《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第24节
His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. “I’ve had enough of you and your geese,” he shouted. “I wish you were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more with your silly talk I’ll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Oakshott here and I’ll answer her, but what have you to do with it? Did I buy the geese off you?” “No; but one of them was mine all the same,” whined the little man. “Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it.” “She told me to ask you.” “Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I’ve had enough of it. Get out of this!” He rushed fiercely forward, and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. “Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road,” whispered Holmes. “Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this fellow.” Striding through the scattered knots of people who lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of colour had been driven from his face.
注释摘要
这段文字出现在福尔摩斯与华生刚离开禽贩布莱肯里奇的摊位之后。他们用打赌的技巧套出了鹅的来源，正准备决定下一步行动，却被后方突然爆发的争吵打断了。这个变数彻底改变了故事的走向，也省去了他们去布里克斯顿路上的奔波。读者在此之前一直关注着亨利·贝克那条线索，华生的叙述忽然转向市场夜色中的一幕新冲突，悬念便随之转移到一个全新人物身上。 首先看字面上发生的事。福尔摩…