《福尔摩斯探案集·红发会》第23节
“Third right, fourth left,” answered the assistant promptly, closing the door. “Smart fellow, that,” observed Holmes as we walked away. “He is, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known something of him before.” “Evidently,” said I, “Mr. Wilson’s assistant counts for a good deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you inquired your way merely in order that you might see him.” “Not him.” “What then?” “The knees of his trousers.” “And what did you see?” “What I expected to see.” “Why did you beat the pavement?” “My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We are spies in an enemy’s country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it.” The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line of fine shops and stately business premises that they really abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square which we had just quitted.
注释摘要
福尔摩斯向助手问路，助手脱口而出”第三个路口右转，第四个路口左转”，随即关上门。这个回答的迅速与精确本身就是一种表演——一个真正的店员听到这种问题通常会稍作犹豫，而此人显然早已准备好面对任何不速之客。福尔摩斯边走边评价此人”在伦敦算得上第四聪明的人，论胆量恐怕还能排到第三”，并且声称此前就对他有所了解。这句话让读者意识到，这桩看似荒诞的红发会事件背后，站着…