4 The Figure in the Window

Chapter 4 The Figure in the Window It felt just like old times when, shortly afterward, I found myself seated beside Holmes in a hansom cab, a revolver in my pocket and the thrill of adventure in my heart. Holmes was silent and thoughtful as the streetlamps flashed upon his pale face. I had no idea what kind of beast we were about to hunt down in the dark forest of criminal London, but his mood left me in no doubt that it was a dangerous one. Holmes stopped the cab at Cavendish Square. As he stepped out, he looked around carefully as if to ensure we weren't being followed.

不久之后，我发现自己坐在一辆双座马车里，坐在福尔摩斯身边，口袋里装着一把左轮手枪，心中充满了冒险的快感，这种感觉就像从前一样。 当街灯照在福尔摩斯苍白的脸上时，他默不作声，若有所思。 我不知道我们要在罪恶的伦敦的黑暗森林里追捕什么样的野兽，但他的情绪让我确信这是一个危险的野兽。 福尔摩斯把马车停在了卡文迪什广场。 当他走出来时，他仔细地环顾四周，好像要确保我们没有被跟踪。

My friend's knowledge of the smaller streets and alleys of London was remarkable. That night, he took us on a strange route through a network of mews and stables that I had no idea existed. At last, we emerged on Manchester Street, which led us to Blandford Street. Here we turned into a narrow passage and passed through a gate into a deserted yard. Holmes used a key to open the back door of a house.

我的朋友对伦敦的小街道和小巷了如指掌。 那天晚上，他带我们走了一条奇怪的路线，穿过了一个由马厩和马厩组成的网络，我根本不知道它的存在。 最后，我们来到了曼彻斯特街，这条街把我们引向布兰福德街。 在这里，我们拐进一条狭窄的通道，穿过一扇门，进入一个废弃的院子。 福尔摩斯用钥匙打开了一所房子的后门。

The place was pitch dark, yet I sensed from the echoes of our footsteps on the bare floorboards that it was an empty house. I stretched out my hand to touch a wall and found the wallpaper hanging off. Holmes's cool, thin fingers closed around my wrist and led me down the long hall. Ahead I saw the dull gleam of a street-lamp coming through the fanlight over the front door. Then Holmes turned a sharp right and we entered a large, square, empty room. The room's corners lay in shadow, but the middle was faintly illuminated by light from the street coming through the dusty window.

这地方漆黑一片，但从我们的脚步声在光秃秃的地板上发出的回声，我感觉到这是一所空房子。 我伸手去摸一堵墙，发现墙纸都挂下来了。 福尔摩斯冷静而纤细的手指握住我的手腕，领着我走过长长的门厅。 我看见前面有一盏路灯从前门上方的扇光里透进来。 接着福尔摩斯向右急转弯，我们进入了一间宽敞的方形空屋子。 房间的各个角落都笼罩在阴影中，但从满是灰尘的窗户里透进来的街光隐约照亮了房间的中央。

"Do you know where we are?" Holmes whispered into my ear. "Why, that's Baker Street," I said, staring through the window. "Precisely. We're in Camden House, which stands opposite our old lodgings." "Why are we here?" "Because it offers an excellent view of our charming residence. Why don't you venture a little closer to the window, Watson? Not too close—it's important not to show yourself. That's perfect. Now, look up at our old rooms—the starting point of so many of your fairy tales. And tell me if, after three years, I still have the power to surprise you."

“你知道我们在哪儿吗？”福尔摩斯对我耳语道。 “咦，那是贝克街，”我说，眼睛盯着窗外。 “正是。我们住在卡姆登大厦，就在我们原来的住处对面。” “我们为什么在这里？”“因为从那儿可以看到我们迷人的住宅。 华生，你为什么不冒险靠近窗户一点呢？ 别靠得太近，不要露出来很重要。 这是完美的。现在，抬头看看我们的旧房间——你们许多童话故事的起点。 告诉我，三年之后，我是否还有能力给你带来惊喜。”

As I looked across the street at the familiar window, I uttered a cry of amazement. The blind was down and a yellow light was burning in the room. The silhouette of a man seated in a chair was clearly visible at the window. There was no mistaking the angle of the head, the squareness of the shoulders, and the sharpness of the features. It was the very image of Sherlock Holmes. I was so astonished that I grasped Holmes's shoulder to make sure the man himself was still standing beside me. He was quivering with silent laughter.

我望着街对面那扇熟悉的窗户，惊奇地叫了一声。 窗帘放下来了，房间里亮着一盏黄灯。 从窗口可以清楚地看到一个坐在椅子上的男人的剪影。 他的头的角度、肩膀的挺括和五官的锐利是不容置疑的。 这正是歇洛克·福尔摩斯的形象。 我非常惊讶，我抓住福尔摩斯的肩膀，以确定他本人仍然站在我身边。 他笑得浑身发抖。

"Well?" he asked. "It's incredible!" I cried. "It's rather a good likeness, isn't it?" "I'd be prepared to swear it was you." "It's a bust in wax, created by a French artist I'm friendly with. I installed it during my visit to Baker Street this afternoon." "But why?" "Because, my dear Watson, I needed certain people to think I was there when I was really elsewhere." "You thought our rooms were being watched?" "I knew they were being watched." "By whom?" "By my old enemies, Watson. By the charming gang whose leader lies at the bottom of the Reichenbach Falls." "Then they know you're alive?" "Of course. You remember the witness who threw rocks at me when I was perched on that ledge? He and his comrades have been waiting all these years for me to return to London. They've

“怎么样？”他问。“这是难以置信的!”我哭了。 “画得很像，不是吗？”“我可以发誓是你干的。” “这是一个蜡像，是一位我很好的法国艺术家创作的。 我今天下午去贝克街的时候装的。” “但为什么?”“因为，我亲爱的华生，我需要某些人以为我在那儿，而实际上我在别的地方。” “你以为我们的房间有人监视？”“我知道他们被监视了。” “是谁?”“被我的宿敌所害，华生。 被一个迷人的团伙所杀，他们的头目就躺在莱辛巴赫瀑布的底部。” “那么他们知道你还活着？”“当然。 你还记得我站在窗台上朝我扔石头的那个证人吗？ 这些年来，他和他的同志们一直在等我回伦敦。 他们已经