《波洛探案集》开篇：英文原著带中文翻译

I was standing at the window of Poirot’s rooms looking out idly on the street below.

我站在波洛房间的窗前，闲闲地望着下面的街道。

“That’s queer,” I ejaculated suddenly beneath my breath.

「真奇怪，」我突然低声脱口而出。

“What is, mon ami?” asked Poirot placidly, from the depths of his comfortable chair.

「什么奇怪，我的朋友？」波洛从舒适的椅子深处平静地问道。

“Deduce, Poirot, from the following facts! Here is a young lady, richly dressed—fashionable hat, magnificent furs. She is coming along slowly, looking up at the houses as she goes. Unknown to her, she is being shadowed by three men and a middle-aged woman. They have just been joined by an errand boy who points after the girl, gesticulating as he does so. What drama is this being played? Is the girl a crook, and are the shadowers detectives preparing to arrest her? Or are they the scoundrels, and are they plotting to attack an innocent victim? What does the great detective say?”

「波洛，从以下事实推断吧！有一位年轻女士，衣着华丽，时尚的帽子，华贵的皮草。她慢慢地走来，一边走一边抬头看那些房子。她不知道，自己正被三个男人和一个中年妇女跟踪。他们刚和一个跑腿的男孩会合，那男孩指着那姑娘，一边指一边打手势。这演的是哪一出戏？这姑娘是骗子，跟踪者是准备逮捕她的侦探？还是他们是恶棍，正密谋袭击一个无辜的受害者？大侦探怎么说？」

“The great detective, mon ami, chooses, as ever, the simplest course. He rises to see for himself.” And my friend joined me at the window.

「大侦探，我的朋友，一如既往选择最简单的办法。他站起来亲自看看。」于是我的朋友也来到窗前，和我站在一起。

In a minute he gave vent to an amused chuckle.

过了一会儿，他忍不住发出一声觉得好笑的轻哼。

“As usual, your facts are tinged with your incurable romanticism. That is Miss Mary Marvell, the film star. She is being followed by a bevy of admirers who have recognized her. And, en passant, my dear Hastings, she is quite aware of the fact!”

「和往常一样，你的事实里掺杂着你那无可救药的浪漫主义。那是玛丽·马维尔小姐，电影明星。跟着她的是一群认出了她的仰慕者。而且，顺便说一句，亲爱的黑斯廷斯，她对此一清二楚！」

I laughed.

我笑了。

“So all is explained! But you get no marks for that, Poirot. It was a mere matter of recognition.”

「所以一切都解释清楚了！但这一点你可不算得分，波洛。这不过是认不认得出来的问题。」

“En vérité! And how many times have you seen Mary Marvell on the screen, mon cher?”

「确实如此！可你在银幕上见过玛丽·马维尔多少次，我亲爱的？」

I thought.

我想了想。

“About a dozen times perhaps.”

「大概十几次吧。」

“And I—once! Yet I recognize her, and you do not.”

「而我，一次！可我却认出了她，你没有。」

“She looks so different,” I replied rather feebly.

「她看起来太不一样了，」我相当无力地答道。

“Ah! Sacré!” cried Poirot. “Is it that you expect her to promenade herself in the streets of London in a cowboy hat, or with bare feet, and a bunch of curls, as an Irish colleen? Always with you it is the non-essentials! Remember the case of the dancer, Valerie Saintclair.”

「啊！天哪！」波洛叫道。「难道你指望她在伦敦街头散步时戴着牛仔帽，或者光着脚，留着一卷卷的头发，像个爱尔兰姑娘？你总是盯着那些非本质的东西！还记得那个舞女瓦莱丽·圣克莱尔的案子吗。」

I shrugged my shoulders, slightly annoyed.

我耸了耸肩，有点恼火。

“But console yourself, mon ami,” said Poirot, calming down. “All cannot be as Hercule Poirot! I know it well.”

「不过，安慰安慰自己吧，我的朋友，」波洛平静下来说。「不可能人人都像赫尔克里·波洛！这一点我很清楚。」

“You really have the best opinion of yourself of anyone I ever knew!” I cried, divided between amusement and annoyance.

「我认识的人里，就数你对自己评价最高！」我叫道，既觉得好笑又觉得恼火。

“What will you? When one is unique, one knows it! And others share that opinion—even, if I mistake not, Miss Mary Marvell.”

「那你要怎样呢？一个人独一无二的时候，自己当然知道！别人也持同样看法，如果我没弄错的话，连玛丽·马维尔小姐也这么看。」

“What?”

「什么？」

“Without doubt. She is coming here.”

「毫无疑问。她正到这里来。」

“How do you make that out?”

「你怎么看出来的？」

“Very simply. This street, it is not aristocratic, mon ami! In it there is no fashionable doctor, no fashionable dentist—still less is there a fashionable milliner! But there is a fashionable detective. Oui, my friend, it is true—I am become the mode, the dernier cri! One says to another: ‘Comment? You have lost your gold pencil-case? You must go to the little Belgian. He is too marvellous! Every one goes! Courez!’ And they arrive! In flocks, mon ami! With problems of the most foolish!” A bell rang below. “What did I tell you? That is Miss Marvell.”

「很简单。这条街，可不是贵族住的，我的朋友！这里没有时髦的医生，没有时髦的牙医，更没有什么时髦的女帽商！但有一位时髦的侦探。对，我的朋友，这是真的，我成了时尚，成了最新潮流！一个人对另一个人说：『怎么？你丢了金铅笔盒？你得去找那个小个子比利时人。他太了不起了！人人都去！快跑！』于是他们就来了！成群结队，我的朋友！带着最愚蠢的问题！」楼下铃响了。「我说什么来着？那就是马维尔小姐。」

As usual, Poirot was right. After a short interval, the American film star was ushered in, and we rose to our feet.

和往常一样，波洛说对了。过了一会儿，那位美国电影明星被引了进来，我们站起身来。