Twenty-two II

II
There were six people now in the room with the Harlequin on the wall. A long time had passed.
The police had come and gone.
Andrew Restarick sat like a man stunned¹. Once or twice he said the same words. “I can’tbelieve it…” Telephoned for, he had come from his office, and Claudia Reece-Holland had comewith him. In her quiet way, she had been ceaselessly efficient. She had put through telephone callsto lawyers, had rung Crosshedges and two firms of estate agents to try and get in touch with MaryRestarick. She had given Frances Cary a sedative² and sent her to lie down.
Hercule Poirot and Mrs. Oliver sat side by side on a sofa. They had arrived together at the sametime as the police.
Last of all to arrive, when nearly everyone else had gone, had been a quiet man with grey hairand a gentle manner, Chief Inspector³ Neele of Scotland Yard, who had greeted Poirot with a slightnod, and been introduced to Andrew Restarick. A tall red-haired young man was standing⁴ by thewindow staring down into the courtyard.
What were they all waiting for? Mrs. Oliver wondered. The body had been removed, thephotographers and other police officers had done their work, they themselves, after being herdedinto Claudia’s bedroom, had been readmitted into the sitting room, where they had been waiting,she supposed, for the Scotland Yard man to arrive.
“If you want me to go,” Mrs. Oliver said to him uncertainly—“Mrs. Ariadne Oliver, aren’t you? No, if you have no objection, I’d rather you remained. I knowit hasn’t been pleasant—”
“It didn’t seem real.”
Mrs. Oliver shut her eyes—seeing the whole thing again. The Peacock Boy, so picturesquelydead that he had seemed like a stage figure. And the girl—the girl had been different—not theuncertain Norma from Crosshedges—the unattractive Ophelia, as Poirot had called her—but somequiet figure of tragic⁵ dignity—accepting her doom⁶.
Poirot had asked if he might make two telephone calls. One had been to Scotland Yard, and thathad been agreed to, after the sergeant⁷ had made a preliminary suspicious inquiry⁸ on the phone.
The sergeant had directed Poirot to the extension in Claudia’s bedroom, and he had made his callfrom there, closing the door behind him.
The sergeant had continued to look doubtful, murmuring to his subordinate, “They say it’s allright. Wonder who he is? Odd-looking little bloke.”
“Foreign, isn’t he? Might be Special Branch?”
“Don’t think so. It was Chief Inspector Neele he wanted.”
His assistant raised his eyebrows⁹ and suppressed a whistle.
After making his calls, Poirot had reopened the door and beckoned¹⁰ Mrs. Oliver from where shewas standing uncertainly inside the kitchen, to join him. They had sat down side by side onClaudia Reece-Holland’s bed.
“I wish we could do something,” said Mrs. Oliver—always one for action.
“Patience, chère Madame.”
“Surely you can do something?”
“I have. I have rung up the people it is necessary to ring up. We can do nothing here until thepolice have finished their preliminary investigations¹¹.”
“Who did you ring up after the inspector man? Her father? Couldn’t he come and bail¹² her out orsomething?”
“Bail is not likely to be granted where murder is concerned,” said Poirot dryly. “The police havealready notified her father. They got his number from Miss Cary.”
“Where is she?”
“Having hysterics in the flat of a Miss Jacobs next door, I understand. She was the one whodiscovered the body. It seems to have upset her. She rushed out of here screaming.”
“She’s the arty one, isn’t she? Claudia would have kept her head.”
“I agree with you. A very—poised young woman.”
“Who did you ring up, then?”
“First, as perhaps you heard, Chief Inspector Neele of Scotland Yard.”
“Will this lot like his coming and meddling¹³?”
“He is not coming to meddle¹⁴. He has of late been making certain inquiries¹⁵ for me, which maythrow light on this matter.”
“Oh—I see…Who else did you ring up?”
“Dr. John Stillingfleet.”
“Who’s he? To say that poor Norma is potty and can’t help killing¹⁶ people?”
“His qualifications would entitle him to give evidence to that effect in court if necessary.”
“Does he know anything about her?”
“A good deal, I should say. She has been in his care since the day you found her in theShamrock café.”
“Who sent her there?”
Poirot smiled. “I did. I made certain arrangements by telephone before I came to join you at thecafé.”
“What? All the time I was so disappointed in you and kept urging you to do something—youhad done something? And you never told me! Really, Poirot! Not a word! How could you be so—so mean.”
“Do not enrage¹⁸ yourself, Madame, I beg. What I did, I did for the best.”
“People always say that when they have done something particularly maddening. What else didyou do?”
“I arranged that my services should be retained by her father, so that I could make the necessaryarrangements for her safety.”
“Meaning this Doctor Stillingwater?”
“Stilling fleet. Yes.”
