On the first Sunday morning after our arrival we strolled out, Charles and I—I regret to say during the hours allotted3 for Divine service—on to the King's Road, to get a whiff of fresh air, and a glimpse of the waves that were churning the Channel. The two ladies (with their bonnets) had gone to church; but Sir Charles had risen late, fatigued4 from the week's toil5, while I myself was suffering from a matutinal headache, which I attributed to the close air in the billiard-room overnight, combined, perhaps, with the insidious6 effect of a brand of soda-water to which I was little accustomed; I had used it to dilute7 my evening whisky. We were to meet our wives afterwards at the church parade—an institution to which I believe both Amelia and Isabel attach even greater importance than to the sermon which precedes it.
We sat down on a glass seat. Charles gazed inquiringly up and down the King's Road, on the look-out for a boy with Sunday papers. At last one passed. "Observer," my brother-in-law called out laconically8.
"Ain't got none," the boy answered, brandishing9 his bundle in our faces. "'Ave a Referee10 or a Pink 'Un?"
Charles, however, is not a Refereader, while as to the Pink 'Un, he considers it unsuitable for public perusal11 on Sunday morning. It may be read indoors, but in the open air its blush betrays it. So he shook his head, and muttered, "If you pass an Observer, send him on here at once to me."
A polite stranger who sat close to us turned round with a pleasant smile. "Would you allow me to offer you one?" he said, drawing a copy from his pocket. "I fancy I bought the last. There's a run on them to-day, you see. Important news this morning from the Transvaal."
Charles raised his eyebrows12, and accepted it, as I thought, just a trifle grumpily. So, to remove the false impression his surliness might produce on so benevolent13 a mind, I entered into conversation with the polite stranger. He was a man of middle age, and medium height, with a cultivated air, and a pair of gold pince-nez; his eyes were sharp; his voice was refined; he dropped into talk before long about distinguished14 people just then in Brighton. It was clear at once that he was hand in glove with many of the very best kind. We compared notes as to Nice, Rome, Florence, Cairo. Our new acquaintance had scores of friends in common with us, it seemed; indeed, our circles so largely coincided, that I wondered we had never happened till then to knock up against one another.
"And Sir Charles Vandrift, the great African millionaire," he said at last, "do you know anything of him? I'm told he's at present down here at the Métropole."
I waved my hand towards the person in question.
"This is Sir Charles Vandrift," I answered, with proprietary15 pride; "and I am his brother-in-law, Mr. Seymour Wentworth."
"Oh, indeed!" the stranger answered, with a curious air of drawing in his horns. I wondered whether he had just been going to pretend he knew Sir Charles, or whether perchance he was on the point of saying something highly uncomplimentary, and was glad to have escaped it.
By this time, however, Charles laid down the paper and chimed into our conversation. I could see at once from his mollified tone that the news from the Transvaal was favourable17 to his operations in Cloetedorp Golcondas. He was therefore in a friendly and affable temper. His whole manner changed at once. He grew polite in return to the polite stranger. Besides, we knew the man moved in the best society; he had acquaintances whom Amelia was most anxious to secure for her "At Homes" in Mayfair—young Faith, the novelist, and Sir Richard Montrose, the great Arctic traveller. As for the painters, it was clear that he was sworn friends with the whole lot of them. He dined with Academicians, and gave weekly breakfasts to the members of the Institute. Now, Amelia is particularly desirous that her salon18 should not be considered too exclusively financial and political in character: with a solid basis of M.P.'s and millionaires, she loves a delicate under-current of literature, art, and the musical glasses. Our new acquaintance was extremely communicative: "Knows his place in society, Sey," Sir Charles said to me afterwards, "and is therefore not afraid of talking freely, as so many people are who have doubts about their position." We exchanged cards before we rose. Our new friend's name turned out to be Dr. Edward Polperro.
"In practice here?" I inquired, though his garb19 belied20 it.
