PART2 Chapter6 约翰·华生医生的回忆录续-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 6 A Continuation of the Reminiscences of fohm Watson,M.D Our prisoner's furious resistance did not apparently indicate any ferocity in his disposition towards ourselves,for on finding himself powerless,he smiled in an affable manner,and expressed his hopes that he had not hurt any of us in the scuffle"I guess you're going to take me to the police-station,"he remarked to Sherlock Holmes."My cab's at the door.If you'll loose my legs I'll walk down to it.I'm not so light to lift as I used to be." Gregson and Lestrade exchanged glances as if they thought this propositionrather a bold one;but Holmes at once took the prisoner at his word,and loosened the towel which we had bound round his ankles.He rose and stretched his legs,as though to assure himself that they were free once more.I remember that I thought to myself,as I eyed him,that I had seldom seen a more powerfully built man;and his dark,sunburned face bore an expression of determination and energy which was as formidable as his personal strength. "If there's a vacant place for a chief of the police,I reckon you are the man for it,"he said,gazing with undisguised admiration at my fellow-lodger."The way you kept on my trail was a caution." "You had better come with me,"said Holmes to the two detectives. ·228· 第六章 约翰·华生医生 的回忆录续 ①ferocity [f'rosati]n.凶猛 我们抓住的犯人虽然情绪暴怒，拼命进行了抵抗， @disposition Ldispa'zifan]n. 性情 但很显然，这并不表明他在情感上对我们怀有什么敌 ③affable['efabll a.友善的 意，因为当他意识到反抗无效时，便态度和蔼地微笑了 ④scue['skAfl]n.扭打 起来，并且表示，但愿在扭打过程中，他没有伤害到我 们中任何一位。“我估计，您会把我送到警察局去，”他 对夏洛克·福尔摩斯说，“我的马车就在门口。如果你 们把我的腿松开，我可以自己下楼走到马车边去。我可 proposition [.propa'zifon] 不像过去那样轻了，抬不动的。” n.建议 ⑤bold [bould]a.大胆的 格雷格森和莱斯特雷德交换了一下眼神，他们似乎 觉得，这个提议有点过于胆大妄为，但是，福尔摩斯却 立刻采用了犯人的提议，解开了绑在他脚踝上的毛巾。 他站立了起来，舒展了一下双腿，好像是要让自己确认 一下，双腿已经确实重获自由了。我记得，我当时看着 他时，心里觉得，我还很少看到过比他更加强壮有力的 人。还有他的那张被太阳晒得黝黑的脸上显露着坚定的 神情，表现出充沛的精力，这都像他的体格力量一样令 人畏惧。 “如果警察局缺个警长的话，我看您就是适合的人 选，”他说，两眼注视着我的同室房客，钦佩之情溢于 ·229· Chapter 6 A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson,M.D. “I can drive you,”said Lestrade. "Good!and Gregson can come inside with me.You too,Doctor,you have taken an interest in the case,and may as well stick to us." I assented gladly,and we all descended together.Our prisoner made no attempt at escape,but stepped calmly into the cab which had been his,and we followed him.Lestrade mounted the box,whipped up the horse,and brought us in a very short time to our destination.We were ushered into a small chamber, where a police inspector noted down our prisoner's name and the names of the men with whose murder he had been charged.The official was a white-faced, unemotional man,who went through his duties in a dull mechanical way."The prisoner will be put before the magistrates in the course of the week,"he said;"in the mean time,Mr.Jefferson Hope,have you anything that you wish to say?I must warn you that your words will be taken down,and may be used against you.” "I've got a good deal to say,"our prisoner said slowly."I want to tell you gentlemen all about it." "Hadn't you better reserve that for your trial?"asked the inspector. "I may never be tried,"he answered."You needn't look startled.It isn't suicide I am thinking of.Are you a Doctor?"He turned his fierce dark eyes upon me as he asked this last question. “Yes;Iam,”I answered. "Then put your hand here,"he said,with a smile,motioning with his manacled wrists towards his chest. I did so;and became at once conscious of an extraordinary throbbing and commotion which was going on inside.The walls of his chest seemed to thrill and quiver as a frail building would do inside when some powerful engine was at work.In the silence of the room I could hear a dull humming and buzzing noise which proceeded from the same source. “Why,”Icried,"you have an aortic⑥aneurism⑦I” ·230· 第六章约翰·华生医生的回忆录续 言表，“您追寻我的行踪的手段可真了得。” “你们最好同我一道过去。”