《福尔摩斯探案集·歪唇男人》第22节
“Certainly, madam.” “Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion.” “Upon what point?” “In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?” Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. “Frankly, now!” she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. “Frankly, then, madam, I do not.” “You think that he is dead?” “I do.” “Murdered?” “I don’t say that. Perhaps.” “And on what day did he meet his death?” “On Monday.” “Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how it is that I have received a letter from him to-day.” Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been galvanised. “What!” he roared. “Yes, to-day.” She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of paper in the air. “May I see it?” “Certainly.” He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day before, for it was considerably after midnight.
注释摘要
这一段是整场谈话里最富戏剧性的一个翻转。福尔摩斯刚刚依据目前掌握的物证与嫌疑人的陈述，给出了一个冷静但悲观的判断：他认为内维尔·圣克莱尔已经死了，而且死在星期一。这话从他嘴里说出来，分量极重，因为此前我们已经看到他是一个从不轻易下结论的人。但就在他的结论尚未落稳的瞬间，圣克莱尔夫人却用一个问题直接动摇了它的根基——她收到了丈夫今天寄来的信。 这个场景的叙事…