The door opened, and an elderly woman appeared with a tray.
“Some coffee and rolls, sir,” she explained. “Really you ought to have something, sir.”
“Put them down.” The little man didn’t lift his eyes from his work; he spoke14 curtly15.
“And if you should ask me, sir,” the woman continued, “I’d say you ought to stop whatever you’re a-doing of, and take some rest, sir.”
“Tut, tut, Martha!” the little man objected. “I’ve only just begun.”
“You’ve been a-standing right there, sir,” Martha denied, in righteous indignation, “ever since Sunday afternoon at four o’clock.”
“What time is it now?”
“It’s ten o’clock Tuesday morning, sir.”
“Dear me, dear me!”
“You haven’t slept a wink17, sir,” Martha complained, “and you haven’t eat enough —”
“Martha, you annoy me,” the little man interrupted peevishly18. “Run along and attend to your duties.”
“But, sir, you can’t keep a-going like —”
“Very well, then,” and there was a childish tone of resignation in the master’s voice. “It’s Tuesday, you say? Tell me when it’s noon Wednesday.”
Martha went out with a helpless shrug19 of her shoulders, leaving him alone.
Hours passed. The coffee, untasted, grew cold. Motionless, the little man continued at his labors21 with tense eagerness in his narrow eyes, oblivious22 alike of the things about him, and of exhausted23 nature. The will beneath the straw-colored thatch knew not weariness.
And this was “The Thinking Machine”— Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, Ph. D., F. R. S., M. D., LL. D., et cetera, et cetera — logician25, analyst26, worker of miracles in the exact sciences, intellectual wizard of his time; this the master mind, exalted27 by the cumulative28 genius of generations gone before, which had isolated29 itself on a pinnacle30 of achievement through sheer force of applied31 reason. Once he had been the controversial center of his profession, riding down pet theories and tentative surmises32 and cherished opinions, and setting up instead precise facts, a few rescued from the chaos33 he had himself created, more of his own uncovering. Now he was the court of last appeal in the sciences.
The Thinking Machine! No one of the honorary degrees thrust upon him willy-nilly by the universities of the world described him half so accurately34 as did this title — a chance paradox35 applied by a newspaper man. Seemingly tireless, calm, unemotional — unless one counted as an emotion the constant note of irritation36 in his voice — terse37 of speech, crabbed38 of manner, and possessed39 of an uncanny faculty40 of separating all things into their primal41 units, he lived in a circumscribed42 sphere which he had stripped of all illusion. The mental precision which distinguished43 his laboratory work characterized all else he did. If any man ever reduced human frailties44, human virtues45, and human motives46 to mathematics that man was The Thinking Machine.
It has been my pleasure to set down at another time and place some results of The Thinking Machine’s investigations47 along lines disassociated with abstruse48 problems of his profession, these being chiefly instances in which he had turned the light of cold logic24 upon perplexing criminal mysteries with well-nigh mathematical precision.
Also, it has been my pleasure to relate at length some of those curious adventures which led to The Thinking Machine’s incongruous friendship for Hutchinson Hatch.
Hatch was a newspaper reporter, a young man of vitality49 and enthusiasm and keen wordliness; he was a breath of the outside to this odd little man, who never read papers, who rarely came into contact with things as they are, who had not even the small vices50 which bring individuals together. It had been Hatch who first applied the title of The Thinking Machine to the eminent51 scientist, and the phrase had stuck.
Perhaps not the least interesting of the adventures of these two together was that which culminated52 in the bestowal53 upon The Thinking Machine of the Order of the Iron Eagle, second class, by Emperor Gustavus, of Germania–Austria. It so happened in that case that the fate of an empire and the future of its royal house lay for a time in The Thinking Machine’s slender hands. Failure on his part certainly would have changed the history of Europe, and probably the map. This problem was purely54 intellectual, and came to his attention at a time when physical vitality was at its lowest, after forty-eight hours’ unceasing work in his laboratory.
The door opened, and Martha entered.
“Martha,” the eminent scientist stormed, “if you’ve brought me more coffee I shall discharge you!”
“It isn’t coffee, sir,” she replied. “It’s a —”
“And don’t tell me it’s already twelve o’clock Wednesday.”
“It’s a card, sir. Two gentlemen who —”
“Can’t see them.”
Not for an instant had the squinting eyes been raised from the work which engrossed55 The Thinking Machine. Martha laid the card on the table; he glanced at it impatiently. Herr Von Hartzfeldt!
“He says, sir, it’s a matter of the utmost importance,” Martha explained.
“Ask him who he is and what he wants.”
The unexpectedness of the answer Martha brought back straightened The Thinking Machine where he stood.
“He says, sir,” she reported, “that he’s the ambassador to the United States from Germania–Austria.”
“Show him in at once.”
Two gentlemen entered, one Baron56 Von Hartzfeldt, polished, courtly, distinguished in appearance, a famous figure in the diplomatic world; the other of a more rugged58 type, shorter, heavier, with bristly hair and beard, and deeply bronzed face. For an instant they stared into the wizened countenance59 of the little scientist with something like astonishment60.
“We have come to you, Mr. Van Dusen, in an extremity61 the gravity of which cannot be exaggerated,” Baron Von Hartzfeldt began suavely62. “We know, as all the world knows, your splendid achievements in science. We know, too, that you have occasionally consented to investigate more material problems — that is, mysteries of crimes, and —”
“Please come to the point,” The Thinking Machine interrupted tartly63. “If you hadn’t known who I was, and hadn’t needed me, you wouldn’t have come. Now, what is it? This gentleman —”
“Pardon me,” the ambassador begged, in polite confusion at the curt16 directness of his host. “Admiral Hausen–Aubier, of the royal navy, commanding the Mediterranean64 Fleet, now visiting your city on his flagship, the Friedrich der Grosse, which lies in the outer harbor.”
The admiral bowed ceremoniously, and, accepting a slight movement of The Thinking Machine’s hand as an invitation to seats, the two gentlemen sat down. Not until that moment had the scientist realized his own weariness. The big chair offered grateful relaxation65 to tired limbs, and, with his enormous head tilted66 back, narrowed eyes turned upward, and slender fingers precisely67 tip to tip, he waited.
“One of my officers has disappeared from the flagship — rather, has utterly68 vanished,” said Admiral Hausen–Aubier. He spoke excellent English, but there was a guttural undercurrent of excitement in his tone. “He went to his stateroom at midnight; next morning at seven o’clock he was gone. The guard at his door had been drugged with chloroform, and can tell nothing.”
“Guard at the door?” questioned The Thinking Machine. “Why?”
Admiral Hausen–Aubier seemed oddly disturbed by the question. He shot a hasty glance at Baron Von Hartzfeldt.
“Ship discipline,” explained the diplomat57 vaguely69.
“Was he under arrest?”
“Oh, no!” This from the admiral.
“Do you sleep with a guard at your door?”
“No.”
“Any of the other officers?”
“No.”
“Go on, please.”
“There isn’t much to tell.” There was bewilderment, deep concern, grief even, in the bronzed face. “The officer’s bed had been occupied, but there was no sign of a struggle. It was as if he had arisen, dressed, and gone out. There was no note, no shred70 or fragment of a clew — nothing. No one saw him from the moment he entered his stateroom and closed his door — not even the guard. There were half a dozen sentries71, watchmen, on deck; neither saw nor heard anything out of the ordinary. He isn’t aboard ship; we have searched from keel to signal yard; and he didn’t go overside in a ship’s boat; they are all accounted for. He is not a particularly strong swimmer, and could not have reached shore in that way.”
“You say the guard had been chloroformed,” The Thinking Machine went back. “Just what happened to him? How do you know he was chloroformed?”
“By the odor,” replied the admiral, answering the last question first. “In order to enter the officer’s suite72 it was necessary —”
“Suite, did you say?”
“Yes; that is, he occupied more than one stateroom —”
“I understand. Go on.”
“It was necessary to pass through an antechamber. The guard slept there. He says it must have been after one o’clock when he went to sleep. Next morning he was found unconscious, and the officer was gone.” He paused. “There can be no question whatever of the guard’s integrity. He has been attached to the — the officer for many years.”
With eyes all but closed, The Thinking Machine sat motionless for minute after minute, the while thin, spidery lines of though ruffled73 the domelike brow. At last:
“The matter hasn’t been reported to the police?”
“No.” Admiral Hausen–Aubier looked startled.
“Why not?”
“Because,” Baron Von Hartzfeldt answered, “when it was brought to my attention in Washington by wire, we decided74 against that. The affair is extremely delicate. It is inadvisable that the police even should so much as suspect —”
The Thinking Machine nodded.
“How about the secret service?”
“That bureau has been at work on the case from the first,” the diplomatist replied; “also half a dozen secret agents attached to the embassy. You must understand, Mr. Van Dusen, that it is absolutely essential that no word of the disappearance75 — not even a hint of it — be allowed to become public. The result would be a — a disaster. I can’t say more.”
“Perhaps,” suggested The Thinking Machine irrelevantly76, “perhaps the officer deserted77?”
“I would vouch78 for his loyalty79 with my life,” declared the admiral, with deep feeling.
“Or perhaps it was suicide?”
Again there was a swift interchange of glances between the admiral and the ambassador. Obviously that was a possibility that had occurred to each of them, and yet one that neither dared admit.
“Impossible!” the diplomat shook his head.
“Nothing is impossible,” snapped The Thinking Machine curtly. “Don’t say that. It annoys me exceedingly.” Fell a short silence. Finally: “Just when did your officer disappear?”
“Last Tuesday — almost a week ago,” Admiral Hausen–Aubier told him.
“And nothing — nothing — has been heard of him? Or from him? Or from any one else concerning him?”
“Nothing — not a word,” Admiral Hausen–Aubier said. “If we could only hear! If we could only know whether he is living or dead!”
“What’s his name?”
“Lieutenant80 Leopold Von Zinckl.”
For the first time, The Thinking Machine lowered his eyes and swept the countenances81 of the two men before him — both grave, troubled, lined with worry. Under his curious scrutiny82, the diplomatist retained his self-possession by sheer force of will; but a vital, consuming nervousness seemed to seize upon the man of the sea.
“I mean,” and again the scientist was squinting into the gloom above, “I mean his real name.”
Admiral Hausen–Aubier’s broad face flushed suddenly as if from a blow, and he started to his feet. Some subtle warning form the ambassador caused him to drop back into his seat.
