CHAPTER XXI — THE DREADED INTERVIEW

 Mr. Duncan had been dreading¹ the inevitable² interview with Mr. Armstrong. He knew him to be a sharp man of business, clear-sighted and keen, and he felt that this part of the conference would be an awkward and embarrassing one. He had tried to nerve himself for the interview, and thought he had succeeded, but when the servant brought Mr. Armstrong's card he felt a sinking at his heart, and it was in a tone that betrayed nervousness that he said: "Bring the gentleman in."

 

"My dear sir," he said, extending his hand and vigorously shaking the hand of his new arrival, "this is an unexpected pleasure."

 

"Unexpected? Didn't you get my letter from London?" said Mr. Armstrong, suffering his hand to be shaken, but not returning the arm pressure.

 

"Certainly—"

 

"In which I mentioned my approaching departure?"

 

"Yes, certainly; but I didn't know on what day to expect you. Pray sit down. It seems pleasant to see you home safe and well."

 

"Humph!" returned Armstrong, in a tone by no means as cordial. "Have you found my box of bonds?"

 

"Not yet, but—"

 

"Permit me to ask you why you allowed me to remain ignorant of so important a matter? I was indebted to the public prints, to which my attention was directed by an acquaintance, for a piece of news which should have been communicated to me at once."

 

"My dear sir, I intended to write you as soon as I heard of your arrival. I did not know till this moment that you were in America."

 

"You might have inferred it from the intimation in my last letter. Why did you not cable me the news?"

 

"Because," replied Duncan awkwardly, "I did not wish to spoil your pleasure, and thought from day to day that the box would turn up."

 

"You were very sparing of my feelings," said Armstrong, dryly— "too much so. I am not a child or an old woman, and it was your imperative⁴ duty, in a matter so nearly affecting my interests, to apprise⁵ me at once."

 

"I may have erred³ in judgment," said Duncan meekly⁶, "but I beg you to believe that I acted as I supposed for the best."

 

"Leaving that out of consideration at present, let me know what steps you have taken to find out how the box was spirited away, or who was concerned in the robbery."

 

"I think that you will admit that I acted promptly," said the bank president complacently⁷, "when I say that within twenty-four hours I arrested a party on suspicion of being implicated⁸ in the robbery, and tried him myself."

 

"Who was the party?" asked the capitalist, not betraying the knowledge he had already assessed on the subject.

 

"A boy in the village named Luke Larkin."

 

"Humph! What led you to think a boy had broken into the bank? That does not strike me as very sharp on your part."

 

"I had positive evidence that the boy in question had a tin box concealed⁹ in his house—in his mother's trunk. His poverty made it impossible that the box could be his, and I accordingly had him arrested."

 

"Well, what was the result of the trial?"

 

"I was obliged to let him go, though by no means satisfied of his innocence¹⁰."

 

"Why?"

 

"A man—a stranger—a very suspicious-looking person, presented himself, and swore that the box was his, and that he had committed it to the charge of this boy."

 

"Well, that seems tolerably satisfactory, doesn't it?—that is, if he furnished evidence confirming his statement. Did he open the box in court?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And the bonds were not there?"

 

"The bonds were not there only some papers, and what appeared to be certificates of stock."

 

"Yet you say you are still suspicious of this man and boy."

 

"Yes."

 

"Explain your grounds."

 

"I thought," replied the president, rather meekly, "he might have taken the bonds from the box and put in other papers."

 

"That was not very probable. Moreover, he would hardly be likely to leave the box in the village in the charge of a boy."

 

"The boy might have been his confederate."

 

"What is the boy's reputation in the village? Has he ever been detected in any act of dishonesty?"

 

"Not that I know of, but there is one suspicious circumstance to which I would like to call your attention."

 

"Well?"

 

"Since this happened Luke has come out in new clothes, and wears a silver watch. The family is very poor, and he could not have had money to buy them unless he obtained some outside aid."

 

"What, then, do you infer?"

 

"That he has been handsomely paid for his complicity in the robbery."

 

"What explanation does he personally give of this unusual expenditure¹¹?"

 

"He admits that they were paid for by this suspicious stranger."