"Oh, not medical," he answered. "I am an LL.D. don't you know. I interest myself in art, and buy to some extent for the National Gallery."
The very man for Amelia's "At Homes"! Sir Charles snapped at him instantly. "I've brought my four-in-hand down here with me," he said, in his best friendly manner, "and we think of tooling over to-morrow to Lewes. If you'd care to take a seat I'm sure Lady Vandrift would be charmed to see you."
"You're very kind," the Doctor said, "on so casual an introduction. I'm sure I shall be delighted."
"We start from the Métropole at ten-thirty," Charles went on.
"I shall be there. Good morning!" And, with a satisfied smile, he rose and left us, nodding.
We returned to the lawn, to Amelia and Isabel. Our new friend passed us once or twice. Charles stopped him and introduced him. He was walking with two ladies, most elegantly dressed in rather peculiar21 artistic22 dresses. Amelia was taken at first sight by his manner. "One could see at a glance," she said, "he was a person of culture and of real distinction. I wonder whether he could bring the P.R.A. to my Parliamentary 'At Home' on Wednesday fortnight?"
Next day, at ten-thirty, we started on our drive. Our team has been considered the best in Sussex. Charles is an excellent, though somewhat anxious—or, might I say better, somewhat careful?—whip. He finds the management of two leaders and two wheelers fills his hands for the moment, both literally23 and figuratively, leaving very little time for general conversation. Lady Belleisle of Beacon24 bloomed beside him on the box (her bloom is perennial25, and applied26 by her maid); Dr. Polperro occupied the seat just behind with myself and Amelia. The Doctor talked most of the time to Lady Vandrift: his discourse27 was of picture-galleries, which Amelia detests28, but in which she thinks it incumbent29 upon her, as Sir Charles's wife, to affect now and then a cultivated interest. Noblesse oblige; and the walls of Castle Seldon, our place in Ross-shire, are almost covered now with Leaders and with Orchardsons. This result was first arrived at by a singular accident. Sir Charles wanted a leader—for his coach, you understand—and told an artistic friend so. The artistic friend brought him a Leader next week with a capital L; and Sir Charles was so taken aback that he felt ashamed to confess the error. So he was turned unawares into a patron of painting.
Dr. Polperro, in spite of his too pronouncedly artistic talk, proved on closer view a most agreeable companion. He diversified30 his art cleverly with anecdotes31 and scandals; he told us exactly which famous painters had married their cooks, and which had only married their models; and otherwise showed himself a most diverting talker. Among other things, however, he happened to mention once that he had recently discovered a genuine Rembrandt—a quite undoubted Rembrandt, which had remained for years in the keeping of a certain obscure Dutch family. It had always been allowed to be a masterpiece of the painter, but it had seldom been seen for the last half-century save by a few intimate acquaintances. It was a portrait of one Maria Vanrenen of Haarlem, and he had bought it of her descendants at Gouda, in Holland.
I saw Charles prick33 up his ears, though he took no open notice. This Maria Vanrenen, as it happened, was a remote collateral34 ancestress of the Vandrifts, before they emigrated to the Cape16 in 1780; and the existence of the portrait, though not its whereabouts, was well known in the family. Isabel had often mentioned it. If it was to be had at anything like a reasonable price, it would be a splendid thing for the boys (Sir Charles, I ought to say, has two sons at Eton) to possess an undoubted portrait of an ancestress by Rembrandt.
Dr. Polperro talked a good deal after that about this valuable find. He had tried to sell it at first to the National Gallery; but though the Directors admired the work immensely, and admitted its genuineness, they regretted that the funds at their disposal this year did not permit them to acquire so important a canvas at a proper figure. South Kensington again was too poor; but the Doctor was in treaty at present with the Louvre and with Berlin. Still, it was a pity a fine work of art like that, once brought into the country, should be allowed to go out of it. Some patriotic35 patron of the fine arts ought to buy it for his own house, or else munificently36 present it to the nation.
