波希米亚丑闻 25乔装打扮(11)

As he spoke¹ the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the curve of the avenue.

他说话时，马车两侧车灯发出的闪烁灯光顺着弯曲的街道绕过来。

It was a smart little landau which rattled² up to the door of Briony Lodge³.

那是一辆漂亮的四轮小马车咯哒咯哒地驶到布里翁尼府第门前。

As it pulled up, one of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper⁴,

马车刚一停下，一个流浪汉从角落里冲上前去开车门，希望赚个铜子，

but was elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention.

但是却被抱着同样想法窜在前头的另一个流浪汉挤开。

A fierce quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who took sides with one of the loungers,

于是爆发了一场激烈的争吵，两个警卫站在一个流浪汉一边，

and by the scissors-grinder, who was equally hot upon the other side.

而磨剪刀的则同样起劲地站在另一个流浪汉一边。

A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage,

这样争吵得就更厉害了。接着不知是谁先动手开打，

was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men,

这时这位夫人刚好下车，立刻就被卷进纠缠在一起的人群中间。

who struck savagely⁵ at each other with their fists and sticks.

这些人满面通红，扭在一起拳打棒击，野蛮地互相殴斗。

Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady;

福尔摩斯猛地冲入人群去保卫夫人。

but just as he reached her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood running freely down his face.

但是，刚到她的身边，就大喊一声，倒卧于地，脸上鲜血直流。

At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other,

众人见他倒地，两个警卫朝一个方向拔脚溜走，那些流浪汉朝另一个方向逃之夭夭。

while a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle without taking part in it,

此时，有些衣着比较整齐、只看热闹而没有参加殴斗的人挤了进来，

crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the injured man.

为夫人解围和照顾这位受伤的先生。

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 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

3 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

4 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

5 savagely   

adv. 野蛮地，残酷地

参考例句：

• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
• He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。