跳舞的小人历险记：第二部分

欢迎收听福尔摩斯短篇故事。我是休·博内威利，这是《跳舞的小人》第二部。上次，一位名叫希尔顿·丘比特的乡绅带着一个极其不寻常的问题来到贝克街。他的美国妻子埃尔茜一直在收到以幼稚图画形式出现的神秘信息。那些跳舞的小火柴人似乎让她惊恐万分。

Welcome to Sherlock Holmes short stories. I'm Hugh Bonneville, and this is the adventure of the dancing men part two. Last time, a country squire named Hilton Cubitt came to Baker Street with a most unusual problem. His American wife, Elsie, had been receiving mysterious messages in the form of childish drawings. Little dancing stick figures had seemed to terrify her.

丘比特瞥见了送信人——一个夜间在庄园鬼鬼祟祟的模糊身影。但当他试图质问那人时，埃尔茜惊慌地阻止了他，拒绝透露她对那些不祥跳舞小人的了解。福尔摩斯狂热地破译密码，发现跳舞小人拼出了一条危险信息。意识到时间紧迫，福尔摩斯和华生匆忙赶乘下一班前往诺福克的火车。但他们还是来迟了一步。

Cubitt caught a glimpse of the messenger, a shadowy figure skulking about the grounds at night. But when he tried to confront the man, Elsie held him back in a panic, refusing to reveal what she knew of these ominous dancing men. Holmes worked feverishly to crack the code and discovered that the dancing men spelled out a dangerous message. Realizing time was of the essence, Holmes and Watson rushed to catch the next train to Norfolk. But they've arrived too late.

悲剧已然发生。希尔顿·丘比特死了，显然是被埃尔茜在谋杀后自杀未遂中枪杀的。现在福尔摩斯和华生正前往丘比特的庄园寻找答案。福尔摩斯一言不发地匆忙上了马车，在长达七英里的车程中始终没有开口。我很少见他如此彻底地沮丧。

Tragedy has already struck. Hilton Cubitt is dead, apparently shot by Elsie in a murder suicide attempt. Now Holmes and Watson are headed to Cubitt's estate to find answers. Without a word, Holmes hurried to a carriage, and during the long seven miles drive, he never opened his mouth. Seldom have I seen him so utterly despondent.

从伦敦出发的整个旅途中他都心神不宁，我注意到他焦虑地翻阅着晨报。但此刻最坏预感的突然实现让他陷入茫然的忧郁。他靠在座位上，沉浸在阴郁的思索中。然而沿途有许多引人入胜的景致——我们正穿过英格兰最独特的乡村地带，零星散布的村舍代表着现今的人口，而四面八方从平坦绿野中耸立的巨大方形塔楼教堂，诉说着古老东盎格利亚的辉煌与繁荣。终于，德国海的紫色边缘出现在诺福克海岸的绿色边际上，车夫用马鞭指向树林中突出的两座古老砖木山墙。

He had been uneasy during all our journey from town, and I had observed that he had turned over the morning papers with anxious attention. But now this sudden realization of his worst fears left him in a blank melancholy. He leaned back in his seat, lost in gloomy speculation. Yet there was much around to interest us, for we were passing through as singular a countryside as any in England, where a few scattered cottages represented the population of today, while on every hand, enormous square towered churches bristled up from the flat green landscape and told of the glory and prosperity of old East Anglia. At last, the violet rim of the German Ocean appeared over the green edge of the Norfolk Coast, and the driver pointed with his whip to two old brick and timber gables, which projected from a grove of trees.

'那是罗德索普庄园，'他说。当我们驶向柱廊前门时，我注意到门前的网球草坪旁，有着与我们经历诡异关联的黑色工具房和日晷台。一个举止敏捷、留着蜡黄胡须的利落小个子刚从高架狗车上下来。他自我介绍是诺福克警署的马丁督察，听到我同伴的名字时显得极为惊讶。'哎呀，福尔摩斯先生，这桩命案今早三点才发生啊。'

That's Rhodenthorpe Manor, said he. As we drove up to the porticoed front door, I observed in front of it, beside the tennis lawn, the black tool house and the pedestaled sundial with which we had such strange associations. A dapper little man with a quick, alert manner and a waxed moustache had just descended from a high dog cart. He introduced himself as Inspector Martin of the Norfolk Constabulary, and he was considerably astonished when he heard the name of my companion. Why, Mr Holmes, the crime was only committed at three this morning.

你怎么可能在伦敦听说此事，还能和我同时赶到现场？我预料到了。我来是希望能阻止它发生。那么，你肯定掌握着我们不知道的重要证据，因为他们据说是最恩爱的一对。我只有那些跳舞小人的证据，福尔摩斯说道。

How could you hear of it in London and get to the spot as soon as I? I anticipated it. I came in the hope of preventing it. Well, then you must have important evidence of which we are ignorant, for they were said to be a most united couple. I have only the evidence of the dancing men, said Holmes.

稍后我会向你解释这件事。既然现在阻止这场悲剧为时已晚，我迫切希望能运用我所知的信息来确保正义得到伸张。你是愿意让我参与调查，还是更倾向于让我独立行动？为什么？能与您合作将是我的荣幸，福尔摩斯先生，警探诚恳地说。

I will explain the matter to you later. Meanwhile, since it is too late to prevent this tragedy, I am very anxious that I should use the knowledge which I possess in order to ensure that justice be done. Will you associate me in your investigation, or will you prefer that I should act independently? Why? I should be proud to feel that we were acting together, mister Holmes, said the inspector earnestly.

既然如此，我很乐意听取证词并立即勘查现场，一刻也不耽搁。马丁警探明智地允许我朋友按自己的方式行事，自己则满足于认真记录结果。当地那位白发苍苍的老外科医生刚从希尔顿·丘比特太太房间下来，报告说她的伤势严重但不致命。子弹穿过她前脑，可能还需一段时间才能恢复意识。至于她是被枪击还是自伤，医生不敢妄下定论。

In that case, I should be glad to hear the evidence and to examine the premises without an instant of unnecessary delay. Inspector Martin had the good sense to allow my friend to do things in his own fashion, and contented himself with carefully noting the results. The local surgeon, an old white haired man, had just come down from missus Hilton Cubitt's room, and he reported that her injuries were serious, but not necessarily fatal. The bullet had passed through the front of her brain, and it would probably be some time before she could regain consciousness. On the question of whether she had been shot or had shot herself, he would not venture to express any decided opinion.

