CHAPTER XVIII. UNCLE AND NEPHEW.

 Our hero stopped short, and, being directly in the path of his uncle, the latter was compelled to stop, too.

 

"Mr. Grey," said Gilbert.

 

"That's my name," said the other, who had not yet taken particular notice of the youth who addressed him. But, as he spoke¹, he looked at him, and instantly recognized him. Gilbert could see that he did by his sudden start, and expression of surprise and annoyance². He couldn't understand how the New York bootblack had been metamorphosed into the well-dressed and gentlemanly-looking young clerk. He regretted so soon acknowledging his name, and marveled how Gilbert could have learned it.

 

"What business have you with me, young man?" he continued, formally.

 

"I have wanted to meet you for a long time," said Gilbert.

 

"Indeed!" said his uncle, with a sneer³. "I am rather surprised to hear this, not having, to my knowledge, ever had the honor of seeing you before."

 

"I am your nephew," said Gilbert, bluntly.

 

"Then he knows," said Mr. Grey to himself, rather disturbed.

 

"I confess," he said, in the same sarcastic⁴ tone, "I am slightly disturbed at being claimed as a near relative by a stranger whom I happen to encounter in the street. May I ask how you happen to be my nephew?"

 

"I am the son of your older brother, John," said Gilbert.

 

"That can hardly be, young man. My brother had but one son, and he died."

 

"Disappeared, you mean," said Gilbert, significantly.

 

"There is no doubt that he died," said Mr. Grey, positively⁵.

 

"Then he has come to life again, for I am he."

 

"You are an impudent⁶ impostor," said Mr. Grey, hotly; "but you have missed your mark. I am not so easily humbugged. I denounce you and your pretensions⁷ as alike false. Let me pass."

 

As he said this he attempted to pass Gilbert, but our hero had no intention of losing sight of his uncle.

 

"Of course you can pass," he said; "but I shall follow you."

 

"You will?" demanded his uncle, shaking his cane⁸ angrily. "Then I will put you in the hands of the police."

 

"I don't think you will," said Gilbert, with perfect composure.

 

"Why not? What is to hinder me, I should like to know?"

 

"It wouldn't be good policy for you to do it."

 

"Why not, you impudent young rascal⁹?"

 

"Because I should let the relationship be known."

 

"Well?"

 

"And why is it that you deny it?"

 

"Well," said Mr. Grey, his attention caught, "why do I deny it?"

 

"Because you are in possession of my father's property, which, of right, belongs to me!" said Gilbert, firmly, looking his uncle in the eyes. "It is your interest to deny the relationship."

 

James Grey saw that his long injustice¹⁰ had come home to him at last. How could this stripling have learned what he had taken such pains to conceal¹¹? What was he to do? Was he to admit the boy's claims, and surrender the estate? He could not make up his mind to do it. He must stave off the attack, if he could.

 

"This is a ridiculous story," he said. "Somebody has been making a fool of you."

 

"Didn't you have an older brother, named John?"

 

"Yes," Mr. Grey admitted, unwillingly¹³.

 

"Did he not have a son?"

 

"Yes; but, as I told you, he died."

 

"He only disappeared. He was carried away, for what object, you can tell."

 

"You are dealing¹⁴ in mysteries. I don't know what you are talking about." Mr. Grey said this, but his troubled look showed that he did not feel as unconcerned as he pretended.

 

Gilbert continued:

 

"The man who carried me off was a clerk in your employ. His name was Jacob Morton."

 

"So he took you to Australia, did he? That's a likely story."

 

"Yes. He was supplied with money by you for the purpose. But he did not like Australia. After awhile he returned to New York, and there I was brought up in the streets, suffering every privation, while you were enjoying the property my father left."

 

"Well, have you got anything more to say? The tale does great credit to your invention."

 

"Three years ago—a little more, perhaps—I saw you in New York. I brushed your boots on the steps of the Astor House."

 

"Better and better. I am expected to recognize a New York bootblack as my nephew!"

 

"It was your fault that I was reduced to be a bootblack."

 

"How happens it that you are not in the same line of business now? Perhaps you are."

 

"Jacob died and left me a few dollars, with which I came out West. Before he died he gave me a written paper, in which he revealed all the plot into which he entered with you."

 

"He gave you a paper, did he?"

 

"Yes. From it I learned that I was born in Cincinnati, and I expected to find you here. But I looked in vain. After awhile I found my father's place of business. I introduced myself to Mr. Ferguson, and he gave me a place in his employ."

 

"On the strength of your ridiculous story, I suppose?"

 

"Because he believed me to be the son of his old employer, John Grey."

 

"I thought Ferguson had more sense than to be duped by such a designing young rascal."

 

"He tells me that I bear a strong resemblance to my father. Look in my face, Uncle James, and tell me whether it is not true."

 

Almost involuntarily James Grey fixed¹⁵ his eyes on the frank, handsome face of his nephew, as he stood intrepidly¹⁶ before him, and he was forced, however reluctantly, to admit to himself that the resemblance was indeed very striking.

 

The case was getting more serious than he had expected. Gilbert had already been recognized as the missing son of John Grey, and that by a man whose testimony¹⁷ would carry great weight. Old Jacob had testified not only to his identity, but to the wrongful compact by which Gilbert had been spirited away to suit his uncle's rapacity¹⁸. Were this publicly known, his reputation would be destroyed, and he would be deprived of the wealth which he had labored¹⁹ so dishonestly to acquire. Evidently the claim was not to be disposed of so easily as he had at first supposed.

 

"What do you call yourself?" he asked.

 

"Gilbert Grey."

 

"Of course you would take the name of the boy you pretend to be."

 

"Then you don't believe I am Gilbert Grey?"

 

"No, I do not. I believe that Gilbert Grey is dead."

 

"Are you willing to come with me to Mr. Ferguson's, and speak to him about it?"

 

"No, I am not. I have not time. I must leave Cincinnati at once."

 

"Then will you tell me where you live?"

 

"No."

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because I see that you intend to follow me up and persecute²⁰ me about this preposterous²¹ claim. I don't choose to be troubled."

 

"If I am an impostor, you can prove me to be so."

 

"I don't choose to waste my time in doing it."

 

"Mr. Grey," said Gilbert, "I might as well tell you that I am determined²² in this matter. I know that you have an object in keeping me out of my rights; but I am bound to have them. I shall place the matter in the hands of a lawyer, and he can soon find out, by advertising²³, where you live, even if you try to keep it secret from me."

 

James Grey realized the truth of this, and he changed his tack¹².

 

"You say that you have a paper, signed by Jacob Morton, attesting²⁴ your identity."

 

"Not only signed, but written by him."

 

"I should like to see that paper. Have you got it with you?"

 

"No, but I can lay my hands upon it immediately."

 

"Then bring it to me at the Burnet House this afternoon, at three o'clock. I will be in the reading-room of the hotel."

 

"I will bring it."

 

The two then separated.

 

Gilbert went immediately, returned to his place of business, resolved to inform Mr. Ferguson, whom he looked upon as a good friend, that his uncle was found.

1 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。

2 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

3 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。

4 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

5 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

6 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

7 pretensions   

自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力

参考例句：

• The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. 这出戏讽刺了新中产阶级的装模作样。
• The city has unrealistic pretensions to world-class status. 这个城市不切实际地标榜自己为国际都市。

8 cane   

n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的

参考例句：

• This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
• English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。

9 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。

10 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

11 conceal   

v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽

参考例句：

• He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。
• He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

12 tack   

n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝

参考例句：

• He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
• We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。

13 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。

14 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

15 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。

16 intrepidly   

adv.无畏地，勇猛地

参考例句：

17 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

18 rapacity   

n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望

参考例句：

• Here was neither guile nor rapacity. 在她身上没有狡诈和贪婪。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• During the whole process of construction, the operational safty and rapacity of track must be guaranteed. 改建施工期内不影响正线运营安全，也不降低通过能力。 来自互联网

19 labored   

adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转

参考例句：

• I was close enough to the elk to hear its labored breathing. 我离那头麋鹿非常近，能听见它吃力的呼吸声。 来自辞典例句
• They have labored to complete the job. 他们努力完成这一工作。 来自辞典例句

20 persecute   

vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰

参考例句：

• They persecute those who do not conform to their ideas.他们迫害那些不信奉他们思想的人。
• Hitler's undisguised effort to persecute the Jews met with worldwide condemnation.希特勒对犹太人的露骨迫害行为遭到世界人民的谴责。

21 preposterous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的

参考例句：

• The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
• It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。

22 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。

23 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

24 attesting   

v.证明( attest的现在分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓

参考例句：

• Thus, a word of God, giving his own authoritative promise of redemption, must be self-attesting. 因此，上帝的话-将祂自己权威性的救赎应许赐给了人-必须是自证的。 来自互联网
• There might be a letter in your file attesting to your energetic and imaginative teaching. 可能我会写封信证明你生动而充满想象力的教学。 来自互联网