福尔摩斯：巴斯克维尔猎犬-第1课

背景知识  

1. 作者介绍

阿瑟·柯南·道尔，19世纪末英国侦探小说家，因成功塑造了侦探人物──歇洛克·福尔摩斯——而成为侦探小说历史上最重要的作家之一，代表作有《福尔摩斯探案集》。柯南·道尔对侦探小说的贡献是巨大的，其小说的故事结构、推理手法和奇巧的构思都给该类题材的小说树立了范本，他是当之无愧的文学大师，将侦探小说推向了一个崭新的时代。《福尔摩斯探案全集》开辟了侦探小说历史“黄金时代”的不朽经典，风靡全世界，是历史上最受读者推崇的侦探小说。

2. 关于夏洛克·福尔摩斯

夏洛克·福尔摩斯是由阿瑟·柯南·道尔所塑造的一个才华横溢的虚构侦探。福尔摩斯是一名刑侦顾问，当其他警探或私家侦探遇到困难时常向他求救。福尔摩斯善于通过观察与演绎推理和法学知识来解决案件问题。在小说里，约翰·华生医生是他的搭档。

3. 故事简介

德文郡流传着一段古老传说——巴斯克维尔家族受到诅咒，一只黑色的巨大魔犬是这个家族的索命克星。传说起因在于：一百年前，巴斯克维尔家族中的雨果·巴斯克维尔，因为强抢民女，结果被黑色巨犬撕咬致死，从此之后，这个家族就笼罩在诅咒的阴影之中。一百年过去了，人们逐渐忘记此事，没想到，巴斯克维尔家族又有人因为黑色巨犬的出现而死亡，这件命案到底是诅咒还是有人利用传说来进行的杀人诡计？福尔摩斯该如何解开隐藏在传说中的死亡涵义？

福尔摩斯和华生的客人是谁？他需要什么帮助？我们一起来看一看。

故事原文  

The Hound of the Baskervilles L1

巴斯克维尔猎犬 L1

The September sun was shining brightly into the windows of 221B Baker Street, and London was enjoying a beautiful late summer.

9月的阳光明媚地照进了贝克街221号B门的窗户里，整个伦敦都在享受晚夏的美好时光。

I had finished my breakfast and was reading the newspaper. As usual, Holmes had got up late, and was still eating. We were expecting a visitor at half past ten, and I wondered whether Holmes would finish his breakfast before our visitor arrived.(1)

我已吃过早餐，此时正在看报纸。福尔摩斯同往常一样，总是很晚才起床。他这时正在进餐。我们正等待着一位预约好要在10点半时前来拜访的客人；我不知道福尔摩斯在客人到来之前是否吃得完他的早餐。

Holmes was in no hurry. He was reading once again a letter he had received three days ago. It was from Dr James Mortimer, who asked for an appointment with Holmes.(2)

福尔摩斯并不匆忙行事。他又看了一遍三天之前收到的那封来信。这是詹姆斯·摩梯末医生写来的。他请求能够约个时间和福尔摩斯见次面。

'Well, Watson, 'Holmes said to me, 'I'm afraid that a doctor from Devonshire won't bring us anything of real interest.(3) His letter doesn't tell us anything about his business though he says it's very important. I hope we can help him.'

“啊，华生，”福尔摩斯对我讲道，“恐怕德文郡的这位医生是不会给我们带来任何有趣的事情的。虽然他说事情举足轻重，但是他的信中并未说明他的来意。我希望我们能够帮他的忙。”

At exactly half past ten there was a knock on our front door.

正好10点半时，有人敲了敲我们的前门。

'Good,' said Holmes. 'Dr Mortimer is clearly a man who will not waste our time.'

“嘿，”福尔摩斯道，“摩梯末医生显然不会浪费我们的时间。”

We stood up as our visitor was brought into the room.

