The consequence was Dubourg became nothing if not more insolent1; he laid upon me the blame for his weakness' mistakes, wanted to repair them with new outrages3 and yet more mortifying4 invectives; there was nothing he did not say to me, nothing he did not attempt, nothing his perfidious5 imagination, his adamantine character and the depravation of his manners did not lead him to undertake. My clumsiness made him impatient: I was far from wishing to participate in the thing, to lend myself to it was as much as I could do, my remorse6 remained lively. However, it was all for naught7, submitting to him, I ceased to inflame8 him; in vain he passed successively from tenderness to rigor9... from groveling to tyranny... from an air of decency10 to the profligate's excesses, in vain, I say, there was nothing for it, we were both exhausted11, and happily he was unable to recover what he needed to deliver more dangerous assaults. He gave it up, made me promise to come the next day, and to be sure of me he refused absolutely to give me anything above the sum I owed Desroches. Greatly humiliated12 by the adventure and firmly resolved, whatever might happen to me, not to expose myself a third time, I returned to where I was lodging13. I announced my intentions to Desroches, paid her, and heaped maledictions upon the criminal capable of so cruelly exploiting my misery15. But my imprecations, far from drawing the wrath17 of God down upon him, only added to his good fortune; and a week later I learned this signal libertine18 had just obtained a general trusteeship from the Government, which would augment19 his revenues by more than five hundred thousand pounds per annum. I was absorbed in the reflections such unexpected inconsistencies of fate inevitably20 give rise to, when a momentary21 ray of hope seemed to shine in my eyes.
Desroches came to tell me one day that she had finally located a house into which I could be received with pleasure provided my comportment remained of the best. "Great Heaven, Madame," I cried, transported, throwing myself into her arms, "that condition is the one I would stipulate23 myself you may imagine how happy I am to accept it." The man I was to serve was a famous Parisian usurer who had become rich, not only by lending money upon collateral24, but even by stealing from the public every time he thought he could do so in safety. He lived in the rue14 Quincampoix, had a third-story flat, and shared it with a creature of fifty years he called his wife and who was at least as wicked as he.
"Therese," this miser16 said to me (such was the name I had taken in order to hide my own), "Therese, the primary virtue25 in this house is probity26; if ever you make off with the tenth part of a penny, I'll have you hanged, my child, d'ye see. The modest ease my wife and I enjoy is the fruit of our immense labors27, and of our perfect sobriety.... Do you eat much, little one?"
"A few ounces of bread each day, Monsieur," I replied, "water, and a little soup when I am lucky enough to get it."
"Soup! Bleeding Christ! Soup! Behold28, deary," said the usurer to his dame22, "behold and tremble at the progress of luxury: it's looking for circumstances, it's been dying of hunger for a year, and now it wants to eat soup; we scarcely have it once a week, on Sunday, we who work like galley29 slaves: you'll have three ounces of bread a day, my daughter, plus half a bottle of river water, plus one of my wife's old dresses every eighteen months, plus three crowns' wages at the end of each year, if we are content with your services, if your economy responds to our own and if, finally, you make the house prosper30 through orderliness and arrangement. Your duties are mediocre31, they're done in jig32 time; 'tis but a question of washing and cleaning this six-room apartment thrice a week, of making our beds, answering the door, powdering my wig33, dressing34 my wife's hair, looking after the dog and the parakeet, lending a hand in the kitchen, washing the utensils35, helping36 my wife whenever she prepares us a bite to eat, and daily devoting four or five hours to the washing, to mending stockings, hats, and other little house-hold odds37 and ends; you observe, Therese, 'tis nothing at all, you will have ample free time to yourself, we will permit you to employ it to your own interest, provided, my child, you are good, discreet38 and, above all, thrifty39, that's of the essence."
You may readily imagine, Madame, that one had to be in the frightful40 state I indeed was in to accept such a position; not only was there infinitely41 more work to be done than my strength permitted me to undertake, but should I be able to live upon what was offered me? However, I was careful to raise no difficulties and was installed that same evening.
Were my cruel situation to permit me to amuse you for an instant, Madame, when I must think of nothing but gaining your compassion42, I should dare describe some of the symptoms or avarice43 I witnessed while in that house; but a catastrophe44 so terrible for me was awaiting me during my second year there that it is by no means easy to linger over entertaining details before making you acquainted with my miseries45.
Nevertheless, you will know, Madame, that, for light in Monsieur du Harpin's apartment, there was never any but what he got from the street lamp which, happily, was placed opposite his room; never did Monsieur or Madame use linen46; what I washed was hoarded47 away, it was never touched; on the sleeves of Monsieur's coat, as well as upon Madame's dress, were old gauntlet cuffs48 sewn over the material, and these I removed and washed every Saturday evening; no sheets; no towels, and that to avoid laundry expenses. Never was wine drunk in her house, clear water being, declared Madame du Harpin, the natural drink of man, the healthiest and least dangerous. Every time bread was sliced, a basket was put beneath the knife so that whatever fell would not be lost; into this container went, also, and with exactitude all the scraps49 and leavings that might survive the meal, and this compound, fried up on Sunday together with a little butter, made a banquet for the day of rest; never was one to beat clothing or too energetically dust the furniture for fear of wearing it out, instead, very cautiously, one tickled50 about with a feather. Monsieur's shoes, and Madame's as well, were double-soled with iron, they were the same shoes that had served them on their wedding day; but a much more unusual custom was the one they had me practice once a week: there was in the apartment a rather large room whose walls were not papered; I was expected to take a knife and scrape and shave away a certain quantity of plaster, and this I next passed through a fine sieve51; what resulted from this operation became the powder wherewith every morning I sprinkled Monsieur's peruke and Madame's hair, done up in a bun. Ah! wouldst to God those had been the only turpitudes of which this evil pair had made habits! Nothing's more normal than the desire to conserve52 one's property; but what is not normal is the desire to augment it by the accession of the property of others. And it was not long before I perceived that it was only thus du Harpin acquired his wealth.
