drop Cap F
FROM Alais the train that runs on to N?mes drops one at Quissac, whence diverges3 a branch to Le Vigan and Tournemire on the main line from Paris to Bézier, Narbonne, and Barcelona. Quissac lies on the Vidourle, that flows a thin stream in a vast bed of pebbles5, on which the washerwomen spread their linen6. The esplanade by the river is planted, and on it is the Protestant temple, a feeble imitation of the Maison Carée at N?mes. The parish church is in another part of the town, and is an astounding7 bit of patchwork8 after wreckage9 by the Camisards. The west front is an architectural curiosity. In the little place in front of it is a plane tree, serving, I presume, as a gallows for all the vermin caught in the place and neighbourhood. When I was there, rats, mice, weasels depended from the branches, and a sulky doll that would not eat had been hoisted10 up as well, and was dangling11 by its neck, whilst the little executioner stood below haranguing12 it.
[Pg 222]
The micocoulier, or nettle13 tree (Celtis Australis), is much grown around Quissac. This tree flourishes along the south of Europe bordering on the Mediterranean14, in Italy, Greece, on the coast of Asia Minor15, and stretches to the south of the Caspian. The tree is at home also in Algeria and Tunis. It is grown here for making whip-handles and for pitchforks. For the latter purpose it is suffered to have but two or three shoots at the top, and pains are taken to give the stem the utmost regularity16, as that is to serve as the handle to the fork. Of the wood is also made the yokes17 for the oxen. The wood is heated in an oven, and given the desired bend or shape when hot.
Sauve bears for its arms argent a mountain, on top of which grows a plant of sage18 (sauve), and in chief the words Sal-Sal, that stand for Salvia Salvatrix. Originally the town occupied the height where is now the ruined castle, but the inhabitants drifted down to the abbey, which was below. In the religious wars, Sauve was taken by the Huguenots, and remained a stronghold of the Calvinists till 1629. In the war of the Camisards the Protestants of the upper town offered to open the gates to them disguised in the uniform of the royal soldiery, but the plot was detected, and in resentment19 the Camisards set fire to the abbey church and monastic buildings, murdered the old prior, aged20 ninety-one, and the curé, aged seventy. They swept together forty of the parish priests of the neighbourhood and mutilated them in the most horrible manner.
The country-house of the abbots of the fourteenth century has the inscription21 on it: "In urbe omnibus, in deserto mihi." (In the town I am at everybody's beck and call, in the desert I belong to myself only.)
[Pg 223]
And "desert" is not at all an inappropriate term for the country between Sauve and S. Hippolyte. It is a land of disintegrated22 rock, white as chalk, and assuming strange forms, fissured23 in parts vertically24, in others horizontally, the wide desert growing nothing but aromatic25 herbs, as sage and juniper. The Vidourle sinks and flows underground. The ruins of a castle stand above the dry bed at a curve in the channel.
But even this desolate26 garigue has its use, as have those further south. It grows lavender, rosemary, thyme in abundance, savin, sage, savory27; and the peasants collect these herbs and distil28 essences from them. To the fragrant29 essences is added bitter rue2. The distillation30 takes place on the garigue by means of movable retorts that travel about from one place to another. Vast quantities of herbs are required for the purpose. Thus, to obtain one kilogramme of essence of thyme, it requires 400 kilogrammes of leaves, except in May, when the plant is in greatest vigour31 and most redolent, then only half that amount is required.
The great centre of the industry is Sommières to the south of Quissac, where the garigues are more extensive than near Sauve.
A great rivalry32 exists between the manufacturers of scents33 in this part of Languedoc and those of Provence. All have been hit alike of late years by the fabrication of scents out of coal tar34, that seems as ready to produce sweet odours as it is to yield bright dyes.
These deserts of limestone35 apparently36 grow nothing but what is fragrant. Their vegetation expires in sweet odours.
At S. Hippolyte-du-Fort the mountains draw near, terraced up for olives. The town with its three churches, [Pg 224] commanded by a castle with its walls and towers, is eminently37 picturesque38. The town was moved from its ancient site, S. Hippolyte le Vieux, about a castle built on a rock, Roquefourcade, so called from its form. The old parish church was there to the Revolution when it was sold. The bulk of the population of S. Hippolyte adopted the Reform of Calvin, and Catholic worship was not restored till 1601, and then only intermittently39. In 1774 the bishop40 found that there were only two or three Catholic families in it. All the rest were Huguenot "au dernier point," although the Protestant temple had been pulled down at the revocation41 of the Edict of Nantes. A garrison42 was placed in the castle. It was attacked by the Camisards in vain. Roland entered the faubourgs on January 14th, 1704, burnt a church, and slaughtered43 three girls and five men.
