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CHAPTER X THE PARLORMAID
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We found Mrs. Ackroyd in the hall. With her was a small dried-up little man, with an aggressive chin and sharp gray eyes, and “lawyer” written all over him.
 
“Mr. Hammond is staying to lunch with us,” said Mrs. Ackroyd. “You know Major Blunt, Mr. Hammond? And dear Dr. Sheppard—also a close friend of poor Roger’s. And, let me see——”
 
She paused, surveying Hercule Poirot in some perplexity.
 
“This is M. Poirot, mother,” said Flora1. “I told you about him this morning.”
 
“Oh! yes,” said Mrs. Ackroyd vaguely2. “Of course, my dear, of course. He is to find Ralph, is he not?”
 
“He is to find out who killed uncle,” said Flora.
 
“Oh! my dear,” cried her mother. “Please! My poor nerves. I am a wreck3 this morning, a positive wreck. Such a dreadful thing to happen. I can’t help feeling that it must have been an accident of some kind. Roger was so fond of handling queer curios. His hand must have slipped, or something.”
 
This theory was received in polite silence. I saw Poirot edge up to the lawyer, and speak to him in a confidential5 undertone. They moved aside into the embrasure of the window. I joined them—then hesitated.
 
119
 
“Perhaps I’m intruding,” I said.
 
“Not at all,” cried Poirot heartily6. “You and I, M. le docteur, we investigate this affair side by side. Without you I should be lost. I desire a little information from the good Mr. Hammond.”
 
“You are acting7 on behalf of Captain Ralph Paton, I understand,” said the lawyer cautiously.
 
Poirot shook his head.
 
“Not so. I am acting in the interests of justice. Miss Ackroyd has asked me to investigate the death of her uncle.”
 
Mr. Hammond seemed slightly taken aback.
 
“I cannot seriously believe that Captain Paton can be concerned in this crime,” he said, “however strong the circumstantial evidence against him may be. The mere8 fact that he was hard pressed for money——”
 
“Was he hard pressed for money?” interpolated Poirot quickly.
 
The lawyer shrugged9 his shoulders.
 
“It was a chronic10 condition with Ralph Paton,” he said dryly. “Money went through his hands like water. He was always applying to his stepfather.”
 
“Had he done so of late? During the last year, for instance?”
 
“I cannot say. Mr. Ackroyd did not mention the fact to me.”
 
“I comprehend. Mr. Hammond, I take it that you are acquainted with the provisions of Mr. Ackroyd’s will?”
 
“Certainly. That is my principal business here to-day.”
 
120
 
“Then, seeing that I am acting for Miss Ackroyd, you will not object to telling me the terms of that will?”
 
“They are quite simple. Shorn of legal phraseology, and after paying certain legacies11 and bequests12——”
 
“Such as——?” interrupted Poirot.
 
Mr. Hammond seemed a little surprised.
 
“A thousand pounds to his housekeeper13, Miss Russell; fifty pounds to the cook, Emma Cooper; five hundred pounds to his secretary, Mr. Geoffrey Raymond. Then to various hospitals——”
 
Poirot held up his hand.
 
“Ah! the charitable bequests, they interest me not.”
 
“Quite so. The income on ten thousand pounds’ worth of shares to be paid to Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd during her lifetime. Miss Flora Ackroyd inherits twenty thousand pounds outright14. The residue—including this property, and the shares in Ackroyd and Son—to his adopted son, Ralph Paton.”
 
“Mr. Ackroyd possessed15 a large fortune?”
 
“A very large fortune. Captain Paton will be an exceedingly wealthy young man.”
 
There was a silence. Poirot and the lawyer looked at each other.
 
“Mr. Hammond,” came Mrs. Ackroyd’s voice plaintively16 from the fireplace.
 
The lawyer answered the summons. Poirot took my arm and drew me right into the window.
 
“Regard the irises,” he remarked in rather a loud voice. “Magnificent, are they not? A straight and pleasing effect.”
 
121
 
At the same time I felt the pressure of his hand on my arm, and he added in a low tone:—
 
“Do you really wish to aid me? To take part in this investigation17?”
 
“Yes, indeed,” I said eagerly. “There’s nothing I should like better. You don’t know what a dull old fogey’s life I lead. Never anything out of the ordinary.”
 
“Good, we will be colleagues then. In a minute or two I fancy Major Blunt will join us. He is not happy with the good mamma. Now there are some things I want to know—but I do not wish to seem to want to know them. You comprehend? So it will be your part to ask the questions.”
 
“What questions do you want me to ask?” I asked apprehensively18.
 
“I want you to introduce the name of Mrs. Ferrars.”
 
“Yes?”
 
“Speak of her in a natural fashion. Ask him if he was down here when her husband died. You understand the kind of thing I mean. And while he replies, watch his face without seeming to watch it. C’est compris?”
 
There was no time for more, for at that minute, as Poirot had prophesied19, Blunt left the others in his abrupt20 fashion and came over to us.
 
I suggested strolling on the terrace, and he acquiesced21. Poirot stayed behind.
 
I stopped to examine a late rose.
 
“How things change in the course of a day or so,” I observed. “I was up here last Wednesday, I remember, walking up and down this same terrace. Ackroyd was122 with me—full of spirits. And now—three days later—Ackroyd’s dead, poor fellow, Mrs. Ferrars’s dead—you knew her, didn’t you? But of course you did.”
 
Blunt nodded his head.
 
“Had you seen her since you’d been down this time?”
 
“Went with Ackroyd to call. Last Tuesday, think it was. Fascinating woman—but something queer about her. Deep—one would never know what she was up to.”
 
I looked into his steady gray eyes. Nothing there surely. I went on:—
 
“I suppose you’d met her before.”
 
“Last time I was here—she and her husband had just come here to live.” He paused a minute and then added: “Rum thing, she had changed a lot between then and now.”
 
“How—changed?” I asked.
 
“Looked ten years older.”
 
“Were you down here when her husband died?” I asked, trying to make the question sound as casual as possible.
 
“No. From all I heard it would be a good riddance. Uncharitable, perhaps, but the truth.”
 
I agreed.
 
“Ashley Ferrars was by no means a pattern husband,” I said cautiously.
 
“Blackguard, I thought,” said Blunt.
 
“No,” I said, “only a man with more money than was good for him.”
 
“Oh! money! All the troubles in the world can be put down to money—or the lack of it.”
 
123
 
“Which has been your particular trouble?” I asked.
 
“I’ve enough for what I want. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
 
“Indeed.”
 
“I’m not too flush just now, as a matter of fact. Came into a legacy22 a year ago, and like a fool let myself be persuaded into putting it into some wild-cat scheme.”
 
I sympathized, and narrated23 my own similar trouble.
 
Then the gong pealed24 out, and we all went in to lunch. Poirot drew me back a little.
 
“Eh! bien?”
 
“He’s all right,” I said. “I’m sure of it.”
 
“Nothing—disturbing?”
 
“He had a legacy just a year ago,” I said. “But why not? Why shouldn’t he? I’ll swear the man is perfectly25 square and aboveboard.”
 
“Without doubt, without doubt,” said Poirot soothingly26. “Do not upset yourself.”
 
He spoke27 as though to a fractious child.
 
We all trooped into the dining-room. It seemed incredible that less than twenty-four hours had passed since I last sat at that table.
 
Afterwards, Mrs. Ackroyd took me aside and sat down with me on a sofa.
 
“I can’t help feeling a little hurt,” she murmured, producing a handkerchief of the kind obviously not meant to be cried into. “Hurt, I mean, by Roger’s lack of confidence in me. That twenty thousand pounds ought to have been left to me—not to Flora. A mother could be124 trusted to safeguard the interests of her child. A lack of trust, I call it.”
 
“You forget, Mrs. Ackroyd,” I said, “Flora was Ackroyd’s own niece, a blood relation. It would have been different had you been his sister instead of his sister-in-law.”
 
“As poor Cecil’s widow, I think my feelings ought to have been considered,” said the lady, touching28 her eye-lashes gingerly with the handkerchief. “But Roger was always most peculiar—not to say mean—about money matters. It has been a most difficult position for both Flora and myself. He did not even give the poor child an allowance. He would pay her bills, you know, and even that with a good deal of reluctance29 and asking what she wanted all those fal-lals for—so like a man—but—now I’ve forgotten what it was I was going to say! Oh, yes, not a penny we could call our own, you know. Flora resented it—yes, I must say she resented it—very strongly. Though devoted30 to her uncle, of course. But any girl would have resented it. Yes, I must say Roger had very strange ideas about money. He wouldn’t even buy new face towels, though I told him the old ones were in holes. And then,” proceeded Mrs. Ackroyd, with a sudden leap highly characteristic of her conversation, “to leave all that money—a thousand pounds—fancy, a thousand pounds!—to that woman.”
 
“What woman?”
 
“That Russell woman. Something very queer about her, and so I’ve always said. But Roger wouldn’t hear a word against her. Said she was a woman of great force of125 character, and that he admired and respected her. He was always going on about her rectitude and independence and moral worth. I think there’s something fishy31 about her. She was certainly doing her best to marry Roger. But I soon put a stop to that. She’s always hated me. Naturally. I saw through her.”
 
I began to wonder if there was any chance of stemming Mrs. Ackroyd’s eloquence32, and getting away.
 
Mr. Hammond provided the necessary diversion by coming up to say good-by. I seized my chance and rose also.
 
“About the inquest,” I said. “Where would you prefer it to be held. Here, or at the Three Boars?”
 
Mrs. Ackroyd stared at me with a dropped jaw33.
 
“The inquest?” she asked, the picture of consternation34. “But surely there won’t have to be an inquest?”
 
Mr. Hammond gave a dry little cough and murmured, “Inevitable. Under the circumstances,” in two short little barks.
 
“But surely Dr. Sheppard can arrange——”
 
“There are limits to my powers of arrangement,” I said dryly.
 
“If his death was an accident——”
 
“He was murdered, Mrs. Ackroyd,” I said brutally35.
 
She gave a little cry.
 
“No theory of accident will hold water for a minute.”
 
Mrs. Ackroyd looked at me in distress36. I had no patience with what I thought was her silly fear of unpleasantness.
 
126
 
“If there’s an inquest, I—I shan’t have to answer questions and all that, shall I?” she asked.
 
“I don’t know what will be necessary,” I answered. “I imagine Mr. Raymond will take the brunt of it off you. He knows all the circumstances, and can give formal evidence of identification.”
 
The lawyer assented37 with a little bow.
 
“I really don’t think there is anything to dread4, Mrs. Ackroyd,” he said. “You will be spared all unpleasantness. Now, as to the question of money, have you all you need for the present? I mean,” he added, as she looked at him inquiringly, “ready money. Cash, you know. If not, I can arrange to let you have whatever you require.”
 
“That ought to be all right,” said Raymond, who was standing38 by. “Mr. Ackroyd cashed a cheque for a hundred pounds yesterday.”
 
“A hundred pounds?”
 
“Yes. For wages and other expenses due to-day. At the moment it is still intact.”
 
“Where is this money? In his desk?”
 
“No, he always kept his cash in his bedroom. In an old collar-box, to be accurate. Funny idea, wasn’t it?”
 
“I think,” said the lawyer, “we ought to make sure the money is there before I leave.”
 
“Certainly,” agreed the secretary. “I’ll take you up now.... Oh! I forgot. The door’s locked.”
 
Inquiry39 from Parker elicited40 the information that Inspector41 Raglan was in the housekeeper’s room asking a few supplementary42 questions. A few minutes later the inspector joined the party in the hall, bringing the key with127 him. He unlocked the door and we passed into the lobby and up the small staircase. At the top of the stairs the door into Ackroyd’s bedroom stood open. Inside the room it was dark, the curtains were drawn43, and the bed was turned down just as it had been last night. The inspector drew the curtains, letting in the sunlight, and Geoffrey Raymond went to the top drawer of a rosewood bureau.
 
“He kept his money like that, in an unlocked drawer. Just fancy,” commented the inspector.
 
The secretary flushed a little.
 
“Mr. Ackroyd had perfect faith in the honesty of all the servants,” he said hotly.
 
“Oh! quite so,” said the inspector hastily.
 
Raymond opened the drawer, took out a round leather collar-box from the back of it, and opening it, drew out a thick wallet.
 
“Here is the money,” he said, taking out a fat roll of notes. “You will find the hundred intact, I know, for Mr. Ackroyd put it in the collar-box in my presence last night when he was dressing44 for dinner, and of course it has not been touched since.”
 
Mr. Hammond took the roll from him and counted it. He looked up sharply.
 
“A hundred pounds, you said. But there is only sixty here.”
 
Raymond stared at him.
 
“Impossible,” he cried, springing forward. Taking the notes from the other’s hand, he counted them aloud.
 
Mr. Hammond had been right. The total amounted to sixty pounds.
 
128
 
“But—I can’t understand it,” cried the secretary, bewildered.
 
Poirot asked a question.
 
“You saw Mr. Ackroyd put this money away last night when he was dressing for dinner? You are sure he had not paid away any of it already?”
 
“I’m sure he hadn’t. He even said, ‘I don’t want to take a hundred pounds down to dinner with me. Too bulgy45.’”
 
“Then the affair is very simple,” remarked Poirot. “Either he paid out that forty pounds sometime last evening, or else it has been stolen.”
 
“That’s the matter in a nutshell,” agreed the inspector. He turned to Mrs. Ackroyd. “Which of the servants would come in here yesterday evening?”
 
“I suppose the housemaid would turn down the bed.”
 
“Who is she? What do you know about her?”
 
“She’s not been here very long,” said Mrs. Ackroyd. “But she’s a nice ordinary country girl.”
 
“I think we ought to clear this matter up,” said the inspector. “If Mr. Ackroyd paid that money away himself, it may have a bearing on the mystery of the crime. The other servants all right, as far as you know?”
 
“Oh, I think so.”
 
“Not missed anything before?”
 
“No.”
 
“None of them leaving, or anything like that?”
 
“The parlormaid is leaving.”
 
“When?”
 
“She gave notice yesterday, I believe.”
 
129
 
“To you?”
 
“Oh, no. I have nothing to do with the servants. Miss Russell attends to the household matters.”
 
The inspector remained lost in thought for a minute or two. Then he nodded his head and remarked, “I think I’d better have a word with Miss Russell, and I’ll see the girl Dale as well.”
 
Poirot and I accompanied him to the housekeeper’s room. Miss Russell received us with her usual sang-froid.
 
Elsie Dale had been at Fernly five months. A nice girl, quick at her duties, and most respectable. Good references. The last girl in the world to take anything not belonging to her.
 
What about the parlormaid?
 
“She, too, was a most superior girl. Very quiet and ladylike. An excellent worker.”
 
“Then why is she leaving?” asked the inspector.
 
Miss Russell pursed up her lips.
 
“It was none of my doing. I understand Mr. Ackroyd found fault with her yesterday afternoon. It was her duty to do the study, and she disarranged some of the papers on his desk, I believe. He was very annoyed about it, and she gave notice. At least, that is what I understood from her, but perhaps you’d like to see her yourselves?”
 
The inspector assented. I had already noticed the girl when she was waiting on us at lunch. A tall girl, with a lot of brown hair rolled tightly away at the back of her neck, and very steady gray eyes. She came in answer to130 the housekeeper’s summons, and stood very straight with those same gray eyes fixed46 on us.
 
“You are Ursula Bourne?” asked the inspector.
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“I understand you are leaving?”
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“Why is that?”
 
“I disarranged some papers on Mr. Ackroyd’s desk. He was very angry about it, and I said I had better leave. He told me to go as soon as possible.”
 
“Were you in Mr. Ackroyd’s bedroom at all last night? Tidying up or anything?”
 
“No, sir. That is Elsie’s work. I never went near that part of the house.”
 
“I must tell you, my girl, that a large sum of money is missing from Mr. Ackroyd’s room.”
 
At last I saw her roused. A wave of color swept over her face.
 
“I know nothing about any money. If you think I took it, and that that is why Mr. Ackroyd dismissed me, you are wrong.”
 
“I’m not accusing you of taking it, my girl,” said the inspector. “Don’t flare47 up so.”
 
The girl looked at him coldly.
 
“You can search my things if you like,” she said disdainfully. “But you won’t find anything.”
 
Poirot suddenly interposed.
 
“It was yesterday afternoon that Mr. Ackroyd dismissed you—or you dismissed yourself, was it not?” he asked.
 
131
 
The girl nodded.
 
“How long did the interview last?”
 
“The interview?”
 
“Yes, the interview between you and Mr. Ackroyd in the study?”
 
“I—I don’t know.”
 
“Twenty minutes? Half an hour?”
 
“Something like that.”
 
“Not longer?”
 
“Not longer than half an hour, certainly.”
 
“Thank you, mademoiselle.”
 
I looked curiously48 at him. He was rearranging a few objects on the table, setting them straight with precise fingers. His eyes were shining.
 
“That’ll do,” said the inspector.
 
Ursula Bourne disappeared. The inspector turned to Miss Russell.
 
“How long has she been here? Have you got a copy of the reference you had with her?”
 
Without answering the first question, Miss Russell moved to an adjacent bureau, opened one of the drawers, and took out a handful of letters clipped together with a patent fastener. She selected one and handed it to the inspector.
 
“H’m,” said he. “Reads all right. Mrs. Richard Folliott, Marby Grange, Marby. Who’s this woman?”
 
“Quite good county people,” said Miss Russell.
 
“Well,” said the inspector, handing it back, “let’s have a look at the other one, Elsie Dale.”
 
Elsie Dale was a big fair girl, with a pleasant but132 slightly stupid face. She answered our questions readily enough, and showed much distress and concern at the loss of the money.
 
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with her,” observed the inspector, after he had dismissed her.
 
“What about Parker?”
 
Miss Russell pursed her lips together and made no reply.
 
“I’ve a feeling there’s something wrong about that man,” the inspector continued thoughtfully. “The trouble is that I don’t quite see when he got his opportunity. He’d be busy with his duties immediately after dinner, and he’s got a pretty good alibi49 all through the evening. I know, for I’ve been devoting particular attention to it. Well, thank you very much, Miss Russell. We’ll leave things as they are for the present. It’s highly probable Mr. Ackroyd paid that money away himself.”
 
The housekeeper bade us a dry good-afternoon, and we took our leave.
 
I left the house with Poirot.
 
“I wonder,” I said, breaking the silence, “what the papers the girl disarranged could have been for Ackroyd to have got into such a state about them? I wonder if there is any clew there to the mystery.”
 
“The secretary said there were no papers of particular importance on the desk,” said Poirot quietly.
 
“Yes, but——” I paused.
 
“It strikes you as odd that Ackroyd should have flown into a rage about so trivial a matter?”
 
“Yes, it does rather.”
 
133
 
“But was it a trivial matter?”
 
“Of course,” I admitted, “we don’t know what those papers may have been. But Raymond certainly said——”
 
“Leave M. Raymond out of it for a minute. What did you think of that girl?”
 
“Which girl? The parlormaid?”
 
“Yes, the parlormaid. Ursula Bourne.”
 
“She seemed a nice girl,” I said hesitatingly.
 
Poirot repeated my words, but whereas I had laid a slight stress on the fourth word, he put it on the second.
 
“She seemed a nice girl—yes.”
 
Then, after a minute’s silence, he took something from his pocket and handed it to me.
 
“See, my friend, I will show you something. Look there.”
 
The paper he had handed me was that compiled by the inspector and given by him to Poirot that morning. Following the pointing finger, I saw a small cross marked in pencil opposite the name Ursula Bourne.
 
“You may not have noticed it at the time, my good friend, but there was one person on this list whose alibi had no kind of confirmation50. Ursula Bourne.”
 
“You don’t think——”
 
“Dr. Sheppard, I dare to think anything. Ursula Bourne may have killed Mr. Ackroyd, but I confess I can see no motive51 for her doing so. Can you?”
 
He looked at me very hard—so hard that I felt uncomfortable.
 
“Can you?” he repeated.
 
134
 
“No motive whatsoever,” I said firmly.
 
His gaze relaxed. He frowned and murmured to himself:—
 
“Since the blackmailer52 was a man, it follows that she cannot be the blackmailer, then——”
 
I coughed.
 
“As far as that goes——” I began doubtfully.
 
He spun53 round on me.
 
“What? What are you going to say?”
 
“Nothing. Nothing. Only that, strictly54 speaking, Mrs. Ferrars in her letter mentioned a person—she didn’t actually specify55 a man. But we took it for granted, Ackroyd and I, that it was a man.”
 
Poirot did not seem to be listening to me. He was muttering to himself again.
 
“But then it is possible after all—yes, certainly it is possible—but then—ah! I must rearrange my ideas. Method, order; never have I needed them more. Everything must fit in—in its appointed place—otherwise I am on the wrong tack56.”
 
He broke off, and whirled round upon me again.
 
“Where is Marby?”
 
“It’s on the other side of Cranchester.”
 
“How far away?”
 
“Oh!—fourteen miles, perhaps.”
 
“Would it be possible for you to go there? To-morrow, say?”
 
“To-morrow? Let me see, that’s Sunday. Yes, I could arrange it. What do you want me to do there?”
 
135
 
“See this Mrs. Folliott. Find out all you can about Ursula Bourne.”
 
“Very well. But—I don’t much care for the job.”
 
“It is not the time to make difficulties. A man’s life may hang on this.”
 
“Poor Ralph,” I said with a sigh. “You believe him to be innocent, though?”
 
Poirot looked at me very gravely.
 
“Do you want to know the truth?”
 
“Of course.”
 
“Then you shall have it. My friend, everything points to the assumption that he is guilty.”
 
“What!” I exclaimed.
 
Poirot nodded.
 
“Yes, that stupid inspector—for he is stupid—has everything pointing his way. I seek for the truth—and the truth leads me every time to Ralph Paton. Motive, opportunity, means. But I will leave no stone unturned. I promised Mademoiselle Flora. And she was very sure, that little one. But very sure indeed.”
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 flora 4j7x1     
n.(某一地区的)植物群
参考例句:
  • The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
  • All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。
2 vaguely BfuzOy     
adv.含糊地,暖昧地
参考例句:
  • He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
  • He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
3 wreck QMjzE     
n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难
参考例句:
  • Weather may have been a factor in the wreck.天气可能是造成这次失事的原因之一。
  • No one can wreck the friendship between us.没有人能够破坏我们之间的友谊。
4 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
5 confidential MOKzA     
adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的
参考例句:
  • He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
  • We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。
6 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
7 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。
8 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。
9 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》
10 chronic BO9zl     
adj.(疾病)长期未愈的,慢性的;极坏的
参考例句:
  • Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
  • Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。
11 legacies 68e66995cc32392cf8c573d17a3233aa     
n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 );遗留之物;遗留问题;后遗症
参考例句:
  • Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句
  • General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句
12 bequests a47cf7b1ace6563dc82dfe0dc08bc225     
n.遗赠( bequest的名词复数 );遗产,遗赠物
参考例句:
  • About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He left bequests of money to all his friends. 他留下一些钱遗赠给他所有的朋友。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
13 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家
参考例句:
  • A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
  • She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家,一家人吃得很省。
14 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
15 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。
16 plaintively 46a8d419c0b5a38a2bee07501e57df53     
adv.悲哀地,哀怨地
参考例句:
  • The last note of the song rang out plaintively. 歌曲最后道出了离别的哀怨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Birds cry plaintively before they die, men speak kindly in the presence of death. 鸟之将死,其鸣也哀;人之将死,其言也善。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
17 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
18 apprehensively lzKzYF     
adv.担心地
参考例句:
  • He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
  • Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去,一切都不知怎好似的,连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
19 prophesied 27251c478db94482eeb550fc2b08e011     
v.预告,预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She prophesied that she would win a gold medal. 她预言自己将赢得金牌。
  • She prophesied the tragic outcome. 她预言有悲惨的结果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 abrupt 2fdyh     
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的
参考例句:
  • The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
  • His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。
21 acquiesced 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b     
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
  • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说,他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 legacy 59YzD     
n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
  • He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
23 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》
24 pealed 1bd081fa79390325677a3bf15662270a     
v.(使)(钟等)鸣响,(雷等)发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The bells pealed (out) over the countryside. 钟声响彻郊野。 来自辞典例句
  • A gun shot suddenly pealed forth and shot its flames into the air. 突然一声炮响,一道火光升上天空。 来自辞典例句
25 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。
26 soothingly soothingly     
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地
参考例句:
  • The mother talked soothingly to her child. 母亲对自己的孩子安慰地说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He continued to talk quietly and soothingly to the girl until her frightened grip on his arm was relaxed. 他继续柔声安慰那姑娘,她那因恐惧而紧抓住他的手终于放松了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 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。
28 touching sg6zQ9     
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。
29 reluctance 8VRx8     
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿
参考例句:
  • The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
  • He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。
30 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
31 fishy ysgzzF     
adj. 值得怀疑的
参考例句:
  • It all sounds very fishy to me.所有这些在我听起来都很可疑。
  • There was definitely something fishy going on.肯定当时有可疑的事情在进行中。
32 eloquence 6mVyM     
n.雄辩;口才,修辞
参考例句:
  • I am afraid my eloquence did not avail against the facts.恐怕我的雄辩也无补于事实了。
  • The people were charmed by his eloquence.人们被他的口才迷住了。
33 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
34 consternation 8OfzB     
n.大为吃惊,惊骇
参考例句:
  • He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害,感到非常震惊。
  • Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。
35 brutally jSRya     
adv.残忍地,野蛮地,冷酷无情地
参考例句:
  • The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
  • A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。
36 distress 3llzX     
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
参考例句:
  • Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
  • Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。
37 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
38 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。
39 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。
40 elicited 65993d006d16046aa01b07b96e6edfc2     
引出,探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Threats to reinstate the tax elicited jeer from the Opposition. 恢复此项征税的威胁引起了反对党的嘲笑。
  • The comedian's joke elicited applause and laughter from the audience. 那位滑稽演员的笑话博得观众的掌声和笑声。
41 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。
42 supplementary 0r6ws     
adj.补充的,附加的
参考例句:
  • There is a supplementary water supply in case the rain supply fails.万一主水源断了,我们另外有供水的地方。
  • A supplementary volume has been published containing the index.附有索引的增补卷已经出版。
43 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。
44 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
45 bulgy 096a72b8ea430b9564e6e81808ed6a79     
a.膨胀的;凸出的
参考例句:
  • And the bone at the back of the neck is bulgy came. 而且脖子后面的骨头都凸出来了。
  • Lumbar shoulder dish what does the earlier note after bulgy operation have? 腰肩盘凸出手术后初期的注重事项有哪些?
46 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。
47 flare LgQz9     
v.闪耀,闪烁;n.潮红;突发
参考例句:
  • The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
  • You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。
48 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。
49 alibi bVSzb     
n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明;借口
参考例句:
  • Do you have any proof to substantiate your alibi? 你有证据表明你当时不在犯罪现场吗?
  • The police are suspicious of his alibi because he already has a record.警方对他不在场的辩解表示怀疑,因为他已有前科。
50 confirmation ZYMya     
n.证实,确认,批准
参考例句:
  • We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
  • We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前,我们需要书面确认。
51 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。
52 blackmailer a031d47c9f342af0f87215f069fefc4d     
敲诈者,勒索者
参考例句:
  • The blackmailer had a hold over him. 勒索他的人控制着他。
  • The blackmailer will have to be bought off,or he'll ruin your good name. 得花些钱疏通那个敲诈者,否则他会毁坏你的声誉。
53 spun kvjwT     
v.纺,杜撰,急转身
参考例句:
  • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
  • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
54 strictly GtNwe     
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地
参考例句:
  • His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
  • The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
55 specify evTwm     
vt.指定,详细说明
参考例句:
  • We should specify a time and a place for the meeting.我们应指定会议的时间和地点。
  • Please specify what you will do.请你详述一下你将做什么。
56 tack Jq1yb     
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝
参考例句:
  • He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
  • We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。


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