to my room might mean that he had gone out to keep some elandestine appointment.So I reasoned with myself in the morning,and I tell you the direction of my suspicions,however much the result may have shown that they were unfounded. But whatever the true explanation of Barrymore's movements might be,I felt that the responsibility of keeping them to myself until I could explain them was more than I could bear.I had an interview with the baronet in his study after breakfast,and I told him all that I had seen.He was less surprised than I had expected. "I knew that Barrymore walked about nights,and I had a mind to speak to him about it,"said he."Two or three times I have heard his steps in the passage, coming and going,just about the hour you name." "Perhaps then he pays a visit every night to that particular window,"I suggested. "Perhaps he does.If so,we should be able to shadow him and see what it is that he is after.I wonder what your friend Holmes would do if he were here." "I believe that he would do exactly what you now suggest,"said L."He would follow Barrymore and see what he did." “Then we shall do it together..” "But surely he would hear us." "The man is rather deaf,and in any case we must take our chance of that. We'll sit up in my room to-night and wait until he passes."Sir Henry rubbed his hands with pleasure,and it was evident that he hailed the adventure as a relief to his somewhat quiet life upon the moor. The baronet has been in communication with the architect who prepared the plans for Sir Charles,and with a contractor from London,so that we may expect great changes to begin here soon.There have been decorators and furnishers up from Plymouth,and it is evident that our friend has large ideas and means to spare no pains or expense to restore the grandeur of his family.When the house is renovated and refurnished,all that he will need will be a wife to make it ·156· 第九章华生医生的第二份报告 得住脚的。我晚上回到卧室之后听到的开门声说明，他 出去秘密幽会了。到了早晨，我就是这样说服自己的。 我还是要把这些大致的猜测告诉给你，既使到头来我的 结论可能被证明毫无根据也罢。 然而，不管对巴里摩尔的行为该做怎么样的解释， Dclandestine [klen'destin] a.秘密的 我觉得，如果要等到真相大白之后，我才能透露出去， 这个责任未免过于重大，我承受不了。早晨过后，我 从男爵的书房同他会过面，我把自己亲眼看到的情况全 部告诉了他，但他并没有我预想的那样惊讶。 “我知道巴里摩尔夜里经常四处走动，曾想过要找 ②interview ['intovju:ln.会 他谈一谈的，”他说，“就在您说的那个时间段，我曾两 三次听到他在过道里走来走去的脚步声。” “这么说，他可能每天夜间都要到那个窗口去走走 了。”我提示说。 “或许是这样的。如果情况确实如此，我们倒可以 跟踪他，看看他到底在寻找什么。我在想，如果您的朋 友福尔摩斯在这儿，他会怎么办呢？ “我觉得，他一定会像您现在所提议的这样做，”我 说，“他会跟踪巴里摩尔，看看他究竟做过些什么。” “那么，我们就一同行动吧。” “但是，毫无疑问，他一定会听到动静的。” “那人耳朵很背，不管怎么说，我们得抓住这个 机会。今晚待在我房间里别睡，一直等到他从那儿经 过。”亨利爵士兴致勃勃，搓着双手。很显然，他对这 次冒险感到很开心，认为这可以消解他在荒原地带的 孤寂感。 从男爵已经联系了曾帮助查尔斯爵士拟订修缮计划 ③hail [heil对·表示欢 的建筑师，还联系了伦敦的承建商，所以，我们可以期 迎 待，这儿很快就会有变化了。还有来自普利茅斯的装饰 师和家具商，显而易见，我们的朋友心中有了宏伟的计 划，并要不遗余力，或者不惜代价，定要重现家族苛日 的辉煌。等到宅邸重新翻修和布置之后，万事俱备，就 差一位夫人了。我们私下里说说，有显而易见的迹象表 明，只要那位小姐乐意，这一点是不成问题的。我很少 ①renovate[renouveit]v.整 看到过哪位男士像他对我们漂亮的邻居斯塔普尔顿小姐 修；翻修 那样着迷的。