CHAPTER X "I have a scheme"

 WHAT?"

 

A yell answered him.

 

"Something hit me! Something hit me!"

 

"Yes, I hit you; and I'll hit you again if you don't go on."

 

Fellows shivered, attempted some puerile¹ protest, balked², and stammeringly³ obeyed his restless and irritated companion.

 

"I—I said—I wasn't such a fool then as I am now—that she had lied when she told me that she had the combination. There was no combination. The safe did not even have a lock. The door opened with a spring. How had she induced that spring to give way? I demanded to know."

 

"And did she tell you?"

 

"No. She merely repeated, 'I will scream, and that will cause a scandal which will lead to your discharge, not mine.' So—so, I came out."

 

"Blast your eyes! And when did she come out?"

 

"Within five minutes. I watched the clock."

 

"And what did she have?"

 

"Nothing in sight."

 

"I see. A deep game. But I know a deeper. There is no possibility of breaking into that safe by night, undetected by the watchman?"

 

"None; and that watchman is incorruptible. The whole contents of the safe wouldn't move him to connect himself with this job."

 

"The job must be done by day and during office hours?"

 

"Yes."

 

"And cannot be done without the assistance of this girl?"

 

"You've heard."

 

"Very well; I have a scheme. Now listen to me."

 

Not even the rat which at that minute nibbled⁴ at Fellows's boot heel could have heard what followed. The panting of two breasts was, however, audible; and when, fifty minutes later, both crawled out of the cellar window among the rubbish which littered the rear of this once holy place, the one was trembling with excitement and the other with fear. They parted at the first thoroughfare, neither having eyes to see nor hearts to appreciate the touching⁵ scene which miles away was taking place in a little flat not very far from Harlem. An old man, frail⁶ in body, but with a sturdy spirit yet, was looking up from his pillow at the loving face of a young girl who was bending over him.

 

"I cannot sleep to-night," he said to her; "I cannot sleep; but that must not disturb you. I have so many things to think, pleasant things; but you have only cares, and must rest from them. You look very tired to-night, tired and worried. Leave me and sleep. I want to see you bright in the morning."

1 puerile   

adj.幼稚的，儿童的

参考例句：

• The story is simple,even puerile.故事很简单，甚至有些幼稚。
• Concert organisers branded the group's actions as puerile.音乐会的组织者指称该乐队的行为愚蠢幼稚。

2 balked   

v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑

参考例句：

• He balked in his speech. 他忽然中断讲演。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They balked the robber's plan. 他们使强盗的计划受到挫败。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 stammeringly   

adv.stammering（口吃的）的变形

参考例句：

4 nibbled   

v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬

参考例句：

• She nibbled daintily at her cake. 她优雅地一点一点地吃着自己的蛋糕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Several companies have nibbled at our offer. 若干公司表示对我们的出价有兴趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

6 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。