Chapter 31 Who Stole The Money?

 Did Mrs. Merton suspect anyone of the theft? This is the question which will naturally suggest itself to the reader.

 

No thought of the real thief entered her mind. Though she was fully¹ sensible of Harold's faults, though she knew him to be selfish, bad-tempered², and envious³, she did not suppose him capable of theft. The one who occurred to her as most likely to have robbed her was her recently returned nephew, Warner Powell, who had been compelled to leave Chicago years before on account of having yielded to a similar temptation. She knew that he was hard up for money, and it was possible that he had opened the table drawer and abstracted the pocketbook. As to Luke Walton, she was not at all affected⁴ by the insinuations of her niece. She knew that Mrs. Tracy and Harold had a prejudice against Luke, and that this would make them ready to believe anything against him.

 

She was curious, however, to hear what Warner had to say about the robbery. Would he, too, try to throw suspicion upon Luke in order to screen himself, if he were the real thief? This remained to be proved.

 

Warner Powell did not return to the house till five o'clock in the afternoon. His sister and Harold hastened to inform him of what had happened, and to communicate their conviction that Luke was the thief. Warner said little, but his own suspicions were different. He went up stairs, and made his aunt a call.

 

"Well, aunt," he said, "I hear that you have been robbed."

 

"Yes, Warner, I have lost some money," answered the old lady, composedly.

 

"Louisa told me."

 

"Yes; she suspects Luke of being the thief. Do you agree with her?"

 

"No, I don't," answered Warner.

 

Mrs. Merton's face brightened, and she looked kindly⁵ at Warner.

 

"Then you don't share Louisa's prejudice against Luke?" she said.

 

"No; I like the boy. I would sooner suspect myself of stealing the money, for, you know, Aunt Eliza, that my record is not a good one, and I am sure Luke is an honest boy."

 

Mrs. Merton's face fairly beamed with delight. She understood very well the low and unworthy motives⁶ which influenced her niece and Harold, and it was a gratifying surprise to find that her nephew was free from envy and jealousy⁷.

 

"Warner," she said, "what you say does you credit. In this particular case I happen to know that Luke is innocent."

 

"You don't, know the real thief?" asked Warner.

 

"No; but my reason for knowing that Luke is innocent I will tell you. The money was safe in my drawer when I went out this morning. It was taken during my absence from the house. Luke was with me during this whole time. Of course, it is impossible that he should be the thief."

 

"I see. Did you tell Louisa this?"

 

"No; I am biding⁸ my time. Besides, I am more likely to find the real thief if it is supposed that Luke is under suspicion."

 

"Tell me truly, Aunt Eliza, didn't you suspect me?"

 

"Since you ask me, Warner, I will tell you frankly⁹ that it occurred to me as possible that you might have yielded to temptation."

 

"It would have been a temptation, for I have but twenty-five cents. But even if I had known where you kept your money (which I didn't), I would have risked applying to you for a loan, or gift, as it would have turned out to be, rather than fall back into my old disreputable ways."

 

"I am very much encouraged by what you say, Warner. Here are ten dollars. Use it judiciously¹⁰; try to obtain employment, and when it is gone, you may let me know."

 

"Aunt Eliza, you are kinder to me than I deserve. I will make a real effort to secure employment, and will not abuse your confidence."

 

"Keep that promise, Warner, and I will be your friend. One thing more: don't tell Louisa what has passed between us. I can, at any time, clear Luke, but for the present I will let her think I am uncertain on that point. I shall not forget that you took the boy's part where your sister condemned¹¹ him."

 

"Louisa and Harold can see no good in the boy; but I have observed him carefully, and formed my own opinion."

 

Warner could have done nothing better calculated to win his aunt's favor than to express a favorable opinion of Luke. It must be said, however, in justice to him, that this had not entered into his calculations. He really felt kindly towards the boy whom his sister denounced as "sly and artful," and liked him much better than his own nephew, Harold, who, looking upon Warner as a poor relation, had not thought it necessary to treat him with much respect or attention. He had a better heart and a better disposition¹² than Mrs. Tracy or Harold, notwithstanding his early shortcomings.

 

"Who could have been the thief?" Warner asked himself, as he left his aunt's sitting room. "Could it have been Harold?"

 

He resolved to watch his nephew carefully and seek some clew that would lead to a solution of the mystery.

 

"I hope it isn't my nephew," he said to himself. "I don't want him to follow in the steps of his scapegrace uncle. But I would sooner suspect him than Luke Walton. They say blood is thicker than water, but I confess that I like the newsboy better than I do my high-toned nephew."

 

"Have you made any discovery of the thief, Aunt Eliza?" asked Mrs. Tracy, as her aunt seated herself at the evening repast.

 

"Nothing positive," answered the old lady, significantly.

 

"Have you discovered anything at all?"

 

"I have discovered who is not the thief," said Mrs. Merton.

 

"Then you had suspicions?"

 

"No definite suspicions."

 

"Wouldn't it be well to talk the matter freely over with me? Something might be suggested."

 

"I beg your pardon, Louisa, but I think it would be well to banish¹³ this disagreeable matter from our table talk. If I should stand in need of advice, I will consult you."

 

"I don't want to obtrude¹⁴ my advice, but I will venture to suggest that you call in a private detective."

 

Harold looked alarmed.

 

"I wouldn't bother with a detective," he said. "They don't know half as much as they pretend."

 

"I am inclined to agree with Harold," said Mrs. Merton. "I will act as my own detective."

 

Save for the compliment to Harold, Mrs. Tracy was not pleased with this speech of her aunt.

 

"At any rate," she said, "you would do well to keep a strict watch over that boy, Luke Walton."

 

"I shall," answered the old lady, simply.

 

Mrs. Tracy looked triumphant¹⁵.

 

Warner kept silent, but a transient smile passed over his face as he saw how neatly¹⁶ Aunt Eliza had deceived his astute¹⁷ sister.

 

"What do you think, Warner?" asked Mrs. Tracy, desirous of additional support.

 

"I think Aunt Eliza will get at the truth sooner or later. Of course I will do anything to help her, but I don't want to interfere¹⁸."

 

"Don't you think she ought to discharge Luke?"

 

"If she did, she would have no chance of finding out whether he was guilty or not."

 

"That is true. I did not think of that."

 

"Warner is more sensible than any of you," said Mrs. Merton.

 

"I am glad you have changed your opinion of him," said Mrs. Tracy, sharply.

 

She was now beginning to be jealous of her scapegrace brother.

 

"So am I," said Warner, smiling. "At the same time I don't blame aunt for her former opinion."

 

The next morning Harold was about leaving the house, when Felicie, the French maid, came up softly, and said: "Master Harold, may I have a word with you?"

 

"I am in a hurry," said Harold, impatiently.

 

"It is about the stolen money," continued Felicie, in her soft voice. "You had better listen to what I have to say. I have found out who took it."

 

Harold's heart gave a sudden thump¹⁹, and his face indicated dismay. 

1 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

2 bad-tempered   

adj.脾气坏的

参考例句：

• He grew more and more bad-tempered as the afternoon wore on.随着下午一点点地过去，他的脾气也越来越坏。
• I know he's often bad-tempered but really,you know,he's got a heart of gold.我知道他经常发脾气，但是，要知道，其实他心肠很好。

3 envious   

adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的

参考例句：

• I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
• She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

6 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。

7 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

8 biding   

v.等待，停留( bide的现在分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待；面临

参考例句：

• He was biding his time. 他正在等待时机。 来自辞典例句
• Applications:used in carbide alloy, diamond tools, biding admixture, high-temperature alloy, rechargeable cell. 用作硬质合金，磁性材料，金刚石工具，高温合金，可充电池等。 来自互联网

9 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

10 judiciously   

adv.明断地，明智而审慎地

参考例句：

• Let's use these intelligence tests judiciously. 让我们好好利用这些智力测试题吧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His ideas were quaint and fantastic. She brought him judiciously to earth. 他的看法荒廖古怪，她颇有见识地劝他面对现实。 来自辞典例句

11 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

12 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

13 banish   

vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除

参考例句：

• The doctor advised her to banish fear and anxiety.医生劝她消除恐惧和忧虑。
• He tried to banish gloom from his thought.他试图驱除心中的忧愁。

14 obtrude   

v.闯入；侵入；打扰

参考例句：

• I'm sorry to obtrude on you at such a time.我很抱歉在这个时候打扰你。
• You had better not obtrude your opinions on others.你最好不要强迫别人接受你的意见。

15 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

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 astute   

adj.机敏的，精明的

参考例句：

• A good leader must be an astute judge of ability.一个优秀的领导人必须善于识别人的能力。
• The criminal was very astute and well matched the detective in intelligence.这个罪犯非常狡猾，足以对付侦探的机智。

18 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

19 thump   

v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声

参考例句：

• The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
• The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。