“And, above all,” Roy said, entreatingly7, “don’t, I beg of you, Billy, let your rash impetuosity lead you to squeezing in here. Remember[109] your paunch, and be warned in time.”
It is certain that, until this moment, Billy had had no slightest thought of thus venturing into the opening. But human nature is often contrary, and, though ordinarily Billy vastly preferred taunts9 to physical exertion10, in this instance it so chanced that his friend’s remark touched him in a sensitive spot. He said nothing at the time, however, contenting himself with a sudden, valiant11 resolve. So, after candles had been brought, and his two friends had squeezed themselves, one after the other into the opening, Billy Walker, in his turn, essayed an entrance—to the considerable astonishment12 of Jake, who remained in the hall.
“Better take a candle, sir,” he suggested; and he offered one already lighted.
It was accepted, and, holding it high before him, Billy surveyed the region into which he meant to venture thus intrepidly13. By the flickering14 light, he beheld15 a very narrow passage, in which, toward the farther end, he could distinguish the deeper shadow that he knew to be Roy, who had been the second to enter. There could be no doubt as to the person’s identity, since there was no room in which one person[110] could pass another unless by climbing.
At sight of the limited space, Billy was assailed16 with pangs17 of regret that he had so vaingloriously undertaken the adventure. Nevertheless, he felt that it was now too late to retreat, and, with a sigh of disgust, he thrust himself forward. He had observed in his brief examination that there was no flooring, but merely the naked joists, over which he must make his way very cautiously, stepping accurately18 from one to another. Warily19, then, he went forward, using every caution. It was by no means pleasant going, because of the precarious20 footing, and, too, because of the fact that his broad shoulders were unduly21 constricted22 by the walls on either side. Disaster came when a nail caught in the sleeve of his coat, just as he gave a lunge forward. The unexpected restraint threw him out of balance; in recovering himself, he dropped the candle. On the instant, his imagination was filled with glaring visions of the house in flames. Alarmed he stooped his heavy body swiftly—too swiftly, alas—for his feet slipped from the narrow supports. He fell heavily. His hands and arms shot through the plastering that[111] ceiled the room beneath. The violence of the impact was such that a large square of the plastering broke away, and went clattering23 to the floor of the room below. But, before the noise of its falling sounded, Billy Walker had heard another sound, a sharp cry of surprise, or fear. Through the rain of plaster, his eyes caught one glimpse of a darting24 figure; his ears distinguished25 from out the other din8 a scurry26 of steps over the polished floor. Even in the turmoil27 of the moment, Billy automatically noted28 these things. But, at the time, he gave no heed29 whatever to them, his one desire just then was to escape from this horrible predicament without the loss of an instant. To that end, he immediately began to back out, with never another thought to the candle, which, however, had been extinguished by the fall.
Slowly and wrathfully, Billy Walker made his laborious30 retreat on hands and knees backward from the scene of his exploits. His friends, startled by the noise behind them, had managed to face about, and to hurry toward him, and now they stood, one behind the other, peering at the prostrate31 one; at first in amazement32 over his presence there at all; then, in[112] alarm over his condition; finally, reassured33, in hilarious34 enjoyment35 of the catastrophe36 that had befallen him. Their presence and comments did not tend to soothe37 the outraged38 feelings of the victim as he wearily crept, retrograde, into the closet, and at last scrambled39 to his feet in the hallway. Jake was so discreet40 as to say nothing at all, which reticence41 gave him a place for all time in the unhappy man’s esteem42, despite the fact that the disaster had come from accepting the proffered43 candle. The others, unfortunately, were not so restrained, and their remarks came near to offending Billy Walker; certainly, they increased his exasperation44 against the event that had made him ridiculous. But, after a little, he contrived45 a diversion:
“I hope that plastering didn’t hurt anybody when it fell,” he exclaimed, of a sudden.
Jake shook his head.
“Nope!” he declared. “Thar wa’n’t nobody downstairs, I guess, Marthy’s out at the back, lookin’ arter her flower garden, and thar wa’n’t nobody else round when we come up.”
