The King in Yellow — Page 3

他放下锤子，给我讲述了这套盔甲的历史，追溯到1450年，从一个主人到另一个主人，直到被托马斯·斯坦布里奇收藏。

He laid down his hammer and read me the history of the suit, traced since 1450 from owner to owner until it was acquired by Thomas Stainbridge.

当他那批精美的藏品被出售时，霍伯克的这位客户买下了这套盔甲，此后便一直追寻那块失踪的护胫，几乎是偶然地在巴黎找到了它。

When his superb collection was sold, this client of Hawberk's bought the suit, and since then the search for the missing greave had been pushed until it was, almost by accident, located in Paris.

「您在毫无把握护胫是否仍然存在的情况下，还如此执着地继续寻找吗？」我追问道。

"Did you continue the search so persistently without any certainty of the greave being still in existence?" I demanded.

「当然，」他平静地回答。

"Of course," he replied coolly.

就在这时，我第一次对霍伯克产生了私人的兴趣。

Then for the first time I took a personal interest in Hawberk.

「这对您来说应该很值钱吧，」我试探着说。

"It was worth something to you," I ventured.

「不，」他笑着回答，「找到它本身就是我的回报。」

"No," he replied, laughing, "my pleasure in finding it was my reward."

「您难道没有想要致富的抱负吗？」我微笑着问道。

"Have you no ambition to be rich?" I asked, smiling.

「我唯一的抱负，是成为世界上最好的盔甲师，」他郑重地回答。

"My one ambition is to be the best armourer in the world," he answered gravely.

康斯坦斯问我是否去看了致死室的仪式。

Constance asked me if I had seen the ceremonies at the Lethal Chamber.

她自己那天早上注意到有骑兵经过百老汇，本想去观看就职典礼，但她父亲希望她把旗帜做完，她便应他的请求留了下来。

She herself had noticed cavalry passing up Broadway that morning, and had wished to see the inauguration, but her father wanted the banner finished, and she had stayed at his request.

「您在那里看到您的表兄卡斯泰涅先生了吗？」她问道，那双柔美的睫毛微微颤动着。

"Did you see your cousin, Mr. Castaigne, there?" she asked, with the slightest tremor of her soft eyelashes.

「没有，」我漫不经心地回答，「路易的团正在威彻斯特县进行演习。」我站起身，拿起帽子和手杖。

"No," I replied carelessly. "Louis' regiment is manœuvring out in Westchester County." I rose and picked up my hat and cane.

「您又要上楼去看那个疯子了吗？」老霍伯克笑着问道。

"Are you going upstairs to see the lunatic again?" laughed old Hawberk.