Chapter 9 Stephen Webb

 The more Browning thought of the newsboy in whom he had so strangely recognized the son of the man whom he had so cruelly wronged, the more uneasy he felt.

 

"He has evidently heard of me," he soliloquized. "His father could not have been so near death as I supposed. He must have sent the boy or his mother a message about that money. If it should come to his knowledge that I am the Thomas Butler to whom his father confided¹ ten thousand dollars which I have failed to hand over to the family, he may make it very disagreeable for me."

 

The fact that so many persons were able to identify him as Thomas Butler made the danger more imminent².

 

"I must take some steps--but what?" Browning asked himself.

 

He kept on walking till he found himself passing the entrance of a low poolroom. He never played pool, nor would it have suited a man of his social position to enter such a place, but that he caught sight of a young man, whose face and figure were familiar to him, in the act of going into it. He quickened his pace, and laid a hand on the young man's shoulder.

 

The latter turned quickly, revealing a face bearing the unmistakable marks of dissipation.

 

"Uncle Thomas!" he exclaimed, apparently³ ill at ease.

 

"Yes, Stephen, it is I. Where are you going?" The young man hesitated.

 

"You need not answer. I see you are wedded⁴ to your old amusements. Are you still in the place I got for you?"

 

Stephen Webb looked uneasy and shamefaced.

 

"I have lost my place," he answered, after a pause.

 

"How does it happen that you lost it?"

 

"I don't know. Some one must have prejudiced my employer against me."

 

"It is your own habits that have prejudiced him, I make no doubt."

 

This was true. One morning Stephen, whose besetting⁵ sin was intemperance⁶, appeared at the office where he was employed in such a state of intoxication⁷ that he was summarily discharged. It may be explained that he was a son of Mr. Browning's only sister.

 

"When were you discharged?" asked his uncle.

 

"Last week."

 

"And have you tried to get another situation?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What are your prospects⁸ of success?"

 

"There seem to be very few openings just now, Uncle Thomas."

 

"The greater reason why you should have kept the place I obtained for you. Were you going to play pool in this low place?"

 

"I was going to look on. A man must have some amusement," said Stephen, sullenly⁹.

 

"Amusement is all you think of. However, it so happens that I have something that I wish you to do."

 

Stephen regarded his uncle in surprise.

 

"Are you going to open an office in Chicago?" he asked.

 

"No; the service is of a different nature. It is--secret and confidential¹⁰. It is, I may say, something in the detective line."

 

"Then I'm your man," said his nephew, brightening up.

 

"The service is simple, so that you will probably be qualified¹¹ to do what I require."

 

"I've read lots of detective stories," said Stephen, eagerly. "It's just the work I should like."

 

"Humph! I don't think much is to be learned from detective stories. You will understand, of course, that you are not to let anyone know you are acting¹² for me."

 

"Certainly. You will find that I can keep a secret."

 

"I leave Chicago to-morrow morning, and will give you directions before I go. Where can we have a private conference?"

 

"Here is an oyster¹³ house. We shall be quiet here."

 

"Very well! We will go in."

 

They entered a small room, with a sanded floor, provided with a few unpainted tables.

 

Stephen and his uncle went to the back of the room, and seated themselves at the rear table.

 

"We must order something," suggested Stephen.

 

"Get what you please," said Browning, indifferently.

 

"Two stews¹⁴!" ordered Stephen. "We can talk while they are getting them ready."

 

"Very well! Now, for my instructions. At the corner of Clark and Randolph Streets every morning and evening you will find a newsboy selling papers."

 

"A dozen, you mean."

 

"True, but I am going to describe this boy so that you may know him. He is about fifteen, I should judge, neatly¹⁶ dressed, and would be considered good-looking."

 

"Do you know his name?"

 

"Yes, it is Luke Walton."

 

"Is he the one I am to watch?"

 

"You are to make his acquaintance, and find out all you can about his circumstances."

 

"Do you know where he lives?"

 

"No; that is one of the things you are to find out for me."

 

"What else do you want me to find out?"

 

"Find out how many there are in family, also how they live; whether they have anything to live on except what this newsboy earns."

 

"All right, Uncle Thomas. You seem to have a great deal of interest in this boy."

 

"That is my business," said Browning, curtly¹⁷. "If you wish to work for me, you must not show too much curiosity. Never mind what my motives¹⁸ are. Do you understand?"

 

"Certainly, Uncle Thomas. It shall be as you say. I suppose I am to be paid?"

 

"Yes. How much salary did you receive where you were last employed?"

 

"Ten dollars a week."

 

"You shall receive this sum for the present. It is very good pay for the small service required of you."

 

"All right, uncle."

 

The stews were ready by this time. They were brought and set before Stephen and his uncle. The latter toyed with his spoon, only taking a taste or two, but Stephen showed much more appreciation¹⁹ of the dish, not being accustomed, like his uncle, to dining at first-class hotels.

 

"How am I to let you know what I find out?" asked Stephen.

 

"Write me at Milwaukee. I will send you further instructions from there."

 

"Very well, sir."

 

"Oh, by the way, you are never to mention me to this Luke Walton. I have my reasons."

 

"I will do just as you say."

 

"How is your mother, Stephen?"

 

"About the same. She isn't a very cheerful party, you know. She is always fretting²⁰."

 

"Has she any lodgers²¹?"

 

"Yes, three, but one is a little irregular with his rent."

 

"Of course, I expect that you will hand your mother half the weekly sum I pay you. She has a right to expect that much help from her son."

 

Stephen assented²², but not with alacrity²³, and as he had now disposed of the stew¹⁵, the two rose from their seats and went outside. A few words of final instructions, and they parted.

 

"I wonder why Uncle Thomas takes such an interest in that newsboy," thought Stephen. "I will make it my business to find out."

1 confided   

v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
• He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 wedded   

adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
• I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 besetting   

adj.不断攻击的v.困扰( beset的现在分词 )；不断围攻；镶；嵌

参考例句：

• Laziness is my besetting sin. 懒惰是我积重难返的恶习。 来自辞典例句
• His besetting sin is laziness. 他所易犯的毛病就是懒惰。 来自辞典例句

6 intemperance   

n.放纵

参考例句：

• Health does not consist with intemperance. 健康与纵欲［无节制］不能相容。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She accepted his frequent intemperance as part of the climate. 对于他酗酒的恶习，她安之若素。 来自辞典例句

7 intoxication   

n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning

参考例句：

• He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。
• Predator: Intoxication-Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies. Predator:Intoxication,持续性伤害的效果将会与队友相加。

8 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

9 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

10 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

11 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 oyster   

n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人

参考例句：

• I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
• I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。

14 stews   

n.炖煮的菜肴( stew的名词复数 )；烦恼，焦虑v.炖( stew的第三人称单数 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews. 玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most stews contain meat and vegetables. 炖的食物大多是肉类和蔬菜。 来自辞典例句

15 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

16 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

17 curtly   

adv.简短地

参考例句：

• He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 motives   

n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
• His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

19 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

20 fretting   

n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的

参考例句：

• Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
• The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。

21 lodgers   

n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He takes in lodgers. 他招收房客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A good proportion of my lodgers is connected with the theaters. 住客里面有不少人是跟戏院子有往来的。 来自辞典例句

22 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

23 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。