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CHAPTER XII AN INDIAN CLIENT
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Dick Latimer had promised to hold his peace for three days before imparting to the inspector1 who was in charge of the Rotherhithe case what had been discovered with reference to Sorley. All the same he was troubled in his mind, as he could not be sure if he was acting2 rightly. Much as he sympathized with Fuller because the man likely to be arrested was the uncle of the girl to whom his friend was engaged, it did not seem right that a criminal should remain at large. The journalist indeed thought that Alan's objections were rather sentimental3, and that justice should be done in spite of Marie's feelings, which assuredly would be outraged4. Nevertheless he admitted that Fuller was placed in a difficult position, and it was natural that he should wish to gain time in the hope of proving Mr. Sorley's innocence5, and so avert6 the scandal.
 
But, so far as Dick could see, there was no chance of clearing the man's character. He had been with Grison, whom he openly detested7, on the very night when the murder was committed, and shortly before it took place, as was conclusively8 proved not only by the letter, but by the evidence of the street-arab, who certainly could never have invented such an accurate description of the guilty person. Then again, Jotty had sworn that on the night of the crime he had been given his usual treat of a display of the peacock, and since that was now in Sorley's possession, it could only have passed into it directly from the dead man. And as the presumed criminal's full name, Randolph Vernon Sorley, was intimated by the initials R. V. S., and the note to Grison was certainly in his handwriting there appeared to be no doubt that he had murdered the miserable9 creature to obtain wrongful possession of the Inderwick fetish. Finally, since that had been stolen, all Sorley's energies had been bent10 upon getting it again, and in desperation he probably had struck the fatal blow. Of course the story of Miss Grison having taken the peacock back to The Monastery11 was one--so Dick thought--deliberately12 invented to implicate13 the woman and account for the reappearance of the desired article.
 
Upon this evidence it could scarcely be doubted that Sorley was guilty, and when the fact that he had purchased a motor bicycle was taken into account, Latimer could see no flaw in the indictment14. More than ever he considered it necessary to have Sorley brought to justice, which would be done as soon as Inspector Moon was informed of these discoveries. But having made a promise, Dick faithfully kept it, in spite of the many qualms15 of conscience he daily felt. Then on the third day he took up a newspaper to find a new and extraordinary development of the case. After mastering the article, which appeared in The Latest News, a daily paper much given to gossip, he jumped into a hansom and drove direct to Fuller's office. It chanced that Alan was not engaged, so Dick entered at once into his friend's private room, flourishing the paper.
 
"Have you seen this?" he asked, placing it before Alan.
 
"Seen what?" asked the other, glancing at the heading indicated, and then he took in the meaning at once. "Good Lord!"
 
He might well utter the ejaculation, for the article contained an account of the Inderwick fetish given--as was intimated--by no less a person than Miss Louisa Grison. The story of Ferrier was narrated16, much in the same fashion as it appeared in the manuscript at The Monastery, and it was very plainly stated that a treasure was to be found when the riddle17 attached to the peacock was solved. Finally, Miss Grison ended the interview with the man, who had written the article, by saying that her dead brother had possessed18 the golden bird at the time of his death, and that in her mind there was no doubt that he had been murdered for its sake. "Find the peacock," said Miss Grison, "and you find the assassin of my dear brother." Then the article terminated with comments by the writer on the extraordinary and romantic story which had been set forth19, and with the original remark culled20 from Hamlet, "That there were more things in heaven and earth, etc., etc."
 
"I wonder he didn't add that truth is stranger than fiction," remarked Dick, while Alan hastily skimmed the account. "It is just as original. Well, my son, and what do you think now?"
 
"I think," replied Fuller, very decisively, "that Jotty has repeated to his mistress what he told us, and she has taken steps to trap Sorley."
 
"But she doesn't know that he has the peacock--for certain that is?"
 
Alan shrugged21 his shoulders. "My mistake in showing the drawing to the boy has proved that Sorley has the bird. Miss Grison, I daresay, knew that no sketch22 had been made of it before it was taken away; and in any event what Jotty told us is sufficient evidence to secure Sorley's arrest."
 
"I think so indeed. There is no longer any need for me to keep silence."
 
