CHAPTER XXVI. — ABNER BLODGETT AGAIN.

 The next day in his wanderings Sam entered the Parker House. He had no definite object in view, but, feeling tired, thought he would sit down a few minutes in the reading-room.

 

"This is where that fellow roped me in," he thought. "I wish I could get hold of him."

 

After sitting for quarter of an hour, he strolled downstairs into the billiard room. He stood on the threshold for a moment, when a familiar voice struck his ear. His heart beat rapidly with excitement, for he recognized it as the voice of Abner Blodgett. He glanced eagerly about to find him, but he could see no one resembling the young man from the country who had victimized him.

 

"I don't believe two voices can be so much alike," he said to himself. "I must look more carefully."

 

The voice was heard again, and this time Sam perceived that the speaker was playing billiards¹ on the second table to the right. But it did not appear to be Abner. His personal appearance was very different, and he had a black mustache. But when Sam scanned the upper part of the face, he saw a strong resemblance. He suspected the truth at once, Abner was disguised.

 

"He's spending my money," said Sam to himself, indignantly. "No wonder he can afford to play billiards when he gets his money so easy. I won't lose sight of him."

 

By this time Abner—for it was he—had finished his game, and laid down his cue. He had no money to pay, for he had beaten his adversary². He sauntered up to the door, and was about to pass Sam, whom he had not noticed, when our hero laid his hand upon his arm.

 

"I want to speak to you, Mr. Blodgett," he said, "on very particular business."

 

Abner started when he recognized Sam, and changed color slightly, but immediately his disguise occurred to him, and he decided³ to brazen⁴ it out.

 

"Excuse me, sir," he answered, coolly. "Did you address me?"

 

He changed his voice as well as he could in uttering these words, and this confirmed Sam's previous suspicion.

 

"I said I should like to speak to you on business, Mr. Blodgett," Sam repeated, in an emphatic⁵ tone.

 

"You have made a mistake in the person," said Abner, shrugging his shoulders. "My name is not Blodgett."

 

"And I suppose your first name is not Abner?" said Sam.

 

"Certainly not."

 

"Well, all I can say is, you have changed your name within two days."

 

"Come out into the street, and I will talk to you," said Abner, not wishing the conversation to be heard.

 

Sam followed him upstairs, and they went into School Street together.

 

"What did you say my name was?" asked Abner, with an air of amusement.

 

"Abner Blodgett."

 

"Ha, ha! that's a capital joke—the best I've heard lately."

 

"You told me you were from the country," Sam continued.

 

"Really, I should think you must be from the country yourself, to make such a mistake."

 

"I am from the city of New York, if you call that the country," said Sam, in rather an important tone.

 

"I am sorry for you, but you've made a great mistake about me, my dear young friend. My name is John Warburton, and I am a student of Harvard College, in Cambridge. I only just came into Boston this morning. I haven't been here before for a week."

 

He spoke⁶ so volubly and confidently that Sam was staggered for a minute. Was it possible that he was mistaken, after all? Was this really a Harvard student, whose voice happened to resemble that of Abner Blodgett? Abner saw that he was mystified, and a gleam of exultation⁷ appeared in his face. When Sam detected this, he felt sure that he had got the right man, after all. Abner even ventured to ask: "Why do you wish to see this Abner Blodgett, whom I have the honor of resembling?"

 

"Because," said Sam, bluntly, "he stole my money."

 

"Stole your money!" repeated Abner, with mock indignation. "Do you dare to take me for a thief—me, a Harvard student, belonging to one of the first families! Why, it is an insult and an outrage⁸! I have a great mind to chastise⁹ you."

 

"I don't know whether you belong to one of the first or one of the second families," answered Sam, unterrified; "and I don't believe you are a Harvard student at all. Just give me back them ten dollars you stole out of my pocket or I'll make it hot for you."

 

"You young scamp!" said Abner, now really angry; "you've insulted me long enough. Now, clear out, or I'll kick you!"

 

"Kick away," said Sam; "but first give me my money."

 

"This is an outrage," said Abner, who noticed the approach of a policeman; "but if you are really in want I'll give you fifty cents, though you don't deserve it."

