The history of the Malaquis castle is stormy like its name, harsh like its outlines. It has passed through a long series of combats, sieges, assaults, rapines and massacres5. A recital6 of the crimes that have been committed there would cause the stoutest7 heart to tremble. There are many mysterious legends connected with the castle, and they tell us of a famous subterranean8 tunnel that formerly9 led to the abbey of Jumieges and to the manor10 of Agnes Sorel, mistress of Charles VII.
In that ancient habitation of heroes and brigands11, the Baron12 Nathan Cahorn now lived; or Baron Satan as he was formerly called on the Bourse, where he had acquired a fortune with incredible rapidity. The lords of Malaquis, absolutely ruined, had been obliged to sell the ancient castle at a great sacrifice. It contained an admirable collection of furniture, pictures, wood carvings13, and faience. The Baron lived there alone, attended by three old servants. No one ever enters the place. No one had ever beheld14 the three Rubens that he possessed15, his two Watteau, his Jean Goujon pulpit, and the many other treasures that he had acquired by a vast expenditure16 of money at public sales.
Baron Satan lived in constant fear, not for himself, but for the treasures that he had accumulated with such an earnest devotion and with so much perspicacity17 that the shrewdest merchant could not say that the Baron had ever erred18 in his taste or judgment19. He loved them—his bibelots. He loved them intensely, like a miser20; jealously, like a lover. Every day, at sunset, the iron gates at either end of the bridge and at the entrance to the court of honor are closed and barred. At the least touch on these gates, electric bells will ring throughout the castle.
One Thursday in September, a letter-carrier presented himself at the gate at the head of the bridge, and, as usual, it was the Baron himself who partially21 opened the heavy portal. He scrutinized22 the man as minutely as if he were a stranger, although the honest face and twinkling eyes of the postman had been familiar to the Baron for many years. The man laughed, as he said:
“It is only I, Monsieur le Baron. It is not another man wearing my cap and blouse.”
“One can never tell,” muttered the Baron.
The man handed him a number of newspapers, and then said:
“And now, Monsieur le Baron, here is something new.”
“Something new?”
“Yes, a letter. A registered letter.”
Living as a recluse23, without friends or business relations, the baron never received any letters, and the one now presented to him immediately aroused within him a feeling of suspicion and distrust. It was like an evil omen24. Who was this mysterious correspondent that dared to disturb the tranquility of his retreat?
“You must sign for it, Monsieur le Baron.”
He signed; then took the letter, waited until the postman had disappeared beyond the bend in the road, and, after walking nervously26 to and fro for a few minutes, he leaned against the parapet of the bridge and opened the envelope. It contained a sheet of paper, bearing this heading: Prison de la Santé, Paris. He looked at the signature: Arsène Lupin. Then he read:
“Monsieur le Baron:
“There is, in the gallery in your castle, a picture of Philippe
measure. Your Rubens are also to my taste, as well as your
Louis XIII cadence-table, the tapestries29 of Beauvais, the Empire
gueridon signed ‘Jacob,’ and the Renaissance30 chest. In the salon
to the left, all the cabinet full of jewels and miniatures.
“For the present, I will content myself with those articles that
can be conveniently removed. I will therefore ask you to pack
them carefully and ship them to me, charges prepaid, to the
station at Batignolles, within eight days, otherwise I shall be
obliged to remove them myself during the night of 27 September;
but, under those circumstances, I shall not content myself with
the articles above mentioned.
“Accept my apologies for any inconvenience I may cause you, and
“Arsène Lupin.”
“P. S.—Please do not send the largest Watteau. Although you
paid thirty thousand francs for it, it is only a copy, the
original having been burned, under the Directoire by Barras,
“I do not care for the Louis XV chatelaine, as I doubt its
That letter completely upset the baron. Had it borne any other signature, he would have been greatly alarmed—but signed by Arsène Lupin!