可以肯定的是，子弹是在极近距离发射的。房间里只发现一把手枪，两个弹膛都已击发。希尔顿·丘比特先生被子弹击中心脏。同样可能的是他先射杀她后自杀，或者她是凶手——因为左轮手枪就落在两人之间的地板上。他的尸体移动过吗？

Certainly, the bullet had been discharged at very close quarters. There was only the one pistol found in the room, two barrels of which had been emptied. Mister Hilton Cubitt had been shot through the heart. It was equally conceivable that he had shot her and then himself, or that she had been the criminal, for the revolver lay upon the floor midway between them. Has he been moved?

福尔摩斯问道。除了那位女士，我们什么都没动。总不能让她带着枪伤一直躺在地上。医生，您来这里多久了？从四点开始。

Asked Holmes. We have moved nothing except the lady. We could not leave her lying wounded upon the floor. How long have you been here, doctor? Since 04:00.

还有其他人吗？是的，这位警官。你们什么都没碰过？什么都没碰。

Anyone else? Yes. The constable here. And you have touched nothing? Nothing.

你们行事非常谨慎。是谁叫你们来的？女佣桑德斯。是她拉响警报的吗？她和厨娘金太太一起。

You have acted with great discretion. Who sent for you? The housemaid Saunders. Was it she who gave the alarm? She and missus King, the cook.

她们现在在哪里？我想是在厨房。那我们最好立刻听听她们的陈述。古老的橡木镶板大厅高窗明亮，已被改造成调查法庭。福尔摩斯坐在一把老式大椅子里，憔悴的面容上那双锐利的眼睛闪闪发光。

Where are they now? In the kitchen, I believe. Then I think we had better hear their story at once. The old hall, oak paneled and high windowed, had been turned into a court of investigation. Holmes sat in a great old fashioned chair, his inexorable eyes gleaming out of his haggard face.

我从他眼中读出一个坚定的决心——他将毕生致力于这项调查，直到为那位未能救下的委托人讨回公道。干练的马丁督察、白发苍苍的乡村医生、我，以及一位木讷的村警组成了这个奇特的调查组。两位女仆的陈述相当清晰：她们被爆炸声惊醒，一分钟后又传来第二声巨响。她们睡在相邻房间，金太太冲进了桑德斯的房间。

I could read in them a set purpose to devote his life to this quest until the client whom he had failed to save should at last be avenged. The trim Inspector Martin, the old gray headed country doctor, myself, and a stolid village policeman made up the rest of that strange company. The two women told their story clearly enough. They had been aroused from their sleep by the sound of an explosion, which had been followed a minute later by a second one. They slept in adjoining rooms, and Mrs.

两人一起下楼时，书房门敞开着，桌上蜡烛仍在燃烧。她们的主人脸朝下倒在房间中央，已经气绝身亡。

King had rushed in to Saunders. Together, they had descended the stairs. The door of the study was open, and a candle was burning upon the table. Their master lay upon his face in the center of the room. He was quite dead.

窗边蜷缩着他的妻子，头部倚着墙壁。她伤势可怖，半边脸都被鲜血染红。呼吸沉重却说不出话。走廊和房间都弥漫着火药味的烟雾。窗户确定是从内部锁死的。

Near the window, his wife was crouching, her head leaning against the wall. She was horribly wounded, and the side of her face was red with blood. She breathed heavily, but was incapable of saying anything. The passage, as well as the room, was full of smoke and the smell of powder. The window was certainly shut and fastened upon the inside.

两位女仆对此十分肯定。她们立即请来了医生和警官，随后在马夫和帮工的协助下，将受伤的女主人抬回卧室。夫妻俩原本同睡一床——她穿着睡裙，而他睡衣外裹着睡袍。

Both women were positive upon the point. They had at once sent for the doctor and for the constable. Then, with the aid of the groom and the stable boy, they had conveyed their injured mistress to her room. Both she and her husband had occupied the bed. She was clad in her dress, he and his dressing gown over his nightclothes.

书房内物品保持原样。据她们所知，这对夫妻从未争吵过，始终被视为恩爱伴侣。这些是仆人们证词的要旨。面对马丁督察的询问，她们明确表示所有门都从内部上锁，无人可能逃离宅邸。

Nothing had been moved in the study. So far as they knew, there had never been any quarrel between husband and wife. They had always looked upon them as a very united couple. These were the main points of the servants' evidence. In answer to Inspector Martin, they were clear that every door was fastened upon the inside, and that no one could have escaped from the house.

在福尔摩斯追问下，两人都记得从顶楼房间跑出来时就闻到了火药味。"我提请诸位特别注意这个细节，"福尔摩斯对同行们说道，"现在我们可以彻底勘察现场了。"书房是个三面书柜的小房间，写字台正对通向花园的普通窗户。我们首先检查了不幸乡绅的遗体——魁梧的身躯横陈地面。

In answer to Holmes, they both remembered that they were conscious of the smell of powder from the moment that they ran out of their rooms upon the Top Floor. I commend that fact very carefully to your attention, said Holmes to his professional colleague. And now I think that we are in a position to undertake a thorough examination of the room. The study proved to be a small chamber, lined on three sides with books and with a writing table facing an ordinary window, which looked out upon the garden. Our first attention was given to the body of the unfortunate squire, whose huge frame lay stretched across the room.

凌乱的衣着表明他是仓促间被惊醒。子弹从正面射入体内，贯穿心脏后留在体内。死亡瞬间发生且毫无痛苦。他的睡袍和手上都没有火药残留。据乡村医生检查，女士脸上有火药痕迹，但手上没有。

His disordered dress showed that he had been hastily aroused from sleep. The bullet had been fired at him from the front and had remained in his body after penetrating the heart. His death had certainly been instantaneous and painless. There was no powder marking either upon his dressing gown or on his hands. According to the country surgeon, the lady had stains upon her face, but none upon her hand.

