"Oh, you have plenty to do," said the doctor to this harassed13 young gentleman; "go and do some of it."
But among these things which had to be done was an affair of difficulty, the letter which must be written to Geoffrey. This, when he put his hand to it, Harry found to be a black, bitter business, and sheet after sheet was begun and abandoned. Had he realized it, he was attempting the impossible, for he had set himself to write a letter which should at once be thoroughly14 friendly, and yet spit on the allegations which his friend had made. The writer alone did not see that such a letter could not be written even by Solomon, Shakespeare, and the original serpent in conjunction. Thus, for a couple of hours one evening Harry wrote and tore, reducing wooden penholders to match wood, and quires of fair white paper to grist for the housemaid in her fire-lighting, yet still the envelope was no nearer to its postage stamp; and the dressing16 bell indeed showed him only a brimming waste-paper basket. He could not write this letter; here was the flat truth.
At this juncture17 the doctor entered the smoking room, which Harry had chosen to be the[Pg 337] arena18 of these futile19 endeavours, and a glance at his clouded face seemed enough for him.
"It is difficult, I admit," he said. "Ah, you must not be offended with me, Lord Vail. I have guessed right. I know: we doctors have to be thought-readers. You have been making"—and his eye fell on the paper-basket—"many unsuccessful attempts to write to your friend. Perhaps I ought to have saved you that trouble."
Harry turned a dark face on him.
"I'm sure there is no secret about it," he said. "As like as not I should have told you. I can't write this letter, I just can't write it. Yet I must. But when I begin to tell Geoff the truth, that he has done a dastardly thing, and that I can never see him again, and that I love him just as much as ever—well—the whole thing becomes unreal at once."
"Yes, those are hard words to a friend," said the doctor.
"I know, and I'm not hard. I love that chap, I tell you. You don't know him; so much the worse for you, for you don't know the best old fool God ever made. I'm just hungry to see him, and I've got to tell him that he is a base cad. Oh, confound the whole round world! By the way, you said you should have spared me this trouble. What do you mean?"
Dr. Armytage took a chair close to the table where Harry was failing to write.
"Three days ago, Lord Vail, when I first arrived," he said, "I offered you a sleeping-draught,[Pg 338] which you refused. I suggested that you refused it because you distrusted me. Tell me now, was I right in suggesting that?"
Harry looked straight, as his wont20 was, at the dark, secret face he had once thought so sinister. To him now it appeared only sad.
"What has that got to do with it?" he asked.
"Was that suggestion right?" repeated the doctor.
"Yes, quite," said the other frankly21.
"Just so. Eventually you did trust me, or, at any rate, behaved as if you did, and you found your confidence not misplaced. You awoke, in fact, after a good night's rest. And now, if you grant that, you owe me the benefit of a doubt."
"Well?"
"I ask you to trust me again," said the doctor, "for the fact is I have already written to your friend myself, telling him not to expect a letter from you yet. I knew, I was completely certain, that you would find it impossible to write to him, and it seemed to me that if I wrote at once, as I did, it would save him some anxious hours. That is my confession22."
Again Harry tried to feel what he told himself was a just resentment23, but the sentiment that he raised in his mind was but a phantom24. He ought, so he considered, to feel that his liberty was being tampered25 with, but this curiously26 self-possessed man appeared to have the gift of impeccable meddling27. Then he laughed outright28.
"I simply do not know what to say to you,"[Pg 339] he said. "You take it upon yourself to interfere29 with affairs of mine that do not in the least concern you, and yet I don't really resent it."
"In that you are quite wise," remarked the doctor.
Harry threw down his pen.
"And not content with that, you patronize me, and pat me on the back," he said. "I am not at all sure that I intend to stand it. Pray, if I may so far interfere in your concerns, what did you say to Geoffrey?" he asked, with a show of spirit.
"I told him not to expect a letter from you yet," said the doctor. "I told him not to be impatient and wish for knots to be cut as long as there was the faintest hope of their being unravelled30."
"Ah, there is not the faintest," broke in Harry.
"You too, then, acquiesce31 in the cutting. I hope your friend is more reasonable; less he can not be. You have no right to say, while the thing is yet so recent, that a reconciliation32 of your friend with Mr. Francis is impossible. And if that were possible it would comprehend, I take it, a reconciliation with you."
"Oh, you don't know Geoff, I tell you," said Harry. "He will never apologize. He is not given to rush at conclusions; but when he has concluded, he is more obstinate33 than all the beasts that perish. You waste your trouble if you expect him to recant."
[Pg 340]
The doctor rose.
"I repeat, it is too early to expect anything," he said. "A difficult situation takes time. If it does not take time, it is not difficult. Be sure of that. One thing alone I was certain of: that any letter from you, believing as you do so utterly34 in your uncle's absolute innocence—if I could put your feelings more strongly I would—could not tend to mend matters. It would only accentuate35 your estrangement—temporary, I hope—with your friend. And now have I your pardon for doing what I have done?"
"Not yet," said Harry. "What else did you say?"
"I said that you were as safe here as in the Bank of England. I asked him to be reasonable. Supposing his wild surmise36 was true, and that you had a very bitter enemy of your own blood in this house, how could he be so foolhardy as to make another attempt on you just now, when three had so conspicuously37 miscarried, and such suspicious circumstances were in Mr. Langham's knowledge? For the circumstances," he said, looking gravely at Harry, "were suspicious."
"I know they were," said Harry. "Poor old Geoff! Well, I couldn't have written that letter if I had tried till midnight."
He got up also, as the dinner gong sounded.
"That's dinner, and we are not yet dressed," he said. "But you were quite right to do it for me, Dr. Armytage," and frankness became him infinitely38 better than reserve. "And you might[Pg 341] have added that I have a very good friend here, who looks after both my uncle and myself."
Dr. Armytage smiled rather grimly.
"I came to the conclusion that such a statement would not have increased his confidence," he said, "either in me or in your safety. There is no sense in gushing39, particularly if one gushes40 about one's self."
That night, when the doctor made his last visit to Mr. Francis, he brought him as usual some small, affectionate message from Harry, and Mr. Francis yawned, for he was sleepy, and made no immediate41 reply. But in a moment or two he roused himself.
"My love, my very best love," he said, "and any convincing tenderness you please. By the way, how do you and he get on together? Is it very trying? I am afraid so. But it is of the utmost importance that you should gain Harry's confidence, that you should make him trust you."
"So you told me, and, without boasting, I think I may say that I have been fairly successful. I made a good beginning, you know, the first night I was here."
"Ah, yes, that sleeping-draught," said Mr. Francis appreciatively. "A little bromide of potassium you told me; quite simple and harmless. A charming drug, and an ingenious idea. Yes, Harry's consenting to take a sleeping-draught from your hands certainly showed that if he was disposed not to trust you, he was fighting[Pg 342] that inclination42. And you have improved your advantage, dear Godfrey?"
"Yes, we are on excellent terms. And, to tell you the truth, I do not find it trying at all. Your nephew is both amiable43 and intelligent."
"Poor Harry!" said Mr. Francis softly. "Yes, his very simplicity44 has a certain charm, has it not? It is also a very convenient quality. Well, I am to go to sleep I suppose: I sleep so well now! And you intend to take me to London at the end of the week?"
"That was the proposal," said the doctor.
"And you, being an autocrat45—for, indeed, doctors are the only autocrats46 we have left—insist on it. I assure you it will be the best plan. That young cub47 who left the other day has wits of a kind; he is rather sharp. It will quiet his outrageous48 suspicions, I think, if I leave Vail soon. I hope Harry will not be very dull alone," he added.
"He may not choose to stop here," said the doctor.
"It does not matter," said Mr. Francis. "He is certain to come back here before his marriage, to see that the house is quite ready to receive them after their honeymoon49—'honeymoon! honeymoon!'" he repeated. "I count on that. By the way, do you call him Harry yet?"
"No."
"Dear Godfrey, how short and glum50 you are! I do not suppose I have had a monosyllabic reply[Pg 343] for ten years: they are so unnecessarily curt51. But try to call him by his Christian52 name: it produces an admirable effect, and so cheaply. Practise saying, 'Harry, Harry,' when you are alone. You will find it makes it easier. Ah, well, I must go to sleep. Good-night, my dear man."
It was therefore definitely settled and announced to Harry that Mr. Francis and the doctor would leave for London at the end of the week. He would be the better, so said the doctor, for a change, for the very dark and autumnal weather which had settled down on Vail during the last day or two was a depressing influence, and he strongly recommended a week in London, where the little arrangements and excitements incident to settling into the flat would keep him agreeably occupied.
Mr. Francis dined downstairs on the last night before he left, and seemed his buoyant self again. During the afternoon incessant53 bubblings from the flute54 had come from his room, and that sound had been to Harry like the voice of some familiar friend returned. His uncle indeed had playfully prefaced his own entry into the hall, after the gong had sounded, with the tune55 of "See, the conquering Hero comes," a little thin on this solo instrument, but he had marched in time to it with an incomparable gaiety, with foot high-lifted and a pointed56 toe.
