单身贵族案 08贵族来信(8)

The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been prepared.

婚礼后，一行人即前往在兰开斯特盖特的阿洛伊修斯·多兰先生寓所，寓所里早餐已经准备就绪。

It appears that some little trouble was caused by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained¹,

此时似乎有一个女人引起了某些小麻烦，目前她的姓名未详。

who endeavoured to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging² that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon.

她跟随在新娘及其亲友之后，试图强行闯入寓所，声称她有权向圣西蒙勋爵提出要求。

It was only after a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and the footman.

只是经过长时间煞费其力的纠缠，管家和仆役才把她撵走。

The bride, who had fortunately entered the house before this unpleasant interruption,

幸亏新娘在发生这件不愉快的纠纷之前已经进入室内，

had sat down to breakfast with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and retired³ to her room.

同亲友一起就座共进早餐，可是她说突然感到不适，就回到自己的房间去了。

Her prolonged absence having caused some comment, her father followed her,

她离席久久不归引起了人们的议论，她父亲即去找她，

but learned from her maid that she had only come up to her chamber⁴ for an instant,

但据她的女仆告知，她只到她的卧室逗留片刻，

caught up an ulster and bonnet⁵, and hurried down to the passage.

很快拿了一件长外套和一顶无边软帽，就急急忙忙下楼到走廊去了。

One of the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled,

一个男仆声称他看到一个这样装束的太太离开寓所，

but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, believing her to be with the company.

但是不敢相信那就是他的女主人，以为她还和大家在一起。

On ascertaining⁶ that his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the bridegroom,

阿洛伊修斯·多兰先生在肯定女儿确实是失踪了以后，

instantly put themselves in communication with the police, and very energetic inquiries⁷ are being made,

就立刻和新郎一起同警方联系，目前正在大力调查，

which will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very singular business.

这件离奇的事情可能很快就会水落石出。

Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing had transpired⁸ as to the whereabouts of the missing lady.

然而，直到昨天深夜，这位失踪的小姐依然下落不明。

There are rumours⁹ of foul¹⁰ play in the matter,

出现了许多关于这件事的谣言，认为新娘可能遇害，

and it is said that the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the original disturbance¹¹,

据说警方拘留了那个最初引起纠纷的女人，

in the belief that, from jealousy¹² or some other motive¹³, she may have been concerned in the strange disappearance¹⁴ of the bride."

认为她出于妒忌或其它动机，可能与新娘奇怪的失踪有牵连。”

"And is that all?"

"就这些吗？"

"Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is a suggestive one." "And it is..."

"在另一份晨报上只有一小条消息，但是却很有启发性。""内容是..."

"That Miss Flora¹⁵ Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, has actually been arrested.

"弗洛拉·米勒小姐，也就是肇事的那个女人，实际上已被逮捕。

It appears that she was formerly¹⁶ a danseuse at the Allegro¹⁷, and that she has known the bridegroom for some years.

她以前似乎在阿利格罗当过芭蕾舞女演员，她和新郎相识已有多年。

There are no further particulars, and the whole case is in your hands now–so far as it has been set forth¹⁸ in the public press."

再没有更多的细节了，现在就报纸已发表的消息而论，整个案情你已经都知道了。"

"And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not have missed it for worlds.

"看来真是一件非常有趣的案子。我无论如何也不能把它放过。

But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four,

华生，你听，门铃响了，四点钟刚过一点儿，

I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client.

我肯定这一定是我们高贵的委托人来了。

Do not dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to my own memory."

别老想走，华生，因为我非常希望有一个见证人，即使只是为了检验一下我的记忆力也好。"

1 ascertained   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 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。

5 bonnet   

n.无边女帽；童帽

参考例句：

• The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
• She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

6 ascertaining   

v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I was ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. 我当时是要弄清楚地下室是朝前还是朝后延伸的。 来自辞典例句
• The design and ascertaining of permanent-magnet-biased magnetic bearing parameter are detailed introduced. 并对永磁偏置磁悬浮轴承参数的设计和确定进行了详细介绍。 来自互联网

7 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 transpired   

（事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生

参考例句：

• It transpired that the gang had had a contact inside the bank. 据报这伙歹徒在银行里有内应。
• It later transpired that he hadn't been telling the truth. 他当时没说真话，这在后来显露出来了。

9 rumours   

n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传

参考例句：

• The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。
• Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

10 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

11 disturbance   

n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调

参考例句：

• He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
• You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。

12 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

13 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

14 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

15 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

16 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。

17 allegro   

adj. 快速而活泼的；n.快板；adv.活泼地

参考例句：

• The first movement is a conventional symphonic Allegro.第一乐章是传统的交响乐快板。
• My life in university is like allegro.我的生活在大学中像急速的乐章。

18 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。