福尔摩斯说道，后者的缺失无关紧要，尽管它的存在可能意味着一切。除非劣质弹壳的火药意外向后喷溅，否则多次射击也可能不留痕迹。我建议现在可以移走丘比特先生的尸体了。医生，我猜您还没找到击伤女士的那颗子弹。那需要一次大手术才能取出，但左轮手枪里还剩四发子弹。

Oh, the absence of the latter means nothing, though its presence may mean everything, said Holmes. Unless the powder from a badly fitting cartridge happens to spurt backward, one may fire many shots without leaving a sign. I would suggest that mister Cupid's body may now be removed. I suppose, doctor, you have not recovered the bullet which wounded the lady. A serious operation will be necessary before that can be done, but there are still four cartridges in the revolver.

已发射两发造成两处伤口，因此每颗子弹都有迹可循。福尔摩斯说，看来如此，或许您也能解释那颗明显击中窗框的子弹。他突然转身，修长的手指指向窗框底部上方约一英寸处被击穿的弹孔。警长惊呼，天哪！您是怎么发现的？

Two have been fired and two wounds inflicted so that each bullet can be accounted for. So it would seem, said Holmes, perhaps you can account also for the bullet which has so obviously struck the edge of the window. He had turned suddenly, and his long thin finger was pointing to a hole which had been drilled right through the lower window sash about an inch above the bottom. By George, cried the inspector. However, did you see that?

因为我特意寻找过。乡村医生赞叹，太了不起了，先生您说得完全正确。那么第三枪确实存在，现场必然有第三人。但这人是谁？又是如何逃脱的？

Because I looked for it. Wonderful, said the country doctor. You are certainly right, sir. Then a third shot has been fired, and therefore a third person must have been present. But who could that have been, and how could he have got away?

福尔摩斯说，这正是我们要解决的谜题。马丁警长，还记得女仆说离开房间时立刻闻到火药味吗？我当时指出这个细节极其重要。警长回答，是的先生，但我承认当时没完全理解。

That is the problem which we are now about to solve, said Sherlock Holmes. You remember, Inspector Martin, when the servant said that on leaving their room, they were at once conscious of a smell of powder? I remarked that the point was an extremely important one. Oh, yes, sir. But I confess I did not quite follow you.

这说明开枪时房间门窗都敞开着。否则火药味不可能如此迅速弥漫整栋房子——必须要有穿堂风。不过门窗开启时间很短。警长追问，您如何证明这点？

It suggested that at the time of the firing, the window as well as the door of the room had been open. Otherwise, the fumes of powder could not have been blown so rapidly through the house. A draft in the room was necessary for that. Both door and window were only open for a very short time, however. Well, how do you prove that?

因为蜡烛没有被吹灭。警长高呼，精辟！太精辟了！既然案发时窗户肯定开着，我推测可能有第三人站在窗外开枪。任何射向此人的子弹都可能击中窗框。

Because the candle was not gutted. Capital, cried the inspector. Capital. Feeling sure that the window had been open at the time of the tragedy, I conceived that there might have been a third person in the affair who stood outside this opening and fired through it. Any shot directed at this person might hit the sash.

我检查后果然发现弹痕。但窗户为何会关上锁好？女性第一反应就是关窗上锁。不过等等...这是什么？

I looked, and there, sure enough, was the bullet mark. But how came the window to be shut and fastened? The woman's first instinct would be to shut and fasten the window. But hello. What is this?

书桌上放着一个鳄鱼皮镶银的女士手包。福尔摩斯打开倒出内容物：橡皮筋捆着的二十张五十英镑英格兰银行钞票，别无他物。他将手包递给警长说，这必须妥善保管，庭审时将作为证物。

It was a lady's handbag which stood upon the study table, a trim little handbag of crocodile skin and silver. Holmes opened it and turned the contents out. There were $20.50 pound notes of the Bank of England held together by an India rubber band. Nothing else. This must be preserved, for it will figure in the trial, said Holmes, as he handed the bag with its contents to the inspector.

现在我们需要查清第三颗子弹——从木屑看明显是从室内发射的。我想再见厨娘金太太。您说被巨大爆炸声惊醒，是否觉得比第二声更响？厨娘回答，先生，我那时刚醒很难判断，但确实非常响亮。

It is now necessary that we should try to throw some light upon this third bullet, which has clearly, from the splintering of the wood, been fired from inside the room. I should like to see missus King, the cook, again. You said, missus King, that you were awakened by a loud explosion. When you said that, did you mean that it seemed to you to be louder than the second one? Well, sir, it it waken me from my sleep, so it is hard to judge, but it did seem very loud.

您不认为可能是两枪几乎同时发射？厨娘迟疑道，这我说不准。福尔摩斯说，我相信事实正是如此。马丁警长，我认为这个房间已无更多线索。请随我去花园看看新证据。

You don't think that it might have been two shots fired almost at the same instant? Well, I'm sure I couldn't say, sir. I believe that it was undoubtedly so. I rather think, inspector Martin, that we have now exhausted all that this room can teach us. If you will kindly step round with me, we shall see what fresh evidence the garden has to offer.

一片花圃一直延伸到书房的窗户下，我们走近时都不由发出惊叹。花朵被践踏得东倒西歪，松软的泥土上布满了脚印。那些脚印硕大粗犷，脚趾异常修长尖锐。福尔摩斯像猎犬搜寻受伤的鸟儿般在草丛落叶间翻找，突然发出满意的呼声，俯身拾起一个青铜色的小圆筒。

A flower bed extended up to the study window, and we all broke into an exclamation as we approached it. The flowers were trampled down, and the soft soil was imprinted all over with footmarks. Large, masculine feet they were, with peculiarly long, sharp toes. Holmes hunted about among the grass and leaves like a retriever after a wounded bird. Then with a cry of satisfaction, he bent forward and picked up a little grazen cylinder.

