The pious6 Agaric shared the common hope. But he still worked to win partisans7 for the Pretender. They ought, he said, to lay their foundations upon the bed-rock.
With this design he had an interview with three Trade union workmen.
In these times the artisans no longer lived, as in the days of the Draconides, under the government of corporations. They were free, but they had no assured pay. After having remained isolated8 from each other for a long time, without help and without support, they had formed themselves into unions. The coffers of the unions were empty, as it was not the habit of the unionists to pay their subscriptions9. There were unions numbering thirty thousand members, others with a thousand, five hundred, two hundred, and so forth10. Several numbered two or three members only, or even a few less. But as the lists of adherents11 were not published, it was not easy to distinguish the great unions from the small ones.
After some dark and indirect steps the pious Agaric was put into communication in a room in the Moulin de la Galette, with comrades Dagobert, Tronc, and Balafille, the secretaries of three unions of which the first numbered fourteen members, the second twenty-four, and the third only one. Agaric showed extreme cleverness at this interview.
“Gentlemen,” said he, “you and I have not, in most respects, the same political and social views, but there are points in which we may come to an understanding. We have a common enemy. The government exploits you and despises us. Help us to overthrow13 it; we will supply you with the means so far as we are able, and you can in addition count on our gratitude14.”
“Fork out the tin,” said Dagobert.
The Reverend Father placed on the table a bag which the distiller of Conils had given him with tears in his eyes.
“Done!” said the three companions.
Thus was the solemn compact sealed.
As soon as the monk15 had departed, carrying with him the joy of having won over the masses to his cause, Dagobert, Tronc, and Balafille whistled to their wives, Amelia, Queenie, and Matilda, who were waiting in the street for the signal, and all six holding each other’s hands, danced around the bag, singing:
J’ai du bon pognon,
Tu n’l’auras pas Chatillon!
Hou! Hou! la calotte!
And they ordered a salad-bowl of warm wine.
In the evening all six went through the street from stall to stall singing their new song. The song became popular, for the detectives reported that every day showed an increase of the number of workpeople who sang through the slums:
J’ai du bon pognon;
Tu n’l’auras pas Chatillon!
Hou! Hou! la calotte!
The Dracophil agitation16 made no progress in the provinces. The pious Agaric sought to find the cause of this, but was unable to discover it until old Cornemuse revealed it to him.
“I have proofs,” sighed the monk of Conils, “that the Duke of Ampoule, the treasurer17 of the Dracophils, has bought property in Porpoisia with the funds that he received for the propaganda.”
The party wanted money. Prince des Boscenos had lost his portfolio18 in a brawl19 and he was reduced to painful expedients20 which were repugnant to his impetuous character. The Viscountess Olive was expensive. Cornemuse advised that the monthly allowance of that lady should be diminished.
“She is very useful to us,” objected the pious Agaric.
“Undoubtedly,” answered Cornemuse, “but she does us an injury by ruining us.”
A schism21 divided the Dracophils. Misunderstandings reigned22 in their councils. Some wished that in accordance with the policy of M. Bigourd and the pious Agaric, they should carry on the design of reforming the Republic. Others, wearied by their long constraint23, had resolved to proclaim the Dragon’s crest24 and swore to conquer beneath that sign.
The latter urged the advantage of a clear situation and the impossibility of making a pretence25 much longer, and in truth, the public began to see whither the agitation was tending and that the Emiral’s partisans wanted to destroy the very foundations of the Republic.
A report was spread that the prince was to land at La Cirque and make his entry into Alca on a green horse.
These rumours26 excited the fanatical monks27, delighted the poor nobles, satisfied the rich Jewish ladies, and put hope in the hearts of the small traders. But very few of them were inclined to purchase these benefits at the price of a social catastrophe28 and the overthrow of the public credit; and there were fewer still who would have risked their money, their peace, their liberty, or a single hour from their pleasures in the business. On the other hand, the workmen held themselves ready, as ever, to give a day’s work to the Republic, and a strong resistance was being formed in the suburbs.
“The people are with us,” the pious Agaric used to say.
However, men, women, and children, when leaving their factories, used to shout with one voice:
A bas Chatillon!
Hou! Hou! la calotte!
As for the government, it showed the weakness, indecision, flabbiness, and heedlessness common to all governments, and from which none has ever departed without falling into arbitrariness and violence. In three words it knew nothing, wanted nothing, and could do nothing. Formose, shut in his presidential palace, remained blind, dumb, deaf, huge, invisible, wrapped up in his pride as in an eider-down.
Count Olive advised the Dracophils to make a last appeal for funds and to attempt a great stroke while Alca was still in a ferment29.
An executive committee, which he himself had chosen, decided30 to kidnap the members of the Chamber31 of Deputies, and considered ways and means.
The affair was fixed32 for the twenty-eighth of July. On that day the sun rose radiantly over the city. In front of the legislative33 palace women passed to market with their baskets; hawkers cried their peaches, pears, and grapes; cab horses with their noses in their bags munched34 their hay. Nobody expected anything, not because the secret had been kept but because it met with nothing but unbelievers. Nobody believed in a revolution, and from this fact we may conclude that nobody desired one. About two o’clock the deputies began to pass, few and unnoticed, through the side-door of the palace. At three o’clock a few groups of badly dressed men had formed. At half past three black masses coming from the adjacent streets spread over Revolution Square. This vast expanse was soon covered by an ocean of soft hats, and the crowd of demonstrators, continually increased by sight-seers, having crossed the bridge, struck its dark wave against the walls of the legislative enclosure. Cries, murmurs35, and songs went up to the impassive sky. “It is Chatillon we want!” “Down with the Deputies!” “Down with the Republicans!” “Death to the Republicans!” The devoted36 band of Dracophils, led by Prince des Boscenos, struck up the august canticle:
Vive Crucho,
Vaillant et sage37,
Plein de courage
Des le berceau!
Behind the wall silence alone replied.
This silence and the absence of guards encouraged and at the same time frightened the crowd. Suddenly a formidable voice cried out:
“Attack!”
And Prince des Boscenos was seen raising his gigantic form to the top of the wall, which was covered with barbs38 and iron spikes40. Behind him rushed his companions, and the people followed. Some hammered against the wall to make holes in it; others endeavoured to tear down the spikes and to pull out the barbs. These defences had given way in places and some of the invaders41 had stripped the wall and were sitting astride on the top. Prince des Boscenos was waving an immense green flag. Suddenly the crowd wavered and from it came a long cry of terror. The police and the Republican carabineers issuing out of all the entrances of the palace formed themselves into a column beneath the wall and in a moment it was cleared of its besiegers. After a long moment of suspense42 the noise of arms was heard, and the police charged the crowd with fixed bayonets. An instant afterwards and on the deserted43 square strewn with hats and walking-sticks there reigned a sinister44 silence. Twice again the Dracophils attempted to form, twice they were repulsed45. The rising was conquered. But Prince des Boscenos, standing12 on the wall of the hostile palace, his flag in his hand, still repelled46 the attack of a whole brigade. He knocked down all who approached him. At last he, too, was thrown down, and fell on an iron spike39, to which he remained hooked, still clasping the standard of the Draconides.
On the following day the Ministers of the Republic and the Members of Parliament determined47 to take energetic measures. In vain this time, did President Formose attempt to evade48 his responsibilities. The government discussed the question of depriving Chatillon of his rank and dignities and of indicting50 him before the High Court as a conspirator51, an enemy of the public good, a traitor52, etc.
At this news the Emiral’s old companions in arms, who the very evening before had beset53 him with their adulations, made no effort to conceal54 their joy. But Chatillon remained popular with the middle classes of Alca and one still heard the hymn55 of the liberator56 sounding in the streets, “It is Chatillon we want.”
The Ministers were embarrassed. They intended to indict49 Chatillon before the High Court. But they knew nothing; they remained in that total ignorance reserved for those who govern men. They were incapable57 of advancing any grave charges against Chatillon. They could supply the prosecution58 with nothing but the ridiculous lies of their spies. Chatillon’s share in the plot and his relations with Prince Crucho remained the secret of the thirty thousand Dracophils. The Ministers and the Deputies had suspicions and even certainties, but they had no proofs. The Public Prosecutor59 said to the Minister of Justice: “Very little is needed for a political prosecution! but I have nothing at all and that is not enough.” The affair made no progress. The enemies of the Republic were triumphant60.
On the eighteenth of September the news ran in Alca that Chatillon had taken flight. Everywhere there was surprise and astonishment61. People doubted, for they could not understand.
This is what had happened: One day as the brave Under–Emiral Vulcanmould happened, as if by chance, to go into the office of M. Barbotan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he remarked with his usual frankness:
“M. Barbotan, your colleagues do not seem to me to be up to much; it is evident that they have never commanded a ship. That fool Chatillon gives them a deuced bad fit of the shivers.”
The Minister, in sign of denial, waved his paper-knife in the air above his desk.
“Don’t deny it,” answered Vulcanmould. “You don’t know how to get rid of Chatillon. You do not dare to indict him before the High Court because you are not sure of being able to bring forward a strong enough charge. Bigourd will defend him, and Bigourd is a clever advocate. . . . You are right, M. Barbotan, you are right. It would be a dangerous trial.”
“Ah! my friend,” said the Minister, in a careless tone, “if you knew how satisfied we are. . . . I receive the most reassuring62 news from my prefects. The good sense of the Penguins63 will do justice to the intrigues64 of this mutinous65 soldier. Can you suppose for a moment that a great people, an intelligent, laborious66 people, devoted to liberal institutions which . . . ”
Vulcanmould interrupted with a great sigh:
“Ah! If I had time to do it I would relieve you of your difficulty. I would juggle67 away my Chatillon like a nutmeg out of a thimble. I would fillip him off to Porpoisia.”
The Minister paid close attention.
“It would not take long,” continued the sailor. “I would rid you in a trice of the creature. . . . But just now I have other fish to fry. . . . I am in a bad hole. I must find a pretty big sum. But, deuce take it, honour before everything.”
The Minister and the Under–Emiral looked at each other for a moment in silence. Then Barbotan said with authority:
“Under–Emiral Vulcanmould, get rid of this seditious soldier. You will render a great service to Penguinia, and the Minister of Home Affairs will see that your gambling68 debts are paid.”
The same evening Vulcanmould called on Chatillon and looked at him for some time with an expression of grief and mystery.
“Why do you look like that?” answered the Emiral in an uneasy tone.
Vulcanmould said to him sadly:
“Old brother in arms, all is discovered. For the past half-hour the government knows everything.”
At these words Chatillon sank down overwhelmed.
Vulcanmould continued:
“You may be arrested any moment. I advise you to make off.”
And drawing out his watch:
“Not a minute to lose.”
“Have I time to call on the Viscountess Olive?”
“It would be mad,” said Vulcanmould, handing him a passport and a pair of blue spectacles, and telling him to have courage.
“I will,” said Chatillon.
“Good-bye! old chum.”
“Good-bye and thanks! You have saved my life.”
“That is the least I could do.”
A quarter of an hour later the brave Emiral had left the city of Alca.
He embarked69 at night on an old cutter at La Cirque and set sail for Porpoisia. But eight miles from the coast he was captured by a despatch-boat which was sailing without lights and which was under the flag of the Queen of the Black Islands. That Queen had for a long time nourished a fatal passion for Chatillon.
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1
culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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6
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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7
partisans
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| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
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8
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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subscriptions
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| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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12
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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13
overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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14
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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15
monk
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| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
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16
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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17
treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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18
portfolio
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| n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位 | |
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19
brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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20
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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21
schism
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| n.分派，派系，分裂 | |
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22
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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23
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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24
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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25
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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26
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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27
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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28
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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29
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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30
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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31
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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32
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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33
legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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34
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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36
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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37
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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38
barbs
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| n.（箭头、鱼钩等的）倒钩( barb的名词复数 )；带刺的话；毕露的锋芒；钩状毛 | |
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39
spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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40
spikes
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| n.穗( spike的名词复数 )；跑鞋；（防滑）鞋钉；尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 )；偷偷地给某人的饮料加入（更多）酒精（ 或药物）；把尖状物钉入；打乱某人的计划 | |
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41
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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42
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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43
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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44
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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45
repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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46
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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47
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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48
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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49
indict
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| v.起诉，控告，指控 | |
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50
indicting
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| 控告，起诉( indict的现在分词 ) | |
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51
conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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52
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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53
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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54
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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55
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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56
liberator
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| 解放者 | |
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57
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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58
prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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59
prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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60
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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61
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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62
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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63
penguins
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| n.企鹅( penguin的名词复数 ) | |
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64
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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65
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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66
laborious
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| adj.吃力的，努力的，不流畅 | |
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67
juggle
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| v.变戏法，纂改，欺骗，同时做；n.玩杂耍，纂改，花招 | |
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68
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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69
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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