血字的研究-Chapter 14

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夏洛克召集了街上的流浪儿组成了侦探队帮他搜集信息，之后Gregson上门夸耀自己已经破了案，他正在向夏洛克和华生讲述自己的破案过程。

Chapter14

"The mother nodded. She didn't seem able to get out a word. The daughter burst into tears.

I felt more than ever that these people knew something of the matter.

"'At what o'clock did Mr. Drebber leave your house for the train?' I asked.

"'At eight o'clock,' she said, gulping（吞咽） in her throat to keep down her agitation.

'His secretary, Mr. Stangerson, said that there were two trains—one at 9.15 and one at 11. He was to catch the first. 14

"'And was that the last which you saw of him?'

"A terrible change came over the woman's face as I asked the question. Her features turned perfectly livid（苍白的）.

It was some seconds before she could get out the single word 'Yes'—and when it did come it was in a husky（沙哑的） unnatural tone.

"There was silence for a moment, and then the daughter spoke in a calm clear voice.

"'No good can ever come of falsehood（谎言）, mother,' she said. 'Let us be frank with this gentleman. We did see Mr. Drebber again.'

"'God forgive you!' cried Madame Charpentier, throwing up her hands and sinking back in her chair. 'You have murdered your brother.'

"'Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth,' the girl answered firmly.

"'You had best tell me all about it now,' I said. 'Half-confidencesare worse than none. Besides, you do not know how much we know of it.'

"'On your head be it, Alice!' cried her mother; and then, turning to me,

'I will tell you all, sir. Do not imagine that my agitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a hand in this terrible affair.

He is utterly innocent of it. My dread is, however, that in your eyes and in the eyes of others he may appear to be compromised（有嫌疑的）.

That however is surely impossible. His high character, his profession, his antecedents would all forbid it.'

"'Your best way is to make a clean breast of the facts,' I answered. 'Depend upon it, if your son is innocent he will be none the worse.'

"'Perhaps, Alice, you had better leave us together,' she said, and her daughter withdrew.

'Now, sir,' she continued, 'I had no intention of telling you all this, but since my poor daughter has disclosed it I have no alternative.

Having once decided to speak, I will tell you all without omitting（遗漏） any particular.'

"'It is your wisest course,' said I.

"'Mr. Drebber has been with us nearly three weeks. He and his secretary, Mr. Stangerson, had been travelling on the Continent（欧洲大陆）.

I noticed a "Copenhagen" label upon each of their trunks（行李箱）, showing that that had been their last stopping place.

Stangerson was a quiet reserved man, but his employer, I am sorry to say, was far otherwise.

He was coarse（粗俗的） in his habits and brutish（野蛮的） in his ways.

The very night of his arrival he became very much the worse for drink, and, indeed, after twelve o'clock in the day he could hardly ever be said to be sober.

His manners towards the maid- servants were disgustingly free and familiar.

Worst of all, he speedily assumed the same attitude towards my daughter, Alice, and spoke to her more than once in a way which, fortunately, she is too innocent to understand.

On one occasion he actually seized her in his arms and embraced her—an outrage which caused his own secretary to reproach（责备） him for his unmanly conduct.'

"'But why did you stand all this,' I asked. 'I suppose that you can get rid of your boarders（房客） when you wish.'

"Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my pertinent question.

'Would to God that I had given him notice on the very day that he came,' she said. 'But it was a sore temptation.

They were paying a pound a day each—fourteen pounds a week, and this is the slack season.

I am a widow, and my boy in the Navy has cost me much. I grudged to lose the money.

I acted for the best. This last was too much, however, and I gave him notice to leave on account of（由于）it. That was the reason of his going.'

"'Well?'

"'My heart grew light when I saw him drive away. My son is on leave just now, but I did not tell him anything of all this, for his temper is violent, and he is passionately fond of his sister.

When I closed the door behind them a load seemed to be lifted from my mind.

Alas, in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell, and I learned that Mr. Drebber had returned. He was much excited, and evidently the worse for drink.

He forced his way into the room, where I was sitting with my daughter, and made some incoherent remark about having missed his train.

He then turned to Alice, and before my very face, proposed（提议） to her that she should fly with him.

"You are of age," he said, "and there is no law to stop you. I have money enough and to spare.

Never mind the old girl here, but come along with me now straight away. You shall live like a princess."

