《福尔摩斯探案集·红发会》第30节
“You are not very vulnerable from above,” Holmes remarked as he held up the lantern and gazed about him. “Nor from below,” said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor. “Why, dear me, it sounds quite hollow!” he remarked, looking up in surprise. “I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!” said Holmes severely. “You have already imperilled the whole success of our expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?” The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and put his glass in his pocket. “We have at least an hour before us,” he remarked, “for they can hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at present, Doctor—as no doubt you have divined—in the cellar of the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at present.”
注释摘要
这段对话发生在地下金库里，环境漆黑，空气潮湿，身边堆满板条箱和沉重的箱子。福尔摩斯举起提灯环顾四周，说了一句“你从上面不大容易攻进来”，这话像是在勘察防御。银行董事梅里韦瑟立刻接了一句“从下面也不容易”，还用手杖敲了敲铺地的石板。这一敲却敲出了意外——石板底下传来空洞的声响，他自己也吃了一惊，抬头看向福尔摩斯。 这是一个在侦探小说里极具戏剧性的细节。梅里韦…