 

"Has the stranger—what is his name, by the way?"

 

"Roland Reed, he calls himself, but this, probably, is not his real name."

 

"Well, has this Reed made his appearance in the village since?"

 

"If so, he has come during the night, and has not been seen by any of us."

 

"I can't say I share your suspicion against Mr. Reed. Your theory that he took out the bonds and substituted other papers is far-fetched and improbable. As to the boy, I consider him honest and reliable."

 

"Do you know Luke Larkin?" asked Mr. Duncan quickly.

 

"Last summer I observed him somewhat, and never saw anything wrong in him."

 

"Appearances are deceitful," said the bank president sententiously.

 

"So I have heard," returned Mr. Armstrong dryly. "But let us go on. What other steps have you taken to discover the lost box?"

 

"I have had the bank vaults¹² thoroughly¹³ searched," answered Duncan, trying to make the best of a weak situation.

 

"Of course. It is hardly to be supposed that it has been mislaid. Even if it had been it would have turned up before this. Did you discover any traces of the bank being forcibly entered?"

 

"No; but the burglar may have covered his tracks."

 

"There would have been something to show an entrance. What is the character of the cashier and teller¹⁴."

 

"I know nothing to their disadvantage."

 

"Then neither have fallen under suspicion?"

 

"Not as yet," answered the president pointedly¹⁵.

 

"It is evident," thought John Armstrong, "that Mr. Duncan is interested in diverting suspicion from some quarter. He is willing that these men should incur¹⁶ suspicion, though it is clear he has none in his own mind."

 

"Well, what else have you done? Have you employed detectives?" asked Armstrong, impatiently.

 

"I was about to do so," answered Mr. Duncan, in some embarrassment¹⁷, "when I heard that you were coming home, and I thought I would defer¹⁸ that matter for your consideration."

 

"Giving time in the meanwhile for the thief or thieves to dispose of their booty? This is very strange conduct, Mr. Duncan."

 

"I acted for the best," said Prince Duncan.

 

"You have singular ideas of what is best, then," observed Mr. Armstrong coldly. "It may be too late to remedy your singular neglect, but I will now take the matter out of your hands, and see what I can do."

 

"Will you employ detectives?" asked Duncan, with evident uneasiness.

 

Armstrong eyed him sharply, and with growing suspicion.

 

"I can't say what I will do."

 

"Have you the numbers of the missing bonds?" asked Duncan anxiously.

 

"I am not sure. I am afraid I have not."

 

Was it imagination, or did the bank president look relieved at this statement? John Armstrong made a mental note of this.

 

After eliciting¹⁹ the particulars of the disappearance²⁰ of the bonds, John Armstrong rose to go. He intended to return to the city, but he made up his mind to see Luke first. He wanted to inquire the address of Roland Reed.

 

1 dreading   

v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。
• This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。

2 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

3 erred   

犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He erred in his judgement. 他判断错了。
• We will work on those who have erred and help them do right. 我们将对犯了错误的人做工作，并帮助他们改正。

4 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

5 apprise   

vt.通知，告知

参考例句：

• He came to apprise us that the work had been successfully completed.他来通知我们工作已胜利完成。
• We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.我们必须告诉他们可能涉及的危险。

6 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》

7 complacently   

adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地

参考例句：

• He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
• "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装，"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

8 implicated   

adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的

参考例句：

• These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

10 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。

11 expenditure   

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。

12 vaults   

n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴

参考例句：

• It was deposited in the vaults of a bank. 它存在一家银行的保险库里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

15 pointedly   

adv.尖地，明显地

参考例句：

• She yawned and looked pointedly at her watch. 她打了个哈欠，又刻意地看了看手表。
• The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. 让对方道歉的要求遭到了断然拒绝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 incur   

vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇

参考例句：

• Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
• An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

17 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

18 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

19 eliciting   

n. 诱发, 引出 动词elicit的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• He succeeded in eliciting the information he needed from her. 他从她那里问出了他所需要的信息。
• A criminal trial isn't a tribunal for eliciting the truth. 刑事审讯并非是一种要探明真相的审判。

20 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。