3 The Scene of the Crime

Chapter 3 The Scene of the Crime It was late afternoon by the time we arrived at the little town of Tavistock in the middle of Dartmoor. Two men were waiting for us on the station platform: Colonel Ross, the owner of Silver Blaze, and Inspector Gregory. Ross was a tall man with lion-like hair and beard and light blue eyes. Gregory was small and alert with trim side-whiskers and spectacles. "I'm delighted you've found the time to come down, Mr. Holmes," said the colonel. "The inspector has been very thorough, but I wish to leave no stone unturned in finding the killer of poor Straker and in recovering my horse."

当我们到达达特穆尔中部的塔维斯托克小镇时，已经是傍晚了。 有两个人在站台上等着我们：“银光”的老板罗斯上校和格雷戈里探长。 罗斯个子很高，头发和胡子像狮子一样，有一双浅蓝色的眼睛。 格里高利身材矮小，机警，留着整齐的侧须，戴着眼镜。 “福尔摩斯先生，我很高兴你能抽出时间来，”上校说道。 “侦察员已经查得很透彻了，不过我希望能不遗余力地找出杀害可怜的斯特雷克的凶手，找回我的马。”

"Have there been any fresh developments?" asked Holmes. "I'm sorry to say we've made very little progress," said Gregory. "We have a carriage waiting outside, and if we leave now, we can show you the place before the light fails." A moment later, we were all seated in a comfortable carriage. As we made our way to King's Pyland, Colonel Ross leaned back with his arms folded and his hat tilted over his eyes. Meanwhile, Gregory gave us his theory of what had happened, which was almost exactly as Holmes had described it on the train.

“有什么新的进展吗？”福尔摩斯问道。 “我很遗憾地说，我们几乎没有取得什么进展，”格雷戈里说。 “我们有一辆马车在外面等着，如果我们现在离开，我们可以在天黑之前带你去看那个地方。” 过了一会儿，我们都坐在一辆舒适的马车里。 在我们前往国王派兰的路上，罗斯上校双臂交叉，靠在椅背上，帽子歪在眼睛上。 与此同时，格雷戈里向我们讲述了他对所发生的事情的看法，这与福尔摩斯在火车上所描述的几乎一模一样。

"We believe Fitzroy Simpson is our man," concluded Gregory, "although I realize we don't have absolute proof of this as yet." "What about the blood on Straker's knife and the fact that Simpson has no wound?" asked Holmes. "We think Straker wounded himself when he fell." "My friend Dr. Watson made the same suggestion on our way down here. If so, it adds to the evidence against Simpson." "Certainly," nodded Gregory. "The evidence against him is already very strong. He had a

“我们相信菲茨罗伊·辛普森就是我们要找的人，”格雷戈里总结道，“尽管我意识到我们还没有绝对的证据。” 福尔摩斯问道：“斯特雷克刀上的血迹和辛普森没有受伤的事实又是怎么回事呢？” “我们认为斯特拉克摔倒时受了伤。” “我的朋友华生医生在我们来这儿的路上也提出了同样的建议。 如果是这样，这就增加了对辛普森不利的证据。” “当然可以。”格雷戈里点点头。 “对他不利的证据已经非常有力。 他有一个

motive for wanting Silver Blaze to disappear, having bet against him in the forthcoming race. He admits to having been at the stables on the night in question, he's suspected of having drugged the stableboy, he was armed with a heavy stick, and his cravat was found in the dead man's hand. I really think we have enough to take this to trial." Holmes looked doubtful. "A clever lawyer would tear your case to shreds," he said. "Why would Simpson take the horse out of the stable? If he wished to injure it, why not do it there? Has

希望银光消失的动机，在即将到来的比赛中赌他输。 他承认案发当晚在马厩，他被怀疑给马夫下药，他手持一根粗棍，他的领带在死者手中被发现。 我真的认为我们有足够的证据把这件事送上法庭。” 福尔摩斯露出怀疑的神色。“一个聪明的律师会把你的案子撕成碎片，”他说。 “辛普森为什么要把马从马厩里牵出来？” 如果他想伤害它，为什么不在那里动手呢？ 有

a duplicate key been found in his possession? What chemist sold him the powdered opium?" "Your objections aren't so difficult to explain," said Gregory. "Simpson's aim might have been to steal rather than injure the horse. The opium was probably brought from London. The key, having served its purpose, could have been hurled into some moorland bog." "What does Simpson say about the folded paper he asked the maid to give to the stableboy?" "He says it was a ten pound note." "And what does he say about the cravat?" "He admits it's his, but claims he lost it." "The biggest problem with your case," said Holmes, "is the disappearance of Silver Blaze. If, as you claim, Simpson's aim was theft, then where did he, a stranger to the district, hope to hide such a famous horse?" "Simpson isn't such a stranger to these parts," countered Gregory. "He's stayed in Tavistock twice already this summer. As for the horse, the search is ongoing. We're busy checking every

在他身上发现了一把重复的钥匙？ 是哪个药剂师卖给他鸦片粉的？”“你的反对并不难解释，”格雷戈里说。 “辛普森的目的可能是偷窃而不是伤害那匹马。 鸦片很可能是从伦敦运来的。 那把钥匙达到了它的目的，就可以被扔进沼地里去了。” “辛普森让女仆给马夫的那张叠好的纸是怎么说的？”“他说那是一张十英镑的钞票。” “他对领带怎么说？”“他承认这是他的，但声称他把它弄丢了。” 福尔摩斯说：“你的案子最大的问题是银光的失踪。 如果像你所说的那样，辛普森的目的是偷窃，那么，作为这个地区的一个陌生人，他希望把这样一匹著名的马藏在哪里呢？”“辛普森对这些地方并不陌生，”格雷戈里反驳道。 “今年夏天他已经在塔维斯托克待了两次了。 至于那匹马，搜救工作仍在进行中。 我们正忙着检查每一个

stable and outhouse within ten miles of King's Pyland." "I understand there's another stable quite close?" "Yes. Mapleton Stables is nearby, and their horse, Desborough, is second in the betting for the Wessex Cup, so you might say they have an interest is seeing Silver Blaze disappear." Colonel Ross spoke up at this point. "Of course they have an interest!" he exclaimed. "I know for a fact that Silas Brown, the trainer at

离国王派兰不到十英里，有马厩和外屋。” “我听说附近还有一个马厩？”“是的。 梅普尔顿马厩就在附近，他们的马德斯伯勒在威塞克斯杯的投注中排名第二，所以你可能会说他们对看到银光消失感兴趣。” 罗斯上校这时说话了。 “他们当然有兴趣！” “我知道，赛拉斯·布朗，那个训练师