All the time Charles said nothing. But I could feel him cogitating37. He even looked behind him once, near a difficult corner (while the guard was actually engaged in tootling his horn to let passers-by know that the coach was coming), and gave Amelia a warning glance to say nothing committing, which had at once the requisite38 effect of sealing her mouth for the moment. It is a very unusual thing for Charles to look back while driving. I gathered from his doing so that he was inordinately39 anxious to possess this Rembrandt.
When we arrived at Lewes we put up our horses at the inn, and Charles ordered a lunch on his wonted scale of princely magnificence. Meanwhile we wandered, two and two, about the town and castle. I annexed40 Lady Belleisle, who is at least amusing. Charles drew me aside before starting. "Look here, Sey," he said, "we must be very careful. This man, Polperro, is a chance acquaintance. There's nothing an astute41 rogue42 can take one in over more easily than an Old Master. If the Rembrandt is genuine I ought to have it; if it really represents Maria Vanrenen, it's a duty I owe to the boys to buy it. But I've been done twice lately, and I won't be done a third time. We must go to work cautiously."
"You are right," I answered. "No more seers and curates!"
"If this man's an impostor," Charles went on—"and in spite of what he says about the National Gallery and so forth43, we know nothing of him—the story he tells is just the sort of one such a fellow would trump44 up in a moment to deceive me. He could easily learn who I was—I'm a well-known figure; he knew I was in Brighton, and he may have been sitting on that glass seat on Sunday on purpose to entrap45 me."
"He introduced your name," I said, "and the moment he found out who I was he plunged46 into talk with me."
"Yes," Charles continued. "He may have learned about the portrait of Maria Vanrenen, which my grandmother always said was preserved at Gouda; and, indeed, I myself have often mentioned it, as you doubtless remember. If so, what more natural, say, for a rogue than to begin talking about the portrait in that innocent way to Amelia? If he wants a Rembrandt, I believe they can be turned out to order to any amount in Birmingham. The moral of all which is, it behoves us to be careful."
"Right you are," I answered; "and I am keeping my eye upon him."
We drove back by another road, overshadowed by beech-trees in autumnal gold. It was a delightful47 excursion. Dr. Polperro's heart was elated by lunch and the excellent dry Monopole. He talked amazingly. I never heard a man with a greater or more varied48 flow of anecdote32. He had been everywhere and knew all about everybody. Amelia booked him at once for her "At Home" on Wednesday week, and he promised to introduce her to several artistic and literary celebrities49.
That evening, however, about half-past seven, Charles and I strolled out together on the King's Road for a blow before dinner. We dine at eight. The air was delicious. We passed a small new hotel, very smart and exclusive, with a big bow window. There, in evening dress, lights burning and blind up, sat our friend, Dr. Polperro, with a lady facing him, young, graceful50, and pretty. A bottle of champagne51 stood open before him. He was helping52 himself plentifully53 to hot-house grapes, and full of good humour. It was clear he and the lady were occupied in the intense enjoyment54 of some capital joke; for they looked queerly at one another, and burst now and again into merry peals55 of laughter.
I drew back. So did Sir Charles. One idea passed at once through both our minds. I murmured, "Colonel Clay!" He answered, "and Madame Picardet!"
They were not in the least like the Reverend Richard and Mrs. Brabazon. But that clinched56 the matter. Nor did I see a sign of the aquiline57 nose of the Mexican Seer. Still, I had learnt by then to discount appearances. If these were indeed the famous sharper and his wife or accomplice58, we must be very careful. We were forewarned this time. Supposing he had the audacity59 to try a third trick of the sort upon us we had him under our thumbs. Only, we must take steps to prevent his dexterously60 slipping through our fingers.
"He can wriggle61 like an eel," said the Commissary at Nice. We both recalled those words, and laid our plans deep to prevent the man's wriggling62 away from us on this third occasion.