“But there was someone in the room downstairs,” Billy persisted. “I heard a cry, just[113] as my fists went through the plastering, and then, along with the other noise, I heard the steps of someone running out.”
“Was it a man or a woman?” Roy asked.
Billy shook his head.
“Really, I haven’t the least idea,” he answered, “You see, I was pretty well occupied at the moment with my own affairs, and I didn’t pay a particle of attention to anything else.”
“Anyhow, I don’t see that it matters much,” Saxe declared. “It’s plain that you didn’t hurt anyone seriously, or we’d have heard of it before this; it didn’t wound Mrs. Dustin, or Chris, for here they both come now.” He waved his hand toward the stairs, and the others turned to see the two hurrying up.
Mrs. Dustin was voluble, and mightily46 relieved to learn that her precious Jake had suffered no harm. The mild, black eyes of Mrs. West’s servant twinkled with amused excitement, when he was informed as to the nature of the happening. They, too, were puzzled on hearing that someone had been in the music-room at the time of the accident.
The three friends went down to the porch,[114] which was still deserted47. Billy, who had cast a disgusted glance on the litter in the drawing-room in passing, sighed lugubriously48, as he sank back into the rocking-chair.
“No more thrilling adventures by field and flood for me,” he boomed. “I have had my bellyful, all at once. Let the cobbler stick to his last, and let me stick to my chair. I got too confoundedly energetic, and I’m old enough to know better. I’ve messed up the place shockingly, which means so much extra work for the industrious49 Mrs. Dustin, whose amiable50, but foolish husband got me into this idiotic51 scrape. You would have found that there was no gold in the place without my assistance; and, unfortunately, I’ve incurred52 a financial penalty for my misplaced intrusiveness—into the plastering—and when the repairs of Miss West’s ceiling shall have been accomplished53, it will be my melancholy54 duty to foot the bill. Oh, misery55!”
The others laughed with the unfortunate, who was now again restored to his usual good humor. But, presently, Saxe spoke57 in a puzzled voice:
“You really must have been mistaken, Billy,[115] about having heard someone down below you, in the music-room.”
Billy Walker snorted indignantly.
“I may possibly be a trifle languorous58 physically59 in some ways on occasion,” he retorted, “but I assure you that my ears are quick enough. I was not mistaken. I heard just what I told you I heard, and I saw, too.”
The others were unaware60 that Billy did not exaggerate the excellent quality of his hearing, and, in consequence, they found themselves at a loss. It was Roy, the suspicious, who finally voiced the idea that was bound to find lodgment in their minds. When he spoke, it was in a tone of conviction:
“The ubiquitous Masters, of course!”
“Spying again,” he agreed. “We know that he’s capable of it.” He turned to Billy Walker, inquiringly.
“The fellow is undoubtedly62 open to suspicion, after what you caught him at the other day.” Billy admitted. “Equally of course, we haven’t a shred63 of evidence against him.”
“That doesn’t matter a bit, as long as we have the moral certainty,” Saxe argued. “But[116] the real gist64 of the problem is: What on earth is the fellow up to, anyhow?”
“It’s just pure cussedness,” Roy asserted, his face hardening. “One look at him is enough to warn anyone that he’s spoiling for mischief65. He’s a rotter, that’s all.”
Billy Walker shook his head, authoritatively66.
“You’re wrong, as usual,” he announced, with unpleasant frankness. “As a matter of fact, our friend, the enemy, has a motive67 other than sheer deviltry.”
The others regarded the speaker in surprise, whereat Billy Walker nodded his head vigorously a number of times, and looked very wise indeed.
“Yes,” he continued, with much complacency. “After you had told me the incident of his listening to your talk together, I grappled with the problem of the engineer’s not minding his own business, and I presently came on the obvious solution of the puzzle.” He paused, expectantly.
“Well, what was it?” Roy demanded, impatiently. He was still smarting a little from Billy’s sweeping68 statement as to his own habit[117] of inaccuracy. Saxe, too, showed a keen curiosity in his face.
“The simple truth of the matter is this,” the oracle69 resumed, when he felt that he had sufficiently70 whetted71 their interest by delay. “This man, Masters, has a mind to lay hold on Abernethey’s treasure himself.” He stared triumphantly72 at first one and then the other of his hearers.
The effect on them was enough to satisfy the purveyor73 of information. Roy fairly gaped74 in amazement, while Saxe manifested first astonishment, then incredulity, which he voiced baldly:
“Absurd!” he cried.
But Billy Walker was prepared to maintain his contention75 with arguments, and forthwith he did so. And, at the last, Billy made a shrewd suggestion, which, by a totally different method, arrived at the conclusion already reached by Roy through his vaunted sixth sense.
“You may have wondered a little,” the oracle said, “that I should have made no particular remonstrance76 when you incontinently gave up the search commanded by[118] immutable77 logic78. Well, as a matter of fact, I myself would have suggested the uselessness of further effort along those lines. You see, the affair lies thus.” He paused for a moment, and pursed his lips, as one preparing for didactic discourse79. “This chap, Masters, is on terms of considerable intimacy80, I judge, with the girl who was the secretary of the late Mr. Abernethey. Moreover, he was here, on the spot. There can be no question that, sooner or later, he learned the facts from her concerning the last will and testament81 of the eccentric miser56. Thereupon, he determined82 to go treasure-hunting on his own account. He was on the job instanter, so to speak. In fact, I’m quite willing to eat my hat, which is an especially indigestible variety of Stetson, if the cottage has not already been searched with great thoroughness by our industrious antagonist83.” Billy stared at his two friends contentedly84 out of his small, dull eyes, and his heavy face wrinkled into a smile.
The result of his words was all that he could have desired.
“The infernal sneak85!” Roy exclaimed, violently.[119] His eyes grew hard, his mouth set, with the slight forward push of the jaw86. In Saxe’s face, too, anger was plain. “To think of a nice girl being fooled like that!” Roy continued furiously, after an interval87 of silence. “But we’ll land the robber somehow. If we don’t, I’ll find some excuse for beating him up.”
“Never mind the pummeling,” Billy counseled. “Just you keep your eyes open that he doesn’t beat you—to the money. For the present, that’s more important than jealous rows.” At this remark, which showed that the scholar was more observant than might have been supposed in a field so foreign to his usual investigations88, Roy blushed for the first time in many years, and Saxe was so rude as to titter aloud.
It was at this moment that David appeared from around the north end of the cottage. Forthwith, he was made familiar with all that had happened during the period of his absence, together with the lively suspicions entertained against the engineer. When the tale had been told, David took a few minutes for reflection before he spoke.
[120]“I’m willing to believe anything against that ornery critter,” he remarked at last, with his big eyes twinkling; “but I am, before all else, a just man. You’ve got to leave Masters out on this last deal. As a matter of fact, he has a perfectly89 good alibi90; I wanted a line on the rapscallion, and so I fairly forced myself on him this morning—to his disgust. But he didn’t think it quite prudent91, I guess, to be out-and-out rude to me. For the last two hours Masters and I have been together, strolling chummily over the hills and far away.”
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1
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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jibe
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| v.嘲笑，与...一致，使转向；n.嘲笑，嘲弄 | |
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lethargic
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| adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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entreatingly
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| 哀求地，乞求地 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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15
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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16
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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17
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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18
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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19
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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20
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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constricted
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| adj.抑制的，约束的 | |
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clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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25
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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scurry
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| vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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39
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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40
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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41
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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42
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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43
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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45
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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46
mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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47
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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48
lugubriously
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49
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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50
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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51
idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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52
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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53
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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54
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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55
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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56
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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57
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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58
languorous
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| adj.怠惰的，没精打采的 | |
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59
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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60
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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61
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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62
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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63
shred
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| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
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64
gist
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| n.要旨；梗概 | |
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65
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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66
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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67
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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68
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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69
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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70
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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71
whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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72
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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73
purveyor
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| n.承办商，伙食承办商 | |
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74
gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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75
contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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76
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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77
immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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78
logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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79
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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80
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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81
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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82
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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83
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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84
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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85
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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86
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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87
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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88
investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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89
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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90
alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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91
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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