A bitter animosity had for some months existed on both sides, born of the most intense professional jealousy4. They had been friends for years. No unseemly rivalry5 disturbed this friendship as long as it was merely a question of collecting, preparing, and mounting for exhibition the vast numbers of butterflies and moths8 which haunt this insectivorous earth. Even their zeal10 in the eternal hunt for new and undescribed species had not made them enemies.
I am afraid that my suggestion for the construction of a great glass flying-cage for living specimens11 of moths and butterflies started the trouble between these hitherto godly and middle-aged13 men. That, and the Carnegie Educational Medal were the causes which began this deplorable affair.
Various field collectors, employed by both Quint and Boomly, were always out all over the world foraging14 for specimens; also, they were constantly returning with spoils from every quarter of the globe.
Now, to secure rare and beautiful living specimens of butterflies and moths for the crystal flying-cage was a serious and delicate job. Such tropical insects could not survive the journey of several months from the wilds of Australia, India, Asia, Africa, or the jungles of South America — nor could semi-tropical species endure the captivity15 of a few weeks or even days, when captured in the West Indies, Mexico, or Florida. Only our duller-coloured, smaller, and hardier16 native species tolerated capture and exhibition.
Therefore, the mode of procedure which I suggested was for our field expeditions to obtain males and females of the same species of butterfly or moth9, mate them, and, as soon as any female deposited her eggs, place the tiny pearl-like eggs in cold storage to retard17 their hatching, which normally occurs, in the majority of species, within ten days or two weeks.
This now was the usual mode of procedure followed by the field collectors employed by Dr. Quint and Professor Boomly. And not only were the eggs of various butterflies and moths so packed for transportation, but a sufficient store of their various native food-plants was also preserved, where such food-plants could not be procured18 in the United States. So when the eggs arrived at Bronx Park, and were hatched there in due time, the young caterpillars21 had plenty of nourishment22 ready for them in cold storage.
Might I not, legitimately23, have expected the Carnegie Educational Medal for all this? I have never received it. I say this without indignation — even without sorrow. I merely make the statement.
Yet, my system was really a very beautiful system; a tiny batch24 of eggs would arrive from Ceylon, or Sumatra, or Africa; when taken from cold storage and placed in the herbarium they would presently hatch; the caterpillars were fed with their accustomed food-plant — a few leaves being taken from cold storage every day for them — they would pass through their three or four moulting periods, cease feeding in due time, transform into the chrysalis stage, and finally appear in all the splendour and magnificence of butterfly or moth.
The great glass flying-cage was now alive with superb moths and butterflies, flitting, darting25, fluttering among the flowering bushes or feeding along the sandy banks of the brook26 which flowed through the flying-cage, bordered by thickets27 of scented28 flowers. And it was like looking at a meteoric29 shower of winged jewels, where the huge metallic-blue Morphos from South America flapped and sailed, and the orange and gold and green Ornithoptera from Borneo pursued their majestic30, bird-like flight — where big, glittering Papilios flashed through the bushes or alighted nervously31 to feed for a few moments on jasmine and phlox, and where the slowly flopping32 Heliconians winged their way amid the denser33 tangles34 of tropical vegetation.
Nothing like this flying-cage had ever before been seen in New York; thousands and thousands of men, women, and children thronged35 the lawn about the flying-cage all day long.
By night, also, the effect was wonderful; the electric lights among the foliage36 broke out; the great downy-winged moths, which had been asleep all day while the butterflies flitted through the sunshine, now came out to display their crimson37 or peacock-spotted wings, and the butterflies folded their wings and went to bed for the night.
The public was enchanted38, the authorities of the Bronx proud and delighted; all apparently39 was happiness and harmony. Except that nobody offered me the Carnegie medal.
I was sitting one morning in my office, which, as I have said, separated the offices of Dr. Quint and Professor Boomly, when there came a loud rapping on my door, and, at my invitation, Dr. Quint bustled40 in — a little, meagre, excitable, near-sighted man with pointed41 mustaches and a fleck42 of an imperial smudging his lower lip.
“Last week,” he began angrily, “young Jones arrived from Singapore bringing me the eggs of Erebia astarte, the great Silver Moon butterfly. Attempts to destroy them have been made. Last night I left them in a breeding-cage on my desk. Has anybody been in there?”
“I don’t know,” I said. “What has happened?”
“I found an ichneumon fly in the cage yesterday!” he shouted; “and this morning the eggs have either shrunk to half their size or else the eggs of another species have been secretly substituted for them and the Silver Moon eggs stolen! Has he been in there?”
