"At last," said Thorndyke, "you have come forth5 from the house of bondage6. I began to think that you had taken up your abode7 in Kennington for good."
"I was beginning, myself, to wonder when I should escape. But here I am; and I may say at once that I am ready to shake the dust of general practice off my feet for ever—that is, if you are still willing to have me as your assistant."
"Willing!" exclaimed Thorndyke, "Barkis himself was not more willing than I. You will be invaluable8 to me. Let us settle the terms of our comradeship forthwith, and to-morrow we will take measures to enter you as a student of the Inner Temple. Shall we have our talk in the open air and the spring sunshine?"
I agreed readily to this proposal, for it was a bright, sunny day and warm for the time of year—the beginning of April. We descended9 to the Walk and thence slowly made our way to the quiet court behind the church, where poor old Oliver Goldsmith lies, as he would surely have wished to lie, in the midst of all that had been dear to him in his chequered life. I need not record the matter of our conversation. To Thorndyke's proposals I had no objections to offer but my own unworthiness and his excessive liberality. A few minutes saw our covenants10 fully11 agreed upon, and when Thorndyke had noted12 the points on a slip of paper, signed and dated it and handed it to me, the business was at an end.
"There," my colleague said with a smile as he put away his pocket-book, "if people would only settle their affairs in that way, a good part of the occupation of lawyers would be gone. Brevity is the soul of wit; and the fear of simplicity13 is the beginning of litigation."
"And now," I said, "I propose that we go and feed. I will invite you to lunch to celebrate our contract."
"My learned junior is premature," he replied. "I had already arranged a little festivity—or rather had modified one that was already arranged. You remember Mr. Marchmont, the solicitor14?"
"Yes."
"He called this morning to ask me to lunch with him and a new client at the 'Cheshire Cheese.' I accepted and notified him that I should bring you."
"Why the 'Cheshire Cheese'?" I asked.
"Why not? Marchmont's reasons for the selection were, first, that his client has never seen an old-fashioned London tavern15, and second, that this is Wednesday and he, Marchmont, has a gluttonous16 affection for a really fine beef-steak pudding. You don't object, I hope?"
"Oh, not at all. In fact, now that you mention it, my own sensations incline me to sympathize with Marchmont. I breakfasted rather early."
"Then come," said Thorndyke. "The assignation is for one o'clock, and, if we walk slowly, we shall just hit it off."
We sauntered up Inner Temple Lane, and, crossing Fleet Street, headed sedately17 for the tavern. As we entered the quaint18 old-world dining-room, Thorndyke looked round and a gentleman, who was seated with a companion at a table in one of the little boxes or compartments19, rose and saluted20 us.
"Let me introduce you to my friend Mr. Stephen Blackmore," he said as we approached. Then, turning to his companion, he introduced us by our respective names.
"I engaged this box," he continued, "so that we might be private if we wished to have a little preliminary chat; not that beef-steak pudding is a great help to conversation. But when people have a certain business in view, their talk is sure to drift towards it, sooner or later."
Thorndyke and I sat down opposite the lawyer and his client, and we mutually inspected one another. Marchmont I already knew; an elderly, professional-looking man, a typical solicitor of the old school; fresh-faced, precise, rather irascible, and conveying a not unpleasant impression of taking a reasonable interest in his diet. The other man was quite young, not more than five-and-twenty, and was a fine athletic-looking fellow with a healthy, out-of-door complexion21 and an intelligent and highly prepossessing face. I took a liking22 to him at the first glance, and so, I saw, did Thorndyke.
"You two gentlemen," said Blackmore, addressing us, "seem to be quite old acquaintances. I have heard so much about you from my friend, Reuben Hornby."
"Ah!" exclaimed Marchmont, "that was a queer case—'The Case of the Red Thumb Mark,' as the papers called it. It was an eye-opener to old-fashioned lawyers like myself. We've had scientific witnesses before—and bullied23 'em properly, by Jove! when they wouldn't give the evidence that we wanted. But the scientific lawyer is something new. His appearance in court made us all sit up, I can assure you."
"I hope we shall make you sit up again," said Thorndyke.
"You won't this time," said Marchmont. "The issues in this case of my friend Blackmore's are purely24 legal; or rather, there are no issues at all. There is nothing in dispute. I tried to prevent Blackmore from consulting you, but he wouldn't listen to reason. Here! Waiter! How much longer are we to be waiters? We shall die of old age before we get our victuals25!"
