PART FIVE DECEMBER 26TH III

PART FIVE DECEMBER 26TH III

Lydia Lee stood by the far window of the drawing room looking out. Her figure was half hidden

by the heavy window curtains. A sound in the room made her turn with a start to see Hercule

Poirot standing¹ by the door.

She said:

“You startled me, M. Poirot.”

“I apologize, madame. I walk softly.”

She said:

“I thought it was Horbury.”

Hercule Poirot nodded.

“It is true, he steps softly, that one—like a cat—or a thief.”

He paused a minute, watching her.

Her face showed nothing, but she made a slight grimace² of distate as she said:

“I have never cared for that man. I shall be glad to get rid of him.”

“I think you will be wise to do so, madame.”

She looked at him quickly. She said:

“What do you mean? Do you know anything against him?”

Poirot said:

“He is a man who collects secrets—and uses them to his advantage.”

She said sharply:

“Do you think he knows anything—about the murder?”

Poirot shrugged³ his shoulders. He said:

“He has quiet feet and long ears. He may have overheard something that he is keeping to

himself.”

Lydia said clearly:

“Do you mean that he may try to blackmail⁴ one of us?”

“It is within the bounds of possibility. But that is not what I came here to say.”

“What did you come to say?”

Poirot said slowly:

“I have been talking with M. Alfred Lee. He has made me a proposition, and I wished to

discuss it with you before accepting or declining it. But I was so struck by the picture you made—

the charming pattern of your jumper against the deep red of the curtains, that I paused to admire.”

Lydia said sharply:

“Really, M. Poirot, must we waste time in compliments?”

“I beg your pardon, madame. So few English ladies understand la toilette. The dress you

were wearing the first night I saw you, its bold but simple pattern, it had grace—distinction.”

Lydia said impatiently:

“What was it you wanted to see me about?”

Poirot became grave.

“Just this, madame. Your husband, he wishes me to take up the investigation⁵ very seriously.

He demands that I stay here, in the house, and do my utmost to get to the bottom of the matter.”

Lydia said sharply:

“Well?”

Poirot said slowly:

“I should not wish to accept an invitation that was not endorsed⁷ by the lady of the house.”

She said coldly:

“Naturally I endorse⁶ my husband’s invitation.”

“Yes, madame, but I need more than that. Do you really want me to come here?”

“Why not?”

“Let us be more frank. What I ask you is this: do you want the truth to come out, or not?”

“Naturally.”

Poirot sighed.

“Must you return me these conventional replies?”

Lydia said:

“I am a conventional woman.”

Then she bit her lip, hesitated, and said:

“Perhaps it is better to speak frankly⁸. Of course I understand you! The position is not a

pleasant one. My father-in-law has been brutally⁹ murdered, and unless a case can be made out

against the most likely suspect—Horbury—for robbery and murder—and it seems that it cannot—

then it comes to this—one of his own family killed him. To bring that person to justice will mean

bringing shame and disgrace on us all . . . If I am to speak honestly I must say that I do not want

this to happen.”

Poirot said:

“You are content for the murderer to escape unpunished?”

“There are probably several undiscovered murderers at large in the world.”

“That, I grant you.”

“Does one more matter, then?”

Poirot said:

“And what about the other members of the family? The innocent?”

She stared.

“What about them?”

“Do you realize that if it turns out as you hope, no one will ever know. The shadow will

remain on all alike. . . .”

She said uncertainly:

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

Poirot said:

“No one will ever know who the guilty person is. . . .”

He added softly:

“Unless you already know, madame?”

She cried out:

“You have no business to say that! It’s not true! Oh! If only it could be a stranger—not a

member of the family.”

Poirot said:

“It might be both.”

She stared at him.

“What do you mean?”

“It might be a member of the family—and, at the same time, a stranger . . . You do not see

what I mean? Eh bien, it is an idea that has occurred to the mind of Hercule Poirot.”

He looked at her.

“Well, madame, what am I to say to Mr. Lee?”

Lydia raised her hands and let them fall in a sudden helpless gesture.

She said:

“Of course—you must accept.”

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 grimace   

v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭

参考例句：

• The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
• Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。

3 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

5 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

6 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

9 brutally   

adv.残忍地，野蛮地，冷酷无情地

参考例句：

• The uprising was brutally put down.起义被残酷地镇压下去了。
• A pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed.一场争取民主的起义被残酷镇压了。