小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 经典英文小说 » Kings in Adversity » CHAPTER X.
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
CHAPTER X.
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
 The sun had peeped above the island to the eastward1 and was throwing its caressing2 rays across the Sound. The storm that had chastised3 the waters and grumbled4 its way inland had left a smiling daybreak in its track. The Crown Prince of Rexania still tossed in feverish5 sleep upon his bed upstairs as Posadowski and Posnovitch, who had obtained a short but thorough rest, stood behind the old manor6 house, looking out upon the golden shimmer7 that gilded8 the tossing waters of the Sound.
 
“There is only one way to deal with Ludovics,” said Posadowski, emphatically. “There is a great risk in sending him back to the city, but I dare not keep him here. He’s a murderous little man when in liquor, and our force is not large enough to keep a close watch upon him. Now, my plan is this. When the prince awakens9, I will persuade him to write a note giving you authority to get his belongings10 at the hotel. He wouldn’t be thoroughly11 comfortable here in evening dress. I will also put Ludovics in your charge. You must take him to the city and on your way down intimate that if he returns here he will be locked up, and if he plays us false in the city there are fourteen men each one of whom will swear to have his life. Do you understand me, Posnovitch? Good! Go and call him.”
 
[53]
 
A few moments later Ludovics, pale and limp, felt the cool, morning air kissing his fevered cheeks. He stood before Posadowski trembling, repentant12, and not quite clear in his mind. He vaguely13 realized that he had done something mutinous14, but just what it was he could not remember.
 
“Ludovics,” said Posadowski, sternly, “for the sake of the cause you love, it is best that you should accompany Posnovitch to the city. Don’t return here until you get an order from me. Understand?”
 
The small man trembled with nervousness, and his eyes filled with tears.
 
“Forgive me,” he whispered. “I forget what I did that annoyed you. I will hereafter do as you wish. Come, Posnovitch,” he continued, meekly15, “I am ready to go with you.”
 
“There is no hurry,” remarked Posadowski, more gently than he had spoken before. “Posnovitch will have to wait here until I get a note for him from the crown prince.”
 
Ludovics’ eyes gleamed as the name of the man he had attempted to brain with a bottle reached his ear. He gazed about him restlessly for a moment, and then said, earnestly:
 
“Yes, Posadowski, you are right. It is better that I should go back to New York.”
 
At three o’clock in the afternoon of this day, the city editor of the Trumpet16 sent for a reporter named Norman Benedict, a discreet17 but energetic and ambitious youth, whose record in the office was high.
 
“Benedict,” said the editor, “I want you to read this cable despatch18. I will give you your orders afterward19.”
 
[54]
 
He handed the reporter a proof of the despatch from Rexopolis that Gerald Strong on the following morning was to read to his family at the breakfast table.
 
“You can keep the proof for reference,” said the city editor, as the young man glanced up from the despatch. “Now, I want you to get among the Rexanians on the East Side and interview those who are willing to talk. They may be close-mouthed, but they are a thirsty crowd, and by spending a little money on them you will be able to set their tongues a-wagging. Get your copy in early. I want to make as good a showing as possible on the city end of this Rexanian business.”
 
Half an hour later, Norman Benedict was puffing20 a cigarette in the restaurant near St. Mark’s Church, in which the reader first made the acquaintance of the Rexanian conspirators22. It was not yet four o’clock, and the café was well-nigh deserted23. In one corner of the room, however, sat Ludovics, sipping24 brandy and smoking cigars. He felt lonely, and an indistinct impression was upon him that somebody, somehow, had done him a great wrong. He had depended upon liquor to clear his brain and to restore him to a thorough comprehension of what had befallen him, but his constitution was not equal to a full reaction, and the more brandy he drank the more acute became his sense of wrong and his certainty as to the source and character of the injustice25 that had been done him. There were two ideas in his mind to which he clung tenaciously26, and which, by persistent27 nourishing, had become to his distorted consciousness facts of great moment:[55] he had been ill-treated by a king, and that king was entertaining a few favored guests, with wild revelry, somewhere up in Westchester County.
 
