巴斯克威尔的猎犬 亨利· 巴斯克维尔爵士（6）

 

"But this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally obvious. There is as muchdifference to my eyes between the leaded bourgeois¹ type of a Times article and the slovenly² printof an evening half-penny paper as there could be between your negro and your Esquimau. Thedetection of types is one of the most elementary branches of knowledge to the special expert incrime, though I confess that once when I was very young I confused the Leeds Mercury with theWestern Morning News. But a Times leader is entirely³ distinctive⁴, and these words could havebeen taken from nothing else. As it was done yesterday the strong probability was that we shouldfind the words in yesterday's issue."

“这也是我的癖好啊， 那不同点也是同样的明显， 正象黑人和爱斯基摩人在您眼中的区别一样。 在我看来， 《泰晤士报》 里所用的小五号铅字和半个便士一份的晚报所用的字体拙劣的铅字之间， 也同样具有着很大的区别。 区别报纸所用的铅字， 对犯罪学专家说来， 是最基本的知识中的一部分。 不过， 坦白地说， 在我还很年轻的时候， 也曾有一次把《李兹水银报》 和《西方晨报》 搞混了 。 但是《泰晤士报》 评论栏所采用的字型是非常特殊的， 不可能被误认为是其他的报纸。 因为这封信是昨天贴成的， 所以很可能在昨天的报纸里就能找到这些文字。”

"So far as I can follow you, then, Mr. Holmes," said Sir Henry Baskerville, "someone cut outthis message with a scissors --"

“我明白了， 那么说， 福尔摩斯先生， ” 亨利· 巴斯克维尔爵士说道，“剪成这封短信的那个人是用一把剪刀……”

"Nail-scissors," said Holmes. "You can see that it was a very short-bladed scissors, since thecutter had to take two snips⁵ over 'keep away.' "“是剪指甲的剪刀， ” 福尔摩斯说，“您可以看得出来， 那把剪子的刃很短， 因为用剪子的人在剪下‘远离’ 这个词的时候不得不剪两下。”

"That is so. Someone, then, cut out the message with a pair of short-bladed scissors, pasted itwith paste --"

“正是这样。 那么就是说， 有一个人用一把短刃剪刀剪下了这封短信所用的字， 然后用浆糊贴了上去……”

"Gum," said Holmes.

“用胶水。” 福尔摩斯说。

1 bourgeois   

adj./n.追求物质享受的(人)；中产阶级分子

参考例句：

• He's accusing them of having a bourgeois and limited vision.他指责他们像中产阶级一样目光狭隘。
• The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois.法国革命受到中产阶级的鼓励。

2 slovenly   

adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的

参考例句：

• People were scandalized at the slovenly management of the company.人们对该公司草率的经营感到愤慨。
• Such slovenly work habits will never produce good products.这样马马虎虎的工作习惯决不能生产出优质产品来。

3 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。

4 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

5 snips   

n.（剪金属板的）铁剪，铁铗；剪下之物( snip的名词复数 )；一点点；零星v.剪( snip的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• With a few quick snips of the shears he pruned the bush. 他用大剪刀几下子就把灌木给修剪好了。 来自辞典例句
• Pick up the snips of cloth and thread from the floor. 拾起地板上的布片和线头。 来自辞典例句