Of course Mr. Quintus Slide was in the front rank of these accusers. He may be said to have led the little army which made this matter a pretext8 for a special attack upon the Ministry9. Mr. Slide was especially hostile to the Prime Minister, but he was not less hotly the enemy of Phineas Finn. Against Phineas Finn he had old grudges10, which, however, age had never cooled. He could, therefore, write with a most powerful pen when discussing the death of that unfortunate man, the late candidate for Silverbridge, crushing his two foes11 in the single grasp of his journalistic fist. Phineas had certainly said some hard things against Lopez, though he had not mentioned the man's name. He had congratulated the House that it had not been contaminated by the presence of so base a creature, and he had said that he would not pause to stigmatise the meanness of the application for money which Lopez had made. Had Lopez continued to live and to endure "the slings12 and arrows of outrageous13 fortune," no one would have ventured to say that these words would have inflicted14 too severe a punishment. But death wipes out many faults, and a self-inflicted death caused by remorse15 will, in the minds of many, wash a blackamoor almost white. Thus it came to pass that some heavy weapons were hurled16 at Phineas Finn, but none so heavy as those hurled by Quintus Slide. Should not this Irish knight17, who was so ready with his lance in the defence of the Prime Minister, asked Mr. Slide, have remembered the past events of his own rather peculiar18 life? Had not he, too, been poor, and driven in his poverty to rather questionable19 straits? Had not he been abject20 in his petition for office,—and in what degree were such petitions less disgraceful than a request for money which had been hopelessly expended21 on an impossible object, attempted at the instance of the great Cr[oe]sus who, when asked to pay it, had at once acknowledged the necessity of doing so? Could not Mr. Finn remember that he himself had stood in danger of his life before a British jury, and that, though he had been, no doubt properly, acquitted22 of the crime imputed23 to him, circumstances had come out against him during the trial which, if not as criminal, were at any rate almost as disgraceful? Could he not have had some mercy on a broken political adventurer who, in his aspirations24 for public life, had shown none of that greed by which Mr. Phineas Finn had been characterised in all the relations of life? As for the Prime Minister, "We," as Mr. Quintus Slide always described himself,—"We do not wish to add to the agony which the fate of Mr. Lopez must have brought upon him. He has hounded that poor man to his death in revenge for the trifling25 sum of money which he was called on to pay for him. It may be that the first blame lay not with the Prime Minister himself, but with the Prime Minister's wife. With that we have nothing to do. The whole thing lies in a nutshell. The bare mention of the name of her Grace the Duchess in Parliament would have saved the Duke, at any rate as effectually as he has been saved by the services of his man-of-all-work, Phineas Finn, and would have saved him without driving poor Ferdinand Lopez to insanity26. But rather than do this he allowed his servant to make statements about mysterious agents, which we are justified in stigmatizing27 as untrue, and to throw the whole blame where but least of the blame was due. We all know the result. It was found in those gory28 shreds29 and tatters of a poor human being with which the Tenway Railway Station was bespattered."
Of course such an article had considerable effect. It was apparent at once that there was ample room for an action for libel against the newspaper, on the part of Phineas Finn if not on that of the Duke. But it was equally apparent that Mr. Quintus Slide must have been very well aware of this when he wrote the article. Such an action, even if successful, may bring with it to the man punished more of good than of evil. Any pecuniary30 penalty might be more than recouped by the largeness of the advertisement which such an action would produce. Mr. Slide no doubt calculated that he would carry with him a great body of public feeling by the mere31 fact that he had attacked a Prime Minister and a Duke. If he could only get all the publicans in London to take his paper because of his patriotic32 and bold conduct, the fortune of the paper would be made. There is no better trade than that of martyrdom, if the would-be martyr knows how far he may judiciously33 go, and in what direction. All this Mr. Quintus Slide was supposed to have considered very well.
