Sherlock Holmes put the sopping bundle upon the table beside the lamp and undid the cord which bound it.
歇洛克·福尔摩斯把这个湿包袱放在桌上油灯旁边,打开捆着的绳索。
From within he extracted a dumb-bell, which he tossed down to its fellow in the corner. Next he drew forth a pair of boots.
他从里面取出一只哑铃来,放到墙角上那一只的旁边。然后他又抽出一双长统靴子。
"American, as you perceive," he remarked, pointing to the toes. Then he laid upon the table a long, deadly, sheathed knife.
"你们看,这是美国式的,"福尔摩斯指着鞋尖说道。他又把一柄带鞘的杀人长刀放在桌上。
Finally he unravelled a bundle of clothing, comprising a complete set of underclothes, socks, a gray tweed suit, and a short yellow overcoat.
最后他解开一捆衣服,里面有一整套内衣裤、一双袜子、一身灰粗呢衣服,还有一件黄色短大衣。
"The clothes are commonplace," remarked Holmes, "save only the overcoat, which is full of suggestive touches."
"这些衣服,"福尔摩斯指着说,"除了这件大衣以外,都是平常的衣物,这件大衣对人很有启发。"
He held it tenderly towards the light.
福尔摩斯把大衣举到灯前。
"Here, as you perceive, is the inner pocket prolonged into the lining in such fashion as to give ample space for the truncated fowling piece.
"你们看,这件大衣衬里里面,有做成这种式样的一个口袋,好像是为了有宽敞的地方去装那支截短了的猎枪。
The tailor's tab is on the neck -- 'Neal, Outfitter, Vermissa, U.S.A.'
衣领上有成衣商的签条--美国维尔米萨镇的尼尔服饰用品店。
I have spent an instructive afternoon in the rector's library,
我曾在一个修道院院长的藏书室里花了一下午的时间,
and have enlarged my knowledge by adding the fact that Vermissa is a flourishing little town at the head of one of the best known coal and iron valleys in the United States.
增长了我的知识,了解到维尔米萨是一个繁荣的小城镇,在美国一个驰名的盛产煤铁山谷的谷口。
I have some recollection, Mr. Barker, that you associated the coal districts with Mr. Douglas's first wife,
巴克先生,我记得你同我谈起道格拉斯先生第一位夫人时,曾经谈到产煤地区的事。
and it would surely not be too far-fetched an inference that the V. V. upon the card by the dead body might stand for Vermissa Valley,
那么就不难由此得出推论:死者身旁的卡片上的V.V.两个字,可能是代表维尔米萨山谷,
or that this very valley which sends forth emissaries of murder may be that Valley of Fear of which we have heard. So much is fairly clear.
或许就是从这个山谷中,派出了刺客,这山谷可能就是我们听说的恐怖谷。这已经完全清楚了。
And now, Mr. Barker, I seem to be standing rather in the way of your explanation."
现在,巴克先生,我好象是有点妨碍你来说明了。"
It was a sight to see Cecil Barker's expressive face during this exposition of the great detective.
这个伟大的侦探解说时,塞西尔·巴克脸上的表情可真是怪相百出:
Anger, amazement, consternation, and indecision swept over it in turn. Finally he took refuge in a somewhat acrid irony.
忽而气恼无比,忽而惊奇不已,忽而惊恐万状,忽而犹疑不决。最后他用带挖苦味道的反话回避福尔摩斯的话语。
"You know such a lot, Mr. Holmes, perhaps you had better tell us some more," he sneered.
他冷笑着说:"福尔摩斯先生,你既然知道得这么详细,最好再多给我们讲一点。"
"I have no doubt that I could tell you a great deal more, Mr. Barker; but it would come with a better grace from you."
"我当然能告诉你更多的情况了,巴克先生,不过还是你自己讲体面一些。"
"Oh, you think so, do you? Well, all I can say is that if there's any secret here it is not my secret, and I am not the man to give it away."
"啊,你是这样想的吗?好,我只能告诉你,如果这里面有什么隐私的话,那也不是我的秘密,叫我说出来是找错人了。"
"Well, if you take that line, Mr. Barker," said the inspector quietly, "we must just keep you in sight until we have the warrant and can hold you."
"好,巴克先生,假如你采取这种态度,"麦克唐纳冷冷地说,"那我们就要先拘留你,等拿到逮捕证再逮捕你了。"
"You can do what you damn please about that," said Barker defiantly.
"随你们的便好了,"巴克目中无人地说。
The proceedings seemed to have come to a definite end so far as he was concerned;
看来从他那里再也弄不出什么来了,
for one had only to look at that granite face to realize that no peine forte et dure would ever force him to plead against his will.
因为只要望一望他那刚毅顽强的面容,就会明白,即使对他施以酷刑,也绝不会使他违背自己的心意。
The deadlock was broken, however, by a woman's voice.
然而,正在这时,一个女人的话声,打破了这场僵局。