歪唇男人 22拜访圣克莱尔夫人(2)

We had pulled up in front of a large villa¹ which stood within its own grounds.

我们在一座大别墅前停车，这座别墅坐落在庭园之中。

A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head,

这时一个马僮跑了过来，拉住马头，

and springing down I followed Holmes up the small, winding² gravel-drive which led to the house.

我跳下车来跟着福尔摩斯走上了一条通往楼前的、小小弯曲的碎石道。

As we approached, the door flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening,

我们走近楼前时，楼门洞开，一位白肤金发的小妇人立在门口，

clad in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy³ pink chiffon at her neck and wrists.

穿着一身浅色细纱布的衣服，在衣服的颈口和腕口处镶着少许粉红色蓬松透明的丝织薄纱边。

She stood with her figure outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one half-raised in her eagerness,

她在灯光辉映下，亭亭玉立，一手扶门，一手半举，情极热切，

her body slightly bent⁴, her head and face protruded⁵, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing⁶ question.

她微微弯腰，探首向前，渴望的目光凝视着我们，双唇微张欲语，好象是在提出询问的样子。

"Well?" she cried, "well?"

"啊？"她喊道，"怎么样？"

And then, seeing that there were two of us,

随后，她看出我们是两个人，

she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan⁷ as she saw that my companion shook his head and shrugged⁸ his shoulders.

起先还充满了希望地喊着；可是看到我的伙伴摇头耸肩，就转而发出痛苦的呻吟了。

"No good news?" "None." "No bad?" "No."

"没有好消息吗？""没有。""没有坏消息吗？""没有。"

"Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have had a long day."

"谢天谢地！请进来吧！你们一定很辛苦了，足足累了这么一整天。"

"This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to me in several of my cases,

"这是我的朋友，华生医生。在过去的几个案件里，他对我的帮助极大，

and a lucky chance has made it possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this investigation⁹."

我很幸运能把他请来和我一同进行侦查。"

"I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly.

"我很高兴见到您，"她说，热烈地和我握手。

"You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our arrangements,

"我相信您会原谅我们有什么招待不周的地方的，

when you consider the blow which has come so suddenly upon us."

如果您考虑到我们所受到的打击是来得多么突然的话。"

"My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were not I can very well see that no apology is needed.

"亲爱的太太，"我说，"我是经过多次战役的老战士，即使不是如此，请您也不必跟我客气。

If I can be of any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be indeed happy."

对您或者对我的老朋友，如果我能够有所帮助的话，那么，我真是太高兴了。"

1 villa   

n.别墅，城郊小屋

参考例句：

• We rented a villa in France for the summer holidays.我们在法国租了一幢别墅消夏。
• We are quartered in a beautiful villa.我们住在一栋漂亮的别墅里。

2 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

3 fluffy   

adj.有绒毛的，空洞的

参考例句：

• Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
• The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。

4 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

5 protruded   

v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The child protruded his tongue. 那小孩伸出舌头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The creature's face seemed to be protruded, because of its bent carriage. 那人的脑袋似乎向前突出，那是因为身子佝偻的缘故。 来自英汉文学

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 groan   

vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音

参考例句：

• The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
• The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。

8 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。