At the time that I was sharing rooms with my friend Hercule Poirot, it was my custom to readaloud to him the headlines in the morning newspaper, the Daily Blare.
The Daily Blare was a paper that made the most of any opportunity for sensationalism. Robberiesand murders did not lurk1 obscurely in its back pages. Instead they hit you in the eye in large typeon the front page.
ABSCONDING2 BANK CLERK DISAPPEARS WITH FI17TY THOUSAND POUNDS'
WORTH OF NEGOTIABLE SECURITIES, I read.
HUSBAND PUTS HIS HEAD IN GAS-OVEN. UNHAPPY HOME LI17.
MISSING TYPIST. PRETTY OIRL O17 TWENTY-ONE. WHEI IS EDNA FIELD?
'There you are, Poirot, plenty to choose from. An absconding bank clerk, a mysterious suicide, amissing typist - which will you have?' My friend was in a placid3 mood. He quietly shook his head.
'I am not greatly attracted to any of them, mon ant/. Today I feel inclined for the life of ease. Itwould have to be a very interesting problem to tempt4 me from my chair. See you, I have affairs ofimportance of my own to attend to.' 'Such as?' 'My wardrobe, Hastings. If I mistake not, there is onmy new grey suit the spot of grease- only the unique spot, but it is sufficient to trouble me. Thenthere is my winter overcoat - I must lay him aside in the powder of Keatings. And I think - yes, Ithink - the moment is ripe for the trimmings of my moustaches - and afterwards I must apply thepomade.' 'Well,' I said, strolling to the window, 'I doubt if you'll be able to carry out this deliriousprogramme. That was a ring at the bell.
You have a client.'
'Unless the affair is one of national importance, I touch it not,' declared Poirot with dignity.
A moment later our privacy was invaded by a stout5 red-faced lady who panted audibly as a resultof her rapid ascent6 of the stairs.
'You're M. Poirot?' she demanded, as she sank into a chair.
'I am Hercule Poirot, yes, madame.'
'You're not a bit like what I thought you'd be,' said the lady, eyeing him with some disfavour. 'Didyou pay for the bit in the paper saying what a clever detective you were, or did they put it inthemselves?'
'Madamel' said Poirot, drawing himself up.
'I'm sorry, I'm sure, but you know what these papers are nowadays. You begin reading a nicearticle "What a bride said to her plain unmarried friend", and it's all about a simple thing you buyat the chemist's and shampoo your hair with. Nothing but puff8. But no offence taken, I hope? I'lltell you what I want you to do for me. I want you to find my cook.'
Poirot stared at her; for once his ready tongue failed him. I turned aside to hide the broadeningsmile I could not control.
'It's all this wicked dole9,' continued the lady. 'Putting ideas into servants' heads, wanting to betypists and what nots. Stop the dole, that's what I say. I'd like to know what my servants have tocomplain of - afternoon and evening off a week, alternate Sundays, washing put out, same food aswe have - and never a bit of margarine in the house, nothing but the very best butter.'
She paused for want of breath and Poirot seized his opportunity.
He spoke10 in his haughtiest11 manner rising to his feet as he did so.
'I fear you are making a mistake, madame. I am not holding an inquiry12 into the conditions ofdomestic service. I am a private detective.'
'I know that,' said our visitor. 'Didn't I tell you I wanted you to find my cook for me? Walked outof the house on Wednesday, without so much as a word to me, and never came back.'
'I am sorry, madame, but I do not touch'this particular kind of business. I wish you good morning.'
Our visitor snorted with indignation.
'That's it, is it, my fine fellow? Too proud, eh? Only deal with Government secrets and countesses'
jewels? Let me tell you a servant's every bit as important as a tiara to a woman in my position. Wecan't all be fine ladies going out in our motors with our diamonds and our pearls. A good cook's agood cook - and when you lose her, it's as much to you as her pearls are to some fine lady.'
For a moment or two it appeared to be a toss up between Poirot's dignity and his sense of humour.
Finally he laughed and sat down again.
'Madame, you are in the right, and I am in the wrong. Your remarks are just and intelligent. Thiscase will be a novelty. Never yet have I hunted a missing domestic. Truly here is the problem ofnational importance that I was demanding of fate just before your arrival. En avant! You say thisjewel of a cook went out on
Wednesday and did not return. That is the day before yesterday.' 'Yes, it was her day out.'
