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Book 3 Chapter 10 The Substance of the Shadow
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`I, ALEXANDRE MANETTE, unfortunate physician, native of Beauvais, and afterwards resident in Paris, write this melancholy1 paper in my doleful cell in the Bastille, during the last month of the year 1767. I write it at stolen intervals2, under every difficulty. I design to secrete3 it in the wall of the chimney, where I have slowly and laboriously4 made a place of
concealment for it. Some pitying hand may find it there, when I and my sorrows are dust.
`These words are formed by the rusty6 iron point with which I write with difficulty in scrapings of soot7 and charcoal8 from the chimney, mixed with blood, in the last month of the tenth year of my captivity9. Hope has quite departed from my breast. I know from terrible warnings I have noted10 in myself that my reason will not long remain unimpaired, but I solemnly declare that I am at this time in the possession of my right mind--that my memory is exact and circumstantial--and that I write the truth as I shall answer for these my last recorded words, whether they be ever read by men or not, at the Eternal Judgment-seat.

`One cloudy moonlight night, in the third week of December (I think the twenty-second of the month) in the year 1757, I was walking on a retired11 part of the quay12 by the Seine for the refreshment13 of the frosty air, at an hour's distance from my place of residence in the Street of the School of Medicine, when a carriage came along behind me, driven very fast. As I stood aside to let that carriage pass, apprehensive14 that it might otherwise run me down, a head was put out at the window, and a voice called to the driver to stop.

`The carriage stopped as soon as the driver could rein15 in his horses, and the same voice called to me by my name. I answered. The carriage was then so far in advance of me that two gentlemen had time to open the door and alight before I came up with it. I observed that they were both wrapped in cloaks and appeared to conceal5 themselves. As they stood carriage door, I also observed that they both looked of about my own age, or rather younger, and that they were greatly alike, in stature16, manner, voice, and (as far as I could see) face too.

`"You are Doctor Manette?" said one.

`"I am."

`"Doctor Manette, formerly17 of Beauvais," said the other; "the young physician, originally an expert surgeon, who within the last year or two has made a rising reputation in Paris?"

`"Gentlemen," I returned, "I am that Doctor Manette of whom you speak so graciously."

`"we have been to your residence," said the first, "and not being so fortunate as to find you there, and being informed that you were probably walking in this direction, we followed, in the hope of overtaking you. Will you please to enter the carriage?"

`The manner of both was imperious, and they both moved, as these words were spoken, so as to place me between themselves and the carriage door. They were armed. I was not.

`"Gentlemen," said I, "pardon me; but I usually inquire who does me the honour to seek my assistance, and what is the nature of the case to which I am summoned."

`The reply to this was made by him who had spoken second. "Doctor, your clients are people of condition. As to the nature of the case, our confidence in your skill assures us that you will ascertain19 it for yourself better than we can describe it. Enough.
Will you please to enter the carriage?"

`I could do nothing but comply, and I entered it in silence. They both entered after me--the last springing in, after putting up the steps. The carriage turned about, and drove on as its former speed.

`I repeat this conversation exactly as it occurred. I have no doubt that it is, work for word, the same. I describe everything exactly as it took place, constraining20 my mind not to wander from the task. Where I make the broken marks that follow here, I leave off for the time, and put my paper in its hiding-place. * * * *

`The carriage left the streets behind, passed the North Barrier, and emerged upon the country road. At two-thirds of a league from the Barrier--I did not estimate the distance at that time, but afterwards when I traversed it--it struck out of the main avenue, and presently stopped at a solitary21 house. We all three alighted, and walked, by a damp soft footpath22 in a garden where a neglected fountain had overflowed23, to the door of the house. It was not opened immediately, in answer to the ringing of the bell, and one of my two conductors struck the man who opened it, with his heavy riding-glove, across the face.

`There was nothing in this action to attract my particular attention, for I had seen common people struck more commonly than dogs. But, the other of the two, being angry like-wise, struck the man in like manner with his arm; the look and bearing of the brothers were then so exactly alike, that I then first perceived them to be twin brothers.

`From the time of our alighting at the outer gate (which we found locked, and which one of the brothers had opened to admit us, and had re-locked), I had heard cries proceeding24 from an upper chamber25. I was conducted to this chamber straight, the cries growing louder as we ascended26 the stairs, and I found a patient in a high fever of the brain, lying on a bed.

`The patient was a woman of great beauty, and young; assuredly not much past twenty. Her hair was torn and ragged27, and her arms were bound to her sides with sashes and handkerchiefs. I noticed that these bonds were all portions of a gentleman's dress. On one of them, which was a fringed Scarf for a dress of ceremony, I saw the armorial bearings of a Noble, and the letter E.

`I saw this, within the first minute of my contemplation of the patient; for, in her restless strivings she had turned over on her face on the edge of the bed, had drawn28 the end of the scarf into her mouth, and was in danger of suffocation29. My first act was to put out my hand to relieve her breathing; and in moving the scarf aside, the embroidery30 in the corner caught my sight.

`I turned her gently over, placed my hands upon her breast to calm her and keep her down, and looked into her face. Her eyes were dilated31 and wild, and she constantly uttered piercing shrieks32, and repeated the words, "My husband, my father, and my brother!" and then counted up to twelve, and said, "Hush33!" For an instant, and no more, she would pause to listen, and then the piercing shrieks would begin again, and she would repeat the cry, "My husband, my father, and my brother!" and would count up to twelve, and say "Hush!" There was no variation in the order, or the manner. There was no cessation, but the regular moment's pause, in the utterance34 of these sounds.

`"How long," I asked, "has this lasted?"

`To distinguish the brothers, I will call them the elder and the younger; by the elder, I mean him who exercised the most authority. It was the elder who replied, "Since about this hour last night."

`"She has a Husband, a father, and a brother?"

`"A brother."

`"I do not address her brother?"

`He answered with great contempt, "No."

`"She has some recent association with the number twelve?"

`The younger brother impatiently rejoined, "With twelve o'clock?"

`"See, gentlemen," said I, still keeping my hands upon her breast, "how useless I am, as you have brought me! If I had known what I was coming to see, I could have come provided. As it is, time must be lost. There are no medicines to be obtained in this lonely place."

`The elder brother looked to the younger, who said haughtily35, "There is a case of medicines here;" and brought it from a closet, and put it on the table. * * *

`I opened some of the bottles, smelt36 them, and put the stoppers to my lips. If I had wanted to use anything save narcotic37 medicines that were poisons in themselves, I would not have administered any of those.

`"Do you doubt them?" asked the younger brother.

`"You see, monsieur, I am going to use them," I replied, and said no more.

`I made the patient swallow, with great difficulty, and after many efforts, the dose that I desired to give. As I intended to repeat it after a while, and as it was necessary to watch its influence, I then sat down by the side of the bed. There was a timid and suppressed woman in attendance (wife of the man down-stairs), who had retreated into a corner. The house was damp and decayed, indifferently furnished--evidently, recently occupied and temporarily used. Some thick old hangings had been nailed up before the windows, to deaden the sound of the shrieks. They continued to be uttered in their regular succession, with the cry, "My husband, my father, and my brother!" the counting up to twelve, and "Hush!" The frenzy38 was so violent, that I had not unfastened the bandages restraining the arms, but, I had looked to them, to see that they were not painful. The only spark of
encouragement in the case, was, that my hand upon the sufferer's breast had this much soothing39 influence, that for minutes at a time it tranquillised the figure. It had no effect upon the cries: no pendulum40 could be more regular.

`For the reason that my hand had this effect (I assume), I had sat by the side of the bed for half an hour, with the two brothers looking on, before the elder said:

`"There is another patient."

`I was startled and asked, "Is it a pressing case?"

`"You had better see," he carelessly answered; and took up a light. * * *

`The other patient lay in a back room across a second staircase, which was a species of loft41 over a stable. There was a low plastered ceiling to a part of it; the rest was open, to the ridge42 of the tiled roof, and there were beams across. Hay and straw were stored in that portion of the place, fagots for firing, and a heap of apples in sand. I had to pass through that part, to get at the other. My memory is circumstantial and unshaken. I try it with these details, and I see them all, in this my cell in the Bastille, near the close of the tenth year of my captivity, as I saw them all that night.

`On some hay on the ground, with a cushion thrown under his head, lay a handsome peasant-boy-a boy of not more than seventeen at the most. He lay on his back, with his teeth set, his right hand clenched43 on his breast, and his glaring eyes looking straight upward. I could not see where his wound was, as I kneeled on one knee over him; but, I could see that he was dying of a wound from a sharp point.

`"I am a doctor, my poor fellow," said I. "Let me examine it."

`"I do not want it examined," he answered; "let it be."

