巴斯克维尔的猎犬 华生医生的第一份报告（9）

　　I have told you that the corridor is broken by the balcony which runs round the hall, but thatit is resumed upon the farther side. I waited until he had passed out of sight and then I followedhim. When I came round the balcony he had reached the end of the farther corridor, and I couldsee from the glimmer¹ of light through an open door that he had entered one of the rooms. Now, allthese rooms are unfurnished and unoccupied so that his expedition became more mysterious thanever. The light shone steadily² as if he were standing³ motionless. I crept down the passage asnoiselessly as I could and peeped round the corner of the door.

　　我曾告诉过你， 那环绕大厅的走廊是被一段阳台隔断了 的， 可是在阳台的另一侧又继续下去了。 我一直等到他走得不见了以后才又跟踪上去， 当我走近阳台的时候， 他已走到远处走廊的尽头了， 我看到了 由一扇开着的门里射出来的灯光， 就知道他已走进了一个房间。 由于这些房间现在既无陈设又无人住， 所以他的行止就愈发显得诡秘了。 灯光很稳定， 似乎他是在一动不动地站着， 我蹑手蹑脚、 尽量不出声地沿走廊走去， 并从门边向屋里偷看。

　　Barrymore was crouching⁴ at the window with the candle held against the glass. His profilewas half turned towards me, and his face seemed to be rigid⁵ with expectation as he stared out intothe blackness of the moor⁶. For some minutes he stood watching intently. Then he gave a deepgroan and with an impatient gesture he put out the light. Instantly I made my way back to myroom, and very shortly came the stealthy steps passing once more upon their return journey. Longafterwards when I had fallen into a light sleep I heard a key turn somewhere in a lock, but I couldnot tell whence the sound came. What it all means I cannot guess, but there is some secretbusiness going on in this house of gloom which sooner or later we shall get to the bottom of. I donot trouble you with my theories, for you asked me to furnish you only with facts. I have had along talk with Sir Henry this morning, and we have made a plan of campaign founded upon myobservations of last night. I will not speak about it just now, but it should make my next reportinteresting reading.

　　白瑞摩在窗前弯着腰， 拿着蜡烛， 凑近窗玻璃， 头部侧面半向着我， 当他向着漆黑的沼地注视的时候， 面部因焦急而显得十分严肃。 他站在那里专心一志地观察了几分钟， 然后他深深地叹了一口气， 以一种不耐烦的手势弄灭了蜡烛。 我马上就回房去了， 没有多久就传来了潜行回去的脚步声。 过了很久以后， 在我刚要矇胧入睡的时候， 我听到什么地方有拧锁头的声音， 可是我说不出声音来自何方。 我猜不出这些都意味着什么， 可是我想， 在这阴森森的房子里正在进行着一件隐秘的事， 我们早晚会把它弄个水落石出的。 我不愿拿我的看法来打搅你， 因为你曾要求我只须提供事实。 今天早晨我曾和亨利爵士长谈了 一次， 根据我昨晚所作的观察， 我们已作出了一个行动计划。 我现在还不打算谈， 可是它一定会使我的下一篇报告读起来饶有兴趣的。

1 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

2 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 crouching   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
• A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

5 rigid   

adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的

参考例句：

• She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
• The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。

6 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。