《福尔摩斯探案集·铜山毛榉案》第36节
“My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the parents. Don’t you see that the converse is equally valid. I have frequently gained my first real insight into the character of parents by studying their children. This child’s disposition is abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty’s sake, and whether he derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their power.” “I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes,” cried our client. “A thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to this poor creature.” “We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning man. We can do nothing until seven o’clock. At that hour we shall be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the mystery.” We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the door-step.
注释摘要
福尔摩斯在这一段里进行了一次值得玩味的推理翻转，而随后的行动则让叙事从贝克街的倾听迅速转向了汉普郡的现场介入。 要理解这段对话，先要把此前刚刚发生的事情放在心里。维奥莱特·亨特小姐讲完了她在铜山毛榉宅的全部离奇遭遇：穿蓝色电光裙坐在窗边大笑、镜中窥见路上灰衣男子、紧锁翼楼里的脚步声、衣柜抽屉中另一束与她剪去的头发一模一样的栗色发辫，以及鲁卡斯尔先生最后的狰…