"I tell you what it is, Sey," my brother-in-law said, with impressive slowness. "This time we must deliberately63 lay ourselves out to be swindled. We must propose of our own accord to buy the picture, making him guarantee it in writing as a genuine Rembrandt, and taking care to tie him down by most stringent64 conditions. But we must seem at the same time to be unsuspicious and innocent as babes; we must swallow whole whatever lies he tells us; pay his price—nominally—by cheque for the portrait; and then, arrest him the moment the bargain is complete, with the proofs of his guilt65 then and there upon him. Of course, what he'll try to do will be to vanish into thin air at once, as he did at Nice and Paris; but, this time, we'll have the police in waiting and everything ready. We'll avoid precipitancy, but we'll avoid delay too. We must hold our hands off till he's actually accepted and pocketed the money; and then, we must nab him instantly, and walk him off to the local Bow Street. That's my plan of campaign. Meanwhile, we should appear all trustful innocence66 and confiding67 guilelessness."
In pursuance of this well-laid scheme, we called next day on Dr. Polperro at his hotel, and were introduced to his wife, a dainty little woman, in whom we affected68 not to recognise that arch Madame Picardet or that simple White Heather. The Doctor talked charmingly (as usual) about art—what a well-informed rascal69 he was, to be sure!—and Sir Charles expressed some interest in the supposed Rembrandt. Our new friend was delighted; we could see by his well-suppressed eagerness of tone that he knew us at once for probable purchasers. He would run up to town next day, he said, and bring down the portrait. And in effect, when Charles and I took our wonted places in the Pullman next morning, on our way up to the half-yearly meeting of Cloetedorp Golcondas, there was our Doctor, leaning back in his arm-chair as if the car belonged to him. Charles gave me an expressive70 look. "Does it in style," he whispered, "doesn't he? Takes it out of my five thousand; or discounts the amount he means to chouse me of with his spurious Rembrandt."
Arrived in town, we went to work at once. We set a private detective from Marvillier's to watch our friend; and from him we learned that the so-called Doctor dropped in for a picture that day at a dealer71's in the West-end (I suppress the name, having a judicious72 fear of the law of libel ever before my eyes), a dealer who was known to be mixed up before then in several shady or disreputable transactions. Though, to be sure, my experience has been that picture dealers73 are—picture dealers. Horses rank first in my mind as begetters and producers of unscrupulous agents, but pictures run them a very good second. Anyhow, we found out that our distinguished art-critic picked up his Rembrandt at this dealer's shop, and came down with it in his care the same night to Brighton.
In order not to act precipitately74, and so ruin our plans, we induced Dr. Polperro (what a cleverly chosen name!) to bring the Rembrandt round to the Métropole for our inspection75, and to leave it with us while we got the opinion of an expert from London.
The expert came down, and gave us a full report upon the alleged76 Old Master. In his judgment77, it was not a Rembrandt at all, but a cunningly-painted and well-begrimed modern Dutch imitation. Moreover, he showed us by documentary evidence that the real portrait of Maria Vanrenen had, as a matter of fact, been brought to England five years before, and sold to Sir J. H. Tomlinson, the well-known connoisseur78, for eight thousand pounds. Dr. Polperro's picture was, therefore, at best either a replica79 by Rembrandt; or else, more probably, a copy by a pupil; or, most likely of all, a mere80 modern forgery81.
We were thus well prepared to fasten our charge of criminal conspiracy82 upon the self-styled Doctor. But in order to make assurance still more certain, we threw out vague hints to him that the portrait of Maria Vanrenen might really be elsewhere, and even suggested in his hearing that it might not improbably have got into the hands of that omnivorous83 collector, Sir J. H. Tomlinson. But the vendor84 was proof against all such attempts to decry85 his goods. He had the effrontery86 to brush away the documentary evidence, and to declare that Sir J. H. Tomlinson (one of the most learned and astute picture-buyers in England) had been smartly imposed upon by a needy87 Dutch artist with a talent for forgery. The real Maria Vanrenen, he declared and swore, was the one he offered us. "Success has turned the man's head," Charles said to me, well pleased. "He thinks we will swallow any obvious lie he chooses to palm off upon us. But the bucket has come once too often to the well. This time we checkmate him." It was a mixed metaphor88, I admit; but Sir Charles's tropes are not always entirely89 superior to criticism.
So we pretended to believe our man, and accepted his assurances. Next came the question of price. This was warmly debated, for form's sake only. Sir J. H. Tomlinson had paid eight thousand for his genuine Maria. The Doctor demanded ten thousand for his spurious one. There was really no reason why we should higgle and dispute, for Charles meant merely to give his cheque for the sum and then arrest the fellow; but, still, we thought it best for the avoidance of suspicion to make a show of resistance; and we at last beat him down to nine thousand guineas. For this amount he was to give us a written warranty90 that the work he sold us was a genuine Rembrandt, that it represented Maria Vanrenen of Haarlem, and that he had bought it direct, without doubt or question, from that good lady's descendants at Gouda, in Holland.
It was capitally done. We arranged the thing to perfection. We had a constable91 in waiting in our rooms at the Métropole, and we settled that Dr. Polperro was to call at the hotel at a certain fixed92 hour to sign the warranty and receive his money. A regular agreement on sound stamped paper was drawn93 out between us. At the appointed time the "party of the first part" came, having already given us over possession of the portrait. Charles drew a cheque for the amount agreed upon, and signed it. Then he handed it to the Doctor. Polperro just clutched at it. Meanwhile, I took up my post by the door, while two men in plain clothes, detectives from the police-station, stood as men-servants and watched the windows. We feared lest the impostor, once he had got the cheque, should dodge94 us somehow, as he had already done at Nice and in Paris. The moment he had pocketed his money with a smile of triumph, I advanced to him rapidly. I had in my possession a pair of handcuffs. Before he knew what was happening, I had slipped them on his wrists and secured them dexterously, while the constable stepped forward. "We have got you this time!" I cried. "We know who you are, Dr. Polperro. You are—Colonel Clay, alias95 Se?or Antonio Herrera, alias the Reverend Richard Peploe Brabazon."
I never saw any man so astonished in my life! He was utterly96 flabbergasted. Charles thought he must have expected to get clear away at once, and that this prompt action on our part had taken the fellow so much by surprise as to simply unman him. He gazed about him as if he hardly realised what was happening.
"Are these two raving97 maniacs98?" he asked at last, "or what do they mean by this nonsensical gibberish about Antonio Herrera?"
The constable laid his hand on the prisoner's shoulder.
"It's all right, my man," he said. "We've got warrants out against you. I arrest you, Edward Polperro, alias the Reverend Richard Peploe Brabazon, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences99 from Sir Charles Vandrift, K.C.M.G., M.P., on his sworn information, now here subscribed100 to." For Charles had had the thing drawn out in readiness beforehand.
Our prisoner drew himself up. "Look here, officer," he said, in an offended tone, "there's some mistake here in this matter. I have never given an alias at any time in my life. How do you know this is really Sir Charles Vandrift? It may be a case of bullying101 personation. My belief is, though, they're a pair of escaped lunatics."
"We'll see about that to-morrow," the constable said, collaring him. "At present you've got to go off with me quietly to the station, where these gentlemen will enter up the charge against you."
They carried him off, protesting. Charles and I signed the charge-sheet; and the officer locked him up to await his examination next day before the magistrate102.
We were half afraid even now the fellow would manage somehow to get out on bail103 and give us the slip in spite of everything; and, indeed, he protested in the most violent manner against the treatment to which we were subjecting "a gentleman in his position." But Charles took care to tell the police it was all right; that he was a dangerous and peculiarly slippery criminal, and that on no account must they let him go on any pretext104 whatever, till he had been properly examined before the magistrates105.
