《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第17节
Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. “Shillings have not been so plentiful with me as they once were,” he remarked. “I had no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a hopeless attempt at recovering them.” “Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to eat it.” “To eat it!” Our visitor half rose from his chair in his excitement. “Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your purpose equally well?” “Oh, certainly, certainly,” answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of relief. “Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of your own bird, so if you wish—” The man burst into a hearty laugh. “They might be useful to me as relics of my adventure,” said he, “but beyond that I can hardly see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive upon the sideboard.”
注释摘要
这一节看似只是亨利·贝克先生来认领失物的过场戏，实际上写得极为工巧。字面上发生的事很简单：福尔摩斯用一则晚报启事，把那位丢了帽子和鹅的陌生人请到了贝克街二二一号乙。贝克先生进来之后，先是为自己未曾刊登寻物广告而露出羞惭的笑，坦承自己手头拮据，"先令不像从前那样宽裕"，并且想当然地以为那一伙袭击他的粗人把帽子与鹅一并抢走了，不值得再花冤枉钱去找。福尔摩斯随即…