CHAPTER XII. NO. 61 AND NO. 62.

 The stateroom was small, as most staterooms on river boats are. There appeared to be no means of ventilation. Mr. Waterbury[95] was a stout¹ man, and inclined to be short-breathed. After an hour he rose and opened the door, so as to leave it slightly ajar. With the relief thus afforded he was able to go to sleep, and sleep soundly. Tom was already asleep, and knew nothing of what had happened.

 

The number of the stateroom was 61. Directly opposite was 62, occupied by Milton Graham and his companion.

 

If Graham did not go to sleep it was because his brain was busily scheming how to obtain possession of the money belonging to his neighbors.

 

"Won't your key fit?" asked Vincent, for this was the name of the dark-complexioned young man.

 

"No use, even if it does. Of course they will lock it inside, and probably leave the key in the lock."

 

About midnight, Graham, who had not fully² undressed, having merely taken off his coat, got up, and, opening the door, peered out. To his surprise and joy he saw that the door of No. 61 was ajar. He at first thought of rousing Vincent, who was asleep; but a selfish[96] thought suggested itself. If he did this, he must share with Vincent anything he might succeed in stealing; if not, he could keep it all himself.

 

He left his stateroom silently, and looked cautiously around him. No one seemed to be stirring in the cabin. Next he stepped across, and, opening wider the door of 61, looked in. The two inmates³ were, to all appearances, sleeping soundly.

 

"So far, so good," he said to himself.

 

He stepped in, moderating even his breathing, and took up a pair of pants which lay on a chair. They belonged to Mr. Waterbury, for Tom had merely taken off his coat, and lain down as he was. His belt of gold he therefore found it unnecessary to take off.

 

Graham saw at once, from the size of the pants, that they must belong to the elder passenger. This suited him, however, as he knew from Vincent's information that Mr. Waterbury had six hundred dollars, and Tom could not be supposed to have anything like this sum. He felt eagerly in the pockets, and to his great joy his hand came in contact with a pocketbook. He drew it out without ceremony.[97] It was a comfortable-looking wallet, fairly bulging⁴ with bills.

 

"He's got all his money inside," thought Graham, delighted. "What a fool he must be to leave it so exposed—with his door open, too!"

 

At this moment Graham heard a stir in the lower berth⁵. There was no time to wait. He glided⁶ out of the room, and reentered his own stateroom. Immediately after his departure Mr. Waterbury, who had awakened⁷ in time to catch sight of his receding⁹ figure, rose in his berth, and drew toward him the garment which Graham had rifled. He felt in the pocket, and discovered that the wallet had been taken.

 

Instead of making a fuss, he smiled quietly, and said: "Just as I expected."

 

"I wonder if they have robbed Tom, too," he said to himself.

 

He rose, closed the door, and then shook Tom with sufficient energy to awaken⁸ him.

 

"Who's there?" asked Tom, in some bewilderment, as he opened his eyes.

 

"It's I—Mr. Waterbury."

 

"Is it morning? Have we arrived?"[98]

 

"No, it is about midnight."

 

"Is there anything the matter?"

 

"I want you to see if you have been robbed.'"

 

Tom was broad awake in an instant.

 

"Robbed!" he exclaimed, in alarm. He felt for his belt and was relieved.

 

"No," he answered. "What makes you ask?"

 

"Because I have had a wallet taken. It makes me laugh when I think of it."

 

"Makes you laugh!" repeated Tom, under the transient impression that his companion was insane. "Why should you laugh at the loss of your money?"

 

"I saw the thief sneak¹⁰ out of the stateroom," continued Mr. Waterbury; "but I didn't interfere¹¹ with him."

 

"You didn't!" said Tom, completely mystified. "I would. Did you see who it was?"

 

"Yes; it was your friend and late roommate."

 

"Mr. Graham?"

 

"As he calls himself. I don't suppose he has any rightful claim to the name."

 

"Surely, Mr. Waterbury, you are not going to let him keep the money," said Tom energetically;[99] "I'll go with you, and make him give it up. Where is his stateroom?"

 

"Just opposite—No. 62."

 

"We had better go at once," said Tom, sitting up in his berth.

 

"Oh, no; he's welcome to all there is in the pocketbook."

 

"Wasn't there anything in it?"

 

"It was stuffed full."

 

Tom was more than ever convinced that his roommate was crazy. He had heard that misfortune sometimes affected¹² a man's mind; and he was inclined to think that here was a case in point.

 

"You'll get it back," said he soothingly¹³. "Graham can't get off the boat. We will report the matter to the captain."

 

"I don't care whether I get it back or not," said Mr. Waterbury.

 

Tom looked so confused and bewildered that his companion felt called upon to end the mystification.

 

"I know what is in your mind," he said, smiling. "You think I am crazy."

 

"I don't understand how you can take your loss so coolly, sir."[100]

 

"Then I will explain. That wallet was a dummy¹⁴."

 

"A what, sir?"

 

"A sham—a pretense¹⁵. My pocketbook and money are safe under my pillow. The wallet taken by your friend was filled with imitation greenbacks; in reality, business circulars of a firm in Marietta."

 

Tom saw it all now.

 

"It's a capital joke," he said, laughing. "I'd like to see how Graham looks when he discovers the value of his prize."

