書蟲二級：波希米亞丑聞 - 國王的錯誤

1.The King's Mistake
1．國王的錯誤

For Sherlock Holmes, there was only one woman in the world. He did not love her, because he never loved women. But after their meeting he never forgot her. Her name was Irene Adler.

對于夏洛克·福爾摩斯來說，世界上只有一個女人。他不愛她，因為他從沒愛過任何女人。但在那次交鋒之后他從未忘記她。她叫艾琳·阿德勒。

One night in March I visited my old friend at his home in Baker Street. I was married by now, so I did not often see him.

3月的一個晚上，我來到這位老朋友在貝克街的家拜訪他，如今我已經(jīng)結婚，所以不經(jīng)常見到他。

Come in, Watson,' he said. 'Sit down. I'm happy to see you, because I've got something to show you. What do you think of this? It arrived in the last post.' It was a letter, with no date, name or address. It said:

“快進來，華生，”他說，“請坐。很高興見到你，因為我有東西要給你看。你對這個怎么看？這是跟上一次郵件送來的。”那是一封信，沒有日期、名字和地址。信里說：

Tonight someone will visit you, to talk about some very secret business. You have helped other important people, and you can, we hope, help us. Be in your room at 7.45 p.m. '

“今晚有人會上門拜訪，討論一些非常機密的事情。你幫助過其他重要人物，希望你也能幫助我們。晚上7點45分請在房間等。”

The paper — what do you think about the paper?' asked Holmes.

“這種紙——你覺得這種紙怎么樣？”福爾摩斯問。

I tried to think like Holmes. 'It's expensive, so this person is rich. It's strange paper.'

我盡量像福爾摩斯一樣思考。“它很貴，所以這個人很有錢。這是種奇怪的紙。”

Yes, it's not English. If you look at it in the light, you can see that it was made in Bohemia. And a German, I think, wrote the letter. Ah, here comes our man now.' We could hear the horses in the street.

“對，這不是英國的紙。如果對著光，你會看出它是波希米亞產(chǎn)的。而且，我想寫這封信的人是個德國人。啊，找我們的人來了。”我們聽見街上傳來車馬的聲音。

Shall I leave, Holmes?' I asked.

“我該離開嗎，福爾摩斯？”我問。

No, no, I need your help. This will be interesting,' my friend answered. There was a knock at the door.

“不，不，我需要你的幫助。這會很有趣的。”我的朋友回答。這時響起敲門聲。

Come in!' called Holmes.

“進來！”福爾摩斯大聲說。

A tall, strong man came into the room. He was wearing expensive clothes, and a mask over his face.

一個高大強壯的男人走進房間。他衣飾華貴，臉上戴了一個面具。

You can call me Count von Kramm. I come from Bohemia,' he said. 'My business is most important. Before I tell you about it, do you agree to keep it a secret?'

“你可以叫我馮·克拉姆伯爵。我從波希米亞來，”他說，“我的事情非常重要。在我告訴你們之前，你們能不能答應保守秘密？”

I do,' we said together.

“我會的。”我們同時說道。

A very important person, who belongs to a royal family, has sent me to ask for your help,' he went on. 'I wear a mask because nobody must know who that person is. I must explain how important this business is. If you cannot help, there will be difficulty and trouble for one of the most important families in Europe — and perhaps a very big scandal. I am talking about the famous House of Ormstein, Kings of Bohemia.'

“一位皇家要人派我來尋求你的幫助，”他接著說，“我戴著面具是因為不能讓任何人知道那個人是誰。我必須解釋一下這件事有多么重要。如果你不能幫忙，歐洲最重要的家族之一將會遇到困難和麻煩——甚至可能是一樁很大的丑聞。我說的是著名的奧姆斯坦家族，波希米亞皇室。”

I know, Your Majesty,' said Holmes. He quietly smoked his cigarette.

“我知道，陛下。”福爾摩斯說完，安靜地抽著煙。

The man jumped up from his chair. 'What!' he cried. 'How do you know who I am?' Then he pulled the mask off his face and threw it on the ground. 'You are right. Why do I hide it? I am the King. I am Wilhelm von Ormstein, King of Bohemia. I came to see you myself because I could not ask another person to tell my story. It must be a secret. You understand?'

那個人從椅子上跳起來。“什么！”他叫道，“你怎么知道我是誰？”然后他把面具從臉上扯下來，扔到地上。“你說對了。我為什么要遮遮掩掩呢？我就是國王本人。我是威廉·馮·奧姆斯坦，波希米亞的國王。我親自來找你是因為我不能讓別人來講這件事。這必須保密。你明白嗎？”

Very well. Go on,' said Holmes. He closed his eyes and listened.

“非常明白。接著說。”福爾摩斯說。他閉上眼睛聽著。

Five years ago I met a woman called Irene Adler. We...'

“五年前我遇到一個叫艾琳·阿德勒的女人。我們……”

Ah,' said Holmes, 'Irene Adler, born in 1850, singer, lives in London, a very beautiful woman, I hear ...' He looked at the King. 'You and she...You loved her, for a while, and then left her. But before you left her, you wrote her some letters perhaps. And now you want to get these letters back.'

“啊，”福爾摩斯說，“艾琳·阿德勒，生于1850年，歌唱家，住在倫敦，一個非常漂亮的女人，我聽說……”他看了看國王。“你和她……你有一段時間很愛她，后來離開了她。但是在你離開之前，你可能給她寫了些信。現(xiàn)在你想要回這些信。”

That's right.'

“是這樣的。”

Did you marry her?'

“你和她結婚了嗎？”

No.'

“沒有。”

If she asks you for money and shows you the letters, you can say that you didn't write them.'

“如果她拿那些信向你要錢，你可以說那不是你寫的。”

But Mr Holmes, she also has my photograph.'

“但是福爾摩斯先生，她還有我的照片。”

You can say that you didn't give her a photograph.'

“你可以說你沒有給過她照片。”

We were both in the photograph.'

“我們倆都在照片里。”

Oh dear. That was a mistake, Your Majesty.'

“噢，天吶。那是個錯誤，陛下。”

I know. I was stupid...but I was very young!'

“我知道。我很愚蠢……但是那時候我太年輕！”

You must get the photograph back. Can you steal it from her house?'

“你必須把照片拿回來。你不能從她的房子里偷出來嗎？”

I have tried five times but my men couldn't find it. What can I do?'

“我已經(jīng)試了五次，但是我的手下找不到照片。我該怎么辦呢？”

Holmes laughed. 'This is very interesting. What does she plan to do with the photograph?'

福爾摩斯笑了。“這可太有趣了。她想怎么處理那照片？”

Soon I am going to marry Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You know, of course, that we are two of the most important royal families in Europe. Clotilde will never marry me if she learns that I have been a...friend of Irene Adler. You do not know Irene Adler. She's a beautiful woman, but she can be as hard as a man. She was angry when I left her, and so she doesn't want me to marry another woman. I know that she will send this photograph to the Saxe-Meningen family, and then there will be a terrible scandal. We must find the photograph before she sends it!'

“我很快就要和斯堪的納維亞國王的女兒克洛蒂爾德·洛思曼·馮·薩克斯-門寧根結婚了。你當然知道我們是歐洲最重要的兩個皇室。如果克洛蒂爾德知道我曾經(jīng)是艾琳·阿德勒的……朋友，她絕不會嫁給我。你不了解艾琳·阿德勒。她是個漂亮的女人，但是她能和男人一樣冷酷無情。我離開的時候她很生氣，所以她不想讓我娶另一個女人。我知道她想把照片寄給薩克斯-門寧根家族，然后就會有可怕的丑聞。我們必須在她寄出那張照片之前找到它！”

I am sure that we will find it,' said Holmes. 'You are, of course, staying in London? I will write to you to tell you what happens. And, the money...?'

“我相信我們肯定會找到的，”福爾摩斯說，“你現(xiàn)在一定住在倫敦吧？我會寫信告訴你事情的進展。另外，錢……？”

The King put a large heavy bag on the table. 'I must have that photograph,' he said. 'There is one thousand pounds here. lf you need more, you must ask at once. The money is not important.'

國王把一個沉重的大袋子放到桌子上。“我必須拿到那張照片，”他說，“這是1000英鎊。如果你還需要更多，一定馬上跟我說。錢不重要。”

And the young woman's address?' asked Holmes.

“還有那個年輕女人的地址？”福爾摩斯問。

Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St John's Wood, London.'

“倫敦圣約翰伍德，瑟芬泰恩大街布里奧尼公寓。”

Good night, Your Majesty,' said Holmes. 'I hope to have some good news for you soon.' The King left, and Holmes turned to me. 'And good night, Watson. Please come back tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon.'

“晚安，陛下，”福爾摩斯說，“我希望很快會有好消息給你。”國王走了，福爾摩斯轉過身對我說：“晚安，華生。請明天下午3點再回來。”