《福尔摩斯探案集·波希米亚丑闻》第6节
The note was undated, and without either signature or address. “There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o’clock,” it said, “a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask.” “This is indeed a mystery,” I remarked. “What do you imagine that it means?” “I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorise before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. What do you deduce from it?” I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was written. “The man who wrote it was presumably well to do,” I remarked, endeavouring to imitate my companion’s processes. “Such paper could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff.”
注释摘要
这封短笺是整个故事的启动装置。它没有日期，没有签名，没有地址，是一封彻头彻尾的匿名信。信上只通知福尔摩斯：今晚七点四十五分，一位有极紧要之事相询的绅士将登门拜访；福尔摩斯最近为欧洲某王室提供的服务，证明他足以被托付此等不容夸张却已被写信人夸张地形容为“重要性如何渲染都不为过”的事务；最后，信中人预先请求，如果来访者戴着面具，请不要见怪。华生读罢，脱口而出“…