《福尔摩斯探案集·歪唇男人》第12节
“Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the steps—for the house was none other than the opium den in which you found me to-night—and running through the front room she attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly swore that no one else had been in the front room during the afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell a cascade of children’s bricks. It was the toy which he had promised to bring home.
注释摘要
这一段是案情陈述中的第二次推进。圣克莱尔太太从亲眼看见丈夫在窗口的震惊，落入了更深的困惑与恐惧。她冲进那栋楼——就是前面已经出现过的上斯旺丹巷鸦片馆——试图上楼，却在楼梯口被那个拉斯卡人挡住，一个丹麦人助手也帮着把她推回街上。这个细节值得留意：两人分工明确，行动果断，几乎像早有准备，读者此时还无从判断这是出于保护某种秘密的本能反应，还是对某一桩刚刚发生的事…