四签名 71凶手的末日（4）

"No, I hardly think so.

"不然，我不这样想。

This lair¹ of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up

除非等到他确知这个巢穴对他已经毫无用处，

until he was sure that he could do without it.

他决不会轻易放弃的。

But a second consideration struck me.

我又想到了一层：

Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar² appearance of his companion,

琼诺赞·斯茂一定会料想到，他那同谋的那副怪相，

however much he may have top-coated him, would give rise to gossip,

不管把他怎样改装起来也会引起别人注意的，

and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy.

并且会令人联系到诺伍德惨案上去，

He was quite sharp enough to see that.

斯茂的机警不会把这一层忽略的。

They had started from their headquarters under cover of darkness,

为了避人耳目，他们天黑以后离开巢穴，

and he would wish to get back before it was broad light.

还必须在天明以前赶回来。

Now, it was past three o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when they got the boat.

根据斯密司太太所说，他们在斯密司码头上船的时候是在三点钟，

It would be quite bright, and people would be about in an hour or so.

再过一个多钟头天就要大亮，行人也多了。

Therefore, I argued, they did not go very far.

所以我认为他们是不会走得太远的。

They paid Smith well to hold his tongue, reserved his launch for the final escape,

他们给足了斯密司钱，叫他不要声张，预订下他的船，以备最后的远飏，

and hurried to their lodgings³ with the treasure-box.

然后携带宝物回到巢穴。

In a couple of nights, when they had time to see what view the papers took,

在一两天内看看报纸，听听风声，

and whether there was any suspicion, they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs,

再择一个夜晚从葛雷夫赞德或肯特大码头

where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies."

乘上他们已经订好船位的大船，逃往美洲或其他殖民地去。"

1 lair   

n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处

参考例句：

• How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair?不入虎穴，焉得虎子？
• I retired to my lair,and wrote some letters.我回到自己的躲藏处，写了几封信。

2 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

3 lodgings   

n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍

参考例句：

• When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。
• I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。