 

"He will look green, and feel greener, I suspect," chuckled¹⁶ Mr. Waterbury. "You are certain you have lost nothing, Tom?"

 

"Perfectly¹⁷ certain, sir."

 

"Then we won't trouble ourselves about what has happened. I fancy, however, it will be best to keep our own door locked for the remainder of the night, even at the risk of suffocation¹⁸."

 

"That's a capital trick of yours, Mr. Waterbury," said Tom admiringly.

 

"It has more than once saved me from robbery. I have occasion to travel considerably¹⁹, and so am more or less exposed."[101]

 

"I wonder if Graham will discover the cheat before morning."

 

"I doubt it. The staterooms are dark, and the imitation is so good that on casual inspection²⁰ the strips of paper will appear to be genuine greenbacks."

 

Mr. Waterbury retired²¹ to his berth, and was soon asleep again. Tom, as he lay awake, from time to time laughed to himself, as he thought of Graham's coming disappointment, and congratulated himself that he and that young man were no longer roommates.

 

When Graham returned to his stateroom Vincent, who was a light sleeper²², was aroused by the slight noise he made.

 

"Are you up, Graham?" he asked.

 

"Yes; I got up a minute."

 

"Have you been out of the stateroom?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What for?"

 

"To get a glass of water."

 

There was a vessel²³ of water in the cabin, and this seemed plausible²⁴ enough.

 

"Any chance of doing anything to-night?"

 

"No, I think not."

 

Vincent sank back on his pillow, and Graham[102] got back into his berth. Quietly he drew the wallet from his pocket, in which he had placed it, and eagerly opened it. The huge roll of bills was a pleasant and welcome sight.

 

"There's all of six hundred dollars here!" he said to himself. "I mustn't let Vincent know that I have them."

 

It occurred to Graham that, of course, Mr. Waterbury would proclaim his loss in the morning, and it also occurred to him that he might be able to fasten suspicion upon Tom, who, as his roommate, would naturally have the best chance to commit the robbery. One thing might criminate him—the discovery of the wallet upon his person. He therefore waited till Vincent was once more asleep, and, getting up softly, made his way to the deck. He drew the bills from the wallet, put them in an inside pocket, and threw the wallet into the river.

 

"Now I'm safe," he muttered, with a sigh of relief. "The money may be found on me, but no one can prove it is not my own."

 

He gained his berth without again awakening²⁵ his companion.[103]

 

"A pretty good night's work!" he said to himself, in quiet exultation²⁶. "Alone I have succeeded, while Vincent lies in stupid sleep. He is no match for me, much as he thinks of himself. I have stolen a march upon him this time."

 

It is not in accordance with our ideas of the fitness of things that a man who has committed a midnight robbery should be able to sleep tranquilly²⁷ for the balance of the night, but it is at any rate certain that Graham slept soundly till his roommate awakened him in the morning.

 

"Rouse up, Graham," he said. "Breakfast is nearly ready."

 

"Is it?" asked Graham.

 

"Instead of sleeping there, you ought to be thinking how we can make a forced loan from our acquaintances in 61."

 

"To be sure," said Graham, smiling. "I am rather stupid about such things. Have you any plan to suggest?"

 

"You seem very indifferent all at once," said Vincent.

 

"Not at all. If you think of anything practical I am your man."[104]

 

He longed to get rid of Vincent, in order to have an opportunity of counting his roll of bills.

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bulging   

膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱

参考例句：

• Her pockets were bulging with presents. 她的口袋里装满了礼物。
• Conscious of the bulging red folder, Nim told her,"Ask if it's important." 尼姆想到那个鼓鼓囊囊的红色文件夹便告诉她：“问问是不是重要的事。”

5 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

6 glided   

v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。
• They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

9 receding   

v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题

参考例句：

• Desperately he struck out after the receding lights of the yacht. 游艇的灯光渐去渐远，他拼命划水追赶。 来自辞典例句
• Sounds produced by vehicles receding from us seem lower-pitched than usual. 渐渐远离我们的运载工具发出的声似乎比平常的音调低。 来自辞典例句

10 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

12 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。

13 soothingly   

adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地

参考例句：

• The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘，她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 dummy   

n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头

参考例句：

• The police suspect that the device is not a real bomb but a dummy.警方怀疑那个装置不是真炸弹，只是一个假货。
• The boys played soldier with dummy swords made of wood.男孩们用木头做的假木剑玩打仗游戏。

15 pretense   

n.矫饰，做作，借口

参考例句：

• You can't keep up the pretense any longer.你无法继续伪装下去了。
• Pretense invariably impresses only the pretender.弄虚作假欺骗不了真正的行家。

16 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

17 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。

18 suffocation   

n.窒息

参考例句：

• The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
• The room was hot to suffocation. 房间热得闷人。 来自辞典例句

19 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

20 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

21 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

22 sleeper   

n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺

参考例句：

• I usually go up to London on the sleeper. 我一般都乘卧车去伦敦。
• But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. 但首先他解释说自己睡觉很沉。

23 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

24 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。

25 awakening   

n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的

参考例句：

• the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
• People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。

26 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。

27 tranquilly   

adv. 宁静地

参考例句：

• He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. 他拿起刷子，一声不响地干了起来。
• The evening was closing down tranquilly. 暮色正在静悄悄地笼罩下来。