My friend tore it open, and we all three read it together.
我的朋友把信拆開,我們三個人圍著一起讀這封信。
It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:
寫信日期是今天凌晨。信中這樣寫道:
MY DEAR MR.SHERLOCK HOLMES: You really did it very well.
親愛的歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生:你的確干得非常漂亮。
You took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion.
你完全把我給騙過去了。直到發(fā)出火警以前,我一點也不疑心。
But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think.
但是隨后當我發(fā)覺我已經是如何泄露了自己的秘密時,我開始思索了。
I had been warned against you months ago.
幾個月以前,人家就警告我要防備你了。
I had been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly be you.
有人說要是國王雇一位偵探的話,那一定是你。
And your address had been given me.
他們已經告訴我你的地址。
Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know.
可是盡管所有這些,你還是使我泄露了你所想要知道的秘密。
Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman.
甚至在我開始疑心以后,我還覺得很難相信那么一位上了年紀、和藹可親的牧師會懷有惡意。
But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself.
但是,你知道,我自己是個訓練有素的女演員。
Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives.
男性服裝對我并不生疏。我自己就常常女扮男裝,并趁機利用它所帶來的自由。
I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking-clothes,
我派約翰--馬車夫--監(jiān)視你,然后跑上樓,穿上我的散步便服,
as I call them, and came down just as you departed.
我下樓來的時候,你正好離開。
Well, I followed you to your door,
隨后,我在后面跟著你走到你家門口,
and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr.Sherlock Holmes.
這樣,我肯定我真的是你這位著名的歇洛克·福爾摩斯先生感興趣的對象了。
Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and started for the Temple to see my husband.
于是,我相當冒失地祝你晚安,接著動身到坦普爾去看我的丈夫。
We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by so formidable an antagonist;
我們倆都認為被這么一位可怕的對手盯著,三十六計走為上策;
so you will find the nest empty when you call to-morrow.
因此在你明天來時將發(fā)現(xiàn)這個窩是空的。