As an habitual34 reader of the newspapers, he was versed35 in the history of recent crimes, and was therefore well acquainted with the exploits of the mysterious burglar. Of course, he knew that Lupin had been arrested in America by his enemy Ganimard and was at present incarcerated36 in the Prison de la Santé. But he knew also that any miracle might be expected from Arsène Lupin. Moreover, that exact knowledge of the castle, the location of the pictures and furniture, gave the affair an alarming aspect. How could he have acquired that information concerning things that no one had ever seen?
The baron raised his eyes and contemplated37 the stern outlines of the castle, its steep rocky pedestal, the depth of the surrounding water, and shrugged38 his shoulders. Certainly, there was no danger. No one in the world could force an entrance to the sanctuary39 that contained his priceless treasures.
No one, perhaps, but Arsène Lupin! For him, gates, walls and drawbridges did not exist. What use were the most formidable obstacles or the most careful precautions, if Arsène Lupin had decided40 to effect an entrance?
That evening, he wrote to the Procurer of the Republique at Rouen. He enclosed the threatening letter and solicited41 aid and protection.
The reply came at once to the effect that Arsène Lupin was in custody42 in the Prison de la Santé, under close surveillance, with no opportunity to write such a letter, which was, no doubt, the work of some imposter. But, as an act of precaution, the Procurer had submitted the letter to an expert in handwriting, who declared that, in spite of certain resemblances, the writing was not that of the prisoner.
But the words “in spite of certain resemblances” caught the attention of the baron; in them, he read the possibility of a doubt which appeared to him quite sufficient to warrant the intervention43 of the law. His fears increased. He read Lupin’s letter over and over again. “I shall be obliged to remove them myself.” And then there was the fixed44 date: the night of 27 September.
To confide45 in his servants was a proceeding46 repugnant to his nature; but now, for the first time in many years, he experienced the necessity of seeking counsel with some one. Abandoned by the legal official of his own district, and feeling unable to defend himself with his own resources, he was on the point of going to Paris to engage the services of a detective.
Two days passed; on the third day, he was filled with hope and joy as he read the following item in the ‘Réveil de Caudebec’, a newspaper published in a neighboring town:
“We have the pleasure of entertaining in our city, at the present time, the veteran detective Mon. Ganimard who acquired a world-wide reputation by his clever capture of Arsène Lupin. He has come here for rest and recreation, and, being an enthusiastic fisherman, he threatens to capture all the fish in our river.”
Ganimard! Ah, here is the assistance desired by Baron Cahorn! Who could baffle the schemes of Arsène Lupin better than Ganimard, the patient and astute47 detective? He was the man for the place.
The baron did not hesitate. The town of Caudebec was only six kilometers from the castle, a short distance to a man whose step was accelerated by the hope of safety.
After several fruitless attempts to ascertain48 the detective’s address, the baron visited the office of the ‘Réveil,’ situated49 on the quai. There he found the writer of the article who, approaching the window, exclaimed:
“Ganimard? Why, you are sure to see him somewhere on the quai with his fishing-pole. I met him there and chanced to read his name engraved50 on his rod. Ah, there he is now, under the trees.”
“That little man, wearing a straw hat?”
“Exactly. He is a gruff fellow, with little to say.”
Five minutes later, the baron approached the celebrated51 Ganimard, introduced himself, and sought to commence a conversation, but that was a failure. Then he broached52 the real object of his interview, and briefly53 stated his case. The other listened, motionless, with his attention riveted54 on his fishing-rod. When the baron had finished his story, the fisherman turned, with an air of profound pity, and said:
“Monsieur, it is not customary for thieves to warn people they are about to rob. Arsène Lupin, especially, would not commit such a folly55.”
“But—-”
“Monsieur, if I had the least doubt, believe me, the pleasure of again capturing Arsène Lupin would place me at your disposal. But, unfortunately, that young man is already under lock and key.”
“He may have escaped.”
“No one ever escaped from the Santé.”
“But, he—-”
“He, no more than any other.”
“Yet—-”
“Well, if he escapes, so much the better. I will catch him again. Meanwhile, you go home and sleep soundly. That will do for the present. You frighten the fish.”
