血字的研究 64逃命（3）（在线收听）

He expected that he would receive some message or remonstrance from Young as to his conduct, and he was not mistaken, though it came in an unlooked-for manner.

他预料，这番行为必然会招来扬的某种警告的。事情果然不出所料，但是警告的方式，却是他万万意想不到的。

Upon rising next morning he found, to his surprise, a small square of paper pinned on to the coverlet of his bed just over his chest.

第二天早晨，费瑞厄一起床就大吃一惊地发现了，在被面上，恰好在他胸口的地方，钉着一张纸条，

On it was printed, in bold, straggling letters:"Twenty-nine days are given you for amendment, and then––"

上面歪歪斜斜地写着一行笔道粗重的字："限你二十九天改邪归正，到期则--"　

The dash was more fear-inspiring than any threat could have been.

字后这一划比任何恫吓都要令人害怕。

How this warning came into his room puzzled John Ferrier sorely, for his servants slept in an outhouse, and the doors and windows had all been secured.

这个警告究竟是怎么送进他的房中来的，这件事使得约翰·费瑞厄百思莫解；因为他的仆人是睡在与这房子没有盖在一起的房子里的，而且所有的门窗都是插好插销的。

He crumpled the paper up and said nothing to his daughter, but the incident struck a chill into his heart.

他把这个纸条揉成一团，丝毫也没有对他的女儿提起。可是，这件意外的事，却使他感到胆战心寒。

The twenty-nine days were evidently the balance of the month which Young had promised.

纸条上写的"二十九天"明明是指扬所指定的一月期限所剩下的日子。

What strength or courage could avail against an enemy armed with such mysterious powers?

对付一个拥有这样神秘力量的敌人，单凭血气之勇又有什么用处呢？

The hand which fastened that pin might have struck him to the heart, and he could never have known who had slain him.

钉上纸条的那只手，满可以用刀刺进他的心房，而且，他永远也不会知道究竟是谁杀害了他。

Still more shaken was he next morning.

第二天早晨，事情更加使费瑞厄感到震惊了。

They had sat down to their breakfast, when Lucy with a cry of surprise pointed upwards.

当他们坐下来早餐的时候，露茜忽然用手向上面指着惊叫了起来。

In the centre of the ceiling was scrawled, with a burned stick apparently, the number 28.

原来，在天花板的中央，有一个数字"28"，显然是用烧焦了的木棒画的。

To his daughter it was unintelligible, and he did not enlighten her.

他的女儿对于这个数字是莫名其妙的，他也没有向她说明。

That night he sat up with his gun and kept watch and ward.

那天晚上，他没有睡觉，拿着他的枪，通宵守卫着。

He saw and he heard nothing, and yet in the morning a great 27 had been painted upon the outside of his door.

一夜之间，他既无所见，又无所闻。可是，第二天的早晨，一个大大的"27"却又写在他家的门上了。

Thus day followed day; and as sure as morning came he found that his unseen enemies had kept their register,

这样一天又一天地过去了，就象黎明每天丝毫不爽地必然来临一样，他每天也都发现他的暗藏敌人在记着数字，

and had marked up in some conspicuous position how many days were still left to him out of the month of grace.

而且在一些明显的地方，写出他的一月期限还剩下了几天。

Sometimes the fatal numbers appeared upon the walls, sometimes upon the floors, occasionally they were on small placards stuck upon the garden gate or the railings.

有时，这个要命的数字是在墙上出现，有时是在地板上面。还有几次，这些数字是写在小纸条上，贴在花园的门上或栏杆上。

With all his vigilance John Ferrier could not discover whence these daily warnings proceeded.

约翰·费瑞厄虽然百般警戒，但是他总不能发现这些每天来临的警告究竟是在什么时候干的。

A horror which was almost superstitious came upon him at the sight of them.

他一看这些警告，就感到一种几乎是迷信般的恐怖。

He became haggard and restless, and his eyes had the troubled look of some hunted creature.

因此他坐卧不宁，一天天憔悴起来，他的眼中显露出被追逐着的野兽所有的那种惊骇、仓惶的神色。

He had but one hope in life now, and that was for the arrival of the young hunter from Nevada.

现在他惟一的希望就是等待着那个年轻的猎人从内华达回来。