Chapter12 命丧荒原-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 12 Death on the Moor For a moment or two I sat breathless,hardly able to believe my ears. Then my senses and my voice came back to me,while a crushing weight of responsibility seemed in an instant to be lifted from my soul.That cold, incisive,ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. Holmes！"I cried-“Holmes！" “Come out,,”said he,“and please be careful with the revolver.” I stooped under the rude lintel,and there he sat upon a stone outside,his gray eyes dancing with amusement as they fell upon my astonished features. He was thin and worn,but clear and alert,his keen face bronzed by the sun and roughened by the wind.In his tweed suit and cloth cap he looked like any other tourist upon the moor,and he had contrived,with that catlike love of personal cleanliness which was one of his characteristics,that his chin should be as smooth and his linen as perfect as if he were in Baker Street. "I never was more glad to see anyone in my life,"said I as I wrung him by the hand. "Or more astonished,eh?" “Well,I must confess to it..” "The surprise was not all on one side,I assure you.I had no idea that you had found my occasional retreat,still less that you were inside it,until I was within twenty paces of the door." "My footprint,I presume?" "No,Watson;I fear that I could not undertake to recognize your footprint ·230· 第十二章命丧荒原 一时间，我坐着喘不过气来，简直无法相信自己的 ①crushing【krAfin]a.压倒 耳朵。然后才恢复了神智，能够说话了，同时感觉到， 的：使人受不了的 一直压在自己心头的重任好像顷刻间给御了下来。刚才 ②incisive [in'saisiv]a.敏锐 的声音只能属于世界上唯一的一个人，沉静冷漠，深沉 的，尖锐的 尖锐，嘲讽揶揄。 “福尔摩斯！”我大声喊着一“福尔摩斯！” “出来吧，”他说，“当心手枪啊。” 我弓着身子走出简陋的门楣，一眼看见福尔摩斯坐 在屋外的石头上。他看见我惊讶的表情时，灰色的眼晴 里充满了欢快的神色。他又瘦又憔悴，但仍然清醒而机 警。他的脸被太阳晒成了古铜色，被风吹得粗糙了。他 ③catlike ['kaetlaik]a.似猫 身穿格子呢套装，头戴布帽，看上去和荒原上的旅行者 的 没有什么两样。他依旧像猫爱整洁那样保持个人的卫 生，这是他的一个性格特点。他的下巴光溜溜的，身上 的亚麻布衬衣笔挺，同他住在贝克大街时完全一样。 “我生平见了谁，都没有像此时见你这么高兴啊。” 我说着，一边紧紧地握着他的手。 “也从来没有感觉这样惊讶吧，呃？” “是啊，这一点我必须承认。” “惊讶可不是单方面的，我实话告诉你。没想到， ④retreat (rtri:ti.隐居处 你竞然找到了我的临时栖身处，更想不到你会躲在里 面，直到我离门口不到二十步远的时候，我才发现呢。” undertake [,Anda'teik]v. “我猜，是因为我的脚印吧？” 许诺；保证 “不，华生，世界上有的是脚印，我恐怕还不能从中 ·231· Chapter 12 Death on the Moor amid all the footprints of the world.If you seriously desire to deceive me you must change your tobacconist;for when I see the stub of a cigarette marked Bradley,Oxford Street,I know that my friend Watson is in the neighbourhood. You will see it there beside the path.You threw it down,no doubt,at that supreme moment when you charged into the empty hut." “Exactly.” "I thought as much-and knowing your admirable tenacity I was convinced that you were sitting in ambush,a weapon within reach,waiting for the tenant to return.So you actually thought that I was the criminal?" "I did not know who you were,but I was determined to find out." "Excellent,Watson!And