Rashleigh, having heard Tyrrell’s story to an end, complimented him much upon his talents and good fortune in escaping so easily, shortly after which they were all locked up for the night. Parties of the ward1 inmates2 being formed, some sang songs, some gambled, some related their exploits to others, and all drank most plentifully3, there being in those days no lack of either spirits, wine or porter to be found within the precincts of His Majesty5’s Gaol6, Newgate. Porter, indeed, was allowed by the regulations. and those who had money found no difficulty in obtaining all the rest.
The manner in which the prison days were spent being so much alike, it is needless to do more than say that every day they went to prayers, ate, drank, sang, gambled, and drank again. In fact, it would appear that all the knowing ones were quite as comfortable in gaol as anywhere else; and those who were not fully4 initiated7 into all the arts of thieving and villainy when first they went into prison were sure, at least, of being quite proficient8 by the time they came out of it. There was not the slightest attempt at classification, save that arising from the sale of superior accommodations to those who could pay for them. In all other respects the hoary9 thief, who had passed a long life in successful violation10 of the law, was here placed in the same apartment with the raw shop-boy, confined for robbing his master’s till. And the freedom from restraint and self-congratulation of manner with which these old practitioners11 in knavery12 boasted of their exploits, and the glowing pictures they frequently drew of the enjoyments13 derivable14 from a life of plunder15, seldom failed in making confirmed and hardened villains17 of all those who listened to them.
In this manner the time sped until the week before the sessions arrived, that period which some wished for, others dreaded19, and all prepared to meet. This was indeed a busy season with the inmates of the Smugglers’ Ward. They had counsel to fee, attorneys to instruct, witnesses to bribe20 and defences to draw up. Rashleigh, having once been in some sort a member of the legal profession, now found his services much in request, to write letters, prepare statements and adapt questions for the cross-examination of inflexible21 evidences. For all this he obtained a considerable sum of money, so that he was not only enabled to fee counsel for himself, but also to procure22 some decent apparel for his approaching trial. He, however, entertained very slight hopes of an acquittal, the evidence of his quondam associate being quite strong and conclusive23. Besides, there was every prospect24 of strenuous25 endeavours being made on the part of the Crown to secure his conviction; as unless he were found guilty, the Israelite indicted26 for receiving the plate he had stolen was sure of an acquittal likewise. And it will be remembered that the thief catchers of the metropolis27 had long been endeavouring to suppress so noted28 a fence as the person in question was well known to be. Indeed, for several years they had been upon the alert, ardently29 longing30 for the opportunity, which now seemed to offer itself to them by chance. Under these circumstances Ralph saw no prospect save that of conviction before him; yet he was resolved not to omit anything that might tend to his escape from justice. With this view he prepared his defence with all the skill of which he was master, and thus occupied, the day fixed31 for the commencement of the sessions came upon him: those sessions which were fraught32 with the destinies of upwards33 of four hundred human beings of both sexes, all ages and conditions.
The inmates of Newgate were informed by the Calendar of the order in which the trials were to occur, and the arched gateway34 through which the prisoners returned from the Sessions House being close by the ward in which our adventurer now lived, he had ample opportunities for observing the features and deportment of the confines, both before and after they received their sentences. But in few cases indeed could he perceive either regret or compunction. Those who were condemned35 to any periods less than seven years’ transportation triumphed almost as much as if they had been acquitted36. The boys particularly, who were very numerous, jested with the greatest sang froid at the idea of a flogging, which most of them had been sentenced to receive, and which they scoffingly37 termed a “teasing”. Those who had been doomed39 to seven years’ transportation called it a “small fine of eighty-four months”. Even those who had been sentenced for fourteen years or life to the same punishment had some joke to pass on the subject to their fellows in the yard as they went through to their several destinations. As for those sentenced to die, they endeavoured to eclipse all the others in the daring obscenity and gross brutality40 of their jests.