The waiter smiled apologetically. "Yessir!" said he. "Coming now, sir." And at this very moment there was borne into the room a Gargantuan26 pudding in a great bucket of a basin, which being placed on a three-legged stool was forthwith attacked ferociously27 by the white-clothed, white-capped carver. We watched the process—as did every one present—with an interest not entirely28 gluttonous, for it added a pleasant touch to the picturesque29 old room, with its sanded floor, its homely30, pew-like boxes, its high-backed settles and the friendly portrait of the "great lexicographer31" that beamed down on us from the wall.
"This is a very different affair from your great, glittering modern restaurant," Mr. Marchmont remarked.
"It is indeed," said Blackmore, "and if this is the way in which our ancestors lived, it would seem that they had a better idea of comfort than we have."
There was a short pause, during which Mr. Marchmont glared hungrily at the pudding; then Thorndyke said:
"So you refused to listen to reason, Mr. Blackmore?"
"Yes. You see, Mr. Marchmont and his partner had gone into the matter and decided32 that there was nothing to be done. Then I happened to mention the affair to Reuben Hornby, and he urged me to ask your advice on the case."
"On which," continued Blackmore, "I spoke35 to Mr. Marchmont and he agreed that it was worth while to take your opinion on the case, though he warned me to cherish no hopes, as the affair was not really within your specialty36."
"So you understand," said Marchmont, "that we expect nothing. This is quite a forlorn hope. We are taking your opinion as a mere37 formality, to be able to say that we have left nothing untried."
"That is an encouraging start," Thorndyke remarked. "It leaves me unembarrassed by the possibility of failure. But meanwhile you are arousing in me a devouring38 curiosity as to the nature of the case. Is it highly confidential39? Because if not, I would mention that Jervis has now joined me as my permanent colleague."
"It isn't confidential at all," said Marchmont. "The public are in full possession of the facts, and we should be only too happy to put them in still fuller possession, through the medium of the Probate Court, if we could find a reasonable pretext40. But we can't."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, sir. Rather early, sir. Wouldn't like it underdone, sir."
Marchmont inspected his plate critically and remarked:
"Let us hope so," said Thorndyke. "The lark45 is better employed 'at Heaven's gate singing' than garnishing46 a beef-steak pudding. But you were telling us about your case."
"So I was. Well it's just a matter of—ale or claret? Oh, claret, I know. You despise the good old British John Barleycorn."
"He that drinks beer thinks beer," retorted Thorndyke. "But you were saying that it is just a matter of—?"
"A matter of a perverse47 testator and an ill-drawn48 will. A peculiarly irritating case, too, because the defective49 will replaces a perfectly50 sound one, and the intentions of the testator were—er—were—excellent ale, this. A little heady, perhaps, but sound. Better than your sour French wine, Thorndyke—were—er—were quite obvious. What he evidently desired was—mustard? Better have some mustard. No? Well, well! Even a Frenchman would take mustard. You can have no appreciation51 of flavour, Thorndyke, if you take your victuals in that crude, unseasoned state. And, talking of flavour, do you suppose that there is really any difference between that of a lark and that of a sparrow?"
Thorndyke smiled grimly. "I should suppose," said he, "that they were indistinguishable; but the question could easily be put to the test of experiment."
"That is true," agreed Marchmont, "and it would really be worth trying, for, as you say, sparrows are more easily obtainable than larks. But, about this will. I was saying—er—now, what was I saying?"
"I understood you to say," replied Thorndyke, "that the intentions of the testator were in some way connected with mustard. Isn't that so, Jervis?"
"That was what I gathered," said I.
Marchmont gazed at us for a moment with a surprised expression and then, laughing good-humouredly, fortified52 himself with a draught53 of ale.
"The moral of which is," Thorndyke added, "that testamentary dispositions54 should not be mixed up with beef-steak pudding."
"I believe you're right, Thorndyke," said the unabashed solicitor. "Business is business and eating is eating. We had better talk over our case in my office or your chambers after lunch."
"Yes," said Thorndyke, "come over to the Temple with me and I will give you a cup of coffee to clear your brain. Are there any documents?"
"I have all the papers here in my bag," replied Marchmont; and the conversation—such conversation as is possible "when beards wag all" over the festive56 board—drifted into other channels.
As soon as the meal was finished and the reckoning paid, we trooped out of Wine Office Court, and, insinuating57 ourselves through the line of empty hansoms that, in those days, crawled in a continuous procession on either side of Fleet Street, betook ourselves by way of Mitre Court to King's Bench Walk. There, when the coffee had been requisitioned and our chairs drawn up around the fire, Mr. Marchmont unloaded from his bag a portentous58 bundle of papers, and we addressed ourselves to the business in hand.
"Now," said Marchmont, "let me repeat what I said before. Legally speaking, we have no case—not the ghost of one. But my client wished to take your opinion, and I agreed on the bare chance that you might detect some point that we had overlooked. I don't think you will, for we have gone into the case very thoroughly59, but still, there is the infinitesimal chance and we may as well take it. Would you like to read the two wills, or shall I first explain the circumstances?"
"I think," replied Thorndyke, "a narrative60 of the events in the order of their occurrence would be most helpful. I should like to know as much as possible about the testator before I examine the documents."
"Very well," said Marchmont. "Then I will begin with a recital61 of the circumstances, which, briefly62 stated, are these: My client, Stephen Blackmore, is the son of Mr. Edward Blackmore, deceased. Edward Blackmore had two brothers who survived him, John, the elder, and Jeffrey, the younger. Jeffrey is the testator in this case.
"Some two years ago, Jeffrey Blackmore executed a will by which he made his nephew Stephen his executor and sole legatee; and a few months later he added a codicil63 giving two hundred and fifty pounds to his brother John."
"What was the value of the estate?" Thorndyke asked.
"About three thousand five hundred pounds, all invested in Consols. The testator had a pension from the Foreign Office, on which he lived, leaving his capital untouched. Soon after having made his will, he left the rooms in Jermyn Street, where he had lived for some years, stored his furniture and went to Florence. From thence he moved on to Rome and then to Venice and other places in Italy, and so continued to travel about until the end of last September, when it appears that he returned to England, for at the beginning of October he took a set of chambers in New Inn, which he furnished with some of the things from his old rooms. As far as we can make out, he never communicated with any of his friends, excepting his brother, and the fact of his being in residence at New Inn or of his being in England at all became known to them only when he died."
"Was this quite in accordance with his ordinary habits?" Thorndyke asked.
"I should say not quite," Blackmore answered. "My uncle was a studious, solitary64 man, but he was not formerly65 a recluse66. He was not much of a correspondent but he kept up some sort of communication with his friends. He used, for instance, to write to me sometimes, and, when I came down from Cambridge for the vacations, he had me to stay with him at his rooms."
"Is there anything known that accounts for the change in his habits?"
"Yes, there is," replied Marchmont. "We shall come to that presently. To proceed with the narrative: On the fifteenth of last March he was found dead in his chambers, and a more recent will was then discovered, dated the twelfth of November of last year. Now no change had taken place in the circumstances of the testator to account for the new will, nor was there any appreciable67 alteration68 in the disposition55 of the property. As far as we can make out, the new will was drawn with the idea of stating the intentions of the testator with greater exactness and for the sake of doing away with the codicil. The entire property, with the exception of two hundred and fifty pounds, was, as before, bequeathed to Stephen, but the separate items were specified69, and the testator's brother, John Blackmore, was named as the executor and residuary legatee."
"I see," said Thorndyke. "So that your client's interest in the will would appear to be practically unaffected by the change."
"Yes. There it is," exclaimed the lawyer, slapping the table to add emphasis to his words. "That is the pity of it! If people who have no knowledge of law would only refrain from tinkering at their wills, what a world of trouble would be saved!"
"Oh, come!" said Thorndyke. "It is not for a lawyer to say that."
"No, I suppose not," Marchmont agreed. "Only, you see, we like the muddle70 to be made by the other side. But, in this case, the muddle is on our side. The change, as you say, seems to leave our friend Stephen's interests unaffected. That is, of course, what poor Jeffrey Blackmore thought. But he was mistaken. The effect of the change is absolutely disastrous71."
"Indeed!"
"Yes. As I have said, no alteration in the testator's circumstances had taken place at the time the new will was executed. But only two days before his death, his sister, Mrs. Edmund Wilson, died; and on her will being proved it appeared that she had bequeathed to him her entire personalty, estimated at about thirty thousand pounds."