当客人被带进屋时，我们起身迎接了他。

'Good morning, gentlemen,' he said. 'I'm Dr James Mortimer, from Grimpen in Devonshire, and I think you must be Mr Sherlock Holmes.' He shook hands with Holmes, who said:

“早上好，先生们。”他讲道，“我是詹姆斯·摩梯末医生，是从德文郡的格林盆来的；我想您一定就是歇洛克·福尔摩斯先生了。”他与福尔摩斯握了握手，福尔摩斯道：

'How do you do, Dr Mortimer? May I introduce my good friend, Dr John Watson, who helps me with my cases.(4) I hope you will allow him to listen to our conversation.'

“您好吗，摩梯末医生？我来介绍一下我的好朋友约翰·华生医生，他一直在帮我办案。我希望您能允许他来听我们的谈话。”

'Of course,' said Mortimer, as he turned to me and shook hands. 'I need your help very badly, Mr Holmes. If it will be useful for Dr Watson to hear what I have to say, please let him stay and listen.'

“当然可以，”摩梯末边说着话边回头与我握手。“我急需您的帮助，福尔摩斯先生。如我的话对华生医生有用的话，那就请他留下来听吧！”

Mortimer did not look like a country doctor. He was very tall and thin. He had a long thin nose. His grey eyes were bright, and he wore gold glasses. His coat and trousers were old and worn.(5) His face was young, but his shoulders were bent like an old man's and his head was pushed forward. He took some papers from his pocket, and said:

摩梯末看上去并不像是一位乡间医生。他身材高大，身体瘦削，长着细长的鼻子。他那灰色的眼睛炯炯有神，他还戴着一副金丝眼镜。他的外衣和裤子都已破旧、磨损不堪了。他的脸看上去还很年轻，但是身体已像老人一样佝偻，而且头还向前探着。他从口袋里取出一些手稿，并说道：

'Mr Holmes, I need your help and advice. Something very strange and frightening has been happening.'

“福尔摩斯先生，我需要您的帮助和建议。发生了一件既奇怪又恐怖的事情。”

'Sit down, Dr Mortimer, 'said Holmes, 'and tell us your problem. I'll help you if I can.'

“坐下，摩梯末医生，”福尔摩斯道，“并告诉我您的疑难问题。我将尽力帮助您。”

（原文中出现高光标示内容请见核心语言点）

核心语言点  

1. expect 预计，期待

    think 认为

    expectation 期望

    high expectation 期望很高

    exceed expectation 超越期待

例句：

We’ve been expecting you.

我们预计您会到来。

The show exceeded all expectations.

这个演出超越所有人的期待。

2. appoint 任命

    appoint...as... 任命某人为（具体的职位）

    appoint...to... 任命某人为（泛指的职位）

    appointment 预约

    have an appointment with someone 与某人有预约

例句：

We appointed them as new teachers this year.

我们把他们任命为今年的新老师。

He promised to appoint more women to senior positions.

他承诺要给女性安排更多高级的职位。

He has an appointment with the professor at two.

他两点和教授有预约。

3. interest 兴趣

    interesting 有趣的

    interested 感兴趣的

    be interested in sth. 对……感兴趣

    have interest in sth. 对……有兴趣

    be of interest to someone 对某人来说有吸引力

例句：

The bookworm reading course is really interesting.

书虫阅读课程很有趣。

I’m really interested in the bookworm reading course.

我对书虫阅读课程很感兴趣。

I have an interest in the bookworm reading course.

我对书虫阅读课程很有兴趣。

Would this book be of any interest to you?

这本书对你有吸引力吗？

It’s a book that will be of interest to a wide range of readers.

这是一本会引起广大读者兴趣的书。

4. case 案件情形，情况

in this case 在这种情况下

in that case 在那种情况下

(just) in case 以防万一

例句：

I wouldn’t normally agree but I’ll make an exception in this case.

一般情况下我不会同意，不过这次我要破一回例。

Take an umbrella, in case it rains.

带把伞，以防下雨。

5. worn 破旧的，磨损的

    old 旧的

例句：

His clothes were dirty and worn.

他的衣服又脏又破。