“That is his real name,” he said distinctly; “Lieutenant Leopold Von Zinckl.”
“May I ask,” The Thinking Machine was speaking very slowly, “if his majesty83 the emperor has been informed of Lieutenant Von Zinckl’s disappearance?”
Perhaps The Thinking Machine anticipated the effect of the question; perhaps he did not. Anyway, he didn’t look around when Admiral Hausen–Aubier came to his feet with a mighty84 Teutonic exclamation85, and strode the length of the big room, his face dead white beneath the coat of bronze. Baron Von Hartzfeldt remained seated, apparently86 fascinated by some strange, newly discovered quality in the scientist.
“We have not informed the emperor of the affair as yet,” he said, at last, steadily87. “We thought it inadvisable to go so far until every effort had been made to —”
The Thinking Machine interrupted him with an impatient gesture of one slender hand.
“As a matter of fact, the situation is like this, isn’t it?” he queried88 abruptly89. “Prince Otto Ludwig, heir apparent to the throne of Germania–Austria, has been abducted90 from the royal suite of the battleship Friedrich der Grosse, in the harbor of a friendly nation?”
There was an instant’s amazed silence. Suddenly Admiral Hausen–Aubier covered his face with his hands, and stood, his great shoulders shaking. Straining nerves had broken at last. Baron Von Hartzfeldt, ripe in diplomatic experience, seemed merely astonished, if one might judge by the face of him.
“How do you know that?” he inquired quietly, after a moment. “Outside of the secret service and my own agents, there are not six persons in the world who are aware —”
“How do I know it?” interrupted The Thinking Machine. “You have just told me. Logic, logic, logic!”
“I have told you?” There was blank bewilderment on the diplomatist’s face.
“You and Admiral Hausen–Aubier together,” The Thinking Machine declared petulantly.
“But how, man, how?” demanded Baron Von Hartzfeldt. “Of course, you knew from the newspapers that his highness, Crown Prince Otto Ludwig, was visiting America; but —”
“I never read newspapers,” snapped The Thinking Machine. “I didn’t know he was here any more than I knew the battleship Friedrich der Grosse was in the harbor. It’s logic, logic — the adding together of the separate units — a simple demonstration91 of the fact that two and two make four, not sometimes, but all the time.”
Admiral Hausen–Aubier, having mastered the emotion which had shaken him, resumed his seat, staring curiously92 into the wizened face before him.
“Still I don’t understand,” Baron Von Hartzfeldt insisted. “Logic, you say. How?”
“I’ll see if I can make it clear.” And there was that in the manner of the eminent man of science which was no compliment to their perspicacity93. “You tell me an officer has disappeared, that his guard was chloroformed. The officer was not under arrest, and no other officer aboard ship had a guard. I assume, therefore, for the moment that the officer was a man of consequence, else he was mentally irresponsible. An instant later you tell me how to enter the officer’s suite — not stateroom, but suite. Ergo, a man of so much consequence that he occupies a suite; a man of so much consequence that you didn’t dare report his disappearance to the police; a man of so much consequence that public knowledge of the affair would precipitate94 disaster. Do you follow the thread?”
Fascinated, the two listeners nodded.
“Very well,” The Thinking Machine resumed, in that odd little tone of irritation. “There are only a few persons in the world of so much consequence as all that — that is, of so much consequence aboard a ship of war. Those are members of the royal household. I am of German descent; hence I am well acquainted with the histories of the German countries. I know that Emperor Gustavus has only one son, Otto Ludwig, the crown prince. I know that no reigning95 king has ever visited America; therefore logic, inexorable, indisputable logic, tells me that Prince Otto Ludwig is the officer who occupied the royal suite aboard your ship.”
He paused, and readjusted himself in the great chair. When he spoke again, it was in the tone of one who is thoughtfully checking off and verifying the units of a problem he has solved. His two visitors were staring at him breathlessly.
“Of course, no royal person save a son of the house of Germania–Austria would be occupying the royal suite on a Germania–Austrian battleship,” he said slowly. “Proper adjustment of the actual facts leading straight to the crown prince removed instantly as a possibility a vague suggestion that the officer with the guard at his door, while not a prisoner, was mentally irresponsible. I’ve made myself clear, I hope?”
“It’s marvelous!” ejaculated the diplomatist. “If any man can lead us to the end of this mystery, you are that man!”
“Thanks,” returned The Thinking Machine dryly.
“You said,” Admiral Hausen–Aubier questioned tensely, “that his highness had been abducted?”
“Certainly.”
“Why abducted instead of — of — murdered —” He shuddered96 a little. “Instead of suicide?”
“That man who is clever enough and bold enough to board your ship and chloroform a guard is not fool enough to murder a man and then drag him out over the guard and throw him into the sea,” was the reply, “or to drag him out and then murder him. In either event, such an act would have been useless; and as a rule murderers don’t do useless things. As for suicide, it would not have been necessary for the prince to chloroform his guard, or even to leave his stateroom. Remains97, therefore, only abduction.”
“But who abducted him?” the admiral insisted. “Why? How was he taken away from the ship?”
The Thinking Machine shrugged98 his narrow shoulders.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Either one of a dozen ways — aeroplane, rowboat, submarine —” He stopped.
“But — but no one heard anything,” the admiral pointed99 out.
“That doesn’t signify.”
There seemed nothing to cling to, no tangible100 fact upon which to base even understanding. Aeroplane — submarine —’twas fantasy, preposterous101, unheard of. Hopelessly enough, Admiral Hausen–Aubier turned back to the one vital question:
“At any rate, the prince is alive?”
“I don’t know. He was abducted a week ago. You’ve heard nothing since. He may have been murdered after he was taken away. He may have been. I doubt it.”
Admiral Hausen–Aubier arose tragically102, with haggard face, a light of desperation in his eyes, his powerful, sun-dyed hands pressed to his temples.
“If he is dead, do you know what it means?” he demanded vehemently103. “It means the fall of the royal house of Germania–Austria with the passing of our emperor, who is now nearly eighty; it means the end of our country as a monarchy104; it means war, revolution, a — a republic!”
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” commented The Thinking Machine oddly. “There’ll be nothing but republics in a few years; witness France, Portugal, China —”
“You can’t realize the acute political situation in my country,” Admiral Hausen–Aubier rushed on, heedless of the other’s remark. “Already there are dissensions; the emperor holds his kingdom together with a rod of iron, and his people only submit because they expect so much of Prince Otto Ludwig when he ascends105 the throne. He is popular with his subjects — the crown prince, I mean — and they would welcome him as emperor — welcome him, but no one else. It is absolutely necessary that he be found! The future of my country — our country,” and he turned to Baron Von Hartzfeldt, “depends upon finding him.”
Seemingly some new thought was born in The Thinking Machine’s mind. His eyes opened slightly, and he turned upon Baron Von Hartzfeldt inquiringly. Apparently the ambassador understood, for he nodded.
“He is revealing diplomatic secrets,” he said, with a slight movement of his shoulders; “but what he says is true.”
“In that case —” The Thinking Machine began; and then he lapsed106 into silence. For minute after minute he sat, heedless of the nervous pacing of Admiral Hausen–Aubier, heedless of the constant interrogation of the ambassador’s eyes.
“In that case —” the ambassador prompted.
“Is Crown Prince Otto Ludwig here incognito107, or is it generally known that he is in this country?” the scientist questioned suddenly.
“He is here officially,” was the response; “that is, publicly. The government of the United States has received him and entertained him, and you know all that that means.”
“Then how do you — have you — accounted for his disappearance?”
“Lies!” Admiral Hausen–Aubier broke in bitterly. “He is supposed to be dangerously ill, confined to his stateroom aboard the Friedrich der Grosse; and no one except the ship’s surgeon is permitted to see him. We have lied even to our emperor! He believes the prince is ill; if he understood that his son, the heir apparent, was missing, dead, perhaps — ach, Gott! Every moment I am expecting sailing orders — orders to return home. I can’t go back to my king and tell him that the son he intrusted to my care, the hope and salvation108 of my country, is — is — I can’t even say dead — I could only say that I don’t know.”
There was something magnificent in the bronzed old sailorman — something at once rugged and tender and fierce in his loyalty. The Thinking Machine studied the grief-stricken face curiously. Unashamed, Admiral Hausen–Aubier permitted the tears to gather in his eyes and roll down his furrowed109 cheeks.
“I don’t care for myself,” he explained huskily. “I do care for my country, for my prince. In any event, there remains for me only dishonor and death.”
“Suicide?” questioned the scientist coldly.
“What else is there?”
“That,” The Thinking Machine murmured acridly110, “would improve the situation a lot! If I had committed suicide every time I had a problem to solve I should have been very dead by this time.” His manner changed. “We know the prince was abducted; he is probably not dead, but we have no word of him or from him; therefore, there remains only —”
“Only what?” The question came from his two visitors simultaneously111.
“Only a question of the most effective way of establishing communication with him.”
“If we knew how to communicate with him, we’d go get him instead!” declared Admiral Hausen–Aubier grimly. “There are eight hundred men on the battleship who —”
The Thinking Machine arose, stood staring blankly at the two, much as if he had never seen them before; then walked over to his worktable, and shut off the great electric light.
“It’s easy enough to communicate with Prince Otto Ludwig,” he said, as he returned to them. “There are half a dozen ways.”
“Then why, if it is so easy,” demanded the diplomatist, “why hasn’t he communicated with his ship?”
“There’s always a chance that he doesn’t want to, you know,” was the enigmatic response. “How many persons know of his disappearance?”
“Only five outside of the secret service and the embassy agents,” Admiral Hausen–Aubier answered. “They are Baron Von Hartzfeldt here, the guard, the ship’s commander, the ship’s surgeon, and myself.”
“Too many!” The Thinking Machine shook his head slowly. “However, let’s go aboard the Friedrich der Grosse. I don’t recall that I’ve ever been on a modern battleship.”
Night had fallen as the three men, each eminent in his own profession, boarded a small power boat off Atlantic Avenue, and were hurried away through slashing112 waters to the giant battleship in the outer harbor. There for an hour or more the little scientist pottered about the magnificent suite which had been occupied by Prince Otto Ludwig. He asked one or two casual questions of the guard; that was all, after which he retired113 to the admiral’s cabin to write a short note.