`It was under his hand, and I soothed44 him to let me move his hand away. The wound was a sword-thrust, received from twenty to twenty-four hours before, but no skill could have saved him if it had been looked to without delay. He was then dying fast. As I turned my eyes to the elder brother, I saw him looking down at this handsome boy whose life was ebbing45 out, as if he were a wounded bird, or hare, or rabbit; not at all as if he were a fellow-creature.

`"How has this been done, monsieur?" said I.

`"A crazed young common dog! A serf! Forced my brother to draw upon him, and has fallen by my brother's Sword--like a gentleman."

`There was no touch of pity, sorrow, or kindred humanity, in this answer. The speaker seemed to acknowledge that it was inconvenient46 to have that different order of creature dying there, and that it would' have been better if he had died in the usual obscure routine of his vermin kind. He was quite incapable47 of any compassionate48 feeling about the boy, or about his fate.

`The boy's eyes had slowly moved to him as he had spoken, and they now slowly moved to me.

`"Doctor, they are very proud, these Nobles; but we common dogs are proud too, sometimes. They plunder51 us, outrage52 us, beat us, kill us; but we have a little pride left, sometimes. She--have you seen her, Doctor?"

`The shrieks and the cries were audible there, though subdued53 by the distance. He referred to them, as if she were lying in our presence.

`I said, "I have seen her."

`"She is my sister, Doctor. They have had their shameful54 rights, these Nobles, in the modesty55 and virtue56 of our sisters, many years, but M have had good girls among us. I know it, and have heard my father say so. She was a good girl. She was betrothed57 to a good young man, too: a tenant58 of his. We are all tenants59 of his--that man's who stands there. The other is his brother, the worst of a bad race."

`It was with the greatest difficulty that the boy gathered bodily force to speak; but, his spirit spoke18 with a dreadful emphasis.

`We were so robbed by that man who stands there, as all we common dogs are by those superior Beings--taxed by him without mercy, obliged to work for him without pay, obliged to grind our corn at his mill, obliged to feed scores of his tame birds on our wretched crops, and forbidden for our lives to keep a single tame bird of our own, pillaged61 and plundered62 to that degree that when we chanced to have a bit of meat, we ate it in fear, with the door barred and the shutters63 closed, that his people should not see it and take it from us--I say, we were so robbed, and hunted, and were made so poor, that our father
told us it was a dreadful thing to bring a child into the world, and that what we should most pray for, was, that our women might be barren and our miserable64 race die out!"

`I had never before seen the sense of being oppressed, bursting forth65 like a fire. I had supposed that it must be latent in the people somewhere; but, I had never seen it break out, until I saw it in the dying boy.

`"Nevertheless, Doctor, my sister married. He was ailing66 at that time, poor fellow, and she married her lover, that she might tend and comfort him in our cottage--our dog-hut, as that man would call it. She had not been married many weeks, when that man's brother saw her and admired her, and asked that man to lend her to him--for what are husbands among us! He was willing enough, but my sister was good and virtuous67, and hated his brother with a hatred68 as strong as mine. What did the two then, to persuade her husband to use his influence with her, to make her willing?"

`The boy's eyes, which had been fixed69 on mine, slowly turned to the looker-on, and I saw in the Mo faces that all he said was true. The two opposing kinds of pride confronting one another, I can see, even in this Bastille; the gentleman's all negligent71 indifference72; the peasant's, all trodden-down sentiment, and passionate50 revenge.

`"You know, Doctor, that it is among the Rights of these Nobles to harness us common dogs to carts, and drive us. They so harnessed him and drove him. You know that it is among their Rights to keep us in their grounds all night, quieting the frogs, in order that their noble sleep may not be disturbed. They kept him out in the unwholesome mists at night, and ordered him back into his harness in the day. But he was not persuaded. No! Taken out of harness one day at noon, to feed--if he could find food--he sobbed73 twelve times, once for every stroke of the bell, and died on her bosom74."

`Nothing human could have held life in the boy but his determination to tell all his wrong. He forced back the gathering75 shadows of death, as he forced his clenched right hand to remain clenched, and to cover his wound.

`"Then, with that man's permission and even with his aid, his brother took her away; in spite of what I know she must have told his brother--and what that is, will not be long unknown to you, Doctor, if it is now--his brother took her away--for his pleasure and diversion, for a little while. I saw her pass me on the road. When I took the tidings home, our father's heart burst; he never spoke one of the words that filled it. I took my young sister (for I have another) to a place beyond the reach of this man, and where, at least, she will never be his vassal76. Then, I tracked the brother here, and last night climbed in-a common dog, but
sword in hand.--Where is the loft window? It was somewhere here?"

`The room was darkening to his sight; the world was narrowing around him. I glanced about me, and saw that the hay and straw were trampled77 over the floor, as if there had been a struggle.

`"She heard me, and ran in. I told her not to come near us till he was dead. He came in and first tossed me some pieces of money; then struck at me with a whip. But I, though a common dog, so struck at him as to make him draw. Let him break into as many pieces as he will, the sword that he stained with my common blood; he drew to defend himself--thrust at me with all his skill for his life."

`My glance had fallen, but a few moments before, on the fragments of a broken sword, lying among the hay. That weapon was a gentleman's. In another place, lay an old sword that seemed to have been a soldier's.

`"Now, lift me up, Doctor; lift me up. Where is he?"

`"He is not here," I said, supporting the boy, and thinking that he referred to the brother.

`"He! Proud as these nobles are, he is afraid to see me. Where is the man who was here? Turn my face to him."

`I did so, raising the boy's head against my knee. But, invested for the moment with extraordinary power, he raised himself completely: obliging me to rise too, or I could not have still supported him.

`"Marquis," said the boy, turned to him with his eyes opened wide, and his right hand raised, "in the days when all these things are to be answered for, I summon you and yours, to the last of your bad race, to answer for them. I mark this cross of blood upon you, as a sign that I do it. In the days when all these things are to be answered for, I summon your brother, the worst of the bad race, to answer for them separately. I mark this cross of blood upon him, as a sign that I do it.

`Twice, he put his hand to the wound in his breast, and with forefinger78 drew a cross in the air. He stood for an instant with the finger yet raised, and, as it with it, and I laid him down dead. * * * *

`When I returned to the bedside of the young woman, I found her raving79 in precisely80 the same order and continuity. I knew that this might last for many hours, and that it would probably end in the silence of the grave.

`I repeated the medicines I had given her, and I sat at the side of the bed until the night was far advanced. She never abated81 the piercing quality of her shrieks, never stumbled in the distinctness or the order of her words. They were always "My husband, my father, and my brother! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Hush!"

`This lasted twenty-six hours from the time when I first saw her. I had come and gone twice, and was again sitting by her, when she began to falter82. I did what little could be done to assist that opportunity, and by-and-by she sank into a lethargy, and lay like the dead.

`It was as if the wind and rain had lulled83 at last, after a long and fearful storm. I released her arms, and called the woman to assist me to compose her figure and the dress she had torn. It was then that I knew her condition to be that of one in whom the first expectations of being a mother have arisen; and it was then that I lost the little hope I had had of her.

`"Is she dead?" asked the Marquis, whom I will still describe as the elder brother, coming booted into the room from his horse.

`"Not dead," said I; "but like to die."

`"what strength there is in these common bodies!" he said, looking down at her with some curiosity.

`"There is prodigious84 strength," I answered him, "in sorrow and despair."

`He first laughed at my words, and then frowned at them. He moved a chair with his foot near to mine, ordered the woman away, and said in a subdued voice,

`"Doctor, finding my brother in this difficulty with these hinds85, I recommended that your aid should be invited. Your reputation is high, and, as a young man with your fortune to make, you are probably mindful of your interest. The things that you see here, are things to be seen, and not spoken of."

`I listened to the patient's breathing, and avoided answering.

` "Do you honour me with your attention, Doctor?

`"Monsieur," said I, "in my profession, the communications of patients are always received in confidence." I was guarded in my answer, for I was troubled in my mind with what I had heard and seen.

`Her breathing was so difficult to trace, that I carefully tried the pulse and the heart. There was life, and no more. Looking round as I resumed my seat, I found the brothers intent upon me. * * * *

`I write with so much difficulty, the cold is so severe, I am so fearful of being detected and consigned86 to an underground cell and total darkness, that I must abridge87 this narrative88. There is no confusion or failure in my memory; it can recall, and could detail, every word that was ever spoken between me and those brothers.

`She lingered for a week. Towards the last, I could understand some few syllables89 that she said to me, by placing my ear close to her lips. She asked me where she was, and I told her; who I was, and I told her. It was in vain that I asked her for her family name. She faintly shook her head upon the pillow, and kept her secret, as the boy had done.

