《福尔摩斯探案集·斑点带子案》第36节
I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left in darkness. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall. Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Then suddenly another sound became audible—a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with his cane at the bell-pull.
注释摘要
这一段的叙事力量，几乎全部压在华生的感官上。我们把武器一件一件摆在明处：一支左轮手枪放在桌角，一根细长的藤杖搁在床上，旁边是火柴与蜡烛头。这些都是实物，也是许诺——它们将在接下来的行动中被逐一使用。然后灯被捻灭，房间陷入彻底黑暗。华生写下这句“我怎能忘记那可怕的守夜”，从此处开始，文字便转入了纯粹的等待。 值得留意的是叙述中所倚仗的感官层次。视觉率先被剥夺…