福爾摩斯探案集·單身貴族案 第2期:貴族來信(2)
"Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered.
在他進屋時，我說："這兒有一封非常時髦的書信。
"Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a fish-monger and a tide- waiter."
如果我沒有記錯的話，你早晨的那些來信是一個魚販子和一個海關(guān)檢查員寫的。"
"Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he answered, smiling,
"對，我的信件肯定具有豐富多彩引人入勝的地方，"他笑著回答說，
"and the humbler are usually the more interesting.
"通常越是普通的人寫來的信越是有趣。
This looks like one of those unwelcome social summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."
可是這封看來象是一張不受歡迎的社交上用的傳票式的信，叫你不是感到厭煩就是要說謊才行。"
He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all."
他拆開了信封，瀏覽了信的內(nèi)容。"噢，你來瞧，說不定倒是一件有趣的事呢！"
"Not social, then?" "No, distinctly professional."
"那么不是社交的了？""不，顯而易見是業(yè)務(wù)性的。"
"And from a noble client?" "One of the highest in England."
"一位貴族的委托人寫來的？""英國地位最高的貴族之一。"
"My dear fellow, I congratulate you."
"老兄，我祝賀你。"
"I assure you, Watson, without affectation,
"說實話，華生，我可以肯定對你說，
that the status of my client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his case.
對我來說，這位委托人的社會地位不是什么了不起的事情，我更感興趣是他的案情。
It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting in this new investigation.
然而，在這件新案件的調(diào)查中，很可能關(guān)于他的社會地位的情況也還是不可或缺的。
You have been reading the papers diligently of late, have you not?"
你最近一直很仔細地在看報，是嗎？"
"It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do."
"看來好象是這樣。"我指了指角落里的一大堆報紙沮喪地說，"我沒有別的事可做。"
"It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up.
"真走運，也許你能向我提供一些最新的情況。
I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The latter is always instructive.
我是除了犯罪的消息和尋人廣告欄之外，別的一概不看。尋人廣告欄總是很啟發(fā)人的。
But if you have followed recent events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his wedding?"
你既然那么留心最近發(fā)生的事，你必定看到過關(guān)于圣西蒙勛爵和他婚禮的消息吧？"
"Oh, yes, with the deepest interest."
"噢，是的，我是懷著莫大的興趣來閱讀這消息的。"