By some accident a number of housebreakers were ordered for trial on the same day, and Ralph’s blood ran cold on being informed by one that had just returned from the Court, that all had been found guilty, and all had been doomed to death, or as his informant expressed it, “that they were celling them like b —— y bullocks”, meaning, sending them to the condemned cells. The crime of burglary had been peculiarly prevalent in the metropolis during the previous winter, and it seemed as if the jurors were determined42 not to allow any of the accused to escape. It was therefore with a depressed43 mind that our adventurer obeyed the summons which placed him before his judge at the criminal bar. As usual in this well-known Court, there was an ample assemblage of spectators, most of them being of the lowest class. Some of these were gossiping, some cracking nuts, others jokes on various subjects. Upon the appearance of the prisoner, the lawyers began to handle their papers with a business-like air, and the solemn farce44 called a trial began.
Ralph Rashleigh was indicted by that name for having on a certain day and date, set forth45 in the arraignment46, with force and arms feloniously broken into and entered the dwelling-house of Westley Shortland Esquire in the night-time, and for having therein stolen taken and carried away a large quantity of silver plate his property contrary to the statute47 and against the peace of Our Soverign Lord the King his crown and dignity, the indictment48 being interlarded with a vast number of other legal phrases. To this, of course, he pleaded “Not guilty”, and put himself upon his trial.
A jury was now empanelled, and the advocate for the prisoner having declined to challenge any of their number, the case proceeded. The learned counsel for the Crown, after an eloquent49 exordium, in which he dwelt at great length upon the many daring depredations50 recently committed under covert51 of the night upon the properties of the peaceful and well-disposed inhabitants of the town, proceeded to give a sketch52 of the case in question as he had been informed it would be proved in evidence; and he wound up by reverting53 to the skilful54 and adroit55 manner in which the robbery had been perpetrated, at the same time charitably requesting the jurymen to dismiss all prejudices from their minds and to try the case solely56 by the statement of the witnesses. Nevertheless, he kindly57 averred58 his private opinion to be that the prisoner at the bar was a scoundrel of the deepest dye, steeped in crime to the very lips.
The evidence of Mr Shortland’s butler was now taken. He swore that having obtained his master’s permission to pay a visit to a sick friend for a day or two, he had collected the whole of the plate under his care and safely locked the articles in the pantry on the night in question. A female servant next deposed59 to finding the pantry locked up but all its valuable contents missing on the following morning. The approver then completed the whole case by giving a clear and distinct detail of the manner in which the prisoner and himself had actually committed the crime in question. His evidence was sustained by that of the hackney coachman, who had also been admitted to give testimony60 on the part of the Crown. And though Rashleigh’s counsel most cunningly cross-questioned both these latter personages, and elicited61 from Jenkins in particular the admission that he had been a thief from his earliest youth and of his having been actively62 engaged in the commission of every species of crime during a period of twenty-five years, yet the damning fact of the want of any regular or honest mode of livelihood63 on the part of Rashleigh rendered all efforts abortive64. After a brief pause, the jury, without retiring, found Ralph Rashleigh guilty of the crime of burglary.
A moment of thrilling suspense65 followed. The recorder, amid an awful silence, then addressed the convict, pointing out the enormity of his offence, dwelt at some length upon the villainous career of crime which it was evident he had passed through, and which he was now about to consummate66 by an ignominious67 end, and finally passed upon him the sentence of execution in the customary formula. Ralph scarcely saw his judge or heard a syllable68 of what he said, for notwithstanding this event had been in a great measure fully anticipated by him, yet at last the reality of the blow fell upon him with a force that was absolutely paralyzing. After having cast a hurried and furtive70 glance around the Court upon the spectators who thronged71 it, he stepped mechanically out of the dock. No eye appeared to pity or regard him. Most of the auditory were already occupied in speculations72 upon the probable fate of the next prisoner, who now excited their attention as he approached in his turn to take his trial.
The prisoner and his guide traversed the long and gloomy vaulted73 passage that separated the gaol from the Sessions Hall in silence, and at last reached the yard Ralph had so lately quitted for trial. Tyrrell stood there. He asked, “What luck?”
Ralph had not time to answer before the turnkey shouted out, “Cells!” to another officer who there awaited to receive the prisoners.
With a significant gesture Tyrrell shook Rashleigh by the hand, saying, “Keep up your heart, my boy. Never drop down,” and he slipped a small packet to his friend at the same time.
