It was to the Dancing Academy that Jennings turned his steps a few days after the interview with Susan. He had been a constant visitor there for eighteen months and was deeply in love with Peggy. On a Bank Holiday he had been fortunate enough to rescue her from a noisy crowd, half-drunk and indulging in horse-play, and had escorted her home to receive the profuse7 thanks of the Professor. The detective was attracted by the quaint8 little man, and he called again to inquire for Peggy. A friendship thus inaugurated ripened9 into a deeper feeling, and within nine months Jennings proposed for the hand of the humble10 girl. She consented and so did Le Beau, although he was rather rueful at the thought of losing his mainstay. But Peggy promised him that she would still look after him until he retired11, and with this promise Le Beau was content. He was now close on seventy, and could not hope to teach much longer. But, thanks to Peggy’s clever head and saving habits, he had — as the French say —“plenty of bread baked” to eat during days of dearth12.
The Academy was situated13 down a narrow street far removed from the main thoroughfares. Quiet houses belonging to poor people stood on either side of this lane — for that it was — and at the end appeared the Academy, blocking the exit from that quarter. It stood right in the middle of the street and turned the lane into a blind alley14, but a narrow right-of-way passed along the side and round to the back where the street began again under a new name. The position of the place was quaint, and often it had been intended to remove the obstruction15, but the owner, an eccentric person of great wealth, had hitherto refused to allow it to be pulled down. But the owner was now old, and it was expected his heirs would take away the building and allow the lane to run freely through to the other street. Still it would last Professor Le Beau’s time, for his heart would have broken had he been compelled to move. He had taught here for the last thirty years, and had become part and parcel of the neighborhood.
Jennings, quietly dressed in blue serge with brown boots and a bowler16 hat, turned down the lane and advanced towards the double door of the Academy, which was surmounted17 by an allegorical group of plaster figures designed by Le Beau himself, and representing Orpheus teaching trees and animals to dance. The allusion18 was not complimentary19 to his pupils, for if Le Beau figured as Orpheus, what were the animals? However, the hot-tempered little man refused to change his allegory and the group remained. Jennings passed under it and into the building with a smile which the sight of those figures always evoked20. Within, the building on the ground floor was divided into two rooms — a large hall for the dancing lessons and a small apartment used indifferently as a reception-room and an office. Above, on the first story, were the sitting-room21, the dining-room and the kitchen; and on the third, under a high conical roof, the two bedrooms of the Professor and Peggy, with an extra one for any stranger who might remain. Where Margot, the French cook and maid-of-all-work, slept, was a mystery. So it will be seen that the accommodation of the house was extremely limited. However, Le Beau, looked after by Peggy and Margot, who was devoted22 to him, was extremely well pleased, and extremely happy in his light airy French way.
In the office was Peggy, making up some accounts. She was a pretty, small maiden23 of twenty-five, neatly24 dressed in a clean print gown, and looking like a dewy daisy. Her eyes were blue, her hair the color of ripe corn, and her cheeks were of a delicate rose. There was something pastoral about Peggy, smacking25 of meadow lands and milking time. She should have been a shepherdess looking after her flock rather than a girl toiling26 in a dingy27 office. How such a rural flower ever sprung up amongst London houses was a mystery Jennings could not make out. And according to her own tale, Peggy had never lived in the country. What with the noise of fiddling28 which came from the large hall, and the fact of being absorbed in her work, Peggy never heard the entrance of her lover. Jennings stole quietly towards her, admiring the pretty picture she made with a ray of dusky sunlight making glory of her hair.
“Who is it?” he asked, putting his hands over her eyes.
“Oh,” cried Peggy, dropping her pen and removing his hands, “the only man who would dare to take such a liberty with me. Miles, my darling pig!” and she kissed him, laughing.
“I don’t like the last word, Peggy!”
“It’s Papa Le Beau’s favorite word with his pupils,” said Peggy, who always spoke29 of the dancing-master thus.
“With the addition of darling?”