'But probably, madame, she has met with some accident. Have you inquired at any of thehospitals?'
'That's exactly what I thought yesterday, but this morning, if you please, she sent for her box. Andnot so much as a line to mel If I'd been at home, I'd not have let it go - treating me like thatlBut I'd just stepped out to the butcher.'
'Will you describe her to me?'
'She was middle-aged13, stout, black hair turning grey - most respectable. She'd been ten years in herlast place. Eliza Dunn, her name was.'
'And you had had - no disagreement with her on the Wednes-day?'
'None whatever. That's what makes it all so queer.'
'How many servants do you keep, madame?'
'Two. The house-parlourmaid, Annie, is a very nice girl. A bit forgetful and her head full of youngmen, but a good servant if you keep her up to her work.'
'Did she and the cook get on well together?'
'They had their ups and downs, of course - but on the whole, very well.'
'And the girl can throw no light on the mystery?'
'She says not - but you know what servants are - they all hang together.'
'Well, well, we must look into this. Where did you say you resided, madame?'
'At Clapham; 88 Prince Albert Road.'
'Bien, madame,, I will wish you good morning, and you may count upon seeing me at yourresidence during the course of the day.'
Mrs Todd, for such was our new friend's name, then took her departure. Poirot looked at mesomewhat ruefully.
'Well, well, Hastings, this is a novel affair that we have here.
The Disappearance14 of the Clapham Cookl Never, never, must our friend Inspector15 Japp get to hearof thisl'
He then proceeded to heat an iron and carefully removed the grease spot from his grey suit bymeans of a piece of blotting-paper.
His moustaches he regretfully postponed16 to another day, and we set out for Clapham.
Prince Albert Road proved to be a street of small prim17 houses, all exactly alike, with neat lacecurtains veiling the windows, and well polished brass18 knockers on the doors.
We rang the bell at No. 88, and the door was opened by a neat maid with a pretty face. Mrs Toddcame out in the hall to greet us.
'Don't go, Annie,' she cried. 'This gentleman's a detective and he'll want to ask you somequestions.'
Annie's face displayed a struggle between alarm and a pleasur-able excitement.
'I thank you, madame,' said Poirot bowing. 'I would like to question your maid now - and to seeher alone, if I may.'
We were shown into a small drawing-room, and when Mrs Todd, with obvious reluctance19, had leftthe room, Poirot com-menced his cross-examination.
'Voyons, Mademoiselle Annie, all that you shall tell us will be of the greatest importance. Youalone can shed any light on the case. Without your assistance I can do nothing.'
The alarm vanished from the girl's face and the pleasurable excitement became more stronglymarked.
'I'm sure, sir,' she said, 'I'll tell you anything I can.'
'That is good.' Poirot beamed approval on her. 'Now, first of all what is your own idea? You are agirl of remarkable20 intelligence.
That can be seen at oncel What is your own explanation of Eliza's disappearance?'
Thus encouraged, Annie fairly flowed into excited speech.
'White slavers, sir, I've said so all along! Cook was alway warning me against them. "Don't yousniff no scent7, or eat any sweets - no matter how gentlemanly the fellowl" Those were her words tome. And now they've got herl I'm sure of it. As likely a not, she's been shipped to Turkey or one ofthem Eastern place, where I've heard they like them fat?
Poirot preserved an admirable gravity.
'But ia that case - and it is indeed an ideal - would she have ent for her trunk?'
'Well, I don't know, sir. She'd want her things - even in thoe foreign places.'
'Who came for the trunk - a man?' 'It was Carter Paterson, sir.' 'Did you pack it?'
'No, sir, it was already packed and corded.'
'Ahl That's interesting. That shows that when she left the hou on Wednesday, she had alreadydetermined not to return. You see that, do you not?'
'Yes, sir.' Annie looked slightly taken aback. 'I hadn't thought of that. But it might still have beenwhite slavers, mightn't it, sir?' she added wistfully.
'Undoubtedlyl' said Poirot gravely. He went on: 'Did you both occupy the same bedroom?'
'No, sir, we had separate rooms.'
'And had Eliza expressed any dissatisfaction with her present post to you at all? Were you bothhappy here?'
'She'd never mentioned leaving. The place is all right - ' The girl hesitated.
'Speak freely,' said Poirot kindly21. 'I shall not tell your mistress.'
'Well, of course, sir, she's a caution, Missus is. But the food's good. Plenty of it, and no stinting22.
Something hot for supper, good outings, and as much frying-fat as you like. And anyway, if Elizadid want to make a change, she'd never have gone off this way, I'm sure. She'd have stayed hermonth. Why, Missus could have a month's wages out of her for doing this?
'And the work, it is not too hard?'
'Well, she's particular - always poking23 round in corners and looking for dust. And then there's thelodger, or paying guest as he's always called. But that's only breakfast and dinner, same asMaster. They're out all day in the City.'
'You like your master?'
'He's all right - very quiet and a bit on the stingy side.'
'You can't remember, I suppose, the last thing Eliza said before she went out?'
'Yes, I can. "If there's any stewed24 peaches over from the dining-room," she says, "we'll have themfor supper, and a bit of bacon and some fried potatoes." Mad over stewed peaches, she was. Ishouldn't wonder if they didn't get her that way.'
'Was Wednesday her regular day out?'
'Yes, she had Wednesdays and I had Thursdays.'
Poirot asked a few more questions, then declared himself satisfied. Annie departed, and Mrs Toddhurried in, her face alight with curiosity. She had, I felt certain, bitterly resented her exclusionfrom the room during our conversation with Annie.
Poirot, however, was careful to soothe25 her feelings tactfully.
'It is difficult,' he explained, 'for a woman of exceptional intelligence such as yourself, madame, tobear patiently the roundabout methods we poor detectives are forced to use. To have patience withstupidity is difficult for the quick-witted.'
Having thus charmed away any little resentment26 on Mrs Todd's part, he brought the conversationround to her husband and elicited27 the information that he worked with a firm in the City and wouldnot be home until after six.
'Doubtless he is very disturbed and worried by this unaccount-able business, eh? Is it not so?'
'He's never worried,' declared Mrs Todd. '"Well, well, get another, my dear." That's all he said!
He's so calm that it drives me to distraction28 sometimes. "An ungrateful woman," he said. "We arewell rid of her."' 'What about the other inmates29 of the house, madame?' 'You mean Mr Simpson,our paying guest? Well, as long as he gets his breakfast and his evening meal all right, he doesn'tworry. ' 'What is. his profession, madame?' 'He works in a bank.' She mentioned its name, and Istarted slightly, remembering my perusal30 of the Daily Blare.
'A young man?' 'Twenty-eight, I believe. Nice quiet young fellow.' 'I should like to have a fewwords with him, and also with your husband, if I may. I will return for that purpose this evening. Iventure to suggest that you should repose31 yourself a little, madame, you look fatigued32.' 'I shouldjust think I am! First the worry about Eliza, and then I was at the sales practically all yesterday,and you know what that is, M. Poirot, and what with one thing and another and a lot to do in thehouse, because of course Annie can't do it all - and very likely she'll give notice anyway, beingunsettled in this way well, what with it all, I'm tired outl' Poirot murmured sympathetically, andwe took our leave.
'It's a curious coincidence,' I said, 'but that absconding clerk, Davis, was from the same bank asSimpson. Can there be any connection, do you think?' Poirot smiled.
'At the one end, a defaulting clerk, at the other a vanishing cook. It is hard to see any relationbetween the two, unless possibly Davis visited Simpson, fell in love with the cook, and persuadedher to accompany him on his flightl' I laughed. But Poirot remained grave.
'He might have done worse,' he said reprovingly. 'Remember, Hastings, if you are going into exile,a good cook may be of more comfort than a pretty face!' He paused for a moment and then wenton. 'It is a curious case, full of contradictory33 features. I am interested - yes, I am distinctlyinterested.'
That evening we returned to 88 Prince Albert Road and inter-viewed both Todd and Simpson. Theformer was a melancholy34 lantern-jawed man of forty-odd.
'Obi Yes, yes,' he said vaguely35. 'Eliza. Yes. A good cook, I believe. And economical. I make astrong point of economy.'
'Can you imagine any reason for her leaving you so suddenly?' 'Oh, well,' said Mr Todd vaguely.
'Servants, you know. My wife worries too much. Worn out from always worrying. The wholeproblem's quite simple really. "Get another, my dear," I say.
"Get another." That's all there is to it. No good crying over spilt milk.'
Mr Simpson was equally unhelpful. He was a quiet incon-spicuous young man with spectacles.
'I must have seen her, I suppose,' he said. 'Elderly woman, wasn't she? Of course, it's the other oneI see always, Annie.
Nice girl. Very obliging.'
'Were those two on good terms with each other?'
Mr Simpson said he couldn't say, he was sure. He supposed so.
'Well, we get nothing of interest there, rnon ami,' said Poirot as we left the house. Our departurehad been delayed by a burst of vociferous36 repetition from Mrs Todd, who repeated everything shehad said that morning at rather greater length.
'Are you disappointed?' I asked. 'Did you expect to hear some-thing?'
Poirot shook his head.
'There was a possibility, of course,' he said. 'But I hardly thought it likely.'
The next development was a letter which Poirot received on the following morning. He read it,turned purple with indignation, and handed it to me.
Mrs Todd regrets that after all she will not avail herself of Mr Poirot's services. After talking thematter over with her husband she sees that it is foolish to call in a detective about a purelydomestic affair. Mrs Todd encloses a guinea for con-sultation fee.
'Ahal' cried Poirot angrily. 'And they think to get rid of Hercule loirot like thatl As a favour - agreat favour - I consent to investigate their miserable37 little twopenny-halfpenny affair - and theydismiss me comme fal Here, I mistake not, is the hand of Mr Todd. But I say nol - thirty-six timesnol I will spend my own guineas, thirty-six hundred of them if need be, but I will get to the bottomof this matter?
'Yes,' I said. 'But how?' Poirot calmed down a little.
'D'abord,' he said, 'we will advertise in the papers. Let me see yes - something like this: "If ElizaDunn will communicate with thia address, she will hear of something to her advantage." Put it inall the papers you can think of, Hastings. Then I will make some little inquiries38 of my own. Go, go- all must be done as quickly as possible!' I did not see him again until the evening, when hecondescended to tell me what he had been doing.
'I have made inquiries at the firm of Mr Todd. He was not absent on ,Wednesday, and he bears agood character - so much for him. Then Simpson, on Thursday he was ill and did not come to thebank, but he was there on Wednesday. He was moderately friendly with Davis. Nothing out of thecommon. There does not eem to be anything there. No. We must place our reliance on theadvertisement.' The advertisement duly appeared in all the principal daily papers. By Poirot'sorders it was to be continued every day for a week. His eagerness over this uninteresting matter ofa defaulting cook was extraordinary, but I realized that he considered it a point of honour topersevere until he finally succeeded. Several extremely interesting cases were brought to himabout this time, but he declined them all. Every morning he would rush at his letters, scrutinizethem earnestly and then lay them down with a sigh.
But our patience was rewarded at last. On the Wednesday following Mrs Todd's visit, our landladyinformed us that a person of the name of Eliza Dunn had called.
'Enfin!' cried Poirot. 'But make her mount thenl At once. Immediately.'
Thts admonished40, our landlady39 hurried out and returned a moment or two later, ushering41 in MissDunn. Our quarry42 was much as described: tall, stout, and eminently43 respectable.
'I came in answer to the advertisement,' she eXPlained. 'I thought there must be some muddle44 orother, and that perhaps you didn't know I'd already got my legacy45.'
Poirot was studying her attentively46. He drew forward a chair with a flourish.
'The truth of the matter is,' he explained, 'that your late mistress, Mrs Todd, was much concernedabout you. She feared some accident might have befallen you.'
Eliza Dunn seemed very much surprised.
'Didn't she get my letter then?'
'She got no word of any kind.' He paused, and then said per-suasively: 'Recount to me the wholestory, will you not?'
Eliza Dunn needed no encouragement. She plunged47 at once into a lengthy48 narrative49.
'I was just coming home on Wednesday night and had nearly got to the house, when a gentlemanstopped me. A tall gentleman he was, with a beard and a big hat. "Miss Eliza Dunn?" he said.
"Yes," I said. "I've been inquiring for you at No. 88," he said.
"They told me I might meet you coming along here. Miss Dunn, I have come from Australiaspecially to find you. Do you happen to know the maiden50 name of your maternal51 grandmother?""Jane Emmott," I said. "Exactly," he said. "Now, Miss Dunn, although you may never have heardof the fact, your grandmother had a great friend, Eliza Leech52. This friend went to Australia whereshe married a very wealthy settler. Her two children died in infancy53, and she inherited all herhusband's property. She died a few months ago, and by her will you inherit a house in this countryand a considerable sum of money."
'You could have knocked me down with a feather,' continued Miss Dunn. 'For a minute, I wassuspicious, and he must have seen it, for he smiled. "Quite right to be on your guard, Miss Dunn,"he said. "Here are my credentials54." He handed me a letter from some lawyers in Melbourne, Hurstand Crotchet, and a card. He was Mr Crotchet. "There are one or two conditions," he said. "Ourclient was a little eccentric, you know. The bequest55 is conditional56 on your taking possession of thehouse (it is in Cumberland) before twelve o'clock tomorrow. The other condition is of noimportance - it is merely a stipulation57 that you should not be in domestic service." My face fell.
"Oh, Mr Crotchet," I said. "I'm a cook. Didn't they tell you at the house?" "Dear, dear," he said. "Ihad no idea of such a thing. I thought you might possibly be a companion or governess there. Thisis very unfortunate - very unfortunate indeed." ' "Shall I have to lose all the money?" I said,anxious like. He thought for a minute or two. "There are always ways of getting round the law,Miss Dunn," he said at last. "We lawyers know that. The way out here is for you to have left youremployment this afternoon." "But my month?" I said. "My dear Miss Dunn," he said with a smile.
"You can leave an employer any minute by forfeiting58 a month's wages. Your mistress willunderstand in view of the circumstances. The difficulty is time! It is imperative59 that you shouldcatch the x.5 from King's Cross to the North. I can advance you ten pounds or so for the fare, andyou can write a note at the station to your employer. I will take it to her myself and explain thewhole circumstances." I agreed, of course, and an hour later I was in the train, so flustered60 that Ididn't know whether I was on my head or my heels. Indeed by the time I got to Carlisle, I was halfinclined to think the whole thing was one of those confidence tricks you read about. But I went tothe address he had given me - solicitors61 they were, and it was all right. A nice little house, and anincome of three hundred a year. These lawyers knew very little, they'd just got a letter from agentleman in London instructing them to hand over the house to me and x5o for the first sixmonths. Mr Crotchet sent up my things to me, but there was no word from Missus. I supposed shewas angry and grudged62 me my bit of luck. She kept back my box too, and sent my clothes in paperparcels. But there, of course if she never had my letter, she might think it a bit cool of me.' ?oirothad listened attentively to this long history. Now he nodded his head as though completelysatisfied.
'Thank you, mademoiselle. There had been, as you say, a littlemuddle. Permit me to recompense you for your trouble.' He handed her an envelope. 'You returnto Cumberland immediately? A little word in your ear. Do not forget how to cook. It is alwaysuseful to have something to fall back upon in case things go wrong.' 'Credulous,' he murmured, asour visitor departed, 'but perhal not more than most of her class.' His face grew grave. 'Come,Hastings, there is no time to be lost. Get a taxi while I write a note to Japp.' Poirot was waiting onthe doorstep when I returned with the taxi.
'Where are we going?' I asked anxiously.
'First, to despatch63 this note by special messenger.' This was done, and re-entering the taxi Poirotgave the addre to the driver.
'Eighty-eight Prince Albert Road, Clapham.' 'So we are going there?' 'Mai, oui. Though frankly64 Ifear we shall be too late. Our bird will have flown, Hastings.' 'Who is our bird?' Poirot smiled.
'The inconspicuous Mr Simpson.' 'What?' I exclaimed.
'Oh, come now, Hastings, do not tell me that all is not clear to you now?
'The cook was got out of the way, I realize that,' I said, slightly piqued65. 'But why? Why shouldSimpson wish to get her out of the house? Did she know something about him?' 'Nothingwhatever.' 'Well, then ' 'But he wanted something that she had.' 'Money? The Australian legacy?'
'No, my friend - something quite different.' He paused a moment and then said gravely: 'q batteredtin trunk...' I looked sideways at him. His statement seemed so fantaatic that I suspected him ofpulling my leg, but he was perfectly66 grave and serious.
'Surely he could buy a trunk if he wanted one,' I cried.
'He did not want a new trunk. He wanted a trunk of pedigree.
A trunk of assured respectability.'
'Look here, Poirot,' I cried, 'this really is a bit thick. You're pulling my leg.'
He looked at me.
'You lack the brains and the imagination of Mr Simpson, Hastings. See here: On Wednesdayevening, Simpson decoys away the cook. A printed card and a printed sheet of notepaper re simplematters to obtain, and he is willing to pay I5O and a year's house rent to assure the success of hisplan. Miss Dunn does not recognize him - the beard and the hat and the slight colonial accentcompletely deceive her. That is the end of Wed-nesday - except for the trifling67 fact that Simpsonhas helped himself to fifty thousand pounds' worth of negotiable securities.' 'Simpson - but it wasDavis - '
'If you will kindly permit me to continue, Hastingsl Simpson knows that the theft will bediscovered on Thursday afternoon.
He does not go to the bank on Thursday, but he lies in wait for Davis when he comes out to lunch.
Perhaps he admits the theft md tells Davis he will return the securities to him - anyhow hesucceeds in getting Davis to come to Clapham with him. It is the maid's day out, and Mrs Toddwas at the sales, so there is no one in the house. When the theft is discovered and Davis is missing,the implication will be overwhelming. Davis is the thiefl Mr Simpson will be perfectly safe, andcan return to work on the morrow like the honest clerk they think him.'
'And Davis?'
Poirot made an expressive68 gesture, and slowly shook his head.
'It seems too cold-blooded to be believed, and yet what other explanation can there be, rnon ami.
The one difficulty for a murderer is the disposal of the body - and Simpson had planned that outbeforehand. I was struck at once by the fact that although Eliza Durra obviously meant to returnthat' night when she went out (witness her remark about the stewed peaches)yet her trunk oas allready packed when they came for it. It was Simpson who sent word to Carter Paterson to call onFriday and it was Simpson who corded up the box on Thursday afternoon. What suspicioncould possibly arise? A maid leaves and sends for her box, it is labelled and addressed ready in hername, probably to a railway station within easy reach of London. On Saturday afternoon,Simpson, in his Australian disguise, claims it, he affixes69 a new label and address and redespatchesit somewhere else, again "to be left till called for". When the authorities get suspicious, forexcellent reasons, and open it, all that can be elicited will be that a bearded colonial despatched itfrom some junction70 near London.
There will be nothing to connect it with 88 Prince Albert Road.
Ahl Here we are.'
Poirot's prognostications had been correct. Simpson had left two days previously71. But he was notto escape the consequences of his crime. By the aid of wireless72, he was discovered on theOlympia, en route to America.
A tin trunk, addressed to Mr Henry Wintergreen, attracted the attention of railway officials atGlasgow. It was opened and found to contain the body of the unfortunate Davis.
Mrs Todd's cheque for a guinea was never cashed. Instead Poirot had it framed and hung on thewall of our sitting-room73.
'It is to me a little reminder74, Hastings. Never to despise the trivial - the undignified. A disappearingdomestic at one end - a cold-blooded murder at the other. To me, one of the most interesting of mycases.'
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lurk
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| n.潜伏，潜行；v.潜藏，潜伏，埋伏 | |
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absconding
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| v.（尤指逃避逮捕）潜逃，逃跑( abscond的现在分词 ) | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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dole
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| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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haughtiest
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inquiry
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middle-aged
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disappearance
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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brass
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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stinting
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| v.限制，节省（stint的现在分词形式） | |
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poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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stewed
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| adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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vociferous
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| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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ushering
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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leech
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| n.水蛭，吸血鬼，榨取他人利益的人；vt.以水蛭吸血；vi.依附于别人 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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credentials
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| n.证明，资格，证明书，证件 | |
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bequest
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| n.遗赠；遗产，遗物 | |
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conditional
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| adj.条件的，带有条件的 | |
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stipulation
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| n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明 | |
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forfeiting
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| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的现在分词 ) | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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grudged
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| 怀恨（grudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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affixes
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| v.附加( affix的第三人称单数 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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73
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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reminder
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| n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示 | |
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