"The present becomes the future.
Yes! but the present does not again become the past;
Time goes forward forever--we cannot return on his footsteps,
II.
"Yet when I see you before me,
I am inclined to doubt all that has existed since the shaping of
For you appear as you did in those far-distant days,
When love and sin made up the sum of our lives.
III.
Vanish again into the darkness from whence my memory hath
called thee!
disappear.
I live the present, the future--but the past I will not renew.
In a private sitting-room6 of the Langham Hotel sat Mr. Silas P. Oates, of New York City, millionaire, who had come to England with his wife and daughter to spend his money, secure a titled husband for his only child, and look round generally.
He had made his money in a somewhat unexpected way by sundry7 dealings in stocks and shares, besides which he had bought a clever invention cheaply of the inventor--a poor man--and by dint8 of dexterous9 advertising10 and persistent11 pushing had boomed it into a big success. A far-seeing man was Mr. Oates, none too scrupulous12, who regarded his fellow-men as so many sheep to be shorn of their rich fleece; but he always kept to the letter if not the spirit of the law, and therefore regarded himself as a keen business man, who had made his enormous fortune honestly. All his little knavish13 tricks, his taking advantage of his fellow-creatures when they were in difficulties, and his unscrupulous, unblushing lying, he designated under the collective name of business; and however scandalous his dealings might appear to God, they certainly appeared legitimate14 to his brother business men, who mostly acted the same way.
Therefore Silas was called "a sharp business man." All his twistings and turnings and chicanery15 and sailing close to the wind went to pile up the dollars; and however he might have ruined less clever men than himself, however he imposed, gulled16, and swindled the public, he was generally admitted in the Land of Freedom to be a 'cute man, who was a worthy17 representative of the great god Mammon. Charity, according to the Bible, covers a multitude of sins, but money occupies a much higher place nowadays in the covering process, and all the doubtful ways by which he had acquired his fortune disappeared in the eyes of the condoning18 world under the golden cover of the fortune itself.
This worthy product of the nineteenth century was a short, thin, active little man, with a parchment-coloured skin, dark hair, moustache, beard, eyebrows19, and eyes, and a quick, delicate restlessness about him, like a bright-eyed bird. He was dressed neatly20 in a quiet gray suit, wore no jewellery, not even a watch-chain, and was always on the alert to see something to his advantage. Outwardly, he was a quiet, respectable, decent little fellow, who, as the saying goes, would not harm a fly; inwardly, he was an astute21 blackguard, who called his evil doing "business," who always kept well within the law, and had dethroned the Deity22 in favour of himself. His past was bad and tricky23, so much so that it would hardly bear looking into by a man with a conscience; but even though Mr. Oates had no conscience, he did not indulge much in retrospection: not that he dreaded24 remorse25, but simply looked upon such dreaming as a waste of time.
At present he was perfectly26 happy. He had made a lot of money, he had a pretty wife for whom he cared nothing, a charming daughter for whom he cared a great deal, and was now going to show the Old World what the New World could do in the way of making a splash. It was a very enviable frame of mind to be in, and one quite beyond the reach of an honest man, who would have been disturbed at the memory of how he had made his money. But Silas only thought how pleasant it was he had made so much money, for the making of which he had to thank no one--not even God, who, in His inexplicable27 mercy permitted this gilded28 worm to reap the golden reward of a life of legitimate legalised rascality29.
Mr. Oates, therefore, was happy, and thought no one could upset that happiness in any way; but he found out his mistake when the waiter brought in a card inscribed30, "Mrs. Belswin."
"Well, sir," drawled Silas, looking doubtfully at the card, "this lady wants to look me up?"
"Yes, sir."
"Mrs. Belswin!" soliloquised the American in deep thought. "I can't fix her nohow. Ask the lady to step this way."
"Yes, sir."
The alert, active waiter disappeared, and Mr. Oates pondered. He did not know the name; he had only arrived in England the previous day, and was unacquainted with any one. What then did this strange lady want with him? Luckily, Mrs. Hatty K. Oates had gone out shopping with her daughter, else the situation might have been awkward for Silas, whose domestic hearthstone was not quite free from connubial31 rows caused by jealousy32. His wife, however, was away, and would not be home for the next few hours, so Mr. Oates, feeling rather curious as to the business of his fair visitor, was by no means sorry that he had a chance of passing his afternoon in feminine society.
His visitor entered the room heralded33 by the waiter; then the latter retired34, closing the door carefully after him, leaving the pair alone. The lady was dressed in black, and wore a heavy crape veil, which suggested mourning to the astute Silas; and after he had gathered as much as he was able from a keen glance at this draped veiled figure, he politely placed a chair for her.
"You wish to see me, madam?" he asked, resuming his own seat.
"I do, for a few minutes. I am an old friend of yours."
Mrs. Belswin's voice was muffled35 by the veil, and moreover Silas had not heard it for nearly twenty years, so he did not recognise his visitor in the least, and was considerably36 puzzled by the concluding part of her speech.
"An old friend!" he said doubtfully, smoothing his chin. "From the States?"
"Yes; down 'Frisco way."
"Oh!"
Mr. Oates started. He had many acquaintances down 'Frisco way, but they could hardly be called friends, as they very much disapproved37 of his method of doing business.
"I've got an eye for faces," said Silas, in a jaunty38 manner, "so if you put up that veil I've no doubt I can fix you."
"I'm afraid I shall startle you."
"I'm not easily startled, madam. My nerves are in good working order."
"Are they? Then I'll put them to the test."
Mrs. Belswin suddenly threw back her veil and bent39 forward so that her face was in the strong light, whereupon Silas gave a whoop40 like a wild Indian, bounded from his chair and gasped41.
"I'm afraid you over-estimate the working order of your nerves, Silas," said Mrs. Belswin, scoffingly42; and then leaning back in her chair, waited for Mr. Oates to make the next move in the game.
"Great Scott! It's Mrs. Pethram. I thought you were dead!"
"And wished it too, I've no doubt," said Mrs. Belswin, bitterly. "Well, are you not glad to see me?"
"Ah! you've learned to speak the truth since I saw you last," observed the lady, raising her eyebrows, "otherwise you're not much changed. The same ugly little monkey with whom I ran away from New Zealand. I've often wondered why I did run away with you," pursued Mrs. Belswin with charming candour, "and now I see you again I wonder more than ever."
Silas grinned in an uneasy manner. He would have preferred her to be less cool, to pay more deference44 to his position, but she seemed as candid45 as ever, and he almost expected to have something damaging flung at his head, as had been her custom in the old days. It was a very disagreeable position, so Silas rose to the occasion, and immediately set to work to emulate46 her coolness, and find out how he could circumvent47 this unwelcome visitor from the past.
"I see you're still in the vinegar line," he said easily, resuming his seat. "I guess you did turn me over for a bit. It takes a pretty stiff dose to do that, but this time you've raised Cain proper."
They were delightfully48 amiable49 to one another, the more so as a feeling of distrust pervaded50 the whole conversation; but as Mrs. Belswin wanted to waste no time, in case the wife of her former lover should turn up, she opened fire at once--
"I dare say you're surprised to see me."
"It's no good beating round the bush. I'm surprised and sorry."
"You'll be sorrier before I've done with you."
"Hello! What are y' going to show your teeth about?"
"Nothing, if you'll do what I ask."
"See here, Mrs. Pethram," said Silas, leaning forward with his shrewd, sharp, foxy face, "it's no good your tryin' to play low on me. I've cut my eye teeth, I can tell you. You think you've got the whip hand of me. That's as I take it. Well, you can drop that dodge51. I ran off with you to 'Frisco 'cause I was a born fool. I did love you, only you were more like a redskin than a civilised woman. We agreed to part company twenty years ago, and I've kept my part of the contract. I've gone right along in the money line, and this time I've come home on the winner. I'm married and straight now, and I don't want no one to put things wrong between my wife and me. As you're an old friend I'll act square by you if it's money, but if it's blackmail52 your looking you'd better believe it."
