1 The Door

CHAPTER 1 The Door It was often said that Mr. Utterson was very quiet for a lawyer. He was happier listening to others talk than talking himself. He did not brag or boast about his work. He did not spend too much time thinking about himself. Quite simply, he was a rare and admired man. His clients were the misfits of society.

人们常说，作为一个律师，厄特森先生非常文静。 他更喜欢听别人说话，而不是自己说话。 他不自夸，也不夸耀自己的工作。 他没有花太多时间考虑自己。 很简单，他是一个难得的、受人尊敬的人。 他的客户都是与社会格格不入的人。

They were people who often lived and worked on the wrong side of the law. Mr. Utterson always minded his own business and kept his distance, though. He merely did his job. He prepared wills and arranged finances—and turned a blind eye to everything else. He was careful never to get involved. Mr. Utterson was a man of order and routine. He never seemed to do anything even remotely exciting. In fact, he felt quite uneasy if anything was out of place. His schedule was set and he did not like the idea of change. He loved the theater, but he had not gone in over twenty years. He loved bridge, but he never played. The truth was that many people considered Mr. Utterson to be dreary, dusty, and cold. Yet, Mr. Utterson was a well-loved man. His friends saw a different side to him. They saw a special spark in his eye. They knew him to be a kind, concerned, and caring man.

他们的生活和工作经常违反法律。 厄特森先生总是管自己的事，跟他们保持着距离。 他只是做了他的工作。他准备遗嘱，安排财务，对其他一切都视而不见。 他很小心，从不卷入其中。 厄特森先生是个循规蹈矩、循规蹈矩的人。 他似乎从来没有做过任何令人兴奋的事情。 事实上，如果有什么不合适的地方，他会感到很不安。 他的日程已经定好了，他不喜欢改变。 他喜欢看戏，但已经有20多年没去了。 他喜欢桥牌，但从不打。 事实上，许多人都认为厄特森先生沉闷、沉闷、冷淡。 不过，厄特森先生是一个受人爱戴的人。 他的朋友们看到了他的另一面。 他们在他的眼中看到了一种特殊的火花。 他们知道他是一个善良、关心他人、关心他人的人。

He was favorite guest at dinner parties. He could always be counted on to listen to problems and offer wise advice. He was considered a dear, trusted friend by any who knew him. Mr. Utterson's friends were relatives or men that he had known for many, many years. He did not look outside his small circle for new friends. This suited his need for order and structure. So, each and every Sunday Mr. Utterson joined his cousin Mr. Enfield for a walk. They had been meeting for their Sunday walks for many years. So many years, in fact, that they had lost count. They must have looked a strange pair to all who passed them. The two men spoke very little while walking side by side. They walked in silence, hands in pockets, each swinging walking sticks by their sides. When they happened to see a friend along the way, they seemed overjoyed for the distraction.

他是宴会上最受欢迎的客人。 他总是可以信赖的倾听问题并提供明智的建议。 凡是认识他的人都认为他是一位亲爱的、值得信赖的朋友。 厄特森先生的朋友要么是他的亲戚，要么是他认识了很多年的人。 他没有到他的小圈子外面去寻找新朋友。 这符合他对秩序和结构的需要。 于是，每个星期天厄特森先生都和他的表弟恩菲尔德先生一起去散步。 多年来，他们一直在星期天散步时见面。 这么多年，事实上，他们已经记不清了。 从他们身边走过的人一定觉得他们是一对奇怪的人。 这两个人肩并肩地走着，很少说话。 他们默默地走着，手插在口袋里，每个人都在身边摇摆着拐杖。 当他们碰巧在路上看到一个朋友时，他们似乎因为分心而欣喜若狂。

They always urged the friend to join them on their journey. Looks can be deceiving, however. The men enjoyed their Sunday walks a great deal and refused to let anything delay them. It was on one of their walks that Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield found themselves in a busy section of London. People filled the streets. Everyone, it seemed, was enjoying the sunny day. Mr. Utterson and his cousin turned down a quiet side street. Normally this street was full of people, but the shops were closed on Sunday. Therefore, the two men had the street almost to themselves. Unlike the rest of the neighborhood, which was run down, the residents and buildings along this street were doing well. The buildings were neat and clean with freshly- painted shutters and well-polished brass details. Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield admired the houses and shops as they walked

他们总是催促这位朋友加入他们的旅程。 然而，外表可能具有欺骗性。 男人们非常喜欢星期天的散步，不让任何事情耽误他们的时间。 有一次散步，厄特森先生和恩菲尔德先生来到了伦敦的一个繁华地段。 街上挤满了人。 似乎每个人都在享受这个阳光明媚的日子。 厄特森先生和他的表弟拐进一条僻静的小街。 通常这条街都挤满了人，但是星期天商店都关门了。 因此，这两个人几乎独占了整条街。 这条街上的居民和建筑都过得很好，不像附近的其他地方那样破败不堪。 这些建筑整洁干净，百叶窗刚刷过漆，黄铜细部打磨得很好。 厄特森先生和恩菲尔德先生边走边欣赏那些房子和商店

past. Two doors from the end of the block stood a building different from the rest. It had a battered doorway leading into a courtyard. The paint on the door was chipped, and the latch looked about to fall off. The building was two stories high. From what they could see from the street, it was in complete disrepair. The building looked neglected and abandoned. There were no windows on the wall facing the two men, only the door, without a bell or knocker. They were standing across the street from the building. Mr. Enfield lifted his cane and pointed. "Have you ever noticed that door?" he asked his cousin. Mr. Utterson answered that he had. "It always makes me remember a very odd story," Mr. Enfield continued. "Really?" said Mr. Utterson. "And what was that?" He looked at his cousin. Mr. Enfield was deep in thought.

过去。离街区尽头两扇门的地方有一栋不同于其他建筑的建筑。 有一扇破旧的门通向一个院子。 门上的油漆已经剥落，门闩似乎也要掉了。 这座建筑有两层楼高。 从他们在街上看到的情况来看，那座房子已经完全失修了。 这座建筑看起来被遗弃了。 那两个人对面的墙上没有窗户，只有一扇门，没有门铃，也没有门环。 他们站在大楼对面的街道上。 恩菲尔德先生举起手杖指了指。 “你注意过那扇门吗？”他问他的表弟。 厄特森先生说是的。 “它总是让我想起一个非常奇怪的故事，”恩菲尔德接着说。 “真的？”厄特森先生说。 “那是什么？”他看着他的表弟。 恩菲尔德先生陷入了沉思。