Holmes went out for the morning, but he came back at lunch-time. We then went by train into the country, and took a taxi to Dr Roylott's house. 'You see,' said Holmes to me, 'our dangerous friend Roylott needs the girls' money, because he only has £750 a year from his dead wife. I found that out this morning. But the gypsies, the whistle, the band — they are more difficult to understand, but I think I have an answer.'
福爾摩斯出去了一個上午,但在午飯的時候回來了。然后我們乘火車到鄉(xiāng)下,坐出租馬車到了羅伊洛特醫(yī)生的家。“你看,”福爾摩斯對我說,“我們危險的朋友羅伊洛特需要姑娘們的錢,因為他每年只能從他死去的妻子那里得到750英鎊。這是我今天上午發(fā)現(xiàn)的。但是吉普賽人、口哨聲、帶子——這些比較難以理解,但我想我有答案了。”
When we arrived, Helen Stoner showed us the three bedrooms. We saw her room first.
我們到達之后,海倫·斯托納領我們看了三個臥室。我們先看了她的臥室。
Why are they mending your bedroom wall?' asked Holmes. 'There's nothing wrong with it.'
“他們?yōu)槭裁匆扪a你臥室的墻?”福爾摩斯問,“墻沒有什么問題啊。”
You're right,' she said. 'I think it was a plan to move me into my sister's room.'
“你說的對,”她說,“我想這是為了讓我搬到我姐姐的房間。”
Yes,' said Holmes. We went into Julia's room, and Holmes looked at the windows carefully.
“是的,”福爾摩斯說。我們走進朱莉婭的房間,福爾摩斯仔細查看了窗戶。
Nobody could come in from outside,' he said. Then he looked round the room. 'Why is that bell-rope there, just over the bed?'
“沒人能從外面進來,”他說。然后他環(huán)顧了一下房間。“那個拉鈴的繩子為什么安在床的上方?”
My stepfather put it there two years ago. It's for calling a servant, but Julia and I never used it because we didn't have any servants. He also put in that air-vent on the wall between his room and this one.'
“兩年前我繼父把它安到那兒的,說是用來叫仆人,但朱莉婭和我從來都沒用過,因為我們根本沒有仆人。他還在他的房間和這個房間相接的墻上開了那個通風口。”
Holmes pulled the rope. 'But it doesn't work,' he said. 'How strange! And it's just over the air-vent. That also is interesting. Why have an air-vent on an inside wall? Air-vents are usually on outside walls.'
福爾摩斯拉了拉繩子。“可是這不管用啊,”他說,“真奇怪!而且它正好掛在通風口那兒。那通風口也很有意思。為什么在內墻上開通風口呢?通風口通常是開在外墻上的。”
Then we went into Dr Roylott's room. Holmes saw a large metal box near the wall.
之后我們又進了羅伊洛特醫(yī)生的房間。福爾摩斯看到墻邊有個大金屬箱子。
My stepfather keeps business papers in there,' said Helen.
“我繼父在那里面放文件。”海倫說。
Does he keep a cat in there too?' asked Holmes. 'Look!' There was some milk on a plate on top of the box. 'Now, Miss Stoner,' he said, 'I think your life is in danger. Tonight my friend Watson and I must spend the night in your sister's room, where you are sleeping at the moment.'
“他還在那里面養(yǎng)了一只貓嗎?”福爾摩斯問,“看!”箱子上面有個盛著牛奶的盤子。“現(xiàn)在,斯托納小姐,”他說,“我想你的生命處在危險中。今晚我的朋友華生和我必須在你姐姐的房間里過夜,就是你現(xiàn)在睡覺的地方。”
Helen Stoner and I looked at him in surprise.
海倫·斯托納和我驚奇地看著他。
Yes, we must,' he went on. 'We'll take a room in a hotel in the village. When your stepfather goes to bed, put a light in your sister's bedroom window and leave it open. Then go into your old room and we'll get into your sister's room through the window. We'll wait for the sound of the whistle and the falling metal.'
“是的,我們必須這么做,”他繼續(xù)說,“我們會在村里的旅館找一個房間。你繼父上床睡覺之后,請你在你姐姐房間的窗口放一盞燈,把窗戶開著。然后你到原來的房間睡覺,我們會從窗戶進入你姐姐的房間,等著口哨聲和金屬落地的聲音。”
How did my sister die, Mr Holmes? Do you know? Please tell me!' said Helen. She put her hand on Sherlock Holmes's arm.
“我姐姐是怎么死的?福爾摩斯先生,你知道嗎?請告訴我!”海倫說著,抓住了夏洛克·福爾摩斯的胳膊。
I must find out more before I tell you, Miss Stoner. Now goodbye, and don't be afraid,' replied Sherlock Holmes.
“我必須了解更多的情況才能告訴你,斯托納小姐?,F(xiàn)在再見,不要害怕。”夏洛克·福爾摩斯回答。
We walked to the village, and Holmes said to me, 'Tonight will be dangerous, Watson. Roylott is a very violent man.'
我們向村子走去,福爾摩斯對我說:“今晚將會很危險,華生。羅伊洛特是個很兇殘的人。”
But if I can help, Holmes, I shall come with you,' I said.
“但是如果我可以幫你,福爾摩斯,我想和你一起去。”我說。
Thank you, Watson. I'll need your help. Did you see the bell-rope, and the air-vent? I knew about the air-vent before we came. Of course there is a hole between the two rooms. That explains why Helen's sister could smell Dr Roylott's cigarette.'
“謝謝你,華生。我需要你的幫助。剛才你看到那個拉鈴繩和通風口了嗎?我們來之前我就知道通風口的事了。兩個房間之間肯定有個洞。這就解釋了海倫的姐姐為什么能夠聞到羅伊洛特醫(yī)生的雪茄煙味。”
My dear Holmes! How clever of you!' I cried.
“我親愛的福爾摩斯!你真聰明!”我叫道。
And did you see the bed? It's fixed to the floor. She can't move it. It must stay under the rope, which is near the air-vent.'
“你看到那床了嗎?它是固定在地板上的,她不能移動它。床只能在繩子下面,那里接近通風口。”
Holmes!' I cried. 'I begin to understand! What a terrible crime!'
“福爾摩斯!”我叫道,“我開始懂了!多可怕的罪行!”
Yes, this doctor is a very clever man. But we can stop him, I think, Watson.'
“是的,那醫(yī)生是個很聰明的人。但我想我們可以阻止他,華生。”