“If,” he remarked, as he addressed an envelope to Hutchinson Hatch, “if the prince is alive we shall hear from him. If he is dead we will not.” His eye chanced upon a glaring headline in a newspaper on the desk:
PRINCE OTTO LUDWIG DANGEROUSLY ILL. Heir to Throne of Germania–Austria Confined to Suite Aboard the Battle–Ship “Friedrich der Grosse.” No One Permitted to See Him.
The Thinking Machine glanced at Admiral Hausen–Aubier.
“Lies!” declared the rugged old sailor. “Every day for a week it has been the same. We are compelled to issue bulletins. Ach, Gott! He must be found!”
“Please have this note sent ashore114 and delivered immediately,” the scientist requested. “Meanwhile, I haven’t been in bed for three nights. If you’ll give me a berth115, I’ll get some sleep. Wake me if necessary.”
“You expect something to happen, then?”
“Certainly. I expect a wireless116, but not for several hours — probably not until tomorrow afternoon.”
“A wireless?” There was a flicker117 of hope in the admiral’s eyes. “May — may I ask from whom?”
“From Crown Prince Otto Ludwig,” said The Thinking Machine placidly119. “I’m going to sleep. Good night.”
Three hours later Admiral Hausen–Aubier in person aroused The Thinking Machine from the lethargy of oblivion which followed upon utter physical and mental exhaustion120, and thrust a wireless message under his nose. It said simply:
O.K. Hatch.
The Thinking Machine blinked at it, grunted121, then turned over as if to go back to sleep. Struck with some new idea, however, he opened his eyes for an instant.
“Issue a special bulletin to the press,” he directed drowsily122, “to the effect that Prince Otto Ludwig’s condition has taken a sudden turn for the better. He is expected to be up and around again in a few days.”
The sentence ended in a light snore.
All that night Admiral Hausen–Aubier, haggard, vigilant123, sat beside the wireless operator in his cabinet on the upper deck, waiting, waiting, he knew not for what. Darkness passed, the stars died, and pallid124 dawn found him there.
At nine o’clock he ordered coffee; at noon more coffee.
At four in the afternoon the thing he had been waiting for came — only three words:
Followed suggestion. Communicate.
“Very indistinct, sir,” the operator reported. “An amateur sending.”
The Thinking Machine, wide awake now, and below deck discussing high explosives with a gunner’s mate, was summoned. Into the wireless cabinet with him came Baron Von Hartzfeldt. For an instant the three men studied in silence this portentous125 message from the void.
“Keep in touch with him,” The Thinking Machine instructed the operator. “What’s his range?”
“Hundred miles, sir.”
“Strong or weak?”
“Weak, sir.”
“Reduce the range.”
“I did, sir, and lost him.”
“Increase it.”
With the receiver clamped to his ears, the operator thrust his range key forward, and listened.
“I lose him, sir,” he reported.
“Very well. Set at one hundred.” The scientist turned to Baron Von Hartzfeldt and Admiral Hausen–Aubier. “He is alive, and less than a hundred miles away,” he explained hurriedly. Then to the operator: “Send as I dictate126:
“Is — O— L— there?”
The instrument hissed127 as the message spanned the abyss of space; in the glass drum above, great crackling electric sparks leaped and roared fitfully, lighting128 the tense faces of the men in the cabinet. Came dead silence — painful silence — then the operator read the answer aloud:
“Yes.”
“Mein Gott ich lobe129!” One great exclamation of thanks, and Admiral Hausen–Aubier buried his face in his hands.
To Baron Von Hartzfeldt the whole thing was wizardry pure and simple. The Thinking Machine had summoned the lost out of the void. While a hundred trained men, keen-eyes, indefatigable130, wary131 as ferrets, were searching for the crown prince, along comes this withered132, white-faced little man of science, with his monstrous133 head and his feeble hands, and works a miracle under his very eyes! He listened, fascinated, as The Thinking Machine continued:
“Must — prove — identity — Hausen — Aubier — here — ask — O— L— give — word — or phrase — identify — him.”
Suddenly The Thinking Machine whirled about to face the admiral. The answer should prove once for all whether the prince was alive or dead. Minutes passed. Finally —
“It’s coming, sir, in German,” the operator explained:
“Neujarstag — eine — cigarre.”
“New Year’s Day — a cigar!” Admiral Hausen–Aubier translated, in obvious bewilderment. Swiftly his face cleared. “I understand. He refers to an incident that he and I alone know. When a lad of twelve he tried to smoke a cigar, and it made him deathly ill. I saved him from —”
“Send,” interrupted The Thinking Machine:
“Satisfied — give — terms.”
And the operator read:
“Five — million — dollars!”
“Five million dollars!” exclaimed the admiral and the diplomatist, in a breath. “Does he mean ransom134?” Baron Von Hartzfeldt asked, aghast. “Five million dollars!”
“Five million dollars, yes,” the scientist replied irritably135. “We’re not dealing136 with children. We’re dealing with shrewd, daring, intelligent men who have played a big game for a big stake; and if you love your country and your king you’d better thank God it’s only money they want. Suppose they had demanded a constitution, or even the abdication137 of your emperor? That might have meant revolution, war — anything.” He stared at them an instant, then swung around to the operator. “Send,” he commanded:
“We — accept — terms —”
“Why, man, you are mad!” interposed the diplomatist sharply. “It’s preposterous!”