"And you, dear Harry," he asked, as they had seated themselves, after Mr. Francis had said grace, "what are your plans? I was half inclined[Pg 344] to rebel when our dear autocrat gave me my marching orders, and I heard that you, perhaps, would be left here alone, but my disaffection was quelled57 by a look. Has Godfrey given you any of his quelling58 looks, I wonder? But how long do you stop here?"
"Three or four days only, now," said Harry. "Then I go to the Oxteds' for a week, and come back here again by the beginning of November for ten days. After that, London till the 15th."
"Dear fellow, so near as that, so near as that, is it?" said Mr. Francis. "Ah, Harry!"—and he held out his hand to him. Then, seeing that the serious note was slightly embarrassing to the young man:
"Ah! good Templeton has given us the Luck again!" he cried, changing the subject abruptly59. "Upon my word, the thing seems to grow brighter and more dazzling each time I see it.—This nephew of mine, I must tell you, my dear Godfrey, is a very foolish fellow in some ways. He almost—I may say almost, Harry—believes in that old legend. Really, a remarkable60 survival of superstition61 among the educated classes. I shall write to the Psychical62 Research about it. That amiable society collects nightmares and superstitions63, I am told. A quaint3 hobby."
"I have drunk obediently to the Luck, night after night, have I not, Harry?" said the doctor.
"Of course. It is a rule of the house. By the way, let us set that point at rest. Dr. Armytage told me that you believed in the Luck, Uncle[Pg 345] Francis. I simply couldn't credit it. You have always ridiculed64 me for even pretending to."
Mr. Francis laughed.
"Harry, that medical man can not keep a secret," he said. "No, my dear boy, I am only joking, but it is quite true that I have found myself wondering, after your extraordinary series of accidents early in this year, whether it were possible that there could be anything in it."
He paused a moment, and then went on quite naturally. "And these last three horrible escapes of yours," he said. "How strange! The ice house, frost; the gun, fire; the sluice65, rain. There are more things in heaven and earth— Well, well!"
Here was proof, at any rate, that Mr. Francis knew how entirely66 Harry trusted him, and though at the thought of that awful scene between Geoffrey and his uncle the lad was startled for the moment at so direct a mention of that which had caused it, it was something of a relief to know that the subject did not cause Mr. Francis pain.
"Yes, taken all round, it would be sufficient to convince the most hardened sceptic," he said. "Poor old Luck! What an abominably67 futile business it has made of it all!"
Mr. Francis suddenly covered his face with his hand.
"Ah! it won't do to jest about," he said. "I spoke68 lightly, without thinking, but I find I can not quite stand it, dear Harry. It is too recent, too terrible!"
[Pg 346]
At this the talk veered69 to less intimate subjects, and before a couple of minutes were passed Mr. Francis was again in that exuberance70 of spirits which had made him play "See, the conquering Hero comes." He had always some contribution apposite and gay to make to the conversation, capable of fantastic development and garnished71 with pleasant conceits72. But for him the meal would have somewhat languished73, for, whether it was that Harry's old habit of reserve had returned to him, or that his thoughts were again a prey74 to the perplexities which his uncle's words might have recalled, he was unwontedly silent; while on the part of the doctor it seemed that a somewhat absent assent75 or dissent76, and that only when directly appealed to, was all he had to give. But Mr. Francis was the man for the moment; he rose to the social emergency, and he told a hundred little anecdotes77, diversified78 and amusing, and the growing silence of the other two was but a foil to the amazing agility79 of his tongue. But the most capacious measure is emptied at last, and about the time of dessert, spent and dropping shots, without effect, were the only remnant of that loquacious80 artillery81. And it was in silence that the first glasses of port were poured out, and to break a notable hush82 that Harry rose.
"The Luck," he said. "I drink to the Luck."
The doctor and Mr. Francis rose to the toast, the latter with too eager an alacrity83. His napkin,[Pg 347] which he had flung on the table, caught his glass, and the wine was spilled.