“果然如此，”他说道，“这把左轮手枪装有退壳器，这是第三枚弹壳。马丁警长，我认为本案已基本告破。”这位乡村警长的脸上写满震惊，显然被福尔摩斯迅捷而精湛的推理所折服。起初他还试图维护自己的权威，此刻却只剩下由衷的钦佩，准备无条件跟随福尔摩斯的指引。

I thought so, said he. The revolver had an ejector, and here is the third cartridge. I really think, inspector Martin, that our case is almost complete. The country inspector's face had shown his intense amazement at the rapid and masterful progress of Holmes' investigation. At first, he had shown some disposition to assert his own position, but now he was overcome with admiration and ready to follow without question wherever Holmes led.

“您怀疑是谁？”警长问道。“稍后再谈。这个案件尚有几点我未能向您阐明。既然已进展至此，不如按我的思路继续追查，彻底揭开谜底。”

Whom do you suspect? He asked. I'll go into that later. There are several points in this problem which I have not been able to explain to you yet. Now that I have got so far, I had best proceed on my own lines and then clear the whole matter up once and for all.

“全听您的安排，福尔摩斯先生，只要能抓住凶手。我并非故弄玄虚，只是行动之际实在无法详述复杂缘由。此案的线索尽在掌握，即便这位女士无法恢复意识，我们仍能还原昨夜之事，伸张正义。首先我想知道附近是否有个叫埃尔里奇斯的旅店？”

Or just as you wish, mister Holmes, so long as we get our man. I have no desire to make mysteries, but it is impossible at the moment of action to enter into long and complex explanations. I have the threads of this affair all in my hand. Even if this lady should never recover consciousness, we can still reconstruct the events of last night and ensure that justice be done. First of all, I wish to know whether there is any inn in this neighborhood known as Elridges.

仆人们被反复盘问，却无人知晓此地。最后马童提供线索，想起数英里外的东拉斯顿方向住着个同名农夫。“那农场很偏僻吗？”“荒凉极了，先生。或许他们还没听说昨夜这里发生的事。”

The servants were cross questioned, but none of them had heard of such a place. The stable boy threw a light upon the matter by remembering that a farmer of that name lived some miles off in the direction of East Ruston. Is it a lonely farm? Very lonely, sir. Perhaps they have not heard yet of all that happened here during the night.

也许不是，先生。福尔摩斯沉思片刻，脸上浮现出一丝古怪的微笑。‘备马或骑马，小伙子，’他说，‘我需要你送封信到埃尔里奇农场。’他从口袋里掏出那些跳舞小人的纸条。

Maybe not, sir. Holmes thought for a little, and then a curious smile played over his face. Saddle or horse, my lad, said he. I shall wish you to take a note to Elridge's farm. He took from his pocket the various slips of the dancing men.

他将这些纸条摆在面前，在书桌前忙活了一阵。最后，他把一封信交给男孩，嘱咐务必亲手交给收件人，尤其不能回答任何可能被提出的问题。我看到信封外写着歪歪扭扭、极不规则的字符，与福尔摩斯平日工整的字迹大相径庭。收件人是诺福克郡东拉斯顿埃尔里奇农场的阿贝·斯莱尼先生。‘警长，’福尔摩斯说道，‘我认为你最好发电报请求增援，因为如果我的计算没错，你可能要押送一个极其危险的犯人去郡监狱。’

With these in front of him, he worked for some time at the study table. Finally, he handed a note to the boy with directions to put it into the hands of the person to whom it was addressed, and especially to answer no questions of any sort which might be put to him. I saw the outside of the note addressed in straggling irregular characters, very unlike Holmes' usual precise hand. It was consigned to mister Abe Slaney, Elridge's Farm, East Ruston, Norfolk. I think, inspector, Holmes remarked, that you would do well to telegraph for an escort as, if my calculations prove to be correct, you may have a particularly dangerous prisoner to convey to the county jail.

‘送信的男孩无疑可以帮你转发电报。华生，如果有下午进城的火车，我们不妨搭乘——我还有个有趣的化学分析要完成，而这项调查即将收尾。’当少年带着信件出发后，夏洛克·福尔摩斯向仆人们下达了指示：若有访客询问希尔顿·丘比特太太的情况，不得透露任何信息，但要立即将其引入客厅。他极其郑重地向他们强调了这些要点。

The boy who takes this note could no doubt forward your telegram. If there is an afternoon train to town, Watson, I think we should do well to take it as I have a chemical analysis of some interest to finish, and this investigation draws rapidly to a close. When the youth had been dispatched with the note, Sherlock Holmes gave his instructions to the servants. If any visitor were to call asking for missus Hilton Cubitt, no information should be given as to her condition, but he was to be shown at once into the drawing room. He impressed these points upon them with the utmost earnestness.

最后，他领着我们走进客厅，表示此事已非我们所能掌控，只能尽量消磨时间，静观其变。医生已去照看病人，只剩警长和我留在现场。‘我想我能帮你们有趣而充实地度过一小时，’福尔摩斯说着将椅子拉到桌边，摊开面前那些记录跳舞小人古怪动作的纸条。‘至于你，亲爱的华生，我该为长久辜负你天生的好奇心而致歉。警长先生，整个事件对你而言或许堪称一次非凡的职业案例研究。’

Finally, he led the way into the drawing room with the remark that the business was now out of our hands and that we must while away the time as best we might, until we could see what was in store for us. The doctor had departed to his patients, and only the inspector and myself remained. I think that I can help you to pass an hour in an interesting and profitable manner, said Holmes, drawing his chair up to the table, and spreading out in front of him the various papers upon which were recorded the antics of the dancing men. As to you, friend Watson, I owe you every atonement for having allowed your natural curiosity to remain so long unsatisfied. To you, inspector, the whole incident may appeal as a remarkable professional study.

‘首先，我必须向你们讲述希尔顿·丘比特先生先前在贝克街与我商讨时的有趣情况。’他简要复述了已记录在案的细节。‘此刻摆在我面前的这些奇特作品，若非它们预示了如此可怕的悲剧，本可令人莞尔。我虽通晓各类密码，还曾就此写过一篇浅薄的专题论文，分析过160种独立密码，但不得不承认这种形式完全超出了我的认知。发明这套系统的人，显然旨在隐藏这些字符传递的信息，让人以为不过是孩童的随手涂鸦。’

I must tell you, first of all, the interesting circumstances connected with the previous consultations which mister Hilton Cubitt has had with me in Baker Street. He then shortly recapitulated the facts which have already been recorded. I have here in front of me these singular productions at which one might smile had they not proved themselves to be the forerunners of so terrible a tragedy. I am fairly familiar with all forms of secret writings, and I'm myself the author of a trifling monograph upon the subject in which I analyze 160 separate ciphers, but I confess that this is entirely new to me. The object of those who invented the system has apparently been to conceal that these characters convey a message and to give the idea that they are the mere random sketches of children.

然而，一旦认识到这些符号代表字母，并应用了指导我们解读所有密码形式的规则，解决起来就相当容易了。提交给我的第一条信息非常简短，我只能有几分把握地认为符号XXX代表字母e。如你所知，e是英语字母表中最常见的字母，其出现频率之高，即使在短句中也能频繁见到。第一条信息中的15个符号里有四个相同，因此将其视为e是合理的。确实，某些情况下图形带有旗帜标志，而另一些则没有。

Having once recognized, however, that the symbol stood for letters and having applied the rules which guide us in all forms of secret writings, the solution was easy enough. The first message submitted to me was so short that it was impossible for me to do more than to say with some confidence that the symbol XXX stood for e. As you are aware, e is the most common letter in the English alphabet, and it predominates to so marked an extent that even in a short sentence, one would expect to find it most often. Out of 15 symbols in the first message, four were the same, so it was reasonable to set this down as e. It is true that in some cases, the figure was bearing a flag and in some cases not.

但从旗帜的分布方式来看，它们很可能用于将句子分割成单词。我接受了这一假设，并记下哪个图形代表e。但真正的困难才刚刚开始。英语字母在e之后的出现顺序并无明显规律，印刷页面上统计得出的频率优势在短句中可能完全相反。大致而言，t、a、o、i、n、s、h、r、d和l是按出现频率排序的字母，但t、a、o和i几乎并驾齐驱，若要逐一尝试组合直到得出意义，那将是一项永无止境的工作。

But it was probable from the way in which the flags were distributed that they were used to break the sentence up into words. I accepted this as a hypothesis and noted which figure represented e. But now came the real difficulty of the inquiry. The order of the English letters after e is by no means well marked, and any preponderance which may be shown in an average of a printed sheet may be reversed in a single short sentence. Speaking roughly, t a o I n s h r d and l are the numerical order in which letters occur, but t a o and I are very nearly abreast of each other, and it would be an endless task to try each combination until a meaning was arrived at.

因此我等待新的材料。在我与希尔顿·丘比特先生的第二次会面中，他提供了另外两个短句和一条信息——由于没有旗帜标志，后者似乎是一个单词。在这个单词里，我已发现两个e分别位于五个字母中的第二和第四位。可能是sever（切断）、lever（杠杆）或never（从不）。毫无疑问，作为对恳求的回应，后者可能性最大，且情境表明这是那位女士写的回复。

I therefore waited for fresh material. In my second interview with mister Hilton Cubitt, he was able to give me two other short sentences and one message, which appeared, since there was no flag, to be a single word. Now in the single word, I have already got the two e's coming second and fourth in a word of five letters. It might be sever or lever or never. There can be no question that the latter, as a reply to an appeal, is far the most probable, and the circumstances pointed to its being a reply written by the lady.

若此假设正确，我们现在可以说这些符号分别代表n、v和r。即便如此，我仍面临巨大困难，但一个灵光乍现让我获得了其他几个字母。我突然想到，如果这些恳求如我所料来自那位女士早年亲密之人，那么两个e中间隔三个字母的组合很可能代表名字Elsie（埃尔茜）。经核查，我发现这样的组合在信息结尾重复了三次，显然是在向埃尔茜发出某种恳求。

Accepting it as correct, we are now able to say that the symbols stand respectively for n, v, and r. Even now, I was in considerable difficulty, but a happy thought put me in possession of several other letters. It occurred to me that if these appeals came as I expected from someone who had been intimate with the lady in her early life, a combination which contained two e's with three letters between might very well stand for the name Elsie. On examination, I found that such a combination formed the termination of the message, which was three times repeated. It was certainly some appeal to Elsie.

就这样，我得到了l、s和i。但会是什么恳求呢？埃尔茜前面的单词只有四个字母且以e结尾。这个词必定是come（来吧）。我尝试了所有以e结尾的四字母单词，但无一符合。

In this way, I had got my l, s, and I. But what appeal could it be? There were only four letters in the word which preceded Elsie, and it ended in e. Surely, the word must be come. I tried all other four letters ending in e, but could find none to fit the case.

至此，我已掌握c、o和m，于是重新解读第一条信息：将符号分词，未知符号用点表示。处理后呈现如下形式：空白m空格空白e r e空白空白e空格s l空白n e。首字母只能是a——这一发现极其关键，因为它在这个短句中出现了三次，而h在第二个词中也显而易见。现在可读作am here a dot e slain dot，填补空缺后即为：am here, Abe Slaney（我在此，阿贝·斯莱尼）。

So now I was in possession of c, o, and m, and I was in a position to attack the first message once more, dividing it into words and putting dots for each symbol, which was still unknown. So treated, it worked out in this fashion. Blank m space blank e r e blank blank e space s l blank n e. Now the first letter can only be a, which is a most useful discovery since it occurs no fewer than three times in this short sentence, and the h is also apparent in the second word. Now it becomes am here a dot e slain dot, or filling in the obvious vacancies in the name, am here, Abe Slaney.

掌握足够字母后，我信心十足地解读第二条信息：A空白e l r i空白e s。唯有填入t和g才能使句意通顺，推测这是写信人所在的某栋房子或旅馆名称。马丁警探和我全神贯注地听完了我朋友如何彻底破解难题的完整叙述。‘您之后采取了什么行动，先生？’

I had so many letters now that I could proceed with considerable confidence to the second message, which worked out in this fashion. A, blank, e l r I, blank, e s. Here, I could only make sense by putting t and g for the missing letters, and supposing that the name was that of some house or inn at which the writer was staying. Inspector Martin and I had listened with the utmost interest to the full and clear account of how my friend had produced results which had led to so complete a command over our difficulties. What did you do then, sir?

