1. law, govt and politics
2. government

英语注释 读物・新福尔摩 斯探案集①
Sherlock Holmes
And the Titanic Tragedy
福尔摩斯
与 泰 坦 尼 克 号悲 剧
〔英〕　威廉・塞尔 著
江素侠 注释
北京大学出版社
北　京
William Seil, 1996
First Published by Breese Books Ltd ., represented by cathy
Miller Foreigh Rights Agency, London, England
English/ Chinese Edition, Peking University Press 2001
著作权合同登记 图字 01 - 2000 - 3266
图书在版编目 ( CIP) 数据
福尔摩斯与泰坦尼克号悲剧/ 〔英〕塞尔著 , 江素侠注释 .—北
京 : 北京大学出版社 , 2001．7
( 英语注释读物 , 1 .新福尔摩斯探案集 )
ISBN 7－301－05065－8
Ⅰ． 福… Ⅱ．①塞…②江… Ⅲ ． 英语－语言读物 , 小说
Ⅳ．H319 .4: I
中国版本图书馆 CIP 数据核字 (2001) 第 038042 号
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定
福尔摩斯与泰坦尼克号悲剧
[英 ] 威廉・塞尔
刘胜利
ISBN 7 - 301 - 05065 - 8/ H．0629
北京大学出版社
北京市海淀区中关村北京大学校内 100871
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850×1168 32 开本 13．125 印张 341 千字
2001 年 7 月第 1 版 2001 年 7 月第 1 次印刷
价 : 21．00 元
内 容 简 介
作家威 廉・塞 尔终 生致 力于 大 侦探 福尔 摩斯 的写 作。在 这 个
激动人心的福尔摩斯探案故事中 , 夏洛克・福尔 摩斯的 世界 与伟 大
的
“ 泰坦尼克 号”轮 船 密 切 相 关。1912 年 , 他和 华 生 乘“ 泰 坦 尼 克
号”前往美国去执行一项政府的机密任务。
假扮成海 军 准 将 的 福 尔 摩 斯 另 有 一 项 照 看 秘 密 间 谍 克 里 斯
汀・诺 顿的 任 务。诺 顿年 轻 , 富 有魅 力 , 正 负责 将极 度重 要的 潜 艇
计划送 交海 军。分 手不 久 , 悲 剧旋 即发 生 : 计 划被 盗 , 而 且就 被 藏
匿在这个豪华巨轮上。嫌疑人的范 围逐步 缩小 到几位 奇特 的顾 客
身上 , 包括一位 毫无 掩 饰地 倾 慕华 生 的美 丽 寡 妇。最 引人 注 目 的
则是詹姆斯・摩里亚蒂上校 , 即那位 过世的 传奇 教授摩 里亚 蒂的 兄
弟。
随着调查的深入 , 案情更加扑朔 迷离 “
, 泰 坦尼克 号”正 在大 西
洋上向纽约快速驶去。远方天 空灰 暗 , 海水 冰凉 , 一座 巨形 冰山 正
在准备迎接这人类向大自然力量发起的最新挑战。
新福尔摩斯 探案集系 列
柯南道尔 去 世 了 , 但 是 夏 洛 克・福 尔 摩 斯 的 探 案 活 动 并 没 有
停止 , 请 看三 位 著 名 侦 探小 说 家 瓦 尔・安 德 鲁 斯、约翰・豪 尔 和 威
廉・塞尔写的新福尔摩斯探案集系列 :
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与泰坦尼克号悲剧 威廉・塞尔著
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与林阴大道谋杀案 约翰・豪尔著
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与电话谋杀案 约翰・豪尔著
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与恐怖的马戏团 瓦尔・安德鲁斯著
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与死亡剧场 瓦尔・安德鲁斯著
夏洛克・福尔摩斯与贝克街 12 号 瓦尔・安德鲁斯著
Chapter One
T he Evening of Tuesday
9 April 1912
60 岁的华生 医 生 早 已 从写 福 尔 摩 斯 的事 迹 而 改 向 写 历 史 小
说 , 偶尔还为几个病人看病。而 福尔摩 斯也 已告别 侦探 生涯 , 隐 居
在南唐斯的一个小农舍。华生常去 看望福 尔摩 斯并带 去近 来犯 罪
的侦探情况。1912 年 4 月 9 日 ( 星期二 ) 雨夜 , 悉尼・来利 前来拜 访
华生 , 带来福尔摩斯的信 , 信中装有 第二天 早上 乘泰坦 尼克 号轮 船
去美国的船票。
In the spring of 1912 , at the age of 60 , I was leading a soli－
tary① life ② in rooms in Piccadilly③ . While continuing to see a
few regular ④ patients ⑤ , I had, for the most part, ended my
medical practice . My working time was now devoted⑥ almost
①
solitary a . 孤独的
②
lead a . . .life 过着……的生活
③
Piccadilly n . 皮卡迪利大街 ( 在 Haymarket 和 Hyde Park Corner 之 间
的伦敦繁华街 道)
④
regular a . 经常的 , 定期的
⑤
patient n . 病人
⑥
devote to 致力于
1
entirely ① to writing historical novels . This turn in my writing
career ② had come as quite a surprise - and I must say, disap－
pointment③ - to my publisher④ , who would have preferred ⑤ that
I did nothing but record past adventures⑥ of my friend, Mr
Sherlock Holmes . As a favour⑦ to him, and many loyal ⑧ read－
ers, I occasionally⑨ sifted 10 through old notes on Holmes s cases
and produced a new manuscript 1 . But I also was respectful of 12
Holmes s desire for solitude 13 and anonymity 14 .
Holmes had long since retired 15 from his illustrious 16 career
as a detective and was now living on a smallholding 17 on the
South Downs . He rarely came to the city, but several times a
2
①
entirely ad . 完全地
②
career n . 事业 , 生涯
③
disappoin tmen t n . 失望
④
publisher n . 出版商
⑤
prefer v . 宁愿 , 更喜欢
⑥
adven ture n . 冒险的经历
⑦
favour n . 宠爱
⑧
loyal a . 忠诚的
⑨
occasionally ad . 有时 , 偶尔
10
sift v . 详申
1
manuscript n . 手稿
12
be respect ful of 对……尊重
13
solitude n . 孤独
14
anonymity n . 匿名 , 隐姓埋名
15
retire v . 退休
16
illustrious a . 杰出的
17
smallholding n . 小农场
yea r I w ou ld t ravel to h is count ry r et re at ① and inform him of
whatever news I had heard about recent③ criminal④ investiga－
tions⑤ . I often called at Scotland Yard⑥ to see young Inspector ⑦
Wiggins, who provided me with ⑧ detailed ⑨ accounts 10 of cur－
rent 1 cases . There were times too when Wiggins, baff led 12 by a
particularly 13 complex 14 case , would travel to Sussex to consult 15
his old mentor 16 .
My visits to Holmes seldom 17 involved 18 talking over 19 old
①
ret reat n . 退却
②
inform sb of st h 告诉某人某事
③
recent a . 近来的
④
criminal a . 犯罪的
⑤
investigation n . 调查 , 研究
⑥
Scotland Yard 苏格兰场 ( 伦敦警察厅 )
⑦
inspector n . 巡视员
⑧
provide sb wit h 给某人供应……
⑨
detailed a . 详细的
10
accoun t n . 叙述 , 陈述
1
curren t a . 当前的
12
baffle v . 困惑 , 为难
13
par ticularly ad . 尤其 , 特别
14
complex a . 复杂的
15
consult v . 商议 , 请教
16
mentor n . 顾问 , 导师
17
seldom ad . 很少 , 不常
18
involve v . 潜心于
19
talk over 讨论
3
tim es . He had little pa tience wit h ① nostalgia② . Whenever my
conversation ③ wandered to decades－old④ memories of past cases,
he would rise f rom his chair and draw me over to ⑤ one of the
many scientific pro jects that were in progress in and around his
home . I was always reluctant ⑥ to visit the beehives⑦ he kept in
his orchard⑧ , even when I was fully covered by protective ⑨
clothing . But I was fascinated 10 by his promising 1 work in the
scienti fic analysis of crime evidenec . I recall 12 one day in partic－
ular 13 when we travelled to a local inn to purchase 14 drinking
mugs - that is, unwashed drinking mugs, taken right off the
bar . After giving the landlord a generous 15 payment, Holmes
gathered up the mugs with a gloved hand and packed them into a
4
①
have lit tle patience with 对……没有耐心
②
nostalgia n . 怀旧之情
③
conversation n . 会话 , 交谈
④
decades－old a . 数十年前的
⑤
draw sb over to 把某人拉到……
⑥
reluctant a . 不情愿的
⑦
beehives n . 蜂窝
⑧
orchard n . 果园
⑨
protective a . 给与保护的
10
fascinate v . 着迷 , 入迷
1
promising a . 有希望的
12
recall v . 回忆
13
in par ticular 尤其 , 特别
14
purchase v . 购买
15
generous a . 慷慨大方的
box . At home, he applied ① various② dry③ chemical mixtures④ to
the glass, hoping to develop a method of bringing out⑤ detail in
smudged⑥ f ingerprints⑦ .
I thought about Holmes as I sat at my dining room table late
one night, researching the early battles of the Boer War . Out－
side , the wind howled⑧ and heavy rains rattled⑨ against the win－
dows . I had just put another log on the f ire , and it was en－
gulfed 10 in crackling 1 f lames . I welcomed these sounds . My
rooms had been much too quiet since the death of my wife six
months earlier . I thought back to other stormy nights at Baker
Street, when there would be a knock on the door, and a rain－
soaked stranger - speaking to us in frightened, confused or de－
manding tones - would ask our help in solving a problem . But
those days were gone , like all the history that lined my book－
shelves 12 .
As my mind wandered, I decided that it was time to
①
apply v . 运用
②
various a . 各种各样的
③
dry a . 干的
④
mixture n . 混合物
⑤
bring out 使显示
⑥
smudged a . 污迹的
⑦
fingerprin ts n . 指纹 , 手印
⑧
howl v . 号叫 , 怒号
⑨
rat tle v . 有节律地拍打
10
engulf v . 卷入 , 吞没
1
crackle v . 劈劈啪啪地响
12
bookshelf n . 书架
5
abandon ① my research for the evening . Leaving my books on
the table , I walked to the window and looked at the street be－
low . In the glow of the street lamps, I watched as the rain
poured on to the cobbled ② street and rushed along the gutters③ .
Except for the fury ④ of Mother Nature, the streets were quiet .
The only sign of life was a small pack of neighbourhood dogs
conducting their nightly prowl ⑤ of the area . I was about to leave
the window and retire ⑥ to my bedroom when I noticed the flash
of headlamps approaching up the street . A large , black motor－
car came to a stop directly in front of my rooms . The headlamps
blinked off ⑦ and , for several minutes, it appeared that no one
was going to leave the car . But then a man stepped out of ⑧ the
driver s seat and rushed to the back to open the door for a pas－
senger⑨ . The man in the back seat, wearing a dark hat and rain－
coat, climbed out of the car and immediately 10 looked up to the
window where I was standing . We watched each other for a few
moments, before he lowered his head and walked in the direc－
tion of my door .
6
①
abandon v . 废除
②
cobble v . 用圆石砌路
③
gu tter n . 街道
④
fury n . 狂怒 , 狂暴
⑤
prowl n . 巡游
⑥
retire v . 离开
⑦
blink off 闪耀着
⑧
step out of 走出
⑨
passenger n . 乘客
10
immediately ad . 立刻 , 马上
I heard his knock, just as I reached the foot of the stairs . I
tightened ① the collar② of my dressing gown ③ round my neck,
slid back the bolt④ and opened the door . The gust ⑤ of cold,
wet, wind penetrated ⑥ my body, and I began to shiver ⑦ . But
the stranger stoo d calmly, as though this were a casual ⑧ visit on
a sunny afternoon .
‘ Dr Watson ?’
‘ Yes .’
‘My name is Sidney Reilly . May I come in ?’
‘It s very late . Unless this is a medical emergency, I must
ask you to come back in the morning .’
‘ Doctor ,’he said with a half－smile .‘ I have an important
message for you from Mr Sherlock Holmes . And by tomorrow
morning, I suspect you’ll be on a ship bound for America .’
I froze for a moment, not knowing whether I should believe
this extraordinary⑨ statement 10 . But then, the appearance 1 of
①
tigh ten v . 绷紧 , 拉紧
②
collar n . 领子
③
gown n . 长袍 , 睡袍
④
bolt n . 门闩
⑤
gust n . 一阵风
⑥
penetrate v . 穿透 , 看穿
⑦
shiver v . 颤抖
⑧
casual a . 临时的
⑨
ext raordinary a . 非凡的 , 特别的
10
statement n . 陈述
1
appearance n . 外表
7
t h is str ange r a t nigh t was wo rt hy of H olm es s sense of dr a ma ① .
Ten years earlier in Baker Street, I would not have been so fear－
ful of admitting a mysterious② late－night caller . But then , ten
years ago I would probably have remembered to slip ③ my service
revolver④ into my dressing gown before opening the door .
I pulled the door back and asked R eilly to follow me up－
stairs . As we entered the drawing room, I took his rain－soaked ⑤
hat and coat . Reilly was a dark, trim⑥ man in his late thirties .
When he spoke he had a trace of an accent, or mixture of ac－
cents . He had calm, piercing⑦ eyes that seemed to gaze over ⑧
every feature ⑨ of the room as he walked towards the f ire .
‘Doctor, I have been told that you are aware of the high
position Mr Holmes s brother, Mycroft, holds in our intelligence
service . I too work for the government, and when Mycroft
Holmes picks you up in the morning to take you to the railway
station, he will verify 10 that . He would have accompanied 1 me
8
①
drama n . 戏剧
②
mysterious a . 神秘的
③
slip v . 塞
④
revolver n . 左轮手枪
⑤
rain－soaked a . 被雨水浸湿的
⑥
t rim a . 整洁的
⑦
piercing a . 敏锐的
⑧
gaze over 凝视
⑨
feature n . 特征
10
verify v . 证实
1
accompany v . 陪伴 , 伴随
t h is evening , on ly he had t o make some last－m inu te ① arrange－
ments for his brother .’
‘Forgive ② me if I am sceptical ③ , Mr Reilly . But let us as－
sume ④ for the moment that what you are saying is true . Why
would you expect me to be boarding a ship for America in the
morning ? Is this something Holmes wishes me to do ?’
R eilly reached into his pocket and handed me a small enve－
lope ⑤ . It was addressed ⑥ to me in Holmes s handwriting .‘ I
haven t read it, but I believe that note will answer at least some
of your questions,’he said .
I tore open⑦ the envelope and read the note , which had
been dated that same day:
My dear Watson,
I realize that this request comes at a particularly sad time
for you, but once again, I am in need of your help . In the
morning I will board a ship for America, and will not be seeing
you again for some time . The government has asked me to con－
duct a secret investigation and, after some encouragement⑧ from
①
last－minute a . 最后时刻的
②
forgive v . 原谅 , 宽恕
③
scep tical a . 怀疑的
④
assume v . 假定 , 设想
⑤
envelope n . 信封
⑥
address v . 写信给……
⑦
tear open 撕开
⑧
encouragement n . 鼓励 , 奖励
9
persistent① senior ② officials, I have accepted . I would appreci－
ate it if you could f ind your way clear to join me on this voy－
age ③ . My investigation does not begin until I reach America, so
the voyage will be relaxing and uneventful ④ . The trip would do
you good and I would greatly enjoy seeing you at the start of this
adventure . However, after we reach New Y ork, I fear that my
mission ⑤ will lead to our separation, so come at once if conve－
nient⑥ - if inconvenient, come all the same . Mr Reilly will provide
you with a ticket .
Very sincerely yours⑦ ,
Sherlock Holmes .
‘I am convinced, Mr R eilly, I will have my cases packed
and be ready to travel in the morning .’
‘V ery, good , Doctor . That concludes⑧ our business . Y ou
understand, of course , that everything you see and hear - in－
cluding our meeting tonight - must be treated⑨ in the strictest 10
①
persistent a . 持久稳定的
②
senior a . 年长的 , 资深的
③
voyage n . 航行 , 旅行
④
uneventful a . 平静无事的
⑤
mission n . 使命 , 任务
⑥
convenient a . 便利的 , 方便的
⑦
sincerely yours/ yours sincerely 您的忠诚的 ( 给友人写信未署名前的 客
套话)
⑧
conclude v . 结束 , 终止
⑨
t reat v . 对待 , 视为
10
strictest a . ( strict 的最高级 ) 最严密的
10
of confidence ① . Y our f riend, Mr Holmes, is undertaking② a
mission that could prove to be a turning point③ in the nation s
security .’
‘ During my long association with Holmes and his clients④ ,
I have never betrayed⑤ a confidence . Y ou can rely on ⑥ me ,
completely⑦ . Now , can you tell me with what I am getting in－
volved ?’
‘I regret that I am unable to oblige ⑧ . Mr Holmes will tell
you as much as he can, once you get on board the ship . But I can
tell you that your friend is a hard man to bring out of retire－
ment . I’m sure you’re familiar with Winston Churchill, the
First Lord of the Admiralty . Well , he and I f irst visited
Holmes s retreat about a week ago to ask for his help . He lis－
tened to us, but wasted no time in turning us down⑨ . It was only
after we made a return visit with the Prime Minister 10 and For－
eign Minister 1 that he agreed to carry out 12 the investigation .’
①
confidence n . 信任
②
undertake v . 承担
③
t urning poin t 转折点
④
clien ts n . 顾客 , 委托人
⑤
betray v . 背叛
⑥
rely on 依赖 , 依靠
⑦
completely ad . 完全地
⑧
oblige v . 答应……的请求
⑨
t urn down 拒绝
10
Prime Minister 首相
1
Foreign Minister 外交部长
12
carry out 开展
11
I chuckled ① . Retirement had done little to change Holmes .
He remained as independent② as ever . Even as Holmes ap－
proached his sixties, he could not resist③ a challenge ④ to his re－
markable ⑤ talents⑥ .
R eilly began strolling⑦ around the room, f irst examining⑧
the mantelpiece ⑨ , then the bookshelves . A fter perusing 10 every－
thing with a quick sweep of his eyes, he turned to me with a look
of disappointment .
‘Forgive me , Doctor, ’he said .‘ I’ve read every article
you’ve written about your adventures with Mr Holmes . I was
expecting to see a few keepsakes 1 from 221B Baker Street . . .
Maybe some of Holmes s scrapbooks 12 , or a Persian slipper 13 full
of tobacco hanging from the f ireplace . But there s nothing here ,
and I saw very few mementoes 14 at Mr Holmes s country estate .
If you will forgive my curiosity, what happened to it all ?’
①
chuckle v . 吃吃笑
②
independen t a . 独立的
③
resist v . 抵抗 , 忍得住
④
challenge n . 挑战
⑤
remarkable a . 非凡的
⑥
talent n . 天赋 , 天才
⑦
stroll v . 漫步 , 闲逛
⑧
examine v . 检查 , 调查
⑨
mantelpiece n . 壁炉台
10
peruse v . 细读
1
keepsake n . 纪念品
12
scrapbook n . 剪贴簿
13
slipper n . 拖鞋
14
mementoes n . 纪念品
12
I took Reilly by surprise with a hearty laugh .‘ Do you be－
lieve in time travel, Mr Reilly ?’I motioned① to a closed door
next to the sideboard ‘
. If you’ll step through that doorway with
me , I will take you on a j ourney into the past that would make H
G Wells envious ② .’
I struck a match③ on the mantelpiece and opened the door .
Light f rom the electric lamp over my dining table stretched
across the fading④ 20－year－old carpet in the adjoining⑤ room .
‘This is the one room in the house where I don t allow electric
lights .’ The first match had burned to my fingertips ⑥ , so I
struck a second one and lit two oil lamps that were fixed to the
walls .
‘Mr R eilly, welcome to 221B Baker Street . If you look
around, I’m sure that you’ll find more than enough mementoes
to satisfy⑦ your curiosity⑧ .’
Until now R eilly had been emotionless ⑨ to a fault 10 . But
suddenly, up on seeing this room, his eyes lit up and he began a
①
motion v . 向……打手势
②
envious a . 嫉妒 , 羡慕
③
stick a match 划燃一根火柴
④
fading a . 退色的
⑤
adjoining a . 邻接的 , 隔壁的
⑥
fingertips n . 指尖 , 指套
⑦
satisfy v . 满足 , 使满意
⑧
curiosity n . 好奇心
⑨
emotionless a . 没有情感的
10
to a fault 过分 , 过度
13
whirlwind ① examination of its furnishings ‘
. This is wonderful,
Doctor . I can t believe it . It s just as you described your Baker
Street rooms in the articles .’
‘Well , I confess② that I never expected to become a muse－
um curator ③ ; nor that my past life would end up as an historical
display . But when Holmes moved out of 221 B, I just couldn t ac－
cept seeing all those memories of happier times being scattered ④
about . So Holmes generously gave everything to me , and bought
new furnishings for his country home . Of course, there were a
few pieces that he could not part with . For example , if you’ll
look over at that side table next to the settee ⑤ , you’ll see a vio－
lin . I had to purchase that at a second－hand shop . Holmes took
his with him . But most of the furnishings are original ⑥ .’
‘Back there, in the corner, is that where Holmes conduct－
ed ⑦ his experiments⑧ ?’
‘ Y es, smelly ⑨ old things they were, too . I used to welcome
the aroma 10 of Holmes s tobacco smoke, because it would cover
①
whirlwind a . 旋风的
②
confess v . 承认
③
curator n . 馆长
④
scattered v . 分散 , 散开
⑤
set tee n . 有靠背的长椅
⑥
original a . 原始的 , 最初的
⑦
conduct v . 进行
⑧
experiment n . 试验
⑨
smelly a . 发臭的
10
aroma n . 香气 , 香味
14
up the smell of sulphur ① . Here , let me give you a tour .’
R eilly sat in Holmes s velvet② armchair and, after asking
permission, tried on the deerstalker ③ cap that was hanging on
the wall rack . He chuckled at the stack of letters that were fixed
to the mantel with a jack－knife .
‘Tell me, Doctor . The letters VR that are perforated④ in
the wall . Did you reproduce ⑤ them with a revolver, as Holmas
did, or did you use a quieter, more conventional approach ?’
‘I used a hammer and a spike ⑥ . I am not as precise ⑦ a
marksman as Holmes, and the London police these days are less
tolerant of the sound of gunshots than they used to be .’
‘Mr Holmes was a remarkable man .’
‘He still is . Just a little less active .’
R eilly froze ⑧ for a moment, his eyes fixed on the floor .
When he looked at me again , the cold, commanding gaze had
returned to his eyes .
‘ Doctor, I am concerned about⑨ the safety of your friend,
and the success of his mission . It is important that when you see
Mr Holmes on the ship , you bring certain facts to his atten－
①
sulphur n . 硫磺
②
velvet n . 天鹅绒 (的 )
③
deerstalker n . 猎鹿人
④
perforate v . 打孔
⑤
reproduce v . 复制 , 再生
⑥
spike n . 大钉
⑦
precise a . 精确的 , 准确的
⑧
froze v . ( freeze 的过去式 )愣住
⑨
be concerned abou t 关心
15
tion .’
‘ And what might those facts be , Mr R eilly ?’
‘Simply, Doctor, that times have changed . And so has the
world in which Mr Holmes will be carrying out his mission . Mr
Holmes has confronted ① opp onents ② who were both cunning③
and dangerous④ . Still, most of them had certain standards by
which they played the game . I don t quite know how to define ⑤
it . Y ou might call it a Victorian⑥ ethic ⑦ . . . something in their
upbringing ⑧ that tempered ⑨ their lawlessness 10 . Doctor, believe
me when I tell you, that that is not the case in modern espi－
onage 1 .Mr Holmes will be dealing with individuals 12 who care
nothing about human li fe . He will be in grave 13 danger . And un－
less he is willing to become as cold and ruthless as his opponents,
I suspect he will not survive .’
I did not know ! how to react to this extraordinary 14
①
confron t v . 面临
②
opponen t n . 对手
③
cunning n . 狡猾( 的 )
④
dangerous a . 危险的
⑤
define v . 定义为
⑥
Victorian a . 维多利亚的
⑦
ethic n . 道德规范
⑧
upbringing n . 抚养 , 教养
⑨
temper v . 调节 , 缓和
10
lawlessness n . 违法 , 犯法
1
espionage n . 间谍 , 侦探
12
individuals n . 个人 , 个体
13
grave a . 严重的
14
ext raordinary a . 非凡的
16
statement . At f irst, I was offended① that this upstart② should be
so disrespectful ③ of Holmes s experience and abilities . Still,
there was something in his manner④ that told me that he knew
his business, and he did not give idle ⑤ warnings .
‘Mr R eilly, I assure you that Mr Holmes is quite capable of
taking care of himself . He may not be as young as he used to be ,
but his mind is as sharp as ever . And as for cunning opponents,
if you’ve read my articles, you must be aware of his conf ronta－
tion ⑥ with the late Professor Moriarty . As you may recall,
Holmes had laid a trap from which the professor knew he and
his cohorts⑦ could not escape . When Holmes refused to back
away, Moriarty on several occasions sent henchmen ⑧ to kill
him . Holmes and Moriarty had their final confrontation at Re－
ichenbach Falls, where they struggled and Moriarty fell to his
death . I could scarcely imagine a villain ⑨ as dangerous as the
professor .’
‘ As I recall , Doctor , at R eichenbach Falls - before the
struggle - didn t Professor Moriarty allow Mr Holmes a few mo－
ments to write a note to you, explaining what was about to take
①
offend v . 冒犯
②
upstar t n . 暴发户
③
disrespectful a . 失礼的 , 无理的
④
manner n . 礼貌 , 风格
⑤
idle a . 无根据的
⑥
confron tation n . 面对 , 对峙
⑦
cohorts n . 军团
⑧
henchmen n . 杀手
⑨
villain n . 坏人 , 恶棍
17
place ? I seem to recall f rom your work that you found such a
note under Holmes s cigarette case when you returned to the
Falls .’
‘ Yes, the Professor waited whilst Holmes wrote a brief
note . It was a simple courtesy① and posed ② no added danger to
the professor .’
‘My point, Doctor, is that a professional agent would not
have conf ronted Holmes face－to－face - let alone allow him the
time to write a note . He would have killed Holmes quietly, at
the f irst sign of trouble , with a knife in the back or a garrotte ③
around the throat④ . That s the type of opponent Holmes will be
facing . I’m alive and speaking to you today, only because I have
been willing to play as rough ⑤ as my opponents⑥ .’
‘ I remain ⑦ as confident as ever in Holmes s abilities, ’I said
quietly ‘
. But I will do as you say and pass on that word of warn－
ing .’
‘I hope so , Doctor . I hope so . I am a great admirer ⑧ of Mr
Holmes . I would hate to live with⑨ the memory that I had sent
him on his f inal adventure .’
①
courtesy n . 谦恭 , 礼貌
②
pose v . 造成 , 形成
③
garrotte n . 绞刑刑具
④
t hroat n . 咽喉
⑤
rough a . 凶恶的 , 粗暴的
⑥
opponen t n . 对手 , 敌人
⑦
remain v . 保持
⑧
admirer n . 敬慕者
⑨
hate to do 憎恨做……
18
I handed Reilly his hat and coat as he stood at the top of the
stairs, preparing to step back out into the pouring rain . Before
buttoning his coat, he reached into an inside pocket and pulled
out an envelope ‘
. Thank you again for the journey back in time ,
Doctor . Here s your ticket for tomorrow . I hope you enjoy the
voyage , and please remember what I said .’
‘I will , and thank you again, Mr Reilly .’
I walked down the stairs with R eilly and opened the front
door for him . He stepped out to his motorcar, as the driver
opened the door to the back seat .
A fter bolting① the front door, I walked back upstairs and
warmed myself by the fireplace . I took a clean butter－knife from
the sideboard② and opened the envelope Reilly had given me . I
was pleased to see that it contained③ a f irst－class ticket, since I
had long made a habit of treating myself to comfortable travel
accommodation ④ . Not only that, but the ship itself would make
this a rare treat . I would be travelling on the maiden ⑤ voyage ⑥
of the biggest, most luxurious⑦ ship ever built . Its name was
written on my ticket in proud, bold letters -‘ R M S Titan ic’.
①
bolt v . 上门闩
②
sideboard n . 餐具橱
③
con tain v .包含
④
accommodation n . 住处 , 食宿
⑤
maiden a . 无经验的 , 首次的
⑥
voyage n . 航行
⑦
luxurious a . 奢侈的 , 豪华的
19
Chapter Two
T he Morning of Wednesday
10 April 1912
4 月 10 日 ( 周三 ) 早上 , 泰坦尼克号启程前夕 , 福尔摩 斯的哥 哥
麦克罗夫特前来 送华 生 医 生 , 并 告诉 他 化名 的 福尔 摩 斯会 在 船 上
与他相见 , 他们此次美国 之行 是为了 保护 克里 斯汀 ・诺顿 小 姐 , 她
携带着机密文件 , 有外国组织 对之窥 然。在 乘坐 去码头 的火 车上 ,
华生医生结识了侯里・斯托姆－佛来明小姐。
Mycroft s motorcar pulled up① at Waterloo Station well in
advance of ② the Titanic Special Service s departure ③ at a quarter
to ten . I had packed a large suitcase in haste ④ for the journey,
hoping to purchase whatever else I might need on board the
ship, or in New Y ork . Mycroft was trimmer and more energet－
ic ⑤ than he had been when I last saw him, some three months
earlier . It appeared that my lectures on his poor dietary ⑥ and
①
pull up 驶进 , 停靠
②
in advance of 提前 , 在……之前
③
departure n . 启程 , 离开
④
in haste 匆匆忙忙
⑤
energetic a . 精力充沛的
⑥
dietary n . 规定的饮食
20
exercise habits had had their desired effect . He conf ided to ① me
that members of the Diogenes Club, who had known him for
decades② , were astonished③ to f ind him taking morning walks .
‘Have a good time, Watson, said Mycroft, as we stood by
the kerb ④ , waiting for the driver to give my bag to the porter .
‘ And please suggest to my brother that he might find a holiday
beneficial ⑤ .’
A newspaper photographer⑥ stepped out of the crowd⑦ and
pointed his camera in our direction . Mycroft immediately moved
towards his car, turning his back on the enterprising⑧ photogra－
pher who , after a few moments, gave up⑨ and went in search of
a less bashful 10 subject .
‘The departure of the Titanic appears to be quite a signifi－
cant 1 event, ’Mycroft said ‘
. That s understandable , of course .
When it was launched 12 last year, more than 100 , 000 people
came to watch . I had the opportunity 13 to go on board for a
①
confide to 向……吐露秘密
②
decade n . 十年
③
astonish v . 使惊讶
④
kerb n . 街头的边石
⑤
beneficial a . 受益 , 获益
⑥
photographer n . 摄影师
⑦
crowd n . 人群
⑧
enterprising a . 有进取心的 , 有胆量的
⑨
give up 放弃
10
bashful a . 害羞的
1
significant a . 重大的
12
launch v . (船 ) 下水
13
oppor tunity n . 机会 , 时机
21
short time during its sea trials① . It is a beautiful ship - the
biggest there is . Inside , it is like a city, carrying up to 3 , 300
passengers and crew , with every diversion ② for a sea voyage that
one could wish for - squash ③ courts④ , a swimming pool and even
lifts to carry you from deck to deck .’‘ I would expect to see
Fleet Street represented ⑤ at the departure of the ship itself , but
why here at the boat train ?’
‘ A fascination with the rich and famous, I suppose . This
Special carries only first－class passengers . Second and third class
took another train a couple of hours ago . You will be meeting a
few celebrities ⑥ , I have no doubt .’
‘ At the moment, I’m more interested in how I will locate
Holmes on board that huge ship . Do you know his cabin num－
ber ?’
‘It is close to your own and he will f ind you . He has a talent
for that kind of thing, you know . And remember, he’ll be trav－
elling under an assumed⑦ name . It would not be wise to tell oth－
ers he is on board . Only you and the captain will be aware of ⑧
his presence - and, of course , Miss Christine Norton .’
‘Perhaps I’m getting a little confused in my old age , My－
①
t rial n . 试验 , 考验
②
diversion n . 娱乐
③
squash n . 橡皮球游戏
④
courts n . 球场 , 庭院
⑤
represen t v . 再上演 , 表现
⑥
celebrities n . 名人
⑦
assumed a . 虚构的
⑧
be aware of 认识到 , 意识到
22
croft . But why tell the captain that Sherlock Holmes is among
the passengers ? And who is Miss Norton ?’
‘Oh , have I not mentioned Miss Norton ? She is a courier
for the Ministry . Very young, but intelligent① and resource－
ful ② . Her mission is to take some secret military③ papers ④ to the
United States and I have asked Sherlock to look after her . The
captain has been alerted that the three of you are on a secret
mission and was asked to provide you with any assistance you
may require .’
I am and always have been an even－tempered⑤ man . But I
do not like being deceived ⑥ , especially by a friend . I paused for
a moment to contain ⑦ my anger, then replied to Mycroft s ex－
traordinary statement in calm, but f irm tones .
‘ Do you mean to say that I have been roped into ⑧ some
kind of spy⑨ mission 10 ? I understood that I was to go on a quiet
ocean voyage with an old friend . Now, it appears, I’m in the
middle of some sort of intrigue 1 .’
①
intelligent a . 聪明的 , 有才智的
②
resourceful a . 足智多谋的
③
military a 军事的
④
papers n . 文件
⑤
even－tempered a . 镇定的 , 冷静的
⑥
deceive v . 欺骗 , 行骗
⑦
con tain v . 控制
⑧
rope into 被圈进……之中
⑨
spy n . 间谍
10
mission n . 任务 , 使命
1
int rigue n . 阴谋 , 诡计
23
‘ Y ou do indeed appear to have changed, Watson . I remem－
ber you as a man with a sense of adventure .’
Mycroft s face broke into ① a broad smile - one that caused
me to become even more annoyed by his deception② . But I be－
gan to wonder at that point whether I had over - reacted ③ . Af－
ter all, the train was still at the station . There was still time to
back out .
‘It is merely an exchange of documents . I will admit④ , the
papers in question ⑤ are of a highly delicate ⑥ nature ⑦ . It would
be critical ⑧ if certain foreign p owers obtained them . But no one
knows they are on board . Y ou might like to remind yourselves
of them now and then in between games of squash and shuffle－
board ⑨ .’
‘I will take your word for it, Mycroft . But I would have
appreciated an earlier indication 10 of the true nature of my task .
Now, how will I recognize this lady of the name of Miss Nor－
ton ?’
‘Y ou do not know her . But I believe you have met her
①
break in to 突然……起来
②
decep tion n . 欺骗 , 诡计
③
over－react v . 反应过度
④
admit v . 承认
⑤
in question 谈论中的
⑥
delicate a . 微妙的
⑦
nat ure n . 本性
⑧
critical a .批评的
⑨
shuffle－board n . (在甲板上 )掷木盘于有号码的方格上的游戏
10
indication n .暗示 , 指示
24
mother .’
‘ Y ou don t mean . . . ! Is Holmes aware that he will be
working with Mrs Irene Norton s daughter ?’
‘Not yet . For security reasons, he has not been told the
lady s name; only that she will contact him in his cabin . Y ou
might like to tell him the rest① after the ship departs . It should
be a pleasant surprise for him . I don t believe that he has ever
met the young woman .’
‘Mycroft, I do believe you are becoming as deceitful② as
Professor Moriarty himself . But I do thank you for this opportu－
nity to see Holmes before he begins his mission in the United
States . Y our Mr Reilly tells me there is some danger .’
Mycroft started, then peered③ into the distance as if lost in
thought④ .
‘It is a dangerous world, Watson . A very dangerous world .
But my brother has encountered danger many times in the past .
I am confident that he’ll make it through this ordeal ⑤ . Mean－
while, you have a train to catch . I will not detain ⑥ you any
longer . Tell Sherlock that I will dine with him at the Diogenes
Club when he returns .’
We shook hands and I walked quickly into the station,
①
rest a .其余的 , 其他的
②
deceitful a .欺诈的
③
peer v .凝视
④
lose in t hought 陷入沉思
⑤
ordeal n .严酷的考验
⑥
detain v .留住 , 阻止
25
w hich had a clean , moder n look , fo llo wing its recen t r enova－
tion ① . The boat train was not diff icult to locate . It was the cen－
tre of attention, surrounded by well - dressed passengers, with
their friends and relatives who were seeing them off ② . Porters
and servants were moving quickly to load the train . I hurried to
my compartment③ in one of the chocolate－brown coaches④ .
It was a relaxing 80 - mile journey, passing through Sur－
biton, Woking, Basingstoke , Winchester and Eastleigh, on its
way to the White Star berth at Southampton docks . Shortly after
the train left Winchester, I decided to walk down to the dining
car for some tea and biscuits . There was little of interest in the
morning paper and, growing tired of my private compartment, I
was in the moo d for some conversation with other passengers perhaps some of the‘ rich and famous’Mycroft had mentioned .
But as I entered the dining car, I found that all of the tables
were occupied . This turned out to be a blessing⑤ in disguise ⑥ .
An uncommonly attractive young woman - perhaps 30 years old
- was sitting alone . I approached ⑦ her and asked if I might join
her . She readily ⑧ acquiesced⑨ .
①
renovation n .革新
②
see off 送行
③
compartment n .隔间 , 车厢
④
coaches n .四轮马车 , 长途汽车
⑤
blessing n .祝福
⑥
disguise n .假装 , 掩饰
⑦
approach v .接近
⑧
readily ad .欣然地 , 乐意地
⑨
acquiesce v .默许
26
‘Thank you . I was afraid, for a moment, that I would have
to order tea in my compartment . This is much more pleasant .
My name is Watson, Dr John Watson .’
She stared at me for a moment and then asked tentatively① ,
‘Might I inquire ② if you are the Dr Watson who wrote about
Sherlock Holmes ?’
I confessed that I was .
‘This is indeed fortuitous ③ . I read one of your adventures
in an old Strand Magazine only a few weeks ago . My name is
Miss Holly Storm－Fleming .
There was something about the lady s appearance and man－
ner that was almost contradictory ④ . This was clearly a lady of
taste ⑤ and breeding⑥ . She wore a silken , light blue dress with
white lace trimming . When she spoke , her voice was clear and
expressive ⑦ , with a slight American accent . Her light brown
hair was perfectly in place ⑧ , falling softly about her shoulders .
Y et,
she was not at all reserved⑨ . Miss Storm－Fleming
①
ten tatively ad .踌躇地
②
inquire v .询问 , 问明
③
for tuitous ad .偶然的 , 幸运的
④
con tradictory a . 矛盾的
⑤
taste n .品味 , 味道
⑥
breeding n .教养
⑦
expressive a .有表现力的 , 表达的
⑧
in place 适当的 , 得体的
⑨
reserved a .保守的 , 保留的
27
possessed ① an unrestrained ② vitality ③ that brightened her every
word and move .
‘It is my pleasure , Miss Storm－Fleming - or should I say
Mrs ?’
‘My husband passed away④ two years ago . Fortunately, his
estate ⑤ was large enough to enable me to live comfortably and
go back to the United States whenever I like . . .’
‘ Are you from America ?’
‘ Yes, I was born and raised in Chicago . I moved to New
Y ork when I was 21 . That is where I met my husband, Gerald .
He was there as part of a British trade ⑥ delegation ⑦ , and I had a
small part in a Broadway production . The members of the dele－
gation attended one of our performances ⑧ and afterwards they
were invited to a reception ⑨ to meet the cast 10 . We started talk－
ing and, the f irst thing I knew, I was heading back to London
with him .’
‘ And now you’re returning to New Y ork . Do you go there
to visit friends, or is this just an o pportunity to travel on the
①
possess v .拥有
②
unrestrained a .无限的
③
vitality n .活力
④
pass away 去世
⑤
estate n .不动产 , 财产
⑥
t rade n .贸易 , 商业
⑦
delegation n .代表团
⑧
perfor mances n .表现 , 表演
⑨
reception n .接待 , 招待会
10
cast n .演员表
28
Titanic ?’
‘ Oh, a little of both, I suppose . I sitll have good friends in
the theatre, and I will be getting together with them . But on
this occasion, I have to confess, the Titanic was a big part of it .
And how about you, Doctor ? Why are you taking this voyage ?’
‘I find that I am getting on in years and I discovered that although I’ve travelled extensively ① on several continents② - I
have never been to America . This seemed like an excellent op－
portunity .’
‘ Will Mr Holmes be on board ? I d love to meet him .’
I was not in the habit of lying . I especially did not want to
be dishonest with someone as kind and charming as Miss Storm－
Fleming . But national security and Holmes s own safety were at
stake ③ . It was indeed important that I was discreet ④ .
‘Unfortunately ⑤ Holmes will not be travelling with us . He
is retired now , but still very involved ⑥ in several research pro－
jects . I am af raid he has little interest in being idle on board a
ship .’
The remainder ⑦ of the journey passed by quickly . It was not
long before the train arrived at Southampton and we were
①
extensively ad .广阔地
②
con tinen ts n .大陆
③
at stake 在危险中
④
discreet a .慎重的 , 有思虑的
⑤
unfort unately ad .不幸地
⑥
involve in 卷入 , 陷入
⑦
remainder n .剩余物
29
approaching the docks ① . We arrived at half past eleven, pre－
cisely ② on time . The boat train wound ③ its way along the water－
front④ before slowly turning on to a side track ⑤ flanking⑥ the
White Star dock at Berth 44 .
Miss Storm－Fleming and I parted ⑦ company⑧ in the dining
car, so that we could return to our respective ⑨ compartments 10
to gather up 1 our belongings 12 .
‘I look forward to meeting you again on board ship, Miss
Storm－Fleming . Allow me to ask you to join me for dinner one
evening .’
‘I well be looking forward to it, Doctor . . . Imagine , meet－
ing the famous Dr Watson . This voyage will be more exciting
than I expected .’
①
dock n .码头
②
precisely ad .正好
③
wind ( wound , wound) v .蜿蜒前进
④
waterfront n .码头区 , 滨水地区
⑤
t rack n .轨道
⑥
flank v . 位于……的侧面
⑦
par t v .分手 , 分开
⑧
company n 相伴 , 陪伴
⑨
respective a .分别的 , 各自的
10
compartments n .车厢
1
gather up 整理
12
belongings n .财产 , 所有物
30
Chapter Th ree
Noon on Wednesday
10 April 1912
4 月 10 日 ( 周三 ) 中午 , 华生 医生 登上 雄伟、豪华 的游 轮 , 在 甲
板上遇到并认出 乔装 为 海 军军 官 考莫 多・吉 尔 斯的 福 尔摩 斯。 诺
顿小姐前来拜访 , 向他们讲解了 所保护 的有 关潜水 艇的 文件 , 并 看
了文件藏匿的位置。 三 人在 甲 板上 漫 步 时遇 到 佛来 明 小姐 , 并 约
她晚上一同吃饭。
The Titanic was indeed a magnif icent① sight② . It was, of
course, a huge ship . But beyond its size , it had a grace ③ and
stature ④ reminiscent ⑤ of the stately ⑥ wooden ⑦ sailing⑧ vessels⑨
that had excited me so in my youth . But with modern engineer－
ing, crossing the Atlantic was no longer a hardship . It was more
①
magnificen t a . 华丽的 , 雄伟的
②
sight n . 奇观
③
grace n . 优美 , 优雅
④
stature n . 身材 , 身高
⑤
reminiscen t a . 使人联想的
⑥
stately a . 庄严的
⑦
wooden a . 木质的
⑧
sailing a . 航行的
⑨
vessels n . 船
31
like spending a week in a f ine hotel .
The ship s superstructure ① shone ② in the midday sun . The
thin gold line at the hull s③ upper edge clearly and proudly iden－
tified ④ the new vessel as part of the White Star Line . The
Titanic s four huge funnels⑤ towered⑥ against the blue sky . The
air was crisp⑦ , and there was a smell of burning coal in the air .
As I moved with the crowd, the excitement of the approaching
journey began to affect me .
Before stepping onto the gangway ⑧ , I moved to the side
and examined my ticket . My cabin was on C Deck, on the port
side . I was eager to see the Titanic s accommodation . The ad－
vertisements ⑨ I had read had promised unparalleled 10 luxury 1 .
When I reached the deck , one of the stewards 12 also exam－
ined my ticket and led me across the wooden decks through a
doorway to the interior 13 of the ship . The steward, an efficient
①
superstructure n . 上部建筑
②
shone v . 发光 , 闪耀 (shine 的过去式 )
③
hull n . 船身
④
iden tify v . 认为……
⑤
funnels n . 烟囱
⑥
tower v . 像塔似地耸立
⑦
crisp a . 清新的
⑧
gangway n . 通道 , 过道
⑨
adver tisements n . 广告
10
unparalleled a . 空前的 , 无比的
1
luxury n . 奢华
12
steward n . 乘务员
13
interior n . 内部
32
young man with little time to spare , marched ① quickly through
the corridors until we came to the door marked C28 .
I was most favourably② impressed by my quarters . They
were small, but much more homelike than other ships’cabins I
had seen . There was a large green sofa, a wardrobe ③ and a
dressing table . I was especially pleased to see the comfortable－
looking bed, rather than a f ixed berth ④ .
‘The gent s ⑤ lavatory ⑥ is down the hall and to the right,’
said the steward , pointing aft ⑦ of the ship .
‘I understood that there were private baths on this deck .’
‘There are, sir . One cabin in three has one . The cabins are
arranged in groups of three that can be let together, or separate－
ly . There are connecting doors, but do not be concerned⑧ .
They are all locked here in this section .’
‘ And since my cabin opens to the main corridor, I won t
have a view of the water . I was hoping to have a window .’
‘ Oh no , sir . All f irst－class cabins have a view . Over there
in the corner there s a little passage ⑨ to your porthole 10 .’
①
march v . 行军 , 前进
②
favourably ad . 顺利地
③
wardrobe n . 衣柜 , 衣橱
④
ber th n . 卧铺
⑤
gent s a . 男士的
⑥
lavatory n . 厕所
⑦
aft ad . 在船尾
⑧
concerned a . 关心的
⑨
passage n . 通道 , 通路
10
por thole n . 舷窗
33
‘ V ery good . And my bag ?’
‘It will be up soon, sir . If you need any assistance in the fu－
ture, just press the button and someone will be along to help .’
‘Thank you, young man . Any suggestions on what I should
see f irst ?’
‘There s much to see and do throughout ① the first class, sir .
Just two things to look out for . Stay away from the profession－
al ② gamblers ③ , and know where the doctors are , in case you get
seasick . Beyond that, this is a luxury ship, sir, and we hope you
enjoy your voyage .’
The steward accepted my tip with a quick salute ④ and
rushed back to the gangway to assist other passengers .
The ship was due to depart⑤ at noon, just minutes away . I
left my cabin to witness this colourful event and to attempt to lo－
cate Holmes . I walked down the hallway and, instead of climb－
ing the stairs to B Deck , decided to make use of the ship s most
modern convenience ⑥ . One of the three lifts ⑦ was already open,
so I stepped inside the dark mahogany ⑧ cage ⑨ , which was occu－
pied by several passengers and crew . Overhead, the large
①
t hroughou t prep . 遍及 , 各处
②
professional a . 职业的
③
gamblers n . 赌徒
④
salute n . 举手礼 , 敬礼
⑤
depart v . 离开 , 启程
⑥
convenience n . 方便 , 便利
⑦
lift n . 电梯
⑧
mahogany n . 桃花心木
⑨
cage n . 笼
34
winding gear ① that moved the cage up and down was visible
through a glass ceiling② .
‘Most impressive ③ , ’I told the lift operator, as he looked
outside to check for other passengers .
‘ Yes, sir, quite a new idea for liners .’
As he began to close the collapsible ④ gate . I noticed a tall
man in a naval uniform running towards us . I put out my hand
to hold the gate back to let him in .
‘Thank you, friend, said the navy man, who seemed to
smile and eye me suspiciously at the same time . He had an easy
air of authority⑤ , which was suggested, perhaps, by his brisk ⑥
Scottish accent⑦ . His hair, including his well－trimmed ⑧ beard⑨ ,
was fully grey . As the lift ascended 10 , he glanced at each of the
passengers over the rim 1 of his glasses . All seemed eager to
leave as the gate opened on B Deck .
I climbed the stairs to the boat deck and saw that the rail 12
①
gear n . 齿轮 , 转动装置
②
ceiling n . 天花板
③
impressive a . 印象深刻的
④
collapsible a . 可折叠的
⑤
aut hority n . 威信 , 威严
⑥
brisk a . 敏锐的 , 轻快的
⑦
accen t n . 口音
⑧
well－trimmed a . 仔细修整过的
⑨
beard n . 胡须
10
ascend v . 攀登 , 上升
1
rim n . 边缘
12
rail n . 扶手 , 围栏
35
was already lined with passengers, waving to friends and family
on the dock below . Suddenly, the air vibrated ① from the boom－
ing sound of the ship s huge whistles . The crowd on deck cried
out with excitement and waved final farewells② to their relatives
and friends . The Titanic was preparing to depart .
‘It s just about time , said a raspy ③ voice to my left ‘
. I see
that they have singled－up and we’ll be leaving in a minute or
two .’
I turned and saw the naval off icer standing next to me . His
hands were folded behind him , with his head tilted ④ back . Ig－
noring⑤ the crowd, he focused his attention on the layout⑥ of
the ship and the crew s preparations for departure .
‘It s a very exciting moment, is it not ?’I replied,‘ That is
. . . being on this grand ship as it begins its f irst voyage .’
‘ Oh, I’ve headed out on more ships than I care to remem－
ber - Navy ships mostly . If you take away the fanfare ⑦ and
hoopla⑧ , one trip s pretty much the same as the next .’
‘ Y ou’ve been at sea for a long time then .’
‘ All my life . Been on just about every type of ship - some in
battle . I believe I know the sea as well as the next man .’
①
vibrated v . 使振动 , 使摇摆
②
farewell n . 再会 , 再见
③
raspy a . 刺耳的 , 焦躁的
④
tilt v . 倾斜
⑤
ignore v . 忽视 , 不在意
⑥
layout n . 规划 , 布局
⑦
fanfare n . 吹号声
⑧
hoopla n . 喧闹
36
‘By the way, my name is Watson . Dr John Watson . And
you are . . . ?’
‘ Commodore Giles Winter of the R oyal Navy . Pleased to
meet you, Doctor .’
‘I cannot understand, for the life of me, why a Navy man
would want to spend his holiday on a cruise ① . Or is this perhaps
a business trip ?’
‘Business . Just doing a routine ② evaluation ③ of the vessel④ .
I did the same thing on board the Titanic s sister ship, Olympic .
White Star has a third ship planned of the same design . In the
event of war, we like to know the capabilities of all ships that
are available ⑤ . This ship, for example , could be useful as a
troop ⑥ carrier or hospital ship .’
‘That makes sense . But I must say, I d just as soon not
think of prospects like that on a day like this .’
‘ And that, Doctor, is precisely my remit⑦ - to ensure ⑧ that
civilians ⑨ like you can go about your lives without worrying
about war .’
‘I assure you, Commodore, I have seen battle . In fact,
①
cruise n . 巡游 , 巡航
②
routine a . 常规的 , 日常的
③
evaluation n . 评价
④
vessel n . 船
⑤
available a . 可利用的
⑥
t roop n . 群 , 组
⑦
remit n . 移交的事物
⑧
ensure v . 确保 , 保证
⑨
civilians n . 平民
37
while serving as an army surgeon ① in A fghanistan, I was serious－
ly ② wounded at the Battle of Maiwand .’
‘A fghanistan, yes, that was a bad one , all right . But land
wars just do not compare to sea battles, if you will forgive me
saying so . There is nothing worse than having a ship sink ③ under
you . Your only hope is that your enemy will be generous enough
to pull you out of the water .’
‘ Y ou know, you are as stubborn ④ as a friend of mine . Y ou
may have heard of him, a detective of the name of Mr Sherlock
Holmes .’
‘ Holmes . . . So , you’re that Dr Watson . I have read a few
of those stories . He must be an extraordinary fellow , that Mr
Holmes .’
‘Oh , I suppose so . But I have to confess, I exaggerated ⑤
his talents a little , to create better story, you understand .’
The commodore paused for a moment, considering this rev－
elation ⑥ ‘
. Are you saying this Holmes was not the great detec－
tive you made him out to be ?’
‘Oh, I d say he was certainly a great detective but he had
some f laws . For example , at times he was prone ⑦ to exhibit⑧
①
surgeon n . 外科医生
②
seriously ad . 严重地
③
sink v . 下沉 , 沉没
④
stubborn a . 顽固的 , 固执的
⑤
exaggerate v . 夸大 , 夸张
⑥
revelation n . 揭露 , 揭示
⑦
prone a . 倾向于
⑧
exhibit v . 展示
38
over - confidence . And you know how I referred to ① him as a
master of disguise ② ? Well , he was not always is top form .’
‘ What do you mean ?’he asked, narrowing his eyes to a cold
stare .
‘Take that disguise you are wearing now . Did you really
think that a beard , some hair dye and a disguised voice would
fool an old friend ?’
The commodore s features③ remained the same . But there
was something familiar in his laugh that conf irmed ④ that I was
once again in the company of my friend⑤ , Mr Sherlock Holmes .
At that moment, the ship s whistles ⑥ - mounted⑦ on the
two forward funnels - sounded the three traditional ⑧ salutes⑨ of
departure . The crowd cheered in excitement as the engines grew
louder and steam billowed into the air . Our journey had begun .
‘My dear Watson ! And for just how long did I manage to
deceive 10 you ?’
‘Certainly in the lift . But it did not take long for me to
①
refer to . . . as 把……看做是……
②
disguise n . 伪装 , 掩饰
③
feature n . 特征 , 特点
④
confirm v . 确定 , 确认
⑤
in t he company of sb 与某人同伴
⑥
whistles n . 汽笛
⑦
moun t v . 设置 , 安放
⑧
t raditional a . 传统的
⑨
salute n . 鸣礼炮
10
deceive v . 欺骗
39
doublt the naval ① officer after we started chatting on deck .’
‘It is a simple disguise , I grant② you . But I do believe that
no one on board has met me before . It should be good enough .
And thank you for coming, Watson . Did Mycroft explain our
little mission ?’
‘In general terms③ ,’I said, wondering how I was going to
break the news of Mrs Norton s daughter .‘ He said we were to
look after a young woman on board who is carrying some secret
government documents ④ .’
‘Indeed . She will be contacting me in my cabin after depar－
ture . In fact, we should go there now and await her arrival .’
Holmes had been given cabin C30 , which was in the same
block of rooms as my own . There was a connecting door that
opened to the porthole passage in my cabin . I was not surprised
to find that the furnishings in our two cabins were similar .
‘Holmes, I fear I have a question to ask of you: how long
has it been since you have heard from Irene Norton ?’
The question startled ⑤ Holmes, but he answered without
hesitation⑥ .
‘ As you know , Watson, we have been corresponding⑦ for
some time . The last letter I received was about six months ago .
①
naval a . 海军的
②
grant v . 同意 , 准许
③
in general terms 用概括的方式
④
docu ment n . 文件
⑤
startle v . 震惊
⑥
hesitation n . 迟疑 , 犹豫
⑦
correspond v . 通信
40
But why do you ask that ?’
My readers may recall Holmes s relationship with Irene
Adler from the adventure I called A Scandal in Bohemia .
Holmes had long admired her as the one woman who had ever
bettered① him in a case . Several years after she married Godfrey
Norton and left London, Holmes received a letter from her . It
said how much she had enjoyed their little contest② and hoped
that there were no ill feelings . Holmes replied with a short
note , assuring③ her that he too had found their adventure an in－
teresting challenge , and wished her well . After a time, they be－
gan a regular, though not frequent correspondence ④ .
‘Well , during my brief conversation with Mycroft before
boarding the ship , he told me the name of the agent we will be
expecting . The agent is Irene Norton s daughter, Christine .’
Holmes stared at me for a moment, then responded in casu－
al tones .‘ That is a surprise . I would have thought she is too
young for f ield ⑤ work . She is in her early twenties, I believe .
Well, her mother has a f irst－rate mind . If she inherited ⑥ that,
she will serve Mycroft and His Majesty s government very well .’
It was another quarter of an hour before we heard a knock
on the door, and Holmes admitted ⑦ Miss Christine Norton . She
①
better v . 使更好
②
con test n . 争论 , 竞赛
③
assure v . 确告
④
correspondence n . 通信 , 信件
⑤
field a . 这一行的 ( 指特工 )
⑥
inherited v . 继承
⑦
admit v . 承认
41
was an attractive young woman, dressed very properly① in a
brown dress and hat, On seeing Holmes, her eyes widened, as if
meeting a member of the royal ② family on the streets of Lon－
don .
‘Mr . . . Commodore Winter . We have never met, but . . .’
‘ Won t you come in , Miss Norton . Y ou have your mother s
eyes and ears . Ears are generally quite distinctive ③ among indi－
viduals, and often a family trait ④ .’He motioned for her to en－
ter, and closed the door behind her .
‘ Yes, you’re certainly Mr Holmes,’She said, smiling and
appearing more relaxed ‘
. Y ou are just as Mother described you
. . . beneath ⑤ that disguise , that is . And , of course , I feel I
know you f rom reading Dr Watson s adventures .’
‘ Allow me to introduce you to the author himself . Miss
Norton , this is Dr John Watson .’
‘Miss Norton, I am very pleased to meet you . Will you not
sit down ? I’ll call the steward and order something cold to
drink . Will lemonade ⑥ be suitable ⑦ ?’
‘ Yes, yes, Watson, ’Holmes interrupted .‘ Lemonade will
be just fine . Tell me , Miss Norton, what are the particulars ⑧ of
①
properly ad . 恰当地
②
royal a . 皇家的 , 高贵的
③
distinctive a .与众不同的 , 有特色的
④
t rait n .显著的特点 , 特色
⑤
beneat h prep .在……之下
⑥
lemonade n .柠檬水
⑦
suitable a .合适的
⑧
par ticulars n .详细情况
42
this little assignment my brother Mycroft has given you ? He is a
very secretive fellow and, I’m afraid, he has told me very lit－
tle .’
‘ Of course . But before I begin, I must remind both you and
Dr Watson that what you are about to hear is a matter of the
highest national importance . I am providing you with full details
of the mission, only because your brother knows your methods,
and understands that you will only accept cases in which you are
in full possession of the facts .’
‘Neither Dr Watson nor I would repeat a word of this, Miss
Norton . Please proceed① .’
‘ Y ou are no doubt aware of the growing tensions ② that exist
between His Majesty s government and Germany .’
‘They would be difficult to ignore , ’I said ‘
. Stories of Ger－
man spies and infiltrators③ have been in all the newspapers re－
cently .’
‘Those stories may be exciting to the public, but not alto－
gether accurate ④ . Nevertheless ⑤ , they do tend to ⑥ contribute
to ⑦ already strained⑧ relations⑨ between our two countries . The
①
proceed v .继续 , 进行下去
②
tensions n .紧张
③
infiltrators n .渗入者
④
accurate a . 正确的 , 精确的
⑤
nevert heless con j . 然而
⑥
tend to 趋向
⑦
con tribute to 有利于
⑧
strained v . 紧张的
⑨
relation n . 关系
43
threat of war is very real .’
As Miss Norton spoke , I sensed ① a change in the ship s mo－
tion and heard some shouting through the porthole . I was tempt－
ed to ② remark③ on this extraordinary event, but Holmes, after
glancing about for just a moment, continued to question Miss
Norton .
‘We are familiar with international affairs, Miss Norton ,’
Holmes said , leaning forward in his chair ‘
. Please tell us about
the documents you are taking to America .’
‘ Yes, of course . The plans are for a new, prototype ④ sub－
marine ⑤ called the Nautilus . As I am sure you know , our Navy
is the best in the world . But there are some in the Admiralty
who fear that we are falling behind in submarine engineering
and building . There are fears that German advances in sub－
marines could one day pose ⑥ a serious threat to our fleet⑦ . Our
submarines tend to be small vessels designed to protect the coast .
The Nautilus would be 240－feet long, double－hulled⑧ and have a
range of around 5 , 000 nautical ⑨ miles . The future of large sub－
marines in the British Navy may very well depend on this ven－
①
sense v . 感到 , 认识到
②
tempt to 试者去
③
remark v . 谈到
④
prototype a . 原型的
⑤
submarine n . 潜水艇
⑥
pose v . 引起 , 造成
⑦
fleet n . 舰队
⑧
double－hulled a . 双壳的
⑨
nau tical a . 海上的
44
ture .’
‘I see . But you have not yet explained why you are carrying
the plans to the United States . Are the Americans involved in
the development of this vessel ?’
‘Indirectly ① . The plans are nearly complete, but our engi－
neers are having some diff iculties with the engine design . We
have to adapt② certain German engineering③ methods, and we
are hoping the Americans can offer some f resh ④ ideas .’
Holmes smiled, then rubbed ⑤ his eyes with the thumb ⑥ and
forefinger ⑦ of his right hand ‘
. Miss Norton, please explain why
German design appears in British submarine plans . I suspect that
there is something you are not telling us .’
‘ Y ou’re asking very diff icult questions, Mr Holmes . I must
decline to ⑧ answer further .’
‘My dear Miss Norton, my brother told you to provide me
with all the facts in this case . I cannot possibly protect these
plans unless I am fully conversant ⑨ with all details, and any po－
tential 10 threat to their safety .
①
indirectly ad . 间接地
②
adap t v . 改编
③
engineering n . 工程学
④
fresh a . 新鲜的
⑤
rub v . 擦 , 摩擦
⑥
t humb n . 拇指
⑦
forefinger n . 食指
⑧
decline to do 拒绝做
⑨
conversant a . 熟悉的
10
potential a . 潜在的
45
‘ V ery well . We have , for some time , had an agent in Rus－
sia who is providing us with German ship designs . Y ou see , the
Russians have begun to build a vast① number of ships to replace
vessels lost during the Russian - Japanese war . Germany has ar－
rangements to build many of those vessels . Our man in St Peters－
burg has infiltrated② the Russian ship - building industry at a
very high level . This has given him the opportunity to request
German designs, and pass them to us . Some of the ideas used in
the Nautilus have come to us from this agent .
‘ Yes, I thought I detected③ a trace of a Russian accent dur－
ing my discussions with Mr Reilly,
said Holmes, tapping his
fingers together, then turning to glance at me .
Miss Norton s eyes widened for a moment . Then, with a
sigh, she settled④ back in her chair and offered a word of cau－
tion .
‘This agent, who is one of our best, would be in great dan－
ger if his identity ⑤ were ever revealed ⑥ .’
‘ Whoever he is, his secret is safe with Dr Watson and me .
Now then, Miss Norton, do you have any reason to believe that
any foreign power or potential adversary⑦ is aware of these
plans, or the fact that you are carrying secret documents on this
①
vast a . 巨大的 , 大量的
②
infiltrate v . 渗透
③
detect v . 发觉 , 发现
④
set tle v . 停息
⑤
iden tity n . 身份
⑥
reveal v . 揭露
⑦
adversary n . 敌手 , 对手
46
ship ?’
‘None at all , Mr Holmes . But plans that have existed as
long as those of the Nautilus are difficult to keep secret . And
while I am fairly① new to the secret service ② , it is always possi－
ble that someone could be tracking③ my whereabouts④ . We must
remain cautious⑤ .’
‘I agree , said Holmes .‘ And if I am not mistaken, that
knock at the door is the steward bringing our lemonade .’
I opened the door and a steward walked in, holding a jug
and glasses on a serving tray . He was an older, more relaxed
man than the one who had shown me to my cabin .
‘The ship seems to have come to a stop, steward . Is there
any trouble ?’
‘ Looks like you missed all the excitement, sir ,’the steward
said, as he arranged the glasses on a table ‘
. As we moved out,
another liner⑥ that was docked⑦ nearby, the New York, started
bobbing ⑧ up and down . The Titanic must have quite a wake ⑨ .
