As much, indeed, was written to Calverley by Lord Ufford, the poet, diarist, musician and virtuoso9:
Our Scottish Mortimer, it appears, is unwilling10 to have the map of Europe altered because Mr. Robert Calverley has taken a whim11 to go into Italy. He is angrier than I have ever known him to be. He swears that with a pen's flourish you have imperiled the well-being13 of England, and raves14 in the same breath of the preferment he had designed for you. Beware of him. For my own part, I shrug7 and acquiesce15, because I am familiar with your pranks16. I merely venture to counsel that you do not crown the Pelion of abuse, which our statesmen are heaping upon you, with the Ossa of physical as well as political suicide. Hasten on your Italian jaunt17, for Umfraville, who is now with me at Carberry Hill, has publicly declared that if you dare re-appear in England he will have you horsewhipped by his footmen. In consequence, I would most earnestly advise——
Mr. Calverley read no further, but came straightway into England. He had not been in England since his elopement, three years before that spring, with the Marquis of Umfraville's betrothed18, Lord Radnor's daughter, whom Calverley had married at Calais. Mr. Calverley and his wife were presently at Carberry Hill, Lord Ufford's home, where, arriving about moon-rise, they found a ball in progress.
Their advent19 caused a momentary20 check to merriment. The fiddlers ceased, because Lord Ufford had signaled them. The fine guests paused in their stately dance. Lord Ufford, in a richly figured suit, came hastily to Lady Honoria Calverley, his high heels tapping audibly upon the floor, and with gallantry lifted her hand toward his lips. Her husband he embraced, and the two men kissed each other, as was the custom of the age. Chatter21 and laughter rose on every side as pert and merry as the noises of a brook22 in springtime.
"I fear that as Lord Umfraville's host," young Calverley at once began, "you cannot with decorum convey to the ignoramus my opinion as to his ability to conjugate23 the verb to dare."
"Why, but no! you naturally demand a duel24," the poet-earl returned. "It is very like you. I lament25 your decision, but I will attempt to arrange the meeting for to-morrow morning."
Lord Ufford smiled and nodded to the musicians. He finished the dance to admiration26, as this lean dandified young man did everything—"assiduous to win each fool's applause," as his own verses scornfully phrase it. Then Ufford went about his errand of death and conversed27 for a long while with Umfraville.
Afterward28 Lord Ufford beckoned29 to Calverley, who shrugged and returned Mr. Erwyn's snuff-box, which Calverley had been admiring. He followed the earl into a side-room opening upon the Venetian Chamber30 wherein the fete was. Ufford closed the door. You saw that he had put away the exterior31 of mirth that hospitality demanded of him, and perturbation showed in the lean countenance32 which was by ordinary so proud and so amiably33 peevish34.
"Robin35, you have performed many mad actions in your life!" he said; "but this return into the three kingdoms out-Herods all! Did I not warn you against Umfraville!"
"Why, certainly you did," returned Mr. Calverley. "You informed me—which was your duty as a friend—of this curmudgeon's boast that he would have me horsewhipped if I dared venture into England. You will readily conceive that any gentleman of self-respect cannot permit such farcical utterances36 to be delivered without appending a gladiatorial epilogue. Well! what are the conditions of this duel?"
"Oh, fool that I have been!" cried Ufford, who was enabled now by virtue37 of their seclusion38 to manifest his emotion. "I, who have known you all your life——!"
"Heh, Fate has an imperial taste in humor!" the poet said. "Robin, we have been more than brothers. And it is I, I, of all persons living, who have drawn40 you into this imbroglio41!"
"My danger is not very apparent as yet," said Calverley, "if Umfraville controls his sword no better than his tongue."
My lord of Ufford went on: "There is no question of a duel. It is as well to spare you what Lord Umfraville replied to my challenge. Let it suffice that we do not get sugar from the snake. Besides, the man has his grievance42. Robin, have you forgot that necklace you and Pevensey took from Umfraville some three years ago—before you went into Russia?"
Calverley laughed. The question recalled an old hot-headed time when, exalted43 to a frolicsome44 zone by the discovery of Lady Honoria Pomfret's love for him, he planned the famous jest which he and the mad Earl of Pevensey perpetrated upon Umfraville. This masquerade won quick applause. Persons of ton guffawed45 like ploughboys over the discomfiture46 of an old hunks thus divertingly stripped of his bride, all his betrothal47 gifts, and of the very clothes he wore. An anonymous48 scribbler had detected in the occurrence a denouement49 suited to the stage and had constructed a comedy around it, which, when produced by the Duke's company, had won acclaim50 from hilarious51 auditors52.
So Calverley laughed heartily53. "Gad54, what a jest that was! This Umfraville comes to marry Honoria. And highwaymen attack his coach! I would give L50 to have witnessed this usurer's arrival at Denton Honor in his underclothes! and to have seen his monkey-like grimaces55 when he learned that Honoria and I were already across the Channel!"
"You robbed him, though——"
"Indeed, for beginners at peculation56 we did not do so badly. We robbed him and his valet of everything in the coach, including their breeches. You do not mean that Pevensey has detained the poor man's wedding trousers? If so, it is unfortunate, because this loud-mouthed miser57 has need of them in order that he may be handsomely interred58."
"Lord Umfraville's wedding-suit was stuffed with straw, hung on a pole and paraded through London by Pevensey, March, Selwyn and some dozen other madcaps, while six musicians marched before them. The clothes were thus conveyed to Umfraville's house. I think none of us would have relished59 a joke like that were he the butt60 of it."
Now the poet's lean countenance was turned upon young Calverley, and as always, Ufford evoked61 that nobility in Calverley which follies62 veiled but had not ever killed.
"Egad," said Robert Calverley; "I grant you that all this was infamously63 done. I never authorized65 it. I shall kill Pevensey. Indeed, I will do more," he added, with a flourish. "For I will apologize to Umfraville, and this very night."
But Ufford was not disposed to levity66. "Let us come to the point," he sadly said. "Pevensey returned everything except the necklace which Umfraville had intended to be his bridal gift. Pevensey conceded the jest, in fine; and denied all knowledge of any necklace."
It was an age of accommodating morality. Calverley sketched67 a whistle, and showed no other trace of astonishment68.
"I see. The fool confided69 in the spendthrift. My dear, I understand. In nature Pevensey gave the gems70 to some nymph of Sadler's Wells or Covent Garden. For I was out of England. And so he capped his knavery71 with insolence72. It is an additional reason why Pevensey should not live to scratch a gray head. It is, however, an affront73 to me that Umfraville should have believed him. I doubt if I may overlook that, Horace?"
"I question if he did believe. But, then, what help had he? This Pevensey is an earl. His person as a peer of England is inviolable. No statute74 touches him directly, because he may not be confined except by the King's personal order. And it is tolerably notorious that Pevensey is in Lord Bute's pay, and that our Scottish Mortimer, to do him justice, does not permit his spies to be injured."
Now Mr. Calverley took snuff. The music without was now more audible, and it had shifted to a merrier tune75.
"I think I comprehend. Pevensey and I—whatever were our motives—have committed a robbery. Pevensey, as the law runs, is safe. I, too, was safe as long as I kept out of England. As matters stand, Lord Umfraville intends to press a charge of theft against me. And I am in disgrace with Bute, who is quite content to beat offenders76 with a crooked77 stick. This confluence78 of two-penny accidents is annoying."
"It is worse than you know," my lord of Ufford returned. He opened the door which led to the Venetian Chamber. A surge of music, of laughter, and of many lights invaded the room wherein they stood. "D'ye see those persons, just past Umfraville, so inadequately79 disguised as gentlemen? They are from Bow Street. Lord Umfraville intends to apprehend80 you here to-night."
"He has an eye for the picturesque," drawled Calverley. "My tragedy, to do him justice, could not be staged more strikingly. Those additional alcoves81 have improved the room beyond belief. I must apologize for not having rendered my compliments a trifle earlier."
Internally he outstormed Termagaunt. It was infamous64 enough, in all conscience, to be arrested, but to have half the world of fashion as witnessess of ones discomfiture was perfectly82 intolerable. He recognized the excellent chance he had of being the most prominent figure upon some scaffold before long, but that contingency83 did not greatly trouble Calverley, as set against the certainty of being made ridiculous within the next five minutes.
