I
The kite wheeling invisible in the blue heavens, the vulture appearing mysteriously from nowhere in the track of the staggering buck1, possess qualities which are shared by certain favoured human beings. No newspaper announced the fact that there had arrived in the City of London a young man tremendously wealthy and as tremendously inexperienced.
There were no meetings of organized robber gangs, where masked men laid nefarious2 plans and plots, but the instinct which called the kite to his quarry3 and the carrion4 to the kill brought many strangers--who were equally strange to Bones and to one another--to the beautiful office which he had fitted for himself for the better furtherance of his business.
One day a respectable man brought to Mr. Tibbetts a plan of a warehouse5. He came like a gale6 of wind, almost before Bones had digested the name on the card which announced his existence and identity.
His visitor was red-faced and big, and had need to use a handkerchief to mop his brow and neck at intervals7 of every few minutes. His geniality9 was overpowering.
Before the startled Bones could ask his business, he had put his hat upon one chair, hooked his umbrella on another, and was unrolling, with that professional tremblement of hand peculiar10 to all who unroll large stiff sheets of paper, a large coloured plan, a greater portion of which was taken up by the River Thames, as Bones saw at a glance.
He knew that blue stood for water, and, twisting his neck, he read "Thames." He therefore gathered that this was the plan of a property adjacent to the London river.
"You're a busy man; and I'm a busy man," said the stentorian11 man breathlessly. "I've just bought this property, and if it doesn't interest you I'll eat my hat! My motto is small profits and quick returns. Keep your money at work, and you won't have to. Do you see what I mean?"
"Dear old hurricane," said Bones feebly, "this is awfully12 interesting, and all that sort of thing, but would you be so kind as to explain why and where--why you came in in this perfectly13 informal manner? Against all the rules of my office, dear old thing, if you don't mind me snubbing you a bit. You are sure you aren't hurt?" he asked.
"Not a bit, not a bit!" bellowed14 the intruder. "Honest John, I am--John Staines. You have heard of me?"
"I have," said Bones, and the visitor was so surprised that he showed it.
"You have?" he said, not without a hint of incredulity.
"Yes," said Bones calmly. "Yes, I have just heard you say it, Honest John Staines. Any relation to John o' Gaunt?"
This made the visitor look up sharply.
"Ha, ha!" he said, his laugh lacking sincerity15. "You're a bit of a joker, Mr. Tibbetts. Now, what do you say to this? This is Stivvins' Wharf16 and Warehouse. Came into the market on Saturday, and I bought it on Saturday. The only river frontage which is vacant between Greenwich and Gravesend. Stivvins, precious metal refiner, went broke in the War, as you may have heard. Now, I am a man of few words and admittedly a speculator. I bought this property for fifteen thousand pounds. Show me a profit of five thousand pounds and it's yours."
Before Bones could speak, he stopped him with a gesture.
"Let me tell you this: if you like to sit on that property for a month, you'll make a sheer profit of twenty thousand pounds. You can afford to do it--I can't. I tell you there isn't a vacant wharfage between Greenwich and Gravesend, and here you have a warehouse with thirty thousand feet of floor-space, derricks--derrick, named after the hangman of that name: I'll bet you didn't know that?--cranes, everything in---- Well, it's not in apple-pie order," he admitted, "but it won't take much to make it so. What do you say?"
Bones started violently.
"Excuse me, old speaker, I was thinking of something else. Do you mind saying that all over again?"
Honest John Staines swallowed something and repeated his proposition.
Bones shook his head violently.
"Nothing doing!" he said. "Wharves17 and ships--_no!_"
But Honest John was not the kind that accepts refusal without protest.
"What I'll do," said he confidentially18, "is this: I'll leave the matter for twenty-four hours in your hands."
"No, go, my reliable old wharf-seller," said Bones. "I never go up the river under any possible circumstances---- By Jove, I've got an idea!"
He brought his knuckly19 fist down upon the unoffending desk, and Honest John watched hopefully.
"Now, if--yes, it's an idea!"
Bones seized paper, and his long-feathered quill20 squeaked21 violently.
"That's it--a thousand members at ten pounds a year, four hundred bedrooms at, say, ten shillings a night---- How many is four hundred times ten shillings multiplied by three hundred and sixty-five? Well, let's say twenty thousand pounds. That's it! A club!"
"A club?" said Honest John blankly.
"A river club. You said Greenhithe--that's somewhere near Henley, isn't it?"
Honest John sighed.
"No, sir," he said gently, "it's in the other direction--toward the sea."
Bones dropped his pen and pinched his lip in an effort of memory.
"Is it? Now, where was I thinking about? I know--Maidenhead! Is it near Maidenhead?"
"It's in the opposite direction from London," said the perspiring22 Mr. Staines.
"Oh!"
Bones's interest evaporated.
"No good to me, my old speculator. Wharves! Bah!"
He shook his head violently, and Mr. Staines aroused himself.
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Mr. Tibbetts," he said simply; "I'll leave the plans with you. I'm going down into the country for a night. Think it over. I'll call to-morrow afternoon."
Bones still shook his head.
"No go, nothin' doin'. Finish this palaver23, dear old Honesty!"
"Anyway, no harm is done," urged Mr. Staines. "I ask you, is there any harm done? You have the option for twenty-four hours. I'll roll the plans up so that they won't be in the way. Good morning!"
He was out of the office door before Bones could as much as deliver the preamble24 to the stern refusal he was preparing.
At three o'clock that afternoon came two visitors. They sent in a card bearing the name of a very important Woking firm of land agents, and they themselves were not without dignity of bearing.
There was a stout25 gentleman and a thin gentleman, and they tiptoed into the presence of Bones with a hint of reverence26 which was not displeasing27.
"We have come on a rather important matter," said the thin gentleman. "We understand you have this day purchased Stivvins' Wharf----"
"Staines had no right to sell it?" burst in the stout man explosively. "A dirty mean trick, after all that he promised us! It is just his way of getting revenge, selling the property to a stranger!"
"Mr. Sole"--the thin gentleman's voice and attitude were eloquent28 of reproof29--"_please_ restrain yourself! My partner is annoyed," he explained "and not without reason. We offered fifty thousand pounds for Stivvins', and Staines, in sheer malice30, has sold the property--which is virtually necessary to our client--literally31 behind our backs. Now, Mr. Tibbetts, are you prepared to make a little profit and transfer the property to us?"
"But----" began Bones.
"We will give you sixty thousand," said the explosive man. "Take it or leave it--sixty thousand."
"But, my dear old Boniface," protested Bones, "I haven't bought the property--really and truly I haven't. Jolly old Staines wanted me to buy it, but I assure you I didn't."
The stout man looked at him with glazed32 eyes, pulled himself together, and suggested huskily:
"Perhaps you will buy it--at his price--and transfer it to us?"
"But why? Nothing to do with me, my old estate agent and auctioneer. Buy it yourself. Good afternoon. _Good_ afternoon!"
He ushered33 them out in a cloud of genial8 commonplaces.
In the street they looked at one another, and then beckoned34 Mr. Staines, who was waiting on the other side of the road.
"This fellow is either as wide as Broad Street or he's a babe in arms," said the explosive man huskily.
"Didn't he fall?" asked the anxious Staines.
"Not noticeably," said the thin man. "This is your scheme, Jack35, and if I've dropped four thousand over that wharf, there's going to be trouble."
Mr. Staines looked very serious.
"Give him the day," he begged. "I'll try him to-morrow--I haven't lost faith in that lad."
As for Bones, he made an entry in his secret ledger36.
"A person called Stains and two perrsons called Sole Bros. Brothers tryed me with the old Fiddle37 Trick. You take a Fiddel in a Pawn38 Brokers39 leave it with him along comes another Felow and pretends its a Stadivarious Stradivarious a valuable Fiddel. 2nd Felow offers to pay fablous sum pawnbroker40 says I'll see. When 1st felow comes for his fiddel pawnbroker buys it at fablous sum to sell it to the 2nd felow. But 2nd felow doesn't turn up.
"_Note_.--1st Felow called himself Honest John!! I dout if I dought it."
Bones finished his entries, locked away his ledger, and crossed the floor to the door of the outer office.
He knocked respectfully, and a voice bade him come in.
It is not usual for the principal of a business to knock respectfully or otherwise on the door of the outer office, but then it is not usual for an outer office to house a secretary of such transcendental qualities, virtue41, and beauty as were contained in the person of Miss Marguerite Whitland.
The girl half turned to the door and flashed a smile which was of welcome and reproof.
"Please, Mr. Tibbetts," she pleaded, "do not knock at my door. Don't you realize that it isn't done?"
"Dear old Marguerite," said Bones solemnly, "a new era has dawned in the City. As jolly old Confusicus says: 'The moving finger writes, and that's all about it.' Will you deign42 to honour me with your presence in my sanctorum, and may I again beg of you"--he leant his bony knuckles43 on the ornate desk which he had provided for her, and looked down upon her soberly--"may I again ask you, dear old miss, to let me change offices? It's a little thing, dear old miss. I'm never, never goin' to ask you to dinner again, but this is another matter. I am out of my element in such a place as----" He waved his hand disparagingly45 towards his sanctum. "I'm a rough old adventurer, used to sleeping in the snow--hardships--I can sleep anywhere."
"Anyway, you're not supposed to sleep in the office," smiled the girl, rising.
Bones pushed open the door for her, bowed as she passed, and followed her. He drew a chair up to the desk, and she sat down without further protest, because she had come to know that his attentions, his extravagant46 politeness and violent courtesies, signified no more than was apparent--namely, that he was a great cavalier at heart.
"I think you ought to know," he said gravely, "that an attempt was made this morning to rob me of umpteen47 pounds."
"To rob you?" said the startled girl.
"To rob me," said Bones, with relish48. "A dastardly plot, happily frustrated49 by the ingenuity50 of the intended victim. I don't want to boast, dear old miss. Nothing is farther from my thoughts or wishes, but what's more natural when a fellow is offered a----"
He stopped and frowned.
"Yes?"
"A precious metal refiner's---- That's rum," said Bones.
"Rum?" repeated the girl hazily51. "What is rum?"
"Of all the rummy old coincidences," said Bones, with restrained and hollow enthusiasm--"why, only this morning I was reading in _Twiddly Bits_, a ripping little paper, dear old miss---- There's a column called 'Things You Ought to Know,' which is honestly worth the twopence."
"I know it," said the girl curiously52. "But what did you read?"
"It was an article called 'Fortunes Made in Old Iron,'" said Bones. "Now, suppose this naughty old refiner---- By Jove, it's an idea!"
He paced the room energetically, changing the aspect of his face with great rapidity, as wandering thoughts crowded in upon him and vast possibilities shook their alluring53 banners upon the pleasant scene he conjured54. Suddenly he pulled himself together, shot out his cuffs55, opened and closed all the drawers of his desk as though seeking something--he found it where he had left it, hanging on a peg56 behind the door, and put it on--and said with great determination and briskness57:
"Stivvins' Wharf, Greenhithe. You will accompany me. Bring your note-book. It is not necessary to bring a typewriter. I will arrange for a taxicab. We can do the journey in two hours."
"But where are you going?" asked the startled girl.
"To Stivvins'. I am going to look at this place. There is a possibility that certain things have been overlooked. Never lose an opportunity, dear old miss. We magnates make our fortune by never ignoring the little things."
But still she demurred58, being a very sane59, intelligent girl, with an imagination which produced no more alluring mental picture than a cold and draughty drive, a colder and draughtier and even more depressing inspection60 of a ruined factory, and such small matters as a lost lunch.
But Bones was out of the room, in the street, had flung himself upon a hesitant taxi-driver, had bullied61 and cajoled him to take a monstrous62 and undreamt-of journey for a man who, by his own admission, had only sufficient petrol to get his taxi home, and when the girl came down she found Bones, with his arm entwined through the open window of the door, giving explicit63 instructions as to the point on the river where Stivvins' Wharf was to be found.
II
Bones returned to his office alone. The hour was six-thirty, and he was a very quiet and thoughtful young man. He almost tiptoed into his office, closed and locked the door behind him, and sat at his desk with his head in his hands for the greater part of half an hour.
Then he unrolled the plan of the wharf, hoping that his memory had not played him false. Happily it had not. On the bottom right-hand corner Mr. Staines had written his address! "Stamford Hotel, Blackfriars."
Bones pulled a telegraph form from his stationery64 rack and indited65 an urgent wire.
Mr. Staines, at the moment of receiving that telegram, was sitting at a small round table in the bar of The Stamford, listening in silence to certain opinions which were being expressed by his two companions in arms and partners in misfortune, the same opinions relating in a most disparaging44 manner to the genius, the foresight66, and the constructive67 ability of one who in his exuberant68 moments described himself as Honest John.
The explosive gentleman had just concluded a fanciful picture of what would happen to Honest John if he came into competition with the average Bermondsey child of tender years.
Honest John took the telegram and opened it. He read it and gasped69. He stood up and walked to the light, and read it again, then returned, his eyes shining, his face slightly flushed.
"You're clever, ain't you?" he asked. "You're wise--I don't think! Look at this!"
He handed the telegram to the nearest of his companions, who was the tall, thin, and non-explosive partner, and he in turn passed it without a word to his more choleric70 companion.
"You don't mean to say he's going to buy it?"
"That's what it says, doesn't it?" said the triumphant71 Mr. Staines.
"It's a catch," said the explosive man suspiciously.
"Not on your life," replied the scornful Staines. "Where does the catch come in? We've done nothing he could catch us for?"
"Let's have a look at that telegram again," said the thin man, and, having read it in a dazed way, remarked: "He'll wait for you at the office until nine. Well, Jack, nip up and fix that deal. Take the transfers with you. Close it and take his cheque. Take anything he'll give you, and get a special clearance72 in the morning, and, anyway, the business is straight."
Honest John breathed heavily through his nose and staggered from the bar, and the suspicious glances of the barman were, for once, unjustified, for Mr. Staines was labouring under acute emotions.
He found Bones sitting at his desk, a very silent, taciturn Bones, who greeted him with a nod.
"Sit down," said Bones. "I'll take that property. Here's my cheque."
With trembling fingers Mr. Staines prepared the transfers. It was he who scoured73 the office corridors to discover two agitated74 char-ladies who were prepared to witness his signature for a consideration.
He folded the cheque for twenty thousand pounds reverently75 and put it into his pocket, and was back again at the Stamford Hotel so quickly that his companions could not believe their eyes.
"Well, this is the rummiest go I have ever known," said the explosive man profoundly. "You don't think he expects us to call in the morning and buy it back, do you?"
Staines shook his head.
"I know he doesn't," he said grimly. "In fact, he as good as told me that that business of buying a property back was a fake."
The thin man whistled.
"The devil he did! Then what made him buy it?"
"He's been there. He mentioned he had seen the property," said Staines. And then, as an idea occurred to them all simultaneously76, they looked at one another.
The stout Mr. Sole pulled a big watch from his pocket.
"There's a caretaker at Stivvins', isn't there?" he said. "Let's go down and see what has happened."
Stivvins' Wharf was difficult of approach by night. It lay off the main Woolwich Road, at the back of another block of factories, and to reach its dilapidated entrance gates involved an adventurous77 march through a number of miniature shell craters78. Night, however, was merciful in that it hid the desolation which is called Stivvins' from the fastidious eye of man. Mr. Sole, who was not aesthetic79 and by no means poetical80, admitted that Stivvins' gave him the hump.
It was ten o'clock by the time they had reached the wharf, and half-past ten before their hammering on the gate aroused the attention of the night-watchman--who was also the day-watchman--who occupied what had been in former days the weigh-house, which he had converted into a weatherproof lodging81.
"Hullo!" he said huskily. "I was asleep."
He recognized Mr. Sole, and led the way to his little bunk-house.
"Look here, Tester," said Sole, who had appointed the man, "did a young swell82 come down here to-day?"
"He did," said Mr. Tester, "and a young lady. They gave Mr. Staines's name, and asked to be showed round, and," he added, "I showed 'em round."
"Well, what happened?" asked Staines.
"Well," said the man, "I took 'em in the factory, in the big building, and then this young fellow asked to see the place where the metal was kept."
"What metal?" asked three voices at one and the same time.
"That's what I asked," said Mr. Tester, with satisfaction. "I told 'em Stivvins dealt with all kinds of metal, so the gent says: 'What about gold?'"
"What about gold?" repeated Mr. Staines thoughtfully. "And what did you say?"
"Well, as a matter of fact," explained Tester, "I happen to know this place, living in the neighbourhood, and I used to work here about eight years ago, so I took 'em down to the vault83."
"To the vault?" said Mr. Staines. "I didn't know there was a vault."
"It's under the main office. You must have seen the place," said Tester. "There's a big steel door with a key in it--at least, there was a key in it, but this young fellow took it away with him."
Staines gripped his nearest companion in sin, and demanded huskily:
"Did they find anything in--in the vault?"
"Blessed if I know!" said the cheerful Tester, never dreaming that he was falling very short of the faith which at that moment, and only at that moment, had been reposed84 in him. "They just went in. I've never been inside the place myself."
"And you stood outside, like a--a----"
"Blinking image!" said the explosive companion.
"You stood outside like a blinking image, and didn't attempt to go in, and see what they were looking at?" said Mr. Staines heatedly. "How long were they there?"
"About ten minutes."
"And then they came out?"
Tester nodded.
"Did they bring anything out with them?"
"Nothing," said Mr. Tester emphatically.
"Did this fellow--what's his name?--look surprised or upset?" persisted the cross-examining Honest John.
"He was a bit upset, now you come to mention it, agitated like, yes," said Tester, reviewing the circumstances in a new light. "His 'and was, so to speak, shaking."
"Merciful Moses!" This pious85 ejaculation was from Mr. Staines. "He took away the key, you say. And what are you supposed to be here for?" asked Mr. Staines violently. "You allow this fellow to come and take our property away. Where is the place?"
Tester led the way across the littered yard, explaining en route that he was fed up, and why he was fed up, and what they could do to fill the vacancy86 which would undoubtedly87 occur the next day, and where they could go to, so far as he was concerned, and so, unlocking one rusty88 lock after another, passed through dark and desolate89 offices, full of squeaks90 and scampers91, down a short flight of stone steps to a most uncompromising steel door at which they could only gaze.
III
Bones was at his office early the following rooming, but he was not earlier than Mr. Staines, who literally followed him into his office and slammed down a slip of paper under his astonished and gloomy eye.
"Hey, hey, what's this?" said Bones irritably92. "What the dooce is this, my wicked old fiddle fellow?"
"Your cheque," said Mr. Staines firmly. "And I'll trouble you for the key of our strong-room."
"The key of your strong-room?" repeated Bones. "Didn't I buy this property?"
"You did and you didn't. To cut a long story short, Mr. Tibbetts, I have decided93 not to sell--in fact, I find that I have done an illegal thing in selling at all."
Bones shrugged94 his shoulders. Remember that he had slept, or half-slept, for some nine hours, and possibly his views had undergone a change. What he would have done is problematical, because at that moment the radiant Miss Whitland passed into her office, and Bones's acute ear heard the snap of her door.
"One moment," he said gruffly, "one moment, old Honesty."
He strode through the door which separated the private from the public portion of his suite95, and Mr. Staines listened. He listened at varying distances from the door, and in his last position it would have required the most delicate of scientific instruments to measure the distance between his ear and the keyhole. He heard nothing save the wail96 of a Bones distraught, and the firm "No's" of a self-possessed female.
Then, after a heart-breaking silence Bones strode out, and Mr. Staines did a rapid sprint97, so that he might be found standing98 in an attitude of indifference99 and thought near the desk. The lips of Bones were tight and compressed. He opened the drawer, pulled out the transfers, tossed them across to Mr. Staines.
"Key," said Bones, chucking it down after the document.
He picked up his cheque and tore it into twenty pieces.
"That's all," said Bones, and Mr. Staines beat a tremulous retreat.
When the man had gone, Bones returned to the girl who was sitting at her table before her typewriter. It was observable that her lips were compressed too.
"Young Miss Whitland," said Bones, and his voice was hoarser100 than ever, "never, never in my life will I ever forgive myself!"
"Oh, please, Mr. Tibbetts," said the girl a little wearily, "haven't I told you that I have forgiven you? And I am sure you had no horrid101 thought in your mind, and that you just acted impulsively102."
Bones bowed his head, at once a sign of agreement and a crushed spirit.
"The fact remains103, dear old miss," he said brokenly, "that I did kiss you in that beastly old private vault. I don't know what made me do it," he gulped104, "but I did it. Believe me, young miss, that spot was sacred. I wanted to buy the building to preserve it for all time, so that no naughty old foot should tread upon that hallowed ground. You think that's nonsense!"
"Mr. Tibbetts."
"Nonsense, I say, romantic and all that sort of rot." Bones threw out his arms. "I must agree with you. But, believe me, Stivvins' Wharf is hallowed ground, and I deeply regret that you would not let me buy it and turn it over to the jolly old Public Trustee or one of those johnnies.... You do forgive me?"
She laughed up in his face, and then Bones laughed, and they laughed together.
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buck
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nefarious
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| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
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quarry
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carrion
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warehouse
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gale
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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genial
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geniality
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peculiar
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stentorian
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awfully
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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sincerity
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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knuckly
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| n.（指人）指关节；（指动物）膝关节，肘；铰结，肘形接；铜指节套vt.用指关节打、压、碰、擦 | |
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quill
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squeaked
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perspiring
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palaver
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preamble
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reverence
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displeasing
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eloquent
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reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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30
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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31
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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32
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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33
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
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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35
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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36
ledger
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| n.总帐，分类帐；帐簿 | |
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37
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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38
pawn
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| n.典当，抵押，小人物，走卒；v.典当，抵押 | |
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39
brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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40
pawnbroker
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| n.典当商，当铺老板 | |
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41
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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42
deign
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| v. 屈尊, 惠允 ( 做某事) | |
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43
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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44
disparaging
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| adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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45
disparagingly
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| adv.以贬抑的口吻，以轻视的态度 | |
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46
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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47
umpteen
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| adj.多的，大量的；n.许许多多 | |
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48
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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49
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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50
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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51
hazily
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| ad. vaguely, not clear | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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54
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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55
cuffs
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| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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57
briskness
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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58
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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60
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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61
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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stationery
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| n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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indited
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作，赋诗，创作( indite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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67
constructive
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| adj.建设的，建设性的 | |
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exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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choleric
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| adj.易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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71
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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72
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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74
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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75
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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76
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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77
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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78
craters
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| n.火山口( crater的名词复数 )；弹坑等 | |
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79
aesthetic
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| adj.美学的，审美的，有美感 | |
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80
poetical
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| adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的 | |
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81
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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82
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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83
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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84
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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86
vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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87
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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88
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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89
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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90
squeaks
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| n.短促的尖叫声，吱吱声( squeak的名词复数 )v.短促地尖叫( squeak的第三人称单数 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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91
scampers
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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92
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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93
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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94
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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95
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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96
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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97
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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98
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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99
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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100
hoarser
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| （指声音）粗哑的，嘶哑的( hoarse的比较级 ) | |
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101
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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102
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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103
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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104
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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