02.THE SPECKLED BAND_2 Holmes and Watson Visit the House

2.Holmes and Watson Visit the House
2．福尔摩斯和华生来访
Holmes went out for the morning, but he came back at lunch-time. We then went by train into the country, and took a taxi to Dr Roylott's house. 'You see,' said Holmes to me, 'our dangerous friend Roylott needs the girls' money, because he only has ￡750 a year from his dead wife. I found that out this morning. But the gypsies, the whistle, the band — they are more difficult to understand, but I think I have an answer.'


福尔摩斯出去了一个上午，但在午饭的时候回来了。然后我们乘火车到乡下，坐出租马车到了罗伊洛特医生的家。“你看，”福尔摩斯对我说，“我们危险的朋友罗伊洛特需要姑娘们的钱，因为他每年只能从他死去的妻子那里得到750英镑。这是我今天上午发现的。但是吉普赛人、口哨声、带子——这些比较难以理解，但我想我有答案了。”


When we arrived, Helen Stoner showed us the three bedrooms. We saw her room first.


我们到达之后，海伦·斯托纳领我们看了三个卧室。我们先看了她的卧室。


Why are they mending your bedroom wall?' asked Holmes. 'There's nothing wrong with it.'


“他们为什么要修补你卧室的墙？”福尔摩斯问，“墙没有什么问题啊。”


You're right,' she said. 'I think it was a plan to move me into my sister's room.'


“你说的对，”她说，“我想这是为了让我搬到我姐姐的房间。”


Yes,' said Holmes. We went into Julia's room, and Holmes looked at the windows carefully.


“是的，”福尔摩斯说。我们走进朱莉娅的房间，福尔摩斯仔细查看了窗户。


Nobody could come in from outside,' he said. Then he looked round the room. 'Why is that bell-rope there, just over the bed?'


“没人能从外面进来，”他说。然后他环顾了一下房间。“那个拉铃的绳子为什么安在床的上方？”


My stepfather put it there two years ago. It's for calling a servant, but Julia and I never used it because we didn't have any servants. He also put in that air-vent on the wall between his room and this one.'


“两年前我继父把它安到那儿的，说是用来叫仆人，但朱莉娅和我从来都没用过，因为我们根本没有仆人。他还在他的房间和这个房间相接的墙上开了那个通风口。”


Holmes pulled the rope. 'But it doesn't work,' he said. 'How strange! And it's just over the air-vent. That also is interesting. Why have an air-vent on an inside wall? Air-vents are usually on outside walls.'


福尔摩斯拉了拉绳子。“可是这不管用啊，”他说，“真奇怪！而且它正好挂在通风口那儿。那通风口也很有意思。为什么在内墙上开通风口呢？通风口通常是开在外墙上的。”


Then we went into Dr Roylott's room. Holmes saw a large metal box near the wall.


之后我们又进了罗伊洛特医生的房间。福尔摩斯看到墙边有个大金属箱子。


My stepfather keeps business papers in there,' said Helen.


“我继父在那里面放文件。”海伦说。


Does he keep a cat in there too?' asked Holmes. 'Look!' There was some milk on a plate on top of the box. 'Now, Miss Stoner,' he said, 'I think your life is in danger. Tonight my friend Watson and I must spend the night in your sister's room, where you are sleeping at the moment.'


“他还在那里面养了一只猫吗？”福尔摩斯问，“看！”箱子上面有个盛着牛奶的盘子。“现在，斯托纳小姐，”他说，“我想你的生命处在危险中。今晚我的朋友华生和我必须在你姐姐的房间里过夜，就是你现在睡觉的地方。”


Helen Stoner and I looked at him in surprise.


海伦·斯托纳和我惊奇地看着他。


Yes, we must,' he went on. 'We'll take a room in a hotel in the village. When your stepfather goes to bed, put a light in your sister's bedroom window and leave it open. Then go into your old room and we'll get into your sister's room through the window. We'll wait for the sound of the whistle and the falling metal.'


“是的，我们必须这么做，”他继续说，“我们会在村里的旅馆找一个房间。你继父上床睡觉之后，请你在你姐姐房间的窗口放一盏灯，把窗户开着。然后你到原来的房间睡觉，我们会从窗户进入你姐姐的房间，等着口哨声和金属落地的声音。”


How did my sister die, Mr Holmes? Do you know? Please tell me!' said Helen. She put her hand on Sherlock Holmes's arm.


“我姐姐是怎么死的？福尔摩斯先生，你知道吗？请告诉我！”海伦说着，抓住了夏洛克·福尔摩斯的胳膊。


I must find out more before I tell you, Miss Stoner. Now goodbye, and don't be afraid,' replied Sherlock Holmes.


“我必须了解更多的情况才能告诉你，斯托纳小姐。现在再见，不要害怕。”夏洛克·福尔摩斯回答。


We walked to the village, and Holmes said to me, 'Tonight will be dangerous, Watson. Roylott is a very violent man.'


我们向村子走去，福尔摩斯对我说：“今晚将会很危险，华生。罗伊洛特是个很凶残的人。”


But if I can help, Holmes, I shall come with you,' I said.


“但是如果我可以帮你，福尔摩斯，我想和你一起去。”我说。


Thank you, Watson. I'll need your help. Did you see the bell-rope, and the air-vent? I knew about the air-vent before we came. Of course there is a hole between the two rooms. That explains why Helen's sister could smell Dr Roylott's cigarette.'


“谢谢你，华生。我需要你的帮助。刚才你看到那个拉铃绳和通风口了吗？我们来之前我就知道通风口的事了。两个房间之间肯定有个洞。这就解释了海伦的姐姐为什么能够闻到罗伊洛特医生的雪茄烟味。”


My dear Holmes! How clever of you!' I cried.


“我亲爱的福尔摩斯！你真聪明！”我叫道。


And did you see the bed? It's fixed to the floor. She can't move it. It must stay under the rope, which is near the air-vent.'


“你看到那床了吗？它是固定在地板上的，她不能移动它。床只能在绳子下面，那里接近通风口。”


Holmes!' I cried. 'I begin to understand! What a terrible crime!'


“福尔摩斯！”我叫道，“我开始懂了！多可怕的罪行！”


Yes, this doctor is a very clever man. But we can stop him, I think, Watson.'


“是的，那医生是个很聪明的人。但我想我们可以阻止他，华生。”