福尔摩斯-恐怖谷 The Valley of Fear（14）

Chapter VII.,The Trapping of Birdy Edwards,As McMurdo had said, the house in which he lived was a lonely one and very well suited for such a crime as they had planned. It was on the extreme fringe of the town and stood well back from the road. In any other case the conspirators ² would have simply called out their man, as they had many a time before, and emptied their pistols into his body; but in this instance it was very necessary to find out how much he knew, how he knew it, and what had been passed on to his employers.,It was possible that they were already too late and that the work had been done. If that was indeed so, they could at least have their revenge upon the man who had done it. But they were hopeful that nothing of great importance had yet come to the detective's knowledge, as otherwise, they argued, he would not have troubled to write down and forward such trivial information as McMurdo claimed to have given him. However, all this they would learn from his own lips. Once in their power, they would find a way to make him speak. It was not the first time that they had handled an unwilling ³ witness.,McMurdo went to Hobson's Patch as agreed. The police seemed to take particular interest in him that morning, and Captain Marvin—he who had claimed the old acquaintance with him at Chicago—actually addressed him as he waited at the station. McMurdo turned away and refused to speak with him. He was back from his mission in the afternoon, and saw McGinty at the Union House.,“He is coming,” he said.,“Do you reckon he knows much? ” he asked anxiously.,McMurdo shook his head gloomily. “He's been here some time—six weeks at the least. I guess he didn't come into these parts to look at the prospect ⁷. If he has been working among us all that time with the railroad money at his back, I should expect that he has got results, and that he has passed them on.”,“There's not a weak man in the lodge ⁸,
” cried McGinty. “True as steel, every man of them. And yet, by the Lord! there is that skunk ⁹ Morris. What about him? If any man gives us away, it would be he. I've a mind to send a couple of the boys round before evening to give him a beating up and see what they can get from him.”,“Well, there would be no harm in that, ” McMurdo answered. “I won't deny that I have a liking ¹⁰ for Morris and would be sorry to see him come to harm. He has spoken to me once or twice over lodge matters, and though he may not see them the same as you or I, he never seemed the sort that squeals ¹¹. But still it is not for me to stand between him and you.
”,“I'll fix the old devil!” said McGinty with an oath. “I've had my eye on him this year past. ”,She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。,The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗 。 来自《简明英汉词典》