铜山毛榉案
"To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived.
“一个因为艺术本身而热爱艺术的人，”舍洛克·福尔摩斯把《每日电讯报》的广告专页扔在一边，说道，“常常能从最不重要、最平凡的形象中得到最大的乐趣。
It is pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped this truth that in these little records of our cases which you have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much to the many causes cele?bres and sensational trials in which I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my special province."
沃森，我很高兴地发现，通过辛勤地记录我们的案子，你已经掌握这一真理了。我可以肯定地说，你有时还加会以渲染，并不是为了突出我参与的那些著名的案件和轰动一时的审讯，而是为了突出那些情节本身平凡琐碎、却给推理和逻辑综合的能力提供了发挥空间的案件，我已经把这类案子列入我的特殊研究范围了。
"And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my records."
“可是，”我笑着说，“我在记录中用了耸人听闻的手法，就这一点，我没法为自己开脱。”
"You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a disputatious rather than a meditative mood— "you have erred perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is really the only notable feature about the thing."
“也许你是犯了错，”他一边评论，一边用火钳夹起火红的炉渣，点燃他那只长柄樱桃木烟斗，每当他在争论问题而不是静思默想时，他就用这个烟斗来代替陶制的那个——“也许你错就错在，总想把你的每一项记述写得生动、活泼些，而不是单纯地把自己的任务限制在记录事物因果关系的严谨推理上，而这个推理实际上才是一件案子中唯一值得注意的特征。”
"It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter, " I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my friend's singular character.
“在我看来，在这件事上，我对你足够公正了，”我有些冷淡地说，我不止一次地发现，自尊自大是他独特性格中很强烈的因素，而我已经被我的朋友这样的个性惹烦了。
"No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing—a thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of lectures into a series of tales."
“不，这不是自私或自大，”他回答道。和往常一样，他不是针对我的话，而是直指我的思想。“如果我要求公正地对待我推理的艺术，那是因为它是客观的东西，不属于我一个人。犯罪常常有，而逻辑难得有。所以，你应该详细记述逻辑，而不是罪行。可是，你已经把本来应该作为课程来教授的东西降级成了系列故事。”
It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings.
这是一个寒冷的初春早晨，早餐后，我们坐在贝克街老房子里熊熊炉火的两边。一阵浓雾滚滚而来，弥漫在成排的暗褐色房子之间。在这深黄色的团团浓雾中，对面的窗户隐约成了昏暗、不成形状的一团模糊。我们点燃了汽灯，光照在白台布上，照在微微闪光的瓷器和金属器皿上，当时餐桌还没有收拾干净呢。舍洛克·福尔摩斯一早上都沉默不语，不停地在一系列报纸的广告栏里翻找，最后，他显然放弃了查阅，像带了点儿情绪般地对我文笔上的缺陷教训了一番。
"At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I fear that you may have bordered on the trivial."
“不过，”他稍微停顿了一下，一边抽着他的长烟斗，一边盯着炉火说，“不会有谁指责你用了耸人听闻的笔法，因为，在你感兴趣的案子里，大部分从法律上看根本不是犯罪。我帮波西米亚国王的那件小事，玛丽·萨瑟兰小姐的奇异经历，歪唇男人的难题，贵族单身汉事件，这些都是法律范围以外的事情。虽说你想避免耸人听闻，但我担心你记述的事都太琐碎了。
"The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold to have been novel and of interest."
“结果可能是这样，”我回答说，“但是，我写作的方法新颖而有趣。”
"Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to me.
“哼，我的好朋友，对公众，对广大不善观察的公众来说，他们根本不可能从一个人的牙齿上看出来他是编织工，或者从一个人的左拇指上看出来他是排字工，他们才不会去注意分析和推理的好坏呢！不过，如果你净写一些琐碎的事，我也不能责备你，因为犯大案的时代已经过去了。一个人，或者至少是一个刑事罪犯，已经没有过去那种规划和创新精神了。我自己的小业务似乎也退化到了一家代理处的地步了，只帮办理一些帮人家寻找失踪的铅笔，还有替寄宿学校的年轻姑娘们出出主意的小事。我想，无论怎么着，我的事业都已经跌到谷底了。我想，今天早上我收到的这张条子，就标志着我事业的冰点。你读读吧！”他把一封揉成一团的信扔给我。
It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and ran thus: Dear Mr. Holmes: I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, VIOLET HUNTER.
这封信是前天晚上从蒙塔格奇莱斯寄来的，内容如下：亲爱的福尔摩斯先生：我急切地想找你商量一下，我该不该接受聘用，做人家的家庭女教师。如果方便的话，我明天十点三十分去拜访你。你忠实的，瓦奥莱特·亨特。
"Do you know the young lady?" I asked.
“你认识这位年轻的小姐吗？”
"Not I." "It is half-past ten now."
“我不认识。”“现在已经十点半了。”
"Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring."
“对，我肯定这是她在拉门铃。”
"It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. It may be so in this case, also."
“这件事也许比你想象的要有趣，你还记得蓝宝石案吗，开头的探索好像只是一时兴起，后来却发展成了严肃的调查，这件事可能也是这样呢。”
"Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question."
“嗯，但愿如此。我们的疑团很快就会解开了，因为，要是我没弄错，当事人这就来了。”
As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a woman who has had her own way to make in the world.
话音未落，房门就打开了，一位年轻的小姐走了进来。她衣着朴素却很整齐，面孔聪明伶俐，长着像珩鸟蛋上那样的雀斑，动作敏捷，像是一个处事很有一套的女人。
"You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be kind enough to tell me what I should do."
“我肯定你会原谅我的打扰，”我的同伴起身迎接她，她说，“我遇上一件非常奇怪的事，我没有父母或其他亲属可以请教，所以，我想也许你会好心告诉我该怎么做。”
"Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything that I can to serve you."
“请坐，亨特小姐，我将很高兴地尽力为你服务。”
I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and his finger-tips together, to listen to her story.
看得出，福尔摩斯对这位新委托人的举止和谈吐印象颇佳。他用探究的眼光打量了一下这位女士，然后镇定了一下，垂下眼皮，两手指尖相对，听她讲述。
"I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his children over to America with him, so that I found myself without a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but without success. At last the little money which I had saved began to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do.
“我在斯彭斯·芒罗上校的家里做了五年的家庭教师。”她说，“但是，两个月以前，上校奉命到新斯科舍的哈利法克斯就职，带着他的几个孩子一起去了美洲，我便失业了。我登报求职，并按报纸上的招聘广告前去应聘，但都没有成功。最后，我小小的积蓄用得差不多了，我也没了主意，不知如何是好。
"There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and sees whether she has anything which would suit them.
“西区有一家出名的家庭女教师介绍所，叫韦斯塔韦，我每周都到那里去，看看有没有适合我的职业。韦斯塔韦是这家公司创办人的名字，现在实际上由斯托珀小姐经营。她坐在自己的小办公室里，求职的女人在前面的接待室里等候，然后逐个被领进屋里，她会查阅登记簿，看看是否有合适的工作。
"Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office as usual, but found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper.
“唔，上个星期，我照常被领进那间小办公室里，发现斯托珀小姐不是一个人在那儿，有一个异常粗壮的男人笑容满面地坐在她肘边，他下巴又厚又大，一层摞着一层，一直挂到脖子上。他鼻子上架着一副眼镜，正仔细地观察着走进来的人。我走进房间，他在椅子上震了一下，很快就转身对斯托珀小姐说——
" 'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at him.
“‘这个就行，’他说，‘我不能要求比这更好的了。好极了！好极了！’他仿佛十分热情，搓着双手，表现出极为亲切的样子。他和气的神态让人看了很愉快。
" 'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked.
“‘你是来求职的吧，小姐？’他问。
" 'Yes, sir.'
“‘是的，先生，’
" 'As governess?'
“‘做家庭女教师?'
" 'Yes, sir.'
“‘是的，先生。’
" 'And what salary do you ask?'
“‘你要多少薪水?'
" 'I had 4 a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Munro.'
“‘我以前在斯彭斯·芒罗上校那儿是每月四英镑。’
" 'Oh, tut, tut! Sweating—rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling passion. "How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with such attractions and accomplishments?'
“‘哎呀，啧啧！真是抠门儿！’他一面嚷着，一面像情绪激动的人一样，伸出一双肥手在空中挥舞。‘怎么会有人出这么可怜的数目给这样一位有魅力又有造诣的女士?'
" 'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "A little French, a little German, music, and drawing.'
“‘我的造诣，先生，可能不如你想象得那么深，’我说，‘我只懂一点儿法文，一点儿德文，音乐，还有绘画。’
" 'Tut, tut!' he cried. "This is all quite beside the question. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have, why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, madam, would commence at 100 a year.'
“‘啧啧！’他喊道，‘这些都不是主要问题，关键是你是否具有淑女的举止和风度？简单来说就是，你要是没有，就不适合教育一个将来某一天会改写国家历史的孩子。但要是你有，那么，怎么会有先生好意思让你屈就于少于三位数的薪金？小姐，你在我这儿的薪水，要从一百磅一年开始。’
"You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, opened a pocket-book and took out a note.
“你可以想象，福尔摩斯先生，对我这样穷得叮当响的人来说，这样的待遇简直好得难以置信！可是，这位先生大概看出了我脸上怀疑的神色，便打开钱包，拿出一张钞票。
" 'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.'
“‘这也是我的习惯，’他笑着说，两只眼睛在他那满是皱纹的白脸上成了两条发光的细缝，‘预付一半薪金给我年轻的小姐，好让她应付旅费和添置衣服的小小开支。’
"It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know a little more before I quite committed myself.
“我好像从没遇到过这么迷人、这么体贴的人。我那时还欠着商贩一些债，预付给我的钱让我方便了许多。可是，整个交易过程总让我觉得，有一些地方不大自然，所以，我想多了解一些情况再表态。
" 'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I.
“‘我可不可以问一下，你住在哪里，先生。’我说。
" 'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.'
“‘汉普郡，迷人的乡村。铜山毛榉，离温彻斯特才五英里。那是最可爱的乡村，我亲爱的小姐，而且还有一座再可爱不过的古老乡村房子。’
" 'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would be.'
“‘那么，我的任务是，先生？我很想了解一下是什么工作。’
" 'One child—one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again.
“‘一个小孩子，刚刚六岁，可爱的小淘气。哦，你真该看看他用拖鞋打蟑螂！啪嗒！啪嗒！啪嗒！你眼睛还来不及眨一下，三只就已经报销了！’他靠在椅背上，笑得眼睛又眯成一条缝了。
"I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was joking.
“孩子这样的玩乐兴趣让我有些吃惊，但他爸爸的笑声让我以为，也许他只是在开玩笑。
" 'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single child?'
“‘那么，我唯一的任务就是，’我说，‘照管一个孩子?'
" 'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he cried. Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided always that they were such commands as a lady might with propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?'
“‘不，不，不是唯一的，不是唯一的，我亲爱的年轻小姐，’他大声说，‘你的任务是，我肯定你聪明的脑袋会理解的，听从我妻子的任何命令，只要那些命令是一位淑女应该遵从的。你看，这不难吧，是不是?'
" 'I should be happy to make myself useful.'
“‘我很乐意能为你们效劳。’
" 'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you know—faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. Heh?'
“‘那太好了，现在说说服装，比如说，我们挺挑剔的，你知道，挑剔，但是心眼不坏。如果我们给你一件衣服让你穿，你不会反对我们这个小小怪癖吧，嗯?'
" 'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words.
“‘不，’我说着，对他的话感到相当吃惊。
" 'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to you?'
“‘叫你坐在这里或者那里，这样不会让你不高兴吧?'
" 'Oh, no.'
“‘哦，不会。’
" 'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?'
“‘或者让你在来我们那儿之前剪短头发呢?'
"I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of sacrificing it in this offhand fashion.
“我简直不敢相信自己的耳朵。你看得到，福尔摩斯先生，我的头发长得相当浓密，有着栗子般的特殊色泽，算是有几分艺术气质，我做梦也想不到，要这样随随便便地把它牺牲掉。
" 'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a shadow pass over his face as I spoke.
“‘恐怕这不可以。’我说。他的小眼睛一直热切地注视着我，当我说这话的时候，我注意到，他的脸上掠过一丝阴影。
" 'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. It is a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your hair?'
“‘恐怕这一点相当重要，’他说，‘这是我妻子的小小癖好，夫人们的癖好，你知道的，小姐、夫人们的癖好是一定要考虑的。这么说，你不打算剪掉你的头发?'
" 'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly.
“‘是的，先生，我实在不能这样做。’我坚决地回答说。
" 'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a pity, because in other respects you would really have done very nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more of your young ladies.'
“‘啊，好吧，那么这件事就算了。很可惜，因为在其他方面，你都太合适了。既然这样，斯托珀小姐，我最好再多看几位你这里的年轻姑娘。’
"The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal.
“那位女经理正坐在那儿忙着读文件，一句话也没和我们两人说。可现在，她很不耐烦地瞧着我，我不得不怀疑，我的拒绝让她失掉了一笔可观的佣金。
" 'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked.
“‘你愿不愿意让你的名字继续留在登记簿上？’她问我。
" 'If you please, Miss Stoper.'
“‘如果你认为可以的话，斯托珀小姐。’
" 'Well really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. You can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong upon the table, and I was shown out by the page.
“‘唉，其实登记了似乎也没有什么用处了，既然你这样拒绝了最优越的机会，’她尖刻的说，‘我们再尽力，你也很难指望我们给你另找一个这样的机会了。再会，亨特小姐。’她敲了一下台上的叫人铃，一个仆人进来，把我带了出去。
"Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few governesses in England are getting(100) a year. Besides, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing it short, and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it here, and I will read it to you: 'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Dear Miss Humter: 'Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of you. We are willing to give 30 a quarter, or(120) a year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue, and would like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.'
