THE INTERIOR OF "THE MUSKETEERS"
When D'Artagnan was out of the Louvre, and consulted his friends upon the use he had best make of his share of the forty pistoles, Athos advised him to order a good repast at the Pomme-de-Pin, Porthos to engage a lackey1, and Aramis to provide himself with a suitable mistress.
The repast was carried into effect that very day, and the lackey waited at table. The repast had been ordered by Athos, and the lackey furnished by Porthos. He was a Picard, whom the glorious Musketeer had picked up on the Bridge Tournelle, making rings and plashing in the water.
Porthos pretended that this occupation was proof of a reflective and contemplative organization, and he had brought him this gentleman, for whom he believed himself to be engaged, had won Planchet--that was the name of the Picard. He felt a slight disappointment, however, when he saw that this place was already taken by a compeer named Mousqueton, and when Porthos signified to him that the state of his household, though great, would not support two servants, and that he must enter into the service of D'Artagnan. Nevertheless, when he waited at the dinner given my his master, and saw him take out a handful of gold to pay for it, he believed his fortune made, and returned thanks to heaven for having thrown him into the service of such a Croesus. He preserved this opinion even after the feast, with the remnants of which he repaired his own long abstinence; but when in the evening he made his master's bed, the chimeras2 of Planchet faded away. The bed was the only one in the apartment, which consisted of an antechamber and a bedroom. Planchet slept in the antechamber upon a coverlet taken from the bed of D'Artagnan, and which D'Artagnan from that time made shift to do without.
Athos, on his part, had a valet whom he had trained in his service in a thoroughly3 peculiar4 fashion, and who was named Grimaud. He was very taciturn, this worthy5 signor. Be it understood we are speaking of Athos. During the five or six years that he had lived in the strictest intimacy6 with his companions, Porthos and Aramis, they could remember having often seen him smile, but had never heard him laugh. His words were brief and expressive7, conveying all that was meant, and no more; no embellishments, no embroidery8, no arabesques9. His conversation a matter of fact, without a single romance.
Although Athos was scarcely thirty years old, and was of great personal beauty and intelligence of mind, no one knew whether he had ever had a mistress. He never spoke10 of women. He certainly did not prevent others from speaking of them before him, although it was easy to perceive that this kind of conversation, in which he only mingled11 by bitter words and misanthropic12 remarks, was very disagreeable to him. His reserve, his roughness, and his silence made almost an old man of him. He had, then, in order not to disturb his habits, accustomed Grimaud to obey him upon a simple gesture or upon a simple movement of his lips. He never spoke to him, except under the most extraordinary occasions.
Sometimes, Grimaud, who feared his master as he did fire, while entertaining a strong attachment13 to his person and a great veneration14 for his talents, believed he perfectly15 understood what he wanted, flew to execute the order received, and did precisely16 the contrary. Athos then shrugged17 his shoulders, and, without putting himself in a passion, thrashed Grimaud. On these days he spoke a little.
Porthos, as we have seen, had a character exactly opposite to that of Athos. He not only talked much, but he talked loudly, little caring, we must render him that justice, whether anybody listened to him or not. He talked for the pleasure of talking and for the pleasure of hearing himself talk. He spoke upon all subjects except the sciences, alleging18 in this respect the inveterate19 hatred20 he had borne to scholars from his childhood. He had not so noble an air as Athos, and the commencement of their intimacy often rendered him unjust toward that gentleman, whom he endeavored to eclipse by his splendid dress. But with his simple Musketeer's uniform and nothing but the manner in which he threw back his head and advanced his foot, Athos instantly took the place which was his due and consigned21 the ostentatious Porthos to the second rank. Porthos consoled himself by filling the antechamber of M. de Treville and the guardroom of the Louvre with the accounts of his love scrapes, after having passed from professional ladies to military ladies, from the lawyer's dame22 to the baroness23, there was question of nothing less with Porthos than a foreign princess, who was enormously fond of him.
