博斯科姆比溪谷秘案 07整理线索(1)

"Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky¹ thing," answered Holmes thoughtfully.

福尔摩斯若有所思地回答说："拿现场做证据是很靠不住的。

"It may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your own point of view a little,

它好象可以直截了当地证实某一种情况，但是，如果你稍为改变一个观点，

you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely² different.

那你就可能会发现它同样好象可以明确无误地证实迥然不同的另一种情况。

It must be confessed, however, that the case looks exceedingly grave against the young man,

但是，必须承认，案情对这个年轻人十分不利，

and it is very possible that he is indeed the culprit.

他可能确实就是杀人犯。

There are several people in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the daughter of the neighbouring land-owner,

在附近倒有几个人，其中有农场主的女儿特纳小姐，

who believe in his innocence³, and who have retained Lestrade,

相信他是清白无辜的，并且委托雷斯垂德承办这件案子，

whom you may recollect⁴ in connection with 'A Study in Scarlet⁵', to work out the case in his interest.

你可能还记得雷斯垂德就是同'血字的研究'一案有关的那个人，

Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the case to me,

但是，雷斯垂德感到这个案子相当难办而求助于我。

and hence it is that two middle-aged⁶ gentlemen are flying westward⁷ at fifty miles an hour

因此，这就是两个中年绅士以每小时五十英里的速度飞奔而来，

instead of quietly digesting their breakfasts at home."

而不在吃饱早餐以后留在家里享享清福的缘故。"

"I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you will find little credit to be gained out of this case."

我说："我看这些事实太明显了，恐怕你从处理这个案子中得不到多大的好处。"

1 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

4 recollect   

v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得

参考例句：

• He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
• She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。

5 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

6 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

7 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。