LAW
MINUTE study of my fellow-creatures has revealed to me that there are many intelligent persons who think that a suit at law commences in court. This is not so. Many suits are fought and decided1 by the special pleaders, and so never come into court; and, as a stiff encounter of this kind actually took place in Hardie v. Hardie, a word of prefatory explanation may be proper. Suitors come into court only to try an issue: an issue is a mutual2 lie direct: and towards this both parties are driven upon paper by the laws of pleading, which may be thus summed: 1. Every statement of the adversary3 must either be contradicted flat, or confessed and avoided: “avoided” means neutralised by fresh matter. 2. Nothing must be advanced by plaintiff which does not disclose a ground of action at law. 3. Nothing advanced by defendant4, which, if true, would not be a defence to the action. These rules exclude in a vast degree the pitiable defects and vices5 that mark all the unprofessional arguments one ever hears; for on a breach6 of any one of the said rules the other party can demur7; the demurrer is argued before the judges in Banco, and, if successfully, the faulty plaint or faulty plea is dismissed, and often of course the cause won or lost thereby8, and the country saved the trouble, and the suitors the expense of trying an issue.
So the writ9 being served by Plt.‘s attorney, and an appearance put in by Deft10.‘s, the paper battle began by Alfred Hardie, through his attorney, serving on Deft.‘s attorney “THE DECLARATION.” This was drawn11 by his junior counsel, Garrow, and ran thus, after specifying12 the court and the date:
Middlesex to wit Alfred Hardie by John Compton his attorney sues Thomas Hardie For that the Deft, assaulted Plt. gave him into custody13 to a certain person and caused him to be imprisoned15 for a long space of time in a certain place to wit a Lunatic Asylum16 whereby the Plt. was much inconvenienced and suffered much anguish17 and pain in mind and body and was unable to attend to his affairs and was injured in his credit and circumstances.
And the Plt. claims L. 5000.
Mr. Compton conveyed a copy of this to Alfred, and said it was a sweet “declaration.” “What,” said Alfred, “is that all I have suffered at these miscreants’ hands? Why, it is written with an icicle.”
Mr. Compton explained that this was the outline: “Counsel will lay the colours on in court as thick as you like.”
The defendant replied to the above declaration by three pleas.
By statute18 8 & 9 Vic., c. 100, s. 105.
1. The Deft. by Joseph Heathfield his attorney says he is not guilty. 2. And for a further Plea the Deft, says that before and at the time of the alleged19 imprisonment20 Plt, was a person of unsound mind and incompetent21 to take care of himself and a proper person to be taken care of and detained and it was unfit unsafe improper22 and dangerous that he should be at large thereupon the Deft, being the uncle of the Plt. and a proper person to cause the Plt. to be taken charge of under due care and treatment in that behalf did cause the Plt. to be so taken charge of and detained under due care and treatment, &c. &c.
The third plea was the stinger, but too long to cite verbatim; it went to this tune23, that the plaintiff at and before the time &c. had conducted himself like a person of unsound mind &c. and two certificates that he was insane had been given by two persons duly authorised under the statute to sign such certificates, and the defendant had believed and did bona fide believe these certificates to be true, &c. &c.
The first of these pleas was a mere25 formal plea, under the statute.
The second raised the very issue at common law the plaintiff wished to try.
The third made John Compton knit his brows with perplexity. “This is a very nasty plea,” said he to Alfred: “a regular trap. If we join issue on it we must be defeated; for how can we deny the certificates were in form; and yet the plaguy thing is not loose enough to be demurred26 to? Colls, who drew these pleas for them?”
“Mr. Colvin, sir.”
“Make a note to employ him in our next stiff pleading.”
