The deed was executed with a degree of self-possession and steadiness equal to the wickedness with which it was planned.
这种以泰然自若和坚定沉着的方式实施的行为,与经过周密计划实施的邪恶行为并没有什么两样。
The circumstances, now clearly in evidence, spread out the whole scene before us.
现在很明显,整个犯罪场景在我们面前展开了。
Deep sleep had fallen on the destined victim, and on all beneath his roof.
命中注定的受害者在他家的屋檐底下,陷入沉睡。
A healthful old man, to whom sleep was sweet,
一位健康的老人,睡得很香甜。
the first sound slumbers of the night held him in their soft but strong embrace.
作为当夜第一个入睡的人,他成为他们的囊中物。
The assassin enters through the window, already prepared, into an unoccupied apartment.
已经做好准备的暗杀凶手破窗而入,溜进空着的房间。
With noiseless foot he paces the lonely hall, half-lighted by the moon;
借助半明半暗的月光,他蹑足潜踪穿过空旷的大厅,一点声息也没有。
he winds up the ascent of the stairs, and reaches the door of the chamber.
他登上楼梯,来到卧室门口。
Of this, he moves the lock by soft and continued pressure till it turns on its hinges without noise;
他轻轻旋动门锁,悄无声息地压着把手,直到铰链开了。
and he enters, and beholds his victim before him.
他闪身而入,站在被害者面前注视着他。
The room was uncommonly open to the admission of light.
屋内不寻常地从外面映进亮光。
The face of the innocent sleeper was turned from the murderer,
这个睡着了的无辜的人那张脸背着凶手,
and the beams of the moon, resting on the gray locks of his aged temple,
月光映在搭在那老年人特征明显的太阳穴上一缕灰暗的头发上,
showed him where to strike. The fatal blow is given! and the victim passes,
正好向凶手表明该朝哪儿动手。于是,老人太阳穴上遭到致命一击!被害者死了,
without a struggle or a motion, from the repose of sleep to the repose of death!
甚至连挣扎或动弹一下都没有,就这样从入睡状态下的安详突然过渡到死亡的安详!