CHAPTER XIX. THE TABLES ARE TURNED.

 "I shall soon be able to prove it," said Mr. Drummond. "The lady who bought the shawl came into the store half an hour since, and asked for another. When I told her that it would cost ten dollars, she said she only paid five for the one she had on. She then told us that she bought it of you a fortnight since."

 

"How did she know my name?"

 

"She did not mention your name. She said that it was a boy she bought it of, and of course that can only be you."

 

"There is some mistake about this, Mr. Drummond. She has made a mistake. She must have bought it somewhere else."

 

"She would not be likely to make such a mistake as this. Besides, the shawl is like others I have.[Pg 176] How do you account for that?" queried¹ Mr. Drummond, triumphantly².

 

"I don't pretend to account for it, and don't feel called upon to do so. All I have got to say is, that I did not sell the shawl, nor pocket the money."

 

"I shouldn't be surprised if you had the money about you at this very moment."

 

"You are mistaken," said Walter, firmly.

 

"Show me your pocket-book."

 

"My pocket-book is my own property."

 

"You are afraid to show it. Observe that, Mr. Nichols. Does not that look like guilt³?"

 

"I am willing to show it to Mr. Nichols," said Walter.

 

He took it from his pocket, and handed it to Nichols, who took it rather unwillingly⁴.

 

"Open that pocket-book, Mr. Nichols, and show me what is in it."

 

"Shall I do so, Walter?" asked Nichols.

 

"Yes, Mr. Nichols. There is nothing in it that I am ashamed of."

 

Nichols opened the pocket-book and took out three bills.

 

[Pg 177]

 

"What are those bills, Mr. Nichols?" asked his employer.

 

"There is a one, here is a two, and here is—" Nichols hesitated and looked disturbed—"here is a five."

 

Mr. Drummond's mean face was radiant with exultation⁵.

 

"I told you so. I think we need no further proof. The stolen money has been found in Conrad's possession, and his falsehood and dishonesty are clearly proved. Hand me that five."

 

"Stop a minute, Mr. Drummond," said Walter, coolly. "You are altogether too much in a hurry. You have proved nothing whatever. That five-dollar bill I brought from home with me, and I have kept it ever since, having no occasion to spend it."

 

"Do you think I will believe any such story?" asked his employer, with a sneer⁶. "That is very plausible⁷, Conrad, but very improbable. I have no doubt whatever that the bill is the same one which was paid you for the shawl."

 

"Then you are entirely⁸ mistaken."

 

"That remains⁹ to be seen. Mr. Nichols, I will[Pg 178] relieve you of that pocket-book. As the shawl should have been sold for ten dollars, the entire contents will not be sufficient to pay for the loss I have sustained."

 

"Mr. Nichols," said Walter, "I forbid your giving that pocket-book to Mr. Drummond. He has no claim to it whatever. You may give it to me."

 

"I forbid you giving it to Conrad," broke in his employer.

 

"I don't know what to do," said Nichols, perplexed¹⁰, looking from one to the other.

 

"You know that it belongs to me, Mr. Nichols," said Walter.

 

"I—I think I had better lay it down on the counter," said Nichols, by the way of compromise.

 

Walter, who was on the outside, sprang to the counter, and seized it just in time to prevent Mr. Drummond's obtaining it. The latter was very angry at his want of success, and exclaimed violently, "Walter Conrad, give me that pocket-book instantly."

 

Walter, who had put it in an inside pocket of his coat, coolly buttoned the coat and answered, "If[Pg 179] you had any claim to it, Mr. Drummond, you would not have to speak twice; but as it is mine, I prefer to keep it."

 

Mr. Drummond, though he had an irritable¹¹, aggravating¹² temper, was not one to proceed to violence on ordinary occasions. But just now he was thoroughly¹³ provoked, and showed it. He sprang over the counter with an agility¹⁴ worthy¹⁵ of his youth, and advanced threateningly upon Walter.

 

"Walter Conrad," he exclaimed furiously, "how dare you defy me in this outrageous¹⁶ manner? Do you know that I can have you arrested; but in consideration of your being a relation, I may be induced to spare you the penalty of the law if you will give me what money you have towards making up my loss."

 

"So I would, if the loss had come through me. But I have already told you that this is not the case. I know nothing whatever about the shawl."

 

"And this," said Mr. Drummond, folding his arms, "this is the viper¹⁷ that I have warmed in my bosom¹⁸. This is the friendless orphan¹⁹ that I admitted beneath my roof, and made a companion of[Pg 180] my son. This is the ungrateful serpent who has crept into my confidence, and abused it!"

 

Mr. Drummond was an orator²⁰ on a small scale, and the pleasure of giving utterance²¹ to this scathing²² denunciation caused him to delay his intention to obtain possession of the pocket-book by violence.

 

Walter ought to have been withered²³ by this outburst of righteous anger, but he wasn't. He stood it very well, and did not seem in the least affected²⁴.

 

"Behold²⁵ his hardened effrontery²⁶, Mr. Nichols," pursued Mr. Drummond, unfolding his arms, and pointing at our hero with quivering fore-finger. "I could not have believed that a boy of his years could be so brazen²⁷."

 

"Mr. Drummond," said Walter, "I am sustained by a consciousness of my innocence²⁸, and therefore what you say has no effect upon me. It doesn't seem to be very just to convict me without evidence, and sentence me without trial."

 

"Will you give up that pocket-book?" demanded Mr. Drummond, furiously, having indulged in his little flight of oratory²⁹, and being now ready to proceed to business.

 

[Pg 181]

 

"No, sir, I will not," returned Walter, looking him firmly in the face.

 

Mr. Drummond made a dash for him, but Walter was used to dodging³⁰, and, eluding³¹ his grasp, ran behind the counter.

 

"Mr. Nichols, help me to catch him," said Mr. Drummond, quite red in the face.

 

But Nichols did not show any great readiness to obey. He let Walter pass him, and did not make the least effort to retain him.

 

Mr. Drummond was making ready to jump over the counter, when Nichols, to his great relief, observed the ladies, already referred to, coming up the steps from the street.

 

"Mr. Drummond, the ladies have returned," he said hastily.

 

"Aha!" said his employer, with exultation. "Now we will be able to prove your guilt, you young rascal³²! Here is the lady who bought the shawl of you."

 

Mrs. Blake and her friend, Mrs. Spicer, here entered the store.

 

[Pg 182]

 

Mr. Drummond went forward to meet them. His face was flushed, but he tried to look composed.

 

"I am glad to see you back, ladies," he said. "You told me that you bought your shawl of a boy?" turning to Mrs. Blake.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Come forward, Conrad," said Mr. Drummond, a malignant³³ smile overspreading his face. "Perhaps you will deny now, to this lady's face, that you sold her the shawl she has on."

 

"I certainly do," said Walter. "I never, to my knowledge, saw the lady before, and I know that I did not sell her the shawl."

 

"What do you think of that, Mr. Nichols?" said Mr. Drummond. "Did you ever witness such unblushing falsehood?"

 

But here a shell was thrown into Mr. Drummond's camp, and by Mrs. Blake herself.

 

"The boy is perfectly³⁴ right," she said. "I did not buy the shawl of him."

 

"What!" stammered³⁵ Mr. Drummond.

 

Mrs. Blake repeated her statement.

 

"Didn't you say you bought the shawl of the[Pg 183] boy?" asked Mr. Drummond, with a sickly hue³⁶ of disappointment overspreading his face.

 

"Yes, but it was not that boy."

 

"That is the only boy I have in my employment."

 

"Come to think of it, I believe it was your son," said Mrs. Blake. "Isn't he a little older than this boy?"

 

"My son,—Joshua!" exclaimed Mr. Drummond.

 

"Yes, I think it must be he. He's got rather an old-looking face, with freckles³⁷ and reddish hair; isn't so good-looking as this boy."

