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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
the sign of a game-cock above the door, Holmes gave a sudden groan and clutched me by the shoulder to save himself from falling. He had had one of those violent strains of the ankle which leave a man helpless. With difficulty he limped up to the door, where a squat, dark, elderly man was smoking a black clay pipe.
“How are you, Mr. Reuben Hayes?” said Holmes.
“Who are you, and how do you get my name so pat?” the countryman answered, with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes.
“Well, it's printed on the board above your head. It's easy to see a man who is master of his own house. I suppose you haven't such a thing as a carriage in your stables?”
“No; I have not.”
“I can hardly put my foot to the ground.”
“Don't put it to the ground.”
“But I can't walk.”
“Well, then, hop.”
Mr. Reuben Hayes's manner was far from gracious, but Holmes took it with admirable good-humour.
“Look here, my man,” said he. “This is really rather an awkward fix for me. I don't mind how I get on.”
“Neither do I,” said the morose landlord.
“The matter is very important. I would offer you a sovereign for the use of a bicycle.”
The landlord pricked up his ears.
“Where do you want to go?”
“To Holdernesse Hall.”
“Pals of the Dook, I suppose?” said the landlord, surveying our mud-stained garments with ironical eyes.
Holmes laughed good-naturedly.
“He'll be glad to see us, anyhow.”
“Why?”
“Because we bring him news of his lost son.”
The landlord gave a very visible start.
“What, you're on his track?”
“He has been heard of in Liverpool. They expect to get him every hour.”
Again a swift change passed over the heavy, unshaven face. His manner was suddenly genial.
我们来到一家外观可憎而又肮脏的旅店,旅店的门上挂着一块招牌,招牌上画着一只正在搏斗的公鸡。这时福尔摩斯突然发出了一声呻一吟,并且扶住我的肩膀以免摔倒。这种使人毫无办法的踝骨扭伤,他已经有过一次。他艰难地跳到门前,那儿蹲着一个皮肤黝一黑的、年纪较大的人,嘴里叼着一支黑色的泥制烟斗。
福尔摩斯说:“你好,卢宾·黑斯先生。”
这个乡下人抬起一双狡猾的眼睛,射一出怀疑的目光,答道:“你是谁,你怎么会准确地知道我的名字?”
“你头上的招牌上明明写着嘛。看出谁是一家之主也不难。我想你的马厩里大概没有马车这类东西吧?”
“没有。”
“我的脚简直不能落地。”
“那就不要落地。”
“可是我不能走路啊。”
“那么你就跳。”
卢宾·黑斯先生的态度绝不是有礼貌的,但是福尔摩斯却和蔼处之。
他说:“朋友,你瞧,我确实非常困难。只要能往前就行,怎么走我倒不介意。”
乖一巧的店主说:“我也不介意。”
“我的事情很重要。你要是借给我一辆自行车用,我愿给你一镑金币。”
店主人竖一起了他的耳朵。
“你要上哪儿去?”
“到霍尔得芮斯府。”
店主人用讽刺的眼光看着我们沾满泥土的衣服说:“大概是公爵的人吧?”
福尔摩斯一温一厚地笑着。
“反正他见到我们是会高兴的。”
“为什么?”
“因为我们给他带来有关他失踪的儿子的消息。”
店主人显然吃了一惊。
“什么?你们找到他儿子的踪迹了吗?”
“有人说他在利物浦。警察每时每刻都可能找到他。”
店主人一胡一须未刮的一陰一沉的面孔上表情再一次迅速地变化着,他的态度突然变得一温一和了。