It was a little past seven before we reached the Westminster wharf and found our launch awaiting us.

七点稍过，我们到达了西敏士特码头，汽船早已等候在那里了。

Holmes eyed it critically. "Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?"

福尔摩斯仔细地看了看，问道："这船上有什么标志指明是警察使用的吗？"

"Yes, that green lamp at the side."

"有，那船边上的绿灯。"

"Then take it off." The small change was made, we stepped on board, and the ropes were cast off.

"那么，摘下去。"绿灯摘下后，我们先后上船。船缆解开了。

Jones, Holmes, and I sat in the stern.

琼斯、福尔摩斯和我都坐在船尾，

There was one man at the rudder, one to tend the engines, and two burly police-inspectors forward.

另外一人掌舵，一人管机器，两个精壮的警长坐在我们的前面。

"Where to?" asked Jones.

琼斯问道："船开到哪里去？"

"To the Tower. Tell them to stop opposite to Jacobson's Yard."

"到伦敦塔，告诉他们，把船停在杰克勃森船坞的对面。"

Our craft was evidently a very fast one. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary.

我们的船速度确实很快，超越过无数满载的平底船，

Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us.

又超越过一只小汽船，福尔摩斯微笑地表示满意。

"We ought to be able to catch anything on the river," he said.

他道："照这样的速度，我们可以把河里的什么船都赶上了。"

"Well, hardly that. But there are not many launches to beat us."

琼斯道："那倒不见得，不过能够赶上我们这样速度的汽船，确是不多见的。"

"We shall have to catch the Aurora, and she has a name for being a clipper.

"我们必须赶上'曙光'号，那是一只有名的快艇。

I will tell you how the land lies, Watson.

华生，现在没有事，我可以把目前发展的情况和你讲讲。

You recollect how annoyed I was at being baulked by so small a thing?"

你记得不记得我说过一个很不算什么的障碍把我难住了，我是决不甘心的吗？"