We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside public-house.
我們說到做到,七點整就已經(jīng)到了銅山毛櫸,并把雙輪馬車停放在路旁一家小客棧里。
The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun,
那一叢樹上的黑葉,象擦亮了的金屬,在夕陽的光輝下閃閃發(fā)光,
were sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been standing smiling on the door-step.
這就足以使我們認出那幢房子,即使亨特小姐沒有站在門口臺階上微笑地面向著我們的話。
"Have you managed it?" asked Holmes.
"你都安排好了嗎?"福爾摩斯問。
A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs.
這時從樓下的什么地方傳來了響亮的撞擊聲。
"That is Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she.
"那是托勒太太在地窖里,"她說,
"Her husband lies snoring on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr. Rucastle's."
"她的丈夫躺在廚房的地毯上鼾聲如雷地酣睡著。這是他的一串鑰匙,和魯卡斯爾先生的那串鑰匙是完全一樣的。"
"You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm.
"你干得實在漂亮!"福爾摩斯先生熱情地喊著,
"Now lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black business."
"現(xiàn)在你帶路,我們就要看到這樁黑勾當?shù)慕Y(jié)局了。"
We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a passage,
我們走到樓上去,把那房門的鎖打開,沿著過道往里走,
and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss Hunter had described.
直走到亨特小姐所敘述的障礙物前面。
Holmes cut the cord and removed the transverse bar.
福爾摩斯割斷繩索,將那根橫擋著的粗鐵杠挪開。
Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but without success.
然后他用那串鑰匙一把一把地試開那門鎖,但都開不開。
No sound came from within, and at the silence Holmes's face clouded over.
房間里沒有任何一點動靜,在這寂靜之中,福爾摩斯的臉色陰沉了下來。
"I trust that we are not too late," said he.
"我相信我們來得并不太晚,"他說。
"I think, Miss Hunter, that we had better go in without you.
"亨特小姐,我想最好你還是不要跟我們進去。
Now, Watson, put your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in."
現(xiàn)在這樣,華生,你把你的肩膀頂住它,看看我們到底能不能進去。"