To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman.

Za Sherlocka Holmesa ona je uvijek žena.

I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name.

Rijetko sam ga čuo da ju spominje pod nekim drugim imenom.

In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex.

U njegovim očima ona zasjenjuje i prevladava sve žene.

It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.

Nije da je osjećao neku emociju sličnu ljubavi prema Irene Adler.

All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind.

Sve emocije, a posebno ta, bile su odbojne njegovom hladnom, preciznom, ali divno uravnoteženom umi.

He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position.

On je, pretpostavljam, najsavršeniji stroj za razmišljanje i promatranje kojeg je svijet ikad vidio, ali kao ljubavnik stavio bi se u krivu poziciju.

He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer.

Nikad nije govorio o mekšim strastima, osim s ironijom i sarkazmom.

They were admirable things for the observer—excellent for drawing the veil from men’s motives and actions.

Bile su to divne stvari za promatrača – izvrsne za otkrivanje ljudskih motiva i djela.

But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results.

Ali za iskusnog razmišljatelja prihvaćanje takvih intruzija u njegov osjetljivi i fino usklađeni temperament bilo bi kao uvođenje čimbenika koji bi mogao dovesti u sumnju sve njegove mentalne rezultate.

Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his.

Pijesak u osjetljivom instrumentu ili pukotina u jednom od njegovih snažnih leća ne bi bili više uznemiravajući od snažne emocije u prirodi poput njegove.

And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.

Ipak, za njega je postojała samo jedna žena, a to bila je pokojna Irene Adler, čije se sjećanja mogu dovoditi u pitanje i biti sporna.

I had seen little of Holmes lately.

Nedavno sam rijetko vidio Holmesa.

My marriage had drifted us away from each other.

Naš brak nas je udaljio jedan od drugoga.

My own complete happiness, and the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attention,

Moja potpuna sreća i interesi vezani uz dom koji se pojavljuju oko čovjeka koji prvi put postaje gospodar vlastitog doma bili su dovoljni da apsorbiraju sve moje pozornost.

while Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature.

A Holmes, koji je svojim cijelim boemskim duhom mrzio svaku vrstu druženja, ostao je u našem stanu u Baker Streetu, zakopan među svoje stare knjige i tjedan po tjednu prebacivao se između kokaina i ambicije, pospanost droge i žestoku energiju svoje vlastite oštrine.

He was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police.

Još uvijek je bio duboko fasciniran proučavanjem kriminala i koristio svoje ogromne sposobnosti i izvanredne moći promatranja kako bi pronašao tragove i razriješio misterije koje su službena policija smatrala beznadnim.

From time to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland.

S vremena na vrijeme čuo sam neke nejasne priče o njegovim djelima: o njegovom pozivu u Odessu u slučaju ubojstva Trepoffa, o njegovom razriješenju neobične tragedije braće Atkinson u Trincomalee i naposljetku o misiji koju je tako delikatno i uspješno obavio za vladajuću obitelj Nizozemske.

Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my former friend and companion.

Međutim, osim tih znakova njegove aktivnosti, koje sam dijelio sa svim čitateljima dnevnih novina, nisam puno znao o svom bivšem prijatelju i suputniku.

One night—it was on the twentieth of March, 1888—I was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street.

Jedne noći – bilo je to dvadesetog ožujka 1888. – vraćao sam se s putovanja kod pacijenta (jer sam se tada vratio u privatnu praksu), kada me put dovedao kroz Baker Street.

As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.

Dok sam prolazio kroz dobro upamćeni vrt, koji ću uvijek povezivati sa svojim udvaranjem i mračnim događajima iz „Studije u crvenom”, bio sam ispunjen željom da ponovno vidim Holmesa i saznat kako koristi svoje izvanredne sposobnosti.

His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind.

Njegove sobe bile su sjajno osvijetljene, i čim sam pogledao gore, vidio sam njegovu visoku, mršavu figuru kako dvaput prolazi u tamnom siluetu protiv prozora.

He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him.

Hodao je brzo i žestoko po sobi, s glavom spuštenom na prsa i rukama svezenim iza sebe.

To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story.

Za mene, koji sam znao svaku njegovu raspoloženost i naviku, njegov stav i ponašanje govorili su sami za sebe.

He was at work again.

Bio je ponovno u radu.

He had risen out of his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem.

Izbio je iz svojih izazvanih drogom snova i bio je na tragu nekog novog problema.

I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own.

Zazvonio sam zvon i bio sam doveden u sobu koja je nekad bila djelomično moja.

His manner was not effusive.

Njegovo ponašanje nije bilo izrazito toplo.

It seldom was; but he was glad, I think, to see me.

Rijetko je bilo; ali mislim da je bio sretan što me vidi.

With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner.

Gotovo bez riječi, ali s ljubaznim pogledom, zamahnuo je prema fotelji, bacio svoju kutiju cigareta i ukazao na kutiju s likerom i plinovu bocu u kutu.

Then he stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular introspective fashion.

Potom je stao ispred vatre i promatrao me na svoj jedinstven način introspekcije.

“Wedlock suits you,” he remarked. “I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you.”

„Brak ti odgovara”, izjavio je. „Mislim, Watson, da si dobio sedam i pol funti od kada sam te vidio.”

“Seven!” I answered.

„Sedam!” odgovorila sam.

“Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not tell me that you intended to go into harness.”

„Doista, mislio sam da je malo više. Samo malo više, mislim, Watson. I opet u praksi, primijetim. Niste mi rekli da namjeravate ponovno raditi.”

“Then, how do you know?”

„Onda, kako to znate?”

“I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?”

„Vidim to, zaključujem to. Kako znam da ste se u posljednje vrijeme puno namočili i da imate iznimno neopreznu i nepažljivu sluškinju?”

“My dear Holmes,” said I, “this is too much.

„Moj dragi Holmes”, rekla sam, „to je previše.”

You would certainly have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago.

„Zasigurno biste bili spaljeni da ste živjeli prije nekoliko stoljeća.”

It is true that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can’t imagine how you deduce it.

„Istina je da sam u četvrtak imao šetnju u kampu i vratio se kući u užasnom stanju, ali budući da sam promijenio odjeću, ne mogu zamisliti kako to zaključujete.”

As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it out.”

„Što se tiče Mary Jane, ona je nepopravljiva, a moja supruga joj je dala otkaz, ali i ovdje ne mogu vidjeti kako to zaključujete.”

He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands together.

On je zahihkao i potrajao svojim dugim, nervoznim rukama.

“It is simplicity itself,” said he; “my eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts.

„To je jako jednostavno”, rekao je; „moji oči govore mi da je na unutrašnjoj strani vaše lijeve cipele, točno ondje gdje pada svjetlost iz vatre, koža ozlijeđena šest gotovo paralelnih rezova.”

Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it.

„Očito su ih napravili netko tko je vrlo neoprezno strugao oko ruba potplata kako bi uklonio zakrčeno blato.”

Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey.

„Stoga, kao vidite, mogu zaključiti da ste bili izvan u užasnom vremenu i da imate posebno zlonamjernu primjerku londonske sluškinje koja nije dobra u struganju cipela.”

As to your practice, if a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession.”

„Što se tiče vaše prakse, ako gospodin uđe u moje sobe i miriše na jodofor, s crnom oznakom srebrnog nitrata na desnom kažiprstu i izdajom na desnoj strani svoje šešire gdje je sakrio svoj stetoskop, moram biti doista glup ako ne zaključim da je aktivni član liječničke struke.”

I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction.

Nisam se mogao suzdržati na smijeh zbog lakoće s kojom je objasnio svoj proces zaključivanja.

“When I hear you give your reasons,” I remarked, “the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process.

„Kada čujem da dajete svoje razloge”, primijetio sam, „stvar uvijek čini tako smiješno jednostavnom da bih to mogao lako učiniti i sam, iako u svakom slučaju vašeg razmišljanja sam zbunjen dok mi ne objasnite svoj proces.”

And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours.”

„A ipak vjerujem da su moji oči jednako dobri kao i vaši.”

“Quite so,” he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair. “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room.”

„Točno”, odgovor je, zapalivši cigaretu i sjedavši u fotelju. „Vidite, ali ne primijetite. Razlika je jasna. Na primjer, često ste vidjeli stepenice koje vode iz dvorane u ovu sobu.”

“Frequently.”

„Često.”

“How often?”

„Koliko često?”

“Well, some hundreds of times.”

„Pa, nekoliko stotina puta.”

“Then how many are there?”

„Onda koliko ih ima?”

“How many? I don’t know.”

„Koliko? Ne znam.”

“Quite so!

„Točno!”

You have not observed.

„Niste primijetili.”

And yet you have seen.

„A ipak ste vidjeli.”

That is just my point.

„To je upravo moja poanta.”

Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed.

„Sada znam da ima sedamnaest stupaca, jer sam ih i vidio i primijetio.”

By the way, since you are interested in these little problems, and since you are good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you may be interested in this.”

„Inače, budući da vas zanimaju ti mali problemi i budući da ste dovoljno dobri da zapišete jedno ili dva moja neznatna iskustva, možda će vas zanimati ovo.”

He threw over a sheet of thick, pink-tinted notepaper which had been lying open upon the table.

On je bacao list debele, ružičasto obojene bilježnice koja je ležala otvorena na stolu.

“It came by the last post,” said he.

„Došlo je s posljednjom poštom”, rekao je.

“Read it aloud.”

„Pročitajte to glasno.”

The note was undated, and without either signature or address.

Poruka nije bila datirana i nije imala potpis niti adresu.

“There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o’clock,” it said, “a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment.

„Danas u večernjim satima, točno u 20:15, doći će do vas gospodin koji želi savjetovati se s vama o nešto iznimno važnom.”

Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated.

„Vaše nedavne usluge jednoj od europskih kraljevskih kuća pokazale su da ste osoba kojoj se može sigurno povjeriti pitanja od iznimno velike važnosti.”

This account of you we have from all quarters received.

„Ove informacije o vama primili smo iz različitih izvora.”

Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask.”

„Stoga budite u svojoj sobi u navedeno vrijeme i ne uzmete to loše ako vaš posjetitelj nosi masku.”

“This is indeed a mystery,” I remarked. “What do you imagine that it means?”

„Ovo je doista misterij”, primijetio sam. „Što mislite da to znači?”

“I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. What do you deduce from it?”

„Još nemam podatke. Velika je greška teoretizirati prije nego što imate podatke. Neosviješteno počinjemo iskrivljati činjenice kako bi odgovarale teorijama, umjesto da teorije odgovaraju činjenicama. No što se tiče poruke, kakve zaključke možete izvući iz nje?”

I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was written.

Pažljivo sam pregledao pismo i papir na kojem je pisano.

“The man who wrote it was presumably well to do,” I remarked, endeavouring to imitate my companion’s processes. “Such paper could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff.”

„Čovjek koji je pisao vjerojatno je bio bogat”, primijetio sam, pokušavajući oponašati postupke svog suputnika. „Takav papir ne može se kupiti za manje od pola funte po paketu. To je izuzetno snažan i čvrst papir.”

“Peculiar—that is the very word,” said Holmes. “It is not an English paper at all. Hold it up to the light.”

„Iznimno – to je točno riječ”, rekao je Holmes. „To uopće nije engleski papir. Držite ga na svjetlu.”

I did so, and saw a large “E” with a small “g,” a “P,” and a large “G” with a small “t” woven into the texture of the paper.

Učinio sam to i vidio veliko „E” s malim „g”, „P” i veliko „G” s malim „t” utkano u strukturu papira.

“What do you make of that?” asked Holmes.

„Što mislite o tome?” upitao je Holmes.

“The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather.”

„Nevjerojatno – to je točno riječ”, rekao je Holmes. „To uopće nije engleski papir. Držite ga na svjetlu.” Učinio sam to i vidio veliko „E” s malim „g”, „P” i veliko „G” s malim „t” utkano u strukturu papira. „Što mislite o tome?” upitao je Holmes. „Ime proizvođača, bez sumnje; ili njegov monogram.”

“Not at all.

„Uopće nije.”

The ‘G’ with the small ‘t’ stands for ‘Gesellschaft,’ which is the German for ‘Company.’

„To „G” s malim „t” znači „Gesellschaft”, što na njemačkom znači „Tvrtka”.

It is a customary contraction like our ‘Co.’

To je uobičajena kratica kao naše „Co.”

‘P,’ of course, stands for ‘Papier.’

„P”, naravno, znači „Papier”.

Now for the ‘Eg.’

Sada za „Eg”.

Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer.”

Pogledajmo naš kontinentalni atlas.”

He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves.

Uzimao je teški svežanj knjiga sa svojih police.

“Eglow, Eglonitz—here we are, Egria.

„Eglow, Eglonitz – ovdje smo, Egria.”

It is in a German-speaking country—in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad.

To je u zemlji u kojoj se govori njemački – u Češkoj, u blizini Karlovy Vary.

‘Remarkable as being the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous glass-factories and paper-mills.’

„Značajno kao mjesto smrti Wallensteina i zbog svojih brojnih tvornica stakla i papirne industrije.”

Ha, ha, my boy, what do you make of that?”

Ha, ha, mladiću, što ti misliš o tome?”

His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette.

Njegove oči blistile su, a iz cigarete izašlo je veliko plavo oblak pobjede.

“The paper was made in Bohemia,” I said.

„Papir je proizveden u Češkoj”, rekao sam.

“Precisely.

„Točno.”

And the man who wrote the note is a German.

„A čovjek koji je napisao poruku je Nijemac.”

Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence—‘This account of you we have from all quarters received.’

„Jeste li primijetili neobičnu strukturu rečenice – „Ovaj izvješć o vama primili smo iz svih krajeva.“

A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that.

Francuz ili Rus nikad ne bi to napisali.”

It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs.

„To je Nijemac koji je tako nepristojan prema svojim glagolima.”

It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face.

„Stoga ostaje samo otkriti što želi ovaj Nijemac koji piše na češkom papiru i voli nositi masku umjesto da pokaže svoje lice.”

And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts.”

„I evo ga, ako se ne krivim, da nam razrije sve sumnje.”

As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses’ hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled.

Dok je govorio, čuli smo oštrog zveckanje konjičkih kopita i grloćanje kotača o kaldrmi, a zatim i snažno zvonjenje zvonka. Holmes je zviždao.

“A pair, by the sound,” said he. “Yes,” he continued, glancing out of the window. “A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There’s money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else.”

„Dva konja, čuje se”, rekao je. „Da”, nastavio je, gledajući kroz prozor. „Lijepa mala brougham i dva prekrasna konja. Po stotinu i pedeset gvinezi po komadu. Ima novca u ovom slučaju, Watson, ako ništa drugo.”

“I think that I had better go, Holmes.”

„Mislim da bih trebao otići, Holmes.”

“Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it.”

„Nije potrebno, doktore. Ostani gdje jesi. Izgubljen sam bez svog Boswella. A ovo obećava biti zanimljivo. Bilo bi šteta propustiti to.”

“But your client—”

„Ali tvoj klijent...”

“Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention.”

„Nemojte brinuti o njemu. Možda ću trebati vašu pomoć, a i on može. Evo ga dolazi. Sjedite u to fotelje, doktore, i posvetite nam svoju punu pozornost.”

A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap.

Spori i teški korak, koji se čuo na stubama i u hodniku, odmah zaustavio se izvan vrata. Zatim se čuo glasan i autoritativan pokucaj.

“Come in!” said Holmes.

„Uđite!”, rekao je Holmes.

A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules.

Ušao je čovjek koji je bio gotovo viši od šest stopa i šest inča, s prsima i udima Herkula.

His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste.

Njegova odjeća bila je bogata do te mjere da bi se u Engleskoj smatrala neukusnom.

Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl.

Teški pojas od astrakhana bio je preko rukava i prsa njegovog dvostrukog sakoa, a duboko plavo prekrivalo koje je bilo preko njegovih ramena bilo je obloženo vatrenim svilom i zabukano na vratu brošem koji se sastojao od jednog vatrenog beryla.

Boots which extended halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance.

Čizme koje su se protezale do sredine njegovih lica i koje su bile ukrašene bogatim smeđim krznenim materijalom dovršile su dojam barbarskog bogatstva koji je izazivao njegov cijeli izgled.

He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered.

U ruci je nosio širok šešir, a na gornjem dijelu lica, od obraza do donja, nosio je crnu masku, koju je očito upravo stavio, jer je još uvijek imao ruku podignutu prema njoj kad je ušao.

From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.

Od donjeg dijela lica činilo se da je riječ o čovjeku snažnog karaktera, s debljim, visokim usnicama i dugim, ravnim bradom, koji je pokazivao odlučnost do granice tvrdoglavosti.

“You had my note?” he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. “I told you that I would call.” He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.

„Primili ste moju poruku?”, upitao je dubokim, grubim glasom i s jasno izraženim njemačkim naglaskom. „Rekao sam vam da ću doći.” Pogledao je jednog od nas, a zatim drugog, kao da nije siguran kome se treba obratiti.

“Pray take a seat,” said Holmes. “This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?”

„Molim vas, sjedite”, rekao je Holmes. „Ovo je moj prijatelj i suradnik, dr. Watson, koji mi ponekad pomaže u slučajevima. S kim imam čast razgovarati?”

“You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone.”

„Možete me nazvati grofom Von Krammom, češkim plemićem. Čuo sam da je ovaj gospodin, vaš prijatelj, čovjek od časti i diskrecije, kojem mogu povjeriti stvar od iznimne važnosti. Ako nije, radije bih razgovarao samo s vama.”

I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. “It is both, or none,” said he. “You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me.”

