電報

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Bosombe Valley Mystery

Leave Paddington by the 11:15
= 由 Paddington 出發, 搭 11:15 開出的那班火車

* * *

We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran in this way:

有一朝, 方對坐吃早餐----與內子, 女僕托來
一通電報, 是福爾摩斯發來的, 內容如下:

`Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. Leave Paddington by the 11:15.'

得空兩三日否? 傾接電報, 發自英倫西部, 事關波谷倫常命案. 該地空氣與景色俱佳, 望同行. 火車柏靈頓站十一時一刻開.

`What do you say, dear?' said my wife, looking across at me. `Will you go?'
「打算怎樣，老公？」內子看過來，開口問道，「去不去？」

`I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at present.'
「我也拿不定主意，手頭要辦的事不少。」


Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases.

也是, 不過老安可以替你手嘛. 你近來面色不好, 調劑一下也不錯, 何況福爾摩斯先生的案件, 你向來最是心熱.

(調劑, 李家真譯)


`I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained through one of them,' I answered. `But if I am to go, I must pack at once, for I have only half an hour.'