Ganges lies in a valley at the junction44 of the Sumène with the Hérault, and near where the Vis emerges from its gorge45 to shed its waters into the Hérault. It is a bright town, with good inns, and is an admirable centre for several interesting excursions. The station is at a height at some distance from the town, and near it is a huge modern convent, very conspicuous46, planted on a rock.
The town contains little of interest except the chateau47 of the Marquesses of Ganges, which unhappily is doomed48 to destruction, as it has been purchased by the town to be pulled down and the site to be occupied by a market-hall. This is the more to be regretted, as it is not only a very fine Renaissance49 structure, but is also rendered famous by the murder of the Marchioness in 1667. The story has been often told, [Pg 225] but must not here be omitted on that account. All versions rest on that of Pitaval, taken from the records of the Parliament of Toulouse. Pitaval's narrative50 was published in 1734. Unhappily he has decked it out with romantic features, drawn51 from conjecture52, to explain the motive53 of the murderers, and we shall be obliged to distinguish between these and the facts that were proved.
Castle Court, Ganges
At the Court of Louis XIV. one of the great beauties was the Marquise de Castellane, a woman as good as she was beautiful. Queen Christina of Sweden, who was then at the Court, declared that she had never seen one who was more lovely, and the painter, Mignard, took her portrait.
She was the daughter of a M. de Roussan, of Avignon, and after the death of her father had been educated in the house of her grandfather, M. de Nochères, who loved her as the apple of his eye. He was a very wealthy man, and she would be his heiress. At the age of thirteen she married the Marquess, who brought her to Paris. When aged twenty she was a widow, as her husband was drowned in the Mediterranean. She then returned to Avignon, and was at once surrounded by suitors. Her choice fell on the Marquess de Ganges, younger than herself, a man of a weak character, but with pleasant manners. The marriage took place in 1658. By him she became the mother of two children, a son and a daughter.
After a while the affection of the Marquess for his wife died away. Her superiority in mind and character offended his self-esteem, and to add to this his brother, the Abbé de Ganges, did his utmost to estrange54 the married couple.
[Pg 226]
The Marquess had three younger brothers. The elder, the Count de Ganges, does not enter into the story except towards its close. The second brother was the Abbé. This man was clever, cultured, of insinuating55 manners. He was not really in Holy Orders, but was one of those who at the period assumed a semi-ecclesiastical dress, and was given a benefice in commendam, the duties of which he never performed as unqualified, but the income of which he devoured56. The third brother, the Chevalier, was a poor, weak creature, completely in the hands of the Abbé. The Marquess was much from home. He lived on bad terms with his wife; he found life dull in a little country town, and he liked the dissipation of a capital. He left his two younger brothers at the chateau, and placed the management of his estates in the hands of the Abbé.
According to Pitaval, both brothers fell in love with the far older Marquise, and the Abbé ventured to declare his sentiments towards her, and was repulsed57 with disdain58 so cutting as to fill him with resentment. Soon after M. de Nochères died, and left his vast fortune to his granddaughter in such a manner that her husband could not touch a penny of it without her consent. The Marquise at once had her will drawn up, bequeathing all her fortune to her mother, Mme. de Roussan, in trust for her children, but with the singular proviso that this old lady was to leave it entire to either one or other of her grandchildren, whichever she chose. When she deposited this will with the town councillor of Avignon, she added a codicil59 to the effect that in the event of her death and a later will being found this later will was to be regarded as invalid60, as wrung61 from her against her intent, and that the [Pg 227] above will was alone to take effect. This provision was witnessed by several persons of authority, and she insisted further that it should be kept secret and in no way divulged62.
On her return to Ganges she was cheerful, saw a good deal of company, and seemed to be without suspicion of evil devised against her. What made her the more easy was that her stepmother was there, and in her presence the Abbé and the Chevalier were circumspect63.
