One night, it was on the twentieth of March, 1888
有一天晚上,一八八八年三月二十日的晚上,
I was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice),
我在出诊回来的途中(此时我已又开业行医),
when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well-remembered door,
正好经过贝克街。那所房子的大门,我还记忆犹新。
which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet,
在我的心中,我总是把它同我所追求的东西并同在"血字的研究"一案中的神秘事件联系在一起。
I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.
当我路过那大门时,我突然产生了与福尔摩斯叙谈叙谈的强烈愿望,想了解他那非凡的智力目前正倾注于什么问题。
His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind.
他的几间屋子,灯光雪亮。我抬头仰视,可以看见反映在窗帘上的他那瘦高条黑色侧影两次掠过。
He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him.
他的头低垂胸前,两手紧握在背后,迅速而又急切地在屋里踱来踱去。
To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again.
我深悉他的各种精神状态和生活习惯,所以对我来说,他的姿态和举止本身就显示出那是怎么一回事--他又在工作了。
He had risen out of his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem.
他一定是刚从服药后的睡梦中起身,正热衷于探索某些新问题的线索。
I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own.
我揿了揿电铃,然后被引到一间屋子里,而这间屋子以前有一部分是属于我的。
His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I think, to see me.
他的态度不很热情,这种情况是少见的,但是我认为他看到我时还是高兴的。
With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye, he waved me to an armchair,
他几乎一言不发,可是目光亲切,指着一张扶手椅让我坐下,
threw across his case of cigars, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner.
然后把他的雪茄烟盒扔了过来,并指了指放在角落里的酒精瓶和小型煤气炉。
Then he stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular introspective fashion.
他站在壁炉前,用他那独特的内省的神态看着我。