《福尔摩斯探案集·铜山毛榉案》第39节
“It is for me to ask you that,” he shrieked, “you thieves! Spies and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I’ll serve you!” He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he could go. “He’s gone for the dog!” cried Miss Hunter. “I have my revolver,” said I. “Better close the front door,” cried Holmes, and we all rushed down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out at a side door. “My God!” he cried. “Someone has loosed the dog. It’s not been fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it’ll be too late!” Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its black muzzle buried in Rucastle’s throat, while he writhed and screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room.
注释摘要
这一节是整场对峙突然转向失控的转折点，一切积蓄的张力在这里以最残忍的方式释放了出来。 从字面看，鲁卡斯尔冲上楼梯、闯进房间，先是以主人姿态喝问福尔摩斯一行人，把他们称作“贼”和“奸细”，宣称他们落入了自己的掌心。但他说完这句话之后的行动却是立刻转身，拼命跑下楼梯——这个动作本身就暴露了他话里的威胁并非虚张声势，他确实掌握着某种足以“收拾”闯入者的手段，而这…