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We passed the pretty cottage where the murdered man had lived and walked up an oak-lined avenue to the fine old Queen Anne house, which bears the date of Malplaquet upon the lintel of the door.
我们走过被害者住的漂亮的小屋，走上一条两旁橡树挺立的大路，来到一所华丽的安妮女王时代的古宅，门楣上刻着马尔博罗的日期。
Holmes and the inspector led us round it until we came to the side gate, which is separated by a stretch of garden from the hedge which lines the road.
福尔摩斯和警官领着我们兜了一圈，然后我们来到旁门前。门外便是花园，花园的篱包外面是大路。
A constable was standing at the kitchen door.
一个警察站在厨房门旁。
"Throw the door open, officer," said Holmes. "Now, it was on those stairs that young Mr. Cunningham stood and saw the two men struggling just where we are.
"请把门打开，警官，"福尔摩斯说道，"喂，小坎宁安先生就是站在楼梯上看到那两个人搏斗的，两人搏斗之处就是我们现在站的地方。
Old Mr. Cunningham was at that window–the second on the left–and he saw the fellow get away just to the left of that bush. So did the son.
老坎宁安先生就是在左起第二扇窗户旁看到那个家伙刚刚逃到矮树丛左边的。他儿子也这么说。
They are both sure of it on account of the bush. Then Mr. Alec ran out and knelt beside the wounded man. The ground is very hard, you see, and there are no marks to guide us."
他们两个人都提到矮树丛。后来亚历克先生跑出来，跪在受伤者身旁。你们看，这儿地面非常硬，没有给我们留下丝毫痕迹。"
As he spoke two men came down the garden path, from round the angle of the house.
福尔摩斯正说着，有两个人绕过屋角，走上了花园的小径。
The one was an elderly man, with a strong, deep-lined, heavy-eyed face; the other a dashing young fellow, whose bright, smiling expression and showy dress were in strange contrast with the business which had brought us there.
一个年龄较大，面容刚毅，面部皱纹很深，目光抑郁不欢；另外一个是打扮得很漂亮的年青人，他神情活泼，满面笑容，衣着华丽，与我们为之而来的案件，形成非常奇异的对比。
"Still at it, then?" said he to Holmes. "I thought you Londoners were never at fault. You don't seem to be so very quick, after all."
"还在调查这件事吗？"他对福尔摩斯说道，"我想你们伦敦人是不会失败的。但你似乎不像很快就能把案破了。"
"Ah, you must give us a little time," said Holmes good-humouredly.
"啊，你必须给我们一些时间，"福尔摩斯愉快地说道。
"You'll want it," said young Alec Cunningham. "Why, I don't see that we have any clue at all."
"这对你是很必要的，"亚历克·坎宁安说道，"哦，我根本看不出有什么线索。"
"There's only one," answered the inspector. "We thought that if we could only find... Good heavens, Mr. Holmes! What is the matter?"
"只有一个线索，"警察回答道，"我们认为，只要我们能找到...天哪！福尔摩斯先生，这是怎么回事？"
My poor friend's face had suddenly assumed the most dreadful expression.
我那可怜的朋友的脸上，突然现出极为可怕的表情。
His eyes rolled upward, his features writhed in agony, and with a suppressed groan he dropped on his face upon the ground.
他的两眼直往上翻，痛得脸都变了形，他忍不住地哼了一声，脸朝下跌倒在地上。
Horrified at the suddenness and severity of the attack, we carried him into the kitchen, where he lay back in a large chair and breathed heavily for some minutes.
他突然发病，又那么厉害，把我们吓了一跳，我们急忙把他抬到厨房里，让他躺在一把大椅子上，他吃力地呼吸了一会儿。
Finally, with a shamefaced apology for his weakness, he rose once more.
他终于又站了起来，为自己身体虚弱而感到羞愧和抱歉。
"Watson would tell you that I have only just recovered from a severe illness," he explained. "I am liable to these sudden nervous attacks."
"华生会告诉诸位，我生了一场重病刚刚复元。"福尔摩斯解释道，"这种神经痛很容易突然发作。"
"Shall I send you home in my trap?" asked old Cunningham.
"是不是用我的马车把你送回家去？"老坎宁安问道。
"Well, since I am here, there is one point on which I should like to feel sure. We can very easily verify it."
"唉，既然我已经到了这里，有一点我还想把它摸清楚。我们能够很容易就查清它的。"
