Chapter 2

第二章

THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION

演绎法

We met next day as he had arranged, and inspected the rooms at No.221B, Baker Street, of which he had spoken at our meeting.
按照福尔摩斯的安排，我们第二天又见了面，并且到上次见面时他所谈到的贝克街221号乙那里看了房子。
They consisted of a couple of comfortable bedrooms and a single large airy sitting-room, cheerfully furnished, and illuminated by two broad windows.
这所房子共有两间舒适的卧室和一间宽敞而又空气流畅的起居室，室内陈设能使人感觉愉快，还有两个宽大的窗子，
So desirable in every way were the apartments, and so moderate did the terms seem when divided between us,
因此屋内光线充足，非常明亮。无论从哪方面来说，这些房间都很令人满意。
that the bargain was concluded upon the spot, and we at once entered into possession.
我们分租以后，租金便更合适了。因此我们就当场成交，立刻租了下来。
That very evening I moved my things round from the hotel,
当晚，我就收拾行囊从公寓搬了进去。
and on the following morning Sherlock Holmes followed me with several boxes and portmanteaus.
第二天早晨，福尔摩斯也跟着把几只箱子和旅行包搬了进来。
For a day or two we were busily employed in unpacking and laying out our property to the best advantage.
我们打开行囊，布置陈设，一直忙了一两天。尽可能安排妥善以后，
That done, we gradually began to settle down and to accommodate ourselves to our new surroundings.
我们就逐渐安定下来，对这个新环境也慢慢地熟悉起来了。
Holmes was certainly not a difficult man to live with. He was quiet in his ways, and his habits were regular.
说实在的，福尔摩斯并不是一个难与相处的人。他为人沉静，生活习惯很有规律。
It was rare for him to be up after ten at night, and he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose in the morning.
每晚很少在十点以后还不睡觉。早晨，他总是在我起床之前就吃完早饭出去了。
Sometimes he spent his day at the chemical laboratory, sometimes in the dissecting-rooms,
有时，他把整天的时间都消磨在化验室里，或是在解剖室里；
and occasionally in long walks, which appeared to take him into the lowest portions of the city.
偶尔也步行到很远的地方去，所去的地方好像是伦敦城的平民窟一带。
Nothing could exceed his energy when the working fit was upon him; but now and again a reaction would seize him,
在他高兴工作的时候，绝没有人能比得上他那份旺盛的精力；可是常常也会上来一股相反的劲头，
and for days on end he would lie upon the sofa in the sitting-room, hardly uttering a word or moving a muscle from morning to night.
整天地躺在起居室的沙发上，从早到晚，几乎一言不发，一动不动。
On these occasions I have noticed such a dreamy, vacant expression in his eyes,
每逢这样的时候，我总看到他的眼里有着那么一种茫然若失的神色。
that I might have suspected him of being addicted to the use of some narcotic,
若不是他平日生活严谨而有节制，
had not the temperance and cleanliness of his whole life forbidden such a notion.
我真要疑心他有服麻醉剂的瘾癖了。
As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life gradually deepened and increased.
几个星期过去了，我对于他这个人的兴趣以及对于他的生活目的何在的好奇心也日益加深。
His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer.
他的相貌和外表，乍见之下就足以引人注意。
In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller.
他有六英尺多高，身体异常瘦削，因此显得格外颀长；
His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded;
目光锐利（他茫然若失的时候除外）；
and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision.
细长的鹰钩鼻子使他的相貌显得格外机警、果断；
His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination.
下颚方正而突出，说明他是个非常有毅力的人。
His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals,
他的两手虽然斑斑点点沾满了墨水和化学药品，
yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch,
但是动作却异乎寻常地熟练、仔细。
as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments.
因为他摆弄那些精致易碎的化验仪平时，我常常在一旁观察着他。
The reader may set me down as a hopeless busybody, when I confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity,
如果我承认福尔摩斯这个人大大地引起了我的好奇心，
and how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself.
我也时时想设法攻破他那矢口不谈自己的缄默壁垒，那么，读者也许要认为我是个不可救药的多事鬼吧。
Before pronouncing judgment, however, be it remembered how objectless was my life, and how little there was to engage my attention.
但是，在您下这样的结论以前，请不妨想一想：我的生活是多么空虚无聊；在这样的生活中，能够吸引我注意力的事物又是多么疲乏。