CHAPTER XXXIV. THE DETECTIVE.

 The man in drab smiled to himself as he left the presence of Mrs. Fogson.

 

"I wonder whether that woman's husband has her amiable¹ traits?" he speculated. "If so, the Scranton poor must be made very uncomfortable."

 

As he reached the village he met Percy Dixon once more. Percy had an ungovernable curiosity, and he crossed the street to intercept² the stranger.

 

"I suppose you found the poorhouse," he said suggestively.

 

"Yes; I could not miss it after your clear directions."

 

"Are you related to Mr. and Mrs. Fogson?" asked Percy, rather boldly.

 

"Well no," answered the stranger with a smile. "I haven't the honor."

 

[Pg 309]

 

"Have you any relations among the paupers³?"

 

"Not that I am aware of. However, I called to inquire after one of them—a boy."

 

"Jed Gilman?" said Percy eagerly.

 

"Yes; I believe that is his name. Are you acquainted with him?"

 

"I have known him for years."

 

"I suppose he is a friend of yours?"

 

"Not much. Do you think I would be friends with a pauper⁴?"

 

"I don't know. I see no reason why not if he is a nice boy."

 

"But Jed isn't a nice boy. He's an artful, forward, presuming young jackanapes, and was awfully⁵ troublesome."

 

"I am sorry to hear it. Mrs. Fogson seems to think of him very much as you do."

 

"I should think she would. She and Fogson couldn't do anything with him."

 

"Mrs. Fogson says he isn't there now."

 

"No; he ran away after making a brutal⁶ assault on Fogson."

 

The man in drab felt an inclination⁷ to smile, but suppressed it.

 

[Pg 310]

 

"I don't know as I ought to have spoken against him," continued Percy with a cunning look of inquiry⁸. "You may be after him."

 

The man in drab paused a moment, then assuming a look of mystery, said, "Can you keep a secret?"

 

"Yes," answered Percy eagerly.

 

"Come here, then."

 

Percy drew near, and the other whispered mysteriously, "I am a detective!"

 

"You don't say so!" ejaculated Percy, gazing at him with a species of awe⁹, begotten¹⁰ of his idea of detectives as introduced into books which he had read.

 

The other nodded.

 

"And I am after Jed Gilman!" he continued.

 

"Is that so?" said the delighted Percy. "What has he done?"

 

"That is a secret which I am not permitted to reveal at present."

 

"Do you want to find him?"

 

"Very much."

 

"Then I'll tell you where he is. He's gone to Bar Harbor—in Maine, you know."

 

[Pg 311]

 

The detective nodded.

 

"He went on a yacht—the Juno—owned by Mr. Schuyler Roper—a rich New York gentleman."

 

"But how did he get into such company?"

 

"Oh, Mr. Roper took pity on him and gave him a place."

 

"Then you think he is comfortably situated¹¹?"

 

"Yes, but he won't be long."

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because I have written a letter to Mr. Roper, telling him Jed's real character. I expect he'll be bounced when that letter arrives."

 

"That would upset all my plans and enable him to escape."

 

Percy looked perplexed¹² and disappointed.

 

"I am sorry for that," he said. "I guess I'd better write again and tell him to keep Jed another week."

 

"Perhaps you had better do so. Say that—— But no. I will telegraph to him to keep Jed with him till I arrive."

 

"That'll do better. You couldn't possibly tell me what Jed has done?"

 

[Pg 312]

 

"Not at present."

 

"You'll let me know sometime?"

 

"I think I shall be able to gratify your curiosity before long."

 

"I'll give you my address, and you can write to me. I wish I knew whether Jed had stolen anything or not."

 

"I cannot say a word! My lips are sealed!" said the detective in a solemn tone.

 

Percy was impressed. The man in drab quite came up to his idea of a detective.

 

"By the way," said his companion, "I want to call on Mr. and Mrs. Avery, who, I understand, know something of the boy's early life."

 

"They live there—in that small house. I'll go with you."

 

"No, I prefer to go alone. One can't be too careful."

 

"All right," said Percy. "I wonder what under the canopy¹³ Jed's been doing? It's likely he'll have to go to jail."

1 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

2 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

3 paupers   

n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷

参考例句：

• The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵，你这穷鬼根本买不起！ 来自互联网
• Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索，马拉维，这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网

4 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

5 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

6 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

7 inclination   

n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好

参考例句：

• She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
• I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。

8 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

9 awe   

n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧

参考例句：

• The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
• The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。

10 begotten   

v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起

参考例句：

• The fact that he had begotten a child made him vain. 想起自己也生过孩子，他得意了。 来自辞典例句
• In due course she bore the son begotten on her by Thyestes. 过了一定的时候，她生下了堤厄斯式斯使她怀上的儿子。 来自辞典例句

11 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

12 perplexed   

adj.不知所措的

参考例句：

• The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛，走了又回来，犹豫不决，总怕上当受骗。
• The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。

13 canopy   

n.天篷，遮篷

参考例句：

• The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。
• They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。