 

"I don't want your fifty cents, I want the money you stole from me," persisted Sam, who was not to be bought so cheap.

 

"For Heaven's sake, hush¹⁰!" said Abner, nervously¹¹. "One of the professors is inside, and I am afraid he'll come out and hear you. Here's the fifty cents."

 

"That won't go down, Mr. Blodgett," said Sam. "How much of my money have you got left?"

 

By this time the policeman was within hearing distance. Sam saw him now, and determined¹² to press his claim vigorously.

 

"I'll complain to that policeman," he said, "if you don't give up my money."

 

"Hush!" said Abner. "Wait till he goes by, and we'll arrange it."

 

"No, we won't," said Sam, stoutly¹³. "Do you want me to call him?"

 

The policeman was now passing them. He glanced casually¹⁴ at the pair, rather to the discomfort¹⁵ of Abner, whose face was not wholly unknown to the force.

 

"What do you say?" demanded Sam, in a significant tone.

 

"I'll lend you five dollars," said Abner, desperately¹⁶. "It's all I've got now."

 

"Hand it over, then," said Sam, who had not expected to get back so much of the stolen property.

 

Abner drew out a bill from his pocket, and passed it over.

 

"Is that all you've got left, Mr. Blodgett?" asked Sam.

 

"Don't call me Blodgett. It isn't my name. I told you my name was John Wharton, of Harvard College."

 

"You said Warburton five minutes since," said Sam, dryly.

 

"You didn't understand me," said Abner, rather embarrassed. "The names sound alike."

 

"I don't believe any of the names belong to you. Now, when are you going to pay the rest of that money?"

 

"I told you I knew nothing of your money," said Abner.

 

"Then why did you give me that five dollars back?"

 

"Out of charity."

 

"Then I wish you'd give me a little more out of charity."

 

"I have only enough to get me back to Cambridge."

 

"By the way, Mr. Blodgett," said Sam, slyly, "what do you use to make your mustache grow so quick?"

 

"Nothing at all. What makes you ask?"

 

"When I saw you two days ago you had none. It's grown pretty well for so short a time."

 

"I can't stop talking with you any longer. I must go out to Cambridge. I have a recitation in Latin in two hours."

 

"May I go out with you? I would like to see the college."

 

"Can't see it to-day," said Abner. "It isn't open to the public on Saturday."

 

"That's strange. I can go to Cambridge, can't I?"

 

"If you want to; but there isn't anything to see except the college."

 

"He don't want me to find him out," thought Sam. "I'm bound to go if he goes."

 

"I guess I'll go," he said, quietly. "Come along."

 

Abner unwillingly¹⁷ started with his unwelcome companion, and walked slowly to Bowdoin Square.

 

"There's the cars," he said, "just in front of the Revere¹⁸ House. Jump in, and I'll be with you in a minute."

 

As he said this he dodged¹⁹ round a corner and Sam found himself alone.

 

"Just as I expected," thought he. "That fellow isn't a Harvard student any more than I am. I'm lucky to get back part of my money. Perhaps I'll get the rest out of him some time."

 

He got into the car which had been pointed²⁰ out to him and inquired of the driver: "Does this car go to Harvard College?"

 

"It is a Mount Auburn car, but you can get out at Harvard Square."

 

"I guess it's all right," said Sam to himself. "I might as well go out and see Harvard, as I've got nothing else to do."

 

1 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

2 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。

3 decided   

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。

4 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。

5 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 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。

8 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

9 chastise   

vt.责骂，严惩

参考例句：

• My father used to chastise my brothers with whips.父亲过去常以鞭打惩罚我的兄弟。
• Should I applaud my husband or chastise him?我是该称赞还是责罚我的丈夫呢？

10 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

11 nervously   

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。

12 determined   

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。

13 stoutly   

adv.牢固地，粗壮的

参考例句：

• He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
• Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难，但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。

14 casually   

adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地

参考例句：

• She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
• I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。

15 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

16 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

17 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

18 revere   

vt.尊崇，崇敬，敬畏

参考例句：

• Students revere the old professors.学生们十分尊敬那些老教授。
• The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven.中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。

19 dodged   

v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。