小说搜索     点击排行榜   最新入库
首页 » 经典英文小说 » The Leavenworth Case利文沃兹案 » VIII. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
选择底色: 选择字号:【大】【中】【小】
VIII. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
     “O dark, dark, dark!”
 
AND now that the interest was at its height, that the veil which shrouded1 this horrible tragedy seemed about to be lifted, if not entirely2 withdrawn3, I felt a desire to fly the scene, to leave the spot, to know no more. Not that I was conscious of any particular fear of this woman betraying herself. The cold steadiness of her now fixed5 and impassive countenance6 was sufficient warranty7 in itself against the possibility of any such catastrophe8. But if, indeed, the suspicions of her cousin were the offspring, not only of hatred9, but of knowledge; if that face of beauty was in truth only a mask, and Eleanore Leavenworth was what the words of her cousin, and her own after behavior would seem to imply, how could I bear to sit there and see the frightful10 serpent of deceit and sin evolve itself from the bosom11 of this white rose! And yet, such is the fascination12 of uncertainty13 that, although I saw something of my own feelings reflected in the countenances14 of many about me, not a man in all that assemblage showed any disposition15 to depart, I least of all.
 
The coroner, upon whom the blonde loveliness of Mary had impressed itself to Eleanor’s apparent detriment16, was the only one in the room who showed himself unaffected at this moment. Turning toward the witness with a look which, while respectful, had a touch of austerity in it, he began:
 
“You have been an intimate of Mr. Leavenworth’s family from childhood, they tell me, Miss Leavenworth?”
 
“From my tenth year,” was her quiet reply.
 
It was the first time I had heard her voice, and it surprised me; it was so like, and yet so unlike, that of her cousin. Similar in tone, it lacked its expressiveness18, if I may so speak; sounding without vibration19 on the ear, and ceasing without an echo.
 
“Since that time you have been treated like a daughter, they tell me?”
 
“Yes, sir, like a daughter, indeed; he was more than a father to both of us.”
 
“You and Miss Mary Leavenworth are cousins, I believe. When did she enter the family?”
 
“At the same time I did. Our respective parents were victims of the same disaster. If it had not been for our uncle, we should have been thrown, children as we were, upon the world. But he”—here she paused, her firm lips breaking into a half tremble—“but he, in the goodness of his heart, adopted us into his family, and gave us what we had both lost, a father and a home.”
 
“You say he was a father to you as well as to your cousin—that he adopted you. Do you mean by that, that he not only surrounded you with present luxury, but gave you to understand that the same should be secured to you after his death; in short, that he intended to leave any portion of his property to you?”
 
“No, sir; I was given to understand, from the first, that his property would be bequeathed by will to my cousin.”
 
“Your cousin was no more nearly related to him than yourself, Miss Leavenworth; did he never give you any reason for this evident partiality?”
 
“None but his pleasure, sir.”
 
Her answers up to this point had been so straightforward20 and satisfactory that a gradual confidence seemed to be taking the place of the rather uneasy doubts which had from the first circled about this woman’s name and person. But at this admission, uttered as it was in a calm, unimpassioned voice, not only the jury, but myself, who had so much truer reason for distrusting her, felt that actual suspicion in her case must be very much shaken before the utter lack of motive21 which this reply so clearly betokened22.
 
Meanwhile the coroner continued: “If your uncle was as kind to you as you say, you must have become very much attached to him?”
 
“Yes, sir,” her mouth taking a sudden determined23 curve.
 
“His death, then, must have been a great shock to you?”
 
“Very, very great.”
 
“Enough of itself to make you faint away, as they tell me you did, at the first glimpse you had of his body?”
 
“Enough, quite.”
 
“And yet you seemed to be prepared for it?”
 
“Prepared?”
 
“The servants say you were much agitated24 at finding your uncle did not make his appearance at the breakfast table.”
 
“The servants!” her tongue seemed to cleave25 to the roof of her mouth; she could hardly speak.
 
“That when you returned from his room you were very pale.”
 
Was she beginning to realize that there was some doubt, if not actual suspicion, in the mind of the man who could assail26 her with questions like these? I had not seen her so agitated since that one memorable27 instant up in her room. But her mistrust, if she felt any, did not long betray itself. Calming herself by a great effort, she replied, with a quiet gesture—
 
“That is not so strange. My uncle was a very methodical man; the least change in his habits would be likely to awaken28 our apprehensions29.”
 
“You were alarmed, then?”
 
“To a certain extent I was.”
 
“Miss Leavenworth, who is in the habit of overseeing the regulation of your uncle’s private apartments?”
 
“I am, sir.”
 
“You are doubtless, then, acquainted with a certain stand in his room containing a drawer?”
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“How long is it since you had occasion to go to this drawer?”
 
“Yesterday,” visibly trembling at the admission.
 
“At what time?”
 
“Near noon, I should judge.”
 
“Was the pistol he was accustomed to keep there in its place at the time?”
 
“I presume so; I did not observe.”
 
“Did you turn the key upon closing the drawer?”
 
“I did.”
 
“Take it out?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
“Miss Leavenworth, that pistol, as you have perhaps observed, lies on the table before you. Will you look at it?” And lifting it up into view, he held it towards her.
 
If he had meant to startle her by the sudden action, he amply succeeded. At the first sight of the murderous weapon she shrank back, and a horrified30, but quickly suppressed shriek31, burst from her lips. “Oh, no, no!” she moaned, flinging out her hands before her.
 
“I must insist upon your looking at it, Miss Leavenworth,” pursued the coroner. “When it was found just now, all the chambers32 were loaded.”
 
Instantly the agonized33 look left her countenance. “Oh, then—” She did not finish, but put out her hand for the weapon.
 
But the coroner, looking at her steadily34, continued: “It has been lately fired off, for all that. The hand that cleaned the barrel forgot the cartridge-chamber, Miss Leavenworth.”
 
She did not shriek again, but a hopeless, helpless look slowly settled over her face, and she seemed about to sink; but like a flash the reaction came, and lifting her head with a steady, grand action I have never seen equalled, she exclaimed, “Very well, what then?”
 
The coroner laid the pistol down; men and women glanced at each other; every one seemed to hesitate to proceed. I heard a tremulous sigh at my side, and, turning, beheld35 Mary Leavenworth staring at her cousin with a startled flush on her cheek, as if she began to recognize that the public, as well as herself, detected something in this woman, calling for explanation.
 
At last the coroner summoned up courage to continue.
 
“You ask me, Miss Leavenworth, upon the evidence given, what then? Your question obliges me to say that no burglar, no hired assassin, would have used this pistol for a murderous purpose, and then taken the pains, not only to clean it, but to reload it, and lock it up again in the drawer from which he had taken it.”
 
She did not reply to this; but I saw Mr. Gryce make a note of it with that peculiar36 emphatic37 nod of his.
 
“Nor,” he went on, even more gravely, “would it be possible for any one who was not accustomed to pass in and out of Mr. Leavenworth’s room at all hours, to enter his door so late at night, procure38 this pistol from its place of concealment39, traverse his apartment, and advance as closely upon him as the facts show to have been necessary, without causing him at least to turn his head to one side; which, in consideration of the doctor’s testimony40, we cannot believe he did.”
 
It was a frightful suggestion, and we looked to see Eleanore Leavenworth recoil41. But that expression of outraged42 feeling was left for her cousin to exhibit. Starting indignantly from her seat, Mary cast one hurried glance around her, and opened her lips to speak; but Eleanore, slightly turning, motioned her to have patience, and replied in a cold and calculating voice: “You are not sure, sir, that this was done. If my uncle, for some purpose of his own, had fired the pistol off yesterday, let us say—which is surely possible, if not probable—the like results would be observed, and the same conclusions drawn4.”
 
“Miss Leavenworth,” the coroner went on, “the ball has been extracted from your uncle’s head!”
 
“Ah!”
 
“It corresponds with those in the cartridges43 found in his stand drawer, and is of the number used with this pistol.”
 
Her head fell forward on her hands; her eyes sought the floor; her whole attitude expressed disheartenment. Seeing it, the coroner grew still more grave.
 
“Miss Leavenworth,” said he, “I have now some questions to put you concerning last night. Where did you spend the evening?”
 
“Alone, in my own room.”
 
“You, however, saw your uncle or your cousin during the course of it?”
 
“No, sir; I saw no one after leaving the dinner table—except Thomas,” she added, after a moment’s pause.
 
“And how came you to see him?”
 
“He came to bring me the card of a gentleman who called.”
 
“May I ask the name of the gentleman?”
 
“The name on the card was Mr. Le Roy Robbins.”
 
The matter seemed trivial; but the sudden start given by the lady at my side made me remember it.
 
“Miss Leavenworth, when seated in your room, are you in the habit of leaving your door open?”
 
A startled look at this, quickly suppressed. “Not in the habit; no, sir.”
 
“Why did you leave it open last night?”
 
“I was feeling warm.”
 
“No other reason?”
 
“I can give no other.”
 
“When did you close it?”
 
“Upon retiring.”
 
“Was that before or after the servants went up?”
 
“After.”
 
“Did you hear Mr. Harwell when he left the library and ascended44 to his room?”
 
“I did, sir.”
 
“How much longer did you leave your door open after that?”
 
“I—I—a few minutes—a—I cannot say,” she added, hurriedly.
 
“Cannot say? Why? Do you forget?”
 
“I forget just how long after Mr. Harwell came up I closed it.”
 
“Was it more than ten minutes?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“More than twenty?”
 
“Perhaps.” How pale her face was, and how she trembled!
 
“Miss Leavenworth, according to evidence, your uncle came to his death not very long after Mr. Harwell left him. If your door was open, you ought to have heard if any one went to his room, or any pistol shot was fired. Now, did you hear anything?”
 
“I heard no confusion; no, sir.”
 
“Did you hear anything?”
 
“Nor any pistol shot.”
 
“Miss Leavenworth, excuse my persistence45, but did you hear anything?”
 
“I heard a door close.”
 
“What door?”
 
“The library door.”
 
“When?”
 
“I do not know.” She clasped her hands hysterically46. “I cannot say. Why do you ask me so many questions?”
 
I leaped to my feet; she was swaying, almost fainting. But before I could reach her, she had drawn herself up again, and resumed her former demeanor47. “Excuse me,” said she; “I am not myself this morning. I beg your pardon,” and she turned steadily to the coroner. “What was it you asked?”
 
“I asked,” and his voice grew thin and high,—evidently her manner was beginning to tell against her,—“when it was you heard the library door shut?”
 
“I cannot fix the precise time, but it was after Mr. Harwell came up, and before I closed my own.”
 
“And you heard no pistol shot?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
The coroner cast a quick look at the jury, who almost to a man glanced aside as he did so.
 
“Miss Leavenworth, we are told that Hannah, one of the servants, started for your room late last night after some medicine. Did she come there?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
“When did you first learn of her remarkable48 disappearance49 from this house during the night?”
 
“This morning before breakfast. Molly met me in the hall, and asked how Hannah was. I thought the inquiry50 a strange one, and naturally questioned her. A moment’s talk made the conclusion plain that the girl was gone.”
 
“What did you think when you became assured of this fact?”
 
“I did not know what to think.”
 
“No suspicion of foul51 play crossed your mind?”
 
“No, sir.”
 
“You did not connect the fact with that of your uncle’s murder?”
 
“I did not know of this murder then.”
 
“And afterwards?”
 
“Oh, some thought of the possibility of her knowing something about it may have crossed my mind; I cannot say.”
 
“Can you tell us anything of this girl’s past history?”
 
“I can tell you no more in regard to it than my cousin has done.”
 
“Do you not know what made her sad at night?”
 
Her cheek flushed angrily; was it at his tone, or at the question itself? “No, sir! she never confided52 her secrets to my keeping.”
 
“Then you cannot tell us where she would be likely to go upon leaving this house?”
 
“Certainly not.”
 
“Miss Leavenworth, we are obliged to put another question to you. We are told it was by your order your uncle’s body was removed from where it was found, into the next room.”
 
She bowed her head.
 
“Didn’t you know it to be improper53 for you or any one else to disturb the body of a person found dead, except in the presence and under the authority of the proper officer?”
 
“I did not consult my knowledge, sir, in regard to the subject: only my feelings.”
 
“Then I suppose it was your feelings which prompted you to remain standing54 by the table at which he was murdered, instead of following the body in and seeing it properly deposited? Or perhaps,” he went on, with relentless55 sarcasm56, “you were too much interested, just then, in the piece of paper you took away, to think much of the proprieties57 of the occasion?”
 
“Paper?” lifting her head with determination. “Who says I took a piece of paper from the table?”
 
“One witness has sworn to seeing you bend over the table upon which several papers lay strewn; another, to meeting you a few minutes later in the hall just as you were putting a piece of paper into your pocket. The inference follows, Miss Leavenworth.”
 
This was a home thrust, and we looked to see some show of agitation58, but her haughty59 lip never quivered.
 
“You have drawn the inference, and you must prove the fact.”
 
The answer was stateliness itself, and we were not surprised to see the coroner look a trifle baffled; but, recovering himself, he said:
 
“Miss Leavenworth, I must ask you again, whether you did or did not take anything from that table?”
 
She folded her arms. “I decline answering the question,” she quietly said.
 
“Pardon me,” he rejoined: “it is necessary that you should.”
 
Her lip took a still more determined curve. “When any suspicious paper is found in my possession, it will be time enough then for me to explain how I came by it.”
 
This defiance60 seemed to quite stagger the coroner.
 
“Do you realize to what this refusal is liable to subject you?”
 
She dropped her head. “I am afraid that I do; yes, sir.”
 
Mr. Gryce lifted his hand, and softly twirled the tassel61 of the window curtain.
 
“And you still persist?”
 
She absolutely disdained62 to reply.
 
The coroner did not press it further.
 
It had now become evident to all, that Eleanore Leavenworth not only stood on her defence, but was perfectly63 aware of her position, and prepared to maintain it. Even her cousin, who until now had preserved some sort of composure, began to show signs of strong and uncontrollable agitation, as if she found it one thing to utter an accusation64 herself, and quite another to see it mirrored in the countenances of the men about her.
 
“Miss Leavenworth,” the coroner continued, changing the line of attack, “you have always had free access to your uncle’s apartments, have you not?”
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“Might even have entered his room late at night, crossed it and stood at his side, without disturbing him sufficiently65 to cause him to turn his head?”
 
“Yes,” her hands pressing themselves painfully together.
 
“Miss Leavenworth, the key to the library door is missing.”
 
She made no answer.
 
“It has been testified to, that previous to the actual discovery of the murder, you visited the door of the library alone. Will you tell us if the key was then in the lock?”
 
“It was not.”
 
“Are you certain?”
 
“I am.”
 
“Now, was there anything peculiar about this key, either in size or shape?”
 
She strove to repress the sudden terror which this question produced, glanced carelessly around at the group of servants stationed at her back, and trembled. “It was a little different from the others,” she finally acknowledged.
 
“In what respect?”
 
“The handle was broken.”
 
“Ah, gentlemen, the handle was broken!” emphasized the coroner, looking towards the jury.
 
Mr. Gryce seemed to take this information to himself, for he gave another of his quick nods.
 
“You would, then, recognize this key, Miss Leavenworth, if you should see it?”
 
She cast a startled look at him, as if she expected to behold66 it in his hand; but, seeming to gather courage at not finding it produced, replied quite easily:
 
“I think I should, sir.”
 
The coroner seemed satisfied, and was about to dismiss the witness when Mr. Gryce quietly advanced and touched him on the arm. “One moment,” said that gentleman, and stooping, he whispered a few words in the coroner’s ear; then, recovering himself, stood with his right hand in his breast pocket and his eye upon the chandelier.
 
I scarcely dared to breathe. Had he repeated to the coroner the words he had inadvertently overheard in the hall above? But a glance at the latter’s face satisfied me that nothing of such importance had transpired67. He looked not only tired, but a trifle annoyed.
 
“Miss Leavenworth,” said he, turning again in her direction; “you have declared that you did not visit your uncle’s room last evening. Do you repeat the assertion?”
 
“I do.”
 
He glanced at Mr. Gryce, who immediately drew from his breast a handkerchief curiously68 soiled. “It is strange, then, that your handkerchief should have been found this morning in that room.”
 
The girl uttered a cry. Then, while Mary’s face hardened into a sort of strong despair, Eleanore tightened69 her lips and coldly replied, “I do not see as it is so very strange. I was in that room early this morning.”
 
“And you dropped it then?”
 
A distressed70 blush crossed her face; she did not reply.
 
“Soiled in this way?” he went on.
 
“I know nothing about the soil. What is it? let me see.”
 
“In a moment. What we now wish, is to know how it came to be in your uncle’s apartment.”
 
“There are many ways. I might have left it there days ago. I have told you I was in the habit of visiting his room. But first, let me see if it is my handkerchief.” And she held out her hand.
 
“I presume so, as I am told it has your initials embroidered71 in the corner,” he remarked, as Mr. Gryce passed it to her.
 
But she with horrified voice interrupted him. “These dirty spots! What are they? They look like—”
 
“—what they are,” said the coroner. “If you have ever cleaned a pistol, you must know what they are, Miss Leavenworth.”
 
She let the handkerchief fall convulsively from her hand, and stood staring at it, lying before her on the floor. “I know nothing about it, gentlemen,” she said. “It is my handkerchief, but—” for some cause she did not finish her sentence, but again repeated, “Indeed, gentlemen, I know nothing about it!”
 
This closed her testimony.
 
Kate, the cook, was now recalled, and asked to tell when she last washed the handkerchief?
 
“This, sir; this handkerchief? Oh, some time this week, sir,” throwing a deprecatory glance at her mistress.
 
“What day?”
 
“Well, I wish I could forget, Miss Eleanore, but I can’ t. It is the only one like it in the house. I washed it day before yesterday.”
 
“When did you iron it?”
 
“Yesterday morning,” half choking over the words.
 
“And when did you take it to her room?”
 
The cook threw her apron72 over her head. “Yesterday afternoon, with the rest of the clothes, just before dinner. Indade, I could not help it, Miss Eleanore!” she whispered; “it was the truth.”
 
Eleanore Leavenworth frowned. This somewhat contradictory73 evidence had very sensibly affected17 her; and when, a moment later, the coroner, having dismissed the witness, turned towards her, and inquired if she had anything further to say in the way of explanation or otherwise, she threw her hands up almost spasmodically, slowly shook her head and, without word or warning, fainted quietly away in her chair.
 
A commotion74, of course, followed, during which I noticed that Mary did not hasten to her cousin, but left it for Molly and Kate to do what they could toward her resuscitation75. In a few moments this was in so far accomplished76 that they were enabled to lead her from the room. As they did so, I observed a tall man rise and follow her out.
 
A momentary77 silence ensued, soon broken, however, by an impatient stir as our little juryman rose and proposed that the jury should now adjourn78 for the day. This seeming to fall in with the coroner’s views, he announced that the inquest would stand adjourned79 till three o’clock the next day, when he trusted all the jurors would be present.
 
A general rush followed, that in a few minutes emptied the room of all but Miss Leavenworth, Mr. Gryce, and myself.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 shrouded 6b3958ee6e7b263c722c8b117143345f     
v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 );保密
参考例句:
  • The hills were shrouded in mist . 这些小山被笼罩在薄雾之中。
  • The towers were shrouded in mist. 城楼被蒙上薄雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
3 withdrawn eeczDJ     
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出
参考例句:
  • Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
  • All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
4 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
5 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
6 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
7 warranty 3gwww     
n.担保书,证书,保单
参考例句:
  • This warranty is good for one year after the date of the purchase of the product.本保证书自购置此产品之日起有效期为一年。
  • As your guarantor,we have signed a warranty to the bank.作为你们的担保人,我们已经向银行开出了担保书。
8 catastrophe WXHzr     
n.大灾难,大祸
参考例句:
  • I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
  • This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。
9 hatred T5Gyg     
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨
参考例句:
  • He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
  • The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
10 frightful Ghmxw     
adj.可怕的;讨厌的
参考例句:
  • How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊!
  • We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。
11 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
12 fascination FlHxO     
n.令人着迷的事物,魅力,迷恋
参考例句:
  • He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
  • His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。
13 uncertainty NlFwK     
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物
参考例句:
  • Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
  • After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后,压力开始产生影响了。
14 countenances 4ec84f1d7c5a735fec7fdd356379db0d     
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 );表情;镇静;道义支持
参考例句:
  • 'stood apart, with countenances of inflexible gravity, beyond what even the Puritan aspect could attain." 站在一旁,他们脸上那种严肃刚毅的神情,比清教徒们还有过之而无不及。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
  • The light of a laugh never came to brighten their sombre and wicked countenances. 欢乐的光芒从来未照亮过他们那阴郁邪恶的面孔。 来自辞典例句
15 disposition GljzO     
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。
16 detriment zlHzx     
n.损害;损害物,造成损害的根源
参考例句:
  • Smoking is a detriment to one's health.吸烟危害健康。
  • His lack of education is a serious detriment to his career.他的未受教育对他的事业是一种严重的妨碍。
17 affected TzUzg0     
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。
18 expressiveness 5t7z1e     
n.富有表现力
参考例句:
  • His painting rose to a fresh expressiveness and revealed a shrewder insight. 他的画富有一种新的表达力,显示出更敏锐的洞察力。
  • The audiences are impressed by the expressiveness of the actors. 演员们的丰富表情给观众留下了深刻的印象。
19 vibration nLDza     
n.颤动,振动;摆动
参考例句:
  • There is so much vibration on a ship that one cannot write.船上的震动大得使人无法书写。
  • The vibration of the window woke me up.窗子的震动把我惊醒了。
20 straightforward fFfyA     
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的
参考例句:
  • A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
  • I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
21 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
22 betokened 375655c690bd96db4a8d7f827433e1e3     
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Nothing betokened that the man know anything of what had occurred. 显然那个人还不知道已经发生了什么事。 来自互联网
  • He addressed a few angry words to her that betokened hostility. 他对她说了几句预示敌意的愤怒的话。 来自互联网
23 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
24 agitated dzgzc2     
adj.被鼓动的,不安的
参考例句:
  • His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定,回答全乱了。
  • She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时,她十分焦虑。
25 cleave iqJzf     
v.(clave;cleaved)粘着,粘住;坚持;依恋
参考例句:
  • It examines how the decision to quit gold or to cleave to it affected trade policies.论文分析了放弃或坚持金本位是如何影响贸易政策的。
  • Those who cleave to the latter view include many conservative American politicians.坚持后一种观点的大多是美国的保守派政客。
26 assail ZoTyB     
v.猛烈攻击,抨击,痛斥
参考例句:
  • The opposition's newspapers assail the government each day.反对党的报纸每天都对政府进行猛烈抨击。
  • We should assist parents not assail them.因此我们应该帮助父母们,而不是指责他们。
27 memorable K2XyQ     
adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的
参考例句:
  • This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
  • The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。
28 awaken byMzdD     
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起
参考例句:
  • Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
  • Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。
29 apprehensions 86177204327b157a6d884cdb536098d8     
疑惧
参考例句:
  • He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。
  • But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而,随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。
30 horrified 8rUzZU     
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句:
  • The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
  • We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。
31 shriek fEgya     
v./n.尖叫,叫喊
参考例句:
  • Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
  • People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧,气愤或疼痛而尖叫。
32 chambers c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe     
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅
参考例句:
  • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间:Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网
33 agonized Oz5zc6     
v.使(极度)痛苦,折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 );苦斗;苦苦思索;感到极度痛苦
参考例句:
  • All the time they agonized and prayed. 他们一直在忍受痛苦并且祈祷。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She agonized herself with the thought of her loss. 她念念不忘自己的损失,深深陷入痛苦之中。 来自辞典例句
34 steadily Qukw6     
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地
参考例句:
  • The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
  • Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。
35 beheld beheld     
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
36 peculiar cinyo     
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。
37 emphatic 0P1zA     
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的
参考例句:
  • Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决,不容有任何人怀疑。
  • He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。
38 procure A1GzN     
vt.获得,取得,促成;vi.拉皮条
参考例句:
  • Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗?
  • I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。
39 concealment AvYzx1     
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒
参考例句:
  • the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
  • Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来,待危险过去后再出来。
40 testimony zpbwO     
n.证词;见证,证明
参考例句:
  • The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
  • He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
41 recoil GA4zL     
vi.退却,退缩,畏缩
参考例句:
  • Most people would recoil at the sight of the snake.许多人看见蛇都会向后退缩。
  • Revenge may recoil upon the person who takes it.报复者常会受到报应。
42 outraged VmHz8n     
a.震惊的,义愤填膺的
参考例句:
  • Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
  • He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。
43 cartridges 17207f2193d1e05c4c15f2938c82898d     
子弹( cartridge的名词复数 ); (打印机的)墨盒; 录音带盒; (唱机的)唱头
参考例句:
  • computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges 如磁盘、打印机墨盒之类的电脑耗材
  • My new video game player came with three game cartridges included. 我的新电子游戏机附有三盘游戏带。
44 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
45 persistence hSLzh     
n.坚持,持续,存留
参考例句:
  • The persistence of a cough in his daughter puzzled him.他女儿持续的咳嗽把他难住了。
  • He achieved success through dogged persistence.他靠着坚持不懈取得了成功。
46 hysterically 5q7zmQ     
ad. 歇斯底里地
参考例句:
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。
  • She sobbed hysterically, and her thin body was shaken. 她歇斯底里地抽泣着,她瘦弱的身体哭得直颤抖。
47 demeanor JmXyk     
n.行为;风度
参考例句:
  • She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
  • The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。
48 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
49 disappearance ouEx5     
n.消失,消散,失踪
参考例句:
  • He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
  • Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。
50 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
51 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的;邪恶的;v.弄脏;妨害;犯规;n.犯规
参考例句:
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气!
52 confided 724f3f12e93e38bec4dda1e47c06c3b1     
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》
53 improper b9txi     
adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的
参考例句:
  • Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
  • Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
54 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
55 relentless VBjzv     
adj.残酷的,不留情的,无怜悯心的
参考例句:
  • The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
  • Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。
56 sarcasm 1CLzI     
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
参考例句:
  • His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
  • She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
57 proprieties a7abe68b92bbbcb6dd95c8a36305ea65     
n.礼仪,礼节;礼貌( propriety的名词复数 );规矩;正当;合适
参考例句:
  • "Let us not forget the proprieties due. "咱们别忘了礼法。 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
  • Be careful to observe the proprieties. 注意遵守礼仪。 来自辞典例句
58 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
59 haughty 4dKzq     
adj.傲慢的,高傲的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
  • They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
60 defiance RmSzx     
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗
参考例句:
  • He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
  • He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。
61 tassel egKyo     
n.流苏,穗;v.抽穗, (玉米)长穗须
参考例句:
  • The corn has begun to tassel.玉米开始长出穗状雄花。
  • There are blue tassels on my curtains.我的窗帘上有蓝色的流苏。
62 disdained d5a61f4ef58e982cb206e243a1d9c102     
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做
参考例句:
  • I disdained to answer his rude remarks. 我不屑回答他的粗话。
  • Jackie disdained the servants that her millions could buy. 杰姬鄙视那些她用钱就可以收买的奴仆。
63 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
64 accusation GJpyf     
n.控告,指责,谴责
参考例句:
  • I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
  • She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。
65 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
66 behold jQKy9     
v.看,注视,看到
参考例句:
  • The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
  • The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
67 transpired eb74de9fe1bf6f220d412ce7c111e413     
(事实,秘密等)被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 ); 泄露; 显露; 发生
参考例句:
  • It transpired that the gang had had a contact inside the bank. 据报这伙歹徒在银行里有内应。
  • It later transpired that he hadn't been telling the truth. 他当时没说真话,这在后来显露出来了。
68 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
69 tightened bd3d8363419d9ff838bae0ba51722ee9     
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧
参考例句:
  • The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
70 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句:
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
71 embroidered StqztZ     
adj.绣花的
参考例句:
  • She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
  • She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。
72 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
73 contradictory VpazV     
adj.反驳的,反对的,抗辩的;n.正反对,矛盾对立
参考例句:
  • The argument is internally contradictory.论据本身自相矛盾。
  • What he said was self-contradictory.他讲话前后不符。
74 commotion 3X3yo     
n.骚动,动乱
参考例句:
  • They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵,引起了一阵骚乱。
  • Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间,整条街道变得一片混乱。
75 resuscitation hWhxC     
n.复活
参考例句:
  • Despite attempts at resuscitation,Mr Lynch died a week later in hospital.虽经全力抢救,但林奇先生一周以后还是在医院去世了。
  • We gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage.我们对他进行了口对口复苏救治和心脏按摩。
76 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
77 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
78 adjourn goRyc     
v.(使)休会,(使)休庭
参考例句:
  • The motion to adjourn was carried.休会的提议通过了。
  • I am afraid the court may not adjourn until three or even later.我担心法庭要到3点或更晚时才会休庭。
79 adjourned 1e5a5e61da11d317191a820abad1664d     
(使)休会, (使)休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The court adjourned for lunch. 午餐时间法庭休庭。
  • The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court. 新证据呈到庭上后,审讯就宣告暂停。


欢迎访问英文小说网

©英文小说网 2005-2010

有任何问题,请给我们留言,管理员邮箱:[email protected]  站长QQ :点击发送消息和我们联系56065533