“不过人到了晚年，思乡之念，油然而生。
"But in old age, homesickness arises spontaneously.
几年来，我梦想着看到英国绿油油的大地和田园。
For several years, I have dreamed of seeing the green land and countryside of England.
后来我终于决定在我未死之前再看一看我的故乡。
Finally, I decided to see my hometown again before I died.
我积蓄了回乡的路费，便来到驻军的地方，因为我了解士兵的生活，知道怎样使他们快乐，并借此维持生活。”
I saved the travelling expenses for returning to my hometown, so I came to the garrison, because I know the life of soldiers and how to make them happy and make a living. "

“我正是这样，先生，可是他一看到我，脸色就变了，我以前还从未见过这样难看的脸色。
"I am, sir, but when he saw me, his face changed, I've never seen such an ugly face before.
接着他向后摔倒，一头撞到炉子护板上。
Then he fell backwards and bumped into the stove guard.
其实他在摔倒以前就已经死了。
Actually, he died before he fell.
我从他脸上觉察到他已经死了，这就象我会读壁炉上放着的课本那样一清二楚的。
I can see from his face that he is dead, as clear as I can read the textbook on the fireplace.
他一看见我，就象一颗子弹射中了他的心，那颗做了亏心事的心。”
When he saw me, it was like a bullet in his heart, the heart that had done something wrong. "

“后来呢？”
"What happened afterwards?"

“后来南希晕倒了，我赶忙从她手中拿起了开门的钥匙，打算开门呼救。
"Then Nancy fainted, and I quickly picked up the key to open the door from her hand, intending to open the door and call for help.
可是这时我觉得不如不管它走了算了，因为这件事看来对我很不利，如果我被抓住，我的秘密就全暴露出来了。
But at this moment, I think it's better to let it go, because it seems very bad for me, if I get caught, all my secrets will be exposed.
我急忙把钥匙塞进衣袋里，丢下我的手杖去捕捉爬上了窗帘的特笛。
I quickly stuffed the key into my pocket and dropped my cane to catch the flute that climbed up the curtain.
我把它捉住放回箱子里，便尽快地逃离了这间屋子。”
I caught it and put it back in the box, and I fled the room as soon as possible. "

“谁是特笛呢？”福尔摩斯问道。
"Who is Tedi?" Holmes asked.

这个人俯身向前，拉开屋角一只笼子的门，转瞬间笼子里溜出来一只漂亮的红褐色小动物。
The man leaned forward, opened the door of a cage in the corner, and in a twinkling a beautiful reddish-brown animal slipped out of the cage.
它的身子瘦小而柔软，长着鼬鼠似的腿，一个细长的鼻子，一双很美的红眼睛，我还从未见过别的动物有这样美丽的眼睛呢。
Its body is thin and soft, with weasel-like legs, a slender nose and beautiful red eyes, I have never seen other animals have such beautiful eyes.

“这是一只猫鼬，”我喊道。
"It's a mongoose," I shouted.

“对，有些人这样叫它，也有人把它叫做。”
"Yes, some people call it that, others call it."
那个人说道，“我把它叫做捕蛇鼬，特笛捕捉眼镜蛇快得惊人。
The man said, "I call it a snake ferret, and Tedi catches cobras amazingly fast.
我这里有一条去掉了毒牙的蛇，特笛每晚就在士兵俱乐部里表演捕蛇，给士兵们取乐。
I have a snake with its fangs removed, Teddy performs snake catching in the soldiers' club every night to entertain the soldiers.

“还有别的问题吗？ 先生。”
"Are there any other questions? Sir. "

“好，如果巴克利夫人遭到大的不幸，我们再来找你。”
"Well, if Mrs. Buckley suffers great misfortune, we'll come back to you."

“当然，要是那样的话，我会自己来的。”
"Of course, in that case, I will come by myself."

“如果不是那样，那也不必把死者过去所做的丑事重新翻腾出来。
"If that's not the case, then there's no need to churn out the disgraceful things the deceased did in the past.
你现在既然已经知道，三十年来，他因为过去做了坏事一直受到良心的责备，至少也该满意了。
Now that you know, for thirty years, he has been blamed by his conscience for the bad things he did in the past, at least you should be satisfied.
啊，墨菲少校走到街那边了。
Ah, Major Murphy has gone down the street.
再见，伍德。
Goodbye, Wood.
我想了解一下昨天以来又发生什么事没有。”
I want to know if anything has happened since yesterday. "

少校还没走到街拐角处，我们就及时赶上了他。
We caught up with the major in time before he reached the corner of the street.

“啊，福尔摩斯，”少校说道，“我想你已经听说这件事完全是庸人自扰了吧。”
"Ah, Holmes," said the major, "I think you've heard that it's completely much ado about nothing."