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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Hector's Inheritance or The Boys of Smith Institute » CHAPTER XVIII. THE MISSING WALLET IS FOUND.
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CHAPTER XVIII. THE MISSING WALLET IS FOUND.
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 Socrates Smith was, ordinarily, so careful of his money, that it was a very remarkable1 inadvertence to leave it on the bureau. Nor was it long before he ascertained2 his loss. He was sitting at his desk when his wife looked in at the door, and called for a small sum for some domestic expenditure3.
With an ill grace—for Socrates hated to part with his money—he put his hand into the pocket where he usually kept his wallet.
“Really, Mrs. Smith,” he was saying, “it seems to me you are always wanting money—why, bless my soul!” and such an expression of consternation4 and dismay swept over his face, that his wife hurriedly inquired:
“What is the matter, Mr. Smith?”
“Matter enough!” he gasped5. “My wallet is gone!”
“Gone!” echoed his wife, in alarm. “Where can you have left it?”
Mr. Smith pressed his hand to his head in painful reflection.
“How much money was there in it, Socrates?” asked his wife.
“Between forty and fifty dollars!” groaned6 Mr. Smith. “If I don’t find it, Sophronia, I am a ruined man!”
This was, of course, an exaggeration, but it showed the poignancy7 of the loser’s regret.
“Can’t you think where you left it?”
Suddenly Mr. Smith’s face lighted up.
“I remember where I left it, now,” he said; “I was up in the chamber8 an hour since, and, while changing my coat, took out my wallet, and laid it on the bureau. I’ll go right up and look for it.”
“Do, Socrates.”
Mr. Smith bounded up the staircase with the agility9 of a man of half his years, and hopefully opened the door of his chamber, which Jim had carefully closed after him. His first glance was directed at the bureau, but despair again settled down sadly upon his heart when he saw that it was bare. There was no trace of the missing wallet.
“It may have fallen on the carpet,” said Socrates, hope reviving faintly.
There was not a square inch of the cheap Kidderminster carpet that he did not scan earnestly, greedily, but, alas10! the wallet, if it had ever been there, had mysteriously taken to itself locomotive powers, and wandered away into the realm of the unknown and the inaccessible11.
Yet, searching in the chambers12 of his memory, Mr. Smith felt sure that he had left the wallet on the bureau. He could recall the exact moment when he laid it down, and he recollected13 that he had not taken it again.
“Some one has taken it!” he decided14; and wrath15 arose in his heart, He snapped his teeth together in stern anger, as he determined16 that he would ferret out the miserable17 thief, and subject him to condign18 punishment.
Mrs. Smith, tired of waiting for the appearance of her husband, ascended19 the stairs and entered his presence.
“Well?” she said.
“I haven’t found it,” answered Socrates, tragically20. “Mrs. Smith, the wallet has been stolen!”
“Are you sure that you left it here?” asked his wife.
“Sure!” he repeated, in a hollow tone. “I am as sure as that the sun rose to-morrow—I mean yesterday.”
“Was the door open?”
“No; but that signifies nothing. It wasn’t locked, and anyone could enter.”
“Is it possible that we have a thief in the institute?” said Mrs. Smith, nervously21. “Socrates, I shan’t sleep nights. Think of the spoons!”
“They’re only plated.”
“And my earrings22.”
“You could live without earrings. Think, rather, of the wallet, with nearly fifty dollars in bills.”
“Who do you think took it, Socrates?”
“I have no idea; but I will find out. Yes, I will find out. Come downstairs, Mrs. Smith; we will institute inquiries23.”
When Mr. Smith had descended24 to the lower floor, and was about entering the office, it chanced that his nephew was just entering the house.
“What’s the matter, Uncle Socrates?” he asked; “you look troubled.”
“And a good reason why, James; I have met with a loss.”
“You don’t say so!” exclaimed Jim, in innocent wonder; “what is it?”
“A wallet, with a large amount of money in it!”
“Perhaps there is a hole in your pocket,” suggested Jim.
“A hole—large enough for my big wallet to fall through! Don’t be such a fool!”
“Excuse me, uncle,” said Jim, meekly25; “of course that is impossible. When do you remember having it last?”
Of course Socrates told the story, now familiar to us, and already familiar to his nephew, though he did not suspect that.
Jim struck his forehead, as if a sudden thought had occurred to him.
“Could it be?” he said, slowly, as if to himself; “no, I can’t believe it.”
“Can’t believe what?” demanded Socrates, impatiently; “if you have any clew, out with it!”
“I hardly like to tell, Uncle Socrates, for it implicates26 one of the boys.”
“Which?” asked Mr. Smith, eagerly.
“I will tell you, though I don’t like to. Half an hour since, I was coming upstairs, when I heard a door close, as I thought, and, directly afterward27, saw Hector Roscoe hurrying up the stairs to the third floor. I was going up there myself, and followed him. Five minutes later he came out of his room, looking nervous and excited. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but I now think that he entered your room, took the wallet, and then carried it up to his own chamber and secreted28 it.”
“Hector Roscoe!” repeated Mr. Smith, in amazement29. “I wouldn’t have supposed that he was a thief.”
“Nor I; and perhaps he isn’t. It might be well, however, to search his room.”
