《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第18节
Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug of his shoulders. “There is your hat, then, and there your bird,” said he. “By the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose.” “Certainly, sir,” said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly gained property under his arm. “There are a few of us who frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum—we are to be found in the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity.” With a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and strode off upon his way. “So much for Mr. Henry Baker,” said Holmes when he had closed the door behind him. “It is quite certain that he knows nothing whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?”
注释摘要
亨利·贝克要走了，福尔摩斯却在这时看似不经意地问了一个问题：这鹅是从哪儿来的。他把自己伪装成一个对家禽感兴趣的人，说很少见到养得这么好的鹅。这个转变很轻巧——前一秒还是物归原主的场面，后一秒就变成了情报收集。贝克完全没有起疑，他已经起身夹着那只替换来的鹅准备告辞，听到这个问题便爽快地给出了答案。他说自己常去大英博物馆附近的一家阿尔法小酒馆，白天则在博物馆里…