工程师大拇指案 09向福尔摩斯叙述故事(3)

Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the office,

然而，昨天正当我想离开办公室的时候，

my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who wished to see me upon business.

我的办事员进来通报，有位先生为业务上的事情希望见我，

He brought up a card, too, with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark¹' engraved² upon it.

同时递给我一张名片，上面印着莱桑德·斯塔克上校的名字，

Close at his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle size, but of an exceeding thinness.

紧跟着他进屋的就是上校本人。他中上等身材，只是极其瘦削，

I do not think that I have ever seen so thin a man.

我从来没有见到过这么瘦削的人。

His whole face sharpened away into nose and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn³ quite tense over his outstanding bones.

他的整个面部瘦削得只剩下鼻子和下巴，两颊的皮肤紧绷在凸起的颧骨上。

Yet this emaciation⁴ seemed to be his natural habit, and due to no disease,

然而他这种憔悴模样看来是天生的，而不是由于疾病所致，

for his eye was bright, his step brisk, and his bearing assured.

因为他目光炯炯，步伐轻快，举止自如。他的衣着简朴整齐。

He was plainly but neatly⁵ dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than thirty.

他的年龄，据我判断，大约将近四十岁。

'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent.

'是哈瑟利先生吗？'他说，有点德国口音，

'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley,

'哈瑟利先生，有人向我推荐说，

as being a man who is not only proficient⁶ in his profession but is also discreet⁷ and capable of preserving a secret.'

您不但精通业务，而且为人小心谨慎，能够保守秘密。'

I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an address.

我鞠了一躬，就象任何一个青年那样，听到这类恭维的话就感到飘飘然。

'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?'

'我可以冒昧地问一下，是谁把我说得这么好呢？'

'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just at this moment.

'哦，也许目前我还是不告诉您为好。

I have it from the same source that you are both an orphan⁸ and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.'

我从同一消息来源还听说您既是一个孤儿，又是一个单身汉，并且是独身一人住在伦敦。'

'That is quite correct,' I answered;

'一点也不错，'我回答说，

'but you will excuse me if I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional qualifications.

'但是请您原谅，我看不出这些和我业务能力有什么关系，

I understand that it was on a professional matter that you wished to speak to me?'

据我所知，您是为了一件业务上的事情来同我洽谈的。'

'Undoubtedly⁹ so. But you will find that all I say is really to the point.

'的确如此。但是您会发现我没有半句废话。

I have a professional commission for you, but absolute secrecy¹⁰ is quite essential–absolute secrecy, you understand,

我们有一件工作想委托您，但是最重要的是绝对保密，绝对保密，你懂吗？

and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than from one who lives in the bosom¹¹ of his family.'

当然，我们可以希望一位独居的人比一位和家属生活在一起的人更能做到绝对保密。'

'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely depend upon my doing so.'

'您可以绝对相信，'我说，'如果我向您保证严守秘密，那我就一定会做到的。'

1 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

2 engraved   

v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）

参考例句：

• The silver cup was engraved with his name. 银杯上刻有他的名字。
• It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back. 此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 drawn   

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。

4 emaciation   

n.消瘦，憔悴，衰弱

参考例句：

• His face was hollowed out to the point of emaciation. 他的脸瘦削到了憔悴的地步。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These photographs show extremes of obesity and emaciation. 这些照片展现了肥胖与消瘦两个极端。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

6 proficient   

adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家

参考例句：

• She is proficient at swimming.她精通游泳。
• I think I'm quite proficient in both written and spoken English.我认为我在英语读写方面相当熟练。

7 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

8 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

9 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

10 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

11 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。