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The People Of The Drama
剧中人
"Have you seen all you want of the study?" asked White Mason as we reentered the house.
我们重新回到屋里时，怀特·梅森问道："你们对书房要检查的地方，都检查完了吗？"
"For the time," said the inspector, and Holmes nodded.
"暂时就算完了，"警官麦克唐纳回答道，福尔摩斯也点了点头。
"Then perhaps you would now like to hear the evidence of some of the people in the house.
"那么，现在你们愿意听听庄园里一些人的证词吗？
We could use the dining room, Ames. Please come yourself first and tell us what you know."
我们就利用这间餐室吧，艾姆斯，请你先来把你所知道的事情告诉我们。"
The butler's account was a simple and a clear one, and he gave a convincing impression of sincerity.
管家的叙述简单、明了，给人一种诚实可靠的印象。
He had been engaged five years before, when Douglas first came to Birlstone.
他还是在五年前道格拉斯先生刚到伯尔斯通时受雇的。
He understood that Mr. Douglas was a rich gentleman who had made his money in America.
他知道道格拉斯先生是一个很有钱的绅士，是在美洲致富的。
He had been a kind and considerate employer -- not quite what Ames was used to, perhaps; but one can't have everything.
道格拉斯先生是一位和蔼可亲、善于体贴人的主人--或许艾姆斯对这个不完全习惯，不过，一个人不能事事具备。
He never saw any signs of apprehension in Mr. Douglas: on the contrary, he was the most fearless man he had ever known.
他从来没见过道格拉斯先生有过什么惊恐的迹象，相反，道格拉斯先生是他所见过的最大胆的人。
He ordered the drawbridge to be pulled up every night because it was the ancient custom of the old house, and he liked to keep the old ways up.
道格拉斯先生之所以叫人每晚把吊桥拉起，只是因为这是古老庄园的古老的习俗，道格拉斯先生喜欢把这种古老的习俗保持下去。
Mr. Douglas seldom went to London or left the village; but on the day before the crime he had been shopping at Tunbridge Wells.
道格拉斯先生很少到伦敦去，也难得离开村子，不过，在被害的头一天，曾到滕布里奇韦尔斯市去买过东西。
He (Ames) had observed some restlessness and excitement on the part of Mr. Douglas that day; for he had seemed impatient and irritable, which was unusual with him.
那天，艾姆斯发现道格拉斯先生有些坐卧不安，情绪激动，看来他是一反往常，变得性情急躁，容易发火。
He had not gone to bed that night; but was in the pantry at the back of the house, putting away the silver, when he heard the bell ring violently.
发案那天晚上，艾姆斯还没有就寝，正在房后面的餐具室里收拾银器，忽然听到铃声大作。
He heard no shot; but it was hardly possible he would, as the pantry and kitchens were at the very back of the house and there were several closed doors and a long passage between.
他没有听到枪声，因为餐具室和厨房在庄园的最后面，中间还隔着几重关着的门和一条长廊，所以确实很难听到。
The housekeeper had come out of her room, attracted by the violent ringing of the bell. They had gone to the front of the house together.
艾伦太太也因为听到急促的铃声，赶忙跑出来，他们就一起跑到前厅。
As they reached the bottom of the stair he had seen Mrs. Douglas coming down it.
他们跑到楼下时，艾姆斯看到道格拉斯太太正从楼梯上走下来。
No, she was not hurrying; it did not seem to him that she was particularly agitated.
不，她走得并不急，艾姆斯觉得，道格拉斯太太并不显得特别惊慌。
Just as she reached the bottom of the stair Mr. Barker had rushed out of the study. He had stopped Mrs. Douglas and begged her to go back.
她一到楼下，巴克先生就从书房里冲了出来，他极力阻拦道格拉斯太太，央求她回到楼上去。
"For God's sake, go back to your room!" he cried. "Poor Jack is dead! You can do nothing. For God's sake, go back!"
"看在上帝面上，你快回自己房里去吧！"巴克先生喊道，"可怜的杰克已经死了，你也无能为力了。看在上帝面上，快回去吧！"
After some persuasion upon the stairs Mrs. Douglas had gone back.
巴克先生劝说了一会儿，道格拉斯太太就回到楼上去了。
She did not scream. She made no outcry whatever. Mrs. Allen, the housekeeper, had taken her upstairs and stayed with her in the bedroom.
她既没有尖叫，也没有大喊大闹。女管家艾伦太太陪她上了楼，一起留在卧室里。
Ames and Mr. Barker had then returned to the study, where they had found everything exactly as the police had seen it.
艾姆斯和巴克先生回到书房，他们所看到的屋内一切情况，完全和警署来人所看到的一样。
The candle was not lit at that time; but the lamp was burning.
那时烛光已经熄灭了，可是油灯还点着呢。
They had looked out of the window; but the night was very dark and nothing could be seen or heard.
他们从窗里向外望，但那天晚上非常黑，什么东西也看不见，听不到。
They had then rushed out into the hall, where Ames had turned the windlass which lowered the drawbridge. Mr. Barker had then hurried off to get the police.
后来他们奔到大厅，艾姆斯在这里摇动卷扬机放下吊桥，巴克先生就匆匆地赶到警署去了。
Such, in its essentials, was the evidence of the butler.
这就是管家艾姆斯的简要证词。
