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Chapter 38
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CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT PASSED BETWEEN MR. AND MRS. BUMBLE, AND MR. MONKS1, AT THEIR NOCTURNAL INTERVIEW

It was a dull, close, overcast2 summer evening. The clouds, which had been threatening all day, spread out in a dense3 and sluggish4 mass of vapour, already yielded large drops of rain, and seemed to presage5 a violent thunder-storm, when Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, turning out of the main street of the town, directed their course towards a scattered6 little colony of ruinous houses, distant from it some mile and a-half, or thereabouts, and erected7 on a low unwholesome swamp, bordering upon the river.

They were both wrapped in old and shabby outer garments, which might, perhaps, serve the double purpose of protecting their persons from the rain, and sheltering them from observation. The husband carried a lantern, from which, however, no light yet shone; and trudged9 on, a few paces in front, as though--the way being dirty--to give his wife the benefit of treading in his heavy footprints. They went on, in profound silence; every now and then, Mr. Bumble relaxed his pace, and turned his head as if to make sure that his helpmate was following; then, discovering that she was close at his heels, he mended his rate of walking, and proceeded, at a considerable increase of speed, towards their place of destination.

This was far from being a place of doubtful character; for it had long been known as the residence of none but low ruffians, who, under various pretences10 of living by their labour, subsisted11 chiefly on plunder12 and crime. It was a collection of mere13 hovels: some, hastily built with loose bricks: others, of old worm-eaten ship-timber: jumbled14 together without any attempt at order or arrangement, and planted, for the most part, within a few feet of the river's bank. A few leaky boats drawn15 up on the mud, and made fast to the dwarf16 wall which skirted it: and here and there an oar17 or coil of rope: appeared, at first, to indicate that the inhabitants of these miserable18 cottages pursued some avocation19 on the river; but a glance at the shattered and useless condition of the articles thus displayed, would have led a passer-by, without much difficulty, to the conjecture20 that they were disposed there, rather for the preservation21 of appearances, than with any view to their being actually employed.

In the heart of this cluster of huts; and skirting the river, which its upper stories overhung; stood a large building, formerly22 used as a manufactory of some kind. It had, in its day, probably furnished employment to the inhabitants of the surrounding tenements23. But it had long since gone to ruin. The rat, the worm, and the action of the damp, had weakened and rotted the piles on which it stood; and a considerable portion of the building had already sunk down into the water; while the remainder, tottering24 and bending over the dark stream, seemed to wait a favourable25 opportunity of following its old companion, and involving itself in the same fate.

It was before this ruinous building that the worthy26 couple paused, as the first peal27 of distant thunder reverberated28 in the air, and the rain commenced pouring violently down.

'The place should be somewhere here,' said Bumble, consulting a scrap29 of paper he held in his hand.

'Halloa there!' cried a voice from above.

Following the sound, Mr. Bumble raised his head and descried30 a man looking out of a door, breast-high, on the second story.

'Stand still, a minute,' cried the voice; 'I'll be with you directly.' With which the head disappeared, and the door closed.

'Is that the man?' asked Mr. Bumble's good lady.

Mr. Bumble nodded in the affirmative.

'Then, mind what I told you,' said the matron: 'and be careful to say as little as you can, or you'll betray us at once.'

Mr. Bumble, who had eyed the building with very rueful looks, was apparently31 about to express some doubts relative to the advisability of proceeding32 any further with the enterprise just then, when he was prevented by the appearance of Monks: who opened a small door, near which they stood, and beckoned33 them inwards.

'Come in!' he cried impatiently, stamping his foot upon the ground. 'Don't keep me here!'

The woman, who had hesitated at first, walked boldly in, without any other invitation. Mr. Bumble, who was ashamed or afraid to lag behind, followed: obviously very ill at ease and with scarcely any of that remarkable34 dignity which was usually his chief characteristic.

'What the devil made you stand lingering there, in the wet?' said Monks, turning round, and addressing Bumble, after he had bolted the door behind them.

'We--we were only cooling ourselves,' stammered35 Bumble, looking apprehensively36 about him.

'Cooling yourselves!' retorted Monks. 'Not all the rain that ever fell, or ever will fall, will put as much of hell's fire out, as a man can carry about with him. You won't cool yourself so easily; don't think it!'

With this agreeable speech, Monks turned short upon the matron, and bent37 his gaze upon her, till even she, who was not easily cowed, was fain to withdraw her eyes, and turn them towards the ground.

'This is the woman, is it?' demanded Monks.

'Hem8! That is the woman,' replied Mr. Bumble, mindful of his wife's caution.

'You think women never can keep secrets, I suppose?' said the matron, interposing, and returning, as she spoke38, the searching look of Monks.

'I know they will always keep _one_ till it's found out,' said Monks.

'And what may that be?' asked the matron.

'The loss of their own good name,' replied Monks. 'So, by the same rule, if a woman's a party to a secret that might hang or transport her, I'm not afraid of her telling it to anybody; not I! Do you understand, mistress?'

'No,' rejoined the matron, slightly colouring as she spoke.

'Of course you don't!' said Monks. 'How should you?'

Bestowing39 something half-way between a smile and a frown upon his two companions, and again beckoning40 them to follow him, the man hastened across the apartment, which was of considerable extent, but low in the roof. He was preparing to ascend41 a steep staircase, or rather ladder, leading to another floor of warehouses42 above: when a bright flash of lightning streamed down the aperture43, and a peal of thunder followed, which shook the crazy building to its centre.

'Hear it!' he cried, shrinking back. 'Hear it! Rolling and crashing on as if it echoed through a thousand caverns44 where the devils were hiding from it. I hate the sound!'

He remained silent for a few moments; and then, removing his hands suddenly from his face, showed, to the unspeakable discomposure of Mr. Bumble, that it was much distorted and discoloured.

'These fits come over me, now and then,' said Monks, observing his alarm; 'and thunder sometimes brings them on. Don't mind me now; it's all over for this once.'

Thus speaking, he led the way up the ladder; and hastily closing the window-shutter of the room into which it led, lowered a lantern which hung at the end of a rope and pulley passed through one of the heavy beams in the ceiling: and which cast a dim light upon an old table and three chairs that were placed beneath it.

'Now,' said Monks, when they had all three seated themselves, 'the sooner we come to our business, the better for all. The woman know what it is, does she?'

The question was addressed to Bumble; but his wife anticipated the reply, by intimating that she was perfectly45 acquainted with it.

