Chapter 5

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Arrival at Croydon;
Miss Cushing

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II. The Adventure of the Cardboard Box

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A shower of rain fell
while we were in the train,
and the heat
was far less oppressive ( 悶熱的)
in Croydon than in town.

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Holmes 
had sent on a wire ( 發了電報),
so that Lestrade,
as wiry ( 精瘦而結實的),
as dapper ( 整潔利落的),
and as ferret-like ( 雪貂般機敏的) 
as ever,
was waiting for us
at the station.

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A walk of five minutes
took us to Cross Street,
where Miss Cushing resided ( 居住).

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It was a very long street
of two-story brick houses,
neat and prim ( 端正拘謹),
with whitened stone steps,
and little groups
of aproned women ( 圍裙婦人)
gossiping at the doors.

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Halfway down,
Lestrade stopped
and tapped at a door,
which was opened
by a small servant girl ( 小女傭).

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Miss Cushing
was sitting in the front room,
into which
we were ushered ( 引領進去).

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She was 
a placid-faced ( 安詳的) woman,
with large, gentle eyes,
and grizzled ( 花白的) hair
curving down over her temples
on each side.

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A worked antimacassar ( 椅背披巾)
lay upon her lap,
and a basket
of coloured silks ( 彩色絲線)
stood upon a stool ( 凳子)
beside her.

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“They are 
in the outhouse ( 院內小屋),
those dreadful things,”
said she
as Lestrade entered.

“I wish that 
you would take them away
altogether.”

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“So I shall, Miss Cushing.

I only kept them here
until my friend, Mr. Holmes,
should have seen them
in your presence.”

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“Why
in my presence, sir?”

“In case he wished
to ask any questions.”

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“What is the use
of asking me questions
when I tell you
I know nothing
whatever about it?”

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“Quite so, madam,”
said Holmes
in his soothing ( 撫慰的) way.

“I have no doubt
that you have been annoyed ( 困擾)
more than enough already
over this business.”

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“Indeed, I have, sir.

I am a quiet woman ( 安靜的人)
and live a retired ( 恬靜的) life.

It is something new for me
to see my name
in the papers ( 報紙)
and to find the police
in my house.

I won’t have those things
in here, Mr. Lestrade.

If you wish to see them
you must go
to the outhouse ( 院內小屋).”

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