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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Andy Gordon The Fortunes of A Young Janitor » CHAPTER XXXVIII. A WICKED COMPACT.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII. A WICKED COMPACT.
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Mrs. Brackett knew very little of the way in which her brother had passed the last eight years. She knew nothing of his lawless life and conviction of crime, and supposed that his record was as creditable as the average. She was, therefore, quite ready to give him a cordial welcome, and to consult him upon family matters. Through her influence, also Mr. Brackett received his brother-in-law with a friendly welcome, acknowledging his claims as a relative.
As for George White, his object in seeking out his sister after so long an absence may be easily told. In fact, it was twofold. He was hard up, and hoped that he might borrow a sum of money from Lucinda, and also was glad to betake himself to a quiet place so far from New York, being quite too well known to the police authorities of the metropolitan1 district.
He at was present a fugitive2 from justice, having recently made an attempt to enter a{227} house in Brooklyn, and failed, through the wakefulness of a member of the household.
Mr. and Mrs. Brackett and George White sat in a conclave3 together one evening soon after his arrival. They were discussing the obstinacy4 of Simon Dodge5 in deferring6 to make a will in favor of his disinterested7 son-in-law.
“Can’t you persuade him to do it, Mr. Brackett?” asked White.
“I’ve tried my best, and failed,” said Brackett. “You see the old man’s dreadfully obstinate8 when he sets about it. It’s my opinion he’s afraid to make a will for fear it will hasten his death.”
“Maybe it would, if he made a will in your favor,” said White, with a knowing wink9 at his brother-in-law.
“George, I am shocked at you!” said his sister. “You shouldn’t say such things. Suppose father should hear you?”
“It might make him nervous, I dare say,” said White, coolly. “Seems to me you act like a couple of children, you two. If I were in your place I’d see that a proper will was made.”
“How would you manage it?” asked Brackett.
“How would I manage it? It’s the simplest thing in the world. Is the old man’s signature hard to imitate?”
“You don’t mean——” ejaculated Brackett, looking about him nervously10.
“Yes, I do.”
“But it would be forgery11, and that is a serious offense12.”{228}
“Nothing venture, nothing have!” said White, boldly. “The property ought to come to you and my sister. You agree to that, don’t you?”
“Of course it ought,” said Mr. Brackett. “Haven’t we done everything for father, and slaved for his comfort?”
“Just so! And you ought to be rewarded. It’s a very simple thing, as I have already said,” continued White, shaking the ashes from his pipe.
Mr. Brackett was a little startled, but was not shocked. His morality was not of a high order, and he shrank from forgery only because it was a penal13 offense. He felt a little curious to inquire into the details of his brother-in-law’s plan.
“Supposing I agreed to it,” he said, cautiously, “I haven’t any skill in imitating writing. I couldn’t write a will that would look like father’s.”
“Only the signature would need to resemble his handwriting,” said White. “I’m pretty good at imitating signatures myself,” he added, carelessly. “Have you got any of the old man’s writing?”
“Yes; I’ve got a letter here,” said Brackett, going to his desk and producing one from a drawer.
“That could be imitated easily,” said White, after a casual examination.
“I’ll leave you two to talk business at your leisure,” said Mrs. Brackett. “I must go upstairs and look after the children.”{229}
Her brother looked after her with a mocking smile.
“Lucinda’s sharp and cautious,” he remarked. “She thinks it best not to know anything about it, though she’ll be ready enough to profit by it. Come, now, Brackett, I’ve a proposal to make.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll draw up such a will as you think best, and sign and witness it.”
“That’s very kind of you, George——”
“Hold on a minute! You don’t suppose I’m so benevolent14 as to do all this without pay, do you?”
“I didn’t know,” answered Brackett, his jaw15 dropping.
“I’m not such an idiot, thank you! I must have a hundred dollars down, and a thousand dollars when you come into the property.”
“That’s rather steep!” said Brackett, disturbed.
“It isn’t enough; but you are my sister’s husband, and I’ll work for you cheaper than for anyone else. I’d charge anybody else at least twice as much. Well, Brackett, what do you say?”
“It seems a great deal of money to pay for an hour’s work. It won’t take you more than an hour.”
“You seem to forget there’s some risk about it. Such work as that you can’t measure by the time it takes.”
“Lucindy would never agree to such terms as that.”{230}
“The more fool she! Didn’t you tell me the old man was good for over ten thousand dollars?”
“Yes; he must have at least as much as that.”
“And I ask only a thousand dollars to give it to you.”
“Father might make a will himself, leaving it to us,” suggested Brackett. “In that case, the money would be thrown away.”
“You oughtn’t to begrudge16 it to your wife’s brother, even then,” said White. “Still, I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If you get the money by any other will, you needn’t pay me the thousand dollars. Isn’t that fair?”
This proposal struck Mr. Brackett favorably, and this was the compact ultimately formed.
Mrs. Brackett opposed it strenuously17 at first, being unwilling18 to relinquish19 so much money, even in favor of her own brother; but she was at last persuaded that it would be better to have nine-tenths of the property than none at all, and consented.
Several conferences were held, and the date of the forged will was carefully discussed. At length it was decided20 to fix upon a time six months earlier, and to affix21 the names, as witnesses, of two men who then lived in the village, but had now gone West, and were not likely to return. Indeed, it was reported that one of them was dead, which, of course, would make it impossible for him to deny his signature.
One evening it chanced that Andy, who had{231} gone to the village, returned sooner than he intended on account of a sudden headache. In passing the window of the room where the conspirators22 were seated, he heard a chance word which arrested his attention.
The window, without the knowledge of Mr. and Mrs. Brackett, was slightly open, but this was hidden from view by the curtain, and through the aperture23 our hero had no difficulty in overhearing enough to satisfy him what was going on.
Of course his duty was clear. He must inform Mr. Dodge. The next morning an opportunity came. He not only told uncle Simon what his son-in-law was doing, but for the first time made him acquainted with the real character of Mrs. Brackett’s brother.
Simon Dodge was silent for a time from amazement24.
“I didn’t think it possible,” he said, “that Jeremiah Brackett would stoop to such a crime.”
“I believe it is Mr. White who has put him up to it,” said Andy.
“Perhaps you are right. At any rate, this confirms me in my resolution to go away. Next week, Henry, we will leave the old farm, where I have spent so many years, and in your mother’s house I will spend the short time that remains25 to me.”
“I am glad to hear you say so, Uncle Simon. I shall be very glad to get away myself.”
“It is no longer safe for me to stay here,” said the old man. “Once this will is forged,{232} they will be impatient for me to die. As for their wicked scheming, it will avail them nothing. My true will is made, and in the hands of my lawyer, and is later than the date they have selected for the pretended one.”
It was well that Mr. Dodge could not foresee the trying experience that awaited him before he could sunder26 the bonds that bound him to the old farm.

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1 metropolitan mCyxZ     
adj.大城市的,大都会的
参考例句:
  • Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
  • Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。
2 fugitive bhHxh     
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者
参考例句:
  • The police were able to deduce where the fugitive was hiding.警方成功地推断出那逃亡者躲藏的地方。
  • The fugitive is believed to be headed for the border.逃犯被认为在向国境线逃窜。
3 conclave eY9yw     
n.秘密会议,红衣主教团
参考例句:
  • Signore,I ask and I prey,that you break this conclave.各位阁下,我请求,并祈祷,你们能停止这次秘密会议。
  • I met my partner at that conclave and my life moved into a huge shift.我就是在那次大会上遇到了我的伴侣的,而我的生活就转向了一个巨大的改变。
4 obstinacy C0qy7     
n.顽固;(病痛等)难治
参考例句:
  • It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
  • Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒,常常使他坚持自见,并达到执拗的地步。
5 dodge q83yo     
v.闪开,躲开,避开;n.妙计,诡计
参考例句:
  • A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪,才没被车从身上辗过。
  • The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。
6 deferring d2cd9fb6ccdde7a0a9618fb4ae1b4833     
v.拖延,延缓,推迟( defer的现在分词 );服从某人的意愿,遵从
参考例句:
  • Recently, the Supreme Court has focused on an additional reason for deferring to administrative agencies. 最近,最高法院强调了尊重行政机构的另一种理由。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
  • Think of it as deferring part of the compiler's job to runtime. 可以认为这是将编译器的部分工作延迟到了运行时。 来自互联网
7 disinterested vu4z6s     
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的
参考例句:
  • He is impartial and disinterested.他公正无私。
  • He's always on the make,I have never known him do a disinterested action.他这个人一贯都是唯利是图,我从来不知道他有什么无私的行动。
8 obstinate m0dy6     
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的
参考例句:
  • She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了,不会让任何人帮她的。
  • The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。
9 wink 4MGz3     
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁
参考例句:
  • He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
  • The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间,那颗卫星就消失了。
10 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
11 forgery TgtzU     
n.伪造的文件等,赝品,伪造(行为)
参考例句:
  • The painting was a forgery.这张画是赝品。
  • He was sent to prison for forgery.他因伪造罪而被关进监狱。
12 offense HIvxd     
n.犯规,违法行为;冒犯,得罪
参考例句:
  • I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
  • His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。
13 penal OSBzn     
adj.刑罚的;刑法上的
参考例句:
  • I hope you're familiar with penal code.我希望你们熟悉本州法律规则。
  • He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft.他因犯了大窃案受过十九年的苦刑。
14 benevolent Wtfzx     
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的
参考例句:
  • His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。
  • He was a benevolent old man and he wouldn't hurt a fly.他是一个仁慈的老人,连只苍蝇都不愿伤害。
15 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
16 begrudge jubzX     
vt.吝啬,羡慕
参考例句:
  • I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。
  • We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。
17 strenuously Jhwz0k     
adv.奋发地,费力地
参考例句:
  • The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce. 公司竭力为其裁员的决定辩护。
  • She denied the accusation with some warmth, ie strenuously, forcefully. 她有些激动,竭力否认这一指责。
18 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句:
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
19 relinquish 4Bazt     
v.放弃,撤回,让与,放手
参考例句:
  • He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
  • They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。
20 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
21 affix gK0y7     
n.附件,附录 vt.附贴,盖(章),签署
参考例句:
  • Please affix your signature to the document. 请你在这个文件上签字。
  • Complete the form and affix four tokens to its back. 填完该表,在背面贴上4张凭券。
22 conspirators d40593710e3e511cb9bb9ec2b74bccc3     
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句
23 aperture IwFzW     
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口
参考例句:
  • The only light came through a narrow aperture.仅有的光亮来自一个小孔。
  • We saw light through a small aperture in the wall.我们透过墙上的小孔看到了亮光。
24 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
25 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
26 sunder psXwL     
v.分开;隔离;n.分离,分开
参考例句:
  • Lightning tore the tree in sunder.闪电把树劈成两半。
  • Nothing can sunder our friendship.什么也不能破坏我们的友谊。


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