《福尔摩斯探案集·铜山毛榉案》第17节
“No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away.” “Quite so. She has her freedom.” “What can be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?” “I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has to tell.” The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no distance from the station, and there we found the young lady waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch awaited us upon the table. “I am so delighted that you have come,” she said earnestly. “It is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me.” “Pray tell us what has happened to you.” “I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose.”
注释摘要
这段对话与场景，初看是过渡，细看却是这一节里福尔摩斯推理姿势最清晰的几行，也是华生与读者之间信息差运作的典型段落。 字面上，华生提出了一个看似能够缓解忧虑的逻辑：如果亨特小姐能独自来到温切斯特与我们会面，那她当然也能从那里脱身——言下之意是，她的人身自由并未被剥夺，因此事情也许没有那么严重。福尔摩斯完全同意这个前提，却并未由此放松；相反，他紧跟着抛出一句很…