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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » The Red Paste Murders » Chapter 7. — At the Races
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Chapter 7. — At the Races
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One Saturday I took Lucy to the races. It was the first time we had been out for the day alone, and my heart beat with excitement when I called at the shop for her.

Old Brickett had said nothing when I told him where we were going. He had just shrugged1 his shoulders contemptuously, as if to imply we were both well on the way to the dogs, and then turned his head away.

Lucy looked supremely2 pretty in her white dress. I dare say — in fact, I am sure — it must have been a very cheap dress, for she had very little money — but whatever it cost, it just suited her to perfection.

She looked so bright and happy, too, with the eager happiness of a little child. Her face was greatly flushed, and her eyes shone brightly, and every line of her supple3 body spoke4 unmistakably of youth, pleasure and love.

Of course, she had never been to any races before. Races were quite contrary to all chapel5 tradition, and in my own mind I wondered mildly that she had acquiesced6 so willingly when I had asked her.

I meant to enjoy the afternoon for sure. I had taken twenty pounds out of the Savings7 Bank, and privately8 had determined9 to have what the detestable Waller always called a flutter.

The races were at Morphettville, and we went down first class. A man opposite to me started talking about the afternoon’s programme to me, and to Lucy’s manifest amazement10 I seemed to know as much about the horses engaged as he. I had not lived for five years with Waller for nothing. All the jargon11 of the turf was familiar to me. I knew about horses ‘winning by streets,’ or ‘being down the course,’ and ‘running like pigs.’ I knew about them ‘getting off’ badly from the ‘gate,’ or ‘poaching a flying start.’

I knew that when ‘the money was on’ the brutes12 ran like blazes, but when ‘Johnny Strongarm’ was in the saddle the wretched backer always lost his money. I knew a lot about the horses and their owners, too. I knew that Kitty’s Darling was a terror at the gate, that Blacktoes couldn’t stay a yard beyond six furlongs, and that the owner of The Boss was a first-class racing13 crook14, who deserved to get six months.

Much of this varied15 and miscellaneous information I then passed on to my greatly interested vis-a-vis. He was a genial16, simple sort of soul, and in return implored17 me not to forget to back Rosyfingers in the second race.

Arriving on the course, it was strange that almost the first man I knocked up against was the owner of The Boss himself. He was a well-known racing man, Bob Hales by name, and I had good reason to remember him. He was a member of the City Council and a butcher by trade. The day following a letter of mine to the newspapers, someone had prompted him to phone up our firm and ask them if my interference in public matters was done with their approval. He had hinted that my reflections on the capacity of the police, and the authorities generally, would not tend to advance the interests of the firm of Messrs. Winter & Winter themselves. Fortunately. Mr. William had answered the phone and all friend Bob had got had been a nasty snub for his pains.

I had not forgotten him, however, and had made a mental note of his address.

He was generally regarded as a real racing crook, but a very clever one too — so clever that no one had ever been able to bring him to book for actually crossing over the line.

He had quite a respectable racing stable, but always ran his horses, win or lose, wholly to please himself. If he himself wanted them to win they invariably ran well, but if he didn’t want them to they always ran nowhere. He was well served by a jockey of the same kidney — a very clever rider, but one notoriously to be nobbled for a price, and no doubt old Hales always paid him well.

The public were always interested in his horses, for some of them were the best in the State, but they were always very uncertain about backing them, because they could never tell exactly when they were out to win.

Time after time the public had plunged18 heavily on them, and then — they had run, as Waller said, “like pigs.” A week or two later, when they were almost friendless in the machine, they would score easily and return heavy dividends20 — fifteen and even twenty to one.

No one seemed ever to know who were the lucky investors21 on these occasions, but it was generally agreed that old Hales had managed it somehow. The bookmakers were afraid of him, too, for several times, with all their caution, they had been badly burned by taking on his bets.

Just now everyone was interested in his horse, The Boss, down to run that afternoon in the Cup. Three times in succession had the public backed him recently, and three times had they come down with a thud. Only a fortnight back, old Hales had made a great show by ostensibly putting fifty pounds on at the tote, as well as making several private bets at Tattersalls Club in the city.

The public had tumbled head over heels to get a slice of the good thing, and The Boss had carried more money almost than all the other horses put together.

But the beast hadn’t won. It had just ambled22 along and died off to nothing when the pinch came.

Old Hales had sworn a lot at the jockey and trumpeted23 everywhere what great sums he had lost. He had also talked of giving the horse a long rest before racing him again.

