福尔摩斯探案经典:《恐怖谷》第9章Part11

"When?"
"June 24, 1872."
"What Bodymaster?"
"James H. Scott."
"Who is your district ruler?"
"Bartholomew Wilson."
"Hum! You seem glib enough in your tests. What are you doing here?"
"Working, the same as you--but a poorer job."
"You have your back answer quick enough."
"Yes, I was always quick of speech."
"Are you quick of action?"
"I have had that name among those that knew me best."
"Well, we may try you sooner than you think. Have you heard anything of the lodge in these parts?"
"I've heard that it takes a man to be a brother."
"True for you, Mr. McMurdo. Why did you leave Chicago?"
"I'm damned if I tell you that!"
McGinty opened his eyes. He was not used to being answered in such fashion, and it amused him. "Why won't you tell me?"
"Because no brother may tell another a lie."
"Then the truth is too bad to tell?"
"You can put it that way if you like."
"See here, mister, you can't expect me, as Bodymaster, to pass into the lodge a man for whose past he can't answer."
McMurdo looked puzzled. Then he took a worn newspaper cutting from an inner pocket.
"You wouldn't squeal on a fellow?" said he.

“什么时间？”
“一八七二年六月二十四日。”
“身主是谁？”
“詹姆斯·H·斯特科。”
“你们地区的议长是谁？”
“巴塞洛谬·威尔逊。”
“嗬！在这场考查中，你倒很能说善辩呀。你在那儿干什么？”
“象你一样，做工，不过是件穷差事罢了。”
“你回答得倒挺快啊。”
“是的，我总是对答如流的。”
“你办事也快吗？”
“认识我的人都晓得我有这个名片。”
“好，我们不久就要试试你，对于此地分会的情况，你听到了什么吗？”
“我听说它收好汉做弟兄。”
“你说的不错，麦克默多先生。你为什么离开芝加哥呢？”
“这事我不能告诉你。”
麦金蒂睁大眼睛，他从未听到过这样无礼的回答，不由感到有趣，问道：“为什么你不愿告诉我呢？”
“因为弟兄们对自己人不说谎。”
“那么这事一定是不可告人的了。”
“如果你愿意，也可以这么说。”
“喂，先生，你不能指望我，作为一个身主，接受一个不能说出自己的履历的人入会啊。”
麦克默多现出为难的样子，然后从内衣口袋里掏出一片剪下来的旧报纸，说道：
“你不会向人泄漏吗？”