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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Adrift in New York » CHAPTER XXVI. BOLTON MAKES A DISCOVERY.
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CHAPTER XXVI. BOLTON MAKES A DISCOVERY.
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 “I see it all,” Bolton said to himself, thoughtfully. “Curtis Waring is afraid of the boy—and of me. He’s circumvented1 me neatly2, and the game is his—so far my little plan is dished. I must find out for certain whether he’s had anything to do with gettin’ Dodger3 out of the way, and then, Tim Bolton, you must set your wits to work to spoil his little game.”
 
Bolton succeeded in securing the services of a young man who had experience at tending bar, and about eight o’clock, after donning his best attire4, he hailed a Fourth Avenue surface car and got aboard.
 
Getting out at the proper street, he made his way to Madison Avenue, and ascended5 the steps of John Linden’s residence.
 
The door was opened by Jane, who eyed the visitor with no friendly glance.
 
“What do you want?” she asked, in a hostile tone.
 
“Is Mr. Waring at home?”
 
“I don’t know.”
 
“Is Miss Florence at home?”
 
“Do you know her?” she asked.
 
“Yes; I am a friend of hers.”
 
Jane evidently thought that Florence must have made some queer friends.
 
“Have you seen her lately?” she asked eagerly.
 
“I saw her to-day.”
 
“Is she well?”
 
“Yes; she is well, but she is in trouble.”
 
“Is she—— Does she need any money?”
 
“No; it isn’t that. The boy Dodger has disappeared, and she is afraid something has happened to him.”
 
“Oh, I am so sorry! He was a good friend of Miss Florence.”
 
“I see you know him. I am trying to help him and her.”
 
“But you asked for Mr. Waring?” said Jane, suspiciously.
 
“So I did. Shall I tell you why?”
 
“I wish you would.”
 
“I think he has something to do with gettin’ Dodger out of the way, and I’m goin’ to try to find out.”
 
“He won’t tell you.”
 
“You don’t understand. I shall make him think I am on his side. Was he at home last night?”
 
“He went away at dinner time, and he didn’t come home till after twelve. I ought to know, for he forgot his latchkey, and I had to get up and let him in. I won’t do it again. I’ll let him stay out first.”
 
“I see; he was with Dodger, no doubt. Did you say he was in?”
 
“No, sir; but he will be in directly. Won’t you step into the library?”
 
“Shall I meet the old gentleman there?” asked Bolton, in a tone of hesitation6.
 
“No. He goes up to his chamber7 directly after dinner.”
 
“How is he?”
 
“I think he’s failing.”
 
“I hope there is no immediate8 danger,” said Bolton, anxiously.
 
“No; but he’s worrying about Miss Florence. It’s my belief that if she were at home, he’d live a good while.”
 
“Doesn’t he ask for her?”
 
“Mr. Curtis tells him she’ll come round soon if he’ll only be firm. I don’t see, for my part, why Mr. Linden wants her to marry such a disagreeable man. There’s plenty better husbands she could get. Come in, sir, and I’ll tell him as soon as he comes in. Shall you see Miss Florence soon?”
 
“I think so.”
 
“Then tell her not to give up. Things will come right some time.”
 
“I’ll tell her.”
 
Bolton was ushered9 into the library, where, amid the fashionable furniture he looked quite out of place. He did not feel so, however, for he drew a cigar out of his pocket and, lighting10 it nonchalantly, leaned back in a luxurious11 armchair and began to smoke.
 
“Curtis Waring is well fixed—that’s a fact!” he soliloquized. “I suppose he is the master here, for the old man isn’t likely to interfere12. Still he will like it better when his uncle is out of the way.”
 
He had to wait but fifteen minutes in solitude13, for at the end of that time Curtis Waring appeared.
 
He paused on the threshold, and frowned when he saw who it was that awaited him.
 
“Jane told me that a gentleman was waiting to see me,” he said.
 
“Well, she was right.”
 
“And you, I suppose, are the gentleman?” said Curtis, in a sneering14 tone.
 
“Yes; I am the gentleman,” remarked Bolton, coolly.
 
“I am not in the habit of receiving visits from gentlemen of your class. However, I suppose you have an object in calling.”
 
“It shall go hard with me if I don’t pay you for your sneers15 some day,” thought Bolton; but he remained outwardly unruffled.
 
“Well,” he answered, “I can’t say that I have any particular business to see you about. I saw your cousin recently.”
 
“Florence?” asked Curtis, eagerly.
 
“Yes.”
 
“What did she say? Did you speak with her?”
 
“Yes. She doesn’t seem any more willin’ to marry you.”
 
Curtis Waring frowned.
 
“She is a foolish girl,” he said. “She doesn’t know her own mind.”
 
“She looks to me like a gal16 that knows her own mind particularly well.”
 
“Pshaw! what can you know about it?”
 
“Then you really expect to marry her some time, Mr. Waring?”
 
“Certainly I do.”
 
“And to inherit your uncle’s fortune?”
 
“Of course. Why not?”
 
“I was thinkin’ of the boy.”
 
“The boy is dead——”
 
“What!” exclaimed Bolton, jumping to his feet in irresistible17 excitement.
 
“Don’t be a fool. Wait till I finish my sentence. He is dead so far as his prospects18 are concerned. Who is there that can identify him with the lost child of John Linden?”
 
“I can.”
 
“Yes; if any one would believe you. However, it is for your interest to keep silent.”
 
“That is just what I want to know. I suppose you can make it for my interest.”
 
“Yes, and will—after I get the property. I don’t believe in counting my chickens before they are hatched.”
 
“Of course you know that the boy has left me?” said Bolton.
 
“Yes,” answered Curtis, indifferently. “He is with my cousin, I believe.”
 
“Yes; and through her I can learn where he is, and get hold of him if I desire.”
 
A cynical19 smile played over the face of Curtis Waring.
 
“Do you propose to get him back?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders.
 
“I am right,” thought Bolton, shrewdly. “From his manner it is easy to see that Curtis is quite at ease as regards Dodger. He knows where he is!”
 
“You asked me what business I came about, Mr. Waring,” he said, after a pause.
 
“Yes.”
 
“Of course I am devoted20 to your interests, but is it quite fair to make me wait till you come into your fortune before allowing me anything?”
 
“I think so.”
 
“You don’t seem to consider that I can bring the boy here and make him known to your uncle as the son he lost so long ago?”
 
“You are quite sure you can bring the boy here?” asked Curtis.
 
“Why not? I have only to go to Florence and ask her to send the boy to me.”
 
“You are quite at liberty to do so if you like, Tim Bolton,” said Curtis, with a mocking smile. “I am glad, at any rate, that you have shown me what is in your mind. You are very sharp, but you are not quite so sharp as I am.”
 
“I don’t understand you.”
 
“Then I will be more explicit21. It’s out of your power to make use of the boy against me, because——”
 
“Well?”
 
“Because he is not in the city.”
 
“Where is he, then?”
 
“Where you are not likely to find him.”
 
“If you have killed him——” Bolton began, but Curtis interrupted him.
 
“The boy is safe—I will tell you that much,” he said; “but for reasons which you can guess, I think it better that he should be out of New York. When the proper time comes, and all is safe, he may come back, but not in time to help you in your cunning plans, Mr. Tim Bolton.”
 
“Then, I suppose,” said Bolton, assuming an air of mortification22 and discomfiture23, “it is no use for me to remain here any longer.”
 
“You are quite right. I wish you a pleasant journey home. Give my love to Florence when you see her.”
 
“That man is a fiend!” soliloquized Bolton, as he walked back, leisurely24, to his place of business. “Let me get hold of Dodger and I will foil him yet!”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 circumvented a3f20b011bdef60fe4ae8c7a6f37c85d     
v.设法克服或避免(某事物),回避( circumvent的过去式和过去分词 );绕过,绕行,绕道旅行
参考例句:
  • By such means the ban against dancing was circumvented. 这样,舞蹈就不至于被禁止。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
  • It can therefore be circumvented by address manipulation and explicit type conversion. 因而可以通过地址操纵和显式型别转换来绕过此保护功能。 来自互联网
2 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
3 dodger Ku9z0c     
n.躲避者;躲闪者;广告单
参考例句:
  • They are tax dodgers who hide their interest earnings.他们是隐瞒利息收入的逃税者。
  • Make sure she pays her share she's a bit of a dodger.她自己的一份一定要她付清--她可是有点能赖就赖。
4 attire AN0zA     
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装
参考例句:
  • He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
  • Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。
5 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
7 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
8 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
9 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
11 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
12 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
13 solitude xF9yw     
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
参考例句:
  • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
  • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
14 sneering 929a634cff0de62dfd69331a8e4dcf37     
嘲笑的,轻蔑的
参考例句:
  • "What are you sneering at?" “你冷笑什么?” 来自子夜部分
  • The old sorceress slunk in with a sneering smile. 老女巫鬼鬼崇崇地走进来,冷冷一笑。
15 sneers 41571de7f48522bd3dd8df5a630751cb     
讥笑的表情(言语)( sneer的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • You should ignore their sneers at your efforts. 他们对你的努力所作的讥笑你不要去理会。
  • I felt that every woman here sneers at me. 我感到这里的每一个女人都在嘲笑我。
16 gal 56Zy9     
n.姑娘,少女
参考例句:
  • We decided to go with the gal from Merrill.我们决定和那个从梅里尔来的女孩合作。
  • What's the name of the gal? 这个妞叫什么?
17 irresistible n4CxX     
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的
参考例句:
  • The wheel of history rolls forward with an irresistible force.历史车轮滚滚向前,势不可挡。
  • She saw an irresistible skirt in the store window.她看见商店的橱窗里有一条叫人着迷的裙子。
18 prospects fkVzpY     
n.希望,前途(恒为复数)
参考例句:
  • There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
  • They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。
19 cynical Dnbz9     
adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的,不信世道向善的
参考例句:
  • The enormous difficulty makes him cynical about the feasibility of the idea.由于困难很大,他对这个主意是否可行持怀疑态度。
  • He was cynical that any good could come of democracy.他不相信民主会带来什么好处。
20 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
21 explicit IhFzc     
adj.详述的,明确的;坦率的;显然的
参考例句:
  • She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。
  • He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。
22 mortification mwIyN     
n.耻辱,屈辱
参考例句:
  • To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是:我的稿件被退了回来。
  • The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。
23 discomfiture MlUz6     
n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑
参考例句:
  • I laughed my head off when I heard of his discomfiture. 听到别人说起他的狼狈相,我放声大笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Without experiencing discomfiture and setbacks,one can never find truth. 不经过失败和挫折,便找不到真理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 leisurely 51Txb     
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的
参考例句:
  • We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着,看遍所有的橱窗。
  • He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐,高兴的开车去工作。


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