“Who?” I asked, pretending to misunderstand.
“He!“ demanded Quint fiercely. “If he has I’ll kill him some day.”
He meant his one-time friend, Dr. Boomly. Alas43!
“For heaven’s sake, why are you two perpetually squabbling?” I asked wearily. “You used to be inseparable friends. Why can’t you make up?”
“Because I’ve come to know him. That’s why! I have unmasked this — this Borgia — this Machiavelli — this monster of duplicity! Matters are approaching a point where something has got to be done short of murder. I’ve stood all his envy and jealousy and cheap imputations and hints and contemptible44 innuendoes45 that I’m going to —”
He stopped short, glaring at the doorway46, which had suddenly been darkened by the vast bulk of Professor Boomly — a figure largely abdominal47 but majestic — like the massive butt7 end of an elephant. For the rest, he had a rather insignificant48 and peevish49 face and a melancholy50 mustache that usually looked damp.
“Mr. Smith,” he said to me, in his thin, high, sarcastic51 voice — a voice incongruously at variance52 with his bulk —“has anybody had the infernal impudence53 to enter my room and nose about my desk?”
“Yes, I have!” replied Quint excitedly. “I’ve been in your room. What of it? What about it?”
Boomly permitted his heavy-lidded eyes to rest on Quint for a moment, then, turning to me:
“I want a patent lock put on my door. Will you speak to Professor Farrago?”
“I want one put on mine, too!” cried Quint. “I want a lock put on my door which will keep envious54, dull-minded, mentally broken-down, impertinent, and fat people out of my office!”
Boomly flushed heavily:
“Fat?” he repeated, glaring at Quint. “Did you say ‘fat?’”
“Yes, fat — intellectually and corporeally55 fat! I want that kind of individual kept out. I don’t trust them. I’m afraid of them. Their minds are atrophied56. They are unmoral, possibly even criminal! I don’t want them in my room snooping about to see what I have and what I’m doing. I don’t want them to sneak57 in, eaten up with jealousy and envy, and try to damage the eggs of the Silver Moon butterfly because the honour and glory of hatching them would probably procure19 for me the Carnegie Educational Medal —”
“Why, you little, dried-up, protoplasmic atom!” burst out Boomly, his face suffused58 with passion, “Are you insinuating59 that I have any designs on your batch of eggs?”
“It’s my belief,” shouted Quint, “that you want that medal yourself, and that you put an ichneumon fly in my breeding-cage in hopes it would sting the eggs of the Silver Moon.”
“If you found an ichneumon fly there,” retorted Boomly, “you probably hatched it in mistake for a butterfly!” And he burst into a peal60 of contemptuous laughter, but his little, pig-like eyes under the heavy lids were furious.
“I now believe,” said Quint, trembling with rage, “that you have criminally substituted a batch of common Plexippus eggs for the Silver Moon eggs I had in my breeding-cage! I believe you are sufficiently61 abandoned to do it!”
“Ha! Ha!” retorted Boomly scornfully. “I don’t believe you ever had anything in your breeding-cage except a few clothes moths and cockroaches62!”
Quint began to dance:
“You did take them!” he yelled; “and you left me a bunch of milkweed butterflies’ eggs! Give me my eggs or I shall violently assault you!”
“Assault your grandmother!” remarked Boomly, with unscientific brevity. “What do you suppose I want of your ridiculous eggs? Haven’t I enough eggs of Heliconius salome hatching to give me the Carnegie medal if I want it?”
“The Silver Moon eggs are unique!” cried Quint. “You know it! You know that if they hatch, pupate, and become perfect insects that I shall certainly be awarded —”
“You’ll be awarded the Matteawan medal,” remarked Boomly with venom63.
Quint ran at him with a half-suppressed howl, his momentum64 carrying him halfway65 up Professor Boomly’s person. Then, losing foothold, he fell to the floor and began to kick in the general direction of Professor Boomly. It was a sorrowful sight to see these two celebrated scientists panting, mauling, scuffling and punching each other around the room, tables and chairs and scrapbaskets flying in every direction, and I mounted on the window-sill horrified66, speechless, trying to keep clear of the revolving67 storm centre.
“Where are my Silver Moon eggs!” screamed Dr. Quint. “Where are my eggs that Jones brought me from Singapore — you entomological robber! You’ve got ’em somewhere! If you don’t give ’em up I’ll find means to destroy you!”
