《福尔摩斯探案集·红发会》第7节
“His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he’s not such a youth, either. It’s hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?” “Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience among employers in this age. I don’t know that your assistant is not as remarkable as your advertisement.” “Oh, he has his faults, too,” said Mr. Wilson. “Never was such a fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his main fault, but on the whole he’s a good worker. There’s no vice in him.” “He is still with you, I presume?” “Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple cooking and keeps the place clean—that’s all I have in the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads and pay our debts, if we do nothing more.
注释摘要
杰贝兹·威尔逊这一番话，表面是在夸赞助手，实际上却把几个极为反常的细节毫无戒备地摊在了福尔摩斯面前。他说文森特·斯波尔丁“不算年轻”，又说此人精明能干，完全可以在别处挣到双倍薪水，却心甘情愿留在威尔逊这间并不景气的当铺里拿半薪。威尔逊把这当作自己的幸运，甚至说“既然他满意，我何必往他脑子里塞别的主意呢”——这暴露了他作为小商人的精明与短浅：得了便宜就尽量不…