《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第26节
The man hesitated for an instant. “My name is John Robinson,” he answered with a sidelong glance. “No, no; the real name,” said Holmes sweetly. “It is always awkward doing business with an alias.” A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. “Well then,” said he, “my real name is James Ryder.” “Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you everything which you would wish to know.” The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous tension within him. “Here we are!” said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. “The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! You want to know what became of those geese?”
注释摘要
这一段写的是考文特花园暗巷里一场极其简短、却步步逼近真相的盘问。那个被福尔摩斯从布里金里奇摊前截住的小个子男人，面对“你是谁”的提问，只犹豫了一瞬，便报出一个名字：约翰·罗宾逊，同时斜眼瞥了一下。这个眼神被福尔摩斯捕捉到了，而华生也捕捉到了福尔摩斯的捕捉。接着是福尔摩斯那一句甜蜜得近乎危险的回答：不，不，真名。用化名办事总是不方便的。这句话的语气完全是福尔…