“You insignificant pair of maxillary palpi!” bellowed68 Professor Boomly, galloping69 after Dr. Quint as he dodged70 around my desk. “I’ll pull off those antenn? you call whiskers if I can get hold of em —”
Dr. Quint’s threatened mustaches bristled71 as he fled before the elephantine charge of Professor Boomly — once again around my desk, then out into the hall, where I heard the door of his office slam, and Boomly, gasping72, panting, breathing vengeance73 outside, and vowing74 to leave Quint quite whiskerless when he caught him.
It was a painful scene for scientists to figure in or to gaze upon. Profoundly shocked and upset, I locked up the anthropological75 department offices and went out into the Park, where the sun was shining and a gentle June wind stirred the trees.
Too completely upset to do any more work that day, I wandered about amid the gaily76 dressed crowds at hazard; sometimes I contemplated77 the monkeys; sometimes gazed sadly upon the seals. They dashed and splashed and raced round and round their tank, or crawled up on the rocks, craned their wet, sleek78 necks, and barked — houp! houp! houp!
For luncheon79 I went over to the Rolling Stone Restaurant. There was a very pretty girl there — an unusually pretty girl — or perhaps it was one of those days on which every girl looked unusually pretty to me. There are such days.
Her voice was exquisite80 when she spoke81. She said:
“We have, today, corned beef hash, fried ham and eggs, liver and bacon —” but let that pass, too.
I took my tea very weak; by that time I learned that her name was Mildred Case; that she had been a private detective employed in a department store, and that her duties had been to nab wealthy ladies who forgot to pay for objects usually discovered in their reticules, bosoms82, and sometimes in their stockings.
But the confinement83 of indoor work had been too much for Mildred Case, and the only outdoor job she could find was the position of lady waitress in the rustic84 Rolling Stone Inn.
She was very, very beautiful, or perhaps it was one of those days — but let that pass, too.
“You are the great Mr. Percy Smith, Curator of the Anthropological Department, are you not?” she asked shyly.
“Yes,” I said modestly; and, to slightly rebuke85 any superfluous86 pride in me, I paraphrased87 with becoming humility88, pointing upward: “but remember, Mildred, there is One greater than I.”
“Mr. Carnegie?” she nodded innocently. That was true, too. I let it go at that.
We chatted: she mentioned Professor Boomly and Dr. Quint, gently deploring89 the rupture90 of their friendship. Both gentlemen, in common with the majority of the administration personnel, were daily customers at the Rolling Stone Inn. I usually took my lunch from my boarding-house to my office, being too busy to go out for mere6 nourishment.
That is why I had hitherto missed Mildred Case.
“Mildred,” I said, “I do not believe it can be wholesome91 for a man to eat sandwiches while taking minute measurements of defunct92 monkeys. Also, it is not a fragrant93 pastime. Hereafter I shall lunch here.”
“It will be a pleasure to serve you,” said that unusually — there I go again! It was an unusually beautiful day in June. Which careful, exact, and scientific statement, I think ought to cover the subject under consideration.
After luncheon I sadly selected a five-cent cigar; and, as I hesitated, lingering over the glass case, undecided still whether to give full rein95 to this contemplated extravagance, I looked up and found her beautiful grey eyes gazing into mine.
“What gentle thoughts are yours, Mildred?” I said softly.
“The cigar you have selected,” she murmured, “is fly-specked.”
Deeply touched that this young girl should have cared — that she should have expressed her solicitude96 so modestly, so sweetly, concerning the maculatory condition of my cigar, I thanked her and purchased, for the same sum, a packet of cigarettes.
That was going somewhat far for me. I had never in all my life even dreamed of smoking a cigarette. To a reserved, thoughtful, and scientific mind there is, about a packet of cigarettes, something undignified, something vaguely97 frolicsome98.
When I paid her for them I felt as though, for the first time in my life, I had let myself go.
Oddly enough, in this uneasy feeling of gaiety and abandon, a curious sensation of exhilaration persisted.
We had quite a merry little contretemps when I tried to light my cigarette and the match went out, and then she struck another match, and we both laughed, and that match was extinguished by her breath.
Instantly I quoted: “‘Her breath was like the new-mown hay —’”
“Mr. Smith!” she said, flushing slightly.
“‘Her eyes,’ I quoted, ‘were like the stars at even!’”
“You don’t mean my eyes, do you?”