"Well," said Fuller hesitatingly, "I suppose there isn't. Moon is certain to see this account, and will come to ask Miss Grison why she has made the matter public after promising23 to be silent. She can only excuse herself by repeating Jotty's story, and Moon will certainly go down to Belstone to arrest Sorley. Poor Marie!"
 
"I'm not so sure you can call her that," put in Dick hastily. "After all if the man is a criminal, it is better that she should not be in his company."
 
"But the disgrace to the name----"
 
"To Sorley's name, not to Miss Inderwick's. Besides when she marries you she will change her name. It is no use being sentimental any longer, my boy," said Latimer resolutely24. "The man must be punished. I'm off to see the inspector, and tell him what I know."
 
"But Dick won't it be best to question Miss Grison first, and learn if she really has heard Jotty's story."
 
"I am quite sure she has," said the reporter emphatically, "else she would not have broken her promise to Moon. The matter of the peacock was kept silent so that the assassin, feeling safe, might betray himself--as he has done, by the way to you. Miss Grison, learning from the boy that Sorley is guilty, has taken the opportunity of making the story as public as possible so that the man can't escape."
 
"He may see the papers and take warning," suggested Alan. "I expect this tale will be in every paper in the kingdom to-morrow."
 
"All the more reason that I should see Moon at once. I am not going to dilly-dally any more, Alan, but do my duty, as I expect you to do yours."
 
"I can't blame you. Go and see Moon."
 
Latimer hesitated at the door. "You won't wire to Sorley, or send that paper to him, I suppose."
 
"No. If the man is guilty and it certainly looks as though he were, he must be punished. I shall not interfere25, unpleasant as the scandal will be for Marie. Go and do your duty, Dick, by telling Moon, and I shall do mine by keeping perfectly26 quiet."
 
Latimer argued no longer but took his departure, leaving Alan much disturbed in his own mind. And no wonder. Marie did not love her uncle, who had always treated her with indifference27, and had made use of her money for his own purposes. Still, it would be a terrible shock for her to hear that he had murdered the brother of Miss Grison, and of course the shame of having a relative hanged would be great. And Fuller did not see how Mr. Sorley could escape the gallows28, since the evidence on the whole was so very decisive. At the best he could only defend himself by putting forward the story about Miss Grison, and that was but a weak line to take up.
 
"Hum!" said Alan, opening the drawer of his desk to look at the sketch he had made, "I wish I had not showed this to Jotty. He must have mentioned it to Miss Grison, and from that fact she probably guessed that Sorley had the peacock. The man will certainly be arrested, for he will have no time to escape."
 
As Alan murmured this he glanced idly at the paper which Dick had brought, and saw that it was dated the previous day, and of course had been issued yesterday morning. It occurred to the young man that chance might possibly bring the paper to Sorley's notice, since four and twenty hours--if not more--had elapsed since its publication. And if the man was warned in time he assuredly would escape, before Inspector Moon could lay hands on him. Fuller hoped that this would be the case, if only to spare Marie the shame and pain of the scandal. But after all it was doubtful if the account would fall into Sorley's hands immediately, as few newspapers arrived at Belstone, and the doings of the world were always hours and days and, at times, weeks late. The solicitor29 shook his head dubiously30, and wrapping up his sketch in the journal, he placed both in the drawer of his desk. There seemed nothing for it but to wait for Sorley's arrest, and to hear what defense31 he would make to the charge brought against him.
 
Shortly a card was presented to the lawyer by his clerk, and on seeing the name Fuller ordered the owner to be shown in at once. In a few moments he was face to face with Mr. Morad-Bakche, who looked calm and aristocratic and--as Alan judged--indifferent. Yet if he had seen the article in The Latest News, and really had come to England to search for the treasure, Bakche surely would not feign32 a nonchalance33 he could not possibly feel.
 
"How are you, Mr. Bakche?" asked, Alan, polite and watchful34, while placing a chair for the Indian, "so you have come to see me as you said you would."
 
"Yes, sir, and about a very important subject," replied Bakche, sitting down stiffly, and taking a newspaper out of his pocket.
 
"Yes?" said Alan inquiringly, though of course the moment he saw the paper produced he knew why the man had come to see him.
 