"Yes, for hate sharpens every faculty," the earl went on. "Even Umfraville understands that you do not fear death. So he means to have you tried like any common thief while all your quondam friends sit and snigger. And you will be convicted——"
"Why, necessarily, since I am not as Pevensey. Of course, I must confess I took the necklace."
"And Pevensey must stick to the tale that he knows nothing of any necklace. Dear Robin, this means Newgate. Accident deals very hardly with us, Robin, for this means Tyburn Hill."
"Yes; I suppose it means my death," young Calverley assented85. "Well! I have feasted with the world and found its viands86 excellent. The banquet ended, I must not grumble87 with my host because I find his choice of cordials not altogether to my liking88." Thus speaking, he was aware of nothing save that the fiddlers were now about an air to which he had often danced with his dear wife.
"I have a trick yet left to save our honor,——" Lord Ufford turned to a table where wine and glasses were set ready. "I propose a toast. Let us drink—for the last time—to the honor of the Calverleys."
"It is an invitation I may not decorously refuse. And yet—it may be that I do not understand you?"
My lord of Ufford poured wine into two glasses. These glasses were from among the curios he collected so industriously—tall, fragile things, of seventeenth century make, very intricately cut with roses and thistles, and in the bottom of each glass a three-penny piece was embedded89. Lord Ufford took a tiny vial from his pocket and emptied its contents into the glass which stood the nearer to Mr. Calverley.
"This is Florence water. We dabblers in science are experimenting with it at Gresham College. A taste of it means death—a painless, quick and honorable death. You will have died of a heart seizure90. Come, Robin, let us drink to the honor of the Calverleys."
"For look you," said Lord Ufford, "we come of honorable blood. We two are gentlemen. We have our code, and we may not infringe92 upon it. Our code does not invariably square with reason, and I doubt if Scripture93 would afford a dependable foundation. So be it! We have our code and we may not infringe upon it. There have been many Calverleys who did not fear their God, but there was never any one of them who did not fear dishonor. I am the head of no less proud a house. As such, I counsel you to drink and die within the moment. It is not possible a Calverley survive dishonor. Oh, God!" the poet cried, and his voice broke; "and what is honor to this clamor within me! Robin, I love you better than I do this talk of honor! For, Robin, I have loved you long! so long that what we do to-night will always make life hideous94 to me!"
Calverley was not unmoved, but he replied in the tone of daily intercourse95. "It is undoubtedly96 absurd to perish here, like some unreasonable97 adversary98 of the Borgias. Your device is rather outrageously99 horrific, Horace, like a bit out of your own romance—yes, egad, it is pre-eminently worthy100 of the author of The Vassal101 of Spalatro. Still I can understand that it is preferable to having fat and greasy102 fellows squander103 a shilling for the privilege of perching upon a box while I am being hanged. And I think I shall accept your toast—
"You will be avenged," Ufford said, simply.
"My dear, as if I ever questioned that! Of course, you will kill Pevensey first and Umfraville afterward. Only I want to live. For I was meant to play a joyous104 role wholeheartedly in the big comedy of life. So many people find the world a dreary105 residence," Mr. Calverley sighed, "that it is really a pity some one of these long-faced stolidities cannot die now instead of me. For I have found life wonderful throughout."
The brows of Ufford knit. "Would you consent to live as a transported felon106? I have much money. I need not tell you the last penny is at your disposal. It might be possible to bribe107. Indeed, Lord Bute is all-powerful to-day and he would perhaps procure108 a pardon for you at my entreaty109. He is so kind as to admire my scribblings… Or you might live among your fellow-convicts somewhere over sea for a while longer. I had not thought that such would be your choice——" Here Ufford shrugged, restrained by courtesy. "Besides, Lord Bute is greatly angered with you, because you have endangered his Russian alliance. However, if you wish it, I will try——"
"Oh, for that matter, I do not much fear Lord Bute, because I bring him the most welcome news he has had in many a day. I may tell you since it will be public to-morrow. The Tzaritza Elizabeth, our implacable enemy, died very suddenly three weeks ago. Peter of Holstein-Gottrop reigns110 to-day in Russia, and I have made terms with him. I came to tell Lord Bute the Cossack troops have been recalled from Prussia. The war is at an end." Young Calverley meditated111 and gave his customary boyish smile. "Yes, I discharged my Russian mission after all—even after I had formally relinquished112 it—because I was so opportunely113 aided by the accident of the Tzaritza's death. And Bute cares only for results. So I would explain to him that I resigned my mission simply because in Russia my wife could not have lived out another year——"
The earl exclaimed, "Then Honoria is ill!" Mr. Calverley did not attend, but stood looking out into the Venetian Chamber.
"See, Horace, she is dancing with Anchester while I wait here so near to death. She dances well. But Honoria does everything adorably. I cannot tell you—oh, not even you!—how happy these three years have been with her. Eh, well! the gods are jealous of such happiness. You will remember how her mother died? It appears that Honoria is threatened with a slow consumption, and a death such as her mother's was. She does not know. There was no need to frighten her. For although the rigors114 of another Russian winter, as all physicians tell me, would inevitably115 prove fatal to her, there is no reason why my dearest dear should not continue to laugh just as she always does—for a long, bright and happy while in some warm climate such as Italy's. In nature I resigned my appointment. I did not consider England, or my own trivial future, or anything of that sort. I considered only Honoria."
He gazed for many moments upon the woman whom he loved. His speech took on an odd simplicity116.
"Oh, yes, I think that in the end Bute would procure a pardon for me. But not even Bute can override117 the laws of England. I would have to be tried first, and have ballads118 made concerning me, and be condemned119, and so on. That would detain Honoria in England, because she is sufficiently120 misguided to love me. I could never persuade her to leave me with my life in peril12. She could not possibly survive an English winter." Here Calverley evinced unbridled mirth. "The irony121 of events is magnificent. There is probably no question of hanging or even of transportation. It is merely certain that if I venture from this room I bring about Honoria's death as incontestably as if I strangled her with these two hands. So I choose my own death in preference. It will grieve Honoria——" His voice was not completely steady. "But she is young. She will forget me, for she forgets easily, and she will be happy. I look to you to see—even before you have killed Pevensey—that Honoria goes into Italy. For she admires and loves you, almost as much as I do, Horace, and she will readily be guided by you——"
He cried my lord of Ufford's given name some two or three times, for young Calverley had turned, and he had seen Ufford's face.
The earl moistened his lips. "You are a fool," he said, with a thin voice. "Why do you trouble me by being better than I? Or do you only posture122 for my benefit? Do you deal honestly with me, Robert Calverley?—then swear it——" He laughed here, very horribly. "Ah, no, when did you ever lie! You do not lie—not you!"
He waited for a while. "But I am otherwise. I dare to lie when the occasion promises. I have desired Honoria since the first moment wherein I saw her. I may tell you now. I think that you do not remember. We gathered cherries. I ate two of them which had just lain upon her knee——"
His hands had clenched123 each other, and his lips were drawn back so that you saw his exquisite124 teeth, which were ground together. He stood thus for a little, silent.
Then Ufford began again: "I planned all this. I plotted this with Umfraville. I wrote you such a letter as would inevitably draw you to your death. I wished your death. For Honoria would then be freed of you. I would condole125 with her. She is readily comforted, impatient of sorrow, incapable126 of it, I dare say. She would have married me.… Why must I tell you this? Oh, I am Fate's buffoon127! For I have won, I have won! and there is that in me which will not accept the stake I cheated for."
"And you," said Calverley—"this thing is you!"
"A helpless reptile128 now," said Ufford. "I have not the power to check Lord Umfraville in his vengeance129. You must be publicly disgraced, and must, I think, be hanged even now when it will not benefit me at all. It may be I shall weep for that some day! Or else Honoria must die, because an archangel could not persuade her to desert you in your peril. For she loves you—loves you to the full extent of her merry and shallow nature. Oh, I know that, as you will never know it. I shall have killed Honoria! I shall not weep when Honoria dies. Harkee, Robin! they are dancing yonder. It is odd to think that I shall never dance again."
"Horace—!" the younger man said, like a person of two minds. He seemed to choke. He gave a frantic130 gesture. "Oh, I have loved you. I have loved nothing as I have loved you."
"And yet you chatter of your passion for Honoria!" Lord Ufford returned, with a snarl131. "I ask what proof is there of this?—Why, that you have surrendered your well-being in this world through love of her. But I gave what is vital. I was an honorable gentleman without any act in all my life for which I had need to blush. I loved you as I loved no other being in the universe." He spread his hands, which now twitched132 horribly. "You will never understand. It does not matter. I desired Honoria. To-day through my desire of her, I am that monstrous133 thing which you alone know me to be. I think I gave up much. Pro2 honoria!" he chuckled134. "The Latin halts, but, none the less, the jest is excellent."
"And to no end!" cried Ufford. "Ah, fate, the devil and that code I mocked are all in league to cheat me!"
Said Calverley: "The man whom I loved most is dead. Oh, had the world been searched between the sunrise and the sunsetting there had not been found his equal. And now, poor fool, I know that there was never any man like this!"
"Nay136, there was such a man," the poet said, "in an old time which I almost forget. To-day he is quite dead. There is only a poor wretch137 who has been faithless in all things, who has not even served the devil faithfully."
"Why, then, you lackey138 with a lackey's soul, attend to what I say. Can you make any terms with Umfraville?"
"I can do nothing," Ufford replied. "You have robbed him—as me—of what he most desired. You have made him the laughing-stock of England. He does not pardon any more than I would pardon."
"And as God lives and reigns, I do not greatly blame him," said young Calverley. "This man at least was wronged. Concerning you I do not speak, because of a false dream I had once very long ago. Yet Umfraville was treated infamously. I dare concede what I could not permit another man to say and live, now that I drink a toast which I must drink alone. For I drink to the honor of the Calverleys. I have not ever lied to any person in this world, and so I may not drink with you."
"Oh, but you drink because you know your death to be the one event which can insure her happiness," cried Ufford. "We are not much unlike. And I dare say it is only an imaginary Honoria we love, after all. Yet, look, my fellow-Ixion! for to the eye at least is she not perfect?"
The two men gazed for a long while. Amid that coterie139 of exquisites140, wherein allusion141 to whatever might be ugly in the world was tacitly allowed to be unmentionable, Lady Honoria glitteringly went about the moment's mirthful business with lovely ardor142. You saw now unmistakably that "Light Queen of Elfdom, dead Titania's heir" of whom Ufford writes in the fourth Satire143. Honoria's prettiness, rouged144, frail145, and modishly146 enhanced, allured147 the eye from all less elfin brilliancies; and as she laughed among so many other relishers of life her charms became the more instant, just as a painting quickens in every tint148 when set in an appropriate frame.
"There is no other way," her husband said. He drank and toasted what was dearest in the world, smiling to think how death came to him in that wine's familiar taste. "I drink to the most lovely of created ladies! and to her happiness!"
"Assuredly, there is no other way," said Ufford. "And armored by that knowledge, even I may drink as honorable people do. Pro honoria!" Then this man also broke his emptied glass.
"How long have I to live?" said Calverley, and took snuff.
"Why, thirty years, I think, unless you duel too immoderately," replied Lord Ufford,—"since while you looked at Honoria I changed our glasses. No! no! a thing done has an end. Besides, it is not unworthy of me. So go boldly to the Earl of Bute and tell him all. You are my cousin and my successor. Yes, very soon you, too, will be a peer of England and as safe from molestation150 as is Lord Pevensey. I am the first to tender my congratulations. Now I make certain that they are not premature151."
The poet laughed at this moment as a man may laugh in hell. He reeled. His lean face momentarily contorted, and afterward the poet died.
"I am Lord Ufford," said Calverley aloud. "The person of a peer is inviolable——" He presently looked downward from rapt gazing at his wife.
Fresh from this horrible half-hour, he faced a future so alluring152 as by its beauty to intimidate153 him. Youth, love, long years of happiness, and (by this capricious turn) now even opulence154, were the ingredients of a captivating vista155. And yet he needs must pause a while to think of the dear comrade he had lost—of that loved boy, his pattern in the time of their common youthfulness which gleamed in memory as bright and misty156 as a legend, and of the perfect chevalier who had been like a touchstone to Robert Calverley a bare half-hour ago. He knelt, touched lightly the fallen jaw157, and lightly kissed the cheek of this poor wreckage158; and was aware that the caress159 was given with more tenderness than Robert Calverley had shown in the same act a bare half-hour ago.
Meanwhile the music of a country dance urged the new Earl of Ufford to come and frolic where every one was laughing; and to partake with gusto of the benefits which chance had provided; and to be forthwith as merry as was decorous in a peer of England.
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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6
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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virtuoso
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| n.精于某种艺术或乐器的专家，行家里手 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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raves
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| n.狂欢晚会( rave的名词复数 )v.胡言乱语( rave的第三人称单数 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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jaunt
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| v.短程旅游；n.游览 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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conjugate
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| vt.使成对，使结合；adj.共轭的，成对的 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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lament
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| n.悲叹，悔恨，恸哭；v.哀悼，悔恨，悲叹 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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33
amiably
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| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
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34
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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35
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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36
utterances
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| n.发声( utterance的名词复数 )；说话方式；语调；言论 | |
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37
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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38
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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39
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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41
imbroglio
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| n.纷乱，纠葛，纷扰，一团糟 | |
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42
grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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43
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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44
frolicsome
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| adj.嬉戏的，闹着玩的 | |
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45
guffawed
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| v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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47
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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48
anonymous
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| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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49
denouement
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| n.结尾，结局 | |
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50
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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51
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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52
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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53
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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54
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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55
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
peculation
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| n.侵吞公款[公物] | |
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57
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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58
interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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60
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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61
evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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62
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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63
infamously
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| 不名誉地 | |
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64
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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65
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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66
levity
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| n.轻率，轻浮，不稳定，多变 | |
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67
sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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68
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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69
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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70
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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71
knavery
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| n.恶行，欺诈的行为 | |
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72
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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73
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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74
statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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75
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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76
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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77
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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78
confluence
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| n.汇合，聚集 | |
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79
inadequately
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| ad.不够地；不够好地 | |
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80
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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81
alcoves
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| n.凹室( alcove的名词复数 )；（花园）凉亭；僻静处；壁龛 | |
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82
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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83
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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84
whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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85
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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87
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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88
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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89
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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90
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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91
supernal
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| adj.天堂的，天上的；崇高的 | |
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92
infringe
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| v.违反，触犯，侵害 | |
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93
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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94
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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95
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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96
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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97
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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98
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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99
outrageously
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| 凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地 | |
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100
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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101
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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102
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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103
squander
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| v.浪费，挥霍 | |
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104
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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105
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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106
felon
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| n.重罪犯；adj.残忍的 | |
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107
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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108
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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109
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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110
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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111
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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112
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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113
opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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114
rigors
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| 严格( rigor的名词复数 )； 严酷； 严密； （由惊吓或中毒等导致的身体）僵直 | |
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115
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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116
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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117
override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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118
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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119
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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120
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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121
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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122
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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123
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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124
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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125
condole
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| v.同情；慰问 | |
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126
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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127
buffoon
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| n.演出时的丑角 | |
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128
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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129
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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130
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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131
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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132
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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133
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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134
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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135
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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136
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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137
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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138
lackey
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| n.侍从；跟班 | |
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139
coterie
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| n.(有共同兴趣的)小团体，小圈子 | |
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140
exquisites
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| n.精致的( exquisite的名词复数 )；敏感的；剧烈的；强烈的 | |
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141
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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142
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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143
satire
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| n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品 | |
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144
rouged
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| 胭脂，口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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145
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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146
modishly
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147
allured
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| 诱引，吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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149
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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150
molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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151
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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152
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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153
intimidate
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| vt.恐吓，威胁 | |
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154
opulence
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| n.财富，富裕 | |
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155
vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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156
misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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157
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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158
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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159
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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