CHAPTER XXVII — THE drop GAME

 Fairfax had an object in remaining behind. He wanted to see if there was any way for him to get into Andy's room during the night, that he might rob him in his sleep. To his great satisfaction, he found that there was a door between the two rooms, for the accommodation of persons in the same party, who wished to be in adjoining¹ apartments. It was, however, locked, but Fairfax was not unprepared for such an emergency. He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, and tried them, one after another, in the lock. There was one that would very nearly fit. For this again, Fairfax was prepared. He took from the same pocket a file, and began patiently to file away the key till it should fit. He tried it several times before he found that it fitted. But at last success crowned his efforts. The door opened.

 

His eyes danced with exultation², as he saw this.

 

"I might as well be in the same room," he said, to himself. "Now, you young rascal³, I shall take your money, and be revenged⁴ upon you at the same time."

 

He carefully locked the door, and then, feeling that he had done all that was necessary to do at present, went downstairs, and took supper. Andy was out, and did not see him.

 

Meanwhile, our young hero was out seeing the sights. He walked up Washington Street, and at Boylston Street turned and reached Tremont Street, when he saw the Common before him. It looked pleasant, and Andy crossed the street, and entered. He walked wherever fancy led, and then found himself, after a while, in a comparatively secluded⁵ part. Here he met with an adventure, which I must describe.

 

Rather a shabby-looking individual in front of him suddenly stooped and picked up a pocketbook, which appeared to be well filled with money. He looked up, and met Andy's eyes fixed⁶ upon it. This was what he wanted.

 

"Here's a pocketbook," he said. "Somebody must have dropped it."

 

Andy was interested.

 

"It seems to have considerable money in it," said the finder.

 

"Open it, and see," said Andy.

 

"I hain't time. I have got to leave the city by the next train. I mean, I haven't time to advertise it, and get the reward which the owner will be sure to offer. Are you going to stay in the city long?"

 

"I'm going out to-morrow."

 

"I must go. I wish I knew what to do."

 

He seemed to be plunged⁷ into anxious thought.

 

"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, as if a bright idea had suddenly struck him. "You take the pocketbook, and advertise it. If the owner is found, he will give you a reward. If not, the whole will belong to you."

 

"All right," said Andy. "Hand it over."

 

"Of course," said the other, "I shall expect something myself, as I was the one to find it."

 

"I'll give you half."

 

"But I shall be out of the city. I'll tell you what give me ten dollars, and I'll make it over to you."

 

"That's rather steep," said Andy.

 

"Heft it. There must be a lot of money inside."

 

"I'm afraid the reward might be less than ten dollars," said Andy.

 

"Well, I'm in a great hurry—give me five."

 

It is possible that Andy, who was not acquainted⁸ with the "drop game," might have agreed to this, but a policeman hove in sight, and the shabby individual scuttled⁹ away without further ceremony, leaving Andy a little surprised, with the pocketbook in his hand.

 

"What's he in such a hurry for?" thought our hero.

 

He opened the pocketbook, and a light flashed upon him, as he perceived that there was no money inside, but was stuffed with rolls of paper.

 

"He wanted to swindle me," thought Andy. "It's lucky I didn't pay him five dollars. Anyway, I'll keep it. The pocketbook is worth something."

 

He put it in his pocket, without taking the trouble to remove the contents.

1 adjoining   

adj.毗邻的

参考例句：

• The population overflowed into the adjoining territory. 人口流向了国外。
• They stayed in adjoining rooms. 他们住的房间紧挨着。

2 exultation   

n.狂喜，得意

参考例句：

• It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字，他屏住呼吸，乐得脸上放光。
• He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。

3 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

4 revenged   

为…报仇，报…之仇( revenge的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He revenged his dead brother. 他为死去的兄弟报仇。
• He swore to revenge himself [to be revenged] on his enemy. 他发誓要向仇敌复仇。

5 secluded   

adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时，喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑，有茅草房顶和宁静的花园，漂亮极了，简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

8 acquainted   

adj.对某事物熟悉的，对 某人认识的

参考例句：

• The students are already acquainted with the work of Shakespeare. 这些学生已经读过莎士比亚的著作。
• I have heard about your friend but I'm not acquainted with him. 我听说过你的朋友，但同他不熟。

9 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》