福尔摩斯探案集·红发会 第29期:万事俱备(1)
Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive
在漫长的道路上，歇洛克·福尔摩斯很少讲话；
and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in the afternoon.
他在车厢的座位上向后靠着，口里哼着当天下午听过的乐曲。
We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street.
马车辚辚地在没有尽头、迷津似的点着许多煤气灯的马路上行驶，一直到了法林顿街。
"We are close there now," my friend remarked.
我的朋友说，“现在我们离那里不远了。
"This fellow Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the matter.
梅里韦瑟这人是个银行董事，他本人对这个案子很感兴趣。
I thought it as well to have Jones with us also.
我想让琼斯也和我们一块来有好处。
He is not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. He has one positive virtue.
这个人不错，虽然就他的本行来说，他纯粹是个笨蛋。
He is as brave as a bulldog and as tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone.
不过他有一个值得肯定的优点，一旦他抓住了罪犯，他勇猛得象条獒狗，顽强得象头龙虾。
Here we are, and they are waiting for us."
好，我们到了，他们正在等我们。"
We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had found ourselves in the morning.
我们到达上午去过的那条平常人来人往拥挤不堪的大马路。
Our cabs were dismissed, and, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather,
把马车打发走了以后，在梅里韦瑟先生的带领下，
we passed down a narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us.
走过一条狭窄的通道，经由他给我们打开的旁门进去。
Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive iron gate.
在里面有条小走廊，走廊尽头是扇巨大的铁门。
This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate.
梅里韦瑟先生把那扇铁门打开，进门后是盘旋式石板台阶通向另一扇令人望而生畏的大门。
Mr. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down a dark, earth-smelling passage,
梅里韦瑟先生停下来把提灯点着，然后领我们往下沿着一条有一股泥土气息的通道走下去，
and so, after opening a third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all round with crates and massive boxes.
然后再打开第三道门，便进入了一个庞大的拱顶的地下室。地下室周围堆满了板条箱和很大的箱子。
