FIVE, SIX, PICKING UP STICKS 4

IV
On his way home, Poirot called in at the Glengowrie Court Hotel.
As a result of that visit he rang Japp up very early the following morning.
“Bonjour, mon ami. The inquest is today, is it not?”
“It is. Are you going to attend?”
“I do not think so.”
“It won’t really be worth your while, I expect.”
“Are you calling Miss Sainsbury Seale as a witness?”
“The lovely Mabelle—why can’t she just spell it plain Mabel. These women get my goat! No,
I’m not calling her. There’s no need.”
“You have heard nothing from her?”
“No, why should I?”
Hercule Poirot said:
“I wondered, that was all. Perhaps it may interest you to learn that Miss Sainsbury Seale walked
out of the Glengowrie Court Hotel just before dinner the night before last—and did not come
back.”
“What? She’s hooked it?”
“That is a possible explanation.”
“But why should she? She’s quite all right, you know. Perfectly¹ genuine and aboveboard. I
cabled Calcutta about her—that was before I knew the reason for Amberiotis’ death, otherwise I
shouldn’t have bothered—and I got the reply last night. Everything O.K. She’s been known there
for years, and her whole account of herself is true—except that she’s slurred² over her marriage a
bit. Married a Hindu student and then found he’d got a few attachments³ already. So she resumed
her maiden⁴ name and took to good works. She’s hand and glove with the missionaries—teaches
elocution, and helps in amateur dramatic shows. In fact, what I call a terrible woman — but
definitely above suspicion of being mixed up in a murder. And now you say she’s walked out on
us! I can’t understand it.” He paused a minute and then went on doubtfully: “Perhaps she just got
fed up with that hotel? I could have easily.”
Poirot said:
“Her luggage is still there. She took nothing with her.”
Japp swore.
“When did she go?”
“About a quarter to seven.”
“What about the hotel people?”
“They’re very upset. Manageress looked quite distraught.”
“Why didn’t they report to the police?”
“Because, mon cher, supposing that a lady does happen to stay out for a night (however
unlikely it may seem from her appearance) she will be justifiably⁵ annoyed by finding on her return
that the police have been called in. Mrs. Harrison, the manageress in question, called up various
hospitals in case there had been an accident. She was considering notifying the police when I
called. My appearance seemed to her like an answer to a prayer. I charged myself with everything,
and explained that I would enlist⁶ the help of a very discreet⁷ police officer.”
“The discreet police officer being yours truly, I suppose?”
“You suppose rightly.”
Japp groaned⁸:
“All right. I’ll meet you at the Glengowrie Court Hotel after the inquest.”

1 perfectly   

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。

2 slurred   

含糊地说出( slur的过去式和过去分词 )； 含糊地发…的声； 侮辱； 连唱

参考例句：

• She had drunk too much and her speech was slurred. 她喝得太多了，话都说不利索了。
• You could tell from his slurred speech that he was drunk. 从他那含糊不清的话语中你就知道他喝醉了。

3 attachments   

n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物

参考例句：

• The vacuum cleaner has four different attachments. 吸尘器有四个不同的附件。
• It's an electric drill with a range of different attachments. 这是一个带有各种配件的电钻。

4 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

5 justifiably   

adv.无可非议地

参考例句：

• There General Walters would come aboard to greet me, justifiably beaming with pride at his arrangement. 在那儿沃尔特斯将军会登上飞机来接我，理所当然为他们的安排感到洋洋得意。 来自辞典例句
• The Chinese seemed justifiably proud of their economic achievements. 中国人似乎为他们的经济成就感到自豪，这是无可非议的。 来自互联网

6 enlist   

vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍

参考例句：

• They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。
• The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

7 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

8 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》