斑点带子案 44多行不义必自毙(3)

He had ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator

他已停止了抽打，朝上注视着通气孔，

when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most horrible cry to which I have ever listened.

紧接着在黑夜的寂静之中，突然爆发出一声我有生以来未听到过的最可怕的尖叫。

It swelled¹ up louder and louder, a hoarse² yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled³ in the one dreadful shriek⁴.

而且叫声越来越高，这是交织着痛苦、恐惧和愤怒的令人可怖的尖声哀号。

They say that away down in the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the sleepers⁵ from their beds.

据说这喊声把远在村里，甚至远教区的人们都从熟睡中惊醒。

It struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes,

这一叫声使我们为之毛骨悚然。我站在那里，呆呆地望着福尔摩斯，

and he at me, until the last echoes of it had died away into the silence from which it rose.

他也呆呆地望着我，一直到最后的回声渐趋消失，一切又恢复了原来的寂静时为止。

"What can it mean?" I gasped⁶.

"这是什么意思？"我忐忑不安地说。

"It means that it is all over," Holmes answered.

"这意思是事情就这样了结了，"福尔摩斯回答道。

"And perhaps, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roylott's room."

"而且，总的来看，这可能是最好的结局。带着你的手枪，我们到罗伊洛特医生的房间去。"

With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the corridor.

他点着了灯，带头走过过道，表情非常严峻。

Twice he struck at the chamber⁷ door without any reply from within.

他敲了两次卧室的房门，里面没有回音.

Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand.

他随手转动了门把手，进入房内，我紧跟在他身后，手里握着扳起击铁的手枪。

1 swelled   

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。

2 hoarse   

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。

3 mingled   

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。

4 shriek   

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。

5 sleepers   

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

6 gasped   

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》

7 chamber   

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。