Mrs. Belswin was in all things a headstrong, impulsive53 woman, without any craft or power to disguise her feelings. She had come to Oates with the fullest intention of threatening to tell his wife their former relations if he refused to give her money; but here was her adversary54 calmly placing the whole of her nefarious55 scheme before her, and she felt completely nonplussed56. Oates, on the other hand, was so accustomed to trickery that Mrs. Belswin was a mere57 child in his hands, and the course he was now adopting was certainly the only means by which he could hope to checkmate her.
"Well, madam!" said Silas, seeing his plain speaking had taken Mrs. Belswin aback, "what do you say?"
Mrs. Belswin acted like a fool, lost her temper and stormed.
"You despicable little wretch," she said, starting to her feet, with her eyes blazing with anger, "how dare you speak to me like this? Was it not for your sake that I lost my husband, my good name, my position in the world? And yet you dare to taunt58 me with it. You are now rich, married, and respectable. I, on the other hand, am poor--yes, poor, otherwise my life for these last twenty years has been above reproach. Oh, you may laugh! You judge me by yourself, but I tell you since I left you I have led a decent life. The reason I refuse to tell you. Now hear what I have to say. I would not have come to you unless it was a case of dire59 necessity, I hate you too much to have ever desired to set eyes on you again, but I was compelled to come, because I want money. Give me a cheque for £500 and I won't trouble you again. Refuse, and I'll tell your wife all."
"Will you, indeed?" sneered60 Silas, mockingly. "Don't try the black-mailing game, for you won't bounce a cent out of me. That's so, Mrs. Pethram. My wife knows all about you. I told her all when I was married."
"That's a lie," said Mrs. Belswin, fiercely. "I don't believe it."
"I reckon it's true, though."
"I won't take your word for it, so I'll ask your wife."
"She'll be here at three-forty. You can wait."
It was all bravado61 on the part of Oates, as he was in deadly fear lest his wife should come in and learn all. True this discreditable connection had taken place before his marriage: but Mrs. Oates would not take that fact into consideration, and would make things very unpleasant for him. With all his cleverness and craft, Silas was a coward at heart; so as Mrs. Belswin sat there, evidently determined62 to await the arrival of his wife, he skirmished round, in order to find out some weak spot in her armour63 by which he could beat her. Had he betrayed fear, Mrs. Belswin would have at once perceived that she had the advantage; but he did nothing but sit smiling before her, and all she could do in her mad rage was to tell all to Mrs. Oates, thereby64 cutting her own throat, and benefiting nothing by revelation.
"He is dead.'
"Is that so?" said Oates, somewhat startled. "Died in New Zealand, I guess?"
"No, he didn't. He died in England."
"What did you kill him for?"
It was simply an idle, malicious66 question, as Silas never for a moment dreamed that the husband and wife had met, or that there had been anything strange about the husband's death. Foolish Mrs. Belswin, never thinking, flashed out at once, on the impulse of the moment, quite forgetting that she was putting a sword into her enemy's hand.
"I didn't kill him. How dare you say so? No one knows who murdered him."
Silas jumped up from his seat with an exclamation67 of surprise, as his apparently68 idle question had evidently drawn69 forth70 something important.
"Oh, he was murdered, then?"
"I know nothing," returned Silas, coolly. "I only spoke because I know if you had met Pethram in one of your fiendish tempers you would have put a knife in him."
Mrs. Belswin saw that she had raised a suspicion in the mind of Silas, so was now careful as to what she said.
"You're talking at random73. Pethram is dead, and some one shot him; I don't know who. You can see all about it in the papers."