Rashleigh returned the pressure with a sickly smile as he was hurried off. They now passed through several yards and many passages, until at last they reached the condemned side and were ushered74 into a large room, the counterpart of that comfortless domicile in which our confine had spent his first night within these dreary75 walls.
Here, though it was as yet only the third day of the sessions, there were no less than forty-six men, most of them very young and all sentenced to die by the hangman’s hated noose76. Yet with all this, there was not a single instance of gravity, far less of that gloom which might have reasonably been expected as a Concomitant to these circumstances. They hailed Ralph’s entrée with loud cries of “Fish-oh!”
Many of them crowded around him to ask his crime, to which briefly77 replying, “a crack,” (housebreaking) he was told that twenty-eight of those present were condemned for similar offences, and one fellow remarked that “the scragsman (hangman) would get a rare benefit that touch”. All present joined in a hearty78 peal79 of laughter at this sally, as if it had been some brilliant jest that called forth their admiration80.
Ralph being now invited to dinner by a quondam companion from the Smugglers’ Ward, they sat down together, speculating during their meal upon the probable number that would actually suffer that sessions. It was pretty well known that not one-fourth of the men sentenced to die ever were hung at that time; but yet, as none could tell upon whom the lot would fall, every man, even the most criminal, enjoyed the illusions of hope. Indeed, whatever were the motives81 for extending mercy to any, they were sufficiently82 obscure to set the most astute83 calculators among even the officers of the prison at defiance84, sometimes hardened old offenders85, convicts of atrocious crimes, escaping, while the comparatively young thief suffered death as the penalty of his earliest essay.
The remainder of the afternoon was spent by the inmates of this den16 in various pastimes, some gambling86, some telling stories of their old career, a few singing, and still fewer gloomily pacing the common room. At length the hour arrived when they were to separate for the night, and in divisions of three each they were marshalled to their dormitories; these were cells, about twelve feet by eight in size, provided with three rude bedsteads on each of which was a mattress87 of straw and two rugs. The evening was rapidly closing, and as they were unprovided with light, they lay down at once, one of them remarking that it might be called going to bed, but for his part he could see no bed to go to.
Now, for the first time since his sentence, Ralph had leisure to consider his position; and the ideas that rapidly careered through his brain almost drove him mad. At first he looked upon his fate as certain; and a thousand thoughts of self-destruction urged themselves upon him, each to be in turn dismissed or replaced by another. At length it suggested itself to him that he was no more sure to die than any of the rest, and should he be actually left for execution, it would be time enough then to anticipate the hangman. Anon the hope of breaking out of gaol crossed his mind, and many schemes for doing so presented themselves to him. Hour after hour pealed88 from a neighbouring clock, the iron tone jarring upon his nerves with the impression that another of the perhaps few subdivisions of time he had to live was now absorbed in the gulf89 of eternity90.
At length, towards morning, he sank into a sort of sleep, broken by horrid91 dreams. Again the scene of the Court was enacted92 before him; again the full, deep and bitter tones of the recorder dealt forth the death doom38 upon the trembling convict. At once that semblance93 passed away. He was again at play among the companions of his youth.
Again the scene changed: the solemn pealing94 of a funeral bell smote95 upon his very inmost soul. He knew it was the signal for his own execution. The sad procession moved forth; the awful service for the dead, in all its dread18 solemnity, reverberated96 in his ears; he turned to gaze at the attendant clergyman. Horror of horrors, the face he saw was that of a fiend. Suffering the most excruciating torment97, the criminal shuddered98 convulsively. But now he had reached the scaffold. They ascended99 that fatal platform. A sea of upturned human heads was visible; but they all appeared to mock at and gibe100 the tortured sufferer with unearthly demoniacal features. Another instant . . . The drop fell, and a dreadfully agonizing101 feeling of strangulation supervened, so intensely painful that Ralph awoke. Cold claws overspread his whole body, and a strange numbness102 paralyzed his every limb. He lay for a considerable time in a state of semi-somnolence, unable quite to rouse himself, and yet dreading103 to relapse again into such painful slumbers104, though he could not still recall his senses sufficiently to be certain that he had only dreamed.
At length a bustle105 in the stone-floored passage thoroughly106 awakened107 him, and he jumped from his wretched pallet. In a few minutes they were all reassembled in the day-room, and the company of his fellows reassured110 the drooping111 spirits of our unhappy prisoner.
The days of the session passed over. The total number of those condemned to death amounted to sixty-five, all of whom met in the same large room by day and were separated into threes at night. A few days of dreary monotony passed over; but the nights were at first most painful to Rashleigh, as more dreadful dreams harrowed his soul. But at length he ceased to dream at all or even to think about his future fate, all his ideas being engrossed112 by contemplating113 schemes of escape.
Having ascertained115 that the sleeping-cell in which he spent his nights was next to the outer wall of Newgate, he determined to try to break through it, trusting to chance for what the exterior116 might present. He now broached117 his scheme to his companions, one of whom embraced it with avidity; but the other seemed to be sunk in apathy118. As the latter, however, engaged not to betray their purpose, they determined on commencing operations that very night. All the tools they possessed119 were two files given to our adventurer on the day of his condemnation120 by Tyrrell, and a piece of iron about two feet long, which had once formed part of the handle of a frying-pan, and which was rather sharp at one end something like a chisel121.
With these implements122 they raked the mortar123 out of the joints124 of the stonework, choosing a place beneath one of the beds as most secluded125 from observation, carefully removing the lime dust, which they carried out concealed126 on their persons every morning and afterwards threw among the ashes in the fireplace. In three nights’ time they had succeeded in loosening enough of the stonework to enable them, by displacing the ashlar of which the wall was built, to form an opening through the massy exterior enclosure of the gaol; but they found a timber framing on the outer side of the wall, which utterly127 bade defiance to all their efforts. They had no remedy but to replace the stones as well as they could, and wait for another night, by which time they doubted not to be able to provide some substitute for a saw and a chisel, with which to renew their attempt. Accordingly, next day they procured128 two table-knives, which they notched129 on their edges. They then sharpened the piece of iron on the hearthstone by stealth. These implements, together with a phosphorus box — which they had bribed130 a turnkey to bring them — and a piece of candle, they very carefully stowed away about them, and returned to their cell, resuming their labour as soon as all was still.
Having first removed the stonework, they procured a light and examined the wooden partition. This seemed to be only a kind of weatherboarding, such as is sometimes used to finish the gable-ends of a roof in lieu of carrying up a brick wall. Their first business was to make holes in the wood with their chisel and knives in four different places, forming the angles of a square about two feet across. The boards being only of deal, it was not long before they had got their holes made. They then set to work to cut out the pieces, in which they finally succeeded, taking great care that nothing fell into the Terra incognita outside the wall. When they had sped thus far, they looked through the opening and found this space consisted of the apex131 of a roof, above the attics133 of the adjoining houses. They now easily got through the aperture134 on to the joists of these garrets, and had only next to remove the tiles, when they should once more he enjoying the pure free air of heaven.
Just as they began to work at the tiles with renewed vigour135 Ralph’s companion, happening unluckily to slip, stepped suddenly off the piece of timber he was standing69 on and came with his whole weight upon the laths of the plastered ceiling, which, being old and decayed, gave way. The luckless wight was then precipitated136 into the apartment beneath, where he chanced to alight upon the bed of an ancient dame137, who was servant to the reverend chaplain of Newgate, under whose roof, it seems, our adventurers had unwittingly penetrated138. Dire139 were now the outcries of “Rape!” “Fire!” “Murder!” and “Robbery!” that emanated140 from the old woman, who refused to be pacified141 by the earnest entreaties142 of the intruder; and in a very few seconds the hurried tramp of many feet, with the noise of clamorous143 tongues, announced that the household was alarmed. A moment after a promiscuous144 mass of half-clad beings hurried into the attic132, where, amid the débris of fallen plaster, laths, etc., the horror-stricken dame was venting145 her objurgations upon the author of this mishap146. He for his part, the moment he saw the door open, bolted out of it and had got half-way downstairs, pursued by hurried cries of “Stop him!” “Knock him down!” etc., which burst from the petrified147 group in the attic, when he encountered a posse of the officers of Newgate, who had been aroused by the uproar148 which truly seemed enough to awaken108 the seven sleepers149 — and who had left the enjoyments of the porters’ lodge150 to ascertain114 the cause of this confusion.
Unluckily, the foremost of these worthies151 well knew the escaped one, and felled him on the staircase instanter. They then separated, part of them returning to the lodge with their captive, and part going upstairs into the room whence they now learned he had run. Here, of course, the first thing they saw was the hole in the ceiling, and a ladder being procured, some of them ascended it to search the roof.
In the mean time Ralph Rashleigh, nerved by desperation, had torn away the battens and tiles and blundered out through the orifice; but in doing this he missed his hold and fell. He rolled over and over on the tiled roof, utterly unable to stop himself and full of despair at the horrible death which awaited him. At last, with a bound, he was jerked from the roof and restored to sense by finding himself immersed in water. He struck out to swim, and presently received a violent blow on the head, but quickly recovering himself, groped with his hands, it being so dark that he could not set a yard before him, and catching152 hold of the parapet wall, scrambled153 out, congratulating himself that his life was spared as yet. Of course, he was perfectly154 ignorant where he was, and knew not how far from the ground his present position might be. The darkness also prevented his attempting to escape, lest he might again fall from this unknown height. The only resource he had was to sit still, astride the wall on which he was now seated, until day should dawn. Wet through, the frosty air chilling him to the quick, thus did Rashleigh spend the seemingly interminable hours, until the light faintly glimmered155 from the east; and then he found he was not in any very enviable position.
The wall on which he sat surrounded a small reservoir of water that abutted156 from the back of the house, about half-way between the top and bottom. There was no window or other opening near him by many feet; and it was at least fifteen yards from his position to the ground, which seemed to be a paved courtyard surrounded by lofty buildings. Added to this, it was evident the daylight must betray him on his “bad eminence”, as there was no means of concealing157 himself save by jumping into the reservoir, which was not quite full; and even then, he might be seen from the roof. Thus he was quite as effectually confined as if he had been in the strongest cell within the walls of Newgate. and he tantalised himself by thinking of his recapture after having so narrowly escaped a fearful death, that even a few inches of difference in his fall must have resulted in his being dashed to atoms.
He was not very long in suspense. The day became rapidly fighter, and in a few minutes a gruff voice from the roof hailed him. “Ha, my fine fellow! You’re there, are you? You’re safe enough, anyhow, and we’ve got your pal109, too.”
Rashleigh looked up and soon discovered one of the turnkeys sitting at the foot of a stack of chimneys on the roof above him, who appeared to be taking aim at him with a carbine. “Hold on!” cried our échappé. “Don’t shoot me.”
“Oh, I don’t mean it,” said the other, “if you sit still; but if you offer to stir, I’ll let fly and riddle158 you with bullets.”
This was anything but a cheering prospect, and Ralph hardly dared move hand or foot, until, a ladder being brought, he was fain to descend159 it and was soon reconducted to prison.
Here he was placed in a dark cell by himself and kept on bread and water for a week, at the end of which time the Governor of Newgate ordered him to be very heavily ironed, and permitted him to rejoin his companions. Here he found the partner of his late attempt, and they had many a laugh together at their ill-starred enterprise.
Day after day sped on over their heads. It was now the fourth week after the sessions, and they expected every evening that the report of the recorder, and the King’s decision thereon, would be made known to them. One afternoon in the fifth week they had all been locked in their separate cells above an hour, when the noise of several feet in the stone-floored passage attracted the attention of the inmates of these dreary domiciles. Cell after cell was heard to be unlocked, and finally, when the visitors drew nigh, Rashleigh distinctly recognised the solemn voice of the prison chaplain recommending some unfortunate to make the most of the few brief hours yet allotted160 to him in this world by supplicating161 for mercy from his God; and our convict was now aware his fate would soon be made known to him. With agonising dread the few minutes passed away, during which intervening cells were visited. At length the sullen162 doors slowly revolved163. The sheriffs in their official dresses, the chaplain in his robes, and some others entered the cell.
Rashleigh scarce heard the exordium which, as customary, was addressed to them, but blessed heaven when one of the sheriffs, with much solemnity. addressed another of the confines as follows: “William Roberts, your case has received His Majesty’s most gracious consideration; but your frequent previous convictions, and the circumstances of peculiar41 atrocity164 with which your last crime was accompanied utterly preclude165 the possibility of mercy being extended to so hardened a criminal. You must therefore prepare to expiate166 your offences on the scaffold: you are ordered for execution in fourteen days from the present.”
