巴斯克维尔的猎犬 华生医生的第二份报告（5）

 

　　I hurried along the road at the top of my speed without seeing anything of Sir Henry, until Icame to the point where the moor¹ path branches off. There, fearing that perhaps I had come in thewrong direction after all, I mounted² a hill from which I could command a view -- the same hillwhich is cut into the dark quarry³. Thence I saw him at once. He was on the moor path about aquarter of a mile off, and a lady was by his side who could only be Miss Stapleton. It was clearthat there was already an understanding between them and that they had met by appointment.

　　They were walking slowly along in deep conversation, and I saw her making quick littlemovements of her hands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, while he listenedintently, and once or twice shook his head in strong dissent⁴. I stood among the rocks watchingthem, very much puzzled as to what I should do next. To follow them and break into their intimateconversation seemed to be an outrage⁵, and yet my clear duty was never for an instant to let himout of my sight. To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task. Still, I could see no better coursethan to observe him from the hill, and to clear my conscience by confessing to him afterwardswhat I had done. It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was too far away to be ofuse, and yet I am sure that you will agree with me that the position was very difficult, and thatthere was nothing more which I could do.

　　我以最快的速度沿着道路匆匆走去， 一直到我走到沼地小路分岔处才望到了 亨利爵士。

　　在那里， 我因为恐怕走错路就爬上了一座小山， 从山上我可以居高临下地观望一切—— 就是那座插入阴暗的采石场的小山。 从那里我马上就看到了他。 他正在沼地的小路上走着， 距我约四分之一英里远， 身 旁还有一位女士， 除了斯台普吞小姐而外还能是谁呢。 显然在他俩之间已有了默契， 而且是约定相会的， 他们一面并肩徐徐而行， 一面喁喁而语。 我看见她双手做着急促的手势， 似乎对自己所说的话很认真的样子； 他则聚精会神地听着， 有一两次他还截然不能同意似地摇着头。 我站在乱石中间望着他们， 真不知道下一步应当怎么办。 跟上他们并打断他们亲密的交谈， 看来似乎是一个荒谬的举动， 而我的责任显然是要求我一时一刻也不要让他们离开我的视线。 跟踪窥察一个朋友， 真是一件可憎的工作。 尽管如此， 可是除了从山上观察他， 事后再向他坦白以求心安外， 我还能有什么更好的办法呢。 确实， 如果当时有任何突然的危险威胁到他， 我离他就显得太远了， 来不及援助， 可是我相信， 你和我的意见一定相同。 处在这样的地位是非常困难的， 而且我再也没有什么别的好办法了。

 

1 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。

2 mounted   

adj.骑在马[自行车]上的；安装好的；裱好的v.登上，骑上( mount的过去式和过去分词)；增加，上升；上演；准备

参考例句：

• He mounted his horse and rode off. 他跨上马骑走了。
• He saddled his horse, mounted, and rode away at a gallop. 他给马套上鞍子，跨上马背疾驰而去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 quarry   

n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找

参考例句：

• Michelangelo obtained his marble from a quarry.米开朗基罗从采石场获得他的大理石。
• This mountain was the site for a quarry.这座山曾经有一个采石场。

4 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

5 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。