In his person Mr. Leighton had the distinguished4 honour of closely resembling the immaculate villain5 of melodrama6. In his mental attainments7, however, Scotland Yard gave him credit for being a genius — far beyond the cigarette smoking mummer of crime who is always transparent8 and is inevitably9 caught. Mr. Leighton had never been caught. Perhaps that was why Scotland Yard insisted on his cleverness and was prepared to argue the point.
Mr. Leighton went everywhere. At those functions where the highest in the social world met, there was Mr. Leighton. He was on every matron’s selected list of guests, a charming addition to any gathering10. Scotland Yard knew this. Of course it may have been only the merest chance that he was always present at those functions where valuable jewels had been “lost” or “mislaid.” Yet Scotland Yard did not regard it as chance. That it did not was another compliment to Mr. Leighton.
From deep down in its innermost conscience Scotland Yard looked up to Mr. Leighton as the master mind, if not the actual vital instrument, in a long series of baffling jewel robberies. There was a finesse11 and delicacy12 — not to mention regularity13 — about these robberies that annoyed Scotland Yard. Yet believing all this Scotland Yard had never been so indiscreet as to mention the matter to Mr. Leighton. As a matter of fact Scotland Yard had never seen its way clear to mentioning it to anyone.
Conway had some ideas of his own about Mr. Leighton whom he exalted14 to a position that would have surprised if not flattered him. Conway perhaps, more nearly expressed the opinion of Scotland Yard in a few brief remarks than I could at greater length.
“He’s a crook15 and the cleverest in the world,” he said of Mr. Leighton, almost enthusiastically. “He got the Hemingway jewels, the Cheltenham bracelet16 and the Quez shiners all right. I know he got them. But that doesn’t do any good — merely knowing it. I can’t put a finger on him because he’s too blooming smooth. I think I’ve got him and then — I haven’t.”
This was before the Varron necklace affair. When that remarkable17 episode came to be known to Scotland Yard Conway’s admiration18 for Mr. Leighton increased immeasurably. He knew that Leighton was the responsible one — he knew it in his own head and heart — but that was all. He gnawed19 his scrubby moustache fiercely and set to work to prove it, feeling beforehand that it was a vain task.
The absolute simplicity20 of the thing — and in this it was like the others — was its most puzzling feature. Lady Varron had tendered a reception to the United States Ambassador at her London house. She had gathered about her a most distinguished company. There were representatives of England, France and Russia; there were some of the most beautiful women of the continent; there were two American Duchesses; there were a chosen few of the American colony — and Mr. Leighton. It may be well to repeat that he went everywhere.
Lady Varron on this occasion wore the famous Varron necklace. Its intrinsic value was said to be PS40,000; associations made it priceless. She was dancing with the American Ambassador when she slipped on the smooth floor and fell, dragging him down with her. It was an undignified, unromantic thing, but it happened. Mr. Leighton chanced to be one of those nearest and rushed to her assistance. In an instant Lady Varron and the Ambassador were the centre of a little group. It was Mr. Leighton who lifted Lady Varron to her feet.
“It’s nothing,” she assured him, smiling uncertainly. “I was a little awkward, that’s all.”
Mr. Leighton turned to assist the Ambassador but found him standing21 again and puffing22 inordinately23, then turned back to Lady Varron.
“You dropped your necklace,” he remarked blandly24.
“My necklace?”
Lady Varron’s white hand flew to her bare throat, and she paled a little as Mr. Leighton and others of the group stood back to look for the jewel. It was not to be seen. Lady Varron controlled herself admirably.
“It must have fallen somewhere,” she said finally.
“Are you sure you had it on?” asked another guest solicitously25.
“Oh, yes,” she replied positively26, “but I may have dropped it somewhere else.”
“I noticed it just before you — we — fell,” said the Ambassador. “It must be here.”
But it wasn’t. In that respect — that is visible non-existence — it resembled the Cheltenham bracelet. Mr. Leighton had, on that occasion, strolled out on the lawn at night with the Honourable27 Miss Cheltenham and she had dropped the bracelet. That was all. It was never found.
In this Varron affair it would be useless to go into details of what immediately followed the loss of the necklace. It is sufficient to say that it was not found; that men and women stared at each other in bewildered embarrassment28 and mutual29 suspicion, and that finally Mr. Leighton, who still stood beside Lady Varron, intimated courteously30, tactfully, that a personal search of her guests would not be amiss. He did not say it in so many words but the others understood.
Mr. Leighton was seconded heartily31 by the American Ambassador, a Democratic individual with honest ideas which were foremost when a question of personal integrity was involved. But the search was not made and the reception proceeded. Lady Varron bore her loss marvellously well.
“She’s a brick,” was the audible compliment of one of the American Duchesses whose father owned $20,000,000 worth of soap somewhere in vague America. “I’d have had a fit if I’d lost a necklace like that.”
It was not until next day that Scotland Yard was notified of Lady Varron’s loss.
“Leighton there?” was Conway’s question.
“Yes.”
“Then he got it,” Conway asserted positively. “I’ll get him this time or know why.”
Yet at the end of a month he neither had him, nor did he know why. He had intercepted33 messengers, he had opened letters, telegrams, cable dispatches; he had questioned servants; he had taken advantage of the absence of both Mr. Leighton and his valet to search his exquisite35 apartments. He had done all these things and more — all that a severely36 conscientious37 man of his profession could do, and had gnawed his scrubby moustache down to a disreputable ragged38 line. But of the necklace there was no clue, no trace, nothing.
Then Conway heard that Mr. Leighton was going to the United States for a few months.
“To take the necklace and dispose of it,” he declared out of the vexation of his own heart. “If he ever gets aboard ship with it I’ve got him — either I’ve got him or the United States customs officials will have him.”
Conway could not bring himself to believe that Mr. Leighton, with all his cleverness, would dare try to dispose of the pearls in England and he flattered himself that Leighton could not have sent them elsewhere — too close a watch had been kept.
It transpired39 naturally that when the Boston bound liner Romanic sailed from Liverpool four days later not only was Mr. Leighton aboard but Conway was there. He knew Leighton, but was secure in the thought that Leighton did not know him.
On the second day out he was disabused40 on this point. He was beginning to think that it might not be a bad idea to know Leighton casually41 so when he noticed that immaculate gentleman alone, leaning on the rail, smoking, he sauntered up and joined him in contemplation of the infinite ocean.
“Beautiful weather,” Conway remarked after a long time.
“Yes,” replied Leighton as he glanced around and smiled. “I should think you Scotland Yard men would enjoy a junket like this?”
Conway didn’t do any such foolish thing as start or show astonishment42, whatever he might have felt. Instead he smiled pleasantly.
“I’ve been working pretty hard on that Varron affair,” he said frankly43. “And now I’m taking a little vacation.”
“Oh, that thing at Lady Varron’s?” inquired Leighton lazily. “Indeed? I happened to be the one to notice that the necklace was gone.”
“Yes, I know it,” responded Conway, grimly.
The conversation drifted to other things. Conway found Leighton an agreeable companion, and a democratic one. They smoked together, walked together and played shuffle-board together. That evening Leighton took a hand at “bridge” in the smoking room. For hours Conway stared at the phosphorescent points in the sinister44 green waters, and smoked.
“If he did it,” he remarked at last, “he’s the cleverest scoundrel on earth, and if he did not I’m the biggest fool.”
Six bells — eleven o’clock struck. The deck was deserted45. Conway stumbled along through the dark toward the smoking room. Inside he saw Leighton still at play. As he paused at the open door he heard Leighton’s voice.
“I’ll play until two o’clock, not later,” it said.
Conway made up his mind instantly. He turned, retraced46 his steps along the deck to Leighton’s room where he stopped. He knew Leighton had not burdened himself with a valet and thought he knew why, so without hesitation47 he drew out several keys and fumbled48 at the lock. It yielded at last and he stepped inside the state room, closing the door. His purpose was instantly apparent. It was to search.
Now Conway had his own ideas of just how a search should be conducted. First he took Leighton’s wearing apparel and patted and pinched it inch by inch; he squeezed up neckties, unrolled handkerchiefs, examined shirts and crumpled49 up silken hosiery. Then he took the shoes — half a dozen pairs. He had been suspicious of shoes since he once found a dozen diamonds concealed50 in false heels. But these heels weren’t false.
Next, still without haste or apparent disappointment, he turned his attention to the handbag, the suit case and the steamer trunk all of which he had emptied. Such things had been known to have false bottoms and secret compartments51. These had none. He satisfied himself absolutely on this point by every method known to his art.
In due time his examination came down to the room itself. He unmade the bed and closely felt of and scrutinized52 the mattress53, sheets, blankets, pillows, and coverlid. He took the three drawers from the dressing54 cabinet and looked behind them. He turned over several English newspapers and shook them one by one. He peered into the water pitcher55 and fumbled around the plumbing56 in the tiny bath room adjoining. He examined the carpet to see if anything had been hidden beneath it. Finally he climbed on a chair and from this elevated position looked for a crack or crevice57 where a necklace or unset pearls could be hidden.
“There are still three possibilities,” he told himself at the end as he carefully restored the room to its previous condition. “He might have left them in a package in the ship’s safe but that’s improbable — too risky58; he might have left them in a trunk in the hold, which is still more improbable; or he might have them on his person. That is more than likely.”
So Conway went out, extinguishing the light and locking the door behind him. He stepped into his own state room a moment and took a mouthful of whiskey which he spat34 out again. But it must have had some deep, potent59 effect for a few minutes later when he appeared in the smoking room he was in a lamentable60 state of intoxication61 and exhaled62 whiskey noticeably. His was a maudlin63, thick-tongued condition. Leighton glanced up at him with well bred reproach.
It may have been only accident that Conway stumbled over Leighton’s feet and noted64 that he wore flat-soled, loose slippers65 without heels, and also accident that he embraced him with exaggerated affection as he struggled to recover his equilibrium66.
Be those things as they may Leighton excused himself goodnaturedly from the bridge party and urged Conway to bed. Conway would only agree on condition that Leighton would assist him. Leighton consented cheerfully and they left the smoking room together, Conway clinging to him as the vine to the oak.
Half way down the deck Conway stumbled and fell despite the friendly supporting arm, and in his effort to save himself his hands slid all the way down Leighton’s shapely legs. Then he was deposited in his state room and Leighton returned to his cards smiling.
“And he hasn’t got them on him,” declared Conway enigmatically to the bare walls. He was not intoxicated67 now.
It was an easy matter next day for him to learn that Leighton had left nothing in the ship’s safe and that his four trunks in the hold were inaccessible68, being buried under hundreds of others. Whereupon Conway sat down to wait and learn what new and original ideas of searching Uncle Sam’s Customs officers had invented.
At last came a morning when the wireless69 telegraph operator aboard picked up a signal from shore and announced that the Romanic was less than a hundred miles from Boston light. Later Conway found Leighton leaning on the rail, smoking and gazing shoreward.
It was three hours or so after that that several passengers noticed a motor boat coming toward them. Leighton watched it with idle interest. Finally it circled widely and it became apparent that it was coming alongside the now slow moving liner. When it was only a hundred feet off and the liner was barely creeping along, Leighton grew suddenly interested.
“By Jove,” he exclaimed, then shouted: “Hello, Harry70!”
“Hello, Leighton,” came an answering shout. “Heard you were aboard and came out to meet you.”
There was a rapid fire of uninteresting pleasantries as the motor boat slid in under the Romanic’s lee and bobbed up and down in her wash. The man aboard stood up with a package of newspapers in his hand.
“Here are some American papers for you,” he called.
He flung the bundle and Leighton caught it, left the rail and passed into his state room. He returned after a moment with a bundle of European papers — those Conway had previously71 seen.
“Catch,” he called. “There’s something in these that will interest you.”
The man in the small boat caught the package and dropped it carelessly on a seat.
Then, suddenly, Conway awoke.
“There goes the necklace,” he told himself with a start. A quick grasping movement of his hands attracted Leighton’s attention and he smiled inscrutably, daringly into the blazing eyes of the Scotland Yard man. The motor boat with a parting shot of “I’ll meet you on the wharf72” sped away.
Thoughts began to flow rapidly through Conway’s fertile brain. Five minutes later he burst in on the wireless operator and sent a long dispatch to officials ashore73. Then from the bow rail he watched the motor boat speeding away in the direction of Boston. It drew off about two miles and remained relatively74 in that position for nearly all the forty miles into Boston Harbour. It spoke75 no other craft, passed near none in fact while in Conway’s sight, which was until it disappeared in Boston Harbour.
An hour later the Romanic was warped76 in and tied up. Conway was the first man off. He went straight to a man who seemed to be waiting for him.
“Did you search the motor boat?” he demanded.
“Yes,” was the reply. “We nearly tore it to pieces, even took it out of the water. We also searched the man on her, Harry Cheshire. You must have been mistaken.”
“Are you sure she spoke no one or got rid of the jewels to another vessel77?”
“She didn’t go near another vessel,” was the reply. “I met her at the Harbour mouth and came in with her.”
For an instant Conway’s face showed disappointment, then came animation78 again. He was just beginning to get really interested in the affair.
“Do you know the Customs officer in charge?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Introduce me.”
There was an introduction and the three men spoke aside for several minutes. The result of it was that when Leighton sauntered down the gang plank79 he was invited into a private office. He went smilingly and submitted to a search of his person without anger or the slightest trace of uneasiness. As he came out Conway was standing at the door.
“Are you satisfied?” Leighton asked.
“No,” blazed Conway, savagely80.
“What? Not after searching me twice and my state room once?”
Conway didn’t answer. He didn’t dare to at the moment, but he stood by when Leighton’s four trunks were taken from the hold, and he saw that they were searched with the same minute care that he had given to the state room. At the fruitless end of it he sat down on one of the trunks and stared at Leighton in a sort of admiration.
Leighton stared back for a moment, smiled, nodded pleasantly and strolled up the dock chatting carelessly with Harry Cheshire. Conway made no attempt to follow them. It wasn’t worth while — nothing was worth while any more.
“But he did get them and he’s got them now,” he told himself savagely, “or he has disposed of them in some way that I can’t find.”
The Thinking Machine did not seem to regard the problem as at all difficult when it came to his attention a couple of days later. Hutchinson Hatch, reporter, brought it to him. Hatch had some good friends in the Customs Office where Conway had told his story. He learned from them that that office had refused to have anything to do with the case insisting that the Scotland Yard man must be mistaken.
Crushed in spirit, mangled81 in reputation and taunted82 by Leighton’s final words Conway took a desolate83 view of life. Momentarily he lost even that bull-dog tenacity84 which had never before faltered85 — lost it all except in so far as he still believed that Leighton was the man. It was about this time Hatch met him. Would he talk? He was burning to talk; caution was a senseless thing anyway. Then Hatch took him gently by the hand and led him to The Thinking Machine.
Conway unburdened himself at length and with vitriolic86 emphasis. For an hour he went on while the scientist leaned back in his chair with his great yellow head pillowed on a cushion and squinted87 aggressively at the ceiling. At the end of the hour The Thinking Machine knew as much of the Varron problem as Conway knew and knew as much of Leighton as any man knew, except Leighton.
“How many stones were in the necklace,” the scientist asked.
“One hundred and seventy-two,” replied Conway.
“Was the man in the motor boat — Harry Cheshire you call him — an Englishman?”
“Yes, in speech, manner and appearance.”
For a long time The Thinking Machine twiddled his fingers while Conway and the reporter sat staring at him impatiently. Hatch knew, from the past, that something tangible88, something that led somewhere, would come from that wonderful analytical89 brain; Conway not knowing, was only hopefully curious. But like most men of his profession he wanted action; sitting down and thinking didn’t seem to get anywhere.
“You see, Mr. Conway,” said the scientist at last, “you haven’t proven anything. Your investigations90, as a matter of fact, indicate that Leighton did not take the pearls, therefore did not bring them with him. There is only one thing that indicates that he might have. That is the throwing of the newspapers into the motor boat. That one act seems to have been a senseless one, unless —”
“Unless the pearls were concealed in the bundle,” interrupted the Scotland Yard man.
“Or unless he was amusing himself at your expense and is perfectly innocent,” added The Thinking Machine. “It is perfectly possible that if he were an innocent man and discovered that you were on his track that he has merely made a fool of you. If we take any other view of it we must base it on an assumption which has no established fact to support it. We will have to dispose of every other person who might have stolen the necklace and pin it down to Leighton. Further, we will have to assume out of hand that he brought the jewels to this country.”
The Scotland Yard man was getting interested.
“That is not good logic91, yet when we assume all this for our present purposes the problem is a simple one. And by assuming it we prove that your search of the state room was not thorough. Did you, for instance, happen to look on the under side of the slats in the berth92? Do you know that the necklace, or its unset pearls, did not hang down in the drain pipe from the water bowl?”
Conway snapped his fingers in annoyance93. These were two things he had not done.
“There are other possibilities of course,” resumed The Thinking Machine, “therefore the search for the necklace was useless. Now we must take for granted that, if they came to this country at all, they came in one of those places and you overlooked them. Obviously Mr. Leighton would not have left them in the trunks in the hold. Therefore we assume further that he hid them in his state room and threw them into the motor boat.
“In that event they were in the motor boat when it left the Romanic and we must believe they were not in it when it docked. Yet the motor boat neither spoke nor approached any other vessel. The jewels were not thrown into the water. The man Cheshire could not have swallowed one hundred and seventy-two pearls — or any great part of them — therefore, what have we?”
“Nothing,” responded Conway promptly94. “That’s what’s the matter. I’ve had to give it all up.”
“Instead of nothing we have the answer,” replied The Thinking Machine tartly95. “Let’s see. Perhaps I can give you the name and address of the man who has the jewels now, assuming of course that Leighton brought them.”
He arose suddenly and passed into the adjoining room. Conway turned and stared at Hatch inquiringly with a queer expression on his face.
“Is he anything of a joker?” he asked.
“No, but he’s a good deal of a wonder,” replied Hatch.
“Do you mean to say that I have been working on this thing for months and months without learning anything about it and all he’s got to do is to go in there and get the name and address of the man who has the necklace?” demanded Conway in bewilderment.
“If he went into that room and said he’d bring back the Pacific Ocean in a tea cup I’d believe him,” said the reporter. “I know him.”
They were interrupted by the tinkling96 of the telephone bell in the next room, then for a long time the subdued97 hum of the scientist’s irritable98 voice as he talked over the ‘phone. It was twenty-five or thirty minutes before he appeared in the door again. He paused there and scribbled99 something on a card which he handed to Hatch. The reporter read this: “Henry C. H. Manderling, Scituate, Mass.”
“There is the name and address of the man who probably has the jewels now,” said The Thinking Machine quite as a matter of fact. “Mr. Hatch, you accompany Mr. Conway, let him see the surroundings and act as his judgment100 dictates101. You must search this man’s house. I don’t think you’ll have much trouble finding them because they cannot foresee their danger. The pearls will be unset and you will find them possibly in small oil-silk bags, no larger than your little finger. When you find them take steps to apprehend102 both this man and Leighton. Call Detective Mallory when you get them and bring them here.”
“But — but —” stammered103 Conway.
“Come on,” commanded Hatch.
And Conway went.
The sleepy little old town of Scituate sprawls104 along two or three miles of Massachusetts coast, facing the sea boldly in a series of cliffs which rise up and sink away with the utmost suddenness. The town was settled two or three hundred years ago and nothing has ever happened there since. It was here, atop one of the cliffs, that Henry C. H. Manderling had lived alone for two or three months. He had gone there in the Spring with other city folks who dreamed their Summers away, and occupied a queer little shack105 through which the salt breezes wandered at will. A tiny barn was attached to the house.
Hutchinson Hatch and the Scotland Yard man found the house without difficulty and entered it without hesitation. There was no one at hand to stop them, or to interfere106 with the search they made. The simple lock on the door was no obstacle. In less than half an hour the skilful107 hands of the Scotland Yard man had turned out a score or more small oil-silk bags, no larger than his little finger. He ripped one open and six pearls dropped into his hand.
“They’re the Varron pearls all right,” he exclaimed triumphantly108 after an examination. He dropped them all into his pocket.
“Sh-h-h-h!” warned Hatch suddenly.
He had heard a step at the door, then two voices as some one inserted a key in the lock. After a moment the door opened and crouching109 back in the shadow they heard two men enter. It was just at that psychological moment that Conway stepped out and faced them.
“I want you, Leighton,” he said calmly.
Hatch could not see beyond the Scotland Yard man but he heard a shot and a bullet whistled uncomfortably close to his head. Conway leaped forward; Hatch saw his arm swing and one of the men fell. Then came another shot. Conway staggered a little, took another step forward and again swung his great right arm. There was a scurrying110 of feet, the clatter111 of a revolver on the floor and the front door slammed.
“Tie up that chap there,” commanded Conway.
He opened the door and Hatch heard him run along the veranda112 and leap off. He turned his attention to the senseless man on the floor. It was Harry Cheshire. Hatch bound him hand and foot where he lay and ran out.
Conway was racing113 down the cliff to where a motor boat lay. Hatch saw a man climb into the boat and an instant later it shot out into the water. Conway ran on to where it had been; it was now fifty yards out.
“Not this time, Mr. Conway,” came Leighton’s voice as the boat sped on.
The Scotland Yard man stared after it a minute or more then returned to Hatch. The reporter saw that he was pale, very pale.
“Did you bind114 him?” Conway asked.
“Yes,” Hatch responded. “Are you wounded?”
“Sure,” replied the Scotland Yard man. “He got me in the left arm. I never knew him to carry a revolver before. It’s lucky those two shots were all he had.”
The Thinking Machine put the finishing touches on the binding115 of Conway’s wound — it was trivial — then turned to his other visitors. These were Harry Cheshire, or Manderling, and Detective Mallory to whom he had been delivered a prisoner on the arrival of Hatch and Conway in Boston. A general alarm had been sent out for Leighton.
Conway apparently116 didn’t care anything about the wound but he had a frank curiosity as to just what The Thinking Machine had done and how those things which had happened had been brought to pass.
“It was all ridiculously simple,” began the scientist at last in explanation. “It came down to this: How could one hundred and seventy-two pearls be transferred from a boat forty miles at sea to a safe place ashore? The motor boat did not speak or approach any other vessel; obviously one could not throw them ashore and I have never heard of such a thing as a trained fish which might have brought them in. Now what are the only other ways they could have reached shore with comparative safety?”
He looked from one to another inquiringly. Each in turn shook his head. Manderling, or Cheshire, was silent.
“There are only two possible answers,” said the scientist at last. “One, a submarine boat, which is improbable, and the other birds — homing pigeons.”
“By Jove!” exclaimed Conway as he stared at Manderling. “And I did notice dozens of pigeons about the place at Scituate.”
“The jewels were on the ship as you suspected,” resumed the scientist, “unset and probably suspended in a long oil-silk bag in the drain pipe I mentioned. They were thrown into the motor boat, wrapped in the newspapers. Two miles away from the Romanic they were fastened to homing pigeons and one by one the pigeons were released. You, Mr. Conway, could see the boat clearly at that distance but you could not possibly see a bird rise from it. The birds went to their home, Mr. Manderling’s place at Scituate. Homing pigeons are generally kept in automatically closing compartments and each pigeon was locked in as it arrived. Mr. Manderling here and Mr. Leighton removed the pearls at their leisure.
“Of course with homing pigeons as a clue we could get somewhere,” The Thinking Machine went on after a moment. “There are numerous homing pigeon associations and fanciers and it was possible that one of these would know an Englishman who had, say, twenty-five or fifty birds, and presumably lived somewhere near Boston. One did know. He gave me the name of Henry C. H. Manderling. Harry is a corruption117 of Henry; and Henry C? Henry Cheshire, or Harry Cheshire — the name Mr. Manderling gave when he was searched at the wharf.”
“Can you explain how Leighton was able to get the necklace in the first place?” asked Conway curiously118.
“Just as he got the other things,” replied The Thinking Machine, “by boldness and cleverness. Suppose, when Lady Varron fell, Leighton had had a stout119 elastic120 fastened high up at the shoulder, say, inside his coat sleeve and the end of this elastic had a clamp of some sort, and was drawn121 down until the elastic was taut122, and fastened to his cuff123? Remember that this man was always waiting for an opportunity, and was always prepared to take advantage of it. Of course he did not plan the thing as it happened.
“Say that the necklace dropped off as he leaned over to help Lady Varron. In the momentary124 excitement he could, under their very noses, have fastened the clamp to the necklace. Instantly the jewels would have disappeared up his sleeve and he could have submitted to any sort of perfunctory search of his pockets as he suggested.”
“That’s a trick professional gamblers have to get rid of cards,” remarked Detective Mallory.
“Oh, it isn’t new then?” asked The Thinking Machine. “Immediately he left the ballroom125 he hid this necklace as he had hidden other jewels, and before you knew of the theft, wrote and mailed full directions to Mr. Manderling here what to do. You did not intercept32 any letters, of course, until after you knew of this theft. Leighton had perhaps had other dealings with Mr. Manderling in other parts of the world, when he was not so closely watched as in this particular instance. I daresay, however, he had them all planned carefully for fear the very thing that did happen in this case would happen.”
Half an hour later Conway shook hands with The Thinking Machine, thanked him heartily and the little party dispersed126.
“I had given it up,” Conway confessed as he was going out.
“You see,” remarked The Thinking Machine, “gentlemen of your profession use too little common sense. Remember that two and two always make four — not some times but all the time.”
Leighton has not yet been caught. Manderling made a model prisoner.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
insistence
|
|
| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
melodrama
|
|
| n.音乐剧；情节剧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
attainments
|
|
| 成就，造诣； 获得( attainment的名词复数 )； 达到； 造诣； 成就 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
transparent
|
|
| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
inevitably
|
|
| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
finesse
|
|
| n.精密技巧，灵巧，手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
regularity
|
|
| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
crook
|
|
| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
bracelet
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
gnawed
|
|
| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
simplicity
|
|
| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
inordinately
|
|
| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
blandly
|
|
| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
solicitously
|
|
| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
honourable
|
|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
embarrassment
|
|
| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
courteously
|
|
| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
intercept
|
|
| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
intercepted
|
|
| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
exquisite
|
|
| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
conscientious
|
|
| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
transpired
|
|
| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
disabused
|
|
| v.去除…的错误想法( disabuse的过去式和过去分词 )；使醒悟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
41
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
frankly
|
|
| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
fumbled
|
|
| （笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
crumpled
|
|
| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
compartments
|
|
| n.间隔( compartment的名词复数 )；（列车车厢的）隔间；（家具或设备等的）分隔间；隔层 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
scrutinized
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
mattress
|
|
| n.床垫，床褥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
pitcher
|
|
| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
plumbing
|
|
| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
crevice
|
|
| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
risky
|
|
| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
lamentable
|
|
| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
intoxication
|
|
| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
exhaled
|
|
| v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
maudlin
|
|
| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
slippers
|
|
| n. 拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
intoxicated
|
|
| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
inaccessible
|
|
| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
wireless
|
|
| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
harry
|
|
| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
wharf
|
|
| n.码头，停泊处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
relatively
|
|
| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
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： |
|
|
|
|
76
warped
|
|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
animation
|
|
| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
plank
|
|
| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
mangled
|
|
| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
taunted
|
|
| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
tenacity
|
|
| n.坚韧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
vitriolic
|
|
| adj.硫酸的，尖刻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
squinted
|
|
| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
tangible
|
|
| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
analytical
|
|
| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
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： |
|
|
|
|
91
logic
|
|
| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
berth
|
|
| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
annoyance
|
|
| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
tartly
|
|
| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
tinkling
|
|
| n.丁当作响声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
irritable
|
|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
dictates
|
|
| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
apprehend
|
|
| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
stammered
|
|
| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
sprawls
|
|
| n.（城市）杂乱无序拓展的地区( sprawl的名词复数 )；随意扩展；蔓延物v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的第三人称单数 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
shack
|
|
| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
interfere
|
|
| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
crouching
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
scurrying
|
|
| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
veranda
|
|
| n.走廊；阳台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
binding
|
|
| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
corruption
|
|
| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
elastic
|
|
| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
taut
|
|
| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
cuff
|
|
| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
ballroom
|
|
| n.舞厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
dispersed
|
|
| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |