福爾摩斯探案集·血字的研究 第31期:葛萊森大顯身手(2)

Sherlock Holmes and I read these notices over together at breakfast,

早飯時，福爾摩斯和我一同讀完了這些報道；

and they appeared to afford him considerable amusement.

這些報道似乎使他感到非常有趣。

"I told you that, whatever happened, Lestrade and Gregson would be sure to score."

"我早就對你說過，不論情況如何，功勞總歸是屬于雷斯垂德和葛萊森這兩個人的。"

"That depends on how it turns out."

"那也要看結(jié)果如何呀。"

"Oh, bless you, it doesn't matter in the least.

"哦，老兄，這才沒有一點關(guān)系呢。

If the man is caught, it will be on account of their exertions;

如果兇手捉到了，自然是由于他們兩個人的黽勉從公；

if he escapes, it will be in spite of their exertions.

如果兇手逃跑了，他們又可以說：雖然歷盡艱辛，

It's heads I win and tails you lose.

但是不管怎么說，好事總是他們的，壞事永遠歸于別人

Whatever they do, they will have followers.

不管他們干什么，總會有人給他們歌功頌德的。

'Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.'"

有句法國俗語說得好：'笨蛋雖笨，但是還有比他更笨的笨蛋為他喝彩。'"

"What on earth is this?" I cried,

我們正說著，

for at this moment there came the pattering of many steps in the hall and on the stairs,

過道里和樓梯上突然響起了一陣雜亂的腳步聲，

accompanied by audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady.

夾雜著房東太太的抱怨聲，我不禁喊道："這是怎么一回事？"

"It's the Baker Street division of the detective police force," said my companion gravely;

"這是偵緝隊貝克街分隊。"我的伙伴煞有介事地說。

and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs that ever I clapped eyes on.

說時，只見六個街頭流浪頑童沖將進來，我從來沒見過這樣十分骯臟、衣裳襤褸的孩子。

'Tention!" cried Holmes, in a sharp tone,

""立正！"福爾摩斯厲聲喝道。

and the six dirty little scoundrels stood in a line like so many disreputable statuettes.

于是這六個小流氓就象六個不象樣的小泥人似地一條線地站立在那里。

"In future you shall send up Wiggins alone to report, and the rest of you must wait in the street.

"以后你們叫維金斯一個人上來報告，其余的必須在街上等著。

Have you found it, Wiggins?"

找到了嗎，維金斯？"

"No, sir, we hain't," said one of the youths.

一個孩子答道："沒有，先生，我們還沒有找到呢。"

"I hardly expected you would. You must keep on until you do. Here are your wages."

"我估計你們也沒有找到，一定要繼續(xù)查找，不找到不算完。這是你們的工資，"

He handed each of them a shilling.

福爾摩斯每人給了一個先令。

"Now, off you go, and come back with a better report next time."

"好，現(xiàn)在去吧，下一次報告時，我等著你們帶來好消息。"

He waved his hand, and they scampered away downstairs like so many rats,

福爾摩斯揮了揮手，這群孩子就象一窩小耗子似地下樓而去。

and we heard their shrill voices next moment in the street.

接著，由街上傳來了他們尖銳的喧鬧聲。

"There's more work to be got out of one of those little beggars than out of a dozen of the force," Holmes remarked.

福爾摩斯說："這些小家伙一個人的工作成績，要比一打官方偵探的還要來得大。

"The mere sight of an official- looking person seals men's lips.

官方人士一露面，人家就閉口不言了。

These youngsters, however, go everywhere and hear everything.

可是，這些小家伙什么地方都能去，什么事都能打聽到。

They are as sharp as needles, too; all they want is organization."

他們很機靈，就象針尖一樣，無縫不入。他們就是缺乏組織。"

"Is it on this Brixton case that you are employing them?" I asked.

我問道："你是為了布瑞克斯頓路的這個案子雇的他們嗎？"

"Yes; there is a point which I wish to ascertain.

"是的，有一點我想要弄明白，

It is merely a matter of time.

這只不過是時間問題罷了。

Hullo! we are going to hear some news now with a vengeance!

啊！現(xiàn)在咱們可就要聽到些新聞了！

Here is Gregson coming down the road with beatitude written upon every feature of his face.

你瞧，葛萊森在街上向著咱們這里走來了。他滿臉都是得意的神色，"

Bound for us, I know. Yes, he is stopping. There he is!"

我知道他是上咱們這兒來的。你看，他站住了。就是他！

There was a violent peal at the bell,

門鈴一陣猛響，

and in a few seconds the fair-haired detective came up the stairs, three steps at a time, and burst into our sitting-room.

一眨眼的功夫，這位美發(fā)的偵探先生就一步三級地跳上樓來，一直闖進了我們的客廳。