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He was still chuckling over his success when Billy swung open the door and Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard was ushered into the room.
当毕利推开门，把苏格兰场的警官麦克唐纳引进屋来时，福尔摩斯还在为自己的成绩而轻声发笑呢。
Those were the early days at the end of the '80's, when Alec MacDonald was far from having attained the national fame which he has now achieved.
那还是早在十八世纪八十年代末的时候，亚历克·麦克唐纳还没有象现在这样名噪全国。
He was a young but trusted member of the detective force, who had distinguished himself in several cases which had been intrusted to him.
他那时还是个青年，可是，由于他经手的案子都办得很出色，因而在侦探界已经成为深受信赖的一员了。
His tall, bony figure gave promise of exceptional physical strength,
他身材高大，体形健壮，使人一看就知道具有过人的体力；
while his great cranium and deep-set, lustrous eyes spoke no less clearly of the keen intelligence which twinkled out from behind his bushy eyebrows.
他那巨大的头盖骨和一双深陷而炯炯有神的眼睛，更清楚地说明他有敏锐的智力，这种机智就从他那两道浓眉下闪烁出来。
He was a silent, precise man with a dour nature and a hard Aberdonian accent.
他是一个沉默寡言、一丝不苟的人，性格倔强，带有很重的阿伯丁港的口音。
Twice already in his career had Holmes helped him to attain success, his own sole reward being the intellectual joy of the problem.
福尔摩斯已经帮他办了两起案子，均告成功，而福尔摩斯自己所得到的唯一酬劳就是享受用智力去解决疑难的快乐。
For this reason the affection and respect of the Scotchman for his amateur colleague were profound,
因此，这个苏格兰人对他的业余同行非常热爱和尊敬，
and he showed them by the frankness with which he consulted Holmes in every difficulty.
这表现在，每逢他有什么困难，就老老实实地来向福尔摩斯求教。
Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius,
一个平庸的人看不到比自己高明的东西，但是一个有才能的人却能立即认出别人的天才来。
and MacDonald had talent enough for his profession to enable him to perceive that there was no humiliation in seeking the assistance of one who already stood alone in Europe, both in his gifts and in his experience.
麦克唐纳很有才干，他深知向福尔摩斯求援并不有辱身分，因为福尔摩斯无论在才能上和经验上，都已经是欧洲独一无二的侦探了。
Holmes was not prone to friendship, but he was tolerant of the big Scotchman, and smiled at the sight of him.
福尔摩斯不善交游，可是他对这个高大的苏格兰人却并不讨厌，每见麦克唐纳，他总是面带微笑。
"You are an early bird, Mr. Mac," said he. "I wish you luck with your worm. I fear this means that there is some mischief afoot."
"你真来得早，麦克先生，"福尔摩斯说。“祝你顺利，我担心又有什么案件发生了吧？"
"If you said 'hope' instead of 'fear,' it would be nearer the truth, I'm thinking, Mr. Holmes," the inspector answered, with a knowing grin.
"福尔摩斯先生，我想，如果你不说'担心'，而是说'希望'，倒还更近情理些。"这个警官会心地微笑着回答。
"Well, maybe a wee nip would keep out the raw morning chill. No, I won't smoke, I thank you.
"好，一小口酒就可以驱走清早阴冷的寒气。谢谢你，我不抽烟。
I'll have to be pushing on my way; for the early hours of a case are the precious ones, as no man knows better than your own self. But... but..."
我不得不赶路，因为一件案子发生后，最初的时刻是最珍贵的，这一点你是最清楚不过了。不过...不过..."
The inspector had stopped suddenly, and was staring with a look of absolute amazement at a paper upon the table.
警官突然停下来，非常惊异地凝视着桌上的一页纸。
It was the sheet upon which I had scrawled the enigmatic message.
这是我草草记下密码信的那张纸。
"Douglas!" he stammered. "Birlstone! What's this, Mr. Holmes? Man, it's witchcraft! Where in the name of all that is wonderful did you get those names?"
"道格拉斯！"他结结巴巴地说，"伯尔斯通！这是怎么回事？福尔摩斯先生。哎呀，这简直是在变魔术了！你到底从哪儿搞到这两个名字的？"
"It is a cipher that Dr. Watson and I have had occasion to solve. But why... what's amiss with the names?"
"这是华生医生和我两个人偶然从一封密码信中破译出来的。可是怎么，这两个名字出什么岔子了吗？"
The inspector looked from one to the other of us in dazed astonishment.
警官茫然不解、目瞪口呆地看看我，看看福尔摩斯。
"Just this," said he, "that Mr. Douglas of Birlstone Manor House was horribly murdered last night!"
"正是这样，"他说，"伯尔斯通庄园的道格拉斯先生今天早晨被人惨杀了！"