The chaplain now addressed the condemned in anything but a charitable or kindly tone, and impressed the necessity of prayer and repentance167 upon his mind. The wretched man rolled his eyes, which seemed dim and glassy, from one to the other of the bystanders and attempted to speak, but ineffectually; his tongue denied him utterance168, and he was led away.
The same sheriff now addressed Ralph and his remaining companion, saying that in the exercise of his royal prerogative169 of mercy, His Majesty had graciously been pleased to spare their lives; but to vindicate170 the insulted laws of their country they must be transported for the residue171 of their existence to a distant land, never more to revisit the isle172 of their birth.
The chaplain now told our criminals that they ought to fall instantly upon their knees and return thanks to God for sparing their unworthy lives. Rashleigh’s companion here interrupted the reverend orator173 by saying, “If ever I pray to God, it will only be that I may live to set you hanged, you prayer-mumbling old beast!”
The chaplain flung out of the cell in a rage, and the sheriffs having followed him with suppressed smiles at this rude rebuff, the convicts were once more left alone.
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1
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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gaol
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| n.(jail)监狱；(不加冠词)监禁；vt.使…坐牢 | |
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initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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hoary
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| adj.古老的；鬓发斑白的 | |
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violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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practitioners
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| n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师） | |
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knavery
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| n.恶行，欺诈的行为 | |
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enjoyments
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| 愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受 | |
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derivable
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| adj.可引出的，可推论的，可诱导的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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indicted
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| 控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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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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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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33
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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34
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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35
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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36
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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37
scoffingly
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| 带冷笑地 | |
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38
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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39
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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40
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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41
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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42
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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43
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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44
farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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45
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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46
arraignment
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| n.提问，传讯，责难 | |
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47
statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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48
indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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49
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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50
depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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51
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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52
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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53
reverting
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| 恢复( revert的现在分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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54
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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55
adroit
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| adj.熟练的，灵巧的 | |
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56
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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57
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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58
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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59
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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60
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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61
elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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63
livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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64
abortive
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| adj.不成功的，发育不全的 | |
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65
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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66
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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67
ignominious
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|
| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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68
syllable
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|
| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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69
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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70
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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71
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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73
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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74
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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76
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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77
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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78
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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79
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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80
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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81
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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82
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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83
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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84
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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85
offenders
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|
| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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86
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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87
mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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88
pealed
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|
| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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90
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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91
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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92
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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94
pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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95
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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96
reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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97
torment
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|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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98
shuddered
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|
| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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99
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100
gibe
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| n.讥笑；嘲弄 | |
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101
agonizing
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|
| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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102
numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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103
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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104
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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105
bustle
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|
| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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106
thoroughly
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|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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107
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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108
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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109
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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110
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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111
drooping
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|
| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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112
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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113
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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114
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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115
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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117
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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118
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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119
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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120
condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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121
chisel
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| n.凿子；v.用凿子刻，雕，凿 | |
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122
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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123
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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124
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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125
secluded
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|
| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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126
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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127
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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128
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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129
notched
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| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
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130
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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131
apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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132
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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133
attics
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| n. 阁楼 | |
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134
aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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135
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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136
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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137
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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138
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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139
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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140
emanated
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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141
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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142
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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143
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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144
promiscuous
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| adj.杂乱的，随便的 | |
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145
venting
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| 消除； 泄去； 排去； 通风 | |
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146
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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147
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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148
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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149
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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150
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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151
worthies
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| 应得某事物( worthy的名词复数 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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152
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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153
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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154
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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155
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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156
abutted
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| v.（与…）邻接( abut的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）毗连；接触；倚靠 | |
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157
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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158
riddle
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| n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜 | |
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159
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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160
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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161
supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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162
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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163
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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164
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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165
preclude
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| vt.阻止，排除，防止；妨碍 | |
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166
expiate
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| v.抵补，赎罪 | |
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167
repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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168
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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169
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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170
vindicate
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| v.为…辩护或辩解，辩明；证明…正确 | |
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171
residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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172
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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173
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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