Chapter 59

THE DOOR OPENED and the jester Norbert stood there, bent¹ over a bowl, picking his teeth with a hazel twig². His jaw³ dropped as if he had seen a ghost.

Gads⁴...Hugh! You've come back after all.

He grinned broadly, then shuffled⁵ up to me with that sideways gait of his. What a joy to see you, lad.

And you, Norbert, I replied, embracing him with my good arm.

Woundedagain ? You're like a human target, son, he cried. But come in, I'm glad to see you back. I want to hear it all.

The jester yanked out a low stool for me to sit on. Then he poured a cup of wine and sat facing me. I can see in your eyes you've not come here with much cheer. So tell me... Did you find her? What is the fate of your Sophie?

I lowered my eyes from those of my friend.

You were right, Norbert. It was just a dream to think she had somehow survived. I am sure she is dead.

He nodded, then leaned across and squeezed me in a fatherly way. A man's allowed to dream every once in a while. We little people live on it. I'm sorry for your loss, Hugh.

Norbert shuddered⁶, letting out a gravelly cough.

You're ill? I asked with concern.

Just under the weather. He waved me off. Too many years of crawling around with the beetles⁷ down here. He cleared his throat again. Tell me this-how did it go at court with Baldwin? Did you get the job?

I finally could smile at something. Idid , just as we planned. In fact, I think I was a success.

I knew it! The jester leaped up. I knew you would be. I taught you well, boy, didn't I? Tell me. I have to know it all.

Suddenly the weariness in my body seemed to recede⁸; my face blushed brightly with the memories of entertaining the court. I told him everything. How I had managed my way into the castle, how I had seized upon the moment to go before the court. The jokes I had used... How the duke had sent away poor Palimpost.

That old fart... I knew the sod was out of tricks. Norbert hopped⁹ around, cackling with delight. It served him well to be sacked.

No, I protested, he turned out to be a friend. A true one... I continued my tale, through my run-in with Norcross, how I'd been set up, and how Palimpost, the very fool I'd shamed, had saved my life.

So the goon still has some virtue¹⁰ in him.Good. There's a brotherhood¹¹ of us, Hugh. I guess you're part of it now. He patted my shoulder warmly, then once more doubled over in the throes of a most horrible cough.

Youare sick, I said, leaning over, supporting him with my arm.

The physician says it's just the bad air down here. Tells me I'm a miserable¹² excuse for a man of mirth. But still, Hugh, maybe your return is well timed. Why not stand in for me until I'm well? It's a plum job.

I dragged my stool closer. Stand in foryou?...Here in Bor俥?

And why not? You're in the trade now. A professional. Just try not to do ittoo well.

I thought about the offer. I did need a place to be. Where else would I go? What else wouldI do? I did have friends here. Their trust was strong. And another aspect of the offer appealed to me, undeniably.

I had liked it.The crowds, the applause, the acclamation... This newpretext... I had liked it very much.

I will stand in for you, Norbert, I said, holding his shoulder. But only until you recover.

That's a promise, then. We shook hands warmly. I see you are still lugging¹³ that big stick around with you. And you still wear the garb¹⁴. But you have lost your hat.

My normal tailor was unable to dress me on such short notice.

Not a problem. Norbert laughed. He shuffled over to his chest and tossed me a felt cap. It jingled¹⁵. Bells, I know. But, as they say, beggars can't be choosy.

I placed the cap upon my head. I felt a strange sensation, my blood warm with pride.

You'll knock 'em dead, lad. That I know for sure. The jester grinned. And I know for sure there is another here who will bemost pleased to see you back.

1 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

2 twig   

n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解

参考例句：

• He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
• The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

3 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

4 gads   

v.闲逛( gad的第三人称单数 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺

参考例句：

• He gads about a lot. 他到处游荡。 来自辞典例句
• He gads about Europe a lot. 他常到欧洲漫游。 来自辞典例句

5 shuffled   

v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼

参考例句：

• He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
• Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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：

• He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 beetles   

n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Beetles bury pellets of dung and lay their eggs within them. 甲壳虫把粪粒埋起来，然后在里面产卵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This kind of beetles have hard shell. 这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 recede   

vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进

参考例句：

• The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。
• He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

9 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

10 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

11 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

12 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

13 lugging   

超载运转能力

参考例句：

• I would smile when I saw him lugging his golf bags into the office. 看到他把高尔夫球袋拖进办公室，我就笑一笑。 来自辞典例句
• As a general guide, S＄1 should be adequate for baggage-lugging service. 一般的准则是，如有人帮你搬运行李，给一新元就够了。 来自互联网

14 garb   

n.服装，装束

参考例句：

• He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
• Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。

15 jingled   

喝醉的

参考例句：

• The bells jingled all the way. 一路上铃儿叮当响。
• Coins in his pocket jingled as he walked. 走路时，他衣袋里的钱币丁当作响。