《福尔摩斯探案集·波希米亚丑闻》第34节
“Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?” said she. “I am Mr. Holmes,” answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze. “Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Cross for the Continent.” “What!” Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. “Do you mean that she has left England?” “Never to return.” “And the papers?” asked the King hoarsely. “All is lost.” “We shall see.” He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to “Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for.” My friend tore it open, and we all three read it together. It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:
注释摘要
这一节是整篇故事中第一个真正的戏剧转折，也是福尔摩斯罕见地遭遇措手不及的时刻。 字面上，三个人乘着国王的马车来到布里奥尼别墅，迎接他们的不是艾琳·阿德勒，而是一位站在门口的年长女仆。她一开口就叫出了福尔摩斯的名字——这本身就是一个信号，说明这所房子里的人对他的到访早有预期。福尔摩斯的回应简短而带有明显的惊讶，他那“质问且略带惊愕的目光”在华生的叙述中很少出…