不过，在这种情况下，真正的爱情发展得 ·157· Chapter 9 Second Report of Dr.Watson complete.Between ourselves there are pretty clear signs that this will not be wanting if the lady is willing,for I have seldom seen a man more infatuated with a woman than he is with our beautiful neighbour,Miss Stapleton.And yet the course of true love does not run quite as smoothly as one would under the circumstances expect.To-day,for example,its surface was broken by a very unexpected ripple,which has caused our friend considerable perplexity and annoyance. After the conversation which I have quoted about Barrymore,Sir Henry put on his hat and prepared to go out.As a matter of course I did the same. "What,are you coming,Watson?"he asked,looking at me in a curious way. "That depends on whether you are going on the moor,"said I. “Yes,Iam." "Well,you know what my instructions are.I am sorry to intrude,but you heard how earnestly Holmes insisted that I should not leave you,and especially that you should not go alone upon the moor." Sir Henry put his hand upon my shoulder with a pleasant smile. "My dear fellow,"said he,"Holmes,with all his wisdom,did not foresee some things which have happened since I have been on the moor.You understand me?I am sure that you are the last man in the world who would wish to be a spoil- sport.I must go out alone." It put me in a most awkward position.I was at a loss what to say or what to do,and before I had made up my mind he picked up his cane and was gone. But when I came to think the matter over my conscience reproached me bitterly for having on any pretextallowed him to go out of my sight.I imagined what my feelings would be if I had to return to you and to confess that some misfortune had occurred through my disregard for your instructions.I assure you my cheeks flushed at the very thought.It might not even now be too late to overtake him,so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House. I hurried along the road at the top of my speed without seeing anything of Sir Henry,until I came to the point where the moor path branches off.There,fearing that perhaps I had come in the wrong direction after all,I mounted a hill from which I could command a view-the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry. Thence I saw him at once.He was on the moor path,about a quarter of a mile off, ·158· 第九章华生医生的第二份报告 并非像人们预料的那样一帆风顺。就拿今天来说吧，爱 ①wanting[wontinl a.缺少 情之海平静的水面就被一阵出人意料的波澜给扰乱了， 的 2infatuated (in'faetjueitid]a. 这给我们的朋友造成了巨大的困感和烦恼。 若迷的，迷恋的 在结束了我刚才记录下来的这段关于巴里摩尔的谈 话之后，亨利爵士戴好帽子准备出门了。当然了，我也 准备出去。 “什么，您也一起去，华生？”他问了一句，一边 看着我，一副好奇的样子。 “这就要看您是不是要去荒原了。”我说。 “对响，我是去那儿。” “那行啊，我所接受的指令您是知道的。千预了您 的行动，我很抱歉，但是，您听说了，福尔摩斯郑重其 事，坚持要我不能离开您，尤其是，您不能单独一人到 荒原去。” 亨利爵士把一只手搭在我肩膀上，脸上露出了愉悦 的笑容。 “亲爱的伙计，”他说，“即使福尔摩斯聪明透顶， 他对我到荒原后所发生的一些事情也是无法预料到的。 您明白我的意思吗？我敢肯定，您是决不愿意做一个让 人扫兴的人，我一定要单独出去。” spoilsport ['spoilspo:t]n. 扫兴者，敗兴者 这件事让我陷入了尴尬的境地，我一时不知道该说什 么，该做什么。还没等我拿定主意，他便拿起手杖走了。 但是，当我把事情重新斟的了一番之后，自己的良 心受到了强烈的谴责，因为他找了个托词，我便允许他 从自己的视线中消失了。一旦因为我不按你的%咐行事 而发生了什么不测，结果我得跑回来向你求助、认错， ④on any pretext以任何借 到时，心里面是怎么个滋味儿那就很难说了。说实在 的，想到这，点，我的脸上就觉得火辣辣的。或许现在去 追他也还为时未晚呢。于是，我立刻动身朝梅里皮特别 墅的方向走去 我步伐匆匆，奋力追赶，一直跑到了荒原的岔路口 处，依然不见亨利爵士的踪影。这时，我担心起来，怀 疑自己跑错了方向。为了能观望到远处，我爬上了一座 小山冈—就是那座被开辟成采石场的黑色小山。到了 那儿之后，我立刻就看见了他。