'He is right in saying that you were with this hag the night she died; and that she told you something--'

'About the mother of the boy you named,' replied the matron interrupting him. 'Yes.'

'The first question is, of what nature was her communication?' said Monks.

'That's the second,' observed the woman with much deliberation. 'The first is, what may the communication be worth?'

'Who the devil can tell that, without knowing of what kind it is?' asked Monks.

'Nobody better than you, I am persuaded,' answered Mrs. Bumble: who did not want for spirit, as her yoke-fellow could abundantly testify.

'Humph!' said Monks significantly, and with a look of eager inquiry46; 'there may be money's worth to get, eh?'

'Perhaps there may,' was the composed reply.

'Something that was taken from her,' said Monks. 'Something that she wore. Something that--'

'You had better bid,' interrupted Mrs. Bumble. 'I have heard enough, already, to assure me that you are the man I ought to talk to.'

Mr. Bumble, who had not yet been admitted by his better half into any greater share of the secret than he had originally possessed47, listened to this dialogue with outstretched neck and distended48 eyes: which he directed towards his wife and Monks, by turns, in undisguised astonishment49; increased, if possible, when the latter sternly demanded, what sum was required for the disclosure.

'What's it worth to you?' asked the woman, as collectedly as before.

'It may be nothing; it may be twenty pounds,' replied Monks. 'Speak out, and let me know which.'

'Add five pounds to the sum you have named; give me five-and-twenty pounds in gold,' said the woman; 'and I'll tell you all I know. Not before.'

'Five-and-twenty pounds!' exclaimed Monks, drawing back.

'I spoke as plainly as I could,' replied Mrs. Bumble. 'It's not a large sum, either.'

'Not a large sum for a paltry50 secret, that may be nothing when it's told!' cried Monks impatiently; 'and which has been lying dead for twelve years past or more!'

'Such matters keep well, and, like good wine, often double their value in course of time,' answered the matron, still preserving the resolute51 indifference52 she had assumed. 'As to lying dead, there are those who will lie dead for twelve thousand years to come, or twelve million, for anything you or I know, who will tell strange tales at last!'

'What if I pay it for nothing?' asked Monks, hesitating.

'You can easily take it away again,' replied the matron. 'I am but a woman; alone here; and unprotected.'

'Not alone, my dear, nor unprotected, neither,' submitted Mr. Bumble, in a voice tremulous with fear: '_I_ am here, my dear. And besides,' said Mr. Bumble, his teeth chattering53 as he spoke, 'Mr. Monks is too much of a gentleman to attempt any violence on porochial persons. Mr. Monks is aware that I am not a young man, my dear, and also that I am a little run to seed, as I may say; bu he has heerd: I say I have no doubt Mr. Monks has heerd, my dear: that I am a very determined54 officer, with very uncommon55 strength, if I'm once roused. I only want a little rousing; that's all.'

As Mr. Bumble spoke, he made a melancholy56 feint of grasping his lantern with fierce determination; and plainly showed, by the alarmed expression of every feature, that he _did_ want a little rousing, and not a little, prior to making any very warlike demonstration57: unless, indeed, against paupers58, or other person or persons trained down for the purpose.

'You are a fool,' said Mrs. Bumble, in reply; 'and had better hold your tongue.'

'He had better have cut it out, before he came, if he can't speak in a lower tone,' said Monks, grimly. 'So! He's your husband, eh?'

'He my husband!' tittered the matron, parrying the question.

'I thought as much, when you came in,' rejoined Monks, marking the angry glance which the lady darted60 at her spouse61 as she spoke. 'So much the better; I have less hesitation62 in dealing63 with two people, when I find that there's only one will between them. I'm in earnest. See here!'

He thrust his hand into a side-pocket; and producing a canvas bag, told out twenty-five sovereigns on the table, and pushed them over to the woman.

'Now,' he said, 'gather them up; and when this cursed peal of thunder, which I feel is coming up to break over the house-top, is gone, let's hear your story.'

The thunder, which seemed in fact much nearer, and to shiver and break almost over their heads, having subsided64, Monks, raising his face from the table, bent forward to listen to what the woman should say. The faces of the three nearly touched, as the two men leant over the small table in their eagerness to hear, and the woman also leant forward to render her whisper audible. The sickly rays of the suspended lantern falling directly upon them, aggravated65 the paleness and anxiety of their countenances66: which, encircled by the deepest gloom and darkness, looked ghastly in the extreme.

'When this woman, that we called old Sally, died,' the matron began, 'she and I were alone.'

'Was there no one by?' asked Monks, in the same hollow whisper; 'No sick wretch67 or idiot in some other bed? No one who could hear, and might, by possibility, understand?'

'Not a soul,' replied the woman; 'we were alone. _I_ stood alone beside the body when death came over it.'

'Good,' said Monks, regarding her attentively68. 'Go on.'

'She spoke of a young creature,' resumed the matron, 'who had brought a child into the world some years before; not merely in the same room, but in the same bed, in which she then lay dying.'

'Ay?' said Monks, with quivering lip, and glancing over his shoulder, 'Blood! How things come about!'

'The child was the one you named to him last night,' said the matron, nodding carelessly towards her husband; 'the mother this nurse had robbed.'

'In life?' asked Monks.

'In death,' replied the woman, with something like a shudder69. 'She stole from the corpse70, when it had hardly turned to one, that which the dead mother had prayed her, with her last breath, to keep for the infant's sake.'

'She sold it,' cried Monks, with desperate eagerness; 'did she sell it? Where? When? To whom? How long before?'

'As she told me, with great difficulty, that she had done this,' said the matron, 'she fell back and died.'

'Without saying more?' cried Monks, in a voice which, from its very suppression, seemed only the more furious. 'It's a lie! I'll not be played with. She said more. I'll tear the life out of you both, but I'll know what it was.'

'She didn't utter another word,' said the woman, to all appearance unmoved (as Mr. Bumble was very far from being) by the strange man's violence; 'but she clutched my gown, violently, with one hand, which was partly closed; and when I saw that she was dead, and so removed the hand by force, I found it clasped a scrap of dirty paper.'

'Which contained--' interposed Monks, stretching forward.

'Nothing,' replied the woman; 'it was a pawnbroker's duplicate.'

'For what?' demanded Monks.

'In good time I'll tell you.' said the woman. 'I judge that she had kept the trinket, for some time, in the hope of turning it to better account; and then had pawned71 it; and had saved or scraped together money to pay the pawnbroker's interest year by year, and prevent its running out; so that if anything came of it, it could still be redeemed72. Nothing had come of it; and, as I tell you, she died with the scrap of paper, all worn and tattered73, in her hand. The time was out in two days; I thought something might one day come of it too; and so redeemed the pledge.'

