PART2 Chapter4 启程逃亡-双语名著无障碍阅读丛书——《福尔摩斯探案经典之血字的研究A Study in Scarlet》

Chapter 4 A Flight for Life On the morning which followed his interview with the Mormon Prophet John Ferrier went in to Salt Lake City, and having found his acauaintance who was bound^{①} for the Nevada Mountains, he entrusted him with his message to Jefferson Hope. In it he told the young man of the imminent{②} danger which threatened them, and how necessary it was that he should return. Having done thus he felt easier in his mind, and returned home with a lighter heart. As he approached his farm, he was surprised to see a horse hitched to each of the posts of the gate. Still more surprised was he on entering to find two young men in possession of his sitting-room. One, with a long pale face. was leaning back in the rocking-chair. with his feet cocked up upon the stove The other, a bull-necked youth with coarse bloated^{} features, was standing in front of the window with his hands in his pocket, whistling a popular hymn Both of them nodded to Ferrier as he entered, and the one in the rocking-chaiì commenced the conversation "Maybe you don't know us," he said. "This here is the son of Elder Drebber, and I'm Joseph Stangerson, who travelled with you in the desert wher the Lord stretched out His hand and gathered you into the true fold." “As He will all the nations in His own good time," said the other in a nasal^{} voice: "He grindeth slowly but exceeding small." .188. 第四章 启程飞亡 同摩门教先知见面后的第二天早晨,约翰·费里厄 便出发去了盐湖城。他找到那个马上要出发去内华达山 ① bound ]baund] a. 打算前 区的熟人之后,便托他给杰弗逊·霍普带封信过去。他 往的 ② imminent I'iminontl a. 迫 在信中告诉年轻人,他们正危险临头,他必须要赶回 在眉的 来。办妥了这件事之后,他心里感到轻松了些,心情愉 快地回了家。 就在他快要到达自已的农庄时,他突然惊讶地看 到,大门口的两个柱子上各挫着一匹马。进到室内后, 更加令他感到惊讶的是,客厅里面坐着两个年轻人。 个长着一张长而苍白的脸,身子斜靠在摇椅里,两只脚 翘起来搁在火炉上。另一个长着像牛一样的粗脖子,五 ③ bloated I'blautidl a. 浮时 官粗糙雕映,站立在窗户前,双手插在衣服口袋里,嘴 的 里吹着流行的圣歌。两个人看见费里厄进门便朝着他点 了点头。坐在摇椅上的那位先开口说话。 “您可能还不认识我们.”他说,“这位是德雷伯长老的 儿子,我是约瑟夫·斯坦格森。当上帝伸手把你们引入这 个真正的教会时,我曾经和你们一道在沙漠里跋涉来着。” “上帝将会按照他自己选择的佳期把所有民族引人 真正的教会,”另一个说,鼻音很重,“他行动速度虽然 缓慢,但特别细致。” ④nasal lneizall a. 善音的 ·189· Chapter4 AFlight for Cife John Ferrier bowed coldly. He had guessed who his visitors were "We have come." continued Stangerson, "at the advice of our fathers to solicit^{} the hand of your daughter for whichever of us may seem good to you and to her. As I have but four wives and Brother Drebber here has seven, it appears to me that my claim is the stronger one." "Nay, nay, Brother Stangerson," cried the other: "the question is not how many wives we have, but how many we can keep. My father has now given over his mills to me, and I am the richer man." “But my prospects are better," said the other, warmly. "When the Lord removes my father, I shall have his tanning^{②} yard and his leather factory. Then I am your elder, and am higher in the Church." "It will be for the maiden to decide,"rejoined young Drebber, smirking③} at his own reflection in the glass."We will leave it all to her decision." During this dialogue, John Ferrier had stood fuming in the doorway, hardly able to keep his riding-whip from the backs of his two visitors "Look here,"he said at last, striding up to them, "when my daughter summons you, you can come, but until then I don't want to see your faces again." The two young Mormons stared at him in amazement. In their eyes this competition between them for the maiden's hand was the highest of honours both to her and her father "There are two ways out of the room."cried Ferrier: "there is the door, and there is the window. Which do you care to use?" His brown face looked so savage{}, and his gaunt hands so threatening, that his visitors sprang to their feet and beat a hurried retreat{}. The old farmer followed them to the door. "Let me know when you have settled which it is to be,"he said. sardonically. "You shall smart for this!"Stangerson cried, white with rage. "You have defied the Prophet and the Council of Four. You shall rue{} it to the end of you .190: 第四章 启程逃亡 约翰·费里厄冷漠地鞠了一躬,因为已经猜出他的 客人是什么人了。 ① solicit ss'lisit]v: 恳求 “我们来到这儿,”斯坦格森接着说,“是奉了我们 父亲的命,向您女儿求婚的,看看您和她觉得我们中哪 一位更加合意。由于我只有四位妻子,这位德雷伯兄弟 已经有七位了,看起来,我求婚的理由更加充分一些。” “不对,不对,斯坦格森兄弟,”另一个大声说, “问题的关键不在于我们有多少位妻子,而在于我们能 够养得起多少位。我父亲已经把他的多座磨坊交给我 了,所以,我是个更加富有的人。” ② tanning I'taeninln. 制革 “但是,我的前景更加美好,”斯坦格森说着,情绪 激动起来了,“等到上帝把我父亲召唤去了之后,我将 ③ smirk Isma:kl: 像笑 拥有他的鞣皮工场和制革工厂。还有就是,我资格比你 老,在教会的地位比你高” “那要看姑娘怎么决定,”小德雷伯接话说,对着玻 璃上映照出的自已的形象傻笑起来,“我们还是让她自 己来决定吧。” 两位一来一去说着这些话的当儿,约翰·费里厄站 在门口,非常气愤,好不容易才克制住了自已,没有用 手上的鞭子往客人身上抽。 “听好啦,”他最后说,大步朝他们走过去,“我女 儿招呼你们来,你们才可以来,但是,在那之前,我不 想再看到你们的面孔。” 两个年轻的摩门教徒惊愣地盯住他看。在他们的眼 中,他们这样争着来向姑娘求婚,对她和她父亲都是至 ④ savage I'saevidla. 凶猛 的 高无上的荣耀。 retreat [ri'tri:t]n. 后退 “离开这间房子有两种途径可供选择,”费里厄大 声说,“一种是从门口走出去,一种是从窗户被扔出去, 你们选择哪一种?” 他棕褐色的脸庞显得非常凶狠,瘦骨鳞峋的双手 ue lru:v对..感到后悔 显得很有攻击力,两个客人见状一跃站起身来,拔腿就 ·191· Chapter4 A Flight for Cife days." "The hand of the Lord shall be heavy upon you," cried young Drebber: "He will arise and smite^{①} you!" “Then I'll start the smiting,"exclaimed Ferrier furiously, and would have rushed upstairs for his gun had not Lucy seized him by the arm and restrained him. Before he could escape from her, the clatter{②} of horses' hoofs told him that they were beyond his reach "The young canting rascals③}!" he exclaimed, wiping the perspiration from his forehead: "I would sooner see you in your grave, my girl, than the wife of either of them." “And so should I. father," she answered, with spirit: "but Jefferson will soonbe here." “Yes. It will not be long before he comes. The sooner the better, for we dc not know what their next move may be." It was, indeed, high time that someone capable of giving advice and help should come to the aid of the sturdy④ old farmer and his adopted daughter. In the whole history of the settlement there had never been such a case of rank disobedience{ to the authority of the Elders. If minor errors were punished so sternly, what would be the fate of this arch rebel? Ferrier knew that his wealth and position would be of no avail to him. Others as well known and as rich as himself had been spirited away before now, and their goods given over to the Church. He was a brave man, but he trembled at the vague, shadowy terrors which hung over him. Any known danger he could face with a firm lip, but this suspense was unnerving.{ He concealed^{} his fears from his daughter, however, and affected to make light of the whole matter, though she, with the keen eye of love, saw plainly that he was ill at ease. He expected that he would receive some message or remonstrance⑧ from Young as to his conduct, and he was not mistaken. though it came in an .192. 第四章 启程逃亡 跑。老农跟随他们到了门口。 “你们决定了哪一种,请告诉我一声,”他用挪输的 ① smite smait]v 毁灭 口吻说。 “你会因此而付出代价的!”斯坦格森大声说,气 得脸色繁白的,“你公然藐视先知和四圣会,会后悔一 辈子的!” ② clatter I'klaetal n. ( 马蹄 的)声 “上帝会对你下很手的,”小德雷伯大声说,“他会 现身把你给灭了!” “那就让我先开始灭了你们吧,”费里厄情绪激动, ③ raseal I'ro:skll n. 流t掘 大声吼着,若不是露西一把拽住了他的胳膊,把他给拦 住了,他准会冲上楼去拿枪了。等他从露西的手中挣脱 出来,只听得马蹄声,知道他们已走远了,追不上了。 “两个满嘴伪善言辞的小无赖!”他一边情绪激动 地说,一边擦着额头上的汗珠,“女儿啊,我宁可看见 你死去,也不愿让看到你嫁给他们中的任何一个。” “我也宁可这样,父亲,”她说着,语气坚定,“不 过,杰弗逊很快就会到这儿来了。” ④ sturdy I'sta:di]a. 强壮的 “是啊,他过不了多久就会到。越快越好啊,因为 我们不知道他们下一步会采取什么样的行动。” disobedience ILdisa'bi: 确实,在眼下这个节骨眼上,性格坚毅的老农和 diansn.违背 他的养女需要有人能够出主意,提供帮助。这个居民点 有史以来,还从未出现过这样的公然藐视长老权威的事 情。如果说连微不足道的小过失都要受到严厉的惩罚 那这种大逆不道的冒犯还不知道将要面临什么样的命运 呢?费里厄心里清楚,他的财富和地位帮不上任何忙 先前另外一些像他拥有同样的声望和同样的财富的人就 unnerving I.An'na:vinl a 被神不知鬼不觉地带走了,其财产收缴给了教会。他是 使人紧张不安的 conceal lkon'si:ll v 隐藏 个勇敢无畏的人,但当这种朦胧未知的恐怖悬在头顶上 时,也会感到不寒而栗。对于任何出现在明处的危险, ⑧ remonstrance Iri'mons 他可以坚定面对,但这种提心吊胆的状况却令他非常不 tronsln.抗议;告诫 安。尽管他不想让女儿知道自已内心的恐惧,极力装出 ·193· Chapter4 A Flight for Cife unlooked-for manner. Upon rising next morning he found, to his surprise, a small square of paper pinned on to the coverlet{} of his bed just over his chest. On it was printed, in bold straggling letters:- "Twenty-nine days are given you for amendment, and then" The dash was more fear-inspiring than any threat could have been. How this warning came into his room puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for his servants slept in an outhouse②}, and the doors and windows had all been secured. He crumpled③} the paper up and said nothing to his daughter, but the incident struck a chill into his heart. The twenty-nine davs were evidently the balance of the month which Young had promised. What strength or courage could avail against an enemy armed with such mysterious powers? The hand which fastened that pin might have struck him to the heart, and he could never have known who had slain him. Still more shaken was he next morning. They had sat down to their breakfast when Lucy with a cry of surprise pointed upwards. In the centre of the ceiling was scrawled, with a burned stick apparently, the number 28. To his daughter it was unintelligible, and he did not enlighten her. That night he sat up with his gun and kept watch and ward. He saw and he heard nothing. and yet in the morning a great 27 had been painted upon the outside of his door. Thus day followed day: and as sure as morning came he found that his unseen enemies had kept their register, and had marked up in some conspicuous position how many days were still left to him out of the month of grace. Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared upon the walls, sometimes upon the floors, occasionally they were on small placards stuck upon the garden gate or the railings. With all his vigilance^{} John Ferrier could not discover whence these daily warnings proceeded. A horror which was almost superstitious came upon him at the sight of them. He became haggard{and restless, and his eyes ·194: 第四章 启程逃亡 一副无所谓的样子,但女儿那双聪慧的眼睛已经清楚地 ① coverlet ['kavolit] n. 床罩 看出了,他其实一点都不轻松。 他知道,针对自已的这样行为,扬百翰定会传来 某种信息或者警示。他的看法没有错,只不过其方式方 法出乎了他的想象。翠日早晨,他刚一起床就惊讶地发 现,他胸口位置的被子上钉着一张方形小纸条,上面歪 歪扭扭地用黑体写着这样一些字: 限二十九天之内改邪归正,否则 ② outhouse I'authausl n. 外 这个破折号比任何威胁都更加令人毛骨悚然。 警 ③ crumple [krampll: 弄皱 示是如何放进房间的呢?约翰·费里厄百思不得其解。 他的拥人全都睡在外室,全部门窗都关得严严的。他 把纸条揉成一团,没有对女儿吭一声,但这事使他胆 战心惊。二十九天显然就是给予的最后期限。需要怎 样的力量和勇气才能对付得了这样一个拥有神秘力量 的敌人呢?那只手可以把纸条扎在被上,也完全可 以扎进他的心脏,而他却根本就不会知道谋杀自己的 人是谁。 接下来的那个早晨,他更加感到胆战心惊了。他们 坐下来用早餐,突然,露西惊叫了起来,手向上指着。 天花板的中间潦潦草草地写着“二十八”这个数字,显 然是用燃烧过的木棒写的。女儿不明白这个数字是什么 意思,他并没有向她点破。当晚,他拿着枪守了一夜, 但既没听见也没看见什么异常的情况。而翠日清晨,他 家的门上却写着大大的“二十七”这个数字 就这样,日子一天连着一天过去了。