福爾摩斯探案集·工程師大拇指案 第12期:向福爾摩斯敘述故事(6)
'Then we can hardly get there before midnight.
'這么說午夜前我們是趕不到那兒了。
I suppose there would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop the night.'
我估計趕不上回程的火車，那么我就不得不在那兒過夜了。'
'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.'
'對，我們會給您安排過夜的地方的。'
'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient hour?'
'那很不方便，我不能在更方便的時候去嗎？'
'We have judged it best that you should come late.
'我們認為，您最好晚上來。
It is to recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a young and unknown man,
正是為了補償您的不便之處，我們才對您這個默默無聞的年輕人出那么大的價錢。
a fee which would buy an opinion from the very heads of your profession.
這個價錢用來請教您這一行中最高明的人士也是足夠了。
Still, of course, if you would like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do so.'
當然，如果您想推掉這筆業(yè)務，現在還來得及。'
I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they would be to me.
我想到了五十個畿尼，以及這筆錢對我將是多么有用。
'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to accommodate myself to your wishes.
'我不是這個意思，'我說，'我將十分愉快地滿足您的愿望。
I should like, however, to understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to do.'
我倒是想更清楚地了解一下，您要我做的是什么工作。'
'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity.
'是啊，我們要您一定保證嚴守秘密，這會很自然地引起注您的好奇心。
I have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all laid before you.
我們并不打算委托您辦一件事情而又不讓您知道它的底細。
I suppose that we are absolutely safe from eavesdroppers?' 'Entirely.'
我想，絕對不會有人偷聽吧？''絕對不會。'
