《福尔摩斯探案集·红发会》第33节
At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the stones. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face and a shock of very red hair.
注释摘要
我们现在读到的，是整篇故事中最具视觉张力的一个段落。华生与福尔摩斯、银行董事梅里韦瑟、苏格兰场的琼斯一起，埋伏在银行金库的绝对黑暗中。福尔摩斯已经关上了提灯的遮光板，所有人都屏息静待。就在这样的死寂里，地面开始发生变化。 字面上，华生记录了一次缓慢、诡异的入侵过程。起初，石板上只出现了一点惨白的光。这光延长成一条线，然后无声地裂开一道口子，从中伸出一只手。…