Above us there lodged53 a solitary54 individual of considerable means who was the owner of some handsome jewels, and whose belongings55, whether because of their proximity56 or because they had passed through my master's hands, were very well known to him; I often heard him express regrets to his wife over the loss of a certain gold box worth fifty or sixty louis, which article would infallibly have remained his, said he, had he proceeded with greater cleverness. In order to console himself for the sale of the said box, the good Monsieur du Harpin projected its theft, and it was to me he entrusted57 the execution of his plan.
After having delivered a long speech upon the indifference58 of robbery, upon, indeed, its usefulness in the world, since it maintains a sort of equilibrium59 which totally confounds the inequality of property; upon the infrequence of punishment, since out of every twenty thieves it could be proven that not above two dies on the gallows60; after having demonstrated to me, with an erudition of which I had not dreamt Monsieur du Harpin capable, that theft was honored throughout Greece, that several races yet acknowledge it, favor it, and reward it for a bold deed simultaneously61 giving proof of courage and skill (two virtues62 indispensable to a warlike nation), after having, in a word, exalted63 his personal influence which would extricate64 me from all embarrassments65 in the event I should be detected, Monsieur du Harpin tendered me two lock picks, one to open the neighbor's front door, the other his secretary within which lay the box in question; incessantly66 he enjoined67 me to get him this box and, in return for so important a service, I could expect, for two years, to receive an additional crown.
"Oh Monsieur!" I exclaimed, shuddering68 at his proposal, "is it possible a master dare thus corrupt69 his domestic ! What prevents me from turning against you the weapons you put into my hands? Du Harpin, much confused, fell back on a lame2 subterfuge70; what he was doing, said he, was being done with the simple intention of testing me; how fortunate that I had resisted this temptation, he added... how I should have been doomed71 had I succumbed72, etc. I scoffed73 at this lie; but I was soon enough aware of what a mistake it had been to answer him with such asperity74: malefactors do not like to find resistance in those they seek to seduce75; unfortunately, there is no middle ground or median attitude when one is so unlucky as to have been approached by them: one must necessarily thereupon become either their accomplices76, which is exceedingly dangerous, or their enemies, which is even more so. Had I been a little experienced, I would have quit the house forthwith, but it was already written in Heaven that every one of the honest gestures that was to emanate77 from me would be answered by misfortunes.
收听单词发音 |
1
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
lame
|
|
| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
mortifying
|
|
| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
perfidious
|
|
| adj.不忠的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
inflame
|
|
| v.使燃烧；使极度激动；使发炎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
rigor
|
|
| n.严酷，严格，严厉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
decency
|
|
| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
humiliated
|
|
| 感到羞愧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
lodging
|
|
| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
miser
|
|
| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
libertine
|
|
| n.淫荡者；adj.放荡的，自由思想的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
augment
|
|
| vt.(使)增大，增加，增长，扩张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
inevitably
|
|
| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
momentary
|
|
| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dame
|
|
| n.女士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
stipulate
|
|
| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
collateral
|
|
| adj.平行的；旁系的；n.担保品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
probity
|
|
| n.刚直；廉洁，正直 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
labors
|
|
| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
galley
|
|
| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
prosper
|
|
| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
mediocre
|
|
| adj.平常的，普通的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
jig
|
|
| n.快步舞（曲）；v.上下晃动；用夹具辅助加工；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
wig
|
|
| n.假发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
dressing
|
|
| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
utensils
|
|
| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
discreet
|
|
| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
thrifty
|
|
| adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
frightful
|
|
| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
infinitely
|
|
| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
compassion
|
|
| n.同情，怜悯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
avarice
|
|
| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
catastrophe
|
|
| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
miseries
|
|
| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
hoarded
|
|
| v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
cuffs
|
|
| n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打，拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
scraps
|
|
| 油渣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
tickled
|
|
| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
sieve
|
|
| n.筛，滤器，漏勺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
conserve
|
|
| vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
proximity
|
|
| n.接近，邻近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
entrusted
|
|
| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
equilibrium
|
|
| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
gallows
|
|
| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
simultaneously
|
|
| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
exalted
|
|
| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
extricate
|
|
| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
embarrassments
|
|
| n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 )；难堪；局促不安；令人难堪或耻辱的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
enjoined
|
|
| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
shuddering
|
|
| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
corrupt
|
|
| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
subterfuge
|
|
| n.诡计；藉口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
succumbed
|
|
| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
scoffed
|
|
| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
asperity
|
|
| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
seduce
|
|
| vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
accomplices
|
|
| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
emanate
|
|
| v.发自，来自，出自 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |