Chapter 4 

Lestrade’s Note & The Decision
II. The Adventure of the Cardboard Box  


“So much for
the Daily Chronicle ( 《每日紀事報》),”
said Holmes
as I finished reading.

“Now for
our friend Lestrade ( 雷斯垂德).”

“I had a note
from him
this morning,
in which he says:”
This is the end of paragraph 1.

“I think
that this case
is very much
in your line ( 拿手範疇).”
This is the end of paragraph 2.


“We have every hope
of clearing the matter up ( 釐清此事),
but we find
a little difficulty ( 困難)
in getting anything
to work upon ( 作為線索).”
This is the end of paragraph 3.


“We have, of course,
wired ( 發電報)
to the Belfast ( 貝爾法斯特)
post-office ( 郵局),
but a large number
of parcels ( 包裹)
were handed in
upon that day,
and they have no means
of identifying ( 辨識)
this particular one,
or of remembering
the sender ( 寄件人).”
This is the end of paragraph 4.


“The box
is a half-pound box
of honeydew tobacco ( 蜜露菸草),
and does not help us
in any way.”
This is the end of paragraph 5.

“The medical student theory
still appears to me
to be the most feasible ( 可行的),
but if you should have
a few hours to spare ( 騰出),
I should be very happy
to see you
out here.”
This is the end of paragraph 6.

“I shall be
either at the house
or in the police-station ( 警局)
all day.”
This is the end of paragraph 7.

“What say you, Watson?”

“Can you rise
superior to the heat ( 不畏炎熱),
and run down
to Croydon ( 克羅伊登)
with me
on the off chance ( 撿漏之機)
of a case
for your annals ( 編年記事)?”
This is the end of paragraph 8.

“I was longing
for something to do.”
This is the end of paragraph 9.

“You shall have it then.”

“Ring for our boots ( 叫侍者拿靴),
and tell them
to order a cab ( 叫馬車).”

“I’ll be back
in a moment
when I have changed
my dressing-gown ( 晨袍)
and filled
my cigar-case ( 雪茄盒).”
This is the end of paragraph 10.