Bakche doubled back the journal and pointed35 out the article with a slender brown finger. "Have you seen this?" he asked quietly.
 
It was not to Fuller's interest to admit anything, as it was necessary to conduct this interview with great caution. The young man quietly read again the account of the interview with Miss Grison. All the time, Bakche was looking at him hard, trying to guess by the expression of Alan's face what he truly thought.
 
But the solicitor was prepared for the scrutiny36, and kept an unmoved countenance37. "Very interesting," remarked Fuller coolly, when he had finished.
 
"But not new to you, sir, I presume."
 
"Well no, Mr. Bakche. The story told by Miss Grison is well known in Belstone, the parish of which my father is the vicar. I have heard it before."
 
"Have you heard before that this man Grison was murdered for the sake of the peacock?" demanded the Indian rather impatiently, and thereby38 showed that his indifference was mainly pretence39.
 
"It was commonly reported in Belstone that the Grisons, brother and sister, had stolen the peacock from the Inderwick family when they left The Monastery some twenty years ago. But, pardon me, Mr. Bakche, why do you come here and ask me these questions?"
 
"Can't you guess, sir?"
 
"How can I guess?" retorted Fuller cautiously.
 
"By putting two and two together, as is your English way," said Bakche in a calmer manner. "I told you when you dined at Miss Grison's that I had come to England in order to recover certain family property."
 
"You did. Well?"
 
"The property I referred to is the peacock of jewels,"
 
"How did you expect me to know that, Mr. Bakche?"
 
"I can answer that if you will reply to a question?"
 
"What is the question?"
 
"Do you know the story set forth in this article?" asked the Indian quickly.
 
"Yes. As I told you the whole countryside knows it."
 
"Then you must be aware that the Begum of Kam gave the jewels to Simon Ferrier. I told you that I am a descendant of the Rajah of Kam, so you must have guessed that I desired to obtain possession of the peacock."
 
"Quite so," said Fuller coolly, "but there was no need for me to say so."
 
Bakche was honest enough to admit this. "You are very cautious, you English gentlemen," he said with a faint sneer40, "and no doubt you did not wish me to get the peacock."
 
"I fail to see how my telling you what you have now told me would aid you to get what belongs rightfully to another person."
 
"It does not belong to another person, but to me," cried Bakche wrathfully.
 
Alan raised his eyebrows41. "How do you make that out?" he demanded in an exasperating42 manner. "George Inderwick's servant, Ferrier, manufactured the peacock for his master and----"
 
"And so manufactured it that in some strange way it reveals where the jewels of the Begum are concealed," finished the Indian sharply. "Understand Mr. Fuller, that I do not exactly claim the peacock----"
 
"You did just now," interrupted Alan in his turn, and shrugging.
 
"Only because I wish to learn where the jewels are hidden."
 
"Indeed. You will find that difficult, since for over one hundred years, the riddle of the peacock has been unsolved."
 
"Never mind," said Bakche doggedly43. "If I see the bird I shall probably be able to learn the truth."
 
"And then?----" Alan raised his eyebrows again.
 
"Then," said the other confidently, "I shall take the jewels."
 
"You may not be allowed."
 
"Why not. The jewels belong to me as the descendant of the Rajah of Kam."
 
"You forget," said Fuller smoothly44, "that the rajah's wife gave the same to George Inderwick because he saved her life and the life of her son."
 
"She had no right to do so," cried Bakche loudly, "the jewels were not her private property to dispose of, Mr. Fuller. They belonged to the family--to the state as it were. Royal treasure cannot be parted with in this way."
 
"I am not prepared to argue the matter, Mr. Bakche," remarked Fuller in a dry manner, "since--beyond the known story, which has become a Sussex legend--I am not acquainted with the exact facts. But I would point out that the rajah may have given his wife permission to reward her preserver in this way. Inderwick assuredly deserved a return for what he did."
 
Bakche bowed stiffly. "I admit that the gentleman acted bravely, and as I am descended45 from the young prince he saved I am indebted to him for the fact that I exist at all. Nevertheless, Mr. Fuller, the reward need not have taken the form of almost the whole of the royal treasure of Kam."
 
