单身贵族案 03贵族来信(3)

"That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord St. Simon.

"那很好，我手中这封信就是圣西蒙勋爵写来的。

I will read it to you, and in return you must turn over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter.

我读给你听听，你则一定要翻一遍这些报纸，向我提供所有关于这件事的消息。

This is what he says: "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:

他是这么写的：‘亲爱的歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生：

"Lord Backwater tells me that I may place implicit¹ reliance upon your judgment² and discretion³.

据巴克沃特勋爵告知，我可以绝对信赖您的分析和判断力。

I have determined⁴, therefore, to call upon you

因此我决定登门拜访，

and to consult you in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in connection with my wedding.

就有关我举行婚礼而发生的令人非常痛心的意外事件向您请教。

Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is acting⁵ already in the matter,

苏格兰场的雷斯垂德先生已经受理这一案件，

but he assures me that he sees no objection to your cooperation,

但是他向我声明，他认为没有理由不和您合作，

and that he even thinks that it might be of some assistance.

他甚至认为您的合作可能会有所帮助。

I will call at four o'clock in the afternoon,

下午四点，我将登门求教，

and, should you have any other engagement at that time, I hope that you will postpone⁶ it,

届时您如另有约会，希望稍后仍能惠予接见为荷，

as this matter is of paramount⁷ importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON."

因为这件事至关重要。您忠实的圣西蒙。'

"It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions⁸, written with a quill⁹ pen,

"这封信发自格罗夫纳大厦，是用鹅毛笔写的，

and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear¹⁰ of ink upon the outer side of his right little finger,"

尊贵的勋爵不小心在他右小指的外侧沾上了一滴墨水。"

remarked Holmes as he folded up the epistle.

福尔摩斯一边叠着信一边说。

"He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an hour."

"他约定四点钟来。现在是三点，他即将在一小时内到这里来。"

1 implicit   

a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的

参考例句：

• A soldier must give implicit obedience to his officers. 士兵必须绝对服从他的长官。
• Her silence gave implicit consent. 她的沉默表示默许。

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

6 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。

7 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

8 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 quill   

n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶

参考例句：

• He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。
• She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下，随后开始书写。

10 smear   

v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• He has been spreading false stories in an attempt to smear us.他一直在散布谎言企图诽谤我们。
• There's a smear on your shirt.你衬衫上有个污点。