I took a puff99 at my unlighted cigarette. It also smelled like recently mown hay. I felt that I was slipping my cables and heading toward an unknown and tempestuous100 sea.
“What time are you free, Mildred?” I asked, scarcely recognising my own voice in such reckless apropos101.
She shyly informed me.
I struck a match, relighted my cigarette, and took one puff. That was sufficient: I was adrift. I realised it, trembled internally, took another puff.
“If,” said I carelessly, “on your way home you should chance to stroll along the path beyond the path that leads to the path which —”
I paused, checked by her bewildered eyes. We both blushed.
“Which way do you usually go home?” I asked, my ears afire.
She told me. It was a suitably unfrequented path.
So presently I strolled thither102; and seated myself under the trees in a bosky dell.
Now, there is a quality in boskiness not inappropriate to romantic thoughts. Boskiness, cigarettes, a soft afternoon in June, the hum of bees, and the distant barking of the seals, all these were delicately blending to inspire in me a bashful sentiment.
A specimen12 of Papilio turnus, di-morphic form, Glaucus, alighted near me; I marked its flight with scientific indifference103. Yet it is a rare species in Bronx Park.
A mock-orange bush was in snowy bloom behind me; great bunches of wistaria hung over the rock beside me.
The combination of these two exquisite perfumes seemed to make the boskiness more bosky.
There was an unaccustomed and sportive lightness to my step when I rose to meet Mildred, where she came loitering along the shadow-dappled path.
She seemed surprised to see me.
She thought it rather late to sit down, but she seated herself. I talked to her enthusiastically about anthropology104. She was so interested that after a while she could scarcely keep still, moving her slim little feet restlessly, biting her pretty lower lip, shifting her position — all certain symptoms of an interest in science which even approached excitement.
Warmed to the heart by her eager and sympathetic interest in the noble science so precious, so dear to me, I took her little hand to soothe105 and quiet her, realizing that she might become overexcited as I described the pituitary body and why its former functions had become atrophied until the gland106 itself was nearly obsolete107.
So intense her interest had been that she seemed a little tired. I decided94 to give adequate material support to her spinal108 process. It seemed to rest and soothe her. I don’t remember that she said anything except: “Mr. Smith!” I don’t recollect109 what we were saying when she mentioned me by name rather abruptly110.
The afternoon was wonderfully still and calm. The month was June.
After a while — quite a while — some little time in point of accurate fact — she detected the sound of approaching footsteps.
I remember that she was seated at the opposite end of the bench, rather feverishly111 occupied with her hat and her hair, when young Jones came hastily along the path, caught sight of us, halted, turned violently red — being a shy young man — but instead of taking himself off, he seemed to recover from a momentary112 paralysis113.
“Mr. Smith!” he said sharply. “Professor Boomly has disappeared; there’s a pool of blood on his desk; his coat, hat, and waistcoat are lying on the floor, the room is a wreck114, and Dr. Quint is in there tearing up the carpet and behaving like a madman. We think he suddenly went insane and murdered Professor Boomly. What is to be done?”
Horrified, I had risen at his first word. And now, as I understood the full purport115 of his dreadful message, my hair stirred under my hat and I gazed at him, appalled116.
“What is to be done?” he demanded. “Shall I telephone for the police?”
“Do you actually believe,” I faltered117, “that this unfortunate man has murdered Boomly?”
“I don’t know. I looked over the transom, but I couldn’t see Professor Boomly. Dr. Quint has locked the door.”
“And he’s tearing up the carpet?”
“Like a lunatic. I didn’t want to call in the police until I’d asked you. Such a scandal in Bronx Park would be a frightful118 thing for us all —” He hesitated, looked around, coldly, it seemed to me, at Mildred Case. “A scandal,” he repeated, “is scarcely what might be expected among a harmonious119 and earnest band of seekers after scientific knowledge. Is it, Mil — Miss Case?”
Now, I don’t know why Mildred should have blushed. There was nothing that I could see in this young man’s question to embarrass her.
Preoccupied120, still confused by the shock of this terrible news, I looked at Jones and at Mildred; and they were staring rather oddly at each other.
I said: “If this affair turns out to be as ghastly as it seems to promise, we’ll have to call in a detective. I’ll go back immediately —”
“Why not take me, also?” asked Mildred Case, quietly.
“What?” I asked, looking at her.
“Why not, Mr. Smith? I was once a private detective.”
Surprised at the suggestion, I hesitated.