“唉，福尔摩斯先生，我回到寓所，发现橱子里已经没什么吃的了，桌上又放着两三张账单，这时，我开始问自己，我是不是做了一件傻事。毕竟，要是这些人有奇怪的癖好，希望别人顺从他们不同寻常的要求，那么，他们至少是准备为自己的怪癖付高价的。英国的家庭女教师很少有人能赚到一年一百磅的薪水。再说，我的头发对我有什么用呢？好多人头发剪短以后都显得更精神了，也许我也应该这样做。第二天，我就觉得自己做错了，再过一天，我就肯定自己错了。就在我克制自己的傲气，准备重新到介绍所询问那个职位是不是还空着的时候，我接到了那位先生亲笔写来的信。我把它带来了，这就念给你听：‘铜山毛榉，温彻斯特附近。亲爱的亨特小姐，斯托珀小姐好心告诉了我你的地址，我写这封信，是想问你是否重新考虑了你的决定。我妻子急切地盼望你能来，因为我对你的描述对她产生了很大的吸引力。我们愿意每季度给你三十英镑，也就是一年一百二十英镑，来补偿我们的癖好给你带来的不便。毕竟，这些要求并不是过分苛刻。我的妻子偏爱较深的铁蓝色，希望你早晨在室内能穿这种颜色的衣服。不过，你不需要自己花钱买，因为我们就有一件，原来是我们亲爱的女儿艾丽丝的（她现在在美国费城），我想这件衣服应该很合你的身。其次，至于坐在这里或那里，或者按照指定的方式消遣，这不会给你带来什么不便。而你的头发，这无疑很令人可惜，尤其是我在和你短暂的会面时，就不禁赞叹它的美丽。但是，恐怕我必须坚持这一点，只希望增加的薪水能补偿你的损失。至于照管孩子这方面的职责，那是很轻松的。希望你能前来，我会坐马车到温彻斯特接你。请通知我你乘坐的火车班次。你忠实的，杰夫罗·鲁卡斯尔’
"That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that before taking the final step I should like to submit the whole matter to your consideration."
“这是我刚接到的信，福尔摩斯先生，我已经决定接受这个职位了。可是，我认为，在走最后一步之前，最好把所有事情全部告诉你，请你帮我参谋参谋。”
"Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the question," said Holmes, smiling.
“嗯，亨特小姐，既然你已经拿定了主意，那就这么办吧。”福尔摩斯微笑着说。
"But you would not advise me to refuse?"
“你不劝我拒绝它？”
"I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to see a sister of mine apply for."
“我承认，我不会愿意让自己的姐姐申请这样的职位。”
"What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?"
“这是什么意思，福尔摩斯先生？”
"Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself formed some opinion?"
“唉，我没有什么材料，说不上来，也许你有自己的想法？”
"Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an outbreak?"
“嗯，在我看来，只有一种可能的解释。鲁卡斯尔看起来是一个和蔼、好脾气的人，会不会他妻子是一个疯子，而他想保守这个秘密，以防妻子被送到精神病院。所以，他才要想尽各种办法来满足妻子的癖好，以防她精神病发作？”
"That is a possible solution—in fact, as matters stand, it is the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a nice household for a young lady."
“这是一种说得过去的解释，实际上，事情很可能就是这样。但对于一位年轻小姐来讲，无论如何，这都不是一户好人家。”
"But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!"
“可是，他钱给的不少啊！福尔摩斯先生，钱给的真不少！”
"Well, yes, of course the pay is good—too good. That is what makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 a year, when they could have their pick for 40? There must be some strong reason behind."
“嗯，是啊，这薪水的确是很高，太高了。这正是我担心的原因。为什么他们一年给你一百二十英镑，他们其实出四十英镑也可以挑一个。这后面一定有一些特殊原因。”
"I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me."
“我想，我把情况告诉了你，如果以后我请你帮忙，你就知道是怎么一回事了。而且，我觉得如果有你作我的后盾，我就会感觉坚强一点儿。”
"Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt or in danger—"
“啊，你可以这样想，我向你保证，你的小难题很可能是我这几个月一来最感兴趣的事了。这里面明显有一些特征很是新奇。如果你感到疑惑，或是遇到危险……”
"Danger! What danger do you foresee?"
“危险？！你预见到什么危险了吗？”
Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a telegram would bring me down to your help."
福尔摩斯严肃地摇摇头，“要是我们能确定，那就不是危险了。”他说，“但是，不论什么时候，白天或是晚上，打个电报，我就会马上去帮你。”
"That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both good-night and bustled off upon her way.
“有你这句话就够了，”她轻快地从座椅上站起来，脸上的忧愁一扫而光,“我现在可以安心地到汉普郡去了，我会马上给鲁卡斯尔先生回信，今天晚上就把我可怜的头发剪掉，明天早晨就动身到温彻斯特去。”她对福尔摩斯说了几句感谢的话，然后向我俩道了晚安，就急忙走了出去。
"At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to take care of herself."
“至少，”听到她敏捷、坚定的下楼声，我说，“她看上去是一位很会照顾自己的年轻姑娘。”
"And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past."
“她必须这样，”福尔摩斯严肃地说，“如果我们几天之后还听不到她的消息，那我就大错特错了。”
It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever have accepted such a situation.
没过多久，我朋友的预言就应验了。两个星期过去了，在这期间，我常发现自己的心思在那位女士身上打转，担心这个孤单的女孩误入了什么奇特的人间歧途。不一般的薪水，诡异的条件，轻松的任务，这一切都说明，这件事不同寻常。虽然我没有能力确定这只是一时的癖好，还是一项阴谋，也不不能确定这个人是一个慈善家，还是一个恶棍。至于福尔摩斯，我看到他常常一坐就是半个小时，紧锁着眉头在那儿出神，可是，我一提到这件事，他就大手一挥，表示算了。“材料！材料！材料！”他不耐烦地嚷着，“没有黏土，我做不出砖头！”可是，到最后，他又常咕哝着决不会让自己的姐姐接受这样的职位。
The telegram which we eventually received came late one night just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me.
终于，一封电报在一天深夜里被送到我们手里。那时，我正打算上床睡觉，福尔摩斯正要安顿下来，搞他常常通宵沉迷的化学研究，我一般都会在这时候离开他，而他总是弓着身子在试管或曲颈瓶中搞化验，到第二天早上我下楼吃早饭时，他还保持着那个姿势。他打开那个黄色信封，看了一下电报内容，就把它扔给了我。
"Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back to his chemical studies.
“马上查一下开往布拉德肖的火车时刻表。”他说，接着转身继续搞他的化学研究去了。
The summons was a brief and urgent one.
这个电报简短而紧急（上面写道）：
Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday to-morrow [it said]. Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER.
明天中午请到温彻斯特黑天鹅旅馆。一定要来！我实在没有法子了。亨特
"Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up.
“你愿意和我一起去吗？”福尔摩斯抬起眼睛看了我一眼，问道。
"I should wish to."
“我愿意去。”
"Just look it up, then."
“那就查一下火车时刻表。”
"There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30."
“九点半有一班车，”我查看着我要找的布拉德肖，说，“十一点半到温彻斯特。”
"That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the morning."
“这正合适，那么，我们最好还是推迟我的丙酮分析，因为明天早上，我们最好保持最佳精神和身体状态。”
By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and gray roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light green of the new foliage.
第二天十一点钟，我们已经顺利地踏上前往英国古都的途中了，福尔摩斯一路上只是埋头翻阅晨报，可经过汉普郡边界后，他就扔下报纸，开始欣赏风景。这是春天一个最理想的日子，蔚蓝的天空点缀着朵朵白云，它们由西向东悠悠地飘着。阳光灿烂耀眼，然而早春的天气仍然凛冽清新，令人心旷神怡，力气倍增。远至奥尔特肖特起伏的山丘，展现出一片乡村景色，从青翠的新绿中隐约显出红色和灰色的农舍屋顶。
"Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. But Holmes shook his head gravely.
“多么清新、美丽的金色啊！”从烟雾缭绕的贝克街来到这里，我感到耳目一新，不禁热情地大声赞叹起来。但是，福尔摩斯严肃地摇了摇头。
"Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed there."
“你知道吗，沃森，”他说，“我性格里有一个祸害，那就是我观察每件事的时候，都要把它和我研究的特殊问题联系起来。你看到这些星星点点的房屋，会为它们美丽的景色所折服。而我看到它们时，心里唯一的想法是这些房子互相隔离，便于犯罪。”
"Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these dear old homesteads?"
“我的天啊！”我叫出了声，“谁会把犯罪和这些可爱的古村屋联系在一起呢？”
"They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside."
“它们总给我恐怖的感觉，我的这个感觉，沃森，是依据经验而来的。和这美好的乡村相比，伦敦最底层、最恶劣的小巷里都不会发生比这儿更可怕的罪行。”
"You horrify me!"
“你吓着我了！”
"But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is not personally threatened."
“但这个道理是显而易见的，在城市里，公众舆论的压力起到了法律做不到的效果。不管在哪条小巷里，就算再坏，在孩童因被虐打而哀叫，或是在醉汉殴打时发出重击声时，邻居也会产生同情和愤怒。整个司法机制近在咫尺，只要提出控诉，就会立即启动机制，犯罪和被告席只有一步之遥。再看看这些孤零零的房子，每栋都在自己的田地里，里面住的大多是愚昧无知的乡民，他们对法律知道得太少了。想想看，凶恶、残暴的行为，暗藏的罪恶可能年复一年地在这些地方连续发生，却没有人发觉。向我们求援的这位小姐要是住在温彻斯特，我决不会为她担忧，但是，她住在五英里之外的乡下，这就不得不让人担心了。不过，显然她的人身安全还没有受到威胁。”
"No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away."
“没有，如果她能到温彻斯特来见我们，就说明她脱得开身。”
"Quite so. She has her freedom."
“一点儿不错，她还有人身自由。”
"What can be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?"
“那么，究竟发生了什么事呢？你有没有想到什么解释？”
"I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has to tell."
“我曾设想过七种不同的解释，每一种都和现在我们知道的事实相符。至于它们之中哪一种是真相，就只能在得到新消息之后才能知道了，而这个新消息显然正在等着我们呢。好了，那边就是教堂的塔楼，我们不久就能听亨特小姐告诉我们一切了。”
The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch awaited us upon the table.
那家“黑天鹅”是这条大路上一家有名的小客栈，离火车站不远。我们看到，那位年轻的小姐正在那儿等着我们。她已经订了一个房间，午餐也已经摆在桌上了。
"I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me."
“看到你们来了，我真是高兴！”她热情地说，“非常感谢你们两位。我实在不知道该怎么办，你们的建议对我来说无比重要。”
"Pray tell us what has happened to you."
“请告诉我们，你到底出了什么事。”
"I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose."
“我会说的，而且我必须赶快说，因为我答应鲁卡斯尔先生三点之前回去，今天早上我请假来城里，不过，他不知道我为什么出来。”
"Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen.
“请你把所有事按顺序讲吧。”福尔摩斯把他又瘦又长的腿伸到火炉边，镇定了一下，准备倾听。
"In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and I am not easy in my mind about them."
“首先，总体看来，我可以说我实际上没有受到鲁卡斯尔先生和夫人的虐待，这样讲对他们很是公平。但是，我无法理解他们，心里对他们很不放心。”
"What can you not understand?"
“你无法理解他们什么？”
"Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in front of the hall door has given its name to the place.
“他们为自己行为辩解的理由。你们可以从发生的事中知道一切。当初我来这儿时，鲁卡斯尔先生在这里接我，用他的单马车把我接到了铜山毛榉。那里和他说的一样，环境优美。但是，房子本身不漂亮，是一栋很大的四四方方的房子，刷成了白色，被潮气和坏气候侵蚀得满是斑痕。房子周围是庭院，三面是树，还有一面是一块斜着的平地，它通向南安普顿公路，那条公路就在房子门口约一百码的拐弯处。房子前面的那块地附属于那所房子，至于周围树林，那是萨瑟顿领主防护林的一部分。屋子大厅门口正对面长有一丛铜山毛榉，所以那个地方就以‘铜山毛榉’命名。
"I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their conversation I have gathered that they have been married about seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her father's young wife.
“我的雇主驾车载着我，他还是和以前一样和蔼可亲，那天晚上，他把我介绍给了他的妻子和孩子。福尔摩斯先生，我们在贝克街你那儿猜测的情况不合事实。鲁卡斯尔太太没有疯，我发现她是一位安静的女人，脸色苍白，比她的丈夫年轻得多，估计不到三十岁，而那位先生不会少于四十五岁。从他们的谈话中我了解到，他们结婚差不多有七年了。先生原来是鳏夫，他的前妻留下了唯一一个孩子，就是现在在美国费城的那个女儿。鲁卡斯尔私下对我说，他的女儿离开他们，是因为她对后母总是没来由地反感。他女儿的年龄不会小于二十岁，那么完全可以想象，她和父亲年轻的妻子在一起，处境一定很为难。
"Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light gray eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he has little to do with my story."
“在我看来，鲁卡斯尔太太无论是心灵还是面貌都很平常，她既没给我留下好感，也没留下什么坏印象，就好像不存在一样。不过，看得出来，她一心一意地爱着她的丈夫还有她的小儿子。她淡灰色的眼睛不时左顾右盼，一察觉到他们俩有什么小小的需求，就尽可能地满足他们。先生对她也很好，只是方式鲁莽、直率了一些。总的来说，他们俩像是一对幸福的夫妇。可是，这个女人有一些秘密的愁苦，她常常会沉浸在深思之中，愁容满面。我不止一次看到她在掉眼泪，觉得很是惊讶。我有时想，一定是她的孩子不乖，让她这样心事重重。真的，我从没见过性情这样差的小家伙，完全被宠坏了。他的个子比同龄人小，脑袋却大得出奇，和身体很不相称。他好像整天不是野性发作，就是绷着脸闷闷不乐。他唯一的消遣似乎就是对比他弱小的动物施以酷刑。抓老鼠、小鸟还有昆虫都是他的拿手好戏。但是，我还是先不要谈这个小家伙，福尔摩斯先生，实际上，他与我的事没什么关系。”
"I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they seem to you to be relevant or not."
“你说的所有细节我都乐意听。”我的朋友说，“不管你觉得它们与你有没有关系。”
"I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the appearance and conduct of the servants.
“我尽量不漏掉任何重要的环节。在那个屋子里让我觉得最不舒服的，是仆人的外表和行为。
There are only two, a man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one corner of the building.
家里只有两个仆人，一个男人还有他妻子。男的叫托勒，粗鲁笨拙，有着灰白的头发和络腮胡子，总是散发着酒气。有那么两次，我和他们在一起，他醉得很厉害，而鲁卡斯尔先生视若无睹，满不在乎。他的妻子是一个高个子的强壮的女人，面目可憎，和鲁卡斯尔太太一样沉默寡言，但远不如她和气。他们夫妻俩是最讨人厌的一对。幸运的是，我大部分时间呆在保育室和我的房间里。这两间房连在一起，在房子的一个角落里。
"For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after breakfast and whispered something to her husband.
“我到铜山毛榉后，头两天生活得很平静。第三天，早餐过后，鲁卡斯尔太太走下楼来，低声和她丈夫说了些什么。
" 'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should both be extremely obliged.'
“‘啊，是的，’他转向我，‘我们十分感谢你，亨特小姐，为了迁就我们的癖好，你把头发剪掉了。我向你保证，这丝毫没有影响你的容貌。我们现在来看一看，你穿铁蓝色的衣服合不合适。衣服在你房间的床上，如果你肯把它穿上，我们真是感激不尽。’
"The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige but it bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching along the entire front of the house, with three long windows reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the nursery.
“放在那儿等我穿的衣服是特殊的暗蓝色的。料子极好，是某种哔叽料子，不过一眼就看得出是穿过的衣服。这件衣服很合我身，像是照着我的身材做的。鲁卡斯尔夫妇俩看了之后都特别高兴，甚至有些过于热烈。他们在客厅里等我，客厅十分宽敞，占了整个房子的前半部，有三扇落地窗，靠中间那扇窗旁边放着一张背朝窗户的椅子。他们要我坐在那张椅子上。接着，鲁卡斯尔先生在房间的另一边来回踱步，给我讲了一连串我从没听过的滑稽故事。你们都想象不出他有多幽默，我都笑累了。可是，鲁卡斯尔夫人显然没有什么幽默感，她一点儿也不笑，只是双手放在膝盖上，满脸忧郁、焦急的样子。差不多过了一个小时，鲁卡斯尔先生忽然说要开始工作了，然后告诉我可以换衣服去保育室找小爱德华了。
"Two days later this same performance was gone through under exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny stories of which my employer had an immense repertoire, and which he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and to change my dress.
“两天以后，在完全相同的情况下，我们又照样做了一次。我又一次换上衣服，又一次坐在窗户旁边，听我的雇主将他那说不完的可笑故事，并又一次捧腹大笑。后来，他给了我一本黄色封皮的小说，又把我的椅子向旁边移了一点儿，以免我的影子遮住书。他求我大声念给他听。我从某一章的中间开始念，念了差不多十分钟，忽然，就在我念到一个句子的半中腰时，他就叫我停下来，去换衣服。
"You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, a small bearded man in a gray suit, who seemed to be looking in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once.
“你可以想象，福尔摩斯先生，我是多么难以理解这种不同寻常的行为。我发现他们总是小心翼翼地让我的脸背对着窗户，可我总想看看背后到底发生了什么。开始，这看起来根本不可能。不过，我很快就想到一个办法。我有一面手镜打破了，于是，我灵机一动，偷偷藏了一片碎镜子在手帕里。在下一次表演时，我正笑个不停的时候，我把手帕举到眼前，稍稍摆弄了一下，就看到了背后的一切。我承认，一开始，我很失望，因为我什么也没看到。至少我第一印象是这样。可是，我看第二眼时，发现有一个长着小胡子、穿灰色衣服的男人站在南安普顿路那儿，好像在向我这边望。这是一条重要的公路，平时总有人来往。可是，这个人斜靠在我们围着园子的栏杆上，很认真地朝这边望着。我把举着的手帕放低，瞥了鲁卡斯尔夫人一眼，发现她用极为锐利的眼神盯着我。她什么也没说，但是我相信她已经猜到我手里拿着镜子，也看到了我背后的情形。她立刻站了起来。
" 'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.'
“‘杰夫罗，’她说，‘那边路上有一个不三不四的家伙正盯着亨特小姐看呢。’
" 'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked.
“‘不是你的朋友吧，亨特小姐？’他问。
" 'No, I know no one in these parts.'
“‘不是，我在这里一个人也不认识。’
" 'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to him to go away.'
“‘哎呀，多不礼貌！请你回过身去，叫他走开吧。’
" 'Surely it would be better to take no notice.'
“‘还是不理他更好些吧。’
" 'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn round and wave him away like that.'
“‘不，不，那样他会老在这里游荡的。请你转过身去，像这样挥手叫他走开。’
"I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor seen the man in the road."
“我照吩咐那样做了，同时，鲁卡斯尔夫人把窗帘拉了下来。这是一个星期以前的事，那以后，我就不再坐到窗户那边或穿那身蓝衣服了，也没有再看到那个男人在路上。”
"Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a most interesting one."
“请往下说，”福尔摩斯说，“你讲述的好像很有趣。”
"You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may prove to be little relation between the different incidents of which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving about.
“恐怕你会觉得有点儿支离破碎，缺乏条理。也许这正表明，我讲的不同事件之间没什么关联。我到铜山毛榉的头一天，鲁卡斯尔先生带我去了厨房门边上的一间小外屋。我们走进那里时，听见了链条当啷作响，还有什么大的动物走动的声音。
" 'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two planks. Is he not a beauty?'
“‘往这儿看！’鲁卡斯尔先生让我从两块板缝中往里看，‘漂亮吗?'
"I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a vague figure huddled up in the darkness.
“我从板缝中望进去，只见两只炯炯发亮的眼睛和一个模糊的身躯蜷在黑暗中。
" 'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start which I had given. It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life is worth.'
“‘不要害怕，’我的雇主说，看见我吃惊的样子，他笑了起来，‘那是我的獒犬卡罗。我说它是我的，但实际上，只有老托勒——我的饲养员——才能对付它。我们一天喂它一次，不能喂太多，这样它才会像芥末一样有辣劲。托勒每天晚上放它出来，要是有哪个人私自闯进来，碰上它的尖牙，那就只能求上帝保佑了。看在老天爷的面上，在任何情况下，你的脚都千万别在晚上跨过那道门槛，那样做就等于不要命。’
"The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not think that any burglar could have done.
“这个警告不是没有来由的。过了两个晚上，我凑巧在凌晨大约两点的时候从卧室窗口向外望。那天晚上，月光皎洁，屋前的草坪银光闪闪，亮如白昼。我正站在那里，沉浸在这宁静、美好的景色中，忽然，我发觉有什么东西在铜山毛榉树的阴影下移动。它显现在月光下，我清楚地看到了那是什么。原来是一只像一头小牛那么大的巨狗，它的皮毛呈棕黄色，颚骨垂在那儿，有一张黑色的嘴巴和硕大、突出的骨架。它慢慢走过草坪，在另一角的阴影里消失了。这个可怕的守卫让我心里打战，我想没有什么贼能像它一样，把我吓成这样。
"And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never guess what it was. It was my coil of hair.
“现在，我要讲一件很奇怪的事情。你知道，我是在伦敦剪短头发的，我把剪下的头发放在箱底。一天晚上，我把小孩安置上床后，就开始检查房间里的家具，并整理自己的小东西，消磨时光。房间里有一个旧衣柜，上面有两只抽屉没有上锁，里面空无一物，下面的一只则锁上了。我把上面两只装满了衣服，可还有很多东西没地方放，可又不能用那第三只抽屉，我自然很懊恼。我突然想到，它可能是无意中锁上的，所以我拿出一大串钥匙，试着想把它打开。正好第一把钥匙就配这把锁，于是，我把它打开了。抽屉里只有一件东西，可是我肯定你们永远也猜不到那是什么。那是我的头发！
"I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had locked.
“我拿起来仔细检查。那罕有的色泽、密度和我的一模一样。不可能的事却眼睁睁地摆在我面前。我的头发怎么会被锁在这个抽屉里呢？我用颤抖的双手打开自己的箱子，把里面的东西统统倒了出来，从箱子底抽出了我自己的头发。我把两绺头发放在一起，我敢向你们保证，它们完全一样。这不是很奇怪吗？我真是莫名其妙，想不出是什么道理。我把那绺奇怪的头发放回原处，对鲁卡斯尔夫妇只字不提，因为我觉得打开他们锁上的抽屉是不对的。
"I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on his face which made him a very different person to the round, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me without a word or a look.
“福尔摩斯先生，你可能注意到，我天性喜欢留心观察事物。不久，我脑子里对整个房子就有了很清楚的轮廓。一边的厢房看起来根本没有人住。托勒一家住的通道对面，有一扇门通向这套厢房，但这扇门总是锁着。可是，有一天我上楼时，碰见鲁卡斯尔先生从这扇门里走出来，手里拿着钥匙。他当时的脸和我平时常看到的胖胖的、愉快的样子完全不同。他因愤怒而两颊通红，眉头紧锁，激动得太阳穴两旁青筋直露。他插好那扇门后，急匆匆地从我身边走过，一言不发，也不看我一眼。
"This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever.
“这引起了我的好奇心。我带着照管的孩子到院子里散步的时候，兜了一个圈，溜达到房子的那一边，这样我就可以看看房子这边的窗户了。那里一排有四个窗户，其中三个简直肮脏不堪，第四个关得严严实实。所有这些窗户显然都很久没有用过了，我来回漫步，偶尔扫一眼那些窗户，突然，鲁卡斯尔先生走到我面前，和往常一样，他看上去愉快、高兴。
" 'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with business matters.'
“‘啊！’他说，‘如果我一声不响地从你身边走过去，你一定不要以为我粗鲁无礼，我亲爱的小姐。我刚才在忙着处理一些事情。’
"I assured him that I was not offended. By the way,' said I, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one of them has the shutters up.'
“我让他不用担心，告诉他我并没有觉得他冒犯了我。‘顺便问一下，’我说，‘上面好像有一整套空房间，其中一间的窗板关上了。’
"He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled at my remark.
“他显得有些意外，而且，我似乎觉得他听了我的话有些吃惊。
" 'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. I have made my darkroom up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we have come upon. Who would have believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and annoyance, but no jest.
“‘照相是我的一种爱好，’他说，‘我把那边几间当作暗室。但是，哎呀！我真是碰到一位细心的年轻小姐！谁会信呢？’他的语气里满是调侃，可是眼神却不像在开玩笑。我从中读到了怀疑和烦恼，而绝不是开玩笑。
"Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty—a feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the forbidden door.
“唉，福尔摩斯先生，自从我明白那套房间里有一些我不知道的东西，我心里就更热切地想查个究竟。这不仅仅是出于好奇心，虽然的确有这个因素。但其实，这是出于一种责任感，我有一种感觉，那就是如果我识破了这个地方的内幕，说不定是做了一件好事。人们总说女人的直觉，也许这就是女人的直觉。不管怎么说，我确实有这种感觉。我密切注意着有什么机会能穿过这道禁止穿行的门。
"It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, opened the door, and slipped through.
“直到昨天，机会终于来了。我和你说，不光是鲁卡斯尔先生，还有托勒和他的妻子也在这个没人用的房间里忙些什么。我有一次看见托勒抱着一个大黑布袋从房间里出来。最近，他喝酒喝得很凶，昨天晚上，他喝得酩酊大醉。我上楼时，发现钥匙插在门上。我肯定那是他留下的。鲁卡斯尔先生和太太当时都在楼下，孩子也和他们在一起，真是难得的好机会。我轻轻一转钥匙，打开了门，然后悄悄溜了进去。
"There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran—ran as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting outside.
“在我面前是一条小过道，没有贴墙纸，也没有铺地毯，尽头转弯的地方呈直角。转弯后并排有三扇门，第一扇门和第三扇门是敞开的。里面是空房间，又脏又阴暗，一间有两扇窗，另一间只有一扇窗，窗户上积着厚厚的尘土，傍晚的光线照到那里，显得非常昏暗。中间那扇门关着，外面用铁床上的一根粗铁钢闩住，一头锁在墙上的环里，另一头用粗绳绑在墙上。这扇门本身也上了锁， 但那儿没有钥匙。这扇严锁着的门显然和从外面看到的那扇关着的窗户是同一个房间的。从门缝下微弱的光线可以看出，房间里不暗。里面肯定有天窗，可以从上面透进光线。我站在过道里，看着那扇凶险的门，正想着里面藏了什么秘密，这时，我忽然听到房间里有脚步声，从房门下面的小缝透出的微光中，我看见有一个人影在来回走动。看到这个情景，我心里突然升起一阵剧烈的无名恐惧。福尔摩斯先生，我神经紧张，失去了控制，回头就跑，好像有一只可怕的手在后面，想要抓住我的衣裙。我沿着过道疯狂地跑，跨过那扇门，直到冲进在外面等候的鲁卡斯尔先生怀里。
" 'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it must be when I saw the door open.'
“‘看来，’他微笑着说，‘果然是你，我看见门开着，就想一定是你。’
" 'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted.
“‘啊，吓死我了！’我喘着气说。
" 'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'—you cannot think how caressing and soothing his manner was—'and what has frightened you, my dear lady?'
“‘我亲爱的年轻小姐！我亲爱的年轻小姐！’你想不到他的态度有多么亲热、体贴，‘是什么把你吓成这样，我亲爱的年轻小姐?'
"But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I was keenly on my guard against him.
“他说话的声音简直像是在哄孩子。他装得太过分了。我小心提防着他。
" 'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in there!'
“‘我真是傻，走到那边的空房子去了，’我回答说，‘但是，里面光线那么昏暗，那么凄凉阴森，吓得我又跑了出来。啊，那里面真是太可怕了!'
" 'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly.
“‘只有这些吗？’他敏感地看着我说，
" 'Why, what did you think?' I asked.
“‘为什么这么问，你在想什么？’我问。
" 'Why do you think that I lock this door?'
“‘你觉得我为什么要把这扇门锁上?'
" 'I am sure that I do not know.'
“‘我真的不知道。’
" 'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner.
“‘我就是不想让无关的人进去，你看不出来吗？’他依然微笑着，一副无比亲切的模样。
" 'I am sure if I had known—' 'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over that threshold again'—here in an instant the smile hardened into a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a demon—'I'll throw you to the mastiff.'
