He is Smitten1 with the Charms of a Female Adventurer, Whose Allurements2 Subject Him to a New VICISSITUDE3 OF Fortune.
Among those who were distinguished4 by his gallantry was the young wife of an old citizen of London, who had granted her permission to reside at the hot well for the benefit of her health, under the eye and inspection6 of his own sister, who was a maiden7 of fifty years. The pupil, whose name was Mrs. Trapwell, though low in stature8, was finely shaped, her countenance9 engaging, though her complexion10 was brown, her hair in colour rivalled the raven’s back, and her eyes emulated11 the lustre12 of the diamond. Fathom13 had been struck with her first appearance; but found it impracticable to elude14 the vigilance of her duenna, so as to make a declaration of his flame; until she herself, guessing the situation of his thoughts, and not displeased15 with the discovery, thought proper to furnish him with the opportunity he wanted, by counterfeiting16 an indisposition, for the cure of which she knew his advice would be implored18. This was the beginning of an acquaintance, which was soon improved to his wish; and so well did she manage her attractions, as in some measure to fix the inconstancy of his disposition17; for, at the end of the season, his passion was not sated; and they concerted the means of continuing their commerce, even after their return to London.
This intercourse19 effectually answered the purpose of the husband, who had been decoyed into matrimony by the cunning of his spouse20, whom he had privately21 kept as a concubine before marriage. Conscious of her own precarious22 situation, she had resolved to impose upon the infirmities of Trapwell, and, feigning23 herself pregnant, gave him to understand she could no longer conceal24 her condition from the knowledge of her brother, who was an officer in the army, and of such violent passions, that, should he once discover her backsliding, he would undoubtedly25 wipe away the stains of his family dishonour26 with her own blood, as well as that of her keeper. The citizen, to prevent such a catastrophe27, took her to wife; but soon after perceiving the trick which had been played upon him, set his invention at work, and at length contrived28 a scheme which he thought would enable him, not only to retrieve29 his liberty, but also indemnify himself for the mortification30 he had undergone.
Far from creating any domestic disturbance31, by upbraiding33 her with her finesse34, he seemed perfectly35 well pleased with his acquisition; and, as he knew her void of any principle, and extremely addicted36 to pleasure, he chose proper occasions to insinuate37, that she might gratify her own inclination38, and at the same time turn her beauty to good account. She joyfully39 listened to these remonstrances40, and, in consequence of their mutual41 agreement, she repaired to Bristol Spring, on pretence42 of an ill state of health, accompanied by her sister-in-law, whom they did not think proper to intrust with the real motive43 of her journey. Fathom’s person was agreeable, and his finances supposed to be in flourishing order; therefore, she selected him from the herd44 of gallants, as a proper sacrifice to the powers which she adored; and, on her arrival in London, made her husband acquainted with the importance of her conquest.
Trapwell overwhelmed her with caresses45 and praise for her discreet46 and dutiful conduct, and faithfully promised that she should pocket in her own privy47 purse one-half of the spoils that should be gathered from her gallant5, whom she therefore undertook to betray, after he had swore, in the most solemn manner, that his intention was not to bring the affair to a public trial, which would redound48 to his own disgrace, but to extort49 a round sum of money from the Count, by way of composition. Confiding50 in this protestation, she in a few days gave him intelligence of an assignation she had made with our adventurer, at a certain bagnio near Covent Garden; upon which he secured the assistance of a particular friend and his own journeyman, with whom, and a constable51, he repaired to the place of rendezvous52, where he waited in an adjoining room, according to the directions of his virtuous53 spouse, until she made the preconcerted signal of hemming54 three times aloud, when he and his associates rushed into the chamber55 and surprised our hero in bed with his inamorata.
The lady on this occasion acted her part to a miracle; she screamed at their approach; and, after an exclamation56 of “Ruined and undone57!” fainted away in the arms of her spouse, who had by this time seized her by the shoulders, and begun to upbraid32 her with her infidelity and guilt58. As for Fathom, his affliction was unutterable, when he found himself discovered in that situation, and made prisoner by the two assistants, who had pinioned59 him in such a manner, that he could not stir, much less accomplish an escape. All his ingenuity60 and presence of mind seemed to forsake61 him in this emergency. The horrors of an English jury overspread his imagination; for he at once perceived that the toil62 into which he had fallen was laid for the purpose; consequently he took it for granted that there would be no deficiency in point of evidence. Soon as he recollected63 himself, he begged that no violence might be offered to his person, and entreated64 the husband to favour him with a conference, in which the affair might be compromised, without prejudice to the reputation of either.
At first Trapwell breathed nothing but implacable revenge, but, by the persuasion65 of his friends, after he had sent home his wife in a chair, he was prevailed upon to hear the proposals of the delinquent66, who having assured him, by way of apology, that he had always believed the lady was a widow, made him an offer of five hundred pounds, as an atonement for the injury he had sustained. This being a sum no ways adequate to the expectation of the citizen, who looked upon the Count as possessor of an immense estate, he rejected the terms with disdain67, and made instant application to a judge, from whom he obtained a warrant for securing his person till the day of trial. Indeed, in this case, money was but a secondary consideration with Trapwell, whose chief aim was to be legally divorced from a woman he detested68. Therefore there was no remedy for the unhappy Count, who in vain offered to double the sum. He found himself reduced to the bitter alternative of procuring69 immediate70 bail71, or going directly to Newgate.
In this dilemma72 he sent a messenger to his friend Ratchcali, whose countenance fell when he understood the Count’s condition; nor would he open his mouth in the style of consolation73, until he had consulted a certain solicitor74 of his acquaintance, who assured him the law abounded75 with such resources as would infallibly screen the defendant76, had the fact been still more palpable than it was. He said there was great presumption77 to believe the Count had fallen a sacrifice to a conspiracy78, which by some means or other would be detected; and, in that case, the plaintiff might obtain one shilling in lieu of damages. If that dependence79 should fail, he hinted that, in all probability, the witnesses were not incorruptible; or, should they prove to be so, one man’s oath was as good as another’s; and, thank Heaven, there was no dearth80 of evidence, provided money could be found to answer the necessary occasions.
Ratchcali, comforted by these insinuations, and dreading81 the resentment82 of our adventurer, who, in his despair, might punish him severely83 for his want of friendship, by some precipitate84 explanation of the commerce they had carried on; moved, I say, by these considerations, and moreover tempted85 with the prospect86 of continuing to reap the advantages resulting from their conjunction, he and another person of credit with whom he largely dealt in jewels, condescended87 to become sureties for the appearance of Fathom, who was accordingly admitted to bail. Not but that the Tyrolese knew Ferdinand too well to confide88 in his parole. He depended chiefly upon his ideas of self-interest, which, he thought, would persuade him to risk the uncertain issue of a trial, rather than quit the field before the harvest was half over; and he was resolved to make his own retreat without ceremony, should our hero be unwise enough to abandon his bail.
Such an adventure could not long lie concealed89 from the notice of the public, even if both parties had been at pains to suppress the circumstances. But the plaintiff, far from seeking to cover, affected90 to complain loudly of his misfortune, that he might interest his neighbours in his behalf, and raise a spirit of rancour and animosity, to influence the jury against this insolent91 foreigner, who had come over into England to debauch92 our wives and deflower our daughters; while he employed a formidable band of lawyers to support the indictment93, which he laid at ten thousand pounds damages.
Meanwhile, Fathom and his associate did not fail to take all proper measures for his defence; they retained a powerful bar of counsel, and the solicitor was supplied with one hundred pounds after another, to answer the expense of secret service; still assuring his clients that everything was in an excellent train, and that his adversary94 would gain nothing but shame and confusion of face. Nevertheless, there was a necessity for postponing95 the trial, on account of a material evidence, who, though he wavered, was not yet quite brought over; and the attorney found means to put off the decision from term to term, until there was no quibble left for further delay. While this suit was depending, our hero continued to move in his usual sphere; nor did the report of his situation at all operate to his disadvantage in the polite world; on the contrary, it added a fresh plume96 to his character, in the eyes of all those who were not before acquainted with the triumphs of his gallantry. Notwithstanding this countenance of his friends, he himself considered the affair in a very serious light; and perceiving that, at any rate, he must be a considerable loser, he resolved to double his assiduity in trade, that he might be the more able to afford the extraordinary expense to which he was subjected.
1 smitten | |
猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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2 allurements | |
n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 );吸引;诱惑物;有诱惑力的事物 | |
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3 vicissitude | |
n.变化,变迁,荣枯,盛衰 | |
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4 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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5 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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6 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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7 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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8 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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9 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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10 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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11 emulated | |
v.与…竞争( emulate的过去式和过去分词 );努力赶上;计算机程序等仿真;模仿 | |
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12 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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13 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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14 elude | |
v.躲避,困惑 | |
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15 displeased | |
a.不快的 | |
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16 counterfeiting | |
n.伪造v.仿制,造假( counterfeit的现在分词 ) | |
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17 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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18 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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20 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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21 privately | |
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地 | |
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22 precarious | |
adj.不安定的,靠不住的;根据不足的 | |
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23 feigning | |
假装,伪装( feign的现在分词 ); 捏造(借口、理由等) | |
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24 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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25 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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26 dishonour | |
n./vt.拒付(支票、汇票、票据等);vt.凌辱,使丢脸;n.不名誉,耻辱,不光彩 | |
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27 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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28 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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29 retrieve | |
vt.重新得到,收回;挽回,补救;检索 | |
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30 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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31 disturbance | |
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
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32 upbraid | |
v.斥责,责骂,责备 | |
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33 upbraiding | |
adj.& n.谴责(的)v.责备,申斥,谴责( upbraid的现在分词 ) | |
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34 finesse | |
n.精密技巧,灵巧,手腕 | |
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35 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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36 addicted | |
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的 | |
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37 insinuate | |
vt.含沙射影地说,暗示 | |
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38 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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39 joyfully | |
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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40 remonstrances | |
n.抱怨,抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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41 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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42 pretence | |
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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43 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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44 herd | |
n.兽群,牧群;vt.使集中,把…赶在一起 | |
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45 caresses | |
爱抚,抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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46 discreet | |
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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47 privy | |
adj.私用的;隐密的 | |
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48 redound | |
v.有助于;提;报应 | |
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49 extort | |
v.勒索,敲诈,强要 | |
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50 confiding | |
adj.相信人的,易于相信的v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的现在分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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51 constable | |
n.(英国)警察,警官 | |
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52 rendezvous | |
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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53 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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54 hemming | |
卷边 | |
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55 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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56 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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57 undone | |
a.未做完的,未完成的 | |
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58 guilt | |
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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59 pinioned | |
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60 ingenuity | |
n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 | |
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61 forsake | |
vt.遗弃,抛弃;舍弃,放弃 | |
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62 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
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63 recollected | |
adj.冷静的;镇定的;被回忆起的;沉思默想的v.记起,想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64 entreated | |
恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 persuasion | |
n.劝说;说服;持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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66 delinquent | |
adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
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67 disdain | |
n.鄙视,轻视;v.轻视,鄙视,不屑 | |
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68 detested | |
v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69 procuring | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的现在分词 );拉皮条 | |
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70 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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71 bail | |
v.舀(水),保释;n.保证金,保释,保释人 | |
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72 dilemma | |
n.困境,进退两难的局面 | |
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73 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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74 solicitor | |
n.初级律师,事务律师 | |
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75 abounded | |
v.大量存在,充满,富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 defendant | |
n.被告;adj.处于被告地位的 | |
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77 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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78 conspiracy | |
n.阴谋,密谋,共谋 | |
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79 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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80 dearth | |
n.缺乏,粮食不足,饥谨 | |
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81 dreading | |
v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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82 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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83 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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84 precipitate | |
adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 | |
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85 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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86 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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87 condescended | |
屈尊,俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 ); 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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88 confide | |
v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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89 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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90 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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91 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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92 debauch | |
v.使堕落,放纵 | |
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93 indictment | |
n.起诉;诉状 | |
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94 adversary | |
adj.敌手,对手 | |
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95 postponing | |
v.延期,推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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96 plume | |
n.羽毛;v.整理羽毛,骚首弄姿,用羽毛装饰 | |
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