"Heigho!" exclaimed Thorndyke. "What an unfortunate affair!"
"You are right," said Mr. Marchmont; "it was a disaster. By the original will this great sum would have accrued72 to our friend Mr. Stephen, whereas now, of course, it goes to the residuary legatee, Mr. John Blackmore. And what makes it even more exasperating73 is the fact that this is obviously not in accordance with the wishes and intentions of Mr. Jeffrey, who clearly desired his nephew to inherit his property."
"Yes," said Thorndyke; "I think you are justified74 in assuming that. But do you know whether Mr. Jeffrey was aware of his sister's intentions?"
"We think not. Her will was executed as recently as the third of September last, and it seems that there had been no communication between her and Mr. Jeffrey since that date. Besides, if you consider Mr. Jeffrey's actions, you will see that they suggest no knowledge or expectation of this very important bequest75. A man does not make elaborate dispositions in regard to three thousand pounds and then leave a sum of thirty thousand to be disposed of casually76 as the residue77 of the estate."
"No," Thorndyke agreed. "And, as you have said, the manifest intention of the testator was to leave the bulk of his property to Mr. Stephen. So we may take it as virtually certain that Mr. Jeffrey had no knowledge of the fact that he was a beneficiary under his sister's will."
"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont, "I think we may take that as nearly certain."
"With reference to the second will," said Thorndyke, "I suppose there is no need to ask whether the document itself has been examined; I mean as to its being a genuine document and perfectly regular?"
Mr. Marchmont shook his head sadly.
"No," he said, "I am sorry to say that there can be no possible doubt as to the authenticity78 and regularity79 of the document. The circumstances under which it was executed establish its genuineness beyond any question."
"What were those circumstances?" Thorndyke asked.
"They were these: On the morning of the twelfth of November last, Mr. Jeffrey came to the porter's lodge80 with a document in his hand. 'This,' he said, 'is my will. I want you to witness my signature. Would you mind doing so, and can you find another respectable person to act as the second witness?' Now it happened that a nephew of the porter's, a painter by trade, was at work in the Inn. The porter went out and fetched him into the lodge and the two men agreed to witness the signature. 'You had better read the will,' said Mr. Jeffrey. 'It is not actually necessary, but it is an additional safeguard and there is nothing of a private nature in the document.' The two men accordingly read the document, and, when Mr. Jeffrey had signed it in their presence, they affixed81 their signatures; and I may add that the painter left the recognizable impressions of three greasy82 fingers."
"And these witnesses have been examined?"
"Yes. They have both sworn to the document and to their own signatures, and the painter recognized his finger-marks."
"That," said Thorndyke, "seems to dispose pretty effectually of any question as to the genuineness of the will; and if, as I gather, Mr. Jeffrey came to the lodge alone, the question of undue83 influence is disposed of too."
"Yes," said Mr. Marchmont. "I think we must pass the will as absolutely flawless."
"It strikes me as rather odd," said Thorndyke, "that Jeffrey should have known so little about his sister's intentions. Can you explain it, Mr. Blackmore?"
"I don't think that it is very remarkable," Stephen replied. "I knew very little of my aunt's affairs and I don't think my uncle Jeffrey knew much more, for he was under the impression that she had only a life interest in her husband's property. And he may have been right. It is not clear what money this was that she left to my uncle. She was a very taciturn woman and made few confidences to anyone."
"So that it is possible," said Thorndyke, "that she, herself, may have acquired this money recently by some bequest?"
"It is quite possible," Stephen answered.
"She died, I understand," said Thorndyke, glancing at the notes that he had jotted84 down, "two days before Mr. Jeffrey. What date would that be?"
"Jeffrey died on the fourteenth of March," said Marchmont.
"So that Mrs. Wilson died on the twelfth of March?"
"That is so," Marchmont replied; and Thorndyke then asked:
"Did she die suddenly?"
"No," replied Stephen; "she died of cancer. I understand that it was cancer of the stomach."
"Do you happen to know," Thorndyke asked, "what sort of relations existed between Jeffrey and his brother John?"
"At one time," said Stephen, "I know they were not very cordial; but the breach85 may have been made up later, though I don't know that it actually was."
