Chapter 38 Felicie Proves Troublesome

 We must return to Chicago for a short time before recording¹ the incidents of Luke's visit to Milwaukee.

 

Though Harold had lost nearly half of his money through being compelled to divide with Felicie, he was, upon the whole, well satisfied with the way in which he had escaped from suspicion. He had his gold watch, and, as far as he knew, the story which he had told about it had not been doubted. But something happened that annoyed and alarmed him.

 

One day, when there was no one else in the house, except the servants, Felicie intercepted² him as he was going out.

 

"I want a word with you, Master Harold," she said.

 

"I am in a hurry, Felicie," replied Harold, who had conceived a dislike for the French maid.

 

"Still, I think you can spare a few minutes," went on Felicie, smiling in an unpleasant manner.

 

"Well, be quick about it," said Harold, impatiently.

 

"I have a sister who is very sick. She is a widow with two children, and her means are very small."

 

"Goodness, Felicie! What is all this to me? Of course, I'm sorry for her, but I don't know her."

 

"She looks to me to help her," continued Felicie.

 

"Well, that's all right! I suppose you are going to help her."

 

"There is the trouble, Master Harold. I have no money on hand."

 

"Well, I'm sure that is unlucky, but why do you speak to me about it?"

 

"Because," and here Felicie's eyes glistened³, "I know you obtained some money recently from your aunt."

 

"Hush⁴!" said Harold, apprehensively⁵.

 

"But it's true."

 

"And it's true that you made me give you half of it."

 

"It all went to my poor sister," said Felicie theatrically⁶.

 

"I don't see what I have to do with that," said Harold, not without reason.

 

"So that I kept none for myself. Now I am sure you will open your heart, and give me five dollars more."

 

"I never heard such cheek!" exclaimed Harold, indignantly. "You've got half, and are not satisfied with that."

 

"But think of my poor sister!" said Felicie, putting her handkerchief to her eyes, in which there were no tears.

 

"Think of me!" exclaimed Harold, angrily.

 

"Then you won't give me the trifle I ask?"

 

"Trifle? I haven't got it."

 

"Where is it gone?"

 

"Gone to buy this watch. That took nearly the whole of it."

 

"It is indeed so? I thought you received it as a reward for picking up a pocketbook."

 

"I had to tell my aunt something. Otherwise they would ask me embarrassing questions."

 

"Ah, _quelle invention!_" exclaimed Felicie, playfully. "And you really have none of the money left?"

 

"No."

 

"Then there is only one way."

 

"What is that?"

 

"To open the drawer again."

 

"Are you mad, Felicie? I should surely be discovered. It won't do to try it a second time when my aunt is on her guard. Besides, very likely she don't keep her money there now."

 

"Oh, yes, she does."

 

"How do you know?"

 

"I was in the room yesterday when she opened the drawer to take out money to pay a bill."

 

"She must be foolish, then."

 

"Ah," said Felicie, coolly, "she thinks lightning won't strike twice in the same place."

 

"Well, it won't."

 

"There must have been fifty dollars in bills in the drawer," continued Felicie, insinuatingly⁷.

 

"It may stay there for all me. I won't go to the drawer again."

 

"I must have some money," said Felicie, significantly.

 

"Then go and tell Aunt Eliza, and she may give you some."

 

"I don't think your Aunt Eliza likes me," said Felicie, frankly⁸.

 

"Very likely not," said Harold, with equal candor⁹.

 

"You can raise some money on your watch, Master Harold," suggested Felicie.

 

"How?"

 

"At the pawnbroker's."

 

"Well, I don't mean to."

 

"No?"

 

"No!" returned Harold, emphatically.

 

"Suppose I go and tell Mrs. Merton who took her money?"

 

"You would only expose yourself."

 

"I did not take it."

 

"You made me divide with you."

 

"I shall deny all that. Besides, I shall tell all that I saw--on that day."

 

Harold felt troubled. Felicie might, as he knew, make trouble for him, and though he could in time inform against her, that would not make matters much better for him. Probably the whole story would come out, and he felt sure that the French maid would not spare him.

 

A lucky thought came to him.

 

"Felicie," he said, "I think I can suggest something that will help you."

 

"Well, what is it?"

 

"Go to my aunt's drawer yourself. You have plenty of chance, and you can keep all the money you find. I won't ask you for any of it."

 

Felicie eyed him sharply. She was not sure but he meant to trap her.

 

"I have no keys," she said.

 

"You can use the same bunch I have. Here they are!"

 

Felicie paused a moment, then took the proffered¹⁰ keys. After all, why should she not make use of the suggestion? It would be thought that the second thief was the same as the first.

 

"Can I rely on your discretion¹¹, Master Harold?" she asked.

 

"Yes, certainly. I am not very likely to say anything about the matter."

 

"True! It might not be for your interest. Good-morning, Master Harold, I won't detain you any longer."

 

Harold left the house with a feeling of relief.

 

"I hope Felicie will be caught!" he said to himself. "I have a great mind to give Aunt Eliza a hint."

 

It looked as if the generally astute¹² Felicie had made a mistake. 

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

3 glistened   

v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

5 apprehensively   

adv.担心地

参考例句：

• He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
• Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去，一切都不知怎好似的，连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

6 theatrically   

adv.戏剧化地

参考例句：

• He looked theatrically at his watch. 他夸张地看看表。 来自柯林斯例句

7 insinuatingly   

参考例句：

• Corell said insinuatingly,"Are you afraid, Colonel?" 科雷尔很婉转地说：“你害怕了吗，上校？” 来自辞典例句

8 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。

9 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

10 proffered   

v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句

11 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

12 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。