我們的早餐桌很早就收拾乾淨了，福爾摩斯穿著睡衣等候着約定的拜會。我們的委託人對他的約會很守時刻，鐘剛打十點，摩梯末醫生就來了，後面跟着年輕的準男爵。準男爵是個短小精悍、生着一雙黑眼珠的人，約有三十歲模樣，人很結實，眉毛濃重，還有一副顯得堅強而好斗的面孔。他穿著帶紅色的蘇格蘭式服裝，外表顯出是個久經風霜、大部時間都在戶外活動的人，可是他那沉着的眼神和寧靜自信的態度，顯現出了紳士的風度。
Our breakfast-table was cleared early, and Holmes waited in his dressing-gown for the promised interview. Our clients were punctual to their appointment, for the clock had just struck ten when Dr. Mortimer was shown up, followed by the young baronet. The latter was a small, alert, dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face. He wore a ruddy-tinted tweed suit and had the weather-beaten appearance of one who has spent most of his time in the open air, and yet there was something in his steady eye and the quiet assurance of his bearing which indicated the gentleman.
“這就是亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士。”摩梯末醫生說。
"This is Sir Henry Baskerville," said Dr. Mortimer.
“噢，是的，”亨利爵士說道，“奇怪的是，歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生，即使我的這位朋友沒有建議今晨來找您，我自己也會來的。我知道您是善於研究小問題的。今天早晨，我就遇到了一件實在想不通的事。”
"Why, yes," said he, "and the strange thing is, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, that if my friend here had not proposed coming round to you this morning I should have come on my own account. I understand that you think out little puzzles, and I've had one this morning which wants more thinking out than I am able to give it."
“請坐吧，亨利爵士。您是說從您到了倫敦以後已經遇到了一些奇特的事嗎？”
"Pray take a seat, Sir Henry. Do I understand you to say that you have yourself had some remarkable experience since you arrived in London?"
“沒有什麼重要的事，福爾摩斯先生，多半是開玩笑。如果您能把它叫做信的話，這就是我今早收到的一封信。”
"Nothing of much importance, Mr. Holmes. Only a joke, as like as not. It was this letter, if you can call it a letter, which reached me this morning."
他把信放在桌上，我們都探身去看。信紙的質地平常，呈灰色。收信地址是“諾桑勃蘭旅館”，字跡很潦草，郵戳是“查林十字街”，發信時間是頭一天傍晚。
He laid an envelope upon the table, and we all bent over it. It was of common quality, grayish in colour. The address, "Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel," was printed in rough characters; the postmark "Charing Cross," and the date of posting the preceding evening.
“誰知道您要到諾桑勃蘭旅館去呢？”福爾摩斯用鋭敏的目光望着我們的來客問道。
"Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel?" asked Holmes, glancing keenly across at our visitor.
“誰也不可能知道啊。還是在我和摩梯末醫生相遇以後，我們才決定的。”
"No one could have known. We only decided after I met Dr. Mortimer."
“但是，摩梯末醫生無疑已經到那裡去過了吧？”
"But Dr. Mortimer was no doubt already stopping there?"
“不，我以前是和一個朋友住在一起的，”醫生說，“我們並沒有表示過要到這家旅館去。”
"No, I had been staying with a friend," said the doctor. "There was no possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel."
“嗯，好象有誰對你們的行動極為關心呢。”他由信封裡拿出了一頁疊成四折的半張１３×１７英吋的信紙。他把這張信紙打開，平鋪在桌上。中間有一行用鉛印字貼成的句子，是這樣寫的：
若你看重你的生命的價值或還有理性的話，遠離沼地。
只有“沼地”兩字是用墨水寫成的。
"Hum! Someone seems to be very deeply interested in your movements." Out of the envelope he took a half-sheet of foolscap paper folded into four. This he opened and spread flat upon the table. Across the middle of it a single sentence had been formed by the expedient of pasting printed words upon it. It ran: "As you value your life or your reason keep away from the moor." The word "moor" only was printed in ink.
“現在，”亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士說，“福爾摩斯先生，也許您能夠告訴我，這究竟是什麼意思，究竟是誰，對我的事這樣感興趣呢？”
"Now," said Sir Henry Baskerville, "perhaps you will tell me, Mr. Holmes, what in thunder is the meaning of that, and who it is that takes so much interest in my affairs?"
“您對這件事怎樣看法呢，摩梯末醫生？無論如何，您總得承認這封信裡絶沒有什麼神怪的成分吧？”
"What do you make of it, Dr. Mortimer? You must allow that there is nothing supernatural about this, at any rate?"
“當然，先生。但是寄信的人倒很可能是個相信這是件神怪的事的人。”
"No, sir, but it might very well come from someone who was convinced that the business is supernatural."
“怎麼回事啊？”亨利爵士急促地問道，“我覺得似乎你們二位對我的事比我自己知道得還要多得多。”
"What business?" asked Sir Henry sharply. "It seems to me that all you gentlemen know a great deal more than I do about my own affairs."
“在您離開這間屋子之前，您就會知道我們所知道的情況了，亨利爵士，這點我保證。”歇洛克·福爾摩斯說道，“目前還是請您允許我們只談關於這封一定是昨天傍晚湊成寄出的很有趣的信吧。有昨天的《泰晤士報》嗎，華生？”
"You shall share our knowledge before you leave this room, Sir Henry. I promise you that," said Sherlock Holmes. "We will confine ourselves for the present with your permission to this very interesting document, which must have been put together and posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday's Times, Watson?"
“在那個牆角放著呢。”
"It is here in the corner."
“麻煩你拿給我可以嗎？翻開裡面的一版，勞駕，專登主要評論的那一面。”他迅速地從上到下看了一遍，這篇重要的評論談的是自由貿易，讓我給你們讀一讀其中的一段吧。
“可能你還會重被花言巧語哄得相信，保護稅則會對你的本行買賣或是工業具有鼓勵的作用，但若從理性出發，由長遠來看的話，此種立法命定會使國家遠離富足，減低進口總價值，並降低此島國之一般生活水平。”
“華生，你對這事的想法如何呢？”福爾摩斯欣喜莫名地叫了起來，很滿意似地搓着手，“你不認為這是一種很可欽佩的情感嗎？”
"Might I trouble you for it--the inside page, please, with the leading articles?" He glanced swiftly over it, running his eyes up and down the columns. "Capital article this on free trade. Permit me to give you an extract from it. 'You may be cajoled into imagining that your own special trade or your own industry will be encouraged by a protective tariff, but it stands to reason that such legislation must in the long run keep away wealth from the country, diminish the value of our imports, and lower the general conditions of life in this island.' What do you think of that, Watson?" cried Holmes in high glee, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction. "Don't you think that is an admirable sentiment?"
摩梯末醫生帶著職業的興趣的神氣望着福爾摩斯，而亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士則將一對茫然的眼睛盯住了我。
Dr. Mortimer looked at Holmes with an air of professional interest, and Sir Henry Baskerville turned a pair of puzzled dark eyes upon me.
“我不大懂得稅則這一類的事情，”亨利爵士說道，“可是據我看來，就這封短信來說，我們已經有點離題了。”
"I don't know much about the tariff and things of that kind," said he; "but it seems to me we've got a bit off the trail so far as that note is concerned."
“正相反，我認為我們恰恰是在正題上呢，亨利爵士。華生對於我改採用的方法比您知道得要多，但恐怕就連他也不見得十分瞭解這個長句子的重要性呢。”
"On the contrary, I think we are particularly hot upon the trail, Sir Henry. Watson here knows more about my methods than you do, but I fear that even he has not quite grasped the significance of this sentence."
“是的，我承認我看不出來兩者之間有什麼聯繫。”
"No, I confess that I see no connection."
“可是，我親愛的華生啊，兩者之間的聯繫是這樣的緊密，短信中的各個單字都是由這個長句中抽出來的。例如：‘你’、‘你的’、‘生’、‘命’、‘理性’、‘價值’、‘遠離’等，你現在還看不出來這些字是由那裡弄來的嗎？”
"And yet, my dear Watson, there is so very close a connection that the one is extracted out of the other. 'You,' 'your,' 'your,' 'life,' 'reason,' 'value,' 'keep away,' 'from the.' Don't you see now whence these words have been taken?"
“天那！您太對了！唉呀，您可真聰明！”亨利爵士喊了起來。
"By thunder, you're right! Well, if that isn't smart!" cried Sir Henry.
“如果對此還有任何懷疑之處的話，‘遠離’和‘價值’這幾個字是由同一處剪下來的，這個事實就足以消除懷疑了。”
"If any possible doubt remained it is settled by the fact that 'keep away' and 'from the' are cut out in one piece."
“嗯，現在……確實！”
"Well, now--so it is!"
“實在，福爾摩斯先生，這完全是我料想不到的事，”摩梯末醫生驚異地盯着我的朋友說，“如果有任何人說這些字是由報紙上剪下來的，我也能夠相信，可是您竟能指出是哪份報紙，還說是剪自一篇重要的社論，這可是我所聽過的最了不起的事了。您是怎麼知道的呢？”
"Really, Mr. Holmes, this exceeds anything which I could have imagined," said Dr. Mortimer, gazing at my friend in amazement. "I could understand anyone saying that the words were from a newspaper; but that you should name which, and add that it came from the leading article, is really one of the most remarkable things which I have ever known. How did you do it?"
“我想，醫生，您能區別黑人和愛斯基摩人的頭骨吧？”
"I presume, Doctor, that you could tell the skull of a negro from that of an Esquimau?"
“當——然了。”
"Most certainly."
“但是，怎樣區別呢？”
"But how?"