就像早晨一定 会到来一样,他发现,自已看不见的敌人一直不停地在 ④ vigilance I'vidgilansl n. 警 觉 数着日子,而且会在某个显眼的地方标示,给他宽限的 一个月还剩下多少天。命运攸关的数字有时候出现在墙 haggard ['haeqadl a. 憔悴 的 壁上,有时候出现在地板上,偶尔还会用小字条贴在花 ·195· Chapter4 AFlight for Cife had the troubled look of some hunted creature. He had but one hope in life now and that was for the arrival of the young hunter from Nevada Twenty had changed to fifteen and fifteen to ten, but there was no news of the absentee. One by one the numbers dwindled{}down, and still there came no sign of him. Whenever a horseman clattered down the road. or a driver shouted at his team, the old farmer hurried to the gate, thinking that help had arrived a last. At last, when he saw five give way to four and that again to three, he lost heart, and abandoned all hope of escape. Singlehanded, and with his limited knowledge of the mountains which surrounded the settlement. he knew that he was powerless. The more-frequented roads were strictly watched and guarded. and none could pass along them without an order from the Council. Turn which way he would, there appeared to be no avoiding the blow which hung over him. Yet the old man never wavered in his resolution to part with life itself before he consented to what he regarded as his daughter's dishonour{②. He was sitting alone one evening pondering deeply over his troubles. and searching vainly③} for some way out of them. That morning had shown the figure 2 upon the wall of his house, and the next day would be the last of the allotted time. What was to happen then? All manner of vague and terrible fancies filled his imagination. And his daughter-what was to become of her after he was gone? Was there no escape from the invisible network which was drawn all round them? He sank his head upon the table and sobbed at the thought of his own impotence{. What was that? In the silence he heard a gentle scratching sound-low but very distinct in the quiet of the night. It came from the door of the house Ferrier crept into the hall and listened intently. There was a pause for a few moments, and then the low insidious{} sound was repeated. Someone was evidently tapping very gently upon one of the panels of the door. Was it some midnight assassin who had come to carry out the murderous orders of the secret tribunal^{}? Or was it some agent who was marking up that the last day of grace had arrived? John Ferrier felt that instant death would be better than the .196. 第四章 启程逃号 园大门或栅栏上。约翰·费里厄百般警觉,但还是发现 不了,那些天天出现的警示是从何而来的。每当他看到 时,一种恐惧感便会油然而生,犹如恶魔附体。他日渐 ① dwindle 'dwindlly 减少 消瘦,坐立不安,目光惶恐迷茫,就像是被追捕的野兽 一般。他现在生命中就剩下一线希望,那就是,希望年 轻的猎手从内华达州赶过来。 二十天变成了十五天,十五天变成了十天,但迟迟 未到的人依旧杳无音信。数字一天比一天更小,但还是 不见他的影子。每当有人骑着马在大路上发出的马 蹄声,或者赶车人冲着牲口大声吆喝,老农就会赶紧跑 到门口张望,以为救兵终于到来了。最后,他看到日子 五天变成四天,然后又变成三天,这时候,他心灰意冷 了,几乎放弃了逃跑的希望了。一个人单枪匹马的,又 不熟悉居民点周围山区的情况,他知道自已是跑不掉 ② dishonor ldis'anal n. 不名 的。平常走的大路肯定被严密监视和把守着,没有“四 誉的事 ③ vainly I'veinlil ad. 徒劳地 圣会”的命令,谁都过不去。无论他想什么办法,都无 法躲过临头的灾祸。然而,老人矢志不移,即便丢失掉 性命,也决不会同意让自已的女儿蒙受耻辱 一天傍晚,他独自一人坐着,满脑子想着自已的麻 烦事,校尽了脑汗也没有想出一个解决问题的办法来 当天早晨,他家房屋的墙壁上出现了数字“二”。次日就 是宽限时间的最后一天了。到时会出现什么情况啊?他 ④ impotencel'impatansl n 无能为力 的思绪中充满了各种各样的模糊不清而又恐怖可怕的情 景。而他的女儿一一如果自已死了,她会怎么样呢?难 道就毫无办法逃脱笼罩在他们身上的这张无形的网吗? 想到自已无能为力,他把头伏在桌子上,哭泣了起来。 insidious lin'sidiasl a. 潜 什么声音?寂静之中,他听见一阵轻柔的刮擦 伏的 声--声音微弱,但是,在万寂静的夜晚,显得很 清晰。声音是从房门边传来的。费里厄蹑手蹑脚走到厅 tribunal Itrai'bju:nall n. 特 堂,凝神静听。微弱可怕的声音停顿了片刻,然后又响 别法庭 了起来。很显然,有人在轻轻地敲击门板,难道是刺客 ·197·