“How on earth did you manage that? I shouldn’t have thought for a moment that you would bethe kind of person that her father would choose to make all these arrangements. He looks the kindof man who would be very suspicious of foreigners.”
“I forced myself upon him—as a conjurer forces a card. I called upon him, purporting¹⁹ to havereceived a letter from him asking me to do so.”
“And did he believe you?”
“Naturally. I showed the letter to him. It was typed on his office stationery²⁰ and signed with hisname—though as he pointed¹⁷ out to me, the handwriting was not his.”
“Do you mean you had actually written that letter yourself?”
“Yes. I judged correctly that it would awaken²¹ his curiosity, and that he would want to see me.
Having got so far, I trusted to my own talents.”
“You told him what you were going to do about this Dr. Stillingfleet?”
“No. I told no one. There was danger, you see.”
“Danger to Norma?”
“To Norma, or Norma was dangerous to someone else. From the very beginning there havealways been the two possibilities. The facts could be interpreted in either way. The attemptedpoisoning of Mrs. Restarick was not convincing—it was delayed too long, it was not a seriousattempt to kill. Then there was an indeterminate story of a revolver shot fired here in BorodeneMansions—and another tale of flick-knives and bloodstains. Every time these things happen,Norma knows nothing about them, cannot remember, etcetera. She finds arsenic²² in a drawer—butdoes not remember putting it there. Claims to have had lapses²³ of memory, to have lost longperiods of time when she does not remember what she had been doing. So one has to ask oneself—is what she says true, or did she, for some reason of her own, invent it? Is she a potential victimof some monstrous²⁴ and perhaps crazy plot—or is it she herself who is the moving spirit? Is shepainting a picture of herself as a girl suffering from mental instability, or has she murder in mind,with a defence of diminished responsibility?”
“She was different today,” said Mrs. Oliver slowly. “Did you notice? Quite different. Not—notscatty any longer.”
Poirot nodded.
“Not Ophelia—Iphigeneia.”
A sound of added commotion²⁵ outside in the flat diverted the attention of both of them.
“Do you think—” Mrs. Oliver stopped. Poirot had gone to the window and was looking down tothe courtyard far below. An ambulance was drawn²⁶ up there.
“Are they going to take It away?” asked Mrs. Oliver in a shaky voice. And then added in asudden rush of pity: “Poor Peacock.”
“He was hardly a likeable character,” said Poirot coldly.
“He was very decorative…And so young,” said Mrs. Oliver.
“That is sufficient for les femmes.” Poirot was opening the bedroom door a careful crack, as hepeered out.
“Excuse me,” he said, “if I leave you for a moment.”
“Where are you going?” demanded Mrs. Oliver suspiciously.
“I understood that that was not a question considered delicate in this country,” said Poirotreproachfully.
“Oh, I beg your pardon.
“And that’s not the way to the loo,” she breathed sotto voce after him, as she too applied²⁷ an eyeto the crack of the door.
She went back to the window to observe what was going on below.
“Mr. Restarick has just driven up in a taxi,” she observed when Poirot slipped back quietly intothe room a few minutes later, “and Claudia has come with him. Did you manage to get intoNorma’s room, or wherever you really wanted to go?”
“Norma’s room is in the occupation of the police.”
“How annoying for you. What are you carrying in that kind of black folder²⁸ thing you’ve got inyour hand?”
Poirot in his turn asked a question.
“What have you got in that canvas bag with Persian horses on it?”
“My shopping bag? Only a couple of Avocado pears, as it happens.”
“Then if I may, I will entrust²⁹ this folder to you. Do not be rough with it, or squeeze it, I beg.”
“What is it?”
“Something that I hoped to find—and that I have found—Ah, things begin to pass themselves—” He referred to increased sounds of activities.
Poirot’s words struck Mrs. Oliver as being much more exactly descriptive than English wordswould have been. Restarick, his voice loud and angry. Claudia coming in to telephone. A glimpseof a police stenographer³⁰ on an excursion to the flat next door to take statements from Frances Caryand a mythical³¹ person called Miss Jacobs. A coming and going of ordered business, and a finaldeparture of two men with cameras.
Then unexpectedly the sudden incursion into Claudia’s bedroom of a tall loosely-jointed youngman with red hair.
Without taking any notice of Mrs. Oliver, he spoke³² to Poirot.
“What’s she done? Murder? Who is it? The boyfriend?”
“Yes.”
“She admits it?”
“It would seem so.”
“Not good enough. Did she say so in definite words?”
“I have not heard her do so. I have had no chance of asking her anything myself.”
A policeman looked in.
“Dr. Stillingfleet?” he asked. “The police surgeon would like a word with you.”
Dr. Stillingfleet nodded and followed him out of the room.
“So that’s Dr. Stillingfleet,” said Mrs. Oliver. She considered for a moment or two. “Quitesomething, isn’t he?”

