The letter had no date, signature or address. The letter said:
這封信上沒有日期，也沒有簽名和地址。信上寫道：
signature ?n. 簽名
At a quarter to eight this evening, a gentleman will come to your house. He wishes to talk to you about a serious matter. What you have done for one of the royal houses of Europe has shown that you can be trusted with matters of great importance. Many people have told us how great you are. Wait for the gentleman at your apartment. He might come wearing a mask, but please do not be offended.
今晚七時三刻盒揉，有位紳士將拜訪閣下住處。他有要事想與閣下相商。閣下最近為歐洲一王室所行之事表明胞谭，足可信任閣下辦理極為重要之事。吾輩已從多人口中得知閣下能力非凡男杈。請于閣下住處等候這位紳士拜訪丈屹。來客若戴面具，請勿介懷。
offend ?v. 冒犯
"This is a mystery," I said. "What do you think this is all about?"
“這可真是件神秘的事旺垒，”我說彩库，“你覺得這是什么意思？”
"I have no data yet," he said. "It is foolish to theorize before one has data. Without data, one begins to twist facts to match theories. Take another look at the note. What can you learn from it?"
“我還沒有事實資料先蒋，”他回答道骇钦，“在得到事實資料之前就妄加推斷，愚蠢至極竞漾。沒有事實資料眯搭，人們就會開始歪曲現(xiàn)實來適應(yīng)他的理論。再看一眼這張便條业岁。你能從中看出些什么來鳞仙？”
data ?n. 事實資料
theorize ?v. 推斷
twist ?v. 歪曲
fact ?n. 現(xiàn)實
match ?v. 適應(yīng)
theory ?n. 理論
I carefully examined the letter.
我仔細檢查著這張紙。
examine ?v. 檢查
"The man who wrote it was probably rich," I said. "This kind of paper is very expensive. It is strangely strong and stiff."
“寫這東西的人大概挺有錢的笔时，”我說道棍好，“這種紙非常貴。紙張出奇地結(jié)實和挺括允耿〗梵希”
stiff ?adj. 挺括
"You're right," said Holmes. "It is not an English paper. Hold it up to the light."
“你說的沒錯，”福爾摩斯說右犹，“這根本不是英國紙提澎。你把它舉起來對著光看看∧盍矗”
I did so, and noticed a large "E" with a small "g", a "P," and a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper.
我照他說的做了盼忌，注意到紙質(zhì)紋理中有一個大“E”和一個小“g”、一個“P”以及一個大“G”和小“t”交織在一起掂墓。
notice ?v. 注意
weave ?v. 交織
texture ?n. 紋理
"It's probably the monogram of the maker," I said.
“沒準這是制造者名字的交織字母谦纱，”我說道。
monogram ?n. 交織字母
"You're wrong. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for 'Gesellschaft.' It means 'Company' in German. Of course 'P' stands for 'Papier,' meaning "paper." Now for the 'Eg.' Let us take a look at our Continental Gazeteer."
“不對君编】缂危‘G’和小‘t'代表的是Gesellschaft。在德文里它是公司的意思吃嘿。'P'當(dāng)然代表的是'Papier'祠乃，就是紙的意思。然后就是’EG'了兑燥。讓我們來瞧一瞧我們的《大陸地名詞典》亮瓷。”
stand for ?代表
Gesellschaft ?n. 公司（德語）
the Continental Gazetteer ?《大陸地名詞典》
He took down a heavy brown book from his shelves.
福爾摩斯從他的書架上拿下一本厚厚的棕色封皮的書降瞳。
