A Study in Scarlet — Page 4

قال بتعاطف، بعد أن استمع إلى مصائبي: "ماذا تفعل الآن؟"

he said, commiseratingly, after he had listened to my misfortunes. "What are you up to now?"

أجبت: "أبحث عن مسكن، وأحاول حل مشكلة ما إذا كان من الممكن الحصول على غرف مريحة بسعر معقول."

"Looking for lodgings," I answered. "Trying to solve the problem as to whether it is possible to get comfortable rooms at a reasonable price."

علّق رفيقي قائلاً: "هذا غريب، أنت ثاني شخص يستخدم هذه العبارة معي اليوم."

"That's a strange thing," remarked my companion; "you are the second man to-day that has used that expression to me."

سألت: "ومن كان الأول؟"

"And who was the first?" I asked.

"رجل يعمل في المختبر الكيميائي في المستشفى. كان يشكو هذا الصباح لأنه لم يجد أحداً يتقاسم معه أجرة بعض الغرف الجميلة التي وجدها، والتي كانت فوق طاقته المالية."

"A fellow who is working at the chemical laboratory up at the hospital. He was bemoaning himself this morning because he could not get someone to go halves with him in some nice rooms which he had found, and which were too much for his purse."

صحت: "يا إلهي! إذا كان يريد فعلاً شخصاً يتقاسم معه الغرف والنفقات، فأنا الشخص المناسب له تماماً. أفضّل أن يكون لي رفيق على أن أكون وحيداً."

"By Jove!" I cried, "if he really wants someone to share the rooms and the expense, I am the very man for him. I should prefer having a partner to being alone."

نظر إليّ الشاب ستامفورد بنظرة غريبة من فوق كأس نبيذه وقال: "أنت لم تعرف شيرلوك هولمز بعد؛ ربما لن يعجبك أن يكون رفيقاً دائماً لك."

Young Stamford looked rather strangely at me over his wine-glass. "You don't know Sherlock Holmes yet," he said; "perhaps you would not care for him as a constant companion."

"ولماذا؟ ما الذي يُؤخذ عليه؟"

"Why, what is there against him?"

"أوه، لم أقل إن ثمة شيئاً يُؤخذ عليه. إنه غريب الأطوار بعض الشيء في أفكاره، ومتحمس لبعض فروع العلوم. وبقدر ما أعلم، فهو رجل محترم بما يكفي."

"Oh, I didn't say there was anything against him. He is a little queer in his ideas—an enthusiast in some branches of science. As far as I know he is a decent fellow enough."

قلت: "أفترض أنه طالب طب؟"

"A medical student, I suppose?" said I.

"لا، ليس لديّ أي فكرة عما يعتزم دراسته."

"No—I have no idea what he intends to go in for.