绿玉皇冠案 38失而复得(9)

"Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took next.

"好啦，凭你自己良好的辨别力就能联想到我采取的第二个步骤是什么。

I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house,

我打扮成流浪汉的样子到乔治爵士住处，

managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that his master had cut his head the night before,

结识了他的贴身仆人，知道了他的主人前天晚上划破了头，

and, finally, at the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of his cast-off shoes.

最后我花了六个先令买了一双肯定是他主人扔掉的旧鞋。

With these I journeyed down to Streatham and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks."

我带着那双鞋来到斯特里特哈姆，并核对出它和那脚印完全相符，一丝不差。"

"I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," said Mr. Holder¹.

"昨天晚上，我在那条小道上见到了一个衣衫褴褛的流浪汉，"霍尔德先生说。

"Precisely². It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home and changed my clothes.

"一点不错，那就是我。我感到我已经查到了我所要查的人，所以我就回家更换衣服。

It was a delicate part which I had to play then, for I saw that a prosecution³ must be avoided to avert⁴ scandal,

这里有一个微妙的角色要我扮演，因为我感到必须避免起诉才不致出现丑闻，

and I knew that so astute⁵ a villain⁶ would see that our hands were tied in the matter.

而且我明白如此狡猾的一个恶棍一定会看出在这件事上我们的双手是受到束缚的。

I went and saw him. At first, of course, he denied everything.

我登门找他。开始的时候，自然，他矢口否认一切。

But when I gave him every particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster⁷ and took down a life-preserver from the wall.

但是，当我向他指出发生的每一具体情况以后，他从墙上拿下一根护身棒企图威吓我。

I knew my man, however, and I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike.

然而，我懂得我要对付的是什么人，我在他举棒打击以前，迅即将手枪对着他的脑袋。

Then he became a little more reasonable."

这时他才开始有点理性。"

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

3 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

4 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

5 astute   

adj.机敏的，精明的

参考例句：

• A good leader must be an astute judge of ability.一个优秀的领导人必须善于识别人的能力。
• The criminal was very astute and well matched the detective in intelligence.这个罪犯非常狡猾，足以对付侦探的机智。

6 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

7 bluster   

v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声

参考例句：

• We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
• He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵，可是不久就不做声了。