"I ask the question," said Thorndyke, "because, as I dare say you have noticed, there is, in the first will, some hint of improved relations. As it was originally drawn that will makes Mr. Stephen the sole legatee. Then, a little later, a codicil is added in favour of John, showing that Jeffrey had felt the necessity of making some recognition of his brother. This seems to point to some change in the relations, and the question arises: if such a change did actually occur, was it the beginning of a new and further improving state of feeling between the two brothers? Have you any facts bearing on that question?"
Marchmont pursed up his lips with the air of a man considering an unwelcome suggestion, and, after a few moments of reflection, answered:
"I think we must say 'yes' to that. There is the undeniable fact that, of all Jeffrey's friends, John Blackmore was the only one who knew that he was living in New Inn."
"Oh, John knew that, did he?"
"Yes, he certainly did; for it came out in the evidence that he had called on Jeffrey at his chambers more than once. There is no denying that. But, mark you!" Mr. Marchmont added emphatically, "that does not cover the inconsistency of the will. There is nothing in the second will to suggest that Jeffrey intended materially to increase the bequest to his brother."
"I quite agree with you, Marchmont. I think that is a perfectly sound position. You have, I suppose, fully considered the question as to whether it would be possible to set aside the second will on the ground that it fails to carry out the evident wishes and intentions of the testator?"
"Yes. My partner, Winwood, and I went into that question very carefully, and we also took counsel's opinion—Sir Horace Barnaby—and he was of the same opinion as ourselves; that the court would certainly uphold the will."
"I think that would be my own view," said Thorndyke, "especially after what you have told me. Do I understand that John Blackmore was the only person who knew that Jeffrey was in residence at New Inn?"
"The only one of his private friends. His bankers knew and so did the officials from whom he drew his pension."
"Of course he would have to notify his bankers of his change of address."
"Yes, of course. And à propos of the bank, I may mention that the manager tells me that, of late, they had noticed a slight change in the character of Jeffrey's signature—I think you will see the reason of the change when you hear the rest of his story. It was very trifling86; not more than commonly occurs when a man begins to grow old, especially if there is some failure of eyesight."
"Was Mr. Jeffrey's eyesight failing?" asked Thorndyke.
"Yes, it was, undoubtedly," said Stephen. "He was practically blind in one eye and, in the very last letter that I ever had from him, he mentioned that there were signs of commencing cataract87 in the other."
"You spoke of his pension. He continued to draw that regularly?"
"Yes; he drew his allowance every month, or rather, his bankers drew it for him. They had been accustomed to do so when he was abroad, and the authorities seem to have allowed the practice to continue."
Thorndyke reflected a while, running his eye over the notes on the slips of paper in his hand, and Marchmont surveyed him with a malicious88 smile. Presently the latter remarked:
"Methinks the learned counsel is floored."
Thorndyke laughed. "It seems to me," he retorted, "that your proceedings89 are rather like those of the amiable90 individual who offered the bear a flint pebble91, that he might crack it and extract the kernel92. Your confounded will seems to offer no soft spot on which one could commence an attack. But we won't give up. We seem to have sucked the will dry. Let us now have a few facts respecting the parties concerned in it; and, as Jeffrey is the central figure, let us begin with him and the tragedy at New Inn that formed the starting-point of all this trouble."
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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heralded
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| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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bondage
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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covenants
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| n.（有法律约束的）协议( covenant的名词复数 )；盟约；公约；（向慈善事业、信托基金会等定期捐款的）契约书 | |
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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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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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gluttonous
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sedately
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quaint
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compartments
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saluted
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complexion
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liking
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bullied
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purely
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victuals
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gargantuan
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ferociously
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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picturesque
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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lexicographer
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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meddle
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spoke
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specialty
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mere
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devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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oysters
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| 牡蛎( oyster的名词复数 ) | |
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larks
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| n.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的名词复数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了v.百灵科鸟（尤指云雀）( lark的第三人称单数 )；一大早就起床；鸡鸣即起；（因太费力而不想干时说）算了 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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garnishing
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| v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的现在分词 ) | |
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perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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insinuating
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| adj.曲意巴结的，暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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codicil
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| n.遗嘱的附录 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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accrued
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| adj.权责已发生的v.增加( accrue的过去式和过去分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
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exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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bequest
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| n.遗赠；遗产，遗物 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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authenticity
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| n.真实性 | |
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regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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jotted
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| v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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92
kernel
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| n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心 | |
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