四签名 86大宗阿格拉宝物（5）

It was amusing to notice how the consequential¹ Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the strength of the capture.

这时傲慢的琼斯已逐渐露出他对囚犯大摆威严的神气。

From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes's face,

从福尔摩斯那微微一笑，

I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him.

我看得出来，琼斯的话已经引起了他的注意。

"We will be at Vauxhall Bridge presently," said Jones,

琼斯又道："我们就要到沃克斯豪尔桥了。

"and shall land you, Dr. Watson, with the treasure-box.

华生医师，您可以带着宝箱在这里下去。

I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this.

我想您是深知我对这样的作法是负着多么大的责任。

It is most irregular, but of course an agreement is an agreement.

当然，这种作法是极不合法的，但是既有成议在先，我不能失信。

I must, however, as a matter of duty, send an inspector² with you,

我有责任派一个警长陪您同去。

since you have so valuable a charge. You will drive, no doubt?"

因为宝物贵重非常，您准备坐车去吗？"

"Yes, I shall drive."

"我准备坐车去。"

"It is a pity there is no key, that we may make an inventory³ first.

"可惜这里没有钥匙，不然咱们可以预先清点一下，

You will have to break it open. Where is the key, my man?"

您恐怕还需要把箱子砸开。斯茂，钥匙哪里去了？"

"At the bottom of the river," said Small shortly.

斯茂简短地说道："在河底下。"

"Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble.

"哼！你给我们这个麻烦真是多余。

We have had work enough already through you. However, Doctor, I need not warn you to be careful.

了你，我们已经费了不少的人力和物力。可是医师，我不必再叮嘱您了，千万小心。

Bring the box back with you to the Baker⁴ Street rooms.

为您回来的时候把箱子带到贝克街来，

You will find us there, on our way to the station."

在去警署以前，我们在那里等您。"

They landed me at Vauxhall, with my heavy iron box, and with a bluff⁵, genial⁶ inspector as my companion.

我在沃克斯豪尔下船，带着沉重的宝箱，由一个温和坦率的警长陪伴着。

A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. Cecil Forrester's.

一刻钟以后我们到达了西色尔·弗里斯特夫人的家

The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor.

开门的女仆对我这夜晚来访的客人很是惊讶，

Mrs. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening, she explained, and likely to be very late.

她说弗里斯特夫人不在家中，恐怕到深夜才能回来，

Miss Morstan, however, was in the drawing-room;

摩斯坦小姐现在还在客厅里。

so to the drawing-room I went, box in hand, leaving the obliging inspector in the cab.

我把那警长留在车上等候，我提着宝箱直入客厅。

1 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

2 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

3 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

4 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

5 bluff   

v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗

参考例句：

• His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
• John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。

6 genial   

adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的

参考例句：

• Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
• He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。