CHAPTER XXXI. A DAY OF SURPRISES.

 The bookkeeper looked amazed.

 

He turned to Felix.

 

"Was this package given you at the bank?" he asked.

 

"Yes," answered Felix.

 

"I don't understand it. Do you think they suspected anything?" he continued, turning to Ralston.

 

"What could they suspect?" growled¹ Dick. "It's a pretty trick for a respectable bank to play on a customer."

 

"Was all the money bogus?" asked Mullins.

 

"Here are a hundred dollars in good bills."

 

"Have you opened any of the other packages?"

 

"No, but I will."

 

The gambler tore off a little of the outer paper from the five-hundred-dollar and two-hundred-dollar packages, only to discover that their contents were no more valuable than those of the first bundle.

 

"I'd like to know what all this means," said Ralston. "Is it a trick of yours?" he demanded, looking suspiciously at Mullins.

 

"No. On my honor, no. It is very puzzling. They must have made a mistake at the bank."

 

"Send the boy back."

 

"It won't do. He has already reported that he has been robbed. It's—it's very awkward."

 

"You must do something," said Dick Ralston, harshly. "I'm not going to be swindled in this way."

 

It was at this point that the office door was heard to open. Mr. Sharpleigh entered and fixed² his glance on Ralston.

 

"Mr. Mullins," he said, "you wish to know who robbed your office boy of the money he drew from the bank?"

 

"Yes," faltered³ Mullins.

 

"There he stands!" answered Sharpleigh, calmly, pointing to Ralston.

 

"It's a—lie!" exclaimed the gambler, but he turned pale.

 

"I saw the robbery with my own eyes." went on the detective, "and——" he turned his eyes to the door, which opened to admit a stalwart policeman.

 

"Arrest that man!" said the detective. "He lay in wait for the office boy, and on his return from the bank robbed him of a large sum of money which he had just drawn⁴ out."

 

"Who are you?" demanded Ralston, trying to brazen⁵ it out.

 

"I am James Sharpleigh, a detective."

 

Mullins listened in dismay, for Sharpleigh's name was familiar to him as one of the cleverest detectives in the city.

 

"And who authorized⁶ you to meddle⁷ in a matter that did not concern you?"

 

The answer came from an unexpected quarter. Mr. Fairchild, valise in hand and dusty with travel, entered the office. He heard the question, and quickly comprehended the situation.

 

"It is nearly two weeks," he said, "since I engaged Mr. Sharpleigh to watch what was going on in the office. Chester Rand telegraphed me that he had been discharged, and my suspicions were excited."

 

"So it's that boy!" muttered the bookkeeper, spitefully.

 

"I left all to the discretion⁸ of my friend Sharpleigh, who has justified⁹ my confidence. I shall have to ask him to throw light on the present situation."

 

This the detective did in a few brief sentences.

 

"Am I to arrest this man?" asked the policeman.

 

"Yes," answered the broker¹⁰, sternly. "Mr. Sharpleigh, will you accompany the officer and prefer charges?"

 

"See here," said Ralston, with an ugly look, "I'm not going to be a scapegoat¹¹. Your bookkeeper put up this job."

 

Mr. Fairchild turned slowly and regarded David Mullins attentively¹².

 

"I will bear in mind what you say," he answered.

 

"I took nothing of value," continued Ralston, "and you can't hold me. Here are three packages filled with green paper."

 

"Yes," said Sharpleigh, "the bank teller¹³ was acting¹⁴ under my instructions. I took care, however, to have one roll of genuine bills."

 

When the three had left the office Mr. Fairchild turned to the bookkeeper.

 

"Mr. Mullins," he said, "what could induce you to engage in such a wicked plot?"

 

"I don't admit any complicity in the affair," replied the bookkeeper, in a surly tone.

 

"Have you seen Chester Rand lately?"

 

"I saw him last evening at the Fifth Avenue Hotel."

 

"Why did you discharge him?"

 

"I thought him unfit for his place."

 

"There may be a difference of opinion on that point. This boy," he added, significantly, "is a relative of yours, I believe."

 

"Yes."

 

"Will you give me an idea of what has been done during my absence?"

 

Together the broker and the bookkeeper went over the books. Then Mr. Fairchild went out to dinner.

 

He was no sooner out of the office than Mullins said: "Felix, remain here till Mr. Fairchild returns. I am going out on an errand."

 

He opened the safe, drew therefrom a small package and left the office.

 

Half an hour later he was on a Cortlandt Street ferryboat bound for the Jersey¹⁵ shore.

 

The package which he took with him contained four hundred dollars in bills, which he had drawn from the bank the day previous without the knowledge of his confederate. He had been providing for contingencies¹⁶.

 

When Mr. Fairchild returned Felix delivered the message.

 

The broker at once looked suspicious.

 

"Did Mr. Mullins say where he was going?" he asked.

 

"Yes, sir. He said he was going out on an errand."

 

"Did he take anything with him?"

 

"I didn't observe, sir."

 

When Sharpleigh came in a little later he looked about him inquiringly.

 

"Where's Mullins?"

 

"I don't think we shall see him again very soon," and the broker told the detective what he knew about his disappearance¹⁷.

 

Sharpleigh shrugged¹⁸ his shoulders.

 

"He has been too sharp for us," he said. "Do you want me to do anything?"

 

"No; his loss of place and reputation will be a sufficient punishment."

 

At the close of the day Felix said: "I suppose you don't want me any more."

 

"You can stay till the end of the week. I have not had time to form any plans."

 

"Do—do you think Cousin David will come back?"

 

"I think it very improbable," said the broker, seriously. "Can you throw any light on the events of to-day?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Go on. Was the robbery planned?"

 

"Yes, sir. I was to receive twenty-five dollars for my share."

 

"I believe you know Chester Rand?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Do you know where he lives?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Will you ask him to call here to-morrow?"

 

"I will, sir; but he tells me he has a good place, and would not care to return."

 

"I am aware of that. It is possible I may retain you——"

 

"Oh, sir, if you would!"

 

"On condition that you agree to serve me faithfully."

 

This was quite beyond the expectations of Felix.

 

"I will try to do so," he said, earnestly.

 

"You have begun well by confessing your share in the plot which came so near being successful. As your day's work is ended, I will consider the errand on which I am sending you extra, and will pay you for it."

 

The broker handed a half dollar to Felix, which he accepted joyfully¹⁹.

 

"I don't much care if Cousin David has gone away," he soliloquized. "Mr. Fairchild seems a good sort of man, and I'll do my best to please him."

 

When Felix was ushered²⁰ into Chester's presence the latter was just finishing a comic sketch²¹ for The Ph?nix.

 

"What's that?" asked Felix, in surprise, for he was quite unaware²² of Chester's artistic²³ gifts.

 

Chester showed it to him with a smile.

 

"Now you see how I am making my living," he said.

 

"Do you get pay for that?"

 

"Yes, certainly."

 

Then Felix bethought himself of his errand.

 

"There's a great row at the office," he said. "Mr. Fairchild has got home, Cousin David has run away and Mr. Ralston is arrested."

 

"That's a budget of news. When did Mr. Fairchild return?"

 

"This forenoon. He wants you to call to-morrow."

 

"All right. I will do so."

 

"And if he offers you back your old place you won't take it?" said Felix, anxiously. "If you don't, I think he'll keep me."

 

"Then I'll promise not to accept. I am better satisfied where I am. Have you had supper, Felix?"

 

"No."

 

"Then come and take supper with me. I go out about this time."

 

"It had certainly been a day of surprises," as Felix reflected when he found himself seated opposite a boy whom he had always disliked, as his guest.

1 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

3 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

4 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

5 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

6 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

7 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。

8 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

9 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

10 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

11 scapegoat   

n.替罪的羔羊，替人顶罪者；v.使…成为替罪羊

参考例句：

• He has been made a scapegoat for the company's failures.他成了公司倒闭的替罪羊。
• They ask me to join the party so that I'll be their scapegoat when trouble comes.他们想叫我入伙，出了乱子，好让我替他们垫背。

12 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

14 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

15 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

16 contingencies   

n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一

参考例句：

• We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
• We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

17 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

18 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 joyfully   

adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地

参考例句：

• She tripped along joyfully as if treading on air. 她高兴地走着，脚底下轻飘飘的。
• During these first weeks she slaved joyfully. 在最初的几周里，她干得很高兴。

20 ushered   

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》

21 sketch   

n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述

参考例句：

• My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
• I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

22 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。

23 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。