An old proverb says, "Like master, like man." Let us pass, then, from the valet of Athos to the valet of Porthos, from Grimaud to Mousqueton.
Mousqueton was a Norman, whose pacific name of Boniface his master had changed into the infinitely24 more sonorous25 name of Mousqueton. He had entered the service of Porthos upon condition that he should only be clothed and lodged26, though in a handsome manner; but he claimed two hours a day to himself, consecrated27 to an employment which would provide for his other wants. Porthos agreed to the bargain; the thing suited him wonderfully well. He had doublets cut out of his old clothes and cast-off cloaks for Mousqueton, and thanks to a very intelligent tailor, who made his clothes look as good as new by turning them, and whose wife was suspected of wishing to make Porthos descend28 from his aristocratic habits, Mousqueton made a very good figure when attending on his master.
As for Aramis, of whom we believe we have sufficiently29 explained the character--a character which, like that of his lackey was called Bazin. Thanks to the hopes which his master entertained of someday entering into orders, he was always clothed in black, as became the servant of a churchman. He was a Berrichon, thirty-five or forty years old, mild, peaceable, sleek30, employing the leisure his master left him in the perusal31 of pious32 works, providing rigorously for two a dinner of few dishes, but excellent. For the rest, he was dumb, blind, and deaf, and of unimpeachable33 fidelity34.
And now that we are acquainted, superficially at least, with the masters and the valets, let us pass on to the dwellings35 occupied by each of them.
Athos dwelt in the Rue36 Ferou, within two steps of the Luxembourg. His apartment consisted of two small chambers37, very nicely fitted up, in a furnished house, the hostess of which, still young and still really handsome, cast tender glances uselessly at him. Some fragments of past splendor38 appeared here and there upon the walls of this modest lodging39; a sword, for example, richly embossed, which belonged by its make to the times of Francis I, the hilt of which alone, encrusted with precious stones, might be worth two hundred pistoles, and which, nevertheless, in his moments of greatest distress40 Athos had never pledged or offered for sale. It had long been an object of ambition for Porthos. Porthos would have given ten years of his life to possess this sword.
One day, when he had an appointment with a duchess, he endeavored even to borrow it of Athos. Athos, without saying anything, emptied his pockets, got together all his jewels, purses, aiguillettes, and gold chains, and offered them all to Porthos; but as to the sword, he said it was sealed to its place and should never quit it until its master should himself quit his lodgings41. In addition to the sword, there was a portrait representing a nobleman of the time of Henry III, dressed with the greatest elegance42, and who wore the Order of the Holy Ghost; and this portrait had certain resemblances of lines with Athos, certain family likenesses which indicated that this great noble, a knight43 of the Order of the King, was his ancestor.
Besides these, a casket of magnificent goldwork, with the same arms as the sword and the portrait, formed a middle ornament44 to the mantelpiece, and assorted45 badly with the rest of the furniture. Athos always carried the key of this coffer about him; but he one day opened it before Porthos, and Porthos was convinced that this coffer contained nothing but letters and papers--love letters and family papers, no doubt.
Porthos lived in an apartment, large in size and of very sumptuous46 appearance, in the Rue du Vieux-Colombier. Every time he passed with a friend before his windows, at one of which Mousqueton was sure to be placed in full livery, Porthos raised his head and his hand, and said, "That is my abode47!" But he was never to be found at home; he never invited anybody to go up with him, and no one could form an idea of what his sumptuous apartment contained in the shape of real riches.
As to Aramis, he dwelt in a little lodging composed of a boudoir, an eating room, and a bedroom, which room, situated48, as the others were, on the ground floor, looked out upon a little fresh green garden, shady and impenetrable to the eyes of his neighbors.
With regard to D'Artagnan, we know how he was lodged, and we have already made acquaintance with his lackey, Master Planchet.
D'Artagnan, who was by nature very curious--as people generally are who possess the genius of intrigue--did all he could to make out who Athos, Porthos, and Aramis really were (for under these pseudonyms49 each of these young men concealed50 his family name)-- Athos in particular, who, a league away, savored51 of nobility. He addressed himself then to Porthos to gain information respecting Athos and Aramis, and to Aramis in order to learn something of Porthos.
Unfortunately Porthos knew nothing of the life of his silent companion but what revealed itself. It was said Athos had met with great crosses in love, and that a frightful52 treachery had forever poisoned the life of this gallant53 man. What could this treachery be? All the world was ignorant of it.
As to Porthos, except his real name (as was the case with those of his two comrades), his life was very easily known. Vain and indiscreet, it was as easy to see through him as through a crystal. The only thing to mislead the investigator55 would have been belief in all the good things he said of himself.
With respect to Aramis, though having the air of having nothing secret about him, he was a young fellow made up of mysteries, answering little to questions put to him about others, and having learned from him the report which prevailed concerning the success of the Musketeer with a princess, wished to gain a little insight into the amorous56 adventures of his interlocutor. "And you, my dear companion," said he, "you speak of the baronesses57, countesses, and princesses of others?"
"PARDIEU! I spoke of them because Porthos talked of them himself, because he had paraded all these fine things before me. But be assured, my dear Monsieur D'Artagnan, that if I had obtained them from any other source, or if they had been confided58 to me, there exists no confessor more discreet54 than myself."
"Oh, I don't doubt that," replied D'Artagnan; "but it seems to me that you are tolerably familiar with coats of arms--a certain embroidered59 handkerchief, for instance, to which I owe the honor of your acquaintance?"
This time Aramis was not angry, but assumed the most modest air and replied in a friendly tone, "My dear friend, do not forget that I wish to belong to the Church, and that I avoid all mundane60 opportunities. The handkerchief you saw had not been given to me, but it had been forgotten and left at my house by one of my friends. I was obliged to pick it up in order not to compromise him and the lady he loves. As for myself, I neither have, nor desire to have, a mistress, following in that respect the very judicious61 example of Athos, who has none any more than I have."
"But what the devil! You are not a priest, you are a Musketeer!"
"A Musketeer for a time, my friend, as the cardinal62 says, a Musketeer against my will, but a churchman at heart, believe me. Athos and Porthos dragged me into this to occupy me. I had, at the moment of being ordained63, a little difficulty with--But that would not interest you, and I am taking up your valuable time."
"Not at all; it interests me very much," cried D'Artagnan; "and at this moment I have absolutely nothing to do."
"Yes, but I have my breviary to repeat," answered Aramis; "then some verses to compose, which Madame d'Aiguillon begged of me. Then I must go to the Rue St. Honore in order to purchase some rouge64 for Madame de Chevreuse. So you see, my dear friend, that if you are not in a hurry, I am very much in a hurry."
Aramis held out his hand in a cordial manner to his young companion, and took leave of him.
Notwithstanding all the pains he took, D'Artagnan was unable to learn any more concerning his three new-made friends. He formed, therefore, the resolution of believing for the present all that was said of their past, hoping for more certain and extended revelations in the future. In the meanwhile, he looked upon Athos as an Achilles, Porthos as an Ajax, and Aramis as a Joseph.
As to the rest, the life of the four young friends was joyous65 enough. Athos played, and that as a rule unfortunately. Nevertheless, he never borrowed a sou of his companions, although his purse was ever at their service; and when he had played upon honor, he always awakened66 his creditor67 by six o'clock the next morning to pay the debt of the preceding evening.
Porthos had his fits. On the days when he won he was insolent68 and ostentatious; if he lost, he disappeared completely for several days, after which he reappeared with a pale face and thinner person, but with money in his purse.
As to Aramis, he never played. He was the worst Musketeer and the most unconvivial companion imaginable. He had always something or other to do. Sometimes in the midst of dinner, when everyone, under the attraction of wine and in the warmth of conversation, believed they had two or three hours longer to enjoy themselves at table, Aramis looked at his watch, arose with a bland69 smile, and took leave of the company, to go, as he said, to consult a casuist with whom he had an appointment. At other times he would return home to write a treatise70, and requested his friends not to disturb him.
At this Athos would smile, with his charming, melancholy71 smile, which so became his noble countenance72, and Porthos would drink, swearing that Aramis would never be anything but a village CURE.
Planchet, D'Artagnan's valet, supported his good fortune nobly. He received thirty sous per day, and for a month he returned to his lodgings gay as a chaffinch, and affable toward his master. When the wind of adversity began to blow upon the housekeeping of the Rue des Fossoyeurs--that is to say, when the forty pistoles of King Louis XIII were consumed or nearly so--he commenced complaints which Athos thought nauseous, Porthos indecent, and Aramis ridiculous. Athos counseled D'Artagnan to dismiss the fellow; Porthos was of opinion that he should give him a good thrashing first; and Aramis contended that a master should never attend to anything but the civilities paid to him.
"This is all very easy for you to say," replied D'Artagnan, "for you, Athos, who live like a dumb man with Grimaud, who forbid him to speak, and consequently never exchange ill words with him; for you, Porthos, who carry matters in such a magnificent style, and are a god to your valet, Mousqueton; and for you, Aramis, who, always abstracted by your theological studies, inspire your servant, Bazin, a mild, religious man, with a profound respect; but for me, who am without any settled means and without resources--for me, who am neither a Musketeer nor even a Guardsman, what I am to do to inspire either the affection, the terror, or the respect in Planchet?"
"This is serious," answered the three friends; "it is a family affair. It is with valets as with wives, they must be placed at once upon the footing in which you wish them to remain. Reflect upon it."
D'Artagnan did reflect, and resolved to thrash Planchet provisionally; which he did with the conscientiousness73 that D'Artagnan carried into everything. After having well beaten him, he forbade him to leave his service without his permission. "For," added he, "the future cannot fail to mend; I inevitably74 look for better times. Your fortune is therefore made if you remain with me, and I am too good a master to allow you to miss such a chance by granting you the dismissal you require."
This manner of acting75 roused much respect for D'Artagnan's policy among the Musketeers. Planchet was equally seized with admiration76, and said no more about going away.
The life of the four young men had become fraternal. D'Artagnan, who had no settled habits of his own, as he came from his province into the midst of his world quite new to him, fell easily into the habits of his friends.
They rose about eight o'clock in the winter, about six in summer, and went to take the countersign77 and see how things went on at M. de Treville's. D'Artagnan, although he was not a Musketeer, performed the duty of one with remarkable78 punctuality. He went on guard because he always kept company with whoever of his friends was on duty. He was well known at the Hotel of the Musketeers, where everyone considered him a good comrade. M. de Treville, who had appreciated him at the first glance and who bore him a real affection, never ceased recommending him to the king.
On their side, the three Musketeers were much attached to their young comrade. The friendship which united these four men, and the want they felt of seeing another three or four times a day, whether for dueling79, business, or pleasure, caused them to be continually running after one another like shadows; and the Inseparables were constantly to be met with seeking one another, from the Luxembourg to the Place St. Sulpice, or from the Rue du Vieux-Colombier to the Luxembourg.
In the meanwhile the promises of M. de Treville went on prosperously. One fine morning the king commanded M. de Chevalier Dessessart to admit D'Artagnan as a cadet in his company of Guards. D'Artagnan, with a sigh, donned his uniform, which he would have exchanged for that of a Musketeer at the expense of ten years of his existence. But M. de Treville promised this favor after a novitiate of two years--a novitiate which might besides be abridged80 if an opportunity should present itself for D'Artagnan to render the king any signal service, or to distinguish himself by some brilliant action. Upon this promise D'Artagnan withdrew, and the next day he began service.
