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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » The Red Paste Murders » Chapter 6. — The Rousing of The City.
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Chapter 6. — The Rousing of The City.
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Of many of the happenings of the ensuing weeks I remember nothing at all. Memory is merciful to me and there are blanks and blurs1 that no thought nor brooding can fill in.

The time of terror for the city lasted, I know, eleven weeks and two days, and horrors unspeakable were the almost daily menace of men’s lives.

But, in the knowledge of what happened later, there can be no doubt that these crimes were not all mine. My own deeds were many and vile2 enough, I know, but that is no reason for me being saddled with the blame for those I did not do.

I am making no excuse for myself, but simply trying to explain the dim hope to which I always cling that, one day, I may not be called to answer for all the things that are now put down to me.

I make no pretence3 that I remember nothing. I remember hazily4 a lot of dreadful happenings in the night. It was always in the night, it seemed to me.

I remember bodies stretched out on the dark roads. I remember struggles on paths when there were no stars. I remember blood on a verandah once and in a room, the very memory of which makes me shudder5 even now. I have a dim recollection, too, of something happening to the Melbourne express as it came down through the hills. I remember a tram crashing down over a bridge near the city, and I remember, later, the flare6 of many fires.

But so many things are mixed up in the night life of those days that I can never properly sift7 the dreams from the realities. Thoughts come and go bewilderingly through my tortured brain, but there is always the deep sense of horror to abide8 and remain.

I had three distinct personalities9 in those days and led three different lives. None of them seemed to encroach upon the others overmuch.

First, I was the clerk at Winter and Winter’s; the head clerk in the invoice10 office, and, as the weeks went on, a real head clerk, too. I kept them all in order now and the room was quiet, orderly, and well conducted. I took to keeping myself very much to myself, and never mixed with any of them or discussed anything out of business routine. Rarely, I permitted myself to smile. I had become a cold sort of machine. Suave11, polite, even to Waller, but firm, very firm, and entirely12 devoted13 to the interests of those who employed me.

One day, when I was shaving, I noted14 my expression in the glass. I had altered a great deal. My eyes were harder and had lost that gentle look, my lips shut closer together, too, and there was a firmness about the corners of my mouth that was not there in other days. I looked sterner, and, altogether, there was that about me of a man who had acquired confidence in himself and had little regard for the opinion of others.

I dressed quite differently too. I was smart and well-attired. I wore well-cut clothes and collars that were fashionable, and was most particular, too, that my trousers were neatly15 pressed with the crease16 straight down the middle.

Mr. William, I could see, was quite interested in the change, and when he had called me into his office alone upon some invoice matter would sometimes chaff17 me about it.

“What’s become of you, Wacks,” he said one day, “you quite puzzle me. You’re so different to what you used to be. Are you in love?”

“I may be, sir,” I replied demurely18, “but it’s not that that makes me different. I realised I was too soft with the men and I did just what you told me, that’s all, sir.”

“Well, I am very glad you did, Wacks,” he went on genially19. “Do you know, I was just on the point of telling you that you must leave us, when you suddenly cleared everything up.”

“I knew you weren’t pleased with me, Mr. William, and that in the end spurred me on.”

“Well, all’s well that ends well, Wacks, and it’s quite nice to see the order and quietness you’ve got the men into.”

Then there was the other man in me — the man in love. Life was telling its great secret to me now, and sometimes my happiness was almost too great to bear. Heaven had opened a far-off lattice for us and a golden ray was falling on the dingy20 little shop on the Port Road.

I forgot everything when I was with Lucy. I loved her passionately21 and believed she loved me too. I had felt her tremble in surrender when I had put my arms about her, and had heard her sigh when I bent22 down to kiss. I had seen the love-light in her eyes when I came near, and had felt the quickening beatings of her heart when the sweet, soft body came in close to mine.

I was always tender to her, but somehow I was always stern. At first in my determined23 open wooing I had sensed impending24 trouble with her uncle, but I had soon convinced him whose was the stronger will.