1 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

2 sedative   

adj.使安静的，使镇静的；n. 镇静剂，能使安静的东西

参考例句：

• After taking a sedative she was able to get to sleep.服用了镇静剂后，她能够入睡了。
• Amber bath oil has a sedative effect.琥珀沐浴油有镇静安神效用。

3 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

4 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。

5 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

6 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

7 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

8 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

9 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。

10 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

12 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

13 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

14 meddle   

v.干预，干涉，插手

参考例句：

• I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs.我希望他不来干预我的事情。
• Do not meddle in things that do not concern you.别参与和自己无关的事。

15 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》

16 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

17 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

18 enrage   

v.触怒，激怒

参考例句：

• She chose a quotation that she knew would enrage him.她选用了一句明知会激怒他的引语。
• He started another matter to enrage me,but I didn't care.他又提出另一问题，想以此激怒我，可我并没在意。

19 purporting   

v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cindy Adams (Columnist) : He's purporting to be Mother Teresa. 辛迪？亚当斯（专栏作家）：他无意成为德兰修女。 来自互联网
• To prohibit certain practices purporting to be sales by auction. 本条例旨在对看来是以拍卖方式作出的售卖中某些行为予以禁止。 来自互联网

20 stationery   

n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封

参考例句：

• She works in the stationery department of a big store.她在一家大商店的文具部工作。
• There was something very comfortable in having plenty of stationery.文具一多，心里自会觉得踏实。

21 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

22 arsenic   

n.砒霜，砷；adj.砷的

参考例句：

• His wife poisoned him with arsenic.他的妻子用砒霜把他毒死了。
• Arsenic is a poison.砒霜是毒药。

23 lapses   

n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He sometimes lapses from good behavior. 他有时行为失检。 来自辞典例句
• He could forgive attacks of nerves, panic, bad unexplainable actions, all sorts of lapses. 他可以宽恕突然发作的歇斯底里，惊慌失措，恶劣的莫名其妙的动作，各种各样的失误。 来自辞典例句

24 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

25 commotion   

n.骚动，动乱

参考例句：

• They made a commotion by yelling at each other in the theatre.他们在剧院里相互争吵，引起了一阵骚乱。
• Suddenly the whole street was in commotion.突然间，整条街道变得一片混乱。

26 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

27 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

28 folder   

n.纸夹，文件夹

参考例句：

• Peter returned the plan and charts to their folder.彼得把这份计划和表格放回文件夹中。
• He draws the document from its folder.他把文件从硬纸夹里抽出来。

29 entrust   

v.信赖，信托，交托

参考例句：

• I couldn't entrust my children to strangers.我不能把孩子交给陌生人照看。
• They can be entrusted to solve major national problems.可以委托他们解决重大国家问题。

30 stenographer   

n.速记员

参考例句：

• The police stenographer recorded the man's confession word by word. 警察局速记员逐字记下了那个人的供词。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A qualified stenographer is not necessarily a competent secretary. 一个合格的速记员不一定就是个称职的秘书。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

31 mythical   

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

参考例句：

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

32 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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。