巴斯克维尔的猎犬 回忆（8）

 

"We had an example of his readiness of resource that morning when he got away from us sosuccessfully, and also of his audacity in sending back my own name to me through the cabman.

From that moment he understood that I had taken over the case in London, and that therefore therewas no chance for him there. He returned to Dartmoor and awaited the arrival of the baronet."“那天早晨， 当他成功地从我们手中逃掉并通过马车夫将我的姓名传达给我的时候， 咱们已经领略了他的机智和大胆了。 从那时起， 他就知道我在伦敦已经接手办这件案子了， 因此， 他知道在那里再也得不到下手的机会了， 他才回到了 达特沼地， 等待着准男爵的来临。”

"One moment!" said I. "You have, no doubt, described the sequence of events correctly, butthere is one point which you have left unexplained. What became of the hound when its masterwas in London?"

“等一下！” 我说道，“无疑的， 你已经如实地描述了事情的经过， 可是有一点你还没有解释到。 当主人在伦敦的时候， 那只猎狗怎么办呢？ ”

"I have given some attention to this matter and it is undoubtedly of importance. There can beno question that Stapleton had a confidant, though it is unlikely that he ever placed himself in hispower by sharing all his plans with him. There was an old manservant at Merripit House, whosename was Anthony. His connection with the Stapletons can be traced for several years, as far backas the schoolmastering days, so that he must have been aware that his master and mistress werereally husband and wife. This man has disappeared and has escaped from the country. It issuggestive that Anthony is not a common name in England, while Antonio is so in all Spanish orSpanish-American countries. The man, like Mrs. Stapleton herself, spoke good English, but with acurious lisping accent. I have myself seen this old man cross the Grimpen Mire by the path whichStapleton had marked out. It is very probable, therefore, that in the absence of his master it was hewho cared for the hound, though he may never have known the purpose for which the beast wasused.

“我曾注意到这件事， 而且无疑是重要的。 毫无问题， 斯台普吞有一个亲信， 虽然看来还不象是斯台普吞已经把自己的计划都告诉了他而受着他的左右。在梅利琵宅邸中有一个老男仆， 名叫安东尼， 他和斯台普吞家的关系可以追溯到数年以前斯台普吞做小学校长的时期，因此他一定知道他的主人和女主人确是夫妇， 这人已经从乡 间逃跑不见了 。‘安东尼’ 这个姓似乎在英格兰很不普通， 而‘安托尼奥’ 这个姓在所有说西班牙话的国家和美洲说西班牙话的国家里同样也不普通。 这个人， 象斯台普吞太太一样， 英文说得很好， 可是带着奇怪的大舌头的味道。我曾亲眼看到这个老头经过斯台普吞所标出来的小路走过格林盆泥沼。因此，很可能是当他的主人不在的时候就由他来照顾猎狗。虽然他或许从来也不知道养这只畜生是作什么用的。