福爾摩斯探案集·工程師大拇指案 第13期:向福爾摩斯敘述故事(7)

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'Then the matter stands thus.

'那么，事情是這樣的。

You are probably aware that fuller's- earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found in one or two places in England?'

您可能知道，漂白土是一種非常貴重的礦產(chǎn)，在英國，只有一兩處發(fā)現(xiàn)有這種礦藏？'

'I have heard so.'

'我聽說過。'

'Some little time ago I bought a small place -- a very small place -- within ten miles of Reading.

'不久以前，我在距離雷丁不到十英里的地方買了一小塊地--非常小的一塊地，

I was fortunate enough to discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my fields.

我非常幸運地發(fā)現(xiàn)，其中一塊地里有漂白土礦床。

On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a comparatively small one,

然而，經(jīng)過探查之后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)這個礦床是比較小的，

and that it formed a link between two very much larger ones upon the right and left–both of them, however, in the grounds of my neighbours.

但它卻連接了左右兩個大得多的礦床--可是，這兩處全在我的鄰居的地里。

These good people were absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was quite as valuable as a gold-mine.

這些善良的人們，對于在他們的土地里蘊藏著和金礦同樣貴重的礦藏卻一點兒也不知道。

Naturally, it was to my interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value,

自然，在他們發(fā)現(xiàn)他們土地的真正價值之前把他們的地買下來是很上算的。

but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this.

但是，不幸我缺乏購買土地的資金。

I took a few of my friends into the secret, however,

為此，我找了幾個朋友秘密商量。

and they suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little deposit,

他們提議我們應該悄悄地、秘密地開采我們自己那小塊礦床，

and that in this way we should earn the money which would enable us to buy the neighbouring fields.

用這種方法來籌集購買鄰居土地的資金。

This we have now been doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we erected a hydraulic press.

到目前為止，我們已經(jīng)這么干了一段時間了。為了便于操作，我們安裝了一臺水壓機。

This press, as I have already explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the subject.

正像我先前已經(jīng)說過的那樣，這臺機器出了毛病，我們希望能得到你的指點。

We guard our secret very jealously,

我們小心翼翼地保守著秘密，

however, and if it once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our little house, it would soon rouse inquiry,

可是，一旦有人知道我們曾請過水利工程師到我們的小房子來，很快就會引仆人們的好奇，

and then, if the facts came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these fields and carrying out our plans.

那時，如果真相泄露出去，那么獲得這些土地和實行我們的計劃的機會就全完了。

That is why I have made you promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are going to Eyford to-night.

這就是我要您保證不對任何人透露您今天晚上要到艾津去的緣故。

I hope that I make it all plain?'

我希望我已經(jīng)把一切都講清楚了。'