福爾摩斯探案集·四簽名 第8期:演繹法的研究(8)

For example, I began by stating that your brother was careless.

舉例來說吧，我開始時曾說你哥哥的行為很不謹(jǐn)慎。

When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places

請看這只表，不僅下面邊緣上有凹痕兩處，整個表的上面還有無數(shù)的傷痕，

but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects, such as coins or keys, in the same pocket.

這是因為慣于把表放在有錢幣、鑰匙一類硬東西的衣袋里的緣故。

Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man.

對一只價值五十多金鎊的表這樣不經(jīng)心，說他生活不檢點，總不算是過分吧！

Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects."

單是這只表已經(jīng)如此貴重，若說遺產(chǎn)不豐富，也是沒有道理的。"

I nodded to show that I followed his reasoning.

我點著頭，表示領(lǐng)會了他的道理。

"It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England,

"倫敦當(dāng)票的慣例是：

when they take a watch, to scratch the numbers of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case.

每收進一只表，必定要用針尖把當(dāng)票的號碼刻在表的里面，

It is more handy than a label as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed.

這個辦法比較掛一個牌子好，可以免去號碼失掉或混亂的危險。

There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case.

用放大鏡細(xì)看里面，發(fā)現(xiàn)了這類號碼至少有四個。

Inference–that your brother was often at low water.

結(jié)論是：你哥哥常常窘困；

Secondary inference–that he had occasional bursts of prosperity, or he could not have redeemed the pledge.

附帶的結(jié)論是：他有時景況很好，否則他就不會有力量去贖當(dāng)了。

Finally, I ask you to look at the inner plate, which contains the keyhole.

最后請你注意這有鑰匙孔的里蓋，

Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole–marks where the key has slipped.

圍繞鑰匙孔有上千的傷痕，這是由于被鑰匙摩擦而造成的。

What sober man's key could have scored those grooves?

清醒的人插鑰匙，不是一插就進去嗎？

But you will never see a drunkard's watch without them.

醉漢的表沒有不留下這些痕跡的。

He winds it at night, and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand.

他晚上上弦，所以留下了手腕顫抖的痕跡。

Where is the mystery in all this?"

這還有什么玄妙呢？"

"It is as clear as daylight," I answered.

我答道："一經(jīng)說破，如見天日。

"I regret the injustice which I did you.

我對你的冒犯，請你原諒。

I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty.

我應(yīng)當(dāng)對你的神妙能力有更大的信心才對，

May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present?"

請問你目前手里還有沒有偵查的案件？"

"None. Hence the cocaine. I cannot live without brainwork.

"沒有，所以才注射可卡因啊。不用動腦筋，我就活不下去。

What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here.

除卻這個還有什么生趣呢？請站到窗前來。

Was ever such a dreary, dismal, unprofitable world?

難道有過這樣凄涼慘淡而又無聊的世界嗎？

See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun-coloured houses.

看哪，那黃霧沿街滾滾而下，擦著那些暗褐色的房屋飄浮而過，

What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material?

還有再比這個更平凡無聊的嗎？

What is the use of having powers, Doctor, when one has no field upon which to exert them?

醫(yī)師，試想英雄無用武之地，有勁頭又有什么用呢？

Crime is commonplace, existence is commonplace, and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth."

犯罪是尋常的事，人生在世也是尋常的事，在這個世界上除了尋常的事還有什么呢？"

I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade when, with a crisp knock,

我正要開口回答他那激烈的言論，忽然敲門聲音很急。

our landlady entered, bearing a card upon the brass salver.

我們的房東走了進來，托著一個銅盤，上面放著一張名片。

"A young lady for you, sir," she said, addressing my companion.

她對我的伙伴說道："一位年輕的婦女求見。"

"Miss Mary Morstan," he read. "Hum! I have no recollection of the name.

他讀著名片："梅麗·摩斯坦小姐。

Ask the young lady to step up, Mrs. Hudson.

嗯！這個名字生疏得很。赫德森太太，請她進來。

Don't go, Doctor. I should prefer that you remain."

醫(yī)生，你別走，我愿你留在這里。"