“‘Not now,’ she said hastily; ‘I hear papa coming; wait till after breakfast, and then you shall know.’
“We were standing7 at the gate of the courtyard, breathing the fresh morning air. She left me, and returned to the house, whence Mr. Birchmore almost immediately issued, and saluted8 me with more than his usual cordiality. I wondered what his behaviour would have been had he known of the transactions of the past night, or of what was in store for us during the day! He began to talk about Kohlstein, and related several anecdotes9 of the bandits, by whom it was said formerly10 to have been inhabited. ‘I have been up there more than once,’ he remarked, ‘and the traces of their occupation are still visible. I remember one feature that particularly impressed me — a narrow cleft11 or chasm12 of considerable depth, into which the old fellows are said to have thrown their prisoners when they became refractory13.’
“‘Would the fall kill them?’
“‘I should say not; the bottom seemed full of chopped brushwood and other such rubbish. But no human being could have got out unaided; and probably a day or two’s lonely sojourn14 there would bring the most resolute15 malcontent16 to terms. It would be a ghastly fate to fall in there, nowadays, and have one’s skeleton fished out again the following year, perhaps, and a sensational17 paragraph in the newspapers. You young folks must pick your steps carefully to-day.’
“‘Forewarned is forearmed!’ rejoined I, with a short laugh. Further conversation was cut short by a summons to breakfast. On this occasion Slurk waited at table, and I observed him with more than usual attention and toleration, as one with whom I was so soon to try desperate conclusions. He was certainly a villanous-looking character; but he appeared to be, for reasons best known to himself, in excellent spirits this morning; a circumstance which stirred up an unwilling18 kind of compassion19 within me, reflecting what a speedy and final end was going to be put to all his possibilities of enjoyment20. Vile21 though his life had been, it was the only one he had.
“Kate likewise had the semblance22 of unusual gaiety, but I could see that it was either feigned23, or the result of nervous excitement. And my judgment24 was justified25 when, after breakfast, she overtook me as I was on the way upstairs to my room to make my final preparations, and said, in a voice unsteady with emotion:
“‘Tom dear, you asked me why you might not leave your diamonds with Christina. You do not know what danger you were in last night! On my way back to my room I heard — two people talking together, and they mentioned your name; so I stopped and listened. One said: “The bolt is all right: I had better go in and risk it; he’ll be certain to be asleep by this time!” And then the other said: “He has his revolver; leave it to me; he believes he can trust me. To-morrow, when he goes out, I’ll get him to leave them with me for safety!” and then they both laughed. My darling, this house is a den2 of thieves!’
“‘Were the persons you heard — who were they?’
“‘Christina, and that creature she calls her father. Hush26! there she comes. She must not see us together;’ and in a moment Kate had glided27 away. I went on up the stairs with a heavy heart. I would almost rather not have heard this last revelation; my confidence in my penetration28 had received a humiliating shock. To think that Christina’s innocent face and modest maidenly30 air concealed31 the heart of a thief, or, worse still, of a decoy-duck, was a blow to my vanity as well as to my faith in human nature. How artful she had been, when I fancied her most ingenuous32 and kind! And then it all at once flashed upon me — what if Heinrich Rudolph himself were in the plot! what if he had written them to be on the look-out for me! and what if Slurk, being secretly in league with him, had contrived33 to get the Birchmores, and me along with them, into the house, intending to divide the spoil with Herr Rudolph and Christina! Many signs seemed to point to this as a true deduction34 from the circumstances; and even as I was rather grimly considering the matter, a new confirmation35 of Kate’s discovery awaited me. Christina was standing at my room door, and, as I came up, she curtsied and said:
“‘I was wishing to speak a moment to Herr Gainsborough, if he would permit me.’
“‘What do you want?’ I asked somewhat roughly.
“‘Does the honoured Herr remember what I said yesterday ——?’
“‘That you wished me to give you my diamonds for safe keeping? Yes; and I have to answer, that I am not quite so trustful as you seem to think!’
“The scornful and severe tone in which I spoke36 evidently startled her; but she still affected37 not to understand. ‘It was for Herr Gainsborough’s own sake ——’ she began; but I interrupted her.
“‘Do you remember what I said yesterday? that I went armed; well, I am armed to-day, and whoever tries to teach me how to take care of my diamonds may happen to get a bullet instead; so let him beware. If Herr Rudolph is anxious about me, you can tell him that!’
