四签名 54贝克街的侦探小队（7）

As he spoke¹, there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter² of high voices,

说话间，楼梯上已有赤足而行和高声说话的声音。

and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged³ little street Arabs.

走进来十几个穿破衣服的街头小流浪者。

There was some show of discipline among them, despite their tumultuous entry,

他们虽然吵嚷着进来，可是他们中间却有些纪律。

for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces.

他们立刻站成一排，脸对着我们等待我们发言。

One of their number, taller and older than the others,

其中有一个年纪较大、好象是队长的站在前面，

stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow.

神奇十足，可是从他衣衫褴褛的情况看来却很滑稽可笑。

"Got your message, sir," said he, "and brought 'em on sharp. Three bob and a tanner for tickets."

"先生，接到您的命令以后，我立刻就带他们来了。车费三先令六便士。"

"Here you are," said Holmes, producing some silver.

福尔摩斯把钱给了他说道：“给你钱。

"In future they can report to you, Wiggins, and you to me.

我曾经告诉过你，维金斯，今后有事，你自己来。

I cannot have the house invaded in this way.

我的屋子容不下这么些人。

However, it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions.

可是，这一次全都来了也好，可以都听到我的命令。

I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora⁴, owner Mordecai Smith,

我现在要寻找一只名叫'曙光'的汽船，船主叫茂迪凯·斯密司。

black with two red streaks⁵, funnel⁶ black with a white band. She is down the river somewhere.

船身黑色有两条红线，黑烟囱上有一道白线，这只船在河的下游。

I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back.

我要一个孩子在密尔班克监狱对岸茂迪凯·斯密司的码头上守着。船一回来立即报告。

You must divide it out among yourselves and do both banks thoroughly⁷.

你们必须分散在下游两岸，缜密地寻找，

Let me know the moment you have news. Is that all clear?"

一有消息，立刻来报。你们全都听明白了吗？"

"Yes, guv'nor," said Wiggins.

维金斯道：“是，司令，都听清楚了。"

"The old scale of pay, and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat.

"报酬还照以前的老例。找到船的另外多给一个畿尼，

Here's a day in advance. Now off you go!"

这是预付你们一天的工资，现在去吧！"

He handed them a shilling each, and away they buzzed down the stairs,

他给了每人一个先令。孩子们欢天喜地地下了楼，

and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street.

不一会，我就看见他们消失在马路中间了。

"If the launch is above water they will find her," said Holmes as he rose from the table and lit his pipe.

福尔摩斯离开桌子站了起来，点上了他的烟斗说道：“只要这只船还浮在水上，咱们就能找到它。

"They can go everywhere, see everything, overhear everyone.

他们可以到处跑，可以看到各色各样的事情，可以偷听任何人的谈话。

I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted⁸ her.

我预计他们在黄昏前就可以有寻到汽船的消息来报告，

In the meanwhile, we can do nothing but await results.

这时咱们只好等待着无事可做了。

We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai Smith."

在找到'曙光'号或茂迪凯·斯密司以前，咱们无法进行侦查。"

"Toby could eat these scraps⁹, I dare say. Are you going to bed, Holmes?"

"透比吃咱们的剩饭就行了。福尔摩斯，你要睡一会儿吗？"

"No: I am not tired. I have a curious constitution.

"不，我不觉得疲倦。我的体质非常特别。

I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely.

工作的时候一点儿也不觉得累，如果闲着无事反而会使我委顿不堪了。

I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us.

我现在要吸烟了，细细地想一想我那女主顾委托咱们办的这件破事。

If ever man had an easy task, this of ours ought to be.

咱们这个问题，想来不难解决，

Wooden-legged men are not so common, but the other man must, I should think, be absolutely unique."

因为装木腿的人并不多见，另外那个人，更是绝无仅有的了。"

"That other man again!"

"你又提到那另外的一个人了。"

"I have no wish to make a mystery of him to you, anyway.

"至少我没有想向你保守秘密，

But you must have formed your own opinion. Now, do consider the data.

可是你也许有你的高见。现在考虑一下所有的情况：

Diminutive¹⁰ footmarks, toes never fettered¹¹ by boots, naked feet,

小脚印、没有穿过鞋子的赤足、

stone-headed wooden mace¹², great agility¹³, small poisoned darts¹⁴. What do you make of all this?"

一端装着石头的木棒、灵敏的行动和有毒的木刺。你从这里得到什么结论呢？"

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 clatter   

v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声

参考例句：

• The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
• Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。

3 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

4 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。

5 streaks   

n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹

参考例句：

• streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
• Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 funnel   

n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集

参考例句：

• He poured the petrol into the car through a funnel.他用一个漏斗把汽油灌入汽车。
• I like the ship with a yellow funnel.我喜欢那条有黄烟囱的船。

7 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

8 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

9 scraps   

油渣

参考例句：

• Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
• A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。

10 diminutive   

adj.小巧可爱的，小的

参考例句：

• Despite its diminutive size,the car is quite comfortable.尽管这辆车很小，但相当舒服。
• She has diminutive hands for an adult.作为一个成年人，她的手显得非常小。

11 fettered   

v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it. 我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Many people are fettered by lack of self-confidence. 许多人都因缺乏自信心而缩手缩脚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 mace   

n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮

参考例句：

• The sword and mace were favourite weapons for hand-to-hand fighting.剑和狼牙棒是肉搏战的最佳武器。
• She put some mace into the meat.她往肉里加了一些肉豆蔻干皮。

13 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

14 darts   

n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• His darts trophy takes pride of place on the mantelpiece. 他将掷镖奖杯放在壁炉顶上最显著的地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I never saw so many darts in a bodice! 我从没见过紧身胸衣上纳了这么多的缝褶！ 来自《简明英汉词典》