Silas made no answer, as he was thinking. Owing to Mrs. Belswin's unsuspicious nature he had learned a very important fact, which might possibly lead to his circumventing74 her demands for money. So he made up his mind at once how to act, and acted.
"See here," he said, good-humouredly, pulling out his cheque-book; "I'll do what I can for you. Tell my wife or not, if you like; but now, if five hundred dollars are of any use, I'll give you that lot straight off."
"Five hundred dollars," said Mrs. Belswin, coolly--"one hundred pounds. Well, that will do in the meantime; but I'm to have the rest next week, or I'll make things hot for you, Silas."
The American had his own opinion on the subject, but, with his habitual75 craft, said nothing. Filling up the cheque, he gave it to Mrs. Belswin, who took it without a word of thanks, and put it in her purse.
"It has been my name ever since I left you in 'Frisco," retorted Mrs. Belswin, fiercely. "You need not insinuate77 that I have been leading a bad life. I've no doubt my past would bear more looking into than yours."
"You've the same old style, I see," said Silas, insolently78, "all gunpowder79 and dynamite80. Well, I guess that now you've got what you came for you'll get."
"As you elegantly phrase it, I'll get," rejoined the lady, letting down her veil. "But let me hear from you next week about the rest of the money, or I'll come and interview your wife."
"Oh, I'll write you straight," answered Silas, with a peculiar81 smile, as he accompanied her to the door. "Good-bye, Mrs. Pethram--beg pardon, Mrs. Belswin."
Silas closed the door after her, with a smile which faded from his face when he found himself alone.
"Lady Pethram!" he echoed thoughtfully "I reckon then that Pethram got his handle. Well, now I'd better look after that murder case, and then I'll fix that she-devil right along the line."
Having thus made up his mind, he sent for a file of the Daily Telegraph of the previous month, and went steadily83 to work to read up the Thornstream case, which he had no difficulty in finding. He also discovered the address of a private inquiry84 office, and at once wrote a letter instructing them to send him a detective. This business being concluded, he lighted a cigar, rubbed his dry, lean hands together and chuckled85.
"Two can always play at a game, my lady," he muttered; "but this time I guess you'll stand out."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
condemn
|
|
| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
phantoms
|
|
| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sitting-room
|
|
| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
sundry
|
|
| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
dexterous
|
|
| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
advertising
|
|
| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
persistent
|
|
| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
scrupulous
|
|
| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
knavish
|
|
| adj.无赖（似）的，不正的；刁诈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
chicanery
|
|
| n.欺诈，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gulled
|
|
| v.欺骗某人( gull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
condoning
|
|
| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
astute
|
|
| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
deity
|
|
| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
tricky
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
gilded
|
|
| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
rascality
|
|
| 流氓性，流氓集团 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
30
inscribed
|
|
| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
connubial
|
|
| adj.婚姻的，夫妇的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
heralded
|
|
| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
disapproved
|
|
| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
jaunty
|
|
| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
whoop
|
|
| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
scoffingly
|
|
| 带冷笑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
deference
|
|
| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
candid
|
|
| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
emulate
|
|
| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
circumvent
|
|
| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
delightfully
|
|
| 大喜，欣然 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
amiable
|
|
| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
pervaded
|
|
| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
dodge
|
|
| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
blackmail
|
|
| n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
impulsive
|
|
| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
adversary
|
|
| adj.敌手，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
nefarious
|
|
| adj.恶毒的，极坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
nonplussed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
taunt
|
|
| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
sneered
|
|
| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
bravado
|
|
| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
queried
|
|
| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
haughtily
|
|
| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
random
|
|
| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
circumventing
|
|
| v.设法克服或避免（某事物），回避( circumvent的现在分词 )；绕过，绕行，绕道旅行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
habitual
|
|
| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
payable
|
|
| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
insinuate
|
|
| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
insolently
|
|
| adv.自豪地，自傲地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
gunpowder
|
|
| n.火药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
dynamite
|
|
| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
jeeringly
|
|
| adv.嘲弄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |