"By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my voice in my anger.

"这时候，因为我盛怒中的大声叫喊，全家都骚动了。

Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face,

玛丽首先奔进我的房间，一看见那顶皇冠和阿瑟的脸色，

she read the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground.

她就觉察到了全部情况，只听她一声尖叫，随即昏倒在地。

I sent the house-maid for the police and put the investigation into their hands at once.

我立刻派女佣人去召来警察，请他们马上进行调查。

When the inspector and a constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with his arms folded,

当一位巡官带着一位警士进屋的时候，阿瑟交叉着两臂悻悻地站着，

asked me whether it was my intention to charge him with theft.

问我是不是打算控告他偷窃。

I answered that it had ceased to be a private matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was national property.

我回答他说既然这顶弄坏了的皇冠是国家的财产，这就不是私事而是一桩公事了。

I was determined that the law should have its way in everything.

我不得不决定，一切都应遵照法律行事。

'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once.

'至少，'他说，'你不会马上让人逮捕我吧。

It would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the house for five minutes.'

我要是能离开这间屋子五分钟，对你我两人都有好处。'

'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you have stolen,' said I.

'这样，你就可以逃之夭夭，也许可以将偷得的东西藏起来了，'我说。

And then, realizing the dreadful position in which I was placed,

这时我意识到我可怕的处境，

I implored him to remember that not only my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at stake;

我恳求阿瑟不要忘记，不单是我的，而且是一位比我高贵得多的人的荣誉处在危险关头，

and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would convulse the nation.

他有可能惹起一桩震惊全国的丑闻。

He might avert it all if he would but tell me what he had done with the three missing stones. "

但是他可以使这一切不致发生，只要他告诉我，他是如何处置这三块失踪的绿玉就成。"