And Phineas Finn knew that his enemy had also considered the nature of the matters which he would have been able to drag into Court if there should be a trial. Allusions34, very strong allusions, had been made to former periods of Mr. Finn's life. And though there was but little, if anything, in the past circumstances of which he was ashamed,—but little, if anything, which he thought would subject him personally to the odium of good men, could they be made accurately35 known in all their details,—it would, he was well aware, be impossible that such accuracy should be achieved. And the story if told inaccurately36 would not suit him. And then, there was a reason against any public proceeding37 much stronger even than this. Whether the telling of the story would or would not suit him, it certainly would not suit others. As has been before remarked, there are former chronicles respecting Phineas Finn, and in them may be found adequate cause for this conviction on his part. To no outsider was this history known better than to Mr. Quintus Slide, and therefore Mr. Quintus Slide could dare almost to defy the law.
But not the less on this account were there many who told Phineas that he ought to bring the action. Among these none were more eager than his old friend Lord Chiltern, the Master of the Brake hounds, a man who really loved Phineas, who also loved the abstract idea of justice, and who could not endure the thought that a miscreant38 should go unpunished. Hunting was over for the season in the Brake country, and Lord Chiltern rushed up to London, having this object among others of a very pressing nature on his mind. His saddler had to be seen,—and threatened,—on a certain matter touching39 the horses' backs. A draught40 of hounds were being sent down to a friend in Scotland. And there was a Committee of Masters to sit on a moot41 question concerning a neutral covert42 in the XXX country, of which Committee he was one. But the desire to punish Slide was almost as strong in his indignant mind as those other matters referring more especially to the profession of his life. "Phineas," he said, "you are bound to do it. If you will allow a fellow like that to say such things of you, why, by heaven, any man may say anything of anybody."
Now Phineas could hardly explain to Lord Chiltern his objection to the proposed action. A lady was closely concerned, and that lady was Lord Chiltern's sister. "I certainly shall not," said Phineas.
"And why?"
"Just because he wishes me to do it. I should be falling into the little pit that he has dug for me."
"He couldn't hurt you. What have you got to be afraid of? Ruat c[oe]lum."
"There are certain angels, Chiltern, living up in that heaven which you wish me to pull about our ears, as to whom, if all their heart and all their wishes and all their doings could be known, nothing but praise could be spoken; but who would still be dragged with soiled wings through the dirt if this man were empowered to bring witness after witness into court. My wife would be named. For aught I know, your wife."
"By G––––, he'd find himself wrong there."
"Leave a chimney-sweep alone when you see him, Chiltern. Should he run against you, then remember that it is one of the necessary penalties of clean linen43 that it is apt to be soiled."
"I'm d––––d if I'd let him off."
"Yes you would, old fellow. When you come to see clearly what you would gain and what you would lose, you would not meddle44 with him."
His wife was at first inclined to think that an action should be taken, but she was more easily convinced than Lord Chiltern. "I had not thought," she said, "of poor Lady Laura. But is it not horrible that a man should be able to go on like that, and that there should be no punishment?" In answer to this he only shrugged45 his shoulders.