“因為那是我的特殊嗜好，那些區別是很明顯的。眉骨隆起，面部的斜度，顎骨的線條，還有……”
"Because that is my special hobby. The differences are obvious. The supra-orbital crest, the facial angle, the maxillary curve, the --"
“這也是我的癖好啊，那不同點也是同樣的明顯，正象黑人和愛斯基摩人在您眼中的區別一樣。在我看來，《泰晤士報》裡所用的小五號鉛字和半個便士一份的晚報所用的字型拙劣的鉛字之間，也同樣具有着很大的區別。區別報紙所用的鉛字，對犯罪學專家說來，是最基本的知識中的一部分。不過，坦白地說，在我還很年輕的時候，也曾有一次把《李茲水銀報》和《西方晨報》搞混了。但是《泰晤士報》評論欄改採用的字型是非常特殊的，不可能被誤認為是其他的報紙。 因為這封信是昨天貼成的，所以很可能在昨天的報紙裡就能找到這些文字。”
"But this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally obvious. There is as much difference to my eyes between the leaded bourgeois type of a Times article and the slovenly print of an evening half-penny paper as there could be between your negro and your Esquimau. The detection of types is one of the most elementary branches of knowledge to the special expert in crime, though I confess that once when I was very young I confused the Leeds Mercury with the Western Morning News. But a Times leader is entirely distinctive, and these words could have been taken from nothing else. As it was done yesterday the strong probability was that we should find the words in yesterday's issue."
“我明白了，那麼說，福爾摩斯先生，”亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士說道，“剪成這封短信的那個人是用一把剪刀……”
"So far as I can follow you, then, Mr. Holmes," said Sir Henry Baskerville, "someone cut out this message with a scissors--"
“是剪指甲的剪刀，”福爾摩斯說，“您可以看得出來，那把剪子的刃很短，因為用剪子的人在剪下‘遠離’這個詞的時候不得不剪兩下。”
"Nail-scissors," said Holmes. "You can see that it was a very short-bladed scissors, since the cutter had to take two snips over 'keep away.'"
“正是這樣。那麼就是說，有一個人用一把短刃剪刀剪下了這封短信所用的字，然後用漿糊貼了上去……”
"That is so. Someone, then, cut out the message with a pair of short-bladed scissors, pasted it with paste--"
“用膠水。”福爾摩斯說。
"Gum," said Holmes.
“是用膠水貼在紙上的。可是我想知道，為什麼‘沼地’這個詞竟是寫的呢？”
"With gum on to the paper. But I want to know why the word 'moor' should have been written?"
“因為他在報紙上找不到這個詞。其他字都是在任何一份報紙裡都能找得到的常用字，可是‘沼地’這個詞就不怎麼常用了。”
"Because he could not find it in print. The other words were all simple and might be found in any issue, but 'moor' would be less common."
“啊，當然了，這樣就能解釋清楚了。您從這封短信裡還看出些什麼別的東西嗎，福爾摩斯先生？”
"Why, of course, that would explain it. Have you read anything else in this message, Mr. Holmes?"
“還有一二跡象是可供研究的。他為了消滅所有的線索，確曾費了極大的苦心呢。這住址，您看得出來，是寫得很潦草的。可是《泰晤士報》這份報紙除了受過很高教育的人之外，是很少有人看它的。因此，我們可以假定，這封信是個受過相當教育的人寫的，可是他裝成一個沒有受過教育的人。 而從他儘力掩飾自己的筆跡這一點看來，似乎他這筆跡可能會被您認出或查出來。還有，您可以看得出來，那些字不是貼成一條直線的，有些貼得比其他字要高得多。例如說‘生命’這個詞吧，貼得就很不是地方。這一點可能說明剪貼的人的粗心、激動或是慌張。總起來講，我是比較傾向于後一種想法的，因為這件事顯然是重要的，這樣一封信的編纂者，看來也不象是個會粗心大意的人。如果他是慌張的話，這就引出了一個值得注意的新問題：為什麼他要慌張呢？因為清早寄出的任何信件，在他離開旅館以前都會送到亨利爵士的手裡的。寫信的人是怕被人撞見嗎——可是怕誰呢？”
"There are one or two indications, and yet the utmost pains have been taken to remove all clues. The address, you observe is printed in rough characters. But the Times is a paper which is seldom found in any hands but those of the highly educated. We may take it, therefore, that the letter was composed by an educated man who wished to pose as an uneducated one, and his effort to conceal his own writing suggests that that writing might be known, or come to be known, by you. Again, you will observe that the words are not gummed on in an accurate line, but that some are much higher than others. 'Life,' for example is quite out of its proper place. That may point to carelessness or it may point to agitation and hurry upon the part of the cutter. On the whole I incline to the latter view, since the matter was evidently important, and it is unlikely that the composer of such a letter would be careless. If he were in a hurry it opens up the interesting question why he should be in a hurry, since any letter posted up to early morning would reach Sir Henry before he would leave his hotel. Did the composer fear an interruption--and from whom?"
“現在我們簡直胡猜起來了。”摩梯末醫生說道。
"We are coming now rather into the region of guesswork," said Dr. Mortimer.
“嗯，不如說是在比較各種可能性，並將其中最與實際相近的選擇出來；這就是科學地運用想象力，可靠的物質根據永遠是我們進行思考的出發點。現在，還有一點，您無疑地又會把它稱為胡猜，可是我几乎可以肯定，這信上的地址是在一家旅館裡寫成的。”
"Say, rather, into the region where we balance probabilities and choose the most likely. It is the scientific use of the imagination, but we have always some material basis on which to start our speculation. Now, you would call it a guess, no doubt, but I am almost certain that this address has been written in a hotel."
