《福尔摩斯探案集·斑点带子案》第34节
About nine o’clock the light among the trees was extinguished, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. “That is our signal,” said Holmes, springing to his feet; “it comes from the middle window.” As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness.
注释摘要
华生在此处的叙述，将我们带入了一个被精确计时所切割的夜晚。九点钟，庄园方向的灯光熄灭了。两个小时在缓慢中流逝，十一点整，一扇窗里突然亮起一盏孤灯。福尔摩斯立刻辨认出信号来自中间那扇窗——那是海伦·斯通纳如今睡着的、她姐姐丧命的房间。这个时间节点本身就已经在不言中制造了紧张：一个年轻女子在深宅里准时点亮一盏灯，这件事在福尔摩斯看来毫无意外的成分，因为他事先已…