But the greatest pressure came upon him from another source. He did not in truth suffer much himself from what was said in the "People's Banner." He had become used to the "People's Banner" and had found out that in no relation of life was he less pleasantly situated46 because of the maledictions heaped upon him in the columns of that newspaper. His position in public life did not seem to be weakened by them. His personal friends did not fall off because of them. Those who loved him did not love him less. It had not been so with him always, but now, at last, he was hardened against Mr. Quintus Slide. But the poor Duke was by no means equally strong. This attack upon him, this denunciation of his cruelty, this assurance that he had caused the death of Ferdinand Lopez, was very grievous to him. It was not that he really felt himself to be guilty of the man's blood, but that any one should say that he was guilty. It was of no use to point out to him that other newspapers had sufficiently47 vindicated48 his conduct in that respect, that it was already publicly known that Lopez had received payment for those election expenses from Mr. Wharton before the application had been made to him, and that therefore the man's dishonesty was patent to all the world. It was equally futile49 to explain to him that the man's last act had been in no degree caused by what had been said in Parliament, but had been the result of his continued failures in life and final absolute ruin. He fretted50 and fumed51 and was very wretched,—and at last expressed his opinion that legal steps should be taken to punish the "People's Banner." Now it had been already acknowledged, on the dictum of no less a man than Sir Gregory Grogram, the Attorney-General, that the action for libel, if taken at all, must be taken, not on the part of the Prime Minister, but on that of Phineas Finn. Sir Timothy Beeswax had indeed doubted, but it had come to be understood by all the members of the Coalition that Sir Timothy Beeswax always did doubt whatever was said by Sir Gregory Grogram. "The Duke thinks that something should be done," said Mr. Warburton, the Duke's private Secretary, to Phineas Finn.
"Not by me, I hope," said Phineas.
"Nobody else can do it. That is to say it must be done in your name. Of course it would be a Government matter, as far as expense goes, and all that."
"I am sorry the Duke should think so."
"I don't see that it could hurt you."
"I am sorry the Duke should think so," repeated Phineas,—"because nothing can be done in my name. I have made up my mind about it. I think the Duke is wrong in wishing it, and I believe that were any action taken, we should only be playing into the hands of that wretched fellow, Quintus Slide. I have long been conversant52 with Mr. Quintus Slide, and have quite made up my mind that I will never play upon his pipe. And you may tell the Duke that there are other reasons. The man has referred to my past life, and in seeking to justify53 those remarks he would be enabled to drag before the public circumstances and stories, and perhaps persons, in a manner that I personally should disregard, but which, for the sake of others, I am bound to prevent. You will explain all this to the Duke?"
"I am afraid you will find the Duke very urgent."
"I must then express my great sorrow that I cannot oblige the Duke. I trust I need hardly say that the Duke has no colleague more devoted54 to his interest than I am. Were he to wish me to change my office, or to abandon it, or to undertake any political duty within the compass of my small powers, he would find me ready to obey his behests. But in this matter others are concerned, and I cannot make my judgment55 subordinate to his." The private Secretary looked very serious, and simply said that he would do his best to explain these objections to his Grace.
That the Duke would take his refusal in bad part Phineas felt nearly certain. He had been a little surprised at the coldness of the Minister's manner to him after the statement he had made in the klouse, and had mentioned the matter to his wife. "You hardly know him," she had said, "as well as I do."
"Certainly not. You ought to know him very intimately, and I have had but little personal friendship with him. But it was a moment in which the man might, for the moment, have been cordial."
"It was not a moment for his cordiality. The Duchess says that if you want to get a really genial56 smile from him you must talk to him about cork57 soles. I know exactly what she means. He loves to be simple, but he does not know how to show people that he likes it. Lady Rosina found him out by accident."
"Don't suppose that I am in the least aggrieved58," he had said. And now he spoke again to his wife in the same spirit. "Warburton clearly thinks that he will be offended, and Warburton, I suppose, knows his mind."
"I don't see why he should. I have been reading it longer, and I still find it very difficult. Lady Glen has been at the work for the last fifteen years, and sometimes owns that there are passages she has not mastered yet. I fancy Mr. Warburton is afraid of him, and is a little given to fancy that everybody should bow down to him. Now if there is anything certain about the Duke it is this,—that he doesn't want any one to bow down to him. He hates all bowing down."
"I don't think he loves those who oppose him."
"It is not the opposition59 he hates, but the cause in the man's mind which may produce it. When Sir Orlando opposed him, and he thought that Sir Orlando's opposition was founded on jealousy60, then he despised Sir Orlando. But had he believed in Sir Orlando's belief in the new ships, he would have been capable of pressing Sir Orlando to his bosom61, although he might have been forced to oppose Sir Orlando's ships in the Cabinet."
"He is a Sir Bayard to you," said Phineas, laughing.
"Rather a Don Quixote, whom I take to have been the better man of the two. I'll tell you what he is, Phineas, and how he is better than all the real knights62 of whom I have ever read in story. He is a man altogether without guile63, and entirely64 devoted to his country. Do not quarrel with him, if you can help it."
Phineas had not the slightest desire to quarrel with his chief; but he did think it to be not improbable that his chief would quarrel with him. It was notorious to him as a member of the Cabinet,—as a colleague living with other colleagues by whom the Prime Minister was coddled, and especially as the husband of his wife, who lived almost continually with the Prime Minister's wife,—that the Duke was cut to the quick by the accusation65 that he had hounded Ferdinand Lopez to his death. The Prime Minister had defended himself in the House against the first charge by means of Phineas Finn, and now required Phineas to defend him from the second charge in another way. This he was obliged to refuse to do. And then the Minister's private Secretary looked very grave, and left him with the impression that the Duke would be much annoyed, if not offended. And already there had grown up an idea that the Duke would have on the list of his colleagues none who were personally disagreeable to himself. Though he was by no means a strong Minister in regard to political measures, or the proper dominion66 of his party, still men were afraid of him. It was not that he would call upon them to resign, but that, if aggrieved, he would resign himself. Sir Orlando Drought had rebelled and had tried a fall with the Prime Minister,—and had greatly failed. Phineas determined67 that if frowned upon he would resign, but that he certainly would bring no action for libel against the "People's Banner."
A week passed after he had seen Warburton before he by chance found himself alone with the Prime Minister. This occurred at the house in Carlton Gardens, at which he was a frequent visitor,—and could hardly have ceased to be so without being noticed, as his wife spent half her time there. It was evident to him then that the occasion was sought for by the Duke. "Mr. Finn," said the Duke, "I wanted to have a word or two with you."
"Certainly," said Phineas, arresting his steps.
"Warburton spoke to you about that—that newspaper."
"Yes, Duke. He seemed to think that there should be an action for libel."
"I thought so too. It was very bad, you know."
"Yes;—it was bad. I have known the 'People's Banner' for some time, and it is always bad."
"No doubt;—no doubt. It is bad, very bad. Is it not sad that there should be such dishonesty, and that nothing can be done to stop it? Warburton says that you won't hear of an action in your name."
"There are reasons, Duke."
"No doubt;—no doubt. Well;—there's an end of it. I own I think the man should be punished. I am not often vindictive68, but I think that he should be punished. However, I suppose it cannot be."
"I don't see the way."
"So be it. So be it. It must be entirely for you to judge. Are you not longing69 to get into the country, Mr. Finn?"
"Hardly yet," said Phineas, surprised. "It's only June, and we have two months more of it. What is the use of longing yet?"
"Two months more!" said the Duke. "Two months certainly. But even two months will come to an end. We go down to Matching quietly,—very quietly,—when the time does come. You must promise that you'll come with us. Eh? I make a point of it, Mr. Finn."
Phineas did promise, and thought that he had succeeded in mastering one of the difficult passages in that book.
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1
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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redeeming
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| 补偿的，弥补的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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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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martyr
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| n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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grudges
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| 不满，怨恨，妒忌( grudge的名词复数 ) | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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slings
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| 抛( sling的第三人称单数 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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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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questionable
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| adj.可疑的，有问题的 | |
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abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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stigmatizing
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| v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的现在分词 ) | |
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gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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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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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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allusions
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| 暗指，间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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inaccurately
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| 不精密地，不准确地 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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moot
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| v.提出；adj.未决议的；n.大会；辩论会 | |
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covert
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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fumed
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| 愤怒( fume的过去式和过去分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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conversant
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| adj.亲近的，有交情的，熟悉的 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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62
knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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63
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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64
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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65
accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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66
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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67
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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68
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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69
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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