福爾摩斯探案集·工程師大拇指案 第14期:向福爾摩斯敘述故事(8)
'I quite follow you,' said I.
'我聽得很明白，'我說。
'The only point which I could not quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press in excavating fuller's-earth,
'唯一不太明白的一點是，水壓機對你挖漂白土有什么用處？
which, as I understand, is dug out like gravel from a pit.'
據我所知，漂白土是象從礦坑里掏沙礫那樣挖出來的。'
'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process.
'啊，'他不在意地說，'我們有我們自己的方法。
We compress the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing what they are.
我們把土碾壓成磚坯，以便在搬運的時候不致于泄露它們是什么東西。
But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley,
但那只不過是一些細節(jié)。現在我已經向您透露了全部秘密，哈瑟利先生，
and I have shown you how I trust you.' He rose as he spoke.
并且向您表示了我是多么信任您。'他邊說邊站了起來。
'I shall expect you, then, at Eyford at 11:15.'
'那么，十一點十五分在艾津見。'
'I shall certainly be there.'
'我一定到那里去。'
'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last, long, questioning gaze,
'絕對不能對任何人說。'最后，他又久久地以懷疑的眼光凝視著我，
and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank grasp, he hurried from the room.
然后，用他那濕冷的手和我握了一下，就急急忙忙走出了房間。
