Twenty-six NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE

Twenty-six NOCTURNAL ADVENTURE
The inexplicable¹ absence of Moira worried Bobby more than he cared toadmit. He told himself repeatedly that it was absurd to jump to conclu-sions—that it was fantastic to imagine that Moira had been done awaywith in a house full of possible witnesses—that there was probably someperfectly simple explanation and that at the worst she could only be aprisoner in the Grange.
That she had left Staverley of her own free will Bobby did not for oneminute believe. He was convinced that she would never have gone off likethat without sending him a word of explanation. Besides, she had statedemphatically that she had nowhere to go.
No, the sinister² Dr. Nicholson was at the bottom of this. Somehow orother he must have become aware of Moira’s activities and this was hiscounter move. Somewhere within the sinister walls of the Grange Moirawas a prisoner, unable to communicate with the outside world.
But she might not remain a prisoner long. Bobby believed implicitlyevery word Moira had uttered. Her fears were neither the result of a vividimagination not yet of nerves. They were simple stark³ truth.
Nicholson meant to get rid of his wife. Several times his plans had mis-carried. Now, by communicating her fears to others, she had forced hishand. He must act quickly or not at all. Would he have the nerve to act?
Bobby believed he would. He must know that, even if these strangershad listened to his wife’s fears, they had no evidence. Also, he would be-lieve that he had only Frankie to deal with. It was possible that he had sus-pected her from the first—his pertinent⁴ questioning as to her “accident”
seemed to point to that—but as Lady Frances’ chauffeur⁵, Bobby did not be-lieve that he himself was suspected of being anything other than he ap-peared to be.
Yes, Nicholson would act. Moira’s body would probably be found insome district far from Staverley. It might, perhaps, be washed up by thesea. Or it might be found at the foot of a cliff. The thing would appear tobe, Bobby was almost sure, an “accident.” Nicholson specialized⁶ in acci-dents.
Nevertheless, Bobby believed that the planning and carrying out of suchan accident would need time—not much time, but a certain amount. Nich-olson’s hand was being forced—he had to act quicker than he had anticip-ated. It seemed reasonable to suppose that twenty-four hours at least mustelapse before he could put any plan into operation.
Before that interval⁷ had elapsed, Bobby meant to have found Moira ifshe were in the Grange.
After he had left Frankie in Brook⁸ Street, he started to put his plans intooperation. He judged it wise to give the Mews a wide berth⁹. For all heknew, a watch might be being kept on it. As Hawkins, he believed himselfto be still unsuspected. Now Hawkins in turn was about to disappear.
That evening, a young man with a moustache, dressed in a cheap dark-blue suit, arrived at the bustling¹⁰ little town of Ambledever. The youngman put up at an hotel near the station, registering as George Parker. Hav-ing deposited his suitcase there he strolled out and entered into negoti-ations for hiring a motorcycle.
At ten o’clock that evening a motorcyclist in cap and goggles¹¹ passedthrough the village of Staverley, and came to a halt at a deserted¹² part ofthe road not far from the Grange.
Hastily shoving the bicycle behind some convenient bushes, Bobbylooked up and down the road. It was quite deserted.
Then he sauntered along the wall till he came to the little door. As be-fore, it was unlocked. With another look up and down the road to makesure he was not observed, Bobby slipped quietly inside. He put his handinto the pocket of his coat where a bulge¹³ showed the presence of his ser-vice revolver. The feel of it was reassuring¹⁴.
Inside the grounds of the Grange everything seemed quiet.
Bobby grinned to himself as he recalled bloodcurdling stories where thevillain of the piece kept a cheetah¹⁶ or some excited beast of prey¹⁷ about theplace to deal with intruders.
Dr. Nicholson seemed content with mere¹⁸ bolts and bars and even therehe seemed to be somewhat remiss¹⁹. Bobby felt certain that that little doorshould not have been left open. As the villain¹⁵ of the piece, Dr. Nicholsonseemed regrettably careless.
“No tame pythons,” thought Bobby. “No cheetahs²⁰, no electrically-charged wires—the man is shamefully²¹ behind the times.”
He made these reflections more to cheer himself up than for any otherreason. Every time he thought of Moira a queer constriction²² seemed totighten around his heart.
Her face rose in the air before him—the trembling lips—the wide, terri-fied eyes. It was just about here he had first seen her in the flesh. A littlethrill ran through him as he remembered how he had put his arm roundher to steady her. .?.?.
Moira—where was she now? What had that sinister doctor done withher? If only she were still alive .?.?.
“She must be,” said Bobby grimly between set lips. “I’m not going tothink anything else.”
He made a careful reconnaissance round the house. Some of the up-stairs windows had lights in them and there was one lighted window onthe ground floor.
Towards this window Bobby crept. The curtains were drawn²³ across it,but there was a slight chink between them. Bobby put a knee on the win-dowsill and hoisted²⁴ himself noiselessly up. He peered through the slits²⁵.
He could see a man’s arm and shoulder moving along as though writing.
Presently the man shifted his position and his profile came into view. Itwas Dr. Nicholson.
It was a curious position. Quite unconscious that he was being watched,the doctor wrote steadily²⁶ on. A queer sort of fascination²⁷ stole over Bobby.
The man was so near him that, but for the intervening glass, he could havestretched out his arm and touched him.
For the first time, Bobby felt, he was really seeing the man. It was aforceful profile, the big, bold nose, the jutting²⁸ chin, the crisp, well-shavenline of the jaw²⁹. The ears, Bobby noted³⁰, were small and laid flat to the headand the lobe³¹ of the ear was actually joined to the cheek. He had an ideathat ears like these were said to have some special significance.
The doctor wrote on—calm and unhurried. Now pausing for a momentor two as though to think of the right word—then setting to once more. Hispen moved over the paper, precisely³² and evenly. Once he took off hisprince-nez, polished them and put them on again.
At last with a sigh Bobby let himself slide noiselessly to the ground.
From the look of it, Nicholson would be writing for some time to come.
Now was the moment to gain admission to the house.
If Bobby could force an entrance by an upstairs window while the doc-tor was writing in his study he could explore the building at his leisurelater in the night.
He made a circuit of the house again and singled out a window on thefirst floor. The sash was open at the top but there was no light in the room,so that it was probably unoccupied at the moment. Moreover, a very con-venient tree seemed to promise an easy means of access.
In another minute, Bobby was swarming³³ up the tree. All went well andhe was just stretching out his hand to take a grip of the window ledgewhen an ominous³⁴ crack came from the branch he was on and the nextminute the bough³⁵, a rotten one, had snapped and Bobby was pitchforkedhead first into a clump³⁶ of hydrangea bushes below, which fortunatelybroke his fall.
The window of Nicholson’s study was farther along on the same side ofthe house. Bobby heard an exclamation³⁷ in the doctor’s voice and the win-dow was flung up. Bobby, recovering from the first shock of his fall,sprang up, disentangled himself from the hydrangeas and bolted acrossthe dark patch of shadow into the pathway leading to the little door. Hewent a short way along it, then dived into the bushes.
He heard the sound of voices and saw lights moving near the trampledand broken hydrangeas. Bobby kept still and held his breath. They mightcome along the path. If so, finding the door open, they would probablyconclude that anyone had escaped that way and would not prosecute³⁸ thesearch further.
However, the minutes passed and nobody came. Presently Bobby heardNicholson’s voice raised in a question. He did not hear the words but heheard an answer given in a hoarse³⁹, rather uneducated voice.
“All present and correct, sir. I’ve made the rounds.”
The sounds gradually died down, the lights disappeared. Everyoneseemed to have returned to the house.
Very cautiously, Bobby came out of his hiding place. He emerged on tothe path, listening. All was still. He took a step or two towards the house.
And then out of the darkness something struck him on the back of theneck. He fell forward .?.?. into darkness.

1 inexplicable   

adj.无法解释的，难理解的

参考例句：

• It is now inexplicable how that development was misinterpreted.当时对这一事态发展的错误理解究竟是怎么产生的，现在已经无法说清楚了。
• There are many things which are inexplicable by science.有很多事科学还无法解释。

2 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

3 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

4 pertinent   

adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的

参考例句：

• The expert made some pertinent comments on the scheme.那专家对规划提出了一些中肯的意见。
• These should guide him to pertinent questions for further study.这些将有助于他进一步研究有关问题。

5 chauffeur   

n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车

参考例句：

• The chauffeur handed the old lady from the car.这个司机搀扶这个老太太下汽车。
• She went out herself and spoke to the chauffeur.她亲自走出去跟汽车司机说话。

6 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

7 interval   

n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息

参考例句：

• The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
• There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。

8 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

9 berth   

n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊

参考例句：

• She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
• They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。

10 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

11 goggles   

n.护目镜

参考例句：

• Skiers wear goggles to protect their eyes from the sun.滑雪者都戴上护目镜使眼睛不受阳光伤害。
• My swimming goggles keep steaming up so I can't see.我的护目镜一直有水雾，所以我看不见。

12 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

13 bulge   

n.突出，膨胀，激增；vt.突出，膨胀

参考例句：

• The apple made a bulge in his pocket.苹果把他口袋塞得鼓了起来。
• What's that awkward bulge in your pocket?你口袋里那块鼓鼓囊囊的东西是什么？

14 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

15 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

16 cheetah   

n.(动物)猎豹

参考例句：

• The cheetah is generally credited as the world's fastest animal.猎豹被公认是世界上跑得最快的动物。
• The distribution of the cheetah ranges from Africa to Central Asia.印度豹的足迹遍及从非洲到中亚的广大地区。

17 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

18 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

19 remiss   

adj.不小心的，马虎

参考例句：

• It was remiss of him to forget her birthday.他竟忘了她的生日，实在是糊涂。
• I would be remiss if I did not do something about it.如果我对此不做点儿什么就是不负责任。

20 cheetahs   

n.（奔跑极快的）非洲猎豹( cheetah的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Unlike lions or cheetahs, leopards are secretive, solitary cats. 花豹不像狮子或印度豹，是属于较神秘而隐居的大猫。 来自互联网
• Among this lot are cheetahs, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, spotted hyenas and elephants. 印度豹、狮子、花豹、犀牛、斑点土狼、大象等，都是此地的居民。 来自互联网

21 shamefully   

可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。
• They have served me shamefully for a long time. 长期以来，他们待我很坏。

22 constriction   

压缩； 紧压的感觉； 束紧； 压缩物

参考例句：

• She feels a constriction in the chest. 她胸部有压迫感。
• If you strain to run fast, you start coughing and feel a constriction in the chest. 还是别跑紧了，一咬牙就咳嗽，心口窝辣蒿蒿的！ 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

23 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。

24 hoisted   

把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
• The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。

25 slits   

n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子

参考例句：

• He appears to have two slits for eyes. 他眯着两眼。
• "You go to--Halifax,'she said tensely, her green eyes slits of rage. "你给我滚----滚到远远的地方去！" 她恶狠狠地说，那双绿眼睛冒出了怒火。

26 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

27 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

28 jutting   

v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出

参考例句：

• The climbers rested on a sheltered ledge jutting out from the cliff. 登山者在悬崖的岩棚上休息。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldier saw a gun jutting out of some bushes. 那士兵看见丛林中有一枝枪伸出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

29 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

30 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

31 lobe   

n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶

参考例句：

• Tiny electrical sensors are placed on your scalp and on each ear lobe.小电器传感器放置在您的头皮和对每个耳垂。
• The frontal lobe of the brain is responsible for controlling movement.大脑前叶的功能是控制行动。

32 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

33 swarming   

密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去

参考例句：

• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。
• The beach is swarming with bathers. 海滩满是海水浴的人。

34 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

35 bough   

n.大树枝，主枝

参考例句：

• I rested my fishing rod against a pine bough.我把钓鱼竿靠在一棵松树的大树枝上。
• Every bough was swinging in the wind.每条树枝都在风里摇摆。

36 clump   

n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走

参考例句：

• A stream meandered gently through a clump of trees.一条小溪从树丛中蜿蜒穿过。
• It was as if he had hacked with his thick boots at a clump of bluebells.仿佛他用自己的厚靴子无情地践踏了一丛野风信子。

37 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

38 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

39 hoarse   

adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的

参考例句：

• He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。
• He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。