福爾摩斯探案集·四簽名 第59期:線索的中斷(3)

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

一天過去了，維金斯和其他的搜查人員都沒有消息。

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

大多數(shù)的報紙全登著諾伍德慘案的報道。

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

他們對那不幸的塞笛尼斯·舒爾托都攻擊得很厲害。

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

除了官方將在第二天驗尸之外，

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

各報紙也沒有什么新的消息。

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韋爾，把我們的失敗情況向兩位女士作了報告。

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

我回來的時候看見福爾摩斯依然是垂頭喪氣，很不高興，

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

甚至對于我的問話也淡然不理。整個晚上他在那里忙著作一個玄妙的化學實驗，

which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapours,

蒸餾氣加熱后所發(fā)出的惡臭，

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

使我不得不離開這間屋子。

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

一直快到天亮，我還聽見試管的聲音，

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

知道他還在那里進行著這惡臭的實驗。

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

第二天清晨，我驚醒過來，看見福爾摩斯已經(jīng)站在我的床前。

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

他穿著一身水手的服裝，外面罩著一件短大衣，頸上圍著一條紅色的圍巾。

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

他道："華生，我現(xiàn)在親身到下游去。

"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."

我經(jīng)過再三考慮，覺得只有這一著了，無論如何是值得一試的。"

"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。你留在這里作我的代表是比較有用的。

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，雖然昨晚維金斯很泄氣，

though Wiggins was despondent about it last night.

可是我想今天肯定會有消息的。

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

所有的來信、來電都請你代拆，按照你的判斷便宜行事。

Can I rely upon you?"

你可不可以代勞呢？"

"Most certainly."

"當然愿意。"

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

"我的行蹤不定，恐怕你也無法給我電報。

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

可是假若運氣好，我未必耽擱很久。

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

回來以后總會有些消息向你報告的。"

I had heard nothing of him by breakfast time.

早餐的時候，他還沒有消息。

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

可是打開《旗幟報》，看見上面登載著這個案子的新發(fā)展。

With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy, it remarked,

它報道道：關于上諾伍德的慘案，

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

據(jù)悉案情內容非常復雜，不似預料那么簡單。

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

新的發(fā)現(xiàn)證明：塞笛厄斯·舒爾托先生確無嫌疑。

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

昨晚舒爾托先生和女管家博恩斯通太太已被警署釋放。

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

至于真正的兇犯，警署方面已有新的線索。

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

此案現(xiàn)由蘇格蘭場干練的埃瑟爾尼·瓊斯先生負責緝兇，

Further arrests may be expected at any moment.

預料日內即可破案云云。