“If you desire to keep this matter secret — if you wish to have it first investigated privately121 and quietly — would it not be a good idea to let me use my professional knowledge before you call in the police? Because as soon as the police are summoned all hope of avoiding publicity122 is at an end.”
She spoke so sensibly, so quietly, so modestly, that her offer of assistance deeply impressed me.
As for young Jones, he looked at her steadily123 in that odd, chilling manner, which finally annoyed me. There was no need of his being snobbish124 because this very lovely and intelligent young girl happened to be a waitress at the Rolling Stone Inn.
“Come,” I said unsteadily, again a prey125 to terrifying emotions; “let us go to the Administration Building and learn how matters stand. If this affair is as terrible as I fear it to be, science has received the deadliest blow ever dealt it since Cagliostro perished.”
As we three strode hastily along the path in the direction of the Administration Building, I took that opportunity to read these two youthful fellow beings a sermon on envy, jealousy, and coveteousness.
“See,” said I, “to what a miserable126 condition the desire for notoriety and fame has brought two learned and enthusiastic delvers in the vineyard of endeavor! The mad desire for the Carnegie medal completely turned the hitherto perfectly127 balanced brains of these devoted128 disciples129 of Science. Envy begat envy, jealousy begat jealousy, pride begat pride, hatred130 begat hatred —”
“It’s like that book in the Bible where everybody begat everybody else,” said Mildred seriously.
At first I thought she had made an apt and clever remark; but on thinking it over I couldn’t quite see its relevancy. I turned and looked into her sweet face. Her eyes were dancing with brilliancy and her sensitive lips quivered. I feared, she was near to tears from the reaction of the shock. Had Jones not been walking with us — but let that go, too.
We were now entering the Administration Building, almost running; and as soon as we came to the closed door of Dr. Quint’s room, I could hear a commotion131 inside — desk drawers being pulled out and their contents dumped, curtains being jerked from their rings, an unmistakable sound indicating the ripping up of a carpet — and through all this din1 the agitated132 scuffle of footsteps.
I rapped on the door. No notice taken. I rapped and knocked and called in a low, distinct voice.
Suddenly I recollected133 I had a general pass-key on my ring which unlocked any door in the building. I nodded to Jones and to Mildred to stand aside, then, gently fitting the key, I suddenly pushed out the key which remained on the inside, turned the lock, and flung open the door.
A terrible sight presented itself: Dr. Quint, hair on end, both mustaches pulled out, shirt, cuffs134, and white waistcoat smeared135 with blood, knelt amid the general wreckage136 on the floor, in the act of ripping up the carpet.
“Doctor!” I cried in a trembling voice. “What have you done to Professor Boomly?”
He paused in his carpet ripping and looked around at us with a terrifying laugh.
“I’ve settled him!” he said. “If you don’t want to get all over dust you’d better keep out —”
“Quint!” I cried. “Are you crazy?”
“Pretty nearly. Let me alone —”
“Where is Boomly!” I demanded in a tragic137 voice. “Where is your old friend, Billy Boomly? Where is he, Quint? And what does that mean — that pool of blood on the floor? Whose is it?”
“It’s Bill’s,” said Quint, coolly ripping up another breadth of carpet and peering under it.
“What!” I exclaimed. “Do you admit that?”
“Certainly I admit it. I told him I’d terminate him if he meddled138 with my Silver Moon eggs.”
“You mean to say that you shed blood — the blood of your old friend — merely because he meddled with a miserable batch of butterfly’s eggs?” I asked, astounded139.
“I certainly did shed his blood for just that particular thing! And listen; you’re in my way — you’re standing2 on a part of the carpet which I want to tear up. Do you mind moving?”
Such cold-blooded calmness infuriated me. I sprang at Quint, seized him, and shouted to Jones to tie his hands behind him with the blood-soaked handkerchief which lay on the floor.
At first, while Jones and I were engaged in the operation of securing the wretched man, Quint looked at us both as though surprised; then he grew angry and asked us what the devil we were about.
“Those who shed blood must answer for it!” I said solemnly.
“What? What’s the matter with you?” he demanded in a rage. “Shed blood? What if I did? What’s that to you? Untie140 this handkerchief, you unmentionable idiot!”
I looked at Jones:
“His mind totters,” I said hoarsely141.
“What’s that!” cried Quint, struggling to get off the chair whither I had pushed him: but with my handkerchief we tied his ankles to the rung of the chair, heedless of his attempts to kick us, and sprang back out of range.
“Now,” I said, “what have you done with the poor victim of your fury? Where is he? Where is all that remains142 of Professor Boomly?”
“Boomly? I don’t know where he is. How the devil should I know?”
“Don’t lie,” I said solemnly.
“Lie! See here, Smith, when I get out of this chair I’ll settle you, too —”
“Quint! There is another and more terrible chair which awaits such criminals as you!”
“You old fluff!” he shouted. “I’ll knock your head off, too. Do you understand? I’ll attend to you as I attended to Boomly —”
“Assassin!” I retorted calmly. “Only an alienist can save you now. In this awful moment —”
A light touch on my arm interrupted me, and, a trifle irritated, as any man might be when checked in the full flow of eloquence143, I turned to find Mildred at my elbow.
“Let me talk to him,” she said in a quiet voice. “Perhaps I may not irritate him as you seem to.”
“Very well,” I said. “Jones and I are here as witnesses.” And I folded my arms in an attitude not, perhaps, unpicturesque.
“Dr. Quint,” said Mildred in her soft, agreeable voice, and actually smiling slightly at the self-confessed murderer, “is it really true that you are guilty of shedding the blood of Professor Boomly?”
“It is,” said Quint, coolly.
She seemed rather taken aback at that, but presently recovered her equanimity145.
“Why?” she asked gently.
“Because he attempted a most hellish crime!” yelled Quint.
“W-what crime?” she asked faintly.
“I’ll tell you. He wanted the Carnegie medal, and he knew it would be given to me if I could incubate and hatch my batch of Silver Moon butterfly eggs. He realised well enough that his Heliconian eggs were not as valuable as my Silver Moon eggs. So first he sneaked146 in here and put an ichneumon fly in my breeding-cage. And next he stole the Silver Moon eggs and left in their place some common Plexippus eggs, thinking that because they were very similar I would not notice the substitution.
“I did notice it! I charged him with that cataclysmic outrage147. He laughed. We came into personal collision. He chased me into my room.”
Panting, breathless with rage at the memory of the morning’s defeat which I had witnessed, Quint glared at me for a moment. Then he jerked his head toward Mildred:
“As soon as he went to luncheon — Boomly, I mean — I climbed over that transom and dropped into this room. I had been hunting for ten minutes before I found my Silver Moon eggs hidden under the carpet. So I pocketed them, climbed back over the transom, and went to my room.”
He paused dramatically, staring from one to another of us:
“Boomly was there!” he said slowly.
“Where?” asked Mildred with a shudder148.
“In my room. He had picked the lock. I told him to get out! He went. I shouted after him that I had recovered the Silver Moon eggs and that I should certainly be awarded the Carnegie medal.
“Then that monster in human form laughed a horrible laugh, avowing149 himself guilty of a crime still more hideous150 than the theft of the Silver Moon eggs! Do you know what he had done?”
“W-what?” faltered Mildred.
“He had stolen from cold storage and had concealed151 the leaves of the Bimba bush, brought from Singapore to feed the Silver Moon caterpillars! That’s what Boomly had done!
“And my Silver Moon eggs had already begun to hatch!!! And my caterpillars would starve!!!!”
His voice ended in a yell; he struggled on his chair until it nearly upset.
“You lunatic!” I shouted. “Was that a reason for spilling the blood of a human being!”
“It was reason enough for me!”
“Madman!”
“Let me loose! He’s hidden those leaves somewhere or other! I’ve torn this place to pieces looking for them. I’ve got to find them, I tell you —”
Mildred went to the infuriated entomologist and laid a firm hand on his shoulder:
“Listen,” she said: “how do you know that Professor Boomly has not concealed these Bimba leaves on his own person?”
Quint ceased his contortions153 and gaped154 at her.
“I never thought of that,” he said.
“What have you done with him?” she asked, very pale.
“I tell you, I don’t know.”
“You must know what you did with him,” she insisted.
Quint shook his head impatiently, apparently preoccupied with other thoughts. We stood watching him in silence until he looked up and became conscious of our concentrated gaze.
“My caterpillars are starving,” he began violently. “I haven’t anything else they’ll eat. They feed only on the Bimba leaf. They won’t eat anything else. It’s a well-known fact that they won’t. Why, in Johore, where they came from, they’ll travel miles over the ground to find a Bimba bush —”
“What!” exclaimed Mildred.
“Certainly — miles! They’d starve sooner than eat anything except Bimba leaves. If there’s a bush within twenty miles they’ll find it —”
“Wait,” said Mildred quietly. “Where are these starving caterpillars?”
“In a glass jar in my pocket — here! What the devil are you doing!” For the girl had dexterously155 slipped the glass jar from his coat pocket and was holding it up to the light.
Inside it were several dozen tiny, dark caterpillars, some resting disconsolately156 on the sides of the glass, some hungrily travelling over the bottom in pitiful and hopeless quest of nourishment.
Heedless of the shouts and threats of Dr. Quint, the girl calmly uncorked the jar, took on her slender forefinger158 a single little caterpillar20, replaced the cork157, and, kneeling down, gently disengaged the caterpillar. It dropped upon the floor, remained motionless for a moment, then, turning, began to travel rapidly toward the doorway behind us.
“Now,” she said, “if poor Professor Boomly really has concealed these Bimba leaves upon his own person, this little caterpillar, according to Dr. Quint, is certain to find those leaves.”
Overcome with excitement and admiration159 for this intelligent and unusually beautiful girl, I seized her hands and congratulated her.
“Murder,” said I to the miserable Quint, “will out! This infant caterpillar shall lead us to that dark and secret spot where you had hoped to conceal152 the horrid160 evidence of your guilt144. Three things have undone161 you — a caterpillar replete162 with mysterious instinct, a humble163 bunch of Bimba leaves, and the marvellous intelligence of this young and lovely girl. Madman, your hour has struck!”
He looked at me in a dazed sort of way, as though astonishment164 had left him unable to articulate. But I had become tired of his violence and his shouts and yells; so I asked Jones for his handkerchief, and, before Quint knew what I was up to I had tied it over his mouth.
He became a brilliant purple, but all he could utter was a furious humming, buzzing noise.
Meanwhile, Jones had opened the door; the little caterpillar, followed by Mildred and myself, continued to hustle165 along as though he knew quite well where he was going.
Down the hallway he went in undulating haste, past my door, we all following in silent excitement as we discovered that, parallel to the caterpillar’s course, ran a gruesome trail of blood drops.
And when the little creature turned and made straight for the door of Professor Farrago, our revered166 chief, the excitement among us was terrific.
The caterpillar halted; I gently tried the door; it was open.
Instantly the caterpillar crossed the threshold, wriggling167 forward at top speed. We followed, peering fearfully around us. Nobody was visible.
Could Quint have dragged his victim here? By Heaven, he had! For the caterpillar was travelling straight under the lounge upon which Professor Farrago was accustomed to repose168 after luncheon, and, dropping on one knee, I saw a fat foot partly protruding169 from under the shirred edges of the fringed drapery.
“He’s there!” I whispered, in an awed170 voice to the others.
“Courage, Miss Case! Try not to faint.”
Jones turned and looked at her with that same odd expression; then he went over to where she stood and coolly passed one arm around her waist.
“Try not to faint, Mildred,” he said. “It might muss your hair.”
It was a strange thing to say, but I had no time then to analyze171 it, for I had seized the fat foot which partly protruded172 from under the sofa, clad in a low-cut congress gaiter and a white sock.
And then I nearly fainted, for instead of the dreadful, inert173 resistance of lifeless clay, the foot wriggled174 and tried to kick at me.
“Help!” came a thin but muffled175 voice. “Help! Help, in the name of Heaven!”
“Boomly!” I cried, scarcely believing my ears.
“Take that man away, Smith!” whimpered Boomly. “He’s a devil! He’ll murder me! He made my nose bleed all over everything!”
“Boomly! You’re not dead!”
“Yes, I am!” he whined176. “I’m dead enough to suit me. Keep that little lunatic off — that’s all I ask. He can have his Carnegie medal for all I care, only tie him up somewhere —”
“Professor Boomly!” cried Mildred excitedly. “Have you any Bimba leaves concealed about your person?”
“Yes, I have,” he said sulkily. There came a hitch177 of the fat foot, a heavy scuffling sound, heavy panting, and then, skittering out across the floor came a flat, sealed parcel.
“There you are,” he said; “now, let me alone until that fiend has gone home.”
“He won’t attack you again,” I said. “Come out.”
But Professor Boomly flatly declined to stir.
I looked at the parcel: it was marked: “Bimba leaves; Johore.”
With a sigh of unutterable relief, I picked up the ravenous178 little caterpillar, placed him on the packet, and turned to go. And didn’t.
It is a very sickening fact I have now to record. But to a scientist all facts are sacred, sickening or otherwise.
