《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第19节
“Not particularly.” “Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow up this clue while it is still hot.” “By all means.” It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors’ quarter, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. “Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese,” said he. “My geese!” The man seemed surprised. “Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, who was a member of your goose club.” “Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them’s not our geese.”
注释摘要
华生并不太饿，福尔摩斯便提议把晚饭推迟成宵夜，趁线索还热着追下去。这句话里有一个关键转折：此前福尔摩斯刚把贝克先生送走，确认他对宝石一无所知，此刻他决定立刻沿着鹅的来源往回追查。这顿饭被有意悬置，意味着调查的节奏压倒了日常生活的节奏。 出门前两人穿上厄尔斯特厚大衣，在脖子上裹好围巾。这是维多利亚时代冬季中产阶级绅士的标准御寒装束，厄尔斯特大衣是一种宽厚、长…