“‘Herr Gainsborough will be sorry to have spoken so,’ said Christina, colouring deeply, and with tremulous lip.
“‘I am sorry to have to say it, Christina. But, can you tell me how the bolt of this door came to be in this condition?’ and I pulled out the loose socket38 as I spoke, and the screws fell to the floor.
“‘Indeed I did not know this!’ exclaimed she; but the dismay and confusion which were but too plainly visible on her face belied39 her words.
“‘You will understand, however, that a house whose fastenings are so much out of order would not be a proper place to keep treasures in. Well, good-bye, Christina. I am going to Kohlstein, and probably I shan’t spend another night here. When you write to your brother in Paris, you may tell him that the diamonds are quite safe, though they may have been in danger.’
“‘Will Herr Gainsborough let me say one word?’
“‘It’s too late — I have no time,’ returned I, with an emphasis all the more coldly contemptuous because of the secret inclination40 I felt — in view of her youth and prettiness — to be compassionate41 and forgiving; and perhaps I was half sorry that she attempted no further self-vindication; but, obeying my gesture of dismissal, passed out of the door and down the passage, with her bare feet, and her blue eyes downcast, and no backward glance. When she was gone, I shut the door in no enviable mood, and walked to and fro about my room like a surly bull in a pound. For the first (though not for the last) time I heartily42 cursed the diamonds; they seemed to raise the devil wherever I carried them. In the midst of my anathemas43 Mr. Birchmore knocked at the door, and told me that everything was ready downstairs for the start.
“‘And, by-the-bye, Gainsborough,’ he added, with one of his point-blank, icy glances, ‘I have arranged that our luggage shall be removed to-day; and if you leave yours here, I advise you to seal it up in my presence. I found the lock of my door in rather a strange condition this morning. I have my own opinion of what our landlord may be.’
“‘Who recommended you to this place, Mr. Birchmore?’ I demanded curtly44; for I was getting to feel something like contempt for my intended father-in-law. It was not easy to respect a man who, under whatever stress of circumstances, allows another man to make a slave of him.
“‘It was that fellow Slurk; and he deserves a good horsewhipping for it!’ replied Birchmore, thrusting his hands resolutely45 into his pockets.
“‘I think he deserves at least that,’ I rejoined with a significant laugh; ‘and whenever you’re inclined to operate on him, I’ll stand by you.’
“Mr. Birchmore said no more, and we went downstairs in silence. Kate was already seated in the carriage; Slurk was on the box, with a large basket containing our provisions for the day beside him. Mr. Birchmore and I took our places — one of us at least with a heavy heart. The landlord stood at the door and nodded us a surly farewell.
“‘Where is Christina?’ I asked him.
“‘She has gone to the town to sell eggs: did the Herr want anything?’
“‘I should like to have sent for a screwdriver46; but probably I can get one on our way back,’ was my answer; and with that we drove away.
“In about half an hour, proceeding47 by unfrequented roads, we came in sight of Kohlstein. It was a vast four-sided mass of gray rock, seamed with deep clefts48 and fissures49 running horizontally and vertically50, so that it appeared to have been built of gigantic blocks of stone. It was considerably51 over one hundred feet in sheer height, and it stood upon a rising ground of shifting sand. Slender trees grew here and there out of the crevices52 of its headlong sides, and straggled nakedly along its level summit, outlined against the sky. It was an ideal place for a robber stronghold; impregnable, certainly, to any attack save that of the heaviest modern artillery53.
“‘We must get out and walk from here,’ remarked Mr. Birchmore. ‘There’s only one way of getting to the top, and that’s on the other side. I have got a touch of my rheumatics to-day, and hardly think I shall be able to do the climbing. However, that needn’t interfere54 with you young people, of course.’
“I exchanged a covert55 look with Kate as I helped her to descend56 from the carriage; and she pressed my hand and smiled. I admired her courage as much as I lamented57 the apparent lack of it in her father. The horse having been unharnessed and tethered where some cool grass grew beside a stream, we struck off across the sandy upland; Slurk carrying the big basket, Mr. Birchmore walking with a rather feeble step near him, and Kate and I in front. It was an even hotter day than yesterday, and the tramp was a wearisome one. By the time we arrived at the foot of the Stein, we were quite ready to rest a few minutes in the shadow of the rock, for coolness and breath.
“‘No, I can’t do it!’ said Mr. Birchmore, wiping his forehead and glancing hopelessly up at the narrow white footpath58 that seemed to mount almost straight upward to the distant summit. ‘Just leave me here, with a few sandwiches and a bottle of hock, and I shall do very comfortably till you come back.’
“It was certainly very arduous59 work clambering up that ladder-like path, and I doubt whether Kate’s determination and mine would have held out, had the motive60 which urged us been merely one of curiosity. But the top was gained at last, and we threw ourselves down on the dry grass to rest and to be fanned by the welcome breeze that blew there. Slurk placed the basket in a little hollow where some bushes kept off the direct rays of the sun, and stretched himself at full length beside it.
“‘Now, let us walk about,’ suggested Kate at length in an undertone; ‘we must see what there is to be seen.’
“We had already arranged all the steps by which we were to proceed to the achievement of our purpose, and we felt that the sooner it was ended now the better. The surface on which we stood, though preserving a general level, was full of irregularities and unevennesses; it was overgrown with low bushes and parched61 grass, with perhaps half-a-dozen starved and meagre trees. Here and there the naked rock jutted62 forth63 from the thin soil, crumbling64 and weatherworn, its surface stained in places with dry lichens65. The entire table was scarcely two-thirds of an acre in area; and a more forlorn and uncongenial spot, even in the midst of summer, it would be hard to find. The cave in which the robbers lived was somewhere lower down; we had passed its entrance on our way up; but it was here, probably, that an outlook was kept over the country, to spy out the approach of victims or of enemies. It struck me that it was hardly worth while to be a bandit, if one must put up with such bleak66 and unattractive quarters in which to carry on the business.
“Kate and I wandered over this barren summit hand in hand. The moment was now very near that was to make a great change in the world for both of us. We felt, somehow, as if we were taking leave of a certain part of our lives then. At least, I remember gazing out across the wide expanse of sunlit country that stretched far away on every side, and wondering whether it would look the same an hour hence. Slurk all the while lay beside his basket, and appeared to be asleep.
“We came to the brow of a sort of shelf or shallow declivity67, descending68 which we found ourselves on a lower level by some six or seven feet; and so much of the area as lay behind us ceased to be visible. Advancing a few paces farther, we paused abruptly69 on the edge of a dark, profound cleft, which gaped70 right at our feet. It was so narrow that one might easily leap across it at its widest part; but it was so deep that, for all that I could see, it might descend to the very base of the Stein. Peering downwards71 earnestly, however, my eyes, becoming accustomed to the gloom, could dimly discern what seemed to be a bottom at a depth of not more than twenty feet.
“‘It’s an awful thing to do, after all!’ I murmured after a long inspection72, looking up at Kate.
“‘Are you ready?’ was all her answer.
“‘Yes,’ said I, shamed by her resolution. ‘Let him come.’
“She mounted the little ridge73, and stood with her graceful74 figure silhouetted75 against the blue heavens. I, below, turned up the cuffs76 of my sleeves and buttoned my coat across my chest.
“‘Slurk!’ called she, in a clear penetrating77 tone, ‘bring the basket here, if you please. We mean to take our luncheon78 on this side.’
“She remained standing there, with her back towards me. From my lower position I could not see whether Slurk were answering her summons with alacrity79 or not; but since it would be his last opportunity of obeying her orders, I was content to let him take his time. By-and-by he appeared, with the basket on his arm; he descended80 the ledge81, and Kate followed him, with her eyes on me.
“‘Set it down there, near the edge of this pit; not quite so near, please. Now take hold of him!’
“The last words were spoken in a sharp, ringing tone; and at the same moment the girl drew a long knife from beneath the overskirt of her dress, and stood with it in her hand. Surprised at her action, I hesitated half an instant; in that half-instant Slurk had thrown himself towards me and grasped me round the body with his long powerful arms. Almost simultaneously82 with his attack, I felt myself borne down by a heavy weight from behind, and my arms pinioned83. The struggle for a minute or two was tremendous, but I felt that I was overpowered. A hand was pressing hard against my windpipe. Kate stood there with her knife, a new and strange expression on her face; but she did not stir.
“At length a panting voice close to my ear — a voice which I knew well, and which, heard now, so amazed me that I almost ceased to resist — said:
“‘I’ve got him safe here, Captain; have you got his legs?’
“A grunt84 from Slurk intimated that he had.
“‘Now then, Kittie,’ continued Mr. Birchmore; ‘be quick there, will you?’
“Kate came towards me with her knife. At that sight I uttered a yell of animal rage, and made one more desperate effort to be free.
“‘Hold him tight, can’t you?’ said Kate, in a voice that I scarcely recognised as hers; ‘I don’t want to hurt him.’
“They mastered me; and then, with a rapidity and deftness85 that showed the practised professional, Kate made a circular cut through the breast of my coat and drew out the diamonds.
“‘That’s all right,’ remarked Birchmore. ‘Now the rope!’
“She went to the basket, and took from it a coil of fine rope. The two men threw me upon my face, and bound my arms and my feet securely. I made little resistance, but submitted in sullen86 silence.
“‘Don’t forget his revolver,’ said Birchmore, when this was done; and turning me over, they took the weapon from my pocket.
“‘How do you feel now, young gentleman?’ inquired the fellow, addressing me with a smile. ‘This is the result of plotting to throw unfortunate valets into deep pits, and of flirting87 with strange young women. I warned you, you remember, to keep out of our way; but idle curiosity has been your ruin. Kittie, put on the diamonds; he says they become you!’
“Slurk grinned at this sally, but the girl said moodily89: ‘Don’t bother the boy, Jack90; he behaved like a gentleman all through; he’d make a great deal better husband than you do! Heigho!’
“‘Well, Captain,’ continued Birchmore, addressing Slurk in English, ‘what are your orders? Shall we lower away now, and be off? It’s nearly half-past one, and we’ve a good distance to go before three.’
“‘Listen to me, Mr. Gainsborough,’ said Slurk, also speaking in English, though with a foreign accent; ‘we’ve got what we wanted out of you, and we don’t want to do you any more harm than is necessary. But we must have time to get safe away, and to do that we must allow twenty-four hours. We shall leave you at the bottom of this pit, with some provisions; and I shall loosen your arms enough so that you can feed yourself. After we are safe, I shall write to your friends at the farmhouse91, who are very honest persons I believe, and they will come here and get you out. That is the best we can do for you. Now then, Jack!’
“They loosed the cord a little round my arms; then, taking it by the slack end, they lowered me into that dark chasm until I rested at the bottom. Then I saw Kate’s face above the edge, between me and the sky, with something wrapped up in paper in her hand.
“‘Here’s some sandwiches for you, my poor boy,’ said she. ‘I’m sorry to say good-bye to you in this way, really! But I don’t suppose you’d have me now, even if Jack weren’t my husband already. Well, good-bye. Don’t flirt88 too much with that silly little Christina when you get out. There are the sandwiches.’
“She let them fall beside me, nodded, and was gone. I lay on my back, with nothing to look at but the narrow strip of blue sky overhead. It was quite cool where I lay, on a bed of sand and rubbish; and it was still as death. I was buried alive to all intents and purposes, and the chance of my ever being disinterred rested upon a basis of probability so narrow, that I judged it wisest not to hope. I lay there, gazing up at the sky, and thinking over my adventure; beginning at the beginning, with my meeting with Birchmore at the hotel, and tracing the progress of the conspiracy92 step by step to its conclusion here. It was very ingenious, and very well carried through. It had taught me a lesson that I was likely to profit by, if I ever got out.
“I don’t know how long I lay there; probably but a short time. All at once another face intervened between me and the sky. It was not Kate’s this time; it was a very different one — Christina’s.
“After peering anxiously downward for several moments, she asked:
“‘Is Herr Gainsborough there?’
“‘Yes.’
“‘The Herr is not badly hurt?’
“‘Not a bit, Christina!’
“‘Gott sei Dank!’ she exclaimed, heartily; and adding: ‘it is all well; you will be helped out immediately,’ she vanished.
“Soon other faces appeared, with beards and helmets — the faces of the ‘Polizei.’ In a few minutes, by the aid of ropes and stout93 arms, I was drawn94 up once more to the light of day, blinking like an awkward bat.
“Before me stood nearly a dozen persons: a squad95 of police-officers, with their swords and carbines; Herr Rudolph and Christina; and three prisoners — a woman and two men, whose faces were unpleasantly familiar to me.
“Some little official ceremony of identification, and so forth, having been gone through with, we all started for our various places of destination. The trial took place not long afterwards in Dresden; the prisoners were all convicted, and sentenced to —— I don’t care to remember what. They were a dangerous gang of thieves, whom the police of several countries had long been vainly endeavouring to capture. But meanwhile, I went back to spend the night at the farmhouse of Herr Rudolph. I need not say that I scarcely had the courage to look him and his daughter in the face. Herr Rudolph was a most excellent and blameless person; and as for Christina ——! I knew not in what terms to begin my apologies to her.
“It appeared that my little friend Heinrich, in Paris, had had his suspicions of the man calling himself Birchmore from the first, and, in writing to his father and sister, had mentioned as much. When, therefore, the Birchmore party unexpectedly turned up at the farmhouse, along with the owner of the diamonds, a good deal of perturbation was created. Afraid openly to warn me, in the absence of direct evidence, Christina had done what she could indirectly96 to excite suspicions in my mind. Failing in this, the girl had actually gone down to Schandau, on the evening of my interview with Kate in my chamber97, and laid her information at the police bureau. The next morning she met the officers by appointment at some distance from the house, and they followed us to Kohlstein. After seeing the whole party of us to the top of the Stein (Birchmore followed a few minutes after myself and the others), they formed a cordon98 at the foot of the path, and one of their number went up to reconnoitre. Peeping over the edge of the plateau, he saw Birchmore just making his attack, and immediately signalled to those below to approach. Thus it happened that the thieves, as they were making off with their plunder99, found themselves confronted by an impassable cordon of six loaded carbines. Resistance was out of the question, and they surrendered at discretion100.
“‘And what can I do, Christina,’ I said, ‘to show you how much I thank you? Of course I don’t speak of cancelling the obligation — that nothing could do; but I should like to leave you something to — to remind you that you saved my life and my diamonds. Would you wear a diamond ring for me, or a pair of earrings101?’
“‘No, many thanks, Herr Gainsborough,’ replied the little maiden29, gravely. ‘You owe me nothing; and as for diamonds, I shall never like them, since I have seen them the cause of so much trouble and danger.’
“‘But unless you let me do something, Christina, I must think you refuse to forgive me for my inexcusable impertinence and stupidity.’
“She looked down at her bare feet, and smoothed her apron102. ‘Well, lieber Herr, I would not like to have you think that, truly; I do forgive you with all my heart; and just before you go away to-morrow — just when you are ready to start — perhaps, if you please, I will ask you for something.’
“‘You shall have it, whatever it is!’ I answered.
“So, the next day, when the droschkey was at the door, and my trunk packed and put on the box, I left Herr Rudolph conversing103 with the driver, and went back into the house to find Christina. She was standing in a shadowy corner of the kitchen, so absorbed in scouring104 plates that she did not appear to notice me until I spoke.
“‘I am come to say good-bye, and to claim your promise, Christina.’
“She put down her plate, and blushed, with downcast eyes.
“‘Herr Gainsborough will not be offended? it is something I have no right to ask — only — it will show I am not unforgiving — and — it would be better for me than the diamonds.’
“‘What is it, dear Christina?’
“She looked up in my face, shyly and yet frankly105, and said:
“‘Kiss me!’”
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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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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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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formerly
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cleft
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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refractory
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| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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malcontent
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| n.不满者，不平者；adj.抱不平的，不满的 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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unwilling
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compassion
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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semblance
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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justified
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hush
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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penetration
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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maidenly
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concealed
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ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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contrived
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deduction
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confirmation
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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affected
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socket
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| n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口 | |
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belied
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| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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compassionate
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| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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43
anathemas
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| n.（天主教的）革出教门( anathema的名词复数 )；诅咒；令人极其讨厌的事；被基督教诅咒的人或事 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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screwdriver
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| n.螺丝起子；伏特加橙汁鸡尾酒 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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48
clefts
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| n.裂缝( cleft的名词复数 )；裂口；cleave的过去式和过去分词；进退维谷 | |
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49
fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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vertically
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| adv.垂直地 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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53
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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54
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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56
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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lichens
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| n.地衣( lichen的名词复数 ) | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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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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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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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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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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81
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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83
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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85
deftness
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86
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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flirting
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
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88
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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moodily
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| adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地 | |
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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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91
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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92
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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indirectly
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| adv.间接地，不直接了当地 | |
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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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98
cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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99
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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100
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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101
earrings
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| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
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102
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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103
conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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104
scouring
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| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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