Six I

Six I
Mr. Goby sat in a chair. He was a small shrunken little man, so nondescript as to be practicallynonexistent.
He looked attentively¹ at the claw foot of an antique table and addressed his remarks to it. Henever addressed anybody direct.
“Glad you got the names for me, Mr. Poirot,” he said. “Otherwise, you know, it might havetaken a lot of time. As it is, I’ve got the main facts—and a bit of gossip on the side…Alwaysuseful, that. I’ll begin at Borodene Mansions², shall I?”
Poirot inclined his head graciously.
“Plenty of porters,” Mr. Goby informed the clock on the chimneypiece. “I started there, usedone or two different young men. Expensive, but worth it. Didn’t want it thought that there wasanyone making any particular inquiries³! Shall I use initials, or names?”
“Within these walls you can use the names,” said Poirot.
“Miss Claudia Reece-Holland spoken of as a very nice young lady. Father an MP. Ambitiousman. Gets himself in the news a lot. She’s his only daughter. She does secretarial work. Seriousgirl. No wild parties, no drink, no beatniks. Shares flat with two others. Number two works for theWedderburn Gallery in Bond Street. Arty type. Whoops⁴ it up a bit with the Chelsea set. Goesaround to places arranging exhibitions and art shows.
“The third one is your one. Not been there long. General opinion is that she’s a bit ‘wanting.’
Not all there in the top storey. But it’s all a bit vague. One of the porters is a gossipy type. Buyhim a drink or two and you’ll be surprised at the things he’ll tell you! Who drinks, and who drugs,and who’s having trouble with his income tax, and who keeps his cash behind the cistern⁵. Ofcourse you can’t believe it all. Anyway, there was some story about a revolver being fired onenight.”
“A revolver fired? Was anyone injured?”
“There seems a bit of doubt as to that. His story is he heard a shot fired one night, and he comesout and there was this girl, your girl, standing⁶ there with a revolver in her hand. She looked sort ofdazed. And then one of the other young ladies—or both of them, in fact—they come runningalong. And Miss Cary (that’s the arty one) says, ‘Norma, what on earth have you done?’ and MissReece-Holland, she says sharp-like, ‘Shut up, can’t you, Frances. Don’t be a fool!’ and she tookthe revolver away from your girl and says, ‘Give me that.’ She slams it into her handbag and thenshe notices this chap Micky, and goes over to him and says, laughing-like, ‘That must havestartled you, didn’t it?’ and Micky he says it gave him quite a turn, and she says, ‘You needn’tworry. Matter of fact, we’d no idea this thing was loaded. We were just fooling about.’ And thenshe says: ‘Anyway, if anybody asks you questions, tell them it is quite all right,’ and then she says:
‘Come on, Norma,’ and took her arm and led her along to the elevator, and they all went up again.
“But Micky said he was a bit doubtful still. He went and had a good look round the courtyard.”
Mr. Goby lowered his eyes and quoted from his notebook:
“‘I’ll tell you, I found something, I did! I found some wet patches. Sure as anything I did. Dropsof blood they were. I touched them with my finger. I tell you what I think. Somebody had beenshot—some man as he was running away…I went upstairs and I asked if I could speak to MissHolland. I says to her: “I think there may have been someone shot, Miss,” I says. “There are somedrops of blood in the courtyard.” “Good gracious,” she says, “How ridiculous. I expect, youknow,” she says, “it must have been one of the pigeons.” And then she says: “I’m sorry if it gaveyou a turn. Forget about it,” and she slipped me a five pound note. Five pound note, no less! Well,naturally, I didn’t open my mouth after that.’
“And then, after another whisky, he comes out with some more. ‘If you ask me, she took apotshot at that low class young chap that comes to see her. I think she and he had a row and shedid her best to shoot him. That’s what I think. But least said soonest mended, so I’m not repeatingit. If anyone asks me anything I’ll say I don’t know what they’re talking about.’” Mr. Gobypaused.
“Interesting,” said Poirot.
“Yes, but it’s as likely as not that it’s a pack of lies. Nobody else seems to know anything aboutit. There’s a story about a gang of young thugs who came barging into the courtyard one night,and had a bit of a fight—flick-knives out and all that.”
“I see,” said Poirot. “Another possible source of blood in the courtyard.”
“Maybe the girl did have a row with her young man, threatened to shoot him, perhaps. AndMicky overheard it and mixed the whole thing up—especially if there was a car backfiring justthen.”
“Yes,” said Hercule Poirot, and sighed, “that would account for things quite well.”
Mr. Goby turned over another leaf of his notebook and selected his confidant. He chose anelectric radiator⁷.
“Joshua Restarick Ltd. Family firm. Been going over a hundred years. Well thought of in theCity. Always very sound. Nothing spectacular. Founded by Joshua Restarick in 1850. Launchedout after the first war, with greatly increased investments abroad, mostly South Africa, WestAfrica and Australia. Simon and Andrew Restarick—the last of the Restaricks. Simon, the elderbrother, died about a year ago, no children. His wife had died some years previously⁸. AndrewRestarick seems to have been a restless chap. His heart was never really in the business thougheveryone says he had plenty of ability. Finally ran off with some woman, leaving his wife and adaughter of five years old. Went to South Africa, Kenya, and various other places. No divorce. Hiswife died two years ago. Had been an invalid⁹ for some time. He travelled about a lot, andwherever he went he seems to have made money. Concessions¹⁰ for minerals mostly. Everything hetouched prospered¹¹.
“After his brother’s death, he seems to have decided¹² it was time to settle down. He’d marriedagain and he thought the right thing to do was to come back and make a home for his daughter.
They’re living at the moment with his uncle Sir Roderick Horsefield—uncle by marriage that is.
That’s only temporary. His wife’s looking at houses all over London. Expense no object. They’rerolling in money.”
Poirot sighed. “I know,” he said. “What you outline to me is a success story! Everyone makesmoney! Everybody is of good family and highly respected. Their relations are distinguished¹³. Theyare well thought of in business circles.
“There is only one cloud in the sky. A girl who is said to be ‘a bit wanting,’ a girl who is mixedup with a dubious¹⁴ boyfriend who has been on probation¹⁵ more than once. A girl who may quitepossibly have tried to poison her stepmother, and who either suffers from hallucinations, or elsehas committed a crime! I tell you, none of that accords well with the success story you havebrought me.”
Mr. Goby shook his head sadly and said rather obscurely:
“There’s one in every family.”
“This Mrs. Restarick is quite a young woman. I presume she is not the woman he originally ranaway with?”
“Oh no, that bust¹⁶ up quite soon. She was a pretty bad lot by all accounts, and a tartar as well. Hewas a fool ever to be taken in by her.” Mr. Goby shut his notebook and looked inquiringly atPoirot. “Anything more you want me to do?”
“Yes. I want to know a little more about the late Mrs. Andrew Restarick. She was an invalid,she was frequently in nursing homes. What kind of nursing homes? Mental homes?”
“I take your point, Mr. Poirot.”
“And any history of insanity¹⁷ in the family—on either side?”
“I’ll see to it, Mr. Poirot.”
Mr. Goby rose to his feet. “Then I’ll take leave of you, sir. Good night.”
Poirot remained thoughtful after Mr. Goby had left. He raised and lowered his eyebrows¹⁸. Hewondered, he wondered very much.
Then he rang Mrs. Oliver:
“I told you before,” he said, “to be careful. I repeat that—Be very careful.”
“Careful of what?” said Mrs. Oliver.
“Of yourself. I think there might be danger. Danger to anyone who goes poking¹⁹ about wherethey are not wanted. There is murder in the air—I do not want it to be yours.”
“Have you had the information you said you might have?”
“Yes,” said Poirot, “I have had a little information. Mostly rumour²⁰ and gossip, but it seemssomething happened at Borodene Mansions.”
“What sort of thing?”
“Blood in the courtyard,” said Poirot.
“Really!” said Mrs. Oliver. “That’s just like the title of an old-fashioned detective story. TheStain on the Staircase. I mean nowadays you say something more like She Asked for Death.”
“Perhaps there may not have been blood in the courtyard. Perhaps it is only what animaginative, Irish porter imagined.”
“Probably an upset milk bottle,” said Mrs. Oliver. “He couldn’t see it at night. Whathappened?”
Poirot did not answer directly.
“The girl thought she ‘might have committed a murder.’ Was that the murder she meant?”
“You mean she did shoot someone?”
“One might presume that she did shoot at someone, but for all intents and purposes missedthem. A few drops of blood…That was all. No body.”
“Oh dear,” said Mrs. Oliver, “it’s all very confused. Surely if anyone could still run out of acourtyard, you wouldn’t think you’d killed him, would you?”
“C’est difficile,” said Poirot, and rang off.

