精彩对白

Watson: Holmes. You're early.

Holmes: Fashionably.

Watson: Miss Mary Morstan.

Holmes: My goodness. What a pleasure. I don't know why it's taken him so long to introduce us properly.

Mary Morstan: Pleasure is mine. It really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes. I've heard so much about you. I have a pile of detective novels at home. Wilkie Collins, Poe.

Watson: It's true.

Mary Morstan: It can seem a little far-fetched though sometimes making grand assumptions out of tiny details.

Holmes: That's not quite right, is it? In fact, the little details are by far the most important.

Holmes: Take Watson.

Mary Morstan: I intend to.

Holmes: See his walking stick? A rare African snakewood hiding a blade of high-tensile steel. A few were awarded to veterans of the Afghan war so I can assume he's a decorated soldier. Strong, brave, born to be a man of action. And neat, like all military men. Now, I check his pockets. Ah. A stub from a boxing match. Now I can infer that he's a bit of a gambler. I'd keep an eye on that dowry.

Watson: Those days are behind me.

Holmes: Right behind you. He's cost us the rent more than once.

Mary Morstan: Well, with all due respect, Mr. Holmes, you know John very well. What about a complete stranger? What can you tell about me?

Holmes: You?

Watson: I don't think...

Holmes: I don't know that...

Watson: Not at dinner.

Holmes: Some other time.

Mary Morstan: I insist.

Holmes: You insist?

Watson: You remember we discussed this.

Holmes: The lady insists. You're a governess.

Mary Morstan: Well done.

Watson: Yes, well done. Shall we? Waiter?

Holmes: Your student is a boy of 8.

Mary Morstan: Charlie's 7, actually.

Holmes: Charlie, huh? Then he's tall for his age. He flicked¹ ink at you today.

Mary Morstan: Is there ink on my face?

Watson: There's nothing wrong with your face.

Holmes: There are two drops on your ear, in fact. India blue's nearly impossible to wash off.  A very impetuous act by the boy. But you're too experienced to react rashly which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that. Oriental pearls, diamonds, a flawless ruby². Hardly the gems³ of a governess. The jewels you are not wearing tell us more.

Watson: Holmes.

Holmes: You were engaged. The ring is gone, but the lighter⁴ skin suggests that you spent some time abroad wearing it proudly until you were informed of its true, modest worth. You broke off the engagement and returned to England for better prospects⁵. A doctor, perhaps.

Mary Morstan: Right on all counts, Mr. Holmes, apart from one. I didn't leave him. He died.

Watson: Well done, old boy.

妙语佳句 活学活用

1. Pleasure is mine：相当于It's my pleasure.

2. far-fetched: 牵强附会，难以置信的。玛丽认为福尔摩斯从细节推理出重大结论有时“牵强附会”。

例如：It's an interesting book but rather far-fetched.（这本书很有趣，只是太离奇了点。）

3. decorated soldier：授勋战士。

Decorate表示“授予某人勋章”，例如：The Queen decorated the soldier.（女王授予士兵勋章。）

4. a man of action：实干家。

5. keep an eye on：照看，注意。

6. dowry：嫁妆。

除了女方的陪嫁之外，dowry还可以表示男方给女方的彩礼。例如：I will consent to my daughter's giving her hand to you only on receipt of the agreed dowry. （我只有在收到商定的彩礼后才会同意我女儿和你结婚。）

7. some other time：改天吧。

例如：Let's talk it over again some other time.（我们另外找时间再谈吧。）

类似的说法：some time or other则表示“总有一天，迟早”。

8. governess：女家庭教师。旧时的说法。

9. oriental pearls: 东方珍珠。

10. break off the engagement: 解除婚约。

Break off在这里表示“解除”某种关系，通常其后加to someone。

11. old boy: 中上阶层男子对其他男子的友好称呼：老兄，伙计，哥们儿。也称为old chap; old man.

the old boy network则引申为“校友关系网、老同学间的互相关照”。

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