We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market.

我们穿过霍尔伯恩街，折入恩德尔街，接着又走过道路曲折的平民区来到了考文特园市场。

One of the largest stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it,

在一些大货摊中有一个货摊的招牌上写着布莱肯里奇的名字，

and the proprietor, a horsy-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers, was helping a boy to put up the shutters.

店主是个长脸的人，脸部瘦削，留着整齐的络腮胡子，这时候，他正在帮着一个小伙计收摊。

"Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes.

"晚安，多么冷的夜晚哪！"福尔摩斯说。

The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my companion.

店主人点了点头，用怀疑的眼光打量了一下我的同伴。

"Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bare slabs of marble.

"看光景鹅都卖完了。"福尔摩斯手指着空荡荡的大理石柜台接着说。

"Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "That's no good."

"明天早晨，我可以卖给你五百只鹅。" "那没有用。"

"Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare."

"好吧，煤气灯亮着的那个货摊上还有几只。"

"Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Who by?"

"噢，可是我是人家介绍到你这儿来的。""谁介绍的？"

"The landlord of the Alpha." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen."

"阿尔法酒店的老板。""噢，是的；我给他送去了二十四只。"

"Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?"

"那些鹅可真是不错啊。那么，你是从哪儿弄来的呢？"

To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the salesman.

使我感到吃惊的是这个问题竟然惹得店主勃然大怒。