福尔摩斯探案集·四签名 第34期:福尔摩斯作出判断(3)
"What is your theory, then, as to those footmarks?" I asked eagerly when we had regained the lower room once more.
我们回到下面屋里，我急急问道："你对于那些脚印的见解是怎样的呢？"
"My dear Watson, try a little analysis yourself," said he with a touch of impatience.
他有些不耐烦地答道："华生，请你自己分析分析吧。
"You know my methods. Apply them, and it will be instructive to compare results."
你知道我的方法，依法实践，然后咱们互相参证结论，彼此也可以多得些经验。"
"I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts," I answered.
我回答道："在这些事实上面，我想不出什么来。"
"It will be clear enough to you soon," he said, in an offhand way.
他不假思索地说道："不久就会完全明白了。
"I think that there is nothing else of importance here, but I will look."
我想这里也许没有什么重要之处了，但是我还要看一看。"
He whipped out his lens and a tape measure and hurried about the room on his knees,
他拿出他的放大镜和气尺，跪在地上。
measuring, comparing, examining, with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird.
他那细长的鼻子，离地只有几英寸，他那圆溜溜发光的眼睛和鸟眼一般。他在屋里来回地度量、比较和察看着。
So swift, silent, and furtive were his movements, like those of a trained bloodhound picking out a scent,
他那动作的敏捷、无声和鬼祟真象一只熟练的猎犬在找寻气味。
that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law instead of exerting them in its defence.
我不禁联想到：如果他把精力和聪明不用于维护法律而去犯法的话，他会变成一个多么可怕的罪犯啊！
As he hunted about, he kept muttering to himself, and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight.
他一面侦查，一面自言自语着，最后他突然发出一阵欢喜的呼声。
"We are certainly in luck," said he. "We ought to have very little trouble now.
他说："咱们真走运，问题不大了。
Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote.
第一个人不幸踏在木馏油上面。
You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess.
你可以看见，在这难闻的东西的右边，有他的小脚印。
The carboy has been cracked, you see, and the stuff has leaked out."
这盛油的瓶子裂了，里边的东西流了出来。"
"What then?" I asked.
我问道："这又作什么解释呢？"
"Why, we have got him, that's all," said he. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end.
他道："没有别的，不过咱们就要捉到他罢了。我知道：一只狗凭着嗅觉能够顺着气味寻到尽头；
If a pack can track a trailed herring across a shire,
狼群循着气味就可以找到食物，
how far can a specially trained hound follow so pungent a smell as this?
那么一只经过特别训练的猎犬追寻这么强烈的气味，不是更容易吗？
It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. The answer should give us the...
这是个定理，结果定然是...
But hallo! here are the accredited representatives of the law."
可是，喂！警察们到了。"
Heavy steps and the clamour of loud voices were audible from below, and the hall door shut with a loud crash.
从下面传来了沉重的脚步声、谈话声和关门的声音。
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