《福尔摩斯探案集·波希米亚丑闻》第15节
“Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Count Von Kramm.” “Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress.” “Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety.” “Then, as to money?” “You have carte blanche.” “Absolutely?” “I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph.” “And for present expenses?” The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and laid it on the table. “There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes,” he said. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and handed it to him. “And Mademoiselle’s address?” he asked. “Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John’s Wood.” Holmes took a note of it. “One other question,” said he. “Was the photograph a cabinet?” “It was.” “Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson,” he added, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. “If you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three o’clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you.”
注释摘要
这一段是客户委托进入实质性阶段的关键对话，短短几句把身份、酬金、地址到物证尺寸全都敲定了。字面上看，那位自称冯·克拉姆伯爵的访客告诉福尔摩斯他下榻朗廷酒店，使用化名；福尔摩斯答应通信告知进展，随即毫不客气地切入酬金问题。访客先给出一个极富戏剧性的承诺——宁可用王国的一个省份来换那张照片——然后从斗篷下掏出一只沉甸甸的麂皮钱袋，里面是三百英镑金币和七百英镑钞…