For what I caught a glimpse of, just outside the door in the hallway, was Jones kissing Mildred Case. And being shyly indemnified for his trouble with a gentle return in kind. Both his arms were around her waist; both her hands rested upon his shoulders; and, as I looked — but let it pass! — let it pass.
Deliberately179 I fished in my pocket, found my packet of cigarettes, lighted one.
Tobacco diffugiunt mordaces curae et laetificat cor hominis!
The End
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
rivalry
|
|
| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
moths
|
|
| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
moth
|
|
| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
zeal
|
|
| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
specimens
|
|
| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
specimen
|
|
| n.样本，标本 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
foraging
|
|
| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
captivity
|
|
| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
hardier
|
|
| 能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的比较级 )； （植物等）耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
retard
|
|
| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
caterpillar
|
|
| n.毛虫，蝴蝶的幼虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
caterpillars
|
|
| n.毛虫( caterpillar的名词复数 )；履带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
nourishment
|
|
| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
legitimately
|
|
| ad.合法地；正当地，合理地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
batch
|
|
| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
thickets
|
|
| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
meteoric
|
|
| adj.流星的，转瞬即逝的，突然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
flopping
|
|
| n.贬调v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的现在分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
denser
|
|
| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tangles
|
|
| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
foliage
|
|
| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
enchanted
|
|
| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
bustled
|
|
| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
fleck
|
|
| n.斑点，微粒 vt.使有斑点，使成斑驳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
contemptible
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
innuendoes
|
|
| n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 )；讽刺的话；含沙射影；暗讽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
abdominal
|
|
| adj.腹（部）的，下腹的；n.腹肌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
insignificant
|
|
| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
peevish
|
|
| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
sarcastic
|
|
| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
variance
|
|
| n.矛盾，不同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
impudence
|
|
| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
envious
|
|
| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
corporeally
|
|
| adv.肉体上，物质上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
56
atrophied
|
|
| adj.萎缩的，衰退的v.（使）萎缩，（使）虚脱，（使）衰退( atrophy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
sneak
|
|
| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
suffused
|
|
| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
insinuating
|
|
| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
peal
|
|
| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
cockroaches
|
|
| n.蟑螂( cockroach的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
venom
|
|
| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
momentum
|
|
| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
revolving
|
|
| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
bellowed
|
|
| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
dodged
|
|
| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
bristled
|
|
| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
vowing
|
|
| 起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
anthropological
|
|
| adj.人类学的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
sleek
|
|
| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
luncheon
|
|
| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
bosoms
|
|
| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
confinement
|
|
| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
rustic
|
|
| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
rebuke
|
|
| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
paraphrased
|
|
| v.释义，意译( paraphrase的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
humility
|
|
| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
deploring
|
|
| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
90
rupture
|
|
| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
wholesome
|
|
| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
defunct
|
|
| adj.死亡的；已倒闭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
frolicsome
|
|
| adj.嬉戏的，闹着玩的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
puff
|
|
| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
tempestuous
|
|
| adj.狂暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
apropos
|
|
| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
anthropology
|
|
| n.人类学 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
gland
|
|
| n.腺体，(机)密封压盖，填料盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
obsolete
|
|
| adj.已废弃的，过时的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
spinal
|
|
| adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
recollect
|
|
| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
feverishly
|
|
| adv. 兴奋地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
paralysis
|
|
| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
purport
|
|
| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
appalled
|
|
| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
harmonious
|
|
| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
preoccupied
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
privately
|
|
| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
snobbish
|
|
| adj.势利的，谄上欺下的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
disciples
|
|
| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
recollected
|
|
| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
cuffs
|
|
| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
smeared
|
|
| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
wreckage
|
|
| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
meddled
|
|
| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
astounded
|
|
| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
untie
|
|
| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
equanimity
|
|
| n.沉着，镇定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
sneaked
|
|
| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
shudder
|
|
| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
avowing
|
|
| v.公开声明，承认( avow的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
contortions
|
|
| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
dexterously
|
|
| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
disconsolately
|
|
| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
cork
|
|
| n.软木，软木塞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
undone
|
|
| a.未做完的，未完成的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
replete
|
|
| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
hustle
|
|
| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
revered
|
|
| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
167
wriggling
|
|
| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
awed
|
|
| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
analyze
|
|
| vt.分析，解析 (=analyse) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
protruded
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
inert
|
|
| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
wriggled
|
|
| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
whined
|
|
| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
178
ravenous
|
|
| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
179
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |