Eight I

Eight I
Hercule Poirot was dictating¹ to his secretary, Miss Lemon.
“And while I much appreciate the honour you have done me, I must regretfully inform youthat…”
The telephone rang. Miss Lemon stretched out a hand for it. “Yes? Who did you say?” She puther hand over the receiver and said to Poirot, “Mrs. Oliver.”
“Ah…Mrs. Oliver,” said Poirot. He did not particularly want to be interrupted² at this moment,but he took the receiver from Miss Lemon. “’Allo,” he said, “Hercule Poirot speaks.”
“Oh, M. Poirot, I’m so glad I got you! I’ve found her for you!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve found her for you. Your girl! You know, the one who’s committed³ a murder or thinks shehas. She’s talking about it too, a great deal. I think she is off her head. But never mind that now.
Do you want to come and get her?”
“Where are you, chère Madame⁴?”
“Somewhere between St. Paul’s and the Mermaid⁵ Theatre and all that. Calthorpe Street,” saidMrs. Oliver, suddenly looking out of the telephone box in which she was standing⁶. “Do you thinkyou can get here quickly? They’re in a restaurant.”
“They?”
“Oh, she and what I suppose is the unsuitable boyfriend. He is rather nice really, and he seemsvery fond of her. I can’t think why. People are odd⁷. Well, I don’t want to talk because I want to getback again. I followed them, you see. I came into the restaurant and saw them there.”
“Aha? You have been very clever, Madame.”
“No, I haven’t really. It was a pure accident. I mean, I walked into a small café place and therethe girl was, just sitting there.”
“Ah. You had the good fortune then. That is just as important.”
“And I’ve been sitting at the next table to them, only she’s got her back to me. And anyway Idon’t suppose she’d recognise me. I’ve done things to my hair. Anway, they’ve been talking asthough they were alone in the world, and when they ordered another course—baked beans—(Ican’t bear baked beans, it always seems to me so funny that people should)—”
“Never mind the baked beans. Go on. You left them and came out to telephone. Is that right?”
“Yes. Because the baked beans gave me time. And I shall go back now. Or I might hang aboutoutside. Anway, try and get here quickly.”
“What is the name of this café?”
“The Merry Shamrock—but it doesn’t look very merry. In fact, it looks rather sordid⁸, but thecoffee is quite good.”
“Say no more. Go back. In due⁹ course, I will arrive.”
“Splendid,” said Mrs. Oliver, and rang off.

1 dictating   

v.大声讲或读( dictate的现在分词 )；口授；支配；摆布

参考例句：

• The manager was dictating a letter to the secretary. 经理在向秘书口授信稿。 来自辞典例句
• Her face is impassive as she listens to Miller dictating the warrant for her arrest. 她毫无表情地在听米勒口述拘留她的证书。 来自辞典例句

2 interrupted   

adj. 中断的 动词interrupt的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He could not conceal his annoyance at being interrupted. 他因受扰而难掩怒色。
• She was interrupted by the entrance of an attendant. 服务员进来，打断了她的话。

3 committed   

a.坚定的，献身的，忠诚的

参考例句：

• They called for assurances that the government is committed to its education policy. 他们要求保证政府切实执行其教育方针。
• He committed the cardinal sin of criticizing his teammates. 他犯了指责队友的大错。

4 madame   

n.女士；夫人；小姐

参考例句：

• Madame Curie was the only famous woman scientist in the world.居里夫人是世界上唯一有名的女科学家。
• Radium is discovered by Madame Curie.镭是由居里夫人发现的。

5 mermaid   

n.美人鱼

参考例句：

• How popular would that girl be with the only mermaid mom!和人鱼妈妈在一起，那个女孩会有多受欢迎！
• The little mermaid wasn't happy because she didn't want to wait.小美人鱼不太高兴，因为她等不及了。

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 odd   

adj.奇特的；临时的；奇数的；n.[pl.]机会

参考例句：

• She looks a bit odd.I wonder what has happened to her.她的神色有些异样，不知出了什么事。
• He's an odd character and no mistake!他的确是个怪人！

8 sordid   

adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
• They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。

9 due   

n.应得物；adj.预定的，应付的，到期的，应有的

参考例句：

• I received nothing except what was due to me.除了我应得的东西，我并未接受任何东西。
• The rocket is due to lift off at noon on Friday.火箭定于星期五中午发射。