“Pardon me,” said Benedict, who suspected that Ludovics was a Rexanian, partially28 because of his presence in the restaurant, but in a larger degree on account of the little man’s peculiar29 cast of countenance—“pardon me, but can you tell me where I can find somebody who is well acquainted with the city of Rexopolis?”
 
The reporter had crossed the café and seated himself at the table at which Ludovics preserved his wrongs in brandy. The disgraced conspirator21 glared at the youth suspiciously. Benedict’s frank, smiling face disarmed30 distrust.
 
“Before you answer,” went on the reporter, “permit me to order some fresh cigars, and—and—you are drinking?”
 
“Brandy,” answered Ludovics, gratefully, for his supply of cash was beginning to get low.
 
“Very good!” cried Benedict. “Waiter, bring out a pint31 of your choicest cognac and half a dozen of your very best cigars.”
 
Ludovics smiled cordially. He liked this open-handed youth.
 
“You are from Rexania?” asked Benedict, as he lighted a cigar and gazed earnestly at Ludovics’ flushed face.
 
“Rexania!” cried the latter, hysterically32. “Rexania! Of course I’m from Rexania. And, let me tell you, young man, I’m going back to Rexania. Did you say the king wouldn’t let me? You lie, young man, you lie! He can’t help it. How can a dead king[56] keep a live man out of his fatherland? Tell me that, will you?”
 
Ludovics paused and glanced around the deserted room suspiciously. Then he again turned his eyes to the sympathetic face of his companion. He vaguely felt that he should stop sipping liquor and keep his reckless tongue quiet, but he was in a mood that craved33 expression, and Benedict’s cordial manner was very soothing34 to the overwrought Rexanian. The reporter had been successful in his profession from his power of allaying35 suspicion and inspiring confidence.
 
“But, my friend,” suggested Benedict, quietly, “the king is not yet dead—though very ill.”
 
Ludovics looked almost sober as he flashed an eager and inquiring glance at the young man.
 
“How do you know that? Have you heard from Rexopolis?”
 
Benedict did not reply for a moment. He was carefully weighing a bold step. Should he show this man the proof of the cable despatch he carried with him? “He will be too drunk in an hour to sell the news to another paper, even if he knew the ropes well enough when sober,” reflected Benedict, as he took the proof-slip from his coat and handed it to Ludovics.
 
The effect of the despatch on the Rexanian astonished the reporter. The little man uttered a shout of triumph and then glanced anxiously around the room. Seizing his brandy-glass, he drained it to the bottom. Such glimmerings of common sense as had marked his conversation up to this point deserted[57] him on the instant. His disordered mind fell back upon the idea that he had been wronged by a king, and that that king was holding high carnival36 up in Westchester County.
 
“Young man,” he said, impressively, a wild gleam in his restless eyes, “I don’t know who you are, but I’d trust you with my life. Listen!” He leaned forward across the table and placed a clammy hand on Benedict’s arm. “Listen! I’ve been drinking too much: haven’t I? Don’t lie to me. I can see it in your face. I’m drunk, and you show it. That’s queer, isn’t it? But I could tell you something that would make you drunk and me sober. I’ll try it. Bend nearer to me. They don’t know in Rexania where the crown prince is. The king is dying. Damn him! let him die. Look here, boy, I’d kill all kings! Wouldn’t you?”
 
The intoxicated37 Rexanian gazed suspiciously at Benedict.
 
“Of course I would,” answered the reporter, heartily38. A conviction had come upon him that the little drunkard had something in his mind that was not altogether an alcoholic39 hallucination.
 
“I knew you would,” cried Ludovics, in delight. “You’re not made of dough40, like—like—well, never mind their names. But look here, boy, I need your help. There’s a king up in Westchester—do you hear me—who tried to take my life.”
 
Benedict began to fear that he had been wasting time and money to no purpose on this madcap foreigner, when the latter noting, with drunken slyness, the change of expression[58] on the youth’s face, felt that his pride had been hurt.
 
“You doubt my word, boy,” he cried, angrily. “I don’t know who you are, or what you mean by trying to find out what I mean. But I’m telling you the truth. We’ve got the Crown Prince of Rexania up in Westchester, and—and——” A look of horror crossed Ludovics’ face as he realized what he had done. He trembled violently, and the tears poured down his cheeks.
 
“Let me have some more brandy,” he implored41, in a weak voice, but before the waiter could get it for him he had fallen forward on to the table and into a deep stupor42.
 
Norman Benedict arose, and, giving the waiter a bill, directed him to see to it that the Rexanian was cared for until the next day, when he would look in upon him. Then he hastily left the restaurant and strode eagerly away. Whether he had received a newspaper “tip” of great value or only the dregs of a drunkard’s mind he was not sure. But there had been something in the words and manner of the brandy-soaked Rexanian that strongly impressed Benedict with the idea that he could not afford wholly to neglect the hint that had been thrown out. The despatch from Rexopolis said that the crown prince had not been seen for weeks. Benedict turned cold at the tremendous possibilities suggested by the thoughts that crowded through his brain.
 
“I’ll abandon the interviews and run my risk,” he finally decided43. “My first step is to find out if there are any Rexanians living in Westchester County. That ought to be easy. I’ll try the office first.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 eastward CrjxP     
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部
参考例句:
  • The river here tends eastward.这条河从这里向东流。
  • The crowd is heading eastward,believing that they can find gold there.人群正在向东移去,他们认为在那里可以找到黄金。
2 caressing 00dd0b56b758fda4fac8b5d136d391f3     
爱抚的,表现爱情的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
  • He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里,不断抚摸着鞑靼,它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。
3 chastised 1b5fb9c7c5ab8f5b2a9ee90d5ef232e6     
v.严惩(某人)(尤指责打)( chastise的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • He chastised the team for their lack of commitment. 他指责队伍未竭尽全力。
  • The Securities Commission chastised the firm but imposed no fine. 证券委员会严厉批评了那家公司,不过没有处以罚款。 来自辞典例句
4 grumbled ed735a7f7af37489d7db1a9ef3b64f91     
抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声
参考例句:
  • He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
  • The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
5 feverish gzsye     
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的
参考例句:
  • He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
  • They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。
6 manor d2Gy4     
n.庄园,领地
参考例句:
  • The builder of the manor house is a direct ancestor of the present owner.建造这幢庄园的人就是它现在主人的一个直系祖先。
  • I am not lord of the manor,but its lady.我并非此地的领主,而是这儿的女主人。
7 shimmer 7T8z7     
v./n.发微光,发闪光;微光
参考例句:
  • The room was dark,but there was a shimmer of moonlight at the window.屋子里很黑,但靠近窗户的地方有点微光。
  • Nor is there anything more virginal than the shimmer of young foliage.没有什么比新叶的微光更纯洁无瑕了。
8 gilded UgxxG     
a.镀金的,富有的
参考例句:
  • The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。
  • "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们,这只不过是些镀金的铅饼! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
9 awakens 8f28b6f7db9761a7b3cb138b2d5a123c     
v.(使)醒( awaken的第三人称单数 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • The scene awakens reminiscences of my youth. 这景象唤起我年轻时的往事。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The child awakens early in the morning. 这个小孩早晨醒得早。 来自辞典例句
10 belongings oy6zMv     
n.私人物品,私人财物
参考例句:
  • I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
  • Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
11 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
12 repentant gsXyx     
adj.对…感到悔恨的
参考例句:
  • He was repentant when he saw what he'd done.他看到自己的作为,心里悔恨。
  • I'll be meek under their coldness and repentant of my evil ways.我愿意乖乖地忍受她们的奚落,忏悔我过去的恶行。
13 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
14 mutinous GF4xA     
adj.叛变的,反抗的;adv.反抗地,叛变地;n.反抗,叛变
参考例句:
  • The mutinous sailors took control of the ship.反叛的水手们接管了那艘船。
  • His own army,stung by defeats,is mutinous.经历失败的痛楚后,他所率军队出现反叛情绪。
15 meekly meekly     
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地
参考例句:
  • He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时,他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 trumpet AUczL     
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘
参考例句:
  • He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴,我吹喇叭。
  • The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。
17 discreet xZezn     
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的
参考例句:
  • He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
