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I lay back against the cushions, puffing at my cigar,
我向后仰靠在椅背上，抽了一口雪茄，
while Holmes, leaning forward, with his long, thin forefinger checking off the points upon the palm of his left hand,
福尔摩斯俯身向前，用他那瘦长的食指在他左手掌上指点着，
gave me a sketch of the events which had led to our journey.
向我说明引起我们这次旅行的事件的梗概。
"Silver Blaze," said he, "is from the Somomy stock and holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor.
"银色白额马，"福尔摩斯说道，"是索莫密种，和它驰名的祖先一样，始终保持着优秀的记录。
He is now in his fifth year and has brought in turn each of the prizes of the turf to Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner.
它已经是五岁口了，在赛马场上每次都为它那幸运的主人罗斯上校赢得头奖。
Up to the time of the catastrophe he was the first favourite for the Wessex Cup, the betting being three to one on him.
在这次不幸事件以前，它是韦塞克斯杯锦标赛的冠军，人们在他身上的赌注是三比一。
He has always, however, been a prime favourite with the racing public and has never yet disappointed them,
然而它是赛马嗜好者最爱的名驹，而且从未使它的爱好者落空，
so that even at those odds enormous sums of money have been laid upon him.
因此，即使是这样的悬殊的赌注，也有巨款押在它身上。
It is obvious, therefore, that there were many people who had the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze from being there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday.
所以，设法阻止银色白额马去参加下星期二的比赛，显然同许多人的切身利害息息相关。
The fact was, of course, appreciated at King's Pyland, where the colonel's training-stable is situated.
当然，在上校驯马厩所在地金斯皮兰，人们都知道这种事实。
Every precaution was taken to guard the favourite.
所以，对这匹名驹采取了各种预防措施来保护它。
The trainer, John Straker, is a retired jockey who rode in Colonel Ross's colours before he became too heavy for the weighing-chair.
驯马人约翰·斯特雷克原是罗斯上校的赛马骑师，后来因体重增加，才另换他人。
He has served the colonel for five years as jockey and for seven as trainer, and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant.
斯特雷克在上校家做了五年骑师，七年驯马师，平时的表现是一个热心肠的诚实仆人。
Under him were three lads, for the establishment was a small one, containing only four horses in all.
斯特雷克手下有三个小马倌，马厩不大，一共只有四骑马。
One of these lads sat up each night in the stable, while the others slept in the loft.
一个小马倌每天晚上都住在马厩里，另外两个就睡在草料棚中。
All three bore excellent characters.
三个小伙子的品行都很好。
John Straker, who is a married man, lived in a small villa about two hundred yards from the stables.
约翰·斯特雷克已经结婚，住在离马厩二百码远近的一座小别墅里。
He has no children, keeps one maidservant, and is comfortably off.
他没有孩子，有一个女仆，生活还算舒适。
The country round is very lonely, but about half a mile to the north there is a small cluster of villas
那个地方很荒凉，在北边半英里以外，有几座别墅，是塔维斯托克镇的承包商建造的，
which have been built by a Tavistock contractor for the use of invalids and others who may wish to enjoy the pure Dartmoor air.
专供病人疗养以及其他愿来呼吸达特穆尔新鲜空气的人住用。
Tavistock itself lies two miles to the west, while across the moor, also about two miles distant,
向西二英里以外就是塔维斯托克镇，穿过荒野，大约也有二英里远近，
is the larger training establishment of Mapleton, which belongs to Lord Backwater and is managed by Silas Brown.
有一个梅普里通马厩，是属于巴克沃特勋爵的，管理人名叫赛拉斯·布朗。
In every other direction the moor is a complete wilderness, inhabited only by a few roaming gypsies.
荒野其他方向则异常荒凉，只有少数流浪的吉卜赛人散居着。
Such was the general situation last Monday night when the catastrophe occurred.
这件祸事发生的星期一晚上，基本情况就是这样。