But before long the dowager marquise left for Montpellier, and her husband also departed. Since she had become an heiress he had feigned64 greater affection for her, and had treated her with courtesy. After his departure the Abbé had conferences with her. He assured her that the Marquess was deeply attached to her, but was wounded to the quick by her having made a will that passed him over; that the only possible way of concord65 being completely re-established was for her to alter the terms of her will.
The Marquise was a woman. She allowed herself to be persuaded, and under the dictation of the Abbé drew up a second will, whereby she constituted her husband sole heir. But she did not revoke66 the other, the former will deposited at Avignon, and the Abbé, knowing nothing of her final declaration made there to vitiate any second disposition67 of her property, was satisfied.
It is wholly unnecessary to accept the romance of the passion of the Abbé for his sister-in-law imported into the story by Pitaval, and for which no evidence was produced later. She was then aged twenty-nine, older than the two elder brothers. The fact of the will [Pg 228] having been extorted68 from her, and the prospect69 of being able to share in the spoils should she die, is sufficient to account for what follows. The object of the Abbé now was to get rid of the Marquise.
She was not feeling well, and on the morning of May 17th, 1667, sent for the doctor, and asked for a draught70. But when this was brought to her it looked dark and muddy, and she refused to drink it. It was not proved that this was poisoned, but it is not improbable that it was so. The Abbé and the Chevalier all day seemed restless, and were continually inquiring as to her condition, and seemed little pleased to learn that she was recovering from her indisposition.
The Marquise spent the day in bed. Several ladies of the town visited her, and she invited them to remain for dinner. She appeared in very good spirits; but it was noted71 that both her brothers-in-law spoke72 little and seemed distracted in mind. She joked the Chevalier about this, and he and the Abbé roused and attempted to talk, but manifestly with an effort. Nor would either of them eat. Presently the party broke up. The Abbé undertook the duties of host, and accompanied the ladies to the door of the chateau. The Chevalier remained behind with his sister-in-law. His manner was peculiar73, he remained buried in thought. She asked him the reason, but could get no answer from him; then the door opened, the Abbé entered, and the solution to the puzzle was given.
So far we have the facts from the evidence of the witnesses before the Parliament of Toulouse; what follows is from the narrative of the Marchioness herself.
The Abbé entered the bedroom, a pistol in one hand and a tumbler with some dark turbid74 liquid in the other. [Pg 229] His features had changed expression. Rage flared75 from his eyes. He locked the door behind him, took his station before his sister-in-law, and signed to his brother, who drew his sword. At first it seemed to her that hesitation76 appeared in his face and movements, but if that were so, it passed rapidly away. The Abbé broke the silence. He stepped up to the bed and said: "Madame, you must die. Choose steel, lead, or poison."
She cried out, asking what she had done. She implored77 the two men to spare her. She promised to forget their conduct if they would withdraw. She turned to the Chevalier. She reminded him that she had frequently furnished him with money, and had recently given him a bill for several hundred livres. But in vain. He also spoke. "Enough, enough, Madame. Make your selection, or we shall choose for you."
The miserable78 woman took the glass out of the hand of the Abbé. She drank whilst he held the pistol to her breast, and the Chevalier menaced her heart with his rapier. Some drops falling on her bosom79 blistered80 it, and her lips were also blistered. The draught was a composition of arsenic81 and sublimate82 of mercury dissolved in aquafortis. The Chevalier noticed that she had not swallowed the dregs. He took a silver hairpin83 and swept all that remained attached to the side of the tumbler together into the bottom, and saying, "Be quick about it; drain to the last drop," forced her to take it. She received it into her mouth but did not swallow what she had taken, but sank back into the bed, and in convulsive movements turned away and covering her head with the bedclothes spat84 out what she had last taken. Then she exclaimed, "For God's sake do not slay85 my [Pg 230] soul as well as my body; send for a confessor." Both brothers left the room. They had no reason for refusing this last request, for the vicar was Perette, a bad man who had been tutor to the Marquess, and was in the confidence of the brothers.
No sooner was the door shut than the Marchioness sprang out of bed. In haste she drew on her petticoat, and opened the window that looked into the yard. The window was twenty-four feet from the ground, nevertheless she leaped down. At the same moment the door had opened and Perette entered; he sprang after her, and succeeded in laying hold of her dress and retaining her for a moment or two. But the garment rent, and she fell to the ground on her feet without serious injury.
The vicar laid hold of a silver water-jar and hurled86 it after her, but missed his aim. The jug87, instead of braining her, struck a stone and broke.