Alan shrugged his shoulders again. "The Begum was apparently46 a very grateful woman, Mr. Bakche. And if she had retained the treasure, it would have been confiscated47 by the British Government when the royalty48 of Kam was abolished."
 
"It is probable," said Bakche dryly; "but I think that the priests would have taken care to preserve the jewels and give them, when times became quieter, to the rightful owner."
 
"In which case you would now be in possession of them, I presume?"
 
"Certainly. I am a direct descendant of the prince saved by Mr. Inderwick, sir. As it is I shall certainly claim them."
 
"You have to find them first," retorted Alan coolly.
 
"Show me the peacock and I shall try to solve the riddle and find them."
 
Fuller laughed and shrugged. "Does that mean I am the criminal?"
 
"Oh no," Bakche hastened to explain smoothly; "but you may know where the peacock is to be found."
 
"Really, I don't quite follow your line of argument, Mr. Bakche.
 
"Let me put the matter in this way," said the Indian deliberately: "The peacock is not only valuable in itself, but also indicated the whereabouts of a great treasure. Miss Grison declares that her brother was murdered for the sake of the bird, so it is plain that the assassin must have known the meaning of the riddle."
 
"Still I cannot follow your line of argument," persisted Fuller; "so far as I know the riddle has never been solved, unless Baldwin Grison, who had the bird for over twenty years--according to his sister that is--guessed what has baffled everyone."
 
"Well," said Bakche sullenly49, "whether he solved the riddle or not, some one who wanted the treasure murdered him to obtain the clue."
 
"On the other hand some rough sailor may have killed the man merely for the sake of getting the bird. It is valuable enough, as you say yourself, to account for the assassin risking his neck. But why come to me, Mr. Bakche, since on the face of it I can possibly know nothing."
 
"You know who wants the bird!"
 
"Oh yes. Miss Inderwick, from whose house it was stolen, and to whom I am engaged, wants the bird very much, since it belongs rightfully to her. But I hope you don't accuse a girl of twenty of the crime."
 
"No! no! no!" said Bakche earnestly; "but other people know of the value of the peacock."
 
"I agree. The whole countryside knows the story. If you suspect anyone in Belstone you had better go down and look for the individual."
 
"I suspect Mr. Sorley!"
 
"Why?" demanded Alan, who had quite anticipated the question.
 
"Because he wanted the peacock."
 
"So did Miss Inderwick, so did many other people. Everyone who knows the story would like to find the jewels." Alan paused for a reply but as none came he continued coolly: "How did you trace the possession of the peacock to Baldwin Grison?"
 
"I didn't--that is, I did in a way," stammered51 the Indian nervously52.
 
"In what way?" asked Fuller relentlessly53, and trying to make Bakche tell what was already known to him, "for instance how did you come to live at Miss Grison's boarding-house?"
 
"I explained when I met you there, sir."
 
Fuller laughed ironically. "You did, and I beg leave to doubt the truth of the explanation, Mr. Bakche."
 
"How dare you, sir; by what right do you doubt me?" demanded the man furiously, and his dark eyes shot fire.
 
"By the doubt of common-sense. You were in search of the peacock in order to gain a clue to the hiding-place of these jewels you claim. Come now, Mr. Bakche, it was not mere50 chance that guided you to Miss Grison, who of all the people in London, knew about the matter."
 
Morad-Bakche looked sullenly at the carpet, and evidently saw that Alan was one too many for him. After a long pause, which Fuller took care not to terminate too soon, he looked up with a would-be frank smile. "As I wish you to help me in the matter," he declared, "I may as well make a clean breast of what I know."
 
Alan nodded, and neither refused or agreed to accept the man as his client, but intimated that he was ready to give his attention to the confession54. Morad-Bakche at once took exception to the word.
 
"It is not a confession I wish to make, sir, but merely a statement to show how I came to learn about the matter we are discussing."
 
"Oh, I beg your pardon," said Fuller ceremoniously, "go on please!"
 
Bakche frowned at the irony55 of his tone, but made no further objection to relating what he knew.
 
"My explanation as to how I came to Thimble Square was not wholly true, Mr. Fuller," he said abruptly56.
 
"So I thought at the time?"
 
"Why did you think so?" asked Bakche quickly.
 
"Because I got it into my head that you were after the Inderwick fetish, although when you spoke57 I did not know that it was the Begum of Kam who had given away the jewels. That fact I learned later. However, it struck me that if you had come on some such errand, you went for that reason to Miss Grison's boarding-house, and not because your Ceylon friend recommended it."
 
Bakche nodded. "Very creditable to your intelligence," he said in a patronising manner. "To be plain, sir, I learned the story which is set forth in the newspaper, from some family documents."
 
"As I thought," murmured Fuller softly.
 
"Seeing that the Begum had given away jewels which should rightfully belong to the family I determined58 to find them. I came to England and went to Belstone, where the documents I mentioned informed me the Inderwicks lived. At the inn there I learned from a very voluble woman all that was to be known about the loss of the peacock. . . Afterwards I visited Mr. Sorley, who is, I understand, the guardian59 of Miss Inderwick, to whom the peacock is supposed to belong. He told me that the ornament60 was lost, but he did not say who had taken it from The Monastery."
 
"Quite so," said Alan, remembering that Sorley had withheld61 such information lest Miss Grison should give the peacock to the man; "but of course Mrs. Verwin at the inn hinted that the Grisons had the bird."
 
"She did, sir and what is more she gave me the address of the boarding-house in Thimble Square. I returned to London in July last and took up my abode62 there, determined to learn all that I could."
 
"Well?" asked Fuller, when the Indian paused.
 
"Well," echoed the other, "I learned nothing particular."
 
"Hum!" remarked Alan doubtfully, and looking hard at the speaker, "did you tell Miss Grison the story of your search?"
 
"Yes I did, at a later period when I had become more or less friendly with her. I even stated that it was reported how she and her brother had stolen the peacock."
 
"What answer did she make?"
 
"She said nothing to the purpose, only stating that she believed there was such an ornament, but that she did not know where it was. Of course in the light of this interview," added Bakche, placing his hand on the newspaper, "you can see that for her own ends she spoke falsely. Evidently Baldwin, her brother, was the thief, and possessed it the whole time. The wonder is, Mr. Fuller, that being desperately63 hard up as he was, he did not sell or pawn64 the peacock."
 
"I rather think that the man hoped to learn the secret and get possession of the jewels. Did you ever see Grison?"
 
"No," said Bakche so quickly that Alan felt sure he was not speaking the exact truth, and became more sure of the fact when he elaborated his denial. "Miss Grison refused to give me her brother's address, which I knew was in some slum. And of course, not guessing that Grison had the peacock, I did not push my enquiries. Had I known that he had the bird I should have placed the matter in the hands of a private detective, and in some way I should have learned his whereabouts."
 
"And then?"
 
"Then," said Bakche, drawing a deep breath and clenching65 his small hands, "I should have forced him to surrender it to me."
 
"You would have used violence?" asked Alan in A peculiar66 tone.
 
"Yes! That is----" Bakche broke off with a laugh of contempt. "Why do you look at me so suspiciously, Mr. Fuller? Do you think that I did see the man and did use violence even to the extent of stabbing him? You are entirely67 wrong, sir. Had I murdered him and obtained the peacock I should by this time have been far away on the Continent out of danger, and until things grew quieter, I should have remained absent trying to solve the riddle. I am not the criminal, and I am not the possessor of the peacock."
 
"I grant that," said Fuller quietly, who knew well that the man spoke the truth, since Sorley owned the bird at that moment. "Well, and what do you expect me to do, Mr. Bakche?"
 
"I wish you to find out who murdered Grison, so that the peacock may be recovered and handed over to me."
 
"On behalf of Miss Inderwick I am doing that," said Alan dryly, "so I cannot possibly act on your behalf."
 
"The peacock is mine," cried the Indian, rising to his feet with a snarl68 which again reminded Fuller of his tigerish nature.
 
"The peacock is Miss Inderwick's, and should I find it, I shall hand it over to her so that she may discover the treasure."
 
"You are----" began Bakche violently, then suddenly and dangerously restrained his anger and smiled meaningly. "Well, since you are engaged to the lady, it is natural that you should want her to gain the jewels----"
 
"Mr. Bakche, stop that if you please." Alan rose in his turn with indignant looks.
 
The Indian shrugged his shoulders and walked to the door. "It is a duel69 between us," he said smoothly, "you want what I want, so we shall see who wins. And I can tell you what is your best step to take."
 
"Very kind of you, Mr. Bakche. And that is----"
 
"To find the boy Alonzo, formerly70 called Jotty. He knows the truth."
 
"Then why not question him, since he is at Miss Grison's house?"
 
"Indeed he is not; Jotty has been missing since last night!" and refusing to explain further, the Indian departed, leaving Fuller greatly astonished and greatly annoyed also, that the boy should have disappeared.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 inspector q6kxH     
n.检查员,监察员,视察员
参考例句:
  • The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
  • The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
2 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
3 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
参考例句:
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
4 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。
5 innocence ZbizC     
n.无罪;天真;无害
参考例句:
  • There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
  • The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。
6 avert 7u4zj     
v.防止,避免;转移(目光、注意力等)
参考例句:
  • He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
  • I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。
7 detested e34cc9ea05a83243e2c1ed4bd90db391     
v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • They detested each other on sight. 他们互相看着就不顺眼。
  • The freethinker hated the formalist; the lover of liberty detested the disciplinarian. 自由思想者总是不喜欢拘泥形式者,爱好自由者总是憎恶清规戒律者。 来自辞典例句
8 conclusively NvVzwY     
adv.令人信服地,确凿地
参考例句:
  • All this proves conclusively that she couldn't have known the truth. 这一切无可置疑地证明她不可能知道真相。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • From the facts,he was able to determine conclusively that the death was not a suicide. 根据这些事实他断定这起死亡事件并非自杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
10 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
11 monastery 2EOxe     
n.修道院,僧院,寺院
参考例句:
  • They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
  • She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。
12 deliberately Gulzvq     
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
参考例句:
  • The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
  • They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。
13 implicate JkPyo     
vt.使牵连其中,涉嫌
参考例句:
  • He didn't find anything in the notebooks to implicate Stu.他在笔记本中没发现任何涉及斯图的东西。
  • I do not want to implicate you in my problem of the job.我工作上的问题不想把你也牵扯进来。
14 indictment ybdzt     
n.起诉;诉状
参考例句:
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
  • They issued an indictment against them.他们起诉了他们。
15 qualms qualms     
n.不安;内疚
参考例句:
  • He felt no qualms about borrowing money from friends.他没有对于从朋友那里借钱感到不安。
  • He has no qualms about lying.他撒谎毫不内疚。
16 narrated 41d1c5fe7dace3e43c38e40bfeb85fe5     
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
17 riddle WCfzw     
n.谜,谜语,粗筛;vt.解谜,给…出谜,筛,检查,鉴定,非难,充满于;vi.出谜
参考例句:
  • The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
  • Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。
18 possessed xuyyQ     
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。
19 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
20 culled 14df4bc70f6bf01d83bf7c2929113cee     
v.挑选,剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The herd must be culled. 必须有选择地杀掉部分牧畜。 来自辞典例句
  • The facts were culled from various sources. 这些事实是从各方收集到的。 来自辞典例句
21 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 sketch UEyyG     
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述
参考例句:
  • My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。
  • I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。
23 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的,有前途的
参考例句:
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
24 resolutely WW2xh     
adj.坚决地,果断地
参考例句:
  • He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
  • He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难,而是抱怨自己运气不佳。
25 interfere b5lx0     
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。
26 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。
27 indifference k8DxO     
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎
参考例句:
  • I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
28 gallows UfLzE     
n.绞刑架,绞台
参考例句:
  • The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
  • Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。
29 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师,事务律师
参考例句:
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
30 dubiously dubiously     
adv.可疑地,怀疑地
参考例句:
  • "What does he have to do?" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事?”琴向觉民问道,她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • He walked out fast, leaving the head waiter staring dubiously at the flimsy blue paper. 他很快地走出去,撇下侍者头儿半信半疑地瞪着这张薄薄的蓝纸。 来自辞典例句
31 defense AxbxB     
n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩
参考例句:
  • The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
  • The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
32 feign Hgozz     
vt.假装,佯作
参考例句:
  • He used to feign an excuse.他惯于伪造口实。
  • She knew that her efforts to feign cheerfulness weren't convincing.她明白自己强作欢颜是瞒不了谁的。
33 nonchalance a0Zys     
n.冷淡,漠不关心
参考例句:
  • She took her situation with much nonchalance.她对这个处境毫不介意。
  • He conceals his worries behind a mask of nonchalance.他装作若无其事,借以掩饰内心的不安。
34 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
35 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
36 scrutiny ZDgz6     
n.详细检查,仔细观察
参考例句:
  • His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好,但是经不起仔细检查。
  • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
37 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。
38 thereby Sokwv     
adv.因此,从而
参考例句:
  • I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市,因此对它不怎么熟悉。
  • He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民,因而得到了投票权。
39 pretence pretence     
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰
参考例句:
  • The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
  • He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。
40 sneer YFdzu     
v.轻蔑;嘲笑;n.嘲笑,讥讽的言语
参考例句:
  • He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
  • You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻,但很多人喜欢这种音乐。
41 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
42 exasperating 06604aa7af9dfc9c7046206f7e102cf0     
adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • Our team's failure is very exasperating. 我们队失败了,真是气死人。
  • It is really exasperating that he has not turned up when the train is about to leave. 火车快开了, 他还不来,实在急人。
43 doggedly 6upzAY     
adv.顽强地,固执地
参考例句:
  • He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
  • He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着,一直走回了公寓。
44 smoothly iiUzLG     
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地
参考例句:
  • The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作,所以工作进展顺利。
  • Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。
45 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
46 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
47 confiscated b8af45cb6ba964fa52504a6126c35855     
没收,充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
  • The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。
48 royalty iX6xN     
n.皇家,皇族
参考例句:
  • She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
  • I waited on tables,and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生, 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。
49 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
50 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
51 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
52 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
53 relentlessly Rk4zSD     
adv.不屈不挠地;残酷地;不间断
参考例句:
  • The African sun beat relentlessly down on his aching head. 非洲的太阳无情地照射在他那发痛的头上。
  • He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. 他锲而不舍地追求她,拒不接受“不”的回答。
54 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
55 irony P4WyZ     
n.反语,冷嘲;具有讽刺意味的事,嘲弄
参考例句:
  • She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
  • In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。
56 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
57 spoke XryyC     
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。
58 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。
59 guardian 8ekxv     
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者
参考例句:
  • The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
  • The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
60 ornament u4czn     
v.装饰,美化;n.装饰,装饰物
参考例句:
  • The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
  • She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。
61 withheld f9d7381abd94e53d1fbd8a4e53915ec8     
withhold过去式及过去分词
参考例句:
  • I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后,我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意,学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
62 abode hIby0     
n.住处,住所
参考例句:
  • It was ten months before my father discovered his abode.父亲花了十个月的功夫,才好不容易打听到他的住处。
  • Welcome to our humble abode!欢迎光临寒舍!
63 desperately cu7znp     
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
参考例句:
  • He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
  • He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
64 pawn 8ixyq     
n.典当,抵押,小人物,走卒;v.典当,抵押
参考例句:
  • He is contemplating pawning his watch.他正在考虑抵押他的手表。
  • It looks as though he is being used as a political pawn by the President.看起来他似乎被总统当作了政治卒子。
65 clenching 1c3528c558c94eba89a6c21e9ee245e6     
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I'll never get used to them, she thought, clenching her fists. 我永远也看不惯这些家伙,她握紧双拳,心里想。 来自飘(部分)
  • Clenching her lips, she nodded. 她紧闭着嘴唇,点点头。 来自辞典例句
66 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。
67 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。
68 snarl 8FAzv     
v.吼叫,怒骂,纠缠,混乱;n.混乱,缠结,咆哮
参考例句:
  • At the seaside we could hear the snarl of the waves.在海边我们可以听见波涛的咆哮。
  • The traffic was all in a snarl near the accident.事故发生处附近交通一片混乱。
69 duel 2rmxa     
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争
参考例句:
  • The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
  • Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。
70 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。


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