福尔摩斯探案集·工程师大拇指案 第11期:向福尔摩斯叙述故事(5)
'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time is of value.'
'请您说说您的事吧，先生，' 我说，'我的时间是很宝贵的。'
Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the words came to my lips.
愿上帝饶恕我说的后一句话，但这句话是脱口而出的。
'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. 'Most admirably.'
'工作一个晚上五十个畿尼你感到合适吗？'他问。'可真不少。'
'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark.
'我说是一个晚上的工作，实际上可能只需要一个小时。
I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which has got out of gear.
我只不过是想请教您有关一台水力冲压机齿轮脱开的事。
If you show us what is wrong we shall soon set it right ourselves.
只要您指出毛病在什么地方，我们自己很快就会把它修好的。
What do you think of such a commission as that?'
对于这样一桩委托，您觉得怎么样？'
'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.'
'工作看来很轻松，报酬却极为优厚。'
'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last train.' 'Where to?'
'一点不错，我们想请您今天晚上乘坐末班车来。''到哪儿去？'
'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading.
'去伯克郡的艾津。那是接近牛津郡的一个小地方，离雷丁不到七英里。
There is a train from Paddington which would bring you there at about 11:15.' 'Very good.'
帕丁顿有一班车可以在十一点十五分左右送您到那儿。''很好。'
'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.'
'我会坐一辆马车来接您。'
'There is a drive, then?'
'那么，还得坐马车赶一段路程了？'
'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good seven miles from Eyford Station.'
'是的，我们那小地方完全是在乡下，离艾津车站足足有七英里。'