But apparently24 he had thought better of it, for he was now running him again this afternoon, notwithstanding that rumors26 were being industriously27 spread about that he was suffering from rheumatism28 in his hind29 legs.

All this I had learned from hearing Waller talk about it at the office. Waller just hated Hales, for many were the half-crowns he had lost in backing his horses when they were not, as Waller found out afterwards, intended to win.

This, then, was the man I noticed as Lucy and I were coming on to the course. He was a big, stout30 man, with shaggy eyebrows31 and a big red face.

He was standing25 idly watching the crowd pass through the turnstiles. Suddenly I saw him wink32 knowingly at someone close behind me, and I turned round just in time to catch the faint answering smile on the face of a tall, thin man, in a sort of faded orange-colored crash suit. I shouldn’t probably have taken the slightest interest in the matter if the thin man, seeing me turn round, hadn’t instantly cut short his smile and passed Bob Hales with a calm, impassive face, as if he didn’t know him at all.

What’s going on here, I thought, and then I remembered something else Waller had said once — stung probably to bitterness by the loss of some good half-crown.

“The only way,” he had told the office then, “the only way to find out the old blighter’s real intentions with his damned horses is to become a blooming angel and shadow him all day. Then we should find out, but perhaps only at the last moment, what the old scoundrel really meant to do.”

“Good,” I said to myself, “I’ll keep my eye on you, my beauty, and it’ll be easy, too, with your friend here, because of his highly-colored crash suit.”

I took Lucy round to the totalisator and explained to her the wonderful way in which the amount of any money invested on any horse is immediately recorded on the face of the machine, in full view for everyone to see.

It was not my first visit to a racecourse — I had paid one furtive33 visit on a Saturday a fortnight back, and thanks to the depravity of the life of the wretched Waller and to my own good memory in remembering most of what he had said, had soon got into the hang of things generally.

I invested five shillings in the first race. I backed The Barge34 because Lucy said his number was seven on the card and it was the seventh day of the month. But the coincidence didn’t click, and I remonstrated35 with Lucy tenderly that, generally speaking, it was a rotten way of acquiring wealth.

In the next race, I remembered what my genial friend in the railway carriage had said about Rosyfingers. She looked a pretty little horse to me, and, as Lucy was greatly taken with her jockey’s colors — French grey, rose sleeves and cap — I thought her worth an investment.

Looking up at the totalisator, I saw she was a good second favorite and being well backed.

I walked over towards the long row of pound ticket windows intending to take a ticket there, but passing on my way the one single window where the five-pound tickets only were obtained, I happened to glance inside.

To my astonishment36, I recognised the tickets operator there as one of the clerks of the Adelaide bank where Winter & Winter had their account. I had often chatted with him when I had gone in on business for the firm.

I thought it would be great fun to astonish him for once, and quite indifferent to my probable loss, approached the window and boldly demanded a ticket for number nine.

“Great Scot,” he ejaculated, as he handed over the ticket, “it’s you, Wacks, backing in fivers, is it? Well, I’m damned.”

“Oh,” I laughed airily, “I like a flutter occasionally on a good thing.”

We climbed up to the back row of the grandstand to watch the race. It was a hot day even for Adelaide. Well over a hundred and five degrees in the shade, it was a beautiful dry heat. A heat that stimulated37 and did not depress. A dry, clear air that shook the stiffness from one’s bones and gave a sense of lightness and exhilaration to all one’s movements.

The gay scene below us was one of bustle38 and excitement — of brightly flashing colors on all sides, of happy, smiling people walking to and fro, of proud, slender-loined thoroughbreds prancing39 and curvetting in the beauty of their life and strength, and, back of all, of the long, low, purple hills, shimmering40 away into the distance where the blue sea touched the sky.

The band was playing “O Sole Mio,” and the soft, entrancing melody stole up to us and mingled41 sweetly with our thoughts.

We hardly spoke at all, but just sat silently drinking in the beauty and ecstasy42 of everything.

To my great joy and to Lucy’s no small amazement, Rosyfingers came bustling43 home all on her own. She paid ?4 2s. for each pound invested, and I drew ?20 10s. for my ?5 ticket.

The next race was the cup, and I at once bethought myself of Mr. Bob Hales, the crafty44 owner of The Boss.

I found him right enough, just where I expected — in front of the tote. He was watching the figures going up with a stony45 and impassive face. A few yards from him, but apparently quite a stranger to him now, was the man in the orange-colored crash suit, the man I had seen him wink at earlier in the day.

Now what were they up to, I wondered, but I guessed pretty well. Bob Hales was watching the totalisator to see if it were worth his while to let The Boss win. If the public put their money on the animal sufficiently46 to make the dividend19 likely to be a small one after the race, then, of course, he wouldn’t back it, and it wouldn’t win. But if the public had got tired of the wretched beast and didn’t put their money on, and consequently the dividend was going to be a large one, then — I reckoned — he would throw a hundred pounds or so into the tote at the very latest moment, and The Boss would then run for all he was worth.

He would, of course, have to give the signal somehow to his jockey, so that the latter would know what he was expected to do.

But I wasn’t the only one watching the wily Bob. Not a few sharp-looking gentlemen were hovering47 furtively48 round to see what he was going to do, and throw in their money, too, if he made any movement to the tote.

The minutes went quickly by, and very little money was going on The Boss. He was number one on the card, and it was plain to see that the public generally were fairly sick of him at last.

Five minutes before the race was due to start not a hundred pounds out of a total of over five thousand was credited under his name.

The start was taking place almost to front of the Derby stand, and suddenly Bob Hales, after mopping his forehead vigorously with a conspicuous-looking red handkerchief, turned sharply round and pushed his way towards the railings near to where the horses were lined up.

Good! I thought, he has made up his mind at last, and gone off now to let the jockey know in some clever prearranged manner exactly what he has to do.

But what about the gentleman in crash? I watched interestedly. He was evidently the master key, but be had not moved, and he had made no sign. He was just carelessly watching the tote figures in a mild, uninterested sort of way.

Again I tried to fathom49 their minds. Of course, he was waiting for the starting bell to ring. There was always, I knew, two or three minutes’ interval50 between its ringing and the actual starting of the race, for it was not until the bell had rung that the starter commenced to line up the waiting horses in their proper order, according to the positions they had drawn51 at the barrier.

The bell clanged at last, and, as I had expected, my gentleman moved off leisurely52 towards the five pound window of the tote. Good, again, I thought — I, too, would participate in the good thing.

I elbowed in before him — through the now quickly thinning crowd — and reached the window with him only just behind. There were three or four still in front of me, and, of course, only one was being served at a time. The tote window was narrow, and we had to file up each in our turn.

The tickets seemed to be being dealt out very slowly, and my temper rose at the delay. Then an inspiration seized me. The start might take place any second now, and then bang down would go the window automatically, as the starting tapes went up.

What if I could baulk the man behind me and prevent him getting his money on! I looked quickly down behind me. He was holding an unfolded hundred pound note in his right hand.

I whistled to myself. Whew! What a have. A hundred pounds at about fifteen to one.

The man began to get anxious.

“Hurry up, you goats there,” he shouted angrily over my shoulder; “brisk along, or we shall be here all night — do you hear?”

The two men remaining in front of me turned round frowningly to see who had called them goats, and my friend behind the window leaned round to see who was making the fuss.

“All right sir, all in good time,” he called out; “we shan’t be long now.”

At last my turn came, and I had thought what I would do.

“One on number one,” I drawled slowly, winking53 solemnly and jerking my head towards the man behind.

“One it is,” replied the clerk grinning, and he slowly clicked the machine and passed over the ticket.

“Another on number one,” I went on as slowly as before —“another and another.”

“Curse you, you fools — be quick — damn you, don’t you hear?” and the gentleman in crash, losing all patience at last, thrust a large and dirty hand on to my shoulder and made to push me away.

“Twenty tickets on number one,” he shouted, “quick, or you’ll be too late late — quick, quick.”

I was in a fearful temper at once and sent him sprawling54 with a sudden vicious blow on the chest.

“Damned fool yourself,” I cried threateningly as he picked himself up. “No, don’t you come near me, or you’ll get worse than that, my friend. Who wants your filthy55 paws on them, you beast — keep clear of me, I say.”

The scuffle had attracted instant attention from the crowd, and a number surged round to enjoy the row.

A policeman happened to be handy, too, and pushed his way authoritatively56 to where we stood.

“What’s up?” he asked sharply. “What’s it all about?”

The ticket clerk strained his head out of the window and explained. “The tall man was insolent57 and wanted tickets out of his turn. He started the trouble, and it’s all his fault.”

