福爾摩斯探案集·四簽名 第41期:木桶的插曲(3)

Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby, two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth.

品琴里位于萊姆貝斯區(qū)盡頭，是一列窄小破舊的兩層樓房。

I had to knock for some time at No. 3 before I could make any impression.

我叫三號門叫了很久才有人應(yīng)聲。

At last, however, there was the glint of a candle behind the blind, and a face looked out at the upper window.

最后，在百葉窗后出現(xiàn)了燭光，從樓窗露出來一個人頭。

"Go on, you drunken vagabond," said the face.

那個露出來的頭喊道："滾開，醉鬼！

"If you kick up any more row, I'll open the kennels and let out forty-three dogs upon you."

你要是再嚷，我就放出四十三只狗來咬你。"

"If you'll let one out, it's just what I have come for," said I.

我道："你就放一只狗出來吧，我就是為這個來的。"

"Go on!" yelled the voice. "So help me gracious, I have a wiper in this bag,

那聲音又嚷道："快滾！我這袋子里有一把錘子，

and I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it!"

你不躲開我就扔下去了！"

"But I want a dog," I cried.

我又叫道："但我只要一只狗。"

"I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. Sherman.

謝爾曼喊道，"少廢話！

"Now stand clear; for when I say 'three,' down goes the wiper."

站遠(yuǎn)點兒。我數(shù)完一、二、三就往下扔錘子。"

"Mr. Sherlock Holmes– –" I began; but the words had a most magical effect,

我這才說："歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生..."這句話真有不可思議的魔力，

for the window instantly slammed down, and within a minute the door was unbarred and open.

樓窗立即關(guān)上了，沒過一分鐘門也開了。

Mr. Sherman was a lanky, lean old man, with stooping shoulders, a stringy neck, and blue-tinted glasses.

謝爾曼先生是個瘦高個老頭兒，脖子上青筋暴露，駝背，還戴著藍(lán)光眼鏡。

"A friend of Mr. Sherlock is always welcome," said he.

他說："福爾摩斯先生的朋友來到這里永遠(yuǎn)是受歡迎的。

"Step in, sir. Keep clear of the badger, for he bites.

請里邊坐，先生。小心那只獾，它咬人呢。"

Ah, naughty, naughty; would you take a nip at the gentleman?"

淘氣！淘氣！你不要抓這位先生呀。"

This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage.

他又向著一只從籠子縫鉆出頭來有兩只紅眼睛的鼬鼠喊道

"Don't mind that, sir; it's only a slowworm.

又道，"先生不要害怕，這不過是只蛇蜥蜴，

It hain't got no fangs, so I gives it the run o' the room, for it keeps the beetles down.

它沒有毒牙，我是把它放在屋里吃甲蟲的。

You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first,

您不要怪我方才對您失禮，

for I'm guyed at by the children, and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up.

實在因為常常有頑童跑到這兒來搗亂，把我吵起來。

What was it that Mr. Sherlock Holmes wanted, sir?"

可是，歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生要什么呢？"

"He wanted a dog of yours."

"他要你的一只狗。"

"Ah! that would be Toby."

"啊！一定是透比。"

"Yes, Toby was the name."

"不錯，就是透比。"

"Toby lives at No. 7 on the left here."

"透比就住在左邊第七個欄里。"

He moved slowly forward with his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him.

謝爾曼拿著蠟燭慢慢地在前面引路，走過他收集來的那些奇禽怪獸。

In the uncertain, shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing,

我在朦朧閃爍的光線下，

glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner.

隱約看到每個角落里都有閃閃的眼睛在偷偷地望著我們。

Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls,

就連我們頭上的架子上面也排列了很多野鳥，

who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers.

我們的聲音攪醒了它們的睡夢，它們懶懶地把重心從一只爪換到另一只爪上去。

Toby proved to be an ugly, long-haired, lop-eared creature,

透比是一只外形丑陋的長毛垂耳的狗--是混血種。

half spaniel and half lurcher, brown and white in colour, with a very clumsy, waddling gait.

黃白兩色的毛，走起路來搖搖擺擺。

It accepted, after some hesitation, a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me, and,

我從謝爾曼手中拿了一塊糖喂過它以后，

having thus sealed an alliance, it followed me to the cab and made no difficulties about accompanying me.

我們中間就樹立了友誼，它這才隨我上車。

It had just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more at Pondicherry Lodge.

我回到櫻沼別墅的時候，皇宮的時鐘方才打過三點。

The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had, I found, been arrested as an accessory,

我發(fā)現(xiàn)那個作過拳擊手的麥克默多已被當(dāng)做同謀，

and both he and Mr. Sholto had been marched off to the station.

已經(jīng)和舒爾托先生同被逮捕到警署去了。

Two constables guarded the narrow gate,

兩個警察把守著大門，

but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name.

我提出偵探的名字后，他們就讓我?guī)е愤M(jìn)去了。