四签名 72凶手的末日（5）

"But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings¹."

"可是他不能够把这只船也带到巢穴里去呀。"

"Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off, in spite of its invisibility.

"当然不能够。我认为，这只船虽然没有被我们发现，可也不会离开太远。

I then put myself in the place of Small and looked at it as a man of his capacity would.

处在斯茂的地位，根据他这个人的能力来设想，

He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf² would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track.

他会想到：如果确有警察跟踪的话，那么，如果把船遣回或是把它停在码头旁边，都会使追踪更容易得多了。

How, then, could he conceal³ the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted?

那么怎样才能够把船隐蔽起来，同时要用它的时候还不致于误事呢？

I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. I could only think of one way of doing it.

如果我站在他的立场上应当怎么办呢？我想，只有一个办法，

I might hand the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer, with directions to make a trifling⁴ change in her.

我会把船交给一些造船人或者修理工，指示他们做一些微小的改变，

She would then be removed to his shed or yard, and so be effectually concealed⁵,

之后会开进一个船坞或者院子里，如此既可达到隐蔽的目的，

while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice."

还可在提前几个小时通知的情况下使用。"

"That seems simple enough."

"这似乎是很简单的。"

1 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。

2 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

3 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

4 trifling   

adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的

参考例句：

• They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
• So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利，不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。

5 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。