“What can be the matter that he does not come?” she said. “It is the first day since our engagement that I have not seen him.”
Robert looked out through the window.
“Poor Hector used to come, rain, snow, or fine. But, then, of course, he was a sailor. It was nothing to him. I hope that Raffles is not ill.”
“He was quite well when I saw him this morning,” answered her brother, and they relapsed into silence, while the rain pattered against the windows, and the wind screamed amid the branches of the elms outside.
Old McIntyre had sat in the corner most of the day biting his nails and glowering6 into the fire, with a brooding, malignant7 expression upon his wrinkled features. Contrary to his usual habits, he did not go to the village inn, but shuffled8 off early to bed without a word to his children. Laura and Robert remained chatting for some time by the fire, she talking of the thousand and one wonderful things which were to be done when she was mistress of the New Hall. There was less philanthropy in her talk when her future husband was absent, and Robert could not but remark that her carriages, her dresses, her receptions, and her travels in distant countries were the topics into which she threw all the enthusiasm which he had formerly9 heard her bestow10 upon refuge homes and labour organisations.
“I think that greys are the nicest horses,” she said. “Bays are nice too, but greys are more showy. We could manage with a brougham and a landau, and perhaps a high dog-cart for Raffles. He has the coach-house full at present, but he never uses them, and I am sure that those fifty horses would all die for want of exercise, or get livers like Strasburg geese, if they waited for him to ride or drive them.”
“I suppose that you will still live here?” said her brother.
“We must have a house in London as well, and run up for the season. I don't, of course, like to make suggestions now, but it will be different afterwards. I am sure that Raffles will do it if I ask him. It is all very well for him to say that he does not want any thanks or honours, but I should like to know what is the use of being a public benefactor11 if you are to have no return for it. I am sure that if he does only half what he talks of doing, they will make him a peer—Lord Tamfield, perhaps—and then, of course, I shall be my Lady Tamfield, and what would you think of that, Bob?” She dropped him a stately curtsey, and tossed her head in the air, as one who was born to wear a coronet.
“Father must be pensioned off,” she remarked presently. “He shall have so much a year on condition that he keeps away. As to you, Bob, I don't know what we shall do for you. We shall make you President of the Royal Academy if money can do it.”
It was late before they ceased building their air-castles and retired12 to their rooms. But Robert's brain was excited, and he could not sleep. The events of the day had been enough to shake a stronger man. There had been the revelation of the morning, the strange sights which he had witnessed in the laboratory, and the immense secret which had been confided13 to his keeping. Then there had been his conversation with his father in the afternoon, their disagreement, and the sudden intrusion of Raffles Haw. Finally the talk with his sister had excited his imagination, and driven sleep from his eyelids14. In vain he turned and twisted in his bed, or paced the floor of his chamber15. He was not only awake, but abnormally awake, with every nerve highly strung, and every sense at the keenest. What was he to do to gain a little sleep? It flashed across him that there was brandy in the decanter downstairs, and that a glass might act as a sedative16.
He had opened the door of his room, when suddenly his ear caught the sound of slow and stealthy footsteps upon the stairs. His own lamp was unlit, but a dim glimmer17 came from a moving taper18, and a long black shadow travelled down the wall. He stood motionless, listening intently. The steps were in the hall now, and he heard a gentle creaking as the key was cautiously turned in the door. The next instant there came a gust5 of cold air, the taper was extinguished, and a sharp snap announced that the door had been closed from without.
Robert stood astonished. Who could this night wanderer be? It must be his father. But what errand could take him out at three in the morning? And such a morning, too! With every blast of the wind the rain beat up against his chamber-window as though it would drive it in. The glass rattled2 in the frames, and the tree outside creaked and groaned19 as its great branches were tossed about by the gale20. What could draw any man forth21 upon such a night?
Hurriedly Robert struck a match and lit his lamp. His father's room was opposite his own, and the door was ajar. He pushed it open and looked about him. It was empty. The bed had not even been lain upon. The single chair stood by the window, and there the old man must have sat since he left them. There was no book, no paper, no means by which he could have amused himself, nothing but a razor-strop lying on the window-sill.
A feeling of impending22 misfortune struck cold to Robert's heart. There was some ill-meaning in this journey of his father's. He thought of his brooding of yesterday, his scowling23 face, his bitter threats. Yes, there was some mischief24 underlying25 it. But perhaps he might even now be in time to prevent it. There was no use calling Laura. She could be no help in the matter. He hurriedly threw on his clothes, muffled26 himself in his top-coat, and, seizing his hat and stick, he set off after his father.
As he came out into the village street the wind whirled down it, so that he had to put his ear and shoulder against it, and push his way forward. It was better, however, when he turned into the lane. The high bank and the hedge sheltered him upon one side. The road, however, was deep in mud, and the rain fell in a steady swish. Not a soul was to be seen, but he needed to make no inquiries27, for he knew whither his father had gone as certainly as though he had seen him.
The iron side gate of the avenue was half open, and Robert stumbled his way up the gravelled drive amid the dripping fir-trees. What could his father's intention be when he reached the Hall? Was it merely that he wished to spy and prowl, or did he intend to call up the master and enter into some discussion as to his wrongs? Or was it possible that some blacker and more sinister28 design lay beneath his strange doings? Robert thought suddenly of the razor-strop, and gasped29 with horror. What had the old man been doing with that? He quickened his pace to a run, and hurried on until he found himself at the door of the Hall.
Thank God! all was quiet there. He stood by the big silent door and listened intently. There was nothing to be heard save the wind and the rain. Where, then, could his father be? If he wished to enter the Hall he would not attempt to do so by one of the windows, for had he not been present when Raffles Haw had shown them the precautions which he had taken? But then a sudden thought struck Robert. There was one window which was left unguarded. Haw had been imprudent enough to tell them so. It was the middle window of the laboratory. If he remembered it so clearly, of course his father would remember it too. There was the point of danger.
