The detective's next visit was to the office of Doctor Garnet. There he found the physician's secretary much worried over the prolonged and unexplained absence of his employer. He declared that the last time he had seen Doctor Garnet was several days before when he had left in answer to a hurry call from the victim of an accident. The secretary added that he had made careful inquiries6 in every possible direction, but had been unable to find any trace whatsoever7 of the missing man.
Van Dusen gave only vague answers to the anxious questions put by the secretary. He stated merely that a client of his was anxious to get in touch with the physician. Then, without more ado, he hastened to keep his appointment with Roy. His own face, now he was alone without any necessity for the mask of indifference8, was deeply perturbed9. Consternation10 was written in his expression. His deductions11 brought him face to face with the fact that Garnet was actively12 concerned in the mystery. Either the physician was actually guilty of abducting13 his girl patient for some evil purpose of his own, or else he himself was also a victim of the kidnappers14 along with Ethel. Or, finally, the man had suddenly become deranged15 from nerve strain and overwork, and in this irresponsible condition had stolen away the girl, with what crazy design none might guess. This possibility was even more dreadful than the others since there could be no certainty as to what the madman might intend. Van Dusen realized, with a shudder16 of horror, that in haste must lie the only chance of rescuing the girl from some horrible fate. It seemed to him that the single feasible plan would be to follow down the coast according to the directions given in Ethel's letter to Roy. While doing this the wireless17 on his yacht would keep constantly in touch with all Southern ports and with the coastwise steamers for news of The Isabel. Then whenever the stolen yacht should be located, if fortune so favored, it would be pursued with all speed in the hope of effecting a rescue.
Van Dusen found Roy pacing uneasily to and fro in an outer room at the agency. He had performed the duties entrusted18 to him by the detective and was now wild with impatience19 for further action. His first glance into Van Dusen's face stirred him to new excitement.
"Oh, Arthur!" he exclaimed, "I can see by your expression that you have obtained important information. Tell me!" he insisted. "Tell me! I must know—even if it's the worst. In these hours of suspense20 and despair, I've braced21 myself to stand any shock. Tell me!"
Van Dusen answered soothingly22.
"Roy, old man, the mystery will be solved, I think, and that before long. That is to say, it will be cleared up unless The Isabel founders23 at sea before we can reach it. I have discovered that in all human probability Miss Marion has been carried away in the yacht by Doctor Garnet."
"Are you positive about that?" Roy demanded fiercely.
"I am positive this far," came the quiet reply. "Doctor Garnet has not returned to his office since the time when he answered the call to attend Miss Marion on the yacht. It is fairly to be deduced from her message to you that he appeared on board in answer to her summons. I am of the opinion that Doctor Garnet is the one responsible for this outrage24. He is either the victim of a sudden fit of insanity25, or he has become a man-beast, sacrificing position and honor and every decent instinct in order to gratify a heretofore smoldering26 lust27, which has suddenly flamed forth28 and got beyond his control."
"Your deductings are doubtless right—at least in part," Roy admitted, though with obvious reluctance29 in his tone. "But I find it hard to believe the possibility of Doctor Garnet's being the brute30 you suggest. He is universally esteemed31 not only for his ability, but also for his manliness32 and his many deeds of kindness and charity. If he has done this thing it must have been as you also suggest because he has gone crazy."
Roy mused33 for a moment, and then spoke34 with a new note of excitement in his voice.
"How do we know that the Doctor was not murdered while on board the yacht, and that the murderer or murderers then made off with the vessel35 and Marion? Or, perhaps, the tender was capsized and he was drowned along with the caretaker. Afterward36 the kidnapping may have been done by others who knew nothing whatever of Doctor Garnet." Roy shook his head with decision. "Anyhow," he added, "I cannot believe that Doctor Garnet, in his right mind, could ever have been guilty of such a foul37 crime."
Van Dusen regarded the young man tolerantly, but his smile was a little cynical38 as he replied:
"When you have studied crime as thoroughly as I have during the past few years, Roy, you will not be so confident of finding nothing but good in any particular man, no matter how high his reputation may be. I cannot say with certainty that Doctor Garnet is vile39; neither can I say that he is incapable40 of vileness41. But in the work I have to do, I must entertain all possibilities if I would solve the problem."
"Well, Arthur," came Roy's reply after a moment of reflection, "I admit that I am amazed by what you have told me. I do not in the least understand the turn of affairs by which Doctor Garnet is implicated42. But you are in charge of the case, and I am absolutely in your hands. I mean not to hamper43 you in any way—not even by throwing doubts on your judgment44. So, now, just tell me what you mean to do next."
Van Dusen answered authoritatively45:
"We must leave at once. On my way here, I sent out wires to Norfolk and other near-by coast points. These will be sufficient to keep the port officers on the lookout46 for The Isabel, as well as the coast-guard crews. I have a wardrobe on board my yacht. Whatever you may need beyond what's in your bag, I can supply you with. Let's be off."
