我们一想起侦探,第一个想到的就是夏洛克·福尔摩斯。甚至在距离关于他的第一个故事已一百多年的今天,他仍然是我们心中伟大的侦探。游客们仍然会到伦敦的贝克街去看他的公寓。有很多关于他的电影和图片——我们都知道他的样子,知道他穿什么衣服。 When we think of a detective, we think first of Sherlock Holmes. Even now, more than a hundred years after the first story about him, he is still the greatest detective of all. Tourists still go to Baker Street, in London, to see the place where he had his flat. There are films about him, pictures of him — we all know what he looked like, we all know what kind of clothes he wore. 但是他从来就没存在过。他的故事仅仅是故事而已,那么我们为什么记住他了呢? And yet he never existed. The stories about him are just stories. So, why do we remember him? 因为他喜欢抓罪犯。夏洛克·福尔摩斯追踪罪犯就像猎人追踪狐狸一样。他像猎犬和警犬一样,鼻子贴在地上——追踪罪犯到世界的尽头。罪犯可能试图藏匿——但只要夏洛克·福尔摩斯开始追踪,我们就知道他终会成功。 It is because he loves catching criminals. Sherlock Holmes chases the criminal as a hunter chases a fox. He is a bloodhound, a police dog, with his nose to the ground following the criminal to the end of the world. The criminal may try to hide — but when Sherlock Holmes has started the chase, we know that he will finish it with a 'kill'.
For SherlockHolmes, there was only one woman in the world. He did not love her, because he never loved women. But after their meeting he never forgot her. Her name was Irene Adler.
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3月的一个晚上,我来到这位老朋友在贝克街的家拜访他,如今我已经结婚,所以不经常见到他。
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One night in March I visited my old friend at his home in Baker Street. I was married by now, so I did not often see him.
Come in, Watson,’ he said. ’Sit down. I’m happy to see you, because I’ve got something to show you. What do you think of this? It arrived in the last post.’ It was a letter, with no date, name or address. It said:
Tonight someone will visit you, to talk about some very secret business. You have helped other important people, and you can, we hope, help us. Be in your room at 7.45 p.m. ’
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“这种纸——你觉得这种纸怎么样?”福尔摩斯问。
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The paper — what do you think about the paper?’ asked Holmes.
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我尽量像福尔摩斯一样思考。“它很贵,所以这个人很有钱。这是种奇怪的纸。”
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I tried to think like Holmes. ’It’s expensive, so this person is rich. It’s strange paper.’
Yes, it’s not English. If you look at it in the light, you can see that it was made in Bohemia. And a German, I think, wrote the letter. Ah, here comes our man now.’ We could hear the horses in the street.
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“我该离开吗,福尔摩斯?”我问。
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Shall I leave, Holmes?’ I asked.
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“不,不,我需要你的帮助。这会很有趣的。”我的朋友回答。这时响起敲门声。
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No, no, I need your help. This will be interesting,’ my friend answered. There was a knock at the door.
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“进来!”福尔摩斯大声说。
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Come in!’ called Holmes.
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一个高大强壮的男人走进房间。他衣饰华贵,脸上戴了一个面具。
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A tall, strong man came into the room. He was wearing expensive clothes, and a mask over his face.
You can call me Count von Kramm. I come from Bohemia,’ he said. ’My business is most important. Before I tell you about it, do you agree to keep it a secret?’
A very important person, who belongs to a royal family, has sent me to ask for your help,’ he went on. ’I wear a mask because nobody must know who that person is. I must explain how important this business is. If you cannot help, there will be difficulty and trouble for one of the most important families in Europe — and perhaps a very big scandal. I am talking about the famous House of Ormstein, Kings of Bohemia.’
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“我知道,陛下。”福尔摩斯说完,安静地抽着烟。
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I know, Your Majesty,’ said Holmes. He quietly smoked his cigarette.
The man jumped up from his chair. ’What!’ he cried. ’How do you know who I am?’ Then he pulled the mask off his face and threw it on the ground. ’You are right. Why do I hide it? I am the King. I am Wilhelm von Ormstein, King of Bohemia. I came to see you myself because I could not ask another person to tell my story. It must be a secret. You understand?’
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“非常明白。接着说。”福尔摩斯说。他闭上眼睛听着。
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Very well. Go on,’ said Holmes. He closed his eyes and listened.
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“五年前我遇到一个叫艾琳·阿德勒的女人。我们……”
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Five years ago I met a woman called Irene Adler. We...’
Ah,’ said Holmes, ’Irene Adler, born in 1850, singer, lives in London, a very beautiful woman, I hear ...’ He looked at the King. ’You and she...You loved her, for a while, and then left her. But before you left her, you wrote her some letters perhaps. And now you want to get these letters back.’
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“是这样的。”
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That’s right.’
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“你和她结婚了吗?”
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Did you marry her?’
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“没有。”
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No.’
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“如果她拿那些信向你要钱,你可以说那不是你写的。”
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If she asks you for money and shows you the letters, you can say that you didn’t write them.’
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“但是福尔摩斯先生,她还有我的照片。”
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But Mr Holmes, she also has my photograph.’
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“你可以说你没有给过她照片。”
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You can say that you didn’t give her a photograph.’
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“我们俩都在照片里。”
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We were both in the photograph.’
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“噢,天呐。那是个错误,陛下。”
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Oh dear. That was a mistake, Your Majesty.’
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“我知道。我很愚蠢……但是那时候我太年轻!”
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I know. I was stupid...but I was very young!’
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“你必须把照片拿回来。你不能从她的房子里偷出来吗?”
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You must get the photograph back. Can you steal it from her house?’
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“我已经试了五次,但是我的手下找不到照片。我该怎么办呢?”
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I have tried five times but my men couldn’t find it. What can I do?’
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福尔摩斯笑了。“这可太有趣了。她想怎么处理那照片?”
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Holmes laughed. ’This is very interesting. What does she plan to do with the photograph?’
Soon I am going to marry Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You know, of course, that we are two of the most important royal families in Europe. Clotilde will never marry me if she learns that I have been a...friend of Irene Adler. You do not know Irene Adler. She’s a beautiful woman, but she can be as hard as a man. She was angry when I left her, and so she doesn’t want me to marry another woman. I know that she will send this photograph to the Saxe-Meningen family, and then there will be a terrible scandal. We must find the photograph before she sends it!’
I am sure that we will find it,’ said Holmes. ’You are, of course, staying in London? I will write to you to tell you what happens. And, the money...?’
The King put a large heavy bag on the table. ’I must have that photograph,’ he said. ’There is one thousand pounds here. lf you need more, you must ask at once. The money is not important.’
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“还有那个年轻女人的地址?”福尔摩斯问。
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And the young woman’s address?’ asked Holmes.
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“伦敦圣约翰伍德,瑟芬泰恩大街布里奥尼公寓。”
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Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St John’s Wood, London.’
Good night, Your Majesty,’ said Holmes. ’I hope to have some good news for you soon.’ The King left, and Holmes turned to me. ’And good night, Watson. Please come back tomorrow at three o’clock in the afternoon.’