福爾摩斯探案經典:《恐怖谷》第7章Part4
"Ah, there we come to the edge of the unexplored. Let me go a little further, a very little further, and I will promise that you shall share everything that I know."
"Well, we're bound to take you on your own terms," said the inspector; "but when it comes to telling us to abandon the case--why in the name of goodness should we abandon the case?"
"For the simple reason, my dear Mr. Mac, that you have not got the first idea what it is that you are investigating."
"We are investigating the murder of Mr. John Douglas of Birlstone Manor."
"Yes, yes, so you are. But don't trouble to trace the mysterious gentleman upon the bicycle. I assure you that it won't help you."
"Then what do you suggest that we do?"
"I will tell you exactly what to do, if you will do it."
"Well, I'm bound to say I've always found you had reason behind all your queer ways. I'll do what you advise."
"And you, Mr. White Mason?"
The country detective looked helplessly from one to the other. Holmes and his methods were new to him. "Well, if it is good enough for the inspector, it is good enough for me," he said at last.
"Capital!" said Holmes. "Well, then, I should recommend a nice, cheery country walk for both of you. They tell me that the views from Birlstone Ridge over the Weald are very remarkable. No doubt lunch could be got at some suitable hostelry; though my ignorance of the country prevents me from recommending one. In the evening, tired but happy--"
"Man, this is getting past a joke!" cried MacDonald, rising angrily from his chair.
"Well, well, spend the day as you like," said Holmes, patting him cheerfully upon the shoulder. "Do what you like and go where you will, but meet me here before dusk without fail--without fail, Mr. Mac."
"That sounds more like sanity."
"All of it was excellent advice; but I don't insist, so long as you are here when I need you. But now, before we part, I want you to write a note to Mr. Barker."
"Well?"
“啊，咱們已經到了真相大白的邊緣了，讓我進一步做下去，再稍微前進一步，就能答應你們把我所知道的一切和盤托出。”
“好，我們只好答應根據你自己的主張去做，"麥克唐納說道，“不過說到你叫我們放棄這件案子……那究竟是爲了什麼呢？”
“理由很簡單，我親愛的麥克先生，因爲你們首先就沒有弄清楚調查對象啊。”
“我們正在調查伯爾斯通莊園約翰·道格拉斯先生的被害案。”
“對，對，你們的話不錯。可是不要勞神去搜尋那個騎自行車的神祕先生了。我向你們保證，這不會對你們有什麼幫助的。”
“那麼，你說我們應當怎樣去做呢？”
“如果你們願意，我就詳細地告訴你們應該做些什麼。”
“好，我不能不說，我總覺得你的那些古怪的作法是有道理的。我一定照你的意見去辦。”
“懷特·梅森先生，你怎麼樣？”
這個鄉鎮偵探茫然地看看這個，望望那個。福爾摩斯先生和他的偵探法對他來說是夠陌生的了。
“好吧，如果警官麥克唐納認爲對，那麼我當然也一樣，”懷特·梅森終於說道。“好極了！"福爾摩斯說道，“好，那麼我建議你們兩位到鄉間去暢快地散散步吧。有人對我說，從伯爾斯通小山邊一直到威爾德，景色非常好。儘管我對這鄉村不熟悉，不能向你們推薦一家飯館，但我想你們一定能找到合適的飯館吃午飯。晚上，雖然疲倦了，可是卻高高興興……”
“先生，您這個玩笑可真是開得過火了！"麥克唐納生氣地從椅子上站起來，大聲叫道。
“好，好，隨你們的便好了，怎麼消磨這一天都可以，"福爾摩斯說道，高興地拍拍麥克唐納的肩膀，“你們願意做什麼就做什麼，願意到哪裏就到哪裏，不過，務必在黃昏以前到這裏來見我，務必來，麥克先生。”
“這聽起來還象是個頭腦清醒的人說的話。”
“我所說的，都是極好的建議，可是我並不強迫你們接受。只要在我需要你們的時候你們在這裏就行了。可是，現在，在我們分手以前，我需要你給巴克先生寫一個便條。”
“好！”
