The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon the steps.
布里翁尼府第的大門敞開著。一個上年紀的婦人站在臺階上。
She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from the brougham.
她用一種蔑視的眼光瞧著我們從四輪馬車里下來。
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she.
"我想是歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生吧?"她說道。
"I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.
"我是福爾摩斯,"我的伙伴詫異地、多少有些驚愕地注視著她答道。
"Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call.
"真是!我的女主人告訴我你多半會來的。
She left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Cross for the Continent."
今天早晨她跟她的先生一起走了,他們乘五點十五分的火車從蔡林克羅斯到歐洲大陸去了。"
"What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?"
"什么!"歇洛克·福爾摩斯向后打了個趔趄,懊惱和驚異得臉色發(fā)白。"你的意思是說她已經(jīng)離開英國了嗎?"
"Never to return." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "We shall see."
"再也不回來了。""還有那張照片呢?"國王嗄聲嗄氣地問道,"一切都完了!""我們要看一下。"
He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself.
福爾摩斯推開仆人,奔進了客廳,國王和我緊跟在后面。
The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers,
家具四面八方亂七八糟地散擺著,架子拆了下來,抽屜拉開來了,
as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight.
就好象這位女士在她出奔以前匆匆忙忙地翻箱倒柜搜查過一番似的。
Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter,
福爾摩斯沖到鈴的拉索的地方,
and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter.
拉開一扇小拉門,伸進手去,掏出一張照片和一封信。
The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress,
照片是艾琳·艾德勒本人穿著夜禮服照的。
the letter was superscribed to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for."
信封上寫著:"歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生,留交本人親收。"