The Adventure of the Speckled Band花斑带之谜 （六）

时间：2020-04-26 05:46:52

（单词翻译:单击）

About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished,
and all was dark in the direction of the Manor1 House. Two hours
passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of
eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us.
 
"That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it
comes from the middle window."
 
As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord,
explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance,
and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A
moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing
in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us
through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand.
 
There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for
unrepaired breaches2 gaped3 in the old park wall. Making our way
among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about
to enter through the window when out from a clump4 of laurel
bushes there darted5 what seemed to be a hideous6 and distorted
child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing7 limbs and
then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.
 
"My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?"
 
Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like
a vise upon my wrist in his agitation8. Then he broke into a low
laugh and put his lips to my ear.
 
"It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon9."
 
I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected10. There
was a cheetah11, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders
at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when,
after following Holmes's example and slipping off my shoes, I
found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed
the shutters13, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes
round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then
creeping up to me and making a trumpet14 of his hand, he whispered
into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to
distinguish the words:
 
"The least sound would be fatal to our plans."
 
I nodded to show that I had heard.
 
"We must sit without light. He would see it through the
ventilator."
 
I nodded again.
 
"Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your
pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of
the bed, and you in that chair."
 
I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table.
 
Holmes had brought up a long thin cane15, and this he placed upon
the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the
stump16 of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left
in darkness.
 
How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a
sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my
companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same
state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut
off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness.
 
From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at
our very window a long drawn17 catlike whine18, which told us that
the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the
deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of
an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and
one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for
whatever might befall.
 
Suddenly there was the momentary19 gleam of a light up in the
direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was
succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal.
Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle
sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the
smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears.
Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle,
soothing20 sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping
continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes
sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed22 furiously with
his cane at the bell-pull.
 
"You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?"
 
But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I
heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my
weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which
my friend lashed so savagely23. I could, however, see that his face
was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing24. He had
ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when
suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most
horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled25 up louder
and louder, a hoarse26 yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled27
in the one dreadful shriek28. They say that away down in the
village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the
sleepers29 from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I
stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it
had died away into the silence from which it rose.
 
"What can it mean?" I gasped30.
 
"It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps,
after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will
enter Dr. Roylott's room."
 
With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the
corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber31 door without any reply
from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his
heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand.
 
It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a
dark-lantern with the shutter12 half open, throwing a brilliant
beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar.
Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott
clad in a long gray dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding32
beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers33.
Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash21 which we
had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his
eyes were fixed34 in a dreadful, rigid35 stare at the corner of the
ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar36 yellow band, with
brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his
head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion.
 
"The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes.

分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 manor d2Gy4     
n.庄园，领地
参考例句：
  • The builder of the manor house is a direct ancestor of the present owner.建造这幢庄园的人就是它现在主人的一个直系祖先。
  • I am not lord of the manor,but its lady.我并非此地的领主，而是这儿的女主人。
2 breaches f7e9a03d0b1fa3eeb94ac8e8ffbb509a     
破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背
参考例句：
  • He imposed heavy penalties for breaches of oath or pledges. 他对违反誓言和保证的行为给予严厉的惩罚。
  • This renders all breaches of morality before marriage very uncommon. 这样一来，婚前败坏道德的事就少见了。
3 gaped 11328bb13d82388ec2c0b2bf7af6f272     
v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大
参考例句：
  • A huge chasm gaped before them. 他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The front door was missing. A hole gaped in the roof. 前门不翼而飞，屋顶豁开了一个洞。 来自辞典例句
4 clump xXfzH     
n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走
参考例句：
  • A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
  • It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。
5 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔
参考例句：
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的
参考例句：
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。
7 writhing 8e4d2653b7af038722d3f7503ad7849c     
（因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • She was writhing around on the floor in agony. 她痛得在地板上直打滚。
  • He was writhing on the ground in agony. 他痛苦地在地上打滚。
8 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动
参考例句：
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
9 baboon NuNzc     
n.狒狒
参考例句：
  • A baboon is a large monkey that lives in Africa.狒狒是一种生活在非洲的大猴子。
  • As long as the baboon holds on to what it wants,it's trapped.只要狒狒紧抓住想要的东西不放手，它就会被牢牢困住。
10 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的，假装的
参考例句：
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
11 cheetah 0U0yS     
n.(动物)猎豹
参考例句：
  • The cheetah is generally credited as the world's fastest animal.猎豹被公认是世界上跑得最快的动物。
  • The distribution of the cheetah ranges from Africa to Central Asia.印度豹的足迹遍及从非洲到中亚的广大地区。
12 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。
13 shutters 74d48a88b636ca064333022eb3458e1f     
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门
参考例句：
  • The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
  • The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。
14 trumpet AUczL     
n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘
参考例句：
  • He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
  • The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。
15 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的
参考例句：
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
16 stump hGbzY     
n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走
参考例句：
  • He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
  • He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。
17 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
18 whine VMNzc     
v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣
参考例句：
  • You are getting paid to think,not to whine.支付给你工资是让你思考而不是哀怨的。
  • The bullet hit a rock and rocketed with a sharp whine.子弹打在一块岩石上，一声尖厉的呼啸，跳飞开去。
19 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的
参考例句：
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
20 soothing soothing     
adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的
参考例句：
  • Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
  • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
21 lash a2oxR     
v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛
参考例句：
  • He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
  • With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。
22 lashed 4385e23a53a7428fb973b929eed1bce6     
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥
参考例句：
  • The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
  • The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 savagely 902f52b3c682f478ddd5202b40afefb9     
adv. 野蛮地，残酷地
参考例句：
  • The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
  • He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。
24 loathing loathing     
n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢
参考例句：
  • She looked at her attacker with fear and loathing . 她盯着襲擊她的歹徒，既害怕又憎恨。
  • They looked upon the creature with a loathing undisguised. 他们流露出明显的厌恶看那动物。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
25 swelled bd4016b2ddc016008c1fc5827f252c73     
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）
参考例句：
  • The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
  • After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。
26 hoarse 5dqzA     
adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的
参考例句：
  • He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
  • He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。
27 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]
参考例句：
  • The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
  • The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。
28 shriek fEgya     
v./n.尖叫，叫喊
参考例句：
  • Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
  • People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。
29 sleepers 1d076aa8d5bfd0daecb3ca5f5c17a425     
n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环
参考例句：
  • He trod quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers. 他轻移脚步，以免吵醒睡着的人。 来自辞典例句
  • The nurse was out, and we two sleepers were alone. 保姆出去了，只剩下我们两个瞌睡虫。 来自辞典例句
30 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要
参考例句：
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
31 chamber wnky9     
n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所
参考例句：
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
32 protruding e7480908ef1e5355b3418870e3d0812f     
v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸
参考例句：
  • He hung his coat on a nail protruding from the wall. 他把上衣挂在凸出墙面的一根钉子上。
  • There is a protruding shelf over a fireplace. 壁炉上方有个突出的架子。 来自辞典例句
33 slippers oiPzHV     
n. 拖鞋
参考例句：
  • a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
  • He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。
34 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
35 rigid jDPyf     
adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的
参考例句：
  • She became as rigid as adamant.她变得如顽石般的固执。
  • The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out.考试很严，几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
36 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

©2005-2010英文阅读网