“您根據什麼這樣說呢？”
"How in the world can you say that?"
“如果您仔細地把它檢查一下，您就可以看出來，筆尖和墨水都曾給寫信的人添了不少麻煩。在寫一個字的當兒，筆尖就兩次掛住了紙面，濺出了墨水。在寫這樣短短的一個地址中間，墨水就幹了三次，這說明瓶中的墨水已經很少了。您想吧，私人的鋼筆和墨水瓶是很少會這樣的，而這兩種情況竟會同時出現，當然更是十分罕有的事了，您知道，旅館的鋼筆和墨水卻很難不是這樣的。真的，我可以毫不猶豫地說，如果咱們能到查林十字街附近的各旅館去檢查一下字紙簍，只要一找到評論被剪破的那份《泰晤士報》剩下的部分，我們馬上就能找到發出這封怪信的人了。啊！唉呀！這是什麼啊？”
"If you examine it carefully you will see that both the pen and the ink have given the writer trouble. The pen has spluttered twice in a single word, and has run dry three times in a short address, showing that there was very little ink in the bottle. Now, a private pen or ink-bottle is seldom allowed to be in such a state, and the combination of the two must be quite rare. But you know the hotel ink and the hotel pen, where it is rare to get anything else. Yes, I have very little hesitation in saying that could we examine the waste-paper baskets of the hotels around Charing Cross until we found the remains of the mutilated Times leader we could lay our hands straight upon the person who sent this singular message. Halloa! Halloa! What's this?"
他把貼著字的那張１３×１７英吋的信紙拿到離眼睛只有一二英吋的地方仔細地檢查着。
He was carefully examining the foolscap, upon which the words were pasted, holding it only an inch or two from his eyes.
“啊？”
"Well?"
“沒有什麼，”他一面說著一面又扔下了信紙，“這是半張空白信紙，上邊連個水印都沒有。我想，咱們從這封奇異的信上能夠得到的東西也就僅止於此了。啊，亨利爵士，從您來到倫敦以後，還發生過什麼值得注意的事情嗎？”
"Nothing," said he, throwing it down. "It is a blank half-sheet of paper, without even a water-mark upon it. I think we have drawn as much as we can from this curious letter; and now, Sir Henry, has anything else of interest happened to you since you have been in London?"
“嗯，沒有，福爾摩斯先生。我想還沒有。”
"Why, no, Mr. Holmes. I think not."
“您還沒有看到過有人注意您的行動或是盯您的梢嗎？”
"You have not observed anyone follow or watch you?"
“我好象是走進了一本情節離奇驚人的小說裡似的，”我們的客人說，“見鬼，盯我的梢幹什麼？”
"I seem to have walked right into the thick of a dime novel," said our visitor. "Why in thunder should anyone follow or watch me?"
“我們就要談這個問題了。在我們談這問題之前，您再沒有什麼可告訴我們的了嗎？”
"We are coming to that. You have nothing else to report to us before we go into this matter?"
“噢，這要看什麼事情是你們認為值得講的了。”
"Well, it depends upon what you think worth reporting."
“我認為日常生活裡的任何反常的事情都是值得提出來的。”
"I think anything out of the ordinary routine of life well worth reporting."
亨利爵士微笑起來。
Sir Henry smiled.
“對於英國人的生活，我知道得還不多，因我的時間几乎全部都是在美國和加拿大度過的。可是我希望失落一隻皮鞋並不是這裡的日常生活的一部分吧？”
"I don't know much of British life yet, for I have spent nearly all my time in the States and in Canada. But I hope that to lose one of your boots is not part of the ordinary routine of life over here."
“您丟了一隻皮鞋嗎？”
"You have lost one of your boots?"
“我親愛的爵士，”摩梯末醫生叫了起來，“這不過是放錯了地方罷了。您回到旅館以後就會找到的。拿這種小事來煩擾福爾摩斯先生有什麼用呢？”
"My dear sir," cried Dr. Mortimer, "it is only mislaid. You will find it when you return to the hotel. What is the use of troubling Mr. Holmes with trifles of this kind?"
“唉，是他問我除了日常生活之外還發生過什麼事情啊。”
"Well, he asked me for anything outside the ordinary routine."
“很對，”福爾摩斯說，“不管這件事看來是多麼的荒謬。 您是說您丟了一隻皮鞋嗎？”
"Exactly," said Holmes, "however foolish the incident may seem. You have lost one of your boots, you say?"
“唉，還不就是放錯地方了嘛。昨晚我把兩隻鞋都放在房門外，而今早就剩一隻了。我從擦這雙皮鞋的那個傢伙的嘴裡也沒問出所以然來。最糟糕的是，這雙高筒皮鞋是我昨晚剛剛由河濱路買來的，還沒有穿過呢。”
"Well, mislaid it, anyhow. I put them both outside my door last night, and there was only one in the morning. I could get no sense out of the chap who cleans them. The worst of it is that I only bought the pair last night in the Strand, and I have never had them on."
“如果您還沒有穿過，為什麼您要把它放在外面去擦呢？”
"If you have never worn them, why did you put them out to be cleaned?"
“那雙淺棕色的高筒皮鞋，還沒有上過油呢，因此我就把它放在外邊了。”
"They were tan boots and had never been varnished. That was why I put them out."
“那麼說，昨天您一到倫敦馬上就出去買了一雙高筒皮鞋嗎？”
"Then I understand that on your arrival in London yesterday you went out at once and bought a pair of boots?"
“我買了很多東西呢，摩梯末醫生陪着我跑來跑去的。您知道，既然我們要到那裡去做個鄉紳，那麼我就必須穿著當地式樣的服裝，也許我在美國西部所沾染的生活方式使我顯得有些放蕩不覊了呢。除了其他東西以外，我還買了這雙棕色高筒皮鞋——付了六塊錢——可是還沒有穿上腳，就被偷去了一隻。”
"I did a good deal of shopping. Dr. Mortimer here went round with me. You see, if I am to be squire down there I must dress the part, and it may be that I have got a little careless in my ways out West. Among other things I bought these brown boots--gave six dollars for them--and had one stolen before ever I had them on my feet."
“被偷去的似乎是一件不成對就沒有用處的東西，”歇洛克·福爾摩斯說道，“我承認我和摩梯末醫生的想法相同，那只丟了的皮鞋不久可能就會找到的。”
"It seems a singularly useless thing to steal," said Sherlock Holmes. "I confess that I share Dr. Mortimer's belief that it will not be long before the missing boot is found."
“嗯，先生們，”準男爵帶著堅決的口氣說，“我覺得好象我已經把我所知道的點點滴滴全都說了。現在，你們應當實現你們的諾言了，把我們大家所共同關心的事詳詳細細地告訴我吧。”
"And, now, gentlemen," said the baronet with decision, "it seems to me that I have spoken quite enough about the little that I know. It is time that you kept your promise and gave me a full account of what we are all driving at."
“你的要求是很合理的，”福爾摩斯回答道，“摩梯末醫生，我想最好還是請您象昨天給我們講過的那樣，把您知道的全部事實再講一遍吧。”
"Your request is a very reasonable one," Holmes answered. "Dr. Mortimer, I think you could not do better than to tell your story as you told it to us."
受到這樣的鼓勵之後，我們這位從事科學事業的朋友便由口袋裏拿出了他那份手稿，就象昨天早晨那樣地把全部案情敘述了出來。亨利·巴斯克維爾爵士全神貫注地傾聽著，並且不時地發出驚奇的聲音。
Thus encouraged, our scientific friend drew his papers from his pocket, and presented the whole case as he had done upon the morning before. Sir Henry Baskerville listened with the deepest attention, and with an occasional exclamation of surprise.
“嗯，看來我似乎是承繼了一份附有宿怨的遺產，”在冗長的敘述結束之後他說，“當然了，我從很小的時候就聽到過關於這只獵狗的事，這是我們家最喜歡講的故事了，可是我以前從來就沒有相信過它。說起來，我伯父的去世——啊，這件事似乎使我內心感到十分不安，而且至今我還沒有能把它搞清楚呢。看來你們似乎也還沒有十分確定這究竟是警察該管的案子呢，還是一件牧師該管的事。”
"Well, I seem to have come into an inheritance with a vengeance," said he when the long narrative was finished. "Of course, I've heard of the hound ever since I was in the nursery. It's the pet story of the family, though I never thought of taking it seriously before. But as to my uncle's death--well, it all seems boiling up in my head, and I can't get it clear yet. You don't seem quite to have made up your mind whether it's a case for a policeman or a clergyman."
“就是啊。”
"Precisely."
“現在又出現了給我寄到旅館的這封信。我想它大概和這件事是有關係的。”
"And now there's this affair of the letter to me at the hotel. I suppose that fits into its place."
“這件事似乎說明，關於在沼地上所發生的事，有人知道得比我們還多。”摩梯末醫生說。
"It seems to show that someone knows more than we do about what goes on upon the moor," said Dr. Mortimer.
“還有一點，”福爾摩斯說道，“那個人對您並無惡意，因為他只是向您提出了危險的警告。”
"And also," said Holmes, "that someone is not ill-disposed towards you, since they warn you of danger."
“也許是為了他們個人的目的，他們想把我嚇跑。”
"Or it may be that they wish, for their own purposes, to scare me away."
“啊，當然那也是可能的。我非常感激您，摩梯末醫生，因為您向我介紹了一個具有幾種有趣的可能性的問題。可是，亨利爵士，眼下的一個很現實的必須加以決定的問題，就是究竟您是到巴斯克維爾莊園去好呢？還是不去的好。”
"Well, of course, that is possible also. I am very much indebted to you, Dr. Mortimer, for introducing me to a problem which presents several interesting alternatives. But the practical point which we now have to decide, Sir Henry, is whether it is or is not advisable for you to go to Baskerville Hall."
“我為什麼要不去呢？”
"Why should I not go?"
“那裡似乎有危險。”
"There seems to be danger."