Alfred was staggered. He had thought to ride rough-shod over defendant — a common expectation of plaintiffs; but seldom realised. Lawyers fight hard. The pleas were taken to Garrow; he said there was but one course, to demur to No. 3. So the plaintiff “joined issue on all the defendant’s pleas, and as to the last plea the plaintiff said the same was bad in substance.” Defendant rejoined that the same was good in substance, and thus Hardie v. Hardie divided itself into two cases, a question of law for the judges, and an issue for the mixed tribunal loosely called a jury. And I need hardly say that should the defendant win either of them he would gain the cause.
Postponing27 the history of the legal question, I shall show how Messrs. Heathfield fought off the issue, and cooled the ardent28 Alfred and sickened him of law.
In theory every Englishman has a right to be tried by his peers: but in fact there are five gentlemen in every court, each of whom has by precedent29 the power to refuse him a jury, by simply postponing the trial term after term, until the death of one of the parties, when the action, if a personal one, dies too; and, by a singular anomaly of judicial30 practice, if a slippery Deft. can’t persuade A. or B., judges of the common law court, to connive31 at what I venture to call
THE POSTPONEMENT32 SWINDLE,
he can actually go to C., D., and B., one after another, with his rejected application, and the previous refusal of the other judges to delay and baffle justice goes for little or nothing; so that the postponing swindler has five to one in his favour.
Messrs. Heathfield began this game unluckily. They applied34 to a judge in chambers35 for a month to plead. Mr. Compton opposed in person, and showed that this was absurd. The judge allowed them only four days to plead. Issue being joined, Mr. Compton pushed on for trial, and the cause was set down for the November term. Towards the end of the term Messrs. Heathfield applied to one of the puisne judges for a postponement, on the ground that a principal witness could not attend. Application was supported by the attorney’s affidavit36, to the effect that Mr. Speers was in Boulogne, and had written to him to say that he had met with a railway accident, and feared he could not possibly come to England in less than a month. A respectable French doctor confirmed this by certificate. Compton opposed, but the judge would hardly hear him, and postponed37 the trial as a matter of course; this carried it over the sittings into next term. Alfred groaned38, but bore it patiently; not so Dr. Sampson: he raged against secret tribunals: “See how men deteriorate39 the moment they get out of the full light of publeecity. What English judge, sitting in the light of Shorthand, would admit ‘Jack swears that Gill says’ for legal evidence. Speers has sworn to no facks. Heathfield has sworn to no facks but th’ existence of Speer’s hearsay40. They are a couple o’ lyres. I’ll bet ye ten pounds t’ a shilling Speers is as well as I’m.”
Mr. Compton quietly reminded him there was a direct statement — the French doctor’s certificate.
“A medical certificut!” shrieked41 Sampson, amazed. “Mai — dearr — sirr, a medical certificut is just an article o’ commerce like an attorney’s conscience. Gimme a guinea and I’ll get you sworn sick, diseased, disabled, or dead this minute, whichever you like best.”
“Come, doctor, don’t fly off: you said you’d bet ten pounds to a shilling Speers is not an invalid42 at all. I say done.”
“Done.”
“How will you find out?”
“How? Why set the thief-takers on um, to be sure.”
He wrote off to the prefect of police at Boulogne, and in four days received an answer headed “Information in the interest of families.” The prefect informed him there had been no railway accident: but that the Sieur Speers, English subject, had really hurt his leg getting out of a railway carriage six weeks ago, and had kept his room some days; but he had been cured some weeks, and going about his business, and made an excursion to Paris.
On this Compton offered Sampson the shilling. But he declined to take it. “The lie was self-evident,” said he; “and here’s a judge wouldn’t see’t, and an attorney couldn’t. Been all their lives sifting43 evidence, too. Oh the darkness of the profissional mind!”
The next term came. Mr. Compton delivered the briefs and fees, subpoenaed44 the witnesses, &c., and Alfred came up with a good heart to get his stigma45 removed by twelve honest men in the light of day: but first one case was taken out of its order and put before him, then another, till term wore near an end. Then Messrs. Heathfield applied to another judge of the court for a postponement. Mr. Richard Hardie, plaintiff’s father, a most essential witness, was ill at Clare Court. Medical certificate and letter herewith.
Compton opposed. Now this judge was a keen and honourable46 lawyer, with a lofty hatred47 of all professional tricks. He heard the two attorneys, and delivered himself to this effect, only of course in better legal phrase: “I shall make no order. The defendant has been here before on a doubtful affidavit. You know, Mr. Heathfield, juries in these cases go by the plaintiff’s evidence, and his conduct under cross-examination. And I think it would not be just nor humane48 to keep this plaintiff in suspense49, and civiliter mortuum, any longer. You can take out a commission to examine Richard Hardie.”
To this Mr. Compton nailed him, but the commission took time; and while it was pending50, Mr. Heathfield went to another judge with another disabled witness: Peggy Black. That naive51 personage was nursing her deceased sister’s children — in an affidavit: and they had scarlatina — surgeon’s certificate to that effect. Compton opposed, and pointed52 out the blot53. “You don’t want the children in the witness-box,” said he: “and we are not to be robbed of our trial because one of your witnesses prefer nursing other people’s children to facing the witness-box.”
The judge nodded assent54. “I make no order,” said he.
Mr. Heathfield went out from his presence and sent a message by telegraph to Peggy Black. “You must have Scar. yourself, and telegraph the same at once: certificate by post.”
The accommodating maiden55 telegraphed back that she had unfortunately taken scarlatina of the children: medical certificate to follow by post. Four judges out of the five were now awake to the move. But Mr. Heathfield tinkered the hole in his late affidavit with Peggy’s telegram, and slipped down to Westminster to the chief judge of the court, who had had no opportunity of watching the growth and dissemination56 of disease among Deft.‘s, witnesses. Compton fought this time by counsel and with a powerful affidavit. But luck was against him. The judge had risen to go home: he listened standing57; Compton’s counsel was feeble; did not feel the wrong. How could he? Lawyers fatten58 by delays of justice, as physicians do by tardy59 cure. The postponement was granted.
Alfred cursed them all, and his own folly60 in believing that an alleged lunatic would be allowed fair play at Westminster, or anywhere else. Compton took snuff, and Sampson appealed to the press again. He wrote a long letter exposing with fearless irony61 the postponement swindle as it had been worked in Hardie v. Hardie: and wound up with this fiery62 peroration63:
“This Englishman sues not merely for damages, but to recover lost rights dearer far than money, of which he says he has been unjustly robbed: his right to walk in daylight on the soil of his native land without being seized and tied up for life like a nigger or a dog; his footing in society; a chance to earn his bread; and a place among mankind: ay, among mankind; for a lunatic is an animal in the law’s eye and society’s, and an alleged lunatic is a lunatic till a jury clears him.
I appeal to you, gentlemen, is not such a suitor sacred in all wise and good men’s minds? Is he not defendant as well as plaintiff? Why, his stake is enormous compared with the nominal64 defendant’s; and, if I know right from wrong, to postpone33 his trial a fourth time would be to insult Divine justice, and trifle with human misery65, and shock the common sense of nations.”
The doctor’s pen neither clipped the words nor minced66 the matter, you see. Reading this the water came into Alfred’s eyes. “Ah, staunch friend,” he said, “how few are like you! To the intellectual dwarfs67 who conspire68 with my oppressors, Hardie v. Hardie is but a family squabble. Parvis omnia parva.” Mr. Compton read it too; and said from the bottom of his heart, “Heaven defend us from our friends! This is enough to make the courts decline to try the case at all.”
And, indeed, it did not cure the evil: for next term another malade affidavitaire was set up. Speers to wit. This gentleman deposed69 to having come over on purpose to attend the trial; but having inadvertently stepped aside as far as Wales, he lay there stricken with a mysterious malady70, and had just strength to forward medical certificate. On this the judge in spite of remonstrance71, adjourned72 Hardie v. Hardie to the summer term. Summer came, the evil day drew nigh: Mr. Heathfield got the venue73 changed from Westminster to London, which was the fifth postponement. At last the cause came on: the parties and witnesses were all in court, with two whole days before them to try it in.
Dr. Sampson rushed in furious. “There is some deviltry afloat,” said he. “I was in the House of Commons last night, and there I saw the defendant’s counsel earwigging the judge.”
“Nonsense,” said Mr. Compton, “such suspicions are ridiculous. Do you think they can talk of nothing but Hardie v. Hardie?”
“Mai — dearr sirr — my son met one of Heathfield’s clerks at dinner, and he let out that the trile was not to come off. Put this and that together now.”
“It will come off,” said Mr. Compton, “and in five minutes at farthest.”
In less than that time the learned judge came in, and before taking his seat made this extraordinary speech:
“I hear this cause will take three days to try; and we have only two days before us. It would be inconvenient74 to leave it unfinished; and I must proceed on circuit the day after tomorrow. It must be a remanet: no man can do more than time allows.”
Plaintiff’s counsel made a feeble remonstrance; then yielded. And the crier with sonorous75 voice called on the case of Bread v. Cheese, in which there were pounds at stake, but no principle. Oh, with what zest76 they all went into it; being small men escaping from a great thing to a small one. Never hopped77 frogs into a ditch with more alacrity78. Alfred left the court and hid himself, and the scalding tears forced their way down his cheeks at this heartless proceeding79: to let all the witnesses come into court at a vast expense to the parties: and raise the cup of justice to the lips of the oppressed, and then pretend he knew a trial would last more than two days, and so shirk it. “I’d have made that a reason for sitting till midnight” said poor Alfred, “not for prolonging a poor injured man’s agony four mortal months.” He then prayed God earnestly for this great postponer’s death as the only event that could give him back an Englishman’s right of being tried by his peers, and so went down to Oxford80 broken-hearted.
As for Sampson he was most indignant, and said a public man had no business with a private ear: and wanted to appeal to the press again: but the doughty81 doctor had a gentle but powerful ruler at home, as fiery houses are best ruled by a gentle hand. Mrs. Sampson requested him to write no more, but look round for an M. P. to draw these repeated defeats of justice to the notice of the House. Now there was a Mr. Bite, who had taken a prominent and honourable part in lunacy questions; headed committees and so on: this seemed the man. Dr. Sampson sent him a letter saying there was a flagrant case of a sane24 man falsely imprisoned, who had now been near a year applying for a jury, and juggled82 out of this constitutional right by arbitrary and unreasonable83 postponements: would Mr. Bite give him (Dr. Sampson) ten minutes and no more, when he would explain the case and leave documentary evidence behind him for Mr. Bite to test his statement. The philanthropical M. P. replied promptly84 in these exact words:
“Mr. Bite presents his compliments to Dr. Sampson to state that it is impossible for him to go into his case, nor to give him the time he requests to do so.”
Sampson was a little indignant at the man’s insolence85; but far more at having been duped by his public assumption of philanthropy. “The little pragmatical impostor!” he roared. “With what a sense o’ relief th’ animal flings off the mask of humanity when there is no easy eclat86 to be gained by putting’t on.” He sent the philanthropical Bite’s revelation of his private self to Alfred, who returned it with this single remark: “Homunculi quanti sunt!”
Dishonest suitors all try to postpone; but they do not gain unmixed good thereby. These delays give time for more evidence to come in; and this slow coming and chance evidence is singularly adverse87 to the unjust suitor. Of this came a notable example in October next, and made Richard Hardie determined88 to precipitate89 the trial, and even regret he had not fought it out long ago.
He had just returned from consulting Messrs. Heathfield, and sat down to a nice little dinner in his apartments (Sackville Street), when a visitor was announced; and in came the slouching little figure of Mr. Barkington, alias90 Noah Skinner.
