巴斯克威尔的猎犬 三条断了的线索（8）

 

"Sir Charles had the reputation of being rich, but we did not know how very rich he was untilwe came to examine his securities. The total value of the estate was close on to a million."“查尔兹爵士是以富有闻名的， 可是在我们检查他的证券以前， 我们并不知道他究竟有多么富。 原来全部财产的总值竟约有一百万镑。”

"Dear me! It is a stake for which a man might well play a desperate game. And one morequestion, Dr. Mortimer. Supposing that anything happened to our young friend here -- you willforgive the unpleasant hypothesis! -- who would inherit the estate?"“天啊！ 一个人见了这样大的赌注， 当然要拚命赌他一场了。 可是还有一个问题， 摩梯末医生， 假若咱这些位年轻的朋友发生了什么不幸的话——请您原谅我这不愉快的假设吧——谁来继承这笔财产呢？ ”

"Since Rodger Baskerville, Sir Charles's younger brother died unmarried, the estate woulddescend to the Desmonds, who are distant cousins. James Desmond is an elderly clergyman inWestmoreland."

“因为查尔兹爵士的弟弟罗杰·巴斯克维尔没有结过婚就死了， 所以财产就应当传给远房的表兄弟戴斯门家里的人了。 杰姆士· 戴斯门是威斯摩兰地方的一位年长的牧师。”

"Thank you. These details are all of great interest. Have you met Mr. James Desmond?"“谢谢您， 这些细节都是很值得注意的。 您见过杰姆士· 戴斯门先生吗？ ”

"Yes; he once came down to visit Sir Charles. He is a man of venerable appearance and ofsaintly life. I remember that he refused to accept any settlement from Sir Charles, though hepressed it upon him."

“见过， 他来拜访过查尔兹爵士一次。 他是个态度庄重可敬的人， 过着圣洁的生活。 我还记得， 他拒绝从查尔兹爵士那里接受任何产业， 虽然查尔兹爵士曾强其接受。”

"And this man of simple tastes would be the heir to Sir Charles's thousands."“这个没有什么癖好的人竟要成为查尔兹爵士万贯家财的继承人吗？ ”

"He would be the heir to the estate because that is entailed¹. He would also be the heir to themoney unless it were willed otherwise by the present owner, who can, of course, do what he likeswith it."

“他将成为产业的继承人， 因为这是法律所规定的。 他还将继承钱财， 除非现在的所有者另立遗嘱——当然他有权任意处置。”

"And have you made your will, Sir Henry?"

“亨利爵士， 您立过遗嘱了吗？ ”

"No, Mr. Holmes, I have not. I've had no time, for it was only yesterday that I learned howmatters stood. But in any case I feel that the money should go with the title and estate. That wasmy poor uncle's idea. How is the owner going to restore the glories of the Baskervilles if he hasnot money enough to keep up the property? House, land, and dollars must go together."“没有， 福尔摩斯先生。 我还没有时间呢， 因为昨天我才知道事情的真相。 可是， 无论在什么情况下， 我总觉得钱财不应该与爵位和产业分离。我那可怜的伯父的遗志就是这样的。

如果主人没有足以维持产业的钱的话， 他怎么能恢复巴斯克维尔家的威望呢？ 房地产与钱财绝不能分开。”

1 entailed   

使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
• The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 这所房子和地产限定由长女继承。