The Marquise found every door of the courtyard fastened and locked. In fear of the operation of the poison she thrust one of her tresses down her throat, and this produced sickness. Fortunately she had partaken of a good deal of pudding at the meal, and this in a measure prevented the immediate88 working of the poison. She tried to escape through the stable, but that was locked. A groom89, however, came up. "Save me! Save me! I must escape!" she cried. The man, overcome with terror and pity, hesitated a moment, then caught her up in his arms, carried her through the stables, and handed her over to the first woman he encountered in the street.
The Marquise continued her flight. Already the brothers-in-law were in pursuit, shouting, "Hold her [Pg 231] fast! She is mad!" And whoever saw the Marquise running in her nightshirt, with a torn skirt and with bare feet over the pavement of the street, might well believe what they called out.
The people were already assembling and preparing to stop her, when the Chevalier caught her at the door of a Mme. de Prets, thrust her in, and entering himself bolted the house door. The Abbé coming up, pistol in hand, stood on the threshold and threatened to shoot any one who interfered90. His sister-in-law in her madness was not to be made a spectacle of to every one.
In the house of Mme. de Prets a party of ladies was assembled. The Marquise rushed into the midst of them, followed by the Chevalier, crying out that she had been poisoned. The Chevalier declared before the ladies that his sister was insane, and they did not know at first what to make of this extraordinary scene. Mme. Brunette, the wife of the Calvinist preacher in the place, gave her some treacle91, at the time supposed to be a sovereign remedy against poison. She swallowed it, but the fire of the poison made the Marchioness entreat92 for water. A tumbler was handed to her, but the Chevalier smashed it in her mouth as she was drinking. He succeeded in persuading the ladies that his unfortunate sister-in-law was out of her mind, and begged them to excuse such an unseemly irruption into their midst.
Then the poor creature implored to be allowed to go into the adjoining room; this was granted, but the Chevalier followed her, and with his rapier stabbed her twice in the breast. She cried out, ran to the door and entreated93 help. He followed, and, blind with rage, stabbed her five times in the back. The last time the weapon broke and left the blade sticking in her [Pg 232] shoulder. She fell at the feet of the assembled ladies drenched94 in blood. The Chevalier then ran downstairs, and cried to his brother, "Away! away! the job is done!" But as they hurried down the street they heard the women at the window crying for help and for a surgeon. The Abbé, in the idea that the Marquise was still living, had the incredible audacity95 to go back, enter the house, thrust the women aside, and put the pistol to the breast of his victim. Mme. Brunette struck up his hand, and the pistol did not go off. Thereupon the Abbé hit Mme. Brunette on the head, and again attempted to kill his sister-in-law, this time by braining her with the butt-end. Now, however, all the women present fell on him, dragged, beat, thrust, and succeeded eventually in expelling him from the house.
It was nine o'clock at night when the murderous attempt was made. Darkness favoured the assassins; they knew that they would be pursued, so they fled to an estate that belonged to the Marquess at Aubernas, thence by boat down the river to the sea, and escaped pursuit by fleeing from France.
The unfortunate Marquise lingered nineteen days. The surgeon was obliged to plant his knee against her back in order to obtain leverage96 for the extraction of the broken blade; but she died of the result of the poison rather than of her wounds.
The two scoundrels before they fled had sent a message post-haste to Avignon to inform the Marquess that his wife had been so treated by them that she could not possibly live. He did not hurry himself to go to Ganges, and when he arrived expressed no sympathy with her, no concern for what had been done, but pestered97 the dying woman about her will, for in [Pg 233] Avignon he had got wind of what she had done to protect it from being revoked98.
The case was tried at Montpellier. The Marquess was decreed to have forfeited99 his title and estates, which reverted100 to the Crown. The Abbé and Chevalier were condemned101 to be broken on the wheel, but as they were beyond reach the sentence could not be carried into effect. The vicar, Perette, was sentenced to the galleys102 for life, and died on his way to them. Louis XIV. conferred the estates of the Marquess on the brother, the Count of Ganges; he held them till his nephew was of age, and then surrendered them to him. The Chevalier entered the service of Venice, and was killed by a Turkish bullet in Candia.
The Abbé escaped into Lippe, where, under the assumed name of Montellière, he passed as a Huguenot refugee, was received into favour, and was appointed tutor to the children of the Count of Lippe. He even aspired103 to the hand of a kinswoman of the Count. The latter demurred104. He liked Montellière well enough, but objected that he was not noble.