One day I thought Lucy had been crying, and catching25 old Brickett alone a little later, I taxed him with it. He didn’t deny it; but just glared sullenly26 at me.

“What’s that to do with you, Mr. Nosey Parker,” he began contemptuously, but he stopped very quickly when he saw the devil he had roused.

I reached over the counter and grabbed him quickly by the cloth he wore round his neck.

“No — don’t you move, Brickett,” I hissed27, “don’t move, don’t lift your hands and don’t answer back. I’m not a fighting man, as you know, but, by gosh, if you make me strike you — I’ll bash you so that no one’ll know you, except by your clothes. You hulking dog,” I went on shaking him backwards28 and forwards in my rage, “you let me see that Lucy’s been crying again and by all there is in hell, I’ll lay you out as stiff as anyone’s been laid out in Adelaide in all these days.”

He got very white and shaky, but didn’t say a word in reply, and I let him go. I had put some fear in him, however, and after that evening I had no difficulty in seeing Lucy whenever I wanted her; indeed I was allowed to do exactly as I pleased.

The old man always pretended to ignore me when he saw me, but I often caught him watching me curiously29 when he thought I was not looking.

Then there was my third self — the MAN at night. A beast lurking30 by lonely corners and in dark roads. A ghoul feasting on horrors and the smell of blood. A furtive31, baleful shadow, creeping by silent pathways and where no lights were. A madman chattering32 to himself — a creature reckless of discovery and danger and yet — a wretch33 of infinite resource and cunning. A man who thought and planned — a man who played his moves as in a game of chess.

It was night only that put murder in my heart. By day I had no lust34 for blood. The drug I took just made me confident, so that I was not afraid of things or people. Also, I could control myself, and if I wanted to keep my temper well in check, I could.

But in the dark I was a different man. Directly night fell and I had taken the evening dose of paste that I was now afraid to leave off, an irresistible35 longing36 seized me to take life. To kill someone swiftly — to see him fall, and then to slink away in silence, were all happiness unutterable to me, and made of no account the attendant risks and dangers I might have to face.

The strange thing about it all to me was that my three personalities were not much interested in one another and, unless a common danger threatened all of them together, they were not much concerned with what one another did.

When in the evening I was courting Lucy, for instance, I never gave a thought to my crimes by night, and when I was slinking along in the dark with my heart full of murderous hopes I gave no thought to Lucy.

Looking back now, it seems that I lived all my life then in compartments37.

Less than ten days after the old Captain died I was the best-wanted man in all Australia. I was on all men’s tongues and in all men’s minds.

I had horrified38 and shocked the community as it had never been shocked before, and there was no disguising the fact that a sort of panic had set in.

The night life of the City of Adelaide was practically at a standstill and, even then, the inhabitants sat shuddering39 behind locked doors.

The police were blamed everywhere for their supineness, and nobody now had any security in their protection.

One evening I was near Bowden station when I noticed a crowd by the station gates. A short stout40 man was haranguing41 the people viciously from the giddy elevation42 of an empty soap box and I gathered, as I had surmised43, that my crimes by night were the theme.

He was not a very eloquent44 speaker, but he was a very earnest one, and in his stodgy45 way he brought home to his hearers what little had hitherto been done by the authorities to render the environs of the city safe for pedestrians46 after darkness had set in.

He had been hard hit, he told us, and didn’t know how he was going to live. He kept a billiard saloon in Bowden.

“Who’s a-going to come out?” he shouted to us indignantly. “Who’s a-going to come out o’ nights and probably get their heads all broke for a game of billiards47? Who’s a-going to risk it, I says? How can you expect ’em?”

Somehow his misfortune struck a chord of compassion48 in me and I suddenly found myself sorry for him. There seemed nothing incongruous to me about this, for, after all, I thought, what fools the police were. Why hadn’t they been able to catch me? Why hadn’t they, with all their organisation49 and their unlimited50 resources, been able to get the better of a poor weak and friendless clerk?

My indignation worked me up to a fine fit of temper and the billiards proprietor51 in due time finishing his speech with an emphatic52 “damn,” I immediately jumped up on to the box.

Like the previous speaker I fell foul53 of the authorities at once, and gave it to them hot and strong. The police were fools, I said — blind fools and the whole civic54 administration of the city was rotten. In any emergency they at once went off their heads. They were children in their understandings and old women in their ways.

“What have they done for us?” I cried. “They have taken away our liberties and have given us not even safety in return. We mayn’t buy a reel of cotton or a packet of envelopes after six o’clock. We mayn’t have a glass of beer when we want to. Yet with all their coddling over little things — with all their annoying and unnecessary interference with our rights, they can’t even guarantee to us that we may go out for a simple walk at night and not get a crack on the head as we pass down some main road or turn some quiet corner. It’s disgraceful, I say. What are the police doing with their time then? You may well ask!

“Look at tonight’s paper — seventeen motorists fined for exceeding the speed limit in King William street! Just fancy, seventeen awful criminals brought to the bar of justice for this dreadful offence, and yet — no mention in the paper of any arrest of the one man who is making this beautiful city of ours unfit to live in. How long is this going on and what are we going to do? We ought to take the law into our own hands — we ought to set about protecting ourselves. We ought to form our own special police from among ourselves. Every suburb and every township ought to have its own vigilance society, so that we can go about in safety as we have a right to.”

I made a good rousing speech with plenty of fight in it, and the crowd well punctuated55 my remarks with “Hear, hears,” and cheers.

Directly I had finished there was an excited burst of clapping and the billiards man bobbed up again earnestly to implore56 his hearers that my advice be followed. He there and then offered to lend his saloon for an indoor meeting, straight away.

A moment’s hesitation57 and we all followed him to his place. We crowded in, about forty of us, and on the strength of my speech I was immediately voted to the chair.

I had, of course, never in my life taken the chair at any gathering58 before — not even at the little potty committee meetings connected with the chapel59, but I had often noted and admired the dignity with which Mr. Stunts60, the hay and straw dealer61, was wont62 to preside over the annual meeting of the chapel chess club, and I took my cue from what I remembered of him.

I rapped the table loudly for silence, and opened with a short speech, but one very much to the point. The responsibility of being in the chair sobered me not a little, and the fierce abandon of the speech outside was lacking.

But I gave them plenty to think about and made them realise at once that the formation of a vigilance society meant work. I told them if we once started on the project we must keep it up. We must not make fools of ourselves and become the laughing stock of the regular police. We must divide our district into proper areas, particular men must be alloted to each area, and every road must be patrolled and have help at call, at any time between dusk and midnight.

I called for volunteers at once, and twenty-two responded on the second.

Things moved in avalanche63 fashion then. A subscription64 list was opened to defray expenses, and I grandly headed it myself with a guinea. We formed a small committee and the meeting was adjourned65 until the next day, in order to give us time to get handbills printed and make our project generally known.

The next evening the saloon was simply packed, and, arriving only just on time, I had great difficulty in making my way in.

The sweets of office came to me for the first time.

“Room for the chairman,” shouted Wiley, the billiards man, “room for Mr. Peter Wacks,” and the interested crowd at once gave way to let me pass. Some of them started a friendly cheer and I smiled easily to them in return.

I was wearing my new suit of the same cloth as Mr. William’s, and knew that I looked well. Lucy’s eyes had opened wide to see me in it, and her gentle face had flamed with pleasure when I had called in on my way down to tell her what was on.

The meeting was a huge success and there was no denying that I had the audience well in hand, from first to last.

The blood of some long-dead statesman ancestor must have been stirring in my veins66, I thought, to give me the dignity and the presence that I knew I showed. I was completely at my ease the whole evening. I made a happy and convincing speech and was never for a moment at a loss to know what to say. The words came tripping to my tongue every time I spoke67, and I could work my hearers up to long continued cheering just whenever I chose.

I was masterful, too, and irrespective of their importance or otherwise, made every speaker keep strictly68 to the point.

It was arranged that a deputation should wait on the Premier69, and, of course, it was I who was told off to be spokesman.

I got in touch with the Minister at once, and the following evening we were sympathetically received by the great man at his private residence.

He asked us very politely what he could do for us, and I laid our case emphatically and convincingly before him. I didn’t mince70 matters either. I told him flatly that the public generally had quite lost faith in the ability of the police to protect them.

Either, I said, the police were not capable enough or not numerous enough. He smiled here, but I went on crushingly that it was an open secret in the city that they had practically had the assassin once in their hands, but had let him slip through their fingers.

The Premier pulled me up at once here with a pretty assumption of surprise, and asked me, very sternly to tell him when, exactly, this slipping through had occurred.

“On the night of the second murder,” I replied, quite cocksure. “On the night when Policeman Holthusen was murdered on the park lands. He was killed within a few yards of his comrades, and if there be any truth in the rumors71 that have got about, the police were there in force on the very spot all the time.”

“Oh, you mustn’t believe all you hear, Mr. Wacks — that would never do,” he said.

“I don’t, sir, for one minute,” I rejoined, “but I know for a fact that at one time there were at least a dozen of the police quite surrounding him, and yet he got away”— then, remembering what I had heard the policeman say when I was hiding in the ditch, I added coolly, “But you can easily verify it, sir — Inspector72 Watkins was in charge.”

“Well, I can’t argue it with you, of course, Mr. Wacks, but now leave the police alone, please, and tell me specifically exactly what it is you want us to do.”

I told him that we thought we could help the authorities. That we thought the need justified73 it, and that we wanted to be enrolled74 as special constables75, and properly sworn in.

We wanted whistles, badges, and truncheons to be provided for us, and we wanted generally to be regarded as a special auxiliary76 arm of the regular police.

He heard me through patiently, thanked us kindly77 for the trouble we had taken, and then dismissed us very politely, promising78 to think the matter over, and let us know the result when he had consulted his colleagues.

I wasn’t at all satisfied with the result of our interview, and bluntly told my committee so.

“He doesn’t mean to do anything,” I said. “We shall get a polite refusal in a day or two. The only thing is to go forward with our own plans.”

It happened just as I said it would. Less than twenty-four hours later I received a polite communication from the Premier. He had conferred with his colleagues, he wrote, through his secretary, and they considered the regular police had the matter well in hand, and he regretted, therefore, he was unable to comply with our request. He again thanked us, however, for our zeal79 in offering our services. I snorted in contempt.

In the meantime something of our interview had got into the newspapers, and prominence80 was given to my remarks about the police.

The public generally were on my side, and I found no lack of supporters in my own particular district. I am at all times a good organiser, and with the help of three or four energetic members of the committee, had soon begun to get things in order.

In a week my arrangements were all complete and, from the minute night had fallen we had every road and street in our neighborhood under proper and adequate control.

I made this known in a letter to the newspapers, and I boasted that our cordon81 was now so close that not even a mouse could leave or enter without its becoming known.

The Chief Commissioner82 of Police silently accepted my challenge, and two nights later three of my patrols espied83 Detective Spratt hiding in a ditch. Greatly to his disgust they dragged him forcibly to the guard room we had established in the billiard saloon, and he was not allowed to leave until they had sent an inspector from the Police Head-quarters in Victoria Square to identify him.

It was a delicious moment for my quickly assembled committee when the irate84 police inspector arrived. He was quite livid with rage, but he said very little, and just bustled85 his discomfited86 henchman into the car and rattled87 way.

I took care that the whole affair got into the newspapers, and great amusement was caused in the city by the publication of the details. ‘The Evening Express’ was very sarcastic88, and the headings to its paragraphs were most funny.

‘Wacks on the War Path’ was one, and in smaller type underneath89, ‘The Vigilantes Arrest Detective Spratt in a Ditch — Wacks Scores Again.’

The officials at headquarters did not love us by any means.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 blurs a34d09b14ec1342559a973be734ad996     
n.模糊( blur的名词复数 );模糊之物;(移动的)模糊形状;模糊的记忆v.(使)变模糊( blur的第三人称单数 );(使)难以区分
参考例句:
  • The electron clouds are clearly visible as blurs surrounding the invisible nuclei. 电子云就象环绕着看不见的核的一片云雾。 来自辞典例句
  • The letter had many blots and blurs. 信上有许多墨水渍和污迹。 来自辞典例句
2 vile YLWz0     
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的
参考例句:
  • Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢?
  • Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。
3 pretence pretence     
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰
参考例句:
  • The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
  • He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。
4 hazily ndPxy     
ad. vaguely, not clear
参考例句:
  • He remembered her only hazily. 他只是模模糊糊地记得她。
  • We saw the distant hills hazily. 我们朦胧地看到了远处的山丘。
5 shudder JEqy8     
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动
参考例句:
  • The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材,他浑身一阵战栗。
  • We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。
6 flare LgQz9     
v.闪耀,闪烁;n.潮红;突发
参考例句:
  • The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
  • You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。
7 sift XEAza     
v.筛撒,纷落,详察
参考例句:
  • Sift out the wheat from the chaff.把小麦的壳筛出来。
  • Sift sugar on top of the cake.在蛋糕上面撒上糖。
8 abide UfVyk     
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受
参考例句:
  • You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
  • If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部,你就得遵守它的规章。
9 personalities ylOzsg     
n. 诽谤,(对某人容貌、性格等所进行的)人身攻击; 人身攻击;人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
  • Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。
10 invoice m4exB     
vt.开发票;n.发票,装货清单
参考例句:
  • The seller has to issue a tax invoice.销售者必须开具税务发票。
  • We will then send you an invoice for the total course fees.然后我们会把全部课程费用的发票寄给你。
11 suave 3FXyH     
adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的
参考例句:
  • He is a suave,cool and cultured man.他是个世故、冷静、有教养的人。
  • I had difficulty answering his suave questions.我难以回答他的一些彬彬有礼的提问。
12 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
13 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
14 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
15 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
16 crease qo5zK     
n.折缝,褶痕,皱褶;v.(使)起皱
参考例句:
  • Does artificial silk crease more easily than natural silk?人造丝比天然丝更易起皱吗?
  • Please don't crease the blouse when you pack it.包装时请不要将衬衫弄皱了。
17 chaff HUGy5     
v.取笑,嘲笑;n.谷壳
参考例句:
  • I didn't mind their chaff.我不在乎他们的玩笑。
  • Old birds are not caught with chaff.谷糠难诱老雀。
18 demurely demurely     
adv.装成端庄地,认真地
参考例句:
  • "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额,像个好哥哥那样,"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘(部分)
  • Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛,低声细语,或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分
19 genially 0de02d6e0c84f16556e90c0852555eab     
adv.亲切地,和蔼地;快活地
参考例句:
  • The white church peeps out genially from behind the huts scattered on the river bank. 一座白色教堂从散布在岸上的那些小木房后面殷勤地探出头来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • "Well, It'seems strange to see you way up here,'said Mr. Kenny genially. “咳,真没想到会在这么远的地方见到你,"肯尼先生亲切地说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
20 dingy iu8xq     
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的
参考例句:
  • It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
  • The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。
21 passionately YmDzQ4     
ad.热烈地,激烈地
参考例句:
  • She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿,也能爱得一往情深。
  • He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。
22 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
23 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
24 impending 3qHzdb     
a.imminent, about to come or happen
参考例句:
  • Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时,严重的战乱爆发了。
  • The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。
25 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住
参考例句:
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
26 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
27 hissed 2299e1729bbc7f56fc2559e409d6e8a7     
发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 ); 发嘘声表示反对
参考例句:
  • Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过?
  • The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。
28 backwards BP9ya     
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地
参考例句:
  • He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
  • All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。
29 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
30 lurking 332fb85b4d0f64d0e0d1ef0d34ebcbe7     
潜在
参考例句:
  • Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的,想干什么?
  • There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
31 furtive kz9yJ     
adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的
参考例句:
  • The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为。
  • His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。
32 chattering chattering     
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
33 wretch EIPyl     
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人
参考例句:
  • You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他,还埋怨他,真不知好歹。
  • The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。
34 lust N8rz1     
n.性(淫)欲;渴(欲)望;vi.对…有强烈的欲望
参考例句:
  • He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
  • Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念,就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。
35 irresistible n4CxX     
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的
参考例句:
  • The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
  • She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
36 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
37 compartments 4e9d78104c402c263f5154f3360372c7     
n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 );(列车车厢的)隔间;(家具或设备等的)分隔间;隔层
参考例句:
  • Your pencil box has several compartments. 你的铅笔盒有好几个格。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The first-class compartments are in front. 头等车室在前头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
38 horrified 8rUzZU     
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句:
  • The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
  • We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。
39 shuddering 7cc81262357e0332a505af2c19a03b06     
v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动
参考例句:
  • 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕,”她发着抖,说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤,深深吸了口气。 来自飘(部分)
41 haranguing b574472f7a86789d4fb85291dfd6eb5b     
v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • He continued in his customary, haranguing style. 他继续以他一贯的夸夸其谈的手法讲下去。 来自辞典例句
  • That lady was still haranguing the girl. 那位女士仍然对那女孩喋喋不休地训斥。 来自互联网
42 elevation bqsxH     
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高
参考例句:
  • The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
  • His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。
43 surmised b42dd4710fe89732a842341fc04537f6     
v.臆测,推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 );揣测;猜想
参考例句:
  • From the looks on their faces, I surmised that they had had an argument. 看他们的脸色,我猜想他们之间发生了争执。
  • From his letter I surmised that he was unhappy. 我从他的信中推测他并不快乐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 eloquent ymLyN     
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的
参考例句:
  • He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
  • These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
45 stodgy 4rsyU     
adj.易饱的;笨重的;滞涩的;古板的
参考例句:
  • It wasn't easy to lose puppy fat when Mum fed her on stodgy home cooking.母亲给她吃易饱的家常菜,她想减掉婴儿肥可是很难。
  • The gateman was a stodgy fellow of 60.看门人是个六十岁的矮胖子。
46 pedestrians c0776045ca3ae35c6910db3f53d111db     
n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
47 billiards DyBzVP     
n.台球
参考例句:
  • John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
  • Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。
48 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情,怜悯
参考例句:
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
49 organisation organisation     
n.组织,安排,团体,有机休
参考例句:
  • The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
  • His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。
50 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的
参考例句:
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
51 proprietor zR2x5     
n.所有人;业主;经营者
参考例句:
  • The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
  • The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
52 emphatic 0P1zA     
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的
参考例句:
  • Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决,不容有任何人怀疑。
  • He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。
53 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
54 civic Fqczn     
adj.城市的,都市的,市民的,公民的
参考例句:
  • I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
  • The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。
55 punctuated 7bd3039c345abccc3ac40a4e434df484     
v.(在文字中)加标点符号,加标点( punctuate的过去式和过去分词 );不时打断某事物
参考例句:
  • Her speech was punctuated by bursts of applause. 她的讲演不时被阵阵掌声打断。
  • The audience punctuated his speech by outbursts of applause. 听众不时以阵阵掌声打断他的讲话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
56 implore raSxX     
vt.乞求,恳求,哀求
参考例句:
  • I implore you to write. At least tell me you're alive.请给我音讯,让我知道你还活着。
  • Please implore someone else's help in a crisis.危险时请向别人求助。
57 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
58 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
59 chapel UXNzg     
n.小教堂,殡仪馆
参考例句:
  • The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
  • She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午,她在小教堂的演出,可以说是登峰造极。
60 stunts d1bd0eff65f6d207751b4213c4fdd8d1     
n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 );(广告中)引人注目的花招;愚蠢行为;危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长],抑制,妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • He did all his own stunts. 所有特技都是他自己演的。
  • The plane did a few stunts before landing. 飞机着陆前做了一些特技。 来自《简明英汉词典》
61 dealer GyNxT     
