As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought over it all,

当我乘车回到我在肯辛顿的住家时，我又把事情由始至终思索了一遍，

from the extraordinary story of the red-headed copier of the Encyclopaedia down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg Square,

从抄写《大英百科全书》的那个红头发人的异乎寻常的遭遇，到去访问萨克斯—科伯格广场，

and the ominous words with which he had parted from me.

到福尔摩斯和我分手时所说的不祥的预示。

What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed?

要在夜间出征是怎么回事？为什么要我带武器去？

Where were we going, and what were we to do?

我们准备到哪里去？去干什么？

I had the hint from Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game.

我从福尔摩斯那里得到暗示，当铺老板的那个脸庞光滑的伙计是难对付的家伙，这家伙可能施展狡猾的花招。

I tried to puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside until night should bring an explanation.

我老是想把这些事情理出个头绪来，结果总在失望中作罢，只好把它们放在一边，反正到晚上就会水落石出。

It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Street.

我从家里动身的时间是九点一刻，我是穿过公园去的，这样也就穿过牛津街，然后到达贝克街。

Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered the passage I heard the sound of voices from above.

两辆双轮双座马车停在门口。当我走进过道的时候，我听到从楼上传来的声音。

On entering his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men,

我走进福尔摩斯的房间里，看见他正和两个人谈得很热烈。

one of whom I recognized as Peter Jones, the official police agent,

我认出其中一个人是警察局的官方侦探彼得·琼斯；

while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat.

另一个是面黄肌瘦的高个子男人，他头戴一顶光泽闪闪的帽子，身穿一件厚厚的、非常讲究的礼服大衣。