We learned at the hotel that night, curiously106 enough, that there really was a Dr. Polperro, a distinguished art critic, whose name, we didn't doubt, our impostor had been assuming.
Next morning, when we reached the court, an inspector107 met us with a very long face. "Look here, gentlemen," he said, "I'm afraid you've committed a very serious blunder. You've made a precious bad mess of it. You've got yourselves into a scrape; and, what's worse, you've got us into one also. You were a deal too smart with your sworn information. We've made inquiries108 about this gentleman, and we find the account he gives of himself is perfectly109 correct. His name is Polperro; he's a well-known art critic and collector of pictures, employed abroad by the National Gallery. He was formerly110 an official in the South Kensington Museum, and he's a C.B. and LL.D., very highly respected. You've made a sad mistake, that's where it is; and you'll probably have to answer a charge of false imprisonment111, in which I'm afraid you have also involved our own department."
Charles gasped112 with horror. "You haven't let him out," he cried, "on those absurd representations? You haven't let him slip through your hands as you did that murderer fellow?"
"Let him slip through our hands?" the inspector cried. "I only wish he would. There's no chance of that, unfortunately. He's in the court there, this moment, breathing out fire and slaughter113 against you both; and we're here to protect you if he should happen to fall upon you. He's been locked up all night on your mistaken affidavits114, and, naturally enough, he's mad with anger."
"If you haven't let him go, I'm satisfied," Charles answered. "He's a fox for cunning. Where is he? Let me see him."
We went into the court. There we saw our prisoner conversing115 amicably116, in the most excited way, with the magistrate (who, it seems, was a personal friend of his); and Charles at once went up and spoke117 to them. Dr. Polperro turned round and glared at him through his pince-nez.
"The only possible explanation of this person's extraordinary and incredible conduct," he said, "is, that he must be mad—and his secretary equally so. He made my acquaintance, unasked, on a glass seat on the King's Road; invited me to go on his coach to Lewes; volunteered to buy a valuable picture of me; and then, at the last moment, unaccountably gave me in charge on this silly and preposterous118 trumped-up accusation119. I demand a summons for false imprisonment."
Suddenly it began to dawn upon us that the tables were turned. By degrees it came out that we had made a mistake. Dr. Polperro was really the person he represented himself to be, and had been always. His picture, we found out, was the real Maria Vanrenen, and a genuine Rembrandt, which he had merely deposited for cleaning and restoring at the suspicious dealer's. Sir J. H. Tomlinson had been imposed upon and cheated by a cunning Dutchman; his picture, though also an undoubted Rembrandt, was not the Maria, and was an inferior specimen120 in bad preservation121. The authority we had consulted turned out to be an ignorant, self-sufficient quack122. The Maria, moreover, was valued by other experts at no more than five or six thousand guineas. Charles wanted to cry off his bargain, but Dr. Polperro naturally wouldn't hear of it. The agreement was a legally binding123 instrument, and what passed in Charles's mind at the moment had nothing to do with the written contract. Our adversary124 only consented to forego the action for false imprisonment on condition that Charles inserted a printed apology in the Times, and paid him five hundred pounds compensation for damage to character. So that was the end of our well-planned attempt to arrest the swindler.
Not quite the end, however; for, of course, after this, the whole affair got by degrees into the papers. Dr. Polperro, who was a familiar person in literary and artistic society, as it turned out, brought an action against the so-called expert who had declared against the genuineness of his alleged Rembrandt, and convicted him of the grossest ignorance and misstatement. Then paragraphs got about. The World showed us up in a sarcastic125 article; and Truth, which has always been terribly severe upon Sir Charles and all the other South Africans, had a pungent126 set of verses on "High Art in Kimberley." By this means, as we suppose, the affair became known to Colonel Clay himself; for a week or two later my brother-in-law received a cheerful little note on scented127 paper from our persistent128 sharper. It was couched in these terms:—
"Oh, you innocent infant!