n.商人,贩子
参考例句:
  • The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
  • The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。
62 wont peXzFP     
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯
参考例句:
  • He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
  • It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。
63 avalanche 8ujzl     
n.雪崩,大量涌来
参考例句:
  • They were killed by an avalanche in the Swiss Alps.他们在瑞士阿尔卑斯山的一次雪崩中罹难。
  • Higher still the snow was ready to avalanche.在更高处积雪随时都会崩塌。
64 subscription qH8zt     
n.预订,预订费,亲笔签名,调配法,下标(处方)
参考例句:
  • We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
  • Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。
65 adjourned 1e5a5e61da11d317191a820abad1664d     
(使)休会, (使)休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
  • The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后,审讯就宣告暂停。
66 veins 65827206226d9e2d78ea2bfe697c6329     
n.纹理;矿脉( vein的名词复数 );静脉;叶脉;纹理
参考例句:
  • The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的,感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
67 spoke XryyC     
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:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
68 strictly GtNwe     
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地
参考例句:
  • His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
  • The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
69 premier R19z3     
adj.首要的;n.总理,首相
参考例句:
  • The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
  • He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。
70 mince E1lyp     
n.切碎物;v.切碎,矫揉做作地说
参考例句:
  • Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗?
  • Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词,有话就直说吧。
71 rumors 2170bcd55c0e3844ecb4ef13fef29b01     
n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 );[古]名誉;咕哝;[古]喧嚷
参考例句:
  • Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
72 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员,监察员,视察员
参考例句:
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
73 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的,有理的
参考例句:
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
74 enrolled ff7af27948b380bff5d583359796d3c8     
adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 );登记,招收,使入伍(或入会、入学等),参加,成为成员;记入名册;卷起,包起
参考例句:
  • They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起,他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
75 constables 34fd726ea7175d409b9b80e3cf9fd666     
n.警察( constable的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn. 警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。 来自辞典例句
  • There were also constables appointed to keep the peace. 城里也有被派来维持治安的基层警员。 来自互联网
76 auxiliary RuKzm     
adj.辅助的,备用的
参考例句:
  • I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
  • The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。
77 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
78 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
79 zeal mMqzR     
n.热心,热情,热忱
参考例句:
  • Revolutionary zeal caught them up,and they joined the army.革命热情激励他们,于是他们从军了。
  • They worked with great zeal to finish the project.他们热情高涨地工作,以期完成这个项目。
80 prominence a0Mzw     
n.突出;显著;杰出;重要
参考例句:
  • He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
  • This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。
81 cordon 1otzp     
n.警戒线,哨兵线
参考例句:
  • Police officers threw a cordon around his car to protect him.警察在他汽车周围设置了防卫圈以保护他。
  • There is a tight security cordon around the area.这一地区周围设有严密的安全警戒圈。
82 commissioner gq3zX     
n.(政府厅、局、处等部门)专员,长官,委员
参考例句:
  • The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
  • He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
83 espied 980e3f8497fb7a6bd10007d67965f9f7     
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日,她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了,她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子,现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句
84 irate na2zo     
adj.发怒的,生气
参考例句:
  • The irate animal made for us,coming at a full jump.那头发怒的动物以最快的速度向我们冲过来。
  • We have received some irate phone calls from customers.我们接到顾客打来的一些愤怒的电话
85 bustled 9467abd9ace0cff070d56f0196327c70     
闹哄哄地忙乱,奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 ); 催促
参考例句:
  • She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。
  • The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。
86 discomfited 97ac63c8d09667b0c6e9856f9e80fe4d     
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败
参考例句:
  • He was discomfited by the unexpected questions. 意料不到的问题使得他十分尴尬。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He will be particularly discomfited by the minister's dismissal of his plan. 部长对他计划的不理会将使他特别尴尬。 来自辞典例句
87 rattled b4606e4247aadf3467575ffedf66305b     
慌乱的,恼火的
参考例句:
  • The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
  • Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里,窗户都格格作响。
88 sarcastic jCIzJ     
adj.讥讽的,讽刺的,嘲弄的
参考例句:
  • I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
  • She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。
89 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。


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