Chapter 26 Mr. Lynx, The Detective

 The detective who presented himself to Mrs. Hamilton was a quiet-looking man, clad in a brown suit. Except that his eyes were keen and searching, his appearance was disappointing. Conrad met him as he was going out of the house, and said to himself contemptuously: "He looks like a muff."

 

"I have sent for you, Mr. Lynx," said Mrs. Hamilton, "to see if you can help me in a matter I will explain to you," and then she gave him all the information she possessed¹ about the loss of the opera glass.

 

"How valuable was the glass?" inquired Mr. Lynx.

 

"It cost fifty dollars in Paris," said Mrs. Hamilton.

 

"But you set a higher value upon it for other reasons? Just so."

 

"You are right."

 

"Will you favor me with an exact description of the article?" said the detective, producing his notebook.

 

Mrs. Hamilton did so, and the detective made an entry.

 

"Have you ever had anything taken out of your house by outside parties?" he asked.

 

"On one occasion, when my brother was visiting me, his overcoat was taken from the hatstand in the hall."

 

"A sneak² thief, of course. The glass, however, was not so exposed?"

 

"No; it was not on the lower floor at all."

 

"It looks, then, as if it was taken by someone in the house."

 

"It looks so," said Mrs. Hamilton gravely.

 

"Have you confidence in your servants? Or, rather, have you reason to suspect any of them?"

 

"I believe they are honest. I don't believe they would be tempted³ by such an article."

 

"Not, perhaps, for their own use, but a glass like this may be pawned⁴ for a considerable sum. Being of peculiar⁵ appearance, the thief would be hardly likely to use it himself or herself. Detection would be too sure."

 

"No doubt you are right."

 

"How long has the glass been missing?" resumed the detective.

 

"Three days."

 

"No doubt it has been pawned by this time. Your course is clear."

 

"And what is that?"

 

"To make a tour of the pawnshops, and ascertain⁶ whether such an article has been brought to any one of them."

 

"Very well, Mr. Lynx. I leave the matter in your hands. I trust everything to your judgment⁷."

 

"Thank you. I will try to deserve your confidence. And now, good-day. I may call upon you to-morrow."

 

"Mr. Lynx left the presence of the lady, and went downstairs. He had just reached the bottom of the staircase, when a thin lady glided⁸ from the rear of the hall, and spoke⁹ to him.

 

"Are you the detective summoned by Mrs. Hamilton?" she asked.

 

"Yes, madam," answered Mr. Lynx, surveying housekeeper¹⁰ attentively¹¹.

 

"I am Mrs. Hill, the housekeper," said she. "I may add that I am a cousin of Mrs. Hamilton's."

 

Mr. Lynx bowed, and waited for further information. He knew who was addressing him, for he had questioned Mrs. Hamilton as to the different inmates¹² of the house.

 

"I stopped you," said Mrs. Hill, "because I have my suspicions, and I thought I might help you in this investigation¹³."

 

"I shall feel indebted to you for any help you can afford. Do you mind telling me upon what your suspicions rest?"

 

"I don't like to accuse or throw suspicions on anyone," said the housekeeper, but I think it is my duty to help my cousin in this matter."

 

"Undoubtedly," said Mr. Lynx, noticing that she paused. "Proceed."

 

"You may or may not be aware that my cousin employs a boy of about sixteen, whom, as I think, she engaged rather rashly, without knowing anything of his antecedents. He assists her in her writing and accounts--in fact, is a sort of secretary.

 

"His name is Benjamin Barclay, is it not?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Do you know anything of his habits?"

 

"He is very plausible¹⁴. In fact, I think his appearance is in his favor; but I think he is sly. Still water, you know, runs deep."

 

Mr. Lynx bowed assent¹⁵.

 

"I was disposed," proceeded Mrs. Hill artfully, "to think well of the boy, and to approve my cousin's selection, until last week he was seen leaving a well-known gambling¹⁶ house in Thirty-first Street."

 

"Indeed! That is certainly suspicious."

 

"Is it not?"

 

"Who saw him leaving the gambling house, Mrs. Hill?"

 

"My son, Conrad."

 

"Curious that he should have been near at the time!"

 

"He was taking a walk. He generally goes out in the evening."

 

"Of course your son would not visit such a place?"

 

"Certainly not," answered Mrs. Hill, looking offended at the suggestion.

 

"By the way, are the two boys intimate? Do they seem to like each other?"

 

"My Conrad always treats the other boy well, out of common politeness, but I don't think he likes him very well."

 

"Is your son in any situation?"

 

"He is now."

 

"Was he at the time this Benjamin was engaged by Mrs. Hamilton?"

 

"No."

 

"Rather singular that she did not employ your son, instead of seeking out a stranger, isn't it?"

 

"Now that you mention it, I confess that I did feel hurt at the slight to my boy. However, I don't wish to interfere¹⁷ with Cousin Hamilton, or obtrude¹⁸ my son upon her."

 

"Strong jealousy¹⁹ there!" thought the detective.

 

"So you think this Ben Barclay may have taken the glass?" he said inquiringly.

 

"I do. Since he visits gambling houses, he doubtless squanders²⁰ money, and can find a market for more than he can honestly earn."

 

"As you say, gambling often leads to dishonesty. Does Mrs. Hamilton know that her protege visited a gambling house?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Mentioned it to him, I suppose?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Of course, he denied it?"

 

"No; he admitted it, but said he received a letter from a stranger appointing to meet him there. It is rather curious that he couldn't show the letter, however. He pretended he had lost it."

 

"Did Mrs. Hamilton believe him?"

 

"I don't know. I think not, for, though she has not discharged him, she treats him very coldly."

 

"Have you any further information to give me?"

 

"No. I hope this will be of some service to you."

 

"I think it will. Thank you, and good-afternoon."

 

"There! I've prejudiced him against Ben," said Mrs. Hill to herself, with a satisfied smile. "These detectives are glad of a hint, sharp as they think themselves. If he finds out that it is Ben, he will take all the credit to himself, and never mention me in the matter. However, that is just what I wish. It is important that I should not appear too active in getting the boy into trouble, or I may be thought to be influenced by interested motives²¹, though, Heaven knows, I only want justice for myself and my boy. The sooner we get this boy out of the house, the better it will be for us."

 

As Mr. Lynx left the house, he smiled to himself.

 

"That woman and her son hate Ben Barclay, that much is certain, and look upon him as an interloper and a rival. I rather sympathize with the poor fellow. I should be sorry to find him guilty, but I shall not stop short till I have ferreted out the truth."

1 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

2 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

3 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

4 pawned   

v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保

参考例句：

• He pawned his gold watch to pay the rent. 他抵当了金表用以交租。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 peculiar   

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。

6 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

7 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

8 glided   

v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔

参考例句：

• The President's motorcade glided by. 总统的车队一溜烟开了过去。
• They glided along the wall until they were out of sight. 他们沿着墙壁溜得无影无踪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

10 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

11 attentively   

adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神

参考例句：

• She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

14 plausible   

adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的

参考例句：

• His story sounded plausible.他说的那番话似乎是真实的。
• Her story sounded perfectly plausible.她的说辞听起来言之有理。

15 assent   

v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
• The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。

16 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

17 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。

18 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。

19 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。

20 squanders   

v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He squanders all the money which his father gives him. 他挥霍了他父亲给他的全部钱财。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In squandering the health of its young, the world squanders its tomorrows. 年轻人在挥霍自己健康的同时世界也在浪费着他的未来。 来自互联网

21 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。