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"Well, state your case, Mr. Mac," said Holmes in his most judicial style.
"好，麦克先生，讲讲你的理由吧，"福尔摩斯以一种非常公平的口气说。
"The man is not a burglar, supposing that he ever existed.
"假定凶手存在的话，他决不是一个盗窃犯。
The ring business and the card point to premeditated murder for some private reason.
那只戒指和那张卡片都说明这是出于某种私怨的预谋凶杀案。
Very good. Here is a man who slips into a house with the deliberate intention of committing murder.
好，有一个人溜进屋中，蓄意谋杀。
He knows, if he knows anything, that he will have a deeficulty in making his escape, as the house is surrounded with water.
他懂得，假如他还懂得点事理的话，他要逃跑是很困难的，因为房子周围全是水。
What weapon would he choose? You would say the most silent in the world.
他要选择什么样的武器呢？你一定会说他要的是世界上声音最小的武器。
Then he could hope when the deed was done to slip quickly from the window, to wade the moat, and to get away at his leisure. That's understandable.
这样他才能指望事成以后，很快就穿过窗户，蹚过护城河，从容不平地逃跑。这是完全可以理解的。
But is it understandable that he should go out of his way to bring with him the most noisy weapon he could select,
可是如果他竟然带着他能选择的发声最大的武器，
knowing well that it will fetch every human being in the house to the spot as quick as they can run,
明知枪声一响，全庄园的人很快就能跑到出事地点，
and that it is all odds that he will be seen before he can get across the moat? Is that credible, Mr. Holmes?"
大半在他蹚过护城河以前，人们就会发现他，难道这是可以理解的吗？福尔摩斯先生，这都是可信的吗？"
"Well, you put the case strongly," my friend replied thoughtfully. "It certainly needs a good deal of justification.
"好，你的理由很充分，"我的朋友若有所思地回答道，"确实需要有大量的理由来证明。
May I ask, Mr. White Mason, whether you examined the farther side of the moat at once to see if there were any signs of the man having climbed out from the water?"
怀特·梅森先生，请问，你当时是否立刻到护城河对岸去查过有没有人蹚水上岸的痕迹？"
"There were no signs, Mr. Holmes. But it is a stone ledge, and one could hardly expect them."
"福尔摩斯先生，那里没有痕迹。不过对面是石岸，很难设想能找到什么痕迹。"
"No tracks or marks?"
"没有一点足迹或手印吗？"
"None."
"没有。"
"Ha! Would there be any objection, Mr. White Mason, to our going down to the house at once?
"哈！怀特·梅森先生，你不反对我们立即动身到庄园中去么？
There may possibly be some small point which might be suggestive."
那里可能会有一些小的线索可以给我们一些启示的。"
"I was going to propose it, Mr. Holmes; but I thought it well to put you in touch with all the facts before we go. I suppose if anything should strike you..."
"福尔摩斯先生，我本想建议去的，可是我想在我们去以前，最好让你先把一切详情了解清楚。我想，如果有什么触犯了你..."
White Mason looked doubtfully at the amateur.
怀特·梅森犹豫不决地看着这位同行说。
"I have worked with Mr. Holmes before," said Inspector MacDonald. "He plays the game."
"我以前和福尔摩斯先生一起办过案子，"警官麦克唐纳说道，"他一向为人光明磊落。"
"My own idea of the game, at any rate," said Holmes, with a smile.
福尔摩斯微笑着回答："至少是按照我个人对这一工作的理解。
"I go into a case to help the ends of justice and the work of the police.
我参加办案是为了有助于伸张正义，帮助警方工作。
If I have ever separated myself from the official force, it is because they have first separated themselves from me.
如果我不与官方合作，那是因为他们首先不与我合作。
I have no wish ever to score at their expense.
我从来不想去和他们争功劳。
At the same time, Mr. White Mason, I claim the right to work in my own way and give my results at my own time–complete rather than in stages."
同时，怀特·梅森先生，我要求有权利完全按我自己的思路办案，并且在我认为适当的时间交出我的成果自始至终，而不只是在某些阶段上有这种权利。"
"I am sure we are honoured by your presence and to show you all we know, " said White Mason cordially.
"我确信，你参加办案是我们的荣幸。我们一定把所知道的全部案情介绍给你，"怀特·梅森热诚地说。
"Come along, Dr. Watson, and when the time comes we'll all hope for a place in your book."
"华生医生，请随我来。到时候，我们都希望在您的书里能有一席之地呢。"