Then it became the turn of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis to mount guard with D'Artagnan when he was on duty. The company of M. le Chevalier Dessessart thus received four instead of one when it admitted D'Artagnan.
1 lackey | |
n.侍从;跟班 | |
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2 chimeras | |
n.(由几种动物的各部分构成的)假想的怪兽( chimera的名词复数 );不可能实现的想法;幻想;妄想 | |
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3 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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4 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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5 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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6 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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7 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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8 embroidery | |
n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品 | |
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9 arabesques | |
n.阿拉伯式花饰( arabesque的名词复数 );错综图饰;阿拉伯图案;阿拉贝斯克芭蕾舞姿(独脚站立,手前伸,另一脚一手向后伸) | |
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10 spoke | |
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 | |
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11 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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12 misanthropic | |
adj.厌恶人类的,憎恶(或蔑视)世人的;愤世嫉俗 | |
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13 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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14 veneration | |
n.尊敬,崇拜 | |
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15 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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16 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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17 shrugged | |
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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18 alleging | |
断言,宣称,辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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19 inveterate | |
adj.积习已深的,根深蒂固的 | |
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20 hatred | |
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨 | |
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21 consigned | |
v.把…置于(令人不快的境地)( consign的过去式和过去分词 );把…托付给;把…托人代售;丟弃 | |
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22 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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23 baroness | |
n.男爵夫人,女男爵 | |
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24 infinitely | |
adv.无限地,无穷地 | |
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25 sonorous | |
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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26 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 | |
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27 consecrated | |
adj.神圣的,被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣,给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 );奉献 | |
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28 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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29 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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30 sleek | |
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢 | |
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31 perusal | |
n.细读,熟读;目测 | |
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32 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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33 unimpeachable | |
adj.无可指责的;adv.无可怀疑地 | |
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34 fidelity | |
n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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35 dwellings | |
n.住处,处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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36 rue | |
n.懊悔,芸香,后悔;v.后悔,悲伤,懊悔 | |
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37 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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38 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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39 lodging | |
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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40 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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41 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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42 elegance | |
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙 | |
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43 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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44 ornament | |
v.装饰,美化;n.装饰,装饰物 | |
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45 assorted | |
adj.各种各样的,各色俱备的 | |
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46 sumptuous | |
adj.豪华的,奢侈的,华丽的 | |
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47 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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48 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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49 pseudonyms | |
n.假名,化名,(尤指)笔名( pseudonym的名词复数 ) | |
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50 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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51 savored | |
v.意味,带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 );给…加调味品;使有风味;品尝 | |
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52 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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53 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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54 discreet | |
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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55 investigator | |
n.研究者,调查者,审查者 | |
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56 amorous | |
adj.多情的;有关爱情的 | |
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57 baronesses | |
n.女男爵( baroness的名词复数 );男爵夫人[寡妇] | |
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58 confided | |
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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59 embroidered | |
adj.绣花的 | |
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60 mundane | |
adj.平凡的;尘世的;宇宙的 | |
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61 judicious | |
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的 | |
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62 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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63 ordained | |
v.任命(某人)为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 );授予(某人)圣职;(上帝、法律等)命令;判定 | |
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64 rouge | |
n.胭脂,口红唇膏;v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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65 joyous | |
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 | |
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66 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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67 creditor | |
n.债仅人,债主,贷方 | |
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68 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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69 bland | |
adj.淡而无味的,温和的,无刺激性的 | |
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70 treatise | |
n.专著;(专题)论文 | |
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71 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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72 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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73 conscientiousness | |
责任心 | |
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74 inevitably | |
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地 | |
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75 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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76 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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77 countersign | |
v.副署,会签 | |
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78 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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79 dueling | |
n. 决斗, 抗争(=duelling) 动词duel的现在分词形式 | |
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80 abridged | |
削减的,删节的 | |
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