“‘要是我早知道，我肯定……’‘嗯，好吧，那你现在知道啦！你要是再把脚跨过那道门槛……’说到这儿，他的微笑片刻之间变成了愤怒的狞笑，一张脸魔鬼似的瞪着我，‘我就把你扔给那条獒犬。’
"I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in and lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should do."
“我当时吓得不行，不知道做了什么。我想大概是飞快地从他身边一直跑进了我的房间。我什么也记不起来了，直到我发现自己躺在床上，浑身颤抖。这时，我想到了你，福尔摩斯先生。如果没有人给我出主意，我在那里就再也呆不下去了。我害怕那所房子、那个男人、那个女人、那些仆人甚至那个孩子，他们个个都让我害怕。我要是能领你们到那儿去就好了。当然，我本来可以逃离那所房子，但我的好奇心和我的恐惧一样强烈。我很快下了决心。我要给你打电报。我戴上帽子，穿上外衣，走到约半英里外的电报局打了电报，回去时，我心里就觉得安慰多了。我走进大门时，不觉心里又不安、害怕起来，怕那只狗已经被放了出来。但我想起来，托勒那天晚上喝得烂醉，不省人事，我知道，在这个家里，只有他能对付那只野蛮的畜生，其他人不会胆敢放它出来的。我偷偷地溜了进去，平安无事。晚上，想到不久就要见到你们了，我就开心地躺在床上，大半夜都没有合眼。今天早上，我轻松地请了假到温彻斯特来。但三点以前我要回去，因为鲁卡斯尔先生和太太要出去作客，今晚都不在家，所以，我得照看孩子。现在，我把探险的全部经过都告诉你了，福尔摩斯先生。要是你能告诉我这一切意味着什么，我会非常高兴的，还有，最要紧的是我该怎么办。”
Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon his face.
福尔摩斯和我听了这样离奇的故事，像着了迷一样。我的朋友站了起来，在房间里踱来踱去，两手插在衣袋里，脸色极其深沉、严肃。
"Is Toller still drunk?" he asked.
“托勒是不是还没醒酒？”他问。
"Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do nothing with him."
“是的，我听见他妻子和鲁卡斯尔太太说，她拿托勒一点儿办法也没有。”
"That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?"
“很好，鲁卡斯尔夫妇今天晚上要出门？”
"Yes."
“是的。”
"Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?"
“那所房子里有没有地下室和结实的好锁？”
"Yes, the wine-cellar."
“有，那间酒窖就是。”
"You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not think you a quite exceptional woman."
“亨特小姐，从你处理这件事的经过看来，你称得上是一位机智、勇敢的姑娘。你觉得你能不能再做一件了不起的事？我把你当作一个了不起的女人，才会要求你这样做。”
"I will try. What is it?"
“我试试看，你要我做什么？”
"We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate matters immensely."
“我和我的朋友七点钟会到铜山毛榉，那时，鲁卡斯尔夫妇应该已经出门了，而托勒，希望到时候他还什么都干不了。那就只剩下托勒太太了，她可能会报警。你要是能让她去地窖里干活，然后把她锁在里头，那就大大方便这件事的进行了。”
"I will do it."
“我会这样做的！”
"Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been brought there to personate someone, and the real person is imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some friend of hers—possibly her fiance—and no doubt, as you wore the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the child."
“好极了！那么，我们就来彻底查一查这件事。当然，只有一个说得通的解释，就是你被请去冒充某个人，而那个人被囚禁在了那间屋子里，这是一清二楚的。至于这个人是谁，我可以断定就是那个女儿艾丽丝·鲁卡斯尔小姐。如果我没记错的话，她据说是到美国去了。毫无疑问，你被选中，是因为你的个子、身材、头发的色泽和她的一样。她的头发剪短了，可能是因为她患过什么病，所以，自然你也必须牺牲你的头发。刚巧你瞧见了那绺头发。那个在公路上的男人肯定是她的什么朋友，很有可能是她的未婚夫。而且，毫无疑问，你穿着那个姑娘的衣服，长得又那么像她，而那个男人每次看见你，你都笑得那么开心，后来又看见你的动作，他就确信鲁卡斯尔小姐十分快乐，而且不再需要他关心了。那只狗晚上放出来，是为了防止那个男人和鲁卡斯尔小姐见面。所有这些都相当清楚，这案子最严重的一点就是那个孩子的性情。”
"What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated.
“这和那个孩子有什么关系？”我突然叫出声来。
"My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their power."
“我亲爱的沃森，作为一个医生，你要想渐渐了解孩子的性情，就要从研究他的父母开始。你没意识到，反过来也是一样的吗？我常常从研究孩子入手，来深入了解他父母的品性。这个孩子的性格异常残忍，而且是为了残忍而残忍。不管这种性格是像我猜的那样来自他笑眯眯的爸爸，还是来自他母亲，这对在他们掌握下的那个可怜的姑娘都不是好事。”
"I am sure that you are right Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor creature."
“我相信你是对的，福尔摩斯先生，”我们的委托人大声说，“我回想起来很多事情，让我非常确定你的说法是对的，我们一刻也别耽搁，赶快去救那个可怜的人吧！”
"We must be circumspect for we are dealing with a very cunning man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the mystery."
“我们必须小心谨慎，因为我们是在对付一个很狡猾的人。我们在七点以前什么也干不了，一到七点，我们就会和你在一起了，不用很久，我们就能解开这个谜了。”
We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the doorstep.
我们说到做到，七点整，我们就到了铜山毛榉，把双轮马车停在路旁的一家小客栈里。那一丛树上的黑叶像擦亮了的金属一般，在夕阳的光辉下闪闪发光。就算亨特小姐没有站在门口台阶上对我们微笑，那光线也足以让我们认出那栋房子。
"Have you managed it?" asked Holmes.
“你都安排好了？”福尔摩斯问。
A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs.
这时，楼下某个地方传来了响亮的撞击声。
"That is Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr. Rucastle's."
“那是托勒太太在地窖里，”她说，“她的丈夫正躺在厨房的地毯上打呼噜呢。这是他的一串钥匙，和鲁卡斯尔先生的那串一模一样。”
"You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black business."
“干得实在漂亮！”福尔摩斯热情地喊道，“现在你带路，我们来看看这桩黑暗勾当到底怎么一回事。”
We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes's face clouded over.
我们走上楼，打开房门锁，沿着过道往里走，一直走到亨特小姐说的那个障碍物面前。福尔摩斯割断绳索，将那根横拦着的粗铁钢挪开，然后，他用那串钥匙一把一把地试着开门，但都打不开。房间里没有一点儿动静，在这寂静之中，福尔摩斯的脸沉了下来。
"I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in."
“我相信，我们来得不算太晚，”他说，“亨特小姐，我想你最好还是不要跟我们进去。现在这样，沃森，用你的肩膀顶住它，看看我们能不能撞开。”
It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner gone.
这是一扇老朽的、摇摇晃晃的门，我俩合力一撞，门就立刻塌了下来。我俩冲进去一看，里面空空如也。除了一张简陋的小床，一张小桌子，还有一筐衣服，就没有其他家具了，上面的天窗打开了，被囚禁的人已无影踪。
"There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim off."
“这是一个鬼把戏，”福尔摩斯说，“这个家伙大概已经猜到了亨特小姐的意图，先一步把受害者弄走了。”
"But how?"