 

"Joshua!" repeated Mr. Drummond, bewildered. "He doesn't tend in the store."

 

"It was about dinner-time," said Mrs. Blake. "He was the only one here."

 

"Do you know anything about this, Mr. Nichols?" asked Mr. Drummond, turning to his head clerk.

 

Light had dawned upon Nichols. He remembered now Joshua's offer to take his place, and he felt sure in his own mind who was the guilty party.

 

"Yes, Mr. Drummond," he answered; "about a fortnight ago, as Walter was rather late in getting[Pg 184] back, Joshua offered to stay in the store for a while. He must have sold the shawl, but he must have guessed at the price."

 

"A mistake has been made," said Mr. Drummond, hurriedly, to the ladies,—"a mistake that you have profited by. I shall not be able to sell you another shawl for less than ten dollars."

 

The ladies went out, and Mr. Drummond and his two clerks were left alone.

 

"Mr. Drummond," said Walter, quietly, "after what has happened, you will not be surprised if I decline to remain in your employ. I shall take the afternoon train to Willoughby."

 

He walked out of the store, and crossed the street to Mr. Drummond's house.

1 queried   

v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问

参考例句：

• She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

2 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

3 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

4 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。

5 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。

6 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

7 plausible   

adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的

参考例句：

• His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
• Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。

8 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 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。

11 irritable   

adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的

参考例句：

• He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
• Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。

12 aggravating   

adj.恼人的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• How aggravating to be interrupted! 被打扰，多令人生气呀！
• Diesel exhaust is particularly aggravating to many susceptible individuals. 许多体质敏感的人尤其反感柴油废气。

13 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

14 agility   

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。

15 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

16 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

17 viper   

n.毒蛇；危险的人

参考例句：

• Envy lucks at the bottom of the human heart a viper in its hole.嫉妒潜伏在人心底，如同毒蛇潜伏在穴中。
• Be careful of that viper;he is dangerous.小心那个阴险的人，他很危险。

18 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

19 orphan   

n.孤儿；adj.无父母的

参考例句：

• He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大，并且把自己的医术传给了他。
• The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。

20 orator   

n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家

参考例句：

• He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩，胜过最好的演说家。
• The orator gestured vigorously while speaking.这位演讲者讲话时用力地做手势。

21 utterance   

n.用言语表达，话语，言语

参考例句：

• This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
• My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

22 scathing   

adj.（言词、文章）严厉的，尖刻的；不留情的adv.严厉地，尖刻地v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的现在分词)

参考例句：

• a scathing attack on the new management 针对新的管理层的猛烈抨击
• Her speech was a scathing indictment of the government's record on crime. 她的演讲强烈指责了政府在犯罪问题上的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 withered   

adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

24 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

25 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

26 effrontery   

n.厚颜无耻

参考例句：

• This is a despicable fraud . Just imagine that he has the effrontery to say it.这是一个可耻的骗局. 他竟然有脸说这样的话。
• One could only gasp at the sheer effrontery of the man.那人十足的厚颜无耻让人们吃惊得无话可说。

27 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。

28 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

29 oratory   

n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞

参考例句：

• I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
• He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。

30 dodging   

n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避

参考例句：

• He ran across the road, dodging the traffic. 他躲开来往的车辆跑过马路。
• I crossed the highway, dodging the traffic. 我避开车流穿过了公路。 来自辞典例句

31 eluding   

v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的现在分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到

参考例句：

• He saw no way of eluding Featherstone's stupid demand. 费瑟斯通的愚蠢要求使他走投无路。 来自辞典例句
• The fox succeeded in eluding the hunters. 这狐狸成功地避过了猎手。 来自辞典例句

32 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。

33 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

34 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

35 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

36 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。

37 freckles   

n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She had a wonderful clear skin with an attractive sprinkling of freckles. 她光滑的皮肤上有几处可爱的小雀斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• When she lies in the sun, her face gets covered in freckles. 她躺在阳光下时，脸上布满了斑点。 来自《简明英汉词典》