牛津書蟲系列 巴斯史維爾獵犬(中英雙語(yǔ))03
3 How Sir Charles Died
3 查爾斯爵士是如何死的
When Dr Mortimer had finished reading this strange story，he looked across at Sherlock Holmes.Holmes looked bored.
摩梯末醫(yī)生讀完這個(gè)奇怪的故事后望著對(duì)面的歇洛克·福爾摩斯。福爾摩斯看上去顯得很不耐煩。
’Did you find the story interesting?’asked Dr Mortimer.
“你沒(méi)覺(jué)得這個(gè)故事有趣嗎?”摩梯末醫(yī)生問(wèn)道。
’It may interest a collector of stories to frighten children，’ said Holmes.
“它可能會(huì)讓那些收集嚇唬孩子們的故事的人感興趣，”福爾摩斯講道。
Dr Mortimer took a newspaper from another pocket.
摩梯末醫(yī)生從另一個(gè)衣袋里掏出一張報(bào)紙。
’Now，Mr Holmes，let me read you something which was written only three months ago.It is from the Devonshire County Newspaper，and it is about the death of Sir Charles Baskerville.’
“福爾摩斯先生，現(xiàn)在讓我來(lái)讀給您聽(tīng)聽(tīng)就在三個(gè)月之前撰寫的東西吧。它刊登在《德文郡紀(jì)事報(bào)》上，并與查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士的死有關(guān)。”
Holmes looked more interested.Dr Mortimer began to read：
福爾摩斯看上去更專注些了。摩梯末醫(yī)生開始讀了起來(lái)：
The sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville has caused great sadness in the county.Although he had lived at Baskerville Hall for only two years，everyone liked him.Sir Charles had lived abroad and made his money there.He came back to spend his fortune on repairing Baskerville Hall and its farms and villages，as the buildings and lands were in very poor condition.He was a friendly and generous man，who gave freely to the poor.
查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士之暴卒，使本郡不勝哀悼。盡管他來(lái)巴斯克維爾莊園不過(guò)兩年時(shí)間，但是大家都非常喜愛(ài)他。查爾斯爵士曾旅居國(guó)外，并在那里發(fā)了財(cái)。他致富后還鄉(xiāng)，想把自己的資產(chǎn)用來(lái)修復(fù)巴斯克維爾莊園及其農(nóng)場(chǎng)和村莊，因?yàn)檫@些建筑和土地都已處于潦倒不堪的境地了。他待人友善而又慷慨大方，還毫無(wú)吝嗇之意地資助捐送窮人。
The official report of his death does not explain every- thing that happened.However，it does show that there was no question of murder.Sir Charles died from natural causes，and the strange stories people are telling about his death are not true.His friend and doctor，Dr James Mor- timer，said that Sir Charles’heart had been weak for some time.
官方對(duì)他死亡的報(bào)告沒(méi)有說(shuō)明所發(fā)生的一切事情。然而，它的確表明其中并沒(méi)有謀殺的成分。查爾斯爵士死于自然原因;人們講述的關(guān)于他的死亡的種種故事都是不真實(shí)的。他的朋友兼醫(yī)生詹姆斯·摩梯末醫(yī)生說(shuō)查爾斯爵士的心臟虛弱已頗有一段時(shí)日了。
The facts are simple.Every night before going to bed，Sir Charles went for a walk in the gardens of Baskerville Hall.His favourite walk was down a path between two hedges of yew trees，the famous Yew Alley of Baskerville Hall.On the night of 4th June he went out for his walk to think and to smoke his usual cigar.
實(shí)情甚為簡(jiǎn)單。查爾斯爵士在每晚就寢前，總要在巴斯克維爾莊園的公園里散步。他喜歡沿著夾在水松樹籬之間的那條小路即巴斯克維爾莊園里那條出名的水松小道散步。6月4日晚，他出去散步來(lái)思考些問(wèn)題并抽根他慣常抽的雪茄。
Sir Charles was going to London on the next day，and Barrymore，his butler，was packing his suitcases.By mid- night Barrymore was worried that Sir Charles had not re- turned，so he went to look for him.He found the door of the Hall open.The day had been rainy and wet so Barry- more saw the prints left by Sir Charles’shoes as he had walked down the Alley.Half way down the Alley is a gate，which leads to the moor.There were signs that Sir Charles had stood there for some time.Barrymore fol- lowed the footprints to the far end of the Alley.And there he found Sir Charles’body.
查爾斯爵士次日將去倫敦，他的總管白瑞摩當(dāng)時(shí)正在為他準(zhǔn)備行裝。午夜時(shí)分，白瑞摩因查爾斯爵士還未回來(lái)而焦慮不安，因此便去找他。他發(fā)現(xiàn)莊園的門還開著。那天的天氣很潮濕，因此白瑞摩看到了查爾斯爵士沿著那條小道走時(shí)留下的腳櫻在小道的中途有一個(gè)柵門，它通向沼地。有種種跡象說(shuō)明查爾斯爵士曾在此站過(guò)一會(huì)兒。白瑞摩循著足跡走到了小道的盡頭。而且就在那兒他發(fā)現(xiàn)了查爾斯爵士的尸體。
Barrymore reported something interesting about the footprints.He said that they changed between the moor gate and the end of the Alley.As far as the moor gate there was a whole footprint for each of Sir Charles’steps.After he passed the gate，only toe prints could be seen.Barrymore thought that Sir Charles had walked on his toes.
白瑞摩報(bào)告了一件有關(guān)腳印的有趣的事情。他說(shuō)，腳印在柵門和小道的盡頭之間變樣了。到柵門為止，查爾斯爵士的每個(gè)腳印都是完整的。但過(guò)了柵門之后，則只能看到他腳趾的印記了。白瑞摩以為查爾斯爵士曾用腳尖走過(guò)。
A man called Murphy，who buys and sells horses，was not far away at the time of Sir Charles’death.He had been drinking a lot of beer，but he says he heard cries.He is not sure where they came from.
一位名叫摩菲的馬販子在查爾斯爵士死時(shí)正在距出事地點(diǎn)不遠(yuǎn)之處。他當(dāng)時(shí)已喝了許多啤酒，但是他說(shuō)他那時(shí)曾聽(tīng)到呼喊聲。他不清楚呼喊聲來(lái)自何方。
Dr Mortimer was called to look at Sir Charles’body.There were no signs that Sir Charles had been murdered，but Dr Mortimer did not recognize his friend’s face.The whole shape of it was changed.However，this often hap- pens with deaths which are caused by weak hearts.When Dr Mortimer looked at the body，he found that this was，in fact，what had happened.Sir Charles’weak heart had failed，and this had caused his death.
摩梯末醫(yī)生被叫來(lái)查看查爾斯爵士的尸體。沒(méi)有跡象說(shuō)明查爾斯爵士是被謀殺的，但是摩梯末醫(yī)生已認(rèn)不出他朋友的面容了。整個(gè)臉已經(jīng)變形了。然而，這對(duì)因心臟衰竭而導(dǎo)致的死亡來(lái)說(shuō)是常有的。當(dāng)摩梯末醫(yī)生察看尸體時(shí)，他發(fā)現(xiàn)這事實(shí)上正是所發(fā)生的情況。查爾斯爵士的虛弱的心臟已無(wú)力承受重荷，這導(dǎo)致了他的死亡。
Everyone hopes that the new head of the Baskerville family will move quickly into the Hall.Sir Charles good work must go on.
大家都期盼巴斯克維爾家族的新主人能快速入住巴斯克維爾莊園。查爾斯爵士的善行必須繼續(xù)進(jìn)行下去。
The new head of the Baskerville family will be Sir Hen- ry Baskerville，if he is still alive and if the lawyers can find him.He is the son of Sir Charles Baskerville’s younger brother，who died some years ago.The young man has been living in the USA.The Baskerville lawyers are trying to contact him to tell him about his good fortune.
巴斯克維爾家族的新主人將是亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士，如果他尚在人世而律師們又能找到他的話。他是查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士的弟弟的兒子，他弟弟本人已在數(shù)年前故去。這位年輕人一直居住在美國(guó)。巴斯克維爾家族的律師們正試圖與他聯(lián)系以將他的好運(yùn)告訴他。
Dr Mortimer put the newspaper back into his pocket.
摩梯末醫(yī)生將這份報(bào)紙放回了口袋里。
’Those are the official facts about the death of Sir Charles.They are the facts that everyone knows，Mr Holmes，’he said.
“那些便是有關(guān)查爾斯爵士之死的官方報(bào)導(dǎo)。它們是些眾所周知的事實(shí)，福爾摩斯先生，”他說(shuō)道。
’Thank you for informing me about this interesting case，’Holmes said.’I read about it at the time，but I heard none of the details.The newspaper gives the facts that everybody knows.Now I want you to tell me all the other facts that you know.What do you know about the strange stories?’
“感謝您告知我有關(guān)這個(gè)饒有趣味的案件的情況，”福爾摩斯說(shuō)道。“當(dāng)時(shí)我曾看到過(guò)有關(guān)它的報(bào)導(dǎo)，但是我從未聽(tīng)到過(guò)相關(guān)的細(xì)節(jié)。報(bào)紙?zhí)峁┝四切┍娝苤氖聦?shí)?，F(xiàn)在我想讓您告訴我您所知道的其他事實(shí)。你對(duì)這些怪誕的故事知道些什么呢?”
’I haven’t told anyone these other facts，’said Dr Mortimer.’I am a man of science，as you know.I have always believed that there are sensible explanations for everything.I didn’t want to say anything that could stop Sir Henry from coming to live at the Hall.But I will tell you tile details that were not in the report.’
“我從未告訴過(guò)任何人這些內(nèi)幕，”摩梯末醫(yī)生道。“如您所知，我是一位從事科學(xué)工作的人。我從來(lái)都認(rèn)為凡事都有個(gè)明智的解釋辦法。我當(dāng)時(shí)不想說(shuō)出阻止亨利爵士前來(lái)莊園定居的任何話?？墒俏覍⒏嬖V您那些從未在報(bào)導(dǎo)中寫進(jìn)去的種種細(xì)節(jié)。”
’In the months before his death，’Dr Mortimer went on，’Sir Charles was a very worried man.He was near to breaking down.He believed the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles.He refused to go out at night.He often asked me whether I had seen any strange animal or heard the cry of a hound on the moor at night.He always got very excited when he asked this question.
“在他去世之前的幾個(gè)月里，”摩梯末醫(yī)生接著說(shuō)道，“查爾斯爵士已是非常焦慮不安。他幾乎瀕于崩潰的境地。他相信巴斯克維爾獵犬的故事。他拒絕在晚上外出。他常常問(wèn)我是否在夜間看到過(guò)什么奇怪的動(dòng)物或是聽(tīng)見(jiàn)過(guò)一只獵狗在沼地上的嗥叫聲。每當(dāng)他問(wèn)起這個(gè)問(wèn)題的時(shí)候他總是變得非?？簥^。”
’I remember driving up to the Hall one evening about three weeks before he died.He was standing at the door.I went up to him，and saw him staring at something behind me.There was a look of horror on his face.I turned quickly and saw something moving between the trees.It looked like a small black cow.He was so frightened that I went to look for the animal.It had disappeared but Sir Charles was very worried.I stayed with him all the evening.It was then he gave me the old papers I have read to you.What I saw that evening may be im- portant when you consider what happened on the night of his death.