how did you localize me?You saw me,perhaps, on the night of the convict hunt,when I was so imprudent as to allow the moon to rise behind me?" “Yes,I saw you then.” "And have no doubt searched all the huts until you came to this one?" "No,your boy had been observed,and that gave me a guide where to look." "The old gentleman with the telescope,no doubt.I could not make it out when first I saw the light flashing upon the lens."He rose and peeped into the hut."Ha,I see that Cartwright has brought up some supplies.What's this paper? So you have been to Coombe Tracey,have you?" t“Yes.” "To see Mrs.Laura Lyons?" Exactly.” "Well done!Our researches have evidently been running on parallel lines, and when we unite our results I expect we shall have a fairly full knowledge of the case.” "Well,I am glad from my heart that you are here,for indeed the responsibility and the mystery were both becoming too much for my nerves.But how in the name of wonder did you come here,and what have you been doing? I thought that you were in Baker Street working out that case of blackmailing." “That was what I wished you to think.” "Then you use me,and yet do not trust me!"I cried with some bitterness."I think that I have deserved better at your hands,Holmes." ·232· 第十二章 命丧荒原 把你的辨认出来。如果你真的想要蒙混我，你就得把自己 D tobacconist [ta'baekanist] 抽的香烟牌子换一换，因为我一看到牛津大街的布莱德雷 烟草制品零售商 商行的标识，就知道我的朋友华生就在附近。在小路边发 现了烟头，毫无疑问，那是你冲进这幢空屋时扔下的。” “一点没错。” “我就觉得是这样的一由于知道你有坚韧不拔的性 ②tenacity [ti'nasiti]n.坚 格，令人敬佩，我坚信，你一定坐在暗处，还带着手枪， 持，固执，顽强 等待着主人返回。这么说，你真的认为我就是那逃犯了？” “我并不知道你是什么人，但决心要查个究竞。” “好极了，华生！你是如何确定我的位置的？可能 是你们抓逃犯的那天晚上你看到我了吧？我当晚太大意 ③localize门oukalaiz]v.确 了，让身后升起的月亮照着了我。” 定…的地点 “是啊，我当时看见你了。” “你肯定找遍了所有石屋，这才找到了这一座吧？” “不，你雇的那个男孩被人发现了，我也因而知道 了寻找的范围。” “毫无疑问，是那个有架望远镜的老绅士。我最初 看见镜片的反光时，还弄不清是怎么回事。”他站起身， 朝小屋里瞥了一眼。“哈，我看卡特赖特又给我送吃用 物品了。纸条上写了什么？这么说，你已经去过库姆特 雷西了，对吧？” “对啊。” “去见劳拉·莱昂斯太太吗？” “一点不错。” “干得漂亮！很显然，我们两个人的调查是平行进 行的。我认为，只要我们把结果汇总一下，就能对本案 有个比较全面的了解。” “对啊，你到这儿来了，我感到由衷地高兴，因为 本案确实扑朔迷离，而且我肩负的责任重大，感觉自己 的神经都受不了了。不过，你究竞是怎样神奇地降临到 这个地方来的呢？你来后都干了什么呢？我以为你还在 贝克大街处理那件敲诈勒索案呢。” “我就是希望你这样想。” “这么说来，你用我，但又不信任我！”我觉得很 委屈，便大声说着，“我认为，自己在你手下应该得到 更多的赏识才是啊，福尔摩斯。” ·233· Chapter 12 Death on the Moor "My dear fellow,you have been invaluable to me in this as in many other cases,and I beg that you will forgive me if I have seemed to play a trick upon you.In truth,it was partly for your own sake that I did it,and it was my appreciation of the danger which you ran which led me to come down and examine the matter for myself.Had I been with Sir Henry and you it is confident that my point of view would have been the same as yours,and my presence would have warned our very formidable opponents to be on their guard.As it is,I have been able to get about as I could not possibly have done had I been living in the Hall,and I remain an unknown factor