I was walking in Central Park with Avery Knight, the great New York burglar, highwayman, and murderer.
我和埃弗里·奈特一起在中央公园散步，他是个伟大的纽约盗贼、公路强盗和杀人犯。

“But, my dear Knight,” said I, “it sounds incredible. —
“但是，亲爱的奈特，”我说， —

You have undoubtedly performed some of the most wonderful feats in your profession known to modern crime. —
“这听起来难以置信。你无疑已经执行了一些现代犯罪界中最令人惊叹的壮举。 —

You have committed some marvellous deeds under the very noses of the police–you have boldly entered the homes of millionaires and held them up with an empty gun while you made free with their silver and jewels; —
你在警察的鼻子底下犯下了一些奇妙的行为——你大胆地闯入百万富翁的家中，用空枪威胁他们，然后随意拿走他们的银器和珠宝； —

you have sandbagged citizens in the glare of Broadway’s electric lights; —
你在百老汇电灯的照耀下殴打市民； —

you have killed and robbed with superb openness and absolute impunity–but when you boast that within forty-eight hours after committing a murder you can run down and actually bring me face to face with the detective assigned to apprehend you, I must beg leave to express my doubts–remember, you are in New York.”
你以极高的公开度和绝对的豁免权杀人抢劫——但当你吹嘘在犯下一次谋杀后的四十八小时内，你可以追捕并将我亲自带到负责追捕你的侦探面前时，我必须表示怀疑——记住，你在纽约。”

Avery Knight smiled indulgently.
埃弗里·奈特得意地笑了笑。

“You pique my professional pride, doctor,” he said in a nettled tone. —
“医生，你刺激了我的职业自豪感，”他以急躁的口气说道， —

“I will convince you.”
“我会让你相信的。”

About twelve yards in advance of us a prosperous-looking citizen was rounding a clump of bushes where the walk curved. —
在我们前方约十二码的地方，一个相貌富态的市民正转过弯的行道边走过一丛灌木丛。 —

Knight suddenly drew a revolver and shot the man in the back. —
奈特突然拔出一把左轮手枪，对着那个人的后背开了一枪。 —

His victim fell and lay without moving.
受害人倒下后没有任何动静。

The great murderer went up to him leisurely and took from his clothes his money, watch, and a valuable ring and cravat pin. —
这个凶手慢悠悠地走近他，从他的衣服里取出了他的钱，手表，还有一枚有价值的戒指和领带夹。 —

He then rejoined me smiling calmly, and we continued our walk.
然后他冷静地微笑着跟我走在一起，我们继续我们的步行。

Ten steps and we met a policeman running toward the spot where the shot had been fired. —
十步之后，我们遇到了一个向着刚才发生枪击声的地方奔跑的警察。 —

Avery Knight stopped him.
埃弗里·奈特阻止了他。

“I have just killed a man,” he announced, seriously, “and robbed him of his possessions.”
“我刚刚杀了一个人，” 他严肃地宣布说，”并抢走了他的财物。”

“G’wan,” said the policeman, angrily, “or I’ll run yez in! —
“滚开，”警察生气地说，”否则我会把你抓起来！ —

Want yer name in the papers, don’t yez? —
想让你的名字登在报纸上，不是吗？ —

I never knew the cranks to come around so quick after a shootin’ before. —
我从来没见过发生枪击案后疯子们出现这么快的情况。 —

Out of th’ park, now, for yours, or I’ll fan yez.”
现在，赶快离开公园，否则我会对你进行驱散。”

“What you have done,” I said, argumentatively, as Knight and I walked on, “was easy. —
“你所做的事情，”我辩论着说，当奈特和我继续走的时候，” 很容易做到。” —

But when you come to the task of hunting down the detective that they send upon your trail you will find that you have undertaken a difficult feat.”
但是当你开始追捕派给你的侦探时，你会发现你已经承担了一项艰巨的任务。

“Perhaps so,” said Knight, lightly. —
“也许吧，”Knight轻松地说道。” —

“I will admit that my success depends in a degree upon the sort of man they start after me. —
我承认我的成功在于他们派给我的是什么样的人。 —

If it should be an ordinary plain-clothes man I might fail to gain a sight of him. —
如果是一个普通的便衣警察，我可能无法看到他。 —

If they honor me by giving the case to some one of their celebrated sleuths I do not fear to match my cunning and powers of induction against his.”
如果他们荣幸地把该案件交给一位著名的侦探，我不害怕将我的狡诈和演绎能力与他相匹配。

On the next afternoon Knight entered my office with a satisfied look on his keen countenance.
第二天下午，Knight带着满意的神色进入了我的办公室。

“How goes the mysterious murder?” I asked.
“神秘谋杀进行得如何了？”我问道。

“As usual,” said Knight, smilingly. —
“和往常一样，”Knight笑着说道。” —

“I have put in the morning at the police station and at the inquest. —
我在警察局和审讯上度过了早晨。 —

It seems that a card case of mine containing cards with my name and address was found near the body. —
似乎在尸体附近找到了一个装有我的名字和地址的卡片盒。 —

They have three witnesses who saw the shooting and gave a description of me. —
他们有三个目击证人见到了开枪的过程，并描述了我。 —

The case has been placed in the hands of Shamrock Jolnes, the famous detective. He left Headquarters at 11: —
这个案子已经交到了著名侦探Shamrock Jolnes手里。他在11点30分离开总部开始调查。我在家等到两点，以为他可能会打电话过来。 —

30 on the assignment. I waited at my address until two, thinking he might call there.”
我嘲笑着说，“你永远见不到Jolnes，”接着我继续说，“除非这起谋杀案被遗忘，大约要两三个星期后。”

I laughed, tauntingly.
我对你的聪明才智有了更高的评价，Knight。在你等了三个半小时之际，他已经从你的视野中消失了。

“You will never see Jolnes,” I continued, “until this murder has been forgotten, two or three weeks from now. —
他现在正在根据真正的推理理论追踪你，而以前从没有发生过任何不法之徒在他这样忙碌的时候找到他的案例。我建议你放弃吧。 —

I had a better opinion of your shrewdness, Knight. —
Knight神情一变，他那双浓眉下的灰色双眼闪出一道亮光，下巴紧绷着说：“医生， —

During the three hours and a half that you waited he has got out of your ken. —
尽管你们这个城市有十几起凶杀案而凶手从未被抓到，而且正在处理案子的侦探现在还无法见到凶手，但我要打破那个记录。” —

He is after you on true induction theories now, and no wrongdoer has yet been known to come upon him while thus engaged. —
Knight说完，眉头紧锁，样子坚毅， —

I advise you to give it up.”
他的话充满了决心。

“Doctor,” said Knight, with a sudden glint in his keen gray eye and a squaring of his chin, “in spite of the record your city holds of something like a dozen homicides without a subsequent meeting of the perpetrator, and the sleuth in charge of the case, I will undertake to break that record. —
“Shamrock Jolnes，你的时间已经到了。” —

To-morrow I will take you to Shamrock Jolnes– I will unmask him before you and prove to you that it is not an impossibility for an officer of the law and a manslayer to stand face to face in your city.”
明天我会带你去Shamrock Jolnes，我会在你面前揭开他的面具，并向你证明在你们的城市里，执法官员和杀人犯面对面站在一起并非不可能。

“Do it,” said I, “and you’ll have the sincere thanks of the Police Department.”
“做吧，”我说，”你将得到警察部门真诚的感谢。

On the next day Knight called for me in a cab.
第二天，Knight在一辆出租车中来接我。

“I’ve been on one or two false scents, doctor,” he admitted. —
“我曾经走了几条错误的线索，医生，” —

“I know something of detectives’ methods, and I followed out a few of them, expecting to find Jolnes at the other end. —
他承认道。”我对侦探方法有所了解，所以我追踪了其中一些线索，希望能找到Jolnes。 —

The pistol being a .45- caliber, I thought surely I would find him at work on the clue in Forty-fifth Street. —
那把手枪是.45口径的，我想肯定能在第45街找到他的蛛丝马迹。 —

Then, again, I looked for the detective at the Columbia University, as the man’s being shot in the back naturally suggested hazing. —
然后，我又在哥伦比亚大学找寻这个侦探，因为这个人被从背后射中自然让人联想到欺凌。 —

But I could not find a trace of him.”
但我找不到他的任何线索。

”–Nor will you,” I said, emphatically.
“你也找不到他，”我强调道。

“Not by ordinary methods,” said Knight. —
“不用普通的方法是找不到的，”Knight说道。” —

“I might walk up and down Broadway for a month without success. —
如果我一直在百老汇上下走动一个月，也不会有结果。 —

But you have aroused my pride, doctor; —
但是你激起了我的荣誉感，医生； —

and if I fail to show you Shamrock Jolnes this day, I promise you I will never kill or rob in your city again.”
如果我今天没有能让你见到Shamrock Jolnes的话，我保证以后再也不会在你的城市里杀人或抢劫了。

“Nonsense, man,” I replied. —
“胡说八道，伙计， —

“When our burglars walk into our houses and politely demand, thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels, and then dine and bang the piano an hour or two before leaving, how do you, a mere murderer, expect to come in contact with the detective that is looking for you?”
”我回答道。“当我们家里的盗贼走进来，礼貌地要求价值数千美元的珠宝，然后在离开之前用餐并弹钢琴一两个小时，你这个纯粹的杀人犯怎么能接触到正在寻找你的侦探呢？”

Avery Knight, sat lost in thought for a while. —
Avery Knight静静地坐在那里思考了一会。 —

At length he looked up brightly.
最后他开心地抬起头。

“Doc,” said he, “I have it. Put on your hat, and come with me. In half an hour I guarantee that you shall stand in the presence of Shamrock Jolnes.”
“Doc，”他说，“带上你的帽子，跟我来。我保证半个小时之内你就能见到Shamrock Jolnes了。”

I entered a cab with Avery Knight. —
我和Avery Knight一起坐进了一辆出租车。 —

I did not hear his instructions to the driver, but the vehicle set out at a smart pace up Broadway, turning presently into Fifth Avenue, and proceeding northward again. —
我没有听到他对司机的指示，但车辆迅速地沿着百老汇向上，然后转入第五大道，再次向北行驶。 —

It was with a rapidly beating heart that I accompanied this wonderful and gifted assassin, whose analytical genius and superb self- confidence had prompted him to make me the tremendous promise of bringing me into the presence of a murderer and the New York detective in pursuit of him simultaneously. —
伴随着心跳加速，我陪着这位才华横溢的刺客，他的分析天赋和极佳的自信力促使他向我作出了重大承诺，即同时将我带到一个凶手和纽约的侦探面前。 —

Even yet I could not believe it possible.
即便到现在我仍然难以相信这是可能的。

“Are you sure that you are not being led into some trap?” I asked. —
“你确定你没有被引入陷阱吗？”我问道。 —

“Suppose that your clue, whatever it is, should bring us only into the presence of the Commissioner of Police and a couple of dozen cops!”
“假设你的线索，无论是什么，只会带我们来到警察局长和几十个警察的面前呢！”

“My dear doctor,” said Knight, a little stiffly. —
“亲爱的医生，” Knight有点生硬地说道。” —

“I would remind you that I am no gambler.”
我要提醒你，我可不是个赌徒。”

“I beg your pardon,” said I. “But I do not think you will find Jolnes.”
“对不起，”我说道。 “但我不觉得你会找到Jolnes。”

The cab stopped before one of the handsomest residences on the avenue. —
马车停在了这条大街上最漂亮的住宅之一的面前。 —

Walking up and down in front of the house was a man with long red whiskers, with a detective’s badge showing on the lapel of his coat. —
在房子前来回走动的是一个蓄着长长的红胡须的人，他的外套翻领上挂着一枚侦探的徽章。 —

Now and then the man would remove his whiskers to wipe his face, and then I would recognize at once the well-known features of the great New York detective. —
时不时地，那个男人会移开他的胡须擦脸，然后我马上就会认出伟大纽约侦探的熟悉面容。 —

Jolnes was keeping a sharp watch upon the doors and windows of the house.
乔尔纳斯密切注视着房子的门窗。

“Well, doctor,” said Knight, unable to repress a note of triumph in his voice, “have you seen?”
“嗯，医生，”奈特声音中掩饰不住胜利的喜悦，“你看到了吗？”

“It is wonderful–wonderful!” I could not help exclaiming as our cab started on its return trip. —
“太神奇了，太神奇了！”我们的出租车启程回程时，我禁不住惊叹道。 —

“But how did you do it? By what process of induction–”
“但是你是如何做到的？通过什么样的演绎过程——”

“My dear doctor,” interrupted the great murderer, “the inductive theory is what the detectives use. —
“亲爱的医生，”伟大的凶手打断了我，“演绎理论是侦探们所使用的。 —

My process is more modern. —
我的方法更为现代化。 —

I call it the saltatorial theory. —
我称之为跳跃理论。 —

Without bothering with the tedious mental phenomena necessary to the solution of a mystery from slight clues, I jump at once to a conclusion. —
不费心思地进行从轻微线索解决一个谜团所需的繁琐思维现象，我直接跳到一个结论上。 —

I will explain to you the method I employed in this case.
我会向你解释我在这个案子中所采用的方法。

“In the first place, I argued that as the crime was committed in New York City in broad daylight, in a public place and under peculiarly atrocious circumstances, and that as the most skilful sleuth available was let loose upon the case, the perpetrator would never be discovered. —
“首先，我认为由于这起罪行是在纽约市白天、公共场所和特殊恶劣的情况下发生的，而且最出色的侦探已被释放到这个案子上，犯罪者将永远不会被发现。 —

Do you not think my postulation justified by precedent?”
你不认为我的前提是有先例支持的吗？”

“Perhaps so,” I replied, doggedly. “But if Big Bill Dev–”
“也许吧，”我坚定地回答道。“但如果是Big Bill Dev–”

“Stop that,” interrupted Knight, with a smile, “I’ve heard that several times. —
“不要再说了，”纳特打断道，微笑着，“我已经听过几次了。 —

It’s too late now. I will proceed.
现在已经太晚了。我继续。

“If homicides in New York went undiscovered, I reasoned, although the best detective talent was employed to ferret them out, it must be true that the detectives went about their work in the wrong way. —
“如果在纽约的杀人案无法被发现，尽管最好的侦探人才都被雇用来揪出真相，那么必然是侦探们用错了方法。 —

And not only in the wrong way, but exactly opposite from the right way. —
并且不仅错了方法，而且正好相反于正确的方法。 —

That was my clue.
这就是我的线索。

“I slew the man in Central Park. Now, let me describe myself to you.
“我在中央公园杀了那个人。现在，让我向你描述一下我自己。

“I am tall, with a black beard, and I hate publicity. I have no money to speak of; —
“我个子高，有黑胡子，讨厌名声。我也没什么钱； —

I do not like oatmeal, and it is the one ambition of my life to die rich. —
我不喜欢燕麦粥，而成为一个富有的人是我一生的愿望。 —

I am of a cold and heartless disposition. —
我性格冷漠无情。 —

I do not care for my fellowmen and I never give a cent to beggars or charity.
我不关心我的同胞，从不给乞丐或慈善机构一分钱。

“Now, my dear doctor, that is the true description of myself, the man whom that shrewd detective was to hunt down. —
“现在，亲爱的医生，这才是我真实的描述，那位精明的侦探将追踪的人。 —

You who are familiar with the history of crime in New York of late should be able to foretell the result. —
熟悉纽约最近的犯罪历史的你应该能够预测结果。 —

When I promised you to exhibit to your incredulous gaze the sleuth who was set upon me, you laughed at me because you said that detectives and murderers never met in New York. I have demonstrated to you that the theory is possible.”
当我向你承诺展示给你难以置信的眼神的追踪者时，你嘲笑我，因为你说纽约从来没有侦探和杀手相遇过。我向你证明了这个理论是可能的。”

“But how did you do it?” I asked again.
“但是你是怎么做到的？”我再次问道。

“It was very simple,” replied the distinguished murderer. —
“非常简单，”这位杰出的谋杀犯回答道。 —

“I assumed that the detective would go exactly opposite to the clues he had. —
“我假设侦探会根据他所拥有的线索进行完全相反的行动。” —

I have given you a description of myself. Therefore, he must necessarily set to work and trail a short man with a white beard who likes to be in the papers, who is very wealthy, is fond ‘of oatmeal, wants to die poor, and is of an extremely generous and philanthropic disposition. —
我已经给了你一个关于我自己的描述。因此，他必须立即行动，跟踪一个喜欢出现在报纸上的留着白胡须的矮个子，他非常富有，喜欢燕麦粥，想要贫穷地死去，并且极其慷慨和慈善。 —

When thus far is reached the mind hesitates no longer. —
当达到这一点时，思维不再犹豫。 —

I conveyed you at once to the spot where Shamrock Jolnes was piping off Andrew Carnegie’s residence.”
我立刻将你带到了Shamrock Jolnes吹奏的Andrew Carnegie住所。

“Knight,” said I, “you’re a wonder. —
“骑士，”我说，“你真是个奇迹。 —

If there was no danger of your reforming, what a rounds man you’d make for the Nineteenth Precinct!”
如果不担心你改过自新，你会是第19分局一名很棒的警察。”