Ustao sam da odem, ali Holmes me je zagrlio za zapeke i gurnuo natrag u stolicu. „Ili sve, ili ništa”, rekao je. „Možete reći pred ovim gospodinom sve što biste rekli meni.”

The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. “Then I must begin,” said he, “by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it may have an influence upon European history.”

Grof je podigao svoje široke ramena. „Onda moram početi”, rekao je, „obvezujući vas obojicu na apsolutnu tajnost tijekom dvije godine; nakon tog vremena stvar neće biti važna. Trenutno nije preuveličano reći da je toliko važno da može utjecati na europsku povijest.”

“I promise,” said Holmes.

„Obećavam”, rekao je Holmes.

“And I.”

„I ja.”

“You will excuse this mask,” continued our strange visitor. “The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own.”

„Izvinite zbog maske”, nastavio je naš neobični posjetitelj. „Dostojanstvena osoba koja me angažira želi da njezin agent ostane nepoznat, a mogu odmah priznati da titula kojom sam se upravo predstavio nije točno moja.”

“I was aware of it,” said Holmes dryly.

„Bio sam svjestan toga”, rekao je Holmes suhito.

“The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia.”

„Okolnosti su vrlo delikatne i potrebno je poduzeti sve mjere kako bi se spriječio mogući veliki skandal i ozbiljno kompromitiranje jedne od europskih vladajućih obitelji. Da budem iskren, stvar uključuje veliku kuću Ormstein, nasljedne kralje Bohemije.”

“I was also aware of that,” murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes.

„Također sam bio svjestan toga”, zamumljao je Holmes, smještajući se u svoju fotelju i zatvarajući oči.

Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client.

Naš posjetitelj je pogledao s očitim iznenađenjem na iscrpljeno, opušteno tijelo čovjeka koji mu je vjerojatno bio opisan kao najoštriji logičar i najenergičniji agent u Europi. Holmes je polako otvorio oči i nešto neugodno pogledao svog divovskog klijenta.

“If your Majesty would condescend to state your case,” he remarked, “I should be better able to advise you.”

„Ako bi Vaše Veličanstvo bilo tako ljubazno da izloži svoj slučaj”, rekao je, „ja bih bio u stanju bolje vas savjetovati.”

The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. “You are right,” he cried; “I am the King. Why should I attempt to conceal it?”

Čovjek je skočio sa stolice i počeo hodati u sobi u nekontroliranoj agitaciji. Zatim je s gestom očaja skinuo masku i bacio je na tlo. „Imate pravo”, viknuo je. „Ja sam kralj. Zašto bih to skrivao?”

“Why, indeed?” murmured Holmes. “Your Majesty had not spoken before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hereditary King of Bohemia.”

„Zašto uistinu?” zamumljao je Holmes. „Vaše Veličanstvo nije reklo da se obraćam Vilhelmu Gottsreichu Sigismondu von Ormsteinu, velikom vojvodu od Cassel-Felsteina i nasljednom kralju Bohemije.”

“But you can understand,” said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, “you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person.

„Ali možete razumjeti”, rekao je naš neobični posjetitelj, ponovno sjedeći i pročešćući svoje visoko bijelo čelo. „Možete razumjeti da nisam naviknut voditi takve poslove osobno.”

Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power.

Ipak je stvar bila toliko delikatna da nisam mogao povjeriti posao agentu a da pritom nisam stavio sebe u njegovu vlast.

I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you.”

Došao sam inkognito iz Praga radi konzultacije s vama.”

“Then, pray consult,” said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more.

„Onda molim konzultirajte”, rekao je Holmes, ponovno zatvarajući oči.

“The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you.”

„Činjenice su u kratkom ovakve: Prije otprilike pet godina, tijekom dugog posjeta Varšavi, upoznao sam poznatu avanturisticu Irene Adler. Ime vam je vjerojatno poznato.”

“Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor,” murmured Holmes without opening his eyes.

„Molim vas, potražite je u mojem indeksu, doktore”, rekao je Holmes bez otvaranja očiju.

For many years he had adopted a system of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not at once furnish information.

Mnoge godine primjenjivao je sustav označavanja svih paragrafa koji se ticali ljudi i stvari, pa je bilo teško nabrojati temu ili osobu o kojoj nije mogao odmah pružiti informacije.

In this case I found her biography sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea fishes.

U ovom slučaju pronašao sam njezinu biografiju smještenu između biografije hebrejskog rabbija i zapovjednika koji je napisao monografiju o dubokomorskim ribama.

“Let me see!” said Holmes.

„Dajte me pogledati!” rekao je Holmes.

“Hum!

„Hmm!”

Born in New Jersey in the year 1858. Contralto—hum!

Rođena u New Jerseyu 1858. godine. Kontralto – hmm!

La Scala, hum!

La Scala, hmm!

Prima donna Imperial Opera of Warsaw—yes! Retired from operatic stage—ha! Living in London—quite so!

Prima donna carskog opernog kazališta u Varšavi – da! Pensionirala se s operne pozornice – ha! Živi u Londonu – baš tako!

Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is now desirous of getting those letters back.”

Vaše Veličanstvo, kako shvaćam, upletlo se s ovom mladom osobom, pisalo joj je neke kompromitirajuće pisma i sada želi povratiti ta pisma.”

“Precisely so. But how—”

„Točno. Ali kako –”

“Was there a secret marriage?”

„Bio je to tajni brak?”

“None.”

„Nije.”

“No legal papers or certificates?”

„Nema zakonskih dokumenata ili potvrda?”

“None.”

„Nema.”

“Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is she to prove their authenticity?”

„Onda ne razumijem Vaše Veličanstvo. Ako bi ova mlada osoba predstavila svoja pisma u svrhu iznude ili u druge svrhe, kako bi dokazala njihovu autentičnost?”

“There is the writing.”

„Ima pismo.”

“Pooh, pooh! Forgery.”

„Psh, psh! To je krivotvorina.”

“My private note-paper.”

„To je moje privatno pismo.”

“Stolen.”

„Ukradeno.”

“My own seal.”

„To je moj vlastiti pečat.”

“Imitated.”

„Imitirano.”

“My photograph.”

„To je moja fotografija.”

“Bought.”

„Kupena.”

“We were both in the photograph.”

„Oboje smo bili na fotografiji.”

“Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion.”

„Oh, ne! To je jako loše! Vaše Veličanstvo doista je počinilo nepristojnost.”

“I was mad—insane.”

„Bio sam lud – mentalno bolesan.”

“You have compromised yourself seriously.”

„Ozbiljno ste se kompromitirali.”

“I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now.”

„Tada sam bio samo nasljedni princ. Bio sam mlad. Sada imam samo trideset godina.”

“It must be recovered.”

„To se mora vratiti.”

“We have tried and failed.”

„Pokušali smo i neuspjeli.”

“Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought.”

„Vaše Veličanstvo mora platiti. To se mora kupiti.”

“She will not sell.”

„Ona neće prodati.”

“Stolen, then.”

„Onda je ukradeno.”

“Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has been waylaid. There has been no result.”

„Učinili smo pet pokušaja. Dva puta su provalnici koje smo angažirali pretražili njezinu kuću. Jednom smo preusmjerili njezin prtljagu kad je putovala. Dva puta ju je zadržano. Nije bilo rezultata.”

“No sign of it?”

„Nema znakova?”

“Absolutely none.”

„Apsolutno nema.”

Holmes laughed. “It is quite a pretty little problem,” said he.

Holmes je nasmijao. „To je prilično zanimljiv mali problem”, rekao je.

“But a very serious one to me,” returned the King reproachfully.

„Ali vrlo ozbiljan za mene”, odgovorila je kraljica s ponosom.

“Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the photograph?”

„Doista. I što ona namjerava učiniti s fotografijom?”

“To ruin me.”

„Uništiti me.”

“But how?”

„Ali kako?”

“I am about to be married.”

„Upravo se ženim.”

“So I have heard.”

„To sam i čuo.”

“To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end.”

„S Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, drugoj kćeri kralja Skandinavije. Možda znate za strogna načela njezine obitelji. Ona je sama vrh delikatnosti. Sumnja u moje ponašanje dovoljna je da sve okonča.”

“And Irene Adler?”

„A što Irene Adler?”

“Threatens to send them the photograph.

„Prijeti da im pošalje fotografiju.”

And she will do it. I know that she will do it.

„I učinit će to. Znam da će to učiniti.”

You do not know her, but she has a soul of steel.

„Vi je ne poznajete, ali ona ima čeličnu volju.”

She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men.

„Ima lice najljepše žene i um najodlučnijeg muškarca.”

Rather than I should marry another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not go—none.”

„Radije bih oženio drugu ženu nego da ona učini bilo što—ništa.”

“You are sure that she has not sent it yet?”

„Jeste li sigurni da to još nije poslala?”

“I am sure.”

„Jesam.”

“And why?”

„A zašto?”

“Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday.”

„Jer je rekla da će to poslati na dan kada se zaruke javno objave. To će biti sljedeći ponedjeljak.”

“Oh, then we have three days yet,” said Holmes with a yawn. “That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in London for the present?”

„Oh, onda imamo još tri dana,” rekao je Holmes zijevajući. „To je vrlo srećno jer imam nekoliko važnih stvari koje moram provjeriti. Vaše Veličanstvo će, naravno, ostati u Londonu za sada?”

“Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Count Von Kramm.”

„Zasigurno. Naći ćete me u hotelu Langham pod imenom grof Von Kramm.”

“Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress.”

„Onda ću vam poslati poruku kako biste znali kako nam ide.”

“Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety.”

„Molim vas, učinite to. Bit ću jako zabrinut.”

“Then, as to money?”

„A što se tiče novca?”

“You have carte blanche.”

„Imate potpunu slobodu.”

“Absolutely?”

„Apsolutno?”

“I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph.”

„Kažem vam da bih dao jednu od provincija svog kraljevstva da bih dobio tu fotografiju.”

“And for present expenses?”

„A za trenutačne troškove?”

The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and laid it on the table.

Kralj je izvadio tešku torbu od kože pod svoju kapu i stavio je na stol.

“There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes,” he said.

„Ima 300 funti u zlatu i 700 u novčanicama”, rekao je.

Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and handed it to him.

Holmes je ispunio potvrdu na dnevniku i uručio mu je.

“And Mademoiselle’s address?” he asked.

„A gdje živi gospođica?” upitao je.

“Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John’s Wood.”

„U Briony Lodgeu, Serpentine Avenueu, St. John’s Woodu.”

Holmes took a note of it. “One other question,” said he. “Was the photograph a cabinet?”

Holmes je zabilježio adresu. „Još jedno pitanje”, rekao je. „Je li fotografija bila u okviru?”

“It was.”

„Bila je.”

“Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good news for you.

„Onda, laku noć, Vaše Veličanstvo, i vjerujem da ćemo uskoro imati neke dobre vijesti za vas.”

And good-night, Watson,” he added, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street.

I dodao je: „Laku noć, Watson”, dok su kotači kraljevske karete kotrljali cestom.

“If you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three o’clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you.”

„Ako biste bili tako ljubazni da me posjetite sutra ujutro u tri sata, volio bih razgovarati o ovoj maloj stvari s vama.”

At three o’clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had not yet returned.

Točno u tri sata bio sam na Baker Streetu, ali Holmes još nije stigao.

The landlady informed me that he had left the house shortly after eight o’clock in the morning.

Domaćica me je obavijestila da je napustio kuću neposredno nakon osam ujutro.

I sat down beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, however long he might be.

Ipak sam sjeo pored vatre s namjerom da čekam, bez obzira na to koliko bi dugo trebalo čekati.

I was already deeply interested in his inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own.

Već sam bio duboko zainteresiran za njegovo istraživanje jer, iako nije bilo nikakvih mračnih i čudnih značajki povezanih s dva kriminala o kojima sam već pisao, priroda slučaja i ugled njegovog klijenta dali su mu svoj karakter.

Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries.

Doista, osim prirode istraživanja koje je moj prijatelj imao na umu, bilo je nešto u njegovom majstorskom rukovanju situacijom i njegovom oštroglednom, dubokom razmišljanju, što mi je dajalo zadovoljstvo proučavati njegov način rada i pratiti brze, suptilne metode kojima je riješavao najnezriječenije misterije.

So accustomed was I to his invariable success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head.

Bio sam toliko naviknut na njegove uvijek uspješne akcije da mi nije čak ni prošlo kroz glavu da bi on mogao ne uspjeti.

It was close upon four before the door opened, and a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room.

Bilo je gotovo četiri kad se vrata otvorila i u prostoriju ušao pijani konjičar, neuredno odjeven i s prekrivenim bradom, s crvenim licem i nepristojnom odjećom.

Accustomed as I was to my friend’s amazing powers in the use of disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was indeed he.

Iako sam bio naviknut na mojeg prijatelja i njegovu izvrsnost u upotrebi prikrivanja, morao sam pogledati tri puta prije nego što sam bio siguran da je to doista on.

With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old.

S jednim mahanjem glave nestao je u spavaćoj sobi, odakle se za pet minuta vratio u svojoj tweednoj odjeći i ponovno izgledajući uredno kao i uvijek.

Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes.

Stavivši ruke u džepove, istegao je noge pred vatrom i nekoliko minuta se srdačno nasmijao.

“Well, really!” he cried, and then he choked and laughed again until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the chair.

„Pa, stvarno!” izviknuo je, a zatim se zagrlio i ponovno nasmijao dok nije bio prisiljen lećati natrag u stolicu, slab i bespomoćan.

“What is it?”

„Što se dogodilo?”

“It’s quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I employed my morning, or what I ended by doing.”

„To je bilo previše smiješno. Sigurno je da nikad nećete pogoditi kako sam proveo jutro ili što sam naposljetku učinio.”

“I can’t imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler.”

„Ne mogu zamisliti. Pretpostavljam da ste promatrali navike i možda kuću gospođe Irene Adler.”

“Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual.

„Točno; ali nastavak je bio prilično neuobičajen.”

I will tell you, however.

„Ipak ću vam to reći.”

I left the house a little after eight o’clock this morning in the character of a groom out of work.

„Izašao sam iz kuće nešto poslije osam ujutro u ulozi nezaposlenog konjača.”

There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men.

„Među ljubiteljima konja postoji nevjerojatna empatija i bratstvo.”

Be one of them, and you will know all that there is to know.

„Budite jedan od njih, a saznat ćete sve što trebate znati.”

I soon found Briony Lodge.

„Uskoro sam pronašao Briony Lodge.”

It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in front right up to the road, two stories.

„To je luksuzna vila s vrtom u pozadini, ali s dvije etaže i fasadom koja se nadvijeva preko ceste.”

Chubb lock to the door.

„Vrata su zaključana na zatvor Chubb.”

Large sitting-room on the right side, well furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open.

„Na desnoj strani nalazi se veliki dnevni boravak s dugim prozorima koji se protežu gotovo do poda i onim apsurdnim engleskim prozorima koje bi dijete moglo otvoriti.”

Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window could be reached from the top of the coach-house.

„Iza kuće nije bilo ničega zanimljivog, osim prozora u hodniku koji se moglo doći s vrha garaže.”

I walked round it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without noting anything else of interest.

„Hodao sam oko kuće i detaljno je pregledao iz svih perspektiva, ali nisam primijetio ništa drugo zanimljivo.”

“I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the garden.

„Zatim sam se prošetkao ulicom i, kako sam očekivao, pronašao stajalište u uličici koja se proteže duž jednog zida vrta.”

I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half-and-half, two fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but whose biographies I was compelled to listen to.”

„Pomogao sam konobarima da očiste konje i dobio sam u zamjenu dva pence, čašu mlijeka i dvije porcije duhana, kao i sve informacije koje sam želio o gospođi Adler, da ne spominjem desetak drugih ljudi u susjedstvu koji me uopće nisu zanimali, ali čije biografije sam bio prisiljen slušati.”

“And what of Irene Adler?” I asked.

„A što se tiče Irene Adler?” upitao sam.

“Oh, she has turned all the men’s heads down in that part.

„Oh, ona je okrenula sve muške glave u tom dijelu.”

She is the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet.

„Ona je najljepša stvar ispod kapu na ovom planetu.”

So say the Serpentine-mews, to a man.

„Tak to govore svi u stajalištu Serpentine.”

She lives quietly, sings at concerts, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for dinner.

„Ona živi tiho, pjeva na koncertima, izlazi u vožnji svakog dana u pet i vraća se točno u sedam na večeru.”

Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings.

„Rijetko izlazi u drugo vrijeme, osim kad pjeva.”

Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him.

Ima samo jednog muškog posjetitelja, ali puno ga je.

He is dark, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and often twice.

On je tamnokos, zgodan i odvažan, nikad ne dolazi rjeđe od jednom dnevno, a često i dvaput.

He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple.

On je gospodin Godfrey Norton iz Inner Templea.

See the advantages of a cabman as a confidant.

Pogledajte prednosti taksijaša kao povjerenika.

They had driven him home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him.

Nekoliko su puta vozili njega kući iz stajališta Serpentine i sve su o njemu znali.

When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of campaign.

Kad sam saslušao sve što su imali za reći, ponovno sam počeo hodati uokolo Briony Lodge i razmišljati o svom planu djelovanja.

“This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the matter.

„Ovaj Godfrey Norton očito je bio važan čimbenik u cijeloj stvari.”

He was a lawyer.

On je odvjetnik.

That sounded ominous.

To je zvučalo zastrašujuće.

What was the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated visits?

Kakav je bio odnos između njih i koja je bila svrha njegovih ponovnih posjeta?

Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress?

Je li ona bila njegova klijentica, prijateljica ili ljubavnica?

If the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his keeping.

Ako je prvo, vjerojatno je prenijela fotografiju u njegovo vlasništvo.

If the latter, it was less likely.

Ako je drugo, to je manje vjerojatno.

On the issue of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman’s chambers in the Temple.

Od odgovora na ovo pitanje ovisilo je hoću li nastaviti svoj rad u Briony Lodge ili usmjeriti svoju pozornost na odvjetnički ured u Templeu.

It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my inquiry.

To je bila delikatna točka i proširila je područje mogog istraživanja.

I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the situation.”

Bojim se da vas dosađujem ovim detaljima, ali moram vam prikazati moje male nedugotnosti ako želite razumjeti situaciju.”

“I am following you closely,” I answered.

„Jednostavno vas pratim,” odgovorila sam.

“I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out.

„Još uvijek razmišljam o tome kad je do Briony Lodge došlo taksi i iz njega izašao gospodin.”

He was a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached—evidently the man of whom I had heard.

„Bio je iznimno zgodan čovjek, tamnoputan, s brkovima – očito on o kojem sam čula.”

He appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at home.

„Činilo se da ima jako puno posla, pa je naredio taksistu da pričeka i prošao pored službenice koja je otvarala vrata, kao da je u potpunosti u svojoj elementu.”

“He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms.

„Proveli su oko pola sata u kući i mogla sam ga uočiti kroz prozore dnevne sobe kako hoda naprijed i natrag, govori uzbuđeno i maše rukama.”

Of her I could see nothing.

„Nisam uspjela ništa vidjeti od nje.”

Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than before.

„Ubrzo se ponovno pojavio, još više uznemiren nego prije.”

As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly, ‘Drive like the devil,’ he shouted, ‘first to Gross & Hankey’s in Regent Street, and then to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road.

„Kad je stupao u taks, izvadio je zlatni sat iz džepa i ozbiljno ga promatrao.” „Vožite kao đavo,” naredio je, „prvo do Gross & Hankey’s na Regent Streetu, a zatim do crkve St. Monica na Edgeware Roadu.”

Half a guinea if you do it in twenty minutes!’

„Dobit ćete pola gine ako to učinite za dvadeset minuta!”

“Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the buckles.

„Odjeli su, a ja sam se upravo pitao trebam li ih pratiti kad je do mene došlo mali landau, a kočar je imao samo pola gumba na jakni i kravatu ispod uha, a sve detalje konjskog opreza izlazile su iz remena.”

It hadn’t pulled up before she shot out of the hall door and into it.

„Nije još došao do mene kad je ona izašla iz dvera i ušla u taks.”

I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for.

„Vidio sam je samo na trenutak, ali bila je prekrasna žena s licem za koje bi se čovjek mogao zaljubiti.”

“‘The Church of St. Monica, John,’ she cried, ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.’

„‘Crkva St. Monica, John,’ pozvala je. ‘I pola funte ako to učinite za dvadeset minuta.’”

“This was quite too good to lose, Watson.

„To je bilo previše dobro da to propustim, Watson.”

I was just balancing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her landau when a cab came through the street.

„Razmišljao sam hoću li trčati ili se sakriti iza njezinog landaua kad je do mene došlo taksije.”

The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could object.

„Vozač me dvaput pogledao zbog tako loše odjeće, ali sam uspio ući prije nego što je mogao prigovoriti.”

‘The Church of St. Monica,’ said I, ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.’

„‘Crkva St. Monica,’ rekao sam. ‘I pola funte ako to učinite za dvadeset minuta.’”

It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind.

Bilo je dvadeset i pet minuta do ponoći i naravno bilo je jasno što se događalo.

“My cabby drove fast. I don’t think I ever drove faster, but the others were there before us.

„Moj taksiješ je vozio brzo. Mislim da nikad nisam vozio brže, ali ostali su došli prije nas.”

The cab and the landau with their steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived.

„Taksije i landau s konjima koji su dišali bili su ispred vrata kad sam stigao.”

I paid the man and hurried into the church.

„Platio sam vozača i požurio u crkvu.”

There was not a soul there save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostulating with them.

„Tamo nije bilo nikoga osim dviju osoba koje sam pratio i svećenika u svećeničkom odijelu, koji se činio da ih oprezuje.”

They were all three standing in a knot in front of the altar.

„Svi tri stajali su u krugu ispred oltara.”

I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church.

„Prošao sam bočnu navu kao bilo koji drugi posjetitelj koji je ušao u crkvu.”

Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards me.

„Najednom, na moje iznenađenje, tri osobe ispred oltara okrenule su se prema meni, a Godfrey Norton počeo je trčati prema meni što je brže mogao.”

“‘Thank God,’ he cried. ‘You’ll do. Come! Come!’

„‘Hvala Bogu’, viknuo je. ‘To će dovoliti. Dođi! Dođi!’”

“‘What then?’ I asked.

„‘Pa što?’ upitao sam.”

“‘Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won’t be legal.’

„‘Dođi, čovječe, dođi. Samo još tri minute, inače to neće biti legalno.’”

“I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Godfrey Norton, bachelor.

„Tada me pola vukao prema oltaru i prije nego što sam se mogao oporaviti, već sam ponavljao odgovore koji su mi šupljali u uho, potvrđivao stvari o kojima nisam imao pojma i općenito sudjelovao u sigurnom vezivanju Irene Adler, neudane žene, s Godfreyem Nortonom, neženjenim muškarcem.”

It was all done in an instant, and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front.

„Sve je bilo u trenutku, a gospodin mi je zahvaljivao s jedne strane, a dama s druge, dok je svećenik nasmiješen gledao mene ispred.”

It was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just now.

„To je bila najneshvaćenija situacija u kojoj sam se ikad u životu našao, i upravo misao na to me sada natjerala da se nasmijim.”

It seems that there had been some informality about their license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in search of a best man.

„Ispada da je bilo nekih nedostataka u njihovoj dozvoli, da je svećenik apsolutno odbio vjenčati ih bez nekog svjedka, a moj sretni dolazak spasio je mladoženja od potrage po najboljem čovjeku na ulicama.”

The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to wear it on my watch chain in memory of the occasion.”

„Nevjesta mi je dala novčić i namjeravam nositi ga na lančiću za sat kao uspjeće tog dana.”

“This is a very unexpected turn of affairs,” said I; “and what then?”

„To je bio jako neočekivani ishod”, rekao sam; „a što onda?”

“Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced.

„Pa, vidio sam da su moji planovi ozbiljno ugroženi.”

It looked as if the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate very prompt and energetic measures on my part.

„Činilo se da će par odmah otići i tada bih morao poduzeti vrlo brze i odlučne mjere.”

At the church door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and she to her own house.

„Međutim, na vratima crkve razdvojili su se: on se vratio u Temple, a ona u svoju kuću.”

‘I shall drive out in the park at five as usual,’ she said as she left him.

„Ja ću voziti u parku u pet sati kao inače”, rekla je dok je odlazila.

I heard no more.

Nisam čuo ništa više.

They drove away in different directions, and I went off to make my own arrangements.”

Odveli su se u različitim smjerovima, a ja sam otišao napraviti svoje uređenja.”

“Which are?”

„A koja su to uređenja?”

“Some cold beef and a glass of beer,” he answered, ringing the bell. “I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want your co-operation.”

„Nekoliko komada hladnog govedine i čašu piva”, odgovor je i zvonio zvonom. „Bio sam previše zauzet da razmišljam o hrani, a vjerojatno ću biti još zauzetiji večeras. Uostalom, doktore, trebat će mi vaša suradnja.”

“I shall be delighted.”

„Bit ću oduševljen.”

“You don’t mind breaking the law?”

„Ne smatrate li da je to protuzakonito?”

“Not in the least.”

„Nisam ni najmanje zabrinut.”

“Nor running a chance of arrest?”

„A što mislite o riziku od uhićenja?”

“Not in a good cause.”

„Ako je to u dobrom interesu.”

“Oh, the cause is excellent!”

„Oh, interes je izvrstan!”

“Then I am your man.”

„Onda sam vaš čovjek.”

“I was sure that I might rely on you.”

„Bio sam siguran da mogu pouzdati u vas.”

“But what is it you wish?”

„Ali što želite?”

“When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to you.

„Kad gospođa Turner donese podlogu, sve ću vam objasniti.”

Now,” he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our landlady had provided, “I must discuss it while I eat, for I have not much time.

„Sada”, rekao je dok je gladno gledao jednostavnu hranu koju je pružila naša domaćica, „moram to razgovarati dok jedem, jer nemam puno vremena.”

It is nearly five now.

„Sada je gotovo pet.”

In two hours we must be on the scene of action.

„Za dva sata moramo biti na mjestu djelovanja.”

Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns from her drive at seven.

„Gospođa Irene, ili bolje rečeno, Madame, vraća se s vožnje u sedam.”

We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her.”

„Moramo biti u Briony Lodge kako bismo je dočekali.”

“And what then?”

„I što onda?”

“You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must not interfere, come what may. You understand?”

„To morate ostaviti meni. Već sam dogovorio što će se dogoditi. Samo na jednu stvar moram inzistirati. Ne smijete se miješati, bilo kako bilo. Razumijete?”

“I am to be neutral?”

„Moram biti neutralan?”

“To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close to that open window.”

„Ne učiniti ništa. Vjerojatno će doći do nekih manjih neugodnosti. Nemojte se u to miješati. Završit će to mojim uvođenjem u kuću. Četiri ili pet minuta kasnije otvorit će se prozor u dnevnoj sobi. Morat ćete stajati blizu tog otvorenog prozora.”

“Yes.”

„Da.”

“You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you.”

„Morat ćete me pratiti, jer ću ja biti vidljiv za vas.”

“Yes.”

„Da.”

“And when I raise my hand—so—you will throw into the room what I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of fire. You quite follow me?”

„A kad podignem ruku – tako – bacit ćete u sobu ono što vam dam da bacate i istodobno izviknete vatra. Jasno me razumijete?”

“Entirely.”

„Potpuno.”

“It is nothing very formidable,” he said, taking a long cigar-shaped roll from his pocket.

„Nije to ništa strašno”, rekao je, izvlačeći dug cilindrični predmet iz džepa.

“It is an ordinary plumber’s smoke-rocket, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting.

„To je obična dimna raketa za instalatera, opremljena poklopima na oba kraja kako bi se sama zapalila.”

Your task is confined to that.

„Vaš zadatak ograničen je na to.”

When you raise your cry of fire, it will be taken up by quite a number of people.

„Kada izviknete vatra, mnogo ljudi će to čuti.”

You may then walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten minutes.

„Zatim možete pješačiti do kraja ulice, a ja ću vam se pridružiti za deset minuta.”

I hope that I have made myself clear?”

„Nadam se da sam se dovoljno jasno izrazio?”

“I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street.”

„Moram ostati neutralan, približiti se prozoru, promatrati vas i po signalu baciti ovaj predmet, a zatim izviknuti vatra i čekati vas na uglu ulice.”

“Precisely.”

„Točno.”

“Then you may entirely rely on me.”

„Tada možete potpuno pouzdati u mene.”

“That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I prepare for the new role I have to play.”

„To je izvrsno. Mislim da je vjerojatno već vrijeme da se pripremim za novu ulogu koju ću morati odigrati.”

He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman.

On je nestao u svoju spavaću sobu i vratio se za nekoliko minuta u ulozi prijateljskog i nekompleksnog nekonformističkog svećenika.

His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have equalled.

Njegov širok crni šešir, njegove opušene hlače, njegov bijeli kravat, njegov suosjećajni osmijeh i opći izgled znatiželjnog i dobrodušnog znatiželjnika bili su takvi da ih je mogao jednako imitirati samo gospodin John Hare.

It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume.

Nije bilo samo to da je Holmes promijenio svoju odjeću.

His expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed.

Njegov izraz, njegovo ponašanje, čak i njegova duša činili su se promijeniti s svakom novom ulogom koju je preuzeo.

The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime.

Pozornica je izgubila odličnog glumca, baš kao što je znanost izgubila oštrog razmišljatelja, kad je postao stručnjak za kriminal.

It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue.

Bilo je to šest i četvrt kad smo napustili Baker Street, a još nedostajalo deset minuta do sedam kad smo se našli u Serpentine Avenueu.

It was already dusk, and the lamps were just being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occupant.

Već je bilo sumrko, a svjetla upravo se upalila dok smo hodali naprijed i natrag ispred Briony Lodge čekajući dolazak stanovnika.

The house was just such as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes’ succinct description, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected.

Kuća je bila točno onakva kakvu sam zamislio prema kratkom opisu Sherlocka Holmesa, ali područje se činilo manje privatnim nego što sam očekivao.

On the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was remarkably animated.

Naprotiv, za malu ulicu u mirnom susjedstvu bilo je iznimno živo.

There was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths.

Bila je to grupa loše odjevenih muškaraca koji su pušili i smijali se u kutu, brisač s kotačem, dva čuvara koji su flertali s medicinskom sestrom i nekoliko dobro odjevenih mladića koji su se šećali s cigaretama u ustima.

“You see,” remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the house, “this marriage rather simplifies matters.

„Vidite”, primijetio je Holmes dok smo hodali naprijed i natrag ispred kuće, „ovo vjenčanje zapravo olakšava stvari.”

The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now.

Fotografija sada postaje dvosmisleno oružje.”

The chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his princess.

Vjerojatno bi ona bila jednako nevoljna da je gospodin Godfrey Norton vidio fotografiju, kao i naš klijent da je njegova princeza vidjela fotografiju.”

Now the question is, Where are we to find the photograph?”

Sada se pitamo: Gdje možemo pronaći fotografiju?”

“Where, indeed?”

„Doista, gdje?”

“It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her.

„Vrlo je malo vjerojatno da je ona nosila fotografiju sa sobom.”

It is cabinet size.

Fotografija je veličine kabineta.

Too large for easy concealment about a woman’s dress.

Prevelika je da se lako sakrije u žensku odjeću.”

She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched.

Ona zna da je kralj spreman zasjesti joj i pretražiti je.”

Two attempts of the sort have already been made.

Dva takva pokušaja već su napravljeni.

We may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her.”

Možemo pretpostaviti da ona nije nosila fotografiju sa sobom.”

“Where, then?”

„Gdje je onda?”

“Her banker or her lawyer.

„Kod njezinog bankara ili odvjetnika.”

There is that double possibility.

Postoji dvostruka mogućnost.

But I am inclined to think neither.

Ali ja ne bih vjerovao u ništa od toga.”

Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting.

„Žene su prirodno tajnovite i voliju sve tajno čuvati.”

Why should she hand it over to anyone else?

„Zašto bi ona to prepuštala nekom drugom?”

She could trust her own guardianship, but she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a business man.

„Mogla bi vjerovati vlastitom skrbniku, ali ne može predvidjeti kakav neizravni ili politički utjecaj mogao bi se izvršiti na poslovnog čovjeka.”

Besides, remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days.

„Osim toga, upamtite da je ona odlučila upotrijebiti novac unutar nekoliko dana.”

It must be where she can lay her hands upon it.

„Mora biti mjesto na kojem ona može pristupiti novcu.”

It must be in her own house.”

„Mora biti u njezinoj vlastitoj kući.”

“But it has twice been burgled.”

„Ali kuća je već dvaput opljačkana.”

“Pshaw! They did not know how to look.”

„Pshaw! Nisu znali kako trebali potražiti.”

“But how will you look?”

„Ali kako ćete vi potražiti?”

“I will not look.”

„Ja neću potražiti.”

“What then?”

„I što onda?”

“I will get her to show me.”

„Natjerat ću je da mi pokaže.”

“But she will refuse.”

„Ali ona će odbijati.”

“She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter.”

„Neće moći. Ali čujem zveckanje kotača. To je njezin kar, sada provodite moje naredbe do točnosti.”

As he spoke the gleam of the sidelights of a carriage came round the curve of the avenue.

Dok je govorio, svjetlo bočnih reflektora automobila pojavilo se za krivom avenije.

It was a smart little landau which rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge.

Bila je to elegantna mala kola koja je grlojavo došla do ulaza u Briony Lodge.

As it pulled up, one of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention.

Kad je stigla, jedan od muškaraca koji su se zagrlili na uglu pojurio je otvoriti vrata u nadi da će zaraditi novčić, ali ga je gurnuo drugi ljenjivac koji je također žurio s istom namjerom.

A fierce quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, who was equally hot upon the other side.

Izbio je žestok svađa, u koju su se uključili dva čuvara, koji su stali na strani jednog od ljenjivaca, i brisač papira, koji je jednako zagovarao drugu stranu.

A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks.

Uzdignut je udarac, i u trenutku dama, koja je izašla iz svoje karoge, našla se u središtu male grupe zagrljenih i svađajućih se muškaraca, koji su se divo udarali jedni drugima svojim šipkama i palicama.

Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but, just as he reached her, he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood running freely down his face.

Holmes je provalio u gomilu kako bi zaštitio damu; ali, upravo kad je stigao do nje, izdao je uzvik i pao na tlo, s krvicom koja mu je slobodno tekała niz lice.

At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while a number of better dressed people, who had watched the scuffle without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the injured man.

Kad je pao, čuvari su pobjegli u jednom smjeru, a ljenjivaci u drugom, dok je broj bolje odjevenih ljudi, koji su promatrali sukob bez sudjelovanja, počeli pomaći dami i brinuti se o ozlijeđenom muškarcu.

Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking back into the street.

Irene Adler, kako ću je i dalje zvati, pojurila je gore stepenicama; ali stajala je na vrhu svojom izvrsnom figurom u kontrastu sa svjetlom dvorane, gledajući natrag na ulicu.

“Is the poor gentleman much hurt?” she asked.

„Je li siromašni gospodin teško ozlijeđen?” upitala je.

“He is dead,” cried several voices.

„On je mrtav,” vikali su nekoliko glasova.

“No, no, there’s life in him!” shouted another. “But he’ll be gone before you can get him to hospital.”

„Ne, ne, on je još živ!” vikao je drugi. „Ali otiće će prije nego što ga možete odvesti u bolnicu.”

“He’s a brave fellow,” said a woman. “They would have had the lady’s purse and watch if it hadn’t been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he’s breathing now.”

„On je hrabri čovjek,” rekla je žena. „Ako nije bio on, lopovi bi ukrali džep i sat dami. Bili su to banda, i to gruba banda. Ah, on sada diše.”

“He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?”

„Ne može ležati na ulici. Možemo li ga unijeti, gospođo?”

“Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!”

„Naravno. Unesite ga u dnevni boravak. Tamo je udoban kauč. Ovamo, molim vas!”

Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings from my post by the window.

Polako i svečano, on je prebačen u Briony Lodge i smješten u glavnu sobu, dok sam ja i dalje promatrao događaje sa svojeg mjesta pored prozora.

The lamps had been lit, but the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch.

Svjetla su bila upaljena, ali zavjese nisu bile povučene, pa sam mogao vidjeti Holmesa kako leži na kauču.

I do not know whether he was seized with compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited upon the injured man.

Ne znam je li u tom trenutku osjetio krivnju zbog uloge koju je igrao, ali znam da nikad u životu nisam osjećao veću sramotu kad sam vidio prekrasno stvorenje protiv kojeg sam se zavjerio, ili gracioznost i dobrotu s kojom je brinula o ozlijeđenom čovjeku.

And yet it would be the blackest treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to me.

Ipak, bilo bi najgora izdaja prema Holmesu da se sada povučem iz uloge koju mi je povjerio.

I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under my ulster.

Ojačao sam srce i izvadio dimnjak iz svoje jakne.

After all, I thought, we are not injuring her.

Naposljetku, mislio sam, ne štetimo joj.

We are but preventing her from injuring another.

Samo joj sprečavamo da našteti nekom drugom.

Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man who is in need of air.

Holmes je sjio na kauču i vidio sam da se kreće kao čovjek koji treba zadahnuti zrak.

A maid rushed across and threw open the window.

Službenica je pojurila i otvorila prozor.

At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of “Fire!”

U isto vrijeme vidio sam da diže ruku i na znak sam bacao dimnjak u sobu uz vik „Vatra!”

The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well dressed and ill—gentlemen, ostlers, and servant maids—joined in a general shriek of “Fire!”

Riječi nisu još izašle iz mojih usta kad je cijela gomila promatrača, dobro odjevenih i ne tako dobro odjevenih - gospodinovi, konjičari i službenice - pridružila se općem viku „Vatra!”

Thick clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window.

Gusta oblaka dima prošla su kroz sobu i izašla kroz otvoren prozor.

I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm.

Uočio sam prolazeće figure i trenutak kasnije čuo Holmesov glas iznutra kako ih uvjerava da je to lažna opasnost.

Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend’s arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar.

Prokrio sam se kroz mase ljudi i došao do kuta ulice, a za deset minuta bio sam sretan što sam pronašao prijatelja i pobjegao s mjesta nereda.

He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road.

Hodao je brzo i u tišini nekoliko minuta dok nismo skrenuli u jednu od mirnih ulica koje vode prema Edgeware Roadu.

“You did it very nicely, Doctor,” he remarked. “Nothing could have been better. It is all right.”

„Učinio si to vrlo dobro, doktore”, izjavio je. „Nije moglo biti bolje. Sve je u redu.”

“You have the photograph?”

„Imate fotografiju?”

“I know where it is.”

„Znam gdje je.”

“And how did you find out?”

„A kako si to saznao?”

“She showed me, as I told you she would.”

„Pokazala mi ju je, kako sam ti rekao da će to učiniti.”

“I am still in the dark.”

„Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.”

“I do not wish to make a mystery,” said he, laughing. “The matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening.”

„Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna. Naravno, vidio si da su svi ljudi na ulici bili suučesnici. Svi su bili angažirani za tu noć.”

“I guessed as much.”

„To sam i pretpostavio.”

“Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick.”

„Onda, kad je došlo do svađe, imao sam malo vlažne crvene boje u dlanu. Pojurio sam naprijed, pao, pritisnuo ruku na lice i postao žalosan prizor. To je stara trik.”

“That also I could fathom.”

„To sam također mogao shvatiti.”

“Then they carried me in.

„Onda su me unijeli.”

She was bound to have me in.

„Bila je prisiljena da me pusti unutra.”

What else could she do?

„Što drugo je mogla učiniti?”

And into her sitting-room, which was the very room which I suspected.

„Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.” „Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna. Naravno, vidio si da su svi ljudi na ulici bili suučesnici. Svi su bili angažirani za tu noć.” „To sam i pretpostavio.” „Onda, kad je došlo do svađe, imao sam malo vlažne crvene boje u dlanu. Pojurio sam naprijed, pao, pritisnuo ruku na lice i postao

It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was determined to see which.

žalosan prizor. To je stara trik.” „To sam također mogao shvatiti.” „Onda su me unijeli.” „Bila je prisiljena da me pusti unutra.” „Što drugo je mogla učiniti?” „Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.”

They laid me on a couch, I motioned for air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your chance.”

„Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna. Naravno, vidio si da su svi ljudi na ulici bili suučesnici. Svi su bili angažirani za tu noć.” „To sam i pretpostavio.” „Onda su me unijeli.” „Bila je prisiljena da me pusti unutra.” „Što drugo je mogla učiniti?” „Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.” „Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna. Naravno, vidio si da su svi ljudi na ulici bili suučesnici. Svi su bili angaž

“How did that help you?”

irani za tu noć.” „To sam i pretpostavio.” „Onda su me unijeli.” „Bila je prisiljena da me pusti unutra.” „Što drugo je mogla učiniti?” „Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.” „Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna. Naravno, vidio si da su svi ljudi na ulici

“It was all-important.

bili suučesnici. Svi su bili angažirani za tu noć.” „To sam i pretpostavio.” „Onda su me unijeli.” „Bila je prisiljena da me pusti unutra.” „Što drugo je mogla učiniti?” „Još uvijek nisam dobio pojmu.” „Ne želim praviti misterije”, rekao je smiješno. „Stvar je bila vrlo jednostavna.

When a woman thinks that her house is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most.

他们把我带了进去。 她不得不让我进去。 她还能做什么？ 然后带我进了她的客厅，那正是我怀疑的那个房间。 它位于客厅和卧室之间，我决心看看是哪一个。 他们把我放在沙发上，我示意要呼吸新鲜空气，于是他们不得不打开窗户，而你就有了机会。 “这对你有什么帮助呢？” “这非常重要。 当一个女人认为她的房子着火了，她的本能反应就是立即冲向她最珍视的东西。

It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more than once taken advantage of it.

这是一种完全压倒性的冲动，我不止一次地利用了这一点。

In the case of the Darlington Substitution Scandal it was of use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business.

在达林顿替换丑闻中，这对我很有用，在阿恩斯沃斯城堡事件中也是如此。

A married woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box.

已婚妇女会抓住她的孩子；未婚妇女会伸手去拿她的珠宝盒。

Now it was clear to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of.

现在对我来说很清楚，今天的这位女士家里没有比我们正在寻找的东西更珍贵的东西了。

She would rush to secure it.

她会冲过去保护它。

The alarm of fire was admirably done.

火警警报做得非常好。

The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel.

烟雾和喊叫声足以让钢铁般的神经也崩溃了。

She responded beautifully.

她表现得非常出色。

The photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right bell-pull.

照片放在右边门铃拉手上方滑动面板后面的凹槽里。

She was there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of it as she half drew it out.

她立刻就到了那里，当她半抽出照片时，我瞥见了它。

When I cried out that it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room, and I have not seen her since.

当我喊出这是虚惊一场时，她把照片放回原处，看了看火箭，冲出房间，从那以后我就再也没有见过她了。

I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the house.

我站起来，找了个借口，离开了那栋房子。

I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly, it seemed safer to wait.

我犹豫是否要立即去保护那张照片；但车夫已经进来了，而且他正在密切注视着我，所以等待似乎更安全些。

A little over-precipitance may ruin all.”

做得太急躁可能会毁掉一切。”

“And now?” I asked.

“那现在呢？”我问道。

“Our quest is practically finished.

“我们的任务基本上已经完成了。

I shall call with the King to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us.

明天我会和国王一起去拜访，如果你愿意的话，也一起去吧。

We will be shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph.

他们会带我们进客厅等候那位女士，但很可能当她来的时候，她既找不到我们，也找不到那张照片。

It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it with his own hands.”

如果陛下能亲自把照片找回来，那对他来说一定是一种满足。”

“And when will you call?”

“那你们什么时候去呢？”

“At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the King without delay.”

“早上八点钟。她那时还没起床，所以我们可以顺利完成任务。此外，我们必须动作迅速，因为这次婚姻可能会彻底改变她的生活和习惯。我必须立即给国王发电报。”

We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said:

我们到了贝克街，停在门口。他正在口袋里找钥匙，这时一个路人说道：

“Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes.”

“晚安，歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生。”

There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had hurried by.

当时人行道上有很多人，可这声问候似乎是从一个匆匆走过的穿大衣的瘦弱青年那里传来的。

“I’ve heard that voice before,” said Holmes, staring down the dimly lit street. “Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have been.”

“我以前听过这个声音，”福尔摩斯说着，凝视着昏暗的街道。“现在，我想知道那究竟是谁。”

I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed into the room.

那天晚上我睡在贝克街，第二天早上，我们正在享用烤面包和咖啡时，波希米亚国王冲进了房间。

“You have really got it!” he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face.

“你们真的找到了！”他喊道，抓住歇洛克·福尔摩斯的双肩，急切地看着他的脸。

“Not yet.”

“还没有。”

“But you have hopes?”

“但你们有希望吗？”

“I have hopes.”

“我有希望。”

“Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone.”

“那好，快走吧。我迫不及待地想离开这里了。”

“We must have a cab.”

“我们得叫辆出租车。”

“No, my brougham is waiting.”

“不，我的车在等着呢。”

“Then that will simplify matters.” We descended and started off once more for Briony Lodge.

“那就简单多了。”我们下楼，再次出发前往布里奥尼洛奇。

“Irene Adler is married,” remarked Holmes.

“艾琳·阿德勒结婚了，”福尔摩斯说道。

“Married! When?”

“结婚了！什么时候的事？”

“Yesterday.”

“昨天。”

“But to whom?”

“但她嫁给了谁？”

“To an English lawyer named Norton.”

“嫁给了一个叫诺顿的英国律师。”

“But she could not love him.”

“但她不可能爱他啊。”

“I am in hopes that she does.”

“我希望她爱他。”

“And why in hopes?”

“为什么希望呢？”

“Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason why she should interfere with your Majesty’s plan.”

“因为这样一来，你的陛下就不必担心将来会遇到麻烦了。如果这位女士爱她的丈夫，那她就不会爱你的陛下。如果她不爱你的陛下，那就没有理由去干扰你的陛下的计划了。”

“It is true. And yet—! Well! I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!” He relapsed into a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Serpentine Avenue.

“确实如此。不过——！好吧！我真希望她出身和我一样！她本可以成为一位多么出色的女王啊！” 他又陷入了忧郁的沉默，直到我们抵达了 Serpentine大道才打破沉默。

The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from the brougham.

Briony Lodge的门开着，一位年迈的妇女站在台阶上。当我们从马车上下来时，她用一种讽刺的目光注视着我们。

“Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?” said she.

“我猜你是夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生吧？”她说道。

“I am Mr. Holmes,” answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.

“我是福尔摩斯先生。”我的同伴回答道，他用一种疑惑而又有些惊讶的目光看着她。

“Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Cross for the Continent.”

“是啊！我的女主人告诉我你很可能会来拜访。她今天早上和她的丈夫一起乘坐5点15分从查令十字车站出发的火车前往欧洲大陆了。”

“What!” Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. “Do you mean that she has left England?”

“什么！”夏洛克·福尔摩斯惊讶得脸色苍白，身子摇摇晃晃地退后了几步。“你是说她已经离开英国了？”

“Never to return.”

“再也不回来了。”

“And the papers?” asked the King hoarsely. “All is lost.”

“那些文件呢？” 国王沙哑地问道。“全都完了。”

“We shall see.”

“走着瞧吧。”

He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself.

他推开佣人，冲进客厅，国王和我紧随其后。

The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight.

房间里的家具四处散落，书架被拆解，抽屉大开，仿佛那位女士在逃离前匆忙翻找过这些东西似的。

Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter.

福尔摩斯冲向门铃拉环，猛地拉开一扇小推拉门，伸手进去拿出一张照片和一封信。

The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to “Sherlock Holmes, Esq.

照片上是身着晚礼服的艾琳·阿德勒本人，信封上写着“夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生”。

To be left till called for.”

“请勿拆阅。”

My friend tore it open, and we all three read it together.

我的朋友撕开信封，我们三人一起读了起来。

It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:

信是前一晚午夜写的，内容如下：

“MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,—You really did it very well.

“亲爱的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生，——你这次真是处理得非常出色。”

You took me in completely.

“你完全骗过了我。”

Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion.

“直到火警响起，我才有所怀疑。”

But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think.

“但当我意识到自己暴露了身份时，我开始思考起来。”

I had been warned against you months ago.

“几个月前就有人警告过我，要小心你这个人。”

I had been told that, if the King employed an agent, it would certainly be you.

“有人告诉我，如果国王要雇佣一个特工，那个人肯定会是你。”

And your address had been given me.

“而且你的地址也被告知了我。”

Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know.

“然而，尽管如此，你还是让我说出了你想知道的一切。”

Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman.

“即使在我开始怀疑之后，要对我这样一位亲切、善良的老牧师心存恶意，也实在太难了。”

But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself.

“但你知道的，我自己也接受过演员训练。”

Male costume is nothing new to me.

“男装对我来说并不陌生。”

I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives.

“我经常利用它所赋予的自由。”

I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking clothes, as I call them, and came down just as you departed.

“我派了马车夫约翰去监视你，自己跑上楼，换上我所谓的‘散步装’，然后在你离开的时候恰好下楼。”

“Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and started for the Temple to see my husband.

“嗯，我跟着你到了门口，这样我就确信自己确实是大名鼎鼎的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生的关注对象了。然后我有点鲁莽地向你道了晚安，就动身去圣殿见我的丈夫了。”

“We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you call to-morrow.

“我们都认为，当面对如此强大的对手时，最好的办法就是逃走。所以当你明天来访时，会发现那个窝空无一人。”

As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace.

“至于那张照片，你的客户可以安息了。”

I love and am loved by a better man than he.

“我爱着一个比他更好的人，而他也爱着我。”

The King may do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged.

“国王可以随心所欲地行事，而不会受到他曾残忍伤害过的人的阻拦。”

I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future.

“我保留它只是为了保护自己，保留一件武器，这样他将来再想对我采取任何行动时，我都能安然自保。”

I leave a photograph which he might care to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

“我留下了一张他或许想拥有的照片；而我，亲爱的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生，依然在此。”

“Very truly yours,

“诚挚问候，

“IRENE NORTON, née ADLER.”

艾琳·诺顿，原名阿德勒。”

“What a woman—oh, what a woman!” cried the King of Bohemia, when we had all three read this epistle. “Did I not tell you how quick and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?”

“多么了不起的女人啊——哦，多么了不起的女人！”波西米亚国王在我们三人读完这封信后感叹道，“我不是说过她机敏果断吗？她本可以成为一位出色的女王，不是吗？可惜她不是我的对手啊。”

“From what I have seen of the lady, she seems, indeed, to be on a very different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly. “I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty’s business to a more successful conclusion.”

“从我对这位女士的观察来看，她的水平确实和陛下相差甚远。”福尔摩斯冷淡地说，“很遗憾我没能让陛下的案子取得更圆满的结果。”

“On the contrary, my dear sir,” cried the King; “nothing could be more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire.”

“恰恰相反，亲爱的先生。”国王喊道，“这结果再圆满不过了。我知道她言出必行。这张照片现在安全无虞，就好像被烧掉了一样。”

“I am glad to hear your Majesty say so.”

“很高兴听到陛下这么说。”

“I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can reward you. This ring—” He slipped an emerald snake ring from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand.

“我对您感激不尽。请告诉我如何回报您。这枚戒指——” 他从手指上摘下一枚祖母绿蛇形戒指，放在手掌上递给福尔摩斯。

“Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes.

“陛下还有一样东西，对我来说更加珍贵。”福尔摩斯说。

“You have but to name it.”

“您只管说出来。”

“This photograph!”

“这张照片！”

The King stared at him in amazement.

国王惊讶地盯着他。

“Irene’s photograph!” he cried. “Certainly, if you wish it.”

“伊琳的照片！”他喊道，“当然可以，如果您愿意的话。”

“I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good morning.” He bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his chambers.

“多谢陛下。这件事就这样了。荣幸地向您道声早安。”他鞠了一躬，转身离开，没有注意到国王伸向他的手。随后他和我一起回到了自己的房间。

And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman’s wit.

就这样，一场大丑闻差点毁了波希米亚王国，而夏洛克·福尔摩斯的最佳计划也被一个女人的智慧所挫败。

He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late.

他过去常常嘲笑女人的聪明才智，但最近我再也没有听到他这样做了。

And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman.

而当他谈到伊琳·阿德勒，或者提到她的照片时，他总是用尊敬的称呼来称呼她。