On the same day that the doctor and Mr. Francis were travelling up from Vail, Geoffrey was also going to London, in consequence of a strangely unexpected summons. He had duly received the doctor's letter a week ago, and this had been followed three days later by a shorter note, informing him that he and Mr. Francis were leaving Vail for London on the Thursday following, and asking if Geoffrey would give the writer an opportunity of seeing him on a matter the importance of which could not be estimated. Dr. Armytage would be at his house that evening between five and seven, or, if these hours would not suit, he asked Geoffrey to name any time which was convenient to him after their arrival in London, and he would make a point of being in then, laying any other engagement he might have aside. Then followed a notable sentence:
"It occurs to me," wrote the doctor, "that you, following the thread of the suspicions of which Lord Vail has spoken to me, may see in this request a deep-laid scheme for insuring your presence in London on a given day and hour, and your certain absence from any other place. But I beg you to ask yourself why, if such were the case, I should have written to you at all. I may add that Mr. Francis Vail and I reach Paddington at 12.37 (midday) on Thursday. Be at the station, if you will, and assure yourself that we have left Vail."
[Pg 348]
So far the letter ran with the precision and orderliness of a despatch84. Then followed the signature, and after the signature a strange postscript85:
"I must see you—I must see you," read Geoffrey, and the writer's pen had spluttered with the underlining of the words.
No very long consideration was necessary, but knowing from Lady Oxted what he did of the doctor's antecedents, it was clearly possible that he might be placing himself in a position of some personal danger. To attempt to form any accurate idea of the scheme which might conceivably lie latent behind this letter was an idle task; but what he saw, and that without shadow of doubt, but with a certain exultation86, was, that it was he above all men whom Mr. Francis had most reason to fear, and as long as he was at large with all the circumstantial evidence that he held, it was clearly very unlikely that any further attempt could be immediately contemplated87 against Harry, for the risk would be prodigious88. So far, then, it looked that this letter might be a bold and cunning scheme to get him too into the power of this hellish man. On the other hand, he could not neglect the possible chance: the letter might conceivably be genuinely inspired. Looking at it coolly, as was his habit of mind, he thought that the balance of probability dipped to the sinister side: this Dr. Armytage was far more likely to be Mr. Francis's confederate than a disinterested89 doctor, or a foe90. Yet there was a certain touch of[Pg 349] truth about the spluttering pen of the postscript, and Geoffrey's debate was but of short duration.
Then, with wonderment at his own slowness of wit, next moment the obvious safeguard struck him, and he telegraphed to the doctor at 32 Wimpole Street, saying that he would meet him at five o'clock at the junction15 of Orchard91 Street with Oxford92 Street. This was conveniently near to his own lodgings93, where they could retire to hold conference if it appeared that there was reason for it, while it would be scarcely possible for any one, even with the legions of heir to back him, to spirit away an active young man from that populous94 thoroughfare without attracting public attention.
Geoffrey arrived in London late in the forenoon, and spent a couple of hours in writing out with the most minute particulars the account of all those incidents on which his suspicions were founded, and which had led to his scene with Mr. Francis. This he sealed up in an envelope, and wrote directions on the outside that, in case nothing more was heard from him till Monday, midday, it was to be opened. He put this into a larger envelope, addressed it with a short note to his father, and posted it. Finally, before he set out for his rendezvous95 at the corner of Orchard Street, he slipped a loaded revolver into his breast pocket, to guard against the very remote possibility of his being attacked in his own rooms. Its presence there, though not unattended with qualms96, for he was something of a stranger to this[Pg 350] branch of firearms, yet filled him with a secret glee of adventure.
Punctually at five he arrived at the appointed corner, and a few moments' observation of the shifting and changing crowd was enough to enable him to single out a man spare and dark who also lingered there. It was evident, too, that he had observed Geoffrey, no less than Geoffrey had observed him, and, on the third or fourth occasion that their eyes met, the man crossed the street to him.
"Mr. Geoffrey Langham?" he asked, and to Geoff's silent gesture of assent, "I am Dr. Armytage."
They turned and walked a little way down Oxford Street before either spoke again. Then said the doctor:
"Your plan was reasonable, that we should meet in some public place: it was natural that you should not wish to trust yourself to my house. But I would suggest that if we are to talk in public, we get into a hansom, or I should prefer a four-wheeler."
"Why?" asked Geoffrey.
"Because we are dealing97, or I hope shall soon be dealing, with a very subtle man, who for aught I know may be watching either you or me."
Geoffrey wheeled round quickly.
"Come to my rooms in Orchard Street," he said—"No. 12. I will walk on the other side of the road."
The distance was but a few dozen yards, and[Pg 351] three minutes later the two were in the sitting room, which overlooked the street. Geoffrey pointed to a seat, and waited for the other to open the conversation.
"I repeat," said the doctor, "that your amendment98 of our plan was reasonable, for you have little reason to trust me."
"It seems to me so," said Geoffrey. "I thought it wise to take that and other precautions. But it was you who asked for this interview. Kindly99 tell me what you have to say."
"It is told in two words," said Dr. Armytage. "Your friend Lord Vail has, by almost a miracle of luck, escaped from three well-devised schemes against his life. Thrice has Mr. Francis failed. We can not expect such luck to continue."
Not a muscle of Geoffrey's face moved.
"You mean he will make another attempt," he said.
"He will certainly make another attempt."
Geoffrey's hands were playing with a box of cigarettes on the table, opening and shutting the lid in a careful and purposeless manner.
"Here, smoke," he said, "and give me a minute to think."
The doctor took a cigarette, lit it, and waited. He had smoked it half down before Geoffrey spoke again.
"You see my position," he said at length. "There is no harm that I can see in my telling you that I know how intimate you are with Mr. Francis. I am wondering whether possibly I[Pg 352] may be aiding him and you by seeing you; that is the truth. For your intimacy100 with Mr. Francis was very close as long as three-and-twenty years ago—at the time, let us say, of the violent death of Harold Harmsworth. That is so, I believe."
"Certainly," said the doctor. "I received, I may tell you, two thousand pounds for the service I did Mr. Francis at the coroner's inquest."
Geoffrey looked up quickly.
"Ah! that sounds genuine," he said.
"About that you must decide for yourself," said the doctor.
Geoffrey snapped down the lid of the cigarette box, took out of his coat pocket the revolver he had put there, and laid it on the table close to the doctor's hand.
"I have decided101, you see, to trust you," he said. "Perhaps my parting with that revolver is an unconvincing proof, for it would certainly be incautious of you to shoot me here and now, but I can think of nothing better. There it is, anyhow."
Dr. Armytage took up the revolver and opened it.
"Six chambers102, all loaded, I perceive," he said. "Let me return it you as I received it. I have no use for it."
Geoffrey took it from his hand and put it back in the table drawer.
"And now let us talk," he said.
An extraordinary look of relief crossed the[Pg 353] doctor's face; the whole man seemed to brighten to the eye.
"I hardly dared hope you would trust me," he said, "and your affection for your friend must have been strong. But let us waste no more time. Yes, your suspicions were quite correct. Harry Vail has no bitterer enemy than his uncle. He has made no less than three attempts to put him out of the way."
"You speak as if you were sure of it," said Geoffrey.
"I am; but what evidence have we? It would not take a barrister ten minutes to tear it to shreds103, for it is entirely circumstantial, and weak at that. There is the devilish cunning of the man. Again, if we are to save Harry, we must save him in spite of himself, for he believes not a word of it, and we deal with a man who is cunning and utterly unscrupulous—far more cunning, probably, than you and I put together. But we have one great advantage over him."
"What is that?" asked Geoffrey.
"The fact that he counts on me to be his accomplice104. If we succeed, I am to have ten thousand pounds."
At these words, distrust again flared105 high in Geoffrey's mind, refusing to be darkened—a beacon106.
"God give you your portion in hell," he cried, "if you are playing a double game!"
The doctor showed no sign of resentment, but he did not immediately reply.
[Pg 354]
"This will not do at all," he said at length. "Either you trust me, or you do not. If you do not, I will go: we are but wasting words. I may remind you, however, that if I am playing a double game, my conduct in wishing to see you is utterly unaccountable; but if not, that it will be barely possible for me alone to save your friend, for it is my strong impression that Mr. Francis's man—Sanders, is it not?—will help his master. Come, which is it to be?"
"Yes, I trust you," said Geoffrey in great agitation107. "I ought never to have said that. Please go on."
"I can give you no certain details yet," said the doctor, "but the attempt will be made between Harry's return to Vail from Lady Oxted's, where he goes in a few days, and his moving to London before the marriage. So much I have gathered from Mr. Francis. It is, you will understand, of the utmost importance to him that the marriage should never be consummated108. More exactly than that I can not tell you, but I want you, in any case, to hold yourself in readiness to come to Vail, or anywhere else, at a moment's notice, and at a word from me."
"Yes, I promise that," said Geoffrey.
"The particulars I can not give you," continued the doctor, "for I do not yet know them; indeed, I doubt whether Mr. Francis has yet worked them out himself. But to-day, as we were coming up in the train, he blew on his flute a long time, and then said suddenly to me: 'I have[Pg 355] a new hobby; the properties of certain powerful drugs. We will have some great talks about drugs when we are in London.' From this I gathered that he means to poison Harry."