'Where is it now?' asked Monks quickly.

'_There_,' replied the woman. And, as if glad to be relieved of it, she hastily threw upon the table a small kid bag scarcely large enough for a French watch, which Monks pouncing74 upon, tore open with trembling hands. It contained a little gold locket: in which were two locks of hair, and a plain gold wedding-ring.

'It has the word "Agnes" engraved75 on the inside,' said the woman.

'There is a blank left for the surname; and then follows the date; which is within a year before the child was born. I found out that.'

'And this is all?' said Monks, after a close and eager scrutiny76 of the contents of the little packet.

'All,' replied the woman.

Mr. Bumble drew a long breath, as if he were glad to find that the story was over, and no mention made of taking the five-and-twenty pounds back again; and now he took courage to wipe the perspiration77 which had been trickling78 over his nose, unchecked, during the whole of the previous dialogue.

'I know nothing of the story, beyond what I can guess at,' said his wife addressing Monks, after a short silence; 'and I want to know nothing; for it's safer not. But I may ask you two questions, may I?'

'You may ask,' said Monks, with some show of surprise; 'but whether I answer or not is another question.'

'--Which makes three,' observed Mr. Bumble, essaying a stroke of facetiousness79.

'Is that what you expected to get from me?' demanded the matron.

'It is,' replied Monks. 'The other question?'

'What do you propose to do with it? Can it be used against me?'

'Never,' rejoined Monks; 'nor against me either. See here! But don't move a step forward, or your life is not worth a bulrush.'

With these words, he suddenly wheeled the table aside, and pulling an iron ring in the boarding, threw back a large trap-door which opened close at Mr. Bumble's feet, and caused that gentleman to retire several paces backward, with great precipitation.

'Look down,' said Monks, lowering the lantern into the gulf80. 'Don't fear me. I could have let you down, quietly enough, when you were seated over it, if that had been my game.'

Thus encouraged, the matron drew near to the brink81; and even Mr. Bumble himself, impelled82 by curiousity, ventured to do the same. The turbid83 water, swollen84 by the heavy rain, was rushing rapidly on below; and all other sounds were lost in the noise of its plashing and eddying85 against the green and slimy piles. There had once been a water-mill beneath; the tide foaming86 and chafing87 round the few rotten stakes, and fragments of machinery88 that yet remained, seemed to dart59 onward89, with a new impulse, when freed from the obstacles which had unavailingly attempted to stem its headlong course.

'If you flung a man's body down there, where would it be to-morrow morning?' said Monks, swinging the lantern to and fro in the dark well.

'Twelve miles down the river, and cut to pieces besides,' replied Bumble, recoiling90 at the thought.

Monks drew the little packet from his breast, where he had hurriedly thrust it; and tying it to a leaden weight, which had formed a part of some pulley, and was lying on the floor, dropped it into the stream. It fell straight, and true as a die; clove91 the water with a scarcely audible splash; and was gone.

The three looking into each other's faces, seemed to breathe more freely.

'There!' said Monks, closing the trap-door, which fell heavily back into its former position. 'If the sea ever gives up its dead, as books say it will, it will keep its gold and silver to itself, and that trash among it. We have nothing more to say, and may break up our pleasant party.'

'By all means,' observed Mr. Bumble, with great alacrity92.

'You'll keep a quiet tongue in your head, will you?' said Monks, with a threatening look. 'I am not afraid of your wife.'

'You may depend upon me, young man,' answered Mr. Bumble, bowing himself gradually towards the ladder, with excessive politeness. 'On everybody's account, young man; on my own, you know, Mr. Monks.'

'I am glad, for your sake, to hear it,' remarked Monks. 'Light your lantern! And get away from here as fast as you can.'

It was fortunate that the conversation terminated at this point, or Mr. Bumble, who had bowed himself to within six inches of the ladder, would infallibly have pitched headlong into the room below. He lighted his lantern from that which Monks had detached from the rope, and now carried in his hand; and making no effort to prolong the discourse93, descended94 in silence, followed by his wife. Monks brought up the rear, after pausing on the steps to satisfy himself that there were no other sounds to be heard than the beating of the rain without, and the rushing of the water.

They traversed the lower room, slowly, and with caution; for Monks started at every shadow; and Mr. Bumble, holding his lantern a foot above the ground, walked not only with remarkable care, but with a marvellously light step for a gentleman of his figure: looking nervously95 about him for hidden trap-doors. The gate at which they had entered, was softly unfastened and opened by Monks; merely exchanging a nod with their mysterious acquaintance, the married couple emerged into the wet and darkness outside.

They were no sooner gone, than Monks, who appeared to entertain an invincible96 repugnance97 to being left alone, called to a boy who had been hidden somewhere below. Bidding him go first, and bear the light, he returned to the chamber98 he had just quitted.

 

   这是一个阴云密布、空气沉闷的夏夜。阴沉了整整一天的云霭铺展开来,化作大团浓厚而呆滞的水气,早已凝聚起大滴的雨点,似乎预示着一场暴风雨即将来临。就在这个时候,邦布尔夫妇绕过镇上那条大街,朝着城外大约一英里半的一个小居民点出发了,那里稀稀落落有几所破房子,建在一块低洼污秽的沼地上,紧挨着河边。

    他们俩裹着破旧的外衣,这样打扮或许可以一举两得,既可以免受雨淋,又能掩人耳目。作丈夫的提着一盏没有点亮的手灯,步履艰难地走在前边,路上满是污泥浊水――像是有心让落后几步的老婆踩着他那深深的脚印往前走。他们不声不响地走着,邦布尔先生时不时地放慢脚步,回头看看,仿佛是想搞清自己那位贤内助跟上来了没有,见她一步也没落下,随即将步伐调整到颇为可观的速度,朝目的地走去。

    那个地方远远不只是一个名声可疑的去处,早就远近闻名,住在这里的全都是下三烂的歹徒恶棍,这些家伙打着各式各样自食其力的幌子,主要靠偷窃和作案为生。这里整个是一个棚屋和茅舍的大杂烩――有些是用七长八短的砖石仓仓猝猝盖起来的可知主义倾向。但他的命题较早涉及到了思想和存在、思维,另一些是用蛀蚀过的旧船板搭在一起――完全没有进行过收拾整理,大部分距离河岸只有几英尺。几条拖上河滩的破木船拴在岸边的矮墙上,到处散落着一支船桨或是一卷绳子什么的,乍眼看去,似乎暗示这些简陋小屋的居户从事某种水上职业。不过,一巳看到这些东西七零八落地摆在那里,没有人用,过路人无需作难就能揣摸出,这些东西放在那儿,与其说是考虑到实际用途,不如说是拿来装装样子。

    在这一群茅屋的中心,紧挨河边,立着一幢上边几层悬在水上的大房子。这房子从前是一家什么工厂,当年也许曾经为附近居民提供过就业的机会,但早已成为废墟。老鼠,蛀虫,加上潮气的侵蚀,房屋的木桩已经烂掉,楼的很大一部分已经沉人水中,余下来的部分摇摇欲坠,伏在黑沉沉的水流上,好像是在等待一个适当的机会,跟随旧日同伴而去,接受同样的命运。

    这可敬的一对就是在这一座没落的大楼前边停了下来,这时远远的第一阵雷声在空中炸响了,大雨倾泻而下。

    “想必就在这附近什么地方。”邦布尔核对着手中的纸片,说道。

    “喂!”一个声音从头上传来。

    顺着喊声,邦布尔先生抬起头来,发现有个男人正从二楼一扇门里探出身子张望。

    “稍等一会儿,”那声音大声叫道,“我这就来接你们。”说话间那个脑袋消失了,门也关上了。

    “是那个人吗?”邦布尔先生的贤内助问道。

    邦布尔先生肯定地点了点头。

    “到时候,记住我跟你说的话,”女总管说,“尽量少开口,要不你一转眼就把我们的底给抖出去了。”

    邦布尔先生很是泄气地望着大楼,显然正打算就这档子事继续搞下去是否值得提出某些疑问,但他已经没有机会开口了。孟可司露面了,他打开一道就在他们旁边的小门,示意他们上里边去。

    “进来吧!”他很不耐烦地嚷着说,用脚跺了一下地面。“我可没闲功夫老呆在这儿。”

    邦布尔太大先是迟疑了一下,接着不待对方进一步邀请,便大着胆子走了进去。邦布尔先生不好意思或者说是不敢掉在后边,紧跟着进去了,活脱脱一副六神无主的样子,他的主要特征本来是那种引人注目的威风,此时却简直难以找到一星半点。

    “真是活见鬼,你怎么淋着雨在那儿逛荡?”孟可司在他们身后闩上门,回过头来,跟邦布尔搭话道。

    “我们――我们只是在凉快凉快。”邦布尔结结巴巴地说,一边提心吊胆地四下里乱看。

    “凉快凉快?”孟可司把他的话顶了回去。“没听说什么时候落下来的雨,或者将来下的雨,能浇灭人心头的欲望之火,正如浇不灭地狱之火一样。凉快凉快,没那么舒服,想都别想。”

    说罢这一番至理名言,孟可司骤然转向女总管,目光逼视着她,连从不轻易屈服的她也只得把眼光缩回去,转向地面。

    “就是这位女士了,对吗?”孟可司问道。

    “嗯嗯。是这位女士。”邦布尔牢记着太太的告诫,口答说。

    “我猜想,你认为女人是绝对保守不住秘密的,是吗?”女总管插了进来,一边说,一边也用锐利的目光回敬孟可司。

    “我知道她们只有一件事能保住秘密,直到被人发现为止。”孟可司说。

    “那又是什么秘密呢?”女总管问。

    “秘密就是她们失去了自个儿的好名声,”孟可司答道,“所以,根据同一条法则,假如一个女人介入了一个会把她送上绞刑架或是流放的秘密,我用不着担心她会告诉任何人,我不怕。你明白吗,夫人?”

    “不明白。”女总管说话时脸有点发红。

    “你当然不明白。”孟可司说,“你怎么会明白?”

    那人投向两个同伴的表情一半像是微笑,一半像是在皱眉头,又一次招手要他们跟上,便匆匆走过这间相当宽敞但屋顶低矮的房间。他正准备登上笔直的楼梯或者梯子什么的,到上边一层库房里去,一道雪亮的闪电从上边的窟窿里钻进来,接着就是一阵隆隆的雷声,这座本来就东倒西歪的大楼整个晃动起来。

    “听啊!”他往后一退,嚷了起来。“听啊!轰隆一声就下来了,好像是在大小魔头躲藏的无数个洞窟里齐声响起来的一样。我讨厌这声音。

    他沉默了一会儿,接着,突然将捂在脸上的双手拿开,邦布尔先生看见他的脸大变样,脸色也变了,自己心里真有说不出的烦躁。

    “我三天两头都要这么抽筋,”孟可司注意到了邦布尔先生惊恐的样子,便说道。“有的时候打雷也会引起。现在不用管我,这一次算是过去了。”

    他这么说着,带头登上梯子,来到一个房间。他手忙脚乱地把房间的窗板关上,又把挂在天花板下一根横梁上的滑轮升降灯拉下来,昏暗的灯光落在下边放着的一张旧桌子和三把椅子上。

    “眼下,”三个人全都坐下来,孟可司说话了,“我们还是谈正事吧,这对大家都有好处。这位女士是不是知道谈什么?”

    问题是冲着邦布尔提出来的,可是他的夫人却抢先作了回答,说自己完全清楚要谈什么事。

    “他可是说了,那个丑八怪死的当晚,你跟她在一块儿,她告诉了你一件事――”

    “这事和你提到的那个孩子的母亲有关,”女总管打断了他的话,答道,“是有这么回事。”

    “头一个问题是,她谈的事属于什么性质?”孟可司说道。

    “这是第二个问题,”女士慎重其事地之说,“头一个问题是,这消息值多少钱?”

    “还不清楚是哪一类消息呢,谁他妈说得上来?”孟可司问道。

    “我相信,没有人比你更清楚的了。”邦布尔太太并不缺少魄力,对于这一点她的夫君完全可以证明。

    “哼。”孟可司带着一副急于问个究竟的神色,意味深长地说,“该不会很值钱吧,嗯?”

