To Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman.

于夏洛克·福尔摩斯而言，她永远是那个女人。

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

我很少听他用别的称呼提及她。

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

在他眼中，她超越并主导着整个女性群体。

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

但这并不意味着他对艾琳·阿德勒怀有任何类似爱情的情愫。

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

所有情感，尤其是这种情感，都与他冷酷、精准却又极其平衡的思维格格不入。

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.

在我看来，他或许是世间最完美的推理与观察机器，但若以情人之名行事，他注定会陷入不利的境地。

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

他从不谈论那些温柔的情感，除非是带着嘲讽与讥笑。

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

对于观察者而言，这些情感堪称奇妙之物——它们能揭开人们动机与行为背后的神秘面纱。

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.

但对于训练有素的推理者而言，若允许这些情感侵入自己精密调校的思维体系，无异于引入干扰性因素，可能会让其所有推理结果产生疑云。

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.

敏感仪器中的沙砾，或是高倍镜头上的裂痕，其破坏性都不及强烈情感对他这般天性造成的困扰。

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

然而，在他心中，只有一个女人——那就是已故的艾琳·阿德勒，一个记忆模糊且充满争议的女人。

I had seen little of Holmes lately.

我最近很少见到福尔摩斯了。

My marriage had drifted us away from each other.

我的婚姻让我们的距离渐行渐远。

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,

我如今的幸福生活，以及那些围绕着初次掌控自己家庭的人而产生的家庭琐事，都足以占据我全部的注意力了。

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.

至于福尔摩斯，他用他那波西米亚式的灵魂厌恶着任何形式的社交，始终待在贝克街的住所里，埋头于旧书堆中，每周在可卡因与雄心壮志之间切换——前者带来药物的恍惚，后者则激发他敏锐天性的旺盛精力。

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.

他一如既往，对犯罪研究充满浓厚兴趣，始终用自己超凡的推理能力和敏锐的观察力，追查那些被官方警方视为无解的线索，解开那些被认定为无解的谜团。

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.

偶尔我会听到一些关于他行踪的模糊传闻：比如他被召往敖德萨调查特雷波夫谋杀案，解开特里科马莱阿特金森兄弟的离奇悲剧，最终为荷兰王室家族完成了一项极其巧妙且成功的任务。

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.

然而，除了这些我和所有日报读者都能知晓的活动迹象外，我对这位昔日好友兼伙伴的了解实在不多了。

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.

有一天晚上——那是1888年3月20日——我在结束一次出诊后返家（因为我已重返民事执业领域），途中经过了贝克街。

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.

当我路过那扇永远与我的求爱故事以及《血字的研究》中那些阴暗事件联系在一起的熟悉门户时，突然涌起一股强烈的渴望，渴望再见福尔摩斯一面，渴望知道他如何运用自己非凡的才能。

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.

他的房间灯火通明，就在我抬头望去之际，看到他那修长挺拔的身影在百叶窗的阴影中两次来回走动。

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

他在房间里急促地踱来踱去，焦急不安，脑袋低垂至胸前，双手交叉着护在身后。

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

对我这个熟知他每一丝情绪与习惯的人来说，他的姿态与举止本身就诉说着故事。

He was at work again.

他又投入工作了。

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

他已从药物引发的幻梦中清醒过来，正紧追着某个新案件的线索。

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

我按响门铃，被领进那间曾属于我的房间。

His manner was not effusive.

他一如既往，既不热情洋溢，也不冷淡疏远。

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

但我觉得，他见到我还是挺高兴的。

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.

他几乎没说什么话，只是用慈祥的目光示意我坐到扶手椅上，随手扔过他的雪茄盒，还指了指角落里的烈酒瓶和煤气灯。

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

然后，他站在壁炉前，用他那独特的内省方式审视着我。

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

“婚姻很适合你。”他说。“华生，我觉得自从上次见你以来，你又胖了七磅半。”

“Seven!” I answered.

“七磅？”我回答道。

“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.”

“其实，我本以为你会更重些。再重一点儿，华生。我注意到你又开始行医了。你可没告诉我你打算重操旧业啊。”

“Then, how do you know?”

“那你怎么知道的？”

“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?”

“我看得出来，推断出来的。比如，我怎么知道你最近经常淋雨，还有个笨手笨脚、粗心大意的女佣？”

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

“亲爱的福尔摩斯，”我说，“你太过分了。”

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

“要是你生活在几个世纪前，你肯定会被烧死的。”

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.

“确实，我周四去乡下散步，回家时弄得一身狼狈，但我已经换了衣服，不知道你怎么推断出来的。”

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.”

“至于玛丽·简，她改不了毛病，我妻子已经通知她要走人了，但我还是不明白你怎么推断出来的。”

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

他自嘲地笑了笑，紧张地搓着长长的双手。

“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.

“这再简单不过了，”他说，“我的眼睛告诉我，在你左鞋的内侧，刚好在火光照到的地方，皮革上有六道几乎平行的划痕。”

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.

“显然是有人为了清除鞋底上的硬泥，粗心地刮擦了鞋底边缘造成的。”

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.

“所以，你看，我推断出你最近在恶劣天气外出，还有个特别恶毒、会刮坏鞋子的伦敦女佣。”

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.”

“至于你的行医习惯，如果一个绅士走进我的诊室，身上有碘仿的味道，他右手食指上有银硝酸的黑色痕迹，礼帽右侧鼓起一个包，说明他把听诊器藏在那里，那么我真是太迟钝了，居然没认出他是活跃的医疗从业者。”

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

我忍不住为他解释推理过程时轻松自如的神态发笑。

“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.

“每次听你讲解理由时，”我说，“事情在我看来总是简单得可笑，我自己也能轻易做到。但每次你推理时，我都会困惑不已，直到你解释过程为止。”

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

“不过我相信我的眼睛和你的一样好使。”

“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.”

“没错，”他回答道，点燃一支香烟，瘫倒在扶手椅上，“你看了，但没观察到。区别很明显。比如说，你经常见过从大厅通到这里的楼梯。”

“Frequently.”

“经常见过。”

“How often?”

“多久见一次？”

“Well, some hundreds of times.”

“嗯，大概几百次吧。”

“Then how many are there?”

“那到底有多少级楼梯呢？”

“How many? I don’t know.”

“多少级？我不知道。”

“Quite so!

“就是这样！”

You have not observed.

“你根本没仔细观察过。”

And yet you have seen.

“可你明明见过啊。”

That is just my point.

“这正是我的观点。”

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

“现在，我知道楼梯共有十七级，因为我既见过又仔细观察过。”

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.”

“顺便说一句，既然你对这些小问题感兴趣，又乐意记录我的一两段趣事，或许你会对这个感兴趣。”

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

他把一张摊开放在桌上的粉色厚纸递了过去。

“It came by the last post,” said he.

“这是上次邮递来的，” 他说。

“Read it aloud.”

“大声读出来吧。”

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

这张便条没有日期，也没有签名或地址。

“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.

“今晚八点差一刻，” 便条写道，“将有一位先生前来拜访您，他希望就一项极为严峻的事务向您咨询。”

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.

“你近期为欧洲某个王室家族提供的服务表明，你是一个可以放心托付极其重要事务的人，而这种重要性实在难以言表。”

This account of you we have from all quarters received.

“我们从各方都收到了关于你的这样的评价。”

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

“所以，请在那个时间待在你的房间里，如果来访者戴着面具，请不要见怪。”

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

“这确实是个谜，” 我说。“你觉得这意味着什么？”

“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?”

“我目前还没有任何线索。在掌握数据之前就进行理论推测是极其危险的。人们会不自觉地开始扭曲事实以适应理论，而不是让理论去适应事实。但就这张便条本身而言，你从中推断出什么呢？”

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

我仔细检查了便条的字迹和写便条的纸张。

“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.”

“写这张便条的人想必很富有，” 我说道，努力模仿同伴的推理过程。“这种纸张每包售价不可能低于半克朗。它特别结实耐用。”

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

“特别——这正是关键所在，” 福尔摩斯说。“这根本不是英国产的纸。把它对着光照一照。”

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.

我照做了，只见纸张纹理中织入了一个大写的“E”和小写的“g”，还有一个“P”和大写的“G”与小写的“t”。

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

“你对此有什么看法？” 福尔摩斯问道。

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

“无疑是制造商的名字，或者更可能是他的会徽。”

“Not at all.

“完全不是这样。”

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

带有小写“t”的“G”代表“Gesellschaft”，德语中是“公司”的意思。

It is a customary contraction like our ‘Co.’

这是常见的缩写，就像我们常用的“Co.”一样。

‘P,’ of course, stands for ‘Papier.’

至于“P”，当然是“Papier”的缩写，意为“纸张”。

Now for the ‘Eg.’

接下来要看“Eg”了。

Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer.”

让我们翻阅一下《欧洲地名大全》。

He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves.

他从书架上取下一本厚重的棕色书籍。

“Eglow, Eglonitz—here we are, Egria.

“埃格洛，埃格洛尼茨——找到了！埃格里亚。”

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

这座城镇位于一个讲德语的国家——波希米亚地区，距离卡尔斯巴德不远。

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

“因瓦伦施泰因之死而闻名，此地还有众多玻璃厂和造纸厂。”

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

哈哈，小伙子，你对此有何看法？

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

他眼中闪着光芒，从香烟中吐出一大团胜利的蓝色烟雾。

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

“我说，那纸就是在波希米亚制造的。”

“Precisely.

“没错。”

And the man who wrote the note is a German.

“而写那张纸条的人，是个德国人。”

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

“你注意到这句话的奇特结构了吗——‘我们从各方都收到了关于你的这份报告。’”

A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that.

一个法国人或俄罗斯人绝不会写出这样的句子。

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

正是德国人对动词的处理太不讲究了。

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.

所以，现在只需弄清楚，这个用波希米亚纸写字、宁愿戴面具也不愿露脸的德国人，到底想要什么？

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

看来，他就要来了，如果我没猜错的话，他会解开我们所有疑惑的。”

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.

他说话的同时，传来马蹄的急促声响和车轮摩擦路缘石的刺耳声，紧接着是急促的门铃声。福尔摩斯吹了一声口哨。

“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.”

“听声音，是一对马。”他说。 “是的，”他继续说道，向窗外瞥了一眼。“一辆漂亮的小马车和一对骏马。每匹价值一百五十基尼。沃森，这个案子肯定能赚不少钱，就算别无所得，光是这笔钱也值了。”

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

“我想我该走了，福尔摩斯。”

“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.”

“别急，博士。待在原地。我没有博斯韦尔就迷失了。这事儿肯定很有趣。错过可就太可惜了。”

“But your client—”

“但你的客户——”

“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.”

“别管他了。我可能需要你的帮助，他也一样。他来了。博士，请坐到那张扶手椅上，全神贯注地听我们讲。”

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.

楼梯和走廊上传来的缓慢而沉重的脚步声，刚好停在门外。接着是一声响亮而权威的敲门声。

“Come in!” said Holmes.

“进来！”福尔摩斯说道。

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

进来的是一个身高至少六英尺六英寸的男人，胸膛和四肢都像赫拉克勒斯一样强健。

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

他的穿着极其华丽，在英国人看来，恐怕会被视为俗气。

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.

他双排扣大衣的袖子和前襟上装饰着厚重的阿斯特拉罕皮条，而搭在肩上的深蓝色斗篷里，衬里是火焰色的丝绸，领口用一枚单颗火红的绿宝石胸针固定着。

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.

及小腿中部的靴子，靴口饰有华丽的棕色毛皮，完成了他整体外形所呈现的野蛮奢华感。

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.

他手里拿着一顶宽檐帽，脸上戴着从颧骨延伸到下颌的黑色面罩，看起来他刚刚调整过，因为他进来时手还放在面罩上。

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.

从下巴以下看，他显然是个性格坚毅的人——厚实下垂的嘴唇，长而笔直的下巴，透露出一种刚毅到了固执的地步。

“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.

“你收到了我的信？”他用低沉粗哑的声音问道，带有浓重的德国口音。“我说过我会来的。” 他看看我们两个，似乎不知道该对谁说话。

“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?”