“I will!” answered Socrates, with eagerness, “Come up, James, and you, Mrs. Smith, come up, too!”
The trio went upstairs, and entered poor Hector’s room. It was not unoccupied, for Ben Platt and Wilkins were there. They anticipated a visit, and awaited it with curious interest. They rose to their feet when the distinguished30 visitors arrived.
“Business of importance brings us here,” said Socrates. “Platt and Wilkins, you may leave the room.”
The boys exchanged glances, and obeyed.
“Wilkins,” said Ben, when they were in the corridor, “it is just as I thought. Jim has set a trap for Roscoe.”
“He may get caught himself,” said Wilkins. “I ain’t oversqueamish, but that is too confounded mean! Of course you’ll tell all you know?”
“Yes; and I fancy it will rather surprise Mr. Jim. I wish they had let us stay in there.”
Meanwhile, Jim skillfully directed the search.
“He may have put it under the mattress31,” suggested Jim.
Socrates darted32 to the bed, and lifted up the mattress, but no wallet revealed itself to his searching eyes.
“No; it is not here!” he said, in a tone of disappointment; “the boy may have it about him. I will send for him.”
“Wait a moment, Uncle Socrates,” said Jim; “there is a pair of pants which I recognize as his.”
Mr. Smith immediately thrust his hand into one of the pockets and drew out the wallet!
“Here it is!” he exclaimed, joyfully33. “Here it is!”
“Then Roscoe is a thief! I wouldn’t have thought it!” said Jim.
“Nor I. I thought the boy was of too good family to stoop to such a thing. But now I remember, Mr. Allan Roscoe told me he was only adopted by his brother. He is, perhaps, the son of a criminal.”
“Very likely!” answered Jim, who was glad to believe anything derogatory to Hector.
“What are you going to do about it, uncle?”
“I shall bring the matter before the school. I will disgrace the boy publicly,” answered Socrates Smith, sternly. “He deserves the exposure.”
“Aha, Master Roscoe!” said Jim, gleefully, to himself; “I rather think I shall get even with you, and that very soon.”
 

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1 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
2 ascertained e6de5c3a87917771a9555db9cf4de019     
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 expenditure XPbzM     
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗
参考例句:
  • The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
  • The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。
4 consternation 8OfzB     
n.大为吃惊,惊骇
参考例句:
  • He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害,感到非常震惊。
  • Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。
5 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
6 groaned 1a076da0ddbd778a674301b2b29dff71     
v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦
参考例句:
  • He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
  • The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 poignancy xOMx3     
n.辛酸事,尖锐
参考例句:
  • As she sat in church her face had a pathos and poignancy. 当她坐在教堂里时,脸上带着一种哀婉和辛辣的表情。
  • The movie, "Trains, Planes, and Automobiles" treats this with hilarity and poignancy. 电影“火车,飞机和汽车”是以欢娱和热情庆祝这个节日。
8 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。
9 agility LfTyH     
n.敏捷,活泼
参考例句:
  • The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
  • His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。
10 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
11 inaccessible 49Nx8     
adj.达不到的,难接近的
参考例句:
  • This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
  • The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。
12 chambers c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe     
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅
参考例句:
  • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间:Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网
13 recollected 38b448634cd20e21c8e5752d2b820002     
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I recollected that she had red hair. 我记得她有一头红发。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His efforts, the Duke recollected many years later, were distinctly half-hearted. 据公爵许多年之后的回忆,他当时明显只是敷衍了事。 来自辞典例句
14 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。
15 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
16 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
17 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
18 condign HYnyo     
adj.应得的,相当的
参考例句:
  • The public approved the condign punishment.公众一致称赞这个罪判得很恰当。
  • Chinese didn’t obtain the equal position and condign respect.中方并没有取得平等的地位和应有的尊重。
19 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》
20 tragically 7bc94e82e1e513c38f4a9dea83dc8681     
adv. 悲剧地,悲惨地
参考例句:
  • Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
  • Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。
21 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。
22 earrings 9ukzSs     
n.耳环( earring的名词复数 );耳坠子
参考例句:
  • a pair of earrings 一对耳环
  • These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
24 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
25 meekly meekly     
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地
参考例句:
  • He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时,他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 implicates a2fe21df9db6f26f4da20c16ac168b78     
n.牵涉,涉及(某人)( implicate的名词复数 );表明(或意指)…是起因
参考例句:
  • This confession implicates numerous officials in the bribery scandal. 这一供认会使许多官员牵连到受贿的丑事中。 来自辞典例句
  • Did you tell him that the recording implicates President Logan in Palmer's assassination? 你有没有告诉他录音显示洛根总统跟帕尔默被杀有关? 来自电影对白
27 afterward fK6y3     
adv.后来;以后
参考例句:
  • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
  • Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
28 secreted a4714b3ddc8420a17efed0cdc6ce32bb     
v.(尤指动物或植物器官)分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 );隐匿,隐藏
参考例句:
  • Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. 胰岛素是胰腺分泌的。
  • He secreted his winnings in a drawer. 他把赢来的钱藏在抽届里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
29 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。
30 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
参考例句:
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
31 mattress Z7wzi     
n.床垫,床褥
参考例句:
  • The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。
  • The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。
32 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
33 joyfully 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。


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