"Oh! as to that, do not concern yourself," said the Abbé, "I am the Abbé de Ganges, of whom you may possibly have heard."
The horrible story was known—it had been bruited105 about Europe. The Count was horror-struck, and would have surrendered the miscreant106 to the authorities in France, but that the pupil of the Abbé pleaded for him, and he was allowed to escape into Holland, where the Count's cousin, who had lost her heart to him although knowing what a ruffian he was, followed him in disguise and married him. Six months after his marriage, a stranger accosted107 him in the streets [Pg 234] of Amsterdam. "You are the Abbé de Ganges," he said. "I avenge108 the Marquise," and he blew out the miscreant's brains. Who the avenger109 was, was never discovered.
Near Ganges is the Grotte des Demoiselles, a cave that has so long enjoyed notoriety that the smoke of torches has somewhat spoilt its freshness. It was, in fact, discovered in 1780. There are other grottoes finer, as that of Dargilan. However, the great hall called that of the Virgin110, which is one hundred and forty-five feet in height, is fine; in it is a stalagmite supposed to represent the Virgin, and another forms a natural porch, eighteen feet high and nine feet wide. It demands, I think, a special aptitude111 of the mind to appreciate caverns113. I, for my part, am so fond of the light of day that I do not go underground before my time comes.
There is another at Ganges, L'Aven Laurien, as picturesque as it is interesting from an arch?ological point of view. The phenomenon of this pot-hole is one very common in this limestone district. A well gapes114 before you descending116 to unknown depths. Honeysuckle, clematis, wild vine droop117 down it, disguise its presence, and interlace about it in the branches of the ilex and the wild fig118, flinging their boughs119 across the orifice. Bunches of scolopendria let their long fronds120 droop into the depth, and laurels121 add their sombre verdure to the clear notes of the deciduous122 plants.
At 150 feet below the mouth of this pot-hole on the mountain flank is a cave, reduced by accumulations to a small opening. One can enter on all fours only. But after having passed within, a spacious123 chamber124 is reached about 120 feet in length, with branches as a [Pg 235] cross, but at the extremity125 opposite the entrance it opens abruptly126 on the verdant127 well of the aven.
It is impossible not to be struck on reaching this point at the picturesque appearance of the cave. It receives light that filters down the aven through the network of foliage128 above, and long trails of leaves fall from above as though to decorate the unsounded abyss that opens below. Now this cavern112 was a habitation of neolithic129 man, as has been shown by finds there of his handiwork. But think of the mothers of families residing there on the brink130 of that awful gulf131! What agonies of apprehension132 they must have been in when the little urchins133 played puss-in-the-corner there; when they saw them totter134 to the verge4 to look up at the green descending light and the pendent leaves! If a child tripped and went down, its little body could never be recovered. But how docile135 and meek136 and mealy-mouthed the wives must have been when, if one raised her voice to scold her lord and master, he could point over his shoulder with his thumb to the unfathomed abyss where it could be silenced for ever—by a push.
Another aven again is that of Rabanel, down which M. Martel has descended137. Nothing disguises the opening of this horrible well, that sinks precipitously 390 feet. The explorers found a heap of debris138 at the bottom.
"It took us three days to construct the scaffolding for the windlass. I went down first, fastened by a double rope, and I spun139 round forty-seven times in the void, happy to discover that the only way to save myself from giddiness was to count the revolutions I made.
"But what a spectacle when I reached the bottom! A [Pg 236] slope of rubbish inclined at thirty-five degrees which one can descend115 without difficulty for 60 feet, and then a great vault140, like the nave141 of a cathedral, 300 feet long by 45 feet, and 450 feet high, lighted from above by a lucarne of blue sky, the light falling down which, is sifted142, strange, glinting with violet reflexions from the walls, whence depended stalactites formed drop by drop like crystal tears."
Ganges is a manufacturing town, its speciality being the most delicate silk fabrics143. Marvels144 of lightness are produced. Dyeing the silk is also done here. The workers produce stockings so fine that a pair will weigh only 185 grains. The spider does not spin a finer web, and not so strong, for these impalpable tissues are remarkably145 resistant146. The silk is purchased in cocoons147 in the markets of Alais and S. Hippolyte in May and June. The weaving is done only by day, and embroidresses work with their needle adorning148 the tissues, and are remarkably dexterous149 and tasteful.
The population is divided into Protestants, who have a large circular meeting-house on the Grande Place, and the Catholics, who have a stately new church opposite the old chateau of the Marquesses of Ganges, in another part of the town.
Excursions may be made from Ganges to explore the gorges150 of the Vis and the Hérault, but there is a dearth151 of roads. They do not penetrate152 these ravines; and to traverse the glaring plateau or to thread the burning ravines in summer is impossible. They must be visited in April and May, but even March is not too early.
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gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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diverges
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| 分开( diverge的第三人称单数 )； 偏离； 分歧； 分道扬镳 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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patchwork
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| n.混杂物；拼缝物 | |
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wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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haranguing
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 ) | |
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nettle
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| n.荨麻；v.烦忧，激恼 | |
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Mediterranean
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| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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yokes
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| 轭( yoke的名词复数 )； 奴役； 轭形扁担； 上衣抵肩 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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resentment
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aged
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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disintegrated
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fissured
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vertically
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aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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28
distil
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| vt.蒸馏；提取…的精华，精选出 | |
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29
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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30
distillation
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| n.蒸馏，蒸馏法 | |
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31
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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32
rivalry
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| n.竞争，竞赛，对抗 | |
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33
scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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34
tar
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| n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于 | |
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35
limestone
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| n.石灰石 | |
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36
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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37
eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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38
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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intermittently
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| adv.间歇地；断断续续 | |
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40
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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41
revocation
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| n.废止，撤回 | |
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42
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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43
slaughtered
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| v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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45
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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46
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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47
chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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48
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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49
renaissance
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| n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴 | |
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50
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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51
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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52
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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53
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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54
estrange
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| v.使疏远，离间，使离开 | |
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55
insinuating
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| 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 | |
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56
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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57
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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58
disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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59
codicil
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| n.遗嘱的附录 | |
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60
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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61
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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62
divulged
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| v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
circumspect
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| adj.慎重的，谨慎的 | |
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64
feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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65
concord
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| n.和谐；协调 | |
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66
revoke
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| v.废除，取消，撤回 | |
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67
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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68
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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69
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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70
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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71
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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72
spoke
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| 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 | |
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73
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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74
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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75
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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76
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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77
implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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79
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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80
blistered
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| adj.水疮状的，泡状的v.（使）起水泡( blister的过去式和过去分词 )；（使表皮等）涨破，爆裂 | |
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81
arsenic
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| n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的 | |
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82
sublimate
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| v.(使)升华，净化 | |
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83
hairpin
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| n.簪,束发夹，夹发针 | |
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84
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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85
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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86
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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87
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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88
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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89
groom
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| vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁 | |
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90
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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91
treacle
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| n.糖蜜 | |
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92
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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93
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94
drenched
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| adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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95
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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96
leverage
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| n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量 | |
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97
pestered
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| 使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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98
revoked
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| adj.[法]取消的v.撤销，取消，废除( revoke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
forfeited
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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101
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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102
galleys
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| n.平底大船，战舰( galley的名词复数 )；（船上或航空器上的）厨房 | |
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103
aspired
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| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
bruited
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| v.传播（传说或谣言）( bruit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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107
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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108
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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109
avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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110
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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111
aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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112
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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113
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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114
gapes
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的第三人称单数 )；张开，张大 | |
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115
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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116
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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117
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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118
fig
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| n.无花果(树) | |
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119
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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120
fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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121
laurels
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| n.桂冠，荣誉 | |
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122
deciduous
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| adj.非永久的；短暂的；脱落的；落叶的 | |
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123
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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124
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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125
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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126
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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127
verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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128
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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129
neolithic
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| adj.新石器时代的 | |
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130
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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131
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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132
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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133
urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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134
totter
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| v.蹒跚， 摇摇欲坠；n.蹒跚的步子 | |
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135
docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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136
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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137
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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138
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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139
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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140
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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141
nave
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| n.教堂的中部；本堂 | |
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142
sifted
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| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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143
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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144
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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145
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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146
resistant
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| adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的 | |
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147
cocoons
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| n.茧，蚕茧( cocoon的名词复数 )v.茧，蚕茧( cocoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
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148
adorning
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| 修饰，装饰物 | |
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149
dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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150
gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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151
dearth
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| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
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152
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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