    “可能是吧。”回答十分从容。

    “有一样从她那儿拿走的东西,”孟可司说道,“她本来戴在身上,后来――”

    “你最好出个价,”邦布尔太太没让他说下去,“我已经听得够多的了,我相信你正是想要知道底细的人。”

    邦布尔先生至今没有获得他当家人的恩准,对这个秘密了解得比当初多一些,此时他伸长脖子,瞪大眼睛听着这番对话,满脸掩饰不住的惊愕表情,时而看看老婆,时而又看看孟可司。当孟可司厉声问道,对这个有待透露的秘密得出个多大的数目时,他的惊愕更是有增无已,如果先前还不算达到了顶点的话。

    “你看值多少钱?”女士问的时候跟先前一样平静。

    “也许一个子不值,也许值二十镑,”孟可司回答,“说出来,让我心里有个数。”

    “就依你说的这个数目,再加五镑,给我二十五个金镑,”那女的说道,“我把知道的事情都告诉你。先说出来可没门。”

    “二十五镑!”孟可司大叫一声,仰靠在椅子上。

    “我说得再明白不过了,”邦布尔太太回答,“也算不得一个大数。”

    “一个微不足道,也许讲出来什么也算不上的秘密,还不算大数?”孟可司猴急地嚷了起来,“加上埋在地下已经十二年还有多的。”

    “这类玩意儿保存好了,跟好酒一样,越陈越值钱。”女总管回答说,依旧保持着那一副满不在乎的样子。“说到埋在地下嘛,不是还有些个埋在地下一万二千年,或者一千二百万年的,你我都知道,终归还是要说出些个稀奇古怪的事来。”

    “我要是付了钱,却什么也没得到呢?”孟可司犹豫起来,问道。

    “你可以轻而易举重新拿回去,”女总管回答,“我不过是个女人,孤身一人呆在这里,没有人保护。”

    “不是孤身一人,亲爱的,也不是没人保护,”邦布尔先生用吓得发抖的声音央告说,“有我在这儿呢,亲爱的。再说了,”邦布尔先生说话时牙齿咔哒直响,“孟可司先生实实在在是位绅士,不会对教区人士动武的。孟可司先生知道,我不是年轻人了,也可以说,我已经有一点老不中用了。可他也听说过――我是说,我丝毫也不怀疑孟可司先生已经听说了,我亲爱的――要是惹火了,我可是一个办事果断的人,力气非同一般。只要惹我一下就够了,就是这么回事。”

    说着,邦布尔先生装出一副果断得吓人,实则可怜巴巴的样子,紧紧握住他带来的那盏手提灯,可眉梢嘴角那一处处吓慌了的神情清清楚楚地表明,他的确需要惹一下子,而且还不只是惹一下子就够了,才做得出勇猛过人的姿态来。当然,对付贫民或其他专供恐吓的人就是另外一回事了。

    “你这个蠢货,”邦布尔太太答道,“还是把嘴闭上为妙。”

    “要是他不能用小一点的嗓门说话,那他来以前最好把舌头割掉,”孟可司恶狠狠地说,“别忙。他是你丈夫,嗯?”

    “他,我丈夫!”女总管吃吃地笑起来,避而不答。

    “你一进来,我就那样想过,”孟可司说道。他已经注意到了,她说话时怒不可遏地朝老公瞪了一眼。“那就更好了。要是发现跟我打交道的两个人其实是一个,我可就干脆多了。我不是说着玩的。瞧吧。”

    他把一只手插进侧边衣袋里,掏出一个帆布袋子,点着数把二十五金镑放在桌子上,然后推到那位女士面前。

    “喏,”他说道,“把东西收起来。这该死的雷声,我觉得它会把房顶炸塌的,等它过去,我们就来听听你的故事。”

    雷声,好像的确近得多了,几乎就在他们头顶上震动、炸响,随后渐渐远去。孟可司从桌边扬起脸,朝前弓着身子,一心想听听那个妇人会说出些什么。两个男人急于听个究竟,一起朝那张小小的桌子俯下来,那女的也把头伸过去,好让她像耳语一般的说话声能听得见,三张脸险些儿碰着了。吊灯微弱的亮光直接落在他们的脸上,使这三张面孔显得越发苍白而又焦急,在一片朦胧昏暗之中,看上去像是三个幽灵。

    “那个女人,我们管她叫老沙丽,她死的时候,”女总管开始了,“在场的只有我跟她两个人。”

    “旁边没别的人了?”孟可司同样悄没声地问,“别的床上没有害病的家伙,或者说白痴吧?谁也听不见,绝没有人听了去?”

    “一个人都没有,”女的回答,“就我们俩。死的功夫,就我一个人守在尸体旁边。”

    “好,”孟可司专注地望着她,说道,“讲下去。”

    “她谈到有个年轻的人儿,”女总管接着说,“好些年以前生下一个男孩,不单单是在同一个房间里,而且就在她临死的时候躺的那张床上。”

    “啊?”孟可司的嘴唇哆嗦起来,他回头看了一眼,说道,“吓死人了。怎么搞的。”

    “那孩子就是你昨天晚上向他提到名字的那一个,”女总管漫不经心地朝自己的丈夫点了点头,“那个看护偷了他母亲的东西。”

    “在生前?”孟可司问。

    “死的时候,”那女的回答的时候好像打了个寒战,“孩子的母亲只剩最后一口气了,求她替孤儿保存起来,可那个当妈的刚一断气,她就从尸体上把东西偷走了。”

    “她把东西卖掉了?”孟可司急不可待地嚷了起来,“她是不是卖了?卖哪儿去了?什么时候?卖给谁了?多久以前的事?”

    “当时,她费了好大劲告诉我,她干了这件事,”女总管说,“倒下去就死了。”

    “再没说什么了?”孟可司尽量压低声音嚷道,但却仅仅使他的声音听上去更加暴躁。“撒谎。我不会上当的。她还有话。不把话说清楚,我会要你们俩的老命。”

    “别的话她一句也没说,”这个怪人的举动十分狂暴,但妇人显然丝毫也不为所动(相形之下,邦布尔先生就差远了),她说道。“不过,她一只手死死抓住我的上衣,手没有整个攥在一块儿。我见她已经死了,就用力把那只手掰开,发现她手里握着一张破纸片。”

    “那上边有――”孟可司伸长脖子,插了一句。

    “没什么,”那女的回答,“是一张当票。”

    “当的什么?”孟可司追问道。

    “到时候,我会告诉你的,”妇人说道,“我寻思她把那个小东西放了一阵子,满以为能卖个大价钱,后来才送进了当铺,她存了钱,或者说攒了些钱,一年一年付给当铺利息,免得过期。真有什么事情用得着了,还可以赎出来。结果什么事也没有,而且,我告诉你吧,她手里捏着那张烂得一塌糊涂的纸片死了。那时还有两天就要过期了,我心想说不定哪天还会用得着呢,就把东西赎了回来。”

    “眼下东西在什么地方?”孟可司急切地问。

    “在这儿。”妇人回答。她慌里慌张,把一只大小刚够放下一块法国表的小羊皮袋扔在桌上,好像巴不得摆脱它的样子。孟可司猛扑上去,双手颤抖着把袋子撕开。袋子里装着一只小金盒,里边有两绺头发,一个纯金的结婚戒指。

    “戒指背面刻着‘艾格尼丝’几个字,”妇人说,“空白是留给姓氏的,接下来是日期。那个日子就在小孩生下来的前一年。我后来才弄清楚了。”

    “就这些?”孟可司说,他对小袋子里的东西都仔细而急切地检查过了。

    “就这些。”妇人回答。

    邦布尔先生长长地倒抽了一口气,仿佛感到欣慰,故事已经讲完了,对方没有重提把那二十五金榜要回去的话,他鼓起勇气,把从刚才那一番对话开始以来就遏止不住地从鼻子上滴下来的汗水抹掉了。

    “除了能够猜到的以外,我对这事就什么也不知道了,”邦布尔老婆沉默片刻,对孟可司说道,“我也不想打听什么,因为这样最稳当。不过,我总可以问你两个问题吧,是吗?”

    “你可以问,”孟可司略有几分惊异地说,“但我是否答复就是另一个问题了。”

    “――这就成了三个了。”邦布尔先生一心要在滑稽取笑方面露一手,便说道。

    “这是不是你打算从我这儿得到的东西?”女总管问道。

    “是,”孟可司回答,“还有一个问题呢?”

    “你打算用来干什么?会不会用来跟我过不去?”

    “绝对不会,”孟可司回答,“也不会跟我自己过不去。瞧这儿。你一步也别往前挪,要不你的性命连一根莎草也不值了。”

    随着这番话,他猛地将桌子推到一边,抓住地板上的一只铁环,拉开一大块活板,从紧挨着邦布尔先生脚边的地方掀开一道暗门,吓得这位先生连连后退。

    “瞧下边,”孟可司一边说,一边把吊灯伸进洞里,“犯不着怕我。你们坐在上边的功夫,我完全可以不声不响地打发你们下去,我要是有这个意思的话。”

    在这一番鼓励之下,女总管挨近了坑口。连邦布尔先生也在好奇心驱使下大着胆子走上前来。大雨后暴涨的河水在底下奔泻而过,流水哗哗,浊浪翻滚,扑打着那粘糊糊的绿色木桩,所有的声音都消失在这一片喧腾声中。下边过去有一座水磨,水流泛起泡沫,冲击着几根腐朽的木桩和残存的机器零件,接着甩开了这些妄图阻止它一泄千里的障碍物,似乎拿出了新的冲劲朝前奔去。

    “要是你把一个人的尸体抛到下边去,明天早上会到什么地方?”孟可司将吊灯在黑洞里来回晃动着,说道。

    “流下去十二英里,外加扯成几大块。”邦布尔想到这一点,赶紧缩回去。

    孟可司将匆忙中塞进怀里的那个小包掏出来,拾起地板上一个铅坠绑在上边,这个铅坠原先是滑车上的一个零件,绑好之后,便丢进了激流之中。铅坠直端端掉下去,扑嗵一声划开水面,声音几乎难以听见,不见了。

    三个人面面相觑,似乎松了一口气。

    “喂,”孟可司关上暗门,活板又重重地落回到原来的位置上。“如果大海会把死人送上岸来的话,书上就是这么说的,它自会留下金银财宝,包括那个无用的东西在内。我们没什么可说的了,还是结束这一次愉快的聚会吧。”

    “当然当然。”邦布尔先生欣然同意。

    “你还是在脑袋瓜里留一条规规矩矩的舌头,好不好?”孟可司把脸一沉,说道。“我并不担心你的夫人。”

    “你可以相信我,年轻人。”邦布尔先生一边回答,一边点头哈腰,缓缓地退向那架梯子,显然格外有礼貌。“为了大家的利益,年轻人,也为了我自己,你知道,孟可司先生。”

    “看在你面子上,我很高兴听到这句话,”孟可司说道,“把灯点亮。尽快离开这儿。”

    幸亏谈话在这个节骨眼上结束了,要不然,已经退到离梯子不超过六英寸仍在连连鞠躬的邦布尔先生准会来个倒栽葱,掉进楼下一间屋子里去。他从孟可司解开绳子拎在手里的吊灯上借了个火,点亮自己的那盏手提灯。他没再找些话说,默默地顺着梯子下去,他的妻子跟在后边。孟可司在梯子上停了一下,直到确信除了屋外雨点的敲打与河水的奔泻而外,没有别的声音,才最后一个走下梯子。

    他们缓慢而谨慎地穿过楼下的房间,因为每一个影子都会把孟可司吓一大跳。邦布尔先生手里提着的灯离地面一尺,步履间不仅极其慎重,而且就一位像他那种身材的先生来说,他的步子轻巧得简直不可思议,他疑神疑鬼,东张西望,看有没有暗藏的活板门。孟可司卸下门闩,将他们进来的那道门轻轻打开。这两口子与神秘的新相识彼此点了一下头,向门外黑沉沉的雨夜中走去。

    他们刚一消失,孟可司似乎对单独留下来抱有一种克制不住的厌恶,立刻把藏在楼下什么地方的一个孩子叫出来,吩咐他走在头里,自己提着灯,回到他刚刚离开的那个房间去了。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 monks 218362e2c5f963a82756748713baf661     
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。
  • He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 overcast cJ2xV     
adj.阴天的,阴暗的,愁闷的;v.遮盖,(使)变暗,包边缝;n.覆盖,阴天
参考例句:
  • The overcast and rainy weather found out his arthritis.阴雨天使他的关节炎发作了。
  • The sky is overcast with dark clouds.乌云满天。
3 dense aONzX     
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的
参考例句:
  • The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
4 sluggish VEgzS     
adj.懒惰的,迟钝的,无精打采的
参考例句:
  • This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
  • Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。
5 presage t1qz0     
n.预感,不祥感;v.预示
参考例句:
  • The change could presage serious problems.这变化可能预示着有严重问题将要发生。
  • The lowering clouds presage a storm.暗云低沉是暴风雨的前兆。
6 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的
参考例句:
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来,塞进文件夹里。
7 ERECTED ERECTED     
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立
参考例句:
  • A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
  • A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。
8 hem 7dIxa     
n.贴边,镶边;vt.缝贴边;(in)包围,限制
参考例句:
  • The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。
  • The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。
9 trudged e830eb9ac9fd5a70bf67387e070a9616     
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • He trudged the last two miles to the town. 他步履艰难地走完最后两英里到了城里。
  • He trudged wearily along the path. 他沿着小路疲惫地走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 pretences 0d462176df057e8e8154cd909f8d95a6     
n.假装( pretence的名词复数 );作假;自命;自称
参考例句:
  • You've brought your old friends out here under false pretences. 你用虚假的名义把你的那些狐朋狗党带到这里来。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • There are no pretences about him. 他一点不虚伪。 来自辞典例句
11 subsisted d36c0632da7a5cceb815e51e7c5d4aa2     
v.(靠很少的钱或食物)维持生活,生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Before liberation he subsisted on wild potatoes. 解放前他靠吃野薯度日。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Survivors of the air crash subsisted on wild fruits. 空难事件的幸存者以野果维持生命。 来自辞典例句
12 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。
13 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
14 jumbled rpSzs2     
adj.混乱的;杂乱的
参考例句:
  • Books, shoes and clothes were jumbled together on the floor. 书、鞋子和衣服胡乱堆放在地板上。
  • The details of the accident were all jumbled together in his mind. 他把事故细节记得颠三倒四。
15 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。
16 dwarf EkjzH     
n.矮子,侏儒,矮小的动植物;vt.使…矮小
参考例句:
  • The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
  • The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀,摇摇头。
17 oar EH0xQ     
n.桨,橹,划手;v.划行
参考例句:
  • The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
  • The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。
18 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。
19 avocation leuyZ     
n.副业,业余爱好
参考例句:
  • He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation.他从事印刷业,同时是个博物学爱好者。
  • Learning foreign languages is just an avocation with me.学习外语只不过是我的一项业余爱好。
20 conjecture 3p8z4     
n./v.推测,猜测
参考例句:
  • She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
  • This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。
21 preservation glnzYU     
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持
参考例句:
  • The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
  • The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。
22 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。
23 tenements 307ebb75cdd759d238f5844ec35f9e27     
n.房屋,住户,租房子( tenement的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
  • The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句
24 tottering 20cd29f0c6d8ba08c840e6520eeb3fac     
adj.蹒跚的,动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠
参考例句:
  • the tottering walls of the castle 古城堡摇摇欲坠的墙壁
  • With power and to spare we must pursue the tottering foe. 宜将剩勇追穷寇。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
25 favourable favourable     
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的
参考例句:
  • The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
  • We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。
26 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
27 peal Hm0zVO     
n.钟声;v.鸣响
参考例句:
  • The bells of the cathedral rang out their loud peal.大教堂响起了响亮的钟声。
  • A sudden peal of thunder leaves no time to cover the ears.迅雷不及掩耳。
28 reverberated 3a97b3efd3d8e644bcdffd01038c6cdb     
回响,回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使反响,使回荡,使反射
参考例句:
  • Her voice reverberated around the hall. 她的声音在大厅里回荡。
  • The roar of guns reverberated in the valley. 炮声响彻山谷。
29 scrap JDFzf     
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废
参考例句:
  • A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
  • Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。
30 descried 7e4cac79cc5ce43e504968c29e0c27a5     
adj.被注意到的,被发现的,被看到的
参考例句:
  • He descried an island far away on the horizon. 他看到遥远的地平线上有个岛屿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • At length we descried a light and a roof. 终于,我们远远看见了一点灯光,一所孤舍。 来自辞典例句
31 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
32 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。
33 beckoned b70f83e57673dfe30be1c577dd8520bc     
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
  • The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
34 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
35 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
36 apprehensively lzKzYF     
adv.担心地
参考例句:
  • He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
  • Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去,一切都不知怎好似的,连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
37 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。
38 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。
39 bestowing ec153f37767cf4f7ef2c4afd6905b0fb     
砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖
参考例句:
  • Apollo, you see, is bestowing the razor on the Triptolemus of our craft. 你瞧,阿波罗正在把剃刀赠给我们这项手艺的特里泼托勒默斯。
  • What thanks do we not owe to Heaven for thus bestowing tranquillity, health and competence! 我们要谢谢上苍,赐我们的安乐、健康和饱暖。
40 beckoning fcbc3f0e8d09c5f29e4c5759847d03d6     
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
  • He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
41 ascend avnzD     
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上
参考例句:
  • We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
  • We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。
42 warehouses 544959798565126142ca2820b4f56271     
仓库,货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
  • Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。
43 aperture IwFzW     
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口
参考例句:
  • The only light came through a narrow aperture.仅有的光亮来自一个小孔。
  • We saw light through a small aperture in the wall.我们透过墙上的小孔看到了亮光。
44 caverns bb7d69794ba96943881f7baad3003450     
大山洞,大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Within were dark caverns; what was inside them, no one could see. 里面是一个黑洞,这里面有什么东西,谁也望不见。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • UNDERGROUND Under water grottos, caverns Filled with apes That eat figs. 在水帘洞里,挤满了猿争吃无花果。
45 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
46 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
47 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。
48 distended 86751ec15efd4512b97d34ce479b1fa7     
v.(使)膨胀,肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童
  • The balloon was distended. 气球已膨胀。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
49 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
50 paltry 34Cz0     
adj.无价值的,微不足道的
参考例句:
  • The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。
  • I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了,如果你不能振作你那点元气。
51 resolute 2sCyu     
adj.坚决的,果敢的
参考例句:
  • He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
  • The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。
52 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。
53 chattering chattering     
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