“您所說的危險，是來自我家的那個惡魔呢，還是來自人的呢？”
"Do you mean danger from this family fiend or do you mean danger from human beings?"
“啊，那正是我們要弄清楚的事啊。”
"Well, that is what we have to find out."
“不管它是什麼，我的答覆是已經肯定了的。地獄裡並沒有魔鬼，福爾摩斯先生，而且世界上也沒有人能阻擋我回到我的家鄉去。您可以把這句話當作我的最後答覆。”在他說話的時候，他那濃濃的眉毛皺在一起，面孔也變得暗紅起來。顯然，巴斯克維爾家人的暴躁脾氣，在他們這位碩果僅存的後裔身上，還沒有完全消失。“同時，”他接著說，“對於你們所告訴我的全部事實，我還沒有時間加以思考。這是件大事，只聚談一次，誰也不可能全部理解並作出決定來，我願意經過獨自靜思以後再作決定。喂，福爾摩斯先生，現在已是十一點半鐘了，我要馬上回到我的旅館去。如果您和您的朋友華生醫生能夠在兩點鐘的時候來和我們共進午餐的話，那時，我就能更清楚地告訴你們這件事是多麼地使我震驚了。”
"Whichever it is, my answer is fixed. There is no devil in hell, Mr. Holmes, and there is no man upon earth who can prevent me from going to the home of my own people, and you may take that to be my final answer." His dark brows knitted and his face flushed to a dusky red as he spoke. It was evident that the fiery temper of the Baskervilles was not extinct in this their last representative. "Meanwhile," said he, "I have hardly had time to think over all that you have told me. It's a big thing for a man to have to understand and to decide at one sitting. I should like to have a quiet hour by myself to make up my mind. Now, look here, Mr. Holmes, it's half-past eleven now and I am going back right away to my hotel. Suppose you and your friend, Dr. Watson, come round and lunch with us at two. I'll be able to tell you more clearly then how this thing strikes me."
“華生，這樣對你方便嗎？”
"Is that convenient to you, Watson?"
“沒有問題。”
"Perfectly."
“那麼您就等着我們吧。我給您叫一輛馬車好嗎？”
"Then you may expect us. Shall I have a cab called?"
“我倒想遛一遛，這件事確實使我相當激動。”
"I'd prefer to walk, for this affair has flurried me rather."
“我很高興陪您一起散步，”他的同伴說。
"I'll join you in a walk, with pleasure," said his companion.
“那麼，咱們就在兩點鐘時再見吧。再見，早安！”
"Then we meet again at two o'clock. Au revoir, and good-morning!"
我們聽到了兩位客人下樓的腳步聲和砰地關上前門的聲音。 福爾摩斯突然由一個懶散半醒似的人變成了個說做就做的人了。
We heard the steps of our visitors descend the stair and the bang of the front door. In an instant Holmes had changed from the languid dreamer to the man of action.
“穿戴好你的鞋帽，華生，快！一點時間都不能浪費！”他穿著睡衣衝進屋內，幾秒鐘以後就已穿好上裝出來了。我們一同慌忙走下樓梯來到街上。在我們前面，向着牛津街的那個方向約有二百碼的地方，還看得到摩梯末醫生和巴斯克維爾爵士。
"Your hat and boots, Watson, quick! Not a moment to lose!" He rushed into his room in his dressing-gown and was back again in a few seconds in a frock-coat. We hurried together down the stairs and into the street. Dr. Mortimer and Baskerville were still visible about two hundred yards ahead of us in the direction of Oxford Street.
“要不要我跑去把他們叫住？”
"Shall I run on and stop them?"
“天哪！可千萬別這樣，我親愛的華生。你能陪伴我，我就極為滿足了，只要你還願意和我在一起的話。我們的朋友確實聰明，今天早晨實在是很適于散步的。”
"Not for the world, my dear Watson. I am perfectly satisfied with your company if you will tolerate mine. Our friends are wise, for it is certainly a very fine morning for a walk."
他加快了腳步，使我們和他倆之間的距離縮短了一半。然後就跟在他們後面，保持着一百碼的距離，我們跟隨着他們走上了牛津街，又轉到了攝政街。有一次我們的兩位朋友站住了，向商店的櫥窗裡探望着，當時福爾摩斯也同樣地望着櫥窗。過了一會兒，他高興得輕輕地叫了一聲，順着他那急切的眼神，我看到了一輛本來停在街對面的、裡面坐著一個男人的雙輪馬車現在又慢慢地前進了。
He quickened his pace until we had decreased the distance which divided us by about half. Then, still keeping a hundred yards behind, we followed into Oxford Street and so down Regent Street. Once our friends stopped and stared into a shop window, upon which Holmes did the same. An instant afterwards he gave a little cry of satisfaction, and, following the direction of his eager eyes, I saw that a hansom cab with a man inside which had halted on the other side of the street was now proceeding slowly onward again.
“就是那個人，華生，來呀！即使是幹不了什麼的話，至少咱們應該把他看清楚。”
"There's our man, Watson! Come along! We'll have a good look at him, if we can do no more."
一瞬間，我看到了生着一綹濃密的黑鬚和一雙炯炯逼人的眼睛的面孔，在馬車的側窗中向我們轉過頭來。突然間，他把車頂的滑動窗打開了，向馬車伕喊了些什麼，然後馬車就順着攝政街瘋狂地飛奔而去。福爾摩斯焦急地往四下里望着，想找一輛馬車，可是看不到空車。跟着他就衝了出去，在車馬的洪流裡瘋狂地追趕着，可是那馬車跑得太快了，已經看不到了。
At that instant I was aware of a bushy black beard and a pair of piercing eyes turned upon us through the side window of the cab. Instantly the trapdoor at the top flew up, something was screamed to the driver, and the cab flew madly off down Regent Street. Holmes looked eagerly round for another, but no empty one was in sight. Then he dashed in wild pursuit amid the stream of the traffic, but the start was too great, and already the cab was out of sight.
“唉，”福爾摩斯喘着氣，臉色發白，由車馬的浪潮中鑽了出來，惱怒地說道，“咱們可曾有過這樣壞的運氣和幹得這麼糟糕的事嗎？華生，華生，如果你是個誠實的人，你就應該把這事也記下來，作為我無往而不利的反證吧。”
"There now!" said Holmes bitterly as he emerged panting and white with vexation from the tide of vehicles. "Was ever such bad luck and such bad management, too? Watson, Watson, if you are an honest man you will record this also and set it against my successes!"
“那人是誰呀？”
"Who was the man?"
“我還不知道。”
"I have not an idea."
“是盯梢的嗎？”
"A spy?"
“哼，根據咱們所聽到的情況判斷，顯然是自從巴斯克維爾來到城裡以後，就被人緊緊地盯上了。否則怎麼那麼快就被人知道了他要住在諾桑勃蘭旅館呢？如果第一天他們就盯上了他的梢，我敢說，第二天還是要盯的。你可能已經看了出來，當摩梯末醫生在談那件傳說的時候，我曾走到窗前去過兩次。”
"Well, it was evident from what we have heard that Baskerville has been very closely shadowed by someone since he has been in town. How else could it be known so quickly that it was the Northumberland Hotel which he had chosen? If they had followed him the first day I argued that they would follow him also the second. You may have observed that I twice strolled over to the window while Dr. Mortimer was reading his legend."
“是的，我還記得。”
"Yes, I remember."
“那時我是向街中尋找假裝閒逛的人們，可是我一個也沒有看到，跟咱們打交道的是個精明人啊，華生。這件事很微妙呢，雖然我還沒有能肯定對方是善意的還是惡意的，但是我覺得他是個有能力、有智謀的人。在我們的朋友告別之後，我馬上就尾隨了他們，為的是想發現他們的暗中追隨者。他可真狡猾，連走路都覺得不可靠，他為自己準備了一輛馬車，這樣他就能跟在後邊逛來逛去，或是從他們的身旁猛衝過去，以免引起他們的注意。他這手法還有個特別的好處呢，果真他們坐上一輛馬車的話，他馬上就能尾隨上他們了。但是，顯然也有一個不利之處。”
"I was looking out for loiterers in the street, but I saw none. We are dealing with a clever man, Watson. This matter cuts very deep, and though I have not finally made up my mind whether it is a benevolent or a malevolent agency which is in touch with us, I am conscious always of power and design. When our friends left I at once followed them in the hopes of marking down their invisible attendant. So wily was he that he had not trusted himself upon foot, but he had availed himself of a cab so that he could loiter behind or dash past them and so escape their notice. His method had the additional advantage that if they were to take a cab he was all ready to follow them. It has, however, one obvious disadvantage."
“這樣他就要聽憑馬車伕的擺佈了。”
"It puts him in the power of the cabman."
“完全正確。”
"Exactly."
“咱們沒有記下車號來，多可惜。”
"What a pity we did not get the number!"
“我親愛的華生，雖然我竟顯得那樣笨拙，可是你一定不會真的把我想象得連號碼都忘了記下來吧？Ｎｏ．２７０４就是咱們要找的車號。但是，它眼下對咱們還沒有用處。”
"My dear Watson, clumsy as I have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that I neglected to get the number? No. 2704 is our man. But that is no use to us for the moment."
“我看不出在當時的那種情況下你還能幹些什麼。”
"I fail to see how you could have done more."
“在看到那輛馬車的當時，我本來應該馬上轉身往回走。 那時我應當不慌不忙地僱上另一輛馬車，保持相當距離跟在那輛馬車的後面，或者還不如驅車到諾桑勃蘭旅館去等。當我們所不知道的那個人，跟着巴斯克維爾到家的時候，我們就能以其人之道還治其人之身，看著他到什麼地方去。可是當時由於我的疏忽急躁，使得咱們的對手採取了極為狡猾的行動，咱們暴露了自己，失去了目標。”
"On observing the cab I should have instantly turned and walked in the other direction. I should then at my leisure have hired a second cab and followed the first at a respectful distance, or, better still, have driven to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there. When our unknown had followed Baskerville home we should have had the opportunity of playing his own game upon himself and seeing where he made for. As it is, by an indiscreet eagerness, which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man."
我們一邊談着一邊順着攝政街漫步前進，在我們前面的摩梯末醫生和他的夥伴早就不見了。
We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this conversation, and Dr. Mortimer, with his companion, had long vanished in front of us.
“現在再尾隨他們也沒有什麼意義了，”福爾摩斯說道，“盯梢的人走了，就不會再回來了。咱們必須考慮一下，咱們手裡還剩下哪幾張牌，用就要用得果斷。你能認出車中人的面貌嗎？”
"There is no object in our following them," said Holmes. "The shadow has departed and will not return. We must see what further cards we have in our hands and play them with decision. Could you swear to that man's face within the cab?"
“我只能認出他的鬍鬚來。”
"I could swear only to the beard."
“我也能——可是我估計那可能是一綹假鬍鬚。對於一個幹這樣細緻事的聰明人說來，一綹鬍子除了能掩飾他的相貌外，是沒有別的用處的。進來吧，華生！”
"And so could I--from which I gather that in all probability it was a false one. A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no use for a beard save to conceal his features. Come in here, Watson!"
他走進了一家本區的傭工介紹所，受到經理的熱情歡迎。
He turned into one of the district messenger offices, where he was warmly greeted by the manager.
“啊，維爾森，我看您還沒有忘記我曾有幸地幫過您忙的那樁小案子吧？”
"Ah, Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case in which I had the good fortune to help you?"
“沒有，先生，我真的沒有忘。您輓救了我的名譽，甚至也許還救了我的性命呢。”
"No, sir, indeed I have not. You saved my good name, and perhaps my life."
“我親愛的夥伴，您誇大其詞了。維爾森，我記得在您的人手裡有一個名叫卡特萊的孩子，在那次調查期間，曾顯示出一些才幹。”
"My dear fellow, you exaggerate. I have some recollection, Wilson, that you had among your boys a lad named Cartwright, who showed some ability during the investigation."
“是的，先生，他還在我們這裡呢。”
"Yes, sir, he is still with us."
“您可以把他叫出來嗎？謝謝您！還希望您把這張五鎊的鈔票給我換成零錢。”
"Could you ring him up?--thank you! And I should be glad to have change of this five-pound note."
一個十四歲的、容光煥發而相貌機靈的孩子，聽從經理的召喚來了。他站在那裡，以極大的尊敬注視着這位著名的偵探。
A lad of fourteen, with a bright, keen face, had obeyed the summons of the manager. He stood now gazing with great reverence at the famous detective.
“把那本首都旅館指南給我，”福爾摩斯說道，“謝謝！啊，卡特萊，這裡有二十三家旅館的名稱，全都在查林十字街附近。你看到了嗎？”
"Let me have the Hotel Directory," said Holmes. "Thank you! Now, Cartwright, there are the names of twenty-three hotels here, all in the immediate neighbourhood of Charing Cross. Do you see?"
“看到了，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“你要挨家地到這些旅館去。”
"You will visit each of these in turn."
“是，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“你每到一家就給看門人一個先令，這兒是二十三個先令。”
"You will begin in each case by giving the outside porter one shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings."
“是的，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“你告訴他們說，你要看看昨天的廢紙。你就說你尋找一份被送錯了的重要電報。明白了嗎？”
"You will tell him that you want to see the waste-paper of yesterday. You will say that an important telegram has miscarried and that you are looking for it. You understand?"
“明白了，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“可是真正需要你找的是夾雜在裡面的一張被剪子剪成一些小洞的《泰晤士報》。這裡有一份《泰晤士報》，就是這一篇。你很容易認出它來，你認得出來嗎？”
"But what you are really looking for is the centre page of the Times with some holes cut in it with scissors. Here is a copy of the Times. It is this page. You could easily recognize it, could you not?"
“能，先生。”
"Yes, sir."
“每一次，大門的看門人都要把客廳看門人叫來問問，你也要給他一個先令。再給你二十三個先令。在二十三家裡你可能發現大多數的廢紙昨天都已燒掉或已運走了，其中三、四家可能將一堆廢報紙指給你看，你就在那廢紙堆裡找這一張《泰晤士報》，但也很可能什麼都找不到。再給你十個先令以備急需。在傍晚以前你向貝克街我的家裡發一個電報，報告查找的結果。現在，華生，咱們唯一剩下要干的事就是打電報查清那個馬車伕了，車號是Ｎｏ．２７０４，然後到證券街的一家美術館去消磨掉在我們去旅館之前的一段時間吧。”
"In each case the outside porter will send for the hall porter, to whom also you will give a shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings. You will then learn in possibly twenty cases out of the twenty-three that the waste of the day before has been burned or removed. In the three other cases you will be shown a heap of paper and you will look for this page of the Times among it. The odds are enormously against your finding it. There are ten shillings over in case of emergencies. Let me have a report by wire at Baker Street before evening. And now, Watson, it only remains for us to find out by wire the identity of the cabman, No. 2704, and then we will drop into one of the Bond Street picture galleries and fill in the time until we are due at the hotel."