蓝宝石案 01一顶奇怪的帽子(1)

The Blue Carbuncle

蓝宝石案

I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas,

圣诞节后的第二个早晨，我前往探望我的朋友歇洛克·福尔摩斯。

with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season.

怀揣着祝贺佳节的心情。

He was lounging upon the sofa in a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the right,

他身穿一件紫红色睡衣懒散地斜靠在一张长沙发上，右手边放着一个烟斗架，

and a pile of crumpled¹ morning papers, evidently newly studied, near at hand.

眼前还有一堆折皱了的晨报，显然是刚刚翻阅过的。

Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable hard-felt hat,

沙发旁是一把木椅，椅子靠背上挂着一顶肮脏的破烂不堪的硬胎毡帽，

much the worse for wear, and cracked in several places.

帽子简直糟得不能再戴了，有好几处都裂了缝。

A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair

椅垫上放着一个放大镜和一把镊子，

suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the purpose of examination.

这说明那顶帽子之所以用这样的方式挂着，目的是为了便于检查。

"You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you."

"你正忙着呢，"我说，"也许我打搅你了。"

"Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss my results.

"没有的话，我很高兴有一位朋友来和我一起讨论我研究所得的结果。

The matter is a perfectly² trivial one..." he jerked his thumb in the direction of the old hat.

这完全是一件毫无价值的东西。"说着，他竖起大拇指指了一下那顶帽子，

"but there are points in connection with it which are not entirely³ devoid⁴ of interest and even of instruction."

"不过，同它有关联的几个问题却不是索然无味的，甚至还能给我们一些教益。"

1 crumpled   

adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
• She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

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 devoid   

adj.全无的，缺乏的

参考例句：

• He is completely devoid of humour.他十分缺乏幽默。
• The house is totally devoid of furniture.这所房子里什么家具都没有。