Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing.
歇洛克·福爾摩斯喊住一輛路過的四輪馬車。
"In that case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this wind-swept market-place," said he.
"既然是那樣,我們與其在這個刮著寒風(fēng)的鬧市談話,還不如到一個舒舒服服的房間里細細討論這個問題,"他說。
"But pray tell me, before we go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting."
"但是,在我們還沒出發(fā)之前,請把我有幸為之效勞的人的尊姓大名告訴我。"
The man hesitated for an instant.
這個人猶豫了一會兒。
"My name is John Robinson," he answered with a sidelong glance.
"我的名字是約翰·魯賓遜。"他眼睛向旁斜視了一下,回答說。
"No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always awkward doing business with an alias."
"不,不,我是問你的真名實姓,"福爾摩斯和藹地說道,"辦事情用化名總是很不方便的。"
A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger.
這位陌生人的蒼白的臉頓時漲得通紅。
"Well, then," said he, "my real name is James Ryder."
"好吧,那么,"他說,"我的真名實姓是詹姆斯·賴德。"
"Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan.
"一點兒也不錯,'世界旅館'的領(lǐng)班。
Pray step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know."
請上馬車吧!我一會兒就能把你想要知道的一切告訴你。"
The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes,
這個小個子站在那里,來回打量著我們,眼神半是耽心,半是希望,
as one who is not sure whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe.
這正是一個處于吉兇未卜的境地,對自己的前途毫無把握的人的表情。
Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the sitting-room at Baker Street.
隨后他上了馬車,半小時以后,我們回到了貝克街的起居室。
Nothing had been said during our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion,
在車上我們都緘默無語,一言不發(fā),可是我們的新伙伴呼吸急促、微弱
and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous tension within him.
兩手時而緊握,時而放松,透露了他內(nèi)心的極度緊張。