《福尔摩斯探案集·红发会》第38节
“And how could you tell that they would make their attempt to-night?” I asked. “Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson’s presence—in other words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night.” “You reasoned it out beautifully,” I exclaimed in unfeigned admiration. “It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings true.” “It saved me from ennui,” he answered, yawning. “Alas! I already feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little problems help me to do so.” “And you are a benefactor of the race,” said I. He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, perhaps, after all, it is of some little use,” he remarked. “‘L’homme c’est rien—l’œuvre c’est tout,’ as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand.”
注释摘要
这一节是整桩奇案尘埃落定之后，贝克街客厅里一场安静而彻底的复盘。它发生在凌晨时分，威士忌与苏打水搁在手边，福尔摩斯向华生完整地摊开了他的推演过程——不是推理如何发生，而是他如何预见到犯罪会在今晚动手。 字面上，华生问了那个读者也同样急切想知道的问题：你怎么知道他们就在今晚下手？福尔摩斯给了三条理由。第一条，红发会办公室一关门，意味着杰贝兹·威尔逊老先生是否…