4 Secrets and Lies

Chapter 4 Secrets and Lies On our way out of the dining room, Holmes spotted a pair of blood-stained slippers under a chair in the hall. "Whose are those?" he asked Ames, who was passing. "Mr. Barker's, sir. They got stained with blood, as did mine." "That's understandable, considering the state of the room." A moment later, we were back in the study. Holmes had taken the slippers with him and he placed one on the blood mark on the sill. It fit perfectly. MacDonald gasped with excitement. "Man, there's no doubt about it! Barker made this mark himself. But why?"

第四章秘密与谎言在我们走出餐厅的路上，福尔摩斯发现大厅里的一把椅子下面有一双沾满血迹的拖鞋。 “那些是谁的？”他问路过的艾姆斯。 “巴克先生的，先生。它们沾满了鲜血，我的也是。” “考虑到房间的状况，这是可以理解的。” 过了一会儿，我们回到了书房。 福尔摩斯随身带着那双拖鞋，他把一只放在窗台上的血迹上。 非常合身。麦克唐纳激动得喘不过气来。 “伙计，这是毫无疑问的！”这是巴克自己做的记号。 但是为什么呢?”

"Good question," said Holmes. By now it was lunchtime, and the three detectives headed for the inn. Feeling the need for some fresh air, I went for a stroll on the grounds of Birlstone Manor. Near the back of the lawn was a yew hedge. As I was approaching, I heard from behind it a male voice and a ripple of female laughter. I rounded the end of the hedge to see Mrs. Douglas and Mr. Barker seated together on a stone bench. I was shocked to see smiles of pleasure and amusement on their faces.

“问得好，”福尔摩斯说道。 现在是午饭时间，三个侦探朝旅馆走去。 我觉得需要呼吸点新鲜空气，就在伯尔斯通庄园的院子里散步。 靠近草坪后面的地方有一道紫杉树篱。 当我走近时，我听到从它后面传来一个男性的声音和一阵女性的笑声。 我绕过树篱的尽头，看见道格拉斯太太和巴克先生一起坐在一条石凳上。 我惊讶地看到他们脸上露出愉快和娱乐的微笑。

When they saw me, their expressions instantly became solemn. "Dr. Watson!" called Mrs. Douglas. "I fear you must think me very callous and hardhearted." "It's none of my business," I said coldly. "Sir," she said, "can you tell me if Mr. Holmes is acting for the police or if he's independent? What I mean is, if I were to tell him something in private, would he have to pass it on to them?" "Mr. Holmes is an independent detective," I said. "He can do as he pleases with your information. However, he wouldn't wish to conceal anything from the police that could help bring a criminal to justice."

当他们看到我时，他们的表情立刻变得严肃起来。 “华生医生！"道格拉斯太太喊道。 “恐怕你一定认为我冷酷无情。” “这不关我的事，”我冷冷地说。 “先生，”她说，“你能告诉我福尔摩斯先生是代表警方办事还是独立行事吗？ 我的意思是，如果我私下跟他说点什么，他要不要转达给他们？”“先生。 福尔摩斯是一个独立的侦探，"我说。 “他可以用你的信息为所欲为。 然而，他不希望向警方隐瞒任何有助于将罪犯绳之以法的事情。”

On my return to the inn, I found Holmes demolishing some eggs and toast. I told him about my encounter, and he said: "No secrets, Watson. If they tell me secrets, it makes things very difficult for me with Mr. Mac, not to mention the judge if this comes to a trial. Besides, the case is almost solved." "It is?" I said, astonished. "It will be," he said, "once we've found the missing dumbbell." "The dumbbell?!" "Of course! Who ever heard of doing exercises with just one dumbbell? It would do terrible things to one's spine! So, where's the missing dumbbell? There lies the mystery." A waitress arrived and I ordered coffee and a sandwich.

当我回到旅馆时，我发现福尔摩斯正在捣毁一些鸡蛋和烤面包。 我把我的遭遇告诉了他，他说：“没有秘密，华生。 如果他们告诉我秘密，麦克先生会让我很为难，更不用说法官了。 再说，这个案子差不多要解决了。” “这是什么?”我惊讶地说。 “会的，”他说，“只要我们找到丢失的哑铃。” “哑铃? !”“当然!谁听说过只用一个哑铃做运动？ 它会对人的脊椎造成可怕的伤害！那么，丢失的哑铃在哪里？ 这就是奥秘所在。”一位女服务员来了，我点了咖啡和三明治。

Holmes said: "Barker and Mrs. Douglas are lying, that much we know. I've already shown how Barker made the blood mark on the windowsill to give a false clue to the police. They also lied about the time of the murder. According to their version of events, the assassin would have had less than a minute to steal the wedding ring, which was hidden under another ring, then replace the first ring and leave the card. I would say that's impossible. "So, the murder must have occurred earlier than Barker and Mrs. Douglas claimed, and I think I know when. Do you remember Mrs.

福尔摩斯说：“巴克和道格拉斯太太在说谎，这一点我们是知道的。 我已经展示了巴克是如何在窗台上留下血迹给警察提供假线索的。 他们还在谋杀时间上撒了谎。 根据他们的说法，刺客有不到一分钟的时间偷走藏在另一个戒指下面的结婚戒指，然后把第一个戒指放回原处，留下卡片。 我想说那是不可能的。 “那么，谋杀发生的时间一定比巴克和道格拉斯太太所说的要早，我想我知道是什么时候。 你还记得史密斯夫人吗？

Allen saying she heard what sounded like a door slamming half an hour before the bell rang?" "That was the gunshot!" I cried. "I believe so," nodded Holmes. "MacDonald and I have tested how sound carries in that house, and the gunshot would definitely have been heard in Mrs. Allen's room, even through closed doors. That means the murder occurred at around quarter to eleven. So, what were Barker and Mrs. Douglas doing for the next thirty minutes?" "I've no idea," I said, "but I'm sure they killed Mr. Douglas because they're in love and he stood in their way. Look at how Mrs. Douglas behaved

艾伦说她在门铃响前半小时听到了门砰的一声。”“那是枪声！”我哭了。 “我想是的，”福尔摩斯点点头。 “麦克唐纳和我已经测试了声音在那所房子里的传播情况，即使门关着，在艾伦太太的房间里也肯定能听到枪声。 也就是说谋杀发生在十一点差一刻左右。 那么，巴克和道格拉斯太太在接下来的三十分钟里干什么呢？”“我不知道，”我说，“但我肯定他们杀了道格拉斯先生，因为他们相爱了，而他挡了他们的路。 看看道格拉斯夫人的举止