The conversation was ended. The baron returned to the castle, reassured56 to some extent by Ganimard’s indifference57. He examined the bolts, watched the servants, and, during the next forty-eight hours, he became almost persuaded that his fears were groundless. Certainly, as Ganimard had said, thieves do not warn people they are about to rob.
The fateful day was close at hand. It was now the twenty-sixth of September and nothing had happened. But at three o’clock the bell rang. A boy brought this telegram:
“No goods at Batignolles station. Prepare everything for tomorrow night. Arsène.”
This telegram threw the baron into such a state of excitement that he even considered the advisability of yielding to Lupin’s demands.
However, he hastened to Caudebec. Ganimard was fishing at the same place, seated on a campstool. Without a word, he handed him the telegram.
“Well, what of it?” said the detective.
“What of it? But it is tomorrow.”
“What is tomorrow?”
Ganimard laid down his fishing-rod, turned to the baron, and exclaimed, in a tone of impatience59:
“Ah! Do you think I am going to bother myself about such a silly story as that!”
“How much do you ask to pass tomorrow night in the castle?”
“Not a sou. Now, leave me alone.”
“Name your own price. I am rich and can pay it.”
This offer disconcerted Ganimard, who replied, calmly:
“I am here on a vacation. I have no right to undertake such work.”
“No one will know. I promise to keep it secret.”
“Oh! nothing will happen.”
“Come! three thousand francs. Will that be enough?”
The detective, after a moment’s reflection, said:
“Very well. But I must warn you that you are throwing your money out of the window.”
“I do not care.”
“In that case... but, after all, what do we know about this devil Lupin! He may have quite a numerous band of robbers with him. Are you sure of your servants?”
“My faith—-”
“Better not count on them. I will telegraph for two of my men to help me. And now, go! It is better for us not to be seen together. Tomorrow evening about nine o’clock.”
The following day—the date fixed by Arsène Lupin—Baron Cahorn arranged all his panoply60 of war, furbished his weapons, and, like a sentinel, paced to and fro in front of the castle. He saw nothing, heard nothing. At half-past eight o’clock in the evening, he dismissed his servants. They occupied rooms in a wing of the building, in a retired61 spot, well removed from the main portion of the castle. Shortly thereafter, the baron heard the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Ganimard and his two assistants—great, powerful fellows with immense hands, and necks like bulls. After asking a few questions relating to the location of the various entrances and rooms, Ganimard carefully closed and barricaded62 all the doors and windows through which one could gain access to the threatened rooms. He inspected the walls, raised the tapestries, and finally installed his assistants in the central gallery which was located between the two salons63.
“No nonsense! We are not here to sleep. At the slightest sound, open the windows of the court and call me. Pay attention also to the water-side. Ten metres of perpendicular64 rock is no obstacle to those devils.”
Ganimard locked his assistants in the gallery, carried away the keys, and said to the baron:
“And now, to our post.”
He had chosen for himself a small room located in the thick outer wall, between the two principal doors, and which, in former years, had been the watchman’s quarters. A peep-hole opened upon the bridge; another on the court. In one corner, there was an opening to a tunnel.
“I believe you told me, Monsieur le Baron, that this tunnel is the only subterranean entrance to the castle and that it has been closed up for time immemorial?”
“Yes.”
“Then, unless there is some other entrance, known only to Arsène Lupin, we are quite safe.”
He placed three chairs together, stretched himself upon them, lighted his pipe and sighed:
“Really, Monsieur le Baron, I feel ashamed to accept your money for such a sinecure65 as this. I will tell the story to my friend Lupin. He will enjoy it immensely.”
The baron did not laugh. He was anxiously listening, but heard nothing save the beating of his own heart. From time to time, he leaned over the tunnel and cast a fearful eye into its depths. He heard the clock strike eleven, twelve, one.
“Do you hear?” asked the baron, in a whisper.
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“I was snoring, I suppose.”
“No, no, listen.”
“Ah! yes, it is the horn of an automobile68.”
“Well?”
“Well! it is very improbable that Lupin would use an automobile like a battering-ram to demolish69 your castle. Come, Monsieur le Baron, return to your post. I am going to sleep. Good-night.”
That was the only alarm. Ganimard resumed his interrupted slumbers70, and the baron heard nothing except the regular snoring of his companion. At break of day, they left the room. The castle was enveloped71 in a profound calm; it was a peaceful dawn on the bosom72 of a tranquil25 river. They mounted the stairs, Cahorn radiant with joy, Ganimard calm as usual. They heard no sound; they saw nothing to arouse suspicion.
“What did I tell you, Monsieur le Baron? Really, I should not have accepted your offer. I am ashamed.”
He unlocked the door and entered the gallery. Upon two chairs, with drooping73 heads and pendent arms, the detective’s two assistants were asleep.
“Tonnerre de nom d’un chien!” exclaimed Ganimard. At the same moment, the baron cried out:
He stammered75, choked, with arms outstretched toward the empty places, toward the denuded76 walls where naught77 remained but the useless nails and cords. The Watteau, disappeared! The Rubens, carried away! The tapestries taken down! The cabinets, despoiled78 of their jewels!
He ran from one spot to another in wildest despair. He recalled the purchase price of each article, added up the figures, counted his losses, pell-mell, in confused words and unfinished phrases. He stamped with rage; he groaned80 with grief. He acted like a ruined man whose only hope is suicide.
If anything could have consoled him, it would have been the stupefaction displayed by Ganimard. The famous detective did not move. He appeared to be petrified81; he examined the room in a listless manner. The windows?.... closed. The locks on the doors?.... intact. Not a break in the ceiling; not a hole in the floor. Everything was in perfect order. The theft had been carried out methodically, according to a logical and inexorable plan.
“Arsène Lupin....Arsène Lupin,” he muttered.
Suddenly, as if moved by anger, he rushed upon his two assistants and shook them violently. They did not awaken67.
“The devil!” he cried. “Can it be possible?”
He leaned over them and, in turn, examined them closely. They were asleep; but their response was unnatural82.
“They have been drugged,” he said to the baron.
“By whom?”
“By him, of course, or his men under his discretion83. That work bears his stamp.”
“In that case, I am lost—nothing can be done.”
“Lodge a complaint.”
“What good will that do?”
“Oh; it is well to try it. The law has some resources.”
“The law! Bah! it is useless. You represent the law, and, at this moment, when you should be looking for a clue and trying to discover something, you do not even stir.”
“Discover something with Arsène Lupin! Why, my dear monsieur, Arsène Lupin never leaves any clue behind him. He leaves nothing to chance. Sometimes I think he put himself in my way and simply allowed me to arrest him in America.”
“Then, I must renounce86 my pictures! He has taken the gems87 of my collection. I would give a fortune to recover them. If there is no other way, let him name his own price.”
Ganimard regarded the baron attentively88, as he said:
“Now, that is sensible. Will you stick to it?”
“Yes, yes. But why?”
“An idea that I have.”
“What is it?”
“We will discuss it later—if the official examination does not succeed. But, not one word about me, if you wish my assistance.”
He added, between his teeth:
“It is true I have nothing to boast of in this affair.”
The assistants were gradually regaining90 consciousness with the bewildered air of people who come out of an hypnotic sleep. They opened their eyes and looked about them in astonishment91. Ganimard questioned them; they remembered nothing.
“But you must have seen some one?”
“No.”
“Can’t you remember?”
“No, no.”
“Did you drink anything?”
They considered a moment, and then one of them replied:
“Yes, I drank a little water.”
“Yes.”
“So did I,” declared the other.
Ganimard smelled and tasted it. It had no particular taste and no odor.
“Come,” he said, “we are wasting our time here. One can’t decide an Arsène Lupin problem in five minutes. But, morbleu! I swear I will catch him again.”
The same day, a charge of burglary was duly performed by Baron Cahorn against Arsène Lupin, a prisoner in the Prison de la Santé.
The baron afterwards regretted making the charge against Lupin when he saw his castle delivered over to the gendarmes93, the procureur, the judge d’instruction, the newspaper reporters and photographers, and a throng94 of idle curiosity-seekers.
The affair soon became a topic of general discussion, and the name of Arsène Lupin excited the public imagination to such an extent that the newspapers filled their columns with the most fantastic stories of his exploits which found ready credence amongst their readers.
But the letter of Arsène Lupin that was published in the ‘Echo de France’ (no once ever knew how the newspaper obtained it), that letter in which Baron Cahorn was impudently95 warned of the coming theft, caused considerable excitement. The most fabulous96 theories were advanced. Some recalled the existence of the famous subterranean tunnels, and that was the line of research pursued by the officers of the law, who searched the house from top to bottom, questioned every stone, studied the wainscoting and the chimneys, the window-frames and the girders in the ceilings. By the light of torches, they examined the immense cellars where the lords of Malaquis were wont97 to store their munitions98 and provisions. They sounded the rocky foundation to its very centre. But it was all in vain. They discovered no trace of a subterranean tunnel. No secret passage existed.
But the eager public declared that the pictures and furniture could not vanish like so many ghosts. They are substantial, material things and require doors and windows for their exits and their entrances, and so do the people that remove them. Who were those people? How did they gain access to the castle? And how did they leave it?
The police officers of Rouen, convinced of their own impotence, solicited the assistance of the Parisian detective force. Mon. Dudouis, chief of the Sûreté, sent the best sleuths of the iron brigade. He himself spent forty-eight hours at the castle, but met with no success. Then he sent for Ganimard, whose past services had proved so useful when all else failed.
Ganimard listened, in silence, to the instructions of his superior; then, shaking his head, he said:
“Where, then?”
“With Arsène Lupin.”
“With Arsène Lupin! To support that theory, we must admit his intervention.”
“I do admit it. In fact, I consider it quite certain.”
“Come, Ganimard, that is absurd. Arsène Lupin is in prison.”
“I grant you that Arsène Lupin is in prison, closely guarded; but he must have fetters100 on his feet, manacles on his wrists, and gag in his mouth before I change my opinion.”
“Because Arsène Lupin is the only man in France of sufficient calibre to invent and carry out a scheme of that magnitude.”
“Mere words, Ganimard.”
“But true ones. Look! What are they doing? Searching for subterranean passages, stones swinging on pivots102, and other nonsense of that kind. But Lupin doesn’t employ such old-fashioned methods. He is a modern cracksman, right up to date.”
“And how would you proceed?”
“I should ask your permission to spend an hour with him.”
“In his cell?”
“Yes. During the return trip from America we became very friendly, and I venture to say that if he can give me any information without compromising himself he will not hesitate to save me from incurring103 useless trouble.”
It was shortly after noon when Ganimard entered the cell of Arsène Lupin. The latter, who was lying on his bed, raised his head and uttered a cry of apparent joy.
“Ah! This is a real surprise. My dear Ganimard, here!”
“Ganimard himself.”
“In my chosen retreat, I have felt a desire for many things, but my fondest wish was to receive you here.”
“Very kind of you, I am sure.”
“Not at all. You know I hold you in the highest regard.”
“I am proud of it.”
“I have always said: Ganimard is our best detective. He is almost,—you see how candid104 I am!—he is almost as clever as Sherlock Holmes. But I am sorry that I cannot offer you anything better than this hard stool. And no refreshments105! Not even a glass of beer! Of course, you will excuse me, as I am here only temporarily.”
“Mon Dieu, how pleased I am to see the face of an honest man. I am so tired of those devils of spies who come here ten times a day to ransack my pockets and my cell to satisfy themselves that I am not preparing to escape. The government is very solicitous107 on my account.”
“It is quite right.”
“On other people’s money.”
“Quite so. That would be so simple. But here, I am joking, and you are, no doubt, in a hurry. So let us come to business, Ganimard. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?
“Ah! Wait, one moment. You see I have had so many affairs! First, let me fix in my mind the circumstances of this particular case....Ah! yes, now I have it. The Cahorn affair, Malaquis castle, Seine-Inférieure....Two Rubens, a Watteau, and a few trifling110 articles.”
“Trifling!”
“Oh! ma foi, all that is of slight importance. But it suffices to know that the affair interests you. How can I serve you, Ganimard?”
“Must I explain to you what steps the authorities have taken in the matter?”
“Not at all. I have read the newspapers and I will frankly state that you have made very little progress.”
“And that is the reason I have come to see you.”
“In the first place, the Cahorn affair was managed by you?”
“From A to Z.”
“The letter of warning? the telegram?”
“All mine. I ought to have the receipts somewhere.”
Arsène opened the drawer of a small table of plain white wood which, with the bed and stool, constituted all the furniture in his cell, and took therefrom two scraps112 of paper which he handed to Ganimard.
“Ah!” exclaimed the detective, in surprise, “I though you were closely guarded and searched, and I find that you read the newspapers and collect postal113 receipts.”
“Bah! these people are so stupid! They open the lining114 of my vest, they examine the soles of my shoes, they sound the walls of my cell, but they never imagine that Arsène Lupin would be foolish enough to choose such a simple hiding place.”
Ganimard laughed, as he said:
“What a droll115 fellow you are! Really, you bewilder me. But, come now, tell me about the Cahorn affair.”
“Oh! oh! not quite so fast! You would rob me of all my secrets; expose all my little tricks. That is a very serious matter.”
“Was I wrong to count on your complaisance116?”
“No, Ganimard, and since you insist—-”
Arsène Lupin paced his cell two or three times, then, stopping before Ganimard, he asked:
“What do you think of my letter to the baron?”
“I think you were amusing yourself by playing to the gallery.”
“Ah! playing to the gallery! Come, Ganimard, I thought you knew me better. Do I, Arsène Lupin, ever waste my time on such puerilities? Would I have written that letter if I could have robbed the baron without writing to him? I want you to understand that the letter was indispensable; it was the motor that set the whole machine in motion. Now, let us discuss together a scheme for the robbery of the Malaquis castle. Are you willing?”
“Yes, proceed.”
“Well, let us suppose a castle carefully closed and barricaded like that of the Baron Cahorn. Am I to abandon my scheme and renounce the treasures that I covet117, upon the pretext118 that the castle which holds them is inaccessible119?”
“Evidently not.”
“Should I make an assault upon the castle at the head of a band of adventurers as they did in ancient times?”
“That would be foolish.”
“Can I gain admittance by stealth or cunning?”
“Impossible.”
“Then there is only one way open to me. I must have the owner of the castle invite me to it.”
“That is surely an original method.”
“And how easy! Let us suppose that one day the owner receives a letter warning him that a notorious burglar known as Arsène Lupin is plotting to rob him. What will he do?”
“Send a letter to the Procureur.”
“Who will laugh at him, because the said Arsène Lupin is actually in prison. Then, in his anxiety and fear, the simple man will ask the assistance of the first-comer, will he not?”
“Very likely.”
“And if he happens to read in a country newspaper that a celebrated detective is spending his vacation in a neighboring town—-”
“He will seek that detective.”
“Of course. But, on the other hand, let us presume that, having foreseen that state of affairs, the said Arsène Lupin has requested one of his friends to visit Caudebec, make the acquaintance of the editor of the ‘Réveil,’ a newspaper to which the baron is a subscriber120, and let said editor understand that such person is the celebrated detective—then, what will happen?”
“The editor will announce in the ‘Réveil’ the presence in Caudebec of said detective.”
“Exactly; and one of two things will happen: either the fish—I mean Cahorn—will not bite, and nothing will happen; or, what is more likely, he will run and greedily swallow the bait. Thus, behold121 my Baron Cahorn imploring122 the assistance of one of my friends against me.”
“Original, indeed!”
“Of course, the pseudo-detective at first refuses to give any assistance. On top of that comes the telegram from Arsène Lupin. The frightened baron rushes once more to my friend and offers him a definite sum of money for his services. My friend accepts and summons two members of our band, who, during the night, whilst Cahorn is under the watchful123 eye of his protector, removes certain articles by way of the window and lowers them with ropes into a nice little launch chartered for the occasion. Simple, isn’t it?”
“Marvelous! Marvelous!” exclaimed Ganimard. “The boldness of the scheme and the ingenuity124 of all its details are beyond criticism. But who is the detective whose name and fame served as a magnet to attract the baron and draw him into your net?”
“There is only one name could do it—only one.”
“And that is?”
“Arsène Lupin’s personal enemy—the most illustrious Ganimard.”
“I?”
“Yourself, Ganimard. And, really, it is very funny. If you go there, and the baron decides to talk, you will find that it will be your duty to arrest yourself, just as you arrested me in America. Hein! the revenge is really amusing: I cause Ganimard to arrest Ganimard.”
Arsène Lupin laughed heartily125. The detective, greatly vexed126, bit his lips; to him the joke was quite devoid127 of humor. The arrival of a prison guard gave Ganimard an opportunity to recover himself. The man brought Arsène Lupin’s luncheon128, furnished by a neighboring restaurant. After depositing the tray upon the table, the guard retired. Lupin broke his bread, ate a few morsels129, and continued:
“But, rest easy, my dear Ganimard, you will not go to Malaquis. I can tell you something that will astonish you: the Cahorn affair is on the point of being settled.”
“Excuse me; I have just seen the Chief of the Sureté.”
“What of that? Does Mon. Dudouis know my business better than I do myself? You will learn that Ganimard—excuse me—that the pseudo-Ganimard still remains130 on very good terms with the baron. The latter has authorized131 him to negotiate a very delicate transaction with me, and, at the present moment, in consideration of a certain sum, it is probable that the baron has recovered possession of his pictures and other treasures. And on their return, he will withdraw his complaint. Thus, there is no longer any theft, and the law must abandon the case.”
Ganimard regarded the prisoner with a bewildered air.
“And how do you know all that?”
“I have just received the telegram I was expecting.”
“You have just received a telegram?”
“This very moment, my dear friend. Out of politeness, I did not wish to read it in your presence. But if you will permit me—-”
“You are joking, Lupin.”
“My dear friend, if you will be so kind as to break that egg, you will learn for yourself that I am not joking.”
Mechanically, Ganimard obeyed, and cracked the egg-shell with the blade of a knife. He uttered a cry of surprise. The shell contained nothing but a small piece of blue paper. At the request of Arsène he unfolded it. It was a telegram, or rather a portion of a telegram from which the post-marks had been removed. It read as follows:
“Contract closed. Hundred thousand balls delivered. All well.”
“One hundred thousand balls?” said Ganimard.
“Yes, one hundred thousand francs. Very little, but then, you know, these are hard times....And I have some heavy bills to meet. If you only knew my budget.... living in the city comes very high.”
Ganimard arose. His ill humor had disappeared. He reflected for a moment, glancing over the whole affair in an effort to discover a weak point; then, in a tone and manner that betrayed his admiration132 of the prisoner, he said:
“Fortunately, we do not have a dozen such as you to deal with; if we did, we would have to close up shop.”
Arsène Lupin assumed a modest air, as he replied:
“Bah! a person must have some diversion to occupy his leisure hours, especially when he is in prison.”
“What!” exclaimed Ganimard, “your trial, your defense133, the examination—isn’t that sufficient to occupy your mind?”
“No, because I have decided not to be present at my trial.”
“Oh! oh!”
Arsène Lupin repeated, positively134:
“I shall not be present at my trial.”
“Really!”
“Ah! my dear monsieur, do you suppose I am going to rot upon the wet straw? You insult me. Arsène Lupin remains in prison just as long as it pleases him, and not one minute more.”
“Perhaps it would have been more prudent135 if you had avoided getting there,” said the detective, ironically.
“Ah! monsieur jests? Monsieur must remember that he had the honor to effect my arrest. Know then, my worthy friend, that no one, not even you, could have placed a hand upon me if a much more important event had not occupied my attention at that critical moment.”
“You astonish me.”
“A woman was looking at me, Ganimard, and I loved her. Do you fully3 understand what that means: to be under the eyes of a woman that one loves? I cared for nothing in the world but that. And that is why I am here.”
“Permit me to say: you have been here a long time.”
“In the first place, I wished to forget. Do not laugh; it was a delightful136 adventure and it is still a tender memory. Besides, I have been suffering from neurasthenia. Life is so feverish137 these days that it is necessary to take the ‘rest cure’ occasionally, and I find this spot a sovereign remedy for my tired nerves.”
“Arsène Lupin, you are not a bad fellow, after all.”
“Thank you,” said Lupin. “Ganimard, this is Friday. On Wednesday next, at four o’clock in the afternoon, I will smoke my cigar at your house in the rue89 Pergolese.”
“Arsène Lupin, I will expect you.”
They shook hands like two old friends who valued each other at their true worth; then the detective stepped to the door.
“Ganimard!”
“What is it?” asked Ganimard, as he turned back.
“You have forgotten your watch.”
“My watch?”
“Yes, it strayed into my pocket.”
He returned the watch, excusing himself.
“Pardon me.... a bad habit. Because they have taken mine is no reason why I should take yours. Besides, I have a chronometer138 here that satisfies me fairly well.”
He took from the drawer a large gold watch and heavy chain.
“From whose pocket did that come?” asked Ganimard.
Arsène Lupin gave a hasty glance at the initials engraved on the watch.
“J.B.....Who the devil can that be?....Ah! yes, I remember. Jules Bouvier, the judge who conducted my examination. A charming fellow!....”
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收听单词发音
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1
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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massacres
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| 大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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8
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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manor
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| n.庄园，领地 | |
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brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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12
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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13
carvings
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| n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物 | |
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14
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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15
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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17
perspicacity
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| n. 敏锐, 聪明, 洞察力 | |
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18
erred
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| 犯错误，做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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21
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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22
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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24
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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25
tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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26
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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27
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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28
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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29
tapestries
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| n.挂毯( tapestry的名词复数 )；绣帷，织锦v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的第三人称单数 ) | |
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30
renaissance
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| n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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32
memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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33
authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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34
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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35
versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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36
incarcerated
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| 钳闭的 | |
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37
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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38
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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39
sanctuary
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| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
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40
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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41
solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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42
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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43
intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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44
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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45
confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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46
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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47
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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48
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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49
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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50
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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51
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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52
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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53
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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54
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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55
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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56
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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57
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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58
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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59
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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60
panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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61
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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62
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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63
salons
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| n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅 | |
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64
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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65
sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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66
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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67
awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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68
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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69
demolish
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| v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等) | |
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70
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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71
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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73
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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74
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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75
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
denuded
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| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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77
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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78
despoiled
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| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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80
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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81
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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82
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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83
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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84
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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86
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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87
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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88
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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89
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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90
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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91
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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92
carafe
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| n.玻璃水瓶 | |
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93
gendarmes
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| n.宪兵，警官( gendarme的名词复数 ) | |
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94
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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95
impudently
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96
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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97
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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98
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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99
ransack
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| v.彻底搜索，洗劫 | |
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100
fetters
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| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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101
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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102
pivots
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| n.枢( pivot的名词复数 )；最重要的人（或事物）；中心；核心v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的第三人称单数 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开 | |
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103
incurring
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| 遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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104
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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105
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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106
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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108
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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109
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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110
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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111
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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112
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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113
postal
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| adj.邮政的，邮局的 | |
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114
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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115
droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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116
complaisance
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| n.彬彬有礼，殷勤，柔顺 | |
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117
covet
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| vt.垂涎；贪图(尤指属于他人的东西) | |
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118
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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119
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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subscriber
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| n.用户，订户；（慈善机关等的）定期捐款者；预约者；签署者 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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124
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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125
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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126
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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127
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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128
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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129
morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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130
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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131
authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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132
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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133
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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134
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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135
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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136
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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137
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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