福尔摩斯探案集·四签名 第59期:线索的中断(3)

We did not, however. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies.

一天过去了，维金斯和其他的搜查人员都没有消息。

There were articles in most of the papers upon the Norwood tragedy.

大多数的报纸全登着诺伍德惨案的报道。

They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto.

他们对那不幸的塞笛尼斯·舒尔托都攻击得很厉害。

No fresh details were to be found, however, in any of them,

除了官方将在第二天验尸之外，

save that an inquest was to be held upon the following day.

各报纸也没有什么新的消息。

I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill-success to the ladies,

我在傍晚步行到坎伯韦尔，把我们的失败情况向两位女士作了报告。

and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose.

我回来的时候看见福尔摩斯依然是垂头丧气，很不高兴，

He would hardly reply to my questions and busied himself all the evening in an abstruse chemical analysis

甚至对于我的问话也淡然不理。整个晚上他在那里忙着作一个玄妙的化学实验，

which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapours,

蒸馏气加热后所发出的恶臭，

ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment.

使我不得不离开这间屋子。

Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes

一直快到天亮，我还听见试管的声音，

which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment.

知道他还在那里进行着这恶臭的实验。

In the early dawn I woke with a start and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside,

第二天清晨，我惊醒过来，看见福尔摩斯已经站在我的床前。

clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket and a coarse red scarf round his neck.

他穿着一身水手的服装，外面罩着一件短大衣，颈上围着一条红色的围巾。

"I am off down the river, Watson," said he.

他道："华生，我现在亲身到下游去。

"I have been turning it over in my mind, and I can see only one way out of it. It is worth trying, at all events."

我经过再三考虑，觉得只有这一着了，无论如何是值得一试的。"

"Surely I can come with you, then?" said I.

我道："那末我和你一同去好不好？"

"No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative.

"不好。你留在这里作我的代表是比较有用的。

I am loath to go, for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day,

我自己也不愿意去，虽然昨晚维金斯很泄气，

though Wiggins was despondent about it last night.

可是我想今天肯定会有消息的。

I want you to open all notes and telegrams, and to act on your own judgment if any news should come.

所有的来信、来电都请你代拆，按照你的判断便宜行事。

Can I rely upon you?"

你可不可以代劳呢？"

"Most certainly."

"当然愿意。"

"I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me, for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself.

"我的行踪不定，恐怕你也无法给我电报。

If I am in luck, however, I may not be gone so very long.

可是假若运气好，我未必耽搁很久。

I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back."

回来以后总会有些消息向你报告的。"

I had heard nothing of him by breakfast time.

早餐的时候，他还没有消息。

On opening the Standard, however, I found that there was a fresh allusion to the business.

可是打开《旗帜报》，看见上面登载着这个案子的新发展。

With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy, it remarked,

它报道道：关于上诺伍德的惨案，

we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed.

据悉案情内容非常复杂，不似预料那么简单。

Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter.

新的发现证明：塞笛厄斯·舒尔托先生确无嫌疑。

He and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, were both released yesterday evening.

昨晚舒尔托先生和女管家博恩斯通太太已被警署释放。

It is believed, however, that the police have a clue as to the real culprits,

至于真正的凶犯，警署方面已有新的线索。

and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard, with all his well-known energy and sagacity.

此案现由苏格兰场干练的埃瑟尔尼·琼斯先生负责缉凶，

Further arrests may be expected at any moment.

预料日内即可破案云云。