Anyway, the New York broke f ree of its moorings 10 , swung out
①
fairly ad . 相当地
②
service n . 工作 , 服役
③
t rack v . 追踪
④
whereabouts n . 下落 , 行踪
⑤
cautious a . 谨慎的 , 小心的
⑥
liner n . 班船
⑦
dock v . 靠码头
⑧
bob v . 浮动
⑨
wake n . 痕迹 , 尾波
10
mooring n . 停泊处
47
and almost hit us . But the captain ordered full astern① and a tug－
boat② got a line on the other ship . Everything is quite in order
now , but we will be delayed for a while .’
A fter the steward left, Holmes handed glasses to Miss Nor－
ton and me , then held his own glass high ‘
. My friends, here s to
a pleasant, successful voyage .’
The cabin was warm, and I drank hal f my drink in one
swallow .
‘ And now, Watson , Miss Norton , I suggest that we take
our glasses on deck to see what all the commotion ③ is about .
This may be the last excitement we see on this trip .’
As we walked to the stairway ④ , Miss Norton sto pped sud－
denly and turned to Holmes ‘
. The plans,’she said, containing
her excitement in a whisper .‘ Someone could have used all the
activity on deck as a diversion⑤ to break into my cabin .’
Holmes put his hand on her shoulder before she had a
chance to hurry back through the hallway .
‘Steady ⑥ , Miss Norton, ’he said with a reassuring⑦ smile .
‘Let us all walk back slowly, as though you were returning to
①
astern ad . 在船尾
②
t ugboat n . 拖船 , 拖轮
③
commotion n . 骚动 , 暴乱
④
stairway n . 楼梯
⑤
diversion n . 转移 , 牵制
⑥
steady a . 镇静的
⑦
reassuring a . 使人放心的
48
fetch ① your shawl② . We do not want to attract the attention of
any of our fellow passengers . And besides, I doubt that the
mishap③ with the New York was planned or foreseen ④ by any
foreign agents who may be on board .’
Miss Horton took her cabin key from her bag and heeded ⑤
Holmes s advice . She walked calmly to cabin C26 , directly op－
posite Holmes s quarters and opened the door . Her movements
had been most casual . But once inside, she quickly placed a
chair beside the porthole and climbed on top of it . With her
keys, she prised away ⑥ a small section of wooden moulding⑦ .
Behind it was a keyhole ⑧ , into which she placed a charm⑨ from
her bracelet 10 . This allowed her to swing 1 back a metal 12 door,
revealing the interior of a small, shallow 13 safe 14 . A folded
packet of papers came tumbling out 15 .
①
fetch v . 去取回
②
shawl n . 围巾
③
mishap n . 灾祸
④
foreseen v . 预见 , 预知
⑤
heed v . 留意 , 注意
⑥
prise away 取出
⑦
moulding n . 模型
⑧
keyhole n . 锁眼
⑨
charm n . 镯子上的小饰物
10
bracelet n . 手镯
1
swing v . 摇摆 , 摆动
12
metal a . 金属的
13
shallow a . 浅的 , 薄的
14
safe n . 保险箱
15
t umble out 滚着出来
49
‘Captain Smith arranged this personally before the voy－
age , ’Miss Norton noted, after stepping down to retrieve ① the
plans .‘ My superiors② thought it would be less obvious, and
more secure ③ , than storing④ them in the ship s safe .’
‘Let us hope they are correct,’said Holmes, who was now
standing on top of the chair, inspecting the safe s hinges⑤ and
lock ‘
. Incidentally⑥ , Miss Norton , I am sure you know the sto－
ry of how I once tricked⑦ your mother into revealing the loca－
tion of a photograph, just by creating the illusion that the build－
ing was on f ire . Y our mother ran directly to the photograph and
pinpointed⑧ its location for me .’
‘ As you may recall, Mrs Norton recovered very nicely from
that mistake , ’I said with a chuckle .‘ She turned the tables in
the end .’
‘She certainly did, ’Holmes said, suddenly lost in distant
memories ‘
. But the point I want to make is that the plans will
only be safe if we remain cautious of our moves at all times . Do
we understand each other, Miss Norton ?’
‘Fully, Mr Holmes .’
‘ Good . Now , this door over here - where does it lead ?’
①
ret rieve v . 重新得到
②
superiors n . 上级
③
secure a . 安全的
④
store v . 储藏
⑤
hinges n . 盖的铰链
⑥
inciden tally ad . 顺便提及
⑦
t rick v . 欺骗 , 哄骗
⑧
pinpointed v . 查明
50
‘It communicates with the next cabin . It is occupied by a
rich dowager ① , Mrs Applegate , who travels frequently on the
White Star Line . Captain Smith booked her there , knowing she
was no threat to the security of the plans .’
‘ V ery well, ’said Holmes .
‘Fine, ’Miss Norton said, looking to each of us with a wry
smile ② ‘
. Now , why should we not put these plans away so that
you gentlemen might take me on a tour of the ship ?’
On deck, the spectacle ③ was nearly over . The New York
now under the control of the tugs ④ was being manoeuvred⑤ to－
wards the quayside ⑥ . A fter more than an hour s delay, the Ti－
tanic again moved towards the head of the ocean channel . Pas－
sengers who had stayed on deck to witness⑦ the near－collision ⑧
and its aftermath⑨ were beginning to move below .
Our self－guided tour of the ship whetted 10 my appetite for
the j ourney ahead . There were so many things to do , and
①
dowager n . 遗孀
②
wry smile n . 苦笑
③
spectacle n . 场面
④
t ug n . 拖船
⑤
manoeuvre v . (敏捷地 )操纵
⑥
quayside n . 码头周围
⑦
witness v . 目击 , 证明
⑧
near－collision n . 近的碰撞
⑨
aftermat h n . 结果 , 后果
10
whet v . 激起
51
com forts① to enjoy . And, at every turn , I was awestruck ② by
the f ine construction③ of this elegant④ ship .
Public rooms available to us first－class passengers included
the dining saloon , reception room, restaurant, lounge ⑥ , read－
ing and writing room , smoking room, and the verandah ⑦ cafés
and palm ⑧ courts . For recreation , travellers could exercise in
the gymnasium ⑨ , compete 10 on the squash－racket court, go for a
swim or relax in the Turkish and electric baths . Further services
for
passengers
were
provided
by
a
large
gentleman s
hairdresser s, a darkroom for photographers, a laundry, a lend－
ing library and a telephone system .
I was most impressed by the grand 1 staircase 12 in the for－
ward section . More than 60 feet high and 16 feet wide , it ex－
tended up to the boat deck, with large entrance halls at each lev－
el . It featured Louis XIV wrought－iron 13 scroll 14 work relieved
①
comforts n . 舒适
②
awestruck a . 敬畏的 , 肃然起敬的
③
const ruction n . 建筑 , 建造
④
elegant a . 一流的
⑤
saloon n . ……室
⑥
lounge n . 休闲室
⑦
verandah n . 阳台
⑧
palm a . 握手的
⑨
gym nasium n . 健身房
10
compete v . 比赛 , 竞争
1
grand a . 豪华的
12
staircase n . 楼梯
13
wrough t－iron n . 精炼的铁
14
scroll a . 卷成的
52
by occasional touches of bronze ① . The oak ② panelling③ of the
stairwell ④ was illuminated⑤ by sunlight, entering through a large
dome ⑥ of iron and glass . On the uppermost⑦ landing there was a
huge carved⑧ panel ⑨ , with a clock at its centre . The female fig－
ures on the clock, I was told , depicted 10 Honour and Glory,
crowning Time .
As Holmes, Miss Norton and I gazed up at this impressive
sight, my attention was diverted 1 by something of ever greater
beauty . A figure in light blue was descending 12 the staircase . It
was Miss Holly Storm－Fleming, the lady I had met on the train .
She smiled warmly in my direction, as she managed each stair
with the utmost 13 care .
‘ Dr Watson ! I was hoping I might meet you this afternoon .
Is not this the most magni ficent ship you have ever seen ? As
many times as I have crossed the Atlantic , I am still looking
around as though it were my first time on an ocean liner .’
①
bronze n . 青铜
②
oak a . 橡木制的
③
panelling n . 镶板
④
stairwell n . 楼梯
⑤
illuminate v . 照亮
⑥
dome n . 圆屋顶
⑦
uppermost a . 至上的 , 最高的
⑧
carved a . 有雕刻的
⑨
panel n . 面板 , 嵌板
10
depict v . 描述
1
diver t v . 转移
12
descend v . 下来
13
u tmost a . 极度的
53
‘ Indeed it is, Miss Storm－Fleming . And may I add, the sur－
roundings suit you very well .’I found myself speechless for a
moment, until Miss Norton broke the silence by clearing her
throat .
‘Forgive me , Miss Storm－Fleming, this is Miss Norton . I
met Miss Norton on board a short time ago . Her parents are
close friends of mine .’I turned to Miss Norton ‘
. Miss Storm－
Fleming and I met on the boat train, and had a very pleasant
conversation .’The two women smiled and nodded to each oth－
er .
‘And this is Commo dore Giles Winter of the Royal Navy .
We met this afternoon in the li ft .’
‘I am always pleased to meet a Navy man, ’Miss Storm－
Fleming said, extending① her hand .‘If I have any technical ②
questions about the ship, I will know who to see .’
‘Cruise ③ ships are a little out of my field, but I will certain－
ly oblige if I can . Pleased to meet you, madam .’
‘ Well, Doctor . I was just going down to my cabin to change
for dinner .’
‘My friends and I were planning an early dinner in the
restaurant . Would you care to join us ?’
‘I would be delighted④ .’
‘ Would five o’clock be suitable ?’
①
extend v . 伸出
②
technical a . 技术的
③
cruise n . 巡游 , 巡航
④
delight v . 使高兴
54
‘I will meet you there at five . Until then, I hope you enjoy
your tour of the ship .’
Holmes watched Miss Storm－Fleming disappear down the
stairway, and then turned to me with an amused① expression .
‘ Well, Watson , I see that yet another lady had fallen prey② to
your charms .’
‘ Really, Holmes, I have only just met her . She is alone on
board and looking for company .’
‘ And I’m sure she will be a very charming dinner compan－
ion, old fellow . But be cautious, just in case her inquisitiveness③
strays ④ in undesirable directions .’
①
amused a . 愉快的 , 开心的
②
prey n . 捕获物
③
inquisitiveness n . 好奇
④
stray n . 漂泊
55
Chapter Four
The Evening of Wednesday
10 April 1912
4 月 10 日 ( 周三 ) 晚 , 华 生医 生、福尔 摩斯、诺顿 小姐 及佛 来 明
小姐四人在饭桌 上攀 谈 , 佛 来 明 小姐 提 到华 生 医生 继 续写 关 于 福
尔摩斯的小说 , 并随意提及了有 关潜艇 的计 划 , 饭后遭 到福 尔摩 斯
和诺顿小姐的怀疑。 在 诺麦 迪 克码 头 上 船的 游 客中 , 三人 吃 惊 地
认出 20 多年前折命于福尔摩斯手 中的詹 姆斯・摩里亚 蒂教 授的 弟
弟。
The restaurant offered first－class passengers smaller, more
intimate ① surroundings than the dining saloon . Its fawn－
coloured② walnut③ panelling④ and rose carpet⑤ created⑥ an at－
mosphere that was most tasteful⑦ and relaxing .
①
intimate a . 亲密的
②
fawn－coloured a . 浅黄褐色的
③
walnut n . 胡桃木
④
panelling n . 镶板
⑤
carpet n . 地毯
⑥
create v . 创造
⑦
tasteful a . 有品味的
56
Its main attraction① was convenience ② . The dining saloon
had fixed hours for each meal - 8．30 to 10 . 30 for breakfast, 1to
2．30 for luncheon and 6to 7 . 30 for dinner . The restaurant re－
mained o pen daily from 8 am to 11 pm . When travelling with
Mr Sherlock Holmes, one could never count on③ eating regular
meals at regular times .
Miss Storm－Fleming looked most fetching ④ in her evening
gown, although its bright red colour attracted the attention of
diners at nearby tables . Or perhaps it was the gleam⑤ of her gold
necklace and cameo ⑥ . Miss Norton wore a soft gown of rich
blue . Both Holmes and I, of course, had dressed in formal at－
tire ⑦ for dinner .
Dinner conversation was largely introductory ⑧ , with each
of us providing a little personal history, and our reasons for tak－
ing the voyage . I was both impressed and amused by Holmes s
totally fictitious⑨ account of Commodore Winter s naval career .
I made a mental note to suggest to Holmes that he take time
from his beekeeping 10 to try his hand at writing sea stories .
①
att raction n . 吸引处
②
convenience n . 便利
③
count on 指望
④
fetching a . 迷人的 , 吸引人的
⑤
gleam n . 闪光
⑥
cameo n . 宝石
⑦
attire n . 服装
⑧
int roductory a . 介绍性的
⑨
fictitious a . 假象的 , 编造的
10
beekeeping n . 养蜂
57
Miss Norton too showed some creativity ① in avoiding the
subjects of her government job and the prominent② role her
mother had once played in one of Holmes s adventures . Instead,
she spoke of her education, and her plans to find adventure in
life before settling down③ . I was able to remain truthful on most
counts ④ , except for my reasons for being on board .
‘Tell me , Dr Watson , are you writing any more stories
about your friend, Mr Holmes ? I believe I’ve read nearly all of
them, and look forward to future adventures .’
‘In answer to your question , Miss Storm－Fleming, since
Holmes retired, I have done little writing about his adventures .
From time to time I dig⑤ out my notes to a past case and prepare
a manuscript . But these days, my time is mostly occupied in
writing historical novels .’
‘Historical novels . How interesting,’Miss Storm－Fleming
said ‘
. In what period ⑥ ?’
‘My latest effort⑦ takes place ⑧ during the Boer War .’
‘I would like to read it when it is finished .’
‘I will send you a copy . Meanwhile, please remind me to
give you one of my more recent works before we leave the
①
creativit y n . 创造力
②
prominent a . 卓越的 , 突出的
③
set tle down 定居
④
counts n . 叙述
⑤
dig v . 搜集
⑥
period n . 时期
⑦
effort n . 努力 , 成就
⑧
take place 发生
58
ship .’
‘That would be most appreciated . And you will inscribe ①
it, of course .’
‘If you wish .’
She smiled, confirming ② her request, and turned her atten－
tion to Holmes .‘ Tell me , Commodore , have you read any of
Dr Watson s work ?’
‘Oh, I do quite a lot of reading when I am out at sea . I
know I have read that one about the Beast of the Baskervilles .
Some of the shorter stories too .’
‘ What did you think of them ?’
‘ Well－written little yarns③ . Quite up to the mark ④ .’
‘ As a navy man, there were a couple of stories, I imagine,
that were especially interesting to you . Let me think . . .’Miss
Storm－Fleming put her hand to her forehead ‘
. Y ou may have to
help me Dr Watson . . . There was The Naval Treaty, about a
stolen government document, and just a few years ago there was
The Bruce－Partington Plans, about some stolen submarine draw－
ings . Did you read either of those ?’
‘I cannot admit that I did . But I must ensure that I do be－
fore I make my next voyage .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s eyes were fixed on Holmes . Fortu－
①
inscribe v . 记下
②
confirm v . 确定 , 确认
③
yarn n . 故事
④
mark n . 标准
59
nately, he had the makings of a great poker ① player . The men－
tion of submarine plans did not cause him to change his expres－
sion . I wondered whether Miss Norton and I had displayed a
similar ② lack of interest .
When the dessert③ tray ④ came by⑤ , Miss Norton and I
pointed our selections out to the waiter . Holmes and Miss Storm－
Fleming declined ⑥ the offer of sweets and ordered coffee . We
continued our conversation as the Titanic slowly made its way to
Cherbourg, France , where it was due to pick up⑦ 200 to 300 ad－
ditional ⑧ passengers . A fter we had finished our dessert, Holmes
pushed his chair back from the table and looked at his watch .
‘It is hal f past six . We appear to be dropping anchor ⑨ . Would
anyone care to go on deck and take a look ? It is too dark to get
much of a view of the coast; but we will be able to see the lights
of the city .’
As we rose, Miss Storm－Fleming pulled her watch from her
handbag and double－checked the time . She then excused herself ,
saying she would prefer to go back to her cabin and rest .
‘It has been a wonderful evening, ’ Miss Storm－Fleming
①
poker n . 纸牌
②
similar a . 相似的
③
dessert n . 餐后甜点
④
t ray n . 托盘
⑤
come by 经过
⑥
decline n . 拒绝
⑦
pick up 中途搭人
⑧
additional a . 额外的 , 另外的
⑨
anchor n . 锚
60
said .‘ I have enjoyed meeting all of you . . . I expect we will
meet later , Dr Watson . And please do not forget that book you
promised me .’
We wished her a pleasant evening and made our way to the
boat deck . This afforded us a high vantage ① point for watching
the arrival of new passengers .
The sun had set and the faint② afterglow ③ of daylight was
fading④ . The Titanic was fully illuminated with electric lights,
and must have made an impressive sight from shore .
Cherbourg was a deep－water port protected by a long sea－
wall . One of its most charming features was a walkway that jut－
ted out⑤ into the harbour⑥ , leading to a small lighthouse . Un－
fortunately, the harbour did not have docking⑦ facilities⑧ to
handle ships as large as the Titanic . Instead , two tenders were
used to shuttle ⑨ passengers to the ship . Nomadic , the larger of
the two vessels, carried first－and second－class passengers . Third－
class passengers were transported on the Traffic .
‘ An interesting lady, your friend Miss Storm－Fleming,’
Holmes said , as we stood at the rail ‘
. I hope that she does not
①
vantage n . 优势 , 有利点
②
fain t a . 微弱的 , 暗淡的
③
afterglow n . 夕照 , 晚霞
④
fade v . 褪去 , 消失
⑤
jut out 伸出
⑥
harbour n . 海港
⑦
docking a . 入坞的
⑧
facilities n . 设备 , 工具
⑨
shuttle v . 往返穿梭运输
61
turn out to be an agent of a foreign power .’
In my mind, I knew that Holmes was right to raise the
question . But in my heart, I resented① his suggestion that Miss
Storm－Fleming might be guilty ② of such a crime ③ ‘I
. will have to
admit, that reference to submarine plans was a bit suspicious .
But it could simply have been a casual comment . We were dis－
cussing your adventures .’
‘Remember, ’Miss Norton said,‘ that it was Miss Storm－
Fleming who brought up ④ the subject of your articles to begin
with .’
‘She was simply asking me about my work . That is a per－
fectly reasonable topic for conversation, especially since she is
obviously familiar with my writings on Holmes s adventures .’
‘ Her voice is clearly American, ’Holmes said ‘
. I pride my－
self in identifying speech mannerisms⑤ . While she has an ur－
bane ⑥ quality - no doubt from her extensive ⑦ travels - I found
no strain ⑧ of German or any other foreign tongue . She could, of
course , be in the pay of some foreign power . . .’
‘All I’m suggesting, Holmes, is that we be cautious, but
give the lady a chance . A fter all , there is no evidence as yet .’
①
resen t v . 憎恨 , 愤恨
②
guilty a . 犯罪的 , 有罪的
③
crime n . 犯罪 , 罪行
④
bring up 提起 (过去式为 brough t up)
⑤
mannerisms n . 特殊习惯 , 怪癖
⑥
urbane a . 彬彬有礼的 , 文雅的
⑦
extensive a . 广大的 , 广泛的
⑧
strain n . 疲劳 , 紧张
62
‘ And then there s the matter of her watch ,’Holmes con－
tinued .
‘ What about her watch ?’
‘Everything she wears - her dress, her jewellery - suggests
elegance ① . That is, except for her watch . It is of a simple de－
sign - it is not even a lady s watch . It is, however, the product②
of a Swiss company that is known for making highly accurate
timepieces③ . Now , why should a lady of leisure ④ choose such a
watch ?’
‘Perhaps it belonged to her late husband ,’I suggested .
‘That s entirely possible . Or perhaps she has a fear of miss－
ing trains . In any case , it is unusual and therefore well worth
noting .’
We looked below as passengers began to leave the Nomadic
and make their way up the ramp ⑤ to board the Titanic . A fter
having been delayed by the Titanic s late arrival, the new pas－
sengers appeared as though they might be tired ⑥ , hungry and a
little bit impatient ⑦ .
‘Stay here and make sure that every bit of my baggage
makes its way to my quarters, ’ requested one middle－aged
①
elegance n . 幽雅 , 雅致
②
product n . 产品 , 产物
③
timepieces n . 时钟 , 座钟
④
leisure n . 空闲 , 悠闲
⑤
ramp n . 坡道
⑥
tired a . 累的 , 疲倦的
⑦
impatient a . 急躁的 , 不耐烦的
63
woman , as she led an entourage ① of servants across the ramp .
‘It appears that it will be some time before her porter② gets
his dinner ,’I told Holmes, with a sympathetic ③ chuckle .
Holmes did not reply . His eyes were fixed on ④ the deck of
the Nomadic .‘ Watson, the man in black on the deck of the
tender . . . do you recognize ⑤ him ?’
I looked into the yellow glow of the Nomadic s deck and,
after a short time, was able to pick out the man Holmes had de－
scribed ‘
. I am unable to see him at all well . Do you know who
he is ?’
Holmes remained silent until the man made his way on to
the ramp ‘
. Do you see him now, Watson ? Do you not recognize
him ? It s Moriarty !’
For a moment I was concerned that my dear friend,
Holmes, might be losing his mind . Miss Norton, also amazed ⑥
by what she had heard, nearly dropped⑦ her bag over the side .
‘Holmes, Professor Moriarty has been dead for more than
20 years !’I exclaimed ⑧ ‘
. What in heaven s name are you talk－
ing about ?’
‘Not Professor James Moriarty, Watson . The man coming
①
entourage n . 随从
②
por ter n . 搬运工
③
sympathetic a . 怜悯的
④
fix eyes on 凝视 , 注视
⑤
recognize v . 认出
⑥
amazed a . 吃惊的
⑦
drop v . 落下 , 掉下
⑧
exclaim v . 呼喊 , 大声叫
64
on board is Colonel James Moriarty - the late professor s broth－
er .’
I took another look at the figure ① in black . He assumed② an
erect ③ military④ posture ⑤ as he walked across the ramp with the
rest of the crowd . From time to time , his head shifted up and
down, and from side to side, as he examined the ship and his
fellow passengers .
‘I do believe you are right, Holmes . It is indeed the
colonel ⑥ . What the devil ⑦ is he doing here ?’
‘Two brothers named James ?’Miss Norton asked, in some－
what sceptical ⑧ tones .
‘ Y es, ’said Holmes ‘
. It shows a sad lack of imagination on
the part of their parents . I never was able to deduce how the
professor turned out to be ⑨ so brilliant 10 .’
‘ Holmes, do you suppose he still blames you for his
brother s death . I recall the letters he wrote to the press after
the Reichenbach Falls affair . They were a distortion 1 of the
①
figure n . 体型
②
assume v . 采取
③
erect a . 笔直的
④
military a . 军事的
⑤
posture n . 姿势 , 姿态
⑥
colonel n . 陆军上校
⑦
devil n . 魔鬼 , 恶棍
⑧
scep tical a . 怀疑的
⑨
t urn out to be 变成为
10
brilliant a . 有才气的
1
distortion n . 曲解
65
facts .’
‘I do not know, Watson . As far as I have been able to de－
termine , forgiveness has never been a Moriarty family trait . In
any case , it appears that my modest ① disguise is about to be put
to the test .’
①
66
modest a . 谦虚的
Chapter Five
T he Late Evening of
Wednesday 10 April 1912
4 月 10 日 ( 周三 ) 夜 , 泰 坦尼 克 号即 将穿 越大 西洋。 福尔 摩 斯
和华生来到吸烟室 , 许多人在聊 天或打 牌赌 钱 , 还有一 些人 围观 泰
坦尼克号的一位 设 计师 安 德鲁 斯 和一 位 编 辑斯 泰 德激 烈 的争 辩 ,
争辩泰坦尼克号优越的设计能否使 之不沉 及遇 到险情 它能 否安 全
输送游客。
The Titanic had left Cherbourg shortly after eight o’clock .
Its next stop would be Queenstown , in southern Ireland, late the
next morning . A fter that, out trans－Atlantic ① crossing would
begin .
Miss Norton returned to her cabin , while Holmes and I
walked down to the smoking room on promenade ② deck A . It
was a pleasant room in which to end the evening . The walls
were panelled in ③ mahogany, with mother－of－pearl ④ inlay⑤ .
①
t rans－Atlantic a . 穿越大西洋的
②
promenade a . 散步的
③
panel in 嵌入
④
mot her－of－pearl n . 珍珠母
⑤
inlay n . 镶嵌
67
There were stained－glass① windows along most of the outer
wall, and a large, open fireplace , with a painting hanging over
the mantel . A cloud of smoke filled the room, mingling② the
aroma③ of various fine blends④ of tobacco . While women were
not strictly forbidden from entering the smoking room, it was
respected by the ladies as a retreat for gentlemen .
The room was crowded with men, still in evening attire ,
sipping⑤ drinks and engaged in casual conversation . Some were
not so casual, as they sat around tables, intently ⑥ looking at the
playing cards that were fanned⑦ out in their hands . At least one
of the games appeared to be for high stakes⑧ .
I had read the notice about professional gamblers⑨ , which
had been circulated 10 with the passenger list . Card－sharps were
common on trans－Atlantic liners . Passengers with a lot of money
and little to do could easily be lured 1 into a game . The
①
stained－glass a . 不透明玻璃
②
mingling v . 使混合
③
aroma n . 芳香
④
blend n . 混合
⑤
sip v . 啜饮
⑥
intently ad . 专心地 , 集中地
⑦
fan v . 摆成扇形
⑧
stakes n . 风险
⑨
gamblers n . 赌徒
10
circulate v . 流通 , 传递
1
lure v . 引诱
68
steamship① companies② discouraged ③ these high－stake ④ games,
but did not prohibit⑤ them . They did not want to get involved in
policing⑥ gambling⑦ on their ships .
Holmes and I stood beside one of the tables for a few mo－
ments, watching the four men play their hands . The centre of
the table was f illed with chips⑧ , indicating that the hand was
well under way . Holmes tapped me on the shoulder and mo－
tioned to a tall man with a thin moustache ⑨ . As we walked away
from the table , my friend said quietly,‘ That man is cheating .’
I looked back in astonishment 10 .‘ What ! How do you
know ? I saw nothing unusual .’
‘He clearly has more cards in his sleeve than he does in his
hands .’Indeed, the man - who later that evening was identified
to me as Hugo Brandon - appeared to be winning handsomely .
‘Holmes, we must report this at once !’
‘No , Watson . There is more at stake on this voyage than
①
steamship n . 汽船 , 轮船
②
company n . 公司
③
discourage v . 使气馁
④
high－stake a . 高风险的
⑤
prohibit v . 禁止
⑥
police v . 管辖
⑦
gamble v . 赌博
⑧
chips n . 筹码
⑨
moustache n . 胡子
10
astonishment n . 惊讶
69
the gambling① losses of a few men . We dare not draw attention
to ② ourselves . However, I will alert Captain Smith to the situa－
tion when we meet him tomorrow .’
‘ We’ll be meeting the captain ?’
‘ Y es, more of a courtesy③ than anything else . He s been
more than helpful in assisting Miss Norton . And as captain, he
is responsible for the safety of this ship . He would like to be
kept informed on what is happening and who is involved . My－
croft has assured me that the captain is a man of the highest
character ④ and can be trusted .’
We walked to the fireplace, where a group of men, some
seated and some standing, were involved in a conversation . The
fire was crackling, causing the brandy⑤ glasses resting on the
centre of the table to sparkle . From this closer vantage point, I
was able to read the inscription ⑥ on the painting, Plymouth
Harbour .
A young man with a boyish ⑦ face and an old man with a
fluffy ⑧ white beard ⑨ were the centre of attention . They were
①
gambling a . 赌博的
②
draw attention to 注意
③
courtesy n . 谦虚 , 谦逊
④
character n . 品质
⑤
brandy n . 白兰地
⑥
inscription n . 题字
⑦
boyish a . 孩子气的
⑧
fluffy a . 绒毛的
⑨
beard n . 胡须
70
engaged in ① a lively② debate ③ , and the contrast④ in their styles⑤
was striking⑥ . The younger man was somewhat formal⑦ - force－
ful ⑧ in making his point, but careful not to offend . The bearded
man was stronger, and much more colourful ⑨ in his language .
By questioning the passenger next to me , I learned that the
young man was Thomas Andrews, managing director of Harland
& Wol ff , the giant 10 ship－building company . Andrews was one of
the main designers 1 of the Titanic . He was debating with a very
formidable 12 opponent - William Thomas Stead, a j ournalist and
editor , who was travelling to America to address 13 a peace con－
ference 14 at the request of President William Howard Taft .
I was familiar with Stead s illustrious 15 career . For many
①
be engaged in 从事于
②
lively a . 热烈的
③
debate n . 讨论
④
con trast n . 对比 , 差异
⑤
style n . 风格 , 风度
⑥
striking a . 显著的 , 惊人的
⑦
formal a . 有条理的
⑧
forceful a . 有说服力的
⑨
colourful a . 华美的
10
gian t a . 伟大的
1
designer n . 设计者
12
formidable a . 强大的 , 令人敬畏的
13
address v . 演讲
14
conference n . 会议
15
illustrious a . 杰出的
71
years, he had been a crusader ① for various causes . Perhaps my
memory was jogged ② by our ocean voyage, but I particularly re－
membered a story he had written about a fictional③ voyage to
the Chicago World s Fair of 1893 . It took place during a trans－
Atlantic crossing on the White Star liner Majestic . In it, a clair－
voyant④ passenger had visions ⑤ of survivors from the wreck⑥ of
another vessel , which had foundered after striking an iceberg⑦ .
It concluded with the Majestic rescuing⑧ the survivors . Stead
had a reputation for investigating psychic ⑨ phenomena and con－
sulting mediums 10 .
‘Twenty－five years ago - twenty－f ive years ago , Mr An－
drews - I was warning the public about the shortage of lifeboats
on these liners, ’Stead said, waving his arms for emphasis ‘
. If
anything, the problem has become worse , not better . The ships
have grown larger and larger, but the number of lifeboats has
remained the same . What do you have to say to that ?’
Andrews leaned forward and chose his words with delibera－
①
crusader n . 改革者
②
jog v . 轻推 , 漫步
③
fictional a . 虚构的 , 编造的
④
clairvoyan t a . 有洞察力的
⑤
visions n . 先见之明 , 幻想
⑥
wreck n . 失事 , 残骸
⑦
iceberg n . 冰山
⑧
rescuing n . 援救 , 营救
⑨
psychic a . 精神的
10
mediums a . 方法
72
tion ‘
. I would say, Mr Stead , that you have overlooked ① the
enormous② progress that has been made in the engineering of
large ships, and the imp ortant safety features that have been in－
corporated ③ into the newer vessels, like the Titanic .’
‘Are you saying it is unsinkable ④ , then ? I have read about
all the boasting that has been going on .’
‘No , of course not . No ship is unsinkable . But I d go so far
as to say that this ship is as close to being unsinkable as any ves－
sel can be .’Andrews looked at the passengers who were gath－
ered⑤ around, wondering perhaps whether they were being
shaken by this discussion . Their expressions ranged ⑥ from inter－
est to outright ⑦ amusement .
Andrews continued ‘
. Let me explain . This ship has 16 wa－
tertight compartments down below - all with doors that can be
closed from the bridge ⑧ . It can remain af loat⑨ with any two of
the compartments flooded 10 , or any three of the first five f lood－
ed . Even in the unlikely event we had a head - on collision and
flooded the first four compartments, we still would not sink .’
①
overlook v . 忽视
②
enormous a . 巨大的
③
incorporated a . 合成一体的
④
unsinkable a . 不沉的
⑤
gather v . 聚集
⑥
range v . 变化
⑦
out right a . 完全的
⑧
bridge n . 船桥
⑨
afloat a . 飘浮 , 浮起
10
flood v . 淹没 , 充满
73
‘But you did not answer my question, ’said Stead, his voice
filled with challenge and impatience ‘
. What i f one of these big
liners does go down, and there are not enough li feboats for ev－
eryone on board .What do you do then ?’
‘ Well, to begin with, all our liners have a suff icient① num－
ber of lifeboats to meet Board of Trade . . .’
‘Board of Trade ! Those regulations are archaic ② . Besides,
the Board of Trade is in the pocket of the ship owners .’
‘And even i f a serious accident did happen , a modern ship
could remain af loat for many hours - perhaps even days - before
it went down . In these busy shipping lanes, that is plenty of
time to signal ③ another vessel and ferry④ the passengers over in
lifeboats .’
This seemed to reassure ⑤ the passengers who were listening
to the debate , but not Stead .
‘Competition, ’Stead said .‘ That is all it is, competition
between the lines . Y ou do not want to take up⑥ room on deck
with li feboats, when you can fill it with walkways and amuse－
ments for passengers . All you people care about⑦ is packing
these things with paying customers⑧ .’
①
sufficien t a . 充足的
②
archaic a . 古老的 , 陈旧的
③
signal v . 发信号
④
ferry v . 摆渡 , 运送
⑤
reassure v . 打消疑虑
⑥
take up 占用
⑦
care abou t 担心
⑧
customers n . 消费者
74
Andrews rose from his chair, showing anger for the first
time . Still , he retained his composure ① as he spoke .
‘Mr Stead , let me assure you that safety is - and always has
been - the first concern of Harland & Wolff . If I were not fully
convinced of that, I would not be working for them . Now you
may think what you like , but I must ask you not to spread ② un－
necessary③ fears among the passengers . Wait until you are
ashore ④ , then you can write whatever you like in the newspa－
pers . But please do not spend this entire voyage disturbing⑤ our
guests with your stories .’
Stead took a deep breath and turned away . Andrews, real－
izing that he would not be getting a reply, wished the others
good night and departed .
Stead chuckled and looked to the men who remained gath－
ered around the fire . Some appeared as though they were about
to make a graceful ⑥ exit .‘ Y ou know, I’ve always enj oyed a
good argument⑦ ,’Stead said .‘ But I keep forgetting that some
people do not . I hope he did not take it personally . Well, I will
make sure I buy him a friendly drink before we reach New Y ork
. . . unless, of course, the ship sinks f irst .’
①
composure n . 镇静 , 沉着
②
spread v . 传播
③
unnecessary a . 不必要的
④
ashore ad . 在岸上
⑤
dist urb v . 烦扰
⑥
graceful a . 优美的
⑦
argu ment n . 争辩
75
Everyone laughed and was put back at ease ① . Stead went on
to tell a most fascinating② fable ③ about an Egyptian mummy④ ,
which carried a curse ⑤ that brought sickness, death and destruc－
tion ⑥ to anyone who possessed it . The Egyptian, Stead postulat－
ed ⑦ , must have suffered⑧ greatly before his death, because his
image ⑨ on the sarcophagus 10 carried a look of fear and an－
guish 1 . The curse continued to this day, despite efforts over the
years to exorcize 12 the evil 13 spirit lingering 14 in the Egyptian s
remains .
There was a short silence after Stead finished his story . It
was broken by lighthearted 15 comments 16 . Some suggested rela－
tives of business competitors 17 to whom they would like to send
①
at ease 安逸 , 自由自在
②
fascinating a . 迷人的 , 醉人的
③
fable n . 神话 , 谎言
④
mummy n . 木乃伊
⑤
curse n . 咒语 , 祸根
⑥
destruction n . 毁坏
⑦
postulate v . 假定
⑧
suffer v . 遭受 , 经历
⑨
image n . 想象
10
sarcophagus n . 石棺
1
anguish n . 痛苦
12
exorcize v . 趋邪 , 除怪
13
evil a . 罪恶的
14
linger v . 逗留 , 闲逛
15
ligh thear ted a . 心情愉快的
16
commen ts n . 注释 , 注解
17
competitors n . 竞争者
76
the mummy .
Holmes was standing quietly, staring into the fire . I
nudged ① him with my elbow ② and said,‘ A remarkable story, do
you not agree ?’
‘ Yes, Watson, very enj oyable ③ . . . Well , my old friend,
may I buy you a brandy ? We could sit back and discuss old
times .’
‘Holmes, you’ve never shown an interest in reminiscing be－
fore .
‘Then, perhaps, it is time that I did . What do you say ?’
Holmes was in a rare moo d . I could not recall the last time I
had seen him so sombre ④ . He was not the type to take ghost⑤
stories seriously⑥ .
‘I would be delighted⑦ . Lead⑧ the way, Commodore .’
We sat there for some time and had a most enjoyable con－
versation - one that brought back ⑨ many happy memories .
①
nudge v . 用肘轻推
②
elbow n . 胳膊肘
③
enjoyable a . 令人愉快的
④
som bre a . 昏暗的 , 阴沉的
⑤
ghost n . 鬼 , 幽灵
⑥
seriously ad . 认真地
⑦
delighted a . 欣喜的
⑧
lead v . 带领 , 引导
⑨
bring back 回忆起来
77
Chapter Six
T he Morning of T hursday
11 April 1912
4 月 11 日 ( 周四 ) 早上 , 福尔摩斯、华生及诺 顿小姐拜 访了威 严
但好客的爱德华・约翰・史密 斯船 长。船长 向他 们介绍 了可 疑船 员
比夏普的情况 , 并领他们参观了 发报室 , 告 知发 报员三 人具 有优 先
权。三人在甲板上漫步时遇到杰奎斯・福特 来尔夫 妇 , 福特 来尔 先
生似乎认出了福尔摩斯。
Captain Edward John Smith was affectionately ① referred to
as‘E J’by regulars on White Star s trans－Atlantic runs . He was
a big man with a grey beard and a f irm ② , autocratic ③ disposi－
tion ④ . While strict with his crew ⑤ , he was considered fair and
was well liked . In addition to being an experienced seaman, he
was a good host⑥ . His hospitality⑦ and congenial ⑧ , softspoken
①
affectionately ad . 至爱地 , 亲切地
②
firm a . 坚定的 , 严格的
③
autocratic a . 独裁的 , 专制的
④
disposition n . 部署
⑤
crew n . 全体工作人员
⑥
host n . 主人
⑦
hospitality n . 好客 , 盛情
⑧
congenial a . 适宜的
78
manner had drawn a loyal following of regular passengers over
the years .
‘The uniform ① suits you, Mr Holmes, ’said the captain as
the two shook hands .‘ Were you actually in the Navy at one
time ?’
‘No . Dr Watson, here , has all the military experience .’
‘ Yes, of course, Dr Watson . I am very pleased to meet
you .’
‘I believe you have already met Miss Norton .’
We had called on② Smith , by appointment③ , in the private
sitting room adjoining his cabin . It was comfortable spacious④
and a good location ⑤ to discuss our mission without fear of being
overheard .
‘Mr Holmes, your brother Mycroft assured me that this
mission the three of you have undertaken⑥ will in no way ⑦ en－
danger⑧ the passengers on this ship, or disrupt⑨ the crossing . Do
I have your word on that as well ?’
①
uniform n . 制服
②
call on 拜访
③
appoin tmen t n . 约会
④
spacious a . 宽敞的
⑤
location n . 场所
⑥
undertake v . 承担 , 担任
⑦
in no way 决不
⑧
endanger v . 使危险
⑨
disrup t v . 使混乱
79
‘I can provide ① no absolute ② guarantee ③ , but thus ④ far the
journey has been a peaceful one . I must ask you, Captain , have
you noticed anyone among the passengers and crew who might
be of concern to us ?’
Captain Smith stoo d quietly as he lit⑤ a cigar he had pulled
from a case on the table . A blue cloud of smoke encircled ⑥ his
head as he puffed away⑦ . He took a deep breath and savoured ⑧
the aroma before answering Holmes s question .
‘I have met a fair number of passengers, but not a fraction ⑨
of the more than 1 , 200 on board . As for crew, there are a lot
of new faces－people I have not sailed with before . That happens
when you get a new ship .’
‘How many people are on board in all ?’I asked .
‘ Well, we should pick up another 100 or so in Queenstown .
That would bring the total up to around 2 , 200 .’
Holmes crossed his arms and casually 10 stroked 1 his beard .
‘Captain . I have long taken pride in my devotion to facts . But a
①
provide v . 供应 , 提供
②
absolute a . 绝对的
③
guaran tee n . 保证
④
t hus ad . 因而 , 这样
⑤
lit v . 点燃( light 的过去式 )
⑥
encircle v . 环绕 , 围绕
⑦
puff away 喷出
⑧
savour v . 品尝
⑨
fraction n . 小部分
10
casually ad . 偶然地
1
strok v . 抚摸
80
man in your position, with your long experience, develops
strong instincts① over the years . Has anything happened thus far
that makes you feel uncomfortable about any of the passengers
or crew ?’
‘Well . . . there is one man who may require some disci－
pline ② - one of my lower－ranking ③ officers, Fred Bishop . I
caught him in my cabin the other day . He claimed ④ he was look－
ing for me . But when I asked him why, he brought up a small
navigational question that could well have waited until later .’
‘Can you tell me anything else about him ? Are you familiar
with his service record ?Is there anything unusual about his man－
nerisms, habits . . . ?’
‘There is one thing, Mr Holmes . I do not like to bring it
up ⑤ , with all this nonsense ⑥ about German espionage rings ⑦ cir－
culating the country . But Bishop does have a trace of a German
accent . When I mentioned it to him, he said he had spent a
number of years living in Germany and working with German
crews . In fact . that had been in his service record and I had for－
gotten about it . His last assignment was on board a German lin－
er . But I am sure you will agree , Mr Holmes, that is hardly a
①
instinct n . 本能
②
discipline n . 纪律
③
lower－ranking a . 下级的
④
claim v . 声称
⑤
bring up 提出
⑥
nonsense n . 胡说 , 废话
⑦
espionage ring n . 间谍网
81
reason to brand ① someone as a spy .’
‘I agree, but let us keep an eye on him in any case .’
Miss Norton, noticing the memorabilia ② on the wall
shelves, began to make her way across the room .
‘ Y oung lady, ’the captain said firmly③ ,‘I must ask you to
stand quietly while I am smoking . Y our movement is disturbing
my smoke !’
A fter a momentary pause, Miss Norton apologized and re－
turned to her previous④ position . The captain took several quick
puffs⑤ from his cigar and the cloud of blue smoke once again en－
circled his head .
‘There is one other point I d like to make , said Smith .
‘The owner of the line, Mr J Bruce Ismay, is on board this ship .
He is staying in a suite of cabins on B Deck . So far, there has
been no need to alert⑥ him to your activities . But if the situation
ever warrants⑦ it, I may have to inform him - at least about the
particulars that affect this ship . Do I make myself understood ?’
Indeed you do , Captain, ’Miss Norton replied ‘
. But in that
event, I must ask you to inform him that this is a matter of na－
tional importance , requiring the strictest secrecy .’
‘ Most certainly, ’said Smith .‘ Is there anything else we
①
brand v . 打上烙印
②
memorabilia n . 大事记
③
firmly a . 坚定的
④
previous a . 先前的
⑤
puff n . 一口 (烟 )
⑥
aler t v . 警惕
⑦
warrant v . 保证 , 担保
82
need to discuss ?’
I turned to glance out of the porthole . The skies were clear
and the sun danced on the tall waves below . We would be reach－
ing Queenstown later in the morning, and then leaving for open
sea .
‘Captain, we will need to use your wireless equipment as a
priority① .’Holmes s directness② did not seem to offend the cap－
tain ‘
. Also , would you ensure that your wireless operators③ ful－
ly understand the urgent④ nature of any messages we send ?’
‘We can take care of that straight away, Mr Holmes .
Would you all care to follow me ?’
Captain Smith led us outside for a brief ⑤ stroll⑥ around the
boat deck to the wireless room on the port side . The crisp sea air
was a refreshing change from the captain s heavy cloud of cigar
smoke . As we passed the gymnasium and climbed several steps
to a raised section of deck, the captain pointed up to two paral－
lel ⑦ wires⑧ running from mast⑨ to mast, down the length 10 of
the ship .
①
priority n . 优先
②
directness n . 直率
③
operators n . 接线员
④
urgent a . 紧急的
⑤
brief a . 简短的
⑥
stroll n . 漫步
⑦
parallel a . 平行的
⑧
wires n . 电线
⑨
mast n . 桅杆 , 天线杆
10
leng th n . 长度
83
‘That is the aerial① for sending and receiving messages . As
you will see , a connecting wire leads into the wireless room . We
have the most advanced Marconi equipment available . I will let
the operators explain the details to you .’
The wireless room was a small area located just forward of
the elevator② gear③ . As we entered, we saw two young men in
their early twenties . One was in uniform, seated behind the
Marconi equipment, and the other was lying on a small bed,
com fortably attired in a shirt and trousers . On noticing the cap－
tain , the man on the bed jumped to his feet . The man at the e－
quipment continued to tap away at the telegraphy ④ key . I was
impressed by the tall stack⑤ of papers on the table next to him presumably messages that were being sent by passengers .
‘I beg your pardon, Phillips, ’said the captain ‘
. I did not
mean to disturb you during your rest .’
‘No trouble at all, sir . I was just resting my eyes .’
The young man at the telegraphy key completed the mes－
sage he was sending, and rose f rom his chair :
‘Bride , please pause for a moment, said the captain .‘ I
want you both to meet three distinguished⑥ guests . Commodore
Winter, Dr Watson and Miss Norton, this is Jack Phillips, out
①
aerial n . 天线
②
elevator n . 电梯
③
gear n . 转动装置
④
telegraphy n . 电报
⑤
stack n . 一堆
⑥
distinguished a . 高贵的
84
senior ① wireless operator . The young man who was just demon－
strating ② his dexterity ③ at the telegraphy key is our junior ④ oper－
ator, Harold Bride .’
Hands were shaken all around . The young men greeted Miss
Norton with particular congeniality ⑤ and enthusiasm⑥ .
‘The commo dore is here on off icial business, ’the captain
continued ‘
. In part, he is here to evaluate ⑦ the ship s capabili－
ties in the event of war . But he and Miss Norton also have an－
other more confidential government mission . Y ou are both un－
der orders to give their messages the highest priority - second
only to those dealing with the safety and smooth operation of
this ship . Also , you must keep their work, or any messages they
send, in the strictest confidence . Understood ?’
The two young men looked perplexed⑧ , but agreed without
hesitation .
‘ Dr Watson, here , while not directly involved in their mis－
sion , should be shown the same courtesies ⑨ .’
‘ Yes, sir, said Phillips .
‘ And now, if you do not mind, gentlemen, Miss Norton , I
①
senior a . 高级的
②
demonstrate v . 示范 , 证明
③
dexterity n . 灵巧 , 机敏
④
junior a . 副的
⑤
congeniality n . 精神
⑥
ent husiasm n . 热情
⑦
evaluate v . 评价
⑧
perplexed a . 困惑的
⑨
courtesy n . 谦恭 , 尊敬
85
have a ship to attend to . If you do not have any plans for din－
ner , you are most welcome to join me at my table tonight .
Meanwhile , Mr Phillips will explain the capabilities of our Mar－
coni equipment .’
A fter the captain had left, the two men became more re－
laxed① . Bride went back to his equipment and Phillips began a
most interesting description of his work . I guessed that this was
not the f irst time he had been asked by a captain to put on a
show for special guests .
‘Wireless equipment has been in general use on commer－
cial ② liners for about three years now . The Marconi apparatus③
X we have here is the most powerful on any merchant ④ vessel .
Mr Bride and I, in fact, are employed⑤ by Marconi Internation－
al Marine Communications Company, and we work on this ship
under an arrangement with the White Star Line . The two of us
work in shi fts⑥ and are pretty much able to provide round－the－
clock⑦ service . Some ships have only one wireless operator , and
consequently⑧ offer ⑨ communications 10 on a more limited basis .
①
relaxed a . 不拘束的
②
commercial a . 商业的 , 贸易的
③
apparatus n . 设备 , 仪器
④
merchan t a . 商业的
⑤
em ploy v . 雇用
⑥
work in shift 倒班工作
⑦
round－t he－clock a . 连续不停的
⑧
consequen tly ad . 从而 , 因此
⑨
offer v . 提供
10
communications n . 通讯系统
86
‘As you can see , there are two complete sets of apparatu－
sone for transmitting ① and one for receiving ② messages . They
are powered by a five－kilowatt motor generator ③ , fed ④ at 100
volts⑤ dc from the ship s lighting circuit⑥ .’
‘ What happens if you lose power in an emergency ⑦ ?’I
asked .
‘We have standby⑧ power . There s an oil engine generator
on the top deck, as well as a battery ⑨ of accumulators 10 . . .
Now, when a signal comes in on the aerial, it feeds into 1 this
tuning coil 12 . . .’
‘ What about range 13 ?’asked Holmes .
‘ We have a guaranteed working range of 250 miles under
any atmospheric 14 conditions . But we generally maintain a range
of up to 400 miles . At night, I have sent and received at a dis－
tance of up to 2 , 000 miles . We can reach Clifden Station on the
①
t ransmit v . 发送信息
②
receive v . 接收
③
generator n . 发电机
④
feed ( 过去式及过去分词为 fed) v . 靠……为生
⑤
volt n . 伏特
⑥
circuit n . 电路
⑦
emergency n . 紧急情况
⑧
standby n . 备用
⑨
battery n . 电池
10
accumulators n . 蓄电池
1
feed into 流入
12
coil n . 线卷
13
range n . 变化范围
14
atmospheric a . 大气的
87
west coast① of Ireland ② . Then , as we approach North America,
there is Glace Bay Station in Nova Scotia and Cape Race in
Newfoundland . And, of course, there is also ship－to－ship .’
‘V ery goo d, said Holmes .‘ Your information ③ has been
most interesting and helpful .’
‘Glad to be of service , Commo dore . If you d like to come
back again during the trip , I can give you a more detailed de－
scription of how it all works . . .Y ou too , Miss Norton, Doctor .’
‘ We may indeed do that, said Holmes ‘
. And as the captain
said, we may need your assistance in the future .’
‘ We will be delighted to oblige .’
Phillips opened the door and ushered④ Miss Norton out onto
the deck ‘
. I hope your work does not keep you so busy that you
do not have the time to enjoy the voyage . She really is a beauti－
ful ship .’
‘She is, indeed,
said Miss Norton ‘
. And do they let you
leave your equipment from time to time to obtain some fresh
air ?”
‘It is mostly working and sleeping, but I do have a little
spare ⑤ time .’
There was another round of hand－shaking, and the three of
us departed .
We
walked
①
coast n . 海岸
②
Ireland n . 爱尔兰
③
information n . 信息
④
usher v . 引导 , 展示
⑤
spare a . 闲暇的 , 空闲的
88
forward
along
the
officers ’
promenade ① , past a row of li feboats . The deck came to an end
at the wheel－house ② , and we stopped at the rail③ , looking down
at the forecastle ④ deck, and the froth ⑤ produced by waves curl－
ing⑥ off T itan ic s bow . While the sea was choppy ⑦ , the skies a－
head were clear . It promised to be another enjoyable day for
strolling the decks and taking advantage of ⑧ all the pleasures this
giant⑨ liner had to offer .
As we stood quietly, admiring the majesty 10 of the sea, a
full Atlantic swell 1 hit our port side . Moments later, a cool
mist 12 floated across the deck . Y et, if it had not been for our
clear view of the horizon , we would hardly have noticed the
ship s rolling, back and forth motion . The mighty 13 T itan ic qui－
etly absorbed 14 the impact 15 , cradling 16 its passengers f rom the
①
promenade n .散步甲板
②
wheel－house n . 驾驶室
③
rail n . 横杆 , 扶杆
④
forecastle n . 前甲板
⑤
froth n . 泡沫
⑥
curl v . 卷曲
⑦
choppy a . 波涛起伏的
⑧
take advantage of 利用
⑨
gian t a . 庞大的 , 巨大的
10
majesty n . 雄伟
1
swell n . 浪涛
12
mist n . 薄雾
13
might y a . 势力大的
14
absorbed a .全神贯注的
15
impact n . 冲击
16
cradle v . 像放在摇篮里似的兜着
89
forces of nature . How far we had come from the days of the
frail① wooden sailing vessels .
‘It is a tri fle ② chilly ③ here , said Miss Norton ‘
. Would you
mind if we sheltered ④ from the wind ?’
‘Not at all ,’I agreed, feeling somewhat cold myself ‘
. Be－
sides, this promenade ⑤ is strictly reserved for officers . We
should go before someone asks us to leave .’
Miss Norton laughed .‘ We may be trapped up here . I am
unsure as to whether the captain left the gate unlocked .’
But we passed back easily onto the first－class promenade .
As we did, we were approached somewhat abruptly⑥ by a man
and woman who had been standing by the rail .
‘ Dr Watson ! Excuse me , Dr Watson ! Y ou are Dr Watson,
aren t you ? One of the ship s off icers told me he had seen you
heading in this direction with the captain . I hope I am not dis－
turbing you .’
‘No trouble at all, Mr . . .’
‘Futrelle , Jacques Futrelle . I have been hoping to meet you
ever since ⑦ I heard you were on this ship . And this is my wife ,
Mrs May Futrelle .’
①
frail a . 虚弱的 , 脆弱的
②
t rifle n . 少量
③
chilly n . 寒冷
④
shelter v .掩蔽 , 躲避
⑤
promenade n . 散步
⑥
abruptly ad . 唐突地
⑦
ever since 从那时起到现在
90
‘Mr Futrelle, I am glad that you sought me out① . I have
enjoyed your detective fiction ② greatly . In fact, Holmes once
told me that he admired the way you emphasized deductive rea－
soning③ in your stories . I especially enjoyed that short story,
T he Problem of Cell 13 . Oh , allow me to introduce you to my
two companions④ - Commodore Giles Winter and Miss Christine
Norton .’
As Futrelle shook hands with Holmes, the excited smile dis－
appeared suddenly from his face . For a moment, his eyes were
fixed on Holmes s hand . Then he seemed to study the
commodore s bearded face .
‘Have we not met before , Commodore ? Y our face seems
familiar .’
‘I do not recall an occasion⑤ but I have indeed heard of you
and read some of your stories . It is a pleasure , sir .’
‘ Excuse me , ’ Miss Norton said . ‘ Y our name sounds
French , and I have always assumed you were from France . But
your accent seems to be American .’
‘Born and raised in Pike County, Georgia, Miss Norton,
But do not be embarrassed⑥ . You are not the first person to
come to that conclusion ⑦ .’
①
seek out 找出 , 认出
②
fiction n . 小说
③
reasoning n . 推理
④
companion n . 同伴
⑤
occasion n . 场合
⑥
em barrass v . 使困窘
⑦
conclusion n . 结论
91
Futrelle was an energetic , full－faced man in his mid thir－
ties . His attractive wife stood by quietly as we conversed . She
too was a writer of some repute ① .
‘May and I were just about to go for a swim when we
caught up with ② you . But I would greatly like to continue out
conversation - perhaps this evening ?’
‘ I would be delighted, ’ I said .‘ An after－dinner drink
would be most enjoyable . Perhaps you will tell me about the
next adventure of Professor Van Dusen, The Thinking Ma－
chine .’
‘I am afraid I am at a dead end in plotting③ the professor s
next story . I would appreciate any suggestions you could offer .’
‘It would be a pleasure . Until this evening, then .’
The Futrelles turned and waved④ once more as they walked
down the deck hand in hand .
‘Holmes, I think Futrelle may have recognized you !’I ex－
claimed⑤ .
‘Perhaps . My photograph has been published before . But if
he does suspect, he was not sure enough to say anything . Either
that or he was simply respecting my effort to conceal ⑥ my iden－
tity .’
①
repu te n . 名誉
②
catch up with 追上 , 赶上
③
plot v . 测绘
④
wave v . 挥手
⑤
exclaim v . 呼喊 , 惊叫
⑥
conceal v . 隐蔽 , 隐瞒
92
‘We may have to bring him into our confidence before he
shares① his suspicions② with others, ’Miss Norton said ‘
. We do
not have to give him any details - just let him know you are
working on a confidential ③ case .’
‘ We may have to consider that . But f irst let us try to deter－
mine ④ just how strongly he suspects, and how good he is at keep－
ing a secret .’
①
share v . 分享 , 共有
②
suspicions n . 猜疑 , 怀疑
③
confidential a . 秘密的 , 机密的
④
determine v . 决定 , 确定
93
Chapter Seven
Midday on T hursday
11 April 1912
4 月 11 日 ( 周 四 ) 白 天 , 华 生 在 甲 板 上 看 书 , 并 与 佛 来 明 小
姐谈话 , 忽然有一位汉斯・冯・斯 特恩男 爵打 断他俩 谈话 , 说 他夫 人
遇到匿名恐吓信 , 请求华生帮 助他 , 华 生答应 帮他 想办法。 华生 在
午餐时将此事告 诉了 福 尔 摩斯 , 福尔 摩 斯也 告 知华 生 他已 要 求 船
长晚上宴请头等 舱的 各 位同 行者 ( 包 括 摩里 亚 蒂上 校 和船 员 比 夏
普)。
By late morning the outside air had warmed considerably① ,
and I decided to return to the boat deck to do some reading . Ap－
propriate ② to the occasion, I had packed ③ one of William Clark
Russell s fine sea stories, T he W reck o f t he Grosvenor .
Holmes, in the guise ④ of Commodore Giles Winter, was ex－
ploring⑤ areas of the ship that were out of bounds⑥ to passen－
①
considerably ad . 相当地
②
appropriate a . 适当的
③
pack v . 挑选
④
guise n . 伪装
⑤
explore v . 探测 , 探究
⑥
out of bounds 超出
94
gers . Miss Norton was resting in her cabin . A fter a particularly
eventful ① first day on board ship, I welcomed this opportunity
to blend② in with the other passengers and to enjoy the comforts
of this luxurious liner .
I selected a reclining③ deck chair on the starboard side . It
was not long before a boy came by, laden④ with blankets⑤ . I ac－
cepted one gratefully⑥ and spread⑦ it over my legs .
I found it difficult to concentrate on ⑧ my reading . My at－
tention was drawn to the activities of my fellow passengers .
They seemed so at peace with their idleness . Couples, both
young and old, strolled hand in hand . I thought back to how I
had buried myself in my work for so many months . Then my
mind wandered to past travels and the delightful holidays I had
taken with my wife . I had forgotten how travel could dissipate ⑨
anxieties 10 and rejuvenate 1 the soul 12 . For years, I had pre－
scribed holidays for my patients . Unfortunately, it had never
①
event ful a . 变故多的 , 多事的
②
blend v . 混合
③
recline v . 斜倚
④
laden a . 装满的
⑤
blankets n . 毯子
⑥
gratefully ad . 感激地
⑦
spread v . 铺开 , 展开
⑧
concen trate on 集中注意力于
⑨
dissipate v . 驱散 , 消散
10
anxieties n . 焦虑 , 忧虑
1
rejuvenate v . 使恢复体力
12
soul n . 精神 , 精力
95
occurred to me to prescribe one for mysel f .
‘ Why, Dr Watson, what a pleasant surprise !’
Miss Storm－Fleming appeared by my side .
‘Perhaps you would care to join me, ’I suggested, indicat－
ing the reclining deck chair next to me ‘
. W ould you care for my
blanket ? I will request another from the boy when he returns .’
‘Oh, no , thank you .I came up to get some sun . . .How are
you enj oying your voyage so far ? And where are your friends ? I
was beginning to think of you as the Three Musketeers .’
‘I suppose we have been spending a lot of time together, ’I
said, smiling at the comparison ‘
. But even musketeers① need to
have their own adventures from time to time .’
‘Exactly ! And perhaps, after this voyage, you will forget
Sherlock Holmes, and go on to write T he A dven tures of Dr W at－
son . Of course , I would be a little offended if I was not included
as your faithful companion② .’
‘I doubt that the adventures of a retired doctor would draw
much interest from the reading public . But, in any event, I
would still appreciate the company of such a delightful fellow
traveller .’
Miss Storm－Fleming spoke softly
‘Dr Watson, you appeared very preoccupied③ just now, before I
came over .Your book did not seem to be holding your attention④ .’
①
musketeer n . 持枪的步兵
②
companion n . 同伴
③
preoccupied a . 全神贯注的
④
hold one’
s attention 吸引住
96
‘I was reflecting① on how much my wife would have en－
j oyed a cruise on a ship like this . I suppose I feel somewhat
guilty about enj oying myself .’
‘We live in a world f illed with exciting possibilities, Dr
Watson . But none of us has the time on this Earth to experience
all of them . Y our wife was married to someone who cared a
great deal for her . Can you not be thankful for the happiness
you gave her, and leave it at that ? Y ou are an author② ; it is time
to write the next chapter ③ in your life .’
‘ Y our husband was a most fortunate man, ’I said .‘ Have
you been able to write the next chapter in your life ?’
‘I have begun ,’ Miss Storm－Fleming smiled at me, then
stared out into the rolling waves of the Atlantic ‘
. I do not know
how it is going to turn out yet, but that is what makes life inter－
esting . Do you not agree ?”
Before I could answer, we were interrupted by a stocky④ ,
well－dressed man whom I judged to be in his late forties . His
dark, receding⑤ hair was combed ⑥ straight back . Our visitor s
long sideburns⑦ came within an inch or two of his full, grey
moustache . He showed no signs of discomfort over disturbing
①
reflect v . 回忆
②
aut hor n . 作者
③
chapter n . 章节
④
stocky a . 矮壮的
⑤
recede v . 后退
⑥
comb v . 梳 (头发 )
⑦
sideburns n . 连鬓胡子
97
our conversation . On the contrary① , his firm , impatient manner
made it very clear that he expected our immediate ② attention ③ .
‘Herr Watson ! I was told that you are Dr John Watson . Is
this correct ?’While his English was fluent, his accent was decid－
edly German .
‘ Yes , I am Dr Watson . And who am I addressing④ ?’
‘ Good . My name is Hans V on Stern . I wish to consult⑤ you
on a professional matter . It concerns my wi fe , Elisabeth .’
‘Is she ill ?’
‘No , no , you misunderstand . Y ou have worked for many
years with the detective Sherlock Holmes . Correct ?’
‘He is a friend of mine , yes . But I am afraid I do not un－
derstand you .’
‘ Well then, my wife has received a threatening note . I
would like you to investigate the matter .’
I laughed quietly to mysel f and Miss Storm－Fleming, after
hesitating for a moment, joined in . I was not surprised to find
that V on Stern neither understood nor ⑥ appreciated my sense of
humour⑦ .
‘Mr V on Stern , Mr Holmes is the detective . I am simply a
①
on the con trary 相反地
②
immediate a . 直接的 , 立即的
③
attention n . 注意力
④
address v . 向……致词
⑤
consult v . 商议 , 请教
⑥
neit her . . . nor . . . 既不…… 也不……
⑦
humor n . 幽默 , 诙谐
98
doctor . While I have accompanied ① Holmes on many of his in－
vestigations, I have none of his skills .’
‘ Y ou underestimate yourself , Doctor . I have read your ac－
counts of Herr Holmes s adventures . Y ou are a man of great in－
sight② and have learned much from your association ③ with your
friend .’V on Stern studied Miss Storm－Fleming for a moment,
then shifted his attention back to me ‘
. So , will you help me ?’
Still amused by the situation , Miss Storm－Fleming ven－
tured ④ , ‘ This could be the first A dvent ure of Dr W atson . It
looks like an opportunity to be your associate has come more
quickly than I expected .’
‘ Y oung lady, I do not believe that I have had the pleasure
. . .’
‘Mr Von Stern, this is my friend, Miss Storm－Fleming .’I
added , with a smile,‘ You may speak as freely before her as you
would to me .’
‘ Very well , then . Here is the note Elisabeth received this
morning . It was slipped ⑤ under our cabin door during the
night .’
