Chapter 12 What Was Found In Rodney's Room

    "There is a boy who stands between me and promotion¹," continued Jasper, speaking in a low tone.

    "The boy you mentioned the other day?"

    "Yes, Rodney Ropes. Mr. Goodnow got him from I don't know where, and has taken a ridiculous fancy to him. He has been put over my head and his pay raised, though I have been in the store longer than he. My idea is to connect him with the thefts and get him discharged."

    "Do you mean that we are to make him a confederate?"

    "No," answered Jasper impatiently. "He would be just the fellow to peach and get us all into trouble."

    "Then what do you mean?"

    "To direct suspicion towards him. We won't do it immediately, but within a week or two. It would do me good to have him turned out of the store."

    Jasper proceeded to explain his idea more fully², and his companion pronounced it very clever.

    Meanwhile Rodney, not suspecting the conspiracy³ to deprive him of his place and his good name, worked zealously⁴, encouraged by his promotion, and resolved to make a place for himself which should insure him a permanent connection with the firm.

    Ten days passed, and Mr. Redwood again received a summons from the office.

    Entering, he found Mr. Goodnow with a letter in his hand.

    "Well, Mr. Redwood," he began, "have you got any clew to the party who has stolen our goods?"

    "No, sir."

    "Has any thing been taken since I spoke⁵ with you on the subject?"

    "Not that I am aware of."

    "Has any one of the clerks attracted your attention by suspicious conduct?"

    "No, sir," answered Redwood, puzzled.

    "Humph! Cast your eye over this letter."

    James Redwood took the letter, which was written in a fine hand, and read as follow:

    MR. GOODNOW:

    DEAR SIR, -- I don't know whether you are aware that articles have been taken from your stock, say, ladies' cloaks and silk dress patterns, and disposed of outside. I will not tell you how it has come to my knowledge, for I do not want to get any one's ill will, but I will say, to begin with, that they were taken by one of your employees, and the one, perhaps, that you would least suspect, for I am told that he is a favorite of yours. I may as well say that it is Rodney Ropes. I live near him, and last evening I saw him carry a bundle to his room when he went back from the store. I think if you would send round today when he is out, you would find in his room one or more of the stolen articles. I don't want to get him into trouble, but I don't like to see you robbed, and so I tell you what I know. A FRIEND.

    Mr. Redwood read this letter attentively⁶, arching his brows, perhaps to indicate his surprise. Then he read it again carefully.

    "What do you think of it?" asked the merchant.

    "I don't know," answered Redwood slowly.

    "Have you ever seen anything suspicious in the conduct of young Ropes?"

    "I can't say I have. On the contrary, he seems to be a very diligent⁷ and industrious⁸ clerk."

    "But about his honesty."

    "I fancied him the soul of honesty."

    "So did I, but of course we are liable to be deceived. It wouldn't be the first case where seeming honesty has been a cover for flagrant dishonesty."

    "What do you wish me to do, Mr. Goodnow? Shall I send Ropes down to you?"

    "No; it would only give him a chance, if guilty, to cover up his dishonesty."

    "I am ready to follow your instructions."

    "Do you know where he lodges¹⁰?"

    "Yes, sir."

    "Then I will ask you to go around there, and by some means gain admission to his room. If he has any of our goods secreted¹¹ take possession of them and report to me."

    "Very well, sir." Half an hour later Mrs. McCarty, Rodney's landlady¹², in response to a ring admitted Mr. James Redwood.

    "Does a young man named Ropes lodge⁹ here?" he asked.

    "Yes, sir."

    "I come from the house where he is employed. He has inadvertently left in his room a parcel belonging to us, and I should be glad if you would allow me to go up to his room and take it."

    "You see, sir," said Mrs. McCarty in a tone of hesitation¹³, "while you look like a perfect gentleman, I don't know you, and I am not sure whether, in justice to Mr. Ropes, I ought to admit you to his room."

    "You are quite right my good lady; I am sure. It is just what I should wish my own landlady to do. I will therefore ask you to go up to the room with me to see that all is right."

    "That seems all right, sir. In that case I don't object. Follow me, if you please."

    As they entered Rodney's room Mr. Redwood looked about him inquisitively¹⁴. One article at once fixed¹⁵ his attention. It was a parcel wrapped in brown paper lying on the bed.

    "This is the parcel, I think," he said. "If you will allow me I will open it, to make sure."

    Mrs. McCarty looked undecided, but as she said nothing in opposition¹⁶ Mr. Redwood unfastened the strings¹⁷ and unrolled the bundle. His eyes lighted up with satisfaction as he disclosed the contents -- a lady's cloak.

    Mrs. McCarty looked surprised.

    "Why, it's a lady's cloak," she said, "and a very handsome one. What would Mr. Ropes want of such a thing as that?"

    "Perhaps he intended to make you a present of it."

    "No, he can't afford to make such present."

    "The explanation is simple. It belongs to the store. Perhaps Mr. Ropes left it here inadvertently."

    "But he hasn't been here since morning."

    "He has a pass key to the front door?"

    "Yes, sir."

    "Then he may have been here. Would you object to my taking it?"

    "Yes, sir, you see I don't know you."

    "Your objection is a proper one. Then I will trouble you to take a look at the cloak, so that you would know it again."

    "Certainly, sir. I shall remember it!"

    "That is all, Mrs. -- -- ?"

    "McCarty, sir."

    "Mrs. McCarty, I won't take up any more of your time," and Mr. Redwood started to go down stairs.

    "Who shall I tell Mr. Ropes called to see him."

    "You needn't say. I will mention the matter to him myself. I am employed in the same store."

    "All right sir. Where is the store? I never thought to ask Mr. Ropes."

    "Reade Street, near Broadway. You know where Reade Street is?"

    "Yes, sir. My husband used to work in Chambers¹⁸ Street. That is the first street south."

    "Precisely¹⁹. Well, I can't stay longer, so I will leave, apologizing for having taken up so much of your time."

    "Oh, it's of no consequence, sir."

    "He is a perfect gentleman," she said to herself, as Mr. Redwood closed the front door, and went out on the street. "I wonder whether he's a widower²⁰."

    Being a widow this was quite a natural thought for Mrs. McCarty to indulge in, particularly as Mr. Redwood looked to be a substantial man with a snug²¹ income.

    Mr. Redwood went back to the store, and went at once to the office.

    "Well, Redwood," said Mr. Goodnow, "did you learn anything?"

    "Yes, sir."

    "Go on."

    "I went to the lodging²² of young Ropes, and was admitted to his room."

    "Well?"

    "And there, wrapped in a brown paper, I found one of our missing cloaks lying on his bed."

    "Is it possible?"

    "I am afraid he is not what we supposed him to be, Mr. Goodnow."

    "It looks like it. I am surprised and sorry. Do you think he took the other articles that are missing?"

    "Of course I can't say, sir, but it is fair to presume that he did."

    "I am exceedingly sorry. I don't mind saying, Redwood, that I took an especial interest in that boy. I have already told you the circumstances of my meeting him, and the fancy taken to him by my friend Mulgrave."

    "Yes, sir, I have heard you say that."

    "I don't think I am easily taken in, and that boy impressed me as thoroughly²³ honest. But of course I don't pretend to be infallible and it appears that I have been mistaken in him."

    The merchant looked troubled, for he had come to feel a sincere regard for Rodney. He confessed to himself that he would rather have found any of the other clerks dishonest.

    "You may send Ropes to me," he said, "Mr. Redwood, and you will please come with him. We will investigate this matter at once."

    "Very well, sir."

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

4 zealously   

adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地

参考例句：

• Of course the more unpleasant a duty was, the more zealously Miss Glover performed it. 格洛弗小姐越是对她的职责不满意，她越是去积极执行它。 来自辞典例句
• A lawyer should represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law. 律师应在法律范围内热忱为当事人代理。 来自口语例句

5 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 diligent   

adj.勤勉的，勤奋的

参考例句：

• He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
• She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。

8 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

9 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

10 lodges   

v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• But I forget, if I ever heard, where he lodges in Liverpool. 可是我记不得有没有听他说过他在利物浦的住址。 来自辞典例句
• My friend lodges in my uncle's house. 我朋友寄居在我叔叔家。 来自辞典例句

11 secreted   

v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏

参考例句：

• Insulin is secreted by the pancreas. 胰岛素是胰腺分泌的。
• He secreted his winnings in a drawer. 他把赢来的钱藏在抽届里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 landlady   

n.女房东，女地主

参考例句：

• I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
• The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

13 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

14 inquisitively   

过分好奇地； 好问地

参考例句：

• The Mouse looked at her rather inquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little eyes, but It'said nothing. 这老鼠狐疑地看着她，好像还把一只小眼睛向她眨了眨，但没说话。
• The mouse looked at her rather inquisitively. 那只耗子用疑问的眼光看看她。

15 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

16 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

17 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

18 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

19 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

20 widower   

n.鳏夫

参考例句：

• George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
• Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后，他终于决定二婚了。

21 snug   

adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房

参考例句：

• He showed us into a snug little sitting room.他领我们走进了一间温暖而舒适的小客厅。
• She had a small but snug home.她有个小小的但很舒适的家。

22 lodging   

n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍

参考例句：

• The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
• Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

23 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。