Chapter 52

THE KNIFE SLOWLY DREW BACK and I turned to face Norcross. The monster was grinning down at me.

Norcross dug the blade in again, and I felt the warmth of blood trickling¹ down my neck.

A nasty situation, fool. The lady Estella is the wife of the duke's chamberlain, a member of the court. You must be mad to wag your dick at such a lady.

Panic pumped through my chest as I realized I had been set up. I did nothing, my lord. My heart pounded wildly.

The little dick had no urge. Estella sighed. It appears our fool's only ardor² is in his hair.

Norcross grabbed me by the tunic³ and raised me, blade under my chin. Suddenly the bastard's eyes lit up with recognition.

Hishair... I do know you from somewhere else. Where, fool? Tell me.

I saw that I was doomed⁴. I shot a glare back in his face. My wife... What did you do to Sophie?

Your wife. The knight⁵ sniffed⁶. What would I do with the wife of a lowly fool? Except fuck her.

I lunged toward him, but he gripped me by the hair, and with the leverage⁷ of his arms and the blade stuck firmly under my chin, forced me down, slowly, to my knees. Listen good, fool. I have seen you. Butwhere? Where have I seen your face before?'

Veille du P?re. I spat⁸ out the words.

That little shithole. Norcross snorted.

You burned our inn. You killed my wife and child, Phillipe.

He was thinking back. The tiniest smile cracked his lips. Ido remember now.... You were the little red squirrel who tried to stop me from dunking the miller's son.

Norcross's smile widened. And what of the vaunted Hugh? The jester of jesters who studied under Norbert at Bor俥? His grin deepened into a roaring laugh. You? You are an innkeeper! A fraud.

I pressed toward him again, but his blade stabbed into my neck. I felt it cut skin. You took my wife. You hurled⁹ my son into flames.

If I did, all the merrier, you lowly worm. Norcross shrugged¹⁰. Then he winked¹¹ at Estella. I can see you are greatly offended, my lady. Go now and report the affront¹².

She righted her blouse and scurried¹³ away. I will, my lord. Thank you for coming when you did. She ran out of the room.Guards... I heard her shout echo. Help me! Guards!

Norcross turned back to me. His eyes were hard-set and victorious¹⁴. What do you say, fool? It seems the laugh is mine after all.

1 trickling   

n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动

参考例句：

• Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。
• The engine was trickling oil. 发动机在滴油。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 ardor   

n.热情，狂热

参考例句：

• His political ardor led him into many arguments.他的政治狂热使他多次卷入争论中。
• He took up his pursuit with ardor.他满腔热忱地从事工作。

3 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

4 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

5 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

6 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

8 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

9 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 winked   

v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮

参考例句：

• He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼，她便知道他的想法和她一样。
• He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 affront   

n./v.侮辱，触怒

参考例句：

• Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
• This remark caused affront to many people.这句话得罪了不少人。

13 scurried   

v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She said goodbye and scurried back to work. 她说声再见，然后扭头跑回去干活了。
• It began to rain and we scurried for shelter. 下起雨来，我们急忙找地方躲避。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。