“No, that is an addition of my own. But I can remove it if you like.”
“I don’t like,” said Miles, sitting down and pulling her towards him, “come and talk to me, Pegtop.”
“I won’t be called Pegtop, and as to talking, I have far too much work to do. The lesson will soon be over, and some of the pupils have to take these accounts home. Then dejeuner will soon be ready, and you know how Margot hates having her well-cooked dishes spoilt by waiting. But why are you here instead of at work?”
“Hush30!” said Miles, laying a finger on her lips. “Papa will hear you.”
“Not he. Hear the noise his fiddle31 is making, and he is scolding the poor little wretches32 like a game-cock.”
“Does a game-cock scold?” asked Jennings gravely. “I hope he is not in a bad temper, Peggy. I have come to ask him a few questions.”
“About your own business?” asked she in a lower tone.
Jennings nodded. Peggy knew his occupation, but as yet he had not been able to tell Le Beau.
The Frenchman cherished all the traditional hatred33 of his race for the profession of “mouchard,” and would not be able to understand that a detective was of a higher standing34. Miles was therefore supposed to be a gentleman of independent fortune, and both he and Peggy decided35 to inform Le Beau of the truth when he had retired from business. Meanwhile, Miles often talked over his business with Peggy, and usually found her clear way of looking at things of infinite assistance to him in the sometimes difficult cases which he dealt with. Peggy knew all about the murder in Crooked36 Lane, and how Miles was dealing37 with the matter. But even she had not been able to suggest a clue to the assassin, although she was in full possession of the facts. “It’s about this new case I wish to speak,” said Jennings. “By the way, Peggy, you know that woman Maraquito I have talked of?”
“Yes. The gambling38-house. What of her?”
“Well, she seems to be implicated39 in the matter.”
“In what way?”
Jennings related the episode of the photograph, and the incident of the same perfume being used by Mrs. Herne and Maraquito. Peggy nodded.
“I don’t see how the photograph connects her with the case,” she said at length, “but the same perfume certainly is strange. All the same, the scent40 maybe fashionable. Hikui! Hikui! I never heard of it.”
“It is a Japanese perfume, and Maraquito got it from some foreign admirer. It is strange, as you say.”
“Have you seen Mrs. Herne?”
“I saw her at the inquest. She gave evidence. But I had no conversation with her myself.”
“Why don’t you look her up? You mentioned you had her address.”
“I haven’t it now,” said Jennings gloomily. “I called at the Hampstead house, and learned that Mrs. Herne had received such a shock from the death of her friend, Miss Loach, that she had gone abroad and would not return for an indefinite time. So I can do nothing in that quarter just now. It is for this reason that I have come here to ask about Maraquito.”
“From Papa Le Beau,” said Peggy, wrinkling her pretty brows. “What can he know of this woman?”
“She was a dancer until she had an accident. Le Beau may have had her through his hands.”
“Maraquito, Maraquito,” murmured Peggy, and shook her head. “No, I do not remember her. How old is she?”
“About thirty, I think; a fine, handsome woman like a tropical flower for coloring.”
“Spanish. The name is Spanish.”
“I think that is all the Spanish about her. She talks English without the least accent. Hush! here is papa.”
It was indeed the little Professor, who rushed into the room and threw himself, blowing and panting, on the dingy sofa. He was small and dry, with black eyes and a wrinkled face. He wore a blonde wig41 which did not match his yellow complexion42, and was neatly dressed in black, with an old-fashioned swallow-tail coat of blue. He carried a small fiddle and spoke volubly without regarding the presence of Miles.
“Oh, these cochons of English, my dear,” he exclaimed to Peggy, “so steef — so wood-steef in the limbs. Wis ’em I kin4 do noozzn’, no, not a leetle bit. Zey would make ze angils swear. Ah, mon Dieu, quel dommage I haf to teach zem.”
“I must see about these accounts,” said Peggy, picking up a sheaf of papers and running out. “Stay to dejeuner, Miles.”
“Eh, mon ami,” cried papa, rising. “My excuses, but ze pigs make me to be mooch enrage43. Zey are ze steef dolls on the Strasburg clock. You are veil — ah, yis — quite veil cheerup.”
The Professor had picked up a number of English slang words with which he interlarded his conversation. He meant to be kind, and indeed liked Miles greatly. In proof of his recovered temper, he offered the young man a pinch of snuff. Jennings hated snuff, but to keep Papa Le Beau in a good temper he accepted the offer and sneezed violently.
“Professor,” he said, when somewhat better, “I have come to ask you about a lady. A friend of mine has fallen in love with her, and he thought you might know of her.”
“Eh, wha-a-at, mon cher? I understands nozzin’. Ze lady, quel nom?”
“Maraquito Gredos.”
“Espagnole,” murmured Le Beau, shaking his wig. “Non. I do not know ze name. Dancers of Spain. Ah, yis — I haf had miny — zey are not steef like ze cochon Englees. Describe ze looks, mon ami.”
Jennings did so, to the best of his ability, but the old man still appeared undecided. “But she has been ill for three years,” added Jennings. “She fell and hurt her back, and —”
“Eh — wha-a-at Celestine!” cried Le Beau excitedly. “She did fall and hurt hersilf — eh, yis — mos’ dredfil. Conceive to yoursilf, my frien’, she slip on orange peels in ze streets and whacks44 comes she down. Tree year back — yis — tree year. Celestine Durand, mon fil.”
Jennings wondered. “But she says she is Spanish.”
Le Beau flipped45 a pinch of snuff in the air. “Ah, bah! She no Spain.”
“So she is French,” murmured Jennings to himself.
“Ah, non; by no means,” cried the Frenchman unexpectedly. “She no French. She Englees — yis — I remembers. A ver’ fine and big demoiselle. She wish to come out at de opera. But she too large — mooch too large. Englees — yis — La Juive.”
“A Jewess?” cried Jennings in his turn.
“I swear to you, mon ami. Englees Jewess, mais oui! For ten months she dance here, tree year gone. Zen zee orange peels and pouf! I see her no mores46. But never dance — no — too large, une grande demoiselle.”
“Do you know where she came from?”
“No. I know nozzin’ but what I tell you.”
“Did you like her?”
Le Beau shrugged47 his shoulders. “I am too old, mon ami. Les femmes like me not. I haf had mes affairs — ah, yis. Conceive —” and he rattled48 out an adventure of his youth which was more amusing than moral.
But Jennings paid very little attention to him. He was thinking that Maraquito–Celestine was a more mysterious woman than he had thought her. While Jennings was wondering what use he could make of the information he had received, Le Beau suddenly flushed crimson49. A new thought had occurred to him. “Do you know zis one — zis Celestine Durand? Tell her I vish money —”
“Did she not pay you?”
Le Beau seized Jennings’ arm and shook it violently. “Yis. Tree pound; quite raight; oh, certainly. But ze four piece of gold, a louis — non — ze Englees sufferin —”
“The English sovereign. Yes.”
“It was bad money — ver bad.”
“Have you got it?” asked Jennings, feeling that he was on the brink50 of a discovery.
“Non. I pitch him far off in rages. I know now, Celestine Durand. I admire her; oh, yis. Fine womans — a viecked eye. Mais une — no, not zat. Bad, I tell you. If your frien’ love, haf nozzin’ wis her. She gif ze bad money, one piece —” he held up a lean finger, and then, “Aha! ze bell for ze tables. Allons, marchons. We dine — we eat,” and he dashed out of the room as rapidly as he had entered it.
But Jennings did not follow him. He scribbled51 a note to Peggy, stating that he had to go away on business, and left the Academy. He felt that it would be impossible to sit down and talk of trivial things — as he would have to do in the presence of Le Beau — when he had made such a discovery. The case was beginning to take shape. “Can Maraquito have anything to do with the coiners?” he asked himself. “She is English — a Jewess — Saul is a Jewish name. Can she be of that family? It seems to me that this case is a bigger one than I imagine. I wonder what I had better do?”
It was not easy to say. However, by the time Jennings reached his home — he had chambers52 in Duke Street, St. James’— he decided to see Maraquito. For this purpose he arrayed himself in accurate evening dress. Senora Gredos thought he was a mere53 idler, a man-about-town. Had she known of his real profession she might not have welcomed him so freely to her house. Maraquito, for obvious reasons, had no desire to come into touch with the authorities.
But it must not be thought that she violated the law in any very flagrant way. She was too clever for that. Her house was conducted in a most respectable manner. It was situated in Golden Square, and was a fine old mansion54 of the days when that locality was fashionable. Her servants were all neat and demure55. Maraquito received a few friends every evening for a quiet game of cards, so on the surface no one could object to that. But when the doors were closed, high play went on and well-known people ventured large sums on the chances of baccarat. Also, people not quite so respectable came, and it was for that reason Scotland Yard left the house alone. When any member of the detective staff wished to see anyone of a shady description, the person could be found at Maraquito’s. Certainly, only the aristocracy of crime came here, and never a woman. Maraquito did not appear to love her own sex. She received only gentlemen, and as she was an invalid56 and attended constantly by a duenna in the form of a nurse, no one could say anything. The police knew in an underhand way that the Soho house was a gambling saloon, but the knowledge had not come officially, therefore no notice was taken. But Maraquito’s servants suspected nothing, neither did the gossips of the neighborhood. Senora Gredos was simply looked upon as an invalid fond of entertaining because of her weariness in being confined to her couch.
Jennings had appointed a meeting with Mallow in this semi-respectable establishment, and looked round when he entered the room. It was a large apartment, decorated in the Adams style and furnished as a luxurious57 drawing-room. At the side near the window there was a long table covered with green baize. Round this several gentlemen in evening dress were standing. Others played games of their own at separate small tables, but most of them devoted themselves to baccarat. Maraquito held the bank. Her couch was drawn58 up against the wall, and the red silk curtains of the window made a vivid background to her dark beauty.
She was, indeed, a handsome woman — so much of her as could be seen. Half-sitting, half-reclining on her couch, the lower part of her frame was swathed in eastern stuffs sparkling with gold threads. She wore a yellow silk dress trimmed about the shoulders with black lace and glittering with valuable jewels. Her neck and arms were finely moulded and of a dazzling whiteness. Her small head was proudly set on her shoulders, and her magnificent black hair smoothly59 coiled in lustrous60 tresses above her white forehead. Her lips were full and rich, her eyes large and black, and her nose was thin and high. The most marked feature of her face were the eyebrows61, which almost met over her nose. She had delicate hands and beautiful arms which showed themselves to advantage as she manipulated the cards. From the gorgeous coverlet her bust62 rose like a splendid flower, and for an invalid she had a surprising color. She was indeed, as Jennings had remarked, like a tropical flower. But there was something sensual and evil about her exuberance63. But not a whisper had been heard against her reputation. Everyone, sorry for the misfortune which condemned64 this lovely woman to a sickbed, treated her with respect. Maraquito, as some people said, may have been wicked, but no anchorite could have led, on the face of it, a more austere65 life. Her smile was alluring66, and she looked like the Lurline drawing men to destruction. Fortunes had been lost in that quiet room.
When Jennings entered, Maraquito was opening a fresh pack of cards, while the players counted their losses or winnings and fiddled67 with the red chips used in the game. On seeing the newcomer, Senora Gredos gave him a gracious smile, and said something to the pale, thin woman in black who stood at the head of her couch. The nurse, or duenna — she served for both — crossed to Jennings as he advanced towards the buffet68, on which stood glasses and decanters of wine.
“Madame wishes to know why you have not brought Mr. Mallow.”
“Tell madame that he will be here soon. I have to meet him in this place,” said the detective to the duenna, and watched the effect of the message on Maraquito.
Her face flushed, her eyes brightened, but she did not look again in Jennings’ direction. On the contrary, she gave all her attention to the game which was now in progress, but Jennings guessed that her thoughts were with Mallow, and occasionally he caught her looking for his appearance at the door. “How that woman loves him,” he thought, “I wonder I never noticed it before. Quite an infatuation.” For a time he watched the players staking large amounts, and saw the pile of gold at Maraquito’s elbow steadily69 increasing. She seemed to have all the luck. The bank was winning and its opponents losing, but the play went on steadily for at least half an hour. At the end of that time a newcomer entered the room. Jennings, who had glanced at his watch, quite expected to see Cuthbert. But, to his surprise, he came face to face with Lord Caranby.
“I did not expect to see you here,” said the detective.
“I come in place of my nephew. He is unwell,” said Caranby; “present me to Senora Gredos, if you please, Mr. Jennings.”
点击收听单词发音
1 incessantly | |
ad.不停地 | |
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2 aspirants | |
n.有志向或渴望获得…的人( aspirant的名词复数 )v.渴望的,有抱负的,追求名誉或地位的( aspirant的第三人称单数 );有志向或渴望获得…的人 | |
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3 painstaking | |
adj.苦干的;艰苦的,费力的,刻苦的 | |
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4 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
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5 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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6 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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7 profuse | |
adj.很多的,大量的,极其丰富的 | |
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8 quaint | |
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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9 ripened | |
v.成熟,使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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11 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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12 dearth | |
n.缺乏,粮食不足,饥谨 | |
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13 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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14 alley | |
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
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15 obstruction | |
n.阻塞,堵塞;障碍物 | |
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16 bowler | |
n.打保龄球的人,(板球的)投(球)手 | |
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17 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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18 allusion | |
n.暗示,间接提示 | |
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19 complimentary | |
adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的 | |
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20 evoked | |
[医]诱发的 | |
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21 sitting-room | |
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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22 devoted | |
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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23 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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24 neatly | |
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地 | |
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25 smacking | |
活泼的,发出响声的,精力充沛的 | |
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26 toiling | |
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 | |
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27 dingy | |
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的 | |
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28 fiddling | |
微小的 | |
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29 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 | |
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30 hush | |
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静 | |
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31 fiddle | |
n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 | |
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32 wretches | |
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋 | |
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33 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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34 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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35 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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36 crooked | |
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的 | |
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37 dealing | |
n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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38 gambling | |
n.赌博;投机 | |
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39 implicated | |
adj.密切关联的;牵涉其中的 | |
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40 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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41 wig | |
n.假发 | |
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42 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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43 enrage | |
v.触怒,激怒 | |
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44 whacks | |
n.重击声( whack的名词复数 );不正常;有毛病v.重击,使劲打( whack的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45 flipped | |
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥 | |
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46 mores | |
n.风俗,习惯,民德,道德观念 | |
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47 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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48 rattled | |
慌乱的,恼火的 | |
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49 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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50 brink | |
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿 | |
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51 scribbled | |
v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 );乱画;草草地写;匆匆记下 | |
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52 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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53 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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54 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
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55 demure | |
adj.严肃的;端庄的 | |
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56 invalid | |
n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 | |
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57 luxurious | |
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 | |
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58 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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59 smoothly | |
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 | |
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60 lustrous | |
adj.有光泽的;光辉的 | |
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61 eyebrows | |
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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62 bust | |
vt.打破;vi.爆裂;n.半身像;胸部 | |
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63 exuberance | |
n.丰富;繁荣 | |
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64 condemned | |
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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65 austere | |
adj.艰苦的;朴素的,朴实无华的;严峻的 | |
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66 alluring | |
adj.吸引人的,迷人的 | |
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67 fiddled | |
v.伪造( fiddle的过去式和过去分词 );篡改;骗取;修理或稍作改动 | |
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68 buffet | |
n.自助餐;饮食柜台;餐台 | |
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69 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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