斑点带子案 28现场调查(1)

The building was of gray, lichen-blotched stone, with a high central portion and two curving wings,

这座邸宅是用灰色的石头砌的，石壁上布满了青苔，中央部分高高矗立，两侧是弧形的边房，

like the claws of a crab¹, thrown out on each side.

像一对蟹钳似地向两边延伸。

In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards,

一侧的边房窗子都已经破碎，用木板堵着，

while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin.

房顶也有一部分坍陷了，完全是一副荒废残破的景象。

The central portion was in little better repair,

房子的中央部分也是年久失修。

but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, and the blinds in the windows,

可是，右首那一排房子却比较新，窗子里窗帘低垂，

with the blue smoke curling up from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided.

烟囱上蓝烟袅袅，说明这里是这家人居住的地方。

Some scaffolding had been erected² against the end wall, and the stone-work had been broken into,

靠山墙竖着一些脚手架，墙的石头部分已经凿通，

but there were no signs of any workmen at the moment of our visit.

但是我们到达那里时却没见到有工人的迹象。

Holmes walked slowly up and down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the outsides of the windows.

福尔摩斯在那块草草修剪过的草坪上缓慢地走来走去，十分仔细地检查了窗子的外部。

"This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, the centre one to your sister's,

"我想，这是你过去的寝室，当中那间是你姐姐的房间，

and the one next to the main building to Dr. Roylott's chamber³?"

挨着主楼的那间是罗伊洛特医生的卧室。"

"Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one."

"一点也不错。但是现在我在当中那间睡觉。"

"Pending⁴ the alterations⁵, as I understand.

"我想这是因为房屋正在修缮中。

By the way, there does not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end wall."

顺便说说，那座山墙似乎并没有任何加以修缮的迫切需要吧。"

"There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from my room."

"根本不需要，我相信那只不过是要我从我的房间里搬出来的一个借口。"

"Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open.

"啊，这很说明问题。嗯，这狭窄边房的另一边是那一条三个房间的房门都朝向它开的过道。

There are windows in it, of course?"

里面当然也有窗子的吧？"

"Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass through."

"有的，不过是一些非常窄小的窗子。太窄了，人钻不进去。"

"As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were unapproachable from that side.

"既然你俩晚上都锁上自己的房门，从那一边进入你们的房间是不可能的了。

Now, would you have the kindness to go into your room and bar your shutters⁶?"

现在，麻烦你到你的房间里去，并且闩上百叶窗。"

1 crab   

n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气

参考例句：

• I can't remember when I last had crab.我不记得上次吃蟹是什么时候了。
• The skin on my face felt as hard as a crab's back.我脸上的皮仿佛僵硬了，就象螃蟹的壳似的。

2 ERECTED   

adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立

参考例句：

• A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
• A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

3 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

4 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

5 alterations   

n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变

参考例句：

• Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰，插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 shutters   

百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门

参考例句：

• The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
• The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。