Von Stern pulled ⑥ a folded⑦ piece of paper from his jacket
①
accompany v . 伴随
②
insigh t n . 洞察力
③
association n . 结交 , 交往
④
venture v . 冒昧说
⑤
slip v . 塞入
⑥
pull v . 拉出
⑦
folded a . 折叠的
99
pocket . It contained① words of various② sizes that had been
clipped③ from the headlines④ of magazines⑤ . Only her name
had been printed by hand , in pencil .
‘ Baroness V on Stern - Y our past is known . You will be
contacted . Pay or be exposed .’
‘ Y ou must show this to the captain at once , ’I said ‘
. This
is a most serious matter .’
‘No ! I will not expose my wife to an official inquiry⑥ . Be－
sides, it may be no more than a cruel⑦ joke .’
‘ Are you a baron ⑧ ?’asked Miss Storm－Fleming .
‘ Y es, that is my title ⑨ . Now then, Dr Watson, will you
help ?’
Von Stern was impatient for answers . I wished that I could
introduce him to Holmes . But I Knew that would not be possi－
ble ‘
. Baron V on Stern , do you have any idea what this is all
about ?’
‘None , Doctor . My wife has no secrets .’
‘Has she received any blackmail 10 notes in the past ?’
①
con tain v . 包含 , 容纳
②
various a . 各种各样的
③
clip v . 修剪
④
headline n . 大字标题
⑤
magazine n . 杂志
⑥
inquiry v . 质询 , 调查
⑦
cruel a . 残酷的 , 使痛苦的
⑧
baron n . 男爵
⑨
title n . 头衔
10
blackmail n . 勒索
1 00
‘This is the f irst .’
‘ Do you suspect① anyone on this ship ?’
‘So far, I have recognized ② no one on board, or on the pas－
senger list . . . Y ou will help then ?’
‘Baron V on Stern, I do not think that I will be of much as－
sistance ③ , but I will at least give the matter more thought .
Where can I reach you ?’
‘ We are in cabin B10 on the port side of the ship .’
‘ V ery well, then, I may want to speak to your wife later .
Do you mind if I keep this note for a while ?’
‘If it will be of any help .’
The baron departed, at least partly satisfied with the limit－
ed assistance I had offered . Miss Storm－Fleming watched the
baron as he walked away, then turned to me with a gleam④ of
excitement in her eyes .
‘ What intrigue ⑤ ! she said ‘
. Would it not be amazing if we
were able to capture ⑥ a blackmailer and turn him over to ⑦ the
captain ? Do they have brigs⑧ here on these big ocean liners ?’
‘Miss Storm－Fleming, I would not expect too much from
①
suspect v . 怀疑 , 猜疑
②
recognize v . 认出
③
assistance n . 帮助 , 协助
④
gleam n . 一丝 , 瞬息一现
⑤
int rigue n . 阴谋 , 诡计
⑥
capture v . 抓获 , 俘获
⑦
t run over to sb 移交给某人
⑧
brig n . 双桅船
1 01
this . As the baron said, it could simply be a prank ① .’
My words of caution did not seem to quell ② her enthusi－
asm ③ .
‘I suppose so . But it is an adventure, Dr Watson . I think
that is just what this trip needed - an adventure !’
I laughed ‘
. All right, then .I will attempt to provide you
with one . But please do not be too disappointed if I am unsuc－
cessful .’
Miss Storm－Fleming and I continued our conversation and
had a most enjoyable morning . We hardly noticed as the Titan ic
entered St George s Channel on its way to Queenstown . But soon
the great ship made a wide port turn, slowed and came to a com－
plete stop near another vessel .
‘Why are we stopping ?’Miss Storm－Fleming asked .‘ We
have not yet reached Queenstown .’
‘I believe we are just picking up ④ the pilot⑤ to guide us into
Cobh Harbour .’
We continued to travel through the harbour until the ship
stopped, once again, and lowered its anchor about two miles
from shore .
‘One of the crew told me that this stop is likely to take a
①
prank n . 恶作剧 , 开玩笑
②
quell v . 镇压
③
ent husiasm n . 热情 , 狂热
④
pick up 看到
⑤
pilot n . 领航员
1 02
couple of ① hours, ’I said ‘
. Those two tenders ② approaching are
the A merica and the I relan d . They’re bringing a hundred or so ③
second－and third－class passengers on board, along with the
mail .’
Miss Storm－Fleming and I moved to the rail when the ten－
ders came alongside . There were a few passengers who were
making ready to leave the ship .They had experienced the thrill ④
of T itanic s maiden voyage , without paying the full trans－At－
lantic fare ⑤ . One of the departing passengers was a young man
loaded down with photography equipment . I wondered whether
he was acting in a professional ⑥ capacity ⑦ , or was simply an a－
mateur .
The boarding process was more leisurely⑧ than it had been
at Cherbourg . There were fewer passengers arriving in the ten－
ders, and the crew had little diff iculty directing⑨ them to their
quarters . And since there were so few, i f any, first－class passen－
gers boarding at this stop, there was far less baggage 10 for each
individual .
①
a couple of 两个 , 几个
②
tender n . 供给船
③
or so 大约
④
t hrill n . 发抖
⑤
fare n . 费用
⑥
professional a . 专业的
⑦
capacity n . 能力
⑧
leisurely ad . 从容不迫
⑨
direct v . 指挥 , 命令
10
baggage n . 行李
1 03
One of the newcomers① , carring his Irish pipes, made his
way quickly to the aft of the ship . Soon we heard the sound of
lively Irish airs .
‘Look !’cried Miss Storm－Fleming, suddenly . She was not
gazing at② the tenders, but at the skies behind the ship . Other
passengers also looked excitedly in that direction .
A man had climbed to the top of the aft funnel from the in－
side, and was now staring over the rim . His face , blackened ③
from soot④ , peered ⑤ out to the Irish coast . Then, after resting
his chest against the rim ⑥ , he gazed down upon the passenger
decks .
‘Looks like one of the stokers⑦ , said a junior off icer, who
had been standing by the rail, taking notes on the loading opera－
tions ‘
. Probably some Irishman wanting to look at the Emerald
Isle .’
‘How did he get up there ?’Miss Storm－Fleming asked .
‘ Won t he suffocate ⑧ ?’
‘That fourth ⑨ funnel s a dummy 10 . There is a ladder inside
①
newcomer n . 新来者
②
gaze at 盯着
③
blacken v . 使变黑
④
soot n . 烟灰 , 煤烟
⑤
peer v . 凝视
⑥
rim n . 边缘
⑦
stoker n . 司炉 , 烧炉工
⑧
suffocate v . 窒息 , 被闷死
⑨
fourt h a . 第四个
10
dummy n . 伪装物
1 04
that leads up from the engine room . It is a long climb, but I sup－
pose it is worth it for a breath of fresh Irish air .’
Miss Storm－Fleming and I laughed , as did the other passen－
gers who had gathered round . That is, all but one . An old wom－
an with a dark shawl ① wrapped② around her shoulders continued
to stare upwards in silence . Slowly, she made the sign of the
cross across her chest .
‘Don t worry, madam, said the officer .‘ He is perfectly
safe . Some of the men who work below can climb better than
chimpanzees ③ .’
The woman , suddenly conscious of the attention she was re－
ceiving, nodded④ with a faint⑤ smile and walked away .
We returned to the rail and watched , as sacks of ⑥ mail were
loaded on to one of the tenders . Soon, the anchor was raised
and the engines were fired up . The T itanicwas ready to head for
open sea .
‘I am afraid I must ask you to excuse me , ’I said .‘ I told
Commodore Winter that I would meet him for lunch .’
‘Back to the musketeers ? Well, just remember, I will be
looking for opportunities to steal you away⑦ !’
‘I will look forward to seeing you again, ’I responded .
①
shaw1 n . 围巾
②
wrap v . 包着
③
chimpanzee n . 黑猩猩
④
nod v . 点头
⑤
fain t a . 微微的
⑥
sacks of 成袋的
⑦
steal away 偷走
1 05
I walked down the stairway and found Holmes waiting on
the promenade near the restaurant . He was pacing① back and
forth ② with his hands clasped ③ behind his back .
‘ Ah, Watson, good, you made it ! Let us get a table .
There is much I would like to accomplish ④ this afternoon .’
‘ Goo d afternoon, Holmes . And how have you been spend－
ing your time on board this beautiful ship ?’
‘It is a wonderful vessel indeed, Watson . I was just down in
one of the boiler ⑤ rooms . Do you know , with a little experimen－
tation I believe I could develop a method to identify where a
sample ⑥ of coal was mined , simply by running a chemical test on
its ash . Y ou see, while all coal ash may look the same , there are
certain trace ⑦ elements . . .’
I rather boldly⑧ interrupted⑨ my friend ‘
. I need to tell you
about a most interesting conversation I just had with a Baron
Hans Von Stern . It seems his wife just received a blackmail
note, and he asked me to look into 10 the matter .’ I handed
①
pace v . 踱步 , 缓慢地走
②
back and fort h 来来回回
③
clasp v . 紧握
④
accomplish v . 完成 , 实现
⑤
boiler n . 锅炉
⑥
sample n . 标本 , 样品
⑦
t race n . 痕迹 , 迹线
⑧
boldly ad . 大胆地
⑨
interrupt v . 打断 , 插嘴
10
look in to 调查
1 06
H olm es t he no te .‘ I decli ned at first , but he was ve ry insist en－
t ① . I told him I would give it some thought . Do you make any－
thing of it ?’
‘It is difficult to tell, but I would judge by the individual
printing of the baroness s name that the writer was a woman .’
Holmes removed a jack－knife from his pocket and carefully re－
moved the word
‘ Pay’from the note ‘
. And if I am not mistak－
en, the reverse ② side of this scrap ③ of paper shows a portion of ④
the cover of the most recent S trand Magazi ne . I believe an arti－
cle of yours ran in that issue ⑤ .’
‘It does appear to come f rom the S tran d . . . Do you think
the baroness is in any danger ?’
‘It is curious that the baron and his wife should receive a
blackmail note after they have just boarded a ship bound for
America . Why not deliver it while they are in their home coun－
try, near a bank where they keep their money . Still, it could be
a genuine ⑥ blackmail attempt . In any case , there is little we can
do at present . Speak to the baroness ⑦ and keep me informed of
any new developments and it might be wise to suggest to the
baron that he contact the captain .’
‘I already have , and he declined . As far as I know, he has
①
insisten t a . 坚持不懈的
②
reverse a . 颠倒的
③
scrap n . 剪下的部分
④
a por tion of 一部分
⑤
issue n . 期
⑥
genuine a . 真实的
⑦
baroness n .男爵夫人
1 07
only told Miss Storm－Fleming and me .’
Holmes smiled ‘
. I am glad to see that you are enjoying this
trip so much , old friend . Well, Watson, it appears that we have
made a number of other new friends on this cruise . It only seems
proper that we invite them to dinner . The conversation could be
very revealing . I think I will have a word with the captain about
issuing ① some invitations② . Perhaps we should meet Colonel
Moriarty and Mr Bishop as well .’
‘Holmes ?’
‘Six o’clock , Watson . And it will be black tie .’
①
issue v . 发行 , 发出
②
invitation n . 请柬
1 08
Chapter Eight
The Evening of T hursday
11 April 1912
4 月 11 日 ( 周四 ) 晚 , 接到 请柬 的客 人 都汇 聚在 装修 考究 的 接
待室 , 有欣赏音乐 的 , 有 观 赏史 密 斯船 长 展 示泰 坦 尼克 号 模型 的。
在餐桌前 , 华生和 福尔 摩斯 及 诺 顿小 姐 很好 地 利用 了 这个 机 会 与
所有可疑者 ( 包括船员比夏普、佛来明小姐、斯特恩伯爵夫 妇、布 兰
顿先生及摩里亚蒂上校 ) 交流以了解他们的思想。
The ship s bugler ① sounded a cheerful notice that only one
hour remained to dress for dinner . First－class passengers began
scurrying② to their cabins③ . Those without personal maids④ or
valets ⑤ recruited ⑥ stewardesses or stewards to help them through
the ritual ⑦ of formal dress . I had come prepared with formal at－
tire and was just adjusting my waistcoat⑧ when Holmes knocked
①
bugler n . 喇叭手
②
scurry v . 急赶 , 急跑
③
cabin n . 船舱
④
maid n . 女仆
⑤
valet n . 男仆
⑥
recruit v . 征募
⑦
ritual n . 典礼 , 仪式
⑧
waistcoat n . 马甲
1 09
at my cabin door . Up on opening it, I saw Miss Norton, looking
most delightful in her black evening dress, standing next to
Holmes . True to form as Commodore Giles Winter, Holmes was
in full dress naval uniform . Standing with calm , naval poise ① ,
he was a far cry from the energetic, often impatient master of
detection I had known for so many years . But I knew that be－
neath ② the beard and uniform, the Holmes I knew was still ea－
ger to ③ attack ④ a new puzzle ⑤ .
‘ Remember, both of you, this dinner will afford us an ex－
cellent opportunity to observe ⑥ our guests and any exchanges⑦
that may occur ⑧ between them ,’Holmes said ‘
. We must place
ourselves around the table to see and hear as much as possible .
The captain has sent personal invitations to each of the people
on our list, and all have accepted .’
‘ What should we be looking for ?’asked Miss Norton .
‘ Anything and everything, ’Holmes replied ‘
. Every detail,
no matter how insigni ficant⑨ it may seem . We have witnessed 10
①
poise n . 姿势
②
beneat h prep . 在……之下
③
eager to 渴望做……
④
attack v . 功击 , 解决
⑤
puzzle n . 难题 , 迷惑
⑥
observe v . 观察
⑦
exchange n . 交流
⑧
occur v . 发生 , 出现
⑨
insignificant a . 无关紧要的
10
witness v . 目击
1 10
some odd ① behaviour② on board this ship . None of it may relate
to ③ the safety of the plans but we must take it all into ac－
count④ .’
We made our way to the grand staircase and descended ⑤ one
deck to the dining room . At the foot of the stairs we entered the
reception room, where a number of passengers were clustered ⑥
in small groups . The reception room was a place of simple, dig－
nified⑦ beauty . It was decorated ⑧ in Jacobean style , with white ,
carved⑨ panelling . On the wall directly ahead of us, a large
French tapestry 10 was displayed prominently 1 above a sea of
rich, dark carpet . Most of the passengers were standing, al－
though a few took advantage of the comfortable cane chairs .
Others gathered around the grand piano in the far left corner to
listen to a medley 12 of classical 13 works 14 .
Captain Smith was standing to the right, showing passen－
①
odd a . 古怪的
②
behavior n . 行为
③
relate to 与……有关
④
take into accoun t 把……考虑在内
⑤
descend v . 下来
⑥
cluster v . 成群
⑦
dignified a . 有威严的 , 有品味的
⑧
decorate v . 装饰 , 装修
⑨
carved a . 雕刻的
10
tapest ry n . 挂毯
1
prominently ad . 显著地
12
medley n . 集成曲
13
classical a . 古典的
14
works n . 著作
1 11
gers a large , impressively detailed model of the T itanic . The
three of us made our way over to him, hoping for an opportrnity
to exchange a few private words .
‘ I wish we were able to display① this model outside the glass
case ,’Smith told the half－dozen or so passengers who had gath－
ered around ‘
. It is really quite a beautiful thing - one of several
used by the designers when the ship was built . If I had a key to
the case with me , I would remove some of the pull－away sections
and show you the interior of the ship . Y ou would be amazed by
the detail . Unfortunately, they tell me that it won t float② .
And that must be my ultimate ③ test of a goo d ship - whether it is
waterproof .’
The crowd laughed, and a few moved in for a closer look .
Captain Smith broke away and guided④ the three of us to a
quiet corner .
‘The dinner party is all arranged . We’ll be sitting at the
large oval ⑤ table in the centre of the dining room . I cannot say I
like the idea of young Bishop being there, though . It is some－
what of an honour for an officer to be invited to the captain s
table . There are others under my command who are more de－
serving⑥ than Bishop .’
‘Indeed, Captain , I appreciate the difficult position this
①
display v . 陈列 , 展示
②
float v . 飘浮
③
ultimate a . 最后的
④
guide v . 引导 , 带领
⑤
oval a . 圆形的 , 卵形的
⑥
deserving a . 该受奖赏的
1 12
puts you in . But I can assure you that this exercise is of great
value to the safety of the plans .’
‘ I understand, Mr Holmes . And now , if Miss Norton would
care to j oin me , I suggest that we all go in for dinner .’
Miss Norton took the captain s arm, and the two of them
led the way into the main dining area . Other passengers, noting
the departure of the captain, also moved towards the dining－
room doors .
The dining room was a magnificent sight . Its design was
similar to that of the reception room but it was larger - much
larger . The leaded glass① windows that lined the walls on either
side made me feel that I had just entered the dining hall of a
great mansion② . Despite the size of the room, a sense of intima－
cy③ was created by the columns④ that supp orted the white plas－
tered⑤ ceiling ⑥ . In addition , recessed⑦ bays⑧ along the walls
created a number of private dining areas . Throughout this great
hall, fine oak furniture stood on tastefully⑨ designed linoleum 10
①
leaded glass 铅包玻璃
②
mansion n . 大厦
③
intimacy n . 亲密 , 亲昵
④
colum n n . 柱子
⑤
plastered a . 石膏的
⑥
ceiling n . 天花板
⑦
recessed a . 凹下去的
⑧
bay n . 海湾 , 凹处
⑨
tastefully ad . 风流地 , 高雅地
10
linoleu m n . 油毯
1 13
tiles① . But the true elegance ② and magic③ of this room was
brought to life by cleverly arranged lighting, and the sight of
passengers in formal dress at dinner .
Captain Smith sat down at the head of the table , after
showing Miss Norton to the seat next to him . I walked around
the table , looking at the cards that had been put at each place
setting . Mrs Futrelle sat to the left of the captain, followed by
her husband, then Miss Storm－Fleming, then me . Hugo Bran－
don , the gambler, was seated next to Miss Norton . Mr Bishop,
the young ship s officer , was alredy seated in the next chair
down .
Holmes was seated at the far end of the table , opposite
Captain Smith . As I passed, I paid my respects to the baron and
baroness, who were seated to Holmes s left .
‘Dr Watson , allow me to introduce you to my wife , Elisa－
beth .’
Baroness V on Stern, in her early forties, appeared strong
and healthy . Her solid④ grip ⑤ as we shook hands demonstrated ⑥
that physical exercise ⑦ was part of her daily life .
‘ Good evening, Herr Doctor . My husband said that you
have been most kind by offering to help with our little prob－
①
tile n . 瓷砖
②
elegance n . 优雅
③
magic n . 魔力
④
solid a . 结实的
⑤
grip n . 握手
⑥
demonstrate v . 证明 , 表示
⑦
physical exercise 身体锻炼
1 14
lem .’
‘I am not a detective , but I will do what I can . Aside from
this unfortunate incident, have you been having a pleasant
cruise ?’
‘ Oh, yes . The facilities ① on this ship are most satisfactory .
My husband and I have enj oyed the squash－racket court . Do you
play ?’
‘From time to time , but not well, I’m afraid .’
‘Then you must join us some time . It is simply a matter of
practice and determination .’
‘Thank you, I would be delighted .’
I took my seat, and looked at the place setting between
Holmes and me . The card read
‘ Colonel James Moriarty .’
Within ten minutes, the remaining seats at the table were
filled . Miss Storm－Fleming looked charming in her green
evening dress . As she took her seat, I felt her silk glove ② in my
hand .
‘So here we are , Dr Watson . I hope you brought your danc－
ing shoes for later in the evening . I hear the band will be play－
ing .’
‘I am afraid my dancing shoes are somewhere at home in
my attic ③ , but I can improvise ④ .’
I observed Colonel Moriarty to the extent I could without
①
facility n . 便利 , 设备
②
glove n . 手套
③
attic n . 阁楼
④
improvise v . 临时准备
1 15
appearing to stare . I could not detect any signs① that he recog－
nized his brother s old rival② . In fact, he and Holmes, as Com－
modore Winter, were engaged in pleasantries ③ about their re－
spective ④ naval and military backgrounds ⑤ . The true test was
about to come .
‘Colonel Moriarty, I want you to meet Dr John Watson
from London . We met each other as we left Southampton, and
we have been engaged in several interesting conversations
since .’
Moriarty appeared startled⑥ for a moment, then smiled and
reched out to shake my hand .
‘Excuse me , but are you not the Dr Watson who chroni－
cles ⑦ the adventures of Mr Sherlock Holmes ?’
I confessed that I was .
‘Then we have something in common . My brother was Pro－
fessor James Moriarty . He died at the hands of your friend many
years ago .’
‘It did seem to be a fair fight, I hope you will not be of－
fended but . . .’
‘Precisely, no offence taken . My brother pursued⑧ Mr
①
sign n . 征兆 , 迹象
②
rival n . 对手
③
pleasant ry v . 幽默 , 开玩笑
④
respective a . 各自的
⑤
backgrounds n . 背景
⑥
startled v . 震惊
⑦
chronicle v . 编写
⑧
pursue v . 追击
1 16
Holmes and confronted ① him at Reichenbach Falls . I can hardly
blame your friend for surviving the struggle . After all, my
brother had one or two sins② for which he had to account . If he
had not died at Reichenbach, I am sure a hangman s③ noose ④
would eventually have caught up with him .’
‘I am most glad to hear that you no longer hold any ill ⑤
will ⑥ towards Holmes .’
‘I would like to meet him some day and tell him that face to
face .’
‘I am sure he would appreciate your lack⑦ of ill will .’
Moriarty and I continued our conversation . I discovered
that he had read nearly all of my stories of Holmes s adventures .
I had just begun to discuss my historical novels when Miss Storm－
Fleming broke in ⑧ .
‘Please forgive me, Miss Storm－Fleming, for my lack of at－
tention . But Colonel Moriarty and I have been discussing . . .’
‘I am pleased to meet you, Colonel Moriarty . My name is
Holly Storm－Fleming .’
‘ Dr Watson, if I have taken you from the company of this
charming young lady, then I am the one who needs forgiving .’
①
confron t v . 面临 , 对抗
②
sin n . 过失 , 错误
③
hangman n . 刽子手
④
noose n . 绞索
⑤
ill a . 坏的 , 恶意的
⑥
will n . 意向
⑦
lack n . 缺乏 , 没有
⑧
break in 闯入
1 17
He turned to Holmes, who was engaged in a conversation with
the baron and baroness ‘
. Perhaps the commodore would intro－
duce me to his friends .’
‘ I would be delighted . Colonel Moriarty . This is Baron
Hans V on Stern and his wife , the Baroness .’
They exchanged greetings ① .
‘Baron, if I may ask, why are you and your wife taking this
voyage ?’
‘Books, Dr Watson . I am a dealer② in rare ③ books . In
fact, when we reach America, I plan to spend several weeks
buying and selling . I have brought a trunk of ④ fine old volumes
with me, including some rare editions⑤ of the Bible .’
‘Then you are no doubt aware of the valuable book that is
being transported to America on the Titan ic,’said Holmes .
‘ And what book is that, Commodore ?’
‘ Why, the jewelled ⑥ copy of the
Ruba iy－a t of O mar
Kbayya m , of course . Surely you have heard about it ?’
‘ Oh yes, certainly, I believe I have read about it . A beauti－
ful volume ⑦ , but a little out of my price range , I’m afraid .’
‘ Where in Germany are you from ?’Miss Storm－Fleming
asked .
①
greeting n . 祝贺 , 问候
②
dealer n . 商人
③
rare a . 杰出的 , 稀罕的
④
a t runk of 一箱
⑤
edition n . 版本
⑥
jewelled a . 珍宝似的
⑦
volume n . 卷 , 册
1 18
‘Munich—a beautiful city with wonderful people . Elisabeth
and I entertain① constantly . Have you visited our city ?’
‘I regret to say that I have not . Is this your first trip to the
United States ?’
‘ Y es, it is . We are very excited about it . When we arrive in
New York, we are particularly looking forward to ② American
theatre ③ . I have heard that many of the productions④ are most
lavish ⑤ , filled with powerful arrangements of dance and song .’
‘There s a great variety of theatre in New Y ork, said Miss
Storm－Fleming ‘
. Everything from the large musical productions
you have just described ⑥ to quieter, more restrained ⑦ plays powerful in their own way .’
‘Perhaps we will have the time to sample ⑧ several perfor－
mances⑨ . Y ou apparently have spent a good deal of time in New
Y ork theatres .’
‘Before I was married , I lived in New Y ork and worked as
an actress .’
‘Excellent ! We would appreciate your guidance 10 in select－
①
entertain v . 招待 , 娱乐
②
look forward to . . .期望……
③
t heat re n . 剧院
④
production n . 作品
⑤
lavish a . 奢华的 , 浪费的
⑥
describe v . 描述
⑦
restrained a . 严谨的
⑧
sample v . 尝试 , 品尝
⑨
perfor mance n . 表演 , 演出
10
guidance n . 指导
1 19
ing theatrical productions . . .’
We were interrupted by a team of ① waiters bringing the
main course . I had just f inished an excellent salad② , consisting
of cucumber ③ , strips ④ of salmon⑤ and a fine dressing . For my
entrée ⑥ , I selected lamb⑦ with mint⑧ sauce ⑨ , accompanied by
green peas 10 and new potatoes . One of the waiters poured 1 the
bottle of Bordeaux I had ordered for Miss Storm－Fleming and
mysel f .
I had been so involved in our dinner conversation that I
failed fully to appreciate the magic of my surroundings . Diners,
after several glasses of wine, were engaged in lively, demonstra－
tive 12 conversations . It had all the colour and elegance of one of
London s f inest restaurants, combined with the adventure of a
trans－Atlantic crossing .
In a recessed 13 bay 14 across the room, Mr J Bruce Ismay,
①
a team of 一队
②
salad n . 色拉
③
cucumber n . 黄瓜
④
strip n . 条 , 带
⑤
salmon n . 大马哈鱼
⑥
ent rée n . [ 法 ]主菜
⑦
lamb n . 羔羊肉
⑧
mint n . 薄荷
⑨
sauce n . 调味汁
10
pea n . 豌豆
1
pour v . 倒
12
demonstrative a . 说明的
13
recess a . 凹进去的
14
bay n . 凹处
1 20
owner of the White Star Line , sat at the head of a small table .
He seemed to be enjoying himself - and why not ? The Titan ic s
first voyage was cause ① for great pride and celebration ② .
At the far end of our table, Miss Norton was charming
Bishop - and with great success, I might add . The shy young of－
f icer was becoming quite talkative . I looked forward to Miss
Norton s account of their conversation later in the evening .
Brandon and the baron too had been having an involved
conversation . The baron spoke with firm hand gestures③ , while
Brandon sat with his forearm on the table , speaking in calm
tones .
‘ Your understanding of Germany needs improving, Mr
Brandon , said the baron .‘ The lower classes have an excellent
standard of living . While I hate to disagree with a fellow coun－
tryman, Marx s philosophy④ is f illed with flaws and is complete－
ly undeserving of all the attention it has received .’
Brandon s face reddened ⑤ . He pointed a finger at the baron
and began to reply . But upon noting that he had become the
centre of attention, he sat back quietly in his chair ‘
. No great
matter, ’he said with a smile ‘
. I hope you will excuse my play－
ing devil s advocate ⑥ , but I really enj oy a goo d debate . No of－
fence taken, I hope .’
①
cause v . 导致 , 引起
②
celebration n . 庆祝
③
gest ure n . 手势
④
philosophy n . 哲学
⑤
redden v . 变红
⑥
t he devil s advocate 吹毛求疵的人
1 21
The baron paused and eyed① Brandon suspiciously② . He
looked back at the baroness, who had put her hand on his shoul－
der ‘
. No , Mr Brandon . Of course not . I too enjoy a good argu－
ment - sometimes to the p oint of getting carried away③ . I hope ,
as well , that I have not offended you .’
‘No harm done at all , except that our dinner is getting
cold . Shall we begin ?’
‘I agree . Lively conversation excites the appetite ④ .’The
baron held up ⑤ his wine ⑥ glass, as if proposing⑦ a toast⑧ , and
turned his attention to his meal .
Holmes and I exchanged glances . We had indeed assembled
an interesting group of dining companions .
Our dinner party concluded without further incident . In
fact, as everyone followed Captain Smith s lead and rose from
their chairs, there was a spirited exchange of smiles and hand－
shakes . After so much food and wine, I yawned⑨ and thought
for a moment about retiring to my cabin . But this was the R M S
T itanic, and the night was still young .
①
eye v . 看 , 注视
②
suspiciously ad . 怀疑地
③
carry away 使失去自制力
④
appetite n . 食欲 , 胃口
⑤
hold up 举起
⑥
wine n . 葡萄酒
⑦
propose v . 提议为……干杯
⑧
toast n . 敬酒
⑨
yawn v . 打哈欠
1 22
Chapter Nine
T he Late Evening of
T hursday 11 April 1912
4 月 11 日 ( 周四 ) 夜 , 餐 后 , 诺顿 小姐 跳完 舞 后 , 回房 发现 有 人
闯进来过 , 检查文件仍在 , 于 是到 吸烟 室找来 华生 和福尔 摩斯。 再
次检查时发现文件 已被 盗 , 且 墙 上 写有 血 字“报 仇”。 三人 通 过 连
接两个包厢的小门 , 发现隔壁 包厢的 老遗 孀被 捆绑。据 她回 忆 , 偷
窃者可能为两人 , 且其中一人脸部被抓伤。
Holmes puffed① on his pipe as his mind si fted through the
day s events . I relaxed with a brandy, feeling more conf ident
than Holmes that the situation on board was well under con－
trol② . Inedeed, we had encountered ③ a surprising collection ④ of
passengers . Yet our inquiries⑤ thus far remained precaution－
ary⑥ . There was no reason to believe that the plans were in dan－
ger .
Holmes and I had conversed a little with our dining
①
puff v . 喷出烟
②
under control 在控制中
③
encoun ter v . 遭遇 , 遇到
④
collection n . 收集 , 集合
⑤
inquiry n . 询问 , 问明
⑥
precautionary a . 预防的
1 23
companions before retiring to the smorking room . Miss Norton
elected ① to remain on the dance floor for a while longer . Before
we left - while young men waited patiently for an opportunity to
dance with her - she told us of her conversation with Bishop . It
seems that the young officer previously② served aboard a Ger－
man liner, the Deutschland . He claimed that he had relied on ③
his early language training in English schools for a working
knowledge of German . Yet, when Miss Norton asked him a
question in German, his reply - also in German, seemed flu－
ent ④ .
‘I say, Holmes, Miss Norton was quite the focus ⑤ of atten－
tion out on the dance floor tonight, don t you think ?’
Holmes, after a moment s pause , looked away from the
cloud of pipe smoke above his head .
‘ What was that, Watson ?’
‘I asked whether you noticed Miss Norton s popularity⑥ on
the dance floor ?’
‘ Oh, yes indeed . In fact, I was honoured ⑦ - with all those
young men around - that she danced the first dance with me .’
‘ After all these years, Holmes, I did not know you could
dance .’
①
elect v . 选择
②
previously ad . 先前地
③
rely on 依靠 , 依赖
④
fluen t a . 流利的 , 流畅的
⑤
focus n . 中心 , 焦点
⑥
popularit y n . 流行 , 声望
⑦
honour v . 给予荣誉
1 24
‘ A detective travelling incognito ① must know many things,
Watson .’
Holmes puffed on his pipe once more , then turned to me
and murmured ② :
‘In fact, I noticed that you too have not lost your touch .’
‘ Yes, Miss Storm－Fleming is a good partner . It was a shame
that she had to return to her cabin so early . I did not notice her
drinking that much wine but apparently it made her very sleep－
y .’
‘Just as well, Watson . There s work to be done . Did you
notice that Brandon and the baron have rather strong, opposing
political views . And do you not find it surprising that a man who
spends his time gambling with wealthy passengers is also a devot－
ed reader of Karl Marx . Perhaps he sees himself as a present－
day③ R obin Hood, stealing from the rich , and so on . . . al－
though somehow I doubt that his proceeds④ go to the poor .’
‘I say, Moriarty seems very pleasant . Not at all what I ex－
pected .’
‘He certainly is on his best behaviour - especially after the
things he said about his brother s death . Perhaps he s turned
over a new leaf ⑤ .’
‘ And the Futrelles ? They seem harmless enough .’
①
incognito ad . 隐名地 , 化名地
②
murmur v . 咕哝 , 低语
③
presen t－day a . 现在的
④
proceeds n . 收益
⑤
leaf n . 书的一页
1 25
‘ Y es, Watson .But do not forget, Futrelle has a keen① mind,
and he is very observant② . His curiosity could pose ③ a threat to
our work at some stage ④ of the game .’
‘I have read his crime stories . They are certainly imagina－
tive , but I have always considered them to be a trifle fanciful ⑤ .’
‘ Agreed, but he has a good eye for detail . Did you notice
. . .’
All eyes in the smoking room had turned to the entrance ,
where Miss Norton stood . She was looking excitedly⑥ from table
to table . Finally, she found Holmes and me seated at the far
side of the room . Lifting the hem⑦ of her dress, she hurried
across this male bastion⑧ , bumping⑨ into chairs as she moved
towards our table .
‘My dear Miss Norton, what can be the matter ?’I said , as I
pulled out a chair and invited her to sit .
‘ My room , it has been entered ! Everything is scattered
about . And you will not believe this, but on the wall, in large
red letters, someone has written the word Rache .
Holmes and I exchanged glances, but said nothing .
①
keen a . 敏锐的 , 敏捷的
②
observan t a . 深切注意的
③
pose v . 造成 , 引起
④
stage n . 阶段
⑤
fanciful a . 想像的 , 虚构的
⑥
excitedly ad . 兴奋地
⑦
hem n . 边 , 裙褶
⑧
bastion n . 阵地
⑨
bump v . 碰撞 , 颠簸
1 26
‘ And the plans . . . ? said Holmes ‘
. Are they safe ?’
‘Oh, yes, I checked them immediately . They’re still be－
hind the panelling where I hid them . But someone clearly knows
that I have them .’
Holmes did not appear to be fully satisfied with Miss
Norton s assurance that all was well .
‘ Are you certain that you were alone in the cabin when you
checked the plans ?’
‘ Absolutely certain . It is a small cabin . There is no place to
hide .’
‘ And the door . . . was it ajar ① ?’
‘No , it was closed . . . Mr Holmes, why are you concerned ?
Are you saying the break－in was a trick to get me to reveal the
location of the plans ? Y ou seem to be dwelling on② that ruse ③
you played on my mother long ago . I assure you, there was no
one peeking④ through the porthole .’
‘ We must consider all possibilities, Miss Norton . In any
case, there is only one way to find out .’Holmes rose from his
chair ‘
. And if the plans are still there , I suggest that we imme－
diately move them to a safer place - one of the ship s safes, for
example .’
We followed Holmes s lead in maintaining⑤ a brisk ⑥ pace to
①
ajar a . ( 门) 微开的
②
dwell on 详细讲述
③
ruse n . 诡计
④
peek v . 偷看
⑤
maintain v . 保持
⑥
brisk a . 轻快的
1 27
Miss Norton s cabin on C Deck . When we arrived at her door,
she took the key f rom her bag and placed it in the lock . She
started when she turned the key and it moved freely, without
making a sound .
‘I’m sure I locked it,’she said anxiously .
The door opened when she turned the knob① . Inside , the
cabin was in disarray ② , as she had described it . Clothing had
been tossed③ out of the wardrobe ④ and Miss Norton s trunk⑤ .
And , as she had said, the word Rache was written on the wall in
large, red letters . But there were some differences from the de－
scription she had given us on our way to the cabin . The door ad－
j oining the cabin , which had been locked throughout the voy－
age , was now open . And high on the wall above the porthole ,
the loose section of moulding⑥ had been prised away ⑦ , and the
door to the small safe was ajar . Holmes placed a chair quickly
below the opening and stepped up for a clear view of the interi－
or .’
‘ Gone !’he said ‘
. The plans have been taken !’
‘This does not make sense . . . The door was closed and
locked . . .’Holmes jumped off the chair and darted into the
next room .‘ I checked it before I left . The keyhole was cov－
①
knob n . 门把手
②
disarray n . 混乱 , 无序
③
toss v . 投 , 掷
④
wardrobe n . 衣柜 , 衣橱
⑤
t runk n . 箱子
⑥
moulding n . 模型
⑦
prise away 取走
1 28
ered . There is no way anyone could have seen me when I
checked the plans .’
As she spoke , Miss Norton and I followed Holmes into the
adjoining cabin . Inside , we found the dowager, bound and
gagged① in her bed . The old woman seemed frightened when I
removed the scarf ② that had been tied over her eyes . But she be－
gan to relax as I assured her that we were there to help . Holmes
untied ③ her hands and feet .
‘It was terrible ! Are they still here . . . could they still be
around ?’
‘No , madam . You are quite safe , ’Holmes said in a gentle
and reassuring voice .‘ The door was open and we found you
here .’
‘Are you hurt ?’I asked . I poured some brandy from my
flask ④ , and pressed ⑤ the glass to her lips .
‘No , no , I am not hurt . Just a trif le ⑥ shaken . Who were
those people ?’
‘ We do not yet know , said Holmes ‘
. Y ou say
“ they”. How
many of them were there ?’
‘I am not really sure . There might have been only one . But
I had the impression there were two . I was asleep, when sud－
denly I felt a man s hand over my eyes and a cloth - that cloth ①
gag v . 向口中塞物
②
scarf n . 围巾 , 披巾
③
untie v . 解开 , 松开
④
flask n . 细颈瓶
⑤
press v . 按 , 压
⑥
a t rifle 有点 , 稍微
1 29
being stuffed into ① my mouth . They tied me up . There is little I
can tell you beyond that .
‘ Did they speak ? Could you tell us anything about their
voices, or what they said ?’
‘No , not really . Just a few simple phrases② . Shortly after I
was bound, I heard the words
“got it”. Then, a few minutes lat－
er I heard someone say“ sawdust”③ . I suppose that is how I
gained the impression that there were two of them . The voices
sounded different . But they did not sound at all familiar .’
‘“Sawdust”? What do you make of that ?’
Holmes closed the door to Miss Norton s cabin , revealing ④ a
small telescope－like ⑤ device ⑥ attached⑦ to the wood, about
halfway down the door . The intruders⑧ , in their haste ⑨ , had
forgotten to take it with them .
‘ A clever optical device .’Holmes put his eye to the metal－
lic 10 object, then motioned for me to do the same ‘
. You’ll no－
tice , Watson , that the optical system allows you to see most of
①
stuff in to 塞入
②
phrases n . 短语 , 措辞
③
sawdust n . 锯屑
④
reveal v . 揭示 , 发现
⑤
telescope－like a . 望远镜样子的
⑥
device n . 装置 , 设备
⑦
attach v . 系 , 贴
⑧
int ruder n . 入侵者
⑨
haste n . 急忙 , 匆忙
10
metallic a . 金属的
1 30
Miss Norton s cabin . The opening on the other side of the door
is so small, there is little likelihoo d① that she could have spotted
it .’
Holmes returned to the dowager, who was being comforted
by Miss Norton ‘
. Madam, I must ask you again, did you see or
hear anything else that might help us to identify the intruders ?
This is of the utmost② importance .’
The dowager put her shaking f ingertips to her forehead,
considering the question . At this moment,
widened and he reached forward to draw
③
Holmes s eyes
her hand towards
him .
‘ Look at this, Watson . Blood, around her f ingers . . . and a
strand ④ of black hair caught on her f ingernail ⑤ . . . Madam, did
you by any chance scratch ⑥ the man who took hold of ⑦ you ?’
She reached out⑧ for a moment, as i f re－enacting⑨ the or－
deal 10 , and then exclaimed 1 ,‘ Yes, yes I did ! I scratched his
face . . . right around the eyes ! And I remember something else .
①
likelihood n . 可能 , 可能性
②
u tmost a . 极大的 , 极度的
③
draw v . 拉 , 移动
④
strand n . 一股
⑤
fingernail n . 手指甲
⑥
scratch v . 抓 , 擦伤
⑦
take hold of 抓住
⑧
reach ou t 伸出
⑨
re－enact v . 重演
10
ordeal n . 痛苦的经历 , 折磨
1
exclaim v . 呼喊 , 惊叫
1 31
He had a beard . . . maybe a moustache ① too .’
‘Excellent !’Holmes said ‘
. Madam , you have been a great
help .’
‘This narrows it down② considerably,’I said .‘ How many
black－haired, bearded men are there on board with a scratched
face ? Of course , it is a huge ship . We cannot very well examine
the face of every bearded man on board . And what if he shaves
off ③ his beard ?’
‘It s not as bad as you think , old fellow . Did you notice the
black smudges④ on the carpet ⑤ ? There were some in Miss
Norton s cabin too . That s coal dust . I suggest we begin our
work in the area of the engine room .’
‘ Yes, Commodore , I believe you are right, ’I said . But do
you have any thoughts as to who the second man may be ? And
what about the word Rache written on the wall ? This is very sin－
gular ⑥ .’
‘ Yes, very singular indeed .’
Holmes and I walked into Miss Norton s cabin while Miss
Norton stayed with the old woman . Holmes pulled his glass from
his pocket and took a closer look at the large red lettering .
‘Interesting that they should use this word . What do you
make of it, Watson ? Do you suppose someone on board is aware
①
moustache n . 胡子
②
narrow down 缩小
③
shave off 剃去
④
smudge n . 污迹
⑤
carpet n . 地毯
⑥
singular a . 非凡的 , 异常的
1 32
of ① my identity ?’
‘I think it is highly likely . Why else would they use a word
with such a clear attachment to one of your cases ?’
My readers may remember the case I called, A S tudy in
Scarlet . In it, the word Rache was written on a wall in blood .
Rache is the German word for‘revenge ② ’.
‘ Revenge ?
said Holmes .‘ Revenge against whom ? A－
gainst Miss Norton ? Against the British government ? Against
me ?’
‘ Moriarty !’I exclaimed .‘ Perhaps Colonel Moriarty is
seeking revenge for the death of his brother .’
‘That is certainly a possibility . It is also possible that some－
one is trying to convince ③ us that Moriarty stole the plans . A fter
all, what kind of thief chooses to advertise ④ his identity by leav－
ing such a clue ⑤ ?’
‘When we find the man with a scratched face , perhaps we
will obtain some answers .’
‘ Well, we must find him soon, Watson . The T itanic docks
in New Y ork in six days . After that, our suspects⑥ will leave the
ship and all will be lost .’
①
be aware of 注意到
②
revenge n . 报仇 , 报复
③
convince v . 使信服 , 使确信
④
adver tise v . 大肆宣传
⑤
clue n . 线索
⑥
suspect n . 嫌疑犯
1 33
Chapter Ten
T he Morning of Friday
12 April 1912
4 月 12 日 ( 周五 ) 早上 , 向船长保证查案时不会 影响乘 客后 , 华
生、福尔摩斯和诺 顿小 姐随 船 长 到发 报 室向 福 尔摩 斯 的哥 哥 麦 克
罗夫特告知文件已 丢 失。通 过 询问 发 报 员可 疑 电报 的 情况 , 福 尔
摩斯判断是船上锅炉工所为。于是 船长及 工程 师拜尔 带领 华生 和
福尔摩斯参观了船 下 舱 的一 些 设施。 在 锅炉 房 , 福 尔 摩斯 通 过 其
他锅炉工口中信息找到了疑犯斯特里克雷。
‘ Gentlemen, Miss Norton, I recognize the imp ortance of
these plans and the limited time you have to recover them . But
please understand that I cannot have the passengers on this ship
disturbed① . Y ou must conduct your investigation quietly ② , and
involve ③ as few people as possible .’
The captain, after many years in authority④ , had devel－
oped⑤ the ability to give orders in a diplomatic ⑥ way . At sea,
①
dist urbed a . 扰乱的
②
quietly ad . 平静地
③
involve v . 包含 , 涉及
④
aut hority n . 权威 , 威信
⑤
develop v . 发展 , 形成
⑥
diplomatic a . 外交的 , 老练的
1 34
business leaders, government officials - any passenger on the
ship - fell under his command . Yet, despite his tactful ① ap－
proach, he left no doubt that his orders must be obeyed .
‘But of course , Captain, said Holmes .‘ Rest② assured, I
have handled ③ cases of far greater delicacy ④ . Y our passengers
will not be disturbed .’
The four of us were walking casually along the boat deck to－
wards the wireless⑤ room . Miss Norton had not yet sent a mes－
sage to her superiors, announcing the loss of the plans . Despite
the sunshine and the fresh, crisp sea air, she looked pale ⑥ .
This, her first major assignment, appeared to be heading to－
wards a disastrous ⑦ conclusion .
In the wireless room, both Phillips and Bride were hard at
work - Phillips clicking⑧ away at the wireless key and Bride tak－
ing down messages .
‘Phillips, when you’ve finished that message , Miss Norton
has an important message that must go out immediately, said
the captain .
Phillips half nodded as he transmitted the final words print－
ed on the sheet before him . Then he turned his chair and looked
①
tactful a . 机智的 , 得体的
②
rest n . 静止 , 保持 ( 状态 )
③
handle v . 处理
④
delicacy n . 微妙
⑤
wireless a . 无线的
⑥
pale a . 苍白的
⑦
disast rous a . 悲惨的
⑧
click v . 卡嗒卡嗒地打出
1 35
up at Miss Norton with a smile .
‘Miss Norton, what can I do for you ?’Phillips seemed dis－
appointed when Miss Norton did not return his smile . In fact,
she was most business－like ① .
‘I have a message to be delivered to ② a Mr Holmes at the
Diogenes Club in London . I have written down the particulars .’
She handed Phillips a wireless form ③ , on which she had written
a brief message in pencil . Phillips looked at the message ,
glanced at the captain, and then returned his attention to Miss
Norton .
‘ Yes, madam . Right away .’
Phillips was about to ④ send the message ⑤ , but he was inter－
rupted by the imposing⑥ voice of the commodore .‘ One mo－
ment, Mr Phillips . Do you mind if I ask you a question ?’
‘ Go ahead ⑦ , sir .’
‘Since last night, have you been asked to transmit any mes－
sages that you would judge to be unusual ?’
Phillps chuckled ‘
. Funny that you should ask that, sir .
Bride and I had a laugh over this one . It came in early this
morning .’
①
business－like a . 正经 , 严肃
②
deliver to 发送 , 传达
③
form n . 表格
④
be about to 打算作
⑤
send a message 发送一条信息
⑥
imposing a . 强制的
⑦
go ahead 继续
1 36
Phillips f lipped① through sent message he had spiked ② , and
ripped③ one from the centre .
‘Here it is .’Phillips, a gregarious④ young man , clearly en－
j oyed this opportunity to entertain visitors .‘ Listen to this, it
doesn t make any sense “
: Have met the Hot Russian Homey Bear
and am ready to talk business . If I am detained ⑤ , meet me on
board by the pipe organ⑥ in the smoking room”.’
‘Pipe organ in the smoking room ! That s nonsense ! said
the captain ‘
. There s no pipe organ on this ship . There is no or－
gan of any kind in any of the smoking rooms .’
‘Pray, may I see that message ? said Holmes .
Holmes examined the wireless form carefully, f irst reading
it in detail, then observing the paper more closely through his
glass .
‘There is little I can tell f rom this, ’he said ‘
. No handwrit－
ing, all typed . Good firm ⑦ key strokes⑧ . . . possibly a man, but
I am not sure . The addressee ⑨ is a Mr Basil, for pick－up 10 at the
Marconi office in New York .’
①
flip v . 翻动
②
spike v . 用大头针订
③
rip v . 撕 , 取出
④
gregarious a . 爱交际的
⑤
detain v . 拘留 , 留住
⑥
pipe organ n . 管风琴
⑦
firm a . 硬的
⑧
stroke n . 敲击
⑨
adressee n . 收信人
10
pick－up n . 取信
1 37
‘ And the sender ?’I asked .
‘Listed as a Mr R obert Smith . That s undoubtedly a f icti－
tious ① name , but we should check it against passenger and crew ②
lists③ . Captain, would you make arrangements for that ?’
‘Of course . Do you suspect that this has something to do
with the theft④ ?’
‘It is very possible . . .’Holmes took a blank⑤ piece of pa－
per from Phillips s desk and scribbled ⑥ out a brief message .
‘Now , Mr Phillips, would you add these words to Miss Norton s
message and send it immediately ?’
Phillips seemed puzzled that his humorous⑦ story was taken
so seriously⑧ . But he followed the commodore s instructions ⑨ .
‘I hope you don t mind my adding a postscript 10 to your
message , Miss Norton, but I suspect our friend in London would
want to know about this latest development .’
‘No , of course not . Now , if you’ll excuse me , Com－
modore , gentlemen, I’m going to the message desk to see if I
can get a description of our Mr Smith .’
①
fictitious a . 假象的 , 虚构的
②
crew n . 全体工作人员
③
list n . 名单 , 列表
④
t heft n . 偷窃行为
⑤
blank a . 空白的
⑥
scribble v . 潦草地写
⑦
homorous a . 幽默的
⑧
seriously ad . 认真地
⑨
instructions n . 指示 , 指令
10
postscript n . 附言
1 38
‘ Good . And with your permission① , Captain, I have one
more message to send .’Holmes dashed out② a brief note and
handed it to Mr Phillips ‘
. It is to an associate ③ of my brother in
the United States Navy . Perhaps he can help us to identify our
Mr Basil .’
‘ Very good, Commodore , said the captain ‘
. I must leave
you now for I have a ship to run . . . Incidentally, you wanted to
accompany me on my daily④ inspection of the ship . We meet at
10 am on the bridge . Be there in full dress uniform . Oh , and Dr
Watson, you are invited too . . . Come as you are .’
An hour later , Holmes and I were on the bridge with Cap－
tain Smith . There were others there as well - the chief engineer,
the purser⑤ , the assistant purser, the ship s surgeon⑥ and the
chief steward . All were in full dress uniform . The captain,
wearing two medals on his dark coat, was an impressive ⑦ fig－
ure ⑧ , indeed .
Holmes had come well prepared for his role as Commodore
Winter . He was wearing his R oyal Navy dress uniform with no
less than four medals - all borrowed, of course . I must admit, I
①
permission n . 许可 , 允许
②
dash ou t 匆忙写出
③
associate n . 合作人
④
daily a . 每日的
⑤
purser n . 事务长
⑥
surgeon n . 外科医生
⑦
impressive a . 印象深刻的
⑧
figure n . 体型 , 背影
1 39
felt a bit out of place in my brown① tweed ② suit . If only I had
thought to bring my old army uniform . . . Well , perhaps not
such a good idea after all .
We moved into the captain s quarters③ , where each of the
off icers present delivered ④ a report, based on their inspections
of their own areas an hour earlier .
At 10．30 a .m . sharp, we began our inspection of the ship .
It was a fascinating ⑤ journey, taking us through corridors⑥ and
facilities in first, second and third class . We walked through
dining rooms, kitchens and pantries⑦ , examining them for
cleanliness and, in general, they met the high standards of the
White Star Line . We passed through gentlemen s hairdressers ⑧ ,
bakeries⑨ and lounges 10 . Except for a few minor infractions 1 ,
all was
‘shipshape’.
My assignment 12 during this tour was to chat with doctors in
each of the ship s hospitals, asking whether anyone had come in
①
brown a . 褐色的
②
tweed n . 斜纹软呢
③
quar ters n . 住处
④
deliver v . 陈述 , 发表
⑤
fascinating a . 迷人的
⑥
corridors n . 走廊
⑦
pan try n . 餐具室
⑧
hairdresser n . 美容师
⑨
bakery n . 面包房
10
lounge n . 休闲室
1
infraction n . 侵害
12
assign ment n . 任务
1 40
with scratches about the face . While word of the attack ① on the
dowager had been kept from the passengers and most of the
crew, Holmes and I had the captain s permission to conduct a
discreet ② inquiry③ . Much to our disappointment, we learned
nothing from the medical ④ staff ⑤ .
The inspection moved downwards into the lower decks,
where we entered the great storage ⑥ rooms and cargo ⑦ holds⑧ .
The central half of lower deck G was taken up ⑨ by boiler 10 cas－
ings 1 and coal bunkers 12 . This day the captain had elected not to
inspect the forward end of the deck, which housed the ship s
post off ice , third－class berths 13 and quarters for some of the
crew . Instead, we descended 14 into the aft section . There were a
few second－and third－class cabins in this area, but our tour was
limited to the complex network of storage rooms for food and
①
attack v . 袭击 , 攻击
②
discreet a . 小心的 , 慎重的
③
inquire n . 质询 , 调查
④
medical a . 医务的
⑤
staff n . 职员
⑥
storage v . 存储
⑦
cargo n . 货物
⑧
hold n . 货舱
⑨
take up 占据
10
boiler n . 锅炉
1
casing n . 舱 , 套
12
coal bunker n . 煤仓
13
ber th n . 停泊处
14
descend v . 下去
1 41
kitchen supplies . The dark solitude ① of these dimly② lit③ corri－
dors was broken only by the vibrations④ of the engines below ,
and the sound of our shoes clanking⑤ against the metal floor .
And it was cold, very cold , due to the remarkable efficiency of
the ship s refrigeration⑥ equipment .
We conducted a random ⑦ inspection of several storerooms,
each isolating ⑧ a specific type of food . Behind one door we
found eggs by the thousand, all in neatly stacked ⑨ crates 10 . An－
other nearby room was filled with vegetables, and just along the
hall we found bacon 1 , ham 12 and cheese 13 . Two of the larger
rooms contained beef 14 , with f ish and poultry 15 separated 16 in a
①
solitude n . 孤独
②
dimly ad . 微暗地
③
lit a . 被照亮的
④
vibration n . 震动 , 摆动
⑤
clank v . 发出叮当声
⑥
refrigeration n . 冷藏 , 制冷
⑦
random a . 随意的
⑧
isolate v . 孤立
⑨
stack v . 堆叠
10
crate n . 板条箱
1
bacon n . 熏肉
12
ham n . 火腿
13
cheese n . 干酪
14
beef n . 牛肉
15
poultry n . 家禽
16
separate v . 隔开
1 42
smaller chamber ① . I thought back to our elegantly② served
meals the previous night, and marvelled at③ the work of the
kitchen staff in serving so many guests .
As I stood by the captain, I expressed my surprise at this in－
credible ④ volume ⑤ of food . He nodded, then handed me a
sheet ⑥ of paper from the library of material he caried on the
ship . It was a manifest⑦ of the ship s food stores: 75 , 000 pounds
of meat, 11 , 000 pounds of f ish, 1 , 750 quarts of ice cream, 2 ,
200 pounds of coffee, 36 , 000 oranges, 6 , 000 pounds of but－
ter⑧ , 1 , 120 pounds of jams and marmalade ⑨ . . . the list went on
and on . The passengers on the Titanic were a hungry lot, in－
deed . In fact, they were also a thirsty 10 lot: 20 , 000 bottles of
beer and stout, 1 , 500 bottles of wine , 15 , 000 bottles of mineral
water 1 and 850 bottles of spirits 12 .
We walked down yet another stairway onto the orlop 13
deck, where we found even larger ref rigerated sections . This
①
chamber n . 室 , 房
②
elegantly ad . 优美地
③
marvel at 惊奇
④
incredible a . 难以置信的
⑤
volume n . 大量
⑥
sheet n . 一片
⑦
manifest n . 载货单
⑧
butter n . 黄油
⑨
marmalade n . 果酱
10
t hirsty a . 饥渴的
1
mineral water 矿泉水
12
spirits n . 烈酒
13
orlop n . 船的最下层甲板
1 43
was for the huge volume of frozen cargo the T it an ic was trans－
porting across the Atlantic . Here , no food was visible - just
stack after stack of wooden packing① crates .
At this point, the captain dismissed② most of his en－
tourage ③ . He invited us to continue , as he and Chief Engineer
Joseph Bell inspected the ship s electrical equipment and engine
rooms . As the four of us walked down a narrow corridor, the
sound of the ship s electrical and propulsion ④ equipment became
much louder . When the chief ⑤ engineer⑥ opened a watertight
door at the far end of the hall , the sound was absolutely thun－
derous⑦ .
The captain drew Holmes and me closer and, in a raised
voice , described our surroundings ‘
. This is our central electrical
station . It is all contained in this watertight compartment,
which is 63 feet long and 24 feet high . We are , as you can see ,
standing on the upper level . The equipment along this wall is our
feeder ⑧ switchboard⑨ . Electricity 10 comes up f rom the main
①
packing n . 包装
②
dismiss v . 使离开
③
entourage n . 随从
④
propulsion n . 推进力
⑤
chief a . 主要的
⑥
engineer n . 技师
⑦
t hunderous a . 像打雷的
⑧
feeder n . 馈电器
⑨
switchboard n . 配电盘
10
elect ricity n . 电流 , 电
1 44
dynamo ① through insulated ② cables ③ below this platform ④ and
into the 25 black polished slate panels . They contain the fuses⑤ ,
automatic ⑥ cut－outs⑦ and ammeters⑧ for controlling the ship s
electrical ⑨ system 10 .’
I strained 1 to hear the captain s every word, above the roar
of the engines . Holmes, much to my embarrassment, was stand－
ing at the side , flicking 12 through the pages of the small note－
book he carried in his pocket .
The captain continued, ‘ As you know , Doctor, this ship
uses a tremendous amount of electrical power . Electric lighting
is just part of it . We also use electricity to power deck cranes 13 ,
engine room winches 14 ,
doors,
and
equipment
①
dynamo n . 发电机
②
insulated a . 绝缘的
③
cable n . 电缆
④
platfor m n . 月台 , 平台
⑤
fuse n . 保险丝
⑥
automatic a . 自动的
⑦
cut－outs n . 切换器
⑧
ammeter n . 电表
⑨
elect rical a . 电的 , 电力
10
system n . 系统
1
strained v . 紧张
12
flicking v . 翻动
13
crane n . 起重机
14
winche n . 铰盘
15
fan n . 通风扇
passenger lifts,
for
kitchens,
fans 15 ,
watertight
gymnasiums
and
1 45
workshops① .’
The captain , Chief Engineer Bell and I moved over to the
rail, which overlooked② the huge apparatus③ on the deck below .
Holmes looked up from his notebook, noted our new location
and, with a quiet smile , came over to join us .
‘Mr Bell, if you’ll do the honours . . . said the captain,
looking at the chief engineer , then nodding in the direction of
the lower deck .
‘ Y es, sir . Commodore , Dr Watson, these are our four 400－
kilowatt④ engines and dynamos . They have a combined output
of 16 , 000 amperes ⑤ at 100 volts⑥ .’The veteran⑦ seaman em－
phasized ⑧ the next point, with a touch of pride ‘
. That exceeds⑨
in current the capacity of many central stations in large cities .’
‘Most impressive , ’I said . And it truly was . It was a mag－
nificent 10 engineering achievement 1 .
Holmes no dded in agreement .‘ Yes, most impressive , in－
deed, ’he said . But I could detect in his voice a note of impa－
①
workshop n . 车间
②
overlook v . 俯视
③
apparatus n . 器械
④
kilowatt n . 千瓦
⑤
ampere n . 安培
⑥
volt n . 伏特
⑦
veteran a . 经验丰富的
⑧
em phasize v . 强调 , 着重
⑨
exceed v . 超越
10
magnificen t a . 华丽的 , 雄伟的
1
achievement n . 成就 , 功绩
1 46
tience . A fter all, this technical presentation was contributing
nothing to the recovery of the plans .
‘Captain, said Holmes, interrupting the chief engineer as
he was about to continue ‘
. I must thank you and Mr Bell for this
very interesing tour . But, as you know , Dr Watson and I have a
luncheon engagement① . Before we leave , however, I am most
anxious② to see the turbine ③ and reciprocating④ engines that
drive the ship , as well as the boiler rooms .’
‘Forgive me, Commodore , but you won t find much of in－
terest in those boiler rooms, said Bell , restraining his amuse－
ment at the commodore s request ‘
. They are quite typical and, I
might add, typically dirty . But if you d like to see the engines
. . .’
‘The boiler rooms, too , if you do not object, ’Holmes in－
sisted .‘ In fact, it would be most helpful to my knowledge of
the ship s operations to speak to some of your stokers ⑤ .’
‘ Stokers !’Bell exclaimed ‘
. Those boys only know one thing
- how to feed coal into a furnace ⑥ .’The chief engineer was
clearly insulted ‘
. Now , i f you want to know about the engines,
I know every nut and bolt . . .’
‘My Bell . . .’The chief engineer stopped short at the sound
of the captain s voice ‘
. Please lead the way to the turbine engine
①
engagemen t n . 约会
②
anxious a . 渴望的
③
t urbine n . 涡轮
④
reciprocating a . 互给的 , 互换的
⑤
stoker n . 司炉
⑥
furnace n . 炉子
1 47
room .’
‘ Yes, sir . This way, gentlemen .’
Holding tightly onto the handrail ① , I followed Bell down a
flight of metal steps onto the lower deck of the electrical sta－
tion . We passed two of the four electrical engines, and then
stepped through yet another watertight door . The roar of the
dynamos was nothing when compared to the almost deafening②
sound we encountered in the next room . There , we found the
ship s huge turbine engine, tirelessly③ turning the shaft ④ that ro－
tated ⑤ the ship s centre propeller ⑥ . A crew member stood next
to it, squirting⑦ oil through an open panel .
‘ As you know , the Titanic is a triple－screw steamer ⑧ , said
Bell ‘
. The central propeller is driven by this Parsons lowpres－
sure turbine . Each of the two wing propellers are driven by a set
of reciprocating⑨ engines, which are in the next compartment
down . This combination of engines is relatively new , first used
on the L au ren tic . It allows us to take steam from the reciprocat－
ing engines and gain additional power by running it through the
low－pressure turbine .’
①
handrail n . 栏杆
②
deafening a . 震耳欲聋的
③
tirelessly ad . 不知疲倦地
④
shaft n . 轴
⑤
rotate v . 旋转
⑥
propeller n . 螺旋推进器
⑦
squirt v . 喷出
⑧
steamer n . 汽船
⑨
reciprocating n . 互给 , 互换
1 48
‘It is enormous ① !’I said .
‘ Yes, indeed, Dr Watson, ’Bell replied .‘ The entire tur－
bine unit weighs no less than 420 tons . The rotor ② is 12 feet in
diameter ③ and more than 13 feet long . . .’
Holmes took his watch f rom his coat p ocket and checked
the time . The captain took this as a signal .
‘Thank you, Mr Bell . Now let us move along to the recip－
rocating engine room . . . Gentlemen, I think you will find our
next destination ④ even more interesting . It is the heart of the
ship s propulsion⑤ system . And there is no one better qualified
to describe it than my chief engineer .’
Bell , smiling at this vote of confidence f rom the captain, a－
gain took the lead, and opened the door to the next compart－
ment . And , without fail, the progression of louder and louder
whirring ⑥ and rumblings ⑦ of machinery continued . It is difficult
to imagine how the upper decks remained so quiet and pecaec－
ful . We were now in the rough underside of this floating palace
- an area that few passengers were invited to see .
‘ Here they are , gentlemen, the reciprocating engines,’
Bell continued ‘
. As you can see, there are four of them - two on
each side . They are designed to take steam at 215 pounds per
①
enormous a . 巨大的 , 庞大的
②
rotor n . 回转轴
③
diameter n . 直径
④
destination n . 目的地
⑤
propulsion n . 推进力
⑥
whirring n . 呼呼声
⑦
rumbling n . 隆隆声
1 49
square inch - much , much greater than the turbine you just saw .
Each cylinder is 97 inches in diameter, and the heaviest cylin－
der , with liner, weighs 50 tons .’
Three crewmen passed through on their way to the turbine
engine room . One had a beard, but it was light brown .
‘ Any questions, Commodore , Dr Watson ?’asked the cap－
tain .
Holmes shook his head . His arms were folded ① in front of
him and he was glancing about the room impatiently . I decided
that this was not the time to expand my knowledge of nautical ②
engineering .
‘ Very well, said the captain ‘
. Mr Bell, proceed to the No .
1 boiler room .’
The boiler room was much as I had envisaged ③ it . Stokers
were lined up shovelling④ coal f rom a bin⑤ into the f iery⑥ open
doors of the furnaces . It was hot, sweaty ⑦ , grimy ⑧ work . The
stokers, covered in coal dust, did their jobs mechanically, per－
haps thinking of home , or looking forward to an evening drink
with their shipmates⑨ before retiring to their bunks .A few, on
①
fold v . 折叠 , 抱住
②
nau tical a . 船上的
③
envisage v . 正视
④
shovel v . 铲
⑤
bin n . 箱子
⑥
fiery a . 炙热的
⑦
sweaty a . 出汗的
⑧
grimy a . 肮脏的
⑨
shipmate n . 同船水手
1 50
noticing the capain and chief engineer, firmed up their posture ①
and shovelled more vigorously ② .
‘This is one of six boiler rooms on the ship, ’Bell said,
‘Together, they contain 24 double－ended boilers and five single－
ended boilers, designed for a working pressure of 215 pounds .
Smoke from the boilers is released through three of the ship s
four funnels . The aftermost funnel is used strictly for ventilat－
ing③ purposes and releasing chimney smoke from the ship s gal－
leys . Now , the coal that fires the engines is stored on each side
of the ship and fed into cross bunkers ④ that extend across each
of the boiler rooms . . . ’
‘Mr Bell, as I mentioned earlier, I would like to talk to
some of your stokers, said Holmes ‘
. Might we proceed into the
next boiler room . . . ’
‘What is wrong with the men right here, Commodore ?
Take old Fred, down there at the end . He has been stoking for
White Star Lines now for . . . ’
‘I am sure they are all fine men , but I have a particular
type of individual in mind, ’Holmes said, once again leaving the
perplexed engineer with an expression of total frustration⑤ .
‘Captain, would you mind if Dr Watson and I continued on
①
posture n . 姿势
②
vigorously ad . 精神旺盛地
③
ventilate v . 使通风
④
bunker n . 燃料仓
⑤
frustration n . 挫折 , 挫败
1 51
alone . I do not want to encroach ① on any more of your valu－
able ② time , or Mr Bell s .’
‘ Very good, Commodore . In fact, it is time that Mr Bell
and I rejoined③ my senior officers and concluded our inspection
of the ship . But please take care - I do not have to remind you
of the safety hazards④ below deck .’
‘ We will be careful, Captain, and our thanks to you and Mr
Bell for this fine tour .’
Captain Smith and Bell departed through the reciprocaging
engine room, while Holmes and I continued into the No . 2 boil－
er room . While none of the stokers in the first boiler room had
black beards, our luck changed in the second . Two of the men
who were shovelling coal had jet－black beards . Holmes and I ap－
proached the tallest, most muscular ⑤ of the two , who appeared
to be in his mid－forties .
‘That looks like mighty thirsty work . Can I offer you a sip
of ⑥ brandy ?’Holmes took a flask from his coat pocket and, af－
ter removing the cap and taking a swallow , handed it to the
tired crewman .
‘ Don t mind if I do , Admiral . Not a bit .’The stoker took
the silver flask in his big, calloused ⑦ hand and poured a gener－
①
encroach v . 侵占 , 蚕食
②
valuable a . 宝贵的
③
rejoin v . 重新聚集
④
hazard n . 冒险 , 危险
⑤
muscular a . 肌肉的 , 强健的
⑥
a sip of 一口
⑦
calloused a . 硬的
1 52
ous portion down his throat ‘
. This coal dust, it just coats① your
mouth and teeth all day . I don t mind firin’my own furnace a
little , if you know what I mean .’
‘I do indeed . I am Commodore Giles Winter and this is Dr
Watson . I am doing a little research on the Titanic for the
Navy . How do you like working on her, Mr . . . ?’
‘ Hardwood , Edwin Hardwood . Pleased to meet you . . .
Will , I like the Titan ic just fine , just f ine . The boiler room s a
little less conf ined, and a whole lot cleaner than on some other
ships . But I tell you, the thing I really like is the crew s quar－
ters . The food s good and they give you some livin space . And
the skipper s ② good too , real decent③ sort . . . Does he know
you’re roamin’around down here ? I wouldn t want you two get－
tin’in any trouble .’
‘Oh, no problem at all,
said Holmes, noticing that the
other black－bearded stoker had put down his shovel④ , and was
looking in our direction while mopping his brow ⑤ ‘
. In fact, we
just left the captain next door in the aft boiler room . He was
giving us a tour and let us continue ahead on our own .’The
stoker smiled and nodded,
while taking another drink of
brandy ‘
. By the way, said Holmes,‘ that is quite a handsome
beard you have . I was talking to one of your fellow stokers earli－
①
coat v . 涂上
②
skipper n . 船长
③
decen t a . 得体的
④
shovel n . 铁铲
⑤
mop one s brow 擦去额上的汗水
1 53
er .He had a black beard too and said it took him 20 minutes
each day just to wash the coal dust out . Maybe you know him ? I
do not recall his name but he had fresh scratches on his face
. . .’
Hardwood laughed and took another drink of brandy .
‘That sounds like young Strickley . He said he got them scratches
when he fell on a pile of metal scraps . I think he maybe got a
little too friendly with one of them girls in steerage ① he s always
sneakin’② over to see .’
‘I would like to talk to him again . Y ou say his name is
Strickley ?’
‘ Yah , Ed Strickley . He s workin today . No . 4 boiler
room, I think .’
‘Well , Mr Hardwood, it has been a pleasure meeting you .
Before the Doctor and I leave , why don t you have another sip
of that brandy . Very good, is it not ?’
Hardwood took another generous swallow from the flask
and returned it to Holmes ‘
. Indeed it is, Commodore . Life to a
tired working man . Much appreciated ③ .’
A fter receiving hearty④ handshakes from Mr Hardwood,
Holmes and I moved on two compartments to No . 4 boiler
room . It did not take us long to find our man .
‘ Mr Strickley ? said Holmes .‘ I am Commodore Winter
①
steerage n . 低等舱
②
sneak v . 偷偷地走
③
appreciate v . 感谢 , 感激
④
heart y a . 亲切的
1 54
and this is Dr Watson . The chief engineer was giving us a tour of
the engine rooms, and he asked Dr Watson to take a look at
those scratches of yours . He is afraid they might become infect－
ed ① .’
Strickley was a big man, about six feet, six inches tall, with
broad ② shoulders and muscular arms . His hands clenched ③ the
handle of his shovel④ , which he held level with his waist .
‘ What you talkin’about ? I ain t been near Bell since before
I got these scratches early this morning .’
‘One of your fellow shipmates told him about them,’I in－
terjected ⑤ .‘ Apparently ⑥ he was quite concerned about your
health .’
‘Well , I don t need a doctor . I cleaned it up myself . I get
cuts like this all the time , and none of them killed me yet . Just
fell into some metal, that s all .’
‘ You know , there was an elderly woman in f irst class who
said she scratched an intruder in her cabin last night, someone
with a beard like yours,’Holmes said, glaring into the man s
frightened eyes . I kept my eyes on the shovel, ready to fend
off ⑦ any attack against Holmes or myself .
‘ Well, I wasn t nowhere near first class, and old ladies can－
①
infected a . 被感染的
②
broad a . 宽广的
③
clench v . 牢牢抓住
④
shovel n . 铁铲
⑤
interject v . 插嘴
⑥
apparently ad . 显然地
⑦
fend off 挡开
1 55
not see in the dark !’
‘ Who said anything about it being dark ?’said Holmes .
‘If you want to make any charges, go take it up with your
friend’ Bell ! Meanwhile , stay out of my way !’With that,
Strickley stormed① through a doorway towards the forward end
of the ship .
Holmes and I were the centre of attention, as we stood a－
mong the stokers, who had lost all interest in shovelling coal .
‘ Well, Holmes, ’I said quietly,‘ It appears that Mr Strickley is
a very likely suspect .’
‘ Yes, I think I will ask the captain to arrange a meeting
with our excitable stoker under more friendly conditions . Unless
he is prepared to jump ship, there is nowhere he can hide .’
①
1 56
storm v . 横冲直撞
Chapter Eleven
Lunchtime on Friday
12 April 1912
中午 , 乔 装的 福 尔摩 斯和 华生 以及 诺 顿小 姐在 餐厅 一边 进 餐
一边讨论着案情进 展。 根据 官 方所 提 供 的资 料 , 似 乎 只有 福 特 来
尔先生可以排除作案的可能。而此 时同在 餐厅 进餐的 福特 来尔 先
生却 识 破 了 福尔 摩 斯 的 身 份 , 而 且 表 示 愿意 帮 助 他 们 进行 调 查。
福尔摩斯接受了他 的 帮 助 , 并 进一 步 部署 了 工 作任 务。涉 嫌 抢 劫
老妇人的烧炉工 人斯 特 里 克雷 被 召到 船 长办 公 室进 行 审 讯 , 福 尔
摩斯从斯特里克 雷身 上 发 现了 新 的疑 点 , 但 斯 特里 克 雷拒 绝 承 认
而被监禁。这时神秘的比夏普又出现在船长办公室的门外。
‘Most satisfactory, Miss Norton, most satisfactory .’
These words of support from Holmes did a world of good
for our young companion . For the first time since the plans were
stolen, I saw her smile . The colour was returning to her face ,
and her enthusiasm for finding our adversaries① , and the plans,
was renewed② .
The three of us were sitting in the restaurant enj oying a
splendid lunch . Or, should I say, I was enjoying this fine meal .
①
adversary n . 敌手 , 对手
②
renew v . 恢复
1 57
I had f inished my grilled① mutton ② chops③ and was encouraging
the last of my peas④ on to my fork . Holmes, during the entire
meal, had been sitting back in his chair, listening intently to
Miss Norton . Neither of them had touched their food .
The restaurant was not even hal f full . It was a little late for
lunch, and most of the passengers had already finished their
meals and gone on to other leisurely ⑤ pursuits⑥ . Several tables
away, Mr and Mrs Futrelle were having a quiet lunch together .
‘I ’m very glad that you found my report useful , Mr
Holmes .’She cut into her meat for the f irst time ‘
. But you and
Dr Watson deserve the prize for the most progress . When will
we have the opportunity to speak to Mr Strickley ?’
‘I have informed the captain of our encounter ⑦ this morn－
ing, and he will noti fy us when our secretive stoker ⑧ is available
for questioning . But do not underrate ⑨ the information you have
gathered . Strickley is just a pawn 10 in this game . You have sup－
plied some interesting new pieces to the puzzle .’
Miss Norton had spent the morning causally chatting with
①
grill v . 烧 , 烤
②
mu tton n . 羊肉
③
chop n . 一块排骨
④
pea n . 豌豆
⑤
leisurely a . 悠闲的 , 从容的
⑥
pursuit n . 消遣
⑦
encoun ter n . 遭遇
⑧
stoker n . 司炉 , 烧炉工人
⑨
underrate vt . 低估 , 看轻
10
pawn n . 爪牙 , 被人利用的人
1 58
our dinner companions from Thursday night . She was able to
draw from each of them some explanation of their whereabouts
at the time of the theft .
The baron and baroness said they had returned to their cab－
in early . Moriarty was in the f irst－class smoking room , having a
drink with friends . Bisho p, who was off duty, said he went to
his cabin to read, after taking a walk on the deck . Mr and Mrs
Futrelle spent the evening in the reception room , off the first－
class dining room , listening to the ship s band . Brandon said he
was having a private card game in his cabin, but would not re－
veal the names of the other players . Miss Storm－Fleming report－
ed that, after a brief rest in her cabin , she attended a party in
the Café Parisien on B Deck . The party, Miss Norton noted,
was hosted ① by none other than John Jacob Astor, the wealthy
American property magnate ② , and his young wife , Madeleine .
‘But Holmes, we were in the f irst－class smoking room last
night . I did not see Moriarty .’
‘I did . He was sitting near the far wall , opposite the fire－
place from where we sat . He was talking to two men, neither of
whom I could identify .’
‘Then Moriarty has an alibi ③ .’
‘ A most convenient alibi . No , Watson, if Colonel ④ Moriar－
ty is anything like his late brother, he would commit the crime
①
host v t . 当主人招待
②
magnate n . 巨头
③
alibi n . 不在现场的证据
④
colonel n . 陆军上校
1 59
through his henchmen① , while leaving himself in the clear② .
Let us not dismiss him just yet .’
‘It appears that all the rest of our dinner guests were alone
for at least part of the evening, except for the Futrelles - and
Brandon , who would not provide the names of his companions,’
I noted .‘ I suppose even Miss Storm－Fleming could have done
it, since she left the party early and returned to her cabin . But
remember, Mrs Applegate heard two male voices in her room .’
‘She heard only a few words, ’Miss Norton said gently .
‘Just like Moriarty, Dr Watson, Miss Storm－Fleming may not
have been in the cabin, but she could have been involved behind
the scenes .’
‘I am afraid the only members of our dinner party who are
in the clear are the Futrelles, ’said Holmes, pulling a piece of
paper from his coat pocket‘A
. fter we returned from our tour of
the ship, I received this wireless message from Mycroft . It is
marked“ confidential ③ , ”so Mr Phillips had it delivered to me
immediately .’
My dear Commodore ④ ,
Am conducting the inquiries you requested . Mr and Mrs F
have solid reputations . In fact, Americans say F has assisted
them previously . All others have unknown or suspicious pasts
①
henchmen n . 忠实的追随者 , 党羽
②
in t he clear 无嫌疑
③
confidential a . 秘密的 , 机密的
④
commodore n . 海军准将 , 船队队长
1 60
. . . In response to your second message, no success in tracking
down Mr Basil . Will continue inquiries into both matters .
R egards,
Mycroft .
‘My brother has never been as energetic as me, but he has
investigative ① talents② that I have long envied . Still, I have nev－
er considered accepting his invitations to work for the govern－
ment . As you know , Watson, I prefer . . . ’
‘ Good afternoon, Commodore .’Jacques Futrelle , appear－
ing somewhat nervous, was standing next to our table . His wife
remained seated across the room .‘ Dr Watson, Miss Norton, I
hope I am not disturbing you .’
‘Not at all, ’I replied ‘
. Please , do be seated . Would your
wife care to join us ?’
‘I wonder if you would be so good as to allow me a few pri－
vate words for a moment ?’Futrelle paused, choosing his next
words very carefully ‘
. I have a matter of a personal nature to
discuss . Miss Norton, perhaps you would care to join my wife
for a moment .’
‘Mr Futrelle, I can assure you that Miss Norton will hold
whatever you have to say in complete conf idence . Please , tell us
what is on your mind .’
‘ V ery well . . . Commodore, I have noticed some things
since we met and I have come to some conclusions as a result of
①
investigative a . 研究的 , 分析的
②
talent n . 才能
1 61
those observations . I wondered if I might discuss these with
you .’
‘Please proceed .’ Holmes s eyes were fixed solidly on
Futrelle s .
‘ First of all, I must mention that I have never met Dr
Watson s friend, Sherlock Holmes . But I have long admired
him, and have looked on him as a model for my own amateur ①
interest in detective work . But to get to the point, Commodore ,
I have noticed that you too have strong observational and analyt－
ical skills .’
‘Thank you, said Holmes . My friend s expression did not
change . But there was perhaps just a hint of a smile .
‘I’ve also noticed that you, like Mr Holmes, must be a bee
enthusiast② . I see the marks of no less than 14 bee stings on your
hands .’
‘ Go on, Mr Futrelle .’
Futrelle s look of discomfort became even more apparent .
He looked at Miss Norton and me, perhaps hoping that one of us
would say something . Neither of us did .
‘Well , Doctor, you and the commodore appear to be firm
friends . That is also very interesting, since you told me earlier
that the two of you met for the first time on this cruise .’
‘ Y ou’ve stated your observations, said Holmes ‘
. Pray tell
us what conclusions you have drawn .’
①
amateur n . 业余爱好者
②
ent husiast n . 热心家 , 狂热者
1 62
Futrelle leaned forward in his chair, looking squarely① into
Holmes s eyes② ‘
. My conclusion is that Commodore Giles Win－
ter does not exist, or is a borrowed identity . I believe that you
are, in reality, none other than Mr Sherlock Holmes, the noted
detective .’
Holmes studied Futrelle for a moment, and then let loose a
hearty laugh ‘
. Mr Futrelle, ’he said, reaching out to shake the
writer s hand,‘my congratulations . Y ou have indeed lived up to
the reputation of your fictional creation, Professor Van Dusen .
Sherlock Holmes, at your service .’
Futrelle displayed both surprise and relief at the detective s
reaction ‘
. Mr Holmes, I apologize if I have intruded ③ on your
privacy . Either you are working on a case that requires this dis－
guise , or perhaps you are using anonymity④ to allow a quiet holi－
day at sea . In either case . . . ’
‘No trouble at all . Although I am a little disappointed that
this disguise was not more successful . Dr Watson saw through it
immediately - but now, a perfect stranger .’
‘If I may be so bold, Mr Holmes, why are you in disguise ?
Are you working on a case ? Of course , you understand, I’m not
asking for details . It is not any of my business, really . . . ’
Holmes was sitting back in his chair, with his fingers raised
to his lips . He turned his attention from Futrelle and looked at
①
squarely ad . 正对面的
②
look sb . in the eye 直瞪瞪地逼视某人的眼睛
③
int rude v . 闯入 , 侵入
④
anonymity n . 匿名
1 63
Miss Norton , and then at me , with a questioning gaze ① . After a
moment s contemplation ② , he leaned forward and put his hand
on Mr Futrelle s forearm .
‘Mr Furelle, I need your assurance that you will treat this
entire matter, including my own identity, in the strictest of con－
f idence .’
‘ Of course . I have only spoken to my wife of my observa－
tions and I will ask her to keep them to herself .’
‘ V ery good, said Holmes . My f riend glanced about the
room and continued to speak in a low voice ‘
. Now , you asked
whether I was working on a case . In fact, Miss Norton, Dr
Watson and I are engaged in a matter of some importance and
delicacy ③ . It concerns certain documents that were stolen from
Miss Norton s cabin last night .’
‘May I ask, what is the nature of these documents ?’
Holmes paused . We had every indication that Futrelle could
be trusted . And given how little time we had left to recover the
plans, his assistance could be valuable . But still, confiding in
him would involve some risk .
‘Miss Norton works for the British government, ’Holmes
said ‘
. She was acting as a courier④ to deliver the documents to
representatives of the American government . I can say nothing
beyond that, except that it is vital that we recover the papers .’
①
gaze n . 凝视
②
con templation n . 沉思
③
delicacy n . 微妙
④
courier n . 送快信的人
1 64
‘I see . . . Well, I appreciate your trust and you have my
word that none of this will go any further .’Futrelle began to
rise , but then, on second thoughts, he sat back down on his
chair and spoke slowly, searching for just the right words ‘
. Mr
Holmes, I am only a writer, but my experience as a journalist
has led me to develop some skills of detection over the years . If
you find you need assistance during the remainder of this cruise ,
please let me know . I would consider it an honour and a pleasure
to work with you .’
Holmes smiled ‘
. The thought had occurred to me too . I un－
derstand that you once did some work for the American govern－
ment of a similar nature .’
Futrelle was clearly taken aback by this statement .
‘However did you know that ? I have never told a soul
about that assignment .’
‘I have a small confession ① to make, said Holmes, taking
pleasure in this opportunity to turn the tables on Futrelle .‘ I
took advantage of the ship s excellent wireless facilities to con－
tact Miss Norton s employers and check the backgrounds of sev－
eral people on board - yourself included . They, in turn, con－
tacted the Americans, who mentioned this little detail .’
Futrelle chuckled heartily .‘ For a moment I thought you
were going to say you deduced that fact simply by observing mud
splashed ② on my trousers or callouses③ on my hands .’
①
confession n . 表白 , 说明
②
splash v . 溅 , 泼
③
callous n . 皮肤的硬结组织 , 老茧
1 65
‘Perhaps I should have withheld the explanation and al－
lowed you to maintain your high estimation of my abilities .’
We all laughed, relieving the tension that had developed
since Futrelle came over to join us . This seemed like a good time
to satisfy my curiosity ① .
‘Futrelle, could you tell us specifically what your involve－
ment was with the American government ?’
‘I am afraid, Doctor , that that was another case where I
pledged myself to secrecy . I can only reveal that I was asked to
help with one case only, and that involved locating a missing
person .’
‘ And did you find him ?’asked Miss Norton .
‘It was a woman, and yes, we did .’
‘This has proved to be a useful conversation for all of us,’
said Holmes‘Mr
.
Futrelle , if we f ind that we need the assistance
of an observant pair of eyes, we will be in touch . Meanwhile ,
we would appreciate your discretion ② .’
‘Y ou shall have it, Mr Holmes . . . Oh , excuse me , Com－
modore .’
‘Thank you .’
‘Now, I am afraid I must leave you . My wife just glanced
at her watch , which means she is anxious to begin our walk
around the deck . Please would you excuse me ?’
‘ We look forward to seeing you later, ’said Holmes, rising
and shaking the writer s hand . Futrelle said goodbye to Miss
①
curiosity n . 好奇心
②
discretion n . 判断力
1 66
Norton and me , and rejoined his wife . A fter exchanging a few
words, they left the restaurant, Futrelle waving to us as he
passed through the door .
‘ Well, Holmes, it appears that we have some unexpected
assistance in our investigation .’
‘ Yes, I would have preferred to retain ① my anonymity but
perhaps this will work out for the best .’
‘ Do you really plan to include him in our investigation ?’
Miss Norton asked .
‘He has a keen mind, and we do have more suspects② than
the three of us can keep an eye on at any one time . It is at times
like this that I wish I had Wiggins and my Baker Street Irregu－
lars available .’He smiled ‘
. Terribly inconsiderate ③ of them all
to grow into manhood④ .’
‘ Well, with just the three of us at the moment, how should
we proceed ?’Holmes, who had just begun to poke ⑤ at his mut－
ton chops, replied to my question by issuing instructions .
‘ Watson , perhaps you would pay your respects to the baron
and baroness . Learn as much about them as possible .’
‘Miss Norton, please talk to Miss Storm－Fleming . I find it
curious that this young widow spends so much time travelling . Is
there more to her holidays than she admits .’
①
retain v . 保持
②
suspect n . 嫌疑犯
③
inconsiderate a . 不顾及别人的 , 轻率的
④
manhood n . 成年
⑤
poke v . 戳 , 刺
1 67
‘ Holmes, do you not think it would be better if I questioned
Miss Storm－Fleming ?’I asked ‘
. A fter all , she and I have already
become acquainted . . . ’
‘No , Watson, I think yor are in a better position to ques－
tion the V on Sterns . They came to you asking for help with the
anonymous notes they claim to be receiving . Take advantage of
that . . . Besides, old fellow , I would not want you to jeopar－
dize ① your friendship with someone who may prove to be a fine
woman .’
I nodded in agreement .‘ Y es, Holmes, of course, very
wise .’
‘Time to begin, I believe , said Holmes, just before he ma－
noeuvred a large slice of mutton onto his fork ‘
. There are sever－
al matters I must look into , including the activities of our beard－
ed stoker .’
We rose and began to make our way to the door . But before
we could travel half way through the obstacle course of tables
and chairs, we were sp otted by a boy in uniform , who had just
darted② through the doorway .
‘Commodore !’he called out, somewhat out of breath . He
scurried ③ past amused④ diners and stopped short when he
reached us .‘ The captain wants to see you in his cabin right
away . He said the man you wanted to meet has arrived .’
①
jeopardize v . 危害
②
dar t v . 飞奔
③
scurry v . 急跑
④
amuse v . 使发笑 , 使愉快
1 68
‘Excellent ! That would be Mr Strickley,
said Holmes,
clearly pleased that the investigation was once again moving for－
ward ‘
. Let us not keep the captain waiting .’
When we arrived at the captain s sitting room, we found
Strickley seated on a wooden chair, somewhat more subdued ①
than when we last encountered him in the boiler room . Two
muscular seaman stood like bookends② on either side of him . A－
part from these three men, there was no one else in the cabin . I
was about to inquire as to the captain s whereabouts, when Cap－
tain E J Smith stepped through the doorway .
‘ Gentlemen,
Miss Norton,
thank you for coming so
promptly .’
‘Captain, would it be possible for these two gentlemen to
wait outside ?’
‘I suppose the four of us can handle our guest . Bates, John－
son, wait outside the door , please .’
A fter the two crewmen left, the captain went to his desk
and sat back in his big leather chair .
‘Mr Strickley, the commodore tells me that you were impo－
lite to him down in the boiler③ room . Do you have anything to
say to that ?’
The stoker was hunched ④ forward in his chair . His posture
suggested submission , but his eyes were f illed with defiance .
①
subdue v . 使较为安静 , 温顺
②
bookend n . 书挡 , 压书具
③
boiler n . 锅炉
④
hunch v . ( 背) 弯成弓状
1 69
‘I wasn t rude to nobody . I just don t like a lot of accusa－
tions being thrown at me . I’m an honest working man, just try－
ing to do his jo b .’
‘ Well then, how d id you get those scratches on your face ?’
asked the captain , his voice f irm, but calm .
‘Like I told the off icer here this morning, I fell into some
scrap① metal . That ain t no crime .’
‘I doubt it, ’I said, causing Strickley to sit up suddenly in
his chair and look in my directiom .‘ I am a doctor and I have
treated many injuries . Those scratches were not made by scrap
metal . I would give ten－to－one odds② that they were made by a
hand .’
‘ All right . All right . It was a woman who scratched me .
But it wasn t what you’re thinking . I had a get－together③ last
night with a young lady in steerage ④ , that s all . I got a little too
romantic for her, so she slapped⑤ me and ran off .’
‘ Did anyone see you with this young lady ?’asked Holmes .
‘No , we weren t exactly in a public place .’
‘ And do you recall her name ?’
‘No , I didn t even ask it . What for ? We were just having a
little fun together .’
‘Captain, did you search the pockets of this fine example of
①
scrap a . 废弃的
②
odds n . 可能的机会
③
get－together n . 聚会
④
steerage n . 最低票价的舱位
⑤
slap v . 拍 , 掴
1 70
English chivalry ① ?’
‘ Yes, but we did not find anything - just a wallet, a comb
and a few coins . There is nothing in his wallet except for a small
amount of money and some personal papers . It is all over on the
map table , i f you would care to look .’
Holmes, who had been standing by the porthole , moved
over to the table and examined the stoker s belongings . The con－
tents of the wallet were arranged neatly on top of a nautical
map .
‘I see you play the horses, Mr Strickley . Here , on the back
of this old betting ② slip, you have listed directions to two race
track in the state of New Y ork . Do you plan to place a few bets
while you’re in America ?’
‘Sure , I bet a few pounds . What of it ?’
‘Oh, nothing at all , except the money you have in your
wallet will not make you a fortune . Unless, of course , you ex－
pect to have much more money when we reach America .’
‘Just my regular pay, that s all .’
‘ And I’ve noticed that you’re not wearing your work
clothes .’
‘That s right . My back started acting up, so I reported in
sick . I was resting in my cabin when the cap’n sent for me .’
‘ Allow me to compliment you on your shoes . They appear
to be of high quality, and well kept . Not like the rest of your
clothes, I’m afraid .’
①
chivalry n . 骑士精神 , 骑士制度
②
bet v . 打赌
1 71
‘ What are you saying ?’
‘ Captain, you might want to ask whether any f irst－class
passengers reported a pair of shoes missing recently .’
‘ I will do that, Commodore . Meanwhile , Mr Strickley,
you are restricted① to quarters until we reach New Y ork . Y ou
will be informed of your next destination then . Any more ques－
tions, Commodore ?’
‘Thank you, not for the moment . Perhaps some time in his
quarters will encourage him to tell us who hired him . It would
be a shame for him to spend all that time in prison by himself .
And I fear the judge will not feel generous towards an unco－op－
erative robber② who ties up elderly women .’
‘ Y ou have no proof . I am innocent .’
‘ Good day, Mr Strickley, ’Holmes replied .
As Holmes opened the door to invite the two seamen back
into the captain s cabin, we saw Bishop outside , chatting with
the two men . For just a moment, he and Strickley exchanged
glances . Then Bishop, after tipping ③ his hat to us, continued to－
wards the wheel－house .
①
restrict v . 限制 , 约束 , 限定
②
robber n . 强盗 , 盗贼
③
tip v . 使倾斜 , 使翻倒
1 72
Chapter Twelve
The Afternoon of Friday
12 April 1912
华生在甲板上遇到冯・斯特 恩男爵 夫妇 , 并 得知他 们收 到了 第
二封敲诈信。当华生与冯・斯特 恩打壁 球时 , 神 秘的比 夏普 和斯 托
姆－佛来明小姐一起出现在球场上方的走廊里。而福特来尔意外 地
发现布兰顿有可疑行为 , 并告 诉了华 生。回 到自己 的房 间 , 华生 发
现与失窃文件有关的密码本 被盗。 比夏普 在货 舱被枪 杀的 消息 又
接踵而至 , 当时斯托姆－佛来明小姐正在现场并开过枪 , 而成为重 要
嫌疑对象。
A fter leaving the captain s cabin, Holmes, Miss Norton and
I parted company to begin our separate investigations . My deci－
sion to take a walk around the boat deck proved to be a good
one . I soon saw V on Stern and his wife approaching, walking
arm in arm . The deck was filled with passengers enjoying the
sunshine and fresh air . The starboard ① side of the ship , shield－
ed ② somewhat from the brisk sea breezes③ , was by far the most
popular .
‘ Goo d afternoon, Doctor, said V on Stern ‘
. I see that you
①
starboard n . 右舷
②
shield v . 挡开
③
breeze n . 微风
1 73
had the same idea we did . The sea air is quite invigorating① ,
don t you agree ?’
‘ Indeed, it makes me wonder why I continue to live in Lon－
don . I suppose I have become used to the smell of fog and burn－
ing coal .’
‘ There are many advantages to city living . . . Elisabeth and
I were hoping to use the gymnasium, but it is open to children
only from one to three o’clock . So we decided to stretch our legs
on deck instead . We have the squash－rackets court reserved for
half past three .’
‘Hans, why don t you invite Dr Watson to play ?’said the
baroness ‘
. I will go to the gymnasium instead .’
‘ A pleasure, I am sure , Baroness, ’I replied ‘
. But I do not
have a racket or the proper clothing on board .’
‘ Everything you need is available in the changing room② . . .
So , it is settled . It is after three o’clock now . We will walk
down together . On the way, we will stop at the inquiry desk and
purchase tickets to the Turkish bath . I find it most refreshing .’
‘Hans, isn t there another matter that you would like to
mention to the doctor ?’asked the baroness .
‘ Ah, yes, ’said V on Stern ‘
. Doctor, we have received an－
other anonymous note . This was slipped under our cabin door
this morning . ’
Von Stern handed me a folded piece of paper . Like the first
note, the message was constructed from magazine type . Again,
①
invigorating a . ( 令人感到) 精神充沛的 , 爽快的
②
changing room n . ( 尤指运动场内的 )更衣室
1 74
Baroness V on Stern s name was printed by hand, in pencil, a－
long with a sum of money:
‘Baroness V on Stern - the sum required to avoid scandal ①
is 10 , 000 marks . You will be contacted .’
‘ What do you think about that, Doctor ?’asked the baron .
‘Well, like the f irst note , the words that are printed in
pencil appear to have been written by a woman . And I will have
to inspect the note more carefully, but the other words and let－
ters may have been clipped② f rom the Strand Magazine . . . ’
‘ A woman ! Are you telling me that a woman has been
threatening my wife ?’
‘It does appear to be the case, either alone or with an ac－
complice .’
‘ V ery interesting . And have you come to any other conclu－
sions ?’
‘None . As I said before , I am not a detective . All I can
suggest is that you either report this to the captain, or wait until
the blackmailer ③ attempts to contact you . We might then be
able to learn more .’
‘ Very well, we will wait, ’said V on Stern, again illustrat－
ing a seeming unwillingness to consult the ship s authorities④ .
‘I must say, Baron V on Stern, you appear to be taking this
much more calmly than you did when we f irst met .’
①
scandal n . 丑闻 , 流言蜚语
②
clip v . 剪取
③
blackmailer n . 勒索者 , 敲诈者
④
aut hority n . 管理机构 , 管理人员
1 75
‘ As I mentioned before, Doctor, my wife has nothing to
hide . I can only assume that this is nothing more than a vicious①
prank② . But I would very much like to know who is behind it .’
‘I am very curious about that myself , and why someone
would want to pursue Baroness V on Stern with an empty black－
mail threat .’
‘We will f ind that out, Herr Doctor . In the meantime , I
suggest that we make our way down to the squash－rackets court .
Elisabeth, will you manage ?’
‘ Of course , Liebchen . I will be in the gymnasium . I will
see you in our cabin before dinner .’Baroness V on Stern kissed
her husband on the cheek and walked along the deck towards the
gymnasium .
‘ And now, Herr Doctor , I hope you are a competitive
man . As you will f ind out, one of my greatest j oys in life is the
thrill of victory .’
At hal f－past three we were on the floor of the Titanic s
squash court . I must confess, my skills at that sport are some－
what limited . For many years, I had depended on morning or
evening walks as my main means of exercise . But several years
ago , when my growing waistline ③ became a hindrance ④ , young
Wiggins invited me to try squash rackets - a game at which he
had become quite accomplished . Wiggins and I began playing
①
vicious a . 不道德的 , 恶意的
②
prank n . 开玩笑 , 恶作剧
③
waistline n . 腰围 , 腰身部分
④
hindrance n . 妨碍 , 障碍
1 76
together once a week, and I soon found others at the club who
were willing to share a court with a novice ① . Over time , by
competing against keen players, my own skill at squash rackets
increased . If V on Stern was as good on the court as he claimed,
I had little hope of winning . Still, I was confident I could play a
respectable game .
For the benef it of readers who are not familiar with the
sport, squash rackets is played by batting a rubber ball against a
wall in an enclosed ② court . T itanic s squash－rackets court was
located on the lower deck in the centre of the ship, just forward
of the foremost boiler room . It extended two decks high , with a
length of 30 feet and a width of 20 feet . There is a gallery③ for
spectators④ at the after end of the court at the middle deck lev－
el . That afternoon, a man and woman were looking down, I
suspect more interested in the court itself , than the two players .
‘Herr Doctor, ’said V on Stern ‘
. I assume you play by the
polite English rule that requires a player, upon hitting the ball,
to back away, in order to give his opponent a free view of the
ball ?’
‘Y es, of course, that is a basic rule of the game . Are the
rules different in Germany ?’
Von Stern s tone remained cordial⑤ , but I was offended by
①
novice n . 新手 , 初学者
②
enclosed a . 围住的
③
gallery n . 走廊
④
spectator n . 观众 (指比赛或表演的)
⑤
cordial a . 诚恳的 , 诚挚的
1 77
his inference that British sportsmanship made us weak competi－
tors . I could not tell whether he was serious about the rule , or
simply attempting to unnerve ① me .
‘ Nein, nein . We have the same rule . Only in my circles,
we interpret it rather loosely . We find that that makes for a
more exciting game . However , in our game , I will try to re－
member to play by standard conventions② .’
‘Thank you, Baron . I would appreciate that - especially
since we have no referee ③ here to call penalties .’
Von Stern s eyes showed a sudden f lare of anger, but it dis－
appeared quickly . The engaging smile returned to his face .
‘ V ery good . Shall we begin, then ?’
A fter a brief warm－up, a twirl of the racket gave the first
serve ④ to V on Stern . He began with a forehand service from a
forward position in the service box, close to the wall . The ball
bounced off the front wall at a wide angle , sending it to the
back corner on my side of the court . I returned it with a drop
stroke that hit the wall at the nick . Much to my surprise , the
baron was able to meet the ball as it rebounded ⑤ at a low angle
off the floor . I was unable to reach his cross－court lob⑥ . The
score was one－love ⑦ .
①
unnerve v t . 使失去勇气 , 使失常
②
conven tion n . 习俗 , 惯例
③
referee n . [ 体 ]裁判员
④
serve n . 发球
⑤
rebound v .回弹
⑥
lob n . [ 网球] 高球
⑦
love n . [ 体 ]零分
1 78
Von Stern went on to win the first game , but I was very
pleased by the close score of 9－7 . The baron appeared to be
somewhat irritated as we began the second game of our best－of－
five match .
I won the second game , 10－9 , after V on Stern called set two
when the game was eight all . The baron made a fine recovery in
the third game, winning by a score of 9－5 . Still , my victory in
the second game appeared to have shaken his confidence . In the
third game , he began to play more aggressively, but lost some
control . And from time to time , I found my returns blocked by
Von Stern s movement about the court .
The score stood at 3－2 in the baron s favour when Von Stern
lobbed a shot that rebounded off the front wall and flew over my
head towards the back corner . As I ran backwards, I caught a
glimpse ① of the baron moving sideways and to my rear . I shifted
my balance to avoid a collision, but that simply sent me careen－
ing② into the side wall and, finally, to the floor .
‘Doctor, Doctor, are you hurt ?’asked V on Stern , as he
reached down to help me up . I did not accept his assistance . The
fall had activated③ my old war injury, and my shoulder was
throbbing④ with a dull⑤ persistency⑥ . And, I have to admit, I
had little interest in receiving any support f rom the baron . I had
①
glimpse n . 一瞥 , 一看
②
careen v . 倾斜 , 倾倒
③
activate v . 使活动
④
t hrob v . 颤动 , 跳动着作痛
⑤
dull a . 疼痛不剧烈的 ; 隐隐的
⑥
persistency n . 固执
1 79
little doubt that the‘accident’was intentional .
‘Please , Herr Doctor, let me help you up !’
‘Thank you . But I can manage .’
‘ Y ou are rubbing ① your shoulder . Are you injured ?’
‘Not at all , it is just my old bullet wound causing a spot of
bother② . Just give me a minute and we can continue our game .’
‘ Are you sure , Doctor ? Y ou appear to be in pain . Would
you not prefer to call the match a draw and move on to the
Turkish baths ? The steam would help your shoulder .’
‘Indeed not, Baron . Let us continue .’
‘ V ery well . But I must insist that I was at fault . The serve
goes to you .’
‘I will not disagree with you . Shall we take our positions ?’
During the next rally③ , the baron and I again had a
‘mishap④ ’. As I ran forward to meet the ball , V on Stern s
racket fell from his hand and clattered⑤ on to the floor in front
of him . I managed to avoid tripping over the racket but the dis－
traction⑥ caused me to miss the ball . Again, the baron conceded
the rally to me , and he gained nothing . Perhaps his game was
psychological - a move to jar ⑦ me into losing control .
Much to my despair, the time had come to teach the baron
①
rub v . 擦 , 摩擦
②
bot her n . 麻烦 , 烦扰
③
rally n . 集会
④
mishap n . 不幸
⑤
clatter v . 发出哗啦声
⑥
dist raction n . 分心 ; 精力不集中
⑦
jar v . 刺激
1 80
that even British sportsmanship ① allowed for special measures in
exceptional situations .
My opportunity came late in the fourth game, when the
score was seven all . The ball was coming straight on at chest lev－
el and I was moving up into position . V on Stern was standing
motionless in front of me , just out of the ball s path , but close e－
nough to block my swing . But swing I did . My racket curved
around like the swing of a pendulum② . I missed the ball, but my
efforts were not wasted . The racket came to a thudding③ halt on
Baron V on Stern s breeches④ . The swing was not hard enough to
cause the baron injury, or even serious pain . But much to my
surprise , he chose that moment to make a belated ⑤ effort to step
aside . As he moved his right foot to the side , my racket collided
with his back . Off balance, he began to fall forward . The ball,
in turn, hit him just below the left eye . He shouted an oath⑥ , in
German , as he dro pped his racket and cupped his hand over the
injured side of his face .
I grabbed his shoulders to steady him, then I carefully lifted
his hand from his face .
‘Baron V on Stern, please stand still, I am going to take a
look at that .’I held open the lids of his eye, and asked him to
look from side to side .‘ Well , there is no apparent damage to
①
spor tsmanship n . 运动员精神
②
pendulum n . 钟摆 , 摇锤
③
t hud v . 砰地击中
④
breech n . 臀部
⑤
belated a . 误期的 , 迟来的
⑥
oath n . 诅咒 , 咒骂
1 81
the eye itself , but it looks like you are going to have a little dis－
colouration ① for a while, I regret to say .’
‘ As I continued to examine V on Stern s eye , I looked past
him and saw the young off icer, Bishop, watching us from the
spectators’gallery . When he saw that I had spotted him, he
moved along past the gallery opening and out of view .
‘ Y ou and I both have had some bad luck with this game to－
day, Herr Doctor . Now , it is I who must insist that we move on
to the Turkish baths . We both have wounds to heal .’
‘That sounds like a splendid idea, Baron . And perhaps a
cold drink afterwards .’
I guided V on Stern to the door, as he continued to hold his
hand over the injured eye . As we walked, I again looked up to
the gallery to see if Bishop had returned . Instead, I saw Miss
Storm－Fleming standing alone, her face expressionless . I waved
to her but received only a half－hearted movement of the wrist in
reply . Then , like Bishop, she moved away .
The Titanic s Turkish baths included individual rooms for
hot and temperate ② steam . The cooling room, where one goes to
readjust to normal temperatures, was one of the most cleverly
designed on the ship . It was decorated in seventeenth－century
Arabian style . An elaborately carved Cairo curtain, placed in
front of the portholes, gave the room a distinctly Eastern
flavour . The walls were completely tiled in large green and blue
①
discolouration n . 褪色
②
temperate a . 适度的 , 温和的
1 82
panels, surrounded by a large band of tiles coloured in bolder
hues① . Bronze Arab lamps were suspended f rom gilt② －coloured
ceiling beams . There were low couches③ lining the walls, with
inlaid④ Damascus tables between each . An elegant marble drink－
ing fountain⑤ was at one side .
A fter taking steam at moderate heat, V on Stern and I,
wrapped in thick , oversized towels, sat on couches in the cool－
ing room . An attendant brought coffee and placed it on the
table between us . The baron s eye appeared to be much better,
but the bruising⑥ around the lower lid was much darker .
‘ Did I not tell you the baths were relaxing, Doctor ? Or was
the steam too hot for you ?’
‘No , the steam was fine . And the pain in my shoulder has
diminished . Coming here was an excellent idea .’
We sat quietly for some time . It was the baron who finally
broke the silence .
‘ Dr Watson, I am curious about a rumour ⑦ I heard earlier
today . I understand that your f riend , Miss Norton, had an in－
trusion ⑧ in her cabin last night . Is this true ?’
‘I am surprised you have heard of it . Pray, who told you ?’
①
hue n . 色调
②
gilt a . 金色的
③
couch n . 长椅 ; 睡椅
④
inlaid a . 有镶嵌装饰的
⑤
foun tain n . 泉水
⑥
bruise v . 打伤 , 撞伤
⑦
rumour n . 谣言 , 传闻
⑧
int rusion n . 闯入
1 83
‘ Word spreads quickly when so many inquiries are being
made . Was anything valuable taken ?’
‘Not really; just a few personal items . I have no idea what
the intruder hoped to find there . The more serious break－in was
in the cabin next door , where an elderly woman was bound and
gagged① .’
‘ V ery serious indeed . And are they making any progress in
recovering Miss Norton s property ?’
‘ V ery little , I fear . But, as you know, the captain has in－
stigated② an inquiry .’
‘Y ou will let me know if you hear anything ?’asked V on
Stern .
‘If you wish . But it is not a cause for concern . I am sure
that it was just an isolated case, and that you and your wife are
perfectly safe .’
‘Y es, of course , I agree . But what with these blackmail
notes, I cannot help but wonder whether there is any connec－
tion .’
‘ Oh, I doubt that very much . But certainly I will keep you
informed, especially if I hear of anything that might link the
two . Meanwhile, let us finish this excellent coffee .’
Hal f an hour later , I was walking through the corridors ③ of
C Deck, approaching my cabin door, when I heard the shout of
a familiar voice and footsteps racing up behind me .
①
gag v . 塞物于……的口中
②
instigate v . 鼓动 , 发起
③
corridor n . 走廊
1 84
‘Dr Watson !’said the voice , as the footsteps slowed to a
halt . It was Futrelle .‘ Forgive me for chasing① up behind you
like this, Doctor, but I have some information that you might
find interesting .’
‘It must be very important,’ I said, offering a calming
smile and a handshake . I had forgotten how excitable Americans
were .
‘I do not know how important it is, but it is most curious .’
Futrelle paused for a moment to catch his breath ‘
. I was here on
C Deck a while ago when I saw Brandon stepping out of one of
the corridors, and then walking down the forward staircase . He
was carrying a bag under his arm .’
‘ Did you speak to him ?’
‘No , and I do not think he saw me . . . Anyway, I followed
him, being careful to avoid being seen . When he got to the bot－
tom of the stairs, he went over to the locked gate that leads to
third class .’
‘ Did he attempt to pass through ?’
‘This is where it gets interesting, Doctor . When he got to
the gate, he turned around to see if anyone was looking . I was
near the top of the stairs, so I was able to conceal myself and
thus avoid being seen . Anyway, a few moments later I heard the
gate swinging open . I looked down just in time to see him re－
moving a key from the lock . . . Now , where do you suppose he
got it ? I thought only the officers and crew had keys .’
‘ Where , indeed ? Our gambler is a man of many talents .’
①
chase v . 追赶
1 85
‘That is not all . He closed the gate , but left it unlocked . I
followed him down the corridor and saw him step into a storage
room .’
‘ And . . . ?’
‘ And a few minutes later I saw him come out, dressed in
work clothes - the kind some of the crew wear . From there, he
walked on and ended up unlocking another gate , this one
marked,“Crew Only”.’
‘Interesting, indeed .’
‘I followed down the stairway, but was turned back by a
member of the crew .’
‘I greatly appreciate you telling me this, Futrelle . It could
prove to be very useful .’
‘It seemed like it was worth running down the hall to catch
up with you, ’he said, displaying a proud smile .
‘My cabin is just down the hall . Let us go inside and discuss
it further . I will order something cold to drink .’
Futrelle looked at his watch, then nodded .
I put the key in my cabin door and discovered that it had
been left unlocked . When I opened the door, I was astonished ①
to find the cabin in complete disarray② .
‘Good Lord, someone s broken in !’I shouted . The con－
tents of the wardro be and my suitcase had been emptied onto the
floor and the mattress③ on the bed had been overturned . With
①
astonish v . 使惊讶
②
disarray n . 混乱
③
mattress n . 床垫 , 空气垫
1 86
the plans already stolen, I could not imagine what the intruder
was attempting to find .
‘Look at this place !’said Futrelle ‘
. They certainly were
thorough . They have even torn the lining in your suitcase .’
‘It does not appear that they have taken anything . Look,
over here , they have left the spare cash I kept in the p ocket of
my overcoat .’
‘Then what possible motive ① . . . ’
‘My notes ! They’ve taken my notes on the code .’
‘Code ? What code is that ?’
I continued to do an inventory ② of my belongings .‘ It was
an odd wireless transmission - something about a“Hot Russian
Honey Bear”. It may have something to do with the theft from
Miss Norton s cabin .’
Futrelle was intrigued③ but I was too absorbed④ by the bur－
glary ⑤ to provide him with further details .
‘I do not understand, ’said Futrelle ‘
. If the culprits⑥ have
already removed the item in question from Miss Norton s cabin,
why have they searched your cabin as well ?’
‘That puzzles me too . . . unless, of course , we are dealing
with a di fferent intruder, who is still searching for the docu－
ments .’
①
motive n . 动机 , 目的
②
inven tory n . 详细目录
③
int rigue v . 激起……的兴趣
④
absorb v . 吸引
⑤
burglary n . 盗窃行为
⑥
culprit n . 犯人
1 87
‘ What next ? Should I go to look for Mr Holmes ?’
‘Let me call the captain first . He should be informed and
he may know of Holmes s current whereabouts .’
I picked up my cabin telephone and the switchboard① oper－
ator put me through to the captain s cabin .
‘ Dr Watson, This is most fortunate . I have people looking
for you .’
‘Is there something wrong ?’
‘Most definitely . Mr Bishop has been shot . . . dead . Mr
Holmes is down where the body was discovered, and I am here
questioning our suspect .’
‘ Y ou have someone in custody② ?’My words came out in a
stammer ③ , as my mind raced to assimilate ④ this rapid turn of
events .
‘ Y es, we are holding someone . . .’The captain paused, his
voice suddenly taking on a more consoling⑤ tone .’Doctor , I am
afraid it is your friend, Miss Storm－Fleming .’
①
switchboard n . 电话交换台
②
custody n . 监视 , 收容
③
stammer n . 口吃
④
assimilate v . 吸收
⑤
consoling a . 可安慰的
1 88
Chapter T hirteen
T he Late Afternoon of
Friday 12 April 1912
福尔 摩斯 勘察 了比 夏普 被 枪杀 的现 场 , 发 现比 夏普 所中 的 子
弹并不是来自 斯 托姆－佛 来明 小姐 的手 枪。 根据 斯 托姆－佛 来 明 小
姐所述 , 凶手是一 名 男子 , 但由 于 缺乏 证 据 她仍 然 不能 摆 脱嫌 疑 ,
而且船长怀疑她对案情有所 隐瞒。 福尔摩 斯认 为这起 枪杀 案与 绝
密文件失窃有关。因 而 案情 愈 加复 杂 , 船长 要 向船 主 伊斯 梅 先 生
进行汇报。
The cargo hold at the forward end of the orlop deck was a
motor enthusiast s dream . A dozen or so fine automobiles were
secured to the deck in neat rows, all p ointed forward as if eager－
ly anticipating their arrival in New Y ork .
Mr Murdoch, the first officer, who was sent by the captain
to escort① me to the hold , had prepared me for this impressive
sight on our way down . Only one of the vehicles, a 25－hp Re－
nault, actually appeared on the passenger manifest . It was
owned by a Mr Carter . All the others were part of a private col－
lection owned by a Mr Michael, a man who enjoyed his privacy .
They were being transported quietly to his estate in New Jersey .
①
escor t v . 护卫 , 护送 , 陪同
1 89
I have never been a fancier ① of automobiles . But I must
say, this colourful assortment② of machinery did capture my in－
terest . During the course of the investigation, all of the canvas
covers had been removed , revealing a proud display of every－
thing the best European manufacturers had to offer . Mr Mur－
doch pointed out a few items - a bright red Bianchi, a 1903
Peugeot Phaeton and a yellow 1903 De Dion－Bouton Populaire .
And , in the middle of this amazing collection, I found
Holmes, Miss Norton, Dr O’Loughlin, the ship s surgeon, and
Mr Boxhall, the fourth officer, all gathered around an open－
topped ③ motorcar .
‘ Watson, at last, I am glad they found you !’said Holmes,
pausing only a moment to look up from his work .‘ Tell me ,
what do you make of the wounds ?’
Bishop s body was slumped④ back in the driver s seat of a
R olls－R oyce Silver Ghost . There was one bullet hole to his fore－
head and another to his chest . I carefully examined each wound,
and then moved the body forward to search for points of exit .
‘There are no powder burns⑤ . I would say that the shots
were fired at some distance - by a very good shot, may I add .’
‘I agree , ’said Holmes .‘ And, as you have no doubt no－
ticed, the bullet that made the head wound remains in the body .
①
fancier n . 爱好者
②
assortment n . 各色俱全
③
open－topped a . 敞棚的
④
slump v . 跌坐 ; 瘫倒
⑤
powder burn n . 火药灼伤
1 90
But the shot that was f ired into the chest has passed through the
body and has become lodged ① in the back cushion ② of the
driver s seat . . . The good doctor here was about to lend me his
medical instruments to remove it but I see you have your bag .
Would you be so kind as to let me use a large scalpel③ and a pair
of forceps ④ ?’
I reached into my bag and handed Holmes the instruments
he had requested . He immediately cut a vertical gash through
the leather across the bullet hole and probed⑤ with the forceps .
Unsuccessful, he cut a horizontal line and probed again . A fter a
few minutes, he removed the forceps and held the bullet under
his glass . I was very much surprised to see a hint of a smile on
Holmes s lips .
A fter holding the bullet out for all to see, he placed it in an
envelope and wrote in pencil on the outside . He then entrusted
it to Mr Murdoch .
‘Mr Murdoch , may I have the weapon that was taken from
Miss Storm－Fleming ?’
Murdoch paused for a moment, then reached into his pock－
et and removed a small handgun .
‘We have already verified ⑥ that the gun has been fired
twice, Commodore .’
①
lodge v . 把……射入
②
cushion n . 垫子
③
scalpel n . 解剖刀
④
forceps n . 镊子 , 钳子
⑤
probe v . (以探针等 )探查
⑥
verify v . 检验 , 核实
1 91
‘ A Colt .25 automatic, ’ said Holmes . And with a pearl
handle . Miss Storm－Fleming is, as always, a woman of style .’
Holmes paused, and then glanced at me with an apologetic
expression .
‘ Mr Murdoch, would you examine the rear ① seat of the mo－
torcar to confirm that there are no bullet holes ?’said Holmes .
Murdoch appeared perplexed by the request, but neverthe－
less complied ② . He climbed into the back seat and examined the
leather ③ in detail .
‘Nothing here that I can see , Commodore .’
‘ V ery good . Now, please leave the vehicle , and I must ask
all of you to back away some respectable distance .’
Holmes stepped away several paces and levelled ④ Miss
Storm－Fleming s automatic ⑤ at the Rolls－R oyce . Murdoch raised
his hand in protest, but backed away quickly as he saw Holmes
taking aim . The rest of us had already moved, we hoped, to
safe locations .
One shot echoed across the deck . . . and then another . The
sound was deafening . Most of us had covered our ears after the
first round .
‘ Y ou may all relax,’said Holmes ‘
. This first stage of our
experiment is over .’
①
rear a . 后面的
②
comply v . 照着做
③
leat her n . 皮革 , 皮革制品
④
level v . 把……对准
⑤
automatic n . 自动枪
1 92
‘Commodore !’ exploded Murdoch, cautiously rising from
behind a light blue Humber ‘
. I really must insist - you have no
right to fire guns on board this ship .’
‘ My apologies,’ said Holmes, returning the weapon to
Murdoch ‘
. But it was necessary, as I am sure you will see in a
moment . Watson, may I borrow those medical instruments a－
gain ?’
Holmes probed through the leather deep into the rear cush－
ions of the Rolls－R oyce . Within 10 minutes, he had recovered
both chunks① of lead . A fter observing them in some detail
through his glass, he smiled, placed them in an envelope and
pencilled a notation on the outside . He then handed the enve－
lope to Mr Murdoch .
‘Our work here is finished for now . Mr Murdoch, might I
suggest that Dr O’Loughlin and Mr Boxhall tend to the body,
while you take Dr Watson, Miss Norton and me to see the cap－
tain . And, if you would, please post a guard . We do not want
any unwelcome visitors down here .’
I had been to the captain s sitting room several times be－
fore . And during the short time I knew the captain, I had come
to respect him, and even look on him as a friend . But on this oc－
casion, his off icial presence, and the power he held at sea,
overshadowed ② any previous impressions I had .
Miss Storm－Fleming sat in a big leather chair, her full yel－
low dress covering its brown cushions . I must say, I admired her
①
chunk n . 大块
②
overshadow v . 遮蔽 , 使……失色
1 93
courage . Even under these diff icult circumstances, she showed
few signs of nervousness . Rather , she sat quietly, sipping her
tea, as if she were paying a social visit . The captain appeared
less congenial ① .
‘Dr Watson , Commodore , I am so very glad to see you !’
said Miss Storm－Fleming, placing her teacup on a side table and
rising from the chair .‘ Perhaps you can convince ② the captain
how silly this whole thing is .’
‘I wouldn t use the word“silly”, Miss Storm－Fleming, ’said
Holmes ‘
. After all, you were seen leaving the area of the shoot－
ing with a gun - a . 25 calibre ③ Colt④ , that had been fired
twice . Nevertheless, I think I can convince the captain that the
evidence is circumstantial⑤ , and there are no grounds to hold
you for the shooting .’
‘ That is a most extraordinary statement, Commodore ,’
said the captain, leaning against the chart table , his voice calm .
‘What new evidence do you have that would cause me to grant
Miss Storm－Fleming her liberty ?’
‘ Only that the shots that killed Mr Bishop did not come
from Miss Storm－Fleming s handgun .’
‘ And how do you know this ?’he asked .
Holmes took two white tea saucers⑥ and placed them on the
①
congenial a . 合意的 , 相宜的
②
convince v . 使确信 , 使信服
③
calibre n . ( 枪 , 炮的 )口径
④
Colt n . 一种自动步枪
⑤
circumstantial a . 偶然
⑥
saucer n . 碟子 , 茶碟
1 94
captain s desk .
‘Mr Murdoch, I earlier gave you two envelopes . One con－
tains a spent bullet removed from the cushion behind the body .
Would you place that in the saucer to the left .’
Murdoch turned to the captain . After receiving a nod ① , he
complied with Holmes s request . Miss Norton and I exchanged
smiles . She seemed elated ② by this opportunity to see Holmes at
work .
‘In addition, would you take the rounds I fired from Miss
Storm－Fleming s gun and place them in the saucer to the right .’
Murdoch, after completing his assignment, left the empty
envelopes on the desk and backed away .
‘Now, Captain, if you will compare the rounds in the two
saucers, you will see that there is a noticeable difference in size ,
and a slight difference in colour . . . The shapes are different, of
course, but that is due to the surface into which each of them
struck .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s eyes brightened .
‘Y es, Commodore, I do see a difference, ’said the cap－
tain , impressed , but still hesitant .
‘ And if you pick them up , you may notice a weight differ－
ence as well . It is small, but I am sure the scales in the ship s
surgeon s office will support my statement . My guess is that it is
about a 9 mm .’
‘I do believe you may be right .’ The captain , after com－
①
nod n . 点头
②
elate v . 使兴高采烈 , 使得意
1 95
paring the rounds in two cupped hands, placed them back in the
saucers .‘ Mr Murdoch , when we have finished, please take
these rounds to Dr O’Loughlin and have them weighed . R emain
there and observe the process .’
‘ Yes, sir .’
‘ Of course , Commodore , even if we prove that Miss Storm－
Fleming s Colt was not the murder weapon, that is not absolute
proof that she did not do the killing,’said the captain ‘
. There
are no witnesses① , and the second gun has not been located .
Perhaps she f ired both weapons .’
‘ And why would I do that ?’asked Miss Storm－Fleming .
She remained composed but was growing somewhat impatient
with the captain s persistence .
‘To create a confusion, perhaps . . . ’
‘ A possibility, to be sure , ’said Holmes .‘ But it is a most
complex and unlikely hypothesis . . . Miss Storm－Fleming, could
you tell us what happened down on the orlop deck , and why you
were there ?’
Holmes gently motioned for Miss Storm－Fleming to be seat－
ed . He then pulled two wooden chairs from beneath ② the meet－
ing table and offered them to Miss Norton and me . We sat and
listened to Miss Storm－Fleming s remarkable tale ③ .
‘ Well, as I told the captain , my late husband was a motor－
car enthusiast . Over time , some of his enthusiasm rubbed off on
①
witness n . [律 ] 证人 , 目击者
②
beneat h prep . 在……之下
③
tale n . 叙述
1 96
me . When Mr Bishop offered to show me the collection in the
cargo hold, I could not refuse .’
I thought back to my squash－rackets game against the
baron , and how I had seen Bishop, and then Miss Storm－Flem－
ing, in the viewing area . I had not yet told Holmes of this oc－
currence .
‘ He said the prize of the collection was a R olls－Royce Silver
Ghost, built in 1909 . When we arrived in the cargo hold, he was
quick to uncover it and climb into the driver s seat . We re－
mained there for some time , discussing the features and perfor－
mance of the R olls, when I heard two shots fired in rapid suc－
cession . Mr Bishop first bent forward then, when the second
shot hit him in the head, he was thrust ① back in the seat . I im－
mediately took cover behind the R olls, but it appeared to me
that he died instantly② .’
‘Do you recall how long it was from the time you entered
the hold until the shots were f ired ?’asked Holmes .
‘I can only guess, but I d say it was 10 to 15 minutes .’
‘ And did you see who fired the shots ?’
‘No , Mr Bishop had turned on the lights in the hold, but
there were still areas of darkness . I only caught a glimpse ③ of
him .’
‘ Y ou are certain that it was a man ?’
‘ Yes, but I cannot provide any description beyond that . . .
①
t hrust v . 猛拉
②
instantly ad . 立即地 , 即刻地
③
glimpse n . 一瞥 , 一看
1 97
Tall, I believe . . . Dressed in a suit, not a crewman .’
‘When did you fire your gun ?’asked Holmes .‘ And why,
Miss Storm－Fleming, were you carrying it ?’
‘It is a habit I developed when I was living in New Y ork . I
seldom carry the Colt in England but, when I am travelling, I
slip it into my bag . I suppose I am just apprehensive ① about
travelling alone .’
‘Please continue .’
‘Well, when Mr Bishop was hit, I looked around and saw
where the man was standing - about 25 or 30 feet away . He im－
mediately ducked ② back into the shadows . A fter I had taken
cover behind the R olls, I remembered that I had the gun in my
bag . I took it out and lifted my head just above the side of the
door . I had to know whether he was still in hiding, or coming
around after me . Just as I looked out, I saw him stepping for－
ward, still in the shadows . But a ray of light did ref lect off the
gun . He was holding it directly in front of him . All I could
think is that he was preparing to use it on me , and eliminate the
possibility of a witness . I fired twice , and he leapt③ for cover④ .
I was hiding behind the Rolls when I heard the sound of run－
ning . I looked up just in time to see him dashing through the
door .’
‘ Did you pursue him ?’
①
apprehensive a . 忧虑的
②
duck v . 闪避
③
leap v . 跳
④
cover n . 掩蔽处
1 98
‘Not immediately . I stopped to tend Mr Bisho p but he was
very clearly dead . As you know , Commodore , one shot hit him
directly in the forehead . . . Anyway, I caught my breath and
headed for the door . I am not sure whether I was looking to see
that the killer was gone , or hoping to find help . As I stepped
through the door, this big crewman ordered me to turn over my
gun . I handed it to him, and then a moment later grabbed① on
to him and began to cry . When I regained ② my strength , I told
him what had happened and took him inside to show him Mr
Bishop s body .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s confident composure was weakening .
It appeared that she was on the verge of ③ tears . I wanted to step
forward and comfort her but, wisely, resisted .
‘I told him what had happened, but I do not think he be－
lieved me . He held my gun to his nose , smelled that it had been
fired, and told me that he was taking me to see the captain .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s head was bowed, a single tear stream－
ing down her cheek . She looked up at me asking, perhaps, what
I thought of all this . in fact, I did not know what to think . Her
story was generally plausible ④ but why was she carrying a gun ?
And why, i f she was accompanying Mr Bishop to the cargo
hold, did she appear to be following him when I saw her from
the squash－rackets court ?
①
grab v . 抓住
②
regain v . 恢复
③
on the verge of 接近于
④
plausible a . 似乎有理的
1 99
‘Captain ,’said Holmes, breaking a short spell ① of silence ,
‘I suggest that some effort be made to locate the entry points of
the two rounds f ired by Miss Fleming .’
‘My thoughts, exactly, Commodore . Mr Murdoch , would
you accompany Miss Storm－Fleming to the orlop deck and con－
duct a search . Y ou can tend to weighing the bullets after that .
Meanwhile , Miss Storm－Fleming, the evidence appears to be in
your favour② . Y ou are at liberty③ to leave .’
‘Thank you, Captain .’
‘ However, you are not completely beyond suspicion . De－
spite your claim of a man in the shadows, you were the only per－
son found at the scene of the shooting . And while Bishop was
not killed with your Colt, you still could have done the shooting
with another handgun . If we find the second weapon hidden in
the cargo hold, you could be back in custody again . And when
we reach New York, I will turn the entire matter over to the au－
thorities . They will , undoubtedly, want to question you fur－
ther .’
‘I understand, Captain .’
‘ And Miss Storm－Fleming, you will carry no more weapons
on board this ship .’
‘ Yes, sir .’
Murdoch, who had been standing by the door, indicated ④
①
spell n . 一阵
②
in favour of 对……有利
③
at liber ty 自由
④
indicate v . 暗示 , 示意
2 00
to her to follow him . As she walked by, I said softly,‘ I hope
we will have an opportunity to talk later .’
She smiled and nodded, still holding back tears . A moment
later, she and Murdoch were on their way to the cargo hold .
Murdoch closed the door behind them .
‘ Well, Mr Holmes, what do you think ?’asked the captain .
‘Her story is most curious, but as you said, the evidence is
in her favour . There were no powder marks on Bishop s body,
which suggests that the gun was not fired at close range .’
‘What about this mysterious man in the shadows that Miss
Storm－Fleming mentioned ?’asked Miss Norton .‘ Who do you
suppose he is ?’
‘When we find that out, we may be a step closer to f inding
our missing documents .’
The captain , who had been ref illing his teacup , was taken
aback ① by this remark .
‘Mr Holmes, are you suggesting that these two incidents are
related ?’
‘I think it is a strong possibility and our best lead yet in re－
covering the papers .’
‘Murder ! Espionage ! Mr Holmes, I have kept your little
intrigue quiet so far . But now , I am afraid it is getting out of
hand . We must inform Mr Ismay, the owner of the line, about
the situation . I will ring him now to see if he is in his suite ② . If
①
be taken aback 吃了一惊
②
suite n . 套房
2 01
he is, I must ask the three of you to accompany① me there .’
‘ V ery well, ’said Holmes .‘ My only request is that we do
not go into any details about the nature of the stolen docu－
ments .’
‘ On that you have my agreement .’
The captain picked up the telephone . I walked to the teapot
to see if enough remained to pour② three more cups .
‘Mr Ismay, please . Captain Smith here . . . ’
①
accompany v . 陪伴
②
pour v . 斟 , 倒 (饮料 )
2 02
Chapter Fourteen
T he Evening of Friday
12 April 1912
在船 主伊 斯梅 先生 的豪 华 套房 里 , 船 长和 福尔 摩斯 等人 向 伊
斯梅先生汇报了案 情 , 伊斯 梅 先生 表 示支 持 他 们的 调 查工 作。 斯
托姆－佛来明小姐仍然没有全部找到她所发射的子弹。而伦敦方 面
所提供的关于斯 托 姆－佛 来明 小 姐 的资 料 对 于 案 情并 没 有 什 么 价
值。调查工作又陷入了困境。
Our journey thus far had been one of unparalleled comfort
and elegance . At least, that is what we thought . Hidden away
on B Deck, we found the best and most luxurious accommoda－
tion the Titanic - or any other ship in the sea had to offer .
Mr J Bruce Ismay occupied a suite of cabins on the port
side . Combined, cabins B52 , B54 and B56 formed a spacious
‘home away from home’. There was even a front porch ① - a
private promenade overlooking the liner s imposing② hull ③ .
At the time Captain Smith called over the ship s telephone
system, Mr Ismay was not in his cabin . His manservant ④ , Mr
①
porch n . 门廊 , 走廊
②
imposing a . 使人难忘的 , 壮丽的
③
hull n . 船体
④
manservan t n . 仆役 , 男仆
2 03
Richard Fry, had answered , saying Mr Ismay was out having
dinner but was expected back soon . He invited us to sit in Mr
Ismay s suite while awaiting his return .
I had lost track of time . So much had happened in the past
few hours . When we left the captain s cabin, we found that it
was turning dark . Tired, I was invigorated① by inhaling② the
fresh sea air . As we walked down to B Deck, I thought of Miss
Storm－Fleming, walking with Murdoch in the ship s enormous
hold, attempting to locate the shots she had fired earlier in the
day .
The captain s knock on the door was answered by a slen－
der ③ , well－groomed④ man of medium height . He was dressed in
a dark suit and tie .
‘ Captain Smith, gentlemen, madam , would you come in,
please ?’
We passed into a magni ficent sitting room . Not, mind you,
the luxury you would find in a fine country house . But still, by
far the best stateroom ⑤ I had seen during my six decades on this
earth .
‘Mr Fry, this is Commodore Giles Winter, Dr John Watson
and Miss Christine Norton . As I mentioned on the telephone ,
we have a matter of some delicacy to discuss with Mr Ismay .’
①
invigorate v . 鼓舞
②
inhale v . 吸入
③
slender a . 修长的
④
well－groomed a . 梳洗得整洁的
⑤
stateroom n .[船 ]特等客舱
2 04
‘ Yes, of course . Mr Ismay is due back shortly . May I get
you something to drink while you are waiting ?’ The captain
nodded .
Mr Fry noticed Miss Norton s eyes, bright with wonder, as
she looked about the room .
‘Mr Ismay is quite proud of these suites . They are the best
you will find on any liner .’
Indeed, our surroundings were most impressive . The sitting
room was decorated in what Mr Fry described as Louis X VI
style, with oak panelled walls . There was a large, round oak
table at the centre of the room, surrounded by four thickly cush－
ioned chairs, upholstered ① in a muted ② f loral ③ pattern . In addi－
tion , there was a corner writing table with a chair , and two oth－
er chairs . The light from a chandelier ④ reflected off the large
white , moulded⑤ squares that covered the tall ceiling . It brought
out the colour and intricate ⑥ detail of the thick, red and white
carpet .
Mr Fry had removed a tray f rom a large cabinet and set it
on an octagonal⑦ coffee table next to the sideboard . It held a
flask of sherry ⑧ and several fine crystal glasses . He filled four of
①
upholster v . 装饰 , 装潢
②
mu ted a . 色调柔和的
③
floral a . 花的
④
chandelier n . 树枝形的装饰灯
⑤
mould v . 浇铸
⑥
int ricate a . 复杂的
⑦
octagonal a . 八边形的 , 八角形的
⑧
sherry n . 雪利酒 , 葡萄酒
2 05
them and handed one to each of us .
‘Perhaps you would feel more comfortable seated next to
the f ireplace ? Or, if you would prefer, I could show you the rest
of the suite ?’
Miss Norton accepted Mr Fry s offer of a tour, while
Holmes, the captain and I adj ourned① to the private promenade
running alongside ② the suite . The promenade ③ was enclosed,
with large screened windows that were open to the outside air .
We looked out across the sea as the waves sparkled in the wan－
ing④ moments of twilight⑤ .
‘What sort of man is Mr Ismay ?’I asked, taking a sip of
my sherry .
‘Likeable , but a perfectionist⑥ , ’ said the captain .‘ He
wants every last detail to be perfect and he expects everyone
who works for him to feel the same way . I respect that in him,
although I f ind it a little trying from time to time . To his credit,
he respects my position as captain and does not try to run the
ship . He has hardly been to the bridge at all .’
‘But can he be trusted with highly confidential informa－
tion ?’asked Holmes, turning from the window and looking the
captain in the eyes .
Captain Smith had just lit a cigar, and was in the process of
①
adjourn v . 换另一个地方
②
alongside ad . 在旁
③
promenade n . 散步场所
④
wane v . 消逝
⑤
twilight n . 黄昏
⑥
perfectionist n .十全十美主义者 , [ 哲] 至善论者
2 06
building a cloud of blue smoke about his head . Despite the light
sea breeze passing through the promenade , the cloud remained
in place .
‘ God knows Mr Ismay has kept enough business secrets in
his time . Still, I will, as you asked, withhold particulars about－
the stolen documents . And , at least for the moment, I see no
reason to reveal your true identity, Mr Holmes .’
‘Thank you, Captain . That will reduce the possibility of
complications occurring in the future .’
We were interrupted as Mr Fry walked through the door,
carrying the sherry tray . Miss Norton followed . There was a
cheerful look on her face as she glanced about the promenade .
A fter placing the tray on a small square table, Mr Fry ap－
proached the captain .
‘Sir, if you do not require anything further, I will attend
to ① my duties . I will , of course, tell Mr Ismay that you are
here, as soon as he arrives .’
‘Thank you, Mr Fry .’The efficient manservant made one
last offer of hospitality to the rest of us, then departed .
‘ Well, Miss Norton , did we miss anything ?’I asked .
‘Indeed you did, ’she said, with some satisfaction ‘
. It is a
huge suite . There are two bedrooms, two dressing rooms and a
bathroom . It is all so beautifully decorated . And he has it all to
himself , for his family saw him off when he boarded but are not
travelling with him .’
①
attend to 专心于
2 07
Miss Norton and I sat on the settee ① , while Holmes and the
captain settled into round－backed chairs on either side . I refilled
my sherry glass, as well as those of my companions . Captain
Smith , his glass still half full, declined . We sat quietly, listening
to the sound of the Titanic cutting through the waves . There
was little to be said . It was a time for contemplating the day s
events .
It was not long before a slender man of average height
stepped through the doorway . As I had noticed from a distance
in the dining hall, he was not a young man . Still, he was
younger than one might expect, considering his high position .
His dark moustache ② turned upwards as he greeted us with a
smile . We rose to shake his hand .
‘Mr Ismay, ’said the captain, ‘ this is Commodore Giles
Winter, Dr John Watson and Miss Norton .’
‘ Y es, Commodore , it is a pleasure . I heard you were on
board examining our ship for military potential in the event of ③
war . Forgive me if I do not turn her into a troop transporter just
yet . We d like to enjoy her a little longer in her present condi－
tion .’
Holmes responded with a hearty chuckle ‘
. Oh, I doubt that
we would ever use her for that . There is far too much luxury④
here for military purposes .’
①
set tee n . 有靠背的长椅
②
moustache n . 小胡子
③
in t he event of 万一发生……
④
luxury n . 奢侈品
2 08
Mr Ismay smiled politely, and then turned his attention to
me ‘
. And Dr Watson , I must say, I have always wanted to meet
you and your associate , Mr Holmes . I sent him an invitation to a
party once but I never received a reply .’
‘I must apologize for my friend . He is a very private indi－
vidual, and answering letters was never his forte ① .’
‘In any case , I am very pleased to meet you . I have enjoyed
your stories for years . . . And Miss Norton, I hear you liked the
tour of my little cabin . This place will fetch a good price on fu－
ture runs, but I felt I needed to try it out f irst before I recom－
mended ② it to future passengers .’
‘That is indeed the only way to make sure none of the doors
squeak ③ .’
‘ And, as a matter of fact, Miss Norton , none of them do .’
Mr Ismay reached down and filled a glass with sherry .
Captain Smith, with introductions out of the way, got down
to the matter in hand .
‘Mr Ismay, I asked Commodore Winter . . . ’
‘I received your report about poor Bishop . What is going
on on board my ship ?’
The captain summarized what had happened thus far up to
the questioning and release of Miss Storm－Fleming .
‘ And you are sure that this woman, Miss Storm－Fleming,
had nothing to do with it ?’
①
for te n . 长处
②
recommend vt . 推荐 , 介绍
③
squeak v . 发出吱吱声 ; 轧轧声
2 09
‘ We do not think she committed the murder, but she may
know more than she has told us . That is why I invited the Com－
modore , Dr Watson and Miss Norton here . They were assigned ①
by the British government to transfer ② some highly confidential
documents to the American authorities . Those papers were
stolen from Miss Norton s cabin last night .’
Mr Ismay stood there in silence, his lips parted .
‘The commo dore believes that there may be some connec－
tion between Bishop s death and the theft of the documents,’
said the captain ‘
. We have no direct evidence of this but the co－
incidence ③ is worth investigating .’
‘Captain, do you mean to say that there may be spies on
board this ship who are running about shooting people ? Do you
suspect that Bishop may have been involved in all this ?’
‘Nothing is certain at this point, Mr Ismay, but we are
looking into all possibilities, ’said Holmes ‘
. Our immediate pur－
pose, in addition to finding Mr Bishop s killer, is to recover the
documents .’
‘ And what is the nature of these papers, Commodore ?’
‘I fear that I am not at liberty to go into details, Mr Ismay .
But it is vital that they do not fall into the hands of a foreign
power .’
Mr Ismay shook his head ‘
. In the 45 years since my father
founded this company, there has never been such a scandal
①
assign v . 分配 , 指派
②
t ransfer v . 传递
③
coincidence n . 同时发生或同时存在 (尤指偶然 )的事 , 巧合
2 10
aboard a White Star ship . . . We will, of course, provide every
assistance to you in recovering the documents . But I must ask
you to help us in return by doing your work as discreetly① as pos－
sible . I will not have the passengers on this ship alarmed . Is that
understood ?’
‘We will do our best, Mr Ismay, ’said Holmes ‘
. The cap－
tain felt it was necessary for us to take you into our confidence
at this point . And that was a reasonable request . Rest assured,
we are just as concerned as you are to prevent rumours from
spreading around the ship .’
‘ Y es, of course . . . Well, keep me informed, Captain .
And give the commodore our complete support . . . By the way,
how long have you known about this ?’
‘I was told by British authorities just before our departure .’
‘Then proper protocol ② was followed . Y ou have acted cor－
rectly, Captain . I appreciate your coming to me now .’
‘Thank you, Mr Ismay .’
The meeting with Mr Ismay was less difficult than I had ex－
pected . We received his co－operation, without having to share
too much confidential information . We could proceed with con－
f idence, knowing that we could act with the authority of the
captain and the White Star Line .
It was getting late . All of us were hungry, but also very
tired . The captain invited Holmes, Miss Norton and me to join
us in his cabin for a light dinner . Before we left Mr Ismay s cab－
①
discreetly ad . 谨慎地 , 小心地
②
protocol n . 协议
2 11
in, he made a telephone call and placed an order for dinner for
four .
Shortly after we arrived in the captain s sitting room, the
food arrived . The steward uncovered a large tray filled with hot
and cold meat, along with fruit, vegetables and cheese . It was
accompanied by warm bread and a pot of tea .
We each helped ourselves substantially① - that is, except
for Holmes, who nibbled② at a little beef , then poured a cup of
tea and placed some cheese on the saucer . Few words were ex－
changed as we ate . The captain and I took second helpings .
Holmes stood quietly, sipping his tea and staring out of a port－
hole .
I was concluding my meal when there was a knock at the
door .
‘ Yes, Phillips . What is it ?’said the captain .
‘ Excuse me , sir , but I have two important messages . One is
for you, and the other is for the Commodore . I was about to
look for him but I see that he is here .’
‘Thank you, Phillips .’The captain took the envelopes and
handed one to Holmes .
Phillips was about to leave , when he turned and f ished a
piece of paper from his jacket pocket .
‘Oh , and one of the crewmen asked me to deliver this to
you . Mr Murdoch sent it up f rom the hold .’
‘Mr Phillips, you are a wealth of information today,’said
①
substantially ad . 充分地
②
nibble v . 一点一点地咬 , 细咬
2 12
the captain ‘
. Have you and Bride been getting any rest ?’
‘Some , sir . There are quite a lot of messages from the pas－
sengers . My finger is quite painful from tapping① the key .’
‘See to it that you and your f inger get some rest . The same
goes for Mr Bride .’
‘ Yes, sir . We will attempt to .’
Phillips left, after nodding to the rest of us, and adding an
extra smile for Miss Norton .
The captain unfolded Murdoch s note first .
‘It seems that Mr Murdoch and Miss Storm－Fleming have
recovered one of her bullets . It was embedded② in a wooden pal－
let ③ that was propped④ up against a wall - just about where she
said it would be . They are still looking for the other one .’
‘That is good news for Miss Storm－Fleming, ’I noted .
‘Indeed, ’said the captain, using a table knife to open the
envelope of his wireless ⑤ message .
‘ This is from our London office, ’ he said .‘ I did some
checking of my own in relation to Miss Storm－Fleming . I asked
our people at White Star to make some inquiries .’ Captain
Smith studied the note ‘
. Let us see . . . 34 years old . . . middle
name Janet . . . no police record . . . periodic ⑥ mentions in the
social pages of the newspapers . . . a frequent international trav－
①
tap v . 轻打 , 轻敲
②
em bed v . 使插入 , 使嵌入
③
pallet n . (运货用的 )托台
④
prop v . 把……靠着
⑤
wireless a . 无线的
⑥
periodic a . 周期的 , 定期的
2 13
eller . I am afraid this is not very helpful . . . What about your
message , Mr Holmes ? Does it shed any light on① this matter ?’
Holmes, who had returned to staring out of the porthole ,
paused for a moment, and then turned to rejoin the conversa－
tion ‘
. No , I’m afraid not . Just a word of encouragement . He
unfolded the note, which he had been holding in his hand, and
began to read .
My dear Commodore,
I do not have to remind you how imperative ② it is that the
documents in question be recovered immediately . We are all de－
pending on the efforts of you and your companions . In my opin－
ion, the matter could not be in better hands . Good luck !
Sincerely,
WC .
‘Holmes, who is this WC ?’ I asked .‘ Does he work for
your brother, Mycroft ?’
‘More the other way around, ’he said ‘
. Mycroft and I a－
greed on a few coded ③ terms before I left, including the use of
initials④ instead of names . This particular message is signed by
Mr Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty ⑤ .’
①
shed ligh t on 使某事清楚明白地显示出来
②
imperative a . 紧急的
③
coded a . 译成代码的
④
initial n . 姓名起首的大写字母
⑤
The First Lord of the Admirality n .美国海军大臣
2 14
Chapter Fifteen
T he Early Morning of
Saturday 13 April 1912
根据福尔摩斯的建议 , 华生 邀请福 特来 尔帮 助自己 寻找 线索。
船长派人 跟 踪 了布 兰 顿。 诺 顿 小 姐 和 船 长 负 责 调 查 比 夏 普 枪 杀
案 , 并继续审问 嫌疑 犯 斯特 里 克雷。 福 尔摩 斯 则决 定 再次 乔 装 调
查。上午当华生正准备出去 时 , 斯托 姆－佛 来明 小姐 带着 一个 小 男
孩托米前来拜访 , 而华生对她的怀疑使她愤然离去。
Those of you who have read my work know that I am a man
of few complaints . Indeed , I considered myself to be most for－
tunate to take part in the maiden voyage of this magnificent lin－
er . But I must say that sea travel holds little appeal for me . I
missed the comfort of my home in London and the company of
my books . Perhaps even more , I missed long walks down Lon－
don streets, watching people from all walks of life going about
their daily routines . And, of course, there were the street
urchins ① , those delightful little adventurers who were so full of
energy and dreams, despite their poverty and limited prospects
for the future .
①
urchin n . 顽童 , 小孩
2 15
I particularly remember the day I caught one of these enter－
prising① tykes② , all of eight years old , attempting to pick my
pocket . I told him that I would not send him off to jail if he
would accompany me to visit a friend . The friend in question
was Inspector Wiggins of Scotland Yard, who was once himself
a child of the streets . It just so happened that when the attempt－
ed theft occurred, I was on my way to have tea with the inspec－
tor .
We met at a small café along the V ictoria Embankment .
Wiggins was not in uniform, but the boy was quite skilled at i－
dentifying police officers . I thought for a moment that the
young man was about to bolt③ . But a smile from Wiggins and
the offer of a custard④ pastry ⑤ encouraged him to give us a little
more time from his busy day .
A fter tea, and second helpings of pastry, Wiggins took the
boy for a walk along the Embankment . I do not know what was
said during that conversation but I do know that the boy has
stayed out of trouble .I know this because Wiggins looks in on
him from time to time .
These things occurred to me as I stood in my cabin, prepar－
ing to meet Futrelle for breakfast . At Holmes s suggestion , I
had knocked on the writer s door before retiring for the
①
enterprising a . 有胆量的
②
t yke n . [ 口 ]小孩子
③
bolt v . 逃跑
④
custard n . 奶油蛋羹 , 奶油冻
⑤
pastry n . 面粉糕饼 , 馅饼皮
2 16
evening . He gladly accepted my invitation to assist in the inves－
tigation . His wife , after three full days of activity, had ex－
pressed a desire to sit quietly, reading . She willingly gave him
permission to play the detective, provided he returned in time to
dress for dinner .
Futrelle and I were to spend the day in the second－and
third－class sections of the ship, making discreet inquiries . Our
orders f rom Holmes were simply to‘go everywhere , see every－
thing, and overhear everyone’. Admittedly, our prospects for
gleaning① useful information were limited . But then, where bet－
ter to hide the documents than a place far removed from the
area where they were stolen ? There was also Futrelle s earlier
sighting of Brandon unlocking a gate and entering the third－class
section . The captain had said this was completely unauthorized
and threatened to place Brandon under arrest . But at Holmes s
request, he agreed simply to assign a crew member to keep
Brandon under observation .
Miss Norton s assignment was to work with the captain and
crew in conducting the investigation into Bishop s death . That
included the continued interrogation ② of the stoker, Strickley,
who had thus far refused to divulge ③ any information . He con－
tinued to insist that he had nothing to do with the break－in .
Holmes declined to discuss the details of how he planned to
spend his day . But he did say that he had several lines of inquiry
①
glean v . 收集
②
interrogation n . 审问
③
divulge v . 泄露
2 17
to follow involving our suspects . His most telling comment was
that Miss Norton and I should not expect to see Commodore
Winter until evening . From this I deduced that Holmes was
about to abandon① temporarily his disguise as the crusty② com－
modore , and assume some new and less conspicuous③ identity .
At half past eight, I had just adjusted my tie and was brush－
ing the jacket of my oldest brown suit, when I heard a knock at
the door . I was surprised to f ind Miss Storm－Fleming outside ,
looking warm and comfortable in her golden brown dress and
yellow woollen shawl .
‘ Good morning, Dr Watson .I would like to talk to you for a
few minutes, if I may .’
‘Miss Storm－Fleming, please forgive me but I was just leav－
ing for a meeting . Perhaps you would care to join me on deck
for a moment, before my appointment ?’
She answered my invitation with a mischievous ④ smile .‘I
brought a visitor, ’she said .
‘ A visitor ? I don t . . . ’
She looked down the corridor to her right and beckoned ⑤ to
her guest . A moment later, a small boy came forward and stood
by her side . He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a matching
blue cap .
①
abandon v . 放弃
②
crusty a . 顽固的 , 脾气暴躁的
③
conspicuous a . 明显的
④
mischievous a . 淘气的 ; 顽皮的
⑤
beckon v . 招手 , 召唤
2 18
‘This is my friend, Tommy, ’ Miss Storm－Fleming said .
‘Tommy, meet Dr Watson .’
Attempting to conceal my puzzlement, I extended my hand
to the short, young gentleman ‘
. How do you do , young man ?’
He looked at me , wide－eyed, and then back at Miss Storm－
Fleming . Then, after placing the book he was carrying under his
arm, he reached out and shook my hand .
‘I hope we do not disturb you, but I told Tommy earlier
that I would introduce him to you, and this seemed as good a
time as any .’
With a burst of energy, Tommy suddenly chose that mo－
ment to overcome his shyness .
‘ Dr Watson, I have read everything you have written about
Mr Holmes ! I brought this book, hoping you would sign it for
me . My mother said I should not bother you, but . . . ’
‘No bother at all, Tommy . How old are you ?’
‘I’m 10 now , 11 next month .’He hesitated for a moment,
looking down at his book, and then up at me ‘
. Do you suppose
Mr Holmes would let me join his Baker Street Irregulars ① ? I’m
really observant and he wouldn t even have to pay me . . . ’
‘I am afraid all those adventures happened a long time ago ,
Tommy . All of the Irregulars are grown up now . One even
works for Scotland Yard .’
Tommy s excitement crumbled ② as he listened to the bad
news .
①
irregular n . ( 美国 )非正规兵
②
crumble v . 粉碎 , 崩溃
2 19
‘But I am sure that if Mr Holmes ever decides to recruit a
new team of Irregulars, he would be proud to include a fine
young man like you . I will mention your name to him .’
‘My surname is Roberts .I live in London with my parents
when I am not at school .’He reached into the pocket of his
trousers and pulled out a wrinkled ① business card .‘ This is my
father s card, from where he works . If you contact him, he will
give me the message . He reads your books too .’
‘Cox & Co . , a very fine bank . I go there myself . . . Let us
see, what have you here ?’I took the book he was holding and
walked over to the dressing table .
The Hound
of
the
Baskervilles, I remember that case very well . Have you read it ?’
‘Twice , I’m on my third time now .’
I opened the book to the title page and began to write .
‘Three times ! I am flattered ② . How do you find time to play
with your friends, with all this reading ?’
‘ On this trip, he has been standing by the rail most of the
time , watching the children play down on the third－class deck ,’
said Miss Storm－Fleming .
‘ A little bored, Tommy ?’
‘ Yes, sir .’
‘ Well, me too sometimes .’ After completing the inscrip－
tion ③ , I returned the book to him ‘
. There you are , young man,
and I will let you know if Mr Holmes needs any help .’
①
wrinkle v . 使……折皱
②
flatter v . 过分夸赞
③
inscription n . 题字
2 20
‘ Why don t you run along now , Tommy, ’said Miss Storm－
Fleming .‘ I need to speak to Dr Watson . And don t forget to
say,“Thank you”.’
‘Thank you, very much, Dr Watson .’
‘My pleasure , Tommy .’
The boy turned and walked towards the door .
‘ Oh, Tommy, before you leave , what is the number on the
outside of my cabin door . . . without looking, now ?’
‘ Why, C28 , sir .’
‘Excellent ! Y ou are a very observant young man . Y ou will
make a fine detective .’
The boy grinned① from ear to ear, grasped his book tight－
ly ② and skipped out of the door .
‘Thank you, Miss Storm－Fleming, for that introduction . I
approve of your taste in f riends . Shall we walk towards the
hall ?’
‘I made friends with you, did I not ?’She smiled, but her
face lacked the energy and spirit that I had seen so often over
the past few days . I could tell that at this particular moment,
she was very much in need of a friend .
‘ I understand that you and Murdoch found one of the
rounds ③ f ired from your gun . Did you have any luck in f inding
the other ?’
‘No , but they are still looking .’
①
grin v . 露齿而笑
②
tigh tly ad . 紧紧地
③
round n . ( 弹药的 )一发
2 21
‘Do not be concerned - I think the captain believes you .
He is suspicious① , though, that you may not be telling him ev－
erything .’
‘ And what is your opinion, Dr Watson ?’
‘I must confess, I sense there is something more .’
Miss Storm－Fleming lowered her eyes and then folded her
arms, as if feeling a chill in the air . After a moment s contem－
plation ② she began walking faster along the hall .‘ If there is
something more , do you trust me enough to remain my f riend ?’
‘Indeed, Miss Storm－Fleming . I would also like to think
that you trust me enough to confide in me .’
‘ And is there anything you would like to tell me , Dr Wat－
son ?’
We turned to each other and smiled .
‘ Whatever your deep, dark secret, take care, ’I said ‘
. Y ou
have had more than enough adventure for one voyage . Try to be
a typical passenger, for a change .’
‘ Why, Dr Watson, I would never dream of being typical ,’
she replied, as she hastened③ her step away from me .
Then she was gone, leaving only the scent ④ of perfume and
the warmth of her smile .
①
suspicious a . 可疑的 , 怀疑的
②
con templation n . 沉思
③
hasten v . 加速
④
scent n . 气味 , 香味
2 22
Chapter Sixteen
T he Morning of
Saturday 13 April 1912
早晨 , 在三等舱的餐厅里 , 华生 和福特 来尔 一边进 餐一 边同 旁
边的旅客聊天 , 但没有什么收获。他 们又来到 E 甲板 , 发现 布兰 顿
和一些人正在酒 吧里 赌 博 , 在 他 们旁 边 的桌 子 上有 一 瓶特 殊 的 液
体物质。当他们准备 去 向船 长 报告 时 , 却遭 到 布兰 顿 和他 的 同 伙
斯维得的劫持。在货 舱 的楼 梯 上华 生 扑 倒斯 维 得准 备 逃脱 时 , 却
被打昏。
Oatmeal ① porridge ② , vegetable stew ③ , fried tripe ④ and o－
nions⑤ , Swedish bread and marmalade ⑥ and, of course, tea .
The thirdclass dining room offered a hearty breakfast and de－
lightful conversation . Futrelle and I had seated ourselves at a
long table , next to a Scandinavian family . Jan and Lise Svens－
son , their son and two daughters were on their way to Mas－
sachusetts, where Jan had a position assured on his brother
①
oatmeal n . ( 燕 )麦片 , ( 燕 )麦粥
②
porridge n . 麦片粥 , 粥
③
stew n . 焖菜 , 煨炖菜
④
t ripe n . (供食用的 )牛胃 , 牛肚
⑤
onion n . 洋葱
⑥
marmalade n . ( 橘子或柠檬等水果制成的 )果酱
2 23
Sven s fishing boat . Both Jan and Lise were fluent in English
and their children were rapidly developing a basic knowledge of
the language . In their early thirties, the couple had mixed feel－
ings about leaving their home and loved ones . But Sven s letters
had gone into detail about how living in America had offered
opportunities for his own children , and how happy his family
was . And, above all else , Jan and Lise wanted a better life for
their children .
The Svenssons said they were finding their first trans－At－
lantic crossing to be the thrill of a lifetime . They occupied a
four－berth ① cabin at the ship s stern ② on F Deck . This afforded
them easy access to the dining room, where they also ate lunch
and dinner . The dining room was bright and cheerful, with
white enamelled ③ walls . The long tables were tastefully decorat－
ed and the woo den chairs, though uncushioned, were quite com－
fortable .
Futrelle told the Svenssons that he was preparing a newspa－
per article on the Titanic and, consequently, he was gathering
information on each class of service . They were more than hap－
py to offer their own evaluation of steerage and its facilities - in－
formation that proved useful to Futrelle and me as we planned
our day s activities .
Mrs Svensson said the General R oom was comfortable ,
①
ber th n . ( 船上的) 卧铺
②
stern n . 船尾
③
enamel v . 涂以瓷釉 , 彩饰
2 24
though not well equipped with recreational① opportunities for
the children . Fortunately, the Svensson children had found
playmates and, for the most part, they had improvised ② games
and activities to occupy their time . She noted, however, that
the General R oom did have a fine piano , and some of the pas－
sengers whiled away the hours playing some enj oyable tunes .
Mr Svensson said he had spent little time in the two bars but
he did enjoy an occasional trip to the smoking room, where he
could light up his pipe and play a recreational game of cards with
the other men . When he grew tired of cards, he tried chess,
draughts③ and dominoes④ . Most of all , he enjoyed meeting oth－
er passengers, and discovering where they had been and where
they were going .
Mrs Svensson said she had been concerned about the hun－
dreds of men who , travelling alone , were berthed in the forward
end of the ship . Some were in six－or eight－berth cabins, while
others - mostly immigrants ⑤ - shared dormitory ⑥－like areas on
G Deck . While families and single women were berthed far
away, in the aft end of the ship, all steerage passengers shared
decks and public rooms during the day . She admitted that she
had no reason to believe that any of these men were dangerous .
Still, she kept a careful eye on her children .
①
recreational a . 娱乐的
②
improvise v . 临时准备
③
draugh ts n . [ 英 ]国际跳棋
④
domino n . 骨牌 , 多米诺骨牌
⑤
immigrant n . 移民 , 侨民
⑥
dor mitory n . 宿舍
2 25
Though not sharing his wife s concerns, Mr Svensson did
say that there were a few troublemakers on board . The steerage
bar on the forward end of E Deck seemed to be a gathering
point . Word had already spread about a shouting match that had
erupted ① the night before, when the crew attempted to close the
bar for the night . A group of gamblers, who had been drinking
whisky much of the evening, had objected to the game being in－
terrupted . They then apparently moved the late－night session in－
to one of the cabins .
A fter f inishing our tea and wishing the Svenssons good luck
in America, Futrelle and I continued on to the bar at the for－
ward end of the ship . We had little to go on, so seeking out
trouble seemed to be as good an idea as any .
We made our way up to E Deck , and travelled along a cor－
ridor that connected the forward and aft steerage ② accommoda－
tion . It was called‘ Park Lane’by the officers and‘Scotland
R oad’by the crew . The sound of our footsteps echoed down the
steel－walled hallway ③ as we walked along the linoleum ④－tiled
floors . This was a far cry from the regal ⑤ pathways of first
class .
As we walked along the corridor , Futrelle and I poked our
heads into some of the open doorways . This area was largely
①
erup t v . 爆发
②
steerage( 客船的 ) 统舱
③
hallway n . 走廊
④
linoleu m n . 油布 , 油毯
⑤
regal a . 豪华的
2 26
taken up by quarters for cooks, stewards and waiters . There was
a good deal of running about, as these industrious crew members
travelled to and from their duties . A few , who were having a
rest or were off duty, relaxed in their bunks① or sat in chairs
reading . After passing through the crew area, we found our－
selves in a short section of corridor with third－class cabins on ei－
ther side . Not much activity here . The passengers were away en－
j oying the various entertainments provided .
At the forward end of the corridor, we rounded the corner
and found ourselves at the entrance to the saloon . The room was
open,
although alcoholic refreshments were not yet being
served .
The saloon was small, compared to those in first class . The
oak ②－panelled walls and teak③ tables and chairs created an at－
mosphere that was simple , but cheerful . Cheerful , that is, ex－
cept for the dreary ④－looking souls who were seated around two
tables joined together at the rear of the room . Their faces were
unshaven ⑤ and their clothing was unkempt ⑥ . They appeared to
be very tired, but still they went through the motions of a pok－
er⑦ game .
①
bunk n . (轮船 , 火车等) 铺位
②
oak n . [植 ] 橡树 , 橡木
③
teak n . [植 ] 柚木
④
dreary a . 沉闷的
⑤
unshaven a . 未修过脸的 , 未刮过脸的
⑥
unkempt a . 蓬乱的 , 不整洁的
⑦
poker n . 纸牌戏 ; 扑克牌戏
2 27
One man was clearly winning . A mound① of red, white and
blue chips② lay on the table before him . Unlike his companions,
he was fresh and neatly dressed . His grey tweed ③ suit was
crisply④ pressed, and he wore a newly cut carnation ⑤ in his
lapel ⑥ . This dapper ⑦ card player, much to my surprise , was
Hugo Brandon .
‘ Why Dr Watson, Mr Futrelle , whatever are you doing
down here ?’Brandon rose and beckoned us over . His compan－
ions remained seated and eyed us suspiciously ‘
. Are things get－
ting a little dull in f irst class ?’
Futrelle replied ‘
. No , no , not at all . I am writing an arti－
cle on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, and the captain has
given me permission to roam about . Dr Watson very kindly of－
fered to accompany me . But what about you ? Surely, you are
not preparing a travel review .’
Brandon laughed ‘
. Writing is not my forte . But I do enjoy
a good game of cards . And while the games in first class are for
far higher stakes ⑧ , I find them a little tame . Playing with my
friends here helps to sharpen my skills for bigger games .’
The men at the table continued to stare at Futrelle and me .
①
mound n . 一堆 ; 许多
②
chip n . ( 赌注用 )筹码
③
tweed n . 斜纹软呢 , 斜纹软呢服
④
crisply ad . 干净利落地
⑤
carnation n . 粉红色
⑥
lapel n . 翻领
⑦
dapper a . 潇洒的 , 衣冠楚楚的
⑧
stake n . 赌金 , 赌注
2 28
Aside from Brandon, this was not a congenial① group .
‘Oh, I do beg your pardon, allow me to introduce you to
my companions .’Brandon grabbed his walking stick from the
table and used it as a pointer .‘ The gentleman to my left is
Charlie , and there is Kurt, Willy and Swede . Swede, incidental－
ly, does some wonderful card tricks . Perhaps we can persuade
him to show you some , after he has finished his coffee .’
Swede said nothing . Instead, he picked up the coffee pot at
the centre of the table and poured a half cup . He then reached
inside his coat and pulled out a dull , metal f lask . However, the
motion of his arm was interrupted when the tip of Brandon s
walking stick tapped the side of the f lask .
‘Now, Swede , as a friend, I cannot allow you to overdo it
on the spirits . Remember, you have a busy day planned today,
and it is still only mid－morning .’
Swede begrudgingly② put the flask back inside his pocket .
‘I only wanted a touch to get my blood moving .’
‘Then try a little more of this excellent coffee ,’ replied
Brandon , filling Swede s cup to the top . ’That’ll bring you to
life . ’
My attention was fixed, not on Swede s problem, but on a
small bottle containing a clear liquid . It was on the table next to
Kurt, resting on a folded handkerchief . Brandon looked at me ,
and then at the bottle .
‘ Oh dear, what have we here ?’said Brandon .‘ More spir－
①
congenial a . 情趣相投的 , 情投意合的
②
begrudgingly ad . 小气地 , 吝啬地
2 29
its ? Gentlemen, if you are going to insist on drinking, I may
have to step away from the game . And I know you would all like
the chance to win your money back .’
‘I understoo d that there was some trouble last night, ’I
said ‘
. Do you happen to know what it was all about ?’
Brandon, his temperance speech interrupted, stroked his
chin, as i f trying to recall anything out of the ordinary . Sudden－
ly, he smiled and pointed his finger in my general direction .
‘I think I know what you are referring to . These gentlemen
and I were in this room just before ten last night, when the bar－
man announced that he would be closing down soon . Naturally,
it was thought that this was a little early and some raised objec－
tions . There was a minor confrontation① that eventually in－
volved some of the crew . A fter a time, I was able to convince
them all that we could continue the game just as comfortably in
their cabin . And that is all there was to it . . . My word, has that
story spread all over the ship ?’
‘ Oh , no , indeed not . A man in the dining room happened
to mention it .’
‘ Good, you know that these stories can get out of hand .’
‘Well , Mr Brandon, gentlemen, we must be getting on, ’I
said ‘
. Perhaps we will meet you again later .’
‘Nice to see you, Doctor, Mr Futrelle . I would invite you
to join in the game but, as you can see , everyone is eager ② to
win their money back . Y ou are most welcome to stay and
①
confron tation n . 反对 , 对质
②
eager a . 热心于 , 渴望着
2 30
watch .’
‘Thank you, but, as I said, we must be on our way . Mr
Futrelle has a good deal of research to do for his article .’
We shook hands with Brandon, and exchanged nods with
his companions .
When we were back in the corridor, I placed my hand on
Futrelle s shoulder and looked back towards the door to the bar .
‘ What did you think of the bottle - the one on the table ?’I
asked .
‘ V ery unusual . It seemed as though the handkerchief was
being used to pad the bottle from the surface of the wood .’
‘That is exactly what I thought . Let us proceed on deck to
tell the captain .’I reached into my pocket and pulled out a deck
map that the captain had given us before we began our tour . It
was at that moment that Brandon and Swede chose to step
through the door from the bar . Brandon was carrying the coffee
pot .
‘Lost ?’said Brandon ‘
. Swede and I were just about to get
more coffee . Perhaps we can help you .’
‘ We can manage . But thank you for the offer .’
‘No trouble at all .In fact, I know a short cut .It is around
the corner, to the right . Just follow me .’
Futrelle and I exchanged glances, then followed Brandon s
lead . Swede , instead of accompanying his companion, followed
behind us . The journey was only a short one . Soon after we
rounded the corner, we approached a stairwell .
Brandon hurried on ahead, stepping down the stairway in－
stead of up ‘
. We will have to go down a couple of decks first,’
2 31
he said ‘
. This stairway only goes up one more deck . But if we
go down to G Deck , we will reach a corridor that will take us
back to the lifts .’
I smiled, looking back briefly to determine Swede s loca－
tion . ’On second thoughts, I think we will go back the way we
came . Futrelle and I want to speak to some of the crew on our
way out .’
Brandon appeared disappointed that his offer of help was
rejected ‘
. Are you sure ? There are some interesting crew areas
here as well .’
‘Quite sure . ’I changed my direction .‘ Thank you, very
much .’A fter a few steps, Futrelle and I sto pped short . Swede
was holding a shiny revolver① . It was p ointed directly at me .
‘I got ’em, Mr Brandon .’
Futrelle turned his head back towards Brandon , who was
climbing back up the stairs ‘
. I say, Brandon , does your f riend
always carry a gun when he gets coffee ?’
Brandon laughed .‘ Sometimes the kitchen is reluctant② to
fill the pot .’
Brandon too was carrying a revolver, somewhat smaller
than Swede s military issue . He motioned for me to walk down
the stairs .
‘We will be putting our weapons away, gentlemen . We do
not want to disturb the passengers and crew . But just remember,
we are still holding them in our pockets . And we have nothing
①
revolver n . 连发左轮手枪
②
reluctant a . 勉强的
2 32
to lose if you force us to use them . But we cannot allow you to
report us to the captain .’
We continued down the stairs, with Swede close behind us
and Brandon leading the way . As we made our way down one
deck, and then another, we crossed paths with a young steward
who was scurrying① up the stairs with a tray full of dirty dishes .
It occurred to me that bumping the tray out of his hands might
create a sufficient distraction to allow us to overcome our cap－
tors ② . But I decided that such a move would place this innocent
passer－by at too great a risk .
The stairway ended at G Deck, where Brandon motioned
for us to continue down a dark corridor . At the end of that hall－
way we found a hatch ③ in the f loor, with the doorway open .
‘ Down the ladder, gentlemen, ’said Brandon ‘
. And please
mind your step .’
Swede was the f irst to descend, and I followed . The cham－
ber ④ was dark but there was enough light for me to see that I
was in a familiar area . It was the cargo hold where the motor－
cars were stored, where Miss Storm－Fleming had her unfortu－
nate meeting with Bishop . My mind raced through the p ossibili－
ties . If I could somehow break free , this cavern provided ample
opportunities to hide . I would , of course, be apprehended in
①
scurry v . 急跑 , 以轻快而交替的步子走动
②
captor n . 捕捉者 , 逮捕者
③
hatch n . 舱口 , (门、墙壁、地板上的) 开口
④
chamber n . 室 , 房间
2 33
tim e - unless I was able to make my way into the adjoining① lug－
gage ② or post rooms . My prospects for finding help in those ar－
eas were not great but the next section was the forward boiler
room, where I was likely to find some very strong and hearty
members of the crew . Then there was Futrelle to consider .
What if he was not able to break free ? I decided that he would
be no worse off , and perhaps even safer if Brandon knew I was
on my way to find help .
Swede was well below me , and about to step off the ladder
onto the f loor . I was not a young man, but I had always made
time to exercise and keep healthy . After glancing upwards and
seeing Futrelle in the hatchway, I let go of the ladder and
jumped directly on top of Swede . He let out a startled cry and
fell to the f loor . I could hear the sound of his gun clanking ③ on
to the deck .
I too had fallen f lat on my back and a sharp pain was pene－
trating my shoulder and arm . Fortunately, my legs felt fine and
I was able to get to my feet . I was surprised to see that Futrelle
had not moved . He was still in the hatchway, apparently under
Brandon s watchful eye . Brandon was not even calling to his
companion . He apparently felt that Swede could handle any di f－
f iculties .
Brandon s judgement proved to be correct . Swede , still on
the f loor, grabbed my leg just as I got to my feet . I heard the
①
adjoin v . 邻接 , 毗连
②
luggage n . 行李
③
clank v . (使 ) 发叮当声
2 34
sound of metal sliding briefly along the deck and a moment later
Swede was on top of me . I felt a stinging blow to the back of my
head, and then dri fted ① off into unconsciousness .
①
drift v . 不知不觉陷入
2 35
Chapter Seventeen
T he Afternoon of
Saturday 13 April 1912
当华 生苏 醒过 来时 , 发现 自己 和福 特 来尔 被捆 绑在 船甲 板 最
前面的货舱里。布兰 顿 透漏 了 他们 要 炸 沉泰 坦 尼克 号 的阴 谋 , 原
来布兰顿和他的同伙是一群 狂热 的进 军团分 子。他们 试图 用两 枚
炸弹炸沉象征着大英帝国和资本主 义制度 的永 不沉没 的泰 坦尼 克
号 , 从而摧毁资 本主 义 国家 的 信心。 布 兰顿 把 一枚 炸 弹放 在 货 舱
里 , 并锁住了货舱的门。华生和福特来尔也被困在了货舱里。
I followed the roar of the rushing water . The pathway was
wet and my feet slipped as I ran . Sweat p oured from my brow ,
yet the cold, damp air penetrated ① my clothing . I paused to but－
ton my coat to the collar but this was only for a moment . I con－
tinued even faster, mindful of the danger that awaited my
friend .
A fter a time , the trail turned sharply towards the sound of
the water . The path was level here and it was easier to keep my
footing . I trudged② along the wet ground until I reached a wood－
en bridge . It was there , in the mist, that I saw my friend, Sher－
①
penetrate v . 穿透
②
t rudge v . 跋涉
2 36
lock Holmes, fighting hand－to－hand with a man dressed in a
black cloak ① .
I stepped forward to join Holmes in the struggle but my foot
broke through the planks② as if they were paper . I saved myself
from plunging into the falls below by grabbing the rail .
Ahead, Holmes and the cloaked figure continued their bat－
tle . For them, despite their chaotic ③ movements, the planks
held firm .
The cloaked figure raised his hand, which held a sturdy④
walking stick . As his arm moved back to strike a blow , his cloak
fell away, uncovering the military uniform he wore underneath .
The stick swept downwards, but Holmes moved to the side
and avoided what would have been a crushing blow to his head .
His opponent, attempting to regain his balance , twisted around .
Through the mist, I saw the face of Colonel James Moriarty . He
was laughing at me, as his arms surrounded Holmes in a tight
grasp .
Just then, the deck of the bridge fell through . I looked in
horror as I saw my friend and the colonel, still in combat, plum－
met⑤ towards the raging water .
I stood there, looking down and listening to the steady roar
of the falls . But then I heard another sound directly behind me
①
cloak n . 斗篷 , 宽大外衣
②
plank n . 厚木板
③
chaotic a . 混乱的 , 无秩序的
④
sturdy a . 结实的
⑤
plummet v . 垂直落下
2 37
- an animal . It was a deep, penetrating growl that developed a
gurgling ① resonance ② as saliva③ filled the beast s mouth .
I continued to look towards the falls, terrified that the
slightest movement would invite an attack . Slowly, I turned my
head, while grasping the end of the bridge railing . There ,
crouched④ on top of a boulder ⑤ , was a beast of enormous pro－
portions . Its black , moist⑥ coat shimmered⑦ in the faint rays of
light that penetrated the mist ⑧ . The hound s⑨ eyes blazed 10 with
a yellow glow . Its huge white teeth were fully exposed behind its
dripping jowls 1 .
I tried to move, but I found that my arms and legs were
frozen in place . I sensed that the creature knew this, and was
waiting there , taking its time to strike . The wait was not long .
With a sudden wail 12 , it sprang 13 forward, propelling its huge
mass on to me . We crashed into the bridge rail, and then down,
down towards the dark, rushing water .
①
gurgle v . ( 流水) 作汩汩声
②
resonance n . 回声
③
saliva n . 口水 , 唾液
④
crouch v . 蜷缩 , 蹲伏
⑤
boulder n . 大石头 , 漂石
⑥
moist a . 潮湿的
⑦
shimmer v . 闪光 , 发闪烁之微光
⑧
mist n . 薄雾
⑨
hound n . 猎犬
10
blaze v . 发光
1
jowl n . 颌 , 颚骨
12
wail n . 哀号
13
spring v . ( sprang sprung) 跳 , 跃
2 38
I continued to fall, powerless to save myself . Suddenly, I
heard someone calling my name . It was a calm voice , but not a
friendly one . It repeated my name over and over again .
‘ Dr Watson, Dr Watson . . . Good, I see you are coming
round . I would never have forgiven myself if Swede had dam－
aged you permanently .’
Brandon stood in front of me, holding a lamp beside his
face . Swede was seated on a crate , fingering his open f lask .
Futrelle , sitting up and alert, was bound hand and foot . I tried
to raise my arm to rub my throbbing① head but discovered that I
was bound as well .
We were in the ship s hold, in an area used for storage of
various odds and ends . Judging by the V shape of the room, we
were in the forward－most area of the deck . I could hear a roar－
ing sound through the heavy steel hull, as the ship cut its way
through the water . Futrelle and I had been thrown on a pile of
empty sacks② , which were slightly moist . There was a chill in
the air, and I longed for the warmth and comfort of my cabin .
‘ How are you, Doctor ? Is there anything I can do for you ?’
I blinked ③ , attempting to clear my vision ‘
. Y ou can call a
steward . Ask him to send two aspirin ④ and someone to untie
these ropes .’
‘ We will attend to the aspirin, but I am afraid I cannot help
①
t hrob v . 抽动 , 颤动
②
sack n . 大袋 , 麻布袋
③
blink v . 眨眼
④
aspirin n . 阿斯匹林 (解热镇痛药 )
2 39
you with the other . By the way, Swede apologizes for hitting
you with his gun but you should not have tried to escape .’
I turned to face my fellow prisoner .‘ How are you,
Futrelle ?’
‘ As well as can be expected in the circumstances . I was just
trying to get Brandon here to explain what this is all about . So
far, no luck .’
Brandon smiled ‘
. Oh , I’I1 be happy to explain , although I
am a bit surprised that the two of you have not been able to de－
duce it for yourselves .’
‘ What do you mean by that ?’
Brandon put down the lamp and sat on a nearby crate ‘
. Just
that here , l have two of the most famous mystery writers of our
time . Dr Watson, you record the cases of Sherlock Holmes .
And Mr Futrelle , you have your fictional detective, Professor
Van Dusen , whom you call The Thinking Machine . Y et, neither
of you have the slightest notion of what I have planned … But
then, you have been investigating and asking a lot of questions .
Perhaps you know more than you will admit to .’
‘Perhaps, ’I said, doing my best to outbluff ① this old poker
player ‘
. But, for the sake of the details, pray② start from the
beginning .’
‘I would be glad to , Doctor . Well then - I suppose if you
want me to give you the complete story - I should tell you about
a boy growing up in London .
①
out bluff v . [牌 ] ( 打扑克时) 用下大注的办法吓退对手
②
pray v . 祈祷 , 恳求
2 40
‘I had a comfortable upbringing, good parents, a fine edu－
cation . I also had a great love of games - anything competitive .
At the university, I excelled at football and cricket① , but most
of all I loved evening card games with the members of my
teams . If someone outstripped ② me on the playing field, I knew
it would not be long before I would be collecting their weekly al－
lowance at the poker table .’
Truly, Brandon had a captive audience but I still had the
freedom of protest ‘
. This is all very fascinating, Brandon, but I
do not see . . . ’
‘ Background, Doctor . I want you to understand today s
events in the light of what I have discovered in life . It is only
then that you can understand, and perhaps accept, what is about
to happen .’
‘Then please continue .’
‘Thank you, Doctor . Well, life was good and I felt quite
content with my studies and sp ort . Still, my existence appeared
to lack meaning . I had no direction that would allow me to make
my mark on the world . Ironically, it was a game of poker that
helped me to f ind that direction .
‘I was playing with some of the older students and losing
rather badly to a fellow named McKee . The rest of us looked on
McKee as an odd sort, because he belonged to some peculiar po－
litical groups, and his bookshelves were filled with Marx, Engels
and other thinkers . But in his favour, he was a good card player
①
cricket n . [ 运动 ]板球
②
outst rip v . 超过
2 41
and a congenial fellow , so we invited him into our games .
‘ We were about to conclude for the night, with Mc Kee
holding most of the chips, when he offered a most interesting
wager① . He said he would bet all his winnings on one hand of
poker . If he lost, we would recover our losses . But if he won,
we would agree to accompany him to a meeting of the Marching
Together League , a student society . At first I refused, thinking
that my evening s losses were hardly worth diminishing② my rep－
utation - especially if my parents everfound out . But McKee as－
sured me that my attendance would remain secret, and if anyone
did f ind out, he would support my story that I was there to repay
a poker debt . I did end up accepting his wager, as did the two
other players at the table , who had lost even more than me .
‘ Well, McKee s luck held out, and on the following Thurs－
day night we found ourselves at a smoky ③ Oxford bar, listening
to f iery④ rhetoric ⑤ from some highly intelligent speakers . Ex－
cept for one well－known history teacher, I did not recognize any
of them . Y et, within their own circle, they were well regarded
and respected . I began to consider my own values and soon con－
cluded that money - while a worthy goal in games of chance should not be used by the powerful to oppress the weak . Within
a fortnight ⑥ I had decided to join the Marching Together
①
wager n . 赌注
②
diminish v . 降低……的声音
③
smoky a . 充满烟的
④
fiery a . 炽热的 , 热烈的
⑤
rhetoric n . 花言巧语
⑥
for tnigh t n . 两星期
2 42
League .
‘ A fter coming down from Oxford I told my father I wanted
to take some time to see a bit of the world before entering the
bottom rungs① of his brokerage ② business . He seemed disap－
pointed, but agreed to fund my trip as a graduation present . I
said I would return in no more than six months, after touring
Europe and visiting friends of my father along the way . He
wanted this to be a business education, as well as a cultural expe－
rience . I felt guilty but deep in my heart I did not consider my
acceptance to be an out－and－out③ lie . A fret all, I did plan to vis－
it his friends and might, ultimately, decide to return to my
father s business . But, in the meantime , my travels would com－
plete another type of education that began with the Marching
Together League . I would make contact with some organizations
throughout Europe , and look for o pportunities to build a
stronger alliance ④ .
‘I looked up one of my father s friends in Paris, but aban－
doned my business pursuits ⑤ after this one stop . Instead, I de－
voted my time to the mission given to me by the league . The
money given to me by my father was a more than ample stake to
begin a successful career as a card player . . . Sadly, I never saw
or contacted my parents again . I understand that my father died
①
rung n . 地位
②
brokerage n . 经纪人之业务 , 回扣
③
out－and－out a . 完全的 , 彻底的
④
alliance n . 联盟
⑤
pursuit n . 追求
2 43
last year . You must understand, gentlemen, I loved my parents .
I bear a great burden of guilt . Y et, I could not return to them
and explain why I did what I did . They would never have under－
stood .’
‘ That s a f ine biographical① account, ’said Futrelle ,‘but it
does not explain why we are here , bound f rom hand to foot .’
Brandon, who had come to look somewhat melancholy② ,
quickly regained his earlier enthusiasm ‘
. Yes, gentlemen , to the
point . As you know, the launching of this ship was greeted with
a goo d deal of trumpeting ③ . In fact, the Titanic is seen as a
symbol of the infallibility④ of the British Empire and the capi－
talist system . If this ship sinks on its maiden voyage, the loss of
confidence by capitalist countries will be immeasurable .’
‘Y ou mean to sink the Titanic !’ I shouted .‘ Hundreds of
innocent people would die ! Y ou cannot be serious !’
‘Oh, I am very serious . And as for those who will die ,
well, my burden of guilt will grow immensely . But remember,
thousands, even millions die in wars . This one incident will
bring us a giant step closer to our idealism .’
‘Brandon , stop this insanity⑤ !’ said Futrelle .‘ This ship
does not have enough lifeboats . Only a fraction, if any, will be
saved . And do not forget, you and your men will die too .’
①
biographical a . 传记的
②
melancholy a . 忧郁的
③
t rumpet v . 鼓吹
④
infallibility n . 绝对可靠性
⑤
insanity n . 疯狂
2 44
‘No , no , not if we follow our plan .’Brandon was pacing
back and forth, like a professor before a blackboard . A ship will
be waiting for us a mile off the starboard side at around mid－
night . It has instructions to signal to us, to guide our approach .
At 1 a . m . two nitroglycerine ① charges② will be set off by
timers . One , in fact, is right here in this hold . Another is else－
where in the ship .’
I looked around the hold but did not see any signs of a
bomb .‘ Give it up, Brandon . Sinking a ship will not further
your cause . If anything, the authorities of the world will band
together to destroy you and your organization .’
‘ And who will tell them that we did it ? The two of you will
be the f irst to die . And as to the cause, we have every hope that
it will be seen as an accident - an exploding boiler or a collision
with an iceberg . We will have to wait and see .’
‘Brandon, I beg of you, give this up now , ’I pleaded③ . ’
Kill us if you like . There will not be any witnesses . But do not
continue with your terrible plan .’
‘ Well, Doctor, I am a sporting man . I could kill you both
right now . But if the two of you are clever enough, there is a
small chance that you could concoct④ some means of escaping
and of warning the captain . As I recall, Mr Futrelle s Professor
Van Dusen was somewhat of an escape artist .’ He pulled a
①
nit roglycerine n . ( = nit roglycerin ) [ 化] 硝化甘油 , 炸药
②
charge n . 炸药包
③
plead v .恳求
④
concoct v . 图谋 , 策划
2 45
watch from his pocket .‘ It is now just past 4 pm . The charges
have been planted and my friends and I must make preparations
for our departure ① . Remember , both charges go off at 1 a .m .
. . . But no more clues ② . Goodbye , and good luck .’
①
departure n . 出发 , 离开
②
clue n . 线索 ; 暗示
2 46
Chapter Eighteen
T he Evening of
Saturday 13 April 1912
经过努力 , 福特来尔磨断 了绳索 , 帮 华生 解开绑 绳。但 他们 却
无法打开货舱的门 出 去 , 也 没 有办 法 向外 面 的 人求 救。他 们 只 好
先试着拆除炸弹。这时 , 乔装的 福尔摩 斯打 开了货 舱门 , 救 出了 华
生和福特来尔。
Escape is an art that is distinct from the science of deduc－
tive ① reasoning .
Deductive reasoning involves examining factual ② evidence
and, through analysis, reconstructing past events . It is rather
like locating the pieces of a puzzle, and then putting them to－
gether .
Escape, on the other hand, requires one other thing - an
overpowering will to survive ③ . Y ou must truly believe there is a
way out, if only you can f ind it .
Futrelle and I clearly understood the importance of our
challenge . The survival of everyone on board the ship depended
on our ability to free ourselves and warn the captain . But despite
①
deductive a . 演绎的
②
factual a . 事实的 , 实际的
③
survival n . 生存 , 幸存
2 47
this awesome ① resp onsibility, we found ourselves completely
perplexed .
Brandon and Swede had taken the lantern ② with them,
leaving us in total darkness . While other holds on the ship had
electric lights, I had seen no evidence of a switch or light f ix－
tures in this small chamber . I sat there , attempting to remember
everything I had observed during our conversation with Bran－
don .
We were encased on all sides, above and below , by solid
steel . Futrelle , who had been conscious throughout our ordeal,
identified our prison as the forward－most cargo hold on the orlop
deck - just in front of the hold where the automobiles were
stored .
A fter Brandon and Swede left, we had heard the sound of
chains being looped through the handle of the steel door to the
adjoining hold . They had not gagged us, since shouting would do
us no good . After the shooting, the captain had forbidden entry
to the scene of the crime . Only senior off icers were allowed in .
Brandon cleverly saw this as an opportunity to conceal his activi－
ties .
The forward wall also had a covered opening . It was la－
belled‘chain locker’. That offered some hope , since the ship s
huge anchor chain was far too large to occupy only one deck . If
we could enter the locker, we might be able to climb to a higher
level and escape through an unlocked door . Even if we were un－
①
awesome a . 引起敬畏的 , 可怕的
②
lan tern n . 提灯
2 48
able to leave through the opening, we might be able to attract
the attention of people on the other side .
The crates lining the walls around us were not labelled . We
had no clue as to their contents, though the lack of refrigera－
tion ① indicated that they were not perishable ② .
The f loor and ceiling both had large hatchways, through
which crates and other cargo could be lowered . Unfortunately,
both were covered by huge metal plates . The bottom hatch cover
was piled high with crates . I suspected that the cover on the up－
per hatch might be weighted in a similar manner .
I sat shivering on the stack of burlap③ sacks, struggling to
loosen the ropes that bound my hands and feet . Though I could
not see Futrelle in the darkness, I could hear rustling and grunt－
ing sounds, as he strained his muscles in a tireless effort to re－
gain his freedom .
‘Futrelle , do you think you might be able to free your arms
or legs ?’
‘Not a chance . If anything, the ropes seem to be getting
tighter . Perhaps it is the dampness④ . How about you ?’
‘No , I have the same problem .’
‘ Watson, do you think he is really serious about sinking the
ship ? I did not see any bomb in here .’
‘It could be in one of the crates, or behind one . For the
①
refrigeration n . 冷藏 , 致冷
②
perishable a . 容易腐烂的
③
burlap n . ( 由黄麻制的做麻袋等用的 )粗麻布
④
dampness n . 潮湿
2 49
sake of the people on this ship , I think we must assume that he is
telling the truth . We must find a way to alert the captain .’
We sat in silence, considering the alternatives . In addition
to being bound, we could not move along the floor . Our cap－
tors ① had looped ② a rope through a hole at the base of a metal
stanchion ③ that ran from the floor to the ceiling . The ends of
the rope were tied to our wrists . We had only a few feet of
slack ④ .
‘Futrelle ?’
‘ Yes .’
‘ As I recall, did not your story, The Problem of Cell 13 , in－
volve Professor Van Dusen escaping from a prison cell ? I cannot
remember the details . How did he get out ?’
‘ Well, he bet some men that he could escape from a prison
cell within a week .’
‘I fear that we do not have that long, but please continue .’
‘Let us see . . . He went into a cell with only the clothes on
his back, some toothpaste and 25 dollars in cash . He was not al－
lowed any contact with the outside world, and only his captors
knew that he was there .’
‘Then what ?’
‘ To cut a long story short, he unravelled⑤ a long thread
①
captor n . 捕捉者 , 逮捕者
②
loop v . 使成环 , 以圈结
③
stanchion n . 支柱
④
slack n . 绳或铁丝等松弛的部分
⑤
unravel v . 解开 ; 松开
2 50
from his socks and tied one end to a rat he had captured in his
cell . He sent the rat through an old drainpipe to a playground
just outside the prison wall . The rat carried a ten－dollar bill, and
a note asking whatever child found it to give the note to a partic－
ular newspaper reporter . When the reporter returned with the
boy, he found the drainpipe and attached some stronger string to
the thread . Van Dusen then pulled the end of the string into his
cell, creating a means for sending small objects through the
pipe .’
‘ Amazing ! What happened then ?’
‘He used nitric ① acid, which he had received through the
drainpipe ② , to cut through the bars of his window . Then he cut
through a cable outside the window , placing that side of the
prison in perfect darkness . That allowed him to leave through
the window .’
‘ What about the prison gate ?’
‘He walked through, disguised as an electrician .’
I sat for a moment, considering Futrelle s extraordinary nar－
rative .
‘I regret, Futrelle, that I do not think there is anything in
that story that can help us in this particular situation .’
There was silence , then my fellow prisoner spoke in a sub－
dued ③ voice ‘
. No , I suppose not . . . Did you and Mr Holmes ev－
er plan an escape ?’
①
nit ric a . [ 化 ]氮的 , 含氮的
②
drainpipe n . 排水管
③
subdue v . 放低( 声音 )
2 51
‘ We were seldom in such a situation, although a few of our
clients had narrow escapes ① .’
‘Such as . . .’
‘ Well, I recall one case where a young engineer was locked
inside a hydraulic ② press and the ceiling began to come down
slowly upon him .’
‘ What did he do ?’
‘ Very little , I fear . Just as he was about to be crushed by
the machine , a woman confederate of his captor opened a side
door and allowed him to pass through .’
‘He escaped unharmed, then ?’
‘ Unfortunately, his captor cut off his thumb with a
butcher s cleaver ③ as he made his escape through a window . But
other than that, he was fine . But I suppose that does not help us
much either . That is, unless one of Brandon s henchmen decides
to take pity on us .’
‘I do not consider that to be a possibility .’
‘Neither do I . . . ’
We stopped speaking for what could have been 15 minutes,
as each of us continued to struggle with our ropes . We tried
fraying ④ the rope that bound us together by rubbing it against
the supporting post but with no success .