Poor Alice was so frightened that she shrunk away from him, but he caught her by the wrist and endeavoured（奋力）to draw her towards the door.

I screamed, and at that moment my son Arthur came into the room. What happened then I do not know.

I heard oaths（咒骂） and the confused sounds of a scuffle（混战）. I was too terrified to raise my head.

When I did look up I saw Arthur standing in the doorway laughing, with a stick in his hand.

"I don't think that fine fellow will trouble us again," he said. "I will just go after him and see what he does with himself."

With those words he took his hat and started off down the street. The next morning we heard of Mr. Drebber's mysterious death.'

"This statement came from Mrs. Charpentier's lips with many gasps（喘息） and pauses.

At times she spoke so low that I could hardly catch the words.

I made shorthand（速记） notes of all that she said, however, so that there should be no possibility of a mistake."

"It's quite exciting," said Sherlock Holmes, with a yawn. "What happened next?"

"When Mrs. Charpentier paused," the detective continued, "I saw that the whole case hung upon one point.

Fixing her with my eye in a way which I always found effective with women, I asked her at what hour her son returned.

"'I do not know,' she answered." 'Not know?' "'No; he has a latch-key（弹簧锁的钥匙）, and he let himself in.'

"'After you went to bed?' "'Yes.' "'When did you go to bed?' "'About eleven.'

"'So your son was gone at least two hours?' "'Yes.' "'Possibly four or five?' "'Yes.' 

"'What was he doing during that time?' "'I do not know,' she answered, turning white to her very lips.

"Of course after that there was nothing more to be done. I found out where Lieutenant Charpentier was, took two officers with me, and arrested him.

When I touched him on the shoulder and warned him to come quietly with us, he answered us as bold as brass,

'I suppose you are arresting me for being concerned in the death of that scoundrel Drebber,' he said.

We had said nothing to him about it, so that his alluding（暗示） to it had a most suspicious aspect."

"Very," said Holmes.

"He still carried the heavy stick which the mother described him as having with him when he followed Drebber. It was a stout oak cudgel（短棍）."

"What is your theory, then?"

"Well, my theory is that he followed Drebber as far as the Brixton Road. When there, a fresh altercation（口角） arose between them,

in the course of which Drebber received a blow（打击） from the stick, in the pit of the stomach, perhaps, which killed him without leaving any mark.

The night was so wet that no one was about, so Charpentier dragged the body of his victim into the empty house.

As to the candle, and the blood, and the writing on the wall, and the ring, they may all be so many tricks to throw the police on to the wrong scent."

"Well done!" said Holmes in an encouraging voice. "Really, Gregson, you are getting along. We shall make something of you yet."

"I flatter（恭维） myself that I have managed it rather neatly," the detective answered proudly. "

The young man volunteered a statement, in which he said that after following Drebber some time, the latter perceived him, and took a cab in order to get away from him.

On his way home he met an old shipmate, and took a long walk with him.

On being asked where this old shipmate lived, he was unable to give any satisfactory reply.

I think the whole case fits together uncommonly（稀罕地） well. What amuses me is to think of Lestrade, who had started off upon the wrong scent.

I am afraid he won't make much of it. —— Why, by Jove, here's the very man himself!"

It was indeed Lestrade, who had ascended（攀登） the stairs while we were talking, and who now entered the room.

The assurance and jauntiness which generally marked his demeanour and dress were, however, wanting.

His face was disturbed and troubled, while his clothes were disarranged and untidy.

He had evidently come with the intention of consulting with Sherlock Holmes, for on perceiving his colleague he appeared to be embarrassed and put out.

He stood in the centre of the room, fumbling（笨拙地摸索） nervously with his hat and uncertain what to do.

"This is a most extraordinary case," he said at last—"a most incomprehensible（费解的） affair."

"Ah, you find it so, Mr. Lestrade!" cried Gregson, triumphantly（洋洋得意地）.

"I thought you would come to that conclusion. Have you managed to find the Secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson?"

"The Secretary, Mr. Joseph Stangerson," said Lestrade gravely（沉重地）, "was murdered at Halliday's Private Hotel about six o'clock this morning."（1421 words）

-今日短语-

1. be frank with 坦诚相待

2. make a clean breast 如实招供

3. get rid of 摆脱

4. on account of 由于

5. shrink from 退避

6. hang upon 取决于

7. as bold as brass 粗鲁无礼；厚脸皮

8. in the course of在…期间

9. get along 有进展

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