波希米亚丑闻 A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA （三）

时间：2020-04-20 05:41:12

（单词翻译:单击）

I slept at Baker1 Street that night, and we were engaged upon our
toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed
into the room.
 
"You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by
either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face.
 
"Not yet."
 
"But you have hopes?"
 
"I have hopes."
 
"Then, come. I am all impatience2 to be gone."
 
"We must have a cab."
 
"No, my brougham is waiting."
 
"Then that will simplify matters." We descended3 and started off
once more for Briony Lodge4.
 
"Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes.
 
"Married! When?"
 
"Yesterday."
 
"But to whom?"
 
"To an English lawyer named Norton."
 
"But she could not love him."
 
"I am in hopes that she does."
 
"And why in hopes?"
 
"Because it would spare your Majesty5 all fear of future
annoyance6. 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 interfere7 with your Majesty's plan."
 
"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
moody8 silence, which was not broken until we drew up in
Serpentine9 Avenue.
 
The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood
upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic10 eye as we stepped
from the brougham.
 
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she.
 
"I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a
questioning and rather startled gaze.
 
"Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She
left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing11
Cross for the Continent."
 
"What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin12 and
surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?"
 
"Never to return."
 
"And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely13. "All is lost."
 
"We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the
drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was
scattered14 about in every direction, with dismantled15 shelves and
open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked16 them before
her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small
sliding shutter17, and, plunging18 in his hand, pulled out a
photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler
herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to
"Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend
tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at
midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:
 
MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You
took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a
suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I
began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had
been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly
be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this,
you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became
suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind
old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress
myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage
of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to
watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call
them, and came down just as you departed.
 
Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was
really an object of interest to the celebrated19 Mr. Sherlock
Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and
started for the Temple to see my husband. We both thought the
best resource was flight, when pursued by so formidable an
antagonist20; so you will find the nest empty when you call
to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace. I
love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may do what
he will without hindrance21 from one whom he has cruelly wronged. 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. I leave a photograph which he might care to possess; and
I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
 
Very truly yours,
IRENE NORTON, nee ADLER.
 
"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 resolute22 she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen?
Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?"
 
"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."
 
"On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be
more successful. I know that her word is inviolate23. The
photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire."
 
"I am glad to hear your Majesty say so."
 
"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.
 
"Your Majesty has something which I should value even more
highly," said Holmes.
 
"You have but to name it."
 
"This photograph!"
 
The King stared at him in amazement24.
 
"Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it."
 
"I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the
matter. I have the honor 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
chambers25.
 
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. He used to make merry over the
cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And
when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her
photograph, it is always under the honorable title of the woman.

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1 baker wyTz62     
n.面包师
参考例句：
  • The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
  • The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。
2 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦，急躁
参考例句：
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
3 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的，出身于...的
参考例句：
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
4 lodge q8nzj     
v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆
参考例句：
  • Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
  • I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
5 majesty MAExL     
n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权
参考例句：
  • The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
  • Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！
6 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒，生气，烦恼
参考例句：
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
7 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰
参考例句：
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。
8 moody XEXxG     
adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的
参考例句：
  • He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
  • I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。
9 serpentine MEgzx     
adj.蜿蜒的，弯曲的
参考例句：
  • One part of the Serpentine is kept for swimmers.蜿蜒河的一段划为游泳区。
  • Tremolite laths and serpentine minerals are present in places.有的地方出现透闪石板条及蛇纹石。
10 sardonic jYyxL     
adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的
参考例句：
  • She gave him a sardonic smile.她朝他讥讽地笑了一笑。
  • There was a sardonic expression on her face.她脸上有一种嘲讽的表情。
11 charing 188ca597d1779221481bda676c00a9be     
n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣
参考例句：
  • We married in the chapel of Charing Cross Hospital in London. 我们是在伦敦查令十字医院的小教堂里结的婚。 来自辞典例句
  • No additional charge for children under12 charing room with parents. ☆十二岁以下小童与父母同房不另收费。 来自互联网
12 chagrin 1cyyX     
n.懊恼；气愤；委屈
参考例句：
  • His increasingly visible chagrin sets up a vicious circle.他的明显的不满引起了一种恶性循环。
  • Much to his chagrin,he did not win the race.使他大为懊恼的是他赛跑没获胜。
13 hoarsely hoarsely     
adv.嘶哑地
参考例句：
  • "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
  • Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
14 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。
15 dismantled 73a4c4fbed1e8a5ab30949425a267145     
拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消
参考例句：
  • The plant was dismantled of all its equipment and furniture. 这家工厂的设备和家具全被拆除了。
  • The Japanese empire was quickly dismantled. 日本帝国很快被打垮了。
16 ransacked 09515d69399c972e2c9f59770cedff4e     
v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺
参考例句：
  • The house had been ransacked by burglars. 这房子遭到了盗贼的洗劫。
  • The house had been ransacked of all that was worth anything. 屋子里所有值钱的东西都被抢去了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
17 shutter qEpy6     
n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置
参考例句：
  • The camera has a shutter speed of one-sixtieth of a second.这架照像机的快门速度达六十分之一秒。
  • The shutter rattled in the wind.百叶窗在风中发出嘎嘎声。
18 plunging 5fe12477bea00d74cd494313d62da074     
adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
  • War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 celebrated iwLzpz     
adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
参考例句：
  • He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
  • The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
20 antagonist vwXzM     
n.敌人，对抗者，对手
参考例句：
  • His antagonist in the debate was quicker than he.在辩论中他的对手比他反应快。
  • The thing is to know the nature of your antagonist.要紧的是要了解你的对手的特性。
21 hindrance AdKz2     
n.妨碍，障碍
参考例句：
  • Now they can construct tunnel systems without hindrance.现在他们可以顺利地建造隧道系统了。
  • The heavy baggage was a great hindrance to me.那件行李成了我的大累赘。
22 resolute 2sCyu     
adj.坚决的，果敢的
参考例句：
  • He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
  • The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。
23 inviolate E4ix1     
adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的
参考例句：
  • The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate.宪法宣告公共财产不可侵犯。
  • They considered themselves inviolate from attack.他们认为自己是不可侵犯的。
24 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇，惊讶
参考例句：
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
25 chambers c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe     
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅
参考例句：
  • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

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