‘Watson , do you suppose there s a trap door or anything
①
a narrow escape 九死一生
②
hydraulic a . 水力的 , 水压的
③
cleaver n . 切肉刀
④
fray v . 使磨损
2 52
beneath this pile of sacks ? I mean, it is a possibility .’
‘I suppose we could move the sacks and examine the floor .
Of course, bound to the post as we are, we would not be able to
climb down there , even if there is a hatch .’
‘It could be that there s someone below us .’
By sliding back to the metal post, Futrelle and I were able to
get to our feet . We found that the slack in the ro pe allowed us
both to stand in a crouched position . With our feet bound , it
took considerable time and effort to kick the sacks away and ex－
pose the floor beneath them . At this point, we both sat down a－
gain and felt the floor with our f ingertips .
Futrelle uttered an oath under his breath .
‘My dear Futrelle, what is the matter ?’
‘I tore my trousers on a jagged piece of metal , bent up from
the f loor . I may have cut myself too .’
‘Futrelle , can you manoeuvre your hands over to the metal
and cut the ropes ?’
I heard him sliding along the floor, and then stop suddenly .
‘Watson, could you slide towards the post ? I need a little
more slack .’
I slid backwards, and soon heard a sawing sound as the edge
of the metal rubbed against the rope .
Futrelle sto pped for a moment ‘
. I think I have almost done
it .’
‘Splendid ! Keep going .’
Soon , Futrelle was free from his bonds . He then caught his
breath, and set to work untying me . When my hands were free ,
I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out a box of matches .
2 53
Despite the dampness, I was able to light one on the first try .
‘Is there anything in here we can burn ?’I asked .
‘Perhaps one of these sacks is dry enough to make a torch .’
‘I do not understand why there are no electric lights . The
other holds have them .’
Futrelle looked around in the dim① glow ② of the match .
The opportunity was short, since the flame soon reached my fin－
gers ‘
. Perhaps there are lights and we just have not seen them .
Even with Brandon s lamp, it was still pretty dark in here .’
‘I am certain that there is no switch by the door, ’I said .
‘ Where else would one be ?’
Futrelle scrambled about the floor for a while , then re－
turned with a long, square piece of wood ‘
. I found this by the
crates . We could try wrapping③ some cloth around it .’
I managed to remove my tweed waistcoat and, after wrap－
ping it tightly around the end of the stick , I used the rope to se－
cure it in place . It served well as a torch and burned brightly .
‘But it will not last for long, ’I said .‘ I suggest we make
haste .’
It did not take long to solve the mystery of the missing
switch . I found a light f ixture on one wall, with a string dan－
gling below . One quick tug at the switch produced an even glow .
‘I will try to push these crates over so they do not block the
light, ’said Futrelle .
①
dim a . 暗淡的 , 模糊的
②
glow n . 光亮 , 光辉
③
wrap v . 包装 , 卷 , 缠绕
2 54
‘No ! Wait ! Remember the bomb . Y ou might set it off . We
will just have to make do with the light we have now .’
Futrelle nodded, somewhat embarrassed by his rash sugges－
tion .
‘ Where do you suppose the bomb is ?’Futrelle asked .
‘Well , I’ve been thinking about that . On the night we left
Cherbourg, Holmes and I were in the smoking room , listening
to a conversation between a passenger and the ship s designer, a
Mr Andrews . Andrews said that the ship has 16 watertight com－
partments, and that it can remain afloat with any two of them
flooded - or any three of the first five flooded . I would say that
the bomb is likely to be next to a bulkhead① somewhere further
down .’
We faced each other for a moment, then walked to opposite
corners of the hold . Futrelle was the winner .
‘Just our luck !’said Futrelle ‘
. Here it is, in a shadow . All
I can see is a bunch of wires, some metal thing and a glass bottle
all jammed together in a wooden box .’
‘Perhaps we should try moving it into the light ?’
‘ We could set it off , ’Futrelle cautioned ‘
. First let us see if
there is a way out . If Brandon was telling the truth about it go－
ing off at one o’clock, we still have lots of time left . What time
is it, by the way ?’
‘Half past seven .’
We decided to leave the bomb alone for the moment, and
spend some time examining possible escape routes . Our findings
①
bulkhead n . 隔壁 , 防水壁
2 55
we re f ar f ro m ① promising .
As we expected, the door to the next hold was held firmly
in place by the chain . On the o pposite wall, the cover to the
chain locker was fastened by some very large bolts . We could
reach the cargo hatch above by climbing on top of the crates but
the metal cover would not move an inch . We tried moving crates
to reach the hatch cover on the floor but they were too heavy for
the two of us to handle . If we had a crowbar ② or some other
means of prying③ them open, we could perhaps unpack them un－
til they were light enough to move . But that might take hours,
and the prospects④ of escaping by that route were not that good,
even if the crates were removed . My previous study of the ship
showed that that there was another hold below us, and there was
no indication of whether we could move freely to the next com－
partment .
‘Perhaps we could short the electric lights, ’Futrelle of－
fered ‘
. If that blacked out other parts of the ship, they might
send an electrician down to find the trouble .’
‘ And if it does not - or i f they decide to leave the problem
until morning - we will be left in the dark . We would have virtu－
ally ⑤ no chance of defusing⑥ the bomb . Not that either of us
knows anything about defusing a bomb .’
①
far from 完全不…
②
crowbar n . 撬棍 , 铁橇
③
pry v . 撬
④
prospect n . 希望 ; 期望
⑤
virtually ad . 实际上
⑥
defuse v . 排除…的引信
2 56
‘I suppose . . . I wish we could ring for room service . I am
extremely hungry .’
I smiled and nodded in agreement .
‘Futrelle , ’I said ‘
. There may be another way .’I was sur－
prised to hear my voice cracking① ‘
. It would not save us, but it
may save the other passengers .’
‘ What is it ?’
‘ We could try to defuse the bomb . If we succeed, then well
and good . If we fail, and the bomb goes off , it will only flood
two of the holds .’
‘ And kill us .’
‘ And, as you say, kill us . But the ship will not sink - at least
until the second bomb goes off at 1 a .m . And the threat of two
flooded holds might cause the captain to abandon ship .’
‘But there are not enough lifeboats .’
‘Some would be saved . And if the captain calls for help ear－
ly enough , another ship might come before the Titanic goes
down .’
‘I consider our duty is clear .’
We carefully moved the box containing the bomb to the op－
posite wall, under the electric light . For some time , we kneeled
next to it, examining the complex network of wires and compo－
nents .
‘The bottle of nitroglycerine is down underneath all this
other apparatus, ’I said ‘
. If only we could just remove it, that
would make the whole process simple .’
①
crack v . 使 (嗓音 )变粗 , 变哑
2 57
I tugged① gently at the spool ② - like piece of metal above
the bottle , but it held firmly in place .
‘ We could try pulling some of the wires,’Futrelle said .
‘That might trigger it, but then again , perhaps not .’
I tried tugging at another component, which caused a brief
whirring sound that made me think twice about continuing that
particular approach .
‘If we had a straw ③ and could remove the stopper ④ on the
bottle , we could siphon⑤ the nitroglycerine out of the bottle and
into another container . Then the bomb would be harmless .’
I wiped the sweat off my brow ‘
. Not the most helpful sug－
gestion, Futrelle .’
‘ Do you have a better idea ?’
‘Confound it⑥ , Futrelle , I am a doctor, not an explosives
expert !’
‘ Apologies old fellow . An unusual situation for both of us .’
‘There is a wire here that is lightly soldered⑦ into place .’I
said, pointing to a thin strand covered in red insulation .‘ I am
going to give it a tug .’
‘I am with you, Watson . Proceed . . .but gently, if you
please .’
①
t ug v . 用力拉
②
spool n . 线轴 , 缠线用的框
③
straw n . 稻草 , 麦秆
④
stopper n . 塞子 , 阻塞物
⑤
siphon v . 用虹吸管吸出或排出
⑥
confound it 讨厌 , 该死
⑦
solder v . 焊接
2 58
I took a deep breath, then gently placed my fingertips on
either side of the wire , down near the connection .I placed the
forefinger of my other hand on the component just below the
connection, and began to work the wire back and forth .
‘ What the devil is that !’I gasped, backing my hands away
from the device .
Someone was rattling① the chain outside the door . I looked
up at Futrelle and he looked back at me with an expression of ut－
ter delight .
‘ We’re saved !’he said ‘
. The ship is saved !’
‘ Unless it is Brandon coming back to check up on our
ropes,’I said, keeping my voice down ‘
. Quickly, to the door !
We will need to grab whoever it is when he comes in .’
Futrelle and I stood on either side of the door, our backs to
the wall . Suddenly, I remembered something and ran back to
switch off the light .
The door opened before I could return to my position . I saw
the silhouette ② of a stooped③ man . He had a full, f luffy ④ beard
and mumbled to himself as he peered through the doorway . It
was clearly not Brandon, but I wondered whether it might be
one of his henchmen .
He slowly lifted a lamp from the floor, and pointed it di－
rectly at me . He suddenly backed away in surprise but then
①
rat tle v . 发出卡嗒卡嗒声
②
silhouet te n . 侧面影象 , 轮廓
③
stoop v . 弯下 , 弯下上身 , 弯腰
④
fluffy a . 蓬松的
2 59
braced himself on the door frame and moved forward cautious－
ly .
‘Ere now , who is that lurkin ① ’about in the dark ? Come out
in the light now , yer’ear ?’
Futrelle took no chances . He lunged at② the stooped figure
as he stepped into the room . Both fell to the floor with a thud③ .
I turned the light back on and studied the features of our visitor,
who was now lying f lat on his back, with Futrelle on top of
him . He was an elderly man with a weathered ④ face and a
bushy ⑤ beard and eyebrows . The white hair behind his receding
brow was long and uncombed . The man s grey, battered coat
did not appear to be that of one of the crew . But then, he did
not appear to be a passenger either, since his clothing contained
a layer of soot⑥ .
‘Futrelle , I suggest that you help our visitor up to his feet to
allow him to explain who he is and what his business is down in
the cargo hold .’
Futrelle helped the man to his feet . Our visitor showed little
gratitude ⑦ . Instead, he brushed himself down and scrutinized ⑧
each of us from head to toe .
①
lurk v . 潜藏 , 潜伏
②
lunge at 猛向前冲
③
t hud n . 砰击声
④
weat her v . 使受风吹雨打
⑤
bushy a . 浓密的
⑥
soot n . 煤烟 , 烟灰
⑦
gratitude n . 感激 ; 谢意
⑧
scrutinize v . 细察 , 仔细审查
2 60
‘ What I am doin’ere is no concern of yours,’he said, con－
tinuing to brush dust from his sleeves① ‘
. And what do you mean
by jumpin’ on me like that ? Seems to me I did you gents ② a
favour by lettin’you out of’ere .’
I was beginning to feel a little guilty . While we were justi－
f ied in being cautious, he had indeed done us and everyone on
board a great favour .‘ My apologies but we had to make sure
that you were not in league with the man who locked us in here .
But what are you doing down here yourself ?’
The man grinned wryly③ , stoo d up straight, and used both
hands to pull the beard from his face .
‘My dear Watson, I was simply looking for you .’
‘Holmes !’
‘Indeed it is . And I am most relieved to f ind that I have not
lost my touch with disguises . Y ou must admit, this one had you
completely fooled .’
①
sleeve n . 袖子
②
gent n . 绅士 , 假绅士
③
wryly ad . 挖苦地 , 表情冷漠地
2 61
Chapter Nineteen
T he Late Evening of
Saturday 13 April 1912
福尔摩斯和华生都告诉了对 方自己 的经 历。原来 福尔 摩斯 发
现华生和福特里尔很晚还没有 回去 , 便 到布 兰顿那 里去 找他 们 , 意
外地窃取了布兰 顿布 置 炸 弹的 轮 船结 构 图 , 并 找到 了 被困 的 华 生
和福特里尔。而各种迹象似乎都表 明沉船 的阴 谋似乎 与绝 密文 件
失窃并无关系。他们立刻向船长 汇报了 布兰 顿沉船 的阴 谋。船 长
急忙打电话找人搜索和拆除炸弹。
‘Holmes, you amaze me ! After all these years, you still
surprise me . How on earth did you find us down here ?’
‘ When you failed to return , I went down to third class to
find you . I could not locate you in any of the public areas, so I
decided that my best course of action was to follow our mysteri－
ous gambler friend, Mr Brandon . I found him in the bar .’
‘But why the disguise ?’asked Futrelle , nervously dividing
his attention between Holmes and the bomb .
Holmes looked curiously at Futrelle , and then back at me .
‘My dear fellow , what do you have back there ?’
‘It is a bomb . . . but it is not set to go off until one o’
clock .’
Holmes folded his arms, nodded and stared at me with calm
2 62
resignation ① . He made me feel like a schoolboy causing mis－
chief ② in the teacher s absence ③ . After scratching his chin, he
walked to the corner of the room and glanced down at the
bomb .
‘ One o’clock , you say ?’
‘Y es, Brandon plans to sink the ship, ’ I replied .‘ He
thinks, somehow , that this will further the cause of Marxism .
He does not seem to know anything about the stolen docu－
ments .’
‘I see . . . Well, this adds a new dimension to our mystery .
I suggest that we go on deck and report to the captain .’
We debated , for a moment, whether one of us should stay
behind to stand guard over the bomb . We decided that it was
well enough hidden to avoid notice during the short time we
were gone .
On the way up to the captain s cabin, Holmes continued his
account of how he had located us in the cargo hold . I was sur－
prised to hear that he had resorted ④ to a talent he had picked up
years ago from London s criminal element .
‘When I entered the bar, Brandon was seated at a table
with his companions . He was pointing out something on a large
sheet of paper, which was unfolded and spread across the table .
I moved in more closely and discovered that it was a set of deck
①
resignation n . 听任 ; 听从
②
mischief n . 恶作剧
③
absence n . 不在 , 缺席
④
resort v . 求助 , 诉诸 , 采取 (某种手段等 )
2 63
plans for the ship - the same kind that the captain gave to us .
From time to time, he would take the pencil he was using as a
pointer, and mark something on the map .
‘At the conclusion of this discussion, Brandon folded the
map and put it into his coat pocket . He then stood up, picked up
his empty beer glass and walked to the bar . I followed him and,
in fact, was able to begin a casual conversation with him . He
did not recognize me , of course, since I was no longer in the
guise of Commodore Winter .’
‘But again , I must ask you Mr Holmes, why the new dis－
guise ?’asked Futrelle, as we hastily① made our way past the
post office and up the stairway that bordered the squashrackets
court .
‘I started the day by making inquiries in areas of the ship
where passengers and crew might have been intimidated② by the
sight of an officer in uniform . I decided , for a time , to take on
a less assuming civilian identity .’
‘How did you find us ?’I asked ‘
. Were you able to deduce
something from your encounter with Brandon ?’
‘Not exactly . . . I picked Brandon s pocket, ’said Holmes,
taking some satisfaction in this feat ‘
. And I must say, his set of
deck plans was most helpful . The hold where he had imprisoned
you, and hidden the bomb, was circled .’
‘ Outstanding, Holmes ! Y ou may not only have saved our
lives but also the ship .’
①
hastily ad . 急速地
②
intimidate v . 胁迫
2 64
‘I fear , Watson, that I may also have given the game
away . Brandon will undoubtedly become suspicious when he no－
tices that his deck plans are missing . All the more reason to
make haste in reaching the captain .’
We found the captain on the bridge, going over nautical
charts ① with the officer of the watch . When he saw us at the
doorway, he seemed somewhat irritated② . I suspect our appear－
ance may have had something to do with it . A fter our ordeal in
the hold, Futrelle and I were badly in need of a bath and fresh
clothing . And then there was Holmes . . .
‘I will be with you in a moment, gentlemen . Please step in－
to my sitting room .’
‘I think, Captain, that we should talk to you at once ,’said
Holmes .
The captain peered at Holmes over his reading glasses and
then, without saying a word, he followed us into the adjoining
room and closed the door .
‘Still masquerading③ in that outf it, Mr Holmes ? Y ou look
like a character out of Dickens .’
‘Captain, listen carefully,’said Holmes ‘
. There is a bomb
in the forward cargo hold of the orlop deck . It is set to go off at
one o’clock .’
‘ A bomb ! What the devil are you talking about ? Who put it
there ?’
①
chart n . 海图
②
irritate v . 激怒 , 使急躁
③
masquerade v . 化装
2 65
‘Brandon . He and a small group of anarchists① plan to sink
this ship . They also plan to steal a lifeboat and row for a waiting
ship around midnight .’
‘ Anarchists ! From what country ? What do they want ?’The
captain was clearly rattled② by the news, but I sensed no panic ③
or hesitation in his voice .
‘There is no time to discuss that now . Do you have anyone on
board who can defuse a bomb ? It is attached to a bottle of nitroglyc－
erine ④ .’
The captain thought for a moment .‘ So far as I know ,
there are no experts on board . . . I seem to recall Hanson, one
of our electricians, saying that he used to set munitions⑤ charges
when he was in the navy .’
‘Then I suggest, Captain, that we find him and ask him to
inspect the device .’
The captain reached for the telephone ‘
. Mr Boxhall, please
come into my sitting room immediately .’
‘There is no great danger, Mr Holmes . A bomb can damage
the ship, but it cannot sink her . Several holds would have to be
flooded and . . . ’
‘There are two bombs .’
‘ What ! Where is the second ?’
①
anarchist n . 无政府主义者
②
rat tle v . 使紧张 ; 使紊乱
③
panic n . 恐慌
④
nit roglycerine n . ( = nitroglycerin) [化 ]硝化甘油 , 炸药
⑤
munitions n . 军需品 ( m unition 之复数 )
2 66
‘ As yet, we do not know .’
‘ Goo d God, man ! What has been going on here ? Does this
have something to do with those stolen documents of yours ?’
‘Nothing, sir, ’said Holmes, folding his arms and looking
the captain squarely in the eye ‘
. In fact, if it hadn’t been for
our investigation, you would never have known about the bombs
until one o’clock, when they explode .’
‘Both at one o’clock .’
‘ Y es, ’said Holmes, reaching into his coat pocket ‘
. I have
Brandon s copy of the deck plans here .’Holmes laid them out
flat on the table . ’This may help us to locate the second de－
vice .’Holmes looked at the plans for a moment, then pointed .
‘Here is the location of the f irst bomb . If it goes off , it will
flood these two holds .’
The captain studied the plans, stroking his beard with one
hand, and using the other to point to various p ositions on the
paper ‘
. If those two holds are flooded, all he has to do is f lood
two more in the forward section of the ship . That will sink us .
Or he could hit one or two holds in the rear - I would have to
consult Mr Andrews about that .’
The captain again picked up the telephone , this time to find
the young ship designer .
‘Holmes, ’I said .‘ Should we not be doing something to
take Brandon and his cohorts① into custody② ? They might be
persuaded to tell us where the second bomb is hidden .’
①
cohort n . 同谋者 ; 同党
②
custody n . 扣留 ; 监禁
2 67
‘ Agreed, Watson, but first things first . Defusing the first
bomb should ensure the safety of the ship . And with Mr
Andrews s help, finding the second bomb should not be too di f－
f icult . There are only so many places where an explosion would
be effective . As for Mr Brandon and his friends, they are fanat－
ics ① . There is no guarantee they would co－operate, even at the
cost of their own lives .’
The captain put down the telephone just as Boxhall entered
the room .
‘ Goo d, Mr Boxhall, I have a little task for you to perform
. . . Gentlemen, Mr Andrews will arrive shortly to assist us .’
The captain explained the situation to Boxhall, who took
the news with as much professional demeanour② as could be ex－
pected . Smith then ordered the officer to find Hanson, confirm
that he did indeed know about explosives and take him to where
the f irst bomb was hidden .
‘It is now nine o’clock - so please lose no time . If Hanson
is unable to defuse the device , we will have to find someone else
who can . Mr Futrelle here will go with you and show you the ex－
act position of the bomb . The rest of us will be attempting to lo－
cate the second charge . Understood ?’
Boxhall accepted the assignment with calm resolve .‘ Y es,
sir . Right away .’
‘ Oh , Mr Boxhall ,’said the captain, reaching into a desk
drawer ‘
. Y ou might need this .’
①
fanatic n . 狂热者
②
demeanour n . 行为 , 举止
2 68
The captain pulled out a silver－coloured revolver . A fter
checking the chamber, he handed it to Boxhall .
‘These are dangerous men, Mr Boxhall . They may come
back .’
The young officer seemed somewhat less assured than he
had a moment earlier , but he put the weapon in his coat pocket
without hesitation . Then he and Futrelle left, making their way
to the bridge .
‘And speaking of our Mr Brandon . . . ’said the captain,
‘it is time that he and his friends learned that this ship and this
crew are not to be trifled① with .’
Once again, the captain picked up the telephone .
①
t rifle v . ( 与 wit h 连用 ) 怠慢 ; 小看 (某人 ) ; 忽视
2 69
Chapter Twenty
T he Night of
Saturday 13 April 1912
初级电气技师汉斯临危受命 到货舱 拆除 炸弹。船 长派 人搜 捕
布兰顿及其同伙 , 又请 来轮 船 设 计师 安 德鲁 斯 先生 帮 助搜 索 另 一
枚炸弹。在福尔摩斯的帮助下 , 藏在包 裹堆 里的 炸弹终 于被 搜出 ,
这时汉斯也顺利拆除了货舱 里的 炸弹。布 兰顿 的沉船 的阴 谋彻 底
失败。
Junior Electrician William Hanson was sitting on a crate ,
wiping his hands nervously on a large red handkerchief when we
arrived . He was describing the bomb s triggering ① device to
Boxhall and Futrelle, who were stooped next to it, examining its
contents . The bomb had been moved to directly under the elec－
tric light, which provided a clearer view of its inner workings .
Hanson stood as the captain walked through the doorway,
followed by Andrews, Miss Norton and myself . Before leaving
his cabin , the captain had ordered a search of the ship to find
Brandon and his friends .
‘Thank you for coming, Mr Hanson,
said the captain .
‘Needless to say, this goes far beyond your normal duties .’
①
2 70
t rigger v . 引发
‘ Anything I can do to help, sir .’
‘Was I correct about your service experience ? Are you ac－
quainted ① with such a device as this ?’
‘ Well, sir . . .’ Hanson cleared his throat .‘ I was never
what you would call an explosives expert, but I am trained to
follow standard procedures for handling ordnance ② .’
‘But can you defuse this bomb, and another one like it ?’
The captain s voice was calm, but firm ‘
. If you are unable to ,
we will attempt to find someone else . But I do hope that you
can, for it is nearly 9．30 .’
‘ Yes, sir, I think I can . . . ’Hanson was visibly nervous,
but he had courage .‘ No guarantees, mind you . But given the
time we have left, I am pro bably your best chance .’
A thought occurred to me ‘
. Captain , could we not simply
throw the bomb over the side ? It might be safer .’
‘I would not advise it, ’said Hanson, taking command of
the situation .‘ Once that thing is wired , it is a hair trigger . It
might explode , maybe near some people , while it is being car－
ried to the deck . And besides, it would definitely explode when
it hit the water, and probably blow a hole in the side of the
ship .’
‘ Y our point is well made , Hanson , said the captain ‘
. Pro－
ceed .’
Hanson s eyes widened as he looked at the captain, and
①
acquaint v . 使熟知
②
ordnance n . 军火
2 71
then the bomb . It reminded me of the f irst time I performed
surgery ① . Of course , in that instance, there was only one life at
stake .
Hanson rose from the crate , wiped his hands one more
time , and approached the bomb . Futrelle and Boxhall backed
away to give him room . At that moment, a man in uniform
stepped through the door . It was Commodore Giles Winter .
‘Captain, ’he said ‘
. I came as soon as I got your message .
What is all this about ?’
The captain played along with the charade ② .‘ A bomb,
Commodore . . . planted by anarchists . I am expecting them to
be brought before me any moment . But our immediate concern
is this bomb . . . this one , and another planted somewhere on
board the ship .’
‘ Any progress in f inding the second device ?’Holmes said,
showing mild concern .
‘Y our friend, Miss Norton, is assisting Mr Andrews in a
search .’
‘How much time do we have ?’
‘One o’clock . I thought it wisest to restrict knowledge of
the danger to as few people as possible . We have some sound
theories on where the second bomb might be hidden .’
Attention shifted back to Hanson and the explosive device .
‘ Do you require any assistance , Mr Hanson ?’asked Box－
hall ‘
. I have spent a little time with explosives, so i f I could be
①
surgery n . 手术
②
charade n . 几乎没有掩饰的伪装
2 72
of . . . ’
‘No , no , thank you , sir . Another set of hands would not
do any good . In fact, sir, I think you all would be well advised
to leave the room .’
The captain remained silent for a moment . He was not the
type of man to seek safety, while a member of his crew was in
danger .
‘ We all have work to do . Our most important task is to as－
sist Mr Andrews in f inding the other bomb . . . Carry on , Mr
Hanson .’
Smith began to herd① us towards the door . As the last of us
stepped over the threshold, the captain turned towards the elec－
trician .’
‘Mr Hanson ,’he said .
‘ Yes, sir .’
‘ Y ou have our thanks and our prayers .’
‘Thank you, sir . I will report back once I have finished .’
We passed through the next cargo hold and into the post
room . There , we saw Andrews and Miss Norton peering over
the deck plans, which were laid flat on a sorting table . The
post－room crew had gone off duty, and they were alone in the
room .
‘ Do you have anything to report, Mr Andrews ?’asked the
captain .
We checked all the positions marked in pencil, and we
found nothing .’
①
herd v . 使聚集在一起
2 73
‘Do you need any help - search parties . . . that sort of
thing ?’
Still studying the plans . Andrews replied,‘I am hoping that
we can reason with them . Assuming Brandon knew what he was
doing, it must be strategically placed .’
Holmes slid himself between Andrews and Miss Norton, to
gaze at the plans .
‘Let me see , said Holmes .‘ Mr Andrews, if I recall cor－
rectly, the ship can remain afloat with any two of its 16 holds
flooded . Is that not the case ?’
‘ Or any three of the first five .’
‘What other factors are important ?’Holmes used the stem
of his pipe as a pointer ‘
. This first bomb was wedged① in a cor－
ner between the bulkhead and the hull . Might we expect the sec－
ond bomb to be placed in a similar position ?’
Andrews squeezed in closer to the plans and ran his finger
along the length of the ship ‘
. It would be the best way of ensur－
ing success - from the anarchists’p oint of view - but look here .
The coal bunkers are up against the bulkheads throughout the
mid－section of the ship . Access would be very difficult in most
areas .’Andrews paused, and looked up at Holmes ‘
. Although,
igniting② the coal dust would tend to amplify③ the explosion . . .
But no , that is a little far－fetched .’
Holmes walked towards the aft wall, which had a box of
①
wedge v . 楔入 , 楔进
②
ignite v . 点燃
③
amplify v . 增强
2 74
parcels in front of it . A canvas① was draped ② over it and tied
down at each corner .
‘ What about here ?’asked Holmes .‘ According to the
plans, there is a coal bunker on the other side of this bulkhead .’
‘ Y ou are quite right, Commodore ,’said the captain , walk－
ing to Holmes ‘
. But as you can see , that box goes all the way up
to the hull . There is no room for a bomb .’
‘ What about the hold on the port side ?’
‘ A baggage locker, locked and filled to capacity③ , said the
captain .
‘Commodore Winter may be on to something .’Andrews a－
bandoned his deck plans and strode rapidly over to the pile of
parcels ④ .‘ An explosion here would flood two more compart－
ments . The hull plating is thicker on the other side of the bulk－
head, but the exploding coal . . . ’
‘Possible, Mr Andrews, but not very likely, ’the captain
replied ‘
. This room is secured after the post－room crew goes off
duty . A fter that, there are regular safety checks . There would
be no time to come in here, unstack the parcels, plant a bomb
and restore everything to its original position .’
‘If they used a bomb like the other one , it would have a 12－
hour timer ,’Boxhall said, ‘ They could not set it up for any
longer than that .’
①
canvas n . 帆布
②
drape v . 盖上布
③
capacity n . 容量
④
parcel n . 包裹
2 75
‘ And the best location would be at deck level, ’ Andrews
added ‘
. An interesting thought, anyway, Commodore .’
‘This canvas has been cut, ’Holmes said ‘
. Mind you, I did
not say torn . It has been sliced with a knife .’
The captain kneeled down next to Holmes and examined the
opening in the thick cloth . He then looked at Holmes, but did
not say a word .
Holmes lifted the bottom of the canvas, revealing the end
of a parcel . It was wrapped neatly in paper , with the string tied
in a bow . The end of the package was stamped in red with the
letters
‘WWU’.
‘ WW U ? said the captain , feeling the end of the package .
‘ What do you suppose that means ? Some university, perhaps ?’
‘ Workers of the World, Unite !
shouted Miss Norton . All
eyes turned immediately to the young woman , who seemed a lit－
tle embarrassed by the sudden attention ‘
. I mean, I saw that be－
fore , somewhere . . . read it in some magazine , I think .’
‘ Very good, Miss Norton ! said Holmes, smiling ‘
. I think
we may be on to something . Did you notice that the string is
bowed at the end of the parcel ? That is a little unusual . . . I
think I will attempt to pull it open to see what happens .’
I was not entirely sure that pulling on the string was a good
idea . A fter all, it could have been attached to the triggering de－
vice . But there was no time to protest . Holmes reached over and
untied the string with a firm yank ① . Moments later, he was
pulling away the paper, and removing a square of cardboard .
①
2 76
yank n . 猛拉
This uncovered a round opening in the package .
‘ Does anyone have a match ?’
Boxhall pulled a match from his pocket and gave it to
Holmes, who struck it against a crate and used it to illuminate
the interior of the box .
‘Well, well , well . . . I see a bottle , and some electrical
items . I believe we have found our second bomb .’
‘Incredible ① !’exclaimed the captain ‘
. How did it get down
at the bottom of the pile ? One of the post－room crew must have
. . .’
‘ Or, someone posing as a member of the crew , ’Holmes in－
terjected ② ‘
. In any case , the bomb was placed here , in this po－
sition, at the beginning of the voyage . A fter that, setting the
timing device became a matter of opening the end of the package
and turning a switch . Any skilled thief could accomplish that
without anyone noticing .’
‘Ingenious③ , said Futrelle .‘ In fact, i f you do not mind,
Commodore , this kind of thing might be a nice touch for one of
Professor Van Dusen s adventures .’
‘Indeed , Futrelle, said Holmes .‘ I am sure the anarchists
will raise no objection i f you include it in one of your stories .’
Hanson chose that moment to walk into the room . His big
red handkerchief was soaking wet as he mopped④ the sweat off
①
incredible a .不可思议
②
interject v . 插嘴 , 突然插入
③
ingenious a . 有独创性的
④
mop v . 擦 , 抹
2 77
his hands and face . As he walked into the room, he looked like
a man who had just run a mile in the hot sun .
‘Well, sir, the bomb is all taken care of . I have removed
the triggering device . So if you don’t mind , I will run up to my
quarters and . . . ’
‘No time for that now, Hanson . You will f ind bomb num－
ber two inside that box .’
Boxhall ran back to steady the man, whose legs seemed to
be giving out beneath him .
The captain spoke ‘
. And now , gentlemen . . . Miss Norton,
now that the danger to the ship has passed, let us pay our re－
spects to Mr Brandon and his friends . If the search party has not
yet discovered them , we know where they will be at midnight .’
2 78
Chapter T wenty－one
Midnight on Saturday
13 April 1912
4 月 13 日午夜 , 福尔摩斯及船长根据布兰顿所 说的话 , 布置 了
人员。在 11 点半 多 的时 候 , 布 兰顿 一伙 人出 现了 , 他们 准备 乘 坐
救生船 , 按约定去与一只神秘 的船接 头。在 泰坦尼 克号 甲板 上 , 他
们被船长及其随从包围了。在枪战 中 , 布兰 顿的 四个同 伙被 打死 ,
而他却逃跑了。
I must confess to being a creature of comfort . Nothing
pleases me more than sitting in front of the fireplace ① , catching
up on ② my reading . But to his credit ③ , Holmes has sent f re－
quent④ ripples⑤ through what might have been a life of tranquil－
lity ⑥ . How many times have I been pulled away ⑦ from my easy
chair - or left my dinner on the table - to go running into the
①
fireplace n . 壁炉
②
catch up on . . . 补做……
③
to one’s credit 使某人增光
④
frequent a . 频繁的
⑤
ripple n . 细浪
⑥
t ranquillit y n . 平静
⑦
pull away 离开
2 79
night on some adventure ① ? And my life has been the richer for
it .
But there is one form of discomfort② that I simply cannot
abide ③ . Old soldier that I am , I have never become used to the
penetrating chill④ of a cold wind . And there is no wind worse
than the kind that occurs on the open sea .
I was contemplating⑤ the warmth of my cabin ⑥ that Satur－
day night as I crouched⑦ behind the lifeboat⑧ , with my service ⑨
revolver in my coat pocket . The wind was whipping 10 across the
deck and the temperature was below freezing . All in all 1 , this
was not my idea of a pleasure cruise .
Fortunately, none of the passengers was partial 12 to bitter 13
cold weather either . They were all below enjoying the comforts
of the ship . The captain had posted 14 men inside to be on the
①
adven ture n . 惊险活动
②
discomfort n . 不舒适
③
abide v . 忍受
④
chill n . 寒冷
⑤
con template v . 沉思
⑥
cabin n . 船舱
⑦
crouch v . 蹲伏
⑧
lifeboat n . 救生船
⑨
service n . 服役
10
whip v . 猛烈地吹过
1
all in all 总的来说
12
par tial a . 偏爱的
13
bitter a . 刺骨的
14
post v . 派遣 , 配置 (岗哨等 )
2 80
lookout for ① Brandon s men , and at the same time to redirect②
any passenger who might want to wander ③ out on deck .
Holmes and Miss Norton were at my side . It was our job to
stand watch on the port ④ side of the boat deck, along the sec－
ond－class promenade . The captain, Futrelle and Boxhall were
guarding the starboard side . Other members of the crew were
posted by the boats at the forward end of the ship .
I remembered Brandon s words well . A ship would be wait－
ing for him and his four companions at midnight, a mile off the
starboard ⑤ side of the ship . It was now approaching⑥ 11 . 30 . If
they were to make their rendezvous⑦ , they would have to arrive
soon to take one of the lifeboats .
Miss Norton s teeth were chattering ⑧ . In the dim glow ⑨ of
the ship s lights, I saw Holmes give her a disapproving 10 look .
‘Miss Norton, silence is essential 1 .’
‘I do not think they are coming, she whispered .‘ Not if
they know that Dr Watson and Mr Futrelle have escaped .’
①
on the lookou t for 寻找
②
redirect v . 重新确定地址
③
wander v . 闲逛
④
por t n . ( 船、飞机的) 左舷
⑤
starboard n . ( 船、飞机的 )右舷
⑥
approach v . 接近
⑦
rendezvous n . 约会
⑧
chatter v . ( 牙齿 )打颤
⑨
glow n . 白光
10
disapprove a . 不赞成的
1
essen tial a . 最重要的
2 81
‘ We cannot be sure of that .’
Boxhall had issued ① each of us with a heavy coat . He said
he had worked on deck many② a time without getting cold . Af－
ter a while, however, I noted③ that they were not designed to
keep a man warm while sitting still .
Miss Norton moved close to me . Why had such a young girl
chosen such a dangerous career④ ? Being a courier was difficult
enough , but this . . . ? If Brandon and his friends did come on
deck, I resolved ⑤ that my chief responsibility ⑥ would be to pro－
tect her . Why had she insisted on joining in this vigil ⑦ ?
There was a glow on the deck of the ship . Ice was forming !
An odd ⑧ chase ⑨ this would be if we all ended up 10 sliding 1 into
each other . . .
‘I say, Holmes, ’I said, quietly .‘ Do you remember the
R oylott case 12 , when we stood watch outside the house at night,
①
issue v . 提供
②
many a 许多
③
note v . 注意
④
career n . 职业
⑤
resolve v . 决定
⑥
responsibility n . 责任
⑦
vigil n . 值夜
⑧
odd a . 奇怪的
⑨
chase n . 行动
10
end up 最后发展为
1
slide v . 溜走
12
case n . 案子
2 82
and the cheetah ① and baboon② were roaming③ the grounds ?’
‘ Yes , Watson, I remember . That was a long time ago . As
I recall, it was much warmer . . . ’
‘ Quiet, ’urged ④ Miss Norton .
I was about to make a brief ⑤ reply, when she put her fin－
gers over my lips and whispered,‘No , please, listen !’
There was a clattering sound coming f rom the raised⑥ area,
just forward of the aft funnel . In the dim light, I saw several
figures moving about . Quietly, they moved towards the ladder⑦
and then disappeared . Moments later, one man, dressed in dark
clothing, made his way across the deck . I did not need to see his
face . The height and breadth ⑧ of the man immediately told me
that it was Swede .
The huge figure disappeared behind a lifeboat, while the
others remained hidden around the corner . From time to time ⑨ ,
we
heard
rustling 10
and
clanking
①
cheetah n . 非洲猎豹
②
baboon n . 狒狒
③
roam v . 闲逛
④
urge v . 急切地说
⑤
brief a . 简短的
⑥
raised a . 发出声音的 , 凸起的
⑦
ladder n . 梯子
⑧
breadt h n . 宽度
⑨
from time to time 不时地
10
rustle v . 发出沙沙声
1
while con j . 尽管
sounds .
While 1
the
2 83
temptation ① to leave our hiding place was overwhelming② , we
remained in the shadows, listening and watching .
Several minutes passed, during which we heard nothing but
the sound of the wind whistling③ across the deck . Then there
was a faint clanking of metal, followed by a cranking sound .
The lifeboat forward of Swede began to rise - up, up and over
the rail, until it was positioned ④ above the water . Then Swede
emerged⑤ , cautiously⑥ walking to the centre of the deck . He
looked all around, fore ⑦ , aft and up to the raised roof . Decid－
ing that all was clear, he motioned to his f riends to come out of
hiding .
Swede returned to the lifeboat and lifted the edge of the
canvas⑧ cover, as his companions hurried across the deck and
stood anxiously ⑨ by the rail .
At that moment I felt a tap on my shoulder . Holmes moved
casually out on to the deck . His revolver was pointed directly at
the men .
‘ Stay where you are , Hugo Brandon .’ His voice cut
through the wind , and the f ive men searched quickly through
①
temptation n . 诱惑
②
overwhelming a . 无法抗拒的
③
whistle v . 呼啸
④
position v . 定位
⑤
emerge v . 出现
⑥
cautiously ad . 小心地
⑦
fore ad . 向船头
⑧
canvas n . 帆布
⑨
anxiously ad . 焦急地
2 84
the darkness to trace ① its source . Within moments, all eyes were
fixed on Holmes .‘ Y ou will not be going anywhere tonight,’
Holmes said .
Brandon stepped forwards, peering② into the darkness .
‘Commodore , is that you ? Why yes, I believe it is .’
A man in the shadows reached slowly into his coat . Charlie ,
Kurt Willy ? I could not tell .
My revolver in hand, I quickly took aim . I did not have
time to fire . There was an explosion and flash ③ from Holmes s
gun . The man twisted④ and fell to the deck, holding his right
shoulder .
Unfortunately ⑤ , the revolver s recoil ⑥ caused Holmes to
lose his footing momentarily⑦ on the icy deck . Brandon and his
men used the opportunity to jump for cover behind a li feboat, It
was directly⑧ in front of the boat that had been positioned over
the water .
Holmes, regaining his balance , ran back to Miss Norton
and me , pushing us to the deck as he skidded⑨ to a stop .
‘ That should bring the captain and his men, ’ Holmes
①
t race v . 探寻
②
peer v . 仔细看
③
flash n . 闪光
④
twist v . 扭动身体
⑤
unfort unately ad . 不幸地
⑥
recoil n . 反作用
⑦
momen tarily ad . 立刻
⑧
directly ad . 直接地
⑨
skid v . 急停
2 85
shouted ‘
. Would you prefer to put down your weapons now , or
wait for them ? It makes no difference ① to me .’
‘We will wait for a while, if you do not mind, ’Brandon
replied ‘
. If I were you, I would forget about us and conduct a
search of this ship . As Dr Watson may have told you, we plant－
ed ② two bombs③ . And you do not have very much time .’
‘ Oh , the one in the post room . It is already defused; but
thank you .’
A gun fired, chipping④ a splinter⑤ of wood from our
lifeboat . A flurry⑥ of shots followed . But they were not aimed
at us . The attention of Brandon and his gang⑦ was now drawn to
the captain and his men , who emerged from both forward and
aft positions . As the ship s crew began to shoot, our adversaries
were caught in⑧ a crossfire ⑨ . Clearly, they could not hold their
position behind the lifeboat .
Suddenly, there was a chugging 10 , mechanical 1 sound . The
①
make no difference 没有差别
②
plan t v . 放置
③
bomb n . 炸弹
④
chip v . 切 (成小片 )
⑤
splinter n . 碎片
⑥
flurry n . (一 ) 阵
⑦
gang n . 一帮 ( 歹徒)
⑧
catch in 引起
⑨
crossfire n . (枪炮的 ) 交叉火力
10
chug v . 发轧轧声
1
mechanical a . 机械的
2 86
lifeboat over the water was being lowered ① . Swede and the
wounded man jumped over the rail, but both were hit by gunfire
and fell limply② over the side . Moments later, the three remain－
ing men came out③ of hiding, their guns blazing④ . Two of the
men held their ground until they fell to the deck . But Brandon,
after firing two shots, jumped over the rail . By this time , the
lifeboat must have been half－way to the water . The gambler was
taking the biggest gamble ⑤ of his life .
The captain and his men came out from their p ositions of
cover and rushed across the deck .
‘ Raise that lifeboat !’the captain shouted .
Boxhall ran to the motor ⑥ and reversed ⑦ its direction .
We all gathered by the rail as the lifeboat rose from the
darkness . It was empty .
Ten minutes later, Holmes, the captain and I approached
Miss Norton and Futrelle , who were standing on the starboard
deck .
‘ Do you see anything ?’I asked .
‘ We think we see a ship s lights about a mile out, but we are
not sure , said Miss Norton .
Then the five of us went to stand by the side of the rail,
①
lower v . 降低
②
limply ad . 无力地
③
come ou t 出现
④
blaze v . 连连开枪
⑤
gamble n . 赌博
⑥
motor n . 发动机
⑦
reverse v . 反转
2 87
waiting quietly, looking out across the water . It was not long
before we saw a blinker ① signal sending a short message .
The captain chuckled .‘ They are signalling②“ WW U” Workers of the World , Unite ③ .’
‘Captain, may I use that signal lamp over there ?’Holmes
asked .
The captain nodded and , smiling curiously④ , switched⑤ on
the device .
‘Holmes, I didn’t realize that you knew Morse ⑥ code, ’I
said .
‘I have learnt a few new skills over the years, Watson .’
Holmes took the device in his hand and switched the light
on and off . There was no reply f rom the mysterious ⑦ ship .
The captain was laughing heartily ⑧ but the rest of us re－
mained in the dark .
‘Holmes, whatever did you say ?’
‘What any good Englishman would say, of course .“ Rule ,
Britannia ⑨ ”.’
①
blinker n . 闪光警戒灯
②
signal v . 发信号
③
unite v . 联合
④
curiously ad . 奇特地
⑤
switch v . (on) 接通 (电源 )
⑥
Morse n . 摩尔斯电码
⑦
mysterious a . 神秘的
⑧
heartily ad . 会心地
⑨
Britannia n . 大不列颠
2 88
Chapter Twenty－t wo
T he Morning of Sunday
14 April 1912
4 月 14 日上午 , 船长邀请福尔摩斯等四人吃早 饭 , 并 将自己 的
副官介绍给大家。随 后 , 船 长 收 到一 封 来自 卡 罗尼 亚 号轮 船 发 来
的电报 , 告之 附近 有 冰 山范 围。对 此 , 船 长 不屑 一 顾。最 后 , 船 长
请求福尔摩斯帮 助寻 找 锅 炉工 斯 特里 克 雷的 下 落 , 福 尔摩 斯 为 进
一步调查文件丢 失案 , 决定 到 斯 特里 克 雷的 住 处及 工 作的 地 方 去
调查一下。
Sherlock Holmes shook his head as he closed the cover of
his watch .
‘Time , Watson .Time is running① short .’
Our deadline ② for recovering ③ the plans was fast approach－
ing . The Titanic would be docking④ in three days . Over the past
24 hours we had saved the ship f rom disaster⑤ and eliminated ⑥
①
run v . 变 ( 成) , 变得
②
deadline n .最后期限
③
recover v .追回
④
dock v .进入船坞
⑤
disaster n .灾难
⑥
eliminate v .消除
2 89
one red herring① , Brandon, from our list of suspects . Still, it
seemed we were no closer to succeeding in our investigation .
Saturday night s melée ② on the boat deck had not gone com－
pletely unnoticed③ . The bitter cold had discouraged ④ most pas－
sengers from going outside . Those who tried to brave the weath－
er were prevented by the captain s men, who gave the explana－
tion that emergency⑤ repairs were being made to some of the
ship s equipment . Still, a few passengers had asked about gun－
shots ⑥ that appeared to be coming f rom somewhere outside .
This was explained away as electrical explosions - conf irming⑦
that the deck was no place to be while repairs were under way .
Saturday night s freak ⑧ storm had left as suddenly as it had
appeared . Fair⑨ weather had returned .
The captain had invited Holmes, Miss Norton, Futrelle and
me to breakfast in his sitting room . Except for Holmes, all of us
had begun filling our plates with eggs and bacon 10 , and also
fruit, which had been laid out 1 on a small table . I had not eaten
①
red herring n . 转移注意力的东西
②
melée n .混战的人群
③
unnoticed a .未被发觉的
④
discourage v .使……泄气
⑤
emergency n .紧急
⑥
gunshot n .射击声
⑦
confirm v .证实
⑧
freak a .反常的
⑨
fair a .晴朗的
10
bacon n .熏肉
1
lay out 摆放
2 90
dinner the previous evening, and the smell of hot food suddenly
brought my appetite back .
Our meal was interrupted by a knock at the door .‘ Come
in !’called the captain . A young officer entered . He was a man
of disciplined ① demeanour ② and a hint ③ of determination ④ in his
eyes . The captain put his breakfast aside , rose and motioned for
the young man to step forward .
‘Gentlemen, Miss Norton, I don’t believe I have introduced
you to Mr Charles Lightoller, my second officer, said the captain .
‘He is one of my most trusted and valuedmen⑤ . No doubt you have
seen him attending to his duties over the past few days .’
I expected a round of introductions . Instead, the captain
folded ⑥ his arms and got right to the point .‘ I have taken the
liberty of divulging⑦ your mission⑧ and Mr Holmes s identity to
Mr Lightoller . He will be available ⑨ to assist you when I am
otherwise occupied 10 .’
Holmes responded 1 calmly to this surprise announcement .
①
discipline v .使遵守纪律
②
demeanour n .举止
③
hin t n .暗示
④
determination n .坚毅
⑤
valued a .受重视的
⑥
fold v .交臂 , 合上
⑦
divulge v .宣布
⑧
mission n .使命
⑨
available a .可用的
10
occupy v .使忙于
1
respond v .反应
2 91
‘We must surely be taking up ① too much of your valuable ②
time , Captain . Mr Lightoller, we are very pleased to have your
assistance in solving our little puzzle ③ .’
‘I must say, Mr Holmes, I was quite amazed ④ when the
captain told me who you really are . I am at your service ⑤ .’
The captain introduced the rest of us and invited Lightoller
to jo jn us for breakfast . He then returned to his easy chair ⑥ and
picked up his plate of bacon and eggs, which he had barely⑦ had
a chance to touch .
‘I fear that I have another puzzle for you to work on , Mr
Holmes, said the captain, beginning his breakfast at last .
There was a knock at the door , which Holmes answered . It
was Bride .
‘A message for the captain, sir .’ Bride tipped⑧ his hat to
the rest of us and left .
The captain again set his plate aside, rose and unfolded ⑨
the wireless form 10 ‘
. Well, well, more good news, ’he said, a
①
take up 占用
②
valuable a .珍贵的
③
puzzle n .麻烦事
④
amazed a .吃惊的
⑤
at your service 听候吩咐
⑥
easy chair n .安乐椅
⑦
barely ad .简直没有
⑧
tip v .使倾斜
⑨
unfold v .打开
10
form n .表格 (纸 )
2 92
tone ① of sarcasm② in his voice . Listen to this:“Captain Titanic
- Westbound ③ steamers④ report bergs ⑤ , growlers⑥ and field ice
in 42 degrees north, from 49 degrees to 51 degrees west, 12
April . Compliments⑦ , Barr .’
‘ Who is Barr ?’asked Miss Norton .
‘He is the captain of the Caronia .’The captain folded the
message and appeared lost in thought .
Encouraging some eggs on to my fork, I inquired,‘ Are we
going to be passing through that area ?’
‘We are heading in that general direction . But nothing to
worry about . I will inform the officers and we will keep watch
for any signs of ice .’The captain put the message in his coat
pocket .
‘Captain, you were saying something about a puzzle , said
Holmes .
‘ Oh , yes . It seems that our stoker friend, Mr Strickley, has
disappeared .’
‘ What !’I said ‘
. I thought he was conf ined ⑧ to quarters .’
‘ He was, but apparently he did not take my orders too
①
tone n .语气
②
sarcasm n .挖苦
③
west bound a .向西绕行的
④
steamer n .轮船
⑤
berg n .( = iceberg) 冰山
⑥
growler n .小冰山
⑦
compliments n .问候
⑧
confine v .禁闭
2 93
seriously ① . When we find him, he will go straight to ② the
brig③ . But so far, no luck .’
‘Have you begun a search ?’asked Holmes .
‘Every available man . With all the intrigue lately ④ aboard
this ship, my men are becoming quite experienced at conduct－
ing⑤ searches .’
The captain looked each of us in the eye , then returned to
his easy chair and his breakfast .
‘ Do you have evidence ⑥ that he escaped⑦ on his own ⑧ ?’
Holmes inquired .
The captain dropped his knife and fork on his plate , show－
ing signs of a man whose patience ⑨ was wearing thin 10 .
‘ Y ou suspect foul play 1 , Mr Holmes ? At last, I thought, I
could get back to the serious business of running a pleasure cruise
. . . I swear 12 , sir , if I did not know better, I would say this ship
was under the curse 13 of Jonah .’
①
seriously ad .认真地
②
go st raight to 使经历 , 进入
③
brig n .监狱
④
lately ad .最近
⑤
conduct v .指导
⑥
evidence n .证据
⑦
escape v .逃跑
⑧
on one’s own 依靠自己
⑨
patience n .耐心
10
wear t hin 逐渐消失
1
foul play 奸诈
12
swear v .发誓
13
curse n .诅咒
2 94
Miss Norton poured the captain another cup of tea ‘
. Now ,
Captain, your break fast is getting cold .’
Taking a deep breath , the captain forced a smile and picked
up his knife and fork , slowly lifting a slice ① of melon② to his
mouth .
‘ Rest assured, Miss Norton . This captain is always in con－
trol③ . But Mr Holmes, why the concern ?’
‘I believe Mr Holmes might be referring④ to Bishop , said
Futrelle , who had alreaday devoured⑤ his breakfast .‘ We still
do not know who killed him . If , in fact, someone shot Bishop
to keep him silent . . . ’
‘Exactly, Futrelle, said Holmes ‘
. Captain, I would like to
inspect Strickley s quarters immediately . I may be able to deter－
mine whether we have another murder on our hands, or if Mr
Strickley is simply absent without leave .’
‘ V ery well . Mr Lightoller, would you assist⑥ Mr Holmes ?’
‘Yes, sir , a pleasure . . . Mr Holmes, do you suspect that
Strickley s disappearance could be related ⑦ to the theft of the
documents⑧ ?’
①
slice n .片
②
melon n .甜瓜
③
in con trol 处于控制中的
④
refer v .( to) 指的是……
⑤
devour v .狼吞虎咽
⑥
assist v .协助
⑦
related a .( to)相关的
⑧
docu ment n .文件
2 95
‘It is possible . We also have few clues as to their where－
abouts ① . Strickley s disappearance may serve to enlighten ② us .’
‘It is Sunday, and I am expected in the dining room at
10．30 to conduct Divine Service . Would any of the rest of you
care to join me ? A prayer would be helpful to all of us, said the
captain .
‘My wife and I were already planning to attend,
said
Futrelle . The writer looked at his watch .‘ Dr Watson, Miss
Norton , shall we meet there in an hour ?’
‘I must accompany Holmes . Perhaps Miss Norton . . . ’I
responded .
With a firmness③ of tone that reminded me of my late wife ,
Miss Norton said,‘ Y ou have had quite enough adventures yes－
terday . Y ou will take a turn on the deck with me , then we will
go to the service .’
Holmes chuckled and walked over to the table of food .
‘I must agree , my dear Watson . Y ou are off icially ④ off du－
ty until after church .’
Miss Norton grabbed my arm and began to lead me to the
door .
‘She Who Must be Obeyed, ’I said, resignedly⑤ , waving
goodbye to the others .
①
whereabouts n .所在的地方
②
enlighten v .启发
③
firmness n .坚定
④
officially ad .正式地
⑤
resignedly ad .听从地
2 96
Chapter Twenty－th ree
The Late Morning of
Sunday 14 April 1912
4 月 14 日将近中午 的 时候 , 华 生医 生 和诺 顿小 姐应 船长 的 邀
请去参加泰坦尼克号上 的教堂 礼 拜活 动。活 动结 束后 , 斯 托 姆－佛
来明小姐约华生医 生 一 块吃 晚 饭。随 后 , 华 生 医生 收 到福 尔 摩 斯
给他的便条。
The morning was bright and clear, and a number of ① pas－
sengers were enj oying the opportunity to take a pleasant stroll ②
on deck .
As Miss Norton and I ambled ③ along the boat deck , I took
particular pleasure in ④ watching the children play .
‘Thirty－one , thirty－two , thirty－three . . . said one young
girl as she faced the deckhouse ⑤ , her hands covering her eyes .
Her companions were scurrying⑥ to find a place to hide . One
①
a number of 许多
②
stroll n .闲逛
③
amble v .缓行
④
take par ticular pleasure in 很高兴干……
⑤
deckhouse n .舱面室
⑥
scurry v .急跑
2 97
ambitious① young man was nervously② inspecting a lifeboat, try－
ing to find a way inside .
As we continued, I spotted ③ a familiar④ face . The boy was
sitting next to a deckchair⑤ , playing with some toys .
‘Well, well, ’ I said .‘ If it isn’t our young detective ⑥ ,
Tommy R oberts . And how are you this f ine day ?’
‘ Dr Watson ! W ould you like to play ? I am pretending that
. . .’
Tommy stopped and stared ⑦ at my companion .
‘Oh , Tommy . I would like to introduce you to my friend,
Miss Norton .’
‘Pleased to meet you, Tommy . What is that you are playing
with ?’
Tommy smiled, thrilled⑧ by this interest in his new game .
‘Found these in the wastepaper ⑨ basket . . . little tables and
chairs, cabinets, even some little people .’
‘ What fun, said Miss Norton ‘
. I once had a doll s 10 house
with pieces like that . . . ’
①
ambitious a .野心勃勃的
②
nervously ad .紧张不安地
③
spot v .认出
④
familiar a .熟悉的
⑤
deckchair n .( 户外用) 帆布躺椅
⑥
detective n .侦探
⑦
stare v .凝视
⑧
t hrill v .兴奋
⑨
wastepaper n .废纸
10
doll n .玩具娃娃
2 98
‘I am using them to make Mr Holmes s sitting room , just
like you described ① it in your books, Dr Watson .’
‘I am most impressed, Tommy . That is a very good repre－
sentation② .’
‘I just wish I had some more pieces . There s a lot missing .
‘Just use your imagination . Remember, Mr Holmes uses his
imagination,
along
with
deductive
reasoning③ ,
to
solve
crimes④ .’
Tommy paused⑤ for a moment to consider this .
‘ Tommy, have you seen Miss Storm－Fleming lately ?’I
asked .
‘Not since yesterday . She was talking to that man, the Ger－
man .’
Miss Norton and I exchanged⑥ glances⑦ ‘
. When was this ?’
‘Just before dinner, I think . They were in the library . I
went there with Mother, so she could get a book .’
‘Thank you, Tommy . I have been looking for her . Perhaps
we will see her at the church ⑧ service .’
‘Church ! Oh my gosh ⑨ ! I told Mother and Father that I
①
describe v .叙述
②
represen tation n .描述
③
reasoning n .论据
④
crime n .非法活动
⑤
pause v .停
⑥
exchange v .交换
⑦
glance n .一瞥
⑧
church n .教堂
⑨
gosh in terj .哎呀
2 99
would be back to get dressed . . . Excuse me .’The young man
abruptly ① got to his feet② and ran down the deck, leaving his
toys behind .
Miss Norton laughed ‘
. I hope he is not in too much trou－
ble .’
I stooped③ down and scooped④ up Tommy s toys ‘
. I am sure
he will want these . I will return them to him at church . . . I
wonder ⑤ if Holmes knows that our sitting room has become the
latest⑥ vogue ⑦ among children .’
My companion smiled ‘
. Fame ⑧ can affect judgement, Doc－
tor .’
‘ A point well taken, Miss Norton .’I grinned ‘
. But rest as－
sured, the fresh sea air and a rousing⑨ sermon 10 from the captain
will soon restore 1 my humility 12 .’
Miss Norton took my arm ‘
. Lead the way, Dr Watson .’
We arrived well before the service was due 13 to begin . I was
①
abruptly ad .突然地
②
get to one’s feet 站起来
③
stoop v .俯下身子
④
scoop v .拾起
⑤
wonder v .想知道
⑥
latest a .最新的
⑦
vogue n .时尚
⑧
fame n .声誉
⑨
rouse v .激励
10
ser mon n .说教
1
restore v .重建
12
humility n .谦逊
13
due a .到期的
3 00
surprised to see that a large congregation① had already assem－
bled . Many viewed② this as a f ine opportunity for conversation
and meeting new people . It was a family occasion③ , and the on－
ly one that brought together passengers from f irst, second and
third class .
It was a special treat for steerage ④ passengers . They were
staring wide－eyed⑤ at their luxurious⑥ surroundings⑦ , while
chatting ⑧ quietly and pointing about the room .
The Futrelles had already arrived and were engaged ⑨ in a
conversation with Baron V on Stern . Moriarty was standing in a
cluster 10 of well－dressed people , some of whom I recognized as
being among the first－class 1 passengers .
Miss Storm－Fleming had just paid her respects to the captain
and was circulating 12 through the crowd . I waved and she re－
turned my gesture with a broad smile , walking briskly 13 in our
direction .
①
congregation n .聚集的人
②
view v .把……看做
③
occasion n .场合
④
steerage n .(客船的 )统舱
⑤
wide－eyed a .睁大眼睛的
⑥
luxurious a .奢侈的
⑦
surroundings n .环境
⑧
chat v .闲聊
⑨
engaged a .忙于做某事的
10
cluster n .群
1
first－class a .头等的
12
circulate v .巡回
13
briskly ad .轻快地
3 01
‘ Dr Watson , I have been looking everywhere for you !’She
spoke warmly .
Somewhat overcome by this greeting, I muttered ① a less
than satisfactory reply .
‘I was rather involved in a matter that took some time . . .’
‘ And what kind of business would keep you so busy in the
middle of the Atlantic Ocean ? she asked .
‘Nothing of any consequence . . . Just helping Futrelle with
research for an article he is writing on the Titanic s maiden voy－
age .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s eyes remained warm and bright but
there was a momentary ② change in her expression that indicated
she was not fully pleased with my explanation .
‘ And how are you, Miss Norton ? Are you enj oying the trip ?
Quite exciting, is it not ?’
‘ Yes, very much so , ’Miss Norton replied ‘
. I am happy to
see that you are enjoying it too . . . after everything that hap－
pened .’
‘I have always had a talent for springing③ back from adver－
sity ④ . Hardships ⑤ along the way are part of li fe s great adven－
ture .’
‘Have they made any progress in finding Bishop s killer ?’
①
mu tter v .低声说
②
momen tary a .瞬息的
③
spring v .跳
④
adversity n .不幸
⑤
hardship n .困难
3 02
Miss Norton asked .
‘I do not believe so . I was just talking to the captain and he
did not volunteer① any information . Have either of you heard
anything ?’
‘Not a word, ’I replied ‘
. If only Holmes were on board .
This is the kind of mystery② he thrives③ on .’
‘ Yes, if only he were .’Miss Storm－Fleming s eyes were
fixed④ on mine ‘
. Dr Watson, people are taking their seats .’
‘Please do join us .’
‘ Thank you, but please do not say anything about my
singing, Doctor . I am very sensitive ⑤ on that point .’
The captain led the service from the White Star Line s own
prayer book, and the music was provided by the ship s orches－
tra⑥ . The opening hymn ⑦ was familiar, but one I had not heard
in some time . Miss Storm－Fleming s voice was clearly distin－
guishable ⑧ f rom my neighbouring worshipers ⑨ :
Eternal 10 Father strong to save ,
①
volunteer v .自愿做……
②
mystery n .秘密
③
t hrive v .成功
④
fix v .盯着
⑤
sensitive a .敏感的
⑥
orchest ra n .管弦乐队
⑦
hymn n .赞美诗
⑧
distinguishable a .可听出的
⑨
worshiper n . 崇拜者
10
eternal a .永恒的
3 03
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril ① on the sea .
I adhered② to Miss Storm－Fleming s request not to com－
ment③ on her singing .
The service was strangely ④ moving . As I glanced about the
room, I sensed a unity⑤ among the ship s passengers . There was
a common bond⑥ - perhaps brought on by this reminder that we
all came from the same Maker .
Captain Smith led the formal service . He gave a re－
spectable ⑦ reading of various prayers and Bible passages . It end－
ed promptly⑧ on time with the hymn , ‘ O God, Our Help in
Ages Past’. Miss Storm－Fleming, again , sang with enthusiasm:
O Go d, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
①
peril n .冒险
②
adhere ( to) v . 坚持
③
commen t v .评论
④
strangely ad .不自在地
⑤
unit y n .和谐
⑥
bond n .束缚
⑦
respectable a .高雅的
⑧
promptly ad .及时地
3 04
Our shelter① from the stormy ② blast③ ,
And our eternal home .
Following the benediction ④ , the band played a festive ⑤ re－
cessional⑥ . Conversation grew louder as f riends gradually⑦ made
their way to the reception⑧ room , outside the dining room . As
we continued towards the big open doors, Miss Storm－Fleming
took my arm and pulled me to one side , away f rom the path of
the moving crowd . Miss Norton, who had moved slightly ahead,
soon noticed that we had paused and she waited for us .
‘Dr Watson, I know how much you enjoy the company of
your fellow musketeers, but would you join me for dinner
tonight ?’Miss Storm－Fleming asked, hesitantly⑨ . There was an
uneasy 10 timbre 1 to her voice . As you know . . . this has been a
difficult journey for me . . . and what must you think of me . . . ?
An opportunity for quiet conversation would greatly restore
me .’
①
shelter n .避难所
②
stormy a .猛烈的
③
blast n .一阵疾风
④
benediction n .祝福
⑤
festive a .欢乐的
⑥
recessional n .结束
⑦
gradually ad .渐渐地
⑧
reception n .接待
⑨
hesitantly ad .迟疑地
10
uneasy a .不安的
1
timbre n .音色
3 05
‘Miss Storm－Fleming, it would be a great pleasure . Shall we
say 7．30 in the restaurant ?’
She nodded her acceptance ① and, seconds later, was on her
way .
I watched as she left the room . Miss Norton j oined me .
‘ What did she want ?’Acting as both a friend and a profes－
sional ② , she had easily overcome ③ the urge ④ not to pry⑤ .
‘ Dinner, ’I replied . My voice sounded weak . I cleared my
throat .
‘ Dr Watson, said the captain, coming up behind us ‘
. How
did you like the service ?’
‘It was very pleasant . I had no idea that you were such a
good preacher ⑥ .’
‘ A captain has to be a jack of all trades⑦ .’He pulled an en－
velope ⑧ from his pocket ‘
. I have just been handed a note . It is
addressed to you .’
I ripped ⑨ it o pen . I had noticed immediately from the
handwriting on the envelope that it was from Holmes . The note
①
accep tance n .接受
②
professional n .专职者
③
overcome v .征服
④
urge n .要求
⑤
pry v .爱打听别人事情
⑥
preacher n .传道者
⑦
jack of all t rades 万事通
⑧
envelope n .信封
⑨
rip v .撕开
3 06
contained a most curious request① .
‘ What is it ?’asked Miss Norton .
‘The commo dore wishes us, together with Futrelle, to meet
him next to the fourth funnel .’
①
request n .要求
3 07
Chapter T wenty－four
T he Afternoon of
Sunday 14 April 1912
4 月 14 日下午 , 华生 医生 等三 人按 福 尔摩 斯指 定的 地点 去 找
他。福尔摩斯正在那里查看 地形 , 但 他一 无所获。 这时 , 船 长派 人
来请他们去看锅 炉工 斯 特 里克 雷 的尸 体 , 原 来 斯特 里 克雷 是 被 人
勒死的。为了解斯特 里 克雷 案 的更 多 情 况 , 福 尔摩 斯 决定 再 查 看
以下有关现场。
A fter eating a light lunch , Miss Norton, Futrelle and I went
to the boat deck for our rendezvous with Holmes . He had asked
us to meet him there at precisely two o’clock , and we arrived
with minutes to spare . Instead of finding Holmes, we were
greeted by Mr Lightoller .
‘ Gentlemen, Miss Norton, the commodore has asked me to
escort you to the base of the fourth funnel . He is already there .’
‘ I wish Holmes had told us what this was all about,’
Futrelle said .‘ I mean no offence ① , Doctor, but I must say, I
do get annoyed ② by his sense of drama③ f rom time to time .’
‘Patience , Futrelle, ’I said ‘
. Over the years I have become
①
offence n .冒犯
②
annoyed a .烦恼的
③
drama n .戏剧
3 08
used to Holmes s little surprises . And besides, they are good
fodder① for my stories in the Strand .’
Lightoller motioned us towards the aft end of the ship .
‘This way, please .’
We arrived at a gate and the second off icer reached for his
keys to open it . We walked across a short span ② of deck re－
served③ for the crew and passed through another gate to the sec－
ond－class④ promenade . The view caused me to shiver⑤ because
this was the area where we had stood for so long in the cold .
There was no evidence of our recent confrontation⑥ with the
late Mr Brandon and his men .
‘We must climb the ladder to the raised roof , ’Lightoller
said ‘
. That is the way to the base of the funnel .’
As I mentioned earlier, the fourth funnel was a dummy .
Unlike the other three , it was not designed to vent⑦ smoke from
the boiler rooms . Instead, it was situated ⑧ above a shaft ⑨ from
the turbine 10 room and used for ventilation 1 . As we stood on the
①
fodder n .来源
②
span n .跨距
③
reserved a .储备的
④
second－class a .第二等的
⑤
shiver v .打颤
⑥
confron tation n .对抗
⑦
vent v .排出
⑧
situated a .位于……的
⑨
shaft n .井筒
10
t urbine n .汽轮机
1
ventilation n .通风
3 09
raised roof , a thought occurred① to me . We were standing di－
rectly above the first－class smoking room . Could tobacco ② con－
sumption③ on board be so high as to require an entire ④ funnel ?
Lightoller opened a door and we found ourselves in a large
open room . Below was the shaft leading down to the turbines . I
glanced over the rail and suddenly felt a touch of dizziness⑤ .
The lights and roar ⑥ of the turbine room were far, far below .
Miss Norton glanced about the room . A fter looking in my
direction and shrugging⑦ her shoulders she turned to Lightoller .
‘ Where is Mr Holmes ?’
Lightoller smiled and, without saying a word , pointed a
finger skywards⑧ .
‘ Oh, my word !’gasped ⑨ Miss Norton .
We all gathered around the rail and looked up through the
long funnel . There was an obstruction 10 that was partially 1
blocking the bright, blue light of the sky . The obstruction was
moving .
①
occur to 被想起
②
tobacco n .烟草
③
consump tion n .消费
④
entire a .完全的
⑤
dizziness n .眩晕
⑥
roar n .轰鸣
⑦
shrug v .耸肩
⑧
skywards ad .向上
⑨
gasp v .喘息地说
10
obstruction n .阻碍物
1
par tially ad .部分地
3 10
Miss Norton immediately climbed the ladder that brought
her to the base of the funnel .
‘Mr . . .Commodore ! Commodore Winter !’she cried, her
voice echoing ① back ‘
. Please return at once - it is too danger－
ous !’
In fact, Holmes was on his way down . Minutes later, he
stepped off the ladder on to the floor of the chamber .
‘Miss Norton ,’ he said quietly, sounding somewhat② an－
noyed,‘ Good Lord , you remind me of our dear departed③ Mrs
Hudson .’
Miss Norton stood her ground .‘ What were you doing up
there ? You could have been killed .’
‘My dear young woman , I am in excellent condition and not
quite as old and frail ④ as you might think .’
‘I did not mean to imply⑤ . . . What wereyou doing up there
anyway ?’
‘Merely⑥ following up a clue . . . or at least an idea I had .
It appears that my hypothesis⑦ was incorrect .’
‘ What hypothesis ?’I asked .
①
echo v .回荡
②
somewhat ad .稍微
③
departed a .死去的
④
frail a .脆弱的
⑤
imply v .暗示
⑥
merely ad .仅仅
⑦
hypot hesis n .假设
3 11
‘It concerns① our little cypher ② about the“ Hot Russian
Honey Bear”. As you recall, our mysterious passenger sent a
confederate ③ a message, upon the ship s arrival in New Y ork , to
meet him by the“ pipe organ in the smoking room”. It occurred
to me while standing on deck that the four funnels might look a
bit like a pipe organ . I decided that it would be worthwhile ④ to
check the one funnel that might possibly be accessible ⑤ to a pas－
senger, A tri fle foolish, I now believe .’
‘ Y ou found nothing ?’asked Futrelle .
‘Nothing .’
‘ What about your search of Strickley s cabin ? Y ou had
hoped to . . . ’
‘Nothing of consequence ⑥ , Mr Futrelle . I am afraid, thus
far, this has been a very unproductive ⑦ day .’
‘But Holmes, why did you ask us to meet you here ?’I in－
quired .
‘ Time is growing short . I thought it best that we got our lit－
tle team back together and off in pursuit of ⑧ more facts .’
‘ I agree wholeheartedly ⑨ ,
①
concern v .有关于
②
cypher n .用密码书写
③
confederate n .共谋者
④
wor thwhile a .值得的
⑤
accessible a .可接近的
⑥
consequence n .结果
⑦
unproductive a .无收获的
⑧
in pursuit of 追求
⑨
wholeheartedly ad .全心全意地
3 12
said Miss Norton , still some－
what annoyed by Holmes s gymnastics① display② ‘
. But could we
talk outside - in the sunshine ?’
‘ Of course , Miss Norton .’He picked up his jacket and hat .
‘ And I apologize if I disturbed ③ you just now . I promise to keep
my feet firmly planted on deck until we reach New Y ork .’He
smiled at her .
A fter a moment s pause , her face, too , brightened④ into a
warm grin ‘
. I dread to think⑤ what mother would have said if
she had seen you up there !’
We continued down to the deck and on through the gates to
the promenade deck . It was not long before we were approached
head－on⑥ by Mr Boxhall . He was walking at a crisp pace ⑦ .
‘Excuse me , Mr Lightoller, ’he said, paying his respects to
a superior officer ‘
. The captain wants to see the commodore at
once .’
‘ Why, what s happened ?’
‘It s the missing stoker, Strickley . . . They have found his
body .’
Lightoller showed us the way to the crew s hospital, which
was situated on the forward end of C Deck between the crew s
①
gym nastics n .健身术
②
display n .显露
③
dist urb v .(使 ) 心不安
④
brighten v .( 使 )快活
⑤
dread to think 不敢想
⑥
head－on ad .迎头相撞地
⑦
pace n .步伐
3 13
galley ① and the f iremen s② mess ③ . Strickley s body was
stretched ④ out on the examining table . Captain Smith stood by
as William O Loughlin , the ship s surgeon ⑤ , and J Edward
Simpson, the assistant surgeon, examined the deceased⑥ .
The two surgeons made quite a team,
indeed . Dr
O Loughlin was a fine old gentleman who enjoyed walking about
the ship conversing with passengers . We had met briefly when
Holmes and I accompanied the captain and his officers on their
inspection of the ship and then later near the motorcars ⑦ . Simp－
son was a much younger man . He had a reputation ⑧ for being
more gregarious and , according to fellow shipmates, had a
somewhat mischievous⑨ sense of humour 10 .
‘Dr Watson, it is good to see you again . I am glad you
could come as this may interest you .’Dr O’Loughlin beckoned 1
me to move closer to the examining table . I greeted 12 him,‘ Y ou
remember Commodore Winter ?’
①
galley n .船上厨房
②
fireman n .锅炉工
③
mess n .混乱
④
stretch ( out ) v . 伸展四肢
⑤
surgeon n .外科医生
⑥
deceased n .死者
⑦
motorcar n .汽车
⑧
repu tation n .声誉
⑨
mischievous a .恶作剧的
10
humour n .幽默
1
beckon v .招手或点头示意
12
greet v .对……致意
3 14
The captain then introduced Futrelle and Miss Norton . O’
Loughlin seemed perplexed by the presence of these two new－
comers - especially the young woman - but said nothing .
‘ Well then, back to work, ’said O Loughlin ‘
. Dr Watson,
I think you will agree that there is no doubt about how Mr
Strickley died .’
Even from a distance , I could see the line of blood around
the stoker s throat . On closer examination , I saw that the
wound was not deep . But there was a thin, red indentation ① that
ran all the way around the neck . The colour of the face con－
f irmed my conclusion .
‘This man was garrotted ② to death ,’I said .
‘Precisely, ’said O’Loughlin .
Holmes stepped forward to conduct his own examination .
‘ Where was the body found ?’
‘The kitchen staff found him in a sack ③ in the potato ④
store , ’Simpson interjected ⑤ ‘
. The poor chap s⑥ foot was stick－
ing⑦ out of the end of the sack . He . . . ’
The young doctor was silenced by a disapproving look from
the captain ‘
. We believe he walked down the corridor⑧ with his
①
indentation n .压凹痕
②
garrotte a .绞死
③
sack n .麻袋
④
potato n .马铃薯
⑤
interject v .突然插入
⑥
chap n .( 口语 )家伙
⑦
stick v .伸出
⑧
corridor n .通道
3 15
killer ① , who somehow ② got him into the food storage ③ area and
did the deed .’
‘ Did anyone see them walking together ?’Holmes asked .
‘No one we could f ind, ’the captain replied ‘
. We are ques－
tioning the crew . Meanwhile ④ , we are completely in the dark .’
‘ Captain, I would like to examine the food storage area and
the corridor from Strickley s cabin .’
‘ Certainly, C ommodore . Mr Lightoller will assist you . And
gentlemen, Miss Norton, I must remind you again, discretion ⑤
is of the utmost⑥ importance . We are trying to keep the knowl－
edge of this incident to ourselves .’
‘ Of course ,
said Holmes .‘ We fully⑦ appreciate ⑧ your
many responsibilities ⑨ as captain of this ship .’
I was relieved 10 to see that the captain remained calm and in
command of the situation, his mild 1 outburst 12 at breakfast be－
①
killer n .凶手
②
somehow ad .以某种方式
③
storage n .储藏库
④
meanwhile ad .同时
⑤
discretion n .谨慎
⑥
u tmost a .极端的
⑦
fully ad .完全地
⑧
appreciate v .感谢
⑨
responsibility n .责任
10
relieved a .宽慰的
1
mild a .温和的
12
out burst n .爆发
3 16
ing only a temporary① indulgence ② . I had no doubt that this was
a man who could remain strong and decisive ③ through any
oudeal .
But I found mysel f frustrated④ by our lack of progress in
finding Miss Norton s lost plans . And, beyond that, we were
contending⑤ with two unsolved ⑥ murders and the aftermath of a
political⑦ conspiracy⑧ . Y et, despite all this nefarious⑨ activity,
I found my thoughts constantly 10 returning to Miss Storm－
Fleming s dinner invitation . Why did she want to see me pri－
vately 1 ? Clearly, she knew more than she was telling . Did she
have some information to convey 12 about the plans— or one of
the murders ? I would soon find out .
①
temporary a .临时的
②
indulgence n .放纵
③
decisive a .果断的
④
frustrated a .失望的
⑤
con tend v .抗争
⑥
unsolved a .未解决的
⑦
political a .政治的
⑧
conspiracy n .阴谋
⑨
nefarious a .凶恶的
10
constan tly ad .总是
1
privately ad .私自地
12
convey v .表达
3 17
Chapter T wenty－five
T he Evening of Sunday
14 April 1912
4 月 14 日晚 7 点钟 , 华生遇到了船长 , 船长 收到一封 有关当 时
天气情况的电报。电报中还说在 附近某 区域 有大量 冰山 存在。 在
晚 11 点半时 , 华生如约会见了 佛来 明小 姐 , 她表示 是他 的朋 友 , 并
向华生寻求帮助。之后 , 华生陪船长去了驾驶舱。
By seven o’clock the temperature on deck had dropped dra－
matically ① . It was nearly f reezing② , and most of the passengers
had retired to the comfort of the ship below decks . Holmes, af－
ter assuring me that there was no more I could do this evening,
had rushed off to continue the investigation on his own . A fter
years of following Holmes s methods, I knew that he could dis－
appear for several hours - or days - and come back with amaz－
ing③ results . But I must confess, it always made me feel some－
what useless . In any case ④ , we had arranged to meet at 11 . 30
in the smoking room . I would find out then whether or not he
had made any progress .
①
dramatically ad .急剧地
②
freezing n .冰点
③
amazing a .令人惊奇的
④
in any case 无论如何
3 18
I had time to spare before meeting Miss Storm－Fleming, so I
wandered① into the smoking room, which was on A Deck .
There, I witnessed ② a most curious exchange ③ between Captain
Smith and Mr J Bruce Ismay . The two were engaged in what ap－
peared to be a casual conversation . Having met Mr Ismay earli－
er , I decided that it would not be out of place ④ to stroll up and
pay my respects . The captain greeted me when I arrived .
‘ Dr Watson, good evening, ’he said cordially⑤ ‘
. We were
just chatting about the weather . Have you been on deck lately ?’
‘ Yes, just now . It certainly has taken a turn for the worse .
Is this typical ⑥ for this part of the Atlantic ?’
‘It is fairly common . We are a fair distance to the north .’
‘But not to worry, said Ismay ‘
. We are making very good
time .’
I found this news far from pleasing, since time was our
greatest impediment⑦ in recovering⑧ the plans .
Ismay then took a step towards me and looked about in all
directions . After a moment s hesitation, he spoke in hushed ⑨
tones .
①
wander v .漫步
②
witness v .目睹
③
exchange n .交换
④
out of place 不恰当的
⑤
cordially ad .热情地
⑥
t ypical a .典型的
⑦
impediment n .阻碍
⑧
recover v .重新找回
⑨
hushed a .肃静的
3 19
‘ Dr Watson , I am glad we happened to meet this evening . I
have not yet had the opportunity to thank you for your heroic ①
efforts yesterday . Imagine , anarchists on board this ship ! If it
had not been for you and your companions . . . well, the out－
come ② might have been disastrous③ .’
‘I must say, this voyage has been far more exciting than I
had expected .’Once again, my sense of humour got the better
of me ‘
. I realize that the White Star Line promises its passen－
gers adventure , but I do not believe that this is what you had in
mind .’
Ismay laughed politely ④ ‘
. No , certainly not . But I am also
very glad to see that you are keeping your sense of humour after
the ordeal you have been through . Have you recovered ?’
I gave the question serious consideration ⑤ .‘ Much to my
surprise, I am feeling better than I have felt in months - perhaps
even a trifle younger .’
Ismay seemed perplexed by my answer . But not the cap－
tain . There was a knowing look in the eyes of the old seaman .
‘In any event⑥ I Would appreciate it if you would pass a－
long my heartfelt⑦ thanks to your friends, said Ismay .
‘I will do that, sir .’
①
heroic a .英勇的
②
outcome n .后果
③
disast rous a .可怕的
④
politely ad .优雅地
⑤
consideration n .思考
⑥
in any even t 无论怎样
⑦
heart felt a .由衷的
3 20
The captain echoed ① Ismay s words of appreciation② . He
then turned to his employer and abruptly ③ changed the subject .
‘By the way, have you got that radio message which I gave
you this afternoon ?’
Ismay thought for a moment, then reached④ into his coat
pocket ‘
. Y es, here it is .’
Smith opened the folded piece of paper and read the mes－
sage ‘
. Thank you . I want to put it up in the officers’chart⑤
room .’
‘ Anything wrong, Captain ?’I asked .
‘No , no . Nothing really . There is just some ice ahead of us
that we have to keep an eye on ⑥ .’
He handed me the telegraph ⑦ . It was from a ship called the
Baltic .‘ Have had moderate ⑧ variable ⑨ winds and clear fine
weather since leaving . Greek steamer Atbinai reports passing
icebergs and a large quantity 10 of f ield ice to day in latitude 1
①
echo v .附和
②
appreciation n .感激
③
abruptly ad .突然地
④
reach v .伸出
⑤
chart n .航海图
⑥
keep an eye on 密切关注
⑦
telegraph n .电报
⑧
moderate a .中度的
⑨
variable a .易变的
10
a large quantity 大量
1
latitude n . 纬度
3 21
forty－one, fifty－one North, longitude ① forty－nine , fifty－two
West .’
I folded the message and returned it to the captain ‘
. Is this
anywhere near us ?’
‘Nothing to worry about, Doctor . We will take all the stan－
dard② precautions③ .’
I looked at my watch and discovered that there were only
five minutes remaining before I was to meet Miss Storm－Flem－
ing .
‘Please excuse me , gentlemen . I have an engagement④ in
the restaurant .’
‘ I will be there soon myself ,
said the captain .‘ The
Wideners are honouring⑤ me with an invitation .’
‘It was a pleasure to see you again, Dr Watson, said Is－
may ‘
. I hope the rest of the voyage will be a little more relaxing
for you .’
I arrived to meet Miss Storm－Fleming five minutes late ,
taking pride in the fact that I was only slightly ⑥ short of breath .
Fortunately , she had not yet arrived and I had time to compose ⑦
mysel f .
‘There you are ! My apologies for my lateness .’
①
longitude n .经度
②
standard a .标准的
③
take precautions 采取预防措施
④
engagemen t n .约会
⑤
honour v .以……为荣
⑥
slightly ad .轻微地
⑦
compose v .使安静
3 22
Miss Storm－Fleming was wearing the same red evening
gown ① she had worn at our dinner party on Wednesday evening .
‘I must say that you are looking most delightful tonight .’
‘Thank you, Dr Watson . But you have seen this old thing
before .’She smiled, then held out② her arm ‘
. Shall we find our
table ?’
Some distance away, I saw Moriarty standing next to the
model of the Titanic . I was surprised to see that he was not
dressed for dinner . The colonel was talking to one of the ship s
junior ③ officers . He appeared to be excited about something,
and from time to time looked away from the unfortunate ④ young
man and glanced about the room . Upon seeing Miss Storm－
Fleming and me , he abruptly abandoned ⑤ his conversation and
stepped hurriedly in our direction .
‘Dr Watson, Miss Fleming, have you seen the captain ? I
need to speak to him urgently ⑥ .’
‘I saw him in the smoking room not ten minutes ago . Why,
Colonel, what is the matter ?’
‘ A most annoying thing has just happened . Someone has
broken into my cabin .’
‘ What ! Do you have any idea who may have done it ?’
‘No , none at all . I had been out for a stroll on the deck and
①
gown n .长袍
②
hold out 伸出
③
junior a .下级的
④
unfort unate a .不幸的
⑤
abandon v .抛弃
⑥
urgently ad .紧急地
3 23
returned to my cabin to prepare for dinner . The door was un－
locked, which surprised me since I was sure I had secured ① it be－
fore leaving . I assumed, at f irst, that a careless stewardess was
responsible . But when I opened the door I discovered that the
room was in complete disarray ② . The mattress was overturned ③
and my clothing was scattered about .’
‘ Was anything missing ?’asked Miss Storm－Fleming .
‘I do not think so . Apart from④ a little cash and some inex－
pensive jewellery, I keep all of my valuables ⑤ in the ship s safe .
Everything seems to be there .’
‘I am very sorry, C olonel, said Miss Storm－Fleming ‘
. Y ou
do not expect that kind of thing to happen on a ship like this .’
Moriarty nodded, and it appeared for a moment that he was
about to walk away . But instead he turned to me and spoke soft－
ly .
‘Pardon me for asking, Doctor, but I heard a rumour⑥ that
Miss Norton s cabin was broken into earlier in the voyage . Do
you know anything about that ?’
‘There was a burglary ⑦ in Miss Norton s cabin on Thursday
①
secure v .关闭
②
disarray n .杂乱
③
over turn v .弄翻
④
apart from 除……之外
⑤
valuables n .贵重物品
⑥
rumour n .传闻
⑦
burglary n .夜行贼
3 24
night . The worst part of it is, the villains ① also broke into the
adjoining② cabin, where an old woman was sleeping . They tied
her up, but she was not harmed .’
Moriarty raised his eyebrows③ , but Miss Storm－Fleming did
not look surprised .
‘ Villains ? There was more than one intruder ?’Moriarty
asked .
‘The captain investigated . It appears that two men were in－
volved .’
‘ And was anything taken ?’
‘I do not believe so . . . nothing of importance, anyway .’
I had played poker long enough to know that I had some
talent for bluffing ④ . Moriarty appeared to believe me . He had
said nothing about the break in that took place in my cabin . Did
he know ? Had he, in fact, been the intruder ? And was he be－
ing truthful ⑤ about the burglary, or was his story intended ⑥ as a
red herring to divert⑦ suspicion ⑧ from himsel f ?
‘This is most peculiar ⑨ , Doctor . I wonder whether there is
①
villain n .恶棍
②
adjoining a .毗连的
③
eyebrow n .眉毛
④
bluff v .虚张声势
⑤
t ru thful a .真的
⑥
intend v .打算使……成为
⑦
diver t v .转移
⑧
suspicion n .怀疑
⑨
peculiar a .奇怪的
3 25
any connection ① between the two incidents② ?’
‘I do not know . . . Tell me , Colonel, did anyone know that
you would be away from your cabin ?’
Moriarty thought for a moment .‘No one that I know of
. . . Although, I did run into our German friend, Baron V on
Stern, on deck . He began talking about my late brother . He
seemed to think that I should write a biography③ . While I have
no interest in such a thing, I did not see any harm④ in discussing
it . It passed the time as we strolled along the deck .’
‘How long were you together ?’asked Miss Storm－Fleming .
‘Perhaps half an hour . Why ? Do you suspect the baron ⑤ ?’
‘Not at all, said Miss Storm－Fleming .‘ I just wondered
whether someone might have seen the two of you and taken ad－
vantage ⑥ of the opportunity .’
‘ Well . . . if you will excuse me, Doctor, Miss Storm－Flem－
ing, I must make my way to the smoking room to see the cap－
tain .’
‘He is expected here shortly, ’I said ‘
. He has a dinner en－
gagement .’
‘Then perhaps I will meet him on his way - thank you .’He
nodded to each of us as he left .
The dining room was already full of people , but the head
①
connection n .联系
②
inciden t n .事件
③
biography n .自传
④
harm n .损害
⑤
baron n .男爵
⑥
take advantage of 利用
3 26
steward had reserved a quiet table for us at one side of the
room .
‘ Dr Watson, is it not shocking① about the colonel ② ? And
your friend, Miss Norton ! What is going on ?’
‘I am sure I do not know . . . And you left out③ the small
matter of a murder ④ .’
‘Two murders, if my information is correct .’She studied ⑤
my reaction⑥ .
‘ Y ou have heard about Strickley, then ?’
‘Is that his name ? I just heard about a body being found
down below . How did you find out about it ?’
‘The captain asked me to help the ship s surgeons perform
the post－mortem ⑦ .’
‘ And I know something else : there was some kind of distur－
bance ⑧ on deck last night after your mysterious⑨ disappear－
ance 10 . Passengers who tried to walk there were turned back by
the crew - something about an electrical problem .’
①
shocking a .骇人听闻的
②
colonel n .陆军上校
③
leave out 忽略
④
murder n .谋杀
⑤
study v .仔细观察
⑥
reaction n .反应
⑦
post－mor tem n .验尸
⑧
dist urbance n .骚动
⑨
mysterious a .神秘的
10
disappearance n .消失
3 27
Stunned ① by this admission, I decided to confront ② her .
‘Miss Storm－Fleming, just who are you ? Y ou are not an in－
nocent③ widow ④ , that is for certain .’
‘That may be true . But I am your friend, and I am in trou－
ble . I have no idea whether they will believe my story about
Bishop once we reach New Y ork .’
‘I am not sure that I believe your story either . . . not that I
think you killed Bishop . But I saw you from the squashrackets
court: you were not walking with Bishop, you were following
him .’
Miss Storm－Fleming s eyes were open wide and beginning to
fill with tears . She put her hand on my arm .
‘I had personal ⑤ reaons for following him . . . I cannot tell
you about that now . But I need to know what is going on . Y ou
are in the middle of something; I can tell . . . I need to know that
you are on my side , and that you will help to clear my name .’
‘Y ou seem to know a great deal already . In fact, you are
exceptionally ⑥ well informed .’
‘Perhaps I have friends in high places .’
I was losing my patience with her, and it showed .
‘I can see that I was wrong to bring⑦ this up , she said .
①
stun v .使震惊
②
confron t v .对抗
③
innocent a .无辜的
④
widow n .寡妇
⑤
personal a .个人的
⑥
exceptionally ad .非常地
⑦
bring up 提出
3 28
‘Let us just forget it and see if we can have a quiet dinner .’
‘ We will let it pass for the moment but sometime you must
give me some answers,’I replied .
We ordered a bottle of wine and, much to my surprise , soon
found ourselves in a relaxed and warm conversation . We spoke
of departed ① loved ones and how diff cult it was to f ill the empti－
ness . The time passed quickly and soon we were f inishing our
coffee .
‘Thank you for a wonderful evening , Dr Watson . I ho pe I
have not been too trying② .’
I smiled and reassured her that that was not the case .
Across the room I saw Captain Smith and his dining com－
panions . It appeared that he too was about to retire .
‘ Miss Storm－Fleming, if you will excuse me , I need to
speak to the captain .’
‘Please do , I shall retire to my cabin .’
‘Shall I accompany you ?’
‘No , no , please go ahead . I will be fine .’
I called out to her over the roar of conversation, ‘ Miss
Storm－Fleming, please be careful .’
She turned to glance at me , smiled and left the room .
On my way to the captain s table I passed the V on Sterns,
who were f inishing their main course of roast ③ duckling④ with
①
departed a .分手的
②
t rying a .惹人讨厌的
③
roast a .烤过的
④
duckling n .小鸭肉
3 29
apple sauce ① .
‘Doctor,
said the baron, rising to shake my hand .‘ We
saw you when we came in but we did not want to disturb you .
Would you care to sit down ?’
‘No , no , thank you . I just wondered whether you heard
about Colonel Moriarty .’
‘ What about the colonel ?’
‘Someone broke into his cabin this evening .’
‘No !’he said .‘ I do not believe it . I was just talking to
Herr Moriarty . Was anything taken ?’
‘It does not appear so , but he is very disturbed .’
‘I am disturbed as well, said the baroness ‘
. First these ter－
rible blackmail② notes, then the burglary at Miss Norton s cabin
and now this . Have you made any progress in investigating the
blackmail ?’
‘I am afraid not, Baroness . But I do not think these bur－
glaries are related to the blackmail notes . Try not to worry .’
Von Stern walked behind his wife and put his hands on her
shoulders ‘
. My wife is a very sensitive woman, Doctor, but she
will be fine . . . Meanwhile , my dear, our dinner is getting cold .
Are you sure you will not join us, Doctor ?’
‘Thank you again, but I must be on my way .’
I arrived at the captain s table, just as he was bidding③ his
dining companions good night .
①
sauce n .酱
②
blackmail n .勒索
③
bid v .祝愿
3 30
‘Ah, Dr Watson . Have you met my friends - Mr and Mrs
Widener and their son, Harry; Mr and Mrs Thayer; Mr and Mrs
Carter, and Major Butt .’
We exchanged greetings .
‘ Perhaps,
Doctor,
you would accompany me to the
bridge ① ? It is almost nine o’clock and I have a busy day tomor－
row .’
I told the captain that I would be most pleased ② to . We said
goodnight to the others, who were clearly not ready to leave .
As we left the dining room, I asked the captain if he had
seen Moriarty .
‘ Yes, another entry ③ in our log ④ of murders and burglaries
- not to mention shooting . I will look into it in the morning .
How is your investigation ?’
‘I am still in the dark . But Holmes asked Miss Norton and
me to meet him in the smoking room at 11 . 30 . Maybe he will
have something to report then .’
In the short time it took to get to the bridge, we made no
progress in solving the mysteries on board the Titanic . But the
walk did give me an opportunity to breathe ⑤ some fresh air and
compose myself again before meeting Holmes and Miss Norton .
There were only a few men on the bridge when we arrived .
①
bridge n .驾驶舱
②
pleased a .乐意的
③
ent ry n .记载
④
log n .航海日志
⑤
breathe v .呼吸
3 31
‘ All in order ① , Mr Lightoller ?’the captain asked .
The second officer was standing by the wheel② when we ar－
rived .
‘Indeed, sir . We are keeping a look－out③ for icebergs . Mr
Murdoch will be relieving ④ me at ten . How are you, Dr Wat－
son ?’
‘ V ery well, thank you .’
‘There is not much wind , said Smith .
‘No , it is very calm . A few waves would make any icebergs
easier to spot⑤ . . . Of course , there would be a certain amount of
reflected⑥ light from the icebergs .’
The captain nodded and stroked his beard .
‘Forgive me, Captain , but all this talk is making me a little
concerned, ’I said .
‘I have been through iceberg warnings all my career and I
have never hit one . Besides, we have some very reliable ⑦ look－
outs up in the nest who would warn us in plenty of time . And, as
you know , they say this ship is iceberg－proof ⑧ .Do you not trust
our engineers ?’
We all laughed and this helped to put my mind at ease .
①
in order 正常的
②
wheel n .机轮
③
look－out n .注意
④
relieve v .替换
⑤
spot v .认出
⑥
reflected a .反射的
⑦
reliable a .可靠的
⑧
iceberg－proof a .防冰山的
3 32
‘Well, Doctor, I am going to retire . Please stay on the
bridge for a while and keep Mr Lightoller company, if you
wish . He likes a good mystery story as well as the next man .’
‘ Thank you, Captain . I may take advantage of your
offer① .’
‘ And Mr Lightoller . . . ’
‘ Yes, sir .’
‘ If it becomes at all doubtful ② , let me know at once . I shall
be just inside .’
①
offer n .提议
②
doubtful a .可疑的
3 33
Chapter Twenty－six
T he Night of Sunday
14 April 1912
4 月 14 日 夜间 , 福尔摩斯、华生 和诺顿 碰头 时 , 泰 坦尼 克号 撞
上了冰山 , 但船 上的 乘 客对 此 并不 担 心。福 尔 摩斯 按 他们 刚 才 谈
话时的推断去查看 泰 坦 尼克 号 的模 型。 在模 型 里 , 他 们找 到 了 丢
失的计划 , 但这时冯・斯特恩 男爵 夫妇 出现了。 正当男 爵夫 妇即 将
把计划抢走时 , 佛来明小姐赶到了 , 她杀死了男爵夫妇。
By 11．15pm, social ① activities on board the Titanic had
nearly ended for the night . This city of 2 , 200 people was going
to sleep . The public rooms were quiet, and most of the passen－
gers and off－duty crew had retired to their cabins . The smoking
room was still open but only a handful ② of passengers remained .
At a side table , a marathon③ poker game continued . Other pas－
sengers were enjoying brandy④ and cigars ⑤ at their tables, or
standing by the fireplace . As I entered, I waved to Major Butt,
Harry Widener and Mr Carter , who were seated near the bar
①
social a . 社交的
②
handful n . 少数
③
marathon n . 马拉松
④
brandy n . 白兰地酒
⑤
cigar n . 雪茄烟
3 34
and having a spirited① conversation .
In this relaxed atmosphere , I found myself marvelling at
the beauty and elegance ② of this ship . Even out here, on the
cold Atlantic, I could come to this fine room and feel a sense of
warmth . I studied the rich mahogany panelling, inlaid with
mother－of－pearl . The painted windows, which lighted the room
during the day, contained③ images of landscapes④ and ancient
ships . I ref lected on how man had come so far ⑤ , and could cre－
ate comfort amid ⑥ such forbidding⑦ surroundings .
Holmes and Miss Norton had not yet arrived, so I removed
my overcoat⑧ and walked over to the large, open f ireplace . The
painting above was a powerful ⑨ image of a ship entering Ply－
mouth Harbour . On the hearth 10 below , the flames 1 were begin－
ning to die . I had hoped for a roaring fire to remove 12 the chill 13
from my bones . Instead , I stopped an elderly steward and asked
him to bring me a brandy .
①
spirited a . 热烈的
②
elegance n . 高雅
③
con tain v . 包含
④
landscape n . 风景画
⑤
so far 至今
⑥
amid prep . 在其中
⑦
forbidding a . 险恶的
⑧
overcoat n . 外套
⑨
powerful a . 有渲染力的
10
heart h n . 炉
1
flame n . 火焰
12
remove v . 驱赶
13
chill n . 寒冷
3 35
As I held my hands to the weak flames, I listened to two
men as they discussed our likely① arrival time in New Y ork . One
estimated ② that we would arrive on time , and the other thought
we might get in a few hours early . The steward, to whom I had
just spoken , was still taking orders and overheard③ the conversa－
tion .
‘I think we will do better than that, said the steward .
‘ Why do you say that ?’asked one of the men, who spoke in
a French accent .
‘Because we are making faster speed than we were yester－
day .’
‘ And what do you know about it ?’the other man asked .
‘I heard it from the engine ④ room .’
The man with the accent smiled and looked at his compan－
ion ‘
. That does not mean anything .’
The steward, not to be dismissed so lightly, offered to
prove ⑤ his point .
‘Gentlemen, come and see for yourself . It is hard to tell
here but you might notice ⑥ that tonight the ship s vibration is
much greater than it has ever been . And if you will accompany
me to the passageway⑦ just outside , you will see that the change
①
likely a . 可能的
②
estimate v . 估计
③
overhear v . 旁听
④
engine n . 发动机
⑤
prove v . 证明
⑥
notice v . 注意到
⑦
passageway n . 通道
3 36
is quite evident① .’
The two men chuckled, shrugged② and told the steward to
lead the way .
A fter warming myself by the fire , I found a secluded ③ table
where Holmes, Miss Norton and I could discuss the day s events
without being disturbed . It was not long before they walked in
side by side . Neither appeared to be in the best of spirits .
‘ Watson, said Holmes, draping④ his overcoat on an empty
table and f lopping⑤ down in a chair,‘I hope that one day when
this story can be told, you do not mention these long stretches⑥
of failure . My inquiries to day were less than successful .’
‘ And I would perfer that you kept my name out of it entire－
ly ⑦ , said Miss Norton ‘
. This is not one of my better moments .’
Unlike me , Holmes and Miss Norton had changed and were
wearing more comfortable ⑧ attire - that is, assuming they had
taken the time to dine .
‘I just ordered a brandy, ’I said .‘ But it appears that I
should have ordered three . Please remember, we might have
been more successful if we had not been interrupted by a
①
eviden t a . 明显的
②
shrug v . 耸肩
③
secluded a . 隔离的
④
drape v . 垂挂
⑤
flop v . 重落
⑥
stretch n . 一段时间
⑦
entirely ad . 完全地
⑧
comfortable a . 舒适的
3 37
political① incident .’
I saw the steward and waved him over to our table .
‘ Yes, sir, I will bring your brandy right away . And may I
bring anything for the rest of you ?’
The commodore and Miss Norton also asked for brandy .
‘ With or without ice , sir ?’
‘ Without ice, by all means, said Holmes ‘
. I am still shiv－
ering② from being out on deck .’
Miss Norton nodded .
‘ Very good, said the steward, before heading③ off in the
direction of the bar .
‘Where have you two been all evening ?’I asked .‘ I have
not seen hide ④ nor hair of either of you .’
‘Miss Norton has been kind enough to keep an eye on our
chief suspects, and came back with a very satisfactory report, I
might add, said Holmes .
‘Did you not see me in the restaurant ? I was there, ’Miss
Norton smiled ‘
. I assumed you must have been distracted⑤ .’
I ignored ⑥ her remark⑦ and asked a question that had been
gnawing ⑧ at me since dinner .
①
political a . 政治的
②
shiver v . 打颤
③
head v . 向……走
④
hide n . 兽皮
⑤
dist racted a . 不注意的
⑥
ignore v . 不理
⑦
remark n . 话语
⑧
gnaw v . ( 使) 苦恼
3 38
‘ Did you see the baron approach ① Moriarty on deck ?’
‘I did .’
‘ And where was the baroness at the time ?’
‘I am uncertain . She was with the baron just before he ran
off to catch up with Moriarty . Then she bustled ② off in the di－
rection of the stairway . I decided it would be better to keep an
eye on the two men .’
‘Following the baroness might have been more interesting,’
I replied ‘
. Did you hear that Moriarty s cabin was broken into
this afternoon - at least that is what he said .’
‘I did, ’said Holmes .’Miss Norton looked surprised .‘ I
did not have an opportunity to tell you as we walked in , but I
would say that Frau Von Stern is at least our chief suspect in this
burglary, and perhaps your break－in as well, Watson .’
‘If she was looking for the plans, that means the V on
Sterns do not have them, ’I said .
‘That would appear to be the most likely hypothesis③ , but
still . . . ’
Holmes was interrupted by the arrival of the steward carry－
ing three glasses of brandy on a tray .
‘There you are, gentlemen, Miss . That should take the
chill out of you .’
‘ Let me give you something for your trouble . . . ’I reached
into my jacket pocket for some change . Instead, I removed a
①
approach v . 接近
②
bustle v . 奔忙
③
hypot hesis n . 假设
3 39
few items① of miniature ② furniture ③ .
Holmes handed a few coins to the steward, who smiled and
walked away .
‘ What have you there , Watson ? Are you planning new fur－
niture for your f lat④ ?’
I laughed, and emptied ⑤ the full contents⑥ of my pocket on
to the table .
‘Tommy s toys . I had forgotten all about them . I put them
in my dinner jacket pocket in hope of returning them this
evening .’
‘Tommy ? said Holmes .
‘ A small boy I befriended ⑦ . Miss Norton has met him . He
left these toys when he ran off to church . Incidentally, he is a
great fan⑧ of yours . And listen to this: he asked to become a
Baker Street Irregular . Can you imagine that ? He could not be－
lieve that all the Irregulars were grown ⑨ up now .’
‘ Well, if I were not in the guise 10 of Commodore Winter, I
would introduce myself . . . But on to the matters at hand .’
①
item n . 项目
②
miniature a . 微型的
③
furniture n . 家具
④
flat n . 公寓
⑤
em pty v . 倒空
⑥
con ten t n . 内容
⑦
befriend v . 待之如友
⑧
fan n . 狂热者
⑨
grown a . 长成的
10
guise n . 外貌
3 40
Holmes examined the toy sofas① , tables, cabinets② and fireplace
casually as he spoke .‘ As I mentioned earlier, my efforts were
less than successful today . There is a sad lack of evidence on the
disappearance of Mr Strickley . I tried questioning ③ the crew and
others who might have been witnesses, but that too produced
dismal④ results . Tomorrow we must reassemble ⑤ and . . . ’
Holmes was staring intently ⑥ at the toys on the table . He
had arranged⑦ them in a pattern . It appeared to be a formal set－
ting of some kind .
‘ What is it, Holmes ?’
‘ Do you recognize ⑧ it, Watson ? Do you see it ?’
‘See what, Holmes’? Miss Norton appeared puzzled ⑨ as
well .
‘My God, Watson, look around you !’
I looked more closely and ventured 10 a guess ‘
. The smoking
room ? The furniture does look familiar, but . . . ’
‘I tell you, Watson, if I am right about this, I will
①
sofa n . 沙发
②
cabinet n . 橱柜
③
question v . 询问
④
dismal a . 沮丧的
⑤
reassemble v . 再聚集
⑥
intently ad . 一心一意地
⑦
arrange v . 摆放
⑧
recognize v . 认出
⑨
puzzled a . 迷惑的
10
venture v . 冒险去做
3 41
personally① decorate ② your friend Tommy as the greatest Baker
Street Irregular of them all .’
‘Finish your drinks quickly . We are going to take a trip ③
down to the reception ④ room .’
Miss Norton and I stared at each other in wonder .‘ The
model of the Titanic ?’I said .‘ But that is locked in a glass
case ⑤ .’
‘Locks can be opened, ’he said ‘
. In fact, I would consider
it to be highly likely that the late Mr Bishop had a key .’
‘Is not that a little far－fetched⑥ , Holmes ? Y ou think some－
one might have cleared out a section of the model and hidden the
plans inside ?’asked Miss Norton .
‘If I am wrong, I will be duly⑦ embarrassed ⑧ . But at the
moment it is the best hypothesis we have .’
‘ We will need a key, Holmes, and the captain is asleep .’
‘We will go down and take a look first . If it appears the
thing has been tampered ⑨ with, we may have to wake him up .’
‘I would hate to be the one to do it,’I said ‘
. Hell hath 10 no
①
personally ad . 亲自地
②
decorate v . 装饰
③
t rip n . 旅行
④
reception n . 接待
⑤
case n . 盒子
⑥
far－fetched a . 牵强附会的
⑦
duly ad . 足够地
⑧
em barrassed a . 尴尬的
⑨
tamper v . 乱改
10
hat h = has
3 42
fury ① like . . . ’
At that moment, we felt a jarring motion and the toys be－
gan to move across the table . So did our brandy glasses . At the
same time, there was a low , continuous② noise , which could
best be described as something between a whine ③ and a roar . It
went on for a nerve－wracking④ period of time . In fact, it was
less than a minute .
‘ What the devil ⑤ was that !’I shouted . Other passengers
were looking excitedly ⑥ about the room . Even the marathon
card game was temporarily⑦ interrupted .
‘If we were not out in the middle of the Atlantic , I would
say we had run aground⑧ , ’Miss Norton suggested ‘
. Y ou do not
suppose something is wrong with the engines, do you ?’
Holmes had risen from the table .‘ Let us go on deck .’He
appeared calm, but there was a distant, somewhat concerned
look in his eyes .
We left the table and made our way quickly to the prome－
nade deck on the starboard side of the ship . That is when we
①
fury n . 愤怒
②
con tinuous a . 持续的
③
whine n . 哀声
④
nerve－wracking a . 摧毁神经的
⑤
t he devil 究竟
⑥
excitedly ad . 激动地
⑦
temporarily ad . 暂时地
⑧
aground ad . 搁浅地
3 43
saw it . In the starlit① night, a mighty ② tower of ice was visible ③
directly④ behind the ship . Rising just above the boat deck, the
iceberg did not appear to be particularly menacing ⑤ . Yet we had
clearly made contact, perhaps below the water . The three of us
stood at the rail and watched the iceberg disappear from sight .
The few of us who had been on deck and had actually ⑥ seen
the iceberg became instant⑦ celebrities . Latecomers⑧ were eager
to f ind out what had happened . We explained what we had
seen . As I was pointing out the direction of the iceberg to an ex－
cited passenger I felt a hand tugging⑨ at my forearm 10 .
‘There is no time for this now , Watson, we have work to
do .’
Holmes, Miss Norton and I walked quickly along the deck
to the forward end of the ship . As I glanced back to take anoth－
er look at the gathering crowd, I found myself slipping 1 on a
solid object and falling backwards . Fortunately, Miss Norton
caught my arm and I regained my balance .
①
starlit a . 有星光的
②
might y a . 巨大的
③
visible a . 可见的
④
directly ad . 径直地
⑤
menacing a . 恐吓的
⑥
actually ad . 实际上
⑦
instant a . 瞬间的
⑧
latecomer n . 后来的人
⑨
t ug v . 拽
10
forearm n . 前臂
1
slip v . 滑倒
3 44
Holmes, who was well ahead, stopped and looked around,
He saw the white chunk① of ice gliding② forwards on the deck .
Sto pping it with his foot, he picked it up and walked back to－
wards us .
‘ Are you all right, Watson ?’
‘ Yes, I am not hurt . Is that what I slipped on ?’
He handed it to me ‘
. Indeed, here is a souvenir③ for you .
A genuine ④ piece of an iceberg . It must have fallen off when we
made contact . . . Are you able to carry on ?’
‘ Of course .’
‘Then let us proceed ⑤ . We must get down to that model .’
We returned to the interior ⑥ warmth ⑦ of the ship and
walked down the main staircase ⑧ until we reached the reception
room on Saloon Deck D . The lights had been dimmed⑨ , but the
room s furnishings 10 were still clearly visible . We could not see
the model of the ship f rom the grand 1 staircase . It was to the
①
chunk n . ( 厚 )块
②
glide v . 滑动
③
souvenir n . 纪念品
④
genuine a . 真正的
⑤
proceed v . 继续前进
⑥
interior a . 内部的
⑦
warmt h n . 暖和
⑧
staircase n . 楼梯间
⑨
dim v . ( 使) 变暗淡
10
furnishings n . 陈设品
1
grand a . 巨大的
3 45
right, by a wall that surrounded the boiler casing① below the
first smokestack ② . I looked at the dining－room doors on either
side of this partition ③ , wondering whether anyone would enter
unexpectedly④ .
Upon reaching the case , Holmes peered through the glass
and examined the upper portions⑤ of the model in great detail .
‘I cannot tell anything f rom here . We will have to get in－
side .’
‘Shall I get the captain ?’I asked .
‘No , said Holmes, reaching inside his coat .‘ Let me try
something else first .’
Holmes held a leather ⑥ case in his hands . It was a case I
had seen before while assisting⑦ Holmes on missions of question－
able ⑧ legality ⑨ .
‘ Y our old burglary tools !’I exclaimed ‘
. I must say, you did
come well prepared .’
Holmes selected one of several lock－picks 10 from the case
①
casing n . 箱
②
smokestack n . 烟囱
③
par tition n . 隔墙
④
unexpectedly ad . 出人意料地
⑤
por tion n . 一部分
⑥
leat her n . 皮革制品
⑦
assist v . 协助
⑧
questionable a . 可疑的
⑨
legality n . 合法
10
lock－pick n . 开锁器
3 46
and poked① it into the opening② .‘ This one should do the
trick ③ . It is a relatively ④ easy lock .’
Moments later, Holmes was lifting the glass lid from the
case . He then reached inside and tugged at various portions of
the model to determine where it might separate ⑤ .
‘ Do make haste ⑥ , Mr Holmes, said Miss Norton ‘
. Some－
one might come .’We could hear, through the stairwell ⑦ , voices
and movement f rom the decks above . Passengers, who had been
awakened by the encounter ⑧ with the iceberg, were beginning to
stir ⑨ .
‘I am well aware of that . This should only take a . . . ’A
long section 10 of the boat deck came away in Holmes s hand .
It was like opening a treasure 1 chest 12 . We all looked over
the top of the case and peered inside .
‘My God, look !’Miss Norton , who was not much taller
than the case , was struggling 13 to reach inside ‘
. Y ou were right,
①
poke v . 戳
②
opening n . 孔洞
③
t rick n . 戏法
④
relatively ad . 相当地
⑤
separate v . 分离
⑥
haste n . 匆忙
⑦
stairwell n . 楼梯口
⑧
encoun ter n . 相撞
⑨
stir v . 骚动
10
section n . 节
1
t reasure n . 财宝
12
chest n . 箱子
13
struggle v . 努力
3 47
the plans ! Thank God !’
‘Well, Watson, it looks like I will not be eating humble ①
pie ② after all .’
‘I would not speak too soon, Commodore . . . or should I
say, Mr Holmes ?’Baron and Baroness V on Stern were ap－
proaching us f rom the grand staircase . The baron was holding a
gun .
‘ Good evening, Baron ,’said Holmes ‘
. Up a little late, are
you not ? I am afraid the dining room is closed .’
‘ We are not looking for a midnight③ snack④ . My wife and I
were following you . We had camped on deck, outside the smok－
ing room and were about to retire for the night when the big ice－
berg passed . . . a magnificent⑤ sight, by the way . We saw you
run outside , and then down along the deck .’
‘What have I always told you, Watson, persistence pays
off ⑥ .’Holmes, while doing his best to appear calm, had raised
his hands and was staring at the baron s gun .
‘By the way, Miss Norton, I owe ⑦ you my thanks, said
Von Stern ‘
. If you had not now mentioned Mr Holmes s name,
I never would have realized that I had defeated the great detec－
tive .’
①
humble a . 难吃的
②
pie n . 馅饼
③
midnight n . 午夜
④
snack n . 宵夜
⑤
magnificen t a . 壮观的
⑥
pay off 成功
⑦
owe v . 应向……付出……
3 48
‘ Are you going to kill us ?’Miss Norton asked .
The baron appeared puzzled by the question, then glanced
at his wife .
‘I am not sure . I suppose I had not really thought about
that . Now, we cannot having you go to the captain before we
reach New Y ork . Hmm, what do you say, my dear ?’
‘I hear voices, Hans . Let us move into the dining room .’
‘I suppose that is a good idea . But f irst, Elisabeth, Miss
Norton has something for us .Would you take the plans from
her ? And, my dear, please be careful not to walk into my line of
fire .’
Miss Norton hesitated, then held out the plans . Frau V on
Stern snatched ① them and walked back quickly behind her hus－
band .
‘Scoundrel ② ! said Miss Norton .
‘Scoundrel, you say ? Need I remind you that the engineer－
ing③ principles ④ that make your submarine ⑤ possible were stolen
from us by British spies . You did, however, seem to make some
modifications⑥ that appear very interesting . We must take them
back to Germany for more detailed examination .’
‘Hans !’
‘ Yes, my dear, I know . Gentlemen, Miss Norton , would
①
snatch v . 抢
②
scoundrel n . 恶棍
③
engineering n . 工程学
④
principle n . 原理
⑤
submarine n . 潜水艇
⑥
modification n . 修改
3 49
you please step inside the dining room . We will decide in there
what to do with you .’
The baron waved his gun and I decided that we had no
choice but to comply ① . As I opened the door, I looked at
Holmes . I could see that his keen ② mind was looking for some
method of overcoming out adversaries ③ . But the baron was a
trained ④ agent⑤ . I did not think it likely that he would make a
mistake .
The interior of the restaurant, like the lounge ⑥ , was dim－
ly ⑦ lit . We stepped inside and moved back as the V on Sterns en－
tered the room . The baroness closed the door behind her .
Von Stern looked around the room and pointed to a chair
that was standing along the wall .
‘My dear, would you remove the small cushion from that
chair and bring it to me ? I think it is best that we deal with this
problem in a prompt⑧ manner . But I do not want to make too
much noise .’
①
comply v . 顺从
②
keen a . 敏锐的
③
adversary n . 敌人
④
t rained a . 受过训练的
⑤
agen t n . 间谍
⑥
lounge n . 吸烟室
⑦
dimly ad . 朦胧地
⑧
prompt a . 迅速的
3 50
I looked around and saw that a champagne ① bucket② was
resting③ on a nearby trolley④ . I began to reach for it, planning
to make a desperate ⑤ move to knock the gun from the baron s
hand . Much to my surprise , Holmes signalled me to stop .
‘ What goes on here ? said the baron ‘
. Dr Watson, I must
insist that you keep your hands up . There is no point to your
foolish bravado ⑥ . I would have shot you before you had even
reached that bucket .’
‘No , no , Baron, said a woman s voice ‘
. I am quite sure I
would have shot you first . But let us not argue ⑦ over trifles⑧ .
Please drop your gun .’
Miss Storm－Fleming emerged from behind a post, to the
baron s right . She was holding a silver revolver .
‘ Miss Storm－Fleming, you realize , of course , that I am
pointing my gun at your friends . Surely you do not want to see
them die .’
‘ Y ou won’t shoot, V on Stern . The moment your gun f ires
I will kill both you and your wife . And in case ⑨ you did not
①
champagne a . 香槟酒色的
②
bucket n . 桶
③
rest on 倚靠
④
t rolley n . 手推车
⑤
desperate a . 孤注一掷的
⑥
bravado n . 虚张声势
⑦
argue v . 争论
⑧
t rifle n . 琐事
⑨
in case 恐怕
3 51
know, I too am a trained marksman ① .’
The baroness, who had the cushion in her hand, suddenly
threw it across the room in Miss Storm－Fleming s direction . As it
went sailing by② , the baron began to turn . Miss Storm－
Fleming s eyes remained f ixed on the baron . She f ired her gun
and the baron s body was jolted③ back by the impact ④ . He
reached for his chest, looked back to his wife and fell to the
floor .
‘Miss Storm－Fleming !’I exclaimed ‘
. I am very glad you ar－
rived, although I am uncertain as to what is happening .’
‘ Did I not tell you to trust me , Dr Watson ?’
Holmes smiled at Miss Storm－Fleming and delivered ⑤ a cor－
dial ⑥ salute ⑦ . He walked over to the baron s body, pushed it
with his foot, bending over to retrieve ⑧ the gun .
Miss Norton lowered her hands ‘
. This is astounding ⑨ , she
said, mopping her brow on her sleeve .
The baroness stood in shocked 10 silence . Suddenly, she
①
marksman n . 射手
②
sail by 飞行
③
jolt v . ( 使) 震动
④
impact n . 冲击
⑤
deliver v . 表达
⑥
cordial a . 真诚的
⑦
salute n . 致意
⑧
ret rieve v . 寻回
⑨
astounding a . 令人惊奇的
10
shocked a . 目瞪口呆的
3 52
broke down ① in tears and ran to the body of her husband .
‘Hans, Hans, please , you cannot die !’
The baroness was on her knees, pulling at her husband s
shoulder, trying to turn the body face upwards . She stopped
abruptly to take a handkerchief f rom her sleeve . The movement
seemed awkward ② and the handkerchief appeared to shine . Miss
Storm－Fleming f ired again . The baroness crumpled ③ forward,
falling on her husband s bo dy .
Miss Storm－Fleming walked over to the li feless couple .
Kneeling down on one knee ④ , she examined the two bodies . Af－
ter reassuring⑤ herself that the Von Sterns were no longer a
threat, she removed a derringer ⑥ from the baroness s hand and
the submarine plans from her coat . She then got back to her feet
and walked towards Miss Norton .
When the two women were face to face , she lifted her arm
and held the plans in front of her .
‘Here you are, Miss Norton . And in future , you might
want to take better care of government⑦ property⑧ .’
①
break down 不能控制自己的情绪
②
awkward a . 笨拙的
③
crumple v . 崩溃
④
kneel v . 跪下
⑤
reassure v . 使消除疑虑
⑥
derringer n . 大口径短筒手枪
⑦
government n . 政府
⑧
property n . 财产
3 53
Chapter Twenty－seven
Midnight on Sunday
14 April 1912
4 月 14 日午夜 , 福尔 摩斯 等人 得知 泰 坦尼 克号 被冰 山严 重 撞
坏 , 再有两个小 时即 将 沉没。 福 尔摩 斯 等人 决 定先 去 通知 福 特 里
尔一家人 , 然后 , 由诺顿小姐 和佛 来明 小姐带 计划 上救生 船。而 福
尔摩斯和华生留下来去调查摩里亚蒂。
The Titanicwas utterly ① motionless② in the water . But it
was far from silent . High above the boat deck the ship s huge
funnels were blowing off steam ③ with a mighty roar .
Holmes, Miss Norton, Miss Storm－Fleming and I were mak－
ing our way forward to the bridge , where we planned to tell
Captain Smith the sad news that he had two more deaths to deal
with . We were all reluctant④ to burden the captain with more
problems, since we knew he would be fully occupied⑤ with the
①
u tterly ad .完全地
②
motionless a .不动的
③
blow off steam 显得激动
④
reluctant a .不愿的
⑤
occupy v .使忙于
3 54
ship s structural ① damage . At that point② , we had no idea how
serious the damage really was .
The other passengers and most of the crew were also in the
dark . A number of people , awakened by the commotion ③ , were
braving ④ the cold to see what all the fuss⑤ was about . Some
were bundled ⑥ up in their warmest clothing, while others were
wearing coats over their pyjamas⑦ . They stood along the rail,
shivering and staring out into the dark; but there were no an－
swers to be found . When asked , the crew would speculate ⑧ that
the ship had lost a propeller ⑨ blade 10 , or that they had stopped
to avoid 1 nearby icebergs . No one really knew for sure .
But for me , at least, one big mystery had been solved . Miss
Storm－Fleming was an agent of the American government . She
had been assigned to protect the plans, and all the while keep
her identity secret f rom her British counterparts 12 . ( Did Mycroft
know ?) I had many questions to ask her, but they would have to
①
struct ural a .结构的
②
at t hat point 在那时
③
commotion n .动摇
④
brave v .勇敢地面对
⑤
fuss n .大惊小怪
⑥
bundle v .包
⑦
pyjama n .睡衣裤
⑧
speculate v .推测
⑨
propeller n .螺旋桨
10
blade n .叶片
1
avoid v .避免
12
counterpart n .相当的人物 ; 对手方
3 55
wait until after we had seen the captain . I restrained ① my cu－
riosity② , knowing there would be plenty of time to talk later on .
As for the V on Sterns, there were questions about them
that would never be answered . Clearly, they were agents of the
German government . And quite obviously ③ , they did not steal
the plans f rom Miss Norton s cabin . But I had little doubt that
they had broken into my cabin , and that of Colonel James Mori－
arty . And what of Moriarty ? Was he our thief ? If so , who was
he working for ? One thing was certain: Moriarty could not es－
cape ④ in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean . We would soon be
dealing with him .
We arrived at the bridge at an opportune ⑤ time . Captain
Smith was returning with Thomas Andrews, Chief Officer Wilde
and Fourth Officer Boxhall . They had been inspecting the ship s
damage .
‘My apologies, Commodore , I do not have time for you at
the moment !’the captain said curtly⑥ as he opened the door to
the bridge .
‘Captain, if you please, it is quite urgent⑦ .’
‘Sir, I am afraid you do not know the meaning of the
word !’He paused and his voice suddenly lowered to a calmer
①
restrain v .抑制
②
curiosity n .好奇心
③
obviously ad .显然
④
escape v .逃跑
⑤
oppor tune a .适合的
⑥
curtly ad .简短地
⑦
urgent a .紧急的
3 56
tone .
‘ Very well, I suppose you all want to come . . . and Miss
Storm－Fleming, too . Come with me then .’
Andrews appeared to be both perplexed and impatient①
with the encounter . He had a look ② of urgency③ on his face .
Once inside , the captain spoke at once :
‘ Mr Andrews, please get started on your calculations④ .
Commodore, would you - and only you - step into my cabin .
Y ou have one minute .’
Holmes and the captain disappeared behind closed doors .
Meanwhile, Andrews unrolled ⑤ plans of the ship s structure ⑥
and studied them intently . From time to time , he would jot⑦
something down with a pencil or consult⑧ his slide rule ⑨ . He
worked furiously 10 , but the resigned 1 expression on his face told
me he was merely confirming 12 facts that he already knew .
Several other men were on the bridge, including Chief Offi－
①
impatient a .不耐烦的
②
look n .表情
③
urgency n .紧急
④
calculation n .计算
⑤
unroll v .展开
⑥
struct ure n .结构
⑦
jot v .迅速地写下
⑧
consult v .查阅
⑨
slide rule 滑尺
10
furiously ad .狂怒地
1
resigned a .顺从的
12
confirm v .证实
3 57
cer Wilde, First Officer Murdoch , Fourth Off icer Boxhall and
Sixth Off icer Moody . Murdoch was nervously looking over
Andrews s shoulder, until impatience caused him to walk over to
the ship s wheel . Gripping① the wheel , he looked forward, out
of the window, and appeared lost in thought . Wilde was to the
rear of the bridge , consulting a While Star manual ② , while the
other two officers spoke quietly to each other in the back－
ground③ .
In just over a minute , the captain and Holmes returned to
the bridge . Much to my surprise , the captain appeared unaffect－
ed ④ by their conversation . Equally⑤ to my surprise, there was a
look of alarm⑥ in Holmes s eyes .
‘ Any progress, Mr Andrews ?’
‘I will be finished in a moment, Captain .’
The captain, forced to wait for answers, looked at each of
our faces . We were all eager to know what was going on , but
none of us dared to ask .
‘I was just telling the commodore that ship is very seriously
damaged . At this moment, we are awaiting word from Mr An－
drews on whether she will last the night . But I must tell you, we
①
grip v .抓住
②
manual n .操作手册
③
background n .隐蔽的地方
④
unaffected a .未受影响的
⑤
equally ad .同样地
⑥
alarm n .惊慌
3 58
are in a very grave ① situation ② .’
‘Was it the iceberg, sir ?’I asked .‘ We got just a brief ③
glimpse ④ of it . . . ’
‘ Yes, Doctor . Mr Murdoch here was on duty when he got a
call f rom Mr Fleet in the crew s nest⑤ that there was an iceberg
right ahead . Mr Murdoch responded quickly by hard－a－star－
boarding and by reversing⑥ the engines . He had intended to
steer⑦ to port⑧ around the iceberg, but it was too close . The
huge mass⑨ of ice below the water scraped 10 us along the star－
board bow 1 . While Mr Murdoch had immediately closed the
watertight 12 doors, it did not solve the problem . There is a good
deal of water down below and it is coming in fast .’
We all took a moment to consider the captain s horrifying 13
account 14 of our situation . I thought back to the debate 15 that
①
grave a .危急的
②
situation n .形势
③
brief a .短暂的
④
glimpse n .一瞥
⑤
nest n .休息所
⑥
reverse v .反转
⑦
steer v .操舵
⑧
por t v .向左侧转 (舵 )
⑨
mass n .块
10
scrape v .擦
1
bow n .船首
12
watertight a .防水的
13
horrifying a .可怕的
14
accoun t n .叙述
15
debate n .争论
3 59
had taken place between Mr Andrews and Mr Stead, and their
discussion① of the lack of lifeboats② .
‘Sir, the lifeboats . . . ?’I could not complete my sentence .
‘ Well, Doctor, if the worst happens, let us just hope there
are other ships nearby .’
We all stood quietly as Andrews completed his work . Before
he did, Mr J Bruce Ismay stepped inside , wearing a suit over his
pyjamas and a pair of carpet③ slippers④ .
‘Any word yet, Captain ?’He stopped short when he saw
four visitors ‘
. What are these passengers doing here ?’
‘ They have my permission,
Mr Ismay, ’ the captain
replied .
Ismay nodded , suddenly realizing there were more impor－
tant questions at hand ⑤ .
Andrews rose from the table .‘ I have something for you
now , Captain, and I fear that it is not goo d news .’
Captain Smith put his hand on Anderws s shoulder ‘
. Go a－
head, Mr Andrews .’
He looked the captain in the eye, then turned back to the
other officers .‘ This ship has an hour and a half left . Possibly
two . Not much longer .’Again , silence . It was broken by the
captain .
