《福尔摩斯探案集·歪唇男人》第5节
As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. “Thank you. I have not come to stay,” said I. “There is a friend of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him.” There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and unkempt, staring out at me. “My God! It’s Watson,” said he. He was in a pitiable state of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. “I say, Watson, what o’clock is it?” “Nearly eleven.” “Of what day?” “Of Friday, June 19th.” “Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What d’you want to frighten a chap for?” He sank his face onto his arms and began to sob in a high treble key. “I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!” “So I am. But you’ve got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here a few hours, three pipes, four pipes—I forget how many. But I’ll go home with you. I wouldn’t frighten Kate—poor little Kate. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?”
注释摘要
本节以华生的第一人称视角，穿过那道如洞穴般陡峭的阶梯，将读者径直带入伦敦最东端一座鸦片烟窟的内部。库房的暗影里，一个面色蜡黄的马来侍者立刻趋前递上烟枪与一份烟膏，手势催促华生走向一张空铺——整套动作迅捷、无声，像这座窟穴自身的机能反应。华生以“我不是来久留的”推拒，报出艾萨·惠特尼的名字。这句话刚落，右侧暗处便有了动静与惊呼：惠特尼苍白、憔悴、蓬头垢面地盯…