《福尔摩斯探案集·斑点带子案》第10节
“Perfectly so.” “The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At eleven o’clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back. “‘Tell me, Helen,’ said she, ‘have you ever heard anyone whistle in the dead of the night?’ “‘Never,’ said I. “‘I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in your sleep?’ “‘Certainly not. But why?’ “‘Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from—perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would just ask you whether you had heard it.’ “‘No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the plantation.’ “‘Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you did not hear it also.’
注释摘要
这一节是对那个致命夜晚开场部分的细致回溯。海伦·斯通纳正在向福尔摩斯和华生讲述两年前姐姐朱莉娅死亡当晚的具体情形。令人不安的气息从一开始就不是以突发巨响或闯入者的形象登场的，而是通过一种更日常、因而也更难防备的方式渗透进房间的：气味。朱莉娅在自己的卧室里闻到了继父习惯抽的印度雪茄烟味。海伦交代得很清楚，她们知道罗伊洛特医生已经回房，但烟味的存在让她们确信他…