“可是怎么弄出去的呢？”
"Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it."
“从天窗。我们很快就可以知道，他是怎么弄出去的了。”
He swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not there when the Rucastles went away.
他爬上屋顶，“啊，是这样，”他喊道，“这里有一架轻便的长扶梯靠在屋檐上，他就是这样干的。”“但是，不可能，”亨特小姐说，“鲁卡斯尔夫妇出去的时候，这个扶梯还不在这儿呢。”
"He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it would be as well for you to have your pistol ready."
“他又跑回来搬的，我告诉过你，他是一个狡猾又危险的人物。我听见有脚步声上楼来了，要是不是他就怪了。我想，沃森，你最好把你的手枪准备好。”
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and confronted him.
他话音未落，只见有一个人已经站在门口了。这是一个粗壮、结实的胖子，手里拿着一根粗棍子。亨特小姐一看见他，立刻尖叫一声，缩着身子靠在墙上。但是舍洛克·福尔摩斯纵身向前，镇定地面对着他。
"You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?"
“你这恶棍！”他说，“你的女儿在什么地方？”
The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open skylight.
这个胖子双眼扫了一下四周，又看了看上面打开的天窗。
"It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go.
“这句话应该由我来问你们才对！”他尖叫道，“你们这帮贼！贼探子！我可捉住你们了，是不是？你们掉进了我的掌心，可有你们受的！”他转过身去，咯噔咯噔地快步跑下楼。
"He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter.
“他是去找那只狗了！”亨特小姐大声说。
"I have my revolver," said I.
“我有左轮手枪！”我说。
"Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out at a side door.
“最好把门关上，”福尔摩斯说，于是，我们一起向楼下冲去。我们还没到大厅，就听见了猎犬的狂吠，然后是一阵凄厉的尖叫，还有可怕的撕咬声，真叫人毛骨悚然。一个上了年纪的人红着脸，挥着胳膊，跌跌撞撞地从边门出来了。
"My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. He's not been fed for two days. Quick, quick, or we'll be too late!"
“我的天，”他大声喊着，“什么人把狗放出来了。它已经两天没喂食了，快，快，要不就来不及了！”
Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door opened and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room.
我和福尔摩斯急忙飞奔过转角，托勒紧紧跟在我们后面。只见一只饿坏了的巨大畜生，它的黑嘴紧咬着鲁卡斯尔先生的喉咙，而那位先生正在地上悲惨地号叫着，不停打着滚。我跑上去就是一枪，把那个畜生的脑袋打开了花，它应声倒下，锋利的白牙还嵌在他满是褶子的肥颈子里。我们花了好了大力气才把人和狗分开，然后把人抬到房子里。人虽然还活着，但血肉模糊，十分可怕。我们把他放在客厅的沙发上，叫吓清醒了的托勒送信去通知他太太，我尽自己所能，设法想减轻他的痛苦。我们正围着他，这时，房门打开了，一位瘦高个的女人走了进来。
"Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter.
“托勒太太！”亨特小姐喊道。
"Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains were wasted."
“是的，小姐，鲁卡斯尔先生回来后，把我先放了出来，才上去找你们的。啊，小姐，可惜你没早让我知道你的打算，因为我本来可以告诉你一切，省得你费那么大的劲。”
"Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else."
“哈！”福尔摩斯敏锐地看着她说，“显然，托勒太太对这件事知道得比谁都多。”
"Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know."
“是的，先生，我确实知道。现在，我准备把我知道的一切都告诉你们。”
"Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it, for there are several points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark."
“那么，请坐吧，让我们听听看。我必须承认，就这桩事而言，我还有几点弄不明白。”
"I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend too.
“我马上就会跟你们讲明白，”她说，“我要是能早点儿从地窖出来，那我早就可以这样做了。要是这件事闹到法庭上去，你们要知道，我是你们的朋友，是站在你们一边的，也是艾丽丝小姐的朋友。
"She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them, but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this system of imprisonment?"
“她在家里从前就不开心，她父亲又娶了以后，她就一直闷闷不乐。她在家里不受重视，对任何事都没有发言权，但在她在朋友家碰到福勒先生之前，情况还不算很坏。据我所知，根据遗嘱，艾丽丝小姐有支配自己那份遗产的权利，可是她生性安静忍让，从来没对这件事说过一个字，而是把一切都交给鲁卡斯尔先生处理。鲁卡斯尔先生知道，女儿一个人的话，他可以很放心地得到钱，但是，一旦有一个丈夫要挤进来，他就会抢走法律本来要给自己的东西，所以，鲁卡斯尔先生认为是时候阻止这种事发生了。他让女儿签了一份文件，声明不管自己结不结婚，他都可以用她的钱。小姐不愿意这样做，他就一直烦她，把她折磨得患上了脑炎，长达六个星期都在死亡边缘徘徊。后来，她渐渐康复了，但已是骨瘦如柴，那么美的头发也剪掉了。可这些都没让她年轻的男朋友变心！他对小姐仍是那样诚心诚意。”“啊，”福尔摩斯说，“你太好心了，告诉了我们这些情况，我们现在对这件事已经一清二楚了，剩下的我可以推断出来了。所以，鲁卡斯尔先生就——我敢说——用监禁的办法？”
"Yes, sir."
“是的，先生。”
"And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler."
“特地从伦敦请来亨特小姐，来摆脱福勒先生讨厌的纠缠。”
"That was it, sir."
“正是这样，先生。”
"But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your interests were the same as his."
“可是，福勒先生坚持不懈，就像一个优秀的水兵，他封锁了整个房子，后来见到了你，据理力争，或使了一些钱，还有其他一些办法，让你知道自己和他的利益是一致的。”
"Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said Mrs. Toller serenely.
“福勒先生说话和蔼，出手大方，是一个绅士。”托勒太太安详地说。
"And in this way he managed that your good man should have no want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment when your master had gone out."
“用这个方法，他设法让你的丈夫托勒先生不缺酒喝，然后，你们的主人一出门，就准备好扶梯给你们小姐。”
"You have it, sir, just as it happened."
“你说得对，先生，就是这么一回事。”
"I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a questionable one."
“我们应该向你道谢，托勒太太，”福尔摩斯说，“你无疑把一切疑团都扫清了。现在，村里的外科医生和鲁卡斯尔夫人就要来了，我想，沃森，我们最好护送亨特小姐回温彻斯特去，我们留在这里似乎不太合法。”
And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success.
于是，铜山毛榉的邪恶房子的谜团就这样解开了。鲁卡斯尔先生总算逃过一死，不过虚弱颓废，靠他忠实、挚爱的妻子照顾，才勉强活了下来。他们的老佣人还和他们住在一起，大概是因为他们知道鲁卡斯尔一家人过去太多事情了，所以鲁卡斯尔先生不敢辞退他们。福勒先生和鲁卡斯尔小姐私奔后第二天在南安普顿申请了特许结婚，福勒先生现在在毛里求斯担任公职。至于瓦奥莱特·亨特小姐，我的朋友福尔摩斯真是让我失望。既然这位小姐不再是问题的中心人物了，福尔摩斯就对她没有进一步的兴趣了。目前，她是沃尔索尔某个私立学校的校长，我相信她在教育工作上颇有成绩。