警探询问道。我有充分理由认为阿贝·斯莱尼是美国人，因为Abe是典型的美式缩写，且所有麻烦都始于一封美国来信。我也确信此事涉及犯罪秘密——女士对过往的隐晦提及及拒绝向丈夫坦白都指向这点。于是我给纽约警察局的威尔逊·哈格里夫发去电报，他多次借助过我对伦敦犯罪案件的了解。

Asked the inspector. I had every reason to suppose that this Abe Slaney was an American, since Abe is an American contraction, and since a letter from America had been the starting point of all the trouble. I had also every cause to think that there was some criminal secret in the matter. The lady's allusions to her past and her refusal to take her husband into her confidence both pointed in that direction. I therefore cabled to my friend, Wilson Hargreave of the New York Police Bureau, who has more than once made use of my knowledge of London crime.

我询问他是否知晓阿贝·斯莱尼。其回复如下：‘芝加哥最危险的恶棍。’就在收到回电当晚，希尔顿·丘比特转来了斯莱尼的最后一条信息。用已知字母解读后呈现为：Elsie空白r e空白are to meet thy go空白。

I asked him whether the name of Abe Slaney was known to him. Here is his reply. The most dangerous crook in Chicago. On the very evening upon which I had his answer, Hilton Cubitt sent me the last message from Slaney. Working with known letters, it took this form, Elsie, blank, r e, blank, are to meet thy go, blank.

补上p和d后，信息显示这恶棍正从劝说转向威胁：‘Elsie, prepare to meet thy god（埃尔茜，准备见你的上帝吧）。’基于对芝加哥歹徒的了解，我预感到他会迅速将威胁付诸行动。我立即与同事华生医生赶往诺福克，却不幸只赶上了最坏的结果。‘能与您合作办案是我的荣幸，’警探热切地说道。

The addition of a p and a d completed a message which showed me that the rascal was proceeding from persuasion to threats. Elsie, prepare to meet thy god. And my knowledge of the crooks of Chicago prepared me to find that he might very rapidly put his words into action. I at once came to Norfolk with my friend and colleague, doctor Watson, but unhappily only in time to find that the worst had already occurred. It is a privilege to be associated with you and the handling of a case, said the inspector warmly.

不过，请原谅我直言不讳。你只需对自己负责，而我却要对上级交代。如果住在埃尔德里奇的这个阿贝·斯兰尼真是凶手，而在我坐在这里时他逃走了，我肯定会惹上大麻烦。你不必担心，他不会试图逃跑的。

You will excuse me, however, if I speak frankly to you. You are only answerable to yourself, but I have to answer to my superiors. If this Abe Slaney living at Eldridge is is indeed the murderer, and if he has made his escape while I am seated here, I should certainly get into serious trouble. You need not be uneasy. He will not try to escape.

那么，你怎么知道？逃跑就等于认罪。让我们去逮捕他吧。我随时都期待他来这里。但他为什么要来呢？

Well, how do you know? To fly would be a confession of guilt. And let us go arrest him. I expect him here every instant. But why should he come?

因为我写信邀请了他。但这太难以置信了，福尔摩斯先生。为什么你邀请他就会来？这样的请求难道不会引起他的怀疑，促使他逃跑吗？我想我知道如何措辞这封信，夏洛克·福尔摩斯说道。

Because I have written and asked him. But this is incredible, mister Holmes. Why should he come because you have asked him? Would not such a request rather rouse his suspicions and cause him to fly? I think I have known how to frame the letter, said Sherlock Holmes.

事实上，如果我没大错的话，这位先生本人正沿着车道走来。一个男人大步走向门口的小路。他高大英俊，皮肤黝黑，身穿灰色法兰绒套装，头戴巴拿马草帽，浓密的黑胡子，高耸而咄咄逼人的鹰钩鼻，走路时挥舞着手杖。他大摇大摆地走来，仿佛这地方是他的。我们听到他自信地大声按响了门铃。‘先生们，’福尔摩斯轻声说，‘我认为我们最好躲在门后。’

In fact, if I am not very much mistaken, here is the gentleman himself coming up the drive. A man was striding up the path which led to the door. He was a tall, handsome, swarthy fellow, clad in a suit of gray flannel with a Panama hat, a bristling black beard, and a giant aggressive hooked nose, and flourishing a cane as he walked. He swaggered up a path as if the place belonged to him, and we heard his loud confident peal at the bell. I think, gentlemen, said Holmes quietly, that we had best take up our position behind the door.

对付这样的家伙，必须万分谨慎。探长，你需要准备好手铐。谈话交给我。我们沉默地等了一分钟，那是一种令人终生难忘的时刻。然后门开了，那人走了进来。

Every precaution is necessary when dealing with such a fellow. You will need your handcuffs, inspector. You can leave the talking to me. We waited in silence for a minute, one of those minutes which one can never forget. Then the door opened, and the man stepped in.

瞬间，福尔摩斯用手枪抵住他的头，马丁迅速给他戴上手铐。一切发生得如此迅捷灵巧，那家伙还没反应过来就已束手就擒。他用一双怒火中烧的黑眼睛瞪着我们，随后爆发出一阵苦笑。‘好吧，先生们，这次你们占了上风。我似乎撞上了硬茬。’

In an instant, Holmes clapped a pistol to his head, and Martin slit the handcuffs over his wrists. It was all done so swiftly and deftly that the fellow was helpless before he knew that he was attacked. He glared from one to the other of us with a pair of blazing black eyes, then he burst into a bitter laugh. Well, gentlemen, you have the drop on me this time. I seem to have knocked up against something hard.

但我是应希尔顿·丘比特太太的信才来的。别告诉我她也参与其中。别说是她帮忙设陷阱抓我。‘希尔顿·丘比特太太受了重伤，生命垂危。’男人发出一声沙哑的悲鸣，响彻整栋房子。

But I came here in answer to a letter from missus Hilton Cubitt. Don't tell me that she's in this. Don't tell me that she helped to set a trap for me. Missus Hilton Cubitt was seriously injured and is at death's door. The man gave a hoarse cry of grief, which rang through the house.

‘你疯了！’他凶狠地喊道，‘受伤的是他，不是她！谁会伤害小艾尔茜？我可能威胁过她——愿上帝宽恕我——但我绝不会动她一根头发和她那漂亮的脑袋。你给我收回这话！’

You're crazy, he cried fiercely. It was he that was hurt, not she. Who would have hurt little Alsie? I may have threatened her, god forgive me, but I would not have touched the hair and her pretty head. Take it back, you.

‘确认她没有受伤。人们发现她身受重伤，倒在她死去的丈夫身旁。’他深深呻吟着跌坐在长椅上，把脸埋进被铐住的双手。整整五分钟，他一言不发。随后他再次抬起头，以绝望的冰冷镇定开口。

See that she is not hurt. She was found badly wounded by the side of her dead husband. He sank with a deep groan on the settee and buried his face in his manacled hands. For five minutes, he was silent. Then he raised his face once more and spoke with the cold composure of despair.

‘我对你们没什么可隐瞒的，先生们，’他说，‘如果我开枪打死了那个人，他也朝我开了枪，这不算谋杀。但如果你们认为我会伤害那个女人，那你们既不了解我，也不了解她。我告诉你们，这世上没有哪个男人爱一个女人胜过我爱她。我曾拥有得到她的权利。’

I have nothing to hide from you, gentlemen, said he. If I shot the man, he had his shot at me, and there's no murder in that. But if you think I could have hurt that woman, then you don't know either me or her. I tell you, there was never a man in this world loved a woman more than I loved her. I had a right to her.

多年前她就与我立下誓约。这个英国人凭什么横插一脚？我告诉你，我拥有对她的优先权，我只是在索回属于我的东西。当发现你的真面目后，她挣脱了你的掌控，福尔摩斯严厉地说。她为躲避你从美国逃到英国，嫁给了一位可敬的绅士。

She was pledged to me years ago. Who was this Englishman that he should come between us? I tell you that I had the first right to her, and that I was only claiming my own. She broke away from your influence when she found the man that you are, said Holmes sternly. She fled from America to avoid you, and she married an honorable gentleman in England.

你跟踪骚扰她，让她的生活痛苦不堪，企图迫使她抛弃深爱且尊敬的丈夫，转而与她又惧又恨的你私奔。最终你导致了一位高尚者的死亡，并逼得他的妻子自杀。这就是你在此事中的所作所为，亚伯·斯兰尼先生，法律必将让你付出代价。如果埃尔茜死了，我根本不在乎自己会怎样，这个美国人说。他摊开手掌，盯着那张皱巴巴的纸条。

You dogged her and followed her and made her life a misery to her in order to induce her to abandon the husband whom she loved and respected in order to fly with you whom she feared and hated. You have ended by bringing about the death of a noble man and driving his wife to suicide. That is your record in this business, mister Abe Slaney, and you will answer for it to the law. If Elsie dies, I care nothing what becomes of me, said the American. He opened one of his hands and looked at a note crumpled up in his palm.

看好了先生，他眼中闪过一丝怀疑喊道，你该不是在吓唬我吧？如果这位女士真如你所说伤势严重，那这纸条是谁写的？他把纸条甩到桌上。是我写的，为了引你现身。

See here, mister, he cried with a gleam of suspicion in his eyes. You're not trying to scare me over this, are you? If the lady is hurt as bad as you say, who was it that wrote this note? He tossed it forward onto the table. I wrote it to bring you here.

你写的？世上除了我们帮派没人懂这些跳舞小人的秘密。你怎么会写？一个人能发明的东西，另一个人就能破解，福尔摩斯说。有辆马车正赶来带你去诺里奇，斯兰尼先生。

You wrote it? There was no one on earth outside the joint who knew the secret of the dancing men. How came you to write it? What one man can invent, another can discover, said Holmes. There is a cab coming to convey you to Norwich, mister Slaney.

不过在此之前，你还有时间对你造成的伤害稍作弥补。你可知道希尔顿·丘比特夫人曾因丈夫之死受到重大怀疑？若非我恰巧在场并掌握某些情报，她早已被指控。你至少欠她一个澄清，向全世界证明她与这场悲剧毫无直接或间接关联。我求之不得，美国人说，我认为坦白全部真相就是对自己最有利的辩护。

But meanwhile, you have time to make some small reparation for the injury you have wrought. Are you aware that missus Hilton Cubitt has herself lain under grave suspicion of the murder of her husband, and that it was only my presence here and the knowledge which I happened to possess which has saved her from the accusation? The least that you owe her is to make it it clear to the whole world that she was in no way directly or indirectly responsible for his tragic end. I ask nothing better, said the American. I guess the very best case I can make for myself is the absolute naked truth.

我有义务警告你，你的供词将作为呈堂证供，探长高声宣告，体现着英国刑法崇高的公平精神。斯兰尼耸耸肩。我认了，他说。首先，请各位明白我认识这位女士时她还是个孩子。我们在芝加哥有七人帮派，埃尔茜的父亲是'联合帮'的头目。

It is my duty to warn you that it will be used against you, cried the inspector, with the magnificent fair play of the British criminal law. Slaney shrugged his shoulders. I'll chance that, said he. First of all, I want you gentlemen to understand that I have known this lady since she was a child. There were seven of us in a gang in Chicago, and Elsie's father was the boss of The Joint.

老帕特里克是个聪明人，他发明了这种看似孩童涂鸦的密码，除非你有解码钥匙。埃尔茜学了些我们的手段，但她受不了这种勾当。加上她自己有些干净钱，就甩开我们逃到了伦敦。她曾与我订婚——我相信若我改行，她本会嫁给我——但她绝不沾任何非法勾当。

He was a clever man, was old Patrick. It was he who invented that writing, which would pass as a child's scrawl unless you just happened to have the key to it. Well, Elsie learned some of our ways, but she couldn't stand the business. And she had a bit of honest money of her own, so she gave us all the slip and got away to London. She had been engaged to me and she would have married me, I believe, if I had taken over another profession, but she would have nothing to do with anything on the cross.