福尔摩斯对两位警探说。 “我来给你们驾车吧。”莱斯特雷德说 “那好！格雷格森陪我坐到车里。你也来吧，华生。 你既然对本案产生了兴趣，那就奉陪我们到底吧。” 我欣然同意了，我们所有人一同下了楼。我们的犯 人再也没有要逃脱的意思了，而是平静地登上了他自己 配好的马车，我们也跟着上了马车。莱斯特雷德坐在车 夫的位置上，挥鞭催马，很快就把我们载到了目的地。 我们被人领进了一个小房间，房间里有位警长记录下了 我们带去犯人的姓名，还有那两个遇害者的姓名。警长 magistrate ['med3istreit] 是个脸色煞白、神情冷漠的人。他呆板而又机械地履行 n.地方法官 着自己的职责。“一个星期之内，犯人就会带上法庭接 受审判的，”他说，“同时，杰弗逊·霍普先生，您有什 么话要说吗？我必须提醒您，您所说的每一句话都将记 录在案，并可能用作指控您的证据。” “我有很多话要说，”犯人开口说，话说得很缓慢， “我想要把事情的经过原原本本地告诉你们各位先生。” “等到审判您的时候再说，难道不更好吗？”警 长说。 “我可能等不到审判的时候了，”他回答说，“你们 不用紧张，我不会想到要自杀的。您是医生吧？”他最 后提出这个问题时，充满了凶狠目光的黑眼睛看着我。 “对，我是医生，”我回答说。 ②manacle[maenokl]v.给 带上手铐 “那就请您把手按着这里。”他笑着说，用戴着手铐 ③throbbing【0 robinl a.跳动 的 的双腕朝胸口处指了指。 4commotion [ka'maufan]n. 我把手按在他的胸部，立刻就感觉到，那里面的心 混乱 ⑤frail [freil训a摇摇欲坠的 脏跳动异常，十分紊乱，胸腔似乎在轻微地颤动，好比 是一幢摇摇欲坠的房子，里面有一架功率强大的机器在 ⑥aortic【ci:tik)a.大动脉 的 运转。房间里面寂静无声，我都可以听见他胸膛里嗡嗡 aneurism ['aenjua,rizom]n 动脉瘤 的杂音。 ·231· Chapter 6 A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson,M.D. "That's what they call it,"he said,placidly."I went to a Doctor last week about it,and he told me that it is bound to burst before many days passed.It has been getting worse for years.I got it from overexposure and under-feeding among the Salt Lake Mountains.I've done my work now,and I don't care how soon I go,but I should like to leave some account of the business behind me.I don't want to be remembered as a common cut-throat." The inspector and the two detectives had a hurried discussion as to the advisability of allowing him to tell his story. "Do you consider,Doctor,that there is immediate danger?"the former asked, “Most certainly there is,,”I answered. "In that case it is clearly our duty,in the interests of justice,to take his statement,"said the inspector."You are at liberty,sir,to give your account, which I again warn you will be taken down." "I'll sit down,with your leave,"the prisoner said,suiting the action to the word."This aneurism of mine makes me easily tired,and the tussle we had half an hour ago has not mended matters.I'm on the brink of the grave,and I am not likely to lie to you.Every word I say is the absolute truth,and how you use it is a matter of no consequence to me." With these words,Jefferson Hope leaned back in his chair and began the following remarkable statement.He spoke in a calm and methodical manner,as though the events which he narrated were commonplace enough.I can vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined account,for I have had access to Lestrade's note-book,in which the prisoner's words were taken down exactly as they were uttered. “tdon't much matter to you why I hated these men,,”he said;“it's enough that they were guilty of the death of two human beingsa father and a daughter and that they had,therefore,forfeited their own lives.After the lapse of time that has passed since their crime,it was impossible for me to secure a conviction against them in any court.I knew of their guilt though,and I determined that I ·232· 第六章约翰·华生医生的回忆录续 ⑩placidly['plasidli]ad.平 “怎么，”我大声说，“您得了主动脉血管瘤！” 静地 “医生就是这么说的，”他态度平静地说，“上个星 期，我就此去看过医生，医生告诉我说，过不了几天， 血管瘤就会爆裂。我早就得了这种病，这些年里一直在 恶化。自己之所以患上这种毛病，那是因为在盐湖城的 山区，风吹日晒，忍饥挨饿。