他走在荒原的小路上， 离我大概有四分之一英里的距离，身边还有一位女士，无 ·159· Chapter 9 Second Report of Dr.Watson and a lady was by his side who could only be Miss Stapleton.It was clear that there was already an understanding between them and that they had met by appointment. They were walking slowly along in deep conversation,and I saw her making quick little movements of her hands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, while he listened intently,and once or twice shook his head in strong dissentI stood among the rocks watching them,very much puzzled as to what I should do next.To follow them and break into their intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage,and yet my clear duty was never for an instant to let him out of my sight. To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task.Still,I could see no better course than to observe him from the hill,and to clear my conscience by confessing to him afterwards what I had done.It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was too far away to be of use,and yet I am sure that you will agree with me that the position was very difficult,and that there was nothing more which I could do. Our friend,Sir Henry,and the lady had halted on the path and were standing deeply absorbed in their conversation,when I was suddenly aware that I was not the only witness of their interview.A wisp of green floating in the air caught my eye,and another glance showed me that it was carried on a stick by a man who was moving among the broken ground.It was Stapleton with his butterfly-net. He was very much closer to the pair than I was,and he appeared to be moving in their direction.At this instant Sir Henry suddenly drew Miss Stapleton to his side. His arm was round her,but it seemed to me that she was straining away from him with her face averted.He stooped his head to hers,and she raised one hand as if in protest.Next moment I saw them spring apart and turn hurriedly round. Stapleton was the cause of the interruption.He was running wildly towards them, his absurd net dangling behind him.He gesticulated and almost danced with excitement in front of the lovers.What the scene meant I could not imagine,but it seemed to me that Stapleton was abusing Sir Henry,who offered explanations, which became more angry as the other refused to accept them.The lady stood by in haughty silence.Finally Stapleton turned upon his heel and beckoned in a peremptory way to his sister,who,after an irresolute glance at Sir Henry, walked off by the side of her brother.The naturalist's angry gestures showed that the lady was included in his displeasure.The baronet stood for a minute looking after them,and then he walked slowly back the way that he had come,his head ·160· 第九章华生医生的第二份报告 疑就是斯塔普尔顿小姐。很显然，他们之间已经形成了一 种默契，这次会面也是早已约定好了的。两人一边并肩缓 缓而行，一边窃窃私语。我看见她不停地打着手势，让人 觉得她对自己所说的话很当真。与此同时，爵士也专注地 倾听着，有一两次还摇头表示不认同。我站在岩石中间， ①dissent[di'sent]n.不赞同 注视着他们的一举一动，不知道接下去该如何做好。如果 走上前去打断他们亲密的谈话，那未免显得唐突无礼。然 而，我肩负着非常明确的责任，即片刻也不能让他离开我 的视线。秘密监视自己的朋友可是一桩令人鄙视的差事 啊。尽管如此，我想不出什么更好的办法，只能站在山岗 上监视着，事后再向他坦白自己的行为，以求良心上的清 白。老实说，如果当时突然发生了危及他生命的险情，我 离他的距离就太远了，根本帮不上他的忙。不过我相信 你也会认同我的看法的。处于这种境地是非常为难的，我 也确实没有其他的办法了。 我们的朋友亨利爵士和那位小姐在小路上停下了脚 步，完全沉浸在私语之中。这时，我突然发觉窥探他们 ②wisp [wisp]m.一缕：一 片 俩幽会的不只是我一个人。我看到某个绿色的东西在空 中晃动着，定神一看，发现那东西是装在一根木棒上的， 而举着木棒的人正在崎岖不平的路上走动。来者正是拿 着扑蝶网兜的斯塔普尔顿。同我所处的位置相比，他所 处的与那男女二人要近很多，他似乎朝着他们的方向走 ③strain [strein]v.尽力，努 过去。就在那个当儿，亨利爵士突然一把将斯塔普尔顿 力 ④averted[b'vo:tida,转到 小姐拉到自己的身边，用胳膊把她环抱着。但是，我看 一边去的 见她把脸转过去，好像要奋力挣脱他似的。他俯下身去 碰她的头，而她则举起一只手，像是在反抗。随即，我 看见他们受惊吓似的一跃身子分开了，并且慌忙转过身。 