The moment that he had come round the corner of the building he found that his surmise30 had been correct. An electric lamp burned in the laboratory, and the silver squares of the three large windows stood out clear and bright in the darkness. The centre one had been thrown open, and, even as he gazed, Robert saw a dark monkey-like figure spring up on to the sill, and vanish into the room beyond. For a moment only it outlined itself against the brilliant light beyond, but in that moment Robert had space to see that it was indeed his father. On tiptoe he crossed the intervening space, and peeped in through the open window. It was a singular spectacle which met his eyes.
There stood upon the glass table some half-dozen large ingots of gold, which had been made the night before, but which had not been removed to the treasure-house. On these the old man had thrown himself, as one who enters into his rightful inheritance. He lay across the table, his arms clasping the bars of gold, his cheek pressed against them, crooning and muttering to himself. Under the clear, still light, amid the giant wheels and strange engines, that one little dark figure clutching and clinging to the ingots had in it something both weird31 and piteous.
For five minutes or more Robert stood in the darkness amid the rain, looking in at this strange sight, while his father hardly moved save to cuddle closer to the gold, and to pat it with his thin hands. Robert was still uncertain what he should do, when his eyes wandered from the central figure and fell on something else which made him give a little cry of astonishment—a cry which was drowned amid the howling of the gale.
Raffles Haw was standing32 in the corner of the room. Where he had come from Robert could not say, but he was certain that he had not been there when he first looked in. He stood silent, wrapped in some long, dark dressing-gown, his arms folded, and a bitter smile upon his pale face. Old McIntyre seemed to see him at almost the same moment, for he snarled33 out an oath, and clutched still closer at his treasure, looking slantwise at the master of the house with furtive34, treacherous35 eyes.
“And it has really come to this!” said Haw at last, taking a step forward. “You have actually fallen so low, Mr. McIntyre, as to steal into my house at night like a common burglar. You knew that this window was unguarded. I remember telling you as much. But I did not tell you what other means I had adopted by which I might be warned if knaves36 made an entrance. But that you should have come! You!”
The old gunmaker made no attempt to justify37 himself, but he muttered some few hoarse38 words, and continued to cling to the treasure.
“I love your daughter,” said Raffles Haw, “and for her sake I will not expose you. Your hideous39 and infamous40 secret shall be safe with me. No ear shall hear what has happened this night. I will not, as I might, arouse my servants and send for the police. But you must leave my house without further words. I have nothing more to say to you. Go as you have come.”
He took a step forward, and held out his hand as if to detach the old man's grasp from the golden bars. The other thrust his hand into the breast of his coat, and with a shrill41 scream of rage flung himself upon the alchemist. So sudden and so fierce was the movement that Haw had no time for defence. A bony hand gripped him by the throat, and the blade of a razor flashed in the air. Fortunately, as it fell, the weapon struck against one of the many wires which spanned the room, and flying out of the old man's grasp, tinkled42 upon the stone floor. But, though disarmed43, he was still dangerous. With a horrible silent energy he pushed Haw back and back until, coming to a bench, they both fell over it, McIntyre remaining uppermost. His other hand was on the alchemist's throat, and it might have fared ill with him had Robert not climbed through the window and dragged his father off from him. With the aid of Haw, he pinned the old man down, and passed a long cravat44 around his arms. It was terrible to look at him, for his face was convulsed, his eyes bulging45 from his head, and his lips white with foam46.
Haw leaned against the glass table panting, with his hand to his side.
“You here, Robert?” he gasped. “Is it not horrible? How did you come?”
“I followed him. I heard him go out.”
“He would have robbed me. And he would have murdered me. But he is mad—stark, staring mad!”
There could be no doubt of it. Old McIntyre was sitting up now, and burst suddenly into a hoarse peal47 of laughter, rocking himself backwards48 and forwards, and looking up at them with little twinkling, cunning eyes. It was clear to both of them that his mind, weakened by long brooding over the one idea, had now at last become that of a monomaniac. His horrid49 causeless mirth was more terrible even than his fury.
“What shall we do with him?” asked Haw. “We cannot take him back to Elmdene. It would be a terrible shock to Laura.”
“We could have doctors to certify50 in the morning. Could we not keep him here until then? If we take him back, some one will meet us, and there will be a scandal.”
“I know. We will take him to one of the padded rooms, where he can neither hurt himself nor anyone else. I am somewhat shaken myself. But I am better now. Do you take one arm, and I will take the other.”
Half-leading and half-dragging him they managed between them to convey the old gunmaker away from the scene of his disaster, and to lodge51 him for the night in a place of safety. At five in the morning Robert had started in the gig to make the medical arrangements, while Raffles Haw paced his palatial52 house with a troubled face and a sad heart.
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收听单词发音
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1
prattled
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| v.（小孩般）天真无邪地说话( prattle的过去式和过去分词 )；发出连续而无意义的声音；闲扯；东拉西扯 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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raffles
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| n.抽彩售物( raffle的名词复数 )v.以抽彩方式售（物）( raffle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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gusty
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| adj.起大风的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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glowering
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| v.怒视( glower的现在分词 ) | |
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malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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8
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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confided
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| 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） | |
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14
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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sedative
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| adj.使安静的，使镇静的；n. 镇静剂，能使安静的东西 | |
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17
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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18
taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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underlying
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| adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的 | |
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26
muffled
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| 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） | |
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27
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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28
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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30
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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33
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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34
furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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35
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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36
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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37
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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38
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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39
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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40
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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41
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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42
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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43
disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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44
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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45
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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46
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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47
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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48
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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49
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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50
certify
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| vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给 | |
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51
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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52
palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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