Page 203 - 血字的研究·四签名(外研社双语读库) (福尔摩斯探案全集)

What was that? In the silence he heard a gentle
scratching sound—low, but very distinct in the quiet of the

night. It came from the door of the house. Ferrier crept into
the hall and listened intently. There was a pause for a few
moments, and then the low insidious sound was repeated.
Someone was evidently tapping very gently upon one of the
panels of the door. Was it some midnight assassin who had

come to carry out the murderous orders of the secret
tribunal? Or was it some agent who was marking up that the
last day of grace had arrived. John Ferrier felt that instant

death would be better than the suspense which shook his
nerves and chilled his heart. Springing forward he drew the
bolt and threw the door open.

那是什么？万籁俱寂中，他听到一阵轻微的爬抓声——声音虽然

很轻，但是在夜深人静的时候，却听得非常清楚。声音是从大门那边
传来的。于是，费里尔蹑手蹑脚地走进了客厅，凝神倾听。这个轻微

却令人毛骨悚然的声音停了一会儿后，又响了起来。显然有人正轻轻
地在门上叩击着。莫非是前来执行秘密法庭暗杀命令的午夜刺客？或

者这是在写明，限期的最后一天已至。这时，约翰·费里尔觉得，比起
忍受这种令人胆战心寒的折磨，痛痛快快地死反倒好一些。于是，他

跳上前去，拔下门闩，将门打开。

Outside all was calm and quiet. The night was fine, and

the stars were twinkling brightly overhead. The little front
garden lay before the farmer's eyes bounded by the fence
and gate, but neither there nor on the road was any human
being to be seen. With a sigh of relief, Ferrier looked to right

and to left, until happening to glance straight down at his
own feet he saw to his astonishment a man lying flat upon
his face upon the ground, with arms and legs all asprawl.

门外一片寂静。夜色朗朗，点点繁星在头上闪烁发光。出现在老

人眼前的只有庭前的小花园，花园周围有一道篱笆和门，但是，无论
在花园中或是在大路上，都不见一个人影。费里尔左右瞧了一下，轻