①
discussion n .讨论
②
lifeboat n .救生船
③
carpet n .毛毯
④
slipper n .拖鞋
⑤
at hand 在手上
3 60
‘ Are you certain ?’
‘The evidence is here, ’ Andrews replied, directing Smith
to look at the plans on the table ‘
. This ship can float① with any
two of her sixteen watertight holds floo ded . She can even f loat
with all of her first four holds gone . But she definitely ② cannot
float with all of her first five holds full .’
‘But this ship cannot sink, ’Ismay protested ③ .
‘I am afraid it can, sir,’Andrews said ‘
. We have water in the
fore－peak, holds No . 1 and 2 , the post room, boiler rooms No . 5
and 6 . . . ’Andrews picked up his pencil and drew a long line from
the bow of the ship going back ‘
. That iceberg cut a narrow gash ④ in
the starboard side of the ship nearly 300 feet long . We never expect－
ed that would happen .’
‘But the watertight holds . . . ’Ismay said .
Andrews again pointed to the diagram ⑤ .‘ Once the first
five compartments are flooded, the bow will sink so low that the
water in the fifth compartment will overflow ⑥ into the sixth .
Then the water in the sixth will overf low into the seventh , and
so on . . . The ship will sink . There is no doubt .’
The captain decided that it was time to end the conversa－
tion .
①
float v .漂浮
②
definitely ad .肯定地
③
protest v .反驳
④
gash n .长而深的割伤
⑤
diagram n .图解
⑥
overflow v .溢流
3 61
‘Mr Wilde , uncover ① the lifeboats . Mr Murdoch, alert②
the passengers . Mr Moody, get out the lifeboat assignments③ .
And Mr Boxhall, wake up Mr Lightoller and Mr Pitman . Tell
them to report to me immediately . I will go to the wireless④ to
send out a distress⑤ call .’
Holmes, Miss Norton , Miss Storm－Fleming and I left the
bridge and moved down to the forward end of A Deck . We were
drawn there by the cries and cheers of a strangely⑥ festive ⑦
group of f irst－class passengers . As we pushed our way through
the small crowd, I was nearly knocked over by a middle－aged
man carrying a football－size block of ice .
‘Sorry, old man, ’he said, grabbing my forearm ‘
. Are you
hurt ?’
He was breathing rapidly and a frosty ⑧ cloud formed be－
tween us each time he exhaled⑨ .
‘Not at all .’
‘I was in a hurry .I wanted to get below to show 10 this prize 1 off
①
uncover v .揭开……的盖子
②
aler t v .发警报给
③
assign ment n .( 分派的) 任务
④
wireless n .无线电
⑤
dist ress n .灾难
⑥
strangely ad .奇怪地
⑦
festive a .欢乐的
⑧
frost y a .银白的
⑨
exhale v .呼气
10
show (off) 炫耀
1
prize n .战利品
3 62
to some friends .’
He proudly displayed his clear, shining tro phy① , which
glimmered② in the electric lights like a giant③ diamond .
‘Tell me , ’I said, p ointing forward .‘ What is all the ex－
citement about ?’
‘ Why, the sporting match of the year ! When we passed the
iceberg, big chunks④ fell down on to the well deck . Some steer－
age ⑤ passengers are down there throwing them around, having a
fine old time . Looks like great fun . I got one of them to toss⑥
this up to me . I suppose those of us in f irst class will have to be
satisfied ⑦ with being spectators ⑧ , what ?’
As he disappeared around the corner , Miss Storm－Fleming
spoke softly⑨ ‘
: Do you supp ose we ought to tell them ? They do
not know, and there are only a couple of hours . . . So many
could die tonight . . . ’
‘Perhaps we should leave that to the experts 10 ,’I said .‘ I
am sure the captain has a plan that will prevent 1 panic and save
①
t rophy n .战利品
②
glimmer v .发微光
③
gian t a .巨大
④
chunk n .块
⑤
steerage n .(客船的 )统舱
⑥
toss v .投
⑦
satisfied a .满足的
⑧
spectator n .观众
⑨
softly ad .轻轻地
10
expert n .专家
1
prevent v .防止
3 63
as many as possible . And there is a lot of shipping in this area .
In this age of wireless communication, we will be surrounded ①
with help in no time .’
She nodded, but did not seem to be entirely② convinced③ .
We walked forward to join Holmes and Miss Norton at the rail .
Below, the scene ④ was just as our new acquaintance ⑤ had
described⑥ it . Men, children and even a few young women were
kicking⑦ chunks of ice between imaginary⑧ goals . There was no
precise ⑨ means of keeping score 10 but that did not dampen 1 their
enthusiasm .
The cheers of both athletes 12 and spectators blended 13 with
the roar of the funnels, which were still belching 14 up steam
from the boilers below . In the distance we could hear the sound
①
surround v .包围
②
entirely ad .完全地
③
convinced a .确信的
④
scene n .景象
⑤
acquaintance n .相识的人
⑥
describe v .叙述
⑦
kick v .踢
⑧
imaginary a .想象的
⑨
precise a .精确的
10
score n .得分
1
dampen v .使沮丧
12
athlete n .运动员
13
blend v .混杂
14
belch v .喷出
3 64
of the ship s band, as it played lively① ragtime ② tunes③ .
Then, from above , I heard a‘ pop④ ’. Within moments, a
bright burst⑤ of light spread across the sky . R ockets were being
fired from the bridge deck . There was a cheer from the excited
crowd . But I noticed that a few passengers standing nearby were
suddenly subdued by this display . Frequent⑥ travellers, especial－
ly, knew the meaning of distress rockets⑦ .
Some of the crew were now trying to break up ⑧ the crowd
on A Deck and get the passengers to assemble ⑨ inside .
‘ Will everyone please move back to the first－class lounge ,
shouted a steward ‘
. We will begin lowering the lifeboats short－
ly 10 . The captain has ordered women and children first . I re－
peat, women and children first .’
There were no outward 1 signs of alarm 12 from the passen－
gers . In fact, a few ignored 13 the warning 14 completely and
①
lively a .活泼的
②
rag time n .爵士乐
③
t une n .曲调
④
pop n .砰的一声
⑤
burst n .爆炸
⑥
frequent a .频繁的
⑦
rocket n . 火箭
⑧
break up 解散
⑨
assemble v .集合
10
shor tly ad .不久
1
outward a .外表的
12
alarm n .警报
13
ignored a .无知的
14
warning n .警告
3 65
stayed by the rail .
My companions and I, setting an example, immediately re－
sponded to the steward s orders .
As we moved back through the long corridors, one young
woman said to her husband,‘Well, I am not going out in one of
those little boats . I would freeze out there . This ship is as
steady① as can be .’
Her husband agreed , but was less certain ‘
. Yes, it does not
make much sense, ’he said ‘
. It must be some regulations② they
have to follow . Y ou know White Star, everything by the book .’
As we neared the lounge , Holmes moved to the right and
opened a door . He motioned for the three of us to enter . We
found ourselves in the reading and writing room, which was un－
occupied ③ . After we were all inside, Holmes closed the door,
shutting out much of the noise and commotion ④ . The curtains
had been drawn across the large bay window ⑤ , giving us privacy
from the passengers who were walking outside along the prome－
nade deck .
The room must have been recently⑥ used, because yellow
flames were blazing⑦ in the fireplace . We gathered closely in
①
steady a .稳定的
②
regulation n .规则
③
unoccupied a .空的
④
commotion n .骚乱
⑤
bay window 凸窗
⑥
recently ad .最近
⑦
blaze v .燃烧
3 66
com fortable chairs and leaned① forward towards the heat .
‘As you know , our situation is precarious② , said Holmes .
He paused, but no one said a word ‘
. In addition to ③ the ques－
tion of our personal safety, we have the responsibility of com－
pleting our mission and delivering the plans to the American au－
thorities④ .’
Holmes s hands were pointing forwards, with f ingertips
touching, as he stared into the flames . I had often seen him in
this pose ⑤ at our Baker Street flat, mostly when he was deep in
thought .
‘Miss Norton ,’ he said .‘ Y ou must board a li feboat as
quickly as possible . It is your responsibility to ensure ⑥ that the
plans arrive safely .’
For a moment , it appeared that our young friend was going
to raise ⑦ her voice in objection ⑧ . But she stopped short when
Holmes turned his head to look at her .
‘ Yes, Mr Holmes, I will .’
‘ And Miss Storm－Fleming, I consider it your duty to accom－
pany Miss Norton . In view of ⑨ all the efforts that have heen
①
lean v .靠
②
precarious a .危险的
③
in addition to 除了
④
aut hority n .当局
⑤
pose n .姿态
⑥
ensure v .确保
⑦
raise v .产生
⑧
objection n .反对
⑨
in view of 由于
3 67
made to steal the plans thus far, she might need your help .’
Miss Storm－Fleming left her chair and sat on the f loor in
front of me , next to the fire . She smiled at him, then turned to
the fire and began to warm her hands .‘ My superiors gave me
two assignments . One was to look after the submarine plans .
The other was to make contact with you at the end of the voyage
and take you to your American contact . If I let you drown ① , I
will have failed in one of my missions . That would taint ② my
record’.
‘Miss Storm－Fleming, you must get to a lifeboat, ’I said .
‘Holmes and I will proceed shortly, after a rescue ship arrives .
This is not certain, but the odds are with us ③ .’
‘Well , Watson ,’sald Holmes .‘ If I thought it would do
any good, I would tell you to try to get into a lifeboat too . They
might allow men to board later on . But I know what the answer
would be . So perhaps you would like to accompany me in a
search for Moriarty . There are one or two matters of interest
that I would like to discuss with him .’
‘ Are you not forgetting that we have friends on board ? Mr
Futrelle and his wife, especially’, said Miss Norton ‘
. Should we
not find them and try to warn them ?’
‘ And young Tommy and his parents . . .’added Miss Storm－
Fleming .
‘ Yes, of course , you are quite right . We must make an ef－
①
drown a .溺死的
②
tain t v .沾污
③
The odds are wit h us . 形势对我们有利。
3 68
fort to find them while there is still time .’
‘It is a large ship’, I said .
‘ Y es, indeed it is, ’Holmes replied .‘ Perhaps we should
split① up . Miss Norton , please come with me . We’ll search A
Deck .’
I looked at Miss Storm－Fleming and she nodded .
‘ We will go up to the boat deck .’
‘ Very well, ’said Holmes‘We
.
will meet again at 1．15 . Go
to the boat deck below the forward funnel , on the starboard
side, but if matters begin to look difficult, please go to a
lifeboat .’
Holmes was the f irst to rise from his chair . Soon , the rest
of us headed slowly towards the door .
We paused before leaving . Inside this room there was
warmth, elegance ② and, dare I say it, friendship . But we all
knew full well that the clock was ticking③ . Before the night was
out, this luxury④ room on the world s largest ocean liner would
be filled with icy⑤ water and lying on the ocean floor .
Holmes extended his hand to me , and I grasped⑥ it f irmly .
Then he opened the door .
①
split v .分开
②
elegance n .高尚
③
tick v .打点
④
luxury a .豪华的
⑤
icy a .冰冷的
⑥
grasp v .握住
3 69
Chapter Twenty－eight
The Early Hours Of
Monday 15 April 1912
4 月 15 日拂晓前 , 华 生和 佛来 明小 姐 在找 福特 里尔 一家 人 的
途中 , 帮助船员 组织 乘 客上 救 生船。 之 后他 们 去与 福 尔摩 斯 和 诺
顿小姐碰头。结果 , 福尔摩斯 已去会 见摩 里亚蒂 上校。 随后 , 华 生
送诺顿小姐和佛来明小姐上救生船。
The Titanic had developed① a perceptible ② tilt③ . Both Miss
Storm－Fleming and I noticed it immediately as we stepped out on
to the boat deck . Much to our surprise , there was no panic .
People seemed to realize that the ship was in trouble but they
had no idea of their immediate peril ④ . In fact, one member of
the crew, who was assisting with the loading of a lifeboat, told
me that the Titanic could not possibly sink in less than eight
hours - plenty of time for rescue ships to arrive . Speaking as a
veteran ⑤ , it was his opinion⑥ that the ship would not sink at all .
①
develop v . 产生
②
perceptible a . 可察觉的
③
tilt n . 倾斜
④
peril n . 危险
⑤
veteran n . 老船员
⑥
opinion n . 观点
3 70
‘I may stay on board while the ship is towed ① back to
Belfast② , ’he boasted ③ ‘
. I will book myself a first－class cabin
and have a grand old time .’
The Titanic had 16 lifeboats under davits④ , as well as⑤ four
Englehardt collapsible ⑥ boats, which were stored⑦ elsewhere ⑧
on the boat deck . Thus far ⑨ , six of the craft had been
launched 10 , none of which had been filled to capacity 1 . The
crew was having a diff icult time getting peo ple to board the
boats . So rather than 12 waiting for greater co－operation from the
passengers, they launched them . Officers reasoned 13 that once
the boats were safely in the water, they could come back and
rescue swimming survivors 14 .
Miss Storm－Fleming and I had a decision to make . With
precious moments remaining, was there anything we could do to
①
tow v . 拖
②
Belfast n . 贝尔法斯特 ( 英国港市 )
③
boast v . 自夸
④
davit n . 吊艇柱
⑤
as well as 除……之外还
⑥
collapsible a . 可折叠的
⑦
store v . 储存
⑧
elsewhere ad . 在别处
⑨
t hus far 到目前为止
10
launch v . 使下水
1
capacity n . 容量
12
rat her than 而不是
13
reason v . 推理
14
survivor n . 幸存者
3 71
rally① the passengers ? Could we save lives by going from group
to group, urging peo ple to board the lifeboats ? And what if
some action on our part had just the o pposite effect ? A panic
might slow the loading of the li feboats and result in a greater
loss of life . And who were we to question the wisdom ② of an ex－
perienced crew ? We decided to proceed with our mission and, if
possible , offer our assistance to the captain .
We began our search for Tommy and the Futrelles on the
starboard side of the ship . There was no sign of them . We were
impressed, however, by the sight of the ship s band standing
outside the gymnasium playing lively tunes . I could not help
but③ admire these fine men , whose music did so much to raise
the spirits of those on board .
On the port④ side we found Mr Lightoller preparing to low－
er a boat . The second officer, while guiding reluctant women
and children into the craft, was simultaneously ⑤ carrying on a
conversation with a steward .
‘I am sorry, Hart, I am needed here and I have no one
spare ⑥ . Y ou will have to manage by yourself .’
‘It is the language more than anything, sir, said Hart ‘
. So
many of them cannot understand English . I just cannot persuade
①
rally v . 集合
②
wisdom n . 智慧
③
can not help but 禁不住
④
por t n . 舷窗口
⑤
simultaneously ad . 同时发生地
⑥
spare n . 备用物
3 72
them to move . Finns ① , Swedes ② , they do not understand .’
‘Perhaps I can help, said Miss Storm－Fleming .‘ Linguis－
tics③ was always one of my stronger subjects .’
Lightoller interrupted ④ his work .‘ Miss Storm－Fleming,’
he said with some surprise ‘
. And Dr Watson . Would you accom－
pany Mr Hart down to steerage ?’
‘ Y es, of course , just show me where to go ,
said Miss
Storm－Fleming .
‘ And me too , ’I added .
‘ Very good . But make haste, said Lightoller .‘ There are
still plenty of boats, but they are going fast .’
Hart guided us to the foot of the main steerage staircase, aft
on E Deck . The area, surrounded by plain white walls and low
ceilings, was mobbed ⑤ with families . Some appeared fright－
ened, while others just looked confused . I felt especially sorry
for a young mother, who was trying to keep her children togeth－
er amid the moving crowd .
Hart took charge ⑥ of the situation .‘ I’m going to find the
interpreter⑦ and see how he is doing . By now , he should have a
group assembled to go on deck . Please gather together some
families, as many as you can , and follow the same route back to
①
Finn n . 芬兰人
②
Swede n . 瑞典人
③
linguistics n . 语言学
④
interrupt v . 中断
⑤
mob v . 包围
⑥
take charge 接管
⑦
interpreter n . 译员
3 73
the boat deck . Do you think you can do that ?’
‘Indeed, ’I replied .
‘ Good luck then, and God bless you .’
Hart disappeared into the crowd .
The steward had not exaggerated ① the diff iculty of the
task . It required conveying ② the urgency of the situation , with－
out creating panic . Miss Storm－Fleming did a magnificent ③ job
carrying out her assignment, using several different languages . I
helped with the English－speaking families . Soon, we had a
group of about 30 people ready to go .
I led the group up the stairs and into the third－class lounge
on C Deck . Miss Storm－Fleming took up the rear, ensuring that
there were no stragglers④ . We continued across the open well
deck, past the library and into first class . Before long we were
making our way up the grand stairway to the boat deck .
It was a joy to see the f irst of these passengers heading to－
wards the lifeboats . But I shuddered⑤ to think of the steerage
passengers still below who would, quite probably, lose their
lives in the next few hours . And what of the crew down below
who were valiantly⑥ operating the pumps ⑦ and keeping the
①
exaggerate v . 夸大
②
convey v . 传达
③
magnificen t a . 杰出的
④
straggler n . 散乱的人
⑤
shudder v . 战栗
⑥
valiantly ad . 勇敢地
⑦
pump n . 泵
3 74
electric ① p ower flowing ?
I looked at my watch . It was 1 . 25 . We were late for our
rendezvous with Holmes and Miss Norton, so we moved quickly,
running forwards along the starboard deck .
En route ② , we saw Futrelle . He was walking aft and ap－
peared to be lost in thought .
‘Futrelle , I am so glad that we found you, ’I said ‘
. Where
is your wife ?’
‘ I put May in a boat not five minutes ago . She is safe now .’
‘Futrelle , I . . . ’
‘ Doctor , I have spoken to Holmes and Miss Norton . They
told me everything .’
‘Please, join us, Mr Futrelle . We are on our way to meet
them now .’
‘No , no thank you . I prefer to be alone with my own
thoughts .’
‘Futrelle . . . ’I searched ③ for the right words .
‘But I must thank you, Doctor . My thanks to both you and
Mr Holmes . It was truly④ a case to remember .’
He shook both our hands . Futrelle began to turn, but then
paused⑤ .‘ I do believe I have discovered ⑥ a plan by which
①
elect ric a . 电的
②
en route ad . 在途中
③
search v . 寻找
④
t ruly ad . 真正地
⑤
pause v . 停
⑥
discover v . 发现
3 75
Professor Van Dusen could escape safely from ① this situation . I
fear, however, that it is not for me .’
He smiled, waved slowly, and began to walk away .
Miss Storm－Fleming and I moved quickly to the forward
funnel, where we hoped to meet Holmes and Miss Norton . In－
stead, we found only Miss Norton . She was pacing② up and
down ③ nervously ④ .
‘Where have you two been ? I thought of going to look for
you, but . . . ’
‘ Where is Holmes ?’I asked .
‘He has gone to meet Moriarty .’
‘ What ! But why ?’
‘ While we were returning to meet you, a page ran up and
delivered a note . It was from the colonel . He said he knew the
commodore s true identity, and demanded that Mr Holmes meet
him immediately .’
‘Meet him where ?’I asked .
‘Mr Holmes did not show me the note .’She reached into
her pocket ‘
. But he did write a note of this own and asked me to
give it to you .’
I hesitated before unfolding the paper, which I recognized
as a sheet from Holmes s notebook .
①
escape from 从……逃脱
②
pace v . 踱步
③
up and down 前前后后
④
nervously ad . 紧张不安地
3 76
My dear Watson,
I write these few lines as I prepare to meet Colonel Moriar－
ty, who has sent me an invitation that I simply ① cannot resist .
The colonel has written a note stating that if I do not meet him
immediately,‘ innocent② lives will suffer’. It is hard to imagine
more suffering than will take place on board this ship tonight,
but nevertheless ③ , my curiosity compels④ me to see what this
vengeful ⑤ creature has in mind .
R eading between the lines, I have deduced ⑥ from his note
that the colonel is a freelance ⑦ agent⑧ who meant to profit from
the theft of the submarine plans . I have no doubt that it was he
who hired Bishop and Strickley to steal the plans, and then mur－
dered them to prevent them from giving him away⑨ . He has, no
doubt, friends in hight places 10 , since he knew that both I and
the plans would be on board this ship . I would place his intel－
lect 1 at a level equal to that of the late Professor Moriarty . But I
am afraid that he was not being honest earlier when he said that
①
simply ad . 简直
②
innocent a . 无辜的
③
nevert heless ad . 不过
④
compel v . 驱使
⑤
vengeful a . 有报复心的
⑥
deduce v . 推断
⑦
freelance a . 自由职业者的
⑧
agen t n . 代理人
⑨
give away 泄露
10
in high places 在高层人物中
1
intellect n . 智力
3 77
he had forgiven me for the death of his brother . That appears to
be foremost① on his mind ② at this fateful ③ hour .
In a way, I must thank the colonel for providing an oppor－
tunity to face death in a way ④ that is most satisfactory to me . As
you know , I abhor ⑤ inactivity⑥ , and this gives me the chance to
use these final moments to pay my respects to those values I have
held for so long . My only regret is that it prevents me from say－
ing my proper⑦ goodbyes to you, old friend . I would have been
lost on this mission without my Boswell . Please make sure that
Miss Norton and Miss Storm－Fleming board a lifeboat, and save
yourself if you can . I regard you as the best and wisest man it
has ever been my privilege ⑧ to know .
Very sincerely yours,
Sherlock Holmes .
I passed the note to Miss Storm－Fleming and Miss Norton,
who each read the letter in silence .
‘We did f ind Tommy and his family,
said Miss Norton
eventually⑨ ‘
. We told them about the ship and, with the help of
①
foremost a . 首要的
②
on one’s mind 担忧
③
fateful a . 致命的
④
in a way 在某种意义上
⑤
abhor v . 痛恨
⑥
inactivit y n . 休止状态
⑦
proper a . 适当的
⑧
privilege n . 特权
⑨
event ually ad . 最后
3 78
Mr Lightoller, got Tommy and his mother on board one of the
lifeboats .’
‘That is indeed good news, ’I said, finding that I had to
clear my throat to speak ‘
. Thank you, Miss Norton . I just hope
that Tommy does not lose his father tonight .’
‘There s more . Before we went to the li feboat, Mr Holmes
took Tommy aside and spoke to him . I do not know what they
said, but after a while , Tommy was grinning ear to ear . Then
Mr Holmes handed something to Tommy, patted him on the
back and took him back to his parents . He would not tell me
what he said to Tommy . He just said he and the boy were having
a little professional discussion .’
‘ Y ou do not suppose Mr Holmes told him his true identity,
do you ? said Miss Storm－Fleming, ever mindful ① of the abso－
lute ② need for security③ .
‘ Oh, I doubt it, ’I said with a smile ‘
. But then again . . . ’
‘Do you suppose we should look for him and try to help
him ?’Miss Norton asked .
‘ No , Miss Norton, you have your job to do and I have
mine . A fter I put you and Miss Storm－Fleming into a li feboat, I
will try to track ④ him down . He tricked ⑤ me into missing the
last fight he had with a Moriarty . This time, I plan to be there
①
mindful a . 注意的
②
absolute a . 绝对的
③
securit y n . 安全
④
t rack v . 追踪
⑤
t rick v . 设圈套
3 79
at his side .’
I expected to hear a protest from Miss Storm－Fleming, but
she was silent . Instead, she took my arm and smiled at me in a
way that seemed to reflect a knowledge beyond my mortal ①
comprehension ② . Miss Norton took my other arm and the three
of us walked over to the forward end of the boat deck .
I had been so preoccupied ③ that I had not noticed how much
the situation on board had deteriorated ④ . By now the bow of the
mighty ship was low in the water and the first signs of panic had
begun to show . A group of men had gathered ⑤ around a board－
ing lifeboat and were trying to push their way into the small
craft . For a moment, it appeared that the boat, and all passen－
gers on board, might be in some jeopardy⑥ . Could it hold up⑦ if
the mob ⑧ broke past the crew and tried to jump on board at
once ?
Suddenly, two shots rang out, sending bright flashes⑨
across the night sky . The mob immediately backed 10 away, and
gradually moved on to find better opportunities . Some of the
①
mor tal a . 人的
②
comprehension n . 理解
③
preoccupied a . 全神贯注的
④
deteriorate v . 恶化
⑤
gather v . 聚集
⑥
jeopardy n . 危险
⑦
hold up 支撑
⑧
mob n . 聚集的民众
⑨
flash n . 光亮
10
back v . 后退
3 80
crew and two bystanders① then jumped on board the boat and
forcibly ② removed two men who , without the support of the
mob, offered③ little resistance ④ .
‘W omen and children only !’shouted Chief Officer Wilde ,
who was in charge of loading the boat .‘ Last call . We will be
lowering away in a few moments ! W ould all women and chil－
dren please step forward !’
I looked at the small craft . It was Englehardt Collapsible C,
which had been loaded into the davits of long－departed Lifeboat
No . 1 . The canvas sides looked f rail, but I had no doubt that it
would hold up on the calm sea . Inside, passengers were fright－
ened⑤ and restless ⑥ . I saw one young girl with a serious gash on
her head, possibly the result of the recent altercation ⑦ .
‘Last call !’Wilde shouted again .‘ We are about to lower
away ! There are still a few seats available !’
But there were no women or children nearby . I did, however,
see Mr J Bruce Ismay, who was doing his best to assist Wilde with his
duties .
‘Lower away ! Wilde said .
‘ Wait a minute !’I shouted ‘
. I have two more for you .’
‘ Very good, Doctor . Get them on quickly .’Wilde held up
①
bystander n . 旁观者
②
forcibly ad . 猛烈地
③
offer v . 表示
④
resistance n . 反抗
⑤
frightened a . 受惊吓的
⑥
restless a . 不安宁的
⑦
altercation n . 争吵
3 81
his hand ① to the crewman who was handling the davits .
‘Dr Watson , someone shouted . It was a familiar voice . I
turned to see the stern ② face of Captain Smith ‘
. Why do you not
join them ? We have an injury③ on board and your medical
knowledge is needed . No doubt it will be needed much more as
the night progresses .’
‘I am sorry, Captain . I cannot board ahead of the other
men . Someone on board can bandage ④ the girl s wound .’
‘ Doctor, there are already many men in those lifeboats and many empty seats too . I am afraid we were not quite pre－
pared to handle all this .’
‘Nevertheless, as a man of honour . I cannot . . . ’
I felt a stinging⑤ blow to the back of my head . And, for the
second time on this voyage , I lost consciousness⑥ .
①
handle v . 操纵
②
stern a . 严肃的
③
injury n . 受伤
④
bandage v . 包扎
⑤
stinging a . 刺痛的
⑥
consciousness n . 知觉
3 82
Chapter Twenty－nine
Monday 15 April 1912
4 月 15 日凌晨 , 华生、诺顿小姐及佛来明小 姐等在救 生船上 目
睹了泰坦尼克号沉 入 海 底及 随 后海 面 上的 场 景。后 来 , 他 们 被 卡
博西亚号轮船救起。据悉 , 泰 坦尼克 号上 的 2200 人 中仅 700 人 生
还。福尔摩斯下落不明。
I felt a splash ① of icy cold water on my face , follwed by a
stinging sensation ② in my eyes and the taste of salt on my lips .
And then, of course , there was that throbbing pain at the back
of my head . Quickly I summoned ③ the energy to sit up and rub
the water from my eyes .
As my eyes cleared , I saw that Miss Storm－Fleming and
Miss Norton were sitting on either side of me in a lifeboat . I
strained④ to peer out into the darkness .
‘The Titanic ?’I said .
‘ Still afloat⑤ , but sinking fast, ’ said Miss Norton . She
pointed back over her shoulder and I turned around, all the
①
splash n .溅
②
sensation n .感觉
③
summon v .聚集
④
strain v .竭力
⑤
afloat a .漂浮的
3 83
while dreading ① what I would see .
The Titanic was at a steep ② tilt, her bow ③ well down in the
water . But much to my surprise , the mighty ship s electric lights
were still blazing④ away and the sound of the band penetrated
the bitterly⑤ cold night air . But they were no longer playing
lively ragtime ⑥ tunes . I recognized the hymn . I had sung it at
church services many times:
Nearer, my God, to Thee ⑦ ,
Nearer to Thee !
E’en though it be a cross
That riseth me ;
Still all my song shall be ,
Nearer my God, to Thee .
The music blended with the cries of passengers who , in
vain ⑧ , searched for some place of safety on board the doomed ⑨
ship . Closer by, there was the sound of weeping 10 . Women on
①
dreading a .令人恐惧的
②
steep a .陡峭的
③
bow n .侧倾
④
blaze v .闪耀
⑤
bitterly ad .刺骨地
⑥
rag time n .爵士乐
⑦
Thee [ 古 ]你自己
⑧
in vain 徒劳地
⑨
doomed a .注定死亡的
10
weeping n .哭泣
3 84
board the lifeboat were thinking of their husbands . The fate of
those on board the Titanic seemed inevitable ① . Y et, there was
always a faint glimmer ② of hope . . . What were they all think－
ing during these final moments ? And what of Holmes ?
‘ What hit me ?’I asked .
‘I am afraid I did, with the handle ③ of my gun, said Miss
Storm－Fleming ‘
. Y ou were being stubborn ④ .’
‘ Our apologies for the sea water, Dr Watson, but it was all
we had .’Miss Norton was mopping the water from my face
with her handkerchief .
‘Miss Storm－Fleming , I do believe that was overstepping⑤
the mark . . . ’She interrupted my rebuke ⑥ with a stern ⑦ look .
I looked at the sadness in the eyes of my fellow passengers
and said no more .
I noticed that I was wearing a life jacket So were my com－
panions . Miss Norton said that Mr Wilde had provided them be－
fore the boat was lowered . Apparently ⑧ , there had been some
difficulty getting the boat in the water . The angle ⑨ of the ship
①
inevitable a .不可避免的
②
glimmer n .迹象
③
handle n .柄
④
stubborn a .固执的
⑤
overstep v .超越
⑥
rebuke n .斥责
⑦
stern a .严厉的
⑧
apparently ad .显然
⑨
angle n .角度
3 85
had been so steep that the lifeboat continually① banged② along
the outher hull③ . The passengers in the boat had to push against
the hull to provide clear descent ④ into the water .
Our small Englehardt Collapsible was nearly full, but those
of us inside were only a handful compared to the 2 , 200 that had
been on the Titanic . Overall ⑤ , the four Englehardts could carry
a total of nearly 200 people . The ship s 16 standard lifeboats,
larger than the Englehardts, had a total capacity of nearly
1， 000 . Even if all 20 lifeboats were filled - which they were not
- almost half of the passengers would be left without a boat .
Their fate would depend on a ship arriving in time . But, given ⑥
the speed at which the Titanic was sinking, that prospect ⑦ was
looking bleak⑧ .
‘ Any signs of a rescue ship ?’I asked .
‘No , ’Miss Storm－Fleming replied,‘although we have been
watching that light out there . She pointed to a white light miles
off in the darkness .‘ It must be a ship, but it has not moved .
Surely it has picked up our wireless messages, or seen our
①
con tinually ad .不断地
②
bang v .撞击
③
hull n .船体
④
descent n .倾斜 , 下降
⑤
overall ad .全部地
⑥
given prep .考虑到
⑦
prospect n .前景
⑧
bleak a .惨淡的
3 86
distress rockets .① But it remains stationary .②’
I suddenly remembered something ‘
. Oh, the little girl who
was injured . I must see to ③ her .’
‘She is well, said Miss Norton ‘
. We used the f irst aid kit④ .
Why not rest for a while , and examine her later ?’
‘Is everyone else unhurt ?’As I looked about the boat, I saw
the familiar face of Bruce Ismay some distance away, illuminat－
ed by the light of a candle held by one of the passengers . He was
seated behind an oar⑤ , helping to row ⑥ .
‘Ismay is on board ?’I said .
‘ Yes, said Miss Storm－Fleming ‘
. He jumped into the boat
just as it was being lowered . I cannot say I really blame ⑦ him .
There was space on board and all the other passengers had left
the area . The crew called for women and children, but no one
was around .’
‘But still, the owner of the line . . . ’
‘I know captains are supposed to go down with their ships,
but I am not sure about owners, ’Miss Storm－Fleming contin－
ued ‘
. I suspect he will face a lot of questions once we get back .
Our lifeboat is filled with mostly women and children, although
there are a few of the crew on board to make sure we get to a
①
rocket n .( 海 )救生索投射器
②
stationary a .静止的
③
see to 照顾
④
kit n .用品箱
⑤
oar n .桨
⑥
row v .划船
⑦
blame v .责备
3 87
rescue ship .’
‘ Why are we rowing ?’I asked .
‘They are afraid that if the Titanic goes down, the suc－
tion ① will take down ② any craft that is nearby, ’explained Miss
Norton ‘
. So they want to be well away .’
Suddenly, pain raced through my head and I was forced to
sit back . I though of Holmes and what must be transpiring③ on
board the ship . Had my f riend encountered ④ Moriarty ? Was he
alive ? Would I ever know his fate ?
‘Look !’a woman shouted . We all turned immediately to－
wards the Titanic .
The stern ⑤ of the ship was rising into the air, slowly, like
the second－hand of a clock . As its arc ⑥ steepened⑦ , we heard
dreadful ⑧ crashing⑨ sounds caused by the ships furnishings and
cargo 10 tumbling 1 towards the sinking bow 12 .
There were screams 13 in the distance . Screams from the
①
suction n .吸入
②
take down 掀翻
③
t ranspire v .发生
④
encoun ter v .遭遇
⑤
stern n .船尾
⑥
arc n .弓形
⑦
steepen v .(使 ) 变陡峭
⑧
dreadful a .可怕的
⑨
crash v .碰撞
10
cargo n .货物
1
t umble v .跌落
12
bow n . 船头
13
scream n .尖叫
3 88
people who were gathered at the stern, holding on ① to any part
of the superstructure ② they could f ind . Screams from those who
had already jumped or fallen into the freezing waters of the
North Atlantic . On deck, passengers were climbing up the slop－
ing③ decks on their way to the rising stern . Perhaps the stern
would not sink - at least not for a while . Perhaps the air remain－
ing within the hull would hold it above the water until help ar－
rived .
I looked at my watch . It was 2．18 - more than two and a
half hours since the Titanic hit the iceberg . My companions in
the lifeboat, for the most part, were staring intently at this dra－
ma④ . Their eyes were wide open , some glistening⑤ with tears .
A notable ⑥ exception⑦ was Mr J Bruce Ismay, who was leaning
over his oar, his face buried in his hands .
Out across the water the brilliantly⑧ lit ship suddenly
glowed⑨ red . The lights blinked 10 , then blinked again . Moments
later, all that could be seen was the ship s dark hull, as it
①
hold on 紧紧抓住
②
superstructure n .上层建筑
③
sloping a .倾斜的
④
drama n .戏剧情景
⑤
glisten v .闪烁
⑥
notable a .显著的
⑦
exception n .例外
⑧
brilliantly ad .辉煌地
⑨
glow v .发光
10
blink v .闪烁
3 89
eclipsed ① the bright stars of the night sky .
I watched as the Titanic continued its upward② arc . The
sounds of screaming heightened③ . In the darkness, I could only
imagine what it must be like for those remaining on deck . The
effort needed to hold on to rails and other fixed points grew
with each passing moment . Gradually, many would lose their
grip④ and go tumbling down the deck . If they remained con－
scious ⑤ , they would soon suffer the stinging pain of the cold
sea .
It would be even worse for those still trapped⑥ below . Vi－
sions ⑦ of the steerage passengers came to mind - families hud－
dled⑧ together in the darkness against the forward wall of their
quarters . Uncertainty ⑨ must be the greatest fear of all . And
what of my friends, the Svenssons, whom I had met on my jour－
ney through steerage with Futrelle ? Did they make it safely to a
lifeboat ? And what of Futrelle ? Was he clinging to 10 a rail, or
was he already in the water, with a life jacket keeping him
afloat ?
①
eclipse v .遮掩
②
upward ad .向上地
③
heighten v .变高
④
grip n .紧握
⑤
conscious a .有知觉的
⑥
t rapped a .陷于……困境的
⑦
vision n .幻想
⑧
huddle v .蜷缩
⑨
uncertain ty n .不确定
10
cling to 紧握住
3 90
The Titanicwas now nearly vertical ① in the water . For a
long time it just stood there, its stern pointing towards the sky .
Then it began its gradual ② descent, down towards its dark and
peaceful new home . As it made its way down, there was a loud
bubbling ③ sound as air escaped from the hull .
When the first of the ship s tall funnels hit the water line , it
snapped ④ off like a twig⑤ , sending a cloud of soot⑥ and steam
into the air . It appeared to glide ⑦ through the water for a mo－
ment before it sank . One by one , the other funnels followed
suit .
Suddenly, there was a mighty shattering⑧ sound below the
surface of the water . Some cried that the Titanic was breaking
up ⑨ , but I could not tell for sure . An enormous 10 bubble 1 of air
rose from the water as the stern remained poised 12 for one final
moment, and then disappeared .
‘She has gone, said Miss Norton . She could barely 13 find
①
vertical a .垂直的
②
gradual a .逐渐的
③
bubbling a .发出噗噗声的
④
snap v .折断
⑤
twig n .小树枝
⑥
soot n .煤灰
⑦
glide v .滑行
⑧
shatter v .嘎嘎地响
⑨
break up 断裂
10
enormous a .巨大的
1
bubble n .水泡
12
poised a .平稳的
13
barely ad .几乎不
3 91
the breath to speak .‘ All those people . . . Mr Holmes . . . Oh,
my God !’
Miss Storm－Fleming s head rested on her arms . I could hear
her sobbing . I lifted my elbow ① over the edge of the boat and
placed my free hand on her shoulder .
I held back② my tears: they would come later, at the proper
time .
I looked over at Ismay . He was bowed down over his oar . I
could only imagine what he must be thinking .
Minutes passed as we quietly contemplated what had hap－
pened . The only sounds were a frothing③ noise from the sea and
a chorus④ of weeping in the lifeboat .
But the cause of our grief ⑤ had not yet ended . The worst of
it was about to begin .
Back where the mighty ship had just sunk, we heard the
cries of hundreds of souls . They had survived the sinking and
were out there in their li fe jackets⑥ , floating in the still water a－
mongst the ship s debris⑦ .
There were both cries for help and screams of pain . The
temperature of the water was below freezing . They would not
last long .
①
elbow n .肘
②
hold back 抑制
③
froth v .起泡沫
④
chorus n .附和声
⑤
grief n .悲伤
⑥
life jacket n .救生衣
⑦
debris n .残骸
3 92
My two companions were staring out into the darkness .
Soon, Miss Storm－Fleming turned to me . She had the look of
someone who desperately① wanted to jump over the side to help,
but knew that would be futile ② .
‘ Dr Watson, is there nothing we can do ?’
I put my right hand over the side and into the water . At
first, it merely felt cold . I left it there . It did not take long be－
fore I felt a stinging sensation . I lifted my hand out of the water
and warmed it under my arm .
‘ Y ou there !’I motioned to the crewman in charge of the
boat ‘
. We must row back and help . We can fit a few more in
here .’
My statement sparked③ a wave of debate up and down the
boat . The man pondered ④ the request .
‘ Very dangerous, sir . True , we might save a few . On the
other hand , we might f ind ourselves surrounded . In the state
those folks are right now , they d all try to climb on board at
once . If that happened, this little canvas boat would sink like a
rock .’
Private ⑤ debate continued throughout the boat .
‘Perhaps we should wait a while . . . ’one woman shouted,
‘ . . . until things have quietened⑥ down a little .’
①
desperately ad .拼命地
②
fu tile a .徒劳的
③
spark v .激起
④
ponder v .默想
⑤
private a .私下的
⑥
quieten v .使平静
3 93
Miss Storm－Fleming jumped to her feet, but I put my hand
on her shoulder and held her down .
‘By then they will be nearly dead ! she cried ‘
. Is that what
you mean ?’
Our boat never did go back for survivors① . I would later
find out that there was very little effort by any of the lifeboats
to pull people f rom the water .
The one notable exception was Fifth Off icer Lowe in
Lifeboat No . 14 . He divided his 55 passengers among four other
boats and took on board a few of the experienced crew . They
mounted ② a valiant ③ rescue effort, but to little avail ④ . Most of
those in the water had already succumbed ⑤ to the cold tempera－
tures .
A fter a while , the cries in the distance ended . We were left
to silent contemplation and prayer . This was interrupted, from
time to time , by talk of being rescued . That light off in the dis－
tance never did come to our aid . But we were confident, hopeful
even, that help would soon be on its way .
As time passed I found mysel f growing drowsy⑥ and disori－
entated⑦ .
Chills
ran
through
①
survivor n .幸存者
②
moun t v .表现
③
valiant a .英勇
④
to little avail 没有多大用处
⑤
succu mb v .死
⑥
drowsy a .昏昏欲睡的
⑦
disorien tated a .昏沉的
3 94
my
body .
Despite
my
lightheadedness① , I recognized the early signs of hypothermia② .
The cold sea air and the ordeal ③ of the past several days were
taking their toll ④ . At some point, I fell fast asleep .
I awoke as light began to fill the sky . My head was resting
in Miss Norton s lap⑤ , and I was covered with a blanket . There
was considerable ⑥ conversation taking place among the passen－
gers . Some thought they saw the outline of a ship in the dis－
tance .
Miss Storm－Fleming, who had been looking across the sea
with the others, turned to me and felt my forehead .
‘ What time is it ?’I asked .
‘Four o’clock .’
‘Is there a ship ?’
‘We still do not know . There is something out there in the
distance .’
I rose to a sitting position and looked out across the sea . For
a moment, in the pinkish ⑦ light of dawn, it appeared that we
were surrounded by sailing boats . But, as my eyes cleared, I
could see that these images were just a continuing reminder ⑧ of
our ordeal . The white objects were icebergs . Most were small,
①
ligh theadedness n .头晕目眩
②
hypot hermia n .(尤指老年人 )低体温
③
ordeal n .苦难经历
④
toll n .捐税
⑤
lap n .膝部
⑥
considerable a .大量的
⑦
pinkish a .略带粉红色的
⑧
reminder n .助人记忆的事
3 95
but they were scattered all over the sea . Not far f rom the side of
our boat I saw a deck chair floating .
‘ You must rest now , Dr Watson . For a while we thought
we were going to lose you, ’said Miss Storm－Fleming .
I closed my eyes, feeling old and useless . I then slept for
two more hours .
‘ Dr Watson, wake up, it is time to go . The rescue ship is
here .’Miss Norton was lifting up my head .
We were pulling up ① alongside a small liner, the Carpatbia .
Below the single funnel of the Cunard ship , I could see passen－
gers lining the rail . Some, judging by the blankets draped over
their shoulders, were survivors of the Titanic, looking for rela－
tives in approaching li feboats .
I attempted to climb the ladder that had been cast down
from the deck, but found I was still too weak . A member of the
crew threw me a rope , which was looped ② at the end . I put this
under my arms and began to climb, as he pulled me from above .
We were offered blankets and coffee by one of the
Carpathia s passengers, which we accepted , gratefully③ . The
mood on board was, as one might expect, very sombre ④ . Some
passengers were sitting in chairs, staring blankly ⑤ at the deck .
Others were walking about, searching for loved ones .
①
pull up 停下
②
loop v .使成圈环
③
gratefully ad .感激地
④
som bre a .忧郁的
⑤
blankly ad .茫然地
3 96
We saw Officer Lowe , who was strolling about trying to
console ① survivors of the disaster . A fter speaking to a woman in
a deck chair , he walked over to where we were standing .
‘ Doctor, I am very pleased to see you here . Can I help you
with anything ?’
‘No , no , thank you, ’I replied .‘ I was just wondering if
you, perhaps, had seen Commodore Winter ?’
‘No , I am afraid to say I have not . ’
‘Mr Futrelle ?’
‘No , nor him either and, i f I’m not mistaken , most of the
boats have pulled up alongside . . . Forgive me , Doctor, but you
do not look well . Why do you not go below ? The Carpathia s
passengers have given up their cabins for the survivors . They are
all being very kind and helpful . ’
‘ We will soon , Mr Lowe . Thank you . ’
I was feeling unsteady ② on my feet and somewhat dizzy③ .
With the assistance of my two companions . I contacted a mem－
ber of the Carpathia s crew, who took me below to a cabin . A－
gain, I slept .
When I awoke , hours later, Miss Storm－Fleming was sitting
by my bedside and we were alone in the small , modest④ cabin .
‘Dr Watson, you will be pleased to know that the ship s
doctor said you should recover fully . All you need is rest . ’
①
console v .安慰
②
unsteady a .不稳的
③
dizzy a .头晕目眩的
④
modest a .朴实的
3 97
‘Holmes ?’
She gripped my hand .‘ Still no sign . And there is no sign
either of Futrelle, the captain - or that scoundrel, Moriarty . ’
She had been talking to the other passengers and crew and
told me what she had learned . The captain had apparently gone
down with the ship . There was a report that he had been on the
bridge when it went down, while someone else said they had
seen him swimming in the water . One rumour had it that he had
swum to a li feboat carrying a baby and then left without at－
tempting to save himsel f . The young wireless operator, Mr
Bride, had survived, but his colleague ① , Mr Phillips, had not .
They had both heroically② stayed at their posts until the very
end, when the captain relieved ③ them of their duties .
One of the strangest stories was of Mr Andrews, the ship s
builder, who apparently decided to see the end in the ship s
smoking room . Someone reported seeing him standing there ,
without a life jacket, staring at the painting of Plymouth Har－
bour . His old debating partner, William Thomas Stead, was
there too , sitting quietly with a book .
Some of the ship s officers, including Lightoller, Boxhall
and Pitman, who had been put in charge of individual ④
lifeboats, had survived . Others, like Mr Murdoch , were among
the dead .
①
colleague n .同事
②
heroically ad .英勇地
③
relieve v .解除
④
individual a .各自的
3 98
There had been many acts of heroism① during the night;
some of which, undoubtedly② , will never be known . But one
that must not be overlooked ③ was that of Arthur R ostron, cap－
tain of the Carpathia, who guided his ship through a field of
icebergs to come to the Titanic s rescue . While his ship had been
too far away to arrive before the sinking, her crew acted
valiantly to rescue survivors . Another ship, the Californian,
had apparently been much closer, but had shut down its wireless
equipment minutes before the f irst disaster call went out . Some
of the crew had seen the rockets being fired , but did not recog－
nize them as a disaster signal .
In all, just over 700 of the Titanic s 2， 200 passengers and
crew had survived . By far, the heaviest losses were among the
steerage passengers and the crew . All 36 of the ship s engineers,
who kept the engines and lights going until the very end , had
apparently died .
And what of Holmes ? Mr Lightoller told Miss Storm－Flem－
ing that he had seen him struggling, hand to hand, with Moriar－
ty just before the ship went down . But he could not say what
happened to him after that .
‘They say we will reach New Y ork by Thursday, ’said Miss
Storm－Fleming .
I did not answer at once but lay there , staring at the ceil－
ing .
①
heroism n .英雄气概
②
undoub tedly ad .无疑地
③
overlook v .忽略
3 99
‘I was just thinking about Holmes . . . and about all those
people on deck . Some just refused to belive that the ship would
sink, right to the very end . Hundreds more might have been
saved if they had taken the danger seriously . Did they really
think that the Titanic was unsinkable ?’
‘I suppose we have become arrogant① , somehow believing
that we had overcome the forces of nature once and for all② .
We have forgotten humility③ . I think , i f anything, the Titanic
is a reminder for us to face the future with more humility . But,
if you want to talk about legacies④ , let us consider the one left
by Mr Holmes .’
‘ What do you mean ?’
‘Mr Holmes certainly believed in the power of reason, but
there was far more to him than that . His character and unswerv－
ing⑤ devotion⑥ to justice ⑦ were unmatched ⑧ . And the clarity⑨
of his values 10 gave him the courage to recognize the villains 1 of
①
arrogan t a .自夸的
②
once and for all 一劳永逸地
③
humility n .谦逊
④
legacy n .遗产
⑤
unswerving a .坚定不移的
⑥
devotion n .奉献
⑦
justice n .公正
⑧
unmatched a .空前的
⑨
clarity n .明确
10
value n .价值
1
villain n .坏人
4 00
the world . I say courage , because once he recognized an
injustice ① , he felt duty bound ② to challenge it . And he did this
with an energy and confidence that set an example to everyone
else .’
‘Indeed, he did, Miss Storm－Fleming .’
‘Dr Watson , you too have shown those qualities . In fact,
they live on in your books . There is your legacy to future gener－
ations ③ .’
There was a knock at the door and Miss Norton walked in .
‘Why do you not come up on deck with me and get some fresh
air ?’
‘Well , Dr Watson ?’said Miss Storm－Fleming .‘ Are you
ready for a turn on the deck ?’
‘Miss Norton, Miss Storm－Fleming, fresh air is just what is
required . ’I rose from the bed and smiled at my companions .
‘ We must be fit . There is still much to be done .’
①
injustice n .不公正
②
bound a .理应的
③
generation n .一代人
4 01
Chapter Thir ty
Sunday 21 April 1912
由于多天来 , 一直没有福尔 摩斯的 消息 , 华 生以为 他已 经葬 身
海底。但令他感到意外的 是 ,4 月 21 日早 晨 , 华 生出 去散 步时 , 福
尔摩斯来找他。据福尔摩斯讲 , 原来是 摩里 亚蒂 偷走了 潜艇 计划 ,
船上的两桩命案也是他所为。并且 , 泰 坦尼 克号即 将沉 没时 , 摩 里
亚蒂在与福尔摩 斯争 斗 中 死于 非 命 , 而 福尔 摩 斯则 幸 运地 脱 离 了
险境。
It was reassuring① to feel solid earth beneath my feet . The
sky was blue and the sun had just risen over Chesapeake Bay . I
was walking along the bank of the Severn River , which was
dotted ② sparsely③ with oak ④ and maple ⑤ trees . I paused to listen
to the chorus of chirping⑥ birds and the water splashing⑦ over
the rocks . There is nothing quite like the serenity ⑧ of a fresh
spring morning .
①
reassuring a .安心的
②
dot v .点缀
③
sparsely ad .零星地
④
oak n .橡树
⑤
maple n .枫树
⑥
chirp v .叽喳鸣叫
⑦
splash v .溅
⑧
serenity n .平静 , 安详
4 02
I was being treated to this welcome respite ① by American
intelligence ② officials . An acknowledgement ③ of my role in the
delivery of the submarine plans, they had offered me free use of
a guest cottage ④ at the US Naval ⑤ Academy⑥ at Annapolis ⑦ . I
accepted gratefully⑧ .
My two companions of the last two weeks were also enjoy－
ing the hospitality⑨ of the US Navy and staying at guest cottages
near mine .
Try as I might, I could not remove the haunting 10 memories
of the Titanic s sinking and the loss of my dear f riend from my
mind . But here, alone with my thoughts, I was just beginning to
comprehend 1 fully the enormity 12 of what had happened .
I walked on , poking at shrubs 13 with my walking stick as I
moved at a brisk pace . The air was becoming warmer and I con－
sidered stopping to remove my overcoat . The f resh air and exer－
cise were making me hungry , and I was beginning to think
①
respite n .休息期
②
intelligence n .情报
③
acknowledgemen t n .感激
④
cot tage n .别墅
⑤
naval a .海军的
⑥
academy n .研究院
⑦
Annapolis n .安娜波利斯 (美国港市 )
⑧
gratefully ad .感激地
⑨
hospitality n .款待
10
haunt v .萦绕
1
comprehend v .理解
12
enormity n .极恶
13
shrub n .灌木
4 03
about breakfast . I turned to see how far I had walked from the
academy .
Behind me , I could see only the river and the vast solitude ①
of the fields . I had apparently lost track ② of time and walked
further than I had planned .
Then , in the distance , I saw another hiker③ . The man had
just emerged from behind a ridge ④ , and was walking along the
river bank, following the same path I had just travelled . He was
a tall, gaunt⑤ figure wearing a long grey travelling coat and
close－fitting cloth cap . There was something familiar about the
man - his gait⑥ , the look of his clothing - but I was too far
away to obtain⑦ a good view .
As the man came closer I began to get a clearer look . I was
stunned⑧ suddenly by the thought that someone might be playing
a cruel j oke on me . The man was the very image of my departed
friend, Sherlock Holmes . He was even wearing the same type of
outdoor clothing that he had worn during many of our investiga－
tions .
I decided to head back towards the naval academy . We
would cross paths and I would soon get to the bottom of this
①
solitude n .幽静的地方
②
t rack n .足迹
③
hiker n .郊外长途步行者
④
ridge n .山脊
⑤
gaun t a .瘦削的
⑥
gait n .步伐
⑦
obtain v .获得
⑧
stun v .使震惊
4 04
mystery . As I began to move in his direction, the man suddenly
stopped and raised his walking stick high into the air .
‘ Greetings Watson !’he shouted . He then hurried forward
at a faster pace , taking long strides① all the way .
My head became dizzy with anticipation ② as I made my own
way along the bank . Only concentration kept my legs moving . I
saw that my hopes were not unfounded ③ for I could see that my
friend was very much alive .
When we reached each other I grabbed ④ him by the shoul－
ders and stared in disbelief ⑤ , wondering if this could somehow ⑥
be a twin⑦ . Holmes had a satisfied smile on his face . He loved
his little surprises .
‘ Yes, my dear Watson, it is me . And I must say, it is very
good to see you, old fellow . Very good, indeed .’
‘But how . . . ?’
‘ Well, Miss Norton and Miss Storm－Fleming remarked on
that very same question last night . It was their conclusion that I
am indestructible ⑧ . I found that most flattering⑨ , although
. . .’
①
stride n .大步
②
anticipation n . 预料
③
unfounded a .无根据的
④
grab v .抓住
⑤
disbelief n .不相信
⑥
somehow ad .不知怎么地
⑦
twin n .双胞胎之一
⑧
indest ructible a .不灭的
⑨
flattering a .讨人喜欢的
4 05
‘Where have you been and why did you delay ① your re－
turn ?’ There was a note of anger and disappointment in my
voice ‘
. It appears that everyone - except your best and oldest
friend - has been aware that you are still alive .’
‘My apologies, but I am not quite as thoughtless② as I may
seem . It is true that Miss Storm－Fleming has known for some
time , but I only told Miss Norton last night, I knew that you
have a habit of retiring early, so I decided to wait until this
morning .’
‘But it has been a week , Holmes . Where have you been ?’
‘ Well, I am afraid that our friends in American intelli－
gence , while very generous ③ with their hospitality, have been
rather secretive ④ . They thought it was best for my mission that
even my closest friends thought I was dead . It was not until yes－
terday that Miss Storm－Fleming and I were able to convince ⑤
them otherwise .’
I calmed down and even managed a smile .
‘ Wherever did you get that outfit⑥ ?’I asked ‘
. Surely they
are not wearing such old－fashioned garb ⑦ in America these
days ?’
①
delay v .拖延
②
t houghtless a .疏忽的
③
generous a .大度的
④
secretive a .隐瞒的
⑤
convince v .说服
⑥
out fit n .成套服饰
⑦
garb n .服装
4 06
‘Oh , the ulster ① and deerstalker② , they were Miss Storm－
Fleming s idea . She used her influence to have them purchased ③
at a shop in Baltimore and delivered here to the academy . She
thought it would be . . . nostalgic ④ for our reunion ⑤ .’
‘Indeed, it is . . . But Holmes, tell me . . . we thought you
were dead . How did you manage to escape f rom the Titanic ?
And what about Moriarty ? Lightoller said he saw you struggling
with him .’
‘ Yes, good old Lightoller . I owe him much, including my
life .’
‘Lightoller saved you ?’
‘ Yes, but let me start at the beginning . As you know, while
Miss Norton and I were on the boat deck, a page ⑥ delivered a
note from Moriarty . ’
‘Miss Norton knew that he asked you to meet him, but she
did not know where .’
‘ The note directed me to go to the roof of the wheel－house ,
the uppermost⑦ deck area of the ship . At that moment, there
was very little activity there . The crew was busily loading pas－
sengers into lifeboats on the boat deck, one level below . On my
①
ulster n .外套
②
deerstalker n .一种前后翘起的布帽
③
purchase v .购买
④
nostalgic a .怀旧的
⑤
reunion n .重聚
⑥
page n . 小听差
⑦
uppermost a .最高的
4 07
way to meet Moriarty, I was apprehended① by a member of the
crew , who handed me a li fe jacket and insisted that I put it on .
I must say, if I had not bowed to that sailor s orders, I would
not be here today .
‘At first, I could not f ind the man . The deck area above
the wheel－house actually extends back past the second funnel .
Y et, while searching this large area, I had a sense that I was be－
ing watched . Frustrated by my failed attempt to locate Moriar－
ty, I leaned over a rail and watched the activity below . It was a
dreadful sight . . . men trying to comfort their families before
loading them into lifeboats . I never in my li fe felt greater sad－
ness .
‘I was standing next to a lifeboat, similar to the one that
you all departed in . I would later be saved by that boat, al－
though I must say it seemed far more precarious② than yours .
‘ As I looked at the deck below , I heard a deep voice from
behind . It was Moriarty, standing there in a life jacket, staring
at me with grim③ determination in his eyes . His words showed
the utter ④ contempt⑤ for human life that he shared with his
brother:“ Exciting, is it not ?’He said .“ It is unfortunate that
survival is allowed for women and children only, rather than
those of us who can make best use of it . ”
①
apprehend v .逮住
②
precarious a .不稳的
③
grim a .邪恶的
④
u tter a .完全的
⑤
con tempt n .鄙视
4 08
‘I exchanged some remarks with him . I learned that the
“Hot Russian Honey Bear”was a reference to the submarine
plans - part of a prearranged ① code he had made with this buyer
in New Y ork . The“ pipe organ in the smoking room”was, of
course, the model of the Titanic in the reception room . This
was their back－up position for exchanging the plans for money . I
must say, hs was quite upset that I had found his hiding place .
‘Soon, overcome by anger, he lunged ② at me . We struggled
about the deck for some time . Out of the corner of my eye I saw
Lightoller and some crew cutting through the lashings③ of the
Englehardt and attempting to launch it into the water, which
was rising well above the bow . They must have thought we were
quite mad to be struggling on the sloping deck as the ship was
about to sink . But they made no effort to stop us . They had far
more important matters on their minds . Soon, they were able to
push the boat off the wheel－house roof and into the water .
‘ As I continued to struggle with Moriarty, I felt the bow
plunge ④ downwards, then stop . A bulkhead had apparently giv－
en way . This caused water to f low over the boat deck, leaving
our battleground⑤ as one of the last remaining oases⑥ . Some
passengers began to struggle up to our deck , while others
climbed towards the ship s stern .
①
prearrange v .预先安排
②
lunge v .冲
③
lashing n .捆绑
④
plunge v .冲入
⑤
battleground n .战场
⑥
oasis n .避难处
4 09
‘As you know, my knowledge of baritsu① , the Japanese system
of wrestling② , has saved me from similar situations in the past . I
slipped loose from his grip, and sent him tumbling back towards the
sinking bow . Just then the ship began to tilt upwards at an ever－
quickening pace . Moriarty fell back over the rail and into the water,
amongst a frightened and freezing group of passengers . As the stern
continued to rise , I decided that my only chance was to leave the
ship . I jumped off the starboard side just as the ship s huge forward
funnel broke free and went crashing down into the sea . It slammed③
into the water just where Moriarty had landed . I heard many screams
of terror just before it hit the surface .
‘The shock I felt as I hit the water was tremendous ④ . I can－
not describe ⑤ how cold it was . Lightoller later told me that it
felt as though a thousand knives had been driven into this body .
I believe that is as good a description as any .
‘I swam as far from the Titanic as possible as the ship slow－
ly descended into the water . When it finally went under, the
water was momentarily⑥ boiling with air bursting from the hull
and debris f loating to the surface . It was all I could do to keep
my head above water long enough to get my next breath of air . I
should note at this point that the struggle with Moriarty and my
time in the water had removed the beard and make－up from my
①
baritsu n . (日本)空手道
②
wrestle n .摔跤
③
slam v .猛冲
④
t remendous a .巨大的
⑤
describe v .描述
⑥
momen tarily ad .瞬间地
4 10
face . Commodore Giles Winter had disappeared with the Titan－
ic .
‘ After the sea had settled a little I found mysel f clinging to
the sides of the collapsible lifeboat that had been on top of the
wheel－house . It was floating upside down with a group of pas－
sengers just barely managing to stay on top and was being
rocked① by some of my fellow swimmers who were trying to get
out of the water . Soon Lightoller, who had been hanging on to
the side , climbed onto the boat and took charge . He managed to
get many of us into standing positions on the boat, all facing in
the same direction . As the boat tilted , he ordered us to shift left
or right to compensate ② for the boat s movement . We stayed
there , with the cold water lapping③ over our feet and ankles . As
time passed, some succumbed to the elements and fell into the
water . But many of us survived and were picked up by the
Carpathia .
‘No one on board the lifeboat had paid any attention to me .
They were all too busy trying to stay alive . With the help of Mr
Lightoller, I was moved secretly to a private cabin on the
Carpathia and allowed to stay there until the ship arrived in
New Y ork . For the sake of ④ my mission, the secrecy of my ar－
rival had been maintained⑤ .
①
rock v .摇动
②
compensate v .补充
③
lap v .浸泡
④
for t he sake of 为了
⑤
maintain v .继续 , 维持
4 11
‘A fter a day s recuperation ① , I asked Lightoller to bring
Miss Storm－Fleming to me . Of course , she was quite surprised to
see that I was alive . She went on to arrange my meeting with
American intelligence authorities in New Y ork, asking me to
stay in hiding until then . That, of course , prevented me from
contacting you and letting you know that I was safe and sound .
But believe me , old chap, I had no intention of beginning my
mission without seeing you f irst .’
‘Well , at least it was not three years, as it was after the
R eichenbach Falls . That was a far more dramatic ② resurrec－
tion ③ from the dead .’
‘Now , now, Watson, you know that I have apologized for
that many times .’
‘I know, Holmes .’I smiled and patted him on the shoul－
der ‘
. But after this mission, I expect to see you again immedi－
ately . And no more dramatic reappearances④ .’
‘Indeed, but I also have a request to make .’
I nodded .
‘If , after I return f rom this mission, you decide to publish
an account⑤ of it, I would like to choose the title .’
‘ And what would you like to call it ?’
He stroked his chin ⑥ with his thumb and forefinger, and
①
recuperation n .恢复
②
dramatic a .给人深刻印象的
③
resurrection n .复活
④
reappearance n .再现
⑤
accoun t n .报导
⑥
chin n .下巴
4 12
looked towards the sky .
‘I would like you to call it His Last Bow, for after this I
plan to retire - permanently ① .’
‘ Y ou have my word .’We shook hands .
‘ Well, Watson, to breakfast but please do not eat too
much .’
‘ And why not, pray ?’
‘The cook is preparing a special meal for us .’
‘ A special meal ?’
‘ Yes, we are having woodcock② , with all the trimmings③ .’
‘But Holmes, Mrs Hudson used to make that all the time . I
have long since grown tired of it .’
‘ And all this time I thought it was your favourite ④ . . . Good
old Watson, never one to complain .’
‘I am sure it will be quite delicious ⑤ .’We both laughed .
‘Shall we return to the academy ?’I said .
He nodded and we strolled back along the river bank , quiet－
ly enjoying a most spectacular⑥ dawn .
①
permanently ad .永久地
②
woodcock n .山鹬肉
③
t rimmings n .配料
④
favourite n .最喜爱的东西
⑤
delicious a .美味的
⑥
spectacular a .壮丽的
4 13
北大 出版社语言 书目
中关村时尚英语系列
书　名
作　者　定 价
程闪峰 编著
10．00
财富置业英语手册
欧阳玉清 编著
15．00
实用法律英语手册
袁开宇 编著
12．00
国际名牌英语手册
周 玲 编著
12．00
时尚生活英语手册
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