“请坐吧。”福尔摩斯说。“这位是我的朋友兼同事华生医生，他有时会协助我处理案件。请问您是哪位？”

“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.”

“您可以称我为克拉姆伯爵，我是波希米亚贵族。我知道这位先生是位可靠谨慎之人，我可以放心地将极其重要的事务托付给他。如果不然，我宁愿单独与您谈。”

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.”

我起身要走，但福尔摩斯抓住我的手腕，把我推回椅子上。“要么全说出来，要么一个字也别说。”他说。

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.”

伯爵耸了耸宽阔的肩膀。“那我必须先声明，”他说，“要求你们两人在未来两年内绝对保密。两年之后，此事将无关紧要。但就目前而言，可以说它至关重要，甚至可能影响欧洲历史。”

“I promise,” said Holmes.

“我保证。”福尔摩斯说。

“And I.”

“我也保证。”

“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.”

“请原谅我戴着面具，”这位神秘访客继续说道，“委托我办事的贵人希望他的代理人对您保密。我可以坦白说，我刚才自称的头衔并非我的真名。”

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

“我早就猜到了。”福尔摩斯冷淡地说。

“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.”

“此事极为敏感，我们必须采取一切预防措施，避免酿成可能引发巨大丑闻、严重损害欧洲某个王室家族声誉的局面。说白了，此事涉及奥尔斯坦王朝——波希米亚的世袭君主家族。”

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

“我也知道这点。”福尔摩斯说着，靠在扶手椅上闭上眼睛。

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.

我们的访客显然惊讶地看了看这个懒洋洋、无精打采的人。他无疑被告知，福尔摩斯是欧洲最敏锐的推理家和最能干的特工。福尔摩斯慢慢睁开眼睛，不耐烦地看着这位庞然大物的客户。

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

“如果陛下能陈述一下案情，”他说，“我就能更好地为您出谋划策了。”

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?”

那个男人从椅子上跳起来，焦急不安地在房间里来回踱步。最后，他绝望地撕下面具，扔在地上。 “您说得对，” 他喊道，“我就是国王。我为什么要掩饰呢？”

“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.”

“确实没必要掩饰，” 福尔摩斯说。“在您开口之前，我并不知道自己正在与威廉·戈特施赖希·西吉斯蒙德·冯·奥尔斯坦、卡塞尔-费尔斯坦大公、波希米亚世袭国王交谈。”

“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.

“但您能理解的，” 这位神秘访客说着，又坐下来，用手抚着自己高高的白色额头，“您能理解的，我不习惯亲自处理这种事务。”

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

“然而此事太过敏感，若不亲自处理，就等于将自己置于代理人的掌控之下了。”

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

“我是从布拉格秘密来此，向您咨询的。”

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

“那就请开口吧，” 福尔摩斯再次闭上眼睛说。

“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.”

“事情大致是这样的：大约五年前，我在华沙长期逗留期间，结识了著名的冒险家艾琳·阿德勒。您肯定听说过这个名字。”

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

“请在我的索引里查找一下，医生，” 福尔摩斯闭着眼睛说。

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.

多年来，他养成了将所有涉及人物和事件的段落分类归档的习惯，因此几乎没有他无法立即提供信息的主题或人物。

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.

在这种情况下，我发现她的传记夹在一位希伯来拉比和一位曾撰写深海鱼类专著的参谋长之间。

“Let me see!” said Holmes.

“让我看看！” 福尔摩斯说。

“Hum!

“嗯！”

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

1858年出生于新泽西州。女高音——嗯！

La Scala, hum!

斯卡拉歌剧院，嗯！

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

华沙皇家歌剧院的首席女歌唱家——没错！退出歌剧舞台——哈！现居伦敦——确实如此！

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.”

据我所知，陛下曾与这位年轻女子纠缠不清，曾给她写过一些带有妥协意味的信件，如今又想把这些信件要回来。

“Precisely so. But how—”

“正是如此。但怎么——”

“Was there a secret marriage?”

“他们有没有秘密结婚？”

“None.”

“没有。”

“No legal papers or certificates?”

“没有合法的结婚文件或证书吗？”

“None.”

“没有。”

“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?”

“那我就不明白了，陛下。如果这位年轻女子拿出这些信件用于敲诈勒索或其他目的，她该如何证明这些信件的真实性呢？”

“There is the writing.”

“还有笔迹啊。”

“Pooh, pooh! Forgery.”

“哼，哼！那都是伪造的！”

“My private note-paper.”

“那是我私人用的信纸啊。”

“Stolen.”

“被偷走的！”

“My own seal.”

“那是我的私人印章啊！”

“Imitated.”

“被仿造的！”

“My photograph.”

“那是我的照片啊！”

“Bought.”

“买来的！”

“We were both in the photograph.”

“照片里我们俩都在呢！”

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

“天哪！这可太糟糕了！陛下您可真是失策了。”

“I was mad—insane.”

“我当时简直是疯了——丧失理智了。”

“You have compromised yourself seriously.”

“您这下可真是把自己置于非常尴尬的境地了。”

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

“那时候我还只是王储呢。我那时还年轻。如今我也才三十岁。”

“It must be recovered.”

“这照片必须找回来！”

“We have tried and failed.”

“我们已经尽力了，可还是没能找回来。”

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

“陛下您得出钱买回来。”

“She will not sell.”

“她是不会卖的。”

“Stolen, then.”

“那就只能偷了。”

“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.”

“我们已经尝试了五次了。两次雇佣的窃贼洗劫了她的住所。一回在她出行时调换了她的行李。还有两次伏击她的行动都失败了。至今仍一无所获。”

“No sign of it?”

“一点线索都没有吗？”

“Absolutely none.”

“完全没有。”

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

福尔摩斯笑了笑。“这确实是个相当有趣的小难题。”他说道。

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

“但对我来说却是个极其严峻的难题。”国王责备地回答道。

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

“确实如此。她打算怎么处理那张照片呢？”

“To ruin me.”

“用来毁掉我的名声。”

“But how?”

“但她怎么做呢？”

“I am about to be married.”

“我马上就要结婚了。”

“So I have heard.”

“我听说过这件事。”

“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.”

“是和斯堪的纳维亚国王的次女克洛蒂尔德·洛特曼·冯·萨克森-梅宁根结婚的。你大概了解她家族的严格准则。她本人就是个极其谨慎的人。如果对我的行为有丝毫怀疑，这件事就彻底完了。”

“And Irene Adler?”

“那伊琳·阿德勒呢？”

“Threatens to send them the photograph.

“威胁要把那张照片寄给他们。”

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

“而且她肯定会这么做。我知道她一定会这么做。”

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

“你不了解她，但她有着钢铁般的意志。”

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

“她拥有最美丽女人的面容，却有着最坚毅男人的头脑。”

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

“只要我不娶别的女人，就算让她付出生命代价，她也会不惜一切代价达成目的——绝对不惜一切代价。”

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

“你确定她还没寄出去吗？”

“I am sure.”

“我确定。”

“And why?”

“那为什么呢？”

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

“因为她说过要在订婚仪式公开宣布的那天把照片寄出去。下周一就是那个日子了。”

“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?”

“哦，那我们还有三天时间。”福尔摩斯打了个哈欠说道，“这真是太好了，因为我现在正有两三件重要的事情要处理。陛下，您当然会暂时留在伦敦吧？”

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

“当然。我叫冯·克拉姆伯爵，住在兰厄姆酒店。”

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

“那我会给您写封信，告知您我们的进展情况。”

“Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety.”

“请务必如此。我会一直焦急地等待消息的。”

“Then, as to money?”

“那钱的问题呢？”

“You have carte blanche.”

“您可以随意支配资金。”

“Absolutely?”

“真的吗？”

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

“我告诉您，我愿意用我王国的一块领土来换那张照片。”

“And for present expenses?”

“那目前的开支呢？”

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

国王从斗篷下掏出一个沉重的麂皮袋，放在桌上。

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

“里面有三百英镑的金币和七百英镑的纸币，” 他说。

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

福尔摩斯在笔记本上草草写了一张收据，递给了国王。

“And Mademoiselle’s address?” he asked.

“那位小姐的地址呢？” 他问道。

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

“是圣约翰伍德蛇形大道的布里奥尼洛奇。”

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

福尔摩斯记下了地址。“还有一个问题，” 他说，“那张照片是装在相框里的吗？”

“It was.”

“是的。”

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

“那好，陛下，晚安了。我相信很快就能为您带来好消息。”

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

他又对华生说道，这时皇家马车已驶离街头。

“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.”

“如果您明天下午三点能来一趟，我想和您好好聊聊这件小事。”

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

三点整，我准时到了贝克街，但福尔摩斯还没回来。

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

房东太太告诉我，他早上八点刚过就离开了住处。

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

不过，我还是坐在壁炉旁，决定无论他多晚回来，我都要等他。

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.

我对他的调查已经深感兴趣了。虽然这起案件不像我记录过的两起谋杀案那样充满阴森奇异的色彩，但案件的性质以及委托人的尊贵身份本身就赋予了它独特的意义。

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.

事实上，除了朋友手头的调查任务外，他对局势的精妙把控，以及敏锐犀利的推理方式，都让我乐在其中地研究他的工作体系，追随他解开最错综复杂谜团的快速而精妙的方法。

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

我早已习惯了他每次都能成功破案，以至于他可能失败的可能性从未在我脑海中浮现过。

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.

将近四点时，门终于开了，一个醉醺醺的马夫走了进来。他衣冠不整，蓄着侧边胡须，面色通红，穿着邋遢的衣服。

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.

尽管我早已见惯了朋友变换无穷的伪装技巧，但还是看了三遍才确定那确实是他。

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

他点了点头，消失在卧室里，五分钟后又以往常整洁得体的粗花呢西装形象走了出来。

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

他把手插进口袋，在壁炉前伸直双腿，开心地笑了好几分钟。

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

"天哪！"他叫道，接着又笑得喘不过气来，最后不得不无力地瘫倒在椅子上。

“What is it?”

"怎么了？"

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

"太好笑了。我敢肯定你绝对猜不到我今天早上都在忙些什么，最后又做了些什么。"

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

"我实在想象不出来。想必你一直在观察艾琳·阿德勒小姐的行踪，甚至监视她的住所吧。"

“Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual.

"没错。但后续的发展可就不同寻常了。"

I will tell you, however.

不过我还是会告诉你的。

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

今天早上八点刚过，我扮成失业马夫离开了那栋房子。

There is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men.

骑马的人之间总有一种奇妙的默契和兄弟情谊。

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

只要你融入这个圈子，就能知晓一切内幕。

I soon found Briony Lodge.

我很快就找到了布里奥尼洛奇。

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

那是一栋精致的别墅，后面有个花园，但前面紧邻着马路，一共两层楼。

Chubb lock to the door.

门上装着查布式锁具。

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.

右边是一间布置得十分雅致的客厅，窗户长得几乎到地板，还有那些荒谬的英式窗户锁扣，小孩子都能轻易打开。

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

后院没什么特别之处，只是从马车房的顶部可以到达走廊的窗户。

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

我绕着别墅走了一圈，从各个角度仔细观察，但没有发现其他值得注意的地方。

“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.

然后我沿着街道悠闲地走着，果然发现花园一侧的巷子里还有一个马房。

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.”

我帮马夫们擦洗马匹，作为回报，得到了两便士、一杯奶油咖啡、两份粗烟丝，还收获了关于阿德勒小姐的所有信息，更不用说附近其他六七个我毫无兴趣却被迫听他们讲述生平的人了。

“And what of Irene Adler?” I asked.

"那伊琳·阿德勒呢？"我问道。

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

"哦，她可是让那片儿的所有男人都为之倾倒呢。"

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

"她可是这世上戴着帽子最迷人的尤物。"

So say the Serpentine-mews, to a man.

"蛇形马房里的每个男人都会这么说的。"

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

"她生活得很低调，偶尔去音乐会唱歌，每天五点出门驾车兜风，七点准时回家吃晚餐。"

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

"除非去唱歌，否则她很少外出。"

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

来访的男性只有一位，但待的时间可够久的。

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

"他皮肤黝黑，英俊潇洒，风度翩翩，每天至少来一次，往往还来两回。"

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

"他是内殿律师学院的戈弗雷·诺顿先生。"

See the advantages of a cabman as a confidant.

可见让出租车司机当知心好友的好处可真不少。

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

他们从蛇形马房把他送回家十几次了，对他了如指掌。

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.

听完他们的讲述后，我又开始在布里奥尼洛奇附近来回踱步，重新构思我的行动计划。

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

"这个戈弗雷·诺顿显然是这件事中一个至关重要的因素。"

He was a lawyer.

"他是个律师。"

That sounded ominous.

这听起来可不是个好兆头。

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

他们之间到底是什么关系？他频繁造访又有何企图？

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

她是他的客户、朋友，还是情妇？

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

如果是前者，那她很可能把照片交给了他保管。

If the latter, it was less likely.

但如果是后者，那可能性就微乎其微了。

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.

这个问题的答案将决定我是否应该继续在布里奥尼洛奇开展调查，还是将注意力转向圣殿律师事务所的男士事务所。

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

这是一个微妙的选择，也让我的调查范围进一步扩大了。

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.”

恐怕这些细节会让您感到厌烦，但如果您想理解整个局势，就必须了解我所面临的这些小困境了。"

“I am following you closely,” I answered.

"我完全明白您的意思。"我回答道。

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

"我还在反复思量此事时，突然一辆双轮马车停在了布里奥尼洛奇，一位绅士从车上跳了下来。"

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

"他是个极其英俊的男子，皮肤黝黑，鼻梁高挺，还蓄着胡须——显然就是我听说过的那个人。"

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.

"他似乎急着要走，冲车夫大喊让他等着，还大摇大摆地从开门的女佣身边走过，那神情仿佛这里是他自己家似的。"

“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.

"他在屋里待了大约半个小时。我能瞥见他在客厅的窗边来回踱步，激动地说着话，挥舞着双臂。"

Of her I could see nothing.

"至于她，我根本看不到。"

Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than before.

片刻之后，他走了出来，看上去比刚才更加慌乱不安了。

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.

他上车时，从口袋里掏出块金表，专注地看了看。 "快点开车，"他大喊道，"先去摄政街的格罗斯&汉基商店，再去埃奇韦尔路的圣莫妮卡教堂。"

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

"要是二十分钟内赶到，就给你半几尼！"

“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.

马车疾驰而去，我正犹豫是否该跟上去追查，这时一条小巷里又来了一辆整洁的小型四轮马车。车夫的上衣只扣了一半，领带塞在耳朵后面，马具上的所有装饰都从扣环里露了出来。

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

马车还没停稳，她就从大厅门口冲了进去，钻进了车里。

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.

我当时只瞥见了她一眼，但她是个极其美丽的女人，男人见了她都会为之倾倒。

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

"圣莫妮卡教堂，约翰，"她喊道，"要是二十分钟内赶到，就给你半英镑。"

“This was quite too good to lose, Watson.

"这机会可不能错过，华生。"

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.

我正犹豫是该跑过去，还是该躲在她的马车后面，这时又有一辆马车从街上驶过。

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

司机看了我一眼，觉得我是个衣冠不整的乘客，但我还是在他反应过来之前跳上了车。

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

"圣莫妮卡教堂，"我说，"要是二十分钟内赶到，就给你半英镑。"

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

当时离十二点还有二十五分钟，显然接下来要发生什么事已经很明显了。

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

"我的车夫开得很快。我想我这辈子都没开过这么快，但其他车还是先我们一步了。"

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

我赶到时，那辆马车和它那匹喷着白沫的马已经停在门前了。

I paid the man and hurried into the church.

我付了钱，便急忙进了教堂。

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

里面一个人也没有，只有我跟踪的那两人和一位身着法衣的牧师，后者似乎正在训诫他们。

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

他们三个人站在圣坛前，围成一团。

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

我像任何一个随便进教堂的闲人一样，在侧廊里悠闲地走着。

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.

突然，令我吃惊的是，圣坛前的三个人转过身来，戈弗雷·诺顿正拼命朝我跑来。

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

"谢天谢地，"他喊道，"你来得正好。快来！快来！"

“‘What then?’ I asked.

"那又怎样？"我问道。

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

"快点，伙计，快点！只剩三分钟了，否则就不合法了。"

“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.

我被半拖着走到圣坛前，等我反应过来，发现自己正念念有词地回应着别人在我耳边低声说的话，还在不知情的情况下为各种事宜担保，总之是在全力促成艾琳·阿德勒与戈弗雷·诺顿的婚事——前者是未婚女子，后者是单身汉。

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.

这一切转瞬即逝，旁边的男士感谢我，另一边的女士也向我致谢，而牧师则在前面对我微笑。

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.

这是我这辈子遇到过最荒谬的境地，一想到这事，我刚才就忍不住笑了起来。

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.

原来他们的结婚证有些问题，牧师坚决拒绝在没有证婚人的情况下主持婚礼，而我这个幸运的出现，避免了新郎不得不跑到街上去寻找伴郎。

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

新娘给了我一枚金币，我打算把它挂在手表链上，作为这段经历的纪念。

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

"这真是意想不到的转折啊，"我说道，"那接下来呢？"

“Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced.

"嗯，我发现我的计划受到了严重威胁。"

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

看起来这对新人可能会立即离开，这就需要我迅速采取果断行动了。

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

然而，在教堂门口，他们分道扬镳——他开车回了坦普尔区，她则回了自己的家。

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

她离开他时说道："我还是会像往常一样五点去公园散步的。"

I heard no more.

之后我就再没听到任何消息了。

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

他们各自驾车离开，而我则去安排自己的行程了。

“Which are?”

"那都是些什么安排呢？"

“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.”

"来点凉牛肉，再配杯啤酒吧，"他一边说着，一边按响了门铃。"我一直忙得顾不上吃饭，今晚恐怕还要更忙了。顺便说一句，医生，我需要你的协助。"

“I shall be delighted.”

"我很乐意效劳。"

“You don’t mind breaking the law?”

"你不介意违法吧？"

“Not in the least.”

"一点也不介意。"

“Nor running a chance of arrest?”

"那被逮捕的风险呢？"

“Not in a good cause.”

"只要是为了正义的事业，风险我甘愿承担。"

“Oh, the cause is excellent!”

"哦，这可是件大好事啊！"

“Then I am your man.”

"那你就找对人了。"

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

"我就知道能指望上你的。"

“But what is it you wish?”

"不过你具体想做什么？"

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

"等特纳太太把托盘端进来，我再跟你详细说清楚。"

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.

说着，他迫不及待地开始享用房东太太准备的简餐，"我得边吃边谈，因为时间不多了。"

It is nearly five now.

此刻，时间已近下午五点。

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

两个小时后，我们必须赶到行动现场。

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

艾琳小姐——或者更确切地说，夫人——七点钟会结束驾车之旅回归。

We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her.”

我们必须在布里奥尼洛奇庄园迎接她的到来。

“And what then?”

"然后呢？"

“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?”

"这事儿你就别管了。我已经安排好了所有步骤。只有一点我必须强调，无论发生什么情况，你都不能插手。明白了吗？"

“I am to be neutral?”

"我要保持中立？"

“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.”

"什么都别做。可能会有一些小摩擦，别参与其中。最后我会被带进屋里。四五分钟后，客厅的窗户会打开。你要站在那扇打开的窗户附近。"

“Yes.”

"是的。"

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

"你要看着我，因为我会一直出现在你的视野里。"

“Yes.”

"是的。"

“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?”

"等我举起手——这样——你就把我给你的东西扔进房间，同时大喊着‘着火了！’。明白了吗？"

“Entirely.”

"完全明白了。"

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

"这事儿不难，"他说着，从口袋里掏出一个长长的雪茄形状的卷物。

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

"这是一般的水管工用的烟花火箭，两端都装有易燃的帽子，可以自动点火。"

Your task is confined to that.

"你的任务就是把这个东西扔进房间。"

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

"你大喊‘着火了！’的时候，会有很多人响应的。"

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

"然后你可以走到街尾，我十分钟后就到那里和你会合。"

I hope that I have made myself clear?”

"我说得够清楚了吧？"

“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.”

"我的任务是保持中立，靠近窗户，观察你的行动，听到信号后把这个东西扔进房间，再大喊‘着火了！’，最后在街角等你。"

“Precisely.”

"没错，就是这样。"

“Then you may entirely rely on me.”

"那你就完全可以放心了。"

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

"那太好了。我想，我大概该为自己即将扮演的新角色做准备了。"

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

他消失在卧室里，几分钟后又以一个和蔼可亲、头脑简单的非国教派牧师的形象走了出来。

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.

他那宽大的黑色帽子、宽松的裤子、白色的领带、富有同情心的微笑，以及那种充满好奇又善意探询的神情，唯有约翰·黑尔先生能与之相媲美。

It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume.

这不仅仅是福尔摩斯换了套衣服那么简单。

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

他的神情、举止，甚至整个灵魂，都随着他所扮演的每个新角色而发生变化。

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

当他成为犯罪学专家时，戏剧界失去了一位优秀演员，而科学界则失去了一位敏锐的推理者。

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.

我们六点一刻离开贝克街，十分钟后便来到了蛇形湖大道。

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.

天色已晚，路灯刚刚点亮，我们在布里奥尼洛奇前来回踱步，等待房主的到来。

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.

这栋房子正如我从福尔摩斯简洁的描述中所想象的那样，但这片区域似乎比我预期的要公开得多。

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

相反，对于这条位于安静社区的小街来说，它异常热闹。

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.

角落里有一群衣衫褴褛的男人抽烟说笑，一个磨刀匠正转动着磨刀轮，两个卫兵正与一名护士女孩调情，还有几个穿着讲究的年轻人嘴里衔着雪茄，在街上悠闲地来回踱步。

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

"你看，"福尔摩斯在我们在房子前来回踱步时说道，"这场婚姻倒是让事情简单多了。"

The photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now.

"这张照片现在成了双刃剑了。"

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.

"很可能她会像我们的客户不愿让戈弗雷·诺顿先生看到这张照片一样，不愿让我们的委托人看到这张照片。"

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

"现在的问题是，我们该去哪里找到这张照片呢？"

“Where, indeed?”

"说真的，哪里呢？"

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

"她不太可能随身携带这张照片。"

It is cabinet size.

"这张照片是相册尺寸的。"

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

"对于女性来说，要把这么大的照片藏在衣服里实在太难了。"

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

"她知道国王可能会拦截并搜查她。"

Two attempts of the sort have already been made.

"这种尝试已经有两次了。"

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

"所以我们可以推断，她不太可能随身携带这张照片。"

“Where, then?”

"那它到底藏在哪里呢？"

“Her banker or her lawyer.

"藏在她的银行家或律师那里。"

There is that double possibility.

"这两种可能性都是存在的。"

But I am inclined to think neither.

"但我倾向于认为都不是。"

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

"女人天生就善于保守秘密，而且她们也乐于自己来保守秘密。"

Why should she hand it over to anyone else?

"她为什么要把它交给别人呢？"

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.

"她可以信任自己的监护人，但她无法预料商界人士可能会受到怎样的间接或政治影响。"

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

"此外，要记住她曾决定在几天内使用这张照片。"

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

想必那是她能亲手触及的地方吧。

It must be in her own house.”

那一定是在她自己的家里。

“But it has twice been burgled.”

"但那房子已经被盗过两次了。"

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

"哼！他们根本不知道该怎么找。"

“But how will you look?”

"那你又打算怎么找呢？"

“I will not look.”

"我才不找呢！"

“What then?”

"那又怎样？"

“I will get her to show me.”

"我就让她带我去看。"

“But she will refuse.”

"可她肯定会拒绝的。"

“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.”

"她没法拒绝。但我听见车轮声了。是她的马车。现在你就严格按照我的指示办事吧。"

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

他话音刚落，一辆马车的侧灯光便从林荫大道的弯道处照了过来。

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

那是一辆时髦的小型四轮马车，在布里奥尼洛奇的门前嘎吱嘎吱地停了下来。

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.

马车停稳后，角落里一个无所事事的人冲上前去开门，想赚点小钱，却被另一个同样心思的流浪汉用肘顶开了。

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.

一场激烈的争吵随即爆发。两名卫兵偏袒其中一个闲人，而剪刀匠则全力支持另一方，使得争吵愈演愈烈。

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.

一记重拳落下，转眼间，刚从马车上下来的那位女士就成了一个小团伙的中心。这些满脸通红、扭打在一起的人们正用拳头和棍棒凶狠地互相攻击着。

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.

福尔摩斯冲进人群，想要保护那位女士。然而，他刚一到她身边，便发出一声惊呼，扑倒在地，鲜血顺着他的脸颊肆意流淌。

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.

他倒下之后，卫兵们四散奔逃，流浪汉们也各自逃散。与此同时，许多没有参与斗殴、只是在一旁观看的衣着光鲜的人们也涌上前来，帮助那位女士，并照料受伤的男子。

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.

艾琳·阿德勒——我还是要这样称呼她——已经急匆匆地上了台阶。但她站在台阶顶端，优雅的身影在门厅的灯光下若隐若现，回头望着街上。

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

"那位可怜的先生伤得重吗？"她问道。

“He is dead,” cried several voices.

"他已经死了。"几个声音同时喊道。

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

"不，不，他还有气！"另一个声音大喊道。"但你们送他去医院之前，他就没命了。"

“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.”

"他真是个勇敢的人。"一位妇女说，"要不是他，那些人肯定能抢走那位女士的钱包和手表。他们是一伙的，而且手段很凶残。啊，他现在呼吸了。"

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

"他不能躺在街上。我们能把他带进来吗，亲爱的？"

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

"当然可以。带他进客厅吧。那儿有张舒适的沙发。请这边走！"

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.

他被缓慢而庄重地抬进布里奥尼洛奇别墅，放在主厅里。我仍在窗边的位置观察着整个过程。

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

灯已经点亮，但百叶窗还没拉上，所以我能看到福尔摩斯躺在沙发上的样子。

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.

我不知道他此刻是否为自己扮演的角色感到内疚，但我知道，我这辈子从未像看到那个我正在密谋伤害的美丽女子时，或者看到她以优雅和善良照顾受伤男子时，那样为自己感到羞耻。

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

然而，如果我现在退出福尔摩斯交付给我的角色，那就是对他最严重的背叛了。

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

我硬起心肠，从大衣下掏出那支烟雾信号弹。

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

毕竟，"我心想，"我们并没有伤害她。"

We are but preventing her from injuring another.

我们只是在阻止她伤害别人。

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

福尔摩斯从沙发上坐了起来，我看到他像需要呼吸的人一样动了动。

A maid rushed across and threw open the window.

一个女仆冲过去打开了窗户。

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!”

就在同一瞬间，我看到他举起手，于是我按照信号，用"着火了！"的喊声把信号弹扔进了房间。

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!”

我话音刚落，所有围观者——无论是衣着华丽的还是衣着寒酸的，无论是绅士、马夫还是女佣——都一起尖叫着"着火了！"

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

浓烟在房间里盘旋，从打开的窗户飘了出去。

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.

我瞥见了奔跑的身影，片刻之后，福尔摩斯从里面传来声音，向他们保证这是一场虚惊一场。

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.

我从尖叫的人群中挤了过去，走到街角，十分钟后，我很高兴地发现我的朋友挽着我的胳膊，离开了这片喧闹的现场。

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.

他默默地快速走了几分钟，直到我们拐进了一条通往埃奇韦尔路的安静街道。

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

"你做得很好，医生，"他说，"再好不过了。一切顺利。"

“You have the photograph?”

"你带照片了吗？"

“I know where it is.”

"我知道它在哪儿。"

“And how did you find out?”

"你是怎么发现的？"

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

"她给我看了，就像我告诉你她会做的那样。"

“I am still in the dark.”

"我还是一头雾水呢。"

“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.”

"我不想卖关子，"他笑着说，"事情其实很简单。你当然看得出来，街上每个人都是同谋。他们都是被雇来参加今晚活动的。"

“I guessed as much.”

"我早猜到了。"

“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.”

"然后，当争吵爆发时，我手掌里有一点湿红色的颜料。我冲上前去，扑倒在地，捂着脸，摆出一个可怜兮兮的姿态。这是个老把戏了。"

“That also I could fathom.”

"这我也能理解。"

“Then they carried me in.

"然后他们就把我抬了进去。"

She was bound to have me in.

"她肯定会让我进来的。"

What else could she do?

"她还能怎么办呢？"

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

"然后他们把我带进了她的客厅，而那正是我怀疑的那个房间。"

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

"它位于客厅和卧室之间，我决心要看看哪个才是卧室。"

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

"他们把我放在沙发上，我示意要呼吸新鲜空气，结果他们不得不打开窗户，而你就趁机逃走了。"

“How did that help you?”

"这对你有什么帮助吗？"

“It was all-important.

"这至关重要。"

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

"当一个女人认为自己的房子着火时，她的本能反应就是立刻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.

"这是一种极其强烈的冲动，我不止一次利用过这种心理。"

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

"在达灵顿替换丑闻案中，这种心理对我很有帮助，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.

"已婚女性会紧紧抓住自己的孩子；未婚女性则会伸手去拿自己的珠宝盒。"

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.

"现在我很清楚，今天这位女士家里没有比我们要找的东西更珍贵的了。"

She would rush to secure it.

"她肯定会急着去保护它的。"

The alarm of fire was admirably done.

"这次火警演习做得非常到位。"

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

"浓烟和尖叫声足以让最坚韧的人也感到心惊胆战。"

She responded beautifully.

"她的反应堪称完美。"

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

"那张照片藏在右边门铃拉环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.

"她瞬间就找到了它，当她把照片半抽出来时，我瞥见了照片的内容。"

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.

"当我大喊这是虚惊一场时，她把照片放回原处，看了一眼火箭警报器，随即冲出了房间，从此我就再也没见过她了。"

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

我站起身，找了个借口，溜出了房子。

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.

我犹豫着是否要立刻去取回那张照片，但车夫已经进来了，而且他正密切注视着我，看来还是先等等比较稳妥。

A little over-precipitance may ruin all.”

"一时冲动可能会毁掉一切。"

“And now?” I asked.

"那现在呢？"我问道。

“Our quest is practically finished.

"我们的调查基本完成了。"

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，也欢迎一同前往。"

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，但当那位女士到来时，很可能既找不到我们，也找不到那张照片了。"

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

"如果陛下能亲手把照片找回来，想必会感到欣慰的。"

“And when will you call?”

"那你们什么时候去拜访呢？"

“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。她那时应该还没起床，这样我们就能顺利行动了。另外，我们必须动作迅速，因为这场婚事可能会彻底改变她的生活和习惯。我得立即给国王发电报了。"

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。他正翻找口袋里的钥匙时，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.

当时人行道上还有好几个人，但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.”

"我以前听过这声音。"福尔摩斯说着，凝视着昏暗的街道。"现在，我倒想知道那究竟是谁呢？"

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，我们正享用烤面包和咖啡时，波西米亚国王突然冲进了房间。

“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！"他大喊道，抓住歇洛克·福尔摩斯的双肩，热切地盯着他的脸。

“Not yet.”

"还没找到呢。"

“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。我急着要离开这里了。"

“We must have a cab.”

"我们得叫辆出租车。"

“No, my brougham is waiting.”

"不用，我的马车在外面等着呢。"

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

"那就省事多了。"我们下了楼，再次出发前往布里奥尼洛奇。

“Irene Adler is married,” remarked Holmes.

"艾琳·阿德勒已经结婚了。"福尔摩斯说道。

“Married! When?”

"结婚了！什么时候的事？"

“Yesterday.”

"昨天。"

“But to whom?”

"可她嫁给了谁？"

“To an English lawyer named Norton.”

"一个叫诺顿的英国律师。"

“But she could not love him.”

"但她不可能爱他的。"

“I am in hopes that she does.”

"我倒希望她能爱他呢。"

“And why in hopes?”

"为什么要抱这种希望？"

“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，陛下就不必担心日后会遭到她的麻烦了。如果这位女士爱自己的丈夫，那她就不会爱您。如果她不爱您，那她就没有理由去阻挠您的计划了。"

“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！她本可以成为多么出色的女王啊！" 他又陷入了沉思的沉默，直到我们抵达蛇形大道才打破这份寂静。

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.

布里奥尼洛奇的门开着，一位年迈的妇人站在台阶上。我们从马车上下来时，她用一种嘲讽的目光注视着我们。

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

"我猜您是夏洛克·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！我女主人告诉我您可能会来的。她今天早上乘5点15分从查令十字出发的火车和丈夫一起去欧洲大陆了。"

“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发白，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.

房间里的家具横七竖八地摆放着，有些架子被拆掉了，抽屉也被打开了，显然这位女士在逃离前匆忙翻找过这些东西。

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窗，伸手进去掏出了一张照片和一封信。

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·福尔摩斯爵士收"。

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：——你这次真是干得漂亮。"

You took me in completely.

你们把我彻底套住了。

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

直到火警响起，我才意识到危险。

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

但当我发现自己暴露了行踪，便开始深思起来。

I had been warned against you months ago.

几个月前就有人提醒过我，要提防你。

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

他们告诉我，如果国王要雇佣一名密探，那个人肯定会是你。

And your address had been given me.

而且他们还把你的地址给了我。

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

即便如此，你还是让我吐露了你想知道的信息。

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

即便我起了疑心，我还是很难对这样一位亲切、善良的老牧师心生恶意。

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

不过，你知道的，我自己也接受过表演训练。

Male costume is nothing new to me.

男装打扮对我来说根本不是难事。

I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives.

我经常利用这种装扮所带来的自由感。

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.

我派马车夫约翰去监视你，自己跑上楼，换上我所谓的"便装"，然后在你离开时恰好下楼。

“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.

"好吧，我跟着你到了门口，这样我就确信自己真是大名鼎鼎的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生的关注对象了。然后我又有些鲁莽地向你道了晚安，便动身去圣殿区看望我的丈夫了。"

“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，最好的办法就是逃之夭夭。所以明天你去拜访时，会发现那个窝空无一人的。"

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

至于那张照片，你的委托人可以安息了。

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

我爱着一个比他优秀得多的男人，同时也得到了他的爱。

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

国王可以为所欲为，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.

我保留这张照片只是为了保护自己，也是为了保有一种武器，以便将来他若有任何不轨之举，我都能防患于未然。

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

我留下一张他或许想拥有的照片；我谨此致意，亲爱的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生。

“Very truly yours,

"诚挚问候，

“IRENE NORTON, née ADLER.”

艾琳·诺顿（婚前姓阿德勒）"

“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，多么了不起的女人啊！"波希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啊！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.”

"据我对这位女士的观察，她的境界确实与陛下相去甚远。"福尔摩斯冷淡地说，"很遗憾我未能为陛下的事务带来更圆满的结局。"

“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。"国王叫道，"这件事再成功不过了。我知道她的诺言必将信守。这张照片现在就跟放在火里一样安全了。"

“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。请告诉我该如何报答您。这枚戒指——"他从手指上摘下一枚祖母绿蛇形戒指，放在掌心递给福尔摩斯。

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

"陛下还有一样东西，我会更加珍视的。"福尔摩斯说。

“You have but to name it.”

"您只管开口就是了。"

“This photograph!”

"这张照片！"

The King stared at him in amazement.

国王惊讶地瞪着他。

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

"艾琳的照片！"他叫道，"当然可以，如果您需要的话。"

“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.

"多谢陛下了。那这件事就这样了。承蒙陛下允许，我先告辞了。"他鞠了一躬，转身离去，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，一场可能撼动波希米亚王国根基的大丑闻被避免了，而夏洛克·福尔摩斯精心策划的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.

他过去常拿女人的聪明才智开玩笑，但最近我再没听他这么做了。

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

而当他谈到艾琳·阿德勒，或者提到她的照片时，他总是用"这位女士"这个尊敬的称呼来指代她。