我现在完成了自己的使命 了，所以不在乎死的日子来得有多快。但是，我想要把 这件事交待明白，死后好有个记载。我不想以一个普通 ②advisability【ad,vaiza' biliti],明智 杀人犯的形象留在人们的记忆中。” 警长和两个警探急忙商议了一下，决定是否允许他 讲述自己的经历。 “医生，您觉得他随时会有生命危险吗？”警长问。 “确实如此。”我回答说。 “既然如此，为了公正起见，我们显然有责任要取 得他的供述，”警长说，“先生，您尽可以陈述自己的事 情，不过，我要再次提醒一声，您的话会被记录下来 ③tussle['tasl]n.扭打 的。” ④brink[brink]n.边缘 “如果你们同意的话，我要坐下来说，”犯人说着， 坐了下来，“动脉血管瘤病很容易使我疲惫。还有半小 时前搏斗了一番，情况更糟了。我已经站到了坟墓的边 缘上了，不可能在你们面前说谎的。我说的每一句话都 千真万确，至于你们如何使用，对我无关紧要。” 说完这些，杰弗逊·霍普就倚靠在椅子上，开始了 ⑤vouch [vaut担保 下面非同凡响的陈述。他说话时语气平静，有条不紊， 仿佛他所说的是很平常的一件事情。我保证，每一条记 录都准确无误，因为我参阅过莱斯特雷德的记录本，上 面把犯人所叙述的情况一字不差地记录下来了。 “我为何要恨那两个人，这同你们没有什么关系，” ⑥forfeit['fo:fit]v.丧失 他说，“但是，他们罪行累累，害死了两个人一一个 父亲和女儿，因此，他们搭上了自己的性命，这就足够 了。自从他们犯下了罪行以来，已经过去了那么长时 ·233· Chapter 6 A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson,M.D. should be judge,jury,and executioner all rolled into one.You'd have done the same,if you have any manhood in you,if you had been in my place. "That girl that I spoke of was to have married me twenty years ago.She was forced into marrying that same Drebber,and broke her heart over it.I took the marriage ring from her dead finger,and I vowed that his dying eyes should rest upon that very ring,and that his last thoughts should be of the crime for which he was punished.I have carried it about with me,and have followed him and his accomplice over two continents until I caught them.They thought to tire me out,but they could not do it.If I die to-morrow,as is likely enough, I die knowing that my work in this world is done,and well done.They have perished,and by my hand.There is nothing left for me to hope for,or to desire. "They were rich and I was poor,so that it was no easy matter for me to follow them.When I got to London my pocket was about empty,and I found that I must turn my hand to something for my living.Driving and riding are as natural to me as walking,so I applied at a cab owner's office,and soon got employment. I was to bring a certain sum a week to the owner,and whatever was over that I might keep for myself.There was seldom much over,but I managed to scrape along somehow.The hardest job was to leamn my way about,for I reckon that of all the mazes that ever were contrived,this city is the most confusing.I had a map beside me though,and when once I had spotted the principal hotels and stations,I got on pretty well. "It was some time before I found out where my two gentlemen were living; but I inquired and inquired until at last I dropped across them.They were at a boarding-house at Camberwell,over on the other side of the river.When once I found them out I knew that I had them at my mercy.I had grown my beard,and there was no chance of their recognizing me.I would dog them and follow them until I saw my opportunity.I was determined that they should not escape me again. "They were very near doing it for all that.Go where they would about London,I was always at their heels.Sometimes I followed them on my cab, and sometimes on foot,but the former was the best,for then they could not ·234· 第六章约翰·华生医生的回忆录续 executioner [eksikju:fona] 间，我不可能在任何法庭告倒他们。我认定他们有罪， ”行刑者 于是决定，法官、陪审团和行刑官全由我一个人来承 担。如果你们有血性，如果你们处在我的位置上，那你 们同样会这么干的。 “我所说的那位姑娘，本来二十年前就要嫁给我的。 但是，却被逼嫁给了那个德雷伯，结果肝肠寸断，抑郁 而终。我从她的遗体上把这枚婚戒指取了下来，当时发 誓，要让德雷伯死前的目光落在这枚戒指上，让他意识 @accomplice [a'kAmplis]n. 共犯 到，他是因为犯下了罪才受到惩罚的。我带着这枚戒指 浪迹天涯，跟踪着他和他的同伙跑遍了两个大洲，最后 ③perish[peri]v丧生 速逑住了他们。他们想要把我累垮，但他们未能如愿。我 即便是明天就死去一这很有可能，但我死亡时知道， 自己在这个世界的任务已经完成了，而且还完成得很漂 亮。他们死了，而且是我亲手杀死的。我再也没什么希 望或渴求的东西了。 “他们很富有，而我却很贫穷，因此，要跟踪他们， 这对我来说可不是件容易的事情。我到达伦敦之后，口 袋里几乎一文不名。