54 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
55 uncommon AlPwO     
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的
参考例句:
  • Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
  • Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。
56 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。
57 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
58 paupers 4c4c583df03d9b7a0e9ba5a2f5e9864f     
n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷
参考例句:
  • The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵,你这穷鬼根本买不起! 来自互联网
  • Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索,马拉维,这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网
59 dart oydxK     
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲
参考例句:
  • The child made a sudden dart across the road.那小孩突然冲过马路。
  • Markov died after being struck by a poison dart.马尔科夫身中毒镖而亡。
60 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
61 spouse Ah6yK     
n.配偶(指夫或妻)
参考例句:
  • Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
  • What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么?
62 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
63 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
64 subsided 1bda21cef31764468020a8c83598cc0d     
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上
参考例句:
  • After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后,部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚, 暴风雨已经过去,四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
65 aggravated d0aec1b8bb810b0e260cb2aa0ff9c2ed     
使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使更严重; 激怒; 使恼火
参考例句:
  • If he aggravated me any more I shall hit him. 假如他再激怒我,我就要揍他。
  • Far from relieving my cough, the medicine aggravated it. 这药非但不镇咳,反而使我咳嗽得更厉害。
66 countenances 4ec84f1d7c5a735fec7fdd356379db0d     
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 );表情;镇静;道义支持
参考例句:
  • 'stood apart, with countenances of inflexible gravity, beyond what even the Puritan aspect could attain." 站在一旁,他们脸上那种严肃刚毅的神情,比清教徒们还有过之而无不及。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
  • The light of a laugh never came to brighten their sombre and wicked countenances. 欢乐的光芒从来未照亮过他们那阴郁邪恶的面孔。 来自辞典例句
67 wretch EIPyl     
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人
参考例句:
  • You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他,还埋怨他,真不知好歹。
  • The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。
68 attentively AyQzjz     
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神
参考例句:
  • She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
69 shudder JEqy8     
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动
参考例句:
  • The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材,他浑身一阵战栗。
  • We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。
70 corpse JYiz4     
n.尸体,死尸
参考例句:
  • What she saw was just an unfeeling corpse.她见到的只是一具全无感觉的尸体。
  • The corpse was preserved from decay by embalming.尸体用香料涂抹以防腐烂。
71 pawned 4a07cbcf19a45badd623a582bf8ca213     
v.典当,抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 );以(某事物)担保
参考例句:
  • He pawned his gold watch to pay the rent. 他抵当了金表用以交租。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
72 redeemed redeemed     
adj. 可赎回的,可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • She has redeemed her pawned jewellery. 她赎回了当掉的珠宝。
  • He redeemed his watch from the pawnbroker's. 他从当铺赎回手表。
73 tattered bgSzkG     
adj.破旧的,衣衫破的
参考例句:
  • Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
  • Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。
74 pouncing a4d326ef808cd62e931d41c388271139     
v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击)
参考例句:
  • Detective Sun grinned and, pouncing on the gourd, smashed it against the wall. 孙侦探笑了,一把将瓦罐接过来,往墙上一碰。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
  • We saw the tiger pouncing on the goat. 我们看见老虎向那只山羊扑过去。 来自互联网
75 engraved be672d34fc347de7d97da3537d2c3c95     
v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的过去式和过去分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中)
参考例句:
  • The silver cup was engraved with his name. 银杯上刻有他的名字。
  • It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back. 此件雕刻精美,背面有花饰图案。 来自《简明英汉词典》
76 scrutiny ZDgz6     
n.详细检查,仔细观察
参考例句:
  • His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好,但是经不起仔细检查。
  • Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。
77 perspiration c3UzD     
n.汗水;出汗
参考例句:
  • It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了,我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
  • The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。
78 trickling 24aeffc8684b1cc6b8fa417e730cc8dc     
n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 );淌;使)慢慢走;缓慢移动
参考例句:
  • Tears were trickling down her cheeks. 眼泪顺着她的面颊流了下来。
  • The engine was trickling oil. 发动机在滴油。 来自《简明英汉词典》
79 facetiousness 1ed312409ab96648c74311a037525400     
n.滑稽
参考例句:
  • Jastrow said, with tremulous facetiousness. 杰斯特罗说着,显出抖抖嗦嗦的滑稽样子。 来自辞典例句
80 gulf 1e0xp     
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂
参考例句:
  • The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
  • There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。
81 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿
参考例句:
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
82 impelled 8b9a928e37b947d87712c1a46c607ee7     
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
  • I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
83 turbid tm6wY     
adj.混浊的,泥水的,浓的
参考例句:
  • He found himself content to watch idly the sluggish flow of the turbid stream.他心安理得地懒洋洋地望着混浊的河水缓缓流着。
  • The lake's water is turbid.这个湖里的水混浊。
84 swollen DrcwL     
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀
参考例句:
  • Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
  • A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
85 eddying 66c0ffa4a2e8509b312eb4799fd0876d     
涡流,涡流的形成
参考例句:
  • The Rhine flowed on, swirling and eddying, at six or seven miles an hour. 莱茵河不断以每小时六、七哩的速度,滔滔滚流,波涛起伏。
86 foaming 08d4476ae4071ba83dfdbdb73d41cae6     
adj.布满泡沫的;发泡
参考例句:
  • He looked like a madman, foaming at the mouth. 他口吐白沫,看上去像个疯子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is foaming at the mouth about the committee's decision. 他正为委员会的决定大发其火。 来自《简明英汉词典》
87 chafing 2078d37ab4faf318d3e2bbd9f603afdd     
n.皮肤发炎v.擦热(尤指皮肤)( chafe的现在分词 );擦痛;发怒;惹怒
参考例句:
  • My shorts were chafing my thighs. 我的短裤把大腿磨得生疼。 来自辞典例句
  • We made coffee in a chafing dish. 我们用暖锅烧咖啡。 来自辞典例句
88 machinery CAdxb     
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构
参考例句:
  • Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗?
  • Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。
89 onward 2ImxI     
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先
参考例句:
  • The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
  • He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。
90 recoiling 6efc6419f5752ebc2e0d555d78bafc15     
v.畏缩( recoil的现在分词 );退缩;报应;返回
参考例句:
  • Some of the energy intended for the photon is drained off by the recoiling atom. 原来给予光子的能量有一部分为反冲原子所消耗。 来自辞典例句
  • A second method watches for another effect of the recoiling nucleus: ionization. 探测器使用的第二种方法,是观察反冲原子核的另一种效应:游离。 来自互联网
91 clove TwtzJh     
n.丁香味
参考例句:
  • If tired,smell a whiff of clove oil and it will wake you up.如果疲倦,闻上一点丁香油将令人清醒。
  • A sweet-smell comes from roses and clove trees.丁香与玫瑰的香味扑鼻而来。
92 alacrity MfFyL     
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意
参考例句:
  • Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老,动作仍很敏捷。
  • He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。
93 discourse 2lGz0     
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述
参考例句:
  • We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
  • He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
94 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
95 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
96 invincible 9xMyc     
adj.不可征服的,难以制服的
参考例句:
  • This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
  • The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致,他们就是不可战胜的。
97 repugnance oBWz5     
n.嫌恶
参考例句:
  • He fought down a feelings of repugnance.他抑制住了厌恶感。
  • She had a repugnance to the person with whom she spoke.她看不惯这个和她谈话的人。
98 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。


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