in the business, ready to throw in all my weight at a critical moment." "But why keep me in the dark?" "For you to know could not have helped us and might possibly have led to my discovery.You would have wished to tell me something,or in your kindness you would have brought me out some comfort or other,and so an unnecessary risk would be run.I brought Cartwright down with me-you remember the little chap at the express office-and he has seen after my simple wants:a loaf of bread and a clean collar.What does man want more?He has given me an extra pair of eyes upon a very active pair of feet,and both have been invaluable.” "Then my reports have all been wasted!"-My voice trembled as I recalled the pains and the pride with which I had composed them. Holmes took a bundle of papers from his pocket. "Here are your reports,my dear fellow,and very well thumbed,I assure you.I made excellent arrangements,and they are only delayed one day upon their way.I must compliment you exceedingly upon the zeal and the intelligence which you have shown over an extraordinarily difficult case." I was still rather raw over the deception which had been practised upon me,but the warmth of Holmes's praise drove my anger from my mind.I felt also in my heart that he was right in what he said and that it was really best for our purpose that I should not have known that he was upon the moor. “That's better,.”said he,.seeing the shadow rise from my face.“And now tell me the result of your visit to Mrs.Laura Lyons-it was not difficult for me to guess that it was to see her that you had gone,for I am already aware that she is ·234· 第十二章命丧荒原 “亲爱的朋友啊，你在本案中对我的帮助和你在其 他案件中的一样，都是无法估量的。如果说这一次你觉 得，我在你面前玩了心眼儿，请你务必原谅。实际上， 我这么做的一部分原因是替你考虑，正因为我意识到了 你所面临的危险，这才亲自赶过来调查案情的。如果我 和亨利爵士还有你待在一块儿的话，那我的看法就会和 你们的一样，而且我的出现无疑会提醒我们那可怕的对 D formidable [fo:midabl]a. 可怕的，令人畏惧的 手，让他提高警惕。实际上，我一直在四处走动，但如 @on one's guard警惕，提 的 果我住在庄园里，那我就可能根本做不到。此外，我在 这件事情中始终是个不为人知的角色，在紧要关头时我 3 throw in all one's weight 全力以赴 随时可以全力以赴。” “但是，你为何让我也蒙在鼓里呢？” “因为即便你知道了，那也对我们不会有什么帮助， 说不定还会把我给暴露出来。你可能会想把一些情况告 诉我，或者是出于好心，想给我送点这样或那样的东 西，以便让我过得更加舒适一些，这样势必会带来不必 要的风险。我带来了卡特赖特一你记得的，那个信 差事务所送信的少年，要他满足我的简单需求：一块面 包，一套干净衣服。除此之外，一个男人还需要什么 呢？有了他，我就等于多了两只眼睛，多了一双勤快的 脚，他简直是个无价之宝啊。” “这么说来，我给你写的报告全都白费力气 了！”一我回想起写报告时的艰辛与自豪，说话的声 音不禁有些颤抖。 ④thumb0Am]K用拇指翻 福尔摩斯从自己的衣服口袋里掏出一卷信件。 动（书页） “这就是你报告的信件，好伙计，我可以向你保证， 我反复看了好多遍呢。我做了精心的安排，信件在路上 只会耽搁一天的时间。这是一桩古怪离奇的疑难案件， ⑤raw [ro:]a.刺痛的 你在其中表现出了满腔热忧和聪明才智，我要向你表示 崇高的儆意。” 我还在为自己受到蒙骗而愤愤不平。但是，福尔摩 斯的这番赞扬却令我倍感温馨，驱散了心中的怨气。我 打心眼里觉得，他的话很有道理，他没有把自己到达荒 原的事告诉给我，对我们实现自己的目标大有好处。 “这样反而更好，”他看到我脸上的阴云消散后说， “你这就把你去库姆特雷西寻访劳拉·莱昂斯太太的情 ·235· Chapter 12 Death on the Moor the one person in Coombe Tracey who might be of service to us in the matter. In fact,if you had not gone to-day it is exceedingly probable that I should have gone to-morrow.” The sun had set and dusk was settling over the moor.The air had turned chill and we withdrew into the hut for warmth.There,sitting together in the twilight,I told Holmes of my conversation with the lady.So interested was he that I had to repeat some of it twice before he was satisfied. “This is most important,.”said he when I had concluded..“It fills up a gap which I had been unable to bridge in this most complex affair.You are aware,perhaps,that a close intimacy exists between this lady and the man Stapleton?" “I did not know of a close intimacy.” "There can be no doubt about the matter.They meet,they write,there is a complete understanding between them.Now,this puts a very powerful weapon into our hands.If I could only use it to detach his wife-" His wife?” "I am giving you some information now,in return for all that you have given me.The lady who has passed here as Miss Stapleton is in reality his wife.” "Good heavens,Holmes!Are you sure of what you say?How could he have permitted Sir Henry to fall in love with her?" "Sir Henry's falling in love could do no harm to anyone except Sir Henry. He took particular care that Sir Henry did not make love to her,as you have yourself observed.I repeat that the lady is his wife and not his sister." “But why this elaborate③deception?" "Because he foresaw that she would be very much more useful to him in the character of a free woman." All my unspoken instincts,my vague suspicions,suddenly took shape and centred upon the naturalist.In that impassive,colourless man,with his straw hat and his butterfly-net,I seemed to see something terrible-a creature of infinite patience and craft,with a smiling face and a murderous heart. "It is he,then,who is our enemy-it is he who dogged us in London?" “So I read the riddle..” ·236· 第十二章命丧荒原 况同我说说吧。我毫不费力就猜到了，你去那里就是去 找她的，因为我已经意识到了：在整个库姆特雷西，这 件事情能够帮上忙的就只有她了。实际上，如果你今天 没去见她，我很可能明天就该去找她了。” 太阳已经落山了，荒原上暮色四合。空气变得凛例 了起来，我们退回到了小屋取暖。暮色中，我们一同坐 着，我把同那位女士交谈的内容全部告诉了福尔摩斯。 他兴致勃勃，有些情况我还得重复说，他才满意。 “这个情况十分重要，”我刚一说完，他就说，“正 好把这桩异乎寻常的案件中我无法连接的缺口给填补上 了。你或许已经知道了，那位女士和斯塔普尔顿之间关 系很亲密，对吧？” “我并不知道他们之间关系亲密。” “这个情况确切无疑，他们平常见面，书信来往， 达成了某种默契。我们现在掌握了这一点，就等于手 ①detach【di'aetg使分离 上多了一件利器。如果我利用这一点来离间他和他夫 人—” “他夫人？” “你给我提供了那么多的信息，作为回报，我也告 ②pass [pa:s,被接受；被 承认 诉你一些情况。那个在这儿充当斯塔普尔顿小姐的女士 实际上是他夫人。” “天哪，福尔摩斯！你确定你刚才说的是真实的 吗？那他怎么可能允许亨利爵士爱上自己的夫人呢？” “亨利爵士坠入情网这件事情伤不着别的任何人，只 会伤到亨利爵士本人。他特别小心提防着，不让亨利爵 士对自己的夫人求爱。这一点想必你已经注意到了吧。 我再说一遍，那位女士不是他的妹妹，而是他夫人。” ③elaborate[i'laeborot]a.精 心设计的 “但是，他为何要处心积虑设置这样一场骗局呢？” “因为他预想到了，让她充当一个未婚女子对他更 有帮助。” 突然之间，我的种种无法言说的感觉，模模糊糊 的疑惑，全都明朗起来，全都集中在了那位生物学家的 身上，正是他，头戴着草帽，手拿着扑蝶网兜，不动声 色，毫无个性。我从他身上似乎看到了某种可怕的东 西一充满耐心，诡异狡诈，笑里藏刀，口蜜腹剑。 “这么说来，他就是我们的对手一在伦敦盯我们 ·237· Chapter 12 Death on the Moor “And the warning-it must have come from her!” Exactly.” The shape of some monstrous villainy,half seen,half guessed,loomed through the darkness which had girt me so long. "But are you sure of this,Holmes?How do you know that the woman is his wife?" "Because he so far forgot himself as to tell you a true piece of autobiography upon the occasion when he first met you,and I dare say he has many a time regretted it since.He was once a schoolmaster in the north of England.Now,there is no one more easy to trace than a schoolmaster.There are scholastic agencies by which one may identify any man who has been in the profession.A little investigation showed me that a school had come to grief under atrocious circumstances,and that the man who had owned it-the name was different-had disappeared with his wife.The descriptions agreed.When I learned that the missing man was devoted to entomology the identification was complete.” The darkness was rising,but much was still hidden by the shadows. "If this woman is in truth his wife,where does Mrs.Laura Lyons come in?" I asked. "That is one of the points upon which your own researches have shed a light.Your interview with the lady has cleared the situation very much.I did not know about a projected divorce between herself and her husband.In that case,regarding Stapleton as an unmarried man,she counted no doubt upon becoming his wife.” "And when she is undeceived?" "Why,then we may find the lady of service.It must be our first duty to see her-both of us-to-morrow.Don't you think,Watson,that you are away from your charge rather long?Your place should be at Baskerville Hall." The last red streaks had faded away in the west and night had settled upon the moor.A few faint stars were gleaming in a violet sky. "One last question,Holmes,"I said as I rose."Surely there is no need of secrecy between you and me.What is the meaning of it all?What is he after?" Holmes's voice sank as he answered: ·238· 第十二章 命丧荒原 梢的也正是他啦？” “我认为，这就是谜底。” “还有那道警示 定是她发的！” “一点没错。” ①girtg:g围绕，包围 这么长时间以来，我被若隐若现、半蒙半猜的鬼魅 般的罪行所蒙蔽，它现在终于透过重重黑暗慢慢地露出 了原形。 “但是，你对此有把握吗，福尔摩斯？你怎么知道 那个女人就是他夫人呢？” “因为他头一次遇见你时，便得意忘形了，竞然给你 讲了他自己的一段真实经历。我敢说，他事后对此肯定是 2 scholastic [ska'laestik]a. 后悔不已。他从前曾在英格兰北部地区当过一所学校的校 学校的：学术的 长。现在要查个学校校长，可比查什么人都更容易啊。通 过教育机构，就能查出任何做过教育工作的人。我稍稍调 ③atrocious【s'traufas]a.恶 劣的，差的，次的 查了一下，就了解到曾有一所学校，由于管理不善倒闭 entomology [.enta'mol 了，而那个学校的校长一是另外一个名字，同他的夫人 d3列n昆虫学 一同不见了人影。夫妇两人的相貌特征和我们看到的这对 夫妇也很吻合。当我获悉那个失踪的男人也热衷于昆虫学 时，鉴定身份的工作至此就圆满结束了。” 云雾已经开始消散，但许多真相依旧隐藏在阴影之中。 “如果那个女人真是他夫人，那劳拉·莱昂斯太太 又怎么会涉足进来呢？”我问。 “这是你自己的调查已经解释清楚了的问题之一。你 projected ['prad3ektid]a. 对她的走访已经把事情搞得很明了了。我之前不知道她 计划中的 和她的丈夫有离婚的企图。如果确有其事，而且她以为 斯塔普尔顿未婚，那她无疑指望自己能够做他的夫人。” “但是，一旦她明白了真相呢？” “啊，到那时，那位女士就可能会为我们所用了。我 们当务之急就是明天去看她一我们两人都去。你难道不 觉得，华生，自己离开岗位太久了吗？你本应该待在巴斯 克维尔庄园的。”最后一道红光消失在了西边，夜幕已经 笼罩在荒原上了。紫色的天空中微微地闪烁着几颗星星。 “最后一个问题，福尔摩斯，”我说，一边站起身， “我们之间肯定是没必要保密的。他这么做到底是什么 意思？他究竞想要得到什么呢？” 福尔摩斯回答时声音低沉： ·239·