2 The Photograph

Chapter 2 The Photograph "I understand," said Sherlock Holmes. "You've come in secret all the way from Bohemia to consult with me. So again I ask: how can I help?" "Five years ago, I became friends with the opera singer Irene Adler. I assume you've heard of her?" "The prima donna of the Warsaw Imperial Opera? I understand she's now retired and living in London. I take it your Majesty fell in love with her and wrote her some adoring letters, which you would now like to get back, am I right?" "Precisely, but how—?"

“我明白了，”歇洛克·福尔摩斯说。 “你秘密地从波西米亚来找我商量。 所以我又问：我能帮什么忙？”“五年前，我和歌剧演唱家艾琳·阿德勒成为了朋友。 我想你听说过她吧？”“华沙帝国歌剧院的首席女歌唱家？” 我知道她现在退休了，住在伦敦。 我想，陛下一定是爱上了她，给她写了几封爱慕的信，现在您想要收回这些信，对吗？”“没错，可是怎么——？”

"Then I fail to understand the problem. If she produces these letters in order to blackmail you, how can she prove they're genuine?" "It was my writing." "Forged." "On my private notepaper." "Stolen." "Using my seal." "Imitated." "There's also a photograph of both of us." "Oh dear! That was careless. You must get that back."

“那我就不明白这个问题了。 如果她拿这些信来勒索你，她怎么能证明这些信是真的呢？”“那是我的作品。” “伪造”。“在我的私人笔记本上。” “偷了。”“用我的印章。” “模仿”。“还有一张我们俩的照片。” “哦,亲爱的!这太粗心了。 你必须把它拿回来。”

"We've tried. She refused to sell it to us, so we attempted to steal it. My agents have twice ransacked her house, and twice waylaid her on her travels and searched her clothing and luggage, always without success. The photograph remains in her possession." "What does she plan to do with it?" asked Holmes. "She wishes to ruin me," answered the king. "I am shortly to marry the daughter of the king of Scandinavia. They are a family of very strict morals and will immediately cancel the wedding if this photograph comes to light. Miss Adler doesn't want me to marry anyone but her and is threatening to send them the photograph." "How do you know she hasn't already sent it?" "Because she plans to send it on the day the engagement is publicly announced, which is next Monday." "Then we have three days. Will your Majesty be staying in London for the time being?" "Yes. You'll find me at the Langham Hotel under the name Count von Kramm."

“我们已经试过了。她拒绝卖给我们，所以我们试图去偷。 我的特工两次洗劫了她的房子，两次在她旅行时拦住她搜查她的衣服和行李，都没有成功。 这张照片仍由她保管。” 福尔摩斯问道：“她打算用它做什么呢？” “她想毁了我，”国王回答。 “我很快就要和斯堪的纳维亚国王的女儿结婚了。 他们是一个道德非常严格的家庭，如果这张照片被曝光，他们将立即取消婚礼。 阿德勒小姐不想让我嫁给除了她以外的任何人，还威胁说要把照片寄给他们。” “你怎么知道她还没有寄出去？”“因为她计划在下周一公布订婚消息的那天发送这封信。” “然后我们有三天时间。陛下会暂时留在伦敦吗？”“是的。 你可以在朗廷酒店找到我，我的名字是冯·克莱姆伯爵。”

"Excellent. I shall contact you to let you know our progress. Now, regarding my fee—" "Just tell me how much you want. I would give a province of my kingdom to have that photograph. For now, here's something to cover your expenses." The king took a heavy leather bag from under his cloak and placed it on the table. "In there are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes. Is that enough?" "That should do fine," said Holmes, looking slightly dazed by the sight of so much money. "Do you have Miss Adler's address?" "Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood."

“太好了。我会和你联系，让你知道我们的进展。 现在，关于我的报酬——”“告诉我你要多少。 我愿意用我王国的一个省来换取那张照片。 现在，这里有些东西可以支付你的费用。” 国王从斗篷下拿出一个沉重的皮包，放在桌子上。 “里面有三百镑金币和七百镑钞票。 这就够了吗？”“那就好了，”福尔摩斯说，看到这么多钱，他显得有些茫然。 “你有阿德勒小姐的地址吗？”“布里奥尼别墅，蛇形大道，圣。 约翰的木头。”

Holmes made a note of it. "One other question, your Majesty: Is the photograph large or small?" "It's large with a cardboard backing." "Thank you." After we saw the king out and listened to the wheels of his carriage roll down the street, Holmes turned to me. "Could you be here tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock? I should like to talk this little matter over with you." At three o'clock precisely, I was back at Baker Street, but Mrs. Hudson informed me that Holmes had not yet returned. "He left the house shortly after eight this morning," she said, "and didn't say how long he'd be gone." So I sat down by the fire and waited.

福尔摩斯把它记了下来。“还有一个问题，陛下：这张照片是大的还是小的？”“它很大，背面是硬纸板。” “谢谢你。”我们送国王出门，听着他的马车辚辚驶过街道，福尔摩斯转向我。 “你明天下午三点能来吗？” 我想和你谈谈这件小事。” 三点钟整，我回到了贝克街，但赫德森太太告诉我福尔摩斯还没有回来。 “他今天早上刚过八点就离开了家，”她说，“也没说他要离开多久。” 于是我坐在火炉旁等着。

It was nearly four when the door opened and an old stable hand strode in, wearing side- whiskers and shabby clothes. I know my friend is a master of disguise, but I had to look three times before I could be certain it was him. He nodded at me, then disappeared into his bedroom, emerging five minutes later in his usual tweed suit.

快四点了，门开了，一个养马房的老伙计大步走了进来，他留着络腮胡子，衣衫褴褛。 我知道我的朋友是个伪装大师，但我看了三遍才确定那是他。 他朝我点了点头，然后消失在他的卧室里，五分钟后，他穿着平常的花呢西装出现了。