`I had no opportunity of asking her any question, until I had told the brothers she was sinking fast, and could not live another day. Until then, though no one was ever presented to her consciousness save the woman and myself, one or other of them had always jealously sat behind the curtain at the head of the bed when I was there. But when it came to that, they seemed careless what communication I might hold with her; as if--the thought passed through my mind--I were dying too.

`I always observed that their pride bitterly resented the younger brother's (as I call him) having crossed swords with a peasant, and that peasant a boy. The only consideration that appeared to affect the mind of either of them was the consideration that this
was highly degrading to the family, and was ridiculous. As often as I caught the younger brother's eyes, their expression reminded me that he disliked me deeply, fur knowing what I knew from the boy. He was smoother and more polite to me than the elder; but I saw this. I also saw that I was an incumbrance in the mind of the elder, too.

`My patient died, two hours before midnight--at a time, by my watch, answering almost to the minute when I had first seen her. I was alone with her, when her forlorn young head trooped gently on one side, and all her earthly wrongs and sorrows ended.

`The brothers were waiting in a room down-stairs, impatient to ride away. I had heard them, alone at the bedside, striking their boots with their riding-whips, and loitering up and down.

`"At last she is dead?" said the elder, when I went in.

`"She is dead," said I.

`"I congratulate you, my brother," were his words as he turned round.

`He had before offered me money, which I had postponed90 taking. He now gave me a rouleau of gold. I took it from his hand, but laid it on the table. I had considered the question, and had resolved to accept nothing.

`"Pray excuse me," said I. "Under the circumstances, no." `They exchanged looks, but bent91 their heads to me as I bent mine to them, and we parted without another word on either side. * * * *

`I am weary, weary, weary--worn down by misery92. I cannot read what I have written with this gaunt hand.

`Early in the morning, the rouleau of gold was left at m' door in a little box, with my name on the outside. From the first, I had anxiously considered what I ought to do. I decided93, that day, to write privately94 to the Minister, stating the nature of the two eases to which I had been summoned, and the place to which I had gone: in effect, stating all the circumstances. I knew what Court influence was, and what the immunities95 of the Nobles were, and I expected that the matter would never be heard of; but, I wished to relieve my own mind. I had kept the matter a profound secret, even from my wife; and this, too, I resolved to state in my letter. I had no apprehension96 whatever of my real danger; but I was conscious that there might be danger for others, if others were compromised by possessing the knowledge that I possessed97.

`I was much engaged that day, and could not complete my letter that night. I rose long before my usual time next morning to finish it. It was the last day of the year. The letter was lying before me just completed, when I was told that a lady waited, who wished to see me. * * * *

`I am growing more and more unequal to the task I have set myself. It is so cold, so dark, my senses are so benumbed, and the gloom upon me is so dreadful.

`The lady was young, engaging, and handsome, but not marked for long life. She was in great agitation98. She presented herself to me as the wife of the Marquis St. Evrémonde. I connected the title by which the boy had addressed the elder brother, with the initial letter embroidered99 on the scarf, and had no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion that I had seen that nobleman very lately.

`My memory is still accurate, but I cannot write the words of Our conversation. I suspect that I am watched more closely than I was, and I know not at what times I may be watched. She had in part suspected, and in part discovered, the main facts of the cruel story, of her husband's share in it, and my being resorted to. She did not know that the girl was dead. Her hope had been, she said in great distress100, to show her, in secret, a woman's sympathy. Her hope had been to avert101 the wrath102 of Heaven from a House that had long been hateful to the suffering many.

`She had reasons for believing that there was a young sister living, and her greatest desire was, to help that sister. I could tell her nothing but that there was such a sister; beyond that, I knew nothing. Her inducement to come to me, relying on my confidence, had been the hope that I could tell her the name and place of abode103. Whereas, to this wretched hour I am ignorant of both. * * * *

`These scraps104 of paper fail me. One was taken from me, with a warning, yesterday. I must finish my record to-day.

`She was a good, compassionate lady, and not happy in her marriage. How could she be! The brother distrusted and disliked her, and his influence was all opposed to her; she stood in dread60 of him, and in dead of her husband too. When I handed her down to the door, there was a child, a pretty boy from two to three years old, in her carriage.

`"For his sake, Doctor," she said, pointing to him in tears, "I would do all I can to make what poor amends105 I can. He will never prosper106 in his inheritance otherwise. I have a presentiment107 that if no other innocent atonement is made for this, it will one day be required of him. What I have left to call my own--it is little beyond the worth of a few jewels--I will make it the first charge of his life to bestow108, with the compassion49 and lamenting109 of his dead mother, on this injured family, if the sister can be discovered."

`She kissed the boy, and said, caressing110 him, "It is for thine own dear sake. Thou wilt111 be faithful, little Charles?" The child answered her bravely, "Yes!" I kissed her hand, and she took him in her arms, and went away caressing him. I never saw her more.

`As she had mentioned her husband's name in the faith that I knew it, I added no mention of it to my letter. I sealed my letter, and, not trusting it out of my own hands, delivered it myself that day.

`That night, the last night of the year, towards nine o'clock, a man in a black dress rang at my gate, demanded to see me, and softly followed my servant, Ernest Defarge, a youth, upstairs. When my servant came into the room where I sat with my wife--O my wife, beloved of my heart! My fair young English wife!--we saw the man, who was supposed to be at the gate, standing112 silent behind him.

`An urgent case in the Rue70 St. Honoré', he said. It would not detain me, he had a coach in waiting.

`It brought me here, it brought me to my grave. When I was clear of the house, a black muffler was drawn tightly over my mouth from behind, and my arms were pinioned113. The two brothers crossed the road from a dark corner, and identified me with a single gesture. The Marquis took from his pocket the letter I had written, showed it me, burnt it in the light of a lantern that was held, and extinguished the ashes with his foot. Not a word was spoken. I was brought here, I was brought to my living grave.

`If it had pleased GOD to put it in the hard heart of either of the brothers, in all these frightful114 years, to grant me any tidings of my dearest wife--so much as to let me know by a word whether alive or dead--I might have thought that He had not quite abandoned them. But, now I believe that the mark of the red cross is fatal to them, and that they have no part in His mercies. And them and their descendants, to the last of their race, I, Alexandre Manette, unhappy prisoner, do this last night of the year 1767, in my unbearable115 agony, denounce to the times when all these things shall be answered for. I denounce them to Heaven and to earth.'

A terrible sound arose when the reading of this document was done. A sound of craving116 and eagerness that had nothing articulate in it but blood. The narrative called up the most revengeful passions of the time, and there was not a head in the nation but must have dropped before it.

Little need, in presence of that tribunal and that auditory, to show how the Defarges had not made the paper public, with the other captured Bastille memorials borne in procession, and had kept it, biding117 their time. Little need to show that this detested
family name had long been anathematised by Saint Antoine, and was wrought118 into the fatal register. The man never trod ground whose virtues119 and Services would have sustained him in that place that day, against such denunciation.

And all the worse for the doomed120 man, that the denouncer was a well-known citizen, his own attached friend, the father of his wife. One of the frenzied121 aspirations122 of the populace was, for imitations of the questionable123 public virtues of antiquity124, and for sacrifices and self-immolations on the people's altar. Therefore when the President said (else had his own head quivered on his shoulders), that the good physician of the Republic would deserve better still of the Republic by rooting out an obnoxious125 family of Aristocrats126, and would doubtless feel a sacred glow and joy in making his daughter a widow and her child an orphan128, there was wild excitement, patriotic129 fervour, not a touch of human sympathy.

`Much influence around him, has that Doctor?' murmured Madame Defarge, smiling to The Vengeance130. `Save him now, my Doctor, save him!'

At every juryman's vote, there was a roar. Another and another. Roar and roar.

Unanimously voted. At heart and by descent an Aristocrat127, an enemy of the Republic, a notorious oppressor of the People. Back to the Conciergerie, and Death within four-and-twenty hours!


