原版書導讀-the Hound of the Baskervilles之二

02-03

本文接前文原版書導讀-the Hound of the Baskervilles上。

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雖然Baskervilles家族的繼承人Sir Charles死亡，但Sir Charles還有一個侄子Sir Henry，在其叔叔死亡後，從加拿大趕回來成為繼承人。與Baskerville Hall隔著沼澤地的是Merripit House，居住著Mr.Stapletons及其妹妹，該妹妹雖然當時並不認識Sir Henry，卻通過Watson告誡Sir Henry小心造成其家族一代代人死亡的獵犬。但是Watson具體問起這種威脅的存在，這位Miss Stapletons卻不肯再說更多。某天Sir Henry得以拜訪Mr.Stapletons並見到了他妹妹，頓時被這位美麗的女性所吸引而愛上她。

Miss Stapletons通過Watson告誡造成Sir Charles死亡的獵犬恐怕會威脅到新的繼承人Sir Henry：

"My brother and I were very much shocked by the death of Sir Charles. We knew him very intimately, for his favourite walk was over the moor to our house. He was deeply impressed with the curse which hung over the family, and when this tragedy came I naturally felt that there must be some grounds for the fears which he had expressed. I was distressed therefore when another member of the family came down to live here, and I felt that he should be warned of the danger which he will run. That was all which I intended to convey.

"But what is the danger?"

"You know the story of the hound?"

"I do not believe in such nonsense."

"But I do. If you have any influence with Sir Henry, take him away from a place which has always been fatal to his family. The world is wide. Why should he wish to live at the place of danger?"

而當Watson從她的話中聽出她似乎知道內幕，希望向其進一步確認這種危險的存在，她卻以哥哥為借口，開始語焉不詳：

"Because it is the place of danger. That is Sir Henrys nature. I fear that unless you can give me some more definite information than this it would be impossible to get him to move."

"I cannot say anything definite, for I do not know anything definite."

"I would ask you one more question, Miss Stapleton. If you meant no more than this when you first spoke to me, why should you not wish your brother to overhear what you said? There is nothing to which he, or anyone else, could object."

"My brother is very anxious to have the Hall inhabited, for he thinks it is for the good of the poor folk upon the moor. He would be very angry if he knew that I have said anything which might induce Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty now and I will say no more. I must go back, or he will miss me and suspect that I have seen you. Good-bye!"

Sir Henry一見面就被Miss Stapletons吸引:

On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton. From the first moment that he saw her he appeared to be strongly attracted by her, and I am much mistaken if the feeling was not mutual. He referred to her again and again on our walk home, and since then hardly a day has passed that we have not seen something of the brother and sister.

Holmes向Watson表示了他的懷疑，那就是美麗的Miss Stapletons是一個誘餌用來吸引Sir Henry的，而她的真實身份是Mr. Stapletons的妻子。

"I am giving you some information now, in return for all that you have given me. The lady who has passed here as Miss Stapleton is in reality his wife."

"Good heavens, Holmes! Are you sure of what you say? How could he have permitted Sir Henry to fall in love with her?"

"Sir Henrys falling in love could do no harm to anyone except Sir Henry. He took particular care that Sir Henry did not make love to her, as you have yourself observed. I repeat that the lady is his wife and not his sister."

"But why this elaborate deception?"

"Because he foresaw that she would be very much more useful to him in the character of a free woman."

Watson表示不太相信Mr. Stapletons的妹妹就是他妻子的事實，Holmes給出了確切的證據:

"But are you sure of this, Holmes? How do you know that the woman is his wife?"

"Because he so far forgot himself as to tell you a true piece of autobiography upon the occasion when he first met you, and I dare say he has many a time regretted it since. He was once a schoolmaster in the north of England. Now, there is no one more easy to trace than a schoolmaster. There are scholastic agencies by which one may identify any man who has been in the profession. A little investigation showed me that a school had come to grief under atrocious circumstances, and that the man who had owned it -- the name was different -- had disappeared with his wife. The descriptions agreed. When I learned that the missing man was devoted to entomology the identification was complete."

The darkness was rising, but much was still hidden by the shadows.

Holmes表示，獵犬殺人事件其實是一場驚心策劃的謀殺，雖然他並不知道具體細節，但毋容置疑Sir Henry甚至他們自己都已處於危險之中。

"It is murder, Watson -- refined, cold-blooded, deliberate murder. Do not ask me for particulars. My nets are closing upon him, even as his are upon Sir Henry, and with your help he is already almost at my mercy. There is but one danger which can threaten us.

Holmes仔細研究了Baskervilles家族的畫像後，確定Mr. Stapleton是Baskervilles家族成員：

The face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas.

"Ha, you see it now. My eyes have been trained to examine faces and not their trimmings. It is the first quality of a criminal investigator that he should see through a disguise."

"But this is marvellous. It might be his portrait."

"Yes, it is an interesting instance of a throwback, which appears to be both physical and spiritual. A study of family portraits is enough to convert a man to the doctrine of reincarnation. The fellow is a Baskerville -- that is evident."

自此真兇和作案動機都逐漸顯露出來，那就是Mr. Stapleton想殺死家族其他繼承人好繼承家族財產。

備註：已經按照讀者的要求，對重要部分進行了標註，但是如果逐句分析或者對某些辭彙進行詳細解釋，那將是個浩大的工程，目前本人精力是不夠的。如果有問題可以在文章下面直接提問。本人即將開通讚賞功能，您的打賞將促進我寫出高質量文章！感謝支持！

未完待續......

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