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
Mr. Hardie suppressed a start, and said nothing. Skinner bowed low with a mixture of his old cringing91 way, and a certain sly triumphant92 leer, so that his body seemed to say one thing, and his face the opposite. Mr. Hardie eyed him, and saw that his coat was rusty93, and his hat napless: then Mr. Hardie smelt94 a beggar, and prepared to parry all attempts upon his purse.
“I hope I see my old master well,” said Skinner coaxingly95.
“Pretty well in body, Skinner; thank you.”
“I had a deal of trouble to find you, sir. But I heard of the great lawsuit96 between Mr. Alfred and you, and I knew Mr. Heathfield was your solicitor97; so I watched at his place day after day: and at last you came. Oh, I was so pleased when I saw your noble figure; but I wouldn’t speak to you in the street for fear of disgracing you. I’m such a poor little guy to be addressing a gentleman like you.”
Now this sounded well on the surface, but below there was a subtle something Mr. Hardie did not like at all: but he took the cue, and said, “My poor Skinner, do you think I would turn up my nose at a faithful old servant like you? Have a glass of wine with me, and tell me how you have been getting on.” He went behind a screen and opened a door, and soon returned with a decanter, leaving the door open. Now in the next room sat, unbeknown to Skinner, a young woman with white eyelashes, sewing buttons on Mr. Hardie’s shirts. That astute98 gentleman gave her instructions, and important ones too, with a silent gesture; then reappeared and filled the bumper99 high to his faithful servant. They drank one another’s healths with great cordiality, real or apparent. Mr. Hardie then asked Skinner carelessly, if he could do anything for him. Skinner said, “Well, sir, I am very poor.”
“So am I, between you and me,” said Mr. Hardie confidentially100; “I don’t mind telling you; those confounded Commissioners101 of Lunacy wrote to Alfred’s trustees, and I have been forced to replace a loan of five thousand pounds. That Board always sides with the insane. That crippled me, and drove me to the Exchange: and now what I had left is all invested in time-bargains. A month settles my fate: a little fortune, or absolute beggary.”
“You’ll be lucky, sir, you’ll be lucky,” said Skinner cheerfully; “you have such a long head; not like poor little me; the Exchange soon burnt my wings. Not a shilling left of the thousand pounds, sir, you were so good as to give me for my faithful services. But you will give me another chance, sir, I know; I’ll take better care this time.” Mr. Hardie shook his head sorrowfully, and said it was impossible. Skinner eyed him askant, and remarked quietly, and half aside, “Of course, I could go to the other party: but I shouldn’t like to do that. They would come down handsome.”
“What other party?”
“La, sir, what other party? Why Mrs. Dodd’s, or Mr. Alfred’s; here’s the trial coming on, you know, and of course if they could get me to go on the box and tell all I know, or half what I know, why the judge and jury would say locking Mr. Alfred up for mad was a conspiracy102.”
Mr. Hardie quaked internally: but he hid it grandly, and once more was a Spartan103 gnawed104 beneath his robe by this little fox. “What,” said he sternly, “after all I and mine have done for you and yours, would you be so base as to go and sell yourself to my enemies?”
“Never, sir,” shouted Skinner zealously105: then in a whisper, “Not if you’ll make a bid for me.”
“How much do you demand?”
“Only another thousand, sir?”
“A thousand pounds!”
“Why, what is that to you, sir? you are rich enough to buy the eighth commandment out of the tables of ten per cent.: and then the lawsuit, Hardies versus106 Hardies!”
“You have spoken plainly at last,” said Mr. Hardie grimly. “This is extorting107 money by threats. Do you know that nothing is more criminal, nor more easy to punish? I can take you before a magistrate109, and imprison14 you on the instant for this attempt. I will, too.”
“Try it,” said Skinner coolly. “Where’s your witness?”
“Behind that screen.”
Peggy came forward directly with a pen in her hand. Skinner was manifestly startled and disconcerted. “I have taken all your words down, Mr. Skinner,” said Peggy softly; then to her master, “Shall I go for a policeman, sir?”
Mr. Hardie reflected. “Yes,” said he sternly: “there’s no other course with such a lump of treachery and ingratitude110 as this.”
Peggy whipped on her bonnet111.
“What a hurry you are in,” whined112 Skinner: “a policeman ought to be the last argument for old friends to run to.” Then, fawning113 spitefully, “Don’t talk of indicting114 me, sir,” said he; “it makes me shiver: why how will you look when I up and tell them all how Captain Dodd was took with apoplexy in our office, and how you nailed fourteen thousand pounds off his senseless body, and forgot to put them down in your balance-sheet, so they are not whitewashed115 off like the rest.”
“Any witnesses to all this, Skinner?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Who?”
“Well; your own conscience for one,” said Skinner.
“He is mad, Peggy,” said Mr. Hardie, shrugging his shoulders. He then looked Skinner full in the face, and said, “Nobody was ever seized with apoplexy in my office. Nobody ever gave me L. 14,000. And if this is the probable tale with which you come here to break the law and extort108 money, leave my house this instant: and if ever you dare to utter this absurd and malicious116 slander117, you shall lie within four stone walls, and learn what it is for a shabby vagabond to come without a witness to his back, and libel a man of property and honour.”
Skinner let him run on in this loud triumphant strain till he had quite done; then put out a brown skinny finger, and poked118 him lightly in the ribs119, and said quite quietly, and oh, so drily, with a knowing wink120 —
“I’ve — got — The Receipt.”
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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defendant
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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breach
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demur
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| v．表示异议，反对 | |
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thereby
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writ
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deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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specifying
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| v.指定( specify的现在分词 )；详述；提出…的条件；使具有特性 | |
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custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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imprison
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| vt.监禁，关押，限制，束缚 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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connive
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| v.纵容；密谋 | |
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postponement
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| n.推迟 | |
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postpone
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| v.延期，推迟 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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postponed
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| 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） | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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39
deteriorate
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| v.变坏；恶化；退化 | |
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40
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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41
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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43
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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44
subpoenaed
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| v.（用传票）传唤（某人）( subpoena的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
stigma
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| n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头 | |
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46
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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47
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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48
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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49
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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50
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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51
naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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52
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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53
blot
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| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
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54
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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55
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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56
dissemination
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| 传播,宣传,传染(病毒) | |
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57
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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58
fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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59
tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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60
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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61
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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62
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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63
peroration
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| n.（演说等之）结论 | |
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64
nominal
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| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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65
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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66
minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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67
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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68
conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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69
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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70
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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71
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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72
adjourned
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| （使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
venue
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| n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点 | |
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74
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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75
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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76
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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77
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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78
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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79
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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80
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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81
doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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82
juggled
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| v.歪曲( juggle的过去式和过去分词 )；耍弄；有效地组织；尽力同时应付（两个或两个以上的重要工作或活动） | |
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83
unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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84
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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85
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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86
eclat
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| n.显赫之成功，荣誉 | |
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87
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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88
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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89
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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90
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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91
cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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92
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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93
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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94
smelt
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| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
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95
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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96
lawsuit
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| n.诉讼，控诉 | |
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97
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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98
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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99
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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100
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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101
commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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102
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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103
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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104
gnawed
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| 咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物 | |
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105
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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106
versus
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| prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下 | |
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107
extorting
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| v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 )；曲解 | |
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108
extort
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| v.勒索，敲诈，强要 | |
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109
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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110
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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111
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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112
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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113
fawning
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| adj.乞怜的，奉承的v.（尤指狗等）跳过来往人身上蹭以示亲热( fawn的现在分词 )；巴结；讨好 | |
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114
indicting
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| 控告，起诉( indict的现在分词 ) | |
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115
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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117
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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118
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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119
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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120
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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