“我,不幸的医生亚历山大.曼内特,波维市人,后居巴黎,于一七六七年最后一个月在巴士底狱凄凉的牢房里写下这份悲惨的记录。我打算把它藏在烟囱墙壁里——我花了很长的时间,下了极大的功夫才挖出了这个隐藏之地。在我和我的悲哀都归于尘土之后也许会有人怀着怜惜之情在这里找到它。

“我是在被幽禁的第十年的最后一个月用生锈的铁尖蘸着从烟囱刮下的烟炭和木炭末拌和了我的血很吃力地书写的。我心里已不再存有希望。我从自己身上的可怕征兆看出,我的神智不久即将遭到破坏。但我庄严宣布我现在神智绝对清楚,记忆完全准确,我所写下的全是事实,我可以在永恒的审判席位上为我所写的最后记录负责,无论是否有人会读到它。

“一七五七年十二月第三周一个多云的月夜(我想是二十二日夜),我在塞纳河码头边一个行人已稀的地点散步,想借霜冻的空气清凉一下。“那地方距我在医学院街的住处有一小时路程。这时一辆飞驰的马车从我身后赶来,我怕被它撞伤,急忙闪到路边,让它过去,车窗里却伸出一个头来,一个声音命令车夫停下。

“车夫一收马缰,车停下了,刚才那个声音叫着我的名字,我答应了。那时马车已在我前面颇远,在我走到车前时,两位绅士已开门下了车。我观察到两人都用大氅裹紧,仿佛不愿叫别人认出。他俩并排站在车门边,我观察到他们跟我年纪相仿,也许略小一点,而且两人的高矮、神态、声音和面貌(就我所能看到的部分而言)都十分相像。

“‘你是曼内特医生么?’一个说。

“‘是的。’

“‘曼内特医生,以前住在波维,’另一个说,‘年轻的内科医生,最初原是外科专家,近一两年在巴黎名气越来越大,是么?’

“‘先生们,’我回答道,‘我就是曼内特医生,你们过奖了。’

“‘我们到你家去过,’第一个说,‘运气不好,没找到你,听说你可能往这个方向走,便跟着来了,希望能赶上你。请上车吧!’

“两人架子都很大,一边说话,一边走了上来,把我夹在他们和马车车门之间。两人都带着武器,我却没有。

“‘先生们,’我说,‘对不起,但我一向是要事先了解是谁赏光要我出诊,病号的情况如何的。’

“回答的是第二个说话的人。‘医生,你的病家是有地位的人。至于病人情况,我们信服你的医术,用不着我们介绍,你自己会知道的。行了,请上车吧!’

“我无可奈何,只好服从,一言不发上了车。两人也跟着上来了——第二个人是收了踏脚板跳上来的。马车掉过头,用刚才的速度飞驰而去。

“我是按实际情况复述这次谈话的,字字句句都如实记录,这我毫不怀疑。我控制了我的思想,不让它游离我的工作。我如实准确地描述了一切。我在这里划上暂停号,把我写下的文件隐藏起来,准备以后再写。”

“马车把街道丢在后面,穿过北门关隘进入乡间道路。在离开关隘三分之二里格时——当时我没有估计距离,是在下次通过时估计的—一马车离开了大路,在一套独立的宅院前停下了。我们下了车,沿着花园潮湿柔软的小径走去。那儿有一温泉水,由于无人管理,已经溢流出来,流到宅院门口。拉了门铃却无人立即开门,等到门开了,引我来此的其中一人便用他那厚重的骑马手套揍了来开门的人一个耳光。

“这个行为并未引起我多大注意,普通老百姓像狗一样挨打我已司空见惯。但是,另一个人也生气了,伸出胳膊又揍了那人一家伙。这时我才第一次发现他们是孪生兄弟。

“住宅的门锁着。两兄弟之一开了门让我们进去,然后又反锁上了。从我们刚在院落大门下车时起我就听见楼上屋里有哭喊声。我被径直带进了那屋子。上楼时那叫声越来越大,我发现一个病人躺在床上,害了脑炎,发着高烧。

“病人是个绝色美女,很年轻,无疑刚过二十。她头发蓬松披散,两臂用带子和手巾捆在身体两侧。我注意到这些捆绑用品都来自男人的服装。其中之一是穿礼服用的绣有花边的围巾。在那上面我看到一个贵族纹章和字母E。

“这一切是我在研究病人的第一分钟发现的,因为病人在不断挣扎时已翻过身子把脸转向了床边,让围巾的一角卷进了嘴里,有被窒息而死的危险。我的第一个动作是伸出手来解除她的危险;在拉开围巾时,巾角上的刺绣落入了我的眼里。

“我把她轻轻翻过身来,双手放在她胸上,让她平静,也让她躺好,同时看看她的脸。她瞪大了眼睛,神志不清,不断发出尖锐的呼喊,反复地叫着:‘我的丈夫,我的爸爸,我的弟弟!’接着便从一数到十二,然后说,‘嘘!’像这样周而复始,次序不变,态度也不变。除了那固定的停顿之外一直没有住口。

“‘这种情况有多久了?’我问。

“为了区别两个弟兄,我把他俩分别叫作哥哥和弟弟。我把那最权威的叫哥哥。哥哥回答道,‘大约从咋天晚上这时候开始的。’

“‘她有丈夫、父亲和弟弟吗?’

“‘有一个弟弟。’

“‘我不是在跟她的哥哥说话吧?’

“他非常轻蔑地回答道,‘不是。’

“‘她近来有什么跟数字十二有关的事么?’

“弟弟不耐烦地插嘴道,‘十二点钟!’

“‘你们看,先生们,’我说,我的手仍在她胸口上,‘你们像这样把我带了来,我是无能为力的!我若早知道是来看什么病,就可以带好应用的药品。像现在这样,只能是浪费时间。在这种偏远的地方哪几有药呢。’

“哥哥望了弟弟一眼,弟弟傲慢地说,‘有个药品箱。’他便从一间小屋里把它取了出来,放在桌上。”

“我打开几个药瓶,嗅了嗅,用嘴唇碰了碰瓶塞,这里的药除了本身就是毒药的麻醉剂之外,并没有我要用的药。

“‘这些药你不放心么?’弟弟问。

“‘你看,先生,我会用的,’我回答,就再也没说话。

“我费了很大的力气,想了许多办法把我要用的药给她喂了下去。因为过一会儿还得用药,现在也要观察疗效,我便在床边坐了下来。有一个很胆小的怯生生的妇女在服侍(她是楼下那人的妻子),此刻退到了一个角落里。那房子非常潮湿腐朽,家具也很平常——显然是最近才临时使用的。窗前钉了些陈旧的厚窗帘,想要挡住那尖叫声。尖叫继续有规律地发出,‘我的丈夫,我的爸爸,我的弟弟:’数到十二,然后是‘嘘!’病人很疯狂,我没敢解掉捆缚她双臂的带子,却也作了检查,设法不让她疼痛。病人溅出的唯一令我鼓舞的火星是我放在她胸前的手产生了抚慰的效果,有时能让那身躯平静一点,但是对尖叫却没有作
用:没有钟摆比它更准时的

“因为自以为我的手有这种效果,我在床边坐了半个小时,弟兄俩在旁边看着。后来哥哥说:

“还有一个病人。’

“我吃了一惊问,‘是危重病么?’

“‘你还是自己去看吧,’他满不在乎地回答,说时拿起了一盏灯。”

“另一个病人在另一道楼梯后的一间房里。那房间在马厩的上方,也可算是一种阁楼。楼顶有低矮的天花板,一部分抹了石粉,剩下的部分却空着,露出瓦房顶的屋脊和横梁。那是堆放麦秸和干草的地方,也放木柴,还存放着一堆埋在沙里的苹果。我穿过那地方来到病号面前。我的记忆精确无误。我用这些细节来审查我的记忆力。在我被幽禁快满十年的此刻,在巴士底狱我的牢房里,那天晚上的景象全都历历如在我眼前。

“一个英俊的农村少年躺在地上的干草里,头下枕着一个扔在地上的垫子。他最多只有十七岁。他右手捂着胸口躺在地上,咬紧牙关,圆睁着双眼望着头顶。我在他身边跪下一条腿,却看不见他的伤在哪里。我可以看出他因锐器刺伤,快要死去了。

“‘我是个医生,可怜的朋友,’我说,‘让我检查一下吧。’

“‘我不要检查,’他回答,‘随它去。’

“伤口在他捂住的地方,我说服他拿开了手。是剑伤,受伤时间大约在二十至二十四小时以前。但是即使他当时立即得到治疗也已无术可治。他正在迅速死去。我转过眼去看那位哥哥,只见他低头望着这个英俊少年的生命在消逝,只如看着一只受了伤的鸟或兔,一点也不像看着跟他相同的人类。

一这是怎么回事,先生?’我问。

“‘一条小疯狗!一个农奴!逼着我弟弟拔剑决斗,把他杀了——倒像个贵族一样。’

“那答话里没有一丝怜悯、痛苦,或是人类的同情。说话人似乎承认那个卑贱的生物死在这儿不太方便,认为他还是像虫子那样默默无闻地死去为好。对于那少年和他的命运,他根本不可能表示同情。

“他说话时,那少年的眼睛慢慢转向了他,这时又慢慢转向了我。

“‘医生,这些贵族非常骄傲。可我们这些卑贱的狗有时也很骄傲。他们掠夺我们、侮辱我们、殴打我们、杀死我们,可我们有时也还剩下点自尊心。她——你见到她了么,医生?’

“虽然距离很远,但那尖叫在这儿也还隐约可闻。他指的就是那尖叫,仿佛她就躺在我们身边。

“我说,‘我见到她了。’

她是我姐姐,医生。多少年来这些贵族对我们的姐妹们的贞操和德行就拥有一种可耻的权利,可我们也有好姑娘。这我知道,也听我爸爸说过。我姐姐就是个好姑娘,而且跟一个好青年订了婚,我姐夫是他的佃户。我们都是他的佃户——站在那边那个家伙。那另一个是他的弟弟,是一个恶劣的家族里最恶劣的人。’

“那少年是克服了最大的困难才集中了全身的力量说出话来的,但是他的神色却起着可怕的强调作用。

“‘我们这些卑贱的狗就要挨那些高贵的家伙的抢掠。站在那边的那个家伙,他抢夺我们,逼我们交苛捐杂税,逼我们给他们做事、不给报酬,逼我们到他的磨坊磨面。他的鸡鸭鹅大群大群地吃我们少得可怜的庄稼,却一只鸡鸭都不准我们喂养。他把我们抢得干干净净,我们若是有了一小片肉,只好闩上门,闭上窗,提心吊胆地吃,怕被他的人看见拿走—一我说,我们给抢得、逼得、刮得太苦了,我爸爸对我们说生孩子很可怕,我们最应当祈祷的就是让我们的妇女不要生育,让我们悲惨的种族灭绝!’

“被压迫者的痛苦像烈火一样爆发燃烧的情况我还从来没看见过。我原以为它只能隐藏在人们心里的什么地方呢!可现在我却在这个快要死去的少年身上看见了。

“‘不过,我姐姐却结婚了。那时她的情人在生病,可怜的人,她却嫁给了他。她想在我们的农家屋里—一这家伙叫它狗窝——照顾他,安慰他。她结婚才几个星期这家伙的弟弟就看见了她。他看中了她的漂亮,要求这家伙把我姐姐借给他使用——在我们这种人当中丈夫算得了什么!这家伙倒很愿意,但是我姐姐却又善良又贞洁,对这家伙的弟弟怀着跟我一样强烈的仇恨。为了逼迫我的姐夫对姐姐施加影响,让她同意,这一对弟兄干出了些什么样的事呀!’

“那少年一双眼睛原先望着我,此时却慢慢转向了我身边那个人。我从这两张面孔上看出那少年的话全是真的。就是此刻在巴士底狱里我也还能看到两种针锋相对的骄傲彼此的对峙。一面是贵族的骄傲,轻蔑,冷淡;一面是农民的骄傲,被践踏的感情和强烈的复仇情绪。

“‘你知道,医生,按照贵族的权利,我们只是些卑贱的狗,他们可以把我们套在车辕上赶着走。他们便这样把我姐夫套上车辕赶着走了。你知道,他们有权让我们通夜在地里轰青蛙,不让它们干扰老爷们高贵的睡眠。他们夜里逼迫我姐夫在有害的雾气里干活,白天又命令他回来套车。可是我姐夫仍然不听他们的。不听!一天中午他被从车轭上放下来吃东西——若是他还找得到东西吃的话——他呜咽了十二声,每一声呜咽正好有一声钟声相伴,然后便死在我姐姐怀里。’

“若不是有他倾诉冤情的决心支持,人世间是没有力量让他活下去的。他的右手仍然紧握着,捂住伤口,逼退了逐渐加重的死亡的阴影。

“‘然后,那弟弟得到了这家伙的同意,甚至帮助,把我姐姐弄来了,尽管她告诉了他一件事——我知道她一定会告诉他的,这事如果你现在还不知道,马上也会知道的。他的弟弟把我姐姐带走’了。他拿她寻开心,消遣了几天。我在路上看见她路过,把消息带回家里,我爸爸便心碎而死。他满腹冤屈,却一个字也没说。我把我的小妹妹(我还有个妹妹)带到了一个这家伙找不到的地方,她在那儿至少可以不做他的奴仆。然后我便跟踪他的弟弟来到这里,昨天晚上刻进了院子——一条卑贱的狗,手里却有一柄剑。阁楼的窗户在哪儿?就在这旁边么?’

“在他眼中全屋黑了下来,周围的世界越缩越小。我向四面望望,看到麦秸干草踩得乱成一片,似乎这里有过搏斗。

“‘我姐姐听见我的声音,跑了进来。我要她在我杀掉那家伙之前别靠近我。那家伙进来了,先是扔给我一些钱,然后便用鞭子抽我。可是我却用剑刺他,逼他跟我决斗一—虽然我是条卑贱的狗。他拔出剑来保护自己,为了保住性命,他施展出了浑身解数。我使他把他那剑折成了几段,因为那上面染上了我卑贱的血。’

“刚才我曾在干草堆里瞥见一把折成几段的剑。那是贵族的佩剑。在另一个地方,还有一把老式的剑,似乎是士兵用的。

“‘现在,扶我起来吧,医生,扶我起来。他在哪儿?’

“‘他不在这儿。’我扶起少年,估计他指的是那哥哥。

“‘他!这些贵族尽管骄傲,他却害怕见我。刚才还在这儿的那个人呢?把我的脸转向他。’

“我照办了,抬起少年的头靠在我的膝盖上。但是少年此刻却具有了超乎寻常的力气,完全站直了身子,逼得我也站了起来,否则我便扶不住他。

“‘侯爵’少年圆睁了双眼对他转过身去,举起右手,‘等到清算这一笔笔血债的日子,我要你和你全家,直到你的种族的最后一个人对这一切承担责任。我对你画上这个血十字,记下我的要求。等到清算这一笔笔血债的日子,我要你的弟弟,你那卑劣种族中最卑劣的家伙,单独对此承担责任。我对他画上这个血十字,记下我的要求。’,

“他两次伸手到胸前的伤口上,然后用食指在空中画着十字。他举着手还站了一会儿,手落下时人也倒下了。我放下了他,他已经死了。”

“我回到那年轻妇女身边时,发现她仍按刚才的顺序一成不变地吃语尖叫。我知道那种情况还可能继续许多小时,十之八九要在坟墓的沉默里才能结束。

“我又让她服下刚才用的药,然后在她身边直坐到深夜。她的呼喊仍然尖利,她的话语仍然清楚,顺序也从不改变。总是‘我的丈.夫,我的爸爸,我的弟弟!一,二,三,四,五,六,七,八,九,十,十一,十二。嘘!’

“从我初见她时算起,她一直喊叫了二十六个小时。其间我曾离开过她两次。在我又一次坐到她身边时,她开始虚弱下来。我竭尽全力帮助她,但愿能有几分希望,可是不久她便昏沉了,像死人一样躺着。

“仿佛是一场可怕的漫长的风暴终于过去,风停了,雨止了。我放下了她的双臂,叫那个妇女来帮助我整理好她的容貌和撕开的衣衫。那时我才发觉她已经出现了最初的妊娠迹象,也是在那时我对她怀着的一点点希望终于破灭了。

她死了吗?’侯爵问,我还是把他称作哥哥吧。那哥哥刚下了马,穿着靴子进到屋里。

“‘没有死,’我说,‘但看来是要死了。’

一这些卑贱的家伙精力多么旺盛呀!’他低头看她,好奇地说。

“‘痛苦和绝望之中存在着极其强大的力量!’我回答他。

“他听见这话先是笑了笑,可马上便皱起了眉头。他用脚推了一把椅子到我的椅子面前,命令那仆妇出去,然后压低了嗓子说:

医生,在发现我的弟弟跟这些乡巴佬有了麻烦之后,我推荐了你来帮忙。你很有名气,是个前程远大的青年,也许懂得关心自己的前程。你在这儿见到的一切是只可以看、不可以外传的。’

“我只听着病人的呼吸,避而不答。

“‘你给我面子,听见我的话了么,医生?’

“‘先生,’我说,‘干我这种职业的人对病家的话都是保密的。’我的回答很警惕,因为我的所见所闻使我心里很痛苦。

“她的呼吸已很难听见,我仔细地把了把脉,摸了摸胸口。还活着,但也只是活着而已。我回到座位上回头一看,两弟兄都在注视着我。”

“我写得非常吃力,天气很寒冷,我非常害怕被发现后关到漆黑一团的地牢里去,因此,我得压缩我的叙述。我的记忆没有混乱,也没有失误。对我和那两弟兄之间的对话,我能回忆起每一个字和每一个细节。,

“她拖了一个礼拜,在她快死的时候,我把耳朵放到她的唇边,听见了她对我说的一些音节。她问我她在哪儿,我回答了;她问我是谁,我也回答了。我问她姓什么,她却没有回答。她在枕上轻轻摇了摇头,跟她弟弟一样保守了秘密。

“我告诉那两弟兄她的病情已急剧恶化,再也活不到一天了。这时我才有了机会问她问题。在那以前,除了那个妇女和我之外再也没有让她意识到还有别人在场。而只要我在场,那两兄弟总有一个警惕地坐在床头的帘子背后。可到那以后,他俩对我可能跟她说些什么仿佛已不在乎了。一个念头闪过我心里:我大约也快死了。

“我一直感到两弟兄都以弟弟曾跟一个农民(而且是个少年)决斗为奇耻大辱。他们唯一关心的好像只是这事非常有辱门风,荒唐可笑。我每一次看见那弟弟的眼光都感到他很憎恶我,因为我听见了那少年的话,知道了许多内情。他比他哥哥对我要圆滑些,客气些,但我仍看出了这一点。我也明白我是那哥哥心里的一块病。

“我的病人在午夜前两小时死去了——从我的表看,跟我初见她的时刻几乎分秒不差。她那年轻的悲伤的头轻轻向旁边一歪、结束了她在人间的冤屈与悲痛时,只有我一个人在她身边。

“那两弟兄在楼下一间房里不耐烦地等着,他们急着要走。我一个人坐在床前时就已听见他们用马鞭抽打着靴子,踱来踱去。

“‘她终于死了么?’我一进屋哥哥便说。

“‘死了,’我说。

“‘祝贺你,弟弟,’他转过身子说出的竟是这样的话。

“以前他曾给我钱,我都拖延不肯接受。现在他又递给我一纸筒金币,我从他手里接下,却放到了桌上。我已经考虑过了,决定什么也不收。

“‘请原谅,’我说,‘在目前情况下,我不能收。’

“两弟兄交换了一下眼色,却对我点了点头,因为我正在对他们点头。我们分了手,再也没有说话。”

“我很厌倦,厌倦,厌倦—一痛苦使我憔悴不堪。我无法读我这只瘦骨嶙峋的手写下的文字。

“清晨一大早那筒金币又装在一个小匣子里放在了我的门口,外面写着我的名字。从一开始我就在焦虑着该怎么办,那天我便决定写封私信给大臣,把我所诊治的两个病号的性质和地点告诉了他。实际上我把我所知道的一切全部讲了。我明白宫廷权势的意义,也知道贵族的种种豁免权,也估计这件事不会有人知道,但我只想解除良心上的不安。我把这事严格保密,连我的妻子也没告诉。我决定把这一点也写在信里。我并不懂得我所面临的真正危险,但我意识到若是让别人知道了,卷了进来,他们也可能会遇到危险。

“我那天很忙,晚上没来得及写完信。第二天我比平时早起了许多,把它写完了。那是那一年的最后一天。我写完了信,信还摆在面前,便听说有一位夫人等着要见我。”

“我要想完成自己规定的任务越来越感到力不从心了。天太冷,牢房太黑,我的知觉太麻木,笼罩在我身上的阴云也太可怖。

“那位夫人年轻漂亮,令人倾倒,看去却已寿命不长了。她十分激动,向我介绍自己是圣.埃佛瑞蒙德侯爵夫人。我把那少年对那哥哥的称呼跟围巾上的字母E一对号,便不难得出结论:我最近所见到的便是那位贵族。

“我的记忆仍然准确,但是我不能把我跟侯爵夫人的谈话都写出来。我怀疑自己受到了更加严密的监视,而又不知道什么时候受到监视。侯爵夫人半靠发现、半靠推测明白了那残暴事件的主要情节,也知道了她丈夫在其中扮演的角色和请我治疗的事。她并不知道那姑娘已经死了。她非常痛苦地说,希望秘密地对那姑娘表示一个女人的同情。长期以来这个家族遭到了许多含冤受苦者的痛恨,她希望这不至引来上天的震怒。

“她有理由相信这家还有一个小妹妹活着。她的最大愿望便是帮助那小妹妹。我除了告诉她确实有这么一个妹妹之外说不出什么其它的话,因为我此外一无所知。她来找我的动力是希望我信任她,把那小妹妹的名字和地点告诉她。可是直到眼前这悲惨的时刻我却对此一无所知。”

“这些七零八碎的纸不够用了。昨天他们从我这几拿走了一张,还警告了我。我今天必须写完我的记录。

“她是个富于同情心的好太太,婚姻很不幸福。她怎么可能幸福呢!小叔子不信任她,不喜欢她。在他的势力之下大家都跟她作对。她怕他,也怕她的丈夫。我送她下楼来到门口时,她的马车里有一个孩子,一个漂亮的孩子,大约两三岁。

“‘为了孩子的缘故,医生,’她流着眼泪指着孩子说,‘我愿竭尽我可怜的一点力量进行弥补。否则他继承下来的东西对他绝不会有好处。我有一种预感,对这次事件若是没有作出清清白白的弥补,总有一天是会叫孩子来承担责任的。我仅有的一点可以称作个人所有的东西只是一些珠宝首饰。若是能找到那小妹妹,我给孩子的平生第一个任务就是把这点珠宝连同她亡母的同情与哀悼赠送给这个受到摧残的家庭。’

“她吻了吻孩子,爱抚着说,‘那是为了你好呢。你会守信用么,小查尔斯?’孩子勇敢地回答道,‘会的!’我吻了吻夫人的手,她抱起那孩子爱抚着他离开了。从此我再也没见过她。

“由于她深信我知道她丈夫的姓名,所以提起了它,我在信里却井未提名道姓。我封好了信,不愿交给别人,那天便亲自去付了邮费。

“那天晚上,亦即那年除夕晚上九点钟,一个穿黑衣的人拉响了我家的门铃,要求见我。他轻乎轻脚跟在我年轻的仆人欧内斯特.德伐日身后上了楼。我的仆人走进屋子,我跟我的妻子——啊,我的妻子,我心里最爱的人!我年轻美丽的英国妻子!——正坐在屋里,她看见那人不声不响站在他身后,而他是应当留在大门外的。

“他说圣奥诺雷街有人得了急病,不会耽误我多少时间,他有马车等候。

“那马车便把我带到了这儿,带进了我的坟墓。我刚出门,一条黑色的围巾便从身后勒紧了我的嘴,我的双手被反剪了起来。那两个弟兄从一个黑暗角落走出,打了一个手势,表示已验明正身。侯爵从口袋里取出我写的信,让我看了看,一言未发,在举起的风灯上点燃、烧掉了,又用脚踩灭了灰烬。我被带到了这里。带进了我的坟墓。

“若是上帝高兴,在这些可怕的岁月里曾让那铁石心肠的弟兄之一想起给我一点有关我最亲爱的妻子的消息,哪怕是一句话——她究竟是死是活——我也能认为上帝还没有完全抛弃他们。但是现在,我却相信那血十字已决定了他们的命运,上帝的怜悯已全没有他们的份。我,亚历山大.曼内特’,不幸的囚徒,在一七六七年的最后一夜,在我无法忍受的痛苦之中,对他们和他们的后裔,直到他们家族的最后一人,发出我的控诉。我向这一切罪孽得到清算的日子发出控诉。我向上天和大地控诉他们。”

手稿一读完便爆发出一片可怕的喧嚣。是渴望与急切的喧嚣,喧嚣中除了“血”字之外别的话都听不清。这番叙述唤起了那个时代最强烈的复仇情绪。这种情绪的锋芒所向是没有一个人头不会落地的。

当初在巴士底狱缴获的纪念品都曾被抬着游行,而德伐日夫妇却把这份手稿隐藏起来,秘而不宣,等待时机。这是为什么?可这样的法庭和这样的听众是不想追究的。这个受人憎恨的家族的名字长期以来就受到圣安托万的诅咒,而且被列入了死亡名单,这也是用不着追究的。世界上还没有任何人的德行和功勋能在那一天的那个地方抵挡得住那样的控诉的冲击。

使那注定要灭亡的人特别倒霉的是,那控诉他的人是一个声望很高的公民,是他自己的亲密朋友,他妻子的父亲。人群的一个疯狂理想是追效一种颇有问题的古代道德,以自我牺牲作为人民祭坛上的祭品。因此,庭长便说(他若不这样说,他的脑袋在他肩上也保不住)那善良的医生是会因为根除了一个令人憎恶的贵族家庭而更加受到共和国尊敬的。他无疑会因为把他的女儿变作寡妇、把外孙变作孤儿而感到一种神圣的光荣和快乐。此话唤起了一片疯狂的激动和爱国的狂热,此时人类的同情已荡然无存。

“那医生在他周围不是很有影响么?”德伐日太太对复仇女神笑笑说,“现在你来救他吧,医生,来救他吧!,

陪审团员每投一票,便掀起一片鼓噪。一票,又一票;鼓噪,又鼓噪。

全票通过。从心灵到血统的贵族、共和国的敌人、臭名昭著的人民压迫者,押回附属监狱,二十四小时之内执行死刑。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 melancholy t7rz8     
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的
参考例句:
  • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
  • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
2 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息
参考例句:
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
3 secrete hDezG     
vt.分泌;隐匿,使隐秘
参考例句:
  • The pores of your body secrete sweat.身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
  • Squirrels secrete a supply of nuts for winter.松鼠为准备过冬而藏坚果。
4 laboriously xpjz8l     
adv.艰苦地;费力地;辛勤地;(文体等)佶屈聱牙地
参考例句:
  • She is tracing laboriously now. 她正在费力地写。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She is laboriously copying out an old manuscript. 她正在费劲地抄出一份旧的手稿。 来自辞典例句
5 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
6 rusty hYlxq     
adj.生锈的;锈色的;荒废了的
参考例句:
  • The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
  • I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用,我的法语又荒疏了。
7 soot ehryH     
n.煤烟,烟尘;vt.熏以煤烟
参考例句:
  • Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
  • The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。
8 charcoal prgzJ     
n.炭,木炭,生物炭
参考例句:
  • We need to get some more charcoal for the barbecue.我们烧烤需要更多的碳。
  • Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。
9 captivity qrJzv     
n.囚禁;被俘;束缚
参考例句:
  • A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
  • He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。
10 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
11 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
12 quay uClyc     
n.码头,靠岸处
参考例句:
  • There are all kinds of ships in a quay.码头停泊各式各样的船。
  • The side of the boat hit the quay with a grinding jar.船舷撞到码头发出刺耳的声音。
13 refreshment RUIxP     
n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点
参考例句:
  • He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。
  • A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。
14 apprehensive WNkyw     
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的
参考例句:
  • She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
  • He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。
15 rein xVsxs     
n.疆绳,统治,支配;vt.以僵绳控制,统治
参考例句:
  • The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
  • He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。
16 stature ruLw8     
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材
参考例句:
  • He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
  • The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。
17 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。
18 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。
19 ascertain WNVyN     
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清
参考例句:
  • It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
  • We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。
20 constraining cc35429b91ea67e2478332bc4d1c3be7     
强迫( constrain的现在分词 ); 强使; 限制; 约束
参考例句:
  • He was constraining his mind not to wander from the task. 他克制着不让思想在工作时开小差。
  • The most constraining resource in all of these cases is venture capital. 在所有这些情况下最受限制的资源便是投入资本。
21 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
22 footpath 9gzzO     
n.小路,人行道
参考例句:
  • Owners who allow their dogs to foul the footpath will be fined.主人若放任狗弄脏人行道将受处罚。
  • They rambled on the footpath in the woods.他俩漫步在林间蹊径上。
23 overflowed 4cc5ae8d4154672c8a8539b5a1f1842f     
溢出的
参考例句:
  • Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
  • A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 proceeding Vktzvu     
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
参考例句:
  • This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
  • The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
25 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
26 ascended ea3eb8c332a31fe6393293199b82c425     
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
28 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。
29 suffocation b834eadeaf680f6ffcb13068245a1fed     
n.窒息
参考例句:
  • The greatest dangers of pyroclastic avalanches are probably heat and suffocation. 火成碎屑崩落的最大危害可能是炽热和窒息作用。 来自辞典例句
  • The room was hot to suffocation. 房间热得闷人。 来自辞典例句
30 embroidery Wjkz7     
n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品
参考例句:
  • This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品,使人惊叹不已。
  • This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。
31 dilated 1f1ba799c1de4fc8b7c6c2167ba67407     
adj.加宽的,扩大的v.(使某物)扩大,膨胀,张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyes dilated with fear. 她吓得瞪大了眼睛。
  • The cat dilated its eyes. 猫瞪大了双眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 shrieks e693aa502222a9efbbd76f900b6f5114     
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声
  • For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来, 报纸上, 广播里, 舞台上, 会场上的声嘶力竭,装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
33 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
34 utterance dKczL     
n.用言语表达,话语,言语
参考例句:
  • This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。
  • My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽,泣不成声。
35 haughtily haughtily     
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地
参考例句:
  • She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
  • Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯,走到二楼,我刚好站在那儿。
36 smelt tiuzKF     
v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼
参考例句:
  • Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
  • Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法,他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼,而改用焦炭。
37 narcotic u6jzY     
n.麻醉药,镇静剂;adj.麻醉的,催眠的
参考例句:
  • Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。
  • No medical worker is allowed to prescribe any narcotic drug for herself.医务人员不得为自己开处方使用麻醉药品。
38 frenzy jQbzs     
n.疯狂,狂热,极度的激动
参考例句:
  • He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
  • They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。
39 soothing soothing     
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的
参考例句:
  • Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
  • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
40 pendulum X3ezg     
n.摆,钟摆
参考例句:
  • The pendulum swung slowly to and fro.钟摆在慢慢地来回摆动。
  • He accidentally found that the desk clock did not swing its pendulum.他无意中发现座钟不摇摆了。
41 loft VkhyQ     
n.阁楼,顶楼
参考例句:
  • We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。
  • By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下,他们就可以多出两间卧室。
42 ridge KDvyh     
n.山脊;鼻梁;分水岭
参考例句:
  • We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
  • The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。
43 clenched clenched     
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
  • She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上,以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 soothed 509169542d21da19b0b0bd232848b963     
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
  • The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
45 ebbing ac94e96318a8f9f7c14185419cb636cb     
(指潮水)退( ebb的现在分词 ); 落; 减少; 衰落
参考例句:
  • The pain was ebbing. 疼痛逐渐减轻了。
  • There are indications that his esoteric popularity may be ebbing. 有迹象表明,他神秘的声望可能正在下降。
46 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
47 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
48 compassionate PXPyc     
adj.有同情心的,表示同情的
参考例句:
  • She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
  • The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。
49 compassion 3q2zZ     
n.同情,怜悯
参考例句:
  • He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
  • Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。
50 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
51 plunder q2IzO     
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠
参考例句:
  • The thieves hid their plunder in the cave.贼把赃物藏在山洞里。
  • Trade should not serve as a means of economic plunder.贸易不应当成为经济掠夺的手段。
52 outrage hvOyI     
n.暴行,侮辱,愤怒;vt.凌辱,激怒
参考例句:
  • When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
  • We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。
53 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
54 shameful DzzwR     
adj.可耻的,不道德的
参考例句:
  • It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己,真不害臊。
  • We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。
55 modesty REmxo     
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素
参考例句:
  • Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
  • As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后,谦虚使人进步。
56 virtue BpqyH     
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
参考例句:
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
57 betrothed betrothed     
n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • She is betrothed to John. 她同约翰订了婚。
  • His daughter was betrothed to a teacher. 他的女儿同一个教师订了婚。
58 tenant 0pbwd     
n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用
参考例句:
  • The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
  • The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
59 tenants 05662236fc7e630999509804dd634b69     
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 );佃户;占用者;占有者
参考例句:
  • A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
  • Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
60 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。
61 pillaged 844deb1d24d194f39d4fc705e49ecc5b     
v.抢劫,掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • They are to be pillaged and terrorised in Hitler's fury and revenge. 在希特勒的狂怒和报复下,他们还遭到掠夺和恐怖统治。 来自辞典例句
  • They villages were pillaged and their crops destroyed. 他们的村子被抢,他们的庄稼被毁。 来自辞典例句
62 plundered 02a25bdd3ac6ea3804fb41777f366245     
掠夺,抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Many of our cultural treasures have been plundered by imperialists. 我国许多珍贵文物被帝国主义掠走了。
  • The imperialists plundered many valuable works of art. 帝国主义列强掠夺了许多珍贵的艺术品。
63 shutters 74d48a88b636ca064333022eb3458e1f     
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 ); (照相机的)快门
参考例句:
  • The shop-front is fitted with rolling shutters. 那商店的店门装有卷门。
  • The shutters thumped the wall in the wind. 在风中百叶窗砰砰地碰在墙上。
64 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。
65 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。
66 ailing XzzzbA     
v.生病
参考例句:
  • They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
  • She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。
67 virtuous upCyI     
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的
参考例句:
  • She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性,人人都尊敬她。
  • My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。
68 hatred T5Gyg     
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨
参考例句:
  • He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
  • The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
69 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。
70 rue 8DGy6     
n.懊悔,芸香,后悔;v.后悔,悲伤,懊悔
参考例句:
  • You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
  • You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。
71 negligent hjdyJ     
adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的
参考例句:
  • The committee heard that he had been negligent in his duty.委员会听说他玩忽职守。
  • If the government is proved negligent,compensation will be payable.如果证明是政府的疏忽,就应支付赔偿。
72 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。
73 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
74 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
75 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
76 vassal uH8y0     
n.附庸的;属下;adj.奴仆的
参考例句:
  • Wales was a vassal kingdom at that time.那时威尔士是个附庸国。
  • The vassal swore that he would be loyal to the king forever.这位封臣宣誓他将永远忠诚于国王。
77 trampled 8c4f546db10d3d9e64a5bba8494912e6     
踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯
参考例句:
  • He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊,怕他让暴民踩着。
  • People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。
78 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句:
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
79 raving c42d0882009d28726dc86bae11d3aaa7     
adj.说胡话的;疯狂的,怒吼的;非常漂亮的;令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话;疯话adv.胡言乱语地;疯狂地
参考例句:
  • The man's a raving lunatic. 那个男子是个语无伦次的疯子。
  • When I told her I'd crashed her car, she went stark raving bonkers. 我告诉她我把她的车撞坏了时,她暴跳如雷。
80 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
81 abated ba788157839fe5f816c707e7a7ca9c44     
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼)
参考例句:
  • The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
  • The heat has abated. 温度降低了。
82 falter qhlzP     
vi.(嗓音)颤抖,结巴地说;犹豫;蹒跚
参考例句:
  • His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
  • As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时,脚步迟疑了起来。
83 lulled c799460fe7029a292576ebc15da4e955     
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • They lulled her into a false sense of security. 他们哄骗她,使她产生一种虚假的安全感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The movement of the train lulled me to sleep. 火车轻微的震动催我进入梦乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
84 prodigious C1ZzO     
adj.惊人的,奇妙的;异常的;巨大的;庞大的
参考例句:
  • This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
  • He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。
85 hinds 9c83b8ed7e4ac4f6e3da5b043ec94aa4     
n.(常指动物腿)后面的( hind的名词复数 );在后的;(通常与can或could连用)唠叨不停;滔滔不绝
参考例句:
  • He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 诗18:33他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄、使我在高处安稳。 来自互联网
  • He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 33他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄,又使我在高处安稳。 来自互联网
86 consigned 9dc22c154336e2c50aa2b71897ceceed     
v.把…置于(令人不快的境地)( consign的过去式和过去分词 );把…托付给;把…托人代售;丟弃
参考例句:
  • I consigned her letter to the waste basket. 我把她的信丢进了废纸篓。
  • The father consigned the child to his sister's care. 那位父亲把孩子托付给他妹妹照看。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
87 abridge XIUyG     
v.删减,删节,节略,缩短
参考例句:
  • They are going to abridge that dictionary.他们将要精简那本字典。
  • He decided to abridge his stay here after he received a letter from home.他接到家信后决定缩短在这里的逗留时间。
88 narrative CFmxS     
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的
参考例句:
  • He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
  • Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。
89 syllables d36567f1b826504dbd698bd28ac3e747     
n.音节( syllable的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • a word with two syllables 双音节单词
  • 'No. But I'll swear it was a name of two syllables.' “想不起。不过我可以发誓,它有两个音节。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
90 postponed 9dc016075e0da542aaa70e9f01bf4ab1     
vt.& vi.延期,缓办,(使)延迟vt.把…放在次要地位;[语]把…放在后面(或句尾)vi.(疟疾等)延缓发作(或复发)
参考例句:
  • The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
  • The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
91 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。
92 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
93 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
94 privately IkpzwT     
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地
参考例句:
  • Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
  • The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。
95 immunities ed08949e3c50a798d6aee4c1f2387a9d     
免除,豁免( immunity的名词复数 ); 免疫力
参考例句:
  • Supplying nutrients and immunities to my baby? 为我的宝贝提供营养物质和免疫物质?
  • And these provide immunities against the a host of infections and diseases. 这些物质可提高婴儿的免疫力,使之免受病毒感染和疾病侵袭。
96 apprehension bNayw     
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑
参考例句:
  • There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑,于是她越来越担心。
  • She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。
97 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。
98 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
99 embroidered StqztZ     
adj.绣花的
参考例句:
  • She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
  • She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。
100 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。
101 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。
102 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
103 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!
104 scraps 737e4017931b7285cdd1fa3eb9dd77a3     
油渣
参考例句:
  • Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
  • A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。
105 amends AzlzCR     
n. 赔偿
参考例句:
  • He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花,为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
  • This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。
106 prosper iRrxC     
v.成功,兴隆,昌盛;使成功,使昌隆,繁荣
参考例句:
  • With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管,公司开始兴旺起来。
  • It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。
107 presentiment Z18zB     
n.预感,预觉
参考例句:
  • He had a presentiment of disaster.他预感会有灾难降临。
  • I have a presentiment that something bad will happen.我有某种不祥事要发生的预感。
108 bestow 9t3zo     
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费
参考例句:
  • He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
  • What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我?
109 lamenting 6491a9a531ff875869932a35fccf8e7d     
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢,后悔自己没有毁了那张字条,把钱昧下来! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
110 caressing 00dd0b56b758fda4fac8b5d136d391f3     
爱抚的,表现爱情的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
  • He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里,不断抚摸着鞑靼,它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。
111 wilt oMNz5     
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱
参考例句:
  • Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
  • Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。
112 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。
113 pinioned dd9a58e290bf8ac0174c770f05cc9e90     
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His arms were pinioned to his sides. 他的双臂被绑在身体两侧。
  • Pinioned by the press of men around them, they were unable to move. 周围的人群挤压着他们,使他们动弹不得。 来自辞典例句
114 frightful Ghmxw     
adj.可怕的;讨厌的
参考例句:
  • How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊!
  • We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。
115 unbearable alCwB     
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的
参考例句:
  • It is unbearable to be always on thorns.老是处于焦虑不安的情况中是受不了的。
  • The more he thought of it the more unbearable it became.他越想越觉得无法忍受。
116 craving zvlz3e     
n.渴望,热望
参考例句:
  • a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
  • She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐,以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
117 biding 83fef494bb1c4bd2f64e5e274888d8c5     
v.等待,停留( bide的现在分词 );居住;(过去式用bided)等待;面临
参考例句:
  • He was biding his time. 他正在等待时机。 来自辞典例句
  • Applications:used in carbide alloy, diamond tools, biding admixture, high-temperature alloy, rechargeable cell. 用作硬质合金,磁性材料,金刚石工具,高温合金,可充电池等。 来自互联网
118 wrought EoZyr     
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的
参考例句:
  • Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
  • It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。
119 virtues cd5228c842b227ac02d36dd986c5cd53     
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处
参考例句:
  • Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
  • She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。
120 doomed EuuzC1     
命定的
参考例句:
  • The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
  • A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。
121 frenzied LQVzt     
a.激怒的;疯狂的
参考例句:
  • Will this push him too far and lead to a frenzied attack? 这会不会逼他太甚,导致他进行疯狂的进攻?
  • Two teenagers carried out a frenzied attack on a local shopkeeper. 两名十几岁的少年对当地的一个店主进行了疯狂的袭击。
122 aspirations a60ebedc36cdd304870aeab399069f9e     
强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 ); 志向; 发送气音; 发 h 音
参考例句:
  • I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
  • The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。
123 questionable oScxK     
adj.可疑的,有问题的
参考例句:
  • There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
  • Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。
124 antiquity SNuzc     
n.古老;高龄;古物,古迹
参考例句:
  • The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
  • There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。
125 obnoxious t5dzG     
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的
参考例句:
  • These fires produce really obnoxious fumes and smoke.这些火炉冒出来的烟气确实很难闻。
  • He is the most obnoxious man I know.他是我认识的最可憎的人。
126 aristocrats 45f57328b4cffd28a78c031f142ec347     
n.贵族( aristocrat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Many aristocrats were killed in the French Revolution. 许多贵族在法国大革命中被处死。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • To the Guillotine all aristocrats! 把全部贵族都送上断头台! 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
127 aristocrat uvRzb     
n.贵族,有贵族气派的人,上层人物
参考例句:
  • He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
  • He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。
128 orphan QJExg     
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的
参考例句:
  • He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大,并且把自己的医术传给了他。
  • The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。
129 patriotic T3Izu     
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的
参考例句:
  • His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
  • The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。
130 vengeance wL6zs     
n.报复,报仇,复仇
参考例句:
  • He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
  • For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。


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