因此，我意识到，自己必须去干点 ④scrape along勉强活下去 零活儿，以便维持生计。驾车骑马对我而言就好比走路 ⑤maze【meiz]n.迷宫 一样再平常不过了，于是，我到一家车行找工作，很快 ⑥contrive[kan'traiv]v.设 就有了差事了。我每个星期要向车行上缴一定数目的费 计 用，余下的钱就归自己所有。虽然所剩无几，但还是千 方百计挺过来了。对我来说，最大的困难是认路。我不 得不说，虽然所有城市的街道都是星罗棋布的，但没 有一个比伦敦城更像迷宫的。我身上一直都带着地图， 等熟悉了一些大的旅馆和车站后，自己的活儿才干得 顺当。 “过了一段时间，我才找到了自己要寻找的两位绅 士的住处。我四处打听，最后才无意中遇上了他们。他 们住在泰晤土河对面坎伯韦尔区的一幢公寓里。既然找 到了他们，我便知道，他们的命运就已经掌握在我的手 ·235· Chapter 6 A Continuation of the Reminiscences of John Watson,M.D. get away from me.It was only early in the morning or late at night that I could earn anything,so that I began to get behind hand with my employer. I did not mind that,however,as long as I could lay my hand upon the men I wanted. "They were very cunning,though.They must have thought that there was some chance of their being followed,for they would never go out alone,and never after nightfall.During two weeks I drove behind them every day,and never once saw them separate.Drebber himself was drunk half the time,but Stangerson was not to be caught napping.I watched them late and early,but never saw the ghost of a chance;but I was not discouraged,for something told me that the hour had almost come.My only fear was that this thing in my chest might burst a little too soon and leave my work undone. "At last,one evening I was driving up and down Torquay Terrace,as the street was called in which they boarded,when I saw a cab drive up to their door.Presently some luggage was brought out,and after a time Drebber and Stangerson followed it,and drove off.I whipped up my horse and kept within sight of them,feeling very ill at ease,for I feared that they were going to shift their quarters.At Euston Station they got out,and I left a boy to hold my horse,and followed them on to the platform.I heard them ask for the Liverpool train,and the guard answer that one had just gone and there would not be another for some hours.Stangerson seemed to be put out at that,but Drebber was rather pleased than otherwise.I got so close to them in the bustle that I could hear every word that passed between them.Drebber said that he had a little business of his own to do,and that if the other would wait for him he would soon rejoin him.His companion remonstrated with him,and reminded him that they had resolved to stick together.Drebber answered that the matter was a delicate one,and that he must go alone.I could not catch what Stangerson said to that,but the other burst out swearing,and reminded him that he was nothing more than his paid servant,and that he must not presume to dictate to him.On that the Secretary gave it up as a bad job,and simply bargained with ·236· 第六章约翰·华生医生的回忆录续 心里了。我蓄了胡须，这样他们就认不出我了。我不停 地跟踪他们，寻找机会下手。我下决心，无论如何不能 再让他们跑掉。 “尽管这样，他们还是差点跑掉了。他们无论到伦 敦的什么地方，我都紧跟其后。有时，我驾着马车跟在 后面，有时步行。但是，前者是最好的办法，这样他们 就没有办法逃掉。这样，我只有在凌晨或者深夜才能做 生意，赚点钱。所以，我不能按时向车行缴费。但是， 只要能亲手杀死这两个仇人，我什么都不在乎了。 ①na即【npl疏忽 “不过，他们非常狡猾，一定知道有可能会被人跟 踪了，所以，从不单独出门，晚上也从不出门。整整两 个星期，我每天驾着车跟在他们后面，从没见他们分开 过。虽然德雷伯经常喝得烂醉，但斯坦格森一直都很警 觉。我起早摸黑地监视着，但找不到一点机会下手。可 我并没有泄气，因为有个声音告诉我，复仇的时刻就要 来了。我唯一担心的就是，我胸口的动脉血管瘤可能过 早破裂，这样我就没办法复仇了。 “结果，有一天傍晚，我驾着马车在托凯街转悠， 因为他们就寄居在那条街。突然，有辆马车在他们门口 ②quarters[kw3 tos]n.住处 停了下来。不一会儿，有人提了行李出来，随后德雷伯 和斯坦格森也跟着出来，坐车离开。我策马驾车跟着他 们。自己当时心里很紧张，担心他们又要换住处。他们 在尤斯顿火车站下了马车。我找了个小孩帮我牵着马， ③bustle ['bAsl】n.喧闹 随即跟着他们进了站台。我听到他们在打听去利物浦的 火车。车站职员告诉他们刚开走了一趟车，下一趟车还 要等几个小时。斯坦格森听了似乎有些不快，但德雷伯 remonstrate ['remonstreit] 以告诚 却相当高兴。我夹在人群中，离他们很近，他们两人的 对话听得清清楚楚。德雷伯说他有点私事要去处理，如 果斯坦格森愿意等他的话，他很快就会回来。斯坦格森 ⑤presume (pri'zju:mlg放 肆 不同意他这样做，还提醒说，他们说好不单独行动的。 ⑥dictate【dik'teit]v.命令； 支配 德雷伯回答说这件事非常私密，他必须自己一个人去。 ·237·