1 attentively   

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》

2 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

3 inquiries   

n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。
• I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 whoops   

int.呼喊声

参考例句：

• Whoops! Careful, you almost spilt coffee everywhere. 哎哟！小心点，你差点把咖啡洒得到处都是。
• We were awakened by the whoops of the sick baby. 生病婴儿的喘息声把我们弄醒了。

5 cistern   

n.贮水池

参考例句：

• The cistern is empty but soon fills again.蓄水池里现在没水，但不久就会储满水的。
• The lavatory cistern overflowed.厕所水箱的水溢出来了

6 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。

7 radiator   

n.暖气片，散热器

参考例句：

• The two ends of the pipeline are connected with the radiator.管道的两端与暖气片相连接。
• Top up the radiator before making a long journey.在长途旅行前加满散热器。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

10 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

11 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

14 dubious   

adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
• He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

15 probation   

n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期)

参考例句：

• The judge did not jail the young man,but put him on probation for a year.法官没有把那个年轻人关进监狱，而且将他缓刑察看一年。
• His salary was raised by 800 yuan after his probation.试用期满以后，他的工资增加了800元。

16 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

17 insanity   

n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐

参考例句：

• In his defense he alleged temporary insanity.他伪称一时精神错乱，为自己辩解。
• He remained in his cell,and this visit only increased the belief in his insanity.他依旧还是住在他的地牢里，这次视察只是更加使人相信他是个疯子了。

18 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

19 poking   

n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
• He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

20 rumour   

n.谣言，谣传，传闻

参考例句：

• I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
• There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来，一直有谣言产生，对他进行中伤。