But The Thinking Machine said again evenly:
“We — accept — terms — specify138 — by — mail — place — time — manner — of — settlemen t.”
The crashing of the mighty current in the glass drum ceased as the message was finished, and with strained attention the three men waited. Again a tense pause. At last the operator read:
“Also — assurance — no — prosecution139.”
And The Thinking Machine dictated140:
“Accept.”
“Wait a minute!” commanded Admiral Hausen–Aubier hotly. “Do you mean we are promising141 immunity142 to the men who abducted —”
“Certainly,” replied the scientist. “They’re not fools. If we don’t promise it, all they have to do is break off communication and wait until such time as you will promise it.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Or else stick a knife into your prince, and end the affair. Besides, prosecution means publicity143.”
With clenched144 hands, the admiral turned away; no answer seemed possible. Heedless of the things about him, Baron Von Hartzfeldt sat dumbly meditating145 upon the staggering ransom. It would take days to raise so vast a sum, if he could do it at all; and his private resources, together with those of Admiral Hausen–Aubier, would be drained to the last dollar. Even then it might be necessary to call upon the royal treasury146. That would be a confession147; out of it would come only dishonor and — death.
The Thinking Machine dictated:
“Accept — we — pledge — Hausen — Aubier’s — word — of honor.”
And the answer came:
“Satisfied — mailing — details — tonight — will — communicate — tomorrow — noon.”
The attenuated thread which had linked them with the unknown was broken. Somewhere off through space they had talked with a man whom human ingenuity148 had failed to find —’twas another of the many miracles of modern science.
The morrow brought a typewritten letter incapable149 of misconstruction. It was the usual thing — an open field, some thirty miles out of the city, a lone20 tree in the center of the field, a suit case containing the money to be left there. The letter concluded with a paragraph after this fashion:
Your prince’s life depends upon rigid150 adherence151 to these instructions. If there is any attempt to watch, or to identify us, or molest152 us, a pistol shot will end the affair; if the bag is there, and the money is in the bag, he will be aboard ship within five hours. Remember, we hold your pledge!
“Crude,” commented The Thinking Machine. “I was led to expect better things of them.”
“But the money, man, the money?” exclaimed Baron Von Hartzfeldt. “It will be absolutely impossible to get it unless — unless we call upon the royal treasury.”
His face was haggard, his eyes inflamed153 by lack of sleep, and deep furrows154 lined his usually placid118 brow. He leaned forward, and stared tensely into the pallid, wizened face of the scientist, who sat with head tilted back, his gaze turned steadily upward, his slender fingers precisely tip to tip.
“Five million dollars in gold,” The Thinking Machine observed ambiguously, “would weight tons. It would take five hundred ten-thousand-dollar notes to make five million dollars, and I doubt if there are that many in existence. It would take five thousand thousand-dollar notes. Absurd! There will have to be two, perhaps three, of the bags.”
“But don’t you understand,” Baron Von Hartzfeldt burst out violently, “that it’s impossible to raise that sum? That there will be none of the bags? That some other scheme —”
“Oh, yes, there will be three of the bags,” The Thinking Machine asserted mildly. “But, of course, there will be no money in them!”
Admiral Hasuen–Aubier and the diplomatist digested the statement in silence.
“But you have pledged my word of honor —” the old sailorman objected.
“Not to prosecute,” the scientist pointed out.
“Absurd!” The ambassador came to his feet. “You have said we are not dealing with children. Why put the empty bags there? If they find they are empty, the prince’s life will pay forfeit155; if we attempt to surround them and capture them, the result will be the same; and, besides, we will have broken our pledge.”
“I’ve never seen any one so fussy156 about their pledges as you gentlemen are,” observed The Thinking Machine acridly. “Don’t worry. I shall not break a pledge; I shall not attempt to surround them and capture them; I shall not, nor shall any one representing me, or any of us, for that matter, be within miles of that particular field after the bags are placed. They shall reach the field unmolested and unwatched.”
“You are talking in riddles,” declared the diplomatist impatiently. “What do you mean?”
“I mean merely that the men who go to get the bags of money will wait right there until I come, even if it should happen to take two weeks,” was the enigmatic response. “Also, I’ll say they’ll be glad to see me when I get there, and glad to restore Prince Otto Ludwig to his ship without one penny being paid. There will be no prosecution.”
“But — but I don’t understand,” stammered157 the ambassador.
“I don’t expect you to,” said The Thinking Machine ungraciously. “Nor do I expect you to understand this.”
Impatiently he spread a newspaper before the two men, and indicated an advertisement in black-faced type. It was on the first page, directly beneath a bulletin announcing a sudden change for the better in Prince Otto Ludwig’s condition. The admiral read it aloud blankly:
“Wireless is only means communication can not be traced. Use it. Safe for all. Communicate with ship immediately. Would advise you erect158 private station.”
That was all of it. It was addressed to no one, and signed by no one; if it had any meaning at all, it was merely as a curious method of advertising159 wireless telegraphy. Inquiringly at last the baron and the admiral raised their eyes to those of The Thinking Machine.
“The abductors of Prince Otto Ludwig had not communicated with the ship,” he explained tersely160, “because they could devise no way they considered absolutely safe. They knew the secret service would be at work. They didn’t dare to telegraph in the usual way, nor send a messenger, nor even a letter. Our secret service is an able organization; they understood it was not to be trifled with. All these things considered, I didn’t believe the abductors could hit upon a plan of communication which they considered safe. I inserted that advertisement in all the newspapers. It was a suggestion. They understood, and followed it. You will remember their first communication.”
Baron Von Hartzfeldt came to his feet suddenly, then sat down again. The miracle hadn’t been a miracle, after all. It was merely common sense.
“Jeder verruckte konnte davon denken!” exclaimed the admiral bluntly.
“Quite right,” assented161 The Thinking Machine. “Any fool could have thought of that — but no other fool did!”
Promptly162 at noon the wireless operator plucked this from the void:
“Is — letter — satisfactory?”
And the scientist dictated an answer:
“Yes — except — we — require — another — day — to — raise — money.”
“Granted —”
“Impossible — put — all — money — one — bag — will — use — three.”
“Satisfactory — remember — our — warning.”
“You — have — our — pledge.”
As the last word of the message went hurtling off into space, The Thinking Machine scrambled163 down the sea ladder and was rowed ashore. From his own home, half an hour later, he called Hutchinson Hatch on the telephone.
“I want,” he said, “three large suit cases, one pair of extra-heavy rubber gloves, ten miles of electric wire well insulated, three Edison transformers, one fast automobile164, permission to tap the Abington trolley165 wire, and two dozen ham sandwiches.”
Hatch laughed. He was accustomed to the eccentricities166 of this little man of science.
“You shall have them,” he promised.
“Bring everything to my house at midnight.”
“Right!”
Looking back upon it later, Hatch decided he had never worked so hard in his life as he did that night; in addition to which he had the satisfaction of not knowing just what he was doing. There were telephone poles to be climbed, and shallow trenches167 to be dug and immediately filled in so no trace of their existence remained, and miles of electric wire to be hauled through thickly weeded fields. Dawn was breaking when everything seemed to be done.
“This,” remarked The Thinking Machine, “is where the ham sandwiches are useful.”
They breakfasted upon them, after which The Thinking Machine went away, leaving Hatch to watch the small dial of some sort of an indicator168 attached to a wire. At noon the scientist returned, and, without a word, took the reporter’s place at the dial. At thirty-three minutes past four the hand of the indicator suddenly shot around to one side, and the scientist arose.
“We have caught a fish,” he said. “Come on!”
They were in the automobile, speeding along the highway, before Hatch spoke.
“What sort of fish?” he asked curiously.
“I don’t know,” was the reply. “A person, or persons, have picked up one or more of those suit cases to the bottom of which our electric wire is connected. He is unable to let go — he, or they, as the case may be. He will be unconscious when we reach him.”
“Dead, you mean,” said Hatch grimly. “The current from that trolley wire —”
“Unconscious,” The Thinking Machine corrected. “The current is reduced. There is a transformer in each of the suit cases. The wiring extends up through the handles where the insulation169 is stripped off.”
Three, four, nearly five, miles they went like the wind; then the motor car stopped with a jerk, and Hatch, taking advantage of his longer legs, galloped170 off through the open field toward the lone tree in the center. The thing he saw caused him to stop suddenly and raise his hands in horror. Upon the ground in front of him was the convulsed figure of a young man, foreign-looking, distinguished even. His distorted face, livid now, was turned upward, and his hands were gripped to the suit case by the powerful electric current.
“Who is it?” queried the scientist.
“Crown Prince Otto Ludwig, of Germania–Austria!”
“What?” The question came violently, a single burst of amazement171. And again: “What?” There was an expression on The Thinking Machine’s face the like of which Hatch had never seen there before. “It’s a possibility I had never considered. So he wanted the five million —” Suddenly his whole manner changed. “Let’s get him to the motor.”
With rubber-gloved hands, he cut the wire which held the crown prince prisoner, and the unconscious man fell back limply, as if dead. Five minutes later they had lifted him into the tonneau, and The Thinking Machine bent172 over him anxiously, with his hand on his wrist.
“Where to?” asked Hatch.
“Anywhere, and fast!” was the reply. “I must think.”
Oblivious of the swaying and clatter173 of the huge car, The Thinking Machine sat silent for minute after minute as it sped on over the smooth road. Finally he seemed satisfied. He leaned forward, and touched Hatch on the shoulder.
“It’s all right,” he said. “We’ll go aboard ship now.”
Late that night the crown prince, himself again, but with badly burned hands, explained. He had been stupefied by chloroform, kidnaped, and lowered over the battleship rail in utter darkness. His impression was that he had been taken away in a small boat which had muffled174 oars175. When he recovered, he found himself a prisoner in a deserted country house, with two men on guard. He didn’t know the name of either.
Calmly enough, the three of them discussed the affair in all its aspects. They could devise no safe means of communicating with the ship until he suggested the wireless. He even aided in the erection of a station between two tall trees on a remote hill somewhere. One of his guards, meanwhile, had to master the code. He had become fairly proficient176 when they saw the advertisement in the newspapers.
“But how is it you went to get the money?” the scientist questioned curiously.
“The men feared treachery,” was the explanation. “They were willing to take my word of honor that I would get it and return with it, after which I was to be free. A prince of the royal house of Germania–Austria may not break his word of honor.”
Tiny corrugations in the domelike brow of the scientist caused Hatch to stare at him expectantly; even as he looked they passed.
“Mr. Hatch,” he said abruptly, “I have heard you refer to certain newspaper stories as ‘peaches’ and ‘corkers’ and what not. How would you class this?”
“This,” said the reporter enthusiastically, “this is a bird!”
“It has only one defect,” remarked The Thinking Machine. “It cannot be printed.”
One eminent scientist who had achieved the seemingly impossible, and one disgusted newspaper reporter were rowed ashore at midnight.
“What do you think of it all, anyhow?” demanded Hatch suddenly.
“I have no opinion to express,” declared The Thinking Machine crabbedly. “The prince has come to his own again; that is sufficient.”
Some weeks later Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen was decorated with the Order of the Iron Eagle by Emperor Gustavus, of Germania–Austria. Reflectively he twisted the elaborate jeweled bauble177 in his slender fingers; then returned to his worktable under the great electric light. For a minute or more tiny corrugations appeared in his forehead; finally they passed as that strange mind of his became absorbed in the thing he was doing.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pungent
|
|
| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
attenuated
|
|
| v.（使）变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）变薄；（使）变小；减弱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
thatch
|
|
| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
slits
|
|
| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
squinting
|
|
| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
petulantly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wizened
|
|
| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
microscopic
|
|
| adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
curtly
|
|
| adv.简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
curt
|
|
| adj.简短的，草率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
wink
|
|
| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
peevishly
|
|
| adv．暴躁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
lone
|
|
| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
labors
|
|
| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
oblivious
|
|
| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
logic
|
|
| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
logician
|
|
| n.逻辑学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
analyst
|
|
| n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
cumulative
|
|
| adj.累积的，渐增的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
isolated
|
|
| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
pinnacle
|
|
| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
surmises
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
accurately
|
|
| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
paradox
|
|
| n.似乎矛盾却正确的说法；自相矛盾的人(物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
irritation
|
|
| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
terse
|
|
| adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
crabbed
|
|
| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
faculty
|
|
| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
primal
|
|
| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
circumscribed
|
|
| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
frailties
|
|
| n.脆弱( frailty的名词复数 )；虚弱；（性格或行为上的）弱点；缺点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
motives
|
|
| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
investigations
|
|
| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
abstruse
|
|
| adj.深奥的，难解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
vices
|
|
| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
eminent
|
|
| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
culminated
|
|
| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
bestowal
|
|
| 赠与，给与； 贮存 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
engrossed
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
baron
|
|
| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
diplomat
|
|
| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
suavely
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
tartly
|
|
| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
Mediterranean
|
|
| adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
relaxation
|
|
| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
tilted
|
|
| v. 倾斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
shred
|
|
| v.撕成碎片，变成碎片；n.碎布条，细片，些少 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
sentries
|
|
| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
suite
|
|
| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
ruffled
|
|
| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
disappearance
|
|
| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
irrelevantly
|
|
| adv.不恰当地，不合适地；不相关地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
vouch
|
|
| v.担保；断定；n.被担保者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
countenances
|
|
| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
abducted
|
|
| 劫持，诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（肢体等）外展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
perspicacity
|
|
| n. 敏锐, 聪明, 洞察力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
precipitate
|
|
| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
reigning
|
|
| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
shuddered
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
tangible
|
|
| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
tragically
|
|
| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
vehemently
|
|
| adv. 热烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
monarchy
|
|
| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
ascends
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
lapsed
|
|
| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
incognito
|
|
| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
furrowed
|
|
| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
acridly
|
|
| adj.辛辣的；刺鼻的；（性格、态度、言词等）刻薄的；尖刻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
slashing
|
|
| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
wireless
|
|
| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
placid
|
|
| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
placidly
|
|
| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
grunted
|
|
| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
drowsily
|
|
| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
vigilant
|
|
| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
pallid
|
|
| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
portentous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
dictate
|
|
| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
hissed
|
|
| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
lobe
|
|
| n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
indefatigable
|
|
| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
wary
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
withered
|
|
| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
monstrous
|
|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
ransom
|
|
| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
irritably
|
|
| ad.易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
abdication
|
|
| n.辞职；退位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
specify
|
|
| vt.指定，详细说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
prosecution
|
|
| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
dictated
|
|
| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
immunity
|
|
| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
clenched
|
|
| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
meditating
|
|
| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
treasury
|
|
| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
ingenuity
|
|
| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
incapable
|
|
| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
rigid
|
|
| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
adherence
|
|
| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
molest
|
|
| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
inflamed
|
|
| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
furrows
|
|
| n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 )；（脸上的）皱纹v.犁田，开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
forfeit
|
|
| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
fussy
|
|
| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
advertising
|
|
| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
tersely
|
|
| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
assented
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
scrambled
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
automobile
|
|
| n.汽车，机动车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
trolley
|
|
| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
eccentricities
|
|
| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
167
trenches
|
|
| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
indicator
|
|
| n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
insulation
|
|
| n.隔离；绝缘；隔热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
oars
|
|
| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
proficient
|
|
| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
bauble
|
|
| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |