《福尔摩斯探案集·蓝宝石案》第28节
For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring with frightened eyes at his accuser. “I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar’s?” “It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it,” said he in a crackling voice. “I see—her ladyship’s waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady’s room—you and your confederate Cusack—and you managed that he should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man arrested. You then—”
注释摘要
这一小段，是福尔摩斯与詹姆斯·赖德在贝克街起居室里对质的开场。赖德刚刚被那颗从鹅嗉囊里取出的蓝宝石吓得魂飞魄散，几乎瘫倒，靠着一点白兰地才勉强坐稳。他瞪着福尔摩斯，眼神里满是恐惧，而福尔摩斯则用一句近乎冷酷的平静话语接住了他的惊恐：我手里的环节和证据已经差不多了，你没什么太多可说的了，但剩下那一点点，还是说清楚为好。这话既是事实陈述，也是一种审问的开幕。 …