"Bless your ingenuous129 little heart! And did it believe, then, it had positively130 caught the redoubtable131 colonel? And had it ready a nice little pinch of salt to put upon his tail? And is it true its respected name is Sir Simple Simon? How heartily132 we have laughed, White Heather and I, at your neat little ruses133! It would pay you, by the way, to take White Heather into your house for six months to instruct you in the agreeable sport of amateur detectives. Your charming naivete quite moves our envy. So you actually imagined a man of my brains would condescend134 to anything so flat and stale as the silly and threadbare Old Master deception135! And this in the so-called nineteenth century! O sancta simplicitas! When again shall such infantile transparency be mine? When, ah, when? But never mind, dear friend. Though you didn't catch me, we shall meet before long at some delightful Philippi.
"Yours, with the profoundest respect and gratitude136,
"ANTONIO HERRERA,
"Otherwise RICHARD PEPLOE BRABAZON."
Charles laid down the letter with a deep-drawn sigh. "Sey, my boy," he mused137 aloud, "no fortune on earth—not even mine—can go on standing138 it. These perpetual drains begin really to terrify me. I foresee the end. I shall die in a workhouse. What with the money he robs me of when he is Colonel Clay, and the money I waste upon him when he isn't Colonel Clay, the man is beginning to tell upon my nervous system. I shall withdraw altogether from this worrying life. I shall retire from a scheming and polluted world to some untainted spot in the fresh, pure mountains."
"You must need rest and change," I said, "when you talk like that. Let us try the Tyrol."
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trek
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| vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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fatigued
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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dilute
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| vt.稀释，冲淡；adj.稀释的，冲淡的 | |
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laconically
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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referee
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perusal
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eyebrows
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benevolent
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distinguished
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proprietary
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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garb
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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beacon
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| n.烽火，（警告用的）闪火灯，灯塔 | |
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perennial
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| adj.终年的；长久的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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detests
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的第三人称单数 ) | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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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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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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33
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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34
collateral
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| adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品 | |
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35
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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36
munificently
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cogitating
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| v.认真思考，深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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38
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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39
inordinately
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| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
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40
annexed
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| [法] 附加的，附属的 | |
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41
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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42
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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43
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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44
trump
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| n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭 | |
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entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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46
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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47
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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48
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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49
celebrities
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| n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉 | |
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50
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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51
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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52
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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53
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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54
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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55
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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57
aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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58
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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59
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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60
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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61
wriggle
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| v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒 | |
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62
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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63
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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64
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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65
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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66
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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67
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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68
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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69
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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70
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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71
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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72
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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73
dealers
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| n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者 | |
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74
precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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75
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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76
alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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77
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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78
connoisseur
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| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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79
replica
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| n.复制品 | |
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80
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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81
forgery
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| n.伪造的文件等，赝品，伪造（行为） | |
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82
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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83
omnivorous
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| adj.杂食的 | |
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84
vendor
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| n.卖主；小贩 | |
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85
decry
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| v.危难，谴责 | |
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86
effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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87
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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88
metaphor
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| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
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89
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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90
warranty
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| n.担保书，证书，保单 | |
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91
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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92
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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93
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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94
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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95
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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96
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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97
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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98
maniacs
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| n.疯子（maniac的复数形式） | |
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99
pretences
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| n.假装( pretence的名词复数 )；作假；自命；自称 | |
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100
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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101
bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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102
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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103
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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104
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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105
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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106
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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107
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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108
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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109
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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110
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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111
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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112
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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113
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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114
affidavits
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| n.宣誓书，（经陈述者宣誓在法律上可采作证据的）书面陈述( affidavit的名词复数 ) | |
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115
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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116
amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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117
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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118
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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119
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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120
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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121
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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122
quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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123
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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124
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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125
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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126
pungent
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| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
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127
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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128
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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129
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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130
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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131
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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132
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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133
ruses
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| n.诡计，计策( ruse的名词复数 ) | |
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134
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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135
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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136
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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137
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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138
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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