“我記得，在他死之前大約三個(gè)星期的一天傍晚，我駕著馬車去他的莊園。他正站在門前。我走到他面前，看到他正盯著我背后的什么東西。他的臉上帶著恐怖的神情。我趕快轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身去，看到有個(gè)東西正在樹林之間移動(dòng)。它看似一頭黑色的小牛。他是如此恐懼不安，我便不得不去那兒四下里尋找一番那個(gè)東西了。它已經(jīng)消失了，可是查爾斯爵士非常擔(dān)心。整個(gè)晚上我都陪著他。就是在那時(shí)，他將我已讀給您聽(tīng)的那篇古老的手稿交給了我。在您考慮他死去的那個(gè)晚上所發(fā)生的情況時(shí)，我在那個(gè)傍晚看到的情況也許會(huì)是重要的。”
’When Barrymore，the butler，found Sir Charles’body，he sent someone to fetch me.I checked all the facts.I have just read them to you，and they are all true.
“當(dāng)白瑞摩，那個(gè)總管，發(fā)現(xiàn)了查爾斯爵士的尸體時(shí)，他派人叫我去了。我核實(shí)了所有的情況。我剛才已把它們念給你們聽(tīng)了，而且這些事實(shí)都是確鑿的。”
’But Barrymore said one thing that was not true.He said that there were no other prints on the ground around the body.He did not notice any.But I did.They were not close to the body，but they were fresh and clear.’
“但是白瑞摩有一件事沒(méi)講真話。他說(shuō)，在尸體周圍的地面上沒(méi)有別的痕跡。他沒(méi)有注意到其他痕跡?？墒俏易⒁獾搅恕ｋm沒(méi)有挨著尸體，可是既痕跡猶新而又清晰可見(jiàn)。”
’Footprints?’asked Holmes.
“是足跡嗎?”福爾摩斯問(wèn)道。
’Yes.Footprints，’said Mortimer.
“是的。是足跡，”摩梯末說(shuō)道。
’A man’s or a woman’s?’asked Holmes.
“是男人的還是女人的?”福爾摩斯問(wèn)道。
Dr Mortimer looked at us strangely for a moment.His voice became a whisper as he answered：
摩梯末奇怪地望了我們一會(huì)兒。他回答時(shí)聲音變得猶如耳語(yǔ)：
’Mr Holmes，they were the footprints of a huge hound!’
“福爾摩斯先生，是一個(gè)極大的獵犬的一些爪印!”
3 查爾斯爵士是如何死的
When Dr Mortimer had finished reading this strange story，he looked across at Sherlock Holmes.Holmes looked bored.
摩梯末醫(yī)生讀完這個(gè)奇怪的故事后望著對(duì)面的歇洛克·福爾摩斯。福爾摩斯看上去顯得很不耐煩。
’Did you find the story interesting?’asked Dr Mortimer.
“你沒(méi)覺(jué)得這個(gè)故事有趣嗎?”摩梯末醫(yī)生問(wèn)道。
’It may interest a collector of stories to frighten children，’ said Holmes.
“它可能會(huì)讓那些收集嚇唬孩子們的故事的人感興趣，”福爾摩斯講道。
Dr Mortimer took a newspaper from another pocket.
摩梯末醫(yī)生從另一個(gè)衣袋里掏出一張報(bào)紙。
’Now，Mr Holmes，let me read you something which was written only three months ago.It is from the Devonshire County Newspaper，and it is about the death of Sir Charles Baskerville.’
“福爾摩斯先生，現(xiàn)在讓我來(lái)讀給您聽(tīng)聽(tīng)就在三個(gè)月之前撰寫的東西吧。它刊登在《德文郡紀(jì)事報(bào)》上，并與查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士的死有關(guān)。”
Holmes looked more interested.Dr Mortimer began to read：
福爾摩斯看上去更專注些了。摩梯末醫(yī)生開始讀了起來(lái)：
The sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville has caused great sadness in the county.Although he had lived at Baskerville Hall for only two years，everyone liked him.Sir Charles had lived abroad and made his money there.He came back to spend his fortune on repairing Baskerville Hall and its farms and villages，as the buildings and lands were in very poor condition.He was a friendly and generous man，who gave freely to the poor.
查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士之暴卒，使本郡不勝哀悼。盡管他來(lái)巴斯克維爾莊園不過(guò)兩年時(shí)間，但是大家都非常喜愛(ài)他。查爾斯爵士曾旅居國(guó)外，并在那里發(fā)了財(cái)。他致富后還鄉(xiāng)，想把自己的資產(chǎn)用來(lái)修復(fù)巴斯克維爾莊園及其農(nóng)場(chǎng)和村莊，因?yàn)檫@些建筑和土地都已處于潦倒不堪的境地了。他待人友善而又慷慨大方，還毫無(wú)吝嗇之意地資助捐送窮人。
The official report of his death does not explain every- thing that happened.However，it does show that there was no question of murder.Sir Charles died from natural causes，and the strange stories people are telling about his death are not true.His friend and doctor，Dr James Mor- timer，said that Sir Charles’heart had been weak for some time.
官方對(duì)他死亡的報(bào)告沒(méi)有說(shuō)明所發(fā)生的一切事情。然而，它的確表明其中并沒(méi)有謀殺的成分。查爾斯爵士死于自然原因;人們講述的關(guān)于他的死亡的種種故事都是不真實(shí)的。他的朋友兼醫(yī)生詹姆斯·摩梯末醫(yī)生說(shuō)查爾斯爵士的心臟虛弱已頗有一段時(shí)日了。
The facts are simple.Every night before going to bed，Sir Charles went for a walk in the gardens of Baskerville Hall.His favourite walk was down a path between two hedges of yew trees，the famous Yew Alley of Baskerville Hall.On the night of 4th June he went out for his walk to think and to smoke his usual cigar.
實(shí)情甚為簡(jiǎn)單。查爾斯爵士在每晚就寢前，總要在巴斯克維爾莊園的公園里散步。他喜歡沿著夾在水松樹籬之間的那條小路即巴斯克維爾莊園里那條出名的水松小道散步。6月4日晚，他出去散步來(lái)思考些問(wèn)題并抽根他慣常抽的雪茄。
Sir Charles was going to London on the next day，and Barrymore，his butler，was packing his suitcases.By mid- night Barrymore was worried that Sir Charles had not re- turned，so he went to look for him.He found the door of the Hall open.The day had been rainy and wet so Barry- more saw the prints left by Sir Charles’shoes as he had walked down the Alley.Half way down the Alley is a gate，which leads to the moor.There were signs that Sir Charles had stood there for some time.Barrymore fol- lowed the footprints to the far end of the Alley.And there he found Sir Charles’body.
查爾斯爵士次日將去倫敦，他的總管白瑞摩當(dāng)時(shí)正在為他準(zhǔn)備行裝。午夜時(shí)分，白瑞摩因查爾斯爵士還未回來(lái)而焦慮不安，因此便去找他。他發(fā)現(xiàn)莊園的門還開著。那天的天氣很潮濕，因此白瑞摩看到了查爾斯爵士沿著那條小道走時(shí)留下的腳櫻在小道的中途有一個(gè)柵門，它通向沼地。有種種跡象說(shuō)明查爾斯爵士曾在此站過(guò)一會(huì)兒。白瑞摩循著足跡走到了小道的盡頭。而且就在那兒他發(fā)現(xiàn)了查爾斯爵士的尸體。
Barrymore reported something interesting about the footprints.He said that they changed between the moor gate and the end of the Alley.As far as the moor gate there was a whole footprint for each of Sir Charles’steps.After he passed the gate，only toe prints could be seen.Barrymore thought that Sir Charles had walked on his toes.
白瑞摩報(bào)告了一件有關(guān)腳印的有趣的事情。他說(shuō)，腳印在柵門和小道的盡頭之間變樣了。到柵門為止，查爾斯爵士的每個(gè)腳印都是完整的。但過(guò)了柵門之后，則只能看到他腳趾的印記了。白瑞摩以為查爾斯爵士曾用腳尖走過(guò)。
A man called Murphy，who buys and sells horses，was not far away at the time of Sir Charles’death.He had been drinking a lot of beer，but he says he heard cries.He is not sure where they came from.
一位名叫摩菲的馬販子在查爾斯爵士死時(shí)正在距出事地點(diǎn)不遠(yuǎn)之處。他當(dāng)時(shí)已喝了許多啤酒，但是他說(shuō)他那時(shí)曾聽(tīng)到呼喊聲。他不清楚呼喊聲來(lái)自何方。
Dr Mortimer was called to look at Sir Charles’body.There were no signs that Sir Charles had been murdered，but Dr Mortimer did not recognize his friend’s face.The whole shape of it was changed.However，this often hap- pens with deaths which are caused by weak hearts.When Dr Mortimer looked at the body，he found that this was，in fact，what had happened.Sir Charles’weak heart had failed，and this had caused his death.
摩梯末醫(yī)生被叫來(lái)查看查爾斯爵士的尸體。沒(méi)有跡象說(shuō)明查爾斯爵士是被謀殺的，但是摩梯末醫(yī)生已認(rèn)不出他朋友的面容了。整個(gè)臉已經(jīng)變形了。然而，這對(duì)因心臟衰竭而導(dǎo)致的死亡來(lái)說(shuō)是常有的。當(dāng)摩梯末醫(yī)生察看尸體時(shí)，他發(fā)現(xiàn)這事實(shí)上正是所發(fā)生的情況。查爾斯爵士的虛弱的心臟已無(wú)力承受重荷，這導(dǎo)致了他的死亡。
Everyone hopes that the new head of the Baskerville family will move quickly into the Hall.Sir Charles good work must go on.
大家都期盼巴斯克維爾家族的新主人能快速入住巴斯克維爾莊園。查爾斯爵士的善行必須繼續(xù)進(jìn)行下去。
The new head of the Baskerville family will be Sir Hen- ry Baskerville，if he is still alive and if the lawyers can find him.He is the son of Sir Charles Baskerville’s younger brother，who died some years ago.The young man has been living in the USA.The Baskerville lawyers are trying to contact him to tell him about his good fortune.
巴斯克維爾家族的新主人將是亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士，如果他尚在人世而律師們又能找到他的話。他是查爾斯·巴斯克維爾爵士的弟弟的兒子，他弟弟本人已在數(shù)年前故去。這位年輕人一直居住在美國(guó)。巴斯克維爾家族的律師們正試圖與他聯(lián)系以將他的好運(yùn)告訴他。
Dr Mortimer put the newspaper back into his pocket.
摩梯末醫(yī)生將這份報(bào)紙放回了口袋里。
’Those are the official facts about the death of Sir Charles.They are the facts that everyone knows，Mr Holmes，’he said.
“那些便是有關(guān)查爾斯爵士之死的官方報(bào)導(dǎo)。它們是些眾所周知的事實(shí)，福爾摩斯先生，”他說(shuō)道。
’Thank you for informing me about this interesting case，’Holmes said.’I read about it at the time，but I heard none of the details.The newspaper gives the facts that everybody knows.Now I want you to tell me all the other facts that you know.What do you know about the strange stories?’
“感謝您告知我有關(guān)這個(gè)饒有趣味的案件的情況，”福爾摩斯說(shuō)道。“當(dāng)時(shí)我曾看到過(guò)有關(guān)它的報(bào)導(dǎo)，但是我從未聽(tīng)到過(guò)相關(guān)的細(xì)節(jié)。報(bào)紙?zhí)峁┝四切┍娝苤氖聦?shí)?，F(xiàn)在我想讓您告訴我您所知道的其他事實(shí)。你對(duì)這些怪誕的故事知道些什么呢?”
’I haven’t told anyone these other facts，’said Dr Mortimer.’I am a man of science，as you know.I have always believed that there are sensible explanations for everything.I didn’t want to say anything that could stop Sir Henry from coming to live at the Hall.But I will tell you tile details that were not in the report.’
“我從未告訴過(guò)任何人這些內(nèi)幕，”摩梯末醫(yī)生道。“如您所知，我是一位從事科學(xué)工作的人。我從來(lái)都認(rèn)為凡事都有個(gè)明智的解釋辦法。我當(dāng)時(shí)不想說(shuō)出阻止亨利爵士前來(lái)莊園定居的任何話?？墒俏覍⒏嬖V您那些從未在報(bào)導(dǎo)中寫進(jìn)去的種種細(xì)節(jié)。”
’In the months before his death，’Dr Mortimer went on，’Sir Charles was a very worried man.He was near to breaking down.He believed the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles.He refused to go out at night.He often asked me whether I had seen any strange animal or heard the cry of a hound on the moor at night.He always got very excited when he asked this question.
“在他去世之前的幾個(gè)月里，”摩梯末醫(yī)生接著說(shuō)道，“查爾斯爵士已是非常焦慮不安。他幾乎瀕于崩潰的境地。他相信巴斯克維爾獵犬的故事。他拒絕在晚上外出。他常常問(wèn)我是否在夜間看到過(guò)什么奇怪的動(dòng)物或是聽(tīng)見(jiàn)過(guò)一只獵狗在沼地上的嗥叫聲。每當(dāng)他問(wèn)起這個(gè)問(wèn)題的時(shí)候他總是變得非?？簥^。”
’I remember driving up to the Hall one evening about three weeks before he died.He was standing at the door.I went up to him，and saw him staring at something behind me.There was a look of horror on his face.I turned quickly and saw something moving between the trees.It looked like a small black cow.He was so frightened that I went to look for the animal.It had disappeared but Sir Charles was very worried.I stayed with him all the evening.It was then he gave me the old papers I have read to you.What I saw that evening may be im- portant when you consider what happened on the night of his death.
“我記得，在他死之前大約三個(gè)星期的一天傍晚，我駕著馬車去他的莊園。他正站在門前。我走到他面前，看到他正盯著我背后的什么東西。他的臉上帶著恐怖的神情。我趕快轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身去，看到有個(gè)東西正在樹林之間移動(dòng)。它看似一頭黑色的小牛。他是如此恐懼不安，我便不得不去那兒四下里尋找一番那個(gè)東西了。它已經(jīng)消失了，可是查爾斯爵士非常擔(dān)心。整個(gè)晚上我都陪著他。就是在那時(shí)，他將我已讀給您聽(tīng)的那篇古老的手稿交給了我。在您考慮他死去的那個(gè)晚上所發(fā)生的情況時(shí)，我在那個(gè)傍晚看到的情況也許會(huì)是重要的。”
’When Barrymore，the butler，found Sir Charles’body，he sent someone to fetch me.I checked all the facts.I have just read them to you，and they are all true.
“當(dāng)白瑞摩，那個(gè)總管，發(fā)現(xiàn)了查爾斯爵士的尸體時(shí)，他派人叫我去了。我核實(shí)了所有的情況。我剛才已把它們念給你們聽(tīng)了，而且這些事實(shí)都是確鑿的。”
’But Barrymore said one thing that was not true.He said that there were no other prints on the ground around the body.He did not notice any.But I did.They were not close to the body，but they were fresh and clear.’
“但是白瑞摩有一件事沒(méi)講真話。他說(shuō)，在尸體周圍的地面上沒(méi)有別的痕跡。他沒(méi)有注意到其他痕跡?？墒俏易⒁獾搅恕ｋm沒(méi)有挨著尸體，可是既痕跡猶新而又清晰可見(jiàn)。”
’Footprints?’asked Holmes.
“是足跡嗎?”福爾摩斯問(wèn)道。
’Yes.Footprints，’said Mortimer.
“是的。是足跡，”摩梯末說(shuō)道。
’A man’s or a woman’s?’asked Holmes.
“是男人的還是女人的?”福爾摩斯問(wèn)道。
Dr Mortimer looked at us strangely for a moment.His voice became a whisper as he answered：
摩梯末奇怪地望了我們一會(huì)兒。他回答時(shí)聲音變得猶如耳語(yǔ)：
’Mr Holmes，they were the footprints of a huge hound!’
“福爾摩斯先生，是一個(gè)極大的獵犬的一些爪印!”