“Any charge?” asked the policeman, beginning to take out his book.

“Not from me,” I answered contemptuously, and started to adjust my coat collar that had got turned up in the scuffle.

“Well, you be careful,” jerked the policeman sternly to the man in crash, “or I’ll lock up you,” and he moved off majestically58 through the crowd.

“Twenty tickets on number one,” almost shrieked59 my late opponent, rushing frantically60 up to the tote window.

“Twenty ——”

A fearful shout from the crowd. “They’re off,” and the window banged down sharply in the fellow’s face.

For a moment he stood stock still in baffled rage, and then, with a very white face cut off towards the owners’ stand.

“He’s going to tell old Hales,” I chuckled61 gleefully, and then I remembered, not without regret, that my little adventure was likely to cost me dear.

“By Jove!” I said to myself grimly. “Twenty pounds on The Boss, and perhaps, after all, he’ll not be able to win.”

I ran up quickly to where I had told Lucy to wait for me, at the top of the grassy62 slope in front of the grand stand.

I found her at once, and breathlessly informed her she should have fifty pounds if The Boss won.

“Look out for his colors now — orange and grey.” We had had a good look at the horse — in the paddock — earlier in the afternoon, and had both thought what a magnificent looking beast he was.

He was a great big fellow — jet black — and with great big, liquid eyes. He towered high above all the other horses, and was easily the biggest there.

When I had reached Lucy the horses were already well away, and in less than a minute, so it seemed, they were right opposite to us on the other side of the course.

We could easily pick out The Boss. Lucy said he was fifth or sixth — at any rate, he was well up and not far behind the leaders.

“Ben Thomson’s going well,” remarked a man in front of us. “Dear old thing, if only he were a few years younger. I’ve been backing him for years and — Lord! the money he must have cost me — I must have paid for him by now.”

“Look at Eyes of Gray,” called out a woman. “Matson’s got her on the rails — they’ll never catch her now. You see.”

“The Boss won’t win,” remarked another man. “He’s too far back among the crowd.”

“Just wait,” replied his friend. “If he gets through he’ll eat ’em up, that is, if Shooter wants him to.”

Round into the straight they came — seven or eight of them — all in a straight line, it seemed to me, but no sign of The Boss in front — he was still just behind.

Then suddenly a man yelled, “I told you so — there’s Shooter coming up,” and like a great black wave, The Boss broke through.

An angry storm of shouting, for The Boss was leading by a length.

“Damn him,” someone shouted, “sold again. Oh, hold him, Eyes of Gray — hold him, you little dear.”

A beautiful little chestnut63 mare64 had spurted65 grandly to the black beast’s flanks, and was making a gallant66 effort to overtake him, but she couldn’t keep it up, and The Boss was again out clear.

A fine handsome roan then got up close and the crowd shrieked again for The Boss to be overtaken. “Come on, Storm, come on — use your whip, man — use your whip.”

But what was the good — the great black beast shook them all off contemptuously, and came rattling67 past the judge’s box, winning, as I knew Waller would have said, by half a street.

The crowd booed angrily as Bob Hales went out to lead him in, but the old man only smiled unconcernedly, and took no notice of their menacing attitude towards him.

But he didn’t look so unconcerned a few minutes later, when the man in the crash suit at last managed to get to his side. There was a blank look of astonishment — an angry interchange of words and finally almost an actual fight, with the dark suit man again as the aggressor.

Some of Hales’ friends interfered68, but the quarrel had attracted a good deal of attention and, something of the affair at the tote window having got about over the course, the public naturally put two and two together and were immensely tickled69 with the way the old man had been served.

Over six thousand pounds had been invested in the tote, and considerably70 less than two hundred had gone on The Boss. The dividend returned was ?24 5s. and with my four five-pound tickets I picked up ?485. I was almost speechless with my good fortune, and Lucy quite thought all the riches in the world were gathered in the thick wad of notes that she saw me receive at the paying-out window.

After a good deal of demur71 I persuaded her to take, then and there, the fifty pounds that I had promised her if The Boss won. We had quite a little fight about it, but it was only when I insisted significantly that she would be wanting every penny of it very shortly for her bottom drawer that she gave in. A faraway gentle look came into her eyes, and she gave me a fond pressure of her hand in reward.

Dear little Lucy! She had half a crown, later on, on The Dentist, and was very annoyed that it came in only ‘fourth.’

“What!” she exclaimed prettily72 in painful and reproachful surprise, “and don’t I get anything this time? It looked to be running so well.”

There were two other lumps of sugar in my cup of joy that afternoon.

The Premier73 was at the races and, with my face evidently fresh in his mind, he recognised me at once. Lucy and I were standing just in front of the grand stand when the great man came by, accompanied by the Governor of the State. He pulled up and smilingly held out his hand.

“How do you do, Mr. Wacks, this is better than patrolling dangerous roads at night — now isn’t it?”

I introduced him to Lucy and we were both in turn made known to the Governor. We chatted interestedly for a few minutes, and, of course, everyone was looking at us and taking us all in. A press photographer snapped us all together, and to my great joy I caught sight of Waller — the hated Waller — staring at us through the railings of the cheap enclosure. His eyes were wide with amazement.

It was nearly 11 o’clock before I brought Lucy home. We had come to a clear understanding. I had taken her for a walk among the hills, and I had asked her to be my wife.

It was a starless night, and in a world of dark and stillness we had sat clasped in ecstasy in each others arms. Her sweet full lips had clung lingering to mine. I had felt her heart beat, first, fast in fear — then slower on her confidence returning — and finally to the soft and gentle rhythm of assured faith and trust.

The night had made a heaven for us, and yet so strange is life — there was a subtle sense of sorrow in me as Lucy lay quiet and all but sleeping in my arms. It was the sorrow of something gone — of some high summit scaled — of depths of happiness we would never plumb74 again.

For ever I had set my seal upon her and for ever now would she remember this first avowal75 of her love.

Things would never be quite the same to her.

Love, I knew, she might perhaps again — but never more would love wake in her from its first maiden76 dream.

Never more would passion be a stranger to her; for never could it wait to watch again the lights and splendors77 of its maiden dawn rising and crimsoning78 through the hills and valleys of her soul.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 supremely MhpzUo     
adv.无上地,崇高地
参考例句:
  • They managed it all supremely well. 这件事他们干得极其出色。
  • I consider a supremely beautiful gesture. 我觉得这是非常优雅的姿态。
3 supple Hrhwt     
adj.柔软的,易弯的,逢迎的,顺从的,灵活的;vt.使柔软,使柔顺,使顺从;vi.变柔软,变柔顺
参考例句:
  • She gets along well with people because of her supple nature.她与大家相处很好,因为她的天性柔和。
  • He admired the graceful and supple movements of the dancers.他赞扬了舞蹈演员优雅灵巧的舞姿。
4 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。
5 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。
6 acquiesced 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b     
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
  • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款,储蓄
参考例句:
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
8 privately IkpzwT     
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地
参考例句:
  • Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
  • The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。
9 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。
10 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
11 jargon I3sxk     
n.术语,行话
参考例句:
  • They will not hear critics with their horrible jargon.他们不愿意听到评论家们那些可怕的行话。
  • It is important not to be overawed by the mathematical jargon.要紧的是不要被数学的术语所吓倒.
12 brutes 580ab57d96366c5593ed705424e15ffa     
兽( brute的名词复数 ); 畜生; 残酷无情的人; 兽性
参考例句:
  • They're not like dogs; they're hideous brutes. 它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
  • Suddenly the foul musty odour of the brutes struck his nostrils. 突然,他的鼻尖闻到了老鼠的霉臭味。 来自英汉文学
13 racing 1ksz3w     
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的
参考例句:
  • I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
  • The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
14 crook NnuyV     
v.使弯曲;n.小偷,骗子,贼;弯曲(处)
参考例句:
  • He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.我骂他骗子,他要我向他认错。
  • She was cradling a small parcel in the crook of her elbow.她用手臂挎着一个小包裹。
15 varied giIw9     
adj.多样的,多变化的
参考例句:
  • The forms of art are many and varied.艺术的形式是多种多样的。
  • The hotel has a varied programme of nightly entertainment.宾馆有各种晚间娱乐活动。
16 genial egaxm     
adj.亲切的,和蔼的,愉快的,脾气好的
参考例句:
  • Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
  • He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友,也是友善待客的主人。
17 implored 0b089ebf3591e554caa381773b194ff1     
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
  • She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
18 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
参考例句:
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
19 dividend Fk7zv     
n.红利,股息;回报,效益
参考例句:
  • The company was forced to pass its dividend.该公司被迫到期不分红。
  • The first quarter dividend has been increased by nearly 4 per cent.第一季度的股息增长了近 4%。
20 dividends 8d58231a4112c505163466a7fcf9d097     
红利( dividend的名词复数 ); 股息; 被除数; (足球彩票的)彩金
参考例句:
  • Nothing pays richer dividends than magnanimity. 没有什么比宽宏大量更能得到厚报。
  • Their decision five years ago to computerise the company is now paying dividends. 五年前他们作出的使公司电脑化的决定现在正产生出效益。
21 investors dffc64354445b947454450e472276b99     
n.投资者,出资者( investor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
  • a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
22 ambled 7a3e35ee6318b68bdb71eeb2b10b8a94     
v.(马)缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 );从容地走,漫步
参考例句:
  • We ambled down to the beach. 我们漫步向海滩走去。
  • The old man ambled home through the garden every evening. 那位老人每天晚上经过花园漫步回家。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 trumpeted f8fa4d19d667140077bbc04606958a63     
大声说出或宣告(trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Soldiers trumpeted and bugled. 士兵们吹喇叭鸣号角。
  • The radio trumpeted the presidential campaign across the country. 电台在全国范围大力宣传总统竞选运动。
24 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
25 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
26 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》
27 industriously f43430e7b5117654514f55499de4314a     
参考例句:
  • She paces the whole class in studying English industriously. 她在刻苦学习英语上给全班同学树立了榜样。
  • He industriously engages in unostentatious hard work. 他勤勤恳恳,埋头苦干。
28 rheumatism hDnyl     
n.风湿病
参考例句:
  • The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism.潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
  • The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
29 hind Cyoya     
adj.后面的,后部的
参考例句:
  • The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
  • Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。
31 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
32 wink 4MGz3     
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁
参考例句:
  • He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
  • The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间,那颗卫星就消失了。
33 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。
34 barge munzH     
n.平底载货船,驳船
参考例句:
  • The barge was loaded up with coal.那艘驳船装上了煤。
  • Carrying goods by train costs nearly three times more than carrying them by barge.通过铁路运货的成本比驳船运货成本高出近3倍。
35 remonstrated a6eda3fe26f748a6164faa22a84ba112     
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫
参考例句:
  • They remonstrated with the official about the decision. 他们就这一决定向这位官员提出了抗议。
  • We remonstrated against the ill-treatment of prisoners of war. 我们对虐待战俘之事提出抗议。 来自辞典例句
36 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
37 stimulated Rhrz78     
a.刺激的
参考例句:
  • The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
  • The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。
38 bustle esazC     
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹
参考例句:
  • The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深,喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
  • There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。
39 prancing 9906a4f0d8b1d61913c1d44e88e901b8     
v.(马)腾跃( prance的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风,神气地走来走去。
  • The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马,他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句
40 shimmering 0a3bf9e89a4f6639d4583ea76519339e     
v.闪闪发光,发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。
  • The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句
41 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系]
参考例句:
  • The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
  • The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
42 ecstasy 9kJzY     
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷
参考例句:
  • He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
  • Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具,高兴得说不出话来。
43 bustling LxgzEl     
adj.喧闹的
参考例句:
  • The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
  • This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。
44 crafty qzWxC     
adj.狡猾的,诡诈的
参考例句:
  • He admired the old man for his crafty plan.他敬佩老者的神机妙算。
  • He was an accomplished politician and a crafty autocrat.他是个有造诣的政治家,也是个狡黠的独裁者。
45 stony qu1wX     
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的
参考例句:
  • The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干,而且布满了石头。
  • He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。
46 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
47 hovering 99fdb695db3c202536060470c79b067f     
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫
参考例句:
  • The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
  • I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。
48 furtively furtively     
adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地
参考例句:
  • At this some of the others furtively exchanged significant glances. 听他这样说,有几个人心照不宣地彼此对望了一眼。
  • Remembering my presence, he furtively dropped it under his chair. 后来想起我在,他便偷偷地把书丢在椅子下。
49 fathom w7wy3     
v.领悟,彻底了解
参考例句:
  • I really couldn't fathom what he was talking about.我真搞不懂他在说些什么。
  • What these people hoped to achieve is hard to fathom.这些人希望实现些什么目标难以揣测。
50 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
参考例句:
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
51 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
52 leisurely 51Txb     
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的
参考例句:
  • We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着,看遍所有的橱窗。
  • He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐,高兴的开车去工作。
53 winking b599b2f7a74d5974507152324c7b8979     
n.瞬眼,目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • Anyone can do it; it's as easy as winking. 这谁都办得到,简直易如反掌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The stars were winking in the clear sky. 星星在明亮的天空中闪烁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
54 sprawling 3ff3e560ffc2f12f222ef624d5807902     
adj.蔓生的,不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 );蔓延;杂乱无序地拓展;四肢伸展坐着(或躺着)
参考例句:
  • He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
  • a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇
55 filthy ZgOzj     
adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的
参考例句:
  • The whole river has been fouled up with filthy waste from factories.整条河都被工厂的污秽废物污染了。
  • You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.你真的应该扔掉那张肮脏的旧沙发,然后再去买张新的。
56 authoritatively 1e057dc7af003a31972dbde9874fe7ce     
命令式地,有权威地,可信地
参考例句:
  • "If somebody'll come here and sit with him," he snapped authoritatively. “来个人到这儿陪他坐着。”他用发号施令的口吻说。
  • To decide or settle(a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively. 判定结论性、权威性地决定或解决(纠纷等)
57 insolent AbGzJ     
adj.傲慢的,无理的
参考例句:
  • His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
  • It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇,脸皮真厚。
58 majestically d5d41929324f0eb30fd849cd601b1c16     
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地
参考例句:
  • The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically. 雄伟的长江滚滚东流。
  • Towering snowcapped peaks rise majestically. 白雪皑皑的山峰耸入云霄。
59 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
60 frantically ui9xL     
ad.发狂地, 发疯地
参考例句:
  • He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
  • She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。
61 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
62 grassy DfBxH     
adj.盖满草的;长满草的
参考例句:
  • They sat and had their lunch on a grassy hillside.他们坐在长满草的山坡上吃午饭。
  • Cattle move freely across the grassy plain.牛群自由自在地走过草原。
63 chestnut XnJy8     
n.栗树,栗子
参考例句:
  • We have a chestnut tree in the bottom of our garden.我们的花园尽头有一棵栗树。
  • In summer we had tea outdoors,under the chestnut tree.夏天我们在室外栗树下喝茶。
64 mare Y24y3     
n.母马,母驴
参考例句:
  • The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。
  • The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。
65 spurted bdaf82c28db295715c49389b8ce69a92     
(液体,火焰等)喷出,(使)涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 ); (短暂地)加速前进,冲刺
参考例句:
  • Water spurted out of the hole. 水从小孔中喷出来。
  • Their guns spurted fire. 他们的枪喷射出火焰。
66 gallant 66Myb     
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的
参考例句:
  • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
  • These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
67 rattling 7b0e25ab43c3cc912945aafbb80e7dfd     
adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词
参考例句:
  • This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
  • At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时,一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来,把窗玻璃震得当当地响。
68 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
69 tickled 2db1470d48948f1aa50b3cf234843b26     
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐
参考例句:
  • We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友,我们高兴极了。
  • I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚,使她发笑。
70 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
71 demur xmfzb     
v.表示异议,反对
参考例句:
  • Without demur, they joined the party in my rooms. 他们没有推辞就到我的屋里一起聚餐了。
  • He accepted the criticism without demur. 他毫无异议地接受了批评。
72 prettily xQAxh     
adv.优美地;可爱地
参考例句:
  • It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back.此件雕刻精美,背面有花饰图案。
  • She pouted prettily at him.她冲他撅着嘴,样子很可爱。
73 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。
74 plumb Y2szL     
adv.精确地,完全地;v.了解意义,测水深
参考例句:
  • No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
  • It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。
75 avowal Suvzg     
n.公开宣称,坦白承认
参考例句:
  • The press carried his avowal throughout the country.全国的报纸登载了他承认的消息。
  • This was not a mere empty vaunt,but a deliberate avowal of his real sentiments.这倒不是一个空洞的吹牛,而是他真实感情的供状。
76 maiden yRpz7     
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
参考例句:
  • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
  • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
77 splendors 9604948927e16d12b7c4507da39c016a     
n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 );壮丽;光辉;显赫
参考例句:
  • The sun rose presently and sent its unobstructed splendors over the land. 没多大工夫,太阳就出来了,毫无阻碍,把它的光华异彩散布在大地之上。 来自辞典例句
  • Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. 她那世人的肉身禁不住炽热的神光。 来自辞典例句
78 crimsoning ce4240f93f13b443f89d1318cf3056e8     
变为深红色(crimson的现在分词形式)
参考例句:


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