  • It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。
18 despatch duyzn1     
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道
参考例句:
  • The despatch of the task force is purely a contingency measure.派出特遣部队纯粹是应急之举。
  • He rushed the despatch through to headquarters.他把急件赶送到总部。
19 afterward fK6y3     
adv.后来;以后
参考例句:
  • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
  • Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
20 puffing b3a737211571a681caa80669a39d25d3     
v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧
参考例句:
  • He was puffing hard when he jumped on to the bus. 他跳上公共汽车时喘息不已。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • My father sat puffing contentedly on his pipe. 父亲坐着心满意足地抽着烟斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 conspirator OZayz     
n.阴谋者,谋叛者
参考例句:
  • We started abusing him,one conspirator after another adding his bitter words.我们这几个预谋者一个接一个地咒骂他,恶狠狠地骂个不停。
  • A conspirator is not of the stuff to bear surprises.谋反者是经不起惊吓的。
22 conspirators d40593710e3e511cb9bb9ec2b74bccc3     
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句
23 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
24 sipping e7d80fb5edc3b51045def1311858d0ae     
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
  • She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。
25 injustice O45yL     
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利
参考例句:
  • They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
  • All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。
26 tenaciously lg3zdW     
坚持地
参考例句:
  • Though seriously ill, he still clings tenaciously to life. 他虽病得很重,但仍顽强地活下去。 来自辞典例句
  • It was apparently more tenaciously held to surface than fraction three. 它比级分三更顽强地保持在表面上。 来自辞典例句
27 persistent BSUzg     
adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的
参考例句:
  • Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
  • She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤,使她很难为情。
28 partially yL7xm     
adv.部分地,从某些方面讲
参考例句:
  • The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
  • The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静,宵禁部分解除。
29 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
30 disarmed f147d778a788fe8e4bf22a9bdb60a8ba     
v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 );使息怒
参考例句:
  • Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
  • The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械,并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
31 pint 1NNxL     
n.品脱
参考例句:
  • I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
  • In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前,花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。
32 hysterically 5q7zmQ     
ad. 歇斯底里地
参考例句:
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。
  • She sobbed hysterically, and her thin body was shaken. 她歇斯底里地抽泣着,她瘦弱的身体哭得直颤抖。
33 craved e690825cc0ddd1a25d222b7a89ee7595     
渴望,热望( crave的过去式 ); 恳求,请求
参考例句:
  • She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
  • A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。
34 soothing soothing     
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的
参考例句:
  • Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
  • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
35 allaying 193227f148039eda399849a6e257c8c4     
v.减轻,缓和( allay的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Most important, improving the government's reputation means allaying political and human-rights concerns. 最重要的在于提高政府的声誉,这意味着需要缓和政治策略和关注人权间的矛盾。 来自互联网
  • More reading may be allaying your doubt. 多读书或许可以减少你的疑惑。 来自互联网
36 carnival 4rezq     
n.嘉年华会,狂欢,狂欢节,巡回表演
参考例句:
  • I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
  • Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。
37 intoxicated 350bfb35af86e3867ed55bb2af85135f     
喝醉的,极其兴奋的
参考例句:
  • She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
  • They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉,东南西北全然不辨。
38 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
39 alcoholic rx7zC     
adj.(含)酒精的,由酒精引起的;n.酗酒者
参考例句:
  • The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
  • Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
40 dough hkbzg     
n.生面团;钱,现款
参考例句:
  • She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
  • The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。
41 implored 0b089ebf3591e554caa381773b194ff1     
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
  • She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
42 stupor Kqqyx     
v.昏迷;不省人事
参考例句:
  • As the whisky took effect, he gradually fell into a drunken stupor.随着威士忌酒力发作,他逐渐醉得不省人事。
  • The noise of someone banging at the door roused her from her stupor.梆梆的敲门声把她从昏迷中唤醒了。
43 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533