"The damned old man!" exclaimed Geoffrey.
"Precisely109. Now, his motive110 you know or guess: he is heir. But from what I have seen of him lately, he sets less store by that than on the fact that Harry's death will give him the Luck."
"The Luck! He doesn't believe in the Luck!" cried Geoffrey. "I have heard him laugh at Harry a hundred times for pretending to believe in it."
"There you are wrong," said the doctor. "I should be rather tempted111 to say that the Luck is the only thing in the world he does believe in. I tell you this for an obvious reason: he is not sane112 on the point; we are dealing with a monomaniac, and he is more to be feared than a sane man. He will run greater risks to secure his end. But it is late: I must go. During the next week I shall certainly learn the whole of Mr. Francis's plans, for I shall refuse to help him in any way unless I know all. Good-bye. You will please stop in London till you hear from me."
Geoffrey got up.
"Tell me," he said, "when did you determine to help Harry?"
"I do not think that if I told you, you would trust me the more," said the doctor.
"I assure you I shall not trust you less."
[Pg 356]
Dr. Armytage took his umbrella from the corner.
"A fortnight ago only," he said, "on the day I first saw Harry. Think of me as you will, so long as you do what I tell you. I really care very little about anything else, even whether you trust or mistrust me, provided only you behave as if you trusted me. Yes, till I saw him, and spent the evening with him on the day you left; prescribed for his agitated113 nerves, and gave him a sleeping-draught——"
"I'm glad I didn't know that before," said Geoffrey frankly.
"It might certainly have caused you some uneasiness. But not till then did I decide to save him if I could, and not to do—the other thing. And every day strengthened my decision, and the thought of the ten thousand pounds grew less attractive. My reason is hard to give you, convincingly, at any rate. It was due, perhaps, to a great charm and attractiveness which Lord Vail possesses; it was due, perhaps, to an idea in my own mind that I would not commit murder. That sounds a little crude, does it not? But we are dealing with crudities. Good-bye again."
Geoffrey held out his hand.
"I trust you," he said, "quite completely. And so, it seems, does Harry. I do not believe that we are both wrong."
Dr. Armytage turned quickly away without a word. A moment afterward114 the street door banged behind him.
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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dissection
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artery
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| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
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severing
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂 | |
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testimony
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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courageously
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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diagnosis
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| n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断 | |
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prescription
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| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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thoroughly
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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arena
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| n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台 | |
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19
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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20
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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21
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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22
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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24
phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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25
tampered
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| v.窜改( tamper的过去式 )；篡改；（用不正当手段）影响；瞎摆弄 | |
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26
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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27
meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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29
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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30
unravelled
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| 解开，拆散，散开( unravel的过去式和过去分词 )； 阐明； 澄清； 弄清楚 | |
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31
acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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32
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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33
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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34
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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35
accentuate
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| v.着重，强调 | |
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36
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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37
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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38
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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39
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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40
gushes
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| n.涌出，迸发( gush的名词复数 )v.喷，涌( gush的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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41
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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42
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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43
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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44
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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45
autocrat
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| n.独裁者；专横的人 | |
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46
autocrats
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| n.独裁统治者( autocrat的名词复数 )；独断专行的人 | |
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47
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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48
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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49
honeymoon
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| n.蜜月（假期）；vi.度蜜月 | |
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50
glum
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| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
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51
curt
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| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
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52
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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53
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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54
flute
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| n.长笛；v.吹笛 | |
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55
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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57
quelled
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
quelling
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 ) | |
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59
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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60
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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61
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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62
psychical
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| adj.有关特异功能现象的；有关特异功能官能的；灵魂的；心灵的 | |
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63
superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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64
ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
sluice
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| n.水闸 | |
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66
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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67
abominably
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| adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地 | |
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68
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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69
veered
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| v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的过去式和过去分词 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转 | |
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70
exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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71
garnished
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
conceits
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| 高傲( conceit的名词复数 )； 自以为； 巧妙的词语； 别出心裁的比喻 | |
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73
languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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74
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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75
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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76
dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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77
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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78
diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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79
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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80
loquacious
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| adj.多嘴的，饶舌的 | |
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81
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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82
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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83
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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84
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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85
postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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86
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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87
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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88
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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89
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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90
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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91
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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92
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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93
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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94
populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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95
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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96
qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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97
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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98
amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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99
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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100
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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101
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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102
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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103
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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104
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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105
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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106
beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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107
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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108
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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109
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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110
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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111
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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112
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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113
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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114
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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