蓝宝石案 07一顶奇怪的帽子(7)

He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar¹ introspective fashion which was characteristic of him.

他拿起帽子，并用他那独特的、足以表示他的性格的思考方式凝视着它。

"It is perhaps less suggestive than it might have been," he remarked,

"这顶帽子可能提供的引人联想的东西也许要少一些，"他说道，

"and yet there are a few inferences which are very distinct,

"不过，还是有几点推论是很明显的，

and a few others which represent at least a strong balance of probability.

而其它几点推论至少或然率是很大的。

That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it,

从帽子的外观来看，很明显这个人是个学问渊博的人，

and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.

而且在过去三年里，生活相当富裕，尽管他目前已处于窘境。

He had foresight², but has less now than formerly³, pointing to a moral retrogression,

他过去很有远见，可是，已今非昔比，再加上家道中落，

which, when taken with the decline of his fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, at work upon him.

因此，精神日趋颓废，这仿佛说明了他受到某种有害的影响，也许染上了酗酒的恶习。

This may account also for the obvious fact that his wife has ceased to love him."

恐怕这也是他妻子已不再爱他这一明显事实的原因。"

"My dear Holmes!"

"我亲爱的福尔摩斯！"

"He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he continued, disregarding my remonstrance⁴.

"可是不管怎么样，他还保持着一定程度的自尊，"他没有理睬我的反对而继续说下去。

"He is a man who leads a sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely⁵, is middle-aged⁶,

"他这个人一向深居简出，根本不锻炼身体，是个中年人，

has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream.

头发灰白，而且是最近几天刚刚理过的，头发上涂着柠檬膏。

These are the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat.

这些就是根据这顶帽子所推断出来的比较明显的事实。

Also, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid on in his house."

还有，顺便再提一下，他家里是绝对不可能安有煤气灯的。"

1 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。

2 foresight   

n.先见之明，深谋远虑

参考例句：

• The failure is the result of our lack of foresight.这次失败是由于我们缺乏远虑而造成的。
• It required a statesman's foresight and sagacity to make the decision.作出这个决定需要政治家的远见卓识。

3 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

4 remonstrance   

n抗议，抱怨

参考例句：

• She had abandoned all attempts at remonstrance with Thomas.她已经放弃了一切劝戒托马斯的尝试。
• Mrs. Peniston was at the moment inaccessible to remonstrance.目前彭尼斯顿太太没功夫听她告状。

5 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。

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。