福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第10章Part2

"I'm not denying it," said he. "D'ye think I'm ashamed of my own name?"
"You've got good cause to be, anyhow."
"What the devil d'you mean by that?" he roared with his fists clenched.
"No, no, Jack, bluster won't do with me. I was an officer in Chicago before ever I came to this darned coal bunker, and I know a Chicago crook when I see one."
McMurdo's face fell. "Don't tell me that you're Marvin of the Chicago Central!" he cried.
"Just the same old Teddy Marvin, at your service. We haven't forgotten the shooting of Jonas Pinto up there."
"I never shot him."
"Did you not? That's good impartial evidence, ain't it? Well, his death came in uncommon handy for you, or they would have had you for shoving the queer. Well, we can let that be bygones; for, between you and me--and perhaps I'm going further than my duty in saying it--they could get no clear case against you, and Chicago's open to you to-morrow."
"I'm very well where I am."
"Well, I've given you the pointer, and you're a sulky dog not to thank me for it."
"Well, I suppose you mean well, and I do thank you," said McMurdo in no very gracious manner.
"It's mum with me so long as I see you living on the straight," said the captain. "But, by the Lord! if you get off after this, it's another story! So good-night to you--and good-night, Councillor."
He left the bar-room; but not before he had created a local hero. McMurdo's deeds in far Chicago had been whispered before. He had put off all questions with a smile, as one who did not wish to have greatness thrust upon him. But now the thing was officially confirmed. The bar loafers crowded round him and shook him heartily by the hand. He was free of the community from that time on. He could drink hard and show little trace of it; but that evening, had his mate Scanlan not been at hand to lead him home, the feted hero would surely have spent his night under the bar.

“我用不着抵赖，"麦克默多说道，“你以为我为自己的名字感到羞愧么？”
“不管怎样，你干了些好事！”
“你说这话究竟是什么意思？"麦克默多握紧拳头，怒吼道。
“不，不，杰克，你不要对我这么怒气冲冲。我到这该死的煤矿以前，是芝加哥的一个警官，芝加哥的恶棍无赖，我一看就认识。”
麦克默多把脸沉下来，喝道：“用不着告诉我你是芝加哥警察总署的马文！”
“正是这同一个老特德·马文听候您的吩咐。我们还没有忘记那里发生过枪杀乔纳斯·平托的事。”
“我没有枪杀他。”
“你没有吗？那不是有确凿的证据吗？好，那人一死对你可有很大好处，不然，他们早就因使用伪币罪把你逮捕入狱了。得了，我们可以让这些事过去吧。因为，这只有你知我知，——也许我说得过头了，说了些份外的事——他们找不到对你不利的有力事实，明天芝加哥的大门就又为你敞开了。”
“我随便住在哪儿都可以。”
“喂，我给你透露了消息，可是你却象一条发怒的狗一样，也不知道谢我一声。”
“好，我想你也许是出于好意，我真应该感谢你。"麦克默多不十分恭敬地说道。
“只要你老老实实做人，我就不声张出去，"警察队长说道，“可是，皇天在上，如果以后你不走正道，那就另当别论了！祝你晚安，也祝你晚安，参议员先生。”
马文离开了酒吧间，这事不久就使麦克默多成了当地的英雄，因为人们早就暗中议论过麦克默多在遥远的芝加哥的事迹了。麦克默多平常对人们的询问总是一笑置之，就好象怕人家硬给自己加上伟大的英名似的。可是现在这件事被正式证实了。酒吧间里那些无业游民都向麦克默多聚拢来，亲切地和他握手。从此以后，麦克默多在这帮人中便无所顾忌了。他酒量很大，而且不显酒意，可是，那晚要不是斯坎伦搀扶他回家，这位颇负盛誉的英雄就只好在酒吧间里过夜了。