直到她嫁给这个英国佬后，我才查到她的下落。我写信却石沉大海。后来我亲自过来，既然信件无用，我就把消息写在她能看见的地方。我来这儿已一个月，住在那个农场的地下室，每晚进出都神不知鬼不觉。

It was only after her marriage to this Englishman that I was able to find out where she was. I wrote to her but got no answer. After that, I came over and as letters were no use, I put my messages where she could read them. Well, I've been here a month now. I lived in that farm where I had a room down below and could get in and out every night, and no one the wiser.

我想尽办法哄埃尔茜离开。知道她看过留言，因她曾在一则下写过回复。后来我脾气上来开始威胁她。那时她寄信哀求我离开，说若丈夫蒙受丑闻会心碎而死。她答应若我肯走，就在凌晨三点丈夫熟睡时，到尽头窗户与我对话。

I tried all I could to coax Elsie away. I knew that she read the messages for once she wrote an answer under one of them. Then my temper got the better of me, and I began to threaten her. She sent me a letter then, imploring me to go away and saying that it would break her heart if any scandal should come upon her husband. She said that she would come down when her husband was asleep at three in the morning and speak with me through the end window if I would go away afterwards and leave her in peace.

她带着钱下来想收买我。这激怒了我，我抓住她胳膊想拽出窗外。突然她丈夫持左轮枪冲进来。埃尔茜瘫倒在地，我们正面交锋。我也带了枪，举枪想吓退他好脱身。

She came down and brought money with her and trying to bribe me to go. This made me mad, and I caught her arm and tried to pull her through the window. At that moment, Hin rushed the husband with his revolver in his hand. Elsie had sunk down upon the floor, and we were face to face. I was healed also and I held up my gun to scare him off and let me get away.

他开枪但没打中我。我几乎同时扣动扳机，他就倒下了。我穿过花园逃跑时，听到身后窗户关上的声音。先生们，我发誓句句属实。直到那小子骑马送来一张便条，我才再次听闻此事——那张纸条让我像个傻瓜一样走进这里，自投罗网。

He fired and missed me. I pulled off almost at the same instant and down he dropped. I made a way across the garden and as I went, I heard the window shut behind me. That's God's truth, gentlemen, every word of it. And I heard no more about it until that lad came riding up with a note which made me walk in here like a jay and give myself into your hands.

美国人说话时，马车已经到了。两名穿制服的警察坐在里面。马丁警长起身拍了拍犯人的肩膀。我们该走了。我能先见她一面吗？

The cab had driven up whilst the American had been talking. Two uniformed policemen sat inside. Inspector Martin rose and touched his prisoner on the shoulder. It's time for us to go. Can I see her first?

不行。她还没恢复意识。夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生，我只希望今后若再遇到重大案件，能有幸得到您的协助。我们站在窗边目送马车离去。转身时，我注意到犯人扔在桌上的那团纸。

Nope. She is not conscious. Mister Sherlock Holmes, I only hope that if ever again I have an important case, I shall have the good fortune to have you by my side. We stood at the window and watched the cab drive away. As I turned back, my eye caught the pellet of paper which the prisoner had tossed upon the table.

这正是福尔摩斯诱他上钩的纸条。看看能否破译，华生。他笑着说，用我教过你的密码，你会发现内容只是‘立刻过来’。我确信这邀请他无法拒绝，因为他绝不会想到纸条竟非出自那位女士之手。亲爱的华生，我们终于让这些舞动小人做了件好事——它们可经常是作恶的工具。

It was the note with which Holmes had decoyed him. See if you can read it, Watson, said he with a smile. If you use the code which I have explained, you will find that it simply means come here at once. I was convinced that it was an invitation which he would not refuse, since he could never imagine that it could come from anyone but the lady. And so, my dear Watson, we have ended by turning the dancing men to good when they have so often been the agents of evil.

我想我已兑现承诺，为你的笔记提供了不寻常的素材。我们乘3点40分的火车回贝克街用晚餐。最后补充一点：美国人阿贝·斯兰尼在诺里奇冬季巡回法庭被判死刑，但鉴于情有可原且确系希尔顿·丘比特先开枪，最终改判苦役监禁。

And I think that I have fulfilled my promise of giving you something unusual for your notebook. 03:40 is our train, and I fancy we should be back in Baker Street for dinner. Only one word of epilogue. The American Abe Slaney was condemned to death at the Winter Assizes at Norwich. But his penalty was changed to penal servitude in consideration of mitigating circumstances and the certainty that Hilton Cubitt had fired the first shot.

关于希尔顿·丘比特夫人，我只听说她已完全康复，至今孀居，毕生致力于救济穷人和管理亡夫遗产。下期福尔摩斯短篇故事中，当红发当铺老板杰贝兹·威尔逊带着奇怪的‘红发会’广告来到贝克街时，福尔摩斯立刻察觉这古怪谜团背后另有玄机。这则离奇的报纸剪报将引领大侦探揭开一个胆大包天的犯罪阴谋，而编织这张欺骗之网的核心人物竟是……他能及时破案吗？还是夏洛克·福尔摩斯终于遇到了旗鼓相当的对手？

Of Mrs. Hilton Cubitt, I only know that I have heard she recovered entirely and that she still remains a widow, devoting her whole life to the care of the poor and to the administration of her husband's estate. Next time on Sherlock Holmes short stories, when a flame haired pawnbroker named Jabez Wilson shows up at Baker Street with a curious advertisement for something called the red headed league, Holmes immediately senses there's more to this peculiar puzzle than meets the eye. This bizarre newspaper clipping will lead the great detective to an audacious criminal scheme, a web of deception at the center of which lies a criminal mastermind. Will he be able to crack the case in time, or has Sherlock Holmes finally met his match?

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Can't wait a week until the next episode? Well, listen to it right away by subscribing to Noiser Plus. Head to www.noiser.com/subscriptions for more information, or click the link in the episode description.