福爾摩斯探案集·紅發(fā)會 第19期:事件發(fā)生轉(zhuǎn)變(4)
"We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you.
"這一點我們將努力替你弄清楚。
And, first, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson.
但是，威爾遜先生，你要先回答我一兩個問題。
This assistant of yours who first called your attention to the advertisement–how long had he been with you?"
第一個，叫你注意看廣告的那位伙計，他在你那里多久啦？"
"About a month then." "How did he come?" "In answer to an advertisement."
"在發(fā)生這件事以前大約一個月。""他是怎么來的？""他是看廣告應(yīng)征來的。"
"Was he the only applicant?" "No, I had a dozen."
"只有他一個人申請嗎？""不，有十來個人申請。"
"Why did you pick him?" "Because he was handy and would come cheap."
"你為什么選中他呢？""因為他靈巧，所費不多。"
"At half-wages, in fact." "Yes." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?"
"實際上他只領(lǐng)一半工資？""是的。""這個文森特·斯波爾丁什么模樣？"
"Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty.
"小個子，體格健壯，動作很敏捷；雖然年齡約在三十開外，臉皮卻很光滑。
Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead."
他的前額有一塊被硫酸燒傷的白色傷疤。"
Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought as much," said he.
福爾摩斯十分興奮地在椅子上挺直了身子。他說："這些我都想到了。
"Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for earrings?"
你有沒有注意到他的兩只耳朵穿了戴耳環(huán)的孔？"
"Yes, sir. He told me that a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad."
"是的，先生。他對我說，是他年輕的時候一個吉普賽人給他在耳朵上穿的孔。"
"Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still with you?"
福爾摩斯說，"唔，"漸漸陷于沉思之中，"他還在你那里嗎？"
"Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him."
"噢，是的，我剛才就是從他那里來的。"
"And has your business been attended to in your absence?"
"你不在的時候生意一直由他照料嗎？"
"Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a morning."
"先生，我對他的工作沒有什么可抱怨的，上午本來就沒有多少買賣。"
"That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two.
"行啦，威爾遜先生，我將愉快地在一兩天內(nèi)把我關(guān)于這件事的意見告訴你。
To-day is Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion."
今天是星期六，我希望到星期一我們就可以作出結(jié)論了。"
