四签名 126琼诺赞·斯茂的奇异故事(36)

"Well, and there is the end of our little drama," I remarked, after we had sat some time smoking in silence.

等他们两人走后，我和福尔摩斯抽着烟默坐了一会，我道："这就是咱们这出小戏的结束了，

"I fear that it may be the last investigation¹ in which I shall have the chance of studying your methods.

恐怕从今以后我学习你工作方法的机会要少了。

Miss Morstan has done me the honour to accept me as a husband in prospective²."

摩斯坦小姐和我已订了婚约。"

He gave a most dismal³ groan⁴. "I feared as much," said he. "I really cannot congratulate you."

他苦哼了一声说道："我已料到了，恕我不能向你道贺。"

I was a little hurt. "Have you any reason to be dissatisfied with my choice?" I asked.

我有些不快，问道："我所选的对象，你有不满意的地方吗？"

"Not at all. I think she is one of the most charming young ladies I ever met

"一点儿也没有，我以为她是我生气所见的女子中最可敬爱的一个人了，

and might have been most useful in such work as we have been doing.

并且有助于我们这一类工作。

She had a decided⁵ genius that way;

她在这方面肯定是有天才的，

witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan from all the other papers of her father.

单从她收藏那张阿格拉藏宝的位置图和她父亲的那些文件的事看来，就可以证明。

But love is an emotional thing, and whatever is emotional is opposed to that true cold reason which I place above all things.

可是爱情是一种情感的事情，和我认为是最重要的冷静思考是有矛盾的。

I should never marry myself, lest I bias⁶ my judgment⁷."

我永远不会结婚，以免影响我的判断力。"

"I trust," said I, laughing, "that my judgment may survive the ordeal⁸. But you look weary."

我笑道："我相信，我这次的判断还经得住考验。看来你是疲倦了。"

"Yes, the reaction is already upon me. I shall be as limp as a rag for a week."

"是的，我已经感觉到了，我一个星期也恢复不过来。"

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

3 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

4 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。

7 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

8 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。