s dangle ['daengl]v:悬荡 原来是斯塔普尔顿打搅了他们。他正发疯似的向他们跑 6 abuse [bju:Zg辱骂 去，那个扑蝶网兜在他背后乱晃。他在那对情侣面前发 怒，激动得手舞足蹈起来。我很难想象当时那个场景到 底是怎么回事。不过在我看来，斯塔普尔领正在责骂亨 ⑦haughty ['ho:tia.微慢的 8 peremptory [pa'remptari] 利爵士，爵士则不断地向他解释，但他听不进任何辩解 a专横的 反而更加怒火中烧了。小姐站立在一旁，态度做慢，缄 口不言。最后，斯塔普尔顿猛地转过身，态度专横地朝 着妹妹招了招手。妹妹迟疑地瞥了亨利爵士一眼，然后 同哥哥一道并肩走了。那个生物学家暴怒的手势说明， ·161· Chapter 9 Second Report of Dr.Watson hanging,the very picture of dejection. What all this meant I could not imagine,but I was deeply ashamed to have witnessed so intimate a scene without my friend's knowledge.I ran down the hill therefore and met the baronet at the bottom.His face was flushed with anger and his brows were wrinkled,like one who is at his wit's ends what to do. "Halloa,Watson!Where have you dropped from?"said he."You don't mean to say that you came after me in spite of all?" I explained everything to him:how I had found it impossible to remain behind,how I had followed him,and how I had witnessed all that had occurred. For an instant his eyes blazed at me,but my frankness disarmed his anger,and he broke at last into a rather rueful laugh. "You would have thought the middle of that prairie a fairly safe place for a man to be private,"said he,"but,by thunder,the whole countryside seems to have been out to see me do my wooing-and a mighty poor wooing at that!Where had you engaged a seat?" “I was on that hill.” "Quite in the back row,eh?But her brother was well up to the front.Did you see him come out on us'?” Yes,Idid.” "Did he ever strike you as being crazy-this brother of hers?" "I can't say that he ever did." "I dare say not.I always thought him sane enough until to-day,but you can take it from me that either he or I ought to be in a strait-jacket.What's the matter with me,anyhow?You've lived near me for some weeks,Watson.Tell me straight, now!Is there anything that would prevent me from making a good husband to a woman that I loved?" "I should say not." "He can't object to my worldly position,so it must be myself that he has this down on.What has he against me?I never hurt man or woman in my life that I know of.And yet he would not so much as let me touch the tips of her fingers." “Did he say so?" "That,and a deal more.I tell you,Watson,I've only known her these few weeks,but from the first I just felt that she was made for me,and she,too-she was ·162· 第九章华生医生的第二份报告【 他也迁怒于自己的妹妹。从男爵站在那里，对着他们的 背影看了一会儿，然后便缓缓地沿着来时的小路往回走。 只见他耷拉着脑袋，完全是一副沮丧落魄的模样」 这一切都是怎么一回事，我无法想象，只不过，自 己在朋友不知情的情况下，目睹了如此私密的一幕，感 到羞愧难当。我于是跑着到了山下，在山脚处遇上了从男 爵。他气得满脸通红，眉头紧锁，一副不知所措的样子。 “嘿，华生！您是从哪儿掉下来的？”他问，“您不 会是说，您不顾一切还是跟着我来了吧？” 我把全部情况解释给他听：我如何觉得自己无法留 在家里，如何跟随着他，如何目睹了刚才发生的一幕。 有一瞬间，他火冒三丈地逼视着我，但我坦诚的态度平 息了他的怒气，他最终懊恼地哈哈大笑了起乘。 “如果是您，也会觉得，荒原的中心地带是个安全的 ①woo [wu:求爱：求婚 所在，男人可以干点私密的事情，”他说，“但是，天哪！ 整个地区的人都好像跑出来看我向人家求爱来了一多么 糟糕透项的求爱表演啊！您当时是在哪儿呢？” “我在那个山丘上。” “位置有点靠后了吧，呃？但是，她哥哥倒是挺靠 前的。您看见他冲到我们跟前了吗？“ “是啊，看见了。” “您先前是否发觉他很疯狂一就是那位做哥哥的？” “没有啊，我没有发觉。” “我敢说，他没有。直到今天，我一直都觉得他是 ②strait-jacket【streit'd3 ekit 个精神很正常的人。但是，您尽管相信我好了，我们两 约束衣 个人之间总会有一个得穿上束身衣。说来说去，我有什 么问题吗？您与我共同生活已经有几个礼拜了，华生。 您就直率地告诉我吧！我有什么地方不正常，让我无法 成为自己所爱的女人的理想丈夫吗？" “我看没有。” ③downldaun)n.恶感，恶 “对于我的家世地位，他没有什么可说的，因此， 一定是我身上的什么缺，点让他看不起我。他对我的哪一 点反感呢？我长到这么大，认识的男男女女很多，但从 未伤害过他们中的任何人。然而，他却几乎连我碰一碰 她的手指都不允许！” “他说过这种话吗？” ·163·