Van Dusen's yacht was moored47 near the spot where The Isabel had been lying. The detective made diligent48 inquiry49 at the landing stage in the hope of picking up some bit of information concerning Doctor Garnet's presence there, but the effort was fruitless. No one seemed to have known anything concerning the physician's visit.
Forthwith, then, the two young men went aboard Van Dusen's yacht, and a few minutes later the vessel was under way, with instructions to the master to hug the New Jersey50 shore while keeping a sharp lookout for The Isabel.
The detective operated his own wireless outfit51 and for several hours at the outset of the voyage he kept busy, interrogating52 the different ships bound up and down the coast, and the shore stations as well, for any information concerning the stolen yacht. Finally, a tramp steamer answered that she had passed The Isabel the day before, and that the yacht at that time was headed down the coast, going slowly, in the direction of Hampton Roads. At once, on receiving this news, Van Dusen directed that the yacht's course should be set for Cape53 Charles and the Roads.
As a matter of fact, without this information, the yacht must have taken this same direction for the sake of safety, since the weather soon became so threatening that none but the most foolhardy would have ventured to navigate54 in the open sea a vessel of The Hialdo type.
The Hialdo pushed her nose through the waters of Hampton Roads in the early morning. Both Roy and Van Dusen were on the bridge, surveying with their glasses every detail visible of the bays and creeks55. They dared hope to catch somewhere a glimpse of The Isabel, for they believed that she must be secreted56 somewhere hereabouts in some out-of-the-way place. They were justified57 in this by the fact that they had received no word of the yacht's arrival from the harbor authorities of Norfolk. Yet, now, their roving scrutiny58 was of no avail. Nowhere could they find a trace of aught that could possibly be mistaken for The Isabel.... With the approach of night the violence of the gale59 became such that perforce Van Dusen gave orders for the tying up of the The Hialdo at the Norfolk port, there to await the passing of this southeaster of hurricane force.
The hours during which the tempest raged were fraught60 with horror for Roy Morton. He was in despair now, for he could not believe that The Isabel would be able to ride out the gale. His imagination pictured for him with frightful61 vividness the wreck62 of the yacht and its carrying down to death the girl he loved. The young man's agony of spirit was so evident that Van Dusen became alarmed lest he should break down. The detective thought to distract Roy from his morbid63 thoughts by suggesting that they take a trip into the town to lessen64 the tedium65 of waiting until the storm should wear itself out. His persistence66 at last won a reluctant consent, and the two set forth.... In after years, Roy was to think often with shuddering67 of what must have been the dreadful result, had he indeed refused to accompany the detective on that excursion into the town.
点击收听单词发音
1 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 alias | |
n.化名;别名;adv.又名 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 jack | |
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 perilous | |
adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 disappearance | |
n.消失,消散,失踪 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 whatsoever | |
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 perturbed | |
adj.烦燥不安的v.使(某人)烦恼,不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 consternation | |
n.大为吃惊,惊骇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 deductions | |
扣除( deduction的名词复数 ); 结论; 扣除的量; 推演 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 actively | |
adv.积极地,勤奋地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 abducting | |
劫持,诱拐( abduct的现在分词 ); 使(肢体等)外展 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 kidnappers | |
n.拐子,绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 deranged | |
adj.疯狂的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 shudder | |
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 wireless | |
adj.无线的;n.无线电 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 braced | |
adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 soothingly | |
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 founders | |
n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 outrage | |
n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 insanity | |
n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 smoldering | |
v.用文火焖烧,熏烧,慢燃( smolder的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 lust | |
n.性(淫)欲;渴(欲)望;vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 brute | |
n.野兽,兽性 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 esteemed | |
adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 );敬重;认为;以为 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 manliness | |
刚毅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 mused | |
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 afterward | |
adv.后来;以后 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 foul | |
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 cynical | |
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 vile | |
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 vileness | |
n.讨厌,卑劣 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 implicated | |
adj.密切关联的;牵涉其中的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 hamper | |
vt.妨碍,束缚,限制;n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 authoritatively | |
命令式地,有权威地,可信地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 lookout | |
n.注意,前途,瞭望台 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 moored | |
adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 diligent | |
adj.勤勉的,勤奋的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 jersey | |
n.运动衫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 outfit | |
n.(为特殊用途的)全套装备,全套服装 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 interrogating | |
n.询问技术v.询问( interrogate的现在分词 );审问;(在计算机或其他机器上)查询 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 navigate | |
v.航行,飞行;导航,领航 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 creeks | |
n.小湾( creek的名词复数 );小港;小河;小溪 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 secreted | |
v.(尤指动物或植物器官)分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 );隐匿,隐藏 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 scrutiny | |
n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 wreck | |
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 morbid | |
adj.病的;致病的;病态的;可怕的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 tedium | |
n.单调;烦闷 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 persistence | |
n.坚持,持续,存留 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 shuddering | |
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: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |